Well, now it was time to put things right. Tonight was the night for redemption. She stopped behind him and tentatively put a hand on his shoulder.

"Raman" she whispered.

He turned around slowly, his face inscrutable, his eyes hooded. She noticed the pallor of his face, the gauntness in his cheeks, the bandage on his head, and her self-control threatened to give way. She had often called him insensitive, yet how insensitive had she been, that she had not been able to see what her husband had been going through. He had gone through so much, and even now when he should have been looking after himself, thinking of himself, his thoughts, his care had been directed at her.

"Raman, I'm sorry" she whispered. "Mujhe maaf kardijiye please."  (Forgive me please)

"It's okay Ishita" he said slowly. "I'm sorry too. Mein ne bhi, I know I'm rude to you, gussa aa jaati hai mujhe, lekin..."
(It's okay Ishita. I'm sorry too. I was also,, I know I was rude to you, I get angry all the time, but I...)

She placed a finger on his lips, forcing him into silence. "No, Raman, is baar aap ki galti nahi hai, meri hai. I'm sorry."
(No Raman, this time its not your fault, it's mine. I'm sorry)

He caught her finger in one hand, his eyes boring into hers.

Ishita felt an intense longing awakening in her, an intense longing for him, a overwhelming desire to throw herself into his arms, but she knew she had to complete what she had come to say.

"Raman, aap itni zyaada affected kyun theh, Mani ki baat se? Kya aap, Raman, kya aap... do you care for me Raman?" (Raman, why did you get so affected by what Mani said? Do you...Raman... do you.... do you care for me Raman) She held her breath as she plunged into a conversation that she knew they should have had a long time ago.

"Of course I care for you Ishita. Biwi ho tum meri" (You're my wife) He still had that inscrutable look on his face, as if he was waiting for something else. His voice was quiet, measured and his hand still held her finger captive.

"How much Raman? Kyunki mein jaanti hoon aap ne us din mujh se kaha tha ki pyar admi ko nikhamma bana deta hai aur aap ko doobaara yeh galati nahi karna, lekin Raman, I'm sorry, mein nahi karna chahti thi, na jaane yeh kaise ho gaya, but Raman, I love you aur mein jaanti hoon aap shayad mujh se kabhi nahi, but Raman, mein yeh bhi jaanti hoon ki aap ..."
(How much Raman? Because I know..you said that day that loves makes a man useless and you won't make that mistake twice, but Raman, I'm sorry, I didn't want this to happen, I don't know how it happened, but Raman, I love you and I know that you probably won't ever feel the same, but I also know that you...)

Her sentence was left unfinished, her voice  silenced as he pulled her into his arms, crushing her against his chest, a slow smile lighting up his features.

"Chup, paagal madrassan" he whispered.

She gazed up at him, tears once again threatening to overflow her eyes. "Raman..."

"Mein ab bhi yeh kehta hoon" he told her firmly. "Mein doobaara pyar nahi kar sakta. Sirf ek baar. Sirf tumse."
(I still say it. I can't live again. Only once. Only with you)

"But Raman..."

"Shagun ke saath jo tha, woh sacha pyaar nahi tha Ishita. It wasn't real, bachpana tha, infatuation tha, jhooth tha woh. Pyar yeh hai, pyar tum ho."
(What I had with Shagun, that wasn't true love Ishita. It wasn't real, it was a crush, an infatuation, it was a lie. Love is this. Love is what I feel for you)

She smiled up at him through her tears, unable to hold them back any further.

"Raman" she whispered, happiness spreading through her, warming her up, even as his arms squeezed her harder against his chest.

"Tell me again" he demanded, flicking her chin up with his finger, forcing her face upwards, closer to his, until there was barely a hairs width between them.

