11 am at Shiva's office,

A tall, muscular broad shouldered handsome man was seen pacing around his cabin.

Shiva: Itni der ho gayi hai, abhi bhi Raavi nahi ayi! aisa to kabhi nahi karti hai. Aaj ek outdoor visit bhi karna hai.

After waiting for some more time, he called her but didn't get any response, instead he received a message from Raavi.

" I'm sorry sir, Main aaj nahi aa paungi. Meri ek personal kaam hai, bahut important hai. Main application abhi mail kar di hai. Please maaf kardena."

Shiva scrunched his eyebrows and sighed. Later after completing his work, he thought to check upon the matter. He called her again, and this time, she received the call.

Shiva : Are you fine?

Raavi : Ha, thik hoon.

He could sense that something was wrong with Raavi. Her voice felt broken to him. Besides, he could hear some other muffled cries and noises from the background.

"Kaha ho tum? Aur galti se bhi jhoot mat bolna, anjam achha nahi hoga." said Shiva sternly.

Raavi : C.. city hospital. Maa admitted hai.

Shiva pursed his lips and said: Main aa raha hoon.

When he reached there, he saw Raavi standing near the window hiccuping. He was a little shocked seeing her crying.

Shiva rushed to see what happened to her and held her hand, Softly he uttered.

"Raavi"

Listening to his voice, Raavi looked at him with her doleful eyes and lowered her gaze.

Raavi : Maa ki brain tumor tha, mujhe pata tha ki wo aur zada din mere pas nahi rahegi. But phir bhi thora hope tha, but aaj dr. Ne jawab de dia, baas aur kuch din uske baad... She couldn't complete the sentence and burst into tears.

Shiva's mind flashed Ishanvi's pale innocent face. He slammed his eyes shut, a lone tear rolled down his face. Shrugging his shoulders, he looked at Raavi who had swollen eyes due to continuous crying. He could feel her condition, he gently wiped her tears with his thumb and lifted her chin.

Shiva: Hum dono ka zindagi kitni alag hai par halat kahi na kahi ek jaisi hai. Pata hai, mujhe ek ladki ne kaha tha ki himmat mat harna chahiye, zindagi mein aage badna chahiye, apna dard share karna chahiye. Aaj main hi use ye yaad dilana chahta hoon. Main hu tumhare sath. Tum to bahut strong ho, yesab mein bhi tum mujhe sambhala tha. Aaj bhi sab akele hi kar rahe the. Tum meri tarah tutna mat. Zindagi jitni mauka deta hai humein itna mein hi puri tarah jina chahiye. Kal ka pata nahi par aaj ke din, aur anewale din mein bhi tum nahi ronge. Tumhe dekh kar aunty ko bhi to bura lagega. Ye akhri kuch din usko zindagi ki har khushi do, uske sath raho, apni yaadon ke liye, uske liye, aur apne liye.

Raavi : Main janti hoon sab par phir bhi kya karoon. Meri maa aur bhai ke alawa koi nahi hai mere pas. Ye sab kuch to main uske treatment ke liye hi kar rahi thi par…

Shiva shushed her and consoled her. After some time, Raavi calmed down a bit.

They went to Raavi's mother's cabin. Tears welled up from her eyes on seeing her mother's condition. She was sleeping at that moment.

Shiva hugged her and patted her back. Surprisingly in his warm comforting arms, she found that solace and peace which she had never experienced, his gentle touch soothed her, she slowly kept her head on his shoulder.

Breaking the hug, he said : Mujhe pata hai ki tumne subah se zaroor kuch nahi khaya hai, main abhi kuch le aata hoon.

Raavi was about to refuse him when…

"Ye kaun hai Raavi?, kitna pyara ladka hai."

Shiva softly smiled, he touched her feet and said: Main Shiva hoon, Aunty, Aab Aap kaise feel kar rahi hai, tabihat kaisa hai aapka?

Shruti( Raavi's mother) smiled and held his hands and made him sit beside her. She batted her lashes and peered at Raavi.

"Aab main shanti se ja payungi, meri beti ko lekar bahut chinta rehti hai, ise bhi shadi karni nahi thi, mujhe to isne kuch bataya bhi nahi. Tum dono ek sath kitna acha lag rahe ho. Aise hi hamesha meri beti ke sath rehna beta.

Shiva couldn't decipher this current scenario. After a few seconds, it finally clicked. Raavi was very embarrassed with her mother's terrible assumption. She fiddled with her earrings and awkwardly looked at Shiva.

