Raavi twirled around in the pretty pink saree Dhara Di gave her yesterday. Today she was supposed to do the puja with Dev symbolising the start of a new relationship. She was giddy with excitement. She stopped in front of the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her, cheeks flushing in happiness. Her excitement dampened, however, when she remembered the look in Shiva's eyes.

Shiva always said he won't let her marry Dev. But she never took his words seriously. She loved Dev and Dev loved her. So what if Shiva didn't want her in the house! That didn't make any difference. It was her lifelong dream to be a Pandya bahu and now when her dreams are about to come true, she can't let Shiva mess with her head.

"Jaldi jaldi se ready ho jaati hoon. Dhara Di ne kaha tha aaj rasam ke baad engagement ki date bhi fix kar lenge."

But try as she might, she cannot get Shiva's expressions out of her head. The devastation in his eyes took her by surprise. She shook her head, trying to get the image out of her head but they kept flashing in front of her eyes - her limbs felt like rubber. The earring slipped from her fingers and dropped to the floor, shattering on impact. Raavi stared at the broken pieces at her feet, a sinking feeling gripping her heart.

*****

The stalls were crowded with people. Shiva took a step away from the rowdy bunch. You would think people would be a bit more respectful at the temple but apparently everyone was in a hurry to get God's blessings. Dhara Bhabhi had already chased him away when he offered his help. He shrugged. It's better this way. The farther he is from Raavi, the better it is for his broken heart.

Shiva moved towards the stairways when someone collided with him. His hand automatically shot out to stablize the thaali while the other hand grabbed the person's waist. His eyes found the browns of the other person's and he was engulfed with the smell of roses. He came out of his thoughts when he felt the girl squirming in his arms and he helped her regain her footing before letting go. He looked around shiftily, scratching his head.

"Aap thik hai? Sorry woh - main aise - "

"Thank you."

A soft voice reached his ears and Shiva's eyes shot up to look at the girl.

"Woh aapne meri thaal bachayi. Isliye thank you." She smiled at him shyly.

Shiva nodded at her and she turned to go. Shiva stayed back for a while before he too walked up the stairs. Neither noticed a pair of hazel eyes glaring daggers at their back.

*****

Raavi was just at the stalls with Dhara di, preparing her puja ki thaal. Dev was supposed to be take them to the temple but something came up so he'd be meeting them later. She grabbed her phone and turned to Dhara.

"Dhara di main Dev ko call karke poonchti hu woh kaha tak pohcha. Abhi puja bhi karni hai naa."

"Haan tu call kar le. And poonch kitna time lagega aur."

"Thik hai. Main abhi ayi."

Raavi moved away from the crowds and dialled Dev's number. He picked up after 5 rings and she opened her mouth to speak when she saw someone collide with Shiva. The events that followed sent rage coursing through her veins. She barely registered Dev's voice in her ear and she tried to swallow the lump in her throat.

The call disconnected but Raavi didn't care. All she could think of was Shiva holding that girl in his arms. She knew he was just trying to save the girl from falling but the thought of him being that close to someone else shot poisoned arrows at her heart. She dragged herself back to Dhara Di who had prepared everything for the puja.

"Dev se baat ho gayi? Kab tak aa raha hai woh?"

Raavi looked at Dhara di in surprise. She raked her brains for the answer to her question but she had none.

"Dhara di baat nahi ho payi. Ek kaam karte hai. Hum upar chal ke taiyyari karte hai puja ki. Tab tak toh aa hi jaayenge baki sab." Raavi said distractedly.

"Haan yeh thik rahega. Chal upar chalte hai. Gaumbi aur Krish bhi pohonch hi gaye almost." Dhara said hurrying up the stairs.

*****

It felt like watching a car crash. Shiva knew it was painful to watch and yet he couldn't look away. Dev and Raavi sat together performing the puja rituals. The flames of the pyre mimicking the fire in his heart. He forced himself to watch them perform all the rituals so that his heart would accept she belonged to someone else. His treacherous heart that inspite of being shattered, would still thump at the sight of her face. He shut his eyes. It was too much. He needed a breather.

