Hello everyone! Here's chapter thirty, do 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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As Ishqi's dad urged her for an answer, she sat on the ground tongue-tied. Tears streamed down her face continuously, knowing saving her and Ahaan's newfound love was becoming harder with each passing second. "Ishqi!!" her dad said for the fifth time, "Haan yah na?!" he asked- 

Ishqi: I- I can't dad, aap mere saath aisa nahi karsakte! Mein Ahaan ke saath rehna chah-

Manav cut her off, "Oh please Ishqi! This is not a movie okay! Tum Ahaan se sirf dou hafton pehle mili ho, how can you decide to spend the rest of your life with someone you barely know?!"

Ishqi: Mein jaanti houn Ahaan ko...woh mujhe jaante hai, khud se bhi zyada. Aur pyaar karti houn unse..bohot pyaar..

Manav: Pyaar? Itni jaldi tumhe uss se pyaar bhi hogaya? Tum bohot bholi ho beta, aur yeh pyaar nahi hai! 

Ishqi: Yeh pyaar hi hai!

Manav: IS-

She cut him off, "AVM meri khud se bhi zyada care karte hai, jaab bhi unke saath hoti houn toh khush hoti houn! Mere liye woh bohot important hai.."

Manav: Ishqi, ek insaan ko important banane mein aur usske saath apni puri life spend karne mein bohot farak hota hai!

Ishqi: Aapko kyun lagta hai ke mein Ahaan ke saath nahi balke Rahul ke saath khush rahoungi? she asked in a low voice.

Manav: Tumhe kyun lagta hai ke tum Rahul ke saath khush nahi rahogi?

Ishqi: Kyunke mein Ahaan se pyaar karti houn. Rahul ke saath agar meri shaadi hogayi toh hum dono ki zindagiyaan barbaad hojaigi, life partner woh hota hai jo aapko complete karta hai, har sukk dukh mein aapke saath hota hai, woh jo apko aap se bhi zyada samajta hai..Jo aapse aur aap usse PYAAR karte ho! Kya fyada aise rishte ka jiss mein na toh pyaar ho, na khushi?, Ishqi ranted out in one go, frustrated by the words her father was saying and the reasons he was giving. 

Manav: Ishqi, iss waqt tumhare sar pe pyaar ka bhoot sawaar hai, jo bhi mein keh raha houn saab tumein galat lag raha hai! It's better ke tum abhi yahan se jao aur jo meine kahan hai uss ke baare mein thande dimaag se soocho. Phir hum dinner ke baad baat karte hai!

Not her but her father was the one who wasn't being understanding, knowing he was angry and not willing to comprehend anything she was saying, Ishqi dejectedly walked out of the room and went straight to hers while Kartik hid behind the pillar. 

He'd seen and heard the whole thing and he stood there in disbelief, "Kartik tujhe as Ishqaan's godfather, Ahaan's brother, Ishqi's best friend, and Tara's b-.....EK SECOND! Yeh Tara beech mein kahan se aagayi?! Aur mein yeh kya fazool baatein sooch raha houn!!! Focus Kartik!!" he muttered to himself and as Ishqi was out of sight he went towards Manav's room door and knocked. 

"Uncle, mein undar aajao" he asked and Manav nodded- Kartik took a deep breath and walked into the room and made himself comfortable on the chair next to him. "Ishqi bohot sad lag rahi thi ke apne bhai aur usske rishte ko accpet karne se manna kardiya" he started to which Manav sharply replied, "Kartik beta, I'm done talking about that topic! Aur tum dekhna, thodi derr baad Ishqi bhi samaj jaigi ke meine kitna sahi decision liya hai"

Kartik: Decision toh apne liya hai but Ishqi ke liye nahi..society ke liye....logon ke liye, so called rules ko follow karne ke liye but apni beti ki khushi ke liye nahi...

Manav: Woh meri beti hai aur mein jaanta houn ke uss ke liye kya sahi hai aur kya galat! Aur uss ka yeh faisla bohot galat hai! She doesn't understand ke log kya kahenge agar Rahul aur usski engagement toot gayi aur ussne Ahaan se shaadi karli! 

Kartik: Uncle, logon ka toh kaam hai kehna...Ishqi is an adult aur woh apna accha burah khud samajti hai...Aur logon ne zyada se zyada ek-dou hafton ke liye baatein baanani hai? Phir unko koi aur mil jaiga gossip karne ke liye! he said, trying to knock some sense into Ishqi's father. 

Manav: Baat sirf society ki nahi hai! Mein Rahul ko tab se jaanta houn jab se woh paida hua hai but mein Ahaan ko sahi tarah nahi jaanta..kya guarantee hai ke woh meri beti ko khush rakhega?

