Sidharth unable to understand how to react just hugged her.. he could understand that later but he would do what his girl needed as the first thing. He took her in that little world of them which was a magic.. which makes everything dreamy but at the same time help to believe every reality. He just hid her within himself. Maybe just to ease her out with that sudden surge of emotion.. or maybe to help her to let out that happiness.. or maybe just to let her know that it was all real. But besides all, whatever could be the happiness.. she need him for sure to feel it and fill it.

______________________________________

" Abhii baat karegii ?? " Caressing her hair softly Sidharth asked as an information for his ownself as he just didn't knew what next ??

Her face straightened tilting a bit back looking nowhere as the words fell on her ears.. as in they made her realize that there was much more than this. Till then she was just celebrating her consideration by her parents because it was a thing in itself which shook her beyond anything that the further things didn't even came into notice. Even though it started with that call only but it didn't striked that she could talk to them too. And now she was blank suddenly with slowly rising nervousness as this thing was slowly sinking in.

" Mm.. mai baat kya karungi ??..... bolungi kyaa ?? " She blurted out the suddenly erupted nervousness and it was actually a thing she needed answer for.

A part of her mind reminded how stupid she might be sounding.. who gets confused talking to the people who made the only immediate world for her whole her life ??.. but she was !! And she couldn't help it.

And more than her it was difficult for Sidharth. He knew he can't let her feel that she was all alone in this.. but then what he could do ?? when he knew nothing !! How was he supposed to help or suggest her anything ?? Neither he knew anything about her parents nor her exact equations with them.. He knew nothing !!

He other hand on her waist came up to other and cupped her neck making her look at him.

" Achaa theek hai... relax karr.. Take your time. They texted.. they picked up the call too.. Haina ??... Firr kyu itna sochna hai tujhko ?? " He tried to remind all the good things watching the nervousness on her face.

" Sink this in.. firr to gharr pahauch jaenge na.. then talk to them.. aram se !! Ye theek hai ?? "

" Haa.. " She agreed suddenly owing to the weird relief she felt with what he suggested.

This all came on so suddenly.. that the anxiety inside was so unwanted.. She wasn't liking it... like she just wasn't ready !! She wasn't ready to face what she was praying for all these years.. And no other reason but just that, that she with so difficulty made herself used to that .. so this sudden involvement again felt like agitating her whole insides like anything. This sudden rush inside her demanded calm and his words and suggestion gave her that only.. what she needed most.. TIME !!

Watching her face relaxing, a lazy smile appeared on his face which worked even better in her favour. And like always, they forget all around.. they don't care this coziness to be all open on display... Or maybe subconsciously, there's is no consciousness when together !! He stood there hugging and she all hid into him.. just inhaling and feeling just him around.. that's something she would choose without any second thought. They totally forgot Vardaan who was on work while these two were busy in themselves.

" Aee.. Chaii.. O.. nahii coffee !! coffee coffee.. coffee... "

Shehnaaz turned back suddenly reacting on words as the voice recognition lagged a bit but as it happened she giggled out loud.

" Coffee Madam ?? Lelo madam bohni karwao.. "
( bohni- term used in north india which means first sale of day and is considered very auspicious. )

" Aadhi raat ko bohni ?? " Sidharth countered smacking his head.

" 12 baj gaye hai.. it's a new day.. to technically I am right !! " Vardaan answered forwarding a coffee to Shehnaaz while faking annoyance to Sidharth.

" Madam dhyan mat do.. ye lo aap... " Vardaan said turning towards Shehnaaz.

" Aapke hulk bhi lenge kya ?? " Vardaan asked dramatically bending a bit towards her making faces but in a volume which served no favour of speaking in her ear.

Sidharth stood there looking at this drama but then his baby was giggling with that drama only... and moreover he knows that Vardaan doesn't needs to know what was wrong.. if he just knows that something is, which he must have understood looking at them, he would cheer up first. Shaking his head at them he took glasses from him and moved forward.

" Aee bhaii paisa kaun dega hamara ?? " Vardaan shouted making Sidharth turn in a go and look around first if people were watching this nonsense going on.

" Dekh kya raha hai baba.. gareeb ke pet pe laat maarta hai ?? Dekho madam kaisa karta hai ?? Hamara baccha log ka kharcha kaise poora karega ham ?? " Vardaan was fully in character making Shehnaaz laugh badly.

