Chapter 28

Simran was taken aback, even if just for a moment, by the sheer confidence radiating from Shehnaaz. She hadn’t expected this level of defiance. But quickly, as if to cover up her momentary shock, Simran’s expression twisted into one of disdain and superiority. “Look, girl,” she spat, her voice filled with arrogance, “he loves me. Only me. We had a relationship for three damn years. I know him better than anyone else ever will.” Her words were sharp, meant to wound, and the domineering tone made her feel as if she still had control over the situation.

Sidharth, standing nearby, felt an unsettling chill run through him. His heart pounded, not because of Simran’s words, but out of fear for what they might do to Shehnaaz. Simran wasn’t just an ex-girlfriend; she symbolized a painful chapter of his life, one that he had locked away and wanted to forget forever. But now, here she was, threatening to unravel the peace he had finally found in Shehnaaz. The thought of Simran’s poisonous words reaching Shehnaaz’s pure, innocent heart made Sidharth sick with worry. He knew how delicate Shehnaaz’s heart was, how deeply she felt everything, and the last thing he wanted was for her to get hurt by this ugly confrontation.

His throat tightened as panic surged within him. In a low, shaky whisper, barely audible, he murmured, “Baby…” It was as though he was pleading for Shehnaaz to see through the venom, to not let Simran’s words shake her confidence in their love.

Shehnaaz heard him, and as she turned to look at him, her face softened into a smile that melted Sidharth’s anxiety. Her smile was like a balm to his wounded soul, a reminder of the warmth and love that they shared. The way she gazed at him, with so much love and trust, grounded him. It was in that moment that he realized just how much strength she possessed. The storm of emotions raging inside him calmed, just from that one look. Shehnaaz had a way of making everything feel okay, even in the middle of chaos.

But Shehnaaz wasn’t finished. With that same fire in her eyes, she turned her attention back to Simran, her face now a portrait of fierce determination. Her voice, though calm, carried an edge that left no room for doubt. “Sidharth mere hai… sirf mere… agar mere Sidharth ki taraf dekha bhi… me phad ke rakh dungi sabko,” she said with a quiet intensity that spoke volumes.

It wasn’t just the words she spoke that struck Simran, but the unwavering certainty in her tone. Shehnaaz’s voice was steady, unshaken, and filled with a confidence that made it clear she wasn’t going to be intimidated. This wasn’t the timid, fragile girl Simran had assumed her to be. No, this was a woman who knew her worth, knew her place in Sidharth’s life, and wasn’t afraid to fight for it.

Sidharth couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride for Shehnaaz in that moment. She wasn’t just standing up for herself, she was standing up for them. For their love. For everything they had built together. And as he stood there, watching her face off with Simran, Sidharth realized just how lucky he was to have someone like her by his side. Someone who would fight for him, for their relationship, with all her heart.

Simran, on the other hand, was visibly startled. The confidence she had walked in with was slowly draining away, and though she tried to mask it, the shift in her demeanor was obvious. She had underestimated Shehnaaz, and it was clear now that she had lost whatever upper hand she thought she had.

But Shehnaaz wasn’t done yet. Her gaze remained fixed on Simran, as if daring her to try and come between them again. Her calm exterior belied the storm of emotions she was feeling inside—protectiveness, love, and a fierce desire to defend what was hers. She had no intention of letting Simran or anyone else get between her and Sidharth. Not now. Not ever.

The air between the three of them felt thick with unspoken words, but the message was loud and clear—Shehnaaz wasn’t backing down. And Simran, for the first time in the entire confrontation, seemed to realize that.

Simran’s eyes burned with anger as she glared at Shehnaaz, her words dripping with venom. “I’ll see you…,” she spat before storming out of the cabin, her heels echoing sharply on the floor. Manish hurried after her, his voice pleading as he called for her to stop, but Simran was already gone, her fury leaving a trail behind her.

Shehnaaz watched them leave, shaking her head slightly before turning around to face Sidharth. He stood there, frozen, his eyes locked on hers, his expression unreadable. A flicker of doubt passed through her. Would he be angry with her for standing up to Simran like that? Had she said too much? After all, Manish was his uncle, and she hadn’t exactly been respectful, but she couldn’t bear to see Sidharth upset. Not when she knew how much that chapter of his life haunted him.

