SidNaaz Imagines

Imagine Fourteen

Doodh garam hai Shehnaaz, dhyaan se!

It had been a long day. She had done almost twice the amount of work that she was used to doing normally and it showed on her face. 

“Kya kar rahe the tum log aaj saara dinn?” Sidharth asked her, placing a glass of water in front of her as she served food for the two of them in a single plate.

“Kaam kar rahe the baby..” She responded, sitting beside him.

Sidharth rolled his eyes, “Woh toh mujhe bhi pata hai buddhu— kya kar rahe the aisa ki itni utri hui shakal leke ghar aayi hai?”

“Ad shoot tha, bataya toh tha tujhe. Tu saath hi jaane waala tha na aj?” She sighed, “Technical error ki wajah se do baar karna pada.”

Sidharth nodded. “Mera baccha—”

“Mujhe roz roz makeup karna nahi pasand, ab 2-4 dinn araam se ghar pe relax kar sakti hu.” Shehnaaz said brightly. 

Sidharth smiled. She is turning into a female version of me. 

He kissed her forehead, “Tu faaltu mein load le leti hai baby, kisi dinn beemar padegi.”

“Tab tu sambhaal lena na mujhe. Terko mene kis liye rakha hai?” She giggled, giving him a childish look of teasing.

“Haan haan— madam ki khatirdaari ke liye toh banda duniya mein aaya hai.” He chuckled, pulling her cheeks.

“Absolutely correct, my boy. Isi ke saath aapko milte hai do hazaar ke chutte..” Shehnaaz announced, “As prize.

“Chindi kaheen ki, prize mein bhi do hazaar diye..” He scoffed.

“Tujhe nahi diye.. Kal parcel aayega teri chutki ka— woh lena hai, tere jacket ki pocket mein rakhe hain paise.” Shehnaaz informed him.

Sidharth nodded. 

How had the tables turned, he mused to himself. The man who had never shared a moment of his life with anyone with such honesty had transitioned so easily into the man who was the other half of this woman, complete and yet incomplete without her.

Once they were done with their dinner, despite the almost constant banter, Sidharth took the plate and glasses and dumped them into the kitchen sink. Tomorrow’s problem.

“Abhi karne hai..”

“Do bartan hai Shehnaaz.. Subaah ho jayenge.”

“Do bartan hai, Sidharth— time bhi nahi lagega. Amma kehti hai ghar mein daridar aata hai..” She said softly. “Tu  ja, paani aur apni book lekar.. Mai yeh karke aati hoon.”

Sidharth shrugged and left the kitchen while Shehnaaz washed the plate and their glasses with a small smile on her face. 

***

Shehnaaz crawled into the blanket and pulled Sidharth’s book away from him, keeping it carelessly on the side table and taking her place in his arms. “So ja ab.”

Sidharth habitually wrapped his arm around her, “Bola tha na tujhe, kal kar lete na do bartan. Kabhi aaram bhi dekh liya kar apna.” 

“Tujhe aadhi raat ko kya argument karne ki khaarish ho rahi hai?” She scoffed, frowning at him. “Thapki de.. sula mujhe.” 

Sidharth sighed, pulling her closer. 

“Tere jaisi paagal hi milni thi mujhe. Mene apni maa ko saari zindagi nakhre kar kar ke pagal kiya hai. Uska hisab bhi toh dena tha mujhe. Bhale ki baat karo, tab bhi khaane ko daudti hai, gadhi.”