*Not Proofread*
Happy Reading!
Part 1:
Raavi and her friends were huddled around her laptop screen as they scrolled through a list of people.
"Iss par click kar na? Interesting dikh raha hai." Raavi said, urging her friend Chhaya to click on a profile.
"Nahi, yeh tere type ka nahi hai." Chhaya denied.
"Iss wale ko dekh? Bio toh badi acchi likhi hai." Mansi, another friend of Raavi's stated.
"Nahi! Hum mere liye dhoondh rahe hai, toh tu hatt aur yeh mujhe karne de." Raavi spoke in an agitated tone and replaced Chhaya in front of the computer.
"Yaar Raavi dekh, hum toh tera bhala chahte hai. Ab tune achanak aise uth patang website ke baare mein bataya toh humme bhi apni tassalli ke liye check toh karna hoga. Tera bas chale toh tu kisi bhi tom, dick, ya harry ke saath chali jaaye apne bholepan mein..." Chhaya huffed.
"Tu tension na le. Chill kar. Sab theek hoga. Ab dekho, iss website se main apne mann pasand companion ko choose kar sakti hoon jisske saath main phir ek date pe ja sakungi." Raavi squealed.
"Correction: Fake. Date. Yeh real date nahi hai. Bhool rahi hai tu? Mujhe toh samajh mein nahi aaraha tujhe yeh ajeeb website mili kahan se? Maine kabhi bhi aise kisi site ke baare mein nahi suna. Aur iss site ki kya guarantee hai? Raavi, mujhe lagta hai kuch gadbad hai. Tu na abhi ke abhi log out kar." Mansi replied, her eyes narrowing at her friend's over-excitement.
"Fake nahi? Hum isse 'play date' bulayenge, theek hai? Rahi baat yeh site ki, woh toh 100% authentic hai. Isske reviews maine check kar liye hai. Tum log bekaar mein tension le rahe ho." Raavi smiled, scrolling through the list of profiles she had matched with so far.
"Chalo maan liya ki yeh website authentic hai, pann phir bhi tujhe fake...mera matlab yeh play date ki kya zarurat? Real date pe chali ja na? Iss site pe jitne bhi profiles hai, sab ko dekh ke aisa lagta hai jaise ki inn mein self-confidence nahi hai. Tujh mein kya kami hai?" Chhaya asked.
"Oh hello, main Somnath ki sabse khoobsurat ladki hoon. Koi kami nahi hai. Confidence toh bahut hai, lekin practice nahi hai. Meri tarah inn logon ko bhi practice chahiye hoga. Ab hum ek dusre ke kaam aajaye, toh aur bhi accha hai. Mujhe apne asli date pe jaane se pehle sab kuch perfect karna hai." Raavi replied with a dreamy look glossing across her eyes.
"Raavi, yeh zaroori nahi ki tu sab kuch pehle se plan karke hi apne first date pe jaaye. It's okay to live in the moment kabhi kabhi. Varna yeh extra planning cheezon ko bigaad bhi de sakti hai. Tujhe nahi lagta ki agar tu sab kuch plan kar ke chalti rahi, toh koi excitement hi nahi bachegi tere zindagi mein?" Mansi asked, looking at her curiously.
Raavi clicked her tongue in dismissal. "Bilkul bhi nahi. Plan karna koi buri baat nahi hai. Mujhe bas thodi si practice ki zarurat hai. Iss date se main sab kuch pata kar lungi. Kaunse questions puchhne hai, kya karna hota hai, kya nahi karta hota hai waghera waghera. Yahan par woh darr bhi nahi hoga ki maine kuch galat kar diya aur second date pe nahi ja paungi. It's a one-time thing. Phir toh main aaram se real wale date pe jaungi." Raavi spoke nonchalantly. She didn't want to be bound by expectations from a first date. She was afraid of disappointing whoever she went with. A play date would hold no limitations and she could act and behave without reservations while also learning tips and tricks about the whole dating business.
"Kiske saath real date pe jaane ka irada hai?"
"Woh pata nahi. Baad mein soch lungi." Raavi lied expertly. There was a certain someone whose face had flashed in her mind when she was asked the question.
