6 months later...

Sid was sitting in front of the computer, his hands were shaking while holding the mouse. Kabir and Randeep were also there with him to give him courage.

"Bhai zyada soch mat aur click kar de..." Said Kabir putting his hand on Sid's shoulder.

He nodded and took a deep breath.

On the other hand, Sana was standing in front of her Mama, while looking down. She was little scared thinking what her Mama would say. Reem and Ashi were there to support her.

"Uncle please maan jaaiye na. Sana ke Papa ne toh haan bol diya hai, ab aap bhi haan bol di jiye. Aur yeh akele nahi jaayegi, main bhi toh jaa rahi hu iske saath. Please uncle." Said Reem making puppy eyes.

Avinash Ji looked at Sana and asked sternly, "Yeh tumhara akhri faisla hai?"

Sana gulped and nodded in yes.

"Bhai itna kya soch raha hai, click kar na zaldi." Said Randeep loudly being impatient and Sid immediately clicked the button.

It took few seconds and then Sid's eyes widened seeing the results.

"Bhaiyon mera selection hogaya!" Shouted Sid in extreme happiness and hugged both Kabir and Randeep happily who were also jumping with him in happiness.

"Agar tumhara yeh hi faisla hai toh...." Avinash Ji took a pause and said, "Mujhe koi problem nahi hai. Tum acting institute mein admission le lo."

Sana widened her eyes being surprised and asked, "Sacchi Mama? Thank you..."

She hugged Avinash Ji who just chuckled and patted her back. Reem and Ashi gave huge smiles hearing that.

Sana then hugged her Mami and Nani who were also happy as she got permission to pursue career in acting. On the other hand, wave of happiness came in Shukla house as Sid secured a very good rank in JEE Advanced.

As soon as they got the news, they couldn't wait to share this with each other. After sometime, they left from their houses and met at a park.

"Mera selection hogaya."

"Mujhe permission mil gayi."

They sad at the same time coming infront of each other and then smiled excitedly. After that they hugged each other tightly being happy for each other.

After a while...

Sid and Sana were sitting on a bench holding hands.

"Maine socha nahi tha Mama itna easily mujhe permission de denge. You know jab maine Papa ko baataya ki mujhe acting karni hai, as expected he supported me. Par unko yeh tha ki abhi main Mama Mami ke saath reh rahi hoon toh unka permission sabse zyada matter karta hai. Mama humesha se inn sab ke khilaaf the toh maine almost hope chhor diyi thi. But he proved me wrong. Woh bahar se chahe kitne ki bhi strict ho, andar se he is a softie, and woh hum sab se bohut pyaar karte hai."

Saying that Sana smiled making Sid smile too.

"That means, soon my heroine will become bollywood heroine. I'm so proud of you my Baby." Said Sid cutely pulling Sana's cheeks.

"Abbe abhi sirf acting institute join karne ki permission mili hai. Heroine nahi bani hoon main. Uske liye bohut mehnat karni padegi. Asli achivement toh teri hai, Mr. IITian... #proudgf." Said Sana flipping her hair.

Sid laughed and then said, "Haan yaar. Uss accident ke baad maine soch liya tha, jo bhi karunga khud ke dam pe karunga. Mujhe nahi chahiye Dad ke business mein hissa. I'll build my own career. Abhi Advanced mein jaisi ranking aayi hai uss hisaab se IIT Bombay mein seat mil jayegi. Bas yeh hi chahiye tha mujhe."

"Hmm I agree but... Agar IIT Bombay mein accha branch nahi mila toh? You should keep your options open."

"Ab jaana toh IIT Bombay hi hai. Chahe koi bhi branch mile. Mujhe dusra IIT choose kar ke tere saath long distance relationship mein rehne ka koi shauk nahi hai. Woh bohut complicated ho jaata hai. Ek hi city mein rahenge, at least weekends ko mil paayenge. Relationship problems nahi aayengi."

Sana cupped Sid's face and said, "Bebu hum dono mein relationship problems kabhi aa hi nahi sakti. You know why? Because......"

She moved closer and whispered, "You have got the most mature and sorted girlfriend of this world."

Sid sighed and asked, "Really?"

Sana blinked nodding in yes making Sid chuckled. Then her eyes fell on his lips and she was about to close the gap between them when Sid moved back.

"Yaha mat kar log dekh rahe hai." He said making Sana roll her eyes.

"Tu na... Bhad mein jaa..."

She said angrily and was about to leave when Sid pulled her hand and made her sit down. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.

"Mature and sorted?" He asked laughing.

"Whatever!" Said Sana hiding her smiling while Sid rested his chin on her shoulder.

They kept sitting like this and spent some quality time together.

..................................

