"Shehnaaz..." Jenny mumbled.

"What?" Sidharth's ears became alert hearing her name.

Jennifer didn't say anything but walked ahead and started searching the table & couch for something.

"Jenny hua kya hai? What are you searching?" Sidharth asked again utterly confused but 100 thoughts ran rapidly in his police mind.

Jenny kept mum as she found the remote & turned on the TV, a news channel.

Scrolling bar said "Just in - A hit & miss on Billionaire heiress Shehnaaz Kaur Bhalla's car in Mumbai Suburbs"

"Pioneer Corp's Shehnaaz Kaur Bhalla's brutal accident"

"The young CEO's accident!"

Sidharth was spellbound,his mother looked on with a shock & Neetu got equally stressed as she had heard about Shehnaaz so much from her daughter Nisha.

"Speculations are on if it's an accident or an attack?"

The news anchor's OTT analysis voice was heard and that was it, Sidharth heaved a deep sigh,his heart raced as fast as it could. He knew the news channels exaggerated things, he snatched the remote from Jenny & turned off the TV in fury while simultaneously trying to call someone on his mobile.

"Sidharth! Meine call kiya yaha aate waqt, looks like she's taken to her bungalow. You... You want to visit her?" Jenny asked.

"She... She's alright?" He asked still continuously trying to dial on his mobile.

"No info" Jenny answered looking down while Sidharth finally connected to someone.

"Hello! Dr Sinha, DCP Sidharth Singh Ranawat.Apke hospital ke Doctor Sufiyan ka contact number chahiye urgently... Abhi k abhi please help, no questions please" Sidharth asked on the call.

He continued as the family heard his one sided conversation "Noo... I'll be online. Please Doc it's very important"

"Yes... Sufiyan... Uh Doctor Sufiyan... Shit shit shit how can I forget his surname, usne bola tha!"
Sidharth grew impatient as he couldn't recall instantly.

"Ek kaam kijiye aap chaaro doctors ka full name batayiye jaldi"

"Yes! It's Sufiyan Zaidi. Ha pakka... That's him. Yes... 9612345678 is it right? Yeah thanks a lot" Sidharth heaved another sigh as he finally got Sufi's number.

He immediately called on the number but to his dismay the call went unanswered. He dialled the same number again, he walked to & fro, worry written clearly on his face.

Jenny also tried to call her sources to know more while Neetu & Rita ji looked their boy all stressed like his life depended on her.

"Pick up... Pick up damn it..." Sidharth mumbled as he repeatedly dialled the number.

And finally the call got connected, "Shehnaaz kaisi hai? Is she alright? Kuch hua nahi na usse? May I please talk to her? Where is she? She's okay hai na? Kuch bolo, Sufi is everything alright?" Sidharth rained questions without breathing at once.

"Hello this is Shehbaz, Shehnaaz da Bhai. Sufi paji uske sath hai voh rest kar rhi hai. Aap kaun?" Shehbaz asked, Sidharth heaved a sigh of relief when he heard that she's resting.

"Sidharth bol rah hu. DCP Sidharth Singh Ranawat. Sorry Shehbaz, mujhe laga sufiyan ne call pick kiya" Sidharth said earnestly.

"Jee it's okay. Apko janta hu...Sorry na bolo. Motto theek hai abhi. Forehead pe chot lagi hai & she got hurt on her elbow bas rab di meher hain zyada kuch hua nahi. Sufi paji khud treatment dekh rhe hai, bola hai theek ho jayegi" Shehbaz informed assuring that his sister was alright.

"Hmm...Uh... Yeh sab kaise hua? Sub inspector aaye the statement lene?" Sidharth enquired.

"Jee, police aye the but pata nahi kya baat huyi hai hum sab motto ke paas the. Humare PR aur managers ne baat ki hogi" Shehbaz said honestly.

"Right, ofcourse" Sidharth mumbled. He knew that high profile people never really bothered to interact with police in such situations. Everything was handled by their PRs & managers but somehow in her case he forgot for a moment that she belonged to the elite class because for him she was always like a normal young kind girl.

"Meher ji drive kar rhi thi na? Unhe kuch hua hai? Voh kaisi hai?" Sidharth asked about Shehnaaz's driver, as always being the kindest & thoughtful person that he is.

"Meher didi theek hai bilkul. Unhe kuch nahi hua, ek gadi left side pe speed se aake takrayi shehnaaz ki car ko Meher didi ne right turn mar liya sahi time pe isiliye zyada kuch nahi hua" Shehbaz informed, he also noticed how caring this man was about even the person whom he doesn't know too.

"Acha, shukr hai. Uss gadi ka number ya model kuch pata hai? Wait, Meher ji ka number mil sakta hai? I'll ask her whatever is needed" Sidharth asked.

"Jee voh theek rahega unse sab puch lijiye. Number mein apko what's app kardeta hu ji" Shehbaz said.

"Thank you Shehbaz. Uhm... Voh mein... Voh..." Sidharth hesitated to speak further but guess Shehbaz understood his plight.

"Jee aap aa sakte ho usse milne. Ghar pe mein manage kar lunga aap aayiye" Shehbaz affirmed being thoughtful.

