Sidharth was very frustrated. Even after Sana had left, her sharp words were piercing him as it echoed in his ears.

She says I have ego problem. Her attitude is bigger than her clothes size. I showed support in everything but she has problem in everything. I admit I was wrong in marrying secretly just to save myself from the goons but has she ever thought if I didn't marry her, she would have been married to an old widower. I went behind seeking forgiveness while she threw attitude. But looks like she thinks she can dictate her terms on me everytime. I am not going to run behind her this time. If she loves me then she has to come to me this time.

He makes up his mind to not give up but somewhere he was worried about her whereabouts. He called Shantiben to check if she was home.

Shantiben: Jai Shri Krishna Dikra, kem cho? {How are you?}

Sidharth: Jai Shri Krishna. I am fine Saasumaa. How are you?

Shantiben: I am devastated. You are calling me Saasumaa but not with my daughter. The daughter, who hadn't called me once since the time she left home.

Sidharth: What? She hasn't returned home yet?

Shantiben: No.

Sidharth: Okay Saasumaa, I have some work. Bye.

Where did she go? I need to search her. She left in anger, hope she doesn't harm herself or what if the driver abducted her? No, no, no, no.. I need to search her now. But where do I find her?

He goes out to see the watchman.

Sidharth: Bahadur, do you know how and which direction Sana went?

Bahadur: Yes, shaabji, memsaab went in a cab which went in this route. The cab belonged to Ridez company.

Sidharth: Any other details. Colour of the cab and did you see the number plate?

Bahadur: It was silver colour Maruti Desire. I didn't note down the number but we can check the CCTV recording if it has recorded the number.

Sidharth: Okay, Bahadur just check the CCTV footage, I'll pack my bags and get it.

He goes inside and stuffs his belongings into the bag quickly and places it into his car. Bahadur searches the number in CCTV and gives him the number. Sidharth starts the car and speeds in the direction told by Bahadur.

He was sitting on the bench of police station waiting for his turn to be called in to file a complain when his phone starts ringing. It was Shantiben.

Shantiben: Jai Shri Krishna Dikra. Where are you? (Before he could reply) You know Sana is in your house?

Sidharth: What? (Sighs) But why did is go there?

Shantiben: She didn't tell me anything but she will be staying there. That's what your mom told me.

Sidharth: Hmmm..

"Next", a constable called.

Sidharth: Oops!! Sorry Saasumaa, I will call you later. Bye.

Sidharth apologizes to the constable and runs back to his car.

She went to my home?

What do you mean by my home? It's her home as well, she is your wife even if she left you.

Hmm.. but after that fight I thought she would go to her mom's house. This is a much bigger surprise. This means she doesn't hate me.

Ofcourse, she doesn't. She hates the manipulative character of yours.

Okay fine! Oh-oh-oh.. now I understand! Smart!! She knows her mother won't support her and my mom won't entertain me, so she chose to go and stay with mom.

Hmmm.. and where would you stay? You can't stay at the farmhouse forever. You have to go back someday but where?

I don't want to give up this time. I can't go to that house where both the ladies, my mom and my wife, finds fault in me. I will go and stay with my Saasumaa. She is so supportive and right now she must be feeling lonely as Sana has gone to my house, I mean her house. Arghhh..

He drives the car and goes to Shantiben's house.

Sidharth: Saasumaa, don't ask me anything. But please can I stay with you?

Shantiben: Su vaat karo cho dikara? Aa tamaaru ghar pan che. {What are you talking son, this is also your house}

He goes inside Sana's room as habituated. Shantiben messages Radha about his arrival.

Radha replies: Something fishy!! She asked me to not ask anything.

Shantiben: He asked the same.

Radha: All of a sudden how can they both choose to stay in their respective in-laws house?

Shantiben: Were they together all this time?

Radha: Yes, even I think so.

Shantiben: Wow!! This is such a good news if they were together.

Radha: But if they were together why did they choose to stay with us separately? I think they fought.

Shantiben: Oh My Krishna! He didn't look happy.

Radha: Even she was very sad. She was trying to hide her tears, but her face showed pain.

Shantiben: What do we do?

Radha: Will let them some space for sometime. Let them think for themselves. She didn't go to your house neither he came here, instead they chose the reverse to avoid our interference. So if we interfere now, they might go elsewhere but not together. So will let them think for themselves and after some days will try to slowly ask them.

Shantiben: Hmm.. okay.
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Sana joins a yoga class to work on her body. It was for her own satisfaction as she thought if she rightly pointed at Sidharth's flaws, she should work on hers as well. She also needed some peace of mind as her mind was always occupied with his thoughts. Hence she found yoga to be the best alternative.

Sidharth on the other hand starts working on his script to publish in the book format. If he wasn't staying with Shantiben, he thinks he would have given up to alcohol as he wanted to do away with the pain of being away from Sana. Instead he chooses to ink his emotional ups and downs.

It had been 2 weeks since they were staying at their in-laws. Radha thinks of slowly drawing Sana close to Sidharth by reminding her of him.

Radha: Sana, what are you doing?

Sana: Nothing Maa. I was just listening to the music and taking down notes. Was getting bored.

Radha: Come, I'll show you the old photo album.

Sana: Wow!! Yeah, that's a great idea.

Radha starts showing her the album which had her's and Sidharth's old picture since his childhood to college memories.

