Thank you all for your Views , Votes and Comments 😊 

I would like to change Ashish's and Athul's  age to 15...just to jell with the storyline...

Ashish- Vishesh Bansal

Atul - Shashwath Tripati

****

Mishtii was deep in thought as she helped in laying down the breakfast...

She had put her own worries in the back burner...

Her other family...it was a pricking like a thorne in her heart...but she immersed herself in trying to get hold of the tiny proof that connected Mehul uncle with RE.

Yesterday's incidents have made things almost clear as to who would have aided Mehul uncle if he was responsible for the events... What is his plan this time...?!

She was also weighing Parul Massi's response to her casual question..she had hoped for a clue and she got much more than that....

****

The dinner last night was pleasant..

 Nidhi maami had prepared her specialities...as Kethu was being given total tutoring in kitchen etiquettes and cooking...

for ...as comically put by Mami .. during dinner..

" Tumhare bachon ke doctor..!"

Kethu had went  red at the comment and Atul was having a field day laughing and pulling his sister's leg...

Now as they made small talk as all were preparing to go to sleep...Mishti had went to Parul..

***

" Massi..Aap se ek baat poochoo..?"

" Haan Mishti..poocho....aur mujhe yeh bhi batao ki aaj ka din kaisa tha?..." Parul smiled at her ...

Mishtii blushed a little but with open smile she hugged Parul..

" I am feeling so good...just to feel Badapapas presence was so soothing...and.."

Her voice changed a bit as the letter of warning crept into her mind..

" Kya hua beta..tum mujhse kuch poochne jaa rahi thi...?"

" Woh Massi...just wanted to ask ...woh Satish Rawal..who works here in RE ...do you know him well...I mean his family.."

Parul's face dimmed just like that..but then she smiled ruefully..

"Well...I should know him...Mehul jiju had brought his rishtha for me....when I just finished my studies..to think of that the day after my college ended...I was stunned ...you know by that time I had met with Kunal's Papa...and I didn't want to get married to anyone other than Ajay....

But somehow it came into light that Satish was already married.and I think Mehul jiju didn't know about that..Jiju did try his best to get me married to this Satish Rawal..."

" I bet he wanted that.."

Mishtii said under her breath.. clearly understanding how manipulative that person was...

" Meenakshi Di  came to know that he already had a wife and a son and the matter shocked Jiju...well if he had known he wouldn't have started the rishtha talks...and it kinda pushed me to...umm..to elope with Ajay..."

"OMG Massi I didn't know that..?!"

Mishtii squealed in excitement..." Aur batao.."

Parul looked at the decades old photo frame of  her husband's photo...

" Well ..Ajay was a man of integrity...and a proud one too....He was from a not so well off family.. didn't even have a family..he just had his mausa mausi.. And had a small job at a firm in Rajkot....Compared to Satish's status he was nothing and I feared losing him...we felt bapuji won't agree...we just upped and got married in a temple...."

Parul looked whimsical as she relived her past...

Mishtii too was pulled into the scenario and thought how fast their togetherness ended..

" To my surprise Bapuji and Meenakshii di were cross with me for not for eloping but for not sharing my love for Ajay with them..Jiju was definitely upset...he did treat Ajay roughly for some time...but .. eventually Ajay too become part of our family and business.."

"Phir Kya hua Massi..??!"

Mishtii asked eager eyed...

Parul's face lit up with the memories...

"We were happy...hum Khush the ...I can't tell you how happy we were ..jab Kunal paida hua toh woh Khushi chouguna ho Gaya...tab Tak Ajay bapuji ka beta hi ban chuka tha..."

Slowly her face shadowed...

" Aur ek din.sab kuch khatam...aise hi...jaise koi phooka aur Diya bujh Gaya...he was killed in an accident...Abir aur Kunal keliye khilone lane Gaye the...koi truck aake ...bike ..."

Parul wiped away her tears hastily..

" Phir thode time baad sabne Shaadi ki baat phirse chaloo ki..lekin...I had enough love and memories for my life time...aur .. Kunal..kabhi kabhi apne Papa jaise hi behave Karthe Hein...mujhe aur kuch bhi nahin chahiye tha..."

