Hours after their engagement, SidNaaz sat in their hotel room, bursting with excitement like never before. They had been talking about everything under the big blue sky from the moment they had returned to the room after their engagement celebration had ended. Shehnaaz was sitting with her head on Siddharth's chest, admiring the engagement ring sitting proudly in her finger. Siddharth was running his fingers through her hair, happily. 

"Khush hai tu?" Siddharth asked hopefully. 

Shehnaaz nodded. "Tu yeh sab bhi kar sakta hai, I had no idea." She said softly. 

Siddharth laughed. "I can surprise you, every once in a while." He shrugged.

"Of course."

Siddharth kissed her hair gently. "I'm not.. rushing you into this right?" He asked.

Shehnaaz frowned, looking up at him. "No Siddharth. You can't imagine how much I wanted this." She said sincerely.

"You did?" Siddharth asked. 

Shehnaaz giggled at the absolutely adorable expression on his face.

"Kabhi kabhi na hum khud nahi samajh paate kay hume kisi cheez ki kitni zaroorat hai, jab tak hum woh cheez paa nahi lete. I don't know if I would have said this before today or not but right now, I can assure you that I've never been happier. Today was one of the most important days of my life and you've just added another beautiful memory to it. Thank you nahi bolna mujhe, because you're mine and apne logon ko thank you nahi bolte." Shehnaaz giggled cutely. 

Siddharth smiled, pecking her lips. "Tu itni smart kab ho gayi baby?" Siddharth asked curiously. 

"Ab mera fiance itna intelligent hai. I will have to do something to match up. Right?" Shehnaaz said teasingly. 

Siddharth sighed, pulling her more tightly into him. Shehnaaz moved her head upwards, resting on his shoulder. "Siddharth?" 

"Hmm?"

"I love you." 

"I love you too." 

"Tu officially mera ho gaya Siddharth." She exclaimed, squealing in childlike ecstasy.

Siddharth chuckled, eyes sparkling. "Haan. Officially tera ho gaya" 

"I can't believe it." Shehnaaz said softly. 

"I can't either. This is easily the best day of my life." Siddharth confessed unabashedly. 

"I'm so happy, I don't know how I'm going to hold it all in." Shehnaaz confessed innocently. 

Siddharth kissed her cheek. "I understand little star." 

Shehnaaz smiled, closing her eyes.

"Are you finally tired?" Siddharth asked. 

She tch-ed. "Mera mann kar raha hai aise baithne ka, teri lap mein." She explained, burying her face in his chest. 

Siddharth smiled knowingly and started to brush her hair gently with his fingers, humming softly under his breath. A few minutes later, Siddharth felt her breathing even out and heard her snoring softly. 

Finally the adrenaline had worn off. 

Siddharth kissed her hair gently, "Good night mera baccha." 

He carried her sleeping form to the bed and fell asleep whilst hugging her tightly. 

A few weeks later, the ladies of the Shukla family (incl. Shehnaaz) had decided to empty their respective partners' credit cards and treat themselves to a full day of retail delight. Siddharth had tagged along with the women, hoping to hold them back from completely bankrupting their husbands but right now, he was busy holding the girls' shopping bags. 

The women were busy exploring the different aisles of the clothing outlet, when Siddharth saw a beautiful indo-western outfit on one of the mannequins. 

"Shehnaaz.." He called out, Shehnaaz looked at him confused

Siddharth gestured towards the dress, "Look at that outfit." 

Preeti and Neetu whistled appreciatively. "It's beautiful, Shehnaaz tujh pe bahot accha lagega beta. Get it off the mannequin. It's your size too." Preeti said, checking the tags.

Shehnaaz looked surprised, "Di.. I-"

"Jaldi kar baby, I'm hungry!" Siddharth said persistently. 

"Sid--"

"Yes. I'm hungry too, come on. Let's bill everything and eat something." Neetu seconded her brother. 

Shehnaaz sighed, Siddharth told one of the salesmen to get their shopping billed. 

"I didn't really need that dress." Shehnaaz whispered quietly.

"C'mon baby, tujhe lagta hai baki sabko serious requirement tha? Everyone's wardrobe is filled beyond capacity." He rolled his eyes at the women, who were busy glaring at him.

Shehnaaz laughed. 

Siddharth kissed her cheek, wrapping his arms around her and led her out of the shop. The other three women followed the couple, into a nearby restaurant where they had their lunch. 

Siddharth had excused himself to go and use the washroom, leaving the ladies alone and engrossed in conversation. Mumma Shukla took shehnaaz's hand.

"It's been a couple months since you and Siddharth have been engaged and eventually you both have to be married. Dekh, koi jaldi nahi hai, koi necessity bhi nahi hai par tu bhi jaanti hai Siddharth ko, if you'll not talk to him first, he'll not even think about it. You are young and of course there's all the time in the world for you to decide about it." She said softly "It's just a technicality, a bunch of socially acceptable rituals, that everyone follows and--"

"I just can't wait to see you become my daughter in law." She confessed.

Shehnaaz smiled at the older woman, pressing her hand gently. "I can't wait to be your daughter-in-law either, Maa." 