Sana doesn't find a single picture of his father or brother in it. She thinks how carefully Sidharth has removed the old bitter memories of his father along with pain enhancing memories of his brother. She wondered how those old pictures didn't remind Radha of her elder son, Sharad as she shared Sidharth's childhood stories connected with those pictures.

Two days later, when Sana was away from home for her yoga class, Radha and Shantiben speak over the phone.

Shantiben: Radhaben, it's been more than 2 weeks, these two are still not in the mood of talking to each other neither they are telling us anything about their fight.

Radha: Yes, I thought I will show Sana the old pictures of Sidharth and she will get emotional and tell me what happened between them but she didn't spill the beans.

Shantiben: How long is this going to carry on? Somebody has to give up and stop being adamant.

Radha: Why don't you try speaking to Sidharth? You two have nice rapport.

Shantiben: He is always busy writing something. I will try speaking.

Sana opens the door with a spare key and looks at Radha speaking on phone. Radha fumbles as she didn't wanted Sana to know that she was speaking with her mother over the phone. She randomly addresses Shantiben with some other name.

Radha: Okay Sharad, do speak to him.

Shantiben: Sharad? Hello? Who Sharad?

Radha: God bless you Sharad beta. Take care of yourself. I will talk to you later since your Sana bhabhi is here.

Shantiben: Ohhh!! Okay okay! You are acting because Sana came.

Radha: Yes, yes, you are right. Bye bye.

Shantiben: Okay Radhaben, Jai Shri Krishna.

Radha disconnects and looks at Sana who was shocked to see Radha speaking over the phone with Sharad.

Oh God!! Two days back she was showing me the old memories. Though she didn't disclose about Sharad bhaiyya, but it must have reminded her of him. Today she is hallucinating. How do I handle this? Sidharth is also not there? I need to check the number before to confirm.

She smiles and goes inside. Radha immediately deletes Shantiben's call history to be on safe side. Sana comes out after sometime.

Sana: Maa, Can I use your phone please? I misplaced my phone somewhere and can't find it.

Radha confidently hands her the phone since she had deleted the last call. Sana takes the phone and checks it and was surprised to see no number in last dialled numbers.

Oh no!! I was right? She was not talking to anyone. She is hallucinating.

The next day, she asks Radha to accompany her to a doctor stating it was for herself. Radha was shocked when she sees Sana was visiting the psychiatrist.

Radha's thoughts: Oh my poor child. To deal with her mental stress, Sana is visiting the psychiatrist. I should inform Sidharth and confront him.

As they waited for their turn to see the doctor, Radha messages Sidharth to come there immediately without telling him the reason. Sidharth immediately reaches there and finds them sitting. As he approached closer to them, receptionist calls out Radha's name.

Radha and Sidharth look at each other perplexed as to why her name was called. Sana looks at Sidharth and ignores him royally.

Sana: Maa, please go in.

Radha: (shocked and confused) What? Why me?

Sana: The doctor will take care Maa. I spoke to him already yesterday. You will be fine.

Radha: But what's wrong with me?

Sidharth: Exactly, what wrong with her that you got her to psychiatrist?

Sana: Maa, you were pretending to talk to Sharad bhaiyya yesterday, when we know that he left this world long back.

Radha: What? Who is Sharad bhaiyya?

Sana: See this is what I meant. Now you can't remember him.

Sidharth: Sana, please let's go from here. (To the receptionist) Mam there is some confusion, please cancel our appointment, we don't need any psychiatrist help.

Sana: You are trying to suppress her emotions instead of treating it. Maa, please listen to me, there is nothing wrong in meeting the psychiatrist, he will help you.

Sidharth: Sana, we don't need it.

Sana: You don't seem to care for anyone. I will pay the bill. You have nothing to do with this. I got her here. So stay out of this.

Sidharth: (annoyed) She is my mother, it has everything to do with me. It's not about money. It's just that she doesn't need it.

Sana: But why?

Sidharth: Because I don't have any elder brother named Sharad. I lied to you.

Sana and Radha were shocked.

Radha: What? What's going on here?

Sana was super angry.

Sana: Ofcourse, I shouldn't have believed your story. You create characters and kill them mercilessly while playing with real life people's emotions. I hate you for this.

Sana paid the doctor's bill for cancelling the appointment and walked away with tear filled eyes. Sidharth looked at her departing figure in disappointment.

Radha: What is it Sidharth? Tell me now. You've hurt her once more.

Sidharth: Right now just take care of her mom. I will call you later.

Radha: Come home with me.

Sidharth: No mom, She didn't go to her mother's house after our fight because she doesn't find support there and if I come home, she will leave this house as well.

Radha: When you love her and understand her so well, why can't you change your behaviour Sidharth? I don't know the story behind but I understood that you told her some cooked up emotional story. What's the need Sidharth? Isn't her love enough for you? Why do you need to cook up story when she loves the truth?

Sidharth looked down in embarrassment.

Radha: I have been staying with her from more than 2 weeks and all I understand is that she loves you a lot. She is the best wife one can have in their life. You are fortunate enough to have her. So stop all this nonsense and try and get back together. Else you will repent forever. The fact that she chose to live with me is itself a proof that you matter her. If she goes away from me then even I can't help you neither will I forgive you. Bye.

Sidharth looked at his mother walking away. The two important ladies of his life and both were angry at him. He knew he was wrong and he determines to correct it.

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To be continued.. ❤️❤️

For those of you who don't follow me. Do read my new story "The Uninvited Lovers" it's the story with lot of suspense and cute SidNaaz banters.