Next morning, they both woke up very early since they had lot of work to do before they left for their respective offices.

They prepared their breakfast together and also their lunch boxes. As they got fully ready to leave, Sana goes into kitchen and gets Curd mixed with sugar.

Sana: Siddu, have this since it's your first day at job. For a best start and good luck.

She feeds him a spoonful of it. Sidharth takes the bowl from her.

Sidharth: It's your first day as well. Here is for your success and good life. (Feeds her with smile) Shall we go?

She nods as she runs to keep the bowl in kitchen. They lock the door and walk to the bus stop.

Sidharth: Let me wait until you board the bus then I'll cath the bus from the opposite direction. Be careful, don't fall asleep like you did the other day and take care of your purse and belongings. Not everyone is kind and good hearted like me.

Sana: Donkey praising it's own tail.

Sidharth: Oh! Is it? I never saw your tail, how do you manage to hide it?

Sana: Just like the way you do!!

Sidharth: That means you do agree that you are a donkey.

Sana: Yeah, just like you didn't deny that you are not one.

Sidharth: Hey, the bus is here. You remember the bus stop you need to get down, right?

Sana: Yes! Bye Siddu, have a lovely and wonderful day!

Sidharth: Wish you the same! Take care and call me once you've reached.

Sana smiles as the bus leaves the stop and Sidharth looked at her with all the love and concern he has for her.

Sidharth crosses the road and boards his bus after some waiting. His eyes were glued onto his phone. He called her after 20 minutes.

Sana: Hello

Sidharth: Hello Sana, you are awake right?

Sana: No Sana is sleeping, this is her ghost speaking.

Sidharth: Okay Ghost, kindly wake her up one stop before. Bye!

Sana smiled as she disconnected the call. She looked at the building which she remembered as a landmark to get down. She rushed to the door and got down after the bus halted.

As she reached the office building, she called him up.

Sana: Me pochle bagh {See I reached office}

Sidharth: (smiles) Oh oh oh!! How I wished you had missed you stop and walked back. (Teased her)

Sana: Auhh!! I won't need enemies because I have a friend like you!

Sidharth: That's the beauty, you get 2 things for the cost of 1.. Oh! Wait, it should be 4 - A friend, an enemy, a husband and a poor cook!

Sana: I think only you can praise yourself so much. By the way, did you reach?

Sidharth: (looks around) Oh shit! I missed my stop! I need to get down, bye!

He disconnected and got down at the next stop. He now had to to walk back for 10 minutes. Sana was worried, she looked at the time, there were still 20 minutes for 9am. She sat down in the main lounge and called him.

Sana: Siddu, I am sorry!

Sidharth: For what?

Sana: You have to walk back since I called you!

Sidharth: How would you know that my stop had approached? I should have been bit more cautious.

Sana: How long do you have to walk?

Sidharth: 10 minutes my pace and 15 minutes your pace. (Laughed)

Sana: Dumbo!! You never miss a chance to tease me.

Sidharth: What to do, it's hard to find idiots like you!

Sana: Siddu! (Disappointed)

Sidharth: Oh well! Don't get mad, it's your first day, cheer up!

Sana: So sweet! I'll keep talking to you until you reach your office!

They spoke until he reached his office and disconnected after wishing each other best of luck.

The first day was more of induction and familiarizing their colleagues and the office along with filling up forms for employee provident fund, salary account and insurance and other documentation.
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Sana reached home before Sidharth but since she was scared to go inside the building she waited for him near the entrance. She smiled ear to ear as she saw him coming. They start walking towards their home.

Sana: Siddu!! How was your day?

Sidharth: It was fantastic, met lots of people, made few friends. What about you?

Sana: It was very good. You know I am getting an office cab to commute everyday. Infact I was dropped home by cab now, that's how I reached early.

Sidharth: Wow!! That's awesome news. Look at these? I've got these Sodexo cards.

Sana: Tan-ta-dan! Even I've got the same. Will use it to buy groceries, what say?

Sidharth: Saves some money on groceries and transport! Let's buy a washing machine with the money we have since we can afford it now as our expenses are less. I don't like you washing piles of clothes everyday.

Sana smiled and nodded.

