Shehnaaz was sitting on the floor and Amma bi was massaging her hairs.

"Amma bi wese to main aapse naraz thi lekin is massage ke baad mera gussa thoda shaant hai" Shehnaaz said sternly.

"Acha ji aur aapka ye thoda aur gussa kese shant hoga." Amma bi asked her with a smile.

"Aapke haath ki kheer se shaant ho sakta hai".

"Badmash" she hit her head lightly. Shehnaaz giggled.

"Wese ye chehre par chamak kesi? Jab se aai hu bohot chehek rahi hai tu hmm?" Amma bi asked in teasing tone.

"Aesa kuch nahi hai"

"Acha lekin Nargis to kuch aur hi keh rahi thi ki koi Sidharth sir hai jinke saath tu bohot waqt bitati hai"

Shehnaaz eyes got widened. "Bhabhi to kuch bhi bolti hai." She said with a shy smile remembering about him.

"Hmm zarur lekin milwana zarur apne us Sidharth sir se"

"Amma biiii" Shehnaaz winced and pout sadly.

"Bohot saalo baad Shehnaaz ko aese muskurate dekha hai ae khuda meri bacchi ki muskurahat banaye rakhna aur Sidharth ko bhi hamesha khush rakhna". Amma bi thought in her mind and smile. She make braid of her long hairs.

"Amma bi please main bacchi thodi hu champu lagungi aese". Shehnaaz complaint about it.

"Are chup kar itne ache baal hai chooti karne se ache honge aur".

Shehnaaz huffed, they are talking with Nargis and Vidyut enter in the house with a constant smile on their face.

"Kya baat hai bhabhi aaj to itna muskura rahe ho kya raaz hai jo chupa rahe ho?" Shehnaaz said in teasing tone.

"Ek good news hai" Vidyut said while Nargis look down shyly.

"Ya Allah sacchi" Amma bi giggled in happiness and hug Nargis.

"Koi mujhe bhi to batao kya good news hai" asked Shehnaaz standing their clueless.

Amma bi slap her head "pagal tu bua banne wali hai"

Shehnaaz look at them with open mouth and than jump in happiness. "Sacchi?."

Vidyut nodded, she hugged them tightly.

"Finally hamare ghar baby aayega oh my god I'm so happy bhai."

"Hmm ab tujhe special dhyan rakhna hoga Nargis ka"

"Are don't worry main apni pyaari bhabhi jaan ka dhyan rakhungi." Shehnaaz said while side hugging Nargis.

"Main kuch meetha lekar aati hu, Nargis beta betho." Amma bi said and headed towards kitchen.

The news of Nargis's pregnancy had brought an infectious wave of happiness into the household. Shehnaaz was overjoyed, her excitement spilling over into every corner of their cozy apartment.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Shehnaaz rushed to open it, only to find Sidharth standing there.

"Sidharth aap yaha?"

"Haan wo ye tumhari file mere pass thi mujhe laga story complete karni hogi." He pass her the file and look at her stick hairs. Her eyes got widened when she follow his gaze. She try to cover them with file but failed.

"Bola tha Amma bi se na kare lekin meri sunti kaha hai?" She murmured under her breath.

"Kuch kaha?." Sidharth asked her.

"You look cute by the way" he said with a chuckle.

She glare him and pout sadly. "I know main champu lag rhi hu aapko bhi abhi aana tha"

"Arey..." he was about to say something when a delivery boy interrupt.

"Mam aapka cake" he forward his hand towards her. She smile nervously and hesitant to take it when Sidharth understood and take it.

"Thank you", he said and take the cake. The delivery boy left from there. He give the cake to Shehnaaz.

"Thank you so much Sidharth, aap andar aaiye na wese bhi main aapko bulane aane wali thi" she said in crispy tone.

"Kiu?"

"Bhabhi is pregnant we are celebrating chota sa ghar me hi celebration hai"

"Oh that's a great news but mujhe abhi jaana hai i mean it's your family time and-"

Shehnaaz pulled him by the arm into the living room, where Vidyut and Nargis were sitting with beaming smiles. "Congratulations bolo!" she announced dramatically, clapping her hands together.

