Chapter 8
After that night, Raavi decided that she no longer wanted to stay in Somnath.
“Fui, Raavi ne itni mehnat kar ke padai ki, aur isse itna accha job offer aaya na. Jaane do na usse.” Anita pleaded. “Yeh akeli ladki naaye sher mein kaha rahegi?” Prafulla asked. “Fui meri ek dost wahan rehti hai, main usse baat karungi.” Anita continued.
After a lot of disagreements and arguments with her Maasi, Raavi was finally able to convince Prafulla to allow her to take up a Job in software engineering at a firm located in Hyderabad.
Raavi relocated to Hyderabad within a week after graduation. She left without saying a proper goodbye to the Pandyas.
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Shiva, on the other hand, decided to stay back in Somnath. Shiva never had the intention to leave his hometown, as his heart was always set on Pandya Store. He saw Gautam struggle at the store as a child and always wanted to help him out in any way he could. Shiva would lift the heavy sacks, work on inventory and sit at the cash register as well.
He wanted to continue to work with Gautam in the store to make Gautam’s life easier. He pursued computer science with the hopes of creating an app to help out small-time grocery store owners across India and their customers by streamlining the purchase and selling process.
Almost immediately after graduation, Shiva and a few friends gathered to begin working on their idea.
Shiva converted his old study space at the back of the store’s storeroom into an office space. As he was cleaning up, he found some of Raavi’s notes on this table. He was going to throw them away but he stopped himself, and saved them in a file.
A few days later, Shiva met Kajal who came to the store to buy some groceries. Kajal informed him about the job offer that Raavi accepted. “Chalo, at least woh toh khush hai. Yahan Somnath mein reh kar kya karegi?” He thought to himself.
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2 years later.
2 years passed since the day the results were announced. 2 years passed since the night of the party Raavi and Shiva had a spat. 2 years passed since Raavi and Shiva saw each other.
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Raavi was preparing dinner after a tiring day at work and watching some TV in the background. She heard her phone ring and went to pick it up. She stopped for a second and was shocked by the call. “Yeh kyun call kar raha hai mujhe? Humare interactions toh sirf Insta pe ek durse ke pictures ko like karne waala tha na?” She thought to herself.
“Hello Dev! Itne dino baad Raavi yaad aayi tumhe?” She said as she picked up the call.
“Hi Raavi! Tumne mera phone uthaya? Expect nahi kiya tha, Main toh voicemail chodne ki prep kar raha tha.” Dev said from the other end of the line.
“Haha! itni bhi buri nahi hoon. Tum kaise ho? Ghar pe sab kaise hai? Kaki, Gaumbi, Dhara Di aur Krish?”
“Main theek hoon, aur baaki sab bhi acche hai. Shiva bhi. Tumhara batao?”
“I'm good as well!”
“Vaise, I called you to give you some news! Tumhe to pata hoga, Main aur Rishita char saal se ek saath hai, insta pe dekha hoga na. We are getting married next month aur main tumhe Shaadi mein invite kar raha hoon. No excuses, you have to be there. Bachpan se humne kitne gaano ki practice ki hai sangeet ke liye.” Dev said with excitement in his voice.
“OMG! Dev, Congratulations, Of course I’m coming! I can't wait! Shopping aur dress selection chaalu karna padega!” Raavi exclaimed.
“Ok done! Book your tickets soon. We can't wait to see you!”
“Sure sure! Abhi karungi” Raavi said to Dev and they drifted into a conversation.
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A month later, the Pandya house was in a state of chaos as Dev’s wedding preparations were in full swing. Amidst that chaos, Raavi arrived at the Pandya house. “Dhara Di, Gaumbi, dekho kaun aaya” She said with the same enthusiasm in her voice she had 2 years ago.
Dhara, Suman and Krish who were in the courtyard, dropped whatever they were doing and headed to Raavi. “Raavi! Kaisi hai tu? Ab yaad aaye hum? Shiva se ladai hui aur tu ne hum sab ko bhi bhoola diya” Dhara asked, hugging her.
