Chapter 21

Shehnaaz’s car pulled into the parking lot, and immediately, a loud alarm blared, filling the space with an urgent, unmistakable sound. Sidharth looked at Shehnaaz with a mix of confusion and surprise.

Shehnaaz’s lips curled into a smirk. “Don’t look like that.. this is the warning for my staff that Shehnaaz Gill has entered the office premises…”

Sidharth rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated. “You are the limit Sana….”

Shehnaaz ignored his reaction and both of them got out of the car, heading towards the office building.

The office was vast and impressive, its size and opulence striking Sidharth immediately. It seemed as grand as the Shukla empire, and he couldn’t help but be taken aback.

Shehnaaz walked through the office with an air of arrogance, and the staff seemed to hold their breath in her presence. The atmosphere was thick with tension as she passed by, and Sidharth noticed the way everyone seemed to shrink in her wake.

Sidharth was deeply shocked by this side of Shehnaaz. This was not the Shehnaaz he knew and loved. The staff greeted her with polite “Good morning”s, but Shehnaaz responded to no one except Sasha, leaving the others feeling invisible.

They made their way to Shehnaaz’s cabin together. As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, Sidharth fixed her with a serious, accusing stare.

“Tu kitna bhave khati hai yaar…?” he asked, his frustration evident in his voice.

Shehnaaz looked at him, clearly confused. “Kya matlab…?”

Sidharth shook his head in disbelief. “Ek simple si smile dene mein kya problem hai agar koi good morning bolta hai toh…..?”

Shehnaaz shrugged with an air of indifference. “I pay them enough for their work.. there is no need of my smile for them.. neither my smile gonna be any profitable for them…”

Sidharth’s heart ached at her cold response. He longed to pull her cheeks like he used to do, a gesture of affection that seemed out of reach now. “But you scared the hell out of them…”

Shehnaaz chuckled softly, a note of pride in her voice as she showed Sidharth this side of herself. “Nothing new….ab tum betho.. I will get you coffee….”

Sidharth took a seat on the nearby couch, trying to make himself comfortable while Shehnaaz settled into her chair and picked up the phone.

Shehnaaz spoke into the phone with authority. “Tara.. get two coffees in my cabin now…” She ended the call with a decisive click.

Sidharth glanced around the well organized cabin and commented, “Nice office…”

Shehnaaz’s attention was absorbed in a file, but she managed a distracted smile. “Thnxx…”

Sidharth moved closer, peering over her shoulder. “What are you doing?”

Shehnaaz remained focused on the file. “Aaj raat Wahi’s ke sath jo meeting hai.. usiki ki details check kar rahi hun…”

Sidharth scrutinized the budget details in the file and remarked, “Are they really prepared for this budget? It seems quite high, don’t you think?”

Shehnaaz’s smirk grew as she glanced at him. “Are you kidding me…? The Wahi’s have been with us for a long time. That’s why the budget is so substantial. Otherwise…”

Sidharth shook his head with a hint of disbelief. “God help them…”

Without missing a beat, Shehnaaz opened her laptop and started entering information related to the project. Her fingers flew across the keyboard with practiced ease, and Sidharth found himself impressed by her efficiency. It was evident that Shehnaaz was not just familiar with the work but had mastered it.

Just then, a polite knock echoed from the door. Tara entered, carefully placing two cups of coffee on the table. The soft clink of the cups on the polished surface was the only sound that momentarily broke Shehnaaz’s concentration.

While still absorbed in her typing, Shehnaaz directed her attention to Tara without looking up. “Tara, send Sasha in with the sight file of Wahi’s project…”

Tara mumbled a “Yes mam” absent mindedly as she stood rooted on her place.

Shehnaaz, still deeply focused on her screen, didn’t notice Tara’s hesitation. She continued typing, her attention completely absorbed in the task at hand. “Anything else?” she asked, her voice indifferent to Tara’s presence.

Sidharth, observing the scene with a mix of amusement and frustration, looked up and saw Tara standing there, her eyes wide and blinking rapidly, staring at him, completely infatuated. 

