It had been two years.
Two long years.
Two long years Shiva Pandya had left his home.
Two long years he had not heard her.
Two long years he had not talked with her.
Two long years he had not been irritated.
Two long years he had not fought with her.
Two long years he had not met her.
Two long years he had missed her.
Two long years he had stayed with the memories of her.
Two years ago he had left the Pandya Niwas stating he can not stay in the same house with Raavi. Everyone took it to be the hatred towards her, he feigned infront of the family.

But Krish, the youngest and the closest to Shiva, knew it was the love between them. Krish had even tried protesting against the so called 'perfect rishta' but Shiva had held him back.
Krish knew Dev was not the kind that Raavi needed. Raavi was passionate in everything and Dev was oblivious. Raavi required the one who could keep her on her toes, and it was Shiva.
Krish was the only one to witness the golden days his brother, Shiva and his best friend, his to be bhabi, Raavi spent.
He was the only one to tease them during the span of two golden years. Those years proved to be golden to him too. He would blackmail Shiva and Raavi and extract 'extra pocket money' from them.

••••
Krish still remembers the day he found his brother and Raavi together. His last lectures were cancelled so he just went home to make use of the empty house. As he entered the house he thought he heard someone giggling, to be precise, a girl. He thought his mind was playing tricks on him, reading too much romantic novels. His thought came to an end as he went towards the kitchen, his eyes went wide, mouth open enough to touch the floor. He peeked through the door. He saw Raavi playing with her tresses, a hand over hers. The next moment his eyes guided towards the owner of the hand, on the kitchen slab sat his brother, his own brother who told everyone that he hated the Chipkali. His brother was grinning, something unusual.
''Chipkali'', Shiva teased her.
Raavi chose to cling onto Shiva, leaving the work she was doing, shouting on top of her shrill voice.
Krish thought his brother would detach him from her and throw her out of the house, something too good to see would happen.
What he did not thought would happen was Shiva would encircle his arms around her waist, in the process of pulling her closer. It was followed by a peck on her cheeks, then a peck on her lips.
This was too much. He was on the verge of losing his sanity. Infront of him stood two lovers who made the world think they are enemies. Too smart. He had seen enough. He needs to move out from here. As he tried moving out, eyes still on the couple infront of him, mind clouded with confusions, his legs twisted resulting in his fall.
He had later analysed and found that they have been fighting from childhood but there was a change in their fights from the past few months. There were no insult or venom spewed in those fights, those seemed to be flirting to him. Nobody other than him knows the fact, that means he gets a new reason to blackmail.

••••
Two years ago, a month before Dev and Raavi's engagement Shiva had left the house. He did not even wait for their engagement.
He left the house stating he had to meet the suppliers and get some supplies ready for the branch of Ahmedabad, that was going to be opened soon. The store has now rose to fame. He always pretended to be busy, even though there was many workers to help him out in the store.

Shiva knew he was being a coward by avoiding home. But he can not help. He thought he was strong enough to bear the heartbreak but he was not. He was not strong enough to see his love becoming someone else's. His heart would shatter everytime he would see her. He wanted everyone to know that Raavi was only his but he was unable to do so seeing his family. His only way to fight against his feelings was to keep as much as distance from her, he figured out. And he moved out from Somnath.

The other members took his words but Krish knew he was avoiding home. No one other than Krish asked him to come back.
''Shiva jaldi aaja ghar. Bohot suna suna lagta hai tere bina.'' Krish would message him.
''Krish, sabka dhyan rakhna. Mera aana mushkil hoga.'' Shiva would always reply.

Today he had no choice but to go to Somnath. He had an important meeting regarding a new franchise of Pandya Store scheduled in Somnath itself. He was not ready - he does not know whether he would be ready for it in his lifetime - to face Raavi, his lover, now his brother's wife.

He landed in Somnath from Delhi, this was the second business meeting he is having in this week. He needs to face the truth, Raavi is not his, she is his brother's, she is Dev's . He headed towards Pandya Niwas still reluctant about living under the same roof with Raavi.

As he boarded the taxi to Pandya Niwas, his mind dwelled into the past. A lone tear escaped his eyes as he remembered the day he got to know Dev also loves Raavi.

