Subdued- A Shiva Pandya Story

Unheard conversations

Everyone heard the announcement in shock and bewilderment but Shiva was in a dilemma of his own. He had been given a lifeline to complete his studies but what did it entail. More importantly, where would it leave himself and Raavi. Would she want to move with him? Did he want her to come with him? Of course he did but how could he study and work without making her suspicious so he decided to use his street smart ways to get his answer

" Are gaumbi, agar hum chaar bhaiyo mein se ek ko jaana hoga, tho waha ka khaana peena....eh saab kaise......dev ki paas MBA hai ....woh sabse kaabil hoga..."
" Dev nahin jaayega. Humari abhi family shuru hua Shiva"
" Ha ha bhabi, yeh main bhi soch raha tha:
Rishita narrowed her eyes at Shiva. No way in hell is she gonna go or Dev gonna go. Who was going to launch her cosmetic brand? DR cosmetics was her dream (Dev and Rishita Cosmetics).

Krish then piped up asking " Gaumbi, kitne din ke liye jaana parega"
" kam se kam 18 months"

Shiva was gleeing inside with happiness . Krish was gonna take the bait and knowing Krish, he would leap at the chance of freedom, roaming the streets of Mumbai, thinking he is the SRK of Somnath, landing in Mumbai when in reality, he was nothing of the sort. How he managed to woo Kirti and convince Shweta to marry him was beyond his reasoning.

" yes gaumbi, achi  baat hai. Main dukaan chalunga and sari haseeno mere pass aayenge.  Hamari customers hoge and mein banunga baadshaho ka baadshah. Waado se main apne mukarta nahin, ladkiyo ko patane main kabhi darta nahin,,"

Dhara smacked his head whilst Shiva noticed Raavi fixated on  her phone. He nudged her to ask what is going on but she swatted his query off.

" Bilkul nahin. Waha dukaan chalana hai, apni shaadi ka tayari nahin. Wase bhi, do do baar love story kharab hone ke baad phir bhi tu apne aapko DDLJ ka Raj samaj tha hai" Gaumbi was not gonna even bother considering Krish. So what was left was himself and Shiva. But after years of waiting for a child, it was not fair to leave Dhara or drag her along so he decided to coax and sway Shiva when...

"Gaumbi, agar main Raavi se poocho and woh maan jaye, kya hum dono chale" if both him and Raavi went, it might be what his marriage needed. A chance for him to recover emotionally at least. It had been a while since he saw hope creep into his life.
He explained to Gaumbi, he understood about cost and stuff but he would manage and look after Raavi. Suman was not impressed. When was he going to learn that Raavi was bad news. She never understood what magic this girl did on her son for him to chant her name like a mantra .
Shiva turned to get Raavi's opinion to see she was not there. He turned back as she skipped towards them

"Raavi, hum soche rahe the , tum aur Shiva jaana best hoga"
" Bilkul nahin Dhara di. Dono ko jaane ki zarurat nahin. Shiva jaa sakta hai akela. Main waha kya karungi. Wase bhi, mujhe apni social media account and fanbase ko sambhal na hai. Main somnath reh lungi and Shiva Mumbai main rahenga"
"Raavi, itne din....I mean tum aur Shiva....aise alag" Dev was stumped. He loved Rishita and though sometimes he contemplated, throttling her for brazen attitude and her zid...he couldnt stay that long without her. Kudos to her. She got guts. Shiva would cope. He usually does...

Shiva's heart burnt . What kind of love was this..he hoped Raavi would resist but she was more vested in her own life. Did he even have a spot in her life. Did she not hear what Gaumbi said. A whole freaking year and she was willing to just ....oh shit
...the hand twitch thing was happening again...

"Shiva, tere saar par paseena..."
He removed himself from Dhara bhabi and spoke
" Teek hai Gaumbi, main Mumbai jaane ki tayaari start kartha hu" He ran to his bathroom and shut the door shut..he was unable to move and before you knew it, he was in the fetal position...crying and shaking. He couldnt move his body at all.

Day of departure...

Raavi was sad. Shiva was leaving but it was fine. Eighteen days and they would reunite. She was going to spend these days, re-evaluating herself and work out how to build her relationship back with Shiva..
The dark cloud of Arnav lingered and she couldnt help but feel Shiva was not showing his true feelings. He had transformed into a calmer version of himself but his vase  breaking incident indicated a stage act was  being played out. The angry young man in him was still there inside...not to mention he got some property damage bill that she saw him pay for..she was going to ask him but she got occupied with her contracts she got through social media
Shiva had his suitcase and approached her...
" Acha Raavi , main chalta hoon. Maine Gaumbi ko bola hai, agar tujhe kuch chaiyye tho woh laake de"
" Aree Shiva , eighteen days aise hi chale jaayenge . Tu Chinta maat kar."

Everyone looked at her stumped and shiva was confused. What's happening in 18 days .
Was it her birthday ?
Nope
Was it their anniversary?
Nope

" Raavi bhabi, 18 din main kya horaha hai. Aapki birthday hai kya. Tumhe pata hai naa, opehle 3 months main Shiva nahin aa sakta "

Now Raavi was dazed.
" Kya matlab, kaam sirf 18 din ka hai"

Shiva broke the illusions and stated
"Raavi, main Mumbai shift horaha hu, 18 months ke liye"
Raavi gasped. She was too fixated on her phone that she failed to hear it was 18months.
His expressions were sad. Almost broken when he spoke. She was offered to go with him and she rejected him in front of everyone. She
put herself first and abandoned him. She messed up...again
How was she gonna fix this mess  now.