IshRa FF Strangers Chapter 22-27 Page 94-95 *Completed* (3/3/15) - Page 52

Cant wait for next part...😊😊

Now on to the update...

Ishita believes she has nothing to offer raman, and raman is confused about his feelings. it'll take them a while to figure things out, and I hope both can have a heart to heart conversation.

Chapter 19

"Ranjini have you placed the tray of sweets in the center of the mandapam?" Ishita asked one of her younger cousins. "Akka I just finished decorating it. Look! I wrote Mihika Akka and Mihir jiju's names on it with the candy!" Ranjini held up the tray to Ishita. "Great job Ranjini. But please hurry up. The guests will be arriving soon. You know the nischayatharthyam is only the beginning. We have the haldi, mehendi, mappilai azhaippu, varamala and what not. If everything has to go smoothly, we have to work fast okay?" Ranjini nodded as she hurried off. The puja for the vrutham had happened earlier that morning. Thankfully for Ishita, there had been no more awkward scenes between her and Raman, partly due to the fact that Raman and pretty much all of the Bhalla clan had more or less slept their way through the puja. Amma had pointed out quite a few times how Toshiji, Raman's mother, had almost fallen over sleeping during the ceremonies. It was hilarious, this little competitive spirit her Amma had developed with Toshi Aunty. Even the ever-sensible Vandu Akka seemed to have developed this need to one up Raman's sister Simmi at all times. However, they both were pretty impressed by Raman and his manners. The way he'd greeted them respectfully, made small talk and laughed despite being so sleep deprived himself. When he did nod off in between the vrutham, her Amma had been more sympathetic towards him because he was such a "paavam" than she had been towards the "paavam" boy's mother. Well, not that it made any difference, Ishita reminded herself as she corrected the wicks in the traditional oil lamps placed around the mandapam.

"Chitti! Chitti! How do I look?" Ishita's nephew and Vandita's first born Shravan tugged at Ishita's saree pallu. "Arey waah! You are looking so handsome and all grown up in this traditional mundu! Lets do one thing. Why don't we get you married off too to some cute little girl?" Ishita teased Shravu. "Nooo! I hate girls!" Shravan yelled. "But I am a girl too," Ishita reminded him. "You are my chitti. You are an exception," he said as he got on tip-toe and kissed Ishita before running away. Ishita smiled and went back to check the decorations on the mandapam.

"Hello Ishu!"

She would've recognized that voice anywhere. Ishita stopped what she was doing and took a moment to brace herself for the onslaught that was about to happen. When she turned around, she had a pleasant smile on her face. "Hello! Welcome! Please come in and have a seat!" she greeted as formally and as cordially as she could. "Still making arrangements for other peoples' weddings eh?" the comment was a low blow of the worst kind, especially coming from him. "But you seem to have accepted things pretty well. And you really should thank me for it. If it weren't for me, you would still be harboring false hopes of love and a happy marriage and what not."

Ishita remained quiet and gritted her teeth in an effort to stop herself from crying. Why was he here? Had he always been such an insufferable jerk? And why did it matter to her? "I'll arrange for something for you to drink," she said as she made a move to get away from his presence. "Whatever you are getting, make it three please! Appa and Amma are here too."

Ishita stopped in her tracks. This just meant one thing. This whole wedding was going to become an extremely tedious affair for her from this moment. "Saru, my wife, she wanted to come too. But she is pregnant, again, with twins. So the doctor has advised her bed rest. She is at her mother's place with our older son. Three years of marriage and we already have three kids. How funny, right?" Why was he telling her all this? Was it deliberate or was he really that stupid? "You know Ishu, I feel so bad to see you so sad and lonely. I mean it must be really difficult to live your life without any love in it. I can't even imagine. Do you still live with your parents? What a silly question! You aren't married. Where else will you go, right? You know maybe you showed look for a slightly older guy or maybe someone who has maybe a slight physical or mental, you know.. Its better than having no one in your life."

Ishita wanted to do something, throw something at him and yell at him to get out. Just get out! Just as she was about to turn around and give him a piece of her mind, another voice stopped her.

"Ishita!!"

The voice was followed by a warm, familiar hand around her waist. Ishita looked at Raman in shock as he came to stand beside her. He winked at her playfully as he said, "Ishita, here you are! I've been looking for you everywhere baby. I can't find my favorite white shirt. Where did you put it?" Ishita looked at him surprised. What on earth had gotten into him? "You haven't even gotten ready yet sweetie. The guests will be here soon," he continued sweetly as he tucked away strands of hair from her face while she continued to stare at him stupefied.

"Uh hmmm.."

Raman glanced at the other man and said, "Oh I am sorry. Am I interrupting your conversation? I am really sorry. By the way, I don't think we have met. I am Raman. Raman Kumar Bhalla, Ishita's husband," Raman said extending his hand while keeping his other hand still around Ishita's waist in a possessive hold. "I.. I.. I'm Subbu. Subramanian. Ishu, I mean, Ishita and I, we are family friends," Subbu said shaking Raman's hand nervously. The look of shock on Subbu's face was mirrored on Ishita's face as well. "Oh.. That's strange. Ishita hasn't ever mentioned about you. Anyways, nice to meet you," Raman said giving a firm handshake.

