Mishti closed her ears to the repeating  Tok Tok noice on her door...by pulling over the duvet to her head...

But it's persistence ..irritated her first and then suddenly her thoughts ran to something happening to Badimaa..

She jumped out of the bed and started to the door but stopped as she realized that the sound is coming from the balcony...

She looked at the time..5:30 AM..

Cautiously she went to the door and opened it..

"Kunal..!!!"

Kunal rushed into her room.. noticably agitated..

" Yeh Kya Kunal...tum..itni subh..tum raat ko soya bhi nahi Kya...itna upset kyun ho..."

Mishti asked in dismay...

Kunal didn't reply..

"Kunal...Sab kuch theek hei na... everything alright?..."

Mishti was now getting scared too seeing his reluctance...

" Kuch all right nahi hai...when you hear what I am going to say you also will be knocked out..."

Mishti frowned.....

"Kunal ...saafsaaf batao na..mujhe itni jaldi utha Diya aur suspense pe suspense de rahe ho......tell me...now!"

Kunal pulled her to the bed and made her sit, placing himself beside her....

" Kal raat mein Abir Bhai ke room mein Gaya toh woh wahaan nahi tha...neeche study mein light dikhi toh mein udhar gaya..."

"Kunal tum yeh sab....kya keh rahe ho..?? ismein upset honewaali Kya baat hein..?"

Mishti asked exasperatedly..

" Mishti..! Maine  Badimaa aur Abir Bhai ko baat karthe hue suna...,"

Mishti kinda  woke up and jumped with happiness..

" Sach...Abir aur Chotima..baat Kar rahe the...yeh toh good news Hein...aur tum mooh latkake suna rahe ho...ho Kya Gaya Hain tujhe..?"

Mishty still couldn't understand why kunal was upset..

Kunal took a deep breath..

" Woh donon raksha bandhan ke baare mein baat Kar rahe the ...aaj Ghar mein raksha bandhan ki rasam hoga.."

Mishti's face lit up in happiness....."so Chotimaa ma is celebrating Raksha bandhan for Koslu Mamu... aur ketki bhi...wow!! I am sooo happy...."

But seeing Kunal''s sulking face.....she frowned again.....

"But why are you making a face ....? Itni Khushi ki mauka Hein ..Sab tayyariyaan dekhne ko milegi...I never saw this....its first time I am being part of such a function...it's fun na?!"

"Oh! Mishti..tum kyun nahi samajh Rahi..

Unke rasam Tak theek Hain..haan ketu ko bhi mujhe aur Bhai ko raakhi baandhna theek Hein.. lekin..mujhe lagtha hai tumse aur Kuhu see bhi humein rakhi baandne ko kaha jaayega... "

Mishti's face ashened .

She never thought about that aspect..

Abir ..Abir as her ...rakhi brother..

" Abir ne Kya bolaa..." 

Mishti asked mechanically..

Kunal who was irritated as such didn't notice her change of tone..

" Bhai haa hi bolega na...Nihaal Bhai family ke saath as rahe Hein aur Awasthis bhi.."

Mishti's mind was churning...

She didn't mind tying rakhi to Kunal.. ....

But ....Abir...

Never...

She can't cheat a sacred relation like that,....

Kunal looked at her face.

"Dekha I told you....you will be knocked out.....!"

Kunal went on saying some more things....

"Kunal...we need to escape....!"

Mishti said without much thinking......her focus upon something invisible in front of her eyes....

"Ow... Mishti ..exactly...!!! Mujhe pata tha ki tum samjhoge ..! That's why I came to you...!"

Kunal slipped onto his knees in front of Mishty. his face lit with happiness and excitement....

"But how..hum yahaan se kaise..?"

Mishti asked desperately...

" Tum jaldi fresh hojao aur change karlo...hum pehle yahaan see niklenge...mein Sam se keh deta Hoon ki hum donon jaldi jaa rahe Hein...badimaa aarti ke time pe yeh baat hum subse kehne wali Hain Shayad... Bhai kuch Ulta  na Kare isliye unse pehle kaha hoga.."

Kunal said and Mishti nodded in agreement.....

" Tum theek keh rahe ho... Chotimaa ne abhi Tak kuch bhi nahi kahaa..and thanks Kunal...tum nahi batate toh..."

"Haan jaantha Hoon...Abir Bhai aur mujhe  rakhi bhi bandhthe..aur bro bro kehke peeche hi aate.."

Kunal looked at Mishti with happy glint in his eyes seeing the spark returning to her's as well....

