Shehnaaz : What.....! 12 lakhs !.....

Shehnaaz didn't know if she was hearing it right  , taking a deep breath she asked again ......

Shehnaaz : 12 lakhs Ma ....?

Gurneet Ji: Yes puttar ....... It's......

Shehnaaz : How ...... how'll we get so much money ......?

She didn't know what to expect anymore ....... Her throat started to dry up within the next second , she felt as if she might fall down with these wobbly legs of her .......

Gurneet Ji : Puttar ........ your father......

Shehnaaz : I'll..... I'll get the money Ma ...... How .... How much time do I have.....?

Gurneet Ji : Two days ......

Shehnaaz : Oh.....

She declined the call and pressed the phone on her chest ...... Shehnaaz was speechless with the thought of gathering so much money within the span of only two days ......

Tears started to pool in her eyes thinking that she might not be successful in saving her father this time , she didn't have any jewellery that she could sell,  she was helpless .......

Shaking her head thinking that she needs to do something and that too very fast ....... She wiped away the shredded tears and opened the glass door to enter inside the restaurant once again. ........

Taking few strides towards the reserved table she stood inftont of it .....

"Done with your call .....? " the woman snickered.......

" I'm sorry ma'am  " she replied ......

Taking her seat she saw the dishes infront of her and turned to face her boss ......

" Sir ....... can I please go ...... there's a family emergency I need to attend " Shehnaaz muttered ......

" No ..... you can't just back away from your commitments ...... " Mr Patel said begrudgingly....

" Sir ..... I need to go to the office and talk to the HR department  " ..... Shehnaaz tried to explain. ......

" When your employer says no .... that means No...... young lady ...... " Mr Patel quoted ......

" Please sir ..... my father....... " shehnaaz whishpered.....

" Not again ......don't act like a hoŕny bìtch " He ignored after that
.......

She knew that she should have left from the premises after that but she desperately needs the job ...... She needs to have the the money when she has to repay the amount .......

Lowering her head while swallowing up her pride she sat there looking at the plate of pasta infront of her ...... She wanted to talk to her mother,  her siblings inorder to know about her father's condition but she didn't have a option.....

Looking at the plate of creamy pasta she felt her stomach churn , it wasn't her dislike towards the white creamy mess but the pressure along with the nervousness was making her feel sick to her stomach .......

Her mind wandered to the point what if she isn't able to gather the amount within this time........? What will her family do in that case .....? Her father might leave them forever...... Her siblings...... What will happen to them ......?

She sat there while the memories of her childhood days resurfaced in her mind .... She was reminded again and again of the time when she used to go to the school on her father's cycle , she remembered how her father had attached a small seat for her on his cycle so that she could be comfortable.......

She remembered the days when she used to come back from the school crying her eyes out because someone from her classmates had called her fat ........ Her mind filled with the memories when she used to be sad because of being called an elephant by her peers and her father would offer her those small orange candy to make her smile .........

She didn't want to loose that person who had fought with her overprotective mother to send her to an unknown place just because she wanted to make her dream come true
........ She remembered how her father used to tease her calling her advocate Sandhu all the time .........

Shehnaaz didn't know how to stop that aching heart , she wanted to cry....., she wanted to scream but at that moment she could only sit there while playing with the food infront of her .........

" You could have said so if you weren't hungry "  the woman scoffed ....... 

Hearing the words leaving from the mouth of the middle aged lady sitting opposite to her she raised her head and gifted her with a tight liked smile ..........

" I wasn't even there when you ordered the food ma'am ..... " shehnaaz retorted ......

" So now you are going to waste it ......? " the woman asked ...... 

Looking at the curious eyes looking at her , she raised her hand and signaled one of the waiters ........

" I'm sorry if I'm over stepping my boundaries not knowing the rules of this restaurant but can you please pack this plate of pasta in a to go container  .....? " shehnaaz said looking at the man appologetically.......

" Sure ma'am..... that's not a problem  " the man replied ......

He picked up the plate and took it towards the opposite side of where they were currently seated when she turned her gaze towards the lady .........

" Well..... I didn't waste the money ...... " Shehnaaz explained ......

" That's so tachy....... " She muttered......

" Well I'm good with that ...... I guess " shehnaaz replied to her comment ......

Feeling too brittle at that point of time , Shehnaaz didn't want to continue with the verbal fight and looked towards her boss ..... Although she knew that her boss was disappointed in her while turning her head towards him she wasn't expecting him to be giving her full on dagger look along with a forced smile .......

Seeing the terrifying facial expression her heart was about to jump out of the chest in an instant  , feeling that she had actually overdone this whole thing Shehnaaz lowered her head and looked at her lap .......

