CHAPTER EIGHTY NINE
It had been a couple of weeks after the whole Mr. Khanna fiasco and Ishita still had to convince her mom still that she was doing well and there was nothing to worry about
'Mama I am fine I swear...'' Said Ishita as she spoke to her mother on the phone
'This is not done... Why didn't you tell me? Did they get all of them?'' Asked Mrs. Iyer
'Yes... Raman and Mr. Khan made sure of it. Mama I swear I am fine...'' Said Ishita
Raman came back from the bathroom a towel around his waist. He chuckled not believing Ishita was still on the phone.
'I am coming there. I knew it was too soon for us to come back. I told your father but he is just too damn stubborn to listen to me. My baby was...'' Mrs. Iyer began but Ishita interrupted her again
'Mom seriously I am fine. You are being overly dramatic seriously... I swear... Here talk to Raman he will tell you...'' Said Ishita as she handed Raman the phone
She had been trying to convince her mother for the better part of 45 minutes telling her that she was fine but her mother just wouldn't believe her. She didn't know what else to do except let Raman tell her because she believed him better than her when it came to her health.
'Hey Mrs. Iyer...'' Said Raman
'Hey Son how are you?'' Said Mrs. Iyer
'I am good mama and so is Ishita. She is well taken care of I promise...'' Said Raman as he smiled at Ishita
'Really... Won't she be traumatized again like she was before...'' Said Mrs. Iyer
Ishita who was laying on the bed saw Raman who was standing in the middle of their room shirtless with just a towel which he had tied down to his waist and she began getting ideas. She came forward and put her hands around him slowly sliding her hand down as she felt his pelvis where his tattoo lay causing Raman to groan a little as he felt her hands. He slowly took her hand and pulled it up hoping his mother in law hadn't heard his groan
'She won't be traumatized Mrs. Iyer I promise and assure you, she is most definitely not traumatized.'' He said smiling
'Really... How is she now...'' Asked a concerned Mrs. Iyer
Ishita leaned into him some more and began kissing his bare chest dropping wet kisses slowly by slowly on his wet chest
'Hhmmm... Ha-ha... She is fine now... She is absolutely fine...'' Said Raman letting out a soft laugh as he slowly moved away from where Ishita was because he knew he might end up giving up something away
'Are you okay Raman? You sound funny...'' Said Mrs. Iyer
'Yeah... Yeah I am absolutely okay. Don't worry yourself so much, I will make sure that I take good care of her and if anything goes wrong, I swear I will call you.'' Said Raman as Ishita went back on the bed laughing a little at how Raman was hurrying to get her mother off the phone
'Okay... I trust your word more than hers. Okay I will leave you to it. Please take care of yourself as well...'' Said Mrs. Iyer before she hang up
'I swear Ishita that was naughty of you. I was talking to my in law, have some shame you know...'' Said Raman as he came to the bed leaning in as he kissed her
'Well you looked all sexy and really inviting in that towel of yours, I couldn't help myself so technically it is your fault...'' She said smilingly as she kissed him back
'Oh really... Is it now...'' he added as he leaned into her some more causing her to lay down on the bed as he kissed her sucking on her lips and tasting the sweet taste of her love with their every kiss.
'Knock... Knock...'' Their came the sound on the door causing Ishita to pull away from him
'Hhmmm no now let them knock, they will go away...'' murmured Raman his lips still on hers
'It could be your mom, Come on...'' Said Ishita
'Raman beta... ' Called Mr. Bhalla
'I swear this family has the worst possible timing by God...'' Said Raman as he leaned back sitting on the bed as he grabbed a pillow all the while still in his towel
Ishita let out a soft laugh as she walked over to the door only to see a face that she most definitely was not expecting.
'Mihika, Abhi of my God Jai, What the hell are you all doing here?'' Said a surprised Ishita
'Well... Your mother is the most persistent woman I have ever met hands down and saying no to her is getting harder by the day. She insisted we come so here we are...'' Said Abhimanyu as he leaned in hugging Ishita
'Hey Sis, Remember me...'' Said Jai as he hugged her as well
'Yes of course... How have you been ...'' Said Ishita
'Good... And you are looking good too I can say...'' Said Jai
'Yeah way too good... She even has this glow on her face that wasn't there the last time I saw her.'' Said Mihika looking at Ishita as if she would find something in her face or expression
'Well I would like to think I have something to do with that...'' Said Rama who had quickly grabbed a pair of pants and a t-shirt
'Oh hey bro...'' Said Jai as he hugged Raman
'Oh hey...'' Said and excited Raman
'Wow I haven't seen you for a while now... We need to change that you know...'' he added
'Hey Raman...'' Said Abhimanyu
'Hey...'' answered Raman
'So... Are you two going to let us in or are we going to talk outside?'' Said Mihika to which Raman chuckled saying
'Oh no please... Please excuse the mess a little, your sister is messy...'' Said Raman
'Khuch Bhi... I am not messy yaar...'' Said Ishita causing all of them to laugh as they walked through Raman and Ishita's room all the walk outside to the poolside
Mihika who so desperately wanted to talk to Ishita and quite honestly gossip pulled Ishita back leaving the boys to move ahead.
