Mishty sat dumbstruck as Kuhu's name echoed in her ears..

Her palms cupped her mouth in a shock..

Kunal could not bear to see her like that..he sat on his knees beside her..

" Mishty...I am sorry... Mujhe tumhein aise Bata Dena nahi chahiye tha...I understand..she is your sister..but you are  my best friend too na..use kuch pata nahi Hain...agar tum abhi mujhe ek chata maroge toh bhi chalega....aise..aise silent mat raho...."

Mishty was trying to understand how she missed what was just before her eyes..

The way Kunal cared for Kuhu from the beginning....

the way he included her in all his activities... planning Abir's birthday decor.. jogging sessions..

OMG the total attention to Kuhu's emotions during Badimaa's surgery..

His eagerness to take the responsibility of Kuhu for college admissions.

And lately. The way Kunal behaving around her when Kuhu was also there...!!

Kunal was waiting for her response with his worried face..

Mishty took off her specs to rub her eyes and put on the specs back..

Her face hardening all the way..

And Kunal's heart sank deep seeing her change..

" Toh yeh Sab kab se chal Raha tha tumhare dimaag mein...?? Seriously Kunal...? We live with you ..in your home...and you have such intensions for my sister..?.."

Kunal started to say something but Mishty stopped him.

"No no no.. tumhein Jo kehna tha  Maine sunliya...and you told me to react after thinking through..right...so now I will speak and you will listen..

Tumhein andaza bhi hai ki tum Kya keh rahe ho...Ghar mein kisiko pata chal Gaya is bare mein toh socha hai Kya hoga?..

Parul Massi toh...ya tujhe Ghar se nikaalega ya humein...Kuhu is bare mein jaanti hai ya nahi...yeh toh koi poochega bhi nahi..usko discredit Kiya jaayega..Kya tumne yeh Sab Socha hai??"

Kunal sat back on his knees ..his head hanging .. shaking his head dejectedly..

" And what about future..Tum corporate law karne wale ho na... tumhein idea bhi hai ki kitna hard work karna padtha Hein.. even to clear all the papers in the first attempt..? Tum independently apne businesses  ko help karna chahtha tha.. Abir ko help karna chahtha tha..Sab kaise hoga agar tum....aise .."

Mishty waved her hands pointing out the silliness of his action..and looked intently at Kunal..who was sitting still now.

" And on top of that ..you were intentionally parading the boyfriend jokes in front of me to get a reaction from her na...I can't believe you just used our friendship like that..."

That snapped Kunal from his submissive attitude with which he was taking in whatever Mishty was saying..

" Mishty..you can't say that..you Know me..I know that ..and I am not a complicated person..you get what you see...and at that time I was not looking for her response but sheilding mine with your help..you didn't take that seriously then and even now you said it to rile me up right..?"

Mishty nodded slightly but maintained her Stern face..

" As of the way you said intensions...Kya yaar...I haven't even flirted with her even innocently as I do with you...I don't know what gharwale will do when they get to know my feelings...but I don't fear them...I haven't shared this even with Abir Bhai... though I do have an idea how he will react..."

Mishty bit her lips at Kunal's mention of Abir's reaction....she could imagine it all too clearly...!

"I never thought I had feelings for her that matttered this much...until last night... when I heard Badimaa talk about rakhshabandhan...then.. I feared only about your response...I care really about your response..and see I am risking my chances even to explore if there is anything between me and Kuhu by telling this to you ryt...coz you know for sure I won't if you have an iota of disagreement with this.."

Now Mishty could clearly see that Kunal was in the same predicament as she herself is...

"Toh tum yeh Sab batanekeliye mujhe Ghar  se le aaya..Kya?"

She asked him candidly..

"Mujhe pehle Ghar se nikalna tha ..phir laga agar akele chale Gaye toh wapas aake bohot dant padega..ya Badimaa phone karke wapas aane ko bolegi..tum saath ho toh badimaa kuch nahi bolegi na?.."

Mishty smacked him hard on the shoulder..

" Are .. tum marna mat...I also knew you doesn't want to bring Abir Bhai that close to you..remember?..you had that problem with him from the beginning...and tell me..who said first about escaping rakhshabandhan?"

Mishty stood there without an answer..

Kunal looked at her intently..

" Mishty   you haven't said anything about umm  Kuhu....I know it's...."

