Breathless

Her Room

Siddharth:

It's almost evening and I'm still thinking about her. I don't know much about her but I know this: she's good for me and I believe what mom said earlier when she was here that she'll keep me happy. Fuck, I didn't even grab a smoke today thinking what if she doesn't like the smell of cigars. That's the effect she has on me. And it's just been 24 hours since I met her. As much as it excites me, it also scares the hell out of me. Knowing that it would be so difficult for me if ever she decides to move away from me. God, what do I do now?

Contemplating everything in my mind I take a small nap. It's 8:00 pm when I wake up and go downstairs to mom's place for dinner.

We have dinner in utter silence and mom stops me before I leave. She says she wants to talk about Shehnaaz and me.

What else she got to say about that?

"Mom, I don't know what more you have got to say about this. It's all so overwhelming for me. And I'm going insane thinking over it", I admit.

"To soch kyun rha hai? Do not think about it. Tera dimaag kharaab karna band kar aur apne dil se pooch ki Tu kya chahta hai aur tere liye kya sahi hai," mom tells illogically, annoying me at another level.

"Aap kya illogical baate kar rhe ho mom, ye sab practically work out hote bhi hai?", I snap.

"Life mein saari cheezein logic se nahi karte baccha kuch cheezein magical bhi hote hai just like your meeting her on the same day as I got the call for an alliance with her. Is mein logic nahi hai. Hum Dono ko woh bahut pasand aayi. Kya is Mein logic hai?"

Of course, there's not, which is why it scares me.

And I do what my mom wanted me to- go with my heart feelings. First time ever. And say something that surprises both mom and me, "Ok, then! Shall we go and meet her and her family, tomorrow?"

Mom hugs me tight and whispers, "yes!"

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Shehnaaz:

"Shehbaz main abhi teko hi call karne vali thi, tujhe pata hai?... Siddharth ne mere saath kaam karne ke liye haan kar Diya, usne kaha ki I'm very much looking forward to working with her, haaye main kitni lucky hoon na, mere saare dreams poore ho rhe hai aur pata hai woh articles ke baare mein use bura nahi laga, Kaushal ne bataya meko", I squeal into the phone in excitement.

" Motto, call maine kiya mujhe bolne toh de" he chastises me teasingly.

"Haan toh bol na maine kaha roka teko?" I ask playing innocence.

"Motto, tujhe aur ek good news milne wali hai aaj. Tujhe pata hai aaj kisne call kiya amma ko?"

"Kisne?"

"Siddharth ki maa ne, woh kah rahi thi ki kal shaam ko wo hamare ghar aayenge Siddharth ke saath, rishta pakka karne aur shaadi ke dates nikalwane"

"Kyaaaa? Sacchi??? Kha meri kasam? Tu pakka jhoot bol rha hai! Hai na? Kyun meri mazaak udata hai har baar? Chittar padenge tujhe"

"Arey motto teri kasam sach bol rha hoon. Abhi call aaya tha, chahe amma ko call karke pooch! woh bolengi tujhe kal Punjab aane ke liye"

"Haaye! wahe guruji ne mere ye wala sapna bhi puri karni hai kya? sacchi mein! Haaye shehbaz mujhe khushi Mein kahi attack na aa jaaye. Laak laak Shukar hai babaji ka. Tu sach mein sach hi bol rha hai, hai na? haste, mujhe vishwas hi nhi ho rha hai!"

"Haan motto sach hi bol rha hoon Tu ghar aaja kal! Theek hai na? Woh log kal shaam che baje tak ghar pe honge Tu usse pehle aane ki koshish kar! Ab rakhtha hoon main, bahut saara kaam baaki hai abhi."