Shiva walked into Pandya Niwas whistling cheerily. He'd had a great day at work and had found himself another job that would pay a good sum of money. With a few more of such jobs, alongside the contribution from the side jobs Gaumbi and Dev had taken up, they would soon be able to repair Pandya Store. His family would finally be able to take a breath of relief. He sighed in contentment as his eyes wandered around quickly searching for a certain someone. He couldn't wait to tell her the good news. He stopped in the middle of the courtyard when he saw his mother.
Suman was knitting a cap for the soon-to-be new member of the Pandya family when she heard quick footsteps approaching her. She knew it was Shiva immediately. Looking up at him, she smiled knowingly when he greeted her and started looking around.
"Jissko tu dhoondh raha hai, woh rasode mein hai.”
“Kya ma...tu bhi...” Shiva trailed off, his cheeks turning pink as he tried to hide the smile making its way onto his face.
“Chal chal, ma se kya chhupana, hein? Sab pata hai mujhe, main tum sab se shmart hoon.” Suman muttered, focusing on the yarn in her hand once again.
Shiva started to walk away hastily, eager to meet Raavi when Suman called out to him again. “Siva, sunn. Woh maarkundi gaay aaj kuch udaas si hai. Usse sambhal lena.”
Shiva looked at his mother with furrowed brows. “Udaas? Kyun? Kuch hua hai kya?”
“Woh toh mujhe bhi nahi pata. Jabse bazaar se ghar laut kar aayi hai, kuch khoyi khoyi si hai. Jab bhagodi ki beti ne poocha, toh bol diya ki kuch nahi hua par dekh kar toh aisa nahi lagta. Tu ja, ja kar dekh kya hua hai.”
Shiva walked away promptly, anxious to know what was bothering his chipkali. Whoever had upset her would have to sleep with one eye open that night. Shiva grumbled to himself as he walked, fisting his knuckles in the process. The more he thought about someone upsetting Raavi, the angrier he got. But as soon as he entered the kitchen, he was greeted with his favorite sight and thoughts of everyone and everything else flew away.
There she stood; his chipkali, his Raavi, moving swiftly around the kitchen with an enigmatic aura surrounding her. Her dupatta was wrapped around her waist to not become an obstacle for her as she moved around. Her hair was tied. Shiva frowned at this. She rarely tied her hair and when she did, something was usually wrong. She came to stand still when she had to turn over the vegetables cooking on the stove.
Taking this as his cue to move forward, Shiva snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He heard a gasp escape her mouth and his lips curved upwards on their own. He felt her hand coming to rest upon his and he leaned down to rest his chin on her shoulder.
“Kyun chipkali? Aaj kuch special hai, kya? Itna saara khaana?” Shiva asked.
“Woh...kuch nahi, Bas aise hi bana diya.” Raavi replied.
Shiva couldn’t help but notice the gloomy tone apparent in her voice. Hesitantly, he removed his arms from around her and turned her around, keeping his hands on her shoulder. He searched her eyes for any clue as to why she was upset, but Raavi looked away.
She wasn’t able to meet his eyes, knowing he would be hounding her with questions until he got the answer he was looking for.
“Kya hua hai tujhe?” Shiva asked softly.
“Kuch nahi.” Raavi answered.
“Insaan ko jab jhoot bolna nahi aata na, toh jhoot bolna hi nahi chahiye. Pann tu toh chipkali hai, soch rahi hogi ki mujhse jhoot bolkar bach jayegi.”
Raavi narrowed her eyes at him and huffed. “Main jhoot nahi bol rahi.”
“Toh yeh kaddu jaisa shakal lekar kyun khadi hai? Aur yeh baal kyun baandhe hue hai? Kuch toh hua hai. Maa bhi bol rahi thi ki tu jabse bazaar se lauti hai, udaas hokar ghum rahi hai.”
Raavi started to lie again when Shiva covered her mouth with his hand.
“Jhoot nahi sunna mujhe. Sach sach bol, kya hua hai? Kisini kuch kaha hai tujhse? Agar bola hai na, toh mujhse bata. Abhi unnka muh tod kar aata hoon. Meri chipkali ko satane ka haq sirf aur sirf mera hai.” Shiva remarked. He gently cupped her cheeks with his hands, his thumb drawing a circular pattern on them.
