Shiv ki Gauri
Chapter 15
Recap: shiv is at work lost in gauri thoughts thinking about his encounters through out the day..the puja ghar conversation and gauri speaking to kaya in the coffee shop he couldn't stop thinking about her and as a result he contacted prateek and asked him for a certain favour….Later on in the evening gauri arrives home late and is told by kaka that shiv wanted to see her for something, curious and anxious to approach shiv gauri made her way to shivs room to find him walking out of the shower topless, embarrassed by the situation she tried really hard to avoid shiv..this was all at shiv's amusement. On gauri asking shiv tells gauri to fresh up and when she gets to her room she finds a saari..a gift from shiv. On getting ready gauri makes her way downstairs to find her dream song playing and shiv approaching her. the family had thrown a surprise party for gauri.. shiv's romantic misivousness making its traits as he told gauri how beautiful she was looking and also that he wanted to fulfil all her dreams and he could not do that in front of the family and asks gauri to make her way to there bedroom and he quietly sneaks off. When shiv gets to his room he sees that his bed has been decorated with rose petals and comes to the conclusion that this was dadi's doing. Gauri comes into the room nervous and shiv reveals his feelings for her telling her that he loves her.
Mehen interrupts and shiv attends the door whilst gauri already anxious and is even more frightened when she sees the decorated bed. Mehen tells gauri that her dad is not well and would like her to go and visit him..shiv although disappointed tells gauri she can go and once she leaves worryingly contemplates on the situation and how gauri was really scared and then realises the reason for her discomfort when his eyes fall on the rose petal bed. Hours had passed gauri had not returned, shiv makes his way to aloks house to find gauri is not there and instead finds her sitting on the temple staircase looking lost into the sky. Shiv has a conversation with gauri telling her that he knew she didn't want to come home and reason him, the decorated room.. he also reminds her of the conversation they had when she first came into his room, that he wanted her to get better, get to know him and that he wouldn't push her..he then tells her that he loves her and knows that even she feels the same about him and after some hesitation gauri silently confesses.
………………………………
5 minuets into the car journey home and there was a sweet silence lingering in the atmosphere. Shiv was carrying an overjoyed feeling within him which could be seen Cleary on his face in the form of a reoccurring smile which became visible every time he took a glance across in Gauri's direction then back to the road driving and even then he didn't miss the slight chances of catching a glace of her through the mirror. Gauri could sense shiv's glare and It was making her more conscious about herself but at the same time she was feeling the relief that had been created by shiv's words…as she thought about there conversation minutes ago andher confession to loving shiv or even shiv's confession, she began to think about how shiv understood her feelings so well..the past few interactions with shiv were going through her mind making her feel nervous and even blush which shiv notices and silently enjoys in the form of a more expressive smile.
On Entering kapoor mansion shiv and gauri are surprised when they see alok there sitting in the lounge area talking to mehen.
Shiv: "Uncle aap yaha kaise? Abhi toe mein gauri ko le kar…" a sort of confused look took shape on shiv's face as he questioned alok.
Alok: "Hah beta, muje tumare dad se kuch baat karni thi is leiye aur vaise mein tumare saath aane wala tha, par meine dekha ke tum dono kuch bate kar rahe the is leiye meine socha ke khud aajon."
Shiv thought it was a little strange to see Alok there randomly and at such a late hour at night but he didn't question the situation and just smiled in response to Aloks explanation. Gauri was too busy thinking about everything or even thinking about shiv to even notice that alok was around she was in her own world which left a lost yet content expression lingered on her face, a faint smile yet a look which expressed mixed feelings and hesitation. Noticing this Alok questioned gauri but in doing so it was apparent that alok was searching for a change of topic and shiv noticed this, it like he wanted to purposely avoid answering shiv's question. Alok question was asked in a slightly different tone to usual which conveyed the fact that he was trying to avoid something…
Alok: "tum theek toe ho naa beta, kuch khoyi khoyi si lag rahi ho?"
Gauri responded with a smile which showed that the feelings and the lost look on her face were not a result of being upset but more of being pleased even overwhelmed. "Ji baba, kuch nahi…." Gauri's upbeat response and smile rubbed off on shiv as he looked towards gauri and felt pleased to see her happy where as gauri was feeling conscious of shiv smiling at her which made her feel hesitant to express her feeling fully. There was an awkward silence for a second, alok looked unsure about something whilst shiv and gauri were waiting for him to carry on the conversation when Mehen interrupts purposely to break the silence.
