In Raman and Ishita's Suite
Lekin Raman, dinner? Sab log intezaar..."
(But Raman, dinner? Everyone must be wai....)

Her breathless words were interrupted as he suddenly pulled her towards himself, so that her body rested against his, her face mere inches from his.

"Aur koi nahi intezaar kar raha hai" the desire in his voice sent a fresh wave of shivers down her spine. "Mein ne kah diya hai, hum akele dinner kar rahe hai. Aur dinner bhi karenge, but later. Abhi toh meri intezaar ki inteha ho gayi, Ishita. Ab aur dooriyaan nahi..."
(Nobody is waiting for us. I've told everyone. We are having dinner alone. And we will, but later. I've waited long enough Ishita. It's time to end all the distances between us now)
*********************************************
Meanwhile, at the Golden Lotus Restaurant

The Iyers and Bhallas were seated around a large banquet table in a private room in the Golden Lotus Restaurant. The sounds of laughter mingled with the incessant buzz of conversation and the delicious aroma of piping hot Chinese food.

The men nursed their drinks, which the Iyer women had for once given their husbands a free pass to enjoy.

Ruhi and Shravan were engrossed in their own happy conversation, on their best behaviour for once.

"Bala, listen to me na" Vandita tried for the umpteenth time to attract Bala's attention.

"Kya hai Vandu, Let me enjoy yaar" Bala turned an annoyed look towards his wife. "Kitni baar ek hi baat karogi?" (What is it Vandu? Let me enjoy. How many times will you talk about the same thing?)

"But Bala, I'm worried about Ishu. She planned this get together, so what's happened now that Raman says she needs to rest?"

"Kuch nahi hua hai Vandu. Just relax. Tired hai, relax kar rahe hai" (Nothing has happened Vandu. Just realax. They are tired so they are resting) Bala tried to turn back to his interrupted discussion on the ongoing cricket test series with Mr Bhalla and Mihir, but Vandita held fast to his arm.

"No Bala, you know Ishu. Bus mein toh keh rahi thi kitna dinner ko look forward kar rahi thi, Aur lobby mein bhi bilkul theek lag rahi thi.. Kahin phir stomach pain toh nahi hai... Bala, I'm going to go and check on her."
(No Bala, you know Ishu. She was saying on the bus just how much she was looking forward to dinner nd she looked fine in the lobby too. What if her stomach pains have started again.... Bala, I'm going to go and check on her)

She half stood then yelped as Bala pulled her back into her seat.

"Bala, what..."

"Sit down Vandu" Bala hissed furiously, as all the adults looked at them in surprise. "Kuch nahi" he said apologetically "Bas mazaak kar rahe hai". (Nothing, we are just joking around)

The others resumed their conversations and Bala turned to Vandu, who was staring at him furiously.

"Sorry Vandu, lekin yaar tum bechaara Raman ki saari plan bigaad dogi."
(Sorry Vandu but I won't let you ruin all of poor Raman's plans)

"Plan? What plan?" Vandu was still furious.

Bala grinned mischievously then whispered in his wife's ear. "Now do you want to go and check on Ishu?" He asked with a laugh.

Vandita blushed and shook her head. "How romantic" she exclaimed, grabbing her husband in a half hug. "Oh Bala, I hope everything is perfect for Ishu. She so deserves to be happy"

"And Raman too" Bala reminded her.

"And Raman too" Vandita agreed, her eyes shining. "They are perfect for each other, and they've both been hurt so much in the past. I just hope tonight is perfect for them"

**********************************************************************************************************
Back in the Honeymoon Suite

Ishita looked down shyly as Raman's words sank in, each pore of her being conscious of the feel of his arms around her, the sensation of his hard body against her soft curves.

He smiled at her downcast eyes, feeling a sudden tautness in the softness that he had captured against him.

"Hey" he whispered. "Look at me"

"No" she shook her head shyly.

"Itni sharmilee kaise ho gayi, meri Jhaansi Ki Rani?" he teased.
(How come you're so shy my Warrior queen?)

She looked up at that, relieved at his familiar taunt, more comfortable, less nerve wracking than the intensity of his passion. "Jhooth kyun bola aap ne mujhse, ki dinner par jayenge?"
(Why did you lie to me and say we were going out for dinner?)

"Aur sach kehta, toh kya tum meri sharmilee dulhan banti? Agar mein yeh kehta ki tumse saari raat pyar karna hai, dulhan bana kar apni har fantasy ko sach karna hai, toh? Kuch na kuch bahana bana leti tum..."
(And if I had told you the truth? Would I have my shy bride in my arms right now? Hmm? If I had told you that I want to make love all night, that I want to fulfill all my fantasies with my bride? You would've made some excuse to run away....)

He had been sliding his hands down her torso as he spoke, his fingers caressing sensuously, lingering on her contours until he reached her waist. He pulled her to him again and then buried his face in the nook of her neck, burrowing under her dupatta and her dense locks, his lips grazing her soft skin, his hands clasping her even closer. Ishita threw her arms around him, her face snuggled against his hair.

"Raman" she whispered "I'm scared"

He raised his head, drawing back and cupping her face in his hands.

"You trust me Ishita?"

"Yes"

"And you love me?"

"Yes, Raman, more than anything."

"And you know I love you, that I won't hurt you. Toh darr kyun meri jaan?" (Then why are you scared, my love?)

"Raman" ... Ishita could see the sincerity , the love, shining in his eyes. How could she explain that her fear was not that he would hurt her, but more that she would not be able to give him what he needed, that she would disappoint him.

She too wanted tonight to be perfect, she too wanted him with an intensity which rocked her to her core, but how could she get rid of this nagging doubt? She took a deep breath and touched his face tentatively.

