Mohabbat se Nafrat: The Beginning (Part 1): Ek Anchahi Raah: Suspense Thriller Hinglish Kahani

# Mohabbat se Nafrat : The Begining...

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Chapter 1: Pehli Mulaqat, Pehli Baarish

Bangalore ki subah. Woh bhi ek aadha adhura Sunday jab office nahi jaana padta, lekin phir bhi alarm baj hi jaata hai. Main Ishaan, 27 saal ka UI engineer, Kerala se hoon, par Bangalore ab mera ghar hai. Mere flatmate Vikram abhi tak so raha hoga - uska toh weekend mein sirf ek hi schedule hota hai: soyo, phir soyo, phir party karo, phir soyo.

Main utha, balcony mein gaya. Meri chhoti si balcony garden. Mere paudhe. Mere dost. Yahan Bangalore ki concrete jungle mein yeh hi meri shaanti hai.

Phone vibration diya. Ammu ka message: "Bhaiyya, aaj NGO wala plantation drive yaad hai na? Maine tumhara naam bhi register kar diya. Please jao, nature ke liye kuch karo. Tumhe toh paudhe itne pasand hain."

Ammu meri chhoti behen hai. Chennai mein rehti hai, par meri zindagi ki sabse zyada tension wohi leti hai. Main muskura diya. Haan, main jaane wala tha. Kyunki paudhon se mohabbat meri ragon mein hai - Kerala ke hare bhare ghar ki yaad dilati hai yeh sab.

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HSR Layout ke outskirts pe woh drive tha. Hasiru India naam ka NGO. Main pahuncha toh already 50-60 log jama the. Coffee ki khushboo thi hawa mein - typical Bangalore morning.

Main apna shovel aur gloves leke khada tha, jab ek awaaz aayi: "Excuse me, yeh neem ka sapling kahan lagana hai?"

Main palta.

Woh thi Avani. 25 saal ki, gunguni dhoop jaisi smile, curly baal jo loosely bandhe hue the, aur ek oversized white kurta jo uske gardening apron ke neeche se jhalak raha tha. Uske haath mein mitti lagi thi, aur uski aankhon mein wohi excitement jo mujhe apne paudhon mein dikhti hai.

"Neem wahan corner mein," maine kaha, pointing towards the boundary. "Aur aap...?"

"Avani. Content strategist. Aur aap?"

"Ishaan. UI engineer. Kerala se."

"Oh! South Indian connection! Main Bangalore ki hoon, par dadi Kerala se hain. Toh thoda-thoda Malayalam samajh aata hai," she giggled. "Aap paudhon ke baare mein itna kaise jaante ho?"

"Mera hobby hai. Balcony garden maintain karta hoon."

"Wow! Mujhe bhi seekhna hai. Meri dadi - unhe hum Ajji kehte hain - unke liye ek balcony garden banana hai. Unki tabiyat theek nahi rehti, toh socha ghar mein hi nature laaun."

Us din humne saath mein do paudhe lagaye. Baatein hui. Usne bataya woh HSR mein rehti hai. Maine bataya main Koramangala mein Vikram ke saath flat share karta hoon. Shaam tak hum Instagram pe follow kar rahe the.

"Sunday ko nursery jaate hain?" usne pucha. "HSR Layout mein ek achhi nursery hai. Plants leke aate hain?"

"Sure," maine kaha. Aur isi tarah shuru hua woh silsila jo meri zindagi badalne wala tha.

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Chapter 2: Nursery Ki Mulakaatein

Agla Sunday. Nursery mein.

Avani pehle se hi wahan thi, ek pink pot dekh rahi thi. "Ishaan! Yahan aao. Yeh ceramic pots kitne cute hain na?"

Main gaya. Nursery mein morning ki dhoop aa rahi thi, aur uske baal us dhoop mein golden lag rahe the. Yeh pehli baar tha jab maine notice kiya ki woh kitni sundar hai. Pehle meeting mein toh bas uski energy notice ki thi.