Sidharth’s lips curled into a small smile as he watched Tara’s awkward demeanor. He found the situation both amusing and telling, contrasting sharply with Shehnaaz’s cool efficiency.

Shehnaaz, finally noticing Tara’s intense stare at Sidharth, turned around with a sharp edge to her voice. “Tara…”

The sound of Shehnaaz’s voice snapped Tara out of her daze. “Yes… yes, ma’am… sorry, ma’am…” Tara stammered, her face flushing with embarrassment.

Sidharth could barely contain his amusement. The terrified expression on Tara’s face was both entertaining and surprising. He couldn’t help but contrast this with the playful, innocent side of Shehnaaz he remembered from their past—his baby Sana. It was hard to reconcile the image of her as a frightened girl with the commanding presence she was now.

“Get out and send Sasha in fast… now!” Shehnaaz’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Tara’s face fell instantly, a look of pure dread flashing across her features. Without wasting another second, she spun on her heel and practically sprinted out of the cabin, as if escaping for her dear life—or perhaps more accurately, her dear job. The door clicked shut behind her with a sense of finality.

A brief moment of silence hung in the air before Sidharth’s laughter broke through, loud and uncontrollable, echoing around the room. Shehnaaz’s eyes widened in surprise at first, watching him with a mix of confusion and disbelief. He continued laughing, almost doubling over, and she couldn’t help but think he looked like he had completely lost his mind.

“What was that…?” Sidharth managed to gasp out between fits of laughter, his hand clutching his stomach as he nearly fell onto the couch. His laughter was so intense that he was struggling to catch his breath.

Shehnaaz scoffed, shaking her head at his antics. “Agar tumhara SO-SO-SO-FUNNY laughing session khatam ho gaya ho… toh will you tell me what happened?”

Sidharth finally began to calm down, taking deep breaths to steady himself. He moved closer, sitting on the edge of her desk, directly in front of her. Shehnaaz crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow as she waited for him to explain.

“Did she just get scared of you… or was I hallucinating?” he asked, still chuckling a bit, his eyes filled with amusement.

Shehnaaz’s eyes narrowed slightly, a touch of defensiveness creeping into her expression. “What do you mean?” she shot back, her tone a bit sharper than before.

Sidharth replied with a teasing smirk, “Ohh god… ab me hi tuze yaad dilau… ke tuze har baat ke liye mere paas aana padta tha… tuze wo school day yaad hai when you were in 5th std… and a cockroach had entered your school bag? You had scared the hell out of that teacher like it was not a cockroach but some kind of RDX or something…”

He grinned at her, enjoying the playful moment, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he brought up the old memory. Shehnaaz couldn’t help but smile back, her lips curving softly as the memory surfaced.

“Ab kya kare Sidharth… tumne khud hi mujhe wo adat laga di thi ke me khud kisi chiz ka samna kar hi nahi pati thi,” she replied, her voice light but carrying a hint of wistfulness. “Par jab me akeli ho gayi.. sab sikhana toh tha hi…”

There was no anger in her tone, no pain, no complaint. Her voice was calm, almost emotionless, as if stating a simple fact. But the words pierced Sidharth’s heart like a dagger. He felt the depth behind her casual words, the weight of all the years she had to face alone, the battles she had to fight without him by her side.

The room fell into a heavy silence, the laughter from just a minute ago fading like it had never existed. Sidharth’s smile disappeared, replaced by a look of regret and sadness. He lowered his head, pressing his face into his hands, his elbows resting on his thighs like he was carrying the weight of the world. The way he sat, hunched over and lost in thought, he looked like a man burdened by guilt and helplessness.

Shehnaaz watched him, her heart twisting. She knew what he was thinking; she could see it in the way he hid his face, the tension in his shoulders. She sighed softly, feeling a pang of regret herself. She hadn’t meant to hurt him, to make him feel like this. She had been angry for so long, filled with resentment and bitterness, and those feelings often spilled out in ways she couldn’t control.

