"Tumne mujhe yaha kyu bulaya hai Hardik?" Anita asked.
Hardik had invited her for coffee. It was a rooftop cafe, a little away from their home. He offered to pick her up, but she said no. Phui was already weird about them together. She would ask a million questions and Anita wasn't patient enough to answer them.
"Tumse baat karni thi. Aur aisi baat aise ambience mein hi achhi lagegi." Hardik said.
Anita blushed. This seemed like a place where couples came on dates. Anita had hardly been out on dates, but it was such a beautiful place. She fixed her dress and sat comfortably. Hardik ordered some coffee and pastries for them. Anita smiled at him shyly.
"Toh batao kya baat thi?" Anita asked.
"Anita..." Hardik blushed. "Maine kabhi kisi se aisi baatein ki nahi hai. Ummm, dekho tum janti ho main bachelor hu. Waise toh main reh leta hu apne jaise. Shayad puri zindagi guzaar lu akele. Kabhi koi problem mehsoos nahi hui. Par piche kuch dino... tum achanak se meri life mein aayi. Mujhe suddenly kisi ke saath ki aadat padne lagi. Tum achhi lagne lagi ho Anita, aur tumhare saath waqt bitana achha lagne laga hai mujhe."
"Mujhe bhi achha lagta hai tumhare saath." Anita blushed profusely.
"Toh phir kya tum mere saath apni puri zindagi bitaogi?" Hardik took out a ring box and opened it before Anita. It was an antique polki gold ring.
"Hardik tum yeh-"
"Mere daadi ki ring thi." Hardik left it open on the table.
"Hardik meri shaadi tootne ke baad maine socha nahi tha kisi se rishta jodungi. Par sachhi jab se tumhare saath time spend kar rahi hu, pichli baatein ko bhulti jaa rahi hu. Main pata nahi kyu waise jee rahi thi." Anita extended her hand to Hardik and he slipped the ring on her finger.
"Phir kya main Maami se baat karu?" Hardik asked.
"Phui se abhi baat mat karo. Woh mujhe pagal karke chodegi. Waise bhi Hardik, mujhe lagta hai hume thoda time lena chahiye. Itne saal wait kiya hai toh kuch aur time. Ek dusre ko jaan lete hai achhe se."
Hardik agreed and Anita smiled at him. They started talking about their likes and dislikes over coffee.
***
Raavi was pacing around her room. Shiva must be so mad at her action. How could she be so dumb as to not understand her feelings? It means she had always been in love with Shiva. That's why she was so angry when he said he wanted to marry somebody. But did he feel the same way about her? There was no chance Shiva loved her. It was one sided. This wasn't fair.
Suddenly Raavi's room slammed open. She was surprised to see Shiva come into her room. He was going to kill her for kissing him. Shiva closed the door behind him and stood before Raavi. She tried to avert her gaze and move away but he grabbed her and pulled her closer to him.
"Yeh abhi kya tha?" Shiva asked.
"Kuch nahi Shiva."
Shiva pinned her against the wall and caged her figure with his arms. Raavi felt her her breath hitch. He was so close that she could feel his breath on her face. She tried to focus on anything but their closeness. It was driving her crazy.
"Tune mujhe kiss kiya Raavi."
"Woh.... woh main.. upset thi." Raavi stammered.
"Bas?"
Raavi nodded. Shiva sighed, and without any warning he slammed his lips against her. Raavi was surprised, but she responded enthusiastically. His arms went around her waist. She grabbed his collar and deepened the kiss. Their tongues entwined and they kissed each other roughly. No one was ready to part, until they had to, to breathe.
"Yeh kya tha?" Raavi asked, panting.
"Kuch nahi Raavi. Tu upset thi." Shiva smirked.
Raavi smacked him playfully. He wrapped his arms around her and sat down on the couch. Raavi snuggled closer to him, sitting on his lap. They say like that for some time until Raavi felt like she was ready to talk. She decided to just say it. Shiva would never judge her for feeling jealous and being selfish. Even if he did, she wouldn't mind his judgement.
