After 2 days,

At Pandya niwas,

Raavi was at home today. She picked the photo album which had fallen from the drawer, she was about to place it back but stopped when her eyes went to their wedding picture.

Raavi's pov

Sab kitna alag ho gaya hai. Yahan main kaam mein busy hoon wahan tu. Pehle meri choti choti baatein lekar tu pareshan hota tha, par abhi koi react hi nahi karta tu. Itna normal kyu baat karta hai aajkal? itni shaant kab se ho gaya tu? Aisa kyun ho gaya tu Shiva? Yeh Shiva ko main Samaj nahi paa rahi hoon. Pehle jaisa pyaar, fikar abhi to nahi dikhta. Tu badal gaya hai Shiva. Do din pehle bhi…

She recalled their conversation on that day.

On the call,

Shiva: Ha bol

Raavi: Tune aaj ek baar bhi call nahi kiya?

Shiva: Kiya tha, call nahi lagi. Tera Kuch Network issue tha shayad.

Raavi: Ohh, ha, aaj bahar ek kaam mein jana pada, to isliye network issue hua hoga.

Shiva: Hmm.

(Shiva in mind) : Pata hai, tere office pe phone karke puch liya tha.

Shiva: Waise tune bhi call nahi kiya tha.

Raavi: Ha, kahan na busy thi.

Raavi ( in mind) : Aur kuch nahi puchna tujhe?

Shiva( in mind) : Sawal kya hi puchu tujhe aur, wo haaq bhi to tu mujhe se chin liya.

Shiva: To, aur bata.

Raavi: Aur kya bolu, raat bhi ho gaya. Thik hai.

Shiva: Hmm, Good night, ( he paused for a moment, then uttered in a tender voice) apna dhyan rakhna.

Raavi: Hmm, tu bhi.

She was engrossed in her own thoughts when Suman called her.

Suman: Bahut din ho gaya hai, mujhe mera Seeva ka bahut yaad aati hai, maine Gaumbi ko bulakar hamara tickets book karwai hai, aaj shaam ka train hai. Tujhe bhi to abhi 3 din ka chhutti mili hai, to chal samaan pack karle apna. Krish bhi jayega humare sath.

Raavi smiled and said : Ye to achhi baat hai maa par aise bina bataya jaana, agar kuch problem ho gaya to! Phir wo kaisa react karega, ekbar inform kardu?

Suman: Tu apni pati se milne ja rahi hai, kaha khushi se nachegi aur yahan hichkichahat dikha rahi hai, tumlogo ka yesab modern rishta hum nahi samjhte, mujhe mere bete ko surprise dena hai, baas, aur kuch baat nahi sunna mujhe.

Raavi nodded and went to their room.

After 1 day,

In the guest house,

A hot, handsome muscular man with a wary expression was found to be striding towards the auditorium. It was a massive hall surrounded with many radiant, carefree and appealing faces. A smile touched the corners of his mouth and played in the laugh lines beside his eyes.

Rakhi saw him and stepped forward to meet him.

Rakhi: Areh, tu agaya! Itni der kyu kar di?

Shiva: Areh, wo office se aya na!, isliye thoda late ho gaya. Yahan to bahut achha arrangement hai, kafi sundar lag raha hai sab kuch.

Rakhi: Thank you, Veer ne hi sab kuch arrange karwaya hai.

Then, she called someone.

Rakhi: Yeh hai Veer, mera would be husband. Aur Veer, yeh hai Shiva, mera bachpan ka dost.

Shiva greeted him. Suddenly, he observed a bandage on Veer's leg. He asked him about it.

Veer: Areh, pucho hi maat, kal siri se gir gaya tha. Zyada chot nahi aya, par pair mein bahut dard hai.

Shiva sighed and comforted him.

After sometime,

It was a masquerade party. Everyone except, Shiva, Rakhi and Veer was wearing masks and dancing and swaying to the music.

Veer: Dekho main to aaj dance nahi karpayunga. Shiva tum aisa kyun khareh ho? yahan to log aise hi random dance karte hai, adhe log ko to pata bhi nahi kiske sath dance kar raha hai. Tum jao enjoy karo.

Shiva felt awkward and said: Nahi, aise to kisiko janta nahi hoon, main yahan hi thik hoon.

Veer laughed and said: Areh, janne ki kya zaroorat hai! It's a party, achha, thik hai, tum dono hi dance karlo, aur Rakhi ( turning towards her) u guys enjoy, aur tum baaki guests ko thoda sambhal lena, mera ek office ka call aa raha hai, main thodi der baad tum dono ko join karta hoon.

Rakhi : Yahan bhi office! Achha thik hai, tum jao, hum yahan hai, aur dhyaan se jana.

Veer left.

Rakhi took a mask and gave it to Shiva.

Rakhi: Le pehen le aur chal.

Shiva dramatically said: Ha, jana to padega, Nahi to tera patidev aa jayega aur kahega, tum meri biwi ka thoda dhyan bhi nahi rakh paya, thora dance bhi nahi karpaya, it's just a party, kaisa dost ho!

Rakhi lightly slapped his arm and said: Chup kar, aisa bhi nahi bola wo.

