OS-Bandhe ek dori se... A query on pg 4

Hello buddies,

As I'd written in the previous post, this OS is a take on the title of the show- Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se 😳 I was intrigued by the idea of two very different people whose hearts are connected by a beautiful, complex bond that is not really romantic in nature 🤔 Errmmm...am sort of embarrassed to present this OS because I know it's written shabbily :( I didn't have the time to do a better job But I do hope all of you will enjoy it a little 😳 It is a chotu sa New Year gift from me to all you wonderful people on this forum 🤗

Background - It is set in the time when Shivani's grandfather is alive, and Raghu is his right hand man. The OS doesn't have a beginning, middle or end😆. It will only capture some moments of a day in the palace 😳 Shivani's character is very different. And not necessarily in a good way😆 Raghu's character is only slightly different 😳

Bandhe ek dori se...

The sharp click of heels echoed in the air as Shivani Rana stormed her way through the spacious passageway in the palatial house, followed hurriedly by a worried middle-aged woman.

At a fork in the corridor, Shivani took a turn and headed to a large door that opened to the office where her grandfather sat in the mornings to scan the accounts before heading to the office. A peon sitting to the left side of the entrance jumped up and saluted her fearfully, then quickly opened the door for her.

Turning a deaf year to the calming murmurs uttered by Panna Tai, Shivani barged into the huge room that held two men and a woman. The aged male was sitting regally behind a grand desk and studying a ledger, the young man was sulking idly in one of the chairs on the other side like a reprimanded teenager, and the female was standing beside the desk with clenched features.

Balwant Rana looked up from the ledgers at the entry of the tall, slender girl, and smiled amusedly. He knew precisely why his granddaughter was here and why she had that angry gleam in her green eyes.

"Whom do you want to fire today?" he asked, pretending ignorance.

"Daaju, is it true that you cancelled the order?" Shivani demanded severely, striding up to the desk.

Jaswant Rana swiftly edged his chair closer to his wife. It wasn't safe to be around his sister when she was in a foul temper. Mahima, though, felt triumphant.

The old man calmly replied, "Yes. I understood in time that a fast car was a dangerous gift for a girl who already drives rashly."

"And by that you mean Raghu told you a bunch of lies about the car and my driving," Shivani deduced snappily.

Balwant Rana laughed at his granddaughter's sour expression. "Raghu doesn't lie about anything, and certainly not about matters that concern your wellbeing."

"Raghu can do no wrong," Jaswant said bitterly.

Balwant Rana ignored the grumble and returned to the files. But Shivani swung to face her brother. "He makes fewer mistakes in a decade than you make in a day," she retorted with contempt.

"Talk to me respectfully! I'm your older brother," Jaswant snarled back.

"Did Bhabhi give you permission to tell me that?" Shivani asked with feigned sweetness.

"Don't get angry with your sister, Jaz," Mahima said silkily, "You know how very fond she is of that servant."

"Raghu is not a servant. The only real servant in this house is your husband," Shivani retorted viciously

"Enough," Balwant Rana barked. "Shivani, whatever you do or say, I will not buy you that car. And that's the end of this discussion," he declared and took up the ledger again.

Shivani seethed for a few minutes. There was no point talking to her grandfather now. He wasn't going to listen. She would murder Raghu for interfering and spoiling her dream of owning that magnificent vehicle.

He was lucky to have not been here, though his absence was strange. Raghu was usually by her grandfather's side at this hour, helping him in small business matters and resolving the problems created by her idiotic brother.

********************

Standing under the gigantic, stunning portrait of Balwant Rana and Shivani, Raghu looked at the overly relaxed marriage planner with mild disapproval.

The firm hired to decorate the Haveli and the marriage hall was famous in its field. But he needed them to look at this assignment as more than one more proud accomplishment in their resume. This was not just another occasion. It was Babyji's wedding. Everything had to be flawless, and Raghu was determined to ensure that it was the happiest and most perfect day of her life.

"Have you understood the requirements?" Raghu asked again, "There should not be any mistake or lack in the arrangements."

"There won't be. You can depend on us to make this a dream wedding," the man replied coolly.

"Not a' dream wedding. The'," Raghu corrected stoutly. "It should be the biggest and the best occasion seen by those who attend it."

"Raghu!"