Suddenly, a profile caught Raavi's eye. She clicked on it quickly.
"Czarcasm201. Aspiring engineer. Intrigued by cars and other mechanical creations. Loves working out. Is a huge foodie. Owns a shop and works there during his leisure time. Loves going on adventures. Looking for a companion with whom he can share a lifetime. Is not interested in a fling. Can be extremely passionate and is mildly crazy."
"Czarcasm201? Yeh kaisa naam hai?" Chhaya spoke out loud.
"Yeh kuch zyada hi serious type ka lagta hai. Raavi, isske saath bikul bhi mat jaana." Mansi warned.
"Nahi. Yahi hai woh! Look at his bio. He seems so intriguing. Mujhe issi ke saath jaana hai. Isske saath gayi toh play date bhi shayad real lagne lag jaye. Aur yeh dekho, yeh toh Somnath mein hi rehta hai. It's my lucky day today!" Raavi jumped up in excitement. She was already imagining scenarios in her head. Somehow, his bio had left an impression. Was it because it reminded her of someone? Either way, she refused to acknowledge that fact.
"Raavi, no! This is a bad idea! Dekh, usski profile picture bhi nahi hai. Tu usska bio padh kar lattoo hogayi." Mansi tried to stop her but Raavi had already sent a message to him.
"I don't care. Yahi rehta hai toh shayad kabhi na kabhi main usse mili bhi hogi. Aise bahut kam ladke hai jo yahan pe rehte honge. Somnath ke zyada se zyada ladke ek number ke laalchi kutte hote hai. Unnhe sirf ek cheez hi chahiye hoti hai. Issliye toh main real date pe abhi nahi jaana chahti. Practice waale pe jaana chahti hoon aur agar issi dauran mujhe koi accha mil jaye, toh ussmein kya buraayi hai?" Raavi mumbled, losing herself in her thoughts.
"Raavi, vaada kar tu kuch ulta seedha nahi karegi? Jidhar bhi jaana hai, humme bata kar jaana. Mujhe na iss website pe bharosa hai aur naahi iss bande par." Chhaya let her apprehension be known while Mansi nodded along. They caved in after seeing the pleading look in Raavi's eyes.
A notification sound made them look at the screen and they saw a confirmation from the man at hand. He had agreed to go on a play date with Raavi.
*****
Shiva was busy working at the store when he heard the most annoying laughter his ears had had the displeasure of listening to. The sound of her chatter reached him even before she had entered the store. She was rowdy. Too rowdy. Shiva groaned in annoyance.
"Maami ki behen ki beti." Shiva muttered under his breath. He looked up just as she uttered his name.
"Shiva!" Raavi called out.
Shiva glared at her and watched her silently.
"Aise kya ghoor raha hai? Wait...tu yahi soch raha hai na ki main itni sundar kaise lag sakti hoon?" Raavi smirked, pushing his buttons. She knew he would react in 3..2...1-
"Ae chipkali! Kya bakwaas kar rahi hai? Tera muh thakta nahi khud ki tareef karte karte??" Shiva fumed.
"Nahi." Raavi replied innocently, blinking her eyes at him.
Shiva inhaled deeply. "Kyun aayi hai yahan? Tere paas aur koi kaam nahi hota kya? Jab dekho toh yahan aakar padi rehti hai."
"Oh Mr. Bhootnath, zyada zabaan mat chala. Main tujhe ek khush khabri dene aayi thi."
When he didn't reply, Raavi pouted and continued to speak. "Main kal ek date par ja rahi hoon." He didn't have to know it was fake. She almost giggled at the thought.
Shiva's eyes instantly snapped up to her.
"Ab aaya na tu line pe." Raavi teased as she stared at his onyx orbs, searching for the flutter of emotions she thought she had seen. The man was good at hiding his emotions.
Hardening his gaze, Shiva finally spoke out. "Toh iss information ke saath main kya karun?"
"Kuch nahi. Tu kar bhi kya sakta hai? Main bas apni khushiyaan baat rahi hoon."