Shiva laughed and wore the mask.

Shiva held her hand and both appeared on the dance floor. He twirled her a bit, and swayed with her to the music. Rakhi wrapped her arms around his neck and started matching his steps.

Rakhi: Tune shadi kar liya na! Teri biwi bhi yahan hi Delhi mein hai kya?

Shiva: Nahi nahi, Raavi to Somnath mein hai. Uska bhi to office hai.

They chit-chatted for a while. Rakhi was very happy to know that Shiva had resumed his studies. She even promised him to help him in his studies if needed.

Suddenly Shiva stumbled with the waiter and his mask fell down.

Rakhi: Ruk, dusra laata hoon.

Shiva: Nahi, rehene de, waise bhi mujhe thora uncomfortable bhi lag raha tha isme. Acha hua nikal gaya. Aise hi dance karunga.

On the other hand, someone was peering at them with bloodshot eyes. She got jealous seeing Shiva wrapping his arm around the girl's waist whereas both Shiva and Rakhi kept on dancing gracefully, enjoying the music and their conversation.

Actually Raavi, Suman and Krish had already arrived in Delhi. According to Suman's plan, they were supposed to meet him in the next morning. Gaumbi had already booked a guest house for them for a night. Coincidentally, it was the same guest house where the party was going on. Suman and Krish had settled in their respective rooms while Raavi went to talk to the receptionist. She was aware that a party was going on in the hall. Suddenly, she raised her eyebrows as soon as she looked at the doorway of the hall. Her eyes widened in shock witnessing the scene before her. Since Rakhi was wearing a mask, she couldn't recognize her.

Meanwhile, Shiva got a call, so he excused himself and moved out. After the call, when he was about to enter the hall, someone pulled him to a corner. Shiva got startled and was about to shout but stopped when he saw her.

Shiva: Tu! Tu yahan kya kar rahi hai? Kab aayi yahan?

Raavi: Kyun! Nahi aa sakti kya! Oo, Galat time mein aa gayi hoon shayad.

Shiva got confused and asked: Kya bol rahi hai tu? Galat time matlab?

Raavi: Natak band kar aab. Yahan kahan hum sab tujhe surprise dene aaye the aur yahan to main hi surprise ho rahi hoon. Tera ye talent to pata nahi tha mujhe.Yahan to bahut maze mein hai tu! Party kar raha hai, do din ki jaane hue ladki ke sath chipak chipak ke dance kar raha hai! Aur phir mujhe Arnav ko lekar bolta tha tu! Bahar jaate hi roop hi pura badal gaya tera. Sharam nahi aata tujhe, apni biwi ka to ratti bhar bhi fikar nahi hai tera aur yahan ek dayan ki choti se latak raha hai. Kaisa insaan hai tu! Kaun hai woh ladki, baata? Abhi bhi chup hai tu, dek…

"Areh, tu yahan kya kar raha Shiva? tujhe hum dono sab jagah dhund rahe the". Someone uttered from behind. Anger seized Raavi on seeing the girl. She came towards them and then opened her mask. Raavi's mouth fell open and her face went blank on seeing her. She didn't know what to say or how to react.

Shiva: Areh, main abhi aa hi raha tha.

Rakhi : Ye kaun hai?

Shiva: Ye Raavi hai. Wo yahan hi ayi thi.

Rakhi: Wow! How romantic. Tujhe surprise dene ke liye sidha Delhi aa gayi. ( Turning to Raavi) Main Rakhi hoon, Shiva ki childhood friend. Aur ye mere fiance, Veer. Tum bhi aa jao, humare sath join karlo.

Shiva: Dekh, bahut der ho gaya hai. Mujhe na ab ghar jana hai. Phir kabhi milenge.

Both Rakhi and Veer tried to convince him but he didn't change his mind. So they half-heartedly agreed. Then they parted.

Raavi held Shiva's hand and said: Dekh, mujhe to pata nahi tha ki wo..

Shiva removed his hand out of her grip and hurriedly moved from there. Raavi ran behind him and somehow managed to catch him. Thankfully, no one was there.

Shiva clenched his fist, his expression hardened. Sadness and dejection clouded his features. He said in a broken voice

"Mujhe tere se koi baat nahi karni, mujhe akele rehne de"

Raavi: Dekh, ek misunderstanding ho gayi hai, mujhe kaise pata hoga ki wo ladki Rakhi hai. Usne to mask pehni thi.

Shiva said sarcastically: Tujhe waise bhi mere baare mein pata kya hai! Ye sirf aaj ki baat nahi.

Raavi: Main kya karti! Ek galti ho gayi hai, main maanti hoon, but tera bhi to galti hai. Tu wahan thik se phone pe nahi baat karta tha, mere liye fikar nahi karta tha, yesab acha nahi lagti thi mujhe. Upar se tujhe aise dekh liya tha. Tu kitna badal gaya hai, Shiva. Tu mere baare mein aaj kal koi sawal bhi nahi puchta hai. Gussa karke Delhi aa gaya tha. Main bahut pareshan thi yesab se. Humara bich jo dooriyan yesab se hi hua hai.

