Sidharth pulled away from their embrace and looked at Shehnaaz with a mischievous grin. "Chalo utho"

Shehnaaz raised an eyebrow, curious but still a little weighed down by her emotions. "Kiu?"

"Khana nahi khana tumhe kiuki mujhe to bhook lagi hai zoro ki" He said looking at the clock as it's 10 pm already.

"Sorry sorry main bhul gai main na jaldi se kuch bana deti hu". She said and stood up but he hold her hand and make her sit beside him.

"Tumhe banane ki zarurat nahi hai betho idhar shanti se"

"Phir bahar se thodi mangana hai roz roz bahar ka khana acha nahi hota." She said glaring at him as the cup noddles empty cup was laying on the table. He smile nervously.

"Bahar ka kiu khana ye MasterChef Sidharth Shukla hai na" he said, dramatically puffing out his chest.

She blinked at him, her lips twitching at his sudden confidence. "Aap aur cooking? Mujhe lagta tha aap bas coffee aur maggi expert ho"

Sidharth placed a hand over his heart, pretending to be deeply offended. "Oye! Tumhe yeh galatfahmi kaise hui? Tumhe meri MasterChef skills ke baare me pata nahi hai, Shehnaaz Gill"

Shehnaaz chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "Acha, to aap khud khilane wale ho mujhe? Theek hai, mujhe dekhna hai aapke yeh ‘skills’"

"Challenge accepted!" Sidharth announced, grabbing her hand and leading her to the kitchen. "Aaj tumhare liye ek khaas dinner banega. To tum bas baitho aur dekho"

Shehnaaz perched herself on a stool nearby, watching as Sidharth rolled up his sleeves with a theatrical flair. He opened the fridge and started pulling out random ingredients, looking as if he had it all planned, though his expressions betrayed the fact that he had no clue what he was doing.

"Hmm… toh hum banayenge… ek signature pasta, Sidharth Shukla Special Pasta" Sidharth declared, holding up a packet of spaghetti.

"Pasta? Aapko pata bhi hai kaise banate hai?" Shehnaaz asked, her tone half-teasing, half-concerned.

"Bas dekhti jao" he said with a wink, as if he was Gordon Ramsay reincarnated.

But as Sidharth started cooking, it became evident that his self proclaimed expertise was more fiction than fact.

First, he tried to boil the pasta, but forgot to add salt to the water. "Oh… yeh toh reh gaya" he muttered, quickly tossing in a handful of salt, only for some of it to spill all over the counter.

Shehnaaz could not hold back her laughter. "Sidharth, itna namak daaloge toh pasta nahi, namak paani banega!"

"Main test kar raha hoon tumhari cooking skills ka" Sidharth said, smirking despite the mess. "Yeh meri secret strategy hai"

"Strategy toh kaafi fail lag rahi hai abhi tak" Shehnaaz teased, giggling as he fumbled with a bottle of olive oil, which slipped from his hands and landed with a loud clatter on the floor.

"Koi baat nahi," Sidharth said, picking it up like a defeated warrior. "Yeh toh bas shuruat hai. Ab dekho asli magic"

As he moved on to the sauce, he chopped onions with exaggerated care, looking up at Shehnaaz every few seconds as if asking for approval. When a piece of onion fell to the floor, he bent down dramatically, scooped it up, and looked at her with a mock serious expression. He intentionally do mistakes to make her laugh.

"Dekha? Main floor ki bhi safai karta hoon. Kitne talents hain mujh me"

Shehnaaz shook her head, her cheeks hurting from smiling so much. "Aapki talent list toh kabhi khatam nahi hogi, Sidharth"

When he finally assembled the pasta and plated it, he placed the bowl in front of her with a triumphant grin. "Aur lo, tumhare liye specially banaya gaya Sidharth-style pasta."

Shehnaaz looked at the dish, which was admittedly a bit of a mess. But she could see the effort he had put in, and more importantly, the lengths he had gone to just to make her smile.

