Chapter 4

AUTHOR POV:

Author's POV :

"Ishu... are you really okay?" Mira's voice trembled slightly. "You're going to see Vidyut after five years. If it hurts... if it's even a little bit hard for you-I'll cancel the engagement. I swear, I will."

"No, Mira," Ishita said firmly, her eyes soft but resolute. "You can't just walk away from everything now-not when things are finally falling into place. And tomorrow is your anniversary. You need to be present there, not lost in guilt or confusion. Focus on what's right in front of you."

Mira sighed, torn between reason and emotion. "Still... Vidyut will have to face me one day, won't he?"

Ishita tried to change the subject, force lightness into her tone. "By the way, have you thought about what you're gifting Dev tomorrow?"

Mira chuckled faintly. "Honestly? Nothing yet. I mean... from tomorrow, he gets to call me his-completely, truly, no barriers. What better gift could he ask for?"

Mira smiled wistfully. "I know... I know I'm his biggest gift-but still. Tomorrow is special, Ishu. He deserves something more... something thoughtful."

"Okay, then help me choose something-not too expensive, but beautiful. Something with meaning."

"I'll help," Ishita said, nodding. "And look-your engagement is the day after tomorrow. How about you take Dev out on a date tomorrow? Just you and him, something simple but special."

"That's perfect!" Mira lit up. Then her voice dipped, almost pleading, "But I need your help. I can't pull all of this off alone."

"I'm always with you, Mira. Every step of the way."

"Come on now!" Raj's voice broke the moment. "We're gonna be late for real if you two start tearing up again."

We turned to see Raj standing by the door, grinning. "The driver's already here. You all ready?"

"Yeah," Mira nodded. "We have our own car, but sending it back and forth from the airport is too much. This is easier."

"Cool. You wait here. Mira and I will get the luggage."

"Mira, lock the apartment before you come. I'll talk to the security uncle," Ishita called out.

"Coming!" Mira's voice echoed. "Wait-I'm just taking one quick snap!"

Ishita rolled her eyes, half-smiling. "This girl..." She rushed over. "Alright, I'm here. Let's go!"

As they drove, time seemed to slow. Raj groaned, "Is it just me, or is this one-hour road stretching into two hours?"

"Let's lighten the mood!" Mira grinned. "Play Chikni Chameli-we'll dance our way through the traffic!"

"Noooo," Raj said quickly. "Last time you danced in the car, you woke up the entire apartment complex. Please, spare us."

"Shut up, Raj! That wasn't dancing, that was... excitement. And this is just a car ride!"

"Guys, please," Ishita cut in. "Can we just listen to something soothing for once? Let's play a melody-something we can feel. No dancing."

"That's actually a good idea," Mira admitted. "But what song?"

Ishita leaned forward. "Zindagi Ek Safar-let's go old school."

Ishu! Your choice is very beautiful, I really like this song."it's my one of the favourite song.

Raj scoffed. "For once, she says something nice."

"I always do," Mira shot back. "You're just too dumb to notice."

And just like that, they were bickering again, laughter and sarcasm filling the car.

Uncle, the driver, just smiled quietly. "Let them keep going..."

The city lights blur past as the car glides down the highway. Ishita is up front with the driver, gazing out the window. Mira and Raj are in the backseat-she's scrolling through photos; he's playfully elbowing her.

The guitar strums softly...
The opening tune of Zindagi Ek Safar begins, and suddenly, silence falls among the chatter. Everyone smiles-recognizing the song instantly.

Song begins:
"Zindagi ek safar hai suhana, yahaan kal kya ho kisne jaana..."
(Life is a beautiful journey-who knows what tomorrow holds?)

Mira (leaning forward): "Ishu, this line... feels too real right now."
Ishu (half-smiling): "Exactly why I chose it."

"Zindagi ek safar hai suhana..."
The words fill the car like sunlight-soft, golden, nostalgic.

