The days turned into weeks, and the invisible thread that connected Sidharth and Shehnaaz grew stronger. They did not talk about the hug, nor did they need to. It lingered between them, a quiet acknowledgment of trust, a bond neither had sought but both cherished.

The theater echoed with the sound of rehearsals as Sidharth directed the actors on stage. Shehnaaz sat in her usual corner, her notebook open, scribbling away as she fine tuned the script. Every now and then, her eyes would drift toward him, observing the way his brow furrowed in concentration, the way he gestured with his hands to guide the performers.

Jise zindagi dhoondh rahi hai
Kya yeh woh maqaam mera hai?

Sidharth, sensing her gaze, would glance back occasionally, offering a small smile that made her heart skip.

Yahaan chain se bas ruk jaaun
Kyun dil yeh mujhe kehta hai?

Sidharth, on the other hand, found himself looking at her more than he intended. There was something captivating about her, something in the way she spoke, the way she carried herself, reserved but open, gentle but strong. It was the little things, the way her hair fell over her face when she concentrated, the curve of her lips when she smiled, the delicate grace in her movements.

Jazbaat naye se mile hain
Jaane kya asar yeh hua hai

Every time their eyes met, there was an understanding between them that neither could put into words. There was no rush, no urgency. But it was there, this quiet understanding that was slowly, almost imperceptibly, turning into something more.

Ik aas mili phir mujhko
Jo qubool kisi ne kiya hai

It was silly, she thought. He was just being polite, but every time their eyes met, something in her chest tightened.
Maybe he was right, she can her life a second chance.

The following day, as they worked on a scene where Sidharth needed to give a supportive hand to one of the actors, his hand accidentally brushed Shehnaaz's shoulder. It was the slightest touch, barely noticeable to anyone else, but to them, it felt like the world had paused.

Haan, kisi shayar ki ghazal jo de rooh ko sukoon ke pal

Sidharth immediately pulled his hand back, feeling a rush of heat crawl up his neck. Shehnaaz froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her pulse raced, and for a moment, all she could hear was the pounding of her own heart.

She quickly looked up at him, searching his face, but he looked away, his expression unreadable. The air between them felt thick, heavy with the tension they both tried to ignore.

"I...I'm sorry" he said, his voice low, though she knew it was more to himself than to her.

Koi mujhko yoon mila hai
Jaise banjaare ko ghar

Shehnaaz could not bring herself to respond immediately. She just nodded, her cheeks burning. "It's okay" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

And then, just like that, they both pretended it did not happen, continuing with the rehearsal, though every movement felt charged with an energy neither knew how to handle..

The days that followed were filled with stolen glances and hesitant touches.
In the theater, during rehearsals, Shehnaaz and Sidharth found themselves standing just a little closer than necessary, their proximity electric.

Naye mausam ki seher,
Ya sard mein dopeher

He would pass her a script, their fingers brushing lightly. She would walk past him, their arms almost touching, but never quite making contact.

Koi mujhko yoon mila hai
Jaise banjaare ko ghar

But every time their eyes met, it felt like the world slowed. There was an understanding in those moments, a quiet realization that they were both in this, whatever "this" was together. They had both been through pain, both carried scars. But in each others presence, they found a tentative peace.

The connection between Sidharth and Shehnaaz continued to grow, subtle yet undeniable. It was like the slow burn of a flame ~ unseen, but felt, every time their eyes met or their hands brushed, every time they spoke a little longer than necessary, every time the silence between them was comfortable and full of meaning. Neither of them spoke about what was happening, but the small, secret moments between them spoke louder than anything they could say.

The day had been long. Rehearsals had gone late, and everyone was tired, but they still had a few more things to finish. The theater, though empty, seemed to hum with the quiet energy of the actors, the stage still fresh with the echoes of the day's performances.

