PART 5
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The next day Shiva had rushed to the store as he wanted to avoid everyone, he was already frustrated, mixed feelings of his for her didn't let him sleep the whole night, he had kept rolling on the cot trying to sleep, but kept failing miserably, whenever he closed his eyes, he saw her face, all the guilt boiling up to him. It would be a lie if he said, he didn't like being with her, or he wasn't feeling anything for her, he was indeed attracted towards her but for him, it was all new, all juggled up. His chipkali has been weird since always but he had never imagined that he would start falling for her, making him experience utter new emotions, all of them mixed up, leaving him in confusion giving a hangover-like headache.
His chain of thoughts kept adding questions, what was he actually feeling for her, when did he start liking her, wasn't he the only - person in Somnath who claimed to be hating her? Or did he subconsciously like her since always but failed to acknowledge it on the prima facie curtains of hatred? Was Gombi right when he had said, "Shiva bachpan se hi Teri Duniya Raavi ke ird-gird ghumti hai...", was he right? His head was all messed up, along with guilt filling up in him. A little in the back of his heart, he wanted to see her, what about her? What would she be feeling? What if she didn't like him? He had no idea.
On the other side, Raavi had been rolling too on her bed, still thinking about what happened last night...It was special for her and she did feel the spark. Was he special for her? and did she like to be with him always but never realized the same? Maybe, she thought to herself, to her it was all making sense now of how care-free and be real with him and not Dev, with Dev she had to be sophisticated, good girl but with Shiva, she can be herself, she can be a kid, she can do whatever she wants, say whatever she wanted to say without even thinking once because she knew that he'd never judge her, and no matter how much they'd argue or bicker, he would always protect her and she would feel the safest with him. She wasn't sure but this time she wanted to be sure, she had seen the possessiveness and feelings for her in his eyes last night itself but still, she was rooting to it listen from him.
Her heart broke when she saw him leave yesterday, was he guilty? did he not want this to happen between them? and the pact, how could he break the pact? that pact was very important for them, wasn't it? It was an indication of how deep their bond was, and how did he just break it? This crushed her heart. She wanted to know but from him, but for time being she was unable to decide whether to execute the surprise party and how would he react to it? She sighed, as she got up from the bed and resumed preparations.
The day flew away and by the time of sunset, Raavi had made sure with all preparations and decorations which now seemed perfect and up to the mark. She and Dhara di had managed to cook everything, while Krish and Gombi did decorations, brought the cake. Dev was told to remind the guests and confirm from Shiva's friends so that they can be there before him, Kaka was told to keep Shiva distracted at the store, indulging him in all the work till they pass on the message. Dhara told her to get ready and messaged kaka to send Shiva home and messaged Shiva saying that Raavi had a high- fever and they needed to get her to the hospital.
As Shiva saw the message, he immediately wrapped up the work and left for home, on his way guilt-stricken thoughts. Did she fall sick because of him? Did she not sleep or did she cry, what caused her sudden rise in body temperature that she fell sick? He was abashed now, what he did wasn't right, he needed to be controlled, after all, why'd she choose him over Dev? He was no special, neither that gentleman like nor having sugar-coated praises filled for her, instead he would leave no chance to prank her, irritate her and push her away. He needed to apologize to her, he cannot see her in this condition, that too because of him.
While Raavi got ready wearing a black dress, a simple elegant pendant with light make-up, she was nervous as well as excited to see his reaction, also a little scared for how would he react when he knows that it was all done for him. Guests had arrived, everyone was waiting for Shiva. As Krish saw Shiva entering the street, everyone silenced down and Gombi turned off the lights. Shiva knocked on the door, but there was no response, once, twice, thrice...he went to the adjacent window from where he would come when it got late at the store.
Raavi had just got ready so she came out in the aangan, and at the same time, he jumped in. His eyes fell on her, she was looking ethereal, it was the full-moon night, hence moonlight enhancing her beauty, even more, making her look more serene than ever. Was he dreaming? Wasn't she having a high fever? Maybe, it was an illusion, he looked around and the darkness confirmed it to be his illusion. She looked here and there and was unable to get why were the lights off if Shiva wasn't here? She hadn't seen him moving forward towards her.
Everyone was silently watching these two gadhedas, evidently witnessing them falling in love, it was strange as they had seen them fight for whole life but today, they were not fighting, maybe they were but not with each other, they were fighting with their own emotions, struggling with their own feelings. Shiva went near her, and she as if felt his presence she turned around, he gently nudged the tip of her nose, she was real. So she was not sick? Then what was all that Shiva thought to himself, watching Shiva there suddenly panicked Raavi leaving her dumb-struck.
And before any one of them could react or say anything, Gombi switched on the lights, Krish burst the party pull-off box and everyone screamed, "HAPPYYYYY BIRTHDAYYYYYYY SHIVAAAAAAAAAAA", within a blink of a second, everyone rushed to them, and with everyone going to wish him, Raavi stood still, a little smile crept on her face with a tear which rolled down her eye and Shiva moved backward, Shiva's eyes were fixated on her, for a moment he was unable to register what exactly happened. But as everyone started wishing him and hugged him, his trance broke making his eyes feel the lack of her existence in front of him. He peeped here and there but was unable to find her.
As Dhara pulled him near the center table and all gathered around him to cut the cake, he was told to pull the long rope which was hanging on his head and hold it for 5seconds by Krish, when he asked the reason, Krish said, Raavi told him to say this. No one knew what it could be, Shiva raised his hand and pulled the rope and held it tightly, small hearts and stars poured on him, and a bracelet slid down his wrist, with beads of gold plated rudraksha, everyone awed, and Shiva's heart filled up with what was all this, and who did this, his heart did scream that it would be none other than her, but where was she? He looked here and there, there she was in the corner all away behind everyone, with a little smile, but she looked hurt, he wondered what was with her because she was silent, she had been always all cheerful, giddy, bubbly and overexcited but today, why was she silent?
She gazed at him absorbing all the love he deserved, he was surprised, he looked happy, when her eyes met with his, all she could do was pass a little smile of assurance, she felt contented because today Shiva had immersed in everyone's affection and smiled his heart out.
but was it everyone's love or hers which made him smile his heart out? none of them dotted on this.
As Dhara brought cake, a crowed shrank to sing the chaotic birthday songs altogether, they all held his hand and made him cut the cake, as he cut the cake, he took a piece and went to Dhara, but Dhara held his hand and said, "Shiva hum mein see koi bhi aaj isse pehle khaane ya tujhe khilane ke haqdaar nahi, yeh sab jo bhi hai, sab Raavi ne kiya hai...there liye, toh usse khilaa", Shiva's widened on what he heard, did she put all the effort for him, all the preparations for him, he turned around and looked at the spot she stood, but she was not there, he looked around but he didn't find her, Dhara and Krish called her name out but no response.
all they had to do, was to talk, ask, accept & acknowledge, but nonetheless initiated.
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First of all Merryyyyyyy Christmas to all of youuuuu & sorryyyyy for uploading it late and also sorry that I'm doing this in exam week, but I swear I had half of this in draft so posting it today.
also, last part will be up soon, pakka pakka promise, and it might have mature content, not sure but maybe.
Happy reading!
also, LONG COMMENTS I LOVE. ;)
Cricket
