"Shiva!" Raavi shouted as she came running to the store in the afternoon.
Shiva was working around the back while Kaka was dealing with customers. Raavi went to the back and started panting heavily. She'd just run from Pandya house till here. Shiva offered her a chair to sit and gave her some water to drink. She held onto him for support.
"Kya hua? Itna haf kyu rahi hai?" Shiva asked.
"Shiva, maasi se mere liye ladka dekh liya." Raavi said panting. She took a minute to catch her breath and started again. "Yeh ladko ka photo sirf mujhe distract karne dikhaya unhone. Unhe pata tha ki main photos leke delay karne wali hu. Woh janti hai main Dhara di ki side pe hu. Asli ladke ko toh aaj shaam ko bulayi hai chai pe."
"Iss maami ka kuch karna parega." Shiva murmured.
"Shiva tu maami ko chorr aur uss ladke ke baare mein soch."
"Kaun hai yeh ladka?" Shiva asked.
"Mausapa ke dost ka beta. Aman naam hai uska." Raavi said.
"Toh ab kya kare?" Shiva asked.
"Mere paas ek plan hai."
Raavi went to the front and got a pen. Then she took out her phone and copied a number on her hand. She showed it to Shiva, who looked absolutely clueless as to what she was doing.
"Yeh kya hai?" Shiva asked.
"Aman ka phone number."
"Tu iss Aman ka phone number leke kyu ghum rahi hai?" Shiva asked.
"Usne diya tha jab hum mile the navratri ke waqt."
"Toh isi wajah se tu humare ghar nahi aayi thi Navratri ke din? Uss Aman ke saath busy thi?" Shiva glared at her.
"Achha. Nahi aau toh bhi problem. Tu toh khud kehke gaya tha mat aana. Aur main Aman ke saath timepass nahi kar rahi thi. Mausapa ne rok liya tha."
"Yeh paltu mama bhi na... Toh number kyu li uska?"
"Usne number diya. Kabhi kabhi text karta hai." Raavi said.
Raavi didn't notice Shiva clenching his fists and glaring at her. Shiva's mind ran several scenarios with Raavi and Aman texting each other. It just made his blood boil. How could anybody else be texting Raavi?
"Shiva tu bhi na! Ek kaam karne bol rahi thi aur tu ulte sawaal puche jaa raha hai!" Raavi said. "Tu Aman ko abhi phone kar aur use aane se rok."
"Meri baat kyu maanega woh?" Shiva asked.
"Ohho Shiva. Tu pyaar se request nahi karne wala. Tu full on dhamkayega unko. Use bol main Raavi ka boyfriend hu, aur tujhe maine Raavi ke ghar ke aas paas bhi dekha toh main teri taange tod dunga."
"Ae maami ki behen ki beti, yeh kya gadhero wala plan banaya hai tune?"
"Shiva please. Trust me. Best plan hai. Woh Aman ek number ka fattu hai. Tu bas call kar. Warna maasi ka koi bharosa nahi. Agar zabardasti ki unhone toh?"
"Main karne dunga? Maami ke haath pao tod dunga."
"Shiva, violence pe mat jaa. Jo main bol rahi hu woh kar."
Raavi snatched his phone and took out his sim. She placed a new SIM card on his phone and dialled Aman's phone number. She turned on the speaker and gave the phone to Shiva who looked absolutely reluctant about her plan. Aman picked up and said hello. Raavi pinched Shiva, and mouthed him to start speaking.
"Sun re gadhere!" Shiva said. "Raavi sirf meri hain. Aur tu aaj uske ghar ke aas paas bhi dikha na, toh tere haath pao tod dunga. Woh sirf mujhse pyaar karti hai."
Raavi gave him a thumbs up. She took the phone from him and cut the call. Then she broke the sim card and threw it into the dustbin.
"Yeh kya criminal types kaam karwa rahi hai tu?" Shiva asked.
"Zaroori tha. Agar abhi woh by chance aaya bhi toh main use bol dungi ki main tujhse pyaar karti hu." Raavi said.
Shiva averted his eyes as she said that. His cheeks turned red. This girl just said the darnest thing without caring. Raavi didn't notice this. She went out and bought some lunch for the both of them. Then she came back and served lunch to Shiva. They had lunch together in the store.
***
Anita didn't know why she was feeling so nervous. Phui had sent her to Hardik's house with some gajar ka halwa. Hardik had said he loved it, and Phui insisted that she made him some. Anita rang the bell, and Hardik opened the door. He smiled seeing Anita and invited her inside. This was the first time Anita was coming to Hardik's house.
"Gajar ka halwa." Anita gave him the box. "Phui ne kaha tumhara favourite hai isiliye maine bana diya."
"Wow, thanks Anita! Tumhe idea nahi hai kitna time ho gaya hai mujhe gajar ka halwa khaye hue." Hardik said. "Tum baitho. Main tumhare liye kuch le aata hu. Chai logi ya coffee?"
"Coffee."
Hardik went to the kitchen to make some coffee. Anita strolled around the house, checking it out. Her Phui had been right. Hardik was doing really well for himself. His business was flourishing. Anita decided to go to the kitchen to see if he needed any help.
"Tum sara kaam khud hi karte ho?" Anita asked.
"Haa. Aur kaun karega? Dhara kabhi kabhi khana bhej deti hai. But zyadatar main khud banata hu. Haa par tumhare khaane jitna taste nahi hota." Hardik smiled.
"Tumne shaadi kyu nahi ki Hardik?" Anita asked.
Hardik blushed profusely. "Woh business ki wajah se busy rehta hu toh shaadi ke baare mein sochne ka time hi nahi mila. Aur waise bhi, koi special mili nahi."
Anita saw that he arranging the tray and went to help him, but she slipped and Hardik caught her by the waist. Anita grabbed his shirt to stop herself from falling. He pulled her up and she looked away blushing.
"Tum baitho, main tray leke aata hu." Hardik said.
Anita went to the living room and sat in the sofa. Hardik came out a minute later with the coffee. They took a sip and smiled at each other awkwardly. Anita asked him about his business and Hardik started talking about his business. When her coffee was over, Anita stood up to leave.
"Hardik, thank you for the coffee." Anita said. "Tumse baat karke mujhe bohot achha laga. Warna sab toh mujhse nafrat karte hai. Yeh jaanke achha laga ki tum nahi karte."
"Tumse koi nafrat nahi karta Anita. Bohot purani baat hai. Dus saal ho chuke hai. Sabne move on ke liye, bas tum hi wahi atki ho."
Anita's heart skipped a beat as he said that. Her eyes were starting to mist and tears were threatening to fall. She quickly took her leave. As she came out of Hardik's house, her tears began to fall and she realised Hardik was right. She was still stuck in the past.
