Chapter 61

The sun had just begun to dip, and the busy street outside buzzed with life. Among the crowd, Shehnaaz and Anu made their way to a small gol gappa stall tucked in a corner. The smell of tangy water and crispy puris filled the air, tempting anyone passing by. But for Shehnaaz, this was no ordinary trip—Sidharth had practically put a ban on her eating gol gappas ever since their last disastrous encounter with them.

Yet here she was.

“Agar bhai ko pata chala na… dono ki band bahegi aaj,” Anu said with a mischievous chuckle, stuffing another gol gappa into her mouth. Her eyes sparkled with the thrill of breaking a small but firm rule.

Shehnaaz giggled, a glint of mischief in her own eyes. “Agar galti se bhi tere muh se nikla na… toh unse pehle main teri jaan le lungi.” She pouted cutely, though her tone carried mock seriousness. Deep down, she knew Sidharth wouldn’t take this lightly. “Unhone mujhe strictly mana kiya hai ye sab khane se…” she added, rolling her eyes like a child caught in a harmless act.

The gol gappa seller paused, giving them a sharp glare as if their words had offended him. Shehnaaz caught him staring and instantly narrowed her eyes. “Ghurta kya hai… kha rahi hoon na main,” she shot back with attitude, making the poor man quickly look away.

Anu burst into laughter, unable to hold it in. “Shant, sherni, shant… ye awaaz bhai ke samne nikal ke dikha toh maanun.”

Shehnaaz knew Anu was teasing her on purpose, but her pride wouldn’t let her back down. “Oh hello… darti nahi hoon main tere bhai se… tu na challenge mat kar mujhe.”

Their playful banter continued, their voices mixing with the street’s background noise, until a small figure came running towards them.

A little boy, no more than seven, stopped right in front of Shehnaaz. His big, innocent eyes made her heart instantly melt. She went down on her knees without thinking. “Hayy, kitna cute hai… kuch khayega tu?”

The boy nodded shyly, glancing at the food with longing. Smiling warmly, Shehnaaz turned to the vendor. “Bhaiya, iske liye kam masale ka plate banana.” The boy gobbled it up quickly, his small hands working faster than his little mouth could chew.

Anu watched with a smile, but her expression changed when the boy suddenly pulled something from his pocket—a small folded paper—and handed it to Shehnaaz before darting away into the crowd.

Shehnaaz frowned, glancing at Anu, who urged her to open it. Her fingers unfolded the paper slowly. The words hit her like a punch in the stomach:

“The accident was small by choice… take care baby girl.”

Her heart skipped a beat, panic flooding her face. The smile from earlier was gone. Anu’s expression paled. “Do you think it is a prank?”

“I… I don’t…” Shehnaaz’s voice faltered, her throat tightening. Fear was rising fast, pushing away every other thought. Without another word, she bolted towards Sidharth’s office, her dupatta flying behind her.

“Shitt shitt… come fast,” she cried, stabbing the lift button with trembling hands. Tears blurred her vision.

Anu grabbed her arm, trying to calm her. “Relax kar, Sana… bhai’s security team is good.”

“But still the accident happened!” Shehnaaz’s voice broke, the tears now streaming freely. “He did get hurt…” The moment the lift doors opened, she dashed out, her sandals slapping against the marble floor.

The commotion made heads turn in the office. Before anyone could stop her, she ran straight into Sidharth’s chest with a hard thud.

Startled, he instinctively wrapped his arms around her. One look at her tear-streaked, panicked face and his stomach twisted in concern. His eyes swept the office, silently commanding everyone to get back to work, before he held her tighter and guided her into his cabin.

Anu and Nisha followed, worry etched on their faces.

“Bass, bass… bass mera bachha… you’re safe… stop crying… look at me, please,” Sidharth murmured softly, his tone a mixture of authority and warmth. But Shehnaaz only buried her face deeper into his chest, her body shaking.

“Kya hua isse… itna ghabra kyun gayi hai?” Nisha asked, her voice low.

Before Anu could answer, Sidharth’s eyes met hers—wordlessly asking her to leave them alone. But Anu couldn’t. Tears filled her eyes too.

Still holding Shehnaaz close, he reached out with his other hand, pulling Anu towards him and placing a soft kiss on her forehead. “Tell me what’s wrong, Anu… why are you two crying?”

