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Introducing Harsh chayya as Avinash Kapoor..

°°°°°°

Abir sat opposite to Nanu ..who was engrossed in their game of chess..

He looked at his watch frequently... as Nanu looked up at his restlessness..

" Mishtii aa rahi Hein Kya ?"

Abir nodded at him with a frown...she should have come by now...

The eerie toe curling fear he experienced earlier was suddenly gripping him in a wave that his hand holding the rook trembled violently... disturbing the chessboard...

" Nanu...I feel ..."

Abir whispered as he felt something throttle him... Choking him as he felt a huge block of despair sinking into his stomach...his eyes searched for his phone..his hand moving to it in unknown urgency...

In these weeks ,..he had tracked her...more often than he cared to admit...but now he felt the opressing compulsion...but before he could open his phone ...The faint sound of ambulance carried by the wind had an enormous physical effect on him as every hair stood up in alarm..

Mishtii...!!

Nanu was startled at the way Abir called out for Mishti and tore out of the sitting room on the landing to the stairs...

Kunal who was jogging up the stairs talking to the phone.. too was taken aback by the rash way Abir stopped him.

" Kuhu .!?..ask her where is Mishti....??!"

Bewildered Kunal repeated Abir's question to Kuhu and put it on speaker..

" Mishti wahaan pohunchi nahin Kya?
She left home sometime ago.....!"

Abir pushed Kunal  out of way and pounded through the hall to the main door and beyond...

Leaving Kunal and Nanu look at each other in shock..

" Kunal ...jaa jaldi...kuch toh problem Hein...Abiir...."

Nanu called out from the landing and  he found Kunal halfway to the door...

When he turned Nanu saw Meenakshi and Parul standing in the hall...

Looking at each other in confusion...

*****

Three days Later

Piya sank into her chair after pacing for a longtime..

She had been on edge for three days...

Just as she finished  dialling the emergency as she sped from the sight of Mishti sprawled on the pavement she had spotted a dog walker run towards the lying figure...and she had felt the albatross of regret weighing her down..

She never regretted anything in her life ...

Crushing hearts didn't matter to her when girls made a play for Abir , Neil or Saksham...

She smiled ruefully thinking how Neil tried to keep his dates secret from her...

Abir was never bothered and Saksham....he had eyes only for her ...!

She never felt a shred of regret when she manipulated anybody to get her heart's wish...

Her dad ..mom...Neil... anyone...

This was the first time she was feeling like she had lost control of her feelings...
And the news she had managed to hear from the hospital was reassuring and disappointing at the same time ...

Mishti was out of danger....but haven't regained conciousness..!

Exactly what it meant to her she didn't know...

But an absolute relief had coursed through her and she had the ridiculous urge to cry her eyes out...

Why ..?

Why can't Abir look at her the way he looked at Mishti..?

If he did so then she wouldn't have to be so mean and obsessed about him...

Piya took a deep breath...

The emotional havoc she was having was due to stress....

She need to unwind...

For what it's worth Mishti would be hospitalized for sometime and by the time she can regain her hold on Abir...
She should go back to New York...and bide her time...

***

The buoying motion of unconscious to subconscious and then back to Oblivion was tiring and through the rare  moments of upsurge she felt him..his scent ..his touch.. always near her ..

Then she heard  him...

" Mujhe chodke mat jao ... Mishti...I need you..!"

She longed to respond but the wave of darkness swamped her efforts...

***

Mishtii found a bit of light around the corner and felt herself drifting at an accelerated speed to that spot as brightness washed over her whole being....

When she got accustomed to the light she felt a calmness....

Someone was reading out to her .she listened ears picking up the words.....it was  about different types of diets..??!..her study material..!!

But why..?

She recognized  the voice...and wondered if she was hallucinating....

Ashish !!

Though it took a heavy effort to lift her eyelids ....she succeeded eventually...

And the hazy view in front of her was a combination of white and pale green.... with lots of instruments ..

She flexed her fingers involuntarily as the events of the day rushed into her mind... abstractedly...

Abir waiting for her...as he casually leaned on his car ...

The cozy table at Andre's...

Badimaa sleeping in her room....

Kuhu waving her as she left...

The accident...!!

" Dii..."

Ashish's voice was a mix of relief and surprise...!

His voice alerted the nurse sitting nearby as she got up hurriedly and checked Mishti''s vitals..

