BEYOND THE CLOUDS (Completed)

Chapter 42

Sidharth was irked, but that didn’t deter him from his chivalry.

He got out of the car quickly and opened her side of the door, silently awaiting Shehnaaz to step out of the car.

She did, but with a roll of her eyes. I hope the painting will cool him down a bit, she thought and held his unresponsive hand as they walked inside the house.

Sidharth had been nursing the same tumbler of scotch for the entire evening, but now he felt badly in need of a stiff drink.

He walked to the bar corner in his room and poured himself one, on the rocks.

Downing it in one swift swig, his fingers curled around the cap of the bottle to pour another one, but her hands came over his in time.

“Don’t drink please, I hate it” she feebly pleaded, with even her eyes. A menacing smirk was directed at her with his eyes digging deep into hers

“And what about things I hate? You have no regard about that” barking out his anger a bit too loudly, he pried her fingers away.

She let out a soft sigh at that. She had been fearing this reaction all the way and that was the reason she hadn't mentioned the incident to him.

“There was nothing to tell really, I can handle this much” she asserted and walked to the other side of the bar counter where he stood.

Slipping her hands inside his open jacket, she clung to him hoping to calm him down.

Closing her eyes, she just stood there, feeling the harsh movements of his heaving chest.

“Sidharthhhh, pleaseeeee” rubbing her nose on his chest, she looked up to check if she had any effect on him at all.

But all she could see was the soft bump of his Adams apple bobbing in his throat.

“Ok listen, I have something to show you” suddenly feeling excited, she broke the hug and looked at him with a smile. Sidharth rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.

He wanted to say a lot of things, but didn’t know if he should.

“What is it?” still sounding somber, he asked out of curiosity.

She tugged his hand wanting to walk him somewhere and he followed and soon they reached her painting room.

He had come in here after a long time and was shocked to see the sight in front of him.

The room was a far cry from what it was when presented to her.

A few canvasses adorning beautiful paintings lined the wall, but it couldn’t beautify the mess she had created with her stuff. Tubes and bottles of paints strewn on the table, a few dirty rags lying here and there, two three paint dried brushes lying unattended on the floor.

He groaned inwardly at the sight.

Clumsy and unorganized were a few words that came to his mind but he let it go as he saw her going to the easel and lifting the thin sheet of paper to reveal a beautiful painting that had his Grand mom and dad seated on chairs, and him standing behind them.

In a split second his smile came back, washing away all the irritation he felt earlier.

“Sweetheart” a breathy whisper left his mouth as he inched closer to the painting, observing it carefully.

“How the hell did you do this?” the painting looked so real, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

He had a few snaps of him with Badepapa but with his grandmother, he had none.