"Abey yaar! Paka mat, bol na" Sidharth sighed.

"Acha suno, I think... I mean, I guess... Nishu ko Shub pasand hai and usko Nishu" Shehnaaz revealed as she had noticed them stealing sweet small moments throughout the lunch.

"Really? You think so?" He asked rather calmly contrary to how Shehnaaz had thought he'd react.

"Ha baba... I could see some sparks. Tujhe bhi dikhta only if you were not sulking over me and Shub" Shehnaaz bit her tongue and giggled at herself for the way she taunted him mischievously.

She looked too cute to get offended by her taunt so Sidharth let that go and grabbed her face under the chin only to bite her cheek.

"Khaa jau tujhe?" He mumbled faintly still keeping his teeth on her cheek.

"Ammaaa..." She whined as expected, making him laugh and move a tiny bit apart.

She touched her cheek and mumbled incoherent words with a cute pout which made her look absolutely adorable. And that compelled Sidharth to grab her close to him by her waist and press his lips against the cute pout of hers. What started as a sweet peck transpired into a passionate kiss. Shehnaaz was taken aback with his sudden gesture but nevertheless reciprocated with equal passion as she was glad that Sidharth was not sulking anymore and was showering her with his best kisses.

"Khaa jaunga tujhe sach mei ek din..." Sidharth chuckled moving a few inches apart.

"I'm all yours" she whispered, catching up on her breathe. Sidharth's eyes widened at once and scrunched the next moment intensely. He was second guessing about what her words insinuated but then he really didn't want to go there yet so he skillfully dodged it.

"Of course, baby" he pecked her cheek and smiled wide, she did too.

"Acha chal bata what's up with Nishu and Shubman?" He asked, pushing away the hair on on her forehead.

"Nothing much as of now I guess, Aaj hi toh mile hai dono. Meine bas notice kiya lunch pe, you know the first time tingles of attraction? Waisa kuch... Just thought you should know too because it's our Nishu and the boy from my family. Voh teri bachi hai, I know how protective you are of her so honestly, I didn't want any misunderstandings between us aage jaa kar if at all they both get together, you know?" Shehnaaz said insinuating at a probable future.

"Uhm, I do. Thank you batane k liye but baby please don't think iski wajah se there'll be problems between us. It will not baba...as much as I'm protective of Nisha, I'd never blame you or anyone for her actions irrespective of Shubman being ur family or not. She's an adult and meri bachi apne decisions ki zimmedari khud leti hai... So it's all fine. Samjhi?"

Sidharth explained as if she was a child. In a way she was one, considering how pure and innocent her nature is. Shehnaaz nodded her head in agreement while she played with his shirt's buttons.

"Toh you don't have a problem with Nisha dating someone or Shub?" She questioned curiously.

"Umm nope as long as she introduces the boy to us and we feel that she's safe around him" he replied with nonchalance. He seemed really cool about his young niece's probable love life.

"Hein? Sachi? Mujhe laga tu gussa karega" she said astonished at how cool he was. He laughed and pinched her cheeks.

"Gussa kyu bey? She's 20 years old, this age you know, it's tricky, we cannot impose our thoughts on her right? Besides, voh apne liye kya sahi hai kya galat hai choose aur decide karne ki capability rakhti hai and we've let our child be herself. Agar hum usse samjhenge nahi, hum uske sahi ya galat decisions pe guide aur support nahi karenge toh aur kaun karega? Preeti or Jag or me or mom none in our house want her to feel scared of her own family. We feel children should be given the wings to fly wherever they want to, if they soar high and reach heights without failing then none will be as happy as us, but in the flight that they take if they falter or lose a wing for worse, they should be knowing that they have a family behind to hold back and tend to, they should not get scared ki ab meine galti kardi aur ghar pe pata chalega toh they'll rip me apart... No aisa nahi sochna hai bacho ko. They have to feel secure, bas that's the parenting style which mom and baba adopted toh hum bhi vahi follow kar rahe hai..." He finished with a smile fondly remembering his father.

Shehnaaz also smiled wholeheartedly listening to him speak so well and fondly of his family's principles. She was also amazed at how understanding, progressive he and his entire family was with Nisha.

