Chapter 11

Note : The character name Raghav is replaced with Shikhar.

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“Sanju… Sanju… where are we going, beta?” Madhu ji asked for the fifth time, her voice laced with concern. “Aur Sana kaha hai… woh mera call bhi nahi receive kar rahi.” She looked out of the car window, trying to hide her tears.

The memories of their last fight still haunted her. Her helplessness, Raj’s ego, and Sana’s tears… She feared they had lost their daughter forever. They had failed to understand Sana, failed to protect her from this cruel world. How could Raj be so indifferent towards Sana? She was his very soul.

Not liking the tears in Madhu ji’s eyes, Sanju cursed Sana mentally for avoiding her mother’s calls. “Hum Sana ke paas hi ja rahe hai, Chachi maa. Offo, aap mein na jara sa bhi patience nahi hai,” she joked, trying to lighten Madhu ji’s mood.

Madhu ji wiped her tears and smiled softly at Sanju, a tiny hope rising at the mention of Shehnaaz. “Sanju, sach sach bata mujhe… woh thik toh hai na? Woh kabhi mujhse itna dur nahi rahi… mahi ko gale lagaye bina uski raat nahi hoti thi. Woh itna kaise badal gayi?”

Sanju sighed deeply. “Woh kaise badal jayegi, Chachi maa? Woh Sana hai, aapki Sana… bas zindagi ne use aise din dikhaye hain ke woh tut gayi hai… bikhar gayi hai. Apni bikhari zindagi ko sawarne ki koshish kar rahi hai… aur ab apki mata rani ne uske tute dil ko vapas jodne ka rasta banaya hai.”

Confused, Madhu ji stared at Sanju, seeking clarity. “Matlab… saaf saaf bata kya baat hai?” She needed to know what was happening in her daughter’s life. She had endured enough of Rajender and his unnecessary anger.

Grinning, Sanju winked at her Chachi maa. “Khud hi dekh lena…” she said, leaving Madhu ji even more puzzled.

Madhu ji’s mind raced with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. She clutched her saree’s pallu tightly, her heart pounding with each passing moment. Memories of Shehnaaz as a little girl flooded her mind—the way she used to cling to her, never letting go until she had her nightly hug. How could things have changed so drastically?

Sanju glanced at Madhu ji and saw the worry etched on her face. She placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Chachi maa, aap dekh lena… sab theek ho jayega. Shehnaaz ko aapki zarurat hai. Woh bas thodi si kho gayi thi, par aapka pyar use wapas le aayega.”

Madhu ji nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She longed to hold her daughter, to comfort her, and to tell her that everything would be alright. She knew Shehnaaz was strong, but even the strongest need support and love.

As they approached their destination, Madhu ji’s anxiety turned into a blend of hope and fear. She was about to see her daughter after so long, and she prayed that this meeting would mend their broken hearts.

Sanju stopped the car in front of the garden, making Madhu ji look around in confusion. She let Sanju guide her inside, only to stop in surprise as her eyes finally fell on Shehnaaz.

Shehnaaz was sitting on the grass with Vihaan in her lap. She chuckled, watching Vihaan’s poor attempt at eating ice cream without getting messy. She had a clean handkerchief in her hand and kept wiping his face clean every time he messed it up.

“Vihaan, main khila deti hun na…” She tried once again, hoping her baby would listen, but Vihaan shook his head adamantly.

Shaking her head, she kissed his messy cheek and wrapped her protective arms around him. Her eyes refused to look anywhere else but at her baby.

Madhu ji almost froze in her place. She couldn’t conclude what was happening. Who was Shehnaaz taking care of? Who was that little boy? Where were his parents? The way Shehnaaz was looking at him made Madhu ji restless.

“Ye kiska baby hai, Sanju?” she asked restlessly.

Sanju sighed patiently, observing Madhu ji’s expressions. “Aap ko kya dikh raha hai, Chachi maa? Aap ka dil kya dekhta hai?”

Madhu ji looked at Sanju, worried. “Pata nahi… dar sa lag raha hai… tell me everything straight and clear, Sanju. What’s happening?” She couldn’t help but raise her voice a little.

