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I have been fast to update this time, haven't I?!😌
This chapter is important for Mishti and Jai's story development so their scenes shall be more🙈
I hope y'all enjoy reading it. Don't forget to leave your precious feedbacks! ♥️

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Sanskar: "Ananya, what's all this? Why would you come to live here?" – He asked.

Ananya: "You know I live far, so I thought to stay here until I don't find a flat nearby because I can't stay much away from you and now I also have my friend Mahi to whom I'll be giving French tuitions." – Mahima smiled – "Aren't you happy darling?"

Sanskar: "No..." – Ananya raised an eyebrow – "I mean... you surprised me."

Ananya: "I love surprises, you know."

Sanskar: "Ehm... Shalini is ok with this?"

Mahima: "Obviously, I asked her!" – She shrugged with a wide smile.

Sanskar glanced at Ragini who was sitting at a table near them and could overhear their conversation. She banged the spoon on the table and bit her lower lip putting a hand on her head. How will she bear Ananya as her roommate? Ragini and Sanskar thought the same question.

ON THE OTHER HAND

Jai and Mishti came to the lobby of the college.

Jai saw his parents there: "Mom! Dad!" – He went to hug them.

Mishti greeted Mr and Mrs Verma with a little smile and a slight nod and then asked: "Is everything fine? Rita told us that you have come to take us out. What happened?"

Mr Verma: "It's the 30th anniversary of the foundation of Raichand Industries today. Your father wants to celebrate this special occasion and, since your parents are in London for important business matters and I'm the manager of the main branch here in Mumbai, I'll be arranging the party which will take place at Raichand Mansion tonight. Of course, you have to be there and host the party."

Mishti: "What?! But Papa knows well that I hate such stupid business parties!" – She complained while Jai stifled his laugh.

Mrs Verma gave Mishti her phone: "Mr Raichand is on call."

Mishti held the phone rolling her eyes: "Yes Papa? Hi..." – she huffed.

Yash: "Hi Mishti! Hope everything is going well at the Mastery?" – He didn't wait for Mishti to reply – "Listen Mishti this is not an ordinary business party. It means a lot to me and I really want you to be there. You are the only one from our family who is there in India and lots of important guests will be attending the party. I want everyone to know my daughter, the one who will take Raichands' legacy ahead, the heiress who will handle the whole business after me." – Mishti was about to say something but she stopped as Yash continued – "You will be representing our family tonight Mishti. I am asking you to take such a big responsibility because I trust you and I know that you are ready for it. You have no idea how proud I would feel."

Mishti looked down and the irritation she was feeling earlier seemed vanishing: "Ok, fine Papa."

Yash smiled: "That's my daughter! I asked Mr Verma to take care of you. After the party, you'll stay at their place for tonight and then he will drop you back at the Mastery in the morning. He must have already asked for your leave from the principal."

While Mishti was talking on phone with her father, Jai put his arm around her mother's neck side hugging her: "It's so sweet of you two to grab the occasion and come to meet me as well. I am missing you and home a lot!"

Mrs Verma: "Jai, you are coming with us too and will be attending the party tonight."

Jai immediately backed off: "What?! But why should I?"

Mr Verma: "Because you need to start familiarizing with all this too. Soon you'll be working at Raichand Industries as well, you must know how their world works!"

Jai: "But I don't want to work for Raichand Industries!"

Mr Verma: "Oh, it's fine." – Jai breathed a sigh of relief but too early – "There will be lots of other great businesspeople at the party tonight. It's a good occasion for you to mingle with such high-class families and enter in their good books which will help you to find a good job in future and a good wife as well."

Jai made a face: "What? Job? Wife? Dad you know that I have a band with Vikram, Rahul and Ragini and that's my present as well as future. We will cut an album, do concerts and..."

Jai's passionate talks were interrupted when his father said: "I am talking about serious stuff Jai!"

Jai gritted his teeth looking away. Mrs Verma placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a nod. Jai understood that his mother's look didn't mean that she was supporting his dream, but she was simply asking him to give up any argument with his father about it and just do like he was saying.

LATER

Ragini opened the door of her room and was left shocked when she looked around while stepping inside. The walls mere mostly covered by Ananya's frames, curtains were changed and Ananya was sitting in front of a big dressing table with lots of make up products which earlier was not there in the room.

Ragini: "What's all this?"

Ananya turned towards her: "Our room! I decorated it a bit because it was so tacky!"

Ragini: "Exactly it's OUR room but you put only all your things around!"

Ananya: "That's why it looks much better now!" – She smirked while Ragini glared at her gritting her teeth.

Ananya: "Now excuse me, I shall go to Mahi's house for her tuitions."

She walked out of the room in a haughty way. Ananya was walking in the corridor playing with her hair strand when she bumped into someone. When she looked on, her eyes widened.

"YOU?!" – Both Ananya and Harshid, who was standing in front of her, looked at each other stunned.

Just then, Sanskar came there too: "Hey Harshid! You already met my girlfriend Ananya!"

Harshid was taken aback hearing that: "Girlfriend?"

Sanskar: "Yes, she is Mahima's private teacher now so she will be staying here as well."

Ananya: "Yeah exactly, I'm going to Mahima's house only." – She pecked on Sanskar's cheek and then walked away throwing a glance at Harshid who looked at her from behind.

MEANWHILE

Mishti came to the entrance of the Mastery carrying a backpack on her shoulder.

Aarush saw her and stood up on the chair he was sitting on in order to reach Mishti's height: "Don't tell me you are leaving!"

Mishti chuckled: "Yes but..."

Aarush: "No! Staying here without you is going to be unbearable!"

Mishti: "Yes but I'm not leaving forever. I will be back tomorrow."

