Chapter 9
Sidharth was in the living room, discussing work details with Aryan, outlining his profile expectations.
In the kitchen, Rita Ji was making sure everything was being prepared perfectly for the day. She glanced into the living room and saw Anu dancing robotically to a song on her earphones, rolling her eyes at her daughterβs antics. βShe is an antique piece,β Rita Ji thought with a chuckle.
Manish was out of town, and Kajal, who had come downstairs, watched Rita Jiβs excitement with a hint of displeasure. The positive vibes that Shehnaaz brought seemed like a threat to her, unsettling her more than she cared to admit.
she went towards Rita ji, phrasing her words in mind, “bhabhi.. jara suniye..”
βHaan.. bolo na..β said Rita ji, her voice gentle but her eyes sharp, as she looked at Kajal.
Kajal smiled to hide her cunning mind,Β there was an edge to it. βBhabhi, vo ladki Anu ki friend hai.. achhi baat hai.. but use ghar me le aana.. bholi shakal wale log aksar dhokha dete hai… Simran ko bhul…β
βKajal…β shrieked Rita ji, her voice quivering with shock as she glanced around, ensuring no one else had heard. βAaj ke baad ye naam kisi ki zuban par nahi sunna chahti mein…β She was breathing hard, anger rising with each word. βAur rahi Shehnaz ki baat.. bacchi hai woh.. Anu jaise.. kisi ke liye aisi baatein kaise kar leti ho tum? I am warning you, if you try those things with Shehnaz, Kajal…β
Kajal’s face lost all color. βBhabhi ji, mein kyun kuch…β
Rita ji sighed, cutting her off. βWe so need to drop this.β She turned her back on Kajal, her voice curt as she instructed the staff to set the dining table, leaving a humiliated Kajal seething in the kitchen.
Rita ji then called out to Anu to bring Shehnaz, catching Sidharth and Aryan’s attention.
Anu quickly went to Shehnaz’s room and returned, worry etched on her face. βMaa… use vapas se fever chadh gaya hai…β
The words were barely out of Anuβs mouth when Sidharth stood up abruptly, his face a mask of concern, and ran upstairs. Anu, Rita ji, Kajal, and Aryan looked at him in shock.
Anu and Rita ji exchanged a knowing smile and followed him. Kajal watched suspiciously; she had never seen Sidharth so worried about anyone outside his family.
Aryan stood rooted to the spot, stunned. This was not the reaction he had ever expected from his brother for anyone except family. People knew Sidharth as a ruthless businessman, yet here he was, showing a side so pure and worried. Did he know her? What relationship did they share?
The scene before him, the way Sidharth had rushed to Shehnazβs side, made Aryan realize that this girl held a special place in his brotherβs heart. Just one line about her being unwell had spurred him into action. Aryan knew his brother had endured a lot in life, and he wouldnβt try to take this happiness away from him if Shehnaz was what brought him joy.
Sighing, Aryan felt a pang of sadness, realizing he had liked her upon their first meeting. But he smiled softly; he would do anything for his brother.
Sidharth entered Shehnazβs room, worry etched on his face, and found her sleeping cozily under the duvet. Sitting beside her, he bent down and gently touched her forehead. Her body was burning with fever. he wanted to cocoon her in his embrace.Β Alarmed, he immediately called their family doctor, who arrived promptly and examined her while Anu and Rita ji stayed in the room.
The doctor concluded it was due to weakness and advised continuing the same medicines and ensuring she got plenty of rest.
Rita ji turned to Sidharth, βBeta, aap sab jake lunch karo. Main yahan hoon uske paas.β
Sidharth, looking every bit like a concerned child, hugged his motherβs waist as she stood beside him. βMaa… kya hua hai ise?β
Rita ji patted his back reassuringly. βKuch bhi nahi Sid, bas thodi si weakness hai.β
Anu quietly slipped out of the room, not wanting to embarrass her brother. She knew nothing would happen to Shehnaz as long as Sidharth was with her.
Sidharth patted Shehnazβs cheek lightly, trying to wake her. βShehnaz…β
His voice reached her, pulling her from her fevered sleep. She slowly opened her eyes and leaned her face into his palm, finding comfort in his touch. A soft smile spread across Sidharthβs face.
