Next day too, Shiva found Raavi in Pandya Stores, moving about authoratively. She'd help Kaka arrange the items on display in a way which, according to her, was more aesthetically pleasing. In between, she'd offer him food and refreshments as she went about her work. Right now, she was helping with the crowd, taking their orders and handing out the change like she has been doing this for years. She was confusing the hell out of him. What is she trying to prove?? Why is she even here? And what was all that nonsense she came up with about her haq? After everything that has happened, Shiva wanted space from her and now she is sticking to him like glue.? What does she even want?

Shiva glanced at her but was surprised to see her standing there with a sour look on her face, glaring at something. His eyes followed her line of sight and he saw a group of girls tittering. He sighed. He knew these girls. They were one of the bolder ones who actually tried to flirt with him, in spite of Shiva never giving them the time of the day. He didn't have the energy to deal with this. Not with all the drama Raavi has been cooking up. He watched in trepidation as the girls approach him.

"Hi Shiva," the one called Tanvi sing-songed.

Shiba sighed. He was too mentally exhausted to rebuke her so he simply nodded his acknowledgement.

"Mujhe woh chocolate bar dena," she continued.

Shiva handed her the chocolate, "Iske 100. Aur kuch chahye tha?"

Tanvi gave him a flirty smirk. "Haan. Tum available ho ek date ke liye?"

Shiva heard Raavi inhale sharply and he turned to look at her fuming in pure rage. Before he could say another word, Raavi stormed over, glaring at the girls.

"Hum yaha dukaan mein insaan nahi bechte," Raavi spat out in barely controlled fury.

Tanvi turned towards Raavi, scrutinizing her before speaking.

"Tumhe kya dikkat hai. Agar Shiva mere saath date pe jaana chahte hai toh tumhe isse kya, Raavi? Aur yeh hum kya hai? Tumhari shaadi abhi huyi nahi hai Pandya parivaar mein. Thodi jyada rocket nahi ban rahi tum?"

"Main kya kar rahi hu isse tujhe koi matlab nahi. Aur Shiva ko tere saath kahi nahi jaana. Toh tu nikal yaha se." Raavi was getting angrier by the minute.

"Sahi toh keh rahi hai Tanvi. Tumhe kya problem hai agar Shiva date pe jaata hai humare saath. Single hai, handsome hai, hot bhi kitna hai. Toh kyun nahi jaa sakta date pe." This time it was Priyal who spoke.

Shiva shut his eyes. His Chipkali looked good enough to kill and these stupid girls are adding fuel to her fire. His eyes snapped open when he heard a murderous growl. Did she actually growl at these girls? Shiva looked at her startled but barely managed to hold her back as she nearly launched herself at them with a feral snarl.

The girls took a step back, staring in shock at the sight of Shiva holding Raavi back by her waist as she screamed profanities at them.

"Nikaal!!! Main keh rahi hu nikal yaha se! Mere Shiva ko date pe leke jayegi?!?!! Teri toh main - " Raavi swung her head around, looking for something to throw at them.

As strong as he was, even Shiva was having trouble controlling the thrashing girl in his arms. Who knew his Chipkali had this much strength in her?? Shiva was startled out of his thoughts when Raavi threw a broom at the girls, it hit Tanvi with a thwack.

"Aye Raavi!!! Pagla gayi hai kya??? Bheja kharab hai tera!?!!???" Tanvi yelped in pain.

"Haan!!! Pagal ho gayi hoon main! Ab nikal yaha se warne yahi pe zinda gaadh dungi tujhe! Chal bhaag!!!!" Raavi looked for something else to throw at them. The girls disappeared the moment they saw Raavi pick up a glass jar, shouting something about loose screws.

"Aur tuu!!!!!" Raavi put the jar back, now turning to Shiva, eyes blazing in fury. Shiva gulped in fear. This was a side of Raavi he hadn't seen before. "Tu chal mere saath!" Raavi grabbed his arm, dragging him into the back room. The moment she shut the door, Raavi pushed him against the wall.

"Woh ladkiyan tere saath flirt kar rahi thi aur tu maze le raha tha?? Bohot shokh hai tujhe flirt karne ka?!?" Shiva stood there speechless. Her glare would probably melt iron at the moment. "Ab bhoot bane kyu khada hai?? Bolega kuch???"

