SIDHARTH'S POV

"Sunn yaar.. Mujhe kisi ke naam ki supaari deni hai..."  on a call with Jay.

"KYAA..?" what is he saying.

"Abey.. Ye Mahi ke show ka producer.. Behnchod.. chutti nahi de sakta... Kal anniversary hai humari..!" he seemed annoyed.

"... yadi mai office me busy hota.. To mai bura.. Iska matlab mai apni married life pe dhyaan nahi de raha.. Mai care nahi karta.. Abhi vo sara time shooting me busy rehti hai.. Mujhe phone bhi nahi karti timely... Aur anniversary vale din bhi kaam pe jayegi..."
He has been bleating about this since last half an hour.

"Bhai mere... Araam se baat kar Mahi se.. Bol usko tune surprise plan kiya hai.." I said.

"Bata diya toh surprise thodi rahega..!" he whined.

"Saale..! Sab nahi batana hai.. Sirf hint de tere plan ka.." I suggested.

"Han.. Thik hai..chal baad me baat karta hu.. Mai arrangements dekhlu zara..." he said.

"Ha.. Bye.." end.

Well, this pretty romantic friend of mine has planned a date on a yacht. For his 5th marriage anniversary. Nice!

Shehnaaz and me haven't even been on a date yet. My fault. I am so engaged and unavailable to her sometimes.

It's just the weekends I can give her. And that poor peanut doesn't even complain about it. No typical and girly tantrums!

How about a small vacation? I can definitely spare some days, after all new year's approaching.
Yeah, we will spend some quality time.

"Hii.." I called her.

"Sidharth..you called at the very right time.. Bata yellow ya pink...?" she asked.

"Kis liye..?"

"Dress obviously...! Batana.. Kal 31st hai.. Party ke liye puch rahi hu.. " she said.

"Konsi party... Kaisi party..? Mujhe bataya bhi nahi iss baare me..! When did you decide all this..?"
She already made plans without me!

"Arey Baba.. Abhi decide nahi hua hai.. Vikas ne bataya.. There's this club named 'Hipsters' vaha jayenge.. Book karne vali thi mai humare passes.." she informed.

Yeah, name itself sounds absurd. These new places now a days are mostly having drugs and stuff.

"We're not going to any club.. Hipsters nam hai cluba ka.. Pata bhi hai what sort of stuff happen there? Tell him we have something else lined up.." I said.

"Lined up matlab..?" she asks.

"Kuch plan kar rha tha mai.."

"Hum kahi jaa rahe hai..?" she asked. Excitedly.

"Ha.. "

"Kaha..?!!"

"um.. Ek jagah hai.. Tu nahi janti.." what to say. I haven't thought of it yet fully.

"Tu sachi me kahi leke jayega.. Ja fir baate bana raha hai.." she quires.

"Abey.. Meri maa.. Surprise samajh me ataa hai tujhe..?"

"Haaye.. Mere liye surprise..?"

"Han.. Abhi isse aage mat puchna.."
She laughed, "Okay.. Mera Nona baby.. Kab jayenge.. Bas itna bata de..?" she requested.

"Kal shaam ko nikal jayenge.. Bas 2-3 din ke kapde pack kar lena.. " I said.

"Thik hai.. love you..!" she sounded so happy.

There's a farmhouse we have in Panvel. Dad's 'Prairies' house', in the we used to have our vacations there. Every winters.

Life became a little too busy, after he left us. We haven't been there since long.

Just some guards take care of it now.
"Mom.. Packing karo.. Hum kal Panvel jayenge for new year's.. " I announced.
She stared me for a while. Then nodded. Told Preeti-Ajay about it too.

"How sweet..! Ye sab actually hamare liye hai yaa...?" Ajay asked. Sarcastically.

"Shut up man!" they'll never grow up from this. Though it's actually for her.

SHEHNAAZ'S POV

None of them told me where we were going!  In the journey of 1hour and 30 minutes. We talked and talked. Sharing some road trip stories and night outs.

Now we've reached our destination. It could have been earlier but thanks to the city traffic for extra the half an hour.

Panvel it is!
They call it a farmhouse? It's a fudging huge estate!!

"Wow... You guy's should name it 'The Shukla Empires'..." I wonder.

Sidharth tapped my head. "Gadhi"

"Dad made this.. You see this Ranch style house.. It was his idea.." Preeti said. Looking at the house. Actually all of them were. Must be missing him.
You see them uncle? They miss you everyday! By the way your estate is really beautiful!

"Indeed you people say his taste was classic..!" I agree.

This place seamlessly combines both traditional and modern elements.
It's exterior is lavish! Concrete and timber framing. The porch and rocking chairs are talk of old times.
The ample windows and open floor plan bring the time to the modern day.

The hallway with sliding doors and light fixtures. A large mirror is hanging opposite to it, reflecting the landscape outside like a painting.
The architect in me craves to meet it's designer.

