pandya niwaas ki anokhi kahaaniyan || notice - page fifteen - Page 8

hold on

Raavi smiled as her friends teased her about how the henna design was coming along. It was quite nice. She wouldn’t have expected anything less given how much they were paying the lady. But truth be told even if the lady had painted a large circle in the middle of her palms, coated her fingertips and called it a day, Raavi wouldn’t have cared much.

She looked up when she saw her aunt yelling at the confectioners. Apparently the motichoor ke ladoos weren’t round enough and the piping hot jalebis weren’t as sticky and sweet as they should be.

Raavi sighed and looked away.

There was a group of little girls dancing in a circle while the young boys ran around the aangan playing tag. The invited aunts and uncles were busying themselves with savory snacks and tall glasses filled to the brim with refreshing drinks.

Raavi’s fiancee, Rohan, was seated on the opposite side, shirtless and in a pair of shorts. He had missed the haldi ceremony the day before because of work so he was making up for it today. When he caught her staring, he winked and she, giving a small smile, looked away. She hoped she came off as a shy bride rather than a disinterested one.

Her eyes snapped to the entrance where the appearance of a handsome man made everyone talk in hushed whispers. Raavi felt every beat of her heart and her eyes remained transfixed on his approaching figure. She didn’t even dare blink for it would mean she wouldn’t get to see him.

Behind her, Raavi heard her aunt grumble and walk past her to chase away the uninvited guest.

“Tu yahan kya kar ra hai?” Though her voice was low, the smile on her face was all too sweet.

“Raavi se milne aaya hoon.” Shiva answered.

“Usse nahi milna. Tu jaa yahan se.”

“Yeh baat Raavi ko kaho mujhe batane ke liye.” Shiva directed his eyes to her and her heart skipped a beat.

Raavi reminded herself to keep a tight leash on her feelings. Her fiance was sitting merely a few feet away from them. She might have had better success at it had Shiva not pushed past her aunt and walked over to her.

He crouched in front of her and inspected the henna design. “Achi hai. But better ho sakti hai.”

When she looked into his eyes, she saw the hidden implication behind them.

“Teri rayi kissi ne puchi?” Anita spoke in a bitter tone. “Bin bulaye mehmaano ki tarah moonh utha ke aa toh gaya but yeh mat soch na ki hum teri koi bhi bakwas sune wale hai. Ek ladoo utha aur chala ja yahan se.”

“Anita Di!” Raavi rebuked. “Aap Shiva se iss tarah baat nahi kar sakti.”

“Kyun nahi kar sakti?” Anita argued in a hushed tone. “After what his family did, tum inn logo ko bardaasht bhi kaise kar sakti ho?”

“Anita Di, iski family nahi aayi, Shiva aaya hai. Aur inn do cheezon mein bahut farq hai.” Raavi glared.

Shaking her head in disappointment, Anita left her side. The empty space was quickly taken up by her aunt who stood with her arms crossed.

“Mujhe koi tamasha nahi chahiye Shiva. Chup chap chala ja yahan se.”

“Tamasha mein nahi aap kar rahi hai Mami.” Shiva pointed out.

Her aunt took a quick look around and seeing all the pairs of eyes that were staring at her, she huffed. “Jitni jaldi ho sake isse yaha se bhaaga Raavi.” Muttering curses at him, she left with a deep scowl on her face.

Sighing, Raavi hung her head. Her shoulders slumped as exhaustion washed over her. Shiva lifted her wrists and rubbed gentle circles into them. She shouldn’t be enjoying the peace and comfort his one action provided.

“Mehndi kharab ho jayegi.” She commented as a way to get him to stop.

“Ho jaane de. Vaise bhi gandi hai.” He replied.

“Tu ne abhi toh kaha ki achi hai.”

“Jhoot bhola.”

“Aur yeh kahan se sikha?”

“Tujh se.”

Raavi locked eyes with him and mirrored the pain that was reflected in his gaze. Clenching her jaw, she bit out, “Mein jhoot nahi bolti.”

