Frames of Destiny

Chapter 6

Shehnaaz walks out onto the patio, noticing Sidharth pretty low, lost in some thoughts! She hesitates for a moment, then speaks softly..

"Umm... Sidharth ji?"

Sidharth turns around being slightly startled..."Haan?"

"Abhi tak jage ho? Tabiyat tou theek hai na?"..her voice sounds a concern..

He gives a faint smile..."Haan, I’m fine. Why are you up this late?"

Shehnaaz glances back towards the house.."Woh pani lene aayi thi lekin upar se dekh rahi thi aapko bohot der se... thought I should ask. Pareshan ho na aap?"

"Nah..pareshan nehi hoon..it's just that I don't get to do this very often, so just trying to spend some time with myself."

"Hmm... well, I think you are rather spending time with the memories..."...She states obviously...

"Sorry?"....he wasn't expecting such a statement hence, looks at her being slightly confused..

"Main baith jaun?"...she ignores his confusion, rather asks for a permission to take a seat beside him..

Sidharth is still a bit lost in his notion..."Haan?"

"Baith jaun?"..she repeats herself more firmly, pointing towards the couch..

"Yes, of course... I’m sorry, I should have requested you to sit earlier."..he comes out of his lost zone..

She teases him lightly..."Haaye Rabba Sir, aap bhi na! Kitne formal ho!"

She adds..."Ek baat bataiye... yeh smoke karna zaroori hai?"..She looks at the cigarette in his hand..

"Do you want me to put it down? Is it bothering you?"...He looks at the cigarette and then at her..

She nods her head slightly..."Nehi nehi, it's fine... tou kaha the hum? Yaadon mein..."

She pauses for a moment and then asks softly..."Kaisi thi Meera Ma'am?"

Sidharth looks at her, again surprised by the question..

"Uni ko yaad kar rahe the na? Toh ab share bhi kariye... mujhe bhi janna hain."

He leaves a heavy sigh..

"She was too perfect for this world."..he utters..

Shehnaaz smiles softly encouraging him to continue..

"Shaadi se pehle, she used to be this famous talk show host na?"..she asks..

Sidharth nods..."Hmm..."

She leans back to the couch to make herself comfortable..

"Aap log mile kaise?"

Sidharth smiles as the memory flashes before his eyes.. "Sab kuch aaj hi janna hai?"

Shehnaaz laughs lightly..."Haan haan, I don’t mind!"

"She came to my set, jab main 'Lamhein' shoot kar raha tha..."

"Lamhein! Fantastic script! Loved watching it! Phir kya hua?"..Her eyes light up with recognition..

He continues and evidently his voice starts softening..

"Phir, after a month or so, we started dating. Then after 6 years of secretive dates, got married to her. We both wanted a kid badly... so we planned having a baby right after 2 years of marriage..."

"Phir?"...She is eager to hear more.

"She conceived and later we found out that she had a growing tumour in her uterus! Doctor ne mana kiya tha... kaha tha abort karne ke liye... but she was adamant. She wanted this baby badly because she knew I wanted the same desperately... but... but... not at the cost of her life!" Sidharth’s expression darkens and his voice breaks as he crushes the cigarette in his hand, anger and pain mingling..