Rita ji, smiling, decided to leave the room, not wanting to intrude on the moment.
As Shehnaz realized she wasnβt dreaming, she looked around startled and tried to sit up hastily. Worried, Sidharth immediately moved closer, helping her sit up and rest against the pillow. He held a glass of water to her lips.
Shehnaz was shocked by his behavior. Was she still dreaming? How had her stern boss turned into this gentle Sidharth? She drank the water slowly, her eyes locked on his. He wiped her lips gently with his palm, the intimate gesture making their eyes meet and hold.
Sidharth picked up a plate of food from the side and raised a spoonful to her lips, offering her the first bite. Shehnaz, lost in his sweet gesture, took the bite, her heart swelling with an emotion she couldnβt quite name yet.. the depths of his eyes, felt her heart flutter.
βEat…β he said so softly that she wasn’t sure if she had imagined it. βApne khaya..?β she asked, concern lacing her voice.
Sidharth sighed, his eyes tender. βI will… you have it first.β
Shehnaaz hesitated, βMein kha lungi…β
Sidharth’s gaze hardened slightly. βMein khilau toh problem hai?β There was something in his voice that made her open her mouth immediately, like a scared child.
Every time his fingers brushed against her lips, she felt her stomach flip and a ticklish sensation spread through her.
Sidharth was acutely aware of how she felt because he felt it too, but more intensely. He thanked the stars she wasn’t well, for he wasn’t sure if he could control himself from not hurting her otherwise.
Once she had finished eating, he set the plate aside and went to the bathroom to wash his hands, leaving her lying still in her place, her mind reeling from his unexpected attentions.
When he returned, she looked at him softly, βAap bhi lunch…β
He shot her a look that silenced her, and she glanced down at her hand resting in her lap. Har waqt aankhein badi badi karke darate rehte hai… mujhe laga sadu sudhar gaye… par teri itni acchi kismat kaha sana baby…
Sidharth, hearing her murmur, looked away to hide his smile. Not wanting to hear her say more, he took another plate and started eating, aware of her watching him from the corner of her eyes.
As he finished his plate and washed his hands again, he asked, βAb khush?β
A smile formed on Shehnaaz’s lips, and she looked away shyly, feeling a warmth in her heart at his care.
βWhat time did you take your medicine?β he inquired.
β12 maybe,β Shehnaaz replied, trying to remember.
He sighed, βHmm… okay. Lay down.β He sat beside her, his presence both comforting and unsettling.
Startled by his proximity, she looked around nervously. βAap yahi rahoge?β
He got up, helped her with the duvet, and bent down over her. She automatically laid down, blinking rapidly as he covered her completely. Then he sat down beside her again, taking out balm from the first aid box. She watched his every action carefully, her hopes for an answer dwindling.
He applied the balm lightly on her forehead, rubbing it softly. The moment his fingers touched her skin, she skipped a beat. His face was mere inches from hers, his eyes focused on her forehead. βTum chahti ho mein yaha rahu…β
His voice was so intense that it sent a shiver down her spine, making her clutch the duvet tightly.
Her eyes fell from his face to his chest, βWoh mein…β She honestly had no answer.
His other hand went to her face, touching her hair softly, unconsciously. βMein yahi hu… now sleep…β
Somehow, those words brought peace to her heart, and she fell asleep with a slight smile on her face while he watched her endlessly.
Sidharth was done fighting with his heart, done fighting with his emotions. This girl… he wasn’t letting her go from his life no matter what. He would keep her cocooned in the flames of his arms forever, protecting her from the world.
Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t realize when sleep took over him, his hand resting on her head.
In her sleep, Shehnaaz rolled closer to him, finding the perfect spot near his waist. Her arm went around him, hugging him. His hand fell from her forehead, lost in her hair.
When it came to Sidharth and Shehnaaz, love was in its purest form. Two people, completely opposite, had crossed paths at the door of the Gurudwara because fate wanted them together. One had suffered in love, the other had never felt such a feeling, but they had something to give to each other. They had love, loyalty, passion, and possession. They had pure hearts and complete submission to each other.
That’s love. That’s SIDNAAZ β₯οΈ
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When Rita ji walked in to check on Shehnaaz, the sight before her made her smile. It was such a pure bond that she truly hoped no one would cast an evil eye on them.
