Standing by each other #ReadersChoiceAwards

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Chapter 1

Vaishali

@MeDHellsAngel

Hi guys

I am back with another story. This idea popped into my mind 2-3 days ago but I was not sure how to pull it. But I finally started penning down in hope of getting ideas and pulled the first chapter successfully.

I am not sure how many parts this piece will contain, so for now I am keeping it a Three shot. Will see how it will turn out.

If you want to see anything in this story then do tell me.

Happy reading guys😊.

Part 1

“Do you think the Universe fights for souls to be together? Some things are too strange and strong to be coincidences”

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‘Nahi Maa. isme Shiva or Krish ki koi galti nahi hai. Yeh sab maine kia tha’ Raavi spoke after calculating all the things and scenarios.

Everyone was shocked to hear that. They all knew the prank was pulled by Shiva and Krish then why Raavi took the blame on herself.

Dhara gasped ‘Raavi jhuth kyu keh rahi hai tu?’

Suman too spoke confused ‘ho kya raha hai yeh? Bhagodi ki beti main janti hu sara kaand tune kia hai toh tu apna samaan bandh or nikal yaha se.’

Raavi flinched hearing that, she saw the look on Shiva’s face and spoke ‘Nahi maa. Dhara di ki isme koi galti nahi hai.’

‘Acha. or tune yeh sab kyu kia? Kuch bhi matlab?’ Suman inquired.

‘Vo..vo.’ ‘Vo us din Rishita ne mujhe kafi kuch kaha tha toh uska badla lene ke liye maine yeh sab kia’ Raavi fumbled, she didn’t meet her eyes because she knew she can’t lie with perfection.

Shiva was shocked when did Rishita said anything to her, he then remembered the day she was crying, so this was the reason she cried the other day. And the thought itself angered him and his fists clenched on its accord.

Rishita came and spoke ‘Seriously Raavi? Maine sorry bola tha na? Phir bhi? Kyu kia tumne aisa Raavi?’

Raavi’s eyes lowered she knew all these accusations, taunts and scoldings she would have to bear ‘I am sorry Rishita’ she mumbled.

Shiva was losing his patience now, firstly this Chipkali didn’t know anything about the plan still she took the blame. Was she even thinking before saying all this? And now this? She apologized to Rishita? He went to Raavi and spoke ‘Tu..’

But Raavi held his hand and gave it a squeeze ‘Bas Shiva or yeh blame tujhe khud par lene ki zarurat nahi hai. Ab baat Dhara di par aa rahi hai or main nahi chahti ki meri harkato ki saza Dhara di ko mile. Please Shiva samajh’ Shiva understood what she said and kept quiet. He literally gulped the anger and stood beside her as if saying ‘We are in this together.’

‘Ye thik nahi kiya tune Raavi. Teri vajah se is bhagodi ki beti ne mere bacho ko mara hai, main tujhe maaf nahi karungi is baat ke liye’ Suman stated.

This brought tears to her eyes and she spoke kneeling down in front of her ‘Sorry maa. Bahut badi galti ho gayi maa.’

Shiva was having a tough time controlling his anger.

‘Is Ne jhooth bola toh bola par tum dono ne iski baat kyu mani?’ Suman asked Shiva and KRish.

They both were numb as they didn’t know what reactions or clarifications to give.

‘MAine kasam di thi maa in dono ko Dhara bhabhi ki isliye inhone meri madad ki’ Raavi said, she couldn’t see the disappointment in her eyes so lowered her eyes.

Krish was about to say something but Shiva signalled him to stay quiet.

Dhara was shocked to see the tables turning but she too kept quiet as she knew she can’t really speak in front of her Mother.

After a long silence, Suman spoke ‘Saza toh milegi. Galti chahe jisne bhi ki ho saza toh milni hai. Raavi.. Ab se lekar ek hafte tak tu is ghar ka hissa toh rahegi par is ghar mein hissa nahi legi.’

Suman continued after seeing everyone’s confused faces ‘MAtlab yeh hai ki khana alag banaegi, alag khaegi. Hum sabke saath aa kar baithegi bhi nahi tu. Akele rahegi. Kisi se baat nahi karegi kuch nahi.’

