Chapter 4

[NOCOPY]

Chapter 4

"Do you guys have any allergies?" Raavi asked, sitting with a pen and notebook. 

"I have an allergy to nuts." Gaurav said, as they all stared at the football match going on in front of them. 

"Are you cooking?" Shashank asked, and when she nodded, "Then I'm allergic to everything." 

"Why are you so mean to me?" 

"Why are you still here?" 

Raavi snapped her book shut, "Hadd hai. Haath bhi mat lagana when I finish cooking." She stomped away in anger. 

"Shashank. Thoda lagaam de na apni zubaan pe. Aise kyu baat kar raha hai usse?" Shiva asked, glancing between his roommate and the TV. 

"Mujhe nahi pasand woh." 

"Kyu? Kya burai hai usme?" 

"Kuch nahi." He grumbled, stuffing his face with peanuts. 

"Toh phir? It's settled." Shiva said, turning to face the TV again, "Kyu bin waja- ABE ISKI MAA KA-" He yelled at the TV, throwing the remote on the floor. "Bhak, mujhe nahi dekhna." 

The next 45 minutes went by occasional telling, swearing at the TV and angry tweeting, while Raavi was humming and cooking something in the kitchen. 

She brought out the vessels and laid them on the dining table one by one, calling them to eat. 

"Aaj tune khaana banaya?" Shiva raised his eyebrow. 

"I don't like eating bahar ka khaana so much, lekin aaj mujhe laga ek time ke liye Mrs. Fernandes ko rest de du. Pasta and garlic bread, made by yours truly!" She took a bow dramatically. 

"Don't!" She slapped Shashank's hand away, as he reached for the garlic bread. "You're allergic to anything I cook na?" Raavi asked cheekily, and gave in when he made a face. 

"Aaj kuch special hai kya?" Gaurav asked, serving himself and others already. 

"Haa. Mere parents ki wedding anniversary hai." Raavi said with a smile, and unknown to the other two, it struck Shiva why she was busying herself in the kitchen. 

"Oh. Cheers to uncle and aunty!" Shashank raised his beer can. "Kitne saal hue hai unki shaadi ko." 

"Aaj 25 saal ho jaate if they were here." She smiled wistfully, grabbing a plate and handing it over to Shiva. 

"If they were here? Kaha hai?" Gaurav asked. 

"Nahi hai. Woh dono apna mast maula party kar rahe honge upar, away from me." She pointed above, and everyone fell silent for a moment. 

"Sorry." 

"Arre why sorry?" Raavi shrugged, settling down on the bean bag, "They must be enjoying full on, akele akele. Without interruptions." She snickered. 

"To your parents." The two boys raised their cans, and Shiva followed suit. 

Raavi clinked her glass with theirs, and proceeded to watch the football match, just to give company because she didn't enjoy the sport all that much. 

When they cleared up the vessels and Raavi stood in the kitchen, idly arranging some bottles, she felt Shiva standing behind her 

Without turning around, she said, "Kuch chahiye tha, Shiva?" 

"Tu theek hai?" 

"Haa. Aise kyu puch raha hai?" Raavi shrugged, wiping the counter. 

"Aaj tere parents ki anniversary hai." Shiva announced, clearing the counter and helping her. 

"So?" 

"Tu apne aap ko distract karne ke liye khaana bana rahi thi, na?" 

Raavi stopped what she was doing and turned to look at him. He knew her damn well, curse this bhootnath. 

"Ab tujhse kya jhooth bolna. Unki yaad na aaye isliye I distract myself." She sighed, leaning her back against the fridge. "Because unki yaad mein koi yaadein hi nahi hai mere paas, aur sochne lag jaaungi toh humesha bas ek jagah aake rukti hoon, ki we would have been a happy family if they didn't have to go so soon." 

Shiva looked at Raavi. He didn't realise how lonely she'd feel. Sometimes, on days like these, she'd never come to the Pandya House, instead choosing to stay at home. Contrary to her distraction policy. 

