Shehnaaz was deep in slumber when she felt something strange under her blanket. She stirred a little and continued to sleep but after a while she felt the strange movement again. What was it she thought for a while. It felt like.. like.. something crawling.

"Mummaa...", Her eyes sprang open and she jumped out of the bed immediately. When she turned on the light, she saw a lizard crawling on her blanket.

"Hushhh.. husshhh..", she tried to shoo it away by waving a piece of cloth but instead of running away, the lizard hid somewhere inside the pile of blanket.

"Argghhh..", Shehnaaz whined in frustration. She didn't have the courage to pick the blanket and get rid of the lizard. However, she was extremely exhausted and needed her beauty sleep desperately. So without wasting much time, she went into the only room where she was welcome in this whole house. That was, Prerna's.

Without turning on the light or disturbing her sleeping friend, she yawned and got onto her bed with her almost closed eyelids. As it was a chilly winter, she pulled the blanket a little to herself. The warmth radiating from other's body made her crawl closer to her and embrace her in sleep.

A while later, she sensed Prerna stirring.

"Main hoon, Shehnaaz. So jao..", she mumbled patting her arm. Feeling the other's body stiffen, she squeezed her arm a little.

"Tum gaon ki ladkiya kitni strong hoti ho.. ek baar ke liye toh aisa laga jaise main tere nakhchadde bhai ko hug karke so rahi hoon.. agar meri body aisi hoti na toh main uss Vishal ki chutney banake chat mein daalke kawwon ko khila deti..", Shehnaaz mumbled sleepily. She felt the other person shake due to silent giggle. Shehnaaz lightly slapped her arm.

"Itna hilo math yaar. So jao.. kal tera khadoos bhai mujhe ghar se nikaal dega.. show se bhi bahar ho jaungi.. phir pata nahi sone ke liye mere paas bistar bhi hoga ki nahi.. toh aaj ke liye araam se sone de..", Shehnaaz's voice faded as she pulled Prerna closer to cuddle before she snored softly.

Little did she notice, that she wasn't cuddling Prerna but Sidharth, who came to sleep in Prerna's room after the latter fell asleep in his room. How would she when her eyelids were so heavy and exhausted that she could hardly open them and see.

However, Sidharth on the other hand had completely lost his sleep. His heart was thumping at double the speed from the moment he felt her touch. It took him all his strength to keep his entire self in control while she cuddled him like a teddybear in her sleep. He had insulted and embarrassed her enough already hence he didn't want to embarrass her any futher by waking her up nor could he shift due to her legs interlocked with his.

His face was inches away from hers their breath felt one. All he did now was silently gaze at her face from up close. He delicately moved the strands of hair that covered her face partially. Wrong move!! Her soft beige skin divinely glowed in moonlight that peeked through the window. Her eyebrows were shaped like a perfect bow and who knows it better that she shoots heart piercing arrows with those almond shaped eyes. He was lucky they were closed at the moment. Her small yet pointy nose, that is mostly adorned with anger due to him. Her rosey plump lips that were slightly open, were tempting and inviting him to savour them. He gulped and bit his upper lip unknowingly, remembering how soft it felt on his lips when it brushed accidentally at the very first day he met her.

Awww, how could she sleep so peacefully even with the loud sound of his thumping heart. His lips quivered while a sweat bead travelled down his temple. God! Why is he sweating even though in winter. He realised that staring at her wasn't good for his heart, so he closed his eyes and said the prayers in his mind.

Jay Hanuman Gyaan Gunn Sagar..
Jai Kapeesh teehu lok ujaagar..

What? She isn't a ghost though that you start reciting the Hanuman Chalisa at this odd hour! But, that's the only thing he could come up with right now, he being the ardent devotee of Lord Hanuman, who followed celibacy. Yeah!! So he continued chanting in his mind to calm himself and fall asleep eventually.

..
..
..

Shehnaaz yawned stretching her hands as she woke up. When she opened her eyes, she saw that she was in a different room and then she realised that she slept in Prerna's room last night. Hmm.. but where is Prerna? Huh! Of course, she wakes up early like everyone else in the house except for Shehnaaz. Shehnaaz needs an alarm or a kick on the butt to wake up so early. But why didn't anyone wake her up today? It was not very early as the sun was already shining bright.

"O teri! Aaj toh mujhe yaha se nikalna hai..", she slapped her forehead a little hard and shrieked before rubbing it to sooth.

"Tabhi mujhe kisi ne nahi uttaya.. chalo Shehnaaz apna boriya bistar baad le..", she mumbled to herself and moved out of Prerna's room to go towards hers. On her way she met Prerna limping out of Sidharth's room.

"Good morning Prerna..", Shehnaaz hugged her tightly.

"Good morning Sanu.. itne zor se mat dabba, warna maahra pishaab nikal jayega..", Prerna spoke in muffled voice that made Shehnaaz chuckle.

"Hmm.. tera pair abhi thik nahi hai toh tu pure ghar mein kyu ghoom rahi hai? Rest nahi kar sakti thi kya?", Shehnaaz scolded her sweetly. She accompanied her to her room.

