Months had passed, and the bond between Sidharth and Shehnaaz had only grown stronger. They were no longer just two individuals healing from their pasts, they were partners building a future. Life felt like a warm embrace, especially with the arrival of Nargis's god bharai (baby shower). The celebration was to be held at Shehnaaz's apartment, which had turned into a hub of joy and excitement.

The day began with a flurry of activity. Sidharth arrived early, rolling up his sleeves to help with the preparations. Farah and Rishab soon joined, adding their characteristic charm and wit to the mix.

"Shehnaaz, yeh flower arrangement ka kya scene hai?" Sidharth asked, holding a tangled garland of marigolds.

Shehnaaz turned around, her hands dusted with flour from rolling laddoos. "Sidharth, woh wall ke left side par lagana tha. Aapne ab tak nahi kiya? Bhabhi ke ghar wale aane wale honge"

"Yeh tumhare left aur mere left ka confusion hai" Sidharth teased, smirking. "Chalo, ab sahi jagah lagata hoon"

He make a garland and make her wear it. She was shocked.

"Are ye kya kar rahe ho aap?" She try to remove it but her hands are dusted. He giggle.

Farah chimed in, giggling. "Tum dono ka left right toh tab hi sahi hoga jab ek team banoge shaadi ke baad"

Shehnaaz blushed furiously, shooting a mock glare at Farah. "Tumhe kaam ke liye bulaya hai, matchmaking ke liye nahi"

Rishab, arranging cushions on the sofa, laughed. "Are Farah, unka time aayega. Abhi Nargis bhabhi ka din hai, focus on that"

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As the day progressed, the apartment transformed into a lively space. The guests were few, mostly family, but the atmosphere was electric with laughter and chatter. Nargis looked radiant in her traditional outfit, seated on a beautifully decorated swing as rituals were performed. Vidyut stood by her side, his pride and happiness evident.

Sidharth's parents mingled effortlessly with the crowd, warming up to Nargis's family. Rita maa in particular, could not stop smiling as she observed Shehnaaz's ease with everyone.

"Beta, tumne sab kuch kitne pyaar se arrange kiya hai" Rita maa said, pulling Shehnaaz aside.

Shehnaaz smiled shyly. "Maa, yeh sab toh Nargis bhabhi ke liye hai. Wo mere liye behen jaisi hai, aur maine akele nahi kiya Sidharth, Farah aur Rishab ne bhi help kri hai"

Rita placed a hand on her cheek. "Aur tum mere liye beti jaisi ho. Tumhara aur Sidharth ka rishta sirf pyaar nahi, ek blessing hai"

The words filled Shehnaaz's heart with warmth, and she hugged Rita maa, grateful for her acceptance.

"Guys itni rukhi sukhi god bharai achi nahi lg rahi let's make it more beautiful a games" Farah said loudly.

"Games? Konsa game?" Nargis mother asked.

"Amm let's play truth and dare" Rishab suggest it.

"Nahi" Nargis reject it.

"Than? Antakshiri?" Farah said.

"Nah" she again reject it.

"To bhabhi aap hi batao na aaj aapka day hai." Sidharth said.

Nargis smile, "Dum Charades khelte hai"

As per her wish, the family gathered in the living room for a lighthearted game of dumb charades. The laughter was infectious as everyone took turns miming movie names and the rest guessed.

"Ddlj?" Farah guessed it right and clap loudly in excitement. "Chalo Shehnaaz ki turn, tum log dusri team se koi bhejo"

It was Shehnaaz's turn when Sidharth suddenly stood up, gesturing to the group that he would be next.

Sidharth's mime was peculiar. He pointed to himself.

"Main?" Shehnaaz try to guess it. He shook his head. She pout and again try to guess. "Mujhse?"

He smile and nodded, then he held up an imaginary ring and finally mimed putting it on someone's finger.

"Engagement?"

The team members exchanged confused glances, while Shehnaaz tried to guess.

"Aap propose kar rahe ho?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

Sidharth nodded, encouraging her.

"Mujhse shaadi karoge?" she said, unsure but smiling.

Sidharth grinned and clapped, signaling she was correct. Shehnaaz jumped up in excitement. "Ye to easy tha!" she said, turning to high-five her teammates.

Farah and Rishab exchanged knowing smirks, motioning her to turn around.

"Are piche to dekho" Farah said, her voice almost sing song.

Shehnaaz frowned, confused, but when she turned, her breath caught.

Sidharth was on one knee, holding a sparkling ring in his hand. His eyes were soft yet brimming with confidence as he looked up at her.

"Shehnaaz" he said, his voice steady but filled with emotion, tum meri zindagi ki har khushi ho. Tum meri dosti ho, mera pyaar ho, aur mera ghar ho. Kya tum mujhse shaadi karogi?"

Tears welled up in Shehnaaz's eyes as she covered her mouth with her hands. The room fell silent, all eyes on her.

"Bol bhi de Shehnaaz ab dekh wo wait kar raha hai" Vidyut said with tear filled eyes.

