Chapter 1 - Restlessness
Aap humare liye phool hai
Jise tod le toh murjha jayega
Aur chhod de toh koi aur le jayega'
- Unknown
1:00 AM, Hooda Mansion
Chup raho Ishaan! Tumhari itni choti soch hai! Ro toh main isliye rahi thi kyunki hum itne kareeb ho kar bhi door hai. Aisa kyu hai Ishaan? Vikrant ko mere baare mein har baat ki jaankari thi, kyunki woh muhse pyaar karta tha. Aur main tumhare baare mein har baat janti hoon, kyunki main tum... Ishaan you are just too much!'
And those words that she spoke from her heart continued to replay in his mind, haunt him and assault his sleep. Yes, he yelled at her, but why? Because he was jealous? Wasn't he only Rizwaan Khan? Sent on a mission and told to keep a strictly limited emotional connection with people whom he would leave after 26th Jan? Then what was so special about Preet? The Preet whom he slowly began falling in love with. The Preet who had so much faith in him that he cursed himself every time he realised he was betraying her and playing with emotions.
He tossed again. Why was he so jealous of Vikrant Singh. Why would anything about Preet's past hurt him so much. Why couldn't he tolerate another man's eyes on Preet.
His phone buzzed to life.
Sana? Iss time pe phone? Maine tumhe kitni baar kaha hai ki yeh time par phone mat kiya karo! Seriously just stop it!'
Rizwaan. Gussa kyu ho rahe ho? Dekho mujhe tumse important baat karni hai. Kal subah ko tumhe mere ghar aana hoga. Aatif ke paas kuch khaas documents hai.'
Sana just get this straight. Main kal nahi aa sakta kyunki maine Preet ko hurt kiya hai. Bohot kuch suna diya usse aur mujhe maafi mangni hai. Parso milte hai.'
Ishaan!'
Call ended.
Nahi. Aisa nahi ho sakta. Kyu main har pal Preet ke baare mein sochta rehta hoon. Aisa kya hai Preet mein ki main usske aansu nahi dekh sakta. He Maula. Yeh tu kya chahta hai mujhse? Kyu itni mohabbat kar raha hoon Preet se. Mujhe sahi raasta dikhao mere Maula.'
He began reminiscing Sana's words and their conversation came alive.
Rizwaan, tum har ek pal ko yaadgar bana sakte ho. Jee lo Ishaan Hooda ki zindagi. Preet ko itna pyaar do ki uski zindagi khoobsurat yaadon se bhar jaye.'
Now he knew how to win Preet over again. He would be gentle and romantic, yet feisty and firm. These thoughts coaxed him to sleep, deeper than ever before.
Next Morning, In the Kitchen
Preet was stirring the soup and preparing breakfast for everyone in the family when Ishaan walked in. She was definitely affected by his presence as he noticed her nervousness but she continued to ignore him.
Preet.'
No response.
Preet.'
Still no response.
Preet main jaanta hoon ke maine tumhe bohot hurt kiya hai aur bohot bhala bura keh diya tumhe. Lekin main tumhe kisi aur ke saath kabhi nahi dekh sakta.'
He didn't realise what he had just said until he saw her staring at him and it too him a while to understand what he'd just done.
She walked out but he managed to grab her wrist and pin her to the wall, trapping her with his arms. She held her breath and closed her eyes, not knowing what was there in store for her as a few tears began escaping her eyes.
Preet mujhe maaf kardo. Preet I'm sorry. Preet tum kuch bolti kyu nahi.'
Kya lagta hai tumhe Ishaan? Kya main tumhe kisi aur ke saath dekh sakti hoon? Tumhe koi idea hai ki jab log Meghna ki baat karte hai toh mujhpar kya beet thi hai?'
Preet Meghna mera ateet hai.'
Ishaan Vikrant bhi mera ateet hai. Samajhne ki koshish karo.'
Preet tried escaping him but his grip only tightened and he began staring at her lips. She closed her eyes to take in the moment and he planted a soft kiss on her cheeks.
Mujhe maaf kardo Preet' he whispered in her ear huskily.
Preet! Beta naashta kahan hai?' said badi ma from the table.
Bas abhi aaye garam parathe aapke liye' she spoke wiping a tear.
Ishaan tum jao yahan se main aati hoon.'
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Anupamaa
