It was his fault. He realised it too late. If only he'd known before then... no. She still would've loved Dev. Why wouldn't she? Dev was a hundred times better than her. She deserved the best. But he was extremely selfish when it came to her. He could've given up anything in his life, but not her. In his heart, she still belonged to him. He needed to forget her.

When she had hurled accusations at him yesterday, he suddenly realised why he had been so possessive about her. It was because he loved her! How could he have been so clueless about his own feelings? Now he couldn't deal with his feelings, his heartbreak. He didn't want to deal with it. So bring who he is, he repressed those feelings.

Shiva turned to his one escape in times like this, his work. He avoided being at home whenever possible. Right now, he didn't even want to see his family. Dhara and Suman could see there was something wrong with him and he didn't want them to worry. He wasn't worth worrying about. So it was better he stayed away from them for a few days. He left for work early in the morning and went home at dinner time. 

He had half closed the shutter. It was time for him to leave, yet he stayed, going over the accounts once more. Anything to stop thinking about her. He heard a sound and looked up to see Raavi come in through the half closed shutter. She was the last person he wanted to see, and it broke his heart to see her. It wasn't just anger anymore, he was simply defeated. Shiva got back to his accounts, ignoring her.

Raavi straightaway came and hugged him. "Shiva please, mujhse nahi ho raha hai yeh. Sab pehle jaisa kar dete hai please. Tujhse aise dur nahi reh paungi."

Shiva pulled her away from him. "Nahi. Mujhse bhi pehle jaisa nahi hoga. Sab badal gaya hai Raavi."

Raavi moved closer to him and cupped his cheek. "Shiva please aisa mat kar. Please please... Mujhse jhagra kar. Please."

"Raavi, maine kaha khatam toh bas khatam."

"Main aise nahi reh paungi." Raavi hugged him again. "Mujhe teri zaroorat hain."

"Mujhse nahi hoga. Tujhe Dev ke saath dekhke main normally nahi reh paunga." Shiva pulled her off of him again. "Aur difficult mat kar. Tu apni life lead kar, main apni."

Shiva couldn't bear to see her crying, but this was best for them. Seeing her married to Dev would kill him. He had to become detached to her and it was only possible if they remained strangers. Raavi underestimated their connection and it was her fault.

Raavi didn't give up. She hugged him again and sobbed hard. Shiva didn't have the heart to pull her away. Seeing her this devastated somewhere felt nice. She was equally heartbroken as him. He snaked one arm around her. One last moment with her before saying goodbye. She tugged onto vest tightly and kissed his collarbone. Her kisses slowly trailed upto his neck and he pulled away. She looked devastated yet again. He couldn't get carried away. 

"Devar ke saath kaun aisa behave karta hai?" Shiva asked. "Itni raat ko tujhe yaha mere saath akele nahi hona chahiye. Jaa yaha se."

"Shiva please..."

Shiva turned around and went to the back room. When he came back, Raavi was gone.

***

Raavi couldn't sleep. She kept tossing and turning. Every time she thought of Shiva, her eyes welled up. Why was he behaving this way with her? Every fibre of her being was in pain from being away from Shiva. She wanted him in her life. He couldn't just decide for both of them. It wasn't fair. She needed him.

She went to Pandya house first thing in the morning. Shiva would be home. Dhara was surprised to see her so early. The family was having breakfast and Dhara asked her to join in. Raavi took the seat beside Shiva. He didn't even look at her. Shiva took another bite out of his parantha and then stood up to leave.

"Main dukaan ke liye nikalta hu." Shiva announced.

"Nahi. Tu chup chap baith." Gaumbi said. "Ek parantha bhi nahi khaya thik se. Aur aajkal tu bohot zyada kaam karne lag gaya hai. Aaj chutti le le."

"Nahi Gaumbi. Mujhe chutti nahi chahiye."

"Shiva tu chutti lega. Aur pura breakfast bhi finish karega." Dhara ordered.

Shiva sat back down. Raavi smiled. At least now he couldn't run away. She held his hand under the table and caresses his palm with her thumb but he pulled his hand away. Raavi felt her tears threatening to fall once again but she controlled herself. He quickly gobbled up his food and left.

