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"Where were you and with whom?" The question from her father carried the weight of disappointments. Ishika's fingers curled around the bag and flowers she was holding.

Her heart beating loud in her chest. She has imagined this moment a number of times. Her father knowing about it but not like this and this was heavier.

She walked into the living room, her mother coming from the kitchen with a glass of water and looked at her.

"What happened?" She asked, her glance switching between Ishika and her father.

"Ask her," Ishika swallowed listening to her father's rough voice when he picked up the glass of water and sipped some.

"Where was she and with whom?" Her eyes dropped on the floor and she gulped down, closing her eyes. The weight of disappointing her father was heavier so was the weight of hiding it from him.

"Ishu, Kya hua? Where were you?" Her mother walked to her, holding her arm as she looked up at her mother and then at her father. Her eyes pooling with fresh tears but she held it back.

"He's friend papa." She slowly mumbled, licking her lips.

"And he travelled all the way here for your birthday?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.

"And he was feeding you in that cafe." He added, quieter but more intensely.

Ishika bit her lower lip, her heart thudding in her chest, her palms feeling sweaty.

"Who are we talking about?" Ishika's mother asked, looking at her father. His gaze softened a little as he looked at his wife and then back at her.

"Rithik. Rithik Rajvanshi." He told her. Ishika didn't say anything as he stared at her, jaw tightened.

"Is this what you guys have been doing all your college years? Behind my back?" His voice rose which startled her. She tightened the grip around the gifts she was holding and gulped down. Tears threatening to roll down her cheeks.

"Papa," She called him, looking up at him and walked to him.

"It's not like that." She added, keeping the gifts and flowers on the table. Her father looked at the bag and flowers, his gaze dark and intense.

"Then how it is? You didn't score AIR 6 to distract yourself in college Ishika." He mumbled, his voice filled with disappointment, the weight of which broke her heart.

"Papa college se nhi hai." She told him, gathering some courage while Ishika's mother stood, staring at both father and daughter.

(Papa, it's not since college.)

"Accha, to? Since when?" He raised his eyebrows, clenching his jaw.

"A few months. After convocation." She informed.

"See this is what she has been doing here." He looked at her mother, pointing at Ishika.

"And this is what he's doing. Distracting you from your studies. He doesn't care that you have to build your career. Why Would he, uske pas to generational wealth hai na. Ishika, if he won't study and do a job, it's not going to affect him. He has everything he can ask for. What about you? What do you want to become? A wife of a billionaire's son? That's how you want to be known without having your own career or without being financially independent?" He stood up from the couch, glaring at her. His nose flaring with anger as he clenched his jaw.

"This is not something I expected from you. Ye Kuch dino ke fun ke chakkar me you're going to ruin your career I'm telling you." His harsh words reached her ears as tears rolled down her cheeks.

(Just for the fun of a few days, you're ruining your career.)

She looked up at her father and before she could say anything, he turned his heels around and walked into his room while she stood there, anticipating the emotions, carrying the weight of disappointing her father.

But at the same time, his words weren't true. Rithik was anything but a distraction. He has been sending her notes all along, he's preparing important questions for her. He waits for the whole day to talk in the night after she's done with her studies.

Neither he was dependent on his father or brother. The gift he bought for her was with his own money when he was working as the assistant of his brother. He was serious and determined about his studies. He had his own set of goals.

The only thing that kept him different from everyone was the fact that he never stressed about his studies. The studies, his goals never made him anxious. He was determined with a calm mind. He wasn't running behind studies and career. He was slowly following his goals, his career.

Her mother walked to her.

"Ishika. You know your father right." Her mother said and she looked at her.

"So what if I know him. I shouldn't fall in love knowing he's strict." Her mother shook her head, wiping tears from her face.