'Ishu... Wait...'' Said Mihika casing Ishita to stay back
'I want details, how was that weekend...'' Said Mihika
'It was fine. Why...'' Said Ishita clearly toying with Mihika
'What the hell is 'it was fine''? Come one you need to do better than that.'' Said Mihika
'Bwahahaha... It was amazing... Better than I expected to be honest.'' Ishita answered
'Oh really... So can I take it that you're okay completely now... No nightmares...'' Said Mihika
'I hope so... I mean I haven't had any since so I guess it is a good thing. And what I was so afraid of didn't happen, my mind was just playing tricks on me so I think that will help in the long run as well...'' Said Ishita
Mihika looked at her as she began to tear up as she looked at her sister feeling proud that she got to call Ishita sister. She had been through so much and yet here she was with a smile on her face like it was nothing
'I am so proud of you Ishu...'' Said Mihika
'Oh come on, no tears please...'' Said Ishita as she hugged Mihika
'I know, sorry. It is just that this year has to be one of the worst you have hard and yet somehow your still here with a smile on your face. I am so amazed. How you do it, I can't even imagine...'' Said Mihika
'Well I don't do it alone. I have an amazing family that love me to bits, then there is you, Abhi and Jai who I am utterly grateful for because you have been there for me though it all. Then there is Raman who makes even the worst of days seen like a walk in the park. So it makes it easier than it would have been had I been alone.'' Said Ishita
'Yeah, you're lucky there. I mean who knew you and Raman would actually end up here?'' Said Mihika
'Yeah I know. My biggest compromise turned out to be the best thing that happened to me. I am lucky in deed.'' Said Ishita
'Oh wow you are all glowing even when just talking about him.'' Said Mihika
'I just love him to bits...'' She said as she let out a soft laugh
'So everything is fine... How did that weekend go? Was it good?'' Said Mihika
Oh God what can I say. We didn't leave that house for two days. He did things to me and brought out these feelings within that I didn't even know I had. He touched me places I didn't realize I even had...'' Ishita began to talk closing her eyes as she remembered her time at that house
'Okay... Okay... Too much information please...'' Said Mihika as she shook Ishita out of her stance
'What... you asked...'' She said laughing as they both walked out of the room to join the guys outside
'Oh God Raman I swear you were such a bore fest when we first met you. I swear I told Mihika that you and Ishita had less than a year together. I didn't think Ishita would last so long with you...'' Said Jai
'I am so not a bore fest. I was just not used to you guys that is why I kind of always kept my cool.'' Said Raman
'Forget bore fest, he was such an angry person then. Remember that time we had to go out as he was supposed to be showing us around...'' Said Mihika who was joining them with Ishita not far behind
'Oh God yeah, you got so angry at that waiter for pouring that drink on you I swear I thought you were going to kill him.'' Said Jai laughing as they all joined in
'Please... The first time he met me I was sure he was going to punch my teeth out. He hated my guts...'' Said Abhimanyu
'What... No I didn't...'' Said Raman as Ishita sat on his lap
'Oh please... Ishita maybe good at hiding her emotions, but you not so much'' Said Mihika as she sat next to Abhimanyu holding his hand in the process
'Wait... You didn't like Abhi? Why...'' Said Jai
'He thought Abhimanyu and I were in love with each other.'' Said Ishita smiling
'Oh shut the front door. I couldn't even imagine that. Abhi has been in love with Mihika for as long as I can remember.'' Said Jai
'Wait a minute, how come you all knew it but she didn't.'' Said Raman
'Because she is the clueless one; she is so poor at reading people it is sad...When it come to everyone else her antennas are on high alert, when it come to her, well the signals are usually lost'' Said Jai causing Mihika to playfully slap them thus all of them breaking out into fit of laughter
'Look any normal person would have thought that he was in love with Ishita...'' Said Mihika
'See... Tell them...' Said Raman
'Anyone who knew the two of you and how you talk about each other would have though the same. Abhi would drop everything as long as Ishita needed him and she would do the same for him. They shared, still do share a bond so strong it is not even normal between two people let alone a brother and sister.'' Said Mihika
'See... Thank you... She saw what I did...'' Said Raman
'I did the same for you too except you were crushing so hard on the pretty rich boy next door you couldn't see it.'' Said Abhi
'Well now I see that and I am grateful for that...'''Mihika answered leaning in as she planted a kiss on his cheek
'Ohhh I just want to throw up...'' Said Jai with a funny expression that caused everyone to burst into laughter
Ishita threw her head back laughing and for the first time she wasn't holing back or having anything bothering her heart. She was genuinely happy and content and this is something she didn't even think would ever be possible. They spent some more time together outside while together reminiscing old times and how things might have turned out if they hadn't met.
