Sidharth stood in the jewelry store, feeling a whirlwind of emotions as he looked at the array of sparkling engagement rings. The store was sophisticated, with soft lighting that made the diamonds shimmer enticingly. Today was a significant day, but he was overwhelmed with feelings of anticipation and nostalgia. His journey with Shehnaaz had been a tumultuous rollercoaster and now he was about to make a commitment that meant everything to him.

The four months with Shehnaaz had been intense and transformative. They had experienced a lot together. Moments of joy, intense arguments, sleepless nights and even a heartbreaking breakup. Their relationship had faced its share of misunderstandings and emotional struggles. Each fight felt like a storm, leaving them both exhausted and uncertain. They had spent nights crying and questioning their future, only to find solace in each other’s arms the next day. Their relationship was a true test of patience and love.

The breakup had been one of the hardest moments for both of them. It had seemed like the end, with both feeling that their connection was irreparably damaged. Yet, through the pain and separation, they had realized just how much they meant to each other. Their patch-up had been a turning point, rekindling their bond with a deeper understanding and renewed commitment. The highs and lows they had experienced only made their love stronger and more resilient.

Today, as he stood with Meera, Vardhan’s wife, in the jewelry store, Sidharth was overcome with emotion. Meera had kindly offered to help him select the perfect ring for Shehnaaz. Her presence was comforting and her understanding nature made the task feel more manageable, she was a wonderful friend.

"So Sid, what kind of ring would Shehnaaz love?" Meera looked at him with a warm smile.

"I have no idea. Isliye toh tum yaha ho!" Sidharth took a deep breath and replied, trying to hold back his nervousness.

She chuckled but then gave him a piece of advice, "It should be something that shows how much Shehnaaz means to you. Matlab na tumhari yeh ring symbolize karegi tumhari journey and ofcourse the love."

"Let's start by looking at different diamond cuts. Do you have any preferences?" He nodded, understanding the depth of his emotions. His eyes were drawn to a stunning display of round-cut diamonds.

"I think a round-cut diamond would be good." She suggested.

As the sales guy showed him various rings, each with its unique setting and style, Sidharth couldn’t help but reflect on their past. Every ring he saw reminded him of the moments they had shared. The arguments, the reconciliations, the late-night talks and the laughter. He envisioned Shehnaaz wearing each piece and imagined the joy and relief it would bring her, knowing they had overcome so much together. Side by side, imagining what would look best on her.

"Yeh wala kaisa hai?" He asked softly, pointing to a ring with a large round diamond surrounded by a halo of smaller stones. When they arrived at the halo settings, Sidharth’s heart swelled. The diamonds surrounding the center stone created an effect of increased brilliance and beauty.

"Beautiful choice!" Meera examined the ring closely.

Sidharth felt a lump in his throat as he thought about proposing to Shehnaaz. The ring represented not just a promise of a future together but a celebration of how far they had come. He imagined her reaction. Her eyes lighting up, her smile widening and her laughter while being so happy.

As they continued to browse, his mind was filled with thoughts of their future. Despite the obstacles they had faced, he was now more certain than ever that Shehnaaz was the woman he wanted to spend his life with. Their love had endured trials and emerged stronger and he was ready to make a lifelong promise.

Finally, he chose the ring. A stunning round-cut diamond in a halo setting that sparkled with an altogether different kind of glow that seemed to capture their love story. Holding the ring box close, Sidharth felt a profound sense of fulfillment. This ring was more than just a piece of jewelry. It was a testament to their journey and a symbol of the beautiful future they had ahead.

"I'm sure Shehnaaz will be thrilled. Mujhe uska reaction dekhna hai, please! I love proposals! You getting down on one knee, Shehnaaz getting emotional and when she says yes, asmaan me fireworks!" Meera described a pretty dreamy scene that came into her mind.

"Thank you so much Meera lekin maine abhi iske aage kuch plan nahi kiya hai. Will look for an opportunity, I guess." He chuckled.

"Please Sid, tumhara yeh special moment capture karne ke liye kisi ko toh photos lene honge na? I'll be quiet. Please." She requested and he couldn't help but laugh.