"That's, uh.. that's beautiful Sidharth" she softly mumbled snuggling her face into his chest.

"Sana..." Sidharth whispered.

"As much as I want you to stay this way in my arms and don't want to let you go anywhere, unfortunately tu late ho rhi hai meri jaan. You've to get home baba...it's time" Sidharth said in a dejected tone.

"Hmm..."

"Bas 5 minute aise hi rehna hai" shehnaaz responded in a small voice as she had buried her face in his chest.

Sidharth didn't want anything more than the solace they found in each other's arms at that moment and the way she demanded for 5 more minutes of it tugged at his heart so strongly. He wished the moment stayed for longer but he knew better.

"Okay" he mumbled as he kissed her forehead.

***********

It was around 12 in the night when Shehnaaz, Shubman, his manager John and Shehbaz were laughing away their hearts after a very long time. The Bhalla house did not light up with bouts of laughter unless Shehbaz or Shubman visited. The rest of the time, they followed a mundane routine. So, this night was one such where they were all sitting by the poolside dipping their legs in the water, having fun with nonsense talks and some drinks. Punjabis and alcohol went hand in hand always is a true proverb. Shubman being a sportsperson was an exception though, since he followed a very strict diet but he let it go for a toss that night for his dear Sanu considering he had no matches around too. He enjoyed a slow 2 pegs of vodka while the others left no stone unturned in sloshing themselves in their favourite drink.

As the empty vast garden area echoed with their laughter, Sufi walked in leisurely to join them.

"Oye hoye, ae dekho kaun aa rhi aa" Shehnaaz said flashing her smile at Sufi and everyone else looked at the way he walked in.

"Hiiiii Sufi paajii..." Shehbaz tried to stand up and welcome him but to his dismay his feet tripped on nothing and fell down making everyone laugh.

"Haye siyappa" Shehnaaz muttered but also laughed at her brother. Shubman crawled upto to him and checked on if he was hurt anywhere but all thanks to the grass he was not hurt.

"Arre Baaz, dheere Bhai. itna peete kyu ho yar, theek se khade bhi nahi ho paa rhe ho dekho..." Sufi took three big steps to reach them as he saw Shehbaz trip.

"Ssshhhh... tu doctor hai na toh doctor reh, teacher mat ban Sufi" Shehnaaz spat, gesturing her forefinger on her lips. Sufi sighed to ignore Shehnaaz completely and saw that Shubman also present with them.

"Shubman! Tum bhi?" He exclaimed, as he was not expecting the disciplined cricketer to join his friends' madness.

"Arre Sufi Bhai, yes, I mean no. Matlab I'm sober...just had little vodka for Sanu. She's really happy today and I'm happy for her" he justified.

"Acha? Yeh tera manager hai na, how did he allow you to drink firstly? Little or more, alcohol is alcohol bro" Sufi said dejected. Perhaps he felt sportsmen were not someone who gave into their peer pressure and whims. But who would tell him that sportsmen are also human and they also need to let loose sometimes?

"Sufi yar, hadh hai, chup bait na? Aaj hum khush hai, bol rah hai na Shub. Bachon ko khush nahi dekh sakta tu? Aa ja tu bhi pee le thoda" Shehnaaz frowned forwarding her whiskey glass to him.

"Uff! nautanki... itna khush kyu hai vaise?" He enquired pushing her glass away. He saw Shehbaz, John and Shubman trying to stand up again.

"Bas aise hi..." Shehnaaz giggled.

"Bolegi?" Sufi asked in a no nonsense tone and she knew he was in no mood to fool around.

"Sanu, I'll walk Baaz to his room and mei vi hun so jauga. Good night" Shubman interrupted them in between and walked away with the other two boys without waiting for a reply.

"Good night kaake! Dhyan naal jaio" Shehnaaz screamed from behind them.

"Shehnaaz?" Sufi uttered with annoyance.

"Jee haan mei hi hu Shehnaaz Kaur Bhalla" she replied and laughed. The alcohol had surely got to her.

