He stayed rooted to the spot.

Completely numb.

His mind couldn’t decide Should he be happy that he finally saw her?

Or should he break knowing she was lying here lifeless, unresponsive?

Tears streamed down his face without stopping.

Sanvi tugged his hand and called him again and again

“Shidhaalth… Shidhaalth…”

but her tiny voice wasn’t reaching him anymore.

The door opened behind him.

Neetu Di stepped in, She glanced at Sanvi first, then at Sidharth and froze.

His shoulders trembling ,  eyes wet , breath stuck in his chest.

Sanvi (complaining softly): “Doctol… detho na… me Shidhaalth ko itni del she bula lahi hu… wo shuni ni la…”

(See doctor, I am calling sidharth but he is not listening)

Neetu Di gave her a gentle smile, then walked to Sidharth and placed her hand softly on his shoulder pulling him back to reality.

He slowly turned , tears falling , eyes red and broken.

Neetu’s heart clenched.

ND: “Sidharth… kya hua?” she whispered.

That one question cracked him open.

His voice came out shaking, fractured, barely holding together,

“Neets… ye… ye meri… Shehnaaz… meri Naaz hai… meri jaaan…”

He informed making her eyes widened in surprise and shock.

His breath hitched painfully.

“Tujhe… pat-pata h… main… kitne din se… isse dho… dhoond raha tha…”

Tears rolled faster.

“Finally… aaj… aaj mil gayi… meri Naaz…”

His knees buckled, but he forced himself upright, gripping Neetu’s arm like a drowning man.

“I-I am so happy, Neetu…”

His voice cracked into a sob.

“Please… please dekhna… utha ise…”

He turned toward Naaz again, breaking down completely.

“Please Neetu… bol na isse ki ye uth jaye… please…”

His voice echoed through the room.

“Us din… 5 minute… sirf 5 minute ke liye akela chhoda tha…”

He sobbed harder.

“Ab kabhi… 5 second ke liye bhi… akela nahi chhodunga isse…”

His chest heaved with painful breaths.

“Hamesha… hamesha apni aankhon ke saamne rakhunga…”

And then ,he collapsed onto the floor.

Crying uncontrollably , body shaking.

Heart breaking in the loudest silence.

“Neetu… please…” he begged, voice barely human now.

“Isse bol… ki ye uth jaye… please…”

His cries filled the room…

Sanvi’s little face turned confused and scared and Naaz lay there unmoving.

Neetu Di had tears pooling in her eyes. She had never imagined her brother like this. She always knew he was emotional especially when it came to the people he loved. But the way he is crying now it tore her heart apart.

She slowly wrapped her arms around his trembling body, pulling him close, rubbing his back gently as if he were a small child again.

The little soul, Sanvi, stood there terrified, her lower lip trembling as she watched her Shidhaalth break down like this. Neetu Di noticed it instantly and pressed the bell on the side table. A few seconds later, a nurse walked in. Neetu gestured silently toward the child.

The nurse crouched, spoke to Sanvi in a soft baby voice, then lifted her into her arms and quietly walked out of the room.

Neetu broke the hug and cupped Sidharth’s cheeks gently.

“Sidharth… bacha, sambhal khud ko,” she whispered. “Tu aise weak nahi pad sakta, meri jaan. Hame Sanvi ko bhi sambhalna hai. Tujhe dekh kar kitna darr gayi wo bachi…”

“Kaha gayi Sanvi?” he asked immediately, panic flickering in his eyes.

“Fikar mat kar,” she assured softly. “Wo play area mein hai. Nurse le gayi usse.”

But he wasn’t calm. His hands were shaking when he suddenly folded them in front of her.

“Neetu… me tere aage haath jodta hoon,” he cried, voice breaking. “Please… please meri Naaz ko theek kar de. Me nahi reh paaunga iske bina. Main… main mar jaunga iske bina. Please, Neetu…”

She instantly grabbed his hands, pulling them down.

“Tu pagal ho gaya hai?” she scolded softly but lovingly. “Kaisi faltu baatein kar raha hai?”

Then she took a breath and placed her hand on his head, her tone turning firm but warm.

“Maine apni taraf se poori koshish ki hai, aur aage bhi karungi, ab 110% dungi ” she promised. “Aur jab ye ladki uth jayegi na, tab sabse pehla sawal ye hi karungi ki aakhir kya jaadu kar diya tune is sadiyal bhai pe ,Jo ise SIDHARTH MAJNU SHUKLA bana diya.”

A small, teasing smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

“Chal bey!” he muttered, cheeks turning red.

“Ohhooo… blushing blushing!” Neetu Di teased, pinching his cheek playfully.

They were still sitting on the cold hospital floor, both exhausted physically and emotionally.

