Raavi was extremely annoyed at Rishita now. Ever since they came on this trip, Rishita wouldn’t stop flaunting her relationship with Dev in front of her. Raavi told her on her wedding night that she wasn’t interested in Dev anymore, but Rishita wasted no opportunity to show that Dev was hers. She was annoyingly clingy as it is, but even more so in front of Raavi.
Raavi wasn’t jealous. She had truly let go of Dev ever since he saw her filling sindoor in another woman’s hairline. But she hated it when Rishita would purposely try to romance Dev in front of her and simultaneously diss her relationship with Shiva. Oh, she truly hated how Rishita would make some offhand comment about her and Shiva’s forced marriage.
“Un logo ki zabardasti shaadi hui hai toh kya hum bhi romance na kare?” Rishita told Dev who was trying to get Rishita off of him. She said this in front of Raavi.
She ignored her that time but today Rishita had directly charged Raavi of still being in love with Dev. “Tumhari wajah se Dev aur main kareeb nahi aa paa rahe. Tumhe kya lagta hai, tum use aise guilty feel karati rahi toh woh wapas tumhare paas aa jayega?
“Mujhe Dev mein koi interest nahi hai Rishita.” Raavi said.
“I know woh tumhara pehla pyaar hai aur pehle pyaar ko bhulana bohot mushkil hota hai, especially jab tumhara pati Shiva jaisa ho.”
“Matlab? Mera pati Shiva hai toh kya?” Raavi asked with gritted teeth.
“Oh come on. I know aur mujhe tumhare liye bura lagta tha ki tumhe uss jaisa pati mila. Tum toh bachpan se janti ho Shiva ko. I don’t get it tumne Shiva se shaadi kaise ki. Itna rude, jaahil insaan. But now I get it. Tumne isiliye Shiva se shaadi ki na ki tum Dev ke paas reh sako aur use guilt mehsoos karati raho taki woh kisi din tumhara ho jaye. But ek baat jaan lo Raavi, Dev sirf mera hai.”
Raavi ran to her room after listening to Rishita. She was fuming and crying at the same time. Just as she entered her room, she saw Shiva there. Without thinking any further, she ran upto him hugged him tightly, and cried her heart out. Shiva was shocked for a minute, but then he hugged her back lightly.
“Kya hua?”
She said nothing, just shook her head, still holding on to him tightly. Shiva proceeded to ask her again and again what happened that day, but Raavi wouldn’t reply. He tried to be extra sweet to her that day, and didn’t fight with her at all, but Raavi still wouldn’t say what happened to her. But Shiva realised that couldn’t see Raavi this sad. He didn’t know why, but it broke his heart to see her in tears.
The next day Raavi got up early and made tea and breakfast for the family. Dhara and Gombi left early because they had to go to the market to buy something. After they left, Raavi went over Rishita’s words again. She had always insulted Raavi that way, but why did she feel so bad? She usually ignored everything Rishita said or did, but yesterday she broke down. Then it hit her! She wasn’t upset with Rishita’s taunts, she was angry at Rishita for insulting Shiva. No one could insult Shiva except for her. She was upset of the way Rishita saw their marriage. They might not have married for love, but they were still married. How dare Rishita insult her husband and their marriage.
A plan began to form in her head and she was glad Gombi and Dhara bhabhi had left. She chucked, and her mood took a whole 360 degree turn. She went outside where Krish had just woken up, and Dev and Rishita sat for breakfast. Shiva was the last to arrive and the most important person in her plan.
“Breakfast mein kya bana hai?” Rishita asked Raavi.
“Puri aur aloo ki sabji.” Raavi replied. “Tum sab baitho, main serve kar deti hu.”
Raavi served everyone and sat down with Shiva. She had served the food in one plate for the both of them. Then she took a morsel from that plate and held it before Shiva’s mouth. Needless to say, everyone was shocked. Krish had his moth open, Rishita and Dev were surprised and Shiva just looked at her as if she had really turned into a chipkali.
