EMBRACING REALITY

Chapter 2 EMBRACING REALITY

CHAPTER 2
Sidharth urged Shehnaaz to speak up and hence she did.. “Bubbbu.. Log itne pareshan hai abhi Covid ke wajah se.. Kaise hoga..” said Shehnaaz, looking away from him..
“Meri Jaan, idhar dekh..” said Sidharth and she looked at him.. “Tere sochne se kuch hoga nai.. Hum hospital me donate kar diye hai.. Jitna hamare hath me hai, hum kar rahe hai na.. Tu stress legi usse tujhe hi problem hoga.. Tujhe chahiye, ek donation aur kar dete hai..” suggested Sidharth and she rested her head on his chest..
Sidharth wrapped his arm around her and she nodded her head in agreement.. Still resting her head on his chest.. “Listen, you need to relax, my love.. Tension lene se kuch hoga nahi.. Try to understand, physical health ke sath, mental health is also important.. Hum fans ko videos bana ke khush kar sakte hai.. Baby, stop thinking..” said Sidharth, regretting watching news in front of Shehnaaz..
“Haa, tu sahi bol raha hai.. Kal video banaungi..” said Shehnaaz, smiling a little..
“Haste raha kar.. Meri Jaan, pyaari lagti hai..” said Sidharth and pressed his lips on her forehead..
“Sidhaaarthh!” cooed Shehnaaz.. “Ha, bol na Darling..” said Sidharth, yawning a little.. “Ninnj aayi teko?” asked Shehnaaz..
Sidharth looked at her and chuckled.. “Pagal Hai Tu.. Chal so jate hai..” said Sidharth.. “Haa, hug kar ke sote hai..” said Shehnaaz and Sidharth turned on the ac, set it’s temperature and turned off the lights..
The afternoon nap became a long one because of the jetlag.. Even mom slept till dinner.. Sidharth walked to mom’s room, once he woke up and Shehnaaz lazed around in bed..
She called her mother.. “Sana, bache.. Kaisi hai?” asked Mom as she picked up.. “Mai thik hu Ammaa.. Aa gaye wapas India.. Lockdown ho gaya hai.. Mai sochi thi aapko bula lungi.. Ghar me sab kaise hai?” asked Shehnaaz..
“Putt, muh chota mat kar.. Ek baar situation sahi ho jaegi toh mai Pehli flight leke Aa jaungi.. Yaha sab thik hai.. Tu tension mat le.. Apna dhyan rakh aur gharwalo ka bhi.. Humari fikar mat kar..”  said Mom..
Shehnaaz felt something weird when her mother was constantly asking her to take care and not get worried.. Her thoughts drifted away when Sidharth entered the room.. “Uth gayi, Moti.. Malish kar de..” said Sidharth.. Shehnaaz felt happy when he asked her for a massage..
“Haye, itne din baad bola.. Warna aise behave kar raha tha jaise shoot kar ke mai kamzor ho gai hu..” said Shehnaaz.. Sidharth knew he wont be able to hide about Shehnaaz’s health issues for a long time..
He kissed her hand before sitting down for the massage.. Mom was preparing dinner because she had planned to leave for Preeti Didi’s house after dinner and wanted to make food for Sidharth and Shehnaaz..
“Mai Maa ki help kar ke aati hu..” said Shehnaaz, once she was done with the massage.. “Shehnaaz, mom ne mana kiye hai.. Kavita Tai hai unki help karne ke liye.. Tu abhi itna shoot kari hai.. araam kar na Meri Jaan..”
“Sidharth, shoot karna mujhe pasand hai.. Tu aise kyu behave kar raha hai jaise Maine koi pahad uthaya hai ek mahina..” said Shehnaaz, putting the cap of the oil bottle and washing her hands..
“Maine aisa kaha bola? Mai bas tere sath rehna chahta hu..” said Sidharth, pulling her towards himself..
“Ha, Bubbu, lockdown chalu hai.. Mai tere pass hi hu.. Abhi Maa chale jaenge. Mujhe Jane de na.” said Shehnaaz and Sidharth had to agree..
“Jaa ab.. Dinner ke baad Mai teri godi me sounga..” cooed Sidharth.. Shehnaaz was happy since Sidharth was asking her to pamper him after a long time..
Mom had given a prep talk to Sidharth when he went to her room after waking up..
“Bache, if you are hiding her condition from her, then be normal with her.. Tu usko malish karne nai bol raha hai.. Usse chote mote kaam jo karwata tha, wo bhi nai karwa raha.. Sydney me wo shoot kar rahi thi toh thik tha.. Abhi yaha lockdown hai.. Abhi wo free rahegi.. Usse jo tu karwata hai wo karwa.. Warna wo samjh jaegi..” said Mom..
“Maa, mai kaise aisa karwa lu? Uski halat nai sahi hai kamzor ho rahi hai andar se.. Mai kaise malish karne bolu?” asked Sidharth..
“Bache, malish jo tu itna lamba time karwata hai wo nai karwa.. Meri Baat samjh.. 5 min ka karwa le.. Wo samajhdar hai.. Mai Maa hu.. Meri Baat samjh..” said Mom and Sidharth agreed.. That’s why he asked her to massage his head..
He saw the happiness in her eyes when he said he would lay on her lap.. He thanked God for blessing him with a mother like Rita Maa who always guided him on the right path..
“Mujhe kuch mat do, bas meri Mom aur Shehnaaz ki health achi rakho Bhagwan..” said Sidharth..
He changed his clothes and went out to see what Shehnaaz and Mom were doing..
