• ADVIKA •

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]

Subject: Is She There?

Respected Mr Ahuja,

Please don't assume that it's Advika on this side. I'm her friend-cum-roommate, Aarvi Khanna. This is to inquire about Advika's presence at your place, since she has been missing for two days. If she's with you, kindly ask her to mail me right away, or else I will have to find a new daughter for her parents.

Thanking You,
Yours Faithfully,
Aarvi Khanna…

P.S.: Kindly ignore this mail if she is not at your place.

Did I tell you that her sarcastic professional tone always annoys me on point?

If not, learn it now.

“See? Why didn't you inform anyone?” He raised his voice a little and showed me his mobile screen. Then, sighing deep enough to calm down his volcanic anger, he asked, “Are you going to reply or should I reply on your behalf?”

“Well, I can reply,” I replied more instantly and slowed down while adding, “Ishaan,” bowing down my head.

“Okay, then, do it!” He pointed his mobile at me and shot me a look as if he was daring me to accept it.

As if I said I won't.

I accepted the mobile from him and whispered, “Thank you,” only to move away from that place swiftly like a magician.

Walking towards the balcony to sit on the bamboo swing, I replied to Aarvi.

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]

Subject: I exist.

Hi, Miss Khanna.

You don't have to worry about finding a new daughter for my parents, because it's your friend-cum-roommate Advika Bansal here.

(Talk in C.W., bitch!)

Have you watched the recent episode? I did. Magic happened and X teleported to Y's place.

Advika B…

For those who haven't known it yet, let me explain that C.W. means Code Words.

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]

Subject: New Universe?

So, the Bibverse exists?

Okay, Bibverse refers to Ishaan's universe. Noted.

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]

Subject: Too lazy to name a new subject.

Yeah. X met Y. Y is so hotter than we could imagine. And, they're at the Shaadi.

Advika B…

For those who don't know Hindi, Shaadi means wedding. And, we know who's wedding we're talking about.

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]

Subject: Mom's up!

Okay. Then, for your kind information, I just saw the promo of the next episode. X's mom has come to her house.

Did she just say that about my mom? Like, my mom came to my house.

But, why all of a sudden?

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]

Subject: Why?

What happened? Why did she go there?

Advika B…

P.S.: What about Dudley?

Uh, yeah, I meant Harsh as “Dudley”.

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]

Subject: Blew up the account

Her mom came to visit her. But, X's friend told me that X is busy with her projects. Her mom left. And yeah, Dudley blasted her mail inbox like Hell. He still does.

By the way, when are you coming?

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]

Subject: Too fucked-up to name a subject

I'm hoping that Z will tell Dudley that she has gone to meet her grandma.

Advika B…

P.S.: I will come back. Where there's will, there's way. Good night!

I closed the app, locked the mobile, and handed over the mobile to Ishaan, who was lying on the bed but not asleep.

“Did she reply?” Ishaan sat up cross-legged and got the mobile from me.

“Yeah, she did,” I replied and chose not to tell further. He will call me crazy if I did. “Well… Don't we have any other functions tomorrow?”

“Nothing much. Everyone is going to Fornillo Beach,” he stated and switched off the table lamp.

Ah, there he was! Getting my weak spot.

“Did you just say beach? Are we going to the beach?” I rushed and sat next to him.

“You guys are going.” There was no expression in his tone as if he was talking to an outright dumbass.

Well, that was who I am, right?

But, wait. Isn't he coming with us?

“But, why? I have heard that Italian beaches are good.” I sat on my bed and straightened my posture, deciding not to sleep until he agreed.

“Yeah, but… Don't insist on me, please!” Despite the darkness in the room, his beseeching eyes stirred my soul.

“At least, for my sake?” I imitated his puppy eyes, ensuring that he would give up for me.

Sighing half-heartedly after looking at my puppy-eyed face for seconds, he nodded a no while saying, “I wish,” and lying on the bed again.

Scrunching my posture, I lied down as well, glaring at the ceiling and wondering why he could have refused to come with me to the beach.

And, wait! Why does the beach name sound familiar to me?

Fornillo Beach.

“Oh, shit!” I thought I was the only one exclaiming this, but no, I heard the same from my left.

Tilting my head to my left, I asked, “What happened?”

