The four brothers stood next to each other, ready to fight to the end of their lives for her.

"Chod de usse." Shiva said, fiery eyed. Every cell of his body was charged.

"Nahi choda toh?" Man 1 said, grabbing her hair tightly.

Raavi cried out.

"Bas bohot ho gaya" Shiva announced, as he landed a punch on the man's face.

His companions moved to attack Shiva, but even he had back up.

Dev, Gombi and Krish stood in front of them, and beat them up with whatever they could find.

Sticks, rods, spare vehicle parts. Anything to teach them a lesson.

Each one of them cornered the horrible men, punching them in their stomach, face, injuring them like no tomorrow.

Shiva punched each and every person who tried to come in between him and Raavi. All his anger, fear, worry was resonating with each and every hit that landed on the men. Slaps, kicks, punches and even beatings felt less.

If it was upto him, he'd throw them off a roof. And throw them again. Again and again until they didn't feel the pain in each cell of their living body.

Cracking of jaws, breaking of bones, screams of torture could be heard from the men.

They weren't really good fighters.

The four of them threw their weapons down, not satisfied with the beating they had given the kidnappers. But someone else was more important right now.

Shiva ran towards Raavi, one look at her and his heart broke. She was bleeding. She looked so weak, she was breathing slowly. So frail. As if she'd fall apart this instant.

What had they done to her?

Her eyes were sealed shut, she couldn't see the scene that unfolded before her.

Shiva sat down on his knees and began to untie her. She resisted, until she opened her eyes and saw Shiva.

Fresh set of tears began to spill, but out of happiness. He was here.

He slowly removed the tape from her mouth, untied her, and made her stand.

"Tu theek hai?" Shiva worriedly asked.

Background song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUaBL46PIQ4

She threw her arms around him, hugging him so tightly, she didn't want to let go. She held on to him as if her life depended on it. Heavy sobs took over.

Shiva was taken aback, but encircled one arm around her waist, and caressed her hair with the other. He whispered comforting words in her ear, to calm her down.

Slowly her tears ceased, and she broke the hug, just enough to look at him, still not letting go.

"Tu aagaya na? Ab mai theek hu." She smiled through her tears, voice shaking.

"Unhone kuch kiya toh nahi?" Shiva asked, hoping she'd answer negative.

She nodded her head, saying no, but her hands tightened around Shiva, and he understood that they had laid hands on her.

Steam could be coming out of his ears, with all the anger he felt, but he controlled it, for her.

Shiva cupped her face with his hands, and wiped away her tears, even though he had tears in his own eyes, but she winced as his hands brushed the cuts on her cheek.

Song ends

The softness in his eyes were replaced with anger. Seething anger. This was it.

"Kisne kiya?" He asked, and she pointed towards the almost unconscious person on the floor.

Almost immediately, he took out a knife, walked over and slashed the man's legs.

"Ye, meri biwi ke saath zabardasti karne ke liye. Usko haath kaise lagaya tune? Yaad rakhna, agli baar zinda nahi chodunga." Shiva spat, voice echoing in the basement.

He turned to look back at Raavi, and only then did he notice the condition of her dress. Torn at places, where they almost forced themselves on her. She stood with her arms crossed over her shoulders, trying to cover up what was exposed.

He closed his eyes, in respect, and seconds later, walked over to the man who had her dupatta around his neck.

"DE." Shiva calmly said, extending his hand forward.

The man, petrified of what he'd do, handed over the dupatta without a word.

Shiva wrapped it around Raavi, took off his shirt and wrapped her with that too. He didn't care, even if he wasn't wearing a vest, he would have done this.

She looked up at Shiva, and hugged him again. She didn't want to let go.

In his arms, she felt safe.

Shiva had his arms around her, vowing to protect her, always.

"Bohot kar li pitai, chalo." Krish spat.

Just as they were about to leave, the police arrived. The four of them were worried, that the police was going to arrest them, but instead they walked over to the unconscious kidnappers and handcuffed them instead.

Unbeknownst to them, Rishita wasn't sitting anxiously waiting for them to come back with Raavi. She had called and informed the police of the kidnapping, specifically mentioning that her family members were also in there, probably beating the crap out of these criminals.

Dev, Krish and Gautam walked out, making sure there was no more problems.

Shiva walked slowly with Raavi, who was holding him tightly. He had a tight hold on her, making sure she didn't fall. He didn't mind. She was safe now.

Safe with him.

As they opened the car door, they all realised that the car would be full. There was no place for Raavi to sit.

"Aap log gaadi mein baitho, mai sochta hu kuch." Shiva said.

He brushed her hair away from her face, wiped her remaining tears away, and asked her something. She nodded her head, saying yes.

Shiva sat in the passenger seat behind, and Raavi sat sideways on his lap. Her hands shifted from around his chest, to around his neck.

She rested her head in the crook of Shiva's neck, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Shiva offered her the one of the bottles of juice he had bought for them, they all would need it, and she needed it the most right now. And she gulped it down in a jiffy. She had been kept without food or water for 2 days.

She felt better instantly, but still weak.

