Sidharth was sailing in the ocean of emotions. He was cursing his luck for getting heartbroken everytime.

Why and how the hell did I fall for a married lady who also happens to be my student?  That too in just two days.

But she said she stays with her sister and brother-in-law. Why would she stay with her relatives, if she is already married? Is she lying to me?

Sidharth: You said you are staying with your sister. What about your husband? Does he also stay with you in their house?

Shehnaaz: My husband has left me long back. He is very soon marrying someone else.

Sidharth: What? (Shocked)

There was a thunder and Shehnaaz flinched with fear saying "Ammaaa" and hugged him. Sidharth froze at her touch. He was still unable to get out of the shock from her answer and her sudden embrace felt like an electric jolt. He couldn't think of anything.

As soon as his one hand hugged by her waist, she left him and distanced herself from him.

Shehnaaz: I am sorry, I got scared at the sudden thunder.

Sidharth: I.. (gulped) I understand. Please don't be sor... (He found her looking around to check if somebody saw them.)

Shehnaaz: Sir, I had told you not to accompany me. I don't have anything else than a good name. You are a man, people won't shame you but I will be judged, cursed and character shamed. It's easier for a man to move on but society doesn't allow a woman to move on in her life. It's better if you stop here itself.

Tears roll out of her eyes as she spoke and she runs away leaving him. She was fully drenched in rain. Her umbrella protected him from getting drenched.

He stood there for sometime like a rock until there was a thunder sound again which brought him back to his consciousness. She had disappeared in a thin air. He walked back home. His mind was occupied with her thoughts and words.

Did she say she is married and her husband left her? How can someone leave such a beautiful soul? How can he be so cruel?

Why Sidharth? Don't you remember that you did the same with Sana? She was innocent as well. How do you see Shehnaaz's pain but not Sana's pain who is your wife?

But she might have moved on. 5 years have passed for that incident.

That's your assumption! What if the society haven't allowed her to move on, like Shehnaaz said? You haven't even set her free fully. But look at you. You decided to marry any random girl that Maa picks first and then you wanted to marry Shehnaaz.

Arghhhh.. Why is my life so complicated?

Who made it complicated Sidharth? You! You went to marry someone and when you found a lock on the door. You were ready to marry any random girl. You hadn't even seen Sunaina and agreed to marry her. You spent some cozy moments with Sana unknowingly and when you realized she wasn't Sunaina, you left her! If you were in for any random girl for marriage what difference did Sunaina or Sana make? You got so attached to the name that you rejected a relationship after spending a romantic moment with a girl. If you had to accept her with her identity, your life would have been simpler.

The thought and the guilt didn't allow him to sleep. He dragged the sleepless night surrounded with those thoughts.

The next day he got ready to leave to college. When he reached the door to put on his shoes, he saw Shehnaaz's umbrella. He thought that he has a reason to talk to her again. He took the umbrella and went to the college.

He eagerly waited for his lecture to commence. He had a free time to check those remaining books but he left it unchecked so that he can use it as an opportunity to spend sometime with her again after the class.

Even before the bell rang he was already strolling near her class to enter it. The other lecturer took some time to come out of the class. He passed a gentle smile at the outgoing lecturer and entered the class.

The class rose up to greet him and his eyes were already searching for her. He asked the class to sit down. He was silent for sometime as his eyes searched for her. The entire class watched him in silence. She wasn't there. He was restless and was getting mad thinking about her. He glared at the class.

Sidharth: You!! (Pointing out) Rehman!!

Rehman stood up with a smile expecting him to praise him.

Sidharth: What do you think of me? Some stupid puppet who would act on your words? I asked you to write a narrative or a poem and you wrote a letter to me? Letter begging to praise you infront of the class just to impress your girl? Work hard and be worthy to get noticed and stop begging shamelessly. Stop chasing girls.

Rehman put his head down in humiliation and he looked at Nagma. Nagma had tears in her eyes and she nodded at him to stay strong. He quietly sat down.

Sidharth: Read the narrative number 12 and write down your understanding about it. I will randomly select 10 students to speak on your inferences tomorrow.

Everyone was petrified looking at his wrath. They opened their books and started to read the said chapter. He sat on the teacher's chair and looked at the book not knowing that he was holding it upside down. Regardless none of the students dared to look at him. He was thinking about Shehnaaz and wondered where was she and why didn't she come to college.

He suddenly remembered her conversation about her friend who stays near her house with whom she walks to college and back home. He checked the student attendance register and found the name he was trying to recall.

Nagma pushes a chit to Indumati to pass it to Rehman. Indumati passes the chit to Rehman.

Sidharth: Indumati..

Indumati flinched in her place, she was terrified thinking that she was caught since he called out her name. She nervously stood up. Her hands were cold as she fidgeted with her hands. Her head was already down thinking that she is about to get humiliated. The bell rang and she sighs.

Sidharth: Indumati please come to the staffroom.

She gulps but she thank her star that atleast she wont be humiliated infront of the whole class but in private. She walks behind him to the staffroom.

Sidharth: You are Shehnaaz's friend right?

Indumati nods yes.

Sidharth: Actually yesterday, she was helping me in checking the narratives and poems and she forgot her umbrella here. Why is she not in class today?

Indumati: Oh! I think since she forgot her umbrella here, she must have got drenched on her way back home. She fell sick.

