The café was tucked away in one of Chandigarh's quieter streets, its cozy ambiance perfect for an afternoon of reminiscing. The warm smell of freshly brewed coffee and the gentle hum of conversation filled the air. Shehnaaz and Sidharth sat by the window, a soft golden light streaming in as the sun dipped lower in the sky.

Their laughed was echoed in the café.

"Tujhe yaad hai jab pheli baar hum mile the god kitna pareshan kara tha tune mujhe" Shehnaaz laughed, the sound light and full of nostalgia.

"Ha to us time main aesa hi tha baad me change hua na" Sidharth groaned, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Aur wo Sharma sir unhe kitna pareshan kara tha tune aur tujhe yaad hai hamesha hamare group ko principal sir ke pass le jaate the" She bite her lip to control her laugh.

"Principal ke office ki baat mat kar woh toh mujhe dekhte hi kehte the, ‘Shukla, ab kya kiya?’" He mimic his principal's voice.

"Aur tu to hamesha bholi si shaqal bana kar bach jaati thi" he said in teasing tone.

Shehnaaz shook her head, her smile fading slightly as her voice softened. "It was always you, Sid. Tune hamesha protect kiya mujhe. Chahe khud problem mein jaane ki zarurat kyun na padti ho"

Sidharth's teasing expression melted, replaced by something more earnest "Aur tu thi jo hamesha mere side pe rehti thi, no matter what. Jab sab kehte the ki main sirf ek ‘bad boy’ hoon, tu hamesha ladne ko ready rehti thi chahe wo teacher hi kiu na ho"

A comfortable silence settled between them for a moment as they let the weight of their shared memories wash over them.

Shehnaaz broke the quiet, her voice bright again. "Waise, sab kese hai? Mera to sabse hi contact tut gya"

"They are good Neil ne aboard me hi business settle kar liya, Avni become a famous make up artist, Kushal ne apne dad ka business join kar liya aur Shreya she become a professor" He informed about everyone "Sab mere contact me the siwaye tere tune to promise kiya tha na ki hamesha contact me rahegi phir kiu wada toda tune hum log important nahi rahe the teri life me?" He said angrily.

She look down "Aesa nahi hai Sidharth i missed you guys alot bass life is not a bed of roses right jab main Chandigarh aai to bohot mushkil hui settle hone me tum logo ki itni aadat lag gai thi koi friend hi nahi bana jese tese first year nikla second year me kuch friends bane than mera ek accident hua tha"

"Ac...accident? Tu theek hai na" He asked in concern.

She smile softly and nodded "By god grace main theek thi us time but mera phone wo kho gaya tha phir ghar ki problems hui papa ko business me lose hua phir mummy ki tabiyat kharab hospital me thi, itna sab ek saath hua life me ki kuch samjh hi nahi aa raha tha phir jab main last year me gai to hum logo ko Delhi lekar gaye for a intership project mujhe laga tum logo se jo contact tuta tha wo wapas mil jayega but nahi ho paaya tere ghar gai thi waha pata chala tune ghar change kar liya time hi itna kam tha ki sirf tere ghar ja paai aur kahi jaane ka time nahi mila phir placement, job is sab me itna busy ho gai ki time hi nahi mil paaya bohot try kara tum logo ko online dhudhne ki but kuch nahi mila i know sorry is a small word still Sorry" she make a puppy face.

His heart felt relief thinking that atleast she tried to contact him, she never forget him, his heart start having hopes that maybe she have some feelings for him. "Gussa to bohot aaya tha jab tune baat karni band kar di lekin socha shyd tu apni life me busy hogi isliye kabhi disturb nahi kiya aur jab call kara to tune uthaya nahi"

"I know i know it was all my mistake bestfriend to chhord main to ek dhang ki friend bhi nahi ban paai" she chuckle sadly having tears in her eyes.

"Chhord purani baatein main tujhe sabke photos dikhata hu thode time pehle mile hum sab" he sit near her and start showing her pictures of them.

"Kitna kuch miss kar diya maine" she pout sadly.

He chuckle "Koi baat nahi hum nai memories bana lenge aur abhi to saath me project bhi karna hai bohot time hai hamara pass" he hold her hand and entangled their fingers.

"Ab main tujhe khudh se kabhi dur nahi jaane dunga, aur dheere dheere tere dil me apni jagha bhi bana lunga" he think in his mind and smile looking at her.

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The morning sunlight filtered through the glass walls of the office as Shehnaaz and Sidharth settled into the conference room. Their project had officially begun, and they were tasked with creating a cohesive marketing strategy for a high-profile client.

Despite the professional setting, their banter and easy chemistry made the workday lighter than it had any right to be.

