chapter 67

Chapters 68, 69, 70 and 71 are updated on ScrollStack.

Chapter start

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" Not again… How does this keep happening?" These are the words of Ikshita when she comes near her car in the parking lot but today again the tyres of her car are flat.

She kneels to inspect the tire and shakes her head in confusion. This thing is happening with her from last 4 days,

every morning she comes in a fine car but by the evening her car's tyre gets punctured.

Right now her expression is a mixture of frustration and confusion as she thinks how is this happening every day?

And while she is busy thinking about how this is happening to her everyday, at that very moment, Raj and Aarav reach there just like every day.

And today again seeing Ikshita near the car like that, Raj smiles

"Did the car get punctured again?" Raj asks her playfully

And then hearing Raj's voice, Ikshita turns towards him with a sad pout as she gets really embarrassed.

This is happening to her so much now that Raj, who used to ask her earlier "what happened?", now knows in advance that her car has broken down.

" I don’t know, uncle. It’s so strange. The car’s perfectly fine in the morning, but by evening, something happens. Today is the fifth day..." Ikshita says to which Raj does nothing but smiles.

"It seems like someone is playing a prank on you...maybe I'll have to check now." Raj says to which Ikshita looks at him and Aarav who's standing behind him still standing expressionless.

Well, since last 4 days he goes to drop her home but he doesn't talk to her and even if she tries he just tells her to go and talk to office people.

Ikshita still sits separately from him in the office which annoys Aarav; but he doesn't say anything; he just taunts her like this whenever she tries to talk to him.

Well, his taunts make Ikshita less bad and more happy when she realises that her actions in the office do make a difference to him and she is enjoying this jealous side of him.

"Aarav..." Raj turns towards him calling his name

" Again?" Aarav says understanding his father's gesture. He will have to go again to drop Ikshita home.

" Yes and I think you should get used to it now and drop Ikshita at home everyday without me telling you." Raj tells this to Aarav to which he looks at him with a not interested face.

But then he does not do anything further but obeys his father's orders and agrees to leave Ikshita at home.

Ikshita sits in Aarav's car after saying bye to Raj and Aarav heads towards her house.

And here, seeing both of them leaving, Raj smiles when he remembers something.

Well, Raj knows how Ikshita's car is breaking down everyday but he stays quiet and chooses not to say anything between the two of them.

Raj really can't believe the actions of his son. At least Raj had faith in his this extrovert son that if he ever wanted to see someone in his life, he would go and tell her clearly because he has always been fearless, carefree and talkative.

But Raj is shocked to see the behavior of his naughty son that he is puncturing the tire of her car every day just to spend time with Ikshita.

Seriously, if that was the case then why did he reject Ikshita in the first place?

And still after doing all this, he behaves like he has no interest in dropping Ikshita to her house.

🦋🦋

" Won't you talk to me today too?" Ikshita asks Aarav while suppressing her smile

"No." Aarav replies while focusing on the road

And Ikshita does not do anything about his behavior but feels happy.

Well, she does not want anything more than this ; she gets to spend some time with him in the evening, even though he doesn't say anything but this moment with him makes her feel happy.

And somewhere she hopes that the day is not far when both of them will start talking in this journey.

🦋🦋

" Really? We are going to the farmhouse?" asks Aaira excitedly

"And why do you think I am lying?" Neil asks her

" Ab I don't know, but papa, I am really happy..." Aaira says giving a side hug to Neil who's sitting with her on the couch.

And there Neil smiles seeing her happy smile.

Well, at this time Aaira, Neil and Avni are sitting in the hall and Neil tells her that this time on her and Avni's birthday, they are going not anywhere else but to their farmhouse, hearing which Aaira becomes happy because she wanted to go there for a long time but was unable to go due to her busy college life.

" Papa, who all are going, by the way?" Aaira asks expecting something and somehow Neil understands the reason behind her asking this question.

She wants to ask if Reyansh is going with them but she is unable to ask directly.

And seeing this from his daughter, Neil smiles and looks at Avni who is also looking at him with a knowing smile because it is really not difficult for both of them to understand any question or behavior of their daughter.

