ALWAYS THERE

Part 17

-IN RAMAN'S HOTEL ROOM

Raman and Ishita had changed into night clothes and made it to the bed ready to sleep. Raman took Ishita in his arms and rested his head on the headrest so they post were in a semi-sleeping position.  

R: Ishita, how are you feeling right now? Tumne apni dawaiyan li?

I: Haan Raman, le li. By the way, mujhe aap se kuchh puchhne hain.

R: Puchho.

I: Kya kattar Punjabi ne sharab chhod di thi? Aur kya Kudkud Kumar ne sach mein kudkud band kar di?

R: Are haan meri Jhansi ki Rani, sach mein. Teri yaad mein. Khush?

I: Sharab ke part ke liye khush, but otherwise not.

R: Kyun? Aisa kyun?

I: Kyunki Raman aap apne feelings daba ke rakh rahe the. Gussa karna na mere Raavan Kumar ka sirf narazgi batane ka nahi, pyaar jatane ka tareeka hain.
Now, promise me that you will never ever suppress your emotions like that again. Mujhe na mere 'dil kholke sab kuchh karne wale' Raman sabse jyaada pasand hain.

R: Okay baby, promise.

I: And, I would like more of these baby, dear, darling endearments. We never had this before. We missed such a romantic part!

R: Done! Ab humne jo kuchh bhi miss kiya tha, woh sab karenge. And let's begin with 'baby, dear, darling'.

Both laughed together. After the laughter subsided, Ishita said with a serious face-

I: Raman, thank you so much mujhe apne saath laane ke liye. Mujhe maaf karne ke liye.

R: Ishita, kab tak yahi sochti rahogi? Aaj humare zindagi ek nayi shuruat hain. Let's embrace it happily. 

I: Main itne dino se sirf isi din ka intezaar kar rahi thi. I am so happy I can't put in into words.

R: Achha? Toh yeh happiness awaaj mein kyun nahi sunai de rahi?

I: Kya baat kar rahe ho aap Raman...

R: Tumne kya promise kiya tha mujhse yaad hain na? Only the absolute truth.

I: Raman... ek baat hain jo mere dimaag mein hain.

R: Batao.

I: Raman, aap ko yaad hain aapka anniversary gift. Meri fertility test report?

R: Yaa, I remember. Jiske mutabit chances hain ki tum maa ban sakti ho.

I: Chances the... Ab nahi hain. Inn treatments mein woh saare chances null ho gaye hain Raman. Now, there are no more possibilities of Ishita becoming a real mother.

R: (tightening his arms around her) So, that's fine. Isn't it?

I: (looking up at him) Aapko bura nahi laga?

R: (sighing) Ishita, jab maine tumhe kaha tha ki chances hain, toh yaad hain what you had said. You said that you didn't need anything more to be happy and content other our love and our family, our kids-Adi and Ruhi.

I: And that still goes.

R: Same here. Tumse jyada kya chahiye mujhe khush rehne ke liye. 2 itne achhe bachhe hain, bhara-poora parivaar, khushhaal zindagi hain. What more can I ask for!

Jo khushi sirf tumhara hona bhi mujhe deta hain na, woh aur koi nahi de sakta. Mera dil tumhare hone ke ehsaas se bhi khush hota hain. Mere jeena ki har arzoo sirf tumhare liye hain. Meri zindagi ka matlab, mere jeene ki har wajah tumse hain. Tum mera sapna ho, meri haqikat ho, meri khwaish ho. Tumhare saath main jee uthata hoon Madrasan.

Tum hi kehti ho na 'Life is not a race, it's a journey'. Toh humsafar bankar zindagi jeete hain. Hum dono humesha khush rahenge.

I: (hugging him tightly) I love you Raman, very very much.

R: Abhi na jao chhodkar, ke dil abhi bhara nahi!!!

Both smiled at each other.

I: How romantic!

He kissed her on her forehead.
Both of them slept in each other's arms. It was truly an eventful night. A night of seeking answers, revelations, finding solace and hoping for a tomorrow of togetherness.