Both Mr Patel and Shehnaaz waited till the couple were in there car and drove away......

Shehnaaz thinking that this was the only opportunity to ask for a leave from her boss she turned herself to look at him and speak when suddenly......

" Have you gone mad !...... " he grumbled.....

" I uh ..... " said shehnaaz .......

" You are risking both our jobs girl ! "  he cried .....

" I did mean to ..... " She tried to reason ......

" Yet you did ...... " he huffed.....

" Well keeping that aside I need to take a leave tomorrow....... " Shehnaaz declared......

" What ...! Are you serious ....? " Mr Patel inquired......

" Yeah ..... I'm  ...... I need to do so much and need the time after all it's my father that's going to be operated not yours ........" Shehnaaz replied......

" You area dumbhead ... .. " he commented ......

" I think I'm happy with that compliment if loving ones parents are dumb for you .......Sirr..... " She retorted before getting inside the cab she had already booked .......

…

…

…

On one hand Shehnaaz was pretty upset seeing the situation she was in , while somewhere on the otherside of the city Sidharth was lost in the thoughts of the girl he saw in his restaurant today ....... He didn't know why but something in him wanted to know her , he wanted to talk to her so bad .......

Leaving a disappointed sigh he leaned his head on the backrest of his office chair when his mind reminded him something ........

Although his heart wasn't ready to give up on the concept of love from his life just yet , his mind made him remember of his past again an again .......

Sidharth closed his eyes and memories started to play infront of him ....... Anuradha ..... He was reminded of the dates they had gone to , the places they had visited ......

Although he knew he should move on from that woman but how can he forget her when he sees her almost everyday ...... All those TV shows she works in , those advertisements , banners would never let him move on in real life ......

He can act all he wants but inside he knew how lonely he felt , how hurt he was when she betrayed him ....... Four years , four consecutive years have passed after the day he saw her for the last time infront of him .......

He worked,  he had really worked hard in these years to make sure he proves that he isn't what she had actually thought him to be ......... He isn't worthless ........

As a particular drop of tear ran down his face he was again reminded of the happy days when he used to spend so much time with her , all those all phone calls , he was mad for her .......

He remembered how his elder brother used to tease him by calling him a lovesick puppy ....... Well in the last four years that puppy has grown up ......... He has become a killer .......

Wiping away the tears that had escaped one after the another , he got up from his seat and walked towards the glass wall ........

He could see the twinkling light of the city , the heavy traffic in the roads near the buldings of the office area ,  the boats docked at the terminal waiting for the passengers willing to cross the Sabarmati river in it .......

In the stillness of the dark velvety night sky , he could find a number of starts shining their lights like some scattered diamonds........ He felt that although his mind was really concerned about the positive aspects of his life , he could not throw away his heart that was willing to try once again  .......

Assuring himself and his heart that may be , just may be when he meets the right person  ,the love of his life , the perfect girl with whom he could actually imagine his future  he would surely try , try to mend his broken heart........

With a soul full of confidence in his future plannings , Sidharth turned around and moved towards the door just after picking up his coat .......

He reached the parking lot and strided towards his car and took a breath  ....... Ignoring all the employees looking at him from the opposite sides he looked at his driver who was standing there with the back door open ........

" Nah ...... I'm driving back home " he said to his driver .......

" Are you sure sir ......? It's already quite late and you must be tired ....... " his driver said with concern laced in his voice .......

" I'm okay ..... don't worry ...... " with a playfully smirk on his face Sidharth replied to him before taking away the keys and jogging towards the driver's seat. .......

" Go back home Chandan , Good night  ! " he shouted from the other side ......

" Yes sir ....... " his driver Chandan replied . .....

Sidharth got inside the car and kept the coat aside before inserting the key and turning to roar the engine before buckling up his seat belt.......

" Woah ! ...... damn after a long time " he exclaimed ..........

Pressing his foot on the accelerator , he zoomed past the onlookers before driving towards his penthouse ........

Opening the door he looked at the pitch black room with frequent reflections of the lights from the outside on the ceiling,  he stepped inside and switched on the lights before dropping his bag on the couch ........

Loneliness,  it was the only word that came to his mind when once again his heart made him remember those beautiful almond shaped eyes and mesmerizing smiling adorning face ........

" No ...... I ain't doing that same mistake again and again " he whishpered to himself .......

Sidharth walked towards the kitchen and picked up a glass , filling it with some water he took a sip before turning to leave the place when his eyes fell on the sticky note stuck to the fridge ........

