No-Longer Best Friend Ki Dulhan: Ishqaan

Chapter 6

Ishqi's POV

That morning, I had just ordered breakfast when I heard a knock on the door.

Weird, I thought everyone was busy and sort of hated me now? Must be Maasi, so I yelled "Aajao!" while scrolling on my phone.

After a minute or two of silence, someone coughed. I looked up to see AVM standing there awkwardly shifting from foot to foot with his hands behind his back.

So cute! My heart screamed.
Shut up! My mind said.

"Kuch bolenge bhi ya sirf khade hokar mujhe ghoorne ke liye aaye hain?"

I said moving to stand up in front of him.

"Umm, wo, mai, I mean, mai bas ye kehna tha, ki, um Imsorry."

Achchaaa, sorry mangne aaye hain janaab. Ab jab itna achcha tang kheenchne ka mauka samne se chalkar aya hai, to mai mana thodi karungi.

"Kya? Kuch kaha kya aapne?"

I said dramatically putting one hand to my ear.

"Maine kaha I am sorry"

"Kuch aawaz dhang se nahi aa rahi, thoda tez boliye na"

"I. Am. Sorry."

"Sorry bol rahe hain ya get out bol rahe hain, thoda pyaar se boliye na"

I said in my Ishqi style. Kya sahi maza aa raha hai yaar. Agli baar jab bhi bore houngi, tab aise hi timepass karungi.

""I am sorry, agli baar se bina poori baat jaane kuch nahi bolunga. I know I dont deserve it, but, um, please forgive me?"

He said this all very quickly, but I had a feeling that this was his first time apologizing to someone, so I let it slide.

"Hmmm, agar aap 10 utthak baithak lagayen to kuch soch sakti hun"

When he actually started doing it, I burst out laughing.

"Mai to- mai to mazak kar rahi thi, aapka ye-ye sak karne ke koi zarurat nahi hai"

I said between wheezes. Oh my god, this man.

"Pakka na, you're not angry?"

"Are baba han. Pakka."

"Ok then. Wo mai ye ice pack laya tha, kal jo hua..."

He trailed off, but we both knew exactly what he was talking about.

He looked very uncomfortable. It was actually pretty funny to see the usually akdoo and confident AVM to act so unsure and awkward.

"Maine kaha na, its ok, zyaada lagi bhi nahi hai"

I said showing him my forearm where a couple of bruises could be seen.

"Oh my god Ishqi! This, this is nothing? Idhar aao, baitho, aao jaldi!"

He said leading me to sit on the bed and applying the ice. The truth was, after living my a horrible excuse of a Masaaji for so long, I had become used to these small cuts and bruises.

But still, it was nice to see someone caring and looking out for me. I knew that I would never let something like that happen to me again. I knew my self worth. But I also knew that AVM would never harm me again, even in his worst nightmares. 

He must have finally sensed my gaze on him, because he looked up with a questioning glance. His eyes capturing mine, I could not tear my gaze away, no matter how hard I tried. Not that I tried very hard, to be honest. Everything else in the room seemed to fade away for a moment, and it was just the two of us.

"Hey Ishqi, tumne breakfast or-" 

We both jerked away from each other as if electrocuted.

"Hi bhai! Mujhe to pata hi nahi tha ki aap yahan hai."

He passed a teasing smile to AVM, before resuming what he was saying.

"Ye lo Ishqi, tumhara breakfast"

"Huh? Oh- oh han, maine hi mangaya tha"

"Ok to ab tum jaldi jaldi kha lo, phir Mayank ko expose bhi to karna hai na" Said Kartik.

"Han mai abhi bas 2 min me khake 5 min me aayi." I said before slamming the door shut in their faces and taking a deep breath calming my racing heart.

"What the fudge, ye ladki kabhi dhang  se time nahi bata sakti kya!"

I heard AVM exclaim from the other side of the door, making me chuckle.