PART -1
The function got over on a bitter note.rishita was heartbroken after hearing the harsh words of her bua.dev somehow consoled her and took her inside.the guests went away one by one, only family remained.
" Beta, Shaadi ke baad damaad ko ghar pe bulake khaana khilate hai.tu aur raavi kal Shyam hamare Ghar dinner pe aana" mama said keeping a hand on shiva's shoulder.
Raavi was happy that she will get to visit her maayka.her face lit up with a smile.
Ab ISS rakshas ko Khana khilaana padega.kya kya Karna pad Raha hai apni beti ke liye. Maami muttered to herself.
Shiva saw her muttering something to herself.
" Ae maami, tere Ghar PE na Mai kadam..." He stopped midway seeing raavi's face fall, she was looking down.
" Achaa thk hai.mama..aap keh rahe ho na itne pyar se.sirf isliye aa Raha hu Mai" he said glancing sideways at raavi.
Raavi gave him a big toothy smile.he unknowingly smiled seeing her this happy.
Mama hugged him with happiness.
Everyone retired for the night.
Shiva was waiting for raavi in their room.he had to talk to her today.he still couldn't figure out what exactly he is going to say to her.his feelings have changed.he was attracted to her.how did she feel ? Was she also feeling weird like him?
He was growing impatient.
He came out of the room looking for her.
He saw her working in the kitchen.
" Yeh kya keh rahi hai?" Shiva asked.
" Dandiya khel rahi hu. khelega? "She said giving him a sarcastic smile.
Shiva rolled his eyes.here he wanted to talk to her about something serious and she was cracking these lame jokes.
" Mujhe tujhse Kuch Baat Karni hai" he said coming near her.
" Bol na.tu function Mai bhi Kuch keh Raha tha na" she asked looking at him with her innocent big brown eyes.
" Hann, woh...Mai yeh keh Raha tha ki...Kuch ajeeb SA lag Raha hai.matlab ek bechaini si ho rahi hai.." he said not knowing how to go further.
" Woh to Hoga hi na shiva, Tu dinbhar idhar udhar Ka khaana khate rehta hai. Aaj Maine Dekha tha kaise function se pehle Tu kitchen Mai chup chupke dhokla aur thepla kha Raha tha.tujhe na acidity ho gayi hai." She said
" Kya?" Shiva felt like banging his head somewhere.
Acidity? Where did she get these ideas from? Is she that oblivious to his feelings? Can't she notice his changed behaviour?
" Tu Ruk..mere paas na ek bahut Accha nuska hai.ekdum se aaram mil Jayega" she said and started to prepare a kadha with pudina leaves and jeera.
Shiva was again lost in her. She came to him with the glass and signalled him to drink it.
" Mujhe Nahi peena" he said and started to walk away when raavi held his hand.
" Shiva...aise baccho ki Tarah zidd mat kar.chup chap pile.acha lagega tujhe" raavi said and brought the glass near his lips.
Shiva sipped the drink slowly looking at her all this while.he didn't realise when he drank the whole glass.he was brought out of his trance with raavi's voice.
" Tu kamre Mai jaake Aram Kar.mai aa rahi hu" she said.
Shiva went away this , hoping that atleast this gadhedi will listen to him this time before coming to any conclusion.
Raavi came to the room to find shiva sitting on the mattrrss.he had changed into his night clothes.
Raavi sat in front of the mirror, taking out her jewellery one by one.
Shiva was again admiring her.she brought her hair to one side.
She was struggling with her necklace hook.shiva slowly stood up and came to her and helped her with it.his fingers slowly brushing over her neck.they lingered there for a little more time than necessary.raavi blushed feeling his touch.what is this weird tingling sensation that she gets in her stomach everytime he comes close to her? Shiva traced his finger from her neck downwards on her back, until it reached the Dori of her blouse.he quickly removed his hands when he realised what he was doing.
Yeh kya Kar Raha hai shiva? Kya sochegi woh tere baare Mai?
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Raavi quickly got up and went to the cupboard.
She took out her nightwear.
