SHEHNAAZ'S POV

Why do I do things that backfire me? After sending those pictures to Sidharth, I immediately tried to unsend them. But it was too late, he had seen them already. I could have explained him later too, performing this stunt wasn't necessary I realize because this made him so mad that his phone is switched off since then.

Ultimately, all of my mind was occupied to process what he must be doing right now? Inspite of being a better dancer than the rest of friends, I forgot some steps on the stage. Did I hurt him bad? I didn't wanted to provoke his silly thoughts. It's this occasional distancing and a little  lack of communication too, that is keeping us away. Otherwise I would have been in his room, coaxing him right now! Oh, how much I'm missing him! Texting him, that I'll call back later kills me within.

"Haaye.. Kinni soni mendi ae.. " a aunty passing by caresses the semi dried henna, I've got in my hands. I smile, yes it is. I chuckle seeing the small 'SS' I asked the designer to make in the corner of my right hand. After, I heard ladies saying it's kinda ritual to writer your beloved's name. I have never been very excited about this marriage and stuff. I had made myself busy with studies, focussing for a independent future. But with time, my thinking has changed slightly. With a partner like Sidharth, I can be carefree, or say completely open. I wonder what kinda husband he would make. Hehe. We haven't discussed anything as such.

Wrapping a scarf around, peeked out of my house, not caring it's 5 in the morning. All I care is I want to see him. It's been a fucking week, I saw him and 12 hours I last heard from him. Booking a uber cab, I reached his place. The guard let me in, giving me looks for why I appeared at this time.

"What the fuck are you doing here? Akeli aayi iss time? Akal nahi hai tumhare anadar na!" he shouts. The guard must gave told him.

"Dheere bol aunty uth jayenge.. Mai bas baat karne aayi tere se.." I tell him.

"Uth jaane do.. Vo bhi dekhengi tum kitni badi Gadhi ho! Thoda wait nahi kar sakti thi?" he grits his teeth.

"Nahi.. Meko baat karni thi.. Dekhna tha tujhe.. Mai zyaada nahi socha.. Aagayi bas!" I announce.

"Sunle na!" I hold his hand.

"Bhonko!" he says.

"Mai hurt ho gayi thi jab tune phone kaat diya.. Isi liye bhej di photos aur karke.. Sorry!" I apologize.

"It's okay" he relieved his hand from my grip, moving back to bed.

"Bas? It's okay?" I ask.

"Ha toh.. What do you want me say then?" he asks. He's so badly hurt. Shit.

"Sorry na Bebu..  Aman is like a brother to me.. So I was pissed at you at that time.. I would  never do anything to hurt you intentionally.. You know that right?" I held his hands in mine. He removed them immediately.

"No.. you won't hurt me..Tumko jiske sath dance karna hai- karo.. Jiske sath photo leni hai-lo.. Mujhe farak nahi padta.. Vo bhai jaisa hai ya dost..! It's just expectations Shehnaaz.. They hurt like a bitch.." he said.

"Tu kya bolna chahta hai Sidharth.. Mere samajh nahi aa raha baby.." I again tried closing the gap between us, but he backed a step.

"Nothing.. Tum jao... I'm fine... Mom hai.. Kuch hoga toh bol dunga unko.." he sat on his side of the bed. I kneel down to him.

"Nahi meko bol... Mai hurt thi.. Isiliye tujhe bhi hurt kiya maine.. I'm sorry Sidharth.. Sachi.. Kasam lage tere se baat kiye bina pagal ho rahi thi mai vaha.." I said. As if he was listening, he looked pretty lost.

"Jaa yaar Shehnaaz.. I need to sleep.. " he says. Seriously?

"Ha soja.. Mai jaa rahi.. Kyuki mujhe toh neend ayegi nahi.. Tere bina so nahi payi dhang se.." I turned back to leave.

"Ha.. Tu bol deti hai matlab tu karti hai.. Mai bolta nahi matlab mere andar kuch nahi hai.. Tumko iss galat fehmi me rehna hai toh raho..!" came his hoarse voice.