Finding her babies sleeping peacefully, she left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
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Anu was sitting on the balcony when Aryan walked in. βBaby, kya kar rahi hai?β
Anu put her coffee cup down and showed him the new movie she was watching. Aryan sat beside her. βAccha, ek baat bata… yaar, Bhai kaise jante hai Shehnaaz ko? I thought she is new in Mumbai.β
Surprised, Anu looked at Aryan. βSana Bhai ki personal secretary hai.β
βOhh…β Aryan didn’t know that. βBhai is quite caring towards her… which is so rare…β
Anu gave Aryan a cheeky smile, but he looked confused.
Anu gave him an annoyed look for not understanding her sign language. βOffoo Bhai… Sid Bhai is in love…β
βOhh…β Aryan was right, and he looked away, a smile forming. βThat’s amazing news, Anu.β
Remembering something, Anu shook him. βJake Bhai ko congrats mat bol dena… Bhai hasn’t admitted yet… it’s just Anu knows everything…β
βHmmm…β Aryan agreed, knowing his brother very well.
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Shehnaaz woke up groggily, her movement waking Sidharth immediately. βKya hua?β he asked in a groggy voice. She shook her head, indicating nothing.
She tried to get up from the bed when Sidharth held her wrist tightly, stopping her. βWhen I asked, you said nothing… fir kyu uth rahi ho?β He asked, annoyed, noticing her face twitch in pain.
Realization dawned upon him that he had held her wrist too tightly. He immediately let go, noticing his fingerprints on her wrist, which had turned red. He caressed it lightly, as if apologizing.
Shehnaaz was lost in his touch. βWoh me… mujhe washroom… aap jaiye na…β she blabbered out of embarrassment.
Her words angered him and hurt him somewhere deep. He immediately got up from the bed and started walking towards the door. She realized she had upset him. βAap vapas aaoge na?β she asked hopefully, her voice filled with sadness, but was met with silence as he left without sparing her a single glance.
Manish arrived in the evening, and Kajal gave him all the details about the new guest in the house.
Manish said thoughtfully, βNice… milna padega us ladki se jisne Sidharth ke pathar dil ko pighla diya…β
Kajal couldn’t hide her jealousy. βBhabhi ji itni khush hai ke mano aaj hi dono ki shaadi kara de…β
Manish smirked. βToh shopping chalu kardo tum…β
Kajal looked at him, confused, while Manish laughed dryly, making Kajal smile too.
Later in the evening, Anu took Shehnaaz to the terrace for a little walk to make her feel better. Rita ji had informed the staff to send hot soup for her.
Anu talked non-stop while Shehnaaz had her soup slowly, her thoughts drifting to the afternoon. She knew she had upset him. He had taken such good care of her, and what had she done? She felt extremely guilty, but he never showed up after that. She couldn’t directly go to him and apologize. She hoped he would come to see her, but he didn’t…
Once she was done with the soup, she requested Anu to take her to the living room as she was bored in the bedroom and thought she might get to see her angry boss.
Anu took her to the living room where Manish was sitting and reading the newspaper. Watching the girls, he kept the paper aside. βYou are Shehnaaz, right? The new employee?β
Shehnaaz became a little conscious. βUm… hi… yes, sir…β
Manish smiled sweetly. βDon’t call me sir outside the office, beta. Call me uncle. What happened? You don’t look well.β
Anu made her sit on the sofa and sat beside her. βJi… fever… I mean a little unwell…β
βHmm… take care, okay…β With that, Manish started reading the newspaper again.
Aryan came down the stairs and found Shehnaaz sitting with Anu. He asked Shehnaaz how she was now, to which she replied, but she seemed lost. Her eyes were searching for her big man who was apparently still angry with her.
As Anu went to the kitchen to get something, Aryan sat beside Shehnaaz. βBhai ko dhund rahi ho?β
Shehnaaz ‘s face looked like a kid who had been caught by the mother while stealing the chocolate..
Aryan smiled. βHe seemed very upset about something and pichle 2 ghante se swimming kar rahe hai.β
Saying so, he got up from there as he saw Anu walk out of the kitchen, making her way towards Sana.
