Raavi wiped the kitchen countertops distractedly. The clock on the wall said 11:30 pm. The store closed hours ago. Gaumbi and Dev had had their dinner and gone off to their respective rooms. So where was Shiva? And why wasn't anyone worried? Was this something he did on a regular basis? Was he in some sort of trouble? Fear gripped her heart at the thought of something happening to him. No matter how angry she gets at him, that doesn't change the fact that he is important to her even now. Raavi took his plate and put it in the refrigerator. She'd warm it up when he comes home.

She walked into her - their room and she was hit by an onslaught of bittersweet memories. How they started their marriage by throwing water on their bed so that the other can be uncomfortable; how they progressed from there - caring for each other, trying to make the other's life easier, wanting to be around each other; and how everything went downhill from there - hurting, insulting, pushing each other. What could be worse than this? The person she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, hated her beyond reason.

It had been 12 hours since Raavi came back to Pandya Niwas but she knew this no longer felt like home. They all hated her, even her Dhara Di - the one who always forgave her no matter how big Raavi's mistakes were. Not this time though. This time she wasn't just her Dhara di; she was a mother too. A mother who would do anything to protect her baby; the one who Raavi unknowingly put at risk. But she was here now. To right the wrongs. Even if they don't want her, she'd still be here. Doing what she was supposed to do.

But more than anyone else, she was scared of his reactions - his famous anger. So when Shiva finally entered their room and looked at her, Raavi sat up straighter in her agitation. She, however, got the shock of her life when instead of his scowling face, he gave her a dazzling smile - almost stopping her heart. He walked over to their bed and sat down near her, still smiling and Raavi found herself smiling back at him.

"Aa gayi tu?" He asked still smiling.

"Haan?" Her answer seemed like a question but Shiva didn't seem to notice.

"Aaj itne dino ke baad? Kaha thi itne time tak?"

"Huh?" Raavi was confused.

"Khair chod wo sab. Pata hai maine tujhe kitna yaad kiya? Jab se tu gayi hai kuch accha nahi lagta mujhe." He almost pouted and Raavi couldn't help but laugh - both in shock and his adorable expressions. He glared at her and she quickly composed herself. "Chipkali! Daant fad rahi hai mere dukh mein? Tujhse na yahi ummeed thi mujhe. Yaha tere bina mera yeh haal hai aur tu mere imagination mein bhi mera mazaak uda rahi hai."

Raavi's eyes widened when the mystery of his behaviour was revealed. He thought she was a figment of his imagination?!? Did he miss her so much that he imagined her so vividly? Her heart thudded at that thought. Was this the first time or did this happen more often? No this had to have happened more than once, otherwise he wouldn't be talking to her this freely. He'd probably answer all her questions if she asked, Raavi realised suddenly.

"Kya hua? Aaj itni chup kyun hai? Baat karne ka mood nahi hai?" Shiva asked her again.

"Nahi woh baat nahi hai. Tu bata. Kaha tha itni der?" Raavi asked looking at him.

"Hmmm.....woh bas man accha nahi lag raha tha toh apne ped ke paas chala gaya tha. Socha hamesha ki tarah tu waha ayehi but tu nahi aayi. Toh main ghar aa gaya. Aur tu yaha mil gayi." Shiva grinned at her and Raavi felt her heart melting for him. He was such a pure being.

Raavi didn't want to break his illusion but him being hungry didn't sit well with her. "Accha tu khana kha le chal. Main teri plate laga deti hu." Raavi got up but Shiva grabbed her hand and pulled her back.

"Nahi bhookh nahi hai. Tu baith naa mere paas. Itne dino ke baad aise mili hai. Baat karna hai mujhe tujhse."

"Accha thik hai. Baat karte hai fir." Raavi's heart fluttered in anticipation as she decided to ask the question that plagued her mind ever since that day. "Shiva? Ek baat puchu tujhse?"

"Mmhmm..."

"Tu ne kyun choda mujhe? Itni nafrat karta hai tu?"

"Karta hoon na nafrat! Bohot nafrat karta hoon." Raavi felt a sinking feeling in her guts as her worst fears were being realized when Shiva spoke again. "Khud se nafrat karta hoon main. Kyunki main tere layak nahi bann saka. Tu jo chahti thi woh nahi bann saka. Tujhe compromise karte hue kaise dekhta, Raavi? Jis ladki ki khushi se meri khushi ho use aise ghut ghut ke jeete kaise dekh sakta tha?"

