Started this off as a drabble, now it's an OS. Enjoy!
...
Raavi watched as Shiva stepped closer to Disha, helping her fly a kite she was failing miserably at. Or at least pretending to.
He kept his chin on her shoulder, as he helped her fly the kite. Suddenly, some other kid slashed their kite and it went flying away. Raavi saw Disha pout at their loss, and Shiva turned her around by her shoulders.
He kept his hands on the side of her face, said something inaudible to Raavi, and leant forward to kiss her.
Just as their lips were about to touch-
"MERE SHIVA SE DOOR HATT, DAYAN!" Raavi shrieked, getting up with a jerk and gasping for breath.
She kept her palm against her chest, where she could feel her heart beating rapidly against it, as she blinked a few times, making sense of her surroundings.
She was not on the terrace, there was no Disha, and it was 11:11 PM right now, to be exact.
It was a dream. No. It was a nightmare. A horrible one, she saw exactly at 11:11. The time which she believed, the universe makes any wish you ask for come true.
"Nahi, nahi Raavi. Tu tension mat le. Ye wala sapna tune mann se nahi maanga tha. Sacch nahi hoga ye." She murmured to herself, walking from the aangan to the kitchen and grabbing herself a glass of water, taking a huge swig of it.
Just then, she heard the windows creak. She knew it would be Shiva, since he has given her this heart attack before. But just to be sure, she walked towards the sound with a broom in her hand.
It was him. He looked miserably tired from all the work he had to do at the store due to Diwali. Raavi had walked to the store in the afternoon, and he worked without a single nap. Awake since 4 AM, restocking the load, going out of the way to wish the labourers a happy diwali, putting on a smile for the extra crowd that visited the store, tallying the receipts and bills at the end of the day.
All because the other three brothers simply chose to spend Diwali at home instead.
So, even during festivals he didn't come home. Raavi had gone to the store today to spend some time with him, given that he refused to come home to celebrate, saying that there are so many other smaller houses that will want to celebrate Diwali, and if he didn't sit here, they wouldn't be able to.
She didn't understand what he meant, but in a few minutes, she did. Raavi watched, as a few of the families that weren't well-off, who lived on the other side of town, had come down and stopped in front of the store.
Shiva's face lit up with a smile, a smile that he didn't have to fake, as he pulled out a bag of sweets, hot and packed meals and gifts from behind the counter and walked outside. All from his own pocket.
One by one, he gave them the meals and gifts, hugging them all and wishing them a happy diwali. One little girl even came forward and gave him a thank-you kiss on his cheek.
Raavi's heart melted at the sight. Shiva didn't show it, he never did, but he cared. He cared a lot about people. So much that instead of sitting at home and enjoying diwali ki chutti with family, he was at the store, spending Diwali with strangers he'd probably see only next year again.
She walked over next to him and helped distribute everything, even getting a compliment from one of the little guys about how pretty she was. Raavi chuckled, and when the boy asked who she was, Shiva simply replied "Meri biwi."
The older couples blessed them with love and prosperity, and they bent to touch their feet together. After they all had left, he led her back into the store, holding her pinky finger, to light the diyas, since it was evening and it had already become dark.
Raavi was touched. Not at Shiva's behaviour towards others. But with the way he behaved with her today. She truly felt like she was married to him today.
The way he announced that she was his wife, called her to light the diyas together, spent time with her at the store inspite of it being a festival day, didn't make it seem like they were getting divorced in 3 days. At all.
The thought of their divorce brought back their happy memories, and sad feeling to her being. She knew that if they went through with it, it would break her heart much more than how it did on their wedding day. And she knew exactly why.
Brushing aside her thoughts and wanting to enjoy these last moments, this bubble of serenity away from prying eyes of the world with him, she took out the small steel box she had brought from home.
"Ye kya hai?" Shiva asked, pointing towards it.
"Tere liye halwa banake laayi hu. Moong dal ka halwa. Tera favourite." Raavi's face was graced with a soft smile, and Shiva smiled back at her with a million dollar smile that was to die for.
Suddenly, Raavi heard a shrill "SHIVAAAA!" as she saw her enter. That bitch. Disha.
Shiva and Raavi stared at her with a look that meant "Please leave us alone" but she didn't catch the hint, as she thrust a yellow tupperware tiffin box in his hand.
"Ye le, teri favourite halwa banake aayi hu tyohar ke din. Moong dal. Apne haathon se banaya hai maine." Disha beamed at him.
And just like that the bubble popped. Raavi was brought back to reality. Which grounded her from Cloud 9, as she realised that she won't hold these rights on him in 72 hours.
72 hours was all she had, what with this witch coming and taking away the few moments she got with him.
Raavi's face loomed with sadness, a sadness she didn't want to explain, neither to herself nor to Shiva, who was looking at her with a face of "Please save me" which she completely missed.
"Happy Diwali, Shiva." Raavi wished him without looking him in the eye, placed the steel tiffin on the counter and left without another a word.
What happened after that, she doesn't know and she didn't want to. All she wanted to do was bask in the warmth of those few moments she spent with Shiva on her first Diwali as a married couple.
