Hello people! Look who's back? This is my attempt on getting back to writing. Excuse me if it doesn't live upto your expectations. This is kind of different from the other parts... But again that's the point of one shots! Different types of stories!

It's okay if you don't like it. I promise to do better. Just am trying to get back. You can consider this as a filler chapter as well. It's okay if you don't resonate with it. Idk... Just excuse me this one time.

Also, I am so greatful for 200+ followers! Thanks for think I am worth it! Love you all!

Enjoy! Vote if you wish to! Comment your thoughts if you want. Happy reading.

*No proofreading done. Ignore mistakes will edit later.*

***

A white shirt flew across the room landing on the bed covering the cushion. Another black piece of cloth flew and landed on the bed, beside it.

"Ugh! Ek kapda nahi hai pehenne ko. Mummyyyyyy!" She groaned and then shouted at the top of her voice.

The door knob turned swiftly and a elderly figure walked in. The specs sliding along the slope of her button nose. Her hair tied up in a low bun and tiny hair black strands mixed with a little grey ones, fell on her face. She scrunched her nose in disgust, looking at the room full of scattered clothes all over.

"Kutte bhi apni jaga saaf..." She started but the older women was cut off by the younger one.

"Ha ha pata hai! Itna hi nahi to kutta paal lo meri jagah." The younger one scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"Kam se kam vo kutta toh meri baat sunega. Tumhari tarah ulte jawab nahi dega." The elder woman said raising her hand which held a knife with which she was cutting the vegetables.

"Mummy yaar! Chaku dikha rahe ho aap ab? Bass yehi baaki reh gaya tha is ghar mein hayee rabba!" The younger one sighed dramatically.

"Shehnaaz, thappad padegi ab. Kya hua? Meri sabji jal jayegi tere chakkar mein." The elderly lady raised her voice.

"Mere paas kapde nahi hai pehenne." Shehnaaz, the younger of two said rolling her eyes and pushing the strands of her hair behind her ear.

"Har baar ka natak hai tera. Vo right side mein uparwale shelf pe tera denim colour ka frock hai. Vo pehen aur ja. Aur ainda mere paas kapde nahi hai bola toh ye sare ke saare kapde mausi ke beti ko de dungi. Phir roti rehna." Shehnaaz's mother said. The good old "dhamki" of giving away your clothes!

Shehnaaz absolutely hated her cousin and her mother would deliberately pick on it.

"Jaaoo yaar mummy aap! Aur ha... Thank you!" She pushed her mother out of the room and placed a sloppy kiss on her cheek, earning a slap in return before she shut the door.

Stumbling over the clothes she reached out to the right shelf and took out the denim colored frock.

"Perfect!" She giggled and slipped out of her clothes, wearing the decided one.

Shehnaaz was going to meet her friends after a long time. She wasn't really looking forward for the hangout as she thought they were too toxic for her mental health.

Well, she wasn't wrong either. All her friends did was to pick on her insecurities and make fun of her. Her height, her bunny teeth, her specs... She loved them all but her friends seemed to have some serious problems with her bodily attributes.

Brushing the thoughts away, she decided to put up a fake smile and laugh at the "sex joke" that her friends would excessively crack. Apparently making Sex jokes was quite cool. She couldn't care less.

Shehnaaz was good little happy soul trapped with these arrogant minions that were supposedly her friends. She hated the idea of going out with them. They would shout on the road, create nuisance and what not!

For Shehnaaz, the idea of hanging out was that she would walk with someone to whom she can be real with. Someone who followed public decorum unlike her friends. And someone she can walk miles and not know that! And that someone doesn't necessarily mean a friend, family or anyone... Just a good little soul like her would do!

Brushing her wolf-cut shoulder length hairs, she picked up the glossy nude lip balm and applied it carefully along the outline of her plump lips.

"Perfect again!" She smacked her lips so that it spread evenly and winked at her beautiful reflection in the mirror.

"Mummy! Main jaa rahi hun... Shaam tak aa jaungi tension mat lena!" Shehnaaz announced and was about to open the door when when she heard her mom coming out of the kitchen

"Uske ander shorts pehene ya bhul gayi?" Her mom spoke and Shehnaaz froze in her place in embarrassment.

"Shit!" She muttered under her breath and sprinted across the living room towards her own.

"I am the dumbest bitch ever!" She sighed in frustration as she was flustered with the thought of what would have happened if her mother wouldn't have reminded her. How could she do that? "You are dumb gurl!" Her 'i will lower your self esteem' subconscious mocked.

