EMBRACING REALITY

CHAPTER 22 EMBRACING REALITY

Chapter 22

Sidharth showed Shehnaaz the whole house.. Their work space, a little room which was empty and kept for future use.. Shehnaaz stayed there a little longer.. “Very Soon..” said Sidharth.. Knowing what she might be thinking..
The room was kept clean and empty as they wanted to keep it for their kids.. “Shehnaaz, you liked it right?” asked Sidharth..
Shehnaaz looked at him and smiled, “Like nai karne jaisa kya hai? Sab jaisa chahiye tha, jaisa hona chahiye sab waisa hi hai..” said Shehnaaz, leaning on his arm, as he stood next to her in the Kid’s room..
“Come with me..” said Sidharth, taking her to their bedroom.. “This will be our space.. Mom ke liye bhi ek room hai aur bacho ke liye bhi.. Humne do flats combine kiye hai, isliye ghar kafi bada hai.. We will shift here once our baby will come..” said Sidharth..
Shehnaaz looked at him, “Sidharth, sab waha honge.. Hum yaha akele reh jaenge.” Said Shehnaaz..
“Mat soch abhi kuch bhi.. I will explain jab sahi time aaega.. Hum sab barabar se set karenge.. Don’t worry..” said Sidharth and they lay on the bed..
“Sleep, my love.. You have to shoot tomorrow in the morning.. I will be leaving in after dinner..” said Sidharth and pressed his lips on her forehead..
“I will miss you, Sidharth...” cooed Shehnaaz, pressing her lips on his chest.. “Mat bol abhi ye sab.. Jitna time hai, wo sath me reh.. Mai jaldi kaam kar ke wapas aa jaunga.. Aur sun, mai kal tere sath aa raha hu shoot pe.. Mera bag packed hai, Adith wo ghar se le aaega.. Mai mom se baat kar lunga, nashta karne nai jaenge ghar.. Direct shoot pe.. Aaj half day hai tera.. 4 baje jaenge ghar wapas.. Okay baby?” asked sidharth and Shehnaaz just agreed..
Shehnaaz lifted her head up and pressed her lips on his chin and pecked his lips soflty.. He kissed her back and patted her head soflty as they fell asleep, in each other’s arms..
The next morning, Shehnaaz woke up first.. Their bedroom’s balcony was opened to the sea.. The wind was slightly more than the other parts of the city because of the sea view..
“Good morning, my love..” cooed Sidharth.. “Uth gaya Putthu?” asked Shehnaaz.. “Mai jaag gaya tha, bas tujhe mehsoos kar raha tha kaise mujhe nihar rahi thi..” said Sidharth and Shehnaaz blushed..
“Let’s shower in our new bathroom, baby..” said Sidharth as he got up from the bed, taking Shehnaaz along.. She didn’t deny.. They took a shower and got ready..
“Shoot ke liye kapde nai liya mai.. Bhul gaya tha.. Waise, set pe mil jaenge..” said Sidharth, putting his hand in his hair.. “Haye, mera Putthu, kitna pyara hai tu.. Koi na Bubbu.. Kapde toh aise bhi set wale hi pehenne hote hai..” said Shehnaaz, “Aur waise bhi, tere pasand ke kapde pehenne me mujhe zyada acha lagta hai..”
“My baby.” Cooed Sidharth and they left to have breakfast.. Shehnaaz had practiced her song.. It was the audio recording that day..
Sidharth hugged her tight, “All the best darling.. Mai vanity me kuch meetings kar leta hu..” said Sidharth..
“Haa Bubbu, tujhe kuch chahiye hoga toh bol dena..” said Shehnaaz and left to record..
Sidharth was in contact with his team, taking in details for the outdoor shoot.. It was a thriller action movie and Sidharth was the lead. The second lead was a Bollywood Actor but he had a bad attitude..
“Bhai, wo Akash ka thoda attitude Acha nai hai..” said Kaushal.. “Dekh lenge.. Mai apna cool nai khounga jab tak mere se wo muh na lage..” said Sidharth..
