|| Carefree For The Moment. ||

|| Part Twenty. ||

Mishti paused at the top of the stairs, glancing around the foyer to see Rajshri on the sofa with Varsha, discussing & putting together some list whilst Jasmeet was busy talking to Kuhu excitedly, in the kitchen as Kuhu prepared some sort of dish for breakfast.

Mishti glanced down at her phone in her hand. "Come on Ajeeb Rajvansh!" She muttered to herself.
"Mishti!" A voice called & she looked up to see Rajshri making her way over to her so Mishti stepped down off the stairs to meet her at the bottom. "Whe-"
"Muh Bholi!" Jasmeet interrupted Rajshri. "Where are you going all dressed up?"
"Jasmeet!" Rajshri exclaimed, taking them all by surprise as Kuhu walked over to join them.
"Daadi-" Kuhu said carefully
"Badi Maa-" Mishti tried to intervene but Rajshri gave her a stern look.
"No Mishti. I've had enough!." She turned to Jasmeet. "This is the last time I'm telling you Jasmeet. Don't make me say it again."
"Badi Maa, please" Mishti sighed. She didn't want to get into all this right now. She glanced at her phone again.

"Your badi maa's right, Mishti beta" a voice said & all 5 of the ladies turned to see Vishamber making his way out of the study, towards them.

"Jasmeet beta. Not only has your tayi ji told you, so have I. Plenty of times. Why do you do it?" He asked but she refused to meet his gaze. "You wouldn't do it to Kuhu. Would you?" He asked gesturing to Kuhu who was stood beside her, causing Jasmeet to glance at Kuhu briefly before looking down again. "Better yet. How would you feel if Nidhi ji starting calling Kuhu something horrible? Would you like it?"
"No, Taya ji" She said quietly.
"Well then imagine how Mishti's Badi Maa & Bade Papa feel when they hear you call her that?"
"I'm sorry Taya ji" She pouted
"You shouldn't just apologise to us" Vishamber told her, glancing at Mishti, who sighed.
"Bade Papa." She shook her head. "Really, there's no-"
"Mishti" he said firmly, simply silencing her.
"Sorry Mishti" Jasmeet said meekly
"It's okay chaachi" she said. "Forget it"

"Mishti beta" Rajshri interrupted, noticing her purse on her shoulder. "Where are you going?" Rajshri asked
"Actually badi maa-" she began but at that moment Vishamber's phone rang, interrupting them, causing her to sigh quietly when he looked up at Mishti then Rajshri. "It's Abeer"
"Oh fo, Daadi." Kuhu stepped forward to leam on her grandmother's shoulder. "Big Bro probably wants to take Mishti out before their gordhana-" she began & Rajshri pretended to glare at her so Kuhu took her arm off of Rajshri as Mishti tried to listen in to Vishamber's conversation with Abeer.

"That's fine beta" Vishamber smiled, glancing over at Mishti, who raised her eyebrow at her father. "Not to worry. I'll tell her. Okay. Take care beta. Bye."
"What is it Bade Papa?" Mishti asked him.
"Yes, what did Abeer say?" Rajshri followed up.
"Your honewaala pati said-" he began to tease her, causing her to look away with a smile as every one joined in teasing her. "He said to make sure you get ready, he's going to take you out somewhere"
"But Shaurya ke bauji-" Rajshri began to protest.
"Shaurya ki Maa" he said sternly. "It's fine. These are the moments for them to enjoy." He said & Rajshri shook her head when Mishti smiled softly as he turned to her & closed his eyes to reassure her.
"Thaank you Bade Papa" she said as she put her arm around her father & he hugged her.
"Always be happy, beta."

Mishti got into the car & turned to Abeer. "Ajeeb Rajvansh!" She exclaimed.
"Angry Chorni" he greeted her, confused
"What did you tell Bade Papa? He was all smiling & teasing me in there!"
"Was he?" He chuckled & Mishti hit his arm before doing her seat belt up.
"It's not funny!"
"Ow!" He exclaimed, rubbing his arm. "You're extra violent today!"
"Yes!" She said, about to hit him again."Wait!" He exclaimed, causing her to stop. "I don't want any bruises on the day of our gordhaana thank you very much!"
"Too late!" She went to hit him again & he took her hands in his, pulling her close to him, catching her off guard. "Abeer!" She exclaimed as he pulled her closer. "Abeer" She warned, pushing him away a little. "If we don't leave now, we won't be back until late. & there's only so much permission Bade Papa will allow, okay?" She said sarcastically & he pretended to glare at her. "Ajeeb Rajvansh!" She tilted her head at him as she tried to free her hands. "Stop glaring at me & let go!" She chuckled & he freed them from his grip so she sat back in her seat, getting comfortable. "Drive then!"
"Yes, Ms. Mishti" he said sarcastically. Making her laugh as she saw him pouting before he pulled away from the driveway.

"Pandit Ji?" Mishti said making her way into the Mandir as the Pandit turned from another worshipper to face Mishti & Abeer, smiling as he saw them.
"Beta, you?"
"Pandit Ji, you remember me?" She said, recalling his slightly failing memory.
"Of course!" He told her. "I may not remember everything, but I remember someone as lovely as you" He said & Mishti smiled softly.
"Thank you Pandit Ji" She said & took his blessings, Abeer followed suit.
"Always be happy, the both of you"

The Pandit sat down on the stairs, sighing as the tiredness showed clearly on his aging face.  "Pandit Ji, you said that today I would find out more about Mehul Kapadia..." She said & the Pandit stopped to think.
"Me-" he paused, taking a second before he recalled before looking up at her. "Oh yes! Mehul Kapadia. That's who you asked me about, didn't you?"
"Yes Pandit Ji" Mishti nodded.
"Yes, yes. Evil man" He sighed, shaking his head & Mishti looked up to see the pained expression on Abeer's face, taking his hand discreetly as he looked down at her, closing her eyes to reassure him.

"Who was it that you said I should meet, Pandit Ji?"
"Let me think" the elderly man sighed. "Yes! I remember!" She said & Mishti's eyes widened in surprise. "Come with me" He said, & Abeer stepped forward to help him up slowly. "Thank you beta" he smiled, looking up at Abeer as he helped him into the Mandir whilst Mishti followed the two of them. "These old legs don't have that much strength anymore" He sighed.
"Pandit Ji" Abeer smiled. "You still have a lot of strength in you"
"Here" he said, making his way into the Mandir, as a group of people began to gather.
"What's going on Pandit Ji?" Mishti asked.

"Hold on" He said, looking around to see a familiar face. Someone he was looking for.  Mishti & Abeer exchanged confused looks.
"Who are you looking for, Pandit Ji?"
"I'll tell you-" He stopped looking & pointed to someone. "There she is"
"Who?"
"Lalita" he said & both Abeer & Mishti turned to see as the woman in a familiar-styled veil was talking to some other people around her as both Abeer & Mishti exchanged confused looks.