Preeti rushed out of the kitchen as soon as she heard her phone ring, and as she looked at the screen was puzzled at the unknown number flashing across. She hesitated for a bit but went ahead and answered it thinking it could be vital
Info about Sidharth from the hospital. They were all on tenterhooks because he was not in front of them on television neither did they have access to him at the hospital. Truth be told till now she had always subconsciously assumed that most reality shows were not as real as they liked people to believe, but with Sidharth and his whole hospitalization the family had come to understand how strict and controlled and difficult access to Sidharth was! She quickly shook herself out of these thoughts and answered the phone "hello?" She said tentatively and was quite surprised at the calm but childlike voice of a young man answer her.
"Hello preetiji?" The voice said
"Haan preeti hee hoon. Aap kaun?" She enquired. "Jee mein Shehbaaz, sana ka....mera matlab hai Shehnaaz Gill ka chota bhai. Aapka number meko colors kay production sey mila. Hope aapko bura nahi lagga key meinay ek dum sey aap ka number liya aur phone kiya"
" hello Shehbaaz! Burah toh definitely nahi lag raha lekin ek ajeeb so excitement ho rahi hai ke jaisay mein Shehnaaz sey baat kar rahi hoon!''
All Shehbaaz could do was laugh awakwardly as response before he hesitantly continued "actually kya hai na, ghar pe mummy paapa sab ko poochna tha ki Sidharthji ki tabiyat ab Kaisi hai. Thoda voh pareshan ho gaye thay. Toh Isiliye phone kiya"
Preeti was so touched by the gesture, the warmth in this young boy's voice confirming everything about Shehnaaz that they had witnessed on the screen so far. "How sweet Shehbaaz, uncle aur aunty ko mera namastey zaroor bolna. Voh Sid abhi hospital mein hai aur sirf ek baar mummy ke saath usko baath hui hai, voh bhi production vaaley ke phone sey loudspeaker mein dal ke!" Preeti said in an exasperated show and then continued "usnay Kaha ki voh weak hai lekin game mein continue karna chahtha hai toh hum log ussay mil bhi nahi sakthay. Roz co-ordinator sey baath karti hoon aur bohot improvement hai usmey. Kal mere Jeeja ki baat bhi hui thi doctor ke saath, everything is on track!lagta hai ek do din mein chala jayega vapis bb ghar ke andar"she concluded.
"Chalo Shukhar hai ke better feel kar raha hai. Vaisay kuch to kar nahi sakta idhar lekin kuch help jaisay chahiye hi toh pls batadey na. Hazir hoon ji" he said with his usual mirth.
Preeti could not help grin widely at the absolute genuine nature in the voice that spoke to her on the phone "vaisay agar Sid Nahi gaya andar toh Shehnaaz madam ka kya hoga, pata hai aapko hamaaray family
WhatsApp group mein Jab bhi koi Sid ki updates maamgta hain na uskay saath sana ki bhi maangta hai. Ha ha ha ha. Meri beti bolti hai ki maamu nay sana ka fuse ek dum sey off kar diya. Abhi on sirf unkay jaaney ke baad hoga." Saying this Preeti laughed out and continued " Shehbaaz sachi aapkay phone sey bohot khushi hui, if you don't mind mummy sey baath karogay? She will be very happy?" She asked a little uncertain if she was crossing a line or not.
"Haanji preetiji meko bhi bohot khushi hogee pls unsay bhi baath karvaoji pls." Shehbaaz was so happy and somehow content to know that they were such sweet uncomplicated people. Not that there was anything yet between his sister and preeti' brother but just the fact that they were such good friends and talking to Sidharth's sister he felt that What Sidharth portrayed in the show had to be genuine and for that he was grateful.
Preeti in the meanwhile rushed to her mum sitting in the room and hurriedly told
Her "mummy Dekho kis ka phone aaya hai! Aapke Shehnaaz ka bhai Shehbaaz ka..."
Before preeti could continue Shehbaaz could hear on the other side "kyun voh theek hai na abhi bachi ko bhi kuch ho gaya kya?"
Rita shukla who was already tensed about the son suddenly was on alert before her sighted Preeti quickly surmised " arre nahi mummy voh Sid ka haal puchnay ke liye bulaaya hai, aur mainay hee bola ke aapse bhi baat kar lay'
Rita shukla broke into a relieved smile and excitedly took the phone "hello beta! Kaisay ho, acha kiya phone kar kay!"
