Frames of Destiny

Chapter 5

Few days later in a weekend..

Sana is preparing momos in the kitchen, while Samaira, still dressed in her night suit, sits up on the kitchen slab, helping her fill the dumplings..

Sidharth's work is going to start late today, so he is at home for a change at this hour, watching news with his mom..

"The kitchen looks so adorable right now.."..says Mom, smiling warmly as she zooms in on a photo she just took while passing by..

"Kyun kya hua?" he asks while taking a sip of his tea..

"Dekh.." she shows him the picture..

Sidharth laughs..."Yeh Samaira ko upar bitha ke kya karwa rahi hai?"

"Pata nehi but I think she is filling the momos.."

"Areh meri bichari bacchi, kabhi kuch tou kabhi kuch karti rehti hai..!".. Sidharth chuckles, and for a change he started trusting Shehnaaz completely with Samaira..

Mom too shares a laughter..."Waise there is this different glow on Sam's face these days, tune notice kiya hai?!"

"Hmm bohot bar! She is getting very attached to Shehnaaz..I just hope I can manage if she decides to leave or discontinue this job one day!"

"Tu bhi na beta, bohot negative sochta hai! Aisa kuch nehi hoga.."..Mom affirms..

"Hmm dekhte hai..!".. Sidharth sighs..."Mom I am getting late, abhi nikalna chahiye.."

"Bichari itne maan se kuch banarahi hai, I think you should atleast taste.."

"Hmm kitchen mein hi ja raha hoon Samaira se milne.."

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He walks into the kitchen and calls out for Samaira. As Shehnaaz turns around, she accidentally cuts her finger deeply with the knife she was holding!

"Ah!"..she winces in pain.

"Aunty! Blood!"..Samaira gets scared..

Sidharth hears her out and approaches them quickly..

"Shit! This is lot of blood!"...he says, reacting quickly and grabs her hand urgently to hold the wounded finger under the tap to stop the bleeding..

"Samaira, go inside and ask Dadi to bring the first aid kit.."...he instructs..

"Okay Daddy!"..Samaira replies..

As Sidharth holds her hand, Shehnaaz feels a jolt of sensation, more like a current has been through to her body..!

"Koi na puttu, theek ho jayega..khamakha woh pareshan ho jayengi!"..she reassures..

"Aunty, it's bleeding a lot!! I will go get Dadi right away!"..Samaira says as she quickly gets down from the counter and hurries off to find her Dadi..

"Dhyaan rakhna chahiye na aapko Shehnaaz?! You shouldn't have turned around with a knife in your hand.." he says, still holding her hand and washing away the blood from the wound..

Shehnaaz looks at him in a daze for a moment, realizing she has never looked at him so clearly before, probably because she has never been this close to him..!

"Shehnaaz, beta kya hua?!"..his mother asks as she comes in with the first aid kit.

"Nothing Aunty... just a small accident..!" Shehnaaz says while Sidharth steps back, creating space for his Mom to go and do the needful now..

"Lekin yahan tou the momos are steaming, so what were you cutting now?!"..his mother asks while dressing the wound..

"I was chopping garlic to make a sauce. Aunty, these are just minor cuts and it happens when you are working in the kitchen. Don't worry, I'll be fine.."..she keeps reassuring..

"This is not a minor cut baccha! Yeh lo ho gaya, abhi jao and rest inside. Geeta and I will take care of the rest. Samaira, go and help Aunty inside.."says Mom..

"Okay Dadi..".. Samaira replies, taking Shehnaaz's other hand into her..

As they pass by Sidharth, Shehnaaz says, "Thank you Sidharth ji.."

Sidharth smiles, though he looks a little concerned for her..

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After the dinner..

Samaira didn't move an inch from Shehnaaz's room and fell asleep there only. Shehnaaz keeps caressing her hair when Sidharth knocks on her door..

The door was left open and he actually came to take Samaira back to her room so that Shehnaaz can sleep peacefully without much headache today..

"Aap agaye? Aiye na andar ajaiye.."..she speaks up in low tone..

"Aap so jaiye, I will take care..you need rest.."..he approaches Samaira when..

"Hayee kyun?! Nehi isko rehne dijiye please, I feel good around her.."..says Shehnaaz in a low calming tone..

"Are you sure?"

"Haan ji..aap ne dinner karliya? Momos try kiya na?!"..she has her own concerns!

Sidharth sighs thinking of her priorities!
"Hmm it was good.."

"Hayee woh sauce banane dete aap log tou aise muh latkake nehi kehte ki it is just good!"..she rolls her eyes..

"Shehnaaz you are impossible! Anyway go to sleep! Goodnight!"..he places a subtle kiss on Samaira's forehead and leaves..

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Next morning..

Sana wakes up late and can't see Samaira around. She takes her mobile out of the drawer and the reads 12 pm! She didn't even realize when she slept so cluelessly..

"Hayee o Rabba! Bacchi school chali gayi stayed! Aaj tou woh khadoos mar dalega mujhe!" ..she speaks to herself..

As she freshens up, she receives a call from Sidharth's Mom..

"Haan ji Aunty? I am so sorry..main uth nehi payi subah..

"Koi baat nehi beta.. people take sick leaves..that's only normal! Achha suno.. Samaira ki Ma ki barsi hai next week, so we are planning to serve some food and supplies at the orphanage. I have bought almost everything and sent them to the house, kyunki idhar se main mandir hoke aungi. So abhi the items will arrive in a few minutes. Just sign for them when they arrive, please. There's no one else at home right?"

Shehnaaz feels a sting inside knowing about her death anniversary. For a fact, she knows both Sidharth and his Mom will keep low today..

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Aaj ke liye chota sa update..❤️