CHAPTER 5
MISHTI'S POV
It's night time. I check the time in the clock. It is 10.45 PM. Perfect. I change into my favourite jeans and a light blue top and take out a shawl from my cupboard. Covering myself with it, I check if my room's door is locked before heading out towards my room's balcony with a rope. Quickly tying it to the railing, I look down at the ground. My room is in the first floor, so not a huge problem. It has been 4 years since I sneaked out of my room like this. Taking a huge breath to calm my nerves, I jump to the outer side of the railing. Holding the rope steadily in my hands, I slowly place my leg on the windowpane of the room below, which happens to be my parents'. I try my best to act without making any sound. Having no other option, I jump down causing me to fall heavily on the ground. But I haven't hurt myself, luckily. Checking once again if my coast is clear, I head silently towards the fields and run towards my destination.
On reaching our hideout, I notice that he is already there sitting on the center rock and looking at the moon. Slowly crossing all the other rocks carefully, I finally make my way towards him and sit beside him with my knees pulled together, hugging them to my chest.
There is a comfortable silence between us as I think about the day's happenings. Kunal is somebody with whom I've been really close to all my life. Maybe I had gotten my hopes all high about spending time with him and the disappointment that came along with the revelation was huge.
As I continue to ponder about me being lonely once again, Abir places his hand on my arm and looks at me, "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm good.", I said, nodding.
"You know that Kunal has always wanted to earn everything he gets through hardwork. And he will. Don't worry, he'll be back even before you know it."
"He can work at other companies at Rajkot. He can work at Rajvansh enterprises. He is visiting me after one whole year and staying here for just one week for God's sake.", I say, frustrated.
"Exactly. He's visiting you after a year and now is the time for you to enjoy life. Go out with him, spend time together. Make memories."
After sometime, he continues, "See Mishtipie, you have taken up journalism because that is what you want to study. And you are really particular about doing that in Rajkot University. Similarly working at Mumbai is what he wants. He wants experience and it is Virtex company that he wants to work at. And anyway, he promised you to be back soon, right? So cheer up!"
I hummed in response. He has got a point though. It makes sense.
After sometime, I decide to break the silence, "So what is it that you are going to do now?"
"Mom wants me to take up Rajvansh enterprises soon. So I will start working there soon. First I want to understand how things work over there and then take things up after some time."
"Fair enough", I shrugged.
I slowly ask him the question that I've been wanting to ask for sometime now, "So, any girlfriends?"
He turns and looks at me, then slowly shakes his head, "None."
I do a victory dance inside my head. Clearing my throat, "Why so?"
He shrugs, "You know the reason. Love causes a lot of pain and I don't want to go through that in the future. I've seen that happen right in front of my eyes. I- I don't want to experience pain."
He hasn't changed a bit in this aspect. I shake my head and smile at him, "Love doesn't cause pain Abir. I've read enough romance novels to know that it is the best feeling the world.", I sigh dreamily.
He looks at me wide-eyed, "Are you in love?"
If you consider crushing on a guy for six long years as love, then yes.
"Nope not yet."
He frowns a little, his lips forming a little pout, "Don't fall in love with anybody, Mishtipie."
I laugh a little, "Why so?"
"Just- Ju- Just don't. Okay? That's it.", he looks here and there, nervously.
"Abir, one day I will fall in love with someone and marry him. This is inevitable."
"So, you are saying one day you will leave me and go with this g- guy you're talking about?", he asks, still frowning slightly.
"Leave you?"
"I- I mean leave the Maheshwari sadan and go?"
"Yeah, I will. But by then I'm sure you would have married someone too. Right?", I try pushing him a little.
He mumbles, "No I won't."
I chuckle, "Abir I think it is high time you change your opinion on love. You cannot decide that love isn't good for you just by seeing your mother. She couldn't handle the heartbreak well, when your father died. But if you ask her about the feeling of love, I am sure she would say that it is one of the best feelings she has ever felt. Or, take the example of my parents. See how happy love has made both of them. Love causes a lot of feelings Abir, like happiness, peace, content and joy, but pain definitely is not one of them."
He chuckles sadly, "Heartbreak comes along with love, Mishti. You cannot separate the two."
