Hello everyone! Here's chapter sixteen, please let me know how you guys like it :)

Remember to participate in trends for IPZN S2, mail/call/spam- Stream the videos Sony uploads of IPZN almost everyday. Help maintain the hype!! After all these efforts maybe we'll get a season 2 💛

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An Introduction to the Oberoi's:
The Oberoi's are very close and old family friends of the Verma's and Rathore's. Ishqi and Rahul used to be in the same middle & secondary school, they're childhood friends. Rahul is just 2 years older than her. Rahul really likes Ishqi, she also used to like him but as they didn't meet for 2 years those feelings faded a little. (The Oberoi's went to France for a business related trip) Now as Ahaan has entered Ishqi's life the mere feelings she had for Rahul have turned into strong feelings for Ahaan. Overall, the Oberoi's are great people and love and adore Ishqi like their own.

Rahul Oberoi (age. 25)
Rahul's Dad: Vikram Oberoi (age.59)
Rahul's Mom: Jhanvi Oberoi (age. 57)
Rahul's Sister: Naina Oberoi (age. 24)

That's it with the Oberoi's introduction! Now back to the story :)
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As Ishqi excused herself from there she went inside the house and into the kitchen, she was too stunned to comprehend what had just happened. Her engagement was just announced to Rahul? She felt a weird sense of sadness and heartbreak, why? there wasn't like there was someone else who she liked and desired to be with...right?

But more than the announcement of her and Rahul's engagement she was much more disconsolate for Ahaan and Rhea's engagement. "AVM ne toh kaha tha ke unke aur Rhea ke beech kuch nahi chal raha? Toh phir yeh??...Ek number ke jhoote hai, kuch nahi chal raha hota toh teen din baad usske saath engagement nahi horahi hoti! Aur waise bhi mujhe kya?!"

The thought that disturbed her the most was that "Ahaan & Ishqi were getting engaged on the same day, same time but to different people!"- She leaned against the counter and poured herself a glass of water, "Ishqi?" she said to herself, "what is wrong with you?! tu jaanti thi ke yeh saab kissi na kissi din toh hona hai toh phir aab yeh dukh kis cheez ka?" she questioned herself-

"Pyaar" she heard from behind her and turned around to see Kartik entering, he'd heard her little self convo. He stood facing her and said, "Pyaar nahi karti na tum Rahul se, issiliye khush nahi ho"-

Ishqi: A-Aisi koi baat nahi hai Kartik- Aur waise bhi Rahul aur mein ek dusre ko bachpan se jaante hai, bohot acche dost hai hum dono-

Kartik: Ishqi, pyaar mein time nahi dekha jaata, kissi insaan ko aap bachpan se jaante ho yah pichle che(6) dino se, din yah saal matter nahi karte, matter yeh karta hai ke aap uss ke liye kitna aur kya feel karte ho-

Ishqi: But pyaar saab kuch nahi hota na Kartik, kuch decisions family aur dusro ki khushiyon ke liye bhi lene hote hai-

Kartik: Ishqi, lag raha hai ke aaj tumein bhai ki aatma ghus gayi hai, bilkul unn jaisi baatein kar rahi ho...And as far as I know you're a very firm believer in love right?

Ishqi: P-Pyaar toh shaadi ke baad bhi hosakta hai....aur mujhe Rahul se shaadi karne mein koi problem nahi hai, I l-like him...

Kartik (inner voice): Ishqi toh bhai se bhi zyada denial mein hai..

Kartik: Accha Ishqi, I am going to get straight to the point, you and bhai...dono ki shakal pe saaf saaf likha hai ke you both aren't happy with this...Aap dono ke beech-

Ishqi cut him off, "Hum dono ke beech kuch nahi chal raha!" she said lying to Kartik & to herself as well.

Kartik: Ishqi, deny karne se feelings chali nahi jaati, meine tumhare aur bhai ke interactions dekhe hai. Abhi time hai Ishqi, sooch lo- tum aur bhai saath ho sakte ho! he said trying to knock some sense into her-

Ishqi: Nahi! Tum bohot zyada sooch rahe ho Kartik, AVM aur mein toh dost bhi nahi hai, hum dono har waqt larhte rehta hai...Mein aur AVM kabhi saath nahi ho sakte, we're complete opposites of each other

Kartik: But Ishqi opposites attract-

Ishqi: But like minded last and me and him aren't like minded-

"But Ishqi-" Kartik tried to object-

Ishqi: Kartik tum samaj nahi rahe, jab couple sirf couple hota hai toh baat alag hoti hai but jab couple family bann jata hai toh the dynamics change...Aur rahi baat meri aur AVM ki toh na hi hum dost hai na hi hum ek dusre ke liye kuch feel karte hai aur na hi mein aur woh iss engagement se maana kareinge.

"Mein jaanti houn ke unn ke liye family ka kya matlab hai, unki family chahati hai unki engagement Rhea se ho aur meri family chahati hai ke meri engagement Rahul se ho...and that is what is going to happen"- saying this she left from there while Kartik muttered, "Mujhe lagah tha ke bhai ko denial se bahar nikalna zyada mushkil hoga but yahan toh ulta lag raha hai...but yeh ho kya raha hai...Dadi aur DM ne toh puri baazi ulti parh di!"

