Snippets of the Past - A ShiVi Drabble Series

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Shiva's face immediately brightened at that, "Sachhi?!" He asked, with a child-like innocence as his anger melted away.

"Muchhi!" Raavi chirped, flipping her hair back and giving him that 1000 watt smile, as Shiva looked at her, wondering something. "Ek second, tujhe kaise pata maine Rahul ka nickname chachundar rakha hai?"

"Maine dekha tha, tu kaise khaali classroom mein jaake blackboard pe bada bada karke likh raha tha." She shrugged her shoulders, and Shiva suddenly realised something.

"Acchaaaaa! Tabhi mai sochi, kisi teacher ne pakda kyu nahi. Tu ne hi usko mitaya, hai na?" He asked, and Raavi nodded her head proudly. "Kyun?"

"Tu agar teacher se maar khaata, toh mujhe accha nahi lagta. Bas."

Shiva smiled at his chipkali, ever to the rescue, "Accha theek hai, tune mujhe bachaya teacher ke maar se, isliye itne din se jo tu mujhe ignore kar rahi thi, dono cancel cancel, theek hai?" He said, making a deal with her, stretching his hand out to her, "Chal ab promise kar tu waapas aisa nahi karegi. Deal?"

Raavi pretended to think for 2 minutes, before shaking his hand enthusiastically, Deal!"

And then proceeded to go play with the 24 marbles that Shiva had got on his birthday from his dad. That day, when he returned home, he didn't notice that one of his marbles from the set was left in Raavi's room, which she kept safely in her drawer with the intention of returning later on, but always forgot to.

And it didn't matter that they were unaware what the future held for them, because he certainly did lose a piece of his heart for her to safekeep and heal him when he needed it most.

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"Aaj kal tujhe paas bulata hu, toh 2 minute, 3 minute, 4 minute bolti hai hai, aur aati kabhi nahi!" Shiva angrily said, hurt that she didn't feel like spending any time with him anymore.

She didn't feel like his Raavi. The one who once roamed the streets of Somnath announcing her love for Shiva to every passerby, the one who swayed to a sensuous song in the hopes that he'll melt, the one who fluttered at his soft touches and closeness.

The only thing she was close to was that phone, that bees hazaar ka phuntru.

Raavi heard his complaints seriously, which were valid to an extent, and she understood that. All she wanted was some time to set up her influencer image, and everything would be sorted after that. But, the moment she realised that Shiva was moody because he didn't get time to shower his love on her like he used, she burst out laughing.

Her bhoothnath was cranky for attention.

Shiva looked at her, appalled that she would laugh when he's talking about something serious, but his anger melted almost instantly, seeing her laugh heartily after so long. It was now one of those beautiful tinkling laughs which can melt even the most grumpy person on this planet, and Shiva Pandya was the guy that had already lost his heart to her.

He kept looking at her, mesmerised, while Raavi continued laughing. Finally, he snapped back to his senses and tried to restore his sakht launda image, even though he had melted internally, like an ice cream on a hot summer day.

Where he was the ice cream, and she was the sunshine.

"Ae chipkali, tera upar ka maala toh khaali hamesha se tha, ab lag raha hai neeche ka maala bhi khali ho gaya hai!" Shiva said irritated, but not angry anymore. "Ab bhaukegi bhi ya phir aise hi khi-khi-khi karti rahegi?"

Raavi finally controlled her laughter with great difficulty, holding her hand in ftont of her face to hide those occasional bursts of smile. Once she had calmed down, she stepped closer to him and poked Shiva in his chest playfully, "Accha, toh janaab ko apni biwi se attention chahiye tha?" She teased him, making him go pink.

"Aapko ye baat karne mein itni dikkat kyun ho rahi thi, pati ji?" She teased some more, causing Shiva to stammer.

"Woh.....woh mai, mera matlab woh ki.... Matlab..."

"Kya Shiva!" Raavi nudged him with both her hands, "Itna kyu sharmaana, ye pehli baar toh nahi hai?"

"Haan toh!" Shiva raised his chin in the air looking away in pride, "Biwi hai tu meri, mai kya thode se demands bhi nahi kar sakta?"

Raavi immediately hugged her moody, attention-needing bandar tightly, throwing her hands around his torso, "Uff! Kitne nakhre hai tere, aur tu mujhe drama queen bolta hai. Tu hoga sabse bada dramebaaz!"

Shiva sighed and wrapped his arms around her. He couldn't deny it, she fit him like a missing puzzle piece. He loved having her close to him, in his arms, with him, for all of eternity.

"Tu chinta mat kar Shiva, sab sahi ho jayega, hmm?" Raavi said softly, snuggling into him and the warmth his arms provided. "Krish se mai baat karungi, woh toh mera ek lauta devar hai na, zaroor meri baat maanega woh! Shaayad mai usse mere live mein feature karne ka bribe dedu!" She giggled, jokingly.

The smile on Shiva's face diminished, as he held her by the shoulders and broke the hug, making her stand in front of him. Raavi didn't like it, she just wanted to snuggle more into his arms.

"Chipkali, ek baat bata." Shiva said softly, "Tu jab meri aankhon mein dekhti hai, toh kya dikhta hai?"

Raavi gazed into his obsidian orbs, and knew she saw her everything in him; her family, her home, her partner in crime, her best friend.

"Mera aks." She whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Mujhe tujhme mera aks nazar aata hai."

Shiva kissed her forehead gently, gazing into her honey-brown eyes. "Mujhe bhi tujhme mera aks nazar aata hai."

He placed one hand around her waist, and pulled her closer, his other hand cupping her cheek, tucking loose strands of hair that tickled her face, away. "Kailash ke free darshan kyu kara rahi hai. Tera Shiva teri aankhon mein vaas karta hai, wahi rehne de mujhe. Humare iss choti si duniya ko, humare pyaar ko, koi teesra dekhe, ye mujhe accha nahi lagta, chipkali."

Raavi heard every word he said, and she agreed. Maybe showcasing everything in social media wasn't necessary, and she possibly could have got carried away on the excitement. But she understood his point now, she wouldn't want others to know every detail either, had it been the other way round.

"Sorry." Raavi averted her gaze and looked at her feet, and Shiva placed his finger under her chin, tilting her head up, and nodding 'no' , "Aage se koi details, kisi ke liye bhi nahi. Only weekend vlogging. Deal?"

She looked up at him so innocently, wrapping her arms around his torso again letting herself so close to him, that Shiva would have kept anything at her feet if she asked. Raavi seemed very interested in vlogging, and if that makes her happy, so be it, as long as she understands to separate her personal and professional life.

"Deal. Sorry tujhpe chillane ke liye." Shiva clutched her tightly, kissing her nose, and involuntarily whispered, "I love you chipkali."

She looked up at him, raising an eyebrow which made him blush.

"I love you too, bhoothnath." Raavi giggled, and pecked his lips softly.

And just like always, it ended up being just them, in their little world, away from the rest of the universe.

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