" Meree sath.. chalo.. mai deti hu.. " She said giggling continuously.

" Haa chaloo.. " He said turning dramatically and crossing his arm across her elbow.

They two moved ahead while Sidharth looked at them unbelievably and then walked behind shaking his head at these two cartoons.

" Achaa bhaiyaa kya bata rahe the aap ?? Bacche bhi hai aapke ?? " Vardaan nodded up and down using full flexibility of his neck.

" Chaaaarr.. "

" Chaaaarr ?? " She asked faking shock.

" Lagta nahii hai na ??... I knoww !! " He replied smiling wide actually praising himself.

" Naam kya hai unke ?? "

" Naaaaam.. yahii apna ... kya.. ha... ha.. chintu..pintu..mintu.. "

" Ye to teen hue !! "

" Ha.... areyy chaar no. wala raste me hai abhi .. on the way !! "

" How cute !! "

" koi cute cute nahi karne ka... aapko pakda jaunga do aap hi sambhaalna "

" Haww aise bolte hai apne baccho ke liye.. "

" Arree Madam kya btau..... " He started making typical complaining faces.

" Bolte hai na insaan pehle bandar tha... mere bacche... is baat ka barabarr proof hai.. pratishtha.. paramparaa.. poori tarah nibhaate hai.. Dinnn bharr koodna... neend me uchalte rehte hai..  btao... kaise sambhaalu ?? "

" Matlab bacche baap pe hi gaye hai... " Sidharth interfered.

And till then it was fine but the glimpse Sidharth's word showed for Vardaan made them burst out in laugh.

Vardaan looked at him hearing him and then looked away dramatically twisting his lips and then at Shehnaaz.. who stopped immediately.

_____________________________________

Their flight was a little late. Shehnaaz, Misha and Niti were sitting with Maa and Aunty. Shreya, Varun were busy with themselves while Sidharth was with Ankush and Vardaan talking out something important till Shehnaaz was busy with Maa but his eyes didn't left her for a moment. For no other reason but he don't wanna be away even for a moment if she goes low.

Shreya was going through her phone when her eyes fell on something making her frown. She got up and moved towards Sidharth.

" Bhai ye dekha aapne ?? "

Sidharth looked at her and then at the screen she was showing confusedly while Ankush and Vardaan too looked at her phone and then back up with obvious faces, he knew they saw already.

Some articles and social media pages having rumors of Sidharth dating his co-actress from his last project !!  It was nothing new for them. But they saw Sidharth's expression changing from confusion to frown to obvious irritation. The pictures circulating were from the shots only which weren't included finally, but what irked him was that none from the team cleared that. Ofcourse what matters to them was publicity and what sounds spicy is the public truth !!

" Saala kuch naya to dhunde.. " He said in irritation watching the confidence of the people who were the creators of their true stories apparently.

" Even this is also in air that you are on a vacation with her only.. " Vardaan told casually.

" Wo kaha gayii hai ?? " Sidharth asked reflexively unaware of the fact.

" Mere chache ki ladki hai jo mujhe pata hoga... Dubai " Vardaan scoffed first but checked simultaneously and told. Just his ways !!

" Relax karr.. har baar hi udti hai na ye baate firr bina content ke khatm bhi ho jati hai.. " Ankush said relaxing him.

___________________________________

After that Shreya went and sat back with Varun. Shehnaaz saw her sitting and running fingers through her hair and chuckled watching her making faces. She got up and went closer to them.

" Kya hogya ?? " Shehnaaz asked lauging out and sat besides.

" Dukhi hogyii mai ye baalo se.. kaise gande se ho rahe hai... kaat hi dene hai maine sare.. " Shreya replied in irritation as if threatening them.

" Haa bass khud Jawed Habib banne ki mat sochio.. " Varun interrupted letting a laugh out earning a good scrunchy angry look from Shreya.

" Matlab ?? " Shehnaaz asked in confusion watching their faces.

" Matlab bataunga nahi.. ruko.. dikhata hu !! " Varun said getting excited and was taking his phone out while looking at Shreya to see her jaw dropping in shock.

Shreya stood up in a go, Varun knowing very well her action stood up too reflexively.

" Ye galat baat hai yrr aise nahi hota... " Shreya whined trying to snatch his phone while Varun kept searching taking his one hand up turning right and left dodging Shreya.

