Vijender was just stucked in that moment. He felt weirdly numb and alert at the same time. Words fell in his ears clearly but mind didn't comprehended as that slap kept ringing. This was just beyond hell.

" Mujhe ghar le jane ka itna desperation ??
Though, it's your trait.. but still.. there must be some limit to your Selfishness ?? "

Freaked out with all the attention at his thrashed and wounded ego, he was beyond senses.
That slap on his face was a smack in his face.. which peirced right through his masculinity, pulling out his callousness quite intensely... and that destructive instinct made him react in whatever way he comes up with, before he applies any logic.. any calculations.

" Saying who ??
Who killed a baby in her selfishness ?? "

_____________________________________

And as if air sucked out of each cell, a sudden loss of sensation striked her with a painful twitching deep inside her heart, making her froze until she was sure that she heard it correct. While Sidharth felt like he misheard and his eyes instinctively reached her. Impacts of those words, clear on her face which was devoid of any emotion.. making it difficult for him to even comprehend.

The very same words.. true or not, but it was that triggering part which was like a deep wound Shehnaaz got on her soft-heart years back.. Something, where no logics.. no sanity works and recalls what all followed.. Heartbreak.. accusations.. humiliation !!

Why ?? ... Just a simple 'why' was throbbing in her head.

They know the truth and moreover, Vineet was just there to counter every word. Then what was this madness ?? What was this desperation ?? What could be the damn purpose ??

" What happened ?? She didn't tell you ?? "

Her mind juggling between her own thoughts, made her follow the direction Vijender's mocking words were directed.. a little left.. a little behind.. and it was then, she realized all the other presences.

A calmth ran through her nerves even in that numb state... just those natural reactions her body knew !! But turned her uneasy within a split-second....

" You didn't tell them ?? " With that forced-sincerity, Vijender asked again looking back at Shehnaaz, making her look back at him.

And it slowly striked her, 'Why' ??

The purpose wasn't to prove her wrong.. the purpose was to feed the drama enough to bring uncertainty in their minds.. the purpose was to make it all look scandalous enough that any decent family choses to stay away.. the purpose was to humiliate her enough that she couldn't face Sidharth and his family..
The purpose was to make her lose, anyhow.

" Ghumao matt !! Jo hai bolke khatm karo !! "

His evil words made Maa intervene for the first time... and a wave of apprehension rushed though Shehnaaz...

" Ma.. no... " A thoughtless, fear-ridden frantic whisper came out but.. as Maa raised her finger gesturing her to not speak, her insides twiched painfully.

No, it wasn't the truth.. it was the wickedness of the teller with the past experiences running in her mind.

And before she could process Maa's reaction, who didn't spared her a glance and had her focus at Vijender, she heard him again...

" No ???? ... I still have those abortion papers !! "

" And correct me if I'm wrong, you clearly denied to raise the child, didn't you ?? "

Each malicious word.. kept slow enough to pierce through exactly where it hurts, making an intense burn in her chest..

with the humiliation she felt with those words.

Sidharth felt physically torpefied. He never expected it all to be so 'extreme'. All the energy shifted to his mind.. turning it frantic.. finding if those words could mean anything else, as part of his mind was not letting him go close to the primal comprehension ..

The air around felt so toxic.. so much suffocating that he actually felt breathless. Taking a deep-needy breath, Sidharth pulled off his blazer and tossed it aside on the car.. freeing himself with that much atleast..
Pressing over the bursting head and burning eyes, his hands ran through his hair pulling them in process in attempt of easing that volcano bubbling inside, he turned other side in an subconscious attempt of isolation.

How was he supposed to take 'this' ??
He was blindly walking besides her but he never expected this to be something so extreme.. so nasty !!

And she was convinced that it was repeating. This time, this way.
Vijender's words couldn't be denied.. and blind trust isn't supposed to be actually blind.. It does have a boundary.
And would it be even wrong to not trust ?? What do they even know about her except these few months ??
How would any sane person would dare to stay doubtless after hearing something like that from her parents.. when her own parents didn't after listening it from some stranger.

" The child was aborted on your say, right ?? With your permission !! You signed the pape.... "

" Shut the hell up !! "

Vineet's unacknowledged presence until then, dragged attention and the anger on his face was out of everyone's belief and understanding. He appeared to be a calm and composed man to everyone.

In his hysterical desperation of ridiculing her, Vijender went on with his usual parrot-fashion narration of assumptions, which was their favourite story now and they don't wish to believe any other, actually forgetting Vineet's presence.

But how does that matter ??
What he wanted to be heard, was heard.. and who he wanted it to reach, reached..

