"Ae Raavi, woh tamatar de nein." Prafulla said.

When Raavi didn't respond, Prafulla turned to look at her daughter, who was now absently wiping the already dried plate.

"Ye dekh iss dobi ne. Jaane kaun se khayalon ki duniya mein khoyi rehti hai." Prafulla muttered under her breath.

Prafulla shook her by her shoulder, and Raavi broke out of her reverie.

"Huh? Haan Maasima? Apne kuch kaha?"

"Kaha ne! Kab se kahein jaa rahi hu. Kya ho gaya hai tujhe?? Main dekh rahi hu kuch dino se kuch khoyi khoyi si rehti hai."

"Aisa kuch nahi hai Maasima. Sab thik toh hai."

"Pakka na?"

"Haan pakka. Accha main Koel ke ghar jaa rahi hu. Thodi der ho jayegi ha. Ok bye." Raavi hurriedly kept the plate away.

"Ae lekin sun toh - " Prafulla started to say but Raavi had already rushed out of the room. "Yeh ladki ka main kya karu?!?"

*****

It's only Shiva. She can talk to him. She has dealt with his temper before. She can do it again. Maybe he isn't even mad and she is simply overreacting, she thought, as she stood outside Pandya Stores, wringing her hands in her agitation.

But what if he was mad? What if he hated her for what she had done? What if he thinks she had manipulated him? Raavi had developed a headache over the same questions for the past 3 days. Ever since she woke up in her bed alone - a cold empty space beside her.

"Tcchh! Raavi soch mat. Sarr fat jayega aise. Dekh ek baar baat kar le usse. Shayad aisa kuch ho hi na. Hain na? Koi aur bhi toh baat ho sakti hai naa? Ek baar baat kar lete hai. Agar gussa hai toh thodi daant khaa lena." Raavi mumbled under her breath, as she took a deep breath before entering the store.

The first thing she saw was Krish sitting at the the counter. He looked up when she entered and gave her a smile.

"Arre Raavi! Hi! Kaisi hai? Bade dino baad darshan huye hai."

"Hi Krish! Woh main thodi si busy thi. Tu kaisa ho? Sab thik?" Raavi smiled at him.

"Main toh thik hu. Sab thik hai. Bol kaise ana hua?"

"Woh main bas aise hi....tu akela hai?" Raavi asked.

"Main....akela hu matlab?" Krish questioned confused.

"Matlab...matlab woh - aaj dukan pe akela hai?"

"Arre nahi Kaka hai. Woh bas saaman dekh rahe hai. Aaj mandi se supply aya hai naa, isliye."

"Ohh..."

"Waise Dev bhi aata hoga. Gaumbi ne kaha tha usko dukaan ane."

"Ohhh....ummmm aur baaki sab?"

"Baki sab? Ummm Gaumbi paas waale sheher gaye hai kaam se. Dhara Bhabhi aur Maa ghar pe hai."

Raavi wanted to slam his head. He gave her the whole history geography of the entire family but didn't give her the location of the one whose information she actually wanted. She decided to bite the bullet and straight up ask him.

"Ummmm Krish...woh...Sh-Shiva kaha hai?" Raavi finally asked.

"Shiva? Kyu?" Krish asked innocently.

"Woh-woh actually main-woh mujhe Sh-Shiva se baat karni thi," Raavi stammered out, looking nervously around.

"Accha? Kya baat karni thi?"

"Woh-woh-" Raavi gulped before trying again.

"Woh aise hi kuch - "

"Acchaa kahi yeh baat ka connection teen din pehle Shiva ke ghar naa aane se toh nahi?" Raavi's head shot up to see Krish smirking at her and she couldn't help the blush that crept up her neck and pooled around her cheeks. "Hmmmm toh main sahi thaa. Uss din Shiva ko subah subah chori chupe ghar mein ghuste dekha tabhi samajh gaya tha daal mein kuch kaala hai. Daal mein kala hai na? Scene chal raha hai tum dono ke beech, hmm?"

"Aisa kuch nahi hai," Raavi mumbled.

"Mmhmmm....Chalo koi naa. Mat batao. Mujhe pata hai main sahi hu. Waise agar tum peeche wala kamre mein jaogi toh waha tumhe koi mil jaega jo inventory le raha hoga. Dev ko aane mein abhi bhi waqt hai so......" Krish trailed off smirking slightly and Raavi turned towards the backroom, still blushing furiously.

Shiva stood in front of the shelves, with a clipboard in hand and despite her fervent hopes, he wasn't shirtless this time. Without her permission, her heart decided to gallop like she had a shot of adrenaline. Raavi wasn't daft, nor was she stupid. She knew how attractive Shiva was. Without much reluctance, Raavi could safely agree that people like him were created to be admired. Involuntarily her mind drifted to that night they spent in each other's arms; the way he moved with her, his urgent yet tender touches, and Raavi felt a shiver run through her body.

As if sensing her presence, Shiva turned around. His eyes drank in her sight, like he wanted to devour her and Raavi felt blood rush to her cheeks. He walked over to her, close enough that she could feel his warmth but not touching just yet.

"Woh....main woh...." Raavi struggled to find the words but she was cut off when Shiva chuckled. She glared at him, and he raised his palms in surrender.

"Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki Mami ki behen ki beti ke paas bolne ke liye shabd nahi honge. Ek hi raat mein bolti bandh ho gaayi, Raavi?" His voice started off amused before taking a slight seductive turn. Her eyes widened as she took in his tone.

