RAGHVI FF : A PHOENIX

CHAP 18 : THE PROTECTOR

1 P.M. , GANPATI PANDAAL

Raghav and Farhad looked around in case anyone needed help, currently their project work aka Pallavi was busy helping Aaji and Kaku to prepare modak for the evening festivities. Hence , they took out time to give her some space yet dig a little deeper onto the matter here. The first step was to understand what relationship did Shiva and Pallavi have. Even though for Raghav, it was clear that Pallavi was lying to him about the enitre falling in love thing but the true concern was what Shiva felt for her. What he in love with her? Was he not in love but had some sort of liking for her because the wya he had glared at Raghav during the puja, standing like a shield depicted anger and protectiveness and even though Raghav Rao had evolved into a much calmer and thoughful person, he was still Raghav Rao. Never ready to share what was his with anyone.

Farhad spotted Maya, one of Pallavi's student in a corner working on some flower garlands and giving a look to his Anna he made his way to her.

"Hi." he greeted her.

"hello." she replied back, "Aap Farhad ho na, Aaji aur Pallavi di ke new tenant?" she added.

"Han aur tum Pallavi ji ki student. Right?" Farhad asked helping her in placing the flowers.

"Han. Pallavi di yahan ki nahin nahin poore world ki best teacher hai." she replied with a sweet smile.

"Achcha. Yahan toh sab unhe bahut pyaar karte honge na?" he asked moving a bit closer so that even his Anna could hear the talk via the bluetooth he had on him.

"Ofcourse. Yahan par sab didi ko bahut pyaar karte hai. Aaji ke liye toh taai unki poti jaisi hi hai aur kaku ke liye woh unki beti. Actually yahan kaka aur kaku ke koi baby nahin hai na toh jabse Pallavi taai aai hai idhar, unhone to jaise taai ko adopt hi karliya hai." she giggled remembering the times kaku literally ran after Pallavi to feed her kadha when the latter had caught a sever cold.

"Aur Shiva?" Farhad asked in a low tone , not to sound very interrogative.

"Are dada, woh toh kya hai na idhar hum sab log bachpan se hi anath hai ya woh log hai jinke bachcho ne unhe budhaape ki umar main hi chhodh diya. Aaji aur Azoba ne hi toh hum sab jaison ke liye yeh colony banai. Toh Shiva dada bhi hum main se ek hi hai. Aaji ko apna poora pariwar maante hain. Kaafi possessive hai woh apni position ke liye lekin jabse taai aai hai unhone maano apna sab kuch unhe de diya ho." Maya replied while staying busy in her work not understanding the depth of her words on some people.

"Shiva , Pallavi ji se pyaar karta hai kya?" Farhad glided another question as soon as he established the fact that Maya was busy in her own world.

"Taai se toh sab hi pyaar karte hai." she laughed but before she could add more to the statement another girl arrived and took her away.

Farhad walked back to his Anna who looked rather distressed by the previous conversation. Actaully not really distressed, well what he was feelign were mixed emotions; happy because his Pallavi had finally found a ahome that she had been craving since birth, hurt because this abode was away from him and angry because there was this particular bee in this honeycomb that now he had a strong urge to kill.

"Anna aap-" Farhad once again began to work as his therapist only to be interrupted by Kaka.

"Raghav tum free ho na?" Kaka asked.

"Han kuch kaam tha tumko?" he replied back with a question.

"Are woh pata nahin kaise lekin Bappa ki murti ke peeche wala parda teda ho gaya hai. Kahin gir na jaaye. Main kisi aur se keh deta lekin baaki saare ladke jagah jagah Bappa ke aagman ke liye gaye hai. Aur main seedhi par chhadh nahin paunga." Kaka explained with a small smile.