Finally, the bedroom. All cozy. This is no less than heaven!

"Fresh hojao.. Fir bonfire karte hai..." Preeti suggested.

"Mai to fresh hi hu.. Aap batao kya karna hai..?" I asked.

"Ha.. Tumlog karo.. Mai sone jaa raha.." 

He must be tired, he was driving.
"So mat please.. Jaa naha le.." I suggest.

Aunty and Preeti settled the kitchen, while Ajay nd me brought ourselves some woods and prepped for 'new year's eve'! It's my first new year with them.

"Sunno.. Thankyou ko marathi me kyaa bolte hai..?" I asked him.

"Chintu..!" I called the guard who helped us.

"Mi tumcha kh..khup abhari ahe.." I thanked in his language.

"Majhe abhara manu naka.. Vahini.." he smiled. I smiled back.

"Kya bola voh..?" I asked Ajay, who was standing behind me.

"Usne kaha... Thankyou mat bolo bhabhi.."

"Bhab.. Kya..?"  Oh my God! Bhabhi?

"Oho... You're blushing..!" pulls my cheek.

"Jeez.. Don't start now.." I ran inside.
In the middle of their wide bare land, outside the porch. We had set up the dining table. And the burning site next to it.

Firstly, aunty told how to set up the equipments for barbeque.

Preeti heated the charcoal grills while I prepared the 'seek-kababs' with Lata Tai. Arranged sweet onions with caramelized bacon in a stick.

Sidharth  has been staring me while I was busy in the preparations. And followed me into the kitchen now.

"Jo chahiye khud lele..aur side hat.. Mere hath gande hai.." I said.

He scooped me up! " Arey.. Pagal hai..!"

"You said..jo chahiye lele.."

"Put me down... Koi ajaayega..!"

"Tu yaha kiske liye aayi hai..?"

"I'm serious baba..."

He lets me go..."Jaa.. "

"Kya hua tujhe...?"

"Mujhe kya hoga..? Tu hi busy hai.. Lakdiya lene chali gayi.. Fir kabse kitchen me ghusi hai... Hogaya na.. We have Lata and others to do this.." he shouted.

"Sorry yaa!.. was just so excited about this thing.." I said showing him those uncooked kababs.

"Acha... chal bahar.." dragged him out with me. Carrying the trays!

"Happy New Year!" we wished each-other as the clock stuck midnight.

"This was my best bonfire.. !" I exclaimed. So much fun, it was playing Antakshari!

"Happy new year.. Love.." I hugged him again, back in the room.

"Abhi bohot pyaar aa raha hai..?" he asks.

"Ha.. Tujhe chahiye to le..varna good night..!"

"Chahiye na.." he face came to my level for a gentle kiss.

Slowly we walked to the bed. Still holding on to each other. Once I had slipped inside his mouth, we weren't gentle anymore.

Gripping his hairs, pulled him close. Till his weight pushed me to bed. His manly cold palms making way to my skin. Grabbing my waist. Tightly. My veins throbbed and heart almost exploded.

His lips were then withdrawn to move to my chin, down to the neck. Slowly sucking its softness.

Once comfortable in the cozy bed under duvet. I told him, "Chintu ne mujhe Vahini karke bulaya.." I couldn't help with the blush. Hiding my face down to his chest.

He chuckled, "Hm? you liked it..?"

I nodded. "Get used to it then..." he added.

My phone's dead, last night I had a long conversation with my family over it. And the call sucked it's battery.

Well, I haven't told them about this Panvel trip.
Hell, I haven't told Mummy about Sidharth yet. Not that I don't want to, but I'm scared, she's going to react in the worst way possible. That I didn't agree for a guy she chose for me.
On the other hand, he must be feeling bad, that I'm lying to my mother about him. He is not being given the recognition, he deserves. But I'll do that soon. Very soon.

Stepping out of the room, I saw Ajay carrying bags.

"Are we leaving..?" I asked. "Please.. We just came yesterday...!" I whined.
He chuckled, "We.. (pointing at Preeti, aunty and himself)..are leaving.."

"What..?" I turned to see Sidharth having his tea. He didn't tell me!

"Have fun.." Preeti whispered in the hug, she gave me before getting in the car.

"Aunty call us once you reach.." bid bye to everybody.

He slumped into the couch, pulled out his phone.

"Uth yaar... Show me your estate.."

"Haven't you seen it already..?" he asked.

"Not fully.. I wanna see the first floor..." requested.

I stood up. Dramatically threw my hands in air.  "Prince Sidharth.. Owner of Shukla Empire And this is his huge territory.. And me.. Princess Shehnaaz from Gill dynasty.. "
He laughed listening to me.

"Give me your hand.. Get upp! You big lazy lad.. !" Pulled him up.

"Now assume.. I have been kidnapped by some other bad prince.. Fight for me.. And save me... " I suggested him a game.