Her voice was barely above a whisper as she said, “Aap please gussa mat hona…” She feared his reaction, but she needed to say something. Her soft plea seemed to pull him back from his thoughts, and without warning, he closed the distance between them, pulling her in his arms.

“Baby…baby…baby baby baby baby…,” Sidharth chanted breathlessly, the words pouring out of him as if they were the only thing tethering him to reality. His voice was a mix of relief and desperation, as though he needed to remind himself that she was still here, that their love hadn’t been tainted by the ugliness of the past.

Shehnaaz wrapped her arms around him tightly, her hand gently rubbing his back as she tried to calm him down. She hated seeing anyone hurt him, hated the idea that someone could disturb the peace they had found together. He deserved all the love and happiness in the world, and she would make sure no one took that away from him.

Sensing his emotions, Shehnaaz cupped his face tenderly, her thumbs brushing away the slight hint of tears that had gathered in the corners of his eyes. She leaned in and pecked his lips gently, her heart aching to comfort him.

“ab fir kabhi.. koi bhi misunderstanding humare bich nahi ane dungi me…” she whispered, her voice filled with love and reassurance.

Sidharth’s heart, which had been racing with fear and anxiety, instantly began to calm at her words. Her soft voice, her gentle touch—they were everything he needed in that moment. “Ohh baby…” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. He pulled her even closer, his lips pressing tender kisses to her forehead over and over again, as though trying to convey how much she meant to him without saying a word.

“Mujhe toh pata hi nahi tha ke meri baby sherni bhi hai…” he teased, his voice warm and affectionate, but there was pride in his words too. He hadn’t expected her to stand up for him the way she had, and it filled him with so much love for her.

Shehnaaz blushed, her fingers instinctively moving to play with the buttons on his shirt, unable to meet his gaze. Embarrassed by his teasing, she mumbled, “Woh apke aise paas… toh mujhe gussa aa gaya…” Her words were small, almost shy, but there was still that fire in her that made him smile.

Sidharth’s arms tightened around her waist, pulling her even closer, as he felt a surge of affection for the woman in his arms. She was so adorable, so fierce in her love for him, and it made his heart swell. “Agar woh aur kareeb aane ki koshish karti toh…” his voice trailed off as anger flickered in her eyes.

Her fingers fidgeted with his shirt button, a physical manifestation of the frustration she felt. “Jaan le lungi uski…”

“Hmmm,” Sidharth hummed deeply, his voice filled with a quiet intensity that made Shehnaaz pause. She looked up at him, her eyes searching his face apprehensively, only to find a familiar fire in his gaze. His eyes darkened with a desire he was clearly holding back, but it was unmistakable.

“I like your hands on my shirt buttons…” he said, his tone laced with mischief, his lips curling into a teasing smile. “But I don’t think it’s the right place for that, baby…”

His playful comment made Shehnaaz’s cheeks flush a deep shade of red, and she quickly pulled her hands away from his shirt, her heart racing from embarrassment,as she realised she had opened a button. “Sidharth…” she muttered, hiding her face in his chest to escape his teasing.

Sidharth’s fingers caressed her rosy cheeks, taking his time as he relished the way her skin felt under his touch. “Waise… I don’t mind if…” he began, his voice dripping with playful suggestion, but before he could finish, Shehnaaz buried her face deeper into his chest, her voice a muffled protest.

“Sidharth…!” she whined, her cheeks now burning with embarrassment.

“Haan, mera baby…” he cooed, his voice soft and full of affection. He wrapped her tighter in his embrace, knowing that she was blushing furiously. His mischievous streak may have gotten the best of him, but he couldn’t help it—she was just too adorable when she was flustered.

____________

Aryan watched as his father walked behind a girl, his eyes narrowing in confusion before he called out, “Dad…” His voice was soft but filled with a longing.

Manish stopped in his tracks, turning around as soon as he heard Aryan’s voice. His face lit up with surprise and joy. “Aryan… You didn’t tell me you were joining from today,” he said, walking towards his son, his heart swelling with happiness. He had missed Aryan so much, and seeing him there unexpectedly made his day.

Aryan gave his father a small smile and reached out to hold his hand, gently leading him to his cabin. The air between them was thick with unspoken emotions, as if both of them were trying to find comfort in each other’s presence.

