Heyyyy guyss!! I know everyone is sad about the show ending but please don't forget to participate in trends, help maintain the hype, mail/call/spam for season 2, and spread the word! Maybe if we all put in enough efforts Sony TV'll renew the show for a second season! 💕

Here's part 21, hope ya'll enjoy it!

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(Fast Forward to nighttime, everyone's dressed for the wedding- Also, I don't know much about Indian wedding steps so I'm relying on google for the info I do include- If it's incorrect or in any way offensive pls lmk I'll fs take it down 💕)
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It was the much awaited night of the wedding, Ishqi and Tanya escorted Raina to the mandap, all of them looked heavenly but the bride had a different type of glow on her face. Ishqi and Tanya led Raina to the centre and made her sit with Ryan. 

Ishqi glanced at Ahaan whose gaze was already glued onto her, both of them were again complimenting each other's looks-

Ahaan (inner voice): Ishqi looked breath-taking in a steel blue lengha with gold embroidery and a net dupptta with an embroidered border. It fit her perfectly, she paired it with a statement ring and necklace while her long brunette hair was straightened and left open. Her makeup was making her skin glow, she looked like an angel!

Ishqi (inner voice): Ahaan was looking very handsome in a dark blue sherwani, he paired it with white pants and black leather loafers. His hair was gelled back and he had a bright smile on his face. His eyes were already on me before I'd even noticed....that drew me towards him the most- His captivating smile and intense gaze, that was full of nothing but love and longing. 

Ishqi stood back and Ahaan appeared next to her, she didn't meet his gaze but smiled a bit. "Hashtag perfect couple" Kartik put his arms over both their shoulders and whispered- They pretended like they didn't hear him but couldn't control the wide smile that crossed their lips. 

The wedding begun, the soon to-be couple stood up and successfully completed the 7 rounds, then Ryan applied the vermillion onto Raina's middle part and tied the nuptial chain around her neck. After all the steps were complete the pandit announced, "Shaadi sampann hui, aaj se aap dono pati-patni"- Everyone clapped for the new couple while they took the blessings of their elders and hugged their friends. Ishqi, Tanya, Sonu, and Preesha led Raina to her and Ryan's beautifully decorated room. They congratulated her and left as Ryan entered to give the newly wed couple some privacy. 

All the elders were exhausted so they all took a leave and went into their respective rooms while the youngsters were gathered in the garden- "Guys, Raina and Ryan ki aaj shaadi hui hai so they'll be busy but hum log kyun bore ho!" said Kartik-

Ishqi: Matlab?

Kartik: Arrey bhabhi, mera matlab hai ke we all should do something fun, phir kal se toh saab wapis aapni aapni lives mein busy hojai ge- Pata nahi kaab mile- 

"Bhabhi" Aryan muttered annoyed

Tanya: Yes!! Humein kuch fun karna chahiye!! Koi options baatao-

Zain: We could go to the private lounge and watch a movie together?

Ishqi: Yeah! That sounds fun!!

Sonu: Done! Hum saab change kar ke 30 minutes mein terrace par milte hai-

"Okay!" they all replied in unison-

In around 30 minutes they were all gathered in the lounge on the terrace ~ Kartik had set it up with help from Kiara, Tanya, and Zain- 

They all took a seat and decided to watch "Yeh Jawaani hai Dewaani" (my all time favv movie ;)

Aryan was about to sit next to Ishqi when Ahaan bolted towards her and sat beside her- Everyone noticed this and a chuckled escaped Kartik and Sonu's lips- 

When they were were seated Kartik started the movie- With a bucket full of snacks and drinks they enjoyed the movie. During some sad scenes Ishqi would become emotional and snuggle close to Ahaan while during happy scenes they'd enjoy it together. 

Almost towards the end of the movie Ishqi dozed off to sleep in Ahaan's arms, her head was on his chest while his arms were wrapped around her. A blanket covered them both-

Ahaan's heart fluttered looking at her peacefully sleeping in his arms, instead of the movie- he kept looking at her with nothing but love and care in his eyes. He didn't even realize when the movie ended nor did he sense their friends' gaze stuck upon them. Kartik cleared his throat to get Ahaan's attention, "Ahemmmm"

Ahaan looked up and saw all eyes on them, "Umm" his cheeks turned a slight shade of pink while he lowered his gaze and a smile lingered on his lips-

"Bhai" Kartik whispered- 

Kartik: Bhabhi toh soe gayi, aap ek kaam karo inko room mein lejao- Let's go everyone-

Aryan: Ahaan, mein teri help kardeta houn-

Ahaan: Um it's okay Aryan, she's my wife and I can take care of her myself, he whispered making sure Ishqi wouldn't get up-

Aryan rolled his eyes, while Ahaan scooped Ishqi up in his arms, she buried her nose in the crook of his neck. He smiled and took her to her room- but it was locked and he didn't know the code. So he took her to his room instead, he put in the key code and the door clicked open. 