******

Abir rubbed his blood shot eyes...

He couldn't even wink his eyes for a second...

Once he closed them her smiling face swarmed before him...

Maa wants rakhshabandhan...and the way she talked about Massima getting comfort in knowing that her daughters life being secure..

By forging a brother sister relationship ..???!!!

Even if she didn't say that as such..she always considered Mishti as her daughter and of course she would want her tied to the family...

His thoughts went back to the study last night..

****

He stood in the study assimilating the meaning of the words uttered by his mom..when a hand touched his shoulder..

"Nanko...tum soya nahi abhi Tak.."

Kunal's face was withdrawn and he did need any guesses that his Nanko did hear what his Maa said to him...

And the reason for his shadowed face..

" Bhai..woh badimaa..." Kunal stopped short..

He brought a smile to his face and said to Kunal..

" Woh raksha bandhan celebration Haina..Sab keliye gifts Lena hai ..tum batao..ketu ko Kya chahiye hoga..abhi..itni jaldi decide karna hai..Mark se help Lena padega.."

"Kethu... Mishti...Kuhu"

Kunal said absently..not accepting the fact..

Abir's heart wrenched at the pain he was experiencing and the pain his Nanko was going through .

" Chal..ab sone jaao...mujhe thoda aur kaam Hain ...tum jao .."

He was not sure he could remain sane for how long and blurt the question to Nanko..

" Do you love Mishti..?"

Even framing that question in his brain was taking his sanity away...

*****

Abir paced in his room restlessly..

He could not hold himself together at the double blow .

He would have to accept her as his sister...

If what he was suspecting turned out to be true his Nanko would need him by his side judging from the disapproval he saw in Meenakshi's eyes today..

To accept her as his sister in-law..

His alarm rang startling him and in his desperation he was not able to shut it down at one touch..

He threw it hard on the stairs to his loft...

The clock shattered into pieces..

The rage welling up inside him at his helplessness needed a vent and this action temporarily quieted him down...

Abir sat on the bed gathering himself.. schooling himself that he needs to do what has to be done and if he has to see Mishti as his sister and live with heartbreak ...then so be it..!

****

As Abir left his room for aarti...his eyes automatically flew to her door... expecting a look at her before everything was going to change...

He went downstairs to the mandir ...

Lit the thaali and took it to Rajshri...

 Rajshri was  seated up and she smiled at Abir..

" Beta...aaj tum laye ho aarti.."

But then she took notice of his eyes..

" Kya baat hai Abir...itna thake kyun ho...kuch pareshani Hain Kya beta.."

Abir put on his smiling face..

" Woh thoda zyaada derTak kaam Kiya Kal raat...theek see sone bhi nahi paaya... that's all Massima..aap batayiye ki aap better feel kar rahe Hein ya nahi?"

" Mein bohot behethar feel Kar Raha Hoon..

Abiir... Mishti... Mishti ne  kaha ki tum humare Ghar bechne ki idea se sehmath Hain...Kya tumhein lagtha hai ki woh sahi decision Hain..?"

Her voice trailed but Abir noticed the hope flickering in his Massima's eyes..

" Woh Mishti ke liye right decision Hain Massima.,"

Abir said as he watched the flicker die....

" Lekin aap keliye nahi...Kya aap ek secret rakh sakthi ho apni beti see?"

" Secret? Tum Kya karnewale ho.. Abir.. Jo bhi Kar rahe ho.. Mishti se chipana aasaan nahi hoga.."

Rajshri looked confused...

" Maine abhi se woh property book karke rakha hai Massima...jab woh market mein aayega toh one of our holdings will buy it..aap bas yeh baat  Mishti se kabhi mat kahiyega..it will hurt her ..."

Rajshri slowly pressed Abir's arm .. agreeing to his request but not in a state to respond otherwise due to her emotions...

" Abir Bro....Sach!!!?"

Kuhu came in swiftly and looked at Abir in disbelief..!

Abir shook his head sideways and kept his finger on his lips...

" Not a word .Kuhu...and promise me you'll just erase this thing from your memory..I repeat..Not a word.."

Kuhu cupped her mouth with both hands and nodded with wide eyes...

Slowly she removed her hands and a big smile formed...

" Kunal sahi keh Raha tha..aap toh Mishti se kuch zyada hi darne lage Hain..."

"Chup Karo Kuhu... Mishti aajayegi.."

Rajshri rebuked Kuhu...as Abir took a short breath...

