Abir gritted his teeth in anger...

But his anger was directed to himself...it was always like this...when it came to her he would lose his self ...why he had to interfere with her issues...she believes she can handle everything herself...

She had made it clear to him years back .

If he knew that clearly then why did he repeat his mistakes...?

A hand touched his shoulders...and Abir sighed...

"Abir bhai...I am so sorry... Mishti...use aapse aisa behave nahi karna chahiye tha..."

Kunal squeezed his bhai's shoulder....

"I know Abir bhai Maine aapko yahaa aane keliye bohut pressure kiya...par aap tho Mishti ko mujhse bhi zyaada jaanti ho...wo aisi hi hai...mein uski taraf se maafi.."

"Kunal! Chup....ek dam chup..... Mishti ki taraf se maafi maangne ki koi zaroorath nahi hai.."

Abir turned ...

"Hum yahaan massima keliye aaye hai...and I have made arrangements with Nihaal to admit Massima in his hospital....hum wahi karenge.. ...hmm... Mishti aur Kuhu ko poora Sach pata nahi hai shayad....."

"Haan bhai... Kuhu ko hi Dekho..pata hoti toh Aaj yahaan donon nahi aate... ..."

Kunal looked over at the group of girls where Kuhu was chatting with Sanju...

"Ha..lekin hum unhe Bata nahi sakthe... ... Massima ko hi batana hoga..."

Abir said in a low tone...

Kunal sensed a change coming over Abir and suddenly Abir turned away from him ...

Kunal looked over and saw Mishty approaching the girls with Avi...

Rahul who got to know about Avi's misbehaviour punched him hard on the stomach...

"You rascal....! How could you do this to Mishti..! Gosh! Disgusting...she is our friend yaar ...how could you think of her otherwise..."

Avi stood with his head hung down in shame...

Rahul hugged Mishti sideways....

"sorry dear...he just proved that he is a jack ass...we need to put him back to shape..."

Avi groaned as he jumped and hopped on his one leg wincing...

Kuhu stood by his side her hands on hips with an angry look as the girls giggled looking at her pointed heels....

"agle baar kisike saath aise Karne se pehle Mishti ki thappad aur mere heels ko yaad rakhna!"

Kunal actually clapped and nudged Abir to witness Kuhu's wrath.!

Later

Abir adjusted the rearview bringing Mishti into his view....she was chatting with Kunal ... Kuhu was on loggerheads with Mishty and had opted for passenger seat.

"Mishty....... Mera ek doubt clear kardo na?"

Kunal tugged Mishty''s hand ...as she shot him a tired glance......

"Shoot..."

"Mere sixteenth b'day snaps tumhe kaise mile?"

Kunal asked in a grave tone...

Kuhu turned back in surprise...

"What? No way...! Tumhare pass iska photos tha aur mujhe dikhaya bhi nahi... Mishty ki bachi...? Sab se chupaake bhi rakha..."

Kuhu glared at Mishty... visibly more irritated than before ..

"I saw them when I went through your things last night...you were spying on me right?!"

Kunal winked at Kuhu as he threw the question to Mishty who had a "got caught 'expression...

"Nothing like that Kunal ...Sofie is my school mate and she happened to be your batch mate...so..."

"Uh! Sofia ...umm...tabhi toh...why she got all piqued whenever I managed to get a date with some one..."

Kuhu...rolled her eyes...and turned to Abir...

"Abir bro...you have a GF?"

Abir was lost in his thoughts when he heard about Mishti keeping tabs on Kunal...

Did she ever try to find out about him...? Obviously no...She had recognised Kunal in one look...

He remembered the warmth he had seen in her face...

"Abiirrr brooo...?"

"Haaa....Kya.?"

"GF...! Do you have someone special in your life...you know..?"

Kuhu winked at Abir as Kunal did a gagging dramatics...

Before Abir could answer ,his phone went off....

"Excuse me..!" Abir took his phone and while manoeuvring the car he put it on speaker mode...

"Hey Abir.!! Kidhar chale Gaye? mujhe bataya bhi nahi?"

A feminine voice with a tinge of authority filled the car....

