PART-1
" baat dukaan ya property ki nahi hai shiva. Baat haq aur barabari ki hai. Tu mujhe galat samajh raha hai " raavi tried to explain to him.
" Kya galat samajh raha hu? Tune suna nahi ki gombi ne kya kaha? Woh akele pad gaye hai. Unke liye pandya store mai apna hissa to kya, mai apni jaan tak dedu " shiva said with an intensity in his eyes that made raavi step back.
" Kitni aasani se bol Di na yeh baat tune. Ek baar bhi nahi socha ki ab tu akela nahi hai. Tere Jaan ke saath meri saansein judi huyi hai. Kya hoga mera tere bina? " She said with a muffled voice trying not to let her tears out.
" Dekh raavi. Tu inn sab mai mat pad. bhaiyo ka mamla hai. Hum aapas mai nipta denge " shiva said holding her shoulders calming himself.
" Thik hai shiva. Tere Bhai, tera pandya store, tera mamla, tera decision. Mai kaun hoti hu kuch kehne wali " she said and slept on the bed turning to the other side.
" Dekh chipkali. Ab tu naraaz mat ho. Pehle hi ghar mai itne tante hai. Ab tu bhi aise muh phulaye rahegi to mai kya karunga " he said in a pleading voice.
" Mai naraaz nahi hu shiva. Mai samajh gayi ki kaun se mamle mai mujhe bolna chahiye aur kaun se mamle mai chup rehna chahiye. Tu sojaa. Good night." She said switching off the lights.
Shiva slept on his side looking at her. Did he say too much? But she is his chipkali. She knows his anger. She understands him. She won't be angry for too long. He consoled himself and went to sleep.
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Tu Darr Raha hai ki Tera Bhai tujhse aage na nikal jaaye. Tera darr tera gussa banke bahar nikal raha hai.
He thinks so low of him? That he would be afraid that his brother will succeed? He had always felt proud of Dev and gombi. He was even happy for rishita bhabis achievements.he held his head thinking what had transpired a few moments ago in the aangan.
" Chai pee le. Sar dard thik ho jayega " the aroma of her masala chai already soothed his pounding headache.
" Tujhe pata hai jab dev ko mba mai admission Mila tha na, sabse khush mai tha. Are uske top karne par pure somnath mai mithayi baanti thi maine " he said holding her hand and making her sit beside herself.
" Mai samajhti hu shiva. Tujhe mujhe safayi dene ki koi zaroorat nahi hai " she said softly holding his face.
He pulls her into a hug and she caresses his head.
" Tu mujhse naraaz nahi hai na kal raat ke baad? Thik se baat tak nahi ki mujhse aaj subah " he said.
Mai tujhse bahut kuch kehna chahti hu shiva. Par darti hu, ki kahin phirse hamare rishte mai kadwahat na aa jaye. Teri biwi to ban gayi hu, par aaj bhi aisa lagta hai ki tere liye dhara bhabi,gombi aur maa ek taraf aur mai ek taraf.
"Chipkali. Kuch bol na. Kis soch mai pad gayi? " He said slightly Shaking her.
" Kuch nahi shiva. Ab yeh sab baatein chod aur dukaan chal.bahut kaam hai " she said
He nodded and they went to pandya store.
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Gombi went away dissapointed with shivas idea of giving discount. He had tears in his eyes.
" Tujhe to mujhpar vishwas hai na? " He asked.
She put a hand on his shoulders and nodded.
" Market ke saath humein usool badalne padte hai. Jab tak hamara samaan sahi hai aur hum imaandari se kaam kar rahe hai mujhe discount Dena galat nahi lagta. Humein advertise bhi karni chahiye.jo hamare purane customers hai, jo home delivery lete hai unhe bhi message karke iss scheme ke baare mai batana chahiye. Jaise malls wagera ka message aata hai humein offers ke baare mai " she said
He remembered something. Raavi had lowered the prices of PS before and he had scolded her for the same.
She went to message the customers when he held her hand.
" Tu galat nahi thi raavi. Shayad Mera nazariya galat tha " he said
She turned around and understood what he was talking about.
" Zaroori nahi hai ki jo humse alag soch rakhte hai unki soch galat ho. Bas niyat sahi honi chahiye " she said smiling.
She didn't taunt him, did't gloat about how she was right, didn't tease him for implementing her idea which he had so ruthlessly discarded once. She stood by him like a rock instead. He felt like the luckiest man now.
" Kya dekh raha hai? Mai jaanti hu ki mai somnath ki sabse khoobsurat ladki hu par yeh dhande ke waqt apne awara fitrat ko sambhal " she said in a teasing voice.
