"shiva" his name escaped her lips like a prayer and she opened her eyes to see her maasima look at her with wide eyes.
"Yeh kya kar rahi hai? Us rakshas ka naam Apne muh se kyu le rahi hai? " She scoffed
Raavi ignored her and continued to pray silently looking at the moon. After completing the rituals she ate a part of the Prasad.
" Ae, mai tujhse kuch puch raho hu " her maasima held her hands.
" Kya? " She asked calmly
" Tune us junglee ka naam kyu liya? " Her maasi asked
She ignored her again and went to talk with the other girls.
" Are bol, tune shiva ka naam kyu liya? " Prafulla asked again irritated with her lack of response.
Raavi turned to her with a smile.
"Ab aapne sahi sawaal pucha maasi.yeh puja isliye karte hai na taaki humein apna manchaha pati mile.to maine apne liye shiva ko maanga " she said calmly
" Tera dimaag kharab ho gaya hai? Maine tujhe kitni baar bola hai ki us shiva ka bhoot apne dimaag se utaar de.bhool ja use " prafulla said upset over her madness for that guy.she wondered what her daughter saw in that gawar.
" Shiva to mujhmai basta hai maasi.meri har saans, har dhadkan mai samaya hua hai woh.use bhool paana mere bas mai kahaan? " She said smiling
" Are tu pagal ho gayi hai.tujhe kya lagta hai mai teri shaadi usse hone dungi? Aur Maan le mai raazi bhi ho gayi, to kya suman Ben tujhe kabhi Apne bahu ke roop mai apnayegi? Tu jitna upar ud rahi hai na, jab neeche giregi utni hi takleef hogi " her maasi warned her
"Mujhe yeh duniyadaari nahi pata maasi.mai bas itna jaanti hi ki mai shiva ki hu, aur marte dam Tak shiva ki hi rahungi.mera naam mai kisi aur se judne nahi dungi, aur agar kabhi aisi naubat aayi ki uska naam kisi aur se jud gaya to mai apne bholenath ke paas chali jaungi.iss vishwas ke saath ki shayad agle janam mai mere pyar ko apni manzil mil jaaye " she said with a determined look feeding a piece of apple to her maasi and went from there.
Her maasi looked at her tensed.
**************************************************
Shiva was working in the store, his mind occupied with thoughts of his chipkali.he didn't know when he fell for her.they always fought like cats and dogs.but things changed when they entered the teenage years, there was this undeniable attraction between them.just a look at her was enough to make him go weak in his knees.he had ran away from her, tried to ignore her, immersed himself in books and work to forget her but nothing worked.the moment he closed his eyes, there she was flashing her toothy smile and her innocent eyes glinting with mischief.as he grew up, he let it go.he stopped making any efforts to stop himself from thinking about her as he knew it was futile.he was attracted to her like a moth to a flame.shiva pandya was doomed.he felt guilty for having such feelings for his maamikibehenkibeti.the same maami who had made their lives hell,whose greed had made him and his brothers fatherless, his lively and energetic mother was reduced to a lifeless soul, his brother was insulted and humilated on his marriage.he clenched his fists as the memories came rushing in and his eyes became misty.no.he can't do this.this is wrong.he can't betray his family like this.he had always warned dev to stay away from her since childhood, but little did he know that he would end up committing the same mistake he repeatedly warned his brother about.
" Shivaa" she shouted his name as she entered the store.
Shiva rolled his eyes and put on his usual stern demeanor.he saw her wearing a blue kurti.her hair braided and the soft curls teasing her neck.
" Kya hai? Subah subah aa gayi Mera dimaag khane? " He said as he arranged the containers.
" Mujhe clg chod de na.please " she pleaded cutely.
" Kyu? ? Mai tera driver hu? " He said
" Help maang rahi hu.meri scooty kharab ho gayi hai aur aaj auto strike hai.kaise jaungi mai? " She said with an adorable point
Shiva tried not to melt by her antics.
" Bhagwan ne do pair diye hai na? Unka istemaal kar.ghaseet apne pair aur kar somnath ki sair " he said
" To tu mujhe nahi chodega? " She said pointing her finger at him.
