NAAZ

Present...

"Hmm... Shehnaaz," Karan's voice got in my ears. I raised my head, staring at him with tense eyes. "Tum kyu na ek kaam karo?" (Why don't you do work?) My eyebrow raised in question. "Tum Sid, ko soup pelavo..." (Make Sid, drink the soup.) pointing at the bowl beside the bed. I stood in alarm, darting my gaze at Sidharth. He was shooting daggers at Karan.

"Haven't I said once? Mujhe nahi pina..." (I don't want to drink it...) Announcing it loud enough so everyone could hear his words.

"Shehnaaz, apne soft soft..." gesturing towards his own hand and indicating it to be soft. "Haato se khilaye toh bhi?" (With her own hands, still?) As a result, Karan was hit with the pillow.

"You shut your mouth! Stupid man! Lyra, take Karan out. I can't tolerate him any longer." Moving his eyes towards Lyra, she was going to speak but Karan interrupted her.

"Why? Are you indirectly trying to convey, ki hum tum dono ko akela chod de?" I widened my eyes at that statement, wasn't he scared of Sidharth answer? He might have experienced much dangerous reaction of his, yet he was fooling around him.

"Karan!" Sidharth moved a little, attempting to take the vase in his hand beside the table.

"Man!" Karan eyes tensed, "fine! I won't tease you further." He folded his hands as if he was on the urge to be wounded. I couldn't help myself any further. Laughing on seeing him as a lost puppy, as if he was the most innocent person on the planet. I was engrossed in laugh for few minutes when constant gaze turned me caution. I halted myself, raising my eyes at the staring people around me. Sidharth eyes were shining as before, his lip craving into a beautiful smile. Suddenly his eyebrow knitted as if hadn't appreciated me halting. His smile, it seemed as if he had forgotten smiling.

"Your laugh is so melodious!" Karan spoke the statement usually implanted by Sidharth. "How come you're so gifted?" I was perplexed by Karan changed behaviour; it wasn't the first time him complimenting me. But his frequent gazes wandering from me to Sidharth, made me uncertain about his actions. I moved my gaze towards Sidharth, he had fisted his hand in anger.

"Please stop the rubbish! I need some rest," came an anticipated yell from Sidharth.

"Sidharth!" We heard a shout and soon, Sidharth mom rushed inside. Her eyes fixed on her son but a minute later, her eyes wandered in search of someone, ending on me. "You! What's your problem? Can't you let my son be in peace? What wrong had he done to you?" Grabbing my elbow tightly, "why are you after his breath?"

I was staring at her with thousands of pondering questions. "Aunty? Hmm..." Karan was going to interrupt but she wasn't bothered with his presence around.

"Where is the bowl? Where had you kept it?" Moving her eyes once again in the room, fury been overlapped with worry.

"Which bowl are you talking about?" Sidharth questioned eyes conveying confusion, as her eyes landed on the bowl beside the bed. She rushed towards it and within a minute it was landed on the floor. Everyone was stunned seeing her actions, "thank God! I reached before you consumed it." Sidharth wasn't understanding a word so were we.

"Aunt, what do you mean? What's wrong with the soup?" Karan was the person to object loudly, Sidharth staring at her mother for an answer.

"Because it contains mushroom!" Her one statement made everyone shut, everyone's eyes were fixed on me. I wasn't understanding what was the matter, something related to mushroom was spoken.

"Tum ne soup mein, mushroom nahi dala?" (Haven't you put mushrooms in the soup?) She inquired, eyes directed towards me. I gave a slight nod, what was wrong if had put it? "How can you! Agar kuch pata na ho toh puch lena chahiye... tumari ek galati..." Sumitra was fuming in anger, I wasn't able to understand the valid reason behind it. "Maine Ritesh se bola tha, ki tum bus Sid ko dukh de sakti ho. Usko teekh nahi kar sakti," grabbing me through my elbow.

"Aunty, she wasn't aware of Sid allergy." I stared at Lyra, with questioning eyes. "Woh nahi janti thi, mushroom Sid ke liye jan lewa hosakta hai... maybe that's why..." That revelation startled me, mushroom was dangerous for Sidharth. I darted my gaze towards him as his mom was pulling me outside of Sidharth's room. He was staring at me with a concerned look, though wasn't attempting to express it from his mouth. He was mad at me, his fury had grown to a degree that he had started hating me. Soon I was pushed with a force but I managed not to land on the floor.

"I warn you to stay away from my son, tum... mere beta ke aas-paas bhi nahi dikhni chahiye." Her eyes burning in anger, she was holding herself from harming me. With that she closed the door of the room, objecting me from moving any further towards Sidharth. Neither did I wanted as I knew, I would turn a root reason of pushing him in trouble.

Na jaane yeh zammana...Kyu chahe re mitana

Kalank nahi ishq hai kaajal piya...

Kalank nahi ishq hai kaajal piya...

