New SS: Love.... Pt33B pg143 13/07 - Page 27

An hour or so later, ishita came down the stairs, with a line of excuses ready on her tongue - excuse to avoid going to the airport. Ma, I cant... her words dies as she saw, who else besided her parents, sat at the dining table.

See ishu, Raman is already here. We are all, together going to the airport,' madhavi piped.

Coldly, raman glanced at ishita's scrubbed face and wet hair flopping around the face and shoulders. In a contrived polite tone, he inquired, Hello ishita. You dint complete what you wer saying?'

Chacha chowdhury, again, came to her rescue. I was was just saying that I cant find my snickers.'

Raman's lips tightened. You are planning to wear snickers with that ethnic skirt!'

Yes! Does it bother you?' Ishita retorted, boldly. Madhavi and Vishwa's presence played dual roles - ishita's protectors or witnesses to her violent and untimely end.

Ishita!' Madhavi admonished.

Let us leave, we don't want to get late,' Vishwa urged.

Quite a few hours later, ishita stood, quietly, next to Santoshi bhalla. Standing at the threshold of her beloved dwelling, the older women's eyes swam with tears.

This house still shouts of OPrakash's presence, I have so many memories of him here. I still cant believe he is gone.' Toshi choked.

ayyo Toshi, Prakash hasn't gone anywhere. He is very close and alive for all of us in our hearts and that's where we'll always keep him,' Madhavi said.

Denial of the obvius will only worsen your condition mom, a thought darted in ishita's head.

I have missed you all so much,' toshi uttered, gazing at madhavi and ishita.

Touching his mother's arm, raman gruffly voice, Lets go inside.'

Still clasping ishita's hand, toshi said, come Madhavi, Vishwa! Everyone else, please come inside.' Soon, they gathered including a few ministers and other state personalities shuffled inside. The media was stopped at the gates.

who informed them of my mother's arrival> it was supposed to be under wraps!' raman barked at the group in front. There was no answer.

Toshi interjected, Its alright! I am not disturbed by their presence.'

Raman bit off whatever he was about to say.

Ishita beta, arrange for tea for everyone,' Toshi requested.

Ishita made a move towards towards the humungous kitchen, where hovered several helpers.

No!' raman snapped, then stiffly explained himself, particularly to his mother, don't bother her. Simone had taken care of all that.' Simone according moved.

Office mein coffee, and house mein chai! Raman has made simone d'souza into simone barista, ridiculed Ishita, silently, extending a fake smile in the PA's direction.

The Iyers and toshi soon discreetly made their way into the more private family room. Raman reminds me so much of Prakash. A sterner replica though. Prakash's passing away seems to have affected him the most. All that consumes raman now is his work and mindless socializing with silly girls,' toshi immediately vented to her extended family.

Ishita uncomfortably shifted.

Raman is very responsible. The way he took charge of everything is quite impressive,' Vishwa responded.

That's true, Vishwa1 however, while Raman took care of the family business, he seems to have lost himself. Mihir, mihika and I often try to coerce him to let go of the grief or at least show it. However, all our talks have only increased the distance between him and us. Raman hardly spends more than a few days a year with any of us. Sometimes I feel so miserable; losing a husband was hard enough.'

Dad wasn't the only thing I lost, Raman reflected, his mother's worried words falling on his ears.

Badi maa, coming back to this house must be hard on him, too,' Ishita gently suggested.

The pretentious fake, she dares to act, as if she knows what I am going through, Raman fumed coming to the room.

Ishita got to her feet and said, We should be going!'

I'm staying; you go if you have to!' Madhavi declined her daughters suggestion.

Forcing himself to sound pleasant, raman rrequested. Ishita could you come in the office; there is something id like to discuss with you.'

raman, today is Saturday, at least don't make Ishu work,' Madhavi butted in.

ten minutes! I promise, amma.'

Ishita quietly treaded behind raman into his late father's office. He held the door open and she went in, nervously.

The moment the door shut, raman rounded on ishita. Stay away from my mother,' he snarled, holding her by the arm.

that might not ne possible!' ishita answered, swallowing. Raman's expression only darkened.

What I mean is... Badi maa might get suspious about us ... no, about you and me. What im trying to say is that she might ask...' sputtered ishita, trying to ignore the tingles running all over her body. His smell tickled her nose, his fingers warm against her even warmer skin.

Don't talk rubbish; you will do as I say,' raman ordered. Inadvertently, his fingers rubbed her sin. Damn!' he grwled letiing go. Raman walked, actually took cover, behind the antique mahagonay desk.