" Waise Mishti kahaan gayi...? Maine Socha woh aap ki pass Hain ..room mein ya hall mein toh nahi Hain...aapne use dekha Kya bro..?"

Kuhu asked Abir and saw his face change slightly...

" Nahi...umm..tum Kunal ko dekha Kya?"

Kuhu's face too changed a bit as she signalled a no...

"Nahin... jogging keliye bhi nahin aaya!"

"Massima hum aarti karne jaaoo...chal Kuhu.."

Abir stood up and signalled Kuhu to join him..intenting to quiz her..

But all were present in the hall...

Mishti and Kunal conspicuously absent..!

Abir felt the chain of thorn winding around his heart tighten...

****

At Arti Meenakshi's eyes searched Mishti...

Parul looked around to see Kunal..

Then both looked at each other with a slightly worried look..

Abir even though suffocating in the realization that Kunal  somehow took Mishti away...he noticed the dreaded exchange between them..

Just as aarti finished Parul asked Abir..

" Kunal kaha Gaya Abir..mujhe bataya nahi.. tumhein batake Gaya Hain Kya..Aur Mishti bhi dikhayi nahi de Rahi..?'

" Y..yes Massi...I..I forgot..Kunal ka rehearsals chal Raha hai...Kal raat woh Bata Raha tha...

Mishti..?...

Kuhu..tumhe pata hoga na..?"

His subtle head movement prompted Kuhu to lie..

" Use jaldi college jaana tha..Bol Rahi thi ki Kunal use chodegi.."

Meenakshi didn't look convinced but she called Parul..

" Koi nahin Parul..Bache apne apne kaam ke liye Gaye Hain...hum breakfast ke baad rakhshabandhan ki tayyariyaan shuru karthe Hain..."

Abir turned to the hall taking out his phone and tracking Kunal and Mishty..

Just then Kunal's message popped up..

" Bunking whole day... Mishti is with me..sambhalna Bhai...  Ketki se kehna ki mein uskeliye gift laane Wala Hoon..chidna mat ..okay.."

Abir closed the app and drew a sharp breath...as his eyes met with Kuhu he silently mouthed a thanks...

****

Nidhi Parul Kethu all started the preparations for rakhshabandhan and thalis were kept with tilak ,chaval and beautiful rakhkis...

The pandit performed the Pooja  as all sat on mats spread on the floor.. finally he did the  solemnization of the thaalis ...

Meenakshi looked at Kaushal and he nodded ..

He got up and took a thaali and walked into Rajshri's room.. Meenakshii and Parul too followed..

Abir was surprised at this as he too got up to follow them...

He saw Rajshri  seated on the bed and Kaushal  sitting beside her ..

With a beaming face Rajshri applied Tika on Kaushal's forhead and sprinkled chaval on him..with effort she tied rakhi on the outstretched arm in front of her..

" Aaj se mein poori tarah se aapka Bhai Hoon..Aur jitna bhi haq is rishthe mein hai woh mein jataoonga... aapka har zimmedari abse Meri Hui.."

Rajshri could only nod ...her eyes brimming in tears of happiness...

Meenakshi hugged her as Parul wiped her tears..

" Mere liye ek aur nanand...!!! "

Nidhi Maami.. mumbled as she put on a happy face ..

Abir too had tears in his eyes as Meenakshi's words last night made perfect sense to him...

All returned back to mandir .

Meenakshi and Parul tied Rakhi on Kaushal..

Ketki took the thaali and did the rasm for Abir ..

Kuhu looked on forlonely at the relations being celebrated ... truly feeling the void in her life ..a brothers protection..

As Ketki finished tieing Rakhi to Abir ..Kuhu asked him impulsively...

" Abir bro..Kya mein bhi aapko Rakhi baand sakthi hoo?.."

Abir looked at her in a happy surprise..

" Woh.. Mishti ka kehne ko ek Bhai hai...haan yeh Sach Hein ki woh usse Mila nahi..kabhi..par Haina..! Lekin Mera koi Bhai nahi Hain..Kya aap mujhe apna behn maan sakthe ho?"

Meenakshi came to Kuhu .....

" Kyun nahi beta...waise tum toh ise bro hi bulate ho...Aur aise dekha jaaye toh yeh tumhara haq Hain...Haina Bapuji..?"

Nanu nodded serenely and signalled Abir to comply...

Abir nodded and Kuhu happily tied Rakhi to him..

" Mishti bhi hoti toh acha hota na di."

Parul looked at Meenakshii..who nodded absently already thinking the same..

******

Kunal sat beside Mishti on the leisure bench in her campus..

