Chapter 6

When Rita ji entered Sidharth’s room, she was met with an unsettling silence. Her heart raced as she called out, “Sidharth?” There was no response. A wave of worry washed over her as she hurriedly made her way to the gym.

What she saw next left her utterly shocked. The gym, usually a place of order and discipline, was in disarray. Weights were scattered, equipment was left unattended, and the whole place seemed to mirror the chaos within her son. In the corner of the gym sat Sidharth, his head bent and his posture slumped. Sweat dripped down his body, making the scene even more distressing. His right hand was a sight of pain – a deep cut ran across his palm, staining the skin with a trail of red.

Her breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight. “Sidharth…” she gasped, her voice trembling. Her feet moved on their own accord, rushing to his side.

Startled, Sidharth looked up, his eyes wide and vulnerable. It was only in moments like these that he allowed himself to be this open, and only with his mother. “Maa…” His voice was barely a whisper, laced with both shame and sorrow. He hated to see the pain in her eyes, the way she stood there, her hands pressed to her mouth in shock.

Her heart shattered at the sight of her son in such a state. Tears streamed down her face as she ran out of the room, only to return moments later with a first aid kit. She knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she cleaned his wound. The air was filled with the soft sound of her blowing gently onto the cut, a tender attempt to soothe his pain.

Sidharth, though clearly hurting, reached out with his uninjured hand to brush away her tears. The gesture spoke volumes, a silent thank you for her unspoken understanding.

“Baat na kar mujhse…” she said, her voice thick with emotion, unable to mask her pain.

As she finished bandaging his hand, Sidharth laid his head in her lap, seeking comfort like a small child. “Sorry maa…” he murmured, his voice heavy with regret.

Rita ji said nothing. Instead, her fingers gently caressed his hair, a silent reassurance of her love and acceptance. The pain she felt was almost unbearable; her son, her pride, deserved so much more than this. She knew he would never tell her what had happened if she asked, but she understood him deeply.

He rested peacefully in her lap, finding solace in her presence. She never pushed him to reveal more than he was willing to share. Her empathy and understanding were a balm to his wounded spirit.

As the new day began, a different kind of turmoil unfolded. Anu had gone to Zoya’s flat to pick up Sana and Zoya for work. Anu hadn’t had a chance to speak with Sana the day before due to her busy schedule.

While driving, Anu noticed something was off about Sana. The trademark smile that usually brightened Sana’s face was missing. “Sana, tu upset hai kisi baat ko lekar?” Anu asked with concern.

Sana looked up, trying to mask her feelings. “Haan…” she replied automatically, then quickly added, “I mean, bas awehi thoda. Amma ki yaad aari hai.”

Zoya chimed in, “Toh bula le unhe yaha kuch din ke liye.”

Shehnaz smiled sadly, “Papa ko abhi abhi nayi job mili hai… voh log nahi aa payenge.”

Anu noted Sana’s demeanor and her brother’s absence at breakfast, sensing a connection between the two. Though she didn’t press further, a feeling of unease settled in her heart.

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Back at the office, Sidharth was in a foul mood, his anger evident to everyone around. He was snapping at every employee who entered his cabin. Shehnaz, standing on the edge of her anxiety, watched him from the glass partition. She quickly looked away, relieved that she hadn’t been called yet. But her relief was short-lived.

Nisha and Tara were in Sidharth’s cabin when Sana was summoned. “May I come in, sir?” Sana’s voice wavered as she entered.

She stood near the desk, avoiding eye contact with Sidharth. Yesterday’s events were still fresh in her mind. Sidharth, absorbed in his laptop, snapped, “Where is the notepad?”

Sana looked up, puzzled. “Huh…?” she began, but Sidharth’s frustration boiled over. “Are you going to take the dictation on your hand, or are you smart enough to remember every word and write it later?”

His sharp tone cut through her, leaving Sana feeling the sting of his words. Nisha and Tara exchanged knowing smirks. “Sorry sir… I will…”

Sidharth’s anger flared. “I terminate people who need to say sorry for their lack of efficiency, Shehnaz…”

The realization hit him hard – it was the first time he had used her name. Shehnaz’s eyes widened at the sound of her name, and she locked eyes with him momentarily before he turned away, diving back into his work. The sudden shift in his behavior made her feel abandoned. She turned to leave when she noticed the bandage on his hand, a visible sign of his pain.