And as soon as Varun found what he was looking for, he already started laughing and Shehnaaz started laughing looking at him only. He turned in a go and caged Shreya with one arm only locking her hands and forwarded the phone to Shehnaaz. She took from him and as soon as she saw Shehnaaz and Varun again burst out in laugh while Shreya was making baby faces suppressing her own laugh too.

" Ye kya hai ??? Porcupine lag rahi hai " Shehnaaz said between the laughs watching Shreya's picture in some really weird haircut and all her front hair standing straight.

" Aaaaannn hogaya na abhii.. " Shreya whined and Shehnaaz and Varun stood straight keeping hands on their mouth not to stop laugh because they knew that wasn't possible but to hide it atleast !!

They were interrupted as Sidharth called them as it was finally the time.

" Chale ?? " Sidharth asked slowly coming closer to Shehnaaz as if they had option.

" Firr aayenge ham... " She replied holding his hand not sure whether asking him or telling him.

____________________________________

As Shehnaaz took the seat, Sidharth sat besides and turned towards her.

" Naaz theek hai na tu ?? " He asked so softly holding her hand like a glass ball.

There was a lot supressed stuff erupting inside her and she knew no words to explain. But the bottom line she knew was that he was there and that anyways makes her more than fine.. And she smiled at him.

" Vardaan bula raha hai kuch kaam hai mai thodi der uske pas jau... " And how he asked erupted the urge to just squeeze this cute hulky man but then was that even a possible thing ??

She knew he was asking just to know if she was fine without him besides but was she stressing him out too much ?? Because his mind, soul , heart was all at her service undoubtedly.. He was taking every possible effort effortlessly to make sure of her being okay.. But besides, such tough man if holds even an 'intention of permission' , it makes her think so high of herself. And for some unsaid reason this assurance about her ownself felt relieving more than ever...

" Jaaa... " She said in a sweet whisper smiling at him.

________________________________

Shreya came to Shehnaaz and sat besides till Sidharth wasn't there and watching each other they were back into the zone.. Looking at each other they tried suppressing but ended up laughing crazily..

" Acha bata to wo tha kya ?? " Shehnaaz asked and this time Shreya got into full narration mood.

She turned to face Shehnaaz and started...

" Maine TV pe dekha tha kuch new sa hairstyle.. mast lagra tha.. "

" To maine bhi kaat diye baal.. apne hi tukke me... " Shreya said like telling some proudly deed.

" Aur firrr.. apne hi kaarnaame ka result dekh ke rone lagg gayii.. "

" God knows what I even did.. ek to my hair were terribly lightweight us time pe aur maine ye chupane k liye Cap aurr pehen liya...

" Sham tak meri shakal dekh ke hi sabko pata chal gaya ki kucch panga kiya hai Maine.. "

" Firr Papa ke aane ka time hua na.. to ab unki na aadat thi, wo aate hi mujhe Sar pe kissi karte the.. aurr meri champi bhi wo hi karte the sham ko... aur I used to watch " Oswald" aur " Scooby Doo" champi ke time .. Papa ko bhi dikhati thi zabarjasti.. firr unhe bhi aadat hogayi thi.. firr to khud hi chalu kardete the... " Shreya suddenly jumped the topic and didn't even realized . She kept telling turning soft and grinning like a baby and Shehnaaz smiled unknowingly.

" Papa favourite hai tere ?? " Shehnaaz asked suddenly in between.

Shreya heard her and turned towards Shehnaaz. Her face clearly told her answer. With a proud she bobbed her head with a little apology of not choosing Maa at first and Shehnaaz smiled wider hearing her.

" Firr usdin na papa mujhe godi me leke gaye.. baal set karwaya.. then photo studio bhi leke gaye aur mere pictures bhi click karwaye kyunki Vardaan bhai ne wo gandi wali pictures click ki thi.. Aurr firr vapis jate hue in sabke liye bhi chocolates li.. Ofcourse mere se kam.. ab utna to banta hai na mera... " She was actually back in that world of her's.

" Ek secret batau.. " Shreya said suddenly as she remembered.

" Papa na jab bhi mujhko chocolate dilate the na... to Maa ke liye hamesha lete the kam se kam 3.. aur mujhe hamesha usse ek zada.. " Shreya told giggling and Shehnaaz went all aww.

" Papa jaise pyaar karte the na matlab unreal lagta tha.. aisa lagta tha ki unki life ka purpose bass ham chaaro ki wishes hai.. hamari smiles hai.. "

" Aurr mera to na matlab.. I can't deny that he made me exceptionally privileged in terms of love.. wo biased the mere liye.. " She said like accepting the never said thing.

