We'll get through this

"Shehnaaz?" 

Siddharth looked anxious, his eyes frantically scanned the whole room for a glimpse of his "gadhi".. He tossed his car keys on the table, where it landed with a soft 'klink' and rushed inside his room. His mother was already in there, sitting with his wife who had her face buried in her mother-in-law's chest as her body shook with sobs. 

"Maa?" Siddharth walked towards the bed where the ladies were sitting and Rita Maa looked up, her eyes were glassy with tears

"Tumhe kahaa tha na nahi jaane ko. Kaha tha na Shehnaaz?" Siddharth asked sternly. Shehnaaz flinched, snuggling more into Rita Maa.

"Adith le gaya tha usse wahaan. Preet ne phone kiya tha bakaayda. Uski kya galti hai? Jab se aayi hai roye jaa rahi hai meri bacchi." Rita Maa told him, looking anxiously at him. "Tu toh mat bhadak ab uspar."

Siddharth sighed, sitting next to Shehnaaz. "Meri jaan.. tu jaanti hai na mujhse tujhe aise nahi dekha jaata." He said softly, taking her hand in his own and entwining his fingers with hers. 

It felt warm and not in a good way.

Shehnaaz came out of Rita Maa's embrace and looked at Siddharth, her eyes were red and teary, her nose slightly runny. If it were in any other circumstances, Siddharth might have already pulled her into a soul-searing kiss seeing as how adorable she looked, however now was not the time for that. 

"Kya hua tha, bata mujhe." Siddharth asked, cupping her face. 

Shehnaaz pressed her lips, a soft sniff escaped her lips. "Bhabhi ne.. phone kiya tha. God-Bharai ke function ke liye.."

**

Shehnaaz had a huge, beaming smile plastered on her face as she came out of her car. Adith and Prateek took out a few presents from the boot of the car and smiled, telling Shehnaaz to lead the way. 

Shehnaaz entered the Mansion and her smile somehow widened even more. This was the first time that Shehnaaz was visiting her family after her marriage with Siddharth, and that too at such a joyous occasion. Her happiness knew no bounds, as Preet, her Sister-in-Law told her about the good news a few months ago and today, when she received an invitation for the baby shower, she felt like the happiest person in the world. 

Shehnaaz entered the house with her staff in tow. The house was decorated immaculately. There were Blue and Pink balloons everywhere. She saw her brother and smiled. 

Oh, how she had missed him. 

Shehnaaz was about to call out to him when an idea struck her. She tiptoed down the hallway and towards her brother, telling Adith to keep the presents on the table and grinned before covering his eyes with her soft little hands. 

"Pehchaano kaun?" 

Her brother stiffened at her touch, "K-kaun?"

"Aap ko pehchan-na hai veer-ji." 

Whatever Shehnaaz was expecting, was nowhere near the reality. Apparently, her brother guessed who it could be and jerked her away, causing her to trip. Shehnaaz's team jumped instinctively to her aid and prevented her from falling as her brother turned to face her. Looking enraged. 

**

Siddharth wiped her tears. "Bas mera baccha.. sab sahi ho jaayega." Siddharth whispered to her soothingly. 

Shehnaaz shook her head, her eyes were drooping. Siddharth rubbed her back. "Baby.. Sh.. Shehnaaz"

"Meri kya galati hai Siddharth?" She asked weakly. 

Siddharth felt a pang in his heart. "Koi galati nahi hai meri jaan. Tu meri strong baby hai na dekh.." 

Galati toh meri hai.. mujhe teri life mein aana hi nahi chahiye tha.

Shehnaaz fell unconscious in his arms and Siddharth's heart stopped for a second. 

"Shehnaaz.." 

"Shehnaaz.." 

Siddharth patted her cheeks, trying to wake her up but he pulled away as soon as he felt her skin. 

She was burning up. 

"Doctor.." He mumbled, fishing out his phone and dialing the number of their family physician asking them to come home at the earliest. 

Siddharth was fidgeting with his phone while Shehnaaz was getting treated in their room. His heartbeat was out of control and his hands shook.

This was all his fault. 

Her brother didn't approve of her career choices, he was not in favor of her acting or modelling career from the beginning but Shehnaaz was a rebel. Eventually, he started coming around but then.. she fell in love. With him. Actor/Model/Industrialist. 

Siddharth smiled ruefully. 

She chose him. She chose love over family when she was given a choice to make a decision. Either she could abandon everything she had worked for, for years, her career, her identity, him. Or she could walk away from her family. 

The choice was clear. Her brother was being unreasonable and Siddharth agreed with her. 

At what cost..

Siddharth groaned, sobs threatened to overwhelm him. This was all.. his fault. 

Except it wasn't. She had chosen her happiness over her brother's anger. She had made the right choice.

Siddharth's phone buzzed to life. Preet..

He took the call. 

"Shehnaaz theek hai na?" Preet asked anxiously

"Kyon pooch rahi ho Preet? Why do you want to know?" He asked curtly.

"Siddharth.. I.."

"No don't. You know nothing. If you did.. agar tumhe pata hota toh tum kabhi nahi bulaati usse wahaan." Siddharth roared into the phone. "Woh theek thi.. hum theek the Preet and you.. you messed it all up!"

