Chapter 21

unicornwriter

@unicornwriter

CHAPTER 20 : INTO YOUR ARMS

Pallavi stood infront of the mirror satisfied with the work she has done over her friend. Shivika thanked her for helping with the maharashtrian look as she side hugged her, leaving the room for some important call. That is when Pallavi took in her own form. She wasn't wearing something too much. It was a simple Navy Blue anarkali that Aaji bought a few days back for her. With her hairs flowing freely and some jhumkas to pair with the dress. She was all set to go. The only thing that was left was to have a final check on the food. Kaku had once narrated her the importance of Ganpati Dinners in thieir locality. Every household got one chance every night to bring in a beautiful extravagant affair where everyone would eat together in the pandal area.

Pallavi greeted everyone that she met while making her way towards the backside of the house. Most of the dishes were all set and prepared by the vening such as Bharli Vangi, Sol Kadhi and alot more. The only thing that was left were the Kadhi that she was supposed to help the bawarchi prepare. She tucked her dupatta to one side as she graced herself infront of the big bowl of besan mix to prepare pakoda's to be put into the kadhi when she heard kaku call her.

"Pallu sunn Aaji kheer ka puch rahi hai?" Kaku called out to her from the backgate.

"Woh fridge main hai kaku . Maine abhi dry fruits add nahin kre hai. Aap-" but before she could complete her sentence, she was pulled onto one side and the next people heard was a loud scream. 

Everyone ran outside as fast as they could to understand the commotion. Aaji heaved a sigh of relief as she found her dear daughter tucked and secured in the arms of Raghav. He pulled her as close as he could while shooting daggers at the poor househelp. Apparently while Pallavi had been talking to Kaku, the young guy didn't realise how close she was , so he dumped a huge load of palak into the big frying pan filled with hot oil only for it to get splashed out due to the load. All by the grace of Ganpati, Raghav had been walking by the place when he noticed it and hence pulled Pallavi before she got burnt. His heart thumping at it's maximum.

"Pallu Pallu" Aaji came running followed by the others , scared for her.

"Pallavi. Tu-" Shiva ran towards her but stopped midway as he saw their position.

"Tum theek hai na?" Raghav pulled away as he stroked Pallavi's face and her hairs, the odd feeling of watching her get hurt settling in at a high speed.

"Raghav main-" Pallavi was shocked and surprised with the sudden turn of event.

"farhad! Farhad" Raghav shouted not listening to her as his best friend emerged from the crowd.

'Ji Anna." he asked knowing there was going to be an order from him.

"Doctor ko bula abhi. usko bol fatafat aaye. Pallavi ko check kren. Usko kahi bhi chot na laga ho." Raghav ordered in a panicking voice as he still held her close not ready to let go off her.

"Raghav main theek hoon." Pallavi tried assuring him.

"Tum se koi nahi puch raha hai. Abhi tumko feel nahin ho raha hoga agar thora sa bhi jala hoga toh doctor treat krdega." Raghav denied as he took the glass of water from kaku, helping her drink it.

"Lekin meri baat-" Pallavi tried her luck again only to be interrupted by Aaji this time.

"Anna main doctor ko call karta hoon." Farhad left to call.

"Raghav theek keh raha hai. Tujhe lag jata toh. Kyun aai tu idhar? Raghav tum iski mat suno doctor ko bulao aur tu andar chal chup chaap." Aaji scolded taking her hand into hers. Pallavi gave in to the love and care of these people around her as she moved away from Raghav. Her fingers brushing past the hand that secured her a few moments ago, but she turned back in surprise as he flinched.

"Kya hua?" she asked with concern.

"Kuch nahin." Raghav pulled it back instantly.

"Dikhao mujhe." Pallavi demanded leaving Aaji's side as she took a step forward to him.

"Nahin main theek hai tum chalo andar." Raghav looked down.