Mehen: "vaise kafi raat ho chuki hai aur aaj toe kafi busy din raha hai gauri ke leiye, tum ja kar aaram karon beta."
Alok: "Hah mehen theek keh raha hai, aur ab muje bhi jana chahiyey." Alok walks over from the seating area towards shiv and gauri to say goodbye.
Alok: "Acha beta main ab chalta hoon, apna aur shiv ka khyal rakhna..shiv ko kabhi shikayd kar ne ka moka nahi dena beta..tu nahi janti beta tu kitni naseeb wali hai jo tumhe shiv jaisa pati mila."
Gauri: "ji baba", with that alok leaves but gauri could sense that her dad was upset, something wasn't quite right, his words seemed much more emotional today than usual.
Shiv heads towards the staircase when mehen stops them part way.
Mehen: "shiv muje tumse kuch zaroori baat karni hai"
Shiv began to wonder what was so important that couldn't wait till the morning. Thinking to himself zaruri baat is vakt?
Shiv: "Kya baat hai dad?"
Gauri makes her way upstairs whilst Shiv talks to Mehen. Thinking about her dad's words she knew her dad very well and from the way he was behaving it was clear that there was something wrong but she couldn't figure out what it was. Dwelling on the issue gauri makes her way down the corridor.
An hour later shiv makes his way to his room looking distort in both his appearance and expression, he looked worried about something an It could be seen on his face. He had lost the blazer and a loosened version of his tie was hung around his neck, he face showed signs of tiredness as he rubbed his forehead and headed for his room. on entering finds gauri walking out the washroom, hearing the door opening gauri looks towards the open door and both shiv and gauri's eyes lock, seeing gauri brushes shiv's concern to the side brining a faint smile to his lips as feels pleased about the fact that gauri had taken on his words.. The change in expression from shiv brings back her uneasiness as she tries to explain herself.
Gauri: "Woh mein.."whist shiv smiles and goes about his own task. gauri stands helplessly struggles with her words and then gives up, without saying a word shiv, still smiling at gauri's innocence heads towards his cupboard for a change of clothes, opens the door to his wardrobe and searches through an array of clothes and picks out an outfit while gauri tries again and still has problem communicating her words.
"Jee woh mein…"
..shiv keeps quite and just smiles. Gauri getting concerned at shiv's silence and her nervousness increases Shiv having picked out his clothes approaches turns to face gauri and gauri starts to feel her nerves out of control.
Shiv: "Kya meine poocha ke tum yaha kya kar rahi ho??"
"Woh mein..ji woh"..gauri again began to stumble on her words again but couldn't process her words so gave a nod indicating a "no" as the answer to his question instead.
Shiv: "Toe safayee dene ki kya saroorat hai" shiv spoke as he watched over gauri who was standing in a nervous posture trying to avoid him.. shiv gave gauri a smile which she failed to see as her eyes were lowered to avoid shiv but she could sense the intensity in shiv's words which made her feel even more anxious than the thought of being alone in his presence was making her feel. Shiv made his way even closer taking steps on at a time so they could, purposely pacing himself so they could clearly be heard…with each footstep the Intensity of gauris anxiousness began to increase to the point that she could feel shiv's presence, feel the warmth of his breathing on her skin, gauri had her eyes shut tightly at this point and the nervousness was visible on her face. Everytime shiv approached her she couldn't keep hold of her feelings, that nervousness and fear..the only way she could compose her self was taking her self away from the situation if not physically than at least avoiding it..it bought back the interaction she had with shiv in the morning…she felt a worldwind of feelings as she thought about the moment in the puja ghar shiv's touch..the warmth of kiss and the guse bumps forming..the same nervous feeling..all made its way back as gauri stood again in the same situation…
Shiv looked at gauri knowing that this was exactly what he expected, he was amused by gauri innocence and also blown away by her beauty, smiling mischievously…he was tempted to take advantage of gauri's nerves but being aware of her sensitivity he pulled him self back out of that thought..it wasn't right to expect anything such as of yet from gauri, even though he was a aware of his intense feeling for gauri he had just managed to get a confession from her she needed time. This thought brought back a concern for shiv that gauri had still not recovered from her incident and the fear an apprehension on her face was portraying it all.
