Ishaan

I look at the piece of shining jewellery held in my hand. My vision flashes back to the day I had been given the anonymous letter along with a beautiful prized possession. My eyes flicker towards Anvi, then her still hands and back to the other piece of the dangling silver earring.

"Anvi, where's the other pair?"

She looks at me with hesitation, before turning her back to me ready to walk out the door. My hand reaches out for her wrist, holding it gently before pulling her back towards me. Her breathing comes to a hold as her back presses against my chest.

"Ishaan. Let go."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

She struggles against my grip and I let go. Whether she tells me or not, the last thing I want is to hurt her. I will wait, rather than force it out of her.

"I was scared."

My ears perk up listening to her words. She walks away from me. Settling down on the corner of the huge bed.

"I was too scared to confess, I didn't want to be rejected."

I feel a pang in my chest out of hurt. Hurt at the fact that she thought I would ever reject her. Reject the most precious girl in my life. Reject the girl who makes me smile on odd days, the girl who shows up in my dreams, the girl I literally worship. Mene Bohot logo se pyaar kiya hai, magar main iske pyaar me gir jauga mujhe kabhi nhi pata tha. Aur ab jo gir gaya hu, isse zindagi bahar ka pyaar ho chuka hai.

(I've loved a lot of girls, but I'll fall in love with her, I had never thought that. And now that I've fallen. I'm in love with her for a lifetime)

My feet automatically move towards her sulking figure. Dropping on my knees, I look at her frowning face before holding her chin in my hand and making her look at me.

"Anvi, do you know who sent you those letters? Woh confessions jo Tu harr roz mere samne beith ke padhti thi?"

(Anvi, do you know who sent you those letter? Those confessions, which you used to read in front of me everyday?)

Her eyes look at me in confusion and I wait for her to respond to my questions. Her orbs widen once realization dawns upon her and the softest gasp leaves her lips.

"It was you?"

I give a small nod of reassurance, and my hand moves to cup her smooth skin in my rough ones.

"And rejection? Anvi, I've been falling for second by second over the years we've known each other. Tera naam mere dil pe chhap chuka hai. Every word that I've written in those letters to you? I remember every word by heart. Your laughter, your sassy replies, your whines, your presence, you think I can go a day without it? Jab Tu nhi hoti hai, din nhi nikalta mera. Jab Tu hoti hai Maan karta hai bas tere sath rahu. Aur kya chahiye tujhe Anvi? Aur kitna wait karwaegi mujhko?"

(And rejection? Anvi, I've been falling for second by second over the years we've known each other. Your name is imprinted on my heart. Every word that I've written in those letters to you? I remember every word by heart. Your laughter, your sassy replies, your whines, your presence, you think I can go a day without it? When you are not here, I can't even pass the day, when you are here, I wanna be with you all the time. What else do you want anvi? How much longer are you gonna make me wait?)

I look into her still eyes, waiting for an answer, a reaction. She's frozen in her place. We sit in silence for a few minutes before a deep sigh leaves my lips. Maybe she needs space, I should give her some time alone.

I get up from in front of her and walk towards the bedroom without glancing at her. But her meek voice stops me in my tracks.

"Where are you going?"

My heart beats against my chest hearing her voice come out soft and vulnerable. Before any word leaves my lips, she stands in front of my large figure, using her right hand to hold mine. Her chocolate orbs search for an answer from me and I look away.

"You need space, Anvi."

"Baby, you're the last person I need space from. You're the person I want to be with when I need space from everyone else."

A small smile appears on her moon-like glowing face. She cups my face in her soft hands, caressing the flesh of my cheeks.

"I'm sorry I made you wait another extra 5 mins. Thoda time lagta to process ki jisko main saalo se pasand karti hu wo mujhe bhi pasand karta hai."

(It takes some time to process the fact that the one I've been crunching on for years, likes me back too)

I feel a smile make its way up to my lips, and a chuckle is heard from her side. I wrap my hand around her waist gently, pulling her closer to my chest. Blood rushes against my skin as I feel our proximity.

She leans closer, and the hands which were holding my face seconds ago, wrap around my neck and pull me closer to her glow. She looks at my eyes before her sight flickers to my lips. I feel her take a deep breath before she leans in a places her hot lips against mine.

My hands hold the back of her nape gently, pulling her closer to me. I feel my lips liquify against hers, and the unsaid words between us flow into the gentle kiss. My tongue swipes against her lower lip and she gladly gives in to submission. I could feel her smile in the intimacy, and it somehow made my heart flutter in a million ways.

A thousand thoughts cloud my mind. But one is the most significant...

For the first time in my life, I saw heaven on earth, and she was right in front of me, letting me worship her sweet lips.

Inaya

"you know Kaynaaz, you don't have to hide behind the stage to get away from your man."

