Shiva sat on his cot in a daze. The events of the previous hour flashed like a movie in his brain. When Shiva came back from Rajkot, all he wanted to do was slump down in bed and sleep. The trip was exhausting, but he did manage to seal the deal. So when Mami stormed into the house calling for that Chipkali, Shiva was mad; that was, until he found out that idiot girl was missing. Mami's distressed voice did nothing to abate his sudden unanticipated worry for her well-being.

They all searched high and low, even contacted all her friends but no one had any idea about her whereabouts. The twilight hours combined with the pouring rain conjured so many terrible images in his head, and Shiva was at his wits end.

It was pure instinct - the desire to be in his comfort zone, and it was pure coincidence that he found her atop his tree, looking like a fragile china doll. The desire to protect her - to comfort her bubbled strong in his chest, and Shiva couldn't help but draw her closer to him.

That kiss, however, shook him to the core. He had no idea what made him kiss her that way and he was even more surprised by Raavi's action. It wasn't that he couldn't be attracted to her - everyone could see she was a beautiful woman but for Shiva, she was always the Chipkali who annoyed the crap out of him. He never thought of her that way and he was certain she didn't either. Unconsciously he touched his lips; he could still taste her raspberry lipgloss - could still feel her soft warm lips moving against his.

Unbidden, his traitorous mind strayed to the moment her lips touched his, the feel of her body flush against his, and Shiva's heart thumped. He shook himself out of those thoughts; she was simply upset and they got carried away in that moment. It didn't mean anything. It was just a momentary lapse of judgement, Shiva thought as he walked out of the house, vowing to never let it happen again.

*****

Raavi sat twisting the end of her shrug anxiously, as she reminisced what happened on the tree. She blushed profusely when she relived the moment in her mind; how he kissed her in that mind-altering, knee-collapsing way. She never knew kissing someone could feel like that. And in spite of being deathly scared of facing Shiva, Raavi was suddenly reminded of that juvenile rhyme, and she couldn't help but giggle.

She was still chucking when her phone chimed with an incoming message. She pulled it out and a message popped up; there was a voice note and an image file. Raavi opened the image first, and her eyes went as wide as saucers, jaw dropping in shock. There was a picture of Raunak and Shagun presumably naked in a bed together; he was lying on his stomach, probably asleep and she was looking into the camera with a wide smirk on her face. Hands trembling, Raavi played the voice note.

"Woh kya hai naa, mujhe laga yeh sab juicy details main apne best friend ke saath share nahi karungi toh kiske saath karungi? Pata hai jab bhi Raunak se saath hoti hu kitna accha lagta hai. He makes me feel sooo goood. Kaash tujhe samjha paati ki woh feeling kya hoti hai jab......you know..." Her voice was bursting with barely concealed glee. "Ab teri life mein toh action hone se rahi, toh maine socha ki shayad issi se tu bhi second hand experience kar le thodi si. Tujhe yeh khushi toh naseeb hogi nahi. Kyuki naa toh tu yeh kar payegi aur naa hi koi ladka tujhe bhav dega. Toh maine socha thodi tujhpe meherbaan jo jaau. Khair you enjoy, mujhe jaana hai abhi. Bye bestie!!"

That li'l piece of sh*t! Raavi thought furiously, killing the phone screen. After everything else they put her through, she now had the audacity to pull this stunt on her!!?! All other emotions were pushed aside as her anger took centre stage, and Raavi decided that she had had enough.

This tag of being a prude has to go. Shagun will be eating her own words. No guy would ever be interested in her, huh? She is Somnath ki sabse khoobsurat ladki and no guy would want her? Uh uh uh. Raavi knows she just has to snap her fingers, and Raunak or any other guy for that matter would come crawling to her. But Raavi decided that, after having that bitch of a woman she once called a friend, Raunak is never getting her and what he bet for. And Shagun - well she can keep that spineless jerk. Seems like they were indeed perfect for each other. He sleeps with a girl while dating her best friend, and she sleeps with her best friend's boyfriend while crushing on another guy. Raavi's musings jerked to a stop as her thoughts took a sharp left turn, when she was suddenly reminded of a very important fact. How could she forget that Shagun had a huge crush on Shiva!!!??! She would always tag along with Raavi every time she went to Pandya Niwas. She'd always ogle at him whenever he works in the shop. She'd find excuses to innocently touch him as she tried to chat him up. Aaannddd.....Raunak hated Shiva!

Raunak always disliked her attachment to Pandya family, especially Shiva. He always thought of Raavi as someone who belonged to him, and even if all she and Shiva did was fight, he still was jealous of the fact that Shiva knew her better than he did. The glint in her eyes came back with full force when she realised what she had to do to make them hurt. Plus, Shagun's insane crush on Shiva cinched the decision for Raavi. She'd be killing two birds with one stone. Now all she had to do was to get Shiva in board. Easier said than done, Raavi thought tiredly.

*****

Raavi stood outside Pandya Store, nervously fiddling with the container she was carrying, as she tried to gather the courage to go through with her plan. If she can get him to at least listen to her before throwing her out, she'd consider today a success. She needed him to keep an open mind today, hence the halwa.

She walked right in, mentally praying to all the gods above, and the first thing she noticed was Shiva lifting a heavy bag. He had his back to her and Raavi could see his muscles flexing as he exerted himself for the task. Raavi gulped, feeling a strange stirring in the pit of her stomach. He really was an attractive man. Raavi shook those thoughts out, and instead focusing on her plan, she called out to him.

"Shiva!"

He turned around at his name and his eyes widened seeing me there. He immediately looked away, and Raavi was surprised to see his cheeks turning slightly pink. Did she - did she just see the Great Shiva Pandya blush?

Raavi shook her head again, and before she could get distracted again, she placed the container on the table top, pushing it slightly towards him, and waited for Shiva to acknowledge her.

He gave her a questioning look which she answered with a small nod, indicating with her eyes that he should open it. He eyed the container suspiciously. He looked back at her again - her smile encouraging him to open it.

It was halwa. A delicious looking, homemade gajar ka halwa, topped with toasted cashews and pistachios - exactly the way he likes it. He knew this was made by this Chipkali; he could just smell the heavenly scent of pure desi ghee. Shiva frowned. If she is making him her special halwa, that means she wants something.

Shiva turned to look at her closely, and he noticed her usually warm honey eyes, now held a hard glint, like cracked amber.

"Yeh kya hai?" He asked still frowning.

"Halwa," She replied simply.

Shiva gave her a look that said you got 5 seconds to explain before he throws her out and she sighed. "Mere paas tere liye ek proposal hai. And main chahti hu tu yeh baat ek open mind se sune isliye.....yeh halwa" she indicated the box.

Shiva held her gaze for a long time, before sighing deeply, "Aisa kya chahye tujhe jo tu mujhe rishwat de rahi hai...?"

Raavi blushed, "Main bas tujhse ek favour chahti huu. Main chahti huu tu mere liye kuch kare."

"Aisa kya karna hai?" Shiva said, spooning up a bite and eating the halwa.

Raavi took a deep breath, "Main chahti huu tu mere saath ek raat spend kare."

The food went down the wrong pipe, and Shiva started coughing violently. Raavi hurried forward, and rubbed his back, making him drink some water. His coughs finally subsided, and he stared at her dumbstrucked. It's official. The Chipkali had finally lost her marbles.

.........to be continued

Apologies for the errors. Didn't proofread.