"I can get you lunch at this lavish place nearby. Tumhe Thai food pasand hai na?" He asked her instead of directly denying her request.

"Really? Ek proposal ke badle lunch? Nevermind! I'm in." She rolled her eyes at him but didn't insist further. She knew how he was and she definitely didn't want to be a bother in his private moment of proposing to the love of his life.

As they left the store, he took her out for lunch but all the while, clutching the ring box, Sidharth felt contented. The path to this moment had been challenging but every hardship had been worth it for the love he shared with Shehnaaz. He was excited as he kept that box inside his cupboard, wishing the lucky day arrived sooner.

"Wassup?!" He asked, dialing Shehnaaz's number. He returned home early however she wasn't back yet.

"Arey bas nikal rahi hu office se. 2 din leave kya leli, inlog ne aaj itna kaam karwaya mere se. Pata, maine shaam wali chai bhi nahi li aaj!?" She complained.

"Yeh kya baat huyi bhai?!" He spoke in the similar tone.

"Corporate sector!" She commented.

"Atleast office me reh ke waha ki chugli mat kar." He chuckled.

"Arey mai abhi washroom me hu. I'm almost done with my work, aati hu." She replied. She sounded a little tired or maybe it were the cons of getting back to work after spending a lovely weekend away from the citylights.

"Fine. Aaja. Teri usual bus toh miss ho jayegi, you'll book a uber home?" He asked.

"Um? Dusri bus dekhti hu, warna toh uber hi karungi. I'll let you know." She replied.

"Okay, just text me." He mentioned before they hung up. It was almost 8 in the night but since she was traveling alone, it was a matter of concern these days.

He decided to see Madhu for the time being, it had been a while since he met her. He patiently stood outside after ringing the doorbell with a small box of sweets in his hands. "Namaste aunty!" He greeted her when she opened the door for him.

"Namaste putt! Andar aa." Madhu welcomed him.

"Yeh lijiye, aapki best wishes kaam aayi." He offered her the sweets. Kaju katli.

"Arey waah! Congratulations, tujhe award mil gaya!" She wished and hugged him happily, taking two pieces from the box.

"Shehnaaz ne nahi bataya aapko kal?" He asked, he was a little confused when she didn't wish him the moment she opened the door.

"Time kaha hai uske pass." Madhu rolled her eyes, avoiding to speak the truth.

"Are you guys even serious? Aap dono ne abhi tak baat nahi ki?" He asked, taken aback and disappointed in both of them.

"Aunty, itni bhi kya baat ho gayi ke aap kuch nahi bol rahe ho?! Beti hai aapki, daant lagao, samajhao aur matter solve karo." He told her.

"Yeh tu bol raha hai? Tere liye toh wo mujhse ladti hai!" She replied.

"Uss hisab se aapko toh mujhse naraz hona chahiye!? Mujhse toh koi problem nahi ho rahi aapko." He asked her.

"Usko itna sar pe chadha ke mujhe lecture naa de!" She replied, ending their conversation then and there, returning to the kitchen.

He sighed, somewhere feeling like he was the sole reason behind this argument in between Madhu and Shehnaaz. He felt as if he came in between them, even though nothing sort of that was his intention. Just then the doorbell rang, he knew what to do now.

"Hii!" Shehnaaz smiled and her face lit up, this was the first time that he had opened the door for her in her apartment.

"Tune Aunty se baat nahi ki abhi bhi? Yeh tum dono maa beti me itna ego hai, mujhe pata nahi tha!" He told her.

"Mai office se thakk gayi hu Sidharth! Please not now." She replied, walking past him and taking a seat on the sofa.

He poured her a glass of water from the dining table, took her handbag from her and kept it aside. And then sat next to her to talk to her. "Dekh, tu mere liye Aunty se mat lad Shehnaaz. Apan sab ek hi side ke hai, Mummy hai wo teri. Tere liye protective hai. Isme galat kya hai? Unke time, unke believes vaisi hain jaise wo apne time me dekhte aayi hai. Tu samajh rahi hai na?" He softly asked since Madhu wasn't very far.

"Malum hai. Mai unse gussa nahi hu." She replied, gripping the glass of water a little too tight.