"I know!" She screeched like Monica from Friends and walked back out.

"First year mein hai tu Shehnaaz ab to badi ho ja. Zimmedari to uthane layak hai nahi kam se kam thodi akal hi badha le!" She heard her mom scoff.

"Hota hai mom! Take a chill pill!" She answered quickly and picked up her wallet and phone...at least what she thought was her phone and sprinted towards the door and entered the elevator.

"Wow! I am late again!" She whispered rolling her eyes.

****

She watched the sky slowly change its shade from icy blue to a tint of orange as she sat inside the rikshaw. The cool breeze caressed her and she closed her eyes in fulfilment as she was finally going out of her house after two months.

Last two months of Shehnaaz's life were extremely hectic and chaotic with numerous exams hovering over her head. She barely had time to even sit alone with the thoughts. The stress and pressure of exams and living upto her parents expectations had consumed her wholly. She need a break from all this but again, her fate did not agree to it.

As soon as her exams were over, Shehnaaz's college had started. Even though it was initially her backup plan, after the exams she knew that it was her future and college for the next three years of her life. Sighing, she had accepted it all again. As it was the only thing the poor kid could do. Accept and Move on!

Problems don't come with a tag of age on them. Every individual regardless of their age faces the problems of life. For Shehnaaz, they were all about her academic life.

Revisiting, the past two chaotic and horrible years of her life, of junior college, she sighed and looked at her cute little purse she was carrying. Opening it, her hand reached inside the pocket to fetch her phone. A frown appeared on her face and she panicked as the realisation dawned in. She had picked up the case of her specs instead of her phone.

"Could you be more stupid?" She mimicked Chandler Bing and tapped her head lightly. Looking around she realised that she was already half way through and now there was no going back home.

"Well, you got an excuse to ditch your friends!" Her subconscious spoke and a wide smile appeaed on her face.

"Bhaiyaa yaha se Talaopali lelo!" She told the rikshaw driver and he obliged.

She couldn't suppress the wide grin that had made its way on her pink plumpy lips. An evening to hangout all by herself? Shehnaaz couldn't be more happy.

***

Walking through the huge gate of the park she decided to sit on the swing and enjoy the calmness of the beautiful evening. She sat on the swing and her hair flew with the direction of the wind and she giggled at the butterflies in her stomach.

It was about time that she should get down and as she was about to, a toddler came running from the other side making her flinch and stop abruptly. Her ankle twisted and she was about to fall on her face when her arm was gripped by someone who pulled her away.

"Ouch! Ah... Thanks by the way..." She winced and looked up to see who had saved her and a huge grin swiped across her face.

"Oh My God Siddharth!" She squeaked and rushed in his arms and felt his arms wrapped around her petite frame.

"Oh My Goodness! What a surprise! Bitch! How are you?" She asked, still in the friendly embrace.

***

Siddharth was roaming around the park randomly when he watched a familiar figure entre the park and sit on the swing. In a heartbeat he realised it was Shehnaaz. His one and only Ex-girlfriend.

He paced towards her in an attempt to scare her but he was scared himself when he saw the horrific scene of toddler walking towards her. He rushed and grabbed Shehnaaz's arm and pulled her away while his other hand stopped the swing from hitting the toddler.

He waited patiently for her to look up and see him and he got the exact same reaction he had expected. As she swiftly ran into his arms, he leaned back with a jerk to balance himself and then held her small body in his fairly strong arms.

"Oh My Goodness! What a surprise! Bitch! How are you?" She breathed in the crook of his neck and he wiggled as it tickled him. But the very next moment frowned as he heard the word bitch and rolled his eyes.

"I fine! Dude! Tu kaisi hai?" He asked still holding her.

Before Shehnaaz could answer, they heard a cough and separate themselves to look at the toddler and his someone who looked like him, presumably his mother. The lady thanked Siddharth and he flashed her his charming little smile before turning to his very cheerful ex-girlfriend.

"Thanks by the way! Varna main muh pe girti." Shehnaaz said with her smile.

"I know right! Sir pe vaise hi giri hui hai ab muh pe bhi girti. I told you I am your hero!" Siddharth teased.

"You said that in 8th standard. Get over it!" Shehnaaz said rolling her eyes.

"Tu yaha kya kar rahi hai vaise? Don't tell me you crossed half the town just so you could sit on the swing." Siddharth asked as they started moving along the pavement.