"Ajji ke liye yeh le lo," maine kaha, ek terracotta pot dikhate hue. "Yeh breathable hota hai. Roots ko saans milegi."

"Kitna jaante ho yaar tum!" she looked at me with admiration. "Mujhe sab sikhaoge?"

"Sure. Weekly aate hain na?"

"Deal!"

Us din humne aloe vera, money plant, aur ek chhoti hibiscus li. Usne bataya uska office Whitefield mein hai, traffic mein 2 ghante lagte hain. Maine bataya meri company HSR ke paas hi hai, toh walkable distance.

"Kya plan hai future ka?" usne raste mein pucha, chai ki tapri pe khade hoke.

"Start-up shuru karna hai. Sustainable living app. Gardening, eco-friendly lifestyle - yeh sab."

"That's so cool! Main bhi content strategy mein apna kuch karna chahti hoon. Freelance. Ajji ke saath zyada time spend karna hai. Unki health..."

Maine uski aankhein dekhi. Woh emotional ho gayi thi. Maine gently kaha, "Health issues hain?"

"Heart condition. Doctor ne kaha stress nahi lena. Unke liye yeh garden project bahut important hai. Unka mood achha rehta hai nature ke saath."

Main samajh gaya. Yeh project sirf gardening nahi tha. Yeh pyaar tha, ek grand-daughter ka apni grandmother ke liye.

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Chapter 3: Balcony Garden Project

Agle 2 mahine. Weekly meetings.

Sometimes nursery, sometimes cafes, kabhi-kabhi direct uske ghar - HSR ke ek old-style independent house mein jahan top floor Avani rehti thi, ground floor Ajji.

Ajji. 75 saal ki. White cotton saree, round glasses, aur woh warm smile jo mujhe apni amma ki yaad dilati thi.

"Kerala se ho?" Ajji ne pehli baar pucha jab main unke ghar gaya. "Mere husband wahan posted the. Idukki. Kitna sundar tha woh time."

"Ajji, Ishaan ne aapke liye special plants laye hain," Avani ne kaha, excitedly.

Maine balcony setup kiya. Vertical planters lagaye. Herbs - tulsi, pudina, curry leaves. Flowering plants - jasmine, hibiscus, aur roses. Ajji ke favourite white lilies bhi li.

"Ishaan beta," Ajji ne kaha, mere haath pakad ke, "Tu toh jaadu karta hai. Yeh balcony pehle kabhi itni sundar nahi lagi."

Main sharma gaya. Avani ne mujhe dekha, aur uski aankhon mein kuch alag tha. Woh gratitude se zyada tha. Woh connection tha.

Vikram ne ek din pucha, "Bhai, kahan rehta hai roz? Koi mil gaya kya?"

"Bas ek friend," maine kaha.

"Friend? Ya 'friend'?" he winked.

Maine kuch nahi kaha. Par haan, Avani sirf friend nahi reh gayi thi. Uski hasi, uski baatein, uska Ajji ke liye pyaar - sab mujhe attract kar raha tha.

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Chapter 4: Pehli Baar... Woh Ehsaas

Ek Sunday. Barish ka mausam. Bangalore ki woh famous unexpected rain.

Hum nursery se wapas aa rahe the. Main uske ghar chhodne gaya. Balcony mein hum dono the, new plants arrange kar rahe the. Achhanak baarish shuru ho gayi. Heavy, romantic Bangalore rain.

"Oh no! Yeh pots!" Avani chillaayi.

Maine uska haath pakda. "Chill. Indoor le aate hain pehle."

Hum dono balcony se plants utha ke andar le gaye. Do baar aaye gaye. Teesri baar jab main wapas aaya, toh woh already balcony mein thi, baarish mein bheegi hui.

"Avani! Paagal ho gayi ho? Bheeg jaogi!"

She laughed. "Ishaan, baarish mein bheegna kitna achha lagta hai! Kerala mein toh roz hota hoga na?"