Mishtii was feeling guilty in making Parul remember all the bad things that happened in her life..

" I am.sorry Massi...I didn't want to make you sad.."

She hugged Parul...

" And Kunal is every inch a studious man with integrity...you did well with him...and Umm..Abir too...I know Chotima aur uska relationship thoda kacha Hein ..lekin aap tha ..donon ko aapne sambhala...."

She looked down...not knowing how to thank Massi for being Abir's emotional support all these years...

Parul looked at the girl in front of her...

Her son's best friend and mentor of sorts...

Her elder son's , as she always considered Abir..heart's delight...

A girl with grit she was ... always..

A girl with an empathy...who could look into anyone's eyes and find out their pain...and the ability to soothe it...

" Aap donon..yahaan baithe ho... Mishti... Maa dhoond rahi thi.."

Kethu put her head inside the room and informed..

Parul clutched Mishti''s hand as she was about to get up..

" Mishtii... this enquiry about Satish... some thing to do with the problem...?"

Mishtii nodded as Parul's face became serious...

" Not sure Massi.. tomorrow Abir have asked for an appointment with the commissioner...I am going with him...it's best Mamu stay at the office so that no body is alerted.."

****

Abir looked again at Mishti as they waited for their turn at the  commissionerate ..

He was still trying to put his head around what Mishti and Mamu ..told him just after the breakfast..since his videoconference went long into the night..they didn't tell him as they didn't want him to have a sleepless night....

How the hell did she suspect Satish uncle..!!?.and on top of that she was sure that the man who delivered the warning was his son Karan...

Karan...

His blood boiled at the innuendo in the warning..

No way he was letting anything happen to her . that too..a second time by that swine..!!

Still in awe that she could pinpoint something his entire team was not able to spot..he looked at her without blinking...

Now even if it's just a suspicion..they know where to look and look deep beyond the layers  and lies regarding the financial transactions..

His team was on it ...and  now this meeting with the commissioner and the appointed  official on their case..

Mishtii looked up from her notes ...and smiled at Abir as their eyes met .

He felt a calmness and wondered how she balanced him with just one look..but he also knew her eyes were bleak.... dreading another meeting ..!!

As they were ushered in to the cabin...Abir held her hand in reassurance...and she pressed his reassuring him in return...

***

What the hell..!

Mishtii could not believe her eyes..

The cocky eyes....the same that taunted her years ago..

She shuddered as her eyes met those of the person who turned as Abir and herself entered the cabin..

He was seated opposite to the commissioner...and ..and in full official gear...!

Abir greeted the commissioner and the official formally..and was about to introduce Mishti to them..that he realized she was unnaturally standing still ..

The man too looked at her ...his overconfident gaze slowly slipping a bit..

" Gentlemen..this is my er.secretary...Mishti Agarwal.."

Abir's words brought Mishti back ... hard into the reality..

She managed to greet the commissioner as they were seated ...

Her eyes were now pinned on the other person...her mind in a turmoil... dreading the moment Abir got the realization..she was in no position to convey the shocking news to him...

She found that the man too was frowning as if to place her..her name...

" So Mr.Rajvansh...this is the officer who is going to take charge of your case..."

Mishtii waited with baited breath for the ticking bomb to go off.

" Meet DSP Karan Rawal ..officer...Abir Rajvansh as you know.."

Abir had turned towards him with a formal smile which froze on his face ...he felt Mishti's palm snaking into his ... urging him to simmer his exploding wrath..

" Abir Rajvansh..nice to meet you .. Again..."

Karan said coolly...his eyes flipping to Mishti and apparently their handhold..

Abir's eyes on him was piercing..and before he could say anything  the phone rang... Commissioner attended it and excused himself as he had to attend a function..

" You can continue your discussion.here itself... Mr Rajvansh..Karan too is interested in the case...he informed me that you are family friends .."

Abir's face tightened as he nodded slightly..

After the door swinged behind the Commissioner Karan faced Abir and Mishti who were now on their feet ...hands still held...