"Tu gussa nahi hai mujhse?"

Shiva looked at her confused, "Main gussa kyun honga tujhse?"

"Tu ne uss din ke baat mujhse baat hi nahi ki, toh mujhe laga shayad tu gussa hai mujhse," Raavi mumbled looking at her feet. "Maine tujhe pressurise kara..."

"Accha tu isse pressurise karna kehti hai? Hum ladke log ise seduce karna kehna hai," Shiva drawled.

"Main....kya yeh....nahi...woh...." Raavi spluttered in shock, and Shiva laughed again, this time holding her hand and pulling her close to him.

"Chipkali thi naa tu? Yeh chuhiya kab se bann gayi, hmmm?" Shiva whispered, wrapping his arms around her, Raavi melted into him. "Mujhe laga uss din ke baad shayad tujhe thoda waqt chahye. Sab kuch itni jaldi....matlab kuch din pehle tak hum.....aur ab yeh....mujhe laga shayad thoda time akele rahenge toh...."

Raavi looked at him in surprise. Here she was thinking that Shiva was mad at her but, instead, was giving her the space she hadn't realized she needed. How did he know what she needed when she didn't know herself? When did he get so attuned with her needs? She hugged him again, letting the soft drumming of his heart soothe her.

"Thank you, Shiva. Uss din ke liye bhi aur...... Jab subah tujhe nahi dekha mujhe bohot bechaini si hui. Mujhe laga iss sab ke beech maine tujhe kho diya hai." Raavi said.

His arms tightened around her as he shook his head. "Nahi gadheri! Mujhe laga tujhe space chahye hoga toh main.....aur waise bhi subah Bhabhi ke uthne se pehle ghar pohochna tha nahi toh sab sawaal karte."

"Oh waise Krish ne tujhe dekh liya tha apparently. Kuch kuch bol raha tha abhi jab main aayi."

"Hmmm gadhera mujhe bhi kuch keh raha tha. Use chod. Woh kisi ko nahi bolega. Tu bata. Tu thik hai?"

"Mmhmmm," she nodded and after a pause, she spoke again, "Shiva...?"

"Hmmmm?"

"Woh main soch rahi thi..."

"Oh no. Tu sochti hai toh darr lagta hai - owww!" Shiva yelped when Raavi punched his arm.

"Chup kar Bhootnath!" She pouted, and Shiva's eyes drifted to her lips. He was tempted to kiss her. Her eyes widened when she realised where his attention was, and she blushed.

Shiva laughed at her, pulling her closer, "Accha chal bata kya soch rahi hai."

Raavi blushed deeper, "Woh main soch rahi thi.....matlab kya hum dono....i mean, tu aur main....woh kya hum....Shiva hum kya hai?"

"Hum kya hai?" Shiva repeated confused.

"Ummm...tu aur main...hum kya hai Shiva?"

"Mujhe laga tu college jaati hai. Dekh main tujhe chipkali bulata zaroor hoon but asli mein thode naa tu chipkali hai. Hum naa human beings hai, scientific term humara Homo sapiens hota hai - " Shiva stopped when Raavi glared at him, and he laughed at her expressions. He pulled her into a hug and kissed her temple. "Hum thik hai, Raavi. Tu jo chahe, hum wahi hai."

"Jo bhi main chahu?"

"Mmhmm"

"Aur tu?"

"Main?"

"Tu kya chahta hai?"

Shiva sighed deeply, "Mujhe tu chahye Raavi. Tu acchi lagti hai mujhe. Agar nahi lagti toh uss din tere lakh bulane pe bhi nahi aata."

"Shiva main-"

"Jaanta hu Raavi. Teri feelings tujhe khudko nahi pata. Jis din samajh jao uss din mere paas aa jana, hmm?"

Her grip tightened in fear. He was pushing her away?

"Shiva main tujhse durr nahi jaaungi. Mujhe khudse durr mat please!"

"Ae gadheri! Chudail se peecha churana itna asaan hota hai kya!?!" Shiva laughed before sobering. "Tujhe durr nahi kar raha Raavi. Bas thoda space de raha hu. Tu confused hai. Aur jab tak mere aas paas rahegi teri confusion dur nahi hogi. Isliye humara kuch waqt ke liye alag rehna zaroori hai." Shiva tried to pull her away but she wouldn't let go. "Raavi jaane de."

"Nahi."

"Raavi?"

"Nahi Shiva! Mujhe space nahi chahye. Please please please. Mat kar aisa."

"Raavi tere bhale ke liye keh raha hu. Zidd mat kar."

"Nahi. Mujhe nahi jana tujhse durr." Raavi gripped his face with both her hands and stroked his cheek lightly. Warm lips crashed onto his, and when he kissed her back, she let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She kissed him like she was starved for oxygen, and she probably was because the kiss took her breath away. They broke apart but Raavi didn't let him go.

"Shiva, tu mujhe accha lagta hai. Itna mujhe pata hai. And aage jo bhi figure out karna hai main tere saath hi kar lungi. Iske liye tujhse durr jaane ki zaroorat nahi hai." Raavi said firmly.

Shiva sighed and nodded. He knew she wouldn't back down. He got a radiant smile in response to his concession and he couldn't help but smile back at her. As long as he had her.....as long they had each other, they'd be okay.

..... to be continued

Apologies for the errors. Didn't proofread.