Chapter 9

raindropsroses

@raindropsroses

[NOCOPY]

Previously: Raavi sneaks into Pandya Nivas with a stethoscope to find her dil ki baat.

Part 9

“Shiva?” Dhara called approaching the cot.

“Dh-“ Raavi started to call her di, Shiva’s eyes widened realising that Raavi would give away their comprising position. His hands were still holding his body above her, without a thought, he leaned down crashing his lips over hers, effectively silencing her.

Her eyes grew wide as saucers. Both their hearts were beating fiercely, and this time she didn’t need her friend’s stethoscope to hear her dil ki baat.

Dhara looked around, noting that all three of her devars were in their cots she went back to her room.

Beneath the blanket, Shiva lifted his mouth from Raavi’s slowly, staring into her eyes. She held his gaze, lost in it. He dipped his head slightly again, wanting another taste. Her body seem to want the same, she raised her head and parted her lips. Shiva took her lower lip in between his teeth and pulled on it lightly, curious about the texture. Raavi’s eyes fluttered shut.

“Mein ladki po po po!”

Shiva jerked up from Raavi, turning to look at Krish, who thankfully seemed to be sleep talking.

Relieved, he turned back to Raavi aghast at what he’d done. Quickly, he got up off the bed, running his hands through his hair distressed.

“Chal! Tujhe ghar chod deta hoon,” he said his voice coarse.

Raavi swallowed, but nodded and got up. 

“Shiva, hum-“ she started.

“Meri galti hai, ho sake tho maaf kar de,” he said cutting her off and starting his bike.

He just stared ahead of him. Hurt that he regretted it, she climbed behind him on the bike and they were off.

“Shiva, mujhe tujse baat karni hai,” Raavi said trying to raise her voice above the sound of the wind as they speed on the bike.

Shiva gripped the handle bars tightly, and drove almost maniacally down the empty roads.

Raavi clutched his shoulders, “Shiva, itni fast mat chala,” she said worried.

Shiva ignored her again, blood was pounding in his head and he just couldn’t stop thinking about the feel of her lips on his. It had left him shaken. She was perfect for him in ever way but he was about to lose her forever. He knew he wouldn’t feel this way with anyone. And she shouldn’t feel this way about his soon-to-be bhabhi.

As they speed through a small highway, her proximity was driving him crazy. His heart pounded and couldn’t concentrate on the road. 

By luck, he spotted a goat crossing the road a few meters in front of them, but it was too late to hit the brakes so he swerved the bike to avoid crashing into it. Losing balance as the bike skid side ways, both of them fell off it.

For few seconds, both of them were silent in shock, and then Raavi let out a sob due to the pain in her arms. Both of them had grazed their left arms badly as they fell. Blood was flowing from the injury.

She sat up, her lips quivering as she looked towards Shiva like an injured child seeking comfort and safety, silent tears flowing freely from her eyes. 

Shiva’s arm was also similarly grazed, blood dripping from it. His left leg was caught under the bike. Ignoring the pain, he managed to lift the bike off him and he knelt next to her, taking her arm his hands.

She hissed as he tried to move her arm, “pura din girti giraati rahti hai,” he mumbled.

Her eyes blinked in disbelief, not expecting to hear a taunt from him at that moment. 

“Kis type ke janwar hai tu, ek ladki ko pehle girata hai aur uspe hi chilla raha hai. Tujhe na Mausi bilkul sahi bolti hai, pagal saand,” she said enraged at his audacity to scold her.

“Tujhe bike par baitne diya na, toh ye girna padna to hona hi ta, panauti,” he retorted.

“Ayyy panauti kisko bola, tu hoga bahut bada panauta,” she said her eyes murderous, before hissing in pain as he tightened a makeshift wrap around her wound using his a piece of his shirt.

Her eyes widened at it. He’d managed to distract her with pointless arguments whilst skilfully taking care of her injury.

“Tujhe Doctor banna chahiye ta,” she said admiring the wrap.

He just rolled her eyes and reach out to her dupatta, quickly ripping a piece of it.

“Kya kar raha hai?” she asked startled.

“Tujpe rahi meri ehsaan jukva raha hoon,” he said coolly, wrapping the cloth around his own arms.

She rolled her eyes at him, but then noticing that he was struggling with it, snatched the cloth from his hands.

“Ay Maami Ki behen ki beti,” he said reaching out to grab it back from her. She just swatted his hands away and tied it around his arm tightly. 