But as she looked at him now, she realized something. She had blamed him for so much, held him accountable for her pain, for leaving her when she needed him most. Yet, he had never promised her anything. He had never claimed to love her, never asked to be her savior. He had his reasons, his own battles, and she had put all the blame on his shoulders unfairly.

Shehnaaz felt a wave of guilt wash over her, understanding how her own bitterness had colored her words, made them sharper than she intended. She never meant to make him feel this way, to hurt him so deeply.

But now, she had to rethink again. Shehnaaz resolved that she wouldn’t hurt Sidharth any further. He loved Simran, and she wanted both of them to be happy. Her whole world was Dadi maa now. Sidharth was her best friend and always would be — the love of her life that had lasted barely seven days… the most beautiful seven days of her life. And then everything fell apart.

But what was Sidharth’s fault in all this? He was never a part of it… and now, she didn’t want him to be drawn into it either.

Shehnaaz reached out and gently pulled his hands away from his face, her touch soft, filled with an unexpected tenderness. Sidharth looked up at her, confused. He hadn’t expected this. He had thought she might scold him again for not being there for her, or at least that she would vent her frustrations at him. Somewhere in his heart, he was waiting for that scolding. He wanted her to demand angrily why he hadn’t come for her. But she never asked, and that hurt him the most.

He felt like it was his responsibility to take care of his Shehnaaz, always. Her silence, her lack of blame, made him feel like a stranger to her. He missed the way she used to complain to him about him, like when they were children. How she would climb into his lap, her face scrunched up in a baby pout, and he would kiss her cheek and ask, “Kya hua?” How she would hug him tight and start complaining about something he did, only to receive a cute apology from her Sidharth.

He missed it… he missed Shehnaaz. He missed the little girl who always found comfort in him.

But that was a long-gone story.

Shehnaaz’s smile faltered slightly, but she kept it steady. “Sidharth, mene tumhara dil dukhane ke irade se nahi kaha… main to bas aise hi keh rahi thi… Ab mujhe kabhi na kabhi toh seekhna tha hi,” she said softly, a bittersweet smile on her lips.

Sidharth, still seated on the table, pulled her closer, his grip firm but not forceful, his eyes searching hers for answers she hadn’t given. “Tu mujhpe gussa kyun nahi karti, Shehnaaz…? Tune kyun mujhe nahi poochha ke main kyun nahi aaya…? Main koi gair hoon kya…?” His voice was filled with a deep, raw pain that had been simmering for far too long. “Haan, Shehnaaz…? Bol na…? Tumne kyun mujhe roka Balraj ko maarne se? Agar tujhe lagta hai ke main usse itni aasani se chhod dunga toh aisa nahi hoga, Shehnaaz… tu chahe ya na chahe… main usse jaan se maar hi dunga,” he finished, his voice edged with finality and a desperate resolve.

Shehnaaz’s smile returned, this time with a gentle understanding. “Sidharth… tum gair kaise ho sakte ho… you are my closest friend, and you know that. Maine tumhe isliye roka kyunki jo maine plan kiya hai… main usme koi rukawat nahi chahti,” she replied calmly, though there was a dangerous flicker in her eyes, one that Sidharth couldn’t ignore.

Her words left Sidharth unsettled. He stared at her, trying to decipher the intense spark in her gaze. He had heard of the obsession of love, but this was different… this was an obsession with revenge. And that kind of obsession could lead only to destruction.

He took her hands in his, his touch firm yet gentle, his eyes pleading. “Shehnaaz, main hoon na… phir tujhe in sab mein padne ki kya zaroorat hai? Main tujhse wada karta hoon, main usse saza dilwaunga… par main tujhe aur kisi musibat mein nahi dekhna chahta,” he urged, his voice thick with emotion.

Shehnaaz looked at Sidharth and suddenly burst into laughter—a laughter so hollow, so devoid of any genuine emotion that it sent a chill down Sidharth’s spine. This wasn’t the Shehnaaz he knew. This laugh, so empty and unsettling, made him worry deeply about what had happened to her. Something was terribly wrong. He had never seen this side of her before.

