"Sidharth, beta ring pehnayo Shehnaz ko" Rita Maa said, placing her hand on his shoulder.

It was big day for him as he is going to get engaged with the girl he loves. Yeah he hasn't expressed his feelings yet but it's a fact. Although she also has not expressed but he can see in her eyes, that she loves him too.

Since it is an arranged marriage and everything happened so suddenly, the two didn't get a chance to talk to each other and ever since Shehnaz and her family have come to Mumbai, they have not been able to talk due to being around everyone.

Looking at each other from afar, stealing glances and passing smiles to each other, these little things were making them happy. And having her sitting beside him and getting engaged, itself was a pure bliss.

The moment she descended the stairs after getting ready for the ceremony, their siblings teased him a lot as he couldn't take his eyes off her. She was looking really gorgeous in green and orange colored lehnga. Minimal makeup, slightly curled hair and mang tikka was giving an extra charm to her.

Everyone was happy with this alliance. Elders, because finally their children said yes to marriage and are going to settle down in their lives. Youngsters, because they are going to witness the most awaited marriage in the family. They are excited to rock the marriage. Happiness was evident on their faces. But there was one person who was looked dull and that was Shehnaz.

Upon observing her, he felt that she is pretending in front of everyone. She is smiling but her smile isn't reaching her eyes. Seeing her not happy, different thoughts started running in his mind.

'Why doesn't she look happy? Is she not happy with this alliance? No, no, it can't be the reason. If she had a problem, she would have told' And he knows that she loves him. But what is bothering her?

He came out of trance when he felt a hand on his shoulder and saw his mother was telling him to make Shehnaz wear the ring and rolled his eyes when her sisters teased Shehnaz.

"Han han jaldi pehna do, humari hone wali bhabhi se wait nahi ho raha ab" Preeti teased.

"Aur nahi toh kya, kab se she is waiting and looking at you ki kab ring pehnayega aur kab woh tumhari officially fiance banegi" Neetu said to which Shehnaz blushed and lowered her eyes and then pouted when Shehzad said,

"Main pehle hi clear kar deta hoon ke main ladke walon ki taraf se hoon"

"Wah itni jaldi party badal li tune?" Shehbaz taunted his brother and after turning to his sister, he said,

"Koi na Sana, main hoon na teri taraf"

"Han Shehnaz, don't worry. Main bhi ladki walo ki taraf se hi hoon" Neetu said last words staring at Shehzad.

Hearing their non stop blabbering, Shehnaz's mother spoke, "Tum log apni teams bad mein decide kar lena, pehle ring ceremony kar le?"

Seeing them nodding their head, Rita Maa asked Sidharth and Shehnaz to exchange the rings.

Smiling he took the ring from the decorated plate and looked at her, who was looking better than before. Thinking she must have been nervous, he shook his thoughts. He took her hand lovingly and then made her wear the ring. Everyone clapped and cheered.

Now it was her turn, she also took the ring and the moment he extended his hands towards her, she looked at him. He gave her a reassuring smile to which she returned a faint smile and slides the ring onto his finger. Again everyone cheered and showered them with flowers and congratulate them.

-

All the youngsters were sitting together and enjoying chit chatting and teasing sessions. Both Sidharth and Shehnaz were stealing glances. He so wanted to talk to her, but everyone was around them, so he couldn't. On the top of that, their siblings were constantly teasing them and making them blush profusely. He thanked his god when they changed the topic and started pulling Shehbaz's leg. And after them, it was now Shehbaz's turn to blush.

"Chalo ji, yeh dono toh aaj se officially engaged ho gaye, aur jaldi hi shadi bhi ho jayegi, lekin agla number kiska hai?" Preeti said excitedly raising her eyebrows.

"Yeh bhi koi puchne wali bat hai? Obviously Shehbaz" said Neetu and putting her hand around Shehbaz's shoulder, she spoke again, "Kyu Shehbaz? Tera hi number hai na agla?"

"Nai...main woh..hehe itni jldi shadi" no words came out of his mouth properly, as he was blushing on hearing the name of the marriage.

"Aye haye munda sharma gaya" Preeti said pulling his cheeks.

"Nai-nai aisa nahi hai" he blushed even deeper.

"Toh kaisa hai" all said together to tease him more to which he replied,

"Kya yar tum log bhi kaisi bate lekar baithe ho, koi aur topic pe bat kro na"

"Han theek hai koi aur bat krte hai. Shehbaz ke liye ladki dhundhne wala topic kaisa rahega?" Shehzad asked everyone grinning.