“Aise koi baat nahi hai Di. Sorry, bas kaam mein bahut busy thi” Raavi said, making a puppy face.
Raavi went over to take Suman’s blessings, “Khush reh” Suman said blessing her.
“Arery kya Raavi? Missed you a lot yaar, There are so many restaurants we have to go to! Tu toh do hafton ke liye yahan hai na. We’ll have a blast!” Krish said.
“Done! Sounds like a plan. Vaise, padai kaisa chal raha hai?” Raavi said, giving a high five.
“Raavi, yeh toh Shiva wala sawaal hai, aur tu ne pooch liya?”
“Krishhhh” Dhara said as she pulled his ear.
“Dhara Bhabhi, yeh lijiye, tailor se kapde leke aaya aur store se yeh samaan bhi” Raavi turned around when she heard Shiva’s voice.
Shiva entered the house walking toward the courtyard, as he was dropping the bags off, he looked at Raavi and was nonplussed.
“Yeh sach toh nahi ho saktha? Yeh yahan kyun aayegi?” he thought to himself
He did not expect to see her back in his house after their disagreement two years ago. Shiva didn’t know how to react, he dropped the bags off and went to the terrace avoiding eye contact with everyone.
“Raavi, abhi bhi gussa hai?” Dhara asked her. “Mujhe koi farak nahi padtha Di, main yahan Dev ki shaadi mein aayi hoon. Aap woh sab chodo aur yeh bolo ki main aap ki help kaise karoon?” Raavi replied.
“Haan chal, baata thi hoon.” Dhara said, taking Raavi to the kitchen.
Raavi began helping Dhara with chores in the kitchen. Shiva watched Raavi from the courtyard and he noticed that Dhara stepped away from the kitchen.
Shiva made his way into the kitchen with a coin in his hand and sat next to Raavi. Raavi looked at him and they shared a few awkward glances before she went back to her chores. Shiva tossed the coin and caught it mid air, “Heads!” He said loudly “Yaani ladai ke baad tujhe pehli baat karni hai, Raavi. Deal yaad hai na?” he said looking at her.
Raavi let out a small smile “Par tu ne mujhe woh chance kahan diya, tu ne hi pehli baat kar li Shiva” She said.
The both exchanged a small laugh.
“Kaisi hai tu?” Shiva asked her.
“Sab theek Shiva, Job acchi hai, 2 lakhs ki salary package hai , work bhi interesting hai. So far so good. Aur tu kaisa hai?”
“Main bhi theek hoon. Maine yahan pe ek team banaya, we are working on an app for small-time kirana stores, initial funding toh mil gayi hai. We have a big presentation with the investors in 2 weeks. Agar sab accha gaya toh, life sorted.” Shiva said.
“That's nice!”
“Raavi, tune, salary kya bataya, 2 lakhs? humare startup mein toh, minimum 5 lakhs hai.” Shiva said gloating.
“Kya kar raha hai Shiva, kyun? acchi baatein kar sakthe na hum?”
“Arey nahi, tu mujhe misunderstand kar rahi hai. Maine toh aisa hi poocha. Main badal gaya hoon Raavi. Woh do saal pehle wala, petty or competitive Shiva nahi hoon. Hmmm, kaise prove karoon? Ok, Rohan is great. Theekh hai? Khush? ” Shiva said with a tinge of sarcasm in his voice.
“Dhekha, main Rohan is great bol raha hoon aur tu abhi bhi, Nahi Shiva, tu hi great hai, nahi bol paa rahi hai?” Shiva continued.
Raavi scoffed as she said, “Seriously Shiva? Tu ne mujhse abhi pehle baat ki, aur mujhe laga tujh mein thodi toh maturity aayi. Par nahi.”
“Mujhe paata ta ki pehle baat karne ki maturity tujh mein toh hai hi nahi. Issi Liye main pehle baat karne aaya.” Shiva said.
“Tu nahi badla Shiva” Raavi said as she got up.
“Tu bhi nahi badli Raavi” Shiva said as Raavi walked out of the kitchen.
