PART- 2
Raavi reached the market just in time and got off the auto. She started walking towards the location that Shiva had asked her to come to. It was near the entrance of the market where he’d said he’d be waiting for her after finishing his meeting. She stood there looking for him everywhere around but he was nowhere to be seen. She decided to wait for few minutes and then she’d call him up.
‘khud late ho gaya hai toh koi baat nahi, yahi agar isse meri wait karni padh jaati tohsaara aasmaan sar pe utha leta, bandar kahin ka’ she mumbled to herself while waiting for him.
Suddenly,she heard someone’s laughter in the background, it seemed familiar to her, soshe turned around to see who it was. Of course, it was him, her bhoothnath. He was chatting and giggling with a vendor there. ‘Mai yahan dhoop mein khadi hokar iss ka intezaar kar rahi hoon, aur isse dekho guppe lada raha hai, daant phaad phaad ke hass raha hai, abhi batati hoon isse!’ she angrily mumbled again and marched towards where he was standing.
“Oo bhoothnath” she called him out. Shiva saw her coming from the corner of his eye, but he ignored and continued talking to the other man.
“Oo bandar” no response again.
“Shiva” she called him the third time. The man looked at her and then signalled Shivasaying, “Aapko bula rahi hain”
Now shiva had no choice but to turn around and look at her. His look was strange as if seeing her for the first time and she was infuriating in anger.
“Shiva mai kab se wahan tera intezaar kar rahi thi aur tu yahan khada hai, kya hai yeh sab haan?” she said in an angry tone. While he just looked at her with a blank expression.
“Aap mera intezaar kar rahi thi? Par kyun? Aur aapko mera naam kaise pata?” was his response.
Raavi was dumbstruck to listen to him. ‘Isse kya hua hai’ she thought for few seconds and then it struck her, ‘He was talking about this plan, about this deal! Dumb Raavi, kya plan bana liya, ab kaise baat karegi isse, yeh bhoothnath toh pura character mein ghus gaya’ she kept thinking to herself for few minutes of what to do now, her plan is going to backfire on her.
While shiva just stood there, staring at her with a blank look waiting for an answer.‘Phass gayi chipkali, ab mazaa aayega, saara ajnabee ajnabee ka bhooth utar jayega do minute mein’ he thought to himself.
But how can Raavi let go of this so easily, she had to come up with something. Then an answer struck her and she said “Woh sorry sorry, aapka nahi mai toh apne pati ka intezaar kar rahi thi, woh kuch kuch aapke jaise hi dikhte hain, toh mujhe laga woh hain aur unka naam bhi Shiva hai. Woh kya hai na humara aaj shopping ka plan tha par woh abhi tak aaye hi nahi ab mai akele kaise shopping karungi, mujhe toh yahan ka kuch pata hi nahi” she said making a sad pout.“Ab nahi aaya hai toh rehne deti hoon shopping bhi, akele kaise karungi,ghar chali jaati hoon mai bhi”
She started walking away, with her back towards Shiva waiting for him to stop her.
Shiva, on the other hand, was shocked that she didn’t give it up and scared that if this Chipkali goes home alone without shopping, he has had it from his bhaabhi and maa. But he can also not give up by coming out of his ‘ajnabee’ character so easily. He can’t lose it now. It had become an unsaid challenge between the two of them. He had to stop her.
“Suniye,rukkiye” He called her out and she stopped in her way as if waiting for this moment only.. and turned around. He also walked a few steps towards her.
“Aapke pati ko aane mein shayad time lagega, tab tak mai aapko company de deta hoon shopping mein”
Raavi looked at him shocked, “Umm aap kaise?” she said.
“Ghabraiye mat, mujhe yahan iss market ke baare mein sab pata hai, bachpan se yahan aata hoon mai aapki madad kar sakta hoon. Ab aap market aa hi gayi hain toh bina apna kaam pura kiye bina jayeingi toh problem hogi na, jab tak aapke pati nahi aate main company de deta hoon” he said with a mischievous smile.
“hmm theek hai” she agreed hesitantly.
“Toh chaliye fir” he smiled again and thought, pura din shopping karte karte kahin toh phisalegi ye chipkali.
Pata nahi kya karega ye Raavi pura din, na jaane kya chalta hai iss shaitaan ke tedhe dimaag mein. She thought to herself and started walking along with him.
“Sabse pehle kahan jaayenge?” he asked her.