“Tu iss shaadi se khush hai?” He asked bluntly.

Raavi absolutely hated him. He knew he was backing her into a corner. “That’s not fair.”

“Kyun? Ek simple sa sawal hai. Jiska jawab bhi kaafi simple hona chahiye.” He taunted.

“Haan mein khush hoon.” Her words spilled out in a heated rush and did nothing to bring conviction to what she was trying to prove.

“Raav, is everything okay?” Her fiance asked from across the room.

“Raav?” Shiva mocked much to her ire.

“Haan!” Raavi yelled back.

This time it wasn’t a lie. No matter how complicated things were between her and Shiva, they also had the tendency of being quite simple. She supposed that was one of the effects of being deeply in love.

“Arre Rohan, kahan chal diye?” Raavi’s aunt rushed towards Rohan with panicking footsteps.

“Raavi ke dost se milne.” Rohan replied, standing up.

Raavi’s heart beat fast. She looked at Shiva and silently begged him to leave but he refused to budge.

Instead, he squeezed her wrist and dared to say, “Tu chal mere saath.”

“Shiva.” Her eyes flitted from his face to Rohan who was trying to make his way over to her.

“Chal.” This time when he grasped her wrist, he pulled her up and led her away.

“Raavi!” Rohan called out for her but Raavi didn’t reply.

She quietly followed after Shiva as he walked towards her bedroom. Raavi should have objected when he locked the door, but he pinned her against it and whatever fight she would have carried within her died at the touch of his warm fingertips.

“Ab bol. Iss shaadi se khush hai?”

“Kya farq parta hai?” She squirmed in his hold but not with enough force to actually break out of it.

“Mujhe farq parta hai.” He gripped her shoulders.

“Toh kya kar lega?”

“Shaadi thod doon ga.”

“Kaise? Mujhe badnam kar ke?” It was a futile question as Raavi knew Shiva would never do such a thing to her.

He pressed his forehead against hers and pleaded, “Raavi yeh shaadi mat kar. Tu khush nahi hai.”

“Baaki sab toh hai na.” Her lips quivered. “Meri shaadi se sab ki tension door ho jayegi Shiva. Logon ke taane band ho jayenge aur Mausa-Pa ki tabiyat bhi theek ho jayegi.”

“Yeh teri shaadi hai Raavi. Kissi aur ke liye kaise kar sakti ho?” He asked angrily.

“Do saal pehle meine khud ke liye shaadi karni chahi thi na. Uska anjaam tu dekh hi chuka hai. Iss baar ghar walon ki pasand se kar ke dekh leti hoon. Shayad safal ho jaye.”

“Aur mein?” He whispered, nudging his nose with hers. “Mein teri zindagi mein kaha fit honga Raavi?”

Raavi squeezed her eyes and clenched her fists. After Dev’s betrayal, Raavi never imagined she would ever fall in love again. But she did. And out of all the people in the world, it had to be Shiva.

Shiva brushed his lips over hers and trailed them across her jaw. As if on instinct, Raavi looped her arms around his neck.

Shiva with his constant messages to see if she was alright; Shiva with his insistence that she go on long drives with him on his bike; Shiva with his pampering through bouquets of her favorite flowers, chocolates and stuffed animals.

Raavi nudged his head up so that she could kiss him properly on the lips.

It had to be Shiva. Who else would drop everything they’re doing just so that they could accompany her to the doctor? Who else would be willing to walk along the sandy shores of the beach for hours on end in complete silence, but still feel as if they had the best conversation of their life?

She untangled her hands from his hair and lightly trailed her fingers down his cheek.

“Mere bina reh legi?” He asked, out of breath. She shook her head. “Toh phir chal mere saath.”

“Tu jaanta hai na ki mein nahi jaa sakti.”

Shiva slid his hands around her bare waist and pulled her forward so that their hips connected. “Mere saath chal Raavi.”

“Shiva.” She groaned, clutching at his collar.

Shiva leaned down and kissed along her neck just the way she liked. Raavi moaned when he nipped at her collarbone and caressed her waist with his hot palms. The mark he was going to leave against her skin was nothing compared to the one he managed to create in her life.

