Chapter 16

Just then, her eyes fell on Simran, and a surge of anger rushed through her veins.

Excusing herself from the group, she marched up to Simran, who looked at her in surprise and asked her husband to wait. “OMG..Anu baby..how are you..?” Simran greeted, her tone dripping with fake sweetness.

Anu’s eyes burned with hatred as she snapped, “Oh, shut your drama, Simran. What the hell are you doing here? How dare you come back into our lives?”

Simran rolled her eyes dismissively. “Oh, come on, Anu. You know I can never do anything to hurt Sidharth. I have always lov—”

“Don’t you dare take my bhai’s name from your filthy mouth!” Anu cut her off, her voice trembling with rage. “And mind you, you won’t be able to destroy my bhai this time.”

With that, Anu turned on her heel and stormed away, leaving Simran smirking at her retreating figure. As she rejoined her waiting husband, the smug satisfaction on Simran’s face was evident.

Nisha, who had overheard the heated exchange, was left in shock. Simran’s words cut through her, igniting a flame of anger. Determined to get to the bottom of this, she hurried upstairs where Manish was engrossed in a conversation with a client.

“I need to talk to you now,” Nisha demanded, her voice sharp and urgent.

Startled by Nisha’s sudden change in demeanor, Manish excused himself from the client, and the two of them hurried to the exit. Once they were alone, Nisha didn’t hold back. “What is this Sidharth and Simran story? You said I get to marry Sidharth and you guys are after a share in his property.”

Manish rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. “Hey, hey, can we stop this love drama? I’ll pay you as much as you want. Just do as you are told.”

Nisha was taken aback by Manish’s attitude. “I don’t need money. I want Sidharth. I love him.”

Irritated, Manish rubbed his forehead in frustration. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gun, shocking Nisha to her core.

With a cold, menacing stare, Manish pressed the gun to Nisha’s forehead. “Anything else you want to complain about, baby?”

Nisha’s body trembled with fear. “No,” she mumbled softly, her voice barely audible. “Please, let me go.”

Manish’s expression remained hard as he slowly lowered the gun and returned it to his pocket. “Now, be a good girl and find Shehnaaz fast. You know our next plan, right? And dare you talk about it to anybody.”

Scared to death, Nisha nodded frantically and immediately rushed away to find Shehnaaz. Her heart pounded in her chest as she hurried through the corridors, her mind racing. She had to find Shehnaaz quickly, not just to fulfill Manish’s orders but also to protect herself from his terrifying threats. She couldn’t shake off the fear that had gripped her, but she knew she had to keep moving, had to keep searching.

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Shehnaaz shrieked out as she found herself in the strong arms of Sidharth, “Uthariye mujhe niche abhi…”

Irritated with himself for still worrying about her despite everything, Sidharth marched to the receptionist and demanded a room key. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes were filled with a mixture of anger and concern.

Shehnaaz, her voice trembling with panic, turned to the woman at the desk, “He is kidnapping me!”

The receptionist looked at the two of them in confusion. It didn’t look like a kidnapping; it seemed more like a heated argument between a couple. She hesitated for a moment but then, smiling haughtily, handed the keys over to Sidharth. Shehnaaz stared at the woman in disbelief, “Are you mad?”

In response, the woman smiled brightly, further confusing Shehnaaz.

Sidharth tightened his grip around her waist as he walked towards the room. When they reached the door, he adjusted his hold, keeping one hand tight around her waist and releasing the other from under her knees. She shrieked again, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck to avoid falling.

Her eyes were wide with curiosity and a hint of fear as she looked up at him. His expression was a storm of conflicting emotions, but he remained silent. He opened the door and carried her inside, his steps determined.

Once inside, Sidharth kicked the door shut behind him and locked it. He leaned against the door, closing his eyes for a moment, as if trying to gather his thoughts. Shehnaaz continued to stare at him, her eyes searching his face for any clue to his intentions.

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When Anu returned, Zoya immediately grabbed her hand, “Yaar mujhe yeh woman gadbad lag rahi hai.”

Anu, her voice rough with frustration, replied, “Yahi wajah hai bhai ke bigde mood ki.”

Raj, growing increasingly impatient, interjected, “Aap dono please meri help kijiye Sana ko dhoondhne mein, warna I’m going to the police.”

Anu rolled her eyes in irritation, trying to piece together the scene. Zoya, catching onto Anu’s words, said, “Anu, you are wrong. Sidharth sir party mein pahunchne se pehle hi Sana ka jhooth jaan chuke the.”

