"Shehnaaz, tum sach mein bohut khubsurat ho." Sidharth said looking at Shehnaaz.

Shehnaaz blushed.

"Accha? Aur kya accha hai mujh mein?" Shehnaaz asked.

"Tumhari eyes, nose, lips, jawline sab kuch sundar hai."

"Aur?"

"Your voice. Kitna accha gaati ho tum. Tumhare saath ek concert main zaroor karunga."

"Haaye Sidharth, mujhe toh yakeen hi nahi ho raha ki tum mere samne khade ho aur meri itni tareef kiye jaa rahe ho. Bilkool sapne jaisa lag raha hai."

"Sapna hi toh hai." Sidharth said.

"Kya matlab?" Shehnaaz asked being confused.

Suddenly she heard a female voice.

"Shehnaaz uth jaa beta, aur kitni der soyegi?"

"Sidharth, tumhari awaz Mummy jaisi kyu lag rahi hai?" Shehnaaz said in sleep.

"Arrey teri Mummy hi hoon main. Exams suru ho gaye hai aur yeh ladki abhi tak so rahi hai. Exam mein pass hona hai yaa nahi?" Pammi Ji said.

Shehnaaz woke and sat up.

"Mummy, aap? Kyu subah subah utha diya? Kitna accha sapna dekh rahi thi main. Sab kharab kar diya." Shehnaaz said.

"Haan paata hai. Tabhi toh neend mein muskura rahi thi aur mujhe Sidharth bol rahi thi. Sharam nahi aati, tere exams chal rahe hai aur tu Sidharth Shukla ke sapne dekhe jaa rahi hai?"

"Mummy, main kya jaan bujh ke sapne dekhti hoon? Yeh toh bas aa jaate hai."

"Uss Sidharth Shukla ke baare mein sochna thoda band kar de. Phir nahi aayenge. Chal ab fresh ho ja, main khana lagati hoon." Pammi Ji said and left.

Shehnaaz got freshed, ate her breakfast and went to university.

While returning from university

"Kaisa raha aaj ka exam?" Shefali asked.

"Kitna tough question tha yaar. Pura dimaag kharab hogaya tha." Shehnaaz said.

"Sahi mein. Inn logo ko thode easy questions karne chahiye." Adi said.

"Rohit, tera kaisa raha?" Naina asked.

"Easy. Haan waise ek do questions tough the. Lekin maine sare questions attempt kiye. And I'm sure sab sahi honge." Rohit said confidently.

"Yeh kya hai yaar? Itna tough question easy lag raha hai isko. Meri toh aaj hi halat kharab hogayi hai. Paata nahi padso kya hoga." Shehnaaz said.

"Ek kaam karte hai, aaj sab log mere ghar chale aao. Mil kar study karenge. Phir ek dusre ko padhai mein help bhi kar sakte hai." Shefali said.

"Haan, yeh bilkool sahi rahega." Shehnaaz said.

"Sorry, main nahi aa paunga." Rohit said.

"Kyu bhai? Kya hua?" Adi asked.

"Maa ki tabiyat bohut kharab hai." Rohit said.

"Kyu? Kya hua Aunty ko?" Shehnaaz asked.

"Knee ka pain phir se badh gaya hai isliye. Mujhe unka khayal rakhna padega."

"It's okay. Hum tujhe notes bhej denge." Shefali said.

"Rohit, main bhi tere saath tere ghar chalti hoon. Aunty se bhi mil lungi." Shehnaaz said.

Rohit nodded.

They both went to Rohit's house.

Rohit's mother opened the door and a smile came to her face after seeing Shehnaaz.

"Shehnaaz, tu yaaha? Andar aa jaldi." Rohit's mother said.

They both entered the house.

"Aunty, Rohit ne bola aapke knee ka pain phir se badh gaya hai." Shehnaaz said.

"Haan, woh sab toh chalta rehta hai. Tu baata aaj ka exam kaisa raha?"

Before Shehnaaz could speak, Rohit said, "Har baar ki tarah aur kya? Maa main aapko bol raha hoon yeh studies par bilkool dhyaan nahi deti. Pura din bas Sidhart......"

"Hogayi bezzati? Aunty aap iski baaton par dhyaan mat do. Aap bas rest karo. Itna kaam mat karo. Warna yeh dard aur badh jaayega." Shehnaaz said.

"Accha, main nahi karungi toh aur kaun karega?" Rohit's mother asked.

"Main hoon na. Ek baar apki bahu ban jau, phir saara kuch main kar dungi. Tab aap sirf rest karoge."

"Main bhi toh ussi din ka wait kar rahi hoon. Bas Rohit ko ek accha sa job mil jaaye. Phir ek minute bhi der nahi karungi. Seedha tum dono ki shaadi kara dungi." Rohit's mother said.

Rohit and Shehnaaz smiled

At Shefali's house..

Shefali opened the door for Shehnaaz and she entered the house. They both went to Shefali's room where they saw Naina.

"Adi nahi aaya?" Shehnaaz asked.

"Usse koi zaroori kaam tha." Naina said.

"Chal accha hi hai, aaj sirf hum girls saath mein study karenge." Shehnaaz said.

After 3 hours of studying...

"Accha main chalti hoon. Bohut thak chuki hoon. Kaal milte hai." Shehnaaz said while putting her books in bag.

"Sana wait. Mere paas tere liye ek surprise hai." Shefali said and took something in her hand.

"Surprise? Aur woh bhi suddenly."

"Kaal tera birthday hai na isliye." Shefali said.

"But woh toh kaal hai...."

Shefali handed her some tickets.

