Forever Yours

Chapter Twenty Eight

The next morning, Siddharth woke up tangled in his blankets, sprawled across his bed. He had a T-shirt clutched firmly against his chest and a frown etched across his face. He sighed tiredly, kicking the tangled mess of sheets off him and sat up on the bed. He glanced around the room, disinterested.  

The day had started badly. Apparently, Siddharth had gotten so used to waking up next to his little bird, that any changes in the routine felt wrong. He almost laughed, knowing that it wasn't as bad as he made it out to be. Shehnaaz was barely 2 or 3 hours away and was constantly in touch with him and the family.   

He smiled to himself. You've turned me into a lovesick teenager Shehnaaz  

He took his mobile from the bedside and scrolled through her contacts, stopping momentarily at "Naaz" and pressed the call button.  

The call was picked within seconds, as if Shehnaaz was glaring at the phone, willing it to ring and flash Siddharth's name. Maybe, she was. Who knows? 

"Uth gaya mera puttu?" Shehnaaz cooed. Siddharth felt his insides warm up at the softness of her voice.  

"Good morning little bird." Siddharth responded. "Kya kar raha hai mera baby?" 

"Aapka baby aapko kitna saara miss kar raha hai." Shehnaaz told him and although they were not on a video call, Siddharth knew the she had stretched her arms to coincide with her childish "Itna saara"  

"Mein bhi baby ko bahut miss kar raha hoon. Tu breakfast kari?" Siddharth asked gently. Shehnaaz responded positively and Siddharth smiled. 

They talked for a few minutes, Shehnaaz told him about the shoot, the people and how her team hadn't left her alone even for a second. Siddharth told her about home, how he and everyone was missing her. He also told her how he had found himself tangled in his sheets this morning and missed her, because it never happened when she was with him. 

"You know, I think I chase you in my dreams, when you're not here." He confessed and Shehnaaz laughed at the idea. "Dekh na, jab tu saamne hoti hai, toh bhi tere peeche bhaagta hoon. Nahi hoti tab bhi tere peeche!" 

"Kal ka shoot thoda late wrap hoga. Nidhi Ma'am ke ankle mein sprain aa gaya. Aaj woh shoot nahi karegi. Mein kal nahi aa paaungi waapis." Shehnaaz informed him. It came out as a surprise to Siddharth and of course he was not okay with the development,  but Shehnaaz sounded very upset about it herself. Siddharth sighed.  

"Koi nahi bacche, shoot khatam kar ke araam se aaja. Kaam hai, yeh cheezein toh hoti hi hai na. Tumhaara kahi aur commitment nahi hai na kal ya parso?" Siddharth asked softly. 

Shehnaaz denied. "Mujhe tujhe milna hai jaldi." She whined, making Siddharth smile.  

"Mujhe samjha rahi thi kal, aaj khud sad ho gayi." Siddharth chuckled softly.  

"Mazaak mat udao mera." Shehnaaz cribbed on the phone.  

"Mazaak thodi uda raha hu. Mein toh apni jaan se baat kar raha tha bas. Accha, mujhe bata.. tu theek hai na?" He asked.  

"Haan Siddharth, mein bilkul acchi hu." Shehnaaz said softly. "Aapne naashta kia?" 

"Nahi, bas utha tha abhi." 

"Maa bulaane aa jaayegi abhi, ja ke fresh ho jaao. Mein shoot pe jaake phone karti hu, okay baby?" Shehnaaz said firmly.  

Siddharth agreed.  

*** 

Siddharth stood leaning against his favorite black sedan, absently fidgeting with his fingers. Kaushal had called him a few hours back, telling him about the successful wrap of her outdoor schedule and Siddharth couldn't stop himself from driving all the way up Lonavala, just for the sake of it, so he could drive her home with himself.