Sukoon (completed)

Part 5

Salim called Sidharth to his study. Sidharth saw Salim sitting with Reesha, Reesha was annoyed at something.

Salim: Sidharth, aapse jaroori baat karni thi. Sakina phuphi ne aapke rishte ki baat ki hai Ruma ke liye. Humne koi dikkat nahi hai aur aapki umra bhi ho gayi hai nikah ki.

Sidharth: Maaf kijiyega abbu, par hum Ruma se nikah nahi karenge. Pehli baat to wo mujhe pasand nahi hai aur doosri woh humari behen hai aur sirf behen hi rahengi. Hum usse kissi aur tareeke se nahi dekh sakte.

Saying that he moved out of the study while Reesha smiled at her son's decision. Sana on the other hand heard the conversation and was sad. 'Wo mujhe bhi behen hi mante hai kya, tabhi to Mumbai bhi aaram se jaa rahe. Unhone abhi kaha bhi behen hai aur bahen hi rahegi.' she thought.

While on the other hand Reesha decided to talk to Sidharth about Shehnaaz. Reesha knocked on Sidharth's door

Sidharth: Arey Ammi aap, knock kyu kiya. Aa jate seedhe.

Reesha: Ab tu bada ho gaya hai, knock karke aana chahiye mujhe (with a teasing voice, thinking about morning). Waise main bahut khush hu tune Ruma ke liye mana kar diya. Main to pehle hi boli thi tere abbu ko ki tu usse pasand nahi karega.

Sidharth smiled when he saw his ammi was happy with his decision.

Reesha: waise tumne abbu ko teesra reason kyu nahi bataya mana karne ka?

Sidharth looked at her confused: Kaun sa teesra reason? Mumbai jaane ka to pata hai unhe.

Reesha: Tumhara teesra reason...Shehnaaz

Sidharth looked at her with wide eyes and open mouth. 'Aap k...kya ke..keh rahi hai Ammiiii' he stammered while yelling. 'Tumhe Shenaaz pasand hai...aur yeh humne pata hai. Bete hai aap humare. To nikah karna hai uske saath?' She asked. His ammi had caught his pretense and there was no use of hiding it now. 'Ammi, wo abhi bahut choti hai aur humne nahi pata wo kya sochti hai' replied Sidharth. 'Sawal ye nahi tha. Humne aapse poocha aap usse nikah karna chahte hai?' she asked sternly. 'Haan, par abhi nahi. Uski padhayi ho jaane dijiye aur usko bhi to mujhe pasand karna padega' he replied scratching his neck while blushing. 'Chaliye aacha hai, humne pasand hai aapki pasand. Aur humari madad chahiye hogi to bolna' she winked and gave a big smile.

Shehnaaz unaware of what was happening was stressed in her own 'lagne par' wali duniya. She was disturbed and wanted to talk to someone. She called Piya 'Hello Piya, Sidharth mujhe pasand nahi karte' and started crying on phone.

Piya: Tumhe kaise pata, tumne usne bol diya kya? unhone mana kiya

Shehnaaz: Nahi, hum bol hi nahi paaye. Humko pehle hi pata chal gaya. Wo aaj Mamu ko bol rahe the, koi unki behen hai to wo hamesha behen hi rahegi. Aur humko bhi to wo behen hi manate hai naa. Humne hi galat samjh liya, wo US se aaye the, unke liye ye hugs and kisses common hongi. Humne hi sab galat kar diya.

Piya: Chal ab ro mat. Main tumhare bhai ko to nahi janti, but agar tumhe sach much bahut pasand hai to baat karke dekh le unse

Shehnaaz: Nahi, hum nahi karenge, warna jaise wo hai humare saath, wo waise nahi rahenge. Sab awkward ho gaya tab. Hum khud hi theek ho jayenge. Waise bhi pyar itni jaldi thodi naa hota hai; sirf liking hi hogi humne. Haina Piya?

Piya: Jaan, ye to tu hi janti hogi ki tujhe pyar hai ya sirf crush hai. but agar pyar hai to itni jaldi haar mat maan. thoda time aur de shayad wo bhi tujhe like karne lage

Shehnaaz: Nahi Piya. Main unko bilkul bhi kho nahi sakti apni bewkoofi ke liye. Waise bhi wo Mumbai jaa rahe hai, main dheeme dheeme bhool jaungi sab kuch. She tried to convince herself.

Reesha and Praveen started observing both the kids to see if there was any change in their relationship. Sidharth became more open with his care towards Shehnaaz as his Ammi was already aware of his feelings but Naaz became a little restrained as she wanted to let go of her feelings. Sidhath's over protectiveness and over care was making it difficult for Naaz to move on. So, she decided to ignore Sidharth. It was afternoon, Shehnaaz's classes were over when she recieved a call from Sidharth.

Sidharth: Hello Shehnaaz, classes over? ghar chalein?

Shehnaaz: Nahi bhaijaan, aap jao. Mujhe Piya ke ghar kuch kaam hai. Main shaam tak aungi.

Sidharth too observed that Shehnaaz has started to ignore him 'Did I do something wrong? Did she find out about my feelings? Is she trying to tell me she doesn't like me?' thought Sidharth. This was the only reason that was making sense to him. 'What hansome lagte ho when she doesn't like me back' he murmured to himself while smiling sadistically. 'You cant make her awkward around yourself so STOP SHOWING YOUR FEELINGS' he decided.  

The next few days passed with an unknown tension between Sidharth and Shehnaaz which was also noticed by their mothers. Both the mother's lost the hope of becoming in-laws. And just like that Sidharth went to Mumbai. 

Both Sidharth and Shehnaaz talked to each other over phone like they would talk to any other family member, suppressing their real feelings. It took a few months but their relation was again back to normal, awkwardness was now gone. Its not like they stopped liking each other, they just stopped showing it.

******

After 5 months in Mumbai:

A girl entered Sid's cabin, she looked around 26–27-year-old with a beautiful face and smile. 'Hi Sid, lunch ke liye chalein?'. Sidharth looked at her with smile and responded 'Sure Rukhsana, 2 patients waiting mein hai uske baad chalte hai'.

Rukhsana was one of the friends Sidharth had in US. She was from Mumbai and after Sid came back to India, she found it difficult to stay there alone without any friends and family so even she shifted back to Mumbai. Their meeting in Mumbai was a coincidence, since both worked in oncology so they again met each other in Tata Hospital.

Rukhsana: Aaj itne khus kyu dikh raha hai tu

Sid: Arey, mere bhai ke first show ka premier hai next week so family se kuch log aa rahe hai. I am planning to take a few days off next week. Just happy to meet them after long. Waise, Sadiq has invited you to after party, it's on Saturday evening. He will give you call for formal invitation.

Rukhsana: Great, usko meri taraf se congrats bol dena. And no need for the formality, I will come for sure.

Sidharth smiled and mouthed a 'Thank you'. Everyone in the hospital were aware that Rukhsana was in love with Sidharth except for Sidharth. For him, she was just a good friend, a friend whom his brother Sadiq liked.