No one knew better than Raman how to give a surprise and he had been planning this particular one for a while. Ishita's siblings were all there for reasons completely different than the ones they had given to Ishita initially. Their reason for coming to her room and then walking to the pool side was so to make sure that she didn't suspect even a thing as they kept her out of the house.
Everything was being put into place and it was ready and set. All that was remaining was the lady of the hour, Ishita. Santosh came to the entrance of the door raising the curtains as a signal to Raman that everything was ready. He signaled Mihika and the drama began
'Ishu... We need to dress up and go out...'' Said Mihika
'What nonsense... I don't want to go anywhere. Besides we are having so much fun here...'' Said Ishita
'Please Ishita come on. I for once agree with this bubble head, we need to go out and have some fun.'' Said Jai causing Mihika to playfully slap him
'I don't know... Raman what do you think?'' Sid Ishita
'Why can't you make up your mind yourself...'' Said Abhimanyu
'No I can but I would rather do what he wants. It a marriage thing, you won't understand...'' Said Ishita clearly poking fun at him
'Ha-ha that will change soon I promise...'' He said looking at Mihika
'Okay... We'll go besides they have come all this far to see you the least we can do a try and be good hosts, right...'' Said Raman
'It is settled then, I will go change into something appropriate and then I will join you inside.'' Said Ishita to which her siblings walked to the living room using the outer door while Ishita and Raman made their way back inside
She walked in following Raman while he walked straight to the closet removing this beautiful red gown and handed it to her
'What is this?'' she asked surprised
'Wear that... I would like to see you in that plus it will be appropriate for the place I want to take you to.'' He said
Ishita probably should have asked more questions but knowing him and how he liked being fancy she figured this was going to be one of those nights where he took her to a place that was such.
She carefully out on the dress touching up her make-up which looked as natural as possible and it is when he loved her the most. Raman who had gone to the bathroom walked back into the room and when he lay his eyes on her he fell in love all over again reaffirming what he was about to do all the more
'Oh My God, you look absolutely breath taking...'' He said staring at her head to toe
'Thank you... I was worried it was too much. Is it too much'' she asked a bit nervous
'What... No it is perfect...'' he said as he came forward kissing her
'Well you too look very handsome Mr. Raman Kumar Bhalla...'' she said smilingly as she kissed him back. He looked dapper in his black fitted suit looking sexy as he always did.
He walked with hand in hand as they made their way down stairs and she could tell something was a bit off. When she made it to the top of the stair way, she could see they were all laced with beautiful red roses and white lilies. Ruhi and Aditya were beautifully dressed and were standing at the end of the stairs.
She turned and looked at him surprised out of her mind wondering what exactly was going on. Raman came and stood in front of her asking
'Do you trust me...'' to which she nodded on affirmation before he added
'Then walk with me...''
She laughed a little as she slowly took his hand and together they walked down stairs. When she got there she could see everyone she loved in the same room and she couldn't believe it.
Her parents the Iyers were there, the Khans as well, her siblings, Ishana inclusive, the Bhallas, the Ragavs, the children Ayaan, Dev, Akash, Nitya and Saanvi were all there and she couldn't believe it.
She fought back the tears as she saw her family all of them look at her with so much love and care as she racked her head not understanding what the hell was going on. She then felt Ruhi and Aditya take her hand as they made her stand in the middle of the room while everyone else surrounded her.
