Forever Yours

Chapter Two

Siddharth wasn't surprised. Of course his mother would choose the best for him. He knew a lot about her from the endless sessions that he had been having with his mom. He realized that at the end of their first meeting, he had left with a far greater understanding of her than he could ever gather by the means of his mother's words.  

She couldn't have been horrible, Siddharth knew at least that before he met her. After all, his mother was in love with her but he was not prepared for the way she'd affect him.  

He was not prepared for the warm feeling he'd get in his chest whenever she spoke. He was not prepared for her effortless innocence. He was not ready to be won over so damn easily by her, just now. 

When he came back home, his mother sat in the foyer waiting for him. She had the biggest of smiles on her face, her eyes screaming of her eagerness to know her son's verdict on the girl that she had chosen for him.  

Siddharth almost laughed.  

"She's great." He said softly.  

Rita Shukla squealed in excitement. "I knew it!"  

Siddharth smiled, pulling her into a hug. "I can't wait to meet her again." He confessed. "I guess I owe you a thanks for setting this up!"  

"You're most welcome." She said softly. 

Siddharth nodded, not knowing what else to say. He kissed the side of his mom's head and left for his room. 

***

Taking the first step wasn't Siddharth's style. He wasn't the kind of guy who'd text first or call another person, especially a girl, especially the one he's supposed to be getting married to in a matter of months, but today he found himself staring at his phone, restless and confused.  

He didn't know what he was going through.  

It wasn't love at first sight or anything, I mean sure he liked Shehnaaz but he was not in love with her in the first meeting itself. 

That's creepy. She's just a friend for now.  

He didn't want to sound clingy or overbearing, nor did he want to sound nonchalant about the obvious first step that they had taken in each-other's directions. He scratched the back of his neck, nervously.  

He was lost in thoughts, when someone knocked at the door of his vanity. "Who is it?" He called out, startled.  

"Jay sir and Mahhi madam hain, sir." His spot boy answered. Siddharth stood up from the sofa and unlocked the door. Jay smiled brightly at him, tugging his wife along with him. 

"Disturb toh nahi kiya?" Maahi asked softly.  

Siddharth shook his head, "Paagal hai kya? Aa jao, abhi thoda sa break hai."  

Jay strutted through the huge vanity and settled on the couch. "Coffee, tea.. anything?"  

"Tere shoot ke baad chalte hai na kaheen, Vada Pao khane ya kucch." Maahi answered, sitting beside her husband.  

Siddharth nodded, "Late hi khatam hoga aaj ka. Wrap hai, toh director zyaada kheenchna nahi chaahta." He explained. "Tum batao na, kaise yaad kiya aaj?"  

"Meri Rita aunty se baat huyi thi thodi der pehle, unhone bataya kay tu shehnaaz se mila tha. Finally!!"  Maahi exclaimed excitedly.  

Siddharth chuckled, "Yeah. We met for lunch."  

"Did you like her?" Jay asked curiously.  

"She's.. likeable. She's nice." Siddharth said casually.  

"Yeah.. she's.. she's amazing. I.. we've met her a couple times with your mom." Maahi said eagerly.  

Siddharth nodded.  

"Did Rita aunty talk to you about the time-frame of the marriage?" Maahi asked.  

"I don't want to rush into something like this, for both of us. I think mom would understand." Siddharth explained.  

"Yeah. You deserve at least a few meetings, before you get married." Jay agreed with him. "For what it is worth, Shehnaaz would like that just as much as you."  

"I guess." Siddharth sighed.  

"Acchi hai woh. I know tu nervous hai, hona bhi chahiye, but she'll handle this. Bas dono ek dusre ko jaan parakh lo. Ek dusre ki zindagiyon ko samajhna chaalu karo. Sab apne aap smoothly hota chala jayega." Maahi assured him.

Siddharth smiled at her.  

"I sure hope so, Maahi." Siddharth said quietly.  

Before the conversation could go any further, Siddharth heard a knock on the door of his vanity.  

"Shot lag gaya shaayad."  

The couple nodded, "We'll see you in a while."  

Siddharth nodded. 

"Oye. Paanch das minute mile toh usko text kar lena. Pakka wait kar rahi hogi tera. Khush ho jayegi." Jay said with a hint of teasing in his voice. 

Siddharth looked nervous. 

"Ek baar first step tu le le, woh comfortable ho jaayegi tere saath." Maahi said softly. 

"Yaar, kabhi kiya nahi hai mene yeh sab." Siddharth sighed, helplessly. 

"I get that, Sid. Uske liye bhi pehli baar hai na, woh tujhse zyaada nervous hogi abhi. You are a bigger personality than she could ever have imagined befriending, let alone getting married to. Eventually, buddy.. in a month, two, five, twenty four months, tu pati hoga uska! One of you has to take the first step and.. she won't be able to, not just yet. She's not used to that." 

"I guess you're right." Siddharth said, after considering for a second. "Thank you."

"Any time, buddy. Chal ja, jaldi khatam kar, mujhe bhookh lagi hai." Jay said dramatically. 
Siddharth laughed. "Mery vanity ka dhyaan rakhna Maahi, jaisi chor ke jaa raha hu, vaisi hi chahiye vapis." 

"Woh toh mushkil hai, tumhaara dost poora bandar hai.. mere bass mein nahi aane waala." Maahi said teasingly. 

Jay pouted. "Tu jaa raha hai, kay dhakka dena padega?" He asked Siddharth, standing up from the couch. 

"Jaa raha hu. Chal maahi, aata hoon mein abhi. Bye!" 

***

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