You havenât finished your target, yet hereâs a new update because weâve successfully managed to waste another year (2024).
(In the happiness of last month)
It's a very extra large Chapter
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~Ruhi's Pov~
Ishaan took a deep breath and looked at me, his jaw tightening. "Maybe they're at the parking," he said, his voice calm but determined. "Let's go check."
We hurried out of the restaurant, the cold night air making me shiver.
But just as we reached the path leading to the parking lot, a group of drunk guys stumbled toward us, laughing and leering.
One of them, his breath smelling strongly of alcohol, got too close for comfort. "Hey, pretty lady, where are you going?" he slurred, grinning obnoxiously.
I stepped back instinctively, feeling a wave of discomfort wash over me.
But before I could say anything, Ishaan was already in front of me, his body rigid with tension.
"Move," he said, his voice low, but it held an edge to it that I knew was dangerous. The guys didn't back off, though.
They just smirked, clearly thinking they could intimidate him.
One of them grabbed my arm, pulling me closer. "Come on, don't be shy," he said, his voice full of drunken confidence.
Ishaan's fist connected with one of the drunk boys, sending him stumbling back.
The others charged forward, trying to push him away, but Ishaan didn't back down.
His movements were fast and precise, his punches landing with a thud.
The guy he hit tried to swing at him, but Ishaan blocked and then hit him again.
This time, his knuckles scraped against the boy's jaw, and blood started to trickle down his hand, but Ishaan didn't even flinch.
He was still going, determined to show them he wasn't backing off.
I couldn't just stand there, so I rushed forward. "Ishaan, stop it!" I shouted, trying to get in between them.
But he barely acknowledged me, pushing one of the boys back with ease. "I said, stay out of this"
The fight kept escalating, punches flying, and I was terrified they'd hurt each other more. "Please, Ishaan, this isn't worth it." I pleaded, but he was too focused on the fight.
As Ishaan landed another punch, he glanced over his shoulder at me, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "You're worried about me?" he teased, his voice low and playful, despite the fight. "Don't worry, Darling. I'll be just fine."
This boy will never change.
He is flirty with me even while fighting
But why?
Then the manager quickly rushed over with a couple of guards, pulling the drunken boys away from Ishaan.
They weren't much of a match for Ishaan anyway.
As they were dragged off, the manager turned to Ishaan, his face apologetic.
"I'm really sorry about this, sir. These boy are always drunk and causing trouble. I'll make sure this doesn't happen again," he said, bowing slightly in respect. Then, he suddenly paused, his eyes widening in realization. "Wait, you're Ishaan Shed, right?"
I froze for a moment, surprised. Ishaan Shed?
I looked at Ishaan, wondering what his reaction would be. People actually recognized him.
'The unemployed guy.'
But to my surprise, Ishaan gave the manager a confused look and said, "No, who's Ishaan? I don't know him." He shrugged it off casually, as if he had never heard the name before in his life.
I blinked, staring at him, my mind racing. What just happened?
Ishaan grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the parking area, his pace quick as he led me through the dimly lit path. I pulled my hand back slightly, still processing everything that had just happened.
"Hey, where are we going?" I asked, trying to keep up with him.
He glanced at me, an amused look in his eyes. "Darling, don't you have a brain? They could've called my dad, said 'Your son is here at our restaurant at 2 AM,' and that would've been a mess," he explained, his tone laced with sarcasm.
I stared at him, my mouth hanging open for a second. Seriously? He's worried about that now? But before I could respond, he tugged me along again. "Let's just get to the parking before someone recognizes me."
I pulled my hand away from his grip, now frustrated. "Oh, so now you're afraid of your dad, huh?" I said, crossing my arms and giving him an incredulous look. "Why did you even come here in the first place, if you're so worried about people finding out?"
Ishaan slowed down, his smirk not fading. "Relax, Ruhi. It's not about being afraid of my dad. I just wat to feel colour in your life."
I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "Yeah, right. Always the drama, Ishaan. Do you even think about anything before you do it?"