“Vihaannn…” Shehnaaz called out, catching the immediate attention of her mother. She watched in worry as Vihaan ran too fast, fearing he might fall. She ran behind him, her heart racing, until she finally caught hold of him and picked him up. “Aise koi karta hai kya? Main kitna dar gayi thi,” she scolded gently.

Vihaan giggled at his innocent mother and wrapped his small arms around her neck. “Sorry, Maa…”

Madhu ji’s heart almost stopped for a second hearing the conversation. “Maa…?” The word echoed in her mind, filling her with a mix of shock and emotion.

Sanju smiled softly at the duo and began explaining everything that had happened so far. By the time she finished, Madhu ji was in tears. She almost held onto Sanju, fearing she might collapse from the overwhelming emotions.

Sanju held Madhu ji’s hand, gaining her attention. “Sana ko humari zarurat hai, Chachi maa. Koi de na de, main uska saath nahi chhodungi. Aap ka kya faisla hai?”

Taking a deep breath, Madhu ji walked towards Shehnaaz, grabbing her attention.

“Mumma…” Shehnaaz was startled by her mother’s sudden appearance. She and Sanju had planned this together, but she had no idea how her mother would react. She looked at her mother apprehensively, a sudden fear consuming her, and she pulled Vihaan closer to herself.

Madhu ji wiped away her tears and brushed her fingers softly through Vihaan’s messy hair. “Mujhe nahi milawaye gi…?”

A soft smile instantly appeared on Shehnaaz’s face, her fear dissipating. Oh, God, who was she fearing from? This was her mumma, her mother, the very woman who always understood her every unsaid word, who stood by her. She hugged Vihaan softly with a grin. “Vihaan… Mera Vihaan…” She looked at Vihaan and then back at her mother. “Vihaan, ye apki nani maa hai.”

That was the confirmation Madhu ji was waiting for—to hear the truth from Shehnaaz’s mouth. She wasn’t sure how to react..

Vihaan looked at the duo in confusion. “But Vihaan ko nani maa hai,” he said, referring to Payal’s parents.

Madhu ji felt a pang of sadness, while Shehnaaz smiled at him gently. “You have two two nanis now.” That brought an instant smile to Vihaan’s face, making him jump forward to place a kiss on Madhu ji’s cheek. Madhu ji’s heart melted at the affectionate gesture.

Sanju knew they needed to talk, so she bribed Vihaan with another ice cream and took him away, ignoring the angry glares from Shehnaaz for bribing her innocent baby.

Once Vihaan and Sanju were out of sight, Shehnaaz hugged her mother tightly. “Mumma, aap naraz ho mujhse?”

“Haan thodi… But main maa hoon teri. Jaanti hoon na tujhe. Kisika ghar tujhse jane anjane mein toot gaya… toh tu apna ghar kaise basati?” Madhu ji hugged her daughter tightly, holding her dear life, her baby, her pride, her dreams.

“Maa, main andar se puri tarah khatm ho gayi thi. Vihaan ne mujhe nahi zindagi di… jeene ki wajah di. Main ab Vihaan ke bina nahi reh paungi, mom,” Shehnaaz said, looking down at her feet, feeling hopeless. Her voice cracked as she struggled to express her feelings. “Use maa ke pyaar ki zarurat hai.”

Madhu ji sighed deeply. She understood her daughter’s feelings but honestly doubted if this would work. “Tujhe sach mein lagta hai ye sab aasan hai?” She didn’t sugarcoat her words. If her daughter wanted to be someone’s mother for life, she needed to know it wasn’t as easy as it seemed.

“Maa ka role aasan nahi hota, Sana. 9 mahine apne bachhe ko apne andar rakhna aasan nahi hota. Apni marzi se kuch kha pee nahi sakte. Chakkar aate hain, ultiyan hoti hain, kitni complications hote hain, bleeding hoti hai. Raat ko neend nahi aati, emotions high hote hain, rona aata hai. Bacche ka vajan, paani ka vajan… kahi jaana bhi dar lagta hai ke nearby washroom available na ho toh, kyunki body apna control kho deti hai. Puri body change ho jati hai.”

