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The first thing Mishti did after leaving the Satan's cave was buy the batteries for her alarm clock ( see I am responsible, she taunted God) after setting the alarm for precisely 7 Am she felt a little relaxed, then she thought if she should change it to 6?, she thought some more and then decided to make it 6:30. Yes, 6:30 is alright, even if she took...give and take half an hour to wake up after the alarm, she'd still have plenty of time to make It there on time.
"See, I'm so intelligent" said Mishti, grinning ear to ear.
"Yes, if only others could see that too!" replied God, yawning. This girl was in love with herself!
"You know what? I'm gonna let that go, cause I'm so happy today" said Mishti, graciously.
For as long as she could remember, she was like this only; she'd talk to God and imagine that he replied her too, he was her guide, her best friend, AND yes, her punching bag too. Mishti had lost her parents at a very young age, in fact, she only had some vague memory of her mum preparing cake for her and her popsie helping her ride her bike. Those were the only memory she had of them, and she cherished them with all her heart, those memories were the most precious thing of her life. She didn't exactly know what had happened that day...she only knew that she was at her play school and her parents were late to pick her up, then suddenly her teacher, Miss Vedika got a call...and after that everything happened quite suddenly, all her teachers were so panicked that she'd never forget their faces, they didn't tell her anything... Just that her parents had gone far, far away and they might never come back! Mishti was hysterical after that, demanding that they take her there too! And angry that how could her parents leave her and went that far away! She'd cried herself to sleep, curled up in a ball...that's how Miss Vedika found her, that little girl looked like an angel, a fallen angel who had no idea what hardship the life was going to be after that. Her heart wept for that little girl, and she vowed that she'd not let her shed anymore tears, that she'd look after her with everything she had. And she did that too. Everything Mishti was today, was because of Miss Vedika. She owed her life to Miss Vedika, and it was Miss Vedika who's approval was utmost for Mishti. The mere thought of her gave Mishti the biggest smile, she decided to call her and give her the good news.
"Hello masi, how are you? Are you taking your medicines on time? Did you go to the doctor for your appointment today? Why aren't you saying anything?"
"I was trying to! But you wouldn't give me the chance. And to answer your questions; yes, I do take my medicine on time, I did go to the doctor today, and yes, buttercup, I'm absolutely fine. Now how is my baby doll?
"I'm great masi, in fact, more than great. You know what? I got this new job which is real great, and my boss...you wouldn't believe how sweet he is( to this, Mishti crossed her fingers. It wasn't everyday that she lied to her masi, after all.)
"Seriously? Well, I must say I'm relieved now. You've always had arguments with your old boss. You take care bachcha, sometimes you get carried away, and that too for others sake. This world is very selfish, and you'll have to start thinking for yourself, you hear me?"
"Yes masi, I hear you, and don't worry nothing's gonna happen this time, I'll be a very good and silent girl this time"
" good, now give me a kiss"
"Muaaah"
"Muaaah back buttercup, now I gotta go, I've a class in 5 minutes. Talk to you later. Take care"
"You too take care masi. Ta ta"
Mihti instantly felt better after talking to her Vedika masi. She was her everything, she couldn't even imagine her life without her. Although it'll be a little difficult to keep her promise about being a silent girl in Satan's cave, but she'd try.
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when her alarm clock chimed at precisely 6:30, Mishti woke up, instantly, saw the time and decided to sleep for another hour. She had to be there at 9, there'll be plenty of time even if she woke up at 7:30.
There'd have been plentiful time, had Mishti woken up at 7:30 but by the time Mishti bid farewell to her sweet dreams...it was 8:30!
"Damn it! C'mon God, you never learn do you?" Huffed Mishti, exasperated.
"Nope. But neither do you, my dear" replied God, barely concealing his laughter. This girl was incorrigible!
" stop laughing! It will be I, who have to face his ire, I'm sure he'll spit fire at me. Well, you had better prepare a fire suit for me!" And with that she hastily went to the washroom.
At 9:15 she managed to reach the hell and braced herself against the incoming fire, that was sure to come. Half running half walking she went inside the building/ cave.
"Good morning, Mishti" called Veer.
"Morning, Veer, I'm late again and I've to bring coffee for Mr Satan...catch you later..." With that she started running again, but Veer stopped her.."wait Mishti, I've already prepared coffee, here take this, it's exactly the way Mr Rajvanshi likes" informed Veer. Mishti looked at him as if he'd saved the world with that statement and said "literally saved my life Veer, I owe you big time"
"It's nothing" replied Veer, blushing hard. Mishti took the coffee and went to Mr Vampire, all the while bracing herself for the worst. She knocked twice before entering.
"Morning Mr Sat...um..Rajvanshi. Here's your coffee, it's exactly the way you like it" said Mishti proudly.
"Really, Miss Khanna? And how's that?" Asked Satan without looking from his laptop.
"How's wha..what? Stammered Mishti
"My coffee, you said it's exactly the way I like it. How do I like it, Miss Khanna?" Shit, Mishti had no idea!
"Uh...black and bitter?" Guessed Mishti.
" wrong answer. Milky and sugary, that's how I like my coffee."
What?? That was so not...him! Mishti almost laughed at the irony of it!
"Uh...yes...umm...good. Milk is very good for health you know...umm..it has..calcium and...(she hastily tried to remember what else does milk contain... And cursed herself for not paying much attention in her science class. Damn! Why God? Now, it was too much even for Mishti, for how it God's fault that she didn't remember such petty thing!) And its very good. Very good indeed" she lamely completed.
"Save it. I know you're late, and it's the last time, do you hear me? LAST TIME. Come late again and then never come again. Do I make myself clear?"
"Very" replied Mishti.
"Good. Now get to work. I'm not paying you for your...extraordinary knowledge of nutrition" and with that she was dismissed. She should be happy, she supposed, at least he didn't fire her on the spot.
Chakravarti Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan
Mangal Lakshmi
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