Asmaani Jodi, Shiva aur Raavi : A Series - (Chpt 3 - pg 7- updated) - Page 5

This is so beautiful Rooh❤️

Loved this series

Originally posted by: VNuts

Chapter 2 -

The tree has indeed seen Shiva across his phases. But the fact that he took Raavi there when he took no one else... Sigh!

And I loved how you wove the aam and mirchi with the tree. The two little ones eating aam, and one carrying a mirchi packet for the other.

Loved it! Looking forward to the next part. ❤️

Aww I'm so glad you liked both the parts ❤️🤗

replying to only this comment coz newbies have posting limits hehe

Originally posted by: Prizi

Loved it

Pl try to update soon

thank you, its updated ❤️

Originally posted by: sillysatchel

Love this Rooh <3

thank you Kaagaz 🤗

Originally posted by: Saakshi2k

This is so beautiful Rooh❤️

Loved this series

Aww thank you so much ☺️❤️

Originally posted by: Butterflybot

Rooh, this is so beautiful ❤️❤️

Loved it....❤️

Looking forward to the next update

Thank you ❤️

next part is updated 🤗

This is so beautiful Rooh..❤️

Absolutely loved it

This was wonderful. Raavi's interactions with something, someone who has always been Shiva's.

And I loved all three of Raavi's visits, each in a different phase. But she always visits looking for him in some manner. The first time in hopelessness and longing, the second in fear and worry, and the third time with love and life full of memories. ❤️

Looking forward to the next one!

loved it, roooohi ❤️

(and yeah I was just trying out this new IF feature heheheh)

Here's the next part to this story, not proof read, please ignore any mistakes 🥱

3. A forgotten promise

It was a pleasant evening, the tourist thought, as she sat by the tea stall waiting. She almost smiled when she saw him coming. The ‘him’ in question was a man she met back when she was in search of the story of the two people she’s grown so interested in. She kept hitting all the dead ends after her encounter with the tree. She still wasn't completely sure that had even happened. She almost gave up, but then one day, she hit the jackpot.

She had entered a store and there among the aisles she saw something she dreaded the most. Almost screaming, she grabbed onto the closest thing she could find to shield herself. The closest thing being a shirt, which she discovered a second later was attached to a person.

Embarrassed but still scared out of her wits, she muttered, “Sorry, sorry, there’s a li..lizard there, I really hate lizards.” In reply the man she was holding onto laughed loudly, almost angry she looked up. The moment she did, he stopped laughing and said, “Sahi kaha aapne chipkali to hai” Everything including her anger was forgotten, “Kaha, kaha hai chipkali?"

"Yaha mere samne aise jo aap chipki hui hai mujhse chipkali hi hui na", he smirked

Irritated she replied, “haha, very funny, aapko kya main raavi dikhti hoon jo aap mujhe chipkali bula rahe hai”

She witnessed his eyes lighting up, the way this town & its people often lit up at the mention of the couple. “To aap humari asmaani jodi ke baare main jaanti hai? Aapko pehle to kabhi nahi dekha aayi kaha se hai aap?”

Thinking this was her opportunity to find out more about Shiva-Raavi, she decided to tell this person why she was here. After listening to her story, her interest in the asmaani jodi, the man said “Aap ko kahaaniya chahiye unki? Mere paas itni saari hai ki, umar nikal jaayegi par kahaaniya khatam nahi hogi”

“To kya aap mujhe…” she started

“Ha ha, lekin uske liye aapko mujhe pehle apna naam batana hoga” he said

Remembering his behavior from earlier, she decided she’d have a little fun too. “Mera naam jaana zaroori nahi hai, waise bhi kehte hai na, naam main rakha kya hai”

“Naam main hi to sab rakha hai madam, naam se naam judhte hai tab hi to kahaaniya banti hai. Khair, ek kaam karte hai, main aapko mere paas jitni hai utni saari kahaaniya baant dunga, aur jab saari kahaaniya khatam ho jaaye, aap mujhe apna naam bata dena”

“Ek naam ke liye itni mehnat?” She chuckled

"Aapko kahaniya chahiye ya nahi? Yehi deal hai phir” he said extending his hand

After a moment she shook his hand, sealing the weird deal. “Yeh sab to theek hai par, aapka naam kya hai?"

“Agar main aapko apna naam bata doon to yeh to naainsaafi ho jaayegi na, jis din mujhe aapka naam pata chalega us din aapko mera bata dunga. Tab tak” he thought for a moment “Tab tak main aapko Musafir aur aap mujhe Ajnabi bula lijiye. Iss store ke bahaar jo chai ki tapri hai waha do din baad, shaam ek Awaari si Musafir ko dhundte hue aa jaayega yeh Ajnabi apni kahaaniyo ka pitara liye”

Saying this the man walked away.

