Special wala thank you to my Suppu for helping me where I was stuck, and Sri and Subs for their inputs ❤️

....

The waves crashed over the rocks below, the night sky twinkling above them as the winds blew gently, soft caresses on the faces of the crowd that were awake at this hour of the night, the silence a comforting one, sounds of waves and wind the only company to the lonely.

Raavi curled her arms around Shiva's biceps, resting her head on his shoulder as he pulled her closer, legs dangling over the cement seatings above the ocean as they watched the night sky colour into shades of blue and purple. 

"It's so beautiful." Raavi whispered, and Shiva placed a feather-light kiss on her hair, rubbing her arms as she shivered from the winds blowing across Somnath beach. 

"I wish we could stay like this forever." She admitted, tilting to look up at him. 

"Mai kaha jaa raha hoon?" Shiva shrugged, "Tu jaa rahi hai kahi?" 

"Nahi. Bas dil mein tha, toh bol diya." 

He shook his head at her random thoughts, but he loved that about her. She spoke what was on her mind, unlike himself, who was wired to think 10 steps ahead about reactions and expectations before even putting across his opinions or requests. 

Shiva had let go of that habit, learning to put himself above others, but there was still a lingering question that he had been meaning to ask Raavi, and he wasn't sure it would end well. 

"Mere dil mein bhi kuch hai. Bol du?" 

Raavi nodded and watched Shiva sigh, physically struggling to get whatever it was, off his chest. It had to be something that was bothering him, or he wouldn't be so fidgety. 

"Raavi," Shiva eased her hands off his arm to face her completely, "tu apna future kaise dekhti hai?" 

"Kaise matlab?" She asked, confused. "Tujhe pata toh hai. Tere saath." 

"Meri baat sunn," He picked on his nails, unsure, before continuing, "Shaadi sirf 2 logo ke beech ka rishta nahi hota. Shaadi mein insaan naye rishte jod leta hai. Aur usse woh rishte nibhaane padte hai." 

"Shiva, I know that, darling." Raavi put a hand on his cheek, "Mai ye sab jaanti hu." 

"Let me finish, sweetheart." Shiva interrupted her, "Mai teri nahi, apni baat kar raha hoon." 

Raavi looked on, confused as Shiva continued. "Mami teri maa jaisi hai. Par tu reh legi aise insaan ke saath, zindagi bhar, jiski teri maa-samaan Maasi se kabhi nahi bann paayegi?"

Raavi let his words sink in, the realisation settling in as she stared at him blankly. She knew that Shiva didn't like her Maasi, hated would be more appropriate. But did he really dislike her so much, that he was putting their whole life and relationship on the line?

No, he wasn't breaking up with her, was he? He was just telling her that he couldn't and won't stand being around her Maasi. But how would it feel, every time she came home to visit and a certain tension would always pertain in the house, just because 2 adults couldn't put aside their dislike for each other? 

Raavi sighed, and slipped her palms into his, holding their hands against her chest. "Tu mere liye Maasi se dosti kar sakta hai, Shiva? Sirf mere liye? Please?" 

Shiva let out a small, tired smile, before disentangling their hands. "Tu kahe toh chaand-taare tod ke le aau tere liye. Par ye nahi ho paayega mujhse, Raavi." 

"Aise naam mat le mera, Shiva." Her voice quivered, fear settling into her heart. "Tu kyu nahi kar sakta dosti?" 

"Mai Mami se aise hi nafrat nahi karta." He explained, "Unki ek galti, ek chaal ne humari puri family barbaad kar di. Papa ko heart attack aaya aur woh chodke chale gaye hume, Maa ko paralysis ho gaya, humari dukaan bandh ho gayi. Ek ke baad ek buri cheezein hui." 

Shiva looked away, running an irritated hand through his hair, remembering the painful days of his childhood. "Ye naubat aa gayi thi, ki mai padhai chodne ko maan gaya tha, par Maa ne saaf mana kar diya."

"Apne gehne," His voice grew heavy with emotion, "apne shaadi ke gehne girwi rakh ke, meri fees bhari hai unhone, woh jaanti thi mere liye meri padhai kya maayne rakhti hai. Mere sapnon ke liye, Papa ki aakhri nishaani girwi rakh di, Raavi!" 

