I saw a small note written "Sorry" over it. It was Kullu's handwriting. Though it was just one word, it seemed like my whole life story. I touched each of the letter delicately running over my fingers on the paper. Tears flowing out of my eyes continuously.

Flashback:

Shehnaaz and Sidharth were sitting in their usual place playground together.

Shehnaaz: Dekh na meine tere liye kuch likha hai..

Sidharth: Jab tu saath hai toh padhna kyu? Tu hi bolke suna de na..

Shehnaaz: Achcha Kullu.. Jab final exams khatam ho jayegi tab hum kya karenge? Tumhari farewell ho jayegi.. Tum miloge mujhe ya phir chitti likhoge?

Sidharth: Chitti? Tere mummy papa ke haath lag gaya tho? Hum milenge na darling. Haan shayad itni samay na mil paaye but time nikaal lenge. Tujhe dekhe bina chain kaha aata hai mujhe. Log sunday ka wait karte hai.. Mein Sunday ko kosta hu ki kyu aata hai, kyuki us din hum mil nahi paate. Par exams ke baad tu bahana banake Sunday ko pura din mere saath rehna.

Shehnaaz: Hmmm.. mera bhi mann nahi lagta tere bina. Do Chaar saal toh lagenge na hum dono ko apna career banane mein tab tak chitti se kaam nahi chalega. Waise bhi tujhe takleef kaha hogi meri chitti padne mein, takleef toh mujhe hogi. Teri handwriting dekhke, toh Doctors bhi sharma jayega.

Sidharth: Abey, tu toh meri beizzati kharab kar rahi hai. Maana teri handwriting achchi hai par meri itni bhi kharab nahi hai. Tu bole toh apne class ki 10-12 ladkiyon ko abhi love letter likh ke dikha dunga, phir dekhna kaise daudte huye aayenge aur mujhe lipat lipat ke chummiya karengi. Aahaha.. socho har taraf chumti huyi ladkiyan..

Shehnaaz: (frowns) Haan jaa karle apni kwaaishey puri. Phir mein bhi kisi aur se shaadi kar lungi aur tujhe tenga dekhaungi.

Sidharth: Huh? Karneki soch ke dekh, jo dulha aayega na uska mein muh football ke jaise suja dunga maar maar ke. (Angrily)

Shehnaaz: Tujhe kaun batayega? Shaadi bhi karlungi aur tere se dur bhi chali jaungi. Phir tu doondte rehna mujhe saari umar.

Sidharth: Toh jaa na jaa, abhi kar le jaa. Mere saath kyu baiti hai?

Shehnaaz: Haan jaungi, pehle use aane toh de Australia se. Phir Shaadi bhi karlungi aur bachche bhi..

Sidharth: Australia se? Kaun hai ye Australia wala? (He held her handfull of hair and pulled behind)

Shehnaaz: (Shrieked) Ouch!! Chorde kuttey, dard ho raha hai. (He loosened his grip but didn't leave) Mummy ke saath ek shaadi mein gayi thi, tujhe photo dikhane ke liye saree pehni thi, par ek aunty mere peeche peeche ghoomne lagi.

Mujhse thoda details poocha aur mummy ke saath baat karne lagi. Boli uska beta Australia mein kaam karta hai aur uske liye ladki dekh rahe hai, toh usne mere liye mummy se poocha.

Mummy ne kaha ki abhi padhayi kar rahi hai. Toh aunty boli, ki shaadi kara do, beta usko Australia mein padhai complete karayega. Papa ke paas mein royi ki mujhe itni jaldi shaadi nahi karni toh papa ne mana kar diya.

