RaghVi Shorts

5. Kuch Toh Hai Tere Mere Darmiyan

I always wanted some guy to propose marriage to Pallavi during Mansi's wedding functions so that we could get Raghav's reaction. But that never happened. So here's my little attempt to showcase that. Hope you like it.

-

It was Mansi’s engagement. Everyone was busy in the preparation of the ceremony.
 
Pallavi was getting ready in her room. She had chosen a simple light pink saree. Aai came in & told her to wear something heavy as this saree was too plain. After failed attempts to change Aai’s mind, she had to agree to wear something different. She wore a golden colour lehenga blouse with golden dupatta. She let her hair open. Aai also made her wear some jewellery [look is same as the show].
 
Here, Raghav Rao had come at the Deshmukhs following Akash, the guy he saw with Keerti. He was very curious to know about him & his connection with his sister. He entered & saw the whole house decorated so beautifully. He saw Akash standing in the corner.
 
Raghav was about to approach him when his eyes landed on Pallavi who was descending the stairs. She was looking extremely gorgeous. Her outfit complemented her perfectly. But she was someone who could look beautiful even in the hideous clothes. He just couldn’t take his eyes off from her. He stood there rooted at his spot until someone cleared their throat. It was Farhad.
 
“Muh toh band karo Anna” Farhad said smirking. Raghav felt slightly embarrased.
 
“Tu zyada mat bol Farhad”
 
“Main kya bola An-”
 
“Ekdum chup”
 
He glanced at Pallavi for once & started going towards Akash but he wasn’t there. He told Farhad to look for him.
 
“Kaha chala gaya yeh tubelight?”
 
Sulochana Kaku & Amruta saw Raghav, “Raghav Rao? Humare ghar mein? Upar waale ka chamatkar hai. Meri ek beti ki engagement hai aur dusri ke liye ladka haazir. Par yeh yaha kyu aaya hai?”
 
“Mom, chodo na humein usse kya. Humein bas yeh dekhna hai ki yeh har function mein aaye taaki main isse acche se friendship kar saku aur yeh mujhse pat jaaye” Amruta said.
 
“Uski chinta tum mat karo. Main usko invite karti hu” Kaku said & went towards him.
 
“Raghav. Aap yaha?”
 
“Tumko kuch problem hai?” He said glaring at her.
 
“Nahi nahi bilkul nahi. Meri beti ki engagement hai aaj. Toh main chahti hu ki aap pura function attend karke jaaye aur aage ke saare functions ke liye bhi aap aayiye zaroor”
 
He just nodded at her. Kaka called her so she went to him.
 
“Kaisa pagal log hai iss Saree Ka Dukaan ka family mein” He muttered to himself.
 
Keerti was passing from there when she saw Raghav, ‘Yeh yaha kya raha hai?’
 
She came towards him, “Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?”
 
“Keerti, woh ladka kaun hai?”
 
“Kaunsa ladka?”
 
“Jo tere saath tha”
 
“Tumhe usse kya matlab?”
 
“Keerti, mereko seedha seedha batao woh ladka kaun tha?”
 
“Nahi bataungi, jo chahe kar lo” She said fuming, “Aur please Raghav mujhse dur raho aur meri life mein interfere karna band karo. Ardhamainda?” She went from there in anger.
 
Meanwhile, Pallavi’s eyes landed on Raghav when she was going to the kitchen, “Raghav?” She whispered.
 
She went to him, “Tum-”
 
“Hello Saree Ka Dukaan” He interrupted her.
 
“Tum yaha bhi aagaye mujhe pareshaan karne”
 
“Oh, Saree Ka Dukaan, tum itna important nahi hai mere liye ki main har time tumko pareshaan karne ka soche”
 
“Accha? Toh mere ghar mein tumhaara kya kaam hai? Invited toh tum ho nahi”
 
“Oh hello, main uninvited nahi hai samjha? Tumhara woh Bindi Waala Aunty mereko invite kiya hai”
 
“Kya? Sulochana Kaku” She muttered to herself.
 
“Woh jo bhi ho, tum jao yaha se abhi” She didn’t want Raghav to make any scene at the function.
 
