Chapter 11

They were going to Mumbai, and that meant Shehnaaz would get to meet Sidharth. Her heart raced with excitement and anxiety. The mere thought of seeing him made her palms sweaty. Would she be able to meet his eyes? What if she did something embarrassing? He was so hot and irresistible. “Chaddo, wo to meri taraf dekhega bhi nahi… khadoos kahin ka… ek main hi hoon jiske dil mein ye pyar ka guitar baj raha hai…” she muttered to herself, trying to quell the butterflies in her stomach.

Shehnaaz imagined herself standing in front of Sidharth, a guitar in her hand, dancing in the most dramatic and overly romantic manner, singing, “Dekha jo tujhe yaar…. dil mein baji guitar.. jhalka ankhon se pyar dil mein baji guitar..”

She snapped out of her daydream abruptly and made a face. “Shehnaaz, agar aisa kuchh kiya na… toh tere dil ka toh pata nahi, par Shukla ji tere kaan ke niche jarur baja denge…” She giggled at the thought of Sid

harth scolding her, the stern expression on his face contrasted with the warmth she knew was hidden behind it.

Her laughter lightened her mood, chasing away the gloomy thoughts that had been clouding her mind. Feeling a renewed sense of determination, she hurriedly packed all the necessary things for their departure the next day. Every item she placed in her bag was a step closer to seeing him, to being near him.

“Okay, Shehnaaz,” she said to her reflection in the mirror, “agar wo tujhse abhi pyar nahi karta to kya hua.. you can make him fall in love with you.. hai na.. try karne mein kya jata hai… at least something is better than nothing…” Her reflection stared back, not just with hope but with confidence. She wasn’t bad looking; in fact, she looked good, she told herself. Her eyes sparkled with determination. She was sure, she would make him fall in love with her.

Shehnaaz took a deep breath, running her fingers through her hair, adjusting a few strands here and there. Her mind raced through the possibilities. How would she start? What would she say? She knew she had to be herself, yet every fiber of her being wanted to impress him, to make him see her the way she saw him.

She giggled, feeling goosebumps with the thought. “Soch Shehnaaz, soch… kuchh filmy try kar… agar aisa hua toh… ke tu Sidharth ke paas se guzar rahi ho… aur achanak zor se hawa chalne lage… aur tera dupatta jaake Sidharth ke face pe atak jaye…”

Shehnaaz instantly imagined the scene, blushing shamelessly at her own dramatic thoughts. She pictured the wind blowing her dupatta right onto Sidharth’s face, and him gently removing it, his eyes locking with hers. But then another thought hit her. “Par agar dupatta ankh mein lag gaya toh… hayy rabba… Sidharth toh tera khoon hi kar dega…”

“No, no, Shehnaaz, kuchh aur soch…” She told herself, shaking off the ridiculous scenario. She tried to come up with another idea. “Agar aisa hua toh ke tera pair fisal jaye aur Sidharth tujhe bahon mein pakad le…” She smiled cutely, imagining falling into his strong arms, him holding her close.

But then reality struck again. “Nahi, nahi… agar waqt par Sidharth ne nahi pakada toh meri landing sidha dharti maa ke charno pe hogi… Kuchh plan aisa ho jo safe bhi ho aur effective bhi… umm…”

Shehnaaz was lost in her thoughts all night, her mind running through various romantic scenarios. Each one made her smile, blush, or giggle, but she knew she needed something realistic and heartfelt.

She rolled over in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering how she could win Sidharth’s heart. Her mind replayed moments they had shared, conversations they had, and the way his eyes sometimes softened when he looked at her. Maybe it wasn’t about grand gestures or filmy moments. Maybe it was about being herself, showing him who she truly was.

Shehnaaz sighed, a mix of nervousness and excitement bubbling inside her. “Shehnaaz, isme nervous honewali kya baat hai,” she whispered to herself. “Just be you. Sidharth ko bhi pata chalega ke tu uske liye perfect hai.”

With that thought, she finally closed her eyes, drifting into a restless sleep filled with dreams of Sidharth. The night seemed to stretch endlessly as she tossed and turned, her heart racing with every new scenario her mind conjured up.

With her bags packed and her heart full of dreams, Shehnaaz was ready to face whatever Mumbai had in store for her. The journey ahead was not just about reaching a destination; it was about the emotions, the hopes, and the possibilities that came with it. She was determined to make the most of it, to create moments that would bring her closer to Sidharth.

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Shehnaaz was busy adjusting her belongings in her room when she heard a knock on the door. Her heart skipped a beat as she turned around to see Sidharth standing in the doorway.

She stood up straight, her mind racing with a flurry of thoughts. Why is he here? she wondered. Is he going to propose? No, that’s ridiculous. Shehnaaz tu jyada hawa me mat udd.

“Umm, Naaz…” Sidharth began, his voice soft but steady.

Shehnaaz offered a gentle smile. “Haan, Sidharth?”

Sidharth was surprised by how much he liked hearing her call him by his name. There was something enchanting about the way she said it, as if it carried a special weight just because it came from her.

He cleared his throat, trying to steady his nerves. “Mujhe tumse kuchh baat karni hai…”

Shehnaaz’s heart raced. “Abhi…?”

Sidharth looked at her with a hint of hesitation, as if gauging her reaction. “Haan, if you are free…”

Shehnaaz’s heart sank slightly as she realized the limited time she had. She had been eagerly waiting for a moment to talk to Sidharth, but now she had to go out with Dadi maa and Payal.