At the angry yell, both the young men spun towards the ornate stairway that curved gracefully from the upper floor to the hall. The girl coming down the stairs was very pretty, dressed in an exquisitely tailored pink outfit that left her slim arms bare.

Shivani stared furiously at the taller man with the stubbled face who was warily watching her descend the steps. She was still at a distance when she started heatedly demanding, "Raghu, did you tell -"

She halted and frowned at the unknown man.

"Get out!" she snapped. "Are you blind? Can't you see I want to talk to Raghu?"

Frightened, the marriage planner hurried away. Two servants who were bustling around the enormous hall also hastened into the kitchen to be on the safe side.

After the others had left, Shivani unleashed the rest of her angry question on the man waiting patiently for her outburst.

"Raghu, did you tell Daaju he shouldn't buy the car for me?" she asked aggressively.

"I didn't tell him that, Babyji," Raghu said politely. "I only said that there were safer gifts."

"Who are you to decide what gifts I must get," Shivani shouted.

Raghu respectfully lowered his eyes.

Shivani could have killed him in frustration. She knew his silence was not a gesture of apology or guilt. He believed he had done the right thing, and was waiting for her to realise that and calm down.

"I call you my Jaadugar because you make good things happen, not because you make objects vanish from my life," she derided.

When he didn't speak, she warned in an automatically lower voice, "Don't go silent on me! It's not going to work this time."

Raghu almost smiled at the statement. Remaining silent was the only way to deal with Babyji when she was in this particular mood.

Noisy footsteps made them look around.

Panna Tai was rushing towards them with a mobile in hand. "Babyji, it was ringing," she said gaspingly, handing out the phone.

Shivani scanned the list of missed calls. Her best friend's call was the latest.

"Raghu, did you give Babyji the wedding gift?"

Shivani looked up at Panna Tai's affectionate whisper to an embarrassed-looking Raghu. "You brought me a gift, Raghu?" she asked avidly, "Where is it?" she demanded, studying his empty hands.

"It's - it's a very...it's not expensive or - you may not like it, Babyji," Raghu mumbled self-consciously. He had bought it days ago, wanting to give it beforehand, but had failed to gather the courage to give it to her. It was stowed in a small room in the outhouse, where he kept a spare set of clothes in case he had to stay in the Haveli overnight.

"I'll decide that!" Shivani announced. "Go and bring it right now!"

*************************

Minutes later, an out-of-breath Raghu awkwardly offered the package that he'd gift-wrapped himself. He cursed himself for buying such a cheap present on seeing the pleasure with which Babyji reached out and took it from his hands. But for reasons that he could never express, it had captured his fancy as soon as he'd seen it, and he'd known he had to purchase it.

Shivani opened the wrapping eagerly, thrusting her mobile and the shining paper into Panna Tai's hands.

She raised shining eyes from the silver-colored doli. "It's so beautiful! Thank you, Raghu!"

Raghu blushed with delight. He wanted to say so many things, but couldn't utter a word. She had liked it. That was all he wanted.

It didn't matter that it was his way of bidding goodbye to their existing bond.

For years, he had anticipated Babyji's wishes and moods, strived for her happiness, and zealously tried to keep sorrow and tears away from her life. He'd done everything humanly possible to make sure that there was a smile on her face at the end of each day. In a few days, however, Babyji would become a married woman. And that holy ceremony would draw an invisible but implicit boundary around her. Though she would continue to reside in the Haveli, their relationship would be altered forever.

Shivani gleefully examined the attractive piece in her hand. It was a skilfully crafted miniature version of the palanquin in which brides traditionally left the home of their parents and set out for the groom's house.

But she was not going anywhere, Shivani mulled abruptly, and she knew instinctively that Raghu would always serve the family. So why was he giving her this symbol of parting...this sign that spoke of a new relationship that was going to change all the previous ones. She glanced up and searched his eyes for clues.

And with a sense of shock, Raghu realised that she'd understood.

The phone buzzed once, distracting Shivani. She plucked it from Panna Tai clasp with her free hand and stared at the screen. It was a message from Abhi, asking her to come out of the Haveli because he'd arranged a surprise gift for her. She handed the phone back.

"Abhi is outside. Says he has a surprise present for me. Let's see what it is," she said, sliding a hand with crimson nails around Raghu's elbow and urging him along. "Panna Tai, you also come along."

