Forever Yours

Chapter Seventy Nine

The next morning, Siddharth woke up from his six hour sleep with Shehnaaz in the poolside leading out through his room. Shehnaaz was snuggled into him, almost completely buried in his arms. Siddharth couldn't help the smile that formed on his lips as he carefully moved himself so as to admire the perfect start to his day up close. 

Siddharth's bride was a miracle. A beautiful, beautiful miracle. He ran his fingers through her hair, his thoughts rushing back to the previous night. 

He'd be on his toes, he thought as he absent-mindedly continued to fondle with her hair. Shehnaaz tried to cuddle closer to him, a soft moan fell out of her lips. Siddharth wrapped his arms securely around her as he took in their surroundings for the first time since waking up. They had fallen asleep on a single recliner chair, in the middle of a conversation and miraculously, with no discomfort whatsoever. 

He bent over to kiss her forehead. "Good morning, little bird." He mumbled softly. Shehnaaz smiled softly, burying her face into him.

Siddharth sighed rather loudly. "Baby.. We have to be up." He said softly.

"Dun' want to." Shehnaaz whined. "--tired."

Siddharth cooed. "Do you wanna go inside to sleep better?" He asked.

"I'm okay right here." She responded. "As long as you stop talking."

***

Siddharth rested his head on his mother's lap making her smile at him and pat his head gently. "It's been so long since I've done that."

"Zyada din nahi kar payega. Ab toh teri biwi ko saara attention dena padega tujhe." SIdharth's eldest maternal aunt, Abha said teasingly.

Rita Maa chuckled. "Yeh sab kaam already uska hai, Abha didi. Shehnaaz pehle se isko bigaad rahi hai."

Siddharth scoffed in protest. "Aapki beti sare khaandan se laad karwati hai. Agar mujhe thoda sa attention deti hai toh mein woh deserve karta hi hu." 

Preeti rolled her. "Tujhe toh bahaana chahiye."

Abha frowned. "Mujhe nahi pata tha Shehnaaz tum logo ke saath rehti hai. Rita, tumne meeting karwaaya tha na inn dono ka?" 

Rita Maa smiled. "Inki first 'date' ko toh 10 maahene ho gaye hai. Sagai bhi almost 8 maheene pehle hui thi, Siddharth aur Shehnaaz ke kaam ki wajaah itna late ho gaya, warna aapka yeh bhaanja shaayad ab tak 6 month anniversary mana raha hota." 

Abha's eyes widened. "Itna utaavla hai tu Siddharth?" 

Siddharth shrugged. "I can't even deny that."

"Besharam hai yeh." Rita Maa sighed dramatically.

"The wedding is four days away, Maa." Siddharth said dryly. "It's not exactly a secret that I'm madly in love."

"He does have a fair point." Abha said.

"Humaari building mein hi hai uska flat bhi par zyaadatar Maa ke aur Siddharth ke saath hi rehti hai. Akela chodne ka mann nahi karta usey." Preeti explained to Abha Maasi.

"Aap mile nahi na abhi usse?" Siddharth asked his maasi who shook her head. "Tabhi ab tak meri team mein ho."

"Kidhar hai vaise woh?" Rita Maa asked.

Siddharth sighed. "So rahi hai. Kal raat ko, sab paagal ho gaye the party ke baad-- sabko handle karne mein subaah ho gayi sote huye. Aaj function bhi raat ka hai toh mene disturb nahi kia." He explained.

"Tu kyon usko itna pareshaan karta hai?" Rita Maa asked sternly. 

Siddharth pouted. "Maasi.. merko na proof chahiye ki yeh log mujhe kisi mandir-wandir se utha ke nahi laaye hai. Matlab koi izzat nahi hai meri iss ghar mein!" He whined. "For the record, mene usko sabse kam pareshaan kia hai raat mein. Kushal aur Raghav ki class lo jaake."