"Main kaha flirt kar raha tha?? Woh toh yeh bewakoof ladkiyan aake yeh sab bolne lagi - "

"Aur tu chup chap sunta raha!?! Tujhe kal bola tha na maine! Tujhpe sirf mera haq hai! Samajh nahi ata??"

Whatever spell he was under, broke at that moment and a rage filled him as he remembered their reality. He grabbed her arms and spun her around, switching their positions so that she was the one against the wall.

"Tujhe usse kya Raavi?!? Tujhe kya fark padta hai?? Aur yeh kya naya drama laga rakkha hai tu ne?? Kaunsa haq?? Kis cheez ka haq??" Shiva squeezed her arms, eyes ablaze with fury.

"Tujh par haq. Jo sirf mera hai! Khabardaar jo kisi aur ko dene ki koshish bhi ki tu ne, Shiva!" Raavi shouted at him, pulling his collar.

"Chod mujhe Raavi!" Shiva tried to free himself but Raavi held on tight, pulling him even closer. They stood there, nose touching, their breaths ragged.

Raavi looked up at him, her eyes both angry and a bit sad and Shiva lost his control. He swallowed and took her face in his hands and lowered his mouth to hers. He kissed her slowly at first but then felt overcome by something, and suddenly he was kissing her harder, wrapping his arms around her tightly, tangling his hands in her hair, her silky brown hair.

Snaking her arms around his neck Raavi pressed her body into his. Shiva responded to her eagerness by biting her lower lips. When her mouth opened with a gasp, he thrust his tongue into her mouth, moving it in tandem against hers and he was rewarded by her groans of pleasure. Shiva's head started to spin. The sensations and emotions running through him were more than he could take. His hands slid under her top, touching her heated bare skin and she stiffened.

Raavi broke the kiss. "Shiva," she whispered and suddenly Shiva felt like someone had emptied a bucket of ice over his head. He pushed himself away from her, turning away. He could hear her shuffling behind him, straightening her appearance as he tried to get his breathing back to normal. Suddenly he felt her soft touch on his arm.

"Shiva main - " Raavi stated to speak when Shiva shrugged her hand off.

"Raavi tu ghar jaa."

"Lekin mujhe - "

"Maine kaha na ghar jaa. Toh bas jaa," Shiva flung open the door, and stomped out slamming the door shut behind him.

*****

"Haan Maasi main thik hoon. Aap fikr mat karo. I know baarish ki wajaah se highway blocked hai, isliye keh rahi hu aaj aap log wahi rukk jayiye........Maasi ab main bacchi nahi hoon. Apna khyal rakh sakti hoon. Aur waise bhi ek raat ki hi toh baat hai. Kal tak toh aap log aa hi jaayenge..... don't worry Maasi sab thik hai. Chalo main rakhti hu. Dinner ready karna hai. Bye Maasi. Goodnight."

Raavi disconnected the call, sighing deeply. Maasi and Mausapa won't be back before tomorrow afternoon and Anita di had gone to her friend's place. She really didn't want to spend the night alone in the house but what else could she do. The time on her phone screen read 07:43 pm. She should get started on dinner. She plugged the blender in and when she switched it on, there was a huge spark and suddenly the lights went out.

Raavi jumped back with a scream, holding her finger close to her chest - her heart beating wildly. Her heart got another jolt when her phone rang out, piercing the silence. Gingerly she picked up her cell to see Dhara calling.

"H-hello D-dhara di?" Raavi stuttered out.

"Raavi?? Kya hua? Tu itni ghabrayi huyi kyun hai?? Sab thik hai na???" Dhara's panicked voice rang out.

Raavi took a deep breath to calm herself down.

"Nahi Dhara di sab thik hai. Woh main bas blender chala rahi thi ki achaanak lights chali gayi. Main bas thoda dar gayi thi. Aap boliye. Aapne kaise yaad kiya?"

"Arre woh Mamaji ka call aya tha. Unhone bola tu akeli hai ghar pe toh maine socha tujhe yaha bula lu. Waha akeli rahegi accha nahi lagega."

"Nahi Dhara di. Main yaha thik hu. Aap fikr mat karo. Aaj main akeli ghar pe chill marungi."

"Accha thik hai. Par lights ko kya hua?? Yaha toh sab thik hai. Ek baar bahar dekh le sab ki lights gayi hai ya sirf tere ghar pe..?"