He turned to face me with a teasing glint in his eyes. "If I did, would you still enjoy making my life miserable?"
I shot him a glare, but deep down, I couldn't help the little smile creeping up.
Ishaan said "Now, let's find them out, it's still 2 in night and our family members wakes maybe at 6 in morning"
I shot him a pointed look, clearly annoyed. "Just because you're unemployed and wake up at 8 doesn't mean everyone else is a mess. Besides, today's a special day-everyone's up at 4:30, because they're all going to the temple for blessings. Get it now?"
Ishaan, still stunned, stammered, "Wait, so... everyone's awake at 4:30? And you knew that how?"
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not as clueless as you think. Some of us actually pay attention to details, while others sleep through the chaos."
Ishaan said while trying to distracts the topic "Now let's find them out"
I stared at Ishaan, shaking my head. His knuckles were still bleeding, and he was acting like nothing happened. "Ishaan, you're going to the hospital first.Your hands are bleeding." I said firmly.
He waved it off, looking all casual. "It's nothing. I'll be fine. We need to find the others."
I couldn't believe he was being so stubborn. "Stop it, you're going to sit in the car and I'm driving you to the hospital."
He raised an eyebrow, obviously skeptical. "You? Drive?"
I crossed my arms, not in the mood for his teasing. "Yes, I can drive, Ishaan. And I'm driving us to the hospital, whether you like it or not."
Ishaan crossed his arms, looking as stubborn as a mule. "I'm not going to the hospital, Ruhi. It's nothing. Just a few cuts." He tried to wave me off like it was no big deal.
I was having none of it. "No, Ishaan! You're going, and that's final!" I grabbed his arm, giving him a gentle but firm push toward the car.
He leaned back, clearly not moving an inch. "Ruhi, come on. I'm fine. I'll just bandage it at home."
I raised an eyebrow, my hands now on my hips. "Really? You think you're the next superhero or something? No. You're going, and I'm driving you there."
He threw me an exaggerated pout. "I don't want to. I have a whole plan to find the others. It's important."
I rolled my eyes "Yeah, your ultimate plan, and you're going now." I wasn't asking; I was practically dragging him.
He stumbled a little, clearly not expecting my sudden forcefulness. "Ruhi, seriously?"
I pulled harder, smirking. "Yup, I am. Now, move it."
He threw up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine! I'm going to the hospital. But only because you're making it sound like I'm dying."
I grinned back, not even breaking a sweat. "Good. Now get in the car, Mr. Tough Guy."
Ishaan finally got into the car, but it was clear he wasn't ready for what was about to happen.
As soon as I started the engine, he dramatically placed a hand on his chest, staring at the ceiling like he was about to meet his maker.
"Darling, I want to live," he began, eyes wide with fake fear. "But if the reason for my death is you... then I will happily die."
I shot him a look, trying not to laugh. "You're being so dramatic, Ishaan."
But he wasn't done yet. As I pulled out of the parking lot, he suddenly reached for the car's radio and-of all the songs-he played "Channa Mereya."
You know, that song? The one that's supposed to be played when a lover is watching his love marry someone else. Really? Of all the songs, he chooses this one?
I glanced at him, blinking in disbelief. "What are you doing? Why is this the song you're playing?"
He leaned back in the seat dramatically, eyes closed like he was preparing for some tragic ending. "It's the soundtrack to my untimely demise, Ruhi. Don't you see?"
I squeezed my eyes and stare at him in disbelief.
But he just kept nodding solemnly, as if he had already accepted his fate. "At least I'll die with good music."
I rolled my eyes, trying to focus on driving.
And with that, he sat back, continuing to "enjoy" his overly dramatic soundtrack to his "untimely death"
As soon as I hit the road, I slammed my foot down on the gas pedal. The car shot forward like a rocket. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through me, and the thrill of speed was like a second nature.
I glanced over at Ishaan, who had grabbed onto the armrest, his knuckles turning white.
"Uh, Ruhi? Slow down." His voice wavered, but I could tell he was still putting on that dramatic 'I'm about to die' act.
I couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of pride. "Don't worry, Ishaan. I've got this."
"You look so cute when you think you're about to die." I tease him
Ishaan's only reply was a dramatic sigh, followed by a whispered prayer. "Please, let me live through this. If I die, tell my dad I love him."
After what felt like an eternity, I finally pulled into the hospital parking lot. My heart was still racing, but for a completely different reason now.
I looked over at Ishaan. He was gripping the seat like it was his lifeline, his knuckles still white. His wide eyes darted from the dashboard to me, then to the door. I don't think he'd fully processed that we'd actually survived the ride.
As I parked the car, he slowly exhaled, like he had been holding his breath the entire time. "Ruhi," he said in a shaky voice, his tone slightly strained, "I... I'm still alive?"
He shook his head slowly, still in disbelief. "I honestly thought I was going to die back there. I've never prayed so hard in my life."
I just rolled my eyes, but I could see his face was still pale, his hands shaking as he reached for the door handle.
"Come on, tough guy, it's just a little hospital visit. You've survived worse, right?" I said, smirking as I got out of the car.
But when I looked back, he was sitting there, staring at the door like he was waiting for it to open on its own.
"Stop your drama, Ishaan" I shout
"How are you still alive?" he mumbled under his breath
"I honestly can't believe I'm still breathing."
"Let's just get this over with, okay?" I said, already heading inside. "Maybe after this, you'll actually thank me for saving your life."
He mumbled something under his breath, but I didn't care. We'd made it, and that's all that mattered.
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As we stood by the counter, the nurse who had been looking at his hand raised an eyebrow.
"So, what happened?" she asked, looking at Ishaan's knuckles and the slight bruise on his cheek.
Ishaan, still recovering from the shock of surviving my driving, glanced at her with a deadpan expression.
Without skipping a beat, he pointed to himself dramatically and said, "Check if I'm alive or not."
Just as the nurse stepped away, a senior doctor walked in, his white coat fluttering as he entered the room. He was looking down at a clipboard, but as soon as his gaze shifted up and landed on Ishaan, his expression changed.
Ishaan's face went pale. He froze for a moment, eyes wide, before his body instinctively started to turn around, as though he was preparing to make a run for it.
I thought he was going to make a run for it. But before he could, Doctor was already there, looking at him with an eyebrow raised.
"Ishaan," the doctor called, voice steady.
Ishaan froze for a split second, then plastered a smile on his face why not he hadn't been caught red-handed in a hospital at 2 AM. "Oh, Dr. Kapoor! Nice to meet you, didn't expect to see you here."
Dr. Kapoor's lips twitched, almost like he was holding back a smile. "Me too." He took a step closer, his gaze flicking to Ishaan's bleeding hands and the tattered shirt that looked like it had been through a wrestling match with a wild animal. "And I think your dad also didn't expect you to be here at 2 in the night with bleeding hands... and may I ignore that ripped t-shirt?"
Ishaan's eyes darted around, his mind racing. "Look, uh, I'm fine. Really, you don't need to-"
"Don't worry about it, Ishaan," Dr. Mehra interrupted with a half-smile. "But I'm afraid I'll have to let your parents know about this little 'adventure' of yours."
Ishaan's eyes widened in horror. His palms went clammy as he realized what that meant. "No, no, please-" he stammered, turning to me, trying to beg without words.
the doctor pulled out his phone like a movie villain about to ruin his day.
Oh yes!
This is what he deserve.
have more adventure in life.
I was trying to keep it together, but the moment Dr. Kapoor dialed Ishaan's dad, I knew things were about to get hilarious.
The doctor's voice was calm, but the underlying concern was obvious.
"Mr. Shed, please come to the hospital. It's urgent," Dr. Kapoor said, not wasting time with pleasantries.
Ishaan's eyes widened, and he groaned in frustration. "Oh no... Dad's gonna kill me."
Dr Kapoor started to treat his hand
Just as Ishaan thought the night couldn't get worse, the door to the hospital room swung open with a dramatic whoosh. Ishaan's head snapped up, and there, standing in the doorway, was none other than his dad.