“Nothing. I just forgot to apply the ointment for you. Wait a minute. I'll be back.”

Okay, not as serious as mine.

Fornillo Beach was where Ishaan proposed to Maahi in the book. It was also her favourite beach.

No wonder.

Ishaan, who was then sitting next to me and placing my leg on his thigh, asked, “Feeling better?” while applying the ointment.

“Yeah, not as painful as it was.” After reflecting through what I had realised, I added, “I'm sorry.”

Creases of worry engulfed his face as he tried to wonder why. But before he could ask that, I added, “For insisting on joining me to the beach.”

“Oh!” He worried less and explained, “That's okay. You wanted me to be happy there. But, you don't know that nothing can make me happier there.”

“I know,” I replied instantaneously, without realising that it would bring questions from him.

“How?” There he goes!

“Uh… Never mind. It's a girl thing.”

Must I have said that it was a “reader thing”, instead of “girl thing”?

“Okay, I understand,” he chuckled, surrendering, while the sound of his ringtone came right through our moment. “Advika, could you please—”

Before he could say what had to be done, I did it for him.

Carrying his mobile in my hand, I glanced at the screen and informed, “It's some unknown number, Ishaan.”

Stopping to apply the ointment, he looked up at me rapidly and whispered, “Does that have an Indian country code?”

Okay, he's expecting Maahi.

“No, it's +39,” I recited the country code despite knowing that it could lead to a tiny disappointment for him.

“Fine,” he sighed the way I expected and added, “Put the call on speakerphone mode.”

“Are you sure?” I tilted my head to my left and asked.

“Very sure. Connect the call.”

I did, only to welcome a disgusting tone at the other side.

“Ciao, Ishaan! This is Francesca here.”

Bitch, why not leave us alone?

“Ciao, Francesca,” greeted Ishaan with zero interest.

“Uh… I need to ask whether you are free tomorrow,” she whispered the way she did at the lawn, which built an urge in me to destroy his phone.

But then, it's his phone. So, he has to destroy them.

“Yes.”

“Okay, then, could you please join me at Fornillo Beach tomorrow? I think you know that everyone is coming.”

Bitch, I swear, he won't come.

“Well, I will try to come tomorrow, Francesca,” he promised, unlike what he had said to me.

How dare he!

“Awww, thanks a lot, Ishaan!” She then let out a chuckle that made her seem like a low-budget Madhuri Dixit. “And… What are you doing now?”

While she was asking these questions, Ishaan muted the call and begged, “Advika, please help me end this call.”

“What?” I tilted my head to my right, almost unbelievably. “Did you just ask me?”

Nodding a yes faster, he added, “Please.”

Okay. He might have lied to me, but still, I can't say no when he needs my help.

It's against my ethics.

“Okay, unmute the call,” I instructed while he did as I said.

“Ishaan.” It was that Fucking Fart. “What are you doing now?” She went back to her sexy whisper.

“Ishaan, faster,” I moaned and whispered as I tried to grab the centre of the stage, making Ishaan chuckle. Whispering in a way Francesca couldn't hear, I instructed, “Now, you breathe in and out faster. And recite a line you would use at bed. Okay?” Noticing him shoot a “Don't tell me you escaped from an asylum” look, I added, “Listen. A fake hot make-up sex is the best way to make someone awkward and vanish from their place. It's not like we have an idea better than this, do we?”

Showing his thumbs up with a surrendering look, he gestured at me to bring the mobile closer to him and panted like the way I wanted, thus giving Francesca a fake information that we're having “our moment” right then.

“Who's your daddy?” He grunted while I scrunch my nose and pretended to gag.

No way that the guy who had set my standards near the Andromeda galaxy had used such a cliché line.

“You,” I whispered back and closed my mouth with my hand, not allowing the laughter to escape.

“Good girl. Now… Oh shit! Francesca is on the line. Why didn't you tell me?” He brought his normal tone and spoke, “Uh, Francesca, I'm sorry. I… Ummm—”

“That's fine, Ishaan. I'm sorry for disturbing you. Good night!”

The call ended with a recurrent beep while we laughed as if we were watching Mr Bean.

I couldn't help but laugh at his amazing skills and his, “Who's your daddy?” Like, who the fuck would have expected such line from him?

