"Mittal, did you enjoy your bus ride?", Shehnaaz asks.

"Totally!! Got a whole body massage and aroma therapy for free.", He says.

They both laugh.

"By the way Mittal, it isn't free. You have to pay me Rs.60.", She reminds.

"Yeah, I know.", He says.

"You are famished Mittal. Come I'll treat you today.", Shehnaaz declares happily.

"Huh? How do you know that I am hungry?", He asks.

"I knew from the way you spoke to me over the phone. You know what Mittal, people scream 10% due to work pressure and remaining 90% is due to hunger which is a result of skipping their meal in order to complete the work. So whenever you have lot of work, you feed your tummy first. Because happy tummy is active brainy.", She said.

"Hmmm..", he said pondering about her words and lost in thoughts with his head down. He looked up and she wasn't there beside him. He looked around and found her standing near a small stall speaking to the vendor. After a while, he saw her waving at him and gesturing him to come over. He smiles and goes near her.

"Take this", she said passing him a plate of momos. He looked at the plate and then at her. She paid the vendor and picked up her plate.

"How do we eat this? There's no cutlery.", He asked.

"I'll hit you on your head to remind you that you are an Indian and we Indian don't need spoon, knife, chopsticks or fork to eat anything. You just need a clean hand.", She said.

He looks at his hand and he smiles.

"Hold on!", She pulled out a hand sanitizer and squeezed few drops onto his hand. She then held his plate while he sanitized his hands. She then gave him her plate before sanitizing her hand.

They both devoured tasty momos. She took few selfies of themselves while eating.

"There is a message from your secretary. Actually she sent it to give her number.", She said reading the message.

"Oh! Can you message her the details of tomorrow's location and time to meet that actor?", He said.

She nods and ponders a minute and texts her the details.

"Now what?", Said Sidharth after finishing his eating.

"Do you want to go back to office or home?", She asked.

"I don't know!", He said as he didn't wanted to go anywhere at the moment.

"Hmmm.. Shall we walk on the sea shore and then sit for a while until sunset? I love watching sunset.", She said pointing her finger towards the sea. He nods his head.

Her face brightens and they walk towards the shore.

"Mittal, hold this bag and don't dare to open it.", She said by shoving her bag into his hand. He looked at her perplexed.

She then ran towards the flock of birds standing near the shore chasing them to either run away from her or fly away. He watched her dancing like a little kid not being bothered about prying eyes on her. When she was content, she ran back to him and took her bag from him.

She took off her sandals and he took off his shoes and held them in their hands while they started walking on the wet sand.

"Wow! This is so nice. The cool breeze hitting the face and the waves kissing the legs", she said closing her eyes and spreading her arms. She inhaled deeply and exhaled. He looked at her amused. She looked at him.

"Try it. Feels fresh! Come on.. close your eyes and spread your arms.", She said and he obediently followed her instruction.

"Take a deep breath, hold it for sometime and then exhale.", She said and he did as instructed. She pulled out her phone and clicked few pictures of him doing so.

He opened his eyes and looked around to find her. She was sitting behind him little away from the shore. He went and sat beside her. A little teenage girl approached them.

"Sir, would you like to buy some peanuts?", She asked.

Sidharth shrugged as he didn't have his wallet.

"Ofcourse, we will. What's your name?", Asked Shehnaaz jerking off the sand on her feet.

"Guddiya!", The girl replied.

"Nice name. In which class do you study, Guddiya?", Shehnaaz asked further.

"10th standard.", replied Guddiya.

"Nice!", Said Shehnaaz by sanitizing her hand.

"How many packets do you want didi?", Guddiya asked.

"How many do you have Guddiya?", Asked Shehnaaz.

"Huh? Aaa.. 23 Didi.", Guddiya replied after counting.

"Give them all", said Shehnaaz.