"Agar meri itni parwa thi toh mujhe choda kyun? Kyun kaha ki main-main characterless hoon?" Raavi choked on her words and Shiva hugged her immediately.

"Ae shhhhh! Tujhe kitni baar kaha hai. Main nahi sochta aisa tere baare mein! Tujhe pata toh hai sab kuch!! Phir bhi yeh sab kyun puch rahi hai?"

"Kya pata hai? Mujhe kuch nahi pata!"

"Nahi pata? Sab kuch toh bata chuka hoon. Phir kaise nahi pata? Tu meri Raavi hi hai naa?" Shiva eyed her suspiciously and Raavi chuckled before nodding. He stared at her for a long time before nodding his agreement.

He lied down on the bed and patted the space next to him, "Tujhe toh pata hai jabse tu gayi hai main yaha soya nahi. Tu chali mat jaana thik hain? Aaj yahi ruk jaa mere saath."

Raavi lied down next to him as her heart broke a bit for him. Was he suffering so much in her absence? He pined for her just as she pined for him. And yet he never said a word. Never let anyone know just how much he was broken. A tear rolled down and Shiva looked at her in concern. He immediately wiped away her tears and pulled her closer to him.

"Ae gadheri! Ro kyun rahi hai?" Raavi shook her head unable to say what she wanted to. "Aise royegi toh Chipkali lagegi. Ab rona bandh kar, ok?" Shiva said wrapping an arm around her and pulling her closer. Raavi nodded, burrowing further into him.

"Shiva?"

"Hmm?"

"Agar uss din main nahi jaati, divorce papers par sign nahi karti toh kya tu mujhe, humari shaadi ek chance deta? Kya mujhe apnane ki koshish karta?"

"Tujhe toh maine bohot pehle hi apna liya tha, Raavi. Mere dil mein tu ne bohot pehle hi apni jagah bana li thi. Main hi tere dil mein apne liye jagah nahi bana paya." Shiva sighed and Raavi felt another jolt of shock. Shiva liked her?? Her husband fancied her and she had no idea?? And that idiot thought she didn't like him? Did he not know her?? Before she could berate him for his thoughts he continued, "Agar uss din tu papers sign nahi karti main aur bura bann jaata pann papers toh sign karake hi chodta. Kuch bhi karta lekin tujhe iss majboori ke rishte mein nahi rehne deta. Tu better deserve karti hai Raavi. Tu best deserve karti hai. Main kaise tujhe teri khushiyon se durr rakhta?"

"Aur tujhe kyun lagta hai ki tu mere liye best nahi ho sakta.?" Raavi couldn't help but ask.

Shiva looked at her suspiciously again, "Aaj tujhe kya ho gaya hai? Aisi behki behki baatein kyun kar rahi hai? Waise toh meri baat se agree karti hai. Tu bhi maanti hai hum dono mein koi compatibility nahi. Toh aaj yeh kaunsa naya gaana gaa rahi hai?"

Raavi stared at him in shock. Was this his perception of her? Did he think she was so superficial? "Shiva main tujhe itni selfish lagti hu kya?"

Shiva looked at her in shock, "Pagal hai kya? Tu duniya ki akhri ladki hogi jise main selfish kahunga Raavi. Tere jitna bada dil shayad hi kisi ka hoga. Arre tu ne toh Dhara Bhabhi aur Gaumbi ke liye apna kamra chod diya. Unke kamre ke liye apne gehne tak bechne chali thi! Tujhe main selfish kahunga??"

Raavi's eyes widened, "Pann tu ne toh kaha tha main yeh sab teri insult karne ke liye kar rahi thi. Tujhe chor bol ri thi. Tel masalon se dikkat thi isliye kamra choda tha."

