Chapter 10

raindropsroses

@raindropsroses

[NOCOPY]

Previously: Raavi confesses her love to Shiva and asks him to marry her. But keeping in mind their family and all the other complications, Shiva refuses and drops her home. They meet with a small accident on the way, ending up grazing their left arms badly.

Part 10

Raavi woke up a complete wreck the next morning. Her face was swollen and her eyes were red from crying into her pillow the entire night. Her arms were still aching due the injury from the fall. She’d managed to force herself to tend to it properly after Shiva had dropped her off, wondering if Dhara did the same for Shiva.

Finally, she got up and found her wedding lehenga and jewellery laid out at the foot of the bed. She sighed, falling back into her pillows, tears flowing down her face once again as she recollected the previous night.

How was she supposed to marry Dev knowing she was hopelessly in love with his younger brother? And even though he hadn’t admitted it last night, she knew that Shiva did harbour some feelings for her, as tiny as it might be she did have a place in his heart.

She cursed her heart for not realising it sooner. And why did she have to realise it now, right before her marriage. Fates could have continued to let her live in her false fantasy world where she loved Dev, but no.

Sobs rocked her as she cried into the pillow, not wanting anyone hearing her.

Her phone rang. “Hello?” She answered without looking at the caller’s name.

“Chipkali, ek glass paani pe le,” came a sober reply.

“Tujhe itni chinta kyun ho rahi hai? Jaana, jaake us Shilpa se chipak ja,” she retorted sniffling.

“Haan, ja raha hoon. Bas puchne ke liye call kiya ki tu apni hi aasuon mein doob to nahi gayi,” Shiva said.

“Very funny, mere feelings ke mazaak banke tujhe bahut khushi ho rahi hai na. Tu wait kar, mein teri hi ghar aane waali aaj. Aur tere aur teri Juliet ki zindagi mein toofan laungi,” she said narrowing her eyes.

“Chal jooti, tu sapno mein bhi aisa kar nahi sakti hai. Somnath ke sabse achi jo hai,” he snickered.

“Sirf Somnath nahi, duniya ke sabse achi hoon. Isliye tumhe uss daayan ko tyaag rahi hoon,” she said trying to joke, but a sob broke free from her lips.

“Hmm, ladki banke aana, bandar nahi,” he said.

“Tujhe usse kya, mein jaise bhi aaun,” she said slightly irritated now.

“Chal rakta hoon,” he said soberly.

“Shiva?”

“Mmm?” He waited.

“Ek question hai, honest jawab dega?”

“Jaldi bol, Bhabhi bula rahi hai,” he said softly.

“Agar mein teen din pehle puchti, toh kya tu accept karta?”

His breath hitched as he went completely silent. She waited for a few seconds for him to respond.

“Mat bata, mein sun nahi paongi,” Raavi yielded.

“Rakta hoon,” he said managing to find his voice again.

“Wait wait,” she said hurriedly.

“Ab kya hai?” He asked softly.

“Tere blanket ke niche takkiyon ka saba kyun chal rahi hi kal raat?” She asked curious as to why he wasn’t in bed.

“Neend nahi aa rahi ti,” he said.

“To aise hi chal jaata, sone ka dikhava kyun?” She probed.

“Ek do din teek hai. Meri raaten ki neend kab ke udd gaye hain,” Shiva said quietly.

“Raavi, phone pe kisse baath kar rahi hai?” Came Anita’s voice as she walked into Raavi’s room. “Dev se tu kuch hi ganton mein milegi, ab taiyar ho ja,” she said grabbing Raavi’s phone.

“Bye, Dev. Raavi ka mandap mein intazaar karna,” she said into the mic area and pressed the power button, cutting the call. Raavi quickly rushed into the washroom to hide her tear-stained face from Anita.

“Raavi, jaldi nahake bahar aa!” Anita yelled from outside.

Raavi slumped on the bathroom wall, wondering if brides could skip their own wedding.

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She came out of her room all decked up, her Mausa pa and Mausi ma were waiting for her with huge proud smiles.

“Meri dikri, kitni pyaari lag rahi hai,” Prafulla said hugging her tightly. 

“Ouch!” Raavi yelped as her Mausi pressed on her injury accidentally.

“Kya hua?” Prafulla asked worried, moving away from her.

“Ye kya hai, Raavi? Kal raat tak toh teri haath teek ta? Ye kya itni badi patti lagvaayi hai tune?” She asked looking at the white bandage that covered Raavi’s entire forearm.

“V- vo raat ko ek bhoot se dar gayi, aur- aur bistar se gir gayi,” Raavi said with a forced laugh.

“Ay mara bhogilaal, is pagal ki raksha karna,” Prafulla cried.

“Haan Raavi, badi ho gayi hai tu ab. Ye bhoot vooth kuch nahi hota,” said Anita.

