Continued.

"Tu mujhe Ziddi aise hi nahi kehti. Mai tujhe dhundke rahunga Sana. SidNaaz ko koi alag nahi kar sakta" he said determined.

"Apni shawl chod sakti hai, matlab samajhti hai ki mai usse disconnect nahi kar paunga. Parr ziddi toh woh bhi hai? Two can play this game Mrs. Shukla."

He put all his sources and all his contacts at work to know about Sana. But it was like she vanished in thin air. No one saw her, no one knew about her.

Finding her was difficult than he expected, in the one long month he did all he could but nothing seemed to work. He knew dhe was a smart women, if she decided to not let him find her she will make sure she leaves no clue which can reach him.

He closed his eyes as he sat down with her shawl. He read her letter again. It was surprising how he by now could recite it word to word but it still made him cry. There is something special in her.

Mai jaa rahi hu Sidharth. Kahi door, mere hone ki vajah firr dhundne.

"Mere hone ki vajah dhundne? Uske hone ki vajah phirr dhundne! Phirr... Matlab jaha usse apne hone ki vajah mili thi... Shit shit shit... Dalhousie! Jaha usne jeena shuru kiya... Jaha usse freedom mila! Vahi hogi woh..." his eyes shot up at realisation.

"Aman, book me tickets to Dalhousie as early as possible. " he called his manager.

"Sana you will have to get back." he smiled hugging her shawl.

He packed his essentials and by morning he left for dalhousie. Entire time in the flight all he could think was of Sana.

Flashbacks

Sid was doing his regular duty to entertain Sana.
"Acha Sana bata, pahado wali jagah ya beaches?"

"Pahad. Mai choti thi na tabse Dalhousie mai rehti thi school ke liye. Tabse mujhe pahad bohott pasand hai. Jab meri school mai break hota tha mujhe ghar aane ka mann hi nahi karta tha. Toh papa ne waha mere liye ek chota sa ghar khareeda tha. Chota sa ek room tha, mera apna ghar. Mai vaha rehti thi break mai aur sirf kuch din ghar jaati thi." she laughed.

"Toh abhi yaad nahi aati?"

"Tab na mere gharka concept tha jaha mai Shehnaaz ban ke jee saku aur abh mere ghar ka concept hai jaha mera dil ho, jaha mera Sidharth ho." she kissed his cheek.

"Sana ek din hum pakka dalhousue mai ghar lenge, chuttiyo mai vaha jayenge rehne." he kissed her back.

Flashback ends

He got off the airport. The city was still around 20 km away from the airport. He took the taxi, he knew roughly where she stayed in her childhood. His sharp memory helped as he had heard her father talk about that house.

His journey began and he now knew why Shehnaaz loved Dalhousie so much. It was beautiful.

The car was stuck due to dome traffic so he devided to look out to different people.

He saw a couple stand by the bus stop, probably waiting for the next bus. The lady was pregnant, the guy kept wiping her face.

Lamha lamha tere bin jiya na jaaye re
Dekhun har jagah main bas tere hi saaye re
Lamha lamha tere bin jiya na jaaye re
Dekhun har jagah main bas tere hi saaye re

The was lifting the bags and was probbky tired. The women was feeding him little munchies. They looked so much in love. He couldnt help but imagine them in that sitution.

Main toota hua saaz hoon
Tu meri awaaz tha
Likhi thi jahan zindigi
Tu meri kitaab tha

He let his tears flow softly as he missed her, but his heart knew she was here.

The only line that kept him going in his life was
I have and I will always love you.

Soon he reached the apartment she used to live. He saw a small but old nameplate
Shehnaaz Gill

He stroked it gently with his hand.

An lady probably in her 60's came out of the room beside Shehnaaz's. She tapped him on his shoulder to garner his attention.

"Mai woh actually..."

"Sidharth ho?" she smiled.

"Uh... Haa. Aapko kaise pata?" he asjed dumbfounded.

"Usne bataya. Tumhari photo dekhi thi uske paas." she pointed to the name plate.