Raavi leaned into his touch and closed her eyes, welcoming the calmness that seeped into her being from his tender touch. They stood still, as if frozen in time, for a few seconds before Shiva intervened.
“Bol na chipkali, kya hua?”
“Kya bataun Shiva? Yahi ki main jab jab bahar jaati hoon, koi naya aakar mujhe kuch na kuch suna kar chala jata hai? Aur sahi bhi toh kehte hai woh, maine sab kuch barbaad kar diya. Hoon main panauti. Kuch theek se nahi hota mujhse.” Raavi whimpered.
Shiva let out an exasperated sigh. “Unnhone kaha aur tune maan liya? Tujhe maine, maa ne, bhabhi ne, sab ne samjhaya tha na. Tu panauti nahi hai. Halaat shayad humare favor mein nahi hai, pann isska yeh matlab nahi ki jo kuch bhi galat horaha hai ussko tu apne sar le le.”
“Par uss se sach toh nahi badalta, na? Accha kya kiya hai maine?” Raavi questioned gloomily; her eyes downcast with unshed tears and her hands now clutching onto Shiva’s collars for support.
Shiva felt a piercing ache in his heart. He loathed seeing her this way. And he also knew, that getting rid of this thinking Raavi had developed would take time, but he would do it. No matter what it takes, and however long it takes, he would make sure his Raavi would stop doubting herself.
“Tu chal mere saath, tujhe Somnath ki sair karata hoon.” Shiva declared, an idea striking him. Clasping her hand within his, he started tugging her along gently when Raavi stopped midway and shrugged his hand off.
“Shiva, kya kar raha hai? Mujhe itna saara kaam bacha hai, khaana banana bacha hai. Main nahi jarahi.” Raavi stated defiantly.
Shiva quirked his brows up in retaliation. “Khaana toh tune bahot saara bana diya hai toh aur ki zarurat nahi hai. Aur rahi baat bache hue kaam ki toh woh bhabhi kar legi. Filhal, tu mere saath chal. Aaj tujhe teri woh bike ride pe le chalta hoon. Tu kitne dinon se keh rahi thi na ki tujhe ek lambi drive pe jaana hai.”
“Shiva, mood nahi hai yeh sab ke liye. Please, kisi aur din.” Raavi pleaded.
“Nahi. Kisi aur din nahi. Tu aaj chalegi, abhi chalegi. Mujhe bahane dena band kar.”
“Shiva please, force mat kar na.” Raavi looked away, not having the heart to stare at him and say no. Any other day, she would have jumped at the chance of going on a long drive with Shiva, but today, she couldn’t get herself to go. Her mind was swirling with too many emotions for her to even think straight and she was afraid of blurting something that would hurt him.
“Tu chalti hai ya tujhe godh mein utha kar le chalun?” Shiva offered.
Raavi shook her head. “Tu aisa kuch nahi karega, Shiva. Jaane de na.”
“Dekh main toh yeh kar sakta hoon. Mere baaye haath ka khel hai. Woh baat alag hai ki hummein aangan mein se jaana padega aur udhar ma, Gaumbi, Dev, aur bhabhi sab hai. Unnhone dekh liya toh...chal koi baat nahi. Kaunsa gunah kar raha hoon main? Apni biwi ko toh leja raha hoon.” Shiva declared mischievously, stepping forward. His eyes looked at Raavi amused as he watched her walk backwards.
Raavi backed up all the way to the counter with widened eyes. “Dekh Shiva, tu sahi nahi kar raha hai...” Raavi tried to dissuade him, albeit halfheartedly. His enthusiasm was contagious and she knew he wasn’t going to give up now. The thought made her somewhat happy.
Sighing, she accepted his offer in defeat rather quickly when she saw Shiva take another step forward. “Nahi nahi, m-main chalti hoon na. Tu bhi na...” She let out a nervous laugh. “Iss sab ki zarurat nahi hai. Main apne pairon ka istemaal kar lungi.”
Raavi turned off the stove and checked the kitchen once more before nodding at Shiva, who was still waiting for her to get done with her work. He watched her like a hawk.