Shreya was telling and telling and the shine on her face was so.. so bright. And Shehnaaz was smiling lostly. It was like Shreya was living her words and Shehnaaz was feeling her words...

" Arey haa kidhar the ham.. ha to wo Cap nikaal dete na tab.. firr to sabko pata chalna hi tha.. firr to bass... "

" Firr kya reaction mila ?? " Shehnaaz asked and Shreya grinned.

" Ye teeno ko mast daanta... " She replied pointing at Sidharth, Varun and Vardaan.

" kyuu ?? "

" Hase jaa rahe the.. mai ro rahi hu aur ye hase jaa rahe hai.. firr mujhe aurr rona aa raha hai.. firr mujhe gussa bhi aa raha hai kyunki mujhe banna hai boss harr jagah aur inlogo ne mujhe rote hue dekh liya hai ab to serious nahi lenge.. to izzat ka to kachra hogya na... " Shreya said mocking her own little self.

" Sidharth bhi ?? "

" Haa aurr kya ?? Aapko kya shareef lagte hai wo ?? "

" Ankush ko... nahii daantaa ?? " Shehnaaz asked teasingly.

" Wo sirf ek baar hase parr firr mujhe rote dekh ke chup hogaye the.. " Shreya told hiding the little blush which was dieing to show itself.

" Matlab tumlog tabse... " Shehnaaz asked gasping in shock.

" Nahi nahi.. itne chote se the tab thodi samajh thi.. matlab mai to thi.. I was 8 shayad.. and he was 13 or 14 maybe.. "

" Parr ye baat mujhee yaad reh gayii.. " Shreya told slowly as a confession and Shehnaaz smiled at her.

" Matlab hota hai na.. koi baat touch kaise karti hai dil ko.. shayad first time tab pata chala tha.. "

" Mai na sach me bahaut lucky hu.. unke jane ke baad unki kami thi lekin pyaar ki nahi hone di kisi ne.. Varun hamesha sath khada raha, sab bevkoofi me.. sab galtiyon me... "

" Bhai ne hamesha papa ki tarah protect kia, wo hai to aisa lagta hai ki peeche khada hai koi hamesha.. jo sambhaal lega chahe kuch bhi ho.. " Shreya told and unknowingly Shehnaaz's eyes got moist realizing that Sidharth plays that role for her too.. He holds her.. he protects her.. he backs her !!

" Aurr Ankush ptae... unhe pata bhi nahi tha tab ki mere man me kya hai unke liye.. na wo apni feelings kehna chahte the for obvious reasons.. parr wo sirf apni feelings ke chalte mujhe tabse sambhal rahe hai... tabse pamper karte hai.. "

Shreya herself didn't knew how come she suddenly wanted to speak so much.. Shreya never got into extreme friendships outside. Sassy Shreya wasn't emotionally open in front of others. Amazingly, not even her family. It wasn't like she wasn't comfortable with them too.. but thanking and showing gratefulness for what she was getting wasn't a thing between them. But that doesn't mean she doesn't feel that.. It was like this suddenly loosened up hold on memories put those unsaid feelings and unacknowledged gratitude into words too... and now having a person who she see as a best friend or an elder sister.. someone she feels her soul connected.. basically knowing the way.. and the person to express, now Shreya found it difficult to keep it with herself... She was suddenly feeling a strong gratitude over her fate.. for these men who she believe were difficult to even believe how amazing they were and here she has got them to actually made her feel like she had it all.

" You deserve this !! " Shehnaaz cooed Shreya pulling her cheek.

" And you deserve even more.. " Shreya said excitedly throwing herself on Shehnaaz and hugged her tight.

She hugged back softly smiling faintly at her words not knowing what exactly she felt with them..

___________________________________

As the flight was about to take off, Shreya went to her seat and Sidharth came to his. As he was about to sit, Maa who was sitting on the seat in front of them called him. He sat down and bent forward from sideways to hear her.

" Kal jate hue hame Raghav ke ghar drop kardena.. "

" kyuuuu ?? Abhii itna travel karke direct jaoge ?? Time hai na shadi me abhi.. Rest karo theek se pehle firr chale jana.. " Sidharth replied negating stubbornly.

