Liar Liar

12.

"Ab tujhe kya bolna hai?" Dhara asked. She was still annoyed about this whole affair.

"Bhabhi, mujhe iss chipkali se shaadi karne mein koi problem nahi hai. Par bechari ka graduation toh hone do." Shiva said. "Aap logo ko jaisa lagta hai waisa kuch nahi hai hum dono ke beech, aap maano ya na maano. Aur log kya bolte hai isse mujhe ya Raavi ko koi fark nahi padhta. Agar aap chaho toh engagement hum abhi kar lenge par shaadi 6 mahine baad."

"Par engagement ka gown kharidne mein bhi time lagega. Usmein bhi 2 hafte ka time lagega." Raavi said. This time the whole family glared at her. She made a cute face and hid behind Shiva. "Achha fine ek hafta."

"Tum dono ko koi fark kyu parega? Par humare parivaar ki izzat toh gayi!" Prafulla shouted.

"Koi izzat nahi gayi maasi." Raavi said. "Shiva keh raha hai na shaadi kar lenge. Aap chill karo."

"Iss beech aap wapas pregnant ho gayi toh?" Krish asked and was immediately hit on the head by Gaumbi.

"Ae gadhera, yeh pregnant nahi thi aur aage bhi nahi hogi." Shiva said.

"Aage zaroor hogi but shaadi ke atleast 3-4 saal baad." Raavi said.

Shiva's eyebrows shot up hearing that and he smirked at her, while she blushed. Prafulla almost cried hearing that. Her only daughter betrayed her.

"Achha thik hai. Phir 6 mahine baad shaadi." Dhara sighed. "Par engagement isi hafte karni hogi. Tera jo gown banwana hai jaldi banwa le."

Raavi nodded.

"Aur tu guarantee de ki Raavi bhabhi inn 6 mahino mein pregnant nahi hogi." Krish said again.

Shiva glared at Krish, and he ran away laughing. Raavi smiled and quickly took blessings from Dhara and Gaumbi. She dragged Shiva in front of her Maasi and forced him to touch his feet.

"Par 6 mahine tak tum dono ek dusre se akele nahi miloge." Prafulla said. "Koi na koi rehna chahiye saamne."

"Maasi this is not fair!" Raavi shouted.

"Thik hai." Shiva agreed.

Raavi was absolutely shocked. Shiva never agreed with her Maasi so why did he have to agree on this matter. How would she make out with Shiva if there was someone watching them? How would she go by without kissing him for six months?

***

Dev walked into the storeroom where Shiva was repairing an old cupboard. He took a long breath. He had to gather a lot of courage to come here, but he needed to do this. For the sake of their family. Even though he knew Shiva was going to murder him for this.

"Shiva!" Dev called out, his heart beating loudly.

"Kya hai?" Shiva asked without looking back.

"Woh... main woh tere liye..." Dev placed the box of condoms on the table beside which Shiva was working. "Protection bohot zaroori hai bhai. Aisa phir kabhi... matlab woh pregnancy scare..."

Shiva saw the box and then gave a death glare to Dev who quickly ran away. He picked up the box and cursed himself loudly. This chipkali was making it impossible for him to live with dignity. He dialled Raavi's number.

"Ae maami ki behen ki beti, teri jaan le lunga ab toh main." Shiva shouted.

"Kyu Shiva? Ab kya hua?"

"Dev condom ka box de gaya hai. Tere iss jhooth ki wajah se aur kya kya hona baaki hai?"

"Tu pehle uski expiry check kar." Raavi said.

"Kyu?"

"Kyu matlab? Tune toh bada promise kar diya 6 mahine tak mujhse akele nahi milega. Toh 6 mahine tak uska kya kaam?"

Shiva was again speechless. This girl was something else. "Aur agar maine woh promise nahi kiya hota toh hum abhi use karte?"

"Mujhe kya pata? Tune toh woh chapter hi khatam kar diya. Tujhe kiss bhi nahi kar sakti main." Raavi whined.

"Ae gadheri sab tere wajah se hua hai. Na tu jhooth bolti aur na baat itni aage badhti."

"Agar main jhooth nahi bolti toh mujhe tujhse pyaar kaise hota?" Raavi asked.

"Pyaar?"

Raavi gasped and immediately cut the call. Shiva smiled. Now he definitely had to go to her. He had to meet her alone. But before he could leave, he was stopped by his Dhara bhabhi who handed him a catalogue of rings and asked him to choose one for Raavi.

"Bhabhi aap hi select kar lo." Shiva said.

"Shiva, ab mujhse puchke kya hoga. Jo karna tha tum dono ne kar liya. Tab pucha tha mujhse?" Dhara said.

Shiva sighed. So his bhabhi was still mad. "Sorry Bhabhi. Par aapko toh woh chipkali pasand hai na?"

"Of course pasand hai Shiva. Par mujhe ek baar bol toh sakta tha. Mujhe maami se pata chali yeh baat. Raavi bhi nahi batayi."

"Achha sorry. Aap gussa mat ho." Shiva said.

"Thik hai. Par Raavi sachhi kabhi pregnant hui toh mujhe pehle batana." Dhara said.

Shiva blushed and nodded.

"Aur ring Raavi se puchke hi select karna. Jaldi."

Shiva took the catalogue and started thinking of a plan to meet his chipkali alone, without Maami breathing over their necks.