BEYOND THE CLOUDS (Completed)

Chapter 16

Sidharth’s focus was trained on her awaiting an answer.

Shehnaaz was still thinking of a reply when an audible growl rose from her stomach, making her red with embarrassment while Sidharth laughed his heart out.

Shehnaaz too giggled while looking at his adorable self.

His head was thrown back as the sound of his throaty laughter filled the room.

His crinkled eyes were wet at the corners.

She couldn’t help but just stare at him.

“Lets feed my hungry baby” he bundled her in his arms, making her squeal in delight.

Her heart which was beating as fast as butterfly’s wings eased as he seemed to have forgotten about question directed at her.

She thought they were going to the kitchen, but he bypassed it and went straight into her room, with her in his arms.

“Where are you going? I thought u wanted to feed me” she yelped as he deposited her in the centre of the bed with a thud.

“Call me selfish, but I wanna feed myself first” the naughtiness mixed in his smile, made her eyes go wide as she saw him coming on to her.

“That’s not fair” she exclaimed sliding herself further back, but he held her ankles and dragged her forward again, until she came straight under him.

Between his laughter and her squeals, he was about to bend down to start ravishing her mouth when his eyes fell on the painting easel and a half-finished painting clipped on it.

“Hold on there, what is that? You paint?” he asked, his breath was ragged, thanks to their wriggle match.

“Its just a casual hobby” her eyes rolled, seeing him eye the painting like he was seeing a masterpiece of an art. He moved towards the stand, for a closer look.

“Shehnaaz this is fabulous baby?” his finger moved along the line of mountains she had painted.

“Are all those paintings hanging outside yours?” he asked turning to her and she nodded in agreement.

“You are gifted baby. I hope you know that” he was bent at the height of the easel, looking amazed with the color play in front.

With her hands folded under her head, she rested back, letting him be.

“Sweetheart I want to see more” he ordered.

“Sidhaaaarrrthhh” she whined “You are embarrassing me now. Its nothing, forget it” she was up by his side, as he touched everything he saw. Her palette, her colors, the pencils strewn around on the table.

“If you call this nothing… I don’t know what a good work of art is then” he dipped a finger in the red paint and touched her nose with it.

“Well if you insist, open the over head drawer and welcome yourself” she rubbed her nose on his bicep, depositing the color there.

“Oops, I messed ur shirt” she made a pouty face, drawing his attention to her.

Studying the red spot for a brief moment he smirked, going back to pulling out a folder from the drawer above.

“Sweetheart, just like you, your paintings are breathtaking too” his hand flicked through the contents of the folder, spending long moments on each sheet.

“You are a hidden talent love” the words of appreciation made her thoughts drift away.

For her it was no talent, but just a way to shut herself out from the non stop voices of her father hurling abuses at her mother which eventually turned into the sounds of painful punches and muffled cries of her mother.