IshRa TS – Stolen Moments (Chapter 1)

Based on the show Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, this story ( a 3 shot) is about Ishita and Raman who are caught up in their respective crazy work schedules but still manage to find some precious moments of togetherness. The basic story line and characters remain the same, except that this one is set sometime after the closure of Ishita’s mother’s accident track. Also, Ishita and Raman here have already reconciled their differences and consummated their marriage. Chapter 1 is updated below . Kindly read and comment. Thanks.

Chapter – 1

“…..and that makes your schedule free for the rest of the day Ma’am. You need not stay as Dr. Arjun is also back from his vacation-”

Dr. Ishita Bhalla jumped to her feet excitedly, and hung up on her administrative assistant Neena, even before Neena could finish what she was saying. The two assistants who were busy sterilizing tools in a corner of her cabin looked up from their work and watched in amusement, as she started to pack her stuff in a hasty manner. Her excitement was palpable enough to arouse their curiosity. However, unmindful of the same , after finishing up and tidying her desk, she gathered her stuff and practically sprinted out of her cabin , rushing past the admin desk towards the lift lobby. She did however, halt her steps midway to turn around and mouth a silent “I love you” to her favorite admin Neena, who smiled widely in return and asked her to “Drive Safe”.
” Drive safe Ishita , there’s no need to rush. Abhi toh sirf teen hi baja hai. There won’t be much traffic now , so you should be able to reach home within an hour and that will give you at least 2 hours with your Khadoos Kumar before he leaves for his meeting.” She reminded herself, as she drove up the slope that led to the exit from the basement parking area of her clinic.

***

“Are you kidding me Mihir? How can they reschedule the meeting? This is ridiculous!” Raman Kumar Bhalla got to his feet angrily , and started pacing back and forth , as he continued to speak on the phone.  ” I chose to work from home today because the meeting venue is closer from here, and I can get there easily without having to deal with the evening traffic. I had to reschedule our other meetings , just so that we can prepare for this one. blo*dy idiots!”

“Calm down Bhai! Look at the brighter side na. Ek toh we are fully prepared for this meeting. Review bhi ho chuka hai. Ab weekend hai toh hume thoda break bhi mil jayega. Bina koyi tension ke araam kar sakte hai. Aur Monday ko sab araam se ho jaayega.” Mihir tried to pacify him.

“Mihir tujhe weekend ki padi hai. Yahan main-”

“Listen to me Bhai. Let me finish. Aap hi toh bol rahe the na, ki aaj kal aap ko bhabhi ke saath waqt hi nahi mil raha hai. Toh ab aap ke paas free time hai. Utilize it. Plan something with Bhabhi.”

“Arre ..kya khaakh plan karoonga main! Madrasan ka full schedule hai aaj. Chhe baje tak daat thodne ke baad pata nahi kab niklegi wahan se aur kab ghar pohonchegi.” He ran his free hand through his hair frustratingly. “Chal chhod. I am sending you that deck – woh Mehta wale project ka. Kuch changes kiye hai maine , thoda dekh lena. I am logging off after that. Kuch urgent hai toh call kar. Theekh hai? Chal phone rakh Bye !”

He hung up and was about to throw his phone on the bed in frustration , when he suddenly had a brain wave. “Madrasan busy hai toh kya hua. Main toh free hoon. I can go pick her up and take her out for dinner. Surprise de sakth hoon usse!”
His sullen mood lifted instantly, as he imagined her eyes growing wide in surprise and her lips curving to reward him with a beautiful and dazzling smile, which will then be replaced by an intense gaze that she reserved only for him. And then there were other rewards that he could claim later in the night. He let out a groan at that thought and sat back down on the couch with his laptop, intent on wrapping up his work at the earliest.

***

Ishita pulled out of a popular Italian food joint and headed home, her Raavan Kumar’s favorite dishes packed and placed on the back seat of her car. Her initial excitement at this unexpected windfall in the form of a free afternoon on a week day, was pretty much under control now. The faint smile on her lips and the shine in her eyes have more to do with a grumpy man, who she now imagined to be sitting hunched over his laptop in their bedroom; his forehead creased in concentration and his phone right next to him, which he would be picking up quite frequently to give an earful to Mihir. That image made her grin from ear-to-ear and she tried to suppress her smile. “I just hope woh apne khadoos, kaam wale mood mein na ho,” she thought to herself and tried to concentrate on the road.

To be continued..