Forever Yours

Chapter Eighty Two

The market that Ridhi had directed Siddharth and Kushal towards was not close by. The driver had spent the last fifteen minutes driving towards the market that she had taken Shehnaaz to and they were still only halfway there. Siddharth's heart was thudding violently in his chest, every minute spent like an hour. 

Kushal was sneaking glances at him every few minutes, his own heart crushing at the thought of his doll's situation. 

I should have been around her.

"Pata nahi theek bhi hogi ya nahi.." Siddharth mumbled to himself, prompting Kushal to take his hand.

"Don't worry. Hum log pahunch rahe hain na." 

Siddharth nodded with a soft sigh. "Pata nahi kya dimaag mein aaya Shehnaaz ke bhi.."

Kushal rubbed his best-friend's hand comfortingly. "Stress lena band karega. Pahunchne waale hain hum!"

The other man sighed. 

The next half of the journey was spent with Sidharth playing nervously with his fingers, trying not to have another breakdown.

Once they had reached the market, Kushal and Siddharth made their way to the shop that Ridhi had told them about. Obviously, Shehnaaz was not in that shop, almost three and a half hours later, blindly waiting. Siddharth sighed.

"Ask the owners if they know something. Shehnaaz is not exactly a commoner." Kushal suggested, seeing his best-friend's crestfallen face.

Siddharth nodded. "Let's go."

They walked to the counter of the shop to talk to the owners. The owners were starstruck to see not one, but two famous actors at their counters.

"How can we help you Sir?" 

***

Shehnaaz was sitting on the stairs leading up to the Shiv temple, curled up against herself. Siddharth ran up to her as soon as he spotted her. "Naaz!"

She looked up, eyes wide. "Siddharth..'

Siddharth pulled her into his arms, "Oh my little bird. I love you so much." Shehnaaz hugged him back, her face buried in his chest. "You're here."

"Of course I am here." Siddharth whispered softly. "Are you okay, little bird? Tu theek hai na meri jaan?"

Shehnaaz shook her head. "She left me here. I didn't know what to do." She said quietly. 

Siddharth pulled away from her and held her face between his palms, placing soft feathery kisses on the whole of her face, tears began to spill down her cheeks. "I love you. Mai darr gayi thi.. Mujhe bahut darr.. kucch samajh nahi aa raha tha Sidharth. Mujhe.." 

Siddharth nodded. "I know.. I know sweetheart.." He hushed her gently. "Hum aa gaye na. Kucch nahi hua."

"What were you doing here?" Kushal asked softly. 

Shehnaaz sighed, "Ridhi ne bola ki kal ki rasam ke liye naya outfit chahiye. Meine usko bataaya tha ki Ken ne koi extra outfit rakhwaaya hoga lekin usne insist kia kay humein market jaana padega. She said she had told Raj bhai and didn't even let me inform you. Idhar aakey.. woh mujhe outfits try karne ke liye bhejne lagi. I don't know when she left. She didn't even tell me." She explained. "I tried to call one of you.. but mere phone mein networks nahi aa rahe the. I didn't know what to do."

Siddharth wiped her tears from her face and pecked her lips. "It's okay.. We're here now."

Shehnaaz nodded.