Chapter 12

“Yes, you did. And you’ll get punishment for it…” he declared.

“Please, main aapke liye dinner leke aati hun…”

Sidharth looked into her almond eyes, which were filled with concern for him. His heart filled with contentment. “Pehle promise karo, you’ll accept the punishment…”

“I promise… pakka waala… Hatiye ab… mujhe washroom aa jana hai…”

At her words, Sidharth burst into laughter, the sound rich and warm as he settled beside her.

Shehnaaz, rolling her eyes, tiptoed out of the room and into the corridor, making sure no one was watching. When she returned with a plate of food, she saw him still on the bed, still without a T-shirt or vest. The sight was both distracting and captivating.

Determined, she pulled him out of bed and pushed him toward the washroom. He complied, quickly freshening up and dressing before reappearing. Shehnaaz was perched on the edge of the bed, the plate in her hand.

Sidharth took a seat beside her and pulled her into his lap. Shehnaaz tried to balance the plate as she sat, feeding him sweetly, the flavors reminding him of his mother’s cooking. After dinner, she set the plate aside and handed him a glass of water, then went to the washroom to clean her hands. When she returned, she placed a gentle kiss on his head. His arms immediately wrapped around her.

“Aap so jayiye, ab theek hai…” she murmured, trying to pull away. But he held her firmly. “me tumhe khud se kabhi dur nahi hone dunga.. samajhi tum.”

“Hum ghar mein hain, Sidharth—achha nahi lagega…” she attempted to reason, but he only pulled her closer, guiding her onto the bed with him. His swift movements took her by surprise, and she blinked rapidly. 

Shehnaaz looked at him with a worried expression. “Sidharth…”

“Early morning chale jana…” he said firmly, closing his eyes to sleep peacefully.

Shaking her head, Shehnaaz nestled her face against his chest and surrendered to sleep.

_________________

Elsewhere, Raj had just emerged from an audition when someone called out to him from behind. He turned to see a girl standing there with sunglasses on. “Yes, you… We need to talk.”

Confused, Raj walked toward her. “Sorry ji, main aapko pehchaan nahi paaya.”

The girl seemed indifferent. “Shehnaaz se pyar karte ho na…”

Raj’s eyes widened in shock. “Aap hain kaun?”

“She is involved with someone else in Mumbai… tumhe dhokha de rahi hai…” The girl left abruptly, leaving Raj stunned and disoriented.

Back in Sidharth’s office, he was engrossed in his work when a knock on the door interrupted him. Karan and Vikrant entered, their faces marked with concern.

Karan’s expression was troubled. “Sir, we have received a legal notice from the government to halt work at worli location immediately.”

“What?” Sidharth gasped, standing up in alarm. “I thought you were handling this Karan.”

“Sir, he has hired a big lawyer, which is surprising because we don’t know how he’s managing the fees… Plus…” Karan hesitated, worry evident in his voice.

“We don’t know how the news got leaked to the media. Reporters have been trying to contact the manager at the site.”

“Shit, shit, shit!” Frustrated, Sidharth rubbed his forehead. “This is absolutely unacceptable from both of you.” His disappointment was palpable. “I want to meet him… Get him to come to the office.”

Karan exchanged a glance with Vikrant before nodding and leaving to fulfill the order.

The grand launch party for Mr. Rathor’s project was just around the corner, only a week away. With so much riding on this event, Shehnaaz found herself at the heart of the preparations. Despite her excitement, she was grappling with the enormity of the task, as she had little experience with organizing such events.

Anu, her guiding star, was her beacon of support. She patiently walked Shehnaaz through every detail—booking the right hotel, selecting the perfect menu, choosing cold and hard drinks, deciding on the location, and the kind of flowers needed for the decor. She guided her on how many staff members would be required, what the dress code should be, and every little nuance that made a party memorable.

Grateful and thrilled to learn, Shehnaaz soaked up every bit of advice. Anu’s support was invaluable, and Shehnaaz could not thank her enough for her generosity and expertise.

Raj had been trying to reach her several times, his voice tinged with an underlying tone of concern. He wanted to meet, but Shehnaaz was so held up with work and party planning that she barely had a moment to herself. The demands of her new responsibilities left her little room for anything else.

Meanwhile, Sidharth had been a constant presence in her life, making sure she never spent a night apart from him. Shehnaaz had grown so accustomed to his strong arms around her that the thought of sleeping alone felt almost foreign. Coming from a conservative background, where even the notion of hugging a man was unheard of, her new reality with Sidharth was a leap into a new world. She had come to accept that she belonged to him, that he was her everything, and she was irrevocably in love with him. Their future together seemed inevitable, and she knew that any worries about small matters would soon seem insignificant.

As Shehnaaz typed an email, her phone rang. Seeing her father’s name on the screen, she smiled and answered, “Hello Papaji… Sastriyakal!”

“Sat Sri Akal, putter… kaise hai tu? Kitne din ho gaye, call bhi nahi kiya,” her father’s voice was a mixture of warmth and mild reprimand.

Shehnaaz bit her lip, feeling a pang of guilt. “Sorry Papaji, office mein itna kaam rehta hai ke main bhool jaati hoon…”

Her father, Rajender, chuckled softly. “Acha, ek khushkhabri deni hai tujhe…” He paused for a moment, letting the anticipation build.

Shehnaaz’s eyes widened with curiosity. “Kya hua? Kaho na!”

Rajender’s voice was filled with excitement. “Main Friday ko Mumbai aa raha hoon…”

Shehnaaz gasped in surprise. “Sachiii? Par itni achanak?”

Rajender continued, “Tere mamaji ka call aaya tha. Usne maafi maangi aur ghar bulaya hai.”

