Tere Ishq Nachaya [ ON HOLD Till September 2025]

-09-

Author POV

The next day dawned with a mix of anticipation and nervousness for Shehnaaz. She had agreed to meet Sidharth at a quaint coffee shop in their neighborhood. As she entered, she spotted him sitting by the window, a small smile playing on his lips as he saw her approach.

"Hey," Sidharth greeted warmly, standing up as she reached the table.

"Hi," Shehnaaz replied with a shy smile, feeling a flutter of excitement mixed with apprehension.

They settled into their seats, the atmosphere tinged with a gentle awkwardness. Sidharth broke the silence first, his voice gentle yet determined.

"I've been thinking a lot since yesterday," Sidharth began, his eyes searching hers. "And I realize that I want us to take things slow. I want to get to know you better, Shehnaaz. Maybe we should start as friends and see where it leads us."

Shehnaaz nodded slowly, processing his words. "That sounds like a good idea, Sidharth. I think we both need time to understand each other."

Sidharth smiled softly, relieved that she understood. "I don't want to rush into anything and risk messing things up. I care about you, Shehnaaz, and I want to do this right."

Shehnaaz felt a wave of warmth at his sincerity. "I care about you too, Sidharth. And I appreciate your honesty."

They sat quietly for a moment, letting the weight of their conversation settle between them. Shehnaaz took a sip of her coffee, gathering her thoughts.

"I think starting as friends will give us a chance to build a strong foundation," Shehnaaz suggested tentatively.

Sidharth nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Hum time spend karenge saath mein, apne thoughts aur interests share karenge, aur dekhenge ki hum ek dusre se kitna connect karte hain."

Encouraged by his openness, Shehnaaz felt herself relax. "I'd like that. Aur agar kabhi bhi koi bhi uncertainty feel ho ya phir humein lagta ho ki humein apne rishte ke baare mein baat karni chahiye, hum honest rahenge ek dusre ke saath."

Sidharth reached across the table, his hand covering hers gently. "Bilkul. Communication hamare liye key hoga."

They smiled at each other, a shared understanding passing between them. For the rest of the afternoon, they talked about their favorite books, movies, and shared anecdotes from their childhoods. Sidharth found himself lost in Shehnaaz's animated storytelling, noticing every nuance of her expressions and features as she recounted her adventures with her friend Varya during her B.Sc. in Zoology.

Sidharth drop Shehnaaz to her mansion, he notice Mr. Singhaniya, Shehnaaz's father, observing them from the mansion's balcony. He felt a pang of apprehension, knowing Mr. Singhaniya reservations about him.

"Thank you for today," Shehnaaz said softly, her heart feeling lighter than it had in days.

Sidharth smiled warmly. "Nahi, thank you, Shehnaaz. Tumne mujhe ek mauka diya aur samjha mujhe ."

Shehnaaz nodded, feeling a sense of hope blossoming within her. "I think we're off to a good start, Sidharth."

He nodded in agreement. "Haan, hum sahi raaste pe hain. Main agle kadam ke liye excited hoon."

With that, they bid each other goodbye, both feeling a renewed sense of optimism about the journey they had just embarked upon together.

***

Sidharth drove to his mansion., replaying the afternoon in his mind. He couldn't shake off the feeling of contentment mixed with nervous anticipation. Shehnaaz's presence had a way of both calming and exciting him. As he parked his car, he leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes briefly.

"Kya din tha yaar," he muttered to himself, a smile spreading across his face. He took out his phone and sent a quick text to Shehnaaz: "Had a great time today. Looking forward to seeing you again soon."

Minutes later, his phone buzzed with a reply: "Me too :)"

Sidharth chuckled softly, feeling a rush of warmth at her simple response. He knew there was much more to discover about Shehnaaz her dreams, her quirks, her passions  and he couldn't wait to unravel them all.

As Sidharth entered the grand hall of the mansion, his mother, Rita Oberoi, and his younger sister Ada, both women immediately noticed the happiness radiating from his face. Rita, seated elegantly on a plush sofa with a book in hand, glanced up with a mixture of curiosity and disappointment hidden behind her calm demeanor.

"Sidharth beta," Rita greeted, her voice tinged with concern. "Aaj phir se Shehnaaz ke saath time bitaya?"

Sidharth smiled warmly, nodding as he walked over to join them. "Haan, Maa. Coffee shop gaye thhe. Bohot achha time tha."

Ada, perched on an adjacent armchair, couldn't contain her excitement. "Sid bhaiya, Kya baatein hui aap dono ke beech?"

Sidharth chuckled, enjoying his sister's curiosity. "Bohot mazedaar baatein hui, Ada. Shehnaaz ne apne college ke dino ke kuch kisse share kiye. Varya ke saath mastiyan ki thi wo dono ne."

Rita's expression softened slightly, but a trace of disappointment lingered in her eyes. "Sidharth, tum yeh sab jaante ho na ki humne pehle unki shaadi ke liye rishta bheja tha, par tumne..."

Sidharth's smile faltered momentarily, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Maa, main tab... maine socha ki... pata nahi tha ki hum dono ke beech aisa kuch ho sakta hai. Par ab mujhe lagta hai ki humein ek dusre ko samajhna chahiye."

Rita sighed, placing a reassuring hand on Sidharth's shoulder. "Beta, main bas chahti hoon ki tum khush raho. Par tumhe apne faislon par bharosa hai na?"

Sidharth nodded earnestly, meeting his mother's eyes with determination. "Haan, Maa. Main Shehnaaz ko khona nahi chahta. Aur main sab kuch thik karunga."

Ada beamed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yay! Sid bhaiya aur Shehnaaz didi ki love story shuru ho gayi!"

Sidharth chuckled, ruffling Ada's hair affectionately. "Abhi shuruat hai, Ada. Chalo, mujhe bhukh laga hai."

As they moved towards the dining area, Sidharth felt a mix of emotions swirling within him , happiness for the budding connection with Shehnaaz, determination to navigate the complexities ahead, and a lingering sense of responsibility towards his family's expectations. He knew the journey ahead wouldn't be easy, but with his family's support and Shehnaaz by his side, he felt ready to face whatever challenges came their way.

***

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