After changing, Santokh Ji came to the living room and sat on the sofa. Sid was standing in front of him.

Santokh Ji looked at him and said, "Baitho."

Sid nodded and sat on the sofa in front of him. On the other hand, Sana was helping her mother in the kitchen and also watching them.

Sid was feeling very much nervous. He was thinking how to start a conversation.

But Santokh Ji himself started the conversation by asking, "Tum Sana ke hi class mein padhte ho na?"

Sid nodded and said, "Ji!"

"Board exams ki preparation kaisi hai?"

"Hai...Acchi hai..."

"Aur aage ki planning?"

"Planning? Abhi toh kuch planning hai nahi."

"Kyu? Job wagera nahi karna?"

"Of course karna hai.... Actually....Abhi decide nahi kiya...kya karunga...."

Sid was trying hard to find words to impress Santokh Ji but his continuous questions was making him more and more nervous. Sana was laughing in her mind seeing his condition.

"Abhi se ek target set kar lena chahiye. Warna aage jaa ke muskil ho sakti hai. Maine Sana ko bhi kaha tha bachpan se apna target set karne ke liye." Santokh Ji said.

"Sana toh doctor ban na chahti hai." Sid said.

"Haan. Isliye NEET ki padhai bhi kar rahi hai. NEET exams clear karne ke ke baad usse ek acche se medical college mein admission mil jaaye bas. Yeh hi sapna hai mera aur uski Mummy ka."

Suddenly Sid thought something and asked, "Uske baad?"

"Uske baad doctor ban jayegi, aur kya?" Santokh Ji replied.

"Aur Sana ki shaadi?"

Sana widened her eyes hearing that.

"Shaadi ki baat kaha se aayi?" Santokh Ji asked being confused.

"Nahi mera matlab tha ki uske baad Sana ki shaadi bhi toh karwani padegi nah. Uske baare mein kuch socha hai aap ne?" Sid asked and gave a quick glance at Sana.

Sana got angry and said in her mind, "Iski himmat toh dekho. Papa se seedha meri shaadi ki baat kar raha hai. Now it's enough. I have to teach him a lesson."

"Beta abhi uske liye waqt hai. Tum log abhi bacche ho. Iss waqt tumhe apne career par hi focus karna chahiye. Jab Sana badi aur established ho jayegi, tab main sochunga uski shaadi ke baare mein. Tumhe fikar karne ki zaroorat nahi hai." Santokh Ji said.

Sana smiled hearing that.

"Bada chant ban raha tha. Ab hogayi nah bolti band!" Sana said in her mind.

But Sid didn't gave up. "Woh sab toh thik hai. Lekin agar Sana ne khud hi apne liye ladka pasand kar liya toh...."

Sid stopped after getting a death glare from Santokh Ji.

"Uncle please bura mat maan na. I mean, humare school mein kayi ne abhi se apne apne life partners decide kar rakhe hai. Agar Sana ne bhi....."

"Meri Sana bakiyon se alag hai." Santokh Ji said suddenly. "Uska focus sirf aur sirf apne studies aur career pe hai. Aur agar uske mann mein aisa kuch hua toh woh mujhe zaroor baatayegi."

"Kya baatein ho rahi hai?" Sana asked while coming towards them. She acted as if she didn't hear their conversation.

"Tera yeh dost puch raha tha ki school ke baki students ki tarah tune abhi se apne liye koi ladka pasand kar ke rakha hai yaa nahi. Maine kaha agar tere mann mein aisa kuch hua toh tu mujhe zaroor baatayegi. Baatayegi nah?"

Santokh Ji was waiting for Sana's answer.

Sana looked down and said, "Woh asal mein Papa....Aaj jab aap ne yeh pucha.....Toh main aap se kuch....Kuch share karna chahti hoon...."

A smile came to Sid's face seeing Sana's reaction.

"Main Sana ke Mummy Papa ko impress karne aaya tha. Yaaha toh lagta hai yeh khud hi rishta pakka karwa degi. Bas iske yeh khadoos Papa maan jaaye." Sid said in his mind.

"Tu kisi ko pasand karti hai?" Santokh Ji asked raising his one eyebrow.

"Aisa nahi hai Papa. Lekin humare school mein ek ladka hai, jo ki mere piche pada hai." Sana said hinting towards Sid.

"Kya bol rahi hai?" Santokh Ji asked.

"Haan Papa. Jab dekho mujhe tang karta rehta hai. Aur school mein...Nahi nahi....Woh har jagah mera picha karta rehta hai. Even aap ko paata hai, woh raat ko mere kamre mein bhi aa gaya tha, woh bhi balcony se. Main toh pareshaan ho chuki hoon uss se." Sana said in a dramatic way.

"What?" Santokh Ji got angry. "That bloody rascal! Tune pehle kyu nahi baataya yeh sab?"

"Aap log tension karte nah isliye. Lekin agar main aap ko baata bhi deti toh aap kya karte?"