The news brought a bright smile to Shehnaaz’s face. Her mamaji had realized his mistake, and she felt a surge of gratitude. “Waheguru ji ka ashirwad hai. Galti sabse hoti hai. Aap maaf kar dijiye, sab theek ho jayega.”

Rajender reassured her, “Sahi keh rahi hai. Waheguru ji ka ashirwad hai, toh sab kuch theek ho jayega. Acha, main ab kaam khatam karke tere paas milne aaunga.”

Sidharth, who had been watching her from across the room, admired the way her face lit up with joy as she spoke on the phone. To him, Shehnaaz was a breath of fresh air, a source of delight in his otherwise monotonous life. Her lively energy and innocent charm had become an integral part of his existence.

As if drawn by an invisible thread, Sidharth walked into her cabin and bumped into her as she was stepping out.

“Ouchhh…” Shehnaaz rubbed her nose, which had collided with his chest, and looked up at him with a mix of irritation and surprise.

Sidharth gently guided her back into the cabin, trying to soothe her. 

Shehnaaz, wincing in pain, shot back, “Insaan ko neeche dekh kar chalna chahiye, warna chhote chhote keede makode paon ke tale aa jaayenge.”

Sidharth’s eyes narrowed, and he retorted, “Meri galti hai? Aur aap to taare ginte ginte chal rahi thi.”

Shehnaaz turned her face away, “Ek toh main dard mein hoon, aur upar se mujhe hi sunna pad raha hai. Ghor kalyug hai yeh sachi.”

A smirk spread across Sidharth’s face. He picked her up and kissed the tip of her nose. “Sorry baby.”

The tenderness of his touch and the affection in his voice melted her instantly. “Ye cheating hai… jab main gussa hoon, tab aise pyaar se mujhe pighlaate ho,” she protested, hiding her face in his chest.

Her innocent protests only made Sidharth more enamored with her. His arms tightened around her, lifting her so her feet rested on his. She looked up at him, enveloped in his warmth.

Sidharth nuzzled his nose against hers, his voice low and husky. “I can mold you as per my wishes, baby… and that’s because your heart agrees to my demand.” He bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her shoulder.

Shehnaaz could not argue with the truth of his words. Sidharth’s control was palpable, but he restrained himself, not wanting to make a scene in her office. Smiling, he slowly let her go, his eyes still filled with affection. “Acha, tell me… you seemed happy on the call. What’s the news?”

The reminder of the call made Shehnaaz’s excitement return. “Haanji… mere papaji Friday ko aa rahe hain.”

Sidharth’s face lit up with a warm smile as he patted her cheek. However, his expression shifted to one of shock as he realized the implication of her words. “Aur tumhari maa… she’s not coming?”

“No,” Shehnaaz replied, “Woh kuch din baad aayegi.” A sudden pang of guilt hit her as she lied. She knew she needed to come clean with Sidharth, but first, she had to discuss it with Anu.

Shehnaaz hesitated for a moment before adding, “Main Thursday ko Zoya ke ghar jaungi.” The realization hit them both. Sidharth would be alone, and the thought of not having their shared moments together left him feeling desolate.

“Hmmm…” Sidharth mumbled, his smile fading. The reality of her departure hit him hard. Abruptly, he walked out of the cabin, leaving Shehnaaz feeling a pang of sadness.

The thought of being apart from Sidharth frightened Shehnaaz. The idea of living without him was unbearable. She shook herself out of the anxiety, reminding herself that Sidharth would never let anything come between them. Determined, she refocused on her work, planning to give him the space he needed.

As night fell, Shehnaaz nestled close to Sidharth in bed, wrapping him in her embrace. She ran her fingers through his hair, trying to soothe his restless heart. His arms encircled her tightly, a silent promise of never letting go. The thought of losing her was unthinkable for him, and he wished to keep her forever by his side.

Resolved to make their future secure, Sidharth decided to speak to his mother about their relationship. He was eager to make their bond official but wanted it to be a surprise for Shehnaaz. He intended to keep it a secret until the perfect moment.

When Shehnaaz realized that Sidharth had fallen into a deep sleep, she gently tried to move away, but he instinctively pulled her closer, holding her tightly against his chest. She smiled at his possessiveness, her heart swelling with love.

On Thursday afternoon, Karan walked into Sidharth’s cabin, informing him that Mr. Sharma was scheduled to meet him on Friday evening. They discussed the agenda and the legal documents needed for the meeting. Karan and Vikrant were also briefed to be present for the meeting.

Meanwhile, in Anu’s cabin, Shehnaaz shared the news of her father’s visit and her slip-up with Sidharth. She also expressed her desire to be honest with Sidharth about everything. Anu understood her dilemma and suggested, “Tum dono Saturday ko dinner ke liye chalo… aur wahan, sab kuch bata do.”

Shehnaaz agreed, relieved to have a plan. She intended to check Sidharth’s schedule to ensure it wouldn’t interfere with his work.

Later, Shehnaaz received a call from Raj. She answered cheerfully, “Ab yaad aayi tujhko…”

Raj’s tone was serious. “Shehnaaz, kya hum kal mil sakte hain?”

Shehnaaz detected an unusual note in his voice. “Kal toh office ki party hai shaam ko. Hum Sunday ko mil sakte hain, na? Tum itne din ke liye aayi ho.”

Raj’s voice was pleading. “Please, Sana… kal milna zaroori hai. Party ke baad, sirf kuch der ke liye…”

Shehnaaz hesitated, knowing it was late, and Raj’s insistence made her uneasy. “Bohot late ho jayega…”

“Main tumhara zyada waqt nahi lunga, please… bahut zaroori hai,” Raj’s urgency convinced her to agree, though she was unsure how to manage Sidharth’s reaction.

Author’s Note