Looking at gauri still with her eyes tightly shut shiv smiled thinking that maybe she now got used to the whole idea..everytime they had even a minor moment together gauri's nerves would take over to the extent that she would shut the situation out by closing her eyes and it was the same even now..maybe she was expecting the same scenario as this morning..or even wanting a repeat of the same situation…smiling shiv silently moved around gauri and past into the rest room, hearing the rest room door shut with a thud it was then she realised that shiv was gone and relaxed opening her eyes she felt embarrassed, it wasn't like she expected… she was all red with awkwardness trying to pull her self together and relieved that the whole scenario was over but there was strange feeling inside her was it disappointment that wanted a repeat of the morning interaction but then there was also a fear, fear bought on by her past experiences the anxiety.
Having changed into his night out fit shiv walks out of the wash room to find gauri comfortably sleeping on the floor next to the bed with the cutest angelic expression all curled up. The innocence on gauri's expression added to the smile on shiv's face, once again he was in the situation where he couldn't keep his eyes off her. Leaning down towards the floor where gauri was sleeping and moved closer towards her silently trying not to make any sudden movements to awake her he placed a soft kiss on her forehead affectionately and pulled over the bedding covers over he which lay abandoned in the corner. Shiv stood admiring the view for a smiling…..
6 am and gauri planned making an early escape to avoid shiv and in a hurry she was able to sneak into the wash room and get ready without disturbing shiv of his sleep, dressed in a deep green sari looking as beautiful as ever she walked quietly out of the room.
Meanwhile downstairs in the lounge Mehen and dadaji are sitting in the dining area as gauri makes her way down the staircase she overhears there conversation.
Mehen: babuji, muje fikar ho rahi hai..ke kahi hamne koi galti toe nahi ki
Dadaji: "Kaisi baat kar rahe ho beta..joe faisla tumne aur alok ne leiye tha..woh bilkul sahi tha Aur alok bhi ghud yehi chahta tha…toe aaj tum itne saalon ke baad aisa kyun soch rahe ho."
Mehen: "Kyunki kal muje uski ankon meine woh udasi dekhi babuji, jo salon se woh chupata aya hai..woh bilkul akela ho gaya hai."
Gauri was stood partway down the staircase and as she heard mehen talking about her dad she began to worry. Yey bade papa kya keh rahe hai, baba ke bare mein?? Baba kal raat ko bhi pareshaan dik rahe the. A worried expression took over her face as she thought about her farther she started to worry, alok was the kind was the kind of person would hide his problems so his loved ones were not affected and gauri was aware of this fact. Papa kis faisle ki baat kar rahe hai??? before she could sink deeper into her thoughts..
Dadaji spots gauri's presence and quickly changes the subject.
Dadaji: "lo gauri bhi aagayi, aajon beta" on being prompted that gauri was around mehen bought a smile to his face hiding his distress as gauri made her way down.
Mehen: "good morning beta"
Gauri walked towards the dining table to greet mehen and dajaji taking there blessings. Worried about her dad Questions were running though gauri's mind…
Dadaji: "atcha beta tum ek kam karo, ja kar apni pooja kar aaon phir ham saath mein breakfast kar te hai"
Gauri: "Ji dadaji.." dadaji's evergreen cheerfulness put a smile on gauri's face, but she was still thinking about her farther. It was obvious that there was something not quite right which mehen and dadaji were trying hard to hide.
Mehen: "Hah joan beta, aaj ham bhi apni beti ke saath breakfast kar na chahte hai." Mehen gave gauri a smile.
Gauri: "Ji papa"gauri thought it would be a good idea totry and find out what it was that was bothering her dad and mehen.
Gauri: "Badepapa, woh" gauri was hesitating, unsure of what mehens reaction would be and also unsure if she had misunderstood the situation and there was really nothing to it.
Mehen: "hah bolo beta, kya baat hai?"
Gauri: "Kal raat woh baba..kuch.."
Mehen looked up from eating his breakfast in a panic, worried that gauri would have herd his conversation. When dadaji interrupted…
"woh kya hai beta ke tumare baba na tumhe aur apne dost ko bohot miss kar rahe so mil ne chale aagye.. kyun tum pooch kyun rahi beta."