••••
'Dev tu us Chipkali se pyaar karta hai?' Shiva was horrified, still he tried to show hatred towards his Chipkali.
Dev was not answering and his geography was changed to a confused one.
''Aur nahin to kya? Ekdum perfect jodi hai humare Dev aur Raavi ki. Dekh kaise blush kar raha hai.'' Dhara bhabi came to Dev's rescue.

His world came crashing.
He felt the earth underneath his feet slipping.
He felt his heart being stabbed with a knife.
He felt his heart bleeding.
He felt his heart breaking into infinite pieces that is not possible to glue together again.
He wanted to scream out his pain.
He wanted to throw a tantrum.
He wanted to let Dev tell this was just a joke.

Dev loves Raavi, this thought seemed to affect his existence.
''Dev and Raavi are a perfect couple.'' These words made him feel low of himself. His existence felt nothing.

''Main bol raha hun, aur pehle bhi bol diya hun, jab tak main yaha hun tu uss Chipkali se shaadi nahi kar sakta. Kasam Somnath ki agar aisa hua to main pure Somnath me aag laga dunga.'' Shiva thundered.
''Kal Raavi ke liye Dev ka rishta leke jaenge hum, Maami ke ghar.'' Gautam spoke. ''Aur Shiva kal tu Maami se kuch bhi nahi kahega.'' Gautam warned him.

He is again on the verge of another sacrifice. He can not see Dev heartbroken. He can not leave Raavi as his world revolved around her.
He love both of them but the time has come to choose one over the other. And he chose Dev, his brother over Raavi, his love.
He can not see his brother heartbroken because of him. He had promised himself that he will go any lengths of anything just for the sake of his family in a very young age after he saw the red marks on Gautam's back due to carrying the sacks. He sacrificed his studies to let Krish and Dev continue with their studies.
He can not break his promise.

His eyes watered. He saw Krish giving him an 'I told you' look. Krish had been supporting them.
He had even asked them to disclose their relationship a long time ago. They chose to be silent.

He had talked with his Chipkali and was ready to disclose their relationship the day when she would come back from her seminar, infront of the family. They both were ready to give the relation a new name. These two years they have kept their relationship a secret but not more, they would be officially marked as a couple now.
But when the day came, everything was ruined. Her proposal had been fixed. He was unable to meet her eyes and stood in a secluded corner of the aangan where everybody had gathered to celebrate her return. He saw her looking up to him for help but he stood there unable to do anything. He could see her shattering in front of him. For the last time she looked up at him for help and getting no such signals she had rushed out of the house determined to give up her life. He knew she was up to something. So he followed her to her house and he entered from the window.

••••
Suddenly the car came to a stop. He came out of his trance as a boy not more than 12 years asked him for some money. He gave the boy a 100 rupee note and bought him some chocolates and a sandwich. She would always do this. He had learnt it from Raavi.
As he entered the car again, he caught a whiff of jasmine-lavender scent, he loved the smell, it reminded him of Raavi. He closed his eyes and relaxed as he remembered the birthday.

••••
It was almost 12 o'clock, his Chipkali's Birthday today. He had made up his mind to confess his feelings today.
Shiva stood outside her window ready to jump in. He could see Raavi's shadow going back and forth. She seemed to be in trouble.
''Aaj confess kardu?'' He thought.
''Shiva bohot himmat jutaya hai tune iske liye. Bol de beta aaj.'' His conscience replied.
As the clock struck 12, he jumped inside the window.
A freaked scream followed which he muffled by placing his palm on her mouth.
''Eh Chipkali, chillana mat. Hath hata raha hun.''
He removed his hands to be greeted by a scowl.
''Shiva, tujhe main aise hi Bandar bulati hu. Tu seriously kyu leta hai?''
Shiva stared at girl infront of him. She was blabbering something about Dev and her marriage. He decided to take his time staring her.
Shiva moved towards her and pinned her to the wall behind.
''Dekh main aaj bohot bada kaam karne aaya hu. Tere ye sab faltu k nautanki ki time nahi hai mere pas. To accha ye hoga ki tu chup chap yaha khadi reh. Hilna mat.'' As Raavi squirmed under him, he felt his confidence growing. She was at least affected by his proximity.
Shiva was leaning towards her, his hands cupping her face and gaze fixed on her lips.
''Sh..Shiva kya kar raha hai?'' She whispered stuttering. She was being nervous.
Shiva swooped down to her lips, capturing them for a moment in his. When he felt she was not responding he drew out of the kiss, not before giving a little tug to her bottom lip.
He saw her standing in shock. Her eyes closed, cheeks painted in the brightest hue of red. A smile crept up his lips. He knew what she was thinking.
''Tu sirf aur sirf Shiva ki hai. Aur Shiva jisko chahta hai, wo uska hi hota hai. Iss janam me tu phas gayi, mere saath.''
But he feared what her next step would be. Thinking that she would require some personal time, he was about to jump out of the window when he heard her.
''Shiva!'' She had called out, before speeding towards Shiva in full speed and colliding with him.

