So, they would have returned directly after holi if it wasn't for Insiyaa....
She had another plan!
On the way she suggested to Sumen why not spend another few hours more....
she was most excited to visit this place !
And when he informed her brothers and other trekkers, they agreed too.
Valley was called Kheerganga!
apparently the last inhabited village on the trekking route. Sumen told them it was mostly famous for it's pretty as picture coniferous forest and crystal clear mountain streams. They saw beautiful waterfalls, apple orchards, lush expanses of greenery, hot water springs and Shiva Temple.....
it was perfect!
No doubt she was excited! They stayed until next day and left at sun down.
'so, what history this Valley have, Insu ?' Shawkat asked, just to amuse himself
"oh that....?
well, it is an important destination for Hindus as well as Sikhs. Some believed that Kartikeya, son of Lord Shiva and Parvati meditated at Kheerganga. Goddess Parvati would cook Kheer (rice pudding) in the hot water springs of the region, hence the name came.... Kheerganga.
According to another legend Guru Nanakji while visiting his disciple in this region removed a giant stone and this is where the Hot Springs appeared."
''right'' Rahat muttered while Sankalp chuckled shaking his head, Blaze pressed his lips together fighting an impressed smile.
But from yesterday something has changed...it was true that finally exhaustion of 10 days catching up with everyone but still!
From after last night's holi, Blaze didn't say a word or even looked at her. Not even today, when they went for a little sight seeing and walked around...
He ignored her like she wasn't visible at all. She felt a little bad...a heaviness on her heart, she blinked away the stinging sensation at the back of her eyes,....
reality finally came crushing down on her!
Everything was crystal clear....!
like a clear sky after a very VERY heavy downpour!
He was nothing but a person she met on a journey,...
and he thought of her like that too.....
and that's it!
and it was true!
and he was probably used to it...those admiration, little flirting...
and to her, he was an unfamiliar good looking strangers she felt attraction for...
but it happens everyday.....to many people like her at her age, so nothing new there!
to every boy when they see some hot chick on tv or walking infront of them ...,
to every girl when they see their crush, their favourite character on tv channel or social media, an all.....
though she never had a crush before!
no one ever appealed her....until now!
she wasn't supposed to crave for a stranger's attention but she never felt anything like this before...as if something crawling in her heart and scratching violently it, one look just one look and.....it would sooth the itch.
she never craved it so bad!
"He.Is.A.Stranger! heisastranger heisastranger heisastranger" She kept muttering few times closing her eyes before taking a deep breath.
she had nothing to feel bad it about actually....
Yes! she may have thought that she fell for him.....
a mistake of course!
After-all she isn't experienced right!
It's just a crush, very very silly!
Stupid infatuation, that's it!
Beside she was taking a hoard of memories with her...those days, those, those nights, those fun, stories!
She has doubts that her baba would let out of his sight for next 15 years.....but at least this journey would be enough to recharge her battery from time to time!
Hopefully!
on the other hand,.....
''bro.....mom asked for you to come home"
"no, i --
''I've no say in this...Mom told me to tell you, it's just for one day bro, c'mon"
Blaze looked slightly troubled...biting his lips he just gave a nod.
"great, i'll inform Mom then" said Sankalp and left his side
he just let out an irritated sigh thinking... how another day he have spend under her scrutinizing eyes
And then,...
they booked next available flight straight to Bikaner!
At Bikaner Palace.....
Umma Singh Rathod, raanisa of Bikaner insisted that Amarendra Raichand should be there as she called Sankalp and ordered all 5 of them to come here.
She wasn't sure if she was more angry or worried.....
may be bit of both!
Not only they planned something so reckless but also they dragged Insiyaa in it as well. Amarendra never trusted Insiyaa with anyone except Jubayda, her caretaker...
NO ONE AT ALL.
besides, she was most definitely afraid of what might happen when the siblings go home to Jodhpur so she decided to call all of them here on the Palace...at least she could shield them from their father's wrath if need arises.
While Swarna, Sankalp's 12 years old sister playing on the plush carpeted floor of their lavish drawing room, Raanisa was waiting for them on sofa and Alook was enjoying champagne from his flute on his wheel chair with a devil may care attitude.
