EMBRACING REALITY

CHAPTER 16 EMBRACING REALITY

CHAPTER 16
Shehnaaz woke up and Sidharth woke up with her.. She had an alarm of the next dose of her medicines and hence she woke up.. “Stay na baby..” cooed Sidharth but Shehnaaz said, “Dawai lena hai.. Aati hu..” said Shehnaaz…
As she took her medicines, her phone rang.. Sidharth groaned, “Koi sone nai dega mujhe, hadh hai.” scoffed Sidharth walking out of the bed.. His eyes fell on the phone.. “Kaushal ka call firse?” asked Sidharth..
“Pata nai kyu, dekhti hu..” said Shehnaaz.. “Shehnaaz, baby say yes agar wo fir se wahi project ke bare me puchega toh..” said Sidharth, before she picked up the call..
Shehnaaz smiled and picked up the call, “Haa Kaushal, bol kaisa hai..”
“Mai badhiya hu, tu bata.. Sidharth ko ache se tang kar rahi hai na..” chuckled Kaushal making Shehnaaz laugh too…
“Haa wo toh roz hi karti hu..” said Shehnaaz.. “Acha, wo project ke bare me kya sochi? See, I know everything about your health.. I promise Mai bhi dhyan rakhunga tera.. Tere liye Surbhi bhi ready hai.. Bas uska Quarantine period khatam hone de.. Bahar se aayi hai toh usko 14 din ghar rehna hai.. Uske baad wo tere shoots pe sath rahegi..” said Kaushal..
“Pata nai maine aisa kya kiya hai jo tere jaisa pyaara manager mile hai jo Bhai jaisa khayal karta hai.. Mai karungi.. Thank you Kaushal… Thank You So much..” said Shehnaaz, her eyes were welled up and Sidharth had come forward, holding his baby up in his arms..
“Tu bhi toh sabka khayal rakhti hai.. Acha chal, mai papers ready karwata hu.. Tu dhyan rakh, sab Acha hoga..” said Kaushal and disconnected the call..
Sidharth hugged her tighter after the phone call and pressed his lips on her forehead.. “You’re my angel, my love..” cooed Sidharth.. “Thank you, Sidharth..” said Shehnaaz..
Sidharth smiled and rested his chin on her head.. Her head was on her favorite place, his heart.. “Acha chal, fresh ho ja.. Maa ke pass chalte hai thodi der..” suggested Sidharth..
Shehnaaz agreed.. Sidharth freshened up first.. “Mai Chai banata hu.. Tu fresh ho ja..” said Sidharth…
The weather in Bombay had changed.. It had become windy and Mom had already made Pakodas.. As Sidharth stepped out of the room, he saw Kabir, Naira and Mom sitting on the couch..
“Mamu!” cooed Naira, getting up from her place and running towards him.. “My baby..” cooed back Sidharth, hugging his niece..
“Kaise ho aap?” asked Naira.. “I’m good, bache.. How are you doing.?” Asked Sidharth.. “Good Mamu.. I am planning to re design the bedroom… We both will shift in the guest room and I’m going to design the bedroom..” said Naira..
“Only you? Kabir isn’t in it?” asked Sidharth.. “I’m actually doing this as an anniversary gift.. I will do everything.. I’ll take his suggestion just to see if he likes it or not.. If he’ll like, I’ll go with it.” Said Naira..
“My baby has grown so big so soon..” cooed Sidharth, hugging her again..
Shehnaaz had come out and was in a conversation with Kabir.. He was discussing his Anniversary gift for Naira with Shehnaaz…
The family had bonded in such an amazing way.. There was no place for negativity and everyone tried to focus on positivity as much as possible..
Sidharth was in the kitchen, making his special tea for everyone.. His phone rang and it was Shehnaaz’s mom, “Puttar ji, kaise ho?” asked Mommy Gill.. “Mai Acha hu mummy, Aap kaise ho?” asked Sidharth.. Mommy was quiet and Sidharth asked again, “Sab thik hai na.. Aap aise shant nai rehte..” said Sidharth..
“Aap dono ki Yaad bho Aa rahi hai.. Shehnaaz ki tabiyat bhi nahi thik hai.. Lekin ye lockdown..” Said Mom.. “Arely, Maa.. Flights chalu hai.. Aap mayus mat ho jao.. Mai aap ki aur Baaz ki tickets book karta hu.. Agar Masi ko bhi sath Lana hai toh bolo.. Mai manage karta hu.. Flights chalu hai aur yaha mausam bhi kafi Acha hai.. Aap packing karo, mai sab arrange kar raha hu..” said Sidharth and Mom smiled..
“Puttar Ji, aap sachi bhot zyada ache ho.. Shehnaaz ko aap se behtar pati nai mil sakta tha.. Aap jaisa koi nai..” cooed mommy, all praises for her son in law..
Sidharth asked Tai to get tea into the cups and he settled with everyone.. Shehnaaz screamed as she heard the sudden thundering and lightening sounds..
“Mera Bacha, calm down.. Mai hu na yehi..” said Sidharth, wrapping his arms tightly around her.. Shehnaaz held his tshirt so tight that her nails were touching his skin under the tshirt..