Maybe she just wanted time alone, to think what a happy family could be, instead of being in a complicated family that forgot to appreciate her enough. 

So he did what he always did, even as a kid. 

Raavi felt his warm touch on her hand, and on instinct, entangled her pinky finger with his, as they stood next to each other, in silence, but not uncomfortable. 

"They'd be really proud of you, you know?" Shiva said, looking ahead. 

"Really?" She had that innocent look in her eye, and for a moment he was reminded of 10 year old Raavi, exactly same situation years ago. It was quite honestly, a dejá vu. 

"Haa. You cooked and fed 3 grown desi laundas jo bhukkad ki tarah apni nazar mein har cheez khaa jaate hai." 

That earned him a giggle from her, still not letting go of her hand. 

"Tere iss chote se, matar size dimaag ko itna stress mat de, fatt jaayega." 

She gave him a small smile, "Upar party kar rahe honge na mast?" 

"Haa. Mere papa ke saath milke teri maasi aur meri maa ki buraaiya zaroor kar rahe honge. Likh ke le." 

Raavi laughed at that, a genuine sign of her mirth, and Shiva couldn't help but adore her. She'd always been like this, ray of sunshine, no matter what. 

"Kulfi khayega?" Raavi asked, opening the fridge, and taking out two kulfis. "2 hi the, isliye bahar nahi leke gayi. Le." She forwarded one kulfi, which Shiva gladly took. 

Ice cream party on nights like these, had a different feel in itself. 

.... 

Shiva removed the boxes of takeaway and set it on the table, bringing spoons and plates to serve themselves. 

"Khushboo toh bohot sahi hai! Not bad, bhootnath." Raavi patted his shoulder and served herself some of the fried rice and gravy. "I'm really hungry, aaj college ne bohot waat lagayi meri. Mai khaa rahi hoon, theek hai?" 

"Sarr pe rakh ke naachne ke liye toh nahi mangaya na, chipkali?" Shiva said, and she stuck her tongue out at him. 

As Raavi gorged on the delicious dinner, it gave her a funny taste. More like, a funny feeling. 

"Ye kaha se mangaya? It tastes funny." She said, pursing her lips. 

"Jaha se humesha mangate hai, wahi se. It tastes fine only. I'm sorry if your highness can't eat food from outside." Shashank teased, and Raavi just rolled her eyes at him. 

"Tumse nahi pucha maine." She said, ignoring her taste buds and assuming it was just her imagination. 

But, 4 spoonfuls in, and there was definitely something wrong, either with the dish, or her. 

"Shiva, sach mein kuch gadbad hai." Raavi kept her plate aside and stood up, her tongue settling uncomfortably in her mouth. 

Shiva frowned and took a bite of the food, looking into his phone, "Theek hi toh hai, chipkali." 

When she didn't reply, Shiva looked up, and found her clutching the chair by the table rather tightly. 

"Raavi?" 

She turned around, her face red as a tomato and twisted into a painful frown, hand on her chest, breathing hard and collapsing to her knees. 

"Ae, chipkali, kya ho raha hai tujhe?" Shiva stood up worriedly and sat down next to her, his hands on her arms, supporting her. 

"Saans... Nahi.....Can't-" She gasped for air, barely able to get words out, as her body gave way from lack of oxygen. 

"Shit. Shit. Raavi?" Shiva patted her cheeks, and cradled her body closer to himself. 

Raavi angled her head to look at him  her eyes half shut, chest heaving as she breathed harder. 

"Shiva...." She croaked, while Shiva lost his mind for a few seconds. 

"Isko shaayad allergic reaction ho raha hai, pata nahi kis cheez ka. Shiva, utha isse!" Shashank shoved Shiva a little hard, to pull him out of his trance. 

Shiva nodded frantically and carried her in his arms, her hands fisting his shirt, as he ran down 4 flights of stairs and sat in the first rickshaw he saw. 

"Ae chipkali. Look at me!" He cupped her face to make her look at him, her eyes reflecting the pain she was in. 