“Kya hai? Ghoor kyun raha hai?”
“Gochi mat dena, chipkali.” Shiva gestured animatedly with his hand.
Raavi thought he looked rather cute while doing that. She nodded along and replied. “Toh main jakar taiyyar hojati hoon.”
As she started walking past him, Shiva grabbed her hand and stopped her in her tracks. “Ae chipkali, ruk.”
Raavi looked at her hand in his grasp and then back at his face in confusion. “Shiva kya kar raha hai? Chhodh! Koi dekh lega.”
Shiva smirked in return, seeing her look at the kitchen doorway frantically. “Chinta kyun kar rahi hai? Koi nahi dekhega.” He leaned in closer to her and watched as her free hand came to rest on his forearm. She had closed her eyes in anticipation. He thought she looked adorable, but he had a task to complete first. He left the hand he was holding and moved his arm toward her back. He reached her ponytail in no time and slid the hair band holding it together, down in one smooth motion.
He chuckled seeing her open her eyes and the expectant look on her face morphing into disbelief when he slid her hair band around his wrist as if it were a bracelet.
“Baal khule rakhna, chipkali.” Shiva whispered, tucking a strand of loose hair which was now falling on her face, behind her ear.
He stepped aside only to have Raavi lunge towards him when she regained her composure. She had not expected him to loot her favorite hair band. “Shiva, woh meri hai! Waapas de.”
“Teri hai? Tera naam toh nahi likha isspe.” Shiva clicked his tongue, trying to rile her up.
“Shivaaa!” Raavi whined. “Kyun tang kar raha hai? Woh meri favorite wali hai. Waapas kar de na, please.”
“Tere paas itne saare toh hai. Yeh wali ab meri hai. Apni Raavi ki yeh nishani mein apne paas rakhunga.” Shiva added. He challenged Raavi to take it back but she made no move as such after his statement.
Raavi had visibly melted at his admission. It was almost too easy for Shiva to turn her into mush. Not fair at all. She looked at his wrist with a pout. She walked away slowly, admitting defeat. Once her bhoothnath had resolved to do something, there was no fighting with him.
Shiva watched Raavi’s retreating back and grinned victoriously. He had successfully managed to divert her attention with a silly argument. He looked at her hair band on his wrist and touched it gingerly, lost in his thoughts. Maybe, he could get the rest of her hair band collection as well just so she wouldn’t tie her hair again.
*****
Saying a quick goodbye to Suman, Shiva led Raavi outside towards the bike. He got on first and put on his helmet before beckoning Raavi to sit behind him. She sat down and gripped his shoulders, making Shiva frown.
“Yeh kya phoolkumari jaisi pakad rahi hai? Kas ke pakad.” Shiva muttered, grabbing her hands and wrapping them around his waist.
“Ab theek hai.” He said, his eyes crinkling with joy as he looked at Raavi through the side mirror. Their eyes met and he felt her tightening her hold around him. Giving her a nod, he took off towards their destination, while Raavi wondered where he could be taking her.
Thirty minutes later, they stood on the outskirts of a highway, facing a path leading into what looked like a jungle. Raavi gulped in fear and scooted closer to Shiva, coiling her hands around his arms.
“Shiva...yeh hum kahan aaye hai? Yahan toh dur dur tak kisi insaan ka thikana nahi hai.” Raavi spoke out loud, her eyes searching for anything and everything that she could find.
“Tu bhi kya pagal hai gadhedi. Yahan hum logon se dur hone ke liye aaye hai, unnke paas nahi. Chal, timepass karna band kar.” Shiva glanced at Raavi, watching her nibbling on her bottom lip anxiously.
“Darr mat. Mujhpe bharosa hai na?” Shiva asked, observing his chipkali’s adorable expressions.
Raavi’s eyes darted towards Shiva in no time. She watched him look at her expectantly, and her heart did a little flip at the intensity whirling through his deep brown orbs.
“Iss duniya mein mujhe tujhse zyada bharosa kisi pe nahi hai.” Raavi answered sincerely.
