Chapter 8

“Maa, please… aap… where are you going, maa… Maaaaaa…” Sidharth kept calling, but Rita ji didn’t turn around or stop.

Restless, Sidharth brushed his fingers through his hair and screamed in fear of losing his mother, “thik hai.. I’m ready.. maa… aap jo kahoge waisa hi hoga…”

Shocked, Rita ji turned around only to be taken in a hug by Sidharth. He hugged his mother tightly, “Aap please aise dobara mat kehna… Please maa…”

“Mera pyara bachha…” Rita ji cupped his restless face and smiled amidst tears, “Apni maa pe bharosa rakh… teri ye maa sab thik kar degi… mere Vihaan aur Sid ki zindagi me fir se khushiyan ayengi…” She smiled brightly amidst tears that flowed freely.

Sidharth wiped her tears away and hugged her again. He didn’t know about himself, but as long as Vihaan was happy, that was all that mattered.

“Sidharth ji kabhi nahi manenge…” Shehnaaz spoke defensively, making Sanju roll her eyes, “Mene tujhe puchha… topic divert mat kar… Jab se tune shadi ka decision liya hai… tu ekdum glow kar rahi hai… facial karwaya kya… shadi special facial… aahing yeh toh rhymes ho gaya…”

Shehnaaz slapped Sanju on her arm, fed up with her nonsense talk, “Kuch nahi, bakwas mat kar… main kuch glow nahi kar rahi… I’m originally beautiful…” Shehnaaz stated as a matter of fact.

“Ha ha… ek tu hai sundarta ki moorat… Hume toh kaate lage hai…” Sanju was too pleased with her filmy dialogue only to get another hit from Shehnaaz.

“Shut up, Sanju…” She clung onto Sanju like a teddy, “Bata na… woh manenge kya?”

Sanju was grinning ear to ear. Her heart was still injured and bleeding, but she was happy for Shehnaaz. She deserved someone better than Arjun, and she was getting it. She could feel the real happiness of Shehnaaz… that eagerness… those emotions which seemed missing earlier.

“Oyyy hoyyy… ye kashish… ye tadap… Kahin apko Vihaan ke papa se pyar toh nahi ho gaya?” Sanju nudged her shoulder cheekily.

“Sanjuuuuuuu… bhakkk, I hate you…” Shehnaaz’s face was turning beetroot red. Ye Sanju bhi na… kuch bhi bakwas karti hai… Main toh Vihaan ke khatir poochh rahi hun na… waise bhi Sidharth ji mujhe kabhi accept nahi karenge… Shehnaaz thought with a sad smile.

Sanju shook her head. Her stupid friend was falling in love slowly, and she didn’t even realize it… Ye gadhi ko pyar kya hota hai pata bhi nahi… aur inke woh toh complete devil hai… pata nahi kaise ye lovestory puri hogi…

Sanju’s phone vibrated for the nth time, but she ignored it again.

Shehnaaz stared at her curiously and was surprised finding the weird expressions of Sanju. Her friend and restless, conscious… Impossible.

“Kiska phone ignore kar rahi hai… jab se aayi hai tab se notice kar rahi hun…” Shehnaaz was surprised at the changing facial expressions of Sanju on her questions and continued, “Aur kaha gayab thi 2 din…”

“Woh… main bas aise hi… tu kya khayegi… lunch bhi nahi kiya dono ne… chal kahi bahar ghumne chalte hai…” Mumbling rapidly, Sanju started roaming around the room weirdly.

Her weird behavior was making Shehnaaz uneasy with every passing second. What happened to her coolest girl? In her own misery, has she ignored her Sanju… She seemed tense… like a recoiled spring…

Alarmed, she made her way directly to where Sanju’s phone was and picked it up.

“Sana… no…” Sanju dashed towards Shehnaaz, but the damage was done. Shehnaaz was shocked to see a number of missed calls and messages from Arjun. The last one in the notifications read, “Baby, I need you… I’m going crazy… please talk to me Sanju…”

Sanju paled on the spot, realizing Shehnaaz had read the message.

Shocked, Shehnaaz kept the phone back on the table and cupped Sanju’s face in worry, who was already in tears. Shehnaaz hugged her dearest Sanju tightly and let her cry. She continued to rub Sanju’s back till her cries turned into small hiccups.