"Tu ja oye, kar jo karna hai. Mei jaa rah hu" Sufiyan said irritated with his bestie's constant fooling around.

"Oyeeee, ruk! kitna easy hai na tujhe irritate karna?" She laughed again, Sufi had had enough of her drama so he stood up to walk away when she caught hold of his hand.

"Acha acha gussa mat kar, sun bol rhi hu..." And she explained to him in detail from the time she had decided to tell her truth to Sidharth to him going on a mission and being held hostage by the smugglers and how he was back home with Shubman's help, everything. She also shared how Sidharth had made sure that his mother and she were informed of his well being at once on the call because he already considered that she was as important as his mother to him. That was indeed a very huge, gratifying & heart touching gesture from Sidharth that made her realise the magnitude and depth of where their bond and relationship was heading. With that one gesture, Sidharth had openly expressed Shehnaaz's importance and role in his life. She realised that he loved her, and loved immensely.

By the time she finished, she had tears in her eyes. She cried bitterly that she was unable to confess her truth to Sidharth because that one night when he was in danger had made her realise that she was falling in love with him. The way he cared about her, the way his family included her as one among them, the way Sidharth had made sure to call her up as soon as he found a way to connect to his family after escaping from the smugglers had thumped her heart like it would fall out.

Shehnaaz shared how until Sidharth returned to his house, she was very anxious. And when he finally reached her safely, she thanked the million gods she had prayed to.

"Woh mere se pyar karta hai Sufi, mujhe ehsaas ho gaya hai. He's fallen head over heels in love with me. He has been so patient with me, so understanding that aaj jab meine usse I'm all yours bola poore hosh mei phir bhi usne uska fayda nahi uthaya. He knows that I'm struggling with my baggage, he knows that I'm not okay but he doesn't push me over to share it with him. He doesn't impose himself on me. He's everything that the men around me are not. Aise admi ko mein kaise bataun ki mein uske life mei ek maksad lekar enter huyi thi...Mera usse milna, dosti karna sab kuch planned tha kaise batau? How do I say that all I wanted from him was a baby and not him? That I used him to fulfill my own motives? Voh toot jayega yar...voh deserve nahi karta yeh sab dukh" she paused to let her tears flow down her cheeks.

"Par pata hai in between all this chaos, the fear and everything aaj mei khush kyu hu? Kyuki I realised that I love him...! Apne maksad k liye dosti nibhaate nibhaate kab uske pyar mei pad gayi pata hi nahi chala. Sachhi... I know that mujhe pyar karne ki ya phir relationship mein hone ki ijazat nahi hai but thodi der k liye sahi kya mei iss ehsaas ko lekar khush nahi ho sakti that there's someone who loves me for who I am and I love him back the same way? That I'm also a mere human and I can also crave for pure, unadulterated, uninfluenced love?" Shehnaaz's droopy eyes shed continuous silent tears, she was almost not sober due to the alcohol but she was just in her limited senses that she could manage with. Probably, the high gave her the way to speak her mind with her friend though she didn't intend to share.

Sufi felt helpless to see his bestfriend go through this immensely intense emotions and pain all together. He wished he could help her ease the ache but he could do nothing but pull her into his protective embrace and caress her head.

"Ssshhh... It's ok. Tu galat nahi hai Sanu. You deserve what you desire but..." He trailed off as Shehnaaz's phone rang for a few seconds and got disconnected.

Shehnaaz moved apart mumbling "Sidharth hoga..." Sufi was amused to see how confident she was that it could be his call.

She grabbed her mobile and immediately a smile lit up her teary face. She almost jumped in glee like a child showing the screen to Sufi "See! I told you... Sidharth ka hi call tha" and she called him back the next moment.

"Babyyyyyyy" she whined on the call the moment Sidharth received.

"Shehnaaz? tu ne pee hai?" Sidharth on the other side just knew by few seconds of her voice that she was drunk.

"Umm thoda, ittu sa pee meine, shehbaz ne aur shub ne bhi piya. Yeh bandar Sufi aake hume dantne lag gaya" she complained like a kid again.

"Ittu sa pee ke aise talli ho gayi tu? You are drunk" Sidharth scoffed, who was she fooling? He knew at her first word that she was drunk.

