Chapter 28

As Sidharth carefully adjusted the projector, Vihaan couldn’t contain his excitement. His small body bounced up and down in sheer anticipation, his little voice bubbling with energy. “Daddy, jaldi kaldi karo na!” he urged, practically hopping beside Sidharth, his wide eyes gleaming with the thrill of another movie night.

Sidharth glanced at his son and smiled. He loved seeing Vihaan like this—so full of life and joy. It made all the small efforts worth it. When Vihaan was about three years old, he had developed a love for animated movies. Sidharth, who wasn’t much of a fan of cinema houses, had realized that taking Vihaan to a crowded theatre was never going to be his thing. But he couldn’t deny Vihaan his happiness, either. So, he had set up a home theatre, creating a space where they could enjoy movies together. It was the perfect compromise.

“Just two more minutes, Vihaan,” Sidharth reassured him, chuckling at his son’s impatience.

Vihaan, thrilled with the answer, immediately resumed his jumping session before sprinting towards Shehnaaz, who had just walked into the room. She looked around with a smile, admiring the cozy atmosphere. The dim lighting, soft chairs, and the big screen created the perfect theatre-like experience. She couldn’t help but feel proud of how much thought Sidharth had put into making these moments special for vihaan.

Balancing a tray with popcorn and drinks, Shehnaaz was setting everything in place when Vihaan came running towards her, almost knocking into her in his excitement. She gasped, her eyes widening as the coke almost slipped from her hands. “Vihaan, sambhal ke!” she exclaimed, her voice a mix of warning and laughter.

Vihaan just grinned cheekily, completely unbothered by the near-spill. His tiny hands dove into the popcorn bowl, grabbing a small handful as he beamed up at her. “Vihaan is so excited, maa,” he announced with the brightest smile, the joy evident in his every movement. “Last time, maa, daddy, and Vihaan saw Finding Nemo… kitna maza aaya na, daddy?”

A heavy silence fell over the room, lingering like a sudden gust of cold air. Shehnaaz’s hands instinctively tightened their grip around the coke bottle, her knuckles turning white as fear curled in her chest. The mention of Payal had hit her like a wave, an uninvited reminder of the past that always seemed to hang around her.

Sidharth, too, froze momentarily, lost in the memories of Payal, something stirred within him. Those memories were a mixture of warmth and sorrow, moments of love that now felt distant but not forgotten. He sighed softly, forcing the heaviness down before it overwhelmed him.

With a small effort, he returned Vihaan’s bright smile, trying to shake off the unease. “Haan baby, humne bahut maza kiya tha…” he said, his voice gentle, though slightly strained. His eyes flickered towards Shehnaaz, catching her gaze for just a split second before he turned back to adjust the final settings. “And I’m sure we’re going to have a lot of fun today too.”

Vihaan, blissfully unaware of the tension hanging in the air, continued with his gleeful bouncing around, his laughter filling the room. His innocence was a soothing balm, something that seemed to make everything lighter.

Sidharth quickly finished setting up the movie, his hands moving almost automatically. Within moments, the room was filled with the colorful animation and cheerful music that Vihaan loved so much. As the movie began to play, the tension in the room slowly eased, the joy on Vihaan’s face pulling both Sidharth and Shehnaaz out of their uneasy thoughts.

Watching Vihaan’s excitement, Shehnaaz gradually felt her mood lift. His energy was infectious. He couldn’t stay in his seat for more than a minute, bouncing around the room, clapping along to the music, and giggling at every funny scene. His happiness was contagious, and soon Shehnaaz found herself laughing along, the earlier tension almost forgotten.

Sidharth, though quiet, watched his son with a soft smile playing on his lips. He didn’t care much for the movie. It was Vihaan’s pure, unfiltered joy. Every time Vihaan laughed, Sidharth’s heart swelled a little.his eyes flickering towards shehnaaz in almost amusements, as evey time he would look at her, he would find her sitting in a different position.

Shehnaaz, sitting close by, mirrored Sidharth’s thoughts. She found herself more focused on Vihaan than the movie, feeding him popcorn every time he darted over to her, eager for a snack before running off again. Her eyes would drift between Vihaan and Sidharth, noticing how absorbed he was in vihaan’s happiness. It warmed her heart.