Kaushal had planned to accompany him, along with the team.. Because he knew about Akash’s attitude issue..
Sidharth had promised himself to stay calm and not lose his cool unnecessary.. Once a man plans to be a father, he grows as a person too.. Either they realize this after becoming a father or before planning… Sidharth had managed to get less angry and become more mature in his life, not only with Shehnaaz but in general too..
Parenthood doesn’t make a couple just parents, they definitely become different people.. It is very important to grow.. It seems simple but growing is such a thing which isn’t just a small thing..
Sidharth had given Adith a day off because they had to leave after dinner.. He called him and confirmed the time to leave.. He even called Shehbaaz asking if they were doing fine..
“Shehnaaz ka dhyan rakhna Chotey.. Mai jaldi aane ka try karunga..” said Sidharth..
“Aap fikar na karo.. Hum sab hai yaha.. Acha suno, Rita Maa ko aapse Baat karna hai..” said Baaz, handing the phone to her and She said, “Sidharth, mai kya soch rahi thi, Shehnaaz ki family jab tak Bombay me hai, Bandra me reh lete hai..”
“Aap aur tai bhi sath Aa jao..” suggested Sidharth and Mom agreed.. “Tu kab tak wapas aayega?” asked Mom.. “Very Soon mom.. Hopefully, by the coming weekend.. Usse Pehle ho gaya toh mai Pehle Aa jaunga.. Aap dhyan rakhna. Mai call karta rahunga..” said Sidharth..
“Hum sab ki chinta mat kar.. Itne sare log hai hum.. Sab sahi rahega.. Tu bhi ache se rehna..” said Mom..
Shehnaaz had finished with the song recording and she entered the vanity.. She saw Sidharth sleeping on the bed, the quilt covering half of his torso.. His mouth slightly open and he was looking like a cupcake..
“Mera Sohna Putthu..” said Shehnaaz and Sidharth woke up.. “Shehnaaz, Aa gayi..” saying so, he got up..
“Kinna pyaara lag raha tha sote hue.. Said Shehnaaz.. Sidharth smiled and took her in his arms.. “I will miss you baby.. Please take good care of yourself, my love..” cooed Sidharth..
“Haa Putthu, ab le leti hu medicines.. Khane peene ka routine bhi set hai.. Kal se Surbhi bhi Aa jaegi, aaj uska quarantine khatam hoga..” said Shehnaaz, leaning her head into his chest..
Sidharth rubbed her back, “Ho gaya recording?” Shehnaaz looked at him and replied, “Haa, isliye toh aayi wapas, Putthu..” giggled Shehnaaz..
“Chal fir.. Ghar chalte hai..” said Sidharth, attempting to move but Shehnaaz scooted closer into him.. “Tujhse door nahi jana..” cooed Shehnaaz.. Sidharth felt a sudden rush of emotions and he lifted her in his arms.. “I promise, other than work, I won’t leave you alone like this. Ever in my life..” said Sidharth, taking her towards the car..
He made Shehnaaz sit on the front seat and he sat on the driver’s seat and started driving..
He saw Shehnaaz’s pouted face and raised his eyebrows at her, “Kya hua?” He asked and looked back at the road.. She didn’t reply, they stood at the signal and Sidharth looked at her again, “Bolegi?”
“Tu ni deta attention Pehle jaise.. Huh.. Pehle jab tu outdoor shoot pe jata tha toh Jaane se Pehle pura time mere pass hota tha.. Abhi door-door baitha hai..” said Shehnaaz..
Sidharth chuckled, “Aww, mere bache ko attention chahiye.. Gadhi, gadi chalate hue kaise pass baithu.. Aur waise bhi, Pehle ki Baat alag thi, abhi ki Baat alag hai.. Things change, people change.. You know that.’ Said Sidharth..
He was playing with her, just pulling her leg but he said it in a serious tone..
Shehnaaz, being the innocent one, she thought their relationship changed overtime and he doesn’t feel like giving much attention to her at the moment.. But she saw Sidharth from the corner of her eyes, smiling slightly and then he made a straight face again.. She understood he was trying not to smile and this means it was just fun.. So, she joined in..