She looked around and saw a saree shop, she signalled him towards it, “Suman kaki aurDhara di ke liye saree le leti hoon pehle” she said in a low tone to herself, loud enough for Shiva to hear. He had a faint smile thinking how considerate she was to first shop for his mother and Bhabhi, even when she was here on her birthday shopping.
They went to the shop and bought a saree each for maa and Bhabhi.
Next, they went to a jewellery store, to buy something for Rishita and Raavi, Raavi chosea pair of earrings for Rishita and asked the salesman to pack it. Raavi was looking for a pair for herself now, and Shiva was now getting bored with her girly shopping antics but couldn’t say anything as it would mean to get out of his ‘ajnabee’ character, he had to be polite with her and he had no other option but to be polite.
Just then his eyes fell on a beautiful pair of silver jhumkas, he saw Raavi also looking at them and pointing to the salesman to show that. The pair was kept nearer to Shiva, he grabbed it and handed over to Raavi. She tried them out and was looking in the mirror to see how they looked. Shiva was awestruck seeing how beautiful she looked in them and just kept staring at her. She caught him staring, their eyes locked for a few seconds, Raavi got awkward and broke the eye contact and looked down hesitantly.
Shiva was still staring at her and smiling mischievously, unusual for him as he gets awkward too, generally at such incidents with her. But now since he was the‘ajnabee’ he decided to take the liberty to gaze at her for few extra seconds.
He was brought out of his trance when she stuttered, “Aise kya dekh rahe ho?”
He got back to his senses and realised what he was doing. But not going out of character,teasingly said, “Dekh raha hoon ki yeh jhumke kitne sundar hain, aur tumhare kaano mein jaa ke aur bhi sundar ho gaye hain” and smirked.
Raavi was stunned at his response but couldn’t say anything. She quickly removed the earrings and gave them to the salesman to pack. She paid the bills, got her packets and swiftly started to move from the shop, avoiding eye contact with Shiva all this while, who was just busy constantly staring and smiling at her awkward state without any shame in the world.
She rushed out of the store and he followed her. ‘ye iss bhoothnath ko kya ho gaya hai ajnabee ke saath saath flirt bhi ban gaya. Flirt bana toh bana, yeh kya cheesy si pick up lines bol raha hai. Somnath ki sabse sundar ladki se flirt bhi nahi karna aata isse toh, daffod.’ She thought.
She hurriedly walked some distance so as to avoid being close to him and he slowly followed, smirking and laughing at her nervousness.
It was almost lunch time; both were hungry by now and the shopping was still left. She stopped and turned to him, both looked at each other and said in chorus “Bhookh lagi hai” . They both laughed at the unanimity of their thoughts for a few seconds.
Shiva looked around and saw a restaurant there, he signalled her towards it. They went there and gave the order, Raavi instantly asked the waiter to get Puri sabzi for the both of them while Shiva ordered the dessert, Red velvet pastry.
After the waiter was gone, Shiva asked her, “Puri sabzi toh meri favourite hai, aapko kaise pata?”
“Woh purisabzi toh mere husband ki bhi favourite hai toh aise hi dimaag mein aa gaya” she nervously answered and counter questioned him “Red velvet cake mera bhi favourite hai, aapko kaise pata?”
“Woh ….Woh meri na jo maami hain… unki behen ki ek beti hai, bachpan se humare saath badi hui hai, usse bahut pasand hai toh aise hi dimaag mein aa gaya” she was stunned at his answer as he was using her tricks on her only.
Shiva continued the conversation and started telling her about his “maami ki behen ki beti” sharing small anecdotes with her about their childhood, how shedid the andolan for him as he didn’t get chhole to eat, what all she used to do,surprisingly in a fond manner and not dissing her, her likes and dislikes.
Raavi couldn’t help but smile and laugh at all the stories he was telling, while she was reminiscing the childhood days as he narrated everything. But at the back of her head only one thought was bugging her, ‘iss bhoothnaath ko yeh sab kaise yaad hai, aur isse kaise pata?’ it was a strange feeling, she never expected him to know all that. But to her surprise he had noticed and remembered every single detail about her.
Her trance was broken when their food arrived and they got busy eating. Breaking the silence Shiva said “kabse mai hi bole ja raha hoon, aap bhi kuch bataiye apne baare mein, apne pati ke baare mein”
An astonished Raavi didn’t know what to say, but then she thought of giving him a taste of his own medicine. She began telling him about how she knew her husband since childhood, how they used to fight and annoy each other all the time, his likes and dislikes, how dedicated he was to his work, how much he loved his family and what not.