Sidharth leaned back in his chair, twirling a pen between his fingers as he watched Shehnaaz scribble furiously in her notebook. "You know, moti, agar teri handwriting thoda readable hoti, toh shayad mujhe samjhne ke liye decoding machine ki zarurat nahi hoti" He said to tease her.

Shehnaaz shot him a glare but could not suppress the smile tugging at her lips. "And if tu thoda kam distract karta, toh shayad presentation time par ready hota"

He chuckled. "Tch, tu toh itni serious ho gayi hai. Tere andar ki Shehnaaz Gill kaha gayi jo mujhse zyada masti karti thi?"

Shehnaaz paused, tapping her pen against her chin. "Woh Shehnaaz Gill kabhi kabhi hi dikhti hai ab. Life mein responsibilities jo badh gayi hain, Mr. Shukla"

Sidharth raised an eyebrow. "Responsibilities-" he was about to say something when someone enter in her cabin without knocking.

Varun, Shehnaaz's senior, walked in, holding a file. He was tall, sharply dressed. 0

"Shehnaaz, these are the reports for the meeting tomorrow" Varun said, handing her the file.

Shehnaaz quickly stood up, suddenly flustered. "Oh, uh… thank you, Varun Sir. I'll review them by the end of the day"

Varun gave her a brief nod and walked out, completely unaware of the way Shehnaaz's cheeks turned pink.

Sidharth, who had watched the entire interaction with raised eyebrows, leaned back in his chair. As soon as the door closed, he smirked. "Shehnaaz Gill, yeh blush ka reason kya hai?"

Shehnaaz, still looking at the door, quickly turned to face him, her eyes wide. "K-kuch nahi" she stammered, trying to focus on the file Varun had just given her.

"Kuch nahi?" Sidharth repeated, leaning forward with a knowing grin. "Abey main tujhe school se jaanta hoon. Bata na itna bhav kya kha rahi hai?"

Shehnaaz sighed and finally looked at him, her expression equal parts embarrassed and resigned. "Fine, mujhe Varun sir pasand hai. But it does not matter. Woh mujhe kabhi notice nahi karenge"

Sidharth felt like someone snatch his breath away from him But he composed himself quickly. "Kiu? Kiu nahi notice karega wo?"

"Sid tu nahi samjhega" she said, shaking her head. "Woh ek senior hai. Classy, serious… aur main?" She gestured to herself. "Main toh uske saamne ek normal si, clumsy si employee lagti hoon"

Sidharth's jaw tightened as an unexpected pang hit him. He hated hearing the doubt in her voice, but more than that, the idea of her liking someone else stirred him. It was not jealousy..... it was heartbreak.

"Yo...you sure you like him?" He asked her again to confirm.

She pout and nodded. Suddenly she smile widely and sit beside him closely holding his bicep "tu meri help kar na please tujhe to experience hoga is sab ka aakhir tu school ka popular boy tha har ladki ki tujh par hi nazar hoti thi"

"Sivaye tere" he thought in his mind and fist his hand to control his feelings.

"Bata tha unki attention kese grab karu?"

"I...i will think of something. Don't worry about it" he said and remove her hand.

"Are but-"

"You trust me right?"

She grinned widely and nodded. "Of course buddhu i trust you the most in the world."

His heart start beating loudly but he composed himself "to bass main kuch sochta hu okay abhi let's focus on work" he said and open the file immediately.

The whole day he noticed that her gaze only follow Varun everywhere. He look at her blushing sometimes. He smile sadly on his fath and decided to help her to get her love of her life. He would do anything for her happiness even it's mean to sending her away from him maybe they are not meant to be together.

"Tu chahati hai Varun tujhe notice kare teri feelings reciprocate kare, magar mera kya jo saalo se tere pyaar ke intezaar me hai, kiu tujhe meri aakho me wo pyaar nazar nahi aata Shehnaaz kiu?"

He was punching the punching bag angrily.

"Kese tujhe kisi aur ka hote dekh lu jab har dua me tujhe rab se maanga hai, kese tujhe use shaqs ke hawale kar du , jab meri har umeed, har khwab sirf tu hai" he fall down on his knees feeling weak. Being the strongest still feel like a failer this is what he feel like right now. "Mere pass hokar bhi mujhse dur kiu hai tu?" He wipe his tears.

"I know...i know you like him. But i just want to be selfish when it's comes to you. Kiu tujhe kisi aur ke hawale karu jab tu meri hai. Kese tujhe khudh se dur bheju sab saalo baad tujhe wapas paaya hai"

He stood up and look at the picture on the wall, he have her pictures on every wall of his home.

"Kuch pal ke liye hi sahi lekin tujhe apna hote dekhna chahata hu aur iske liye sirf ek hi rasta hai mere pass".

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That is it for today.

Hope you all like it.

Thanks for reading.