Yun Hi Tu Mere Saath Rehna - An Abhimaan x Mishbir Fanfic (C29 : P16) - Page 13

Lovely story... When will you update.. eagerly waiting for your update...

Originally posted by: mumihp

Thank you so much....I am so happy the truth is out and can't wait.

Yes, this wedding track was horrible...Vidya is on crack...worst ML, worst step mother here. Who gives curses on wedding day. Stupid women.

But yes...cannot wait for the next chapter....I bet Ruhi will start shouting how her mother Akshara is a killer....Lets see if Kaveri will change her tune when she realises Abhira came from richer ancestery. I hope Poddar Law firm, Sanjay, Kaveri and Rohit go through bad luck.

Thank you! So glad you like this chapter. More to come where this came from! ✊

Chapter Twenty One

“Manish Ji!” Swarna cried, rushing to his aid. She gathered him in her arms and pleaded with him to stand up. “Chaliye, uthiye. Manish Ji, please.”

Manish, however, was not listening to a word she said, his eyes stuck on Abhira, and his mind a million miles away. Abhira Akshara Sharma. His Akshu's daughter. Abhira was his Akshu's daughter. What he'd felt the first time they'd met had not been wrong. She did remind him of Naira, because she came from Naira. That time at the resort in Mussourie… When he'd felt Akshu was nearby, she really had been. He should have followed his instinct. Should have looked for Akshu, should have probed Abhira. But, he hadn't. He'd convinced himself that it was all a trick of his mind that missed his beloved granddaughter a little too much. It never had been. If only he hadn't been so complacent, he would have known about Abhira months ago, since their first meeting. But, he'd been a coward and chosen the easy way out. And now, he was suffering for it.

“Kya— kya kaha tumne?” Ruhi mumbled, losing her footing as well. Rohit caught her, trying to steady her.

“Maine kaha ki Abhira Akshara Sharma apne vaade kabhi nahi todti,” Abhira repeated.

“Abhira… Akshara… Sharma,” Ruhi echoed. “Tum… Tum…” She wasn't able to finish the thought, dread pooling in her heart at the mere possibility of it.

“Haan, Ruhi,” Abhira answered her unspoken question, confirming all her worst fears. “Main wohi hoon, jo tum samajh rahi ho. Itni smart toh tum ho ki tum samajh jao, right?”

“Tumha… Tumhaari himmat… Himmat kaise hui? Humaari life mein waapas aane ki?” Ruhi demanded. “Tumhaari Maa ne already meri poori zindagi barbaad kardi, Abhira. Aur ab tum bhi wohi kar rahi ho! How dare you?”

“Ruhi!” Abhira shouted. “Bas. Mumma ke against ek word nahi. Samjhi tum? Pata nahi kyun tumhe unse itni nafrat hai, lekin jitni tumhaari nafrat badi hai, usse kayi zyada bada mera Mumma ke liye pyaar hai. Aur main unke against kuch nahi sunungi.”

“Abh— Abhira… Beta,” Manish whispered. “Please.” He stretched his arm out, his palm open for her to take. Abhira moved towards him on instinct, but Armaan tightened his arms around her, not letting her leave.

“Hrishi!” Mishti commanded. “Unki help kar.”

“Dida…” Hrishi whined, trying to get out of it. He had no love lost for the man who had made his Akshu Bua suffer so much.

“Hrishi,” Mishti repeated, leaving no room for argument.

Sighing, Hrishi stepped forward and helped Manish stand. Rohit helped him in depositing Manish onto the couch. Once Hrishi had done the needful, he immediately moved back, taking his place beside Prajakta.

“Mehr, get him some water,” Mishti told her daughter-in-law. “Aur ek baar dekhlo if he's fine.”

“Mumma, Mehr andar first aid kit lene hi gayi hui hai,” Amish answered. “Just a second.” Mehr had hurried to bring her tools the moment she'd seen Manish collapse. Mishti had been too embroiled in everything else to notice.

No sooner had Amish said it, than Mehr came back, carrying all her supplies. She made Manish drink some water while she checked his vitals. “He's good,” she declared once she'd made sure everything was okay. “Bas ek baar ke liye shock ki wajah se aise BP low ho gaya tha but ab theek hai. Koi darrne ki baat nahi hai.”

“Thank you,” Surekha mumbled, dazed. She was still trying to grasp what had happened in the past few minutes. Everything was a blur. One second they were confronting Abhira, the next Manish had fallen & Abhira was her great-granddaughter. She didn't know what to do.

“Abhira, beta… Mujhe maaf karde, please,” Manish whispered. “Main tera gunehgaar hoon. Tere saath jo hua woh nahi hona chahiye tha. I'm sorry. Main apni saari zindagi bhi maafi maangu toh bhi kam hai. Lekin, tu… Tu toh meri achchi bacchi haina? Apne Par Nanu no maaf karde, beta. Please.”

“B-Nanu!” Ruhi cried. “Aap kyun isse maafi maang rahe hain? Aapne kuch galat nahi kiya hai! Galat isne aur iski Maa ne kiya hai. Mere saath!”

“Ruhi!” Manish warned. “Abhira ne tere saath kuch galat nahi kiya hai. Tune uske saath galat kiya hai. Aur yeh baat main tujhe pehle bhi samjhaane ki koshish kar chuka hoon, beta. Ab toh samajh jaa! Abhira behen hai teri.”

“Yeh meri kuch nahi hai!” Ruhi screamed. “Kuch nahi. Itna sab hone ke baad bhi aap uski side le rahe hain, B-Nanu? Aap ko meri koi parvaah nahi haina? Aapke liye bas Abhira important hai. Main koi nahi hoon, haina? Pehle Poppy aur Abhir… Aur ab aap bhi. Sab mujhe chodke chale jaiye! Waise bhi aap sabko uss murderer se mujhse zyada pyaar haina!”

“Murderer? Tum kisse murderer keh rahi ho?” Abhira asked, pushing forward. “Maine kisi ka murder nahi kiya hai!”

“Lekin, tumhaari Maa ne toh kiya haina!” Ruhi exclaimed, hysterical. “She's a murderer. Khooni hain woh! Unhone meri Matashree aur mere Papa… Dono ka murder kiya hai!”

“RUHI!” Armaan shouted, stopping her, supporting Abhira completely as she fell back on him with a thud at Ruhi's proclamation. “Not another word. Apni ghatiya zubaan se ek shabd aur mat nikalna tum ab. Samjhi?”

He turned Abhira around, so that her face was hiding in his chest. He hugged her close, his arms casting a barricade around the rest of the world. Abhira pushed herself into his embrace, as if trying to step inside him, away from all the hatred.

“Meri zubaan ghatiya hai?” Ruhi scoffed, not paying any heed to Armaan's words, uncaring of anything but her own thirst for revenge, of hurting Abhira as much as she could. “Chalo, theek hai. Maan liya. Meri zubaan ghatiya hai. Lekin Abhira ki Maa toh insaan hi ghatiya thi! Tabhi toh… Pehle mere Papa ko mujhse cheena, phir meri Matashree ko. Aur yeh sab karke dil nahi bhara toh mere Poppy aur mere Bhai ko mujhse cheen liya!! She took everything from me!”

“Stop it! Just stop it!” Abir exclaimed. “Tumhaari takleef main samajh sakta hoon, Ruhi. Bohot dukh dekhe hain tumne apni life mein. Jo tumhaare saath hua woh bohot bura hua. