My Beginning, End & Ever After

EPILOGUE

Sidharth was standing in a royal sherwani on the stage. Shehnaaz walked towards the stage surrounded by her family and friends. She was clad in a red bridal lehenga. It was time for them to be officially termed as a family. Finally, both of them were getting what they deserved, happiness. He smiled at her and she smiled back. They had some cultural ceremonies. Acoustic music was playing in the background (Acoustic music se sama bandha rehta hai).

The forever pratha of photoshoot with every relative took place. Grabbing the perfect moment, when nobody was around, Sidharth kissed her cheek and whispered, "You are looking beautiful."

 Shehnaaz replied, "Thank you. Aap bhi kam handsome nahi lag rahe, 'patidev'."

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"Calm down Shehnaaz. Kuch nahi hoga, everything will be alright." Sidharth said.

"You sure?" She tried to utter even in pain.

"Definitely, tu toh strong hai baby."

The nurses took Shehnaaz to the operation theatre. Sidharth was getting restless with each second. Tanishq and Harpreet tried their best to calm him. After some time, doctor came out and went to Sidharth. "Congratulations Mr. Shukla. You are now father of a baby boy."

Sidharth went numb. His mind stopped working. Tanishq kept his hand on his shoulder. "Congrats bro." He said.

Sidharth hugged him immediately and tears escaped his eyes. Tanishq rubbed his back continuously. "Shant ho jaa bhai. Ek ladke ka baap hai tu."

They went inside and found Shehnaaz on the bed and the baby beside her in the cradle. Sidharth looked at him with teary eyes and a smile came on his lips. Shehnaaz looked at the emotional father and giggled.

"Buddy, aapke father aaye hai." Harpreet said to the baby, making everyone laugh their hearts out.

Sidharth went and sat beside Shehnaaz and held her hands in his. "Thank you Shehnaaz for giving me the best gift of my life."

"See I told you. Shaurya Sidharth Shukla." She said proudly. They had a healthy debate regarding the name, the middle name actually. He wanted it to be Shehnaaz and she wanted Sidharth. After she gave him kasam, they decided 'Shaurya Sidharth Shukla'. It depicted bravery, heroism and power. And he deserved such name. After all, he was the son of a fierce couple, SidNaaz. 

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Sidharth was showing some pictures to a 6 year old Shaurya on his phone and explaining something. Shehnaaz came near them. He immediately closed everything and looked at her with fear.

"Kya bata raha hai tu use?" She asked

"Kuch bhi toh nahi." He shrugged.

"Shaurya baby, aap maa ko batao kya bol rahe the papa." She asked their cute son. Sidharth glared at him and nodded in a no. But he was mom's pet and he couldn't resist speaking.

"Papa mujhe aapke bhaiyon ki photos dikha rahe the." Shaurya said.

"Konse bhai?" She asked.

"Tanishq mama, Ronnie mama, Nishant mama aur wo Angrez chooza mama." He said and Sidharth facepalmed. 'Isko koi batao isko paida karne me mera bhi yogdaan hai, maa ka chamcha', he thought.

"Kya sikha raha hai tu use Sidharth, baccha hai wo abhi." Shehnaaz yelled.

"Arre baby mein toh use family ka mahatva sikha raha tha." Sidharth almost stammered.

"Ruk mein tujhe batati hun." She ran behind him in the whole house. "Kutte ruk!"

 Shaurya slapped his head, "Baccha mein hu aur harkate inki bacchon wali hai."

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"Kyu maara tune uss ladke ko?" Sidharth asked to their 11 year old son, who was standing in front of him looking down in fear. He was a wonderful dad. They tried their best to love him and at the same time, not spoil their child. But Sidharth looked angry now, and that was one thing he feared. 

"Papa usne Shreya ko propose kiya tha." He stuttered.

"Haan toh?" Sidharth asked angrily.

"Woh..papa..ILoveheraurmeinusekisiaurkesaathnahidekhsakta.." He said without fullstop.

"Kya bol raha hai dheere bol." 

"I love her papa aur mein use kisi aur ke saath nahi dekh sakta." He said, showing his puppy eyes to his dad.

"Toh tu use maarega?" Sidharth said, relatively calm now.

"Beta kiska hai." Shehnaaz whispered in low voice.

"Kya boli tu?" Sidharth asked her.

"Arre mein toh bol rahi thi ki tu isko pyaar se bhi toh samjha sakta hai na."

"Yeh tere pyaar ne hi bigada hai isko."

"Mujhe mat bol. Tu toh khud bachpan me 3 schools se nikala gaya hai."

"Kasam lage papa, 3 school se nikale gaye ho aap?" Shaurya exclaimed. He was indeed a mixture of both Sidharth and Shehnaaz. He was cute and funny most of the time like her, but once his temper went high, he behaved much like Sidharth. Like today when he punched the guy because he had proposed his crush Shreya.

"Ae chhoti sana chup kar. Maine bola tha isko Co-Ed me mat daalo Tanishq jaisa tharki ban jayega." Sidharth said

"Chhod na Sidharth. Dekh na kitna achha mausam hai. Ghoomne chalte hai." Shaurya and Shehnaaz requested a lot and at the end Sidharth gave up. They went for a long drive and listened to popular 2000s songs like 'Tu Jaane Na' and 'Ajab Si'.

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Shehnaaz was standing in the balcony and weeping. Sidharth came and hugged her from back. She immediately wiped her tears, but it didn't help much. She could never hide her emotions from him.

"Ab itna emotional mat ho. Jab wo hostel me rahega toh situations se khud deal karna seekhega." Sidharth said.

"Par Sidharth hum use yahan bhi toh rakh ke sikha sakte hai na." She protested. 

"Nahi Shehnaaz, hum hamesha use shelter me nahi rakh sakte. Wahan jayega naye logo se milega toh use bhi cheeze samjh aane lagegi. Woh khud bhi excited hai. Tu please rona band kar." Shaurya was going to join college next week. They decided to let him be in the hostel to make him stronger.

"Pata hai. Par kya karu ek maa ka dil nahi maanta."

"Aapka dil bhi papa ki tarah ziddi hai." Shaurya came from behind.

"Aa gayi Chhoti Sana mere juloos ke liye." Sidharth huffed.

"Papa ab toh mein jaane wala hun. Band karo ye bulana." Shaurya whined.

"Sirf Chhoti Sana nahi, ye chhota Sidharth bhi hai. Tune 6 logon ko maara tha school me, aur isne 2 ko." She said, making the father-sun duo sigh.

"Yeh sab chhodo, aa ek jhappi de." They had a warm family hug. They lived happily ever after.

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This is the end guys. This was my first try in writing a romantic story. I hope I didn't disappoint anyone and if I did I am sorry for that. Not sure if I am ever going to write another story. But I'll surely miss it. Thanks for the constant support you guys have given me. I always loved to know your views. As they say, part of the journey is the end, so this is the end. Thanks to each one of you!

Finally, adios amigo!