" Aree I am not tired aurr waha jake bhi sona hi hai.. Ghar jake firr next day firr travel karna padega.. koi kaam karne nahi hai vaha Maasi ne bass bulaya hai na Bacche.. vaise time kaha milta hai zada ek sath rehne ka.. " Maa made him understand leaving no point for him to counter.

" Aurr abhi chupp vaise bhi wo do baccho ko manane me bhi bahaut energy jayegi meri.. " Maa said making Sidharth chuckle knowing who two she was talking about.

" Abhi mai so rahi hu.. seedha mumbai uthana.. " Maa said playfully covering herself.

___________________________________

Sidharth rested back and looked besides and saw Shehnaaz resting against the window in partial sleep. He noticed the frowns on her forehead telling him the deep thoughts she was in. He knew her mind was agitated for sure but he saw her laughing and playing happily with Vardaan and Varun and talking to Shreya too minutes ago.. He thought she was better. But then it striked him that he might not understand the actual intensity of her emotions. He was't letting Maa go for even few days.. here she saw how her parents changed now, after five years. There was a lot more to this. And it was undoubtedly too much for her.

She was already not coming out of the whole week where each day was a story and each moment an anecdote in itself. But this one just made a part of her numb. These sudden changes were playing with her mind. She wasn neither able to absorb it, nor able to forget it. That moment just kept switching on and off in a her mind in between...

And just then he noticed her going into a slumber. He smiled at this baby who was making faces even in sleep with her head hung down and her jacket on her lap. He wanted her to sleep. She needed sleep !! He needed her peace !!

He took her jacket from her lap slowly and removed his jacket too. Taking the small bag he had with him, he kept the jackets inside and took his laptop out when his eyes fell on that beautiful box all wrapped. He looked besides to this precious soul it belonged to. They both never held any excitement over any materiaslitic thing but still it brought a little smile on his face. He felt a different respect, possession and obsession erupting for it...

He kept the box inside his blazer not wanting it to be in anyone's reach and kept the bag back.

He sat and she got up with the announcements of flight taking off. She looked besides and a smile came. Not for him but for herself !! Just for finding him besides !! .. He held her hand and waited till they were stable again and cupping her cheek he shifted her head softly towards him giving a firm support to her head for making her sleep. His touch.. his cologne.. his presence.. what else she needs to free her head and he saw her drifting into sleep really quick.

She sees her family, her life, her everything in him but he couldn't forget that she has one more, which he knows nothing about. Not that it affects him but it surely becomes an obstruction for them moving ahead. He didn't knew her parents, where her family was, what actually happened, what issues they had.. but he surely knew that she loves and respect them.. He knew that she was already bearing some burdens.. not sure what exactly but something!!
He knew that right then he was her everything and she was in her zone of feeling it all what was missed.. feeling all the new.. feeling the love, acceptance and belonging... so he felt himself in charge of putting in light what she wasn't able to see right then in her happy-dreamy zone but was important for her to acknowledge. Her acceptance by his people was so precious to him, but he wasn't able to conclude vice versa. And he couldn't let anything happen which will put herself in any situation where anyone would point a finger on her. That was his protectiveness for her. He finds himself really weak at any place where she could be vulnerable. And this was something he never knew that it was even possible to feel like that. He just couldn't even explain her place.. ever !!

He was all her !! He was all her's !!

Sidharth has dealt, ignored and made peace with many bigger things as per the need but still his name linked to anyone pisses him like anything. This was not something which was new but he was still not used to.. or Maybe he just doesn't even want to. He might appreciate or admire that person but just the thing that someone even in their thoughts were gelling his name with anyone would irk him every time. And this was when he didn't even knew what belongingness meant... so what to expect now when he was so madly devoted..in all ways.. by all means !! ... when he knows where he belongs to, for lives !! He felt all possessive for his name. It just couldn't be taken with any freaking human.. It was her right.. He was possessive for her right.. but more for his own right.. His right to be called her's ... " Just Her's " !!

He took his phone out to do the thing which he gets most reluctant about. but then this urge was enough to prioritize things.. He knew he couldn't do much.. he can't just flow under this sudden urge but he would definitely do the needed.

   Caption - " DUNIYA... PERIOD. "

Taking a look at the picture again, he locked the screen and kept it back only to take it out again as it vibrated.