“I’m sorry, Sana… it’s just happened… please forgive me…”

Shehnaaz was shocked with those words. She glared at Sanju, “Are you stupid, Sanju… what are you apologizing for… now stop being a drama girl and tell me…”

“heyyyy, don’t call me that…” Sanju made a yuck face.

Shehnaaz chuckled to finally have a smile back on Sanju’s face, “You are being one at the moment… now shut up and tell me…”

Sighing, Sanju told her about her hidden feelings for Arjun, which shocked Shehnaaz to the core. She told what happened two days back between her and Arjun and where she had been the last two days. She also told Shehnaaz what happened between her and Arjun before she came here.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Shehnaaz palmed her mouth in a gasp as tears formed in her eyes… tears of guilt… She couldn’t believe she was unintentionally hurting Sanju all this while… She had no special feelings for Arjun… she would have never come between the two… and Arjun… that stupid brainless mutt… how could he hurt Sanju like this after they… how can he still think about me…

“It would’ve only caused a mess…” Sanju accepted with a sigh. She cleaned her face with a tissue and grinned at Shehnaaz, “Kya faltu mein drama badh gaya hai yaar life me… Ab chale jaldi… I’m missing my boyfriend…”

Shehnaaz’s face blossomed at the mention of Vihaan. She instantly ran to the kitchen to prepare the sandwich she had learned with lots of cheese. Tomorrow was his birthday… she wanted to shop the entire world for him… the excitement was driving her crazy, “Hume gandi wali shopping karni hai aaj…”

Her excitement flattened as she realized she would soon have to find a new job. She couldn’t work with her father anymore. She would find a job that wouldn’t be much of a problem considering her experience, she decided enthusiastically.

Sanju helped Shehnaaz too… the cute little kid had found his place in her heart too.

Shehnaaz’s grip on Sanju’s wrist tightened as she noticed Anu with Raghav and Vihaan.

Vihaan was on top of the world when he finally saw Shehnaaz. He dashed towards her and hugged her to his dear life. Shehnaaz bent down instantly to pick up her little one in her safe arms.

She cocooned him in her embrace as she noticed his sad face. What happened to her baby?

Tears formed in his little eyes that worried Shehnaaz. She herself couldn’t stop from tearing her eyes as she looked at him, “Kya huva mere bachhe ko… why are you sad, baby?”

Shehnaaz cradled him in her arms and pecked all over his red face. He had cried last time too when he had met her… Why was her baby upset… why was he in tears… what hurt him…

Shocked by Vihaan’s feelings towards Shehnaaz, she held onto Raghav’s hand tightly to keep herself standing… it felt like the earth was slipping out of her feet… here she was thinking of speaking with her brother…

Anu couldn’t help but notice Payal’s reflection in Shehnaaz as she tried to calm down Vihaan… she didn’t miss the tear in Shehnaaz’s eyes… she didn’t miss the restlessness in Shehnaaz’s eyes for having found Vihaan sad… Her motherly feelings towards Vihaan were too intense to be ignored…

“Vihaan miss maa…” Vihaan cried softly into her neck, making Shehnaaz break into tears of happiness… her baby missed her… what could be more beautiful to hear…

Sanju wiped away her tears too as she watched the duo… their love was so beautiful… their bond was so pure…

Shehnaaz glared at Vihaan cutely, “Are ye kya baat hui… Jab mere Vihaan ko pata hai ki usko Sanu maa ko Vihaan ko ankhon ke aansu bilkul pasand nahi… phir bhi Vihaan royi royi kar raha hai?”

Vihaan looked at Shehnaaz, alarmed, and instantly wiped away his teary face on her dupatta, making Raghav, Anu, and Sanju chuckle, while Shehnaaz pecked his forehead.

“Vihaan forgot… no royi royi… promise…” Vihaan completed with his palms on her cheeks, making Shehnaaz laugh.

Unable to control herself, Anu dashed towards Shehnaaz and Vihaan, hugging Shehnaaz dearly.

Raghav smiled with relief while Sanju chuckled. No one could stay aloof to the charms of her Sana.

Shehnaaz was shocked by the hug, while Vihaan wriggled to get free. Apparently, the hug had smashed him into a chapati between the two ladies.

“Buwa, you make Vihaan chutney…” Vihaan grumbled, making Anu kiss his cheek forcefully and laugh loudly when he started screaming and giggling for help.