“Ek bachhe ko janam dena is duniya ka sabse mushkil kaam hai. Maa ka dusra janam hota hai us din. Haddiyon ke tootne se bhi jyada dard hota hai normal delivery mein. Pura pet kaat kar bachhe ko bahar nikala jata hai C-section mein. Aasan nahi hota, Sana. Fresh stitches mein baith kar bachhe ko feeding karna aasan nahi hota… piles mein ghanto raat bhar jagna aasan nahi hota.”

“Yuhi nahi kehte ke maa duniya ki sabse majbut shakti hai… Ek maa apne bachhe ke liye ye sab karti hai…”

Shehnaaz kept listening to her mother in awe, absorbing every word.

“Bachhe ke janm ke baad zimmedariyan badh jati hain. Bhukh lagne par kabhi kabhi ek niwala tak muh mein dalne ke liye waqt nahi milta. Pregnancy ho ya post delivery… sardi ho ya jhansi… bukhar aaye kuch aur… par dawai bhi nahi le sakte. Par maa apne bachhe ke liye sab kuchh sehen karti hai… khushi khushi. Pata hai kyun? Kyunki maa apne khoon se apne bachhe ko sinchati hai.”

Madhu ji looked at Shehnaaz, worried. “Maa ki jagah lena aasan nahi hota, Sana. Kya tu utna pyar de payegi us masoom bachhe ko? Yeh ek din ya ek saal ki baat nahi hai, Sana… zindagi bhar ki zimmedari hai. Usse sapne dikhakar agar kal tera man badal gaya, uth gaya, toh fir uska dil toot jayega. Are you really sure of what you are doing?”

Shehnaaz felt a pang of sadness that her mother didn’t trust her completely. Tears formed in her eyes, making Madhu ji cup her face. “Sana… beta, main tujh par bharosa karti hoon… but main us bachhe ke liye bol rahi hoon. Agar ek baar tune aage kadam badha liya toh fir peeche mat hatna. Chahe kitni bhi mushkil aaye… bhale hi tune use janam na diya ho… par usse itna pyar dena ke use apni maa ki kami kabhi mehsoos na ho. Chahe uske liye tujhe kuchh bhi sacrifices karne pade.”

Shehnaaz looked at her mother in surprise amidst her tears. She hadn’t fully grasped the depth of what she was undertaking until her mother laid it out so clearly.

Madhu ji smiled sadly, her heart heavy with a mixture of pride and sorrow. “Tujhe kaise mana karoon, Sana? Jaane anjaane mein hi sahi, par us bachhe ne humari vajah se apni maa ko kho diya. Toh ab humara farz banta hai uska khayal rakhna. Aur tune ek cheez than li toh tu kabhi peeche nahi hatati. Tujhe mana karke hasil bhi kya karungi main? Aur mana karoon bhi kyun? Jo decision tune liya hai, I’m proud of you, beta.” She pecked her daughter’s forehead before taking her into a warm embrace.

Shehnaaz hugged her mother tightly, letting out her choked-up emotions in tears. Finally, her mother was understanding her. “But Dad… please, Mumma, aap unse kuch nahi kahengi. Woh nahi manenge, Mumma… sab kuch spoil kar denge…”

Madhu ji agreed reluctantly, knowing Sana was right. Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it then. She would always support her daughter. “Thik hai… but aaj nahi toh kal unhe pata chalega hi na. Woh naraz hain tujhse, tera dil dukhaya hai unhone. Par tu bhi jaanti hai yeh sab unka ego bol raha hai. Tujhe har pal yaad karte hain, thik se khana bhi nahi khate. Mujhse chhupakar teri tasveer niharte rehte hain… par maanenge nahi.” She said sadly.

Shehnaaz’s heart broke hearing her mother. “Main sab kuch spoil kar diya na, Mumma?”

Worried, Madhu ji wiped Sana’s tears, shaking her gently. “Nahi beta… tune jaan bujhke nahi kiya na. Shayad ismein kuch bhagwan ki marzi chhupi ho. Zindagi ka safar aasan nahi hota, tere liye bhi nahi hoga. Bahot mushkil safar se guzarna padega tujhe. Par tu haar mat maana, Vihaan ke liye tujhe har mushkil se aage badhna hoga.”