"I love you" Happiness gave her voice confidence, dispelled her shyness. " I love you Raman. Zaroorat ban gaye ho aap meri. Aap ko dekhe bina, aap se mile bina, jhagda kare bina, din nahi guzarti ab meri. Zindagi bhar pyar karoongi aap se. Aap ka saath kabhi nahi chodungi"
(You've become a necessity for me. My day isn't complete if I don't see you, dont meet you, don't fight with you. I'll love you for as long as I live. I'll never leave your side.)

The sweetest smile lit up his face at her words. He brought up a hand and slowly caressed her face, his fingers drifting from her forehead to her chin, stroking slowly as he acquainted himself with the contours of her beauty.

"I love you too meri paagal madrassan" His words were whispered, each syllable dripping unmistakably with love.

She closed her teary eyes, marvelling at the sensations his touch and his words evoked in her. Her lips fluttered open as his fingers continued on their journey, and he lazily traced her lips, until she called out his name, breathlessly, shyly.

"Raman"

In response he dipped his head to hers replacing his fingers with his lips, kissing her softly at first, with featherlike kisses, and then slowly deepening the pressure of his lips as she responded, pouring his pent up passion into their embrace.

He was the first to pull back, breathless, chuckling as he pulled her onto his chest, cradling her face with his hands. "Meri junglee billi" he chuckled. "Maar hi daalo gi mujhe" (My wildcat. You'll kill me after all)

She looked up at him, a shy smile on her face, her own breath coming hard and fast, her heart racing wildly, her eyes sparkling with love and passion. She put a hand up to his face, softly caressing him as her lips reached for his again.

He shook his head, chuckling ruefully as he placed a trembling hand on her lips, and then determinedly pulled her out of his arms.

"Come here " he took her hand and led her back to the bed, lying back against the headboard as he pulled her into his arms again.

"Yaar, abhi hi yeh sab karna tha, jab meri haalat aisi hai" he murmured.
(Did you have to do all this now, when my condition is this bad)

Ishita was immediately contrite. "I'm sorry Raman..."

"Don't be" he interrupted her. "Just stay here like this."

"Are you okay Raman?" She was worried that he had over exerted himself, berating herself for tiring him out.

"Hmmm' he smiled. "Just tired. Stay here please"

He drew his arms tighter around her and she snuggled into him, playing with the buttons on his shirt as he stroked her hair.

His breathing slowly deepened and his hold on her slackened. Ishita quietly extracted herself from his embrace, before settling him carefully, and pulling the duvet over him. She knew that the powerful medication he was on for his injuries could have a sedative effect, and the events of the day had obviously tired him out. Right now he needed his sleep, and as much as she wanted to stay snuggled in his arms for ever, she also wanted him to have as much rest as he could.

She sat by his side for a few minutes, noticing with relief the smoothened lines of his brow and his even breathing.

"Good night mere Raavan" she whispered, dropping a gentle kiss on his forehead, then switching off the lights as she picked up her phone and walked to the door.

She so wanted to stay by his side, but there was one thing she had to take care of first. Walking out of their room, she closed the door softly before turning on her phone and dialling a number.

***********************************

Two hours later

Ishita was clearing away the dinner dishes and tidying up the kitchen when a knock sounded on the door. There was no one else in the living room, the other Bhallas having retired to their rooms.

She walked to the door and opened it. Mani stood at the threshold.

"Ishu " he chirped. "Kya hua. You wanted me to come over. What's the matter? Jab se Raman hospital mein gaye hai, tumhare paas toh mere liye waqt he nahi hai."
(Ever since Raman got admitted to hospital, you've had no time for me)

Ishita took a deep breath, and stared at her friend of many years.

"Mani" her voice was firm. "Did you tell Raman that he wasn't a good husband. Ki mere liye acche pati nahi hai woh? Ki mein khush nahi hoon?" (That he wasn't good to me? That I wasn't happy?)

