Chapter 10

                                   PART-10 

It had been a week since raavi had not visited pandya niwas.

" Kitna ajeeb lag raha hai. Ab pata chala ki humein raavi ki adat ho gayi thi." Dhara said gloomily 

Shiva kept his head down trying to concentrate on the food.only he knows how tough this week has been for him.not seeing his chipkali or talking to her for one week was making him lose his sanity.he drowned himself in work, but everytime he heard the tinkling of anklets, his eyes would shimmer in hope only to be dissapointed yet again.

"Dekh dev. Mujhe sach sach bata, tune raavi se kuch galat to nahi kaha na? Jhagda hua hai tera? " Dhara asked 

" Bhabii.mai aapse kitni baar kahu ki meri usse baat hi nahi hui thi.usne apni marzi se yeh rishta toda hai kyuki use realise ho gaya ki hum dono kabhi ek dusre se pyar karte hi nahi the." Dev explained himself again to dhara.

"Par agar aisa hai to use takleef kyu ho rahi hai? dard to tab hota hai jab pyar choot jaata hai.jab pyar tha hi nahi, to dard kaisa? " Dhara wondered.

She had called raavi as she missed her.she sounded very low on the phone.her chirpy, bubbly self was lost somewhere.

" Hann bhabi.raavi ek hafte se college bhi nahi ayi.waise mujhe na Dev se zyada kisi aur pe shak hai " Krish said eyeing shiva who was silent the whole time.

Dhara saw Krish looking at shiva.

" Shiva? Inka to roz ka jhagda hai.kuch serious hua hai kya shiva? " Dhara said 

" Mujhe dukaan jaana hai bhabi " shiva said and got up.

Dhara, Krish and dev looked on.so something was up between raavi and shiva.what could it be? 

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Raavi spent the whole week confined to her room.she took sick leave from the college.hee semesters just got over and she could use a break.in this whole week, only one thing occupied her mind.shiva.her heart wanted to run into his arms and assure him that her feelings are true and she is not doing any natak, but her brain told her otherwise.whatsoever be the reason,.he behaved very badly with her.her self respect didn't allow her to call him.he had also not bothered to call her.did he even miss her? Did he have any feelings for her? She is a big dobi when it came to understanding people, their emotions.

She had suffered due to this multiple times in the past.she had made some really shallow friends in school and it was shiva who made her realise that they were not worthy of her friendship.she had misjudged Dev's courtesy for love.she was scared this time.

Anita came into the room with a plate full of fruits and made her eat them while she cribbed.

" Kya shiva mujhse pyar karta hai? " Raavi asked her.

"Insaan ki dil ki baat kabhi kabhi woh khud bhi nahi jaan paata.to tere iss sawaal ka jawaab mai nahi de sakti.par itna zaroor keh sakti hu ki tu uske zindagi ka ek ahem hissa hai.gussa hum apno par nikalte hai, parayo par nahi.usne itna strongly react kiya, iska matlab uske dil mai kuch to hai " anita said while feeding her an apple.

" Aap na bahut badi badi baatein karti ho anita di.kabhi kabhi mere sar ke upar se chala jaata hai" raavi said 

" Zindagi humein sab kuch sikha deti hai. Tu bhi sikh jayegi." Anita said and smiled.

Raavi sighed.how she wished her conflict would end and she would have all her answers.

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Why was this chipkali behaving this way?she broke her marriage with Dev, She is not going to college, she is not meeting dhara di.did he really hurt her that much? He was feeling restless now.he had to make sure she is ok.

He fidgeted on his phone.he had to go and meet her.the restlessness is too much for him to bear.

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He went to her room via her balcony.it was dark.the lights were switched off.raavi saw a shadow and panicked.she started to scream when she felt a hand cover her mouth.she calmed down. She recognised that touch.

"Darr mat.mai hu " he spoke 

It has been days since she had heard his voice.her eyes moistened. 

" Shiva " she whispered 

He left her.his eyes were now adjusted to the darkness.her face glowed in the moonlight coming from the window.

" Yeh sab tu kya kar rahi hai raavi? Aur kyu kar rahi hai? Hamara jhagda apni jagah.par tu clg nahi jaa rahi , Ghar se bahar nahi nikal rahi.kya hai yeh sab? " Shiva asked 

" Tujhe kya fark padta hai shiva.mai kuch bhi karu" she answered 

" Fark padta hai mujhe tujhse.hamesha se.tujhe chot lagti hai, teri tabiyat kharab hoti hai, Teri ankhon mai aansun aate hai to mujhe fark padta hai " He said and turned towards the window to calm down his racing heart.

Raavi looked at him and slowly raised her hand to keep it on his shoulder.

" To phir kyu itni badtameezi se baat ki mujhse? Kyu mera vishwas nahi kiya Jab maine kaha ki mai tujhse pyar..." Raavi was stopped by shiva who held her shoulders, gently this time.

