Please check if you've read the previous update as the reads are less comparatively.
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Sidharth drove home and went straight into his room. He sat on the single couch pondering on Shehnaaz's advice of forgiving his mother for his own inner peace.

Though from what he saw, his mother wasn't a good wife but he knew that she wasn't a bad mother.

Flashback:

"Sidharth, beta who do you want to stay with after your parents get seperated.", Asked the judge in family court.

Sidharth's mother looked at him with tear filled eyes while Sidharth glared at her. The hate in his eyes were evident and that glare was burning her from inside. He remembered how she was the only person who went to his school functions and annual day. She was the one who had been playing with him everytime.

"You are my best friend." These were Sidharth's word hugging his mother always.

He was a young teenager and somewhat understood that his mother cheated his father that day. He wasn't so attached to his father but he sympathised with him.

"I want to stay with my dad", said Sidharth. His dad smiled and hugged him while the tear which his mother was holding back gushed out like a tsunami.

"The court grants the custody of child to Mr. Shashank Mittal.", Said the judge.

"Please your honour, let me meet my son once in a while atleast.", She pleaded.

"On my grave.", Said Shashank glaring at her receiving a glare back in return.

"If I ever, see you around my child then you will have to go through grave consequences.", Warned Shashank and left with Sidharth.

Post that day, Sidharth had no best friends to play or talk. He just observed his father coming late from office and going early to work. His father never attended his school functions.

He hated to believe but he missed his mother a lot.

Flashback ends

He got up and went to his grandfather's room. He knocked on the door.

"Come in.", Said the voice from inside.

"Daddu, were you sleeping? Did I disturb you?", Asked Sidharth.

"No, I was just reading. I don't get sleep so early.", Said Somesh.

He went and sat on the chair beside his bed. There was some silence while Sidharth was trying to construct the sentence he wanted to speak to his grandfather.

"What is it Sidharth?", Asked Somesh looking at Sidharth lost in his thoughts.

"Daddu, do you have mom's number or contact details?", He asked.

"Huh? What? No, but Why do you need it?", Asked Somesh in shock.

"Daddu, I don't want stay with guilt forever. She wasn't a good wife but she was a good mother. Plus I deserve inner peace. The hatred I have for her is burning me since ages now.", Said Sidharth.

Somesh nods understanding his grandson's situation.

"Ask our maid, Jhumki. She often tells me that she met her and inquired about us.", Said Somesh.

Sidharth was surprised to hear it. He nods and speaks to Jhumki and she gives him his mother's contact number.
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"Hi Mitt.. al.", Shehnaaz looks at the lady accompanying Sidharth in surprise while she greets him.

"Hi Saxena.", He gets up and gives her a quick side hug. Shehnaaz was taken aback for the hug but she shrugs off and concentrates on pondering who the lady was.

"Mrs. Solanki, she is Ms. Shehnaaz Saxena, my fiancee.. and Saxena, this is Mrs. Arushi Solanki, my mother.", introduces Sidharth. Shehnaaz's jaw drop in surprise. She folds her hand greetings the lady while the lady smile with tear filled eyes and hugs her.

"God bless you", says Arushi quickly kissing Shehnaaz's forehead.

"When is the wedding?", Asks Arushi.

Sidharth and Shehnaaz look at each other.

"Mrs. Solanki, I called you here because I want to end the hatred I have been carrying for you since so many years. It doesn't mean I will start being cordial with you but I will have no feelings for you. Neither negative nor positive.", Said Sidharth.

Shehnaaz stared at Sidharth while Arushi's face fell. She uncomfortably looked at Shehnaaz.

"Sidharth, I need to make an important call.", Shehnaaz tries to give them space by giving false reason.

"It's okay Saxena. You can stay. If you hadn't brought this topic yesterday, I would have never called her.", Says Sidharth.

"But Sidharth, I am an outsider and aunty won't be comfortable around me.", Said Shehnaaz.

"No Shehnaaz. You ain't an outsider, I am. I am sorry for what you as a child had to go through Sidharth. Don't worry, I have spent my life away from you all this years, I will continue to do so. I just want your happiness. You both make a lovely pair. I wish you both a happy married life. Just don't fall out of love.", Said Arushi.

Sidharth chuckles on the mention of love. Arushi looks at him hurt.

"Look who is talking about falling out of love. One who cheated my father behind his back and killed him by leaving him for some other man. You asked me when we are getting married, right? We are engaged to get married in 4 days, but we meet here to find reasons to avoid marrying each other. Because she wants to marry someone she loves and would be love her inturn. I am not that person. All thanks to you, I lost belief in love.", He says sarcastically.

Shehnaaz shook Sidharth's hand to stop him.

"Enough Sidharth! You were small then and I never wanted you to hate your father like the way you hate me. I didn't fall out of love in our marriage. It was your father. Your father was a workaholic and never had time for me. Do you ever remember your father and me spending time together? I too had my own feelings and wanted him close to me like all other wife would. I still kept it going until I found out that he was satisfying his needs elsewhere with his then secretary. I spoke to your grandfather as well but to him the family name was much more important than anything.

I didn't wanted to break the marriage because of you. I didn't wanted you to suffer. During my lows, the only help came from Mr. Solanki, who made me smile, spent time with me. I found happiness somewhere else because I didn't find it with your father. The day you witnessed me getting close to him was the first time he touched me physically. The hate I saw in your eyes was painful but if I had to explain you this, you might have not understood it then but you would have hated your father as well.

