"People go through so much pain, trying to avoid pain..!"

"Saab utho intezaam ho gaya hai ropeway wala aa gaya hai"

Sidharth moved in his sleep with constant patting when he felt something heavy on his head..it was then he realized he was sleeping Shehnaaz's lap and it was her head on top of it..she too woke up with the voices and immediately got up from the bench making his head almost fall with a jerk...

"Aa..gadhi h yar" he said rotating his neck as he stood up

"Haan to pillow nahi hu m" she said scrunching her nose looking at creases on her dress

"Han to m bhi nahi hu, tumhara sir bhi tha na mere upar"he retorted back irritated..she became silent for a moment and the guy who came took it as an opportunity "Arre ap lad lo, fir ropeway wala chla jayega...to ek or raat mil jayegi yha"

"Nahii" they both almost shouted and looked at each other...

"Aap chalo, hum bhi chalte hai peeche..." Sidharth said as he looked besides for her, he found the spot where she was empty..he panicked for a second and looked around to find her doing something facing the trench..he almost panicked as he ran towards her

"Kya kar rahi ho tum...Dimag kharab ho gya hai..Vaidehi ka to socho" he almost shouted at her shaking life out of her

"Tum pagal ho..Ya dimag kabhi tha hi nahi tumme..m yha gargle karne aayi thi ism Vaidehi kha se aa gyi" she shouted at almost equal volume

"Oh" he said finally realising the grip sighing and trying to calm down

"Vo I don't feel comfortable without gargling" she said now softly looking at fear and anger on his face skeptically

"I need a smoke" he just almost mumbled and left from the place

"He is actually a jerk..problem kya hai iski..bi-god m yha se jaldi se niklu, I don't want to see him also..Or smoke yukk..that's disgusting" she says scrunching up her nose irritated now..(If you know her you need to know she hates smoking like Satan hates a good deed)

Here Sidharth came back mumbling to himself..a bit calmer but still angry "God I need to stay away from this woman..she will drive me nuts..She is bad news...I might be getting too involved."...he walked talking to himself when she saw her waiting for him, so they can leave, "Arghhh..why do i get this strange feeling looking at her..gussa karne ka man kyu nahi karta" he almost scolded himself as he walked towards her..she also walks towards him..and they signal each other to climb back up..As they were about to leave Shehnaaz bumps into him...she almost shouts irritated "Dikhta nahi hai kya"

"Tumhe dikhta hai na..to tum dekh kar chal lo" he reverts back equally annoyed

And there they start climbing up with Shehnaaz on side of hills and Sidharth on trench side..at a distance, still he kept himself close enough to save her from anything that may happen..reason? usse bhi nahi pata..but all condolence he gave himself was that "It is for Vaidehi"

They got in ropeway sitting either side and not talking to each other like two kids who just fought about last piece of chocolate and are now looking at opposite sides..As they reached they quickly got in a cab, with Sidharth sitting on passenger seat and she sitting on back one..they refuted to look at each other.."

As soon as they got down they immediately rushed in and they saw all kids dressed up in school uniform to leave for workshop..Shehnaaz looked around but before she could she saw two excited kids running to them..Vaidehi immediately came and wrapped her tiny hands around her waist.."Maa are you fine"

"I am fine guddu..Are you ok" shehnaaz asked picking her in her arms and kissing her on cheeks, who in turned kissed her whole face ..

"I am your strong girl..I am fine maa"

Shehnaaz was about to continue when she heard whining sounds behind her and they both turned around with Vaidehi still in her arms who was patting her forehead now as they saw Rohan in Sidharth's arm almost crying and whining

"Chachu..apko..pata hai kitna worried tha m..apko kuch hua to nahi...or aap kaha gaye the...kyu gaye the..ap muje chor kar mat jana ab" he says hugging his neck and wrapping himself on shoulders while Sidharth was just rubbing his back calming him down..Shehnaaz let Vaidehi down who just shook her head walking towards the duo..She pulled Sidharth's Tshirt who crouched down looking at her and smiling instantly at her face..as he kneeled down..Vaidehi patted at Rohan's head from back slowly.."Ae double battery..aise kya ro raha hai..aa gye na ab..you are such a kid" she says as Rohan comes out of Sidharth's shoulders looking at her teary eyed and then frowning while wiping his tears.."Aapko pata hai chachu Vaidu na ek bar bhi nahi royi..and ussi ne mujhko dress up hone m bhi help ki..she is so nice" he says smiling at Vaidehi who just hugs Sidharth as he keeps Rohan down..."Hi daa" she mumbles to him

"Hi my lil queen"

"I knew ap dhyan rakhoge maa ka" she says..Shehnaaz who was crouching at Rohan wiping his face and correcting his hair immediately looked up on this line with wide eyes questionably at Sidharth and Vaidehi..Sidharth just ignored her gaze and replied stroking Vaidehi's hair "And I knew that you are strong girl or ap apna or Rohan ka dhyan rakhogi..Da is proud of you"

"Thank you" Vaidu said kissing his cheek and caressing his face with her tiny palm..Sidharth just felt like crying out of happiness and how much her little gestures just fill his heart, he could do anything in this minute to preserve this moment for lifetime..he felt a strange kind of calm and peace when he is with her..she unintentionally puts medicine to wounds he does not know he had..and he just looks at her adoringly.."Da are you fine" she asks him still cupping his cheek with her one small hand and her one hand on his back...Sidharth just nods as he feels his eyes fill up to the newness of this feeling of love and adoration he has towards her..he just kisses her cheeks and forehead..Shehnaaz was just witnessing this strange scene from a distance as Rohan held her finger in one hand, she just could not comprehend Vaidehi proximity to this stranger, whom she hardly met two days ago, she has not seen her like this ever she remains in a bubble like her but with him she is just like she is with her and that thought disturbed her and scared her at the same time..