“Acha chal, uth ab,” she said finally, pushing herself up. “Isko dawai deni hai.”

“Her name is Shehnaaz,” he corrected gently.

“Haan bhai, haan… aapki Shehnaaz, aapki Naaz, aapki jaan sab pata hai,” she teased again while inserting the needle into Shehnaaz’s arm and changing the glucose bottle.

Then she patted his shoulder.

“Tu ruk yahin iske paas. Main Sanvi ko dekh kar aati hoon.”

He nodded silently.

And then she left closing the door softly behind her leaving SidNaaz alone in that quiet, beeping room.

Sidharth immediately shifted closer, sitting beside Shehnaaz carefully, making sure not to disturb a single wire attached to her fragile body. His hand trembled as he lifted it toward her, gently brushing the strands of hair off her face. His fingers traced her cheek as if afraid she might disappear again.

“Naaz…” his voice cracked, “tumne apne saath yeh kya kar liya, haan?”

He swallowed, tears blurring his vision.

“Bilkul apna khayal nahi rakhti tum… kaha thi itne din se, meri jaan?”

His thumb rubbed her cold knuckles.

“Pata hai, maine tumhe kitna dhunda? Har jagah… har kone mein… but tu kahin nahi mili.”

He leaned closer, forehead almost touching the back of her hand.

“Pal pal marr raha tha main, Naaz… har second.”

His breath hitched, the pain in his chest tightening.

“Ab uth jao… bohot din ho gaye, baby,” he whispered desperately. “Dekh, tera Sidharth aaya hai.”

His tears fell on her lifeless fingers.

“Maaf kar de mujhe… mera bacha,” he sobbed. “Main tera khayal nahi rakh paaya. Maaf kar de apne Sidharth ko”

He clutched her hand with both of his, like a scared child seeking anchor.

“Please uth jao, meri jaan… please”

His voice broke completely as he cries raw, helpless, pleading hoping that somewhere, somehow, his words would reach her.

He had finally met her after almost two months. He desperately wanted to see her to meet her but not like this.

Not lying lifeless… not with tubes, wires, and silence choking the room.

His heart already cracked from her absence shattered all over again.

He cried… and cried… until exhaustion pulled him under.

Still, even in sleep, he didn’t let go of her hand his fingers locked around hers as if afraid she would disappear again.

After some time, Neetu Di entered the room with little Sanvi.

A soft smile touched her lips seeing her brother curled beside Shehnaaz, holding her hand like his whole life depended on it.

She never imagined her Sidharth the rough, stubborn, sadu one could ever love someone this deeply, this hopelessly, this painfully.

She walked toward him and gently caressed his hair.

Neetu Di: “Sidharth!! Wake up, bacha”

He slowly blinked awake.

And the first thing his eyes landed on… was her.

His Naaz.

A soft smile bloomed on his tired face.

He leaned forward and pressed a tender kiss on her forehead almost like a silent prayer.

When he stood up, his gaze fell on Sanvi munching chocolate, her whole face a sticky mess.

He picked her up carefully and wiped her little face with his thumb, cleaning the chocolate smudges.

Then he kissed her cheek.

Sanvi narrowed her eyes at him annoyed for interrupting her chocolate moment then sighed dramatically and placed her tiny head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.

Sidharth smiled and stroked her back.

Sidharth: “Sanu baby ko nini aa rahi hai?”

She nodded sleepily, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck.

Neetu Di: “Sid, tu abhi yahin hai na?”

Sid: “Haan, kyun? Kya hua?”

Neetu Di: “Nothing… main round par ja rahi hoon. Aur Mom ko bhi inform kar deti hoon.”

Sid: “Okay.”

She left the room quietly, leaving Sidharth, Shehnaaz, and the sleepy little angel in a bubble of fragile peace.

Sidharth shifted carefully and sat on the other side of the bed, Sanvi still curled in his arms like a tiny, warm bundle.

He gently patted her head, humming under his breath.

After a few minutes, he felt her breathing slow her grip loosen and when he looked down , there she was.

Fast asleep with that tiny pout still sitting on her lips.

He let out a soft chuckle.

Sidharth (whispering): “Bilkul maa par gayi hai apni”

But the next second, his smile faded.

Something ,didn’t add up.

He looked at her face again properly this time, her eyes, her nose, her cheeks, her jawline…

She didn’t look like Naaz.

Not even a little.

“Aadatein… bilkul Naaz jaise,” he thought, watching her tiny hand curled into a fist the exact same way Naaz used to sleep.

“But features bilkul different.”

He frowned.

And then, a memory hit him.Hard.

FLASHBACK

They were lying in that old guest house room.

Sidharth’s head rested on her chest, her fingers gently gliding through his hair… soft, slow, soothing.

Sidharth: “Naaz…”

Naaz (humming): “Hmmm?”