Days passed and everyone got busy in choosing their colleges. After boards, Ashi cracked NEET and got chance to study MBBS in the top medical college of Mumbai. Randeep and Kabir decided to study business management in same college while Sana and Reem joined acting institute together.

One day, Sid sat in his room, surrounded by piles of clothes, books, and other essentials. He was busy packing his bags, preparing to leave for IIT Bombay campus. His excitement was palpable, mixed with a hint of nervousness.

Kabir entered the room, a wide grin on his face. "Bhai, almost ready?"

Sid nodded, folding a shirt. "Yeah, just a few more things to pack."

Kabir sat down beside him. "You know, I'm going to miss you. Tu nahi rahega toh zyada der game khelne pe koi nahi tokega, koi padhne ke liye nahi bolega. Main pura din jo marzi woh karunga...."

"Ek minute... tu dukhi hai yaa khush hai?" Asked Sid stopping him.

"Main toh dono hoon." Said Kabir to which Sid nodded in disbelief.

"Honestly teri bohut hi yaad aayegi. Tu toh jaanta hai, akele rehne ki bilkool adat nahi hai mujhe. Weekends pe ghar aa jaana tu." Said Kabir making a sad pout.

Sid chuckled and hugged Kabir. Both became little emotional but then smiled at each other.

"Tum dono bhaiyon ka hogaya ho toh hum sabse bhi gale mil le yaar." Said Randeep as all the friends stood at the door.

Sid went to them and hugged them one by one. As he was about to hug Sana, Reem stopped them and said, "Wait wait! Yeh hug, baki hugs ki tarah zaldi zaldi karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Take you time, hum sab bahar jaate hai."

Sid and Sana's ears turned red while all gave them teasing looks and left from the room.

"So.... Excited to start a new journey?" Asked Sana looking at Sid to which he smiled and nodded in yes.

Then Sana hide herself in his embrace and Sid reciprocated the hug with all the love he had for her, they both closed their eyes being lost in the moment.

After sometime, they both came downstairs when Vaani Ji came to Sid with a bowl of 'dahi cheeni'.

"Naya college hai, nayi jagah hai, acche se rehna. Aur koi bhi zaroorat padhe toh taurant ghar pe inform karna. Abhi jaane se pehle yeh khale." She said smiling.

Sid's eyes became moist remembering his childhood days. Earlier she did this kind of things only for Kabir but now she had changed a lot. Now she treats both of them equally. Though, Sid was taking his time to forgive her fully but her efforts already melted his heart.

Sid looked at Sana who blinked her eyes smiling. Then he himself also smiled and ate a spoon of dahi cheeni from Vaani Ji and touched her feet to take blessings.

He went to other family members who gave him their blessings. His Dadi became emotional as she wouldn't be able to see Sid daily but he made her understand that he was not going far away.

Before going, Sid took his pet cat who snuggled in his arms sensing that he was going.

"Ab main hostel mein Meow ko nahi le jaa sakta. Tu isse apne saath rakh le. Kyu ki mere baad Meow tere se hi zyada attached hai." Said Sid giving Meow to Sana.

"Don't worry. Hum dono idhar maze mein rahenge. Tu fikar mat kar." Said Sana giggling while taking Meow from him.

"Accha sun, waha jaa ke padhai vadhai mein zyada busy mat ho jaana. Roz group video chat karna hai, thik hai?" Said Kabir to which Sid nodded.

"Aur mahine mein ek baar saath mein hang out plan karna hai." Said Ashi.

"Ok baba... Aur kuch hai toh woh bhi baata do." Said Sid.

"Hai na... Jaane se pehle ek group hug, come on guys." Said Sana excitedly and they all did a group hug while laughing together.

The group cheered, excited for their new beginnings. As they finished their goodbyes, the atmosphere was filled with a mix of emotions – happiness, nervousness, and anticipation for the adventures ahead.

Sid and Kabir booked a cab and left for the campus. Kabir went with Sid as he needed help to settle in the hostel room.

As the cab started, Sid looked out of the window and smiled seeing Sana's smiling face. They both waved each other goodbye.

..................................

Sid settled into his new life at IIT Bombay, navigating the campus, attending classes, and making new friends. He was determined to make the most of his time, focusing on his studies and extracurricular activities. Despite the initial homesickness, Sid found solace in the camaraderie of his hostel mates and the thrill of exploring a new city.

In contrast, Sana threw herself into the world of acting, immersing herself in the craft, and learning from renowned instructors at the acting institute. She was thrilled to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who shared her passion. Reem, her best friend, was also her partner-in-crime, and together they navigated the ups and downs of institute life.

Despite the physical distance, Sid and Sana remained inseparable, thanks to regular video chats. They would spend hours talking about their day, sharing stories, and laughter. Their love continued to blossom, and they found creative ways to stay connected.