" Aaaye meri Jaan !! Aaj to duniya jaanegi tere mere pyaar ke kisse.. "

" Pakta nahii hai tu khudse ?? "

" Nahiiiiiiii 😁😁
Acha ye to bata isse hoga kya ?? Jiske sath tu vacations pe hai.. apparently.. wo behind tha camera bhi to ho sakti hai... aur isme to shakal bhi nahii dikh rahi.... aisa log keh rahe hai.. mai nahi... mai kuch keh sakta hu ??? 😬😬 "

" Khacchar ko khacchar hi milenge na !!... Nahi samajhte to rehne do.. Dubai me Snow kya unke pappa ji ne fenki ?? "

" Owww... ab mai kyu yaad rakhunga Dubai ya Japan "

" Misha baithi hai na sath me.. usko paka.. "

And he kept the phone back into his pocket looking besides at this girl who has madly changed him by doing literally nothing !! Damn these jumps he gets on noticing his own changes in every freaking terms !! Holding her was like holding his own life. What is all there, is in his arms !! And just within these jumps, he slept peacefully.

_____________________________________

" Mujhe yahi drop kardo.... "

" Yahaaa ?? "

" Haa maine gurudware jana hai..  udhar peeche wale raste se aajaungi... wo door bhi nahi padega... "

" Tu sure hai ?? Wo rasta malum hai tujhe ?? "

" Ha pata hai.. gayi hu us raste bahaut baar... "

" Dhyan rakh !! " Shehnaaz said coming out and seeing off she went to gurudwara and took her route to home.

Going her way, she was deep engrossed in thinking how her life was up and down like never imagined. Her heart was paining for what just happened ?? About what she did just then ?? She didn't knew it was right or not.. She didn't knew what would happen ahead.. She knew nothing. She was stuck.. Stuck in a way, she see no hope !!

What was happening drained her mentally. She just couldn't make herself even think simply. Analyzing and deciding were far away factors. And in that numb state something just happened suddenly which alerted her like anything but she couldn't even process what exactly happened with her. She stood still and stiff, as soon as that weird alert sensed her and she couldn't even dare to move. As if that just a second-long sensation will hit her again and not understanding what it was but she still doesn't want to feel it again.

And then after a second or few, she could collect what happened and as it crossed her mind.. as it replayed.. a sudden feeling of shame, embarrassment and disgust hit her. She shivered under goosebumps as she recollected that the person coming from front on a bike... groped her breast while passing by..

Her numb mind was alertedly frozen. She could sense every minute thing around but not understand what she was supposed to do ??? She was just not in the condition as it all happened in blinks. 

She had already noticed them coming subconsciously but her engrossed mind didn't acknowledged. She knew them... or atleast she has seen them. And for some reason she never found them good and they just proved.

She so wanted to vanish from there and reach home but her legs just froze, they were just not moving. She tried force her own body to move, her mind knew nothing then but just that she want to be away. Her teeth were gnashing out of fear. And the sudden thought that they could be back made her mind to think nothing but just escape.. just run !!

Shehnaaz reached home but her haste steps halted as she saw so many people there. She could hear what was going on inside.

" Bhaii samajh se bahar hai... us ladke ke sath cake kaata to kaata.. parr ye cake lagana.. ye nautankii.. ye shehri chochlebaazi.. acha lagta hai kya ??  "

" Sahi me.. wo to hamne dekha.. soch gaon ke kisi aurr ne dekha hota to ?? "

" Delhi ki hawa sarr uske chadi hai.. parr bhari tujhe padegi.. log to yahi kahenge na ki apni ladki nahi sambhal rahii gaon kya sambhaalenge... "

Before her already numb mind could have processed all that, she saw everyone turning their faces to her. And her eyes caught those two shitty people...

Vijender, her only cousin who was glaring her like attempting to kill with those eyes only.. but his nonsensical disliking towards her was so common for her that she doesn't even feel it worthy of sparing a thought even.. those boys standing there looking at her with a smirk, a smirk of win just made her feel disgusted. She knew with that, that all that nonsense was about her only...

But Maybe because of the confidence that she was safe now helped her to feel what she was actually supposed to..  That numb state started replacing with the flashes making her eyes welled up in anger, pain, humiliation and more of disgust.

And her eyes fell on her mother and a sudden wave of emotions passed through her. Shehnaaz was looking at her wishing her to come and hug her, Rest could be managed later.. but that was needed to her as the first thing.. an assurance that she wasn't alone.. an assurance that she was safe.. an assurance that she was supported. But what she got turned out to be totally opposite as she felt a strong pull on her arm pulling her out of that zone.

