Small Moments that counts

Shehnaaz's eyes were shining like stars, as she sat in the living area, surrounded by the ladies of the house, talking about the most mundane and unimportant things in the world. The ladies, practically smitten with the smallest of their Naaz's gestures, sat listening attentively to her.

That's how Sidharth found his family when he walked into the apartment, and all at once a soft smile bloomed on his face, his eyes wandering to settle on every occupant of the room for a few seconds as he walked closer to the ladies.

His mother noticed him first and her eyes gave a familiar twinkle of joy on seeing him. He chuckled quietly to himself as he walked over to her and placed a quick, gentle peck on her forehead. "Aaj mandali yahan kaise ikatthi hui?"

"Shehnaaz ne chole bhature banaye hain. Sabka dinner aaj yahan hai." Preeti informed him. "Tujhe bataya nahi usne?"

Sidharth scoffed playfully, "Kahan kucch batati hai yeh mujhe."

"I wanted to surprise you." Shehnaaz said innocently.

Sidharth sank into the couch, next to Shehnaaz and pulled her into himself. Shehnaaz reached for his hair and began to run her fingers through the tangled mess, making Sidharth relax contentedly in her proximity.

"Bahot dinn ho gaye, malish nahi karwayi hai tune. Haalat dekh apne baal ki.." Shehnaaz mumbled, absently.

Sidharth whined, "Aate hi shuru ho jaaya kar tu-- kameeni! Abhi tak toh bada has ke baat kar rahi thi sabse."

Shehnaaz chuckled, "Tujhe jalan ho rahi hai?"

Sidharth shook his head, rolling his eyes. "Haan haan.. aur koi kaam thodi hai mujhe."

"Us se baad mein lad lena, pehle yeh bata, tera shoot kaisa tha aaj?" Rita Maa asked, propped forward in her seat, curiously.

Sidharth shrugged, "It was okay."

The mother and son talked for a few minutes, as Sidharth launched into a more detailed explanation of his day while Shehnaaz leaned inadvertently against Sidharth.

It wasn't awkward or embarrassing to find one of them leaning against or snuggled up to the other, especially since half of the time it wasn't even intentionally done.

Sidharth had never shied from showing his affection for Shehnaaz to the world. Shehnaaz had never shied away from confessing, time and time again, how important Sidharth Shukla was to her. Even if they weren't exactly public yet, the world still knew that they were spoken for.

It was obvious, they were in love. Only a fool would say otherwise, especially after seeing for themselves how the couple looked at each-other or how they treated each-other with such careful warmth, such affection.

Shehnaaz smiled at a quip that the matriarch of the family had made, and shoved at Sidharth's shoulder playfully.

"Tu mummy se class lagwa, mein tere liye chai bana ke laati hu." Shehnaaz said softly & turned to Preeti and her mother. "Aap log piyoge Shehnaaz special chai?"

The ladies only shrugged in response before Shehnaaz rushed off to the kitchen.

***

"Teri ad shoot thi na aaj? Gayi thi studio ya chutti karli?" Sidharth asked with a raised eyebrow.

Shehnaaz rolled her eyes, "Sabko apne jaisa kaam-chor samjha hai tune?"

Sidharth gasped, "Tujhe mein kaam-chor lagta hoon moti baby?" He asked in the most adorable baby voice Shehnaaz had ever heard.

Shehnaaz cooed at him, "Mera nona baccha hai tu."

Sidharth grinned and Shehnaaz kissed his nose. "Idhar baith, champi karti hu teri fir naha lena dinner se pehle."

Sidharth obeyed without hesitation and settled between her legs as she poured oil in her palms "Aaj kal tu zyaada hi pyaar karne lag gayi hai mujhe."

Shehnaaz giggled, "Hazam nahi ho raha?"

The man in question shrugged, melting under the touch of Shehnaaz as her fingers worked wonders in relieving a slight pulsing sensation in the back of his head.

Shehnaaz was constantly blabbering, half of which Sidharth's mind was drowning out as sleepiness began to overwhelm him. Shehnaaz sighed, almost too tiny a smile formed on her lips as she felt her man slowly fall asleep, lulled by her blabbering and the soothing massage.

Half-heartedly, Shehnaaz shook him slightly. "Khaana kha ke sona. Abhi uth ja mera baccha."

Sidharth grumbled incoherently, straightening up slightly. "I was not asleep. Sab sunn raha tha mujhe."

Shehnaaz tugged at his hair softly, ensuring he wasn't getting hurt in any manner and bent over to kiss him. "Bata toh kya sun raha tha tujhe?"

Sidharth grinned sheepishly, earning another soft kiss from Shehnaaz. "Chal uth ja, shabash-- I'm going to the kitchen, sabzi ko tadka laga ke aayi tab tak tu apni work calls khatam kar aur nahake aa."

"Yes ma'am!"

Sidharth ran into his room, much like an obedient kid, leaving a fondly smiling Shehnaaz behind.

***

Sidharth had been blessed with a beautiful, strong and loving family. His sisters had practically brought him up alongside their mother. Each and every occupant in the room knew Sidharth's heart better than him.

They knew, before Sidharth had even realized the true extent of his feelings for his Naaz, that they'd soon be welcoming the girl into their family.

Sidharth had never been worried about having his family's approval, when it came to his heart. The only condition that his family would place, when it came to his relationships was his happiness and earlier it wasn't hard to take that for granted either.

Today, he sat in the middle of the room, surrounded by most of his family as the conversation flowed, laughter echoed, right next to him Shehnaaz sat with her feet plopped carelessly on his lap. He played with her toes while Shehnaaz told them a story from her childhood in beas.