"Vidu get down bcha..we need to go..Come I will drop you both"she almost yelled

Vaidehi was about to get down from his arms reluctantly when Sidharth held her back.."I will drop them both..Come Rohan"

"Why will you drop them..who are you to drop them" she retorted back annoyingly

"The same who that you are when you drop Rohan..and don't argue in front of kids, look at yourself you are drained..tum jao..i will drop them" before she could respond he held Rohan's hand and walked out of the door with Vaidehi in his other arm

"Jerk" Shehnaaz just mumbled to herself as she walked back to her room.

It was evening after dinner they all were supposed to meet for bonfire..As Shehnaaz and Vaidehi walked out of the room they were met with similar faces walking out at the same time..The kids high fived each other smiling at the elders they both walked in front of them as Sidharth and Shehnaaz walked behind them looking everywhere but each other.."Sorry" they both said together

"Han" Sidharth said almost shocked hearing that she is apologizing

"Haan I got annoyed at you for such a small reason..you were just concerned maybe"

"Maybe?"Sidharth asked raising his eyebrows..

"whatever" Shehnaaz just said looking away

"Me too"

"Kya" she said raising eyebrows at him

"I should not have shouted at you"

"True" she replied non chalantly"

Sidharth just raised his eyebrows shaking his head in disbelief.."Han isliye bas..."he said as they reached the terrace where bonfire setup was there..Anshuman came to them as soon as they reached.."Hey I was worried ya..Are you good?" he asked side hugging Shehnaaz.."Ya m fine..Thank you for taking care of kids" Shehnaaz just retorted hugging him back and smiling at him.."No Need you know that..We had fun..Right Vidu" he says high fiving Vaidehi who highfived him back smilingly..Sidharth just stood behind silently witnessing the scene, he felt more of a tinge in his heart when Vaidehi and Anshuman highfived..he had no justification but he felt a prick at seeing his closeness with girls, he made a mental note again to stay away from them and just held Rohan's hand taking him with himself to other side as Vaidehi, Shaurya, Anshuman and Shehnaaz sat together laughing about something....

"Ok..so all kids assemble here and make a circle at one side" the teacher announced..as the kids ran to the spot teacher asked them to.. Vaidehi immediately went upto Rohan and stood besides him making him smile..Sidharth who looked at Rohan's frown turn into smile in an instant just winked and smiled at his lil queen who gave him a flying kiss, which he pretended to catch..Shehnaaz who was witnessing all this felt happy seeing her bundle of joy smiling..but felt a strange fear crippling her heart..which she could not understand..

"Ok so as kids are in for scavenger hunt...we adults can have some fun how about a game of two truths and one lie!?" Everyone cheered.."Ok so each have to tell two truth statements about oneself and one lie..and the person sitting opposite has to guess which statement is lie, if you can't guess it right you are out"

As the evening progressed slowly the circle became small as players kept loosing..it was just 4 players left now..Anshuman, Shehnaaz, Samaira and Sidharth..It was Anshuman and Samaira's turn and Samaira was out ..now it was Anshuman's turn to speak three statements while Sidharth had to guess...he just guessed it in an instant..Anshuman just smiled and shaked his head getting out of the game..leaving just Sidharth and Shehnaaz in the game..It was first Sidharth's turn and then Shehnaaz's turn each had to tell the host right answer in whisper and then after both of them answer to other's statements... winner shall be declared..

Sidharth started :

"I love trekking"

"I have not kissed anyone since we are here"

"I smoke"

Shehnaaz just stared at him and then looked away annoyingly replying the third one is a lie...while he just gazed at her face questionably her eyes which were hiding from his eyes .."Okay your turn Shehnaaz" the host who was actually a mid aged woman in her 50s said smiling at them..Shehnaaz looked around almost everyone had dispersed and some who were there were busy in themselves, it was just three of them sitting there, she wanted to leave but she knew she can't leave like a coward..So she reluctantly continued to finish the last round...

"I love pizza"

"I believe in casual sex"

"I love travelling"

"The third one is a lie" Sidharth said annoyingly and just getting up..he just shook his head as the host said "Unfortunately you both lose" It was the first time in his life Sidharth lost a game intentionally because for all it was he did not want to win like that...he knew that the first one was the right answer but he was too annoyed to take victory for such a game in sympathy from her..so he willingfully lost...the all kids were lined up as they all moved to dinner along with adults..Sidharth just looked at Shehnaaz with questioning eyes..who just avoided his gaze...As Shehnaaz was about to climb down the stairs..she felt a pull back..she immediately looked behind as he looked in her eyes and asked looking in her eyes directly "Why did you lose intentionally Shehnaaz..you knew which statement was a lie"

Stay tuned..

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