So gayi moti?

Sidharth typed the message as he walked up to his room.

Shehnaaz was watching some vlogs on YouTube when her phone beeped. She smiled as she read the name but frowned as she read the word 'moti'. She got up from the bed and walked up to the mirror checking herself out to see if she had gained weight.

She picked up her phone and typed away.

Pehli baat toh main moti nahi hoon😡 aur dusri main jaag rahi hoon ghadhu.

Sidharth chuckled at the reply.

Dusri baat pehli baat padhke samajh aa gayi thi ghadhi!😝

Shehnaaz stomped her feet reading the message and rushed to the door and opened it to find Sidharth standing outside.

"Sidhaaaaaarth. Kyun irritate kar raha hai mujhe?" Shehnaaz whined and folded her hands turning her back to him.

"Because I like it baby." Sidharth said and kissed her forehead as he moved in instantly making Shehnaaz go pink.

"Tu soya nahi abhi tak?" Shehnaaz asked trying to overcome the tingles she had just felt.

"Maa ke saath tha. Tu bhi toh nahi soyi." Sidharth said.

"Aisehi neend nahi aa rahi thi." Shehnaaz said.

"Kaise aayegi neend? Tujhse baat karke sone ki aadat padi hui hai." Shehnaaz mumbled under her breath.

"Kya boli?" Sidharth asked.

"Main? Kuch bhi toh nahi. Bas yehi ki nahi aa rahi neend." Shehnaaz tried to cover up mentally kicking herself.

"Chal aa jaa." Sidharth said as he pulled her hand and started walking out of the room.

"Kahan leke jaa raha hai?" Shehnaaz asked.

"Muh band karke chal." Sidharth said as he walked her to the other side of the floor which had a set of steps and began climbing them.

The steps led to a beautiful terrace garden which had beautiful plants placed all around with a seating area in one corner and a cozy looking swing that could accommodate two on another side. The terrace garden was lit in yellow lights and would be a perfect place to host an open air party but at the same time to also have deep meaningful conversations or just lay back and relax.

"Wow! This is so beautiful!" exclaimed Shehnaaz as she admired the beautiful terrace garden.

"I know." Sidharth said admiring her.

"Sidhaaaarth." Shehnaaz called out leaning on the edge of the terrace wall.

"Haan baby?" Sidharth said.

"Yahan se aasmaan kitna clear dikhta hai. Sab stars shine kar rahe hai bright bright." Shehnaaz said making Sidharth smile.

"Ekdum teri tarah. Bright bright." Sidharth said as he held her from behind locking her between himself and the terrace wall and kissed her on her cheek.

Shehnaaz was glad she was not facing him because she was sure she was red in the face in addition to the chills her body was going through.

"Tu sachi mera birthday miss kar deti?" Sidharth asked softly. He almost whispered in her ears, his breath fanning over her skin, making Shehnaaz lose her mind because of the proximity.

"Woh... main... main..." Shehnaaz was finding it difficult to even form a sentence.

Sidharth turned her to face him, looking straight into her eyes, getting ever so close to her. Shehnaaz was going weak in her knees.

"Tu kya?" Sidharth asked.

"Huh?" Shehnaaz said completely lost at what was happening. Sidharth smirked looking at her condition and knowing how he affected her.

"Tu mera birthday miss karti?" Sidharth asked moving a little away from her.

"Sidharth main nahi miss karna chahti thi. Main saath rehna chahti thi par kaam ki responsibility thi toh main uss se back off nahi kar paayi." Shehnaaz said with tears in her eyes.

"Oyeeee ismein ro kyun rahi hai? Main toh aisehi kheech raha tha teri." Sidharth pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry Sidharth. Main sachi tere birthday pe tere saath rehna chahti thi." Shehnaaz said tears rolling down her eyes.

"Shhh shhhh meri jaan. Tu chahti thi wohi hoga naa meri jaan. Hum saath mein hi celebrate karenge. In fact, tere yahan aane ke wajah se toh main Maa, Daadi, Avni aur sab ke saath bhi celebrate kar paunga. Kal Avni aur uski family bhi aa rahe hai. Toh achi baat hai naa baby? Tere wajah se sab ke saath spend karunga mera birthday.  So thank you meri jaan." Sidharth spoke softly trying to calm her while rubbing her back.

Shehnaaz hugged Sidharth tightly. She didn't want to let him go. Only she knew how horrible she had felt at the thought of not being able to spend his special day with him. She had missed so many already. She definitely didn't want to miss any more and she was glad Sidharth had figured out a way to make it happen.

"Sidhaaaarth thank you." Shehnaaz finally said as she controlled her tears.

"Pehle sorry, ab thank you?" Sidharth asked.

"Haan. Thank you kyunki tune possible kiya yeh. Taaki main tera birthday miss naa karu. Warna mujhe bilkul acha nahi lagta aur main bahut dukhi ho jaati" Shehnaaz said with a sad pout.

"Tujhe hone dunga main kabhi dukhi? Nahi naa?" Sidharth asked cupping her small face in his big palms and rubbed his thumb on her cheek.