After that Raavi chatted with Krish for sometime so she could be close to Shiva. Then she moved to the kitchen to help Dhara. She was prolonging her stay at Pandya house, hoping Shiva would get annoyed and fight with her. But he tried not to stay in the same room as her. Raavi found him on his phone most of the time. He didn't even speak to anyone else.

"Shiva ne tujhse bhi baat nahi ki?" Dhara asked all of a sudden.

Raavi shook her head.

"Kuch toh hua hai usko. Par bata nahi raha." Dhara said. "Mujhe Shiva ke liye bohot tension ho rahi hai."

Raavi felt a bubble of guilt ride up in her chest. It was because of her. Yet she didn't know how to fix this. She tried last night, but he didn't listen to her. All she knew is that she needed him. She went out of the kitchen and went to speak to him directly once more. She found both Krish and Shiva sitting together buried in their phones.

"Aaj kal ki generation ko hua kya hai? Sab ke sab phone mein ghuse rehte hai!" Raavi exclaimed loudly.

"Tu toh aise baat kar rahi hai jaise tu baba aadam ke zamane ki hain." Krish said.

"Nahi. Main nahi par baba aadam khud phone use karna seekh gaya hai." She taunted Shiva, hoping to get a reaction, but it was only Krish who laughed.

"Raavi!" Dev came and sat beside her. "Inn dono options mein dekh toh kaunsa achha hai."

Dev handed her his phone and showed her two sets of dress. Raavi glanced at Shiva whose eyes were suddenly on her. She took Dev's phone but moved away from him. Then she chose one option and gave him his phone back. Dev thanked her and her gave her a hug. Raavi's eyes widened. She saw the same hurt expression on Shiva's face. He got up and left. Raavi cursed Dev silently. Why did he have to hug her now? She followed Shiva to the terrace and she hugged him from behind. He moved away.

"Usne mujhe hug kiya. Maine kuch bhi nahi kiya tha." Raavi said.

"Maine explanation maanga?"

"Shiva please. I'm sorry. Ab please zid chor de." Raavi took his hand and kissed his palm.

"Raavi tu-"

"Maami ki behen ki beti bol. Ya phir chipkali. Chudail bhi chalega. Gadheri toh best hain."

Shiva tried to walk away but Raavi flung her arms around him tightly. He tried to move away but she held him with whatever strength he had. Unable to bear it any longer, Shiva pushed her off him and pinned her against the wall.

"Kya chahti kya hai tu? Jab paas aane ki koshish kar raha tha toh dur kar deti thi. Aur jab dur rehta hu toh paas aane ki koshish karti hain. Tere mood swings mujhse handle nahi honge Raavi. Saaf saaf bata tujhe kya chahiye." Shiva said.

"Tu." Raavi cupped his cheek and he involuntary move closed to her. "Mujhe humare beech sab kuch pehle jaisa chahiye."

She kissed his forehead. Then moved down and kissed both his eyelids, then both his cheek. Shiva closed his eyes and let his hand roam around her back. He pushed her against the wall more firmly and kissed her forehead. Raavi surrendered to his touch as he began kissing her neck. She grabbed on to his hair pulling him closer and turned her head sideways, giving him more access. His hand slid under her shirt and she couldn't take it any longer. She took control, kissing his neck. Her lips trailed upwards and kissed the corner of his lips. She cupped his cheeks once again to capture his lips in hers. But he took a step back.

"Dev ka kya?" Shiva asked.

"Shiva.." Raavi didn't know how to answer his question. She hadn't thought of Dev in this scenario. He waited for her answer, but Raavi didn't know the answer. She saw Shiva's expression change yet again. He was furious this time. Raavi knew she had messed up yet again. She tried to pull him closer but he moved further away.

"Nahi bas. Pyaar usse, shaadi usse toh main kaun hu? Raavi tu aisa nahi kar sakti. Tu chahiye toh puri chahiye warna nahi chahiye."

Raavi held his hand to stop him. But he pulled it away and went down. It finally sunk in. Shiva wanted her. That's why he had been so jealous of Dev. Raavi took in a long breath as she realised the truth. It wasn't childhood enmity, he was in love with her. She gasped as she finally understood.