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Mishti woke up feeling wonderful...her first morning in India after years...

They had landed at Chandigarh International Airport yesterday noon...and Neerav and Ananya had welcomed Meenakshi, Parul,Mishti ,Kuhu  and Kunal to his farmhouse...the venue for their roka...

The Rana's farmhouse was majestic...

But the tiredness of the long flight had taken it's toll on all and coupled with the time difference it was impossible to enjoy the view..

Neerav's uncle and Aunt ushered them in...and after an early dinner all were ensconced in their rooms with a long glass of warm milk for good sleep..

Now as she lay on the bed listening to new musical voices of chirping birds Mishti''s face lit up...

Abir...

She is going to see him again after almost two weeks...!

Two weeks of reliving his presence and touch through dreams...

He was shocked to hear about Badimaa and all getting to know about Kuhu and Kunal's relationship...and elated when she told him that everything went great with nanu giving aashirwad to them...

And After that he  came to India...Becoming Busy as always and the time difference really affected their communication... Moreover Badimaa was always asking to sit by her whenever she had a free time...

When Badimaa slept in the evening she cycled to their spot... sitting on the bench...either texting Abir or video calling him....

Abir had shown  her .. glimpses of Indian morning ....

Rajvansh sadan.. 

Raking up memories of the time she spent there....discovering her security and insecurities....

And today he"ll be here..

Mishti checked her phone for his text and her eyes widened in happiness..

Kuhu came out of the bathroom... already freshened up and changed..

" Thank God you are up !.. Now get up fast and get ready..Dadi will be coming and Ananya di told us to be ready to wish her no??!"

Mishti looked at her mischievously..

" Kab kaha di ne aisa..I think you are in a hurry to meet my Kunal Jiiiii...Juuu........oops. ! Soo cheesey na.!"

" Get up Mishti...I am going to get ready..."

Kuhu happily walked to the mirror wardrobe as Mishti stretched herself and got out of the bed...

By the time she changed and came out Kuhu was ready to move...

" You are very fast today.. excited Hein Kya.. first holi celebration keliye.aur woh bhi Kunal ke saath..!!."

Mishti asked as she dried her hair..

" Haan Mishti ! excited toh Hoon.. and a bit scared...kahin mein kisise se kuch aise waise na Bol doo...

Okay I am going..!"

Kuhu said as she took her slingbag and opened the door.

She stopped suddenly turned to Mishti doubtfully..

"Lekin..yeh colours... chemicals honge na...toh agar kuch skin reactions ho Gaya toh..."

"Humare colours organic Hein...and it won't harm you a bit."

Mishti who was about to placate Kuhu stilled at the voice and turned to the door...

Saksham Rana stood at their door..

" Hi..I am Kuhu and you must be Neerav Jijus bro right..nice to meet you."

Kuhu extended her hand and Saksham took it cordially..his eyes pinned on Mishti.

" Saksham...nice to meet you Kuhu..Ananya bhabhi had told me about her estranged sisters...never imagined this coincidence.."

Kuhu looked at him confusedly...as Mishti turned away doing her stuff...

" Coincidence Matlab...!"

" Yeah..I met Mishti in Paris...and both of us didn't know what we are to each other... right Mishti..!?"

Kuhu looked at Mishti teasingly..

"Wow.. Mishti ..Tune bataya nahin ki tum Jiju ke Bhai ko bhii jaanti ho...Chalo acha hua..you guys carry-on...bye.. Mishti jaldi aana.."

Mishti knew it was futile to ask Kuhu to wait and though saksham's presence surprised her ... Her instincts told her to be nice to him...

Something about him had struck odd to her in Paris . That feeling was gaining hold as she observed him interact with Kuhu and now with him waiting at her door .. hesitantly..!

" You can come in...it's your house..!"

Mishti remembered Abir's saying about Saksham as a bad memory...

But so far he was nice .. barring the act that he put on in Paris for Abir's benefit...!

Saksham entered the room...

Uncomfortably...yet composed...

" Well technically my family owns this farmhouse..but now you own your room..umm..I saw you yesterday and was shocked to see my paajis sister in law....So waited outside till you guys were ready....umm I wanted to clear the air and come to an understanding before we both have to act in public.."

" Well..I too was surprised when Abiir told me the man whom we had met briefly in Paris was Jijus brother..."

Mishti stood towards him after finishing off her work..

" Aah..Abir..That was a shock as well...So tell me. .. are you both officially together...or it's a play for you..coz I know Abir and he is not a person who will play or will be played.."