He chuckled. Only his chipkali can lighten the mood in the most serious of situations.
It was almost evening and they did make some sale. It was not as much as they did on regular days though.
" Shiva, discount se hum kuch din ke liye customers to attract kar sakte hai par long term ke liye humein paise invest karne hoge.jo dikhta hai wohi bikta hai " she said
" Paise aa jayenge raavi " he said with a determined look on his face.
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" Shiva, meri taraf dekh. Tu kar sakta hai. Bas khud par vishwas rakh. Jaise mujhe hai " she said holding his face in her palms.
" Kaise hoga raavi? Dukaan sambhalna hai.gombi ka accident ho gaya hai. Bhabi ko unke paas rehna hoga. Tujhe Ghar sambhalna bhi padega.aise mai kaise jau padhne? . Shayad kismat ko yehi manzoor tha " he said turning the other side
" Sab ho jayega shiva. Tu bas khudpar aur mujhpe Vishwas rakh. Jung ke maidan mai jaane se pehle hi tu hathyaar taal Raha hai. Aise kaise chalega? Yeh to bas iss mushkil safar ki shuruwat hai " she said
" Tu padhega shiva. Baaki sab tu mujhpar chod de. Trust me. " she said
He didn't sound convinced but he was awed to see her confidence in him.noone in life had ever shown such faith in him.
" I love you. I know you can do it " she said
He slowly came our of her grip and went away.
Raavi's face fell. He didn't say anything. She looked dejected at the sky when she felt a peck in her cheek.
She turned to see shiva all flustered and going away.
" Gadheda" she muttered smiling.
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Raavi woke up at 6 am and cleaned the house.she prepared breakfast and packed shiva's lunch for tution classes.
She went to gombis room to ask how he was doing and assured dhara that she would manage everything and she should stay with him now. He had a few fractures and needed to go to the doctor today for follow up.
" Yeh le shiva tera dabba. Mujhe dukaan chod de aur wahaan se tution ke liye nikal jaa " she said
" Raavi. Tu sure hai na? " He said
" Tu teen baje wapas aa jayega. Phir sambhal Lena dukaan. Mai kuch ghanto ke liye akele nahi sambhal sakti kya? Raavi shiva masala pandya par tujhe itna bhi bharosa nahi? " She said dramatically
" Acha acha.ab apni nautanki band kar. Jaata hu " he said
It was lunchtime. The sales were okay, not goo but enough to keep them going till they found some money to develop the store.She was eating her food alone in the shop, how she was missing shiva's warmth.
Sudhar Jaa raavi. Aise pyaar mai pade huye teenager ki tarah behave mat kar.
" Mai andar aa jau ? " Rishita asked
" Kal tak to keh rahi thi tumhara dukaan hai, tunhara ghar hai. Aaj permission maang rahi ho?" Raavi said
" Tum seedhe muh baat nahi kar sakti na? Hamesha tedha jawaab Dena hota hai " she said irritated
" Tum mere pati ki insult karti ho and expect karti ho ki mai tumse seedhe muh baat karu? I am sorry par mera dil gombi aur dhara di jitna bada nahi hai ki baar baar beizzati hone par bhi mai sweetly behave karu tumse " raavi answered back.
Rishita started laughing.
" You know what raavi. I pity you. Sach kahu to mujhe tumse kabhi koi problem nahi thi. Infact us ghar mai mujhe sabse acchi tum hi lagti ho. Isliye ek baat kehne aayi hu. Jis shiva ke pyaar ke dum par tum itna ud rahi ho na, ek baat yaad rakh lo ki jab tum apna opinion voice out karogi ya dhara bhabi aur gombi ke khilaaf jaogi to woh chai mai se makkhi ki tarah tumhe apni zindagi se bahar phek dega " she said clicking here fingers.
" Bas karo rishita. Itni mushkilo ke baad humein hamari khusiya Mili hai. Kyu aisi manhoos baatein kar rahi ho? " She said in disbelief
" Sach kadwa hota hai raavi. Mai bas tumhe warn kar rahi hu. pehli baar dev ne apni family ke khilaf jaakar Mera saath diya. Par shiva aisa kabhi nahi karega. Tum jis tarah uski dhaal bankar khadi ho jaati ho na, woh kabhi bhi tumhare liye aisa nahi karega. Yeh mat bhoolo ki yeh wohi ladka hai jisne tumhara haath kheenchkar tumhe Ghar ke bahar pheka tha " she said
" Mai shiva ko aise situation mai dalungi hi nahi ki use mere aur uske parivaar Mai se kisi ek ko chunna pade. Woh mera bhi parivaar hai rishita.mai bhi dhara di, Gombi aur maa se pyaar karti hu.unki izzat karti hu " she said
" Tum bahut bholi ho. Par koi nahi, ek din samajh jaogi. Pandya parivaar ko bhi aur mujhe bhi " she said.