Shiva yelled: Bass! Tujhe kabhi bhi aapni galti realize nahi hogi na! Tu mujh par abhi Shak kiya tha! Aur ye pehli baar nahi hai. Main pagal tha, mujhe tujhe jalana pasand tha isliye ek bahut important chiz hi nazar andaz kar deta tha harbaar. Tu pehle bhi aise hi kiya hai. Abhi bhi meri galti count kar rahi hai! Ye tera jealousy jo main har baar ignore karke enjoy karta tha, ye galti hai meri. Galti hai meri, sirf tere aur apne pariwar ke baare mein zindagi bhar socha, khud ke liye kuch nahi kiya. Tu mujh par bharosa nahi karta hai, Raavi. Fikar ki baat kar rahi hai! Tujhe pata hai, mera kuch din baad exam hai! Kya hua! Jawab nahi hai! Bhul gayi na! Pata tha. Tu kitni baar call karti thi mujhe? main to yahan akela tha. Koi nahi tha mere sath yahan!

Fikar karne ka responsibility, bharosa karne ka responsibility sirf meri hai kya! Aur tu Victim card maat khel kyuki yahan mere sath galat hua hai. Mere biwi mujse zyada kisi aur ko bharosa karti hai, mujhe insult karti hai, mujhe shak karti hai, maine khoya hai sab kuch. Tu nahi. Humare bich dooriyan meri wajah se nahi, teri wajah se hua hai. Jab se tu wo phuntru lekar beitthi thi, tab se hi humara bich dooriyan suru hui thi. Mere liye tab se tere pas time nahi tha, par main dhire dhire yesab samajne ki koshish kar raha tha. Haa, thik hai! Tu aapne liye kuch kar rahi thi, ye achi baat hai. Tere sath dene ki pura koshish kiya tha. Par badle mein mujhe selfish aur egoistic naam diya tha tu. Phirbhi sab kuch thik ho raha tha! Kyuki main tujse maafi mang liya tha humesha ki tarah. Tera ye jo maan mein khayal hai ki tu sahi hai, main galat hoon, isko ko aur hawa de diya tha maine, baas, aur kya! Tu khush ho gayi. Maine ye hi galti kiya hai. Khud ki badbad insult karke main galti kiya hai.

Jab tera Social media pe wo hacker wala kaand hua, tab bhi main tera sath tha. Mere gharwalo ne bhi tab yesab mein involve nahi tha. Sirf Krish thoda madaad kiya tha. Par end mein ye sab ka credit Wo Arnav or baaki pura family ko de diya tu. Arnav help kiya hai, achhi baat hai, par waha uske pas tu mere sath gayi thi, ye problem to hum dono ek sath solve kar rahe the. Par achanak, tu mujhe hi tere plan se, tere life ki problem se nikal diya. Tab mujhe naam mila bailbuddhi, kyuki main to gunda hoon, mujhe ladai karne ke alawa aur kuch nahi aata, hai na! Ye sab ke baad jab tujhe sawal pucha ki tu kyun us lodge pe tha, tab mujhe naam mila shakki pati. Aaj tu itni ghatiya arop lagaya mujhpar, uske baad bhi tu isko justify kar raha hai, usme bhi mere galti hi dikh raha hai tujhe. Main Shakki pati hoon ya tu Shakki biwi hai, soch ke baata. Aaj Rakhi ke sath dekh kar tune itna kuch suna diya mujhe. To soch, jab main tujhe Arnav ke sath dekhta tha to mujhe kaisa lagta tha! Wo bhi ek do din ka jaana hua ladka hi tha. Aajtak nahi bataya, wo kanwaratra wala din mein, tera wo lapar jhandis dost tujhe bhagane ki baat kar raha tha, isliye main unlogo par haat uthaya tha. Kya hua! Chauk gayi na! Aur sun, Humare bich sab sorted hone ke baad bhi tune ye baat mujhse kabhi pucha hi nahi kyon ki tujhe main hi galat laga tha tab, humesha ki tarah. Aur kya puchu tujhe, kyun puchu tujhe! Agar main kuch puchunga tab to mujhe hi shakki pati ka badnam de degi tu. ( He held her arms tightly and stated)

Mera tera liye fikar kam nahi hua Raavi, par darr lagta hai, ek naya ilzam ka darr lagta hai. Main bhi ek insaan hoon, pathhar nahi jo tu samajh ta hai. Mera bhi dil hai, mera bhi dard hota hai, mera bhi self-respect hai. Tera dard ke time main tha tere sath par tu mujhe, aur mere dard ko samjha hi nahi. Aur ek baat tune sahi kaha ki yahan main maze mein hoon, kyunki yahan mujhe ek nayi pehchaan mila, mujhe wo izzat mila jo main deserve karta tha. Yahan aake main samjha hoon ki khud ko importance dena, khud ko izzat karna, khud ka khayal rakhna, apne liye kuch karna kitna achha hai, kitna zaroori hai.

Raavi stammered: Mujhe.. ye sab.. kuch

Shiva: Kya hua! Bolti baand ho gayi na!, Tu jaa yahase. Mujse aur nahi hoga.

Saying this, he left.