"I'm sorry Siddharth. Mujhe laga tha aaj atleast shagun ke mauke pe Shehzaan tamaasha nahi kareinge." Preet explained in a low voice. 

Siddharth sighed. "Shehnaaz ki kya galati hai Preet? Woh toh khushi baatne aayi thi na. Duaayein hi kar rahi hogi ab bhi uss nanhi si jaan ke liye woh. Apni haalat uski kaisi bhi ho, apne veer-ji ki khushi aur tum logon ki salaamati ki dua hamesha uske hothon pe rahi hai."

**

"Kya kar rahi ho yahaan?" Shehzaan asked angrily. "Kyon aayi ho?"

"Veer-ji woh preet bha--"

"Naam mat le meri biwi ka apni manhoos zubaan se. Aur koi veer nahi hoon mein tera. Meri behen uss dinn marr gayi jab usne mere upar apne uss aiyyashi waale peshe aur apne uss darubaaz aashiq ko chuna tha." He said coldly.

"Woh career hai mera Veer-ji.. kaam hai. Jaise aapka hai! Siddharth mere pati hain. Aapke jija-ji hai woh" She said fiercely. "Tameez se baat kariye uske baare mein."

"Apne kaam ko mujhse jodne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. Nikal yaahan se abhi. Meri biwi aur bacche pe mein tera saaya tak nahi padne dunga." 

"Veer-ji.."

"Shehzaan.." Preet exclaimed.

"Ander jaa Preet. Iske saamne mat aana."

"Shehzaan.." Preeti stormed out, supporting her baby bump. "Kya pagalpan hai yeh."

"Ander jaa preet. Mein nahi chaahta meri aulaad ke aas-paas bhi rahe yeh. Nazar lagti hai."

**

Preet sobbed. "Mene paala hai uss bacchi ko. Mein iss bacche se pehle uski Maa hoon. Hamaari aulad ko woh kabhi nazar laga hi nahi sakti hai. Aaj jo zillat usne sahi hai.. uske baad mein kabhi khud ko maaf nahi kar paungi."

"Rona band karo Preet.. bas. Tumhaari tabiyat bigad jaayegi aise. Abhi Shehnaaz ko fever hai. She's asleep. Baat nahi kar paayegi. Kar paati toh woh bhi yahi keh rahi hoti. Uthegi toh mein baat karwa doonga. Pareshaan mat ho. I am here." 

Siddharth could still hear Preet sobbing on the phone and he sighed. "Preet, tere ander ek aur jaan hai, uska hi soch le. Rona band kar please. Shehnaaz theek hai, tu toh jaanti hai na, kucch dinn mein bhool jaayegi sab. Humaari Naaz ka dil maila nahi hai. Woh tujhse naraaz bhi nahi hogi." 

"Yahi toh baat hai na Siddharth. Bhool jaayegi. Phir ummeed bandha legi aur Shehzaan phir tod denge. Mein kya karoon Siddharth?" 

"Kucch mat kar. Waqt sab ghaav bhar deta hai. Yeh bhi bhar jaayenge. Shehnaaz ke mann mein ab bhi kucch nahi hai.. Shehzaan ko waqt lene de. Shehnaaz se zyaada der naraaz rehna impossible hai. Shaayad mein Shehzaan ko kabhi nahi maaf kar paun for this.. madness, but he's still Shehnaaz's brother and Shehnaaz loves him."

"Siddharth.. sab theek hoga na?"

"Haan meri jaan. Yeh nanha mehmaan shaayad apne papa ko thodi si akal de de."

"Let's hope for the best."

Siddharth responded affirmatively. "We'll get through this Preet. I promise you that. Chal ab senti hona band kar aur so ja thodi der. You've had enough stress for today."

Preet agreed and hung up. Siddharth turned to enter his room where the doctor was checking her.

"Doctor sab theek hai na?" Siddharth asked.

"Stress ki wajaah se faint hui hai, bukhaar aana normal tha, body ka fight or flight response active hua. Abhi darrne ki koi baat nahi hai. I've given her an injection, kucch dinn strictly stress-free environment mein rakho. Ho sake toh ek extended weekend off le lo." The doctor suggested.

Siddharth nodded. "I'll think about it doctor. Thanks for coming."

"Anytime my boy. I'll take your leave now. God bless you both." He patted Siddharth's back before leaving.

"I'll walk you out, sir."

"It's fine. I'll manage."

Siddharth nodded.

He sat back on the bed and began to run his his fingers through her hair. "Tu khush raha kar na yaar, ro-ro ke khud ko hamesha bimaar kar leti hai." 

Shehnaaz whimpered in her sleep, shifting closer to Siddharth and clung to his arm.

Siddharth kissed her forehead, adjusting her comfortably in his arms. "I know tujhe kitna bura laga hoga. I'm sorry mera baccha mein tere saath nahi tha."

"-love you.. Sid..ar.."

"I love you too princess. I love you so much." Siddharth whispered quietly.

"I don't know if I can make this right or not, but I'll damn well try! For you." Siddharth thought to himself.

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