Raavi broke out of her thoughts, and saw Shiva take off his shirt and vest, and slump down on the bed, sleep immediately taking over.
He was so exhausted, he didn't put off the light or turn on the fan. He didn't even change out of his jeans.
Raavi switched on the fan for him, and was about to turn off the light, when she heard the door bell.
It was literally 11:22 in the night, who would come at this hour? Raavi walked over and opened the door.
That witch.
"Hi Raavi! Tum abhi tak jaagi ho? Mai Shiva se milne aayi thi, I saw usne khidki se jump maari thodi der pehle" Disha barged in unannounced and it took Raavi 3 seconds to process what she said and ran in front of her.
"Disha, raat bohot ho chuki hai, aur Shiva abhi soya hai thodi der pehle. Usse mat jagaao, woh bohot gussa ho jaayega." Raavi tried to make her understand, but Disha just moved her aside and began walking towards his room.
"Mai jo bolne aayi hu na, woh sunke Shiva bohot khush ho jaayega. Tum so jaao." Disha countered.
"Arre par woh thak ke ghar lauta hai, sote insaan ko-"
"Offo Raavi, tum Shiva ko zyaada jaanti ho ya mai? Mat roko. Woh mujhe kuch nahi bolega, mere announcement ke baad toh bilkul nahi." Disha pestered, and Raavi gave up.
Sher ke muh mein haath daalne ka itna shauk hai toh daalo. Mere paas rote hue mat aana.
Raavi walked away, and settled herself of the cot, obviously not getting sleep. She was constantly looking at his room, to hear some sort of uproar. But she heard none. And it broke her that she couldn't stop that chipku chaman.
Just as she was about to shut her eyes, a loud "TERA DIMAAG KHARAB HO GAYA HAI KYA DISHA?" came from his room and she was up and running, knowing why.
That witch.
...
Disha stood at the doorstep and admired Shiva. He was asleep soundly, just in his jeans and nothing else.
It was a sight she'd love to view for the rest of her life.
She inched closer to him and shook him gently, calling out to him. She had great news to give him. But he slept like a log.
Disha was sure he'd forgive her for waking him up like this, after hearing the announcement. So she grabbed the nearest jug and sprinkled some water on his face, evidently startling him awake.
"Bhencho-" Shiva yelled, only to come face to face with Disha, who was gawking at him as if her eyes would pop out this instant.
Still half asleep, he noticed her eyes wander down his body. He frowned until he realised he had taken off his vest and fallen asleep.
Cheap lady. He felt disgusted.
Shiva reached out for the vest that was lying at the far corner of the bed, and wore it hastily, rubbing his palms against his eyes.
"Tu? Yaha? Iss waqt?" Shiva squinted, eyes getting used to the light.
"Haa. Tujhe surprise dene aayi thi." She beamed at him.
"Ye kal nahi ho sakta tha? Aur maine tujhse kaha tha na-" Shiva began, but Disha cut him off.
"Mera birthday hai 4 din mein."
Shiva looked at her, as if she was crazy. His blood began to boil. "Ye batane ke liye tu aayi aadhi raat ko?"
"Haa. Tumhe mujhe 12 baje wish karna hoga, bata rahi hu. Papa ne humari sagai ki date mere birthday pe fix ki hai, tumhara talaaq 3 din mein ho jaayega, fir hum sagai-"
"TERA DIMAAG KHARAB HO GAYA HAI KYA DISHA?!" Shiva yelled, getting up from the bed.
Shiva seethed at the woman standing on front of him. No. Daayan standing in front of him. Who did she think she was, giving herself so much right in his life which he certainly had no interest in giving himself.
He saw Raavi run into the room, but right now, he was mad. Livid. His eyes burnt with lack of sleep, and he couldn't think straight.
"Ye batane ke liye tune aadhi raat ko aake mujhe neend se uthaya? HAA?!" He yelled, making Disha flinch.
He walked towards her, and she walked back, such that she was walking backwards to exit the room.
"Shiva, Shiva shaant ho jaa." Raavi put herself between them, facing Shiva with her palms on his chest.
"Tu kya koi hoor pari hai, jo mai tera birthday yaad rakhu, 12 baje tak jaag ke wish karu, ya phir bechain ho jaau ye soch ke ki tujhe wish karu ya nahi?!" He pointed at Disha, not moving Raavi aside.
He knew that if he did, hell would break loose. Raavi was the water to his fire. The cloud on his sunny day. The calm to his raging storm.
"Ye sab na, maine sirf ek insaan ke liye kiya hai, aur woh ye chipkali hai, samjhi?" Shiva pointed at Raavi this time, and she was shocked. He had wanted to call her at 12? And was restless about it?
"Apne aap ko iss ki jagah dene ki koshish mat karna mere life mein. Mai tujhe woh jagah kabhi nahi dunga. KABHI NAHI!" He yelled, making Disha flinch again.
"Tujhe shaam ko kaha tha na, jab tu store mein aayi thi, ki mai tujh me BILKUL INTERESTED NAHI HU. Toh kyu peeche padi hai mere? Aur ye kya sagai, shaadi laga rakha hai, MERI SHAADI HO CHUKI HAI."