" Kunal...are you sure...yeh humara rishtha badalne Wala decision hoga...Aur Kuhu ka Kya stand hai? Use tumhare bare mein Kya khayal hai...yeh Sab toh..pata lagana Hain na..."

Mishty said already thinking about the pros and cons..

The next moment she was on air...Kunal had picked her up and spinning her around..

" Areee...put me down.. Kunal..yeh Kya Kar rahe ho...OMG sub log dekh rahe Hain..neeche utaaro.."

Mishty hit him on his shoulders lightly as Kunal  released her from his hold..

" Pata hai Mishty.. first time jab Maine Kuhu ko dekha na...then I thought she was you and twirled her like that..."

Kunal was ecstatic on getting the green signal from Mishty..

" Zyaada Udo mat... Maine okay nahi ki hai abhi Tak.....bade jaldi hein khayali pulav khaane ki...pehle hum donon ke baat karthe Hain..."

Kunal got a bit fizzled out..

" Hum donon ka Kya..?"

" Seriously..tum iss baar mujhe granted nahi le sakthe ho Kunal...if you want my help it comes with conditions attached.."

" Are mein law padne Wala Hoon tu degree kabse Lee negotiation mein...acha Bol.. condition accepted."

Mishty corrected him..

" Conditions as in plural.."

" Uh..okay..boldo .."

******

Kethki pinched her eyes shut in fear..

Someone was holding her..

Not her Papa...

Nor Abir Bhai...

Nihaal on the other hand , though slightly winded at the clash.. looked at the girl who held on to him ..

"Kethu..tujhe lagi toh nahi..? Thanks yaar.."

Abir tried to relieve Ketki off Nihaal..but as she put her left leg down she winced in pain..

" I think she sprained her ankle..mein bhi help kartha Hoon.."

Nihaal said .

Both of them guided Kethu to the sofa and Kuhu made her put up her leg..

" Wah Kethu..tujhe toh leg sprain hua nahi is se pehle doctor bhi aa Gaya..!"

Abir tried to cheer her up..as Nihaal bent down to look at her ankle..

Nidhi and Kaushal too reached the hall by this time..

Kethu was flustered by the fact that she collided with a stranger..and that person was now holding her ankle... pressing slightly to see where was she hurt..

" Aww...mamma..."

She cried out as Nihaal pressed at her ankle.at the pain point.

" Kuhu get me some ice pack..mein baandh deta Hoon Aur kuch analgesic medicine hoga mere pass .."

Kuhu nodded and went off to get as Parul and Meenakshii too joined them with Nihaal's Parents..

Kethu was looking at Nihaal secretly...and as he straightened ... their eyes met..she immediately looked away.. slightly blushing..

Nihaal too was perplexed at the impact this girl was having on him...

But as Abir thanked him he brushed off the instinctual feelings ..

Kuhu and Nidhi helped Kethu to slowly climb the steps and go to her room to take the medicine and  rest..

Nihaal's father was Rajvansh's personal physician.. especially taking care of Nanu's health over the years..and his mom too was a personal friend of Meenakshi and Parul..

" Well it's been a good long time Bapuji... touchwood..lekin I am happy to see that you are looking good..."

Dr. Pratap Saxena said jovially..and nanu smiled..

" Sab bimaariyaan mujhse darthe Honge...aakhir is jawaan see panga kaun lega!??"

All laughed at his comments as Bharti Saxena.. turned to Meenakshii with a questioning look towards the stairs...

Bharti was pointing at Kuhu and Kethu..and Meenakshii understood her confusion..

"Bharti..Kya tum kethki ko bhool gayi..Koslu ki beti..usi ko chot lagi Hain..Aur Nidhi ki saath Kuhu Hein.. Rajshri ki doosri beti..."

Bharti nodded smilingly... keeping her questions to herself understanding Meenakshi's tone..

" I would like to visit Rajshri aunty if you'll excuse me.." 

Nihaal got up from the gathering as Abir too followed suit...

" Hum aate Hein ..aap batein kijiye..."

Sam had by then came With refreshments for everyone..

****

After visiting Rajshri ... Abir took Nihaal to his patio..

"Yaar kitne din hue aise Tere Ghar aaye hue...ek time that jab meenu aunty extra pillows bhej deta Tere room mein mereliye.."