“Umm… wo…” she started, struggling to find the right words.

Sidharth looked visibly disappointed, his expression falling as he asked, “Do you have some plans?”

Shehnaaz felt a pang of guilt for cutting the conversation short. “Actually, I’m going out with Dadi maa and Di…”

Sidharth sighed and then offered a weak smile. “Ohh, it’s okay. When you come back in the evening, just come to my room. We need to talk.”

Shehnaaz’s eyes widened in surprise. “Your room??”

Sidharth nodded firmly, his gaze serious. “Haan, Naaz. My room. jaruri baat karni hai.”

With that, he walked out, leaving a pouting Shehnaaz behind.

Shehnaaz muttered under her breath, “Ye Shukla ji ki toh mein…”

She mimicked his words, her voice dripping with mock annoyance. “Kya attitude dikhate hain… jaruri baat karni hai…” She rolled her eyes. “My room… humara room nahi bol sakte the…”

She let out an exaggerated sigh. “Hayy rabba, Shehnaaz… that sounds so cute… Shehnaaz, cut the crap. Varna room toh chod, Shukla ji tujhe Shukla mansion se hi bahar fikwa denge.”

Realizing she had little time left, Shehnaaz snapped out of her self-mocking and rushed to the washroom. She quickly got ready, her thoughts racing with anticipation about the conversation with Sidharth. The urgency of the situation gave her a burst of energy, and she focused on preparing herself for the evening ahead.

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For Sidharth, time was dragging on painfully. It was already nearing 9 in the evening, but Shehnaaz was nowhere to be seen.

He paced back and forth, his frustration mounting. *Ye kapde kharidane gaye hain ya banane?* he thought sarcastically. *Kahin is Shehnaaz ki bachhi ne phir koi hungama to nahi kar diya?*

He muttered to himself, “Chup kar Sidharth… Miss Bollywood ko pata chal gaya na, toh tujhe kachha hi kha jayegi.”

His impatience was growing unbearable. He sighed deeply and picked up his phone to call her, but there was no answer.

Annoyed and anxious, he sent her a message:

“Shehnaaz, where are you? I am waiting for you.”

Seconds ticked by, turning into minutes, and soon hours. The clock seemed to mock him as it ticked from 9 to 11, yet there was still no sign of Shehnaaz.

Feeling utterly frustrated and disheartened, Sidharth’s mood darkened. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Shehnaaz didn’t care about his time or even about him.

His thoughts spiraled into doubts and hurt, making him question if she even had feelings for him. The weight of these emotions left him feeling isolated and abandoned.

He eventually made his way to bed, skipping dinner, his heart heavy with disappointment. Pulling the duvet over himself, he tried to block out his racing thoughts and forced himself to sleep, but the pain of waiting and the ache of being ignored lingered.

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Shehnaaz, Dadi maa, and Payal had been so engrossed in shopping that Shehnaaz had completely lost track of time. The excitement and chaos of the day had made her forget all about her phone.

When she finally returned to the Shukla mansion, it was almost 11:30 PM. Exhausted from the day’s activities, Shehnaaz headed straight to bed without even glancing at her phone. The day’s fatigue quickly took over, and she fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, as the sun’s rays gently nudged her awake, Shehnaaz nuzzled her eyes open. With a groggy hand, she reached for her phone to check the time.

The display startled her awake. Her eyes widened as she saw 8 missed calls and 2 messages from Sidharth. Her heart skipped a beat.

*Ohh shit!!*

Shehnaaz’s heart sank as she thought about how she had completely forgotten about Sidharth’s call. He had asked to speak with her about something important and had said he would wait. The realization of her oversight hit her like a ton of bricks.

She quickly freshened up, taking a speedy bath, and hurried to Sidharth’s room. When she arrived, she found him still asleep, lying on his stomach with an innocent and almost childlike expression. He looked so peaceful, his face serene and unguarded.

Shehnaaz stood there for a moment, mesmerized by how adorable and vulnerable he looked. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt mixed with affection.

Carefully, she walked over and sat beside him on the bed. Her hand moved almost instinctively toward his hair, and she began to gently stroke it, her touch tender and apologetic.

“I’m sorry…” she whispered softly, her voice barely audible. “I made you wait, na?”

The words escaped her lips before she even fully realized she was speaking. The gentle whisper was more to herself than to him, but it carried a weight of sincerity. She was surprised by how deeply she felt about the situation and how much she wanted to make amends.

Shehnaaz’s heart fluttered as she observed the serene expression on Sidharth’s face. Despite being someone who often found herself fumbling with emotions, his presence had a way of grounding her. It was as if his mere existence brought out a depth of sincerity she wasn’t accustomed to.

As she smiled at the paradox of her emotions, Sidharth stirred, shifting in his sleep. He turned onto his back, and his head nestled comfortably on her lap. Shehnaaz was taken completely off guard by the unexpected gesture. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt the weight of his head gently resting on her.

Shehnaaz found herself in a moment of profound intimacy as Sidharth’s head rested on her lap. Her hand was awkwardly positioned beneath his neck, and her lap was occupied by the weight of his head, leaving her with no easy way to move. A soft blush spread across her cheeks as she became acutely aware of the closeness between them. The proximity and the gentle rise and fall of his breathing created a tender, almost overwhelming connection.