Mishti''s face was clouded with apprehension..

" Kunal...Sab humein dhoond rahe honge na.. Chotimaa agar badimaa see poochengi toh woh bhi tension mein aajayegi.."

Kunal turned to her ..

" No tension ...Maine Bhai ko message Kar Diya hai..ki hum saath Hein...baaki woh sambhaal lega..."

Just then Mishti''s phone pinged with incoming message..

" Kuhu ka message.."

She hurriedly opened it and her mouth automatically opened in awe...

Kuhu had sent pics and video of her tying Rakhi to Abir..!!

Seeing her expression Kunal took the phone and looked at the photo...

" Thank God we escaped..!!" He muttered.

Mishti was in another world..

Till now her only focus was on to avoid Abir ..to escape from committing a sin.. according to her ... 

But when she actually had to see the pics of Kuhu tying Rakhi to Abir...it made her realize the profoundness of the custom..

" Mishti.. kahaan kho Gaye ho.. achanak se..acha..tum yeh celebration miss toh nahi Kar Rahi..?"

"Kunal... tumhein pata hai na ki Mera bhi ek Bhai Hain....lekin aaj Tak Maine use Rakhi nahi baandha Hain...woh to door ..main us se Mila bhi nahi Hoon...Kal ko woh mere saamne aayega toh bhi mein recognize nahi Kar paayegi.."

Mishti... wiped off the lone tear that escaped her eye..

Kunal felt bad for making Mishti remind of her loss...

"Tum apni brother ko miss Kar rahe ho...??

Toh tum Ghar pe ruk jaati na... just that I forgot what this mean for girls.....you guys get gifts from your bros....ah..!! and I must say Abir Bhai is an ever generous Bhai....!"

Abir's name brought her back to reality...

" Shut up Kunal...mujhe uski koi bhi gift nahi chahiye...abhi Ghar mein mehmaan Hoon...itna hi kaafi Hain...ab Rakhi bandhne see pehle hi big brother ka attitude sehna pad Raha hai mujhe....you know how I hate that...!

Aur ab Jo civil ..umm okay friendly relation Haina woh hi theek Hain.."

"Okay okay.. don't attack me .. tumhein bhook lag Rahi Hain Shayad..chal coffee and breakfast time..!

After finishing breakfast they walked back... 

Mishti noticed a stall selling hand-made rakhis ...

" New York mein rakhshabandhan  itna famous Hein Kya ..?"

She asked Kunal..

" Hmm..it's kinda brothers day here too... even Americans take fancy of this custom...unke liye aisa koi celebration nahi Hein na...! Moreover many Indian families are here... students too..ek baar Sofie mere peeche bhaagi thi..Rakhi baandne keliye...I won't forget how I saved myself.."

Mishti laughed at his antics as they walked past it..

"Tumhein Rakhi see itni problem kyun hai Kunal...Maine poocha nahi ki tum itne pareshaan kyun tha,...waise Kethu tujhe miss karega na??!"

Mishti's question made Kunal a bit uneasy..

" Tum batao  tum Kyu aayi mere saath..?"

He answered with a return question..

Mishti flustered a bit but answered firmly..

" Tumhare Abir Bhai ko Abir bro kehna Kuhu ko ab acha lagegi...I don't want anyone in my life  to have  the licence to smother me with a big brother attitude...and I have first hand experience how irritating he can get..."

" You two...tum donon na kisike bhi samajh ke baahar ho.."

Kunal said off handedly..

" Acha bachu...sawal mera aur jawab bhi Mera.."

Mishti looked at him sternly but seeing his evasiveness she decided to press..

" Batao ab...tum thoda zaroorath see zyaada pareshaan tha ...is baat ko leke ki rakhshabandhan hone Wala Hein...baat Kya hein Kunal..?"

Kunal rubbed his hands together..

Preparing himself to say  about the feelings  which he was going through in the last few days...

"Mishti tum ek dum se react mat karna...just let me say and let it sink properly...phir mooh kholna....and no physical attack... agreed?"

He said these slowly raising his hands as a sign of submission...

Mishti's brows pinched in confusion but she nodded nonetheless.

" Ummm.. Mishti jab se hum mile ho...bachpan se I felt a good connection to you...and even if we didn't meet for years you have been there in my mind as my friend...and then the most amazing thing happened . you came back into our lives.."

He paused ... taking a deep breath... mustering courage..

Mishti looked at Kunal weirdly..

" And you were just like that ..and we picked up just as we were...you were understanding ..we had the same wavelength...aaj bhi dekho you are my partner in crime.."

