Neil....can we dance....."

Mishti asked him totally ignoring Abir..

"Of course .....darling..."

Neil had looked at her with amusement and added the last bit for his sister's benefit .

"Excuse us ... Mishti really enjoys dancing...you two too come on ...."

Neil winked at the group wickedly as he steered Mishti to the dancing arena....

****

"OMG... Mishti..you just made Piya speechless."

 Neil whispered into her ear..

" Uhh...what.."

" Well my sister and I share a hate love relationship...she feels like I am getting all the attention and I have the first preference being the first born and she taunts me mercilessly...but I love her and I have faith in her capabilities too..so when she hinted at joining the family business I knew I had to make it on my own..and it was the best decision I took.."

Mishti looked at Neil with a new understanding..

" She is lucky to have a brother like you Neil ..I hope she realise it.."

" Well thank you for doing this for me...she feels she need to compensate me for sidelining me in the business..and God knows what put it in her head about both of us...but it's like bee in her bonnet...and I thought offense is the best defense.."

Mishti nodded absently...the nape of her neck tingling at the hard gaze from a distance..

Abir  left Piya with Jacques and walked towards the drinks joint and downed the shots as if they could quench the fire of jealousy ..the intimate dancing of Mishti and Neil lit in him...

*****

" Can I have the next dance ...."

Mishti stiffened as the gruff voice behind her asked permission...

"Neil....your sis need some time to grill you soon or  she will blow up....leave Mishti to me"

Abir  stepped in and took hold of her arm...... Mishti felt the electric jolt as his fingers touched her and she flinched unknowingly.....

"Oh..umm....well..that was fast....I  guess I'll entertain Piya .Take good care of her man...!!"

Neil winked at Abir....

"Mishti see you in a bit......" Neil pulled her into an informal hug and she plastered a smile on her face to mask the tsunami of emotions the man beside her invoked.....

Abir's arm encircled her waist pulling her close..

Mishti wasn't sure of what to do as she loosely held his arm..not looking at him..

"So you and Neil huh..?"

Mishti fidgeted her arms on him and Abir impatiently took her arms in his  and put around his neck... pulling her close..

Mishti looked at him imploringly .. trying to put a distance..but she was betrayed by her own hands which stayed entwined around him...

This was a different Abir...a determined Abir...

Her brain was sending warning signals..

The way he was behaving was entirely new to her,.

" Tell me about your Neil .. Mishti...I know for sure he is a flirt , kind of flitting from one to another..if you get my drift...but I am seeing that he is besotted with you..tell me..how..did you manage to trap.. I mean.fall for you?."

His words scalded her and Mishti tore herself away from Abir... Her eyes locking with his for a moment  ..her hurt evident...

She turned abruptly and walked away from him.. into the maze garden.

Abir looked at her walking away from him..he stood frustrated and downed two more shots from the passing by staff .

He needed answers..and now !

( Confrontation scene)

Where are you going...?"

Abir caught her wrist and yanked her towards him as Mishti walked inside the garden.....

"Leave me Abir .I don't want to fight!..."

"Not before answering me ..."

Mishti could not believe his arrogance.....

"What..is this Abir... leave me..go back to your...."

She choked at the emotional upheaval as she thought about Piya.

"What are you playing at Mishti.....what is going on between Neil and You....?"

Mishti swallowed hard..... Neil and her..  why would he care?..ohhh!! .the big brother on show.....!! dammit ....!!

"I don't think it is any of your business....."

"Hell it is my business....!'

Abir thundered ..

" Its my brother's life....."

 He  growled.....

"Brother's.? Ohh You mean your brother-in –law's.... what?? do you think I am not suitable for him now?!! Are you trying to save him from me or me from him???."

Mishti mocked ...hands on her hips.. trying to contain the anger welling up.

"Now Mishti....don't play games.....Hell..I thought I knew you ... Never thought of you like this...oh God.!..that guy....in your college...did you lead him like this......"

"Abiir!!"

Mishti''s face was white as sheet....

"How dare you....? Are you drunk ??..Tum bas chup ho jao..kuch bhi bole jaa rahe ho."