She blushed slightly, "Jab se mein Siddharth ke saath hoon na, Maa.. mujhe woh sab kucch mila hai jo mene chaaha tha. Mera career aaj uss mukaam pe hai, jahan mein imagine bhi nahi kar sakti thi. Usne mujhe ek family di hai, pyaar dia hai aur sabse important, usne meri izzat meri apni aankhon mein har roz badhaai hai. Aise partners bahot qismat se milte hai mumma, jinki aankhon mein pyaar se pehle apne liye izzat dekhne ko mil jaaye. Usne mujhse pyaar karne se pehle meri izzat ki hai aur mein toh pehle dinn se uski.. aapki aur hamaari family ka hissa hoon. You're right mumma, shaadi ki formality sirf formality hai. Mein toh kab se uski biwi aur aapki bahu hoon." She said.

Rita Shukla blinked, cupping her face and kissed her forehead affectionately. "Of course mera baccha. Tu toh mera sabse pyaara baccha hai, meri beti." 

Shehnaaz giggled. "Maa, ek baat batau?" 

"Bol na bacche."

"Mein aur Sid kucch dinn pehle baat kar rahe the iss baare me. Mein.. shaadi ke baad aap aur Papa ke saath rehna chahti hoon." She confessed innocently. 

The three women smiled at the purity of her heart. "Arrey, yeh toh tumne mere dil ki baat kar di Shehnaaz. Siddharth toh gadha hai, mumma papa ko akela mansion mein chod ke sheher ki doosri taraf "privacy" mein rehta hai. Aakhir woh ghar bhi toh tum logon ka hi hai na." Neetu exclaimed softly. 

"Haan. Of course. Finally Siddharth found someone with a little brain." Preeti chuckled softly. 

Siddharth returned to the table. "Kya baatein ho rahi hain?"

"Teri dulhan se pooch rahe hain ki use shaadi kab karni hai. Tujhse toh baat karne ka vaise bhi koi matlab nahi hai." His mother replied. 

Siddharth rolled his eyes. "Maa, itni kya jaldi hai?" He asked.

"Koi jaldi nahi hai?" Shehnaaz asked curiously. "Matlab nahi karni mujhse shaadi?"

Siddharth looked at her bewildered. "Of course karni hai baby!"

"Accha matlab jaldi nahi karni." Shehnaaz nodded in understanding. 

"Shehnaaz.. mujhe phasaa mat baby." Siddharth whined cutely.

"Meine kya kiya? Tumne bola itni kya jaldi hai." Shehnaaz said innocently. 

Siddharth sighed, "Okay. I give up. Aage badho, kya karna hai ab?"

"Maa aap Papa se baat karo, mein shaadi-waadi ke rituals ke baare mein bahot nahi jaanti, toh jo kucch bhi karna hai aap logon ko hi.." Shehnaaz said softly. 

Mumma Shukla nodded. "Don't worry, sab sambhaal lenge hum."

***

That evening, the family had gathered in the Shukla Mansion, A priest sat across from them, going through the birth charts of Shehnaaz and Siddharth. The couple themselves were in their room because a certain Shukla couldn't keep his mouth shut as the priest worked his way through some pretty complicated calculations. 

Rita Shukla had pushed Siddharth into his room, telling him not to come out, as long as Pandit Ji was in the house. 

To no one's surprise, Siddharth had pulled his to be bride into his room, alongside him. 

Once inside the room, Shehnaaz glared at him with full force, her cheeks were red in embarrassment and now her eyes seemed to be spitting fire at the man in front of her. 

"What was that?" Shehnaaz asked, her hands on her hips, lips curved into a scowl. 

Siddharth pouted. "Pandit ji time zyaada le rahe hain na baby." He said innocently.

Shehnaaz just melted. All her anger flying out of the window at his response. 

"Hazaar cheezein dekhni hoti hai mahoorat nikalne se pehle, buddhu. Ab aap bullet train ki speed se sab kucch chaahte ho, but hamesha toh possible nahi hota na?" Shehnaaz explained patiently.

Siddharth blushed, Shehnaaz pecked her lips softly. "Tu itna cute kyon hai yaar?"

Siddharth chuckled. 

"Teri saubat ka asar hai." 

An hour later, Preeti knocked at Siddharth's door. "Aa jao  bahar, pandit ji chale gaye." She called out. 

Siddharth came out, followed by Shehnaaz and they sat on the couch where the rest of the family was already present.

Rita Shukla chuckled watching the impatient scowl on her son's face melting into a hopeful smile.

"There are two dates, One is 28 October. 2 weeks later and one is next month, 20 November. Choose kar lo, kab karni hai shaadi." She said softly. 

SidNaaz looked at each other, "28 October." They replied in unison. 

Everyone cheered. "Fir toh abhi se kaam pe lagna padega. bhabhi jo ghar laani hai." Neetu said excitedly.

Shehnaaz blushed.

28th October.

How is everyone holding up. I'm hoping everyone finds their strength. If anyone here needs to talk, please feel free to reach out.

Hope you like it.

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