"Badi mushkil se cheezein sambhli hai parivaar mein, tu jaanti hai sab!" He looked at her angrily, "Phir bhi ye bakwaas sawaal kar rahi hai mujhse? Usse dosti kar lu, jisne mere maa-papa ko mujhse cheen liya? Humari zindagi mein aag laga di?!"

Shiva took a deep breath, trying to find calm. Something that he never felt with Prafulla in his mind. He had often wondered through his adolescent life about how it could have been all so different for them. They could have had so much more happiness and peace, if only things would have been different. 

But then he looked at her as she stared back at him. Peace and happiness and love is all he’d ever wanted. He shouldn’t, couldn’t give that all away now that it was all within his grasp. 

Raavi looked at Shiva as a myriad of emotions flitted across his face, not really understanding anything apart from realizing the impact of Prafulla's doings. She understood that Prafulla wasn't innocent in anyway, but it hurt to know that he wasn't ready to at least meet halfway, if she could convince her Maasi. 

"If" being the keyword. 

Raavi's heart broke. This was it. This was how it had to end. She wouldn't get her happy ending. She didn't want this kind of ending, but his talks were definitely hinting towards it. 

"Toh," Raavi's voice turned small, "This is it? You're leaving me? Maasi ki galti ki saza tu mujhe de raha hai, Shiva?" 

Shia turned to look at her, and the tears in her eyes just left an unsettling feeling in his heart, as he cupped her face gently. "Duniya ka sabse bewakoof insaan bann jaunga agar tujhe chod diya toh." 

He wiped away her tears and scooted closer to her, "Tujhe Mami ki galtiyon ki saza kabhi nahi milni chahiye, Raavi. Tujhe de bhi nahi raha. Par humari life ka bohot important hissa ho jaayegi, and that's why I needed to talk to you about this." 

Raavi sat silently, a bit of frustration and panic settling in at the turn this conversation had taken. Here she was, imagining their life together, but instead, they were discussing how Prafulla was the root cause of all the problems.

Would he leave her? Would she lose her only constant in life? Who would stick around to help her pick up the broken pieces of her soul when she'd be at her lowest?

Shiva was a permanent fixture in her life, and he had been there for as long as she could remember. Ever since they were kids, he was present, it didn't matter that his presence annoyed her. But he was there.

And if he left, it would leave a gaping hole in her life, which she wouldn't be able to replace. She barely had any people who she could truly call her home and she couldn't lose him.

"Shiva, please maan jaa na." Raavi pleaded, "Dekh, tujhe pura compromise karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Mai Maasi se baat karti hoon, tum dono ka sula karake, humari problem solve ho jaayegi na?" She asked, hopefully.

Shiva shook his head, "Mami nahi maanegi. Mai jaanta hu unko." He said, "Par agar woh maan jaati hai, toh mai mana nahi karunga. I'm ready to meet half way."

Raavi felt all the hope that swelled in her chest deflate immediately, knowing he was right. Prafulla was a very stubborn person, and persuading her would be quite the task.

Till date, Raavi had never been able to successfully persuade Prafulla without involving her Mausapa, including the decision of choosing a college away from home.

But, Raavi also understood Shiva's plight. He was scarred by a single mistake, a mistake by her family. Yet, he had never let her take the brunt of this until today, the day that they had to discuss their life ahead. Raavi just wished she could take away his pain, but she didn't know how to.

She knew she was asking a lot from him, and that's why he lost his cool, understandably so. But she didn't know what to do, or how to fix this. The only way to go was convincing Prafulla, and she had very little hopes hanging from that road.

Raavi needed time and space to think about this, and right now, all she wanted was to go home and curl up in her bed, because everything was overwhelming her.

"I need some time. And space, Shiva."

Shiva nodded, standing up while taking a look at his watch. "Tujhe ghar drop kar deta hu-"

"Koi zaroorat nahi." Raavi snapped, taking him aback. "Mai khud chali jaaungi."

"Don't be stupid, it's not safe!"