Raavi nodded her head in a yes ‘Thik hai maa’

‘Maa itni badi saza kyu de rahi hai isko. Bachi hai ho gayi galti jane de na, or vaise bhi kal se puja bhi shuru hai.’ Gautam tried to defend her but Suman didn’t budge from her decision ‘Faisla maine lelia. Or rahi baat puja ki toh jaise ghar mein rahegi vaise hi Puja mein bhi rahegi.’

Shiva said ‘Maa sun na please mat kar aisa.’

Suman said ‘BAhut taras aa raha hai? Ek kaam kar tu bhi apni biwi ke saath reh.’

Raavi nodded her head in a no, she knew that he can’t live without his Dhara di and she did all this for his sake only, okay fine for Dhara di as well but the major reason was he.

‘Shiva kya kar raha hai? Galti meri hai toh main hi saza puri karungi tu please chup kar ja.’ Raavi told him pleading. ‘Maa main ready hu’ she turned to Suman and announced.

‘Shiva tu Krish ke saath shift hoja. Or Gautam Raavi ki zarurat ka sara samaan uske kamre ke piche rakhva de taki vo vahi khana bana le.’ Suman spoke.

Gautam unwillingly said yes to her.

Shiva spoke determined ‘Maa galti Raavi aur maine dono ne ki hai toh saza sirf akele Raavi ko mile thik nahi. Main bhi pura hisedaar hu is saza ka.

‘Dekhle Shiva yeh ek hafta na mujhse mil paega na Dhara se or na hi kisi or se.’ Suman warned her.

Raavi held his hand and stopped him, she whispered ‘Shiva please mat kar aisa’

Shiva jerked her hand softly and spoke ‘MAnzur hai maa. Jab galti ki hai toh saza bhi toh milegi hi na’ Krish was also about to come forward but Shiva and Raavi both nodded their heads at him and took a step backward.

‘Toh thik hai. Ab se leke ek hafte tak koi Shiva Raavi se baat nahi karega or jisne ki phir mera danda or uska sir’ Suman announced the final verdict and instructed Dhara to take her to her room.

***

Raavi was sitting in her room hugging her knees. Her mind said ‘YEh tune kya kia? Uski galti ki saza apne upar kyu li?’

To wich her heart replied ‘Nahi dekha gaya mujhse, vo bhootnath ki jaan basti hai Dhara di mein main nahi dekh pai uska vo utra hua chehra toh keh dia jhuth’

‘Dimag kharab hai kya? ab sabki nafrat jhel paegi kya?’ The thought only sent shivers down her spine. She was not the type of soul that can take hatred but she still took that step just for him.

She slapped herself mentally for saying that. ‘Aisa kuch nahi hai Raavi, tune yeh sab sirf Dhara di ke liye kia’

And before her mind and heart could argue further, the door opened and she noticed Shiva entering. She avoided his burning gaze and picked up her phone to avoid him. But he snatched the phone from her hand and threw it carefully on the bed.

Kya badtameezi hai yeh Shiva?’ Raavi spoke irritatedly.

‘Tu yeh bata niche jo bhi hua kyun kiya? Tune jhuth kyu bola? Vo prank maine or Krish ne kiya tha phir bhi tune blame khud par kyu lia? Kuch soch bhi rahi thi ke nahi? Or us din jo tu ro rahi thi vo Rishita ki vajah se tha?’ HE asked, clenching his teeth.

‘Mujhe us baare mein koi baat nahi karni.’ and she tried to get up but he pulled her back holding her hand.

‘Mujhe karni hai baat. Kyu kia vo sab? Kyu bani tyag ki devi?’ Shiva asked.

‘Maine jo kia so kia, tune jo kia kyu kiya? Acha khasa tujhe puri family ke saath rehne ko mil raha tha na? Dhara di ke hath ka khana vapis se khata, unki narazgi bhi dur ho jaati phir kyu tune yeh harkat ki?’ Raavi retorted back.

All these questions made him think about his actions, she was right why he left Dhara di and chose to stay with her. Before his heart could reply his mind spoke ‘Kyuki ehsaan faramosh nahi hu main.’

Raavi was not convinced by his answer, she softened and said ‘Dekh Shiva abhi bhi time hai please man ja. Main isi ghar mein hu koi dikat nahi hogi, tu nahi reh payega Dhara di se baat kiye bina.’