Nihaal said reminiscing..

"Aaj Kaisa time nikala tu ne?..I thought you were busy and uncle aunty hi aanewale Hein.."

Abir asked as he sat on a gazebo..

Nihaal looked at Abir intently for a moment..then acting casual...

" Mishty dikhi nahi..? .. kitchen mein bhi nahi thi...woh mein thoda personal time lene ka decision liya hein...of course I am on call..umm tumne bataya nahin.. Mishty..?"

Abir's already bruised heart had started throbbing at the resonance of her name..

Ab isko bhi Mishty se milna Hein...!

"Hmm..She went to college...!"

Abir said in a sour tone...

" Ab phirse jhagda hua Kya...tujhe Rakhi baandh ke hi toh Gayi hogi na...dikhao..yup..2 rakhis...2 sisters..phir tera shakal aisa kyun hein"

Abir's desperation was climbing notch by notch..

"Yaar..bas Kar..kuch nahi hua Hein..can we talk about something else...."

" Aree Maine aisa Kya pooch liya... okay fine.. leave it.."

Nihaal  raised his hands in mock submission..

"Aur haan..she was not here for rakhshabandhan . She went early.. with Kunal.."

Abir said answering Nihaal's question..as if he couldn't stop thinking about her..

"You wanted to change the topic and now you are going on about her...acha tohh woh tumhein Rakhi nahi baandha isliye uim gussa ho... understandable.."

Nihaal's eyes shrewdly observed the flickering hurt in Abir's eyes and understood that whatever the reason...his friend is in pain..

Just as he decided to drop all the pretence and ask Abir openly Kuhu came to them bringing Neil with her..

" Abir bro..yeh apko pooch rahe the.. toh mein le aaya..

Nihaal suddenly asked Kuhu..

"Ketki...?  She is okay na..?..there will be a little swelling...you should keep her leg elevated.. should I come and check?"

" Nahi.. doctor Saab.. kethu is resting..and pair jaise aapne kaha waisa hi rakha Hein...pills liye Hein..pain bhi Kam ho Rahi Hein..."

Kuhu smiled at Nihaal's concern..

Abir too was calm after hearing this exchange as he greeted Neil..

" Surprise ... even I didn't think I'd be here.."

Neil responded to Abir's I didn't expect you comment..

" But Piya was adamant that I give you this message personally.."

Kuhu smiled at Abir knowingly .

"I will send some refreshments Abir bro.."

and allowing them privacy she retreated.

" Nihaal tum Neil se mile Hein na.?"

Abir turned to Nihaal..

" Why not..we met once or twice.. college days."

Nihaal shook hands with Neil..

" Doctor...suits you man!"

Neil gave Nihaal a congratulatory hug..

" You were giving some personal message.."

Nihaal too tried to give space but Neil laughed out...

" Waisa Wala koi personal nahi Hein.. actually dhamki mujhe di gayi Hain ki that I should convince you to take you back to Toronto.."

Abir was now thinking that this would be a chance to leave home...

Leave her behind..

Leave the pain behind and learn to live with reality..

" Hmm..I will call her and make arrangements for my stay there..she is right..if we didn't finish the project in the stipulated time we are going to run into complications with many.."

Abir said in a determined voice..

" Toh tu..jaa Raha hein.I mean..sab yahaan Hein na..abhi.."

Nihaal feebly tried to change Abir's mind..

"Kunal hei na..woh San sambhaal lega...!"

The trio then talked about Neil's upcoming fashion week..and Nihaal's odd and OTT experiences for a while before finishing up the refreshments and joining others..

Nirmala looked happy at seeing Abir but went on about Piya being away and alone..

Neil looked at Abir and rolled his eyes..

Just then Abir got a call from Mark...and after attending his eyes went to Nanu.

" I got to go to office..excuse me.." 

He left others and walked towards his room in a hurry..

His mind was churning at the info but as he reached his room his eyes fell on the box Sam had kept there...

His eyes lingered on it ...

******

Mishty came back just an hour after Abir left for the Office...

She met with Saxena's and Nirmala..in the hall along with Meenakshii , Kaushal and Nanu.

As she met Rajshri she found her badimaa overjoyed as she shared what transpired in the morning..

Mishty too was emotional at hearing her Badimaa's childish happiness..