Abir closed on her.. his gait a bit uneven.and placed his hand on the wall of the bush .. trapping her..

"Okay.....so I'll ask ....straight..Why are you ignoring Kunal , playing with his emotions and doing this intimate act with Neil...to trap him too.?"

Mishti staggered back.. pressing herself into the soft bush wall...

She could not believe her ears....was Abir.?...her Abir .. Implying that she is having an affair with Kunal and  on top of that ..was acting coy with Neil....

"Kunal.....what are you saying about Kunal? ...

What does he has to do with anything??!..and don't dare say that we are having an affair.....we are not.....and with Neil.....he had some stupid notion about goading his sis...your Piya..."

Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears and intense hurt...

Abir...

He thought all this about her..!

That she lead on Avi..!

She is playing with Kunal's emotions?

And she is now trapping Neil!!!

Mishti was trembling with rage....as  Abir's accusations.. echoed in her ears ....

He never trusted her...!

But she can't let this go on..

Mishti closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath.....and then  looked up into his eyes.....

And found his face unusually close to hers..

"Abir Rajvansh.... I am telling you this for the last and final time....I don't know why the hell you are accusing me for all ..these... nonsensical things..and I don't care .You got that??. I am sick and tired of your brotherly act ..I am done with your overbearing attitude.. I don't want you as my brother ...and I am perfectly capable of leading my life with out your interference.....I...I.I.. can't take more ...."

She choked at the end and shook her head in despair as tears pricked hard inside her lashes....and brimming..

She wanted to run away from him but her whole being weighed a ton...

Abir didn't move....

And what she saw in his face baffled her further more..

As she roared at him his expressions moved from hate , confusion, wonderment and finally to the calm of a cool sea...

He was looking at her unblinkingly...

Mishti startled as something touched her cheeks... wiping away her tears...

Abir's fingers were moving along her cheekbones....

Mishti''s eyes flew to his eyes  ....which was following his fingers...now moving on to her brows... Forehead....drawing them...as if he was making a painting...

Her breath caught as his touch radiated through her soul..

His featherly fingers were trailing along her eyelids...nose ...his thumb now caressing her lower lip..a little pout forming on his lips...

His hot breath was fanning at her cheek..

Abir blinked twice and made an effort to steady himself as he removed his hand from the soft wall..and slowly cupped her face..

Mishti was in a state of ethreal shock..the emotional flooding she was witnessing in Abir's eyes were overwhelming...

As he swayed she urgently held him with both hands around his waist...

"Abiiirrrr......

She called out in a trembling voice...not able to make sense of reality..

" Shh...."

Abir made the silencing sound and brought his forehead to hers... supporting himself on her...

" Shhh... Mishti....chup..."

His breathing was evening out.and arms were now holding onto her shoulders..

 Mishti tried to cup his face..but was crushed into a soulful embrace ......and his head rested on her shoulders...

Oh my God !

Abir is drunk...

Reality sank into Mishti''s conciousness as his arms fell off her shoulders..to her waist..

Oh God..now.. what..?

She looked around for Kunal...

She can't let anyone else see Abir in this state...

She took her phone with great difficulty by balancing Abir and speed dialled Kunal..

 But he was not picking up even after 3 attempts..

Mishti racked her brain to what to do... and dialled Mark.

She tried holding Abir to prevent him from falling over but he was  cozily rubbing his chin on her shoulder... murmuring something inaudible.. something resembling honey....

The complaints and anger she had stored for and against him had long withered away from her mind as she shyly but alarmingly withstood his antics...

Her eyes widened with relief as she spotted Mark coming looking for her.

**

Mark found her at the outside ring of the maze garden and was stunned by the scene before him..

Abir in a tight embrace with Mishti.

He started to withdrew politely but stopped short at Mishti''s frantic whisper..

" Mark ..help me..he is drunk..."

*****

Kunal looked at Kuhu's baffled eyes..

"How could you think of me and Mishti like that?"

Kuhu reeled at the anger and bitterness in Kunal's voice...

He had dragged her to the drinks joint and to her bewilderment asked for a tequila..Kunal was not into alcohol as far as she knew...then...the accusing look and the question...

"How could you think of me and Mishti like that?"

