Before we start, I had unpublished this part as I thought, I had lost the sequels to this one and after announcing it on my message board, I found one of them in recycle bin. Clearly that announcement did not age well. Also, I jot down basic structure of the story in my diary. And I realized this later. So, here we are! The next sequel will be up within a week! Those who have read this one already, you can skip or take a look as per your wish. But you if you were missing my rants, scroll to the very bottom and tell me your views! Apologies And Happy Reading!

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"Mere Kaandhe Pe Sir Ko Jhukana Tera, Mere Seene Mein Khudko Chupana Tera..." He shut the laptop right away as soon as this lines fell on his ears. "F*ck this I can't..." He mumbled. His jaw pained and his eyes felt heavy with tears. The song had a special place in his heart...and so did the person. Someone said it right... Never associate songs with a person. And by that someone he meant...his ex-girlfriend.

"Maine kitni baar kaha hai! Do not associate song with a person. Siddharthhhh." She said as her head rested on his broad shoulder and he sang the lines in his husky voice.

"Why?" He stopped singing and so did his thumb which was gently caressing her shoulder; and looked at her.

"The person goes away! Not the songs! Neither those memories!" She answered looking in his black eyes, her's telling him something which at the moment he wanted to push aside.

"Well, fair enough. But what if the songs are only the way to keep that person close? What if tricking your mind into think that person is with you, through that song is the only way?" He countered pressing her arm and holding her close.

"Siddharthhhh! Please. Let's not..." She whispered softly and looked at the stars twinkling through the window and moonlight coming through the window as they sat on the wooden floor with their backs resting on the side of bed...in each other's arms.

"Maybe she knew that already. Maybe what she meant was that: not even the memory of your ex lover should hold you back from moving on.... Maybe she was RIGHT." He told himself as the scene played in his mind, making him restless. She still had that effect on him! The laptop and song was closed shut but the chest filled with memories was already open and flowing freely. Her hazel eyes, her smile, those bunny teeth! He couldn't resist that flow of all her memories. It takes years for the river to cut those rocks and flow but the river of memories just need a second to cut through the walls one has built around the heart. That wall which needs sleepless nights, crying eyes, aching heart and days, moths or probably years... just breaks like a glass with a single flash of that beautiful smile.

He closed his eyes and calmed himself down. He can't be going back when she has moved on! He can't be going back when she is long gone. He can't be going back because she was..."Don't. Please Don't." He begged his mind to not say that. But his mind was totally against him. "He can't be going back because she was...she was with someone else out there...married." His arms fell loose, his legs felt like jelly, his stomach churned. A lump formed in his throat and his were already filled with tears.

"Papa! We need to go Aditya's birthday party! It is already 7!" He heard the sweet of his lifeline. His only reason to survive and his only reason to live with his broken heart. Athaang. His son.
At this moment, Athang was very angry and was glaring through Siddharth's soul! He was very particular about time and after all, it was his best friend's birthday! Of course Athaang had to be paranoid! He was all set with white shirt and black pants looking super excited! Siddharth smiled instantly looking at him and instantly changed his drained face to the ever charming one.

"Oops! Sorry champ! I will...get ready in a minute... Seriously sorry!" Siddharth said holding his ears and Athaang rolled his eyes. "Accha listen, see i brought this super cool skateboard, just like you said!" Siddharth said reaching to the table and getting hold of a huge rectangular box packed in golden wrapping paper.

"He is going to like it! Aapko pata hai! Aditya told me to tell you this because Kushal uncle said he won't give Aditya a skateboard!  Kushal uncle hates it. What if he scolds us?" Athaang's eyes lip up as he saw the gift but then he was worried. Siddharth instantly grinned at the innocent smile.

"Kushal uncle ko main sambhal lunga, Aditya should be happy right?" Siddharth asked smiling fondly and Athaang gave a high-five to him.

---

"Vaise you know?" Athaang asked as soon as Siddharth sat from the other side of the car.

"Mmhhmm" Siddharth answered shaking his head and looking at the rear view mirror, reversing his car.