" Hey.. Kunal...itna buildup kyun de rahe ho...mujhe bohot Ajeeb lag Rahi hain.."

Mishti said impatiently.

"Sun na...you are my best friend ever...and I..i.want you to be the first person to know when I feel something for someone.."

Mishti.. opened her mouth in awe..! Then Sprang up looking irritated at Kunal..

" Eww...are you kinda shipping us together... tumne woh boyfriend waali baat ko thoda zyaada seriously liya Kya??! no way ..!!."

Before Mishti could complete Kunal's demeanor changed to confusion...then refusal..

" Double eewwww...Maine kab tumhare aur mere bare mein kaha..??? Kya mein tujhe  gay lagtha Hoon ...??!"

Mishti looked at him perplexed..

"FYI...itne der se toh tum hum donon ki baat hi tho Kar rahe the na...

And what do mean ki tum gay nahi ho.?..."

She kept both her hands oh hips..

Kunal eyed her stature...

"Isiliye toh...I never felt I have a girl as friend...tomboy kahinki..tab bhi...aur ab bhi..waise ki waisi..!"

" Okay okay ab Meri baat chodo...main baath batao..toh yeh saara buildup isiliye Hain ki tujhe Pyaar ho Gaya Hein..!!!!

OMG...Kunal in love..!"

Mishti clapped her hands in Joy and sat beside Kunal as he blushed ..

" Mishti... Mishti...Pyaar ..love..it's big..I am not yet there... .abhi I like her...and I don't know how to tell her...mein uske saamne jaate hi.. distraction dhoond Leta Hoon.. I try to avoid us being in the same room.... because of the fear of  letting her know about my feelings..and her reaction...if she doesn't see me that way... you get it na?"

" So you want my help.isliye itna bada friendship ki misaall de rahe the ....you should let her Know na..ab tum bataoge ya jataoge nahi toh woh kaise samjhegi...by the way kab Mila rahe ho mujhe us se..?"

Kunal stood up and took a few steps away from Mishti..,

" This is the hardest part.... Mishti..Maine pehle kaha tha ki react karne se pehle sochna...

Umm..tum jaanti ho use..."

" Mein tumhare #like ko jaanti Hoon..umm..... Sofia... OMG..nonono.. Kunal..are you sure.?

Kunal rolled his eyes upward...

" Sofia nahi Mishty..umm..#...."

" Toh Bata Dena kaun Hain...."

Mishti said exasperatedly....but then it dawned to her...and she looked Kunal in his eyes shocked  as he said.

" Kuhu...!!"

*****

Abir looked around feeling a bit relieved..

In one way what Kunal did was the best for him too...

If Mishti was here then she too would be tying Rakhi to him..

And that would have sealed their fate forever..

His phone rang..

" Sir..I have arranged gifts and they are on the way..as per your specifications.."

" Thanks Mark...do hold the fort for an hour..I will be there soon.."

" Okay Sir"

Ketki came to him smilingly..

"Bhai...aap Kya gift karne wale ho mujhe...?"

" Thodi see toh wait Kar sakthi hai na.."

As he said that Sam came in with the box send by Mark..

" Lo Tera gift aagaya.."

Sam opened up the box and Abir took out two gifts out already labelled by Mark..

" Keep the box in my room Sam.. upstairs."

Abir directed and Sam nodded as he took away the box...

" Kuhu...aajao...bro Wala pehla gift lelo.."

Kethu called out for Kuhu who was giving a helping hand to Parul  in arranging delicacies for the guests..

"Yeh lo Kethu sethu..."

Abir gave her giftwrapped cover which Kethu opened in no time..

" Oh my...Bhai...Gucci....!! Oh God...you are the loveliest Bhai in the world.."

Kethu jumped up and down in joy with the Bloom's print shoulder bag and gave a tight hug to Abir..

All looked at her happiness smiling at each other..

" Kuhu...I don't know your favorites yet .. therefore I bought you same as Kethu..being a fashionista and all..."

Kuhu smiled openly and hugged Abir...

" Well bro...this time I am not going OTT over the gift...I got you as my bro .. that's the #best gift ever for me...and Gucci never ever will disappoint me.so yay..!..thank you.."

Kethu was still in awe of her gift ...

"Papa Papa ."

She searched for Kaushal  from the hall entry.

" Woh baahar hoga Kethu.." 

Nidhi Maami called out to her..

Kethu turned and ran outside but crashed on to a person..his arms holding her from falling down..

******