She called him inside, sge smiled knowingly as if she knew why he was here.
"Abh tum yahi puchoge na ki woh kaha hai?" she smiled.

He nodded obediently.

"Usko humesha yeh darr tha ki ek na ek din tu usko zaroor yaha dhundne aayega. Tum aaoge ye toh pata tha parr itna jaldi aaoge, ye nahi pata tha." she patted his head lightly.

"Aapko pata tha mai aaunga?"

"Pata tha? Vishwas tha mujhe tum aaoge. Pyar apna rasta dhund hi leta hai beta. Ab tumhara time nahi waste karungi. Job pe gayi hai woh, yeh lo address, yaha milegi tumhari khushi tumhe. " she gave him a paper with the address.

He hugged the motherly figure tightly, he did not have hid mother with him anymore but this warmth was welcomed.

The address was of some school. He rushed off to the address. He entered towards the reception.
"Excuse me? I wanted to meet Shehnaaz... Gill" he asked over.

"Shenaaz... Ohh you mean Mrs. Shukla? Yeah sure. She's teaches nursery students. She'll be free in two minutes. You can wait." she smiled.

"Mrs. Shukla?" he smiled like an idiot.

He stood outside the room, his heartbeat faster than train. In a matter of few minutes the students ran out of the class.

He peeped in the classroom. His eyes moistened as he saw his Sana sit there in a pale yellow kurta and straight hair. There was another women who he assumed to be her coworker.

He was happy to have found her back but she looked different. She was no longer the shehnaaz he knew. She was leaner, quiter and her glowing face looked pale.

"Shehnaaz mai kaisi lag rahi hu?" the other lady asked.

"Kyu? Kahi jaa rahi hai?" Sana asked.

Listening to her voice was heaven.

"Tinder date!" she screamed.

"Shehnaaz tu bhi akeli rehti hai, try some dates. So what if you are divorced? Enjoy ur life." she further suggested.

"I am not divorced, just seperated. Thats why I am still Mrs, forgot? Aur pyar toh bass ek hi baar hota hai na?"

"You dont even talk about him to us! Where is your husband? Why did you guys seperate!" she sympathised.

"He is better off without me. He is just too good for me. Now you go! Who gets late for a date?" she smiled.

"I'll take your leave but Shehnaaz you are a bomb! No one can be too good for you. Byee!" she left.

He kept on looking at Shehnaaz.
*She thinks I am too good for her? What a joke! I am the person responsible for making her life like this... Dull. And she thinks I am better off her? What was this woman?*

She quitely removed a photo frane and I instantly knew what it was. It was us, the both of us in happier times.

" I should've left the divorce papers too na? Itni jaldi mai yaad hi nahi raha. How will you marry again if I am still married to you! Tujhe yaha se papers bhejungi toh phass jaungi. Ziddi toh tu hai hi, yaha aajayega. Aur mai chahti hi tu khush rahe." she kissed the photo.

"Photo se baat kar sakti ho, meri yaado ko sambhal ke rakh sakti ho parr mujhe ek call nahi kar sakti? Pyar toh bass ek hi baar ho sakta hai na? So how do you expect me to move on? Shehnaaz or should I say Mrs. Shukla?" he said from behind her.

"Sid... Sidharth?" she turned around quickly.

"Tu yaha... Kaise? Kyu! Woh..."

"Shhh... You talk too much." he pulled her closer as he placed his lips on hers pulling her into a deep kiss.

She wanted to push him away but how? She was craving for him, his touch. He kissed her to his heart's content as she started reciprocating. Their tears missing with each other. The kiss was not only physical proof of their love but emotional too.

He broke the kiss as he hugged her tighter than ever not wanting to leave her for a second.

Suddenly he started feeling heavier in his arms. Shehnaaz had fainted in his arms. He made her sit and sprinkled some water on her face. She opened her eyes slowly.

She rubbed her eyes to look at him again.

