Mishti walked briskly to her cabin she shared with Uma Patel..

Uma Patel..!

What a fitting PA for Chotima..!

That woman helmed  the office  with an iron hand and everything went smoothly even with the age old methods they adopted..

All documents were to be kept as hard copy and her task was to digitize the ones within a time frame..

And the information was confidential..as it contains the names ,date,time ,destination ,duration and payment details and what not..

It's been 3 months she's been on it and just some finishing touches would complete her task..

Her lips curved in a secret smile as she reminisced their Valentine date and how he shot desperate looks her way in the mornings and evenings.. hiding from the family all these days...

Now it's almost week after Valentine's day..and still they are acting formal to each other in front of family .And most of the time either Kunal ,Kuhu or Kethu or Chotima or Parul massi would be by her side ...and since both understood the consequences if they ever get caught they were extra concious with each other...

And much development happened for Kuhu too..she smiled affectionately as she thought about how both of them had come to her secretly the day she returned from Greenville and spilled the good news..

She was happy for them and fearful too .But Kunal assured her that Kuhu too understood the seriousness of the situation and now ..as they are able to open up to each other he is determined to concentrate on his career and their future.

As she looked at the vacant seat of Uma Patel Mishti frowned . Was she busy elsewhere?

She spotted the sticky note on her message board.

Intern list. updated one. ASAP!

Mishti powered on her system and send the relevant data to the printer..

She too was an intern here ... being a part-time employee.. hopefully she can get more exposure during the two week time of her spring recess .

***

Mark was fidgetey as Abir jovially asked him his  vacation plans....

Of course who wouldn't love an all paid five star vacation sponsored by a generous boss..!

But the problem at hand was his replacement and Abir wanted a qualified and experienced one.. as he was just going for a short vacay..

Though there are many to name in this office itself and all will be eager for the position ,Mark was sceptical as it would be unfair to the person .. when he'll be back.

And Mark had shared this thought with Abir .

Abir had thought for a second and assured him he'll find a solution .

And the solution was Uma Patel..!

He had already sent her a text earlier to update him about the employees in RT..

Mark tried to scuttle the plan the moment he realized Abir's course of action.

But Abir was fast as he himself called Her ...

****

Mishti took the print outs and collated them according to seniority and stapled them neatly before placing them inside a file.

As she got up from her seat to place the file at Uma Patel's table the phone rang...

" Raj Vansh Travels . how may I help you..?"

She asked casually as she held the receiver in the crook of her neck while placing the file neatly in the "in file" tray..

Silence at the other end made her stop her tinkering with the contents on the table..

" Hello.. You there ..? Please do specify your requirements.."

Her questions went unanswered and she felt the queer sensation of being near ...

Her eyes widened and the name escaped from her lips in a whisper...

" Abir. !!"

****

Abir's look directed at Mark was accusing at the best..!

Mark didn't understand why Abir's attitude changed suddenly...

He haven't even spoken a word  to Uma Patel..

His confusion at the attitude change was answered by Abir himself..as his voice  spelled..

" Mishti."..

" Uhm..I can explain.."

Mark started to clarify any misconceptions Abir had about his loyalty...

But he was stopped by a hand signal from Abir.

" You are excused.Be ready to fly out by tomorrow evening.!"

Mark's incredulous protest was shut by the icy look and the hard voice that spoke into the phone..

" Care to explain??"

*****

Abir was late to arrive home .

Already the news of the secret being out had spread like wildfire at the Rajvansh Mansion..

Nanu looked calm..but Meenakshii and Parul were agitated..

" Mein apne company mein kisiko job de rahi Hoon toh ismein Abir ka Kya Lena dena...,"

Meenakshii defended herself.

Nanu nodded..

" Haan I didn't want him to know she was working for me...of course I would hide that fact when he always snubbed me and would start doing that to Mishti also.."

Nanu nodded again..

" Abir hi toh woh loan wala kissa shuru Kiya tha..use pata hona chahiye tha ki Mishti bhi Kam ziddi nahin hai..haan ab woh Ghar ka sale hua Hein toh loan ki baat hamesha keliye close Kar dete Hein na..."

Parul put forward her perspective.

Nanu was thoughtful..

Kunal ,Kuhu and Kethu were watching Mishti pace  restlessly..in her room...

When Abir asked her to explain she had stuttered..how could she say to him that his mom only forbid her not to reveal that to Abir..

"Abir Bhai ko pata kaise Chala ki phone ke doosre end pe Mishti Hein..."

Kethu asked the question puzzling her... aloud.

Kunal straightened up at this .

" Bhai would have got wind of this earlier..Mark would have told him na."

" Whatever...you should have somehow told Abir bro that you are working under him only..I mean I know Mishti ki boss Meenakshii aunty Hein ..lekin phir bhi it's part of Rajvansh gp na"

Kuhu put the facts in front of everyone..