"You remember I told you about the new girl in my class? She is now my friend! Finally. Aapko pata hai? Vo bohot jyada shy hai. But that day, Aditya and I asked her if she will come to his birthday party and aapko pata hai usne haa kaha! She is going to come to the party! Vo kisise baat hi nahi karti sivay humare! Main use aapse milaunga!" Athaang chirped and Siddharth smiled. He remembered Athaang telling him about this new classmate and blabbering endlessly.

"Okay! Vaise aur bata uske baare mein! Smart hai ya tere jaisi budhoo hai?" Siddharth joked, smacking Athaang's head playfully.

"Vo Topper hai topper! Par kisise baat hi nahi karti. Aur aapko pata hai? Sab use school mein bohot pareshaan karte hai. Use bohot chidhate hai!" Athaang narrated.

"Kyu?" Siddharth asked, genuinely intrigued.

"Use Papa nahi hai na is liye..." Siddharth heard and he felt a bit bad and so did Athaang.

"Mujhe bhi kaise chidhate the na? Vaise hi..." Athaang whispered in a low voice as his small brain rewind the memories of his classmates teasing him. Siddharth's heart pained to a level he couldn't contemplate. He went back to the memories when Athaang used to cry himself to sleep and Siddharth used to cheer him up. Siddharth sighed helplessly but nevertheless decided to cheer up Athaang and himself.

"Vo sab jaane de. Mujhe ye bata, Aditya ne tujhe bataya hai party mein khaane ke liye kya hai?" Siddharth asked picking the perfect topic to divert the conversation.

"Nahi usne kaha surprise hai!" And the conversation flowed simply like the river, as they drove to the destination.

****

"Yeh Jo Sabhi Yaadein Hai...Sabhi Kaatein Hai....Bhula Do Inhe...Mita Do Inhe..." She heard, she felt and lived that line.... That damn line! The pain those beautiful lyrics carried were beyond appreciation and apprehension. It was just another song for her years ago but ever since that disastrous night, the song was her companion. It was never just another song but a deep and special song. She and smiled through the small drops of tears in her She said paused the song instantly as she sensed his memories coming out of her heart.

"Shehnaazzzzz, agar humara breakup hogaya...kisi parallel universe mein, yo tu kaunsa gaana sunegi?" He asked as they sat in each other's arms, their backs resting on the side of the bed...late at night with stars shining through the window. The top floor has it's own perks!

"Main koi bhi gaana nahi sunungi!" She answered instantly.

"Kyu?" He asked curiously.

"Humara breakup hoga hi nahi Kullu!" She said pinching his cheeks.

"Hua toh?"

"Nahi hoga."

"Par hua to?"

"Bhaad mein ja yaar tu! Ho jaane de breakup" She said irritated. Only if she knew the future took her words too seriously. And she knew it would happen. He made a face, looking away, a bit sad. "Accha ek kaam kar, tu bata kaunsa gana sunega?" She asked him back to avoid the question.

"KK ka Beete Lamhe!" He said and hummed a few lines of the Antara before she interrupted him.

"Matlab tu chahta hai humara breakup ho jaye?" Shenaaz asked with her eyebrows knitted together and her chin on his chest as she looked up at him. She was unhappy with his answer!

"Kuch bhi mat boll. Bakwass kar rahi hai." He said and continued humming, she was irritated.

"Maine kitni baar kaha hai, Do not associate songs with a person..."

How the tables have turned! She let out a bittersweet laugh at what she said and what she was doing. Contradicting herself,  just like He used to say. She was the same person who told him not to associate songs with person. She was the same person who completely cut herself off the Bollywood songs....just so that she could leave him behind. But at the end of the day, no matter how much she tried, any random song would bring HIM back and HIS memories. And 'Aadat' bought back every damn memory.

"Mumma! It seven already! We are late! Aditya mujhe phirse late-lateef bolke chidhayega! Jaldi chaloooo" She heard her daughter grab her hand and almost drag her out of the room.

"Oops! I am sorry Shaalmalee! I was...I was..." Shehnaaz fumbled.

"I was listening songs! Right?" Shaalmalee asked raising her eyebrow and Shehnaaz smiled guilty.