“Next time, puchke le, mana nahi karungi,” she said.

He almost smiled at her, before looking away. He quickly rose and pulled his fallen bike up, wanting to put as much as distance as possible in between them.

“Shiva, mujhe Dev se shaadi nahi karni hai,” she announced caressing the makeshift bandage on her arm.

Shiva almost got a whiplash as turned down to look at her.

“Tune propose kiya ta na godown mein, mein ab accept karti hoon, hum shaadi kar lete hai,” she continued.

“Ay gadhedi, kya bakwaas kar rahi ho, mein mazaak kar raha ta. Tu bike pe bait mein tujhe ghar chod deta hoon.”

“Nahi Shiva, aaj mein teri baat nahi sunugi. Tu sun. Mein Dev se pyar nahi karti hoon, ye mujhe inn do din mein realise huyi hai. Aur tu definitely uss Shilpa se pyar nahi karta, meine dekhi hai kaise tu usse door bagne ki koshish karta rehta hai,” she argued.

“Aur mujhe 100% patha hai ki mein tujse pyar karti hoon. Tujhe dekhe hi meri dil 120 km per hour speed pe baagne lagta hai. Aur uss Shilpa ke saath tumhe dekhti hoon toh meri koon 200 degrees hokar ubalne lagta hai. Isliye Shiva, I love you,” she said looking up at him with hopeful eyes.

He wanted to pull her close and smack her head for being so dense all this while. Then, he wanted to grab her face and kiss her senseless before telling her that he felt the same way since a long long time.

But he straightened himself, thinking about all the lives that this would affect. 

“Toh? Kya karna chahti hai? Baagke shaadi karni hai kya?” He glared down at her, his anger stemming from being unable to feel any joy at her confession. 

“Haan, chalo abhi kisi mandir mein jaake shaadi karte hain,” she said looking up at him with a confident look.

“Ayy tu apni filmy duniya se bahar aa, mein tujhe bagakar shaadi nahi karne waala,” he said holding her shoulders and giving her a shake to emphasis his decision.

“Teek hai, hum abhi vapas jaake Dhara di ko sab bathadenge, aur kal hum dono mandap mein shaadi karlenge. Ye idea teek rahegi,” she said smiling at her own smartness.

“Ay tujhe ek baar bolun toh samajh nahi aati hai kya? Behri hai?” He said pulling her close to him in anger and annoyance, resisting his urge to carry out all her demands.

“Shiva, tujhe Dev ki chinta hai na. Mein khud use samjaongi. Vo meri baat manega, aur phir hum dono milke uske liye ek pari jaisi ladki layenge,” she said with a big smile.

Shiva gave up trying to knock sense into her. Yes, he was worried about Dev. But it wasn’t just about him. There were so many people who would be hurt by this, who would have to suffer humiliation for their decision. His Dhara bhabhi, Gaumbi, his mother and Dev. He wouldn’t let Dev be stood up at his wedding. And Dev loved Raavi, his bhabhi had told him. He couldn’t let his brother be heartbroken.

On the other side, Shilpa’s family was very well connected, so upsetting them would also affect their family business. Also, his mother shared a very close bond with that family. They wouldn’t be able to look them in the eyes if all this went down.

Shiva let go of Raavi’s shoulders and quickly got on to his bike, starting the engine.

“Mein teen tak ginunga, bait gayi toh teek hai. Varna paidal chali jaa,” he warned, with no intention of leaving her alone but really just needing to put some space in between them. He couldn’t bear to listen to her confess to him. Had this happened a few days ago, he would have married her on the spot no questions asked. But now things were different.

“Ek.”

“Shiva-“

“Do.”

“Par mein-“

“Tee-“ and she climbed on to the bike behind him, her face fallen.

A tear rolled down her eye, she sat as far away from him as possible, not even being able to sit close to him after his rejection.

Both of them were silent for the rest of the ride to her house. As soon as they reached, she got off the bike and ran inside, tearing streaming down her face, unable to even look at his face.

Shiva stood over his bike looking at her retreating form. His heart clenching in pain. He wanted to punch down a wall.

“Aargh!” He shouted punching the gas tank of his bike. His knuckles throbbed in pain at the impact.

He looked up at Raavi’s bedroom window, the lights were on and he could see her moving about the room. He kept watch for a few minutes till the lights went out and then started back home.

♥️

Part 10 - Page 28