Sidharth: (left her hair) Saree wala photo toh tune mujhe 2 week pehle diya na? Toh yeh tu mujhe abhi bata rahi hai? (He said with gritted teeth)

Shehnaaz: Jab manaa kar diya toh tujhe khamka batakar gussa kyu dilao sochke nahi bataya. Par jab tune bola ki 10-12 ladkiyon se lipta-chipti karega toh mera bhi khoon khaula. Ab bol likhega ladkiyon ko chitti? (She pinched his ear)

Sidharth: Aaahh.. Nahi meri maa..(folded hands) matlab mere hone wale bachchon ki maa, nahi likhunga.. Aur tu bhi kabhi kisi function mein mat jaana aur saree pehen ke toh bilkul nahi.. Saree sirf mere liye pehenegi.. samjhi?

Shehnaaz: Hmmm.. aur tu bhi kaan kholkar sunn le.. tu mera hai, aur mera hi hai, mein phad ke rakh dungi kisi ne aur tere pe aankh utta ke bhi dekha toh. Lagi samajh. (She said sternly pointing her forefinger at him)

Sidharth: (smiles) Haan!! Yeh sahi hai.. Tu bhi sirf meri hi hai motti.

They entwined their hands and she kept her head over his shoulder and he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Shehnaaaaz!!"

Shehnaaz shivered at the voice. It was the same voice which soothed crying baby Shehnaaz when she woke up at night terrified by the nightmares. Her first superhero as a kid who could fight monsters and demons for her. Today she trembled to turn and look at him as she was caught by him with her lover sitting in the playground. She froze in her place unable to speak even a word.

Shehnaaz's Father: Yeh karne tu college aati hai? Three weeks back you were the one who cried infront of me asking me to allow you to pursue your career and dream. Is this your career and your dream? Thodi si bhi sharm nahi aayi tumhe iske saath yaha bait ke gulchare udaate huye?

Sidharth: Sir, I love your daughter and I intend to marry her in future. 

Shehnaaz's Father: Achcha? When in future exactly?

Sidharth: When I am capable of taking the responsibility.

SF: Beta, toh pyaar karne ki kya jaldbaazi thi? Dur rahiyo meri beti se. Langot khareedne ke paise nahi aur chale ishq ladaane. Chalo ghar Shehnaaz! (He pulled her and took her home)

Shehnaaz's mom: Mil gaya sukoon, padh gayi kaleje mein thandak? 3 hafte pehle aap mujhe samjha rahe the ki apni ladki bahut tarrakki karegi, shaadi ki jaldi mat karo. Ab dekho aapka naam kaise roshan kar rahi hai aapki laadli. Yeh baat baahar gayi toh iske haath kaise peele honge?

Shehnaaz stood in a corner listening to her parents deciding her fate and give their verdict.

SF: Baat failne se pehle uss aurat ko phone lagao aur bolo humko ladka dikhaye aur jaldi milaye.

SM: Woh ladka pata nahi kisi aur ko pasand aa gaya ho ya usne kisi aur ko pasand kar liya ho. Woh India aanewala tha aaj kal mein, direct shaadi karne ke liye. Itna achcha munda jo isko shaadi ke baad padhne ke liye allow karne wala tha, haat se chala gaya.

SF: Tum khudh hi sab sochlo apne se. (Sarcastically) Baat karke dekho!!!.

Shehnaaz was terrified at the thought of getting married to someone else. She didn't knew how to convince her parents.

Shehnaaz: Papa please nahi, mujhe shaadi nahi karni abhi please. Mein aapko promise karti hoon ki mein Sidharth se baat bhi nahi karungi jab tak woh settle nahi ho jata tab tak, mein mann lagakar apna padhayi complete karungi aur khudhka career banaungi, uske baad aap khudh decide karlo ki Sidharth kaisa ladka hai aur aapko tassali hone par aap usse meri shaadi kara dena.. Please papa.

SM: Dekho ab uski waqalat bhi ho rahi hai. Woh aage kya banega iss umeed par hum aaj haat aaya ladka chorde kya?

Shehnaaz: Woh bahut achcha ladka hai mumma. Mera bahut khayal rakhta hai.