Aarush sighed with relief: "My heart is beating again, it stopped for a moment."

Mishti smiled: "Promise me you are going to miss me and that you will behave well."

Aarush: "I'm going to miss you for sure but about behaving well..." – He shrugged leaving the sentence incomplete.

Mishti giggled: "Aww.." – She hugged the little child.

Jai came: "I'm sorry to interrupt you..."

Aarush broke the hug glaring at him: "What a wrong timing!"

Jai: "I said I am sorry" – He looked at Mishti – "Let's go?"

Mishti: "There is no other option so..." – apparently she disliked the idea of going with Jai.

IN THE EVENING

Ragini was about to leave the kitchen when Sanskar walked in.

Ragini: "Do you need anything?" – She asked noticing that he was staring at her.

Sanskar: "I wanted to talk with you..."

Ragini was surprised: "With me?" – She asked widening her eyes a bit.

Sanskar: "Yeah... I have been busy the whole day but I wanted to know how things are going on with Ananya..."

Ragini gave a fake wide smiled: "Aww... you want to know how things are going on with Ananya.." – She crossed her arms clenching her jaw – "Let me show you."

Ragini took Sanskar to her room and opened the room showing how Ananya had invaded the whole space: "You can check with your own eyes how things are going on." – She stood facing Sanskar with her hands behind her back.

Sanskar looked around: "Well... yeah she exaggerated a bit... Ananya is not used to share a room with someone actually..."

Ragini: "It's not about sharing! Your girlfriend hates me and just wants to spite me whenever she sees me!" – She rightly complained.

Sanskar: "I will talk with her about the matter, don't worry."

Ragini: "You better do."

Ragini took a step ahead but ended up hitting her foot against Ananya's suitcase and slipped bumping into Sanskar who fell backwards on the bed dragging Ragini upon him. Ragini's head dashed on Sanskar's chest.

"Ouch!" – exclaimed both of them.

Ragini lifted her guilt-filled eyes up to look at Sanskar who was already staring at her.

Naino se naina takraaye
Na jaane kya dhoonde akkhiyan
Kaise tumhe yeh samjhaaye
Na jaane kya dhoonde akkhiyan

Ragini: "Sorry!" – She showed her teeth while trying to smile embarrassedly.

Sanskar: "It's ok. I know you can't spend a day without hitting me, so I stay ready."

Ragini slapped his chest pouting while Sanskar laughed.

AT RAICHAND MANSION

The hall was perfectly decorated for a classy event: lilac dim lights created a calm atmosphere, chandeliers gave an elegant touch, the logo of Raichand Industries was being projected on walls and some of the main personalities of the business world were being served by impeccably-dressed waiters while sitting at tables which had floral centrepieces.

Mishti, who was looking simply gorgeous in an off shoulder green gown with her hair tied in a low ponytail, finished a speech that Yash had instructed her to give and everyone clapped as she walked down the stage. 

She got engaged in a conversation with some guests while Mr Verma introduced Jai, who was formally dressed for the occasion as well, to an important businessman and his daughter. 

After a while, Jai and the girl were left alone to talk as their fathers walked to another group of guests.

Mishti looked at the two with an eye. She stopped a waiter taking a glass of drink from him and walked towards Jai and the girl sipping it.

Mishti: "Hi Vani! How are you?" – She asked the girl standing beside her and placing a hand on her shoulder and interrupting her conversation with Jai.

Vani: "Hi Mishti! Where have you been? I have not seen you since so many days!"

Mishti: "It's a long story, leave it! I see you have met Jai Verma! I suppose you are his new date!" – She glared at Jai with a fake wide smile. Jai looked at her with a frown.

Vani: "No mishti, we just met!"

Mishti: "Oh but Jai is fast with such things!" – She chuckled.

Jai gritted his teeth: "Excuse us Vani..." – He grabbed Mishti's elbow and dragged her aside.

Jai: "What is wrong with you Mishti?!"

Mishti removed his hand from her elbow: "Why are you so angry Jai? Doesn't it happen always? You meet a friend of mine, date her, break up with her, then they come to me to complain and all. I just thought you were doing what you are best at again." – She kept a smile and spoke normally.

Jai was getting irritated: "Can you tell me once for all what is your problem with me?"

Mishti glared straight at him: "Do you want to know?"

Jai: "Yes, it's high time."

Mishti: "Well, then let me tell you. Ileana, Lara, Kavya, Riya... you have dated all my friends and now you are trying to hit on Esha too!" – She blamed him.

Jai shrugged: "I don't understand what's the problem here."

Mishti: "The problem is that I asked you not to date my friends because you always end up breaking their hearts and they start holding grudges against me like I pushed them to date you just because you were my friend! Don't you remember?" – Jai rolled his eyes heavenwards – "Yes, I had asked you! But you didn't care at all, of course!" – She was almost shouting now and caught the attention of few people nearby.

Jai: "I did that because I liked your friends." – He defended himself calmly.

Mishti: "Well, but I have never dated any of your friend!"

Jai chuckled: "What does it matter to me? If you want to date any of my friend, I can even help you with that." – Mishti clenched the grip around the glass she was holding – "If you like the cute and kind ones, I can offer you Rahul... and if you like more the smart and good looking ones... well, yeah..." – He acted like thinking – "There is Vikram."

Mishti got angry and splashed the drink she was holding on Jai's face: "How dare you?! What the hell do you think of yourself?" – She yelled at him.

Everyone looked towards Mishti and Jai who wiped his face with his handkerchief.

Jai angrily glared at Mishti and was about to say something but stopped when his father came between them.

Mr Verma: "What are you two doing?!"