Shehnaaz pulled back slightly, her lips trembling. “Apka accident… kisi ne jaan bujhke… woh hum niche…” She stammered, her hands fumbling as she passed him the paper.

Sidharth read it, and instantly his face hardened. His jaw clenched. Someone had dared to call her “baby girl” in such a mocking way. The words reeked of threat and audacity. He felt heat rush through his veins, his protective instincts roaring to life. No one… no one… had the right to even look at what was his like that.

Slipping the paper into his pocket, he hugged Shehnaaz tighter. “I’m perfectly fine, and I’ll find the person behind this,” he told Anu firmly. “Relax. And don’t say anything to Maa about this.”

Anu wanted to protest, but his eyes told her it wasn’t up for debate. She nodded and left with Nisha, closing the door behind them.

The moment they were gone, Sidharth’s grip on Shehnaaz tightened. “Look at me,” he said, his voice low but commanding. Her watery eyes instantly lifted to meet his.

“It was intentional… that accident…” Her panic spiked again. Her fingers clutched his shirt, her eyes scanning his face desperately. “Aapko koi kyun hurt karna chahta hai? Main nahi karne dungi… koi nahi kar sakta aapko hurt.”

Her fear poured out in a rush, and Sidharth sighed, realizing she was spiraling. Without thinking, he leaned in and kissed her—firm and deep—to stop the flood of words.

She cried into the kiss, but he didn’t pull away. He kissed her until her sobs softened, until her fingers found their way to the back of his neck, until the hiccups eased. When he finally let go, her lips were swollen, her eyes calmer.

“Nothing will happen… when I say it, I mean it,” he told her, holding her face. “I’ll get the security team to look into this. If needed, I’ll file a police complaint. No one can hurt your Jana.”

Tears threatened again. “But the accident happened… they’re dangerous…”

“That was nothing,” he insisted. “Whoever it is couldn’t have hurt me. And until we find the truth, I’ll be more careful. Maybe it’s someone trying to take advantage of the situation—it could’ve been just an accident.”

His calm reasoning made her hesitate. She nodded slowly. “Please… aap kahin door mat jana jab tak ye sab sort nahi hota… please, Jana… main aapki har baat maanti hoon… bas meri yeh baat maan lo.” Her tears slipped again, and he wiped them with a mixture of tenderness and frustration at seeing her cry.

Pulling her back into his chest, he whispered, “Nahi jaaunga… mera shona jo bolega wohi hoga… bas ab ro mat. Main hoon na.”

She clung to him, refusing to let go.

“You don’t want to go back to work?” he asked softly, pressing kisses to her hair. She shook her head, and he knew she needed him more than anything else right now.

Without another word, he picked her up, carried her to his private room, and laid her gently on the bed. “Rest. I’ll get something for us to eat.” He tucked the duvet around her, patting her head until her breathing steadied, then stepped out quietly.

Ritika sat alone in the canteen, her coffee untouched and cold. Her mind kept replaying her earlier conversation with Anu and Nisha. A knot of worry sat in her chest. *Who could possibly want to hurt Sidharth sir?* She had met and dealt with so many of his clients in the past—some were demanding, some were strict, but never disrespectful toward him.

It didn’t feel like a professional matter. No… this was something personal.

Her thoughts drifted to a faint memory—Adi sir’s words about an incident at Shehnaaz’s brother’s wedding. Something had happened there… something serious. Could that be the reason behind all this? Or was she simply overthinking?

Part of her wanted to go straight to his cabin, to check if he was alright. But she knew Sidharth sir—he wouldn’t like her prying. He was private and guarded about such matters.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t notice when a hand lightly rested on her shoulder.

Startled, she turned sharply, her heart skipping a beat—only to find herself face to face with a woman she instantly recognized. She was the same one Ritika had accidentally bumped into before… Vicky sir’s girlfriend.

“Hello mam…” Ritika said politely, already starting to rise from her chair.

The woman smiled with casual confidence and sat down across from her. “Sit, sit… don’t call me mam. Call me Tara. I’m yet to be ‘mam’,” she said with a proud little smirk, as though the title was already hers in her mind.

Ritika gave a faint smile. “Sure… do you want anything?”