Hand-in-hand they walked through the path which was surrounded by trees and shrubs. It seemed like the path was leading them towards a forest, but Raavi was left gaping at the change in their environment when the path ended and led them towards a clearing at the edge of a cliff. It was a breathtaking sight; an open sky twinkling with stars, the crisp, fresh smell of nature, the rhythmic chirping of crickets, the chilly evening winds, and the lights from the closest town shining brightly from below.
“Shiva...” Raavi let out a small gasp in awe. “Yeh itna sundar hai! Tujhe kaise mila?”
“Woh main ek baar issi raaste se ek supplier se milne jaraha tha. Beech mein meri bike kharab hogayi aur dur dur koi dikh nahi raha tha. Chalte chalte mujhe yeh raasta mila aur main usse follow karte hue idhar pahoch gaya. Tabse main idhar ek chakkar laga hi leta hoon jab bhi iss raaste se guzarta hoon.” Shiva mumbled, his eyes having a faraway look as if reminiscing the very moment, he had found this place. In all of the times he had been here, he had never seen any sign of humanity. He had always wondered why he had been able to find this obscure and rare sight. Today, he found his answer as he watched Raavi twirl under the twinkling night sky as she observed their surroundings in awe. He was meant to share this vision with his chipkali; the thought made his heart flutter.
Shiva snapped out of his trance when he heard Raavi hiss a little as a chilly breeze made itself known. Raavi shivered and clasped her hands together, rubbing them to warm herself up. Shiva approached her from behind and wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder and rubbing her arms gently to provide her with warmth.
Raavi felt her insides melt from the fire that had rapidly spread within her as she felt Shiva’s warm, comforting embrace lifting her to cloud nine. She leaned back into him and closed her eyes, basking in the moment they were sharing. She wanted to freeze time right here, right now, and live in this moment forever.
“Tujhe pasand aaya?” Shiva murmured.
“Bahot.” Raavi whispered back.
“Chipkali, tujhe kya lagta hai? Yeh aasmaan raat ko bin taaron ke kaisa lagta hoga?” Shiva asked.
Raavi opened her eyes at his question and looked up in confusion. It was random but it did make her think. She couldn’t imagine the night sky not being lit up with stars.
“Adhoora sa lagega, Shiva.”
“Hmm. Jaise yeh aasmaan bin taaron ke adhoora hai na, ussi tarah tera yeh bhootnath bhi tere bina adhoora tha.”
Raavi felt her breath hitch at his words.
“Tu pooch rahi thi na ki tune accha kya kiya hai? Toh tu jabse aayi hai na, tabse main poora hua hoon. Tere aane se humara parivaar poora hua hai. Tune mujhe meri khoyi hui aatmavishwas lauta di jo maine apne padhai poore na hone par kho di thi. Tune mujhe aage badhne ki shakti di taaki main apni padhai poori kar sakun. Mere saath dhaal ban kar khadi rahi aur mujhe himmat di ki main business competition ka hissa ban kar usse jeet sakun. Aur phir yeh sab haasil karne ke baad hi toh humne pandya store ko ek naye sire se shuru kiya. Aise, tune papa ke sapne ko aage badhane mein humari madad ki. Tu aayi toh maine iss duniya ko ek naye nazariye se dekha. Tu kehti thi na ki mere iss pheeke aur berang zindagi mein kisiko toh rang bhar dena chahiye. Toh woh tu hi hai jissne meri zindagi ko ekdam tadakta bhadakta bana diya.” Shiva chuckled as he spoke the last line and he heard a sniffle from in front of him.
“Khud ko tu mere nazariye se dekh. Jaise yeh taare iss aasman ko chamka deti hai, waise hi tune meri zindagi ko andhere se utha kar chamka diya. Yeh bahar ke log kya kehte hai, usse dil pe mat le kyunki unnke shabdon mein koi sach nahi hai. Aaindah agar koi tujhse kuch kahe na toh bas issi pe dhyaan dena ki tu meri goodluck charm hai. Baaki log jaaye bhaad mein. Aur phir tu mujhe aakar bata dena ki kiski itni jurrat hui ki meri chipkali ko rulaye. Main haddiyaan tod dunga unnki.” Shiva grumbled lovingly.
Raavi turned around in a flash and hugged him tightly, burying her face in his shoulders. Shiva could feel her shaking as she let out a sob. She went quiet for a few seconds before bursting out in tears.