She didn’t stop caressing his hair.

But he suddenly held her hand, stopping her movements.

He brought her fingers to his lips, kissing them softly.

Sidharth: “Tumhari shaadi ko… kitna time hua?”

For a second everything froze.

Her breath, her touch , her heartbeat beneath his ear.

Silence stretched between them like a tight wire.

He waited.

She didn’t answer.

He lifted his head slowly, looking up at her face and even in the dim light, he had seen something flicker in her eyes.

Sid: “Relax ,if you don’t want to answ—”

Naaz (softly, almost like a confession): “1.5 saal.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Full of something she wasn’t saying.

They both went quiet after that.

Not another word.

Just the sound of their breaths filling the small room.

FLASHBACK ENDS.

Sidharth’s mind spun as reality started stitching itself in front of him.

His thoughts:

“Naaz ne bola tha uski shaadi ko 2 saal bhi ni hue but Sanvi looks more than 2 years old, to kya  shaadi se pehle hi Sanvi ho gayi thi?

If yes…

Was it a love marriage?

But agar love marriage thi to Naaz itni dukhi kyun thi?

Aur agar love marriage nahi thi…

To kya usne ne zabardasti ki uske saath…?”

His heart twisted painfully at that thought.

“Urggghhh… it's too confusing…” he groaned, rubbing his face.

He looked at her again… at her pale cheeks… her still lashes… the slight frown even in unconsciousness.

He leaned in and cupped her cheek gently.

Sid (softly, voice breaking):

“Wake up, meri jaan ,Bahot time ho gaya na. I promise ab ek pal ke liye bhi akela nahi chhodunga tumhe , Please uth ja, mera bacha bahot saare sawaalon ke jawaab dene hain tumhe.”

He pressed a long, lingering kiss on her forehead.

Eventually, exhausted by pain, worry and emotions, he fell asleep , Sanvi curled safely in his lap, and his forehead resting lightly against Naaz’s.

But then…

A sound.

A breath.

A whisper.

Barely audible ,barely there.

But it was her voice.

His Naaz’s voice.

“…Sid…”

His eyes snapped open instantly.

Wide, alert , disbelieving.

He froze.

Did he really hear it?

But then again

“…Sidh..sidharth…”

A whisper ,cracked ,weak but real.

Her voice.

His heart stopped.

Then raced.

He jerked upright, eyes flying to her face

And her lips were moving.

He was beyond happy.

His Naaz  finally responding.

And not just responding , whispering his name.

The name he was dying to hear in her sweet, soft voice again.

He cupped her face gently, lovingly, his thumbs brushing her cheeks.

Sid (voice trembling with joy):

“Naaz… meri jaan…

Bacha, tera Sidharth… yahi hai darling.

Uth ja ab… please…”

Tears of pure happiness slid down his face.

Without wasting a second, he called Neetu di with shaking fingers.

A few moments later…

Neetu di hurried inside, stethoscope around her neck. She checked Shehnaaz thoroughly pulse, pupils, reflexes.

And then a relieved, bright smile bloomed on her face.

Neetu di:

“She is absolutely fine now.”

She lovingly patted Sid’s cheeks.

Sid let out a shaky laugh of relief and pulled her into a tight hug.

When he broke the hug, he asked immediately, almost like a child,

Sid:

“Meri Naaz kab uthegi?”

Neetu di (smiling):

“Bas 1–2 ghante me.”

His heart fluttered with hope.

Just then, Sanvi stirred awake in his lap and started crying.

Instantly, Sidharth gathered her in his arms, holding her protectively.

Sid (softly):

“Kya ho gaya baba? Kyu ro rahi hai Sanvi, haan?

Sanu ko bhook lagi? Khayegi kuch?”

She nodded against his chest, tiny hands clutching his shirt.

He turned to a nurse.

“Please sanvi ko cafeteria le jao.”

But Sanvi instantly grabbed his collar in her tiny fist and shook her head hard, lips trembling.

Sid:

“Nurse ke saath nahi jaana?”

She shook again no, absolutely not.

Her eyes filled with tears, pout so cute he felt his heart melting.

Sid (smiling softly):

“Okay… chalo.

Me le jaata hu apni sanu ko, okay?”

She nodded, relieved, and rested her head again on his shoulder.

After some time…

They returned to Naaz’s room.

But the moment he stepped in

He froze.

Tears started streaming down his cheeks.

He gently put Sanvi on her feet, barely aware of anything except the sight before him.

His legs moved on their own.

He rushed toward Naaz’s bed

heart pounding, breath stuck in his throat.

Because there, in front of him…

Naaz was awake.

Eyes open ,looking around in confusion.

Alive ,breathing , awake.

And the moment she saw him

Her lips parted.

“Sidharth…”

         ____________________________

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