And that's how she found a name for her identity in this town ‘Musafir’ and ended up at this tea stall on a cool evening.

The man, ajnabi, the name he had given himself, approached her extending a piece of paper, he said “Yeh aapki pehli kisht hai, aap padhiye tab tak main humare liye yaha ki sabse best chai lekar…”

She had already stopped listening, opening the piece of paper hastily she started reading,

‘A forgotten promise’

It was a slow afternoon at Pandya Store. Darshan Pandya was using this time to go over the accounts, when suddenly a little girl came running into the store and hid behind the counters, right where Darshan was sitting. He smiled looking down at her tiny head, "Raavi”, extending his hand to caress her head lovingly, “Yaha aise kyu chup rahi ho beta, wapas jagda hua Shiva se?”

Everyone knew about the constant fights these two inseparable little ones had. Initially concerning, now it was just amusing once they all realized this was just the way they were, before you could try to make peace between Shiva-Raavi, they had already made up and were on to some other mischief together. It was almost fascinating to watch how, if no one interfered in their fights, they’d always find their way back to each other.

Right now it seemed like it was one of those times where they were clearly at war, as Raavi got up from her hiding spot, pouting, “Dekho na kaka, aapka beta hamesha mujhe pareshan karta rehta hai, abhi mujhe ghusse main dhamki de raha tha isliye main bhaag ke aayi hoon idhar. Mujhe to apni school bag ghar pe rakhne bhi nahi mila.” Raavi complained as she took her place on Darshan’s lap, as she often did when she came to the store, learning to do so from his son Shiva, they’d even fought about this multiple times with them ending up sitting on the space on either of his sides.

“Oho, Aisa kya ho gaya, aur aaj tu akele aa gayi Shiva nahi aaya?” asked Darshan

None of his sons seemed as attached to the store as Shiva was, and as usual Raavi followed suit. So when in the store, Darshan would end up spending a lot of his time with Shiva and Raavi. Being the sole breadwinner to a family of 6, he could barely get his time with his family. So when these two spent most of their time here, sometimes, causing a ruckus, Darshan could never find it in his heart to send them away. He gave them small tasks when they insisted, and made sure they completed their schoolwork. Sometimes they'd play outside the store during the rush hour. This was such a common occurrence that his wife, Suman would often bring them food along with his lunch.

“Shiva, school main bahut badmaashi kar rha tha teacher ne usse bahut daant lagayi, maine ye sab Suman Kaki ko jaakar bataya to kaaki usse daantne lag gayi. To wo mujhse ghussa ho gya. Ab meri isme kya galti, saari galti uski aur ghussa mujhpe kar raha tha. To main bhaagke aayi, magar usse kaaki ne rok liya” Raavi chatted away, as she took a paper and pencil from the counter to doodle.

Darshan wasn't too worried about Shiva, he was the brightest of his sons. He was a troublemaker sometimes, but would always end up with the highest marks in class. Watching Shiva grow up with him in this store was the greatest joys of his life.

Pulling him out of his thoughts Raavi said “Kaka aap ne khaana kha liya? Aap do din se kitna late khaana kha rhe hai, maasi kehti hai time pe khaana na khao to petu main gadbad ho jaati hai, phir tabiyat kharab ho jaati hai”

He could only smile and nod at the innocent concern in Raavi’s question.

Along with Shiva, he also had the pleasure of watching this little girl grow up. In the couple of years since the kids started camping at the store, Darshan had grown extremely fond of Raavi, she seemed to fit right into their life, especially Shiva’s.

A daughter he had wished for, “Tujhe pata hai raavi mujhe humesha se ek beti chahiye thi, par dekho to itne saare pagaal bete de diye Baba Somnath ne” earning a giggle from Raavi, “Agar meri beti hoti na, to mujhe lagta hai, bilkul teri tarah hoti, phir to tu humesha aise hi humare saath reh paati”

Raavi almost jumping in her place with excitement, “Kitna mazza aata agar main aap hi ke ghar main rehti aap sabke saath, Shiva aur main kitni masti karte. Abhi to maasi aane nahi degi, par jab main badi ho jaaungi na to aapke ghar pe hi aake rahungi.”

“Par tu humare ghar rahegi kaise Raavi? Bade hoke to ladkiya apne sasural chali jaati hai”, Putting Raavi in a deep thought, Darshan decided to tease her a little, “Ek kaam karna tu badi ho jaayegi na to mere beto main se kisise shaadi kar lena aur aa jaana mere ghar theek hai na?”