"Ye pasta toh michelin star chef ki tarah lag raha hai" she said, taking a bite.

"Kya taste me bhi world class hai?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

She pretended to think, chewing thoughtfully. "Hmm… thoda zyada namak hai, aur thoda zyada sauce. But" she paused, giving him a genuine smile, "isse zyada perfect dinner maine kabhi nahi khaya"

Sidharth's grin widened, and he leaned against the counter, satisfied. "Mujhe pata tha. Maine tumhari smile ke liye hi banaya tha, aur woh mil gayi"

Shehnaaz set her fork down and stood up, walking over to him. "Sidharth, aap jaante ho? Aapko dekh kar mujhe lagta hai ki agar aap mere saath ho, toh main kisi bhi problem ka samna kar sakti hoon"

He looked at her, his playful demeanor softening into something more tender. "Aur tum jaanti ho, Shehnaaz? Tum meri zindagi ki sabse achhi recipe ho, jisne meri life me saare masale ghole hai"

She blushed, shaking her head at his cheesy line, but the sincerity in his voice made her heart flutter.

As they cleaned up the kitchen together, laughing over the mess he had made, Shehnaaz felt the heaviness in her heart lift completely. Sidharth's goofy antics, his endless attempts to make her laugh, and the way he looked at her with nothing but love and care everything reminded her that no matter what happened, they would always have this.

It was not about the perfect pasta or the romantic lights, it was about the way he made her feel. Safe. Loved. Like she was finally home.

After cleaning up the kitchen, Sidharth poured two glasses of orange juice and handed one to Shehnaaz. They sat down on the couch, the room still glowing softly from the string lights on the balcony. The playful energy from earlier lingered, but there was a new warmth between them one of quiet understanding and love.

Sidharth leaned back, watching her sip her juice, her expression lighter now. "Feeling better?" he asked gently.

Shehnaaz nodded. "Much better., Sidharth, I didn't even realize when all my worries melted away with you"

He smirked. "Bas ab tum samajh lo, I'm not just a director or your boyfriend. I'm also your personal stress reliever. Anytime, anywhere."

Shehnaaz laughed softly, setting her glass down. Sidharth leaned back on the couch after their laughter had subsided, his eyes lingering on Shehnaaz's glowing face. She was still smiling softly, her earlier worries momentarily forgotten, and he could not help but marvel at how beautiful she looked when she was happy.

He took a sip of his juice and then set the glass down, an impish grin spreading across his face.

"You know" he began, his tone casual but laced with something playful, "I think dinner was great, but I'm still craving something… sweet"

Shehnaaz turned to him, her brows knitting slightly in confusion. "Sweet? Like cake?"

Sidharth chuckled, shaking his head. "I was thinking of something even better. Something instant, jo banane ki zarurat na ho"

Shehnaaz tilted her head, clearly not following. "Instant? Chocolate ya ice cream le aate hain fridge se"

He leaned a little closer, his voice dropping to a softer, teasing tone. ,"Shehnaaz, tumhe abhi tak samajh nahi aaya? Main kis dessert ki baat kar raha hoon?"

She blinked, her confusion deepening. "Kya? Aapko clearly bolna chahiye, Sidharth. Main mind reading nahi kar sakti"

Sidharth sighed dramatically, resting his head against the back of the couch as though he were utterly defeated. "Yaar, itna hint de diya, aur tum phir bhi nahi samjhi. Mera dessert ka matlab… tumse ek kiss maang raha hoon"

Her eyes widened, her cheeks immediately turning crimson. She stared at him, utterly flustered. "K-kiss? … seriously?"

He smirked, nodding as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Haan, seriously. But sirf agar tum comfortable ho. Nahi toh main apne orange juice ke saath adjust kar lunga"

Shehnaaz's heart pounded in her chest. She looked at him, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. The way he had asked playful yet respectful, teasing but leaving her with the choice, made her feel safe, even in her nervousness.