Shehnaaz nodded her head like an obedient child. She knew her mother was indicating to Sidharth… and when the truth comes out, she was scared of how it would all unravel. Trembling, she hugged her mother tighter, seeking solace in her warmth and wisdom.

Madhu ji held her daughter close, feeling her fear and determination. “Sana, sab theek hoga. Hamesha yaad rakhna, tu akeli nahi hai. Main tere saath hoon, hamesha.”

Shehnaaz pulled back slightly to look into her mother’s eyes, her own filled with determination and love. “Mumma, main apne faisle par pachtawa nahi karungi. Vihaan ke liye main kuch bhi karungi.”

They shared a moment of deep understanding and connection, a bond strengthened by the trials and love they had shared. With a renewed sense of purpose, Shehnaaz knew she was ready to face whatever came next, her mother’s words echoing in her heart.

“Mujhe bhi hug chahiye,” Vihaan’s excited voice broke their hug.

Sanju chuckled as she took him to his Sana maa.

Chuckling, Madhu ji picked up Vihaan in her arms. “Maa se toh roz hug milti hai. Aaj Nani se hug milegi,” she said, hugging him and pecking his cheek.

Happy, Vihaan noticed Rita ji coming towards them, hoping they had the needed conversation.

Vihaan jumped into Shehnaaz’s arms while Madhu ji and Rita ji greeted each other with a respectful “Namaste.”

After the formal introductions, Madhu ji took Rita ji’s hands in hers, her voice filled with a mother’s plea. “Meri Sana ko maaf kar dijiye, bhabhi ji. Uski sach mein galti nahi thi… pata nahi kaise yeh sab ho gaya…”

Rita ji sighed, understanding the mother’s heart. “Main jaanti hoon, Mrs. Gill. Jo ho gaya, use bhoolakar aage badhne mein hi bhalai hai. Aur Shehnaaz jo Vihaan ke liye sacrifice kar rahi hai…”

Shehnaaz cut her softly, “Maa, please main kuch sacrifice nahi kar rahi hoon… yeh main apne mann se kar rahi hoon.”

Rita ji smiled while Madhu ji looked rather worried. “Bhabhi ji, aap Sana ka khayal rakhenge na? Sidharth shayad…” She trailed off, unable to form a proper sentence.

Rita ji understood and sighed, “Sidharth abhi khush nahi hai… par mera mann kehta hai ke ek din sab kuch theek ho jayega. Mera pariwar fir se poora ho jayega. Sana ke aankhon mein maine Sid ke liye pyaar dekha hai…”

Shehnaaz instantly turned a deep shade of red upon hearing those words and preferred to look at Vihaan, avoiding everyone’s eyes.

Sanju grinned, watching Shehnaaz blush, and hooted softly, making Sana glare at her cutely. She was relieved that things were finally sorted between the two women.

Both Madhu ji and Rita ji chuckled, enjoying the light-hearted moment. Their conversation continued, filled with shared experiences and mutual understanding.

Sanju quickly dropped Madhu ji and Shehnaaz at her flat, ensuring that the mother and daughter could spend some quality time together. With a quick excuse, she left them to their privacy.

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Arjun paced his room in agitation, his frustration palpable as he ran his fingers through his hair. The news of Shehnaaz marrying someone else was eating away at him, leaving him restless and tormented. His heart ached with a deep, gnawing pain, and to make matters worse, Sanju was still not speaking to him. Her silence felt like a void, a gaping hole in his life that he hadn’t realized existed until she completely cut him off.

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sudden appearance of Sanju. Her presence, fiery and determined, was a sharp contrast to his internal chaos. Arjun’s initial reaction was to pull her into a hug, a desperate plea for reconciliation. But before he could act, Sanju snapped out of his embrace and drove a sharp punch into his stomach. The impact made him gasp and wince in pain.

“What the hell, yaar Sanju?” Arjun’s voice was strained, a mixture of shock and hurt.

