A cautious man will probably always be wary of the surroundings. Sidharth was instinctively protective, Shehnaaz had seen it. He would hold her hand while they'd cross roads or he would guide her through the crowded billing counter. He had that in him, always, a protective side. It felt like she was getting scolded like a child by a mother, she smiled in awe of the moment. Her mother was the last person who would get mad at her daughter for staying out late with her friends and partying too much, she recalled. The situations were pretty different yet the concerns weren't, he did care for her.

"Sun rahi ho tum?" she was snapped out of her thoughts, when his loud voice called her out. She bobbed her head, obediently. 

"Kya bola maine abhi?" he asked, raising his brows. 

"Um.. Itna sara tune jo bola.. Sab repeat karu?" she innocently asked him. 

"Nahi sun rahi thi na.." he muttered and jogged past her. They were on the ground, exercising and jogging in the morning and he was explaining things to her and it wasn't sure if she was even listening. 

"Oye! Ruk.. Yaar sab suna maine.." she said as she ran after him. 

"I need to drink to my limits.. Stay awake while I'm out and should always keep a track on the time.." she added and held his hand to slow him. The two jogged two more rounds and went back home. 

"Aj na mai Head Mistress mam aur kuch teachers ke sath shopping pe jaungi school ke baad.. And after the dance class I've to hit the salon.." she told him while getting out of the car. 

"Since when did you start hanging out with the teachers..?" he asked. 

"School me function hai.. It's Teacher's day in 4 days! 5th of September!" she answered. 

"Oh.. Okay then.." he nodded, wishing he could ask her out but now that she had plans already. 

"Ha.. Acha Auntie ruk rahe hai tere ghar pe? I didn't know varna mai nahi aati.." she spoke, recalling how she met his mother. She might have given a stupid impression, after she stuttered that way and lying was the main thing she didn't like. 

"It's totally fine.. I didn't know she was coming either.. Did..did she ask you anything?" he asked. 

"My name.." she answered. What else would you ask an unknown person? 

"Tune bataya unko.. About you and me?" she asked suddenly, panicking slightly. She was not ready to meet his mother as his...girlfriend, yet. Not ready for anything serious, for now. 

 "Nahi.. Not now is the time I think.." he replied, he would need to be sure and confident about them and discuss it with her before revealing things to his mother. They had just started dating, just a day ago! That would be too soon for anything. 

"Ha.." she nodded. 

"And.. Uh.. I don't think Mom's not going to stay a day more because she has to take care of her plants.. Yahan woh bore hone lagi hai.." he chuckled. 

"She's sweet!" Shehnaaz smiled, she liked and respected Rita Ji a lot after the tits and bits she had heard from him. 

"Aur Auntie tera wait kar rahe honge.. Ja!" she chastely pulled him into a hug while he deliberately swept his sweaty hair across her face. 

"Chiiii! Sidhaaaarth!" she pushed him away, disgusted, with a scowl on her face. He laughed at her and kissed her right cheek, pulling her close again. She blushed profoundly, he had become a lot touchy these days and don't even ask about those endearments he used, she found herself melting at each and every time he called her. 

Going ahead with his day, Sidharth got completely worked up in the emergency unit. Rainy seasons brought huge accident cases as compared to others, the larger the hospital was, the more accidents it dealt with. Vehicles slid on the slippery roads more often, huge potholes filled with water caused enough casualties every year and the countryside landslides, its number has only increased. 

A couple of days passed by smoothly and the two were supposably having a good time together. The affinity had only increased, the calls and the texts didn't seem enough to pass the day and they wished to see each other more. It was yet again a rainy Thursday and the two had planned to go to Marco's Eatery, as their first date. As simple as it could be, they'd go and try something new from the continental menu. No need to dress up like a doll. Shehnaaz had told herself and chose a sleeveless top and paired with skinny jeans or should she go with some dress. She wanted to look good for Sidharth. 

"Ahem! Date?" she heard her roommate entering. She meekly nodded and turned to her with two dresses, both sober and non-revealing. 

"Sidharth hi toh hai.. Dress the way you want.. He's gonna like it anyway.." Arohi shrugged. 

"Teko kaise pata I'm going on a date with him?" Shehnaaz doubtfully asked, she had not told her about their relationship yet. 

"Mujhe sab pata chal jata hai! Bebuuu..." Arohi cooed, copying her. 

"Haawww..! Kutti! Kamini!" Shehnaaz scandalously gasped how her mannerless roommate had eavesdropped and heard her talking over the phone. She threw cushions at Arohi and cussed even more. 

"Sorry babe! Ouch.. Ab lag rahi hai ruk ja.. Okay stop.. You'll look good in that one.." Arohi said, pointing at the dress and ran out of the room. Shehnaaz glanced at the A-line baby blue dress and tried it. Nice, good actually. She praised herself and thanked her roommate before heading out. 

It was 8, Sidharth had freshened up, changed to a black T-shirt paired with the same coloured jeans and did his hair. He liked styling them, the naturally silky, jet black and thick hair he had, he took good care of them. He walked out after locking his apartment, descended down the elevator to see Shehnaaz coming out of her building too. Oh, lovely! She was just the prettiest, wasn't she? He smiled and gave a complimentary smirk raising his brows. She giggled and got into the car and they made their way towards Marco's. They tried honey chicken stew and rice this time and diet coke to cope with it. 