" Ashu...tum..."

Her lips were parched and her tongue wouldn't move to her will...

" Don't talk....no straining ... doctor is on his way.."

Nurse admonished softly..

Ashish was at the door... thrilled to give the happy news to the waiting family...

The next half an hour or so were draining for her as the team of doctors... especially neurologists ..,ascertaining her cognitive ability ...when all she wanted was to see Abir..

She knew for sure that he had some frightful hours and she wanted to reassure him...

But she felt tired...her bones feeling stiff in heaviness...sedatives taking their action through the IV hooked on her....

Her eyelids dropped and she fell into a deep sleep...

One of the doctors of the group turned and looked at the tired face with a sliver of uneasiness as the team went out..

°°°

Next time when she opened her eyes she found that she was in a different room ...

Her next surprise... sitting beside her ...

" Maa..!"

" Thank God ... Mishti...!"

Shriya's face was blotchy with tears and she  tenderly  squeezed her daughter's hand...

Mishti tried to smile as Parul maasi came to her handing her specs and helping Shriya to make Mishti .. sit up leaning on the pillows carefully arranged in her back..

Mishti spotted Meenakshi,. coming from an adjoining room in a hurry with a straw glass and a bowl..

" Beta ...tumne toh hum sabko Dara hi Diya.....ab kuch mat bolo...Tum weak ho ...drink this and have this soup after that..."

" Haan chotima..it's strange...I had more than enough food today... ...but I am feeling hungry now.. very hungry."

Mishti said with a rueful smile...

" It's because you were on IV feed for five days ...Mishti.."

Parul maasi said in a whispered voice...and Mishti''s face whitened in shock!

" Five.....days...!???"

She looked at Meenakshi's tight yet tired face and then to Shriya's...

That accounted for her Mom's and Ashish's presence...

Mishti groaned inwardly... closing her eyes ... digesting the news....and then her eyes flew open....

Holding Parul Massi's hand tightly ...her mouth forming a question...and Parul looked at her sympathetically....

" Now drink this.."

Meenakshi held the straw to her lips and Mishti took a sip...

The sound of the door being opened roughly and Kunal's admonishing " Bhai..abhi nahin !!.." made all the ladies including Shriya to look and wince...

Mishti too turned her stiff neck and  her eyes locked with his.....

Abir stood there ...
looking thunderous..and eerily still ...

Parul squeezed her shoulders lightly and slipped off from her side ..as did Shriya..and both went outside in an understanding...

Meenakshi stood there with the bowl in her hand looking at Abir and Mishti.. . indecisively....!

Taking in her son's state with a jolt....

She was totally worried about Mishti in these days and had taken for granted that Abir was needed in the hospital... With Nihaal there she had no doubt that Abir will be comfortably relaxing...or working ..

She had Rajshri di to take care in this hard situation ...and with Shriya's arrival Meenakshi spent only brief time in the hospital...

Now the tired disheaveled person who stood at the door with desperation and rage in his bleak eyes... Meenakshi struggled to believe that this was her Abir..!!

But the two souls were now oblivious to anyone in the world..

Mishti tried a reassuring smile.

That was when the dam of his patience  burst...and he tore into her...

" Tumhein kisi ki bhi parvah nahin Hein na...? Cycle chalane aati nahin toh chalati kyun ho..??!
Lekin tumhein toh apni hi parvah nahin hein..Massima..Kuhu..Kunal ..Nanu.. Maa.. kisi ki bhi parvah nahin...Mera toh bilkul bhi nahin...pichle baar goli lagne wali thi...ab car se ... tumhein kuch andaza bhi Hein Kya ki 5 din mere kaise Gaye..dam ghut raha that mera...saas hi nahin le paa raha tha ...."

Abir panted slightly as he took weary steps towards her ...

A shocked Meenakshi was about to reprimand Abir for his harsh words even at the risk of another rift between them....but Kunal held her arm... Stopping her ..!

Silently he took the bowl from her hands and guided Meenakshi out of the room...

Neither Abir or Mishti noticed the bewildered look Meenakshi had as she looked at them...

Mishti was drinking in the sight of him..
His harsh words had just widened her smile...which shone in her eyes as sparkles...as she looked at him with unadulterated love .

He looked haggard...thin and with days of stubble adorning his strong jaws ...and bleary eyes resulting of lack of sleep...and crying...she realized with a pang in her heart...

