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The sun had just begun to set, casting a warm orange glow over the cramped rehearsal room. Sidharth, Krish, and Veer were already immersed in their practice session, the sounds of their instruments blending together in a rich tapestry. Sidharth's fingers danced across the frets of his guitar, his eyes closed in concentration.

Just as they were hitting their stride, the door creaked open, and Shehnaaz slipped inside, her bright smile illuminating the room. Sidharth's eyes snapped open, and he couldn't help but return her smile. The tension in his shoulders eased, and his music seemed to take on a new, vibrant quality.

"Good morning everyone!" Shehnaaz exclaimed, setting down her bag and giving the guys a quick wave.

Krish and Veer greeted her with their usual banter, while Sidharth simply nodded, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Shehnaaz's gaze met his, and for a fleeting moment, they just looked at each other, the connection between them palpable.

"Aaj yeh dono kuch badle badle nahi lag rahe tujhe?" Whispered Veer in a low voice pointing towards Sidharth and Shehnaaz.

"Nahi toh. As usual dono chup chap hai, zyada baat nahi kar rahe ek dusre se." Said Krish innocently.

"Haan par.... Chhor yaar. Maybe I'm over assuming." Said Veer and they focused on the jamming session.

As Shehnaaz began to set up her equipment, Sidharth found himself stealing glances at her, his heart beating just a little bit faster. He couldn't believe how much he had waited for this jamming session, and it wasn't just about the music anymore.

Once Shehnaaz was ready, they launched into their first song, the energy in the room electric. Sidharth's guitar wove in and out of Shehnaaz's soulful vocals, the harmonies blending together in perfect sync.

As the practice session progressed, Sidharth noticed that Shehnaaz seemed more confident, her voice soaring on the high notes. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride, he was now feeling it would be their loss if she didn't join the band.

As they finished the first song, Shehnaaz reached for the paper containing the lyrics of their next number. But just as her fingers wrapped around it, a gentle gust of wind swept through the open window, catching the papers off guard. The sheets fluttered out of Shehnaaz's hand, scattering across the floor.

Sidharth, standing nearby, instinctively jumped up to help. "Ruko main laa ke deta hoon." he exclaimed, hurrying over to where the papers had fallen.

Shehnaaz bent down, her hair spilling forward as she tried to gather the scattered sheets. Sidharth joined her, their heads bent together as they reached for the papers.

In the chaos of the moment, their hands touched, sending a spark of electricity through both of them. Shehnaaz's eyes met Sidharth's, and for a fleeting instant, they just stared at each other, the world around them melting away.

The air was charged with tension as they froze, hands still touching, eyes locked. It was as if time had stopped, leaving only the two of them, suspended in this moment of connection.

Krish and Veer now widened their eyes noticing what was going between them.

"Bhai tu sahi tha. Ab toh mujhe bhi doubt ho raha hai." Said Krish suspiciously.

"Ladka apna gaya haath se." Said Veer and they laughed silently looking at each other.

Meanwhile Sidharth, still holding Shehnaaz's gaze, slowly smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Shehnaaz's cheeks flushed, and she smiled back, her lips curving upward.

As they finally broke apart, Sidharth handed her the gathered papers, their fingers brushing once more.

"All set?" he asked, his voice low and gentle.

Shehnaaz nodded, her eyes still shining with the memory of their shared moment. "Thanks," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

They stood up and went back to their positions. Sidharth took his guitar while Shehnaaz arranged the papers in order. They both pretended to focus on the work but during that time, they kept stealing glances.

"Guys ab suru kare?" Asked Veer bringing them back to earth.

They both nodded in yes and started practising.

After their jamming session was over, Shehnaaz picked up her bag and asked looking at Sidharth, "Hum shaam ko mil sakte hai?"

"Shaam ko kis liye?" Asked Sidharth.

"Woh tumne kaha tha na tumhe apne naye song ke lyrics pe kuch opinion chahiye? Abhi toh main college jaa rahi hoon, aur tumhe bhi cafe jaana hai. Toh hum shaam ko yaheen pe milte hai aur lyrics ke baare mein discuss karte hai."

"Oh! That will be great." Said Sidharth smiling excitedly.

"Ok then, shaam ko milte hai."

Shehnaaz smiled beautifully and waved him bye. After she left, Veer and Krish went towards Sidharth.

Sidharth was smiling unnecessarily looking at her retreating figure but as soon as his eyes fell on his friends, he made his usual serious face. But they didn't stop giving him teasing looks.

"Kya hua? Aise kyu ghur rahe ho?" He asked avoiding eye contact.

"Pehle tu baata kya chal raha hai tum dono ke bich?" Asked Veer raising his eyebrows.

"Kya chalega? We are in good terms now. Aur jab dono ek hi band mein hai toh kab tak ek dusre ko ignore karenge? It's better na ki hum bhi thode cordial ho jaaye." Said Sidharth trying to sound casual.