Mishti: "I dropped the drink by mistake." – She looked down crossing her arms.

Jai: "And of course it fell directly on my face. We learnt a new gravitational law today." – He gritted his teeth glaring at Mishti.

Mr Verma tried handling the situation: "Ok, leave it! Mishti you must start the dances now. Choose a partner and get on the dance floor. I'll check the music." – With that, he walked away.

Mishti looked around to find a dance partner but she hardly knew any guy there. She pursed her lips and forwarded a hand towards Jai without even glancing him.

Jai: "No way! I'm not going to dance with you!"

Mishti glared at him. She grabbed his hand and dragged him to the dance floor without hearing any of his objections. A romantic music started to play, and some other couples joined them on the dance floor. Jai sighed and placed his hands on Mishti's slim waist while she put hers around his neck. Jai pressed his fingers on Ragini's back pulling her closer and making her wince a little. Both looked at each other for a moment and then quickly looked towards opposite sides.

While they were moving along the music, Jai slightly stomped on Mishti's feet and she clutched on his shoulders hissing.

Mishti: "You're such a troglodyte!" – She whispered.

Jai: "And you are pedantic!"

Mishti: "Obnoxious!" – Her voice getting louder.

Jai: "Idiot!" – He replied with the same tone.

Mishti shouted: "I'm so done with you!" – She pushed him away.

All the eyes went on Mishti and Jay again. Music and dances interrupted.

Mr Verma rushed towards them: "What happened?!"

Mishti crossed her arms and turned around giving her back to Jai: "This guy is brainless!"

Jai repeated her same actions: "And this girl is mannerless!"

Mishti's mouth fell open: "Oh really?! Let me show what mannerless actually means!"

She grabbed a cupcake from a waiter who passed near her and turned around. She held Jai's shoulder making him turn too and smashed the cupcake on his face.

Jai shut his eyes and gritted his teeth while wiping the cream away from his face: "I have had enough of this spoilt brat!"

He grabbed a cupcake from the waiter too and threw it towards Mishti who moved aside, and the cupcake hit Jai's father's face. Both Jai and Mishti covered their respective mouths with their hands realizing what just happened.

Mr Verma: "ENOUGH NOW!" – He thundered.

Jai and Mishti stood still.

AT THE MASTERY

Esha was washing the dishes in the kitchen since that was the duty she got for the day when suddenly Karan planted a kiss on her cheek from behind making her wince.

Esha: "You scared me Karan" – She said seeing him.

Karan: "How is my would-be wife doing?"

Esha: "Wife? There is a lot of time left for that. Why don't you help me with these dishes?"

Karan chuckled: "Me? Washing dishes? A future businessman cannot wash dishes!" – Esha sighed looking away – "I was here to talk to you about something else! First of all I was planning a vacation on cruise with both our families and secondly I want to buy my dream bike as soon as I get out from this hell!"

Karan started talking about the bike and his projects after the college and Esha kept nodding while pretending to listen to him.

Karan: "Just imagine me after few years. The best businessman, always trendy and classy of course and..."

Esha suddenly imagined Jai on Karan's place and a smile appeared on her face while staring at him.

IN THE MEANTIME

The party was over and now Mishti was in her room, attending a call from her father.

She was sitting on the bed and wiping the tears which she was trying hard to stop but in vain: "I'm sorry Papa..." – She said while suffocating her cry.

Yash: "Honestly it would have been better if you stayed at the Mastery and didn't attend the party. I told you how important it was for me, but you ruined it! There was the press! Do you have any idea about how much your drama is going to affect our image? I asked you to attend the party as my pride, but you have disappointed me... once again. We sent you to the Mastery because of your incorrigible behaviour only and I swear we were thinking that we have been too strict with you so wanted to bring you back home but thank you for proving us mistaken on time. Kaveri and I are failing to understand what wrong we did with you, why do you always behave so immaturely? Why can't you take our family and our business seriously? We adopted you thinking to make you the heiress of Raichand Industries but now I wonder if your adoption was the biggest mistake we have ever made... because you are not taking our legacy ahead but ruining it instead." – Mishti shut her eyes crying silently getting hurt by his words.

As soon as Yash cut the call, Mishti took a deep breath whimpering. She tried to stop crying but Yash's words kept echoing in her mind. She unlocked a drawer and took out a box. She calmed herself before opening it: there were many pictures from Mishti and Ragini's childhood with baby Farnaaz, some photos of Mishti with Yash and Kaveri and also some selfies with Jai. She looked at one with the latter and recalled the moments they spent together before joining the Mastery, when they were friends, and a frail smile appeared on her lips which disappeared as soon as she remembered Esha and Jai's kiss. A tear skipped from her eye and fell on the picture. She held a photo which showed her and Ragini holding baby Farnaaz together. The memory of her first encounter with Ragini at the Mastery came in her mind. She hugged the picture and sobbed her heart out.

Kagaaz ke parde hain, taale hai darwazo pe
Paani mai doobe huwe khwaab alfaazon ke
Kho gaye hum kahan, rangon sa yeh jahaan

Mishti immediately stopped crying when she heard a knock at the door. She wiped her tears with both her hands making sure that nobody could understand that she had cried. Mishti dealt with pain by shutting it off: she would have never shown what she was going through to anyone. Maybe all those emotions she had caged inside her heart were the reason of her grumpy and irascible attitude.

Jai slightly opened the door: "Can I come inside?"

Mishti looked down hiding her teary eyes while putting back the pictures in the box: "No, just get lost." – She replied Jai.

Jai stepped inside the room anyway: "I'm here to make peace."

Mishti kept avoiding his gaze and got up giving him the back while putting the box in the drawer with shivering hands: "I don't care, just leave. I don't wanna talk."