Mr. Shed was tall, sharp, and looked like he had just stepped out of a high-powered business meeting.
His eyes immediately landed on Ishaan, and the look on his face was pure disappointment mixed with a hint of... exhaustion.
His face was a storm cloud ready to explode.
He looked like he could've set the entire hospital on fire with his glare alone.
"D-Dad...," Ishaan groaned, slouching lower into the chair.
I still trying to hold back my laughter, nudged him playfully. "Your dad's here, Romeo. Good luck."
Ishaan stiffened, his face falling lower than I thought possible. "Yes Darling, I have eyes. I can see." he muttered
I could barely contain my laughter when Mr. Shed began scolding Ishaan, his voice as thunderous as his expression. "Ishaan! What on earth are you doing at 2 in the night? And what's with your look-did you just get into a wild fight or what? Care to explain yourself?"
Ishaan gulped and tried to come up with something that wouldn't get him into even more trouble, but his dad wasn't buying it. "Let me guess," Mr. Shed continued, crossing his arms. "You got into a fight again, didn't you?"
Ishaan opened his mouth to defend himself but quickly shut it when he saw the look on his dad's face.
He wasn't sure if his dad was angry or just tired of his antics.
Ishaan, meanwhile, didn't look up.
His head was so low it seemed like he was trying to become one with the floor.
Mr. Shed turned to me, his tone suddenly soft and polite. "What are you doing here, Ruhi? Did Ishaan force you into this situation?"
Oh god
I didn't have any excuses now
I blinked, taken aback.
Was he serious?
Me?
Forced?
But I couldn't let Ishaan get into more trouble because of me.
He was already facing his dad's wrath, and adding this to the pile would only make things worse for him.
I straightened up, ready to defend him. "No, uncle-"
But before I could even finish, Ishaan cut me off, his voice loud and decisive.
"Yes, Dad, I forced her to come with me."
I froze, my jaw practically hitting the floor. What? What is he doing?
"I dragged her out of her peaceful life and into my chaos," Ishaan continued, his expression dramatically guilty.
He looked at his dad like a tragic hero from some Bollywood movie. "It's all my fault. She's innocent in all this."
I stared at him in disbelief.
Was he serious? He was voluntarily throwing himself under the bus?
Mr. Shed's furious glare didn't waver as he jabbed a finger at Ishaan. "You forced her? Do you have any idea how irresponsible that is? What were you thinking, bringing a girl here in the middle of the night? Do you have any shame?"
Ishaan lowered his head further, mumbling something while rubbing his hand over his back neck.
Mr. Shed bid Dr. Kapoor a curt goodbye before turning his glare to us.
We 3 go to parking area
"Get in the car." mr kapoor said
Without another word, Ishaan and I slid into the back seat.
The ride was silent as the driver started the car and we headed toward the farmhouse.
I glanced at Ishaan, expecting him to be nervous or at least a little regretful after the scolding he'd just endured.
But no, Romeo here was lounging like a king, scrolling his phone with a carefree expression.
Unbelievable, I thought, shaking my head.
His dad, sitting in the front seat, looked like he was still one glare away from combusting. If he turned around and saw Ishaan so casually scrolling through his phone after everything, I was sure he'd slap the phone-and possibly Ishaan's face-straight out of existence.
I nudged Ishaan with my elbow, whispering, "Put your phone away, Romeo, before you get yourself killed."
But Ishaan just gave me a lazy smirk and went back to his screen.
Carefree doesn't even begin to describe this guy.
Minutes passed, and I was starting to relax when I noticed Mr. Shed shifting slightly in his seat.
My heart leapt. No, no, no... he's about to turn around!
Panic surged through me as I glanced at Ishaan, who was still scrolling like he had all the time in the world. Without thinking, I reached out, snatched his phone, and hid it under my purse as Mr. Shed turned his head.
I held my breath, praying he hadn't seen anything.
Mr. Shed's eyes narrowed as they landed on Ishaan, who was now sitting stiffly, trying to look innocent.