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Ajay and a couple of other friends from college heard the news that Raavi was back in town and decided to host a reunion party.
Raavi decided to go as she hadn’t met her friends in the past two years. Shiva was reluctant to attend but Ajay convinced him otherwise.
The friends reserved a banquet hall for an evening party. Raavi was dressed in a sequined black gown and Shiva wore a black buttoned down shirt with jeans.
Raavi and Shiva entered the hall at the same time and bumped into each other on the way in. “Tu andhi hai kya?” Shiva asked.
Raavi ignored him and entered the hall. All of their classmates began to gather, exchange pleasantries, engage in small talk and some even began dancing to the background music.
Raavi was standing alone in the corner as she saw Shiva and Kajal talking. “Yeh dono ab dost hai?” She thought to herself.
“Arrey woh Dekho, Rohan aaya hai” Sudeesh said as he walked over to Rohan who had arrived late.
“Itna late?” Kajal asked. “Arrey isse America se aana pada, time toh lagega na” Sudeesh replied. All the classmates began to gather as a group.
Rohan came and joined the group, standing next to Raavi, “Achha lag raha hai tum sab se milkar!” He said as he gave a smile to Raavi.
“Rohan tu akela hai jo hamare batch se US gaya. Hum sab se zyada kamata hai aur sabse successful bhi. That's great!” Sudheesh said complimenting him.
Shiva and Raavi locked eyes for a second at that statement and immediately looked away.
“Arey aisa kuch nahi hai” Rohan said, trying to sound modest.
“Yaar, sirf US jaane se log successful hote hai kya? Shiva ko dekh, topper tha, somnath mein silicon valley leke aayega. Tu bhi great hai Shiva” Kajal said in his defence and Shiva gave her a half baked smile.
“Ah! Iska ego pamper kar rahi hai. ‘Tu bhi great hai Shiva’. Tabhi iss Boothnath ki dost bani aur yeh ‘Shiva is great’ pe fidaa ho gaya '' Raavi thought to herself, mocking Kajal’s tone in her head.
The friends continued their conversations and later danced for a bit.
While on the dance floor, Shiva received a call, and he stepped out of the party to attend the call. Raavi noticed him stepping out and kept an eye on him. She saw that Shiva was yelling at someone on the phone and he seemed really stressed. Shiva cut the call, came back to the dance floor and continued to dance with his friends half heartedly.
As the group called it a night, Raavi called her Mausa pa to pick her up after the party.
“Raavi beta, mere sar mein dard hai. Tu auto mein aaja na. Agar rickshaw nahi mila toh maine abhi Suman ben se baat ki, unhone bola ki Shiva bhi usi Party mein hai. Usse pooch na, woh tujhe drop kardega” he said.
“Arey, it's okay mausa pa, main rickshaw mein aa jaungi” Raavi said as she walked out of the hall.
Raavi waited outside on the road for a rickshaw for 10 minutes but in vain. A car stopped by her and she recognized it immediately. The windows lowered, “Abhi iss waqt rickshaw nahi milega, chup chap gaadi mein baith, I'll drop you. Mama ne phone kiya.” Shiva said as he opened the passenger seat of the car for Raavi.
Raavi looked around and it was a deserted road given the hour. She sat in the car without a question. “Kaafi filmy dress pehni hai” Shiva said. “Agar thand lag rahi hai toh yeh jacket pehen lena” He continued as he offered his jacket that was lying in the back seat.
“Thanks” Raavi said and took the jacket.
They drove without uttering a word. Shiva suddenly stopped the car as his phone rang. “Ek second, yeh call lena hai mujhe” He said as he got out of the car and answered the call.
Shiva again was frustrated as he spoke on the call while Raavi was watching him from inside the car. “Yeh itna stressed out kyun hai?” She wondered.
Shiva cut the call and got back in the car with visible anger on his face. “Kya hua Shiva? Sab theekh hai na?” She asked.
“Ya, it's just work” he replied swiftly as they drove in silence before he dropped her home.
Edited by Anu_V - 3 years ago