She knelt down in front of him, holding his face in her hands. "Haan, Sidharth. Mujhe aapse shaadi karni hai" she whispered, her voice trembling with joy.

The room erupted in cheers as Sidharth slipped the ring onto her finger. Farah and Rishab hugged each other in celebration, while Vidyut clapped loudly, clearly impressed by Sidharth's gesture. His parents were adoring them.

As the couple embraced, Nargis said teasingly, "Shehnaaz, ye din to mere baby ko yaad rahega, ki kese uski bua ne uski god bharai ko special aur romantic bana diya tha"

Everyone laughed, and the celebration turned even more joyous. Sidharth and Shehnaaz journey had reached a beautiful milestone, one filled with love, acceptance, and the promise of a future together.

The celebration continued, but Sidharth and Shehnaaz found a quiet corner on the balcony to steal a moment for themselves.

Sidharth held her hand, the newly placed ring gleaming. "Tumne mujhe pura kar diya, Shehnaaz"

Shehnaaz smiled, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Aur aapne mujhe woh pyaar diya jo maine kabhi socha bhi nahi tha"

They stood there, watching the city lights twinkle in the distance, their hearts full of hope for the future.

"Oye love birds andar bhi aa jaao yaar" Rishab shout from the living room. They both blush and went inside.

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After Sidharth's heartfelt proposal, the atmosphere at Shehnaaz's apartment was charged with excitement. The guests, already in a celebratory mood, now had another reason to cheer. The ring on Shehnaaz finger sparkled as brightly as her smile, and Sidharth could not stop glancing at her, his heart swelling with pride and love.

As the evening settled, the families gathered in the living room. Nargis and Vidyut were seated on the couch, with Nargis glowing from her god bharai. Sidharth parents, sat nearby, their smiles evident as they watched the young couple. Farah and Rishab perched on the armrests, ready with their playful jabs, while Nargis's family mingled comfortably, adding warmth to the gathering.

Rita maa broke the silence, her tone full of mischief. "To Sidharth aur Shehnaaz, ab shadi ki date kab fix kar rahe ho?"

Shehnaaz turned crimson, lowering her gaze, while Sidharth scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

Ashok ji joined in with a chuckle. "Haan beta, proposal to ho gaya. Ab shaadi me der kyun?"

Farah could not resist. "Main suggest karti hoon ki jaldi karo. Waise bhi tum dono ab honeymoon phase mein ho!"

Rishab added, winking at Sidharth, "Aur haan, agar koi help chahiye toh mujhe batana. Mere yaar ki shadi hai saara kaam tumhara bhai karega" he said dramatically.

Farah raised her hand dramatically. "Arre Main sab kuch manage kar lungi. Shaadi ka stage, outfits, aur even bidaai playlist, sab meri responsibility!"

Nargis, seated beside Vidyut, chuckled. "Waise Shehnaaz, humari taraf se ek request hai, shaadi ke menu me gulab jamun zarur rakhna. Kya hai na ye tumhare bhanje ya bhanji ko bohot pasand hai"

Vidyut smirked. "Aur ek aur request shaadi mein Shehnaaz ko nakhre dikhane dena. Woh toh waise bhi iski aadat hai"

Shehnaaz groaned, hiding her face in her hands. "Aap log sab milke mujhe itna pareshan kyun kar rahe ho?"

Rita maa leaned forward, patting Shehnaaz hand. "Beta, hum sab sirf excited hain. Tum dono ek perfect couple ho, aur hum bas chahte hain ki tumhari shadi jaldi ho jaye"

Sidharth finally spoke, his voice steady but warm. "Maa, date fix karna to family ki responsibility hai. Hum dono toh bas yeh chahte hain ki dono families ka ashirwad ho, aur sab milke iss khushi ka hissa banein."

Nargis's mother smiled. "Aise sanskari ladka milna kitni badi baat hai. Sidharth, tumne Shehnaaz ka dil jeet liya hai, ab hum sabka bhi"

Farah, not done with her teasing, leaned towards Shehnaaz. "Waise Shehnaaz, tumhara bridal lehenga kaun design karega? Tumhe red chahiye ya pastel shades? Batao, abhi se booking karte hain"

Shehnaaz rolled her eyes but could not suppress a giggle. "Farah, agar tumhe sab kuch karna hai toh tum meri stylist bhi ban jao"

Sidharth interjected, smirking. "Aur main kya karunga? Kya mujhe sirf dulha ban ke baitna hai?"