"Oh yeah? What heartbreak did my parents get then?"
"They love you, right? So, one day as you said if you leave them, they will be heartbroken.", he said, still not meeting my eyes.
"I will physically be leaving the Maheshwari sadan, yes. But that doesn't mean my love for all of you will become less. I will keep calling you and visiting you. And Abir, remember this. A person's happiness lies with the happiness of the person they love. So, if I am happy, my parents will also be happy."
"Um, what if you go somewhere far, you won't be able to visit us, right? Then?"
I smile slightly, "Distance only makes the heart grow fonder. It will infact strengthen our love. Not weaken it."
After a pause, he continues, "Okay, then take the example of you and Kunal. You love him, right? So, now that he is leaving, you are heartbroken."
"Oh yes, I definitely am sad, and I will miss him, but this is not giving me pain. I am disappointed that we won't be able to spend a lot of time together. Right now, I am disappointed and sad, yes. But after he returns, I will be the happiest, right? Love gives us hope. It also gives us a lot of reasons to be happy. All we need to do is find the right ones."
"I don't agree.", he mumbled.
I turn and look at him, "You don't have to. But one day, when you actually realize that you are in love, that day you will wholeheartedly agree with me.", I small smile playing on my lips.
He smirked a little and looked at me, "That is something that would never happen, Mishtipie."
I grin at him, "We'll see."
I slowly lean on his shoulder and I look at the moon. There is a peaceful and comfortable silence between the two of us.
"Mishtipie, I guess it's getting late. We need to go home.", he says after some time.
"Yeah, you are right."
Both of us get up and Abir holds my right hand tightly while crossing the slippery rocks. We jump from the bigger one to a relatively smaller one and from there, as I am about to jump on to the next one, I slip due to the water and I try to balance myself but fail miserably. I fall face-first into the water, pulling Abir along with me.
In a second, both of us are completely drenched and Abir gasps loudly.
Oops.
"Mishtipie, you just made me completely wet!", as if telling me something I already didn't know.
I slowly try to get away from him, "Look, I'm sorry, okay? It was an accident. No revenge ple-"
I am cut off as Abir splashes water on me and laughs loudly.
I gasp, "Hey! What I did was an accident. You can't do it on purpose!"
He lifts one of his eyebrows, "Try me."
I look at him through narrowed eyes and it is my turn to splash water on him and I giggle at him.
"Wrong move, Mishtipie."
"No- No- Okay I'm sorry- I--"
I try to move away from him as he quickly comes behind me catches me by my waist and lifts me up. Both of us are laughing loudly and before I can do something, he again throws me into the water. Gasping, I come back to the surface only to see him bending and laughing. This is soo not funny.
I run quickly towards him and jump on him making him stumble and both of us fall into the stream again. Slowly getting up, I try to move away but he quickly pulls me towards him by my waist. Both of us have huge smiles adorning our faces. All of a sudden, his chest is pasted to mine and the wet clothes are not helping at all. Butterflies erupt in my stomach and my heart races at the sudden proximity. His hazel eyes are hypnotizing as I look into them, only to find those eyes staring back at my black ones. I place my hands on his chest slowly and push away all the wild thoughts that enter my mind.
He looks at me with admiration, "Why are you like this?"
"Like what?", my voice comes out as a low whisper.
"So perfect."
A blush slowly creeps up my cheeks at his compliment.
Clearing my throat, "Well, not as much as you are."
He smirks at me, "Yeah, I know that. But I think it is time for us to leave."
Huh. Self-obsessed Rajvansh.
I nod, "Yeah, it's pretty late."
He guides me through the water with his hand still resting on the small of my back. He climbs onto the rock first and helps me climb up. Then we slowly cross the rocks and reach the bank.
Both of us walk together, occasionally stealing glances. Once we reach my home, both of us share a smile.
Abir then says, "Mishtipie, do not forget to dry yourself before going to bed. You might catch a cold."
He cares a lot, doesn't he?
"Yeah, you too. Good night Abir!"
"Goodnight Mishtipie."
With that, I turn and walk back into my home.
***
Hello! This is Chapter 5!
A full and full MishBir one! Hope you guys liked it!
Will update soon!
Thank you!