Chapter 10

Once Shehnaaz had left the room, Sidharth turned around sharply, the intensity of his emotions evident in his movements. His heart churned with a weird sort of feelings, an emotional storm he couldn’t quite understand. He had been more than just rude; he had been harsh, and he knew it. The knowledge that he had hurt her gnawed at him, a bitter reminder of his own failings. Wasn’t that precisely what he had intended? To hurt her, to push her away?

 The image of her tear-streaked face lingered in his mind, an unsettling reminder of the vulnerability he had exposed. He couldn’t shake the image of her breaking down, the soft sound of her crying echoing in his ears. Had she really been crying? The thought alone was enough to make his chest tighten painfully.

Restlessly, he approached the large frame, his hand gently brushing over the glass as if he could somehow touch the emotions frozen in that moment. “I won’t forget you,” he whispered, his voice breaking with emotion. “I won’t betray you. I have hurt you before, taken you for granted. But you loved me unconditionally. I belong to you and always will.” The finality in his words was underlined by the tears that welled up in his eyes.

His mind drifted back to the earlier confrontation with Shehnaaz—her voice, filled with pain, and her unwavering resolve. Her hand had lingered in his when she had tried to reach out, her eyes reflecting a strength that made him despise himself even more. Her love for Vihaan, the way she had giggled softly, and the sight of her holding Vihaan in her arms were etched into his memory, fueling his internal conflict.

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After much pleading and promising, Vihaan finally relented and allowed Shehnaaz to leave. His tears had shattered Shehnaaz’s heart into countless pieces. She couldn’t deny his request, but staying was equally impossible for her. Her determination to be a mother to Vihaan only strengthened her resolve to fight for her place in his life, even if it meant confronting Sidharth. She refused to back down.

Rita ji’s face brightened with hope as Shehnaaz returned, the Matarani’s chunri in her hand, a symbol of blessing and hope. But the tears in Shehnaaz’s eyes told a different story—one of heartbreak and unresolved pain. Rita ji, along with Anu and Shikhar, wanted to speak with Shehnaaz to understand what had transpired upstairs, but the presence of the guests prevented them from doing so.

Sanju had noticed the dejected expression on Shehnaaz’s face and was immediately concerned. She considered confronting Sidharth but quickly realized that Shehnaaz wouldn’t appreciate that. She resolved to talk to Shehnaaz privately once they were back home.

When Shehnaaz and Sanju finally took their leave, Sidharth went back downstairs, only to be met with the sight of Vihaan’s sorrowful face. The realization that Shehnaaz was gone left a unfamiliar ache in Sidharth’s chest. What if she decided to back out of the marriage, leaving him never to see her again? The thought was both unsettling and oddly unsettling.

But wait—why was he having such thoughts? He didn’t want to see her, and he would be happier if she backed out. He tried to convince himself of this, his mind a whirlwind of confusion.

With a sigh, he picked up Vihaan, hoping to lift his own spirits, but soon realized that Vihaan’s sadness was a reflection of his own.

The child missed his mother, and so did Sidharth, though he couldn’t admit it openly.

Rita ji, meanwhile, had waited patiently for the party to end. Her anger had been simmering, and she headed to her bedroom, only to be followed by a concerned Sidharth. He knew his mother well; she would likely refuse to eat or take her medication in her distress.

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“Kya kaha Sidharth ne?” Sanju asked after a long silence, breaking the heavy mood.

Shehnaaz, startled, turned her gaze from the car window to her best friend. Her eyes, usually so full of life, were clouded with an unusual sadness. “Woh chahte hain ke main shadi ke liye mana kar du,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Tu kya chahti hai, Sana?” Sanju’s question was more than a simple inquiry; it was a plea for honesty. She couldn’t bear to see her little sister in such pain.

“Vihaan ki khushi,” was all Shehnaaz could manage to utter before tears streamed down her face.

Sanju’s frustration was palpable. “Tu janti hai main tujhse kya poochh rahi hoon. Uska jawab de. Tuze pyar ho gaya hai na Sidharth se? Woh shadi se mana kar dega isi baat ka dar hai na tuze?”

Shehnaaz looked away, her heart heavy with turmoil. “Sanju, please…” Her voice trembled as she spoke, her emotions on the edge of breaking down.