"Han yeh sahi hai" Neetu replied cheekily.

"Shehbaz ke liye ladki main dhundhungi" Preeti stated, to which Shehzan said, "Kya pta Baaz bhaiya ki already koi girlfriend ho?"

All gave a questioning look to Shehbaz. He got nervous with their gaze and stammered, "A-Aise k-kya... dekh rahe ho?"

"Hume bhi bata agar hai koi ladki toh. Kyunki phir hume time waste nahi karna padhega" Shehnaz said, everyone nodded in agreement.

Shehbaz was about to speak when Sidharth interrupted him by saying, "Han, aur agar tu kahe toh hum ghar pe baat kar lete hain"

He again opened his mouth to speak and was interrupted again, but this time, by Shehzad, "Main toh kehta hoon iski shadi bhi tum dono ke sath hi karwa dete hain"

"No" Shehbaz quickly said widening his eyes, making all of them laugh.

"Aur waise bhi mujhe aise shadi nahi karni hai" he spoke again.

"Matlab?" Shehzan asked confused.

"Matlab yeh ke main aisi shadi nahi karunga jahan main apne partner se pyar nahi karta. Aur agar krta hoon, toh express na karu" he paused for a moment and looked at Shehnaz and then Sidharth and said,

"Yeh nahi ke aap pyar bhi karte raho and btayo bhi na, aur samne wala ek I love you sunne ko tarasta rahe"

"Ohhhh" said everyone except Sidharth and Shehnaz as they got lost in themselves, hearing Shehbaz's words.

-

As Sidharth wanted it to be a private affair, only a few close relatives and friends were invited. One of them was Rohanpreet, who is Shehnaz's friend and was now talking with her.

He was watching them from afar and observed that she looked happy with him. He felt a pang of jealousy when he saw the two laughing. Seeing her talking with her friend happily, he was getting irritated now as his fiance is happy with every random person but not with him.

And top of that his mind was already upset with the conversation that took place a few minutes ago. Shehbaz's words were still stuck in his mind. 'What did he really want to say? Why did he feel that Shehbaz was saying those words to him only? Was he pointing at him? Because he was looking at him and Shehnaz when he said those words' he thought.

He sighed and shook his head that why are they all saying the same thing. He remembers that when he was getting ready for the engagement, his mother came to him, she also indirectly said the same thing while talking to him.

"Tujhe pata hai, agar hum pyar karte hai na kisiko, bhale hi unko aapke dil ki bat pata ho, but kabhi kabhi na unki tassali ke liye, apni feelings ko express kar dena chahiye, so that unko bhi acha feel ho"

He widened his eyes as the realisation hit him hard. He now understood what both of them were trying to say. He shook his head again and while mumbling something, he made his way towards Shehnaz.

"I need to talk" he said as soon as he got there.

Shehnaz, who was conversing with her friend, turned and saw that Sidharth was standing there, crossing his arms across the chest.

"Abhi?" she asked hesitantly to which he replied calmly, "Yeah"

She opened her mouth to speak but before she could deny or make any excuse, he held her hand and took her along with him. Everyone's jaw dropped because they never witnessed this side of Sidharth but were happy inside for both. A soft smile came on Rita Maa and Shehbaz's faces as they knew what was going to happen next.

Shehnaz, for the first time was smiling wholeheartedly ever since they came to Mumbai. The way he held her hand and the way he took her along with him in front of everyone, that too with full authority, it made her happy as well as cry. But the thoughts, where he is taking her and about what he wants to talk, were making her anxious.

Shehzan, who was approaching them to take a selfie with them, seeing them go, she pouted and said,

"Kahan jaa rahe ho yar, mere ko photos leni thi"

"Abhi jane de beta, bad mein jitni marzi photos lena" Rita Maa said smiling.

*

With folded hands and closed eyes, they stood in front of the idol of Goddess and were praying. After the pandit gave them the parsad, they moved from there, so they can talk.

"You must be thinking main tumhe yahan kyun le ke aya hoon" he said while they moving and seeing her smiling nervously, he continued to speak.

"Yeh humari kul-devi ka mandir hai. And you know? Main jab bhi khush hota hoon na, yahan aa jata hoon. Aur jab preshan hota hoon, tab bhi yahin aata hoon. Aaj tak inse jo bhi manga, woh mila aur jo nahi bhi manga, woh bhi mila hai" he said smiling and she also smiled back.

