Before heading to the audition Ishqi thought of taking blessings from the temple. When she was little she always used to take blessing from her parents before any important task, let it be taking exams or participating in competitions. Taking blessings from the temple she always used visit with her family ever since she was little felt the same as taking blessings from her parents...

Just as she was done taking blessings she received a phone call from Ahaan and went aside to attend it...

Ahaan- Ishqi audition diya?

Ishqi- nahi main mandir aayi thi ab bas...

Before she could continue she saw a couple in their 50s who strongly looked familiar. Before Ishqi could realise or remember anything she saw a girl and guy approaching the couple. Earth slipped from her feet when she realised who they actually were. Her parents and her siblings, entering the temple...

Tears soon started emerging from her eyes when she saw them. Aisha and Raj, her siblings quarrelling and arguing about something stupid while her parents scolded them. Ishqi was used to their argument as they often argued during their video calls but seeing her parents after almost 2 years was really hard for her...

Though Ishqi was really hurt she couldn't help but smile a bit after her parents scolded both Raj and Aisha while they started laughing. Aisha and Raj often did this, fake fighting or knowing they are quarrelling about something stupid but still going on. All these memories made her feel overwhelmed...

Even though it looked like Ishqi not being with them wasn't affecting anyone Ishqi knew somewhere deep inside they did especially her father. She was just adoring them and missing the old days...

Just as they went forward Ishqi's father turned and said...

Vishal (Ishqi's Father)- Ishqi beta phool...

But then he stopped abruptly and changed his statement...

Vishal- Ishwari phool do...

Ishqi's heart broke in millions of pieces seeing that her father still missed her. Ishqi couldn't see this anymore, as soon as her father said those words expressions on everyone's face changed. Both her siblings looked hurt but stayed quiet knowing their words won't have any effect on him while her mother looked guilty...

Ishqi was in her trance with her eyes now red and full of tears. Her trance broke when she heard Ahaan's voice, for a second she thought he was actually here but soon realised it was him on the call, calling her name for past minute...

Ishqi quietly declined the call as she was not all in state of mind to talk to anyone...

Ishqi's father turned as if he felt her presence and looked her way but Ishqi quickly hid behind a pillar and closed her eyes tightly while tears escaped through her eyes. Never in a million years she thought that she would hid herself from her own father...

Ishqi quickly realised that she was getting late for her audition and left wiping her tears but not before taking a quick glance at her family...

Ahaan tried calling her a couple of times but she didn't attend any of his calls. In the taxi, she couldn't help but let her tears flow through her eyes...

* * * * *

As Ishqi reached the set, she composed herself, checked in a mirror once making sure her eyes weren't red or puffy anymore and went inside. She soon got her script and started memorising the lines...

It looked like the universe wanted Ishqi to have this role as the series she was auditioning for was an biography of Rani Lakshmi Bai, commonly known as Jhasi ki Rani...

For a second Ishqi completely forgot that her father was mad at her. All she could think of was, how would he react if she got a big chance to play such a role model of many young girls...

He would've been really proud of her only if he wasn't against her career...

Ishqi brushed her thoughts and started memorising her lines. When they called out her name, Ishqi went in confidently and did her part. As she was done she could clearly see that the directors and producers looked really impressed...

The directors told her that they would let her know their decision and for now she was free to go...

Ishqi did left and as she left she made her mind that if she got the role she would definitely tell her siblings about this knowing they would be mad but still she knew that she won't be able to do this without their support...

* * * * *

As Ishqi entered her room and checked her phone and was shocked to see almost a hundred of messages and couple of missed calls from Ahaan. Ishqi knew he must be worried and mad at how she reacted today...

Ishqi checked the clock, it was almost 12 in the noon meaning it must be atleast 12 in the night in L.A. Ishqi thought once about calling this late but still gave it a chance...

The phone rang for just a second before Ahaan answered it and immediately bombarded her with questions...

Ahaan- Ishqi where were you? Kya hua tha? Audition hua? Kaisa Gaya? Hello?? Ishqi??

Ishqi- calm down avm aur tum itna raat ko kyu jaage ho?

Ahaan- what do you mean kyu jaage ho, tumne achanak baat karna band kardi aur na mere calls utha rahi thi na texts answer kar rahi thi, I was worried...

Ishqi- I'm sorry Ahaan, woh...woh main...

Ishqi narrated everything that happened today while Ahaan listened carefully...

Ahaan- Ishqi are you okay?

Ishqi- yess...

Ahaan- you sure??

Ishqi- yes Ahaan a hundred percent sure...

Ahaan- okay then ab yeh batao tumhara audition kaisa Gaya?

Ishqi- it was awesome, pata hai director ko meri performance bohot pasand aayi. They were pretty impressed...

Just like that Ishqi started blabbering and Ahaan was just dozing off at almost 1 am...

Ishqi- hello?? Hello avm?

Ishqi checked the time which read 2 pm in India. Ishqi smiled and facepalmed knowing Ahaan must've slept while Ishqi was blabbering...

Ishqi slowly whispered "Good night" and declined the call...

Just then Ishqi recieved a message from Aisha "Soo di how's everything going with you and your AVM hmmm"

Ishqi smiled and replied "Good aur tu bata aaj kya kya kiya?"

Aisha- nothing di, aaj ka din bada boring tha. First of all papa hum sabko mandir legaye aur waha pe Raj bhaiyya ne mere per pe per rakh diya, I was so mad aur hum dono wahi pe jhagda karne lag gaye.

Ishqi knew that they were fighting today but she still pretended not to know this...

Ishqi- phir?

Aisha- phir kya tha papa ne itni daant lagayi na pucho mat. Waise aapka koi naya project shuru hua?

Ishqi felt bad knowing she had to lie to her sister but then she thought she wasn't technically lying, she wasn't working on any projects currently but she did audition for one today...

Ishqi- nahi par aaj ek audition tha mera.

Aisha- really!! Kaisa Gaya?

Ishqi- bohot accha...

Aisha- waise di aapko pata aaj na...wait!! Aap iss wakt online kaise ho?? At this time you should be sleeping right?!?!

Ishqi- woh...main dupeher mein sogayi thi isliye neend nahi aayi. By the way good point mujhe sojana chahiye. Good night.

By saying that Ishqi went offline. She immediately felt really guilty about constantly lying to Aisha knowing how badly she wanted to meet her...

"Ajeeb hai I know di ka screw hamesha se dheela tha par yeh kuch hajam nahi ho raha. Is she lying? Par jhoot kyu bolegi? Aur kya jhoot bolegi ke woh dupeher mein soyi thi? Naa...but something is fishy. I have to find it out..."

As Aisha was thinking this a message popped on her phone and she immediately smiled. The message was from non other than...Kartik...
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To be continued...
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That's it for today. Hope you enjoyed it!!

Precap:- "Yes I am going to L.A"

Word count- 1336

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