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Shehnaaz turned back and found Kartik smiling at her.
"Oh My God! It's so good to see you." Said Shehnaaz excitedly and hugged Kartik tightly to which he also hugged her back.
Here Sidharth didn't feel good seeing them hugging but he controlled himself.
"Aur baata. Tu Kashmir mein kya kar raha hai?" Asked Shehnaaz breaking the hug.
"Movie aa rahi hai na meri? Bas uss hi ka ek song shoot karne aaya tha Kashmir mein. Abhi kuch der pehle pack-up hua toh socha thoda idhar udhar ghum loon." Replied Kartik.
"Arrey haan. Main tu bhul hi gayi thi. Teri first debut film aa rahi hai. Finally tujhe Bollywood mein break mil hi gaya. I'm so happy for you."
"Chal woh sab chhor. Tu baata tu kya kar rahi hai?" Saying that Kartik looked at Sidharth and asked, "Honeymoon pe aayi hai kya husband ke saath?"
"Haan kuch aisa hi..... Arrey maine toh thik se introduce hi nahi karwaya."
Saying that Shehnaaz looked at Sidharth and said, "Sidharth yeh Kartik hai. Hum log bachpan mein ek hi school mein padhte the aur tab se yeh mera best best bestest friend hai."
Sidharth gave a forceful smile looking at Kartik.
"Hello Sidharth. Tum se mil ke accha laga." Said Kartik smiling.
"I wish I could say the same about you." Murmured Sidharth.
"Kya kaha tumne?" Asked Kartik.
Sidharth smiled nervously and said, "Nahi, maine kaha mujhe bhi tumse mil ke accha laga. After all tum meri wife ke best best bestest friend jo ho."
Kartik also smiled and then said to Shehnaaz, "Waise Shehnaaz tune galat kiya bohut. Shaadi ke baad Mumbai shift hogayi lekin mujhse mil ne ki ek baar bhi koshish nahi kiyi. Chalo main toh shooting wagera mein busy tha par tu toh mujhse mil sakti thi na?"
Shehnaaz hold Kartik's hands and said, "Sorry na yaar. Recently itna kuch hua, mere dimaag se hi nikal gaya."
Sidharth frowned seeing her holding his hand. He slowly pulled Shehnaaz towards himself while saying, "Thoda dur! Thoda dur!"
"Aap ko kya hua?" Asked Shehnaaz being confused.
"I mean thoda dur reh ke baat karo na. Itna.... Paas jaane ki kya zaroorat hai?"
Shehnaaz became puzzled.
"Kya yaar Sidharth! Itne saalo se toh dur hi the. 12th ke baad hum mile hi kaha? Abhi kuch din pehle school reunion hua, socha tha uss mein milenge. Lekin phir Sana ke saath hue haadse ke baare mein paata chala. Really it was unexpected."
Both Sidharth and Shehnaaz made a sad face.
"Anyway, I'm happy that itne saalon baad Kashmir mein humari phir se mulakat hui. Unfortunately main aaj raat ko hi Mumbai laut raha hoon. Warna apni best friend ke saath thoda aur time spend kar leta." Said Kartik further.
"That's so sad yaar." Said Shehnaaz. "Par koi na. If you want hum abhi....."
Sidharth knew what she was going to say so he immediately said, "Hum abhi Gangabal Lake ki taraf jaa rahe hai. Chalein Shehnaaz? Humein late ho raha hai. Kartik, see you later."
Saying that Sidharth hold Shehnaaz's hand and started leaving.
"Ek minute Sidharth!" Said Shehnaaz and Sidharth stopped. Then she turned behind and said, "Kartik tera toh pack up ho gaya hai. Phir tu bhi chal na humare saath. Maza aayega."
"Arrey honeymoon tum dono ka hai. Main kya karunga tum dono ke saath aa ke?" Said Kartik.
"Exactly!" Said Sidharth. "Khamkha bore ho jaayega bechara."
"Par Shehnaaz tu itna force kar rahi hai toh main chalta hoon. No problem."
Saying that Kartik joined them to which Shehnaaz smiled happily and Sidharth made an angry face.
Soon three of them reached the Gangabal lake.
They sat on a rock and started talking. As Shehnaaz met Kartik after a long time, she was giving her full attention on Kartik which was not being liked by Sidharth. He was feeling jealous but was not being able to express it as well.