Sidharth Dada...... I have to go home early today ....... I have made the dinner and kept it on the dining table......Please have it and take care of yourself .....

Chandni ~

Shaking his head , Sidharth kept the glass aside and went towards his bedroom ......

Taking a shower he wrapped a towel around his waist and picked up another to Wipe his hair ....... He entered inside his walk in closet and stood infront of his neatly arranged wardrobe before picking up a sweatpants and wearing it ......

Throwing the towels inside the laundry basket he stood infront of the vanity mirror and looked at his reflection when suddenly he was once again reminded how beautiful the girl looked in a simple pink suit ........ Her eyes , her nose , lips , chin everything was just perfect ........

He didn't know when he got too much absorbed in his own imagination because the dream broke like a pyramid of cards in the next second when he was hit by the rock of reality that he can't  trust any woman  , atleast not yet ........

Leaving a huge sigh he ran his fingers through his hair before walking out to the dining area .....

…

…

…

Shehnaaz reached her hostel after a long ride and spending an  enormous amount  on cab fare ....... She climbed the stairs to reach her shared room and opened the door with the key .......

" Finally you are back ! " her roommate exclaimed with a happy smile on her face as soon as the door opened.......

" I know ....... I'm late " Shehnaaz replied appologetically......

" That's okay ..... by the way what's there in your hand ......? " Pakhi enquired......

" Oh ..... this ..... it's just the pasta I didn't have ........ " She replied ......

"  Was the portion size larger than you could expect?  " Pakhi pried .......

" No ..... it's just that I didn't want to have it ..... " She replied honestly.......

" Then I guess I'm gonna take a bite out of it ...." Pakhi said nonchalantly......

" You can but mind that it was kept infront of me for long " Shehnaaz commented......

" That's okay " Pakhi ignored her while opening the package .......

Shehnaaz seeing her roommate happy , she picked up her  clothes and entered the washroom .......

Changing into her loose t-shirt and joggers she came outside and hung her towel in the drying rack kept in the balcony .......

" What happened  ...? " Pakhi asked .....

" I don't know pakhi ........ I feel like I'm lost ...... " Shehnaaz whined......

" Where ....? " Pakhi laughed at her own joke .....

" Though it's a good one ...... I'm serious...... " shehnaaz complained......

" I thought you are Shehnaaz Sandhu " ....... Pakhi remarked ......

" I need money ..... " Shehnaaz said .....

" We all do ..... " She seconded......

" A lot of money to be exact ...... " shehnaaz cried .... .

" What happened Naaz .....? " she pried......

" Papa's in the hospital...... " Shehnaaz sobbed......

" What ! " she shouted ......

" The doctor said his valves have stopped working " Shehnaaz explained .......

" I'm sorry ...... " Pakhi got up from her place and hugged her best friend......

" I need 12 lakhs within two days...... " Shehnaaz Said.....

" That's a lot ..... " Pakhi muttered .....

" I know ..... " Shehnaaz cried not able to control herself anymore .....

" You know what I'll call my dad ..... I'm sure that he can help " Pakhi remarked......

" No ...... I can't  ...... I can't take any more money from them ....... have you forgetting that I couldn't pay back the amount your father gave me last time till now ......? " Shehnaaz groaned ......

" Naaz .... " Pakhi tried to reason .....

" No ...... I have to do this alone ........ It's my battle and I need to fight it ....... " Shehnaaz sobbed ......

" Oh darling ....... " Pakhi hugged her tightly.......

" Please understand Naaz ..... you can pay me back later " Pakhi tried .....

" Nah ....... I'm not taking even a penny from you " Shehnaaz retorted.......

She got out of her hold and moved towards the balcony and opened Google......

She searched for the bank where she could get the fastest loan but all to her disappointment the result showered that processing takes atlest 7 days more or less .......

Sighing at her own thoughts Shehnaaz moved towards the bedroom and laid down ...... She connected the earphone to her cell and opened the caller list .......

Dialling the number she waited for a while for the other person to pickup the call .......

Phone Call 📲

Angad : Hello didi .....

Shehnaaz: Baccha .... how's everything there ...?

Angad : It's not good didi ..... it's not good .....

Shehnaaz: You're there in the hospital along with Mummy ?

Angad: Hmm....

Shehnaaz : What about Rasleen ....?

Angad : She got scared seeing papa like that so mummy send her to Kirti Kaki's place .....

Shehnaaz : That's good ......

Angad  : I'm scared......

Shehnaaz : I'm sorry baba ..... I'm sorry......

Shehnaaz : How's papa ....?

Angad: Not good didi. ...... he isn't able to breathe....... I'm scared ....