Shehnaaz was overwhelmed when Anu smiled at her. “Thank you…” Anu expressed awkwardly and went back to where she was standing earlier with Raghav. Raghav slapped her head softly, making Anu pout at him. Whattt… she just got a bit emotional…

Vihaan refused to let go of Shehnaaz when Raghav and Anu declared they needed to leave. “Maa, come for Vihaan’s birthday… Vihaan want red velvet cake.”

Shehnaaz’s hands almost shivered as she remembered the red velvet cake that Payal had purchased for Vihaan on his last birthday. Sanju held onto Shehnaaz, knowing her state, and smiled at Vihaan, “Of course, we will bring Vihaan’s favorite cake, chocolates, and lots of toys.”

Vihaan giggled and looked at his Sanu maa, “Promise maa…”

Overwhelmed, Shehnaaz pecked his forehead, “Promise baby… Maa’s promise…♥️”

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Rita ji woke up earlier than usual and made her way to the nearby mandir with Tayiji. She wanted to pray for her grandson’s happiness and thank God for bringing Shehnaaz into Vihaan’s life.

Last night, Shehnaaz had spoken with Sidharth and her agreeing to the marriage was a relief for Rita ji. She hardly doubted Shehnaaz would deny; the girl was strong-headed, something needed for Vihaan. Vihaan was very sensitive like Payal, but she wanted him to become stronger, strong-headed like her Sidharth, and Rita ji felt Shehnaaz was capable of doing that. Vihaan already seemed influenced by Shehnaaz’s personality. He had started expressing his moods instead of keeping them inside.

Rita ji couldn’t wait for tonight when Shehnaaz would finally step into their house for the first time. She couldn’t wait to get Shehnaaz married to her Sidharth. Her strong-headed son needed to start listening to others too. She didn’t want to blackmail him into marrying, but he didn’t give her another option. He was stubborn and always ignored his well-being and feelings, but being his mother, she knew what he needed. He would understand his mother eventually…

Pandit ji came from the backyard and handed over a chunri of Mata rani to Rita ji, “Ye ashirwad hai Mata rani ka… Sidharth beta ye jis ladki ke sar pe odhega, bas wohi uski zindagi me khushiyan layegi.”

Rita ji smiled amidst tears and thanked Pandit ji for the chunri.

Pandit ji shook his head, “Shukriya mera nahi… Bhagwan ka kijiye… Ye sab ussi ka hai…”

Rita ji and Tayiji prayed to God and turned to leave, only to find Anu behind them.

Rita ji looked at Anu, shocked, “Tu actually subah jaldi uthakar mandir aayi hai?”

Anu rolled her eyes while Tayiji chuckled, “Pandit ji… aaj kahi suraj pashchim toh nahi aya…”

“Tayi maa…” Anu huffed cutely and joined her hands in front of the God for a prayer before returning her attention back to her mother and Tayiji, “Woh, mujhe raat bhar neend nahi aayi… aap se baat karni thi… par Tayaji ne kaha aap dono mandir aye ho… toh me bhi…”

“Kya baat hai, Anu?” Rita ji asked worriedly.

Anu smiled and shook her head, “Yahan nahi… Aap log ghar chaliye… me bas thodi der me aati hun…”

Tayiji couldn’t understand what was wrong with Anu, “Anu, agar tuze humse ghar jakar hi baat karni thi… toh yahan par kyun aayi?”

Anu scratched her head with a soft smile, “Bas… Bhagwan ji ko thank you bolna tha…”

Before both the women could ask her anything further, she left from there with a quick bye.

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By the time Rita ji and Tayiji returned home, the entire Shukla house was getting decorated with yellow shades of balloons along with other colors. The decoration was done in the theme of a jungle.

Vihaan curiously looked at his daddy, who was personally overseeing the decorations to ensure nothing went wrong.

“Daddyyyyy…” Vihaan dashed towards Sidharth and giggled when his daddy picked him up with a high fly.

“Is my baby happy?” Sidharth asked to cheer him up. He wanted to make this day special for Vihaan, a new life for Vihaan.

“Daddyyy… Vihaan no wear chaddi like the Mogli of the Jungle Book…” There was a rather worried expression on Vihaan’s face.