"I am sorry... Abir.."

Mishtii pinched her ears ..trying not to cry ...the enormity of what could have been dawning into her.....

Big tear drops rolled over her cheeks..

" Mishtii..."

The pain and relief in his voice was heart wrenching as she raised her arms to him...

He went to her arms as if he would die if he stayed away from her even  for one second.....

" Mein theek Hoon...mujhe kuch bhi nahin hua Hein...just this funny bandage ."

She said consolingly as she petted him ... holding his head ....Abir shook his head ..his eyes overflowing with tears...

" Mein dar Gaya tha Mishti....I was never this scared in my life .not even when I saw Karan take his aim at you.... God..!!.. when I saw them lift you onto the stretcher I felt my heart stop.. Don't ever do this to me....I can't...."

His whispered words made her pull him tight in her embrace...

" Ahem..!"

Nihaal knocked the door as Abir straightened and got up  ... wiping off his tears..

" Welcome back Mishti...! "

He smiled at her ...and took in the state of his friend with faint disapproval...

" Nihaal... Doctors..what did they say..?"

Abir questioned and Nihaal shook his head..in mischeif.

" I am not at liberty to discuss Mishti with you bro....Yet!...but I can answer her questions..though.."

" Tell me Nihaal....everything."

Mishti took Abir's hand in hers as she braced herself..

" Well ..when the paramedics brought you here you were unconscious with nose bleed ..and all scan reports showed a major concussion on your right temporal lobe... luckily the helmet you wore was sturdy enough to withstand the force of your headlong fall...so no cracks in your skull.. Still Doctors were of opinion to monitor you closely for any delayed shock and therefore decided on keeping you under ...and let your brain heal itself ..since here was no visible hemorrhage ...or aneurism..other than that just scrapes and scratches .. which were tended to as soon as neurological part was taken care of.. You are to be here for some more time Mishti...for impact feedback...Do you remember what happened.....??"

Abir's hand squeezed hers as Nihaal accounted to her injuries.

Mishti frowned a bit...

"I don't know Nihaal...it all happened in split of a second..I remember being well inside the cycling route...and the road was free...some vehicle rammed on to my cycle.. as if trying to run me off to the pavement...and then it's blank..."

" Hmm the police are waiting to get some information from you...if you are up to it...it seems they too have got a blind end as the vehicle causing the accident have not been caught on camera anywhere..they say they got an emergency call,.a dog walker..who was there at that time...you know him Abir ...?"

Abir nodded... vaguely remembering the helpful soul..

Nihaal looked at Mishti..

" Well..now coming to my purpose of the visit... Mishti..this man has been living in the hospital for the past few days.. hogging my room and coffee and whatnot...I tried my best to make him go home...and since you are the only person he would listen to I request you to order him out and have a decent meal and sleep before coming back here..."

"No..I am perfectly okay ..no need ..."

Abir protested as Mishti looked at him half heartedly..as Abiir tightened his hold on her hands..a bit childishly..

"I'll go home when I am good and ready..Nihaal..how many more days...you know..?"

Nihaal shrugged..

" The team is discussing it  and when I know something I'll let you know...now Bro you  need your sleep too...if you hover like this she'll be no doubt restless...."

Abir looked at her resignedly...

" Okay... I'll go home in the night and when you get up I'll be here...uhh.now...I have to face all.."

His face held a relief as well as embarrassment..

Nihaal laughed at the face Abir made..

" Well... anyone should be blind not to know what Mishti meant to you...! Your secret is well and truly out of the bag..!"

He walked out with a wide smile...

Mishtii blushed .

Abir bent to press a kiss on her chin...and straightened to see Parul and Sriya looking at them with relieved faces ...

Blushing a bit Abir said apologetically..

" Sorry Maa I yelled and your daughter...I..I was .."

Shriya went upto Abir and patted his cheek affectionately..

" I know you were going crazy with concern for Mishti and if any one has the right to scold her it's you...I got full account of your feud from Parul di..and I am happy that the phase is over...!! Anyways.. I'll come in the evening..to relieve you.. Mishti beta...take rest..!"

Sriya and Parul went out and Mishti turned to Abir .. holding his hand...

" Abir.. Badimaa..!?"

" Massima theek Hein...Kunal Kuhu unke saath hi Hein..you don't worry..mein unse Milne aaj hi jaaonga..."