"Barabar..." Said Krish nodding in agreement and then asked, "Lekin yeh lyrics ka kya chakkar hai? Kabhi humse toh lyrics ke regarding koi opinion liya nahi tune. Aur suddenly tujhe uske opinion ki zaroorat padh rahi hai?"

"Haan kyu ki..... Woh tum dono gadho ki tarah nahi hai. Woh serious hai aur usko samajh zyada hai."

"Bhai samajh na humko bhi hai. Acche se samajh rahe hai ho kya raha hai." Said Krish and Veer smiling teasingly.

"I know tum log topic ko kis direction mein le ke ja rahe ho. But let me inform you, aisa kuch nahi hone wala. Mujhe apni life mein filhaal toh koi distraction nahi chahiye." Said Sidharth to which Veer and Krish nodded in disbelief.

"Chal bhai. Suru hogaya iska same dialogue. Jab tak yeh pyaar mein puri tarah se dub nahi jayega tab tak isko samajh nahi aayega. Humein kya? Hum chalte hai."

Saying that, Veer kept his hand on Krish's shoulder and they started leaving.

"Shaam ko milte hai..." Said Krish suddenly turning to Sidharth, mimicking Shehnaaz, making Sidharth widened his eyes.

"Saalon tum dono ki toh...."

Sidharth ran behind them and while they left from there giggling.

"Kuch bhi bolte rehte hai." Thought Sidharth making a serious face, trying not to smile or blush.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the city, Shehnaaz made her way from college to their jamming spot. She had been looking forward to this meeting with Sidharth all day, eager to discuss the lyrics of his new song.

As she turned the corner, she spotted Sidharth already seated on the stairs, his guitar case beside him. He looked up and caught her eye, flashing a warm smile.

"Hey!" He exclaimed standing up immediately as if he had been waiting for long.

Shehnaaz's heart skipped a beat as she quickened her pace, her feet carrying her towards him with a sense of excitement. "Hi! Sayad main thoda late hogayi." she said, slightly out of breath. "Mujhe laga tha cafe close hone mein time lagega. Sorry if I kept you waiting for long."

Sidharth shook his head, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Nahi main toh bas abhi abhi aaya." he replied, his voice low and smooth. "Woh aaj cafe zaldi close aa gaya tha na isliye..."

He lied as he took early leave from cafe only for her.

Shehnaaz smiled, feeling a sense of ease wash over her.

"Yeh toh acchi baat hai... Chalo ab mujhe apna naya song sunao. Phir mere unke lyrics pe apna opinion deti hoon." she said, taking a seat beside him on the stairs.

As they settled in, Sidharth pulled out his guitar and began to strum a soft melody. Shehnaaz listened intently, her eyes closed, letting the music wash over her.

After a few moments, Sidharth stopped playing and turned to her, his eyes serious. "So, what do you think of the lyrics?" he asked, his voice filled with anticipation.

Shehnaaz opened her eyes, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Sidharth... It's beautiful ," she said, her voice sincere. "But I think ek line pe thoda kaam karna padega..."

Sidharth leaned in, his eyes eager. "Kis line pe?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Shehnaaz took the paper of lyrics from Sidharth, her fingers brushing against his as she did so. She scanned the lyrics, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the line that had been bothering her.

"Accha toh yeh line jo hai..." Shehnaaz said, her voice trailing off as she pointed to the paper.

Sidharth leaned in, his eyes following hers to the line in question. But as he gazed at her, he found himself becoming lost in the intensity of her focus. The way her eyebrows furrowed in concentration, the way her lips pursed in thought... it was as if the entire world had melted away, leaving only the two of them.

Shehnaaz, oblivious to the effect she was having on Sidharth, continued to discuss the line, her words spilling out in a passionate torrent. Sidharth's eyes drifted from the paper to her face, his gaze drinking in the sight of her.

The way the fading light danced across her features, highlighting the curves of her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes... it was as if he was seeing her for the first time. The music, the lyrics, everything faded into the background as he became lost in the beauty of the girl beside him.

"Bas itna sa change kar do, kaam ho jayega. Baki sab badhiya hai." Said Shehnaaz giving the notes of lyrics back to Sidharth, breaking his thoughts.

"I knew it ki iss mein kuch toh problem thi. Ab jaa ke yeh sahi lag raha hai." Said Sidharth taking back the notes and edited those parts.

"You know abhi tak maine jitne bhi songs likhe hai, mujhe humesha unn mein koi na koi kami lagi hai. Maine Veer aur Krish se kayi baar pucha hai par unhone humesha mere lyrics ki tarif hi kiyi hai. Par main khud kabhi satisfy nahi ho paata tha. Lekin aaj pehli baar, mujhe mere lyrics bilkool perfect lag rahe hai.....Thanks Shehnaaz." He said softly looking at her to which she smiled.

