CHAPTER 56: Missing links
(A week after Ishana was kidnapped)
Ishana was sitting in her drawing room eagerly waiting for him to come…. Over the past week Abir had not allowed her to work at all even after her constant pleadings…. He had also warned her that if she did not listen to him and take rest he would send two constables to keep a watch on her…. Having no other way Ishana had to agree to her over-protective friend’s orders…. She used to get bored at home having nothing to do…. Abir had also informed at her office so even if she wanted she was not allowed to work from home…. She had also warned Abir that when her time will come she would take revenge from him with interest…. Abir had given her his word that whenever that day would come he would abide by all her rules…. Ishana enjoyed this banters with him….
Things were however a little different when it came to Mishti…. Even though Mishti knew that Abir and Ishana were friends still a part of her felt insecure seeing Abir’s care for Ishana…. Ishana could feel it in Mishti’s behavior the two times she had visited her over the past week along with Abir…. Abir was very oblivion to this fact…. Ishana only hoped that she would not become a problem in Abir’s life who was actually very happy after getting back with Mishti….
Another thing that bothered Ishana was her kidnapping…. Even though Daksh was in police custody and she had absolutely nothing to worry about she felt something was not right…. Her mind and heart were both not at peace…. There was something missing and she wanted to understand what it was…. First of all why would Daksh attack her in the broad daylight knowing that she lived in a relatively crowded area…. Then why did he not break or switch off her mobile when he knew that Abir could trace her location using the same…. Then he did not give her strong drugs to keep her unconscious for hours…. As far she remembered she must have lost conscious only for an hour or two…. Then he did not even tie her hands or legs nor did he lock the room she was in…. There was no one to even keep an eye on her…. It felt like he had only pretended to kidnap her…. And from what Mishti told her she felt like Daksh did not even try to escape from the police and surrendered…. Why did he do all this…. He did not even do anything to her…. Something was there which was missing….
Her chain of thoughts broke when the doorbell rang and a smile crept on her face…. She quickly got up and opened the door…. Seeing him her smile became wider reaching to her eyes…. He also smiled back at her and she welcomed him inside…. This had become a daily routine for them…. Ishana had told Om how Abir was not letting her to go for work so he decided to accompany her for tea time and they would spend the evening together…. She would also not get bored and even he would get some relaxing time away from the issues going on in his family….
Ishana asked him to sit while she went inside the kitchen…. She started preparing her favorite adrak wali chai which had now become a habit for him too…. She looked at him surprised when he followed her into the kitchen….
Ishana: Om, why did you come here, I would have done it.
Omkara: You do it every time, today let me do the honour.
Ishana knew she could not deny when he asked in such a sweet manner…. She moved aside and Om started preparing the tea…. She looked or rather stared at him noticing his each and every movement…. She knew she could do it forever…. Om also felt that she was looking at him continuously but did not say anything…. Somewhere even he enjoyed it….
They both were back to being friends after their talk last week…. They both had decided to let time decide their fate while they enjoyed each other’s company…. Whatever lay ahead for them they would accept it…. At the present, they knew that they were at peace with each other and so they decided not to complicate anything….
Om finished making the tea and pakoras…. He was about to take them towards the drawing room when Ishana suggested they sit in the balcony and enjoy the view…. Om being a nature lover agreed instantly and Ishana made the seating arrangements for the two of them…. Om laid the table and took his seat beside her facing the view…. Ishana poured the tea while he looked at her….
Over the days he had observed many things about her…. How she would tuck her loose hair strands behind her ears with an irritated expression whenever they fell on her face…. How her eyes would light up at the smallest things making her extremely happy…. How she used to explain even the easiest things with great interest and explain it again and again till he understood everything by heart…. How she would wear bright colours very different from his light colours…. How she would talk for hours without even bothering for him to say anything…. How she closed her eyes as she smelled the aroma of her favorite tea…. How she would tell about the various cases she had written about with great enthusiasm…. She was so different from him yet he felt close to her…. She was talkative while he preferred silence…. She lived each and every moment with full heart and some where even he had learnt to live his life to the fullest…. He had his brothers and sister with whom he had spent many memorable times but with Ishana it felt different…. It felt that he could live his every wish with her and she without doing anything make him happy…. Om came out of his thoughts when Ishana called him….
Ishana: Kaha kho gaye Mr. Artist?
Omkara: Kahi nahi Ms. Reporter.