"Raghav dikhao mujhe." Pallavi pulled his hands towards her only to watch a red burn on his skin. In the moment that he was acting as her sheild he hadn't realised that even though he had saved her from the oil, he had burnt his own hand.

"Oh my god Raghav tumhara haath toh jal-" Pallavi looked up at him watching him look back at her with same concern, "Kaku aap woh anti septic aur baraf lekar aaiye . Aur tum bhi chalo andar." she added pulling him inside while everyone else followed.

As they all got seated in the verandah Pallavi tended to Raghav's wounds as he kept looking at her, his eyes still depicting fear.

"Raghav beta tum theek ho na. Dekho abhi sab theek ho jayega." Aaji held one of his hand as she sat beside him. he looked around to the new family he had yet again found because of HER. The centre of his universe.

"Anna doctor aa gaye hain." Farhad came running back him with a doctor by his side to which Raghav nodded.

"Doctor aap Pallavi ko dekho." Raghav shifted himself a little away so that the doctor could treat Pallavi.

"Chot tumhe lagi hai main theek hoon. Doctor aap pehle Raghav ko dekhiye." Pallavi retorded back.

"Saree Ka Dukaan main behes ke mood main nahin hai abhi. Doctor tum usko dekho pehle." Raghav snapped back.

"Aur tum toh bade superman ho. Ghamandi Rao kahin ke . Bola na doctor pehle tumhe dekhengi." Pallavi stood her ground.

"Ek min ek min doctor aap in dono ko dekhiye." kaka bugged in to which the doctor nodded and got seated between them as she checked them one after the other while these two adults yet 5 year old kids sat glaring at each other. 

The dinner after that was one tensed affair at the beginning until Pallavi assured everyone that everything was fine. She made sure that Raghav got everything that he needed without having to move around with his wound while simultaneously Raghav made sure that Pallavi was fine. Even though the dotor had assured him that she was fine with no injury, he was still concerned. So the entire night they both rounded around each other acting like the other person's nurse until it was finally time to get back to sleep.

Raghav felt a knock on his room door. He walked in wearing his pajamas and a t shirt blowing air over his wound only to come face to face with Pallavi at the other side of the door. He looked at her worried, as he checked her from top to bottom.

"Bahut dard ho raha hai?" she asked in a soft voice.

"Nahin main theek hai." he replied stepping back so that she can come in.

"Yeh ointment hai laga lena better feel hoga." she placed the small tube on the bed side table and turned to leave. Her heart had not been in the right place since the incident happened, she was worried sick for him, so she turned back again to face him.

"Tum kyun aaye mujhe bachane. Tumhe lag gayi na." she complained getting right to the point.

"Aur tumko kuch hone deta. Aisa kaise kar sakta tha main Saree Ka dukaan." he replied with a smile.

"Toh lag jaati na chot. Waise bhi meri hi galti thi, toh seh leti thora dard." she scolded him.

"Pallavi main tumko 2 second ke liye bhi pain main nahin dekh sakta. Agar tumko kuch ho jata na toh yeh pain jo abhi hai na usse thousand times zyada tab hota." Raghav replied with honesty standing closer to her.

Pallavi was speechless at his confession. She knew he might defend himself but this, this reply from him was new for her. He couldn't see her in pain. Why? 

"Ointment rakah hai laga lena." she replied walking away and Raghav hadn't expected anything else. Until he confessed to her, his real feelings, he won't get the real answer too.

Next Day

8 p.m.

Pallavi had succesfully avoided Raghav after the previous night, his words coming back to her over and over again. he would be hurt if she was hurt. What does that even mean? It was like he didn't remember the times he was the one causing her the pain. What changed suddenly? She was busy in her thoughts when she suddenly heard Farhad on a call with someone, someone she had been missing aot lately.

"Han Amrutha main jaldi aane ka try krunga." Farhad replied.

