Krish watched Shiva slam the flour sack as if it were his greatest enemy. He sighed. It was closing time but apparently Shiva was in no hurry to go home. And why would he? Everything there reminded him of Raavi Bhabhi. And with the rest of the family giving him the cold shoulder, he was spending more and more time at the store. At least here he had the brief respite of distractions.

It's been weeks since his brother and his bhabhi had separated, and they had only spiralled into their own pits of despair. Shiva as usual hid his desolation under the mask of anger. But Krish knew. His brother's heart was breaking a little bit each day he was apart from the woman he....loves?

On the other hand, Raavi Bhabhi who had always been a breath of fresh air, now looked like death warmed over. His conversation with her the day before told him of one thing at least. She missed Shiva almost as much as he did. And she was just as, if not more, stubborn as he. Krish wanted to hold both their heads and slam them together, but he didn't want to die so young. But when Shiva broke the 10th bottle of cold drink that day, Krish had had enough.

"Bas kar Shiva! Bohot ho gaya tera tamasha! Kabse dekh raha hu teri harkatein. Arre! Agar itni yaad aa rahi hai Bhabhi ki toh chala jaa naa unke paas.!" Krish shouted at him, before taking a deep breath. "Dekh Shiva, tu Bhabhi se ek baar maafi maang lega woh tujhe maaf kar degi bhai! Wapas aa jayegi woh. Tu bas ek baar bolke toh dekh!"

Shiva huffed, "Krish, tujhe pehle bhi bola hain. Yeh sab mein mat padh tu. Mera masla hai main dekh lunga. Tere mashware ki zaroorat nahi hai."

"Tu mujhe chup kara lega Shiva lekin sach toh yahi hai ki tu Raavi Bhabhi ke bina nahi reh sakta. Man le yeh baat bhai. Itna kya ego?"

"Krish." Shiva warned.

"Nahi! Bohot sun li teri baat! Aise tu sirf khud ko aur Raavi Bhabhi ko takleef de raha hai. Tera kya chala jayega agar tu yeh maan le ki tujhe Raavi Bhabhi ki fikr hai!?! Tu maan kyun nahi leta ki tujhe Bhabhi acchi lagti hai, pasand hai woh tujhe??"

Shiva slammed his palms on the table, "Haan lagti hai woh mujhe acchi! Karne laga tha use pasand! Toh kya ho gaya?? Isse yeh sach toh nahi badal jayega ki woh nahi karti mujhe pasand. Yeh sach toh nahi badal jayega ki woh iss majboori ke rishte mein fas gayi hai. Main use azaad karna chahta hu. Use uske hisse ki khushi mile, uske liye mujhe jo karna pade main karunga."

"Chahe isse Raavi Bhabhi ko takleef hi kyun naa ho?" Krish couldn't help but ask.

"Do din ki takleef hai Krish. Waqt ke saath sab thik ho jayega. Ek baar use uske pasand ka insaan mil jaye, yeh chann mahine use yaad bhi nahi rahenge. Ek bure khwab ki tarah bhul jayegi mujhe."

"Shiva?" Krish started to say something but Shiva cut him off.

"Nahi Krish. Main uske layak nahi hoon. Aur woh compromise karti rahe, yeh main nahi dekh sakta. Iss zabardasti ke rishte ke pinjre se use azaad karna chahta hoon. Hum dono ek dusre ke liye sahi nahi hai."

"Aur yeh decide karne ka haq tujhe kisne diya?" A voice came from behind him, and Shiva swivelled, eyes locking with a pair of accusing hazel eyes, staring at him with innumerable questions in them.

*****

Raavi stood in front of him, invading his personal space as his words played in her mind on a loop. Out of everything, the thing that shocked her the most was the fact that he thought she'd forget him like a bad dream. Was it that easy for him? Did he think it was that easy for her? Did he not know just how much she misses him?

Krish cleared his throat, "Woh-main thoda bahar jaa raha hoon. Aap log baat karo." He said, walking out of the room.

Raavi's expression became strained as she continued to look at him, the faint hint of tears hidden inside of her eyes. "Toh bata Mr. Shiva Pandya! Tu kab se mera dimaag padhne laga? Mere decisions bhi tu hi lega ab? Apne life ka decision bhi lene ki aazadi nahi mujhe?"

When Shiva wouldn't look at her, Raavi huffed in anger, turning him forcefully towards her, "Main kuch puch rahi hoon, Shiva! Mujhe meri khud ki zindagi ka faisla lene ka haq nahi?? Main jo humare rishte ko sawarne ki koshish kar rahi thi, uski koi qadr nahi??"

"Majboori ki," Shiva finally mumbled.

