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Shehnaaz and Sidharth's flight tickets got booked after one week. In these days she stayed in Sidharth's house, though she was hesitating at first but Sidharth and Diya forced her to stay as they didn't want to leave her alone.

In these days, Shehnaaz got along with both of them very easily, as they never made her feel like an outsider. She also healed a little from her broken state, the pain didn't go away totally but she made herself mentally strong and decided that she would confront her boyfriend face to face and also make him realise his true feelings and get him back.

On the other hand, Sidharth had doubt whether she would be successful in this or not but he decided that he would support her in this and stand beside her like a true friend. He didn't realise when this crazy, silly girl became so important to him and he got attached to her in a way he never expected. He just wanted to bring her smile back, bring that happiness back which she lost after her boyfriend left her and for that he would do anything.

It was two days before their flight.

Sidharth was going to leave for office when Diya asked, "Bhaiya mujhe aap se ek permission chahiye thi. Kal 12th December hai.... Agar hum kal apne ghar mein ek chhoti si party rakhe toh......"

Before Diya could finish, Sidharth gave her a stern look.

"Bhaiya I promise hum zyada logo ko nahi bulayenge. Mere kuch friends hi aayenge aur aap ke kuch friends, agar aap chaho toh... At least iss saal..."

Sidharth sighed and said, "Diya you know I don't like all this. Iss saal bhi woh hi hoga jo har saal hota hai. Agar tujhe kisi restaurant mein jaana hai toh bol main leke chalunga. Hum apni tarah se celebrate karenge. Okay?"

"Okay Bhaiya." Said Diya little sadly to which Sidharth smiled and caressed her head.

Then he left from there while Shehnaaz came to Diya.

"Kal kuch special hai kya?" She asked curiously.

Diya turned to Shehnaaz and said, "Yup... Kal mere eklaute pyaare lekin khadoos Bhaiya ka birthday hai."

Shehnaaz gave a huge smile and said excitedly, "Kal Sidharth ka birthday? Oh my god phir toh humein kuch accha sa plan karna chahiye uska birthday celebrate karne ke liye."

"Main uss hi baare mein baat kar rahi thi. Par iss baar bhi kuch fayda nahi hua. Because Bhaiya does not like celebrating his own birthday."

"Aisa kyu?" Asked Shehnaaz frowning. "Celebrate toh karna chahiye. After all birthday saal mein ek hi baar aata hai."

"Yeh baat unko kaun samjhaye? You know har saal mera birthday woh bohut dhum dham se celebrate karte hai, mere friends, apne business partners aur bhi kayi bade bade guests ko bulate hai. Lekin jab bhi apna khud ka birthday aata hai, woh kehte hai unhe birthday parties pasand nahi. Mujhe aaj tak pata nahi chala kyu."

Shehnaaz thought for sometime and said, "Mere paas ek idea hai. Sidharth ko parties nahi pasand, it's ok. Lekin hum aisa kuch toh kar hi sakte hai jis se usko apna birthday yaad rahe....umm.... Ek kaam kar sakte hai, hum dono milke ghar pe hi cake banate hai."

"Maine try kiya tha ek baar but it turned out to be a disaster. Tumhe cake bana na aata hai?"

"Don't worry, mujhe bohut accha cake bana na aata hai, meri cousin sister ne sikhaya tha mujhe." Said Shehnaaz smiling.

"Toh phir done. Hum iss baar ghar pe hi cake banayenge."

"Aur saath mein hum Sidharth ke liye birthday cards bhi banayenge. Accha aaj raat 12 baje celebrate kare toh kaisa rahega?"

"Best rahega. Matlab humein abhi se taiyari suru kar deni chahiye......." Diya suddenly stopped looking at Shehnaaz.

"Waise maine toh pucha hi nahi... You are okay na?... I mean you are not in a position to celebrate. Tumhari life mein itna kuch chal raha hai aur main tumhe inn sab chizo mein shaamil kar rahi hoon...."

"Diya it's absolutely fine." Said Shehnaaz stopping her. "Meri life mein kuch bhi thik nahi hai, aur mujhe paata nahi kab thik hoga, kabhi hoga bhi yaa nahi. But today it's not about me, it's about Sidharth. Uss khadoos se toh main uska birthday celebrate karwa ke rahungi."