'Raman... What is going on...'' Said Ishita
'Well Mom, remember that last immunity wish I had. I gave it to dad because he made some really good points as to why he should have it'' Said Aditya
'Okay...'' Said Ishita
'Well my love, I have papers that I want you to sign.'' Said Raman
'Uffoo Papa, it is not done like that...'' Said Ruhi as she asked her dad to bed down and tell him how he was supposed to do it
'Oh right...'' Said Raman turning to Ishita as he said
'I evoke my wish and ask you to sign these papers...'' Said Raman causing Ishita to chuckle at their antic
'Okay...'' She said again
Kushan walked in with this envelop that he opened up handing her the papers and a pen. Ishita looked at him and with all the anxiety and curiosity took the papers in her hands and read them. Her expression slowly changed as she read them and she began to tear up as she looked up at him
'Raman... Divorce papers...'' She said
'I know...'' he answered his facial expression not giving away a lot
'Why...'' She said her voice breaking
'Mom no questions asked remember...'' Said Aditya
Raman walked over to where she was standing and wiped away her tears that had begun to stream down her face with his thumbs.
'Trust me...'' he said
Ishita really wanted to believe and take a leap of faith but it was really becoming a problem given she was holding divorce papers with his signature on them. She took a deep breath and looked at her children before she decided to take that leap of faith and sign.
Kushan took them and inspected them properly before he turned to Raman and said
'Yup it is all done. She is all yours...''
Raman took her hand in his and said
'When I married you it was for all the wrong reasons and if I am being honest I didn't really give you much choice to think about it. I was your compromise and you mine. But then you happened to me. Swept me off my feet and took my breath away with the way you took care of my children and me without any hesitation and ill manner. I really thought you had done this for the money you know, but as time went on and I saw how caring you were with my daughter I realized money had nothing to do with it. This was something you did out of the goodness of your heart to try and help a child who wasn't even yours. When I saw my daughter laugh and call me dad in such a long time, it was because of you and I realized that I was probably going to fall for you so hard but I wouldn't let myself think like that.'' He said
'Raman...'' She tried to interrupted
'Shhsss Mom...'' Said Aditya
'Then their cam my spoilt brat of a son who you managed to tame and turn into this amazing loving child with the love that you gave him. Then there is me, who was so shattered and broken inside but you taught me to love myself more and let go of my past making it the best thing that ever happened to me. Marrying you has been the best thing that ever happened to me. Your kind and sweet and giving and so unconditionally loving that I still can't believe I managed to get you.'' He said as he began to tear up his voice breaking
At this point most of the women in the room were already in tears especially the parents
'Sometimes I took you for granted and for that I apologize and promise not to make that mistake ever again. There was a time I thought there was no way we would last and I was so scared of showing you how I felt that I covered it up with taunts and even for that I apologize. But then your honesty slowly replaced my fear with honesty and your love eventually replaced my worry with love. I love you more than you will ever know and imagining you not in my life is something I can't process because to me you're my heartbeat.'' He said letting his tears flow without any fear in the world
'Ram...'' She tried to call his name out but she couldn't
'I love everything about you, your laugh, you snore, you smile, your smell, the feel of your hand in mine, your skin on mine, the feel of you in my arms. I get to wake up in the morning laying next to one of the most amazing human beings I know and I get to call her mine because she loves me.'' He said as he took a beautiful red box and went down on his knee.
He slowly opened the box and in it lay this gorgeous golden engagement ring that seemed so expensive and not extravagant at all. It looked exquisite time less and simple just like the person it was bought for.
'I ask you again to please do me the honor and marry me. No contract or the kids or anything but just me, Raman. I am asking you to do me the honor and make me the happiest make in the world and marry me. I want to do this right this time...''
Ishita stood in awe not believing this was happening much less to her. Things like these never happened with her and it was going to take a lot even from her to believe that someone can love her that much.
People waited lifetimes to have someone let alone feel someone love them this much. He was asking her this time for himself and he wanted their relationship to begin a new with new beginnings. This time he was asking for her hand in marriage not for anyone else but himself and that had to be the most romantic thing he had ever asked and done for her.
She was so over taken with emotion that she just nodded with admiration as tears streamed down her face causing Raman to carefully lay the ring on her finger fitting it perfectly as he pulled her in for a hug.
There were ululations in the room and it was safe to say most people in that room cried because they had witnessed from the front seat how much these two had fought to actually be and stay together. Every one congratulated them blessed them and wished them well their parent realizing that their children would actually be okay. Mr. Iyer pulled his daughter in for a hug as tears filled his eyes when he whispered
'I TOLD YOU LOVE, NO MORE MIRAGES, THE ONLY THING THAT A WAITS ARE BEAUTIFUL REALITIES ...''
*************************************************************
-love sunshine