Once inside, Manish’s eyes fell on the photo sitting on Aryan’s desk. It was a picture of him and Kajal, Aryan’s mother, smiling together. The sight of it brought an ache to Manish’s heart, and without thinking, he wrapped his arms around Aryan in a tight embrace. He held his son close, as if trying to bridge the distance that had grown between them over the years.

Aryan returned the hug, his voice heavy with emotion as he whispered, “I miss you, Dad… I miss Mom… So much, Dad… So much…”

Manish’s chest tightened at his son’s words, and he could feel his heart breaking just a little more. he missed their family being whole. Gently pulling back, he cupped Aryan’s face and said, “We miss you too, Aryan… This won’t last long, I promise.”

But Aryan’s eyes clouded with sadness and frustration as he looked at his father. His voice wavered as he asked, “Dad, jaise mein aapka beta hun aur aap mujhse itna pyaar karte ho… Sidharth bhai bhi aapke bade bhai ke bete the… unse pyaar karte the…”

At Aryan’s words, Manish stiffened. He averted his gaze, slipping his hands into his pockets to hide the discomfort washing over him. “Your point being…?” he asked coldly, trying to shut down the conversation before it could go any further.

Aryan let out a groan of frustration. He had been holding this in for too long. “Aap bhai se etni nafrat kyun karte ho, Dad? Jaise aap mujhe pyaar karte ho… Bhai ko kyun nahi kar sakte?”

Manish’s jaw clenched as anger flared in his chest. He wasn’t ready for this conversation. “Because he is not my son!” he snapped, his voice harsh and unyielding.

Aryan’s heart sank at his father’s words. He stared at him, disbelief and hurt etched across his face. He couldn’t understand how his father could be so cold, so distant towards Sidharth. “Kya aapke dad bhi aise hi the?” Aryan asked quietly, his voice trembling with emotion. “Kya yeh parvarish di hai aapke parents ne aapko?”

Manish’s temper flared, his hand rising impulsively, ready to strike. “Aryan!” he shouted, his voice booming with anger. How dare his son insult his parents like that? How dare he question their values?

But Aryan didn’t flinch. His eyes dropped to the floor as he whispered, “I’m sorry, Dad… ek taraf aap dono hai.. I don’t understand you and Mom” His voice cracked, filled with confusion and pain. “Wohi dusri taraf, bhai, Anu, aur badi maa hai… Badi maa ke dil mein sabke liye pyaar hai… Jitna pyaar woh Anu aur bhai se karti hai… Utna hi mujhse karti hai.. Fir aap aur Mom kyun fark karte hai?”

Manish turned away, unable to face his son. His heart was heavy, but his pride and the years of bitterness held him back from saying what Aryan needed to hear. He had no answer. He didn’t know how to explain the walls he had built between himself and Sidharth over the years, walls made of pain, resentment, and misunderstandings.

Aryan’s voice broke through the silence once more, filled with disappointment. “Mujhe aap dono ki chhoti soch par sharam aati hai…” he muttered, his words soft but stinging.

Manish’s eyes widened in shock. The very person he had been doing all this for—his son—was now saying he was ashamed of them. “Main yeh sab tumhare liye…” Manish started to say, his voice faltering.

“Mujhe paisa nahi chahiye, Dad,” Aryan interrupted, his voice rising with anger. “Mujhe apne log chahiye… Puri family ek saath dekhna chahta hoon main…” The pain in Aryan’s words echoed in the room, hanging in the air like a weight too heavy to bear.

“agar mujhe chunna hoga toh me Anu, bhai aur badi maa ko hi chununga.. kyunki unka dil saaf hai.. agar aap dono khud ko badal nahi sakte toh mujhe humesha ke liye bhul jayiye..” Aryan’s voice cracked painfully as he looked away, “me bhi ye soch lunga ke bade papa ki taraf aap bhi….” he couldn’t finish..

Manish’s heart clenched as if he was hit by a truck, but instead of facing his son’s pain, he turned his back on it. Without another word, he walked away, leaving Aryan standing there, shattered, his heart breaking as he watched his father walk out of his life once again.