Then they both giggled and started preparing for Sidharth's birthday.

At Night...

"Arrey tum dono kaha leke jaa rahi ho mujhe? At least meri aankhein toh khol do. Ho kya raha hai idhar?" Asked Sidharth being impatient. His eyes were blindfolded while Shehnaaz and Diya took him to the terrace, holding his hands.

They made him stand in front of the cake and removed his blindfold. He became surprised seeing the cake and all the decorations they did, only for him.

"Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday dear Sidharth / Bhaiya

Happy birthday to you."

Shehnaaz and Diya clapped together making Sidharth smile unknowingly.

Though he liked it, he asked looking at them, "Yeh sab kya hai? Diya tujhe pata hai na mujhe birthday ke din cake katna nahi pasand?"

Before Diya could reply, Shehnaaz said, "Oo khadoos admi, cake na birthday ke din hi cut kiya jaata hai. Aur kaise insaan ho tum? Hum dono ne itni mehnat kar ke cake banaya, itna sab arrange kiya, aur tum humein appreciate karne ki jagah humein daant rahe ho?"

"Accha yeh tumhara idea tha. Tabhi main sochu, meri behen ke dimag mein aise ideas nahi aa sakte. Yeh kisi pagal ka hi kaam hai."

"Tumne mujhe pagal kaha?"

"Kyu tumhe koi doubt hai?"

"Tum...."

Before they could start fighting, Diya interrupted them.

"Guys guys apna yeh pati patni wala jhagra abhi band karo. Bhaiya zaldi se cake cut karo na." She said.

With a sigh, Sidharth blew the candle and then cut the cake.

Sidharth fed Diya first and she also fed him.

"Mm... It's delicious... I can't believe yeh tune banaya hai." Said Sidharth while eating.

"Maine toh bas thodi si help kiyi hai. Banaya toh Sana ne hai." Said Diya and Sidharth looked at Shehnaaz.

He went towards her and said smiling, "Thanks for this."

Shehnaaz took a piece of cake and said while feeding him, "Thanks mat bolo. Bas aage se apna birthday aise hi maana na. Iss se sab ko khushi milti hai."

Sidharth chuckled and said feeding her as well, "As you wish."

"Mmm... Accha bana hai... But meetha thoda kam hai I guess."

"Mujhe toh thik hi laga." Said Sidharth while eating from the same piece. "Waise mujhe paata nahi tha tumhe cake bana na aata hai. I thought tum kisi kaam ki nahi ho."

"Tum samajhte kya ho mujhe? Bohut talent hai mujh mein."

"Accha haan... Bakwas karne ka talent toh hai."

"Shut up...."

Sidharth and Shehnaaz were busy in each other when Diya thought something and clicked a picture. Then she looked at it and smiled as they were looking adorable together.

After that, Shehnaaz and Diya gave Sidharth the birthday cards they made for him.

"...... Thanks for being my protector, my guardian and my bestest friend. You are the best brother in the world. Happy birthday Bhaiya."

Reading Diya's card, Sidharth gave her a tight hug while Shehnaaz smiled seeing their bond.

After that Sidharth was going to open Shehnaaz's letter when she said, "Rehne do."

Sidharth looked at her being confused.

"Isse abhi mat padho. Isse tab padhna jab main tumhare saath na rahu aur tumhe meri yaad aaye... Yeah I know uske chances bohut kam hai kyu ki maine tumhe hadh se zyada pareshan kiya hai aur aage sayad aur bhi karungi but still.... Thodi si bhi yaad aaye toh isse padh lena."

Shehnaaz giggled while Sidharth smiled forcefully as his heart sank at the thought that she would leave someday. He shouldn't have felt this way as he already knew it, she couldn't stay forever with him. And why did he even want to keep this crazy with himself? He had no answer.

"Accha mujhe na bohut neend aa rahi hai so I'm going to my room. Good night guys." Said Diya and left from there giving these two privacy.

"Matlab birthday ke din yeh sab mujhe saaf karna padega?" Asked Sidharth with disbelief.

"Abhi saare servants so rahe honge isliye tumhe hi saaf karna padega." Said Shehnaaz giggling and Sidharth made a sad face.

"Chalo main tumhari help karti hoon." She said further and they both cleaned the table together.

After that they stood at the terrace while the cold wind was blowing.