After a few moments, her laughter stopped abruptly. Her face transformed, her eyes blazing with a terrible rage. “Meri musibate khatam ho chuki hai, Sidharth… ab us parivaar ki musibatein shuru hone wali hain…” Shehnaaz’s voice was filled with a venom that Sidharth had never heard from her before. “Har ek gunah ka hisaab dena hai unhein Shehnaaz Gill ko… har ek gunah… mere maa-papaji…” Her words trailed off suddenly, as if she had realized what she was about to reveal. Just moments ago, she had decided to keep him out of all this, to shield him from the dark truth she was carrying—the truth that her parents hadn’t died in an accident. It was a cold-blooded murder.

She stopped mid-sentence, her face paling as the gravity of her slip hit her. She looked away, clenching her fists tightly. The silence that followed was heavy, almost suffocating. Sidharth’s heart sank at her abrupt halt. He felt a pang of disappointment, a deep sense of hurt at her lack of trust in him. Did she really think he wasn’t strong enough to stand by her through this?

Trying to keep his voice steady, he chose his words carefully, hoping to coax her into confiding in him. “Tu kuchh keh rahi thi… maa-paa kya…?”

Shehnaaz quickly masked her panic with a forced calmness, struggling to cover up her earlier words. “Oh… main yeh keh rahi thi… ke unke iss harkat ne meri maa-papaji ki aatma ko kitni chot pahunchayi… main unhe saza dilakar rahungi…”

But there was a tremor in her voice, an uncertainty that Sidharth immediately picked up on. He could tell that she wasn’t saying everything, that there was something else she was desperately trying to hide. His doubt grew, his concern deepening with every passing second.

“To kya socha hai tune is baare me…” Sidharth tried once more, hoping to get some clarity.

But his question only lit a spark in Shehnaaz’s eyes as she gave him a look that screamed, *”Just wait and watch.”*

Sidharth, slightly exasperated, was about to push further when her phone rang, cutting through the tension hanging in the air.

Shehnaaz immediately answered, “Shehnaaz Gill…”

“Hi Shehnaaz… this is Sameer,” a familiar voice greeted her from the other side.

Shehnaaz glanced at Sidharth, who was now glaring at her with a mixture of confusion and suspicion, silently demanding to know who she was talking to.

Ignoring his intense gaze, Shehnaaz responded, “Yes, Sameer…”

Sidharth’s face hardened in an instant, his fists clenched at his sides. A surge of jealousy and possessiveness coursed through him, boiling his blood with a fiery intensity.

The name *Sameer* was enough to set off Sidharth’s fuse. *Why is he calling Shehnaaz?* he fumed internally. *That guy is a real flirt, and I don’t want him messing around with Shehnaaz. She’s my best friend, and there’s no way I’m going to tolerate it!* Sidharth’s mind was racing with these thoughts as he listened intently, trying to catch every word of their conversation.

Meanwhile, Sameer rolled his eyes on the other end of the line, frustrated with himself. *Can she think of anything other than work? How am I even going to start this conversation? God, help me…* He took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts.

Shehnaaz, sensing the awkward silence, asked, “Hello… are you there?”

“Yeah, yeah, sorry…” Sameer stammered, regaining his composure. “I called to remind you about the meeting tonight,” he blurted out hastily, mentally kicking himself for coming up with such a lame excuse.

“Whatttttt…?” was all Shehnaaz could muster, her expression clearly saying, *Has he lost his mind?*

Sidharth nudged her elbow, giving her a look that asked, *What’s going on?* Shehnaaz waved him off, signaling that it was nothing, and continued the conversation.

“Mr. Sameer… have you taken up a new job as my personal secretary these days?” she asked, clearly amused by his awkwardness.

Sameer cursed himself under his breath for his slip-up and cleared his throat. “Ugh, I didn’t mean that, Shehnaaz… it was just that… well, I was chatting with my dad and thought I’d check in to see how the work is going,” he said, relieved to have made a more sensible statement.