Aryan’s hands balled into fists at his sides as tears welled up in his eyes. He wasn’t asking for much—just for his family to be whole, for his father to love Sidharth the way he deserved, the way Aryan had always wanted. But now, standing in the emptiness of his cabin, Aryan realized that some dreams were too painful to hope for.

____________

The day had finally come to an end when Sidharth strolled into Shehnaaz’s cabin, finding her engrossed in her work, her fingers dancing across the keyboard.

“Baby… chalo, it’s already late,” he said softly, his tone playful yet firm.

“Bas 2 min, Sidharth,” she replied, still focused on the screen as she continued typing.

Without warning, Sidharth reached over and pressed **Ctrl+S**, saving her work, then proceeded to shut the PC. Shehnaaz stared at him in shock, her mouth slightly open. “Ye kya kiya aapne?” she exclaimed, unable to believe he’d just cut her off mid-task.

Sidharth merely winked at her, unbothered by her surprise, and gently grabbed her hand, pulling her away from her desk. “Chalo,” he said with a smirk, leading her out of the office.

As they walked through the remaining staff members, Mayur, Karan, and Tara all stared at the scene in utter disbelief. Shehnaaz’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment at their silent reactions, while Sidharth remained completely unaffected, holding her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Once they were in the car, Shehnaaz couldn’t hold back anymore. She slapped his chest playfully, her face a mixture of mock anger and embarrassment. “Aap ne jaan bujh ke kiya na!” she accused him, her voice tinged with happiness.

Sidharth’s arms wrapped around her waist as he pulled her closer against his chest, his lips brushing near her ear. “You are mine, baby. The office has to be aware of it,” he murmured, his voice low and possessive.

Shehnaaz blinked in surprise, her heart fluttering at his words. His teasing kisses on her cheek made her blush even deeper. He let her go reluctantly, starting the car with a grin while she looked out of the window, her lips curving into a smile she couldn’t suppress.

As her thoughts wandered, she suddenly remembered Anu and grabbed her phone, dialing her number. “Anu, kaha hai tu? Subah se dikhi nahi yaar,” Shehnaaz complained, making a face.

Sidharth chuckled beside her, his fingers absentmindedly running through her hair as she pouted on the call.

On the other end, Anu bit her lip nervously, quickly coming up with an excuse. “Me… haan… woh, thoda kaam se bahar aayi hun… Tuze ghar pe milti hoon na. Chal bye!” she said hurriedly before hanging up, sighing in relief. She couldn’t reveal she was busy arranging for Shehnaaz and Sidharth’s surprise engagement preparations.

Shehnaaz sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. “Ye Anu bhi na…” she muttered, still annoyed.

Her frustration faded quickly as she rested her head on Sidharth’s shoulder, her arm instinctively intertwining with his. The comfort of his presence calmed her as they drove home together, the quiet intimacy between them filling the space, making the evening feel just perfect.

Shehnaaz entwined her arm with his out of habit while he drove them home.

As soon as they walked in through the main door, Sidharth rolled his eyes. Cotton, the mischievous little cat, dashed from the living room and leaped into Shehnaaz’s waiting arms. Shehnaaz bent down, arms wide open, and laughed. “Hayy, meri Gudiya… miss kiya tune mujhe?” she cooed, rubbing her cheek softly against Cotton’s fluffy head.

Sidharth’s eyes widened at the affectionate display. “You never pamper me like that,” he muttered, his tone a mix of jealousy and irritation.

Shehnaaz turned her head to look at him, clearly amused, while Cotton glared at Sidharth, letting out a sharp “Myaaavv…” making shehnaaz giggle.

Sidharth raised an eyebrow at the cat. “Right…” he muttered before heading upstairs to his room. On his way, he hugged Rita ji, who was coming down the stairs. “Maa..” he greeted her warmly.

Rita ji smiled as she watched him head upstairs, and then turned to Shehnaaz, who had just placed Cotton on the sofa. “Beta, how was your day?” she asked gently.

Shehnaaz hesitated, unsure how to explain what had happened earlier. “Woh… aunty ji…” she started, but Rita ji interrupted her with a loving pat on her cheek.

“Sana, it’s time you start calling me Maa, just like the other three,” Rita ji said softly, her words filled with warmth.