I saw your report, as expected it is completely unsatisfactory!' raman, lowering himself in the lather chair, hesitated.

Ishita understood the brief glimmer of emotion. Unthinkingly, raman was about to sit in his late fathers chair.

Ravan, Raman, I - ishita started to speak but he cut her off.

Get out and don't foregt what I said. Close the door behind you!'

Raman swiveled his chair to gaze at the beautifully landscaped, lush Japanese gardens with the elevated koi pond and several fountains... his late father's favourite view.

Why are you so hard on yourself? It is wrong to hurt the people you care for so much. You should be the one thinking about your mom and not the other way round,' ishita interrupted.

Angry, Raman turned around but she was gone. The door left open - perhaps symbolically. His eyes fell on the portrait hanging on the facing wall. His family as it used to be, content and close!

Flezing his shoulders, raman stood up. He ran a loving hand over the furniture one by one, the antique bookshelves, coffee table and finally the jade chess board, which lay open like the way his father had left it after a last game. Rubbing his eyes, raman murmured, So many memories here of dad and that wretched girl.'

Conquer the past to rule you present and future.' Startled, raman quickly glanced all around. The words sounded much like his father's usual profound tips.

I need to sleep more!' raman voiced heading out, towards where his mother sat with her best friend of yesteryears. He dropped on the sofa next to his mom. Amma, thank you for looking after the house so well. Everything feels the same, just like when dad was around.'

You? After we left, madhavi, you looked after the house? I thought some hired help did the job,' toshi said.

Amma offere to do it. I ofcourse hired and paid for all the help she need. Not that it in anyway takes away what you did for us,' raman replied.

Thank you so much madhavi!' toshi clasped her friend's hand, eyes again tearing up.

This house and the memories here are invaluable for me. Anyway, it wasn't me but ishu who actually did all the work. I just did the liaison. She was the one who came here frequently, to make sure everything was in order,' madhavi clarified.

How sweet of ishu!' toshi reacted.

Raman sat quiet, taken aback. Why had ishita bothered to take such pains, and not rub it in? in the past even if she lifted a pencil for me, she would go on and on about it until I almost developed allergy to the darn thing, he wondered.

After a few hours of catch-up, madhavi left. Raman placed a reassuring hand on toshi's knee, You don't have to worry about me. You should only think about youself and your coming grand daughter.' Mihika was in the last trimester of her pregnancy.

It could be a grandson,' toshi shot back. Then her expression became concerned, You word too hard raman! Why?'

Why> MB is constantly working. Even dad slogged equally hard if not more,' raman replied, resting his head on the sofa's edge.

yes. But he did that because it made him happy. Self-growth and sense of purpose... remember how after prakesh used that phrase?' toshi fondly remembered her husband.

Hmm!' raman agreed, his lips twitching. We all would roll our eyes when dad would start with that lecture.' Obon and Dumb supper, Buddhist and pagan traditions, are not the only ways, to remember the dead. Humour, too, can be equally poignant and heartfelt.

Toshi chuckled. Do you remember how upset prakash got when once mihir actually fell asleep, while he was still talking?'

Poor MB! A solid month ithout a car and phone.' Raman joined toshi in her chuckles. Somber expressions soon replaced their faces.

raman, you work as if you have the devil on your tail. Even after so many accomplishments, of such stature, why do you come across so unhappy, so bitter? What happened to my easy going and fun loving younger son?' toshi belled the cat.

he grew up!' raman replied, his face equally serious.

Oh god! You are so filmy,' toshi used a line raman often said to her.

Fine mom! I get your point and I shall seriously try to lighten up. Just give me some time.'

and wht about your marriage?'

you are on fire today! That too will happen... I promise,' raman replied. This is an apt time to tell her, his conscience niggled.

Hesitantly, toshi said, raman, are you completely over -

Raman curtly, interrupted her. Of course I am! I have asked you several times not to bring that topic up. There's no room for discussion on that one.' He got to his feet.

Toshi changed the topic. ;can we have mihika's god bharai here? The seventh month is about to finish.'

sure! And we shall have it just the way dad liked - big and expensive. Ill take care of everything.'

His mother's smile spoke volumes. Don't forget the charaties,' toshi said.

Ihave I ever? If you want more give more.. dad's rule!' raman said.

You know raman, im glad we are back here. I fell closer to your father in this house.' Toshi said softly.

Raman, again, sat down next to her. Putting his arm around her, he whispered, Me too mom, me too!'

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thats it for now!!

next update tomorrow or day after!!

abha hope i have done justice to your wish!