AN INEQUITABLE LOVE

The not-so-good talks!

The silence was calming, devoid of all the restlessness for they sat with each other, gazing at the sky and them. The sky was sparkling with the glittering stars, Sidharth looked into her eyes and so did she. The gaze was enough; no entwined fingers, they sat with their souls entwined with each other and everything made sense, all that didn't even mean to.

Breaking the long silence Shehnaaz asked, " Tum idhar ?" Yes. What was he doing there? It was obviously strange for her to come across him at an isolated building. To anybody else, it would be the same. Sidharth was confused. About what? He did not know whether it was the right time to speak up. It wasn't. " Arey who, aise hi", was all he could speak.

" Aise hi koi idhar nahi aata. Kahi bhooton ne toh..", she spoke only to be abrupted in the middle. "Ek aur baar bhooth ki baat kar mai tujhe yahin se neeche phekunga", he glared at her. Shehnaaz chuckled but later turned serious. It was an excuse, she knew. Shehnaaz placed her palms on the either sides and looked straight.She continuously moved her fingers around, searching for is hand. She also could not directly hold his hand. That would end up being embarrassing for her if not him.  She could feel his little finger just beside hers. Moving her hand towards it very slowly she placed her palm on his while her gaze remained undisturbed. She looked straight just to avoid his look. It was obvious for her not not meet her eyes with him. She felt the same butterflies when they walked holding hands in Goa. There were no words to speak even then. The silence witnessed their actual feelings.

Shehnaaz wanted Sidharth to reciprocate. She was waiting for him to hold her hand too but he didn't. On getting no reaction from the other side, it didn't just feel right. Yet, she wanted it. She waited for some more time with the hope but he didn't. Now, this was something that she could not force on him. Shehnnaz was taking away her hand but felt a tight grip. Sidharth held it tight, " Mat kar", he said. That was enough for both of them. It was enough for her because not only did she want to keep holding his hand,but also wanted him to reciprocate while Sidharth was happy that she initiated. He was happy that she listened to him. He had missed her like anything. Little did she know that he couldn't concentrate on his work. She didn't know how restless he was. Neither did he.

"Tu idher rehti hai?", he asked all of a sudden.

She replied with a yes and asked him where he lived. He said that he used to stay in Bhopal initially but shifted there finally due to his business concerns. The reason being enough for her to believe, she nodded her head.

"How's Shrey?", he asked her again.

"Thik hai who. Aaj hi tujhe yaad kar raha tha", Shehnaaz answered again, earning a huge grin from Sidharth.

"And how is Rishabh?", he asked. The smile on her face was long gone. Rishabh was someone whom she hated the most. Hate is a very strong feeling but she didn't mind it if the other person was like that of her husband. He was not even a man. This was her precious moment and she didn't want to spoil him for him. It was just about her and Sidharth and she wanted to keep it the same.  " Tu apna bataa na", she said. It wasn't the right time to tell him anything about her life too. It was better to change the topic. Sidharth had been noticing her face all this while. The smile wasn't there. The glow of her eyes was not anywhere to be found. All that he could see was horror and disgust. She looked very gloomy. What bothered him more was her sitting at the beach. Well, it was normal but something just did not feel right. He could also be just overthinking and hence decided to focus on Shehnaaz at the present.

" Kuch nahi yaar, mera kya? I've been very busy with the work. It feels good after the vacation but you know, stress toh bohot hai abhi", Sidharth answered. "What about you? Abhi kaise lag raha wapas wahi routine. Rishabh would be taking care of you. Tereko dekh ke toh lagta wahi hai. Bas upar se shaant lagti hai, waise apne pati se hi kaam karwati hogi tu. Haina?", Sidharth laughed. Rishabh's topic had already made her gloomy. He had noticed it but did the same just to confirm something. He had a sense that she was not happy with her marriage. Well, he had already sensed it in Goa. Yes, she again dodged the question.

Shehnaaz could not get why he talked about Rishabh so much. He obviously did not know the truth but his Rishabh jaap seemed strange. It was just that she did not want to talk about an idiot like Rishabh. She had been to the beach to not think about him. She would better leave if he spoke once more about her stupid husband who was hers just only the sake of the world.

"Chal chalte hain Sidharth", she said. She did not want to sit there. He had already spoiled it for her. But wait! Why was she blaming him? He had nothing to do with Rishabh. He was unaware of most of the things. "Ugh! Stop expecting", Shehnaaz said to her inner self which waited for someone. Someone whom she could happily give her heart too. "Lagta hai mere dil ko aise hi jang lag jaana hai", she huffed.

Sidharth started laughing loudly again as they went down the stairs. It was less tiring. Aah! What a relief i was to get down the stairs! Giving him a strange look Shehnaaz asked him what the matter actually was.

Trying to speak between his laughs Sidharth said, " Dhyaan se dekh le. Kahin safed saree mein koi hai toh nahi". Shehnaaz mouth fell wide open. Hitting him hard, she warned, " Tu ek aur baar bol, phir dekh. Itna maarungi na tujhe mai Sidharth..", Shehnaaz squinted her eyes. "Mereko waise hi goosebumps aa rahe. mat baat kar bhooton ki", she was scared again.

They came down teasing and hitting each other. Such kids!

"Kaise aayi tu?"

"Cab", she answered booking a cab for her to go back.

Sidharth dragged her to his car and told her to be seated. " Abey baith na", he said. Without any questions, Shehnaaz sat on the front seat and fastened her seat belt. Sidharth started driving quietly. They were still not ready to talk. Every new place brought back the same awkwardness between them. Little did they care about the writer.

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Hello! How are you all doing?

The chapter is short, I know. Kindly bear with it till sixteenth.

Please vote for the chapter and tell me what you liked. Ugh, it's a pathetic chapter, I know. Anyway, coment dher saara.