Ishita sat back quietly, as Raman turned the car down a meandering side road. The signs of habitation and civilisation decreased the further they drove on, to be replaced by verdant green foliage, soft fragrant breezes and their increasing awareness of each other.
"Raman" Ishita tried one more time. " Where...?"
Raman caressed her cheek softly with his free hand. "Here" he said, pointing to a decrepit building in a clearing a few hundred metres away.
Raman pulled up and parked the car some hundred metres away from the building, an ancient run down temple. The countryside appeared totally deserted, the sparse trees surrounding the monument wafting gently in the breeze. The cries of distant birds were the only sounds punctuating the silence.
"What is this" Ishita turned eagerly to Raman.
He clasped her hands in reply, his eyes darkening with emotion.
"This is a temple of Kama, the God of Love, Ishita. When we were here last year, I met some locals who told me about the legend of this temple. Apparently, if you come here with your true love, and pledge yourself to each other, then nothing and no one can ever separate you." He smiled at her " I did not believe in true love at that time, Ishita, and I remember mocking the men who told us the story. But now... but now, I want to believe, I want to bind you to me so that no one can ever come between us. We married for Ruhi, Ishu, but now I want you for myself. No compulsion, no majboori, no excuses, just you and me. When we took our vows Ishita, my heart was full of cynicism and doubt. I went through the motions because I needed to get custody of my daughter. But Ishu, here, today, I want to pledge myself to you. For ever. And only for you. Sirf tumhare liye".
Uncontrollable tears were flowing down Ishita's cheeks now. "Raman" she whispered."I want that too. Sirf tumhare liye. I married you for Ruhi, Ruhi ke liye, and by doing so I gained the child I thought I would never have. But that's not enough for me any more Raman. I love you so much. After Subbu left me, I thought I could never love again. Marriage to you was a compromise to get that which I wanted the most, my child, my Ruhi. But Raman, I had no idea then that I would grow to love you so much. My past, my anguish, all seem like a distant dream now. What I feel for you, I have never felt before. Not for Subbu, not for anyone. I could never have imagined...never.."
Raman smiled as she spoke, his unspoken fears and insecurities about Subbu being laid to rest by her innocent candour. He wiped her eyes gently, and then opening the door, came up to the passenger side of the car and lifted her up in his arms.
"Then come my darling" he whispered, kissing her softly on both cheeks.
He carried her up the meandering and rocky path to the little temple, his eyes fixed on his destination, hers on his. His hold on her was firm and tight, as though he was carrying all the treasures of the world in his arms. It was only when they reached the stairs of the shrine that he set her down, taking off her shoes before removing his own.
He held her hand as they walked into the shrine together, reaching up to sound the temple bells. As the bells rang out over the quiet countryside, they folded their hands before the statute of Kama, the God of Love. Raman then turned and took Ishita's hands in his again.
"I love you Ishita Raman Kumar Bhalla" he said softly and simply, gazing into her eyes. " I will love you for the rest of my life and beyond. You are my soulmate, my love, my best friend, my confidante. You make me a better man. I can't imagine life without you. Be mine, now and forever"
Ishita forced back her tears as she held his intense gaze.
"I love you, Raman Kumar Bhalla" the intensity in her voice matched his. "I will love you for the rest of my life and all the lives to come. You complete me, you make me whole. I do not want to imagine life without you. You have my trust, my faith, for now and for ever."
He took her in his arms then, enfolding her and holding her close, so close. They stood with their arms entwined around each other, unwilling to let go, lost in each other.
She did not not how long after it was, when he reluctantly pulled away, only to rummage in his pockets and hold out a ring box to her.
"Remember" he smiled mistily."the plastic ring I gave you for our engagement, I never replaced it."
He opened the box and held out a beautiful solitaire diamond to Ishita, dropping to his knees as he did so.
"I know we are doing everything in reverse, first our daughter, then our wedding and now the proposal ring, but will you wear my ring, Ishita?."
Ishita nodded, unable to speak. He slipped the jewel on her finger, kissing her hands as he did so. He then stood up, and moving his hands up, cupped her beautiful face in his hands.
Ishita shivered under the intensity of his gaze. He held her face in his hands, his eyes searching hers, as he slowly moved his face towards hers. Ishita felt as if her breath would stop. His nearness, the hunger in his eyes, the touch of his hands on her face, his long fingers softly caressing as they held her captive...
Slowly, he lowered his lips on to her forehead, raining kisses, moving down to her now closed eyes. His lips were gentle and his touch restrained, but Ishita could sense the fires underneath. His lips moved from her eyes, further down, on both cheeks, then hovered just above her trembling lips.
"Raman" she moaned " Raman..."
That was all the encouragement he needed, as his lips hungrily took hers. He probed gently at first, caressing and sucking slowly, before the days, weeks and months of pent up desire took over. Time stopped for them both as he deepened the kiss, as if drawing her very essence from her. She moaned and strained further towards him, pulling him closer.
It was the soft tinkle of the temple bells, pushed either by the wind or the invisible hand of Kama, that finally drew them apart. He looked down with satisfaction at her flushed cheeks and swollen lips, pulling her into his embrace again.
"Well, Mrs Bhalla" he chuckled softly. "You did say you were hungry, didn't you. Shall we go and eat now?" And lifting her into his arms again, Raman strode back to the car with his Ishita.
Naagin 7
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