Yes, another OS. I can't help it okay? I feel the tension needed to be escalated just a tiny bit more. This is the staircase scene re-imagined. Similar, yet, different! Obviously, I love the current track, but late-night plot bunnies cannot be and refuse to be ignored.
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Kaise bataun Kartik, ki main Ishqi se nahi, Ishqi mujhse door jaana chahti hai.
“Aap bhi to yehi chahte hain na? Isiliye, aapne aur rhea ne ye job milne mein meri help kari?” Once again, there was a shadow of helplessness in her eyes. The same kind he had seen all those months ago.
“Tumhe seriouslyn lagta hai ki jo sab hua, uske hone ke baad main tumhe yahan se, apne se door bhejna chahata hoon? Seriously Ishqi?”
“Kya aap nahin chahte ki main jaaoon?”
“Kya tum jaana chahti ho?”
And just like that, they were at a stalemate again. They’d been here before. The same resort. A different pillar. The same hearts, yet so different. Her eyes had been pleading that night too, like they were now. Pleading for what, he had yet to find out
“Yeh mere question ka jawaab nahin hai AVM. Kya aap chahte hain ki main jaaoon?” she asked forcefully this time.
“Nahin” slipped out in a low tone before he could stop it.
“Phir kyun?”
“Kyunki usne kaha ki tum jaana chahti ho”
“Aap kya chahte hain?”
He could drown in the deep abyss of her eyes. He wanted to. It would be so easy to lose himself in her words and voice and find himself in her eyes. Each word had brought them closer until they couldn’t distinguish where his breath began and hers ended. This was what it had all culminated to. This was it. If he could only get the words out, everything would be alright. As long as he had Ishqi by his side, he could fight the world and win. A deep breath filled his lungs as he prepared to answer her question. “Ishqi, main-”
“Ahaan? Where are you?” Rhea. That was Rhea’s voice. He whipped around towards the sound of her voice. How had he forgotten about her in a few short minutes? Rhea couldn’t see him with Ishqi. There would be too many questions and even more misunderstandings. But before his brain could formulate a plan, or even words, she was in front of him.
“Ahaan, tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?”
“Wo main-,” he turned to see how they would explain this meeting to Rhea. Gone. She wasn’t there. Had he imagined her? Was that entire encounter a figment of his imagination? “Wo main maasi se milne aaya tha. Unko good luck wish karne. Ishqi rest kar rahi thi toh socha bahar aake maasi se baat karlun. Wo bas abhi hi andar gayi hain.”
“Haan. Bechari ke saath pichle 2-3 dino mein kya kuch nahin hua hai. She needs the rest. Waise hum sab tumhe doondh rahe the. Papa wants to know agar shaadi ki announcement karni hai ya nahin. Tumne kuch socha?”
“Hm?” Ishqi bin bataye kahan gayab ho gayi? Kahin Rhea ki wajah se to nahin…?
“Ahaan? Shaadi ki announcement? Aaj raat ko kar sakte hain?”
Kya Ishqi sach mein mujhse door jaana chahti hai? Kya sach mein usse nahin pata ki main… Stop it Ahaan. You’re engaged to Rhea. You’re getting married to her. Ishqi jaa rahi hai. Aur ab tu usse nahin rok sakta. You lost your chance. Ab tere liye sirf Rhea hai. “Haan. Aaj raat ko humari shaadi ki announcement kar sakte hain. Main to kehta hoon, shaadi kal hi karte hain. Why wait, hm?” he told her with a smile that felt like hard plastic on his face.
“Oh! I’m so happy ki you agreed Ahaan! Thank you! Papa will be very happy! Tum chaloge na? Unhe bataane?” she started down the steps.
He nodded at the happy woman. Theek hai Ishqi. Tum jaana chahti ho? Tum life mein move on karna chahti ho? Fine. Main tumhe nahin rokunga. With a swift turn, he followed his fiancee down the steps.
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Yes? No? Let me know! I genuinely love writing for this ship, just because of the realness and the genuine vibes they give off. Love ya'll! ❤️
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