Later That Night...
Shehnaaz was continuously wiping her tears while talking to Pinky on phone.
"Shehnaaz abhi aise rone ka kya fayda? Tu ek baar baata ke dekhti unhe." Said Pinky trying to console Shehnaaz.
"Kya baatati main unhe? Woh inne bade admi hai. Humare school ke trusty ke Bete, America mein job karte hai. Aur ek main hoon, Chandni Chowk mein rehne wali bilkool aam ladki. Jo padhai mein acchi nahi hai, jiski life ka koi motive nahi hai. Main kis muh se unse apne pyaar ka izhar karu? Woh toh mere hasiyat ke bahar hai." Said Shehnaaz crying.
"Yeh baate tere muh se acchi nahi lagti. Tu hi toh kehti thi na ki tu apni favourite hai. Toh abhi kyu tu khud ko itna chhota mehsoos kar rahi hai?"
Shehnaaz smiled sadly and said, "Kyu ki saamne wala insaan bohut bada hai yaar. Sirf hasiyat se nahi, dil se bhi. Aur mujhe unke pyaar ke kaabil ban na hoga. Khud ko uss muqam tak pohuchana hoga jaha main unke saamne khadi hoke apne pyaar ka izhar kar saku. Yeh jo Shehnaaz hai na, yeh ab mujhe bhi pasand nahi aa rahi. Aaj se iss Shehnaaz ko ek behtar Shehnaaz bana ne ke liye mujhe jo karna hoga main karungi. Yeh maine waada kiya hai, Sidharth Sir se bhi, aur khud se bhi."
"Lekin uss mein toh bohut time lagega. Tujhe lagta hai Sidharth Sir tab tak tera wait karenge?"
"Sayad nahi karenge. Karna bhi nahi chahiye. Woh mujhse bohut acchi ladki deserve karte hai. Aur unke wait karne yaa naa karne se kya fark padhta hai? Mera pyaar kaafi hai. Aur ab aage ke safar mein yeh pyaar hi banega meri taqat." Said Shehnaaz being determined.
After somedays...
Shehnaaz's exams started and SidNaaz hardly got any time to talk to each other. Also Shehnaaz was trying to avoid Sidharth as she didn't want to express her emotions infront of him. She kept herself busy in her preparation for exams.
On the other hand, Sidharth resigned from the school. He started packing as he was leaving for America soon. Somewhere in his heart he was feeling very empty. He was feeling that he was leaving something here which was very precious to him. But he couldn't figure out what it was.
It was the day of Sidharth's flight. He bid goodbye to his family and then got inside his car.
In his way to airport, he stopped outside Shehnaaz's exam center. He came out of his car and looked at his watch. He still had some time.
Shehnaaz was coming there and suddenly stopped seeing him. A smile came to Sidharth's face.
"Sir aap?" She asked.
"Woh airport jaa raha tha. Socha jaane se pehle ek baar mil loon." He said smiling.
Shehnaaz's eyes became teary hearing that he was leaving but she managed to hide them from him.
"How's your exams going?" He asked further.
"Abhi tak toh accha hi jaa raha. Dekhte hai aage kya hota hai. Aap ki flight kab hai?"
"Do ghante baad."
"Dhyan se jaaiyega."
Sidharth was going to say something more but the bell rang making Shehnaaz relieved as she wouldn't be able to control herself if she stayed there for long.
"Sir mujhe jaana hoga. Bye!"
Saying that Shehnaaz ran inside. Sidharth had many things to say but he couldn't even say bye to her properly.
He again got inside his car and the driver started driving. After sometime he reached the airport. Soon he left for America but a piece of his heart stayed in Chandni Chowk, near his Shehnaaz.
Days passed like this. Both Sidharth and Shehnaaz became busy in their own life but they couldn't forget each other. Inspite of being far away, they were always near each other.
It was the day of Shehnaaz's 10th result. Her parents were waiting for her results when Shehnaaz came out of her room. There was no expression on her face.
Her parents went to her.
"Dekha internet pe? Kitne marks aaye?" Asked Pammi Ji.
"Pass toh hogayi hai na?" Asked Santokh Ji.
Shehnaaz was not saying anything.
"Puttar kuch toh bol." Said Pammi Ji again.