"Kya kaha tu ne?" Raavi yelled at him.

Shiva shouted, "Maine kaha majboori ka rishta. Tu ek zabardasti ka rishta sawaarne ki koshish kar rahi thi, Raavi. Jiski koi value hi nahi hai."

"Aur yeh kisne decide kiya? Tu ne? Tu ne keh diya toh woh sach ho gaya?" Raavi glanced over at Shiva, who looked just as defeated as she felt.

"Toh kya galat kaha?? Yeh sacch nahi ki humari shaadi zabardasti ki thi? Yeh sacch nahi ki tu mujhse shaadi nahi karna chahti thi? Ya kya yeh sacch nahi ki tu ne yeh shaadi sirf aur sirf apne Mausapa ke liye ki?" Shiva's face distorted in pain as he broke their eye contact and staring towards the ground.

"Woh toh 6 mahine pehle ka sacch tha, Shiva! Kya yeh 6 mahino mein tere mere darmiyaan kuch nahi badla?" said Raavi, her eyes wet and pleading.

Shiva gulped, his throat dry and in pain. He clenched his eyes shut. "Usse kya fark padta hai, Raavi. Sach toh yahi hai ki main woh nahi bann sakta jo tu chahti hai. Nahi bann sakta tere unn doston ki tarah gentlemen. Nahi badal sakta khudko."

Raavi took a rattling breath, trying to relieve her aching heart, "Mujhe fark padta hai, Shiva! Tu samjhta kyu nahi hai!!! Main tujhe nahi badalna chahti. Nahi chahye mujhe koi aur. Mujhe bas tu chahye."

"Rehne de Raavi. Tu majboori mein koi faisla legi, yeh mujhe mazoor nahi. Meri wajah se ab aur koi compromise nahi karegi tu. Waise bhi yeh rishta zabardasti se juda tha na? Toh ab isi rishte ko apni marzi se todte hai." That look in his eyes made her hurt right along with him, his words shocking her to the core.

"Chali jaa yaha se Raavi. Tu aur main dono jaante hai humara saath hona hum dono ke liye sahi nahi hai. Tu mujhe nafrat ke alawa kuch nahi de sakti. Aur tujhe main apne liye taras khane nahi dunga. Mujhe yeh rishta khairaat mein nahi chahye." Shiva turned away from her.

"Shiva-" Raavi started to speak when Shiva jerked her hand off.

Raavi's eyes began to flood as she stared vacantly in front of her, "Thik hai Shiva. Tu durr jaana chahta hai naa? Toh yahi sahi. Lekin ek baat yaad rakhna, Shiva. Kabhi kabhi jiski khwaahish karo woh mil bhi jaata hai. Shayad Bholenath teri khwaahish poori kar de. Shayad main sachme tujhe itni durr chali jau ki kabhi mera saaya bhi tujhe pareshaan naa kare," Raavi whispered, her heart feeling heavy as she stepped away from him, rushing out into the night.

Shiva watched her go, his eyes filled with sadness and regret as he thought of the reality of their situation. They were doomed from the start, even before they began. They never had a chance.

*****

Raavi tried to muffle her cries. She didn't want everyone to wake up. But his words kept hitting her right where it hurts, even hours after she's heard them. Pity. Shiva thought she pitied him and that's why she was in that relationship. How did she fail so bad? How did she fail to make him understand that it wasn't pity but love?

"Shayad meri qismat mein har baar adhoori mohabbat hi likhi hai. Jisse pyaar kiya, apna bana hi nahi paayi."

Raavi sobbed into her pillows as she draped Shiva's shirt over her like a blanket. It smelled like him. Spicy with a hint of citrus. But the smell was fading away bit by bit. And one day it will disappear completely. As if it never existed. Raavi got up with a start. No!. She can't do that. She cannot exist in a world where he isn't there and she wouldn't give up without at least trying. She would tell him her feelings if that's the last thing she does. She's not dying with regrets in her heart. Raavi swiped at her tears and grabbed her phone, dialing a number.

"Hello?"

"Krish....."

*****

Shiva put away the supplies, once again working through the lunch hour. He couldn't afford to take a break. Taking a break means indulging in her thoughts which in turn gives way to a crippling amount of pain. And Shiva was done feeling so absolutely helpless.

His phone rang and Shiva picked it up absently.

"Sh-shiva....woh main.....shivaa....." Krish's voice rang out, clearly panicked.

"Krish! Kya hua? Itna haaf kyu raha hai?!" Shiva was worried.

"Shiva! Woh Bhabhi.....woh Raavi Bhabhi....!"