" I am here only, if you've forgotten, you dumbhead !! "

Vineet was seething. He felt so.. so stupid to admit but he was nowhere near to expect 'this' coming. His family and Shehnaaz's family were no different puzzles.. and he could never understand the way their mentality was shaped. Even after knowing them for all his life, every other time, Vineet just found himself more and more in disbelief.

" Thankyou for reminding me why exactly I was not coming back to that place.. and I should not.. ever !! "

" What are you people ?? Nahii, I really want to understand... " Vineet asked exasperated, to her father and Shehnaaz's parents.

While Shehnaaz was just wondering, what more of them was left to know ??
And maybe asking the same thing her eyes reached her parents.. once again. And she felt stupid but she did searched for the very same thing.. again, maybe for a moment, but she did. Though they themselves looked clueless. Obviously, this wasn't planned as they never thought the conversation to mould this way, but... they didn't say anything.. again !!

And maybe Shehnaaz needed that.. she needed that final blow for that shattered hope to sink in.
And it was no pain.. no hurt. It was this 'disgust' which striked her and this mental agony just added up to her feebleness. Her eyes burning to let that irrepressible emotion flow out, but that didn't happened too.. or maybe she didn't let it happened. It was like all of a sudden something inside or maybe everything inside, just vanished.
As if she knew that, That. Was. It.

If a part of her was going vulnerable, then another one was going more composed and more stiff at the same time..

" Vineet !! " Shehnaaz's weak but firm call reached him making him look at her..

That anger, agony and remorse clearly visible on Vineet's face but she said nothing.. or maybe she did.. with her silence.. That sinking, disturbing silence !!

Vineet would've done the needed but what was going inside her was that intense that instead of fear.. it rather made her strong to stop Vineet.

It was obvious what was coming. And her resistance to bear that pain again, made her desperate to protect herself from her ownself.. from her 'fancy' hopes.. which destroyed her back then too. And a part of her had accepted the expected already..

The situation was very same again but still different. This time, it wasn't about her being alone in the world but her being away from her world. She didn't knew what she was gonna do after that ?? ... because it was very clear that she won't be able to gather herself ever, in any way.

It was fine till she didn't had it,
But losing it, was gonna kill her now;
But if it was gonna be that way,
then she'd better gulp it in a go...

With her head somewhere numb.. somewhere dizzy, Shehnaaz felt her knees trembling, but got covered behind the layers of her saree. And she took few steps, facing her blood and breath together. And a little behind Maa, everyone else who fulfilled her life.. with obvious shaken up looks on their faces. That family was so virtuous.. so respectable.. so dignified.. And, she felt.. so ashamed !!

She wasn't in a very confident state as her mind kept reflecting ideas of what her image must have been now in their eyes.. but at the same time, the disgust she was feeling brought her to an edge.. to an extreme extremity.

And even in that utter hopelessness, or maybe because of that utter hopelessness only, her eyes reached where her heart knew the aid for that broken heart. But..
Why wasn't he looking at her ??

She waited.. waited for him to look at her. She waited to see his eyes which used to hold the answer to her every disturbing thought.. but her heart went squeezing more and more as he was still facing otherside while the chaos in his mind reflected through his tensed body, keeping him unaware of all the gazes which were at him now..

Her skin warming up and those paining muscles spasming in frustration just added to that agitation which felt like collecting up in guts and struggling to come up stinging her chest bringing that tormenting need to push that troubling energy out. Her throat literally aching to scream but at the same time that rational part of the brain did not let her.. and only increased that impulsiveness to end this.. anyhow.

In between the battle going on in his head, the sudden silence around grabbed a part of Sidharth' attention.. making him look at her, instinctively. And taking a moment for himself, he took steps in her direction and stopped closer.

And however much she might have accepted the expected, her heart squeezed in apprehension but at the same time, not just that impulse to cross this moment was so dominant but something in her didn't let her defend herself.. didn't let her give any explanations. Self-worth ??.. Self-esteem ?? .. Just something !!!

" I did. what.. he said. "

Maintaining her firm composure, she confessed firmly.. stubbornly.. but the words were heavy much that each one needed a breath to come out.

There wasn't any more possible damage... and taking the control from her family, she recklessly and stubbornly took it on her... and wanted his response now.

From the moment Sidharth talked to her parents... to this point, it was so much for him.. so very much. Each of the nerve in his mind was overworking upto an extent that he was in his own zone.

And with that clueless face, she didn't knew if the words didn't reached him ??.. or they reached too deep ??

And he his gaze moved sideways subconsciously, while she couldn't understand that look on his face.. wrapped in thoughts of his own, like so much running inside his head.

Misgivings filling up her heart with that dilemma clear on his face.. and Reason, clear in her mind which just reminded her, what mess she pulled him in. She had left him with no way, easy to go.. And the hatred she was feeling for her ownself !!