"Sidhhhaaarthh... Aaaaa... Kya hai? Ghar pe hi toh pee voh bhi bachon k sath. Shub ne toh vaise bhi zyada nahi pee he was sober to handle us" Shehnaaz justified making a pout, clearly miffed at her man and her bestie for scolding her.

"Tu mil mujhe kal... Tab bataunga. Now go to your room and sleep" Sidharth said in a stern tone which he knew was the only thing that'd work with her.

"Yeh bolne k liye phone kiya tha tu ne? Dur fitte muh tere Sidharthhh..." Shehnaaz fake frowned but she loved that he had called her to just check on how she was doing.

"Baby? Please go sleep bacha. Will you?" He softened.

"Uhm, tax lagega" she said sticking her tongue out.

"Kya tax bey?"

"Say Shehnaaz is the most intelligent and beautiful girl ever" she said almost giggling away. Sidharth rolled his eyes at that but how much he loved this goofy girl was beyond his own perception.

He went on to repeat exactly what she had demanded and like a sweet little obedient girl Shehnaaz went to her room with Sufi's help and dozed off.

*********

The next morning at the Bhalla house was unusually bright and chirpy with the boys along with Shehnaaz rattling up the dining table at breakfast with their constant banter. Surprisingly, Shehnaaz's parents were also a part of them and enjoyed a hearty time.

"Ae ki ads ah tere Shub? Hahaha ghumda firda range rover ch, par paise leni TVS Ronin bike loka ton" Shehnaaz teased Shubman when he said he had an ad shoot that day for a bike. (What ads do you do Shub? Hahaha You roam on a Range rover but take money from a TVS Ronin bike)

"Oh please, I'm a star cricketer. Lok kamle ah mere lyi..." (People go bonkers over me)

And their banter continued until the breakfast was done and they left for the day.

Shehnaaz was about to leave as she grabbed her office bag when her father approached her.

"Puth, let's talk for few minutes?" His question was rather like a statement with the way he spoke leaving no room for Shehnaaz to escape.

She had been avoiding "the conversation" with her dad for a couple of days now so she didn't have a choice other than facing it right then.

"Hanji papa. Pehla ae dasso ki tussi dawayi li?" She asked being concerned about his health and made her way to the couch knowing well that the conversation will need some time.

"Haa puthar leli, Chinta na kar" Randhir Bhalla said caressing his daughter's head lovingly as he sat next to her.

"Sana, I know office lyi late ho rhi shayad but I won't take long. Puthar, teri umar 26 saal ho gayi hai, hun assi tera vyah karauna chaude ne. What do you say?" (Your age is 26, now we want to get you married)

As much as this didn't come as a surprise to Shehnaaz, listening to her father speak of her marriage for the first time created a swirl in her stomach. She stayed mum not knowing how to respond so her dad continued...

"Take your time, but I don't see any reason for you to say no or delay puthar unless you already like someone. Do you?" He questioned softly but in a tone that meant no such thing will be agreed.

"Paapa...." Shehnaaz whined as her entire being felt a shiver at his question. She wasn't expecting her father to ask if she likes someone openly after raising her with a principle that she didn't have the privilege of choosing her life partner on her own. The way her father spoke, manipulation dipped in honey made her tongue tied. The sarcasm in his tone, she knew where that was coming from. It was clearly from their age old orthodox belief that the Bhalla house women are NOT supposed to choose their partners on their own. It was a sin. And if they did choose by mistake, then they made sure they cut all ties.

"Papa no. I mean bataungi na apko...meine iss bare mei socha nahi hai abhi" she said hesitantly in Hindi contrary to their mother tongue Punjabi that they spoke at home usually. Shehnaaz had perhaps developed this habit of switching to Hindi when she had uncomfortable conversations.

"Toh ab socho beta...it's high time. You wanted to make a name for yourself, you have done that. CEO ban gayi na? Your amma worries about your future, you know that right? Toh jaldi sochke bata do hume...even if there's someone in your life. It's fine. Dekhenge kya ho sakta hai aage, yeah?" Randhir yet again said sweetly.