Gauri: "Ji woh..aise hein"
Dadaji: "Atcha, ab dekho tum jaldi se apni puja kar aaon..yey saab bate toe baad mein hoti rahegi."
Gauri: "Ji dadaji"
Dwelling on the reply she got from dadaji and worrying about the whole scenario gauri headed towards the puja ghar, lost in her thoughts confused she ended up bumping into dadi.
Dadi: "Gauri beta, dhayan kaha hai tumara beta?, aise khoyi khoyi kya.." dadi's question was more than appropriate after all she was dressed in a bright pink saari, she wasn't hard to miss. Seeing gauri baffled dadi questioned her with a smile.
Dadi: "koi baat nahi beta, Pooja kar ne jaarahi thi??"
Gauri responded with a smile: "Ji dadi..toe mein jaoon"
Dadi: "Hah jaaon beta" both gauri and dadi begin to make there way past each other when dadi stops gauri partway.
Dadi: "Ek minuet gauri" hearing dadi gauri turns back around.
Gauri: "Ji?" on turning to face dadi gauri is faced with an inquisitive expression and wonders why dadi was giving her strange look.
Dadi: gauri, tumara gala aise soona? Gauri looking around her neck realises that in the morning rush to get ready and avoid shiv she had forgotten her mangalsutra.
Dadi: "tumhara mangal sutra kaha hai beta?"
Gauri: "Ji, dadi shayad..woh mein bhool gayee."
Dadi: "Aise kaise bhul gayee beta, tum janti ho naa ke mangal sutra ki kya aimehat hoti hai, vaise bhi tum aise puja toe nahi kar sakti…jaaon aur pehen ke aaon."
Gauri knew dadi was right and began to think up how she'd managed to forget something so important, it wasn't like her to forget things but in the rush to avoid shiv she had left her mangalsutra behind.
Dadi: "Aur vaise bhi shiv ne tumhe aise dekhleya.. ….subhe uska ghusa kuch zyaada hein hota hai aur woh bhi choti choti cheeso ko le kar."
Meanwhile upstairs shiv was getting ready stood in a white shirt and red tie complementary beige coloured blazer which he swung around over his arms and straightened his look in the mirror and then took a look at his watch…
Shiv: "KAKA!!!!!!!! "
It was time for shiv's morning tea and as usual he was waiting for it impatiently, repeatedly checking the time he walked over to the bed where a packed suitcase was sitting open, zipping the suitcase closed shiv heard a knock at the door and his attention diverted towards the entrance of the room.
A man in a black suit holding project file in his hands was waiting at the entrance of the room.
"Sir woh aap ne joe file mangayi thi" the man was mr gupta, an office employee at kapoor Industries.
Shiv: "Yes come in", mr gupta walks in and hands shiv the file. "Its about time anyway, kal ko meine ek meeting kya cancle kardi saab kuch haath se chala gaya..aap log mere kahe bina ek kaam bhi theek se nahi kar sakte..!"
"Sorry sir woh actually.." mr gupta was trying hard to explain the reason for there contract loss but shiv wasn't having any of it. There was sheer irritation on his face as he opened up the project file.
Shiv: "Useless!"
Just outside in the corridor gauri was making her way to the room in order to find her mangalsutra but on hearing shiv shouting she pauses and waits outside, she was trying really hard to avoid him or even avoid the fear and apprehension which she would be drowned in when around him but she would now have to face all that. She was confused as to what to do, she needed to go into the room for her mangalsutra but didn't want to face shiv especially as he already sounded quite irritated.
Ab mein kya karoon?, gauri thought of the fact that she could just walk in after all shiv had explained that it was their room but gauri was still unsure, if she walked in she would feel the need to explain her self which was already finding hard and dadi had said shiv did have a tempter and this was something she was well aware of herself, she didn't know what to do….gauri was pulled out of her thoughts when ramu kaka approached with a tray and what looked like shiv's cup of tea.
Gauri: "kaka yey chai? "
Kaka Hah, "ji yey shiv saahab ke leiye hai"
Gauri: "Aap rehne dejyee, mein le janti hoon"
Kaka: "Ji", ramu kaka hands the tray over to gauri and leaveswith that ramu kaka leaves.