"2 minutes. 2 minutes mein pohonch jaayenge okay? Tu... Tu mujhe dekh, theek hai- ARRE BHAIYYA AAP THODA JALDI CHALAO NA!" His eyes welled up, watching her barely able to breathe and not being able to do anything about it. 

Raavi fisted his shirt tighter in her fists, blinking to say yes, as he wiped away her tears with the back of his hand. 

"It's....hurting....marr jaungi." Raavi cried, her chest constricting even tighter, as Shiva shushed her. 

"SHUT UP!" Shiva yelled at her. "Just shut up. Tu.....Tu baat mat kar, it will hurt less. Mai tujhe KUCH NAHI hone dunga, kuch bhi nahi. Koi nahi marega. Keep your mouth shut, chipkali." He moved her hair out of her face, still laying across his lap in his arms. 

The second they reached the hospital, Shiva sprinted to the nearest doctor he saw, and watched as the doctor stabbed an epipen in her thigh, immediately wheeling her in to the emergency ward. He stood outside, shaking his leg nervously as his friends tailed right behind. 

"Woh theek hai?" Shashank asked, keeping his hand on Shiva's shoulder. 

"Pata nahi. Abhi leke gaye hai usko andar. Kuch toh usko injection jaisa diya.... Pata nahi yaar!" Shiva groaned, his palms covering his face as he sat down on one of the steel chairs. 

"Usko allergic reaction hua kis cheez ka? Humne toh sirf Chinese mangaya tha, like always." Gaurav asked, and Shiva's head perked up. 

"Oh, shit." Shiva whispered in sudden realisation. "Shit. Shit. Maine kaise hone diya ye? SHIT!" 

Gaurav and Shashank looked at him pointedly, as he explained further. "Uss gadhedi ko spring onions se allergy hai. Rice aur gravy, dono mein bhar bhar ke tha. Shit!" Shiva explained, his heart aching. 

"Oh-Ek second..." Gaurav frowned, "Itne severe reaction waale foods toh usse strictly avoid karna chahiye na?" 

"Woh khud nahi jaanti. Usse khud bhi nahi pata hai she's allergic." Shiva sighed, holding his head. 

"Toh tujhe kaise pata, jab usse nahi pata?" Shashank made a face. 

"Bas pata hai, okay?" Shiva retorted, a memory that he had almost forgotten resurfacing slowly. 

15 year old Shiva had a notebook in front of him, making several notes from reference books on the information he had gathered. 

He had recently learnt about genetics and was fascinated by the idea of genetically passed down traits such as aging, white hair, spotted skin and allergies. 

Allergies were more common to observe but his family was not very diverse in terms of it, so he had got Raavi to sit down and explain her entire family tree to him, which she has heard from her paternal uncle. 

Raavi had a very proud claim of 'not having any allergies' and Shiva scoffed, given the information he had noted down. 

After 2 days of tracking, he came to a conclusion that she was allergic to underground vegetables. Not all, since she had been eating potatoes, carrots and even radish for a long time. But something definitely had to tick her off. 

On his 16th birthday which he half heartedly agree to have a party for on insistence of his family and chipkali, she had come to his house all decked up like it was her own birthday. 

Reason? 'Somnath ki sabse sundar ladki always has to look sundar.' She had said and he scoffed. 

But what he observed during dinner was surprising. Raavi had served herself with fried rice, and nothing else because 'Chinese food gave her pimples' which she demonstrated on her face and shoulders. 

A few bites of the rice, and she started complaining how it made her feel funny, to which Dhara gave her some pav bhaji instead. Coincidentally, even Krish and Dev felt funny after eating dinner, but that turned out to be food poisoning. 

Meanwhile, Raavi would come to Shiva, everyday after his birthday, to complain about how she got pimples on her shoulders, which everyone passed off as teenage acne. 

Shiva didn't hear her complains, but he knew that his prediction was right, trying to recall the ingredients in the rice. 

She was allergic to spring onions. 