Parul came to her and enquired about Kunal..

" Woh Massi uska rehearsals...mujhe college chodke woh Chala Gaya.. after noon classes nahi tha  toh mein jaldi aagayi...woh Shayad college mein hi hoga.."

Mishty said feeling contrite on lying..

" Usko batake jaana chahiye tha mujhe...kitna acha din tha.."

Parul berated Kunal..

Mishty asked about Kuhu and Kethu and then she got to know about Kethu's minor mishap..

As she heard about Kethu.. Mishty went upto her room..

To her surprise she saw Nihaal and Neil sprawled out on the Sofa entertaining a bedridden  Kethu along with ,Kuhu and Nidhi Maami..

" Mishty tum aa gayi..?!" 

Kuhu slid off the bed as Mishty acknowledged the men with a smile and went to Kethu..

" Zyaada toh nahi lagi na..?"

She asked Kethu...to which Kethu shook her head..

Mishty looked at Nihaal..

" She seems okay Mishty..but let me know tomorrow morning about the swelling and pain..."

" Okay..Kethu .. lucky girl...gir gayi... sprain hua .. doctor ke saamne hi..'

Mishty joked..

Kuhu giggled..

"Saamne nahi Mishty...#baahoen mein... Oops."

Kuhu cupped her mouth and looked at Nidhi Maami...who frowned a bit..

Kethu blushed all the way and Nihaal was finding that endearing...and surprised at himself..

Mishty too laughed at Kethu's reaction....but stopped as she noticed Neil staring at her..

Sam came in and informed that downstairs all were waiting for them to join..

Mishty and Kuhu both offered to stay with Kethu but she said she was fine and will sleep a bit..

Nihaal smiled at her and took leave along with Nidhi Maami and Kuhu.

" Mishty..!"

Neil.. stopped her in the corridor as Mishty was joining them.

" I need to talk to you...!"

The sense of urgency in his voice intrigued Mishty.

****

Later in the hall...

Bharti smiled at Meenakshii as she saw Mishty coming down with Nihaal and others..

Meenakshi's eyes too were glued to Mishty....

Pratap took Nanu's aashirwad and Nihaal too followed suit..

All took leave after pleasantries...

Mishty was tired and troubled by the events from the morning...

And what was Neil going to tell her before Kuhu called her , going on and on with  Abir's gift and his urgency to go to the office..

" Varna bro toh poora din hum sab ke saath rehthe..!"

She looked at the business card he placed on her hand...

"Eve & Tal.."

She looked at it again and carefully kept it in her purse..

She definitely needed to cool down...

After freshening up she came out towelling and stopped short near her study table..

A beautifully wrapped thin box was placed on the table..

With a folded note on it...

Her fingers slowly slid along the wrap towards the note...

Opening the folds slowly...

Her heart beat increased as she recognized the doodle at the bottom..

AMR

"Har rishtey Dil se bante Hein...

Har Nate Dil se judthe Hein..

Lekin jis rishthey mein dosthi Hein..

Woh rishtha har waqt saath nibhaata Hein..

Ek tohfa dosti ke naam...Aur ek waada bhi dosti ke naam.."

AMR

Abir ki gift..!

Then it dawned her that he brought it to give it to her as Rakhi gift...

Her sigh encompassed her supressed emotions..

Mishty ran her fingers along the initials...her love for him brimming in her whole being..

She looked at the box ...got up and  opened up carefully...

 A Laptop?.Dell XPS...!!

She powered it on and was again surprised to see her smiling face look at her as the wallpaper..

Her pic which Abir took the day they went to Central Park..!

He did this before he went to office..??? Kuhu said Abir was in a hurry and still..

She clicked the folder named "Teri Meri Yaadein"..

 and her past came alive in front of her ...

Her eyes filled with unshed tears ..

 Her lips smiling .. reliving the moments..

 pics of Abir as a boy... and herself

(Pic credit Twitter)

" Bhai ne mujhse yeh sab pics digitalize karke bhejne ko bola tha..

Kethu's voice from the door made Mishty rub her eyes with her towel.. and turn..

Kuhu had supported Kethu and both came in..

" Yeh bore ho Rahi thi ek hi position mein rehke..Aur mujhe toh tujhe interrogate karna Hein.."

Kuhu said as she and Mishty helped to settle Kethu on the bed..

