Sidnaaz , Their Life -I Imagined

Chapter 4 , Topic of the Day

She picked up her cup of Tea and came to the terrace for fresh air. It was still locked down in the city but a few shops and stores were allowed to open this week, So she can see a few more people outside today. She took a sip and took a deep breath of morning air. It was a sunny day and people were outside taking advantage of this opportunity.  He followed her with his cup in his hand and looked at her face. Her eyes were close.

" Acha akalay Akalay Punjab gomnay ja rahi Shehnaaz then"  . He called her full name and he only does when he is really annoyed. "Apni maa k hath k aloo k parthay khay gi , Lussiya pee gi aur hum yaha lockdown main saray gain " (So you going alone to see your family in Punjab, you have fresh food and enjoy Punjabi food and have fresh air and I will be bored like hell here in lockdown )

She smiled and opened her eyes and looked at his face. She knew that  Her going to Punjab a week before her shooting would be the "Topic of the Day " of their argument now. He looked like an angry, spoiled kid to her this time. She knew that it was bothering him but she smiled and stared at his adorable face.

"Humain koi lift hi nahi ", (and you never asked me even to come just as a formality ) He looked directly into her eyes and said it like he didn't want her to go at the same time he understood she was going for work.
"Tera koi schedule nahi hay kya iss month main " (Don't you have your work this month ) She asked because she knew his project was going to start soon.

"Hay to sahi lakin chances hain k agay hoo jay ga covid ki waja say,kyun kay shooting Mumbai main hi hay aur yaha shakti baar rahi hay baher Janay pay " ( I do have  my shoot coming up but there are chances that it will get postponed because they are getting strict about lockdown in Mumbai ) He told her what his manager said to him last night .

"To chal na too be mere sath, ager shedual agay hoo gaya tere too, Punjab gomaay gay na " (So let go with to Punjab, you will get some fresh air there ) She offered him out of nowhere.

"Araay " He almost choked with happiness all of a sudden. She looked at his face and he was smiling with his eyes, which means he was really happy to hear that. She was surprised but knew somehow that he would be happy with her.
"itni saakhi, yah raha kaha say aya S. K . G ko hum pay " ( how you become so generous offering me to join you in Punjab) he said in a funny sarcastic way, what he couldn't say is that he was dying to be with her anywhere. He smiled towards her and she smiled back as she knew that he was teasing her now. 

" Main nay to iss liay nahi kaha kyun k too be busy hoo raha tha na iss week, ager nahi ana to koi zaberdusti nahi hay " ( I  just never asked you to come with me because I knew that you are also getting busy this week . But if you do not want to come now that its fine with me ) She explained herself but also teased him in the end and walked back to the room. He followed her.

" Arry, Main nay yah kab kaha k nahi aa raha main teray sath " (Oah , I never said that I was not coming with you ) He said very quickly. "Ok,
She said and kept walking toward the kitchen. He couldn't see her face but knew that she was smiling from her voice.

"Maa, Shahnaaz kah rahi mere sath Punjab chal ( Shehnaaz begging me to go with her to Punjab " He jumped on a big couch and talked to his mother while lying there. "Actually she insisted that I should come to see her family," He said in a very mischievous way. 

Shehnaaz could not stop her big laughter in the kitchen and Maa and Prittie De joined her in this laugh. They all knew that it was Sidharth who really wanted to be close to Shahnaaz and found excuses to be her. Shahnaaz came out of the kitchen with a tray full of vegetables which they wanted to prepare for lunch. This time she was wearing a Dupatta (scarf )on top of night PJs, wrapped around her body and covering her head. How can she make these dupattas part of everything she wears casually, Sidharth stared at her with a lot of affection and thought it suited her no matter how she wore this.

"You know it will be really good, Punjab weather is much better than Mumbai, I will get some fresh air. "He again looks like a child who looking to hear from his mother.  His mother's opinion about different things mattered to him and Shahnaaz adored this about his personality. It showed how soft and gentle he was towards his loved ones.

" Yes you are quite right, IT will be better for you to get out of this lockdown, far away in the countryside. " Maa encouraged him to do so.
"Ok then, sorted " He again sounded like a little boy who was so excited about something new or who wanted to go out to play cricket in lockdown. Although he had been in Punjab before he couldn't hide his excitement going with Shahnaaz this time. This would be their 2nd trip after the new year they spent in Goa.  Somewhere he was excited to meet the Shahnaaz family as well.

"Pahlay to tu mujay mere flat pay lay k ja, mujay waha say kuch saman lana hay packing karni hay, " Shahnaaz said directly to him who was shaking his feet with joy. He stopped his feet, sat down on the sofa and put a cushion on his lap.

"Tera flat ? " (your flat ? ) Woh kaha hay , Mujay too pata nahi tha tera be flat hay . ager tera apna flat hay to meray ghar kya kaar rahi hay " ( I didn't know you got your own flat, If you do then what are you doing in my home ) Everyone laughed because they all knew what he was doing now. He started teasing her because since the lockdown started she was almost living here.  They both were finding excuses to see each other in lockdown and authorities were getting so strict about staying at home as COVID-19 was spreading in every corner of the city. In this situation, they both were sneaking from each other's house to be with each other. Sidharth mother got really scared if one of them got really ill then the other would run to take care of her. So she asked Shahnaaz's parents if she could stay with their family for a while. That would be safe because that was the way she would be close to them and they also liked her company.

"Lay k ja raha hay ya nahi, Bol nahi to main apnay manager say kahti hoo may lay jay " (tell me you are taking me or not, otherwise I can call my manager to pick me up ) Shahnaaz threatened him this time and He pretended to get scared with a smile.

"Chill Girl, Let's get ready then,  O yah manager ki damki kisi aur ko diya kaar (and don't threaten me with the name of your manager, I don't care about them ) He said in the end and let sofa to go to his room and Her eyes followed him going in the room and she left vegetable aside and realised that mom and pritti De already left the room. It was these two who were busy arguing.

She entered the room and he was standing next to his cupboard, trying to choose his clothes. She leaned on his shoulder and helped him pick on.
"Main pahaly loo gi shower bcz baal dry main time lagta hay " (I will take a shower first because it will take me a while to dry my hair ) She said leaning on his shoulder and turning his face towards her with one finger.

" OK, mam,"  He said with a big smile and kissed her forehead while holding clothes in his other hand. That kiss was very effortless and quick. It was like every time she came close to him, he had to kiss her forehead without even realising it like someone got a habit of doing something without even thinking.
                                                                   
                                                                                                                                    To be Continued .......................