One look at her younger daughter-in-law and she knew something is wrong. Rita has known this girl from past 5 years and could tell when something is bothering her. Shehnaaz looked lost to her. Since morning, she tried to look happy but her eyes gives away.
"Shehnaaz beta, Where is Ayaan?" Rita asked her younger daughter-in-law who was busy in working in kitchen absentmindedly. Her trance was broken, Shehnaaz blinked and look at her mother-in-law with confusion.
"Where is Ayaan, Shehnaaz beta? And are you alright?" Rita asked her concernedly.
"I am alright, maa! And Ayaan is sleeping in room upstairs." Shehnaaz answered her in soft tone. Its been almost a day to her fight with her husband and since then they had avoided each other like plague.
For Shehnaaz, her little world crumbled down after getting to know about the reality of their relation. In initial days of her marriage Shehnaaz thought him to be another reserved, workaholic type of man who doesn't like to mingle with people much but then later she got used to his behavior but not once Shehnaaz thought, there is whole different reason behind his aloofness.
Sidharth never wanted her. Shehnaaz was forced on him. She was not his choice. And as much as this thought hurt her, it angered her as well.
Why did Sidharth play with her feelings for 3 years? Why didn't Sidharth told her about his situation earlier? It could have saved both of them from this loveless marriage and heart breaks. And what about their child? What future does Ayaan have now with a father who doesn't seems to love him or care about him?
"Maa, Can i ask you something?" Shehnaaz turned to her Rita and asked her. Rita nodded her head positively in response.
"Who was the girl Sidharth loved? And why didn't they ended up together?" Shehnaaz questioned her. Rita was shocked to hear her questions but then Rita realized, its better to tell her everything then hiding.
"Her name is Hina he loved her, in 2 months of relationship they decided to make their relationship official, they were about to get engaged but on the day of engagement, Hina met with an accident when she was coming to our place and she was in critical condition, doctors tried their best to save her but Hina slipped into coma leaving my son broken. 3 years and still there was no improvement in Hina, i couldn't see my son broken who was waiting for her to wake up." Rita told her with heavy heart. Those days were painful for her to watch her son living a like a lifeless soul.
"And then you forced him to get married to me." Shehnaaz added with a sarcastic smile. Though she love & respect Rita like her own mother, but Shehnaaz couldn't help but somewhere held her responsible for her failing marriage.
"But see, today he is happy." Rita replied to her.
"Who said he is happy?" Shehnaaz questioned her mother-in-law in painful tone. To an extent, Shehnaaz could understand Rita and her concern for her child's happiness as a mother, but still it won't change the fact that today, three lives are suffering and one of them is her little one, Ayaan, which was more painful for her to stay in this loveless marriage.
"Beta, what are you saying?" Rita held her shoulder and asked her softly.
"Maa, what we see, isn't always truth. You failed to see your son is not happy. He is not happy with me. Sidharth doesn't want me, he never did. Me & Ayaan has become part of his life without his consent and i guess, it has started to suffocate him. He is always ignoring us. He married me for you." Shehnaaz revealed it to her mother-in-law who was shocked to zenith to know about the reality of her son & daughter-in-law's marriage.
"Its Ayaan's feeding time. I should go-" Shehnaaz muttered and walked out of the kitchen.
"I need to talk to Sid" Rita thought to herself. She needs to talk to Sidharth and mend the things before they take ugly turn.
At night Sidharth returned back home from office. He was going toward his room when his brother, Rohan called him out. He stopped and turned around to face his brother and his wife, Tejashree.
"Yes, Rohan." He walked toward them.
"Hina has woke up from coma and she wants to meet you." Tejashrew told him. Tejashree is her sister and the girl Sidharth loved or may be still do, Tejashree doesn't have any idea about that.
But she doesn't know that, after 6 years her sister has woken up from coma and wants to meet the guy she loves since nobody has told her about Sid's marriage, they couldn't risk her life.
Sidharth gave a small nod to them in response. He was confused, where his life was leading him, he has no idea.
"Sidharth, i know its difficult for you but please, hope you understand that Hina is in delicate state. She thinks you are still hers and we can't risk to tell her about your marriage, it can harm her." Tejashree told him in soft tone, hoping he would understand what she was saying.
"I understand, Tejashree. And don't worry, i will not tell her about my marriage." Sidharth gave an assuring look to her. He turned around and walked away from there.
Sidharth closed the door of his room as he entered inside the dark room. He threw his brief case on the couch along with his blazer. He moved to washroom to freshen up.
After changing into pair of track pants and a tee, Sidharth stepped out of the washroom and walked over the bed, where his wife and son were sleeping. His son was snuggled up in protective embrace of his mother which made him smile slightly.
Sidharth lay down on his side of the bed and turned to face them. His gaze lingered on his wife who was asleep but he could see trace of restlessness on her face even in her sleep.
Their last night argument was last straw to their strained relationship. It has always been Shehnaaz who tried to reach him to make their relation work and when she seems have given up on him, he couldn't help but feel void in his heart.