"Tumhe bhi neend nahi aa rahi?" Asked Sidharth looking at Shehnaaz who nodded in no.

"Accha ek baat puchhu?" She asked suddenly. "Tum apna birthday kyu nahi celebrate karte?"

Hearing the question, Sidharth stayed silent for sometime and then said, "Mann nahi karta Shehnaaz... Actually jab main chhota tha, Mom and Dad har saal bohut dhum dham ke saath mere birthday celebrate karte the. Jab se woh gaye hai, mujhe apne birthday ke din ek khalipan sa mehsoos hota hai. Unke bina sab kuch adhoora lagta hai. Upar se saal ke baki din main Diya ko zyada time nahi de paata, apne business partners, clients, employees, inhi ke saath busy rehta  hoon. Isliye birthday ke din mujhe parties and yeh hi saare log apne aas paas nahi chahiye. Main apna birthday sirf uss insaan ke saath spend karna chahta hoon jo mere sabse kareeb hai, aur woh hai Diya. I celebrate my birthday only with her, woh bhi bohut simple tarike se. Haala ki usko itna sab kuch maine kabhi baataya nahi, bekar mein emotional ho jaati bechari."

Shehnaaz kept staring at him while listening to him. A smile lingered on her face thinking that he shared this thing with her, something which he didn't even share with his own sister.

"Iska matlab... Tumhe accha nahi laga hoga na ki iss baar tumhe apna birthday mere saath bhi celebrate karna padha. Because I'm not someone you are close to." She said after sometime.

"Kisne kaha?" Asked Sidharth frowning and Shehnaaz looked at him being little confused.

"I mean... Haan hum kuch hi din pehle mile hai par... You have become one of my closest persons... Tumhari wajah se iss saal mera birthday sabse zyada special raha and I really want ki main har saal apna birthday tumhare aur Diya ke, tum dono ke saath maana saku... Tum aaogi na mere birthday pe?"

"Sochne do....ummm..." Shehnaaz acted like thinking and then said dramatically, "Tum nahi bhi bulaoge tab bhi aa jaaungi, bina invitation ke, chahe main duniya ke kisi bhi kone mein rahu."

Sidharth smiled and asked forwarding his little finger, "Promise?"

"Pakka wala promise." Said Shehnaaz giggling and joined her little finger with his.

They smiled together, looking at each other for sometime. The night passed like this.

Soon the day of their departure came. Shehnaaz bid Diya goodbye before leaving.

"I'll miss you Sana. Dobara zaldi aana." Said Diya hugging Shehnaaz.

"Zaldi aaungi. And I'll miss you too Diya." She said and they broke the hug.

After Shehnaaz left, Sidharth was about to go behind her when Diya stopped him and handed him a photo.

"Iss photo mein woh sacchai hai jise aap dono dekh ke bhi undekha kar rahe ho." Said Diya teasingly, while Sidharth looked at the photo of his and Shehnaaz's which Diya took that day. A smile came to his face seeing the photo.

"Have a safe journey Bhaiya. And make sure ki woh kamina Sana ki life mein kabhi wapas na aa sake. I'm not sharing my Bhabhi."

Sidharth rolled his eyes and said, "Main waha usse uske boyfriend se milane jaa raha hoon. Isliye yeh stupid ideas apne dimaag se nikal de."

He smacked her head to which she made a face.

"Bye... and take care."

They waved each other bye and the Sidharth and Shehnaaz left for the airport.

After reaching the airport, Sidharth noticed Shehnaaz's scared face and asked, "Kya hua? Tum nervous ho?"

"Huh? Nahi toh." Said Shehnaaz smiling forcefully and then again made a scared face.

"If there is anything, please tell me. Maybe I can help you out."

Shehnaaz gulped and said, "Woh maine na ek baat tumhe nahi baatayi. Main aaj tak kabhi plan mein nahi baithi. Mujhe bohut darr lagta hai. Actually mere kuch relatives ki plan crash mein death ho gayi thi aur woh news sun ne ke baad se mere andar darr sa baith gaya. Even main toh passport bhi nahi bana ne wali thi yeh soch ke ki main kabhi foreign country nahi jaaungi but Ryan ne force kiya tha isliye bana na pada aur woh ab kaam bhi aa gayi lekin...."

She took a long pause and then suddenly asked, "Hum New York train se nahi jaa sakte?"