He quitely took his hand to pinch her arm. She hisses in pain and confusion.
"Mai sach mai yaha hu Sana, sapna nahi hai ye." he smiled.

"Woh... Haa I know."

He made her stand up and wordlessly pulled her into the taxi and took her to the nearest hospital.

"Sid hum kaha? Aise bina bataye kaha le jaa raha hai... We need to talk.." she said in the taxi.

"Oh we do? Tumhare brain mai talk ka option hai? Aur bina bataye? Can you just not? Save your energy, you have a lot of explainations to give Mrs. Shukla" he held her hand.

"Yeh kaisi daat hai? Haath bhi pakadna hai parr baat bhi nahi karni?" she smiled heartily maybe first time in months.

"Yeh kaisi saza hai? Pyar bhi karna hai, aage bhi nahi badhna, shawl bhi chodni hai parr chodke bhi jaana hai?" he shot daggers at her.

He wordlessly pulled his bag out and handed her the shawl.
"Yeh le... Iski zarurat nahi hai mujhe, zarurat kisi aur ki hai." he handed her the shawl.

"Toh?" she looked at him confused.

"Iski zarurat hai mujhe... Iski." he pointed towards her as he held her hand again.

They entered the hospital as he told the doctor to do a normal checkup for her. She was fine and that fainting was because of sudden stress.

Sana was given glucose injection for energy and was asked to rest for half an hour.

Sid sat beside her still quite.

"Sid... Sidharth! Say something! Mai marr jaungi agar tu mere saambe baithke aise aur chup raha toh" she pulled him.

"Itne mai? Itne mai thak gayi? Toh soch mujhpe kya beeti hogi?"

"Haa mai janta hu meri galti hai. Maine bohot badi galti ki hai. Mai janta tha tu nahi chahti thi woh abortion but I put you through it. Mai janta tha you wabted that child but I put you through it. I was a horrible person to let you suffer that loss alone.
But I regret! I regret Shehnaaz. I know maine ye sab kiya parr iska matlab ye nahi ki mai pyar nahi karta tha uss bacche se ya tujhse.
Tu mujhe chod kaise sakti hai? Itna aasaan tha tere liye?" he asked her with cracking voice.

"Tujhe lagta hai tujhe chodna aasaan hai mere liye? Tu jaan hai meri, tujhe chodke jaate samay jaan jaa rahi thi meri... Parr kya karti? Mai jitna tere paas rahungi utna dard dungi tujhe. Maine tujhe kya kuch nahi kaha... Sara ilzhaam tere pe daal diya. Kasur toh mera bhi tha na? Haa mai nahi chahti thi abortion but mai bhi rok sakti thi, maine bhi uske saath diya kyuki... Mujhe bhi uss vakt shayad ek pal ke liye hi sahi parr woh baat sahi lagi thi. Toh galti sirf teri kaise?" she broke down.

"Galti... Shayad kisi ki nahi hai, shayad kismat ki hai, shayad halaat ki hai. Parr tune ye kaise soch liya ki mai tujhe chodke aage badh jaunga? Aage kya badhu? Shadi karlu? Kisi aur se pyar karu? Kisi aur ko apni patni banau?" he shouted.

"Mai tujhe sirf dard de sakti hu Sidharth... Tujhe bhi toh bacche pasand hai, mai toh baccha bhi nahi de sakti tujhe. Sidharth jyu aaya hai tu yaha! Hum door hi thik hai. Mai chahti hu tu aage badhe..."she begged.

"Shut up! Kya maine bacche ke liye shadi ki hai tujhse? Kya humare pyar ka ultimate motive ek baccha paida karna tha? Humara pyar kuch nahi hai? Mai pyar karta hu tujhse Shehnaaz aur karta rahunga.
Aur dard? Agar iss dard ke liye tu chahti hai mai tujhe chod du toh aaj tak jitne dard maine tujhe diye hai na, tujhe meri taraf mudke bhi nahi dekhna chahiye tha." he wiped both their tears as he sat close to her.