Eventually, she gave in, owing to her safety and let Shiva drop her home, walking straight home and shutting the door without looking back even once and sliding down on her bedroom floor, just hoping she could fix this; unknowingly leaving Shiva with an unsettled heart, just hoping things would be okay. 

.....

Raavi paced the living room nervously, as Prafulla and Jagat watched her walk around for 10 minutes since she had called them here.

"Raavi beta, kya baat hai?" Jagat asked, but Raavi didn't reply.

It had been 3 days since Raavi had fought with Shiva, and they hadn't spoken since that day. Neither did Shiva text her, nor did she check up on him. 

Every time she picked up the phone to call him, she'd set it back down again. The words she'd text him got erased immediately, the moment she saw him online, unaware that he was doing the same on the other side. 

This was the longest they had gone without talking, because if they were to talk now, it would allow their hearts to set in a horrible feeling they weren't ready to face. 

Was this a break up? Because it surely felt like one. Her heart yearned to talk to Shiva about a problem that was raised because of Shiva. What an irony! But he was the only person she felt like talking to.

Raavi had tried to talk to Prafulla, but every time she had been doing something important. Either she was at the market, at the garden meeting the other women, making dinner, or just taking a nap. Today, Raavi had decided to talk to her whatsoever, because tomorrow was the first of January, and she wanted to start the new year with no lies and hiding.

"Ae Raavi, kyu bithaya hai idhar, bhayee?" Prafulla clicked her tongue, getting up to go before Raavi asked her to sit back down.

"Mujhe aapse kuch kehna hai."

"Toh kis muhurat ka intezaar hai?" Prafulla asked, rolling her eyes.

"Sabse pehle toh mujhe yeh kehna hai, ki mera marks bohot acche aate hai college mein, aur mai scholarship ke liye eligible ho gayi hoon. Theek hai?"

"Ye baat hai? Hume toh ye pata hai, beta." Jagat replied, confused.

"Matlab... Jo mujhe kehna hai, usse mere padhai pe koi asar nahi pada hai. Mere marks aur acche ho gaye hai." Raavi blabbered nervously, as Prafulla scrunched her nose.

"Jalebi mat bana, bol kya hua." She replied, and Raavi gulped.

"Woh..... Maasi...." Raavi wrung her fingers and shut her eyes, taking a deep breath and sighing,

"Mujhe koi pasand hai."

Pin drop silence, as Jagat and Prafulla stared blankly at Raavi, and Raavi waited for their reply patiently.

What would they say? Will they accept it? Just because they had an arrange marriage, will they say no to love? 

She wondered why they weren't replying or even reacting to her confession. 

Until she realised she hadn't said that out loud, and they were still waiting for her to say something.

"Jaldi bol ne, Raavi beta. Mujhko kaam hai."

"Mausapa, Maasi. Mujhe koi pasand hai." Raavi said, a little more confidently this time.

Prafulla gaped at Raavi, as Jagat shook his head slowly, understanding why she was blabbering for so long.

Taking Jagat's reaction in good stride, she continued, "Pasand nahi, pyaar hai. Hum 2 saal se saath hai, aur mujhe ye baat aur nahi chupani thi."

Prafulla looked quite stumbled and shocked, as Jagat just nodded and shook his head. Raavi was worried, until he beckoned for her and she sat down in front of him.

"Tujhe khush toh rakhta hai na, beta? Aisa waisa ladka toh nahi na?" Jagat asked, keeping a palm on her head.

Raavi smiled in relief, "Bohot khush rakhta hai. Uske saath kabhi akela feel nahi hota, Mausapa. Aapko pasand aayega woh." She giddily replied.

"Kya padhta hai? Tera dil toh nahi todega na?" 

"Mere college mein hi hai, engineering department mein. Iss saal internship karega. London se ek degree course bhi karke aaya hai. Aap usse already jaante ho." Raavi said, biting her lip, as Jagat's face slowly settled into realization. 

If this wasn't enough information to guess, then she would have thought her family is really daft. 

"Kaun hai ye ladka jisse hum pehle se jaante hai?" Prafulla narrowed her eyes in suspicion. 

Raavi cleared her throat, and muttered something under her breath, her heart hammering in her ears, before finding her voice again,

"Shiva."

"Shiva kaun?"

