Chapter 4:
"Eerrmm ermhh! Akka, we are waiting!!" teased Mihika and brought the blushing couple back to Earth and into their senses. Raman caught Ishita's right hand so naturally as if that was how it was meant to be. Both of them slid the knife into the cake while everyone sang Ishita her birthday song! Raman was silent and stole several glances at Ishita as she cut the cake and admired her as she fed the cake first to Ruhi. She then automatically turned to Raman and fed the cake to him and was surprised at how naturally she acted! He was her husband and had the right for the first bite! Well, actually second. No one could be first but Ruhi for Ishita! Not even Raman! He quickly took the remaining cake from her hand and fed it to her. It was a different matter that both were trying not to see eye to eye and avoiding each other's gaze as both were profusely self-conscious about their red-tomatoes like faces. Hoping and praying that the other did not notice anything strange.
Raman had been trying to save himself from embarrassment since that morning as he could not keep his eyes off his beautiful lady. He was afraid that if he tried to compliment her, it might come out all wrong and he might end up taunting her instead and that he did not want to do. Actually Raman came to know about Ishita's birthday the previous day when he overheard Mihir talking on the phone with Mihika who mentioned about the chocolate cake she had ordered for her akka. Of course, Raman being Raman hadn't asked Mihir or anyone else about it. When he came to have his morning tea, he was so mesmerized with her beauty that he was unable to move away from her and ogled at her with the newspaper coming to the rescue. He did not want to upset her on her birthday and hence did not utter a single word. He did not want her to see him in such a vulnerable state. He wanted the time to stop while he sat there and stared at his wife until he finally realized that he had something to get done immediately and went inside.
He however, had noticed how gorgeous that sari looked on her and how well she carried it off. He silently congratulated himself for having bought it for her even though she thought it was too pricy. She looked like a goddess and she deserved it, he thought. He had seen her blush and smile to herself and that just made him blush even more! He observed that Ishita was trying to get his attention when she walked back and forth several times in front of him. He had noticed how she was getting restless and exasperated thinking he hadn't noticed her. He enjoyed her reactions to his supposed aloofness and wanted to keep it that way for the time being.
He knew that Mihika would be bringing Ishita a cake in the morning through Mihir's conversation. He was going to be there with her and wouldn't miss it for anything. She was HIS wife and he did feel that it was his duty to be there for her at all times.
Ruhi ran inside after Ishita fed the cake to her parents and all the Bhallas. She came out with a small gift bag and handed it to her mother. Ishita happily opened the bag and saw a cute greeting card made by Ruhi. On the first page of the greeting was a cute stick drawing of a mother and daughter and inside Ruhi had written Happy birthday Ishima! World's Best Mom! Love you, Ruhi'. There was a photograph of Ishita and Ruhi on the left side. Ishita bent down and kissed her daughter as she felt tears welling up in her eyes. Ishita checked the bag again and found a bracelet made by Ruhi for her. It was a braided bead bracelet which had 5 beads interlaced at the center and was braided all around with colourful satin threads. The beads had an R' followed by a pink heart, followed by I', another pink heart and an R'. Ishita couldn't stop her tears as she saw the bracelet. It meant the world to Ishita that the bracelet symbolized Ruhi, Ishita and Raman were bonded together by love. She asked Ruhi to tie it on her wrist and hugged her tightly. Raman couldn't be more proud of his daughter at this very moment.
Mr. and Mrs. Iyer invited all the Bhallas for lunch at their place. Knowing Raman's dislike for south indian vegetarian food, Ishita tried to politely decline the invitation but Raman gladly accepted it before Ishita could say anything. "Amma, thank you for the invitation! We will be there. How long since I have been asking Ishita to make a decent south Indian dish but we all know how she cooks" Raman winked at Ishita and continued "we would love to come by this afternoon! Actually amma, take Ishita with you so she can also help you prepare lunch. Me and Ruhi will join you all in an hour" Madhu was elated and kissed Raman on the forehead. Mr. and Mrs. Bhalla said they already had plans and that they would take up on the invitation another time. Romi had plans with Sarika that afternoon and so gave an excuse. So, it was decided that Raman and Ruhi would go for lunch at the Iyer's.
Ishita was looking forward to spending some time alone with Raman. After all, he had not wished her yet! But now, she did not know what Raman was upto! She knew that Raman wanted her to spend time with her parents and also did not want to let her mother down as she would be making Ishita's favorite dishes like always. But, first he could at least wish her and more importantly complement her on her sari, Ishita felt a bit disappointed. But she left with her parents, anyway.
That afternoon, Ishita had the best time with her parents and Mihika! She realized how different she felt in the same house last year on that same day. She somehow felt alive and happy now. She couldn't remember the last time she smiled so much on her birthday. Vandu akka and Bala jiju also came by that afternoon with Sravan. After wishing his chitti, Sravan ran off to play with Ruhi. While the ladies were busy in the kitchen cooking and gossiping, Raman, Mr.Iyer and Bala enjoyed watching a cricket match on tv. Mr. and Mrs. Iyer noticed how happy Ishita was and thanked Murugan for taking such good care of their daughter. They had seen her suffer for too long and finally they saw true happiness on her face. They felt emotional seeing the stark contrast between her last birthday and this one. Now, she had Raman and Ruhi and a wonderful family by her side. They wished well for her daughter and her family.
Lunch was served on time and Ishita noticed that Raman really loved all the food while he complimented Madhu and declared her the best south Indian chef many times that afternoon. He would look at Ishita with a coy smile each time her mother blushed or kissed Raman for being so nice. Ishita blushed and smiled silently while Madhu in turn declared Raman the best son. Bala wasn't jealous that his best son' title was being given away to Raman by his mother-in-law but was definitely amused at Raman's unusual behavior. Raman always got along very well with the Iyers' but today was different, Bala felt. He noticed the exchange of eye-talks between him and Ishita and understood that Raman was on a mission to impress her today.
"Ishita, that sari looks beautiful on you! Thank you for wearing it!" said Raman sincerely making Ishita blush again when they were finally alone in their room that late afternoon. Ishita was ecstatic to hear this compliment! She had been waiting all day to hear it! But, is this her Raavan Kumar? The Raavan kumar who always had a taunt following his compliments? Ishita wondered! And then it came! "You couldn't have thanked me for it?! All you did was complain about the price when I gave it to you" he said sulkingly trying to bring back the normalcy for the moment. "Thank you Raman. I really love this sari" said Ishita fondly! Finally her Raavan Kumar had acknowleged that he loved her in that sari! This birthday was getting better and better for Ishita.
Ishita noticed Raman staring at her when she was putting away some clothes in the cupboard through the corner of her eye. She was terribly flushed at the loving stares Raman was giving her when he suddenly said "Happy Birthday Ishita!" At that moment, she felt her birthday was complete! She looked up at him shyly and saw that he was holding a small gift box with a bow on top. Her heart skipped a beat and it took time for her to let out a thank you Raman' as she found it hard to find her voice. He handed the box to her. She was surprised that he had also bought her a gift when she thought he did not know about her birthday.
She took the box from his hand and opened it. What she saw inside, she could have never guessed! It was a key!
O Humnava Tum Dena Saath Mera
Jhanak
Sports
Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye
Cricket