Gauri had found the perfect solution, she would be able to quickly enter with the eusues of bringing chai and find her mangalsutra and make a quick escape. Gauri slowly entered the room to find shiv busy talking to mr gupta
Shiv: "ok koi baat nahi hai, so hogaya so hogaya..lagta hai ke ab muje hein sabkuch sambhala padega." Shiv noticed gauri through the corner of his eye and her presence put a smile on his face washing away his anger. Mr gupta noticed the dramatic change in shiv's expression and baffled and not wanting provoke any more anger he stood in silence.
Shiv: "So mr gupta aap ne woh flight arrangements toe ki hai naa?" mr guta was confused by the sudden change in shiv's tone..it was much polite now. shiv's attention was mainly forced on gauri now but he put on as if he was still carrying on with his business talk so gauri wouldn't notice shiv's acknowledgement of her.
Shiv noticed how gauri looked anxious and was scattering her sight across the room in search of something? Curious to what it was shiv too looked around and on doing so found lying on the bedside table next to him her mangalsutra. Shiv picks up the mangalsutra with a mischievous expression and smiles putting it inside his trouser pocket.
Shiv: "Ok aap jaa sakte hai mr gupta"
"Ji" sir, with that mr gupta leaves and gauri not having found her mangalsutra confused at its disappearance and unaware of the fact that she was left in shiv's presence was still scattering her eyes around the room in search, a really worried expression took over her face when she really couldn't see it anywhere. yey, yahi hona chaheiye
"kya dhoond rahi ho gauri, mein yaha hoon"
shiv stands in his usual posture with his hands tucked in his pockets and smile on his face, a naughty ideas were going through his mind as he looked at gauri..all nervously innocent. Gauri felt a little uncomfortable at his comment and began to blush.
gauri: "Ji woh mein er.."
Shiv: "Mere leighyey chai right" shiv very well knew the reason for gauri's discomfort but he took up the chance to tease her by changing his expression from his mischievous grin to a more normal serious look as well as tone.
Shiv: "Tumne apna mangalsutra kyun nahi pehna gauri?"
Gauri: "Ji woh mein" gauri began to once again stumble upon her words.
Shiv: "jaaon aur abhi pehen ke aaon"
Gauri: Woh…nahi
Shiv: nahi?? Nahi se tumara matalab,
Gauri: Ji nahi woh mera matlab ke woh…
Shiv was enjoying every minute of the situation. "Vaise yey bhi teekh hai, mangalsutra nahi sahi magar ham toe hai naa gale padne kileiye."
Gauri: Ji???? Gauri's nervousness was increasing with each of shivs words and not to mention the awkwardness and embaressment..she began to blush as shiv made his way closer. With each of shiv's footsteps her nerves increased. Shiv stopped as he got to touching distance of gauri and smiled at the way she was avoiding him.
Shiv: "I mean to say ke jab aapke pati hein aapke saamne ho toe.."
Gauri finally conjured up some coruge and nervously interrupted shiv. "Ji mein..mein woh.. pehen ke aati hoon" shiv was smiling in amusement all the way throughout the scenario which gauri failed to see.
Shiv: "Atcha teekh hai jaaon" shiv takes a step back so gauri can make her way out and just as she tries to move, shiv catches her wrist and gauri's nervousness beings to overflow leaving her shivering at shiv's touch..feeling gauri's discomfort shiv lets go whist. Gauri is left facing the opposite direction to shiv with her eyes tightly closed. Shiv takes a few steps closer to gauri.
Shiv: " Tumhe yey nahi lagta ke tume iski saroorat padegi" shiv had pulled out gauri's mangalsutra from inside his pocket and having seen that she had closed her eyes and wasn't aware of what he was referring to he smiled and moved to face her slowly put the mangalsutra around her neck.
A few seconds later Gauri opened her eyes to find shiv looking at her with a smile, she was still nervous and couldn't bring herself to look at shiv and instead she diverted her sight towards the floor which brought a bigger to shiv's face.
Dadi shouts from down stairs : "GAURI!"
Gauri: "Ji Woh dadi…"
Shiv: "Gauri muje tumse kuch zaroori baat karni hai, mein kaam ke sililay mein kuch dino ke leiyey bahaar ja raha hoon, yuhi kuch teen din. Magar mein chahta hoon ke meri gher hazri mein tum apna khyal rakho…time pein har appointment, davay vagera.
