Chapter 46

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As Shehnaaz entered Anu’s bedroom, she heard her familiar voice and she couldn’t hide her amusement, her eyes lighting up with mischief.
“Are, Anu etni jaldi aa gayi tu..?” She asked, a playful grin spreading across her face. She knew exactly how to push Anu’s buttons, and the smug expression she wore only made Anu roll her eyes in mock annoyance.
“Don’t be cheeky,” Anu shot back, eyeing her suspiciously. “Ye tera plan tha na sach bol..”
Shehnaaz’s soft giggle filled the room as she gave a small shrug, her laughter uncontainable. “Nish ka tha.. woh chhod.. bata date kaisi thi..?” She asked with a grin, pulling Anu to the bed beside her, eager for the details.
Anu, who had stormed in with questions, now found herself caught off guard. Her earlier irritation began to melt as a faint blush colored her cheeks, memories of her evening surfacing in her mind. “It was okay.. good..” she mumbled, trying to sound casual, but her shy smile gave her away.
Sensing Anu’s shyness, Shehnaaz couldn’t resist teasing a little more. She leaned closer, smirking as she nudged Anu’s arm, “Bhav mat kha.. thoda detail me bata..”
Anu’s eyes narrowed in playful accusation, and she turned the tables on Shehnaaz. “Pehle tu bata.. mere bhai ke sath romance karti hai aur mere se hi chhupake rakhti hai..” She glared, pretending to be serious but unable to hide the gleam in her eyes.
But Shehnaaz wasn’t about to get cornered that easily. Rolling her eyes, she let out a yawn, suddenly feigning exhaustion. Pulling the duvet over herself, she mumbled sleepily, “Bahot raat ho gayi hai na.. kal batati hun.. detail me.. promise..”
Anu could only shake her head, trying to stifle her laughter. She half-seriously wanted to throttle Shehnaaz for her dramatic escape tactics. “Kamini..” she muttered under her breath, giving her a gentle smack on the arm. “Natak band kar ok? Jaake change kar..” She ordered, trying to sound firm but failing as she watched Shehnaaz dissolve into giggles.
With a happy squeal, Shehnaaz darted towards the bathroom, escaping Anu’s clutches just in time.
As she closed the bathroom door, Shehnaaz leaned against it for a second, a soft smile on her lips as she remembered the moments she and Sidharth shared.
Sidharth slowly opened his eyes, blinking as the memories of the previous night flooded back. A lazy, contented smile spread across his face, his heart warming at the thought of Shehnaaz. Those moments—they were everything. The love in her eyes, the intensity between them, the way her presence felt so real and close. Their kiss, deep and endless, had left him with a longing he couldn’t shake off. He wished he could just keep her by his side forever, to wake up with her in his arms every morning and fall asleep with her close every night. The idea of such a life filled his heart with a kind of happiness he’d never known before.
Sighing, he turned to check the time, only to realize he had slept in much later than usual. His hand reached instinctively for his phone, his eyes going wide as he saw the clock—11 a.m. That was so unlike him! But somewhere, he knew his late morning was all thanks to his mischievous mishty. She had a way of pulling him into her world, where time seemed to stand still.
Sidharth suddenly remembered the promise he’d made to her last night. They had made plans for today, and here he was, still tangled in his sheets! The thought of Shehnaaz’s reaction if he kept her waiting was enough to jolt him awake.
Without another second’s delay, he leapt out of bed, his mind racing. He could almost picture her face, the way her eyebrows would raise, and her lips would pout in mock anger if he were late. Smiling at the thought, he quickly got himself ready, running around with a newfound urgency.
One thing was clear—he didn’t want to keep his Shehnaaz waiting. The mere thought of her brought a spark to his morning, making everything else fade into the background. He was ready to start the day, just for her, eager to make every moment count.
Anu sat sulking, her arms crossed and her lips twisted into a pout. Rita ji noticed her daughter’s grumpy face and couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “Kya huva, Anu… aise muh kyu fula ke rakha hai?” she asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement. Vicky, who was sitting nearby, tried to stifle his own laughter, but Anu’s angry glares forced him to quickly look away, wiping off his grin.
Anu twisted her lips even more, her voice filled with pout. “Shehnaaz ke sath sath aap ne bhi mujhe ullu banaya na…” she muttered, her cheeks puffed in frustration.
Vicky couldn’t resist jumping in, his tone teasing. “Tumhe ullu banane ki jarurat hai kya, Anu?”
Anu shot him a withering glare and huffed, looking away dramatically, her annoyance clear.
Rita ji suppressed a giggle, shaking her head gently. “Aap ne hi toh Karan ko ‘yes’ bola tha…” she reminded her.
Anu’s face softened slightly, and she made a little puppy face. “Usne mujhe ullu…” She paused, glancing sharply at Vicky before correcting herself, “I mean, mujhe bewkoof banaya. I was saying no, but I don’t understand how he made me say yes…”
Rita ji chuckled, while Vicky couldn’t hold back his laugh this time. “Not exactly hard, you see…” he teased with a smirk.