Sidharth's expression softened instantly. He turned to Nargis and Vidyut, offering them a warm smile "Congratulations, to both of you!"

Nargis chuckled. "Thank you, Sidharth. Aur tumhara yaha aana... lagta hai Shehnaaz ne apni family me officially add kar diya hai"

Shehnaaz, slightly embarrassed, shot Nargis a playful glare. "Bhabhi!" Then, turning to Sidharth. "Aap bethiye na"

"Are Shehnaaz ye taste kar" Amma bi said to her.

"Umm bohot tasty hai"

"Ye kon hai?" Asked Amma bi.

"Ye Sidharth hai, director Sidharth maine bataya tha na"

"Acha Sidharthhhh" Amma bi said in teasing tone. Shehnaaz glare her.

As the evening progressed, Sidharth found himself being swept into the joyous atmosphere. Shehnaaz was everywhere handing out sweets, adjusting decorations, laughing with Nargis, and stealing glances at him. He noticed how her joy seemed to light up the entire room, making everyone around her feel at ease.

At one point, Shehnaaz handed him a plate of samosas, her fingers brushing against his. "Aap bas ek guest ban kar mat baitho. Kuch kaam bhi karo."

Sidharth chuckled, taking the plate. "Guest? Tumne toh mujhe family ka hissa bana diya. Ab kaam karna toh banta hai."

"Bhai ye cheating hai aapne cake ka zyda piece liya" Shehnaaz try to snatch the cake when he pulled his hand up.

"Abey main bada hu na". He push her slightly.

"Ye hamesha aese hi ladte hai?" Sidharth asked Nargis.

She chuckle "haan ab zyda, pata nahi mera baby aayega to ye dono kese behave karenge, teen baccho ko kese sambhalungi me" she said dramatically, Sidharth giggle and move his head in disbelief.

"Order maine kara tha"

"Paise maine diye the"

As the evening wound down, Vidyut and Nargis retired for the night,
The night was quiet, with the stars scattered across the dark sky like silver dust. On the terrace, Shehnaaz and Sidharth sat side by side, the gentle breeze carrying a sense of calm. The silence between them was not awkward, it felt natural, like an unspoken understanding.

After a while, Sidharth broke the silence, his voice low and thoughtful. "You know, Shehnaaz, kabhi kabhi lagta hai hum apne dukh aur apni kahaniyon ko andar itna daba lete hain ki unka bojh hamesha saath rehta hai"

Shehnaaz looked at him, sensing a vulnerability she had not seen before. "Aapke andar kya hai, Sidharth? Kya chhupa rakha hai itne saalon se?"

Sidharth exhaled deeply, his fingers tracing the cool tiles beneath him. "Zoya" he said softly, the name carrying a weight of love and grief.

Shehnaaz tilted her head slightly, her curiosity evident. "Zoya? I know her name only"

His gaze remained fixed on the sky. "Meri zindagi thi wo" he began, his voice trembling slightly. "Meri girlfriend. We were classmates jab maine usko propose kara tha, i was too scared that time, but when she accepted it i felt like the happiest person. Hum dono ne saath me sapne dekhe the, ek puri zindagi ke. Lekin woh sapne adhoore reh gaye"

Shehnaaz hesitated before asking, "Kya hua tha? Zoya ko"

"Eight years ago, ek accident me woh chali gayi," Sidharth said, his voice heavy. "Aur uske jaane ka dosh main khud par leta hoon. Us din main usse rok sakta tha... par maine nahi kiya. Har din lagta hai ki agar maine kuch alag kiya hota, toh shayad woh aaj zinda hoti"

Shehnaaz felt her heart ache for him. She reached out instinctively, her hand give him little comfort. "Aap apne aap ko kyun dosh de rahe ho? Kabhi kabhi kuch cheezein humare bas me nahi hoti. Zoya ke saath jo hua, woh ek haadsa tha, Sidharth. Warna log to bina matlab ke kisi ko bhi doshi thera dete hai"

"Matlab?" Sidharth straightened slightly, his full attention on her.