"Shiva Pandya."

Prafulla and Jagat gaped at Raavi, the silence in the house unsettling her, as she looked at them nervously, her eyes fretting from side to side, trying to gauge their minute reactions.

"Kuch toh kaho, Maasi." She pleaded, because some reaction was better than no reaction.

"Suman ben ka beta, Shiva Pandya?"

"Haa Maasi!" Raavi clicked her tongue in irritation, "Aur kitne Shiva Pandya pata hai aapko?"

Jagat gave her a small smile, which she only assumed was approval, because her uncle definitely knew how capable Shiva was as an individual, being his blood relative after all.

"Nahi." Prafulla said after a while, keeping her hands on her knees and standing up, "Mujhe ye manzoor nahi hai."

Raavi's heart sank to the bottom, as she rushed to her feet and held Prafulla's hand. "Kyu Maasi? Kya buraai hai usme?"

"Buraai? Arre woh shaitaan hai shaitaan!" Prafulla exclaimed angrily, "Itne saal usne mujhe pareshaan kiya hai, aise hi maan jaau? Na bhai!"

"Maasi suno toh! Aise gussa mat ho jaao, puri baat sun lo-"

"Kyu sunu? Ab tu kahegi ki tujhe usse shaadi karni hai, aur mai aise hi maan lu usse damad? Nahi!" She screeched, and Raavi tugged her back.

"Ruko na Maasi!" Raavi pleaded, and Prafulla shook her head. "Aap toh bade ho. Aap apni taraf se haath badha do na!" 

"Kyu? Shiva ne toh mana kar diya hoga, isliye mere paas aa gayi, hai na?" 

Raavi looked away, stumped at the sudden curveball, as Prafulla cackled.  

"Jab woh nahi maan sakta, toh maine kya acchai ka theka le rakha hai? Tu aaj bata de tu kise chun rahi hai, mai ,ya woh junglee?" 

"Aise mat kaho na-" 

"Raavi, dekh. Tu kisi aur ko leke aaja, par mai iske liye raazi nahi hoon. Bas keh diya!"

"Par kyu?!"

"Itne saal mujhko pareshaan kiya, ye nahi dikha tujhe? Sab bhul jaau kya?"

"Par Maasi," She explained slowly, "aapne bhi toh unke saath galat kiya tha na. Itna kuch ho gaya uske baad. Shiva ka pura haq banta hai aapse naraaz hone ka."

"Le. Tu ussi ka side le. Mujhe toh pata tha tu ussi ka side legi. Humari sagi toh hai nahi, toh usko-" 

Prafulla caught her tongue, but it was too late. Raavi had heard it, and the colour had visibly drained from her face. 

"Raavi beta-" 

"Kya beta?" Raavi laughed sarcastically,  stepping back, "Kaun beta? Mai toh kisi ki sagi nahi hoon na." 

Raavi raised her palms in front of her, tapping her foot, unable to control the tears that were surfacing. 

"Mujhe HAR cheez aapse maangni kyu padti hai? Kabhi toh meri EK baat maan lo na! Meri khushi ke liye itna bhi nahi kar sakti aap?" 

Raavi was devastated. Here, her own Maasi was asking her to choose between her family and the love of her life. At least Shiva didn't ask her to choose on her face, he gave her a choice to take any decision she wanted. 

She felt her legs go weak as dread settled in her. There had been a lot of times she’d felt it, but this was nothing compared to all those times she’d felt her spark go out. She knew what she was asking of Maasi was too much, but she had thought, hoped, that she would be able to see, understand. 

And she had definitely not expected her to bring up the fact that she wasn’t their daughter. Not truly. Not in the way that it would matter to Prafulla to give up her hatred for Raavi’s love. Maybe if she was her daughter by blood she would have. 

Wasn’t she ready to marry Anita and Gautam, even if it was for selfish reasons, she was making some kind of peace for her, wasn’t she? But Raavi couldn’t be given such consideration. Could she?

Raavi stumped at these realizations and her stomach dropped. She’d known there would have been some fight. But to have her feelings outright denied like that? Felt like hell. 