Shehnaaz : Don't be baccha ..... you are my strong Puttu right ?

Shehnaaz : You have to stay strong for mummy and Rasleen ( she said while tears ran down the side of her face )

Angad: We need so much money ......

Shehnaaz : Don't worry about that ..... I'll arrange everything .....

Angad: I wish .....I could....help......

Shehnaaz : You are helping the most baccha ..... you are taking care of our family while I'm not there.......

Angad : Didi..... what will happen if .....

Shehnaaz : No ....... Puttu ........ No .... don't think like that ....... Everything's gonna be alright .......

Shehnaaz : Where's mummy .....?

Angad : She went to talk to the doctor .....

Shehnaaz : Oh .....

Shehnaaz : Have you eaten...?

Angad : Hmm ..... I had few biscuits ......

Shehnaaz  : Good ...... you have to take care of yourself ..... 

Angad: Where will you get so much money ?

Shehnaaz : You don't have to think about that ...... I'll manage......

Angad : You know didi..... when I grow up .....

Shehnaaz : Hmm.....

Angad : I'll make a big house for the five of us .....We'll all stay there happily .....

Shehnaaz : I'll wait for that day puttu.....

Angad : I'm feeling sleepy .....

Shehnaaz: Sleep baby...... Take some rest ..... your didi will take care of everything.......

She stayed silent for the rest of the call and waited untill she could hear her mother's voice ..........She heard the shuffle indicating that her mother took away the phone from his hand and kept it aside while sitting beside him .......

Although she should have talked to the lady who was suffering the most while seeing her life partner on death bed but she couldn't...... Shehnaaz didn't know how to talk during this situation , her throat ached with the tightness she felt on her chest .......

She wanted to shout , scream just to take out the pain but all she knew is that it wasn't the time ...... She needed to stay strong if not for herself then for her family ......

She had a lot to do and a lot to manage in this short interval of time ...... Declining the call at the end she plugged the device to charge while sitting up on the bed and starting to recite Hanuman Chalisa.........

As the awe inspiring sun dance in from the horizon the city once again got it's life back ..... Shehnaaz got up from her bed and moved towards the washroom......

Splashing some water , she cleaned her face before walking towards the balcony....... Just like the every other time she prayed to the sun God just like she had seen her father do since the childhood before starting with the days work.......

She finished her daily chores and cleaned the bedroom while her roommate slept on her bed...... Finishing her breakfast with a cup of tea and a peice of toast she rushed towards the busstop to go and get the earliest bus that was possible ... ........

It was about ten minutes later when she saw the office bulding and stood up from her seat and got down from the vehicle.......

Placing her bag on the desk she picked up the files that she had received last day from her boss and started to go through them wishlist waiting for the others to reach the office premises .......

Going through a number of folders one after the another she finished her work as early as possible before handing over the files to her senior and moving towards the HR department.......

Standing infront of the managers office , she took in a deep breath and knocked on the door ......

" Come inside ...... " A voice floated from the other side of the glass door ......

" Ma'am..... I needed some help ..... " Shehnaaz said ......

" Oh what is it ...? " the woman sitting on the otherside of the desk questioned ......

" Ma'am ..... I actually needed a loan of 12 lakhs ..... " Shehnaaz answered. . .....

" Okay ..... can you please tell be your name and department you work in ? " the woman said......

" Ma'am I'm Shehnaaz Sandhu and I'm working under Advocate Patel as an intern or you can say assistant......." She said

" wait .... wait ..... did you say intern ....? " questioned the manager......

" Yes .... I did ..... " Shehnaaz replied......

" I'm sorry you can't get the loan " the manager stated .....

" Why ? " she cried......

" You are intern Shehnaaz ..... your position isn't permanent....... Our lawfirm doesn't provide any kind of loans to the interns " the woman replied truthfully......

" Why is that .....? " Shehnaaz asked once again ......

" You aren't a permanent employee..... " The manager said finally .....

" Uh .... okay ..... thank you ..... " Shehnaaz stood up from the chair ......

" Then I'll take my leave now ...... " Shehnaaz  opened the door and got out of the cabin ......

Lowering her head in disappointment Shehnaaz walked back to her desk and sat down on her chair with a thud ......

" only one way ..... I need to visit the bank .... " She murmured.......

Packing her bag she got up from her chair and moved towards the cabin of Mr Patel ......

" Sir may I come in ? " she asked while opening the door slightly.......

" You may " replied Advocate Patel......

" Sir I need to visit the bank urgently and need a leave for the rest of the day  " shehnaaz stated......