" Bol.de.. jo bhi hai...
w.hatever.. the final picture is... "

Her words came out breathy even through her stiffened core.. and he realized that that's enough of thinking.
Running his hand throught his hairs, he pulled himself out of that web of thoughts, completely and took deep-needy breaths..

Since when he need to prepare himself to say anything to her ??
Her shoulders slumped down the littlest they were left to, as she could not help that defeated feeling which took over.

" You might hate me for this... " He murmered looking down stepping closer, no idea warning her.. or himself ??

And as he looked up, her eyes involuntarily yet desperately peeked into his.. one by one.. as if trying to read them.. his eyes, which held a lot.. but nothing that she could decipher then.
But the next moment, she felt a shudder with the tingly touch.. and before her reflex would have made her look down, she registered that touch, that only touch which agitates her.. and calms her.. at the same time.

Her eyes, like a true devotee, never left his eyes.. but back of her mind picturizing his fingers holding her fingers.. crossed fingers precisely which she herself wasn't aware of..

" What you asked, for that you need to answer first.. "

Ofcourse, she had to..

But the next moment his fingers down there.. untangled her crossed fingers.. and filled up the space between her fingers.. so softly.. utterly gently.. and she her following his action in that lost-confused state as he held her other hand as well...

" I am clueless of what you'd think of this.. But tujhe pata hai.. how I am ?? "

His breath competing his voice considering how clearly she was hearing them.. and God knows, helping her or himself.. he pulled up those shivering hands of her's, close against his shivering heart.. with all the authority... unbelievably unbothered to all the presences.

" I.i just do things how it occurs to me.. then there's no right or wrong way.
Mujhe pata hai maine kuch bhi theek se nahi kiya hai... Aur shayad abhi bhi nahi karr raha hu... "

And she just kept looking at him numbly forcing her brain to grab what he was saying.. while taking a pause, he took a breath shrugging his shoulders...

" Par ab aisa hi hu.. " His words came as a frantic whisper owing to how much involved he was in that moment.

His chest puffing up in francticness making his breaths heavy... and her's slow.. painfully slow..

" Aur aise hi jhelna hai tujhe.. "

" Jhelna hi padega.. Shadi karni hai na ?? "

And it took a moment for her to grasp, while the words felt as striking as it could for him too.. Making all the breaths stuck, Sidharth had his jaws clenched in order to supress the pantings arising... while Shehnaaz just stood.. not moving.. not blinking.. not. even. breathing. Rustling of the trees around filling her numb head while chirping of crickets felt loud and clear. Nothing more she could process, but just the cold drizzle against her warm skin bringing her goosebumps. While his words falling in his own ears made his throat go dry.. and beats raise up as if he was the one bursted with this sudden thing.

She just. couldn't. respond. What all Vijender said, did he not heard it or it actually never happened ??

That dilemma on his face had almost crumbled her soul bringing her certain assumptions.. how ruthlessly she got things fixed in her mind. She prepared herself for whole different scenario. She was already living that scenario..
And then suddenly this completely contrasting head-spinning transition ??

" Karni hai na ?? .... "

He paused for a split-moment..
and taking both her hands in his one, another one reached her right ear.. and tenderly pulled out her earring which he noticed coming out, quite absentmindedly and

" because 'this' is the final picture, I have in my mind.. to end 'this' day with.. " He completed, putting the earring in his pocket.

And looked back at her.. who was a little more aware.. a little more in the moment.. with her own words repeated with 'his' conviction.. clearing it loud and clear that letting go of her was far away an existing possibility for him now..

He surely was clueless of the facts.. and what all Vijender said, 'did' made his mind go all hyperactive. But it was because of that hyperactive overthinking brain of his, which pushed him from 'what they said?' to 'why they said?'... from 'action' to 'intention'.

It was understandable till they were demeaning Sidharth to make her leave him. But putting their own daughter at such nasty position in front of strangers, even if it was a truth ??
What purpose could it even serve that her respect.. her esteem meant nothing ??

That repeated realization of the 'intention' behind, had him already on edge of pushing all the if and but's aside.. forcing him to just make it clear to them in clear words.. what place they hold for each other ?? But he was constantly aware, that was definitely not the time and the situation.

But ultimately with that ridiculousness crossing all the limits, his possessiveness took over...
Those attempts would exist, till the possibility exists and he was past the point where he could talk...

And just how Shehnaaz turned recklessly stubborn to see the final picture, he went possessively stubborn to show 'her family' the final picture. But, only after bringing into her notice first.

That may.. or may not be the right way, but that's his way.. Raw and Random !!

And bringing her warm hands up at the cold bare flesh at his neckline, he tended a bit more to her...