"Raman, mein... You know I can never give you a child. Aap ko kabhi mein woh khushi nahi de sakti, aur mein, Raman, I dont want to disappoint ..."
(Raman, I....You know I can never give you a child. I can never give you that happiness and Raman, I dont want to disappoint....)

The rest of her speech was silenced as he pulled her to him fiercely and covered her mouth with his. His kiss was ferocious, his lips hard, his mouth demanding, forcing hers open as he pushed harder against her, the contours of his body moulding into her. She gasped and moaned as waves of intense pleasure cascaded through her body. Her dupatta fell on the ground as he dug his hands into her hair, his fingers caressing softly, even as his mouth continued it's assault on hers.

She was gasping loudly when he finally pulled away, his hands clamping on her shoulders, his eyes blazing.

"I love you" he whispered through gritted teeth. "You. Not some imaginary child that you can or can't give me. I want you. Can't you see that? Can't you feel it?"

His voice rose as his grip on her shoulders tightened. " Dammit Ishita, tum mujhe jo khushi de sakti ho, woh aur koi nahi de sakta. But enough. Bahut ho gayi baate. There's only one way I'm going to make you understand."
(Dammit Ishita, nobody else can give me the happiness, the joy that you can.But enough. I've had enough. There's only one way I'm going to make you understand)

He scooped her up into his arms and carried her towards the bed, his blazing eyes locked with hers. He paused at the foot of the bed and then dipped his head down to hers, tracing his tongue  lightly over her swollen lips. She moaned again, closing her eyes and her hands snaked up around his neck, pulling his head down further towards her, trying to draw him closer. This time his kiss was tender, a caress which soothed, as he sat her down in the middle of the bed. He pulled away only to shrug off his jacket and his shoes, before joining her on the bed, kneeling in front of her.

He cupped her face in his hands again as he rained soft kisses over her face, on her cheeks, her eyelids, her forehead, but returning time and again to her mouth, sometimes gentle, sometimes demanding, but always passionate, until she cried out incoherently, pulling him into to her arms.

"Raman" she whispered, overcome by a mixture of intense longing, and crippling shyness. "Yeh kya ho raha hai mujhe...." (What's happening to me?)

"Don't fight it jaan" he whispered back, his voice full of the tenderness she could see in his face. "Just let me love you."

She nodded, pressing herself against him, her arms tightening around him, as his hands once again began to roam with proprietary skill on her back.

"May I?" He whispered, one hand on the zipper on her anarkali.

She nodded against him, her arms again tightening around him in response.

His hands pulled at the zipper, sliding it down and then easing her out of his arms, before he slid the garment down her arms, pulling it down to her waist. He then pushed her down until her head hit the soft pillows, pulling the outfit down her waist and dropping it on the floor on top of his jacket.

She lay before him, vulnerable, defenceless, all the trust in the world reflected in her big brown eyes. He pulled her up into his arms again, sitting her on his knees, as he hugged her from behind, his hands encircling her waist and then slowly moving upwards, feeling her softness, as a shy smile played on her lips.

She did not know how to define what she was feeling, only that she had never felt this alive, this attuned to her senses. Each stroke of his fingers sent a thousand shivers down her spine, each caress of his lips deepened the ache inside. She moaned softly as his hands stroked and kneaded while his lips bit lightly at her neck, sucking and caressing in tune with his wandering fingers.

The friction of his shirt against her bare skin sent a fresh wave of frisson through her, and she leaned back into him, her hands clutching at his thighs, her body taut with desire. He felt her restlessness and pulled her around to face him. Her eyes were closed, her skin flushed, her mouth, tender and bruised from his passion, slightly open.

He smiled exultantly, swooping on her mouth with his again, forcing her down onto the pillows, as his tongue demanded entry into her mouth. She kissed him back with abandon, inhibitions shed, self-consciousness vanished, her only desire to merge into him, her only sensations the pleasure that wracked through her.

He pulled away from her again, staring searchingly at her as she lay before him.

His hands reached out, trembling, his heartbeats racing, as he traced the contours of her lacy brassiere over her tender chest. His fingers stroked over her swollen orbs as he pushed the lacy wisps of fabric aside,  baring her to his gaze. She lay with her eyes closed, her breaths quickening as she felt his hands on her softness, cupping her breasts, his fingers gently tracing both aureoles, until her nipples hardened beneath his gentle touch.

She bit her lips, a moan escaping her as his hands stroked their way down her chest, to her waist, where they encountered the obstruction of her churidaar pants. Blood pounded in her ears, and she held her breath, her hands bunching up the sheets on the side, her heart beating wildly as his hands toyed with the elastic at her waist.

She could hear his harsh breathing, feel his trembling as his hands pulled her churidaars down her waist and down her legs, freeing her until she lay before him completely bare, clad only in her diamonds.

His heart was pounding like the incessant drumming of an orchestra, and his fingers trembled as he pulled her clothes away, staring at her as she lay before him, so defenceless, so trusting, so beautiful. So very beautiful.

"Jaan, I love you" he murmured, as his hands made swift work of removing his own clothes.

He paused for a second, his head swooping down until he captured her lips with his, searing her with sweetness as he lowered his body onto hers.

She gasped as his warm bare skin made contact with hers, his hard form fitting perfectly over her softness, his weight descending on hers as her body opened up to draw him closer. She finally opened her eyes to gaze into his, sliding her arms around him as she did, caressing him as he had her.

He moaned too then, marvelling at what a fast learner his wife was. "I love you Jhansi ki Rani" he told her as he caught her hands with his. 'I won't hurt you baby. Trust me."

"I love you Raman" she managed to gasp as his caresses intensified, his hands sliding down every inch of her, his lips following as he kissed her senseless, before he finally pushed himself inside her, joining them at last, caressing and loving, as they both found the ultimate solace in each other's arms.