Kissing A Devil (Complete and Continuing In The Sequel)

Chapter 70

Sidharth enters the room and Shehnaaz gets out of the bed. She gets into his arms, buries her face near his chest and starts crying.
"Hey, roh kyun rahi ho?"
"Tum.. kahan the.."
"Stop crying. I am here, right?"
"Bolo kahan the? I thought you left for Mumbai, leaving me here. "
"I have promised I will take you back with me, haven't I? Sidharth Raichand's promise. Remember? I was in London for some work. I told you I would be back in a few days."
She lifts her face, "You promised. Yes, you did ... phir bhi.. mujhe laga tum chale gaye. Don't leave me again."

"Wada kiya jo maine,
Kabhi todta nahi.

Pyar tujhe karta hun itna
Par kabhi batata nahi.

Sansein na le pata main,
Tu na ho toh main zinda nahi.

Chod tujhe jaunga kahan main.
Mujhe tere alawa
Kuch nazar ata nahi."

I will never leave you. I won't. Now freshen up, we will have breakfast together."

Shehnaaz comes out to find Richa and Arvind already sitting. They smile at her as she comes and sits beside them. Sidharth comes out a little later with Martha. As they have breakfast together, Richa asks, "So, when are we all returning?"
Sidharth looks at her but doesn't say anything.
"She is smiling so I presume you have agreed to take us back very soon."
"I have some work. We shall return in a few days. "
Shehnaaz says with a smile, "You have promised. Remember?"
Sidharth doesn't reply.

Arvind says after sipping his tea, "I know, Sidharth, you are worried about us. I get it. But staying here isn't a guarantee. There are risks here too."
"Nobody knows about this place. It's not in my name. I ensured the flight routes aren't direct. I ensured that nobody will know you all are here."
Shehnaaz stares at him, worrying he might repeat what he believed.
"I wanted you all to be safe and believed this is the safest place. But I can't let you all stay here anymore."
Shehnaaz grins again.
"I will take you back like I promised her. But I have a request, Papa. You and Mum must stay with us."
Arvind smiles, "Of course."

Shehnaaz places her head by his arm as they walk through the idyllic town, holding on to him. Everything around is beautiful and pristine. Lines of shops selling clothes, books and other items, clean roads, colorful flowers beside them and smiling faces.
Sidharth walked slowly, matching her pace and holding a few packets in his hands.
"If you are done with your shopping, we can stop for lunch. There's a nice place round the corner. You will love the seafood there."
Shehnaaz makes a face, "I don't like fish anymore. Yucky lagta hai. I want to have something sweet."
He smiles,"They have the best pies."
A broad smile appears on her face.

"Jab se aai hun, bahar hi nahi nikli thi. For obvious reasons.. I mean gussa thi tumse. Aaj pata chala, this is such a beautiful place."
Shehnaaz says sitting beside Sidharth who drives, looking ahead.
"But you know what, I really don't like that big house. I wish we could live here forever but in a smaller place. Not isolated from the town but in it or at least here, on its outskirts."
He doesn't reply but keeps driving.
"SR ji, stop the car.. please.. roko gadi."
"Are you feeling nauseous? You shouldn't have eaten so much pie."
"Uff.. ruko na gadi.. bahut jyada bolte ho."
He stops the car and she gets out.

She walks behind and stops for him to join her. "Come with me."
He takes her hand and she leads him to the gates of a two storey house with a tiny garden in the front. It is a typical Irish cottage style house with a gable roof. There are varieties of flower plants including pot marigold, daisies, honeysuckle, wild roses and poppies in the garden in the front. The house has an iron gate with a wooden name plate that reads Marigold house.
"Yeh kiska ghar hai?"
"I don't know. Do you like it?"
Shehnaaz grins, "I love it. We can live here with our baby. It's so beautiful and peaceful here."
Sidharth looks at the structure as Shehnaaz hugs him.
"Can't we live here like forever? Sab khatam ho jaye toh yahaan shift ho jayenge. It's so beautiful and peaceful here."
She repeats and he keeps quiet.
"We can't leave Mumbai." He says a little later.