SF: Shehnaaz, tumne mera bharosa ek baar already todha hai, mein nahi manne wala ab. Aur agar tu humare khilaaf jaayegi toh marte dum tak humara chehra nahi dekh payegi. Tu soch tujhe chaar din ka aaya woh ladka chahiye ya unnis saal tere saath rahe parents.

Shehnaaz was helpless. Soon her mother called up the lady and they got her married to Amar. On the nuptial night, Amar entered the bedroom and looked at Shehnaaz sitting on the bed sad and lost in her thought. He went and sat beside her.

Amar: Shehnaaz, I am sorry. It all happened so quickly that we hardly had anytime to understand each other. I trust my mom's choice and hardly had time and leave to stay back longer. We've got your visa already and are leaving to Australia in 3 days. I know that you want to pursue your education and I've already arranged for your admission with the reputed college in Australia through my contacts.

She looked to the other side disinterested in what he was talking. For her it was the end of life. He kept his hand over her hand and she pulled her hand back immediately in a second. She couldn't imagine any other male touching her apart from Sidharth. He smiled and walked to the other side of the bed.

Amar: Don't worry, I won't do anything without your permission. Actually, I just want you to finish your graduation before everything else.

He lied down on his side of the bed and wished her good night before sleeping. Shehnaaz was a little happier because he didn't force her for her body. But soon she realised that it is of no use of celebrating as the harm was done for life and she is married to that man. She was trapped in it for life and Sidharth was just another stranger who crossed path in her life.

She left to Australia not shedding even a drop of tear on going away from her parents. She respected them but she was annoyed with them for the decision of getting her married to Amar. Amar kept his promise and didn't touch her until she completed her graduation.

It was her graduation day and she was happy that she graduated with flying colours but she was scared that Amar would now expect her to start a married life with him. He may want to get intimate with her. She respected him but loving him was out of question. She hesitantly reached home.

Amar: Congratulations wifey! This calls for celebration. I am calling some friends over for a small party tonight. Be ready. Will order food and drinks.

She nods and gets ready for the party. There were about 15 to 20 friends who came to celebrate with them to their home. Looking at Amar celebrating with his friends reminded her of Sidharth.

She had been stalking his Orkut (Social Media Site at that time) profile with anonymous ID but there had been no updates or activity from him over this 3 years. Besides there was now news that soon Orkut will cease to exist as people started to move to the new app Facebook. She felt guilty of stalking him since she was married to Amar.

I must accept Amar as my husband now. It had been 3 years and Sidharth might have settled in his life as well. Amar had been nice with me all this time, what about his desires and dreams?

She searches for him everywhere in the house but he was nowhere to be seen. She bumps into one of the guests and her dress gets dirty. She goes to her room to change. Her mouth was left open agape when she finds Amar making out with another male friend of his. (In Australia, room doors don't have a latch or lock, some homes don't even have lock for bathrooms 😉)

She immediately pulls the door shut from outside and stands there tapping her feet in agitation, waiting for him to step out. Both men get dressed and Amar calls her inside.

Amar: Look Shehnaaz, I'm a gay. I don't have any interest in woman. Yeh Lee hai, mera boyfriend.

Shehnaaz: Why did you marry me then?

Amar: For the society in India. I can't disclose it to mom. I allowed you to stay with me, paid your admission fees and took care of you for 3 years. Please for the sake of it, could you keep quiet and not disclose it to Bebo in India?

Shehnaaz: Par, yeh sab kab tak chalega? Kabhi toh tumhe batana padega unko.

Amar: Bebo ko heartattack aa gaya toh? (He asked stupidly)

Shehnaaz: Tumhari Bebo mujhese pote poti ki maang karti hai. Sach batao toh mujhe bhi tum mein koyi interest nahi hai.

Amar: Matlab tum bhi Lesb..

