ShiVi Drabbles - Stereo Hearts

a wince is all it takes

Raavi had never considered herself a particularly patient woman — she was sure there were a few Nykaa showrooms that would agree — but after living with Shiva, she'd adjusted her definition of the word; she had the patience of a saint.

Every woman, however, has her breaking point.

"Tu 'jungli' hai. Ek 'jungli' aur 'gawaar' aadmi hai. Pata nahi kya jaadu-tona karke Raavi ko apni 'Laila' ki tarah Somnaath ki sair kara raha hai!" Rahul sneered.

Raavi bristled at being referred to as Shiva's 'Laila' but it was a comment she would have otherwise let slide, if not for what she saw on Shiva's face.

She's sure anyone else would have missed it, but Raavi wasn't just anyone. Only a person inordinately tuned in to the finer workings of Shiva would notice the near-imperceptible wince at that harsh five-letter word. Jungli.

People who'd experienced Shiva assumed he was rough, heartless, unemotional, because that was the mask he preferred to show an unforgiving world afraid of what it couldn't understand. No one ever took the time to really know him, to diligently chisel away at his barricade of defenses.

So, that was why all it took was a single wince for Raavi to punch Rahul square in his smug face.

Shiva's small smile was all the thanks Raavi needed, and she couldn't help but feel immensely satisfied at Rahul's quickly-blooming bruise.