" All this.. all these attempts till now.. For one clear reason ?? ..
'Us' to be apart.. No matter, what way. "

" Aurr ye attempts tab tak chalenge, jab tak they have the hope ki ye possible hai.. and I don't have that much left in me to bear any more attempts !! "

" Andd...
I know no better picture.. which I could put in words.. to make it clear.. that the 'hope'.. which is not letting people stop trying.. is senseless !! " Each part.. slow and stressed.. with his fingers tucking back the lose strands of her hair..

While a little smile bursting on every face of his family. First, the obvious !! And secondly, realizing how everyone felt that as an impulsive reaction for a moment, but it was such a well-processed action.

And that still persistent perplexity on her face, highlighted how abruptly it must have came to her.. Those accusations ?? They were not normal !! Getting no reaction over them and a direct jump was absolutely not normal..

It obviously wasn't, as he himself had that battle going inside in his head till the moment... not because he was doubtful of what he was gonna say.. but doubtful if he would spoil a potential moment which she might have had some expectations for ?? Doubtful if it was fair on her part when she was already dealing with such extreme emotions ?? Doubtful if it was the correct thing in that moment.. But.... Nothing felt more correct !!!

And that feeling only strengthened later. He just couldn't explain the sudden impact he got within moments. It did something to him. Something weird.. something tingly. He didn't knew if he should have done it some other way.. but he genuinely felt it couldn't have been more pure.. more meaningful than it was.. and he felt this urge that she should be aware of that...

And bringing her warm hands up at the cold bare flesh at his neckline, he tended a bit more to her...

And his hold subconciously making her hands press against his chest suppressing those thumpings which were not ready to settle down as the words started coiling up in his guts and felt to be voiced out needingly .

" And before you could think any other way, just know that ki kaun hamare bare me kya jaanta hai.. kya maanta hai.. farq nahii padta.
Mujhe kisi stamp- certificate ya kisi ki permission ki zarurat nahi hai tere sath khade hone ke liye.. Tune bol diya, baat khatm !! " That authority.. that possession had her spell-bound.

" Still I am saying this, then it has no possible reason other than that 'I Want To'. "

" And this is since a long now !!
I'm more than ready even at this exact moment. It was for you to decide ki tu kya, kaise, kab chahti hai.. and it is Still. that. way. "

That raspy low voice which always manages to shake her insides, shaking itself with that intensity of possessiveness erupting...

" I am just making it clear ki 'Tu Meri Hai' ... Baat Khatm !! "

If his hold wasn't possessive enough already, his words just shuddered her.. bringing an obvious displeasure to some.. but the exhilaration otherside covered it all which a part of them was sensing now.. That conscious part of Sidharth didn't let him look around, while Shehnaaz was in daze....
and did not even wished to come out.

His family just felt like a mental block and mental rush together.. and more shocked that why were they feeling shocked ?? What part of that wasn't obvious ?? Yet, it wasn't feeling at all obvious. Forget others, even Ankush !! He literally got the thing 'confessed' from Sidharth just sometime back.. maybe because they never expected it this way.. that 'always conscious' man, so unbotheredly expressing himself was so damn beyond a believing thing.

Shehnaaz still couldn't respond. Maybe she couldn't sink in.. or maybe her mind denied to, fearing that sinking it in could've made the threshold cross and burst her heart which was already on the verge. It was so much to comprehend.. so very much to handle in that moment. And moreover, coming at such a time, it did something which she won't be wondered if chokes her in disbelief.

" Si.. "

She tried responding amidst her choking breaths but she didn't know what she was supposed to say. She didn't knew how to suddenly jump from, what she was preparing herself for, to 'this' !!

But that 'trust' thing was such a trigger.. and the insecurities raised and thoughts erupted in past few minutes were intense much, to not let her settle ignorant of what he thinks.. what he believes ??

" Y.you won't ask.. what he said ?? "

Her voice shaking.. her breaths heavy..

And sensing those shivers, he covered a bit more distance, but still their subconscience kept him alert of all the gazes.

" I know what I need to know !! " And that softness alone brought a breath to her soul..

Her eyes just couldn't leave 'his'. All what she could ever need was all in there. And she just couldn't move her gaze from his orbs, soaking in all.

" After what they said ?? "

Tilting his head a bit, he blinked his eyes tight with a faint soft smile...
The simplest of ways he assure her with !!

" After what they said !! " He stated like something obvious.

" Agar.. wo sab sahi hue.. m.meri galti hui ?? "

That baby was reminding him to think if he was sure and he fell silent for a moment..
The toxic effect these people had on her!