Confusion and worry welled up inside her. How had he gotten hurt? He had been perfectly fine yesterday. Her eyes filled with tears as she stood there, caught between concern and confusion.

Sidharth, noticing her lingering presence, felt his frustration spike. He was angry at himself for letting her affect him so much. “What the hell are you still standing there for?” he barked.

Startled, Shehnaz looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears. Without a word, she fled the cabin.

Sidharth’s irritation was momentarily forgotten as he saw her tear-streaked face. His own feelings were tangled and confusing, adding to his frustration. He quickly turned his focus back to the project discussion, but the entire meeting was clouded by his bad mood. He took out his frustration on Nisha, Tara, and Shehnaz, though he knew deep down that his irritation was unjustified.

Anu, noticing her brother’s behavior, made a few unnecessary rounds around Sidharth’s cabin, trying to understand the source of his anger. She was especially concerned about Sana, who was already upset.

Once the meeting ended, as the three girls prepared to leave, Sidharth called out, “Shehnaz, I didn’t ask you to leave.”

Shehnaz stopped in her tracks, the sherni in her was waking up. She was fed up with his unreasonable outbursts. “I want the complete dictation of this meeting by this evening,” he ordered.

Sana’s disbelief was evident. But Sidharth wasn’t finished. “And first, get me Mr. Rathod’s file from your cabin.”

Frustration welled up inside Shehnaz. “Khud toh robot hai, aur baaki logo ko bhi samajhte hai. Akdu kahi ka… Agar mera bas chale…”

Sidharth’s irritation grew. “jo bolna hai, thik se bolo. Khud se baat karna band karo.”

“Ohh…” Shehnaz’s frustration finally broke through. “Ab aapko mere khud se baat karne me bhi problem hai?”

Sidharth was taken aback. “What? Kya bakwas kar rahi ho?”

Shehnaz rolled her eyes. “Kuch nahi.. Lati hu file.”

She stormed out of the cabin, leaving Sidharth to close his eyes in exasperation. This girl was driving him crazy, and he knew he was equally to blame.

As Anu saw Sana return to her cabin, she intercepted Karan, who was headed in a different direction. “Karan, wait…”

Karan was surprised to see Anu approaching him. “Haan Anishka… bolo na…”

Anu, aware of Karan’s crush on her, smiled cheekily. “I need your help. Keep Bhai busy for the next 20 minutes and don’t let him come out of the cabin.” She pushed Karan into Sidharth’s cabin.

Before Karan could react, he found himself inside Sidharth’s cabin, facing a bewildered Sidharth.

Anu entered Sana’s cabin, where Sana was sulking and searching for the file.

Anu giggled as she overheard Sana’s mutterings. “Sadu… Akdu… Ullu da pattha… Samajhta kya hai khud ko… Hamesha dadagiri karni hai… Main bholi hu isliye…”

She paused for a moment, wondering if she is actually bholi. once convinced, she continued, “Insaan nahi, robot hai robot… Chalte bhi waise hi hai…”

Anu burst into laughter, finding Sana’s ranting hilariously accurate. Shehnaz turned to her, making a baby face. “I hate your brother…”

Anu walked in and handed Sana a glass of water. “Ye le… Pehle relax kar.”

Sana gulped the water gratefully. “Ough… Thanks…”

Anu smiled. “Bhai toh aise hi hai. Bola tha na tujhe… Koi na… Aadat pad jayegi. Accha, sunn, main aaj jaldi nikal rahi hu. Maa thoda off hai subah se. Pata nahi kyun…”

Sana’s concern was palpable. “Hayyee Rabba… Unki tabiyat toh theek hai na?”

“Haan… But thodi upset hai vo…” Anu replied sadly.

Shehnaz murmured softly, “Hmm… Kuch bhi pareshani ho, mujhe bol dena. Tension na le, thik ho jayengi voh.”

Anu, moved by Shehnaz’s concern, embraced her warmly. Just as she was about to leave, Sana called out to her. “Anu, kya tere ghar mein kisi ko mera anklet mila hai?”

Anu looked at her, puzzled. “Anklet?”

Shehnaz nodded with a sad expression. “Haan yaar… Pata nahi kahaan gir gaya. Kitna sohna tha…”

Anu felt unsure. “Koi aisi baat toh nahi mili, par phir bhi, I’ll check once, okay?” With that, Anu headed out, leaving Shehnaz to continue her search for the elusive file.