Shehbaaz was moved by the concern in the lady's voice for his sisterS she deserved this love and very few people recognized that " Satsriakal auntyji mein theek hoon, app kaisay ho? Preetiji kej rahi thi kay Sidharthji ab recover ho rahain hay toh Shukar hai rabji khair Karein"
Rita Shukla felt a surge of unexpected love for this boy who was her closest connection to Shehnaaz " actually Sidharth Sid keh raha hai ki ussay game Chodna nahi hain, theek hai andar teri behen hai na voh sambhalegi, hum roz Sid ko aur usko dekhnah kay liye wait kartay hai. Bohot pyaari bachi hai!"
Shehnaaz laughed out loud his happiness and emotions were all something he could not articulate "bechaara sid shayad abhi kuch din sey theekh so raha hoga, motto sey peecha chootha finally! Voh jab bahar aayegi toh chitter padnay vallain hain him sab ko! Saarey family na jitna vote ussay de rahe hain Sidharthji ko bhi de rahe hain! Sab bas Sidharhji key fans hain!"
Rita shukla could not help but laugh along with him because that is exactly what was happening within her family as wel "arre yahaan bhi kuch aisay hee chal raha hai. Shukar hai kay iss show ke through dono milay! Bohot pyaari bachi hai, brave bhi lekin soft bhi. Hum sab milnay ke liye taras rahe hain lekin show ke baad hee. Sachi ab Sidharth jeetay ya Shehnaaz mujhay no problem! Sidharth sunayga toh vo toh khush nahi hoga phir bhi! Ha ha ha ha ha ha"
"Sahi hai auntyji jo bhi Jeetay ek hi baath hai. Main abhi rakh raha hoon, aapsay baath kar kay bohot acha laga! Bye aunty!' Saying Shehbaaz ended the sweet conversation.
Rita shukla kept looking at the floor with a very reflective smile her face. She felt like something had settled for them in the universe, like the turning over of a new leaf. And as she sighed and shook herself out of this seeming silliness, she caught her daughter's eyes, mirroring the same excitement and contentment as her and she has to ask her "tu kyu itna khush ho rahi hai preeti!"
Preeti put her arms around her mum's next and said "mamma you share first! Whatsuppppp????" And both of them dissolved into a happy chuckle and Rita shukla just sighed as said in a staid tone "pata nahi I am feeling positive and good like things are coming together but I also don't want to assume anything for Sidharth or dictate our happiness on him so fingers crossed beta and let's hope for the best hai na?"
Preeti nodded fully understanding what her mum was saying and also what she was not saying "yes mummy all I know is he has got it going good and you see even this typhoid setback will the propelling action for his good and success. Aap ka ladla is going to give us greater happiness and satisfaction! I can literally feel it in my bones" saying this they both hugged each other and went about their day.
Shehnaaz sitting locked away in the bb house would not even for a moment have imagined that outside of it somethign beautiful was brewing but she will have the weather the storm to reach there. All she knew was she was irrevocably dependent on Sidharth Shukla . She would not be bold enough to call it love but she knew that her happiness was now hopelessly connected to him and his being! She desperately hoped he was recovering well. She also knew that in the off case that he would not return to the game then her days too would be only numbered. For a brief moment she without realising peaked into the future if that would happen, a half naked attempt at reviving her reality, maybe her career will take off that she was confident of but what about Sid and her. Would he want any association with her outside the house.
Paras has returned and told her how upset he was with her, Paras never said anything about Sid missing her or him sending a message for her through him, maybe he wanted to keep their association to the game only? Then what about the many moments of intimacy and endearment, what was that? She sighed deeply, and pulled herself back to the present and schooled herself for now this was her modus operandi hope of Sid to be back, stay on track with the game and try to be as true to herself ignoring everything and everyone else.
Sidharth was asked by the co-ordinators to be ready to take part on a segment of the wkv and he was hoping to have a glimpse of the housemates. It was just so
Ironical that his big moment of realization of love would end up being like this! Literally he was hit by the lightening of realization that he had finally fallen in love with the only girl who he wanted in his life and heart, then was immediately booted to the secret room, and then from there to this hospital room.
