O Saathi Rey

Chapter 15

Disclaimer: The sequence of events happening in this part are highly fictional. I have clubbed them together for dramatic effect.

Nevertheless, I like to be factually correct while writing, so the medical events are based on real cases I have read/ seen family experience.

...

D-Day.

"No means no."

"Shiva pleaseeeeee!" Raavi whined, waddling behind him while he got ready in his traditionals.

"Maine kaha no means no. Vinay aur Neha ki shaadi mein nahi leke jaunga, matlab nahi leke jaunga, that's it." Shiva sighed exasperatedly.

"BUT WHYYYYYY?!" She whined again, as he made a face.

"Kitni baar bolu? Tu kabhi bhi due hai, aur shaadi jaisi bheed mein leke jaana? No way! Aur tujhe ghar pe akele nahi chod raha hoon. Mami hai na ghar pe, unke saath timepass kar, mai nikal raha hoon."

"Ohh....." Raavi smirked, catching onto one phrase only. "Par Maasi toh shaam ko kisi friend ke beti ki engagement ke liye Panvel jaa rahi hai."

"Toh?" He asked, wearing his watch.

"Tu apne pregnant, due biwi ko, raat mein akela chodke apne dost ke reception pe jaayega, Shiva?" Raavi asked, pouting dramatically, making puppy eyes at him, keeping her hand on her stomach for added effects.

"Eheeee!" Prafulla cackled, "Isne tujhe pakad liya, haa bhai. Sahi pakdi hai, maari dhikri ne."

Shiva gaped at his wife. She had played her cards smartly. Trapped him with his own words. And there was no way out.

"Woh... Tu- mai.... Matlab-" He stuttered, but one look and he knew he had lost the upper hand in this argument. So he decided to barter.

"Theek hai. Shaadi mai nahi LEKIN," He emphasised, seeing her open her mouth to argue before hearing him completely, "Reception mein leke jaunga. Thodi der ke liye. Time se ready ho jaana warna tujhe ghar pe chod dunga."

Shiva shook his head and left, as Raavi and Prafulla high-fived each other.

Raavi - 1
Shiva - 0

.....

"Beautiful place na?" Raavi exclaimed, looking around at the extravagantly decorated hall, walking hand in hand with Shiva.

"Haa. Woh toh hai."

"Tujhe pata hai, humari kabhi reception hui hi nahi." She turned to him, still holding his hand.

"Hui toh thi, tune woh black lehenga pehna tha, match kar rahe the hun, uss din toh mai tujhe dekhte hi reh gaya." Shiva looked ahead, looking for a place to sit, putting the car keys in his suit pocket.

"Woh toh maine bhi notice kiya tujhe. But mera matlab hai, reception jo sirf humare naam ho. Mujhe kisi ke saath share na karna pade, koi drama na ho, aisa wala normal reception nahi hua hai na humara." She smiled and reasoned.

"Ab kaha se karau reception?"

"Karane thodi bola. Just, in general thought aaya mujhe." Raavi said, sitting down slowly on the chair.

"Toh mat soch. Tu sochti hai toh kuch khatarnak ho jaata hai." Shiva joked, earning a punch in his arm. "Ab baith aaramse. Waise bhi line lambi hai aur," He took out his handkerchief and handed it to her, "tujhe itni garmi hoti hai toh ye kyu pehna?"

Shiva pointed at the yellow sharara she was wearing. No doubt, she looked adorable in it. But traditional clothes mixed with Mumbai ki baarish is a curse you do not want to invite on yourself.