"Many receive advice. Only the wise profit from it"
- Harper Lee

CHAPTER 27

Perhaps she had made a mistake. Perhaps she could have loved him enough for both of them. But could she survive a lifetime of knowing that he never really wanted her? That he had proposed simply because it was the thing to do? That, left to his own devices, he would have found someone infinitely more worldly? Infinitely more beautiful? Infinitely...more?

No. She couldn't bear it. Refusing him had been her only option.

Mishti : What are you to do, Mishti?

Anya : Mishti?

The whisper, barely a sound, came from the doorway and Mishti snapped her head around to face Anya, who was peering through the dim light to confirm that the woman in the darkness was, indeed, her friend.

Mishti : Anya! You should be inside.

Anya : Yeah, Well! I have been doing what's expected of me the whole night. Now, I just want to sit with you.

Mishti smiled and gestured her to sit in the nearby chair. Anya sat down and looked out the window.

Anya : Looks like you needed some time alone. I did too.

Mishti blinked, focusing on Anya's face, registering her brown eyes, rounded and...hurt? Mishti pushed her own sadness aside, and placed a hand on Anya's elbow.

Mishti : What happened?

Anya waved one hand with what Mishti knew was feigned dismissiveness.

Anya : I wandered away from the celebration and found you.

Mishti's look softened.

Mishti : Anya, you cannot allow them to upset you.

Anya's lips twisted wryly.

Anya : I am not upset. I find myself eager to show them what I am capable of.

Mishti smiled at the younger girl,

Mishti : Yes! That is how you must face them. Proud, and strong, and wonderfully you. They shall not be able to resist you. I guarantee it!

Anya's face shadowed for a moment—so fleeting that Mishti almost missed it.

Anya : Some shall never like me, it seems.

Mishti : The Elite aren't known for their adaptability. But don't worry, you'll find there are all sorts of families within us as well.

Anya nodded and sighed.

Anya : Can I tell you something?

Mishti : Of course.

Anya : It's only the beginning of October, I know. But I've made up my mind. I'm going to stay in India, here in Rajkot, with my brothers.

Mishti : Oh my goodness! THAT'S WONDERFUL. I'm so thrilled. When did you decide this?

Anya : Just about fifteen minutes ago.

Mishti : Here?

No one could have mistaken the skeptical note in Mishti's voice and Anya chuckled.

Anya : Yes. I have decided I cannot allow all the stupide persone in the Elite to drive me away. I shall stay with them, live amongst them and belong here.

Mishti hugged Anya tightly and kissed her cheek.

Mishti : That's amazing news, Anya. And your brothers, Anya...they shall be thrilled.

Anya beamed.

Yes...I suppose they will.

Her expression quickly turned serious as she looked into Mishti's eyes.

Anya : However, I am not certain that Abir deserves such good news.

Mishti looked down at her lap. It was Anya's turn to take Mishti's hands in hers.

Anya : Mishti, what happened?

Mishti : Nothing happened.

Your brother merely broke my heart. That is all.

Anya waited for Mishti to look up again and, when she did, her eyes liquid with tears, the younger woman searched her gaze for answers. After a very long moment, Anya seemed to find what she was looking for.

Anya : You told me to face the Elite by being wonderfully me, didn't you? You follow the same. Be you. Be so wonderfully you that he is left reeling.

Mishti smiled as tears pooled in her eyes again and she hugged Anya, not wanting her to notice them. And, as Anya held her, Mishti whispered the words she could no longer deny.

Mishti : But what if I am not enough?

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Abir couldn't remain in the Deora House after what happened. He had to go from there. Since he had come with his siblings in a single car, he left on foot and left the car for their disposal.

He set for Rajvansh Mansion and wondered what he was going to do. His entire life... His entire life, he had avoided having a meaningful relationship of any kind. He had avoided women who he thought he could like, he had perfected the ultimate bad boy act so that mothers wouldn't trust their daughters to be around him. He had spent his entire life making sure that no woman could take any special place in his life and he in theirs. He'd grown up in a household destroyed by a woman, marred by an unrequited love that had eaten away at his father, who had eventually died of the affliction—too heartbroken for too long to fight when he fell ill and died.