His heart stopped, "Raavi?? Kya hua Raavi ko??? Krish!! Bata kya hua??" Shiva yelled at him, unable to stamp his rising panic.

"Shiva woh Bhabhi.....tu jaldi aa.....Shiva woh mandir.....ghat....."

The call disconnected at that moment and Shiva's heart froze as terror gripped it like a vice. His Raavi. What if she is in danger?? Her words played in his mind on a loop.

Kabhi kabhi jiski khwaahish karo woh mil bhi jaata hai...... Shayad Bholenath teri khwaahish poori kar de....... Shayad main sachme tujhe itni durr chali jau ki kabhi mera saaya bhi tujhe pareshaan naa kare....

No! He won't let anything happen to her. Not while he was still alive. Shiva grabbed his keys and rushed out of the store, not even bothering to answer Gaumbi's questions. He drove like a maniac, nearly hitting a few trees on the way - the 10 minutes journey feeling like the harshest punishment from purgatory.

The first thing Shiva saw when he entered the temple was Krish, standing there looking worried. Shiva rushed over to him. Grabbing his arms, "Raavi kaha hai??"

When Krish didn't answer, Shiva felt his heart stop in fear. Did something happen to her? "Ae Gadhera!! Muh mein dahi jama li hai? Bolta kyu nahi kuch?? Raavi kaha hai??" Shiva was losing his patience. Where on earth was his Chipkali!?!

"Shiva?" Her voice called from behind him and Shiva turned around swiftly. When he saw her standing there, he rushed over to her, engulfing her into a hug.

"Raavi, tu thik hai? Kuch hua hai kya? Sab thik hai naa?? Tujhe kuch hua toh nahi??" Shiva's voice was panicked as he gave her a once over, checking for injuries. She looked relatively unharmed. Only tired and pale.

"Main thik hoon, Shiva," Raavi placed her hands on either side of his face. "Sab thik hai. Tu shant ho ja."

And that's when Shiva noticed the setting. The hanging flowers, the havan kund in the mandap, the priest chanting mantras. He looked at Raavi who, unlike her usual outfits, was wearing a pink saree. The same pink saree she was wearing in the khandhar, while they were fighting for their lives. The same saree Shiva fell asleep holding a few nights ago. Shiva turned to Krish who gulped in fear at Shiva's rising anger.

"Woh Raavi Bhabhi ne mangi thi saree... toh maine de diye..... Sh-Shiva.....unhi ki saree hai," Krish mumbled.

"Yeh sab kya tamasha hai?" Shiva tried to control his anger, now that he realised these two made a fool out of him. Here he was going insane; worried that something had happened to her but she was teaming up with his own brother to pull a prank on him.

"Tu ne hi kaha tha naa, ke zabardasti se juda hai rishta? Toh isliye yeh sab.....Uss waqt majboori se juda tha. Iss baar marzi se jod lete hai." Raavi said, as she stepped up beside him.

Shiva glowered at her, "Tujhe yeh sab mazak lag raha hai?? Tere liye toh sab mazaak hai naa? Chahe shaadi ho, ya logon ki feelings? Bas ek mazaak!"

Raavi looked at him in shock, "Yeh kya keh raha hai, Shiva?? Mazaak? Humari shaadi mazaak hai tere liye?? Meri feelings mazaak hai tere liye??"

Shiva laughed mirthlessly, "Teri feelings hi toh hai naa, Raavi jiske liye aaj tak main....... yeh sab tamasha bandh kar aur ghar jaa! Mujhpar taras khaane ki zaroorat nahi hai. Nahi chahye teri meherbaani!" He turned to leave when Raavi grabbed his arm.

"Meherbaani nahi hai, Shiva. Humara sacch hai. Main tere saath rehna chahti hoon. Teri banke jeena chahti hoon. Tu toh kab ka mere dil mein ghar kar gaya, Shiva. Pann tujhe kabhi bata hi nahi paayi. Tere dil mein thodi si jagah nahi bana payi." Raavi choked on her words.

"Pann ab aisa nahi hoga Shiva. Main har mumkin koshish karungi ki tere layak bann jau. Shiva, maine bohot raatein isi ummeed mein bitayi hai ki ek din tu apni nafrat chod ke mere paas wapas aa jaye. Kabhi kisi se nahi kaha ki mere dil mein kya hai. Pann aaj tujhe batana chahti hoon. Shiva, tu kab ka meri zindagi bann chuka hai. Kya main teri zindagi ka hissa bhi nahi bann sakti?"

Shiva stared at her astonished. How did-? When? Why? She wanted to be a part of his world. Did this idiot not know she was already his entire universe?? Shiva turned away trying to swallow the lump in his throat.