He sighed as he asked for a mirror and some water to do somethign to fix his hair and look as presentable as someone can look from a hospital room! As he was doing that his mind kept going around in circles, just as it has the past few days. Was he too old for Shehnaaz? Did she even like him, ofcourse he knew for sure that she was attracted to him, she had deep feelings for him but he sensed a hesitancy always from her from time to time. She was always so careful to voice out tbat outwode the house she had no expectations from him. PARAS was he paras's rebound distraction for her? Will she even want to consider a future with someone so old and so uncool? He came as a package deal with the rest of his family, would she want that for herself. As crazy as it seemed to Sidharth, every time he considered a future with Shehnaaz, marriage was all he could think about but as wrong as it was the industry would be a limited space for a married girl. And her career was now going to take off phenomenally, was an he going to be a stumbling block for that? What did his sisters and mum think about her? Ugh! He was getting frustrated that the answers to all of these questions would be forthcoming only after a couple of months.
He was not going to open his heart out to her just yet. He did not trust the channel, forget the channel, he did not trust anyone really, they would use this information for leverage even outside the house. He has a very brazen attitude towards his career as an actor. While
He loved the craft, he was not after fame, he had his stable interior business, that was his true creative unleash. But Shehnaaz, she loved this industry, she loved the pulsating attention, he did not want to sabotage anything and did not want to take any risk when it came to both their lives or her career. As aggressive as people called and made him out to be, he was patient and he knew good things comes to those who wait. So he was willing to wait for Shehnaaz and allow life and destiny to work this out for them. He trusted his love for her, he trusted her honesty and love for relationships and life, he trusted both of it to meet at a point where they could make something beautiful out of this. It needed time that is for sure and none of it could start now.
Before he knew it, he was on air with Salman sir who declared him safe. He was a bit disappointed that he could not see Shehnaaz but from the glint on Salman Sir's face and his ease he knew Shehnaaz was mostly fine.
A couple of days later the docs had given him a green signal to get back to the house and strangely even instinctively he thought of the bb13 set as going back home to Shehnaaz. And a beautiful realization dawned on Sidharth that he no longer was single. That the old Sidharth did not exist any longer, he was from now on Shehnaaz's Sidharth, where she was that was home. As he allowed this thought to fill his heart and his eyes glistened out of the emotions, he heard the production assistant walk in with instructions saying he was going back to the house and he could speak to his mum before going in.
He waited as he heard the phone ring
"Mummy mein hoon Sidharth, kya chal raha bai udhar sab theek" he said voice full of emotion as he heard his mums voice answering the phone.
"We are all fine beta, you ready to get back? Thank God you are on the road to recovery. Sunn engine chalana
Bandh kar aur gussa math ho and really calm down and focus on your health, if physically you become weak, mentally also you will become weak ok?" She said firmly yet lovingly.
"Yes mummy I will look after those things. Mummy there are so many things I want to tell you ask you but can't so am just trusting that whatever I am doing is fine by you and Laurel and hardy sisters of mine!" Saying this both mum and son chuckled.
"Acha ek baat hai Shehnaaz ke brother ka call aya tha enquiring about your health, sweet boy, cultured and loving just like the sister. You get back to your game in the confidence that we are always proud of you." Rita Shukla hinted about Shehnaaz and her acceptance about the girl and desperately hoped the son would pick it up! And ofcourse he did because the next thing he said back to her is "ok one more favor pls ask Ken to also send some his and hers for the weekend if you know what I mean, preeti should be able to co-ordinate with the other t side" he quickly mumbled this as he saw the assistant busy with the paper work at the hospital. He should have been embarrassed at this odd request and he certainly was not the cheesy guy who did these antics but he knew that she would be thrilled beyond measure and for now even at the cost of looking bloody ridiculous he hoped his mum got the hint!
The assistant signalled to him that it was time to wrap up the call so in parting he said "hope you are fine mummy, sleeping well? I will see you in February I love you so much and will try to not disappoint you in anyway"
Rita shukla wished she could hug her giant of a baby so she transferred all the live she had for him into a warm voice and said "ofcourse an looking after myself Sidharth! I believe the best of your life is only yet to come and I don't want to miss out anything. Tu mera Acha bacha hai! Go confidently we are all standing by you!"
Sidharth heaved a massive sigh or relief. Talk about a silver lining. The very thing that separated him from Shehnaaz turned out to be a blessing. He was able to watch her through the secret room and confirm his feelings for her, he was able to ruminate over everything and then figure it out atleast whatever could be figured out now. He got a renewed perspective of the game and did his mum just hint at her liking Shehnaaz?
He was literally bouncing at his feet and could not wait to get back to the game, to finish it...to finish it with Shehnaaz by his side and then to have a crack at life with her. He blew out a breath of anxiety and anticipation as he re-entered the house and was led to the confession room!
Sorry sorry sorry about this late update. Life caught up with mE. Hopefully the next few chapters will be up in soon successions. Thank you.