"He's not MY man Inu wtf?"

She glares at me before holding my hand and pulling us both from behind the stage area. It had been about two hours since Kyra's performance and she had fled from there after successfully snatching away the note from Ishaan's hand.

Now, you might be wondering, what are we doing hiding beside this beautiful huge stage? Not my idea but Kaynaaz wants to get away from her man. No sorry not HER man. A man, Aayan Khan, aka my cousin.

Of course, I knew my best friend had been crushing on my cousin for the longest time. But ab woh ye admit thodi karegi? Usko uska gussa zyada pyara hai. Bechare mere bhai ko thapad bhi mar diya iss pagal ne.
(but now she won't admit that will she? Her anger is more important to her. My poor brother, she slapped him.)

"INU! Get out of your thoughts and let's go, agar woh aagya na toh tujhe aur usko dono ko sath me marugi."
(INU! Get out of your thoughts and let's go, if he comes here, then I'll beat both of you together)

"Apni height dekhi hai? Mujhe toh tum nhi mar sakti doctor sahiba."
(Have you seen your height? You can't hit me, miss doctor.)

My ears perk up at the masculine voice behind me. And from the red boiling annoyed expression on Kay's face, it was kind of obvious there could only be one person. I turn around to face Aayan Bhaiya standing there in a blue kurta. He gives me a soft smile before stepping forward and ruffling my hair softly.

I still remember the first day of our internship when she slapped him, I had to rush to his cabin to apologize so at least we didn't lose our gold opportunity. But in turn, his behaviour surprised me even more.

A few days back, Aayan's cabin

"I'm so sorry bhaiya, I'm sure she didn't mean it, she's just upset"

"Inaya.. she touched me."

I look up at him in surprise, registering his word. A small sound of happiness leaves his throat and I see him skipping towards his chair happily.

What the fuck..

"Bhaiya? You aren't angry?"

"Angry? Bro, she literally touched me, which means she doesn't hate me at least."

I look at him in disbelief before turning around and leaving the room. Angry ka toh pata nhi, ye dono pagal zaror hai.

Present

I feel a finger jab my stomach and Kay leans near my ear.

"Bola tha na, Nikal lete hai, aagya ye phirse musibat banke."
(I told you. Let's go. He came again being a problem )

"Aapki hi musibat hu jaaneman."
(I'm your problem only sweetheart)

A chuckle leaves my lips at his attempt to flirt. Kay's palm smacks the back of my head before she grumbles something inaudible under her breath.

Before I protest against her smack, I feel my phone buzz in my hand for a second before it disconnects itself. I look at the screen, eyeing the missed call from an unknown phone.

I glance at the digital clock on my Lock Screen. It was almost 1 am. It had been a long day, but the time passed quickly during the evening.

My phone buzzes again and I give a glance to Kaynaaz and she returns it with a sharp glare.

"You're not going anywhere inu, you can't leave me with him."

"I need to pick up the call sorry baby."

I pull out of her grasp, and before she can pull me back or say something, I sprit away from their presence and back into the Rajvanshi house.

My feet quietly move towards the room beside Kay's making sure not to make any noise and disturb Kyra. Shivyansh had told us she had fallen asleep by the time he had visited her room the second time. After that, he also left, because some urgent work had come up.

I gently turn the handle of the door ready to step inside the room. But my figure stops looking at the heart-melting scene in front of me. Ishaan had Anvi curled up by his side while he hugged her small figure. Both of them were fast asleep. I pick up my phone and snap a picture of the two sleeping babies before stepping outside the room and finally deciding to just crash in Kaynaaz's.

I feel my phone buzz again. Annoyed, I pick up the call waiting for the person on the other side to speak.

"Hello? Kon bol raha hai?"
(Hello? How's this?)

No response. A sigh escapes my lips before I cut the call and lay down on the soft bed. My muscles relax against the cushion mattress and a yawn escapes my lips. I was exhausted from all the dancing we had done. I was in no mood to ta-

The buzz of the phone again interrupts my thoughts. Bhai kon Chutiya hai ye...

"Hello? Kon ho? Call karna band karo."
(Hello? Who's this? Stop calling)

"Inaya."

The husky voice from the caller pauses me in my place. I feel my heart pick up its speed and the anger and tiredness in my body instantly washes away.

"Aditya?"

"Mhm. Aditya."

Flashes of our argument at the ground pass in my head. Why would he call now? He was so upset then.. he said he didn't even wanna see me.. then why call now?

"Inaya. Kidhar chali gyi?"
(Inaya? Where did you go?)

"Idhar hi hu.. why'd you call?"
(I'm here only.)

"Hm? Hn."
(Hm? Yes.)

"Kya Hn?"
(What yes?)

"Bas Hn."
(Just yes.)

I look at my screen again. 1:05 am.