"Sorry Piya...sab kuch Jaldi mein tei hua .." Abir replied coolly...

Kunal looked at the beaming face of Kuhu...her brows wiggling in the obvious question...Kunal signalled her to be quiet.

"Hmm...So just called to notify you that our project submission date is out ...one week left..! So when are you coming back ...and of course we have our work held up in office..."

"Yeah...it's ...almost finished here...i..." He took a deep breath...

" Toh Jaldi aana..aaoge na?!" Piya prompted...

"I'll be there tomorrow..."

Abir said with a sigh as Kunal made a voice of protest...

"Tell Kunal that the whole New York has gone berserk in his absence..."

Piya laughed.

"Hey Piya .I'll manage them when I come back...but Abir Bhai won't make it tomorrow...you have to wait a little more...." Kunal spoke into the phone...

"Oh yeah..! Seems he is enjoying the break...Nev mind...I'll back up for him...and btw you are in high demand here ..."

"No Piya ...I am coming tomorrow...we can meet at home"

Abir interrupted with finality...

Kuhu and Kunal eyed each other in disappointment...

"Thank heavens..!" Mishti rolled her eyes up...but the next moment her eyes locked with his in the rear view and she felt a stab in her heart....

His eyes were fixed on her and for a fraction of second Mishty could not believe that she saw pain in his eyes...

Abir looked to the road ahead as he pushed the gas pedal...his jaws set in a grim way...

****************

Rajshri looked up from the living area as she saw the foursome enter...

"Yeh lo Meenakshi..tumhare bache aagaye..."

Abir stopped as he heard Rajshri..and then walked past her with out any word...

A shadow fell on her face as she heard Meenakshii... over the phone

"Abir ko acha nahi lagega..."

Kunal came over and Rajshri handed him the cordless...

Rajshri looked at Mishti and Kuhu who were silent...and immediately sensed something was wrong...

***********

Kuhu was pissed by Mishti's ways...she was not even in talking terms with her..!

Mishti looked at Kuhu who sat on her study table punching on the calculator as if taking her rage on it.

Kuhu had two accusations...She had squeezed Mishti to extract info about the Rajvansh boys ..but she had remained adamant ,and Kunal had to explore her things to find that photos..!

But Mishty knew Kuhu was really angry because of her behaviour towards Abir...but ..

"Come on in Kunal..."
Mishti said as she heard the musical knock at the door...

Kunal settled himself besides Mishti in the bed...

"Abir Bhai is going back..!"

Mishti turned away her head uncomfortably...as Kuhu turned to face them...

"Kunal ...koi fayda naji iss Mishti ki bachi se baat karke...woh hilega bhi nahi apni argument se..she takes pride in being adamant ...and you know what ...I am beginning to wonder whether it was Abir bro who tried to kiss her than that moron..uuff ! Kitna drama karthi hai yeh..!?"

Colour drained from Mishti''s face as she looked at Kuhu in horror...

Ignorant of Mishti''s change Kunal continued...

"Mishti let past be past...mujhe pata hai ki Bhai ne bohut koshish Kiya hai tum donon ke beech ke problem ko suljhaane ko..and today's incident...i am sorry to say but Mera Bhai hi sahi tha....okay ..socho Kya aisa Kuhu ki saath hoti toh..aur react karne ki jagah mein wahaan aise hi sab dekhte khade rahe toh .... will you appreciate that?"

Mishti swallowed hard...of course not..!

But...

Kunal let out a sigh of relief as he saw the answer in her eyes....

"So you agree...good... come on Kuhu kuch plan banathe hain. Abir Bhai ko rokne keliye... Mishti....tum bhi koshish karna...."

Mishti nodded mechanically...as she became alone in the room her thoughts went to the eyes which seemed to haunt her ...

Did her actions hurt him too much...?

****""***"""******""""

Abit went straight to the balcony....

He did the mistake again....but how could he stop himself ...and she just hates him...

It's not that he was surprised ...he knew it from her lips years back...but somewhere in the remote corner of his mind he had thought that she had forgiven him for his mistakes....

But...the way she was relieved when she learned that he was going back put him back to reality...