Mishti dropped the box on the floor and a picture fell out of it. Both Mishti and Jai bowed down to grab it and it was just then that Jai saw Mishti's face.

Jai: "Hey Mishti are you crying?!" – He asked concerned.

Mishti turned again leaving the photo as she just wanted to hide her tears right now: "No I'm not crying, please leave me alone."

Jai held the photo and looked at it: there were two twins with a baby, and it didn't take much for Jai to understand that the trio was the one of Sharma sisters. Mishti snatched the photo from his hands.

Jai: "Listen Mishti, I am not going anywhere until you don't tell me what's happening with you. I don't know what you think about me, but I don't like seeing you like this..." – He genuinely said as he felt his heart wrenching seeing Mishti in that condition – "I care about you like a friend..."

Mishti cut him: "But I don't! I don't consider you a friend and I'll never do."

Jai: "But why?! Why do you hate me so much?" – Mishti turned around again looking at the ceiling to stop the tears shedding from her wet eyes – "Calm down Mishti, please. It's enough now. Can we talk it out once for all?" – He waited for an answer but didn't get any, so he placed a hand on her shoulder – "Why don't you want me as your friend?"

Suddenly Mishti turned around: "Because I LOVE YOU! Can't you see it that I have fallen in love with you?!"

Jai was shocked: "What?! But... but how is it possible? I... I could never realize that... it's..." – He didn't know what to say. He was extremely stunned to give any kind of reaction. Out of all, he could never think that the reason behind Mishti's hostility towards him was... love.

Mishti cried and let herself sit down on bed: "Of course you could not. I tried hard to stop feeling for you, to forget you, to stay away from you, to hate you! But I failed..." – She sniffed.

She wasn't yelling anymore like she usually did, instead the tone of her voice made Jai understand that she was giving up as she was tired of fighting... fighting against her own emotions. Mishti was feeling exhausted and could not hide anything anymore. Jai understood that she needed to burst out, so he kept listening to her without interrupting.

Mishti: "When my parents sent me to Mastery, I was angry but thought that it's the best thing for me as I would have stayed away from you but you came there and that too with Ragini... now I am forced to face you both every day, the people I'm trying to escape from..." – She put her hands in her hair looking down and crying. Her face had become red and tears were spilling down her face.

Jai had never seen her in such a miserable state. He knelt in front of her and placed a hand on her knee. He gulped down and then asked: "But... why Ragini?"

Mishti: "You already know what happened in the orphanage..." – She looked sideways – "After our birth parents passed away, Ragini and Farnaaz were my only family. I knew the orphanage would have separated us and I was not ready for that. I was a child but I was conscious enough to feel the pain of losing dear ones... every single day I spent in orphanage felt like a nightmare, the fear that any stranger could suddenly come from nowhere and snatch Ragini and Farnaaz from me was consistent and traumatizing.. that's why I wanted to escape from that place but Ragini didn't agree because while I was afraid of what could happen to us in the orphanage, Ragini feared the world outside but at least we would have faced everything together once out." – She paused – "After Farnaaz was taken away, I was really upset with Ragini but I asked her again to escape because I didn't want to lose her too and she refused again. Then Papa and Mumma adopted me. I was angry with them because they knew I had a twin yet separated me from her. Why couldn't they adopt us both or adopt someone else leaving me with my sister? Soon I got the answer. They just needed one heiress. Mumma couldn't conceive so they opted for adoption. I was never introduced as Yash Raichand and Kaveri Raichand's daughter, but as the heiress of their wealth. I didn't get a new family but a business to handle after few years. Mumma and Papa are amazing people, they gave me everything, pampered me and I love them a lot but still..." – She took a deep breath looking down – "Back then I felt the need to have someone to talk with about what I was going through, but I had nobody who could listen to me. I needed Mumma and Papa to know that I was missing my sisters and they were powerful enough to find them and let me stay in touch with them, but they wanted me to forget my past and stick to my future... the future of Raichand Industies. They never let me speak about Ragini, Farnaaz or my real parents. But at the same time, somehow, because of one situation or the other, I was always reminded that I was adopted, so how could I forget everything?"

Jai understood Mishti well: she was always stuck between the past trauma, which she couldn't ever overcome, and the future expectations with which she was pressurized. Amid all this, she could never live her present.

Mishti: "Because of all these failed relationships, I started keeping myself distant from people. I began fearing attachments." – Jai understood that the reason of Mishti not having any close friend was not her personality but her fears which was also why she had that presumptuous attitude – "But then here you come. After many years, you were the first one to mention about Ragini to me... but I wasn't ready to face her yet..."

Jai: "Because since you could never forget your past, you still had grudges for Ragini for what happened in the orphanage. You think that if you both had escaped with Farnaaz, you wouldn't have stayed away from each other for so many years and would have been happily together... without all the problems that you had to go through..."

Mishti: "Yes but... after joining the Mastery I met Ayaan and Aarush... both of them want to run away from the Mastery..." – She smiled in between her tears – "They keep planning to escape and I keep stopping them. I try to make them understand that it isn't wise to escape like that without anyone's knowledge... what will they do once out? They are children, how they will know where to go, whom to call? What if they get lost or something happens to them... the world outside is so unsafe! I feel worried for them... and now I understand how Ragini must have felt back then..."

Jai: "Then why don't you reconciliate with her?"

Mishti: "She came in front of me suddenly when I least expected. I wasn't prepared. I didn't know how to face her, what to tell her... Plus, what about Farnaaz? She is still not with us and God knows where she is! What kind of family adopted her? Is she happy? If Ragini had agreed to leave the orphanage at least..." – She stopped as she realized that she was blaming Ragini again and fidgeted with her fingers keeping her gaze down – "Also I am fed up with this blame game but... I don't even know how to... how to..."