Anu threw her hands up, shouting in annoyance, “Bhai, shut up!”
Rita ji rolled her eyes, still amused by their banter. “Enough of it now… I’m just glad you’re trying to be good with Karan. He seems like a nice guy.”
Anu muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing. “Nice my foot… he’s a weirdo.”
Just as Rita ji was about to respond, they all noticed Sidharth coming down the stairs in a hurry. He looked a bit disoriented, clearly searching for Shehnaaz. Rita ji greeted him with a warm smile, “Sid… good morning, beta.”
Sidharth’s brow furrowed slightly as he glanced around, hoping to see Shehnaaz. “Morning, Maa. Shehnaaz kaha hai?” he asked, a hint of impatience in his voice.
Vicky stifled a chuckle, quickly masking his amusement as Sidharth threw him a sharp look. Rita ji shook her head lightly. “She had to leave early, beta… Jasbeera ko kuch kaam tha usse.”
Sidharth nodded in understanding but looked slightly disappointed. He turned to leave when Rita ji called after him, urging him to have something to eat before heading out. Walking back to her, Sidharth leaned down and placed a quick kiss on her head. “Maa, please… no breakfast now. Warna aapki bahu meri jaan le legi,” he said with a chuckle, his tone both playful and urgent.
Hearing this, Anu shot up excitedly, her eyes shining with eagerness. “Aap Sana se milne ja rahe ho? Bhai, main bhi chalungi!”
Vicky looked at her, surprised. “Ae lo… abhi toh Shehnaaz ki complains kar rahi thi,” he said, shaking his head at her sudden change of heart.
“Complains?” Sidharth muttered, momentarily puzzled before realizing what had happened. Smiling, he raised an eyebrow at Anu. “Kya huva, Anu… kal date kaisi thi?”
Anu’s face dropped, and she looked at him with a defeated expression. “Bhai, you too? It wasn’t a date.. It was just a dinner.”
Sidharth chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Achha, I’m not saying anything. But you can’t come with me. Agar tum dono ek sath mil gayi… fir ho gayi padhai. Exams paas aa rahe hai na… go and study. Vicky will help you.”
Anu made a puppy face, pouting in protest, while Vicky looked equally horrified at the suggestion. “Bhai, main?”
Sidharth gave him a stern look, and Vicky quickly faked a bright smile. “Of course, Bhai… chalo Anu, let’s study,” he said, trying to keep his tone enthusiastic, though his reluctance was clear.
Rita ji laughed at her children’s antics, shaking her head fondly as she watched them quarrel like little kids. She continued enjoying her breakfast, her heart warm with happiness seeing the lighthearted scene unfolding around her. Meanwhile, Sidharth quickly made his way out, a sense of urgency in his step as he headed to see Shehnaaz. He couldn’t wait to be by her side, his mind already drifting to her smile, her voice, and everything about her that made his world feel complete.
Sidharth made his way to the Gill house, where he found everyone gathered around the breakfast table. As soon as Jasbeera ji saw him, she warmly insisted that he sit and join them, almost not taking no for an answer. Sidharth smiled at her caring nature, letting her pile food onto his plate, and soon found himself enjoying breakfast with Rajender ji and Baaz, while Jasbeera ji and Leher busily served them all with the kind of love only family could offer.
After a few bites, Sidharth couldn’t hold back his curiosity any longer. He turned to Jasbeera ji with a smile, “Shehnaaz kaha hai, maa?”
Jasbeera ji let out a sigh, giving him a look that spoke of playful surrender. “Woh toh abhi tak so rahi hai,” she said, shaking her head with a slight smile as if she’d finally given up on her daughter’s notorious laziness.
Sidharth chuckled, nodding as he excused himself and made his way up to Shehnaaz’s room. Pushing open the door quietly, he paused, mesmerized by the sight of her still peacefully asleep. She looked absolutely adorable in her mess of hair, with a few loose curls falling over her face and a slight frown creasing her brows. Her lips were pouted as if in some cute dream, and Sidharth couldn’t help but think how she managed to look like the most precious thing in the world, even in her messy state.
Smiling to himself, he walked over to her bedside and gently sat down, leaning over her. Softly, he ran the back of his fingers along her cheek and whispered, “Naaz…”
Shehnaaz’s frown deepened as she felt a light tickle on her cheek. In her half-asleep state, she turned her face to the other side, mumbling something incoherent.
Sidharth chuckled and brushed the stray strands of hair off her face. “Get up baby, dekho kitni der ho gayi hai…”
In response, she gave a small nod but then instantly settled back into her slumber. Sidharth knew that waking her up wouldn’t be so easy. He watched her sleep for a moment longer, enchanted by how adorable she looked curled up on the bed.