Tara shook her head. “Actually, that day I saw you cry… is everything alright?” Her tone was calm, but her eyes were sharp, observant. She had clearly noticed the way Ritika’s gaze had lingered on Sidharth and Shehnaaz that day.

Ritika blinked, caught off guard, then looked down quickly. “No, no… I’m alright… I wasn’t crying… it was just… umm…” She fumbled for words, her voice trailing off.

Tara rolled her eyes with mild amusement. “Don’t lie if you don’t know how to. Anyway… I won’t interfere in your personal life.”

Ritika gave a small nod, forcing a soft smile.

Tara stood up, but paused and glanced back at her. “But one thing…” Her voice dropped slightly, drawing Ritika’s attention. “If you want something, learn to snatch it. This world is not for innocence anymore.”

With that, Tara walked away, her heels clicking against the floor, leaving behind a heavy silence and a storm of thoughts in Ritika’s head.

Her heart felt heavier. *No… I can’t do that. I can’t snatch someone’s love.* Even if she tried, she knew she would never succeed. Sidharth sir was not the kind of man who let anyone control his life—except for Shehnaaz, of course. He had done so much for her father, stood by her family in their difficult times. She could never repay that debt by betraying him… and certainly not by destroying his happiness.

She took a deep breath and accepted the truth—Sidharth sir was never hers, and she would have to live with that.

The fact that someone had dared to use her to get to him filled him with anger he struggled to hide. She was fragile in some ways, soft-hearted, and they had tried to exploit that.

He still hadn’t asked her how exactly she’d gotten that paper, though the question burned in his mind. He didn’t want to upset her again—she had cried so much earlier, and the sight had torn at his heart. He hated seeing her in pain.

The world was cruel, far crueler than she could imagine. And his Shehnaaz… she was innocent, pure. A part of him wanted to hide her in his arms forever, shield her from every shadow, every hurt.

He had already spoken to his private security team, instructing them to dig deep into the matter. He had even called the police commissioner to give him a heads-up. But the thing that unsettled him the most was that someone had gotten close enough to hand her that paper.

When he checked with the security assigned to her, they told him it was a small boy who had delivered it. That only meant one thing—someone had used a child to pass the message and keep their own identity hidden.

Sidharth’s voice had been ice-cold when he instructed, “No one comes close to Shehnaaz and Anu from now on. No one.”

By evening, when the office was winding down, Sidharth walked into Shehnaaz’s cabin.

The moment she saw him, she stood up and walked towards him with concern written all over her face. “Kya hua Jana… aapko haath me dard hi raha hai?”

He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. With a gentle touch, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Nahi baba… Maa ka call aaya tha. Tumhe abhi ghar bulaya hai.”

Her brows lifted in surprise. She quickly shut down her PC and packed her bag. “Aapko koi kaam nahi hai na office me?”

Pulling her closer, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “Nahi. Ab chale.”

She smiled faintly, and they walked out together.

Today, however, she was unusually quiet. Normally, she would be chattering non-stop, filling every moment with her bubbly energy. Instead, she clung to his arm like a child clutching a favorite teddy bear.

Two security cars followed them—one in front, one behind.

Sidharth wrapped his arm around her shoulders and drew her close against his side as he drove. “Maine kaha na… I will handle it. Phir kyu udaas ho?”

Her head was resting against his chest. Without lifting it, she placed a soft kiss over his shirt where his heart beat steadily. “Offoo… par mujhe fikr hi rahi hai. Toh woh mere control me thodi hai. Aise hi daat rahe ho aap mujhe…” she mumbled, twisting her lips in a small pout and snuggling even closer.

Chuckling, he kissed the top of her head before suddenly pulling over near a small ice cream shop. “Wait here,” he said, stepping out.

A minute later, he returned with a chocolate ice cream in hand.

Her face lit up instantly, her eyes sparkling with childlike joy. “ice-cream!” she exclaimed, tearing the wrapper open like it was treasure.

Sidharth shook his head, amused, and started the car again.

Within minutes, her lips were smeared with chocolate ice-cream, making her look even more adorable. His gaze lingered on her mouth, and he had to grip the steering wheel tighter, a wave of desire rushing through him. She was sweeter than any chocolate.

She offered him a bite with that innocent smile of hers. He leaned in, took it, and then brushed a quick peck on her messy lips.

