The Devil's Love

Chapter Seven

The week that followed Shehnaaz's arrival in Mumbai after her conference and Tarun's actions coming to light was one of the hardest weeks of Sidharth's life.

If the first few months of their relationship was any indication at all, Sidharth did not know how to take his queen's silence. When he fell in love with her, whether it was in one day or over the months, he had seen the happiest version of her. He had seen Shehnaaz who knew how to live her life, how to make herself and the people around her happy.

When she started to get used to the idea of being a part of the Mafia world, alongside her husband, Sidharth was hopeful he would get to see his old warrior princess back, smiling and laughing, unbothered by the world around her.

Eventually, if not just then.

But what happened last week not only shattered her, but also took away Sidharth's hope of seeing his angel happy anytime soon. He knew she would need time, a lot of it and Sidharth was ready to stay by her side for the whole deal.

But that didn't mean he liked any part of his wife's sorrow, her nightmares or her silence.

"Naaz.." Sidharth looked up from his files with a small smile on his face. "What brings you here, my queen?"

Shehnaaz walked up to him. "What are you working on?" She asked quietly.

Sidharth scanned the contents of the file that he was reading only moments before she entered.

"There's a consignment due on Tuesday." He informed her, offhandedly. "But you don't care about that."

He stood up from behind the work table and walked over to her side, "My angel." He cupped her cheek. "I can read you far better than you give me credit for."

Shehnaaz looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry."

Sidharth placed his fingers under his wife's chin and gently guided her to face him. "What for?"

"I disturbed you."

Sidharth sighed. "Shehnaaz.. Hum dost hain na? I promised you, mai tumhe chhod ke nahi jaunga." He said quietly. 'Bura sapna dekha tumne?"

Shehnaaz gasped, proving his guess right. He pulled her into his arms, "It's okay. I'm here and I'm never going to leave you alone. Tum chahogi tab bhi nahi.."

Shehnaaz smiled.

"Do you want ice-cream?"

"I want to sleep.." She confessed. "And— and in peace and I don't want nightmares."

"I know.. I know my love." He ran his fingers through her hair soothingly, pressing gentle, soft kisses on top of her head

"Do me a favor, Sidharth."

Sidharth pulled away, looking at her. "You're my queen, I don't do you favors. Mai tumhare kadmo mein puri duniya la ke rakh sakta hu." He said firmly.

"I want to see Tarun dead. I..  "

Sidharth blinked, surprised at her demand. "What?"

"I can't get it out of my head, Sidharth and I will never be able to. Mai shayad soch bhi nahi pa rahi hu, ki mai saheen kar rahi hu ya nahi.. Par jo mene Delhi mein dekha.. Jo Tarun ne—" She shuddered, fighting the urge to sob. "Mai maar dena chaahti hu usse Sidharth. Agar nahi kia toh kabhi chain se nahi so paungi."

Sidharth sighed. "You're angry Shehnaaz."

"I am furious." She agreed. "Mai ek hafte se khud se lad rahi hoon Sidharth. Mai yeh sab apne liye kar rahi hoon. Sirf apne liye! Woh mujhe hurt nahi karega, kabhi nahi."