"Tumhe toh pata hai na, bachpan se hi ek aise mahol mein raha hoon jahan aas-pas sirf ladies hi thi. Isse maine ek cheez jarur seekhi hai, ke aurton ki respect karna kitna jaruri hai. Aur unki choti choti khushiyan aapke liye kitna mayne rakhti hain"

She was admiring his way of thinking, while he continued to speak.

"Aaj hum dono ek rishte mein bandhe hain. Ek aisa rishta, jise duniya husband-wife kehti hai. Jo ek dusre ke humraz hote hain aur kuch bhi nahi chupate hain. Jo ek dusre ki khushi ke liye kuch bhi kar jate hain"

She was confused because she could not understand why he was saying all this.

"Hum iss rishte mein judey toh hain, but kyu mujhe tum khush nahi lag rahi? Woh khushi tumhari aankhon mein kyu nahi dikhayi de rahi, jo meri aankhon mein hai?"

She shook her head in a negative way, and opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.

"Tumhara hath pakda aur tumhari dadhkane sunyai dene lagi mujhe, but I don't understand yeh itni tez kyu hain? Mera itne kreeb hone ki wajah se, ya tum iss shadi se khush nahi ho isiliye?"

Hearing this, tears rolled down her cheeks. She had become emotional knowing what he felt for her. She always wanted him to express his feelings openly, but not in this way where he feels she is not happy. Yes she did not look happy but that does not mean that she is not happy with this marriage or she doesn't love him. She so wanted to tell him that what he thinks is not true, but couldn't.

"Kya jo maine tumhari aankhon mein dekha, sach tha hi nahi? Kya tum sach mein kuch bhi feel nahi karti mere liye?" He said, in almost a whisper.

As soon as he said those words, she slapped his cheek and hugged him tightly. He didn't reciprocated the hug because he was stunned by this sudden reaction. But what she did next surprise him. She kissed his cheek where she slapped and was mumbling 'I love you' again and again while her lips continue to linger his cheek.

Hearing the confession, he smiled brightly and hugged her back. After a while, pulling away from the hug, he wiped her tears. He stared at her for a moment and then a lopsided smile twisted his lips with smirk on his face. Seeing his expressions change, she narrowed her eyes and asked confused what happened.

"Akhir bulwa hi liye tumse woh three magical words" he said cheekly.

She narrowed her eyes and asked doubtfully, "Means jo bhi kaha woh sab, it was your plan?"

"Kind of" he replied.

Shocked, she opened her mouth in perfectly 'O' shape. Anger was clearly visible on her nose and and in this anger, she slapped his other cheek also.

He widened his eyes and gulped his saliva as he knew that the 'Sherawali Mata' has awaken, so before she becomes more angry, to calm her down, he gently kissed her forehead and mumbled, "I love you to be Mrs Sidharth Shukla"

She became very happy to hear these three magical words from his mouth because that's what she wanted. But soon her smile faded, when he spoke to her seriously. Although he did not want to spoil her mood, but it was necessary to clarify a few things.

"Kya tumhe nahi pata tha aaj kya hai? Kya confession tumhare liye itna important tha ke tumne aaj function mein ek bar bhi dil se smile nahi ki?" seriousness was evident in his voice. She nodded negatively and opened her mouth to clarify but was interuppted by him,

"Kya tumhe kabhi mere actions se pta nahi chala what I feel for you? I never asked you to confess because maine tumhara pyar mehsoos kiya hai, then why didn't you feel my love?"

"Aisa nahi hai" finally she got chance to speak. "Mera na sapna tha ke jisse bhi shadi ho, pehle woh apni feelings confess kare and then shadi and mujhe na, aisa lag raha tha, jaise mera dream pura nahi huya" she said pouted.

Sighing, he shook his head and said, "Aur isi chakkar mein tumne ceremony bilkul bhi enjoy nahi ki" listening him, she pouted again.

"Acha theek hai, idhar aayo"

Saying this he took out his phone from his pocket. Opening the camera, he pulled her close and placing his hand over her shoulder, he asked her to look at the camera. After capturing the pictures, he wrote the caption and posted it on Instagram.

Done with the posting, he looked at her, who was already admiring him with a smile on her face. He raised his eyebrow to ask what happened, to which he nodded her head negatively and hugged him. He kissed her head and mumbled 'Love you'

*

"Yeh dono kab ayenge?" Shehzan said, to which her mother rolled her eyes because she was asking the same question every two minutes.