She kept feeding him small bites until they reached the last piece of chocolate inside the waffle cone. Shehnaaz closed her eyes and let out a small, unintentional moan at the taste. That single sound sent heat surging through him, his desire spiking dangerously.

But she remained blissfully unaware, giggling as she finished, then leaning in to hug him and plant a tiny kiss on the corner of his lips—her mouth still smeared with chocolate.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he wiped the chocolate from her lips with his thumb, then kissed her softly. “Ab khush?”

“Super khush… that was yummm,” she grinned.

Shaking his head with a smile, he pulled her close again as they drove the rest of the way. Within no time, they reached the Shukla house.

By the time Sidharth and Shehnaaz reached Shukla Mansion, the sight that greeted them was completely unexpected. Tara, Anu, Vicky, and Rita ji were already there, standing with welcoming smiles, and beside them were Jasbeera ji, Rajender ji, Baaz, Leher, and Mahi.

Shehnaaz stopped mid-step, her eyes widening in surprise. Her gaze instinctively went to Sidharth, silently asking if he had known about this. But his raised brows and equally puzzled expression told her he was just as surprised.

Her heart thudded with a mixture of happiness and curiosity. Without waiting for answers, Shehnaaz broke into a quick run inside, her long dupatta fluttering behind her. Sidharth followed at a slower pace, shaking his head with a quiet chuckle at her childlike excitement.

As far as he remembered, his mother had only asked him to bring Shehnaaz home, saying she had “something important” to discuss with her. Not once had she mentioned that Shehnaaz’s entire family would be here. His eyes moved towards Rita ji, silently asking for an explanation. Instead of an answer, she gave him a mischievous wink, and he couldn’t help but smile. These two—his mother and his Mishty—were so alike in their little secrets and surprises.

“Mumma, aap ne bola nahi nenu… aap ethe aa rahe ho…?” Shehnaaz’s voice was almost breathless as she hugged Rita ji tightly, then looked at her own mother with innocent, curious eyes.

Jasbeera ji giggled at her daughter’s shocked face, but her smile vanished the moment her eyes landed on Sidharth. Her expression changed instantly.

“Beta, yeh chot kaise lagi? Kya hua tujhe…?” She rushed towards him in worry, her voice trembling slightly. Her mind immediately flashed back to the Pandit ji’s warning, and fear tightened around her heart. Tears stung her eyes as she shared a helpless glance with Rita ji, who sighed knowingly, and Rajender ji, whose face mirrored her shock.

Sidharth quickly shook his head, stepping forward to wipe away Jasbeera ji’s tears with gentle fingers. “Maa, it was just a small accident… nothing serious. Your daughter has already made a big fuss over it… ab aap bhi shuru mat ho jao.”

His attempt at humor made everyone chuckle, except Shehnaaz, who pouted her lips in protest, her eyes widening in mock innocence. She didn’t think she had made a “fuss”—she had simply been worried.

Rita ji shook her head lightly, speaking in her usual calm tone, “Woh thik hai Jasbeera… faulad hai mera beta… itni asaani se thode hi tutega.” Her lips curved in a faint smile, but deep inside, fear gnawed at her too—not just for Sidharth’s safety, but for both Sidharth and Shehnaaz together.

Jasbeera ji, still unconvinced, suggested softly, “Tum dono kuch din office se chhutti kyun nahi le lete?” Her sudden proposal drew everyone’s attention, except Rajender ji and Rita ji, who already knew why she said it.

Sidharth smiled faintly. “Possible hota toh main aapki baat nahi talta maa… but we both have a hectic schedule this entire month.”

Jasbeera opened her mouth again. “Par Pandit ji ne—”

“Beera… bachhon ko baithne toh do… inke liye kuch khane ko le aa.” Rajender ji quickly cut her off, giving her a pointed look. She closed her mouth immediately, understanding his silent warning not to mention the Pandit ji’s words.

Shehnaaz’s eyes shifted towards Sidharth, silently asking if she should tell the others about the warning paper they had found earlier. But his subtle shake of the head told her not to. Her heart sank a little—he didn’t want to create unnecessary worry, and she had to respect that.

Before the moment could grow heavier, a man entered the room with a few assistants carrying boxes. He smiled politely, greeting Rita ji and Sidharth with a namaste. Sidharth’s eyes narrowed in curiosity. He knew this man, but what was his mother up to?