It did appear very sweet to anyone who heard the conversation but only Shehnaaz knew the havoc she felt inside her.

"Uhm jee Meher didi is here. I got to go. And voh Maldives resort k architecture company ko aaj finalise karne wali thi. Do you want to see the options before finalising?" Shehnaaz tried to change the topic completely by mentioning about office.

It did work in her favour as her father did not realise that she had dodged the previous topic skillfully.

"Ah no. Tu kar le final puthar,your choice. Meri jarurat nai si..." He said with a smile as shehnaaz stood up to leave.

"Okay. Bye papa" She waved at him and sprinted to her way out.

***********

Sidharth seemed deep in his thoughts while reading through a case file. He pressed his temples and groaned in pain.

"Ugh...!" He leaned his head behind on the pillow that was kept as his back support against the headboard. His laptop, pens, some maps, documents etc were sprawled around him on the bed. Since he was prescribed to be on rest by the doctor after he injured his arm and leg, he was working from home.

His head was pounding with pain when he heard a few people talk outside his room. He walked to the door and saw that his brother-in-law Jagdish & Shehnaaz were talking fervently over something.

He slowly walked over to them indulged in their serious conversation. His mother sat quietly watching them talk so he raised his eyes at her asking what was happening but she just shrugged her shoulders.

"Aap nahi maanoge?" Shehnaaz asked, her face had become small.

"No, not happening bacha" Jagdish said affirmatively. Shehnaaz heaved a deep breathe and sighed.

She noticed Sidharth and gave him a droopy eyed look. He instinctively pulled her by her shoulder to his side from his free hand.

"Muh kyu sada rahi hai bey? What's going on?" He questioned directing at both Shehnaaz and his brother-in-law.

"She wants us to pitch for the Pioneer-Mariott Maldives resort architecture deal" Jagdish said in a plain tone.

Sidharth's face lit up with a smile for a moment and fell plain as he saw disapproval on his Jagdish's face.

"Well, it's a good opportunity for Magnitude I guess?" He opined, pulling Shehnaaz closer by her shoulder.

"Bache bait k baat karo na, I'll be back" Sidharth's mother said calmly and walked towards the kitchen. All the three went to sit on the couches agreeing to her.

"Sidharth? Magnitude is our company, Sana humare ghar ki bachi hai, I don't want to do business with Pioneer just because Sana is close to us. Upar se itni badi project, I mean I'm not finding this right some way" Jagdish expressed his concern.

"Sahi hai" Sidharth agreed and saw Shehnaaz leaning her head on the arm rest of the sofa, gently pressing her head. He noticed and pulled her hand to straighten her.

He then started pressing her head gently and asked, "Tere dimag mei yeh idea aaya kaha se? Why did you offer Magnitude? Tere company k paas toh world k best architects aate honge nai?"

"Haan but I want Magnitude. Jeeju, mujhe apki company k barei mei pata hai. I saw the potential and then offered this to you" She justified shortly, she didn't have the energy to have long discussions due to her throbbing headache. She regretted starting this conversation that moment. She realised she could have done in a better way in a better place. Work was not something to be discussed at home.

"Jag, ek bar try karne mei kya problem hai?" Sidharth tried to bring them both to the middle ground. Shehnaaz was relieved for a moment that Sidharth was backing her point of view too until the very next moment.

"We have a close informal relationship with Sana, won't it be a conflict of interest by the company's code of conduct?" Jag questioned rightly what was in his mind and without thinking for a second Sidharth said something that he shouldn't have.

"Yeh family thodi hai, friend hi hai na voh bhi meri, apke sath koi rishta established nahi hai so that won't be a problem" as the words rolled out of his mouth involuntarily, Sidharth regretted it. Shehnaaz's lips had formed an O and face had turned red.

"Mera matlab, blood relatives nahi hai na. I mean on the official records baba for the contracts to be signed and all...bas don't take me wrong. Rishta hai bilkul hai and you are family sweetheart" Sidharth immediately tried his best to do damage control but was of no use as Shehnaaz's eyes had pooled with tears. The way Sidharth had casually said that she's just a friend had hurt her and inflated her insecurities. She didn't understand why she was being so emotional with the already bad headache, this discussion and then Sidharth's hurtful words took a toll on her.

