Kartik called Ahaan and after a few rings he finally answered...

Ahaan- bol Kartik kya kaam hai?

Kartik- matlab Bhai main sirf aapko kaam ke wakt hi call kar sakta hu kya!?

Ahaan- kartik overreact mat kar... Main abhi ek meeting ke liye ready ho raha hu.

Kartik- ha ha banalo bahane...

Ahaan- what??

Kartik- ha bhai, I know aap aapni girlfriend se milne jaa rahe ho.

Ahaan- kya bol raha hai Kartik Ishqi toh...

Silence spread across the call for 3 seconds when Ahaan realised he was about to tell Kartik that Ishqi is not even in India...

Kartik- Ishqi toh...kya?

Ahaan- Ishqi toh Echo park ke paas rehti hai and that's like half an hour away from my place.

Kartik- okay aap meeting ke liye ready hojao I won't disturb you...

Kartik declined the call abruptly after getting what he wanted from his brother while Ahaan was just totally confused not knowing what to think.

At that moment he could onluly think of two explanations for Kartik's actions...

1. He was a weird brother
2. Kartik was hurt about the way Ahaan talked to him...

Ahaan went with the first option...

* * * * *

Kartik immediately texted Aisha Ishqi's address...

Kartik- Ishqi di echo park ke paas rehti hai. I couldn't get the exact address. Is this enough?

As soon as Aisha received the text she stared at her phone, her mind total blank.

Aisha- how the hell did you do this? Tumhare bahi ko shak toh nahi na hua?

Kartik- nope, none at all. You don't know what I'm capable of.

Aisha just herself smiling like an idiot staring at Kartik's text...

Aisha- surely I don't...

Aisha was about to text him about her worries related to Ishqi's new boyfriend but the she realized it's Kartik's brother.

Meanwhile Kartik saw the three dots arrive and then leave immediately.

Kartik- kya type kar rahi thi?

Aisha- nothing...

Kartik- you can talk to me Aisha...

Aisha thought of changing the subject but she knew the only thing that will make her feel at peace is if she asks Kartik how his brother really is...

Aisha- Kartik what I'm going to say next might offend you but please just try to understand my situation alright?

Kartik- Aisha mujhe heart attack aane se pehele bata do yaar... What are you talking about?

Kartik waited impatiently for her to reply while he heard his heart pounding in his ears...

"Finally she replied..."

Aisha- Ishqi di is acting very weird. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not but she's been acting like this since she started dating your brother. I just wanted to ask if your brother might somehow be related...

As soon as he read this he called her. Fortunately for him she answered it. Both of them stayed silent, not knowing what to say...

Aisha was just scared, thinking she must've offended Kartik...

Kartik was just shocked, he just kept wondering why Aisha would say this...

Kartik- Aisha...I want you to answer me honestly. Tumhe aisa kyu lagta hai ke mere bhai ki wajahse tumhari behen alag behave kar rahi hai?

Aisha took a deep breath and prepared herself to explain everything that's been going through her mind...

Aisha- mere di already bohot kuch seh chuki hai Kartik. Her fiancé broke their marriage because she wanted become an actor. Woh pehele bhi ek toxic relationship se gujar chuki hai. At that time I was not at all aware of what my sister was going through. Ever since that main bas koshish karti hu, to be more present in my loved ones lives. Main uss wakt samaj nahi payi...that my sister was going through so much without me knowing. I'm just afraid Kartik, she tries to protect me, to protect Raj Bhai by not telling us anything. Do you think there is anything about your brother you need to tell me, that might somehow affect my sister?

Aisha was in tears till she finished speaking. Though everything happened to her, she was the one who lost her love, her parent but just the impact was enough for Aisha to be broken...

Meanwhile Kartik couldn't believe his ears. Ishqi went through so much, does Ahaan know? That was question for another time right now he needed to answer Aisha...

Kartik- Aisha there is nothing about my brother that you should be worrying about. I know my brother, I know he might not be the perfect boyfriend but he definitely is nothing like Ishqi's ex...

Both of them stayed silent for a long time after that but even their silence was somehow comforting the other. Both were hurt, one a bit more than other...

Aisha- thank you Kartik, and I'm sorry I know I've hurt you...

By saying that Aisha simply declined the call not giving Kartik a chance to speak. He was not offended but he was hurt, not because of Aisha but because of because he could feel her pain...somehow...

* * * * *

Finally after a long flight Aisha was finally there, in L.A. where she would get all her answers...

She immediately booked a cab and waited impatiently for the cab to arrive...

* * * * *

Ahaan dialed Ishqi's number as he was rushing towards her house...

Ishqi- hello avm...

Ahaan- hiii Ms. Arora.

Ishqi- umm hii??

Ahaan- guess what?

Ishqi- are you finally getting me a personalized necklace with 'music' written on it?

Ahaan- what?? I mean agar tumhe chahiye toh sure par yeh news nahi hai.

Ishqi- toh fir kya hai?

Ahaan- I am starting the shoot from tomorrow!!

Ishqi- Really!!!

Ahaan- Yess!!

Ishqi- I wish main bhi waha hoti...

Ahaan- and I wish main tumhare saath hota... Accha by the way I'm heading towards your house.

Ishqi- kyu??

Ahaan- Ghar bohot dino se khali hai toh maine socha check karlu zyada Ganda na hogaya ho...

Ishqi smiled knowing she chose the right person this time...

Ishqi- guess what...

Ahaan- what??

Ishqi- I love you...

Ahaan smiled and said...

"Love you too..."
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To be continued...
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Hope you guys liked it... I've been thinking of releasing one more series which won't be too long. It would be about Ishqaan's seperation. Do let me know if you would like to read it...

Precap:- unexpected meet...

Word count- 1048

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