Mishtii nodded ..and added with a smirk.
" Shave karne ke baad hi Jana... Badimaa dar jaayengi.."

" Ab tumhein Meri shakal see bhi problem hone lagi Hein Kya.. I'll do it...now have this soup...you need it.and sleep..."

Abir faked his anger as he fed her as  Mishti looked at him with a tender smile....

" God I feared I wouldn't see your smile again..."

The tightness in his throat was preventing him  from saying more..

After that He helped Mishti to  slid down carefully into a lying position... and she pulled him lightly to her side... making room for him...

Later Abir looked down at the sleeping Mishti...her cheek resting on his palm as he sat on her bed leaning on the pillow...his eyes letting the anguish inside him clearly...

*****

Meenakshi walked into rajvansh mansion in a state of fugue...

Abir and Mishti...!

Was she imagining things...!?

She reminisced the way Abir barraged into the room and scolded Mishti...

Of course he would... whatever their differences may be she knew Abir cared for her...she had once tried to use his protectiveness towards Mishti to mellow their frosty relationship...

Was there something more..?

Abir's state of disheavel and desperation hinted towards that something...

Dare she wish it...?

Kunal was about to say something to her...

Meenakshi recollected..

But just then Nihaal came and he went to him...and she was not in a state to understand an explanation of what was going on... seeing Parul and Shriya's response Meenakshi was sure that they were in with whatever was going on...

Some thing was going on...!

What did Abir mean when he said
" Pichle baar goli lagne wali thi..!"

Is Mishti in any kind of danger?

She sat embroiled in her thoughts and apprehensions and the darkness descended in the room.

A shadow appeared at her door..

" Di...aap yahaan ho? I was searching for you..aap theek toh Hein..? Bapuji aur Avinash ji were asking about you...Dii??!"

Meenakshi looked hard at the person who was her shadow all life..

" Parul... Rajkot mein Kya hua tha?... Sach Sach batana...!"

Her voice was every bit Meenakshi Rajvansh's command..

****

Nihaal and Kunal peeped into the room as Abir looked at the slightly opening  door..

Upon their signal he softly disengaged himself from the limp hands thrown over his thigh and got out of the room..

" Bhai ab Tak Maine aapse kuch bhi nahin poocha...koi zabardasthi nahin k...i iska Matlab yeh nahin Hein ki aap apna manmaani Karthe hi rahe...ab straight Ghar jao... Shriya aunty aur mein aaj yahaan rukoonga...you just get some solid shave and rest ."

Shriya walked upto him..

" Abir ..maan jao..mujhe bhi thoda time de do Meri beti ki paas baithne ki..."

Her teasing request made Abir blush a little..

Kunal and Nihaal chose the exact moment to cough..and both were treated with a killer look from Abir...

****
Some days later

Meenakshi sighed as  Mishti insisted on her stomach being stuffed..

" Ab aur nahin Chotima...I am full.."

The day she got to know the real reason of Abir's attitude change towards her Meenakshi had felt such a protectiveness and responsibility...for the girl who subtly understood her and averted the crisis at her home smoothly...

She had been furious when Parul told her that it was Satish and Karan all along...and had decided to talk straight to Kaushal and it was then she got the full picture...

Mehul..!

He masterminded the embezzlement and escaped at the last minute...

How she wished she was there to protect her children..!

Parul doesn't know about Mehul's involvement and Meenakshi thanked God's for Abir and Mishti''s discretion on that matter...

Abir and Mishti...!

Meenakshi had been watching them both...

Abir was courteous..and Mishti for a change listened to him...there was some change in the balance in their relationship and it enthalled and terrified her at the same time...

****

Though Abir wanted to spend time with Mishti...it was not a practical wish with his and her family hovering around...

He was thankful to all for not interrogating him over his total breakdown.... especially Kunal...and Maa..!!

Sriya was always there and Kunal had taken Ashish under his wings ..

Abir was a bit sceptical about Avinash Kapoor.., Ashish's dad .. Mishti''s stepfather..

He seemed a bit uncomfortable in the whole settings and though he got on well with Nanu , Maa and all others he hadn't been to visit Mishti in the hospital yet...

Then Massima and Kuhu.. Against his better judgement he had told Massima about Mishti's accident and her health was suffering because of the stress...