"Nope! I was supposed to hangout with some stupid friends but then I decided not to! So my impulsive mind took me here!" She expressed.

"Or maybe the fate wanted to make us meet!" Siddharth teased yet again.

"You are such a drama queen." She breathed and playfully hit his arm.

"What? Don't tell me you are not happy to meet me. Is that why you are still blushing?" He tickled her waist lightly and she gasped.

"Well, yeah... Kinda..." She sighed.

"Accha? Chal jhoothi!" He murmured and chased her along the garden as she ran away from him showing him her middle finger.

"Okay... Fine. I am happy to meet you here. Ab aur nahi bhagna." Shehnaaz said as she panted heavily and Siddharth hummed gasping for air.

"So are free right now? As in this entire evening?" Siddharth asked. His heart hoped she was. It's been a few months they had talked and he absolutely wanted to be with her... At least for an evening.

"Yes..." Shehnaaz breathed and fought back the wide smile that was slowly creeping in on her lips.

"So can we hangout then?" His heart thumped against his chest as the possibility of her accepting the offer was as equal as her neglecting it as well.

"So you think I am one of those bitches who would ditch her friends to hangout with her ex-boyfriend?" Shehnaaz asked cocking her eyebrow.

"Are you not?" Siddharth retorted.

"Hell yes I am!" She squeaked and it felt like Siddharth finally could breath as he realised he had held his breath the entire conversation.

"Mujhe bhook lagi hai... Vada pav?" She asked again. Her heart went wild as he held her hand softly and led her out of the garden and they sat in the rikshaw.

***

Siddharth and Shehnaaz weren't your normal ex-couple. And so wasn't their relationship. Before taking a step into their relationship, Shehnaaz and Siddharth were one of the best friends. It was Shehnaaz who asked him out and it was Siddharth who decided to take a break. But at both the times, they made certain rules to follow. For example, no matter if they stay together or not, they shouldn't be awkward with each other. Or it was their thing to hug each other every time they met.

"This is too good!" Shehnaaz moaned with a stuffed mouth as she took a huge bite of hot and spicy vada-pav.

"That's what she said! Oh wait!Thats what you once said!" Siddharth winked and Shehnaaz blushed profusely with the bite still in her mouth.

"Fuck you!" She yelled.

"Pretty please!" Siddharth winked again and Shehnaaz kicked him lightly. And they went on slipping into dynamic conversations for the next moments that followed. They walked through the lanes of the town smiling, giggling and occasionally playfully hitting each other.

"Ice-cream? Please?" Siddharth asked.

Shehnaaz knew Siddharth's love for ice cream and she nodded.

"Toh kya kiya phir exams ke baad?" Shehnaaz asked.

"Kuch nahi yaar! Sirf soya rehta tha aur mummy ke taane sunta tha. Tu bata." Siddharth asked.

"Remember I told you I would only watch movies and web series! Well, I have been doing that all month. And honestly it feels so liberating.... Two Tender coconut please." Shehnaaz said and then ordered their icecream.

"How much?" Siddharth asked.

"We are splitting." Shehnaaz affirmed more like whispered.

"I know! Itte paise bhi nahi hai meree pass. I forgot my wallet. Just stuffed some money in my pocket and left." Siddharth whispered back.

"So do you like ever wish to visit the past two years of your preparations?" Shehnaaz asked taking a scoop of the white creamy ice cream.

"Those 2 am mental breakdowns and self-loathing? Not at all!" Siddharth said.

"Well honestly, I am really greatful you were there to answer all my calls and listen to those breakdowns." Siddharth said softly boring his warm oak eyes in her hazel brown ones.

Shehnaaz smiled softly and gave an acknowledging node.

"Well you were there for me too! So thank you I guess..." Shehnaaz said.

"At least we had someone. Imagine there so many others who didn't... I don't think I could have gone through all that without you being there for me." Siddharth confessed.

"Same here dude! Had you not helped me control my overthinking, I would have given up long ago. It was almost like you kept me going." Shehnaaz confessed too. There was silence as they visited back all those midnight phone calls and memories. It was almost like they zoned out until Siddharth felt a tug by someone who was making their way to the counter.

"Where to go now?" Shehnaaz asked.

"Um... Terrace garden of  my society?" Siddharth asked.

"Our make-out spot?" Shehnaaz asked rolling her eyes.

"Do you have another idea?" Siddharth asked rolling his eyes too.