No matter what Prafulla said, her Mausa and her had raised her all these years, and she was eternally grateful for it. And Shiva, he made her feel like she was his world, his only world, and it made her feel beautiful. 

Shiva......Her thoughts spiraled as she imagined what this would mean for them. He had agreed to meet halfway. And she knew what a big deal that must have been, coming from him. From her standpoint Shiva and his family were the victims of atrocities by Prafulla. If anything he should have been the stubborn one, not agreeing to let it go. But here she was with Prafulla instead who was acting like she had been wronged.

Choosing between either was a dilemma for her, and she certainly did not want to be on this cross road. Lord bless her innocence for even expecting Prafulla to understand. 

She choked on her own voice, regaining her composure just as quickly. "Mere liye toh mummy-papa ki darja aapne li hai, aur aap hi aise keh rahe ho? Ye ummeed nahi thi aapse, Maasi." 

Jagat muttered something angrily to Prafulla, visibly asking her to shut her mouth before walking towards Raavi. 

"Raavi, meri bacchi, aise rote nahi hai, hai na? Apne mausa pe bharosa nahi rakhegi?" Jagat asked, wiping her tears. 

"Aap rehne do Mausapa, Maasi ko samjhaana jaise pahad hila dena hai. Nahi hoga, jaane do. Mujhe baat hi nahi karni!" 

Raavi stormed off to her room, ignoring the calls for her behind her back, slamming the room shut and rummaging her cupboard for a certain photo frame. 

She picked up the brown wooden frame, the same one that Shiva had gifted to her on her birthday, the picture of her with her parents beautifully created by their best friend; the frame being her only source of solace right now. 

"Aap kyu chale gaye?" She cried, hugging the frame to her chest, "Aap KYU chale gaye!" 

As she cried the sky outside thundered and it’s started pouring dearly, like the universe sensed her heartbreak and was weeping along with her. 

"Aap yaha hote toh ye dikkat hi nahi hoti!" She weeped, caressing her parents faces, "Shiva ko aapse koi shikayat nahi hoti, aur aapko woh bohot pasand hota." 

"Aap kyu chale gaye?" She whispered shakily, curling into herself on the floor, the frame crushed between her body, trying to grasp onto reality, a slight thud from the window serving as a distraction.

She looked up and found the one person she needed at her window sill in her room: Shiva. 

But she was angry. So angry at how this day had turned out. He hadn't spoken to her for 3 days and he expected her to entertain him now? 

"Kyu aaya hai tu yaha!?" She tried to sneer, but it only came out as a strangled sob. 

"Mama ne mujhe phone pe bataya kya hua." Shiva said softly, stepping towards her and holding her shoulders. 

"Toh?" Raavi jerked his hand away, "Sympathy dene aaya hai? Rishta todne aaya hai? Aaj ka din bura nahi tha, jo tu mere zakhmon pe namak chidakne aaya hai?" 

Shiva's heart twisted into a knot. When Jagat had called Shiva and narrated everything that had transpired, it hadn't taken him even 2 minutes to grab his bike and zoom past the busy crowds towards her. 

The past 3 days had been quite uneasy, visibly noticeable in his habits, one of which was his pattern of eating and sleeping. There hadn't been a single text or call from her, and he had been worried for her. Many times, he picked up his phone to call her, but refrained from doing so, for reasons uncertain. 

But, if anything had truly happened, his mother would have known immediately, thus notifying him immediately. Similar to what had happened today. 

"Chipkali-" 

"Tu bhi chodke chala jaa." Raavi sobbed, wiping the treacherous tears away, "Waise hi sab mujhe akela chod ke chale jaate hai, tu bhi jaa. Pehle maa papa, phir maasi ne mujhe apna nahi maana. Tu bhi bol de." 

"Raavi!" Shiva raised his voice, holding her by the shoulders to shake her out of her trance. 

"Shiva." She pleaded, holding onto his arms. "Tu mujhe yaha se bhaga le jaa, aur kahi door ghar basa lenge. Tujhe maasi ki shakal bhi nahi dekhni padegi. Ye sahi rahega, hai na? Bol na!" 

Shiva shook his head, wrapping an arm around her waist to keep her steady, wiping her tears with the other. "Aisa nahi kar sakta, chipkali." 