“Who's your daddy?” I imitated the way he grunted and laughed again, that time with no companion to laugh.

Trying to control it, I looked at him who was glaring in the most playful way possible.

“Fine.” I brought back my stern tone. “Will you go to the beach with her?”

“Who said so?” He gave me a lopsided grin like a detective who always has a Plan B. “She will leave me in peace only if I say so. Or else, she would have haunted me like Hell.”

“Oh!” I tried my best to convince myself of his reason and I kinda did it.

“Okay. I'm done. Good night, sweetheart!”

He switched off the lights and left me sleepless after realizing that he called me, “Sweetheart.”

“Sweetheart,” I whispered and lay on my bed. Looking at the ceiling and trying to sleep, I whispered, “Sweetheart,” again.

After what it seemed like a very long time, I loved the way that word sounded.

After all, it was THE Ishaan Ahuja who used the word, right?

***

THE NEXT DAY…

The Singhs, The Trivedis, the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, and myself were at that popular beach of Amalfi Coast that could steal anyone's heart like no one else. With its cream-coloured sand and bright blue waters adorned with tall rocks, it looked like a honeymoon-esque location.

Mehak and Ved, the power couple, were holding hands and playing Kabaddi with the beach waters, thus choosing to eat everyone's heart out.

Including this “reader girl” alien, suffering under the scorching heat without her book boyfriend but an annoyingly fucked-up shitty asshole.

“Hey, Advika! Wanna join me for surfing?” It was Francesca, in her ocean-blue bikini and a matching surfing board, came all the way to pester me.

“No, thank you.” I crossed my arms and looked away from her, focusing on the surfers.

“Fine! Your loss,” she sighed and went towards Kevin, the event manager of the wedding and Ved's friend.

I have been to around 10 beaches in India for around 50 times. But, never had I ever been this disinterested at my favourite place, all thanks to His Beloved Ishaan Ahuja.

The warm wind was comforting, though.

By then, if he was by my side, I would have played with the beach waters, holding his hand. I would have blushed like a lover girl every time he shoots out a pickup line. I would have voluntarily stumbled on the beach waters, pushed him with me, and splashed water on each other.

But…

“Missed me?” My ears tickled in response to the sudden sound. I looked back, my face explicitly expressing my utmost wonder and trying to conceal the euphoria after facing the dark green eyes embedded in a Greek god-esque face of the voice's owner.

Laughing out of surprise, I asked, “Ishaan. What are you doing here?”

“Well… Heard that someone missed me,” he mocked and came one step towards me. “So… I came.” Elbowing on my shoulder, he added, “The beach is so crowded, right?” I nodded a yes while pouting a little. “Shall we go somewhere else?”

“But, everyone settled here itself. I think they're well-off here,” I stated, countering his suggestion.

“I'm not talking about others. Shall we go somewhere else? Just you and me.” He emphasized the word “we”, making me suppress my smile at the essence of his suggestion.

Unable to speak words, I nodded a yes, resulting in him trying not to let his hormones paint his cheeks crimson.

***

Baia di Ieranto: One of the secluded beaches in Amalfi Coast that also has a nature reserve. A beach that seemed more beautiful than Fornillo Beach to me. The Heaven Ishaan had chosen for me.

“Oh my God! This beach is so beautiful!” I ran into the beach sand barefoot and screamed as if I was the only person in the universe. I stopped running, only to see him closer to me as I jumped and squealed, “Thank you so much, Ishaan! You're the best!”

“Okay, control,” he laughed and gripped my shoulders while I gripped his as well and breathed out loud and free. “Shall we play?”

Call me moody or whatsoever, but I felt my eyes watering as I nodded a yes.

An hour went by while we were playing with the beach waters, wetting ourselves (not in a horny way) in the process, when we finally chose to take a break at a café that was less than a mile away from the beach.

Ordering two Espressos for ourselves, a chicken Caesar salad for me, and a chocolate croissant for Ishaan, Ishaan cleared his throat as if to say something.

“Advika, shall I ask you something?” Before allowing me to nod yes as a formality, he added, “It's about Harsh. I mean, let's not talk if you're uncomfortable with it.”

“No, that's not the case. You can ask me,” I assured while shooting a smile.

“Well… Why Harsh?” He asked that question everyone asked when I was newly in love with Harsh.