Okay...then that's it...I'll finish the arrangements fast and pull out...let Kunal accompany the Maheswaris to New York..and once they are in Rajvansh sadan....

Abir rubbed his temples in frustration....

What was he supposed to do then....?!

May be he could spend his spare time in the office...that way it would work for both....

Abir changed to tee and shorts..and then pulled out the medical reports...he had faxed the details to Nihaal in the afternoon and Nihaal had promised to secure appointment with Dr.James Moreino...the eminent oncologist...and once he got his opinion he would transfer Massima to hospital for treatment..

He walked to Rajshri's room to discuss his plan and saw Kunal and Kuhu perched on the living room couch deep in discussion...was Kunal going to tell Kuhu ..?

Abir gave a questioning glance to Kunal which was answered by a simple shrug...

"Nothing Abir Bhai ..just planning something for tomorrow...'

Abir nodded and walked to the door...but as he passed the girls room he heard Mishti's voice....

her emotional argument..

and his legs froze.

***************

Kuhu sat in front of Kunal in excitement...she had just asked Kunal about Piya..she had a strong hunch that Piya was of some importance to the boys...

"Umm....Piya ..is our partner Chethan Awasthi's daughter..Abir bhai's College mate...Abir bhai's collegue in office......and hmm...they are friends...that's it..!"

Kunal said casually..but Kuhu was excited ...

"wow..so they do spent time together ...any date.."

"OMG Kuhuu !!" Kunal looked at her shocked ...

"Tum to abhi bachi ho.....and you are not supposed to talk like this...date...!! tauba tauba..."

"mee...??. bachi...??"

Kuhu's face was pink with anger...

"Kunal Rajvansh...if you ever call me bachi I'll....."

Kuhu lunged at Kunal but he moved away that she fell straight in the couch..."

"I am sorry..I am sorry Kuhu....mein thodi der keliye bhool Gaya that ki tum Mishti ki behn ho.......I surrender and won't ever call you that.."

"Okay...itna gidgida rahe hai to......haan. Maaf kar diya...! So. as you say they are friends then Abir Bhai can stay here for some more time...ab baitho aur dimaag lagaao.... how we are going to keep Abir bro here..."

Kuhu got up and made space for Kunal to sit .

***************

Mishti dipped her chin into her teddy pillow deep in thoughts as Rajshri came into the room..

" Mishti. ..."

Mishti looked at her Badima and she very well knew the tone....her face showed guilt and that mellowed Rajshri a bit...

"Beta...tumne aisa kyu kiya...? Kuhu ne mujhe sab bataya..Kitna bura laga hoga use..?"

Rajshri sat beside Mishti stroking her hair...and Mishti knew her Badi ma was in a sad mood ..

"Sorry Badi maa...par use beech mein nahin padna chahiye tha.....it was between me and Avi...Aur agar Avi ne Gusse mein kuch Kar Diya toh.."

She paused and turned away from Badimaa..

"usko....Abiir..ko chot lag saktha tha..Woh toh kabhi apne baare mein sochtha hi nahi hain..jhagad padthe hai kisise bhi aur ...."

Her voice was emotional....as she tried to hold her memories...and the pain...

Rajshri smiled slowly...

"Tumhe yaad hai...?! ...Haan Jab baat Teri hoti toh woh ladka chot khane ke baad bhi nahi ruktha.. woh satish bhaisahb ka beta..uske saath Jo jhagda hua...kya naam tha uska...."

"Karan.!"

Mishti said dryly...as Rajshri smiled...

"haan wohi...wo kuch bachon ke saath milke tumhari mazak uda raha tha shayad...aur Abir akela un sab se lada pada .."

Rajshri eyes misted in memory..

"kitne buri tarah zakmi hua tha ...aur tum toh uske paas se hilne ka naam bhi nahi le raha tha...ek mahina tum uske pass aage peeche ghoomthi rahi..uska har kaam mein madat kiya...pata nahi achanak Tum donon ke beech kya badlav aagaya...!"

"Badimaa...Kya hum uske baare mein baat na kare...."

Mishti got up from the bed not wanting to go further ......