Every weekend, Sid would go to the city to spend time with Sana. They would meet at their favorite café, holding hands, and talking about everything under the sun. Those moments were precious, and they cherished every second together.

But even with regular meets, the distance took its toll. Sid would miss Sana terribly, especially during late-night study sessions or when he was feeling overwhelmed. He would glance at their WhatsApp conversations, smiling at her jokes or adorable selfies.

Sana, too, felt the pangs of separation. She would miss Sid's goofy antics, his encouraging words, and the way he made her laugh. During intense rehearsal sessions or when she was struggling with a particular scene, she would wish Sid was there to offer his support. Whenever she faced this kind of situation, she would imagine him infront of her and everything used to go smoothly.

Despite the challenges, their love remained strong. They knew that this phase was temporary, and they were working towards a future together.

Months passed like this, Sid's mid semester ended and now he was preparing for the end semester. Due to his hectic schedule, he couldn't meet Sana few weekends and they didn't have proper conversation as well. So one day, Sana decided to pay him a surprise visit.

She entered the IIT campus and became surprised seeing it. It was an another world itself. Many students were passing by her while she was walking on the road. She saw many photos of the campus which Sid sent but seeing it in real was something else. She wondered why she didn't come here earlier.

"Aaj Sid ke classes nahi hai. Toh woh pakka library mein hoga." She thought and asked a student, "Excuse me, where is the library?"

The student guided her to which she thanked him and went to that direction. After finding a lot, she came in front of the library. She was about to enter the library but stopped as she saw Sid coming outside, surrounded by a lot of girls. She frowned seeing it and crossed her arms.

"Sid, Sid... This question and that question please..."

"Yeah and here also I have doubt."

"This one as well Sid."

The girls were asking doubts and Sid was helping them out. Sana nodded in disbelief seeing it.

"Idhar bhi makkhiyan aa gayi mandrate hue. Kya kismat hai meri." She thought and said loudly, "Ek doubt mera bhi hai. Will you explain that to me?"

As soon as Sid looked at her, he became surprised and a huge smile came to his face.

"Sana... Tu yaaha...." He looked at his friends and said, "She is my girlfriend, Sana... Remember I told you about her."

"Hello girls..." Said Sana waving her hands to the girls who also greeted her with smiles.

Running to Sana, Sid hugged her and kissed her head.

"I missed you." Whispered Sid near Sana's ears.

"I missed you too." Said Sana smiling.

Then Sid introduced his friends to her. After that, Sana said, "Sorry girls but I have to steal my man for sometime, if you don't have any problem."

The girls laughed and said, "It's ok." After which Sana immediately took Sid away from them.

As they walked on the path, Sid wrapped his one hand around Sana's neck and said, "Mujhe pata nahi tha tu aise yaaha aa ke surprise degi mujhe. I was missing you so badly."

"Chal jhuta. Pata hai kitna miss kar raha tha. Yaaha toh 24/7 ladkiyon ki attention mil rahi hai tujhe." She said turning her face.

Sid chuckled in his mind seeing her possessiveness and then said, "I agree. But woh ladkiyan Shehnaaz Gill nahi hai na."

Sana hit him on the stomach by her elbow saying, "Apne yeh cheesy dialogues na apne paas rakh. I'm serious. Tu har waqt ladkiyon ke doubts kyu solve karta hai? Why there was not a single guy among them?"

"Ab ladkiyan doubts puchne aati hai toh isme main kya karu? End sem paas aa raha hai, I'm just helping them out. And trust me, idhar sabko pata hai that I'm committed."

"Trust ki baat mat kar. You know I trust you a lot. Par mujhe unn makkhiyon pe trust nahi hai. Agar kisi ne tujhpe try maara toh?"

"Toh main tujhe baata dunga. Tu uska muh tod dena. Itni khatarnak, gundi type girlfriend hai mere paas, I don't need to worry."

Sid's words brought smile to Sana's face but she hid them and said, "Thik hai thik hai, samajh gayi. Ab faltu ki baatein chhor aur campus ghuma mujhe."

"Your wish my command." Said Sid and Sana giggled. Then he gave her a short tour of the campus.

As they strolled through the campus, Sid pointed out various landmarks, sharing stories and anecdotes about his time at IIT Bombay. Sana listened intently, her eyes sparkling with interest, as she took in the sights and sounds of the bustling campus.

They walked past the iconic Main Building, its imposing structure a testament to the institute's rich history. Sid showed Sana the picturesque lake, its tranquil waters providing a serene oasis amidst the academic hubbub. As they walked, the warm sun cast a gentle glow over the campus, adding to the sense of tranquility.

After a leisurely walk, Sid suggested they grab a bite to eat at a cozy café on campus. Sana agreed, and they made their way to the café, nestled among the trees.

