EMBRACING REALITY

CHAPTER 12 EMBRACING REALITY

CHAPTER 12

Sidharth managed to calm Shehnaaz down.. “Mera Bacha..” He cooed and she settled on his lap, digging her face in the crook of his neck.. “My love, together we will be able to make your health better.. Samjh me aaya? Sab thik ho jaega.. Aisi problems aati hai and maine doctor se detail me sab baat ki hai.. She has said ki aaj kal complications common hai. You have to be positive and stress free to get well. So, meri Jaan, ab se kisi baat ka stress nai lena hai.. Surbhi India aa gayi hai.. Wo lockdown khulne ke baad tere sath rahegi. She has done many courses, she’s a dietician and also a yoga expert.. Wo tujhe kya khana hai kya exercise karna hai sab bata degi..” said Sidharth..
Shehnaaz came out of her neck and looked at him with pouted lips which confused Sidharth.. “Kya hua Baby?” asked Sidharth.. “Tu relax karega? Itna sab tere andar rakha tha.. Mai samjh rahi hu.. Lekin abhi mujhe bata diya hai, mai samjh gi hu mujhe dhyan dena hai.. Bubbu, tu hyper hona band kar ab.. Surbhi bhi expert hai in sab mamlo me.. Ab tu fikar karna band kar..” said Shehnaaz, grabbing his face gently and pressed his lips on his forehead..
He smiled as he felt her lips on his forehead.. “Mera Bacha..” cooed Sidharth.. and Shehnaaz loved it.. “Ab mujhe ek gift dega? Aaj Karwachauth hai na..” said Shehnaaz..
“Meri jaan, tu kuch bhi mang. Tere liye har cheez hazir hai..” said Sidharth.. “Mera Cutu, Bubbu.. Tu hamesha aise hi rehna.. Ab mera gift, Maa pe gussa nai karega kyu ke wo mujhe wrat rakhne diye.. Aur hamesha mera hath pakade rehna.. Mera sath kabhi chorna nai..” said Shehnaaz, her eyes welled up by the end..
“My love, I promise. Sab jo tu mangi, samjh maine de diya. Nai karunga gussa Maa pe. I will always be with you. Always.” Said Sidharth, pressing his lips on her cheeks and bit it..
“Ah, kutte..” scoffed Shehnaaz and he chuckled.. Sidharth took a sign of relief.. He had no baggage inside him.. Shehnaaz knew her health condition and he was there for her.
Mom came home once the preparations at Preeti’s home were completed. She saw Sidharth and Shehnaaz sitting on the couch.. Sidharth was pampering her since she was fasting for him..
Mom heard Sidharth saying, “Baby, ye lockdown hat jaega na toh Mehendi lagwana.. Aaj nai lagwa paayi na..”
The way Sidharth understood the importance of little things made Rita Maa a proud mother.. Shehnaaz stopped him from massaging her ankle.. “Sidharth, bas kar..” said Shehnaaz..
He pressed his lips on her forehead.. She gave him the prettiest smile and he got up to wash his hands.. That’s when he saw Rita Maa, “Mom, aap aa gaye..” cooed Sidharth, walking up to his mother like a little child.. He didn’t care about his oily hands and he just pulled her in a hug..
“Mera Bacha..” cooed Rita Maa.. Shehnaaz wanted to get up too, “Pair me tel hai, firse fisal jaegi, chup chap baithi reh..” said Sidharth and Shehnaaz pouted, “Khadoos. Pyar se ni bol sakta.”
Sidharth pulled out of the hug and wrapped an arm around his mom.. He needed his mother at the moment.. “Tu gadhi hai. pyaar se samjhao toh fayda uthati hai.” said Sidharth, hiding his smile..
“Hawww, Maa dekho mujh pe itna vadda ilzaam laga rha, haye rabba. Maine iske liye wrat rakha aur bolta hai mai uske pyaar ka fayda uthati hu.” Said Shehnaaz, scrunching her nose up.
Mom laughed leaving her son and sat next to Shehnaaz, “Sana, tu bhot pyari hai, iski baato me mat aa.. Meri pyari bachi..” cooed Mom..
“Kinne time ke baad Sana bulaya kisi ne. Mera dil khush sa ho gaya..” said Shehnaaz, resting her head on Mom’s shoulder..
Sidharth washed his hands and sat on the floor, his favourite spot in the drawing room…
There was silence, the family was having a cozy moment with each other.. Shehnaaz snuggled into Mom’s lap and mom ran her fingers in her hair..
Sidharth just looked at both of them.. “Sab thik ho jaega na..” said Shehnaaz, after a few minutes of silence.. “Baba ji pe bharosa hai na tujhe?” asked Mom..
Shehnaaz lifted her face off her lap and looked into mom’s eyes, “Haa Maa, sabse zyada.” Said Shehnaaz, her energies instantly hit positively as Mom took Baba Ji’s name..