“Main nahi jayega. Pura function ko rukega main. Aur saara functions bhi attend karega main, tumko jo karna hai tum karlo” He said giving her a look.
 
“Raghav, tum-” She was interrupted by Aai who came to call her. She didn’t notice Raghav.
 
“Pallu” Pallavi looked at her, “Tu zara mere saath chal, kisise milana hai tujhe” Saying this, she dragged Pallavi with her. Pallavi turned & glared at Raghav.
 
-
 
Aai took Pallavi to introduce her to a family, “Pallu, inse mil. Yeh Shekhar ji hai, tere Baba ke dost aur yeh unki patni hai Malini ji”
 
“Namaste” Pallavi folded both her hands to greet them & they also reciprocated.
 
“Pallu, inhone apne bete Dheeraj ke liye tumhaara haath manga hai” Aai said excitedly.
 
“Kya?” Pallavi was shocked.
 
“Ha. Hamare bete ke liye tum humein boht pasand ho. Hum tumhaare widhwa hone ke baare mein sab jaante hai aur humein koi problem nahi hai” Malini told her.
 
Pallavi didn’t know what to say. She was not ready to marry again. It’s not like she loved Mandaar infact she never got the time to fall in love with him. She being in Kolhapur & him in Hyderabad, they never got to meet each other often. They were kind of in a long distance relationship. After his death, she had decided that marriage is something which is not for her. And that she’ll never marry again. But today, Aai dropped a bomb on her.
 
“Dheeraj kuch der mein aa jaayega” Malini said & Sharda smiled at her.
 
“Excuse me” Pallavi said & dragged Aai to the side.
 
“Aai yeh sab kya hai? Aur aapne mujhe pehle bataya kyu nahi? Yeh rishta-”
 
“Dekh Pallu, yeh log boht acche hai. Tujhe tere sach ke saath apna rahe hai. Toh tujhe kya problem hai?”
 
“Aai, par mujhe dobara shaadi nahi karni. Maine pehle bhi bola tha aapko”
 
“Bas boht ho gaya, Pallu. Acche rishte baar baar nahi milte. Isliye aaj tu Dheeraj se mil aur iss rishte ke liye haa karde. Samajhla?” Aai said firmly.
 
“Aai, par-” Pallu tried making her understand but Aai left.
 
All this was witnessed by Raghav. Sharda introducing Pallavi to some guests, them talking something, Pallavi’s shocked reaction, Pallavi dragging Sharda aside, trying to explain something & Sharda leaving midway.
 
“Yeh Saree Ka Dukaan itna tension mein kayko hai?” He muttered to himself.
 
“Anna, yeh raha woh ladka” Farhad brought a scared Aakash to Raghav.
 
They went to a side where no one was there.
 
“Ayy Tubelight, tu mera behen Keerti ke saath kya kar raha hai?” Raghav asked him holding his collar.
 
“Dekhiye, main usse aaj hi mila hu. Mujhe pata nahi woh aapki behen hai. Main usse theek se jaanta tak nahi hu” Aakash said being scared.
 
“Toh tu yaha kya kar raha hai? Uska peecha kar raha hai?”
 
“Nahi, main peecha nahi kar raha. Aaj ke functions ke liye saari lighting maine ki hai. Meri behen aur Pallavi Didi school friends hai, toh isliye mujhe Pallavi Didi ne function keliye invite kiya. Aur kuch nahi”
 
“Tu sach bol raha hai?” Raghav asked him to which he nodded.
 
“Lekin Keerti se dur hai. Mujhe tu uske aas pass bhi nahi dikhna chahiye. Samjha?”
 
“Ji” Raghav signalled him to go.
 
“Anna, aapne usko aise hi dara diya. Abhi woh aapke samne kabhi nahi aayega” Farhad said to Raghav.
 
“Na aaye toh hi accha hai”
 
“Ha. Jis kaam ke liye aaye the woh toh ho gaya. Abhi chale yaha se Anna?”
 
“Itna jaldi kya hai Farhad. Abhi function mein aaye hai toh pura dekhke chalte hai” Saying this, Raghav started looking around for his Saree Ka Dukaan when his eyes landed on a lost Pallavi standing alone in the corner & thought, ‘Isko kya hua?’ Farhad saw him looking at Pallavi.
 