She hesitated for a moment, then shyly averted her gaze. "Aapke hints itne confusing the, Sidharth. Seedha bol dete"

Sidharth chuckled softly, sitting up straight. "Acha, ab pata chal gaya toh kya decision hai, madam?"

Before he could finish, Shehnaaz leaned forward quickly and pressed a feather light kiss to his lips. She pulled back just as fast, her cheeks burning. "Bas, itna hi milega."

For a moment, Sidharth was stunned, his hand instinctively going to the spot where her lips had brushed his. Then, a slow smile spread across his face, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Yeh toh cheating hai, Shehnaaz" he said, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "Main proper dessert maang raha tha."

Shehnaaz crossed her arms, trying to mask her embarrassment with defiance. "Proper dessert? Aapko yeh bhi zyada lag raha hoga"

He leaned closer, his voice soft but teasing. "Acha? Toh ab main kuch maang bhi nahi sakta?"

She shook her head firmly, though her smile gave her away. "Bilkul nahi."

Sidharth laughed, leaning back again. "Theek hai, Shehnaaz. Tumhari marzi. Par yeh baat toh clear ho gayi ki tum ek ‘instant dessert’ ke concept se door bhaag rahi ho"

Despite herself, she laughed, shaking her head at his antics. The tension between them melted away, replaced by a warmth that lingered long after their conversation ended.

Though her heart was still racing, Shehnaaz couldn't deny the flutter of happiness she felt. And as they sat there, laughing and teasing each other, she realized that Sidharth had succeeded once again in making her forget her worries, even if only for a little while.

______________________________

A few days had passed since Shehnaaz had confided in Sidharth about her parents intentions to force her into marriage. Though the weight of their threats still loomed over her, Sidharth's unwavering support had given her a sense of courage she hadn't felt before. However, she had not anticipated the lengths her parents would go to.

That evening, the theater was alive with activity. The cast and crew were busy with rehearsals, preparing for their upcoming play. Shehnaaz was working in a corner, going through her script, when the door to the rehearsal hall swung open forcefully.

She looked up, startled, as her parents entered, their stern faces radiating disapproval. Vidyut, who had accompanied them, looked helpless, his shoulders tense.

"Shehnaaz!" her father’s voice boomed, silencing the chatter in the room. Everyone turned to look at the unexpected intruders.

Shehnaaz stood up, panic flashing across her face. "Papa? Aap yahaan kaise?"

"Kuch baat karni hai aao" he hold her hand and take her towards a corner.

Her mother crossed her arms, her gaze icy. "Hum yahaan tumhare bhale ke liye aaye hain. Tumhe zidd chhod kar wapas ghar chalna chahiye. Woh rishta humne tumhare liye fix kar diya hai"

Sidharth, who had been discussing a scene with Farah and Rishab, noticed the commotion and immediately made his way over. His protective instincts kicked in as he saw the distress on Shehnaaz's face.

"Shehnaaz, tumhare saath baatein karna toh bekaar hai," her father continued harshly. "Ab humne faisla kar liya hai. Tumhe us ladke se shaadi karni hogi. Bas"

"Papa, main..." Shehnaaz began, her voice trembling, but her mother cut her off.

"Bas, Shehnaaz! Tumhe hamesha hamare faisle ke khilaf chalne ki aadat ho gayi hai. Tumhare bhai ki shaadi tak humne bardasht kiya, par ab nahi"

Sidharth stepped forward, his voice firm yet calm. "Aap logon ki baat sunne ka to usko haq hai, par zabardasti ka nahi. Shehnaaz ab badi ho chuki hai. Uska faisla sirf uska hoga"

Her parents turned to him, her father glaring. "Aur tum kaun hote ho beech me bolne wale?"