Shiva tapped his feet continuously, trying to relieve himself of the nervousness he had built up with every passing second that the doctor didn't leave from the ER. 

"Woh theek hogi, Shiva." Shashank said gently, albeit surprised at how worried he was. 

"Usse kuch ho gaya meri wajah se, toh? Mai mami se kya kahunga?" Shiva's nervousness wrecked his body as he continuously tapped his feet, fidgeted with his nails, or bit his lip every 2 minutes. 

Woh theek hogi, Shiva. Uss chipkali ko kuch nahi hoga. Teri galti nahi hai, tujhe nahi pata tha uska itna severe reaction hoga. 

Par agar mai yaad rakhta, toh usko itni takleef nahi hoti. Saansein ruk jaati toh? 

Nahi. Aisa mat soch. Aise khayal sab nikaal fek apne dimaag se. Gadheda. Yahi bolegi woh tujhe agar tune usse kaha ye sab. 

If he had to endure this any longer, he would have lost his mind. But, just then, the doctor walked out, straight to Shiva. 

"You are the young man, who brought Ms. Raavi here, and filled the forms?" 

"Yes. That would be me." Shiva stood up, frantically waiting for details. 

"Aap unko time se yaha laaye, woh aapki kismat thi, warna aap 1 aur minute late hote, toh woh shaayad bachti nahi." 

Something about that statement broke his heart, even though his brain has processed the meaning of it; she was okay. 

"Matlab woh theek hai? Raavi theek hai?" Shiva asked, not being able to take a single breath of relief until he heard it from the doctor's mouth. 

"Yes. She's absolutely fine, thodi weak hai from the sudden drop in oxygen levels, but she'll feel better in a few hours." The doctor flipped through his clipboard. 

"Aap unse kaise related hai? I need to ask and explain a few things regarding her allergic reaction." 

Shiva looked at the room in front of him, the answer to that question lingering in his mind, and from the small circular window, he saw her. With an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth, lying there, no more in any pain or discomfort. 

His heart untangled itself from all the tension it was in, from watching in her so much pain and discomfort. If this chipkali was just a friend, he wouldn't feel this way, no sir. 

So when he rewound the last few minutes, all he could hear was his heart pounding in his ears, scared and worried for the girl who was peacefully sleeping, a door's distance away, and he knew the answer to the question; 

"She's family." 

The doctor nodded, and proceeded to note down whatever Shiva said in response to his questions, briefing him on her reactions and emergency solutions to it. 

Within a few minutes, one of the nurses stepped out to inform that Raavi wasn't awake yet, and Shiva raised himself on his feet peeking through the circular window again. 

"I can only allow one person to stay here with her, young man." The doctor said, looking at the 3 best friends. 

Shiva nodded and turned towards his friends, "Shashank, tu yaha ruk sakta hai? Mai ghar se iske liye kuch laata hoon, I think I saw Mrs. Fernandes looking at us worriedly from her window." 

Shashank nodded, understanding the situation and Shiva rushed back home with Gaurav, not before whispering a soft 'thank you' and hugging them, grateful they were here. 

The moment he opened the house door, Mrs. Fernandes stepped out. 

"Shiva, my child, kya hua?" 

Shiva immediately went to her and hugged her tight, her motherly instincts were always there when it came to Shiva, and she could feel he was tensed. 

"Woh, Raavi ko allergic reaction ho gaya tha. Saans nahi le paa rahi thi." He sighed, holding Mrs. Fernandes' hands. 

"Is she okay?" Mrs. Fernandes asked worriedly, placing one hand on Shiva's cheek. 

"Haa. Abhi hosh nahi aaya hai usse, toh I came to bring her a change of clothes and all." He said, nodding towards the door. "Woh theek hogi na?" 

"She'll be absolutely fine, my boy. Tum jaao. Uska bag pack karo, I had made some wonderful tomato soup shaam ko, garam karke ek thermos mein deti hu uske liye. Okay? Chalo go!" She kissed Shiva's forehead, and patted his back. 

Shiva put a set of clothes, a pair of shoes and her toothbrush in a bag, and grabbed his bike keys, ready to leave, when Mrs. Fernandes stepped out with a small bag. 

"Here. Nice, warm soup for you two. I even put her favourite chocolate in this, but don't give it to her before she finishes the soup, okay?" Mrs. Fernandes patted his cheek, and handed him the bag. 

"You're the best, Mrs. Fernandes, love you." Shiva kissed her cheek. "You want to come meet her?" 

"I'm getting old, son. Meri peeth akad jaayegi. But give her my love, and," Mrs. Fernandes kissed his cheek, "this also." 

"This also?" Shiva pointed at his cheek sheepishly, and Mrs. Fernandes nodded, ushering him to go be with Raavi. 

He revved his bike in an attempt to reach as soon as he could. He didn't want to leave her alone at all. The moment Shiva reached the hospital, he thanked Shashank and handed over the house keys to him, telling him to go get some rest and take care of Mrs. Fernandes, in case she needs anything. 

A while later, a nurse stepped out to inform him that Raavi was awake, and Shiva sprang to his feet to meet her. 

He immediately stepped into the room, and her eyes found his, blinking slowly to adjust to his movement and the light in the room as he sat down next to her. 

"Hi. Kaisi hai?" Shiva asked softly, setting the bag down, as she turned to look at him. 

"Not dead, thankfully." Raavi moved the oxygen mask out of the way, and coughed a few times on the loss of external oxygen supply, trying to sit up. "I'm fine. I'm fine." 

"Sorry, woh...itna daraya diya tujhe. Aur thank you, adhi raat ko tu mujhe yaha laaya." Raavi said softly. 

"Thank you mat bol, tujhe marne thodi na deta. Aur sorry kyu? Mujhe pata hona chahiye tha, tera ek hi toh allergy hai...."  Shiva trailed off. 

"Kis cheez ka?" Raavi asked. "Ye kaisi allergy hai, jo mujhe kya, kisi ko nahi pata lekin tujhe pata hai?" 

"Spring onions." Shiva looked away, before continuing. "Mujhe ye humare school ke time se pata tha, woh ek experiment kar raha tha aur-" 

"Haww tune meri jaan lene ki koshish ki thi?" She asked dramatically, knowing she never had this kind of reaction before. 

"No! Pagal hai kya?" Shiva replied, startled at the accusation. "By experiment, I mean research. Woh tujhe ek baar pimples jaise ho gaye the apne back aur shoulder pe, mere birthday ke baad. Toh..." 

"Oh." Raavi sighed softly, and she could see a 16 year old Shiva in the Shiva in front of her now, guilt seeping into him. "Tune bataya kyu nahi?" 

"Woh uske baad mai football khelne chala gaya, aur Dhara bhabhi ne meri purani books kahi raddi mein dedi. I'm sorry, Raavi." Shiva let his hand rest on hers. 

"Sorry kyu?" She tilted her head. 

"Mujhe yaad rehta toh tujhe itni takleef nahi hoti, teri jaan jaa sakti thi-" He sighed, looking down at his shoes. 

"Aye bhootnath," Raavi called out to him, taking her hand out from under his and resting it atop, "Jab mujhe hi nahi pata tha, toh tujhe kaise pata hota. No sorry, no thank you, okay?" 

The way she smiled at him, made Shiva's heart flutter. How was she like this, so forgiving, so.... her, even when she had literally been through a near death experience due to his minor slip up. 

"Woh kya hai?" Raavi pointed at the bag behind him. 

"Oh," Shiva picked it up and poured some of the soup in the cups she had sent, and forwarded it to Raavi, "Mrs. Fernandes ne bheja hai tere liye. Pareshaan thi." 

"How sweet! She's a darling." Raavi smiled, and closed her eyes in content, tasting the soup. 

"Boli tujhe 'love' dene ko." He gruffly said looking away. 

"Aur kuch bola unhone?" Raavi asked, sipping on the soup. 

"Haa." 