" Nahi chodunga" he said with hands on his waist
" Pakka nahi chodega " she repeated again
" Pakka nahi chodunga, ab kya likh ke du" he said
" Thik hai. Phir mai Rahul ko call kare bolti hu ki mujhe pick up karle. Waise bhi pure somnath Mai terr alawa iss cute si shakal ko koi naa nahi bol sakta " she said taking out her phone
An image of raavi sitting behind Rahul and he applying the brakes with raavi crashing onto him flashed in his mind.rage overtook him as he took away raavi's phone and pinned her to the wall holding her shoulders.
" Tu us Rahul ke saath kahi nahi jayegi " he said, his eyes dark with anger and possesiveness.
Raavi smiled. She would never have gone with that creep, and she knew shiva would not let her anywhere near him.her plan worked.
" To chod de mujhe " she whispered, their faces inches away from each other.
Shiva became conscious of their closeness and parted away from her.
" Chal " he said taking his bike keys
She sat behind him.
" Aise ladkiyo ki tarah kyu baithi hai? Thik se baith na " he said
Raavi rolled her eyes and sat behind him with her legs one on each side and held onto him.
" Ae, haath dur rakh " he shoved her hands away
She grumpily held the back of the bike and looked sideways.
Shiva started the bike and the road ahead was a bit bumpy.he saw raavi sitting behind with a sad face.he sighed and held her hand guiding it to his waist.raavi smiled and put both her hands on his waist and held him tightly.
" Chipkali " he muttered smiling
**************************************************
Dev introduced Rishita to his family. She looked around the house frowning.
" Mujhse to intezaar nahi ho raha.bas tu jaldi se meri devrani ban jaa.phir hum dher saari baatein karenge, milkar ghar sambhalenge..." Dhara was rudely cut off by Rishita
" Woh sab to thik hai.par mera kamra kaun sa hoga? " Rishita said irritated
" Kamra...woh to humne socha nahi.hum tere aur Dev ke liye ek naya kamra banwayenge.abhi paiso ki thodi tangi hai par jab tak tera Naya kamra nahi ban jaata tan tak tum log mere kamre mai reh Lena " dhara said lovingly
" Yeh aap kya keh rahe ho bhabi? Aap kahaan rahogi phir? Storeroom mai? " Shiva said
" Tu in Sab mai mat pad shiva.yeh devrani jethani ki beech ki baat hai " dhara said
" To isme kaun si badi baat ho gayi. Shaadi ko dus Saal ho chuke hai.jitna privacy milna tha , mil chuka hai.ab yeh angan Mai soye ya storeroom mai.whats the big deal? " Rishita said
" Ae rishita.ab tera zyada ho raha hai.dev, samjha de apni wali ko ki meri bhabi se is tarah baat na kare " shiva said angrily
" Shiva.bas kar " dhara tried to stop him
Dev looked uncomfortable.
Shiva and rishita were glaring each other throughout saying some rude things to each other.after she went away, dhara came to shiva.
" Kya tha yeh shiva? Tu rishita se aisi badtameezi se baat nahi kar sakta.teri hone wali bhabi hai woh " she said
" Aur woh aapse badtameezi se baat kar sakti hai? Use rishto ki izzat nahi hai, to mai uski izzat kyu Karu? Mai to aise hi baat karunga " he said
Dhara slapped him.
Just then raavi entered and she flinched to see shiva getting slapped.shiva muttered a sorry and went away from there.
Raavi saw all this and followed him.she knew where to find him.
There he was sitting on his tree.
Raavi tried to climb up but failed at yeh first attempt.shiva saw her and ignored.he didn't want to talk to anyone now.
Raavi tried again and was successful this time.she almost reached where shiva was sitting and was about to slip when shiva grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him.she was almost on his lap.raavi caressed his cheek where dhara had slapped him and tears filled up her eyes.she hated it when dhara di or gombi slapped shiva.she loved them a lot, like her own family.she even knew that they loved shiva a lot but they had a habit of raising their hand to discipline them and she didn't like it one bit.
" Dard ho raha hai "she said as she softly continued to caress his cheek
" Chattan pandya hu mai.itni si thappad se dard hoga mujhe? " He said amused.he was more hurt because rishita disrespected his bhabi.
" Mujhe accha nahi lagta jab dhara di tujhpar haath uthati hai.aise kaise thappad maar diya tujhe? " she said, her tears rolling down.
Shiva was touched. This gadhedi was crying for him. He slowly wiped her tears.
" Gadhedi.isme kaun si badi baat hai? Maa jaisi hai woh meri.haq banta hai unka " he assured her.