His eyes went to their stance and widened ...

" Ohoho...ab yaad aaya...tum. wohi ladki ho na.... isliye naam kuch jaana pehchana sa lag Raha tha...Abir ke saath.."

His hands involuntarily moved to touch the scar on his forehead....and Abir's jaw tightened...

"Great...So sit down.. we'll discuss the case .."

" Yes by all means..."

Abir said looking at Karan and Mishti for one moment thought that they will come into blows..

But Abir was following Karan as they sat and discussed the matter ...

Only Mishti who was observing both silently and with thumping heart  could see the supressed volcano in his golden eyes and the mocking quality and deceit in Karan's .

She was sure Abir would be close mouthed as to the new developments..but this guy was more dangerous and weilded more power than her earlier assumption...

He could totally hijack the case and put blame on someone else as random robbery... when all the while it was he and his father plotting the whole thing...at least Karan's interest in this case confirmed her suspicions ..

Now Abir's team needs to come through ..!!

" Great...I will look into this immediately...I have been making enquiries when I heard about all this.. after all Rajvansh enterprises is a prestigious firm here.."

Karan smiled wickedly...and for Mishti it took all of her power not to slap him right across his leering face..

It was Abir who held her elbow this time ... checking her emotions...

" So ..Tum donon... anything else I should know.."

" Not a thing Karan...you know everything you need to know..."

Mishti''s clipped words directed to him for the first time did make an impact on Karan as his smile slipped..

" We won't take any more of your time....I am sure you have much to do to solve this case.."

Abir's firm words were greeted with suspicious eyes which followed them as they got out...

Both were silent till they reached the car ...

And the volcano burst as Abir hit the steering wheel with anger...

" Well that was a shocker ..! ..I almost thought you will tell him what we exactly know of him..."

Mishtii reached out to hold his arm...now bunching with tensed muscles....

" God knows Mishti how I stopped myself from plastering him on that wall....but you kept me sane..he is in a position where he has no scruples in abusing it... imagine if we had complained him about the warning letter..."

Abir said angrily...

Mishti''s eyes widened..

" Oh no..! Abir..he definitely know that the warning was delivered..he himself did it...then we didn't say anything about it...if he think hard ..he is bound to find that fishy.."

Abir sat thoughtfully...and sighed..

" Let's hope we get a proof soon..tum theek ho..?"

He cupped her chin with one hand ...

" I am okay..well kinda shaken to see Karan here ..but..I am more tensed about the next meeting..."

Abir understood her perfectly..

Last night Nidhi Mami had told Mishti that her mother wished to see her .. Mishti didn't want her to come to Rajvansh's..and as though her mother knew her thoughts she had suggested a lunch meeting in a hotel.

But after this meeting he doubted that Mishti will be up to the task of seeing her Mom in flesh and blood...

"I'll call Mami and ask her to inform them that you cannot meet her today..."

Abir said exasperatedly..his worry clearly showing on his face..

" It's okay Abir...I  want to get that matter over...she didn't want me...then..and now also it will be the same... You'll be with me na,?..if needed we can skip the lunch..."

Her voice held a plea..

Abir looked at her intently...

" Are you sure..? Because even if you don't say anything to her..I have definitely a lot to say to her..."

" But you won't....heina...I have happy memories about her Abir...and no other bad or ill-treatment from her except the... desertion...!"

Her face now rested on his arm and he kissed her forehead.. giving her that silent promise..

Moments later Mishti straightened and smiled widely..

" Tumhein pata Hein...Parul massi had a love marriage..woh bhi Ghar see bhaag ke...I got a blow by blow account of her adventurous love story yesterday..."

Abir looked at her excited face knowing very well that she was smiling just for him...

" Haan..thoda bohot toh pata tha...but Maasi se detail mein kuch bhi poochne ki himmat aaj Tak Hui nahi...so tell me .."

Mishtii narrated the past carefully..omitting Mehul's references.. as Abir drove the car amidst the thick traffic...

***

Mishtii sat down in awe opposite to the lady...

Even Abir was tongue tied...