" Let's gear up for Rajvansh tashan then"

Kunal said resignedly..

Mishti was having a sinking feeling that she was going to be responsible for the fight between Mom and son...this time she is also in kinda wrong position...she should have trusted Abir to take things in it's stride  ...

She should have told him.. Period.!

But by purposely hiding the fact is she going to bring more distance between Chotima and Abir?

Her mind raced to that night and her whole body shivered...

Kunal looked at Mishti anxiously and signalled Kuhu and Kethu to shutup and leave..

Both silently slid off the bed and Kuhu looked at Kunal in askance..

He blinked his eyes assuring her that he'll manage and she nodded.

As the girls left Kunal went to Mishti and pulled her on to a hug..

" Nothing is going to happen and I will make sure of that..."

Mishti held on to him as he led her to the bed and put the blanket on her shivering frame.

Mishti''s voice teared the time frame for him as he was transported to the days just after the violent confrontation between Abir and Mishti..

" Chotima  ne..use Mara..!"

Kunal pulled her to him side ways soothing her ...

"Kuch nahin hua Hein...take deep breaths Mishti...Tum ab 8 Saal ki bachi nahin ho..aur Bhai bhi bacha nahi Raha "

The nights that followed ..she was feverish from being out in the cold and Massima would entrust him to be her side when she left her to change her patti or to bring her soup..

And she would mumble the same ... clutching on to his hand...

He held her tight...and felt her shivering coming to a stop .

" Kunal...Maine unke rishthe mein doori laya tha...aur agar Abir ya Chotima apne baat ko saabit karne mein lage rahenge toh..ek guilt se itni saal jeeti aayi Hoon...ab.."

Mishti bared her dread to her best friend and confidante...

" Chup ..aisa kuch honewala nahin Hein..aur Bhai se mein baat karoonga na ..tum bas apne aapko sambhaalo..dinner nahin karna Hein kya...? sab tumhein poochenge  .I have a strong willed friend...Mishti ..tumne use dekha Kya..?!"

Mishti tried to hold herself up..

" Mein theek Hoon...ab tum jaao..mein fresh hoke aati Hoon..."

She removed her glasses and pressed her eyes and forhead..

Kunal got up and turned to the door ..

And stood still looking at the anguished eyes of Abir ... looking at Mishti..

And as Abir lifted his leg to enter the room....

Kunal raised his hand stopping him and signalled him to be silent.

***

Abir was miffed with Mishti and obviously also at Mark for not keeping him in loop..

But the realization that he only stonewalled her to take such a decision calmed him ..

And his Mom...

He sighed..as he drove home..

Knowing Mishti he was sure that his mom would have exerted much pressure on her to make her agree to work at Rajvansh's than some other place..

And he was thankful to her for that..

But he can't show that...best course he could take was to ignore or make joke on the matter.

As he entered home ..the usual banter was absent..a silent home greeted him...

He walked briskly to his room and saw Kuhu and Kethu come out of Mishti's room...

They both saw him and instead of loving greetings their faces exactly mirrored their emotions..

Foreboding and dullness...

Both made an effort to smile and scuttled away from there..

Sensing a more grave issue his feet moved to her door.

And was rooted at the door..!

He heard every syllable she uttered and could not imagine the hurt she felt that night..and she was still hurting...

He just wanted to go in and press her close to his heart and comfort her...

But Nanko was already comforting her...and may be the best person she needed this time..

Still her dejected frame pulled his heartstrings...as he was tugged towards her..

But the hand raised to stop him..and the accusing eyes of his brother was a jolt to him..

****

As Kunal guided him out of Mishti's room he turned to look at her slumping figure..

" Ab nahin Bhai..she is shaken..aur sabne Dara bhi Diya Hein ki aap bhadakne wale ho..me included..woh ab bhi aapka Wala woh incident bhooli nahi..aur apne aapko Badimaa aur aapke beech ki distance ki zimmedaar maan rahi Hein...so please aaj aap Badimaa se jhagda mat kijiye.."

"Nanko..lekin Maine abhi Tak kuch bhi kaha nahin ...toh sab Mishti ko kyun Dara rahi ho..??.aur woh muhjse dar kyun rahi ho.??..she knows she is not responsible for whatever happened between me and Mom."

" Ab yeh sab baat karne ka time nahin Hein... let's leave it..aap fresh hoke dinner keliye aa jaayiye."

****

The dinner at the Rajvansh's that day was a subdued affair..

All were fooling around at their food except Abir..

Mishti send an appealing look to Meenakshii and got pursed lips and determined look in return..

Every one looked at each other and Abir looked up..

" Yeh aaj aap sab itne silent kyun Hain...Kuhu? Kethu? Kya hua Hein sabko..?"

All were silent and then Kuhu blurted out.

" Aap gusse mein nahin ho Bro?..umm..we were kind of expecting.."