"Bhakk.. I'm not playing this..!" removed my hands.

"Ahaan.. Please na.. Baby..!"

"Come.. I'll show you around..." said.

"OKAY!" I followed him. Excitedly.

There's a wooden staircase we took to reach the first floor. The hallway has neutral shades of beige. There are around eight bedrooms. From my north to south.

"Whoa.." I exclaimed.

He held my hand, taking me for a tour. All the rooms were well furnished. The last one was a study cum library actually. He said his father loved reading.

"Tolstoy..  Eliot...  Austen.. And all the great authors.. "
He showed me those books, but what caught my attention were his elated eyes. With so much of enthusiasm, he introduced me to his house. With so much proud he narrates things about his father.

Done with the house tour, we had lunch.

"What next..? Bahar ghumne chale..?" I asked. While doing the dishes. He's standing next to me, helping.

"Looks like.. barish hone vali hai..." he told.

"Arey yaar.. Chal fir baate hi karte hai.." sigh.

"Ha.. Isme to tu best hai baby.." he chuckled.

"Huh"
I was wiping my hands with the towel, when his phone rang.

"Who's Aditi Sabarwal..?"
"Some event manager... Why is she calling now.." he wondered.

Receiving it, he walked out to talk.
If I'm not wrong, I have seen her in parties. She's the one with blonde hairs and always wearing tight blouses.

He came back with in five mintutes.
"Kyu call kiya tha usne..?"

"Just New Year wishes and some business stuff.. Nothing important.." he said.

"Sidharth.. Now that we can't go out it's raining... So why not talk.. We'll get to know each other.."  I suggested.

He squinted his eyes.  "What is it?"

"Nothing like serious.. But just... Let's just have some question and answers... Ha?"
He sighed and sat infront of me. Folding his one leg over the other's knee.

Should I directly ask about the girlfriends? Or about the girl with him in the magazine cover? No. No.
Think of something you're asking casually. He shouldn't get to know you read an extremely stupid article about him.

"Bologi..?" he said.

"uh.. Ha.. I was going to ask... Um.. A question like.. Did you have a crush on anybody in the school..?"
Uttered whatever came to my mouth.

"Hm.. That takes me back in time... there was this girl in the 12th standard in science section.." he answered.

"Ooh! Mai batau.. I didn't have a complete crush on anybody...but a boy from the opposite section had given me rose on Valentine's day... Maine accept kar liya tha.." I said.

"Teri kitni girlfriend thi...?" I asked him.

"Kafi thi.. Don't have an exact count.. Lekin college me.. I was more into sports.. So yeah.. Had alot of girlfriends.." he shrugged. Thinks he's so cool.. Well back at college this was a really cool thing.. Being all stud and shit!

I was taken aback, 'alot of'! Because this thing was not cool now!

"Tu bata..?" he asked.

"I had.. two.." I told.

"So.. Um.. Have you ever had any serious relationship before...?" I asked.

"Interrogating me..?" his brows crossed.

"No.. Just cas..casually asking.. You know.. " I said.

"You read any article on the internet or what..?" he guessed it! Freaking guessed it right! How!

"Ye.. Yeah.. Stupid people put up anything..." nervously chuckled.
His face fell, he must have understood I've been reading almost every kind thing that was on internet anyway related to him.

I sat next to him, keeping a hand over his thighs, "Dekh.. Maine sirf padha hai.. I didn't believe in any of it.. Sachi..." spoke softly.

"But you still happen to have doubts.." he said.

"Not doubts.. It's just.. Those things sometimes occupy my mind.. That model on the magazine cover once said in an interview of how amazing you are..so it was written you guys were dating..."
I honestly told him.

"These articles spread rumors..always... And I have never been serious with anybody.... Except.." he stopped.

"Except..?"

"You.." he said.

"Really?" am I this lucky?

"Yes sweetheart!"

"Mera babyyy...I knew it I love you.. I love so much... !" jumped on him. Hugging tight.

"Hm.. Love u more!"

"Gussa mat hona please.... What you tell me.. Will be the truth.. I never agreed to what others said..."

"I know baba.. And you can ask me things you wanna know about.. " he smiled.

"Pakka..?"

"Ha.."

"So.. Um.. How are these anyway related to you...?" opened the page in my phone where I had saved one such anonymous article.

"Yaaah-Allaaah.." he threw his head back in annoyance. "Tu to peeche hi pad gayi bey..!"

"Tune hi ha bola tha.." I pout.

"You trust me..?" he asked.

"Offcourse I do.."

"I stopped seeing anybody after I joined my company.. Whatever is written there isn't true... Okay..? " he said.

"Okay.." I deleted that screenshot.

The rain by now turned to thunderstorm and heavy lightening. Suddenly the lights went out.
It's already late in the evening. Making it completely dark now. And scary too.