Main uske paas gaya. Uske baal geele ho gaye the. Mera bhi shirt poora gila tha. Hum dono has rahe the.

And then, silence.

Woh moment. Baarish ki awaaz. Distant thunder. Aur hum dono, ek doosre ki aankhon mein dekh rahe the.

"Mujhe..." usne shuru kiya.

"Kya?"

"Mujhe aap bahut pasand aane lage hain, Ishaan."

Mera dil zor-zor se dhadak raha tha. Maine uska chehra apne haathon mein liya. Itna natural laga. Itna right.

"Avani, main..."

"Shh..." she whispered.

Maine dheere se uske baal peeche kiye. Uske gaal pe ek boond tapki. Maine woh boond hatai - apni ungli se, phir apne hothon se uske gaal pe.

Usne aankhen band ki.

Maine uske forehead pe kiss kiya. Phir eyes pe. Phir... uske hothon pe.

Pehla kiss. Soft. Gentle. Geele hoth, baarish ki boondein, aur woh warmth. Maine usse apni baahon mein liya. Woh chhoti si, comfortable hug. Usne apne haath mere peeth pe rakhe, aur hum dono wahan balcony mein khade rahe, baarish ki awaaz mein.

"Ishaan," she whispered, mere kaan mein, "Yeh perfect hai."

"Hmm," maine kaha, usse aur tight hug karte hue.

Woh 10 minute the, ya 10 ghante, pata nahi. Par jab hum alag hue, toh hum dono sharma rahe the jaise pehli baar mil rahe ho.

"Ajji ne dekh liya toh?" maine pucha, nervously.

"Pagal! Ajji so rahi hain. Aur waise bhi, unhe toh tum pasand ho," she smiled.

Woh din. Woh kiss. Woh hug. Main us raat Vikram se bhi nahi mila seedha so gaya, itne khushi mein dooba hua tha.

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Chapter 5: NGO Ka Saya

Ek hafte baad. Plantation drive ka follow-up meeting. NGO Hasiru India ka.

Main aur Avani saath gaye. Wahan maine notice kiya ek ladka - Raghav. Volunteer coordinator. Usne Avani ko dekha, aur uski aankhon mein kuch ajeeb tha.

"Avani, tum yahan?" Raghav ne pucha, ignoring me completely.

"Ha, Ishaan ke saath aayi hoon," she said, holding my hand.

Raghav ka chehra badal gaya. Usne mujhe upar se neeche dekha. "Oh, aap hi hain woh... plant expert."

"Enthusiast," maine politely kaha.

Meeting ke baad, Raghav ne mujhe corner mein roka. "Dekho, Ishaan. Avani aur main college se jaante hain. Tum new ho. Samajh raha hai na?"

"Kya samajhna chahiye?"

"Ki yeh NGO mera area hai. Aur Avani... woh meri friend hai. Close friend."

Maine kuch nahi kaha. Par woh jealousy, woh aggression - mujhe uncomfortable laga.

Ghar jaake maine Avani se pucha, "Raghav kaun hai?"

"Arre, ek purana friend. Thoda possessive hai. Ignore karo."

Par ignore karna mushkil tha. Agle hafte, Raghav ne mujhe WhatsApp pe message kiya. Fake accusations. Ke main funds mishandle kar raha hoon. Ke main NGO ke plants bech raha hoon market mein.

Bakwaas. Sab jhooth.

Maine ignore kiya. Par woh jhooth ek din reality ban gaya.

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Chapter 6: Raat Ka Andhera

Ek Tuesday ki raat. Police.

Mere flat pe knock. Vikram ne darwaza khola. "Ishaan? Kya hua?"

"Ishaan ko arrest karna hai," inspector ne kaha. "NGO ke against fraud complaint hai. Corruption charges. Funds embezzlement."

Main shock mein tha. "Kya? Main... main kuch nahi kiya!"

"Chaliye station."