Unable to find it anywhere, Shehnaz gathered all the files she could find and marched determinedly towards Sidharth’s cabin. As she pushed open the door without knocking, Sidharth looked up angrily, only to be greeted by a sea of files that seemed to have taken on a life of their own.

Behind the towering stack of papers, Shehnaz was barely visible. Sidharth’s frustration bubbled over. “What the hell is this?”

Shehnaz tried to speak through the mountain of files, her voice muffled, “Fiiieee e… fiiieee…”

“What?” Sidharth’s irritation grew as he struggled to understand her.

Shehnaz, struggling to manage the files, stumbled and fell, the files scattering around her with a loud thud. In the midst of the mess, she looked up at Sidharth with a sheepish expression, a pen stuck between her lips.

The sight was so unexpectedly adorable that Sidharth couldn’t help but smile. She looked like a small child caught in a playful mess, and despite his foul mood, he found himself captivated by her appearance in that green churidar.

Shehnaz, realizing she was about to face another reprimand, mumbled, “Soyyii… soyyiii…”

“Take out the pen from your mouth and then speak,” Sidharth said, trying to suppress his amusement. He was annoyed with himself for noticing how pretty she looked, but he managed to keep his tone steady.

Shehnaz immediately removed the pen and stammered, “Sorry… sorry… sorry…”

Sidharth rubbed his forehead, a gesture of frustration and exhaustion. “Shehnaz, ye files yahan kya kar rahi hain?”

Confused by the sudden gentleness in his voice, Shehnaz glanced around at the scattered files before meeting his gaze. “Giri padi hai…”

Sidharth was torn between amusement and frustration. He couldn’t decide if Shehnaz was deliberately trying to drive him mad or if she was genuinely disorganized. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he asked again, “Shehnaz, ye files tum mere cabin mein kyun leke aayi ho?” He emphasized each word, trying to keep his composure.

Shehnaz, emerging from the heap of files, looked up with a bewildered expression. “Sir, aap aise ajeeb se kyun bol rahe hain?”

Sidharth shut his eyes briefly, trying to calm his mounting irritation. “Shehnaz…”

Terrified by his tone, Shehnaz began to explain hurriedly, “Woh jo aapko file chahiye thi Mr. Rathod ki, woh mujhe cabin mein nahi mili. Isliye main baki files leke aayi hoon.”

Sidharth’s anger flared. “Can you do even one thing efficiently? The files should be in the cabin. Or have you misplaced them?” His eyes burned with frustration, making Sana, who was nearby, flinch in fear.

“This is just the first week, and you’ve already misplaced something. It’s absolutely ridiculous. Be responsible!” Sidharth’s harsh words were like daggers, piercing Shehnaz’s resolve. Tears brimmed in her eyes, and she turned to leave, her heart breaking with every step.

Sidharth’s irritation was palpable. “If I don’t have those files in my hand by tomorrow morning, be ready with your resignation letter.”

With that, he turned his back to her, as though she didn’t exist, while Sana hastily left the office, unable to bear the scene any longer.

Mayur, who was passing by, saw Sana enter her cabin, wiping away tears. Concerned, he knocked on the door and walked in. “Hi, new employee. I’m Mayur. I was out with Sidharth regarding the Bangalore project, so I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself.”

“Hi…” Shehnaz replied, her voice tinged with sadness, “It’s probably my last day today…”

“Why?” Mayur asked, sensing her despair.

“Apparently, one file is missing, and I can’t find it anywhere…” Shehnaz’s voice quivered.

“That’s it?” Mayur said, trying to reassure her. “If the file isn’t here, it might be in the archives. The room is next to the pantry. The previous secretary might have left it there.”

Hope flickered in Shehnaz’s eyes. “Sachii? Thank you so much! Thank youuu…”

Mayur smiled warmly. “If you manage to keep your job, will I get to be your friend?”

Shehnaz giggled. “Pakka promise.”

With that, Mayur left, and Shehnaz focused on finishing the dictation quickly so she could head to the archives.

Once Shehnaz left her cabin, Sidharth leaned back in his chair, feeling a mix of guilt and confusion. He knew he had been more rude than necessary. Her eyes had been filled with tears, and yet, it wasn’t the first time a woman had shown him crocodile tears. Why did her tears affect him so much? Why did her cuteness make him smile? He was taken aback by his own thoughts. Had he really just called her cute? She had called him akdu and a robot. Unknowingly, he smirked at the memory, realizing she probably thought he hadn’t heard her.