"Han han tum please Amma ko check krti rehna. Bas kuch din aur." he continued answering her when he saw a shadow  behind him. Turning back he saw Pallavi with moist eyes standing beside the door, taken aback when she realised he had caught her. He knew she was missing her sister. Apparantly during the time they were exposing Mandaar, Pallavi and Amrutha had reonciled becoming the sisters that they were always supposed to be. Watching Pallavi die, had been a painful experience for Amrutha as well, she had cried at times hugging him begging him to get her sister back.

Pallavi saw farhad moved closer to her as he took his phoen away from his ears bringing it infront of her an dkeeping it on speaker. She could now hear the joyous voice of her sister who was maybe warning farhad of something.

"Farhad tum jaante ho na Aai kitne sawaal karti rehti hai. Unhe tumse milna hai." she complained to which pallavi gave a look to Farhad and he shyed away.

"Jaanta hoon Amrutha. Iss baar aunga toh milunga unse. Pakka wada." Farhad answered.

"I know. Main gussa nahin ho rahi hoon tumpar bass agar Pallavi yahan hoti toh sabko hamare rishte ke liye sambhalna asaan hota. Hum sabse zyada toh woh khush hoti. Kabhi kabhi lagta hai ki woh hai, yahi kahin hamare paas, bass kuch waqt le rahi hai." Amrutha replied her voice quivering now. Pallavi felt a sob escape her mouth as she covered it.

"Bhabhi yahi hai Amrutha." farhad replied looking directly into Pallavi's eyes who now had a tensed expression, "bahut jald sab theek hoga dekhna. Woh hamesha hamare saath thi , hain aur rahengi." he nodded in sincerity as he cancelled the call.

"Amrutha baut yaad karti hai aapko aur baaki sab bhi." Farhad broke the silence between them.

"Jaanti hoon. Main bhi bahut miss karti hoon." Pallavi smield at him as they both exchanged looks and walked out to the neighbours house for dinner.

An hour later

Raghav escaped the clutches of his dinner hosts as he pulled out a bottle from his cupbaorad making his way up for his plan. He opened the terrace door satisifed on finding Shiva sitting alone at the edge. He had decided to take out the truth from him after getting him drunk while he would drink green tea masked as alchohol, a trick that he learned from his Saree ka Dukaan.

"uhh hmm." he cleared his throat to grab Shiva's attention who scoffed at him. fair enough.

"Tu idhar kya kr raha hai?" Shiva asked.

"Bad day?" raghav counter questioned.

"terese koi matlab nahin hai jaa idhar se." Shiva snapped back turning his gaze.

"Main bass yaha thora chill karne aaya tha." Raghav replied openeing correct bottle for him. "Main bhi jab upset hota hai toh daaru se dard bhulata hai." he added.

" Tujhe kis baat ka dard hai " Shiva mocked.

"Ki tu mera Pallavi ke saath hai." Raghav pushed the other bottle to him.
"Teri pallavi. Woh teri nahin hai." Shiva gave him a look.

"Yeh tujhe lagta hai kyunki tera galatfehmi hai." raghav knew he had pressed the correct chord. Shiva in a reflex grabbed the bottle chugging it in.

"Aur yeh baat tujhe pata hai. tera Hyderabad ka rule hai kya." Shiva taunted taking another swig. Raghav just had to wait for this expensive bottle to kick in and he'll get his answers.

2 more chhugs down and Shiva had started becoming weary while Raghav smirked to himself.

"Toh tu Pallavi se pyaar karta hai?" Raghav asked looking at his enemy intently.

"Pyaar" Shiva scoffed as he rummaged through his pocket for his wallet pulling it out.

"Main bahut pyaar karta hai." he opened his wallet as he stroked the picture, raghav felt his insides burn and every nerve of him telling him to push that man down to his death.

"Tera itna himmat." he roared pulling his wallet only to get shocked by a new girl looking at him from a passport size frame.

"Yeh kaun hai?" raghav asked in confusion.

"Aastha. Mera wife." came Shiva's reply, who looked as sober as he could, as if he was never drunk.

This was indeed long. Sorry about that.

So who's Aastha?