"Paata hai Sidharth, main na humesha Kartik se kehti thi ki tu ek din bohut bada hero banega. Teri shakal hi hai ek dam hero wali." Said Shehnaaz making Kartik chuckle.
Sidharth once again smiled forcefully but from inside he was burning in jealousy.
"Shehnaaz andhi hai kya? Kaha se yeh chomu hero jaisa dikhta hai? Arrey iss se acchi shakal toh meri hai. Agar main Bollywood mein kadam rakhta na, iske jaise actors ko koi bhaav tak nahi deta. Huh!" Thought Sidharth.
"Waise Shehnaaz, ek baat hai. Tune na mera dil tod diya. Shaadi karne ki itni kya zaldi thi? Thoda wait kar leti. Main toh aa hi raha tha tere ghar rishta le ke." Said Kartik making a sad face.
"Kya matlab?" Asked Sidharth frowning immediately. His face became serious hearing Kartik's words.
Shehnaaz rolled her eyes and said, "Sidharth I forgot to tell you. Kartik ko har waqt mazak karne ki bohut ghatiya adat hai. Sach mein tu ahi tak sudhra."
Saying that Shehnaaz gave a slight punch on Kartik's shoulder while he smiled sadly staring at Shehnaaz.
But Sidharth understood everything seeing Kartik's eyes. He was a guy after all. The way he was staring at Shehnaaz, it was obvious that he had feelings for Shehnaaz.
"Oh God! Yeh ladka toh pyaar karta hai Shehnaaz se. Mujhe pehle se hi shak tha iss pe. Aur yeh Shehnaaz bhi na! Iss ko dusre ke intentions samajh mein nahi aate. Nahi, mujhe Kartik se akele mein baat karni hogi." Said Sidharth in his mind.
Then he said, "Shehnaaz! Tum yaaha pe vlog nahi banaogi? Itni acchi jagah hai."
"Arrey haan. Yaad dilane ke liye thank you. Aap Kartik ke saath yaaha baithiye, main uss taraf jaa ke vlog bana ke aati hoon." Said Shehnaaz and left from there with her phone.
As soon as she left, Sidharth looked at Kartik angrily and asked, "Tum pyaar karte ho na Shehnaaz se?"
"What?" Asked Kartik being nervous.
"Don't try to act innocent, okay? Shehnaaz bholi hai isliye samajh nahi rahi. Par main sab kuch acche se samajh raha hoon. Listen, she is married now. Isliye usse le kar apne dimaag mein jo bhi aisa waisa khayal hai woh nikaal do. She will never leave me for you."
"Dude relax! I know she is married. Aur woh kyu tumhe chhoregi? Dekh kar hi paata chal raha hai you both are happily married. Main chah kar bhi tum dono ke beech mein nahi aa sakta."
Sidharth's face turned pale hearing 'Happily married'. The truth was they were not happily. After this Kashmir trip they would give divorce to each other and part ways. It was the harsh reality. Then why Kartik's likeness for Shehnaaz was bothering Sidharth this much?
Sidharth tried to find an answer but failed.
"Aur tum yeh jaan na chahte ho na ki main Shehnaaz se pyaar karta hoon yaa nahi?" Asked Kartik further breaking Sidharth's thoughts. "The answer is yes. Main Sana aur Shehnaaz dono ko hi bachpan se jaanta hoon. Par Shehnaaz ke saath meri dosti humesha se hi zyada rahi hai. Mujhe accha lagta tha uske saath waqt bitana. Uska yeh bachpana, uski yeh pyaari si hasi, baat baat pe rona mujhe yeh sab accha lagta tha. Aur sabse zyada accha lagta tha uska yeh dil, jo bilkool saaf hai. Woh bakiyon ki tarah nahi thi, sabse alag, sabse pyaari."
When Kartik was saying all this, Sidharth kept looking at Shehnaaz who was playing with water while making her vlog. A beautiful smile formed on his face. It was right that she was different from everyone. She was so innocent and pure-hearted that anybody could easily fall for her.
Kartik continued speaking.
"Aur phir ekdin ehsaas hua ki main Shehnaaz se pyaar karta hoon. Par apne dil ki baat kehne ki himmat nahi hui kabhi. Main Mumbai chala aaya apna actor ban ne ka dream pura karne. Socha ek baar carrier set ho jaaye, phir Shehnaaz ko propose karunga. Then mujhe paata chala ki uski shaadi tumse ho gayi. Main thoda shocked tha kyu ki tum Sana ke husband the. Phir socha kya paata koi majboori rahi hogi tum dono ki. But abhi yeh dekh ke accha laga ki tum eksaath khush ho. I always wanted Shehnaaz to be happy. Mujhe iss se zyada aur kuch nahi chahiye."