Shehnaaz: Abey chup!! Nahi.. (she was happy, her slang was changed totally to her old self with no fear) Kar le aish.. teri koi galti nahi hai, meri hi phuti kismat, tu nahi toh koi aur hota aur shayad ab tak mujhe noch ke khaa liya hota.. tere saath mein safe hoon..

She decided to stay with him. Since she already knew, Lee often visited home to make love to Amar without any fear. Shehnaaz adopted Nidhi whose parents commited suicide due to financial crises leaving their child alone who was 4 year old. She took up job to take care of herself and Nidhi. 2 year's later Amar's mom expired and Shehnaaz decided to take divorce.

Between this time, Shehnaaz raised Nidhi like her own daughter not allowing her to know that she was adopted.

Flashback ends..

I lied to Sidharth that Nidhi studies in year 7, though she is in year 10 when we met in supermarket because she is 15 year old and he would let out Nidhi the secret unknowingly about her adoption since I was with him 14 years back in college.

Nidhi: Mumma.. mumma..

"Haan bachcha.. coming..", I wipe my tears and hide the sorry note as I step out of the room.

Nidhi: Mumma, why did they leave so suddenly? What happened? Your eyes are red, aap ro rahe the?

"Nahi bachcha.. he was getting late, so he left" I speak nervously and try wiping my eyes when the note in my hand falls down. Nidhi picks it up and reads it.

Nidhi: What's this mumma? Tum dono sirf friends hi the na? Bolo mumma.. Bolo.. (shakes her)

I couldn't hold back my tear and it escapes my eye lids. "No, we loved each other. Pyaar karte the hum dono, ek dusre se but tumhare nana ne meri shaadi Amar se kara di"

Nidhi: Jo gay hai!!

I was taken aback, she knows it? How?.. "kya bol rahi ho beta?"

Nidhi: Mumma, I know I am adopted. I met your ex husband who I thought was my papa. I caught him with his boyfriend and when I confronted him, he told me the truth. I just didn't bring it up since I didn't wanted to hurt you. Mumma, I love you. Mein chahti hoon ki aap apne life jiye. Aap abhi bas 33 year ki ho. Apne aap ko mere tak seemit math rakho. Kal jab mein apne pati ke ghar chali jaaungi tab aap kya karoge?

"Huh? Baby, for that there is lot of time. Tum sirf 15 ki ho." I tell her.

Nidhi: Exactly mumma, mein jab shaadi karungi tab tak aap aur aged ho jayengi, tab aapko bhi koi chahiye na? Date someone, marry him and be happy mumma.

Wow!! My daughter is giving me relationship advice. She may be right but I don't know if I can think of anyone. I stopped living my life after I left Sidharth. "I'll sleep over it", I told my daughter and just avoided the conversation.
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It had been a week since I met Sidharth. As usual, Nidhi and I go for shopping. I go through the aisle and we meet Rishi.

Nidhi: Hi Rishi.

Rishi: Hi Nidhi. How are you?

Nidhi: I am great. You came for shopping?

Rishi: Yes.

My eyes search for Sidharth since it's obvious that Rishi is too small to come alone for shopping.

Nidhi: Who did you come with?

Rishi: Aaa.. my aunt.. (smiles)

Lady: Rishi!! What's this? Who are they?

Rishi: She's my friend, Nidhi.

Lady: Hi.. (To Rishi) But why did you call me aunt? Badtameez, mom bolne mein sharam aati hai?

Nidhi and I look at her in shock. "What? Mom?"

Lady: Yes, I gave him birth, so obviously I am his mother.

Sidharth lied to me that his wife died a year back. But what was the need of lying to me? I can't believe, he killed his wife virtually so that he could emotional make me weak. After Nidhi's advice, I seriously thought probably I could reconsider Sidharth in my life as even he couldn't get over with our old memories and was widower.

Lady: Rishi, how do you have such big friend?

Nidhi: Aa.. actually Rishi's papa and my mom were classmates in school.

Lady: Vardhan is your mom's classmate?

