Sidharth & Shehnaaz indulged in a soul seering, mind numbing first kiss that literally made them forget their surroundings. It was absolutely sheer bliss and an inexplicable experience for them both to finally feel each other's lips. Though it wasn't Sidharth's first & nothing like his previous experiences it was new & an inexplicable feeling which he hadn't felt any time with anyone. On the other hand Shehnaaz, who was a novice had gone through a myriad of emotions. Her body froze for the moment. She'd never thought her first kiss could be anything close to whatever she felt with Sidharth.

The current that passed through their bodies the moment they kissed,the numbness,the stillness,the peace,the pleasure,the connect, the euphoria was something unprecedented & they were sure it would never be felt with anyone else.

They were immersed and lost in devouring each other's lips when they heard a mobile ring.

It was Meher's call to Shehnaaz. They slowly moved a bit apart & Shehnaaz grabbed her phone from the dashboard to answer but took a few moments to regain her composure and breath.

By then the call was disconnected so she immediately called back, Sidharth just kept staring at her with all the emotions he felt for her. He noticed that her eyes were moist, face was flushed red, her lips slightly quivered. She looked divine to him yet he was concerned a bit due to the moisture he saw in her eyes.

"Jee Meher di" she said as soon as the call connected.

"Sana, sab theek hai? You guys came 20 minutes back par abhi tak tum bahar nahi aayi toh I just called to check" Meher said concerned about her boss. Though Meher had parked her car close, but at a fair distance to Sidharth's car, she didn't want to suddenly go and intrude their space so she had decided to call.

"Uh jee sab changa. Voh uh... hum baat kar rahe the. Mein aa jaungi bas 2 minute" Shehnaaz answered.

"Acha okay" and she disconnected the call.

Now was the time for her to face Sidharth. Shehnaaz slowly turned towards him to find him already staring at her intensely.

"Sidh... Sidhaaarthhh" Shehnaaz tried to speak but it came out as a whisper.

"Sssshhhh... Come here" he whispered too softly to be audible as he spread his arms for her to cling on to him which she did immediately.

He hugged her close to his chest and patted her back slowly as if he was calming her down.

"Are you crying?" He spoke softly.

"No" she whispered but confidently.

"Phir yeh tere ankhon mei nami kaise? did I do any mist... ?" he was interrupted by her midway by placing her palm on his lips.

"Nahi..." She looked up to his eyes still staying in his embrace.

"Sidharth,do you...do you regret it ?" She asked almost in a whisper & looked straight into his eyes. It felt like her eyes bore into his soul to seek his answer.

"Pch Noo, absolutely no sweetheart. Why do you think so? But do you regret it?" He answered honestly, she remained silent and just looked into his eyes.

"Shehnaazz..." He pressed her shoulder receiving no answer from her.

"Mujhe chalna chahiye" she mumbled inaudibly and moved apart puzzling him all the more. This wasn't supposed to be how it was happening. Sidharth's heart raced to know what had happened to her in few minutes.

"Shehnaaz, kya hua hai? I asked you something baba" he asked with concern laced in his voice and fear too.

"Mhm... I don't regret it either Sidharth. I'm okay. Just overwhelmed shayad. Meher di wait kar rhi hai already kitni der se I should get going" she said at one breath as if she'd take time she may not be able to speak.

She had calmed his racing heart to an extent by saying this but Sidharth wasn't naive to not notice some kind of inner conflict she was fighting at that moment. But he chose to let her be and talk to her later about it. If she needed anything, he was ready to give exactly that to her. So right then he knew she needed affection, warmth, trust and respect, he gave just that to her.

"come here" he said spreading his arms a little & instantly like a magnetic pull Shehnaaz clung on to him.

Sidharth hugged her tight rocking back and forth slowly, he peppered soft kisses on her head to soothe whatever she was going through. Most of the time it's actions and gestures that matter to a person more than words. And for Sidharth, such empathy & providing comfort through
gestures came naturally.

A few minutes later, Shehnaaz moved behind a bit still engulfed in his arms and she looked at him.

"Sidharthhh..." She said as softly as she could. She saw the ambiguity in his eyes that she put him through. His eyes were intense yet held so much warmth but also had questions,confusion,a bit of fear & all mixed emotions. She felt helpless to leave him on a cliffhanger.

But for now she could at least give him clarity that she didn't regret their kiss. And deep down she knew they both wanted this to happen now & again.

So she leaned in forward and placed her lips on his. Sidharth was taken aback momentarily because he wasn't expecting her to kiss him again in a span of a few minutes, considering her inner turmoil that he could see. But eventually he understood that she willfully gave in and didn't regret anything so he kissed her back passionately.

This was a brief one unlike their first. It was of assurance, of hope, of want and of feelings. They moved apart, Shehnaaz smiled which automatically brought a smile on Sidharth's face.