Tears that had momentarily ceased began to flow again, her hands fisting against his chest. 

"Kyu nahi kar sakta!" Raavi thwacked his chest, "Tu bohot bura hai! Meri koi baat nahi sunta, tu bohot bura hai!" 

Shiva silently let her vent her feelings out, her punches barely registering to him against his broad chest. 

"Mai tujhe nahi chod sakti, Shiva!" She punched his chest over and over again, her sobs growing harder, making it difficult for her to breathe. "I can't leave you, I don't want to leave you!" 

"I'm not leaving you, Raavi!" 

"I'm going to die alone-" 

"Raavi-" 

""Chala jaa, Shiva. Mai akele hi marne waali hu-" 

"Stop it! That's enough! Bas!" Shiva held her wrists firmly against his chest, pulling her towards him, and she finally looked him in the eye, the pain and heartbreak hidden behind them. 

"Khabardaar jo marne ki baat ki, Raavi!"

Raavi held his gaze for a few seconds, before wrapping her arms around his waist, letting him hold her as she cried. 

"I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart. I'm right here." Shiva whispered, caressing her head, "Right here." 

Her tears ceased to soft sniffles, and Shiva carried her to her bed, tucking her under her favourite blanket, before dimming the lights and leaving the way he came, her nimble fingers on his wrists, asking him to stop. 

"Stay." She whispered, scooting in her bed to make place for him, patting the empty space beside her. "With me?" 

"Mujhe jaana hoga." He bent forward, pressing his lips to her forehead, "Kal Mami se baat karni hai." 

"Kyu?" 

"Unhe haa bolna hoga. Kisi aur ke liye nahi, par tere liye haa bolna hoga." 

"Tu Maasi ko manaayega?" She whispered in disbelief, and he nodded. "Woh nahi maanengi. Kisi ki baat nahi maanengi." 

"Kisi ki nahi, par meri maanegi." 

"Kaise?" 

"Leave that upto me, darling. Sweet dreams." He kissed her hair, and left through the window as stealthily as he had entered, leaving Raavi to wonder how on earth he was going to accomplish the impossible task, one which even she’d given up on. 

….. 

Raavi brushed her hair and straightened her kurta, looking into the mirror. 

Had she dreamt about Shiva last night? Everything was such a blur, on top of the migraine that was bothering her since sunrise, she wasn't sure if Shiva was even real last night, let alone believing he was going to come over to talk. 

There hadn't been a single text from him since last night, making her believe she truly had made him up in her pain. But those kisses…. 

Those soft kisses on her head felt so real, she couldn't have conjured that up. 

The doorbell had her stumbling over her own feet as she rushed to the entrance, waves of relief washing over when she watched Jagat open the door to reveal Shiva standing at the entrance. 

Shiva bent down to touch Jagat's feet, his eyes wandering and focusing on Raavi over his mama's shoulder. 

"Mami hai ghar pe?" Shiva asked, his eyes staying focused for a few seconds longer before looking at Jagat. 

"Abhi nahi. Aati hogi."

Shiva set the flowers and box of dry fruits on the table, just in time for Raavi to come running into his arms, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist. 

"Mujhe laga tu sapna tha." She sniffled, a soft chuckle rumbling through his chest. 

"Tu mere baare mein sapne bhi dekhti hai?" He asked teasingly, kissing her forehead as she looked up and nodded cutely. 

"Phool mere liye hai?" 

"Nahi. Itne sundar phool toh mai sundar si Mami ke liye laaya hu na." 

"Aye." Raavi swatted his arm at his sarcasm. "Are we okay? I don't like being 'not okay' " 

Shiva couldn't help but place a chaste kiss on her lips at that, rewarded by Jagat averting his gaze and coughing loudly to keep them aware of the surroundings. 

"We're okay." He patted her head, just as Prafulla entered the house. 

"Ye rakshas mere ghar mein kya kar raha hai?" She sneered and Raavi frowned. 

"Aap rakshas bulana bandh kar do. Iska ek accha khaasa naam hai." Raavi fumed, and Shiva held her arm and pulled her behind him, to prevent her from charging any second, telling her that he'd handle it. 