Jai: "Apologize to Ragini?" – He slightly smiled as Mishti looked at him a bit surprised by his guess – "It's a personality trait of yours... it's difficult for you to accept your mistake and ask sorry..."

Mishti: "You did that again..."

Jai was confused: "What?"

Mishti stood up and avoided his gaze: "I was fine alone, away from people. But then you came and you... you were different from others. While everyone else tried to make me move on from past, you made me face it, connected me back with Ragini by talking to me about her whenever I asked you even indirectly. You listened to me whenever I had a problem and it seemed like you could understand me. I know I have flaws but you were not judging me like others. You always managed to cheer me up. You made me feel alive. Your presence made me happy. I got so attached to you that you became my habit."

Jai: "But I did everything as a friend..."

Mishti: "I know!" – She faced him – "You had eyes for every other girl but not me... I started feeling insecure. And I didn't want that. I didn't want to get my heart broken but that's exactly what happened every time you flirted with my own friends in front of my eyes! And you even broke my trust by telling Ragini that you know me and I am at the Mastery when I had asked you to keep it a secret until Farnaaz wasn't found or at least until I wasn't ready to face her! I needed time but you ruined everything!" – She yelled at him again.

Jai: "But how can Ragini's presence in the Mastery bother you so much?!"

Mishti: "What bothers me is that you didn't keep our secret and broke your promise... and my trust."

Jai tried to calm her down: "Mishti listen to me..." – He wanted to tell her that Ragini came to the Mastery for Mahima who is Farnaaz but Mishti didn't let him speak. She held his arm and dragged him towards the door.

Mishti: "Please leave. I want to stay alone."

Jai: "But Mishti..."

Mishti slightly pushed him out of the room and closed the door without listening to him. She merged her back against the door and broke down crying her heart out.

THE NEXT MORNING

Ragini stretched her arms and got up from her bed still half asleep. Ananya was still sleeping on the bed next to hers. Ragini's half opened eyes widened when she opened the closet and couldn't find her clothes.

She looked in the drawers too: "Ananya! Ananya!" – She called out her name while searching her clothes.

Ananya moved a bit in her bed: "Why are you shouting already at this time?" – She was still sleepy.

Ragini: "Can you tell me where my clothes are?!" – She yelled.

Ananya: "Sorry, what did you say?"

Ragini: "Don't play innocent with me. Where are my clothes?!"

Ananya sat up: "Oh... those clothes which were in the closet? I found them so old and tacky so I gave them to the needy ones." – she said casually – "with Mahima."

Ragini put her hands in her hair: "They were the only clothes I had!" – She said frustrated.

Ananya: "Well... there must be something left in the drawer, you might need it to change. Anyway, I did you a favour only because you urgently needed to renew your wardrobe. Now please let me sleep, I am not used to wake up this early." – She lied back on her bed covering herself with the blanket.

Ragini huffed and looked around thinking about what to do now.

AT THE SAME TIME

Mr and Mrs Verma were having breakfast. Jai was sitting with them at the dining table too but wasn't eating anything. He kept recalling Mishti's confession.

Mrs Verma: "Why aren't you having your breakfast dear?"

Jai shook his head: "I am not hungry."

Just then, Mishti came downstairs. After the party and the break down in her room, she had gone to Jai's house where she spent the night, like her father wanted.

Mrs Verma: "Good morning Mishti! Come, join us!"

Mishti: "Good morning. Sorry, I don't feel like having breakfast. I would just like to go to the Mastery as soon as possible." – Jai looked at her.

Mrs Verma: "But Mishti..."

Mishti looked down: "Attending the party hasn't been a good idea..." – She looked towards Mr Verma – "I know you put lots of efforts to make all the arrangements for yesterday's party uncle and I am really sorry for ruining everything..."

Mr Verma: "Actually there is someone else who want to apologize to you as well..." – He gestured to a servant who gave Mishti a bouquet of flowers.

Mishti read the chit attached to it. The bouquet was from Yash and there was "sorry" written on the chit.

Mr Verma: "He told me he has been too harsh with you last night..."

Mishti slightly smiled: "He could have talked with me himself, couldn't he? Anyway... some flowers cannot erase all those words from my memory." – She let out a sarcastic chuckle and walked away.

Mr Verma: "This girl isn't content with anything! What a spoilt brat! So incorrigible..."

Jai clenched his fists and avoided saying anything.

AFTER A WHILE

Ananya got up from the bed complaining about it. Someone knocked at the door.

Ananya: "Who is it?"

"Mahima!" – Hearing that, Ananya opened the door and hugged Mahima after she stepped inside.

Mahima: "So, what happened when Ragini realized that she hadn't her clothes anymore?" – She asked excitedly.

Ananya laughed: "It was fantastic! You should have seen her face!"

Mahima: "We are two genius!" – They exchanged hi-fives.

Ananya: "I shall freshen up and change and then we can start the lesson, alright?"

Mahima: "Okey!"

Ananya: "I cannot wait to start this splendid day!" – She walked towards the closet smilingly but her mouth fell open when she found it empty – "Mahima! My clothes!" – Mahima looked on – "What is this?!" – Ananya found a chit in the closet and read it aloud – "I am waiting for you at the farm"

Mahima took the chit and read it too. They exchanged worried looks.

ON THE OTHER HAND

Mishti entered the Mastery followed by Jai who was trying to stop her: "Mishti! Mishti, can you listen to me?"

Mishti stopped but kept avoiding Jai's gaze: "No Jai, don't say anything. Forget what I told you."

Jai: "How do you expect me to forget?"

