Sidharth looked around for Shehnaaz and found her at the billing counter. He runs to her. The billing agent fed in the numbers in the register and generated the bill. He pays the Sodexo ànd picks up the bags while Shehnaaz had one bag and held Aadya's hand in another.

Sidharth: Hey Shehnaaz, why did you walk away without talking to Hema properly? I meet her and talk to her everyday in office, she wanted to speak to you. She was so excited to see you.

Shehnaaz glared at him and resumed walking without speaking a word. He looks at her perplexed.

Sidharth: What happened sweetheart? Why aren't you talking?

Shehnaaz: Cause I don't want to create a scene on the road. And for your information, I understood that you speak to her everyday at office. Infact you tell her much more than what she needed to know. What's the need for me to speak to her when you've told her everything already. Or does she want to learn detailed story of my life before my mom went to (whispers so that Aadya doesn't listen) prison or my life at the orphanage?

Sidharth: Shehnaaz, I didn't intended to share my story with her but she saw Gunjan's picture in my wallet when I was showing your and Aadya's picture to her and she turned out to be Gunjan's acquaintance. That's when I explained her very briefly about Gunjan's death in accident and I being married to you, and it went obvious that Aadya's birth mother is Gunjan.

Shehnaaz: I've started to feel like an option in everyone's life. The way she spoke I felt that I wasn't Aadya's mother at all. Do you even realise how difficult it is to raise a new born child? I swear on everything dear to me that I never for once think that she isn't my daughter and I shouldn't love her. It hurts! Hurts when people show sympathy not knowing that it is actually my love for her than charity or sympathy.

They reached home and unlocked the door. Sidharth firmly places his hands on her shoulder.

Sidharth: Sweetheart, I have told you this earlier as well when Gunjan's parents commented on you and I am telling you again don't think about other's opinions about us. We know what we are and I know that you love Aadya more than anyone in your life. And who said you are an option in our life? You are our life!

Shehnaaz: (eyes well up) I am not your life. Infact I am no one in your life. (Sobs) You don't love me and that's why you've been ignoring me since whole week.

Sidharth: No my dear! It's true that I am maintaining distance but it isn't because I don't love you. I love you a lot. I just don't want you to give up on your dreams. You are managing Aadya but we also need to be aware that our intimacy can lead to pregnancy. Which means a bigger responsibility which will push you away from your goal and dream.

Shehnaaz: So you plan to distance from me for 6 years? Until I complete my B.Ed?

He was speechless.
6 years is a long time. I am not being lusty but I spent over 3 years without giving any thought for my bodily desires. Now finally when I became active, I find it difficult to suppress it for another long period.

Sidharth: To achieve something, we need to sacrifice something dear. Achieving your dreams would keep you happy forever in life in the future. Satisfying bodily desire is for short term pleasure. I don't want to risk your dreams for it.

Since Shehnaaz had difficulty in expressing her feelings she chose to be quiet and just nod in agreement by putting her head down.

Nothing was normal between them since she feared even touching him. She wouldn't even look at him properly at times just to avoid any kind of feeling to arise. She made sure that Aadya would sleep in between them and never to face him. But deep inside she loved him a lot and desires too aroused. She choose to take cold bath to keep her hormones in control. She kept herself super occupied with boutique, studies, Aadya's schooling and household chores.

He was feeling guilty when he found the total change in her behaviour towards him. It felt as if they were strangers again staying under one roof. He longed for her love and attention but these boundaries were created by himself.

Hema and Sidharth had grown to be very good friends since they had been spending entire time together in the office. They joked, laughed and even did a bit of leg pulling. Hema even dropped him in her car near his home in the evening and picked up in the morning.

A week passed by and it was Friday. He returned home late as he had went with his team on Hema's farewell dinner. He kept his bag in the room, changed his clothes, kissed little Aadya who was sleeping and went out.

Shehnaaz was sitting and studying in the hall quietly. He went and sat near her. She looked at him through the corner of her eyes while still keeping her head glued down at the book.

He pulled her book and kept aside and lifted her head by moving her chin to face him and went closer to her and kissed her lips. She was shocked and didn't reciprocate with fear of rejection, but he didn't stop until she gave up. The suppressed emotions broke out like the flood breaks the dam due to extreme pressure. They finally ended up making love passionately.