"Haan Ishu"Mani did not sound apologetic. "Mein ne dekha hai woh kis tarah se tumhare saath behave karta hai, kis tarah se tum se baat karta hai. Isliye mein me usko keh diya ki woh badtameez hai, bura pati hai.
(Yes Ishu. I saw how he behaves towards you, how he speaks to you. So yes, I told him how rude he is, what a bad husband he is)

Ishita's hand flew out and connected with Mani's cheek in a resounding slap. "Ishu" Mani cried out, recoiling in shock.

"How dare you" Ishita's voice was low, trembling with anger. "Tum kaun hote ho, Mani, yeh decide karne ke liye ki mera pati acha hai ya bura. Woh mera pati hai, hamari marriage hai, hamari private life hai. Isme kisi teesre ko dakhil dene ka koi haq nahi. Mein apne pati ki burai bilkul nahi bardasht karoongi. What right did you have to speak to my husband like that Mani?"
(How dare you? Who the hell do you think you are Mani, to decide whether my husband is bad or good. He is my husband, it's our marriage, it's our private life. No third person has a right to interfere in our life. I will not tolerate any criticism of my husband. What right did you have to speak to my husband like that Mani?)

"Ishita, I'm your best friend."

"Friend ho Mani, toh friend ban kar raho. Mere pati se badhkar nahi ho tum, so don't you dare ever talk to him in that way again"
(You're a friend so stay as a friend. You don't mean more to me than my husband, so so don't you dare ever talk to him in that way again)

"Ishita" Mani turned a hurt face to her, his voice puzzled. "Yeh tum.." (What are you...)

Ishita looked at Mani ruefully.

"Meri galti hai Mani, I shared too much with you. Mere pati aur meri marriage ki baate mujhe kisi teesre se nahi karni chahiye thi, woh mera best friend hi kyun na ho. Please go now Mani. Jab Raman theek ho jayenge, toh mein tumhe phir call karoongi. Lekin abhi meri pati ko meri zaroorat hai, aur mere liye mere pati se badh kar duniya mein kuch nahi."
(It's my fault Mani. I shared too much with you. I should never have talked about my husband and my marriage to a third person, best friend or not. Please go now Mani. When Raman gets better, I'll call you again. But right now my husband needs me, and there is nothing and no one more important to me in the world than my husband)

Mani gave one last injured look to Ishita before stalking off. Ishita shut the door quietly behind him and turned off the lights in the living room as she headed towards the bedrooms. She looked in on Ruhi, who was sleeping peacefully, before heading to the bathroom.

Ten minutes later, her hair wet from her shower, she opened the door and walked into her bedroom again. She walked to the wardrobe, her eyes adjusting to the dim glow of the moonlight, as she took her pillow and blanket from the wardrobe, then gasped as the bedside light was suddenly switched on.

"Put that down" Raman's voice commanded her.

"Raman" she rushed up to the bed. "Aap jaag kyun gaye?" (Why did you wake up?)

"Kyunki tum chali gayi thi" he told her. " Kya kar rahi ho tum us pillow ke saath? Couch par jaane ka iraada hai?"
(Because you went away. What are you doing with that pillow. Do you intend to sleep on the couch?)

"Raman" Ishita was suddenly shy. " Aap abhi theek nahi hue. Mein aap ko disturb nahi karna chahti isliye.."
(Raman, you're not well yet. I don't want to disturb you...)

"Disturb toh mein tab rahoonga agar mujhe raat bhar neend nahi ayi" he told her. "Aur neend mujhe tab hi ayegi jab tum mere paas rahogi. Ab nakhre chodo aur ao yahan."
(I'll be disturbed if I can't sleep. And I'll only be able to sleep when you are with me. Now stop all your drama and come here)

She smiled shyly at him, before walking to the other side of the bed and sitting down. He turned towards her, catching her hand in his.

"Saari raat baithne ka iraada hai kya?" (Do you intend to sit all night?) he asked her softly. She smiled and shook her head, lying down and turning to face him.

He returned her smile, turning briefly to turn off the lights before taking her hand in his, entwining his fingers with hers.

"Ab chain ayi" (Now I can sleep) he said softly, as he closed his eyes.