"Chal, Meher wait kar rhi hai" he mumbled, not before pecking her forehead he unlocked the car doors.

They got down and slowly walked towards Shehnaaz's car. Once they reached, Sidharth held her palm and said "jo bhi dimag mei paka rhi hai na, zyada mat soch. Whatever it is, it'll be alright. Yeah?"

Shehnaaz was left amused to see how understanding, sensible & concerned he was about the things that she hadn't even spoken a word about to him. He read through her like she was an open book while in reality she was cowered. She hadn't come across a man who could understand unsaid emotions, who could be sensitive, who could respect her even when she couldn't open up to him. She realised perhaps Sidharth is one in a million men.

She nodded her head affirmatively in response to him, a faint smile and glint in the eyes were back on her face. He was happy.

She lunged forward and hugged him.

"Thank you Sidharth" she whispered in his ears & pecked his neck before running to her car. Sidharth chuckled at her and waved a good night.

**************

It had been 2 days from the night they had the surreal moment of their lives. That night's dinner date, the memory, the kiss was all replaying in their minds every time they either texted or spoke. Neither Sidharth nor Shehnaaz acknowledged or brought up that topic. They were in touch on the phone casually but they hadn't met, rather their schedules hadn't allowed them. Though the next day was the weekend, Saturday to be precise, Shehnaaz had told him that she was going to take her mother out for some shopping & dinner so she'd cancelled catching up with him at his home. And on Sunday, Sidharth had to go on a case investigation that came up urgently. Police never had proper offs like civilians, they were expected at duty any given time.

So here they were on a Monday morning at their respective offices, eager to meet & irritated with everything that was stopping them from meeting each other.

By the time Shehnaaz finished up a meeting in the board room and walked to her cabin after calling her personal associate Rahul to follow her it was afternoon.

"Rahul, do I have any more meetings lined up?" she asked as soon as she went and sat on her chair.

"No meetings as such Ma'am. But, your visit to Rab di Meher is scheduled around 4pm" Rahul said once he cross checked the schedule on his iPad.

"Yeah. Is the truck ready?" Shehnaaz enquired.

"Yes, it is. Post lunch it'll reach the place before you ma'am" Rahul answered.

"Great! Thanks Rahul" Shehnaaz nodded and signalled him to leave.

She immersed herself in reviewing a deal documents when her phone rang with a face time from Sidharth.

"Hi baby" he chimed waving his palm.

"Hiiii...." She said equally ecstatic to see him after 2 days. She noticed he was in his car in the driver's seat, dressed in a black tee & his uber cool sun glasses looking as handsome as ever.

"Kaha hai tu? Tera kaam nai hai aaj?" Shehnaaz quipped while typing away an email simultaneously on her MacBook.

"Nope" he smiled big like a school kid who was allowed to skip his classes.

"Kis khushi mei?" Shehnaaz asked focusing on him now.

"Arre kal Sunday ko apan ne kitna kaam kiya na toh aaj kuch nai karneka bas. Mere staff dekh lenge jo bhi hai" he said showing off his privilege of being the DCP.

"Tera mast hai Sidharth. Acha ab bol kya plan hai? Kaha jaa rah hai?" She enquired already having thought of a plan.

"Mein na Jenny ki dost se milne Jaa rah hu. Voh meri bhi friend thi bohat pehle abhi London se wapis aayi hai so going to catch up" he said suppressing his laugh as he noticed how Shehnaaz's facial expressions changed to a miffed face hearing about him meeting a female friend.

"Oh..." she just hummed rolling her eyes trying to fake a "whatever" look but miserably failing because it was clear on her face how she despised the fact that Sidharth was going to meet some other girl and was happily telling it to her now. Sidharth loved to tease her so he thought he'll irritate her more.

"Hum na pehle building mei ikathe bade hue the. Jenny aur mei cricket jab bhi khelte the tab voh aati thi pata nai kyu mujhe ghoor ghoorke dekhti thi...Jenny says she had a big time crush on me. Abhi milunga na I'll ask her if I'm still her crush" he smirked.

"Sidhaaarthhh muh tud dungi tera. Bakwas kam kiya kar" she said irritated with him & he laughed for his mission was successful.

"Kyu bey? Tere liye koi launda vounda bheje?" He teased her more.

"Sidharth tu hi hai launda. Zyada patli gali se mat nikla kar" she fumed.

"Patli gali mei fit kaise aunga mei?" He stuck his tongue out & teased more further irritating her.

"Uh haaaa ammaaaa!" She whined.

"Baat mat kar merese ja teri ex ux wait kar rhi hogi" Shehnaaz seemed visibly upset so now Sidharth didn't want to stretch more.

