Ishita sat back quietly, as Raman turned the car expertly down a meandering side road.

The damp coolness of early morning had worn off, but a soft breeze kept the atmosphere pleasant, and added to the magical quality of the day. Signs of habitation and civilisation got less and less the further they drove on, to be replaced by verdant green foliage, a heady fragrance in the breeze and their increasing awareness of each other.

"Raman" Ishita tried one more time, as the car appeared to be slowing down " Where...?"

Raman took his eyes off the road briefly, his eyes smoldering as he gazed into hers. She blushed, looking down in confusion, and he caressed her cheek softly with his free hand, his fingers tenderly touching the errant lock which kissed her blushes.

She caught her breath, biting her lips nervously.

"Here" he said, reluctantly taking his hand away, pointing to a decrepit ancient stone building in a clearing a few hundred metres away.

"Here?" Ishita asked breathlessly, still affected by his touch, wondering at his sudden caresses.

"Hmmm" he murmured, trying to get his own breathing back on an even keel.

One touch, that's all it took, and he was lost again.

He pulled up and parked the car some metres away from the building, which revealed itself as the ruins of an ancient temple. The countryside appeared totally deserted, the sparse trees surrounding the monument wafting gently in the breeze. The tweets and squaks of distant birds were the only sounds punctuating the silence.

"Yeh...yeh kya hai Raman" ( What is this Raman?) Ishita turned eagerly to Raman.

He looked into the distance for a few moments and then turned to face her, clasping her hands tightly in his, his eyes darkening with emotion. He paused briefly, then started to speak quietly, his voice husky, looking down at their entwined fingers.

"This is the 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 looked up then and smiled at her. It was a sweet smile but it was accompanied by glistening eyes. Ishita found her own eyes growing moist as she stared at her husband, his husky voice deepening as he continued.

"I didn't 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 tightly, so strongly, that no one can ever come between us. We married for Ruhi, Ishita, but now I want you for myself. No compulsions, no majboori, no excuses, just you and me. When we took our vows, my heart was full of cynicism and doubt. I went through the motions because I needed to get custody of my daughter. But meri jaan, here, today, I want to pledge myself to you. For ever. And only for you. Sirf tumhare liye".

Uncontrollable tears chased one another down Ishita's cheeks, as her heart sang with love for him. Whatever she had expected on this journey, it hadn't been this. Something so sweet, so romantic, so perfect.

"Raman" she whispered."I want that too. Sirf tumhare liye. I married you for Ruhi, Ruhi ke liye, and by doing so I got the child I thought life would never give to me, the happiness I thought wasn't in my destiny. 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 anyone. I could never have imagined ... never.."

The tears that he had been holding back broke through as she spoke, his unspoken fears and insecurities about Subbu being laid to rest by her innocent candour. He brought their entwined hands to his lips, kissing her hands reverentially, before letting them go. Then he  leant over and wiped her eyes gently, as she did the same for him. They stayed like that for long moments, their hands on each other faces, smiles peeking through tear filled eyes.

"Then come" his words broke the silence between them, and he let go with a final caress, jumping out of the car and coming up to her side. He opened her door and lifted her up in his arms.

"Come my darling" he repeated his words in a whisper, kissing her softly on both cheeks. She blushed and wound her arms around his neck, looking at him through love filled eyes.

He carried her up the meandering and rocky path to the little temple, his eyes fixed on his destination, hers on him.

His hold on her was firm and tight, as though he was carrying all the treasures of the world in his arms. Her arms around his neck were reverential, as though she were holding on to everything that was precious, something that was sacred.

They did not speak. Words were not necessary. Their hearts, their souls, sang with a heavenly voice, and the silences were filled with the sounds of love.

It was only when they reached the stairs of the shrine that he set her down, bending to help her slip off her chappals, before removing his own shoes.

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 statue of Kama, the God of Love. He then turned and took her hands in his again.

"I love you Ishita Raman Bhalla" he said softly and simply, gazing into her eyes. " Beshumar pyar karta hoon aur hamesha karoonga. Zindagi bhar karoonga. 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. Aap ne mujhe pura kardiya. Aapki pyar se mein abaad ho gayi. 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 her, 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, but will you wear my ring, Ishita?"

Ishita nodded, unable to speak, her eyes filling with tears again. 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. She 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, pressing soft kisses on her brow, moving down to her now closed eyes. His lips were gentle and his touch restrained, but she could sense the fires underneath. His lips caressed her closed eyes, then trailed further down, on both cheeks, kissing softly, reverentially, until they stopped to hover just above her trembling lips.

"Raman" she whispered "Oh Raman..."

That was all the encouragement he needed, and his lips settled on hers, hers parting beneath his. Their first kiss, and the hunger could not be denied. He moved his lips softly, pushing hers apart and she opened up to him, gasping as his tongue followed, reeling under the onslaught of his ardor.

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.

********************************
Afterwards, Ishita would barely remember the drive from the temple to Raman's chosen picnic spot.

She had sat back in the car, lost in reliving over and over again their first kiss, his declarations of love, his passion... Her cheeks blushed becomingly as she recalled the way in which she had responded to that passion, the way in which she had welcomed his hot lips on hers, the way in which she had opened up to his probing tongue, the ardor with which she had kissed him back...