"TOOTNE BHI WAALI HAI!" Disha yelled back, finding her voice.
Raavi had to use all her strength to hold Shiva back, she literally had both her arms wrapped around his dhai kilo ka haath, putting in all efforts to stop him from lunging at this witch.
"Nahi tootegi. Ab kya? KYA KAR LEGI TU? SHAADI SHUDA MARD PE DORE DAALEGI? Abhi bhi wahi kar rahi hai. Isliye, isse pehle mera dimag satke aur mai tujhe uthake ghar se fek du, tu watak idhar se. Chal." Shiva snapped his fingers, motioning for her to get lost.
Raavi knew he was at his breaking point. If Disha didn't disappear within 5 seconds, Shiva would rain down on her, in a fury that will awaken everyone on the house. That will be a whole different drama.
Disha did not disappear in 5 seconds. She stood rooted to her spot, having witnessed Shiva's anger for the first time.
"TU JAATI HAI KI-" Shiva lunged forward, but was pushed back by a slight force and her arms around his neck, her voice cooing in his ears.
Raavi wrapped her arms around Shiva's neck, and hugged him closer to herself, "Chod na, Shiva. It's okay. Shaant ho jaa." Raavi whispered in his ears, one hand ruffling through his hair and the other rubbing down his back in an attempt to calm him.
Shiva felt like he was home. He was, literally. But in her arms, he felt the most at home. She truly was the calm to his storm.
And just like the Marshmallow Man lost his icicle spines after wearing Elsa's crown in Frozen, Shiva lost the temper he had built up for so long.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and buried head into her neck, as she whispered for him to calm down.
"Kaise shant ho jaau? Usne meri neend kharab kar di." He whined and mumbled against her skin which made Raavi giggle.
She broke the hug and placed both her palms on the side of his face, "Ab tu good boy jaise so jaa. Go." She nodded towards the bed. "Mai Disha ko bahar tak chod ke aati hu."
Shiva pulled her back into a hug, nuzzling his face into the crook of her neck again, "Koi zaroorat nahi hai. Tu bas mujhe aise hug kar." He whined like a petulant child.
It took Raavi exactly 2 seconds of convincing and Shiva slumped down on the bed, grumbling and mumbling a lot of things.
Raavi peeped out of the room, to find Disha no where. From the corner of her eye, she saw Disha leave the house from the main door, so Raavi went behind her to lock it.
"Disha!" Raavi called out, standing at the door step, wanting to give her some comforting words.
But then she remembered everything Disha put her through every time she was a chipku chaman to Shiva. Right from the kiss to zabardasti wanting to build a relationship with him.
So she did the only thing she deserved:
"Good-bye."
Slamming the door shut on her face, a sense of accomplishment coursing through her veins, she peeped back into Shiva's room, only to find him anything but asleep.
He was tossing and turning in irritation, eyes forced shut, mumbling god-knows-what. Raavi walked over to his bedside, and she heard a few words of his tirade.
"Daayan ladki, meri neend haraam karke chali gayi."
Raavi snickered and was about to leave, but she had different plans.
"Shiva." She gently called out to him, and he turned to face her, still sleeping on his stomach.
"Kya hai?" He gruffly asked.
"Sarak."
"Kyu?"
"Sarak na!"
Shiva shifted himself to the side, and Raavi sat down, back supported by the head rest, legs stretched out in front of her. She simply looked at Shiva with a softness she only felt around him.
"Moorti ki tarah kyu baith gayi?" Shiva pouted at her, hitting his head on the mattress continuously in hopes that sleep will enter his brain magically.
She patted her thighs, motioning for him to rest his head on her lap. Shiva just stared at her, his anger-driven, sleep-induced brain taking time to process her offer.
Taking his silence as rejection, Raavi once again felt that feeling wash over her, that this relationship was reaching a dead end.
Few minutes back, she had a bit of hope, from the way he spoke, the way he calmed down in her arms. That tiny spark of hope.
She almost got up to leave, but he tugged her back gently by her wrist, placing his head on her lap, facing away from her face, because that was his comfy side.
Raavi smiled, and ran her fingers through his hair, lulling him to sleep.
Shiva felt at home. All over again. This was right. It was right in every sense. This level of comfort and intimacy, he didn't want to share with anyone apart his Raavi. He never wanted to share this with anyone. It was their little bubble of serenity.
Within a few minutes he was knocked out, snoring softly in her arms. He looked adorable while sleeping. Raavi couldn't help but bend forward and kiss his head, murmuring a small, "Goodnight, mere bhootu." before dozing off to sleep herself.
Shiva and Raavi would later find themselves in tangle, such that Shiva rested his cheek on her chest, arm over her stomach, while Raavi snuggled him closer to her, making him the little spoon.
Come sunrise, Raavi would realise that Shiva would give her much more time than 72 hours to enjoy their moments and make new memories.
How long? A lifetime.
.....
Credits to Inny for 'bhootu' because I found it so damn cute <3
Kumkum Bhagya
Tu Dhadkan Main Dil
