ISHQ VISHQ|| COMPLETED ✅||

Chapter 4

Shivika

The moment the doorbell rang, I rushed towards the door with a smile already forming on my lips. I knew exactly who it was.

I opened the door.

“Finally, you’re here!” I exclaimed before instantly pulling her into a hug.

“I seriously don’t know what to wear. Please help me,” I whined dramatically, still holding onto her.

Kriti laughed softly as I grabbed her hand and dragged her inside.

Just then, Mom walked out of the kitchen and smiled warmly at us.

“Namaste, aunty,” Kriti greeted politely.

“Namaste, beta,” Mom replied with the same warmth.

I took Kriti straight to my room and threw all the dresses on my bed in front of her.

“These are my options. Save me.”

She looked through them carefully before finally pulling out a black knee-length dress.

“This one.”

I looked at it for a moment before smiling. “Okay… this is actually pretty.”

After getting ready, I stood in front of the mirror for the last time, adjusting my hair nervously.

“I’m done. Shall we go?” I asked excitedly.

Kriti nodded with a smile, and we both headed downstairs.

“Mamma, we’re leaving! You come soon too!” I shouted.

Mom stopped me before I could leave and gently placed a black kajal mark behind my ear.

“May no evil eye ever fall on you,” she said lovingly.

I smiled instantly.

But before we could leave again, Mom stopped Kriti too.

“And you… no evil eye should touch you either, beta. You look absolutely beautiful.”

She applied a tiny black mark behind Kriti’s ear too.

For me, it was a normal gesture.

But for Kriti… it clearly wasn’t.

I noticed the way her expression softened instantly.

Without saying anything, she hugged Mom tightly.

Mom hugged her back just as naturally.

I saw Kriti blink quickly as if trying hard not to cry.

“Come on,” I said softly.

She nodded silently, and we finally stepped outside.

But the moment we reached the gate, I froze.

Siddharth was already there.

Waiting.

Leaning casually against the gate as if he had been standing there forever.

The second his eyes landed on Kriti, he straightened immediately and adjusted his shirt.

And honestly?

He looked dangerously handsome.

A white shirt with sleeves folded up to his forearms, black jeans, messy hair, and that stupid perfume that always smelled unfairly good on him.