Broken

Part Twenty Two: Pyar Mujhse Jo Kiya Tumne Toh Kya Paoge

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An Hour Later
Ishita looked self consciously at him as Raman continued to stare at her, a soft smile on his lips.

"Kya? Accha nahi hai kya? Is my dress too casual? You said na, we would just go for a coffee close by? That's why I thought...."

Raman gave a chuckle as he finally stopped staring, starting the engine before pulling away from the carpark of Ishita's apartment building.

"Great minds think alike, that's all" he expertly slid the car onto the road, before reaching out to touch her cheek with his free hand. " Kya tum ne dekha bhi hai ki maine kya pehna hai madam?" (Have you even noticed what I'm wearing?)

It was Ishita's turn to chuckle as she tore her eyes away from Raman's face and looked over at him properly. He had called her from his car since he could not find a free park, and she had rushed down to get in while he double parked at the entrance to the carpark. Her eyes had been drawn instinctively to his face, to the love blazing in his eyes, when she saw him, and she had not noticed his clothes. But looking at him now, she understood the reason for his chuckles and his smile. He was dressed identically to her, in a loose white linen shirt and pale blue jeans.

"Oh no" she said through her laughter. "Yeh kaise ho gaya?" (How did this happen?)

"You'll have to pick my clothes out for me every morning now,  Mrs Bhalla to be. Otherwise we will look like twins."

"Woh toh nahi hoga" (That won't happen) she said softly, even as she coloured at the name he gave her. Mrs Bhalla to be. Mrs Raman Bhalla. Dr Ishita Raman Bhalla. She was really getting married to him. Then why did it all still seem so unreal, so dreamlike?

"Kyun nahi hoga?" He demanded with an indulgent chuckle, even as he expertly navigated the car amongst the busy Sunday night traffic. "Abhi hua toh hai na?" (Why won't it happen? It happened just now didn't it?)

"Kyunki mein office sari ya kameez pehenti hoon, aap ki tarha Business suits Aur ties nahi."(Because I wear saris and kameez to the office, not business suits and ties like you)

"You're smart Dr Iyer" he smiled at her, as he turned into the parking lot of a Coffee Bean franchise, turning off the engine. His smile turned into a look of concern as he saw her smile fade, replaced by a look of intense pain. "Ishita, what's wrong?"

"Nothing" she whispered. "Just don't call me Dr Iyer please."

"Ishita" He cupped her chin, making her look at him. "Yeh kab tak chalega meri jaan? (How long will this go on my love?) I know they hurt you a lot, but I also know how much you love them. We're starting a new life sweetheart. Can't you forgive them?"

She shook her head fiercely, blinking away tears. "Please Raman. I don't want to talk about this. Aap...aap mujhe ghar chodh dijiye please...I'm..." (Just...just drop me off at home please...I...)

"Accha I'm sorry, come here" He pulled her stiff resisting body into his arms, caressing her back gently until she relaxed, her own arms sneaking around him, holding him close.

"Okay jaan?" He asked softly and she nodded against his chest. She felt so safe, so secure in his arms. It was as if all the pain of the past, all the uncertainties of the future faded into oblivion.

He sighed as he felt her relax into his arms. He could feel the contours of her body beneath his hands, could feel the softness that pressed into his hard planes. His heartbeat quickened as her nearness affected him in the way it always did. With a surge of primordial desire so intense that he wanted to possess her, to make her his there and then.