“Mardo ka Sahi hai.. Jab man kiya attention do, jab nai kiya toh mat do.. Tu badal gaya.. Tu aisa nahi tha.. Haye rabba, Mera Sidharth pata nai kaha chala gaya hai.. Aap mere pati ko kaha gayab kar diye ho? Mujhe jaldi se ghar choro, mai aise paraye mardo ke sath gadi me nai ghumti..” said Shehnaaz and this made both of them laugh..
“I love these senseless banters we have..” confessed Sidharth and she held his arms, “Bas kar.. Kitni Baar realize karwaega ki Jaa raha hai.. Chor de na thodi der.. Reh ache se Jitna time hai.. Aur aise bhi Saturday tera last day of shoot hai.. Sunday Aa jaega na.. Relax kar.. Tu bhi mat soch, mujhe bhi mat sochne de..” said Shehnaaz and he agreed..
They reached Bandra Apartment and Shehnaaz questioned him, “Yaha kyu leke aaya hai? Sab toh ghar me hai na?”
“Nai baby, your family, Maa aur Tai yaha rahenge kuch din.. Tu bhi yehi reh le.. Tera jo abhi movie shoot hai wo isi area ke film studio me hai.. Isliye better hoga..” said Sidharth..
Shehnaaz’s face expressions dropped again, “Tere bina yaha man nai hoga Rehne ka..” said Shehnaaz..
“Meri Jaan, aisa nai hota.. Dekh, mai nai rahunga toh tujhe ghar me bhi Yaad aaegi hi.. Yaha hum rahe nahi hai zyada, tujhe meri Yaad kam aayegi.. Aur mai lead hu, lekin second lead ka role bhi important hai.. Mere pass time rahega free jab Akash ka scene shoot hone wala rahega.. I will be in touch.. Abhi chal, sab wait kar rahe hai..” said Sidharth, getting down from the car and opening her door..
She climbed down the car, held his arm and walked into the lift.. They reached their Aashiyana and the family had lunch together..
They knew Sidharth had to leave after dinner so they didn’t bother SidNaaz much and left them alone to spend some time together..
Shehnaaz gave a quick head massage to Sidharth and He gave a foot massage to her.. They took a shower, removing the oil from their body and then lay on the bed, in each other’s arms..
Sidharth thought to put her to sleep before leaving so that she doesn’t have a hard time sleeping without him.. He kept his already worn tshirt next to her head so that she can smell his fragrance..
He slowly got out of the bed, pressed his lips on her forehead and silently got out of the room.. He greeted everyone before leaving and also, requested them to handle Shehnaaz’s tantrums in his absence..
“Koi tantrum nai karti hai wo.. Usse zyada nakhre toh tere hai..” scoffed Rita Maa, who couldn’t listen to anything against Shehnaaz..
“Arey, aap Sidharth Puttar Ji ko daatiye nai.. Mai Maa hu Sana ki. Mai bhi manti hu ki ye ladki ke bade sare nakhre hai.. Koi ni, Puttar Ji, tussi jao, hum sambhal lenge usko..” said Mommy Gill and Sidharth left..
Shehnaaz thankfully didn’t wake up till morning and found herself curled up hugging his worn tshirt.. She pressed her lips on the tshirt and grabbed her phone.. She saw the time and there were various messages from Sidharth which said he had reached; he was busy shooting. He also told her to call him after eating..
Promo- Sidharth’s shoot happened properly. There was some error in Akash’s shoot which was a face-off between him and Sidharth.. They had to stay an extra day to reshoot. “Bade actors ko dusro ka struggle dikhta hi nahi hai.. Attitude ganda hai aapka Mr. Shukla” said Akash which made Sidharth really angry. Stay tuned to know what happens. Note.
Giving longer updates, please bear with irregularity.. I am not sure how will you guys react with the upcoming chapters.. I don’t know why I’m getting nervous.. I am seeing some very cringe content getting amazing response so I’m feeling that my content is not so liked by people. I don’t know why am I thinking like this.. Khair, no chapter tomorrow.. Now directly on Thursday..