"Toh baat karna mere se..! Nahi hai mujhe galat fehmi.. Tu kitna dukhi hai.. Tere chehre pe dikh raha hai.." I tell him. For a moment it was that he gazed into my eyes.

"Kya farak padta hai mai dukhi hu ya nahi..? Tum kyu itna soch rahi ho.. Jaao tum!" he snaps.

"Dekh tu gussey hai abhi bhi.. Tera har bar ka hota hai.. 'Yeh ladka kon hai? Ye kyu hai?' isiliye mai hurt hu baby! Itne time se hum saath hai.. Tujhe lagta hai teri jagah koi le sakta hai..?" I ask.

"Sorry.. Very very sorry ke pucha maine! Abhi se nahi karunga.. Yadi tumko yeh interfere karna lagta hai! Shaq karna lagta hai to sorry! Kafi nahi puchunga tumse!" he says, looking directly into my eyes.

"Tu pagal hai?! Haq hai tera! I am answerable to you!!" I assure him.

"No.. You're not..! Why will you answer me? " he shook his head. What has got into him? He's messed inside out. So am I looking at him.

"I will because I love you damn it! And you love me too! Abhi no bola na.. Toh yaha balcony se kood jaungi! Sachi!" I warn.

He darts to me, "Ek chamat khayegi bakwas karegi toh!" he shouts.

"Toh kyuu aise bol raha hai.. Maine baat karne aayi tere se..  Lekin Galti toh teri bhi thi.." I'm crying like there's no tomorrow. Speaking in between the sobs.

"Heyyy.. Don't cry now.. M Sorry baby.. I felt like I didn't exist for you.. Isiliye gussa tha.." he says.

"Kutta! Terko pata hai na.. Mere liye sabse pehle tu hai.. " I slap his chest just when he hugs me.

Parting away, he cupped my face, kissing the forehead. I return this in tonns, planting kisses all over his face.

"I love you!" I confess.

"I love you more!" he replies.

"Move in with me.." he adds.

"Hain?"

"Yahi ajaa mere saath rehne.. Poori yahi shift hojana..!" he implored. Wah.. Merko laga propose karega.. Fitte Mu!

"Wait.. Do you want me to propose?" he asks, jerking his head to me. Did he read my mind or I said that loud? Uh-Oh!

SIDHARTH'S POV

"Do you want me to propose..?" I asked, she looked absolutely shocked.

"What?"

"You said that...!" I tell her.

"No.. Mm.. Haha.. Tu kyu propose karne laga mujhe.. " she chuckles. I must have misheard, she's not ready for it. I can see a tint of nervousness in her.

"And what were you saying...? Yahi shift ho jaa.. Yahi toh hoti hu mai kitni baar..!" she says.

"Not like that.. Kaam hota hai toh vapas chali jaati hai.. Ye up-down mat rakh.. Just change your address.." I tell her. She laughs.

"Theek hai.. Dekhte hai.. Ek baari free ho jau phir..." she sighs, sitting on the bed.

"Kya dekhte hai..?? Itni kya problem ho rahi hai tujhe mere saath rehne me.. ??" I stand infront of her.

"Koi problem nahi hai mujhe.. Aajaungi.. Tu chill kar sakta hai thodi der..? Kyu itna chid-chid kar raha hai..?" she assures lovingly. Holding my hands and then suddenly pulls me to her.

"Abey! Lag jayegi..!" I shrieked, as I wasn't prepared for how she yanked me. I would have crashed on her, if it wasn't for my reflexes to land the knees on the bed before my heavy frame.

She continues to laugh, wrapping hands around me, "Tu lagne nahi deta.." her confidence ha!

Her gaze shifted to my lips and vice-versa. Knowing what it meant, showing how much we've missed each other and how much we wanted each other offcourse. I leaned forward to claim her lips and rolled us over, her on myself. Then  pulled off her top and tried not leave the contact while discarding my briefs.
Our bodies moving in sync, till the skin glinted with sweat, we reached heaven simultaneously.

