AN INEQUITABLE LOVE

Acceptance or Rejection

" I like you, Sidharth ", she said while Sidharth sat astonished. Well, it was not the first time that Shehnaaz left him speechless. She often did that."Shehnaaz", called he in a feeble voice trying to speak further but words failed to leave his mouth. The woman sitting next to him was the only one he had come across who had it in her to leave anybody by shock. She did no less of it with Sidharth. They still sat hand in hand when Shehnaaz started to retreat after some moments of silence from the latter. She did realise what she said, didn't she?

Was it wrong to feel? Not at all. The feelings were hers and just like her even Sidharth had the right to put forth what he felt. Her mind roamed around thinking of all the possible reactions even the one that she had been expecting for she was no child to not understand his gestures towards her. The same sincerity, the same warmth and the same love. His gestures were laced with the same feelings that she had for him. Though his actions spoke even on the behalf of his unspoken feelings, her mind was still partially prepared for the worst; in those ten minutes.

An astonished Sidharth did not have words at that moment. He wasn't denying their feelings, especially his for the effect the woman had on him was something else. Sidharth's heart skipped a beat even he did not know how many times in those six hundred seconds. SHE SAID THAT!! SHE REALLY DID! Sidharth tightened his grip around her placing his lips on her tender forehead. She was cotton! Maybe softer than that! She snuggled into his arms almost asking him to let her in his heart. into him almost absorbing her. Her hum, quite audible to him waited for his response which all she could see was tensed Sidharth sitting just beside her engulfing her petite frame in his arms, his forehead wrinkled. Shehnaaz very softly caressed the wrinkled skin causing the muscles to relax as a smile laced his lips.

The ten minutes turned to twenty when Sidharth looked into her eyes which had no questions. "The feelings are mutual, darling. Thoda sa time de bas.",he said when her body stiffened but he held her tighter. "I mean nothing else but the fact that I can't give you that till I clear the mess,for us. A little time and mai sab theek kardunga".

"Hmm?", he gave her a questionable gaze.

" But we are in this together na? Saath mei karenge na theek?", she looked at him with moist eyes holding him such that he would escape the moment she loosened her hold.

"Of course, darling! We are in this together but this is my mess, the mess I created in these years and don't take it on you. Tumhare wajah se kuch nahi hai. It's just that I want just you and I need to be there only for you too by all means for that. Tu samajh rahi hai na, Shehnaaz?" She hummed in response.

They got up glancing at Shrey who woke up fresh after his deep sleep giving a big toothed smile to the two. He called his mother to engulf him into a hug while the latter happily did the same. It was a beautiful, emotional and a very moment inspired by a typical Indian Drama where Shehnaaz was going to shed a tear or two being the most selfless mother India but Shrey broke the moment thankfully! Shehnaaz was even more dramatic at times. It all depended on her hormones which had been fluctuating for a while now. " Pizza khaya sapne mei! Abhi toh nahi khaya. Abhi bhookh lagi hai", he whined. Ah this boy! He did shock Sidharth at times but Shehnaaz being the most lovable mother let him eat the pizza for she stressed even if Shrey lost a pound of weight. Sidharth thought how he would make the mother son duo workout from the day they start to live together.

Every time she looked at him, everytime her beautiful lips parted to say his name,every glance that she spared, every time that she blushed made his heart go berserk. Even her breaths gave him peace for without them neither could she nor would he survive. Shehnaaz looked in doubt. The very words that left his mouth seemed to have cleared them just like the last time he cleared her innumerable doubts. "You and Shrey are the most precious ones to me. Zyada mat soch darling".

*****

It took a lot of strength in me to write this chapter. Hope all of you are coping better. I could have extended this chapter but I just wanted to post a bit so as to resume atleast. I know it's tough for all of us and we have no option but to accept and cope with the loss. Sending lots of strength you way!

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