**********************

Raghu gently yet firmly began to detach himself from her hold as Abhimanyu came into sight. Before he could succeed, Shivani unconsciously released him herself.

She held up the palanquin with both hands while walking across the lawn towards her smartly-dressed fiance who was beaming at her.

"See what Raghu bought for me. It's lovely, isn't it?" she asked brightly.

"Lovely," Abhi agreed and bestowed Raghu with a smile that didn't reflect in his eyes.

As the trilling of the phone drew Shivani's attention, Raghu serenely countered the scorn in Abhi's stare. He was aware that Babyji's fiance despised him. It made no difference to him. Unlike the Rana family, he wasn't particularly impressed with the would-be groom. Balwant Rana's discreet investigations had revealed only positive information. Yet, there was an artificiality about Abhi that perturbed Raghu. . The uneasiness had strengthened his resolve to continue working in the Haveli for as long as possible so he could watch out for Balwant Rana and Babyji's best interests.

"Give me two minutes. I'll be right back," Shivani said absent-mindedly to no one in particular, handing over the Doli to Panna Tai, and moving to a distance behind the group to answer the call.

"Take all the time you need," Abhi said charmingly, staring after her for a second. She truly was quite the package. Gorgeous, sophisticated, wealthy.

So marvellously wealthy, he thought with a smirk, slowly appraising the Haveli and the vast grounds.

He turned back to Raghu. "So how much did you spend on that thing? I hope you didn't have to sell your house for it," he enquired sneeringly.

Aghast, Panna Tai looked at Raghu. His face had turned red. With anger or humiliation? It was difficult to tell. He didn't rise to the bait, however, and maintained a grimly impassive face. She heard Babyji's returning steps with great relief.

"Raghu...Panna Tai...you both can go back into the Haveli. Panna Tai, keep the doli in my room," Shivani ordered, and then placidly asked Abhi, "Where's my surprise?"

************************

Abhi waited expectantly as Shivani strolled around the car stationed outside the large garage of the family. Mahima had informed him yesterday night about Balwant Rana's decision to cancel the order for the car, and pointed out that it was glorious chance for him to impress his fiance by gifting her with the same model.

But Shivani had not reacted as animatedly as he'd hoped. She had taken the surprise very coolly, and was presently examining the car with galling indifference. He had expected a drastic response after all the trouble he had gone through. And he had had to pay a hefty amount. But the investment would be worth it, because the money he'd spent would multiply by a million times and fly into his account after the wedding.

"It's ugly. Return it."

The reaction stunned Abhi. "What are you talking about?! This is the car you wanted so badly!" he spluttered.

"I did like it, but now it looks so hideous that I feel like asking the servants to set it on fire," she explained sweetly.

"Do you know how costly this car is?" Abhi asked, horrified.

"Not really. Did you have to sell your house to pay for it?" Shivani asked, wide-eyed.

Rage made Abhi clench his fists. He wanted to throttle the life out of those glittering green eyes. She was actually avenging the insult he'd thrown at a bloody servant?

Shivani walked up to him slowly, all pretence of innocence gone from her fair visage. "Don't ever insult Raghu again. Not even behind my back. Do you understand?" she asked coldly.

Abhi swallowed back acidic fury, and smiled. "I'm sorry, Shivani. It won't happen again."

"It better not," she retorted, "Now take this ugly car back. I'll see you in the evening," she dismissed him summarily.

******************************

Raghu manoeuvred the car out of the garage and parked it in the lawns. He jumped out of the vehicle, ran to the other side and pulled open the door for Babyji. She wanted to go shopping with her best friend, she had said five minutes ago when she'd returned alone to the hall. Unsually, she'd not said a word about Abhi or the surprise'. It had puzzled him and Panna Tai...

Shivani began to slide into the backseat, then stopped and looked at him agitatedly. "Nothing will change, Raghu. You know that, right?" she asked suddenly.

The determination on her face could almost have been mistaken for confidence, Raghu thought with bittersweet warmth. Then again, who knew what lay in store. Whatever the fates had decried would happen. He couldn't let any kind of apprehension spoil her mood on this day and all forthcoming days.

Raghu smiled reassuringly and nodded.

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