"Mami, mai tujhse baat karne aaya hoon." Shiva clasped his hands together, "Acche se, izzat se baat karne aaya hoon." 

Prafulla eyed him suspiciously, before sitting on the sofa and asking him to take an opposite seat, Jagat sitting next Prafulla. 

"Bol. Kya kaam hai tujhko?" 

Shiva sighed, keeping his palms on his knees, "Seedhi baat karunga. Aur puri baat sun le apna tanpura bajane se pehle." He warned her, and she nodded. 

"Mai Raavi se bohot pyaar karta hoon. 2 saal se saath hai, aur uske saath koi timepass nahi kar raha hoon." He said, "Ainvayi nahi hoon uske saath. Humare aage ki zindagi uske saath dekhta hoon, aur hum itne bade toh ho gaye hai, ki apne decisions khud se le. 

"Ae-" 

"Mami, 2 minute chup nahi raha jaata kya tujhse!" Shiva exclaimed, and shook his head raising his palms. "Sorry, aap bade ho mujhse." 

"Apna bio data toh nahi rakhunga tere saamne, ye koi job interview nahi hai. Par," He looked over at Raavi, who was now sitting on the armrest of Jagat's sofa, "Woh jo ladki waha baithi hai na, meri chipkali? Usko woh saari khushiyaan dena chahta hoon, jiske woh laayak hai." 

"Ye pagal ladki ko lagta hai ki woh akeli maregi. Uske kismat mein akele rehna likha hai," Shiva taunted her, and she held her ears in a silent apology, "Par usko ye nahi pata ki log usse kitna pyaar karte, uski khushi mein apni khushi dhundhne hai." 

"Woh mujhe kitna khush karti hai, tujhe koi idea nahi hai, Mami. Mujhe humesha lagta tha, ki koi mere liye bana hi nahi hai." 

"Par mujhe kya pata tha," Shiva smiled at Raavi, who was biting her lips in an attempt to hide her tears, "ki mere liye jo bani hai, woh toh mere paas hi thi, humesha se." 

"Isliye, mai tere saath truce karne aaya hoon." 

"Thoos? Tu mere ghar sirf thoosne aaya hai? Mere ghar ka raashan khatam ho jaayega, bhukkad saand!" Prafulla exclaimed in a shrill voice, and Shiva palmed his face. 

"Thoos nahi. Truce. Samjhauta?" He explained, and Prafulla listened on intently.

"Maine Raavi se uss din bhi kaha tha, aaj waapas keh raha hoon. Teri aur meri bilkul nahi banti, maanta hoon. Par sirf meri chipkali ke liye, mai 40% samjhauta karne ko raazi hoon."

"Tune 50% kaha tha!" Raavi exclaimed, and Shiva glared at her, and she kept a finger in her mouth for the rest of the conversation.

Prafulla was quite surprised with Shiva, to say the least. She had fully expected him to put on a nasty fight with her, which would make Raavi realise he was a wrong choice.

But here he was, handling the situation better and much more maturely than whatever way she had planned on doing.

Jagat observed the silent looks and conversations between Shiva and Raavi during the whole ordeal, and he knew that the boy was a gem. He had always felt that Shiva was a great boy humbled by life, and seeing his little girl practically glowing in his presence, something that was missing in these last few days, had convinced him that he was not only a good choice, but the best and only choice for Raavi.

"Aadha aadha kyu nahi?" Prafulla countered haughtily.

"Kyunki tune mujhe aur mere parivaar ko bohot takleef hai. Toh bharpaayi bhi tu hi karegi." Shiva answered back, and she huffed.

Raavi looked on, as Jagat took Prafulla's silence as an acceptance, and thumped Shiva's back assuringly, until she watched her Maasi stand up.

"Nahi. Mujhe abhi bhi manzoor nahi hai." She said, clearly rejecting the idea to satisfy her ego.

"Kyu Prafulla?"

"MAASI YAAR!"

"Bacchi ke liye maan jaa-"

"Shiva ke baaton pe yakeen nahi aapko-"

"Ek minute, ek minute!" Shiva stood up and raised his voice a little to halt their overlapping voices, turning to Prafulla. "Toh tu nahi maanegi?"