"Sidharth, mai unko chhod ke jaane wali thi! Meri Mummy ko!" She replied, feeling guilty even at the thought of wanting to run away from her own mother.

"Unke liye toh mai Punjab chali gayi thi wapas, unke sath rehne ke liye toh mai dobara job nahi karna chahti thi, woh akeli naa ho karke unko apne sath leke aayi aur mai khud unko chhodne wali thi uss raat?! Mai aisi nahi thi, pata nahi mai apni Mummy se itni gussa kaise ho sakti hu!" She then told him about it. She was somewhere ashamed to face her mother again, to talk to her again.

"Tujhe ek baat bolu? Aunty tere se gussa nahi hai, bas tere kuch bolne ka wait kar rahi hai." He replied. He was in awe of her emotions, he didn't think that this could be the reason that Shehnaaz could think, well, there were no doubts that she had been an amazing daughter.

"I get it, tere ko guilty feel ho raha hai. Lekin tu nahi gayi na baby, tu Aunty ke liye ruki na? It's okay baba, sometimes we get too mad to think straight. Just talk to her now, bata unko iss bare me." He replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

"Kaise bolu unko? Uss din kuch zyada hi bol diya tha." She mumbled, worried about her mother's reaction.

"Sidharth se bol sakti hai, apni maa se nahi?" Madhu stood behind them. After talking to Sidharth, she had thought about breaking the ice. When she was approaching them with some evening snacks, she heard the last few bits of their conversation.

Madhu’s feelings were a mix of realization, vulnerability and reluctance. As a conservative and protective mother, she had always been uncomfortable with her daughter spending nights with her boyfriend. Madhu’s concerns were driven by her traditional values and desire to protect her daughter's future.

However, the ongoing arguments between Madhu and Shehnaaz started to take a toll. Each fight made it clear that her strict rules were pushing Shehnaaz away rather than keeping her safe. The situation reached a breaking point when Shehnaaz wanted to run away from home. This dramatic step made her realize just how unhappy her daughter was and how her rigid stance was causing more harm than good. This wake-up call caused Madhu to reconsider her approach. She saw that her strict rules were not helping their relationship but were instead creating more distance between them. She feared that continuing down this path could lead to losing Shehnaaz and causing even more problems.

Shehnaaz stood, took the tray from her mother's hands, kept it aside and hugged her, "Mummy, sorry yaar. Mai aapko kabhi bhi, kahi bhi chhod ke nahi jaungi. Aap bhi nahi jana." She apologized.

"Itni si baat bolne ke liye 4 din lag gaye! Meri yaad nahi aayi tujhe!?" Madhu asked, hugging her daughter.

"Bohot yaad aayi, I'm sorry." She replied and kissed her mother's face.

"Chal koi na. Tujhe mai samajh na pau kabhi toh aake bola kar, samjhi? Mujhe nahi jamte yeh aajkal ke relationships. Humare time me seedha shaadiya hoti thi." Madhu told Shehnaaz, caressing her face.

"Hm." Shehnaaz nodded with a smile.

"Mujhe bharosa hai tum dono pe, par yeh generation aaj kal ki?! Live in, friends with benefits, situationships.. aur wo kya kya hone lage hain aaj kal-?! Mummy- nahi! Sugar Mommy aur Daddy. Homo aur Bi- Yeh sab sunn ke mera sar chakkar khane lagta hai. Sau lagge!" Madhu said.

"KYAA?!" Sidharth couldn't believe his ears.

"Yaar Mummy! Aapki sau lagge, mujhe Papa ki kasam lagge, mai aur Sidharth sirf pyar karte hain. Normal, do logo wala. Ladke ladki wala!" Shehnaaz told her mother, still wondering where does her mother get these  concepts from.

"Kya boli aap?" Sidharth asked Madhu again as looked back and forth between the mothe and daughter duo.

"Sunte kaha ho aap aise aise words?? Aapko matlab bhi pata hai?" Shehnaaz asked her mother.

"Mujhe sab pata hai!" Madhu scoffed. Her Instagram feed was pretty updated and versatile.

"Aunty ne kya bola abhi? Homo? Bi? Sugar wha- how and what does she think of me?!" Sidharth was still reeling with shock.