••••
The cab came to a screeching halt infront of Pandya Niwas. His vision clouded seeing the house after two years. He made the payment and took his luggage.
He steadied himself the last time before pressing the door bell. He is going to meet the family members and most importantly, his Chipkali, now his bhabi.

Shiva stood infront of the house, his heartbeats had reached their peaks. He was still affected by the nearness of her, he sighed as it was a matter of fact. It would be difficult for him to control his feelings while living under the same roof. With trembling heartbeats he entered the house.

••••
As Shiva entered the house, he was greeted by his mother, her eyes shining with tears. He touched her feet and took blessings.
''Itna bada hogaya ki Maa ko chodkar, ghar ko chodkar tt.ttu door chala gaya kaam karne.'' Suman complained having a hard time trying her best to hide her tears. Shiva saw that and pulled her into a hug.
''Main kahan door gaya Maa. Main to yahin Ahmedabad mei tha. Papa ka sapna tha Pandya Stores ka branch kholna aur aaj dekh inn do saalon mei wo store kitna bada ho gaya. Ek super mall bana liya hai wo store ko. Pandya Mall saara Ahmedabad mei famous ho gaya hai. Maa aaj papa ka saapna pura hua.'' Tears ran down his face.
Shiva pulled back from the hug, composed himself and took out his phone to show the Mall's pictures to his mother.
Suddenly he was pulled into a hug by Krish later joined by the rest of the family. Every body had tears in their eyes. He could sense that something was being suppressed by the family. Upon looking he found that his Chipkali, no now his Bhabi, Dev's wife is missing. He frowned.
''Bhabi?'' Shiva pulled Dhara to a side.
''Haan bol'' Dhara answered while he pulled her.
''Ye Chip.. I mean MamiKiBehanKiBeti kahan hai?'' He enquired. He saw Dhara's face falling. Something was there to which, he was unknown.

Some time later he was seen on the road, his eyes bloodshot. He was reckless. He was advancing towards Prafulla's house. Krish confessing about the true situation made him vulnerable. He really needed to have a talk with his Chipkali once.

••••
''Bhabi kya hua hai? Wo MamiKiBehanKiBeti kahan hai?'' Shiva asked again.
''Eh Dev teri patni haina wo? Kahan hai? Mami ke ghar gayi hui hai kya? Sab kuch thik hai to?'' His heart twisted, voice almost choked when he joined her name with Dev. Still he tried to mask up his bubbling emotions with a straight face.
He saw everybody flinching as he asked about her.
''Actually wo..'' Krish was cut off by Dhara.
''K..kuch nahi Ss..Shiva sab thik hi to hai.'' Dhara said silencing Krish and trying to convince Shiva. Shiva got the loose end. He knew if he pressurised Krish he would get to know everything.
''Krish bol kya hua hai?'' Shiva demanded.
''Nahi kuch bhi nahi.'' Dhara glared at Krish and tried to cover up.
''Nahi Bhabi aaj to Krish ko bolna padega. Kya hua hai Krish? Jaldi bol.''
''Haan Bhabi, Shiva ko bhi pata chalna chahiye. Ye koi secret rakha nahi jaa sakta.'' Krish chided at Dhara.
''Shiva actually baat ye hai ki.....'' Krish paused a little, ''Dev aur Raavi ki shaadi nahi hui hai.'' Krish blurted the truth out.
Shiva felt like something he even could not understand. He stood there blank for a few moments.
''Kyu?'' He asked after getting out of the shock.
''Raavi Dev se nahi kisi aur ke saath pyaar karti hai.'' Krish said winking at Shiva. Then he came closer to Shiva and whispered in his ears ''Abb to tera line khali hai.'' Krish smirked seeing Shiva's stupified expression.

••••
2500+ words. Bohot likhliya maine. First time itna bada chapter likha.
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