Next day after her performance Misha went to the green room to change. While washing her face she noticed someone in mirror. As soon as she was about to turn something heavy hit her head and she fell unconscious. Behind her Vanshika smirked. But before she could get her to her car came Rishabh's voice,
" Misha, where are you? "

Vanshika got scared and escaped leaving Misha there. Rishabh entered the room and was horrified to see Misha lying in a pool of blood. He picked her up and made her lie in his car and drove madly to the nearest hospital where he got her treated and brought her to the palace. Fortunately for him everybody had left for a relative's function. He was to go there too after apologizing to Misha but dropped his plan now. Instead he messaged Chitransh and told him the situation and asked him to manage everything there. He waited the whole evening for her to wake up.

Doctor had said that she needed proper rest so he tried to be as silent as possible. Finally she opened her eyes at 11 p.m. , her head was still hurting. She tried to remember what had happened but it only hurt her more.

After some time she went to the porch and was looking outside when she realized that she wasn't in Meenakshi's room nor in her room. She was scared. Is she kidnapped? Does anyone knows where is she? Is she safe? A lot of questions ran in her mind. Suddenly lights were switched on and there was her ' kidnapper ' in a white kurta and his hair ruffled. Misha was shocked to see him. She had a hunch that something was wrong. How can he go so low?
She shouted at him, " What did you do to me? " " Why am I with you and there is no one else here?" " How can you get so low? " " Did you....."

She stopped in mid of the sentence horrified of the next possibility.

Rishabh: No it's nothing like that. Please listen to me. I didn't touch you.

He kept going towards her and she moved backwards. Suddenly her legs slipped and she was about to fall when Rishabh caught her hand and pulled her in a hug. Shaken at the moment she looked down, if she would have fell she could have hurt herself a lot. It was little awkward so she broke the hug and looked at Rishabh with questioning eyes. He told her everything from start to end. She didn't want to trust him but she could see the honesty in his eyes.
When he didn't got any reply he turned and was going to leave when,

Misha: Rishabh!

He turned.

Rishabh: Yes? What is it?

Misha: Thanks!

Rishabh: Welcome.... by the way it will have more impact if you smile while saying this.

He winked at this and she smiled.

Rishabh: Ok I will bring something to eat.

Misha: Oh yes, please!

He went and brought two plates of food.

Misha: You haven't eaten anything yet.

Rishabh: No.

Misha: But it's 12 a.m. 

Rishabh: Yeah I wanted to give you a company so....

Misha: You are so silly.

Both ate there food in silence and then Rishabh went to keep the plates away. When he came back,

Misha: I think I will sleep in Meenakshi's room.

Rishabh: It's locked. Nobody is here. I have given the week off to the servants too as I was also leaving. It would be unfair to call them back.

Misha: So there is no room in the palace!

Rishabh: None is open. Keys are with the servants.

Misha <irritated>: Such a huge palace and no place to sleep even.

Rishabh: You can sleep on my bed and I will sleep on the couch tonight.

Misha: Oh Mr tall legs ! You won't be fit on the couch and I won't be comfortable there so I guess we will sleep on the bed together.

Rishabh <shocked> : What???

Misha: Don't worry. You will be safe when you get up tomorrow. Also don't get your hopes up because I will make a border with cushions. Just don't cross them and we will be fine.

Rishabh: Ok but did you call Prakrit and told him that you are staying here?

Misha: They are not in the house so there is no need of that.

Rishabh: Ok sweet dreams.

Misha: But I can't sleep in these clothes. They have blood on it. Do you have something?

Rishabh: I am not a girl... dear.

Misha: Yeah of course.

She was looking around when her eyes fell on Rishabh's kurta and lowers, she picked them up and ran to the washroom to change. Meanwhile Rishabh laid on his side and was thinking about the lie he told. All the doors of the rooms were password protected and he remembered the password but he wanted to look at Misha while sleeping. He thought that this much lie can be forgiven by everybody.

After changing Misha came out and Rishabh kept looking at her.

Rishabh: Well I want to say that you look hotter in my clothes than I would ever look in them but the narcissistic me is not allowing me to do so.

Misha: I know that... you don't need to say so.

Misha blushed thinking that he had called her hot but he used to say that before too. These words were having more impact now.

Misha lied on the bed besides him and dozed off to sleep. Rishabh kept looking at her. She looked too innocent.

Soon his poetic mind remembered a small ghazal he had heard.

Ghazal:
             Bala Ka Husn Gajab Ka
             Shabab Neend Me Hai
            Hai Jism Jaise Gulista
           Gulaab Neend Me Hai
           Use Zaraasa Bhi Padh Lo
           To Shayari Aa Jaaye
           Abhi Ghajhal Ki Mukammal
           Kitaab Neend Me Hai.

Translation:
An exotic beauty, in abandoned grace, lies asleep.
In her, all Eden's secrets, the mysteries of roses, sleep.
In every feature upon her face I have discovered poetry.
An anthology of ghazals...
she lies in sleep.

He smiled and soon fell into sleep. The day was quite hectic for him too.

Misha was dreaming when she had a dream of someone trying to kill her. She woke up suddenly and grabbed Rishabh's arm. With the intensity Rishabh also woke up and looked at her. She looked too scared so he comforted her and then asked her to try to sleep. Misha soon fell asleep but didn't let go of his arm. Rishabh felt happy at the streak of luck he had.

But till when.....?

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                       AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hi guys,
So how was it? Yes we are nearing the end of the story. Hope you liked it.
Anyway abhi har love story me thoda drama to chahie hi na so let's see what is the drama? And anyhow Vanshika and Neil won't be mere spectator of Rishabh and Misha's marriage, right?

Picture abhi baki hai hmare doston. 😁. Until then,

             Love Love ♥️

A.S.