"Our old make out spot it is!" Shehnaaz sighed and they walked down the lane towards Siddharth's society.

***

The calmness of the evening was taken over by the chaos of night. The city dazzled with lights and the sky was decorated by the twinkling stars.

Shehnaaz and Siddharth sat on the veranda beside the bushes with minimum distance between them. There was a calm and peaceful silence in tej air without any hint of awkwardness.

And why would they be awkward? They had practically shared every single detail of their lives with each other and knew eachother too deeply for anything to be embarrassing for them. It was comfortable having someone with whom you could bare your soul to and still not be embarrassed.

Although they hadn't talked for a few months, it didn't really matter as they were as comfortable as ever. And that was the best thing about them. It almost felt unreal to them as well looking at how comfortable and chill they both were, inspite having a history together.

But again the very reason behind their breakup was the hope to get back together after exams.

"Do you think we should take a break?" Siddharth asked.

"Do you?" Was all Shehnaaz could manage to speak as she was taken aback by his kinda hurtful words.

"I mean with exams just around the corner, I think we both need a break and well, we are better of as friends. Haina?" Siddharth blurted out nervously. He didn't want to but he was scared as the exams were approaching.

"Shehnaaz?" He asked looking at her again. She looked shocked and hurted.

"I mean after the exams if we meet, we can...you know... Get back together... What do you think?" His voice shook but he still continued.

"Yeah... Yeah... I mean... I don't know... We will see after the exams... Cool... I think I need to go." With that Shehnaaz left and Siddharth sighed. Probably regretting what he just did.

"And how were your exams?" Siddharth asked as he took the last bite and looked at Shehnaaz whose face almost fell.

"Oh... It's okay! I am sorry... We don't have to talk about it!" He said wrapping his right arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer, warmly.

Shehnaaz froze when she heard the word exam and all she had been trying to forget came back rushing. Her trance was broken when she felt his warm arm wrap securely around her. She sighed.

"I fucked up." Shehnaaz mumbled softly or more like confessed.

"It's okay! I fucked up too." His comforting words made Shehnaaz feel better.

"But I really wanted to do this yaar. Sure maine iske liye kya kuch nahi kiya tha. I stayed away from social media aur bohot kuch kiya tha yaar. Phir bhi! And I really did study but..." Her words died as she sighed.

"Listen up!" His oak eyes looked down at her cozy brown eyes gently as his other hand held her chin, tilting her face towards his. "We all fuck up and it's okay. Not everyone makes it na?" He asked softly. His own situation was no different from her's.

"I know but I really wanted to make it! And you know it's hard to get past this." Shehnaaz let out the sigh.

"I know! But we can and we will pass through this phase of failure. Aur aisa nahi hai na ki koi bhi college nahi milega tujhe? Instead, you have got one the most reputed college in Mumbai!

I totally understand that this isn't what you wanted but people literally die to get into the college you are in and you are really going to ignore this fact?" His voice becoming light as he joked.

There was a wave of silence before Shehnaaz sighed and spoke. "I guess you are right. I should focus on what I have right now instead of what I couldn't get. Maybe I need to change my perspective... Well let's hope I can!" She giggled towards the end.

"Thanks Siddharth!" She said and hugged his fairly broad frame. Her head rested on his chest lightly and his thumb caressed her shoulder.

A long wave of silence washed over the conversation and Siddharth grew impatient with every second. I was almost as if he could hold that thing in anymore.

"Do you still think we are better off as friends?" Siddharth blurted out his thoughts accidentally as a wave of embarrassment gushed over his body as he looked away.

"Aren't you smooth?" Shehnaaz asked, surprised at the question. Her heart doing a summersault and the butterflies in her stomach seemed to come back from the dead as her cheeks heated up, blushing.

She looked up at him only to find him looking away. She could easily make out he was embarrassed.

"Dude! Come on! Look at me! Are you embarrassed? Seriously?" She asked getting out of his embrace and goosebumps made their way on her skin as his warmth was lost and cold atmosphere came in contact with it.

Siddharth turned his head in her direction. "I just make things real awkward don't I?" He asked, still embarrassed.

"Well you are Siddharth. Your whole purpose of life is doing these things!" She joked.

"So, do you still think that?" He asked rubbing the back of his neck, his oak eyes not meeting her brown ones.

"It you who said that!" Shehnaaz squeaked.

"Shehnaaz. I think we need a break. I think we are better of as friends." Shehnaaz mimicked in her deep voice.