" Aise Bina bataye Tum gayi kahaan..?.. Abir bro ne situation sambhaal nahi kiye hote na.. Dadi bhi Shayad khabra jaati.... Abir bro bhi tension mein tha jab Tak Kunal ka message nahi aaya."

Mishty felt bad hearing about Abir's tension..par Kya karthe...he doesn't have an inkling what she was going through..

She tried to be nonchalant..

" Haan..jab mein nikla..Kunal bhi ready tha ...use bataya toh woh mujhe college Tak chodne aaya...woh wapas nahin aaya?.."

Mishty said innocently...now looking for any indication of Kuhu's response at Kunal's mention..

" Woh duffer kahinka...seedha rehearsals keliye Gaya hoga aur abhi Tak lauta nahin..

Well.. Mishty uski baat chodo...Kethu ko kuch poochna Hain..."

Mishty scrunched her eyes as Kuhu addressed Kunal as duffer..and intently asked Kuhu..

" Chodoo...Kya ..Kunal ki baat..?..okay..Bol Kethu Kya poochna Hein.."

" Kuch bhi nahi Mishty..yeh Kuhu aise hi...

" Kuhu aise hi...!..Kuhu ki toh kaan Paka Rahi thi doctor doctor.. doctor.."

Mishty laughed at Kuhu's imitation..

" Acha Dr .Nihaal  ke bare mein?.he is your Abir bhai's friend na...jab woh aayega unhi see pooch Lena.."

Mishty said mischievously to Kethu..

" Bhai se Kya poochna...nahi..mujhe kuch nahi jaanna...ooh.."

As she bit her lips in pain Mishty said.

" Mein aur ice pack leke aati Hoon.."

" Tada.."

Just as she was going to get up from the sofa..Kunal came in with ice packs..

" At your service ma'am..!"

" Aree Kethu sethu...Maine aaj Tumse  khoob Bhai seva kervane ka soch Raha tha aur tumne sab plan chopat kardiya.."

Kunal dangled a Rakhi in front of Kethu..

"Mujhe aapse baat nahin karni..." 

Kethu turned away as Kuhu silently put the ice packs in place..

" Ab gift bhi nahi chahiye...theek Hain..."

Kunal acted as if he is going..

" Bhai...it's okay...Rakhi dedo..mein baandh deti Hoon..."

Kunal extended his arm..

" Are..aapko kisi aur ne bhi Rakhi baandhi hai Kya.."

Kethu looked at the already tied band on his wrist..

" Woh college mein .. Sofia hei na.. Mishty ki friend..usne thodi zabardasthi karke baand liya"

He said sheepishly...

Kethu tied Rakhi and Kunal looked at Mishty..

She smiled and took a gift box from her bag..and passed over to Kunal..

"Wow..!.. jewelry..!! Thanks Bhai... Mishty ki selection Hein Kya.. it's beautiful.."

Kunal sat on the arm of the sofa beside Mishty...

" Beautiful gift for a beautiful sis by a beautiful GF... right.."

He leaned on to her to murmer something to Mishty ..

Kuhu was observing the two under her lashes..

Something has changed between them...

Both had a glow of happiness in them as they chatted on... ignoring Kethu and herself...

The tugging at her heart was becoming unbearable as Kunal said Girlfriend..

" Kunal Bhai...Kya chal Raha hein...hum se bhi toh share Karo...."

Kethu asked suspiciously..

" It's a secret Kethu Sethu... between me and Mishty..let it be.."

He looked at Kuhu and smiled...she was stunned for a moment ..then made a face at him.....

*****

Later  

Abir hasn't come home yet ...

At dinner Meenakshii asked Mishty why she went early..and she dodged her by giving her debate excuse...

Kethu was asleep in Mishty''s room ...

Mishty changed into her nightwear and got into bed to sleep...

But Kuhu's words echoed in her mind..

Abir bro bhi tension mein tha...

But he didn't message or try to call her...!

She was evading him...for her own reason..

But Abir...

Woh aaj ki harkat se naaraz  toh nahi hua?

She sat up and slid out of the bed ...

A restlessness engulfing her..as she stood holding the balcony railings..

She haven't seen him the whole day...!

And he gifted her a thoughtful gift with precious memories...

Mishty noticed the headlight shimmering on her side of garden and her heart beat increased..

