Sidharth moved a step forward to hold Shehnaaz and perhaps calm her down but then as he raised his hands, he had to step back. Shehnaaz's assistant Meher had appeared in front of them with a nervous expression on face.

"Sana, uh sorry voh Mrs Bhalla is looking out for you. She's angry." She uttered and walked away leaving them both to wonder what next they had to face.

"Baby..." Sidharth softly called bringing her senses back.

"Uh... Mujhe abhi jana hoga Sidharth. Sorry, I'll see you in sometime. Umm tere ghar pe? I'm sorry but take everyone home abhi, I will come to you Sidharth. Thoda time de de..." she uttered softly as if she'd breakdown if she spoke a little louder.

Sidharth simply nodded his head, he was not in a right frame of mind.

"Wait karna mere liye... please?" She added before she walked away unwillingly. Her eyes had unshed tears & longing for him but she couldn't do anything about it.

He kept looking at her go away from him as if she was some magic that had to vanish once the illusion faded. But he hoped she was not any illusion but his ray of hope & life.

********** After a year **********

Life is strange. It gives immense happiness at one moment and also can give extreme pain at the same moment. Ever experienced the highest peak of your career and lowest at your life at same time? Well, Shehnaaz Kaur Bhalla seems to have a long membership to this quote.

Shehnaaz was sitting on the edge of the pool, dipping her feet in the cold water under the moon lit sky, the absence of her favourite stars did no good to her already low mood. She wore her comfort clothes, shorts and a tee shirt. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun as few strands cascaded down her face via her forehead. She was alone, yet again as she sipped on some red wine and stared at the ripples her feet created in the pool.

That day's incident had been on loop in her mind... She had experienced the most successful moments of her life and most scary ones too at the same time. She had been on the Forbes 30 under 30 list, and had been awarded as the Youngest Businesswoman of the year award, her company had seen a magnificent surge up in the share market. She had everything,you name it and she had it but when she reached home she didn't have what she craved for since her childhood. Her house wasn't a Home it was just a huge bungalow where people existed.

Her eyes teared up, soul was frightened yet she couldn't afford to show up her vulnerability to the world. She was 28 years old now but her mind never let her forget the worst days of her life while she grew up...

Her mind automatically started to recall the day's happenings unwillingly, as she sipped on the red wine again and stared at the moon up...

"Thank you everyone. I would like to dedicate this award to my parents who have been the sole reason for me to reach where I am today. Being the youngest businesswoman of the year makes me believe that there's a long way to go and improve for the better. Having to stand amongst the biggest tycoons here is a blessing. I would love for my parents to come and receive the award because that definitely belongs to them" Shehnaaz ended her speech at the award function in a hope to see her parents smile because of her achievement and   go to her together.

And they did smile, they were happy for their daughter and proud too walking up towards the stage but seperately. Her heart sank a bit, she somewhere knew that was going to happen. The differences her parents had were exactly there, unseen to the public eye but known to her. She only wanted her parents to be included in her most special occasion and she truly meant each word she spoke of them.

They received the award amidst a thunderous applause for their daughter. Shehnaaz's father gave a customary tiny speech and got down the stage. Shehnaaz was at crossroads yet again to go with her mother or her father.

To her rescue was Shehbaz who escorted their dad towards his seat while Shehnaaz did the same with her mother. They were back home in the next couple of hours after painting a happy family picture to the world.

"Stage pe kyu bulayi Sana? Inna drama karn di jarurat ki si?" Her mother asked as she sat on the couch.

"Menu vi koi shauk nahi si puthar, why did you have to do that?" Her dad reacted.

"You could have received the award and got down the stage normally. Your father said "my daughter" in his speech as if you are not my daughter too? Couldn't he say our daughter? He was speaking for both of us there! I'm not even considered amongst you all?" Her mother put forth her point that had irked her.

"Now I can't even call you as my daughter?" Her father questioned.

"Only if he could understand what it means to say my daughter and our daughter. Bohat vadda fark ah dove te beech. As always, your dad does not get it"

"Amma, please. Ghar ch log so rhe na? Room chal..." Shehbaz again to her aid as he took their mother to her room.

Her father was simply sitting as if nothing happened. He was an emotionally unavailable man. Somehow he hadn't realised that over the years too.