He had heard his sister speak fondly about a man for the first time in his life & that man was Sidharth, so he knew if his sister trusted him then he must surely be a gem of a person.

"Ah that's... that's sweet of you. Thanks again Shehbaz. Mein message karta hu aane se pehle" Sidharth felt relieved. He was also delighted to see how Shehbaz understood which was unsaid.

Both of them had actually spoken to each other for first time but they both felt as if they've known each other for a long time.

"Jee zarur" Shehbaz replied.

"Okay then, Take care" Sidharth mumbled.

"Aap bhi take care ji" Shehbaz replied making him smile a faint one.

Sidharth instantly liked this boy who almost resembled Shehnaaz's way of speaking.

He cut the call & next moment he informed whatever he got to know to his family. He asked Jenny to find out about the police inspector who had been to Shehnaaz's house for the statement. And next thing he did was to contact Shehnaaz'd driver to know the details of the mishap.

He was still thinking of Shehnaaz, he thanked God a few times in his mind for not letting a huge disaster happen. The thought that the accident could have been worse made him shiver.

He realised he worried for her just like he'd worry for anyone from his family. He didn't know when & how she made such a place in his heart which doesn't let anyone in so easily. He wanted to see her in front of his eyes at the earliest.

He felt like hugging her once to really register that she was okay because incidents like this to his loved ones was the scariest thing for him. Considering his past, he dreaded something like this for people he cared about. So it was natural for him to get terrified & also considering how much Shehnaaz had started to mean to him it was only human to react this way.

*********

"Amma... This is Deputy Commissioner of Police Sidharth Singh Ranawat. Motto ke ache dost bhi hai. Usse milne aaye hai" Shehbaz introduced him to his mother who sat on the couch reading a book.

She shut the book & looked up to see the tall handsome man who looked hesitant. She observed him a bit and thought he must be in his mid thirties.

"Hello Mrs Bhalla" Sidharth himself spoke breaking the silence and her observant glance on him.

"Hello.. kabhi batayi nahi meri beti apke bare mei? Yeh bol raha hai ache dost ho?" She asked again scrutinizing him.

"Jee hum 2 mahine pehle hi mile hai" Sidharth said.

"Acha" she replied curtly & continued reading her book. Taking this as a cue, Shehbaz took him towards Shehnaaz's room.

The walk from their vast hall to her bedroom took about a 2 minutes as such was the distance. Sidharth was least interested to see the extravagant interiors of the bungalow as his sole intention was to see Shehnaaz as soon as possible.

They both reached the room, Shehbaz tried to push the door open as quietly as he could & yet it creaked a bit.

Shehnaaz was sprawled on her huge bed, asleep on her back flat on the mattress with a band aid on her forehead & a white gauge covered her elbow that rested on her stomach.

Sidharth stood rooted to his place at the door while Shehbaz walked in and turned on the brighter lights turning off the dim ones.

"Motto..." He was about to wake her up but Sidharth signalled him to let her be & he'd wait.

Shehbaz softly asked him to take his seat on the couch that faced her bed. Sidharth kept looking at her serene face as she stirred in her sleep perhaps due to the lights that disturbed her or due to her body pains from the accident.

"Aap please feel comfortable. Mein abhi aata hu. Chai lenge na aap? I'll tell the kitchen staff" Shehbaz mumbled & Sidharth just nodded his head.

Shehbaz then left & it was just Sidharth with Shehnaaz in the room. He sat on the couch for a few minutes staring at her. He felt that was the best vision he has ever seen of a girl in his life so far. Shehnaaz looked serene, her bare face with no trace of make up made her look even more beautiful. The way she stirred trying to find a comfortable position made him feel bad for her as her wounds wouldn't let her sleep properly.

Involuntarily he walked to her bed when he found her wounded hand getting under her weight when she turned to her left side.

He slowly removed her hand from below being as careful as he can be as if he was holding a flower that he wished wouldn't wither.

Shehnaaz blinked her eyes open, probably feeling another set of hands helping her to sleep properly.

"Sidh... Sidharth" she mumbled faintly.

"Ha meri jaan" he mumbled softly the same way she spoke.

Shehnaaz's eyes became moist listening to him calling her his jaan, which didn't go unnoticed by Sidharth.

"Sshhh...pagal hai tu? Ro kyu rhi hai bey?" He said holding her shoulders.

"Kaisi hai? Dard hai? Kya hua? Yeh sab bhi puch sakta hai... Aate hi pagal kaun bulata hai?" Shehnaaz mocked bumping her tiny fist against his bicep.

Sidharth chuckled at her fake annoyance & leaned forward to take her in a warm hug that he'd been waiting for since a long time. She wrapped her free arm around him while she rested her wounded arm on the bed.

No words were spoken yet they understood the unsaid with that simple gesture. His concern, care, affection, protectiveness perhaps love & her longing, her yearning, her hope, her want, her need all was conveyed. Actions spoke a lot louder than words.

That stayed in each other's embrace for few minutes & it was Sidharth who parted realising he must be hurting her already painful body.