Raj (dramatically): "Uff... old songs hit differently. Not like your usual loud stuff, Mira."
Mira: "Excuse me! It's your loud mouth that ruins the mood, not my music taste."

They laugh, teasing each other.

"Yahaan kal kya ho kisne jaana..."
(Who knows what tomorrow brings...)

Ishita quietly reflects, staring into the night. Tomorrow-Vidyut. The past colliding with the present.
Mira notices but says nothing. Some silences aren't meant to be broken.

"Aaj gaadi ki tez chaal se, maut se bhi takraana..."
(Today, let's race ahead in this fast car-even if it means brushing past death itself...)

Raj (grinning): "See? The car's the metaphor! We're the chaos!"
Mira: "Yeah, but I'm driving tomorrow. So... life and death-buckle up!"

They both burst into laughter, with Ishita finally cracking a smile.

"Husn waale tera jawaab nahin..."
(Oh beauty, you have no match...)

Raj (turning to Mira): "That line's clearly for me."
Mira: "Delusion is a disease, Raj. But carry on."

"Koi tujh sa nahin, koi tujh sa nahin..."
(There's no one like you...)

The mood softens. Mira rests her head by the window, thinking about Dev. Her heart' full-anxious, excited, overwhelmed.
Ishita watches her through the rearview mirror. The little sister she's watched grow into a woman, now on the brink of her new beginning.

"Muskuraate hue, gaate hue..."
(Smiling, singing...)

The friends join in now-singing the chorus offbeat, loud, out of tune, but with joy.
The car echoes with their voices, laughter layered with nostalgia.

"Aj mausam bada beimaan hai, bada beimaan hai aaj mausam..."
(Today, the weather is a bit of a traitor... unpredictable...)

Suddenly, a gust of wind flows through the slightly opened window. Mira shivers, pulls her shawl closer.
Ishita: "See? Even the song knows-things change in a blink."
Raj: "But the ride? The ride goes on."

As the song fades, they sit in silence, a warm kind-the kind between old friends who've grown through chaos and calm.
City lights twinkle ahead. The road unwinds. Their journey-messy, beautiful, and still unfinished-continues.

🌸

Ishita pov:

By now, the car had reached the airport - hard to believe that a one-hour journey ended so quickly, amidst teasing, laughter, and stories. We all placed our bags down, checked our passports and visas, and boarded the flight. The best part was that the three of us got seats together.

Our flight was at 1:30, which meant we would land by 4:20, collect our luggage, and head home. Dev is coming to pick us up. After three years, I'll be staying with my parents again - I did visit home a couple of times in the past three years, but only for a day or two. And my parents rarely came to Bangalore.

Even though Mira will be going home with me now, we've already planned to go to her mother's house - the one her grandmother had named before she passed away. Mira was very close to her grandmother; in fact, she was the only person in her family who truly loved her. That house holds a special place in Mira's heart.

She used all her savings to renovate it, and now the house looks beautiful, with a sense of personal touch. Surrounded by greenery, it's a peaceful place - a true sanctuary.
After her mother passed away, her father never really cared for her. He still blames Mira for her mother's death. Even though Mira appears strong and cheerful on the outside, she still misses her family.

Mira's father, Abhimanyu Sharma, is my dad's business partner and also his college friend. That's how I met Mira, and since then, we've been best friends. My parents have always treated her like their own daughter - in fact, sometimes I feel they love her even more than they love me. But my baby deserves more love - she has endured so much, and this is nothing in comparison.

I had only ever seen Mira truly happy when Dev came into her life, and Dev tries his best to fill her life with all the love she never received. I'm really happy for both of them.
Somehow, three hours passed by, and the pilot announced that we would be landing in Delhi shortly.After we landed, we stepped out and saw that Dev had been waiting for us-with a bouquet of red roses in his hand. The moment Mira saw him, she didn't look anywhere else; she ran straight into his arms, planted an open kiss all over his face, and said, "I really miss you, Dev." Raj and I stood there, watching them with joy, witnessing their sweet love.