As she offered another handful of popcorn to Vihaan, Shehnaaz’s gaze landed on Sidharth. She realized with a pang that he hadn’t touched the snacks at all. The popcorn and coke sat untouched beside him, a stark contrast to her’s and Vihaan’s constant munching. Gathering her courage, she finally spoke, her voice soft but steady. “Aap nahi lenge…?” she asked, her question daring but gentle.

Sidharth was caught off guard by Shehnaaz’s sudden question. He hadn’t expected her to notice his lack of interest in the snacks, especially since she seemed completely absorbed in the movie, just like Vihaan. In fact, a little earlier, she had been so engrossed that she bit her own finger while eating popcorn, a sight that had almost made him roll his eyes with amusement.

“Mujhe pasand nahi,” he replied casually, shrugging it off. He had never been much into snacks like popcorn and coke. To him, they were childish things, not something he cared for.

Shehnaaz’s mouth dropped open in genuine shock, momentarily forgetting she was speaking to Sidharth. “Hawww… popcorns aur coke kise pasand nahi hota?” she exclaimed, her disbelief evident.

Sidharth couldn’t help but notice the way her face scrunched up in confusion, making her look unintentionally adorable. He had hard time taking his eyes oof her but kept his response simple. “Mujhe,” he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Vihaan, who had been running around the room, stopped in his tracks and added with a small pout, “Daddy kabhi nahi khate, maa…” He seemed genuinely disappointed, his big eyes looking at Sidharth as if he couldn’t understand why anyone would refuse such delicious treats.

Shehnaaz was completely stunned by the revelation, her eyes widening in disbelief. “Who in their right mind doesn’t like caramel popcorn? That’s a crime!” she exclaimed dramatically, her voice full of mock horror.

Sidharth rolled his eyes at her exaggeration, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’m fine, seriously,” he insisted, clearly amused by how serious she was taking this.

But Shehnaaz wasn’t about to let this go. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing as if she had just uncovered some unspeakable truth. “Aap ne try kiya hai?” she asked, determined not to back down. She couldn’t wrap her head around the idea that someone might dislike caramel popcorn without even giving it a chance. To her, it was practically impossible. With a frustrated huff, she blew a strand of hair out of her face, clearly puzzled by his refusal.

Sidharth blinked, momentarily taken aback by her persistence. “Ummm… no, I haven’t,” he admitted, though his tone was a little defensive. He straightened slightly in his seat, as if preparing to defend his choice. “I don’t need to,” he added, hoping to end the conversation there.

Shehnaaz was relentless. She narrowed her eyes at him, almost glaring as if he had committed an unforgivable crime. “Fir aap kaise bol sakte hai ke aapko nahi pasand… lijiye, try kijiye,” she insisted, pushing the bowl of caramel popcorn closer.

Sidharth was getting tired of this absurd conversation. He couldn’t understand why she was so determined to convince him that these popcorns were the best thing in the world. They were just caramel popcorns, for heaven’s sake, not some gourmet delicacy! He was on the verge of giving a more stern reply, ready to put an end to this nonsensical debate, when he suddenly froze. His eyes widened as he watched her get up, determined, and walk over to him with the popcorn and coke in hand.

“Offoo, try toh kijiye…” she said, her voice gentle yet insistent, holding out the bowl to him.

Sidharth’s attention shifted from her words to her hands, and for a moment, he was completely mesmerized. Her hands were delicate, not adorned with long fake nails like most women he knew, but short, real, and perfectly manicured. The nails were painted a soft red, adding to their natural beauty. How could someone’s hands be this graceful, he wondered, feeling a strange pull toward her.

Before he knew it, he had taken the popcorn from her hand, almost in a trance. He placed one in his mouth, and to his surprise, Vihaan was instantly at his side, bouncing with excitement. “How’s it, Daddy? Maa is a magician, hai na?” Vihaan’s eyes sparkled with joy, waiting for his father’s verdict.

Sidharth smiled softly at his son, the warmth in his heart growing. “They’re good, Vihaan. Would you like some?” He glanced up at Shehnaaz, meeting her expectant eyes. She looked so hopeful, as if waiting for him to approve of this small gesture. “Thanks,” he managed to say, realizing that the popcorn actually tasted much better than he’d expected. He remembered having a few during college days but they had tasted bland.

Shehnaaz’s face broke into a wide grin, clearly satisfied with his response. She quickly returned to her seat, looking pleased with herself. Sidharth shook his head slightly, both amused and bewildered by her behavior. Here was Shehnaaz—usually shy, reserved, even fearful around him—but ready to fight for something as trivial as popcorn. It was like she had two different sides, and he was still trying to figure her out.