He thinks so much about me and my comfort. How lucky I feel to have him in my life. I don't know if I would have got the same kind of attention from Shivam if I were married to him. I know he prioritized his dreams and his passion over everything in life. Siddu always gave importance to emotions. But, the question is why did he ignore me for 6 years? Whenever I ask him, he changes the topic.
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It was Thursday evening when Sana gets a call from Vani. Sidharth was cooking dinner. Sana attended the call in her balcony.

Vani: How are you Sana? How is life treating you?

Sana: I am very happy mumma. Siddu doesn't allow any problems to come near me.

Vani: How is your health? Did you go to the gynecologist yet?

Sana: Huh?

Oh God! I had almost forgotten that I am pregnant for our parents. What do I tell her now? I don't even know the stages of pregnancy. How do I tell them that I am not pregnant?

Vani: Sana.. Sana.. Are you there?

Sana: Hmm.. Yes Mumma! Yes, the doctor, yes, everything is fine!

Vani: Where are you staying?

Sana: We've got a flat on rent. We both have started working since Monday.

Vani: That's good to hear that you two are taking the responsibilities upon yourself. What is Sidharth doing?

Sana: He is cooking dinner for us?

Vani: Aa..?

Sana never learnt cooking. Sidharth cooks for her. We've not thought or trained our child to take care of family fully, yet left them alone to struggle. I never realised what I did to her. I haven't fulfilled my responsibility as mother yet.

Vani: Okay Sana, go and help him. Give my regards to him. Bye.

Sana: Ok Mumma, bye!

Sana informs Sidharth about the lie they have been maintaining and very soon it will be out if they don't do anything about it.
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Sana: Mummaaa.. mummaa.. mummaa.. Sidduuuu!!

Sana rolled over Sidharth. Sidharth woke up and held her tightly.

Sidharth: What happened Sana?

Sana: Someone held my toes.. Sidduuu.. I am scared.

She was literally all over him panicking in fear. He got up and turned on the lights with great difficulty as she hugged him tightly.

Sana's face was hiding in his chest. She slowly turned her face and opened her one eye to find a rat running out of the room. She screamed and jumped over hugging him with both her legs and hands. He fell on the mattress along with her losing his balance.

Sidharth: Oouch!! Sana.. it's just a rat!! Not a ghost! If you do like this than you'll strangulate me and turn me into a ghost instead.

She slide towards his side and looked at the door, horrifed!

Sana: What was he doing over here? Why did he pull my toes?

Sidharth: Huh? Wait I'll call him and ask? (Frowned)

She punched his chest with her fist.

Sidharth: Aaauhh! Dumbo!! Why are you taking his anger on me? I didn't give him appointment nor an invitation to come and eat your leg.

Sana: Siddu, I am scared. Do something! What if he comes back?

Sidharth: Will keep the lights on and you take a blanket on yourself. Will do something about it tomorrow. Let's sleep now since we have to go to office tomorrow please.

Sana was scared. She took the blanket yet she kept her legs over his legs and hugged him from sides as his arms surrounded her from back.

Sidharth was smiling at her proximity as he thanked the rat silently. The alarm went off, Sana opened her eyes and found herself in his embrace. He was sleeping peacefully. She somehow managed to turn off the alarm still lying in his arm and admired his sleeping figure. His nose flared as he snored softly.

Why am I getting so attracted to him? How the hell did I miss noticing him like this all my life? But he considers me as his friend, I can't think of him in any other way.

She slowly released herself from his embrace and went inside the bathroom. She continuously smiled as she remembered the incident which happened last night.

As she came out, he was standing outside the door. She blushed unknowingly.

Sidharth: Good Morning fattu! {Scared person}

He started laughing as she frowned. He went inside the bathroom and she smiled.
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Sidharth: Yes Bhaiyya! You have to take a right turn from the bakery and come near the 3 big buildings. C Wing, Flat no. 302. (Disconnects the call)

He goes inside from the balcony and goes to the kitchen and then goes into the room.

Sidharth: Sanaaa...

Sana: Siddu, Don't get this chocolate next time, I didn't like this. I was hungry hence I ate it. Here's half for you.

Sidharth: (Panics and screams) Sana, spit that out!! Oh shit!! Did you swallow it?

