The Morning After
It was well after noon when Raman and Ishita finally checked out of the Oberoi.

Ishita had awoken early that morning, to find herself securely wrapped in Raman's arms.

She had blushed as she felt his bare skin on hers, and saw their discarded clothes, remembering her antics of the night before. She moved slowly out of Raman's hold, taking care not to disturb him. His beloved face was serene in sleep, a slight smile on his lips. Ishita stared at him, remembering the feel of those lips on hers.

"Stop it Ishita" she gave herself a mental shake, forcing herself to move away. "Aise kya dekh rahi ho?" (What are you looking at)

Coming out of the bathroom twenty minutes later, wrapped in a snowy white dressing gown, her hair wet from her leisurely shower, she found him awake. He was lying back on the billowing pillows, his chest bare, a sheet loosely covering him from the waist down. He watched her intently as she walked into his view, that slight smile still hovering on his lips, but his eyes darkened with an intensity which caused Ishita to shiver.

"Raman" she exclaimed. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

He said nothing, simply holding out a hand to her.

She approached the bed slowly, sitting at his side as she put her hand into his. He immediately pulled her down above him, her wet hair fanning his face, causing him to shudder involuntarily.

He tugged at the wet strands, spreading them out as a curtain around their faces as he kissed her hard on her soft lips."Raman" she whispered as he rolled over, pinning her beneath him." Subah ho gayi, kya..." (It's morning already..what...)

"Subah ki mazaa toh kuch aur hi hai" (The morning has its own special charm) he finally spoke, untying her robe, and pushing it aside, his eyes hungrily devouring her as he claimed her lips yet again.

"Raman..." Ishita's protest changed to acquiescence as she kissed him back, his ardour finding a willing partner in her treacherous body, even as her mind tried to resist him.

*********************************************
It was some hours later when they both finally got up.

They had a leisurely brunch, laughing at each other's little food habits, teasing and joking, their usual nok jhok underlaid with love. This comfortable public affection had its own certain joy and attraction, just as their attempted clandestine romance had had its own excitement.

Ishita glowed under the attention that Raman gave her. His love filled glances, the care he paid to making sure that she had everything she wanted, refilling her glass, feeding her choice morsels from his plate, tenderly brushing her hair away from her face. His love shone through in everything he did, and his wife exulted in that love.

"Raman" Ishita said when they were finally in the car heading home. "Can we bring Ruhi here soon. And Mummyji and everyone else. The restaurant was so nice, and I am sure they will love the views from here".

Raman glanced at Ishita and started chuckling "Kya yaar. Sab ko lekar aana hai? I had thought we could keep this place as our own secret love nest"

"Secret?" Ishita exclaimed. "Ab kya secret? Mihika ne toh ab tak sab ko broadcast kar diya hoga, aap ki kal ki speech." (What secret? Mihika must have broadcast last nights speech to everyone by now)

Raman shook his head shamefacedly. "Hmm, kal ka speech. Tum ne kahin woh sab believe toh nahi kar liya na? I think mujhe kuch zyada champagne ho gaya tha."
(Hmmm, yesterday speech. You didn't believe all that by any chance did you? I think I had a bit too much champagne last night)

"Raman" Ishita pouted at him, hitting him lightly on his thigh. He caught her hand with his, then brought it to his lips.

"What do you think? Kuch kahenge kya sab humse?" (What do you think? Will they say anything to us?)

"Kahenge?" It was Ishita's turn to chuckle. "Of course kahenge Raman. Aur kuch hi nahi, bahut kuch kahenge." (Will they say anything? Of course they will Raman. And not just any little thing, they will say a great deal)

"Kya yaar, meri saari nightmares puri hone waali hai" Raman said ruefully, laughing again.
(What yaar, all my nightmares are going to come true)

They were still smiling when they arrived in Mayur Vihar. The car parked, Ishita turned to open the door when Raman grabbed her and pulled her close. "Chalo, wapas jaate hai, abhi man nahi bhara mera." (Come let's go back. I haven't had enough yet)

"Raman, chodo na" Ishita had pushed him away, quickly opening the door. "Ruhi intezaar kar rahi hogi. Ab chalo na."
(Raman leave me. Ruhi must be waiting. Let's go home)

********************************************
He followed her upstairs, his phone in one hand, the other holding hers loosely, murmuring all the while "Koi mujhse kuch kahega toh na,..." (If anyone says anything to me, I swear...)

As they rounded the corner on the last flight of stairs before their floor, they came face to face with Bala, who was walking down.

