Part 12
Raavi escaped to the terrace as soon as she made sure everyone had fallen asleep. She had debated all day long if she should do this but this time she wanted to make sure. He had become her world and she didn’t want to take any chances. She wanted to ask him because she didn’t want to be wrong like last time. Yet, she knew Shiva was already hers. They were always each other’s. Only she realised it too late. Her love for Dev didn’t even compare to her love for Shiva. They were soulmates.
Raavi found Shiva waiting for her on the terrace. She blushed as she thought about what she was about to do. To her surprise, Shiva came before her and tied a blindfold on her eyes. She thought she was one who was going to surprise him but it looked like he had planned something else. He held her hands and led her into the terrace. Raavi wasn’t scared even for a second. She realised she trusted him more than anything else. He took off the blindfold.
He switched on the lights and Raavi was surprised. He had decorated the terrace with fairy lights. It was perfect! This only meant that he knew she was going to propose to him. If he knew, then it meant he loved her too. Knowing it made all the nervousness disappear.
“Tujhe yaad tha? Mujhe fairy lights pasand hai?” Raavi asked.
“Bachpan se sunta aaya hu.”
Raavi saw that he had arranged for a mattress there. There was a bottle of wine next to it. She almost squealed in excitement. Raavi had once described her perfect date to Dhara di. Shiva had been nearby and it looked like he had heard every bit of it. She hugged him in excitement. He led her to the mattress and sat her down. Then he sat down next to her and poured them a glass. Raavi forgot her plan for a minute and she took her first taste of the wine. It didn’t taste bad, she realised. In fact, she liked it.
“Ab bol. Kya kehna tha tujhe?” Shiva asked.
“Wine achhi hai.” Raavi said. She took his glass and placed it on his lips. He held her hand and took a sip.
“Achhi hai!”
Raavi smiled. “Shiva, tujhe pata hai main kya bolna chahti hu. Isliye tune yeh sab arrange kiya, hain na?”
Shiva nodded. She smiled.
“Toh main bina kisi darr ke bol du?”
“Gadheri, darne ki kya baat hai? Meri life mein tere alawa koi nahi. Tujhe kehne ki bhi zaroorat nahi hai. Mujhe pata hai.” Shiva said.
“Par mujhe sunna hai.” Raavi smiled. She half expected him to walk away or shout at her, but he simply smiled at her.
“I love you Chipkali.”
Raavi got up and flung herself into his arms. It felt exhilarating to hear him say this. She couldn’t stop her tears. He pulled her closer and leaned onto the pillows. Raavi snuggled into his chest. He started running his fingers through her hair and she felt peace. This was everything she had ever wanted. He kissed her fingers one by one.
“Raavi jab maine tujhe pankhe se latkta dekha, tujhe nahi pata mere upar kya biti thi. Uss waqt main samajh gaya tha ki mere liye tujhse important aur koi nahi hai. Abhi bhi sapne aate hai mujhe. Thik se neend nahi aati. Tujhe kho deta toh main marr jata.”
“Shiva bas. Ab uss baare mein baat nahi karenge.” Raavi said. “Tu nahi hota toh main bhi nahi hoti. Tune meri jaan bachayi. Toh ab meri life teri. Aur pure haq se teri life bhi meri. Ab bas tu aur main. Happy thoughts and happy life!”
“Toh shaadi kar le?” He asked.
“Kar lenge. Dev ki ho jaye phir hum bhi kar lenge. Maasi koi jhamela nahi karegi. Tujhe pasand karne lagi hai. Mausapa aur Anita di bhi impressed hai. Aur Pandya family mein toh main sabki favourite hu. Kisiko koi problem nahi hogi.”
They finished their wine and Raavi laid her head on his chest. They laid in each other’s arms for sometime. Raavi got up and poured another glass of wine for both of them.
“Shiva, maine abhi realise kiya. Mera Pandya bahu banne ka sapna toh pura hone jaa raha hai.” Raavi gasped.
“Haa. Raavi Shiva Pandya.” Shiva smirked.
“Matlab mere life ka sara sapna pura ho gaya? Wow!” She said. “Main bhi kitni stupid thi. Uss waqt maine kaise nahi dekha ki life mein jeene ke liye kitna kuch hai. Kya ho gaya tha mujhe?”
“Tune kaha na iss baare mein baat nahi karenge.” Shiva reminded her. “Ab sab thik ho gaya hai.”
“Haa sab kuch. Par abhi bhi darr lagta hai unn dino ke baare mein soch ke. Main wapas kabhi waise depressed nahi hona chahti Shiva. Sabse worst wali feeling thi mere life ki. Aisa lag raha tha ki life mein jeene ke liye kuch nahi bacha. Mujhe laga main kabhi khush nahi ho paungi. Apne saath saath sabko mere saath suffer karte dekh rahi thi Shiva. Guilt aur embarrassed dono ho rahi thi. Mujhe har waqt feel ho raha tha main marr rahi hu.”
“Raavi, yeh wapas nahi aayega. I promise.” Shiva said. “Main puri koshish karunga ki tu dheere dheere sab bhool jaye. Aur guilt aur embarrassment ko goli maar. Tujhe jitni baar meri aur humari family ki zaroorat hogi, utni baar hum sab ko apne saath payegi.”
Raavi wiped her tears and kissed Shiva. It was a tender kiss. He kissed her back just as softly. They parted after a few seconds. The night was young and they had their entire life ahead of them. Right now, both of them wanted to take it slow.
“Shiva, I love you.” Raavi hugged him tightly.
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