"Shiva, aaj Suman kaki ne bulaya tha. Woh nahi chahti main uss ghar ki bahu banu. Unko mere family ke saath koi connection nahi jodna." Raavi sobbed. "Aur ladki wale aaye the Shiva. Suman kaki ko woh perfect lagi. Shiva tere liye mere alawa koi perfect nahi hai. Aur main hu Pandya family ki perfect bahu. Koi aur nahi ban sakti."
"Kaun ladki wale?" Shiva asked.
"Suman kaki ki dost ki beti. Woh aaye huye hai. Dhara di aur Gaumbi ko bhi shayad woh pasand aa gayi. Agar tujhe bhi pasand aa gayi toh? Bachpan se Pandya parivaar ko khud ka parivaar mana hai maine. Kisi aur ko mere parivaar mein dekh nahi paungi main. Aur tu... Tujhe kisi aur ke saath dekh nahi paungi main Shiva. Tune usse shaadi ki toh main marr jaungi."
Shiva kept a finger on her lips. "Gadheri kahi ki. Aisi baatein nahi karte." He wiped her tears away. "Woh Diya thi. Maa ki bachpan ki saheli ki beti. Abhi class 12 mein hain. Mujhe rakhi bandhi thi usne. Toh I'm 100% sure meri usse shaadi nahi hone waali. Tune galat samjha."
Raavi was shocked. There was no chance she misunderstood the situation. Kaki herself told her that they'd come with an alliance for Shiva. It made no sense. Why would kaki lie to her?
"Par yeh bata mujhe kisi aur ke saath kyu nahi dekh payegi?" Shiva smirked.
"Woh.... Tujhe nahi. Uss ladki ko tere saath nahi dekh paungi. Tu use pagal karke chodega. Bechari woh." Raavi pouted.
Shiva tickled her and she screamed in laughter. He placed his lips on her and kissed her again. "Bol."
Raavi pushed him until he fell back on the couch and she kissed him on the lips. They continued to make out, trying to get other one to confess. Their lips were swollen from the continuous attack, but they didn't stop kissing. It was too addicting. Finally Shiva pulled away and lay on top of her.
"Kisko pata tha ki main kisi din Maami ki behen ki beti se pyaar kar baithunga."
Raavi gasped and got up. She hugged him tightly. "I love you too Shiva!" Her happiness was short-loved when she remembered something. "Par kaki mere saath rishta nahi jodegi tera."
"Maa ko tu bohot pasand hai. Haa, Maami ko dekhke unka BP high ho jata hai par tu fikr mat kar. Main mana lungi. Aur baaki sab bhi toh hain. Bhabhi aur Gaumbi toh jhat se ready ho jayenge."
Raavi realised the truth of the mattered. Suman kaki loved her. There was no chance she would say no to Raavi just because of her Maasi. Gaumbi and Dhara di would never let her say no even if she didn't agree to the alliance. Dhara di kept talking about finding a girl for Shiva, but she never did. Suman kaki lied to her about her friend's daughter. But why were they doing this? This could only mean one thing!
"Shiva!" Raavi suddenly shouted. "Dhara di aur Kaki mile hue hai! Woh humare saath game khel rahe the. Unhone mujhse jhooth bola. Koi ladki nahi thi. Woh shuru se hi humari setting karwana chahti thi. Isiliye woh mujhe jalane ki koshish kar rahe the. Shiva tu samajh raha hai??"
Shiva seemed confused. He just wanted to make out and cuddle but Raavi, as usual was going in another direction. Raavi kept going on and on about their plan. He remembered one little detail about the bet, which was the only thing he he cared about.
"Teri meri shaadi ho gayi toh kangan mil jayenge na?" Shiva suddenly realised. "Chal jake sabko bata dete hain phir. Maami haar gayi."
Raavi smirked. She wasn't going to give in so easily. Dhara di and kaki might've manipulated them, but she was going to have the last word.