Vikram ne Avani ko phone kiya. Woh 15 minute mein pahunchi, Ajji ko ghar pe chhod ke. Meri aankhon mein aansu nahi the, par uske chehre pe tha. Woh ro rahi thi.

"Ishaan! Yeh kya ho raha hai?" she cried.

"Jhooth hai Avani. Sab jhooth. Raghav ne kiya hai. I know it."

Police ne mujhe le jaana hi tha. Woh raat jail mein tha. Ek chhoti si cell. Gandi. Aur main... main toot raha tha.

Par subah, bail mil gayi. Kaun leke aaya? Avani. Aur uske saath ek aur ladki.

Samiksha.

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Chapter 7: Samiksha - The Defender

Samiksha. 28 saal ki. Criminal lawyer. Sharp features, intelligent eyes, aur woh confidence jo courtroom mein jeet dilati hai.

"Mr. Ishaan," she said, extending her hand, "I'm Samiksha Rao. Avani's friend from college. I'm taking your case."

Main confused tha. "Par... paise?"

"Avani ne already retainer de diya. And honestly, this case interests me. NGO corruption mein false accusations - I've seen this pattern."

Jail se nikal ke, hum teeno coffee pe mile. Avani ne bataya, "Samiksha best hai. Usne already 3 false cases jeete hain."

Samiksha ne files dekhi. "Raghav Verma. Hasiru India ka volunteer. Usne complaint ki hai. Ke tumne funds steal kiye, plants bech diye, aur accounts manipulate kiye."

"Yeh sab jhooth hai," maine kaha.

"I know. But proof chahiye. Tumhari banking history, NGO ke saath tumhare transactions - sab clean hai. Par Raghav ne kuch documents submit kiye hain. Forged lagte hain. I need time."

Agle do hafte, Samiksha roz mere saath thi. Office mein, ghar pe, court mein. Woh professional thi, par uska dedication... it was something else.

"Ishaan," ek din usne kaha, "Tumhari innocence ke liye main kuch bhi karungi. I hate injustice."

Maine usse dekha. Woh sincere thi. Aur uski mehnat... court ne bail extend ki, aur finally, hearing date aayi.

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Chapter 8: Courtroom Jeet

Courtroom. Avani first row mein. Ajji bhi aayi thi, wheelchair pe.

Samiksha ne prosecution ki har argument kaat di. Raghav ne jo documents diye the, Samiksha ne unke forensic expert se prove karaya ke woh forged hain. Raghav ke phone records se pata chala ke usne kisi ko paise diye the fake documents banwane ke liye.

"Your Honor," Samiksha ne kaha, final argument mein, "Ishaan Nair is not just innocent. He is a victim of jealousy and conspiracy. The real criminal is sitting in the gallery - Raghav Verma."

Judge ne verdict diya. Not guilty. Sab charges dropped. Raghav ko arrest warrant.

Main... main ro pada. Pehli baar. Samiksha ne mujhe hug kiya. Professional hug tha, par usme warmth tha.

"Ishaan," she whispered, "Justice mila."

Avani bhi aayi. Usne mujhe hug kiya. Tight. "I'm so sorry. Maine Raghav ko jaana... maine usse pehchaana nahi."

"Chhodo," maine kaha. "Sab theek hai."

Par woh din se kuch badal gaya.

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Chapter 9: Dosti Se... Kuch Aur?

Samiksha case ke baad bhi touch mein rahi. "Just to ensure you're doing okay," she would say.

Hum coffee pe milne lage. Sometimes dinner. Woh bataati apne cases ke baare mein. Main batata apne start-up ke plans. Woh intelligent thi. Conversation mein depth thi.

Ek din, usne kaha, "Ishaan, tumhari innocence... it was so obvious. Par jab main tumhe jail se nikalwa ke laayi, tab tumhari aankhon mein dekha. Woh relief, woh gratitude..."

"Samiksha, tumne meri zindagi bachayi. Literally."