I moved a step, brushing off my tears. I deserved every part of it, as I was a curse. The person who couldn't provide anyone with happiness how could be offered wonderful life? I shook my head, taking another step when I heard Sushi's voice. No! Not a voice but a round of laughter. I turned myself, Sushi was standing with a smirk. I had assumed she might have left minutes back but she hadn't, walking towards me with a small step.

"How was it?" She mocked a laugh. "Tit for tat!" Winking at me, "tumne mujhe Sid ke room se bahar nikala. Aur tum khud uske room se bahar nikali gayi. Woh din dur nahi hai jab tumko isse ghar se bahar nikala jayega..." (You threw me out of Sid's room, you were throw out of his room as well. The day isn't far away when you would be removed from the mansion as well.) I was surprised by her words, why was she planning to throw me out of the mansion? "Tumhari wajh se mom ne mujhe ghar mein lene se mana kara, woh meko apni beti nahi manti. Tumko bhi same thing face karni badegi. You will have to face it," jerked me away.

"Maine kya kiya hai? Tum kyu mere..." She was amazed seeing me questioning her back.

"Itni himat," pushing me with force. As she couldn't control her anger towards me. "Mere se ladhogi? Yeh mat bhul, ki tu ek baddua hai. Ek curse, tu ek shrap hai apne maa-baap pr aur sab jo tere nazdik aate hai. Phele toh mujhe laga tha ki tum Sidharth ke liye bhi ek sharp ho pr mai galat thi. Mai sochti thi, usne tere adhar kya dekha jise usko tere se itna lagaw ho gaya. Mujhe kaha pata tha ki woh bhi teri tarah ek shrap hai. Jo apni family ko kha jayega, itna bada doctor but uska khud ka beta hi..." she was going to speak further but was halted by someone's voice.

(You got guts!" pushing me with force. As she couldn't control her anger towards me. "You will fight with me? Don't forget, that you're a misfortune, a curse. You are a curse for your parents and anyone who lands near to you. Before I thought you were a curse for Sidharth but I was wrong. I thought, what had blinded him towards you? Where did I know that he was a curse like you? To his family, being a world-famous doctor yet his own son..." she was going to speak further but was halted by someone's voice.)

"Uska khud ka beta hi pagal hai. Yahi na?" (His own son is mad, right?) We turned alarmed on listening to the voice, I turned and found Sidharth father walking towards us. Darting my gaze at Sushi, she was shivering in fear. Scared would be an understatement, she was regretting her words. "I will make words clear in your brain. Mera beta mere liye koi sharp nahi hai, woh mera guroor hai. Yeh jan lo..." (My son isn't a curse but my pride.) Sushi bowed her head, attempting to open her mouth. "Shayad tumne buhot kuch bol diya hai, ab apni muh ko band hi rakho toh acha hoga. Aur jab kisike baare mein kuch pata na ho toh apni tipkaniya apne paas hi rehne do." (I guess, you had spoked enough. I will suggest keeping your mouth shut. And yeah when you don't know much about others it is better not to open your mouth.)

"I wasn't intending to..." Sushi again attempted to provide him with justification.

"I am well aware of your intention and this isn't the first time I am listening to it. Tumhari tarah buhot hai duniya mein, jo dusro ki kamiya count kar apne apko mahan samjhna chahte hai. Dusro ko neecha dikha kar khud bada baneka chok hota hai kuch mahan insano ka." (Many exist in the world, who love to count the flaws of others to feel superior. Making others feel inferior is their hobby, those are the wonderful souls of this planet.) Bringing it out in a sarcastic manner. "Please walk out, I don't desire any such soul revolving around my son. He needs rest not more troubles." Those words made Sushi humiliated and she walked out without raising her eyes, my eyes were on her retreating figure. "Aur ha yeh jan lo... ki woh kalank nahi gurur hai mera." His eyes were conveying the pride he had in his son. I wasn't happy with the humiliation yet a father was supporting his son. None would tolerate such blame over their son.

I bowed my head, covering my face as his eyes darted on me. He stared at me for a second making his way inside the room. As soon as the door was open, I heard a shout from Sidharth's mom, Sumitra.

"Where were you, do you know what had your beloved nurse was on the verge of doing?" Her tone indicated she was mocking Ritesh sir. I pressed my eyes, as I had anticipated her reaction.

"What are you talking about?" He hadn't moved inside, so I could listen to their conversation. "What had Shehnaaz committed?"

"Mushroom! She had made..." Later the conversation was unheard as the door closed, I slowly made my way towards the garden. Nature could provide me with the peace and fresh air needed. I roamed my eyes around the plant, caressing the rose. Mind-wandering on the words Sushi uttered, Kalank... I won't ever want Sidharth to be labelled the same as me. The circumstances I faced, the hate I witnessed. I would never desire him to walk on the same shore. I had pushed him away from me and knowing him was too questioned, grew my concern. I needed to know; what Sushi meant by those words?

A second later, Lyra walked out followed by Karan. I glanced at them with hope, they could answer my question. "Karan!" I called him and on listening, they both halted turning themselves.