"Kya karta matlab? Lock up ke andar karwa deta. Aur maar maar ke aisi haalat karta ki kabhi kisi ka peecha karne ke layak nahi rehta. Tu bas naam baata uska."

Sana looked at Sid. Sid became scared hearing Santokh Ji's words. His throat became dry.

"Sidharth Beta!" Santokh Ji called Sid.

"Ji Uncle!"

"Tumhe paata hai Sana kis ke baare mein baat kar rahi hai?"

"I....I have no idea." Sid said being nervous.

"Usko kaise paata hoga? Papa aap rehne di jiye. Agli baar usne aisa kuch kiya toh main aap ko uska naam baata dungi." Sana said and again looked at Sid.

Sid immediately stood up and said, "I think I should leave now."

"What happened?" Santokh Ji asked.

"Nothing. Bas time ho raha hai. Hostel wapas jaana hai." Sid said.

"Lekin tu toh dinner kar ke jaane wala tha nah?" Sana asked while controlling her laughter.

Suddenly Parminder Ji came there and said, "Haan Puttar. Tune hi toh kaha tha tujhe dinner karna hai."

"Haan dinner... Karne wala tha.... lekin..... Suddenly mere pet mein dard ho raha hai. Khana khaane ka mann nahi kar raha. Maybe next time."

"Lekin Puttar......"

"Bye Mummy! Bye Uncle! Bye Sana!" Sid said. He immediately took his bag and left from there.

"Main usse bahar tak chhor ke aata hoon." Santokh Ji said and went after Sid.

"Bada aaya tha pyaar ke daave karne wala! Kaise lock up ka naam sunte hi darr ke bhaag gaya. I hope ab yeh thoda sudhar jaaye aur apne limit mein rahe." Sana said in her mind.
_______________________________________

Next Morning...

Sana was leaving for school. After coming out of her house, she saw Shivangi and Sid.

"Tu yaaha kya kar raha hai?" Sana asked angrily. "Aur Shivangi, tu kyu laayi isse saath mein?"

"Main nahi laayi. Main jab aayi toh maine dekha ki yeh yaaha pehle se khada tha." Shivangi said.

"Actually Uncle ne...."

Before Sid could complete, Sana's father came there and said, "Maine bulaya hai isse."

Sana looked at her father with disbelief.

"Papa aap ne? Lekin kyu?" Sana asked.

"Woh kaal teri baat sun kar main darr gaya tha. Aaj kaal ke ladkon par mujhe bharosa nahi hai. Upar se tum dono ladkiya akele school aati jaati ho. Paata nahi kab kaunsi muskil mein pad jaao. Lekin agar Sidharth tere saath rahega toh meri chinta dur ho jayegi."

"Ek baat puchu Papa? Aap ko aaj kaal ke ladko par bharosa nahi hai, toh phir iss par itna bharosa kaise hua?"

"Kaal raat ko jab main isse bahar tak chhor ne aaya tha, toh isne khud hi kaha ki yeh school aate jaate waqt tera saath dega aur uss ladke ko tere aas paas bhi bhatak ne nahi dega. Pehle toh main bharosa nahi kar paa raha tha iss par lekin phir teri Mummy ne kaha ki Sidharth accha ladka hai. Aur iss baar exam mein bhi isne top kiya hai. Tab jaa ke mujhe laga ki yeh bharose ke kaabil hai." Santokh Ji said.

Sid smiled proudly.

"Accha ab samjhi. Sid topper hai isliye Papa melt ho gaye. All thanks to my dear Mummy." Sana said and made an annoyed face.

"Aaj se meri Beti ko ghar se school aur school se ghar chhor ne ki zinmedaari tumhari. Iska khayal rakhna aur uss ladke se isse bachana." Santokh Ji said to Sid.

"Don't worry. I will make sure that no other guy comes near Sana. Aap ko tension kar ne ki zaroorat nahi hai....Papa.." Sid said.

"Papa?"

"Aap ne mujhe itni badi zinmedaari di. I hope Beta samajh kar hi diya hoga. Toh kya main please aap ko Papa bula sakta hoon?"

Santokh Ji smiled and nodded. Sid was on cloud nine.

"Mission Papa accomplished!" Sid said in his mind.

After that Santokh Ji went inside the house.

Sid gave Sana a naughty look and she gave him an angry look.

"Mamla kya hai boss?" Shivangi asked suddenly.

"Long story. I'll tell you later." Sana said.

Three of them started walking with their bicycles.

"Sid, tu yeh sab kyu kar raha hai? Tujhe darr nahi lagta kya? Agar maine Papa ko baata diya ki woh ladka tu hi hai toh teri haalat kya ho sakti hai tujhe idea bhi hai?" Sana asked.

"Mujhe yakeen hai tu nahi baatayegi." Sid said.

"Toh kaal tu darr ke bhag kyu gaya tha?"

"Main toh bas darne ki acting kar raha tha. Tujhe kya laga? Main darr ke haar maan gaya? Itni zaldi nahi. Abhi toh yeh suruwaad hai."