She smiled. "Toh treat toh banti hai?"

"Kabhi bhi. Kahan jaana hai?"

"Dinner? Saturday? Just us?"

Maine haan kaha. Par tab mujhe realize nahi hua ke yeh kahan ja raha tha.

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Chapter 10: Avani Ki Chuppi

Avani change ho gayi thi. Pehle woh bubbly, talkative thi. Ab... quiet.

"Mujhe kuch nahi hua," she would say when I asked. "Bas office ka stress hai."

Par mujhe pata tha. Main Samiksha ke saath zyada time spend kar raha tha. Aur Avani... woh jealous thi. Par keh nahi rahi thi.

Ek din, maine usse confront kiya. "Avani, kya baat hai?"

"Kuch nahi, Ishaan. Tum apni life jiyo. Samiksha ke saath khush ho na?"

"Woh meri friend hai. Usne meri help ki."

"Ha, help ki," she said, bitterly. "Bahut help ki."

Main samajh gaya. Par samajh ke bhi kuch nahi kar paaya. Kyunki... kyunki Samiksha se bhi mujhe kuch feel ho raha tha. Woh alag tha Avani se. Mature. Understanding. Aur woh mujhe samajhti thi - legally, emotionally, sab level pe.

Main confused tha. Aur beech mein... Ajji ki tabiyat bigad gayi.

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Chapter 11: Ajji Ki Dua

Hospital. Ajji ka room.

Main gaya tha Avani ko support dene. Woh wahan akeli thi. Parents US mein rehte the, aane mein time lagta tha.

"Ishaan," Ajji ne weakly kaha, "Tum aaye. Mujhe pata tha."

"Ajji, aap theek ho jayengi," maine kaha, unka haath pakad ke.

"Beta, main 75 saal ki hoon. Mujhe pata hai. Par tum... tum dono..." she looked at Avani, then me, "Tum dono saath mein achhe lagte ho. Woh balcony... woh meri khushboo... tumhari wajah se hai."

Avani ne mujhe dekha. Uski aankhon mein aansu the. Maine usse hug kiya. Woh hospital ke corridor mein, maine usse apni baahon mein liya. Woh purani warmth thi. Woh comfort.

"I miss you," she whispered.

"I miss you too," I said.

"Samiksha... woh tumhe pasand karti hai?"

"Avani, main..."

"Mat batao," she said, pulling back. "Abhi nahi."

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Chapter 12: Intimate Moments - Ishaan & Avani

Ajji hospital se ghar aa gayi. Stable thi. Main roz aata tha unse milne. Aur Avani... woh bhi thaw ho rahi thi.

Ek shaam. Hum balcony mein the. Sunset. Plants neeche ki taraf shadows daal rahe the.

"Ishaan," Avani ne kaha, "Main insecure thi. Samiksha ko dekh ke. Woh smart hai, successful hai, aur tumhari madad ki jab main..."

"Tumne bhi ki. Tumne Samiksha ko bulaya."

"Par woh professional tha. Mere liye... personal tha."

Maine uska chehra apne haathon mein liya. "Avani, tum mere liye special ho. Woh pehla kiss, woh baarish... main bhool nahi sakta."

"Phir Samiksha?"

"Woh alag hai. Par tum... tum meri pehli mohabbat ho."

Woh moment tha. Woh intimate moment - emotionally, physically. Maine uske baal peeche kiye. Uske gaal pe kiss kiya. Phir hothon pe.

Woh kiss... detailed, slow, full of longing. Hum dono balcony mein the, plants ke beech. Maine usse apni taraf khincha. Uske haath mere baalon mein the. Woh warmth, woh closeness... it was like coming home.

"I love you, Ishaan," she whispered.

"I love you too, Avani."

Hum wahan khade rahe, ek doosre se lipte hue, Bangalore ki shaam mein.

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Chapter 13: Samiksha Ka Aana

Samiksha ne call kiya next day. "Ishaan, celebration dinner? Case jeete hue ek mahina ho gaya. We should celebrate."