"70%" uttered Shehnaaz suddenly making them shocked.
"Phir se kehna." Said Santokh Ji.
Shehnaaz gave a huge smile and said happily, "Mummy, Bauji mere 70% aaye hai exams mein."
"Matlab tu pass hogayi?" Asked Pammi Ji.
"Haan aur woh bhi acche number se. Matlab mere hisaab se toh acche hi hai."
Her parents became very happy and hugged her.
"Iss hi khushi mein ek hafte tak main apne saare customers ko free mein saaman dunga." Said Santokh Ji loudly.
Pammi Ji nodded her head in disbelief and said, "Inna khush hone ki bhi zaroorat nahi hai jis se puri family ik hafte ke andar sadak vich aa jaaye."
Shehnaaz laughed hearing that while Santokh Ji rolled his eyes.
"Waise abhi humein paise jama ke rakhne hai. Iska vyah bhi karana hai. Main toh aaj hi se ladke dekhna suru kar deti hoon." She said further.
Shehnaaz's face turned pale hearing that.
"Nahi Mummy." She said suddenly. "Aap ko ladke dekhne ki zaroorat nahi hai."
"Matlab?" Asked Pammi Ji being confused.
"Maine faisla liya hai. Jab tak khud ke pairon pe khadi nahi ho jaati, maine vyah nahi karna."
It was unexpected for her parents.
"Tu kya bol rahi hai Shehnaaz? Tere dimaag thikane pe hai?" Said Pammi Ji with disbelief.
Shehnaaz smiled slightly and said, "Hun jaake dimaag toh thikane pe aaya hai. Aur iss dimaag ne keh diya hai, pehle career uske baad shaadi."
Saying that Shehnaaz left from there.
Pammi Ji was going to stop her but Santokh Ji hold her hand.
"Rehne do Pammi. Pehli vaari humari Shehnaaz ne kuch accha faisla liya hai. Galti humari hi thi. Bachpan se uske dimaag mein shaadi ki baat na daalte toh woh mann laga ke padhti aur sayad top bhi karti. Hun agar woh apne pairon pe khadi hona chahti hai toh iss mein galat kya hai? Mainu nahi lagda humein usse rokna chahiye."
Pammi Ji understood her husband's words and nodded in yes.
Suddenly Santokh Ji's phone rang.
As soon as he picked the call, Sidharth asked, "Kya hua Shehnaaz ka result?"
"Apki student pass hogayi hai. 70% aaye hai uske. Sab aap hi ki wajah se hua hai." Said Santokh Ji being grateful.
Sidharth was extremely happy hearing that.
"Yeh toh bohut khushi ki baat hai."
"Woh toh hai. Bas aage ki chinta hain. Usne Aaj humse keh diya ki usse shaadi nahi karni. Usse pehle apne pairon pe khada hona hai. Hun dekhte hai hum usse kinni dur tak padha sakte hai."
Sidharth smiled proudly hearing about Shehnaaz's decision. But he also knew about her parents' financial condition.
"Shehnaaz jitna padhna chahti hai aap usse padhaiye. Paison ki wajah se uski padhai nahi rukegi, yeh meri guarantee hai. Uske future education ke liye jitne bhi paise lagenge woh main dunga."
"Puttar hum aap se kaise le sakte hai...."
"Puttar samajh ke hi le lena."
Saying that he cut the call.
"She kept my promise." He thought smiling. Then he took a deep breath and went inside the presentation hall.
"Smiley.com, a new website for those people who are very lonely in their life. There are several websites where we can find matches for ourselves but this is not one of them. Here people will come to find their happiness. Happiness, which can lie in any person. The person can be your partner, friend, brother, sister anyone, even a stranger too. This website will create new bonds which can bring smile to our faces and be the reason of our happiness. And if there is already someone who can make us smile, who is the reason of our happiness, let's make sure we stay by them forever. With this pledge We are launching our new website, Smiley.com."
The logo of the website appeared on the screen. Everyone stood up and clapped.
After the presentation was over and everyone was leaving, a lady asked, "Mr. Shukla, I have a question. The website which is launched today is very unique. I wanted to know who gave you the inspiration to create this website. I mean, is there someone special in your life who is your happiness?"