"Shehnaaz! How come you landed over here?" Lyra questioned, staring at Karan.

"What? I wasn't aware myself. Just today, I came to know about her arrival." Spoked Karan, glancing at me. "And I can assure you she wasn't aware that Sidharth stayed here or she would have never entered."

"Aww..." Lyra adored me, "you guys are making me believe that true love exists. He landed in your life, you tried to walk away from her. He was stubborn to let it happen, forcing you to believe nothing like a curse existed. You ran away from him, he searched you at every corner not able to take his defeat, he claimed that he hates you but he never could resulting in the universal force to bring you back to him. Such a heart-warming one would love to land back to..." Lyra was complementing with her words while Karan halted him.

"But the novel isn't completed yet," he completed it for her. Making us both stare at him in question for completely different reasons. "Woh sab chodo, why you called us?" Asked Karan diverting the emerging topic.

"I want to talk about Sidharth," I bowed my head. Feeling nervous as I brought his name out for the first time. I heard Karan chuckling, resulting me to glance at him

"Sid would be glad that you finally call him by his name." Resulting me to shy, for an invalid reason. I never felt like calling him by his name, and I never knew the reason behind it.

*** Flashback

I was preparing a beverage for Sidharth, as his concentration was on my recipe. "Today, I am going to learn it for sure." Massaging his wrist as if, he was on the verge to start a battle.

"Ap... Nimbu pani banana sik rahe hai... Jangh nahi jeetne ja rahe." (You are learning to prepare lemonade not going for a war.) Giggled on seeing him turning offended.

"Matlab kya hai tumhara? Yeh kisi war se kam nahi, nimbu pani nahi... Shehnaaz ki special nimbu pani hai yeh. It's a huge achievement." Ending into a smile, he had taught me to smile. I had started giggling, smiling with him around me. He had spread joy in my life.

Duniya ki nazron mein yeh rog hai...

Ho jinko woh jane yeh jog hai...

"Tum dono, bana bhi rahe ho. Ya sirf ek dusre se baate kafake r ke apna pat bhar ne ka irada hai." (Are you both going to prepare something, or are planning to fill your stomach with your talks.) We heard Karan yelling from inside, the small curtain used to separate my kitchen from the hall. The place Karan was present.

"Karan! Stop it yar, you had just eaten the parathas. So muh se ek shabd nahi." (So not a word out of your mouth.) Warning, Sidharth concentrated back on the bowl in my hand. "Hey! This is cheating, you prepared it without waiting for me. Now, how would I know to prepare it? Mujhe bhi sikhna tha na?" I smiled, seeing him, irritated.

"Sikhna kyu hai, mai hu na?" (Why you need to learn, I am there.)

"Tum hamesha toh nahi rahogi na, rahogi?" (You won't stay forever, will you?) As I looked at him, hope was clearly visible in his black orbs.

Our funny atmosphere was turning serious, so I thought of escaping from it. Holding the tray and walking out of the kitchen, Sidharth didn't move an inch.

"Teen glass kyu?" Lyra asked.

"Mere liye do," making me object Karan from grabbing it. "Toh?"

"Woh..." I was finding words on how to speak it out.

"Mere liye..." Sidharth voice made me sigh.

"Oh! Sidha kyu nahi bola, Sidharth ke liye... waise tu idhar pine ke liye hi gaya tha na." Looking at Sidharth on the last words.

"Maybe he forgot," Lyra and Karan were teasing him. I looked away attempting to walk inside the kitchen but Sidharth halted me.

"Karan ne kuch pucha, nam kyu nahi liya mera?" His husky voice was making my knees weak. He had such an effect on me, causing me to fear the consequence.

"Apko pata hai mai apka nam nahi le sakti..." Trying to brush the topic.

"Pr kyu," grabbing my elbow. Not intending to let me go, "I want to know the reason..."

"Kyuki..."

"Kyuki..." He was repeating my words, turning the situation more tense. I could listen to his raising breath, the atmosphere was turning intimating.

"Hmm... I think we should close our eyes." Karan commented, causing me to stir in Sidharth's grip.

"You shut your mouth, Karan!" Irritated with his interruption, "and you answer me..." Pausing for a second, "kyuki..." I couldn't miss the smile on his lip.

"Kyuki... mainu sharm aati hai..." Saying so, I rushed from his grip as with those words he stood stunned.

"Jhalli..." I heard him whisper it, causing a smile on my lip. He had gotten found of that word as, during one of our conversations, I uttered it. I described him to its meaning. According to him, that word suited me very well.

"Mai Jhalli nahi hu..." I screamed from the kitchen hiding my blush from him.

"Tum ho!" He shouted back.

"Vella!" Screaming back in annoyance.

"Now, what's this? Vella?" His confusion could be sensed from his tone. He was having a hard time understanding Punjabi. I giggled at my thoughts.

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A.N: As many requests regular updates but it might not be possible but yes, can offer some bonus early updates. So here we go, hope you enjoy it!

Thanks for liking the book, unexpected!