For the first time in days, Sidharth stared spellbound & bewitched at the miracle that Shehnaaz was, his angel & his lightbringer. His thoughts went back to a few hours ago, when he had entered his apartment to the sounds of his favorite ladies chatting and laughing. It was not a rare sight at all, on the contrary it was a sight he was getting used to, more & more everyday.

It was a sight for sore eyes, seeing everyone he loved so happy and so beautiful, together and all at once, he fell in love with her again, seeing as how effortlessly she had carved a place for herself in all of his family's hearts.

It sounds cheesy, for it is. But when has love been governed by logic or thought? When has love adhered to a social decorum? Love binds you, and it sets you free.

***

"Ek bite aur kha le Shehnaaz, kucch nahi hota!" Sidharth said softly, forwarding a morsel of food in her direction.

Shehnaaz scrunched her nose, "Ho gaya na yaar--"

Sidharth sighed, clicking his tongue in annoyance. "Maa apni beti ko khana khilao yaar-- diet control ke chakkar me apna mann marna chaalu kar dia hai isne."

Rita Maa smiled at their exchange and nodded in Shehnaaz's direction, "Kal dono bacche zyaada gym kar lena, abhi kha le mera baccha."

Shehnaaz pouted and guided Sidharth's hand towards her mouth. Sidharth grinned.

"Tu mujhe waapis mota karna chaahta hai na?"

Sidharth nodded in agreement. "Patli Shehnaaz ko moti baby bolne mein mazaa nahi aata.. wapis se mera golu baby ban ja." He said eagerly.

"Kamm ni karna kise ne mere naal.." Shehnaaz said, scoffing and shook her head.

Sidharth clicked his tongue, "Sab kaam karenge tere saath baby, and I was joking-- mazaak kar raha hu mai. Tu jaise bhi rahe.. acchi hi lagti hai sabko."

Shehnaaz smiled at him fondly.

"Sab mujhe Sidharth Shukla ki nazar se nahi dekhte. Body image bahot important hoti hai industry me rehne ke liye." She said quietly.

Sidharth sighed softly and brushed his fingers on her cheek.

"Mera baccha.. industry mei rehne ke liye sirf efforts chahiye, jo tu har roz karti hai-- tujhse mene positivity seekhi hai. Tu jaisi hai, vaise khush rehne ka saleeka tune sikhaaya hai, sirf mujhe nahi.. poori duniya ko." Sidharth said softly. "Tujhe kisi ke liye change hone ki koi zaroorat nahi hai, samjhi gadhi?"

***

Sidharth smiled affectionately, running his fingers through her hair as Shehnaaz melted under his touch. "You look so beautiful, my love."

Shehnaaz looked up, taken by surprise at the sudden compliment. Shehnaaz wasn't extravagantly dressed, just in a pair of black shorts and a yellow off shoulder top.

It wasn't anything special, but then she never had to put in efforts to look good for Sidharth, her handsome hulk.

Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun, a few strands of her hair fell enticingly on her face. Sidharth wrapped a strand of her hair softly on his finger and tucked it behind her ear before pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Shehnaaz smiled at him. "Do you want to go for a drive?"

"Beach?" Shehnaaz's eyes all but lit up in anticipation.

Sidharth nodded. "We'll go to your favorite chinese place later and have our fill of all the junk food in the world."

"What about your strict diet?" Shehnaaz asked, surprised.

Sidharth shrugged. "Cheat day. Double workout tomorrow."

Shehnaaz grinned, wrapping her arms around him as a squeal of happiness escaped her throat.

***

Shehnaaz was sitting on the swing in the balcony, watching the sun set in the horizon. Sidharth walked out of the room holding a mug of coffee in one of his hands and a book tucked under his other arm, smiled at Shehnaaz and handed her the mug before sitting across from her on the edge of the balcony railing.

"Tu chota baccha hai kya?" She asked, chuckling softly.

Sidharth shrugged. Shehnaaz sighed and hopped off the swing, walked up to him and pulled him away from the railing, "Pata hai, jab mai bahut choti thi na, shaayad 2-3 saal ki, mai aur sab cousins saath khel rahe the, nani ke ghar pe. Saare cousins mujhse bade the.. toh sab stunts kar rahe the-- seedhi ke aas-paas kood rahe the. Mai bacchi thi tab toh mujhe laga mai bhi kar sakti hu.. mai seedhi ki railing pe chadh gayi.. aur slide ki tarah neeche utarne lag gayi seedhi se-- aadhe mein mera balance bigda aur mein seedha neeche-- sarr ke bal zameen pe." (TRUE STORY. HAPPENED TO ME. I WAS 4)

Sidharth gasped. "Tu gadhi hai bilkul..!"

Shehnaaz shrugged. Sidharth instinctively reached for her face with his fingers, his expression troubled. "Pain hua hoga na?"

"I was unconscious for two days, mujhe nahi pata chala, ab toh yaad bhi nahi hai aadha kissa, it was years-- years ago. I'm fine now." She said softly.

Sidharth nodded, "I know.."

Shehnaaz wrapped her arms around his neck and pecked his lips. "Tu tension mein sexy lagta hai, but yeh sab 25 saal pehle ho chuka, ab tension kyon le raha hai?" She asked.

Sidharth didn't respond, instead he pulled her into his arms and led them both towards the swing. "Tu mera sab kuch hai-- the thought of you being hurt is painful."

Shehnaaz smiled. "I know. I love you too."

Sidharth smiled, pressing soft, feathery kisses on her face.

***

Being a bit lazy, but I am actually honestly trying my best. Work Honestly sucks.. 

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