"Acha hai na? Or do you like roasted chicken more?" she asked while chewing. 

"Hmm.. Mujhe koi specific nahi hai.. Dono sahi lagte hai.." he answered. 

"Yeh Marco's wale banate kaise hai itne dishes? Matlab recipes se obviously.." she paused for a moment and continued. 

"Matlab.. Itna acha kaise banate hai..? Ke ye stew ka taste aisa hona chahiye?" she asked, raising her brows. 

"Hmm.. Puchna padega.. Original taste kiya hoga.." he replied. 

"Recipe ke liye overseas gaye honge?" she was taken aback. 

"Ha! Kar sakte hai.. Shauk ho toh.. Explore karte hai.." he nodded. 

"Paisa! Paisa ho toh.." she shook her head, she didn't have any of such interest like traveling across the country to explore different kinds of food. People spent so much just for tasting exotic food! Man! Strange hobby! 

"Tere paas bahut sara paisa aa jaye toh tu kya karegi?" he asked then, wiping the corner of his mouth with a tissue and passing her another tissue to do the same. 

"Hmm.. Sochna padega.. Ghar lungi khudka.. Vaise travel karne ka man mera bhi hai lekin khane ke liye nahi.. Bas ghoomne ke liye.. Shayad scooty lelu.. Lekin mujhe metro me jana pasand hai.." she answered, not sure of what she'd do with the money. 

"Koi ek bol jo tu karegi life me.. Aisa ek kaam jo tu karegi bahut sara paisa aane pe.." he asked again, making her think more. 

"Nahi hai aisa koi kaam.. Mere paas abhi jitna paisa hai.. Sahi ja rahi usme bhi meri life.. Ab career toh mehnat karne se banta hai.. Aur koi aisa hai nahi jiske liye paise jama karu.. Maa hoti toh unko ghumane lekar jati.." she shrugged, smiling sadly. Not money but all she wanted in her life was her mother back, not possible though. Only thing she wanted was to make a career that could make her mother proud wherever she was and she was even working hard for it. Sidharth smiled and held her hand lovingly, she was so immaterialistic and such an indifferent piece. 

"Tu bata abhi.. Tu kya karega tere paas bahut sare ho toh..?" she asked, playing with her eyebrows. 

"I would.. Get the roads repaired then.. Iss barish k season me itne accidents hue and then the traffic! Har taraf pani bhara hota hai.." He answered. How thoughtful of him! She wondered why she couldn't think of something like that.. Something for the people. 

"Achi baat ki tune.. Phir mere paas paise aaye na toh mai sare orphanage me dedungi.. They'll utilize it better.." she said when the idea popped into her mind. 

"Nahi.. Too late now.. Maine jab pucha tha tabhi bolna tha.." he shook his head, denying her. Enough of serious talks, he wanted to play now. 

"Maine kuch socha nahi tha.. Abhi bata rahi hu na.." she tried to justify. 

"No! Aisa nahi hota.. Maine already woh paise use kar liye jab tune bola tere ko nahi chahiye.. Abhi kuch nahi bacha.." he replied. 

"Yaaaar! Tu aise kyu karta hai.." she whined and twisted the corner of her lips and finished the can of diet coke, making him chuckle. The waiter soon appeared with the bill, cleared their table and left. She glanced at it and opened her purse, looking for half of the amount in the bill as usual. 

"Keep it back.." she heard him, he eyed her purse.

"We split.." she replied. 

"Tab ki baat alag thi.. Keep it back.." he announced, pulling out his card. He had asked her out today! 

"Sidharth I've always paid for myself.." she still hesitated to let him pay. She didn't know why it felt against her pride, letting someone buy her stuff and it sort of felt like a debt. 

"Shehnaaz dekh abhi itna acha time spend kiya hai.. Mood mat sada.. I brought you here so just lemme pay.." he said, his tone filled with finality. She obliged and closed her purse but the hesitation still survived. They made their way out then, hand in hand just like they had walked in. It was extremely windy outside, a storm kind of wind. Shehnaaz felt her dress flying in the air with the wind and she kept a hand over her thighs to prevent it and found Sidharth standing right after her. 

"It's okay.. Chalte raho.. Car paas me hi hai.." he assured when she looked around, consciously. He was such a heedul guy. Prudent. Vigilant. The gesture melted her right then and there, she nodded and continued to walk. 

"Th..thanks.." she mentioned as he opened the door for her and she slid in. He just shortly nodded to her and continued to drive. 

"When is your Teacher's day?" he asked. 

"Parso.. And I'm really excited about it.. Bache sab organize karte hai.. Speech.. Cultural items prepare karte hai.." she told him. 

"Nice.. Apne school time pe bhi aisa hi hota tha.. As far as I remember.." he replied. 

"Ha.." she agreed. 

"Kal friday hai.. Megamart me weekly sale lagti hai.. Tu kal jaldi aayega toh chalenge groceries lene.." she suggested after a while. 