“Damn it, Sana!” Sanju’s frustration broke through. “Kabhi toh apni feeling ko importance de. Tu kabhi Arjun se shadi karna hi nahi chahti thi. Samajhota tha na woh tere liye ek apne papa ko khush dekhne ka. Kabhi toh apne liye stand le.”

Shehnaaz remained silent, her heart aching with the truth of Sanju’s words. She had never considered marriage with Arjun as anything more than a compromise, but now… now everything was different. Her feelings for Sidharth were something she couldn’t ignore, even if she felt unworthy of them.

Sanju grabbed Shehnaaz’s hand, making her look at her. “Tune mere sawal ka jawab nahi diya. Pyar ho gaya hai na tuze Sidharth se?”

“Aisa kuch nahi hai,” Shehnaaz snapped, trying to pull her hand away. She hated how perceptive Sanju was, how easily she could see through her façade. Yes, she had fallen irrevocably in love with the very man who seemed to despise her. She wanted him just as much as she wanted Vihaan. She wanted to be with them, to care for them, to share her life with them.

Sanju shook her head, her tone laced with sarcasm. “Yeah, right.” She didn’t probe further but continued to drive, her mind racing with concern for her friend.

As they approached home, Sanju shot a meaningful glance at Shehnaaz. “Don’t think this discussion is over,” she warned, her voice carrying a promise of more to come.

Suddenly, a hand gripped Sanju’s arm. Startled, she turned to find Arjun standing there, looking disheveled. Shehnaaz, surprised by his presence, couldn’t hide her emotions. Arjun’s appearance was a jarring contrast to the composed demeanor she had been trying to maintain.

Arjun’s eyes were filled with a mix of frustration and desperation. “How much does it take to receive a call, Sanju?” he demanded, his voice sharp.

Sanju, taken aback by his audacity, replied, “Well, it takes a lot. Why?”

Arjun rolled his eyes, frustration evident. Shehnaaz, despite her own turmoil, found a strange sense of relief in the interaction. There was no pang of jealousy, just an odd sense of happiness at seeing Arjun’s irritation.

Arjun finally turned to Shehnaaz, struggling with his words. “Can you give us a minute, Sana?”

Shehnaaz, to his surprise, responded with a grin. “I can give you an hour.”

“Excuse me, I don’t need a second with him,” Sanju glared at Shehnaaz, who met her gaze defiantly. Shehnaaz’s look seemed to convey a silent message: fix this, and let me move on.

Arjun, feeling slighted by Shehnaaz’s indifference, followed Sanju into the flat. 

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“Maa… open the door, please,” Sidharth pleaded for the nth time, his voice wavering with desperation. He was frantic, knowing that his mother’s blood pressure was dangerously high and fearing the consequences of her deteriorating health.

“Maa, can we speak for a minute? Please, maa…” His words were a mixture of concern and hopelessness.

After what felt like an eternity, the door finally creaked open. Rita ji stood there, her face a mask of anger and hurt. “Sidharth, I do not wish to talk to you. Isn’t that clear enough?” She attempted to close the door again, but Sidharth managed to push it open and step inside.

The tension was palpable as Rita ji turned away, walking back to the window. Her emotions were a tumultuous storm, unable to calm down. She couldn’t erase the image of Shehnaaz’s tear-streaked face from her mind. That girl, who had faced unimaginable pain, did not deserve such treatment. Rita ji’s heart ached for Shehnaaz, who had taken responsibility for an accident and was sacrificing her entire life because of it. Rita ji couldn’t stand by and let Sidharth continue to hurt Shehnaaz.

Sidharth approached his mother cautiously, reaching out to hold her hand. But Rita ji pulled away sharply, her eyes filled with unshed tears.

Sidharth closed his eyes in defeat, his voice a whisper of despair. “maa aap please mujhe samajhane ki koshish kijiye… Pata na nahi us ladki ne mere khilaf kya kaan bhar diye..”

“Don’t,” Rita ji cut him off angrily. “She has not said a single word against you. We don’t even know what happened upstairs, but her painful eyes were enough to tell us how rude you must have been. You have hurt me today. Please, leave.”