Raavi, seemingly satisfied with this solution nodded and went back to her drawing. Darshan probed further, “Par tu shaadi karegi kisse, krish, dev?”

To which Raavi distracted with her drawing said, “Shiva”

“Tu Shiva se shaadi karegi Raavi? Par wo to tujhe kitna tang karta hai?”

Raavi stopped colouring and looked up wided eyed, “Maine aisa kab kaha, main uss gadhede se koi shaadi-waadi nahi karne waali”

Darshan tried to controlled his laughter at Raavi’s expressions, “Sahi baat hai, nahi karna theek hai, tum usse shaadi bilkul bhi, lekin ab yeh drawing ho gayi ho to thodi padhai bhi kar lo, teacher ne kya kaam diya hai aaj wo poora nahi karna?”

Raavi let out a dramatic sigh, "Karna hai na, warna maasi mujhe daant degi, yeh padhai karne ki kya zaroorat hai Kaka, agar maasi itna na daanti to main kabhi padhai nahi karti, mujhe nahi pasand"

Darshan smiled wisely and said "Aise nahi kehte Raavi, padhai, vidya bahut zaroori hoti hai, zindagi main sab kuch humse liya ja sakta hai, par vidya ek aisa dhan hai jo kabhi koi humse cheen nahi sakta. Padhai kabhi kisi ke dar se ya maasi ki daant se bachne ke liye nahi karte, padhai humesha khud ke liye karni chahiye, apne sapno ke liye padhna chahiye, Samjhi?"

Raavi nodded wide-eyed not completely understanding the importance of it all and then said after a moment's thought

"Pan kaka, aap yeh baat Shiva ko bhi samjho na wo itni masti karta hai kisi ki nahi sunta"

Darshan, sometimes was amused at how all of Raavi's thoughts seem to revolve around Shiva

"Wo bhi jab yaha aata hai to main usse bhi to homework karwaata hoon, aur Shiva ke number to ache bhi aate hai"

“Par wo to yaha ki baat hai na, aap to school main nahi hote, waha to halla machaye rakhta hai Shiva, agar teacher ne usse school se nikal diya to wo padhai kaise karega?"

Darshan realised Raavi had a point, although Shiva got good grades, he could be too destructive for his own good. He would need to teach his boy how important education is and nothing is worth putting his education at stake for.

"Bolo na kaka, phir Shiva ka kya hoga?", chimed Raavi

"Tu fikar mat kar kuch nahi hoga, ek kaam karte hai hum ek deal karte hai" he said "Jabhi Shiva aisa kuch karega aur main waha na hua, to tu usse samjha dena, jaise maine tujhe abhi samjhaya tha?"

"Pan Kaka, Shiva meri kaha sunta hai, jab dekho manmaani karta hai" whined little Raavi

"Arey aise kaise nahi sunta, ek tu hi to hai jo apni baat usse manwa sakti hai, Shiva ziddi hai to humari Raavi bhi kuch kam hai kya? hmm?" pacified Darshan

"Waise yeh bhi sahi hai, main to Shiva se bhi jyada ziddi hoon, aap dekhna, main kaise uski class lungi" Raavi declared

"Dekh ha Raavi, bhool to nahi jaayegi na?"

"Mere saare promises pakke waale hote hai, Raavi ka koi bhi promise khaali nahj jaata" Raavi said proudly

“Theek hai phir”, darshan extended his hand “Deal Pakki?”

"Ekdum pakki" extending her little hands to shake his.

Chal phir abhi dekh log dukaan main aana shuru ho jaayenge, tu jaldi se bhaagke andar jaa, Shiva aayega to main usse bhi andar bhej dunga. Aur main andar aane tak saara school ka kaam khatam ho jaana chahiye,theek hai?

"Jee Kaaka", saying this raavi hopped off Darshan's lap and ran into the storeroom

As the customers started pouring in, Shiva entered the store too, he looked angry.

As soon as darshan saw him coming he said

“Shiva jaa andar, Raavi bhi hai waha dono baithke homework karlo chalo” although angry Shiva Knew better than to argue with his father. Darshan watched his son go and got his attention back to the customers.

He could here their faint little voices occasionally and gathered that they were fighting, Raavi seemingly kept insisting that Shiva should study and Shiva angry with her and the world because of his teacher was refusing to do so

“Shiva, dekh main keh rhi hoon tujhe padhna hi padega”

“Ae, gadhedi main kyu sunu teri baat, maine koi padhai nahi karni aur uss teacher ka to homework main bilkul nahi karunga…”

“Shiva dekh…”

Hearing these snippets of their conversation, darshan decided to talk to Shiva about his behavior, once the customers went away. It was an hour or two before the store was empty again. He went to check on the kids and mainly talk to Shiva, when he was met with an extremely adorable sight.