"Ghoom kaha rahi hoon. Abhi toh utti hoon. Kal raat ko bhaiyya ke kamre mein hi so gayi thi..", Prerna said.

"Huh? Kya matlab? Tu tere kamre mein nahi soyi?", Shehnaaz asked narrowing her eyebrows.

"Bolo toh.. nahi..", Prerna spoke nonchalantly.

"Aur tera bhai?", Shehnaaz asked.

"Pata nahi.. shayad maahre kamre mein soye honge..", Prerna shrugged guessing.

"What?" Shehnaaz eyes and mouth went widen open in shock.

Flashback:

Main hoon, Shehnaaz. So jao..", she mumbled patting her arm. Feeling the other's body stiffen, she squeezed her arm a little.

"Tum gaon ki ladkiya kitni strong hoti ho.. ek baar ke liye toh aisa laga jaise main tere nakhchadde bhai ko hug karke so rahi hoon.. agar meri body aisi hoti na toh main uss Vishal ki chutney banake chat mein daalke kawwon ko khila deti..", Shehnaaz mumbled sleepily. She felt the other person shake due to silent giggle. Shehnaaz lightly slapped her arm.

"Itna hilo math yaar. So jao.. kal tera khadoos bhai mujhe ghar se nikaal dega.. show se bhi bahar ho jaungi.. phir pata nahi sone ke liye mere paas bistar bhi hoga ki nahi.. toh aaj ke liye araam se sone de..", Shehnaaz's voice faded as she pulled Prerna closer to cuddle before she snored softly

Flashback ends when Prerna shakes her.

"Saaaaanuu.. Thaare ko ke hua?", Prerna asked puzzled at her expression.

"Umm.. aaa.. ku...ku..kuchh nahi..", Shehnaaz gulped and fumbling.

Iska matlab main Sidharth ko hug karke so gayi?

Argghhh.. pagal aurat!! Yeh kya kiya tune? Uss devil ke saath so gayi?

So gayi? Kya matlab? I am feeling perfectly fine.. my body seems fine.. toh I am sure aisa waisa kuch nahi hua hoga..

She looked down at her body inspecting herself.

Rrrr.. maana ki main galati se uske saath soyi.. par woh toh mujhe bata sakta tha na? Jab dekho tab mujhpe chilaata rehta hai toh kal raat ko usne mujhe kuch kyu nahi kaha?

Shayad usko laga ho ki tu koi aur hai..

Koi aur? Koi aur kaun?

Kalyani?

What? Woh kyu?

Kyuki woh uski honewali lugaa..

Lugaayi.. my foot!!

Jaheel ganwaar kahi ki.. agar mujhe ek khoon maaf hota na toh main uska murder kar deti..

Shehnaaz frowned in anger.

Are you jealous of her?

Jealous? Main? Huh!!

Par kya sach mein Sidharth ko laga ki meri jagah woh Kalyani thi?

Shehnaaz made a sad pout.

It's okay.. it's okay.. calm down Shehnaaz.. waise bhi tu aaj yaha se jaane wali hai..

Shehnaaz patted her heart to calm herself and to stop thinking about it. She realised Prerna quietly staring at her actions in confusion.

"Kya dekh rahi ho?", Shehnaaz asked.

"Yeh tum itna muh ke bana rahi thi?", Prerna asked.

"Woh.. woh main actor hoon na toh main.. dher saare emotions ke practice karti rehti hoon..", Shehnaaz replied.

"Hmm.. gajab ka acting hai thaara.  Maahra bhi mann kare ki thaara cinema dekhu..", Prerna said.

"Tumne meri koi cinema nahi dekhi abhi tak?", Shehnaaz asked and Prerna shook her head in denial.

"Maahri padaayi ke wajah se maahre ghar mein TV na rakha..", Prerna said.

"Par tum toh ab padaayi nahi karti.. how old are you?", Shehnaaz asked..

"Bees saal ki hoon. Do saal ho gaye manne padaayi chhode.. Gaon mein Baarahvi ke baad na padh sake.. Didi, jeh maahre se 4 saal badi se, une bhi sirf baarahvi tak padayi ki. Bhaiyya maahre se 8 saal bade se, aur sirf bhaiyya ne teen saal sheher mein rehke graduation kiya se. Bhaiya ne maa ko bahut samjhaya par maa mane shehar na bhejna chahve..", Prerna said.

"Aur tum aage padhna chahti ho?", She asked.

"Didi ki tarah do ek do saal mein maahra bhi shaadi kar denge. Gaon mein aisa hi hove.", Prerna spoke.

"Kaash mein tumhe apne saath sheher le jaa paati..", Shehnaaz mumbled in her thought.

"Amma kabhi na maanengi.. bhaiyya ko bhi na bhejti agar bhaiyya ne..", Prerna was interrupted by Iravati's voice.

"Prernaaa.. kitni der sovegi? Utt jaa laado aur chai naasta kar le..", Iravati called from the living area.

