Perfect Mismatch

Ch 50 - Meri

It was half past 3 when Sidharth could finally pack up the shoot for the night. He was shooting for a web series for which some intimate scenes were to be shot, hence, the late night schedule. His co-star was a newcomer who almost made him feel old with the amount of respect she had for him and despite his insistence, kept expressing on the set. 

Shehnaaz had read the script and was very well aware of what scenes were scheduled for today and to his utter surprise, had taken it very sportingly. He had teased her saying "jhooth boli thi tu toh! Ghanta possessive hai tu mereko leke!" pretending to be disappointed in her, to which she only rolled her eyes with her standard "zyada naatak mat kia kar. Poori duniya ko pata hai, asli me kiska hai tu. On-screen karle tereko jiske saath jo karna hai...tereko kaam karne dungi shaadi ke baad bhi".  The way she had teased him back with the last sentence had the entire family into splits. He snorted while thinking of the day she had said this before the family and quickly turned it into a cough. Pulling out his phone, he quickly sent out a text, though the possibility of it being answered seemed very less. She had a morning shoot in Pune for which she had to leave at 8 AM.

"Slept?" 

"Nhi. Kab tak aayega?" 

He smiled widely at her instant reply.

"Bas nikal gaya. 10 minute max."

"Ok. Main neeche hi hun."

Surprised at her message, he wondered if Mom was up till so late!

"Mom bhi nahi soi?"

"Aunty so gayi hain. Main idhar hi ruk gayi. Aaja abhi. Going to garam karo khana. Bye" 

He chuckled at the last bit. She was a cartoon and he missed her. Last couple of days had been very hectic for him due to the shoot and they had barely been able to spend time together. Their dates clashed - the day she had an off, he was out and vice-versa. They were in talks for another project together which was a music video, the location of which was still undecided. Overall, it was an exciting time for them professionally and personally - both. 

He gave her a ring, instead of pressing the door bell and she was at the door within three rings. Unlocking the door quickly and quietly, she leaned on to her pressing her nose against her chest. He pressed a kiss on her head and wrapped his hand around her neck, holding her close to himself, while locking back the door with his left hand. No words or looks were exchanged, but this moment of peace was the best part of their day. He dragged her along, slightly pulling her above the ground and sat down on the couch kicking one shoe away by pressing his toes against his other ankle. 

"Aankhon me itni neend hai. Tu soi kyun nahi? Kal subah jana hai na jaldi?" he pulled her chin up, taking a good look at her, but hiding her face into his chest, she cooed, kissing his palm.

"Woh ...Aunty...Ma..ko sardi ho gayi hai..." she corrected. She considered his mother as hers but the habit of calling her "Aunty" would resurface again and again. Thankfully, she herself wasn't around this time or else, Ma would smack her head, yet again!

"Sardi?...Ye kab hua?" he asked, puzzled..."aur toh tu kyun uthi hui hai?"

"Arrey, toh woh medicines nahi le rahe they, taki tere liye darwaza kholein aur khana garam karein...cough syrup se neend aati hai na...toh maine Ma ko bola ki main ruk jaungi, aur kar dungi, aur unko sula dia..."she explained, with a yawn at the end.

"Pagal auraton...main koi baccha hun kya? Microwave me khana garam kar leta na. Aur ek key mere paas bhi hai na baby?" he smacked her head but then, kissed her forehead before she could whine properly, standing up to put his shoes in the shoe rack near the entrance. 

"Woh sab Aunty ko samjha... fresh hoke aa...khana laga rahi hun, jaldi kar..." she ordered, and went off to the kitchen. 

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"Kal off hai na tera?" she asked, yawning yet again, as he pulled the dining chair. He sighed and pushed the chair back in, taking the plate, and putting his hand out for her.

"Chal, room pe kha lenge. Darling, tu thaki hui hai. Aaja!", he ruffled her hair lovingly and pulled her up. 

"Haye, tereko toh accha nahi lagta bed pe khana..."she asked, but he was already dragging her with her. 

"Koi baat nahi...table pe kha lunga" he explained, taking her to his room. He placed the plate on the study table and sat on the chair but before he could open his mouth to speak, she had sprawled down on the floor, circling his legs.

"Tcchh.." he rolled his eyes but she blabbered away sleepily.

"Kaisa tha shoot...tune chummi de dia usko?" She asked, making him drop the spoon, as he laughed off at her innocence.

"Gadhi hai tu, meri bhelpuri! Accha chal, bed par baith...aaja, uth" he said, keeping the plate aside and pulled her up by her arms and settled next to her with his plate. She slid inside the covers and placed her head on his lap happily, while he slurped the dal.

"Tune Kitna chummi lia usko? Acche se kia na? Mera naak toh nahi kataya na?" She mumbled.

"Tera kaise kataunga be naak?" He asked amused.

"Retake toh nahi maangne pade na? Nahi toh logon ko lagega na ki tujhe practice nahi hai...meri insult toh nahi karva ke aaya, tu?" She asked, peeping through one eye, but Sidharth couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Gadhii...tu kya hai bey...kya hai tu...meri gadhi", he pulled her cheek and she whined. Rubbing her cheek, he told her about the scenes and the shoot but she couldn't keep her eyes open for too long.

He quietly kept went out, kept the plate on the sink, checked on Mom and then slipped away to her flat to grab her essentials and came back.

Once back in his room, he slipped under the covers and closer to her. She sighed happily and he felt thankful for having this bub as his own.

"Sidharth...I love you Bebu" she whispered.

"I love you more darling. Aaja, soja bas...thak gayi hai meri gadhi. Tera handbag, charger, undergarments aur ek dress utha laya hun...aaram se uthke yahin se jana...bhagna nat uthte hi...soja meri jaan...and thank you" he said, pecking her lips.

"Thank you kyu?" She asked confused and delirious.

"For being mine" he said patting her back gently, as she cooed happily.