"Kuch zyada hi Instagram Facebook chala rahi hai aaj kal! Dimaag pe chad gaya hai yeh sab!" Shehnaaz shook her head.

"Kuch dimag pe nahi chadha mere! Tum dono ko kya lagta hai, tumhare naye generation ke kand mere samajh nahi ayenge? Abhi jo pride month nikla na, usme Mrs Walia ke badi behen ke pote ne participate kiya apne boyfriend ke sath." Madhu replied with a smirk. Once she came across what's a pride month, she went through all the posts carrying that particular hashtag and found out what all was LGBTQ.

"Mai baith raha hu, mujhe chakkar aa rahe hain." Sidharth mumbled and Shehnaaz chuckled, getting him a glass of water.

"Mummy, please. Thoda warning diya karo aap aisi baatein bolne se pehle. Aur thoda phone chalana kam kardo, please!" Shehnaaz told Madhu.

"Mujhe mat samjha tu!" Her mother replied, ignoring the wierd looks she was receiving.

Soon the dinner was served, it had been a while they had a meal together. Madhu insisted Sidharth stayed for dinner and prepared something sweet for him as a small victory celebration.

Later on the terrace, Shehnaaz and Sidharth were immersed in their own moment. The sky, recently cleared of its stormy clouds, allowed a gentle breeze to sweep across the terrace, carrying with it the fresh scent of rain. The air was crisp yet comforting, a perfect backdrop for their quiet connection. As they stood together, her embraced her from behind, his arms wrapping securely around her. This physical closeness was more than just a comforting touch. It was a deep expression of their bond.

She savored the sensation of his body pressed against her back, the warmth of his embrace blending with the cool breeze that danced around them. His presence provided a sense of security and peace that was both grounding and reassuring. Despite their strong physical attraction and desire for each other, these tender moments of togetherness held a special place in their relationship. They were not merely about physical closeness but were a testament to their emotional connection and mutual comfort.

As they stood there, holding hands and wrapped in each other’s arms, he leaned down to gently kiss the top of her ear. The touch of his lips on her skin was both tender and affectionate, a silent declaration of his deep feelings for her. The kiss sent a shiver down her spine, causing goosebumps to form on her skin. This physical reaction was amplified by the contrast between the cool breeze and the warmth of his hug, creating a unique blend of sensations that heightened the intimacy of the moment.

"Kya kar raha hai?! Mujhe wapas ghar jana hai, Mummy soyi nahi hai." She softly asked if he had other intentions, he better stop now because Madhu knew they were no saints.

"Abey poore time tere dimag me yahi sab chalta rehta hai kya?" He chuckled. He had simply kissed her, unaware of where his lips landed, it was later he realized what it did.

"Zyada ban mat. Jaise tere dimag me kuch alag chalta hai." She snapped at him.

He laughed a little more, she was on point. He'd savour and cherish each touch of hers and never leave behind the chance to feel her close to him.

"Yeh dekh, iska nishan nahi gaya abhi. Maine aaj office me jo kurti pehni usme dikh raha tha, maine upar se dupatta dala." She told him, turning around and revealing a small and odd shaped bluish red spot on her chest.

"Kya hai?" He chuckled, caressing the hickey their love making had left behind.

"Abey, tune kata hai! Andar neeche aur hai!" She retorted. And he only laughed harder.

"Meko dard ho raha hai usme." She added as she pouted.

"Itna dard toh sehna padta hai na baby." He lovingly replied with a wink and she blushed, hitting his chest.

"Bakwas." She mumbled.

"Bakwas." He copied her and leaned close to her which looked like he'd kiss her.

"Ahh! Ouch, Sidharth!" She winced when he bit her left cheek unexpectedly.

"Kutta!" She added, wiping her cheek and caressing it. It was as if he was obsessed with them.

"Idhar dikha." He pulled her hand away, pecking her cheek repetitively and pulling her closer.

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Hello there everybody! What happened you guys haven't been commenting enough these days?! Matlab I see how I don't post new chapters very often but I'm really trying here!

How's the chapter today?? Haven't proofread this one so kindly ignore the typos!

Do not leave before mentioning the part you liked the most?

How about damad ji mediating between the mother and daughter duo??