Amidst all this, Shehnaaz was standing like a statue not knowing whom to support and whom not to. They both were right in their own stances and she needed them both to be alright. They were her parents afterall. She couldn't choose sides. Could she?

Shehnaaz's phone rang loudly, startling her for a second and bringing her back from her thoughts. In the quiet night, it sounded rather loud by the time she could attend the call or reduce the volume.

The name on the caller id wasn't supposed to be calling her at that time. She sensed an impending lecture already as she swiped the screen to talk.

"Bol" Shehnaaz whimpered a bit.

"Sana?" The other person said softly.

"Tu Mumbai mei hai & you didn't even tell me?" Concern mixed with disappointment in that voice.

"Haan. I had to come back. Aise hi sab kuch last minute hua Sufi...it's been 4 days since I returned bas..." Shehnaaz said not even being apologetic for what she did, she reasoned out but then she knew that would not justify the way she had been living her life lately. Sufi was the only one with whom she was at least not faking herself.

"Sanu yar..! You can't be doing this to yourself. It's been a year damn it! Nahi samjhegi tu pata hai swimming pool pe baithi hogi wine peete hue! Roti reh tu... I'm coming to take Harnoor tomorrow morning. Gurudwara leke jaunga phir mere ghar rahegi poora din. Jenny bhi milna chahti thi usse, now don't tell me that Jenny can't see or meet her, I'll kill you" Sufiyan said in one breath.

His last sentence took her back to a few months ago.

Sufi had been seeing Jenny for around 10 months now. They were in a "situationship" apparently. Sufi had told about it to Shehnaaz, she was unsure how it'd go for them but she was supportive as she felt if the two adults involved know what they are upto and decide for themselves then there is no need of a 3rd person's interference. But, Jenny being Sidharth's best friend had kind of not settled well with her but then again who was she to impose her thoughts on her best friend? He was free to do as he wished in life.

"Oye? Suni bhi k mein kya bol rah tha?" Sufi's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Ha chal theek hai. Le ja. But, either Harnoor will come with Meher di or she won't come. The choice is yours" Shehnaaz was firm in stating her opinion.

"Yaarrrrr...mein akele sambhal sakta hu usko. Didn't I do that in London? Voh bhi jab Harnoor sirf 5 mahine ki thi..." He reasoned out being annoyed.

"Haan and you made a mess when she went potty in her diapers!" Shehnaaz mocked.

"Jenny bhi toh hogi..." He added unabashedly.

"Sufi? a big NO" Shehnaaz gave him an ultimatum and he knew it was of no use talking to her.

"Theek hai meri maa! Bhej na teri Meher didi ko bhi. Ab ja ke so ja, enough of drinking Sanu" he insisted casually but that riled her up a bit.

"Sirf do sip piya hai meine khotheya, voh bhi wine!" she justified.

"Haha okay, but sach mei go sleep na. Harnoor jagi hogi toh?" He said as a bait but she was smarter.

"Baby monitor mei dekh rhi hu na, she's sleeping aaram se with a cute calm face just like her dad" she said with a faint smile.

"Sana..!" Sufi sighed listening to her.

"Good night Sufi...sleep well" she responded knowing that there was no continuation to the conversation even if they wanted to continue.

"Good night Sanu" Sufi replied and disconnected the call.

She looked at the baby monitor and smiled a big one looking at her child sleeping peacefully. She was a healthy baby with beautiful eyes, jet black hair and chubby cheeks. She brought her immense happiness. The only one who would light up Shehnaaz's day.

As she kept adoring on the monitor, Harnoor clenched her eyes and moved a bit perhaps some discomfort in sleep. Shehnaaz immediately put away her wine glass and ran to her room.

She made her sleep in a comfortable position and patted her back to sleep. During the whole time that Shehnaaz comforted her not once had she cried. She was a very understanding & calm child. She made faces, clenched her eyes, pouted with her tiny pink lips but not a squeak had come out of her.

Shehnaaz's heart was full seeing her baby. She hugged Harnoor to her chest and placed soft and careful kisses on her forehead.

She kept patting her belly and unknowingly drifted off to sleep herself.

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

Thanks for reading! 💖

The book is coming close to an end in a few chapters may be.

Let me know how you found this chapter. I know it's a short one, hopefully next will be better. I'll update soon.

Love,
Avni