Mishti looked straight at him and yelled: "Enough Jai, enough! I don't want to listen to you!"

Jai: "Just a second, please!"

Mishti: "NO!"

Jai got fed up: "As you wish!" – He walked away.

Esha came there and saw Mishti: "Mishti I was looking for you!" – She went to her and hugged her – "I need to tell you something important."

Mishti: "What happened?"

Esha: "Since yesterday, after you left with Jai, I realized that I cannot stop thinking about him. I think I really like him."

Mishti didn't know what to say.

IN THE MEANTIME

Ananya had reached the farm and she stopped dead seeing what she had in front of her eyes: "No, it can't be possible. I can't believe it!" – She cried and walked towards the animal pen.

Ananya covered her mouth shocked seeing her clothes not only on the fence but also on the animals: goats and sheep were wearing her scarfs and had wrapped her gown and t-shirts around them, her jackets and tops were on cows and some hens were stomping her other clothes.

Mahima came there too and was shocked: "Who did this?!"

Just then, Ragini came there: "Jaise ko taisa mila! Kaisa Maza aaya!" – She hummed – "So? How did you like the fashion show I organized with your clothes? I had called some models but they didn't come!" – She shrugged making an innocent face – "So I had to use these animals. Catwalk isn't there but I hope you are enjoying the cow-walk!" – She giggled.

Sanskar came there too, followed by his students as he was holding P.E. class outside today and had noticed what was going on in the farm. Rahul and Vikram were there too and laughed along with their classmates seeing the unique "fashion parade".

Ananya stomped desperately witnessing her clothes getting ruined: "My Italian blouse! That foulard of 1500 dollars!" – She bawled – "I just bought that gown from Venice!" – She saw Sanskar and went to him – "Sanskar look at what she has done! Say something!" – she cried.

Ragini: "So let's end this fashion show here! Please give a huge round of applause to our models!" – She clapped and the students, who were enjoying the spectacle, joined her as well.

Ananya: "I will kill you! I swear I will!" – She walked inside the animal pen to get back her clothes followed by Sanskar, Mahima and also Harshid rushed there to help.

Mahima shouted at the students: "What are you doing there? Come and help!"

But Rahul, Vikram and others didn't move even a little and kept laughing seeing the four chasing the animals and struggling to take off the clothes from them. Mahima and Ananya started jumping scared when a cow started chasing them back. Ragini patted on her own shoulder enjoying her revenge.

IN JAI'S HOSTEL ROOM

Jai was unpacking his bag and kept recalling Mishti confessing her feelings for him.

Jai: "How could I not have realized that earlier?" – He scolded himself.

MEANWHILE

Mishti sat in the lobby with Esha and asked her: "Are you sure you like Jai?"

Esha: "Yes, I do."

Mishti: "But you are with Karan since years..."

Esha huffed: "That's why I am feeling bad... I mean, I do care for Karan a lot but I don't know what is happening with me. Jai has driven me crazy. I guess it's because it's been a long time I am with Karan and I don't feel that attraction anymore... I don't expect every day to be a party but Karan is so boring! He keeps talking about his business plans and his ideal family!" – She complained.

Mishti: "Esha, I have never seen you talking like this..."

Esha: "I am feeling very bad Mishti... I needed to talk with someone. P.E. class was going on outside, I saw you coming and made an excuse to come here so that I could tell you everything."

Mishti slightly smiled and Esha hugged her. Mishti bit her lower lip unsure about what to do. Esha was probably her first close female friend and she didn't want to let her down.

Mishti: "You know what I think about Jai..."

Esha: "Yeah... by the way, how was the party?"

Mishti looked down: "A disaster... I shouldn't have gone."

Sanskar, Ananya, Mahima, Ragini and Harshid came there. Mishti and Esha looked at them.

Sanskar: "God! Look at me!" – He grumbled cleaning the dirt from his clothes.

Mahima: "It's all Ragini's fault!"

Ragini: "It's Ananya who started all this! She threw all my clothes and left me with those I am wearing only!" – She defended herself.

Sanskar turned on Ananya: "Is it true Ananya?"

Ananya: "It was just a misunderstanding! Ehm... I saw all that bad stuff and I thought to do something useful by throwing it away!"

Mishti shook her head glaring at Ananya after hearing that. She felt so angry.

Sanskar: "You can't justify such an action Ananya! Why did you do that? And you Ragini?" – She looked at her – "I didn't expect that from you!"

Harshid: "Well, did you expect her to stay silent and be the great soul?" – Ananya glared at him as he took Ragini's side.

Rita came there and barked: "What is going on here?!"

Ananya: "This girl ruined all my clothes!" – She indicated Ragini.

Mahima: "Exactly. Ragini dressed up all the animals of the farm with Ananya's clothes."

Ragini: "She started it by throwing all my clothes!"

Rita: "Shut up you both!" – She looked at Harshid and Sanskar – "You two can leave! And you two..." – She looked at Ragini and Esha who were still sitting there – "Shouldn't you be in your classroom?"

Ragini and Esha got up and left from there and so did Harshid and Sanskar.

Rita glared at Ragini and Ananya: "You two will obviously get the punishment you deserve! And miss Ananya, I'd suggest you not to stay glued to our P.E. teacher if you don't want to be thrown out. We have a protocol that must be followed here, any kind of dating is prohibited." – She warned Ananya who made a face.

IN A CORRIDOR

Rahul and Vikram had freshened up after the P.E. lesson and were now going to the classroom for the next period.

Vikram: "Ragini got into a mess!" – He said while walking

Rahul: "But she had to defend herself! Now everyone must have understood that they shouldn't mess with her."

Jai came there: "Oh here you are..."