Shiva stepped away from the scene and moved to the open area of the temple. He walked aimlessly before stopping at the half wall of the compound. He leaned against the wall, taking in a deep breath when the scent of roses hit his nose.

*****

Raavi looked up from the puja to see Shiva missing. She frowned. Now where did this Bhootnath go?? She opened her mouth to ask about his whereabouts when Panditji spoke to her.

"Beta yeh mauli lo aur uss bargat ke ped ki charon taraf bandhte huwe 7 baar parikrama karo. Jab yeh mauli bandhogi aapne hone waale pati ko smaran karna."

Raavi nodded distractedly and stood up. She went over to the banyan tree in the compound and had just started doing the ritual when she caught a glimpse Shiva standing by the wall. She whispered his name, the uneasiness in her heart disappearing at his sight. She had barely opened her mouth to call out to him when she saw the same girl approach him with prasad from her plate and Raavi saw red. The events of the morning flashed before her eyes, her in Shiva's arms and now she's feeding him prasad?? And Shiva accepted it too? He never leaves a single chance to fight with her and yet he's happily taking prasad from this stranger, saving her from falling? Raavi was all ready to drop everything and go pull that girl's hair when Dhara's voice stopped her.

"Raavi rasam kar li? Arre abhi tak rasm nahi ki. Jaldi kar le Raavi kya kar rahi hai. Iske baad Shivji ko doodh bhi chadhana hai."

Raavi stopped in her tracks reluctantly and went about completing the ritual, her thoughts consumed by Shiva. She thought of all the times he saved her from falling. Of the times he consoled her when she was sad. All the times they fought but never once did she feel unsafe with him by her side. She knew no matter what, he'd always protect her. He'd keep her safe. Raavi snapped out of her daze when Dhara spoke.

"Chal Raavi. Yeh rasam toh ho gayi. Abhi andar chalte hai. Yeh doodh chadhana hai tune aur Dev ne."

They reached inside the temple to see everyone gathered for the ritual. Raavi's eyes stopped at Shiva and she frowned to see him not looking at anyone. She went over and stood near him trying to catch his eye but he still looked resolutely away.

"Iss Bhootnath ko kya ho gaya hai. Hamesha toh ghoor ghoor ke jaan nikalta rehta hai. Aaj ek baar bhi dekh hi nahi raha." Raavi thought as distractedly she accepted the lota from Dhara di.

"Ab yeh doodh Shivji ko chadha do. Dev Raavi aage aa."

Raavi stepped forward but somehow her feet tripped over the saree she was wearing and she fell forward fast. She shut her eyes anticipating the pain but it didn't come. Instead she felt a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist and she opened her eyes to look into Shiva's dark ones, the world fading away into a blurry background.

The silence that followed Raavi's fall was broken by Prafulla's screams.

"Hey mhara Bhogilal!!! Ae Raavi! Kya kiya tune hei?? Dev ke saath rasam karni thi! Pati ke chote bhai ke saath nahi!! Yeh kya ho gaya!!!"

Raavi looked at the now empty vessel in her hand and then at Shiva's arm still around her waist. She turned to look at the idol, now dripping with the milk she dropped. She was supposed to perform this ritual with Dev, not with Shiva. So why does this not feel wrong?

Shiva let her go as soon as she straightened up and hurriedly walked away, ignoring all the stares behind his back.

Raavi blinked back her tears at Shiva's easy dismissal. Dhara saw her tear-filled eyes and mistaking it for distress because of the ritual, hugged her.

"Koi baat nahi Raavi. Shivji ko doodh hi toh chadhane the. Isme itna pareshan mat ho. Tune parikrama karte waqt Dev ko yaad kar liya naa bas. Chalo tum dono fir se ek baar doodh chadha do."

Raavi looked at Dhara startled when she talked about Dev. She didn't think of Dev while performing that ritual either. In fact ever since the morning episode with Shiva and that girl, she hadn't thought of Dev even once. She kept her eyes on her feet as she did the ritual with Dev, a horrifying dread filling her. Something is terribly amiss.

........to be continued

Apologies for the errors. Didn't proofread. 😬😁🙈

Reviews are appreciated. 💖