"Abey yar... koi ex nahi thi. Mazaak kar raha tha. Kissi se nai milne jaa rah mei. Tere se hi milne aa raha tha meri jaan. I called you up to ask if you're free but then I goofed around a bit" he clarified. His eyes dropped,he could never see her upset with him.

"Toh phir kyu bola voh sab. Mujhe laga hogi koi teri ex girlfriend" Shehnaaz justified making a pout.

"Gadhi, apne lagne pe duniya nai chalti. Masti kar rah tha" he implied to whatever he said.

"Acha theek hai na tu samjha mujhe aise hi achhe se. Pata mein khud tujhe phone karne wali thi abhi" she easily diverted the topic and Sidharth let her.

"Kis khushi mei?" He asked.

"Surprise hai aa jaa" she chimed, her eyes had got the back the twinkle.

"Office aa jau? Tera kaam nai hai?" He enquired not wanting to disturb her work.

"Not much. Saare meetings khatam ho gaye tu aa jaa" she insisted.

"Acha theek hai chal aata hu. Tu ne lunch kiya?" He asked.

"Umm not yet" she answered biting her lower lip knowing that he might scold her for not eating.

"Baby time dekh it's already 2:30" he reprimanded as she thought.

"Breakfast late kiya meine.Tu aa na Sidharth. Tere sath khaungi" she tried to dodge, Sidharth heaved a sigh in despair.

"15 minutes. I'll be there" he mumbled.

"Acha bol kya khayega banwa dungi tere aane tak" Shehnaaz asked. She always made sure to ask & do things whatever he liked. She cared and gave attention to even such small things which was heartwarming for Sidharth.

He said he would have his usual dal chawal with a spinach salad. She happily agreed and they disconnected their video call. Shehnaaz was glad that he was coming over. She wanted to do what she had thought of about the surprise. She wanted to see his reaction as much as she felt jittery about the entire ordeal.

Just like he promised, Sidharth arrived at her office within 15 minutes. But he first reached the floor where his darling niece Nisha worked.He called up Shehnaaz to inform that he'll meet Nisha & go to her. He was a proud mama when he saw that his little one was engrossed in work & training her team.

He waited till she completed whatever she was explaining and then spoke to her for a few minutes before leaving to meet Shehnaaz.

He literally ran up to the elevators to save time. Once he reached her floor, he primped himself and walked towards her cabin.

The receptionist Rosy greeted him with a smile. He greeted her in turn and walked through the automatic door.

"Babyyyyyyy" Shehnaaz lunged forward to hug him as the door shut on its own.

Sidharth took her in his warm huge bear hug mumbling a "awe mera bacha"

The 2 days of not seeing each other in person & staying away physically had got to them. They didn't part even after a few minutes. Then, Sidharth slightly moved apart to say "Sorry late ho gaya"

"Ssshhhh" she shushed him only to press her lips against his. He snaked his arms around her waist firmly and returned a long passionate kiss. Both left no chance for any kind of awkwardness as this was just the second time after their first kiss.
They'd already had a natural comfort with eachother so there was no room for any conscious acknowledgement of what happened.

They moved apart heaving soft sighs. Shehnaaz held his biceps & giggled a bit showing him her usual chirpy side. Sidharth was glad that whatever conflict she was fighting that night after their intimate moment was gradually fading away because Shehnaaz seemed happy today & she herself initiated the kiss.

"Chal aa jaa khana ready hai" Shehnaaz said blinking her eyes.

They had their lunch together over some casual talk about their family,upcoming projects at Pioneer & Sidharth even narrated his cases investigation which Shehnaaz listened with a great excitement saying that she loved to hear police stories which made him chuckle.

Shehnaaz also ensured to tell him that she wanted to call Nisha to join them for lunch but she couldn't as at office she was her employee so she had to maintain certain work ethics so that she's not impartial to others. Sidharth told her it was perfectly fine as he understood her stance & was glad that she thought so much about his family members.

Once they finished the lunch, Shehnaaz told him she's gonna take him somewhere and he should accompany her without asking questions.

And after a little bickering he'd agree with her. Shehnaaz told Meher that she would drive on her own. So it was only Shehnaaz and Sidharth in her Audi.

Shehnaaz drove towards the sea link.

"Baby, you drive so well" Sidharth genuinely appreciated after a few minutes into the drive.

"Mere talent kaha janta hai tu? Dekhti Jaa mei kya kya kar sakti hu" Shehnaaz beamed raising her imaginary collar.

Sidharth laughed heartfully at her antics but he always genuinely felt proud of anything that she did.

"Waise hum Jaa kaha rahe hai? Bata bhi do na " he kind of whined not being able to bear the curiosity.

"Sidhaaarthhh surprise naam ki cheez hoti hai" she huffed and concentrated on driving.

********************

Thanks for reading ❤️

Do share how u feel the story is progressing...

Love,
Avni