Hey everyone, I will be posting every alternate day or every two days as I'm really busy with work and I'll have midterms starting next week so taking time to prepare for that 

I know all of you have been waiting for a long time for heartfelt but I'm just not satisfied with it and since it's something I still have to write, It will take long until the next update. Will try to post as fast as I can.

CHAPTER 6

Nannu : Well Mishti! I see that you've had a lot of fun tonight. Well heard too.

Mishti (rolling her eyes) : Come on Nannu! You know better than to pay attention to the gossip. They're just jealous that they didn't think of a midnight picnic.

Nannu : I agree with you, Mishti! But you know what I mean. I just hope you haven't gone and fallen in love with Abir Rajvansh.

Mishti stopped and stared at him flabbergasted.

Mishti : In love with Abir Rajva.... Are you completely mad, Nannu? I don't go around falling in love with every person who happens to pay attention to me.

Nannu (giving a relieved sigh) : Well! I'm thankful for that. Naksh would have my head if anything like this had happened in his absence. Mishti Raj Singhania, 20 years old and head over heels in love with Abir Rajvansh, 28 years old probably. Naksh would have killed me on the spot.

Nannu shuddered and Mishti laughed. Nannu gave her a sheepish smile then turned serious.

Nannu : All kidding aside. Naksh seriously wouldn't approve of Abir Rajvansh.

Mishti (surprised) : Why? He's done nothing wrong. He's been a gentleman.

Mishti refused to think of the kiss.

Nannu : There, You're wrong, Mishti. The man has a decidedly shady reputation. He has been out of the country, not always in the best company, and rumor has it that he left Rajkot under some cloud in the first place.

Mishti remained silent.

Nannu : Abir is not the man to marry. You should remember that.

Mishti (looking at him scornfully) : Nannu! I thought I loved you best. My loving, easygoing brother. But today, you have been more overbearing than our dearest eldest brother. I am 20 years old. I have no intentions of getting married. Not to Abir Rajvansh, nor anyone else.

Nannu : Age has nothing to do with falling in love. Anyways, What about Captain Rohan Dewar? I thought you liked him.

Mishti (sighing) : I don't know. He has been very irritating of late. I find him absolutely pompous. He is handsome enough to turn any girl's head, but he boasts and he postures. I keep trying to make allowances for his youth, but then I remember that he is four years older than I am.

Nannu (chuckling) : I know how you are, Mishti. I don't mean to annoy you. But the world isn't kind to anyone. And we just want ur baby sister to be fine. Do you want me to have a word with Mr Rajvansh? I do an amazing impersonation of Naksh.

Mishti (glaring at him) : Don't you dare. Don't you dare talk to him OR call me your BABY sister. I will turn 21 in 2 months. 2 months, You understand?

He laughed and cuffed her jaw lightly with his closed fist.

Nannu : Come on! I have to leave now and I see the Dewars waiting for you. I have to go back to the embassy soon after.

Mishti nodded and wondered what he would say—and do—if she told him this whole entertainment had been conceived and organized for her benefit. And that she had gone quite deliberately into the semi private avenues with Abir Rajvansh and allowed him to kiss her there—even though she had known very well that he had nothing but dalliance on his mind.

Nannu would conjure up his very own fireworks display to rival the ones during Diwali. He would probably take the Abir Rajvansh apart limb from limb and lay out the pieces across the forest floor.

And what would Naksh say and do? Not to mention Kunal and Naira. Each of the Singhanias were terrifying when angry. The idea really did not bear thinking of.

But she was not going to start feeling guilty. No harm had been done. Quite the contrary. A wily, dangerous man had thought to toy with her, and she had turned his weapons against him and come away from the experience quite unscathed. She was rather proud of herself.

Perhaps Mr Rajvansh, who really was a quite despicable man, would think twice before wasting his time and money on a young girl again.

After all, she was Mishti Raj Singhania and she did not dance to anyone's tunes.

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Two days had passed since the midnight picnic. Two days of not speaking to Mishti Raj Singhania. Abir had seen her last night at the dinner hosted by Saket, but since her brother was with her the entire time, He didn't approach her.

There was indeed gossip and speculation about them in the drawing rooms of J and K, enough that several people would surely include word of it in their calls home to Rajkot and it would become the on dit there too. The lady concerned was, after all, Mishti Raj Singhania, sister of Naksh Raj Singhania.

His scheme was working very nicely indeed. And he was not at all concerned that matters were proceeding slowly. He was in no hurry.

He spotted her now, across the pathway, apparently walking towards the cable car station. He approached her and her companions, Reshmi Dewar and some other lady who he had been introduced to a few days ago, but who he could not recall.

Mishti was looking very pretty in a cream coloured kurti and black tights with long earrings and her hair in a fishtail braid. God, The girl was enchanting in every outfit. His insides tightened but he shook his head and focused.