"bbut.. ...you two...I mean...that is...you mean  there is ...nothing...??!!"

"Kuhu... ... Mishti is my best friend and as closest to me as my sister...she is the next  best thing I have in the world apart from Abir bhai...and of all the people .You...?!! You had that idea about me and Mishti !!!..I thought we were close enough to know each other fairly well.."

Kuhu flinched at the words hurled at her ...

She could not understand which emotion dominated her mind ...

Relief...to know that the weight in her chest caused by the fact that Kunal  loved Mishti had gone away...

Or sadness...

Kunal seemed to be angry towards her ...for the first time she was seeing him losing temper at her ...okay she assumed the nature of their relation and it turned out to be wrong ...he could have laughed at her foolish ness...pulled her leg in front of others as if it was a joke...that was the Kunal whom she knew would do...

But his anger totally put her off the track...he was angry because ...he loves Mishti as his best friend and sister ...and ...he would not tolerate anything that may damage the relationship...and ...and ...best friend and sister...she too came under that category...!

A rope tightened around her already bruised heart...she could have tolerated the thought of Kunal loving Mishti for her sister's sake...but now to see him with some other girl...some day...

Oh Kuhu..!..you never stood a chance there ! see he treats you as a kid sister and makes you drink orange juice...

Kuhu looked at the long glass thrust into her hand...

"Yeah... I was a fool to imagine all those things ... I am so sorry Kunal...and don't tell Mishti please...she will skin me...alive."

Kuhu looked around ...anywhere to go where her limbs would take her away from the person she loved but without a chance of that love to be returned ...

Come on Kuhu ...its just the crush...it happens to all girls in this age...you will soon fall out of this...don't mess with a beautiful friendship...

Kunal looked at Kuhu...unable to decide whether he should tell her what she meant to him...but she seemed skittish...and then reigned himself.... .not now...he had promised Mishti that he will be careful with Kuhu...and  he must not spoil his chance with her because of a moment's careless decision...

Just then Piya , Neil and Jacques came to them..

" Have you seen Mishti..?  Kunal?"

Neil asked him.

Kunal looked at him quizzically.

"No.I thought she is with you.."

"No..I was caught up with someone and I had left her with Abir.."

Neil looked around .. looking for Abir..

Kunal took his phone and was surprised to see Mishti''s calls.

He hurriedly redialled .

" Kaha ho Mishti .Tum aur bhai phir se kuch."

" Woh mein room mein Hoon... mere sir bohot dukh Raha Hein...and nothing happened with Abir...he got a call and went out...and I came back..Tum log enjoy karna . don't worry about me... Kuhu ki saath hi rehna okay..."

"Okay..take medicine and sleep well...Kal performance bhi heina"

He cut the call and told Neil about Mishti..

" I should go to her .." Neil said absently.

Kunal stopped him .

"She needs total rest..let her be..Abir Bhai kahaan Hein?"

" He has gone back to take an urgent call from New York."

Mark appeared near them and provided the info..

" Okay guys..how about we call it a night then.. tomorrow is the big event."

*****

Mishti waited for Mark to come back.

They were managing to make Abir walk when her phone vibrated...

She lied to Kunal and then asked Mark to make excuses for Abir .

Now Mark helped her to take Abir to the private use penthouse elevator...

" Mishti.. if I can call you that... .this way we won't get noticed.. we'll get him to his suit .."

Mishti nodded absently...her mind twirling in the fog of questions about Abir's unusual behavior towards her ...and her senses still thrumming with the feel his touch invoked...

Both of them helped Abir to the suit..

" I think we should give him a cold shower otherwise he is going to have a hell of a hangover tomorrow.."

Mishti looked at Mark  Without understanding..

Mark guided Abir to the bathroom..and made him sit as Mishti followed him unsure of what to do..

" Will you please hold him ..I"ll get the towel and then change of clothes..he never stayed here so..I have to make arrangements."

Mishti nodded and held Abir..who sagged a bit and comfortably laid his head on her chest..

Mishti looked down at the way he cuddled to her and couldn't resist threading her fingers through his hair..

" Mishhhti..."

He mumbled and she held him close.

Mark who came back with the towel looked at the duo...