When Anu arrived home, she went straight to her mother’s room, finding her seated on the balcony, engrossed in some files. “Maa, aap yahan kya kar rahi hain?”

Rita ji looked up, surprised to see Anu home so early. “Tum itni subah kaise?”

Anu hugged her from behind. “I was missing you.”

Rita ji rolled her eyes playfully. “Accha, aao yahan baitho.”

As Anu sat beside her, she decided to lighten the mood. “Pata hai, aaj mere sadu bhai ne meri dost ko rula diya.”

“Saduuuuuu…?” Rita ji was taken aback. She had never heard such words used for her son before.

“haan,” Anu said with a mischievous grin, “Sana ne yeh naam rakha hai bhai ka…”

Rita ji thought about it and then burst into laughter. “Waise hai toh woh sadu…”

Anu and her mother shared a laugh, enjoying the amusing name.

Anu seized the opportunity. “Maa, aapko Sana kaisi lagti hai..?”

Rita ji winked at her. “Ham dono ke khayal kitne milte julte hain, Anu…”

Anu’s eyes widened in realization. “Ohh momma, I love youuuuu…”

“But what about your sadu Bhai…” Rita ji asked, her concern evident.

Anu pondered for a moment. “Wahi toh mushkil hai… Lekin maa, ye ladki kuch alag hai. Ye Bhai ki shaant zindagi mein toofan le aayegi…”

Rita ji shook her head with a smile, hoping that Anu’s words might be true.

By the time Shehnaz completed the dictation, it was well past 7 PM. Exhausted, she texted Zoya to let her know she would be late again.

Afterward, Shehnaz went to the loo, freshened up, and then headed to the pantry to grab a cup of coffee. On her way back to her cabin, she crossed paths with Nisha.

Shehnaz offered a faint smile and tried to pass by, but Nisha stepped into her path, taking advantage of the nearly empty office. “Oops… Too busy, Ms. Shehnaz? Too much work from Sidharth?”

Shehnaz noticed Nisha didn’t use the term “sir” when referring to Sidharth.

“What?” Nisha gave her a smirk. “Me and Sidharth are together…”

Shehnaz froze, her heart sinking. She wasn’t sure how much of it was true and felt frustrated with herself for caring. She managed a polite smile and said, “Amazing… Anyway, he’s not my type.”

With that, Shehnaz walked away, leaving Nisha fuming behind her.

Sidharth was in a state of turmoil. As he had seen Mayur in Shehnaz’s cabin through the glass, he noticed the conversation and Sana’s smile, which only added to his frustration. He had thought about it repeatedly and admitted that Shehnaz was affecting him against his will. From the very first day, she had mattered to him, and he feared he wouldn’t be able to get her out of his mind. The thought of her possibly leaving tomorrow if she couldn’t find the file struck him deeply. The fear of never seeing her again, of never seeing his reflection in her eyes, made his heart ache. He knew distancing himself was the only option, as there was no room for anyone else in his life.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice how the evening slipped away.

When he finally glanced through the glass, seeing Sana’s empty cabin made him frown. Assuming she had left for the day, he felt the pull of his own home.

Meanwhile, Shehnaz was deep in the archives, sifting through files that seemed endless. The task felt insurmountable, and she struggled to stay motivated, knowing that saving her job was at stake.

She had texted Zoya to go to sleep and not wait for her as she was still at the office. Exhausted, hungry, and feeling nauseous amidst the piles of paperwork, Shehnaz didn’t realize when fatigue overcame her, and she drifted off to sleep.

When Sidharth reached home, he noticed his mother wasn’t waiting for him as usual. He knew she must be upset. Sighing, he headed to his room, then to his mother’s room, where she was pacing back and forth. He hugged her, surprising her with his unexpected affection.

Rita ji stepped out of his embrace, saying nothing. Sidharth took her hand and led her downstairs.

He served her a plate and took one for himself. As Rita ji began to eat, Sidharth was about to take his first bite but found he couldn’t. Though he was hungry, he felt something was terribly wrong. The food seemed unappealing, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was pulling at him, as if calling him home.

He ran his fingers through his hair, feeling frustrated. He went to his cupboard and took out the anklet, which seemed to provide him a sense of comfort and familiarity. He placed the anklet on his chest and closed his eyes when his phone rang.

Startled, he checked the screen—it was Zoya. Wondering why she was calling so late, he answered promptly. “Zoya, what’s up?”

Zoya’s voice was hurried. “Sir, I’m really sorry to disturb you, but are you still in the office?”