Sidharth immediately looked at her as if he had seen some ghost while Shehnaaz realised what she said.

"I know bohut stupid baatein kar rahi hoon. Actually pehle itna socha nahi tha but jaise jaise take off ka time nazdeek aa raha hai, tension ho rahi hai. But don't worry, I'll manage."

Saying that, Shehnaaz smiled nervously while Sidharth nodded in disbelief realising that his troubles wouldn't end so soon.

After sometime they both settled inside the plane. Shehnaaz was continuously looking outside the window.

"Accha aage jaa ke yeh plane crash hogaya toh? Utni uchayi se girenge toh bohut dard hoga na? Kahi hum marr toh nahi jaayenge?" She asked biting her nails.

"Shehnaaz why are you saying like this, aisa kuch nahi hone wala... Just relax." Said Sidharth being fed up.

"Accha agar by chance koi emergency hui toh...." She suddenly stopped getting a death glare from Sidharth.

"Accha thik hai main aur kuch nahi kahungi." Said Shehnaaz making a pout.

Suddenly the plane started moving.

"Oh my God! Take off hone wala hai? Ab kya hogaya?... No Shehnaaz, relax kuch nahi hoga tujhe... Everything is fine."

She took a deep breath and started murmuring, "New York New York very good very good, New York jaana very bad very bad... Train se jaana very good very good, plane se jaana very bad very bad..."

Sidharth looked at Shehnaaz with disbelief wondering she had gone crazy or what.

"Mera Ryan very good very good, uski girlfriend very bad very bad..."

Shehnaaz made a crying face and started saying, "Waheguru please bacha lo, mujhe itni zaldi aap ke paas nahi aana... Abhi meri umar hi kya hai.... Amaaaa..."

Sidharth noticed that everyone in the plane was only looking at her. He held Shehnaaz's hand and said, "Shehnaaz kya kar rahi ho? Meri taraf dekho... look at me!"

Hearing his stern voice, she looked at him and stopped panicking a little.

"Aise panick karne se problems solve nahi hoti, aur badh jaati hai. Aur tumhe darr kis baat ka hai? Idhar itne saare log hai, main hoon. Jo Shehnaaz akele Mumbai aane se pehle nahi dari, New York jaisi ek dusri country mein jaane ka decision lene se pehle nahi dari, woh take off se darr rahi hai? You are completely safe here. Apne dimaag ko shaant rakho aur apni pehli flight ka maza lo."

Saying that, Sidharth was about to leave Shehnaaz's hands when she held his hands tightly.

"Mera haath mat chhoro abhi... Thodi der aise rehne do." She said closing her eyes while Sidharth didn't remove her hands and kept looking at her with a smile on his face. Meanwhile Shehnaaz got some unknown strength holding Sidharth's hand and didn't leave them.

Soon the plane took off and Sidharth looked at the outside view.

He then noticed that Shehnaaz's eyes were still close when he said, "Zara bahar ka nazara dekho Madam, warna miss kar dogi."

"Take off hogaya?" Asked Shehnaaz opening her eyes and looked beside. She became surprised seeing the outside view.

"Wow! It's so beautiful. Yaaha se seher kitna chhota lag raha hai..." Said Shehnaaz excitedly while giggling forgetting her all fear, making Sidharth chuckle.

"Look at the clouds...."

Shehnaaz suddenly kept her on Sidharth's shoulder making his heart skipped a beat.

"Hum badalon ke bich se jaa rahe hai... it's so amazing..."

Whatever Shehnaaz said, didn't reach his ears as he became lost while staring at her.

He never saw this kind of innocence and childishness in anyone before. He always thought that one should be practical to survive in this world. We shouldn't get carried away by our emotions. His logical mind always said this to him. But after meeting her, his all logics failed. He started liking everything about her which he used to dislike before. He couldn't realise why she mattered to him so much. Whatever happened with her, was not his concern, right? Then why he was going all the way New York just for her? Why does he become completely lost whenever he looks at her? Why her smile was enough to make his day? Why does her mere touch make his heartbeat race? This was not something which happened before. Then why was it happening now?

"It's beautiful na?" Asked Shehnaaz suddenly turning to him, breaking his thoughts.

Sidharth smiled and said nodding in yes, "Indeed... It's very beautiful."
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