“Kaisa jhooth?” Raj asked, his curiosity piqued.

“Sorry but not now,” Anu replied, making Raj even angrier. She continued, “Sana ke job ka sach mujhe, tujhe, Maa, aur Sana ke parents ko pata hai bass. Fir bhai ko kaise pata chala?”

“I need to say something,” Raj said, his impatience clear.

Anu and Zoya glared at him, signaling him to keep quiet as they tried to think through the situation.

“Let me please…”

“I know you are Sana’s friend, but will you keep quiet?” Anu snapped at him again.

Raj, annoyed with their dismissive attitude, finally blurted out, “Rajendra chacha Ji Mumbai mein hain.”

Anu and Zoya, shocked by this revelation, shouted in unison, “Couldn’t you tell us earlier?”

Raj glared back, “Right…”

“But Rajendra chacha ji aur Sidharth bhai ka koi connection nahi hai… then how come…?” Anu wondered aloud, her mind spinning with confusion.

Zoya frowned, trying to piece together the puzzle. “Maybe there’s something we’re missing. Some link we haven’t seen yet.”

Raj was getting worried sick for shehnaaz.

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Shehnaaz kept staring into his eyes, the harsh words he had spoken to her echoing in her mind. Each accusation felt like a dagger piercing her heart. The paint slashed her soul as she tried to pull his hand away from her waist, her hands trembling.

Irritated by her actions, Sidharth opened his eyes and glared at her with intense fury. “Nafrat karta hoon main tumse… samjhi tum?” His voice was cold and sharp, each word cutting through her like a knife.

The impact of his words was devastating. “Nafrat karte hai mujhse… maine kiya kya hai?” Her voice choked up, filled with pain and disbelief. The question was almost a whisper, but it was laden with anguish.

Sidharth’s eyes remained hard as he let go of her roughly, walking back and forth in agitation. His words were venomous. “Tum jhoothi ho… makkar ho… paiso ke liye pyaar ka natak kiya na tumne…”

The accusations hit Shehnaaz like a thunderclap. She took a hesitant step toward him, but he moved back, his body language clearly saying that even her touch was unwelcome, like it would burn him.

The rejection made her feel smaller than she had ever felt. Her steps faltered, and she stopped in her tracks, overwhelmed by a deep sense of worthlessness.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face, leaving streaks on her flushed cheeks. Her hair was disheveled, and her face was a mess of despair and confusion. “Aap ye…” she began, her voice breaking as she tried to find the right words.

“Koi itna niche kaise gir sakta hai… paiso ke liye tumne…” Sidharth’s voice was filled with contempt as he slammed his fist onto the nearby table. The loud crash made Shehnaaz gasp in fear, and she flinched, her entire body trembling. “Mujhse maang leti paise… bheekh samajh kar dedeta tumhe… mere jazbaaton ke sath khilwad karne ki kya zaroorat thi…”

Each of his words was like a dagger to her heart, slicing deeper with every syllable. The man she had fallen in love with, the person who claimed to care for her, was now accusing her of such baseless accusations. It was as if every moment of trust and love she had invested in him had been shattered in an instant. The one person she believed would understand her, who should have been her rock, now looked at her with disdain.

Shehnaaz felt utterly devastated. The love she had given, the sacrifices she had made—all seemed worthless now. The man she had imagined spending her life with was now judging her so harshly, mistrusting her to the core.

pyaar aisa nahi hota.. shayad usne kabhi pyaar kiya hi na ho.. par jitna vo samajh Pai.. pyaar aisa toh nahi hota.. bina vishwas ke nahi hota.. shayad jis insaan par vo apni jaan de chuki hai.. usne kabhi pyaar kiya hi nahi…

The weight of his words and the betrayal they carried broke her down completely. She turned away from him, her face a mask of anguish, as she struggled to comprehend the depth of his disdain. The emotional depth she had reached felt like a bottomless pit, pulling her into a void of despair.

As she turned her face away, tears began to fall from Sidharth’s eyes—tears he had fought so hard to suppress. He had been holding onto these emotions, not wanting to reveal his vulnerability to her, but now they flowed freely. “I hate you, Shehnaaz… tumne mujhse tod diya,” he whispered through his tears, his voice breaking with the weight of his pain.