Abir smiled at the ladies and muttered a greeting. Mishti Raj Singhania inclined her head graciously in return—she was playing the grand lady this morning, perhaps in response to the gossip that was still focused on them. She might have ridden on past without a word if Reshmi had not spoken up.

Reshmi : Good morning, Mr Rajvansh! Isn't it an absolutely fine day?

Abir nodded amiably and agreed with her.

Reshmi : Mishti and I thought it would be fun to go to the top of the peak via cable car and take in the view of the city. And have you met Piya? This is Piya Sinha.

Abir (thinking) : Miss Dewar! You are a treasure. I really didn't want to seem ignorant of the girl's name and get into trouble.

Abir (smiling) : Ofcourse. We were introduced just a few days ago.

Piya (smiling) : Mr Rajvansh! I thoroughly enjoyed myself at your midnight picnic.

Abir : I'm so glad to hear that, Ms Sinha! What about you, Ms Singhania?

She looked at him, but her gaze seemed worried, serious.

Mishti : Mr Rajvansh? Do you have any idea about the political situation here? Are we going to be under attack?

Before Abir could answer, Reshmi turned to Mishti and looked at her protestingly.

Reshmi : Come on, Mishti! You know, Bhai told that there was nothing to worry about. That we shouldn't be bothered?

Mishti kept looking at Abir, a slight frown creasing her brow.

Abir : May I join you on your ride up?

Mishti nodded, but it seemed to Abir to be almost absent minded.

He accompanied the ladies to the station and soon, Misses Dewar and Sinha were ensconced in one while Mishti and he took their seats in the next one.

Mishti : Do you know how irritating it is? To be told not to worry, To be told not to care about all this just because they don't like their women to be well versed in our country's politics. What is wrong with everyone? I don't need to know all the gory details. But surely I can know a little? The truth.

Abir (gently) : We men don't like to worry our loved ones. We try to keep them safe.

Mishti (shaking her head) : There's a difference between ignorance and safety, Mr Rajvansh! But tell me, Do you think we will soon be attacked? Will our borders be under seige?

Abir had a strong urge to take her into his arms and hug her and assure her that no harm would befall anyone as long as she is there, but he realised that honesty was the best policy he could use right now.

Abir : I think it might be true, Mishti. All the facts point towards another confrontation. This might be ugly and long.

Mishti (sighing) : Mr Dewar wants us to leave. Nannu insists that I leave. Naksh will probably call soon and ask me to come back. But Mrs Dewar refuses to leave until it becomes impossible to stay. She insists upon remaining close to Captain Rohan, and I can only applaud her resolve. There is so little that we are allowed to do. At least we can stand by our men.

Abir (looking straight at her) : And you? You wish to stay by Captain Rohan's side?

Mishti (scowling) : That is none of your business.

He smiled at her.

But she was not bent upon quarreling with him, it seemed.

Mishti : I suppose that when the time comes I will be hurried away to safety long before there is any real danger to my person. But the men of the armies cannot be whisked away, can they? They must remain and fight. And die.

Abir kept a hand on his shoulder and smiled kindly.

Abir : Not everyone dies. There are countless veterans among us. We may be facing a difficult time, but we are united, Mish! Don't worry. We shall persevere.

It was not the sort of gloomy conversation he would normally make to a woman, especially to a very young and delicately nurtured lady. But she was not as other ladies were—he was increasingly aware of that.

Mishti (giving him a sweet smile) : Thank you, Mr Rajvansh! It was nice to have someone talk to me properly instead of treating me like a child.

Abir smiled and got up. He gestured for her to do the same and then closed her eyes with his palm.

Mishti (gasping) : Mr Rajvansh!

Abir (whispering near her ear) : Shhh! Wait a minute.

He released his palm and she opened her eyes to look at the horizon. The green, blue, brown... The swirl of colours on the ground mixing with the blue of the sky. The amazing features of nature where the cable line seemed to pass between the clouds. The intrinsic beauty that filled Mishti's eyes.

Abir : Where there is ugliness, There is beauty. I believe it was you who told me that, Mishti!

She couldn't do anything but nod.

She turned and saw him looking at her with something that seemed akin to concern and care?

Abir brushed her lips softly with his and moved back.

Abir : We are nearing the top. Let us sit back and enjoy the rest of our ride.

Mishti nodded and sat down. They reached the top and Mishti smiled at Abir.

Mishti : Thank you for the company, Mr Rajvansh. I enjoyed myself a lot.

Abir was surprised to hear her speaking so civilly to him but if Mishti wanted to be friends with him, Who was he to refuse?

Abir : Until next time, Ms Singhania! (leaning down slightly so that her companions couldn't hear her) I do believe I managed to steal a kiss from you, after all.

He grinned at her while she scowled. He waved his goodbyes and walked away from them. Ah, He couldn't resist teasing her. Then he frowned.

Abir (thinking) : Mishti Raj Singhania! As seductive and innocent as you are, You are a means to an end. I cannot forget that. Never ever. 

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