"Mat baat. Mujhe koi interest nahi hai. Nikal yahan se."
"Arreh pehle yeh cheezein toh khareedne de. Maasima ne list di hai." Raavi took out a piece of paper and handed it to Shiva, her fingers brushing his in a fleeting moment. A jolt of spark traveled through her veins making her shiver slightly. She hid her reaction of surprise well enough. Keeping her eyes averted, she only looked back at him when he cleared his throat, a bit sexily, if she may add. Wait, what? Raavi shook herself out of her thoughts, handed him the money, and left in a hurry.
Shiva watched her retreating back, wondering what had made the chipkali tuck in her tail and run away without saying anything to rile him up.
While Raavi walked home, her phone rang and she picked it up only to be bombarded by her friends and their gazillion questions.
"Haan baba. Sab set hai. Maine uss bande ko bol diya hai ki woh mujhe uss botanical garden mein mile date ke liye. Hum sab wahan pichle baar gaye the, remember? Kitna sundar jagah tha na, aur public mein hi hai. Tum logon ne demand kiya tha na ki main usse crowded jagah pe miloon. Ab tension lena band karo. Mujhe ghar jaana hai. Kal ke liye outfit taiyaar karni hai. Apna face aur hair mask bhi lagana hai. Bahot kaam hai, chal rakhti hoon." Raavi carried on home, resolving to finish the long list of tasks which she had prepared.
*****
Krish paced across the courtyard at his home, wondering how to get out of the mess he had landed himself in. When he passed by Raavi on the way to Pandya Store, he had overheard her conversation and it had made him feel uneasy.
He opened up his laptop and stared at his profile. "Czarcasm201." He had matched up with a girl from Somnath for a fake date. He thought it was too good to be true, but never had he thought the girl would turn out to be Raavi. He went through the messages she had sent him telling him to meet up at a botanical garden which her friends had insisted upon. He stared at her username "PrettyGirlxoxo." Of course, she would have a name like that. It suited her personality. He was going to refuse to go at first but the website policy stated that he couldn't cancel upon a 'fake date' when less than 24 hours were remaining to the date. If he did, his account would be deactivated. He still wanted to experience the benefits of the website. He thought of meeting Raavi and telling her the truth but decided against it because her big mouth would for sure reveal his secret to his family and he would get in trouble with Dhara bhabhi and Gaumbi. They thought he was studying all the while but instead, he was busy setting up profiles on dating sites, including the fake dating one.
When he saw Shiva walk in, an idea struck him.
"Shiva. Mere bhai. Mere jigar ke tukde. Kaisa hai tu? Sab theek hai? Kuch chahiye tujhe? Paani? Chai? Coff-"
"Ae chirkut. Maakhan kyun laga raha hai? Saaf saaf bol kya chahiye tujhe." Shiva gave him a deadpan look.
Krish chuckled nervously before taking Shiva to the storeroom so that no one could listen in on their conversation. "Bhai, gadbad hogayi. Woh maine ek website pe fake dating ke liye profile banaya tha. Toh ek ladki ke saath mera fake date fix hogaya. Lekin mujhe yaad nahi tha ki kal mera bahot important exam hai toh main usske saath nahi ja paunga."
"Ek minute. Tu ek ladki ke saath fake date pe ja raha tha? Yeh kya betuki baatein kar raha hai tu? Andaza bhi hai ki yeh kaisa sound kar raha hai? Laptop par tu yeh sab karta hai? Bhabhi ko bataun?" Shiva threatened menacingly.
Krish shook his head no, folding his hands.
"Theek hai, nahi bataunga lekin abse tu apna dhyaan padhaai pe de. Aur agar tujhe kal nahi jaana, toh cancel karde na." Shiva shook his head.
"Wahi toh problem hai. Nahi cancel kar sakta. Website policy hai. Aur main ek ladki ko aise stand up nahi kar sakta...toh...bhai...meri jagah tu chala ja na..." Krish suggested, closing one of his eyes and squinting at his brother with the other.
"Kya bakwaas kar raha hai?! Pagal hogaya hai? Main koi date wate pe nahi jaunga." Shiva growled.