Raavi would change things once she got married to him.she made a mental note that she won't allow anybody to touch her shiva once she is in pandya niwas.she will shower him with so much love.she will make sure everyone respects him and noone takes him for granted.
She came closer to him and placed a Soft kiss on his cheek.shivas grip on her waist tightened.he suddenly became aware of how close they were.she was almost on his lap, her lips grazing his cheek.he felt heat rushing up in his body.he separated from her and looked down.raavi also blushed as she realised their proximity and what she did.
" Ghar chalte hai " shiva said not looking at her.
She nodded.shiva helped her get down and they went away.
**************************************************
Raavi was happily listening to music in her room and dancing away when she received a message from an unknown number.she opened it and froze.fear and shame gripped her heart.who was it? Who could do such a cheap thing?
It was a video clip of her changing her kurti in the college washroom.she dropped on the bed with a thud.then a number flashed onscreen.
She received the call with her hands shaking.
" Ab tak to tune video dekh liya hoga.agar tu chahti hai ki yeh video pure sheher mai viral na ho to mujhse kal shaam aake mil.aur hann koi hoshiyari nahi.agar tune kisiko bhi kuch bhi bataya to tujhe pata hai mai kya karunga " he said
" Helloo..." Raavi tried to reason with him but he cut the call.she received a msg telling her the details of the venue and time.
She curled up on the bed and sobbed.she felt so small.her nails were digging into her palms and she wished to just dissapear.she didn't know when fell asleep exhausted.
Shiva was worried as raavi had not come to the store or pandya niwas the whole day.it was very unlike her.he missed her presence.after a long day of work he was about to wrap things up in the store when he saw her.
" Aagayi tu? Wohi mai Sochi ki aaj chudail khoon chusne kaise nahi aayi? Dekh abhi mujhe bahut kaam hai.isliye nikal yahaan se " he said as he grabbed her arm and led her out of the store.
That's when he heard her let out a soft cry.
He stopped to look at her.
" Raavi .." he whispered and she hugged him and started crying loudly. He was worried now.he tried to calm her down by stroking her back but it did not have any effect.
" Raavi.kya hua? Tu shaant hoja pehle.bata mujhe kya hua? Kisine kuch kaha? Woh maami ne kuch kaha? " He separated her from the hug and cupped her cheeks and made her look at him.maami had called her an orphan couple of times in anger and she had come crying to pandya niwas.
Raavi shook her head in a no .
" To kya baat hai? " He asked.
Raavi slowly took out her phone and showed it to him.she hid herself in his chest, embarassed to face him.
Shiavas blood boiled as he clutched the phone hard.how dare someone do this with her?he didn't watch the full video and closed his eyes to calm him down or else he would scare her by his anger.he made her face him.her eyes were still downcast and she was trying hard to suppress her tears.
" Raavi,.mujhe dekh " he said raising her chin.
She still didn't meet his eyes.
" Usne kaha hai ki agar maine kisise kuch bhi kahanto yeh video viral..." Her voice broke and she was not able to complete her sentence.
" Mujhpar bharosa hai? " He asked
She looked into his eyes and said spontaneously
" Bhagwan se zyada "
" To bas.sab kuch mujhpar chod de.mere hote huye tujhe darne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. Samjhi?." He calmed her down with another hug.
Raavi felt a lot better already.she was in her safe heaven.
Shiva saw the details of the message and told raavi and they will go.she will wait for him in that area and he will be in hiding and will come out when the person came.
Raavi was waiting.she kept Rubbing her hands nervously.shiva had assured her that he was there and she didnt have to say or do anything and just be present there.
A guy came with his face covered.he was about to talk to raavi when shiva came in between.he started running away when he held his collar and started punching him.he removed the cloth covering his face and raavi gasped.
" Rahul.." she whispered.she couldn't believe it. She knew he was a creep who was after her, but the fact that he could do something so low surprised her.
" Mujhe pata tha ki tu kameena hai.par iss level ka kameena hai, yeh aaj pata chala " shiva hissed in anger and gave another punch in his stomach.
" Yeh tune sahi nahi kiya raavi.tujhe iska anjaam..." Rahul couldn't complete his sentence as shiva slapped him hard.