"Fir humara dance hua.. Teen song decide kare the.. Aur mai ache se perform nahi kar payi.. Teri vajah se!!" she suddenly snaps me while telling how the sangeet night was as we lay naked inside the covers.

"Arey.. Maine kya kiya?" I ask.

"Tere baare me soch rahi thi poora time.. Teri vajah se upset thi mai..." she sounds sad, for her dance  wasn't upto the mark.

"Abhi ho gaya na.. Sabhi ne tareef ki na.. toh kyu itna soch rahi hai??" I kiss the side of her head, and continue to play intertwining our fingers.

"Oye.. Maine mehendi toh dikhai hi nahi..!" she slams her head lightly, I switch on the lights and she sits straight with sheet wrapped under her arms.

"Dikha!" I look at the designs holding her hand.

"Beautiful ya.. So fine.. Achi hai bohot..!" I exclaim.

"Haina!" she grins.

"Kal shaamko lagvayi thi.. Aaj Raat tak rang bhi chad jayega.. Tabhi aur sundar lagegi.." she says.

"Good" I nod.

"Yeh kya.. Mehendi artist ne sign kiya hai?" I saw there was something like an alphabet at the end of her right hand. She makes a disgusting face.

"Kya..? Paint karne ke baad sign karte hai na..?" I ask.

"Mehendi me nahi karte!" she says.

"Toh kya hai vo?" I ask.

She shook her head, "Bas mere naam ke initials hai.." I nod to her answer.

"Dikha dobara?" I ask. She puts her hands inside the sheet.

"Aur kitna dekhega.." she shrugs off.

Just then there was a sharp knock on the door.

"Sidharth!" it's Mom! What happened?

"Ha Mom.. Gimme a minute.." I answered. We hurriedly wore our clothes back and opened the door.

"Shehnaaz se baat kab hui thi teri last time..? She's not home.. Everybody.." her words halted the moment she saw Shehnaaz emerging, smiling nervously. So, she didn't inform anybody! Carelessness at it's height!!

"Bache! Tu kab aayi..? Aur tera phone kaha hai..? Ghar pe kyu nahi bataya kisiko ha? Abhi teri mummy ne mujhe call kiya tha..! Kitne pareshaan ho gaye beta sabhi..!" she scolds. And how softly! If it would had been me, then Mom's volume would have been on another level!

"Sorry aunty.. Mera phone ki battery khatam hogayi hogi.. Varna jabhi cab book ki tab phone chalu tha.." she blurts. And Madam, booked a cab @5 in the freaking morning! She tries to avoid looking at me now.

"Mujhe bataya kyu nahi tu aayi hai?" Mom started throwing questions. Narrating her the real reason in cut short, Shehnaaz took Mom's phone to inform her parents.

"Haaye.. Mummy itne gussey me the.. Laga ke mere chittar padenge.." she sighs, grabbing a chair on the dining table.

"Padne chahiye.." I tell her. She is indeed Gadhi!

She kept fidgeting the hem of her kurti, till we reached the door of her apartment, which was opened by her father.

"Puttar!" uncle raised his eyebrows at her. She makes those beautiful almond eyes to say sorry. And that's it. He didn't say anything else. I'm sure, he's the one who has spoiled her. She is daddy's princess! But the scene changed as we step inside.

Parminder aunty throwing deadly glares, "I'm sorry aunty.. I should have informed you guys.." I said. She didn't even spare me a look, kept staring her daughter who wasn't speaking.

"It's okay Beta.. We're used to this..! Humare ghar me log.. bado ko batana zaruri nahi samajhte.. " she sighs.

"Mummy..! Aisa nahi hai.. Mera phone dead.." Shehnaaz tried to defend when aunty shows her palm.

"Not the same story again beta.. Iss vaari naye bahane banao..!" she taunts.

"Kya matlab iss vaari..?" shehnaaz asked.