Shiva wrapped one of his arms around her protectively and used the other to cradle her head gently.
“Ae chipkali, tu ro kyun rahi hai.? Woh bhi aise phut phut kar. Chal, rona band kar.” Shiva demanded.
Raavi mumbled something incoherently, stopping to take huge gulps of air before nuzzling her face in his chest.
Shiva sighed and reached up to cup Raavi’s cheeks ever so gently before making her look at him. He saw her lips quivering and knew she would break out into a fresh new set of tears soon. He wiped the wet patches left on her cheeks and tried to stop the incoming waterworks. He hated tears, especially on Raavi. Her vulnerable state made his heart feel like a stake was being driven through it. He couldn't bear to see her upset.
“Dekh teri shakal kaise phul gayi hai. Bilkul bandariya lag rahi hai.” Shiva added with a hint of mirth.
Raavi frowned. “Haan toh? Bandar ki biwi bandariya hi rahegi.”
“Haan theek hai, ab rona band kar. Tu aise rote hue bilkul acchi nahi lagti.” Shiva chimed in.
“Main hamesha acchi lagti hoon, Somnath ki sabse khoobsurat ladki jo hoon.” Raavi mumbled, going back to hugging him again.
Shiva smiled in glee, knowing that his method of distraction had worked yet again. His chipkali was back to ranting as she used to before.
“Shiva, I love you.” Raavi whispered. She looked up at him with her glossy eyes, which were silently conveying to him exactly what he meant to her. He was her whole life and being here with him at this moment meant so much more to her than those three words could ever begin to describe, but they were a start, and she would keep chanting them till her last breath.
Shiva noticed another traitorous tear making its way down her cheek and softly swiped it with his thumb.
“I love you too, chipkali. Bahot zyada. Pann tu phirse rona shuru mat kar dena.” Shiva warned.
“Aisi pyaari baatein karega toh rona toh aayega na.” Raavi whimpered, hugging him as close to her as possible. She never wanted to let go.
“Toh phir pyaari baatein karna band kar doon?” Shiva teasingly asked. He held her close to him, loving the warmth and love she exuded. She was his own personal safety blanket.
“Bilkul bhi nahi! Sochna bhi mat varna...” Raavi threatened.
“Varna kya?” Shiva wondered out loud.
“M-m-main....main maasi ke ghar chali jaungi. Woh bhi poore ek hafte ke liye.” Raavi lauded herself for being so quick on her feet.
“Theek hai chali jaana.” Shiva shrugged nonchalantly.
“Shiva!! Tu....tu kaisa hai?!!” Raavi huffed in annoyance, still stuck to Shiva like her namesake. Here she was expecting him to say a few more sweet words but the opposite happened instead. Her bandar was truly incorrigible.
“Tujhe pata toh hai. Phir kyun pooch rahi hai?”
Raavi broke away from him and looked at him with a glower. “Tu bahot bura hai!”
“Kuch der pehle toh kisiko mujhpe bahot pyaar aaraha tha...” Shiva scoffed at her lies.
“Tu ja. Mujhe tujhse baat hi nahi karni.” Raavi folded her arms and looked away. She counted to 3 thinking he’d say something to persuade her, but nothing happened. She turned her head ever so slightly just to have a peek at Shiva, but she found the space where he was previously stood now empty.
Raavi jumped in fright when she felt him tap her on the shoulder from the other side. Although she loved his laugh, watching him laugh now angered her further. She was about to retaliate when he tugged her closer and wrapped his arms around her.
“Kahi nahi jaane dunga tujhe, samjhi? Aur agar tu gayi na, toh tere peechhe peechhe chala aaunga. Jahan tu, wahan main.” Shiva spoke with utmost love and adulation. He pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her temple, melting Raavi immediately. She snuggled closer to him, sighing in contentment.
They broke apart when a rumbling sound made itself known. Raavi blushed and looked away when she felt Shiva’s pointed stare at her.
“Ghoor mat!” Raavi growled cutely at Shiva.
“Kyun? Tera hi pet tha na jo aise dinosaur wali aawaz nikaal raha tha?” Shiva cackled.
“N- nahi! Tera hoga.” Raavi lied through her teeth.