Dev looking so handsome stands tall, His height should be at least 6'2",exuding confidence and charm. His dark, well-groomed beard frames his chiseled jawline, adding a touch of ruggedness to his appearance. His Hazel nut eyes, deep and captivating, hold a sense of mystery, while his smile is warm and inviting.he is wearing black sweater with white detailing, layered over a crisp white shirt, creates a clean and polished look that feels effortlessly stylish. Paired with straight black trousers, the outfit maintains a sleek silhouette, while the white sneakers add a modern, relaxed touch that keeps the ensemble from feeling too formal. The striped brown scarf not only adds warmth but also brings in a classic, academic flair. With the addition of a wristwatch and glasses.

At that moment, I noticed these deep, captivating eyes, which were drawing me in, coming closer to us.

The enchanting blue of his eyes captivated me once again, just as they had seven years ago, stirring a feeling inside me that I might be falling in love all over again. Those very eyes, so familiar, now seemed even more mesmerizing than before.

But this time, he was different. Standing at an impressive 6'4", his body was perfectly sculpted, and his upper arms were so defined that the muscles seemed to leap from his skin, veins tracing their path in a way that drew all attention. His thick, black hair framed his face, and the sheer beauty of his features brought a new depth to his charm, leaving me utterly enchanted. A sharp and confident style featuring a crisp white dress shirt, dark formal trousers, and a statement CK belt. Accessories like a gold wristwatch, metallic bracelet (kara), and neck chain add elegance and personality. The overall vibe is classy and modern, He is none other than my vid.



Dev outfit 🌝



Vidyut's outfit 👄

At that moment, Dev told us, “Sorry guys, actually mom has asked Mira and me to go home today for the engagement the day after tomorrow, so Vid will take you and Raj, then drop you off and head to the office.” When I heard that, I looked at Vid, but I couldn’t find any reaction on his face. Has he not missed me even once in these five years? Not even a “hello,” nothing — as if I were a stranger.

Raj stepped forward toward him and said, “Hi man, I’m Raj Khurana.” Vid replied, “I’m Advocate Vidyut Oberoi.”
“Oh I see, you’re that famous lawyer — the most handsome bachelor all the girls are crazy about,” Raj said.

Hearing that made me extremely angry. Another girl saying such things beside Vid is hard for me to accept.

Then Dev said, “Let’s go,” and started walking ahead. Vid said something then — Mira came over to me and said, “Ishi, don’t stress about anything. If something happens, just call me once. I’m always there for you.”

We picked up our luggage and moved ahead — Mira and Dev towards Dev’s car, and Raj and I towards Vid’s car.

Raj and I were about to sit in the back seat when Vid, in a serious tone, said, “I’m not anyone’s driver that everyone will sit in the back and I’ll be in the front seat.”

Just as he said that, I was about to sit in the front when Raj stepped forward and said, “Ishu, you sit in the back, I’ll sit in front.”
Listening to Raj, I sat in the back seat — but I could feel that Vid really didn’t like Raj’s suggestion at all. He must have said something to himself  in his mind.

Mira has always been caring toward me, and especially during the time with Vid, she was the only one who truly understood how broken I was. Honestly, seeing Vid today, a part of me just wanted to run to him and ask why things had ended the way they did that day.

For the past 45 minutes, no one had said a word. Only Raj whispered a few things in my ear that made me laugh—he has this way of lightening up even the most boring situations. But when I looked at the Vid, I noticed he was gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. Was he jealous of Raj?

As I kept thinking about it, we reached Raj’s house. He gave me a friendly hug before heading in—it had been almost a year since he saw his parents. His father is a renowned doctor at Dev’s hospital, so their families are very close.
Once Raj left, Vid told me to sit in the front seat, saying he wasn’t my driver. Such arrogance! I moved to the front seat and sat quietly. He didn’t say a single word, so I started the conversation: “How are you? Everything going okay?” His only response was a “hmm.” I kept talking, and he kept replying with the same cold “hmm.” Finally, I got irritated and said, “If you don’t feel like talking, just say so. Don’t ignore me like this.”