His eyes were Stern and guarded..

A smile formed at Mishti''s lips ...

So her instincts were right..!

Here Saksham was being protective of Abir.. Asking about her intentions...!!

" So he told you all about me and yet you don't seem to be afraid of me..."

Saksham prodded as he too was intrigued by the sudden smile at her face..

" Well.. first of all...you have a great holiday home...and it's beautiful.. secondly...I love him and no our families don't know..it's a bit complicated..I would like you to keep it as such.."

Saksham nodded and shrugged..and Mishti continued.. looking him in his eye..

"Abir haven't told me anything about your past.. you seem to know him very well and I know you know that he is not that kind of person.."

Saksham met her eyes ... unflinchingly..but kept his silence.. agreeing with her..

" You know ..! We girls do have an inherent intuition for bad guys ...and however you try ..you fail to give that impression Saksham..be it here or in Paris...But then why would you try to provoke Abir by eying me like that in Paris..??!"

Saksham looked around uncomfortably.. giving Mishti her answer..

" I don't know about the past ..what happened and all but it would be great if you guys can patch up for jiju and Di's sake..and Abir...He is such  a loyal friend..and why would you want yourself at his wrong side ..I assume you 4 know each other..Neil and Piya ..Just last week he went to meet Piya ..she was having a tough time and he was there for her.."

Saksham's face changed at the mention of Piya..

Confusion.. concern...and an underlying hurt... flickered away in his eyes...

She was calling him non stop and he haven't picked up once...and Abir...he went to her?

Mishti shook her head..

" I know we are talking to each other the first time but ...I just told you what I felt..and yes I have no issues with you and we can be straight with each other in front of others too..no need of any act.."

Saksham silently acknowledged her talk... impressed by her openness and grit to take on him...

" Now can we go ?!"

Her eagerness was clearly visible as a small smile bloomed at the corner of his lips...

Mishti walked to him putting on her cross shoulder chain sling bag..

"Sure .. after you.."

****

Abir.. looked around the beautifully decorated courtyard..

His eyes searching for her..

Neerav had given him perfect directions to the farm house and he had arrived around midnight..

Every second of the night was tough to pass as he tossed and turned in his room....knowing she too was  there... Just beyond some walls...

This was the first time they were away from each other after their mutual confession..and the hardest.. though they talked to each other whenever they got time..

He missed holding her..her smile..her kisses ...her sparkling eyes...

" Wow.. Bhai.. you are already here..!"

Kunal's voice pulled him out from his reverie...

" Haan.. .Sab aagaye Hein na...aur Massima..she is okay with Nanu ryt.."

Abir asked as they greeted each other with a hug..

" Sab theek Hein.. Nanu has decided to give company to Massima ..and maa and Badimaa are ...yeah  here they are.."

Meenakshi and Parul were walking towards them with Varsha..

Kuhu came from the other end of the courtyard looking elegant in her stylish pantsuit...Abir shouldered Kunal in teasing.. making him  blush a little...

" Ab Bhai..no teasing and all ha ! Just as I told you over the phone..I want to do it right...so..as per elders decision we are going to concentrate on our careers now..and all credit goes to Mishti...she managed me in the right way . otherwise everything would have gone south.."

"Haa..she did that ..but where is she..? Aayi nahi tumhare saath?"

Abir asked innocently..and Kuhu replied as she walked to them..

" Woh ready ho rahi Hein...and she is with Jijus Bro... you introduced them in Paris na Abir bro..Jiju jaisa smashing Banda Hein..and nice too.."

Abir's face clouded a bit but he maintained his composure and smiled at Kuhu..

And his smile lit up in his eyes too as they fell on Mishti ....

Coming down the side steps was Ananya who looked lovely in her Punjabi lehenga.. flanked by Mishti wearing a pista lehenga ensemble.....and Saksham..

As they came down Neerav and his Dadi came to the gathering along with Shourya and Neerav's uncle and Aunt..

The famous Punjabi dhol started in the background as all youngsters took Dadi's aashirwad..

All the while his eyes feasted her.. following her...and not getting enough of her amidst the thong of people now moving here and there to start the Holi celebration..

Her eyes too were looking around in search of him....and the moment their eyes met ......

She smiled at him...the happiest smile which made him exhale in anticipation..and content...

" If you look at her like that way it won't take much time for all others to guess... and my Dadi got special talent in such works and mind you she ain't got filters."

The low voice of caution came from Saksham..and Abiir turned to him..

