"...they should have revisited the clauses earlier. Now we have to visit over the whole proposal again, at the time of finalising it." sighing she walked on, he was there in the waiting area. A smile made its way to her lips even as Kunal hadn't noticed her presence busy on the phone, "Also ensure that other than this, I am free the whole week. I want the report on the falling appeal of our in-country travels by then, I will personally visit the lowest and highest on there to deliberate about the next steps."

Kunal moved towards her in quick strides, just in time to be out of her hushed request, "...check in with them, this boy will never inform me anything."

Meenakshi Rajvanshi pushed her concerns regarding her gypsy son behind to receive the warm welcome from Kunal, "Maa, you delayed returning four times while being there. If there was so much work, you could have sent me."

She shook her head, "And we have decided upon our share of works, haven't we Kunal?"

"If it's because of what happened when I was in US-"

"Kunal, it's between your brother and me, and I am hoping you let it be. Anyways, I have returned after such a long time, are you going to welcome me by reminding me of that god forsaken period in our lives?"

"No Maa, I didn't want to upset you. I am sorry if-" Meenakshi held his hand, shrugging his apology, "It's fine. Now, let's go, everyone must be waiting for us at home."

Waiting at the threshold of the make-shift shop, Mishti was sure it was her best friend's deed. The duo of Aparna and Jia were dragging her with them, as nice as they were, it wasn't like them to let anyone else intrude between the two. They, at times, could be more aloof than Mishti in the group and it spoke volumes. Difference in their relationship equations being, the periodical indifference didn't mean they weren't friends with the rest of the girls unlike Misht, who for the life of herself couldn't consider them her friend.

Blame it on the few overprotective she had in her life, Kuhu at the top but it was hard for her to forge new relations easily. She struggled, at a side, taking in everything from behind her glasses.

Like right now, her attention was on the upset child standing near the man selling balloons tied to his cycle's handle. The man was exhausted, and now his daughter was trying to address the potential customers. Obviously, too young, to actually know what to talk about but peering with the innocent gaze. Had anyone stopped for a moment in the fast moving crowd it would have driven them in.

Mishti was the live proof, for before she could consider it her steps stopped in front of them. Guardian of the young one gestured at the balloons expectantly and Mishti nodded, "Give me a bunch."

What for? I will figure it later. If I had been Kuhu, I could have at least posted it on the social media #enjoylife or something.

As she rummaged around her purse to find change, a familiar voice spoke from beside her, "Balloons! These might work, Ketu said something about decorating the entrance with those... Bhaiya, can you come with me?"

"A moment, madam was paying for the bunch in her hand," Abir turned to his left at the vendor's words.

He broke into a grin as soon as his eyes met mine, "Angry Chorni!? It's nice to run into you, what are you doing here?"

Mishti cocked her head, "Is my entry barred here?"

Abir shook his head, furrowing his brows, the smile intact, "No."

"Am I not allowed to shop?"

He shook his head again.

"Girls can't purchase balloons?"

Sighing, he chuckled, "It's nothing like that Mishti. I was just surprised to see you suddenly that's why."

She hummed, returning to scrounge her purse.

Abir turned his attention back to the balloon seller and who appeared to be his lovely daughter of around six or seven, "So, Bhaiya what do you do once the Utsav ends?"

"My elder brother runs a tea stall at the Bhuj station, and I help him out. Sometimes, I also go to the city and work as a labourer for a few seasons..."

He hummed, continuing with his enquiry asking questions regarding his family, the little girl was actually the daughter of his elder brother, they lived in a joint family with their parents elder brother and sister-in-law, and his own wife with a young toddler. Two sisters were wedded into nearby villages, the cost of the weddings had taken a toll on their family.

The vendor's name was Raja, his village a close neighbour of Mohan's village from his knowledge. Young girl's name was Payal, she studied in the first standard. Pretty shy, hiding behind her Chacha the whole time clutching his Kurta.

She huffed, he turned sideways to enquire, yet Mishti merely continued to frown. Abir smiled, shaking his head, "Bhaiya come with me, I will pay for her bunch of balloons."

"No, it's fine, I know I kept money in this pocket..." Mishti once again, felt the content of three of the pockets. However, Abir observed her rapid breathing and sweat beds for a moment and made up his mind, "Don't be stubborn, you are beginning to hyperventilate. It's fine. Think of those as a gift from your friend."

Not giving her a chance to protest, he addressed Raja, "Bhaiya, come. I hope you have enough balloons to cover the whole place."

Offering her a nod as good bye, Abir guided Payal and her Chacha with them. The wind abruptly gathered pace, threatening to part Mishti from her gift, as she tightened the hold on the strings her sole attention remained on them for a moment.

Aparna and Jia, finally done with bargaining, worried about losing Mishti in the crowd. It was Jia who traced her standing on the opposite side of the road, lost. She called out twice, then Aparna dragged her to the other side crossing the hustle bustle.

For sure, it was a rare elation in the slightly curved lips that forced Aparna to take a candid shot of Mishti. If not anything, it would at least pacify mother hen Kuhu for the remaining hours Mishti was away from them. Something she and Jia really needed, their call logs would tell you as much.

Sunlight barely helped him in making out his hand, turning on the flash he took in the large space enclosed by clothe walls encompassing numerous colourful balloons on the floor. Raja's side of work was complete, and it had been a good hour since he left with his niece. Mohan and Didis had dropped in half an hour ago with the intention of helping him out, though they had been on their feet the whole day and Abir sent them back to the NGO. Foolish. Foolish decision.

