The first thing Raavi did the next morning was call Shiva but he disconnected the call. She called him three times more but he disconnected it every time. It bothered her. Last night had been perfect then why wouldn't he be picking up her call? Raavi quickly got ready and made her way to the store.
Raavi didn't wait to greet kaka. She straightaway went around to the back to find him there, and she instantly knew there was something wrong with him. He looked as if he hadn't slept and he didn't have his usual gait about him. In fact, he was slouching a little bit, and his face was stoic. Raavi had never seen him like this and she had no idea how to approach him when he was in a mood like this.
"Shiva?" Raavi called out. "Tu thik hai na?"
"Tu kya kar rahi hai yaha?" Shiva asked.
He didn't seem annoyed or angry like he usually did. In fact, his voice was kind of subdued and Raavi didn't like that. She walked upto him and took the piece of paper he was holding, making him look at her. Shiva didn't glare at her as he usually did.
"Tujhe kya hua hai Shiva?" Raavi asked. "Yeh kya kal raat ke baare mein hai?"
Shiva averted his gaze. "Kal raat jo hua nahi hona chahiye tha. Mujhse galti ho gayi."
Raavi thought he was feeling guilty because they weren't married. She cupped his cheek and made her look at him. "Shiva... kal jo hua hum dono ki marzi se hua. Mujhe achha laga. Tujhe guilty feel karne ki koi zaroorat nahi."
This time Shiva glared at her. "Bilkul bhi thik nahi tha Raavi. Tu bachpan se gadheri hai main jaanta hu. Par phir bhi main behek gaya. Mujhe control mein rehna chahiye tha."
"Toh problem kya hai Shiva? Humari shaadi hone waali hai." Raavi said.
"Shaadi?" Shiva chuckled. "Kahi tujhe koi kal laal chooriyan de de aur tujhe lage ki woh hari chooriyon se bhi zyada mayne rakhti hai toh?"
Raavi gasped. "Shiva tu aise kaise soch sakta hai? Maine tujhe pati maan liya hai."
"Woh toh tu kabhi Dev ko bhi maanti thi." Shiva said.
"Shiva Dev ko beech mein mat la. Uska chapter close ho chuka hai."
Shiva sighed. "Toh bas ek baat bata. Agar main tujhe yeh hari chooriyan nahi deta toh kya tu kabhi mujhse shaadi karna chahti?"
"Of course not." Raavi said. "Par tune mujhe hari chooriyan di Shiva. Matlab shaadi toh honi hai."
Raavi failed to notice how Shiva's face fell at her answer. He went and sat down on the chair. Raavi went and sat next to him, holding his hand. She needed him to talk to her. She wanted to make sure everything was fine between them. They sat quietly for sometime.
"Sab meri galti hai." Shiva said.
"Shiva teri koi galti nahi hai. Meri marzi thi." Raavi said.
"Tere sarr se jab yeh hari chooriyon ka bhoot utrega tab tu mujhe hi blame karegi."
"Shiva main serious hu. Main tujhse shaadi karungi. Tu abhi bole toh abhi shaadi karungi tujhse!" Raavi said.
"Aur shaadi karegi sirf chooriyon ki wajah se."
Raavi sighed. "Haan toh? Problem kya hai?"
Shiva looked at her for a minute and took her hand. He pulled out the three green bangles from her wrist. Before Raavi could protest, he crushed them in his hands. Raavi felt the air being knocked out of her lungs. Shiva broke her bangles. Tears started flowing out her eyes. She took Shiva's hands in hers and inspected them. They were bleeding.
"Shiva tu-"
"Ab tu azaad hai Raavi. Jisse mann kare usse shaadi kar. Koi chooriyan tujhe nahi rokegi." Shiva said.