Her words were a dagger to Sidharth’s heart. He moved in front of her and gently wiped away her tears, his own eyes glistening with remorse. “I’m sorry maa.. me apko kabhi hurt nahi dekh sakta… Me bas…”

Rita ji’s face hardened with resolve. “Mujhe kuch nahi sunna Sid.. ja yaha se aur aaj ke baad kabhi mujhse baat mat karna…”

Sidharth, with a painful lump in his throat, embraced his mother tightly. “aapse baat kiye bina me kaise jiyu maa… Aap ji chahti hai wohi hoga bas..aap please rona band kijiye.”

Rita ji broke down further, her tears mingling with her words. “Me ye sab khud ke liye kar rahi hun kya Sid… Nahi na.. tere liye aur vihaan ke liye hi kar rahi hun na.. tu kyu nahi samajhata.?”

Sidharth, kneeling in front of her, handed her a glass of water. 

Rita ji took a few sips of water and placed the glass back on the table. Her voice was strained. “Tuze apni maa pan bharosa nahi hai.?”

Sidharth shook his head, his voice filled with regret. “It’s not that, maa.  I promise aap kaisa chahoge waisa hi hoga.”

Rita ji looked at him with a glimmer of hope. “tu usse baat karega na… Agar usne shadi se mana kiya toh.. tune kyu usse..”

Sidharth interrupted, his voice tinged with certainty. “nahi mana karegi woh..”

The realization that he might feel incomplete without Shehnaaz struck him like a bolt of lightning. Was he really feeling this way? He tried to dismiss the thought but found it impossible to ignore. Her presence had wormed its way into his life in ways he hadn’t anticipated.

Rita ji, sensing his turmoil, held his hand and stroked his hair gently. “I am your mother, Sid. I know this isn’t easy forme maa hun teri Sid.. me janti hun ye sab tere liye asan nahi hai.. par apni maa par bharosa rakh.. me tuze aur vihaan ko kabhi kisi galat ladki se nahi bandhungi….shehnaaz se jyada pyar ko nahi dega vihaan ko .. aur tuze bhi..”

“I don’t need…” Sidharth began, but Rita ji cut him off.

“You do need it, Sid. Accept that it’s okay not to be okay. You don’t have to pretend for us. You are human too.”

Sidharth sighed in defeat. “maa me apke liye aur vihaan ke liye ye shadi accept kar raha hun.. par us ladki ke liye ya kisi bhi aur ladki ke liye meri zindagi me koi jagah nahi….  Me usse kabhi bhi pyar nahi kar paunga..”

He left with a broken heart, despite Rita ji’s pleas for him to stay.

Rita ji, left alone, sank onto her bed. Exhausted, she clasped her hands together, letting her tears fall freely… Mata Rani.. mujhe nahi pata me sahi kar rahi hun ya galat… Par mujhe aap par pura bharosa hai.. aap sab thik kar doge…

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Sanju stood in the living room, her expression blank. Arjun, still reeling from the events outside, struggled to comprehend why Sana seemed unaffected. They were supposed to be getting married. How could she not feel anything?

Unaware of his internal struggle, Sanju spoke up, her tone edged with irritation. “I’ll ask again, Arjun. What brings you here? I’ve made it clear that we have nothing to discuss until you sort out your thoughts.”

Arjun tried to hold her hand, but Sanju pulled away sharply. “Hey, just because I shared my feelings with you doesn’t mean you can break my heart and come back like nothing happened. Don’t touch me, or I’ll break your hand.”

Sighing in frustration, Arjun raised his hands in surrender. “Sanju, you know me well. I’ve loved Sana all my life. I dreamed of marrying her, but all this mess happened. What I said that day was out of panic. Please don’t give up on us.”

His words did work on Sanju because it was true… She always knew how much he loved Sana… It would be wrong if her if she would expect a complete change in his heart this immediately, “Arjun,  me tumse sirf ye keh rahi hun we should not have hurried in this relationship.. take your time and space and let me have mine too… Filhal Sana lo meri jarurat hai.. she is getting married” Sanju finished the last line with a bit of concern.. waiting for the outburst..

“Whatttt..” Arjun screamed on top of his voice.. he was beyond shocked.. didbhe hear right.. did she say shehnaaz is getting married, “are you kidding me..”