"I'm someone who cares about her," Sidharth replied, meeting his gaze without hesitation. "Aur jo aap samajh nahi rahe, woh main samajhta hoon. Shehnaaz aapki beti hai, par uska haq hai apne liye faisla karne ka"

Her mother scoffed. "Care karne ka matlab yeh nahi hota ki tum uski zindagi ke faisle badalne lago. Tum toh bas ek outsider ho"

Sidharth clenched his fists, keeping his temper in check. "Aapke nazar me shayad outsider hoon, par Shehnaaz ke liye nahi. Main aur Shehnaaz ek dusre se pyaar karte hain, aur hum ab ek relationship me hain"

A stunned silence fell over the room. Shehnaaz's parents stared at him, their disbelief evident.

"Tum usse shaadi karoge?" her father asked mockingly. "Tum jaante bhi ho uske past ke baare me? Ya bass rang reliya manane ka shoq hai"

Sidharth's jaw tightened, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "Jaanta hoon. Pura Sach jaanta hoon. Aur aap logon ke baare me bhi ache se jaanta hu. Aur isliye main uska saath kabhi nahi chhodunga. Past ke naam par uska haq chheena nahi jaa sakta. Agar kabhi shaadi ka waqt aayega, toh wo mere saath hoga, uski marzi se. Aapki zabardasti nahi chalegi"

Shehnaaz's eyes welled up as she listened to him. The way he spoke, his determination, his love it was overwhelming.

Her mother looked at Shehnaaz, her voice rising. "Tum is ladke ke saath rehna chahti ho? Tumhe apne ma-baap ki izzat ki koi parwah hai bhi ya nahi?"

Shehnaaz, though shaken, found her voice. "Mujhe parwah hai, Ma. Isliye ab tak chup hu aur rahi baat inki to. Sidharth ne mujhe woh respect aur pyaar diya hai jo kabhi aap logo ne nahi diya. Main unse pyaar karti hoon, aur main unhi ke saath rahungi"

Her father's face turned red with anger. "To tum humse rishta todna chahti ho?"

Shehnaaz hesitated, her heart breaking at the thought, what relationship they were talking about, they broke every tie with her years ago. Sidharth placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Aap log usse samajhne ki koshish kare, to rishta tootega nahi. Par agar zabardasti karte rahenge, toh kya fayda uss rishtedari ka jo sirf naam kI ho?"

Before her parents could respond, Vidyut stepped forward, his voice firm. "Papa, Ma, bas kijiye. Shehnaaz ke saath zabardasti karna band kijiye. Agar aap uske khushi nahi dekh sakte, to uski takleef ka kaaran bhi mat baniye. Aap log apne decision par rethink karenge, tabhi aage baat hogi"

Her parents, though visibly angry, did not have much else to say. Her father muttered something under his breath before storming out, her mother following him.

As the theater fell quiet again, Sidharth turned to Shehnaaz, his eyes softening. "Tum theek ho?"

She nodded, though tears still shimmered in her eyes. "Aapne jo kiya… Sidharth, mujhe lagta hai main aapke bina kabhi itni himmat nahi kar paati"

He cupped her face gently, his touch reassuring. "Main hamesha tumhare saath hoon, Shehnaaz. Tumhare liye kuch bhi kar sakta hoon." She smiled faintly, leaning into his touch.

Sidharth smile softly, brushing away a tear from her cheek. "Tum meri duniya ho. Hum sab kuch ek saath face karenge, Shehnaaz. Tumhe kabhi akela feel nahi hone doonga"

She hugged him tightly, Vidyut smile and left from there silently knowing his sister is safe with him.

As the evening continued, the cast and crew subtly gave them space, letting the two bask in the moment. Though there were challenges ahead, for now, Shehnaaz felt a sense of peace knowing that with Sidharth by her side, she could overcome anything.

________________________________

That is it for today.

Hope you all like it. Asked me anything getting bored 🤓 kuch bhi Like about me, books, stories anythingggggg.

Thanks for reading.