At that, he suddenly leaned toward me, brushed my hair aside from near my ear, and said, “I never even thought of ignoring you. I was just listening to your voice—without any interruptions.” Just as I was about to say something, Vid cut me off and said, “We’ve reached your place.”
I cleared my throat and said, “If you loved my voice so much, then why did you do what you did that day?” With that, I picked up my bag and walked toward the house.

As I entered the house, I turned around once and saw that Vid was still standing there. I rang the doorbell, and when my dad opened the door, Vid drove away. Dad saw me and said, “My sweetie!” and then called out loudly for Mom to come see me. Mom came and hugged me tightly, saying, “It’s been so long. I missed you so much, baby.” But Dad chimed in, “I missed my sweetie even more,” and the two of them started their usual cute little fight.

Finally, I said, “Okay, so both of you missed me a lot, but first let me eat something or I’ll die of hunger right here.” Hearing that, Dad stepped forward and gently scolded me, “Sweetie, never say things like that. Your dad feels really hurt.” In a slightly sad tone, I replied, “Okay.”
Then Mom asked, “Where’s Mira, my other baby?” I said, “Actually Mom, Mira went to Keya aunt’s house with Dev for something related to the engagement. Oh yes, this morning Keya had informed me that she needed Mira’s ring size for the engagement.”

Then Mom said, “Ishu, you go freshen up. I’ve made your favorite noodles.”

I entered my old room and immediately felt a sense of peace. My bed, my table, my wardrobe—everything was just like I’d left it. I had decorated my room just like my flat, and it was still the same. Right beside my bed was a cute photo of Mom and Dad kissing me on each cheek, and on the opposite wall was a sweet picture of Mira and me in frocks sitting on a swing. Next to that was our farewell photo—me, Mira, Dev, Vid, Vyaansh, and aditi.

I stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind me with a quiet sigh. The soft scent of rose and sandalwood from the bath products instantly calmed my nerves. I tied my hair up messily and splashed cool water on my face, letting the day’s exhaustion melt away with each drop. The warm shower was exactly what I needed—the steam wrapping around me like a gentle hug. After drying off, I reached into my wardrobe and picked my favorite soft cotton night suit—a loose pale lavender top with tiny white stars and matching bottoms. Slipping into it felt like wrapping myself in comfort and familiarity. With my hair towel-dried and skin still warm from the shower, I finally felt like I could breathe again.

After taking a refreshing shower,I sat on the bed and ran my fingers over the soft blanket—it still smelled faintly like the lavender sachets Mom always tucked under the pillows. For the first time in weeks, maybe even months, my shoulders felt light. There was no tension, no strained silences, no guessing what someone meant behind a half-smile. Just the quiet hum of home.
looked around slowly, taking it all in—the tiny glow-in-the-dark stars still stuck to the ceiling, the bookshelf filled with my old novels and diaries, the wind chimed near the window that made the softest sound whenever the breeze came through. I walked over to the photo wall and smiled. So many frozen memories—childhood birthdays, school events, silly selfies with Mira, and of course, our farewell photo. I paused in front of it. Dev had his arm around Mira, Aditi was throwing a peace sign, Vyaansh had that goofy grin, and then there was Vid… standing a little apart but with that half-smile that always used to calm me, back when everything was simpler.

Just then, Mom called out from the kitchen, “Ishu! Your noodles are ready!” I smiled and called back, “Coming!” I glanced at myself in the mirror—no makeup, messy hair, but I looked… content. Maybe for tonight, I didn’t have to worry about broken friendships or unspoken feelings. Tonight, I was just Ishi—my parents’ sweetie, Mira’s best friend,the girl who once believed life could be perfect, at least within these four walls.

To be continued 🫠..
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Hey! I am ishq,i hope you all are doing great.
So this is the next chapter of forbidden love.
Tell me how the chapter is?
Thank you ❣️