“Anna, aapko function dekhna hai ya kisi aur ko?” He asked smirking.
 
“Yeh Saree Ka Dukaan aisa kyu-” Raghav stopped midway realizing what he was saying. Farhad smirked at that.
 
“Tu zara chup rahega?” Raghav said giving an angry look to Farhad.
 
“Maine kya kaha Anna?” He said being innocent.
 
“Tu jaa Keerti pe nazar rakh, jaa” Raghav pushed Farhad & started walking towards Pallavi.
 
Pallavi was lost in her own world. The news Aai gave her shocked her. She was no more interested in the ongoing ceremony. That’s why she went & stood in one corner to avoid talking to anyone.
 
“Tum yaha mujhse chupke baitha hai Saree Ka Dukaan?”
 
She glanced at him & looked away.
 
“Kya ho gaya? Aaj bak bak train chup kaisa hai?” Raghav said sarcastically.
 
“Raghav, tum agar mujhe pareshaan karne yaha aaye ho toh please jao yaha se. Mujhe koi baat nahi karni” Pallavi said not looking at him.
 
“Aisa kaisa baat nahi karna tumko mujhse. Jab mereko baat nahi karna hota, tab bhi tum mujhko kitna kuch suna ke jaata hai. Toh aaj tumko baat nahi karna phir toh main tumse double baat karega. Main-”
 
“Raghav” She looked at him, “Please” That’s when Raghav saw tears in her eyes & he realized something huge has happened. He came closer.
 
“Kya hua Saree Ka Dukaan? Tum ro kayko raha hai?” He asked being genuinely concerned about her.
 
“Kuch nahi” She said wiping her tears.
 
“Bina baath rone waala logo mein se tum nahi hai. Zaroor kuch toh hua hai”
 
“Ragha-” Pallavi saw Aai looking around everywhere & she realized Aai must be looking for her. Pallavi wiped her tears properly & looked at the mirror on the wall to make herself presentable. He took a deep breath & went towards Aai leaving Raghav standing alone over there, ‘Pata lagana padega isko kya hua hai’
 
Pallavi went towards Sharda, “Accha kiya Pallu, tu aagayi. Chal mere saath” Sharda held her hand & took her to meet someone.
 
“Inse mil. Yeh Dheeraj hai, Shekhar ji aur Malini ji ke bete” Pallavi realized that this is the guy her Aai wants her to get married to.
 
“Hi Pallavi” Dheeraj greeted her.
 
“Hello”
 
“Tum dono baatein karo hum chalte hai” Sharda said & they left leaving the two alone.
 
-
 
Raghav saw Pallavi with a guy. The guy was continuously talking to her but she wasn’t reacting. Raghav can clearly see on her face that she was not interested, ‘Yeh ladka kaun hai?’
 
Suddenly, Dheeraj got a call, so he excused himself & went outside to attend it. Seeing this as a great opportunity, Pallavi decided to escape to her room. When she turned to go, Raghav saw that one of her blouse buttons was unhooked, ‘Yeh Saree Ka Dukaan bhi na’ He went upstairs towards her room.
 
Pallavi came running to her room & closed the doors not locked though. She came to her dresser & leaned against it. She had tears in her eyes. She was thinking something when someone opened the door.
 
“Raghav? Tum yaha? Aur yeh kya kar rahe ho?” She said angrily looking at him. He locked the door & stood infront of her.
 
“Tum-” She started talking but he interrupted.
 
“Tum phirse ro raha hai?” He asked noticing her moist eyes.
 
“Nahi, main nahi to rahi” She wiped her tears.
 
“Accha, toh yeh kya hai? Nal laga hai kya aankhon mein?”
 
“Raghav, tum yaha kya kar rahe ho? Yeh mera room hai. Agar tumhe yaha kisi ne dekh liya na toh boht bada tamasha ho jaayega. Tum jao yaha se please” She said changing the topic.
 
“Mereko yaha aate koi nahi dekha. Aur tum topic mat badlo. Tum mereko batao tum ro kyu raha hai?” Raghav remembered her talking to that guy downstairs, “Woh ladka jisse tum baat kar raha tha, woh kuch bola kya tumko?”
 