" I remember I warned you..not to go anywhere near Mishti...So what were you doing ...?"

Abir's voice was low but menacing..

" Chill Abir...I take you and your warnings very seriously..but now she is my Bro's SIL .We are going to be related and I just wanted to assure her that if not friends we both could be cordial with each other"

Abir looked at Saksham intently.. 

understanding him..

" And thanks for not telling her about..you know..and by the way she wants us to be friends..or at least civil to each other"

Abir's eyes were now searching Mishti and found her beside Ananya helping her with the breakfast buffet.

Their eyes met and the question in his eyes were answered with a barely discernible nod and a wink from her...his face relaxing with her reply..

" Wow..."

Saksham let out a low whistle...

" Just like that...! Huh..I am impressed.."

"Now..Saksh... forgiving you and going back to our old way won't be easy ..but I like your brother and he is family now...and so are you ...till...leave it...I trust her judgement..we can try to be friends."

They hugged formally as Saksham whispered to him.. earnestly..

" Thanks..I won't let you regret this..'

Then he asked Abir the obvious question..

" Not interfering in your personal decisions ...but I heard Kunal is unofficially engaged to Mishti''s sister...so what's stopping you guys...?! Look .. your Mom is already treating her as her daughter.."

Abir looked at Meenakshi and Mishti..

Meenakshi was putting a kala Tikka behind Mishti's ears amidst all laughter and happiness..

" Exactly the point... Mom loves Mishti as her daughter..and I was never her favorite...uhh..we have our differences... moreover me and Mishti...our equation was complicated in past ...so we both would like some time before we are put  in family limelight.."

Saksham tapped his chin... Unconvinced...

" Well... Don't be late..She has some rare qualities..kinda . understanding and.. soothing.??.."

Saksham knew Piya was not going to sit still ...all he could do now was to give a half-baked advise to Abir..

Abir laughed and looked at Mishti..

" Soothing....you haven't got time to  know her ..yet... Understanding...yeah..but beware..she will make you spill your beans before you know....she is just awesome..."

****

Ananya signalled Neerav to look around,.

And His eyes couldn't believe the sight..

Abir and Saksham...!

Talking...!!

Neerav was fascinated by the way Abir and Saksham were interacting ...He  watched them closely.. fearing the blows ..and his eyes widened as he stumbled upon the silent communication between Abir , Saksham and ..Mishti..

And the miraculous result of that interaction..!

****

After the breakfast the festivities began with dholwale entering the courtyard and Dadi spraying color on Neerav..

Colours were kept in bowls and kids, youngsters and elders indulged in colouring each other amidst the music , dhol beats...and bhangra steps...

Neerav put gulal on Ananya's cheeks amidst cat calls and cheers..and other couples followed suit ..

Abir and Saksham stood a bit apart ... talking ..and suddenly Abir pulled Saksham as cover.. and the color was sprayed upon him...

" Ouch ..sorry ha..but what you say ..bura na Mano Holi Hein.." 

Mishti smiled at Saksham and  turned to Abir..

" Yeh cheating hua.. now you see how I am gonna drench you in this...like I did to KUKU.."

Abir had already taken several steps backwards.. laughing at her....and then at Kuhu and Kunal who were.. looking sprayed in pink . Mishti started after him and  he ran to the bend of the courtyard.

"Mishti ii!"

Saksham called out and she stopped.. turning to him..

" Thanks..you know for what...and  he would probably be hiding around that turn.,.near the back garden.."

She smiled acknowledging his thanks and nodded...

As he watched her go after Abir ..Saksham felt an odd pain...

Will he ever be loved like this ..for what he is...?

Will he ever see love for him in her eyes..?

Now that Abir is Mishti's will she look at him and ' see ' him now..??

His sigh was heartfelt as he vowed to be true to himself and give her a last chance ....

❣️❣️❣️❣️
The garden enclave

Abir pulled her on to him ... winding his arm around her waist...

" Abiir...koi pakka dekhlenge...chodo.."

Mishti looked at him ... wanting to be with him and fearing some one might see them..

"Koi nahi dekhega aur agar dekha bhi toh Kya harz Hein...mein toh tumhein apne rang mein Jo rang Raha Hoon...kisi aur ko problem Hein toh hone do.."

He caressed her already pink cheeks... colouring them... softly as she nuzzled and savoured his touch...

" God! How I missed you..."

Abir's heartfelt exclamation made her eyes misty...