With his tousled hair, bruised hands, and ripped t-shirt, he looked more like a thug caught red-handed than a remorseful son.
After a long, cold glare, Mr. Shed turned back to the front, muttering something under his breath as he focused on the road.
The driver, wisely, stayed silent.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and glared at Ishaan. "You're welcome, Romeo," I whispered, tossing his phone back at him.
Ishaan caught it with ease, his signature smirk back in place. "Saving me from my dad, huh Darling."
This boy is something else.
So shameless
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The house was silent as Ishaan tried sneaking back to his room, tiptoeing across the hallway. He almost made it when his dad's sharp voice echoed behind him.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Ishaan froze mid-step, his shoulders slumping as he turned around slowly. "Just... going to sleep, Dad."
His dad crossed his arms, his glare cutting through the dim light of the hallway. "Not so fast. After everything you pulled tonight, the least you can do is apologize to Ruhi."
Ishaan's eyes darted to me, and with zero shame or effort, he mumbled, "Sorry."
Mr. Shed's expression darkened into a full-on death stare. Ishaan, realizing he was in deep trouble, straightened up and finally said, with a dramatic sigh, "I'm really sorry, Ruhi. I dragged you into this mess. It won't happen again."
I waved it off, feeling a bit awkward. "It's okay. Really, there's no need-"
"Ruhi daughter, sorry for all the trouble my son cause to you" Mr. Shed interrupted.
What is the need for sorry, your son is all mine too my subconscious mind said nonsense
Shut up, he is not yours
He is a literally playboy.
I said fastly "No uncle, why you are sorry, I haven't feels any troubled"
But my subconscious mind, ever the troublemaker, whispered slyly, How can you feel troubled when being with him is your most thrilling adventure?
I blinked, my cheeks heating up instantly. What? No! Thrilling adventure? I mentally smacked my subconscious. Stop romanticizing chaos, brain. He's nothing but trouble wrapped in a smirk.
Mr shed turns to Ishaan "I won't tell your mom about this. But for now, you go to your rooms and sleep. And Ishaan," his voice turned dangerously low, "stay out of trouble."
"Yes, Dad," Ishaan muttered, retreating quickly.
I watched him go, shaking my head. This guy really knows how to live life on the edge.
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The house was unusually quiet, the kind of silence that only made my thoughts louder.
I sat on the sofa, the TV playing some random soap opera I wasn't even watching.
Everyone had left for the temple early in the morning, and none of our group-Ridith, Aaditya, Varsha, Aarna, and Saanvi-had come back home yet.
No one had noticed their absence since they left so early, but by nightfall, when everyone returned, questions would surely start flying about why they weren't home.
My chest tightened with worry.
Where could they be? I flipped through the channels anxiously, my fingers pressing the buttons harder than necessary.
I glanced toward Ishaan's room, where he was sleeping peacefully, completely oblivious to everything. "Unbelievable," I muttered under my breath.
He's out there causing trouble every other second, but now he's sleeping like a baby while I'm here stressing over everyone else.
My subconscious, never one to miss a chance, chimed in sarcastically. Oh sure, Ruhi, blame him for everything.
But let's not forget, you're the one sitting here panicking like a detective in a soap opera. Watching TV? Yeah right.
I rolled my eyes at my own thoughts and groaned. "Can't you just shut up for once?" I muttered
Just as I was about to turn back to the screen, a movement caught my eye. I looked up and froze.
Ishaan stood at the top of the stairs, wearing a black t-shirt that fit snugly over his broad shoulders and white pants that hung just right.
His damp hair clung to his forehead, and he was rubbing it dry with a towel.
His sharp jawline looked even more defined with water droplets trailing down his neck.
Before I could recover from the sight, he walked down the stairs with a lazy grin, as if he owned the place-or the world.
He plopped down on the sofa beside me, bouncing slightly from the impact, and leaned back comfortably. Without warning, he shifted closer, resting his head on my shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Good morning," he murmured, his voice still heavy with sleep.