Prafulla nodded vigorously, and Shiva straightened up, tucking his hands into his pocket, cracking his knuckles and rolling his shoulders.

"Ae Mami! Sun le meri baat dhyaan se. Agar tune mana kiya, toh teri beti ko bhaga le jaunga yaha se, ekdum door. Tujhe milne bhi nahi dunga. Woh jab gol-gol, moti-moti si pregnant ho jaayegi na, tab bhi nahi! 5 mote se, cute se bacche ho jaayenge, tab bhi nahi milne dunga! Photos nahi bhejunga, aur tujhe har social media se block kar dunga! Phir sadte rehna idhar akele."

"Bol ab, manzoor hai?" Shiva snapped his fingers, and Jagat stared at him, absolutely shocked out of his wits at the change of demeanour, impressed by the humour and fist bumping him in response.

Prafulla gaped at Shiva, looking between him and Raavi, as she walked up to Shiva and held his hand, affirmative about the plans if she didn't agree.

"Arre.... Par... Mai... Aise kaise-" Prafulla sputtered, and Shiva smirked in victory, knowing he had won the upper hand.

"Haa bol de, Prafulla. Tujhe kya hi dikkat hai?" Jagat shook his head, and Prafulla sighed.

"Chalo theek hai." She shrugged and offered them her best smile, "Kar lo shaadi, baccha jo bhi hai. Khush raho bas." Prafulla raised her palms in a blessing manner, and Raavi squealed before hugging her.

"Thank you Maasi!" She excitedly said, and her Maasi patted her head.

"Chal chal. Waise beta, mujhe maaf kar de. Aisa nahi kehna chahiye tha."

"Arre chodo woh sab!" She excitedly said, pulling Shiva into the hug and resting her head on his shoulder. "Aapko sacch mein Shiva pasand aayega, mujhe toh bohot pasand hai!"

Shiva grinned at his excited chipkali, just happy that this matter had been resolved for good.

....

The Pandya House was bustling with people, the last day of the year being bid adieu and the first day of new year being met with such joy and happiness, barely few minutes until the clock struck 12 and brought in a prosperous and happy year for all.

The Pandyas and Raavi's family were serving each other food and drinks on their terrace, the music bops in the background a mere buzz in the ears, as Raavi dragged behind one of the walls.

"Aaj 31st December hai."

"Pata hai."

"Isliye tu subah aaya tha?" Raavi asked, picking on the buttons of his shirt.

"Mai chahta tha," He replied, wrapping his arms around her waist, kissing her neck, "ki humari saari problems ko hum ye saal mein chod de."

Raavi sighed under his touch, but nudged him away, giving him a glare as family were around.

"Ye new year bhaad mein jaane de," Shiva whispered, kissing her lips, "Tu room mein chal mere saath."

"Shut up, Shiva. Itne saare log hai, besharam!" She kissed his cheek, winking as she walked back to the crowd.

Shiva moved to stand beside her, as she wrapped her arms around his biceps, "Shiva, tu sacch mein Maasi ko block kar deta?"

He looked at her trying to stifle her laugh, and rolled his eyes.

"Block hone ke laayak hai woh."

"Aur 5 bacche?!"

"Dramatic effect, gadhedi!"

Shiva chuckled, his gaze settling in her serene features, "Raavi, tu khush hai na?"

"I couldn't be any happier than this, Shiva." She looked up at him, as if he had hung the moon and stars that shone in the sky, "I love you."

The countdown mere seconds away brought everyone to huddle together, awaiting the strike of midnight hour.

"5....4..."

"And I love you, sweetheart."

"3...."

"I love you the most, Shiva."

"2...."

"Not possible."

"1...."

"Happy New Year!" The crowd cheered, hugging each other in celebration.

Shiva spun Raavi into his arms, kissing her deeply at the first strike of the hour, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, with everyone else looking away as if they had seen nothing.

"Happy New Year, Raavi."

"Happy New Year, Shiva."

It was a happy new year indeed.

Especially with Suman who was claiming her modern bahu and nalayak beta gave public pappis, and Prafulla who had fainted in some corner of the terrace.

Truly, a year of wondrous miracles were in store.