Apulki Chapter 23 - A Leap of Faith
Recap Chapter 22: Reeling from the break-up, Isha struggles to move on while Neerav keeps his distance. As their families mourn the loss of their friendship and Isha lands her dream job, one thing becomes painfully clear - success means little when the person you most want to share it with is gone.
What's Cooking
Isha fastened her helmet and climbed onto her bike.
"I'll miss going to work with you," said Akash, putting on his helmet.
"Me too. But I'll still be in Chimboli."
"Yeah." He grinned. "Bean There Spilled That zindabad. We'll hang out everyday after work."
"Of course. But..." She sighed. "Never mind."
"Hey." He squeezed her shoulder. "He'll come around."
"You think?"
"I know."
Isha nodded.
She hoped he was right.
"Can you do something for me?"
Akash placed a hand dramatically over his heart.
"I can give up my life for you, sweetheart."
"Save these cheesy lines for Yammu."
He grinned. "Fine. What do you need?"
Isha started the bike.
"Hop on. I'll tell you on the way."
De Ja Vu
Next morning, Akash was sitting across from Neerav at Bean There Spilled That.
"Dude," he said, "just because you two are on a break doesn't mean you break up with me as well."
Neerav glanced up from his coffee. "Don't you have to go to work?"
His eyes narrowed. "And what's with that humongous camera?"
Akash immediately brightened. "Isn't she a beauty?"
He patted the camera lovingly.
"Won't Dragonosaurus confiscate it?"
Akash leaned back proudly. "Not anymore. You're looking at the official photographer of Pralaya magazine."
Neerav blinked. "Looks like good news all around."
"Yeah."
Akash studied him for a moment. "But you look as though you've been mauled by a drunken goat."
Neerav rolled his eyes. "Very funny."
"She loves you, Neer."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Then listen."
"No."
"She..."
"No."
Akash sighed.
Neerav began collecting his stuff from the table.
"Wait." Akash glanced towards the entrance. "She'll be here any minute."
Neerav froze. Slowly, he turned back. "Who?"
The answer arrived before Akash could give it.
Isha. She was walking towards their table.
Neerav stared. Then groaned. "Should have guessed."
"Neer?"
For a moment, he didn't look at her.
Instead, he pulled out his phone and pretended to read something on the screen.
Isha took a deep breath.
Her heart was hammering so loudly she was fairly certain half the coffee shop could hear it.
No backing out now.
Slowly, she lowered herself onto one knee.
The chatter around them began to fade.
A few heads turned.
Akash quietly lifted his camera.
And then Isha held out her hand.
Resting on her palm was a ring made from a plastic drinking straw.
Exactly like the one Neerav had used to propose.
Neerav was stunned.
"What the..."
A nervous smile flickered across Isha's face.
"Will you marry me?"
The entire coffee shop seemed to hold its breath.
Neerav stared at her.
"I'm not dying, Ishu. The reports were wrong."
"You don't have cardiomyopathy?"
Relief flashed across her face.
"Really?"
Before he could react, she threw her arms around him.
"Oh thank God."
Neerav looked around. Some of the customers were watching them with great interest.
He shifted uncomfortably.
Isha collected herself and dropped back onto one knee.
"Marry me, Neer."
Her voice wobbled slightly.
"I love you."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
"Stop creating a scene, Ishu. People are staring."
"Then say yes."
Neerav rubbed a hand across his face.
"This is all too sudden. I need time to think."
The words landed with almost mathematical precision.
The same words she had once used.
The same words that had broken his heart.
For a second, neither of them looked away.
"Say yes, dude," said Akash.
Neerav shot him a look.
Akash immediately shut up.
"Please leave, Ishu."
Without a word, Isha placed the straw ring on the table.
Then she turned and walked away.
Akash hurried after her.
For several moments, Neerav remained where he was.
The coffee shop slowly returned to normal.
Conversations resumed.
Cups clinked.
Someone ordered a brownie.
Neerav stared at the straw ring lying on the table.
Then he glanced around.
Nobody seemed to be paying attention anymore.
Casually, he picked it up.
Brought it to his lips.
And kissed it.
A second later, the ring disappeared into his breast pocket.
Then he got up and left.
When The Three Little Words Are Ishu, Ishu, Ishu
That night, Isha was already in bed, fiddling with the engagement rings absent-mindedly.
Hearing the door open, she immediately shut her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
Yamini entered the room and flicked on the bedside lamp.
She leaned over the bed. "So..."
Isha opened one eye.
"So he didn't say yes."
"But he called me Ishu."
Yamini blinked.
"What?"
"Three times. Last time we spoke, it was a cold Miss Isha Sharma."
Yamini grabbed both her hands excitedly. "That means he's softening."
"Maybe."
"Just you wait," declared Yamini. "Very soon he'll be cooking for us again."
Then she picked up her nightdress and headed towards the bathroom.
Isha settled beneath her blanket.
Her fingers found the two rings.
She pressed them lightly to her lips.
"Good night, Neer."
Then she switched off the lamp and closed her eyes.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. Scroll down to the bottom and leave a comment!
Subscribe to my free mini magazine below to unlock Apulki’s next chapter before anyone else, and your exclusive weekly fix of humour, quotes, and little nuggets of trivia.
Missed a chapter? Click on the links below:
Chapter 10 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-10
Chapter 11 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-11
Chapter 12 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-12
Chapter 13 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-13
Chapter 14 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-14
Chapter 15 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-15
Chapter 16 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-16
Chapter 17 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-17
Chapter 18 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-18
Chapter 19 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-19
Chapter 20 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-20
Chapter 21 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-21
Chapter 22 - https://www.hansawriter.com/post/apulki-chapter-22
Want to know more about the Author? Click here – https://www.hansawriter.com/get-to-know-me
Keep smiling friends. Life is beautiful. Cherish each moment.
© 2026 Hansa Writer. All Rights Reserved.
I Read the title as 'ye of little faith' lol need to get my glasses check. Even though i dont have one. Rofl rofl.
i am happy their bond are glue-ing again. Softening down indeed.
Mauled by a drunken goat 🤣funny phrase.
See you tomo for next and last chapter. ;)
Wah. Nice straw ring dragonosauras
Big turn around
I think we pretty much guessed that possible Isha and neerav will get together and truth abt wrong report will come
Maybe a little more drama after neerav softens to accept Isha
These two banerjee and Sharma maje great pair
Comic is aakash and yamu
Coming bk to where it started
Btw been there spiller that
That was surprise come back
Good one
I guess next chapter is finale
U better bring new story again or else 🤐😶🌫️🤨
Wow nice chapter
Good that he didn't say yes immediately. It's susually nice to avoid proposing in public places where one would be forced to say yes good that he stood his ground like she did once.
Waiting for the next chapter......will miss all this waiting after a couple of weeks when the final chapter will be posted