Vikram: "Welcome back! But... why do you have such a face?"

Jai: "Because of Mishti of course..." – He huffed.

Vikram: "What did she do now?"

Just then, Mishti came there too but ignored all the threes and walked towards the staircase.

Jai: "Mishti!" – She didn't stop and got on the staircase so Jai rushed to her and grabbed her wrist pulling her down – "Mishti, wait!"

Mishti: "Leave me!" – She struggled to free her hand from his grip – "Leave me, I said!" – She shouted so Jai left her wrist – "I am asking you, please stay away from me."

With that, she went upstairs without looking back even once.

Vikram: "Well, now I am curious to know what happened."

Jai: "Mishti told me why she is always angry with me..."

Rahul: "Finally! What had you done to her?"

Jai: "I did nothing but... the problem is that she fell in love with me."

Vikram widened his eyes. Rahul was taken aback too.

IN THE KITCHEN

Rita was scolding Ragini: "Miss Ragini, I have to tell you that your demeanour leaves much to be desired. You keep causing problems, you don't respect rules. So, here is a list of works you must do in the shortest time possible."

Ragini's eyes went round as Rita handed over a long list to her. Sanskar entered the kitchen.

Rita: "Professor Sanskar, you have arrived at the right time! So, from now onwards your eyes will be mine. Let me explain myself better. I want you to follow step by step all the works that Miss Ragini will have to do, alright?"

Sanskar: "You want me to be her supervisor?"

Rita: "Exactly! You must supervise all that she will do. I can't think of everything alone! I have so much other work to do too! Here is a copy of the list of chores for you too!" – She gave him a paper too.

Sanskar looked at Ragini who made a grimace. He smiled amused.

AFTER FEW MINUTES

Ragini had started her punishment. After the laundry was done, she was ironing the clothes that students and staff had left in the laundry room. Sanskar was sitting there and looking at her with a smile.

Ragini noticed that and asked: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Sanskar: "You are ironing very well."

Ragini scowled: "It's not that difficult."

Sanskar: "I guess it is. I have never ironed even a handkerchief."

Ragini: "I guess not even your girlfriend has."

Sanskar: "Don't you think it's time to end this war between you two? You are roommates now!"

Ragini: "Why don't you tell the same to her? She has been attacking me since the day she entered here."

Sanskar: "She's just a bit stubborn and wants to win every time..."

Ragini put the iron down and glared at him: "Let's say it clearly. She is simply a mannerless spoilt brat!" – Sanskar looked down scratching his head as Ragini started yelling – "She thinks that people who aren't rich shouldn't be treated with respect! Listen, I might not have the money and those branded stuff your girlfriend has! But I work, and I earn my bread and butter with all the dignity! Therefore, I demand respect. Ok?!" – just then she looked back at the shirt she was ironing and realized that she had kept the heated iron on it for all this while – "Oh no! Look at what I did!" – She sticked her bottom lip out while grabbing the shirt in her hands and looking at the hole that had appeared right in the centre – "All because I was talking about your girlfriend!" – Sanskar opened his mouth but Ragini didn't give him any chance to speak – "What should I do now?" – Sanskar tried speaking again but was again cut by Ragini – "Can you do me a favour?" – She didn't even let him reply – "Please don't talk about this to anyone! Now I will throw this shirt away and its owner won't ever come to know about it!"

Sanskar nodded while Ragini threw the shirt in the dustbin.

Sanskar: "By the way... the owner of that shirt already knows about it." – Ragini looked at him – "That's me."

Ragini's mouth fell open. She replied embarrassed giggles. Sanskar chuckled.

ON THE OTHER SIDE

Mishti was about to go downstairs when she saw Jai coming upstairs from the opposite side and immediately changed direction. She was indeed regretting talking about her feelings to Jai and was unable to face him now. She felt embarrassed thinking that Jai must be considering her pathetic for all what she said, even though Jai had nothing like that in mind. However, Jai stopped her coming in front of her.

Mishti: "Jai I don't want to talk with you. I have already told you more than enough. Now please leave me alone."

Mishti was about to take a step ahead but Jai blocked her way again: "No. Mishti I swear I never realized anything..."

Mishti gave an ironic smile: "You never do, especially when it doesn't suit you."

Jai stayed silent for a second and then spoke up: "I am sorry. I am genuinely sorry. I have never wanted to hurt you or fight with you. Instead, I wanted to be your friend."

Mishti: "no, no. Never say that again. I am not and don't want to be your friend. I am none to you."

She tried leaving again but Jai held her hand and pulled her closer: "Mishti please! I promise you I won't ever hurt you."

Mishti: "Oh really? Then what will you do? Will you go to another college? Because if you don't want to hurt me, the only thing you can do is get as far away from me as possible." – She said glaring straight into his eyes.

She freed her hand and walked away.

Vikram and Rahul came there.

Vikram: "I don't understand pal... why are you trying so hard to get her forgiveness?" – he asked Jai.

Jai kept looking at Mishti who was leaving: "Because... because she is a dear friend."

Rahul: "It doesn't seem so..." – Jai glared at him – "... from her side I mean." – He added.

Esha came there: "Can we talk?" – She asked Jai who looked at Rahul and Vikram. They understood and walked away leaving Jai and Esha alone.

Jai: "What's the matter?"

Esha: "That kiss. I want to know why you kissed me that day. Did you do that to provoke Mishti only or to spite Karan? What was your intention?"

Before Jai could answer anything, Karan arrived there: "What are you doing here Esha?"

Esha immediately looked away from Jai and turned to Karan: "I was looking for you only." – She side hugged him.

Karan: "Fine. Let's go." – He held her hand glaring at Jai and then left from there.