Inside, the café was warm and inviting, filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods. They ordered a pair of cheese sandwiches and settled into a quiet corner, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

As they ate, Sana couldn't help but laugh at Sid's silly jokes, her eyes shining with mirth. Sid grinned, happy to see her so much happy.

As they finished their sandwiches, Sid noticed a smudge of cheese on the corner of Sana's lips.

"Tere muh pe cheese laga hai, saaf kar le." Said Sid pointing towards her lips.

"Kaha pe? Yaaha pe..." Sana was about to wipe but stopped and asked, "Tu humesha unromantic hi rahega na? Aise situation pe yeh karte hai?"

Sid became confused for a moment but then realised what she exactly wanted. Without thinking, he reached out and gently wiped it away with his thumb.

"Now happy Ma'am?" Asked Sid licking the cheese on his thumb.

Sana smiled shyly seein it and said clearing her throat, "Better."

After that, Sid took Sana to his hostel. He noticed that the warden was talking on his phone standing outside and taking the chance, Sana sneaked into the boys' hostel with Sid.

They went to Sid's hostel room. He entered first and found his roommate scrolling phone who was only in his boxers. Sid nodded in disbelief and threw his t-shirt and pant on him.

"Girlfriend aayi hai meri. Zaldi se kapde pehen aur bahar nikal." Said Sid sternly.

"Matlab jaana padega?"

"Ji haan."

"Sahi hai. Girlfriend ke aate hi roommate ko paraya kar diya."

The guy sadly wore his clothes and came out of the room.

"Hello Bhabhi ji." Said the guy greeting Sana to which she smiled and replied with hello.

After the guy left, Sana entered the room and Sid closed the door.

"Yeh raha mera room." Said Sid showing Sana the small, messy room.

"Nice!" Said Sana maintaining a poker face, looking around the room.

"Dekh liya?.... Acche se?"

"Haan... Dekh liya... Ab main jaau?"

"Nahi!" Sid almost shouted to which Sana widened her eyes.

"Matlab na jaau?... Toh ab.... kya?" Asked Sana mischievously.

Sid smiled playfully and said moving towards her, "Toh ab..."

He pulled her closer by her hand and their eyes met, their lips were inches apart.

As they stood there, the air was electric with anticipation. Sid's eyes locked onto Sana's, his gaze burning with intensity. Sana's heart skipped a beat as she felt his warm breath on her skin.

Suddenly, Sid's lips brushed against hers, sending shivers down her spine. It was a soft, gentle kiss, but it spoke volumes of the love and longing they shared.

The kiss deepened, and Sid's arms wrapped around Sana, pulling her closer. She felt safe, protected, and loved in his embrace.

As they moved towards the bed, their lips remained locked, their passion and love for each other evident in every kiss. Sid's hands wrapped around Sana's waist, pulling her closer as they walked, their bodies swaying in perfect harmony.

Sana's arms encircled Sid's neck, deepening the kiss as they reached the bed. They sat down together, their lips still intertwined, the world around them fading into the background.

As they finally broke apart for air, their eyes sparkled with happiness. They joined foreheads while breathing heavily.

"Khatam ho gaya?" Asked Sid after sometime to which Sana couldn't help but chuckled.

She nodded her head negatively and said cupping his face, "Bilkool nahi. Abhi toh suru hua hai."

She softly pulled him by the collar of his shirt and their lips met again.

Later That Day...

Sid was sitting on the bed, resting his back on the wall while Sana was sitting on his lap and they were playing with each others' fingers.

"Accha sun... Main na soch raha hoon ki iss semester ke baad... Hum Shimla ghumne chale?" Said Sid suddenly and Sana looked at him.

"You mean... Sirf hum dono?" She asked.

Sid nodded in yes and said, "Dadi ne ek baar kaha tha ki meri Maa... Means my biological mother... Woh jab pregnant thi toh Mumbai chhor ke Shimla chali gayi thi. Shimla ke kisi gaaon mein mera janam hua hai aur main 3 saal udhar raha hoon, apni Maa ke saath. I just want to revisit our old house. Aur main chahta hoon ki tu uss waqt mere saath rahe, agar main kuch zyada hi emotional ho jaau, toh mujhe sambhalne ke liye."

Sana smiled hearing that and kissed Sid's heart.

"Waise bhi bohut din hogaye humne acche se time spend nahi kiya. We really need it. Toh kya kehti hai? Chalegi?"

Sana thought for a while and said, "Tere end semester break ke waqt mere college mein bhi vacations chalenge.... Haan, Mama se permission lene ke liye kuch bahana dhund na padega, but we will manage that.... So yeah, we can definitely go for a trip.... Only you and me."

Sana winked and Sid became happy hearing that. He pecked her lips and then wrapped his arms around her while they started planning for the trip.

..................................

Hope you liked this chapter.

Thanks for reading ❤️