“Tum zara shaant rahoge please. Kitne sawaal puchte ho tum?” Pallavi said a bit loud, “Mujhse kisine kuch nahi kaha. Kuch yaad aaya wohi soch ke rona aaya. Bas itna hi. Samjhe? Aur waise bhi meri life hai, main dekh lungi jo bhi hoga. Tumhe interfere karne ki zaroorat nahi hai”
 
“Tumko toh theek se jhoot bolna bhi nahi aata, Saree Ka Dukaan” He smirked at her. She was shocked that he caught her lies.
 
“Agar tum batana nahi chahta, toh main tumko force nahi karega” Pallavi was relieved that he won’t pester her to say the truth.
 
“Ab tum jao yaha se” She just wanted him to leave her room before anyone sees him.
 
“Ek kaam hai, uske baad jaayega main”
 
“Kya?” She said getting confused. He started coming towards her & she went backwards.
 
“Ra...Raghav...Tum kya kar...rahe...ho?” Pallavi stammered. He leaned forward & she closed her eyes tightly making him chuckle inwardly. He wrapped his arms around her waist & she clutched her lehenga tightly. His face was in the crook of her neck. His beard was tickling her. He gently hooked her blouse & caressed her back. The feel of his rough & cold fingers on her back sent shivers down her spine. She had goosebumps all over her body & he could feel them. He was happy to know that he had the same effect on her which she had on him. This was the first ever time she was in such close proximity with a guy. And not some regular guy. It was Raghav Rao, the Don of Hyderabad. They were in such a position that it would have looked like they are hugging each other if seen by a third person.
 
Raghav moved back slowly & her eyes were still closed. His one hand was still on her bare waist. There were still some tear marks on her face. He gently wiped the tears only for her to open her eyes. She looked straight into his eyes & they had an eye lock. She was still dazed by his touch.
 
“Mereko aisa mat dekh Saree Ka Dukaan. Kahin tumko merese pyaar na ho jaaye” He joked & she came out of her reverie. She pushed him & stood straight.
 
“Pyaar? Aur tumse? Kabhi nahi Raghav Rao?”
 
He smirked at her, “Dekh lenge Saree Ka Dukaan” He winked & came out of the room. He saw himself in the mirror on the wall & smiled.
 
When he was descending the stairs, he heard Vijay asking Sharda.
 
“Pallavi ne haa bola iss rishte ke liye?”
 
“Nahi abhi bhi woh mana kar rahi hai” Sharda answered.
 
“Dheeraj itna accha ladka hai. Aur baar baar aise acche ladke nahi milte. Tum Pallavi ko samjha do ki woh iss rishte ke liye haa bole”
 
“Vijayji, aapko nahi lagta humein Pallavi ko Dheeraj ki sacchai batani chahiye”
 
“Koi zaroorat nahi hai usko batane ki. Pehle hi woh iss rishte ke liye mana kar rahi hai, sach pata chalega phir toh woh aur mana karegi. Isliye ab use kuch mat batao. Baad mein dekh lenge. Abhi chalo Mansi ki sagai ka waqt ho raha hai” Vijay & Sharda left from there.
 
‘Saree Ka Dukaan jisse baat kar raha tha uss ladke ka rishta aaya hai usko. Aur kya chupa raha hai yeh log usse. Aisa kaunsa sacchai hai jo usko nahi bata sakta. Kaisa log hai yeh. Aur aisa logo ke liye yeh Saree Ka Dukaan merese jhagda karta hai’ Raghav shook his head, ‘Sacchai ka pata lagana padega aur Saree Ka Dukaan ko batana padega, lekin woh mera baat nahi maanega’
 
-
 
Some moments later, the engagement ceremony started. Raghav saw Pallavi descending the stairs. She was smiling but he knew it was fake. She was pretending to be happy for the sake of others. She came & stood at the side. Meanwhile, Dheeraj also stood beside her which made her uncomfortable & Raghav angry.
 
“Farhad?” He called Farhad.
 
“Ji Anna”
 
“Saree Ka Dukaan ka baju mein joh ladka hai na, uska baare mein mujhe saara information chahiye”
 
“Kyu Anna? Aapko uske baare mein kyu jaanna hai?”
 