Shehnaaz drew in a deep breath, her fingers trembling slightly as she spoke. "8 saal ki thi main jab mere saath wo sab hua" she chuckle sadly "Mere mummy papa, unhone mujhe kabhi apnaya hi nahi phir"

"Main kuch samjh nahi" Sidharth asked gently.

Shehnaaz hesitated before replying. "Main sirf 8 saal ki thi jab... jab mujhe molested kiya gaya tha" Her voice wavered, but she kept going. "Aur mere parents ne mujhe doshi thehra diya. Unhone kaha ki maine hi kuch galat kiya hoga. Tabhi yeh sab hua"

Sidharth's fists clenched at her words, a surge of anger rising in him, not at her, but at the cruelty she had faced. He did not interrupt, letting her continue.

"He wa....was my cousin brother, itni samjh nahi thi ki wo mere saath kya karta tha i...i was too small to understand anything aur us hi baat ka fyda uthaya usne, pehle sirf gandi tarike se touch karta tha, but ek din" her body start shriving.

"It's okay Shehnaaz" he rub her back.

She shook her head and continued. "Diwali ka din tha hum sab bahar the tab wo aur uske dost aaye mere pass aur ek ko...kone me le gaye sacchi mujhe kuch samjh nahi aaya tha mere saath kya ho raha untill....untill they told me to rem...remove my clothes. Main itna dar gai thi us time un logo se aur jab bhagne ki koshish ki to they ... they start forcing themselves on me...i...i almost got raped agar bhai waha time par nahi aate to" Sidharth shocked to the core he couldn't believe on his ears. She went through this much in such younger age.

Sidharth was easily able to understand her condition so he just went near her and hugged her tightly, first she tried hard to come out of his strong arms but he didn't let her go away, Shehnaaz was able to hear his heart beats clearly she doesn't know why but his warmness and his heart beats we're giving her patience, calmness and she was loosing control over her emotions, she didn't wanted to but her emotions and heart took over her mind for the first time in so many years she completely loss her control and hugged him as tight as possible and cried really really hard, he had never saw someone crying this hard he was getting worried for her but decided to let her cry.

After crying for more than 15 minutes her thought to calm her down or else her health will get affected.

"It's okay let be sometimes it's okay to cry and let your feeling come out" he gently stoke her hairs.

"Meri kya galti thi Sidharth, mere to parents tak ne mera saath nahi diya kehte the chup raho kisi ko kuch mat bolo lekin meri kya galti thi is sab me" she sob in his arms.

"It's not your fault it's not fault balki tum to sabse strong ho wo is sab ka aese saamna kiya" he kiss her hairs although his eyes were filled with tears. For the first time his own pain felt lesser than her. He lost Zoya in an accident but here Shehnaaz was living with her horrible past and face it everyday.

"Vidyut bhai mere saath khade rahe" she said, her voice steadier now. "Woh hamesha mere saath rahe, mujhe ek nai zindagi di. Lekin hamare parents ne unhe bhi tod diya, sirf isliye kiuki unhone Nargis bhabhi se shaadi ki jo alag dharm ki thi. Tab humne decide kiya ki hume unka nahi, ek dusre ka sahaara chahiye"

Sidharth's voice was calm but firm. "Shehnaaz, tumne jo saha hai... woh bohot mushkil tha. Lekin tumne apne liye ek nayi shuruat kari. Tum par mujhe fakr hai. I'm so proud of you"

Shehnaaz smiled faintly, her pain feeling lighter under his steady gaze. "Aapne bhi toh apne dukh ke saath jeena seekha hai, Sidharth. Shayad isi liye hum ek dusre ko samajh paate ha"

He look at her, his expression raw and conflicted. "Uske baad maine apne dil ke darwaze band kar diye. Mujhe laga tha, koi aur kabhi wo jagah nahi le sakta" He paused and looked at her, his voice softening. "Par ab kabhi kabhi lagta hai ki woh darwaze khul rahe hain"

Shehnaaz felt a warmth rise in her chest but quickly looked away, not trusting herself to speak.

They sat there in silence again, the weight of their stories now shared, the burden a little less heavy. The stars above seemed brighter somehow, as if they too acknowledged the bond forming between these two souls, two people healing together.

_________________________

That is it for today.

Hope you all like it.

Thanks for reading.