Sidharth was taken aback and he looked at Shehnaaz for buying so many packets. Guddiya smiled and gave her all the packets. Shehnaaz took them and gave her the Rs. 500 note.

"You can keep the change Guddiya", said Shehnaaz.

Guddiya thanked Shehnaaz.

"All the best for your final exams Guddiya, study well.", Said Shehnaaz.

"Saxena, why did you buy so many packets? Will you really eat so much? And surprisingly you didn't take change as well?", He asked curiously after Guddiya left.

"Mittal, why would I eat alone? You are there as well to eat right?", She asked.

"Huh? I can't eat so much.", He replied.

Shehnaaz giggled.

"Was just joking Mittal. She is in 10th standard and currently it's their board exams. Her financial situation doesn't allow her to study without earning her daily income. She won't return unless she sold all those packets so I just bought them all so that she can go home and study for her exams.", Said Shehnaaz looking at the reddish sun which was preparing to set anytime soon. He gazed at her.

"Take Mittal, start eating and stop gawking at me.", She said passing a packet of Peanuts to him without moving her eyeballs from the sunset. He smiled while taking the packet from her hand and shifted his sight at the setting sun.

He bites the peanut and spits it.

"Yuck! This tastes so awful.", He says with disgusted face.

She looks at him and facepalms.

"Mittal, that outer shell needs to be removed before eating unless you are an elephant.", She breaks few and gives him some peanuts to eat.

"It's nice. (He tries breaking) You know what, you break it and give me. I will eat.", He says passing her the packet.

"Hmmm.. you are not less than a little baby.", She says pulling his cheeks with one hand.

"Aaaouchh.. Saxena, that hurts!", He shrieks. She smirks as she had pulled it harder on purpose.

"Okay, don't distract me and watch the sunset now and allow me too.", She says shifting her gaze at the sunset. She starts breaking the peanut shells and passing it into his hands.

"Wow! This is just awesome.", Said Sidharth watching the sunset and eating the peanuts.

"Isn't it? Soothing and beautiful. Have you witnessed sunrise?", She asks

"No.", He says.

"Hmmm.. I am not surprised. Mittal, there are much more beautiful things than money in this world. You don't have to pay for them as well. Like this nature and love.", She says passing him the peanut.

"Crap!! Why do people pay money for vacation if nature was free? And love is a biggest lie of life. Money can get you anything and everything in this world.", He says popping the peanuts into his mouth.

"Mittal, can I ask you for a favour since you are a billionaire?", She asks.

"I am surprised you are asking something else you are high on your self-esteem but anyways go on.", He says.

"I loved my grandmother and miss her a lot. It's been 4 years that she passed away. Since you said you can buy anything in this world, can you get me back grandmother, please?", She asks.

The sun had set and it was dusky everywhere. He looked at her because he knew he can't get her what she asked for. Shehnaaz looks back at him and smirks.

"Put on your shoes Mittal, I'll help you reach Mittal house.", She says.

"Saxena, well except for someone's life, money can buy anything.", He restructures his words.

She smiles.

"When you lose someone dear, even your most precious money would look like this sand. .", She picks up a pile of sand and spills through her grip.

He wipes his feet and put on his socks and shoes.

"Money can't buy everything. Money isn't happiness but can be just one of the medium to get sometimes.", Says Shehnaaz getting up and they both walk to the road.

"Shall we take a bus or an auto?", She asks.

"Arghhh.. buses are crowded and auto's don't stop.. any other option?", He asks. She laughs.

"You are a quick learner Mittal. For your information, the buses will be less crowded now since it's non-office hour.", She says

"Oh! Then bus please. I have a pass as well.", He smiles tapping on his shirt pocket.

"Just in time Mittal. See there's the bus.", She points at the bus approaching.

They both board the bus. It was indeed not crowded. She occupies the two seater on the left aisle and slides towards the window making place for him to sit. He looks at her and then sits on the right aisle opposite to her. They both stare at each other silently for few seconds before looking out of their respective windows.