And as for Amarendra, he was pacing back and forth like caged animal and taking deep breath as if controlling his anger or whatever was brewing inside his mind.
sound of a car coming could be heard outside,.....and he stopped to look at the door.
''sabhi aagaye hai Hukum!'
[ They arrived, Hukum ] Gyan Singh Alook's butler gave them the news of their arrival and Alok nodded.
****************
Insiyaa's Pov
We are all sitting together on the big sofa, me and my brothers, Sankalp was looking down as if we have been caught stealing sweets or something like that! Blaze Aragon's face was bare of any emotions....
for once i might have seen, his face softened when he hugged and kissed Raanisa on her cheekm
although no one can deny the fact that I took money from baba's locker...but that's not the point right now
shut up! Insiyaa....i cursed under breath
However i was busy trying to read everyone's expression under my lashes....Ranaji's was by far less scariest here
and as for Raanisa and Baba ?
WELL, that is another matter. Not that I'm looking at him.....
Nope!
NOT. AT. ALL!
I'm trying hard not to look at those peircing black eyes.
Ranaji assessed the whole situation and cleared his throat, then said in a stern voice...
''aap log itne gair jimmedar kaise ho sakte hai! Koi khabar tha aap logo ko, ki hum yahan kitne pareshaan the ?"
[ How can all of you be so irresponsible ? Do you have any idea how worried we have been ?]
''Dad! wo...we just came for a little vacation. Besides we wanted to s-surprise all of you.'' Sankalp explained hesitatingly
'Surprise!...or Shock ? Kuch ho jata to ? Khud to gaye, ek panra saal ki bacche ko bhi sath me lekar chale gaye aap'
[ What if something bad happened....You went yourself and took a 15-year-old girl with you ] Raanisa cried out at Sankalp, looking accusingly at Shawkat and Rahat as well.
BACCHI !? kya beyzzati hai yaar.....wo bhi uskee samne ?
[ what an insult...that too, infront of him ]
what the f-....i'm not a child for heavens sake!
Since we came back, Baba by far had not said anything,.....not a word!
just standing there with both hand behind him and watched everything for so long.....
He sighed and came forward.
'How was your trip ?' Baba asked me in a very surprisingly calm voice.....
to ME!
IN A CALM VOICE ????
"Umm...g__good!" I looked up at him nervously replied
'Did you enjoy it ?' He asked again.... normally
and, Again i detected nothing.....there was no anger at all.....
"Yesss! I've enjoyed soo much...We saw water fall, temple, climbed mountains, made tents and i even cooked food,....played ho_" as soon as he asked i started rambling about everything and suddenly he pulled me into a bear hug....
so, affectionate,...
so, comfortable,.....
so very much familiar and protective...
And HOW MUCH I MISSED THAT....
that time i actually felt guilty,...so guilty that i didn't even bother to call him!
that i felt it is okay to leave and i LEFT without even considering how he would feel....
i trembled in his embrace and started crying silently hiding my face in his broad chest without thinking that so many people are watching.
SO MUCH FOR NOT BEING A CHILD,....Insiyaa Hayat Raichand!
***********************
All of them were shocked, to say the least.
No one realized how they were holding their breath until then.....it was as if they were expecting some bad things, they thought Amarendra will do something crazy, that he would beat her or yell at her, at all of them.....from the way their conversation before the journey ended.
But no!
Nothing happened!
he put a finger under her chin to make her look at him, wiped her tear ever so gently and said,...
'never ever EVER do this again, you need anything, you'll ask me. You are too precious to me, more than anything, my blessing and l love you more than you know! you should know that.'
She teared up again hearing her baba's kind words and nodded hugging him again.
Everyone became so emotional at that moment looking and hearing their conversation...
It was true that he was angry when he learned that she ran away but in 10 days he realized that being angry at her and yelling at her or any of his 3 children will not solve anything at all. He have to give them time,...
establish a communication...!
realizing that his children are growing up....were the most terrifying experience for him.
meeeaaaow!.....a voice came out of
and everyone stopped dead....
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