Raavi just nodded her head at them, pulling her chunri over her arm to hide the bandage from further prying eyes.

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“Shiva! Ye kya hai teri haat pe? Itni badi chot? Kaisi lagi?” Dhara asked looking at the huge gash on Shiva’s forearm.

Shiva rolled his eyes at his own carelessness, leaving the wound uncovered for everyone to see.

“Kuch nahi hai bhabhi. Kal raat bistar se gir gaya,” he said lamely.

“Aise kaise gir gaya? Itne saalon se to aisa nahi hua hai,” said Krish, his spidey senses tingling at Shiva’s words.

“Tu mujhse bahut maar khane waala hai,” Shiva said gritting his teeth at him.

“Valid question hi pucha hai mein, jawab do. Kya chupa raha hai?” Krish smirked.

Shiva rolled his eyes, “haan, raat ko ek chudail aa gayi ti aur mein darke gir gaya. Khush?”

“Tu dar gaya? Details batao, bhai! Ye baat tho 8th wonder of the world nikhla,” Krish said in glee.

Shiva grabbed his neck and dragged him away before his bhabhi could further fuss over him. 

He dressed his wound and put on the wedding attire that Dhara had laid out for him. Unfortunately, his injury extended to his hand and even his long sleeve couldn’t fully cover it up. 

He slumped face down on his cot, drowning in his own grief until his Bhabhi called him for the baraat.

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Two hours later, Raavi found herself standing on the mandap. She lifted her head to look at her soon-to-be husband, Dev didn’t seem very excited. Hesitantly, through the corner of her eyes she glanced at the couple standing on the other side of the ceremonial fire.

Shilpa wasn’t her usually chirpy self either, she kept glancing at Shiva every two minutes as if she was worried he’d vanish if she looked away for too long. 

Shiva’s face was expressionless as he stared into the fire in front of him. He was trying to erect a wall in his mind to stop thinking about the situation. But his heart was bombarding that wall with his desire and love for Raavi. His head felt like it would explode.

“Ye sirf mein bhabhi ke liye kar raha hoon,” he told himself in his head as he clenched his jaw tight, determined not to look at Raavi.

Peeking at Shiva, she realised her mistake, she wasn’t able to take her eyes off him. She wanted to announce to the world that he was hers, but her hands were tied.

“Ye mein hamari families ke liye kar rahi hoon, jo bhi hoga dekh loongi,” she said trying to reassure herself. But she still couldn’t lift her gaze away from Shiva.

Suddenly, someone held her shoulders, turned her towards Dev and handed her a garland. She looked at it in shock before looking up at Dev who was holding one himself.

Her head swung to the side to see Dhara and Gaumbi giving Shiva and Shilpa their garlands, then back at Dev with a panic stricken face, reality finally hitting her with full force.

“Raavi,” Dev whispered, “tujhe Shiva pasand hai to usse shaadi karo, meri fikar mat karo.”

Raavi’s mouth fell open, “tujhe- tujhe kaise pata?” She stuttered.

“Easy. Usse teri nazar teen din se hati hi nahi,” he said with a smile.

Raavi blinked, but her head bobbed at him in affirmation and relief.

Dev looked relieved himself, but Raavi didn’t notice, too distracted by the small flicker of hope she felt at the change in situation. 

Dev dropped the garland and reached his hands up and removed his sehra, his head feeling lighter for the first time in days.

Raavi also dropped her garland. 

“Dev, Raavi, kar kya rahe ho tum dono?” Dhara asked.

Dev took a deep breath, “Bhabhi, mein Raavi se pyar nahi karta,” he announced, glad to finally get that off his chest.

“Aur mein bhi isse pyar nahi karti, Dhara di,” Raavi said quietly.

The entire hall went silent for a few seconds, before the chatter began again. The nosy aunties amongst the guests, considering it their lucky day, fell fast into gossip.

“Arey bhai! Raavi, ye kya nayi tamasha hai. Tu toh bachpan se isse pyar karti ti ne?” Her mausi asked perplexed.

“Haan Mausi ma, par ab patha chala ki voh sirf meri galat faimi ti,” she said.

“Ey mara bhogilaal, ab mandap mein aane ke baad aachanak tujhe Agni dev bathake gaye kyaa,” Maami said enraged.

Raavi looked down biting her lips, “Agni dev nahi, par Shiv ji multiple ishare diye the. Par mujhe samajne mein thodi waqt lag gayi,” she said with a forced laugh.

Dev nudged her arm, nodding slightly at Shiva. Raavi straightened herself, Dev had made the first part easy for her, but she still had work to do. Her bhoothnath was way too stubborn. She had to get Shilpa out of the way.

♥️

Part 11 - Page 33