Ishita squirmed in Raman's hold and started to speak up to tell Subbu the truth but her mother's voice from right behind her interrupted her. "Ishu, its getting late. You should go change. Raman, you too. I will take care of the guests," Madhavi Iyer said, a thoughtful look on her face. Raman immediately let go of his hold on her waist. Ishita looked at her Amma worried. Had she heard Raman say that he was her husband? What was she thinking? And what was wrong with Raman? Why was he behaving so? Raman's hand on her elbow guided her away from Subbu as he said, "Yes Amma. I was just saying the same thing to Ishita. Nice meeting you Subbu. See you later."

"What was all that nonsense you were saying outside? And where have you brought me? This isn't my room!" Ishita shoved Raman away as soon as they stepped inside a room, out of earshot of the guests. Raman closed the door behind them and leaned against it. "So that jerk is your sambhar guy?" he asked with barely concealed hatred. "What?" Ishita asked. "The sambhar guy.. In your story.. The one you told Mrs. Singh, how we supposedly met," Raman explained coming towards her. Ishita remembered and looked away. "So you lied!" he stated. Ishita looked at him angrily, "I lied?! For your kind information, you were the one who just lied outside that.. That you.. You are.. My husband." "I did not lie. If you don't remember, we got married in front of Jhula Devi. We did the puja as husband and wife, to stay together all our lives. I tied the mangalsutra around your neck and filled your parting with sindoor. Does that not make us husband and wife? In the eyes of God?" Raman said closing in on her. Ishita swallowed nervously, "A God you don't believe in. That was all a lie." "But you believe in God, don't you? Anyways, I am not talking about that lie," he said taking a step away from her. When she could breathe again, she took a step away from him. "You lied that you don't know how to cook," he stated simply. Ishita stared at him unbelievingly, "What?!" "If the sambhar guy is real, then it was true that you were cooking when you first met him. You lied to me that you can't cook and made me the God awful rasam for a whole week that ruined my digestion completely!" Raman stated in all seriousness.

Ishita couldn't help it and burst out laughing. A few seconds later, Raman joined in the laughter too. He was so glad to see her laugh. She had been so nervous around him from the moment they'd met and that insufferable jerk Subbu! The kind of things he'd been saying to Ishita, Raman had wanted to punch him in the face and break his nose. But then, he'd come up with this idea which had been just as good as a punch to that idiot's face, Raman thought as he watched Ishita's eyes twinkle with laughter.

That's how Madhavi Iyer found them when she stepped into the room. Ishita immediately stopped laughing and looked worriedly at her mother. Raman turned around and saw Mrs. Iyer standing right behind him. "Amma.. I.." Ishita started to explain. Mrs. Iyer lifted her hand and asked Ishita to stop, "I heard what he said to Subbu. There is no need to explain anything. Go to your room and change quickly. The nischayathartham is about to begin." Ishita looked at Raman and then her mother before heading out the room. "Mrs. Iyer, I am sorry," Raman tried to explain. "Raman, I am Ishita's mother. I understand even those things that she does not say to me. You know each other from before, don't you?" Madhavi asked. Raman nodded his head. "The way you stood up for her out there.. A stranger or just an acquaintance would never have done that. You know, as a mother, I shouldn't be supporting this plan of yours. But I saw what you did for Ishu out there in front of Subbu and I think I know why you did it. It really isn't the right thing to do but I am thankful to you for standing up for my daughter," she turned to look towards the door, "for making her laugh." She folded her hands in a gesture of thank you and Raman immediately took her hand in his. "No Aunty. Please! I just did what I thought would be right. I am sorry if what I did was wrong but trust me, my intention was never to hurt you or your family," Raman apologized to Madhavi. Madhavi looked at him with tender affection in her eyes. She placed her hand on his head for a few seconds before she turned and left the room.

Muruga, I know this is wrong but what I've seen.. That cannot be wrong, which is why I won't stop what is happening. Please, just take care of my daughter. Don't write another heartbreak in her fate. Madhavi Iyer sent out a prayer to the Gods as she headed to the venue for the nischayatharthyam.

loved this part, it was a nice break from the emotional chapters. Please someone throw subbu into the fire, he is an insufferable jerk😡 but raman stood up for her😃 and now he truly believes they are married, even though ishit is trying to deny. I wonder if now raman will tell everyone and trick ishita into accepting everything.😆

Wow what a pm indirect tight slap Raman gave to Subu, he definitely deserve much worst than that.

I love that after so many month finally the ice between them has started melted, they laughs that's very cute.

Update next chapter soon

loved the way raman stood up for ishu

thanx for the pm

yuck that jerk subbu... chee! loved how raman stood for ishita and holding her possessively.. i love it. and their cute convo which made ishu laugh was great to see... and the convo between amma and raman made me emotional.. !!

overall loved it.. looking forward for the next update! :D