They had a bathroom in the haveli, it was not at all awkward.she had an attached bathroom at her maayka.going to the living room bathroom everytime carrying her clothes made her feel a bit uncomfortable.
She shrugged the thought off and turned abruptly.shiva also turned at the same time and they both collided with each other.shiva stabilised her with his arms wrapped around her .the clothes fell down.
They had a eyelock, he quickly made her stand and bent down to pick her clothes.he didn't trust himself in her proximity anymore.
Raavi too got down and took the clothes from shiva hastily and started to leave when something from the clothes she was carrying tugged in shiva's bracelet.
It was her bra.
She closed her eyes in embarrassment.her cheeks turning a deep shade of red.
Shiva looked away awkwardly.
She tried to free the hook of the bra from the bracelet, but it was stubborn.her trembling hands didn't help.
Shiva noticed her struggling and sighed.
" Ruk..Mai..Mai karta hu' he said.
He quickly freed the hook using two fingers, raavi was about to go when he held her hand.
" Tu yahan change karle.mai bahar jaata hu" he Said and left closing the door behind him.
Raavi changed and opened the door waiting for shiva to reeturn.
Shiva needed some fresh air.he went to the terrace. He tried to form the words he was about to tell her.
After some practicing and repeating the words to himself numerous times, he was ready.
He went to their room to find her peacefully sleeping.
Meri neend udake kaise chain se soyi hai.
He thought to himself.he settled besides her and looked at her.sleep was far from his eyes.this time he didn't turn away.he looked at her face shining in the moonlight, drinking in the beauty, observing every nook and corner of her face intently as if he was imprinting her face on his heart.
He woke up as the morning rays hit his face.he frowned not finding his chipkali besides her.
He went to the living area to find her serving tea to everyone.
She smiled at him.and gave him his tea.
This was the first time after marriage that she was giving him tea.it was usually dhara bhabi.
" Aaj dhara bhabi subah subah Mandir gayi thi.to saara naashta maine akele banaya hai.kaisa hai?" She asked looking expectantly at gombi and shiva.
Shiva nodded with a small smile sipping his tea.it was exactly as he liked.extra sugary.
Gombi touched raavi's head lovingly.
" Isme puchna kya hai? Tere haatho Mai to bahut swaad hai" he said
Raavi smiled.
"Shiva..aaj mujhe zameen ke silsile Mai kuch logo se Milna hai.rishita Ka mood kharab tha to Maine Dev se keh Diya use Kahi ghumane le Jaye. Kaka ki bhi tabiyat Kuch thk Nahi hai.to aaj Dukaan tujhe akele sambhalna Hoga" gombi said.
Shiva nodded.
Raavi was clearing the plates.shiva helped her do so and followed her to the kitchen.
" Raavi..woh" he started to say when gombi called out to him.
" Aaja shiva..Saath Mai nikalte hai"
He closed his eyes.everytime somebody interrupted him.
He went to the shop.
Dhara and raavi were Cooking in the kitchen.
" Raavi, aaj Tu shiva ke liye Tiffin le Jaana " dhara said.
" Mai kyu dhara Di? Hamesha to aap leke Kate ho." She asked.
" Kyuki Maine bahut sambhal liya in teen bandaro ko. Ab tu aur rishita aa Gaye ho na.to meri chutti." She said.
" Aur shiva Dukaan pe Akela hai, to Tu uski thodi madad bhi Kar Lena" dhara said
Raavi packed his lunch and went to the store.
She was wearing a pink salwar with a white dupatta.
Shiva saw her coming.
This was a good time to talk to her.there are usually no customers at this time.noone can interrupt them.
" Dhara Di ne tere liye Tiffin bheja hai " she said handing it over to him.
" Raavi...woh mujhe tujhse Kuch zaroori Baat Karni hai." He said.
" Mujhe bhi tujhse bahut zaroori Baat Karni hai shiva. Pichle din Jo kuch bhi ho Raha hai, Uske baare Mai." Raavi said
Shiva looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes.did she also acknowledge the changing equation between them?