Shehnaaz was going over the set designs and notes for the upcoming play, seated at one of the tables near the edge of the stage. Sidharth was doing the same at the opposite end, his eyes focused on his clipboard.

Shehnaaz, engrossed in her work, stood up abruptly to grab some papers on the other side of the room. Her mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with the weight of everything going on, her growing feelings for Sidharth, the pressure of the upcoming play, her own personal battles that she had not quite shared with him yet.

As she took a step back, her heel caught on the edge of the stage, and before she could react, her balance faltered. She felt herself falling, everything spinning too fast, her arms flailing as she tried to catch herself.

Jaise koi kinaara deta ho sahara
Mujhe woh mila kisi mod par

But before she could hit the ground, a strong hand shot out, grabbing her waist just in time.

Koi raat ka taara karta ho ujaala
Waise hi roshan kare woh sheher

Her heart leaped in her chest, and she froze. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked up, startled, meeting Sidharth's eyes. He held her firmly, his other hand resting lightly on her back, steadying her.

Dard mere woh bhula hi gaya, kuch aisa asar hua
Jeena mujhe phir se woh sikha raha

He was close, much closer than she had ever been with anyone since... well, since she stopped trusting people. The space between them felt charged, but for the first time, she did not feel panicked. There was no fear, just his presence.... strong, calm, steady.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Shehnaaz could feel the warmth of his hand on her waist, the gentleness of his grip, and the steady rhythm of his breath matching hers. The world outside seemed to fade, and all she could focus on was the way he was holding her, protecting her, keeping her from falling.

Hmm, jaise baarish kar de tar, ya marham dard par

Sidharth, too, could feel his heart racing. It was instinct to catch her, to steady her, but something deeper stirred inside him.

Koi mujhko yoon mila hai jaise banjaare ko ghar

The nearness, the way she felt so fragile yet so strong in his arms, it was all too much. He did not want to let her go.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low, his hand still gently gripping her waist. He knew the question was unnecessary, he could feel the rapid rise and fall of her breath, her pulse quickening but he needed to hear her say it. Needed to make sure she was alright.

Shehnaaz blinked, trying to regain her composure. She felt her cheeks flush, her heart hammering in her chest, but she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah. I...I'm fine. Thank you"

Naye mausam ki seher,
ya sard mein dopeher

There was a silence, and for a second, neither of them moved. The hand on her waist felt like a lifeline, and she did not want to break the connection. It was the first time in a long while that she had not pulled away from someone's touch.

Koi mujhko yoon mila hai jaise banjaare ko ghar

Sidharth's grip loosened slightly, and his eyes softened as he took a small step back, giving her space.

In that moment, something shifted again something subtle, but deep. She had not realized just how much she had trusted him until now. His presence, his touch, had been a safe space for her, and for the first time in a long time, she did not feel afraid.
___________________

Shehnaaz stood in the garden behind the theater, her fingers outstretched as a vibrant orange butterfly flitted around her hand. She giggled softly, her childlike wonder glowing in the late afternoon light.

Muskaata yeh chehra deta hai jo pehra
Jaane chhupaata kya dil ka samundar

From a distance, Sidharth leaned against the doorway, his gaze fixed on her. Her joy was so unguarded, so pure, that he couldn not help but smile. It was a rare sight to see her like this, carefree from her usual guarded self.

Auron ko toh har-dum saaya deta hai
Woh dhoop mein hai khada khud magar

Shehnaaz followed the butterfly to a rose bush, reaching out to touch its delicate petals. Suddenly, she winced as a thorn pricked her finger. A bead of blood surfaced, and she gasped, stepping back.

The moment Sidharth saw it, his heart clenched, panic flashing across his face.

Chot lagi hai usey, phir kyun mehsoos mujhe ho raha hai?

"Shehnaaz!" he called, rushing over to her. He grabbed her hand instinctively, his touch careful, his brows furrowed in concern. "Dikhao"

"Zyda nahi lagi choti si chot hai
" Shehnaaz said softly, surprised by the intensity in his expression.