Vihaan, ever the little bundle of energy, wasn’t done yet. He jumped up, his excitement contagious. “Apko bhi maa ke haath ke banaya pasand hai na, Daddy?” His innocent face was glowing, his voice filled with pride for his mother.

Shehnaaz’s eyes widened at Vihaan’s innocent question. For a split second, she thought everything was going fine, but when she glanced at Sidharth, she could sense his shift in demeanor immediately. His posture stiffened, his jaw clenched, and that familiar anger started to flicker in his eyes. She had overstepped.

“See what Nemo is doing, Vihaan?” Sidharth’s voice was low, controlled, but it carried an edge that made Shehnaaz’s heart drop.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she realized the mistake she had made. She had pushed too far, crossed a line she shouldn’t have. Sidharth wasn’t one to easily let people in, and she had, without even meaning to, forced him to engage in something so trivial. She swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in her throat. 

Shehnaaz tried to focus on the movie, but all she could think about was the sudden coldness emanating from Sidharth. Her hands trembled slightly as she played with the remaining popcorn, her mind racing.

Her mind was spiraling into guilt when the movie came to an end. Vihaan, still beaming from the experience, jumped up, unaware of the silent storm between his parents. But Sidharth didn’t wait. He was already on his feet, moving swiftly toward the door without a word.

Shehnaaz watched him leave, her heart sinking lower with every step he took away from them. He is definitely angry—she could feel it in the way he walked, in the tense way he had avoided looking at her. She stood frozen for a moment, unsure of what to do or say. Her mind filled with fear and worry.

But then she felt a small tug at her hand. Vihaan. His little face was glowing, completely oblivious to the tension. He was happy, excited even, talking about the movie as if nothing had gone wrong.

“Maa, did you see how Nemo found his dad? That was so cool, right?” he chirped, his voice filled with joy.

Shehnaaz forced a smile for her vihaan’s sake, though inside, she was drowning in tension and worry. “Haan, baby… bohot accha tha, ab chale dadi maa, tayiji sab wait kar rahe honge..” she said softly, trying to keep her voice steady.

As she picked Vihaan up in her arms, his laughter echoing in the room, her eyes flickered back to the doorway where Sidharth had disappeared. Her heart clenched painfully.

With Vihaan in her arms, Shehnaaz walked out of the room, trying to keep pace with his joy even as her thoughts weighed her down. She had been so careful, always walking on eggshells around Sidharth, never wanting to upset the delicate balance. And now, with one simple conversation, she felt like she had shattered whatever fragile peace they had built.

As they moved into the hallway, Vihaan continued talking excitedly about the movie, his happiness the only thing keeping her from breaking down completely. But her mind was elsewhere, replaying the moment over and over, wondering how she could fix this.

______________

Dinner was a quiet affair, the tension in the room palpable. Sidharth remained distant, barely saying a word, his eyes mostly fixed on his plate. Shehnaaz could feel the weight of his silence pressing down on her, each minute stretching painfully. Her mind was still stuck on their earlier exchange in the theatre room, the mistake she had made, and how it had changed his mood so drastically.

Rita ji, sensing the unease, tried to break the silence. “Sidharth, boondi raita nahi khaya tune… Shehnaaz ne khud banaya hai,” she said softly, her tone hinting at concern.

At the mention of her name, Shehnaaz’s grip on the spoon tightened involuntarily. Her heart skipped a beat as she kept her eyes on her plate, not daring to look up at Sidharth. maa, mat karo, woh already gussa hai..

Sidharth threw a brief, intense glance her way, the tension between them obvious. “I’m done, Maa,” he said curtly, his tone void of any emotion. With that, he pushed his chair back and walked away, leaving the dinner unfinished and Shehnaaz feeling a heavy lump in her throat.

Her heart sank. His words had cut deeper than she’d expected. She had known he was upset, but the way he had left without a second glance, without acknowledging her effort, left her feeling hollow. The room felt emptier with him gone, and despite Vihaan’s chatter, Shehnaaz couldn’t shake the sadness settling in her chest.

“udas mat ho beta.. tujhe pata hai na woh kaisa hai..” Rita ji said softly to cheer up shehnaaz, who nodded her head with a heavy heart.