“Chal chal. Bahot jhooth tapak rahe hai tere zubaan se. Chipkaliyon ko yeh sab shobha nahi deta.”
When Raavi didn’t respond, Shiva broke the silence, not wanting to annoy her too much. “Accha chal, kahi pe dinner kar lete hai. Bata kahan chalna hai?”
“Kisi aur din kha lenge.” Raavi answered after pondering for a while. “Ghar pe itna saara khaana bana diya hai. Khatam toh karna hoga.”
“Kal kha lenge. Ussmein koi badi baat nahi hai. Apni chipkali ke haathon ka bana hua khaana aise thodi na waste hone dunga?” Shiva nudged her shoulder.
Raavi’s face lit up at his statement. “Theek hai! Chal main tujhe meri favorite restaurant leke chalti hoon.” She started dragging him along with her when she remembered something and stopped moving.
“Shiva, thank you mujhe yahan laane ke liye aur mera mood theek karne ke liye. Tune mere saath yeh special jagah share ki-”
Raavi was cut off by Shiva. “Thank you mat bol. Paraya karne ka irada hai aisi formality poori karke? Tujhe pata hai na jo mera hai, woh tera hai. Toh yeh jagah bhi teri hi hai.”
“Accha? Aisa hai toh main ek aur baat bolun?”
“Bol.”
“Mujhe ek aur jagah jaana hai. Aaj nahi, but kisi aur din.” Raavi spoke slowly, guaging his reaction.
“Kahan jaana hai?” Shiva asked.
“Woh...woh tera jo ped hai na, special wala, udhar jaana hai.” Raavi peeked at Shiva through her lashes and witnessed him look at her in surprise.
“Tujhe kaise pata usske baare mein?”
“Tujhe kya lagta hai Dev ko kaise pata tha uss ped ke baare mein? Maine usse bataya tha jab mujhe pata chala ki tu ghar se gayab hogaya tha kyunki tujhe padhai nahi karni thi. Tujhe yaad hai bachpan mein tune kisi ladke se jhagda kiya tha aur principal ne tujhe khoob daanta tha jabki teri galati thi hi nahi. Uss ladke ne Gaumbi aur ma ka insult kiya tha aur tujhse saha nahi gaya aur tu usspe toot pada. Phir tune class bunk kardi aur kahi chala gaya. Maine tujhe uss din follow kiya tha. Tu bahot udaas lag raha tha aur mausapa hamesha kehte the ki kisi ko akela nahi chhodna chahiye jab woh udaas ho. Tera peechha karte karte main uss ped tak pahoch gayi. Uss din mujhe pata chala ki tu jab bhi upset hota tha toh tu uss ped pe jakar baith jata tha.”
“Tune mera peechha kiya tha toh kuch boli kyun nahi?” Shiva asked.
“Kaise bolti? Main maami ki behen ki beti thi na? Tu aur gussa hojata agar tu mujhe dekhta issliye main tujhe dur se hi company de rahi thi.” Raavi spoke with a soft smile, the memory clearly a fond one for her, as she had gotten to know how there was more to Shiva than the fights he used to take up to look tough.
“Tu jaana chahti hai udhar?” Shiva asked, giving Raavi a smile.
“Haan!” Raavi nodded enthusiastically.
“Theek hai phir. Kal chalenge.” Shiva took Raavi’s hand within his and brought it up to his lips, leaving a trail of featherlight kisses on her palm.
“Pann woh utna bhi special nahi hai.” Shiva mumbled to himself, but Raavi heard him.
“Tere saath har jagah special hoti hai, Shiva.” Raavi looked at him lovingly, squeezing his hand which was enveloping hers.
“Chale phir?” Shiva asked, waving his free hand forward towards the path leading up to the highway.
“Chalte hai.” Raavi beamed at him, brightening his whole world up with the curve of her smile. Shiva glanced at her and felt his heart finally settle at peace. Seeing her happy was all that he wanted.
*****
Hi, hello, long time no see! This OS was a long time coming but it kept being delayed due to various reasons, and mostly because I felt like I had forgotten how to write.🤪 It's still a bit rusty since it has truly been a while since I wrote, but I hope you all enjoyed it. Until next time ~
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