Raavi : Maa, aap jaisi soch rahi hai…

Shiva shushed her and started speaking: Waisa hi to hai, Areh, kya Raavi, tumhe abhi tak hamare baare mein aunty ko nahi bataya? Kya yaar!

Raavi widened her eyes in shock and pinched his arm.

Shiva glared at her and further continued:

Asal mein isme pura Raavi ka bhi dosh nahi hai mujhe mere hone wale saas se milkar aapna introduction jo dena tha.

Shruti patted his head and said : Areh, tumhe uski galti chupane ki zarurat nahi hai. Yehi janbujh kar tumse nahi milaya. Shakt image jo tut jayegi! Kya Raavi, tune ye sahi nahi kiya. Thora baat karungi, ghumungi uske sath, kitni cool mom hoon main, kaha main hi tujhe support kar rahi hoon aur tu aise kar rahi hai!

Shiva: Par aap bhi sahi kam nahi kar rahe ho. Dr ne apko rest lene ko kaha hai, Aise karoge to ghumne nahi le jayunga main aapko. Aap maa beti dono hi nautanki bahut karte ho. Hayee , kaha fas gaya!.

Hearing this, both Raavi and Shruti cracked up. Like this, the afternoon was spent laughing and talking. Raavi gaped at him in awe.

While returning, she asked

" Aap tab wo sab kya bol rahe the waha!"

Shiva leaned closer to her and gently tucked her few strands of hairs behind her ear. His hands gripped her waist, drawing her close.

Shiva caressed the side of her jaw with his fingertips, sending a light shiver down her spine. Time froze and her eyes cooperated to take a mental picture of those deep hazel orbs. After breaking eye contact, she looked away and stammered.

"Aa.. aap kya kar raha hai"

Shiva : Kyu? Problem kya hai? Tumhari hone wala Pati hu na!, ye to normal hai.

Raavi's breath quickened, she found his deep intense orbs focusing on her lips, and she paled. She suddenly wanted to run away but he grabbed her wrist and turned her body towards him.

Raavi : Please hat chor dijiye, kya kuch bhi bol raha hai? dekhiye, main koi shaadi nahi kar sakti.

Shiva smirked, he touched her face and trailed a finger down her neck. Raavi gasped and closed her eyes in nervousness.

Shiva huskily whispered in her ears: Aur main bhi nahi.

Raavi opened her eyes in shock and looked at him.

Shiva pressed his lips and tried to control his smile. After that, he bursts out laughing.

Shiva : Areh, itna daaro mat, bas ek chota prank hi to kiya, waise acting achha karleta hoon, pata hai mujhe!

Raavi narrowed her eyes and said: Prank!, kaise hai aap, main kitna dar gayi thi.

Shiva: Wo to tum har chiz mein hi darti ho, waise maza bahut aya, tumhari shakal dekne layak thi!

Raavi pouted and averted her gaze : Ha, aapko to mujhe pareshan karke hi duniya bhar ki khusi milta hai. Par aap maa ke samne aisa kyu bola?

Shiva's gaze softened, he said: Pata hai Raavi, meri aapni maa mujhe mere janam ke baad orphanage chor kar chali gayi thi. Main bachpan mein bahut rota tha maa ke liye, unke pyaar ke liye, phir ekdin maa matlab suman maa, mujhe adopt kiya aur wo saare mamta di jo ek beta aapne maa se deserve karta hai. Main bhi use bahut pyar karta hoon. Aaj jab aunty ko dekha wahi mamta mehsoos hua mujhe. Shayad sab maa hi ek jaise hai. Main chahta tha ki use thora sukoon mile, thori shanti mile ye soch ke uski beti akeli nahi rahegi, aapni aakhri pal mein use thora khusi dena chahta tha. Tumko lekar bahut chinta karti hai, kabhi kabhi chote mote jhut se agar kisika vala ho, to kya problem hai, meri aapni maa mujhe chor diya tha, maa ki kadar bahut zada samjta hu. Aaj wo kitna tension free laga, ek beti ka future lekar maa papa hamesha pareshan rehta hai, aaj ye choti se jhut pe uski wo pareshan hi dur hui. Jitna waqt hai unke pas, humein use tension free aur happy rakhna chahiye. Main uski astha ko thes nahi pauchana chahta tha. Aur ye aakhri kuch din uski khusi ke liye main itna sa acting kar sakta hoon.

Raavi adored him: Aap sirf meri maa ko khush rakhne ke liye yesab kiya, aap sach mein hi bahut alag hai, thank you.

Shiva slightly smiled and they moved out from there.