Failed reconciliations

As the weeks ticked by, Ishan's impressive intelligence and strategic thinking continued to win over the board members, Aryan began to regain his confidence. With Ishan by his side, Aryan started to take charge, leading meetings and asserting his authority with renewed strength.

Atul Oberoi, on the other hand, grew increasingly frustrated as his plans to take over as CEO were foiled once again. He watched with growing resentment as Aryan and Ishan's partnership continued to succeed, solidifying their control over the company.

Meanwhile the palpable awkwardness that had settled between Ishan and Aryan following that fateful night showed no signs of dissipating.

Ishan had taken to sleeping on the couch, a physical barrier erected between them, yet he couldn't shake off the nagging feeling of emptiness that had taken up residence within him.

He had grown accustomed to waking up beside Aryan, his pretend husband, and the sense of comfort and security that came with it was now sorely missed. The warmth of Aryan's presence, the gentle stirrings of his body as he slept, had all become an integral part of Ishan's daily routine, and their absence left a gaping void that seemed impossible to fill.

Aryan, too, was struggling to come to terms with the newfound distance between them. He had grown to cherish the quiet moments they shared in the morning, the soft warmth of Ishan's body as he stirred, and the gentle smile that would spread across his face as he slowly came awake.

To the outside world everything was fine, they were just another sweet and loving couple, No one could see the storm building inside their heart.

"These are delicious!", Harivansh took a bite of the Aloo parathas and declared, "Durga used to make the same parathas for" The dish reminded him of his late wife.

"Do you remember, Aryan beta?" he asked, nostalgia evident in his voice.

Aryan nodded silently, his eyes cast downward as he took another bite of the paratha.

His hands moved slowly, requiring great effort, and Ishan quickly intervened, catching the paratha before it fell. Ishan then gently offered Aryan the bite, who accepted it without a word.

'Still Giving me silent treatment, huh. As if the Kiss was my fault'

"Thank you, Papa," Ishan said, blushing at the compliment from his father-in-law. "Keerthika ji taught me."

"Oh, stop lying, ma'am.", Keerthika chuckled and winked at Ishan, "You were the chef from the start; I just had to make the dough."

"It's not my fault that daugh kept running.",Ishan smiled.

"And let's not forget the improvement in Aryan baba's health." Keerthika added, "The assistants that Radhika ma'am brought have worked wonders."

Harivansh praised, "Really commendable job, you two! "

"Even we have never seen such improvement in such a short time", Mohan replied nodding in agreement. "It depends on a person's will to improve themselves."

Nisha, the female assistant, chimed in, "Radhika ma'am's love is the reason for such improvement," causing Ishan to blush and smile.

Ishan glanced at Aryan, who still avoided his gaze.

"And Radhika beta, have you finalized the date for your honeymoon yet?", Harivansh broke the silence again, "You know it's a wedding gift from Mr. Atul Oberoi."

"Did this old man forget that I'm a man? Why is he so hell-bent on making it awkward all the time"

Ishan attempted to deflect, "But Papa, you know why he's doing this—"

"So he can get the board members to agree to the Qualcomm deal.", Harivansh cut him off, coughing between words. "I know, but we can't really reject this, beta,"

Aryan spoke up, "We'll schedule it after the Grahi Pravesh Puja at Mommy Ji's house, day after tomorrow."

Ishan's eyes widened in dismay, thinking,

"Really, dude?, Are you really excited to go sight seeing with a guy"

Keerthika exclaimed, "You must be excited to finally visit your Mayka after so long, right Radhika ma'am?"

Ishan could do nothing but smile, not sure how to tell them that he had been dreading to see his parents face dressed in Kanjivaram saree with vermillion on his forhead.

"I should get going then", Harivansh stood up, but stumbled and lost his balance.

Ishan quickly got up to support him.

"Papa, are you alright?"

"I'm okay, Beta", Harivansh reassured, "probably just a headache."

"You should take a day off, Dad.", Aryan looked up, concern etched on his face.

"A man should only keep working till he dies.", Harivansh proudly declared, laughing and coughing as he did.

"So patriarchy fucks with both men and women, then."

As Harivansh departed, Aryan and Ishan were left to finish their meal in silence. The maids efficiently cleared the table, and Ishan retreated to his room to change out of his saree and prepare for the day ahead, which included reapplying his makeup.

Aryan trailed behind Ishan clutching a something with his  hands, exchanging an awkward glance with Keerthika, who responded with an encouraging thumbs-up, as if urging Aryan to take a chance and bridge the gap between him and Ishan.

He knocked gently, and to his surprise, the door swung open almost immediately.

Ishan stood before him, his hair disheveled in a messy bun, and a scowl etched on his face. He was mid-change, his blouse unhooked, revealing a glimpse of his cleavage. The saree had slipped to his ankles, leaving him in only his bra and panties.

Aryan's eyes widened in shock, and before he could apologize, Ishan shouted

"What the hell are you doing here? Get out!"

The outburst echoed through the room, and Aryan's cheeks burned with embarrassment.

"I-I'm sorry," Aryan stuttered, trying to recover. "I didn't mean to walk in on you like this."

Ishan's scowl deepened, but a hint of amusement danced in his eyes.

"What do you mean, 'walk in on me'? Did you forget to knock?"

Aryan's mind reeled, trying to recall if he had indeed knocked. The door had swung open so easily, catching him off guard.

"I-I did knock," he insisted, attempting to salvage the situation. "I thought you were...uh...ready."

"Of course you thought, you little pervert," Ishan said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he blamed Aryan. However, his anger began to dissipate when he noticed the chocolates in Aryan's hands. His favorite treats had a calming effect on him.

"What's that in your hands?" Ishan asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Aryan looked down, clutching the chocolates tightly. "I just wanted to say sorry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ishan picked up the Kanjivaram saree and covered his chest, then walked towards Aryan to examine the chocolates more closely. A small smile played on his lips as he recognized his favorite treats. He picked one up, but his expression soon turned suspicious.

"How do you know I like these chocolates?" Ishan asked, his eyes narrowing.

Aryan grimaced, closed his eyes, and replied, "Mommy ji told me."

Ishan's eyes widened in surprise, and he shouted, "YOU TOLD MA ABOUT THE KISS!!!?"

His outburst caused the saree to slip again, revealing his bust. Aryan quickly closed his eyes, and Ishan rushed to cover himself again.

"But why would you do that?", Ishan said, facepalm so hard his forehead got red, " just get out before I say something I will regret!"

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Hi reader, well looks like Aryan's attempt to say sorry has turned this situation into more awkward than it already is. There is someone else who knows about the kiss!! How is our sweet ishan going to handle it,?

Well keep reading to find out....

And also thank you for your Votes on my chapter... It had been a great motivator... Please continue to support me with your votes. 🙇❤️❤️