After few days,

At Shiva's house,

While returning from office, Raavi decided to visit Shiva's place. She went to his room to meet Rudra. Rudra was peacefully sleeping on the bed. Her whole face lit up seeing him. She gently caressed his face and ruffled his hair while Rudra slightly moved at her touch. He smiled semi consciously, recognizing the familiar touch. He slowly opened his eyes and a sweet smile crept over his face on which Raavi giggled. She hugged him and Rudra softly pecked on her cheek. Raavi brought his milk cup and Rudra slowly drank from it, while she held the cup firmly. Then he saw the boy toy ( which Shiva used to kiss to make him jealous) in Raavi's hand. He frowned cutely and started flapping his hands. Raavi got confused and patted his cheeks. Rudra gazed at her with his deep round eyes and then his gaze again shifted at her hand. He took the boy toy and threw it aside. Raavi widened his eyes in shock and looked at him.

Raavi: Aap to mera achha baby ho na puchku!, aisa toy fekna sahi hai kya?

Rudra batted his eyelashes and peered at her, then giggling, he nodded positively.

Raavi's jaw dropped in surprise. Then she remembered about the past incident related to the toy. Narrowing her eyes, she said: Haww, na bolne ki jagah haan kar raha hai, ye to galat baat hai!. Aur Papa to aapse hi sab se zyada pyaar karte hai, aur main bhi aapko hi sabse zyada pyaar karti hoon. Aab khush.

Rudra smiled and kept the toy in its place.

After that he started whimpering in excitement and pointed at his new toy, which Shiva recently gifted him, uttering,

"Pa.. Papa.. to..toi"

Raavi nodded in a no and said, "Shant-shant, Pehle muh dhona hoga na, phir hum khelenge , thik hai."

Rudra cutely pouted and tilted his head towards Raavi. Slowly he nodded positively and cuddled her. Raavi smiled and cleaned his mouth. After that, they started playing and enjoying each other’s company.

Next day at Shiva's office,

While opening the old files for an important document, suddenly Shiva felt a stinging sensation in his left eye. He started rubbing his eyes which made it worse. The dust was still in his eye, Raavi entered and saw him struggling with his eye. She sighed before turning him gently towards her. Shiva again tried to rub his eye when she forced his hand away, and cupped his cheeks. She tiptoed to match his height and gently blew in his eye. Shiva unconsciously wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her closer. He paused to stare at her intently with an unknown emotion while Raavi was "busy with his eye". After a moment, Raavi pulled back and looked at him, who was still lost in her eyes. The intense look startled her. She waved her hands before him and asked:

" Arehh, Kahan kho gaya hai aap?, Aab Dard kam hua?"

Shiva, coming back to his senses, stammered: Ha.. haa, main thik hoon, mujhe kya hoga!. Thanks, Tum jao aab.

Later that evening,

Shiva got a call from Krish. After a brief conversation, she called Raavi in his cabin.

Shiva's mouth set in a hard line, he said : Raavi, Krish ke hostel mein problem hua tha tumne mujhe bataya kyu nahi? Upar se, tumlogoko waha se nikal diya tha, aur tab se tum log ek PG mein the, ye bhi tumne mujhe nahi bataya. Itna paraya samaj te ho mujhe!

Raavi pressed her lips together and looked at him. She said: Aisa nahi hai, sab kuch bahut achanak ho gaya. Aap ko bhi aise achanak bulana bhi to galat hota na!, Aap ka bhi to itna kaam hai yaha. Aap khamka mamuli si baat pe pareshan ho jate.

Shiva scrunched his eyebrows and grounded his jaw. He grabbed her and pinned her against the wall. Raavi's breath hitched on their close proximity and she lowered her eyes.

His hold on her hands slowly loosened but his body was pressed up against her making her whole body shuddered. His hot breath trailed her neck and her gaze slowly shifted from his intense hazel eyes to his plump, kissable lips. She squeezed her eyes shut.

Raavi ( in mind) : Nahi Raavi, abhi nahi, use gussa hai abhi, aise mat dekh use. Thora to Sharam kar.

Shiva lifted her chin with his fingers making her open her eyes.

Shiva: Aunty se main wada kiya tha ki tumhari aur Krish ka khayal rakhunga. You should have informed me.

Raavi : Aap galat samaj raha hai. Aap humari itni madaad to karta hi hai harpal. Aur maa aapko yesab kaha tha kyuki wo aapko mera… ( She stopped and looked sideways)

Shiva: Bhalei wo mujhe tumhara ( he paused a bit and continued) boyfriend samjh kar hi boli thi par main ye wada apne aap se bhi kiya tha. Aapne maan se maani thi ye baat. Main koi patthar dil ka insaan nahi hoon, Raavi.

Raavi looked at him with a teary eyed face. Shiva cupped her face between his strong hands, he leaned closer and squealed,

“I care for you dammit". Tum independent ho, achi baat hai, but kabhi kabhi dusro ke sahare lena chalta hai, I want to be by your side. Tum ye sahi nahi kiya.

Without thinking twice, Raavi hugged him with all her might, Shiva wrapped her arms around her small frame and hugged her back.

Breaking the hug, Raavi said: Bachpan se akela hi sab kuch samhal ti thi, maa ki help karti thi, papa ke jaane ke baad sab badal gaya tha. Kisike upar zyada dependent ho jaane pe bhi dar lagta hai, kahi agar koi naraz ho jaaye, yahan phir mujse irritate ho jaye. Bachpan mein hamara family mein bahut logo ke sath maa ka aisa experience hua hai. Tab se hi akele rehne ki aadat ho gayi hai mujhe. Par abhi aisa nahi hai. Na chahte hue bhi main aap par dependent ho gayi hoon, aapko miss kiya hai maine. Aur musibat mein mujhe aapki baat hi yaad aati hai. Par tab sab jaldi jaldi mein ho gaya tha. Hostel mein uska kuch dost use bully kar raha tha. Main warden se complain bhi kiya hai, aur unhe saza bhi mila hai. Krish ka ek achha senior hai waha. Wo pehle se hi ek PG ka arrangement kar liya tha. To mujhe aisa kuch problem nahi hua. Nahi to main aapko zaroor baatati. Aapke bina hamara aur hai kaun yahan!

Slowly, Shiva calmed down. After sometime, he stated: Waise, aur kya hua tha waha? Kuch aur to nahi chupai tum?, Kya kiya 2 months mein?

Raavi slightly smiled and said: Sach kahoon, bahut khaali mehsoos karti thi, abhi bhi karti hoon, maa hai meri, kya karoon!, waha jaane ke baad hi wo hostel wala incident hua, wo sab kuch thik hone ke baad, Krish ka exam tha. Bahut tut gaya tha wo. Use samjhaya. Dhire dhire sab thoda thik hua. Uska exam khatam hone ke baad, hum dono saara time ek saat bitate the. Usse thora taklif kaam hota tha. Ek dusreka khayal rakha, support kiya. Jab akeli rehti thi tab maa ki aur yaad aati thi. Krish bahut kaam umar mein hi bahut zinmedar ho gaya hai. Meri bahut help ki usne. Mujhe aur Krish ko ye space ki zaroorat thi. Abhi thora relieved hoon.

Shiva held her hand and assured her, saying: Ek baat yaad rakhna, kuch bhi ho jaaye, main hoon tumhare sath. Tum akeli nahi hon. I will always be there for you.

Raavi smiled and nodded positively.