Falling For You ✔

Chapter Six

Shehnaaz was sitting with the rest of the group, strumming on the guitar that Veer had bought from the market while on the shopping trip.

Sidharth had just finished packing for his flight that was to leave the next day, in the evening and Shehnaaz was in a sulky mood.

Sidharth walked over to her and pulled her nose, smiling softly. "Kyon mooh bana ke baithi hai panda?"

Shehnaaz shook her head.

"Tujhe sach me guitar bajana aata hai? Ya aise hi leke baithi hai?" Sidharth asked curiously.

"Aata hai.." She responded dryly. "Tujhe kya chahiye?"

Sidharth frowned at her, "Tu apna mood theek kar, nahi toh mai kal Misty ko apne saath le jaaunga. Bechaari bacchi ko mai tujh khadoos ke paas nahi rehne dunga." He said firmly and Shehnaaz huffed.

"Misty meri hai." She said sternly. "Usne mujhe choose kia tha pet-store mein. Chant mat bann tu."

Sidharth picked the little puppy up from where she was sleeping between Shehnaaz's feet and took her in his arms, nuzzling her soft fur affectionately. "Itni pyaari si jaan ne tujhe choose kia, aur tu uske saath khelne ki bajaye melancholy music baja rahi hai. Kadar hi nahi hai misty isko teri.." He cooed at the little one and she cooed back, tilting her head, looking confused.

Shehnaaz glared at him, "So rahi thi woh.."

Sidharth let Misty curl up in his arms and stroked her little head gently. "Badi misty, tu kyon mooh sada ke baithi hai shaam se?" He asked Shehnaaz gently.

"Mene koi mooh nahi sadaya hua.." She retorted.

He looked at the rest of the gang. "Yeh tum sab ko khaane ko daud rahi hai ya mujhse aaj koi special paap hua hai?" He asked curiously.

"Tu ja raha hai." Shreya explained.

Sidharth looked at Shehnaaz confused. "Do dinn baad tum log bhi toh aa jaoge na?" He asked. "Kyon sad ho rahi hai darling?"

"Tujhe jaldi kyon jana hai?" Shehnaaz whined. She had been trying so hard not to react, but her heart was being a brat today. "Pata nahi udhar hum waapis kab milenge."

Sidharth sighed, "Vacation khatam ho rahi hai. Hume apni apni life me waapis to jaana padega na baby."

She nodded. She knew he wasn't wrong but that didn't mean she had to like it any more than she did.

"I'll miss being able to see you everyday." Sidharth said softly. "I've grown strangely attached to this little thing here within a few hours."

"You can come home to see her.." Shehnaaz said warmly. "We're still going to be friends."

Sidharth smiled.

***

The thought of not seeing him again made her heart jump. It was childish. It was stupid. They had to go their separate ways one day or the other and they were supposed to remain friends.

Sidharth had given her and the rest of the gang his address in Mumbai. They had his mobile contact information. Sidharth had even promised to plan a reunion dinner a week later.

Apparently, that wasn't enough.

Shehnaaz was in a bit of a mood that morning. She had snapped at each and every person in her vicinity. Veer and Arjun had begun to worry a little.

Sidharth was comparatively calmer, though. He had met everyone, promised them that he'd keep in touch, thanked them for letting him into their tightly knit group and joked around.