Sana nods yes.

Sidharth: That's rat poison!

He lifts her and runs to the bathroom.

Sidharth: Sana put your finger in your mouth and vomit it out please. I'll call the hospital.

Sana does as he instructs. Sidharth calls hospital and doctor asks him to get her immediately.

Sidharth picks the key and wallet and runs to the bathroom. He lifts her up and starts running quickly.

Sana: Siddu, I can walk. I am not feeling anything yet.

Sidharth: No Sana. I can't take the risk.

He reaches down and finds the delivery guy who got him the food.

Sidharth: Bhaiyya please it's a matter of her life, she ate rat poison thinking it was a chocolate. I need your bike to take her to hospital quickly. I will pay you money please! (Begs)

Delivery guy nods yes!

Sana sits in middle and Sidharth sits at the back hugging her and they rush to hospital. The whole way Sidharth made sure she doesn't pass out or fall asleep. They reach the hospital, he picks her up and runs to emergency ward.

Sidharth: Doctor I called you 20 minutes back, she ate rat poison mistaking it to be a chocolate. Please help.

Sana: I feel giddy.

Doctor: Did you inform the police?

Sidharth: Yes, I did while I was rushing her here. They will reach in 5 minutes. Please treat her.

Doctor: Will wait for 5 minutes until they arrive. Until then you can submit a form for admission.

Sidharth calls up the police immediately.

Sidharth: Sir, please ask them to treat my wife. They are waiting for your arrival to start the treatment. Please sir, do something before it's too late.

Police: Hold on, we are already here.

The police comes and look at her condition and then okays for the treatment.

Sidharth: Sana! You will be alright. Okay. Just stay strong. (He tells her and kisses her forehead as they take  her inside for treatment.)

He fills in the application and also gives his statement to the police. He pays the delivery guy and thanks him.
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Doctor: Nothing to worry, there were only few traces of poison which we took out. The dizziness was due to hunger. She will be alright but will observe her until tomorrow morning. Will shift her to ward now. Kindly let the receptionist know your ward preferences.

Sidharth: Thanks a lot doctor! Thank you!

They shift her to a private ward where he was also allowed to stay with her.

Sidharth: (pats her head softly) How are you dear?

Sana: (smiles) Hungry!

Sidharth smiles and the tear drops escape his eye lashes which he held for a long time.

Sana: Siddu, why are you crying? I am fine. The doctor praised your presence of mind when I told him that you asked me to vomit it. See, someone else praised you apart from yourself today!

Sidharth: You are a cartoon! I had got that poison for rat as you were scared last night that it bit your toe. I took it out of packet and before I could place it I got call from delivery guy asking for an address. By the time I returned, you ate it thinking it was chocolate. I am sorry for my negligence. (Sadly)

Sana: No Siddu, I was very hungry. That small cylinder had to finish today itself and that too at night when we can't refill. I went in search of food in kitchen and that poison looked like chocolate. I should have confirmed you before eating it. It tasted yuck!

The nurse arrive with food for her. Sana ate a first bite of it.

Sana: Yuck!! This is tasteless. That rat poison was better than this.

Sidharth: Shut up and eat!

Sana: What about you? Aren't you eating?

Sidharth: This food is for patients only. By the way, that delivery guy left me our parcel. I am going to eat noodles infront of you.

Sana: You Ape!! How mean, I am eating this tasteless food and you are going to eat that spicy noodles?

Sidharth: Yeah, it's your punishment for eating that delicious chocolate and giving me a nightmare. Do you even realize how I felt?

Sana: Sowie!! (Held her ears)

Sidharth: Forget it, I'll eat an apple and not noodles. Can't eat it when you aren't eating it.

Sana: Shut up! I was just joking. Eat it now! Else I will stay hungry!

Sidharth quietly ate the noodles and Sana ate the blend food.

They both slept on opposite bed facing each other, staring at each other, not able to sleep. They spoke nothing.

Sana got up and curled on the bed he was sleeping while he silently gave her space by shifting closer to the wall. They both slept peaceful in each other's presence!

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To be continued.. ❤️❤️❤️

Wishing everyone a very happy holi! May your lives be colourful and lively!🤗🤗