Abir was utterly alone in front of his darkened stall surrounded by the busy carnival night. The easels, at least, were in their expected places but the canvases standing on them... It's the exhibition's inauguration tomorrow. Partner, how will everything happen on time?

"Abir?"

Her furrowed brows were matched by the pursed lips. If he was to make a guess, she was in the same outfit as noon. Strings to the balloons he gifted secure in her right fist.

"It's you," Mishti stated out aloud.

She had been on the way back to the hotel with Aparna and Jia, planning to conclude the day by freshening up and calling the room service for an early supper, wanting no part in the night's activities. It wasn't walking for hours on the end which got her, the honour was retained solely by standing idly as the duo continued to wander from shop to shop.

Abir offered her a polite smile in acknowledgement.

But he is not beaming, Mishti observed.

He hummed, "Yes, I was just thinking how to arrange the balloons."

"It's hideous as of now," Abir remarked turning to the tent.

For the first time, she noticed he was standing in front of what appeared to be a huge stall, "You are setting up something?"

A sigh escaped his lips at the not-needed reminder, he held back a wince, "Yes, but I have no idea what to do now."

Abir made a move to enter, so she followed him in the dark, curious, what is this ajib person selling?

Handing over the flashlight to Mishti, he crouched fumbling with something as Mishti enquired, "Then why are you doing it, if you don't know how to?"

The blinding light hit her from all sides while Abir took the flashlight back from her, "Because Heera is sick, she's actually my organizer but she's currently in recovery and everyone else is busy. While I have a commitment to keep, also the money earned is needed to sustain the NGO."

Indeed, Mishti's attention was garnered by the banner titled too much to the left behind him. It was a painting exhibition by Asha Kiran, in cooperation with the Kutch Utsav committee. A look around reminded her of a young kid wanting to throw a grand party of sorts, running around collecting the resources, with no actual idea how to use them. The balloons weren't helping. Nope, I made better arrangements than this even when I was a child, Kuhu can enumerate the happenings of her birthdays to prove so.

"You really have no idea what you are doing, do you?"

Mishti's amused smile, only riled him up further, "Yes! So what? I am an artist, organising isn't my cup of tea. That too all by myself."

She sighed, her roaming eyes returning to be still on him, "First of all, arrangement of the paintings. Are we working with a particular theme?"

Before Abir could comprehend what she meant, the bunch of balloons in Mishti's hands rested in his fist. Meanwhile, Mishti moved to keep her purse on a table nearby, walking on to the messy stacks of paintings one over another at the other edge of the tent.

"You are not a bad artist, Ajib Abir," giving a glance to the fine details of women embroidering in his work, she went on to the next painting. Midway through the heap, the frown was back on her forehead as she appeared to be doing a comparison between whatever was in her hand, and the next painting in the pile.

She shook her head, facing Abir, "No one can do this alone, Abir. I don't know what made you think it was, there's so much left to do even with the selection of what will be exhibited alone."

The creases on his forehead subsided, Ketaki and family might have helped him narrow down the options, the short list was still too lengthy to appease him. Flattering at the same time.

He nodded striding towards her, "Will you be able to help me?"

What else am I doing? Mishti, didn't dare let her mild exasperation show, his earnest expressions holding her back. She nodded instead.

Smile able to overshadow the sun was back in its place, the mischievous glint restored, "So, don't look at me like that angry chorni? Definitely, not my paintings with that frown you wear."

Mishti huffed, keeping the painting down, Abir moved forward to hold it, "Don't get violent with my paintings, an artist's work is child for him."

You deserved my snark!

Glaring at him, she took a step forward to which he reciprocated by taking a step back himself, "Don't get violet with me either? Please. I am someone's child as well."

Mishti smiled, shaking her head, "Do you think you are funny?"

He nodded.

"I like your lame comments?"

Abir hummed.

"I will help you, if you continue doing this?"

Her smile widened as he cut himself while agreeing, the expressions on his face taking a drastic turn, "Mishti!?"

Abir grinned, "You are still here, smiling, I don't think I am losing my helping hand." 

***

Chacha- father's younger brother, accordingly chachi is his wife

I am so, so, so sorry. It was last week's due update and you are getting it halfway past this week. I ranted a lot while updating the latest chapter of my other fic, and if your wondered what happened to me you can go on there and zoom past to the author's note. It feels wrong to copy paste those words here, since it was a long rant.

This is a live process for me, I share the chapters with you as soon as I type them out. Mostly, I don't event proof read, later spam updating to correct any flaw I found after publishing it. And it's exhausting.

Balloons are such a beautiful part of Mishbir's original journey, I hope I did justice to it here. Usually, I attempt to dive into both Mishti's and Abir's mind around any circumstance, though if I weaved in what's going on with Abir I would have had to continue the chapter beyond this. Surprisingly, I have always planned the balloon scenario to be in the same chapter as the next event, yet they are two independent entities on my board and now they are broken into two different chapters (edit- I did end up merging it with this chapter). 

My biggest concern always is, if Mishti and Abir are in character. Do tell me, if you could imagine the two going on and doing this or having this moment.

I am thinking about updating daily till Sunday, I actually should or at least type those out to have something pre-written for the days I am busy, or plain tired to write. Honestly, it takes me so much time to write, I am guessing it's because I am completely removed to whatever I am writing in that moment with the utter concentration that of a mediator. Maybe, that's why I don't write two chapter simultaneously ever. Once, I make a break I can't return to my mental state. 

So, this was what I was talking about last chapter is going to happen. Do you have any idea what could be their next meeting?