She was shocked by his words. Swimming for two hours… feeling absolutely guilty, she scolded herself for upsetting him. Par kaise baat karu unse… Sana tu bohot badtameez hogyi hai… aise toh boss tujhe job se bhi rafa dafa kardenge…
Anu shook Sana. βKya hua?β
Sana shook her head and looked down again after some time
. Anu rolled her eyes. βSana baby, kya hua?β
Sana made a baby face and whispered in her ear. βMujhe Sidharth se baat karni hai abi…β
βKyun?β Anu whispered back.
βSiyappa hogya hai…β With that, both Anu and Shehnaaz made baby faces.
Anu brought Shehnaaz to the swimming pool area where Sidharth was swimming vigorously.
Scared, Anu suggested she talk later with her brother as he seemed very angry.
Shehnaaz didn’t listen, and Anu wished her luck and left.
Sidharth stopped swimming as he saw Shehnaaz walk towards him.
Sidharth stopped swimming as soon as he saw Shehnaaz walking towards him. His heart quickened with worry. Immediately, he climbed out of the pool, water streaming off his drenched body. He didn’t even bother to change out of his shorts and t-shirt before diving in, and now, standing there, he could see the concern in her eyes.
“Are you stupid?” he blurted out, his voice laced with frustration and worry. Shehnaaz’s eyes were fixated on his chest, the droplets of water glistening under the sun, making him painfully aware of his soaked state.
“Tum bahar kyun aai.. it’s cold out here,” he said, noticing how lost she seemed, her eyes still locked onto him.
Desire surged through him as he saw the passion in her eyes. “Don’t do that,” he groaned, trying to control the longing that threatened to consume him.
Startled by his angry tone, Shehnaaz looked away, embarrassment flooding her cheeks with color. Her eyes filled with shame as she broke the eye contact, her feet carrying her swiftly away from him.
“Shehnaaz!” he shouted, but she was already gone, out of his sight. His fingers raked through his hair in frustration, the memory of her teary eyes haunting him. He knew she would be crying all alone.
Shehnaaz lay on her bed, wiping her tears with her dupatta, when a knock on the door broke the silence. She opened it to find Sidharth standing there, still in his wet clothes.
“Ji…aap…” she stammered, stepping back as he walked in and closed the door behind him. She looked everywhere but at him, conscious of his presence.
He hated when she did that, when she looked away as if denying him the right to see his reflection in her eyes. “Why did you leave like that?” he asked, his voice soft but intense.
She turned her back to him completely. “Woh… bas aise hi…”
“Mm-hmm…” he breathed, stepping closer until he stood right behind her. One hand circled her waist, holding her in place, while the other reached for her forehead to check her temperature.
She stood frozen, his possessive hold making her forget to breathe.
“Breathe…” he whispered in a husky voice, his nose brushing against her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine. She clung to his hand tightly, trying to find her voice. “Woh… aap…”
“Chala jau… yahi na… the way you wanted in the afternoon,” he taunted harshly, his words cutting deep. Her grip on his hand loosened, hurt by his tone.
Irritated, he let go of her immediately and turned around. If she wanted him away, then so be it. He would never come close to her again. He started walking towards the door when he felt her hands snake around him from behind, hugging him tightly.
Frozen, he stood there as she clung to him like a teddy bear. Satisfaction coursed through him as her soft fingers gripped his t-shirt. He remembered he was soaking wet and she was unwell. Worried, he tried to pry her hands off him, but she held on tighter, tears streaming down her face. “Aap…mat jao na…”
Groaning, he forcefully removed her hands and turned her around. She continued to cry like a baby. Frustrated, he pulled her closer, slamming both of them against the side wall. Scared, she buried her face into his neck, gripping his t-shirt near his chest.
He was breathing hard with frustration. “Toh tum kya chahti ho… yahi rahu hamesha…”
She didn’t reply. She couldn’t. She was melting in his arms, scared that she might dissolve completely into him. Not getting an answer, his hold tightened around her. He lifted her up to meet his eyes, and she no longer felt the ground beneath her feet.
