Forever Yours

Chapter Fifty

"Mami.." Samyukta gasped, seeing Shehnaaz entering the apartment supported by her father. Aarav looked at his daughter surprised.

"What-- are you doing here?"

Samyukta looked at him, then at Shehnaaz and then back at her father.

"Papa.. chot kaise lagi maami ko?" Samyukta asked worriedly. Aarav patted her head gently. "Kucch nahi.. bacche, tu ghar jaa. Maama ander hai na?"

Samyukta nodded. "Maamu, mausa-ji.. kushal bhaiyya sab.. But--"

Aarav held Shehnaaz's hand and led her inside her home. Samyukta ran towards the lift.

Just as Aarav and Shehnaaz entered the apartment, Sidharth, Rajveer and Kushal looked up instinctively. Sidharth jumped out of the couch, as soon as he saw her injury.

"Shehnaaz-- kya hua mera baccha? Chot kaise aayi meri jaan?" Sidharth asked frantically.

Shehnaaz looked down and Sidharth turned to look at Aarav. "Jiju.."

Aarav shook his head. He led her to the couch and helped her sit on the couch. "Paani la uske liye Kushal."

Kushal nodded and ran towards the kitchen. Sidharth knelt in front of her, cupping her face. "Mera baccha.. meri jaan-- kya hua hai?"

Shehnaaz trembled as his hands came in touch with her face, tears began to stream down her cheeks. Sidharth, looking utterly bewildered with her reaction, wiped her tears."Baby.. kya hua?"

Shehnaaz began to sob, burying her face in his chest. Sidharth wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back.

"Aap meri family ho na?" She asked between painful sobs. "Mein.. mein Sidharth mein gair nahi hoon na aapke liye?"

Sidharth frowned. "Kya bol rahi hai Superstar? Tu mere liye gair kaise ho sakti hai darling? Tu toh mera aadha hissa hai, mujhe poora karti hai tu." He said sincerely.

Shehnaaz shook her head, still sobbing uncontrollably. "Mein aapki position ka faayda nahi utha rahi Sidharth-- mein nahi utha rahi.. please Sidharth.. mein.."

Sidharth rubbed her back, "Shh shh.. meri jaan. Shaant ho ja. Tu mera faayda nahi utha rahi hai baccha.. I promise."

"Belleve me.. mein--"

"I trust you sweetheart. I trust you with my life. Kya hua hai.. kyon bol rahi hai aise baccha?" Sidharth asked softly. Shehnaaz wasn't in the state of mind to hear him, or to comprehend his words and after a few tries, Sidharth realized that too. He bit his lip harshly. "Dammit baby!"

Shehnaaz continued to cry uncontrollably and none of the so-called strong men in the room could do anything at all about it. Sidharth himself was on the verge of crying, seeing his little bird like that.

It took her a long time to calm down. By the time she found herself willing to stop crying, Kushal and Rajveer were sitting on either side of Shehnaaz, wiping her tears. Sidharth tucked her hair behind her ears, and caressed her face. Shehnaaz flinched. Sidharth frowned, noticing for the very first time the prominent bruising on her cheek. "Shehnaaz.. yeh kaise hua?"

Shehnaaz's eyes widened. "Woh--"

Sidharth waited for her to respond. "Kya hua baccha.. bol na? Kaise lagi tujhe?"

"Akshar.."

That name. One name brought an uproar to the room. Shehnaaz hid herself in Sidharth's arms, curling into his chest.

Sidharth wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. "Tell us baby. What did he do?"

Shehnaaz looked up at Sidharth and sniffed again. Sidharth kissed her forehead, hoping to give her just enough strength to get the words out.