Ahaan went inside, laid her on his bed and wrapped her in a blanket ~ He decided to sleep on the couch as he didn't wanna make her comfortable when she woke up- but as he was about to stand up she caught his arm and sleepily murmured, "Yahin pe soe jaiye na" - Ahaan smiled and slept next to her as a slight smile appeared on her lips as well and she snuggled into his arms and both of them slept peacefully. 

----- (read ch 3 first if you haven't already to understand this part better)
It was 4am, Ishqi rubbed her eyes and woke up with a throbbing headache, she sat up on the bed and saw Ahaan sleeping like a baby while holding her hand. She smiled and softly caressed his cheek- She turned around and opened the side table drawer in search for a pain-killer but what she found there surprised her a little. 

It was the same black box she'd seen and opened in Ahaan's room in the Malhotra Mansion-
"What is this box doing here?" she wondered- Then she realized that this box contained a note which she didn't have a chance to finish reading, curiosity got the best of her and she grabbed the box and went to sit on the sofa, forgetting about her headache for the time being. 

Ishqi opened the box and found the exact same items in it except an addition of 2 new photos, one, a family photo of Aaishaan, her and him and one of her sleeping in Ahaan's embrace the night after she'd gotten drunk at the Star Business Awards after-party. She instantly knew Kartik had clicked those photos and she mentally thanked him for capturing such beautiful moments. 

Flipping through the contents of the box she found the note she was looking for, the note that broke her heart the last time she read it but she flipped it open regardless and starting reading it again from the beginning, hoping it wouldn't be what it seemed and he hadn't written he hated her. 

The note read: 
"Ishqi, you broke my trust, you broke my heart. You promised to stay with me for a lifetime but left..You broke our family..I hate you for standing with my mom, how could you Ishqi? You knew how much I hated that woman and yet you still stood with her against me..but...I still love you, I still miss you. Tumhe yaad karna meri aadat nahi hai, aadat hoti toh badal deta. Tumhe yaad karna meri kismat hai. You were the first girl I fell for, the first person who changed me for the better. Tumhare sath hote hue I felt my best, tum meri himmat thi Ishqi aur jaab tum gayi tumhare saath woh himmat bhi chali gayi. Mein pyaar karta houn tumse, bohot pyaar- even before I confessed it i loved you, I loved you then and I love you now. NO ONE can replace you, you're the first and last love of my life. I'm writing this letter as a way of saying goodbye but I know you'll never get to read this. Our chapter closed really fast, the promises we made were for a lifetime but we couldn't fulfill them. I really love you and I will always but it's better for us to part ways. I'm sorry Ishqi mein Dadi ke khilaaf nahi jaa sakta, and somewhere in my heart I know tum sahi ho but I don't have the strength to explore it. I know I've let you down, I'm sorry and I love you. 
Yours forever, 
 Ahaan 

Tears fell from her eyes as she finished reading the letter. "Meine Ahaan ko itna misunderstand kiya! Uss din agar meine letter parh hi liya tha toh purah parti na! Adha parh ke fazool mein itni aur misunderstanding pal li"

She put the letter back in the box and the box back in the side-table drawer and sat on the bed beside Ahaan. Tears were still streaming down her face, she felt guilty for not understanding him. 

Ishqi (inner voice): I'm sorry Ahaan, I'm really very sorry! Meine aapko itna galat samjha- 

His confession(s) of the previous night and the words he'd written in the letter flashed in her head- 

"Dadi ke bachpan se mujhpe bohot ehsaan rahe hai"
"Dadi ne humein bataya ke papa ki death mom ki wajah se hui"
"I was told our mom abandoned us for a rich guy"
"I've always felt like I owe Dadi  a lot"
"She instilled toxic beliefs in my head"
"But when you came into my life it changed!"
"I love you Ishqi"
"I'm sorry, but mein Dadi ke khilaaf nahi jaa sakta-"
"I know somewhere in my heart you're right but I don't have the strength to explore it"

Ishqi softly caressed his cheek, "I'm sorry AVM, I should've understood you, mujhe samajhna chahiye tha ke woh saab aap ke liya kitna mushkil tha. I should've understood that aap ek jhatke mein woh saab nahi bhool sakte the jo aapko bachpan se sikhaya gaya. Mujhe zid par aarey rehna chahiye tha, paao jaama ke kharey rehna chahiye tha- Uss waqt aapko meri zaaroorat thi..mujhe aapki zaaroorat thi- we both needed each other. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you...I-I love you..And I promise ke aab saab theek hoga"

She kissed his cheek and laid down next to him, she couldn't sleep the entire night. She had a lot to think about. At around 7am she got up, opened the door and went back into her room leaving a sleeping Ahaan behind. 

//To Be Continued//

Also, any Ishqaan scene ideas??? Please do lmk of different Ishqaan scenes you'd like to read abt!

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That's all for today guys! Hope ya'll enjoyed this update :) { Word Count: 2004 } Next part'll be updated soon! ♡

Also, these days I've been vvv busy with school so this part was written in a mere 25 minutes, I haven't proofread it so please ignore any typos/mistakes. 💜

Suggestions are always welcome ⚡️

Lots of love and stay safeee ❤️

- Vera 🌸