When their eyes met, they knew they were doomed forever. They could never return to the people they once were. His eyes reflected fire; hers reflected peace. His eyes showed dominance; hers showed submission. His eyes held passion; hers held acceptance.
he raised her chin to bring her even closer. “Yahi rahu hamesha… tumhare paas… haan Shehnaaz…”
She tried to remember how to speak, her lips trembling so close to his. She was scared they might brush against his if she spoke. “Sir…”
Ignoring her mumble, he put his index finger on her lips, silencing her. “Hug kyu kiya mujhe… fir beemar padna hai?” His voice was so deep that it sent a shiver down her spine.
He removed his finger to let her speak. “Aap ja rahe the isliye…”
Her innocent words snapped the thread of control he was holding onto. He growled like a lion, closing the distance between them.
The moment his sharp teeth touched her lip, she gripped his t-shirt tightly, mumbling unconsciously. “Sidharth…”
The first touch.. she was the sweetest thing on the earth.. it drove him nuts ad she became his very oxygen.
Frustrated, he let go of her lip and hid his face into her neck, trying to calm down. Reflexively, her fingers went into his hair, brushing them softly in an attempt to soothe him. She felt her lip sting from the harsh bite but couldn’t help blushing. It was the first touch in her life, and it came from the person she knew she belonged to.
“You need to change, or you will catch a fever again,” he murmured into her neck, his voice soft and his hold around her protective.
“Aap bhi please…” she began, but he cut her off, annoyed. “Stop worrying about me.”
His words saddened her, and he felt it as her hand slipped from his hair. Parting slightly, he looked at her, reading her emotions.. he couldn’t help but brush his knucles over her cheek softly, “Jaa raha hu change karne…”
He instantly saw a small smile appear at the corner of her lips, making him feel better. He always gave in to her demands, which surprised him, but he couldn’t bear to see her sad.
He knew he should go, but separating from her seemed so difficult. He watched possessively as her lower lip was red, not from lipstick but from his kiss. He had lost hope that she would look at him now.
Slowly slipping her down to the ground, he reached for her ear. “Sorry…”
Thate word made her immediately turn to look at him, but a blush overtook her, and she looked down, closing her eyes tightly. A smile appeared on Sidharth’s face. Her emotions were so clear, nothing hidden, no games of hide and seek.
Unable to hold back his love, he enveloped her in a teddy bear hug, his lips resting on her forehead, hiding her completely within the walls of his arms. Her hands instinctively wrapped around his big body, trying to hug him back.
Closing his eyes in contentment, Sidharth whispered, “You know what my problem is…”
He waited for her to look up at him with questions in her eyes, which she did. Taking a deep breath, Sidharth gave her his most reserved smile and said in a husky voice, “That I like you…”
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Author’s Note
Dear Readers,
I hope you enjoyed this deeply emotional chapter between Sidharth and Shehnaaz. Writing this scene was a journey into the raw and powerful emotions that bind these two characters together. Their connection, filled with passion, misunderstandings, and deep affection, is something that resonates deeply within me.
I believe that the essence of any great story lies in the emotions it evokes in the reader. Through Sidharth and Shehnaaz’s journey, I aim to capture the intense, beautiful nature of love. Their story is a proof to the fact that love, with all its complexities, is worth fighting for.
Thank you for accompanying me on this journey. Your support and love mean the world to me. Please continue to share your thoughts and feelings about the story. Your feedback helps me grow as a writer and brings me immense joy.
Looking forward to your responses!
Also, stay tuned for βBaarish,β Β along with the rest of the stories. Thereβs so much more in store, and I canβt wait for you to dive into these new adventures.
Donβt forget to follow me onΒ Β Wattpad,Β InstagramΒ andΒ YoutubeΒ for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more. Your support on these platforms helps keep the creativity flowing.
With love and gratitude,
Shalaka
β₯οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈ
Waiting for more!
Love it⦠Waiting form another chapter
thnq asap
Beautiful π
I like you too β€οΈβ€οΈπ₯°π₯°
awwwwwwwwwwwwwww
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thnqqqqqqqqq
Aaj ek or part daal do π€ plzz
yepppppp
Wow
thnqqqqqqqqqq
Can’t wait for next β€β€β€
Plz post the next chapter
yepp asap
Beautiful start of new journey
Love every bit of itt
I like Anu character so much she if goofball of this story
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Aww
Beautiful
Thank you so much for all the love
Beautiful
Thank you so much for all the love