“Tereko jitna bola hai utna kar” Raghav looked at Farhad.
 
“Ji” Farhad left.
 
Raghav was continuously looking at Pallavi. He also noticed her glancing at him.
 
After some time, the ring ceremony was over & the guests were headed towards the food counter. But Raghav saw that Dheeraj was not leaving Pallavi’s side even for once, ‘Yeh ladka Saree Ka Dukaan se kuch zyada hi chipak raha hai. Isko dekhna padega’ Muttering this to himself, he went towards them.
 
“Pallavi ji aap-” Dheeraj who was trying to initiate a conversation with Pallavi was interrupted by Raghav.
 
“Hello” Pallavi looked at Raghav & prayed that he does not make any scene.
 
“Aap kon?” Dheeraj asked Raghav.
 
Raghav put his hand on Dheeraj’s shoulder, “Main Raghav Rao”
 
“Raghav Rao? Aap Jayati Jewels ke owner hai na?” Raghav nodded.
 
“Aapke baare mein boht suna hai maine. Lekin aap yaha kaise? Pallavi ji aap inhe jaanti hai?” He asked Pallavi.
 
“Ji woh-”
 
“Yeh Saree Ka Dukaan mera hai” Raghav said looking intently at Pallavi. She was shocked at his answer.
 
“Matlab?” Dheeraj's interruption broke their trance.
 
“Matlab...Iska joh Saree Ka Dukaan hai uska owner hai main” Raghav said.
 
“Oh, aapne bataya nahi Pallavi ji”
 
“Ismein batane waali kya baat hai” Pallavi said straight to him but realized that she was rude, “I mean...yeh itna important nahi laga mujhe” She tried to dismiss the topic.
 
“Pallavi” Mansi called her.
 
“Mujhe Mansi bula rahi hai, main aati hu”
 
“Ji” Dheeraj nodded. She turned to leave but not before warning Raghav not to do any drama.
 
“Toh tu karne waala hai isse shaadi?” Raghav asked Dheeraj.
 
“Aapko kaise pata?”
 
“Main Raghav Rao hai, sab khabar rakhta hai” Raghav said tightening his hold on Dheeraj’s shoulder.
 
“Abhi...tak baat pakki nahi hui hai par ho jaayegi”
 
“Tumko itna bharosa hai ki woh haa kar dega shaadi ke liye?”
 
“Unki family ko main pasand hu, toh woh Pallavi ji ko mana hi lenge” Suddenly Dheeraj got a call. Raghav withrawed his hand & he went outside to attend the call.
 
Raghav’s phone pinged. It was a message from Farhad. He had found out every little detail about this Dheeraj. The information about him shocked Raghav. Dheeraj was a widower & had a 5 year old daughter. He was also a drunkard & was involved in illegal business. He was pissed at the Deshmukhs for hiding such a huge thing from Pallavi.
 
‘Yeh Saree Ka Dukaan ko saara baat batana padega. Warna yeh pagal ladki apna family ka pressure mein aake haa bol dega iss rishte ke liye’ Raghav muttered.
 
Raghav was looking for Pallavi but he couldn’t find her anywhere. He came to her room only to find her sitting on the bed. He came inside & locked the door making Pallavi turn. She was shocked to see him again in her room.
 
“Raghav? Tum phirse yaha aa gaye? Tumhe na sach mein koi dekh lega abhi” She asked standing up.
 
“Tum function enjoy nahi kar raha kya? Baar baar upar room mein aa jaata hai?”
 
“Aur tum mera picha karte yaha aa jaate ho. Tumhe koi aur kaam nahi hai kya?”
 
“Kaam toh boht hai mere pass Saree Ka Dukaan par abhi mujhe tumko kuch bataneka hai” He said with a straight face & Pallavi realized that the matter was serious.
 
“Kya?”
 
“Dekho tum pehle mera pura baat sunna uske baad kuch react karna”
 
“Baat kya hai Raghav?”
 
“Tereko jo rishta aaya hai na kisi Dheeraj ka, woh aadmi ekdum fraud hai”
 
“Kya bakwaas kar rahe ho? Tum-” Pallavi couldn’t continue as Raghav closed her mouth with his palm, “Maine abhi kaha tumko ki mereko pehla pura baat batane do par nahi madam ko pehle hi bolna hai. Abhi chup raho” He removed his hand.
 