Before he could ask, Anu jumped in with her usual excitement. “Sana, tujhe pata bhi hai, tumhe kyun bulaya hai aaj…?”

Shehnaaz shook her head, confused. Anu giggled and dropped the bomb. “Tumhari shaadi ke liye jewelry select karne ke liye…”

“Shaadiiii…??” Sidharth and Shehnaaz blurted out together, their voices echoing with shock. Their wide-eyed stares met for a second before Shehnaaz quickly looked away, her cheeks burning red.

Tara blinked at the sudden revelation, glancing at Vicky, who was grinning from ear to ear. He seemed to be enjoying the priceless expressions on his “bhai” and “bhabhi’s” faces.

Rita ji shot Anu a sharp look for blurting things out in such a dramatic way, quickly trying to smooth over the moment. “Iska matlab hai… jewelry banwane mein toh waqt lagta hai na… toh socha abhi se banwa dete hain. Shaadi ke waqt koi problem nahi hogi.”

“Ohh…” Sidharth murmured, his tone betraying a hint of disappointment.

Vicky pounced on it instantly. “Kya maa… dekho toh bhai ka chehra kaise utar gaya.” He said it with mock sadness, making everyone laugh.

Shehnaaz, curious despite herself, began studying Sidharth’s expression to see if he really was disappointed. But the moment she realized everyone was watching her, she quickly lowered her gaze again.

Anu, never one to miss a chance to tease, grinned. “Shehnaaz, bhai ko aise mat dekho… abhi hum sab yahan hain… baad mein…” She trailed off suggestively, making Shehnaaz’s cheeks turn a deeper shade of crimson.

Before Anu could go further, Sidharth snatched a pillow from the sofa and threw it at her. “Shut up, Anu.”

Anu caught it easily, laughing, while Sidharth just shook his head and pulled Shehnaaz into a sudden embrace. She struggled weakly, but his arms were warm and sure, and he couldn’t help but admire the pink flush on her face.

Shehnaaz walked over to where Rita ji, Jasbeera ji, and Leher were sitting, while Sidharth went upstairs to freshen up. Vicky sat with Baaz and Rajender, chatting about day-to-day life. Shehnaaz scratched her head in confusion, which made Rita ji chuckle. Shopping wasn’t really her thing — her mother usually did that for her. She loved wearing jewelry, but selecting it herself wasn’t her cup of tea.

Anu giggled and started helping Shehnaaz, while Tara stood almost silently, which didn’t go unnoticed. “Tara, tumhari choice bhi kamal ki hai… help kardo na meri. Fir tumhari aur Vicky ki shaadi mein, main help kar dungi,” Shehnaaz said with a bright smile. Tara looked at her in utter surprise. She couldn’t understand how Shehnaaz never realized her jealous expressions or fake smiles. Why was she so innocent? Shehnaaz never gave anyone the wrong impression, yet she never tried to show her upper hand.

Smiling, Tara went to help her instantly. Rita ji and Anu exchanged knowing smiles. Shehnaaz’s pure heart could change anyone. Rita ji asked Anu and Tara to select whatever they liked, and so did Jasbeera ji and Leher, who reluctantly agreed, though Rita ji didn’t take no for an answer.

Sidharth returned downstairs and found the ladies still engrossed in designs. Rolling his eyes, he went over to where Vicky was sitting with Sana’s family. He chatted with Rajender ji and Baaz for a while about their ongoing project, and finally turned to Vicky. “Vicky, I need to talk to you.”

Tara’s ears perked up, curious about their conversation, but she shrugged and returned her attention to the designs. Vicky nodded, “Ji bhai… boliyena.”

Sidharth smiled to ease Vicky’s worried expression. “Vicky, tumhe humara Simla ka JK Hotels ka project pata hai na?”

Vicky nodded again. “JK project… umm, yes… I’ve gone through that file.”

Sidharth had noticed how much time Vicky spent checking the files and pictures of the site. He realized Vicky was genuinely interested. “Great. So I want you to go to Simla, finalize everything about this project, and start the construction process as soon as possible. Take Verma ji and Amit with you if you need help.”

Vicky’s eyes widened in surprise. “But bhai… will I be able to handle it on my own? It’s a big project!” The excitement on his face was undeniable, while Rajender ji and Baaz smiled at the duo.

