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[At DRISHAN]
I stood up, my eyes fixed on the model's outfit, my mind reeling as I grasped the truth. The design, the FOREVER love story, it was... theirs.
The secret Ishu and I had kept hidden for so long. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, my breath caught in my throat.
"Bhaiya. This...." I gulp, when Kunal softly calling me. He's shock too.
I stride towards her. She stood up too to go towards the stage. No! Ishu, don't.
"Ishu, what are you doing?" I whispered urgently, my voice low and calm, as I made my way to her side.
She looked up at me, her eyes brimming with tears. "I couldn't keep it inside anymore," she whispered back. "I had to tell Mom and Dad, somehow."
As I gazed at the final design, the half-faces of a man and woman, I saw the emotions etched on their features - sadness, longing, pain. It was all there, the heart-wrenching truth we'd kept concealed. Ishu's creation was more than just a design; it was a cry for help, a desperate attempt to reveal the secret we'd both sworn to keep.
"Ishu, baccha, stop," I whispered again, my grip on her arm tightening. "Don't do this. You can't share this with them."
"But why not?" she pleaded, her voice cracking. "Why can't we tell the truth?"
"Because we can't," I said firmly, trying to hold back my own emotions. "We promised. We swore to keep it hidden."
Ishana's eyes flashed with anger, but I could see the desperation behind them. "I don't care anymore," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want to be free of this secret."
I knew I had to be strong, for both of us. I couldn't let her reveal this secret, atleast not like this. "Not now, Ishana," I said, guiding her away from the stage. I saw, Arshi's brother staring at US, with a frown. "Not here. Let's talk about this later, okay?"
"But... mom and dad." She mumbled as she stared at me in silence. Tears rolled down her eyes as I hugged her to my side
"For few more days, Ishu. I know. I know but I'm sorry. I promised, D. And, we can't break our promise right." She sniff and weep silently
"Whose story is it?" Akshu's voice reached my ears as I stiffen.
Ishana sniffed and gulp a lump. Her hands were shivering as she clutched her phone in her hand tightly
"Go. Distract them, till I don't come back." She mumbled and move away. My heart crunched, seeing her like this.
She trudged away, leaving the hall as I stared at her retreating figure, shoulders slumped down, succumbing to defeat, steps slower and body shivering in dsitress and pain.