Shehnaaz’s heart melted at the kindness, and she nodded with a smile. “Ji, Maa,” she replied, feeling a deep connection forming.

She then proceeded to tell Rita ji about Manish and Simran’s visit to the office and the small commotion that had ensued. Rita ji listened attentively, and when Shehnaaz finished, she cupped her face in her hands, kissing her forehead. “Beta, jab tum ho, mujhe Sid ki bilkul fikr nahi. Tum dono hamesha aise hi ek dusre ka khayal rakhna,” she said lovingly.

Shehnaaz smiled warmly, “Ji Maa…”

At dinner, the atmosphere was light, but Aryan, Sidharth’s brother, seemed unusually quiet. Anu, ever the observant one, noticed and asked, “Aryan bhai, are you not feeling well?”

Startled, Aryan quickly shook his head, “Nahi toh… I’m fine,” he replied, but Anu wasn’t convinced. Rita ji, sitting beside Aryan, touched his forehead to check if he had a fever.

“Priya called me earlier… is everything okay between you two?” Anu  asked gently, her voice filled with concern.

Shehnaaz, who was serving sabzi to Sidharth, looked up at the unfamiliar name, her eyebrows raising in silent inquiry. Aryan, however, avoided everyone’s gaze and mumbled, “Let’s talk about it later, Anu… not now.”

Anu blinked at him, sensing something was wrong but decided to let it go for the moment.

Rita ji, noticing that Sidharth had almost finished his meal, casually said, “Sid, Sana won’t be coming to the office tomorrow.”

Sidharth looked up, surprised, glancing at Shehnaaz, who seemed just as clueless. “Kyun Maa…?” he asked, wondering what he would do the entire day without her.

Rita ji rolled her eyes playfully, “Because I said so.”

Sidharth threw his hands up in surrender, making the ladies at the table giggle. Cotton, ever the attention-seeker, jumped back onto Shehnaaz’s lap, prompting Sidharth to roll his eyes once again.

“Aww, babu… pet bhar gaya tera?” Shehnaaz cooed, hugging Cotton, who purred contentedly.

“Myaaavv…” Cotton responded happily, making Anu and Rita ji shake their heads while Aryan smiled faintly, and Sidharth sulked at the cat’s obvious favoritism.

After dinner, Anu took Cotton and Shehnaaz to her room, leaving Sidharth waiting in the living room. He hoped to spend a little more time with Shehnaaz before bed.

Rita ji noticed him glancing toward the stairs every few minutes and chuckled. “Beta, go to sleep… she won’t come down anytime soon,” she teased.

Embarrassed, Sidharth quickly looked away, mumbling a goodnight before heading to his room.

Upstairs, Shehnaaz and Anu were lounging on the bed, chitchatting away while Cotton zoomed around the room.

“Acha sun, tu kidhar gayab thi subah se?” Shehnaaz asked curiously, watching Anu with suspicion.

Anu smiled sheepishly, “Bas awehi… thoda kaam tha,” she replied, clearly hiding something.

“Tujhe lagta hai main kuch nahi samjhti? Kuch toh chhupa rahi hai,” Shehnaaz teased, narrowing her eyes.

“Of course not, baby!” Anu said with a laugh, pulling Cotton into her lap as the cat tried to scurry past.

“Achha, aur yeh Maa ne mujhe kal office jane se kyun mana kiya hai?” Shehnaaz wondered aloud, hoping Anu might know the answer.

Anu grinned mischievously, “Oyy hoyyy… Maa, huh? I like it!” she winked, making Shehnaaz blush deeply. “Waise, kal hum shopping pe jaa rahe hain.”

“Shopping? Achanak se? Kis khushi mein?” Shehnaaz asked, confused by the sudden plan.

Anu rolled her eyes, “Shopping ke liye koi reason ki zarurat hai kya? Waise ek relative hai… unki beti ki sagai hai next week, usi ke liye.” Anu knew this excuse would work perfectly.

“Achha… mazaa aayega, hai na?” Shehnaaz said, excited at the prospect of a fun engagement function.

Anu smiled, playing with Cotton’s tail. “Aur tere liye kya shopping karenge, babu?” she cooed at the cat.

“Myaaavv…” Cotton spun in circles, trying to catch her tail, making both Shehnaaz and Anu giggle.

