LOVERS FOREVER

Chapter 5 - The Past & His Outburst

Ruchi had been searching for Ishqi from the time she had run out of Malhotra house.. only to find her in her room in the dark curled up on the floor, leaning against the bed, tears streaming down her face.

Ruchi sat down beside her, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders. 

R: Ishu.. she said softly.

Ishqi's voice hitched as she spoke, her words tumbling out in a broken whisper. 

I: Kyu Ru..? kyu..? kyu kiya unhone aisa..? kya mai.. mai unke liye kuch nahi thi..? itne time se mai soch rahi thi ki hum dono.. kya galat thi mai..?

Ruchi listened patiently, her heart aching for her bestfriend. 

R: Ishu, tujhe Ahaan se ek baar baat karni chahiye.. aise assume mat kar.. koi toh explanation hogi na uske paas..

Ishqi shook her head, her voice thick with despair. 

I: What's the point..? unhone sabke saamne engagement ke liye ha kari.. is se toh ye clear hai na ki wo mere liye kuch feel nahi karte.. shayad humaare beech kuch tha hi nahi.. ye feelings ek tarfaa tha.. sirf mere side se..

R: Don't say that, Ishu.. tu aise haar nahi maan sakti.. jis tarah se wo tujhe dekhta hai.. teri care karta hai.. ye sab dekh ke mera dil keh raha hai ki koi baat toh hai..

But Ishqi's spirit felt crushed. The image of Ahaan standing beside his father, his forced smile a stark contrast to the warmth he'd shown her just a day before, replayed in her mind. It felt like a betrayal, a cruel joke played on her heart.

I: shayad hum ek dusre ke liye bane hi nahi the Ru.. shayad sab aisa hona hi..

Ruchi tightened her grip on Ishqi's shoulder, her voice firm yet gentle. 

R: usse bina samjhe use door mat dhekelo, Ishu.. tumhe sach jaanne ka hak hai, uski wajahen kya hain ye jaan ne ka hak hai.. yeh ghutan bahri khamoshi tumhe sirf aur dard degi.. aur kuch nahi..  

Ishqi sniffled, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

I: lekin koi sach ho hi na toh..? kya yeh sagai waqai mein wahi hai jaisi dikhti hai? Sabke saamne unhone haan kar di.. aur yahi ha.. binaa kuch kahe.. bahut kuchh keh gayi.. hai na?

R: Sagai ke liye Ahaan Veer Mahlotra ne ha ki thi.. tumhare AVM ne nahi.. usne apni majboori ke wajah se haan kaha hoga, uski feelings ke wajah se nahi..  aise hazaaron reasons ho sakte hain jinki wajah se woh raazi hua hoga, family pressure, ya koi obligation jiske baare mein hum nahi jante.. tu ise apni khushiyon ko andaazon par mat chhod..

Ishqi's voice rose, a flicker of defiance igniting within her. 

I: Khushi? ye jaante hue ki ki unhone kisi aur ko chun liya hai mai kaise khush reh sakti hu..?  Mai unhe face kaise karungi..? Humhare beech jo hua.. jis tarah unhone mera khayal rakha, meri care ki.. wo sab mujhe jhut lagne lagaa hai..

The mention of their shared moments hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the bleak reality they faced. A heavy silence descended upon them, broken only by Ishqi's occasional choked sob.

Meanwhile, at the Malhotra house, the celebratory atmosphere had evaporated, replaced by a tense silence. Ahaan stormed out of the house, leaving behind a bewildered family..

He drove aimlessly, the weight of his forced decision pressing down on him. The image of Ishqi's tear-filled eyes haunted him, a constant reminder of the pain he'd caused her. Anger simmered within him, directed not just at his father, but at his own helplessness.