He saw her eyes, deep dark orbs went low giving him a cue of sleeplessness. Yet she looked like the most beautiful woman for him.

He leaned forward and kissed her head as he whispered "Get well soon, sherni"

This brought a wide smile on Shehnaaz's face as she soaked in his heartwarming gesture. Nobody had showered her affection with actions on her till then, this man here was doing all the things that she desired without even knowing what those meant to her.

"Mom has sent you Aloo Paratha. Kha le na okay" he said keeping a small jute bag that had 2 hot boxes.

"Arre unhone takleef kyu li? Mana kar deta na Sidharth. Kham kha unka kaam badh gya hoga" Shehnaaz said with concern.

"Chal bey, man mei laddoo phoot rhe honge aloo Paratha sunte hi par bolna yeh hai, Nautanki" Sidharth said knowing very well by now that she loved food. She giggled making him smile.

"Thank you bolna unhe" shehnaaz mumbled taking his palm in hers & started playing with his fingers.

"Mein kyu bolu? Tu khud bol" Sidharth affirmed.

"Acha theek hai bol deti hu, kitna bhav khata hai Sidhaarrthh..." She said stressing on his name as usual in her style.

"Mein bhav khata hu? filhal tu aloo paratha kha, theek hai?" He said with a smirk & she giggled again.

"Acha mein chalu? Your mom will eat me alive I guess zyada der ruka toh" He chuckled recalling the cold looks he got from her mother while he walked to her room but her face fell which didn't go unnoticed by him.

"Ha..." She mumbled faintly.

"Sachhi? Matlab kha jayengi voh mujhe?" He tried to lighten up her mood but in vain as she still maintained her low face.

"Acha i know bohat bura joke tha, but itna sad nahi hona tha na uspe" he said brushing away a hair strand that fell on her forehead.

"She doesn't like any man near me" Shehnaaz mumbled.

"Huh?" Sidharth asked taken aback.

By then Shehbaz & a woman wearing an uniform with a tray of tea set arrived.

"Sorry to disturb, but chai is here" Shehbaz said.

They all had their tea & fell into easy conversation. But Sidharth's mind was stuck at what Shehnaaz said about her mother. He wanted to ask more but he couldn't get the chance as Shehbaz was with them. He spoke for some time & bid adieu unwillingly as he felt like spending more time with her but he knew it was inappropriate at that point of time.

He warned her to take her medicines, food on time, to rest well & left.

********

3 days had passed since the day Sidharth had visited Shehnaaz. He was constantly in touch with her on messages, calls & video calls. Both of them felt this feeling of having another human so close to their personal space very new. Sidharth though was in numerous relationships had a different feeling for Shehnaaz.

Shehnaaz & Sufiyan walked in the corridors of a multi-speciality corporate hospital. It was her check up day for the wounds & also for an X ray of her arm.

"Teri wajah se late huyi hu mei Sufi mera important meeting tha" Shehnaaz chided & walked ahead of Sufiyan.

"Ha pata hai meri ma ab chal, patients the mere consultation ke liye" Sufiyan uttered an excuse for his delay while removing his stethoscope & stuffing into the pocket of his blue scrubs.

"Baat mat kar mere se tu"

"Acha chal baat nai karta but chocolate croissant khilaunga theek hai? Humare hospital ke cafeteria ki best serve" Sufi offered in an attempt to pacify his angry bestie but she walked ahead nonchalantly.

"Wow! Hot!" Sufi exclaimed suddenly stood rooted to his place.

"Tu hospital mei bhi check out karta hai chee yar Sufi" Shehnaaz mock giggled at him & stopped in her tracks.

"Jo sochna hai tu soch but vaha pe dekh! How hot does she look in an uniform?!" Sufi exclaimed again.

Shehnaaz rolled her eyes & looked towards the area that he pointed.

"Yeh yaha pe kya kar rhi hai?" Shehnaaz mumbled.

"Kya kar rhi hai matlab? Tu janti hai isse?" Sufi asked being all curious.

"Haa she's ACP Jennifer D'Souza, Sidharth ki friend & haa she's older than you so you may want to rethink checking her out, pata chala kal tu jail mei hai toh mein nai aungi tujhe bail out karane" Shehnaaz giggled.

"Ha ha very funny hass liya meine ab chale? He asked & looked behind to wave at a fellow doctor. Shehnaaz neither replied nor moved so he continued to say...

"Sana chal na ab late nai ho rhi tu?"

"Sidharth... Voh Sidharth hai na Jenny k sath?" Shehnaaz uttered pointing at someone a little ahead of them.

"Ha yar tera Sidharth hi hai..." Sufi answered after taking a good look at the man she pointed.

"Voh yaha hospital mei kya kar raha hai? Aaj subah k baad message bhi nahi kiya" Shehnaaz mumbled.

"That's Dr Sinha's cabin. Vahi se aa rhe dono..." Sufi said.

"Dr Sinha? Unke paas kyu gaye yeh dono?" Shehnaaz wondered.

***********

Thank you for reading 💝

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Hope the story pace is fine? If not please batayiye... I know you have many questions they'll be answered in coming chapters.

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Love,
Avni