As Ishqi came out of the kitchen she saw Ahaan standing by the door, they looked deep into each other's eyes. They could sense what was going on in each other's hearts but decided to keep mum. Ahaan was about to say something when a lump formed in his throat, he also couldn't find the right words, he was as disconsolate about this news as Ishqi was.

Ishqi diverted her gaze from his eyes and walked past him, her hand slightly brushed against his causing her to look back at him, his eyes were already glued on her. His slight touch had the ability to give her butterflies yet she still ignored and denied her feelings towards him.

Ahaan looked away, she sighed- Ishqi plastered a smile across her face and went from there, back to the lawn.

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Ahaan had heard Kartik and Ishqi's conversation, hearing some of her answers made his heart sink, why? he didn't know or rather he knew but didn't want to acknowledge or accept it.

When he saw Rahul hugging Ishqi he felt something inside him break, when their engagements were announced on the same day but with different people he cursed his luck..."why???" he questioned himself- Ishqi's drunken confession played in his head-

"mere dil mein jiss ke liye kuch hota hai woh banda bohot ajeeb hai, kabhi sweet aur kabhi itna khadoos! meri samaj mein nahi ata woh"

"AVM aapko pata hai mujhe aap aab itne khadoos nahi lagte..matlab aap khadoos toh ho but sweet bhi ho"-

Ahaan (inner voice): Yeh ladki waqai mein bohot ajeeb hai....kal raat jab drunk thi toh mujhe keh rahi thi ke "pyaar saab kuch hota hai" "love above everything" aur aab keh rahi hai ke "pyaar saab kuch nahi hota?!"....Ishqi  kabhi bhi meri samaj mein nahi aaigi!

To bring Ahaan back from "Ishqi-land" Kartik tapped his brother on the shoulder, "Aap kisske khayalon mein yahan khoya khoya chand baane kharey ho? Hmm?" Kartik teased him-

Ahaan: S-Shut u-up Kartik-

Kartik: Wah! Aaj toh "shut up" bhi stutter kar ke bol rahe ho matlab kuch hai...actually mujhe pata hai kya hai but Ishqi ke saath woh direct pouchne waali strategy kaam nahi ki toh-

Ahaan cut him off, "Kartik, iss se pehle tu phir se shuru hojai mein tujhe baata deta houn  ke-"

Kartik cut him off, "Shsssh, bhai please- Sonu ki bidai ka time hone lagah hai issiliye mujhe jaldi se bolne dou" Ahaan sighed and signalled him to continue, "Okay so bhai, aap ki engagement ki announcement Rhea ke saath hui but aap sooch kis ke baare mein rahe the? Ishqi ke baare mein na? Aapki shakal pe saaf saaf likha hai ke aap ke mann mein kis ke liye feelings hai aur kis ke liye nahi...Kal when you and Ishqi hugged the peace and contetment on your face was quite visible but today when Rhea hugged you aap ki shakal par likha tha ke "someone get me out of here!"

Ahaan: Shut up Kartik...aur tu kab se body language expert bann gaya!

"Jaab se aap Mr. Denial baane ho" Kartik mumbled under his breath-

Ahaan: Kya bola tu ne?

Kartik: Kuch nahi bhai, aap ka itni jaldi kuch nahi ho ne waala, filhal chalo- Sonu ki bidai ke liye..let's go-

Both the brother's went back outside, Sonu's bidai happened successfully. Then everyone bid each other goodbye and left for their respective houses.

I S H Q I ' S  H O U S E

As the Verma's entered their house DM asked Ishqi, "Ishqi beta, tum iss faisle se khush toh ho na?"- Ishqi put on a fake smile, "Ji DM, buss thoda unexpected tha toh issiliye thodi shocked houn but I'm happy with this decision of yours"

Everyone except Tara had bought Ishqi's reason, Tara was mad at her sister for agreeing to the engagement with Rahul, "denial ki bhi hadd hoti hai!" she thought- Kartik had previously informed her to not talk to Ishqi regarding this matter tonight, he said that both Ahaan & Ishqi needed some space and time to use their brains and reflect on their feelings on their own.

Ishqi sensed her feelings and sadness overpowering her happiness facade, she excused herself and went into her room, took a shower, changed her clothes and slumped onto her bed. This was NOT how she'd expected today to be like...Ahaan seemed like the only thing running through her mind...."Naam teen banda mean!" she thought- "Khud toh khushi ke maare pagal horahe hoge apni to-be finacee Rhea ke baare mein sooch sooch ke aur mein houn ke yahan bewakoofon ki tarah unn ke baare mein sooch rahi houn!"

"Mere aur Rhea ke beech kuch nahi chal raha, I swear" he said, "Jhoote!" Ishqi muttered- "Agar kuch na chal raha hota toh "haan" na bolte! Unki family engagement tak baat nahi pouchne deti!.....Lekin mujhe kya.."

Covering up her feelings with slight anger she sighed and dozed off to sleep-

//To Be Continued//

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PRECAP: Ishqi gets hurt 

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That's all for today guys, hope ya'll liked it! { Word Count: 1800 } Next part'll be updated soon! 💜

Suggestions are always welcome ⚡️

Pls ignore any mistakes 😙

Lot's of love and stay safeeee ❤️

~ Vera 🌸