Amused by Vihaan’s question, Sidharth shook his head in denial to relieve him of his grave worry and pecked his scrunched nose, “You wear whatever you like, big boy…”

“Dadiiiii….” Vihaan screamed in excitement and dashed towards Rita ji for Prasad, who chuckled at her grandson, “No bath, no Prasad… agar chahiye toh jaldi jaake nahalo… Varsha buwa will help you.”

Sidharth made his way towards them while Vihaan grumbled, “No Varsha buwa, Dadi…” Reminded of something, he pulled Rita ji’s hand to make her bend down to his level and whispered in her ear, “Sanu maa no come…”

Sidharth tried to hear their hush hush while Rita ji chuckled and whispered in his ear, “Sanu maa will come… she promised na… now go get ready fast…”

Vihaan nodded happily and ran upstairs.

Sidharth shook his head and took blessings from all the three elders before asking for the Prasad.

Rita ji handed him the Prasad and along with that, she rested the chunri in his hand.

Puzzled, he looked at the chunri and then at his mother, “Ye kya hai maa?”

Rita ji smiled softly, “Woh mandir me Pandit ji ne diya hai… kaha ki hone wali bahu ke sar pe odhani hai… tu shaam ko uske sar pe odh dena jab ayegi…”

“Maaa….” Sidharth hated the idea and he didn’t like that some random girl was going to come in the evening. Agreed, he said yes for the sake of his mother, but he wasn’t looking forward to this… Agar woh mana nahi kar sakta toh kya hua? He would ensure she denies…

“Mujhe kuch nahi sunna…” Rita ji glared at him and walked in with Tayiji.

Sidharth grabbed onto the chunri a little too tightly in frustration and kept it on one of the farthest corner tables of the living room so that his mother wouldn’t notice it.

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Shehnaaz stared at herself in the mirror of the car as she reset her dupatta. She closed her eyes to quickly recheck if she forgot to bring anything that she had got for Vihaan.

Sanju chuckled, watching the way Shehnaaz was holding onto the cake like it was Vihaan himself.

Shehnaaz had almost cried in the morning after wishing Vihaan, like her son was growing up and her motherly emotions were overpowering her.

“Agar mujhe ghar me hi nahi liya toh…” Shehnaaz couldn’t help but worry, thinking of how Sidharth would throw her out of the house.

Sanju rolled her eyes, “Shut up, Sana… stop thinking so negative… you are invited there… relax… it’s going to be your house now.”

A soft smile formed on Shehnaaz’s lips hearing it. She rubbed near her chest to calm her heart rate down. She was getting hyper, she realized.

She had agreed to this marriage and her parents had no idea about it. She highly doubted if her father would even bother to check up on her again in life. But her mom… her mother deserved to know… her mother deserved to be there to see her daughter’s wedding…

But Rita maa had told Sidharth that she was an orphan.

Anyway, all of this comes into picture only if Sidharth ji agrees to this marriage, which she highly doubted.

Sanju placed her hand on Shehnaaz’s, “Uncle aunty ke bare me mat soch… aunty se hum milkar baat karenge… I’m sure she will understand.”

Sanju didn’t use bad words knowing Shehnaaz wouldn’t like it, but how the hell could they behave that way with Shehnaaz…

The car stopped right in front of Shukla Mansion, and Shehnaaz took a deep breath to calm her senses.

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Author’s Note

Hello, dear readers!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter filled with emotions and the anticipation of new beginnings. Writing about Shehnaaz and Vihaan’s bond brings so much joy, and I can’t wait to share more of their journey with you.

In this chapter, we see the warmth of family ties and the excitement of upcoming celebrations. Shehnaaz’s nervousness and Sidharth’s reluctance add layers to their evolving relationship. I am thrilled to take you along this rollercoaster of emotions.

Your support means the world to me. Please leave your comments and votes; they inspire me to keep writing and improving. I love reading your thoughts and connecting with you all through this story.

Thank you for being such amazing readers!

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

#EmotionalJourney, #HeartfeltStory, #LoveAndLoss, #FamilyDrama, #EmotionalHealing, #Storytelling, #NarrativeMagic, #LifeAndLove

Emotional Healing, Grief, Mother-Daughter Bond, Family Drama, Love, Loss, Support, Resilience, Overcoming Heartbreak, Character Development, Intense Emotions, Healing Process, Narrative Depth, Emotional Journey, Romantic Relationships