"Raavi?? Kya hua? "
Raavi looked up when Shiva's voice reached her. She tried to sit up in a more dignified way and wiped her face as he approached the khaat she'd been slumped on.
"Kuch nahi, Tu itni raat ko yaha kya kar raha hai," she assured him with a sniffle, ignoring the concerned look on his handsome face.
"Tujhe bhook lagi h kya? Mene... Wo matlab Dhara di ne thoda halwa fridge me bacha ke rakha h... Ja jaake kha le. "
"Raavi…" he said again, crouching in front of her.
Her eyes tentatively met his. Why did he have to be so attractive? No... She hates him... She can't think like that...these monthly hormones are making her crazy!!Suddenly a cramp had her body seizing up and she closed her puffy, red eyes against the pain.
He slipped his hand in between hers. She held on, so hard she thought she would break his bones.
"Ab kya hua h batayegi Mujhe? Tu nahi batayegi mujhe pata h...chal Tu abhi doctor ke pass chal...me ek nhi sun ne wala teri."
"Are kuch nhi h, Tu chinta mat kar." She was pleasantly surprised seeing Shiva so openly caring for her.
"Tu ro rahi h" he pointed out worriedly.
"Oh, um." She debated giving the real reason he'd found her sobbing . Then she figured, what the hell. "Wo aaj college se aate waqt ek puppy mila..jo langda ke chal raha tha"
"Tu isliye ro rahi h?" he said like that wasn't good enough a reason to be bawling one's eyes out. He looked so lost and so earnest.
"Okay... Wo mujhe periods wala pain ho raha h...aur kabhi kabhi wo bahut zyada ho jata hai" she said very matter-of-factly.
"Oh!" A spark of understanding lit up his eyes. "To tune kuch dawai li h kya?"
"Ha li to hai...par dard jaa nhi raha...tu jaake so ja...thodi der me theek ho jayega."
He frowned. " Tu andar kamre me chal... Nhi to me abhi dhara bhabhi ko bulata hu. "
" Nhi Shiva... Dhara di ki khud ki tabiyat aaj theek nhi h."
"Tu phir tu chal chup chaap andar... Warna dhara bhabhi ki neend kharab karne ki wajah tu hogi... "
" Shiva Tu bhi na... Ek number ka Bhootnath h.. Chal.. "
Just then another cramp hit her and made her mute. She closed her eyes and tried to breathe as calmly as possible, willing it to pass. She was dimly aware of Shiva extracting himself from her hold - probably saving his hand. Even though she was disappointed, she kept her eyes closed to concentrate on herself.
"Me...matlab wo...me teri peeth pe malish kar du...matlab mene suna h us se araam milta h," he offered, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck as a light flush coloured his cheeks.
"Me aisa nhi bol sakti tujhe karne ko," Raavi was amazed at her bhootnaath... When will she ever understand every color of Shiva pandya! She wished it so much to be his... To make him hers.. She thought what a future she could have..
"Tu nhi bol rahi h, me bol raha hu...zyada mat soch," he assured her with a squeeze of her hand.
She debated how unwise it would be for her to say yes. Her body would enjoy this, no doubt. Her heart? Probably not so much.
Except she chose that moment to shift on the couch, rekindling the pain anew, and the "okay, yeah" was out of her mouth before she knew it.
Trudging to his room was a painstaking affair; the cramping made it hard to properly stand up and she had to keep her hands on her heating pad so it wouldn't fall. Shiva didn't comment, didn't laugh, didn't take his offer back.
She crawled beneath her duvet. "Is sab ki koi zarurat nhi h," she reminded him again once she'd settled in, leaving enough space for him.
"Pata h," he said as he toed off his shoes in the hallway.
Raavi watched him as he approached, unsure in a space he'd never been invited in before. She felt as skittish as he looked. Then she grunted against a flaring cramp; it was like the anguished sound propelled him forward: he got a serious look on his face and marched the few steps to the bed, making quick work of sliding behind her.
He moved around until his hands touched her small back. She shivered a little and told herself off in her head: now was not the time to think about how nice it was to have him like this. Shiva was being a good human, nothing else.
She was almost surprised when his hand slid between his stomach and her back to start massaging the pain away.
"Mujhe batana tujhe kaise theek lagta h?" he said quietly, his rich voice its own soothing balm.
"Hm," she agreed. "Thoda side se firm... -ah yes, that's the spot- pain me relief milta h"
"Theek."
Raavi let Shiva work his magic. It felt so good she could have cried. Coupled with the heating pad she was holding to her mutinous belly, Shiva's hands were a godsend. He had such broad hands, and he stroked her with sure fingers, never letting up, finding a rhythm that was made her drowsy.
"Thank you Shiva."
"Me tujhe dard me nahi dekh sakta Raavi. "
The soft kiss he pressed between her shoulder blades was a surprise and she tensed up. He drew back immediately.
"Sorry."
Raavi was too shocked to say anything... What is happening? Why is Shiva behaving like this!! No she can't think in that direction...
"Shiva?"
"Hm?"
"Meri peeth?"
"Oh! Ha..sorry!" he stuttered a little as he resumed the comforting movement in the small of her back.
Raavi hummed her contentment, a small smile still dancing on her lips. She will think about all this tomorrow... No matter how momentary she wanted this comfort...
In the end, she let his gentle ministrations lull her to sleep.
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