"Iss mein thanks ki kya baat hai? Main tumhare band mein hoon toh mera farz banta inn chizon mein tumhari help karna. Yaa phir tum abhi bhi mujhe band ka hissa nahi maante?"

Sidharth widened his eyes and immediately said, "Arrey nahi nahi aisa nahi hai..."

Sidharth was about to explain himself when Shehnaaz started laughing.

"Main mazak kar rahi thi. Mujhe pata hai tum ab pehle ki tarah nahi sochte." She said to which he smiled sleepishly rubbing own his temple.

"Accha yeh toh hogaya. I think I should...."

Sidharth knew what she was about to say. So he interrupted in between saying, "Kuch khane chale? Bohut bhukh lagi hai mujhe. Aaj lunch bhi skip kar diya tha."

Shehnaaz paused for a while and then said nodding, "Okay."

They both stood up together while Sidharth said, "Baatao kya khana hai tumhe, treat main dunga."

"Kyu? Treat toh main bhi de sakti hoon."

"Haan but tumne meri aaj itni help kiyi. Badle mein treat toh mujhe hi dena chahiye na apni dost ko."

"Dost?" Asked Shehnaaz with little disbelief. "Tumne mujhe dost kaha?"

"Kyu kuch galat kaha maine?" Asked Sidharth to which Shehnaaz smiled and nodded in no.

"Nahi actually... Woh baat hai yeh hai ki... tum mere pehle male friend ho.." She said making him confused.

"What? You don't have any male friend?"

"No. Asal mein main girls' school se pass out hoon, nd then girls' college mein hi admission liya. Isliye aaj tak meri sirf female friends hi rahi hai. Main ladkiyon ke around hi zyada comfortable feel karti thi. Par tum teeno se mil kar mera yeh opinion toh definitely change hua hai."

"Here the credit goes to Veer and Krish. Because unn dono ne hi tumhe band mein comfortable feel karwaya hai. I was very rude that time." Said Sidharth feeling guilty.

"Aisa nahi hai. Tum apni jagah sahi the. Tumne koi uncomfortable feel nahi karaya mujhe. Even main classical singer ho ke rock band mein fit ho paayi toh sirf tumhari wajah se. I have learnt a lot from you Sidharth."

"So do you count me as your friend?" Asked Sidharth smiling excitedly.

"Of course. Aur iss hi khushi mein apne first male friend ko treat main dungi. Now follow me."

Saying that with attitude, Shehnaaz started going leaving Sidharth confused.

He chuckled and ran behind Shehnaaz, trying to catch up to her. "Arrey par treat toh main dene wala tha!" he exclaimed, laughing.

Shehnaaz giggled and quickened her pace, her long hair bouncing behind her. "Nahi, nahi, main hi dungi!" she said, her voice filled with amusement.

Sidharth caught up to her and tried to block her path, but Shehnaaz dodged him easily. "Tumse toh nahin hoga!" she teased, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

Sidharth grinned and tried again, but Shehnaaz was too quick. They continued to chase each other, their laughter and banter filling the air.

Finally, they reached the food stall, and Shehnaaz declared, "Main jeet gayi!" as she handed the vendor some money.

Sidharth pretended to sulk, but his eyes betrayed his amusement. "Theek hai, tum jeet gayi," he said, smiling. "But next time main hi jeetunga!"

"We will se." She said flipping and both of them chuckled together looking at each other.

The evening passed like this.

As the days turned into weeks, the friendship between Sidharth and  Shehnaaz continued to blossom. Their jamming sessions became a regular affair, with each member bringing their unique energy and talent to the table.

Their jamming sessions, had now become a source of joy. They would often lose track of time, immersed in their music, their laughter, and their camaraderie.

As time passed, Sidharth and Shehnaaz's friendship continued to grow, extending beyond their jamming sessions. They would often meet up outside of rehearsals, walking together, enjoying street food, and sharing stories.

Sidharth, who had initially been hesitant to open up, found himself comfortable around Shehnaaz. He would share his thoughts, his dreams, and his fears with her, and she would listen intently, offering words of encouragement and support.

Shehnaaz, too, found solace in Sidharth's company. She would confide in him about her struggles, her aspirations, and her passions. Sidharth would offer guidance, drawing from his own experiences, and help her find solutions to her problems.

Together, they would attend concerts, music festivals, and other events, bonding over their shared love of music. They would often find themselves lost in conversation, discussing everything from their favorite artists to their personal philosophies.

Their friendship deepened, and they began to share everything with each other and didn't understand when they came so close.

Their friendship became stronger, a bond that went beyond music, beyond the band, and beyond words. They had found a true friend in each other, a connection that would last a lifetime.

It was the last day of the rehearsal. The concert would held two days later and they were now giving their best.

But suddenly they stopped their jamming as they heard a female voice.

"Guys I'm back!"

A girl walked in seeing which Sidharth, Krish and Veer's faces grew serious and they looked at each other.
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