“You don’t have to worry, Mr. Sameer,” Shehnaaz assured him. “The Wahis are our very old clients, and we will certainly not disappoint your company. Besides, the meeting is arranged to address any questions you have.”

Sameer pouted slightly, feeling a bit chastised. He was used to Shehnaaz always having a quick retort, but he persisted.

“By the way, Shehnaaz, I heard you were out of town. When did you get back?” Sameer asked, trying to sound casual.

Sidharth, growing impatient with the call, nudged Shehnaaz, signaling her to end it. Shehnaaz, rolling her eyes at Sidharth’s demand, chose to ignore him for the moment.

“Mr. Sameer, you’ll be pleased to know that not only am I back, but your close friend, Mr. Sidharth Shukla, and his girlfriend, Simran, are also in Mumbai,” Shehnaaz said with a smirk, casting an annoyed glance at Sidharth.

Sameer’s face brightened at the news. “Oh, that’s great! How did you find out?”

Shehnaaz rolled her eyes again at Sameer’s question. “Because we’re all staying together,” she replied, clearly unimpressed with the obviousness of his question.

Sameer didn’t quite like the idea of Sidharth and Simran being in Mumbai, especially after the confusing way Sidharth had behaved with Shehnaaz at the party. He was content with the notion that Sidharth had a girlfriend, but the interactions he had witnessed left him uncertain. Nonetheless, he accepted the situation for what it was; after all, this was Shehnaaz Gill, someone who always managed to stir things up.

“That’s great, Shehnaaz. We can all plan something together,” Sameer said, trying to sound positive despite his reservations.

Shehnaaz gave a weak smile. “Sure. Is there anything else you wanted to discuss regarding the project?” Her tone made it clear that she was ready to end the call.

Sameer, understanding her hint, replied, “Nothing else. See you tonight. Take care.”

“Yeah, bye,” Shehnaaz said and ended the call. Sidharth let out a sigh of relief, glad the conversation was over.

Shehnaaz worked diligently at her desk, her focus entirely on the file in front of her. Meanwhile, Sidharth had taken the opportunity to explore every nook and cranny of the office. When he finally made his way back to Shehnaaz’s cabin, he couldn’t help but chuckle at his own antics.

“How was the tour?” Shehnaaz asked with a grin, her eyes never leaving her work.

Sidharth, feeling a mischievous impulse, reached over and closed her file.

“Shehnaaz, kya kar rahe ho?” she asked, startled by his sudden interruption.

Without a word, Sidharth began to drag her out of the cabin, the file still in his hand. He couldn’t help but snicker at the thought of how Shehnaaz, known for her formidable presence, was now being led away by him. He mused to himself that he might soon need to be committed to a mental hospital for daring to challenge Shehnaaz Gill’s authority.

The office staff watched in stunned silence, their mouths agape as they witnessed the rare sight of someone actually taking control of their boss, Shehnaaz Gill.

Sasha observed the scene with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. It was fascinating to see someone who could actually boss around the usually unflappable Shehnaaz. Sasha couldn’t miss the subtle glint of relaxation in Shehnaaz’s hazel eyes, a stark contrast to her usual intense demeanor.

Shehnaaz, despite her irritation, shot Sidharth an angry glare, but there was a hint of amusement in her expression as well.

Shehnaaz shot an angry glare at the staff who had gathered to witness the spectacle, only to see them quickly retreating back to their work. Frustration bubbled up inside her as she wished she could give Sidharth a piece of her mind for disrupting her professional demeanor. Despite her irritation, she could do nothing but follow him, cursing him silently for ruining her carefully maintained image.

_________________

Once they were both settled in the car, with Sidharth behind the wheel and the driver unceremoniously dismissed, Shehnaaz’s patience was wearing thin.

“Now what?” she asked, her tone tinged with annoyance as she noticed Sidharth’s casual demeanor.

“We’re going home now,” Sidharth replied with a nonchalant shrug, and the car began to move.