The torturous longing of the days they were separated  coupled with the sight of her half lidded eyes and parted lips made him swoop in and kiss her deliciousness.. melding their lips and seeking each other's sweetness..

Her whole body thrummed to life as he pressed her onto him... holding her tight....his scent invading her senses... giving her the inner glow...she lacked in the past few days....

Minutes passed away in a flash...

Slowly Mishti broke the kiss shyly and moved away a bit. 

" I need to go back... Chotima will be looking for me...aur haan...yeh loo..!!"

Her unbound laughter sparkled around him as she sprayed him with color and he stood obediently.... smiling widely as he too got what he missed sorely....

" Uhh..ahem..! Sorry for interrupting...You guys are being missed .I told your sis that Abir is attending a call....."

Saksham said.. smiling apologetically..

" I told you...ab mein Kya bahana banaoo.."

Abir looked at a worried Mishti..and then to Saksham..

" You both go ahead.. ..and thanks Saksh.. for the help...take her back safely..I actually need to make a call..join you soon."

Abir nodded to Mishti to go with him..

****

" So are you going to tell me about your fallout with Abir...??"

Mishti asked Saksham as they walked back.

" It  seems you guys just picked up from where you left off...I can always ask Abir...but I would rather know it from you than from him..."

Silence fell between them....

Saksham's face was guarded as he spelled out his crime..

" I forced myself on Piya..!"

Mishti stopped still...her instinctual reaction to his admission was rage ...but when she looked at him ..

Saksham was looking at her .. intently..ready to take her judgement.. unflinchingly..

Mishti relaxed...and asked casually..

" Ohh..were you both dating then..?"

Now it was Saksham's turn to get caught off guard.

He just said the most vile thing he had supposedly done and this girl ...

" Yeah...we were dating...of sorts...but she umm..liked some one else...".

His eyes now evaded her probing eyes .

Mishti resumed her walk... silently..

" What..! You have nothing else to say..?"

Saksham asked in disbelief as he caught up to her.

" Well.. normally people who have done such an act won't meet the eyes of another girl while admitting to his crime...You are clearly not telling anyone the truth..Are you protecting some one ..??"

" I am not protecting anyone.."

Saksham denied her statement gruffly..

" But she did by not letting Abiir and Neil lodge an official complaint..."

Mishti's brows arched in confusion..

The little she knew of Piya didn't match with this piece of information..

She always thought of Piya as an assertive girl...and to think she had to suffer such a stigma and not react was confusing..

May be She cared a bit for him...!?

Something was off about the whole incident and from Saksham she was getting genuine vibes in contrast of what he was implying himself to be..

" Now you know and you can decide whatever it is about me ...but let's leave it now..it's my brother's roka and I would like to have some happy time ..."

Saksham said ending the topic and Mishti nodded..her eyes spotting Abir catching up to them..

****

Meenakshi and Parul sat beside Dadi..aka Manpreet Rana...a force to reckon with..

" Toh mein Neerav keliye ladki chuni business da vasta...aur woh business hi chod ke chale Gaye London..."

Dadi narrated the tug of war between herself and her grandson..

" Aur jab woh bola ki use ek kudi pasand aagayi Hein toh mujhe acha nahin laga...koi firangi hogi ya firangi type ki hongi...aisa khayal aaya toh Maine saaf inkaar hi Kar Diya tha..phir Saksh ko bheja meine ..pata lagane keliye ki yeh Neerav..Mera seedha saadha ladka aise ek kudi naal itna kyun Mar Raha Hein..."

She looked at Ananya...with an affectionate smile..

" Aur Saksham wapas aaya toh... bhabhi yeh bhabhi woh..usne mujhe Ananya beti se milwaya..Jo yeh Neerav ko karna chahiye tha..Badi seedhi aur saadgi wali bachi Hein...aur apne rivaaz sab jaanti bhi Hein...baaki toh seekh hi jaayenge.."

Varsha nodded happily ...as all smiled in agreement..

Dadi turned to Meenakshi..

" Aapki beti..nahin..woh Neerav Bata Raha ha ki Ananya ki Dadi use God liya Hein..woh kahaan Hein..Badi pyari naam thi na uski..."

Meenakshi looked around and spotted Mishti having serious talk with Saksham amidst the celebration.

" Woh rahi..Aap use Meri beti hi keh dijiye ..woh Meri Dil ki bohot kareeb Hein.."

" Haan..betiyaan toh waisa hi hona chahiye..waise Saksham se baatein khoob ho rahi Hein...donon pehele se jaante Hein Kya?"