"Mai batau?  Chandigarh me.. Amritsar me.. Kitni vaari bhaag ke party karne gayi tu.. Yaha bhi jaati hogi.. Farmhouse bhi gayi thi.. New year manane..!" she said, definitely the last line was in context with me. She's a total dictator in the house, I can see. Nobody dares to speak, while she is talking. Nor the father, the brother, the friends, nobody came in between.

"Mummy please! Sorry bolana.. Aapke hisaab se hi karti aayi mai sara kuch bachpan se! Abhi bas karo!" she fought.

"Han.. Why not you have your own life.. Job.. House.. Boyfriend.. Kar apni marzi ki.. Who am I to you?" she rebukes.

"Haa.. Thik hai! Meri life hai.. " shenaaz answers. Walking into her bedroom and slamming the door loudly. I called her, but she asked me to leave. While Shefali escorted me out.

"Sorry you had to see all this.. But that's how they are.. Inka naram-garam chalta rehta hai.. Dekhna shaam tak normal ho jayenge.." she revealed.

"Are you sure.. that was pretty loud.." I react to what I saw. She nods.

Evening :

It's Meeti's marriage tonight. Glanced myself one last time again. In a tuxedo, gelled hair and black leather for the foot. Nice! As soon as I entered the hall. My eyes accidentally saw the person I really don't wanna see now. Her mother, how happily she's greeting the guests. Ignoring her, I made my way in.

"Hey.. Jasmeet!" I saw him walking across the hallway.

"Aagaye paaji..!" he hugs.

"Han.. Where's Shehnaaz?" I ask. He guided me to the rooms the bridesmaids got. There she was, giggling with other girls.

"Hello" I knock. The rest started hooting. She quickly grabbed my hand, taking us to the terrace.

"Hiii!" she hugs me finally. I respond tightly.

"So.. How am I looking?" she asks, playing with her eyebrows.

"Mesmerising darling! Looking so so so lovely!" I compliment. In a golden lehenga, embroidered with parrot green and rose red. Loose curls. Golden jhumkas! She is slaying! Diva! 

But wait, "Baby? Where's it's back?" I ask.

"It's backless!" she chuckles.

"You look handsome too! I like this cologne" she  encircles her hands around me.

"Thanks baby.. Lekin tu apna back cover toh kar.." I said, pulling out her chunri to wrap it over.

"Aisa hi banvaya hai maine..!" she whines.

"Fine!" if she wants then let it be.

"Meri  baat sun.. Yaha Meeti aur Neil ka photoshoot hua abhi.. Lights achi hai.. Meri photos kheech dena.." she requests.

"Isiliye laayi mujhe upar?" I frown. She cracks up, nodding to me. After clicking a couple of pictures, she posed gracefully. In the  last one, she looks back, displaying a good view of the bare milky skin and curved spine.

"You're not posting this anywhere! It's for me exclusively!" I decided. She agreed not before laughing at me. She was going through those pics, when I noticed her hand. SS were those alphabets inside a heart, she was trying to hide.

"You said it was your initials!" I was surprised. Aww! She wrote our name, my initial with hers.

"umm.. Are you fine with it..? Maine aise hi likhvaya.." she asks. Hesitant. But there's no need to be. I like it!

"Why would I have any problem baby?" I tell her to relax.

"Oh.. Jabhi tune propose vali baat pe aise react kiya.. Mujhe laga tujhe yeh acha nahi lagega.." she exhaled.

"Kaise react kiya bey? Tune dhang se bola hi nahi.." I rant.

"Acha? Mai bolti to kar deta?" she asks.

"Obviously!" I nod.

"Rehne de.. " she brushes me off.

"I'm serious!" I scoff.

"Meri wajah se mat kar Sidharth.. Mai toh hu hi teri.. Koi jaldi nahi hai!" she caresses the knuckles of my hand. Why is she so considerate!

"What if I want to?" I asked and she froze.

"I know with whom I'm going to spend the rest of my life.. And if she's ready.. I would like to proceed.."