Behind the scenes

Chapter 5

The last two days spent with Sidharth and his family were probably the best moments in her life up till now. Shenaaz felt fuzzy and warm all over whenever she thought of him, his smile, his laid back yet attentive nature, his walk and even the way he scolds her whenever she does something stupid. She had finally found her perfect man! She thought with a smile as she stared in the mirror with a dopey smile on her face. She blushed remembering the sweet words Sidharth had told her last night while they were making love to the slow tandem of rain falling outside his window. How he had not only complimented her physical attributes ( and shown his appreciation quite clearly throughout the night) but also her inter personal skills, how she understands people, how she tries to keep everyone happy around her, how she observes people and tries to be there for them when they are in distress. This was a new feeling for shehnaaz, since for the first time in her life someone who was so smart and analytical had praised her mental abilities and not just her looks.

Sidharth didn't see her as a liability or a burden like her previous boyfriends and friends , he didn't mind explaining things to her or waiting for her to articulate her sentences in Hindi and English . He appreciated her effort and helped her improve little by little even if that might take the form of some innocent teasing and jokes. For the first time in her life, shehnaaz had someone who was PROUD to show her off as theirs. When she spends time with his mother and sisters, he is always wearing a small yet proud smile on his face, even when shehnaaz cracks stupid jokes or plays her own made up games with him and his family. He tries to entertain her when the discussion moves to topics she doesn't comprehend, constantly throwing her reassuring glances and smiles while whispering stupid jokes of his own in her ears making her giggle.

With these thoughts running in her head, shehnaaz again focused on her reflection. Currently she was getting ready in Sid's room after a message from her manager about a meeting with the channel head of Color's, his thoughts had bought solace to her otherwise troubled mind. She was a bit anxious about the meeting and was wondering how it would go, since she didn't do well in such corporate situations. Just as she had finished brushing her slightly wet locks, the door to the attached bathroom opened and Sidharth emerged shirtless with only a towel wrapped around his waist. She smiled brightly at him through the mirror urging him to come closer to her. Sidharth came just behind where she was seated and bent down to hug her, squeezing her in his arms and placing a kiss on the side of her head and mumbling a slow "good morning" in his raspy voice. Shehnaaz blushed even harder and turned her head slightly before placing a kiss on his cheek and making eye contact through the mirror.

After a moment of just admiring and smiling at each other, Sidharth stepped back and went towards his closet. He asked over his back, " moti baby. Aaj kahan jaa rahi hai subah subah ?" " Meri manager ka abhi phone aata. Kehti channel ke head ko mere saath kuch baat karni hai toh meeting rakhi hai aaj ki." Replied shehnaaz as she started putting on some light makeup for the day. Unknown to Shehnaaz, Sidharth slightly tensed at the mention of the meeting. The channel head was a cunning man who could easily manipulate others into getting what he wants. Knowing how naïve and honest shehnaaz was, Sidharth was slightly worried about this meeting. " Kon kon jaa raha hai tere saath ?" asked Sidharth, turning around to face her once again as he pulled on a black tee.

" Mein aur Shehbaaz !" replied Sana while focusing on applying her eyeliner correctly. Now don't get Sidharth wrong, Shehbaaz was a wonderful support to Sana but was also extremely kind hearted, leading to accepting what was said to him at face value. The siblings going to the head's office made Sidharth feel terribly anxious for some unknown reason. Call it his intuition, but Sidharth knew he couldn't let them go alone. He quickly made up his mind, and asked shehnaaz while pulling up a pair of jeans. " Main bhi chalu saath mein ? Tujhe koi problem toh nahi hai." He asked moving to the dressing table to grab his cologne. " Haye kya telepathy hai humari ! Abhi main tujhe chalne ke liye convince karne hi wali thi !!!" replied shehnaaz bouncing on her seat in excitement at the thought of them being literal soulmates ! Sidharth chuckled at her antics and placed a kiss on the back of her head. " Chal phir nikalte hai. Main Shehbaaz ko phone kar deta hu ki hume siddha office ke samne mile." Said sidharth as he he moved to the living room to make the call, waiting for her near the door.

Soon Shehnaaz joined him near the door, Sidharth grabbed his keys and turned to open the door when he felt shehnaaz tug on his t-shirt. He turned around to find sana pouting her lips with closed eyes asking for a kiss. He chuckled at his gadhi before bending down to kiss her. After breaking away from each other, shehnaaz smiled happily at him " Hum humesha aise hi ghar se nikalne se pehle karenge !" " haan theek hai, chal ab" said Sid, holding her hand and making their way out of THEIR home ( if Sid belongs to shehnaaz so does his house and vice versa !).

While on the way to the channel headquarters, Sidharth mused as to why the channel head had requested a meeting with shehnaaz, usually new opportunities are offered through the content and casting team considering his past experience with the channel. He turned to look at his baby, who was interlacing and comparing his left hand that was not on the wheel with hers, giggling and blushing cutely while placing kisses on his fingers from time to time. She was so precious and full of love he thought, people had branded her as the attention seeker but in reality she had spoilt his habits. He couldn't imagine what he would do without the constant pampering that he didn't even had to ask for. The thought of something happening to her made him tighten his hand around her, making her look up at him with doe eyes.

" Teri manager ne bataya aur details meeting ke baare mein ? Its unusual to have a direct meeting with the channel head." Asked Sidharth perplexed by the whole situation. " usne nahi bataya kyun. Just said it's a big opportunity." Answered shehnaaz confused and excited at the same time. Sidharth hummed in response and shehnaaz resumed playing with his fingers, soon Sidharth entered the headquarter complex and drove to the underground parking. Thankfully there wasn't anyone present and after parking his car he turned to face his gadhi. " Best of luck for your meeting moti baby. Nervous mat ho, main aur shehbaaz hai tere saath." Said sidharth before giving her a firm hug and a kiss on the forehead.

They entered the elevator to go to the reception where shehbaaz was waiting for them. Just before the elevator opened shehnaaz quickly pecked Sidharth on the lips and went away towards her brother giggling quietly to herself. Sidharth blushed profusely and coughed to hide his blush while making his way to the sibling duo. He hugged shehbaaz in greeting and made way to the receptionist, shehnaaz and shehbaaz flanking on either side of him.

To be continued –

Lets see what the meeting is all about !