"Nahi beta....maine kabhi tumse nahi poocha ki tum Abir se aise kyu bartaav kar rahe ho....kyunki mujhe pata hai...lekin...wo bhi to bacha tha...can't you forgive him...."

Rajshri had a pleading tone....

"Badimaa...mujhse nahi hoga.... Kaise uss insaan ko maaf Kiya jaaye jisne mere papa ko khooni kaha.aur kis tarah har baat pe mujhe yeh ehsaas dilaya ki mein...mein kisi keliye kuch bhi maina nahi rakhthi.....aap thi ...lekin woh to aapka laadla tha.....mein kitni akeli ho jaati agar Kunal ne ...."

Mishti walked to the balcony frustrated at the way their talks were heading...

She can't forgive him.......not for shattering her pride and self esteem.

"Mein bhi uss se naaraaz tha..lekin tum ne bhi use Kam bura bhala nahi kaha tha.Uska bhi koi wajah hoga...aaj bhi mujhe nahi pata ki aisa kadua bol Woh kaise bol paaya....lekin Maine use maaf Kiya us raat jab woh tumhe kheth se vaapas leke aaya..aur mujhse maafi maangi......."

Rajshri said in a low voice...

Abir brought her from the field....! Mishti frowned hard...why..?!.He was enraged then... Meenakshi aunty had punished him...even then..he came for her...lekin usne phir kabhi usse baat bhi nahi kii....

"Mishti..."

Rajshri came to her...

"Tum aaj Avi ki harkath keliye use maaf kardiya.....to Kya Abir ko maaf karna utna impossible hai?!.'

"Badimaa..I...me..."Mishti stammered ..

Rajshri patted her shoulder....

"Beta ..pata nahi...dar lag Raha hai...agar mujhe kuch ho Gaya to tum donon ki Zindagi ka sahara Meenakshi hai....kisi aur se mujhe koi ummeed nahi hai....aur pehle se hi Abir aur Meenakshi ke rishtha..maa beta ka hote hue bhi..theek nahi hai...aur mein uski pareshaani badhaa Rahi hoon...."

Her voice trailed and with a sigh Rajshri turned .

"Kuhu aaj Meri saath soyegi....tum ache se Sona....."

With a sad look to her daughter she left the room..

**********

Mishti stood holding the railings tight ...wind blew at her as she stood in the balcony lost in thoughts..

How could she explain the unsettling felling whenever she felt his eyes on her ...all the days incidents had wired her up and ....... when she saw Abir punching Avi.......

How could she explain that she was reliving the moments she witnessed upon the river bridge...

Abir struggling to throw off Karan and two other boys from him as a fourth one smashed a stone onto his arm...!

She had screamed .......but he had not made a whimper...his eyes were glowing in the golden fury she had seen in his eyes this evening...

But the hurt that he gave her years back....she can't forgive him for what he said and did back then...

Her mind flew back to those days when she was a happy go lucky child ....and then started losing her loved ones ....one by one..

**********************

She alighted from her school bus...waving happily to her friends...

And turned to find Dadi waiting for her...

" Mumma kahaan hai daadi...Kya papa aagaye?"

Devyani willed her eyes not to tear up....
" Wo Shriya ..Nanu ke yahaan gayi hai na...Meri gudiyaa aajao..."

Even after a week her mumma was not back...she was sad....and went to sit at the balcony waiting for Naira di..when she heard Raghu bhayya

"....bohot bura hua hai is bachi ke saath...Namanji khoon ke ilzaam me girafthaar hai aur ab Shriya Bhabhi ne toh Ghar chod Diya... Mishti beti ki baare mein donon ne ek baar bhi nahi Socha....bechaari..apni mamma papa ki raah dekh rahi hai...mujhse ye dekha nahi jaa Raha ......"

Mishti ... blinked...khoon....papa....Aur mummaa....use chod ke gayi.......

She was just six then...

And couldn't handle the black truth...thrust upon her...

The day she lost her parents she retracted from all completely...she stopped talking, stopped eating and even had horrific nightmares that she could not sleep..