Maine haan kaha. Par guilty feel kar raha tha. Kyunki Avani se woh moment ke baad... main confuse ho gaya tha.

Dinner pe, Samiksha ne wine order ki. Maine nahi peeta tha, par us din... us din maine bhi li.

"Ishaan," she said, "Tum bahut special ho. Tumhari sincerity... I've never seen it."

"Samiksha, tum bhi..."

She leaned forward. "Main tumse kuch kehna chahti hoon. Professional boundary cross kar rahi hoon. Par... mujhe tumse feelings aa gayi hain."

Mera dil ruk sa gaya. "Kya?"

"I know. Avani hai. Par jo bhi tumhare beech hai... kya woh serious hai? Kyunki mujhe lagta hai hum... we connect on a deeper level."

Main kuch nahi keh paaya. Kyunki sach toh yeh tha - Samiksha se bhi connection tha. Different, but real.

"Samiksha, main..."

"Mat kaho abhi," she said. "Socho. Par ek baar... ek baar mujhe chance do. Dekho kya feel hota hai."

Woh raat ghar aake main so nahi paaya.

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Chapter 14: Avani Ki Nazar

Agla hafta. Main Samiksha ke saath tha. Coffee shop mein. Hum baatein kar rahe the. Samiksha ne mera haath pakda. Maine... maine hataaya nahi.

Aur wahi pe, window se dekhte hue... Avani.

Woh wahan khadi thi. Shock mein. Usne hum donon ko dekha. Haath pakde hue. Close baatein karte hue.

Maine usse call kiya. "Avani, suno..."

She cut the call.

Message aaya: "Mujhe mat milo. Kabhi mat milo."

Main gaya uske ghar. Ajji ne darwaza khola. "Beta, Avani ro rahi hai. Kya hua?"

"Kuch galat fehmi ho gayi, Ajji. Please, mujhe usse milne do."

Ajji ne roka nahi. Main upar gaya. Avani ki room mein.

"Niklo," she said, crying. "Tumne mujhe cheat kiya."

"Nahi! Samiksha ne feelings express ki. Main confuse tha. Par maine kuch galat nahi kiya."

"Haath pakda tha uska! Maine dekha!"

"Woh... woh moment tha. Par Avani, tum meri pehli choice ho. Hamesha raho gi."

"Jhooth! Tum dono ke beech kuch hai. I can see it. Woh tumhe samajhti hai. Main sirf... main sirf ek content strategist hoon. Woh lawyer hai. Intelligent. Mere jaise nahi."

"Avani, please..."

"Niklo!"

Maine koshish ki. Par woh sunn nahi rahi thi. Gussa, jealousy, heartbreak - sab uske chehre pe tha.

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Chapter 15: The Turning Point

Do din baad. Samiksha ne kaha, "Ishaan, mere ghar aao. We need to talk. Avani ne mujhe message kiya. She's angry."

Main gaya. Samiksha ka apartment. Koramangala mein. Modern, classy.

"Ishaan," she said, "Maine Avani ko explain karne ki koshish ki. Par woh... woh tumse baat nahi karna chahti. She's hurt."

"Main jaanta hoon. Kya karoon?"

Samiksha mere paas aayi. "Tumhe time chahiye. Space chahiye. Yeh sab handle karna mushkil hai."

Usne mera haath pakda. "Main yahan hoon. For you."

Woh moment tha. Vulnerable. Main emotionally toota hua tha. Samiksha ne mujhe hug kiya. Comforting. Warm.

Phir... woh naturally hua. Maine uska chehra upar kiya. Usne aankhen band ki. Maine uske forehead pe kiss kiya. Phir... hothon pe.

Woh kiss Avani jaisi nahi thi. Yeh mature tha. Intense. Different kind of passion. Samiksha ne mere baal pakde. Maine usse apni taraf khincha.

