"Meri biwi pregnant hai for god's sake Sana!" Gurjot argued with Shehnaaz over a bachelorette party.

"Ha toh, uske liye hi bol rahi hu. Party Mickey ko accordingly plan karne de na! Kyu beech me aa raha hai!?" Shehnaaz argued back.

"Arey?! Woh 5 mahine ka bump leke bolegi ke usko ghumne jana hai, weekend pe trekking karni hai, how's that possible?!" He retorted.

"Listen- karne de na plan. By the time we'll actually have to leave, she'll back off. I know her." She replied.

"Arey? Josh josh me chad jayegi ! Tu pagal, teri dost pagal!" Gurjot was losing his mind, he shook his head and paced around thinking of a way out of this situation.

Shehnaaz rolled her eyes at him, recalling the days when she had planned a bachelorette party for her best friend. Now that it was time for her wedding, she was still arguing with Gurjot about it. Felt like deja vu. Something never really changes, do they?

"Chal, Montu Paji se bolta hu mai. Meri toh tum dono sunogi nahi!" She shook his head.

"Tu ja, meko kaam hai yaha." She replied.

"Keda kamm? Chal chup karke!" He announced, compelling her to join him.

They made their way to Sidharth's apartment to discuss this with Sheena. She was staying over at his place for the weekend, waiting for her mother to arrive soon so that they could get started with the shopping. It was a long weekend, a got to go opportunity. Everybody tried to come over to begin with the wedding preparations.

"Mummy aur Papa tere ghar rukenge, mai aur Guru, Sana ke ghar." Mickey aka Sheena suggested as she got the guest room ready with the help of his maid.

"Hm. Thik." He replied, busy working on his laptop.

"Kitna kaam kar raha hai? Chalna kuch order kar. Hum sab movie dekhe raat ko?" She asked him.

"Nahi." He shook his head.

"Montu, teri shaadi ki shopping karne jayenge hum kal se. Thodi excitement dikha de!" She sarcastically asked him.

"Mujhe aage leaves leni hai. Isliye pending kaam khatam kar raha hu." He replied, continuing with the constant clicking of the keyboard.

"Sana, se lad liya kya? Aaj tum dono shaant shaant lage mujhe?" She asked, noticing something for a while now.

He stopped typing and gave her a short glance before resuming his work. Mickey understood something must have happened because she had been staying with them for a week and did notice how Shehnaaz and Sidharth would seem distant every time she was around them. Be it breakfast, lunch or dinner or even during a few long drives they went to.

A couple of days ago when they decided to go and have some ice cream late at night, Sidharth didn't really talk.

"Bolna Montu!" She insisted.

"Tu kaam karna apna!" He replied, shutting her out.

"Hey guys! All set hai ji?" Gurjot entered, asking around.

"Hanji!" His wife smiled.

"Acha paji, mere ko aap batao ik baat. Aap- busy ho kya?" Gurjot began to talk to Sidharth but found him working.

"Ha, nahi. Bol." Sidharth shook his head, gesturing to him to continue.

"Inlog bachelorette ke naam se day out plan kar rahe hain. Samjhao na inko, kuch raat ko movie shovie dekhle!" Gurjot mentioned.

"Karne de jo karna hai." Sidharth shrugged.

Gurjot looked at his wife, surprised. They both turned to look at Shehnaaz and she scoffed at Sidharth, facing another way and crossing her arms against her chest.

"Kuch hua hai?" Gurjot mouthed.

"Tum dono ka kya chal raha hai?" Mickey asked, calling out the elephant in the room.

"Meko ghar me aur bhi arrangements dekhne hai. Mai jaa rahi." Shehnaaz replied, turning around.

"Nahi, tu kahi nahi jayegi. Pehle baat kar Sana! Kya hua hai?" Mickey asked again but got no response.

"Tum dono ki shaadi hai next month! Aisa bhi kya ho gaya bhai?" She wondered and then decided to take the matter into her own hand, she dragged her husband out and locked Shehnaaz and Sidharth inside the apartment.

"Mickey?! Pagal hai, khol darwaza!" Sidharth shouted at her.

"Mummy log aayenge tab khol dungi. Tumlog apna issue sort out karo abhi ke abhi!" She replied and left with her husband.