Sidharth reassured him, “Vicky, it will be your first project that’s completely yours. You can’t be perfect at anything in one go. You’ll learn… you might fail… but then you’ll learn again and eventually succeed. I’ll support you whenever you get stuck. If you want to learn, this is a great opportunity. I’ll be busy with the Bhardwaj project, so I won’t have time to travel there repeatedly, but I have faith in you. You’ll do great.”

Vicky beamed. “Bhai… God, this is fantastic!” Rajender ji and Baaz grinned at his excitement. Sidharth chuckled softly. “And if you get stuck anywhere, call me right away, alright?”

They shared a brotherly hug. “You’re the best, bro,” Vicky said. Sidharth patted his head and shook his head, and they both sat down again.

Seeing that the women wouldn’t finish anytime soon, Sidharth walked over to them. “Toh, Shehnaaz… what have you selected?” He knew his mother and sister would be staring, shocked. He had never done this before, but he wanted to pick the best for Shehnaaz.

Ignoring their teasing looks, he sat beside her, selecting jewelry one by one. Shehnaaz simply nodded to everything he chose, because somehow, it was all exactly her taste. She was surprised — how did he know what she liked? He had noticed her eyes wandering over the jewelry, the pieces she lingered on.

Once all the designs were selected, the jeweler left. Anu pounced on Sidharth. “Omg, bhai, aap kitne chhupe rustam nikle!” Everyone giggled, while Sidharth rolled his eyes. “Will you cut the drama?”

Rita ji smirked. “Rehna do, Anu. Ab kya kare… aise shocks ke liye prepared rehna hi padega. Anyways, main khane ki preparations dekh ke aati hoon.”

Before Rita ji could get up, Shehnaaz stopped her. “Maa, main, Tara aur Anu dekh ke aate hain… aap aur mumma baatein kijiye.” Sidharth smiled at her thoughtful gesture.

Anu got an idea. “Hum koi sweet dish bhi banate hain!” Tara hesitated. “Par mujhe khana banana nahi aata…” She made a sorry face.

Shaking her head, Shehnaaz smiled. “Koi baat nahi, main aur Anu bana denge… you just help us. Chal!” Saying so, she and Anu dragged a reluctant Tara to the kitchen.

Sidharth, who usually spent most of his free time in the study room, kept staring at the kitchen. He knew his baby was careless and might hurt herself; he hoped they wouldn’t use knives. Vicky grinned inwardly and signaled his mother, who smiled along with Jasbeera ji and Leher.

Suppressing their laughter, Rita ji chuckled. “Umm… Raghu, zara Anu aur Tara ko kitchen se bulao, hume kuch kaam hai.” With a fake surprise, their helper Raghu quickly went to the kitchen.

Once Anu and Tara were out, Sidharth cleared his throat. “Mujhe pyaas lagi hai…” Saying so, he got up to walk to the kitchen himself, ignoring the usual help.

Vicky chuckled. “Haan, Shehnaaz bhabhi kitchen me hi hai.” Annoyed, Sidharth glared at him while Vicky continued, grinning, “I mean, she’ll help you get water.”

“Right.” Sidharth ignored him and went to the kitchen. Shehnaaz was lost in her task, hands messy in dough as the girls had decided to make cupcakes. She squealed in surprise as a hand covered her mouth and another slid around her waist, pulling her closer.

Feeling a shiver from his touch, Shehnaaz mumbled, looking around. “Kya kar rahe hai aap..?”

Sidharth smirked and brushed his nose over the back of her neck. “Umm… mene kya kiya..?”

Shehnaaz almost giggled as his palm tightened. His touch was so tempting… he would rather have her than the damn cupcake.

He smiled and buried his face in her neck. “Jaan…”

Shehnaaz got lost in his touch. “Hmm…”

“I want you to wear sarees after our wedding…” he declared, nuzzling her smooth skin.

Surprised, she turned to him. “Everyday..?”

Nodding shamelessly, Sidharth kissed her cheek. “Yes, everyday… because every time I touch you, I don’t want these stupid clothes to stop me from feeling your bare waist.”

