IshRa FF Strangers Chapter 22-27 Page 94-95 *Completed* (3/3/15) - Page 8

Chapter 5

The muffled noise, that smell of burnt flesh, the screams, the dead bodies, darkness, noise - and she was trying to run from it all. "I promise I won't let anything happen to you. I promise," that voice was her savior. If only she could get to it. Ishita tried to run as fast as she could but she stumbled and fell and the darkness started to close in on her. She screamed.

Raman woke up groggily to the sound of Ishita screaming in her sleep. "Ishita! Ishita!" he called out to her but she kept flailing her arms and legs like she was trying to escape. He pulled her up from where she was lying and hugged her tight. "Its okay. Its okay. Its all over. Nothing will happen to you," Raman reassured her. And just like that, she stopped struggling. Raman tried to lay her down again but she was clutching his shirtfront tight. He tried to loosen her grip but she only held tighter. Raman let out a sigh and lay down next to her, cradling her in his arms. Her breathing had evened out and she was fast asleep again. Try as he might, Raman could not go back to sleep. He fidgeted around to get a look at the watch, trying not to disturb her too much. It was 6 o'clock! He'd slept for ten hours straight! He couldn't remember the last time he had slept for so long and so deeply. Well, he'd had one hell of a day! He looked towards Ishita sleeping peacefully in his arms. What on earth was he doing baby sitting this female? he wondered. He should be at work right now, working on the tender for that European company. He hoped Mihir would remember to add in this quarter's figures to the report before sending them. If only he could call Mihir and find out how things were going. But Abhi had warned them strictly against calling anyone. He'd taken away their phones too. What nonsense was this? Raman thought angrily. They had witnessed murder but were being treated as if they were the murderers - packed off to some God forsaken place in the middle of nowhere and allowed to be in touch with no one. And to top it all, he had to baby sit a drama queen. Raman sighed as he tried to extricate himself from her hold.

She stirred in her sleep and slowly opened her eyes. She screamed and got off the bed when she found herself in Raman's arms. "Are you mad?" he asked her crossly getting off the bed now that she'd finally get of him. "What are you doing in my bed?" she asked equally outraged. "Your bed? Excuse me madam. This is my bed. If you remember, I was the one who slept on this bed first. When and how did you land up on my bed?" Raman asked. Ishita looked around disoriented for a minute. Then she remembered it all and slapped her forehead. "Look, I was exhausted and I don't know when and how I fell asleep. But just because I fell asleep on the bed, does not mean you can.. try to.. you know.. do whatever with me," she retorted. "Do whatever?" Raman asked. "You know what I mean. I am not that kind of a girl. I don't know what your intentions are and why you insisted that I have to come with you but lets get one thing straight. We are only acting as husband and wife. There will be nothing more to it. And.. And if you try to.. do anything.. let me warn you, I learned karate in school. You will regret having ever laid eyes on me," Ishita warned him. Every word she spoke was infuriating him further. "Oh hello! You have no idea just how much I am already regretting laying eyes on you! And just who exactly do you think you are? Katrina Kaif?" he asked her. "For your kind information, you came and lay down next to me. I did not invite you to my bed. Then you started screaming in your sleep like the demons were out to get you and woke me up. Though I am pretty sure if there were any demons at all, they should be the ones getting nightmares of you and not the other way round. Anyways, I decided to help you, once again, because I am a fool and I never learn my lesson but you take the chance to cling onto me like we are posing for the cover picture of some stupid romance novel and then you have the audacity to yell at me for trying to do "whatever" with you?" he finished off angrily.

Before Ishita could even think of anything to say, they heard the doorbell. Ishita made a move towards the door but Raman stopped her. "I'll see," he said. Just from the way his body stiffened and demeanor changed, Ishita realized that he was trying to protect her and her anger receded. Not that she needed anyone to protect her, she corrected herself. She was a strong, confident, independent woman and she didn't need anybody at all. So she decided to follow him. It was Mrs. Singh at the door, to tell them dinner was ready. She'd even gotten them a fresh pair of clothes that Raman and Ishita were very thankful for.

***

"So, how did the two of you meet?" Mrs. Singh asked as they ate dinner. Raman and Ishita looked at each other. For a second, Ishita could not help but admit to herself that Raman wasn't all that bad to look at! He had changed into a white kurta pyjama, there was a shadow of a stubble on his chin and a light, frameless pair of glasses was perched on the bridge of his sharp nose. But that did not make him any more appealing though. The razor sharp tongue of his added fangs to his teeth and horns to his head. The visual made Ishita want to laugh out loud. With a great deal of effort, she stopped herself from laughing and concentrated on the task at hand. She had to come up with a love story for this Raavan Kumar and herself. Love story.. Ishita heaved a sigh. "Raman's family and my family, we have been neighbors for a very long time. Our families weren't really best of friends because of the differences in culture. We never really interacted much beyond the occasional hello or hi in the hallway," she started off.

