Chapter 80 : Every Step of the way

<Music starts - Enna Sona (Ok Jaanu)>


                        In the evening, As class gets over, Sid looked at Shreya who was explaining some doubts to other students. Shreya comes to her desk and finds a flower and a chocolate. She turns towards Sid who smiles.




Sh - Sorry would have been better.


She leaves the flower and chocolate on the desk and walks out of the class.




Enna sona kyun Rabb ne banaya (x4)


                        Sid follows Shreya through the corridor. She comes out after changing into her PE uniform and sees Sid waiting outside wearing his PE uniform. She gives a sneer and starts walking while Sid continued to follow her to the ground.


Aavan jaavan te main yaara nu manawa (x2)


Enna sona, enna sona


Enna sona oh..


                     Sid watches her from a distance as Shreya plays badminton with the girls.  He walks around admiring her. "Aaah" Shreya dashes into Sid and falls down as she ran backwards to hit the cork.


Shreya looks up and stares at Sid who rolls his eyes with a cute smile. Seeing Shreya down, Few others come to her. She tries to get up,




Sh - Aaah. My leg


She had twisted her ankle. Along with few others, Sid offered her his hand to help her get up. She slaps his hand off her and takes Utkarsh's hand instead. Niti also helps her to get up. As they were leaving, Sid tried to follow. Shreya turned angryly and




Sh - 10 feet Sid.


S - What?


Sh - Peechey hato. 10 feet.




Sid gives a scared look seeing an enragged Shreya and starts walking backwards.




S - Enough?


Sh - Aur pechey.




He takes few more steps.




Sh - Maintain the distance. Agar pass aaye toh....


She points a finger angrily at him warning him not to get any closer. "Okay" Sid raised both his hands up guesturing that he surrenders. Seeing this, the others giggle.  


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In the clinic, Shreya was receiving treatment while Niti and Utkarsh stood besides her.




Doc - Ankle? Phir se? Isn't this the third time?


Shreya looked at Niti and Utkarsh who didn't give her any explanation. So she assumed that Siyali also got hurt in the same place.




U - Wahi toh sir. Dancer hai. Par apni pey'r ka khayal hi nahi rakhti. Patha nahi isse girna itna pasand kyun hai?


Sh - Utkarsh?


Ni - Sahi toh keh raha hai. Khayal rakhna chahiya tha na.


Sh (amazed) - Khayal? Mujhe kaise patha hota ki woh stupid Sid mere Peechey khada tha.


U - Tujhe patha tha na ke Sid tumhe follow kar raha tha.


Sh - Haaan.


U - Toh?


Sh - Utkarsh, Siddharth ki side Lena bandh karo.




And she looked at Niti who looked uncomfortable. Shreya suddenly remembered what Niti has told her the day before about Utkarsh herself and Sid.




Ni - Arey Parth andhar aa'o na. Bahar kyun khade ho?


Niti invited Parth who standing outside. He had overheard the entire conversation. He walks in and smiles at Shreya. As they continued arguing, Parth looked at them carefully as he noticed how Shreya seemed unaffected by Utkarsh's talks and being compared to Siyali.


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Back in the boys dorm, all the students were asleep. Utkarsh was rolling in his bed as stomach was growling due to hunger.




U (whispers) - Sid? Bhai? Siddarth? Oh mere badey Bhai.


S (whispers) - What?




Sid angrily turns towards Utkarsh who gestures him that he's hungry. Sid puts his hand into his bag that was hanging by the bed and finds a packet of chips that he throws straight at Utkarsh's forehead




U (whispers) - Gussa kyun ho rahe ho?


Utkarsh asked pressing his forehead with his palm. Sid suddenly sat up on the bed and,




S (whispers) - Tu bhi toh usse Siyali bulata hai. Par sirf mereko hi kyun badi badi lecture deti hai?


U (eating chips, whispers) - Kyun ki tu usse kuch zyada hi chipak tah hai.


