"Nahi Rishita, ek baar mana kar diya toh kar diya na." Dev argued.

"Par kyu nahi, shaadi ke baad him apne doston se mile bhi nahi hai, 4-5 main dost ho toh hai humare. Kitne hafte ho gaye hai" Rishita debated, following him outside the room.

"Kya hua, tum log lad kyu rahe ho?" Dhara asked.

"Bhabhi, woh mujhe apne friends ke saath ek party rakhni hai. Shaadi pe toh nahi the, at least ek reception party jaisa koi chota sa event me bulana hai. Hum ghar pe hi kar sakte hai!" Rishita said, hoping she'd understand.

"Yeh toh sahi hai, Dev mana kyu kiya isko tune?" Dhara expectantly looked at Dev.

"Bhabhi woh-"

"Yay! Ye sab chodo! Kab rakhni hai party?" Rishita asked excitedly.

"Weekend pe karle? Tayyari ki bhi time mil jaayegi. Sab apne apne mehmano ke list dedo, jinko tumhe bulana hai. Tumhari party rakh hi rahe hai, toh hum Shiva aur Raavi ki bhi reception party rakh le tabhi?" Dhara nervously asked, since Rishita may not agree.

"Haa koi problem nahi! Mujhe dress choose karna hai toh mujhe shopping jaana hoga!" Rishita dragged Dev into the room.

Ye bacche bhi na, Dhara smiled to herself.

"Kya chalu tha Bhabhi? Ye Rishita bhabhi itni khush kaisi hai?" Shiva emerged from the kitchen, munching on a handful of peanuts.

"Woh humne weekend pe reception party rakhi hai tum chaaron ki. Shaadi ke baad direct haveli chale gaye the, toh accha idea hoga na!"

"Haa." Shiva nervously said. "Mai zara aata hu."

Kya pehenunga? Kuch accha pehenna hoga, warna woh bandar mujhe kachcha chaba jaayegi, Shiva thought.

In the past few weeks, he had begun to slowly let his guard down around Raavi. He felt comfortable around her. He could be himself.

He was smiling a lot more, and didn't feel any rush of unnecessary anger anymore. It was as if she had done some magic to tame him.

He liked being around her. A warm feeling spreads in his heart when he's around her, or thinks of her.

He hadn't realised when she had become so important to him.

Again.

He didn't accept his fate earlier. But now, he thanked his lucky stars that this weird, quirky girl was in his life.

He missed her, just a little bit, since she went to Mami's house for a few days.

Mai kyu miss kar raha hu usko?

He picked up his phone to inform Raavi about the plans, and went to look for something decent to wear.

After all, he had to look good.

~~~
Saturday evening

Shiva put on his outfit, and looked at himself in the mirror.

"Kya baat hai, Shiva. Aaj toh bada hero lag raha hai." Shiva proudly checked himself out in the mirror.

He couldn't believe he still fit in his college farewell suit. That was the only time he wore a formal suit.

"Shiva, sab neeche aa gaye, chal!" Krish called out from outside.

"Aaya, do minute!" Shiva said, fixing his hair.

No one knew he'd be wearing this, because no one expected him to. This would be an amazing surprise.

He looked at himself one last time in the mirror, and left the room.

Only to come back 10 seconds later, for a small box he forgot on the dressing table.

...

The Pandya House was adorned with lights and decorations. Why wouldn't it be? They were celebrating 2 marriages of their house.

Simple, but elegant. That was the theme of the party.

All the guests had arrived when Shiva made his entrance. He could see a few of Dev and Rishita's friends and close relatives.

His eyes searched for Raavi, but he couldn't find her anywhere. Neither could he see mami or mama, so he assumed they hadn't arrived yet.

All his family members stared at him, as he went upto them for reassurance of his look. Everyone praised him, and didn't want anyone to cast an evil eye.

It made him a lot more confident.

Shiva greeted the guests while constantly looking out for his wife.

He was curious to see what she'd be wearing.

Dev pulled him aside and introduced him to his friends. Sam, Natasha, Rahul and Karan.

He shook hands with all of them, but Natasha didn't seem to let go of his hands, for a split second longer.

He got weird vibes from her, but didn't tell that to her face, and decided to avoid her.

Suddenly, the lights dimmed and people cleared out the centre. Two spotlights made their way to the opposite ends of the house.

At one end, was Rishita, in a beautiful lavender gown. Dev couldn't stop looking at her.

Shiva turned his head to the spotlight at the entrance. And it was as if someone took his breath away.

Background song:

There she stood, in her beautiful green gown, hair down, looking the happiest and prettiest she could possibly look.

She had the cutest earrings, probably wearing heels, and a slight touch of makeup.

She looked perfect.

Shiva couldn't stop staring at her.

Why? What is wrong with you?

He was so lost in his thoughts, that he didn't notice Raavi had walked and stood beside him.

Song ends.

"Kya baat hai Shiva, tu toh bada accha lag raha hai. Aur humne toh decide bhi nahi kiya tha, matching matching haaa" Raavi smiled, turning him towards her.

He shook himself out of his trance. This girl was clearly doing some magic on him.

"Tu bohot khoobsurat lag rahi hai." He blurted.

Shiva averted his eyes, and Raavi blushed.

"Par na, kuch missing hai." Shiva pouted.

"Kya?" Raavi frowned, touching her face

He grabbed her hand, and pulled her to a corner of the room, reaching into his pocket.

"Shiva tu kya kar raha hai?" Raavi nervously looked around.

He opened to box to reveal a beautiful ring.

Raavi looked at it, eyes wide open, and looked at Shiva who was already looking at her, to see her reaction.

"Ye kisliye?" She was very stunned.

"Tu acchi toh lag rahi hai, par meri apni nahi lag rahi hai. Pasand nahi aaya?" Shiva looked at her.

Meri. Meri apni.

"Ye bohot khoobsurat hai Shiva. Itni pretty hai" Raavi was so moved. Her first gift from Shiva. "Lekin tune ye li kab?"

"Uss din, mela mein. Tujhe dhakke maar ke bhaga diya tha maine." He chuckled.

"Ye nazar aa gaya tha, aur khareed bhi liya, par dena bhul gaya, toh socha aaj dedu" Shiva said, handing over the box.

"Nahi." Raavi said, nodding her head.

Shiva almost thought she rejected the gift, until she said "Tu laaya hai mere liye, tu pehena de" with that beaming Raavi-smile.

Background song:

She moved her left hand towards him, and he held her hand in his.

He was about to put it on, but stopped, with a crest fallen face.

Raavi looked and noticed that she had never removed her previous engagement ring. Without hesitation, she took it off and offered her hand again.

Shiva smirked, and put on the ring, that fit her perfectly.

They held hands, and looked at each other, with beaming smiles. This was their beautiful moment, away from others.

Song ends

"Ab engagement ring toh nahi bol sakte, par haa. Isse promise ring bol sakte hai." He beamed at her, as she smiled back.

"Kya baat hai Shiva! Mujhe toh ye fit bhi ho gayi, aur teri choice bhi acchi hai!" Raavi said, admiring the ring.

Jaanta hu.

"Mai hu hi itna smart" He proudly said, brushing off imaginary dust from his shoulders.

"Zyaada udd mat, abhi toh party shuru hui hai" Raavi winked, and walked away.

That wink could kill me, uff.

- - - - -

One of my favourite chapters I've written so far. How do we like this soft side of Shiva? :)

Don't forget to vote!