The contentment on his boss's face brought tears in his eyes...

He was the one who was a silent witness to the heartbreak Abir suffered.. even completely drunk Abir had the pain in his eyes... called out  her name even in unconscious state...and now whatever the situation is... her presence was giving his boss this peace of mind...

Mishti released Abir who held on to her as she saw Mark Waiting..

She nodded and tried to move away so that Mark can do whatever was necessary..

But Abir was not letting her go..

Mark hid a smile at his boss's antics ..as he kept the towel handy for her ...

" I'll get the change of clothes for both of you ..just douse him in cold water.. already.."

Mishti was about to protest but Mark had already turned away ..

❣️❣️

Abir felt the cool blast of water and shook his head...he was feeling very light and he was dreaming...?

Right?

Otherwise why was Mishti standing beside him...?

Holding him...and getting drenched too..

His heart was overflowing with a strange sweetness...

"Mishtiii..." He looked up to her..

"Hmm..?"

"Mistiii....I missed you...tum itne din mujhse door...I missed you..."

He pulled her close snuggling onto her bosom like a petulant child..

"Tumse door rehtha Hein toh kuch bhi acha nahi lagtha...sab kuch. .umm .bura lagtha Hein....kabhi kabhi saans Lena bhi diffi...diffic....mushkil hota Hein... tumhein kabhi laga ..? Aise..ki tumhein na dekoo toh Mera Dil...Dil..band ho jaayega.."

❣️❣️

Mishti was trembling  ...Abir's ramblings was starting to make sense..

He missed her all these months..!?

Dil..?

Use na dekhoo toh Abir ko lag Raha tha ki Dil dhadakna band kardega..??

She cupped his face as Abir snuggled to her as water washed through both..drenching them ...

❣️❣️

Mishti didn't want to let go of Abir ..but it was necessary to towel him and she closed the shower..and looked at Abir...

" Ab theek se baitho..let me towel you properly.."

" Tum Jo kahungi.. mein sununga... lekin mujhe akela mat chodna...bohot dukhtha Hein..."

Mishti realized that her tears were mixing with the water on her face..

" Toh chup baitho na..."

She said softly as she towelled his hair...

Abir rested his head on her chest...then she steadied and looked at him sitting obediently ...in soaked clothes...

She looked at the door for Mark ..not sure what to do next and then saw Abir  slightly shiver...

❣️❣️

Abir smiled as he felt her hands undoing his shirt buttons...

As she slowly removed his shirt through his back he caught her arm...

Brought it to his chest and kept above his heart...

" Tum na . ek khwab ho...toh mein tumse apni Dil ki saari baat Bata saktha Hoon na... Nice...Tum mere khwab mein pehle bhi aati thi... lekinn mujhe adhoora chodke jaati thi....

He took her hand to his cheeks.. closing his eyes and feeling her touch...

"Lekin ab tumhara saath sacha lagtha Hein..

Ek baat bataoon...Tum ne mujhe roka na..uss ladke ko maarne se...theek Kiya..

Mein Shayad uska bohot bura haal kardeta...

Kya na..kisi aur ko mein tumhare saath dekhtaa Hein toh.. Dil ko dard hota Hein... Tab pata nahi tha.... kyun hua tha....lekin phir...Nanko bhi Mera Dil Hein.na...toh dard sehne ki aadat daal di... lekin Neil ...uske saath Tum ko dekha toh bohot gussa aaya..Kya tum Sach mein use pasand Karthi ho?......hmm..toh mein Nanko ko sambhaal loonga..."

He took a deep sigh...as Mishti threaded her fingers through his wet hair..

"Tum khush ho is se zyada toh mujhe kuch chahiye hi nahi..."

Mishti bit her lips hard to hold her sobs...and held him close to her as she bent to kiss his forehead... soothing both their tortured souls...

She was startled by a cough sound from the door ..and Abir too opened his eyes ...as Mark entered with his clothes...

" Wah...ab tum bhi aagaye mere khwab mein...I love you yaar..batana isko ki yeh mujhe kitne tadpaya Hein...par daantna nahi...no..No scolding.."

Mark held Abir as Mishti let off her hold.