Cupping his face, she kissed him again. Every fiber of her being wanted to heed his words and go wherever he would take her. But the rational part of her that demanded she stand up for her self-respect refused to listen.

“Raavi!” Rohan yelled as he pounded hard against the door.

Raavi broke the kiss with heated gasps. She was surprised to see Shiva’s face and clothes were smudged by the henna that should have been adorning her hands. She gazed at him with fearful eyes. Given their state, there was no way the marriage would carry forward.

“Shiva mein-” She spoke in a panic but was immediately shushed by Shiva.

The loud knocking persisted but Shiva ignored it. “Unn sab ko bhool ja Raavi aur mujhe haan kar.”

“Tu jaanta hai ki mein kyun nahi kar sakti.” She flinched when her name was called out again. “Mujhe tere se koi problem nahi hai Shiva.” She cupped his face. “Mein abhi, issi waqt tere saath jaane ke liye tayyar hoon, bas uss ghar mein nahi jaa sakti.”

“Toh tu kissi se bhi shaadi kar legi?”

“Karni par rahi hai Shiva kyunki tu apna ghar nahi chod sakta.” She cried. When he looked away, she turned his face back to her. “Meri baat maan Shiva. Hum dono khud ka ek ghar le lete hai. Tu jitni marzi apni family se milte rehna aur mein apni. Hum dono ko ek dusre ki personal life mein interfere karni ki zaroorat nahi hogi.”

“Raavi tu jaanti hai ki mein aise nahi jee sakta.”

She dropped her hands away from him. “Toh phir mere bina jee le.”

“Raavi open the damn door! Wahan andar kya hora hai!” Rohan yelled.

Raavi moved past Shiva to sit on her bed. Shiva once again crouched before her and held her hands.

“Raavi mein, mein tere bina,” He licked his lips and tried to collect his words but failed.

“Mein kissi se shaadi nahi karungi.” Raavi announced with a heavy sadness in her voice.

Shiva hung his head and she felt his teardrops fall on her clasped hands. “I’m sorry Raavi.”

Raavi cried as well.

Sniffling, Shiva raised his head and removed the gold plated Shiv Rudra and Trishul pendant that hung from his neck. He carefully clasped it around hers and said, “Tu Shiva ke bina kabhi nahi jeeyegi. Mujhe thoda sa waqt de Raavi. Jab naya ghar kharidne ke paise mil jayenge, Somnath ki kasam, mein ussi din tere se shaadi kar lunga. Koi aur saath de ya na de, mujhe isse koi farq nahi parta.”

Before she could burst into tears, Raavi hugged him. The pounding on the door persisted and her name was being called by multiple people outside. Raavi couldn’t find it in herself to respond back to any of them. All she could think of was the future that her love was finally going to work hard to create for her.

Raking her hands against his scalp, Raavi kissed Shiva.

Once again her marriage was broken due to a case of infidelity. Once again her family will have to bear the taunts of gossiping members living in the neighborhood.

“Shiva, tu sab ke samne mujhe apna sakta hai? Badnami toh already bahut ho chuki hai but agar tu mujhe apnaye ga, thodi kam lagegi.”

“Hey,” he consoled with a kiss on her lips, “tu jahan bhi kahe, jiske samne kahe, sab ko seena taan kar keh dunga - yeh meri Raavi hai. Na aankh utha kar dekhna aur nahi zubaan tez chala kar. Varna Somnath ki kasam, seedhe narak pahuncha dunga.”

Raavi laughed at his cheeky smile.

With a peck to the corner of her mouth, he hugged her. “Vaada karta hoon Raavi. Mein tujhe akele nahi chodne wala.”

Raavi knew there was nothing less than a storm waiting for them on the opposite side of the door. Rather than opening it to face it head on, Raavi returned Shiva’s embrace to gain as much strength as she could from him. As for the promise he made, she etched it into every breath she took so that she could remember exactly what it was that she was living for.