Sidharth was moving constantly, attempting to get out of the bed. “Sid! Is it that difficult to understand, why are you not listening to our words?” Losing patience, Ritesh yelled at him.

“Where is Karan? I need to talk to him,” hardly audible voice came from Sidharth. He was on the verge of turning unconscious but he wasn’t letting himself.

“Karan had gone to…” Before Lyra could inform, the door was opened and Karan stepped in. He was engrossed in his own thought, unaware of the situation in the cabin.

He had rushed directly to the hut, the place Shehnaaz lived. Banging the door for more than a minute as he pushed it slightly turning impatient. He discovered that the door was open, he looked at it puzzled. According to him, the door was never kept open. He moved in, but found no clue of her inside. Was on the verge to search her in the field, but something grabbed his attention.

Inside the hut, there was a small wooden cupboard. Its finish wasn’t proper, it looked as if some wood were jointed together with nails. Nothing heavy could be kept on it, or it would end into pieces. Karan chuckled on the remark Sidharth had on it.

***

"Oh wow. What's inside? Main open karke dekh lu?" ( Can I open it?) Sidharth asked Shehnaaz, as he was so excited, being in her place. While Karan was roaming his eyes to the every nook and corner of the hut. It was very small but it was beautifully maintained.

"Tum isme apna samaan rakhti ho?" ( You put your things in it?) Karan asked as soon as his eyes went on the cupboard and seeing the condition of the cupboard, he felt like it was on the verge of breaking. One slight push and it will be on ground. 

She nodded smiling, while making some space for them to sit. She had attempted her level best to stop them. But they were stubborn to listen, her eyes peeping outside the hut. Assuring aunt wasn't knowing about their arrival.

"What? Yeh toh bahut toota huya hai" (It is very broken), Sidharth asked, looking at the condition of the cupboard. "Isse pehle ke yeh zameen pe bikhar jaye, tum naya lelo" (You take a new one before it falls apart on the ground)

"Nahi- nahi, ehdi ki jarurat? Bilkul sahi tan hai" (No, What is the need of it? It's absolutely in perfect condition), she smiled nervously. How could she tell him that neither her aunt would fulfill her demand nor could she afford it.

As if he understood her dilemma, he spoke again, "pyaar hai… buhot zayada pyaar hai" (Love very strong one!) Sidharth paused for a second, moving his gaze from cupboard to Shehnaaz.  "But… why am I feeling jealous?" 

His remark made Karan to chuckle out loud and shake his head. While Shehnaaz was staring at them with questioning look. 

***

At second glance his eyes noticed the cupboard that used to be occupied with some clothes Shehnaaz had, was vacant.

Why would anyone remove their entire clothes until… Shit! As the thought crossed his mind, he rushed towards the field. With a hope that he could find her in those bushes.

Sidharth craving increased only to know her, they had seen a miserable life behind that nervous, anxious face. It was the wish to know and to provide her with a smile that landed them closer to her.

He was running with his entire might, tolerating the heat of the sun. His mind was pondering with all the unpleasing thoughts. He was scared of Sidharth's reaction if Shehnaaz had disappeared. He was hoping that his mind was signaling him wrong. Shehnaaz might be busy in her work and the cloth disappearing had nothing to do. As he completed the distance, he stood on the entrance of the field. Moving his gaze at every corner, he was panting as he bend down turning exhausted.

A view of him was seen by Mr. Pritam Gill. The owner of the field, as he was yards away. He couldn’t get a clear view so he slowly turned towards the unknown man only to realize he was Karan. One of the friends of his daughter Sushi. Like most of the villagers, Pritam had worn a turban, with dhoti and kurta. The favorite attire of Punjabi’s.

“Karan puttar… (son) What are you doing over here?” He questioned as he was aware of the accident and Sidharth in a severe condition. “Sidharth puttar toh thik hai na?” (Sidharth is fine, right?) As a hint of fear got into his heart.

“He is fine and has got out of a coma.” He mentioned spreading delight in Pritam’s heart. “Uncle, where is Shehnaaz?” Moving his eyes around, Pritam stared at him confused.

“Shehnaaz was in the hospital from the past one day, she hadn’t returned to the village. Yes!” Suddenly he recollected the conversation he had with Shehnaaz a minute back. His mind was occupied in the calculation so he forgot it for a minute. “She had come half an hour before, and was asking me for money. She seemed sad and was even crying. I knew it would have been because of the fear that again the poor girl would be blamed. Years later, I had seen the glowing smile on her face. Upon knowing about the accident, she had got depressed as her horror had turned the reality. For the first time, she asked me for her salary. I didn’t question her anything as it was her right. And I provided her with some money, I thought she might have needed it for Sidharth treatment but again I knew such a small amount won’t do any help.”

After listening to the incident of Shehnaaz asking for salary, his doubt was confirmed. Shehnaaz had left the village and maybe left all traces of her disappearance as well. Pritam had continued with his speech, but Karan slightly moved from there. It did offend Pritam but soon he turned to his work.

Karan back on his track, he had rushed into the village to get Sidharth happiness along with him. But circumstances around had resulted in him walking back with a shattering news, Shehnaaz had left from Sidharth life. It would break Sidharth into pieces, though he had walked into Shehnaaz life to spread a smile. Eventually, knowing about her condition, it had turned his goal to provide her happiness. It had turned into a passion, a Zid and he knew he never took a defeat. He had won at each stage of his life and he would have anticipated the same.