What is he doing up so late? It's midnight he doesn't even stay up this late unless he's out. At that thought, realisation hits me, he wouldn't have just called me like this. I can't even imagine that in my wildest dreams.

He's drunk, pretty badly drunk.

"Aditya? Are you drunk?"

"Nhi. Woh kya hota hai?" His voice comes out soft and meek. Almost childish and I feel a smile appear on my lips for only an instant.
(Nope. What's that?)

"Aditya? Tumne nashe me ho?"
(Aditya? Are you intoxicated?)

"Ji jaanejahan. Agar tumhara pyaar nasha hai toh main nashe me hu."
(Yes sweetheart. If your love is intoxicating then I'm intoxicated.)

My heart skips a beat and I stare blankly at the ceiling fan going round and round. Did I hear that right? No way.. obviously he didn't mean it, he's drunk.

"Aditya, you're drunk. Go home."

"I miss you. I miss you a lot inaya."

And at that, my eyes pool up with tears. I disconnect the call and close my eyes shut softly sobbing in the ghostly presence of the empty room.

The word he said that day, and his words now. So different, as if it's two completely different people talking.

Aditya aap aapne shabd badal kar humari feels se kyu khel rahe ho..
(Aditya why are you playing with my feeling by changing your words..)

Kaynaaz

Maan kar raha hai idhar hi mar jau. Iss bande ke 1-metre ki duri me rahu isse acha mai jaake mar na jau?
(I'm thinking of dying right here. Would it be better to die than stay in one metre radius of this guy?)

"Ms. Rajvanshi, itna bhi kya soch rahi ho? Kya mai tumhare khayalon me bhi aarha hi?"
(Ms. Rajvanshi, what are you thinking so much? Am I coming in your thoughts as well?)

I give him a sharp glare and scoff.

"Tum idhar se ja rahe ho ki mai wapas thappad maru?"
(Are you going from here, or should I slap you again?)

"Mar do thappad, at least mujhe touch toh karogi."
(Slap me, at least you'll touch me.)

A deep sigh leaves my throat and I get up from the bench I had been sitting on since Inaya bailed on me. Usko toh mai baad me dekhti hu. Pehle iss musibat ko toh durr karu.
(I'll deal with her later. First let me take care of this problem)

I feel his huge hand wrap around my wrist before he pulls me back, making me land right on his lap.

A loud gasp of surprise leaves my lips and my eyes go wide. I frantically looked around to see if anyone had witnessed the scene before wiggling to get out of his lap.

He loosens his grasp and I immediately stand up.

"Are you crazy?"

A chuckle of amusement leaves his lips and I look at him in disbelief. Is this FUNNY? Omg, how can someone be like this??

"Tum Sachi me pagal ho!" I almost shout at him.
(You're seriously crazy)

"Main? Pagal? You're the crazy one"
(Me? Crazy?)

"Mene toh kuch kiya bhi nahi!"
(I didn't do anything!)

"Ye jo tum do second liye meri lap mai beithke idhar udhar hui ho na. Bohot kuch kar diya hai tumne."
(The way you've wiggled around in my lap for two seconds, you've done a lot.)

He gives me a glance and looks at his lap before looking away.

It takes me a minute to realise the meaning of his words before anger along with embarrassment clouds my mind.

I turn around to leave but he calls my name again.

"Agar chali gyi toh tumhare bhaiya se puch lunga kidhar gyi ho. Soch lo."
(If you go, I'll ask your brother where you went.)

I let out an inaudible scoff.

What? Is he trying to threaten me? Bhaiya se puchega. Bhaiya iski gaand maar ke chor denge.
(He'll ask my brother. Bhaiya will kick his ass.)

"Dekho tum ja rahe ho ki nhi?"
(See. Are you leaving or not?)

"Nhi."
(NO.)

Another sigh leaves my lips which pull into a tight smile seeing the smug expression on his face. I bend over my feet, to undo the strap of my heel.

"Kya rahi ho?"
(What are you doing?)

"I'm taking off my heels."

"Kyu?"
(Why?)

"Laato ke bhoot baato se nhi maante."

And I stand up straight again with my red heel held in my right hand. He hesitates for a moment contemplating whether to say something or leave quietly.

"Kaynaaz-"

Before he says anything more, I lift my hand and chuck the red heel at him. He ducks and unfortunately, it passes just by him before landing on the other side.

"Missed it sweetheart"

"Oh I won't miss it this time"

I quickly bend over again before taking off the other heel. But by the time I was up and standing, his presence was nowhere near me.

Again, like I said, men are so weird.

Tired, I pick up both the heels in my hands and walk back to my room. Opening the door, I see Inaya crash on the other side of the bed, her dupatta covering her cute face.

I lay a thin blanket on top of her before crashing beside her and closing my eyes. It had been a long day, and sleep was needed.