"That's not what I'm saying. His ideology is a lot different and you're his only child. He wants to see you successful. He's worried about you. He doesn't want you to choose a wrong guy. But at the same time, you're an adult. You also know what is right and what is wrong for you. Give him some time, let him digest that his daughter is all grown up and have a boyfriend." Her mother chuckled, slowly patting her cheeks.

"I'll see him. Don't worry, Talk to him when you feel okay." She said and nodding at her, Ishika walked into her room picking up the gifts and the flowers.

Closing the gate, she dialled his number before keeping everything on the table. He picked up after a few rings.

"Where are you?" She asked as soon as he picked up.

"Hotel roo-

"I love you Rithik." She interrupted, confessing to him. Her heart beating loudly against her chest and tears rolled down her eyes. There was no movement from the other side.

"I love you. I was stupid to think that I should wait for a right time and make it special but yeah. I can't imagine about losing you at all. I never ever want to lose you Rithik." She huffed, completing her sentence and her voice breaking in the end when tears rolled down her cheeks.

Her heart torn between her father and the man she was in love with.

The call ended right after and her phone started ringing with a video call. She picked it up after wiping away her tears.

"Ishi- what happened? Why are you crying?" He looked at her, the excitement and happiness only lasting for a few seconds after seeing her red eyes.

"Nothing, I just wanted to confess." She mumbled as more tears rolled down her eyes.

"But why are you crying? Your eyes, your whole face is red Ishu." She sniffed, wiping the tears off her cheeks with the back of her palm and chewed her bottom lip between her teeth.

"Papa saw us in that cafe." She mumbled, lowly. A gasp left his mouth as he stared at her, Fear and hesitancy shadowing his face.

"What? How?" He asked in disbelief.

"I don't know. When I came back, he was here in the living room and as soon as I came, he asked me about you. He was angry and... disappointed in me." Her voice broke at the end with her and she ended up breaking down in front of him, tears streaming down her cheeks as she held the phone tightly in her grip.

"Ishi, calm down okay. He won't he angry for too long. Wait, I'll come there and talk to him." Ishika shook her head listening to him, fear and shock in her eyes.

"No no don't. He'd be too angry. I'll handle him, don't worry." She mumbled, wiping her tears.

"Ishi, don't cry please. We'll talk to him and he's not disappointed in you. He knows how much you study and how dedicated you're. It's just a shocking news for him. We should give him some time. Phir bhi Kuch nhi hua to I'll ask mummy papa to talk to your parents alright." She nodded her head, her lips curving in a pout.

"Come on, drink some water and wash your face. Also go and talk to him. I'm sure he's going to understand." Nodding her head heaved out a breath.

"Also, I'm here. Don't worry. We're going to handle it." She nodded before hanging up the call and inhaled a deep breath.

Freshening up and changing into fresh clothes, she walked out of her room to have some water for herself. Also taking a glass of water for her father, she walked back upstairs and knocked at the door of his room.

Her mother opened the door and gave her a small smile.

"Papa," She called her father who was on the bed, half lying, half sitting. He straitened up seeing her. His gaze still intense and facial expressions still hard enough.

She didn't know what to say next so walking to him she gave him the glass of water. He looked at her and then at the glass before keeping it on the nightstand.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled, chewing her bottom lip between her teeth.

"For what exactly? For having a relationship? For not taking care of your studies? For lying to me for going out? Or for meeting that boy?" He almost snapped at her. She licked her lips, her gaze on the floor as she stood in front of her father like a student caught in front of the principal.

"For not telling you about him." She mumbled.

"And you thought telling me would have been a better option? I'd have been happy?" He scoffed and looked at her mother. She shook her head, silently asking him to go easy on their daughter.

"Ishika, why are you doing this? It's not your age to be in a relationship right now. It's your age to focus on your career, to become something, become financially independent. This is not something I expect from you and this.... I never expected this from you Ishika." Tears gathered in her eyes again listening to him and she sniffed, looking up at him.

"He's a good guy papa." She mumbled, tears rolling down her eyes.