Sidharth realised that Kartik's love for Shehnaaz was genuine. He thought for sometime and then asked, "Kartik ek baat pucchu? Suppose aage jaa ke agar hum saath na rahe.....I mean just imagine Shehnaaz ki life mein main yaa koi aur nahi raha, toh tum kya karoge?"
Kartik smiled and replied, "Toh main usse dobara jaane nahi dunga."
Sidharth smiled sadly hearing that. He thought that Kartik was the guy who truly deserved Shehnaaz not him who always made her cry. Kartik could give her that love and happiness which he himself never gave. Maybe Kartik was the right choice for Shehnaaz, not him.
"You guys also join na! Main kab se akele vlog bana rahi hoon." Said Shehnaaz coming to them.
Sidharth thought something and said, "Shehnaaz, I'm really not feeling well. I think I should return to our homestay."
"Aisi baat hai? Thik hai phir hum homestay wapas chalte hai." Said Shehnaaz.
"Arrey tum kaha jaa rahi ho? Meri tabiyat kharab hai. Tum ghumo na acche se."
"Aap ke bina main akele kya karungi?"
"Kartik is there nah? He will accompany you. Aur ghumne ke baad tum Kartik ke saath homestay wapas aa jaana. Kyu Kartik?"
"Yeah...of course... I will drop you." Said Kartik being little confused seeing the change in Sidharth's behaviour.
"Ok as you say. Sidharth aap dhyan se jaana." Said Shehnaaz to which Sidharth nodded.
Then she looked at Kartik and said, "Chal hum waha jaa ke vlog shoot karte hai. Aur haan, tu mere vlog mein apne upcoming movie ki promotion bhi kar le."
Kartik smiled and said, "Good idea. Let's go."
They both left from there and stood near the lake. Sidharth sighed and was about to leave but then something stopped him. He turned and again looked at them.
They were laughing while making the vlog. But Sidharth felt a sharp pain in his heart. It was true that she deserved much better than him. But now she became his habit. Would he be able to see her with anyone else? Would he be able to let her go? Would he be able live without her?
The answer was no. And it was the moment when he realised how much he needed her in his life.
Sidharth didn't delay anymore and went towards them.
Seeing Sidharth, Shehnaaz asked, "Aap toh wapas jaane wale the na?"
"Jaane wala tha. Par ab nahi. Jab aaye saath hai toh wapas bhi saath hi jaayenge." Said Sidharth making Shehnaaz happy.
Kartik smiled seeing them.
At Night...
Sidharth and Shehnaaz returned the homestay.
"Aaj toh bohut maza aaya, hai na Sidharth?" Asked Shehnaaz entering the room to which Sidharth just hummed.
"Chaliye abhi so jaate hai. Kal humein Dal Lake bhi jaana hai. Maine toh soch liya hai, waha jaa ke hum pehle Shikara ride karenge aur phir....."
Before she could finish, Sidharth said, "Shehnaaz! I have something for you. Pehle mauka nahi mila but now I really want to give it to you."
"Kya?" Asked Shehnaaz.
Sidharth took out the scarf from the bag and showed it to Shehnaaz. She gave a huge smile seeing the scarf.
"Yeh aap ne kharida?" Asked Shehnaaz taking the scarf. "Kya zaroorat thi itna mehenga scarf kharid ne ki?"
"Bas meri Biwi ko pasand tha toh maine kharid liya." Said Sidharth making Shehnaaz smile.
"Aap bhi na!"
Shehnaaz started seeing the scarf happily while Sidharth thought something and took the scarf from her hand.
Then he wrapped the scarf around her neck, pulled her closer and kept staring at her for a long time.
"Looking beautiful." He said finally while making Shehnaaz little nervous with his intense gaze.
"Main.... Main yeh scarf..... rakh ke aati hoon."
Saying that Shehnaaz tried to leave but Sidharth grabbed her waist and again pulled her closer. His eyes were traveling her whole face which made her heartbeat faster.
Soon he lost his control and his emotions overpowered him. He closed his eyes and tried to cover the distance between them.
In no time Shehnaaz felt his rough lips on her soft ones as he started kissing her slowly.
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How will Shehnaaz react after this?
Stay tuned...
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