But now, here was Mishti. Sweet, Caring, Selfless Mishti who was nothing like the cruel woman who had borne him but at the same time, was equally dangerous.

For when she had said she had loved him and looked at him, Abir had seen her luminous eyes, her sincerity and he was unable to breathe. He couldn't bring himself to think. And when she had asked him to leave, Abir had felt the same hopelessness that his father had probably felt when his wife had left. He could do nothing but just watch as his life fell apart.

It was a terrifying feeling. And if it was love, he wanted none of it.

He failed to notice that the clouds had set in and the few people out on the road were drawing out their umbrellas. But, All Abir could see was Mishti's tear stained face and the hurt that he had caused her. The devastation there on her face-- all because of him.

Why had she fallen in love with him? When had she? How could she? She deserved so much more. She did not need him. He had done nothing but give her pain. She had given him passion, light and happiness but he had taken the latter away from her. Everything was complicated now.

He was honest enough to admit that if he had wanted to return to a life with no complications, he could have done so on the first day that he had met Mishti, just outside his bedroom. If he had ignored her request then, probably his life would have continued just as before.

But, he'd been destined to make a mess of the situation since the moment she'd arrived on the threshold of his bedroom—all big eyes and full, tempting lips—asking him to kiss her. If he'd paid closer attention, he would have realized then that she was going to wreck havoc on his perfectly satisfactory life.

If he hadn't been tempted by her innocent request and kissed her, he would never have danced with her, he would never have followed her to the tavern and kissed her in the alley near her house. He wouldn't have met her at the fencing club and he wouldn't have argued with her at the concert hall. He would definitely not have visited her room or taken her to the Poker House and he wouldn't have had a night to last a thousand lifetimes.

Sometime, in the past month and the half, Mishti had taken over his entire life. He couldn't go into any of his old haunts without remembering his time with Mishti in those same places.

When Abir considered his life prior to the night she'd barged into his house, it didn't seem satisfactory at all. It seemed sorely lacking in laughter and in conversation and in entirely inappropriate visits to taverns and other pursuits with adventuresome females. It was lacking in wide smiles and lush curves and insane lists. It was lacking in Mishti.

And the prospect of returning to a life without her was dismal, indeed.

He looked around seeing that he had passed Rajvansh Mansion a long time ago and was now really close to Singhania Nivas. In fact, it was just three houses down the road. The house was dark, save for a light in a lower-level room facing the side gardens, and Abir stood for a long moment considering that golden glow.

The decision was made.

He knocked on the door for a long time until the same man he had terrorized last time came and opened the door. When his eyes had found Abir's, they glowed in recognition.

Abir : I'm here to see Mr Singhania.

Perhaps sensing the urgency in Abir's voice, the man didn't argue and instead nodded and asked him to come inside. He handed Abir a towel and while he dried himself, Naksh came in and nodded at Abir.

Naksh : Mr Rajvansh!

Abir : Thank you for seeing me at this late hour.

Naksh : Well, I was having a rather boring evening going through wills and other testaments. Yours is a welcome distraction. Why don't you come to my study and we'll talk there.

Abir nodded and followed Mishti's brother to the study where he offered Abir a seat.

Abir : I don't think you'll want to be polite with me once you hear what I have to say.

Naksh's eyebrows rose and Abir felt the intimidation in the stare even though he was older than Naksh by several years.

Naksh : Why don't you tell me what you have to say?

Abir : Mishti and I spent a whole night together in the Poker House.

At first, there was no indication that Naksh heard Abir's confession. He did not move, or take his gaze from his visitor. And then he came to his full height and before walking toward Abir. Once in front of Abir, he crossed his arms.

Naksh : Rhea... Mishti?

Abir : Yes!

Naksh nodded thoughtfully, then punched him. Abir didn't see the blow coming; he reeled backward, pain exploding in his cheek. When he straightened, Naksh was shaking off the residual sting in his hand calmly.

Naksh : You know I had to do that.

Abir : Of course. I wouldn't have expected otherwise.

Naksh : Now, Why don't you sit down and tell me why you felt you had to share that information with me?

Abir : I asked her to marry me.

Naksh : And you came to tell me that in the middle of the night, while you are soaking wet?

Abir : It should be so simple.