"And what do I do about a good guy if my only daughter is not listening to me?" He asked, looking at her helplessly. The helplessness and disappointment in her father's eyes again bought a pool of tears in her eyes.

"Papa. Think about your own upbringing. You have taught me to be brave and independent. You have taught me to be career oriented so that I never depend on anyone. Why do you think I'd make a wrong decision?" Her father's gaze softened only for milliseconds before he looked away from her.

She sat beside her father on the bed, getting some courage to talk to him.

"Anyone can make a wrong decision Ishika. We all are humans." She heaved out a sigh listening to her father and wiped her tears.

"Papa, I know him for 3 years. You know his family as well. I'm sure he's not a wrong decision." She argued. He looked at her, his gaze intense and hard.

"So you're fighting and arguing with me for a boy?" He asked.

"You're playing papa card now." She pointed at him.

"I can play papa card because I'm your papa." He pointed at her in the same way she did. Her mother let out a chuckle watching them, not able to control her smile.

"You think I'm distracted and he distracts me. Let me show you something." She said and pulled out her phone. Her father watched her as she opened his emails and clicking one of the email, she handed her phone to her father. Her hands were trembling and her heart was thudding against her chest as she dared to speak back to her father.

"See, he sends me hand prepared notes of the topic I find difficult. He even sends me question papers. He makes question papers from the question I do wrong. He's not a distract-

"Question paper?" Her father interrupted her, showing her the screen. It was a love letter from him, a love letter in the form of email.

Dear Ishu,

My cutest baby-

She couldn't read further and her cheeks heated up before she snatched her phone back and opened another email and rechecked it for question papers and important topics.

"That.....that was the only one. See, all these have questions and notes." She mumbled, chewing her bottom lip between her teeth. Embarrassment taking all over her face and heat reaching to her ears and neck. She gulped down, not sure about her father's reaction.

"I don't want to see it." Her father mumbled, his jaw hardened and tensed. She immediately put her phone down and looked at her father.

"Papa-

"I don't want to talk about it Ishika. You won't let me win I know. Two weeks from today is your exams and I'm sure your results will tell how good this boy is." She looked at her mother who wasn't saying anything.

The reason was, she somehow didn't have any problem and she never spoke in between when they both talked. She knew her mother would talk to her father once she'd leave.

"And I'm taking your phone. If you want to study, study from laptop." She let out a gasp hearing her father.

"Papa," she mumbled and her father shook his head.

"I'm not giving it to you. You can have your notes and everything in laptop." He said, strictly and she understood why he was saying that. He'd easily access her laptop through the phone and she wouldn't be able to talk to Rithik.

She heaved out a sigh and nodded her head before she stood up from the bed.

Just when she was about to leave her phone rang. Her heartbeat accelerated and she turned around to look at the screen. Rithik's name displaying on the screen along with a red heart after his name and their picture as the call wallpaper.

Embarrassment was at peak and she cleared her throat before her father swiped it right and picked up the call.

"Should I tell Mr. Rajvanshi what his son is doing instead of studying?" His tone was strict and sharp. Ishika gulped down, fidgeting with her fingers.

"Unhe pta hai uncle." He said from the other side and Ishika squeezed her eyes shut, cursing him inside.

(He knows about it uncle.)

Her father looked at her, sharp gaze.

"Ab muje pta Chal gya. Ab baat nhi kar paoge to dubara phone mat krna." With that, her father hung up the call and looked at her.

(Now I know about it as well so don't you dare to call her again.)

She stared at the floor. The little hope that her father's heart softened was gone after his words with Rithik.

"Go and get ready. We're going for dinner." He ordered getting up from the bed and kept the phone in his wardrobe. She looked at her mother helplessly who blinked her eyes in assurance.

"Ja ke taiyar ho ja beta. I'll talk to him." She nodded her head, her head hanging low as she walked out of the room.

