SidNaaz Imagines

Imagine Twenty Eight [Part Two]

"Yeh mera ghar hai, tumhaara nahi." Rita Maa said firmly. "Aur shehnaaz meri beti hai."

Sidharth blinked, stunned by his mother's words. Rita Maa had wrapped his Naaz into a tight hug and Shehnaaz had, as if melted into her arms.

"I don't know tu kyon aise react kar raha hai. I know tu pareshan hai, stressed hai lekin ek baat dimaag mein rahe, stress, pareshani ya koi bhi mess-up, personal or professional, tujhe yeh haq nahi deta ki tu Shehnaaz se itne bure tareeqey se behave kare. Woh patience se handle karne ki koshish kar rahi hai toh yeh mat samajh ki woh tere jaise gussa nahi kar sakti." Rita Maa said sternly.

"Maa.."

"Chup raho tum." Rita Maa snapped at the younger girl, ready to defend her man, even after everything that he'd said. "And you, Sidharth. Apologize to her."

Sidharth looked at his mother shocked

"Maafi maango Shehnaaz se, usse itne bure tareeqey se baat karne ke liye, usse uske ghar se nikalne ko bolne ke liye aur apni frustration uspar nikaalne ke liye." Rita Maa repeated, even more severely.

Sidharth watched Shehnaaz peeking out of his mother's arms like a scared little child. He wanted to apologize, but how?

"Nahi karna apologize toh jaao yahan se. Niklo ghar se. Shehnaaz meri bacchi hai, aur yeh mere rehte iss ghar se kabhi, kaheen nahi jaayegi. Tumhe jaana hai, toh tum jaa sakte ho." Said his mother, leading Shehnaaz back into the hall and made her sit.

Sidharth followed his ladies into the apartment and watched as his mother doted on his love, fully aware of his presence in the same room.

"Shehnaaz I'm sorry." Sidharth said softly. "I--"

"Sidharth, she's not a punching bag. She loves you so she takes your shit, she understands you but it's not her job. She's patient with you, keeps her calm in the face of your agitation but she's not obliged to do that." Rita Maa explained to her son.

"I know mom." Sidharth said quietly.

"Tum use jab yahaan laaye the, tab se aaj tak sirf tumhaari hi nahi, Shehnaaz tumhaare poore pariwaar ki hai. Tab, shaayad hum isse teri wajaah se jaante the, magar ab shehnaaz hamaara pariwaar hai, mere pariwaar ka woh hissa hai shehnaaz jiske bina mera ghar kabhi poora nahi ho sakta. She's cultivated a bond with each one of us on her own and you, Sidharth have nothing to do with it. She is not related to any of us through you. I need you to engrave that into your mind." Rita Maa said firmly.

"Yes ma'am."

***

His family would never let even the shadow of negativity come anywhere near her. Sidharth's life might be cursed, but his family would never let the curse touch her.

Sidharth realized that day, after his mother brought Shehnaaz back into the house, how strong and beautiful Shehnaaz's relationship to each and every member of his family was. She was theirs, just as much as she was his, she had worked her way into their hearts, all on her own and none of his family would let anything bad happen to her. After all, if Shehnaaz was Sidharth's angel, she was theirs too.

It had been three hours since Sidharth had last talked to Shehnaaz or his mother. The matriarch of the Shukla family was furious at her son for how he had behaved and Sidharth didn't blame her.

It was stupid and unreasonable. He had hurt his Naaz worse than he could ever have imagined and even though at that time, he thought it was all for her good, it really wasn't and he should have known.

Shehnaaz wasn't even looking at him in the eyes, it broke Sidharth's heart but he knew he deserved it.

"Shehnaaz.." He knelt in front of her, brushing her palm gently with his fingers. "I'm sorry."