Raavi laid on her bed, stomach down, sifting through a magazine while music blared out of the speakers. She munched at a handful of crisps as she scrutinized the lehenga on the pages.

"Main toh sleeves aise nahi rakhti. And colour bhi kitna chatak hai. So tacky! Somnath ki sabse khubsoorat ladki ke bilkul layak nahi! Shaam ko Sonal ko leke market chali jaungi fabric dekhne. Master ji se banwa lungi apne tareeke se. Shaadi ko time hi kitna reh gya hai!"

Raavi got up and brushed the crumbs off her clothes. She grabbed her phone to take a peek at her Dev. Very soon she won't have to make do with simply his pictures. He'll be with her permanently as her husband. She can't wait to see the look on Shiva's face when he'd have to welcome her into Pandya Niwas as his brand new Bhabhi. She squealed in glee before jumping off the bed. First things first. She had to grab that best friend of hers for an impromptu shopping trip.

*****

Shiva was having a bad day. The suppliers had screwed up their order and he had to spend his entire morning into sorting that mess. How are they still working with such incompetent people?? Shiva fumed as he did the inventory of the new stock.

"Oye hero! Itna kya busy hai?? Apni hone waali Bhabhi se bhi mil le zara."

Shiva pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache already starting to develop on hearing that voice. This Chipkali just wouldn't let him live in peace.

"Ae Maami ki behen ki beti! Tu phir aa gayi mera dimag khaane??"

Raavi flounced into the store, dropping her shopping bags on a chair before taking out a dupatta from one of the bags.

"Woh chod Shiva. Tu yeh dekh! Yeh dupatta kitna sahi lag rha hai na mujhpe? Dekh naa kitna pretty colour hai! Maine last week ek online article mein dekha tha yeh colour abhi trend mein hai! Sonal ki sangeet mein yahi pehnungi!"

Shiva turned to look at Raavi brandishing a beautiful lavender dupatta and twirling around, bubbling in laughter. She was right. The colour looked gorgeous against her peaches and cream skin. He shook that thought out of his head.

"Tu kuch bhi pehen le. Lagna toh tujhe Chipkali hi hai. Bekaar mein Maami ke paise waste kar rahi hai." Shiva chuckled. "Waise accha hai. Aur waste kar. Isi bahane Maami thodi aur pareshaan ho jayegi"

Raavi stopped her twirling and glared at Shiva. How dare he think that Somnath ki sabse cute ladki can look anything less than perfect!

"Dekh Shiva. Mujhe pata hai main kitniiiii pretty lag rahi hu. Tu bhi tareef kar sakta hai meri. Meri tareef karne se teri height kaam ni ho jayegi." Raavi pouted. "Chal koi naa. Abhi naa sahi but jab main shaadi karne Pandya Niwas aa jayungi tab toh tujhe meri tareef karni hi paregi."

Shiva grabbed her arms, pinning her against the wall. Raavi stared at him wide-eyed at his sudden proximity.

"Ae Maami ki behen ki beti. Tujhe toh main aangan tak ghusne naa du. Shaadi karna toh bohot dur ki baat hai. Ek baat gaanth baandh le Chipkali. Teri shaadi toh main Dev se hone nahi dunga."

Raavi winced at the dark look in Shiva's eyes. She knew he was very serious about his warning. But Raavi wasn't one to back down from a challenge. This threats and warnings have gone for long enough. It's time to make a move. She'll talk to Dhara di as soon as possible.

Raavi shoved Shiva with all her might and watched in satisfaction as he stumbled back. She drew herself to her full height and straightened her shoulders.

"Tujhe jitni koshish karni hai kar le Shiva. Bahu toh main Pandya parivaar ki hi banungi. Tu mujhe Dev ki biwi banne se nahi rok payega. Ab toh main jald se jald Dhara di se baat karungi. Bohot jald mere ghar rishta lekar tu hi ayega, dekh lena." Raavi spat out before grabbing her bags and storming out of the shop.

Shiva shut his eyes tight, mentally cursing himself. Why did he have to provoke her?

"Kyu karta hai tu aisa Shiva! Jaanta nahi kya kitni ziddi hai yeh Chipkali. Kya zaroorat thi woh sab bolne ki??"

Shiva took a deep breath. Would she really manage to convince everyone for the marriage? His heart clenched at the thought of her getting married to his brother.

She had always been the one who affected him the most. When he was younger he thought he hated her. He let his hatred for Maami cloud his judgement and he treated her as his enemy.

By the time he realised he was in love with his Chipkali it was already too late. She had latched onto the idea of being in love with his elder brother. Sweet Dev was always there for her, protecting her when Shiva pelted her with vegetables. He'd save her from Shiva's wrath. How could she not fall in love with such happy manners.?

Shiva rubbed his chest, trying to ease the burning he felt every time he pictured Dev and Raavi together. No! That's not gonna happen. He's not gonna let them get married. Dhara Bhabhi won't agree to this. Maa won't agree to this. She hated Maami almost as much as he did. She will never let Dev marry a girl from that family. Nope! Maa won't let this happen. He was being paranoid for nothing.

Shiva tried to convince himself. But he couldn't help the sinking feeling in his heart. He knew something bad was gonna happen, he could feel it in his bones. But he had no idea how to stop it.

.....to be continued.

Apologies for the mistakes!  Reviews are appreciated.💖