No-Longer Best Friend Ki Dulhan: Ishqaan

Chapter 7

A lot of apologies and a lot of tears later, we were all back in our rooms.

The next morning, we were all making small talk and walking (me being I, Ishqi, Kartik and Sonu), when I noticed someone standing at the entrance and waving excitedly at us and Ishqi was... excitedly waving back? Soon after, she let out a squeal of pure delight and ran towards him, and to my utter disbelief, hugged him! What the fudge! I clenched my fists, leaving crescent shaped imprints on my palm.

She immidiately burst into excited rambling when they finally separated.

"Abhishek! Tum wapas kab aaye? Mujhe bataya kyun nahi?! Welcome back! Uncle Aunty kaise hain? Tum kaise ho? Or-"

"Ye kon hai? You know him?" I asked her feigning casualness, my tone only slightly skeptical.

But fortunately (or unfortunately), she was too engrossed with him to care.

"Know him? Mai to iske poore khaandan ko janti hun. Offo, mai to aap logon ko introduce karana hi bhool gayi." She said facepalming. Adorable!  Stop Ahaan. Focus.

"Everyone, ye hai Abhishek, mera BF!"

I choked on my spit, suddenly and loudly. Excuse me WHAT?! She had a BF? But she broke her marriage just 2 days ago! Who IS this guy?

"BF?!" I asked increduosly.

"Han, wo aapki Hi-Fi angrezi me bolte hain na best friend ko, he's my best friend."

Ohhh, he is her best friend. Thank god. Wait, what am I thanking god for? Get a hold of yourself Ahaan!

"Ohh, wo BFF hota hai Ishqi, Best friends forever." Said Kartik, trying and failing very miserably to hide his amused expression.

"Han Ishqi, BF to boyfriend hota hai." said the guy- Abhishek, who was also stifling a chuckle. What was so funny?! 

"Bhaiya, apna muh band kar lo." said Sonu.

Oh.

"Anyway, Abhishek, ye hai Sonu, AVM and Kartik." She said pointing to all of us in turn.

"Achcha to ye hai Naam teen banda mean! Hi!" He exclaimed.

Kya kya bata rakha hai mere bare me Ishqi ne ise?

"Ye hai naam teen banda mean matlab?" I asked him warily.

"Kya bataya hai? Ye pucho kya nahi bataya hai. And I hate all these aap waap wali formalities, Ishqi ke friends matlab mere friends."

"Sure, to batao, tumhe  kya bataya hai Ishqi ne mere baare me."

"Aree she's always like-"

"Kuch nahi, kuch nahi! Sirf functions wagerah ke baare me bataya hai maine, hai na Abhishek?" She said glaring at him, and- were they communicating with their eyes? I thought that was our thing! What thing, she isn't your girlfriend. But if they were though, then that guy is dead. That look screamed, I will kill you. Good for him he quickly agreed with her.

"Han, han. Han. Wo functions ke baare me batati thi to aapka naam nikal hi aata tha.

"Abhi tumhi ne to kaha tha na, I dont like formalities, to phir mujhe aap kyu kah rahe ho?"

"Ab jab aap mujhe age me bade hain to aap to bulana hi padega na, bado ki respect karni chahiye, haina?"

What the fudge! I swiveled my head to look at Ishqi, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Ye pakka isi ne kiya hai, and now madam is laughing. I heard something from beside me and I found Kartik and Sonu trying to hold in their laughter. Traitors.

"Aisa nahi hai, mai itna bhi bada nahi hun age me."

I turned to face Ishqi once again,

"Pakka tum hi ne bola hoga ise meri age ke bare me. Tumse itna bhi bada nahi hun, tum- tum hamesha haath dhokar meri age or mere naam ke peeche kyu padi rehti ho?!"

"Aapki age physically nahi hogi, but mentally to..."

"You- ughh. Anyway tum kya kah rahe the?"

"Mai ye kah raha tha ki jab bhi Ishqi functions ke baare me batati thi, to kahi na kahi tumhara naam aa hi jata tha."

"Oh really? Har baar?" Asked Kartik. Abhi sabko jaane do, tab batata hun ise. His epression was, you guessed it, teasing.

"Ab saari baatein yahin khade khade kar lenge ya andar bhi chalenge? Abhishek, tum jao, freshen up. Ham sab tumhara garden me wait karte hain. Thik hai? Thik hai. Ab jao!" She sent him off and returned with a beaming smile that could rival the sun. She looked so happy. It looked good on her. Everything looked good on her. Except for maybe tears.

"Ab to batado ye tumhara best friend ek din me kaise paida ho gaya? Asked Kartik.

That was exactly what I wanted to know. Pata nahi kahan se tapak pada ye best friend.

"Ek din me nahi 25 saal pehle hua tha paida. Or 11 saal se mera best friend hai."

"11 SAAL? Tumne mu- hame uske baare me bataya kyu nahi?" I asked her slightly hurt.

"Mai aapko kyu bataungi? Aap lagte kon hain mere?"

Aap lagte kon hain mere?

I stopped walking abruptly. Was I no one to her?

Aap lagte kon hain mere?

It fell from her lips so easily, like she hadnt just crushed my heart into a thousand shards.

Aap lagte kon hain mere?

Wasnt she right though? Who am I to her? Her ex-fiance's best friend? Practically no one. But, just for a moment, I wished that it wasn't true. Just for a moment, I wished that I was more than that. I wished... that I could call her mine.

There's no use of these thoughts now Ahaan. You are committed to Rhea.

I looked around and saw everyone staring at me. Great, now I made it awkward.

"AVM, mera wo matlab nahi tha-"

"Its okay Ishqi, you dont need to cover up."

Not okay, not okay, not okay, not okay, not okay-

"Mai cover up karne ki koshish nahi kar rhi thi."

"I know. Its okay. You're right."

I saw her face fall, and she looked a bit... disappointed? I couldn't tell before she and Sonu turned and started to walk forward. Maybe I am imagining things. This is ridiculous! Why am I getting so worked up over such a small thing?!

"🎵Ishq wala love🎵"

Crap, did I just say that out loud?

"Yes you diiid bhai"

Once again?? Ugh Kartik!

"Shut up Kartik."

"Ab to accept karlo bhai! Aapko bhi pata hai ki aap Ishqi ko jitna attention dete ho, it IS ridiculous. Aap- aap khud hi socho, aapko kyun uski har vaat se itna fark padta hai? Kyun aapko uske chot lagne pe dard hota hai? Kyun aapki aanko me Ishqi special X-ray laga hai? Ab bhi time hai bhai, agar Mayank ka drama nahi hua hota to abhi tak Ishqi kisi ki wife ban chuki hoti, apne denial land se bahar aa jao."

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Oooooh, will Ahaan realise? Banda bada ziddi hai *sigh*. Anyway, thank you for reading and pls vote and all the other bullshit. Or itne lambe wait ko compensate karne ke liye normal se lamba or achcha ch diya hai. Ab show me achche wale ep aa rahe hai to inspiration bhi milegi, to ab phir se regular updates!

Byeeeeee!