They looked at each other and then broke into laughter…. They enjoyed the tea and snacks while enjoying the hill view…. Om looked at Ishana surprised as today she was silent which was so out of character…. Ishana was again lost thinking about her kidnapping and Daksh…. She was so lost in thoughts that she had forgotten that even Om was sitting beside her…. Seeing her looking outside and not saying anything Om kept his hand on her shoulder…. Sensing his touch she came out of her thoughts and looked at him…. Om could easily understand that something was bothering her….
Omkara: What has happened Ishana, today you are not talking about anything?
Ishana: Nothing Om, wo bas….
Omkara: You know naa you can tell me, I am there to listen to you.
Om smiled at her and she smiled back….
Ishana: Om….
She told him about her doubts and questions…. Om listened to everything she said carefully…. Even he got into thinking after hearing some of the questions raised…. She was right…. If Daksh had to harm Ishana he could have done so many things and would have not kept her near that old factory site of the Oberois…. And also he had not thought about it earlier but now that he was, he could also understand that Daksh actually did not do much to save himself from the police that day…. He was caught very easily….
Ishana: I don’t know why but I feel something is missing.
Omkara: Now when I think about it, even I feel the same.
Ishana: We have to find out, I cannot sit in peace with so many questions.
Omkara: You are right, some questions should be answered at the right time.
Ishana: I’ll have to find out about it.
Omkara: Not you, but we’ll find about this.
Ishana looked at him…. He kept his hand on hers and assured her through his eyes…. Ishana smiled at him and he also smiled at her….
Omkara: But abhi ke liye, yeh sunset enjoy karte hai.
He smiled and turned his eyes towards the view…. Ishana looked at him for a few moments and then slid her arms around his and put her head on his shoulder keeping her eyes on the view…. Om was surprised by her gesture but did not say anything nor did he look at her…. They both kept quiet enjoying the view and solace in each other’s company…. A different kind of calmness filled their hearts today…. They felt at peace….
*****
Mishti was walking back to Ranveer’s cabin when her phone rang…. She checked the screen and saw an unknown number flashing…. She wondered who it could be as she picked up the call…. Mishti was thinking about the case when she heard the voice from the other side…. It did not take her much time to recognize the familiar voice…. She shivered as the voice reached her ears…. She remembered the person and what had happened years ago….
Mishti: You…. Why have you called me?
POC: Sun ke acha laga, you have not forgotten me.
Mishti: Why have you called me?
POC: To congratulate you, after all you are back together with Abir Rajvansh.
Mishti: Who told you, how did you come to know?
POC: I know each and everything that happens in your life Mishti. Years ago, you left, but I did not leave you.
Mishti: I can explain, it is not….
POC: SHUT UP, what did you think, you’ll do whatever you like and I will keep quiet.
Mishti was shocked hearing the anger filled voice…. Many scenes from the past flashed in front of her eyes…. The pain and fear gripped her heart and mind again…. She could feel her heart beating faster than usual…. Her breathing became heavy and she could not understand what to do…. If it happened again she would not be able to bear it all again….
Mishti: I am sorry, please don’t do anything.
POC: You should have thought about all this earlier. Now I’ll definitely do something you cannot think about also.
Mishti: No…. Please…. Hello…. Hello….
Mishti talked but no one responded…. She looked at her phone screen and saw that the call was disconnected…. With trembling hands she wiped her tears and dialed the same number again…. It was ringing but no one answered the call…. She tried again but no one responded…. She grew restless as she again tried calling the person…. But yet again the person did not attend the call…. Mishti sat on the bench nearby holding her head between her hands….
How could she forget about the person…. How could she even think that getting back with Abir was the right decision…. How had she forgotten what had happened in the past…. How much she had hurt Abir…. How she had broken his heart…. No…. If she had to do it again…. She would not be able to do it…. Abir somehow managed it that time but if it happened again, he would be broken beyond repair…. She had to do something before Abir raised his hopes and expectations in their relation again…. She had to break his dreams once again…. She had to stop him from getting attached again…. She had to keep him away from her….
She would never be able to give him any happiness….
Pain….
The only gift she could ever give him….
Mishti closed her eyes tight to stop the tears…. Abir or no one should get even the slightest idea of any of this…. She had to do everything before it became too late….
*****
Hello everyone, I hope you all are doing well.
Here is the next chapter of the story, do share your views.
Ishana and Om are giving time to each other, how will investigating Daksh change the dynamics of their relations? Will Om also realise his feelings for Ishana?
And Mishbir fans were eagerly waiting for the Mishbir track, what lead Mishti to break Abir’s heart, now your wait is over, and soon the reason for Mishti and Abir’s break up will also be revealed.
Gear up for some shocking revelations, as many hidden truths are going to come out in the open.
Keep reading and smiling!!!
Take care and stay safe!!!