ShiVi: A Collection Of Short Stories.

beginning, middle and end

"Mujhe yakeen nahi hota unhone woh restaurant bandh kara diya, Shiva. Woh bohot special tha mere liye." Raavi pouted, washing her hands under the tap after munching on her tacos.

"Itna kya khaas tha woh restaurant mein?" Shiva chuckled, throwing away the wrappers and joining her.

"Woh restaurant ke rooftop pe tune mujhe first time kiss kiya tha. Tabse mujhe rooftops bohot pasand hai." Raavi linked her arm through his and they sat down on the cot.

"Kaisa hai tu, Shiva? Tujhe ye bhi yaad nahi ki tune mujhe kaha kiss kiya tha first time?" She frowned, looking away from him.

"Yaad hai na." He turned her to face him, and kissed her lips. "Yaha. Yaha kiss kiya tha."

In 3 seconds, Raavi's face went from stunned to smiling like a goofball, before slapping his arm joyfully. "Kitna filmy nautanki karta hai."

"Mera pyaar asli hai, baby." Shiva stretched his arms out, copying Ranbir's dialogue from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.

She laughed at his silly antics, and this was his favourite sight. Her, just being herself, happy, smiling and vulnerable, around him. He chuckled and smiled at the chipkali of his life.

"Shiva, aaj raat chaand kitna khoobsurat lag raha hai na?" She rested her head on his shoulder and pointed up at the clear night sky.

"Dekh, filmy hu, iska matlab ye nahi ki woh boring dialogue maarunga-"

"Nahi. Mujhe sunna bhi nahi hai but dekh na, aaj ki raat kuch zyaada hi khoobsurat hai." She looked at him with all the love she had, before looking back up at the sky.

Shiva melted into her, and rested his head upon hers, as he looked up at the sky. "Accha waise," he spoke after a while, "tera rooftop dinner toh abhi bhi ho gaya. Ab thoda adjust karke Pandya House ke chhathh se kaam chala le."

"Mujhe ye chhathh se kaunsi problem hai? Yaha toh tune mujhe gira bhi diya tha, kitna royi thi mai, tujhe koi idea bhi hai?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Aur maine hazaar baar sorry bhi bola tha na, tere liye aadhi raat ko tere ghar bhi aaya. Uske baad jo hua, woh teri galti thi." He stroked her cheek and smirked at her, eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Hello mister, it takes two to tango. Zyaada udd matt."

"Oh tango toh hua tha, definitely hua tha, lekin bed pe-" Shiva proceeded to blabber, and his lips were pinched shut.

"Kuch bhi bolta hai na?" Raavi complained and looked around, but Shiva could see the blush that crept up her neck as she remembered that night.

Very clearly, in her defense.

"Accha woh sab chod," Raavi left his lips and looked ahead, fiddling with the pocket of her dress, "tujhse kuch kehna hai."

"Bol."

"Eyes close kar."

"Yeh kehna hai?"

"Bandh kar na!"

Shiva gave her the tu meri izzat lootne waali hai kya? look before closing his eyes.

"Okay open."

He opened his eyes, and she wasn't sitting beside him. Instead, she was in front of him. Kneeling down, on one knee.

"Raavi?" He whispered, not being able to believe his eyes, seeing the small box in her hand.

"Dekh, bohot brave hoke tujhse puchne aayi hu. Interrupt mat karna mujhe, okay?" Raavi wiped her shaking palms against her dress before she spoke.