Pyaar Toh Hona hi Tha

Pooja

Everybody got ready to attend the pooja. Pandya family gathered in the dining room before leaving for pooja. All the couples had to take Suman's blessing before leaving to the temple. Dhara - Gautam walked to her and bent down touching her feet.

Suman: Jaldi se potha - pothi se milwana mujhe. Khush raho.

Next Dev - Rishita walked towards her and bent down.

Suman: Bas hamesha aise hi sabko saath lekar chalna. Khush raho tum dono.

Then Shiva - Raavi walked towards Suman.

Suman: Hamesha ek doosre ka saath dena aur haan ek aur baat... Jab lage ki tumhe doosre ki koi baat samaj nhi aai na toh apas mei baat krke suljha lo. Kabhi bhi assumptions pe faisle nhi karna chahiye. Aur tu Shiva, thoda dimag thanda rakha kar. Khush raho dono saath mei hamesha.

They all head to the temple to perform somnath pooja. The priest had kept all the items necessary for the pooja ready. He asked each one of the six people to pick up one item. All the items were kept in a cart and was covered with cloth. Each one picked their cart. Dhara had got bilpathre leaves, Gautam got sugar crystals, Dev got ghee, Rishita got ashes, Shiva had got water and Raavi got milk.

The priest told everyone to sit with their partners and asked them to start their pooja. He first called forward Shiva and Raavi together.

Shiva on one side and Raavi on the other side both facing each other stood there. 

Priest: Somanth ki banai jodi hai ye... Kabhi alag nhi honge ek doosre se. Ek doodh toh doosra paani... Somnath ki aashirvaad hai aap dono par. Doodh ko kabhi paani se alag nhi kiya jaa sakta... Jai Bhole!!!

Everyone smile till their ears and Shiva and Raavi look at each other. They complete their part of the pooja and everyone contributes their share. The priest declares the pooja successful.

Suman: Jai Somanth. Chalo pooja toh ache se ho gayi. Bhagwaan mere bachon pe apna ashirvaad hamesha banae rakhna.

Everyone go and sit outside the temple. They all have their share of prasad and were almost getting ready to leave from there.

Preist(Handing over pooja thalis to Dhara, Rishita and Raavi): Ye lo beta. Ise neeche math rakhna aur ghar jaate hi mandir mei rakho aur ek hafte tak tum teeno pooja karna. Bhagwan sabka bhala kare. Jai Somnath.

Everyone(together): Jai Somnath.

They all were wearing their chappals when Raavi realised that she had worn sandals. She was supposed to tie the lace. But then she thought she would walk carefully. She stepped on the other sandal's lace and was about to trip. Shiva held her in his arms and also Raavi held on to the pooja thal. They had their moment there. Their contact got disturbed by Suman calling out.

Suman: Raavi tu theek toh hai na?

Raavi stands properly and says: Ji maa mai theek hoon.

And then Shiva sees down and learns that her sandal lace were untied. That was the reason to her tripping. She again started walking more cautious this time. Shiva held her from behind.

Shiva: Tujhe kya lagta hai tu haarr baar giregi aur mai sambhalunga kya? Dhang se pehle toh chal bhi nhi paati hai aur upar se lace bhi nhi bande.

He was about to bend down when Raavi takes a step back and says: Shiva, ye kya kar rha hai tu? Paap lagwaega kya mujhpe.?

Shiva: Kaisa paap. Apne biwi ko girne ke liye aise hi chod doon kya mai?

Shiva takes a step forward and bends over his knees. His hands touch her ankles. Raavi was just looking at him without blinking even once. It was like she wanted to digest this scene into her nerves without missing even a fraction of it. She felt a chill in her body when he touched her ankles. After tieing he got up and found Raavi just staring at him. He snapped at her. 

Shiva: Kahan kho gayi? Ab chalna nhi hai kya?(and then they start walking) Pehle hi bata deti ki lace baandhna hai toh tab hi baand deta na mai. Tu agar gir gayi hoti toh? Bilkul khayal nhi rakhna hai na tujhe apna? 

All this while Raavi had not moved her eyes away from him. Was this really the Shiva she knew ? She couldn't believe her eyes. And then they reached home.

In Gaura's room: 

Dhara: Aaj ka pooja kitna acha gaya na? Aur aaj Shiva ko dekha? Kaise woh Raavi ki sandals baand rha tha? Kitna shaant ho rha hai woh aajkal.

Gautam: Haa parso toh kisine dukan mei aate ka bori ko neeche gira diya aur thoda sa aata waste ho gaya. Agar purana wala Shiva hota na toh usko sunata. Magar isne ulta unko bola thoda aram karne ko aur usne khud atta sameta bhi.

Dhara: Lagta hai mera Shiva abhi Vairagi se Grahast ban rha hai. Bas use Raavi mei apni gauri ka hone ka ehsaas bahut jldi hi ho jae.

Gautam: Ho jaega Dhara. Dheere dheere sab theek ho jaega.

Dhara: Aur Rishita bhi aaj kitna shaant thi aur kaise Krish ke saath ghul mil rhi thi na. Mujhe lagta hai woh bhi humare parivaar ko dheere dheere apna rahi hai. Aur uske efforts mujhe dikte hai. 

Gautam: Haa Dhara. Sab theek ho jaega. So ja abhi. Kal fir kaam pe jana hai.

Dhara: Tum bhi na Gombi, buddho jaisi baatein karne lage ho (and then they laugh together)

In Deshita's room:

Dev(caressing Rishita's cheeks): Aaj tumne hum sabko dil se apna liya na. Tumhe sabke saath aise milte jhulte dekkar sabse zyada khushi toh mujhe hui aaj. 

Rishita: Haa Dev. Mujhe ab ye ehsaas ho gaya hai ki jo maza saath rehne mei hai woh aur kisi mei nhi.

Dev(kissing her forehead): Thank you Rishita. Mujhse itna pyaar karne ke liye. (After a short pause) Acha suno mai tumse kaafi dino se kuch kehna chahta tha. Magar samaj nhi aa rha tha ki tum kaise react karogi. Bol doon kya?

Rishita(stroking her hand through his hair gently): Are Dev. Tumhe kisi bhi baat se darne ki zaroorat nhi hai. Bolo na.

Dev: Ab jabki thoda thoda sab yahan theek ho rha hai, mai ek pehel tumhare ghar ke taraf bhi karna chahta hoon. Mai tumhare maa aur papa ke liye beta banna chahta hoon aur tumhari behen ke saath masti bhi karna chahta hoon.

Rishita(tears in her eyes): Mai unko bahut miss karti hoon Dev. Bas mai keh nhi paati. Magar haa ek hi baar koshish karne se agar baat nhi bana toh kya tum fir try karna chod doge?

Dev: Mai bas ek baar baat karna chahta hoon. Agar unhone apni galti maan li aur hume apna liya na toh dekna Rishita tum hamesha khush rahogi. Hasti hui. Khilkhilati hui, meri Rishita.

Rishita (hugging dev): Kya ye possible hai?

Dev: Kal ek baar hum dono jaake baat krne ki koshish karte hain. Magar haan mai tumhari yaa humare gharwalon ki beizatti bardasht nhi kar paunga. Hum sab sudhaarne ki koshish karte hai na. Dekte hai fir kya hota hai aage.

Rishita: Okay.

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