Shiva came right then. He looked at Rishita confused.
" Hamare dukaan mai aam ka achaar nahi hai. Craving ho rahi thi. Ab yahaan se le sakti hu ya parayo ke tarah treat karoge mujhe? " She asked
" Payara pehle aapne humko kiya hai.humne nahi" he said and handed her an achaar pouch.
Rishita left giving a last look to raavi.
" Kya keh rahi thi? " Shiva asked her.
" Kuch khaas nahi. Tu woh sab chod, yeh bata ki tera class kaisa tha? Aaj un baccho ne pareshan to nahi kiya? " She asked
" Aree. Kya mast tha aaj. Ek ek ek ja muh band kiya maine na, dobara woh piddi bacche kabhi mere muh nahi lagenge " he said describing the events of the day. He even showed her his notes.there was a twinkle in his eyes while talking about the first chapter that was taught.
She smiled looking at him going on and on
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Raavi clutched her mangalsutra as she stood by the window remembering the events of the past few days and Rishitas words. She remembered how upset he was when she spoke against dhara di during the loan paper fiasco. She has always thought of dhara as her elder sister and sisters do fight and make up. But shiva has always been over protective when it comes to his bhabi. Be it the loan paper fiasco or the IVF misunderstanding, she had bore the brunt of his anger then. Would things be any different now that they had confessed their love? Would he still react the same way if she had a fight with anyone in the house? She tried to calm her mind but deep down she was scared. She couldn't go through all that again.
" Chipkali. Yeh sab ? " He softly asked as he looked around the room.
There was a study table and a lamp. The schedule of the exam was pasted on the wall in front. There were books covered neatly with his name on the covers. There were pens and markers of different colours on the table.
" Maine maasi se bolkar apna study table mangwa liya. Tujhe accha laga? " She asked
" Kitna sochti hai tu mere baare mai " he said overwhelmed by her gesture and pulled her closer by her hand.
" Mai to hamesha tere baare mai sochti hu shiva. Jaane anjaane har waqt mere dil aur dimaag mai tu hi rehta hai " she answered
" Accha? To ab bhi khidki ke paas khade khade mere khayalo mai khoyi huyi thi? " He gently put a strand of hair behind her ears.
" Hann " she answered him.
" Kya soch rahi thi raavi? " He asked surprised
" Yehi ki agar kabhi kuch galat ho gaya, to kya tu mera saath dega? " She asked
" Yeh kaisa sawaal hai gadehedi? Mai to hamesha tere saath hu.ab to tu chahe bhi to tere iss bhootnath se peecha nahi chuda sakti. Tu aur main aise hai jaise ki....." Shiva said thinking about some poetic lines but nothing came to his mind.
" Samajh gayi mere ghalib " she chuckled and hugged him.
" Aree yaar, sahi time par kavita yaad nahi aati " he said and hugged her back. Something was definitely bothering her and he would find out what. Did rishita say something? Or is it something else?
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She brought him tea as he was studying and sat besides him to give him company. She thought of marking all the important questions from previous year boards to help him.
It was close to 12 and she was dozing off. Shiva saw her.
" Raavi, jaakar sojaa. Aaj subah se kaam kar rahi hai. Thak gayi hogi " he said gently Shaking her.
" Tu bhi to kaam kar raha hai. Mai thik hu. Tu padh " she said
He knew she won't budge.she had woken up from 6 and hadn't taken a break since then. As she said if he is ziddi, she is maha ziddi. So he let it go and started studying. He saw her sleeping on the chair besides him.
He closed his books and picked her up and laid her on the bed. He covered her with the blanket and just stared at her for sometime.
Shayad peechle janam mai kuch bahut accha kiya hoga, isliye mujhe tu mili. Teri jagah koi aur ladki hoti to kabka chali gayi hoti mujhe chodkar. Par tune mujhe samjha, mujhe mujhse behtar samjha.thank you raavi.
He pecked her forehead and went to sleep.
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" Ab to koi faida nahi hoga gombi inn papers ka.janardan ne to pehle hi woh store gift mai dekar dev aur rishita ko apni taraf kar liya. Jitne din woh wahaan rahenge, woh unke dimaag mai hamare liye aur kadwahat bharega " dhara said.