Nidhi: Vardhan? Who is he?

Lady: Rishi's father!

"So Sidharth married you with the disguised name, Vardhan?", I asked feeling disgusted.

Lady: What? Sidharth is my brother.

"What? Are you Priyanka?", I ask.

Lady: Yes, how do you know my name?

"I am Shehnaaz, Sidharth's.."

Priyanka: Sidharth's girlfriend!

"Huh? What? No.. I mean Yes.. I mean no.. aaa.. ex-girlfriend" I fumble upon words feeling embarrassed.

Priyanka: Oops!! Sorry!! Slip of tongue..

Nidhi: So Rishi is..

Priyanka: Mine and Vardhan's Son. Sidharth's nephew.

Nidhi: He introduced us Rishi as his son that day. Even Rishi addressed him as dad.

Rishi bites his tongue as Priyanka glares at him.

Rishi: Sorry Mumma, Mamu ne dher saare chocolate aur Beyblades khareedke diye mujhe.

Priyanka: Aur mamu ke wafadaar. Tune issi liye mujhe mummy ke jagah Aunt bataya. (She softly twists his ears)

Rishi: Ouch!! Haan..

Priyanka: Hmmm.. Rukho abhi tere mamu ko idhar bulati aur uski khabar hoon.

My heartbeats rose seeing her calling Sidharth. She spoke to him without letting any clue and asked him to come and help her with taking groceries.

We finished our shopping and pay our bills and go to the parking where we find him locking his car. He turns around and his face showed a shocked expression.

We approach closer and he was sweating already.

Sidharth: Sh.. sh.. Shehnaaz!!

Priyanka: What's going on? Why did you lie to her that Rishi is your son? Forget about son, you aren't even married and killed his mother as well?

Sidharth: Woh.. woh.. Shehnaaz.. Actually.. (makes a lot of hand gestures out of nervousness)

I glare at him and he wipes his sweat with his handkerchief. Priyanka understood and takes Rishi and Nidhi with her to keep the groceries in her car leaving us alone to talk.

Sidharth: I.. I am sorry motti. I unexpectedly bumped into you that day. I was so happy to see you and then when you introduced your daughter, I felt a kind of jealous. I wanted to show you that I moved on in my life and faked you about having my son. When Nidhi called me for dinner with family, I got my nephew Rishi and bribed him to behave like my son. Since I didn't wanted to create more characters, I told my wife expired. Fact is, I could never move on in my life. I could never forget you and I.. I.. I still love you. I have been thinking, we lost our first innings but is there any chances that we could start our second innings from where we left?

"Huh?", I didn't know what to say. "Can you come home tomorrow evening at 6pm?" I asked him.

He nods and he side hugs me before leaving. I felt the warmth of his hug. It felt like the frozen river of my life just melted and resumed to flow again. He still has the same effect on me. And I realised that I still love him with the same intensity that I did 14 years back.
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Author's pov:

It was 5:46pm, Sidharth reached her home 14 minutes before the time she had asked him to come. He had pushed his patience to the maximum. He had lost his hope of seeing her over the last 14 years but when he met her last week and knew that she had seperated from her husband, he hoped some miracle to happen. He waited 14 years but those 14 minutes gap was not bearable. He wanted to know the fate of his life as he got a second chance.

Shehnaaz opened the door. She was wearing a Punjabi suit and looked so homely and mesmerising. She called him inside and he followed her. She didn't ask him the reason for coming early because she herself wanted to see him as early as possible.

He was nervously tapping his feet wanting to know her opinion. She went inside the room and came back with Nidhi who held a laptop in her hand. She kept the laptop on the table and sat in the opposite side with laptop facing towards her and Shehnaaz.

"Hello Nidhi! Kaise ho betu?"

Nidhi: Badhiya Nanaji. Aap aur nani kaise ho?

SF: Oh.. Shehnaaz ki mummy, idhar aao jaldi. Dono live aaye hai.