S - Kya?


I (sleepy) - Guys shut up and go to sleep.




Utkarsh throws his pillow at Sid who stares at him and says,




U (whisper) - Mujhpe kyun chilla rahe ho?


S (whisper) - Kyun ki uspe chilla nahi sakta hoon.




Sid gives a heavy sigh and lies down with holding the pillow. Utkarsh finishes the chips, dusts his hands and calmly,




U (whispers) - Bhai. Main Kya kehraha hoon. Give Siyali some space. Aaaah. (Funny) Usse pehle, give me my pillow.


Sid turns his head to Utkarsh who gives a big smile. Sid throws the pillow and Utkarsh gives him a small salute before he goes to sleep. Sid turns to the other side and thinks.


Sid's POV "Space de hi toh raha hoon. (Smiles) 10 feet ka. I guess maintain karna padhega" Sid smiles and closes his eyes to sleep.


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Next day, during the Chemistry Lab, Shreya was working on her experiment. As she looked around for an extra tube, Sid gestures her if he can come to help her out. "No" Shreya said without making any sound.


Sid remembering what Utkarsh said decided to give her some space. Seeing her limp to get the tube, Parth comes to the rescue.




Sh - Thanks.


P - Mera experiment ho gaya. Main tumhari help karoon?


Sh - Hmm.




Shreya nodded her head. Parth began to help her with getting her things. As Shreya was working, she noticed Parth looking at her.




Sh - Mere face mein kuch hai kya?


P - Nahi.




Shreya rolls her eyes feeling uncomfortable,




Sh - Do you have something to say to me?


P - Something to ask.




Parth looked more serious than usual which made Shreya nervous.




P - Maine kal notice kiya. Jab Niti aur Utkarsh tumhe Siyali jaise treat kartey hain, tum unhe kuch kehti nahi ho. Aur agar Niti ya Utkarsh kabhi bhi pareshan hotey, tum unke pass bhaag jaati ho. Like you're always there for them. Par jab baat Sid ki hai, you're different. Kyun? Why are you being Siyali to Niti and Utkarsh but Shreya to Sid?


Shreya smiles to this question and tries to explain,




Sh - Sid ki baat alag hai. Even without Siyali, he has a lot people. Par Utkarsh aur Niti ki baat alag hai. They need their Siyali jo unki sirf dost nahi, pariwaar thi. Jab poori Zindagi kisikey saath bitatey ho, aur woh achanak chaley jaathe hain, toh bohat akelapan mehsoos hota hai Parth. (Emotional) Agar tumhara ek jhoot kisi apney ka akelapan dhoor kare, unki andheri zindagi mein roshni laaye... toh galat nahi hai. It's okay to sacrifice your identity.


Shreya said staring at the wall looking lost. A confused Parth looked at her not sure what she meant by this. Shreya coming to her senses,




Sh - I mean, believing that I'm Siyali makes them happy. Why burst their bubble right. Aur mujhe bhi toh do dost mil rahe hain na. It's a win-win.


As she finishes the sentence, she sees Sid passing by. Sid noticing Shreya look at him, moves a little further assuring her that he's maintaining the distance. She smiles.




Sh - But that's not the case with Sid.


She turns back to Parth who looked straight at her,




P - Patha nahi kyun, Tumne mujhe kisiki yaad diladi. A girl.. (pauses) who surprised me with what she said... And did...


Shreya looked at him curiously,




P - "Kabhi kabhi humare apno ka future khud se zyada important hota hai."


Parth recited the lines he had heard and remembered




[Flashback]


Parth stares at the test paper as Siyali writes down Utkarsh's name. Noticing him,




Si - Kabhi kabhi humare apno ka future khud se zyada important hota hai.


Siyali said without looking at him as she submitted her paper and left the hall.


[Flash back ends]




Parth and Shreya continued to look at each other.


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