Abir was home.

*****

Abir went straight to his room.

All had retired for sleep ..only Sam waiting up for him..

After a cold shower  Abir changed into his cargo shorts and a t-shirt..

His mind was as if it was trapped inside the eye of a storm...

The information coming from Rajkot was disturbing..

But what disturbed him most was Mishty''s behavior...

He admired her straightforwardness..

But today..she didn't even thought of informing him ..or message...

He had been checking the tracking app at regular intervals..and found her going back home alone just some time after he reached office...Kunal was seen heading to his college..

Abir felt relieved at the same time guilty at keeping an eye on them...

Then he was thrown into the mire of business..

Mark had at times taken care of his food but his appetite was dead...and he had instructed Sam to bring him sandwiches and hot milk...

He need to rest and tomorrow he was off to Toronto.

Away from her... it's better if he didn't see her before going... Shayad jaa na paoonga...

He berated his heart as he climbed the stairs to his loft with his laptop..

The sanctuary for his troubled mind...

As he uncovered the canvas..he heard a knock on his door..

" It's open Sam.. keep it there..I'll have it later."

He eyed the canvas with nostalgia...and opened the laptop for that pic..

Ab nahi.. !!  Aur nahi...!!

He closed the laptop and covered the canvas....put on his headset and took his guitar...

*****

Mishty heard the gentle strumming of the guitar as she slowly took to the stairs to the loft...

When she reached the point where her eye level could see loft layout she stopped to lookout for Abir...

He was sitting by the bay window ..

A calming tune floating around from the guitar..

Even from the distance  she could see the worry lines and tiredness on his face..

She moved up holding his tray she took from Sam when she intercepted him on his way to Abir's room.

Abir sensed her .... though he didn't see her..

Something bleak welled up inside him...

Feeling desperate at the power her thoughts had on his heart ,mind and will power..

His anger at himself made him to stop strumming abruptly and put away the guitar  a bit rudely on to the Divan.. followed by the headset..

His realization that his feelings were on point collided with his physical sense of seeing her in front of him...

Holding a covered tray and flask..

" Tum!??"

Abir stood dumbstruck for a second letting it sink in that Mishty was actually standing before him..

He then hurriedly went to her and took the tray from her hands and kept them on the reading table..

"Tum..soyi nahi ..? Yeh sub. Sam Kar lete na..tum kyun....."

Abir said consciously avoiding looking at her and eying his canvas  surreptitiously..

Mishty stood there taking in the view in front of her ...

His hair was wet ...and his presence was giving her the much delighted light headedness...

But she also noticed that he was not looking at her..and stood there silently..

At last he turned towards her but still..not looking at her..

" Okay..tum naaraz ho ..?"

Mishty asked as she moved to him..

Abir moved away.. picking up his headset and fidgeting with it..

His one look at her had shattered all his resolve to be away from her..

Her guileless eyes sparkling under her specs..

Her silky hair now kissing her bare shoulder..

And the sensuousness she exuded even in a simple nightdress...

" Abir ..Abir .." 

She came to him and he turned away...

But her hand on his arm halted his move..

" I know you are angry...You brought a gift for me and I ..umm..was not there...."

She paused as he half-heartedly turned to her .

" I..I just wanted to thank you for the gift and our..our memories..."

The way she said our memories tugged his heart..

" No need to thank me Mishty...it was a friendly gift...but haan...a little bit confused as to why you didn't tell me  yesterday.. about going out early... even I could have dropped you on my way to work.."

Abir tried to ask her in a roundabout way why she bunked the ceremony..

Mishty was the one fidgeting now..

For life she could not tell him the truth ..and she couldn't lie at his face too..

" Umm..I didn't want to disturb anyone..."

She tried to evade his scrutiny..

" Tum khana Khao..baitho.."

Mishty poured out the milk to his cup and kept the sandwiches before him..

Abir's face hardened at her evasion..she was definitely hiding something and she thinks he is unaware of that...

" Mein kha loonga...tum jao..mujhe kuch tayyariyaan karna Hein.. tomorrow I am going to Toronto.."

He said moving to the wall shelf library.. browsing through them and selecting one by one...

Mishty''s heart sank ..

Abir is going to Toronto..!

" Umm.. you'll be coming back soon na...I.."

