"Kehna padega.. Tu aaj kuch zyada ajeeb lag raha hai."
Of all the things Shiva had imagined Raavi would say upon seeing him, that was not one of them.
Shiva stands in Pandya Niwas for the first time since his accident, battered and broken in more ways than one, but Raavi merely sips her tea.
"Chipkali.. Main hoon." Shiva says, despite the obviousness.
"Woh toh dikh hi raha hai.. Kuch naya bata." Raavi replies with that infuriating calm.
"Tujhe iss barre mein kuch nahi kehna? Kuch bhi nahi?" Shiva wonders if Raavi is in shock.
"Mujhe kuch nahi kehna.. Par Dhara Bhaabhi ko kehna hoga! Unhe lagta hai ki mujhe tujhe 'hallucinate' karna band kar dena chahiye. Ki mere unhe acknowledge karne se tu waapis nahi aayega." Shiva's heart breaks. He reaches out a hand and places it gently on Raavi's shoulder.
Raavi vaults out of her chair, looking suddenly horrified. "Tu.. Tune aise kabhi nahi kiya. Tu mujhe choo nahi sakta hai." She puts a shaky hand to her forehead. "Aaj tak toh mohalle waalon ke taano mein thi.. Par ab lagta hai main sach mein paagal ho rahi hoon."
"Chipkali, yeh main hoon. Yeh sachmein main hoon!"
Raavi narrows her eyes, shuffling forward until she's right in front of Shiva. She reaches out and touches Shiva's cheek. Shiva closes his eyes, leaning into it, before he's pulled into an embrace so firm and fervent it would be uncomfortable if they both didn't need it so, so badly.
"Mujhe pata tha ki Mera Shiva laut kar aayega.." Raavi says into Shiva's neck.
"Tere liye, Raavi.. Main humesha lautoonga."
YOU ARE READING
ShiVi Drabbles - Stereo Hearts
FanficThe adventures of ShiVi - a world full of 'maybes' & 'what ifs'.