“Mere dono bacho, tum ko tension lene ki koi zarurat nai hai. Sab acha hoga. Thoda sa dhyan doge toh sab sahi ho jaega. Tum dono ko bas zyada sochna band karna hoga. Live every moment of this phase. Ek baar tumhare bache ho jaenge na toh ye alone time din me sirf 10-minute ke liye milega.. Be with each other. Zyada sochne se better hai ek sath happy memories banao.” Said Mom and somehow Sidharth and Shehnaaz understood it.
“Acha, ab kuch bolo bhi. Mood acha karo. Karwachauth ka din hai. Ab meri bachi ko toh tu koi gift de nai sakta hai. uske sath reh, tu bhi khush rahega. Mai thoda araam karti hu fir raat ko Preeti ke ghar jaane ka hai.” said Mom and went into her room…
Sidharth snuggled into Shehnaaz as she sat on the edge of the couch.. She wrapped her arms around him.. “Tujhe pata nai hai mai kitna stressed tha.” Said Sidharth.
“Mera Bubbu, pehle bata deta na.. Itna sab akele pareshan nai hona padhta tujhe..” said Shehnaaz, running her hand on his arms..
“Tu Sydney me thi, fir India aane ke kuch din me tujhe wo sapna aaya aur tu already panic kar rahi thi. Mai socha tu alag zone me chale jaegi. Aur dekh, jab pata chala toh tu ho gayi thi pareshan.” Said Sidharth..
“Sidharth, tu mere sath rahega na toh mai har ladai lad sakti hu. Mai pyaar me bharosa karti hu. Aisa hota hai na kabhi-kabhi ki aapko samjh nai aata kya karna chahiye toh dil ki karna chahiye. Laggi samjh.” said Shehnaaz..
“How can you be so logical my love? Meri gadhi itni mature ho gayi hai.” said Sidharth, knowing he’d be getting a reaction from her.
She stopped massaging his arms and stayed silent..
“Kya ho gaya? Tareef hai baby. Awww, kisi ko bura laga..” said Sidharth, getting up from her lap and she ran into the balcony..
He walked behind her, hugging her from the back, his arms tucked on her waist and his head was dug into her neck..
“Chodh mujhe.” Scoffed Shehnaaz.. “No!” said Sidharth..
Mom came out of the bedroom and saw them, “Tum dono tayar ho jao. Ladna band karo, jao kamre me ab.” Said Mom..
They didn’t say anything and walked to the bedroom.. Shehnaaz loved when Sidharth would coax her.. She remained silent and he teased her more by not coaxing her..
“Huh, kutta ab manaega bhi nahi..” thought Shehnaaz to herself..
Sidharth had managed to get a gift with Ken’s help.. He went to his place while Shehnaaz was getting ready..
“Shehnaaz, I’m coming..” said Sidharth and Shehnaaz simply ignored.. Sidharth called Kabir who was tagging along..
“Hey Mamu. Kaise ho? Well, you look happy..” said Kabir, stepping into the car.. “I’ve made Shehnaaz upset. Oh, I love it when she gets irritated and glares at me.. I will make her so happy..” said Sidharth..
Kabir nodded his head, “You guys are really unpredictable but goals..” said Kabir and Sidharth smiled..
They picked up Shehnaaz’s gift and headed back home.. Back at home, Shehnaaz got ready in a red lehenga with gold work… Rita Maa made her wear a necklace with small earrings.. She put up a Mangtika and was about to put the vermillion when Sidharth entered into the bedroom and held the box of vermillion from her hand and put the vermillion on her parted hair..
“My wife is so beautiful..” He said in his husky voice, putting the lose strand of hair behind her ear and pressed his lips on her forehead..
He didn’t care about anything, he held her in his arms, hugging her close and she felt his warmth as her hands snaked around his neck.. His hand tugged at the little skin visible between her blouse and the lehenga and he lifted her in his arms, her legs were up in the air and he snuggled into her neck..
“Sidhaarth..” She hardly managed to whisper his name, but it didn’t bother him.. His baby had fasted for him, for his long life and he was grateful for it..
“Shehnaaz, I love you baby..” cooed Sidharth and dropped her back on the floor.. He made her wear the Mangalsutra he got as a gift and her eyes shined like diamonds..
“Ye kitna pyara hai.. Bubbu, tu lockdown me bahar kaise gaya?” asked Shehnaaz.. “Ken ka ghar pass me hai baby.. Bas jaake aa gaya. Teri medicines refill karni thi. Your reports came and you are doing better. Lekin doctor ne kaha hai zyada khush hoke routine me change nai aana chahiye. Keep doing everything as we’ve been doing. And by the way, Mrs. Rude, I just said I love you to you which you ignored.” Said Sidharth, dramatically..
Stay tuned for further updates.