Raavi was surprised to see Shiva. He had actually made an effort for her. Leaving his old shirts, he had worn a crisp grey shirt. When their eyes met, Raavi found his eyes roaming around her appearance. She was looking beautiful, he realised. It was different from what she usually wore, but it was simple stunning! They took their place and looked at each other awkwardly.
Raavi looked over to see Dhara and Gaumbi deep in conversation. Shiva had been right. They deserved this day. Dev and Rishita were also talking but Raavi found her glancing at her way sometimes. So she decided to ignore them and look at Shiva, who looked somewhat uncomfortable.
"Iss maami ko main nahi chorunga." Shiva suddenly spoke out.
"Tujhe na maasi se shaadi karni chahiye thi." Raavi said. "Kuch zyada obsessed nahi hai tu unse."
"Ae maami ki behen ki beti, piche dekh. Kaise ghur ghur ke hume dekh rahi hai."
Raavi turned around to find Maami spying on them through her binoculars. She sighed, and looked back at Shiva who was glaring at Maami.
"Tu kabhi kisi ladki ke saath date pe gaya hai?" Raavi asked suddenly, trying to make conversation and to try and distract him from Maami's antics.
"Pagal hai kya!"
"Tere saath date pe jayega bhi kaun?"
"Tu gayi hai? Aise toh apne ko humesha Somnath ki sabse beautiful ladki bulaati hai. Par kisi ladke ne tujhe date pe nahi bulaya."
"Ae Shiva bakwaas mat kar." Raavi said. "Sirf teri wajah se. Saare ladke mujhse baat karne se bhi darte the teri wajah se. Woh 9th standard mein mujhe uss ladke ne love letter likha tha aur tune use jaake maar diya. Bechara."
"Somnath ke saare ladke mere bhai hai. Main bacha raha tha unhe chudail se." Shiva said. "Aur tu kaunsa kam thi. Sab ladkiyon ko keh rakha tha Dev aur mujhse dur rehne. Dev tak toh thik hai, par main kyu?"
"Somnath ki saari ladkiyaan meri behen hai. Main bhi bacha rahi thi unhe pishach se."
Shiva felt slightly disappointed. He wanted to hear something else, but this mami ki behen ki beti could be as stubborn as him. He didn't know why he beat up that guy, but when he heard that he had sent a love letter to this chipkali, he could barely control his anger.
"Aur yeh Rishita hume ghoor ghoor ke kyu dekh rahi hai?" Shiva asked.
"Plan kar rahi hogi next time mujhe kaise insult karegi."
Shiva saw the same sad face he had seen on her face yesterday and everything became clear to him. It was Rishita who made his Raavi cry. But what did she say that Raavi broke down like that? Shiva gently took her hand in his.
"Kya kaha thi usne tujhse?"
"Chor Shiva. Kaunsa tujhe koi fark parega." She tried to snatch her hand away from him, but he brought his chair a little closer to hers and took her hand again.
"Bata warna.."
"Warna kya?" Raavi asked in her most innocent voice.
"Warna main uss Kesar bhoot ko yahi bulaunga."
Raavi got frightened. "Tujhe bhoot bulane ka mantra aata hai?"
"Haa unfortunately sirf bulane ka hi aata hai. Bhagane ka nahi. Tujhe bula liya tha ek baar galti se. Ab tak bhaga nahi paya hu." Raavi hit him gently. "Achha ab bol usne kya bola tha tujhe?"
"Dev and Rishita kiss kar rahe the. Main waha aa gayi. Toh usne kaha ki main jaan bujhke uske aur Dev ke beech aati hu. Aur yeh bhi ki meri life mein pyaar nahi hai isliye main uski aur Dev ki life bigaadna chahti hu."
Raavi couldn't stop the tears which flowed from her eyes. Shiva wiped them away.
"Thik toh kaha usne Shiva. Meri zindagi mein pyaar kaha?"
"Ae gadheri, tu kab se uss Rishita ki baat sunne lagi? Woh ek number ki selfish aur bigrail ladki hai. Aur use main chorunga nahi."
"Nahi Shiva." Raavi said. "Tu kuch nahi karega. Dhara di ko achha nahi lagega."
But Shiva had trouble letting this go. After all Rishita made his Raavi cry. Maybe he needed to upgrade this Kesar plan somehow. But he'd think of that later.
"Waise bhi yeh kiss karna ho toh kamre main kare. Apna kamra choose kiya toh uss kamre mein hi rahe woh."
"Wahi toh!" Raavi said. "Woh toh aise chilla rahi thi jaise ab use 100 saal Dev ko kiss karne ka mauka nahi milega. Har roz kare, mujhe kya? Bas apne room mein kare. Aur kya haq banta hai uska ki woh mujhe sunaye? Meri zindagi mein woh kyu taang arati hai?"
"Tang tod du?"
Raavi looked at him surprised. He was behaving like a typical protective husband and she was loving it. "Agar tang tod do toh bechare Dev ko use godh mein liye ghumna parega." Raavi laughed.
"Achha hai. Shaadi ki hai toh bhukte." Shiva said. "Somnath ki sabse beautiful ladki ko chorke kaun karta hai aisi gunde ki beti se shaadi? Akkal naam ki koi cheez nahi hai mere bhai mein."
Raavi couldn't believe it! He had called her Somnath's most beautiful girl. She blushed. It was a different kind of feeling hearing compliments from Shiva.