" Sharam - lihaaz kuch hai.. ya sab bech diya hai ?? " That's all she heard in that cold voice through gritted teeth.

She looked down at the hold on her arm and then up, disappointingly yet apparently hopefully. Disappointment out of recognizing the voice and hope that she should be wrong. Ofcourse a false hope !! How could she not recognize her father's voice.

She felt like her eyes burning and she knew that they might had turned dangerously red by now. It would have been quite clear that she wasn't fine.. then why they weren't asking ?? Why can't they put her ahead.. for once !! Was that a lot to expect ??

" Kaha tha na maine tabhi shadi nipta deni chahiye thi..  " Vijender barked in between.

She kept looking showing the pain her eyes held expecting him to just understand what she was expecting then. And she wasn't sure that they actually softened a bit or it was just illusion out of desperation...

" Isliye nahii karni thi na shaadi ?? " Vijender yelled.

" Bolll !!! Dhund ke rakha hai na koi aur.. " He was shouting madly but she seemed to have turned deaf ear.

And this indifference was making everyone shock. What they expect was that she would have been either explaining or apologizing by now. But she stood strong not affected by him a bit but still looking at his father where she see questions.

From the young age, she has sensed the disliking towards her from the people in her family.. but what hurted her was when she started realizing the reason behind that. That thing made her mature way before than she should have had.. Infact it won't be wrong to say that that her childhood never even came out.. her surroundings never allowed !!

" Panchayat me naam dena tha aaj Vijender ka election ke liye... uska din tha aaj aur ye bahar moholla ikkatha karke tamasha bana diya hai.. " Vijender's father said venomously.

" Ek baari usko puch to lo ji kya baat hai.. " Her Aunt and Vijender's mother said giving her a little peace but earned a glare from her husband and son.

Her aunt never showed openly but Shehnaaz had always felt the hidden affection and support. Shehnaaz understands that.. What her aunt could do when her mother herself couldn't show pamperings to her... as that's just not a thing the other people would understand. These relations doesn't give feel less than any cold war going on.. but she saw them like that only... She concluded maybe that's how relationships are meant to be..Maybe just an attempt to make herself feel better !!.. But she always knew that if that's normal, she never want this normal.

" Aaj sirf uska din hai papa ?? " Shehnaaz asked never leaving her father's eyes

It was as if she was pleading to not break her expectation atleast this time but watching him remembering, the tear drops welled up finally shedded and she didn't even tried to stop. She knew he would have remembered on trying but what mattered was that he didn't, already.

" Mujhe pata hai aapko nahi pasand mera birthday.. " She said dejectedly and waited. First her and voice cracked and then.. Just in case she gets to hear from him that she was wrong !!

" Parr.. babaji se wishes lene jaati hu ye to pata hai na aapko..  Maine aaj tak apna birthday nahi manaya hai.. kissi ke bhi sath.. pata hai na aapko ?? " She asked sobbing with the hidden question that how come he believed that then and not her ??

Just this little vent out, and her anxiety reach level up already.. as if everything supressed inside decoiling.. anxiety leading to anger rising up and in that zone, she just doesn't feel she has any patience to take anything more. But it didn't looked like that it was all.

Vijender's whole focus was on what losses he might face with this and with mentally blaming Shehnaaz for this his almost negligible sanity too went off the track.

" Firr inhone kise dekh liya ?? " Vijender spatted again.

" Kisi ko nahii dekha.. " She shouted in frustration and her tears new no bounds now. Tears of anger.. tears of humiliation.. tears by feeling so low of herself with what they did.

" Kutte hai... Inhone kya kiya wo bahar nahii aaye isliye ye.. ye sab.. " She spoke crying bitterly not understanding how to take out that filthy feeling.. her feets were jumping to go to them and beat the hell out of them. She felt the guts to take out her anger. And her angr got direction too.. but part of the mind which knew this won't happen kept her feets stuck to ground. She was feeling so.. so sick.. that realizing what exactly she was giving explanations for !!

" Ye lo.. khud pe aayi to hame hi fasa diya.. Bhai ab kuch bhi bol rahi hai.. tera bhala soch ke aaye to.. " They blamed her back..

