Hamesha and Forever - Sidnaaz

Chapter 17

He raised her eyebrows, waiting for her to reply. Or just spare him an appreciative glance, but nothing came. Nothing, and he felt  a harsh pang, a lump rose in his throat.
She stared at him. Her face stoic, void of any emotion.
"Hey? kahan khoyi hui hai?" he tried again.
He was trying. He was trying. He was trying. Wasn't this enough for her? She asked her own self. Wasn't this enough for the time being?
But what about the sinking feeling in her heart which kept intensifying each passing minute.
It rid her of any sanity, any logic, any adjustment or compromise. She couldn't get herself to talk to him, to touch him, to let him touch her. Not in an intimate way, but just the general touch. The general? The kind friends have? the way she hugged him, the way he pulled her into himself, the way her head rested on his chest as they slept, the way his fingers drummed on her arm, the way he pinched her cheeks and nose, the way she caressed his face. The friend's kind!
And she couldn't help but smirk painfully.
And she watched him suck in a breath, bite the inside of his cheek, moving back.
The handful people around watched in utter confusion as the two, so well known as the best-est of friends, barely exchange a greeting.
She suddenly became aware of their prying eyes and gulped down the lump in her throat.
"K-kuch ni. matlab...pata nhi ...Hi! tu kesa hai" She forced out, loud enough for everyone to here and convincing enough for them to return to their own business, but he stood there, rooted at his place.
She did not wait for him to reply as she took out her mobile, and called a number.
He couldn't even recognise her. Who was this girl? Who was this girl in front of him, so stoic, so indifferent to him. Where was his Shehnaaz? Where was the Shehnaaz that skipped to him whenever he entered a room. Where was the Shehnaaz whose heart sank at the thought of him not being around her at all times?

It was the a day or two after the last weekend ka waar. Less than 3 days till finale!
"Tu na Bhool jaye ga mujhe Yahan se nikaltey hi. Dekh Lena!" she mocked suddenly while they were having food.
He made a face at the stupid thought, it wasn't even possible to forget her, EVER in life. Talk about "Nikaltey hi". He rolled his eyes.
"Dekh le! Tujhe abhi bhi koi farak nhi parta mere se!" She gestured to his eyes roll as he took another bite of his beloved daal chawal.
"Yaar please! Khaaney toh khaaney de mujhe!"
he said, irritated. This was probably the third time she had said such a thing in a day.
"khaaney khaaney de!" she morphed he face, mimicking him. He chuckled.
"Yaar tujhe seriously koi matlab Nhi hai mere se? Like teko adat nhi hui bilkul bhi Meri?" She asked after a few minutes, her voice small and he sighed. As time neared to finale, she had become so emotional, so worried all the time. A little insecure too at times. And she had started to demand words from him. Words of assurance and comfort. And he was the WORST in that, especially when he was emotionally in it too. It was one of his many shortcomings, he believed.
"Nahi!" he scoffed, as sarcastically as he could, wishing she would understand what he meant. "Mujhe toh bilkul adat nhi hai Teri! Mujhe toh koi farak hi nhi parta! Haina? Farak toh sirf tujhe parta hai? Tu Devi hai! Tu Mahaan hein maatey!" He blabbered and she facepalmed herself.
"Kuch bhi boley jaa raha hai kuttey!" she grabbed his hair and pulled him closer, "Tu kabhi kabhi seedhe seedhe bhi keh saktey hai ke Shehnaaz, I will miss you!" She giggled.
"Baal chor tu! Dekh Mera khana gir jaye ga!"
"Pehle bol *I will miss you!" tujhe feel sab hota hai tu bolta kuch nhi hai! Phir sab bill mere pe phattey hein!" she pulled his hair a little more
"Aaah! bol chhor! kon phara Tere pe bill? mein?"
"nhi, log!" she stated
"Toh unn ko jaa ke bol na! unn ke Baal kheench!"he yelled
"Tu bol pehle *I will miss you*! Bol!" she pulled his hair with all her force
"Aaahh!!! okay! I will miss you! okay!? bol diya, bol chor!"
she left his hair. Her eyes became glassy suddenly, "Zabardasti bol raha hai?"
He mentally slapped his forehead. This stupid little girl!
"Abey!! Mann se bol raha hoon na darling! Ansu kyon aa rahey hein ye?" he held her face, his fingers digging in her cheeks
"Haan, kasam kha!" her eyes lit up.
"haan! Sau lagey!" he said, mimicking her style and she laughed out loud, her heart soaring with affection for him, and with the affection he showed her.
He pulled her face and placed a firm kiss to her cheeks.
"Ab Jaa! chawal le aa iss mein mere Liye!" he said, forwarding his bowl to her.
"Please bol"
"Please baby, chawal laa de sweetheart!" he said, his tone all sugar and sweet.
She rolled her eyes, feigning attitude.
"Laa de tera bowl!" her lips were curled into a smile.