EMBRACING REALITY

CHAPTER 8 EMBRACING REALITY

CHAPTER 8

Sidharth and Shehnaaz slept like little babies.. Stress free and in each other’s arms.. Their sleep was disturbed when Shehnaaz had to go to the loo..
“Baby, are you fine?” asked Sidharth.. “Ha Sidharth, tu shant reh.. Mai thik hu..” said Shehnaaz..
She went to the loo and her ankle was still paining.. Sidharth saw her with his one opened eye.. “Shehnaaaz..” He called her and got up from the bed.. She turned around to reply to him and saw him standing close..
Shehnaaz just threw herself at him.. “Mera Bacha..” cooed Sidharth, wrapping his arm around her..
“Go to the loo, mai chai banata hu..” cooed Sidharth and pressed his lips on her forehead.. Tai was already asleep because it was past dinner and Sidharth had slept for some time along with Shehnaaz..
He made a sizzling hot cup of tea and got it for her.. She was sitting on the couch.. Shehbaaz called her, “Motto, kaisi hai?” asked Baaz..
“Mai mast hu.. Tera shoot ho gaya?” asked Shehnaaz.. (Including ‘little star’ produced by Shehnaaz..) “Haa, maza aa gaya.. Tu hoti toh zyada acha lagta.. Mera pehla shoot tha..” said Baaz..
Shehnaaz’s expressions changed.. Sidharth handed her a cup and she looked at him.. “All okay Baby?” asked Sidharth and Shehnaaz put her phone on loudspeaker..
“Oh, Chotey.. Kaisa hai?” asked Sidharth.. “Mai mast hu.. Aap kaise ho?” asked Shehbaaz..
“Shoot kaisa hua? First experience kaisa raha?” asked Sidharth and Shehnaaz snuggled into his chest..
He looked at Shehnaaz and heard what Shehbaaz answered.. “Bhot badhiya tha.. Producer didi kaha hai?” asked Shehbaaz and Shehnaaz snuggled deeper into him..
“Wo tujhe miss kar rahi hai.. Thodi emotional ho rahi hai wo.. Tu relax kar.. Mai dekhta hu.. Release kabhi ho raha hai?” asked Sidharth..
“Time hai abhi.. Ek hafte baad poster.. Uske baad gana..” said Shehbaaz and they spoke for a while and disconnected the call..
Sidharth then turned towards Shehnaaz, “Shehnaaz, baby.. Please calm down.. Abhi agar Covid situation nai hoti toh hum chale jate na uske pass..” said Sidharth..
“Haa.. Malum hai.. Shehbaaz mere sath hamesha tha pata.. Kabhi mera sath nai chora.. Aaj wo bhi apna career chalu kar raha hai aur mai nai hu uske sath..” said Shehnaaz..
“Meri jaan, you are with him.. You are the producer of this song.. You are launching him, Mera Bacha.. Be proud of it..” said Sidharth, holding the cup and giving it to her again..
Shehnaaz hummed.. “Ye chai pee baby..” said Sidharth.. She sipped onto it and snuggled into him again..
Sidharth played some cool romantic music and turned on the dim lights.. She looked at him, his eyes were stuck on her.. “Tu aise dekhta rehta hai, bore nai hota?” asked Shehnaaz..
“Meri zindagi hai tu.. tujhe dekhna mera sukoon hai.. Tujhse nazre hatane ka man hi nai hota hai..” cooed Sidharth, scooping her in his arms.. “Bhuk lagi baby ko?” asked Sidharth..
“Sidharth, Kabir Naira aaye the na.. Haye, mera frustration un dono pe bhi nikal gaya..” said Shehnaaz..
“Tujhe aaj kal zyada sunai dene laga hai kya? Maine dinner ka pucha, tujhe kuch aur hi sunai diya..” said Sidharth…
“Sidhaaartth..” whined Shehnaaz.. “Abey, nai hai wo dono naraz tujhse.. Maine bol diya tha. Bache nai hai dono ab.. Tu khana khaegi abhi ya nai ye bata.. Mujhe bhuk lagi hai..” said Sidharth..
“Tu sachi pagal hai..” said Shehnaaz.. “How sad na.. Tujhe ek Pagal ke sath puri zindagi nikalni hai..” said Sidharth, dramatically..
“Haye, mera ganda bacha.. Aaj tu itne ache mood me hai.. Dekh ke acha lag raha hai.. Mujhe lag raha tha tu kuch chupa raha hai.. Pareshan hai.. Lekin ab tu khush lag raha hai.. Baba ji tujhe aise hi khush rakhe.” Said Shehnaaz, her eyes welled up in the end..
Sidharth was saw it and cupped her face gently in his hand, “Meri Jaan, I’m with you, forever.. Don’t worry.. Please..” said Sidharth..
“Haa Sidharth, mujhe Babaji pe pura bharosa hai..” said Shehnaaz.. She rested her head on his shoulder.. “Maa ki Yaad Aa rahi hai..” said Shehnaaz..
“Aaj wo Neetu ke ghar gaye hai.. If you want we can meet her in the day.. Abhi late ho gaya hai.. Hum zyada der tak so gaye the.. Soch, Kavita tai bhi so gaye hai.. 11 baje hai abhi..” said Sidharth..
“Lock down nai hota toh hum drive pe jaate.. Paani ke pass baith te. Mera dum ghuta Jaa raha hai andar baith ke..” said Shehnaaz..
“Meri Jaan, let’s chill in our balcony today.. Wahi baithenge.. Mai ice creams mangwaya tha.. Din me.. Enjoy karte hai..” said Sidharth, pressing his lips on her forehead.. She smiled and hugged him..
“Mere Dil ko itna pata hai, ki kuch bhi ho jaye mera mood jaisa bhi kharab ho, tu hai toh sab sahi ho jaega..” said Shehnaaz, smiling wide..