(Go and get ready.)

The dinner was silent. This wasn't the expected birthday dinner but here she was, sitting silently playing with her plate full of food in a five star restaurant.

The table was silent, only the occasional words of her mother to break the silence.

"Don't disrespect food." Her father mumbled catching her attention. She nodded and begun eating but she couldn't swallow anything. The stress was eating her up. She didn't know what her father was thinking, what he was up to. Neither she could talk to Rithik.

It was all mess at the moment. Her exams were in two weeks and now that her father came to know about her and Rithik, she was sure he'd be strict with her. He wasn't going to return her phone as well and not talking to him would only bring anxiety and uneasiness to her.

She was glad at least she confessed. He knew about her feelings now and he'd know that she'd never give up on him.

But two weeks, two weeks she wouldn't be able to talk to him at all. A few messages here and there, that's all and that was the worst part.

In the afternoon she was crying about him leaving and now she wouldn't get to talk to him at all.

Heaving out a sigh, she ate half heartedly. There was no point of arguing with her father. He would give her phone back only after exams. She knew him too well for this.

Coming back from the dinner, she directly went into her room without saying a word to her parents. Her head was aching so was her heart.

The guilt of disappointing her father and the pain of not having him by her side made her vulnerable and fragile.

Tears rolled down her cheeks but then her eyes fell on the books on the table.

Inhaling a deep breath, she wiped her tears before changing into fresh clothes.

She sat on the chair and opened her laptop. Connecting it to the internet, typed a message.

"Rithik, I don't have my phone with me. Two weeks from now, we have exams. I'll try my best to focus on my studies and I hope you're going to do the same. Also, we won't be able to talk for these two weeks and hopefully I'll get my phone back after that. Take care of yourself and study well. I love you ❤️." She sent the message and stared at it for a few seconds.

He read it immediately. Three dots appeared on the screen before she received his message.

"Don't worry Ishu. Everything will be alright. I'll keep sending you notes and question papers. Take care. I love you ❤️" Reding the message, she turned off the screen.

Going on the bed, she closed her eyes. Sleep was far away from her but she needed to. She couldn't let today's problem create chaos for her future.

Whatever was today was temporary but if she let it affect her studies, she'd be compromising with her future so she tried to accept her fate.

Just when the sleep was about to take over her, she heard a knock. Soft and low knock and surely it wasn't from the door. Throwing off the blanket, she ran to the window and opened it without giving it a second thought.

Rithik was hanging off her window and how did he reach there, she had no idea. The moment their eyes met, he grinned while her eyes filled with fresh tears.

"Rithik," she mumbled, walking to him and held his hand through the iron rod. The touch was desperate and longing.

"How did you get here?" She asked.

"Don't worry about that. How are you? All good? I saw your message and couldn't hold back." He said, smiling at her while her heart was thudding in her chest. What if her father found out? And why was he risking his life by climbing to the window of first floor?

"Are you crazy or what! You're risking your life Rithik." She snapped at him but he chuckled.

"Come closer," Furrowing her eyebrows, she did what he said and he gave her a look, shaking his head.

"Closer, so that my lips can touch yours." Heat crept to her neck and cheeks listening to him.

"You know how serious the situation is and here, you want to kiss me. Are you dumb and stupid?" She scowled, straightening up and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'm dumb and stupid in your love. How do you expect me to keep calm after confessing? And also, I'm brave enough to climb up here to get a kiss from you and talk to you. I can't sleep peacefully knowing you'd be overthinking and worried about this whole situation. So come on, let me kiss you please." Her heart melted listening to him and she moved closer and held the iron rods before she felt his lips on hers for a few seconds.

Nothing erotic, just a warm press of lips on hers assuring her. He didn't speak but his gesture did, telling her that he'd stay with her irrespective of the situation.