"Mujhe bhi sunao na please!" Shaalmalee said flashing her innocent smile and Shehnaaz gave a slight tapli on her head, murmuring "Pagglait!"

***

"Accha listen, I will drop you off to Mrunal's apartment you enjoy the birthday party and I will wait downstairs.... Main thoda ghoomongi aur tu mujhe party khatam hone ke baad phone kardena, main lene aa jaungi. Thik hai?" Shehnaaz asked as she sat in the car, putting the seat belts on.

"Chalega! But waitttt!" Shaalmalee almost screamed and Shehnaaz had a mini heart attack and her ear drums almost fell numb.

"Kya hua? You okay?" Shehnaaz asked concerned.

"Aap zyada dur mat chale jana! Pick up karne jaldi aana. Please!" The little one asked, scared. Shehnaaz smiled as soon as she heard the little one speak. She was scared of strangers...just like her. Shehnaaz placed a small kiss on her cheek and whispered a "Pakka" and they drove off.

---

"Okay, listen, ye phone lo aur call me once the party is over. I will pick you up. Haa? Chalo enjoy!" Siddharth said as he sat on his knees and placed a kiss on Athaang's forehead. He handed Athaang a small phone and made sure he tugged it safely in his pocket of his jeans. He then handed him the gift when...his heart skipped a beat. A shiver ran down his spine and goosebumps took all over his skin as he heard a voice.

"Take care ha! Kuch ho to mujhe jaldi se call karna..."
He stopped. His jaw clenched as the possibility of knowing the owner of that voice increased. He stood up and with a deep breath, he turned around.

***

"Take care ha! Kuch ho to mujhe jaldi se call karna..." Shehnaaz said placing a kiss on Shaalmalee's head as she was removing her shoes beside the door of the apartment. The melodies of party songs reached her ears and she looked around. Her eyes fell on an extremely familiar figure. Her stomach churned and she shivered. She knew who he was. Those broad shoulders were her dwelling place, years ago. She knew that strong cologne as the person stood right behind her. She could feel it. Her brain instructed to just run away from the place but her heart overpowered this time. Her heart convinced her and she turned around taking a deep breath.

The erratic heartbeats and the chaos in his brain fell silent in a mere seconds as their eyes met with. Those hazel eyes met those dark ones. The world came to complete standstill as this was the least expected meet. No even a single blink interrupted them and not even a single breath left their bodies until the realization dawned in and they gasped.

"Bye Mumma!"
"Bye Papa!"

They heard and that came down like a hard slap on their faces and souls.

-×-×-

So, how was it?
What do you think about this one?
What exactly happened? 
What will happen when they meet again?
What is the messy situation they are in?
Any guesses?

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Hey! Back after months! But before anything, Thank You So Much for all the lovely comments on the last chapters. I truly appreciate the amount of love you have given! I wanted a break from my studies and this idea had been in my mind since a long time. This might not seem up to the mark but I will make sure the later halves are worth your time. As I always say, this was to set a foundation now we will see what the final product will turn out to be. This is totally different and quite frankly, it is hard but I choose this anyway.

Also, take care people! Of yourself and your families! Stay safe and strong.

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A small rant: As a biology student and aspiring medical student, I found the dialog of Selmon Bhoi's new movie "Radhe", disrespectful. "Bladder ke jagah Phephda hoga aur Liver ki jagah kidney." Ya'll were high or something while writing this? Wtf?

Lol! Like Physics was fucked already, Chemistry was fucked because a 55 year old man romancing actress who is 30 years younger to him and now Biology as well? How are you gonna fit lungs in the place of bladder? Wtf? Liver ki jagah kidney? How does this gets approved? I am still confused. Maybe the writers never learned biology or something? But this is just weird to a level, I don't know! It is straight up dumb unless there is an underlying message which Jaadu can decode...maybe...

Bhoi may suck at PCB, But but but, he is damn good in Maths! He made fucking 300Cr from Race 3 dude! It takes skill to make 300Cr from a movie like Race 3. Respect 100! Also, I was referring to writers and creaters of the movies because Bhoi never does anything okay? It was his driver back then and now the writers. #NoHateOnlyRespect (lol!)...