" Dhamka kisko raha hai? Jabtak shiva pandya zinda hai tu raavi ka kuch nahi bigaad sakta.sharam nahi aayi tujhe? Teri maa ko batau kya kiya hai tune? Bada garv hoga na unhe apne bete par " shiva said as he continued to hit him.
He took his phone and broke It.
" Tujhe kya laga? Tu ek masoom ladki ko darayega aur Bach jayega? " His anger took over him and he started hitting him with slaps and punches.how dare he see his raavi in such a vulnerable state and scare her like this?
Rahul begged him to let him go and promised that he won't come anywhere near raavi, forget raavi he won't ever mess with any girl ever.
But shiva was not listening to his pleading.raavi saw shivas rage.she had to stop him.
" Shiva, jaane de.usne apna sabak seekh liya.woh mar jayega " she shouted but in vain.
She ran and hugged him from behind tightly.that had the desired effect, he calmed down.rahul limped away as he saw his chance to escape.shiva made a mental note to deal with him later.he will definitely involve his family and the law to make sure he doesn't do anything like this with any girl ever.he won't let raavi's name come though.
He turned around and hugged her tightly.she was his to protect, cherish, fight and love.noone can mess with her and get away with it.raavi held onto him and buried herself within him.his warmth wiping away the last traces of her fear.they stayed like that for sometime.raavi broke the hug and wiped away his sweat with her dupatta.she checked him for any injuries.
" Tu thik hai na shiva? " She asked looking at him.
" Yeh to tu us chuze ko puch " he said
Raavi smiled.she held his hand and they walked away hand in hand.silent promises were made.
**************************************************
" Dekh raavi, mujhe bahut kaam hai.abhi nikal Jaa nahi to tujhe bahaar nikal dunga " he warned as raavi was dancing on his head while he was carrying the sacks inside.
" To nikaal na, isi bahane haath to lagayega " she said looking dreamily at him, her eyes filled with mischief.
Shiva tried to suppress a smile.
" Ek baat bata. Yeh sasta flirting kahaan se sikhti hai? Woh third grade picturein dekhna band kar " he said
" Jaise ki tujhe accha nahi lagta.meraa bhootnath bilkul nariyal ki tarah hai.bahaar se sakht, andar se narm" she said pulling his cheeks.
Shiva gave her another glare and she backed off
" Accha baba sorry.mai jaa rahi hu.tu araam se apna kaam kar " she said going away
" Sun.bhabi aaj shaam ko kachori banane wali hai.thusna hai to aa jaana " he said
She smiled and went away. His unique way of inviting her to his house.he would never say directly that he wants to spend time with her.
The Rahul incident had changed a lot of things between them.she loved him madly, but for the first time she saw what she meant to him.he treated her with so much care and made sure that she is fine.he assured her that she has done nothing wrong, she doesn't need to feel ashamed.slowly she was back to normal.raavi was sure that he loved her just like she loved him.but their family history was making him cautious.
**************************************************
Shiva had heard her mother badmouthing maami and raavi.he couldn't hear it and went away.he was apprehensive.his mother will never accept raavi and she had very valid reasons too, even if she did, she will taunt her and he couldn't bear to hear all that.how he wished things were fine between the two families and raavi would get the respect, love and acceptance from his family.
" Oye hero.chehre par barah kyu baje huye hai? " Raavi saw shiva thoughtful as she entered the shop.
He hugged her.
" Mai tujhe kho nahi sakta raavi " he whispered closing his eyes.
" Chipkali hu teri.tu chahe to bhi mujhse dur nahi jaa sakta. Samjha? " She said rubbing his back.
" Ghar mai kisine kuch kaha? " She asked
Shiva broke the hug
" Maine socha Ghar Mai sabko bol du hamare baare mai, par tabhi kuch puraani yaadein tazaa ho gayi aur maa maami aur tere baare mai..." He didn't complete his sentence
" Itni si baat? Mai hoo na.kyu fikr kar raha hai? Mai kaaki se baat karungi " she said
" Nahi raavi.nahi.maa tujhe kuch ulta seedha bol degi.mujhe bilkul aacha nahi lagega." Shiva said.his mother was short tempered.he couldn't risk raavi talking to her alone.
"Shiva.mujhpar bharosa hai? " She asked cupping his face
He nodded his head.
" To bas.sab kuch mujhpar chod de" she said
This was getting too long.so There will be a part 2.please give it a read and tell me how you feel about it.your comments encourage me to write more 🤗
Mangal Lakshmi