Woh intimate moment tha. Not sexual. Just... close. On the couch. Baatein karte hue. Kisses. Comfort.

Aur tabhi... doorbell.

Samiksha ne darwaza khola.

Avani.

Woh hum dono ko dekha. Couch pe. Close. Mere baal bikhre hue the. Samiksha ka lipstick thoda smudged tha.

Silence.

"Ishaan," Avani whispered. Uski aankhen... woh toot gayi thi. Poori tarah.

"Avani, yeh..."

"Nahi," she said, raising her hand. "Bas. Sab samajh gayi main."

She turned. Chali gayi.

Main peeche gaya. "Avani! Please!"

Par woh ruki nahi. Woh chali gayi. Aur main... main wahan khada raha. Samiksha mere peeche thi. Usne mera haath pakda.

"Ishaan, I'm sorry. Par... maybe it's for the best. Ab clear hai na?"

Maine usse dekha. Confusion. Pain. Aur kuch... relief bhi. Kyunki sach yeh tha - main donon se attached ho gaya tha. Aur ab, decision toh ho hi gaya tha.

Par Avani ki woh aankhen... woh tootna... woh image mere dimaag mein reh gaya.

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Chapter 16: Part 1 Ka Ant - Ishaan & Samiksha

Agle do hafte. Avani ne mujhe block kar diya. Messages, calls - sab. Ajji se bhi milne nahi deti thi.

Samiksha roz aati. Support ke liye. "Ishaan, tumhe time chahiye. Healing chahiye."

Hum saath time spend karne lage. Zyada. Din mein coffee, raat ko dinner. Sometimes movies ghar pe.

Ek Saturday. Hum Samiksha ke ghar pe the. Rainy night again. Bangalore ki baarish.

"Ishaan," she said, "Tum ab theek ho?"

"Samajh nahi aa raha. Avani... maine usse hurt kiya."

"Woh samay ke saath theek ho jayegi. Par tum? Tum kya feel kar rahe ho?"

Maine usse dekha. Woh genuinely concerned thi. Beautiful. Intelligent. Caring.

"Samiksha, tum... tum bahut special ho."

She smiled. "Tum bhi."

Woh moment phir aaya. Par is baar... is baar intentional tha. Maine uske paas baithe hue uska chehra apne haathon mein liya.

"Kya hum...?" I asked.

"Ha," she whispered.

Woh kiss. Different from Avani. Confident. Assured. Passionate but controlled. Hum couch pe the. Baarish ki awaaz. Dim lights.

Samiksha ne apna sir mere shoulder pe rakha. "Ishaan, main tumse pyaar karti hoon."

Main chup raha. Kyunki woh words... woh words abhi tak Avani ke liye the. Par ab... ab main confused tha.

"I need time," I said.

"I know. Main hoon na. I'm not going anywhere."

Hum wahan baithe rahe. Close. Intimate. Par uske baad... uske baad kya hoga? Avani kya kar rahi hogi? Uska gussa, uska dard - kahan jaayega?

Maine socha tha yeh story Ishaan aur Avani ki hai. Par ab... ab lag raha tha ke kahani badal gayi hai.

Samiksha ne mere baal sahlaye. "So jao yahin. Couch pe. Main tumhare liye blanket laati hoon."

"Samiksha, thanks. Everything ke liye."

She kissed my forehead. "Tum deserve karte ho happiness, Ishaan. Main woh dilaungi."

Main so gaya. Par sapne mein... sapne mein Avani ki aankhen thi. Woh tooti hui aankhen. Aur ek awaaz keh rahi thi: "Yeh abhi khatam nahi hua, Ishaan. Yeh abhi shuru hua hai."

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Part 1 Samapt

Kahani abhi baaki hai... Part 2 mein: Avani ka badla, Samiksha aur Ishaan ki growing closeness, aur ek romantic thriller jo sabko surprise karega. Avani jeetegi. Par kaise?

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To be continued in Part 2: "Dhokha Ya Dil?"