Sitting against the wall, at their makeshift study, with a little table for them to write on, Raavi had seemingly fallen asleep while studying. With a book open in her left hand and her head on Shiva’s shoulder. While Shiva did not seem to mind this at all, with his face focused, brows furrowed, was trying to write something in his book. Just as Darshan was about to approach them he heard Raavi mutter in her sleep, “Dekh shiva jab tak tu padhai poori nahi kar leta, main tujhe jaane nahi dungi.”

To which Shiva made a face and simply said, “Chipkali kahi ki” before going back to studying. This was when Darshan noticed, Raavi was clutching on to Shiva’s shirt with her right hand. He guessed what might have happened because Shiva wouldn't study, Raavi might have held onto him refusing to let go and that maybe that's how she had fallen asleep on his shoulder.

Giving them one last look, he smiled fondly and left to go back to the counter. He might need to talk to Shiva about his behavior soon, but right now he and his studies were taken care of.

And so it happened they say, years later, long after Shiva-Raavi married, long after Shiva had left his education for reasons only he knew. Raavi kept a forgotten promise, she had innocently made to a father once. To make Shiva study, echoing the wise words she had heard from Darshan once, “Khud ke liye padh, apne sapno ke liye padh”.

Following that Raavi had made sure shiva had everything he needed for his education. They say she’d often work long hours at the store, manage everything, just to make sure Shiva had ample amount of time to study.

On one such evening Raavi had entered Pandya Niwas, tired from the day's work. She entered their room, to find notes and books all over the bed, but Shiva was nowhere to be found. Raavi finally found him in the kitchen making tea.

“Arey Chipkali aa gayi tu? Aaja main apne liye chai bana raha tha, tere liye bhi bana deta hoon.” he said adding another cup of water to the mix.

“Shiva maine kitni baar kaha hai, padhai karte waqt utha mat kar, agar chai chahiye thi to Dhara di ya kisi aur se keh dete na.”, raavi scolded

“Dekh chipkali aate hi daant mat laga, bhabhi ya koi aur ghar pe nahi hai, aur rishita bhabhi ki chai peeunga to mere results to aayenge par hospital ke tests ke” Shiva snickered

“Shiva, aise mat bol, usne sun liya na to ghar sar pe utha legi, aur yeh chai-wai chod main bana laati hoon hum dono ke liye.” Raavi said, slightly pushing Shiva towards the door.

“Arey, tu bhi to thaki hogi na, main bana leta hoon bas thodi time ki to baat hai” Shiva insisted

With hands on her hip, eyes narrowed, Raavi said “Maine kitni baar kaha hai, study time ke saath no compromises, tu jaata hai ki main maa ko bulake unse daant lagau?”

"Tu dhamki kisko de rhi hai” Shiva started

"Tujhe, aur mujhe pata hai yeh dhamki kaam bhi karti hai, ab to jaata hai ki main…”

Shiva made a face before muttering as he walked away “Ha ha theek hai theek hai, aayi badi, jab dekho padhai padhai padhai”

An hour or so later when Suman came out of her room, wondered why there was no noise in the house. Remembering, no one was home but Shiva, she went to his room, to check if he needed anything, food or tea while studying, only to witness an adorable sight. Shiva sat studying on the bed munching on snacks, while Raavi had fallen asleep on his shoulder with an empty tea cup in her hand.

Suman suddenly remembered a long forgotten story Darshan had told her years ago, of a similar sight he had witnessed of little Raavi and Shiva. Suman decided to let them be, just as she was leaving, she heard Raavi mutter something along the lines of, “Aaj yeh chapter poora ho jaana chahiye warna main tujhe chodungi nahi”

To which Shiva simply uttered a faint “Chipkali” before going back to reading his notes. Suman smiled fondly, with this sight in her mind, thinking how happy her husband would’ve been if he were here to witness this. She wheeled her way back to her room, Shiva and his studies were taken care of.

Musafir, folded the piece of paper, only to find, the man, Ajnabi, staring at her. When she narrowed her eyes at him, he simply shifted from one bench to the other where she was sitting and extended a cup of tea, “Main aapke liye chai leke aaya tha, par aap uss kahaani main itni kho gayi thi ki main aapko disturb nahi kiya, magar yeh lijiye yaha ki best chai hai yeh”

Taking the cup from him, she realised it was almost dawn, deciding she could spare a little time, sat there and chatted away with this strange man with his stories, asking more about the one she had just read.

THE END

Hope you liked it, okay bye

Until next time ❤️