SM: Haan, aa gayi! (She adjust herself in the frame of video call) kaiso ho dono?

Naina: Sab khairiyat. Nana nani, meine aap dono se permission leni hai. Mein apni mumma ka byaah karane jaa rahi hoon.

SF and SM were both shocked: Kya? Iss umar mein?

Naina: Aapki beti hai, par-daadi ya oar-nani nahi hai. Kaunsi umar ki baat kar rahe ho? 19 years hoti hai kya shaadi karane ki?

Shehnaaz: Nidhi!! (Scolds)

Naina: Wait mumma! Let me speak. Haan.. toh nana ji chalo shaadi cancel.. aap na nani ko humare saath rehne bhej do humesha ke liye, humare saath rehne.

SF: Huh? Arey, toh mein akela kaise rahunga yaha?

SM: Haan.. Apni choro.. mein bhi nahi jaa rahi kahi aapko chorke.

Naina: Achcha? Aapko saath rehna hai ek dusre ke.. But aapko meri mumma ka khayal nahi aata ki woh kaise rahegi akele apni zindagi?

SF: Beta, humne toh uski shaadi karayi thi par usne khudh apna ghar todh diya tho hum kya kare?

Naina: Kaise mard se karaya nana ji? Rukho, woh toh mard hi nahi tha..

SM: Matlab? Yeh kya bol rahi hai?

Naina: Matlab usko biwi nahi pati chahiye tha.. woh gay tha.. aur apni life araam se guzar raha hai apne boyfriend ke saath.

SF: Haayo rabba, yeh kya bol rahi hai kudi..

Naina: Theek hi bol rahi hoon. Ab aapne apni zimmedari nahi nibhayi.. woh mein puri karungi..

SM: Beta, log kya kahenge.

Naina: Kaunse log Nani? Yaha toh koi kuch nahi bolta, phir aapko kya chinta hai? Aur mumma is Australian citizen, toh India aane se rahe hum.

SF: Par beta, abhi kaun uska haath thaamega?

Naina: Wahi jisse aapne haath chuda diya tha 14 years pehle.

Naina forwards her hand to calls Sidharth and he settles in the frame along with Shehnaaz and Naina.

Sidharth: (folds his hand) Sir, I love your daughter and I intend to marry her.

Shehnaaz looks at him with the teary eyes, those were the exact same words at which they seperated and they were resuming it on the same words.

Sidharth: I earn well and am capable of taking her and Nidhi's responsibility.

SF puts his head down in shame and tear rolls off from SM and SF's eyes. They had no words to say. SF just lifts up both his hands and shows them the palm to bless. SM follows the same. Naina hugs both Shehnaaz and Sidharth on the either side with a huge smile.
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"I now pronounce you man and wife.. you may kiss the bride", the priest announces..

Shehnaaz blushes and puts her head down. Sidharth cups her face and kisses her forehead and she smiles. Priyanka, Vardhan, Rishi and Nidhi clap hands and hoot for them.

They reach their home and Sidharth lifts her up in a bride style and carries her inside the house and to his bedroom. He places her on the bed and sits down on the carpet and hugs her by her waist, resting his head in her lap, she caresses his hair looking down at him.

Sidharth: I can't believe fate made us one again and this time forever. It's been a long long wait. (He looks up at her face.) I love you motti.

Shehnaaz: I love you too Kullu. (Cups his face, ducks and kisses his forehead)

Sidharth: I didn't kiss you in public because you were blushing so much but now I want to kiss you.

He got up and kissed her lips. It was just like their first kiss they shared on the college playground 14 years back.

That marks the beginning of Second Innings to their beautiful life ahead!! ❤️❤️

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Wanted to make two updates but just didn't wanted to loose the flow hence one big update.

Hope y'all loved it.

If yes, do write a sweet comment for me and a vote too.. 😘😘🥰🥰