She thought of something to talk... something to hold him back...

" Umm.. about Greenville..I haven't talked to Chotimaa yet...if I get her permission too..I would need your help.."

Abir's temper was hanging by a thread and it was starting to fray...

So it's just her convenience she is worried about when it's not even a concern...she just don't care if he is here or not..

His palm fisted involuntarily..

The books slipped from his hand and both of them rushed at the same time bending down to take them..

"Ouch.."

"Ooh.."

Their forheads collided and both of them sat on their knees on the rug.. rubbing their head. ..asking simultaneously...

"Tum theek ho?"

" Tumhein lagi toh nahi..?"

Mishty shaked her head indicating she was okay.and adjusted her specs..

Abir stretched his hand across to her forhead rubbing slightly...

Tears rushed into her eyes..

Not because of any physical pain but because of his tenderness and the fact that he was leaving..

" Tum bohot buri tarah jhoot bolti ho...aansu bhi aagaye Aur kehthi Hain ki tum okay ho.."

Abir rubbed  his fingers gently and Mishty held herself from breaking down in front of him....

" Mein theek Hoon...tum umm..apna.."

She rubbed away her tears silently thanking God for the excuse for spilling them over..and pointed to the reddish bruising appearing on his forehead..

" It's nothin...Kal Tak sab theek..ho jaayega"

Both collected the books and got up ..and an intrigued Mishty asked...

" Tum kab Tak vapas aaoge..?!"

Before Abir could answer he heard Kunal..

" Bhai aap top mein ho!?"

Abir's face changed ..as he looked at Mishty who reacted to Kunal's voice with a .warm smile....

" Mujhe aapse kuch baat karna Hein..."

Kunal paused as he came up and saw Mishty with Abir...

He looked at her confused ..eye signalling her asking if she told Bhai his truth...

Mishty shaked her head  in negative..and raised her brows at him questioningly... asking if he was there to tell Abir ... despite their talk in the morning...

Kunal scrunched his face sheepishly..at Mishty..

" Tum soyi nahi ab tak.."

" Woh mein Abir ko thank you kehne aayi thi.gift keliye.."

" Aur Mera thank you kidhar hein..."

Kunal asked jokingly and Mishty smiled at him knowingly..and returned his joke..

"Tumhein bhi thanks milega...for the lifelong memorable durable gift...".

He smiled openly and then turned to Abir..

" Bhai..Piya...mujhe bula Rahi Hein aadhi raat ko... where is your phone..she says you are not attending..Aur aap Kal Toronto jaa rahe hein??...Piya ne bataya mujhe ki woh aap donon keliye ek superb apartment rent Kiya Hein... Bhai..! Are you serious about her..?.. Badimaa is gonna hit the roof..!"

Mishty felt her whole world shaking at Kunal's words..and The moment he announced that Abir and Piya will be together she was hearing strange woosh in her ears....nothing entered her mind except the dark despair...and she literally backed away from Abir......winded... losing balance at doing so .

" Mishty...sambhalke...Kya hua "

Kunal supported her and she tried to smile..

"Nothing..just the rug caught my slippers.."

Abir who was noticing the silent exchanges between Kunal and Mishty.. his focus entirely on their banter ... which was innocent but with some inner meaning....

He didn't hear what Kunal said as he was glued to her warm demeanor directed at Kunal..

His hands shot out as Mishty was about to fall ,but fisted and took it back seeing Kunal's attention to Mishty...and the way she held on to him...

Unbeknownst to him...he found himself saying..

" Well.. I asked her to find a perfect place for us...and if Maa has a problem...it's her problem... I can't help that.."

Abir could never anticipate the profound effect of the verbal acknowledgement of his and Piya's relationship on Mishty...

It was getting difficult for her to breath as she saw the determination on his face .

"Tum donon  baatein Karo..I am feeling sleepy.."

Mishty turned ..not bothering about their reply..and alighted the stairs....

Her heart breaking into million pieces..but somehow still held together tenuously... allowing her to live....

His eyes followed her.. knowing for sure that something definite changed between them,.

But not knowing that he was responsible...

********
Dreamscapers are people who exhibit a pattern of building castle-in-the-clouds relationships that fool the person they're seeing into thinking it was not only something real but something fantastic. The fantasy they create is a sight to see, but there's nothing to support it.

******