"Arre haan! Yeh toh maine socha hi nahi! Ek min main abhi dekhti hu." Raavi looked out the window to see no-one in her vicinity had that problem. "Dhara di, bahar toh sab thik hai. Sirf mere yaha hi problem hai."

"Ohhh! Shayad koi wiring ka problem ho gaya hoga. Abhi toh electrician bhi nahi milega...... accha ek kaam karti hu. Main Dev ko bhejti hu." Raavi's heart thudded in fear. She didn't want Dev here when she is home alone. "Woh dekh lega kya problem hai. And tere liye khana bhi bhijwa rahi hu. Yaad se kha lena, thik hai?"

"Pann Dhara di - "

"Main teri ek nahi sunne waali Raavi. Tu ghar nahi aa rahi toh kam se kam Dev teri light ki problem dekh lega."

Before Raavi could protest further, Dhara hung up the phone hastily. Raavi kept the phone away and moved into the living room to wait for Dev, dejectedly.

*****

Raavi paced around the living room, boring a hole into the floor in her anxiety. A loud knock on the door announced his arrival and Raavi rushed to the door, opening it to see Shiva standing there with a bag in his hands. Relief flooded her face and she hugged him tight.

"Accha hua Shiva tu hai! Main toh darr gayi thi ki Dev aane wala hai."

He scowled at her in annoyance as she gave him her 1000 watt smile.

"Daant kya phad rahi hai!?! Tera toh sapna hi toot gaya hoga, Dev jo nahi aya. Jeena haraam kar ke rakkha hai tu ne. Din mein jo khoon choosti hai woh kaafi nahi tha jo ab ghar bhi bula liya tu ne??"

"Offo Shiva! Teri na hobby ho gayi hai mujhe daatna! Aur maine tujhe nahi bulaya. Dhara di toh Dev ko bhejne waali thi. Lights ko dekhne."

"Haan aur tu uska intezaar kar rahi hogi. Mujhe dekh ke tera toh mood hi khrab ho gaya hoga. Yeh sahi hai. Ab iss Chipkali ka electrician bhi main hi bann jau."

"Chup kar Shiva! Kuch bhi bakwaas mat kar. Mujhe Dev ke naa ane ka koi gham nahi hai. Pann tujhe ye baat kaha samajh ayegi. Khair tu ne jo samajhna hai tu samajh. Aur dekh tujhe maine nahi bulaya. Tujhe jana hai, tu chala jaa! Mujhe bhi koi shokh nahi hai tere se favour lene kaa. Tu jaa Shiva. Main apna dekh lungi." Raavi stormed inside, mumbling a string of curses under her breath.

Shiva sighed. He didn't want to upset her. He thought maybe fighting with her would dissipate this awkwardness between them and things would return to normal, but clearly that didn't happen.

"Accha chal main switch kidhar hai yeh toh bata?" Shiva called after her.

"Nahi bolna. Tu jaa yaha se Shiva. Nahi chahye teri meherbaani." Raavi snapped at him, stomping towards her bedroom.

Shiva followed her into her room and pulled her back towards him.

"Teri problem kya hai, Raavi?? Kal se itna ajeeb behave kar rahi hai. Dimag bech khayi hai kya??"

Raavi shoved him away from her, fuming in her anger.

"Tujhe kya? Main kuch bhi karu tujhe kya, Shiva?? Tu apna dekh, samjha!! Mere bare mein sochne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Tu jaa apne unn ladkiyon ke paas. Tanvi, Tanya, Radhika. Yeh sab tera intezaar kar rahi hogi naa?!? Tu jaa!!" Raavi turned away from him.

"Kyaa problem hai teri??? Kyun yeh sab bakwas kare jaa rahi hai?? Afeem chaat ke aayi hai??" Shiva was losing his mind over this. What the heck is she going on about??

"Meri-meri problem kya hai??? Din bhar dusri ladkiyon ke saath chipakta rehta hai aur mujhse pooch raha hai meri problem kya hai???" Raavi was furious.

"Haan! Tu pagal jaisa behave karegi toh tujhse hi puchunga ki problem kya hai?? Tujhe kya fark parta hai, Raavi main kisi se bhi chipku?? Meri marzi hai. Agar mera mann kare main kisi ke saath bhi flirt kar sakta hu. Tujhe kya dikkat hai???!?"