Prerna looked at Shehnaaz who was already looking at her.

"Chal laado, tera madad karti hoon..", Shehnaaz teased her to put a smile on the latter.

Shehnaaz helped Prerna to finish her morning chores due to her injury. Once done, Shehnaaz helped her walk to the dining area on Prerna's insistence. She didn't want to go there willingly because she knew Sidharth would be there too.

"Tu gayi na ib tak?", Kalyani asked as soon as she got a glimpse of Shehnaaz, who was enraged by her words. Sidharth immediately glanced to look at Shehnaaz.

"Jaa rahi hoon. Main bas Prerna ko yaha chhoddne aayi thi..", Shehnaaz replied gritting her jaws.

"Huh! Badi besharam se.. Thakur ne kal raat ko thanne bola tha ki tu usko aaj savere dikhni na chahiye.. aur tu, thaara sadda hua gobbar jaisa muh Thakur ke saamne le aayi..", Kalyani spat venomous words on Shehnaaz's face. She was trying to remind him his words.

"KAL--", Sidharth was about to react when his sister beat him.

"KALYANI.. SANU KAHI NA JAAVEGI.. YE MAAHRA BHI GHAR SE AUR GALATI SANU NE NAA KI, MANNE KI SE.. SANU KO MELE KE BAARE MEIN MANNE HI BATAYA AUR MAIN HI USKO LE GAYI.. TOH IB AGAR SANU JAAVEGI TOH MANNE BHI JAANA PADEGA..", Prerna yelled gripping Shehnaaz's hand.

Kalyani gasped hearing Prerna rumble at her.

"Ke hua chhorri?", Iravati asked walking out of kitchen. She couldn't hear them clearly in the kitchen but felt Prerna yell.

"Amma, Shehnaaz di kahi na jaavegi.. mela mein jaane ka zidd maahra tha..  uski koi galati na thi.. saza usko na manne milni chahiye..", Prerna finally rebelled. She knew the reasons she gave Sidharth yesterday can't be told to her mother because she would lash at Shehnaaz for her probable interference in her elder daughter's married life.

Moreover, her brother was a coconut head when it came to apologies. She knew he would find it difficult to apologize for his mistake to the lady he had a soft spot in his heart. Especially when he was trying to hide it from everyone.

Iravati looked at her son wondering why he was silent though.

"Thik se, iss chhorri ko ghar se jaane ki jarurat naa se..", Sidharth said. Everyone was taken aback, while Prerna smiled happily.

"Par ib galati ki saza tum dono ko milegi..", Sidharth spoke. Thus, bringing back his normal aura of strict sarpanch makes others less suspicious for his earlier behaviour.

"Tum dono ko, agle hafte se savere 5 baje utakke maahre saath akhaade mein kasrat karna padego..", Sidharth declared which made everyone's jaw hung in shock.

"Kasrat?", Prerna gulped.

"5 baje?", Shehnaaz gulped.

"Chal Kalyani rasoi mein maahri madad kar", Iravati rolled her eyes and went into the kitchen and Kalyani trailed behind with a smirk.

Prerna and Shehnaaz who were both still in shock, blurted in unison

"Manne kasrat na karna..", Prerna blurts

"Mujhe 5 baje nahi utna..", Shehnaaz blurts

They both look at each other in confusion while Sidharth stares at them both with an expressionless face.

"Manne 5 baje utne mein koi paresaani na se, par kasrat na karna..", Prerna whined.

"Aur mujhe exercise karne mein problem nahi hai par 5 baje utna mujhse nahi hoga..", Shehnaaz said.

"Bhaiyya, main paanch baje utt jaungi aur Sanu 8 baje uttke kasrat kar legi toh chalega?", Prerna asked sweetly but in reply she only got a glare from him. Prerna put her head down while gulping nervously.

"Pata tha tera khadoos bhai nahi manega. Thanks for trying though..", Shehnaaz whispered.

"Sanu, jaldi so jana taaki jaldi utne mein takleef na ho.. theek se?", Prerna suggests in the whisper.

"Theek hai, koshish karungi..", Shehnaaz said and they both giggled like kids.

"Prerna? Thanne Kalyani ko uske naam se bulaaya?", Iravati asked while serving food.

Prerna bit her lips and looked down. She knew Kalyani must have complained to Iravati behind her back because she must have felt insulted with her response earlier.

"Thaare se woh umar mein badi se aur thaare bhai ki hone wali lugaai. Thaare sanskar kaha se? Maafi maag aur aage se tu usko bhaabhi bulavegi. Samjhi?", Iravati scolds Prerna. Prerna glanced at Shehnaaz, who had her head low and was gritting her jaws. Prerna then looked at her brother, who bit his upper lip and acted as if he didn't hear anything.

"Maaf kar do.. bhaa..bhi..", Prerna said with great displeasure and discomfort. Shehnaaz clenched the piece of roti in her hand as if it was Kalyani's neck while Kalyani smirked.

_____

To be continued.. ❤️❤️