" This time not only we family but all the friends are also going...I have also invited your new and special friend Ikshita and I have also told Naitik that the next 4 days will be only for my daughter, no other work." Neil says because they are going for at least 4 days to spend a good family time at the farmhouse on the pretext of Aaira and Avni's birthday.

And Aaira smiles at her father's words but still she does not get a clear answer to her question, is Reyansh also going with them?

Why didn't he mention Reyansh's name?

And while she is thinking this, Neil speaks further :

" But yes, Vishal and Priyal are not coming with us...they said they don't have time...they have some work." Neil says to which Aaira's smile drops and before that she asks why? Neil further says

" And because of that Reyansh is also not going because, as it is not hidden from anyone how shy he is, so when his parents were not going, he also refused." Neil tells all this to Aaira while suppressing his smile with great difficulty.

Because after hearing all this, the way Aaira's face looks sad, Neil really feels like laughing.

How can she even believe that Reyansh can refuse her birthday celebration.

And while listening to all this, Aaira thinks that how can Reyansh refuse for her birthday. If his parents are really busy, then can't he come for her?

" Don't they have time for me even for a day?" Aaira asks Neil sadly

" Now it is up to Priyal and Vishal whether they want to give you their precious time or not...for now both of them have refused." Neil teases her further

But Avni, who can't stand seeing her daughter's sad face anymore, stops Neil

" Neil, stop teasing her...." Avni says to which Aaira sees her

" Aairu, is it possible that someone will say no to you? Everyone is coming, Priyal, Vishal and Reyansh too." Avni tells her to which her sad face brightens up instantly

But then she immediately glare at her father who is still suppressing his smile.

" Papa, I am your daughter, does it suit you to tease me like this?" Aaira questions him. He was actually teasing her for Reyansh.

" Well, have you ever thought, I am your father ? It doesn't suit you either to tease me but you never missed a chance to tease me whenever you caught me romancing with my wife." Neil says to which Avni eyes widen

" So now it's my turn, Why shouldn’t I tease you?

It suits me perfectly." Neil adds to which Avni shakes her head in disbelief, this man

But then, there, Aaira smiles at what her father says because somewhere what he says is also right, she teased her father and now her father teased her, the score is settled.

"  Papa that's okay too...and you also know that your teasing won't affect me much, just like it won't affect you if I tease you..." Aaira says mischievously while glancing at her mother

" But yes, Reyansh is definitely affected by this teasing, just like your wife, both of them are shy." Aaira says to her father while looking at her mother with a teasing smile to which Neil smiles in agreement and Avni shakes her head at her daughter antics.

" You are absolutely correct." says Neil, to which both father and daughter laugh giving teasing look to Avni at which she glares at them.

" huh, Now what can we do, not everyone can be as shameless as you both, father and daughter.

That is why some shame is also necessary. At least we are not like you two who say anything anywhere without thinking." Avni taunts both of them and also supports Reyansh in his absence on this topic.

" Mom, it is not called being shameless…it is called expressing love openly like Papa does to you." Aaira reminds her and her face turns red

" Papa ki chamchi, don't you want to sleep now, do you have to go to work tomorrow or not...?" Composing herself, Avni glares at her and Aaira reluctantly turns to go into the room

" jana hai na...uff, I get tired, the office people give me a lot of work..." she says in a dramatic tone to which Neil and Avni smile.

" Hmm...Good night papa, good night my papa's shy wifey." Aaira teases Avni again

But this time before Avni could say anything, Aaira after saying this runs towards her room on which Avni and Neil do nothing but smile at her antics.

" She has become very naughty." says Avni to which Neil smiles slightly thinking something which makes his heart heavy

" We will be able to see her mischief in this house for some more time, so let her do and say whatever she wants to do...It is her mischief that keeps the house cheerful." Neil says and Avni looks at him and sees how sad he is while saying this.

By talking and reminding himself about all this right now, he is trying to prepare himself for that moment for which he was never ready.

Avni goes close to him, sits beside him and hugs him without saying anything, on which Neil placed his face on her shoulder, holding her tightly he tries to calm himself.

To be continued.......