" Bol.kya Baat hai? " He asked.
" Shiva...dhara Di is Tarah angan Mai Soti hai.mujhe bilkul Acha Nahi Lagta .unhe Kitna ajeeb Lagta Hoga.function se pehle unhone rishita ke room Mai change kiya.aur woh to dhara Di hai.unhone Kitna Kuch Kiya hai ISS Ghar ke liye.humein bhi unke liye kuch Karna chahiye.hum unhe apna kamra de de kya? Tujhe to angan Mai sone ki Adat hai.mai bhi adjust Kar lungi." She asked innocently.
Shiva looked at her in awe.how can she be so selfles?.he has noticed that she was not comfortable using the common bathroom and here she was talking about giving up her room.
He took her hand and brought her close to himself.
" Tujhe kya Lagta hai? Dhara bhabi khud kamre Mai soke tujhe bahar sone degi?aur agar dhara bhabi ko angan Mai takleef hai, to tujhe bhi to hogi na raavi? Tu tension mat le...Maine aur Dev ne ISS baare Mai Baat Kiya hai.hum jald hi bhabi aur gombi ke liye Naya kamra Bana rahe hai" he assured her.
She was happy hearing it.they had their lunch in silence.the customers started coming in.
Raavi tried to help him around, but he was not giving her any work.
" Shivaa...yeh kya hai? Tu mujhe Kuch kaam Karne kyu Nahi de Raha? "She asked irritated.
" Kyu ki yaha tere layak Kuch kaam Nahi hai, samjhi? " He said.
" Dekh shiva ..agla customer Mai attend karungi." She said sternly.
Shiva shrugged.
She pushed him away and stood at the counter.
A middle aged man came to the shop.
He smiled and his gaze lingered on raavi. Shiva didn't like the way this man was staring at his wife.
" Yeh store Aapka hai? " He asked being extra sweet.
" Ji " raavi nodded.
" Aap akele yeh Dukaan sambhal rahi hai? Manna padega" he said.
Raavi smiled.
Shiva rolled his eyes.couldnt the dumb man see him standing at the corner?
" Waise ek Baat kahu? " He asked.
" Kya? " Raavi asked innocently.
" Aap bahut khoobsurat lag rahi hai" he said
Raavi just smiled a little.
This was the last straw for shiva.he came in front of raavi blocking the man's view.
" Kya Chahiye?" He asked sternly.
" Woh irandi Ka Tel..." The man said
" Nahi hai hamare paas." He said.
" Are par woh tha na.." raavi said but stopped when shiva glared at her.
" Are rakhna Chahiye na.itni badi Dukaan aur irandi Ka Tel bhi nahi hai" the man huffed and went away nervously as shiva was glaring at him.
" Shiva ..yeh tu kya Kar Raha hai? Irandi Ka Tel hai na hamare paas" she asked confused.
" Tera na upar Ka mahala sach Mai khaali hai. Woh ladka na tere se flirt Kar Raha tha.aur Tu gadhedi ki Tarah use dekhkar has rahi thi." He said annoyed.
Raavi was offended.
" Dekh shiva.tere alawa na har ladka mujhse aise hi Baat karta hai.mai Somnath ki sabse khoobsurat ladki hu, yeh Baat Mai khud Nahi kehti ...log kehte hai.to Tu na iski Adat daal le, iske chakkar Mai agar customer bhagane laga na to ho Gaya Kalyan pandya store Ka" she said
" tujhe pandya store ki fikr Karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai.uske liye bahut log hai.Tu na Ghar jaa.waise bhi kaam sawarne se zyada bigad rahi hai" he said irritated.
" Thik hai ...jaa rahi hu.tu Akela tha to insaniyat ke naate Teri madad Karne aa gayi.my fault " she said.
Raavi left the store annoyed.the man just said she looked beautiful. What was the need to make such an issue about it?
Kya Kar Raha hai shiva? Use apni dil ki Baat batani thi.jhagda Nahi Karna tha.
He closed his eyes.
He had to talk to her soon
Mangal Lakshmi
