LOVERS FOREVER

Chapter 4 - Unexpected Proposal

Sunlight speared through the gaps in the curtains, and Ishqi wakes up with a throbbing head. She groaned, her entire body screaming in protest. Every muscle ached, her throat felt dry, and the world seemed to be spinning with each blink. 

A: Ishqi.. tum theek ho..?

I: Ahaan..? 

Through blurry eyes, she saw him approach, a glass of cool lemonade in hand. 

A: Ishqi, utho.. 

He said gently, placing the glass on the bedside table.Lifting her up he kept the pillows against the headboard and then made her lean back. The room tilted precariously, and she squeezed her eyes shut, willing the nausea to subside. 

A: ye lo.. nimbu paani pi lo.. theek ho jaogi..

she says lifting the glass from the bedside table & handing it to her.. 

I: Main bilkul thik hu 

she mumbled, more to convince herself than him.Ahaan raised an eyebrow, amused with concern in his gaze. 

A: Bilkul thik? kal raat theek se khadi bhi nahi ho paa rahi thi tum..  

she looks around & realises that it's Ahaan's room..

I: kal.. kal kya hua tha..? aur mai yaha aapke room mein kaise..?

His gaze narrowed on hearing her..

A: tumhe kal raat ka kuch yaad nahi..? (she nods no..) tum.. tum drunk thi.. isliye mai tumhe yaha le aaya..

Memories flickered back, hazy and fragmented. The party, the juice, her on the verge of falling and a strong arm around her.. the blurry walk.. the familiar cologne she smelt.. so it was him.. he was there for her all night.. he took care of her.. Shame washed over her as the events pieced themselves together – the pounding in her head, the disorientation, the way her legs refused to cooperate last night.

I: toh aap.. aapne kal puri raat mera khayaal rakha..?

A: I just made sure you were okay.. (pause) par tumhe itna peena nahi chahiye tha..

I: nahi Ahaan.. mai peeti hi nahi.. kal bhi maine sirf juice piya tha.. aur kuch nahi.. aur uske baad.. mujhe.. mujhe kuch yaad nahi.. 

He suspected something was off, but seeing her pale, drawn face and the vulnerability in her eyes, he decided to hold off on mentioning it. 

A: it's ok.. sab theek hai ab.. tum thodi der yahi rest kar lo.. maine Ruchi ko bol diya hai.. wo ghar pe sab sabhaal legi..

I(nods): thank you..

The next few hours were a blur of discomfort, but Ahaan was by her side to make sure she was fine. By noon, she felt normal again.. and she headed back home..

-------------------oooo--------------------  

The next day on a starlit evening, Ahaan and Ishqi stood beside each other on the rooftop of Malhotra house.. he looks at Ishqi who was gazing at the cityscape. The cool night breeze ruffled her hair, casting an ethereal glow around her. He approached her hesitantly, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs.

A: It's beautiful, isn't it?

He said, his voice barely a whisper. Ishqi turned, a soft smile gracing her lips. She agrees as she nods, her eyes lingering on him a bit too long. They stood in comfortable silence for a while, the city lights twinkling below like a million scattered diamonds. Ahaan felt an overwhelming urge to bridge the gap between them, to confess the emotions swirling within him.