Shiva was woken up by the sound of light ringing. He turned to the other side to go back to sleep, but the ringing got louder. Feeling irritated and ready to punch whatever and whoever was disturbing her, he got up. Expletives flew from his mouth automatically before he could stop them and he saw it was maami ki behen ki beti sitting on his cot and shaking her bangles. All his sleep disappeared and he got up immediately. She smiled at him.

"Subah subah kaun itni gaali deta hai? Har roz yeh gaaliyaan sunni paregi kya?" She asked.

"Tu... tu kya.. Sorry."

"Chal koi nahi." Raavi smiled. "Good morning Shiva!" She gave him a cup of tea. "Chai pi le. Main puri tal leti hu."

Shiva was confused. Why was this chipkali serving him tea and making breakfast? Where was Dhara di? Before he could ask, she disappeared into the kitchen. Shiva took a sip of tea and sighed. He'd have to get used to this when she got married to Dev. The thought made his heart heavy and he slowly got up and got ready. He was going to have to get used to her being here around him. When he went to the breakfast table, only Krish was there.

"Baaki sab kaha hai?" Shiva asked.

"Dhara bhabhi aur Gaumbi kal ke liye shopping karne gaye hai aur Dev pata nahi kahi subah subah nikal gaya." Krish replied. "Raavi ne temporarily Dhara di ki jagah li hai."

Raavi came out with puri and sabji and served both of them. Then she sat down with her own food. Shiva ate quietly. His chipkali made good food. She kept serving him food and he had to make her stop.

"Main ab chalta hu. Ek assignment submit karna hai college mein." Krish said.

"Ha thik hai tu jaa." Raavi smiled.

As soon as he left, Shiva started growing uncomfortable. He didn't want to be alone with Raavi. They truly had no sense of boundary. In fact, the look she was giving him showed him exactly what was going on in her mind. She pulled her chair closer to him and tried feeding him a morsel. He moved her hand away and got up.

"Main dukaan chalta hu." Shiva said.

"Bilkul bhi nahi. Kaka aaj dukaan sambhal rahe hai. Teri koi zaroorat nahi waha. Tu aaj mere saath time spend karega." Raavi said.

"Raavi maine kaha tha-"

Raavi interrupted him. "Tere kapre maine iron karke rakhe hai. Pehle nahake aa phir boundaries ki baatein karenge."

Shiva glared at her but she smiled sweetly and pushed him all the way to the bathroom. Shiva said he was fine talking to her, but he definitely wasn't fine with her behaving this way. He quickly took a shower and wrapped a towel around her waist and went out to change. Raavi had spread out his clothes on his bed. Shiva was about to wear his vest, when he found Raavi staring at him. She moved closer to him and he took a step back. He kept moving back until his back hit the wall and Raavi was extremely close to him. She touched his chest and Shiva cursed under his breath. Her soft touch was turning him on. Her fingers trailed down to his stomach.

"Body achhi banayi hai tune." Raavi smirked.

"Raavi humne kal hi baat ki thi." Shiva said. "Boundaries ke baare mein."

"Mujhe boundaries nahi rakhni." Raavi said. "Kaunsi biwi apne pati ke saath boundaries rakhti hai?"

Shiva was surprised. Did she just call him her husband? But she never accepted their marriage. She put her arms around him and kissed his forehead. He was extremely confused as to what was happening. He didn't want to keep hopes. It broke him every time. He pushed her away and put on his shirt. She hugged him from behind.

"Dimaag kharab ho gaya hai tera?"

"Shiva I'm sorry." Raavi said. "Ab bas dur mat kar mujhe apne se."

"Aur Dev ka kya?"

"Dev gaya tel lene." Raavi said. "Woh uski girlfriend ke saath hain aur main tere saath."

Shiva was surprised. Dev had a girlfriend? So this was why she was choosing him? He was her consolation prize then. This thought made him feel even worse. He moved away from her and walked out before she could stop him. A small part of him had hoped she would choose him. But not like this.

***  

If Shiva could be stubborn then she could be extra stubborn. She didn't get why he walked out like this? But she would win him over. She heard his bike and realised he had gone to the store. She pouted and decided to go to the store. He couldn't keep running from her. Raavi got an auto and went to the store. He was working with kaka. She quickly went into the store but he avoided her.

"Shiva, tu bhaag kyu aaya?" She asked.

He kept ignoring her. She took his hand and made her look at her. He was both angry and hurt for some reason and she didn't want to hurt him anymore.

"Shiva I love you."

Kaka looked at them awkwardly and told Shiva that he was going to take a break. He left. Shiva glared at Raavi.

"Kaka ke saamne yeh drama karne ki kya zaroorat thi?" Shiva asked.

"Drama nahi Shiva. Main pyaar karti hu tujhse."

"Dev ne mana kiya toh tujhe mujhse pyaar ho gaya?" Shiva asked. "Dekh Raavi, pyaar bohot karta hu par teri second choice nahi ban paunga."

"Dev ne mana nahi kiya. Maine use mana kiya. Mujhe laga woh mujhe propose kar raha hai. Maine usi waqt mana kar diya. Phir usne bataya uski girlfriend hai. Mujhe pehle hi realise ho gaya ki main tujhse pyaar karti hu.

Raavi expected him to hug her after she cleared his misunderstanding but his expression didn't change. She hugged him to make him believe her. He didn't push her away nor did he hug her back.

"Raavi main bohot tired ho chuka ho tere inn mood swings ki wajah se." Shiva said.

"Shiva main tujhe choose kar rahi hu!" Raavi said. "Koi mood swing nahi hai yeh."

"Par main thak chuka hu. Hum baad mein baat karte hai. Abhi mera dimaag kaam nahi kar raha." Shiva said.

"Par Shiva-"

Shiva shook his head and sat down on a chair. Raavi decided she would give him time if he needed it. She knelt down in front of him and kissed both his hands.

"Kal karwachauth hai. Main vrath rakhungi tere liye. Aur tere haath se hi vrat todungi. Vrat todne se pehle tujhe meri maang bharni hogi. Sindoor se, khoon se nahi. Aur agar tune nahi kiya toh main khana nahi khaungi."