And leaving her hands there on his chest, he brought his hands up. His thumbs on her cheeks and fingers going behind ears reaching her now messed up bun. Making her look at him straight, he shaked her head lightly.. so lovingly. Maybe his usual babying.. or maybe bringing her out of daze, he helped her to believe this moment. And answered, all the said.. and unsaid.. at once.

" Chal galat toh galat... hai to meri hi !! "

And no idea if it was the words.. or the way.. which made her inhale a forceful-gaspy breath. Those tears filled upto the brim in her bloodshot eyes. Digging her teeth, she held her lips considering how madly they were trembling.. And with that surge in her heart, she threw her arms across his shoulders and left herself, for him to hold.. the only place which holds the relief for her trembling self.

As he held her back clutching her by waist and caressing her head dugged against his neck, that holded rage.. frustration.. anger.. every damn thing troubling her melted.. making those suppressed tears burst silently.. clenching his heart more than her own. And he held her tighter.. smelting her into him.

" I didn't do that for me.. I swear.. "

And with those muffled words, she defended herself for the first time...

" I know you better than that meri jaan.. "

The soft words.. that loving touch.. made her frustration burst out with such a force that it pained her in chest..
But the next moment, she pulled herself back in bafflement.. but still in his hold, bringing him a sudden restlessness. These past few days had made him sensitive to her going away.. be it any way.

He got the answer in between, as she looked past him to his.. no, their family but his mind fixed at those blood-shot eyes and blood-rushed wet face and over that, the drizzling which felt sharp against the skin now...

She gulped down not understanding how to face them. Not knowing what they were thinking ?? That trashy behavior of her family did put her in shame.. and to even assume what they might be thinking of her was a torture, but to not know what they were thinking was almost killing her.. and that, was so much visible on her face making Maa step ahead turning her heart beat so wild...

Her mind wildly bewildered between 'she need to explain' and 'she have no words to', her hand subconsciously reached up making to pinch her throat with her trembling fingers...

" Sacchi.. "

And watching that baby with her lips quivering in that innocent attempt of defending herself, Maa pulled her hand away from her throat as she felt her heart fluttered watching how her soul turns child and innocence reflexes in front of her..

" Bola tha na dimag ko kam zor diya karr.. "

Lightly slapping on her head, Maa took her in her arms as Sidharth gave her the space to wrap Shehnaaz...

" For once, tujhse galti ho sakti hai.. parr tu galat nahi ho sakti !! "

And her hold instinctively tightened with that conviction in the words..

Maa was not fine with what was said, she 'trusts' her over what was said !!

The breath she got that moment was one of it's kind, in a long time. And more than 'Maa', for her it was 'Sidharth's mother' in that moment. Maybe because she couldn't forget the fact that she was Sidharth's mother first.. a mother who is extremely protective for her children and has all the rights to not let any dubious girl around him. Yet, here she was, calming her beats with the soft words and calming her breaths with the soft patt on her back.. or maybe because she couldn't forget the fact that her own was standing just behind..

______________________________________

Bringing herself out of what just happened was the last thing she could do, but it was the very first thing she was doing as those obnoxious gazes felt piercing her.. And the awareness of all the presences were enough to remind her that they finished it all in every way.. with every possible damage they could've. They did not left her with even guilt that she was not wrong to disappoint.. to turn her parents down. And she didn't knew whether to call it a good thing or bad ??

Back then, Shehnaaz used to wonder that there must be something wrong with her or how come it didn't took even a second chance for every single person to believe all that ?? .... But now she wonders, what could be that bad in her to deserve this much of loathing ?? She must have done something to make them this cruel because none of the reason she knew already seemed to justify it.

This has no end. And it was no movie or book for that change of heart to happen. Her tears meant nothing but just their upper hand on her and she didn't had the strength to take more.. or precisely, there was nothing left !!
So wiping off her wet cheeks.. as harsh as she could.. as if clearing off all the wrong hopes... be it her's or their's, she went to them.

" I am nothing for you. Just make me nothing 'completely'.
Apni zarurat ke hisab se meri existence ko highlight mat karo.. "

She said utterly calmly but holding her insides stiff, not letting a drop fell from those burning eyes...

" Jo bhi aap soch ke aaye the...
That is.. not happening !!
Find any other way to make him win the elections.. "

She declared in clear-final words but it was the obvious bitterness, all she could see in their eyes... while the words striked to Vijender as a question on his worth..

" You were gonna make me win ?? ..
Hai kaun tu ?? " Vijender spatted, infuriated...

" Jiske peeche hawa me udd rahi, tere jaise hazaaron option hai uske pas... aage peeche ghumte hue, it won't take long to fed up..
Aurr tabb... shakal mat dikhane aajana hamare pas.. "

Shehnaaz didn't even wished to correct him anymore because no matter how many times she shouts out that this would had been her decision in any other situation, they won't understand.