I stiffened, not sure if I should push him away or just stay frozen. My subconscious, of course, chose now to pipe up again. Look at you, pretending to be annoyed when your heart's clearly doing backflips.
"Move," I muttered, trying to sound irritated.
"Nope," he said lazily, adjusting his position. "This shoulder is mine for the next five minutes."
I rolled my eyes. "Ishaan, get off me before I-"
Before I could finish, he turned to look at me, his expression mischievous. "Before you what? Lecture me like my dad? Or maybe you'll push me off and then feel guilty about it?"
I glared at him, but the corners of my lips betrayed me by twitching upward. "You're impossible."
He smirked, clearly enjoying my reaction. "And you love it."
I groaned, but before I could say anything else, he poked my cheek lightly with his finger.
"Stop pretending to be mad," he teased, poking me again.
I swatted his hand away, trying to hide my smile. "I'm not mad. You're just annoying. Although why don't you go to temple with everyone."
"I don't believe me in all this, but I think you do. So why don't you go with them" he asked
He is atheist, I can't believe.
"Because you don't go, I thought what will you do after you get to know that no one from our group has come that's too all because of you only."
He chuckled, closing his eyes again as he settled into my shoulder.
This boy has no fear
I ignore him, carefully balancing the plate of hot, golden dosas Saanviâs mom had handed me. The aroma was divine, and my mouth watered as I prepared to take a bite. Just as I was about to indulge, I noticed Ishaanâs eyes darting toward my plate.
"Donât even think about it," I snapped, clutching my plate protectively. "Yeh dosa mere hain! (These dosas are mine!)"
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Relax, darling. Iâm not interested in your dosa."
I squinted at him, not convinced. "Then why are you staring at it like a hungry dog?"
"I was just looking!" he defended himself, holding up his hands. "But tell me, do you like dosa that much?"
"Like? I love dosa!" I declared with full confidence. "I can do anything in the name of dosa."
He leaned back, a mischievous smile creeping onto his face. "Anything, huh? Okay, how about thisâgive me your number, and Iâll buy you a plate of dosa."
I paused, narrowing my eyes. "One plate? Thatâs it?"
"Fine," he sighed dramatically. "How many do you want?"
I smirked, sensing my chance. "Five plates of dosa. From the best place in town. Delivered fresh."
"Done," he said without hesitation.
I blinked. Wait, that was too easy. Before I could say anything, he handed me his phone, and I reluctantly typed in my number. Within minutes, my phone buzzed with a notification. Ishaan had not only ordered five plates of dosa but every dosa available on the app.
"Happy now?" he asked smugly.
I stared at him, dumbfounded. "You... you actually ordered them all?"
He grinned. "Like I said, Iâm not interested in your dosa. I just wanted your number."
Cheeky idiot.
But hey, at least I got my dosa!
But then out of nowhere, the main door creaked open.
Both Ishaan and I froze, our attention snapping to the door.
We stared, waiting for whoever it was to enter.
I take a piece of my dosa, maybe this is a gangster came to take my dosa.
A million thoughts ran through my head-who could it be?
Had they all returned from wherever they'd been?
Were they finally back and ready to answer for their mysterious disappearance?
but I didnât care.
I dug into the plate, devouring it faster than I ever had before.
And then, Ridith walked in.
But what I wasn't expecting was Aarna-in his arms.
~To Be Continued
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~ Chapter Aesthetic ~
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~ Spoiler Alert ~
Aarna, her eyes half-lidded, grinned at him. "Ridith... you're so... so cold," she slurred, reaching up and touching his arm dramatically. "Like, ice-cold. Are you secretly a snowman?"
Ridith raised an eyebrow, his usual cold demeanor still intact. "Aarna! Stop it."
Aarna pouted and giggled, her hand now on his shoulder. "No, no. I need you... to carry me." She gave him a playful push, stumbling back as if waiting for him to pick her up.
Ridithâs face remained stone-cold, clearly unamused. "What? No."
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Buddies, I have changed the 'character Aesthetic' please check it out, if it is changed or not.
Also please tell me how is it ??