Kuch Toh Hai (Completed)

Chapter 11: Dosti Ka Haath

Seeing him hesitating this much, Shehnaaz smiled and said, "Even I love lilies. Mujhe bohut pasand aaya."

Sidharth didn't say anything and just smiled. He continued driving.

After sometime, Shehnaaz noticed that he was going to another route.

"Sidharth hum kaha jaa rahe hai? Ghar ka raasta toh uss taraf hai." She said.

"Hum aaj bahar khana khayenge. I hope tumhe iss se koi problem nahi hai." Said Sidharth.

Shehnaaz understood that he was doing this to celebrate their one month wedding anniversary. Yes, it was being little awkward for him which Shehnaaz knew. But still he was doing everything for her happiness which made her feel special.

"Ok. No problem." She replied smiling.

Soon they reached the restaurant. They sat at a table and ordered their food.

"Tumhe paata hai Shehnaaz, yeh jagah Sana ki favourite thi. Hum aksar yaaha aaya karte the. Yaaha ke noodles toh Sana itna pasand karti thi ki puchho hi mat. Hum toh shaadi se pehle bhi kabhi kabhi yaaha aate hai. Bohut yaadein judi hai iss jagah ke saath humari." Said Sidharth and smiled looking around the restaurant.

Shehnaaz smiled sadly looking at him. From the starting, whenever she saw love in Sidharth's eyes for Sana, she felt a sharp pain in her heart as it always reminded her that her love was one-sided. But today she felt happy and proud of herself that she loved a man like Sidharth who could love someone like this even after her death. Today he was going through a lot of pain. So Shehnaaz chose to hide her own pain and let him share everything with her. Be it Sidharth and Sana's love story, she would listen everything just to make him feel good.

"Jaha tak mujhe paata hai, aap ne Sana ko iss hi restaurant mein shaadi ke liye propose kiya tha na?" She asked giving a teasing look.

Sidharth nodded in yes and said, "Haan. Sabke saamne table pe khada ho ke."

"Aur usne kya kaha tha?"

"Of course haan kaha tha. Maana thodi karti?"

"Yeh bhi hai. Accha ek baat baatao. Aap dono mein se pehle pyaar kis ko hua tha?"

"Pyaar toh hum dono ko eksaath hua tha. Par Sana ko pata ne ke liye papad maine zyada bele the. Uss shaadi mein usse impress karna mere liye ek  bohut hi difficult job ban chuka tha."

"Accha? Kya kya kiya tha aap ne?"

"Pehle toh main uska har waqt peecha karta tha. Jaha woh hoti thi waha main pohuch jaata tha. Aur phir....."

Sidharth started telling her the story while Shehnaaz kept listening showing interest. She noticed that Sana's topic always brought smile to his face and his smile meant everything to her.

"Aap ne itna kuch kiya Sana ke liye?" Asked Shehnaaz while eating.

"Pyaar mein insaan bohut kuch kar jaata hai. Tum abhi nahi samjhogi. Jis din kisi se pyaar hoga....."

Sidharth suddenly stopped after realising what he said. He looked at Shehnaaz and noticed that her expression also changed. He tried to cheer her up.

"Yeh lo, hum apna one month wedding anniversary celebrate karne aaye the, aur main phir se purani baaton ko le kar baith gaya." He said smiling forcefully.

"It's ok Sidharth." Replied Shehnaaz. "Jo baatein kar ke aap ke dil ko accha lage, aap woh hi baatein karo. Main toh hoon hi, sun ne ke liye always ready."

Sidharth just kept watching her being amazed. He could feel her pain which was hidden behind her smile. Was it easy to love someone so selflessly? To see that person madly in love with someone else? He never tried to think from her side. But now he was asking himself, what he would have done if he were at her place?

He had no answer.

He sighed and said, "Nahi. Abhi meri baari hai sun ne ki. Tum apne baare mein mujhe sab kuch baatao."

"Mere baare mein?" Asked Shehnaaz.

"Haan. Tumhari pasand, na pasand, mujhe sab kuch jaan na hai."

"Thik hai aap puchho aap ko kya jaan na."

"Umm.... Let me think.... Favourite flower?"

"Lilies." Said Shehnaaz showing the bouquet.

"Sirf mera dil rakhne ke liye." Said Sidharth. "Ab sach baatao."

Shehnaaz chuckled and said, "Ok I admit. Mujhe lilies pasand nahi hai. I love Sunflowers."

"Good. Now.... Favourite colour?"

"White."

"Favourite movie genre?"

"Thriller."

"Favourite food?"

"Chhole bhature."

They kept talking while eating. It was the first time when Sidharth took the initiative and tried to know Shehnaaz better.

After dinner...

They both were enjoying fresh air standing on a bridge. Cold air was blowing their hair.

"Are you serious? Tumhe sea beaches se zyada hill stations acche lagte hai?" Asked Sidharth with disbelief.

"Of course. Hill stations are my favourite." Replied Shehnaaz. "Aap ko pasand nahi hai?"

"Bilkool nahi." Said Sidharth. "Mujhe toh hill stations jaate hi sardi lag jaati hai. Phir trip toh enjoy kar hi nahi paata, pura time bas khas te aur cheekh te hue nikal jaata hai. Na Baba na, main toh hill stations se dur hi thik hoon."

Shehnaaz laughed seeing Sidharth's expression while Sidharth also laughed along with her.

After they both stopped laughing.

"But seriously Sidharth, aaj aap mujhe yaaha laaye, mujhse itni baatein kiyi, mujhe bohut accha laga. Aaj pehli baar aisa lag raha hai jaise hum ek hi chat ke neeche rehne wale do ajnabee nahi hai. Thank you for this." Said Shehnaaz.

Sidharth smiled and said, "Sach kahu toh aaj tumhare saath baatein kar ke mera bhi dil halka hogaya. Waise...."

He paused for a while and said, "Dekha jaaye toh aaj ke din humein ek dusre ko gift dena chahiye. Par gifts dene ki jagah kya hum ek dusre se kuch maang sakte hai?"

"Kyu nahi?" Said Shehnaaz smiling. "Kya chahiye aap ko?"

"Kya tum meri dost banogi Shehnaaz?"

Shehnaaz couldn't understand what to say. She never thought that he would ask for this.

"Ek chat ke neeche do ajnabee ban ke rehne se accha hai, hum dost ban ke rahe. Mujhe paata hai suruwaad mein maine tumhare saath bohut rudely behave kiya hai. Par kya hum past ko bhul ke, ek dusre ki taraf dosti ka haath nahi badha sakte?"

Shehnaaz suddenly forwarded her hand and said, "Badha diya. Dosti ka haath."

Sidharth smiled and shook hands with her.

"Ab meri baari. Mujhe bhi aap se kuch maang na hai." Said Shehnaaz breaking the handshake.

"Haan haan. Bindaas maango."

"Soch li jiye. Baad mein maana toh nahi karenge?"

"Nahi karunga. Pakka promise. Tum maango toh sahi."

Shehnaaz smiled and started moving closer to Sidharth making him little confused.

"Mujhe.... Aap se....."
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What will Shehnaaz ask for?

Stay tuned...

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