Noticing she was in her satin top and shorts, he chuckled at his own shameless thoughts and decided to take matters into his own hands. Gently, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap, cradling her as she snuggled deeper into him, her arms automatically tightening around his waist as she buried her face into his chest. Sidharth knew she was nearly awake but was just being lazy, and he could hardly blame her. The thought of starting each morning like this filled him with an unexpected warmth, as if he was already living his dream life.
Leaning down, he placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “Chalo… ab uth jao,” he coaxed gently.
Shehnaaz mumbled something unintelligible, eyes still closed. He smiled, unable to resist pressing another kiss to her other cheek as he pulled her closer. Her lips curved into a small smile, and she finally opened her eyes a crack, sleepily gazing up at him. “Good morning,” she whispered with a drowsy smile.
Brushing her hair back with both hands, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Morning,” he murmured, gazing at her lovingly.
But Shehnaaz pouted, looking up at him with a mock-disappointed face. “Aap ne ‘jaan’ nahi bola… Maine ek rule banaya hai,” she declared in a sleepy voice, “every morning, when I say ‘good morning,’ you have to say ‘morning, jaan.’ Samjhe?”
Sidharth chuckled at her adorable demand, his heart melting as he nodded. “morning jaan,” he said, his voice filled with affection as he placed a soft peck on her lips.
Shehnaaz’s cheeks flushed as she grinned, her happiness evident. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, nuzzling her nose against his skin, making him smile.
Sidharth caressed Shehnaaz’s cheek lovingly. “Now get up fast and get ready… breakfast bhi karna hai,” he urged with a soft smile.
Shehnaaz stretched lazily before heading off to freshen up, while Sidharth took a moment to glance through her books. When she returned, she looked like a fresh flower, her presence lighting up his morning. She turned to him eagerly, asking his opinion on everything—her dress, earrings, and finally, her bangles. Sidharth, being the attentive soul he was, chose each one carefully, slipping the bangles onto her wrists with a small smile. She raised an eyebrow, surprised by his insistence on the bangles.
He kissed both her hands, gazing at the delicate bangles adorning her wrists. “I love seeing bangles on you,” he murmured, letting his fingers trail softly at her wrist.
Her heart melted at his sweet gesture, and she leaned forward impulsively to plant a peck on his forehead, knowing how much he loved it. His immediate, warm smile said it all, filling her with joy.
Chuckling, he led her downstairs. As they neared the dining room, Shehnaaz wrinkled her nose at the smell of her least-favorite breakfast dish, her nostrils flaring in displeasure. But Sidharth gently pulled her along.
“Mujhe breakfast nahi karna,” she protested with a baby face, turning to her mother when Sidharth didn’t relent. Jasbeera ji rolled her eyes playfully and looked to Sidharth for support.
Sidharth sat beside Shehnaaz, making a small bite for her. “Thoda sa khalo… you’ll be hungry before lunch,” he said patiently.
Shehnaaz pulled a face at the dish, “Mujhe ye nahi pasand. I want a chocolate milkshake.”
Sidharth sighed, looking at her a bit sternly. “That’s very bad, Shehnaaz,” he said, his tone making her instantly conscious. Jasbeera ji watched, knowing Sidharth wasn’t one to tolerate unnecessary fuss.
Realizing he may have startled her, Sidharth softened his expression. “Naaz, khane ki izzat karna sikho… there are thousands of people who sleep with an empty stomach—not because they don’t like what’s available, but because they can’t afford it.”
Shehnaaz lowered her gaze, feeling a pang of guilt, and Sidharth immediately felt a bit sad for having been harsh. He cupped her face gently, “Ye khana maa ne banaya hai… unki mehnat hai iske pichhe. We should respect that, right?”
She nodded quietly, still looking down. Jasbeera ji watched the pair with pride. She could already see the potential for a deep, lasting relationship between them—Sidharth, with his wisdom and patience, and Shehnaaz, with her willingness to understand and grow for him.
Noticing they needed a moment alone, Jasbeera ji left the room. As soon as she was gone, Sidharth pulled Shehnaaz into a gentle embrace, and she sank into his lap, nuzzling her face into his neck. “I’m sorry…” she whispered.
Sidharth smiled, tightening his arms around her as he kissed her hair. “Mera bachha… khane ki izzat karte hain..” he murmured gently. “Pata hai, maa har mahine charity organize karti hain to help the poor. She’ll expect you to continue it someday. Agar hum hi khane ki izzat nahi karenge toh motivation kaha se milega…”
Shehnaaz listened quietly, her arms wrapped tightly around him, feeling his words settle into her heart. His gentle guidance made her feel cherished and inspired, a reminder of the beautiful life they were building together, one loving lesson at a time.
Author’s Note
Hey lovely readers,
Happy reading!
Also, stay tuned for Bhula Dunga, Mora Piya, Beintehaa and Thodasa pyar which will be starting soon along with the rest of the stories. There’s so much more in store, and I can’t wait for you to dive into these new adventures.
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With love and gratitude,
Shalaka
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