" Didn't I say that you can't get a leave today .....? " Mr Patel inquired  .......

" You did but this is urgent sir ..... " Shehnaaz replied ......

" We have lots of work to do today Shehnaaz " Mr Patel retorted......

" I'm sorry sir but I need to move ..... Bye ..... " Shehnaaz informed ......

She speed walked towards the lift and got inside .......

Reaching the front of the office she hailed a auto rickshaw and got inside......

" Bhaiya .... please take me to the nearest SBI branch " Shehnaaz requested ......

" Uh ..... okay madam ji ...." the driver replied and continued to drive .......

She took out her phone and called Pakhi .....

Phone Call 📲

Shehnaaz : Pakhi ...... I'll reach the bank within a few minutes .....

Pakhi : Okay ..... I'm standing here at the entrance waiting for you  .....

Shehnaaz : Thank you so much for the help .....

Pakhi : Mention not ...... Well what did the HR say .....?

Shehnaaz : She rejected ...... I can't get it ......

Pakhi : Well let's do this ..... I'm sure we'll get the money here ......

Shehnaaz : I hope you are right Pakhi .....

Ending the call she sat there inside the auto-rickshaw for a while before it stopped at the entrance of the bank ..... 

" How much do I owe you bhaiya ...? " Shehnaaz asked ......

" 25 Rs Madam ..... " The driver said ......

Handing over the money she moved inside the bulding .......

" Shehnaaz here ! " Pakhi hollered.....

" Coming baba ..... " She replied .....

She walked to her and stood infront ......

" I have already taken an appointment of the bank manager " Pakhi said .....

" That's good..... " Shehnaaz muttered.....

They sat down in the waiting area for a while before they were called in .....

" Hello here madam  , how can I help you ? " the manager asked

" Uh ..... sir I needed a personal loan " Shehnaaz mentioned......

" Okay,  can you tell me about the amount .... ? " he said

" Yes ..... it's 14 lakhs " Shehnaaz replied

" Sir when do you think the loan will be sanctioned ? " she asked .....

" The earliest it can be is within 5 days ...... " he returned......

" Oh ...... can't we get the money today itself or by tomorrow...? " Shehnaaz  begged .....

" No ma'am ...... we can't the processing takes long " he noted

" Please sir ...... can't you do this please ... I need to money urgently ....... I need it for my father's operation ...... " She prayed while joining her hands ......

" I get it ma'am but I can't do anything ....... The processing takes time ....... " " I'm sorry to disappoint you but I can't  " he declared .......

They got up from their seats and moved out of the office .......

" I don't know what to do ...... " Shehnaaz cried ......

" I think I should call Dhruv ...... He can help us ...... " Pakhi said ......

" What are you gonna tell him ? " she whimpered.......

" I think he can help us with the money "" So I'm asking him for that "Pakhi remarked.....

" No ....  I'm not taking money from your boyfriend....... " Shehnaaz retorted......

" We don't have any other way ...... " Pakhi snorted ......

" We need to find out ....." Shehnaaz cried .....

" You ain't gonna take my help , the office can't help you neither can the bank then ... ? " Pakhi yelled ......

" I ..... " Shehnaaz tried to answer but stopped .....

" You know that this isn't the time to show how independent you are Shehnaaz...... " Pakhi hollered.....

" Pakhi ....." She tried to stop her .....

" I'm calling my dad..... thats it ..... " Pakhi declared ....

She took her phone and moved to the side while talking to her father .....

Shehnaaz sat there on one of the chairs waiting for her .......

She didn't know what she could do , her hands started to sweat thinking that she has failed and the only hope might be Pakhi as of now ...... She sat there silently when Pakhi came back with a sad face .....

" What happened ? " Shehnaaz asked ....

" He can't...... I'm sorry , he is already in debt and ..... " Pakhi said with a sad smile ......

" Don't.... let's go back ..... " Shehnaaz replied ......

They came out of the bank when something struck in her mind .......

" I think I know what to do " Shehnaaz muttered.......

" What ? " Pakhi asked ......

" The contract " Shehnaaz explained.....

" You know that it can destroy your life ....... " Pakhi tried to reason .....

" That's the only way ...... " She replied......

Taking the phone out she found the number and dialled it .....

Phone Call 📲

Person : Hello .....

Shehnaaz: I saw the contact.....

Person : Okay .....

Shehnaaz : Can I apply for the post ......

Person : You can .....

Shehnaaz  : When is the interview ?

Person : I think you can meet him today itself .....

Shehnaaz : Okay.....

Person : 2 pm ..... I'll send you the address .....

______________________________________________

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