After dinner, Shehnaaz retreated to the bedroom. She had already shifted her belongings back to the room, carefully arranging her clothes in the empty section of the wardrobe. She made sure not to disturb Sidharth’s side, not wanting to upset him further by messing with his space. Every small action was cautious now, as if walking on a thin line, afraid one wrong move would make things worse.

tujhe kya jarurat thi unko jabardasti popcorn khilane ki? popcorn walo ne agency de rakhi hai.. She kept replaying the moment in the theatre room, her foolishness in pushing him to try the popcorn. It seemed so harmless at the time, but now, in hindsight, it was clear she had crossed a boundary. How could she have forgotten her place? The thought gnawed at her, guilt swirling around in her mind.

Hours passed, and Shehnaaz lay awake, waiting for Sidharth to return. She had no idea where he was.. The night felt endless as she lay next to Vihaan, his soft breathing the only sound in the room. She kept glancing at the door, hoping to hear his footsteps, hoping he would come. But he never came. This was her main reason for moving to a seperate room..

Finally, exhaustion took over, and a restless sleep claimed her.

When she woke the next morning, the bed next to her was still empty. Her stomach twisted in concern. Sidharth raat bhar aye hi nahi? Panic started to rise within her, but then she noticed the ruffled bedsheet on his side. He had been there. Maybe he had woken up early and left.

Shehnaaz let out a small breath, but her relief was short-lived. The room felt cold without him, and her heart still ached from the distance between them. She heard faint noises coming from the gym, and her pulse quickened.

Right now, he needs his space and she needed to keep her distance for that..

She quickly jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom to save her dear life.

______________

For the next couple of days, Shehnaaz’s heart ached with every passing moment. Sidharth remained distant, his silence more painful than any harsh words could be. She tried not to let it show in front of Rita ji or Vihaan, but deep down, her eyes craved just one glance, one word from him. It felt like she was living in a fog, unable to break through the wall that had formed between them. Each day passed with the same coldness, and her hopes deeming.

It was a Wednesday evening when Shehnaaz decided she needed a change of pace. She had planned to meet Sanju at their favorite hotel, a place where they could unwind and forget their troubles, if only for a little while. Shehnaaz had taken permission from Rita ji to take Vihaan along.

As they sat down, Vihaan bounced in his seat, full of energy. “Mujhe chocolate milkshake bhi chahiye!” he demanded, his eyes wide with excitement.

Sanju chuckled at his enthusiasm, leaning forward with a playful grin. “Anything you want, boyfriend,” she said dramatically, making Vihaan giggle while Shehnaaz rolled her eyes.

“Tum dono ko agar yaad nahi toh yaad diladu ke… main bhi hoon yahan,” Shehnaaz chimed in, faking jealousy as she watched the two.

Vihaan looked up at her with worry, clearly not understanding her sarcasm. His innocent eyes only made Shehnaaz smile wider, while Sanju couldn’t hold back her laughter, loving the fact that Shehnaaz was getting jealous.

“Kamini, kitni jalti hai tu,” Sanju teased, still laughing.

Shehnaaz immediately glared at her, but not without a playful hint. She quickly covered Vihaan’s ears with her hands, “Sanju! Vihaan ke samne no bad words.”

Sanju’s grin only widened, but Vihaan, always curious, peered up at Shehnaaz, confused. “Maa, what is kamini?”

Shehnaaz’s eyes widened at his innocent question while Sanju burst into uncontrollable laughter, nearly doubling over in her seat. The scene was too hilarious for her, and Shehnaaz’s growing horror only made it funnier.

“Kamini means cute boyfriend,” Sanju managed to say between giggles.

Vihaan nodded innocently, satisfied with the answer, while Shehnaaz playfully slapped Sanju on the shoulder. “Bakwas mat kar,” she muttered in mock frustration.

Sanju’s eyes sparkled with mischief, but before she could say anything else, Shehnaaz quickly kissed Vihaan’s cheek, trying to steer him away from the newfound vocabulary. “It’s a bad word, baby,” she explained softly, her tone full of affection.

Vihaan, still too young to fully grasp the situation, giggled and looked at Sanju with his big, curious eyes. The innocence of his gaze melted Shehnaaz’s heart, though the thought lingered in her mind—Sanju is corrupting my innocent baby’s mind. Shehnaaz couldn’t help but puff out her cheeks, her baby-faced expression one of mock frustration, though a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.