Just one look at both Mishti and her Mom was enough to guess from where Mishti got her grit from..

***

By the time they reached the hotel both were composed and a nervous Ashish was waiting for them...his eyes showed relief when he saw Abir with Mishti...

" Thank God aap di ki saath Hein...pichle baar ke jaise kuch ho Gaya toh..."

He impulsively hugged Abir and Abir could not contain his smile..and looked at Mishti..who was a little bit jealous.... from what he could tell from her facial expressions...and his smile widened...just making her more sour..

She had talked to Ashish yesterday.. telling him that she was fine and then talking about him and family...but now She was getting sidelined for Abir ..

She smiled inwardly..

Mishtii turned her head away making a face knowing perfectly well that he was enjoying her jealousy..

But what lay ahead made her insides queezy..

Will her Mom recognize her .?

That question had a niggling way that it became a need to know...to test her Mom..? May be ..but she wanted to know it badly..

" Ashish...tum Abir ko leke kuch der baad aana...aur..Kya tum unhein Meri koi photo dikhaya tha?"

Ashish shook his head.....

"I just told her that I met you... she was stunned..she didn't know that I knew about you di...haan.. Shayad Nidhi aunty koi pics ....'

He paused .. and Abir looked at her quizzically..then his brows cleared as he guessed her intention.

"Okay we'll come after you get what you want...but are you sure you are up to it ..? facing the truth.??!."

He said and Mishti nodded at him thankfully..

" And we'll be watching...heina Ashish...?"

Her brother nodded... eagerly.. even if he didn't understand a thing..

Just as Mishti entered through the glass door..her eyes went around.. trying to spot her She walked inside...... and then she saw ...a mirror reflection...she was standing facing a glass partition and there was She ...seated facing it,.. checking something on her phone...

Mona Singh as Shriya Kapoor

And Mishti stood rooted to the spot...

The lady put aside her phone...rubbed her left temple...and wiped away a tear under her specs..

Adjusted it and looked straight....

Straight into her eyes..

And Mishti felt in her...the second her Mom recognized her...

The subtle straightening of her posture and widening of her eyes...

Time stopped moving....a kaleidoscope of her happy childhood danced in front of her eyes...this time giving her confidence....

A hand at her elbow...jerked her back to the present..

" I think she recognized you...ab Chalo.. let's get it over with."

Abir murmured and guided her to the corner table where her Mom now turned towards them....

Awkwardness around them ...was tangible..

Abir broke the ice as he introduced himself as an answer to the defenit arch of one brow he saw when he seated Mishti..

"I am Abir Rajvansh.. Mishti's boss and friend..Aap Meri Mami Nidhi Rajvansh ko jaanti hogi..!...it's strange ki mujhe introduction Dena pad Raha Hein...this is Mishti.."

He looked at Mishti sitting with a blank expression on her face..

The lady smiled politely..

"Shriya Kapoor... Mishti aur Ashu ki Maa..... CEO of Ashakiran it's an NGO.. I think this would suffice as to my introduction."

Shriya's eyes were struck on Mishti ... sitting silently...waiting for any response from her....

Abir signalled Ashish...and both of them got up..

Mishti''s hand shot out to clasp his arm...

" Abiir..."

Her eyes fluttered in mild panic...

" Mishti..it's okay..mein yehi Hoon..it's obvious ki you both need some space and time to sort out the past..."

He disengaged himself softly and turned to Shriya..

" She had a panic attack the day she met Ashish...now she needs to know why you left her...be kind enough to speak the truth.."

His voice was deferent yet hard..and Shriya was impressed by his care towards Mishti...and had a fair idea about their bond...

"I have no intention to give a list of excuses for my actions..if that's you are implying...and thanks for your understanding.."

Silence decended between them as Abir and Ashish left the table... Halting the waiter ..

"Toh batayiye ki Aap ne mujhe choda kyun...kyun apne saath mujhe bhi nahin leke Gaya..??!"

Mishti''s thin voice sliced the silence..

Shriya..who was taking in her daughter's sight.. was having emotional upheavals within her too.....let out a sigh..