Sanju’s eyes blazed with fury as she glared at him. She seemed ready to hit him again but restrained herself, her anger barely contained. “What did you say to Sana the other day?” Her voice was taut with accusation and frustration.

Arjun, still recovering from the punch, shot her a venomous look. The mention of Shehnaaz only fueled his irritation. “That’s none of your business, Sanju.”

Sanju’s anger flared even more. “It’s my business the moment you touch me, Arjun! So don’t feed me this nonsense. Why was she crying? You broke her again. How dare you!”

Arjun groaned, his voice tinged with frustration. “All you care about is Sana! What about me? You’re not even letting me hug you..”he needed her hug to find his missing peace again..

Sanju’s response was bitter and cutting. “Are you even hearing yourself? You’re angry because Sana is getting married and you want me to hug you? Do you need to see a psychologist? Arjun, I am not an option. I’m not a choice you can just pick up and discard at will. And it seems you’ve made your choice.” Her voice cracked with pain as she spoke, the words almost a physical blow.

“I haven’t chosen anyone.. please let me hug you..” Arjun’s grip tightened around Sanju as he pulled her into an embrace, desperation and longing blending in his touch. This time, she didn’t resist, allowing him the comfort he was so in need of. Her voice, when she spoke, was soft yet carried a heavy undercurrent of disappointment.

“Why would you hurt Sana like that, Arjun? She is our Sana. You love her, don’t you? We don’t hurt the people we love.”

Arjun didn’t respond. Instead, he clung to her, unwilling to let go. Sanju had become his anchor, the one who grounded him and kept him from spiraling out of control. Her presence was a lifeline he desperately needed, the one who didn’t pamper his tantrums but also didn’t shy away from delivering a mean punch when necessary.

Sanju sighed deeply, trying to free herself from his embrace despite his attempts to hold on. “If you still have feelings for Sana, you have to let me go, Arjun.”

The fear in Arjun’s eyes was palpable. “Don’t give up on us, Sanju,” he pleaded, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and desperation.

Tears welled up in Sanju’s eyes, and as she attempted to push him away gently, the hurt was evident in her expression. “If you hurt Sana again like that, you’ll lose me forever.”

With that final, heart-wrenching declaration, Sanju walked away. Each step was filled with resolve, but the pain in her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil. Arjun watched her go, a sense of frustration and helplessness gripping him as he stood there, overwhelmed by the realization of how close he was to losing everything that mattered to him.

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Sidharth sat in his bedroom, staring at his laptop screen, struggling to focus on the email in front of him. His mind, however, was persistently drifting back to the dam woman—their conversation replayed in his thoughts like an unending loop. Her voice, with its soothing lilt, seemed to echo in his ears, and the memory of her soft skin lingered on his fingers, irritating him further. He had no idea why he was acting this way..

He was confused by his own feelings. He was supposed to be distancing himself from her, thinking of a plan to convince his mother who was adamant about the whole situation. Instead, he found himself haunted by Shehnaaz’s presence, unable to escape the emotional grip she had on him.

Author’s Note

Hello, dear readers!

Thank you for joining me on this emotional journey. As we delve deeper into the lives of Shehnaaz, Sidharth, and the people they love, I hope you find yourselves immersed in their world—feeling their joys, sorrows, and the complexities of their relationships.

Each character’s struggle and triumph is a reflection of their inner battles and the love they have for one another. The story weaves together their individual challenges and their collective hopes, portraying the depth of human emotion and the power of forgiveness and understanding.

Your support and feedback are invaluable to me. They fuel my passion for storytelling and help me craft narratives that resonate with you. If you’ve enjoyed this chapter or have thoughts to share, I’d love to hear from you. You can connect with me at contact@writershalakab.com

Thank you for being on this journey with me. 

Also, stay tuned for Baarish,  Bhula Dunga, Mora Piya, Beintehaa and Thodasa pyar which will be starting soon 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.

Don’t forget to follow me on  Wattpad, Instagram and Youtube  for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more. Your support on these platforms helps keep the creativity flowing.

With love and gratitude,

Shalaka