Her family was all about ego. 'Individuality' wasn't something they know.. and a woman's individuality ?? That's a clear sign of destruction !! That's how they know things.. that's how they want it to be.. that's how it works for them. They were only about honour.. always about pride.. which they loaded over Shehnaaz as her responsibility. They never felt like giving any other emotion but their pride was completely invested in her. That pride of control, authority and dominance... that's what makes one feel powerful, right ?? And Shehnaaz was the easiest source. Be it her mother who took her pride in her upbringing as an ideal obedient child... or her father who took pride in that control and authority over her, which ultimately would've added up to family's benefit and would have kept their head high with their contribution and favours to the family and it's name and it's pride if things would have worked their way.. And Vijender, used to to see Shehnaaz as nothing.. took the liberty of ruling her being the man in the house.. and now watching his authoritative image going under water, he was going berserk.

And watching him so freaked out, was actually bringing Shehnaaz pity for him. More than his words that dried, but wet with the drizzle leaf stucked at the lapel of his coat pulled her attention..

" It wasn't long back I told you to not involve anyone... " She said in straight words while pulling out that leaf.

Looked gentle, but not at all gentle.
And Ankush and Vardaan wondered if it was just them or her eyes.. words.. actions.. everything actually mirrored Sidharth ?? Like a soul swap !!

With the burn of her slap still fresh on his cheek, his ineffectiveness on her triggered Vijender's already freaked out mind, making him grip her wrist in his egoistic instinct and pulled it away from his lapel with the obvious physical strength, twisting it in way in a beastly instinct, making Shehnaaz's breath stuck with the sudden pain..

But the next they knew was sound of a blow, which literally felt like knocked a tooth.. or teeth maybe !!

Startled with the sudden action, Shehnaaz looked at Vijender who got stumbled back and had his lips going coated with red in no time... and then at the source. The surroundings turned panicky with that sudden action.. but the daze of his anger and her shock didn't let them notice..

Sidharth had been through innumerable eruptions of emotions.. from fear, anxiety, agitation, restlessness, anger.. one after one.. within sometime.. everything extreme.. everything suppressed.. everything which brought him on edge.. but he had kept himself in hold because what they did, they did to Shehnaaz and it was purely her right that how she reacts..

Overcoming with the shock of sudden hit, Vijender's injured ego was convincing him to give it back.. but that little bit of mind, remained unconvinced. And before he could've even decided, his neck possibly got a strain with the jolt of that jaw-breaking slap.

" Socha bhi kaise ?? "

Since Varun told Sidharth about Vijender meeting Shehnaaz in Delhi, every little thing from that day was running in his mind.. from her restless holds to her desperate confession.. making him unknowingly connect it all.
It may be correct.. maybe not.. but definitely brought him on edge..
And just like her, he as well has, either complete control.. or it's the worst day for the other person.

And clutching his collars in a dead grip, he looked back at Shehnaaz...

" He was texting you that trust and all crap !! "

And even in that partial daze of watching his fury, she got pretty shocked thinking how does he know about the texts ??

His insides were already on fire and weirdly, he wanted to add to that fire..
and that didn't even let him wait for any answer...

He wasn't actually questioning but more like, he was collectiong the reasons.

" He met you in Delhi ?? "

This action of Vijender, had got blood rushed to Sidharth's head with the thought that how used-to was Vijender to handle Shehnaaz that way to do this so casually.. so daringly ?? How many times before ?? Did he do something in Delhi too ?? And that definately reminded him of many things which were absurdly answered by Shehnaaz then, but connecting a dot now. He didn't knew if he was being crazy.. But even if crazy, they were giving him the reason to do what he was doing.. so it was fine.

" Did he hurt you there, by any chance "

She didn't knew if it was a random question or it came from how sceptical he was since the time he asked about
that wound on her shoulder when she returned from Delhi. She could not lie to him anyways but his eyes didn't left the scope for her to even attempt.

Shehnaaz didn't knew this side of his anger but it was obviously beyond normal and making her panic. She didn't wanted him to be in any mess.. any trouble. And besides that, Vijender had definitely hurted her intentionally at times.. but that day, it was not a processed action to hurt.. and she wanted to keep that clear. Just the difference of characters !!

" Not intentionally !! " She replied truthfully but...

" Doesn't matter now... "

Yanking Vijender with those clutched collars, Sidharth punched him again making him fall back on the ground again with a leg twisted pretty bad..

And coming on his knees, Sidharth almost slicing Vijender's nape with his collars lifted his face up.. and punched again !!

" You'll hurt her, Ha ?? "

Sidharth scorned his dare, but this put in words added up to his own rage and holding Vijender's hair in a painful grip, Sidharth pulled his face up and not giving any chance to even recover from one, Sidharth kept presenting another punch already.. as if not leaving any chances of dislocating his jaws irreparably.