" Par dhara, agar hum abhi bhi yeh papers dev ko de to rishita yeh to samajh jayegi ki hum use apna maante hai. Hamara Mann saaf hai " gombi asked
" Ab bhabi aur aapne socha tha to de dijiye yeh papers unhe, mere hisse ka bhi de dijiye. Par mai bata raha hu ki isse kuch nahi badlega. Woh phir koi naya Tanta dhund lenge aapko taane maarne ka aur neecha dikhane ka " shiva said
Raavi came to with tea.
" Tere hisse ka bhi Dede matlab. Tere akele ka hai? Raavi ka bhi haq hai uspar. Tu bol raavi, tujhe kya sahi lagta hai? " Dhara asked her.
" Jo aapko sahi Lage " she smiled and was about to go when gombi stopped her.
" Tu kahaan jaa rahi hai ? Yahaan baith, hum sabse baat kar ki kya karna chahiye " he asked.
" Mere bolne ya na bolne se kya fark padega gombi? Aapne pehle bhi akele decisions liye hai, shiva aapke har faisle mai aapke saath hai.aur mai shiva ke har faisle mai uske saath hu " she said and left.
Shiva felt a bit uncomfortable at her words. She always voiced out her opinions strongly in family matters even when he didn't agree with her. She opposed him, fought with him but never backed away. He didn't like the subdued version of her one bit.
" Mai abhi aata hu" he excused himself and left.
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" Kya tha woh? " He asked as he entered the room seeing her folding clothes.
" Kya? " She asked continuing her job and going to the cupboard
He held her arms and pulled her to him.
" Bhabi tujhse puch rahi thi ki tu kya sochti hai iss baare mai. Tu to iss batwaare ke khilaf thi, phir kuch bola kyu nahi? " He asked
" Kyuki mere liye teri feelings matter karti hai. Tune hi bola tha ki mai iss mamle mai nahi padu, to mai nahi pad rahi " she said and freed herself.
" To tu us baat se naraaz hai abhi tak? Mujhe laga hi tha ki koi baat tujhe pareshaan kar rahi hai " he said
She stayed silent and wiped the table.
He got angry. He couldn't take her indifference and silence. He threw the chair that was between them.
" Mai tujhse baat kar raha hu raavi " he said
" Tu chahta kya hai shiva? Mai apne mann ki baat bolu to tujhe problem hai, mai na bolu tab bhi tujhe problem hai. Aakhir tu chahta kya hai? " She asked
"Meri purani Chipkali. Mai to gusse mai kuch bhi bolta hu.to kya tu apne aap ko badal degi? Jo tujhse sahi lagta hai woh nahi karegi? " He asked
" Mere andar bahut kuch bhara hua hai shiva. Par kya tu sunn payega? Darr lagta hai tujhse ghar ke baare mai kuch khulkar baat karne ke liye. Kahi tu phirse mujhe galat na samajh le. Phirse yeh na soch le ki mai dhara di ya suman kaki ke khilaaf koi planning kar rahi hu. Bahut mushkil se mere upar se saare ilzaam hate hai, ab phirse woh kadwe shabd nahi nahi sun sakti mai tere muh se." she said as she sat on the bed crying and throwing the cloth in her hands. She covered her face with her hands. She didn't mean to have this outburst. She just made things worse.
Shiva stood rooted to his spot. Here she was supporting him, standing up for him, motivating him and he couldn't make her feel comfortable enough to share her thoughts? She was scared of him? No.this is not raavi. She is the woman who would give it right back to him. Seeing her this vulnerable sent a pang of guilt in his heart. His words had a much deeper impact than he thought.
He kneeled down in front of her and slowly removed her hands from her face.
" Raavi. Maine vaada kiya tha na ki mai tujhpe kabhi Shak nahi karunga.i am sorry.tu to jaanti hai na ki mai gusse mai kuch bhi bol jaata hu. Mere woh matlab nahi tha. Tere andar jo bhi hai bol. I promise mai araam se sununga aur samjhunga bhi " her said sincerely holding her hand.
Raavi felt assured seeing his eyes that were soft and understanding this time. It held her gaze.
" Mujhe dhara di ke tareeke sahi nahi lagte shiva.na haveli mai mujhe unka batwara ka idea sahi laga tha aur na hi ab. Peechli baar Mai unse isliye naraaz thi kyuki mujhe parivaar Mai rehkar bhi ajnabee jaisa lag raha tha. Rishita unse isliye naraaz thi kyuki uski maa dukhi thi. Ab uska solution kya yeh tha ki Tera aur Dev ka alag bank account khol diya jaye? " She asked
Shiva got up and turned around.