Shiva knew it was difficult but leaving her in this situation alone was even more difficult ‘Ek baar jo faisla le liya le lia. Or vaise bhi tu meri galti ki saza bhugat rahi hai.’ He again remembered that she didn’t give any explanation so asked ‘Vaise tune yeh sab apne upar kyu lia? Galti meri thi phir saza teri kyu?’

She spoke honestly looking in his eyes ‘Dhara di ne hi kaha tha na ki hum dono ek dusre ki zimmedari hai toh hamari galtia bhi ek dusre ki zimmedaria hai. Toh bas’

That mere statement from her made him realise a lot of things, maybe she has accepted the fact that they are tied for eternity, she is not like his maami because of which he hated her, how selfless and brave she was to take all the blame on herself.

‘Tujhe dar nahi laga? Itna sab apne upar lete hue? Maa tujhe ghar se bhi nikal sakti thi Raavi’ Shiva spoke softly.

‘Mana leti unhe agar aisa kuch hota toh. Baki thik hai na 7 din ki hi toh baat hai atleast Dhara di toh kahi nahi jaengi’ Raavi spoke smiling.

Shiva got emotional hearing that he always wanted a girl in his life who worshipped Dhara di like he did and maybe Almighty blessed him with this quality. In other areas he will adjust but this area was non-negotiable.

‘Us din roi Rishita ki vajah se thi?’ Shiva asked.

‘Chod na Shiva jo ho gaya so ho gaya’ Raavi tried to avoid the topic.

‘Kya kaha tha usne?’ Shiva asked.

‘Shiva.. Chod de na us baat ko ab’ Raavi tried to drop that topic.

‘Bol’ Shiva asked authoritatively.

Raavi told him everything and he was really angry at Rishita ‘Us din kyu nahi bataya? Or bewajah sun ke aa gayi thi?’

‘Kuch sawalo ke jawab waqt deta hai Shiva. Jis din vo waqt ayega us din use jawab mil jayega’ Raavi said honestly. Shiva was just looking at her. Where was this girl all this time? He failed to see this girl from childhood. Years of hatred made a solid layer but he was happy that at least now he was able to see this side of hers.

Raavi said, ‘Chal main khana banane ki tyari karti hu. Lekin Shiva abhi bhi waqt hai’ she still tried.

Shiva spoke in his usual tone ‘Ja khana banane ki tyari kar. Main lakdia lata hu.’

She didn’t argue further and went to make the arrangements.

***

Raavi was cutting vegetables and Shiva on the other hand was cutting wood.

‘Ho gaya?’ Raavi asked in a normal tone.

‘Ha bas. Ek minute’ he too replied calmly.

He was done so put the wood on the earth stove and helped her light the wood. Raavi brought the vessel and kept it on the earth stove. She poured oil and put the chopped onion in it, the vessel was wet because of which it started popping up. Raavi who bent towards the vessel to have a look got a drop on her face ‘aah’ and she moved back.

Shiva came to her and said ‘Dekhkar nahi kar sakti kya?’ He took her where the bucket of water was and splashed some water on her face. She was yelping in pain and he was taking care of her like a parent would do to their child. He was scolding her but still she didn’t feel bad because more than anger there was care in his scolding.

‘Better feel ho raha hai?’ Shiva asked worriedly.

‘Ha thik hai ab.’ Raavi spoke. Shiva left without saying anything, Raavi too got back to what she was doing.

After a minute a or two Shiva came back with toothpaste ‘Uth ek baar’

Raavi looked at him and saw the toothpaste in his hand so, spoke ‘Thik hu main Shiva.’

‘Jitna kaha utna kar’ Shiva ordered. She obliged and got up, he applied the paste to the area the drop of oil splashed. She kept on adoring him and he on the other hand was applying the paste carefully.

Once it was done Raavi said ‘Chal ab tu ja.’ Shiva spoke while taking a stool to sit near her ‘Jab tak tu bana nahi leti main yahi hu. Kya pata phir koi musibat ko nyotah dede’

She huffed in anger and spoke ‘Ja tu. main kar lungi ab’

He didn’t reply and sat there. Raavi gave up and started cooking.

***

Somewhere in the distance two people stood and smiled seeing them ‘Plan work kar raha hai'. The first one said, getting a reply from the other one, ‘Ha sahi kaha.’

Index:

Part 1 above

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

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PS: the quote mentioned in the starting is my favorite.