"Woh sab toh kehna para naa, taaki tu mujhse tang aa jaye. Sacchi mein thode tere baare mein aisa sochunga. Pata hai, uss din mujhe kitna proud feel hua tha! Jaha Rishita Bhabhi bathroom ke liye lad rahi thi, wahi meri Raavi Gaumbi-Bhabhi ke liye apne gehne bechne chali thi." Raavi's heart fluttered at 'meri Raavi'. Is this how Shiva addressed her in his mind? His Raavi? Isn't this what she always wanted? To belong to someone the way they belong to her? And she wanted that to be with Shiva. She wanted to be his Raavi; just like she wanted to claim him as her Shiva.

Raavi snapped out of her thoughts when Shiva nudged her. "Ae Chipkali! Kya beech beech mein silent mode mein kyun chali jaati hai? Chal abhi so jaa. Mujhe subah jaldi uthna hai."

"Shiva khana?"

"Nahi khana. Main bohot thak gaya hu. Abhi sone de mujhe. Tu bhi so jaa." Shiva mumbled, before pulling her closer, her back to his front - one arm carelessly wrapped around her and his face found the crook of her neck, inhaling her fragrance deeply. He was out within minutes. Raavi, however, couldn't sleep. Back in her maasi's place she'd often imagine this moment, the what ifs. What if they never separated? What if they tried to make the marriage work? What if they had married for love? What would it feel like to have a husband who loved and respected her? She cried herself to sleep, night after night, praying and wishing for one tiny ray of hope.

And tonight.... tonight in his arms, she found everything she had ever wished for. A husband who respected her and was proud of her. If only he had said all these a few months back, things would have been different. But she understood his position and why he did what he did. Raavi knew she failed as a wife. She couldn't see his pain. But no more. Come tomorrow things will be different. She'd make him see sense even if she has to shackle them both together. This time she won't let him go.

Shiva shifted in his sleep, somehow snuggling even closer and Raavi relaxed in his arms before slowly drifting off to sleep.

*****

Shiva woke up the next morning alone in his - their room. She was gone. Just like every other time. He got up and stretched, feeling surprisingly refresh. For the first time in months, he got a complete night's sleep. He was just about to go out when he saw his clothes, all ironed and neatly laid on the bed. He frowned. Dhara Bhabhi wasn't supposed to do all this. Overworking herself wasn't good for the baby. He walked into the kitchen, intending to have a talk with her.

"Bhabhi aapne mere kapde-" Shiva halted in his tracks to see Raavi handing a cup of tea to Krish, and he froze. He was rooted to his spot, unable to move, immobile. Oh no! Oh god no! She wasn't a mirage. She was very real. She was here, in flesh! Oh no! Shiva was hyperventilating but he didn't care. All his words from last night came crashing down on him, and he was finding it difficult to breathe. Raavi rushed over to him when she realised he was having trouble breathing.

"Shiva! Shiva tu thik hai??" Raavi kept rubbing his back. "Krish paani!" She screamed. Shiva felt the cool glass on his lips and he gulped down the water. "Tu thik hai Shiva?" Shiva heard her ask and he managed to nod.

"Woh-main-tu yaha-kab?" Shiva stuttered.

"Woh main kal aayi. Dhara di akeli padh gayi thi isliye maine socha main yaha aa jau." She replied.

They stood there in silence for a long time before Shiva spoke, "R-Raavi main....woh kal pata nahi....bohot kuch keh diya....mujhe laga....woh tu.... mujhe nahi pata tha...woh...sorry...." Shiva finished somehow.

Raavi smirked. Her husband was such an adorable li'l bean. "Tu itna kya ghabra raha hai Shiva? Main teri Raavi hi toh hoon."

Shiva's eyes shot up to her, heart thundering. Did she mean what he thought she meant? He saw her give him her beautiful smile, the one he'd been craving for ever since she left and Shiva couldn't help but smile back in return. She touched his hand on the counter and entwined their pinkies together. "Kal dinner kiya bagair hi so gaya tha tu. Bhookh lagi hogi naa? Nashta laga doon?"

He nodded and she smiled again, squeezed his hand and pushed him out of the kitchen. "Jaa naha ke aa. Tab tak nashta lag jayega. Fir mujhe college chod ana, thik hai?"

Shiva smiled and nodded before walking out of the kitchen. He knew it's all going to be chaos but for a peaceful moment, he truly believed that one day, everything would turn out all right.

~Fin

That's it for this one folks! I'll see you guys in the next one! Apologies for the errors. Didn't proofread.

~ Love, Kia