Shehnaaz nodded negatively and then placed her palm on his and brought it close to her lips to kiss it. This woman was capable of making him lose his mind. Sidharth couldn't stop himself and kissed her on her cheeks but a little too close to her jaw line and Shehnaaz froze. He wiped the remaining tears from her face and pulled her closer.

"Chale? You have a long day tomorrow. Get some rest." Sidharth said to which Shehnaaz nodded. There was too much going on within her for her to be able to say anything.

***

Shehnaaz got ready the next morning given that she had to visit a campus for recruitment. She had opted for a pair of mauve parallel trousers and a white top with pearl buttons. She looked fresh despite the tough time she had sleeping the previous night. Her mind had been constantly going back to the moments they spent together at the terrace, the proximity she had shared with Sidharth and how her heart thudded at that.

She quickly moved out of the room with her laptop bag and purse after giving a final look at the room to ensure everything was in place.

"Ready?" Sidharth asked as soon as she got down. He was at the dining table along with Maa and Daadi.

"Yes. Good morning!" Shehnaaz greeted everyone.

"Good morning bache. Aa jaa nashta kar le." Daadi called out lovingly.

Shehnaaz smiled and nodded as she took a seat. The next fifteen minutes were spent in having breakfast while cracking jokes, sharing stories and bonding over food. Sidharth had a constant smile plastered on his face looking at the bond these ladies shared. It felt like she had always been part of the family. He could see how much his Maa and Daadi adored Shehnaaz and how lovingly Shehnaaz spoke to them and made them laugh by cracking jokes.

"Madam recruitment cancel karwa de? Aap vacation mana lo." Sidharth said realizing she would be late if he didn't intervene now.

"Haaye rabba. Main toh bhool hi gayi. Daadi, Aunty main aapko shaam ko milti hoon. Phir khoob gappe maarenge." Shehnaaz said as she got up from her seat.

"Haan beta. Ache se jaa ke kaam kar le apna. Raat ko toh ek aur member add ho jaayegi gappe maarne ke liye." Daadi said.

"Sidharth tu unko pick kar lega naa aate waqt?" His mother asked.

"Haan Maa. Avni se baat hogayi hai. Main time se pahuch jaunga unko pick karne. Don't you worry." Sidharth said.

They were in the car when Shehnaaz spoke again. "Sidharth, thank you."

"Subah subah thank you? Kya hua moti?" Sidharth teased.

"Mujhe bahut acha laga Daadi aur Aunty ko milke. Dono bahut pyaare hai. Hotel mein toh akele bore ho jaati. Ghar pe rehne ki baat hi kuch aur hai. Itna apna apna feel karwate hai dono mujhe." Shehnaaz said overwhelmed with emotions.

"Oyee toh tu apni hi toh hai. Toh apne ke tarah hi treat karenge naa tujhe? You're family." Sidharth stated simply holding her hand in his and bringing it up to his lips and kissing it ever so lovingly. Shehnaaz blushed. She felt like a little teenager who was getting attention from her crush.

"Ab toh aur bhi mazza aayega tujhe. Avni, Shaurya aur Ruhika aa jayenge aaj. Ruhika is all of sixteen par bahut samajhdaar hai." Sidharth fondly spoke about his niece.

"Haan, Aunty kal bata rahi thi. Main excited hoon sabse milne." Shehnaaz said.

"Avni is your elder sister naa? Tu phir bhi naam se hi bulaata hai unko aur tere jiju ko?" Shehnaaz enquired.

"Haan. It's always been that way in the family. Hamesha naam se hi bulaya hai. Besides they don't even like being called anything else." Sidharth explained.

"Hmmm. Pick karne aayega tu shaam ko?" Shehnaaz asked.

"Ofcourse meri jaan. Uss Akki makkhi ke saath mat aana." Sidharth said sternly making Shehnaaz burst out laughing.

"Bechara yaar. Kal bhi uski shakal dekhne layak thi jab main tere saath chali aayi. Pata hai message bhi kiya tha ki woh pick kar lega mujhe aaj." Shehnaaz told him. Sidharth looked away not wanting to let her know that he knew about the message.

"Toh tujhe uske saath jaana tha?" Sidharth asked.

"Maine aisa kab bola?" Shehnaaz said.

"Bechara Akki." Sidharth said mimicking Shehnaaz.

"Tujhe itni kyun chidh machti hai uss se?" Shehnaaz asked.

"Mujhe kyun chidh machegi uss makkhi se?" Sidharth asked.

Shehnaaz rolled her eyes and shook her head not wanting to stretch it further.
"Main message kar dungi tujhe free hone se pehle. Shayad late bhi ho kyunki aaj yeh college ki recruitment complete karni padegi. Monday dusre college jaana hai." Shehnaaz said once he stopped the car outside the college.

"Okay meri jaan." Sidharth said giving her a quick peck on her forehead making Shehnaaz smile.

"Bye puthu." Shehnaaz said as she got down.

"Bye baby." Sidharth said with a smile.

----×----

So I was probably blushing myself while writing this one.😂
Let me know how it was.💕