Maa had her handful with comforting Massima...and the next day of Mishti gaining conciousness Neerav and Ananya came followed by Shourya uncle and Varsha aunty...

So it was just some stuffy formal etiquettes they could share... apart from the long ardent looks and phone calls they exchanged in secret... enquiring and ensuring each other's comfort...

He had too much work to do which had piled up in his absolute abandonment of professional front but every morning and evening he visited her...just to see her safely ensconced in a protective environment..

Moreover he had to follow up the accident...the police vaguely hinted at an attempt to manslaughter gone astray.. mostly because the perpetrator didn't count the dog walker coming towards them at the turn....it was likely that the driver spotted him a bit late and swerved not to hit him and the dog... resulting in running off Mishti to the pavement..

It can't be a coincidence and Abir was determined to find out..!

Mishtii on the other hand missed Abir terribly..but Kuhu Kethu Kunal and Ashish were determined not to let her wallow in boredom..

And when Neerav and Ananya came  she  called Neil and she was much relieved when Neil took the responsibility of the wedding preparations... with just one condition...

That Mishti should be doing the  complete layout..and therefore she needed to be fit and fine soon.

****

The day Mishti was brought back to Windflower Lane.. Meenakshi and Avinash had a cryptic conversation regarding her....

Meenakshi had been a little upset by the aloofness shown by Avinash towards Mishti... though he politely enquired about her health,  he didn't even want to see her .. while Shriya and Ashish were totally besotted to Mishti... Avinash seemed to have difficulty in accepting Mishti..

And that evening seeing the strain Avinash's behavior put on Shriya's face.. Meenakshi decided to take bull by the horns...

She found him in the library...and after casual talks Meenakshi asked casually..

" Avinash ji..aap Mishti se Milne kab jaa rahein Hein..?!"

Meenakshi's laden question was met with uneasy eyes...

"Well..let her recover first.no need to put pressure on her with a new relationship..at this time..."

Avinash's offhand reply made Meenakshi to bolden her questions..

" Do you feel pressured Avinash ji..Jahaan Tak mujhe pata Hein aap Sriya ki beti ki baare mein unse Shaadi karne se pehele hi jaanta tha na? But I get a distinct feel that you don't approve of her..."

Avinash looked at Meenakshi..

" I immensely respect you for being straight Meenakshi Ji and I will try to return the sentiment....you said I don't seem to approve Mishti and you are right...!"

" But Mishti is so "

Meenakshi's exclamatory words were cut by Avinash..

" Of course you'll find it strange how I can disapprove of her even before meeting her... that's what infuriating you na...I know she is like your daughter and very much valued in this family...but I am a believer of the adage that a fruit doesn't fall far from the tree..."

Meenakshi's face darkened at his insinuation..

" Are you saying you don't approve of Shriya as well..?''

Avinash shook his head vehemently..

" Shriya always needed support and I am proud of her as my wife and my son's mother...but I am talking about the other half...the greedy overconfident killer father,. You see I went  to prison just to see him...and he very thoroughly introduced himself when I told him who I am and that I was marrying Shriya...As an academician I have found that children are mirror images of their parents....the arrogant father always has a rogue son..it's just like the saying that the parents sins visit their children.."

He paused meaningfully before continuing.

"I can't help wonder how a girl of 21 has this much influence in this family... totally unrelated to her...than her own relatives..here everybody are keeping her on a pedestal it seems."

Meenakshi looked at the person claiming himself as an academician putting forth such a generalized opinion upon his daughter..to all intents and purposes..

" But Mishti never knew Naman or come to that she didn't know Shriya till now... don't you think you are doing Injustice to the her... she was well sheilded from all of that unpleasantness..do you think if a child was kept away from their parents influence in every way ..can possibly be like them..??"

Avinash looked at Meenakshi with shifty eyes ...

" No one can be sure of that Meenakshi Ji...but from what I have seen in my life children always become reflections of their parents sooner or later...and I would advise caution to you...  I for sure don't want that lowlife's reflection to taint my family.. this visit was in emergency situation..I couldn't deny Shriya...."

He paused and shook his head in desperation before leaving the room..

But Meenakshi was not thinking about Mishti now...or when she asked Avinash her last question...

Her mind which was already in a turmoil since Shourya's Comments on Abir became more turbulent..as Avinash's warning completely validated her dread..

***