Amidst their laughter, Shehnaaz’s phone beeped with a message. Anu looked at her mischievously. “Aha! Yeh jarur bhai ka hoga. Jayiye, bhabhi ji, warna sara bill mere bichari par phatega!” she teased.

Shehnaaz lightly slapped Anu’s hand, her cheeks flushing as she quickly opened the message.

“agar bina mujhse mile soyi na tum… toh…” it read.

Shehnaaz hurriedly hid the phone, noticing Anu trying to sneak a peek at the text, and blushed even more, her heart racing with anticipation.

___________

Manish’s unexpected change in behavior had Kajal completely baffled. She sat beside him cautiously, watching as he leaned his head onto her lap—a gesture so unlike him that it left her momentarily stunned. His usual intensity, anger, and frustration were missing, replaced by a deep, troubling silence.

“Kya hua, kaha khoye huve ho?” Kajal asked gently, sensing something significant had shifted within him.

Manish looked up at her, his eyes heavy with emotion. “Kal Aryan se mila office me,” he muttered, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

Hearing Aryan’s name brought an instant wave of emotion to Kajal. Her heart tightened as tears welled up in her eyes. “Sach? Manish, kaise hai woh? Office join kiya usne? Woh mera call hi nahi uthata…” Her voice trembled, revealing the hurt and longing she had been carrying for so long.

Manish met her gaze, his face burdened with guilt and sorrow. “Usne kaha… ki wo humse sharminda hai.. aur hum uske liye mar…” His voice cracked slightly, revealing the depth of the wound those words had inflicted on him.

Kajal froze. Aryan’s words had cut Manish deeply—deeper than she had anticipated. “Zindagi ke taur tareeke abhi use nahi pata,” she whispered, trying to comfort him. “Woh bhabhi ji aur Sidharth ko nahi samajhta…”

“Aur kya hum samajh paye unhe?” Manish’s voice turned introspective, as if he were unraveling years of buried regret. “Papa ke jane ke baad bhaiya ne hamesha mujhe sambhala… bete jaisa pyar diya.. par maine unse hamesha nafrat ki, kyunki papa ne company ki ownership bhaiya ke naam ki thi…”

His voice faltered, and Kajal watched as his internal struggle bled through his words. “Maine unki jaan li sochkar ki uske baad sab mera hoga… lekin bhaiya ne sab kuch pehle hi bhabhi ke naam kar diya tha.. Kya paana chahta tha main? Paisa?” He trailed off, shaking his head as though he couldn’t even recognize the man he had become.

Kajal sat in silence, stunned by the rawness of his confession. She had always supported his decisions, even when they led down dark paths, but now she saw a vulnerability in him that scared her. “Ye rasta tumne khud chuna tha, Manish,” she replied softly, unsure of where this conversation would lead. “Mujhe pata hai main jealous thi… par kabhi nafrat nahi ki mene. Toh aaj achanak ye sab kyun…?”

His frustration exploded, “Kyunki… apne bete ki aankhon mein sharm dekh kar bardasht nahi kar pa raha main!” Manish shouted, his voice shaking with the pain of this newfound realization.

“Jis bete ke liye humne ye sab kiya, woh toh ye sab chahta hi nahi. Hum use dheere dheere kho rahe hain, Kajal… tum samajh rahi ho?” His voice broke, pleading for her to understand the weight of his words.

Kajal’s heart sank as she listened, her eyes filling with unshed tears. She could feel the gravity of what he was saying—that everything they had fought for, every wrong decision, every step taken out of greed, had only led them to lose what mattered most: their son. “Toh ab…?” she asked hesitantly, almost afraid of the answer.

Manish’s gaze hardened with resolve. “Ab… mujhe pata hai mujhe kya karna hai,” he said, his voice filled with a newfound determination that Kajal hadn’t heard before.

For the first time in years, he seemed certain of something beyond power, beyond wealth. He knew he needed to make amends—not just with Aryan, but with everything they had broken along the way. Kajal could see it in his eyes.

She nodded quietly, understanding that this might be the moment that changed everything.

_____________

Shehnaaz quietly excused herself from Anu’s bedroom and made her way to Sidharth’s room. Once inside, she locked the door and walked toward him, noticing that he had already fallen asleep. Sitting beside him, she gently ran her fingers through his hair, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

“Offo… ye toh so gaye,” she murmured to herself. “Thak gaye honge.”

