EMBRACING REALITY

Chapter 1 EMBRACING REALITY

CHAPTER 1
Welcome to another SidNaaz Fiction.. It’s probably my second last fiction.. After this Pregnancy and I might just stop writing.. I have extremely busy schedule and I have a big family to take care of.. So, I don’t think I will be able to write after Pregnancy.. Well, let’s not go into the future much… I will take the final decision when the time will come..
Let’s start with the very first chapter of Embracing Reality.. Sidharth made sure Shehnaaz and Mom were comfortable on the way back to Bombay..
Thankfully, it was an overnight flight and the trio slept most of the time.. Sidharth had put up an alarm on his phone and had woken Shehnaaz up to take her Vitamin tablets..
Once landed, Adith was on time and things were perfect… Sidharth, Shehnaaz and Rita Maa were papped by the media and beautiful headlines of The Shukla Family travelling together..
Sidharth kept an arm around both his mother and Shehnaaz and the ladies were proud of him.. The family looked beautiful..
At SidNaaz’s residence, Neetu Di, Preeti Di, Naira and Kabir were already present along with the maids, cleaning their house and the family members were cooking different items to welcome the trio.. Kabir was helping the househelp with the cleaning..
Sidharth thanked the media and politely bid goodbye to them and made Mom sit in the car then Shehnaaz and he finally sat on the front seat and left for home..
“Mom, are you okay?” asked Sidharth.. “Haa bache, you both were with me.. Kya hoga mujhe..” said Mom and Shehnaaz hugged mom, “Hum hamesha aapke sath hi hai Maa..” said Shehnaaz..
“Mere jigar ke tukde ho dono..” said Mom.. The drive to home was fine… “Bombay wapas aake alag hi feel aata hai.. Apne ghar wali feeling.. Haye, yaha ki traffic.. Ye shehar alag hi hai..” said Shehnaaz, looking out of the window..
“Tu Mumbaikar jaise baat rahi hai.. Hum yehi feel karte hai, hamesha.. Bombay ke alawa kahi zyada rehne ka man nai karta… Ye sheher ki baat hi alag hai..” said Sidharth..
Sidharth then spoke to Adith, asking about his family and everything.. Things were fine and they almost reached home..
“Bhai, aap log upar jao.. Mai saman leke aata hu..” said Adith, dropping them in front of the lift and Sidharth agreed..
They went to their house; the door was already open.. Both the sisters were waiting for the trio.. Preeti Di had an Arti ki Thali with her and Neetu Di and Naira were smiling like excited babies..
“Maamuu, Maammii, Naanii.. Aao, aao.. Jaldi Arti karo Maa, I wanna hug them..” cooed Naira and Preeti Di chuckled at her..
“Welcome home..” said Didi and put the Tilak on their heads.. The sisters hugged their mom and Naira and Kabir ran to their Mama Mami..
“Oh, how much I’ve missed you all.. We all have actually.. It’s good to be back where we all belong to..” said Sidharth, hugging his little baby, Kabir and both his sisters..
It was lunch time and hence, the Jijus were at work.. Naira was stuck to Shehnaaz and Kabir to Sidharth.. The sisters felt at peace seeing the whole family together.. The sisters hugged their mother again, “Maa, we missed you..” cooed the well grown-up ladies, becoming babies in front of mommy..
“I missed you both too, my angels..” said Mom.. “Acha lag raha hai sabko sath dekh ke.. Aapko pata hai, Kabir sach me bhot acha bacha hai.. Mere pass bhi aake baithta hai..” said Priti..
“Mere Sidharth ko ek aisi pyari ladki mili hai aur meri Naira ko bhi pyara bacha mila hai.. Bhagwan mere sabhi bacho ko hamesha khush rakhe.. Mai abhi sukoon me hu.. Sab settled hai ab..” said Mom, joining her hands and thanking God for everything..
“Acha, ab chalo, let’s have lunch.. We all have cooked..” said Naira and the whole family ate together..
Sidharth handed Shehnaaz her medicines and that’s when he actually came close to her.. She didn’t mind it a bit but he seemed to miss her..
“I missed you, baby..” cooed Sidharth, dipping his face in her neck.. “Gadha.. Mai toh yehi thi..” said Shehnaaz, but he ignored her.. He wanted to be close to his baby.. “Dekh, ye meri aadat toh badalne nai wali.. Meko chahiye hoti hai tu.. Hamesha chahiye hogi.. Bache ho bhi jaenge toh mujhe tera attention chahiye hoga..” said Sidharth, pulling her closer and snuggling deeper into her…
“Nona Bacha..” cooed back Shehnaaz and kissed his forehead.. “Tu thik hai na baby? Kuch soch toh nai rahi hai na?” asked Sidharth, coming out of her neck and cupping her face with his one large hand..
“Haa Sidharth.. Bas dimag se kuch cheez Jaa nahi rahi..” said Shehnaaz, absent mindedly..
“Baby, tell me what’s bothering you..” said Sidharth.. “Sab ko jaane de.. Kuch khas nai hai.. Bas ye jo Covid ka situation chal raha hai us baare me hai..” said Shehnaaz..