“Of course not, Zoya. Why would I be there this late?”

“Oh…” The tension in Zoya’s voice caught his attention. “Tell me what’s wrong, Zoya.”

Zoya hesitated before speaking. “Woh… Shehnaz…”

“Kya hua usse…” Sidharth jerked up from his bed, the anklet slipping from his chest to the floor with a clink. His heart raced as he quickly picked it up. “Speak up, Zoya…”

Zoya’s voice trembled. “Sir… woh pata nahi kahan hai… abhi tak ghar nahi pahuchi…”

“Whatttt…” Sidharth’s shock was an understimate. “Ghar nahi pahuchi? Toh kahan gayi woh? And how do you know?” he demanded, shoving the anklet into a drawer and grabbing his car keys in one swift motion.

“Uski mom ka call aaya mujhe… Sana ka phone bhi band aa raha hai… I am worried, sir…”

Sidharth’s heart pounded. Where is this girl? How could she be so careless? He fumbled with his keys, hands shaking as he tried to unlock his car. “Kuch nahi hoga usse,” he muttered to himself, for the first time fully acknowledging how much he needed her to be safe. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

“Zoya, do you have the security man’s number?”

Zoya was startled by the sudden question. “Huh… no, sir…”

Sidharth sped towards the office. “Koi aur number that you could relate to her?”

Zoya thought hard. “Uski ek friend ka number hai. I will check with her and call you back.”

Zoya disconnected and quickly dialed Anu. “Helllooo… Anuuuu…”

“…mujhe koi credit card nahi chahiye…” mumbled Anu, disconnecting the line.

Frustrated, Zoya called again. “Anu, Zoya bol rahi hu. Sana is missing.”

Those words jolted Anu awake. “What do you mean by missing?”

Zoya explained that Sana had messaged her saying she would be late, but now her phone was off.

Anu was stunned. “Shittt… I’ll go to the office and check right away. This is not right, Zoya. Woh sheher mein kisi ko nahi jaanti… she is my responsibility…”

“Your brother is already on his way to the office. I called you to check if she is with you.”

“Bhai?” Anu asked, confused. Zoya informed her that she had called him.

Sidharth was driving faster than he should when Zoya called again. “Sir, she is not with her friend either… I am scared…”

“I will not let anything happen to her,” Sidharth growled, making Zoya go silent. He disconnected abruptly as he skidded to a halt in front of the office.

The security guard was shocked to see his boss at this hour. Sidharth hurried over. “That new employee, Shehnaz… kitne baje nikli office se?”

The guard, startled by the question, struggled to remember. “Sir, yaad nahi aa raha… unhe dekha nahi…”

Sidharth was panicking, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. He just wanted to see her, to hug her, maybe scold her for her carelessness. Anything to get her back. He hated himself for getting angry with her earlier. In his frustration, he banged his already injured hand on a nearby table, causing it to bleed again.

The security guard, alarmed by Sidharth’s behavior, quickly unlocked the main door. Sidharth told him to wait outside and rushed in alone, not knowing what to expect.

He was climbing the stairs when Zoya called again to check whether he reached office.

“I have reached office and I’m going upstairs now. I’ll let you know,” Sidharth replied curtly, disconnecting before she could say anything else.

Somehow, he felt her presence. That same restlessness he always felt when she was near. It was a strange comfort, a connection he couldn’t explain.

He checked her cabin, then every corner of the office, until he finally found her. There she was, sleeping peacefully, surrounded by files, her head resting against a shelf, her legs curled up.

He should have woken her and yelled at her for being so reckless, but instead, he quietly sat beside her. Gently, he moved the files away, careful not to disturb her. His heart ached as he watched her sleep, her face nestled against his chest as she rubbed her nose.

He lifted her into his arms, cradling her like a child. She clung to him instinctively, her arms wrapping around him as she snuggled closer. He felt a tear escape his eye, rolling down his chin. She had stolen his heart and soul, this stupid girl. “Kyu aayi tum meri zindagi mein… kya haq tha tumhe… kya haq tha mera chain cheen lene ka… mujhe tumhara bana ke… how careless you are… jaan nikal gayi thi meri… aisa koi karta hai kya,” he whispered, kissing her forehead gently. “Tumhe kuch ho jata toh… main nahi karna chahta tumse pyaar… tum samajhti kyu nahi… takleef ho rahi hai mujhe… ladd raha hu… ghutt raha hu andar hi andar… tumhe pana bhi chahta hu… aur tumhara banna bhi nahi chahta… tumse durr bhi rehna chahta hu… par tumhe khona bhi nahi chahta…”

His body shook with emotion as he hugged her tighter, not wanting to let go. This was the first time he could express himself, and he didn’t have to justify anything to her.