"Shehnaaz, mai toota hua tha tere aane se pehle meri zindagi mai. Tu unn bikhre hue tukdo ko jodke mujhe banaya hai. Tu agar furrse chali gayi toh mai firr toot jaunga aur iss baat jodne wala koi nahi hoga." he kissed her forehead with all the love he had.

He pulled her closer his lips crazing on her face, his hand moved on her waist massaging it softly.
"Kisi aur ke mai itne paas jau, toh chalega? Joh tere kareebi ka mere par asar hai woh kisi aur ke vajese ho toh chalega?"

He bit her neck later soothing it by licks. She started to feel his hot body under her hands. Her hand was moving on his abdomen complimenting his abs.
"Koi aur ladki aise hakk se mujhe chuyegi toh... Chalega tujhe?"

Slap

"Muh tod dungi mai tera. Tu mera hai... Aur tu nera hi rahega... Mai phaad ke rakh dungi sabko" she pouted pulling him more closer clinging to him like a baby.

"Mai aaj bhi tere bina tooti hui hu. Tooti hui zindagi beeta rahi hu. Aaj bhi meri zarurat sirf tu hai... Na tujhse kam, na tujhse zyada." she hugged him and cried on his shoulder.

"Ab bohot hogaya, tu aaj raat ki flight se vapis mumbai aarahi hai mere saath. Give urgent resignation." he ordered and she smiled.

They walked out of the ward they were alloted, they thanked theur stars no one disturbed them in their confrontations.

As they moved out they faced sudden commotion, two nurses crying with a sleeping little baby in her hand.

"This is the most difficult part of our job. Iss bacchi ke saath hi aisa kyu hona tha?" they cried.

"Aaj hi paida hui hai aur aaj hi isko ek anjaan adoption sentre mai jaana padega. Kya zindagi hogi iski?"

Sidharth and Shehnaaz looked at each other as if saying the same thing.

"Sister, if you dont mind... Kya hua iss bacche ko?"

"Oh ye baby? Iski maa ek single parent thi. Jab ye pet mai thi tab iske father ka accident hogaya tha. Aur... While giving birth her mother was serious and after 3 days she died. This baby is an orphan. Isko aaj hum adoption centre mai dene wale hai." she explained.

"Sidharth... Kya hum..." Shehnaaz suddenly said.

"I dont believe in destiny and all parr this baby looks like our destiny." he held her tightly.

"Kya hum isse direct hospital adopt kar sakte hai?" Shehnaaz asked hopefully.

"Aap isse adopt karoge? Of course aap kar sakte ho. But aapko aapka financial status, ID, marriage certificate aur thode bohpt documents ke printout submit karne padenge." the nurse said enthusiastic.

They smiled as Sidharth arranged for all the documents till next morning.

Within next 3 days they adopted that little baby girl.

"Sidharth... Humari bacchi..." Shehnaaz cried as the nurse placed the little baby in her hand.

"Chalo, iska naam bhi toh rakhna hai." Sidharth smiled.

"Shayad... Mujhe pata hai iska naam." she smiled naughtily.

"Kya?" sidharth said shocked.

"Ye bacchi humare naye rishte ki shuruvaat hai, humare upar rabb ki mehr hai... Ye humari zindagi ki Mehr hai. Isiliye Mehr Sidharth Shukla." she said proudly.

"Galat!" he said shocking Shehnaaz as well as the nurses.

"Yeh Mehr Gill Shukla hai." he carresed the baby.

"Saare suniye! Iss couple ne iss baby ko nayi zindagi di hai... Iss baby toh apnaya hai... Toh please a big round of applause for Sidharth Shukla and Mrs. Shehnaaz Gill Shukla and Mehr Gill Shukla" the nurse announced and roars of claps followed.

Finally two souls walked out together with little baby in their hand.

The end.

I want you guys to post your thoughts on who was wrong? Iss story mai galti kiski thi? Sidharth ya Shehnaaz? Everyone has their own perspective and I will love to know yours!

Until then, Byee!!