" Haan Dadi.. Mishti kuch din pehele hi Saksham se Mila tha Paris mein...tab Mishti ko pata nahin tha ki woh Mera Devar Hein.....Meenakshi aunty ka beta Abir Saksham ke saath padhayi ki thi US mein...Neerav bhi Abir ko achi tarah se jaanta Hein..."

" Acha acha ..koi gal nahi puttar...aise hi.. Saksham aajkal thoda badla badla lagtha Hein...thodi chintha hone laga Hein.Donon ke Maa ki guzar jaane ke baad meine hi toh pala Hein in ko...lekin.. aaj Kal ke Bache kis baat ka bura manenge pata nahi...ab ..tumhi baat karke dekho na us se"

Ananya looked confusedly at Saksham and Mishti as Meenakshii and Parul exchanged looks... similar thoughts running in their mind....

****

The evening came and the guests arrived at the now opulently decorated courtyard with lights and flowers.. 

The elders and guests were seated comfortably and refreshments were catered regularly... Neerav's aunt and Mishti brought a beautiful Ananya to the makeshift dais..

Abir , Saksham and Kunal accompanied  Neerav..Looking stately in his attire..

All were happy to see the happiness that radiated from the prospective groom and bride..

Abir but had only eyes for one...

His girl looked so beautiful and lovely in her Indian attire...she sparkled like a gem on her own...

And as their eyes met ... everything around went in a mist...

As the roka proceedings were going on and elders blessed Neerav and Ananya....they went to their own world...

After the chunni odhni rasm...and the opulent dinner....all were geared up for some entertainment as girls and boys from both sides irrespective of their age participated with full excitement.

 Mishti and Kuhu set the stage ablaze ...

Abir was having a plethora of feelings...

Awe at her beauty...her gracefulness thinly veiling her sexiness and her abundance of zest...

 Later Kunal pulled Abir  with him to join them...for a peppy number..

Having her as his dance partner was divine..as they synced with each other perfectly. ..

Saksham Neerav and Ananya too hooted the couples on stage....

Meenakshi was having an odd elation seeing Abir and Mishti dance ...

Her son was epitome of a handsome confident man...and the girl with whom he was laughing and doing silly steps was a real beauty outside as well as inside...

The embers of hope were reignited seeing their pair off with both of them comfortable with each other..

But as Saksham joined the squad her mind drifted to her earlier assumption...

Rajshri behn told her that Mishti was a bit changed after Paris trip ..

Manpreet ji told her that Saksham was also having a change in his way of behavior...

Both met with each other at Paris..

Can it be.....?

****

Piya was already seething with anger at the failure of her plan...

That night..

Her floor manager had added a bit more sedative to Abir's drink and he was incoherent  in minutes..and unconscious later...

Her plan to seduce Abir had failed and adding insult to injury... he had pushed her away....!

She had tried undressing him...but was roughly pushed off...

 " Tum Meri Mishti nahin ho...!"

He had mumbled .

Piya knew she would be in trouble if Abir woke up in her room...

He was not a man to take blackmail lightly so she couldn't even take their pics to blackmail him later....he would know that she pre-planned this and she will be ousted out of his life forever..her family too would suffer..

The next day Abir had apologised to her for any inconveniences he had caused her and she had to smile through gritted teeth...and he then asked her why Neil was still referring to him as BIL...

She had to make the excuse of her broken heart once again to appease him....

She had fired the floor manager right away.

And now looking at her phone she felt her world topple...

She had been calling Saksham like crazy to include him in her plans....but now...

He had send her pics from his brothers Roka...

And the smiling face of Saksham, Mishti and Abir  as they posed for a goofie groupfie tore into her brain like a harpoon.

Saksham...!! 

He knew too much...

All these years she had took advantage of his feelings towards her ...but now he seemed to slip away... 

She felt insecure all of a sudden and hated her vulnerability......

She need to play safe with him....

And Mishti...!

She had considered Mishti as mere collateral damage...but she somehow goes on ruining her plans...

She Stole Abir from her...

Somehow Saksham too is getting off her hook.. under Mishti''s influence.. obviously..

 She is proving herself as a problem which has to be dealt with....

How on Earth did Abir come to smilng terms with Saksham...!!

Abir...!

Now she needed to trap him in a genuine way...a trap which was his own creation... where she was a victim and he was the culprit....and Saksham too...

That would be her revenge on this trio ..!

Her eyes glinted venomously at the people  happily smiling  at her from the photo...

******