"Lekin yeh sab karne se akhir mein bhi tujhe koi fayda hoga nahi. Main tujhse pyaar nahi karne wali." Sana said confidently.

"Woh toh waqt hi baatayega." Sid also said confidently.

Shivangi was enjoying their talks and was hoping for their togetherness.

Suddenly Sid looked at Shivangi and said, "Paata hai Shivangi, aaj mujhe kaisa feel ho raha hai?"

"Kaisa?" Shivangi asked.

"Lag raha hai teri best friend ka kanyadaan ho gaya aur uske Papa ne uska haath mere haathon mein de diya."

"Kanyadaan?" Shivangi said and started laughing.

"Haan seriously. Mummy toh pehle se hi set thi. Ab Papa bhi maan gaye. Bas teri best friend maan jaaye. Phir seedha baarat le kar aa jaunga." Sid said excitedly.

"Sid apni bakwaas band kar!" Sana said loudly.

"Lekin main toh Shivangi ke saath baat kar raha tha...."

"Then carry on." Sana said angrily and sat on her bicycle. Then she started riding the bicycle fast.
_______________________________________

Few days passed. In these days, Sid gave a lot of efforts to impress Sana and her family. He used to come to Sana's place daily for the project work. He was successful to make a place for himself in Sana's parents hearts as they also started liking Sid. He used to drop Sana from home to school and school to home as it was his responsibility. In spite of all these, he didn't forget to give Sana a rose and a sorry card. Sana would find them daily on her desk and would throw them in the dustbin. Kushal used to keep them on her desk in stead of Sid as he would remain busy picking Sana up from home. In school, Sid hardly left Sana alone as he used to be always around her. Though he was doing a lot, Sana's heart didn't melt. She decided not to melt or fall into his trap as she was very much afraid of getting betrayed again.

After their project work was completed, Sana and Sid went to Ms. Sharma's cabin to submit it.

Ms. Sharma quickly examined their project and said, "Sidharth, you can go. And Shehnaaz, you stay here. I have something to discuss with you."

Sana nodded. Sid left from there.

"Sit Shehnaaz!" Ms. Sharma said.

Sana sat on the chair.

"Shehnaaz, today I'm telling you something very important. Please listen to me very carefully."

"Ok Mam."

"Listen Shehnaaz, I am sorry to say but I am very much disappointed with you."

"Why Mam? What happened?"

"Shehnaaz, the whole school knows that you are a brilliant student. Since the day you came to this school, you have topped in every exams except the previous exam. We all have a lot of expectations from you."

"Mam I tried in the previous exam but...."

"That's not the point Shehnaaz. I'm not asking you to top in every exams. The main point is that your grades are decreasing day by day. Have you got the result of the last class test?"

Sana nodded in no.

Ms. Sharma gave her the papers. Sana became shocked seeing it. Her eyes were filled with tears.

"I didn't expect these types of marks from you. I think you are getting distracted by something. Please focus on your studies Shehnaaz. It's not too late. I want you to do great in the board exams. Do you understand?"

Sana nodded.

"You can leave." Ms. Sharma said.

Sana started leaving with the papers. She was very much upset. Studies were always her first priority. Then how did she get such poor marks? Was Ms. Sharma right? Had she really got distracted?

Sana was going to the classroom. Suddenly Sid came to her and said, "Kya kaha Ms. Sharma ne? Zaroor teri tarif hi ki hogi phir se. Accha sun, humara project toh khatam ho gaya, lekin sochna mat ki main tera picha chhor dunga. Jab tak tu puri tarah se maan nahi jaati main tere saath chewing gum ki tarah chipak ke rahunga. Aur tere Papa ki di hui zinmedaari bhi toh puri karni hai...."

"Shut up!" Sana yelled at Sid. She was feeling very much disgusted. And Sid's words were irritating her more as she was already upset.

"Aur kab tak Sid? Aur kab tak tu yeh sab karta rahega? Ab toh project bhi khatam ho gaya, ab toh mera picha chhor de. Tujhe kya lagta hai, yeh roz roz mere desk ke phool aur apology card rakhne se, mere ghar aa ke mere parents ko impress karne se main tujhse pyaar karne lagungi? Bhul jaungi jo kuch bhi tune mere saath kiya hai? Nahi Sid. Aisa nahi hoga. Isliye please yeh roadside romeo wali harkate band kar. Bohut irritating lagta hai. Main tujhe apni zindagi mein wapas nahi chahti. Isliye for God's sake, dur rahe mujhse." Sana said and left from there while crying without giving Sid a chance to speak.

Sid was numb. Tears were coming out of his eyes.

"Kya main usse itna irritate karta hoon? Maine socha tha yeh sab karne se main uska dil jeet lunga lekin woh toh aur bhi gussa ho gayi. Dur rehne ke liye kaha usne mujhe. Lekin main kaise uss se dur rahu? I love her. Itni asani se give up kar doon?" Sid said in his mind.
_______________________________________

Will Sana understand Sid's love?

Or will Sid really give up?

Stay tuned...

Also vote if you liked this chapter.