"Please Shiva, please. Yeh ek favor kar de, main phir tujhse agle chhe mahine tak kuch aur nahi maangunga." Krish pleaded.
The offer was tempting. Not having Krish to pester him for 6 months seemed like a solid deal. Oh, the downside of having younger siblings; you do favors for them, get emotionally manipulated, have your belongings stolen etc etc... Shiva had dealt with him long enough. He could use the 6 months of peace.
Shiva finally agreed. "Theek hai. Lekin main wahan jakar usse sab kuch explain kar dunga, aur phir waapas chala aaunga."
"Theek hai. Koi bhi bahana kar lena, lekin mere baare mein kuch mat bolna. Anyways, tu jaayega toh behtar hi hoga. Actually...woh kya hai na, maine yeh profile ka bio tere upar likha hai." Krish admitted sheepishly.
"Kya?"
"Haan, kyunki agar main apne baare mein likhta toh koi ladki mere saath asli date toh chhodh, fake date pe bhi nahi jaati. Tu mujhse dus guna zyada interesting hai. Tere profile se bahot ladkiyon ne interact kiya mere saath." Krish smirked.
"Gadheda kahinka." Shiva slapped him on the head.
Krish then logged into Shiva's phone with his account and showed him the messages. He purposely didn't tell him who the girl was. Raavi and Shiva going on a date? Now that would be interesting. Krish couldn't help but feel his cupid senses tingling. Something was bound to happen.
*****
The next day, Raavi stood in front of the mirror observing herself. She looked gorgeous, she had to admit. She was wearing a pink and white floral print dress that rested a little above her knees. The deep v-neck it adorned accentuated her assets and the dress overall hugged her at all the right curves. Not wanting to overdo anything, she opted to wear a comfortable open-toed sandal instead of a heel. She curled her hair loosely and styled it in a way in which it framed her face perfectly. Checking her makeup one last time, she headed out after letting her Anita di know.
On the other hand, Shiva was being pestered by none other than Krish to wear something decent. Shiva didn't understand why he had to dress to impress when he didn't intend to stay. He was going to tell her the truth and leave. However, Krish managed to convince him to at least wear a navy blue button-up shirt paired with black jeans. Shiva rolled the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows and combed his hair back, albeit begrudgingly. All the while, he never stopped cursing Krish and his sheer stupidity. He left soon after, wondering why he had to be related to his nincompoop of a brother.
*****
Raavi sat on a bench by the entrance of the botanical garden and looked at the time. He was 10 minutes late. She rolled her eyes in annoyance before sending him a quick message. She told him her whereabouts and the color of her outfit and asked him to let her know what he was wearing. She watched as people walked by chattering. A guy and a girl sat on the opposing bench across from her and she felt a flare of jealousy creep up her being. They seemed to be on a real date. She wanted that. Suddenly, she felt bummed at the prospect of being here and waiting for her playdate to show up. She wasn't pumped up anymore. Heck, she didn't even know what he looked like. What if he turned out to be some creep? Why were the important questions just now rearing their heads? She cursed her less than observant self for the situation she was in.
Her phone dinged and she looked at the message sent to her. He was here.
She searched the many faces around her and found no one like him. Raavi looked around once again when her eyes landed on a man with his back turned towards her. He was wearing a navy blue shirt just like he had mentioned. Her heart abruptly started thudding against her chest. She got up and walked towards him. Finding herself directly behind, she was unsure of how she should proceed. Should she tap him? Call out to him? Message him? What if he wasn't her date? She didn't want to face the embarrassment.
Deciding to worry later, she used her index finger to lightly tap him on the shoulder. When he turned around, she drew in a sharp breath as she stared at him wide-eyed.
"Shiva? Tu?!"
*****
Hello fraands! This idea has been flittering in my mind for a while so I decided to give it a shot. You can blame it on the song 'Play Date.' It's a weird idea but this is Raavi's world, so anything can happen here.đ I'm thinking this will only have one more part, but I'm not sure yet, still deciding. Anyways, let me know how you liked it. See you soon.
Adios ~
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Part 2: Page 5
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