Raman watched her as she started her story. She'd changed into a salwar that Mrs. Singh had got her, one that belonged to Mrs. Singh's daughter. It was a slightly ill-fitting one but the color was a gorgeous deep pink that suited her well, he thought. She talked animatedly and her features, especially her eyes, light up. He focused his attention back to her story when he heard his name. "My parents had gone for my cousin's wedding and I'd stayed back because I had exa.. Ummm.. important work related stuff lined up. It so happened that Raman's parents were out of town that weekend too. He didn't know I was alone at home and I didn't know he was alone at home either. It was night time and the power went out. He couldn't find candles in his house. He came over asking for candles. I happened to be cooking at that time. I gave him candles and he asked me if I was cooking sambhar. He said it was his favorite. He made a cute puppy face that was begging to be asked to stay for dinner, so I did. We ended up having our first candlelight dinner together," she smiled as if she were actually lost in the memory of the moment. "That's the first time we actually spoke properly to each other. And we ended up speaking for hours. By the time the night ended, we'd become friends," she said wistfully.

Boy! Was she a good story teller, Raman thought. If he hadn't known for a fact that none of this was true, he would have believed her story just the way Mr. and Mrs. Singh seemed to have bought her story.

"That is so sweet," Mrs. Singh commented happily. "I am sure Raman, the sambhar and the candles were just excuses to befriend her, right?" Mr. Singh asked. Raman simply smiled but said nothing. "When did you realize you were in love Raman? How did you propose?" Mrs. Singh asked excitedly. "Bhagya, they are going to be here for a while. If you ask them everything tonight, then you'll run out of things to talk about later on," Mr. Singh teased his wife. "Really? You really think I'll ever run out of things to talk about?" Mrs. Singh asked. "You know nothing makes me happier than a good romantic story. So stop spoiling the fun for me and let me listen to their story," Mrs. Singh turned towards Raman. "Come on Raman, let's hear your version of the story. How did you realize you were in love and how did you propose?" she asked.

Raman looked at Ishita for a second and then started to speak, "After that night, we would go out for coffee or meet at the terrace of our building to just sit and talk almost every day. We'd grown fond of each other, we really liked each other's company but hadn't realized we were in love. That's when an office party came up. I needed a date for the office party so I asked Ishita if she would like to come. She was worried what her parents would say, because we'd never really gotten around to telling our parents about our budding friendship. She lied to them and said she was going to her work party. I still remember how stunning she looked in that off shoulder blue gown she wore. I remember just standing there gawking at her like I'd seen her for the very first time. I kept her glued to my side throughout the party and wouldn't let her dance with anyone else. In fact, I almost punched one of the guys for trying to flirt with her." Raman laughed as he continued, "It was the first time I'd held her close and we danced to "Iss pal main hoon.." I don't know what it was, that wild, exotic perfume she had on, the nervous glances she stole at me, the way she perfectly fit in my arms, I don't know even now... All I could do was stare at her and hope that the night ever ended so I could just keep holding her. It was a massive reality check." Along with Mr. and Mrs. Singh, even Ishita was listening to his story with rapt attention. "On our way back from the party, I took a longer route getting home - my way of taking her on a long drive without being obvious about it. Sometime during that drive, I held her hand in mine and she did not take her hand away. It just felt right. And just like that, I told her that I loved her. There were no flowers, no gifts, no surprise. Yet it was the perfect moment.. For me.." he said.

"For us.."

Ishita's softly spoken words seemed to have jolted him out of his reverie and Raman looked at Ishita surprised. "For us.." she repeated, "it was the perfect moment for us." Ishita noticed something change in his eyes for a split second before he shook his head and looked away. When he looked at her again, he was back to being the Raavan Kumar that she knew. "Well, so yeah. That's how one moment can ruin your life," Raman commented and laughed. "Raman.." Mrs. Singh chided him. "No I swear Mrs. Singh. Ever since I laid eyes on her, my life has not been the same," Raman told her in all honesty. Mrs. and Mr. Singh simply shook their heads and laughed it off. If only they knew how true what he'd just said was, thought Raman.

"Ishita, Raman, listen. Be ready by 10 tomorrow morning. I will take you guys shopping and show you around. Since you will be here for a while, you need to familiarize yourself with the place. And Raman, I will put in a word with my friends and I am sure we'll be able to find you a job soon. Don't worry about anything, okay? You are newly weds. You should be enjoying your time now. Consider this to be an extended honeymoon," Mrs. Singh said as she winked at Ishita and nudged her. Ishita hoped the weird expressions she was giving would count as those of a blushing bride. Raman stepped aside with Mr. Singh to ask him if it would be alright to go out shopping and sightseeing. "Don't worry. I will have my man by your side all the time. Bhagya is used to it. She thinks it's a norm for all inspectors' wives to have their personal security guard," he assured Raman. Raman and Ishita finally bid the Singhs good night and walked to their cottage a few yards away. The entire compound was well guarded with two guards at the front gate and two at the rear. Another set of guards patrolled the whole compound, noted Raman feeling just a little relaxed.