Entangled Again

15. Late Regrets

Next day evening...

*Shiva had finally decided for the situation, hoping to change the upcomings he got ready in formals and left for the wedding altar. On reaching the destination he realised it was already too late*

Pandit: Ab aap dulhan ki maang ko sindoor se bariye, tatpachat mangalsutra pehnaye.

*Groom proceeded as instructed by the pandit for the rituals*

Pandit: Aaj se aap dono pati patni hai...

*Shiva standing among the crowd witnesses all the rituals which did no more than pulling Raavi away from his fate.*

Shiva: *to himself while taking steps backward* Congratulations Raavi, i hope tu aapni jindegi Mai aage bade aur meri yaad tuje na sataye...

*Shiva didn't regret his decision of comming to meet Raavi one last time, may be the guilt was of not being able to meet her sooner. The guilt was of not listening to Dev to meet her immediately. But he still accepted this rotten fate of his, and turning his back to the newly wedded couple he left the wedding hall proceed to his car. Driving to his emotion's shelter, his tree.*

*After reaching his tree, Shiva this time instead of climbing up to the branch, sat down on the ground.*

Shiva: *caressing the floor beside* Papa aapke jane ke baad, iss jagah ke baare mai maine kisiko nahi bataye tha. Yeh jagah aapke aur mere itne kareeb thi ki kabhi kisi se share karna hi nahi chaha. Nahi chata tha mai kisi ko aapni vulnerability dikhana. *a tear drop rolls down* Par fir Raavi aayi meri jindegi mai aur maine uske saath aapne saare yaade, khushiyan, dukh, gussa sab kuch share kiya. *Closing his eyes letting all the moisture to escape, rolling out continuously* Par kisko pata tha, ki mai jiske kareeb aane lagta hu wo mujhse dur chala jata hai. Papa aapke saath yaha pehli baar mai amusement park jaane ke naam par aaya tha, us samay mujhe nahi pata tha ki ye hamari aakhri visit hogi. *Silently cries his heart out* Kya aab Raavi kabhi mujhse milne yaha aayegi? Kya mai aabhi bhi hopes rakh sakta hu? Kya yeh mera pyaar tere liye aur tera mera past, tere pati ke saath nainsaafi nahi hoga?

*Sobs, wiping his tears he gets up. Pushing a huge stone aside he digs the ground deep enough to feel the wetness in the soil, and shallow enough to do it with his hands. After few centimeters deep, a treasure box was visible with a lock. Opening the box, Shiva took out a locket from his pocket opening it revealed his and Raavi's picture. Placing it safely he picked up another locket from the box, opening it revealed his mother and father's picture. Hugging the locket he cried his heart out, later placed the box back and returned home*

*Flashback ends*

Keerti: Raavi di phir uske baad bhai ko sharab, aur cigra ki latt lag gyi. Bhai phir yese phase mai aaye ki apni jaan ki bhi parwa karna chor diye the... Raat bar club mai drink karte aur phir issi halat mai drive karne nikal jate the, teen baar police station bhi Jaa chuke the. Aur phir ek din unka car accident hogya, unke upar drink and drive ke charges already the, par dev bhai ne unko bacchata, tab se bhai ke saare legal issues dev bhai dekhne lage. Bhai ke jeene ki wajah hi khatam hone lagi thi, jab unhe hosh ayaa tha toh khud hi aapna ventilation nikaalne ki koshish ki, Warfarin ke overdose ki koshish ki thi aur pata nahi kya kya ki. I was lucky enough ki doctor ko bhai ke intensions ki bhanak lag toh unko strict observation mai rakha tha. Uss samay mai aapne finals mai busy thi toh Dev bhai hi hospital mai rehte the. Jab mujhe pata chal toh bhai already bohot weak the, *looking straight into Raavi's eye, Keerti wipes her tears* tab maine decide Kiya ki aapko bataugi, par bhai ne mana kar diya. Issiliye aapko nahi bataya but badle Mai unse apni khasam khane ko boli ke aaj ke baad kabhi aapni jaan lene ki koshish nahi karege...

A day before Gol Dhana Ceremony...

(A.N: The wedding rituals are according to the gujrati customs, while being a non gujrati, i don't really have any ideas about the same. All these rituals are according to google.)

*Shiva was sitting in the hall working on his laptop when Dev came along with Shivi and Shivin. Shivi hoped up next to Shiva, curiously staring the screen, while Shivin remained glued next to Dev*

Dev: Shiva tu Chandlo Maatli (Marriage Acceptances Ceremony) raasam ke samaye nahi tha, par ab tujhe meri baaki saari raasamo mai yeh hospital ke kaam mai busy rehna allowed nahi hai! Samjha?

Shiva:*continue staring the laptop screen* Samjh gya...

Dev: Shiva tum ni dono ko dekho, mai Raavi ko pickup kar ke aata hu...

Shiva: Thik hai jaa. Mai hu idhar! *Continuing his work*

Shivi: Uncle, aapse ek baat puchu? *Looking towards Shiva*

Shiva: Bolo beta! *Turns to Shivi* Kya baat hai...

Shivi: Aapke paas laptop mai dress up game hai?

Shiva: Huh? Nahi... Wo toh nahi hai!

Shivi: Aapka kaam hogya?

Shiva: Haa, bas ek minute...

Shivin: Shivi mumma ne computer games khelna mana Kiya hai naa!

Shivi: Bhai baas doo minute khelungi. Mumma aane tak. Okay?

Shiva: Haa, okay! Lo aap dono khelo, par kuch aur mat karna okay!

Shivi: okay uncle. Thank you...

*Rishita comes along with few glasses of juice, sitting next to Shiva. While Shiva passes on this laptop to the kids, and picks up the glass.*

Rishita: Baccho aap dono ka juice hai lelena!

Kids: haa mausi...

Rishita: *picking a glass she turns towards Shiva* Shiva, ek baat bata! Shivi ka behaviour tere saath change hone laga hai par Shivin ka kyu nahi ho raha hai?

Shiva: baas hoga change, shayad shivi aapni maa par aur shivin aapne baap par gya hai *laughs out, takes the juice from rishita and drinks up*

Rishita: Yeh bhi ho sakta hai! Accha mai jaati hu kal ki Gol Dhana (Sagaai) taiyari bhi karni hai. Baccho, juice pe lena...

*Rishitha walks away, Shiva's phone rings he proceeds towards his room to pick the call.*

*Raavi returned late night due an emergency, both the kids were fast asleep, Rishita and Dev were out on a late night date. Raavi with the intensions to not distribute the kids sleep went to Rishita's room to get fresh. Later when she came to kitchen to find the leftovers to eat, and proceed towards the terrace were she heard Shiva.*

*Standing at the entrance of the terrace, Raavi was watching Shiva from afar. While Shiva was standing facing his back to raavi near the boundary, looking at the sky with a bottle of beer in his hand. Raavi was stunned standing in silence seeing this Shiva.*

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Yours writer,
Aditi:)

©Story_writter_2003