Few more stops and suddenly a bunch of young hooligans enters the bus. They communicated using foul languages and indecent slangs. Sidharth turned around and observed them. There were 4 of them and one among them was gawking at Shehnaaz while hitting his elbow to signal another to look at her. Sidharth stood up and went and sat beside Shehnaaz. She looks at him and both smile.

The two hooligans starts singing in their hoarse voice.

Tum paas aaye yun muskuraye
Tumne na jaane kya sapne dikhaye
Ab to mera dil jaage na sota hai
Kya karun haaye kuch kuch hota hai
Kya karun haaye kuch kuch hota hai

Sidharth and Shehnaaz look at each other. He moves to turn around to glare at them when Shehnaaz presses his hand signalling him to ignore them.

"Why am I feeling like punching their face?", He asks.

"It's common thing. They are bullies who just make fun but in actual are cowards. So just ignore them.", She says. While the two who sang kept quiet third one continue to sing from where they stopped, his voice was pleasing.

Na jaane kaisa ehsaas hai
Bujhti nahin hai kya pyaas hai
Kya nasha is pyaar ka
Mujh pe sanam chhane laga
Koi na jaane kyon chain khota hai
Kya karun haaye kuch kuch hota hai
Kya karun haaye kuch kuch hota hai

"Wow! He seems to be a good singer. If I still had my band, I would have replaced Anshul with him.", Says Shehnaaz.

"Who is Anshul?", Asks Sidharth.

"Rrrr.. my ex-boyfriend!", Says Sana.

"Hmmm..", nods Sidharth tapping his thumb which held the railing. Sana falls quiet after this while Sidharth felt awkward after asking the question.

Kya rang laayi meri dua
Yeh ishq jaane kaise hua
Bechainiyon mein chain
Na jaane kyon aane laga
Tanhayi mein dil yaadein sanjota hai
Kya karun haaye kuch kuch hota hai
Kya karun haaye kuch kuch hota hai

Tum paas aaye yun muskuraye
Tumne na jaane kya sapne dikhaye
Tum paas aaye yun muskuraye
Tumne na jaane kya sapne dikhaye
Ab to mera dil, jaage na sota hai
Kya karun haaye kuch kuch hota hai
Kya karun haaye kuch kuch hota hai

"Why do I get a feel that they are your long lost brothers?", He says.

"Huh? Why do I look like a loafer to you?", She asks.

"No! But when you are drunk, you behave just like them. Singing melodious songs.", He says with a smile.

She chuckles.

"We have to get down next and walk for sometime to arrive at Mittal house.", Says Sana. He nods.

They both get down the bus and start walking on the street in silence.

"Oh!!! I know this road.", He speaks as soon as the small street combines into the big road.

"Thank God you know", she says sarcastically. Just around few metres and Sidharth's pace becomes slower as if he missed her company already. They arrive at Mittal house gate.

"So... Do you recognise this house?", Asks Shehnaaz. He smiles and nods.

"Okay then, Bye Mittal. I have to leave and catch a bus or an auto as well.", Says Shehnaaz.

"No! Wait! My driver will drop you home in the car." He says immediately.

"It's okay Mittal, I'll manage.."says Shehnaaz.

"I listened and traveled in bus with you, can't you listen to me and follow my order once?", He asks.

"Okay, stop emotionally blackmailing. You ain't my daddu.", She says.

"I am too young to be your daddu. Wait here!", He calls up driver using the phone in security room and asks him to get the car. The car arrives. Shehnaaz gets into it and waves bye to him.

"See you tomorrow Saxena.", Says Sidharth waving his hand at her and waits until the car disappears into far lane before going in.

_________________

To be continued.. ❤️❤️

Its 1am my time and I've literally dozed 1000 times writing this. Vote nahi kiya toh paap lagega..

It's unedited.. so please bear with mistakes.

Good nite! 😘😘