Sidharth was taken aback for a moment as Shehnaaz's smiling face came in front of him. Though he was her teacher, she taught him the actual meaning of happiness.
"Not special. She is very much special to me." He said being lost in Shehnaaz's thoughts.
"Lucky man." Said the lady and left.
After sometime Sidharth realised what he said. Shehnaaz is his happiness. Yes, she is. She is the one who can make him smile anytime. He got the inspiration to make this website from her. But is there still something which he didn't realise? Is she the one for him?
His heart skipped a beat giving him the answer. Suddenly the lights became dim and he saw her coming towards him with her as usual smiling face.
A..a..a...
They stood close to each other and Sidharth couldn't take his eyes off her.
Na hai yeh pana
Na Khona bhi hai
He knew she was not with him but he could feel her close. He could feel her essance even in America's air. And it was the best feeling he ever had.
Tera Na hona jane
Kyun hona bhi hai
She forwarded her hand and he held it pulling her more closer. Their foreheads touched and they had no distance between them. He looked at her like an addict.
Tum se hi din hota hai
Surmayee shaam aati hai
Tumse hi tumse hi
He cupped her face and closed his eyes while trying to cover the distance between their lips as well.
Har ghari saans aati hai
Zindagi kehlati hai
Tumse hi tumse hi
Suddenly Shehnaaz vanished infront of him. Before he could realise what was happening, he was called outside by other employees.
That day everyone congratulated him for the launching of new website. He was happy for that but he was happier for realising his feelings. He was in love.
Na hai yeh pana
Na Khona bhi hai
Tera Na hona jane
Kyun hona bhi hai
After returning home, he was taking rest when he felt her soft hands on his. She made him stand up while his eyes got stuck at her beautiful eyes.
Aankhon mein ankhen teri
Bahoon mein baahein teri
Mera na mujh mein kuch raha hua kya
While having dinner he remembered her non-stop talk and smiled thinking that. He was missing all this very badly.
Baaton mein baatein teri
Raatein saugatein teri
At late night while having coffee, he poured it in the plate and drank from there to feel her presence in him.
Kyun tera sab yeh ho gaya
hua kya
Next day he was going to office when he suddenly saw her infront of him.
Mein kahin bhi jata hoon
Tumse hi mil jata hoon
Tumse hi tumse hi
She kissed his cheeks and bid him bye making him blush.
In the office, he was doing every work properly. But still he was lost somewhere. In the crowd of many people there was only she in his mind and heart.
Shoor mein khamoshi hai
Thodi si Behoshi hai
Tum se hi tum se hi
One day Sidharth was playing his guitar in his office while the other employees were listening him. He was thinking about his Shehnaaz. Because of her he touched his guitar again. He started living and enjoying his life and it was only because of her.
Aadha sa wada kabhi
Aadhe se zayada kabhi
Jee chahe karlu is tarah wafa ka
One day he was returning from office when it was raining heavily. He imagined her on the road doing her crazy dance in the rain.
He came out of his car being hypnotized by his imagination and couldn't even realise when he got wet in the rain.
Chode na chote kabhi
Tode na tute kabhi
Jo dhaga tumse jud gaya wafa ka
He started moving towards her or we can say it was an invisible thread which was dragging hin towards her.
Mein Tera sarmaya hoon
Jo bhi mein ban paya hoon
Tumse hi tumse hi
Shehnaaz also came running to him. They smiled looking at each other.
Raste miljate hai
Manzile miljati hai
Tumse hi tumse hi
They hold each others' hands and started dancing crazily just like they were dancing at that stranger's wedding.
Na hai yeh pana
Na Khona bhi hai
Tera Na hona jane
Kyun hona bhi hai
Like this Sidharth could always feel her presence within himself. He understood how madly he had fallen for her. It was his unrequited love. He didn't expect anything in return. He thought she had forgot him by then. One day she would find someone else and get settled in her life. But he was not sad about it. He didn't need her to love her unconditionally. Yeah he could try to tell her but according to him, he was nothing to her but a teacher and a friend. And he didn't want to spoil that relationship. So he never spoke to her directly or tried to meet her. Until one day he found out something....
______________________________________
What did Sidharth find out?
Stay tuned...
Next part will be the last.
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