"Aise kaise tu kisi ke saath flirt karega!?!? Tujhe bola tha na maine. Tujhpe sirf aur sirf mera haq hai!?! Ek baar mein samajh nahi aata??"

"Yeh kyaa haq haq ki ratt laga rakhi hai kal se??? Kaisa haq? Kaunsa haq??"

"Tujh pe haq. Tere qareeb rehna ka haq. Tere saath rehne ka haq. Tujhe choone ka haq." Raavi whispered before slamming her lips on his, surprising him with the suddenness of it. A throaty groan escaped from his lips - heat and fire and breath escaping too fast from their lungs. But soon, too soon, he pulled away - looking at her in a mixture of surprise and anger, as he breathed heavily.

He grabbed her by her arms and pushed her against the wall.

"Kyun kar rahi hai aisa!?! Kya chahti hai tu?? Marr jau main? Tab sukoon milega tujhe??"

She held his shirt collar, pulling him closer to her.

"Tu kya kar raha hai??? Tujhe kya lagta hai? Mera haq tu yun hi cheen lega?? Main aisa hone nahi dungi!" She screamed at him, shaking him violently.

He chuckled darkly and wrenched her fingers away from his shirt.

"Kaunsa haq? Jo kabhi tujhe chahye hi nahi? Mujhpar ye haq jatana bandh kar de. Bas kar ab bohut hua. Chod de yeh sab bewakoofi." He turned to walk away when she spoke in a choked voice.

"Nahi chod sakti tujhe. Tujhse dur rehne se pehle maut manzoor hai mujhe. Nahi hoga mujhse."

He pulled her into his arms as she broke down sobbing, burrowing her face into his chest. He took in a deep breath, helplessly rubbing her back and steeling himself to break their hearts.

"Ab bohot der ho chuki hai."

She froze at his words and she felt a fresh gush of tears roll down her cheeks. She looked into his eyes, silently begging him to make things alright. She could see his resolve breaking with every passing second. Heart beating in a frenzy, she leaned in closer and hearing his breath hitch, she shut her eyes.

Raavi pressed her lips gently to his, softly, less urgent than before. She pulled away to stare deep into his eyes and saw, under layers of turmoil, a spark of longing held back for so long, finally fully ablaze. She let out a moan and Shiva's control snapped.

As fiercely as the fire in his eyes, his lips crushed hers in an urgency she'd never experienced before. Grabbing a handful of her soft tresses, he dragged her even closer to him.

His tongue battled with hers, and she whimpered, desperately wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. A hunger woke deep inside her, an urge to explore and conquer. Hands ran everywhere, caressing, clawing, tugging... each movement more desperate than the other. Without breaking their liplock, she hurriedly dragged his shirt off, letting it fall to the ground. His grip tightened on her hair in response and his other hand grazed down her leg until his fingertips brushed her thigh.

He froze suddenly, startling her. Clamping his hand tightly on her thigh, he tore away from her mouth, turning away and shutting his eyes.

"R-Raavi main - " his words came out a shaky breath. "Mujhse nahi hoga yeh.....mujhe jaane de- "

"S-Shiva please - " He turned towards her, to stare into her eyes, now glassy with pain and desire. She whispered almost begging him. "Please - "

Shiva shook his head, moving away from her and Raavi felt her heart almost stop. She grabbed his hand, stopping him in his tracks and he turned to look at her. What he saw in her eyes, she will never know, but for once she didn't care because the next moment she felt his lips on hers again. Her heart jumpstarted as if it was hardwired to a voltage system inside her chest, racing wildly like a hummingbird's wing. A throaty groan escaped his throat, when she bit his lower lip and she melted in his arms. She felt his mouth drift, his lips tracing kisses along her jaw and she sighed in contentment, like the world could collapse around her and she wouldn't care. His lips moved to her earlobe and he nibbled the skin there, causing her to gasp. He picked her up, bridal style and carried her to the bed, before joining her.

This time, neither stopped as they both moulded into each other, giving into their raw emotions - their unadulterated desires. They moved together, seeking comfort and solace in that moment. Later, they watched the pallid hues of daybreak spread around them as they lay exhausted and spent, in a tangle of limbs, slowly drifting off - for once not thinking. They'll deal with the consequences tomorrow. For now, this moment belonged to them.

....... to be continued

Apologies for the errors. Didn't proof read.