Leaning down, she studied his face with admiration. He looked so peaceful, almost like a child. She couldn’t help but marvel at how handsome he was, especially in his sleep, with his features relaxed and gentle.

Unable to resist, she kissed his forehead, then both his eyes, his nose, and finally moved toward his lips. Just as she was about to place a kiss there, his eyes flew open, startling her. Before she could react, Sidharth swiftly twisted her around, and in a flash, Shehnaaz found herself pinned beneath him.

Her shock hadn’t even subsided when Sidharth claimed her lips with an intensity that sent her heart racing. His kiss was urgent, deep, and demanding, a stark contrast to the soft pecks he usually gave her.

She surrendered to him completely, kissing him back just as passionately, knowing that he needed her—desperately so. She could feel it in every touch, every movement. He missed her; he needed her more than words could express.

Gasping for air, she tried to pull back, but Sidharth took the opportunity to deepen the kiss even further. Her hands instinctively tangled in his hair, gripping tightly as he pulled her closer, as though he couldn’t bear even a fraction of space between them.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Sidharth rested his head on her chest, listening to her heartbeat, while Shehnaaz cradled him in her arms. “Aap itne pareshan kyun ho jate ho?” she asked softly, her fingers gently stroking his hair.

He sighed, his voice muffled against her. “Tumhare bina nahi reh pata main, baby.”

She smiled, her heart warming at his words. “Main toh aapke paas hi hoon na,” she whispered, her fingers continuing to caress him.

“Par kareeb nahi ho… mujhse ab ye duri bardasht nahi hoti. Kal bhi tum office mein nahi rahogi…” His voice trailed off, a hint of frustration laced in his tone.

She cupped his face, making him look at her. “Achha… toh ye hai asli vajah,” she teased lightly.

Sidharth’s eyes narrowed in playful accusation. “God, I will miss you, jaan,” he said, his voice filled with genuine affection.

Smiling, Shehnaaz leaned up and kissed his nose. “Aapko pata hai… jab aap mujhe ‘mera bachha.. baby.. jaan…’ kehte ho na, bada sona lagta hai,” she confessed, her cheeks slightly flushed.

He grinned, teasing her back. “Aur tum us cotton ko ‘babu, shona’ karti ho,” he mimicked, twisting his lips in mock annoyance.

She giggled at his expression, which only fueled his playful irritation. In punishment, he bit down lightly on her finger that was resting near his jaw, making her wince.

“Ow!” she yelped, quickly putting her finger in her mouth to soothe it.

Sidharth groaned, leaning down to press a hard peck to her lips. “I love you, baby. So damn much.”

Shehnaaz’s heart swelled at his words. “Aap meri zindagi ho, Sidharth… mere sab kuch ho aap.”

Those words were all it took to undo him. His expression softened, and he got off the bed, walking to the closet. She watched him in confusion as he took out a small box and came back to sit beside her.

Shehnaaz sat up, her curiosity piqued as he took her left foot in his hands and placed it on his lap. “Sidharth, aap kya kar rahe ho?” she asked, her voice laced with both curiosity and amusement.

“Shhh…” he hushed her softly, rolling her salwar up to her knee, sending a shiver down her spine.

His fingers brushed gently against her skin, making her toes curl involuntarily. Smirking at her reaction, he took out a delicate gold anklet from the box and fastened it around her ankle.

Shehnaaz’s face lit up with excitement as she admired the anklet. “Hayye rabba, Sidharth, kitna pyara hai ye..!”

Sidharth’s heart swelled with joy at her reaction. “Sach mein? You liked it?” he asked, his voice hopeful.

In her excitement, she jumped into his lap, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. “Mujhe bohot pasand aaya! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she exclaimed, her happiness infectious.

He hugged her back, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. “Achha, suno… I have something important to tell you.”

She settled into his arms as they lay down on the bed, Sidharth pulling the duvet over them as he noticed her shivering from the cold. “Important? Kya hua?” she asked, a hint of worry creeping into her voice.

He took a deep breath, knowing his next words would change the mood. “I’m going out of town for two days…”

Author’s Note