Abir raised his brows as she paused .

" Mein ..gussa kyun..haan thode disappointed Hoon..but as it goes.. each to their own na.

All are capable of taking decisions suiting them and I respect that."

" Uhh...yeh Hui na baat. .."

Nanu applauded and looked relieved..

A surprised Meenakshii and Parul looked at Mishti who was still looking at her plate intently..

 Kethu and Kuhu let out a shout and Kunal looked relieved..and shouldered Mishti..who still didn't look up..

" Waise Nanko tumne bataya tha na ki yeh loan wali baat khatam hua toh yeh studies pe concentrate karne wali Hein..phir .."

Abir paused and looked at Kunal for answer..

" Haan ..and I asked her the same when you guys came back..and she said she wanted exposure and experience along with the studies.."

Kunals reply earned a grave nod from Abir..

" Hmm.. exposure and experience.. right..are you getting both Mishti?"

Mishti could not evade giving him a direct answer in front of the whole family and nodded silently still not facing Abir...

Meenakshii who was silent spectator till now took offense  and interfered.

" Well ..we at Rajvansh travels may not get as much exposure as RGC..but..I didn't want her to work anywhere else and add work also to her tensions.."

Mishti''s eyes flew to Abir sensing the start of an argument...

And their eyes locked...

Her fear clear in her eyes and his ...she realized with awe...was calm..and giving her a much needed warmth..

" I never intended to belittle Rajvansh travels.. moreover RGC is indebted to Rajvansh travels for it's foundation and anything and everything it has achieved...and I already know for fact that you won't allow Mishti to work at all and if allowed it will be only with you..I knew that somehow..and I am sure you both have had a major argument over that."

" Poocho mat...Abir...yeh pagli bhi ziddi Kam Hein Kya..kaise ise manaya...!  heina di..? Ab jis Ghar mein Jane wali Hein Wahaan yeh sab zid chalega Kya..?"

Parul's heartfelt admission brought smiles on all faces even Meenakshi's..... except Nanu..and Abir..

Mishti felt herself lighter ...the way Abir respectfully replied to Meenakshi made her let out a brief breath she was holding on to..

The family went on to their usual banter around the dinner time ...all talking and doing things..as two souls desperately looked at each other ... wanting to be in each other's arms ...to soothe the heartache....to belong....

****

" Tum theek ho na..."

Abir asked her...

Mishti hugged her pillow and shook her head..

" Ab aise bologe toh mera jii jal jayega yaar.."

Abir pleaded sadly..

Mishti bit her lips and her eyes conveyed her longing...to be close to him..as she looked at the phone kept on the side stand..

Their only refuge...

 Abir exhaled..

" Mein bhi theek nahin Hoon..I want to be with you...abhi aaoo??"

Mishti shook her head again ...her actions contradicting her state of mind.

" Woh..Maine tumhari aur Kunal ki baat suna..."

Abir paused and Mishti''s eyes widened...she had thought she was the only one suffering...but if did Abir heard their talk...!

She got up and face him...her face tormented at the thought of his pain..

" Abir...I am.sorry...you shouldn't have heard that.."

" I am thankful to Partner  that I heard that..! You were still thinking that mom and I are not in good terms because of you..??. I just want to shake you out of that notion... okay now.let all this go..You are tired ..ab so jao...mein yehin Hoon...Chalo Leto.."

Abir didn't want to remind her about that again..

"Tum bhi rest karna..I am okay now."

" Hmm..okay..! Good night.!"

Mishti nodded and cut the call...

The night swiftly moved into the darker caverns and already troubled minds frenzied over .... Desperately needing the solace..... waiting for sleep to come.

Mishti woke up with a start ... 

Silently calling out for Abir...

And realized that it was just a dream.....

She rewinded how physically alive she was feeling in that dream...

She running through the middle of a sunflower field in search of Abir..

Then rain ... lightning...thunder...

She feeling bereft...

No...she can't live without him..

Mishti wiped off the tears that unknowingly coursed through her cheeks..and slid off the bed ., running to the door...to be with him whom she needed more than her next breath...

And stood still for a moment as she unlocked and opened her door.

Abiir..!

Standing in front of her room...!

In front of her...!

His anguished eyes saying the pain he is in and hers telling him her need of comfort..

And then she just melted on to him..

Abir felt his entire being light up as he lifted her up as such and took her inside her room....

Soaking up her sobs in his chest...soothing her with feathery kisses all over..

He sat on the bed  adjusting her on his lap and...cradling her... looking into her face in the moonlight.

Caressing her cheeks ... murmuring nothings..Sharing her woes ... kissing her fingers... holding her tight.

Fulfilling.... his need to soothe himself by just holding her close....as her arms wound around him tightly...

He needed her..

Close..to his heart..

A determined glit in his eyes sparkled in the moonlight..