Dhara knew one side of the story. Now she had to know about Shiva's feelings. He was a closed box, and she was the only person who could understand them. The trick was were his eyes. They said everything. Did he love Raavi back? As far as she could tell, he had more feelings for her than he showed. Dhara went to serve him his morning tea and sat beside him to get some gossip.
"Shiva main Raavi se bohot naraz hu." Dhara said.
Shiva seemed surprised for a minute. "Kyu kya kiya uss maami ki behen ki beti ne?"
"Dev ka birthday bhul gayi batao. Aur kehti hai Dev se shaadi karni hai. Usne toh thik se wish bhi nahi kiya Dev ko. Pandya parivaar ki bahu aisa thodi karegi."
"Bhabhi, uski shaadi main Dev se hone nahi dunga. Woh iss ghar mein aayi na toh main..."
Dhara knew he had gone to his 'I hate maami ki behen ki beti' mode. This line of questioning didn't help. She had to try something else. Dhara had another idea.
"Haa par shaadi toh use karni paregi. Dev se nahi toh kisi aur se. Maami ne shart jo lagayi hai ki Raavi ki tujhse pehle shaadi kara degi. Aur tu toh maami ko jaanta hai. Ek baat thaan leti hai toh bas woh karke rehti hai."
This time Shiva was tongue-tied. Dhara rejoiced seeing it. She could see the confusion in his eyes. He obviously didn't want his maami ki behen ki beti to marry someone else.
"Uss chudail se kaun shaadi karega?"
Dhara sighed. Her devar was useless. "Somnath ki sabse khubsurat ladki hai woh. Koi bhi kar lega."
Shiva was again tongue-tied and as Dhara could see, slightly annoyed too. "Uss maami ko bhi kaam nahi hai. Bakwaas karti rehti hai."
Shiva got up and went for a bath. Dhara pouted. This was the best she would get from him. But according to her, Shiva liked Raavi too. But it was going to be hella difficult to convince him of that. She wondered who would accept their love first. Raavi was a little blinded by her so called love for Dev, and Shiva was blinded by his hate for Maami. Perhaps Raavi. Shiva was going to need to be convinced. Only Raavi could convince him of this.
***
Hardik came to their house in the morning to return their dabba. Prafulla had cleverly asked Anita to pack some paneer makhani for Hardik. She told her to give it in a steel dabba rather than plastic containers so that Hardik would have to come to return it. As soon as Hardik came, Prafulla managed to convince him to stay for tea. He sat down and she got Anita to make him some more delicious savouries. Hardik didn't hestitate too much before eating it.
"Waise tum khana bohot achha banati ho." Hardik complimented Anita.
"Thanks." Anita blushed.
Prafulla smiled as her plan was working. Soon, she would win this bet, and get all Dhara's wedding jewellery. She had her eyes on that necklace for a long time now. Hardik asked her about her leg and she groaned in pain. Raavi suddenly came down and was surprised to see Hardik there. She sat down with them and started to look at the scene before her curiously. Prafulla knew her Raavi was a spy for Dhara. The girl had no loyalty towards her. She had to do something.
"Ae Anita, bazar se kuch saamaan lana tha. Jaa jaake le aa." Prafulla said.
"Ji phui. Main bas change karke jati hu." Anita said.
"Hardik beta, ise zara market chorr dena." Prafulla said. "Tere ghar ke raaste hi padhta hai."
"No problem. Tum ready ho jao,"
Anita quickly got ready and left with Hardik. Prafulla sighed in relief. A car ride together would be so romantic. She only hoped they would talk a little and fall in love. Then Prafulla's eyes moved to Raavi who looked mad.
"Mujhe achhe se dikh raha aap kya kar rahi ho." Raavi said. "Yeh sab thik nahi hai."
"Ae Raavi chup kar. Yeh sab na karta parta hai. Jald se jald tum dono ki shaadi karwa du toh shanti milegi mujhe."
"Maasi, shaadi toh nahi hogi. Aap Anita di aur mujhe force nahi kar sakte."
"Tu toh chahti hai woh Dhara yeh shart jeet jaye. Humesha Pandya parivaar ki side hoti hai tu."
"Nahi iss baar na main aap dono ke iss bet ke khilaf hu. Shiva ko shaadi nahi karni but Dhara di apni zid pe ari hai. Bechara mera Shiva!"
"Ek minute. Dhara ne kahi ladki dhoond toh nahi li?" Prafulla looked shocked.
"Nahi par dhoond rahi hai." Raavi frowned.
Prafulla thought she had time. Dhara was almost matching her pace. She had to get Anita and Raavi married quickly. It was time she started looking for a suitable guy for Raavi too. She was not ready to give up her kangan! It was the only thing she had. Raavi was going to be equally tough. She wasn't going to say yes easily.
***
"Ae maami ki behen ki beti!" Shiva called her.
Raavi was roaming in the market when he came upto her. She had come here to spy on Anita di and Hardik. Chances were that Hardik had left after dropping Anita, but Raavi didn't want to risk it. She wouldn't let this marriage happen. Hardik bhaiyya seemed like a nice guy but he has been a bachelor for too long. He could just as easily fall for Anita. Raavi also knew Anita's love for Gautam was mere infatuation, something born out of stubborn regret. She could take a u-turn just as easily. Raavi was going to have to intervene and stop anything before it happened.
"Yeh kya chal raha hai? Maami ne kaisi shart lagayi hai? Tu shaadi kar rahi hai?" He asked in one breath.
"Nahi Shiva. Na main shaadi karungi aur na main teri shaadi hone dungi. Tu fikr mat kar. Mujhpe chor de." Raavi said.
"Par yeh humari shaadi ko leke kyu padh gaye hai?" Shiva asked.
"Dhara di aur maasi be bohot raita faila diya hai. Kuch nahi kar sakte."
Raavi suddenly spotted Anita and Hardik drinking coffee at a cafe. She gasped loudly. Things were worse than she thought. Shiva was looking at her confused. She quickly walked upto then to confront them. Anita looked a little nervous but Hardik smiled at them. Shiva followed her and was confused to see Anita and Hardik together.
"Arrey Raavi Shiva tum dono bhi baitho na." Hardik smiled. "Actually Anita ko jis shop pe jana hai woh abhi tak khula nahi. Toh maine kaha thodi coffee pi lete hai."
"Aapko toh kaam hoga na Hardik bhaiyya. Agar kuch important ho toh aap jaa sakte ho. Main wait kar lungi Anita di ke saath."
"Nahi aaj koi kaam nahi hain." Hardik smiled.
Raavi frowned. But it was Anita who saved her. "Dukan khul gaya hoga. Main chalti hu. Tu bhi chal mere saath Raavi. Aur Hardik, thank you so much mere saath wait karne ke liye."
"My pleasure."
Anita and Raavi left. Raavi looked back at Shiva and saw him sitting down with Hardik and talking to him. She smiled and left.
