This is going to be a two or three part ff. Let’s see. It’s Sunday, and while I’m happy for this one day holiday, I’m missing my Shivi a lot. So here’s a little bit of Shivi romance from my side.
The entire Pandya family was making arrangements for the puja, but the truth of the matter was that no one was in a good mood. Everyone was somewhat disturbed, after what happened yesterday. But they had decided not to talk about it in front of their maa who arrived that morning. So everyone went around their work quietly. Even Rishita didn’t dare say anything.
Raavi decided to keep her distance from Rishita and Dev. She went to a corner and started preparing the prasad, just as Dhara di instructed. Krish and Shiva were helping her with kindling the firewood. She could see the anger in Shiva’s eyes. He had only recently learnt about the incident. But he was quiet on Dhara Di’s insistence.
“Ho gaya bhabi.” Krish said, and he finished setting up her chulha.
“Theek hai, tu jaake dekh Dhara di ko koi help chahiye ki nahi.”
Raavi sat down to blow the chulha to create a fire. After blowing a couple of times, she got into a coughing fit. Shiva started patting her back to make her stop. “Paani,” she managed to say. Shiva looked around the kitchen. There was no trace of water. Then his eyes landed on a glass of milk. He brought that too Raavi, and she gulped it down in one go.
“Main thik hu.” She said. “Tera ho gaya toh tu bhi jaake dekh kisi ko koi help chahiye ki nahi. Main yaha ka kaam sambhal lungi.”
Shiva left and Raavi got back to work.
***
“Dekh Anita, meri phool se beti se kitna kaam kara rahe hai yeh log. Kab se woh kitchen mein prasad banaye jaa rahi hai.” Prafulla said.
“Ohho phui, puja hai. Thoda kaam toh karna parega.”
“Ise mat samjha. Zindagi mein toh ek dhang ka kaam kiya nahi, aur ab Raavi kar rahi toh ise itni takleef ho rahi hai.” Suman said.
Prafulla laughed. “Aap toh bas hukum karo. Main karungi na kaam.”
“Koi zaroorat nahi hai. Teri manhusiyat puja mein vighn daal degi.” Suman said. “Chal mere pair daba. Yehi hukum deti ho tujhe.”
Maami made a face, then got to work. Anita started laughing.
***
“Raavi?” Dhara called out.
She entered the kitchen to find Raavi gone. The chulha had flamed out and the khichri was done. But Raavi was nowhere to be seen. Then she saw the empty glass and gasped. Had Raavi drunk this? Dhara rushed to the living room where everyone was sitting after finishing their work. Raavi wasn’t there.
“Raavi kaha hai?” Dhara asked.
The panic in her voice made Gaumbi get up from seat. “Raavi toh kitchen mein thi?”
“Woh kitchen mein nahi hai.”
“Kahi idhar udhar aatma ki tarah bhatak rahi hogi.” Shiva said, looking at Rishita when he said aatma. She looked scared.
“Shiva mazak mat kar.” Dhara held out the glass in her hand. “Mujhe lagta hai Raavi ne yeh piya hai.”
“Haa use khasi ho rahi thi toh maine use pila diya.” Shiva said.
Dhara held his ear and hit him on the head lightly. “Pagal hai Shiva!”
“Kyu? Kya hua?” Shiva asked.
“Yeh bhaang hai Shiva! Raavi ne bhaang pi rakhi hai.”
Shiva was shocked. He has no idea it was bhaang. Leave it to this girl to create some problem or the other. Now where was this maami ki behen ki beti?
“Ab yaha khade khade dekh kya rahe ho tum sab? Jao jake Raavi ko dhoondo!” Dhara shouted.
“Isne jaan bujhke meri bachhi ko bhaang pilaya hoga.” Maami suddenly shouted. “Mujhe pata tha yeh meri beti ko shanti se jeene nahi dega.”
“Ae kaagri, mera beta teri tarah saazish nahi karta.” Suman said.
Shiva decided to ignore maami and look for the chipkali. Everyone got up and started searching for Raavi. Shiva went to their room but it was empty. Then he looked out the balcony but he couldn’t see her. So he decided to go to the terrace. And there she was! She was walking around in circle continuously. Shiva stared at her for a moment. This looked so funny that he burst out laughing. Raavi listened to him and stopped.
“Shiva? Main yaha kab se hu?” Raavi asked.
“Woh toh tujhe pata hoga. Main toh abhi aaya.”
“Main niche jani wali thi, par mujhe raasta nahi mila. Main kho gayi, phir main niche jana bhul gayi.” Raavi started laughing.
Shiva laughed with her. She spoke so weirdly. It was really funny. “Chal, tujhe raasta dikhata hu.”
Raavi nodded and held his arm. He was surprised at the gesture but didn’t say anything. They walked back downstairs and he informed everyone that he found mami ki behen ki beti. He made her sit on the sofa, and she pulled him with her and leaned her head on his shoulder.
“Tu yahi baith warna main gir jaungi.” Raavi said.
“Wah, kya nazara hai!” Krish suddenly came into the room, followed by everyone else. “Raavi bhabhi aap Shiva ke godh mein hi baith jao na. Koi problem nahi hai.”
“Krish!” Dhara warned.
“Ae Raavi, mere paas aake baith. Meri godh mein let jaa.” Mami said.
“Nahi main Shiva ke godh mein soungi.” Raavi said, and put her arms around his shoulders while leaning on to him.
Shiva’s cheeks were turning red. What was this maami ki behen ki beti doing? He tried to push her away and make her sit straight, but she again leaned on him. He noticed that Dev, Gaumbi and Dhara were trying very hard to stop their laughter. Krish, that besharam, was laughing loudly. Maami tried to pull Raavi away from him.
“Ae maami. Tu na zyada udd rahi hai. Abhi tere par katne parenge.” Shiva shouted, and pulled Raavi back to him.
“Meri beti mujhe de de.” Maami said.
“Abhi suna nahi usne kya bola? Usko yahi rehna hai.”
“Haa maasi. Shiva bohot strong hai. Mujhe girne nahi dega.” Raavi smiled. “Mujhe na bohot achha lag raha hai. Aap sab bhi baitho na mere saath. Mujhe baat karne ka bohot mann kar raha hai.”
Everyone sat down. Maami tried to sit down beside Raavi but she caught the glare Shiva was giving her, so she went and sat opposite to them.
“Tu thik toh hai na Raavi?” Gaumbi asked.
“Main toh thik hu Gaumbi par na mujhe feeling aa rahi hai ki agar Shiva mujhe chor de toh main gir jaungi.”
“Tu fikr mat kar, Shiva tujhe nahi chorega.” Dhara smiled.
comment:
p_commentcount