Shehnaaz’s eyes widened. “Jana… me sachchi bata rahi hoon… aap na bahot besharam ho gaye hai… please jayiye yahan se… agar kisi ne dekha na… hayy rabba… siyappa ho jana hai…”

Sidharth chuckled, rubbing his nose below her ear, making her moan unintentionally. “Promise me then…”

Shehnaaz shook her head, tickled. “Hatiye naa… mujhe gudgudi ho rahi hai…”

He chewed her ear. “Promise me, baby.” His fingers dug into her soft waist.

She knew him — he wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted. “Achha, ok… I promise,” she pouted, muttering, “humesha aap ki hi marzi chalti hai… blah blah blah…”

Sidharth smiled mischievously and buried his face further, trying to reach her collarbone. Shehnaaz moaned, trying to shrug him off. “Sidharth, kya hai… koi aajayega na..?”

“Ek aur baat…” Mr. Shukla wasn’t done yet.

Shehnaaz rolled her eyes. “Jaldi boliye…”

Sidharth added, naughtily, “After wedding, I will take your saree off every night… and…” He trailed off when he heard her shriek. “Sidharth!!”

Shehnaaz tried to be firm, pink cheeks blazing. “Chaliye, hatiye…”

“Nope… promise first that you won’t stop me.”

“Me aisa koi promise nahi karne wali…” she said adamantly.

Sidharth glared passionately. “Fine, you called for it.” He deepened his face into her neck, licking her skin.

“Sidharth bhai!!”

That was it.

Sidharth instantly let go and hurried to the fridge, searching desperately for a water bottle that seemed to play hide-and-seek with him. Anu mischievously approached Shehnaaz, giggling at her embarrassed face. “Aww… you look so cute when you blush…”

Sidharth cleared his throat and quickly walked out.

Dinner went by in silence. Shehnaaz didn’t dare look up even once, while everyone teased the couple silently. Anu, being a disaster, spread the news to everyone, making it worse for Sidharth and Shehnaaz. Sidharth didn’t look at his mother, knowing she could tease him endlessly, but he couldn’t stop stealing glances at Shehnaaz, whose cheeks grew pinker by the second.

He wished he could freeze time, bite her cheeks, and keep her just like this. But he forced himself to ignore his wild thoughts. Did he really ask her permission to take her saree off every night after their wedding? Damnn… his mind was going crazy again.

His in-laws were right in front of him, and he didn’t want the worst scene of his life. He shivered thinking about her blush. God… he had gone insane.

It’s been a week since that night, yet the memory still made Shehnaaz blush and shiver. That evening, after dinner, Sidharth had driven her home despite her parents’ protests.

In the car, he shamelessly asked again, making her blush. Impatient, he stopped in the middle of nowhere and pulled her onto his lap. His gaze was intense as he whispered along her jawline, “Bolo na, Jaan…”

She shivered at his raw, tempting touch, and mumbled, “Haan…”

Sidharth chuckled at its effect. When she realized, she playfully slapped his chest repeatedly, burying her face in his neck. He held her protectively, murmuring, “Mera bachha…”

Shehnaaz glanced at him, her eyes lingering on his lips. He caught her, deepening the kiss, making his needs clear. It was a hungry kiss more than a passionate one. He pressed her in his embrace, leaving a dark hickey on her chest.

He smirked mischievously. “I won’t listen even if you say no.”

Shaking her head, Shehnaaz returned to her work. The intercom rang.

“Hello?”

“Shehnaaz, come to my cabin,” Sidharth’s voice was all business.

“Yes, sir,” she replied quickly, hoping she hadn’t messed up anything.

She entered the cabin to find Ritika and Nisha already there. Fear ran through her, but no scolding came. Sidharth spoke firmly, “Vikram Bhardwaji ke saath jo meeting hai aaj… I want no mess-ups. Are the blueprints and files ready?”

Nisha nodded. “All designs are ready, sir.”

Ritika added, “I’ve made all necessary arrangements in the conference room. There won’t be any delay, sir.”

Sidharth looked at Shehnaaz. “Are you ready for your first official presentation? I want no mistakes.”

She gave him a confident nod. “Yes, sir.”

“Great… you can leave.” He returned to his laptop as the girls headed toward the door.

Sidharth called, “Ritika.” She turned instantly.

“Yes, sir?”

“Go through all the arrangements again. I want photocopies clear and visible.”

“Right, sir.” She quickly left the cabin.

Author’s Note