Exhaling through my mouth, I plastered a smile at the memory of the Harsh I saw before falling in love. Leaning forward, I explained, “You know what? Before me, Harsh had a girlfriend named Sowmya. They were the power couple of our college. The way Harsh treated Sowmya was just… So cute!” I squealed the “so cute” part and continued, “He used to buy her a lot of books. Not just books. Flowers, gifts, toys, and what not. He also used to cook her food and bring it for her almost twice a week. He was the perfect green flag.”

I said “was”, not “is”.

Letting out a chuckle, Ishaan asked, “Then, why did they break up?”

“I don't know, Ishaan! That's their relationship!” I whined and rested my head on the table.

“Okay, fine!” He laughed at my childish whine and questioned, “Who do you think is a green flag?”

“You,” I replied, faster than one could ever imagine.

He shook his head in refusal and rephrased, “I mean, define a green flag.”

“The main male character of a rom-com book or movie.”

Laughing at my response, he exhaled through his mouth and changed the question. “Who taught you this?”

“Ana Huang, Elena Armas, Emily Henry, Hannah Grace, Jenny Han, Lynn Painter, Ali Hazelwood, Sarah Adams, Lauren Asher, Holly Jackson, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Tessa Bailey, Sally Throne, Julia Quinn, Casey McQuiston, Netflix, and…” Exhaling through my mouth for more breath, I added, “Aadya Chatterjee.”

Looking away from me, he glanced at the road and the beach that was quite far from sight, trying to suppress his laughter.

“Ishaan, what's so funny about this?” I laughed back with him and added, “They're the one who set standards for the Andromeda Galaxy.”

“I get it, but…” He sighed and leaned back on his chair. Later, lunging forward a little, he explained, “I understand. You want a boyfriend who's straight out of books and movies. Someone who takes care of their girl like a princess. But… Physical support like sex, act of service, touch, and stuff does not determine a relationship on a whole. Emotional support exists. Trust, love, empathy, words of affirmation, spending quality time… They are also a part of love life.

“Meanwhile, there is no such thing called ideal boyfriend, ideal girlfriend, and ideal love life. Everyone has their flaws. I guess, these books and movies showed you only the happier sides. Those are a mere mirage.”

How will I tell him that he is one of those “mirages” and that I'm in love with that mirage?

Before I could counter it, he added, “But, true men are those who accept their flaws and embrace their partner as a whole; including her flaws. Look out for a guy who gives you that as well. Someone who's best at giving you physical and emotional support. Find him and fall in love with him.”

“I think I have found him,” I stated, looking right into those dark green eyes and telling him about my feelings without words. “And, I'm not ashamed of it.”

“Sir, your orders.” The waiter returned with our orders, managing to get through one of the best moments of our life.

“Thank you,” I greeted him and sipped my Espresso, my eyes eyeing his overgrown beard that wasn't Ishaan-esque.

Ishaan, who caught me staring and ignoring his beard thrice, asked me what happened while I replied, “Nothing, but your beard looks quite disturbing to me.”

Scrunching his nose, he sipped his Espresso and countered, “Is that so? But, Francesca told me that I look great on my beard,” added with a suppressed grin, leaving my face as crisp as an ironed shirt.

“I don't care. I said what I mean to say.” I leaned forward and twisted my lips, only to lean back. “I would prefer an Ishaan without a beard.” Reflecting on what I had said, I added, “Maybe, a little beard would help. But, this? You look like Santa Claus, love!”

“Love?” He raised eyebrows while I rewinded that moment at 0.5x speed.

People say that I'm quite expressive. But, fuck, I can't be THIS expressive.

“Oh! I'm—”

Before I could apologise for that, he replied, “Glad for that!”

My eyes were as fucking wide as a dinosaur as I took time to process his reply. Did he say that he was glad of me addressing him as “love”?

There had to be a mistake. No?

No.

***

Have you ever witnessed an author in love with her character?

Hi! That's me. ;)

Ishaan is such a cutie pie that I badly want to have him all by myself. But then, I am ready to give it up for Advika Bansal and other reader girls.

And, I'm extremely sorry for the delay. Work has been piling up a lot just within a week and, to be honest, it's quite hard to manage all of them. Hereafter, the updates will be quite slower than it was a month ago. Kindly bear with me!