"Tu gayi thi na last week?" he quired. 

"At that time I was just running out of pads and detergents.. Baki groceries nahi layi.." she answered. 

"Hm.. Okay then.." he nodded. 

"You wanna come up with me..?" he asked as they reached back to their buildings. She nodded and in the elevator, both could sense the tension growing, to touch each other, to just hover over the other person and kiss them senselessly. In the past days, there have been a lot of kissing and their hands have always itched for more. 

As soon as they reached the floor, hastily walked to his apartment and unlocked it, the next moment she was cornered against the door they had just entered through. With his mouth on hers, he sucked her lips and his hands travelled curves intently, gripping lightly the arch of her small back. He was encouraging and controlling her at the same time. She clasped the back of his neck and pulled him closer, tasting all of him. The scent of passion increased as they reached the couch and sat, continuing their business. She had been clinging to all the while, She was ready for more, right? Taking it in consideration he kissed her cheek softly. Cupping her face, he subtly and smoothly peppered kisses down till her neck and found her titling for more. He would have obliged if it wasn't his phone ringing. She backed off so he could take the call and adjusted her dress and sat properly. Woohoo! That was hell of a moment and there were more to come, the thought made her blush even more. 

"Shehnaaz.. Ek accident ka case aaya hai hospital me.. I'm so sorry sweetheart I've to rush.." he turned to her after attending the call. Shoot! 

"It's okay.." she shrugged, getting up and walking out with him. The next day, the moment happened to linger all over her mind and she just couldn't wait to see Sidharth again. After returning home late at night, he couldn't join her for the jog but promised that they'd shop for groceries together. 

The next day, at the Dropbeat academy Shehnaaz and her friends were done practicing and sat altogether just gossiping and joking around. Someone hid her bag somewhere and she was looking for it. 

"Yaar kaha hai mera bag..? Meko saman lene jana hai!" she whined. 

"Tune chupaya hai Ana!? Dede!" she requested her friend, who shrugged and then she secretly pointed at Shubh. 

"Tune chupaya hai? Chup chap dede Sidhart.. Shubh!" Shehnaaz was almost screaming at her friends and then bit her tongue that just slipped. 

"Huh? Mera naam Sidharth nahi Shubh hai.. If you don't know!" Shubh replied and laughed loudly at her embarrassed face. Her friends teased and finally returned her bag. She didn't waste time waiting for Sidharth and got herself an auto to the hospital, to save herself from them. She knew his cabin was somewhere on the 3rd floor but she had never seen it, so stood next to the reception. 

"Oye.. Tu yaha kya kar rahi hai.." he was departing from his duty when his eyes suddenly landed upon her, when she was about to call him. 

"I was just calling you..mai jaldi free ho gayi toh khud hi aa gayi.." she replied. 

"Itna kya late ho raha tha.. I was coming na.." he stated. 

Then she recited to him the slip of her tongue incident and it uplifted his mood, "Toh mai bhaag ke khud aa gayi.." she stupidly smiled and he fondly pulled her cheeks. Such a cutie. The duo proceeded towards their destination, turning on the stereo, listening to some songs till they reached Megamart. With their respective trolley, they were sauntering around, picking up packets and stuff. They were choosing pusles when someone called for him. 

"Sidharth! Hii!" It was Varsha. 

"Hey.." he greeted her with a hug. She was surprised to see him with the girl he was yelling at once, she didn't expect to see them together at all. 

"Hi.." Varsha shortly waved at her too. 

"Hi.." Shehnaaz returned the gesture and began looking for pulses again. 

Varsha took Sidharth with her in the meanwhile, "So you two are still together?" she asked. 

"Uh..you know, party me jo bhi hua tha.. It was a misunderstanding.." he replied with his lips forming a line. 

"Oh.. By the way, you two look great together!" she complimented. 

"Thanks.. Anyways.. How's aunty?" he asked, not wanting to discuss his life. 

"Better now.. Woh gao jana chahti hai but I want her to stay here with me.. We're still thinking over it.." she replied. 

"Oh.." he nodded. 

"So.. You continue.. Mujhe bhi kuch saman lena hai.." she said, excusing herself and then mistakenly bumped into Shehnaaz while looking in the other direction. 

"Hey.. I'm so sorry.. Shehnaaz right?" Varsha apologized. 

"It's okay.." Shehnaaz replied, nodding to her. 

"Brown rice hai kya us taraf?" she asked. 

"Ha.. Left me.." Shehnaaz directed and moved aside. 

"Okay thanks.. By the way mai kuch bolna chahti thi.." Varsha stopped on her tracks. Shehnaaz nodded. 

"Please don't ever hurt him.." Varsha said. 

"Sorry?" Shehnaaz squinted her eyes in confusion. 

"I know you're seeing Sidharth.. He just told me.. All the years I've known him personally.. He's really sweet.. Uska khayal rakhna aur usko kabhi hurt mat karna.. Gussa karta hai kabhi kabhi lekin bura nahi hai.. Mature hai so in case you two get into a fight.. Try to understand him.." Varsha elaborated. 

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