"But you agreed right?" He defended.

"I agreed because I didn't want to hold you back! I couldn't force you into something you thought wasn't worth trying again! Simple." Shehnaaz explained softly as she held his hand in her's.

"What if I said I was confused back then. What if I didn't mean that and realised it later. What if I said I realised my mistake when all I could think was I could take back my words..." Siddharth opened his heart out as he moved closer, so close that their nose touched.

"I wish I could take you back and... US?" His hoarse voice fell in a soft whisper.

"Then maybe you still have a chance to apologise?" Shehnaaz whispered back as her soft little hands fell gently on his neck, her fingers disappearing in his dark black hairs.

Siddharth shivered at her touch and a wide smile spread across his face. But the smile shrink as her words registered in his brain. Pushing her slightly away from himself, he frowned.

"Apologise? For what? Excuse me!" He asked amused. His brain ran all across his memories to figure out what she was asking an apology for. He tried harder but found nothing.

Shehnaaz fought back the smile that made its way on her face as she looked at an utterly confused Siddharth. The way he was flinching and shaking his head, only made her fight the smile harder.

"Oh so you don't even remember now?" Siddharth looked up at the source of voice totally confused as her was moulded in a serious one.

"I don't really... I mean... I don't know!" Siddharth threw his arms up in the air in defeat.

"Guess who's not getting back? Us!" Shehnaaz exasperated and Siddharth's heart broke and his insides churned.

"Shehnaaz I really don't know what you are taking about... I mean..." Siddharth sighed and his voice cracked.

"Aree! I was kidding yaar! Of course we can get back together! I have been waiting for this conversation ever since the exam was over. I was waiting for the moment I will bump into you and finally we can get back together." She revealed.

"Really? Like you are serious na? Or this is another one of your shitty prank?" Siddharth asked not showing how extremely elated he was as she confessed.

"I am so damn serious right now!" Shehnaaz exclaimed and Siddharth couldn't control the smile that broke on his face.

"Then why did you wait so long? Almost two hours!" Siddharth asked desparate to know the reason for the delay.

"I wasn't sure if you wanted to get back together too! What if you liked someone else? What if you don't want to get back anymore?" She answered.

"It's always been you!" Siddharth said.

As soon as he those words rolled out from his mouth, Shehnaaz grabbed the collar of his shirt in her tight fist pulling him closer and his hands made their way to her waist pulling her closer. And within the next few seconds their eyes flickered to each other's lips asking for consent and a soft node from both the side initiated a soft gentle kiss as their lips meet delicately.

Teenage hormones burst out in their systems as the kiss deepened and all they could feel was excitement, joy, nervousness and adrenaline flowed through every nerve of their body. The feeling was phenomenal and it felt like kaleidoscope of vibrant colours had burst open all around them.

As they pulled away slowly a few seconds later, they connected their foreheads and a wide smile graced their lips. Their teenage hearts thumping wildly in their chests, so loud and powerful that they could almost hear and feel each others'.

"This is too good!" She giggled, her thumb softly caressing his cheek.

"Yup! Can't agree more!" He giggled too as he pulled her towards his frame and she hugged him tightly.

Shehnaaz heaved a sigh as soon as her head rested on the crook of his neck. Siddharth had waited too long to hold her in his arms and now that she was here, he couldn't feel more peaceful. Content and happy was all they felt. Not to mention, they finally felt loved and wanted... Something we all crave to feel after a really long and bad day.

Having the person who makes you feel wanted and loved is possibly the best gift on could ever get. In our stressful life, when we feel dejected, awful about our own selves, we all need a pair of warm arms that would wrap around us, giving us warmth we seek. We all need an arm to cling on and a cheek to place a firm kiss as we talk endlessly to them. And a shoulder to put gently rest our head and sigh with contentment.

Perhaps Shehnaaz and Siddharth had found theirs. Hope everyone finds thiers too!

------

Aaaaaaaaaaaa......sksksksjjxjcjdjsnx wtf was that?!?!?!
Idk this just randomly came into my mind and I just wrote it down. I think this one made no sense but anyways... I was just desparate to start writing again.

And to all those who were asking... I am fine. My stitches are going to be removed shortly. My mom is hospitalized and is recovering. But PTSD thing is too real! Like I get jitters every time I hear a car passing by... Hope no one faces this situation in life. Like. Ever.

Stay safe and take care! Love you all!
-Kuhu