Unable to control himself any longer, he shouted at her blank form, his words filled with a raw, unfiltered rage. “You are the mistake of my life… nafrat karta hoon main tumse… samjhi tum… nafrat…”

His ruthless words echoed through the room, reverberating in Shehnaaz’s mind as she sat there, emotionally numb. The finality of his declaration was too much to bear. Overcome by the crushing weight of his hatred and her own emotional exhaustion, she collapsed, her body falling limp.

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Rajbeer was growing increasingly frustrated as he watched the girls’ preoccupation with their discussions instead of focusing on finding Shehnaaz. His anxiety was palpable. “Tum dono ki yeh sab discussions Sana ko dhoondhne se zyada important lag rahi hai?” he exclaimed, exasperated. “Shehnaaz trouble mein hai, aur tum dono bas baat kar rahi ho. For heaven’s sake, understand the urgency!”

Anu was deep in thought, trying to piece together the chaos around them. Her irritation bubbled over as she snapped back, “Tumhe kya lagta hai, sirf tumhe hi uski fikar hai? Humein nahi?”

Raj, feeling cornered, looked away, his frustration evident. “I have to find her. I don’t think tum dono kisi kaam ke ho…”

Zoya’s eyes widened at his rude comment, her face a mixture of shock and anger. Anu, feeling her temper flare, placed her hand on her waist. “Why don’t you understand? She must be with Bhai!”

Raj’s irritation was clear as he responded, “It’s just an assumption, and honestly, I don’t trust your brother too…”

Anu was on the verge of losing her cool, ready to confront Raj, when Zoya intervened, her voice steady despite the tense atmosphere. “Anu, your Manish uncle is involved in this. Did he know about Sana’s lie?”

Anu paused, trying to recall. “No, we never discussed anything in front of him or Kajal aunty.”

Zoya sighed, her face troubled. “Jo bhi hua hai, aaj hua hai. Shayad office mein. But tu, mai aur Shehnaaz ke nikalne ke baad hua hai.”

Realizing the urgency of the situation, Anu decided to act quickly. She called the receptionist, her voice filled with determination. “Could you please check if anyone visited Sidharth today?”

The receptionist, busy but attentive, agreed to help. She quickly checked the records and reported back, “There was a meeting held in the evening, which was also attended by Karan and Vikrant.”

Anu immediately called Karan, who was in party, “Anu..I mean Anishka..I didn’t see you in party today…”

Anu rolled her eyes, “cut this Karan and tell me what happened in office today…”

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“Shehnazzzz…” Sidharth screamed in shock as he saw her faint. He rushed towards her with a sudden burst of panic, catching her before she could hit the ground. The sight of her limp body in his arms sent a shiver of dread through him.

His heart pounded in his chest as he cradled her lifeless form, his mind racing. “Shehnaz… baby, please wake up,” he pleaded, his voice trembling. He gently laid her on the bed, his hands shaking as he patted her cheek softly, trying to bring her back to consciousness. “Shehnaz… come on, baby…”

His eyes were wide with fear, tears threatening to spill over as he watched her pale face. The room seemed to close in around him, the air growing colder with every passing second. He could barely stand to see her like this—his heart ached with the realization that he had been the cause of her distress. The words he had hurled at her, the accusations that had cut so deeply—they were now a haunting echo in his mind.

As he looked at her, a wave of self-loathing crashed over him. He hated himself for hurting her, for driving her to this point. He hated himself for every cruel word spoken, every moment he had let her walk away, alone and broken. No matter how she had hurt him or how flawed their relationship might have been, the fact remained that she was his, and he was hers. The truth of their bond was undeniable and raw; he couldn’t breathe without her.

Tears streamed down his face as he gently rubbed his knuckles against her cheek, his heart breaking with every tender touch. “I’m sorry, mera baccha,” he whispered through his tears, his voice choked with emotion. He longed to hold her close, to erase the pain of today and start anew, free from the shadows of negativity. He had envisioned a future with her, dreams of growing old together, but now those dreams seemed to be slipping away.