"She's so stupid!" He turned around and looked at Shehnaaz in wonder.

"Fell right into my plan!" she smirked, wiggling her eyebrows as she chuckled. He bowed, accepting his defeat and walked to her, welcoming her into his arms.

"Mai shart jeet gayi! Chal, mera saman order kar ab!" She mentioned, resting her chin on his chest and looking straight up at his face. She was smiling so much in joy and victory that she couldn't help herself and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Baad me na darling, jo jo lena hai, bol dena. Abhi, let's not waste out time." He replied, nuzzling his nose into hers and walking them towards the couch. Both of them were chuckling.

It had been a while since they got to spend some good time in the privacy of their respective homes, Mickey was everywhere!

"Ah, Sidharth!" She gasped when he unexpectedly pushed her to the couch and hovered over. He reached out, his hand gently touching her face. She giggled, leaned into his touch, her eyes closing as she enjoyed the feeling of his hand against her skin.

Their lips met in a tender, lingering kiss. The kiss was soft and gentle, as if they were savoring each moment. Their lips moved together in a slow, deliberate rhythm, each kiss conveying the affection they had for one another. As the kiss deepened, it became more earnest as it got involved in their tongues.

"Bedroom?" He asked.

"Okay. Chal." She nodded her head. Raising her hands for him to carry her to the bedroom, too carried away to walk now.

He chuckled, carrying her inside like a baby while she rested her head over his chest.

"God, I've missed this." He mumbled as his hands held the back of her neck, drawing her closer. Her hands moved to his hair, her fingers lightly brushing his scalp. They maintained their close embrace, the heat radiating from within while the air thickened around.

The external world seemed to disappear as they focused solely on each other. The soft light from the sun highlighted the tenderness in their expressions and the shared feelings between them. Each touch and kiss was a quiet expression of their longing, the times they could have spent with each other but their family friends had different plans.

As their kiss continued, his lips gently traveled from her mouth to her jawline and then her neck. She tilted her head slightly, enjoyed the delicate attention and moaned. The kisses on her neck were soothing, enhancing their sense of closeness and comfort. They took their time, working each other out of their clothes. His lips caressed hers for a moment again before they sucked them with all the passion. As their tongues met, wetting the whole inside and savouring the touch of their partner.

"Ah!" She gaped, loving the feeling his fingers were creating on her by playing with her warm and sensitive skin down there. Her breaths laboured with time and the pressure building inside her lower abdomen in knots.

"Oh Sidharth!" She panted.

"Almost there, meri jaan." He replied, lovingly staring at her face, her flushed face and naked body underneath him.

Soon he replaced his fingers with himself, sinking into her core, completing her and loving her. She continued to kiss him, touch him and held him tighter to not let the pressure go, syncing with his pace to let him have a share of pleasure. The high came out pretty good and soon with their skin glistening with sweat and yet they weren't done. This was long due!

Making love was so not possible while Mickey was all over the place and now that they were finally alone, they weren't anywhere near the end.

Laying on the bed, satiated and flushed, she lifted her head to look at him to find him looking at her. He lovingly ran his hand over her back, then ran his fingers back up to her shoulders and finally hugged her close to his heart, not before dropping a few kisses on her head, again and again. She felt sensitive all over, very ticklish in fact while goosebumps rolled all over her skin.

If love making was the most special act of intimacy known, the soft and small kisses exchanged after it were like a cherry on the cake, they just made it more special.

"Shehnaaz." He shook her until she woke up.

"Hm??" She replied with groggy eyes and he just couldn't help but kiss her head.

"Mickey ka call aa raha hai. Anju Aunty log tere ghar aa gaye hain." He replied and she sat up straight in response to that.

"Haaye, kitnaa time ho gaya? Mai itni der so gayi, tune mujhe jagaya kyu nahi!" She asked.

"Tu sirf 15 minute soyi. Isliye nahi uthaya." He replied.

"Toh baki time? Haaye, hum itni der tak kare ja rahe the?" She asked him, surprised. It had been almost two hours since Mickey had locked them in.

He just chuckled, disappearing into the bathroom to freshen up while she dressed up properly and washed up after him.

The moment they joined everybody back in Madhu's place, people were eyeing them. It had Shehnaaz worried.