On getting no response from anyone, Shehzan said again, "Aap bade log na bahut hi jyada boring ho" saying this, she started scrolling her phone.

"Oh my goodness" she screamed as soon as she checked her Instagram, which made everyone to look at her.

"Kya huya, kyu chilla rahi hai?" Shehzad asked her to which she replied, "Arre bhaiya, aap insta check kro, dekhna aap bhi aise hi react kroge"

"Acha? Aisa kya dekh liya tune?" Neetu asked.

"Yahi ke humare private jiju ab private nahi rahe" Shehzan replied widening her eyes.

"Matlab?" Neetu asked confused.

"Matlab yeh ke jiju ne Sana di ke sath picture post ki hai" she answered excitedly and showing Neetu and Shehzad the phone she said, "Look at this and caption toh dekho jiju ki"

*

All were sitting in the dining area and having breakfast quietly. Sidharth and Shehnaz who were sitting in front of each other, stealing each other's glances.

Seeing them busy with each other, Neetu thought to do a prank. She elbowed her sister and gestured her something. Seeing that Preeti is not understanding anything, she shook her head and typed the message in her phone and sent it to all the youngsters except Sidharth and Shehnaz.

She smiled cheekily and winked when everyone looked at her, and then said, "Maa pandit ji aye the na kal, shadi ki date kab ki nikli hai?"

But before her mother could answer, Preeti spoke immediately, "7 months bad ki"

Sidharth was drinking water and listening to his sister, he spilled it a little and coughed. Shehbaz, who was sitting beside him, patted his back and asked, "Are you okey?" Sidharth nodded a little in reply which made Shehnaz giggle.

"What seven months? But itni late kyu?" Shehzan asked.

"Han late toh hai. Lekin humare liye, inn dono ke liye nahi. Haina Shehnaz, Sidharth?" Neetu said.

Sidharth faked a smile and Shehzan always being confused, asked, "Matlab?"

"Matlab jis hisab se yeh dono ghar aate hain, late toh hoga hi naa" said Preeti and seeing everyone confused, she added, "I mean jaise kal, engagement ke bad ghar se nikle they aur raat ko kab wapas aaye, kisiko bhi nahi pata" this made everyone giggle and Sidharth and Shehnaz embarrassed.

"Han, by the way kahan gayab they tum dono?" Shehzad asked raising his eyebrows.

"Aisa kya jaruri kam tha jo raat bhar ghar hi nahi aye?" Shehbaz also teased them.

"Han-han btayo, kahan busy they?" Neetu and Preeti asked in unison.

Blushing, they looked at each other and the beautiful memories of yesterday night started running in their mind. They were lost in the time they spent yesterday. First, the confession and then the long drive. With the romantic numbers on radio and holding each other's hand, they did a lot of talking. Her melodious voice, his laughter, the cold night, having tea on the random tea stall and the song 'Abhi na jayo chod kar, ke dil abhi bhara nahi' Sidharth sang, holding her hand when she suggested they should go home now and then their eye lock, everything was so beautiful and they enjoy every moment of the night.

They came out of the memory lane when Shehzan said, "Let me guess, di aur jiju dono kisi romantic si jagah pe romance kar rahe honge"

"Awww" everyone said together to tease them even more.

"Kyu tang kar rahe ho becharon ko" finally Rita Maa spoke.

"Bechare aur yeh?" again everyone said together. Rita Maa shook her head and said,

"Sid and Shehnaz ignore them beta aur meri bat dhayan se suno" seeing them nodding, she continued to speak, "Pandit ji ne do mahurat nikale hain, ek 10 din bad ka aur ek 7 mahine bad ka. Ab tum dono jo decide karoge hume manzoor hai"

"Mom isme decide kya karna hai, aap seven months bad wali date final kardo bas. Tab tak ek dusre ke bina reh hi lenge dono, haina?" said Neetu

Hearing this both, Sidharth and Shehnaz widened their eyes and looked at each other and then everyone and shouted in unison, "Nahi" making everyone laugh.

*

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Happy New Year Everyone!

Was not going to give update today because target is not completed yet but it's New Year today and I wanted to wish all of you in my way. So this update is gift from my side for all of you. Enjoy!

So what about the Chapter 5 of Arranged By Shukla? Confused? Bola tha na asli maza aage aane wala hai...Sochte raho ke kya huya...(*Laughing*)

Till then #HappyReading