Sidharth: What? How is she doing? Is it too severe? (He enquired with worry)

Indumati: Nothing to worry Sir. She has got little fever and cold. She will be back in one or two days.

Sidharth: Hmm.. I wanted to return her the umbrella. How do I do that?

Indumati: I can give it to her.

Sidharth: Okay! Actually she had asked me for some doubt in literature. I will write it for and give you an envelope. If you can give it to her along with the umbrella.

Indumati: Sure Sir.

Sidharth: Okay! Could you collect it from the staffroom before you go home?

Indumati: Yes, I will. My class gets over in another 2 hours. I will come and collect.

Sidharth: Okay! Thank you.

He takes out his book to write a note to her. But he was clueless about what to write. The Gold Medalist in Literature was short of words.

(Listen to another old melody attached in the header now)

He scratches his head, takes the ink pen near the first line

Priya Shehnaaz? Hmm.. Dear Shehnaaz? Hmmm.. Pyaari Shehnaaz? What do I write? Ms. Shehnaaz? Too formal!! Hmmm.. Shehnaaz itself is enough for now.

He writes down "Shehnaaz,"

Phew, one hurdle passed. Next challenge!! What do I write?

Return your Gold Medal Sidharth. What's the use of it when you can't write one single note for her. Why did you have to tell her friend that you will give an envelop. You could have just given her the umbrella. Now your hands are shivering. You scolded Rehman but now look at yourself.

Oh God!! Will you stop cursing me and help me for a second?

That's your job. You are the heart. You emotional fool. Your job is to love and get broken. I can't do this task.

Shut up! How can I be a fool when you are the brain. You are fool. If you can't help then stop cursing me. Let me think.

Ha ha ha.. how do you think? You need brain for that!! Rothlu.. Cry baby!! I am out of it. Now pour your heart into it.. ha ha ha ha.. bye!!

Huh!! Yes, I'll pour my heart into it then spending useless brain.
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Sidharth goes and waits outside the class room even before the final bell rang as he feared that Indumati might forget to take the umbrella and the envelop. He glanced at his watch every alternate second. The bell finally rang and the students started coming out one by one. He saw Rehman who smiled at him.

Rehman: Sir, probably your praise might have not worked but your scolding did. She reciprocated my love for the first time. Thank you so much sir!

Sidharth: I am sorry, Rehman. My mood was off. But happy that you got what you seeked.

He looked at the door but Indumati didn't come. He went to the door and peeped inside. She wasn't there.

Oh hell!! I missed her and she must have left while I was speaking to Rehman. I guess you will have to wait.

He said in his head as he looked at the envelope and the umbrella. He went back to staff room disheartened. He smiled as he saw Indumati standing near his desk already.

Indumati: Oh! Sir, I was about to leave since I thought you left for home.

Sidharth: No, I went to.. (he stopped as he didn't wanted to sound desperate or pull her suspicion.) I had a lecture to attend. Here take these and give my best regards to her.

Indumati: Yes Sir.

She takes the umbrella and envelop and leaves.

Hmm.. now, how do I know her reaction?
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Indumati: Namastey Didi. I am here to see Shehnaaz.

Sunaina: She is in her room. Please go and meet her.

Indumati nods and goes inside.

Indumati: Hello Sakhi. How are you?

Sana: Hel... (Pauses as she looked at the umbrella in her hand) Did Shastri Sir give you that?

Indumati: Huh? What's cooking between you and him? Even he was reacting so different today. He humiliated poor Rehman infront of the whole class.

Sana: What?

Indumati: You know who was the girl, that Rehman loves? Nag..

Sana: Did Shastri sir ask for me?

Indumati: (frowns) hmmm.. I think I smell a rat. Tell what it is else I'll open this envelop he gave me to give you.

Sana: What? He sent an envelope for me? (She sat up straight from her bed)

Indumati: Yes (smells the envelop) I wonder what it could be? Shall I open it?

Sana: (Climbed down from the bed) What? No no no!

She goes to grab the letter from her hand and Indumati hides it behind her back. Sana makes a failed attempt to grab it.

Sana: Ouch!!! (Sana sits on the bed with a thud holding her head)

Indumati: (panics) What happened Sakhi? (Holds her by her arms)

Sana grabs the letter from her hand and pushes it inside her blouse.

Indumati: (frowns) You are hiding something. Aren't you telling me? What has happened between you two in these two days? Tell me or I'll ask didi. Didi...

Sana: Hush!! He is my husband!

Indumati: He is what? (Shocked)

Sana: (frowns) Husband husband husband.. pati, patidev, pati parmeshwar, shohar, pran-naath, jeevansaathi..

Indumati: In two days, you married him secretly?

Sana: (shocked) what? No, we married 5 and a half years back. (She tells her the whole story)

Indumati: How stupid of you Sana!! He left you and didn't for once check upon you for 5 years. Now also, he doesn't recognise you and is getting married to someone else. And you are dancing in joy as if he sent you a love letter.

Sana: Stop it Indumati. I didn't share my story for you to make fun of my emotions or say ill about my husband. You may leave.

Indumati: (smirks) Fine! I don't need a foolish friend like you as well. You are going to cry and suffer when he marries someone else, then you will curse him yourself. Bye!!

Sana was a crying mess. She didn't have a courage to open the letter now as she feared Indumati's prediction might be true. Afterall she remembered how she scolded him before running home when they last were together.

Her head was pounding and she fell more ill due to the tension and crying too much.
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To be continued.. ❤️❤️