" Kaise karta vishwas raavi? Bachpan se tu dev ka jaap karte ayi hai.gharwalon ke liye, mohalle walo ke liye to teri aur Dev ki shaadi ho hi chuki thi maano.mai inn sab main kahaan tha raavi? Kaun tha main tera? " Shiva questioned her 

"Sab kuch " she replied 

Shiva sighed.she saw love and devotion in her eyes for him.he wanted to believe her.he wanted to.but somewhere deep down in his heart he felt scared.

She brought her hands to his cheek.

" Mai jaanti hu meri bewakoofi ki wajah se tera mujhpar vishwas karna mushkil hai.par tu mujhe jaanta hai na shiva,tu mujhe mujhse behtar jaanta hai.mujhse pehle tujhe pata tha ki mai dev se pyar nahi karti." She said 

" mere dil mai hamesha se tu tha shiva." She said

Shiva placed his hand on top of hers.

" Aur iss  pyaar ka ehsaas tujhe apne friends ke saath bet lagakar hua? " He questioned her hurt.

" Bet? Kaisa bet ? " Raavi asked confused.

" Ban mat raavi.maine acche se suna tha. Tu apne dosto se park mai..." Shiva said.

Raavi slapped her head with her hand.so that's why he reacted so harshly.he thought she was doing all this for a bet? 

" Gadhedaa hai tu.puri baat to suni nahi hogi.aag baboola hoke aadhi baat sunkar nikal gayaa hoga." Raavi said glaring at him.

" Matlab? " Shiva asked 

" Matlab yeh mera sada hua kaddu, us din maine apne doston se apni dil ki baat share ki.woh mujhse bet lagana chahte the par maine saaf mana kar diya.mai apne pyar par bet thodi lagati" raavi said 

" Woh log yeh bhi keh rahe the ki mujh jaisa junglee..." Shiva was stopped by raavi's finger on his lips.

" Sshhh.maine unse bhi keh diya aur tujhe bhi keh rahi hu.tujhe junglee kehne ka haq sirf mujhe hai.samjha? Mera junglee bhalu hai tu " raavi said and pulled shiva towards herself holding his collar.

Shiva rested his head on hers.his eyes filling up.her intentions had been in the right place all along.she loved him! It all felt like a dream.they stood there for sometime.

"Tujhe agar time chahiye to tu le sakta hai.koi jaldi nahi hai shiva.agar tu sure nahi hai apne feelings ke baare mai to tu..." Raavi went on.

He looked at her surprised.she thinks he doesn't love her? He is not sure? He hasn't been more sure than this about anything in his life.

" Gadhedi.mai to bachpan se tujhse pyar karta hu.khud se ladta raha ki yeh bas ek crush hai, attraction hai.par kab tak ladhta? " He confessed 

Raavi looked at her with her eyes shining.he loved her.she gave a toothy smile and hugged him.shiva smiled and hugged her back.it felt so right.having her in his arms.he felt at peace after so long.couldnt he have kept his ego aside and talked to her earlier? 

Raavi felt guilty.how stupid she has been? Shiva kabhi bewajah gussa nahi hota.all she had to do is ask him after he had calmed down.atleast she could have been saved from one week gloominess.

Shiva held her cheeks and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.he kissed her cheeks one by one.raavi.closed her eyes and held onto his collar tightly feeling him.

He saw her lips and and came close to her.she felt his warm breath on her lips.she opened her eyes to see him staring at her as if asking for permission.

Raavi pulled him closer and kissed him.it started with a slow passionate kiss.her arms roamed around his back.shiva careessed her waist and then put his hand under her shirt feeling the bare skin of her waist.

They separated panting for breath.

Suddenly raavi remembered something.she was still angry on this bhootnath for Saying her mean things.how could she give in this easily? She cursed her hormones and his hotness. 

Shiva came closer for another kiss but raavi pushed him away.

He looked at her confused.

" Woh kya keh raha tha tu us din? Pyar jism se nahi rooh se kiya jaata hai.hai na? To tu abhi yahaan se jaa.hum ek dusre ke rooh se pyar karte hai.thik hai? " Raavi said sarcastically smiling.

Shiva scratched his head looking at her sheepishly.

He owed her an Apology.a mere sorry won't suffice.he had hurt her self respect.he had to make it upto her.

" Raavi, dekh.meri baat to sun " he came closer about to hold her.

" Bilkul bhi nahi. Mujhse dur rehkar baat kar. Pata chala tu rota hua jayega ki maine tera faida uthaya." She pouted 

" Ab jaa yahaan se.mujhe bahut neend aa rahi hai" raavi said and turned around smirking

Ab ayaa line pe 

Shiva sighed.he looked at her smirk on the mirror smirking.he smiled.two can play a game.

He came to her and gave her a peck on her cheeks.

" Good night chipkali " he said and went away.

Raavi looked at him confused.

Chala gaya? Bina sorry bole? Bina mujhe manaye? Gadheda.