Shiva had a wide smile al this while, he knew she’d know all this, he always knew she knows him so well, but never understood his mismanaged anger and hatred. What surprised him was that this dobi Raavi wasso tactfully using his tricks on him only and not retracting from her plan.
Theychatted about her “pati” and his “mami ki behen ki beti” for hours and didn’t even realise that it was dusk already. When the realisation struck them, they got out of the restaurant and did their remaining shopping for the four men of the house.
It was now getting darker, the weather was also getting bad. Shiva offered to accompany her to the haveli as it was not safe for her to go alone at this hour. They couldn’t find an auto so began their journey to the haveli on foot. It was not very far off so they could walk. The walk was mostly silent, both of them stealing glances at each other in between. It began to drizzle midway and they took shelter at a small tea stall. They were a little drenched by the time they reached there.
Raavi kept all her shopping bags down and was busy adjusting her wet hair and dupatta,while the Mr. Stranger stared at her. She felt his gaze on herself and caught him staring, “Aise kya dekh rahe ho?” she asked.
“Ae chipkali, band kar ye tera khel ab” he said loudly.
She was taken aback, how did he give up on his own, when everything was going so well. She looked at him with a questioning look.
He looked at her and then around, there were a few other people in that tea stall, whose attention he had drawn to them by speaking so loudly.
He held her by her hand and dragged her out in the rain.
“Shiva kya hua tujhe achanak?” she couldn’t understand what happened to him all of a sudden when the day went so smoothly.
“Ae dobi,akkal kya ghaas charne gayi hai teri? Yeh plan kis liye banaya tha tune? Hum ek dusre ko jaan sake isliye na?”
Raavi nodded.
“toh aaj pure din mein tujhe samajh nahi aaya ki hum ek dusre ko pehle se hi bahut achi tarah se jaante hain, shayad apne aap se bhi behtar hum ek dusre ko jaante hain. Aisi kya baat hai jo bachpan se leke aaj tak mujhe teri aur tujhe meri nahi pata.. kisi na kis tareeke se hum ek dusre ki zindagi ka hissa humesha se rahe hain.. haina?” he said in a surprisingly calm tone.
Raavi agreed to him but couldn’t say a word. She looked in his eyes and nodded again. His eyes didn’t have the usual fury they had for her. They looked strangely soft toher.
He continued “Raavi humein zaroorat ek dusre ko jaanne ki nahi, ek dusre ki taraf apne nazariye ko badalne ki hai, jo dushmani humne humesha se ek dusre ke liye paalke rakhi hai usse bhula kar aage badhne ki hai.. ateet mein jo kuch hua na toh usse bhula sakte hain na hi badal sakte hain. Humein bas usse sweekaar kar keiss rishte ko mauka dena hai… tune kal theek kaha tha shuruwaat karne ke liyedost toh ban hi sakte hain. Par mai ek cheez samajh gaya hoon uske liye humeajnabee banne ki koi zaroorat nahi hum aise bhi dheere dheere dosti karne ki koshish kar sakte.”
Raavi was stunned at what he just said. He agreed to befriend her, just like that without being strangers, he understood what she’d wanted the previous day and was ready to take a step ahead in the relationship by offering to be friends with her.Her happiness knew no bounds. She instantly hugged him, in turn astonishing him. He didn’t know what to do, but hugged her back after a few seconds.
“Thankyou thank you thank you Shiva! Meri baat samajhne ke liye, meri taraf dosti ka haath badhane ke liye. Aur tu sahi keh raha hai, hume apni nafrat ko bhula keek dusre ki taraf nazariya badalne ki zaroorat hai, tabhi hum iss shaadi ko mauka de paayenge. Ghar mein sabki, khaas taur par Dhara di ki humare rishte se kitni umeedein hain, unhe pura karne ke liye hum yeh chhota sa kadam toh utha hi sakte na.”
Shiva was all smiles as finally they both understood what the other wanted to be the next step in the relationship and he didn’t have to play that foolish game now. The rain had almost stopped whe Shiv pushed her away from him and said “Chal ab sirf dost banana ke liye han ki hai tujhe, zada chipakne ki zaruat nahi hai,Chipkali kahin ki!”
Raavi looked away and laughed at his awkwardness.
“Chal ab saamaan utha aur haveli chal” he said.
They picked up their shopping bags and walked back to the haveli. The walk was a silent one again, but both had a happy and content smile on their faces.
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Apologies everyone, for the unwarranted delay in the update. hope you like the second part. Do leave your comments.😊
Udne Ki Aasha