Shehnaaz looked at Vijender with a little hope that atleast in this matter he would support her but soon realized how stupid she was as she felt a sharp pain on her cheek. She was just numb.. she knew he was worst but still never believed 'this' level.. She didn't realized that he actually stooped to that level untill she felt that hurting hold on her jaw.

" Tere ye drame kamre me jake karr... yaha tamasha mat bana mera.. " He barked again and Shehnaaz just looked at him in pity. She was done with any other emotion.

Her father, mother and aunt moved towards them as this was way too much. They were used to anything but this physical abuse and manhandling was too much...

Her tears just stucked. It was like that even they felt humiliated. Then how was she supposed to bear that humiliation. She has always held a respectable image at every place and all what happened today wasn't going to let her face people easily.. but this just broke her !! This humiliated her in her own eyes. What she was feeling then was a whole new intensity of agony to define.

Her anxiety hit another level and she looked away just to not see this face and help herself as much she can. Her breaths were faltering and she felt suffocated..

" Jada hi garmi chadd gayii hai na... " and before she could even gather herself that cold splash of nearly freezing water came on her face just making her breath stop.

And Sidharth got startled as he heard this loud scary gasp of Shehnaaz as she woke up making Maa awake too.

Even before understanding, his hands held hers and he started rubbing them reflexively. He saw her looking around and called her softly as if he would scare her.

" Shehnaaz ?? "

" Kya hua ?? " He asked getting worried taking a hand to his lips and kissing them. A Subconscious attempt to calm her !!

Shehnaaz was still, trying to acknowledge the sudden change in her surrounding. As his words fell in her ears, she looked at him but couldn't react as if still confirming that this was the real one and not that..

" Kya hua ?? " Maa said looking back from between the seats.

" Patani.. Maybe bad dream. " He replied still looking at her who was sitting holding his hands on her lap and resting her face against them.

" Paani pila use pehle.. " Sarita Aunty suggested.

" Shehnaaz paani peele thoda.. " He asked softly but she didn't moved and didn't even left his hands just wishing to held this peace more.

So he softly took out one hand from his hold but tightened other one simultaneously as if compensating for it. And he took the bottle.

" Shehnaaz uth paani pee... " He said nor almost ordering and made her get up with that holded hand only.

Her face was all red and taking a sip, she gulped down the full bottle. She didn't knew she needed this !! Her beats were still crazy, gut was still feeling the churns, mind was sensing the nervousness, it was still the same even in the dream !!

" Theek hai ?? " He asked still worried and she replied nodding up and down lightly.

" Theek hai na tu ?? Tabiyat kharab to nahi lag rahi ??... Face bhi laal horaha hai !! " Maa asked her worriedly.

" Theek hu mai tension na lo.. So jao aap.. " Shehnaaz replied playfully to calm them.

And she just felt two of the world with the biggest irony. All the while she tried finding basics with blood but got her whole existence with Love.

Sidharth held her cheek to put her head back on his shoulder but she just held his hand from her cheek making him look at her and she took his arm behind her. He smile understanding what she was asking for and squeezing her shoulder he took her at her favorite place. In his hold !!

It amazing and equally weird that how these people love her makes her concious that does she even deserves this much ?? and then they shrug that conciousness out by loving her even more.

She looked up at Sidharth who had his eyes close. How's that even possible ?? How that possible that just one person has all of your solutions.. all of your peace.. all of your happines and all of your serenity, this one person who was all the ways you walk and this one person was there at any way you walk... this one person who has a hold on every freaking thing... your brain, beat and breath !!

Her hands reached up to cup his other cheek and stretching herself up she opened her lips and kept it at his jaw. His eyes snapped open and ran around and then at her in amazement. She quickly looked down and rested his head back against him. Ofcourse he was conscious but then, these crazy urges and then the craziness to do it was not new now.
He took her scarf and kept his hand between the two seats in front letting the scarf flow freely. World could be forgotten but he would never ever like his Maa witnessing any such thing.

He held her jaw to tilt it to other side and bending down, he rubbed the insides of his lips and closed them lapping the tongue within, galloping her cheeks which felt tingly with the wetness and soothing with those teeth scratching.. And in a blink he was done and was back to his position, She stayed still like replaying the little moment but he pulled her head back to his chest with his eyes still closed. It has happened but this was searing like never before !! May be the emotional distress she came out from just... or maybe like always every next is better with him... or maybe because of the place which was enough in itself to cause thrill... or he was just getting better with practice ???

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Here's the new update !!
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RiyaKM All the best..

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