"Kya?" 

Shiva leaned forward hesitantly, and pulled back, but leaned forward again and pecked her forehead, stunning Raavi. 

"Shiva, kya kar raha hai?" Raavi whispered in shock. 

"Ye.... Woh Mrs. Fernandes ne bola. She said she'll follow up on whether I...." Shiva trailed off. 

"She asked you to kiss me?" She asked, confused. 

"No." Shiva scratched the back of his head, "Unhone mujhe gaal pe kiss kiya aur bola tujhe pass on karne ko." He pointed at his cheek, and Raavi burst out laughing. 

"She's too adorable! Tu bhi kuch zyaada hi adorable hai, Shiva. Itna kya darr raha hai. Relax!" She chuckled, finishing her soup and tossing the paper cup away. 

Shiva sighed in relief. Mrs. Fernandes definitely loved to play cupid for fun, no matter how innocent she seemed. 

"Okay chalo let's go." Raavi swung her feet down from the bed, all set to leave. 

"Leti reh chup chaap!" Shiva scolded her and she pouted. 

"Haww. Sharam nahi aati?" Her voice croaked, "Abhi abhi maut se bachke aayi hu, aur tu is bechari si, bholi bacchi ko daat raha hai. Paap chadega, Shiva Pandya. Paap." 

Shiva shook his head at her nautanki. She was definitely okay if she was doing her usual drama. 

"Bholi aur bechari toh tu hai nahi," Shiva scoffed at her words, "lekin aaj nahi sataaunga. Kal subah discharge ho jaayegi, toh mai yahi ruk raha hu tere saath. Choice nahi hai tere paas." 

Raavi frowned and gasped when she heard him, "Nahi. Shiva, kitne baje discharge karenge? Mera kal pehla exam hai term ka! Nahi, tu abhi mujhe discharge karke leke jaa ghar, I'm fine see!" She spread out her arms to show what she meant and proceeded to get off the bed again. 

"Abe akkal ki dushman!" He yelled at her, and she looked up at him with the best puppy eyes she could make. "Mai nahi pighlunga, teri ye cute si shakal waali trick mujhpe nahi chalegi." 

"Kya kaha tha tune, abhi 2 minute pehle," He crossed his arms in front of his chest, "  'Abhi abhi maut se bachke aayi hu' hai na? Toh kyu Spiderman ki tarah uchal rahi hai? So jaa." 

Raavi pouted, "Nahi, exam mein absent mark karenge toh fail ho jaaungi. Mai likh ke aati hu na paper jaldi jaldi, fast fast-" 

"Enough is enough, chipkali." Shiva shook his head, "Kal subah mai Dean sir ko phone karke bata dunga ki tu hospital mein hai, aur 3 din nahi aa payegi. Bas. Ek exam nahi dena padega, baaki de paayegi. Okay?" 

"No, no Shiva. I can't do this. Tu samajh na yaar!" Raavi said irritatedly, and Shiva lost his mind again. 

"GADHEDI!" He whisper-yelled, "Doctor ne kaha ne, rest karna hai toh karna hai! Meri baat kyu sunegi, mai hu hi kaun? Par doctor ki toh baat sun le, pagal!" 

"Shiva-" 

"Kuch nahi sununga, bohot bak bak karti hai! Sleep!" Shiva said, angrily. 

Raavi glanced at him and laid down quickly shutting her eyes, pretending to sleep. But when she hears his soft breathing, she looks at him through one eye, and closes it quickly from the hard stare he's giving her. 

"Raavi toh so gayi, tu bhi so jaa." She said cutely, eyes closed, snuggling into the bed. 

Shiva smiles at her from where he's sitting, and shifts to move to the sofa, where he rests his head on his arm. 

He looks at her once, smiles, and drifts off to sleep. 

And she notices it from her peeking eyes, with a smile of her own. 

......

A/N: As some of you pointed out, I did indeed make a typo. It's not 15, it was 25, which I missed even during proof reading. Baaki sab fact-checked. So enjoy!