Jai grinned shaking his head.

AFTER SOME TIME

Esha and Mishti entered the kitchen chatting and giggling but immediately stopped when they saw Rita inside. Shreya and Preeti were there too, cutting the vegetables for the dinner as that was the duty assigned to them for the day.

Rita was instructing Ananya: "You have done a disaster while cleaning the windows. Be delicate with these dishes if you don't want your list of chores becoming longer and longer, is that clear?" – She patted on her shoulder and left from there.

Ananya started washing the pile of dirty dishes... or better say that she started complaining.

"Aah!! My nail! I broke my nail!" – she wailed looking at Mishti and Esha who laughed at her.

Esha: "It serves her right for what she has done to your sister."

Mishti: "She deserves worse." – She smirked.

Ananya touched her eye with the hand with which she was washing the dishes and a bit of soap went in it. She started shouting: "ahi! My eye! It's burning! Girls it's hurting! Do something!"

Preeti and Shreya, who were working since much before than Ananya and weren't complaining, looked at her annoyed.

Preeti: "Hurry up! Someone calls the ambulance!" – She mocked Ananya acting like her.

Shreya pretended to have called someone and put her hand on her ear like a phone: "Oh gosh! Doctor, what should we do in such extreme cases?"

Preeti talked as a doctor: "We need to take her eye out!"

Preeti, Shreya, Mishti and Esha laughed.

IN THE GARDEN

Ragini had to water plants now and was holding a hosepipe while Sanskar was standing near the hose spigot looking at the list of works left.

Ragini: "Can you open up the spigot please?" – She asked Sanskar.

Sanskar did that but Ragini was unconsciously pointing the hose towards Sanskar so a sudden jet of water struck him.

Sanskar shut his eyes trying to cover himself: "RAGINI!!"

Ragini realized what she had done and immediately moved the pipe sideways: "IamsorryIamsorryIamsorry!!" – She said in a breath – "I didn't..."

But Sanskar, who was wet from top to toe now, cut her before she could say anything more: "You aren't going to get away with it this time!" – He said while stepping towards her.

He grabbed the pipe and showered Ragini with water who brought her hands forwards and turned her head sideway to avoid the splash in vain.

Ragini: "Sanskar! This is not fair! I didn't do that intentionally!"

Sanskar kept watering her: "You never do it intentionally!"

Ragini managed to hold the pipe too and tried to pull it away from Sanskar's grip but he pulled it back towards himself dragging Ragini closer as well. They looked at each other standing with few inches of distance between them. Water was falling on both on them as both were now holding the pipe together pointing it upwards.

Heer na jaane, Ranjha na jaane
Jaane hai dil mera
Kahin pe jaake mil jaayega
Naam yeh tera mera

Suddenly both of them started laughing.

Sanskar: "For this time we are equal!"

Ragini stomped: "But still, I hadn't done it intentionally whereas you did!" – She pouted.

Sanskar shrugged and chuckled going back near the spigot: "Come on, now water those plants and then we should quickly go to change before getting cold."

Ragini smiled: "Fine! Open it up please!"

Sanskar was about to do that when he noticed that Ragini was pointing the hosepipe towards him again.

Sanskar: "Ragini..."

Ragini: "Yes?"

Sanskar: "Thanks for the concern but I have already taken two showers today: one in the morning, and one just now."

Ragini was confused: "What?"

Sanskar indicated the hosepipe: "Can you turn it to the other side please?" – He chuckled.

Ragini understood: "Oh!" – she laughed too turning the pipe towards the left.

Sanskar: "Are you ready?" – He made sure she wasn't pointing the pipe towards him anymore.

Ragini: "Yes, come on!"

Sanskar opened the water but just then Ananya walked there and she got bathed by the jet of water as she stood right in front of the hosepipe.

Ananya screamed. Ragini and Sanskar looked at her and the latter rushed to close the water.

Ananya: "You got me all wet, look!" – She blamed Ragini.

Ragini: "I am sorry." – she covered her mouth to stifle a laugh – "I didn't do it intentionally!"

Sanskar: "This time she is right, it was all an accident."

Ragini tried hard not to laugh: "I swear I didn't see you!"

Ananya: "I DON'T CARE! I JUST WANT TO LEAVE THIS HORRIBLE PLACE!"

Ragini chuckled. Sanskar eyed her but he was trying hard not to bust out laughing too, in fact he put a fist in front of his mouth to control himself as he was finding the whole situation funny.

IN A CLASSROOM

While chemistry lesson was going on, Karan couldn't help but notice that Esha was continuously staring at Jai. As the class got dismissed, he decided to confront her.

Karan stopped Esha before she could leave the classroom: "I have noticed how you were looking at Jai! If you like him, you should say that!"

Esha rolled her eyes: "I have nothing to say to you Karan, stop it!"

Mishti saw them arguing and went near them: "Everything ok guys?"

Karan: "Right on time! Can you tell me what's going on between Jai and your dear friend Esha?"

Mishti: "I don't know anything. Leave me out of it. You should ask it to Esha only or Jai." – she clearly didn't want to get involved.

Jai, who was just about to step out, heard his name and returned back: "What should he ask me?"

Karan: "I want to know the truth please. What's there between you and Esha?"

Mishti: "Yeah Jai, spit out the truth." – She mockingly smiled at Jai who glared at her.

CHAPTER ENDS

Precap:

Jai to Mishti: "What do you want now? Keep fighting?"
Mishti: "No. I want to forget you." – She left Jai taken aback.

--

Sanskar to Ragini: "I need to know the truth. Do you have any kind of feelings for me?"
Ragini, who was lost in his eyes, replied: "Yes." – She smiled a bit – "I have feelings for you..."