"Raman, Ishita" Bala exclaimed, grabbing Raman's hand and pumping it vigorously. " I heard ki kuccha aam ab bilkul pak gaya hai, huh?. In fact, pak hi nahi gaya, mein ne sunna bahut hi sweet bhi ho gaya hai"
(I hear that the raw mango has ripened. And not just ripened, I hear it's become very sweet as well)

"Jiju" Ishita protested blushingly, while Raman simply stared at Bala.

"Kaunsa aam?" he asked, puzzled. (What mango?)

"Ishu se puch lo" Bala replied laughingly as he walked on. (Ask Ishu)

Ishita and Raman continued up the stairs to the landing. The door to the Bhalla apartment was open, and as they approached, Romi came up to the entrance.

"Bhai, bhabhi, aa gaye" he exclaimed. "Aap log na, zara wait shate karo. Mummyji, dekho aa gaye."he ended with a shout towards the Iyer residence.
(Bhai and bhabhi are here. Can you two just wait for a bit. Mummyji, look they are here)

Mrs Bhalla and Mrs Iyer stood at the door to the Iyer residence, Mrs Iyer with a puja thali in her hands, bickering with Mrs Bhalla.

"Mein kah rahi hoon na, mujhe sab maaloom tha" Mrs Bhalla was crowing.
(I'm telling you, I knew everything)

"Ishu, is ko kyon batati hai, mujhe kyon nahi" Mrs Iyer demanded as she proceeded to rotate the thali vigorously around Ishita and Raman.
(Ishu, why did you tell her and not me?)

"Areh, ye sab kya hai, amma" Raman escaped into the Bhalla apartment, even as Mrs Iyer swabbed at his head with a tikka. (What is all this amma?)

"Papa" Rihi stopped his escape, flinging herself on his legs and hugging him tightly.

Raman knelt down and picked up his daughter, enfolding her close into his arms. "Ruhi, kaise ho beta" (Ruhi, how are you darling?) he asked kissing her softly on her cheek.Ruhi kissed him back, even as Ishita came up and stood beside them.

"Ishima" Ruhi exclaimed, "huggie", throwing an arm around Ishita and pulling her into an embrace with her papa and herself."I missed you Ishima" Ruhi smiled at her mother.

"I missed you too beta" Ishita responded, hugging her little daughter tighter.

"Itni der se kyon aaye aap log?" (Why were you so late coming home) Ruhi asked innocently, as Raman put her down.

Ishita blushed. Papaji, appa, Mihika and Vandu had joined their mothers and Romi in the living room. They all stood expectantly, staring at Raman and Ishita. Raman stared back at his family, a naughty glint in his eyes.

"Sorry, beta" he said, picking up Ruhi and putting her on one of the dining room chairs so that she was at eye level with him. "Meri fault thi, joh Ishima ko der ho gayi. Papa ko headache ho gaya tha, toh Ishima meri ilaaz kar rahi thi."
(Sorry darling, it's my fault that Ishima got late coming home. Papa had a headache and Ishima was treating me)

"Ab thik ho Papa?" (Are you Okay now papa?) Ruhi asked innocently, as Ishita blushed bright red, mortified.

"Haan, baby, ab papa thik hai. Ishima bahut accha ilaaz karti hai." He looked around at the gathered family, arching his eyebrows at them. "Kisi aur ko kuch puchna hai kya?"
(Yes baby, papa is absolutely fine now. Ishima gives very good treatment. Does anyone else have any questions?)

Romi burst out laughing, then stopped just as suddenly at a look from Raman. No one else spoke until Mr Bhalla started to chuckle, followed by Mr Iyer and then everyone else.

"Theek hai puttar" Mrs Bhalla spoke over the laughter. " ab hum sub tum ko tang nahi karenge. Bas bahut khush hai hum, ki tum dono khush ho" she smiled lovingly at Ishita and Raman, standing with their little daughter, their love evident in Ishita's shy eyes, in Raman's protective stance and in the way they both had their arms around Ruhi. "Nazar na lag jaaye kisi ki mere bachoo ko"
(All right son, we won't tease you anymore. We are just so happy that you two are happy. I just pray that you always stay this way)

Ishita smiled back at her mother in law. The dream she had been afraid to hope for, for so many years had finally come true. She had a loving family, a darling child and a husband who truly loved her. She turned her glance to Raman and saw him staring intently at her. " I love you" he mouthed silently. "I love you too" she whispered back.

THE END