"Babyyy.... Ssshhh, no don't cry please. Kya ho gaya baba I'm sorry, I didn't mean in that way na...you know it, don't you?" Sidharth's face also fell seeing his girl almost tear up. He pulled her gently in his embrace and rocked her to and fro.

Shehnaaz pushed him away after a few moments and said "I'm okay"

Sidharth was taken aback but didn't probe further. He wanted to divert her mind so he continued to say in favour of Shehnaaz thinking she'd cut him some slack but to his dismay he didn't know that he was worsening the situation.

"Waise bhi you'll have to present the pitch, Sana has to analyse other pitchers too and agar un sab mei if yours is best only then you can go forward na?" He asked Jag and he just nodded and was about to reply when he got a work call so he excused himself and went to the balcony.

But Shehnaaz chose to answer,

"Mein bina pitch ke bhi deal Magnitude ko dene wali thi, voh toh mummy ji ke samjhane k baad I have come down to pushing jeeju to pitch for it officially" Shehnaaz said in a thoughtful way but Sidharth misunderstood her words. He immediately looked at her in utter disbelief.

"What? Why would you do that? Bina pitch sune kaun itna bada deal sign karne ko bolta hai? Ehsaan kar rhi hai meri family pe?" Sidharth scoffed and stood up to walk away to his room. Somehow he had snapped at the thought of Shehnaaz's financial status being way above his and his family's put together. The difference had never been an issue between them, Shehnaaz never made them feel so but that one moment Sidharth couldn't help but pave way for his irrational thoughts.

"Seriously now? Mein ehsaan karungi? What is the need even? Either for me or for jeeju's company?" Shehnaaz also stood up and spoke in a higher tone than usual. Her patience was clearly breaking.

Sidharth was no less as even he suffered from a bad headache already and this discussion was going downhill right from the word go. He stopped in his tracks and turned to her.

"Mujhe kya pata? You may have your reasons. Kya bola tune jab meine pucha why Magnitude? Tu ne bola I WANT Magnitude. Humesha bolti rehti hai I want, I want, I want. Uss din bhi bola tune humare barein mei that I want us to date, aaj tak samajh mei nahi aaya uska kya matlab tha. Sab kuch tere chahat ke hisab se thodi na chalta hai..." Sidharth was losing it and he knew the conversation was going to a different tangent altogether. So he just walked away into his room.

"Sidharth!" Shehnaaz frowned. This was too much for her to take, Sidharth had taken this to another level by saying hurtful words.

Sidharth realised that he went overboard, but he didn't have it in him to sort or apologize so he just walked away to his room. Shehnaaz let the tears flow which she was holding in for sometime now.

She hadn't expected that this was going to be their major fight and it would turn out this way.

She furiously walked behind him and yelled "Sidharth! Ruk! What do you think of me huh?" She hurled at him, her eyes had turned red from all the crying, Sidharth noticed and his heart broke. Yet he stood mum.

"Mein baat kr rhi hu tere se! do you think mein aise hi Pioneer ki CEO ban gayi? You think I have not researched your company and just because aap log mere kareeb ho I'm offering you this as a favour? I'm a businesswoman first and then anything else when it comes to work. My team did an extensive research & investigation on Magnitude for a whole week. Mere paas unke plans, designs, strengths, weaknesses, clientele, profits losses sab data hai. Probably more than you know, mein janti hu. Pichle quarter mei kya revenue tha? Bolo? You don't know, hai na? Mere paas Magnitude ke market analysis, future goals, deals aur potential clients k bhi details hai. I'm not dumb to offer a multi crore deal to someone just like that!"

Shehnaaz roared, she felt like Sidharth was completely ignoring her business acumen which bruised her.

Tears didn't stop flowing down her face as she sat on the bed, not being able to stand anymore.

*********

Thank you for reading and your patience with the late updates.

Hope this wasn't a drag and were able to connect with the story. Do let me know if you feel it's going slow or not good enough.

Love,
Avni