" I have no excuses.. Mishti..you are not a small girl now ..as far as I have heard about you from Nidhi I know that you are a sensible adult....with a lot of exposure to life's hardships.... including my contribution to that.... I can tell you what happened to me then and then you can very well judge me.."

Her Mom's firm words put Mishti mildly at ease...she didn't know what to do if her Mom had started fawning and fussing over her and a ray of respect was mixed with her emotions towards the lady who had been her Mom ages ago....her Mom was treating her as an equal and that touched her ....

" I don't want to judge you...but all the same I would want to know how you could take such a decision..."

Mishti said marveling at her calmness...she had dreaded breaking down in front of her Mom...

" I got married to Naman Agarwal two days after my 18 th birthday.... ours was an arranged one and fixed just as I finished school..we were not so well off...and since marriage was fixed..I was not allowed to join college ...then.. sasural training was on... After our marriage I found my sasural happy and safe... Bapuji..Devyani maa...Naithik bhai Akshara.. bhabhi..Bache ..Naksh aur Naira..aur sablog ..they treated me well and to add to the happiness you came..."

The emotions flitting along her face made Mishti realize that she was reliving her happy memories..

" Then about when you were 4 .. problems started...Naman was Singhania by name only...not by birth but everyone in the home treated him equal to Naitik Bhai...but.. somehow he started getting inferiority complex....he started gambling....and drinking.....incurring heavy debts..then ..then he started taking money from the company account....and later on Naitik Bhai got wind of this and they had a huge fight.... distraught from his incompetence he demanded his share ..bapuji had adopted  him and just after his second marriage to devyani maa..this totally infuriated Bapuji and he expelled him from home...

We still lived there...I was so ashamed of Naman's actions and took care that you were not affected by all these going on...we had been quarrelling for along time by then he even started assaulting me physically....but just after your 5 th birthday Naman did the worst...he tried to kill Naitik and Akshara bhabhi died ...

I was heartbroken...I couldn't live in the house where my husband killed their beloved bahu...and she was special..and to look into the accusing eyes of Naksh and innocent questions of Naira...I told devyani maa that I can't live like this...I don't want to be reminded by each and every sight that I am a murderers wife...how could I forget it when anybody who came to the home treated me like a leper...I was bearing the cross of Naman's wrongdoings and though devyani maa too was suffering she held a strong foothold in that house ...and as the adage goes ...if a man changes it is because of his wife and I was held responsible for his greed...

One day I decided to take my life in my hands .

I went home to my baba...and stayed there.. I didn't want the tag of Naman's wife and I filed for divorce.I didn't ask for any alimony and he too didn't mind being free of family..he was a stranger to me by then.

I left you with devyani maa till I could find an arrangement for both of us..

Moreover I didn't want to expose you to the trauma I was going through so you remained with devyani Maa...

Then one day she called me to tell that you are having panic attacks and nightmares...and you were being treated for it...

I was crushed...I had no means to help you and totally felt helpless...I couldn't come back to Singhania's and I couldn't take you with me ...

But I came to you...and saw you sleeping... calmly..

I wanted to take you with me ...but I couldn't take Singhanias money for that...I had to leave you with Singhanias for better care..and devyani maa insisted...she apologized for the millionth time for her son and asked me to have a life of my own.. without you...she said that if I take with you I won't get a chance to remarry...

Another marriage was far from my mind...I wanted to become independent enough to come back to you.Irelocated to Rajkot after divorce ....joined college and as fate had it for me met with Avinash...Avinash Kapoor...he was a lecturer then and I had stood out like a sour thumb in a group of teenagers..he helped me out in some situations and gradually he became part of me ...I was slogging on alone with all the baggage and your thoughts and he took away my burden and made me smile and then laugh..."

" You were in Rajkot and you never knew I was here too..."

Mishti was dumbstruck at the magnitude of events that befalled on her Mom...but her being in Rajkot around the time confused her...