"Tune dhoondh kaise liya mujhe?" Raavi asked, wiping her mouth.

"Tera message. Ekdum perfect tha. Rishita ko jagah pata tha, aur yaha pohonche toh newspapers dikh gaye." Shiva softly said, caressing her head.

"Hu na mai smart." Raavi chuckled.

"Par aapne message kiya kaise?" Krish asked. No response.

Shiva looked down and saw her asleep, in his arms.

She had a soft smile. She slept like a baby, but didn't let go of him. He rested his head on hers, promising one thing to her:

He would protect her. Always. Forever.

~~~

It was a long ride home. Took half an hour longer, since everyone was exhausted.

Raavi had woken up by the time they reached. She just needed that deep sleep for that hour. It was 2:30 am by the time they reached home.

They all got down from the car, but Raavi stopped them before entering the house.

"Thank you. Aap log mera message dekh itni raat ko aa gaye. Mujhe laga subah hi aaoge direct." Raavi meekly said.

"Pagal ho gayi hai kya? Hum 2 din se pata karne ki koshish kar rahe the, kaise nahi aate? Humare ghar ki bacchi hai tu." Gautam calmly said.

Dhara was still awake, when she heard the sound of their car. She ran to the door and saw Raavi. She wasn't in the best state, but she was home.

Dhara hugged Raavi, and even let out a few tears. "Tu theek hai na, bas. Raat ka khaana abhi bhi hai, woh paroske kamre me laati hu. Jaa." Dhara motioned for them to go.

Raavi turned back and thanked everyone once again, while Shiva slowly led her to their bedroom

He made her sit on the bed, and took out some clothes from her cupboard.

"Ye le. Jaake nahale." He handed over her clothes.

She quietly took them, and went to freshen up. While Shiva searched for first aid.

Raavi splashed water on her face, trying to forget what had happened. She knew she would eventually, but the scar on her cheek wouldn't let her.

She shook her head, knowing that what happened today would never happen again. She had Shiva.

And he was the most furious hunk she'd seen. Hunk? She had to admit, he was handsome. No doubt there.

What is this, shut up?

She took a long shower, wore her clothes and dried her towel. Shiva gently pulled her by the hand, making her sit next to him.

"Kya hua, Shiva?" Raavi expectantly asked.

He motioned towards the antiseptic and cotton. He applied some, and waited for a few seconds for her approval, before he gently held her face and cleaned her wounds.

Background song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94IhsK2vvPE

She winced slightly and held his knee. He pulled back startled, but continued to clean the wound, while slowly blowing on it .

Raavi looked at him. She couldn't believe this was Shiva. The same Shiva who used to fight with her. This gradual progress in his behaviour, was the best development she had seen yet.

Shiva finished cleaning the wound, but didn't let go of her face. They both looked straight into each other's eyes. As if they were communicating through vision.

Song ends

Dhara knocked on the door and entered, to find them so close to each other. She smiled and coughed, breaking their moment.

They both looked away, awkwardly avoiding each other's gaze. But smiling internally.

"Mai sirf ye khaana dene ke liye aayi thi. Rakh ke jaa rahi hu, khaa lena. Continue, continue." She beckoned, and shut the door on her way out.

Raavi got up and grabbed the plate, seeing all her favourites. Roti, potato curry, pickle, curd rice.

"Kya baat hai mujhe ye kabse khaane ka mann tha." Raavi broke a piece of roti, dipped it in the curry, and instead of eating it herself, offered to Shiva first.

"Iski zyaada zaroorat tujhe hai. Khaa le." Shiva softly said. He hadn't eaten dinner that night, and was starving. But she needed to eat first.

"Mai jaanti hu tune bhi nahi khaaya hoga. Aur itna saara hai, mai kaise khatam karu akele?" Raavi was still holding the morsel near his mouth.

Shiva gave in and allowed her to feed him. He picked up some rice with a spoon, and held it near her mouth. She smiled and ate it.

They both fed each other, talking about random topics.

"Mujhe miss kiya kya?" Raavi winked.

"Nahi toh. Bas dar gaya tha. Ki tujhe kuch ho na jaaye." Shiva innocently said, not sensing her sarcasm.

Both wondered when they got so comfortable with each other.

Their ability to care, understand emotions, and regard for each other has led to this day.

They washed up and went to sleep, Shiva left a small light on for Raavi, and thought she wouldn't notice. But she did...

They say that after the storm, comes the rainbow.

Raavi stirred in her sleep, and tried to move, but there was some weight on her. She opened her eyes to look and smiled.

Shiva had moved over to her side, and was sleeping on his stomach, with one arm over her, face near her shoulder.

She didn't know why, but she liked this. His touch sent a spark through her body. His hug was an envelope of warmth, a protective blanket, that never wanted to see her in trouble.

Unknowingly, he held her closer to him, not wanting to let go. She didn't mind, it felt like home.

Like home.

Whatever Raavi had built around her, she started to break it down.

For him.

- - - - -

This chapter has so many feels ❤️, what do you think? Don't forget to vote :)