As they were done with cleaning up the mess after the steamy romance, Sidharth gives her the contraceptive pill and asks her to take it.

Flashback:

It was Hema's farewell day. The entire team went out for farewell dinner at the restaurant. The team ordered food and Sidharth excused himself to attend nature calls. When he went inside the restroom, did his duty and was washing his hand a man followed him.

Man: You seem to be very close to Hema. Tell her to stay away from my son, Ayush. She ain't getting the custody of him in this life.

Sidharth looked at him and he understood that he was Hema's ex husband by her talk.

Sidharth: Are you Hema's husband?

Aditya: Ex-husband! Aditya!!

Sidharth: I don't know anything about your equations or past. But whatever I've heard from her, she is a good mother, and she has been fighting for his custody in the court. Let the court decide.

Aditya: Listen, you don't know her, I had been in relationship with her since 7 years. I know her in and out by now. She is not only a bad wife but an ugly woman. Did she tell you the reason behind our divorce?

Sidharth: (nods no) I am just her friend. That's her personal life matter, why would she?

Aditya: Even I was her friend in college. I secretly liked a girl named Gunjan. She was my best friend, so was Hema. I told Hema about my liking towards Gunjan and she acted like a saint. Somehow, Hema created a rift between me and Gunjan and I drew apart from Gunjan and married Hema.

Life was good initially, we had our child and I had started giving more importance to my job as my responsibilities had increased after becoming a father. I traveled most of the time due to my job.

One day, I planned to surprise her by coming home as my business trip got cancelled. But my life shattered when I found another man in my bed when I returned home. She cheated on me and gave me the reason that I couldn't satisfy her sexually as I was always traveling.

I took divorce from her and now I don't want my child to be with her. I saw you with her few times so I thought you are a better person to tell her to stay away from me. She is a great manipulator.

Sidharth knew he wasn't lying as he had heard about Aditya from Gunjan, who often described him as her once best friend whenever she shared her college stories.

Sidharth: I am sorry Aditya. I am Sidharth, Gunjan's husband and Hema's colleague. I can't really help you in this but I am sure court will give decision in your favour looking at the reason behind the divorce.

Aditya: I hope so. I left my job and joined a new one recently since she gave court the reason that I travel a lot and wouldn't take care of my son.

Sidharth: I know adultery is a crime in relationship, but I feel may be, if you could have taken this step of changing your job earlier, you could have saved your marriage as well.

Aditya: I was true to her and she wasn't vocal about her needs. She never gave me a chance and instead satisfied her thirst somewhere else. Anyways, what's done is done. I am now only concerned about my son.

Sidharth: Hmmm..

Aditya: How is Gunjan?

Sidharth: She... She passed away 3 years back in a road accident.

Aditya: Oh God!! I wish I had not broken my friendship with her. I feel disgusted now. This news was the last thing I would have wanted to hear. I am sorry buddy. (Hugs him) I understand the pain of losing someone in life. Hema is as good as dead to me after what she did to me but the pain is same cause I loved her once.

Sidharth: Hmm.. You will be alright buddy. Just don't stop your heart from loving someone right again. I am saying this because I have found that in my wife, Shehnaaz, after 3 years of being in pain. So would you. (He said the name so that Aditya could know that it wasn't Hema)

Aditya: Congratulations! I am happy for you!

They exchange each other's number and Sidharth goes out to join his team.

Sidharth: So Hema, what are you going to do for income after this?

Hema: Hmmm.. I have some savings for now.. Will see what happens in future.

Sidharth: You must be getting alimony from your ex-husband as well right?

Hema: No, I am not getting any money from him.

Sidharth knew it as the law denies alimony to a lady if the reason of divorce is due to wife's adultery. He understood that Aditya wasn't lying but this incident and the reason was enough to know that he was doing a mistake himself by denying love to his wife. Though he trusted Shehnaaz wouldn't commit such crime like Hema, he didn't wanted her to have any complaints or dissatisfaction from their marriage.

He did some research on the internet about the contraceptive measures and got the contraceptive pills for her.

Flashback ends..

___________________

To be continued.. ❤️❤️