“Ye tujhe hasta hua dekhne ke liye na kuch bhi kar sakta hu.. Samjh aaya.. Kuch bhi..” said Sidharth..
She pressed her lips on his nose and went into the kitchen to heat the food cooked by Tai.. She got it in one plate while Sidharth grabbed a wine and glasses.. He lit up candles in the balcony and turned on the dim lights there.. He turned on the air conditioner of the room, closed the window of the balcony and grabbed extra cushions..
“Khush ho jaegi..” thought Sidharth to himself.. Shehnaaz called Sidharth’s name but he didn’t answer.. She took the plate and went into the room..
She saw the set-up; the scented candles made the air romantic.. She saw Sidharth filling up the wine in the glass, wearing just his shorts.. “Sidhaaarrrtthhh!” cooed Shehnaaz..
“Aa gayi.. Idhar Aa baby..” said Sidharth, keeping the candles a little away from the cushions.. “Ye sab kya hai, Putthu?” asked Shehnaaz..
“Gadhi, dinner date plan kiya hu.. Hamare liye..” said Sidharth, chuckling at her.. “Gadhe, mujhe pata hai.. Bas believe nai hua aisa kuch karega tu..” said Shehnaaz..
“Hadh hai.. Jitna bhi kar lo.. Natak chalu rehta hai..” said Sidharth, faking anger.. Shehnaaz knows him well enough to know if he was being honest or playing around with her..
“Gussa hone ki acting seekhna padega tujhe.. Mere samne ye fakeness nai chalegi Shuklaaaa” said Shehnaaz and started laughing..
Sidharth took the plate in his hand and kept it on the small table in the balcony.. He grabbed her and pinned her below him.. “Itna hasi Aa rahi hai.. Tujhe abhi batata hu..” said Sidharth, biting her neck hard.. His mouth went to her birthmark and she gasped..
“Kuttaa” scoffed Shehnaaz, pulling herself away from him only to be pushed again.. “Stay close to me.. Don’t you dare get away from me, you get that?” said Sidharth in his husky voice, nuzzling his nose in her neck..
“Ab bhuk nai lagi hai?” asked Shehnaaz.. Sidharth came out of her neck, “Kar li romance ki dhajiya? Hadh hai matlab.. Fir kehte hai Pati romantic nai hai.. Huh..” scoffed Sidharth and Shehnaaz covered her head with her hand..
“Khana khila dey ab..” said Sidharth, slightly annoyed.. “Chidh mat na.. Meri bhi situation samjh..” said Shehnaaz..
“Chup kar, gadhi..” said Sidharth, grinning in front of her and adding ice in the wine.. “On the rocks, for my baby..” said Sidharth, handing a glass to her..
“Ab khila de.. Kitna bhuka rakhegi..” said Sidharth.. “Khol muh..” said Shehnaaz, as she made a bite and fed it to him.. They had dinner, sipped wine and enjoyed their moment in the balcony..
They fell asleep after sometime and woke up directly in the morning as the sunrays hit their eyes.. “Good Morning, Baby..” cooed Sidharth, crushing her in his arms.. She smiled and wished him back..
“What do you want for breakfast? Restaurant take way is available.. Kuch mangwau?” asked Sidharth.. “Idli..” said Shehnaaz, in her half sleepy voice.. She snuggled deeper into his neck and he chuckled, he grabbed his phone and she whined as he removed his hand from her waist..
“Baby, order kar raha hu.. Give me 2 minutes..” said Sidharth and she stayed silent.. He pressed his lips on her forehead and finished ordering quickly..
“Ab chal, fresh ho jate hai.. Maa ko milne jana hai na?” said Sidharth.. He knew this would wake her up..
“Haan! Haan! Haan!” said Shehnaaz, excited like a baby.. “Gadhi.” Said Sidharth and she ignored it.. They brushed and took a shower..
Once the breakfast arrived, they ate and informed Neetu Didi about their visit.. “Khana yehi khaa ke jana dono.” Said Neetu.. SidNaaz asked Kavita Tai to cook only for herself and left..
“Maaaaa” cooed Shehnaaz as she opened the door and hugged her.. “Meri Bachi..” cooed Mom.. Sidharth hugged his sister and Jiju.. He saw Shehnaaz was still in Mom’s embrace..
“Bas karo, Mom, hug me now..” said Sidharth, literally pulling Shehnaaz out of mom’s arms and wrapping his own arms around her..
“Mera pyara bacha..” cooed Mom and Sidharth stayed shut.. “I missed you Mom..” said Sidharth.. Mom smiled at him and Jiju wanted to discuss something with Sidharth so they both went to Jiju’s room..
Neetu Di, Shehnaaz and Mom settled on the couch, chit chatting.. Shehnaaz told them about her dream and said, “Mujhe Sidharth ke liye fast rakhna hai..” said Shehnaaz.. Neetu Di said, “Karwachauth aa raha hai.. Rakh lena.”
Mom knew Sidharth wouldn’t like her fasting while she was already sick.. She glared at Neetu for reminding Shehnaaz about Karwachauth..

P.S. sorry for delaying the promo. Stay tuned for Sidharth’s reaction