Shehnaaz sighed, feeling resigned. She had known Sidharth for over a decade and had long accepted that once he made a decision, there was no arguing with him. She sometimes wondered if he understood her as well as she understood him, but then she mentally scolded herself for expecting too much. She loved him, which meant she could see the depths of his heart, but since he didn’t share her feelings, he couldn’t possibly understand every part of her heart.

“By the way,” Sidharth said, breaking the silence, “Shehnaaz, aaj subah suraj kaunsi disha se aaya tha?”

Shehnaaz felt a surge of relaxation, only to be jolted by Sidharth’s absurd question. Her annoyance was palpable as she muttered under her breath, “God, he’s such a monster.”

“Seriously, Sidharth? What kind of question is that? You’re not in first grade that I need to teach you that the sun rises from the east,” she retorted, trying to suppress her frustration.

Sidharth’s smirk only grew as he responded, “But today, it might have risen from the west, which is why there’s this ‘miracle’ happening.”

Shehnaaz looked at him, puzzled. “What miracle?”

“Arre, I managed to silence Shehnaaz Gill. Isn’t that a big deal?” he boasted with a cheeky grin.

Before he could react, Shehnaaz punched him lightly on the arm, causing him to wince. “Ouch! What was that for?” he protested.

Shehnaaz, with a mock-serious tone, said, “tumhe nind se jaga rahi hun… ye dikhane ke liye ke suraj aaj bhi east se hi aaya hai.. and I myself backed out.. there is no you..”

Sidharth shook his head, rolling his eyes as he concentrated on driving, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

_____________

Dadi maa’s smile broadened as Sidharth, Shehnaaz, Sam, and Simran gathered around her for evening coffee. Shehnaaz knew Dadi maa’s tendency to spend time with everyone and might be getting bored in he room, so she made sure everyone joined her for coffee to keep her company.

The four of them settled comfortably on the sofa near the bed.

“Tum logon ko yahan aane ki kya zaroorat thi? Mujhe bahar bula liya hota,” Dadi maa remarked as she sipped her coffee.

Shehnaaz smiled warmly and replied, “Arre, hum sabko aapke paas aana tha, isliye yahan aa gaye.”

Sidharth took a sip of his coffee, his eyes twinkling with excitement. “Dadi maa, aapko pata aaj office mein kya hua?”

Dadi maa’s interest was piqued, while Shehnaaz shot Sidharth a warning glance, knowing he would not heed her unspoken advice.

Sidharth smirked and continued, “Aap logon ko yakeen nahi hoga, par Shehnaaz ke office staff itna darte hain ke…” He trailed off and winked at Shehnaaz.

Sam, with a serious tone, added, “Aaj kal to mujhe bhi Shehnaaz se dar lagta hai,” only to receive a disapproving glare from Shehnaaz.

Simran chuckled and said, “Shehnaaz to itni sweet hai, kisi ko usse dar kaisa lag sakta hai?”

Shehnaaz rolled her eyes and decided to shift the conversation. “Waise, aaj raat meri meeting hai, toh main dinner mein nahi aa paungi. Tum log dinner enjoy karo aur mere baare mein chinta mat karo. Main der se aaungi.” The group’s faces fell as they had hoped to make plans for the evening.

Shehnaaz sighed, “hey please no making faces, kal hum zaroor kuch plan karenge.”

Sidharth felt a pang of reluctance about Shehnaaz’s meeting with Sameer and his father. Although Sameer was a good friend, Sidharth felt protective of Shehnaaz, knowing she might not fully grasp Sameer’s flirty nature. After a moment’s consideration, he decided to speak up.

“Yaar, main ghar pe bore ho jaunga. Kya main tumhare sath chala sakta hoon?” Sidharth asked, watching Shehnaaz’s face closely for a reaction.

Shehnaaz chuckled and smiled. “Bilkul nahi, kyunki maine tumhare aur Simran ke liye ek special candlelight dinner plan kiya hai Royal Treat mein, Colaba mein.”

Simran’s face lit up with gratitude. “Oh, Shehnaaz, that’s so sweet of you!”

Sidharth managed a weak smile, his thoughts still preoccupied with Sameer’s name and the meeting.

_________________

Author’s Note