" I've kept your change of clothes in the bed .use the walk-in wardrobe .I will bring him.."

Mark said in a whisper..

Mishti nodded and wiped off her tears..suddenly aware of her drenched condition.. with a look at a content Abir she moved out...

" Mistiii.." 

Abir tried to open his eyes..and Mark pacified him...as he did before..

" She is here ...not going anywhere...let me get you out of this cloths."

****

Mishti looked at herself on the wall length mirror ..dazed....!

Abir have feelings for her?

As in love love..not as a kid sister..but as his soul mate..!!??

She did a twirl around and jumped with joy and tears...

She tried to accept it but failed to conjure up any situation where he accidentally expressed his hearts intent to her...

He never did or said anything...ever.

Wow...you are the apt person to blame him..

Her heart chided her...

He never gave me a reason to....

Her mind defended her...

And  Piya...!

She was suddenly jolted into reality..! With a major frown..as she automatically took out the dress.out of the packet...and looked again..

Of course Mark couldn't go through her stuff and he got her this!

Mishti looked at Abir sleeping on the bed and Mark who was waiting for her..

Before she could say anything he said.

" I'll get them send to laundry and return to you by tomorrow evening..."

Mishti nodded and thanked him..

" I heard Abir say that you are used to taking care of him..Mark .why?..was he ill or something in the past months.?"

Her question had Mark fidgeting with Abir's duvet..as he covered the sleeping figure partially...

" I am not at liberty to say anything about sir's personal ..you know .. life.."

Mishti took stock of Mark's now stiff attitude towards her..

" Okay then as he trust you to take care of him I'll go back to my room.."

She tied up her robe securely and  moved to take her phone kept by the side stand near the foyer..

Mark now was flustered at seeing the Stony expression on Mishti''s face..

"Umm...I can't stay here tonight..and he gets agitated sometimes in sleep..some one should stay with him.."

Mishti stopped short at the foyer as Mark came to her ..

" You should stay.." and without bothering for her reply added

"I Will come back early morning .I know you are worried about Kuhu and Kunal..I will manage them.. .do take care of him..."

Mishti looked at Mark understanding perfectly that he considered her responsible for Abir's state...but was too polite to voice it.

***

Abir's content sleep was disturbed by a feeling of abandonment..his serene dream now taking its usual form...

The dark swirling despair dragging her away...he tried hard to hold on to her but suddenly she let go...

****

Mishti had pulled a sofa to his bedside and sat there in rewinding the past hour..

Abir...

Not even a single word or look...to convey his feelings,.and moving away from the family for her sake...?

He thought Kunal loved her? And left like that?

And now he thinks she is into Neil...of course Piya would have put the thought in...

And he would take care of his Nanko..!! if she chose to leave him and go to Neil..!??

Mishti didn't know whether to laugh or cry at his idiocy and selflessness..

As she looked at peacefully sleeping Abir she relived the way his fingers revered and sketched her face..

Why would Abir lie to her and family about Piya..

Why would he keep himself away from his family and her if he loved them so much..

Her heart ached at the innocence with which he opened his heart to her even if under influence..

Her eyes fell on the sleeping Abir and sat up straight...his palms were fisted and face twitched unsettlingly..

Mishti got in the bed and found that he was indeed agitated and beads of fine perspiration were forming on his forehead..

She held his fisted palm...and threaded her fingers along his forehead. ..into his soft hair in a soothing motion..

His restiveness succumbed slowly into her ministrations as he turned towards her and sighed her name in sleep..

" Mishti.."

She could not resist the way he took her name..

With all the love and desperation..

She pressed her lips onto his cheek softly...

" Mat jaao.."

His hold on her arm and the way he kept it under his cheeks made it impossible for her to move away and slowly she eased herself beside him... 

Later into the night Mark ...obviously concerned about Abir & Mishti...came into the room..

And saw the most serene tableau before his eyes...in the moonlight..

Mishti sleeping .. leaning on the headboard..

Abir on his stomach..on her lap....his face nuzzled against her waist..

Her one hand resting on Abir's head while her other hand held.. him close to her.. ..

Mark's sigh of content at this sight spoke volumes....