“Meri Jaan, we are doing our bit.. We are helping na.. Please, soch mat is baare me..” said Sidharth and pressed his lips on her forehead..
Shehnaaz smiled and he smiled back at her.. They walked towards the family and Preeti Di looked at Sidharth with puppy eyes.. “Kya hua Didi? Aise kyu dekh rahi hai?” said Sidharth, trying to know his sister’s expressions which he somehow knew..
Didi looked at mom and Sidharth chuckled, “Leke jana hai Maa ko?” asked Sidharth and Didi smiled..
“Bachi ban jati hai tu Mom ke naam pe.. Leke jaa.. Wapas bhej dena.. Mai zyada akele nai rehne wala hu..” said Sidharth and took mom in his arms..
He kissed her cheeks and said, “Aapko jab jana hai jao.. Aaj araam kar lo.. Kal chale jana…” suggested Sidharth..
“Haa bache… Mai ek do din baad hi jaungi.. Thoda araam karlu yaha pe.. Shehnaaz ke khane ka sab jo list hai wo mangwa ke set kar dungi uske baad jaungi..” said Mom..
Shehnaaz was with Naira when she heard it.. “Mere khane ka itna tension kyu? Mai toh kuch bhi khaa leti hu na Maaa.. Aap jaldi jana chahte ho toh aap jao..” said Shehnaaz..
“Yehi toh problem hai.. Tu kuch bhi khaa leti hai.. Acha nai hai ye.. Tera sab mai kar ke jaungi.. Tu fikar mat kar..” said Mom..
Sidharth went close to Shehnaaz and Naira.. “Shehnaaz, relax kar.. Tujhe mom ne apne hath ka khana nai khilaye hai itne din isliye unka aisa man hai.. Tu chill kar..” said Sidharth, trying to divert her mind..
“Mami, Mamu.. Maine na walnut brownie bhi banai hu.. Lana bhul gayi.. Ruko, mai na sizzling brownie leke aati hu.. chalo na Mami..” said Naira and took Shehnaaz with her..
They heated the sizzling pan and put the brownies on the hot pan.. Once heated properly, they added vanilla ice cream over it and put the chocolate syrup on it.. The sizzling brownie was ready and they got it for everyone..
Sidharth was clinging to mom and the sisters saw it.. Shehnaaz served everyone and Naira gave a plate to Kabir..
“All good with you guys?” asked Sidharth, facing towards Kabir and Naira.. “All good.. Karenge detail me baat..” said Kabir and Sidharth took a bite of the brownie.. “Oh goodness, meri choti si bachi kitni talented hai.. This is sooo good..” said Sidharth and took another bite..
The family looked at him, eating the brownie like a little excited boy.. “Isko baap banna hai..” said Didi and the ladies chuckled..
“Acha baap banega mera bacha.. Uske baare me kuch nai bolo..” said Mom, remembering the conversations they both had related to Shehnaaz’s health, future plans of Sidharth which he discussed with mom..
“Bhot zyada acha aur samjhdar bacha hai mera..” said Mom, she couldn’t stop herself from praising her son who was a perfect husband and a perfect son also, had great fatherhood skills according to Rita Maa..
The ladies agreed.. Once the lunch was done, the family left.. Mom went to her room and Shehnaaz helped her unpack the bags and pack stuff for her to go to Didi’s place..
Sidharth was scrolling down Shehnaaz’s reports and was on a call with Dr. Gupta.. “Acha, there’s a gynecologist I know… She’s the best in the town.. Dr. Aanchal.. I will take an appointment for you both.. Let me know if you wanna visit her…” said Mrs. Gupta..
“If you are suggesting, I will definitely show Shehnaaz to her.. But, we need to get her hemoglobin and iron levels to normal range..” said Sidharth..
“Haa, wo hum ek do mahine me kar lenge.. Uske baad Dr. Aanchal ko mil lenge.. We will get Shehnaaz well.. Aap tension mat lo..” said Sidharth..
“Kab leke aau? Tension ka toh bolo hi mat, samjh ke bahar hai..” said Sidharth..
“Aap online hi mil lo, with the Covid cases increasing, it’s risky.. Also, if you’ll feel extra stressful, you can always contact Srijana..” said Dr. Gupta..
“Yes Ma’am.. I will talk to her.. Shehnaaz ko bhi baat karwane ka soch raha hu..” said Sidharth..
“Yes.. You can do anything you want… Just don’t stress yourself.. You need to be strong for her.. Remember that..” said Dr. Gupta and Sidharth agreed and disconnected the call..
Shehnaaz came in and Sidharth opened his arms, “Aaja Baby..” said Sidharth and she jumped in his arms.. “Mera Bacha..” cooed Sidharth and pressed his lips on her neck..
“Mera Nona Putthu.. Maa teri itni tareef kar rahe hai meko sun ke itna acha laga.. Mere pati ki sab tareef karte hai toh mera dil aise khush ho jata hai..” said Shehnaaz, after pulling out of the hug..
Sidharth made her sit on his lap and she kept looking at him with shining eyes.. “Itni pyari hai tu.. Ab bol kya chal raha hai tere dimag me..” said Sidharth.. stay tuned for further update..