“Woh illegal business karta hai, boht alcoholic hai” Raghav showed her some documents in his phone, “Aur sabse bada baat woh ek widower hai aur uska ek 5 saal ka beti bhi hai” He showed her Dheeraj’s late wife & daughters’ pictures.
 
“Yeh sab kya hai Raghav? Agar tum yeh sab jaan bhujke kar rahe ho na toh-”
 
“Yeh sab sach hai Saree Ka Dukaan. Yeh saara information Farhad nikala hai abhi”
 
“Illegal business aur alcoholic chod do par woh ek widower hai aur unki ek beti hai yeh sach woh humse nahi chupayenge.”
 
“Tum sach keh raha hai. Usne sach nahi chupaya”
 
“Matlab?” She asked confused.
 
“Woh sab kuch tumhaara family ko bataya hai. Usne tumse yeh baat chupaya hai” He told her.
 
“Raghav, kuch bhi bakwas mat karo. Tum-”
 
“Saree Ka Dukaan, mere pass bhi fokat ka time nahi hai ki main aisa topic pe bakwas karein aur dusro ka family matters mein interfere karein. Main tera Aai aur uss Sanki baap ko aisa baat karte huye suna ki koi sacchai woh tumko nahi bataya hai. Toh Farhad ko main uss ladke ka information nikalne ko bola. Main-”
 
“Mere Aai-Baba mujhse itni badi baat nahi chupayenge” She whispered & sat on the bed.
 
“Chupaya hai Saree Ka Dukaan”
 
“Par woh aisa kyu karenge?” Her eyes were full of tears.
 
“Taaki tum iss rishte ke liye haa karde” He kneeled down infront of her.
 
“Maine Aai Baba se kaha tha ki mujhe shaadi nahi karni toh woh kyu meri baat maan nahi rahe. Aur upar se yeh rishta-”
 
“Tum puchega tumhaara Aai Baba se ki unhone yeh kyu chupaya?”
 
“Raghav, main unhe-” She tried saying in between her sobs.
 
“Tum nahi puchega, mereko pata hai” He knew she would never question her parents however wrong they may be, “Tum bas mereko ek baat batao. Tumko yeh rishta manzoor hai? Tumko yeh sab jaanne ka baad bhi karna hai uss Dheeraj Veeraj se shaadi?” He asked softly to which she quickly shook her head in a no.
 
“Theek hai, tum ek kaam karo tum neeche jao aur tumhaara Aai ko bol do ki tum iss rishte ke liye ready hai”
 
“Kya? Tum pagal ho gaye ho kya? Tu-” She stood up immediately. He also stood up.
 
“Tum na pehle toh mujhe pura baat batane do, baad mein bolna shuru ho jao” He said in frustration.
 
He continued, “Tum haa boldo iss rishte ke liye. Unko lagega ki tum ready hai. Toh jab yeh rishta tootega tab koi tumko blame nahi karega”
 
“Tum aisa kya karne waale ho Raghav?” She asked in a low tone.
 
“Uska chinta tum mat karo. Usko main handle karta hai” Saying this, he started to leave when Pallavi held his hand, “Raghav, please mujhe batao tum kya karne waale ho?”
 
“Main usko Raghav Rao style mein handle karega ab” Raghav said proudly.
 
“Usko maar mat dena tum” She said to him. Realizing that he might feel offended she apologized, “Sorry, mera woh matlab nahi tha”
 
Raghav came towards her. He held her by waist & pulled her closer. She didn’t protest & infact kept her hands on his chest. She was never a kind of a girl who would just let a man come closer to her but with Raghav, her body & mind would behave differently. At the moment she was with him alone in her room with locked door but still she didn’t feel unsafe. His hold on her didn’t feel uncomfortable & somehow, always felt protective. And unknowingly, she had started liking being in his embrace.
 
He cupped her face & wiped her tears. Tucking a hair strand behind her ear, he gently kissed her forehead which made her close her eyes.
 
“Tum tension mat lo, main dekh lega uss ladke ko” Saying this, he left the room.