She stole coy glances at Raman from time to time, often finding him looking away hurriedly. There was a satisfied smile on his face, and his eyes were still darkened with passion. Occasionally, he had removed a hand from the steering wheel and softly caressed her face. Once he had traced her swollen lips with his hand, but had drawn back when she moaned softly.

They hadn't spoken much since leaving the temple.

Raman was inwardly cursing himself for making such elaborate plans- all he wanted to do was to stop the car, to take his Jhansi Ki Rani in his arms, to crush her voluptuous body to his and possess her in every way.

But he knew that he had to take things easy, to let her guide the pace with which their intimacy proceeded. He knew how vulnerable she was, and how, after Subbu's betrayal and Param's attempted molestation, it would be difficult for her to trust him with her body, to welcome intimacy.

Truth be told, he had not imagined that he would be able to be intimate with her this weekend. His mission, his plan had been purely to win her forgiveness.

But ... the best laid plans of mice and men! The moment he had seen her nervously trying to hide her body in his white shirt, the moment he had taken her in his arms and put her on their bed, the touch of her skin when he was ministering to her, the feel of her in his arms... all this had turned the suave and sophisticated Raman Kumar Bhalla into a raving raging desperado, who wanted nothing more than to possess his Ishita completely.

The feel of her in his arms last night had been sweet torture, and their kiss just now heightened his desperation. So he just drove straight ahead, but he could not resist looking at her, and touching her...

It was some twenty minutes of silent longing in the car before Raman pulled up in front of a clearing by a swiftly flowing stream. A small cottage, seemingly empty but well cared for, backed onto the stream, and was surrounded by beautiful flowering trees. The area was fenced off, and Raman brought the car to a stop in front of the locked gate, jumping out to quickly unlock the same. Once back in the car, he drove quickly to the cottage and hopped out to help Ishita out of the car.

"This is beautiful, Raman" Ishita finally found her voice.

The vista was indeed breathtaking - apart from the cottage, there were no other signs of human habitation. The flowering trees exuded a subtle scent, and the sound of the gurgling brook and chirping birds were the only intrusion in the silence. " Kaun rehta hai yahaan?" (Who lives here?)

"Koi nahi" (Nobody) he had taken her hand and was guiding her to the cottage. " I bought this place last year, and I have engaged a caretaker to look after it for me. I called him this morning to make sure that everything was in order. He must have gone back to his village now, it's close by"

He had unlocked the door now and ushered Ishita inside.

The cottage was small and simple, light and airy. There were just two doors leading from the main room, which had a small kitchenette in the corner and a comfortable sofa in front of a huge fireplace.

"Tum yahaan ruko, I"ll just be back" he said, striding back out of the door.

Ishita walked around the room, trying the doors. One led to a small bathroom, the other to a bedroom, dominated by a huge bed, freshly made up. She noticed that there were no electric lights in the cottage, but there were many lanterns and earthen lamps scattered around.

"Ishita?" Hearing Raman's voice, she walked slowly back into the main room. Raman was standing with the picnic basket, and a small bag. "Here" he said, handing her the bag. "Tandons butler dried and pressed your Kurta and leggings this morning before you woke up. Change and come out, I'll be setting up our lunch."

Their fingers touched as he handed her the bag, and Ishita shivered involuntarily. God Ishita, she scolded herself silently. Just what is happening to you, that just the touch of his fingers turns you into mush?"

Raman had walked away abruptly, not wanting her to see the effect that her touch had had on him. Control, Raman, control, he was telling himself. You have to give her time, let her make the first move. And if she is not ready, then you will just have to deal with it, and damn well wait until she is.

Ishita looked after him as he walked away and then moved into the bedroom, smiling to herself as she changed.

She understood now his choice of sari for her this morning - she had felt like a bride again as they had pledged their love in that deserted temple. Only this time, she had been a willing bride, irresistibly and irrevocably in love with her husband...

Om Mangalam bhagwaan Vishnu
Mangalam garud dhwaja
Om jai jai om aa...
Mangalam pundarikaaksham
Manglaaye tano Hari

Aaj ibadat
Aaj ibadat ru- ba-ru ho gayi
Ru - ba- ru ho gayi
Jo mangi thi ..... Jo mangi thi
Usss duaa se guftagu ho gayi

Aa

Mere maula Mere maula
Mere maula Mere maula
Tera shukriya
Aaj ibadat ru-ba-ru ho gayi

Dard ke andheron se aa gaye ujaalo mein
Ishq ke chirago ka nur hai khayalon mein
Dard ke andheron se aa gaye ujaalo mein
Ishq ke chirago ka nur hai khayalon mein
Nazron se teri chaak dil pe rafoo ho gayi
Dil pe rafoo ho gayi

Mere maula Mere maula
Mere maula Mere maula
Tera shukriya
Aaj ibadat ru-ba-ru ho gayi

Om Mangalam bhagwaan Vishnu (Maula)
Mangalam garud dhwaja (Mere maula)
On Mangalam pundarikaaksham (Maula)
Manglaaye tano Hari (Maula)

Bajirao Mastani