"Two weeks. And our exam will be over. Either you'll be shifting to Delhi or I'm shifting where your father will ask you to. Don't worry, I'm not staying away from you at all. And about uncle, unhe ham mna lenge kyuki shadi to me unki beti se hi krne wala hu." She chuckled at his words as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

(About uncle. We'll convince him because I'm going to marry his one and only daughter.)

"You should go, it's risky." She told him, watching him hanging by the window.

"I love you Ishu." He said, smiling at her.

"I love you too Rithik," He smiled and climbed down. That's when she saw a ladder by the wall. How and from where, she had no idea. But then her eyebrows furrowed noticing the plastic on the steel ladder.

Did he get a new ladder just to climb up to her window? Getting on the ground, he folded the ladder and kept it back on his bike before waving at her and blew her a kiss.

"Bye," She mouthed before he hoped on his bike and drove away leaving her with a mix of pain, guilt and happiness. Guilt for her father, pain for not able to talk to him and happiness because she knew he'd cross oceans just to see her.

------

"Chachi, jra puchna isse, konse dost ki party me gya tha that too for two days?" Ayansh asked, looking at Rithik who just returned back from Chandigarh after two days.

(Chachi, ask him in whose party he went and that too for two days?)

Rithik straightened his back, looking at his elder brother and then at his mother who walked into the living room.

"Did that friend of yours live in another city?" Ayansh added next, sitting beside him and Rithik made a sulking face.

"Tabhi to it took him two days to return from Chandigarh." Divya teased her son who let out a groan and rubbed his palm over his face.

"Mummy, uske papa ko pta Chal gya. He has taken her phone away." He sulked, making a crying face in front of his mother but Divya let out Chuckle shaking her head.

"Wow, what an exciting news. Esa Kya kaand kiya ki uncle ko pta Chal gya?" Shivam walked into the house with his bag.

(What did you do that uncle got to know about it?)

"Nothing much. I just went to meet her for the first time in all these months because it was her birthday and her father saw us together." Rithik groaned, making a face helplessly.

"Good for both of you. Abhi exams hai na 2 Hafte me, focus on that." Divya said before walking into the kitchen.

Rithik looked at his brothers who were now on the couch in front of him as if nothing happened. They were acting nonchalant and here,he was worried, concerned and what not.

"Me papa ko uske papa se baat krne ke liye Bolu Kya?" He said, looking at them. Both of them looked up at him and shook their head.

(Should I ask papa to talk to her father?)

"I know you don't love your life enough but at least you love her. Why do you want it more difficult for her?" Ayansh commented.

"Then what should I do? What if her father doesn't give her phone back or he never allowed her to talk to me?" He asked, worriedly.

"Tere exams hai na," Shivam said, glaring at him.

(You're having exams right,)

"Exams to vaps aa jayenge bhaiya, ladki gyi to nhi aaye- before he could even complete his sentence, Ayansh took out his slipper and threw at him making him wince.

(Exams will come back but if she went away-

"Mummy bhaiya maar rhe hai." Rithik shoulder, faking cry.

(Mummy bhaiya is hitting me.)

"Aur marunga so just go and study. Have patience Aur agar Tera exam clear nhi hua na, I'm going to take your phone and bike both." The horrified Rithik stood up from the couch and ran to his room while Shivam and Ayansh shook their head, watching him with an endearing smile.

A while later, Divya walked into the living room with a tiffin box and handed it to Shivam.

"I have made some Palak paneer and also fresh homemade jalebis." He nodded and smiled before getting up.

"Tere papa ne pandit Ji she baat kar li hai. They have said ki akshay tritya will be the best date for Roka ceremony. Talk to Niyati about if and I'll talk to her mother." She added further.

(Your father talked to pandit Ji.)

"Okay, bye. I love you." He said with a huge smile on his face and kissed his mother's cheeks before walking out of the house.

Driving to her residential building, which took him almost half an hour, he rang the doorbell. Niyati opened the door after a few minutes.