I knew you wouldn't have stayed with me, though I hoped you to choose me. I didn't disclose you your father's deed so that you can stay with him. But how would he change? His secretary betrayed him soon for another big shot businessman and that was the reason your father commited suicide. I wouldn't have told you all this now as well since I have been habituated of taking all the shit on myself always but I am, just because I don't want you to follow your father's footsteps.", Arushi opened the layers of secret infront of him.

Sidharth had got a bigger jolt. He held his head in both his hands, while his elbows rested on the table. Shehnaaz squeezes his shoulder to support him.

"I am sorry Sidharth. I really am sorry because you lost your belief in love because of me. Perhaps, it was expected of me to keep the marriage going even after betrayals. What surprises me was the way your father thought he being a male it was acceptable to do adultery and forget. His act was never highlighted and was inturn sympathised but I was blamed and hated. I agree, I was wrong. I am sorry. If possible, please it's a request to not marry if you can't commit to keep it for life.", She said with teary eyes and walked out of the restaurant.

Sidharth looked at her leave while Sana patted and caressed his back.

"Can we go somewhere else Shehnaaz? I am feeling suffocated in this closed place.", He says.

"Hmm..", she nods. And they drive to the same beach they went last time. Shehnaaz stopped by the dry area but Sidharth took off his shoes and continued to walk onto the wet shore. Shehnaaz silently observed him as he stretched his hand and inhaled deep breath and exhaled with his eyes shut for few moment.

Shehnaaz sat on the sand and kept looking at him while he stood alone watching the waves hit his feet and return. After almost half an hour, he went and sat beside her. There was absolute silence between them as they watched the sunset.

It was dark already and Shehnaaz's phone vibrates. She declines and looks at Sidharth.

"I am sorry Sidharth, for all that you had to go through today. Just because I insisted, you met her, bringing you more pain rather than peace.", Said Shehnaaz.

"No Shehnaaz. It wasn't your fault. It's never your fault. Neither was it her fault. I got answers to all my questions today. Today, I have got enough courage to go and cancel this wedding without giving a one cent thought about the will. I don't want to be like my father or atleast be the reason for your sadness in future. I just agreed to marry you without giving any thoughts about how sad you were in this. I am glad that I found a real friend in you by this way though.", He said.

"No Mittal. Don't take decision in haste. We will find some other way to tackle this. We still have 3 days in between. You don't have to give up on what you worked for all these years?", She says.

"Huh!! What can we do in these 3 days? Don't worry Saxena, I am good with or without the will and money.", He said with a smile.

"Hmmm..", she hums unhappy with his decision.

"Will you still meet me after I call off the marriage?", He asks getting up and dusting the sand off his bottom.

Shehnaaz nods yes with a moistened eyes and hugs him with full force. He hugs her back by holding her waist trying to avoid the fall due to her sudden force.

"I am sorry Sidharth", she whispers.

"I am sorry as well Saxena.", He murmurs.

They both stood in each other's embrace for quite sometime until Shehnaaz's phone starts vibrating again. They break the hug and Shehnaaz looks at it.

"This Riya..", she looked at the screen and shook her had in disdain.

"Speak to her. I'll drop you home", he says.

"Hmmm.. (receives the call) Hello", she says.

"Di, where are you? The tailor has sent you your lehenga. Come soon.", Riya screams.

"Hmmm.. yeah, I am coming. Don't worry those lehengas won't grow legs and run away.", Shehnaaz says sarcastically.

"What if it does? You never know.. I will lock it in your room though and guard your room from outside, to be on a safer side. I don't want your wedding to be called off due to some 2 legged lehenga.", Riya teases.

"Yeah yeah, whatever.. Now disconnect so that I can come back home.", She says before disconnecting.

"Hmmm.. so the lehenga has arrived. Huh?", Asked Sidharth starting his car.

"Yeah! Riya looks super excited than me.", She says.

"Hmm.. so how much did you pay for it Saxena? I promised you that I will buy it from you the other day when you were drunk.", He says.

"Huh? What kind of deal was it? What would you do with that lehenga?", She asked.

"Hmmm.. I don't know. If it's good, then I will give it to my future bride to wear on our wedding may be.", He laughs.

Shehnaaz doesn't smile back.

"Huh! Mittal, why will your bride wear the local lehenga? She would want to wear a designer lehenga.", She says.

"That reminds me, you looked awesome in that designer lehenga in the trial room.", He praises.

"Huh!! Don't remind me, firstly that back hooked blouse was irritating and then it was a nightmare to see you collapse after being locked in that dressing room.", She said. He laughs

"Thank you for taking care of me that day.", He said with a smile.

She touches his forehead by back of her palm and then places it on his neck.

"Saxena.. what are you doing? I am driving.", He asks.

"Huh? No I was checking if you were alright. You've been saying a lot of sorry and thank you today.", She says and they both laugh loudly.

He stops at the usual point and Shehnaaz looks at his face.

"Okay Saxena. Bye! Won't say see you tomorrow because tonight I am going to speak to my daddu about cancelling our wedding.", He says.

"You seem to be in hurry to lose your will. I am still telling you that will find another way.", She says.

"Bye Saxena", he smiles nodding his head in denial. She frowns and gets down the car and sauntered at sloth speed to her house while he pressed his lips thin, holding his steering in both his hands, observing her walking away.

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To be continued.. ❤️❤️

Do read my other ongoing story.