Sanju sighed patiently, “I’m serious, shehnaaz is getting married”

“What the hell are you talking about sanju..?” To say he was seething would be an underestimate, “with whom.. she denied to marry me and now she is getting married to spmeone else.. who is it.. what hypocrisy is she showing by this..” he was funun red with anger, jealousy and possessiveness..

“Arjun…” Sanju’s voice was firm. “Don’t you dare say anything against Sana. She’s marrying Sidharth for Vihaan. It’s a decision she’s made with great courage. She needs our support, not our condemnation. Rajender uncle doesn’t need to know about this. He’s already distanced himself from Sana because of you.”

Arjun took a step back, stunned. The news was a blow to his expectations. Sana, marrying Payal’s husband? Why? The anger and betrayal were palpable.

Arjun looked away, chastised by Sanju’s words. The idea of Sana with someone else filled him with a bitter sense of jealousy and betrayal. He couldn’t believe she was moving on while he still harbored feelings for her.

Feeling a mix of anger and defeat, he stormed out, leaving a hurt Sanju behind. He was infuriated by Sana’s decision and deeply conflicted by his own feelings.

As Arjun exited, he ran into Sana, who had just emerged from the loft. Her smile faded upon seeing his expression. “You better have sorted things with Sanju.”

Arjun’s face hardened with bitterness. “After ruining my life, you’re all set to marry? And not just anyone—Payal’s husband. The woman you killed…” His accusation was harsh, filled with resentment.

The words struck Sana like a physical blow. Her body trembled, her mind reeling with the painful memories of the accident. The guilt of Payal’s injury, the screams—everything rushed back. She collapsed on the floor, overwhelmed by the weight of Arjun’s words.

“Sanaaa…” Sanju’s scream was filled with panic as she rushed to Sana, gathering her up in her arms. Anger flared in her eyes as she understood it was Arjun’s doing.

Sanju helped Sana to her bed, gently coaxing her to drink some water. Sana was still in shock, her heart aching with the sting of Arjun’s words.

Sanju cupped Sana’s face, forcing her to focus on her. “Listen to me, baby. Don’t let his words affect you. He’s just a jealous fool. What you’re doing is incredibly brave. I’m proud of you. Remember, Vihaan needs you.”

Sana looked at Sanju with tear-filled eyes and hugged her tightly. “I didn’t kill anyone, Sanju. It was an accident. Why does my life have to be this way? I didn’t do it intentionally, I swear. How do I make them understand?”

“Listen to me, Sana,” Sanju said, shaking her gently. “You did nothing wrong. We trust you. Don’t let this ruin you. What you’re doing is courageous. We’re all proud of you. You deserve happiness.”

Nodding, Sana wiped her tears and let Sanju take care of her. She felt blessed to have such a supportive friend.

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“Sanju… Sanju.. where are we going beta..?” Madhu ji asked for the 5th time..” aur Sana kaha hai.. woh mera call bhi nahi receive kar rahi ” she looked out of the car to hide her tears..

Sanju cursed Sana mentally for avoiding her mother’s calls, “”hum Sana ke paas hi ja rahe hai Chachi maa.. offo aap me na jara patience nahi hai..” she joked to soften the mood of madhu ji

Madhu wiped her tears away and smiled softly at sanju, “sanju sach sach bata mujhe.. woh thik toh hai na..? Woh kabhi mujhse Etna dur nahi rahi.. mahi ko gale lagaye Bina uski raat nahi hoti thi.. woh Etna kaise badal gayi..?”

Sanju sighed, “woh kaise badal jayegi chachi maa.. woh Sana hai.. aapk ko Sana.. bas zindagi ne use aise din dikhaye hai ke woh tit gayi hai… Aur ab mata rani ne uske tuy Dil ko vapas jodne ka rasta banaya hai…”

Confused, madhu ji stared at sanju, “matlab.. saaf saaf bata kya baat hai..?” She needed to know what was happening in her daughter’s life.. she had enough of Rajender and his unnecessary anger ..

Grinning, Sanju winked at her chachi maa, “khud hi dekh lena…” Confusing madhu ji all the more..

She had no idea what to expect..