Naksh : Ohh! She refused you.

Abir : Utterly infuriating, your sister is.

Naksh : Yeah! She has that tendency.

Abir : That's why I told you. I need your help.

Naksh : She will marry you.

Abir's eyes lit at the conviction in Naksh's tone and felt relieved that at last, someone was on his side.

Naksh : But you have to convince her. I'm not going to force her to the mandap.

Well, that relief was short-lived.

Abir : Didn't I just tell you I tried and it didn't work. She refuses to listen to me.

Naksh laughed, surprising Abir.

Naksh : Ofcourse she won't listen to you. Sisters are like that. Shouldn't you be learning that by now?

Abir grimaced as he thought of his dealings with Anya.

Abir : It appears I am.

Naksh : So, Has Rhea told you why she doesn't want to marry you?

Abir thought back to the words Mishti had spoken just some time ago.

Abir : She said she loves me.

Naksh raised his eyes in astonishment but said nothing. Instead, he got a bottle of scotch and two glasses. After pouring the drink for both of them, he sat down and looked at Abir.

Naksh : Why is she saying no if she loves you?

Abir : That's the confusion. Why is she so against me?

Naksh leaned back in his chair, met Abir's scowl and took pity on him.

Naksh : Have you ever met my parents? That is, When Papa was alive?

Abir stared at the man. Was he nuts? Then seeing Naksh's face, he thought back and shrugged.

Abir : I've met them both certainly, But other than that, I don't know.

Naksh : If you've ever noticed my parents together, You would know that they were hopelessly in love with each other. Their relationship and then their marriage was bounded by love. Rhea has grown up seeing that and reading all sorts of romantic books has made her really mad for romance. For all that our mother seems mercenary, She is also extremely loving and has taught Rhea, Kuhu and me to accept nothing less than love from our partners. I'm not surprised she won't marry you without the promise of love. So, it raises the question: Do you love her?

Abir : I....

But then Abir stopped. Did he love Mishti?

Naksh : No wonder she said no. You've got to do way better than that, old man!

Abir's lips pursed defensively.

Abir : I would be a good husband.

Naksh : I know you will.

Abir : I can take care of Mishti and I can always fulfil her wishes.

Naksh : Ofcourse.

Abir : I have the wealth and social power to do so.

Naksh : Do you think she cares about any of that?

Abir : Never. She has absolutely no inclination towards my money. She's always been invested in people and I have no doubt she deserves better than me. But you should care. So I am telling you.

Naksh met Abir's gaze and nodded, an understanding passing between them.

Naksh : I appreciate that.

Abir : I need to convince her though. I need to talk to her, alone. I need to tell her I.... I....

Naksh : She confessed her feelings to you. She's handed over her heart on a plate to you. Mishti's done her part. It's your turn now. You may not love my sister but if the distress on your face is anything to go by, I know you care deeply about her. So, I'm giving you one chance to convince her. Share with her. Tell her the reasons for your reticence. She's in the library. Go to her.

Abir couldn't believe his ears.

Abir : What?

Naksh : Go to Rhea! Convince her. It's no use telling me that you care when you can't tell her that. I know her and she is not cruel. If she has said no to you, it is because you did not tell her what you feel. In fact, knowing you, You probably announced it and not asked her?

Abir raised his eyebrow.

Abir : You do realise I'm older than you.

Naksh : I'm an older brother, Mr Rajvansh. Your age does not bother me. My sister's happiness does. If she loves you, you are the cause and the effect of her happiness. In all that, does age matter?

Naksh stood up and Abir could not help standing as well, his respect for the younger man increasing. A male nod of understanding passed through them.

Naksh : Go to my sister and convince her. You care for her and you know it. She wants love but she also wants the truth. Tell her your feelings and see what she does. This is your moment, Mr Rajvansh. Go convince Mishti.

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A chapter with lots of advice.. I feel very wise right now :P

Mishti gives Anya, Anya gives Mishti, Naksh gives Abir but will Abir listen to him? 

What will happen in the next chapter? :o :o Will Ajeeb Rajvansh finally convince Mishti? 

You know the drill.... 100+ votes and comments means New chapter fast fast fast <3 <3

Thank you all and Love you