"Kya hua? Kis baat pe ladayi huyi thi tum dono ki?" Madhu asked.

"Woh na- Mummy, kya hai na ke.. yeh Sidharth jo hai na-" Shehnaaz began to make something up.

"Office ka kaam zyada ho gaya tha iska. Mere liye time hi nahi tha iske pass. Bolo?! Aur fir- mere pe chillaya." She added and looked at her fiance, gesturing to him to carry the story.

"Ha Aunty. Aap jante toh hain, yeh baat baat pe muh fula leti hai." He replied.

"Agle mahine shaadi hai inki! Koi maanega?" Anju joked, everybody laughed at them and carried on with their dinner plans.

The next day, as per their plans, they went to shop. The next few days went smoothly, they bought clothes for the bride and groom, themselves, close family and friends. Well,the bride wasn't getting the one lehenga she wanted for her wedding. Be it a designer or an ordinary boutique product, Shehnaaz didn't like any of the material for her big day.

"Sana, maine hath khade kar diye hain. Ab tu mera aur patience test na kar. Chup karke lele lehenga!" Madhu scolded her daughter.

"Mummy yaar, pasand bhi toh aana chahiye ya nahi!?" Shehnaaz replied.

"Red bohot zyada bright lagta hai, kitna common hai! Peach sabne pehen liya trend me! Pink mere sangeet ki dress hai! Blue aur green koi apni shaadi me pehenta bhi hai?!" She added only for her mother to glare at her in a murderous manner.

"Tu na-!" Madhu began but she was interrupted.

"Shaant ho jao. Yeh ladkiyon ka aisa hi chalta hai! Mickey ne bhi yahi kiya tha!" Anju intervened.

"Sana, dekhle online yadi tujhe kuch pasand aaye toh, hum Mumbai se bahar se bhi shopping kar sakte hai. Bas isi week final karle, tere pass zyada time bhi nahi hai." She suggested Shehnaaz.

"Ha Aunty." Shehnaaz nodded. She didn't feel like she was asking for something impossible, she just wanted her wedding attire to be unique and memorable for the rest of her life.

"Jao tum bacche log cards aur catering ka dekho. Hum kapde jama rahe hai." Madhu dismissed her daughter with that.

"Catering Guru dekh lega bola. Delhi jaa ke khud ek bari bas taste kar lenge." Shehnaaz replied, joining her friends back in the living room.

"Kahi ghumne chale? Mai bore ho rahi hu." She asked Mickey.

"Ha, abhi Montu nahi hai. Bore lagega." Mickey teased her friend.

"Chal chal." Shehnaaz scoffed at her friend.

"Badhiya, Paji peg maar rahe honge. Oh how, I miss my Friday nights!" Gurjot mentioned.

"Kuch zyada nahi miss kar raha hai apni bachelor life?" His wife asked.

"Arey, no baby! Dekh, honestly, even when I wasn't married. We used to have such a great time sneaking out, haina?" Gurjot skillfully diverted the topic for his pregnant and moody wife.

"Ha.." she replied, recalling those days when they used to date.

"Acha chal, drive pe chalte hai hum." He suggested, gesturing to the ladies to get going as he grabbed his car keys.

The dimly lit club in Juhu pulsed with the hum of chatter and the clinking of glasses. The ambiance was a blend of luxury and excitement, fitting for the bachelorette party Vardhan and Meera had organized for Sidharth. The venue was a high-end hotspot known for its exclusive drinks and opulent decor. While the crowd was lively and the music thumped in the background, Sidharth seemed content just sitting and engaging in conversation with his friends. Although he had no inclination towards dancing, he relished the camaraderie of the evening.

Meera’s friend Ishani, who had been part of the social circle for years, was also at the party. She had harbored feelings for Sidharth for a while, a fact that everyone knew but rarely spoke about. Her infatuation had become a topic of hushed conversations and whispered speculations. As the night wore on and the drinks began to take effect, her demeanor grew increasingly unsteady.

"Long time, ha? Congratulations by the way!" She hugged him as she met him.

"Thanks." He replied.

"Who's the lucky girl?" She asked further.

"Here." He replied, fishing out his phone and showing her a picture of Shehnaaz. Letting her know about their common contacts.

