ISHQ IBAADAT 💗

15. SUGAR AND SPICY ✨

𖥸❃ 𝓐𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻 𝓟𝓞𝓥 ❃𖥸

“Who is this standing outside the gate at five in the morning? That too in this much rain…” Ridhanvi mumbled, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she peeked through the rain-splattered curtain. Her voice was barely audible over the sound of thunder rolling through the sky like a war drum. The wind howled, lashing the windows as if begging to be let in.

She squinted into the blurry morning darkness. Her breath suddenly caught in her throat.

“Kahi… kahi Agastya jiju to nahi?” she whispered, leaning closer, her nose almost touching the cold glass. Her heart dropped to her stomach.

Her hand flew to her mouth in shock.
“Ohh shit… it is him!” she gasped.

Agastya stood there — motionless — just beyond the gate, head bowed, shoulders drooping, rain cascading down his body like punishment from the heavens.

Ridhanvi’s heartbeat accelerated. Her slippers slapped against the marble floor as she turned and sprinted from the room, her dupatta fluttering behind like a streak of worry.

“Diiiiii… DIIIIIIII! Adhiiiii Diii!” she screamed as she ran down the hallway, her voice echoing eerily in the quiet house.

She burst into Adhrika’s room, panting, chest heaving.

“Kya hai Ridhu? Subah subah kyun chilla rahi ho?” Adhrika snapped, sitting up suddenly, startled. Her blanket slid to the floor, revealing her tense frame. Irritation danced in her eyes — but it faded quickly when she saw Ridhanvi’s pale, panicked face.

Ridhanvi tried to speak, her hand raised, pointing back toward the window. “Dii… woh… woh…”

“Why are you screaming so much, Ridhu? Kya hua?” Adhrika repeated, worry creeping into her voice. She stood up, her anklets jingling faintly as she stepped closer.

Ridhanvi finally blurted, “Dii… Agastya jiju…”

Adhrika’s eyes widened instantly, her lips parted.
“Kya hua unhe? Woh thik toh hai?” she asked, clutching her sister’s arms tightly, her voice trembling with fear now.

Ridhanvi shook her head furiously. “Dii… he’s still standing outside…”

Adhrika froze.

“In this heavy rain… since night… he hasn’t moved…” Ridhanvi’s voice cracked with concern. “He’s completely soaked… he didn’t even flinch…”

Adhrika’s face lost all color. Her heartbeat rang in her ears like thunder.

“What?! Are you serious? He’s still there?” Her voice was rising now — not in anger, but in disbelief, in panic. “But why? Why would he still be there?”

She turned toward the window, her bare feet stepping on the cold floor. Her breath hitched.

And then it all came crashing back.

---

Flashback 📸

The rain poured relentlessly that night, creating a curtain of silver around them. Adhrika stood on the porch, her arms crossed tightly around her shivering body.

“Chale jaayiye aap yaha se, Agastya!” she yelled, her eyes burning with unshed tears.

Agastya’s soaked figure stood under the storm. His clothes clung to his skin, his lips trembled, but his eyes… they didn’t flinch.

“Main tumhe liye bina nahi jaunga…” he whispered, his voice broken, raw, honest.

Adhrika looked away, her voice shaking. “Mere liye aapko maaf karna itna aasaan nahi hai…”