ISHQ IBAADAT 💗

22. FEAR AND CONFESSION 💗

Adhrika POV

My heart almost stopped beating for a second, the words still echoing in my ears. "Sabke saamne kiss."

"Ye kyaa keh diye Agastya ne......Main unhe sabke samne kiss kaise karungi...." I whispered under my breath, my voice shaky, my eyes darting around the room as if everyone could hear the storm raging inside me.

I clutched the end of my saree tighter in my fist, twisting it nervously. My palms were already sweaty. My heartbeat drummed in my ears louder than the music playing in the background.

"Pagal ho gaye kyaa ye.....ab main kya karu...." I muttered again, pacing two small steps to the side, then stopping abruptly. I looked at Agastya from the corner of my eyes. He stood there, tall and unbothered, the faintest smirk playing at the corner of his lips, as if he knew exactly what effect his words had on me.

My stomach flipped. He wasn't even looking at me now, busy talking to some relative with perfect composure. How could he be so calm after throwing such a bomb on me?

I pressed my trembling fingers against my forehead, trying to calm myself. Kiss... sabke saamne? The thought alone made my cheeks burn red hot. My throat felt dry, and I quickly grabbed the glass of water from the table, gulping it down as if that would wash away the lump in my throat.

Adhrika, sambhalo... ye koi mazaak thodi hai. I tried reasoning with myself. Woh Agastya hai... unki baaton ko ignore karna aasan nahi hai.

I dared another glance at him. His eyes suddenly flickered towards me across the room. That look-intense, confident, and a little challenging-made my knees weak. I immediately looked away, pretending to adjust my bangles, my fingers trembling so much that one slipped out of my hand and almost clattered to the floor.

My mind started racing with scenarios. Kya sach me woh yeh sab sabke saamne expect kar rahe hai? Agar main mana kar dun to...? A lump formed in my throat. Agastya wasn't someone who took rejection lightly, especially not from me.

I closed my eyes for a second, pressing my saree against my lips to hide my expression. My heart whispered one thing while my mind screamed another. A part of me wanted to run out of the room, escape this madness, but another part... that quiet, hidden part... fluttered nervously at the thought of being so close to him, even if it was terrifying.

"Ye aadmi mujhe pagal kar denge ek din kya jadu kiya aapne mujhpar Agastya?..." I mumbled, my voice shaky but laced with something else too-something I wasn't ready to admit.

My chest rose and fell quickly, breaths uneven. I sat down on the edge of a chair, clutching the armrest as if my life depended on it. My toes curled inside my sandals. My mind was a whirlpool-fear, embarrassment, anger, and somewhere deep down... a shiver of anticipation.

I buried my face in my palms for a moment and whispered, "Bhagwan, ab main kya karun..."

Author Pov

Agastya's eyes were glued to one place across the hall. The party lights sparkled, laughter echoed everywhere, but for him-his entire world was framed in the way Adhrika sat in a corner, lost in thought, her dupatta sliding off her shoulder as she fiddled with the edge absentmindedly.

His lips curved unknowingly, a tenderness softening his usually stern features.

"Awww... kitni soch rahi hai meri biwi... Kitni pyaari lag rahi hai mere baare me sochte huve..." he muttered under his breath, almost as if confessing to the air, his eyes never leaving her. His fingers twitched as though he wanted to brush away the loose strand of hair falling on her face.

Suddenly-

"Hmm... hmm... Mr. Agastya Raisinghania... thoda hamare baare me bhi soch lo..."

A teasing voice broke his trance. Agastya blinked and turned, irritation flashing for a second before melting into surprise. Behind him stood Vikram, his childhood brother-in-arms, smirk tugging at his lips.