Sidharth's fury had crossed the fences.. and instead of settling, he felt like it was increasing in folds.

While everyone else was panicked.. Vardaan, Ankush and Varun were on the clear edge.. as if a leg in air.. struggling between the thoughts of going in between or not.. because they knew there was no point.. they knew that Sidharth didn't asked all those questions to Shehnaaz for any answer, he just gave all the reasons telling why no one should interfere....

" Use hurt karne ka right to mai khud use bhi nahii deta.. "

He gritted out the fact with his furious breaths and held his jaws in a dead grip, almost peircing his nails into Vijender's jaws which started to swell already..

" Tujhe to firr mai dafna sakta hu yahii.. Right now.. Right here.. "

Along with his words, his hand subconsciously pressed Vijender's head against the ground as if giving a glimpse of what he said..

Never in his life, Sidharth turned that dangerous.. But he had the idea that Vijender coming in front of him won't be a good sight since the first time Shehnaaz mentioned of him raising hand on her. Now toh, he witnessed the glimpse himself.

By this time, a part of him registered all the voices around, constantly shouting to stop, but his own insides were screaming the loudest then and his punches knew no mercy... But in process, his partially healed wounds of chest and forearm teared up and the fury running through his bursting veins started turning the white fabric red in no time.

None of them intervened maybe because they knew there was no point, he was unstoppable.. and not like they were very keen to stop him and not make him give the punches of their share too. But watching Shehnaaz going closer, Ankush had to rush to them...

" Shehnaaz !! Come aside... " Holding her, Ankush tried taking her away but wondered with her strength as she didn't moved... or maybe he couldn't apply his strength owing to that subconscious sensitivity towards her...

" Sanu lag jaega, Come aside.. "

" He's hurting himself... " She mumbled with her eyes fixed at the blood soaking the sleeve, further running down filling his palm...

" I'll stop him tu side me aa, lag jaega baba. "

And her feeble words reaching Sidharth's ears, comprehended her worry in back of his mind slowing him down.. but his rage was intense enough to not let him leave Vijender. Jerking his face, Sidharth held his collar again and stood up, pulling him along to stand up.. and holding his nape in a painful grip, he made him look at him with those swollen eyes.. torn up face.. tattered limbs.. and battered ego.

" Wo 'kaun' hai ?? ...
Wo wahi hai jisko le jane tu yaha tak aaya. " Sidharth reminded the fact answering his question.

" Tu life set karega uski ?? "

With one hand still holding his collars, Sidharth looked other side.. he just felt like that, 'that answer' was supposed to be given to her parents more...

He didn't said anything all this while because he didn't saw that as his place to speak. What they did, they did to Shehnaaz and it was purely her right that how she reacts. Also, he knew his reactions couldn't be trusted when it's about Shehnaaz.. he couldn't have talked calmly and he didn't wanted to talk any other way because, just what his Maa said.. they were Shehnaaz's parents and anything which turns out disrespectful to them would be would be disrespectful to Shehnaaz.

But did those sensible things made anymore sense ??

" Use settled dekhna chahte hai ?? " Sidharth questioned reminding them their own words.

" Apni Financial stability wo own karti hai aur emotional stability to kahi dikh nahi rahi ?? " He questioned their claim, watching those mental cursing clearly reflecting on their faces.

" She made her life on her own !!
She reached this point..
Overcame every struggle..
She made everything.. from penny to people... All alone.
Na aap the, na mai !! "

And as the words shifted his mind completely to Shehnaaz, the calmth replacing the furiousity so audible in his words.. and so visible in him..

" She needs no one for that... 'settled' tag. Yeah, not even me !!
She doesn't needs me, she 'wants' me. And that, is my Pride !! "

He stated.. and the intensity of the proud dripping with his words just stucked everything for Shehnaaz. She wasn't out of how her own parents pushed her esteem to the lowest... And this man so gracefully lifted it up and took in his embrace.. protecting.. preserving.. pampering it.

" Mai uske liye kuch maangne nahi aaya tha aapke pas.. mai aapko batane aaya tha ki aap kya kho rahe hai !! "

" You lost one by fate but another one, by choice. "

And watching them tounge-tied, he looked back at Vijender and that slightly settled fury flamed again making his grip on his collars again..

" Ye.. jise tu Shehnaaz bol raha hai na ??... Wo meri Naaz hai.
Aur sirf naam se nahi hai.. She 'is' my Naaz... My Pride !!
Ab ise mera ego samajh ya pyaar.. Sidharth Shukla, can literally show you hell for his pride.. For. his. Naaz !! "

" Never. Misread. My Silence !!
If I'm quite, then only for her, lekin agar sanak gayi na.. then she might be soft-hearted...
but No One Can Stop Me... "

Jerking him away, Sidharth took a step back.. because he was sure that closer he stays, his hands are gonna itch for one more hit...