The weight of regret settled heavily on him. He wanted nothing more than for her to wake up and tell him that everything he had feared was a lie, that the accusations and hurt were just misunderstandings. “Ek baar kehdo ki vo sab jhooth hai… ek baar keh do na, Sana…”

He wiped his tears away with the back of his hand, his heart aching with the depth of his sorrow. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, his lips lingering there as if trying to absorb the warmth he had once known. “Tum hamesha kehti thi na mujhe… ‘aap mujhe Sana keh ke kyun nahi bulate?'” His voice was soft and filled with regret. “Pata hai, maine socha tha… jab hum dono ki shaadi hogi na, aur jab bhi tum mujhse ruthogi na, maine tumhe ‘Sana’ bulaya karunga. Kyunki mujhe pata tha tum melt hojaogi…”

He managed a half-hearted smile, the dream he had cherished now feeling impossibly distant. “Main tumhare sath jeena chahta tha… par sab khatam ho gaya.” His voice cracked with the weight of his emotions, his heart aching for a future that now seemed forever out of reach. As he sat beside her, his hand resting gently on her, he prayed for a miracle, hoping against hope that she would wake up and that they could somehow find a way back to the love they once shared.

Sidharth grabbed a glass of water from the nearby table and gently threw a few drops on Shehnaz’s face, desperate to wake her. Her eyes fluttered open, and she let out a soft, pained whimper. “Sidharth… Sidharth… mujhe chhodke… Sidharth… mujhe… kahan ho aap… Sidharth…” she cried out, her voice a fragile whisper as she stirred in a half-sleep state.

Seeing her distress, Sidharth’s heart ached. He gently patted her cheek, trying to rouse her fully. “Baby, I’m here… please look at me,” he pleaded, his voice filled with urgency and concern.

As she gasped and opened her eyes, her gaze met his, filled with fear and confusion. Tears began to flow uncontrollably from her eyes, and Sidharth’s resolve weakened. Overwhelmed by his own emotions and the sight of her in distress, he pulled her into a tight embrace. He buried his face in her neck, trying to comfort both her and himself, as they both struggled with the weight of their shared pain.

In this raw moment of vulnerability, Sidharth wondered about the nature of love. What kind of love was this, where the pain of the other could wound you so deeply? It was a love that was supposed to heal and nurture, yet here they were, caught in a storm of hurt and regret.

As Shehnaz clung to him, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, she pulled him closer. He fell into her embrace, covering her completely with himself. The intimacy of their closeness was both a balm and a burden, as Sidharth tightened his grip around her, not wanting to face the brutal truth..

He pulled back just slightly, their faces now inches apart. With a tenderness that belied his inner turmoil, he rubbed his thumb gently beneath her eyes, trying to wipe away her tears. “Stop crying,” he commanded softly, his voice a mixture of authority and desperation.

Despite his efforts, Shehnaz’s tears continued to flow, her eyes locked onto his with a look of profound sadness. She mumbled between sobs, “Aap pyaar nahi karte apni Sana se…”

Her lips, red and swollen from the relentless crying, only deepened the ache in Sidharth’s heart.

He felt his resolve crumbling, his strength waning as her words echoed in his mind. Her pain was his own, and every sob seemed to chip away at his resolve, leaving him vulnerable and remorseful.

“Thodi der so jao…” he murmured, his breath warm against her face. The gentle command was as much for himself as it was for her, a desperate attempt to find solace in the moment. His own weakness felt magnified by the closeness, the intimacy of the situation leaving him feeling vulnerable and broken.

Her voice, heavy with despair, pierced through the fragile silence. “Agar main buri hun toh kyun hai mere paas aap… kyun nahi door chale gaye…” she questioned, her teary eyes searching his with a mixture of confusion and hurt. She struck his chest weakly, her small fists landing softly against his firm body. The action was more symbolic than impactful, her anger and pain manifesting in a touch that felt almost tender in its desperation.

“Tumne hi kaha tha na… saza dena… daant lena… lekin door na jana…” His  voice was barely a whisper now, filled with the weight of remembered promises. She recalled the vow he had made—to punish her, to scold her if needed, but never to leave her. The memory of his promise was a sharp reminder of the trust she had placed in him, a trust now feeling deeply betrayed.

As she closed her eyes, her tears continuing to fall, Sidharth could only hold her tighter. She pulled him close, burying her face in his neck as she sobbed uncontrollably. His heart ached as he felt her tears against his skin, his own emotions a mix of betrayal and longing.

In the stillness of the room, surrounded by the weight of their shared grief, Sidharth wished he could turn back time. He wanted to undo the hurt, to repair the fractures in their relationship. But for now, all he could offer was his embrace. As she clung to him, her tears soaking into his shirt, he hoped that, despite everything, they could find a way to heal and rediscover the bond that once united them.