Dadi was very much worried..she stayed with her all time ..then one day Rajshri aunty and Vishambar uncle came to Singhaniya house..

Later she found herself in Maheshwari Sadan.. picking up life as possible for her with the help of Ananya di.....Nairadi..Varsha aunty Shourya uncle .
Of all the people her real support was Badimaa and Badepapa....

Two years passed .. she had started to laugh without dreading an impending sorrow...

Then just like before the very foundation of her happiness was brutally taken away...

Shourya uncle had another daughter ....
That news shook the Maheshwari Sadan for days..

Being sensitive made her understand that her foster family was at the brink of breaking...with Varsha aunty going back to her maayka with Ananya di...

All were busy to find a solution to the problem when next blow hit the Maheswaris in the form of an accident....Badepapa was fatally injured and succumbed to his injuries..worst part was that he was implicated in fraud charges as a suitcase full of money was found inside the boot of the car...

She was shattered... seeing her loved ones being taken away from her ruthlessly...

Dark days passed one by one..

Shourya uncle went to London not able to face anyone..

She and Badimaa were each other's safety net..

Badimaa always said.." tumhare bade papa ke baare mein log Jo bhi bole tum dhyaan mat Dena...tumhare pass unki seekh hai ...unki sachayi hai...tum use apni dhaal banana"

Then one day Meenakshi aunty came into her life...

She saw Meenakshi aunty begging forgiveness to Badimaa...for all the pain she unknowingly caused to her best friend..She vowed to take care of them and not to let them live in sorrow..

Being shunned by the society was taking toll on Badimaa and she agreed to go with Meenakshi aunty...

Life had given her so many blows to her in such a tender age that she was not able to smile to the open arms of Rajvansh Sadan..where all treated her like a glass doll...Kunal always tried to include her in his silly games .. trying to make her smile..and Abiir...

It would be a month after their stay at Rajvansh Sadan...she was walking aimlessly on sunflower field and exhausted she sat under the farm shelter...feebly sobbing....and trying to bury down the feeling that she was not entitled to happiness.and those people who loved her will leave her heartbroken....

.

Someone sat beside her... silently.. patiently letting her cry...

Abir..

She knew that his father has left the house...he was going through same mental uncertainty of being not wanted...

Still...

They talked that day...he pacified her...told her to be strong.. told her that his pain helps him to fight his fear..she too should fight ...for her Badimaa...for his Massima...

They formed a bond of shared pain that day.... after that day he was there with her for everything... helping her in studies...cycling with she perched on the front and Kunal dangling from the pillion seat.....

Until she had the reality check.....!!

That day when Karan and other boys taunted her and manhandled Kunal She saw Abir in a new light....

A boy...!

A boy who defended her in front of the world....

And the realisation that for each bruise he earned she felt the physical pain...
that She had started to depend on him...
that She wanted him to be a part of her life...
She was seeking her anchor and realized that she found it......

But...bitter past has a way of turning everything bitter..

Her reality....glared at her from her mirror...She was Mishti Agarwal...and when she loved someone ...bad things happen to them....
The thought was deeply rooted in the psyche of an 8 yr old Mishti.

She knew Abir was confused and hurt when she distanced herself from him...but then ...her only priority was self preservation...to protect herself from further heartbreak...and she acted on instincts...

And how it soured a beautiful bond ..

Each hurting one another...

Culminating in an unforgivable action on his part and her blind hurt and anger...

When Meenakshi aunty struck him she couldn't watch his tightly bit lips...and had ran to the field..

****

Mishti was shocked to feel wetness by her cheeks....she was crying...she was feeling the pain he had endured then...

She did'nt know where the time fled....she stood out in cold ...trying to clear her fogged mind...

She hated Abir...but could not bear to see him in pain....

She wanted to hurt him..but she had an intuition that in the end she would be the one with the pain...

She had avoided him all these years...even her friendship with Kunal was to keep him away.....but from now on...she can't hold on to the statusquo....

The cold wind from the mountain blew her hair onto her face....

She sighed wiping her cheeks roughly and turned wondering what time it was ...

And stopped in her tracks when she saw him leaning on the door....