“Kya hua? Khaa na.” Raavi said.
As Shiva opened his mouth to reply, Raavi stuffed it inside his mouth. He has no choice but to eat it. Raavi smiled and fed him another bite. “Ab mujhe bhi khila.” She could feel him opening his mouth to argue with her so she kicked him under the table. “Khila na. Bhook lag rahi hai!” Shiva didn’t argue this time and fed her some aloo puri.
“Arrey main kheer bhul gayi. Ek minute.”
Raavi went back to the kitchen and Shiva followed her. “Ae mami ki behen ki beti, yeh kya khao khilao chal raha hai?”
“Kuch nahi. Main bas jaisa bolti hu, waisa karta jaa.” Raavi said.
“Nahi pehle bata. Warna...”
“Woh...” Raavi really didn’t want to say, but she knew Shiva could spoil her efforts in a minute if he wanted to do so. “Rishita teri aur humare shaadi ki insult kar rahi thi. Isliye mai bas use yeh dikhana chahti hu ki hum bhi ek dusre se pyaar karte hai. Aur tu jaahil nahi hai.”
“Tu toh khud mujhe jaahil kehti hai.” Shiva said.
“Main bol sakti hu woh nahi.”
Shiva smiled. In the corner of his eyes, he saw Krish, Rishita and Dev spying on them at the door of the kitchen. It was obviously Krish’s idea to spy on them. He wanted to shout at them but he looked at Raavi and thought why not! He had brains to make a better plan than her. This khao, khilao was so old fashioned and filmy. If she really wanted them to think they were in love, they would have to do something better.
He grabbed Raavi by the waist and pulled her closer to him. She looked at him in shock. He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and leaned very close to her ear. She could feel his breath on her face, and it was enough to get her heart pounding.
“Teeno hume dekh rahe hai. Bas chup chaap jaise mai bolta hu tu karti jana.”
Raavi looked at the three of them looking shocked, but she couldn’t think of her plan anymore. She had never been so close to Shiva and it was overpowering all her senses. All she could think about how close they were and the heat of his palm on her waist. He let his finger brush against her cheek and Raavi closed her eyes feeling his touch.
“Ise kehte hai romance. Tere stupid plan se much better.” Shiva taunted her in a whisper.
“Mujhe pata hai romance kaise karte hai.” She rolled her eyes at him.
Raavi’s arm went around his neck and she gripped his shirt collar with another. Then she stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheeks. Shiva went red at her gesture. He never imagined she would kiss him, but she gave him a challenging look.
“Mami ki behen ki beti, tujhse kuch nahi ho payega. Aur tu chali thi romance karne.”
“Teri toh...” she silently cursed under her breath. “Tu mujhe romance sikhayega? Tujhe romance ka R bhi aata hai.” She asked him sarcastically.
Shiva looked at the doorway. The three spies had disappeared but he didn’t want to leave Raavi. In fact, he wanted to fulfill her challenge. Raavi was drawing circles on his neck which was driving him crazy. His finger brushed her lips and she closed her eyes. He took that as permission and kissed her. He didn’t linger for long and drew away.
Raavi couldn’t believe Shiva kissed her. Then she looked to see if her audience had witnessed it. She found the doorway empty and she was secretly relieved. She didn’t want anyone to see them kissing. She looked back at Shiva and saw him staring at her with intently. He had never stared at her this way. It had always been anger, but today he was staring at her with desire in his eyes.
Raavi didn’t waste anytime as she pulled him against her and kissed him again. This time their tongues intertwined and they held on to each other tightly. When they finally broke the kiss, they looked away from each other awkwardly. They finally seemed to realise what they had done.
“Woh chale gaye.” Raavi broke the silence. She spoke as if she didn’t know already.
He nodded, trying to be nonchalant.
They both went outside where Krish and Dev were grinning at them. Rishita looked both, annoyed and amused. As for Shiva and Raavi, they were blushing red trying not to look at each other.
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