The evening took a tense turn when Ishani, visibly drunk, began expressing her frustrations. "Ek baat bolu?" She asked.

"Ha?" He nodded with a smile.

"I thought you’d take your time, you know? We had that first date and I thought... I thought maybe there was something." She said.

He found himself cornered by the unexpected confrontation, he was taken aback. He took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure.

"I'm not kidding." She added.

"Ishani, I'm really sorry if there was any misunderstanding. Maine tumhe pehle hi clearly bataya tha, mai uss waqt kisi bhi cheez ke liye sure nahi tha." He began, choosing his words carefully.

Her face flushed with a mixture of alcohol and hurt, seemed to take his words differently. "Wow." She nodded, looking away.

"You sure? Tum usse hi shaadi karna chahte ho?" Ishani's gaze became more intense, and she leaned closer to Sidharth.

Despite his attempts to redirect the conversation, her emotional state was unstable. She tried to kiss him on the lips. She reached out, attempting to close the physical distance between them in a way that made him uncomfortable.

"No! Tumne zyada pi li hai. Hum baad me baat karte hain." He gently but firmly pushed Ishani away, his voice calm but assertive.

His phone kept at the table occupied by his friends buzzed. It was a video call from Shehnaaz, who had decided to check in on the party remotely. Vardhan was supposed to be present there at the moment, having no reason to refuse and answered the call. The screen flickered to life and there was Shehnaaz’s face, her expression a mix of curiosity and affection.

"Hii! Kaisi chal rahi hai aap logo ki party?!" She asked.

"Hii Shehnaaz! We're having a blast here!" Vardhan replied.

However, what she saw next through the camera was far from what she had expected. The phone’s camera was positioned in such a way that she caught a glimpse of Sidharth and Ishani, with the latter leaning in far too close for comfort. The look on their faces was tense posture conveyed an uncomfortable situation.

Her eyes widened and her smile faltered, her voice laced with confusion and concern. The scene on the screen did not align with the celebratory mood she had envisioned for the night.

"Vardhan, sab thik hai na? Kya ho raha waha?" she asked.

Realizing the gravity of the situation along with her, Vardhan immediately tried to save the moment.

"Uh- no, it’s not- wo Ishani hai. Humari common friend hai. Jaisa dikha raha hai, vaisa kuch nahi ho raha hai. You- you relax.” he said hastily, his voice tinged with urgency.

"Ishani’s had a bit too much to drink. Maybe. I'll go and check." He told her. Assured her.

He quickly turned the phone’s camera away, redirecting it to show the lively surroundings of the party, hoping to distract Shehnaaz from the earlier scene. The rest of the night was subdued, with the atmosphere having shifted from celebratory to somber.

Sidharth felt a mix of discomfort and frustration. His primary emotion was unease, as the evening had unfolded in a way he hadn’t anticipated. Ishani’s advances were unexpected and unwelcome, especially since he had always seen her as just a friend. Her behavior, exacerbated by alcohol, made him feel deeply unsettled as he had no romantic interest in her.

"Fuck man!" He was struggling with a sense of betrayal. The fact that someone he considered a friend could act so inappropriately was disheartening. He felt a strong desire to distance himself from the situation and wished to resolve it as swiftly as possible. The entire incident had left him feeling embarrassed and defensive.

Adding to his distress was the uncertainty about how Shehnaaz had perceived the situation. Though he didn’t know exactly what she had seen during the video call, he was troubled by the possibility that she might have misunderstood the interaction.

The thought that she could view the situation in a negative light and question his intentions weighed heavily on him. He felt a strong urge to clarify things with her and reassure her of his commitment and integrity.

"Sidharth!" Ishani followed him out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello there.. I apologise for being so absent.

Here's the new chapter, a new twist in the story, a character returning to the screen only to make you question my good intentions..

What do you think is gonna happen next?

What'll Shehnaaz think now?

What'll Sidharth do now?

ALSO!! MAJOR ISSUE! ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
I'm honestly unable to balance between my college life now and this fiction writing.. it's hard but I don't want to quit writing.

I'm sorry but my graduation college was so lenient that I could just sit home and do whatever I wanted to but in my master's.. I'm deep neck in presentations..

Suggest what do I do next?

Ps; next chapter after some good 300 votes!