" Ab tujhe dev aur rishita sahi lag rahe hai? Unhone jo kiyaa..." Shiva was cut off by raavi.
" Unki galti dhara di ke tareeke ko sahi nahi kar deti " she said
" Mujhe bata rishita ghar chodkar kyu gayi? Kya wajah thi? " She said coming in front of him.
" Aree unhe laga bhabi ne unhe akela chod diya choro ke saath aur bhaag gayi " he said
" To woh isliye gayi kyuki woh hurt thi ki dhara di ne kaise use akela chod diya. Kaise uska khayal nahi rakha. Woh pandya store ka hissa na milne par nahi gayi hai Ghar se" she explained
" Pyaar aur apnapan paise aur property se nahi khareede jaa sakte.woh ghar wapas aa bhi gaye to mann se to dur hi rahenge na " she said
Shiva looked at her surprised. She was right. He never thought it this way.
" Par bhabi bas parivaar ko jodkar rakhna chahti hai. Uske liye unhe Jo sahi lag raha hai woh kar rahi hai " he said
" To maine kab kaha ki dhara di ki niyat mai khot hai? Mujhe problem unke tareeko se hai. Mai samajhti hu ki dus saal tak woh iss ghar ke faisle akele le rahi thi. Par ab dev aur teri shaadi ho chuki hai. Kal ko Krish ki shaadi hogi. Iss ghar mai sabka alag nazariya hoga, to kya sabko saath leke chalna chahiye ya ek insaan ko decision Lena chahiye? " She said
Shiva didn't have an answer to that. She was right. Even he had felt hurt when she had hid the truth about his own marriage to him. He understood how raavi must have felt during the loan paper fiasco.
" Shayad tu mujhe galat samjhe par ek saath rehkar roz roz ki ladayi aur jhagde se behtar hai dur rehkar khush rehna. Dev aur rishita tab lautenge Jab unhe hamari parivaar ki kadar hogi. Aur yeh realisation batware se nahi hoga unhe " she said
" Aur ek bhai ko khush karne ke liye dusre Bhai ki aansuo ko andekha karna kaha tak sahi hai? " She said cupping his face
" Meri chipkali itni samajhdaar kabse ho gayi? "He said
" Iss ek saal Mai maine bahut kuch seekha hai shiva " she said with a somewhat sad smile.
" Mai aaj tujhe ek baat keh raha hu aur tu yeh baat gaath baandh le. Aage chalkar hamari zindagi mai kuch bhi ho, koi bhi toofan aaye mai tujhe khudse dur kabhi nahi karunga. Han, tujhse ladunga, shikayat karunga par sab kuch iss kamre ke andar. Yeh Ghar tera hai. Yeh parivaar tera hai aur mai bhi tera hu. Shayad mai teri tarah shabdo mai bayaan nahi kar paata par mai jo mehsoos karta hu tere liye uska dus taka bhi zubaan pe nahi laa paata." He said
In his insecurities and fears he has always ignored hers. He feared to lose her, he felt he was not good enough for her. He thought she deserved the world, little did he know that this girl in front of her has made him her whole World and he will make sure that these beautiful eyes of hers would never shed a tear of sadness.
Raavi felt a burden lifting off her chest. She didn't need to worry with shiva by her side. Its time she let her fears go and look forward to a bright future.
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" Mujhe aur raavi ko yeh batware ka Faisla sahi nahi lagta " shiva said when they were having morning tea in the angan.
Dhara and gombi looked at him and exchanged a glance.
" Ab yeh markundi gay ke sahi lagne ya na lagne par ghar ke faisle liye jayenge? " Suman said.
" Raavi " he said looking at her
" Kya? " Suman asked not understanding
" Raavi naam hai iska maa " he said again
Raavi looked on surprised. She felt her eyes brimming with tears as she remembered how he had said the exact same thing to Rishita a year back. She didn't expect him to tell this to kaki though. She didn't like being namecalled, but she had accepted it and learnt to ignore it.
" Hann... Mera matlab...ab yeh raavi iss ghar ke faisle legi? " Suman said fumbling not expecting her son to talk like this to him.
" Papa bhi to har bada faisla aapse salah mashwara karke lete the.unhi se seekha hai. Ab mai dukaan jaa raha hu. Chal chipkali " he said and touched sumans feet. Raavi silently followed.
" Sab apne apne biwi ka ek mandir bana do aur unki Pooja karo. Bas Iski petticoatchaap banne ki Kami thi " Suman said annoyed
"Bacche bahut bade ho Gaye hai gombi " dhara said looking at the door in a trance.
Arjun
Cricket
Indian Mythology