“Karan…” Sidharth's loud voice got into Karan’s ear, gaining his attention and bringing him back from the thought. He was having second thoughts on whether to meet Sidharth or walk back to Mumbai but he brushed off the thought. He couldn’t leave his friend alone when he was much aware that Sidharth would need him the most. He would desire someone to understand him rather questioning his reaction.

“Where are you lost? And where is Jhalli?” As anticipated the first question offered to him was about Shehnaaz.

“Who is this Jhalli? That Sid, isn’t getting enough off?” Questioned Ritesh fuming in anger, as it was turning frustrating. He battled the death, he should be resting rather worrying himself with some random girl.

“Shehnaaz…” Karan voiced out, moving his gaze back to Sidharth. He was waiting for him to provide some information. “She has left the village,” he voiced it out, not moving his gaze from Sidharth. It took a minute for Sidharth to realize what he meant. His eyes that had glow on getting a glimpse of Karan, suddenly seemed dead. His eyes staring at him, not a reaction coming out as if waiting for him to continue, not providing with the reassurance Karan needed at the minute before continuing.

“I never thought she would take it in such a manner, I had asked her for help to save your life and she decided to…” Karan found it unbelievable and deep down he blamed himself for the cause. Only if he had no such conversation with her, she won’t ever leave Sidharth’s side.

“She can’t leave like that! I haven’t given her that right, she needs to answer me first.” Finally, Sidharth reacted, Karan’s and his mom’s eyes were on him. They knew his reaction would be loud. He attempted to move, but Sumitra grabbed him tight.

“Ritesh, please do something.” She was requesting his husband. Ritesh found it confusing, Sidharth's such a reaction for some random girl couldn’t ever be possible. That Jhalli was more than a random one for his son. Seeing the situation turning worse, Ritesh ordered Mr. Ahuja who was present along with the rest.

“Inject him or he won’t come under control,” fully aware of the stubbornness his son carried. The doctor kept staring at Mr. Shukla for confirmation, “come on!” Turning frustrated on seeing the doctor wasn’t reacting. On realizing he was serious; Mr. Ahuja applied the injection. Causing Sidharth to slowly go unconscious, providing him with the rest his body and brain needed. On assuring that the dose had full control over his sense, everyone took a breath of relief.

Mr. Ahuja on checking Sidharth pulses, blinked at Ritesh and moved out. Sumitra was staring at Ritesh for an answer. “He will be unconscious for a few hours as his stubbornness won’t allow him to rest.” Sumitra wasn’t convinced with her husband's way of handling the situation, providing injection wasn’t the only option. Yet she wasn’t in a condition to debate on the matter, so she chose to remain silent.

Ritesh moved his gaze on the people present in the cabin, it coming to rest on Karan. The person who had answers to his all questions, as Sidharth could hide things from the rest of the world but not from him. “Karan, I need to talk with you.” His face was stern, as he walked out.

Karan could listen to the siren ringing but he knew it would cause no harm for him but couldn’t say the same for the person laying on the bed. He slowly walked out of the cabin, preparing himself to make the result less dangerous for Sidharth. He was depressed from the news of Shehnaaz disappearance, he wasn’t desiring any more harm to him.

Karan stood before Ritesh, preparing himself with the interrogation. “Who is this Jhalli?” Coming directly to the point, Ritesh was straightforward.

“Jhalli… Sidharth calls her that, her name is Shehnaaz.”

“The same girl who got disappeared.” Karan nodded in agreement, “what she had to do with my son’s life?” His brow raised as he found Karan lowering his gaze.

Karan was sure enough Sidharth had feelings towards the girl but Sidharth wasn’t expecting it. Not until yesterday, for him she was his friend. And Karan was intending to bring others into notice before Sidharth’s realization.

“She is his new friend…” Putting it up in a plain manner.

“Do you consider, I should trust you? I have never seen my son going so mad over a girl. He wakes up from a coma and all he is concerned about is that random village girl. Whom you consider is his friend, he has many friends but for none he had shown such desperation. The one I had seen only for once and it was for…” He left it incomplete gazing at Karan.

Karan looked at him in surprise and soon lowered his eyes back. “For Rihanna… ” he was holding back his tears, mentioning her name did make his knees weak. Ritesh got the hint, he halted the conversation. Pressing his shoulder, blinking his eyes in assurance.

“I am sorry… I wasn’t intending to bring…” Karan shook his head, brushing off the emerging tears.

“It's cool sir… All I am worried about is Sidharth. I don’t want his condition to turn the same,” expressing his concern and it grew as Ritesh mentioned Rihanna’s name.

“We had to take him away from India. I am not desiring him to land the same place as he was before after Rihanna left him.” Ritesh was acting as a caring father but Karan wasn’t pleased with the decision.

“Away from India, would turn him aloof from you. He has a problem towards you, I don’t want the dislike to grow in future.” Karan was expressing knowing his words were going to turn Ritesh furious.

“So, what are you trying to convey? We should let him drive deep in grief like last time. What if we lose him in this attempt?” The crowd around was gazing at them as the conversation between them was turning tense and due to Ritesh increasing volume it was audible to the audience present.

“That no longer will be the cause, I am beside him. And moreover…” Karan wasn’t able to complete as Ritesh got a call and as it was important, he excused himself from Karan.

Karan was left to dwell in these thoughts, he knew Sidharth was no longer a teenager. At those crucial moments of his life, he was unable to face the circumstance. The person he was close to suddenly disappeared from his life, so the action was valid. People trying to control him only turn it worse. Same was the action of Shehnaaz, her step had infuriated Sidharth and it would cause him to hate her. The hate that would drive him unlike with the care he offered her earlier. He was terrified of the consequences it would land if Shehnaaz ever faced Sidharth in the near future.

•••

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