Raavi's heart faltered when he turned away. "Shiva," she called out in one last attempt.

Shiva looked back at her, gazing into her eyes. Never in all of their time together had he ever seen such desperation in them. She clasped his hand in hers, barely holding together.

"Kya maine bohot deir kar di? Kya maine tujhe hamesha ke liye kho diya hai?" She asked, no longer trying to hold back her tears; instead letting it stream down in torrents.

Shiva's dark eyes gazed into hers, piercing and serious. She could feel her heart beating incredibly fast as she waited for his answer, her palms sweating as they held onto his firmly.

"Gadheri!"

Shiva released her hand and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. She stiffened at first before going lax in his arms. "Tu abhi bhi nahi samjhi naa?" Raavi looked up, confusion pooling in her eyes and Shiva chuckled. "Arre tu kab ka mere dil mein ghuske naachne lagi thi. Kab tujhse pyaar ho gaya, pata hi nahi chala. Tabhi toh mujhe itni takleef hui jab yeh ehsaas hua ki tu compromise kar rahi hai. Main compromise nahi, teri choice banna chahta tha."

Raavi looked him. She blinked. Her heart, such a broken and empty place, suddenly brimmed over with happiness. She stood on her tip toes, wrapping her arms around his neck, and pecking his nose, "Gadhera tu kab ka meri choice, meri khwaahish, meri zaroorat, meri duniya bann chuka tha. Meri mohabbat bann chuka tha tu, Shiva. Jitni takleef mere Dev se saath shaadi tootne pe bhi naa hui, usse kahi jyada takleef tujhse durr jaake hui hai. Main nahi reh sakti tujhse durr. Kabhi bhi nahi."

As they gazed into each other's eyes, Shiva could see the sincerity in her eyes and he could not hold it in any longer. He grabbed her chin, tilting it up as he bent down, pulling her lips into his. When they broke apart, Raavi intertwined their fingers together and Shiva's heart melted a little at the sweet gesture.

"Toh tu shaadi kar raha hai na mujhse?" Raavi asked innocently and Shiva couldn't help but chuckle.

"Ae Chipkali. Hum already shaadi shuda hai!"

"Nahi. Ab tujhe main zabardasti ki shaadi bolne ka mauka nahi dene waali. Toh aaj apni marzi se shaadi kar le mujhse. Warna main ghar nahi aungi." Raavi pouted.

"Ae Gadheri! Aise blackmail karegi toh yeh bhi toh zabardasti hi ho gayi naa!" Raavi gaped at him, jaw slaked and Shiva laughed outright. She pouted again in annoyance. "Chal thik hai. Mooh mat sada. Kar lete hai shaadi."

Raavi squealed and flung herself into his arm. Krish, who was observing from afar, came forward and cleared his throat, "Agar aap dono ka roothna manana ho gaya ho toh chale? Pandit ji bhi bore ho gaye hai."

Shiva smacked his head and Krish frowned, "Ek toh itni help karo inki aur upar se maar bhi khao! Utha lo mere chote hone ka faida."

"O nautanki. Yeh mujhe heart attack dene ke liye tha. Aaj ke prank ka hisab toh main lunga bacchu!" Shiva glared at them and they gulped in fear.

Shiva pulled Raavi towards himself, "Chal mujhe nahi pata tha ki shaadi hai. Pann tujhe toh pata tha naa? Toh saj dhaj ke nahi ayi? Yeh saree kyu?"

"Kyu? Main acchi nahi lag rahi?" Raavi looked at him questioningly.

"Nahi woh baat nahi hai....woh.....yeh saree woh....Mukhteshwar...." Shiva took a deep breath before continuing, "Uss din maine tujhe almost kho diya tha, Raavi. Uss din ki yaadein abhi bhi mujhe uss khauf ka ehsaas dilati hai."

Raavi squeezed his hand, "Shiva, uss din tu ne mujhe almost kho dia tha pann uss din tu mujhe almost mil bhi gaya tha naa. Humare beech jo bharose ka rishta bana tha, iss saree ko dekh ke mujhe woh yaad aata hain. Aur aaj isi saree mein main tujhe hamesha ke liye apna bana lena chanti hoon" Raavi smiled at him and Shiva felt his heart skip a beat. "Aur maine tujhse kaha tha naa. Hum purani yaadein nahi mita sakte, pann nayi yaadein toh bana hi sakte hai naa?"

Shiva nodded, wrapping an arm around her. For the rest of his life, he would thank his lucky stars that heaven had seen fit to send this amazing woman in his life, for there could be no other in this world or the next whom he could ever love more ardently than she.


~Fin💖