"Sidharth Shukla ki concert ke 3 tickets hai mere paas. Aaj raat 11 baje ko concert hai. Hum teeno saath mein chalenge." Shefali said.

Shehnaaz was on cloud nine. Naina just smiled as she knew it already.

"Sach? Lekin yeh toh bohut mehenge hai. Tujhe kaha se mila?"

"Kaal Uncle aaye the. Unhone hi gift diya. Sun tu apne Mummy Papa ko phone kar ke bol de ki tu aaj mere yaaha rukne wali hai." Shefali said.

"Abhi bol deti hoon. Haaye mujhe naa yakeen hi nahi ho raha ki finally main Sidharth Shukla ko samne se dekgungi. I'M SOOOO EXCITEEEED." Shehnaaz said.

_______________________________________

Sidharth was waiting at the backstage. He was continuously checking his phone. He was expecting someone to call him.

"Pehle Sonia mere har concert ko attend karti thi. Performance ke pehle mujhe encourage karti thi. But ab attend karna toh dur ki baat hai, ek call tak nahi karti." Sidharth said in his mind.

Suddenly his name was announced. He went to the stage. At that very moment Shehnaaz entered. Sidharth started singing...

Meri rooh ka parinda phadphadaaye

Lekin sukoon ka jazeera mil na paaye
Ve ki karan ve ki karan

Ik baar ko tajalli toh dikha de
Jhoothi sahi magar tasalli toh dila de
Ve ki karan ve ki karan

Ranjhan de yaar Bulleya
Sun le pukaar Bulleya
Tu hi toh yaar Bulleya
Murshid mera, Murshid mera

Tera mukaam kamle
Sarhad ke paar Bulleya
Parvardigar Bulleya
Hafiz tera Murshid mera

Ranjhan de yaar Bulleya
Sunle pukaar Bulleya
Tu hi toh yaar Bulleya
Murshid mera Murshid mera

Tera mukaam kamle
Sarhad ke paar Bulleya
Parvardigar Bulleya
Hafiz tera Murshid mera..

Main taan gul se lipti titli ki tarah muhajir hoon
Ek pal ko thehrun, pal mein udd jaun
Ve main ta hoon pagdandi
Labhdi ae jo raah jannat di
Tu mude jahaan main saath mud jaun

Tere kaarwa mein shaamil hona chahun
Kamiyan tarash ke main kaabil hona chahun
Ve ki karan ve ki karan

Ranjhan de yaar Bulleya
Sun le pukaar Bulleya
Tu hi toh yaar Bulleya
Murshid mera, Murshid Mera

Tera mukam kam le
Sarhad ke paar Bulleya
Parvardigar Bulleya
Hafiz tera Murshid mera

Shehnaaz entered the stage and stood beside Sidharth. She first looked at Sidharth and then took the mic.

Jis din se aashna se
Do ajnabi huwe hai
Tanhayion ke lamhein
Sab multavi huwe hai
Kyun aaj main mohabbat
Phir ek baar karna chahun

Haan aa..

Yeh dil toh dhoondta hai inkaar ke bahane
Lekin ye jism koi pabandiyan na maane
Milke tujhe baghawat
Khud se hi yaar karna chaahun

Mujhme agan hai baaki aazma le
Le kar rahi hun khud ko main tere hawale
Ve ranjhana.. ve ranjhana..

Shehnaaz's thought suddenly broke when Shefali shook her hand. She was dreaming everything. She laughed at herself and focused on Sidharth's performance.

Ranjhan de yaar bulleya
Sun le pukaar bulleya
Tu hi toh yaar bulleya

Sidharth turned the mic to the audience.

Everyone said, "Murshid Mera, Murshid Mera."

Tera mukaam kamle
Sarhad ke paar bulleya
Parvardigar bulleya
Hafiz tera

The audience again said, "Murshid Mera"

Sidharth finished his performance. Everyone clapped.

"Now I'll ask someone from the audience to come to the stage. He or she will get a chance to do a duet performance with me. So, who wanna do it?" Sidharth said.

Everyone raised their hands and started shouting.

"Me"

"I wanna do."

"Please call me."

Shehnaaz wasn't making any movement so Shefali lifted her hands up and said, "Sidhaaaarthh... This is Shehnaaz... She is your biggest fan... And she is a great singer also... Today is her birthday.... Please give her a chance."

Sidharth's eyes got stuck at Shehnaaz. They both looked at each other. Some unknown feelings rushed through their nerves. After sometime Sidharth pointed his finger towards Shehnaaz and said, "You. Come to the stage."

Shehnaaz couldn't believe her ears. Was her dreams finally coming true? She became too stunned to move.

"Go nah." Shefali and Naina said.

Shehnaaz started walking slowly. Her heartbeat became fast. She was about to go but suddenly her phone rang.

Being irritated she picked up the call, "Hello."

"Sana zaldi aa jaa, Aunty ko kuch hogaya hai."

"Rohit, kya hua Mummy ko?...."

"Paata nahi, tu bas ghar aaja..."

"Rohit meri baat toh sun... Hello... Hello..."

The call got cut.

Shehnaaz looked at Sidharth. Not only Sidharth but everyone was looking at her curiously. Without saying anything Shehnaaz left from there leaving everyone shocked.

Sidharth felt irritation. "How dare she! Aise kaise chali gayi? She is lucky that I gave her chance to share stage with me. But how can she behave like this? Itna kya ghamand hai uss mein? WHO IS SHE?" Sidharth said in his mind.
_______________________________________

What happened to Shehnaaz's Mom?

Will she again get a chance to fulfil her dreams?

Stay tuned...

Also vote if you liked this chapter.