Shehnaz hugged him tighter, her face buried in his chest. He stared at her, breathing her in, feeling her fit perfectly in his arms. It felt magical. She had found a place in his heart he thought he had locked away years ago. But she had opened it, from their very first meeting.

He feared her innocence, wondering if it was real or just a facade. His past was filled with too much darkness to trust easily. But he had never felt for anyone the way he felt for her. She was his, and he was hers.

Her lips pouted with a cute frown as his beard brushed against her forehead. “Sidharthhh…” she murmured.

He was stunned. Was she awake? Had she heard him? No, she was still asleep. A small smile crept onto his lips as she whispered his name in her sleep. It gave him a deep sense of satisfaction.

Content, he wondered how she had ended up here. Did she have dinner? Maybe she hadn’t, and that’s why he couldn’t either.

His phone rang, breaking his thoughts. He silenced it quickly as Shehnaz stirred, mumbling, “Sone do na…”

He answered softly, “Zoya, yes, she was in the office… yess… archives… can she stay at your place tonight? Okay… I will bring her.” He disconnected, leaving a confused Zoya on the other end. She had never seen her boss so concerned about an employee.

He didn’t want to let her go, but he didn’t want to create any complications. Placing a soft, lingering kiss on her forehead, he carried her out.

The security guard watched in shock, never having seen a woman close to his boss. He quickly opened the door as Sidharth carefully placed Shehnaz in the car, fastening her seatbelt without waking her.

He took the driver’s seat beside her and drove away. The car’s noise disturbed Shehnaz’s sleep, and she slowly opened her eyes, finding herself beside Sidharth.

“Sir, aap itni raat ko mere ghar kya kar rahe hai…?” she asked, shocked.

Sidharth rolled his eyes. “I am not at your home… you are in my car…”

Shehnaz rubbed her eyes like a child, looking around. “Hayy rabba… main car mein kya kar rahi hu… kya main sapna dekh rahi hu…?”

“No…” Sidharth felt relieved she was safe. “How come you fell asleep in archives?”

Shehnaz looked confused, then shocked as she remembered falling asleep while checking files. Her face turned into a cute, angry pout. “Aap ki wajah se…”

“Whattt?” Sidharth stopped the car abruptly, turning to look at her. “Maine kya kiya?”

“Aahahaannnn… dekho toh kitne bhole ban rahe hai…” Shehnaz said dramatically, making Sidharth stare at her passionately. She was testing him big time.

Unaware of his thoughts, Shehnaz continued, “Na aap mujhe job se nikaalne ki dhamki dete… na main file dhundhne archives mein jaati… na mujhe neend lagti… na…”

“Ok… I got it…” Sidharth said, cutting her off. He had enough of her ‘na na na…’

“Guilty feel karna toh dur… ye toh aadhi raat ko bhi attitude dikhate hai…” Shehnaz mumbled to herself, but Sidharth heard her and frowned. “When did I show attitude?”

Shehnaz made a baby face and looked away. Sighing, Sidharth didn’t know what to do. Manaofying a girl was not his cup of tea.

He cleared his throat and started the car again. Shehnaz looked at him from the corner of her eyes and mumbled, “ek toh mujhe etni bhookh lagi hai..”

 she rested her head against the car door’s glass.

It was natural for her to trust him. She didn’t doubt his intentions, not once asking where he was taking her. He was surprised by her trust in him, despite his rudeness. He stopped the car near a late-night hotel and got out.

She was almost asleep again when he opened her door. “Chalo…”

“Kaha?” she asked, her sleepy eyes blinking at him.

Godd.. It was so hard for him to resist getting closer. Moving closer, he whispered in his deep, sexy voice, “Do as told…” making Shehnaz blink rapidly.

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Sidharth and Shehnaz’s journey is filled with emotions, trust, and unexpected moments that bring them closer together. Your support and feedback mean the world to me, so please share your thoughts.

Thank you for being a part of this story.

Also, stay tuned for “Baarish,”  along with the rest of the stories. There’s so much more in store, and I can’t wait for you to dive into these new adventures.

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With love and gratitude,

Shalaka