"Mummy ne- he stopped looking at her walking inside, closed the door. Concern took all over his face when he looked at her full face and red eyes.

"What's wrong?" He held her hand and moved inside the living room. Her skin was burning which clenched his heart.

"Thoda as fever hai," She mumbled, sitting on the couch, keeping the tiffin on the table, he sat beside her and Looked at her.

(Fever.)

"Thoda as? Are you serious. You're really burning Niya. Did you take medicines?" He asked, brushing a few hair strands from her forehead.

She shook her head, keeping her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"See this is why I was telling you to stay there for a few days. We just came back from the trip and you're overworking yourself." He scolded, gently patting her head.

"And you didn't care to inform me about it as well. You were fine in the morning," He asked.

"Maybe I'll be getting my periods back, I don't know. I felt so tired in the afternoon. I took a half day and came back. Also, I forced Mehek to sleep so I could rest for a bit. She's sleeping." She told him, heaving out a sigh.

"Come on, get up." He told her and when she removed her head from his shoulder, he stood up to bring the first aid box. Taking out a thermometer, he checked her temperature.

"It's 38." He sighed and put it back before helping her to stand up.

"Mummy has sent the dinner. You need to take medicines after that." She nodded moving to the dining table. Shivam opened the tiffin box and set the plate on the table before he went to the room.

Mehek was sleeping. He gently picked her up and in the process, she opened her eyes letting out a yawn.

"Uth gye baby." He cooed, walking out of the room. Mehek nodded, rubbing her eyes and he kissed her cheeks.

Shivam served the food in the plate and sat beside her chair, putting Mehek on the baby chair on the other side. Filling a small glass of water, he gave it to Mehek. She sipped some water and finally opened her eyes completely.

"Papa," Mehek grinned, keeping the glass on the table. Tearing a bite, he fed the first bite to Niyati and then tearing a small bite, he fed it to the little one.

"Niya, listen to me. Shift to our house till aunty comes here permanently okay. You have to take care of Mehek and there is so much of work. I don't want you to overwork yourself." He mumbled feeding both of them.

"Papa," Mehek exclaimed, pointing at jalebis. He smiled and took out a few pieces in a plate before keeping it in front of her.

"I'm fine Shiva-

"You're not." He interrupted, taking a bite.

"I'll be fine." He stopped and looked at her, almost glaring. He didn't like her overworking, neither did he like her when she argued about her health.

"Just two weeks Niya. Aunty will be here and you can come back here. Going to college, taking care of yourself, taking care of Mehek. It's too much. Papa has talked to pandit Ji. They have decided a date for our Roka and we'll have to do a lot of work and shopping for that as well. So listen to me, you'll be coming home with me tomorrow. No arguments." He declared. Heaving out a sigh, she nodded her head and opened her mouth when he fed her a bite.

And then he looked at Mehek, who coughed a little. Shaking his head, he rubbed her back gently and poured her some water.

"Aaram se beta." He mumbled making the little one giggle.

"What is the date?" Niyati asked, chewing the jalebis.

"Akshay tritya. Almost 3 weeks from now." Niyati nodded, listening to him. Finishing their food, Shivam took out the colouring book for Mehek to keep her busy while he gave medicines to Niyati.

While Mehek randomly coloured herself and the book with the colours, aggressively scribbling on the page with seriousness.

Shivam put on a blanket for Niyati as she sat on the couch. Her body was aching, her head was throbbing.

"A good way to bribe her." She mumbled when he sat beside her and messaged her head.

"Keeping her distracted so I can take care of you." He mumbled, kissing her cheeks.

"I'm sick." She glared, but to the response, he scooted even closer to her almost leaving no gap for the air to pass in between them.

"Still, you're looking too beautiful for me to not kiss you." He chuckled and looked at Mehek who looked up for a Brief second and went back to colour the pages just like he was filling her life with colours of happiness and love.

To be continued:-

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