Sidharth did not seem to hear her. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a handkerchief and wrapping it around her finger with such tenderness that it made her chest tighten. "Dhyan kiu nahi rakhti apna lag gai na" he said, his voice strained, as if the sight of her hurt even slightly had affected him more than it should.

Shehnaaz looked up at him, their eyes meeting, and for a moment, the world around them disappeared. "Itna dard bhi nahi ho raha" she whispered, her voice almost shy.

Dil, tu bata de kya hai iraada tera?

Sidharth exhaled deeply, his hand still cradling hers. "Lekin mujhe to ho raha hai" he said quietly, his words carrying a weight she had not expected.

The butterfly hovered between them for a moment before fluttering away, leaving them in the stillness of something unspoken yet deeply felt.

_________________________

Rehearsals had run late, and the city streets were quieter than usual as Sidharth and Shehnaaz stepped out of the theater. Shehnaaz was about to call for a cab when Sidharth casually mentioned, "Shehnaaz main drop kar deta hu ek hi jagha to jaana hai and it's late, and I don't trust these empty roads"

Hmm, main parinda be-sabar, tha uda jo dar-ba-dar

She looked at him, her eyebrows slightly raised, and gave a knowing smile. He gestured toward his bike. "Jaldi aao"

Shehnaaz nodded, her smile lingering. She knew better than to call out his excuse. She had noticed the small ways he tried to be around her more offering to help, checking in, or simply finding reasons to talk. And honestly, she did not mind.

Koi mujhko yoon mila hai jaise banjaare ko ghar

As they mounted the bike, Sidharth handed her a helmet, his fingers brushing against hers for a fleeting moment. "Hold me" he said, his voice quieter now, as if even saying those two words meant something more.

Naye mausam ki seher, ya sard mein dopeher

She hesitated, her fingers lightly resting on the edges of his jacket, unsure at first. But as the bike roared to life and they took off, the wind rushing past them, she instinctively tightened her grip, her arms wrapping around him. It felt strange but also... safe.

Koi mujhko yoon mila hai jaise banjaare ko ghar

Sidharth felt her hands on his sides, her light hold growing firmer, and he could not suppress the small smile that crept across his face. The warmth of her presence behind him was comforting in a way he had not felt in years.

Jaise banjaare ko ghar

The ride was quiet, save for the hum of the engine and the occasional rustling of leaves in the cool night air. Sidharth purposefully took a slightly longer route, claiming it was to avoid potholes, though he knew better.

Jaise banjaare ko ghar

He simply wanted to prolong this moment one where he did not have to pretend, one where she was just there, close and unguarded.

Jaise banjaare ko ghar

Shehnaaz, of course, caught on. She rested her chin lightly against his shoulder for a moment, her voice soft but teasing. "Aap ko pata hai na ye lamba rasta hai ghar ke liye."

He chuckled, though his ears turned red under her gaze. "I know", he glancing at her briefly in the mirror. "Maybe I just like the company"

Shehnaaz smiled, hiding her amusement behind her helmet. "Me too."

As they reached her apartment, Sidharth parked the bike and walked her to the door. He lingered for a moment, hands in his pockets, as if reluctant to leave. "Hmm ghar aa gaya so good bye" he said, looking down at her.

Shehnaaz tilted her head, her gaze softening. "Thank you Sidharth"

He chuckle and said "Ghar chhorde ke liye?"

She giggled but than smile softly "nahi hamesha mera khayal rakhne ke liye"

His heart skipped, but he kept his tone light. "Hamesha"

As she stepped inside, she glanced back briefly, catching him watching her with a quiet expression she could not quite decipher. And as she closed the door, she could not help the small smile tugging at her lips, knowing that tonight had meant more to both of them than they had said aloud.

_____________________________

That is it for today.

Hope you all like it.

Thanks for reading.