" I didn't know devyani maa had you packed off to Maheshwaris ... until it was late ..so late.. That was my Maa...just as she knew about Avinash she went on panic mode...she knew I had every intention to bring you back from Singhanias...but she hid from me the fact that you were with Maheshwari ...she even forged my signature on the disclaimer form that I was giving you up for adoption...since I have truly deserted you in all appearence.."

Mishti''s could understand her Grandmother..the fear for her daughter's future made her do this .and  Dadi too helped her ..to expedite her adoption by Badepapa.

Shriya continued..her angst reflecting Mishti''s...

"I came to Maheshwari house and met with Rajshri aunty and Vishambar uncle...I wanted to take you with me ..I had a fear that they would illl treat you because of Naman's actions.... but  ...then I saw  you...I saw your happy face.

You were in the garden... dancing around and content...you were loved ..and cared ...and I still couldn't guarantee that peaceful atmosphere to you... Avinash was touchy whenever I talked about you....and it would take time for you to get accepted by him and vice versa... putting you in such a situation was a crime itself....

I was again thown into confusion as to what's best for you and Rajshri aunty assured me that you are in all sense her daughter..and they see Akshara bhabhi in you....

I had my answer ...if your loved ones should stay happy you should be prepared to remove yourself from the equation...and.. and as tough the decision was I took it.

Avinash got a position in Delhi and we went to live there...

I used to call Rajshri aunty..but after marriage and going to Delhi..I got pregnant with Ashish..it was a complicated one from the beginning...and I was kept in dark about what was happening to you by my husband...whose first concern was mine and baby's health..By the time I came to know everything..you were in US..."

Mishti wiped off her tears as Shriya did the same...

" I won't ask forgiveness beta.... because I know I don't deserve your forgiveness...but for me your happiness meant more than the pain of you hating me...if Avinash hadn't held my hand I would have turned myself into a depressed heartbroken girl with no idea what to do with life....and he .."

She paused...

" He still has reservations about me..."

Mishti said in a clear tone...

Shriya nodded sadly...

" I can't forgive you..... because I don't think you did anything wrong....you made sure that I was happy and I can't find fault in that..and I am proud of you that you have made a life for yourself...it would have been nice ...if you could explain all this to me earlier, living with the idea that my Mom didn't want me was ... terrible.....but as you said..I was a child then ..a stubborn one ..I would probably never have let you go away from me..."

Shriya laughed through tears...

" Stubborn and to what end!!!"

Mishti too smiled...as Shriya held her hand...

A slow clap made both of them look up and Abir stood there beaming.... along with an excited Ashish..

" So can we get on with the lunch..."

They joined the table and as on cue lunch was served..

Mishti told about her life in Greenville...Ashish supplied his Delhi days...they have been back in Rajkot for 3yrs..and he's been friends with Athul from the first day of their class..they just finished their X th board exam and his ambition was to become a doctor like Athul's Jiju...

Abir and Mishti laughed at Nihaal's reference as Athul's Jiju.. reminiscing last night's joke..

As they proceeded with lunch..Mishti felt somebody's eyes on her ...she looked around..but found no body...

" I want you and Avinash to meet..but he is out of station now attending a conference in Ahmedabad..but now I have got you back.. we'll keep on touch na..?"

Shriya's voice was hopeful..and Abir looked at Mishti..

Mishti nodded..her eyes now sparkling with an odd brightness...Abir noted it and knew..she had forgiven her Mom and had made peace with her ...the haunting look she donned sometimes was a thing of past now...

After paying the bill he walked out to the lobby .giving Mom daughter and son to have a little privacy..

As he sat there browsing the newspaper he felt a reflection on the glass panelling the floor length windows..

He heard Mishti''s voice and the reflection deflected...

 His  eyes spotted someone on the opposite building use a telescopic lens...no..a gun..!!

To his absolute horror... Mishti walked straight to the glass door seeing off Shriya and Ashish.

Abir lunged towards her shouting at Ashish to move away and then sheilded a bewildered Mishti..

He felt something burning through him and still held her tight as pain lanced through his shoulder blade again...

Mishti felt the tremor that went through Abir's body...twice ..and then the wetness...her world suddenly went dark....

***

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