Mom got up to close the window.. “Ye toofan Acha nai lag raha hai..” said Mom.. Sidharth decided to postpone Mommy Gill’s Bombay trip..
“Shehnaaaz, baby, please calm down..” said Sidharth and Shehnaaz let go of him when Mom closed the window..
“Mami, aap kitne cute ho.. I love it when I see you going to Mamu the moment you’re scared.. Matlab, aapke pass hai koi jisko aap itna trust karte ho ki aapko pata hai wo aapko bacha lenge..” said Naira, leaning on Kabir’s arm..
“Mere sabhi bache aise hi khush rahe.. Bhagwan tum sab ki sabhi mushkil ko door kar de..” said Mom..
Sidharth got up, sitting on the floor, holding her mom’s legs.. “Hamari dua yehi hai ki aap hamare sath hamesha raho.. Bas.. Baaki koi mushkil aisi nai hai jise him face nai kar sakte.. We all just want you with us Mom.” Said Sidharth..
Shehnaaz looked at Sidharth and Mom and this time, she looked at them differently.. Her motherly instincts were imaging how her child will be with her.. Her eyes welled up again, imaging the scenario..
Sidharth saw her wiping her tears and he thought she was missing her mother.. “Nai kar raha Mai postpone.. Meri baby ki aankho me aasu nai dekh sakta..” he thought to himself..
Kabir saw the restlessness on Sidharth’s face.. He walked towards him, “All cool Mamu?” asked Kabir..
“Yaa, I wanted to get Shehnaaz’s mom here and now the weather is changing suddenly because of the cyclone passing by.. She was crying, chup ke.. When I was with Mom..” said Sidharth..
“Mamu, aap ko Mami ne aisa kuch bole nai hai.. I am too young to say but ho sakta hai wo aap dono ko dekh ke kuch aur soch rahe hoenge.. Dekho, wo has rahe hai, khush hai..” said Kabir..
Sidharth looked at her laughing and his heart was at peace.. “Fir kya soch rahi hogi?” said Mamu..
“Mamu, aap na kabhi-kabhi bhot zyada cute lagte ho.. Aap dono baby plan karne wale ho.. Ho sakta hai, wo aap dono ko dekh ke, khud ko as a mom and aapko as her child de rahi hongi..” said Kabir..
Sidharth hit his forehead, “Ye mere dimag me aaya hi nahi.. Ha ho sakta hai.. Fir mai ruk jata hu weather sahi hone ka.. Waise, tu itna zyada samajhdar hai mujhe pata nai tha..” said Sidharth..
“Aapki sikhai hui hi hai Mamu.. And my parents too.. Jab se wo log Canada Jane ka plan final kiye, tab se they started teaching me real life values everyday.. So, yaa.. All my maturity and wisdom is dedicated to my parents and You..” said Kabir..
They way this young guy was dedicating his growth to the elders showed how well he was raised..
“Thanks, young man.. Kabhi-kabhi mujhe bhi kisi samjhane wale ki zarurat hoti hai..” said Sidharth..
The thundering happened again and Shehnaaz hugged Mom this time.. Shehnaaz looked at Sidharth.. He asked her to come to him.. She got up from the couch and walked towards him..
“Mera Bacha, tu strong hai.. Ye bijli kadakne se kuch nai hota.. Everything will be alright.. Okay baby?” said Sidharth..
“Awaz itni tez hoti hai.. Aisa lagta hai kuch ho jaega.. Dekh na kitni tez barish ho rahi hai..” said Shehnaaz, snuggling into him more..
“Relax.. Ye toh Bombay me bhot hoti hai na.. Calm down..” said Sidharth.. He also got a little scared because the wind was different this time..
“Hmmm..” cooed Shehnaaz.. “Chole banau kal? Amma jaise?” asked Shehnaaz.. “Haa baby..” Shehnaaz walked into the kitchen to soak the Chole..
Mom came to Sidharth.. “Bache, Neetu ke ghar zyada din nai ruki thi.. Karwachauth ke wajah se.. Uska phone bhi aaya hai.. Mai jaau? Tum dono sahi rahoge na?” asked Mom…
“Haa, aap jao.. Mai aise bhi uske liye ek choti si balcony date plan kar raha hu.. Aap jao.. Mai dhyan rakhunga uska.. Kaushal ne bola tha mere liye bhi koi project aaya hai.. Batata hu jab uska phone aaega.. Aur suno, mai na Shehnaaz ki mom, Masi aur Baaz aur Rajbir ko bula raha hu.. Aap tab Aa jana na..” said Sidharth..
“Bache, mai nai aati.. Mummy aur Masi mere kamre me reh jaenge, Baaz aur Rajbir guest room me.. Mai aati rahungi..” said Mom and Sidharth agreed..
Shehnaaz spent time mom since she was leaving.. Sidharth was scrolling down his phone and he saw the hate spreading around.. Mom left and Shehnaaz saw Sidharth lost.. “Bubbu kya hua hai?” asked Shehnaaz..
He didn’t reply, instead he lay on her lap.. What next? Stay Tuned..