" Get this fit in your mind !! "

And throwing that audible enough warning with that cold look, he moved to Shehnaaz who by now, had Maa and Misha by her side along with Ankush.. saying something to her.. whereas she had her eyes at him, weakly and disbelievingly.

No one did that before. He was actually so proud of her ??.. Proud for nothing else but her 'self-being' ?? So proud of her whole damn existence.. that he just flaunted it in front of who created yet hated it ??
Where everyone only told her what her priority should be.. he made 'her' his priority.. where everyone loaded her with the responsibilities of their prides..
'He instead made her, his pride.'

And ended up healing her soul a little more.. unawaredly.. like every other time.. when she herself isn't aware that she needs it, untill he do it for her !!

______________________________________

Reaching close, Maa and Misha shifted a little in a natural instinct.. saying something to Sidharth that they should leave.. and Sidharth stood closer.. and with his arms wrapped around, Shehnaaz's instincts her leave herself for him to hold...

Vijender who was in the state of a brutally played toy... feeling the humiliation of a lifetime.
Each point.. each spot felt like paining separately, yet he tried... But as soon as he opened his mouth, Vineet snapped making him shut...

" Dare you open that filthy pit.. or rest of your bones are gonna crushed by me !! "

And hearing that, holding Shehnaaz from a side, Sidharth looked back in a reflex.

Despite the anger in his words, how heavy Vineet's heart was, was so clear. That heartache was so visible and that misery was so audible..

" You all.. never fail to amaze me.. seriously !! Just to satisfy your ego, he's going all trashy... and you people are supporting ?? "

And that bursting frustration was making him go loud and louder..

" How many more times and in how many more ways I was supposed to tell you the same thing ??
Shehnaaz ne un papers pe sign kiya tha kyunki maine kaha tha use.. she signed because my so-called family was not there.... "

Every word was a 'repeat' but his anger made him throw the words at them again.. which they 'conveniently' choose to not believe every time.

" She signed and gave me my life..
She saved my wife, dammit...
Meri biwi ko bachaya tha usne !!! "

And that, came as a 'Revelation' ... leaving Vineet's father and Shehnaaz's family stupefied.

The biggest secret of his life, which Vineet did not think of revealing untill the moment he revealed.. but now that he has, he couldn't have cared less.
And no idea whether to call it funny or sad, Shehnaaz's parents who were getting embarrassed until then with Vineet's father's accusing glances, felt balanced as Vineet was the highlight now.

" Inki family complete nahi hui and they chose Shehnaaz for their frustration portraying themselves as sufferer. She was the 'bad news' !! " Looking at his father, Vineet said accusingly, pointing at Shehnaaz's parents.

" But what about our family ?? Use incomplete kisne kiya ?? ...
Me.ra bhai ??
Waha conveniently blame bhai pe hi daal diya that he was on the wrong track ?? "

His eyes.. his words so sharply accusing his father.. but they were so absorbed with that 'revelation', that words hardly reached their ears.

And Sidharth literally gave up at this point.. making conscious attempts to avoid his mind from making subconscious attempts.. of completing the puzzle with these bits and pieces...

" Aap zindagi dene ka ehsaan jatate rahe, but he found his comfort in death. But even his death couldn't make you change your ways... "

Vineet's cracking voice portraying his bursting heart, was heartbreaking. But the only person who knew and could understand his state was herself not in a good state with her head spinning and vision turning blurr..

Unable to bear that overwhelm, Shehnaaz turned and rested her forehead against Sidharth's chest, pulling him out of the guilty zone he was going in, remembering how coldly he behaved with Vineet. Though he had reasons but he didn't found them justifying anymore.

And taking the cue he wrapped his arms across her shoulders, making a wall to her eyes and ears with his bulky arms. However much he could, to keep her away from all that. But her almost bare, cold and damp shoulders grabbed his attention making him panicky with mental curses running in his head.

She wasn't well.. how could he not notice the cold drizzle going sharper now. And in that bewildered protective instinct, he held the loose end of her saree.. brought it up.. and wiping the other open shoulder, he wrapped her with it.. and then 'him'..

But a subconscious reluctance didn't let him make a move. This moment was not just about taking her away from there.. it was taking her away from them. It took five years for her to see them and god knows how long after this ??

And solving it for him, he felt her mumble against his chest...

" Ghar le chal !! "

A part of her shrinking.. as if proceeding to get vanish, but she needed this. It pained realizing that she was losing something for ever... something which she never had !!

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