A faint smile appeared on Kartik's face, instead of a "stubborn-egoistic man who was overly worried about societies taunts", he now saw a father who was worried for his daughter's future happiness. "Uncle mein jaanta houn ke aap ke liye yeh zyada matter nahi kareyga but phir bhi mein aapko assure karta houn ke bhai bohot khush rakhege Ishqi ko. Aur yeh mein sirf issiliye nahi keh raha kyunke woh mere bhai hai balke mein yeh issiliye keh raha houn ke unn dono ki khushi saath hone mein hai" 

Manav: Mein kaise maan loun?! Ishqi ke mamle mein-mein koi risk nahi le sakta!

Kartik: Aap meri baat mat maaniye but aap ek-dou din khud observe kijiye...I know ke aap pyaar mein zyada yakeen nahi rakhte but I swear, unn dono ko saath dekh ke aap ko bhi pyaar hojaiga..

Manav: HUH?!

Realizing that he'd completely mixed up his words, Kartik facepalmed himself, "Sorry sorry, I meant ke pyaar mein yakeen hojaiga.."- Manav chuckled, "Accha uncle, mein chalta houn, I know mein zyada time bakwaas karta houn but phir bhi aap please soochiye ga jo meine kahan hai..." Kartik said as he stood up and went towards the door.

"Kartik!" Manav called out- 

"Gi" he said as he turned around- 

"Thanks...tum ho toh saab se chote but baatein barho waali karte ho...You're a nice kid"

Kartik smiled cheekily, "Thank-you Uncle" he said and exited the room, closing the door behind him. 

"Wah! Image bhai ki banane gaya tha aur meri bhi bann gayi...ek teer se dou nishane! Tu amazing hai Kartik...Bhai aur Ishqi ki love story sort karte karte apni mat bhool jaio...aise hi kamaal karte rahoge toh tera rasta toh saaf" Kartik mumbled out loud- 

"Kon sa rasta?" he heard, bringing him out of his thoughts- "Bhai?" 

Ahaan walked towards him, "kon sa rasta?"

Kartik: Kon sa rasta? 

Ahaan: Abhi jo tu barbara raha tha???

Kartik: Arrey bhai, aap mera rasta chodo aur apni at hand tragedy pe focus karo- Aap yahan kya kar rahe ho??

Ahaan: Manav uncle se baat karne aya tha...

Kartik: Woh situation filhal meine sambhal li hai, aap mujhe yeh baatao ke room mein kon se jwala mukhi phate??

Ahaan: Shut up Kartik! Aur kon si situation? Kya kiya hai tu ne? Seedha seedha baata de warna pitega!

Kartik: Arrey bhai, aap itne hyper kyun h- he stopped when he noticed tear stains on Ahaan's face and his gloomy gaze glued to the floor."He looks sadder than he's ever looked before." 

Kartik pulled his brother into a hug to which Ahaan reciprocated, knowing he needed it more than anything right now. "bhai! are you okay?" Kartik asked concerned, knowing well his elder brother was not okay. 

"K-Kartik mujhe bohot darr lag raha hai, aisa lag raha ke mera pyaar mere se cheen jaiga" he sobbed on Kartik's shoulder- 

"Bhai, aap tension mat lo, kuch nahi hoga..." he tore from the hug, "Manav uncle Ishqi ko emotionally blackmail kar rahe the...Aapko chod ke Rahul se shaadi karne ke liye keh rahe the...but guess what?"

"What?" Ahaan said as he wiped his tears- 

Kartik: Uss ne haan nahi kiya, she took a stand for you and herself!...aur meine bhi unse baat ki, he seemed to understand a little..aur aap dekhiye ga..Jaldi hi saab theek hojaiga.."

Ahaan nodded, "Thanks Kartik"-

Kartik: Arrey, aap mujhe thanks mat bolo, jaa ke Ishqi se baat karo...I know aap logon ne jo plan kiya tha uss ke hisaab se toh obviously kuch nahi horaha-

Ahaan: Tujhe kaise pata?

Kartik: Aap dono ki shakalon se pata chal raha hai, har second bechare dono ko koi na koi jhatka mil raha hai-

Ahaan: Hmm- he said as he practically ran to the other side of the hall and towards where Ishqi's room was. 

"Aaj toh almost pakra gaya! Kartik tu na apne thoughton ko apne dimaag tak hi rakha kar...no need to say them out loud. Especially not now..." Kartik said to himself as he went towards the garden. 

//To Be Continued//

Q- Do you guys prefer Rhea or Rahul? Do let me know cuz I need to get rid of one of them 😅

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That's all for today guyss!! This ch was mostly dedicated to Kartik cuz he's the best 😆- hope ya'll liked it! { Word Count: 1520 } Next part'll be updated soon!💛

Suggestions are always welcome ⚡️

Pls ignore any mistakes 😙

Lots of love and stay safeee ❤️

~ Vera 🌸