Aur mein janta hoon ke tume apni problems mujse share karne mein taklif hoti hai magar kuch bhi ho toe phone kar ne, ya kam se kam muje nahi toe ghar valon ko batana.
Vaise meine prateek ko bhi kaha hai ke muje tumare progress ke bare mein informed rakhe.
Shiv is interrupted when again dadi calls from downstairs.
"GAURI BETA!"
Shiv: "Tumne abhi tak breakfast nahi hoga naa gauri..is leiye yey dadi kabse chilarahi hai
Tumari puja kiye bina tum kuch khaongi toe nahi..toe haam chale.
Vaise jab mein nahi hoga toe teen din tak kuch nahi khongi kya?"
Gauri doesn't reply and shiv knowing that she wouldn't just smiles at her and beings to set off when gauri…..
Gauri: "Ji woh"
Shiv stops and turns around
Gauri: "woh ..Mein aapse kuch poochna chahti thi"
Shiv: "Toe poochoN"
Gauri hesitated a little and began, "Agar aapki ijasat ho toe…kya kya mein kuch dino ke leiye baba ke paas reh sakti hoon."
Shiv: "Aur agar meine ijaasat nahi di toe.."
Gauri looked up at shiv worried.
Shiv smiled at gauri's response "I'm only joking. Of course jaa sakti ho magar sirf teen din ke leiye, kyunki mere vaapas ane par haam honeymoon pein jaa rahe hai."
Vaise mere iraada kuch aur hein tha tumhe saath le jane ka.. pre honeymoon trip magar kya kare.
Gauri's nerves began to fill her as she heard honeymoon and the increase in anxiety could be seen clearly on her face, she wouldn't dare look at shiv who was standing smiling at her.
………………..
Mid afternoon.. shiv had broken gauri's fast earlier in the morning and left, gauri had gone for her appointment and rest of the family were no where to be seen. kapoor mansion was empty..the only one person being mehen was sitting in the lounge. Concerned by something he looked worried and pulled out his mobile phone to make a call.
Shiv picked up on the other end
Shiv: "hi dad"
Mehen: "tum theek se toe poch gaye naa beta"
Shiv: "Hah dad, kyun..mene phone toe kiya tha na"
Mehen: "Mein janta hoon"
Tumne gauri ko ghar jane ki permission kyun di shiv, tum jante ho naa..kal hamari toe bate hue thi..aur alok kafi pareshan hai agar usne galti se kuch keh diya toe.
Shiv: "Mein janta hoon dad, par usko apne baba ke ghar jaanese kaise rok sakta hoon
Aur muje yey samaj nahi aa raha hai ke jo baat chupane vali nahi hai aap isko kyun raaz rakhna chahte hai dad.
Meine aapse kal bhi kaha tha ke agar gauri ko pata chal be gaya toe Is saatch se naa uko nahi kisi aur ko taklif hogi."
Mehen: "I hope ke tum jo keh rahe ho woh sahi ho shiv, magar mein yey bat nahi bhool sakta ke alok ne mujse ek vada leiya tha ke mein gauri ko kuch nahi kahuga aur vaise bhi is raaz ke saath teen zindagiya judi huee hai shiv aur mein aisa kuch nahi karna chata jise hamar riste bikar jaaye."
Shiv: "Aise kuch nahi hoga dad, muje lagta hai ke aap aur alok unclue is chotee baat ka bara issue banarahe hai that's it. Don't worry dad mein hoon na, mein kaam khatam kar ke ghar ata hoon..ham phir baat karenge."
Mehen: "Ok beta, bye"
Mehen puts the phone down, even though he had been reassured by shiv that everything would be ok there was still signs of stress and worry on his face. Sitting down he pulled out of his pocket his wallet…opened it up and looked at the photograph within it was a photograph of his wife Nikhila. With worried look on Mehens face deepened into more heartfelt emotion, a sadness… as he rubbed his fingers against the photograph as if wanting to interact with her…
"Aaj tumari bohot yaad aarahi hai nikhla
Agar tum yaha hoti toe shyaad yey saab..yey saab nahi hota"
Edited by jagrutid - 15 years ago
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