“Hey, ladies.. Whats up?” asked Sidharth and Mom and Shehnaaz looked at him.. “Mai shart jeet gayi.. Ab tujhe chole Bhature ke sath Lauki ka juice peena padega..” said Mom, chuckling while Shehnaaz pouted in a corner..
Sidharth was clueless.. “Chal kya raha hai mujhe koi bataega..” said Sidharth, looking at Mom laughing and Shehnaaz sulking in a corner..
“Tu kyu itna bechain hai.. Thodi der kamre me nahi reh sakta tha..” scoffed Shehnaaz and folded her arms around her chest.. Mom laughed harder and Sidharth’s urge increased to know what had actually happned..
“Areee, ek aap ho, has rahe ho.. aur ye hai.. Bhadak rahi hai.. Please bolo na hua kya hai?” asked Sidharth, desperate to know..
Mom asked Kavita Tai, “Aap baaki ke Bhature fry karo.. Hum aate hai..” said Mom and the trio went out of the kitchen.. Shehnaaz held a teddy in her arms and Sidharth felt like laughing but he controlled..
Mom gulped in a glass of water and finally spoke, “Maine Shehnaaz se kaha tha ki Sidharth bas 5 minute me bahar aaega.. Shehnnaaz ne kaha abhi mai uske pass se hi aayi hu.. Wo seedha dinner karne aaega.. Maine kaha agar Sidharth aa gaya toh Shehnaaz ko dinner ke baad Lauki ka juice peena padega.. Aur tu aa gaya..” said Mom and started laughing again..
Shehnaaz glared at Sidharth and he found her angry look super cute.. He went close to his baby and took her in his arms, “Awww, Mera Bacha.. Aaj lauki ka juice peena padega..” cooed Sidharth, making her angrier..
“Ab bas, usko pareshan mat kar.. Mai jati hu juice banane..” said Mom, leaving them alone..
“Sidharth, tu chup kar ja..” said Shehnaaz, trying to get away from him.. He nuzzled into her neck, pulling her closer and pressed his lips on her neck.. She didn’t budge and he used another trick.. He slightly opened his mouth and licked her neck and that’s when she couldn’t stay angry..
“Tu bho kamina hai..” scoffed Shehnaaz again.. “Acha chal, meri wajah se tujhe lauki juice peena padh raha hai toh mai bhi sath pee leta hu tere..” said Sidharth and her heart melted…
“Haye, sachi.. Nai, nai Sidharth.. Tu mat pee.. Tujhe aise hi kadhwi cheeze nai pasand hai..” said Shehnaaz.. One moment she was angry and wanted to punish him and the other moment, she didn’t want him to have the juice because it wont be sweet..
Mom over heard their conversation and her eyes welled up.. “Dono ki shuruwat kaisi hui thi, abhi kitne samjhdar ho gaye hai.. Bas, Bhagwan dono ko khush rakhe.. Kavita Tai, mere nai rehte aap Shehnaaz ke khane ka pura khayal rakhna.. Mai jo bolungi wo hi banana.. Roz Sidharth ko bata dena Shehnaaz ko kya dene wale ho..” said Mom and Tai agreed..
“Aap fikar mat karo.. Mai sab sambhal lungi..” said Tai and the dinner was ready… They all ate and Sidharth went to drop Mom at Didi’s place..
“Thank you Mom, for guiding me.. Wo sach me khush ho gayi jab usse malish karwaya..” said Sidharth..
“I’m always with you Bache.” Said Mom and Sidharth hugged his sister when she opened the door and kissed mom’s cheeks, “Mai jata hu, wo akeli hai.. If you guys need anything, let me know.. Utarne ki koi zarurat nai hai..” said Sidharth and stormed back upstairs..
Shehnaaz was gulping down the juice down her throat.. He chuckled looking at her as he entered the house.. he went to the kitchen, “Tai, kuch meetha hai kya? Wo pareshan ho jaegi aise..” said Sidharth.. “Fikar mat karo.. Naira ne jo brownie banai thi wo bachi hai.. Mai wo garam kar ke deti hu..” said Tai and Sidharth thanked her..
He went out and saw she finished all the juice.. “You’re a good girl..” cooed Sidharth and kissed her.. “Bubbu, tera muh kadwa ho jaega.. Baad me kar kissi..” said Shehnaaz, pulling out of the kiss without kissing him back..
“Shut up and kiss me..” said Sidharth and held her face in hands and kissed her hard and she couldn’t deny kissing him this time..
He left her lips and hugged her.. “I am sorry baby.. But ye health ke liye bhot acha hai..” said Sidharth…
“Meri health sahi hai Sidharth, mai bimar thodi hu jo tu aur Maa itna mere peeche lage hue ho..” said Shehnaaz..
“Acha, wo sab chor.. Dekh Tai kya leke aaye hai..” said Sidharth and took the brownie in his hand and gave it to her..
“Haye, ye bach gaya tha..” said Shehnaaz.. She fed him a bite and took a bite herself..
Once done eating, Sidharth asked her, “Medicines li baby? Mom ko chorne gaya tha toh mai dena bhul gaya tujhe..” said Sidharth..
“Mai abhi juice pee pehle.. Maa ne bole the.. Abhi jaake leti hu..” said Shehnaaz and walked into the bedroom..
Sidharth thanked Kavita Tai.. “Aapke bache thik hai na?” asked Sidharth.. “Haa, thik hai.. Abhi aisi situation me kaam nai hai bas..” said Tai..

Promo- Sana’s medicines were finished, Sidharth panicked.. Stay tuned.