Rishab slapped his back playfully. "Haan, aur kya? Dulha toh bas entry karta hai aur spotlight me rehta hai"

Vidyut shook his head with a laugh. "Shehnaaz, Sidharth ko handle karna tumhari responsibility hai. Yeh toh already dulha banne ke liye tayar hai"

As the laughter subsided, Ashok ji turned serious for a moment. "Beta, hum tumhare faisle se bohot khush hain. Tum dono ek dusre ke liye perfect ho. Aur jitni khushi tumhe dekh kar mil rahi hai, woh shabdon me bayan nahi ki jaa sakti"

Rita maa added, her eyes glistening, "Shehnaaz, tumhara aur Sidharth ka saath dekh kar lagta hai ki Zoya bhi aaj yahin hoti toh tumhe bless karti. Tum dono ka pyaar uske ashirwad ke saath aur bhi strong hoga"

Her words brought a tear to Shehnaaz's eyes, and she nodded, her voice soft. "Maa, mujhe pata hai ki yeh rishta sirf hamara nahi hai. Zoya ne hi hum dono ko milwaya hai itna pyaar jo karti thi wo Sidharth se ki unka dukh dekha nahi gaya usse."

Sidharth gently squeezed her hand, silently thanking her for understanding the depth of his emotions.

As the evening wore on, Farah and Rishab continued their playful banter, Vidyut ensured everyone was comfortable, and Nargis basked in the joy of her god bharai.

Towards the end, as everyone prepared to leave, Sidharth pulled Shehnaaz aside. "Shehnaaz" he said softly, "jo excitement aaj maine sabke chehre pe dekhi, usse mujhe aur bhi yakeen ho gaya ki hum dono ek perfect family banayenge"

Shehnaaz smiled, resting her forehead against his.

"Acha ek last guess game" He said with a mischievous grin.

She chuckle. "Okay"

He gestured for her to watch closely. Placing one hand over his heart and then spreading his arms wide, he mimicked the iconic train scene from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.

Her cheeks turned a deep shade of pink. "Aap mujhe tease kar rahe ho" she said, but the happiness in her voice was unmistakable.

He stepped closer, his tone playful but full of love. "Tease kar raha hoon ya ek aur promise kar raha hoon, yeh toh tumhe samjhna padega"

He kissed her forhead last time and left from there giving her a wink. She giggle on her man.
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The night had settled like a soft blanket, wrapping the city in its serene quiet. After the whirlwind of emotions during the day, Sidharth and Shehnaaz found themselves retreating into their respective bedrooms, both lost in the depths of their thoughts.

Shehnaaz sat cross legged on her bed, the dim glow of her bedside lamp casting a warm light on her face. She stared at the ring Sidharth had proposed her, the tiny trinket now a symbol of a love she never thought she would find.

Her fingers lightly traced its outline as she thought back to the day they met, a broken woman, hiding behind words and stories, terrified of the world. And now, here she was, her life interwoven with Sidharth's in ways she had not dared to dream.

She whispered to herself, "Pehle lagta tha ki zindagi mujhe pyaar karne ka mauka kabhi nahi degi. Par aap aaye, Sidharth, aur meri duniya badal di"

A faint smile curled her lips as she thought of his goofy antics in the kitchen, the way he teased her, his quiet protectiveness, and the way he looked at her as if she was the only person who mattered in the world.

She closed her eyes and rested her head against the pillow. "Aap meri life me second chance bankar aaye ho Sidharth. Aur iss baar main apne aap ko khone nahi dungi"

Meanwhile,

Across the city, Sidharth lay on his bed, his fingers absentmindedly tapping on the empty photo frame by his bedside. It had once held Zoya's picture, a remnant of a love he thought he could never replace. But now, it stood as a silent promise of the new chapter in his life, a chapter called Shehnaaz.

He thought of the way she had jumped in excitement during his proposal, her carefree laughter filling the room like sunshine.

He smiled to himself. "Pyaar karne ki umeed maine kab ki chhod di thi. Lekin Shehnaaz, tumne mujhe ek second chance diya. Tumne mujhe phir se jeena sikhaya"

His thoughts drifted to the way she panicked whenever he so much as stumbled, the way her soft smiles lit up his day, the way she had become his strength without even realizing it.

Running a hand through his hair, he muttered softly, "Main bas tumhare saath har ek pal jeena chahta hoon. Tumhare saath har din ek naye shuruaat ki tarah lagta hai".

He look outside staring the stars and smile remembering Zoya. "Aur tu ye mat sochna teri jagha use de di, teri jagha chah kar bhi koi nahi le sakta, mera pehla pyaar meri pehli dost thi tu, jo jagha mere dil me tere liye hai wo hamesha teri hi rahegi Zoya, Just be happy wherever you are."

In their respective rooms, both Sidharth and Shehnaaz found themselves reflecting on how far they had come. Life had given them wounds they thought would never heal, but together, they had found a way to embrace the scars and start anew.

For Shehnaaz, Sidharth wasn't just her savior, he was her second chance at trust, at happiness, at life.

For Sidharth, Shehnaaz wasn't just his muse, she was his second chance at love, at healing, at forever.

As the moonlight bathed their rooms in silver, both of them drifted into sleep, their hearts beating in harmony with a shared promise, to hold on to this second chance with everything they had.

Somewhere, in the quiet of the night, the universe whispered softly ; They deserved this. They earned this.

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That is it for today...

Hope you all like it...

Thanks for reading.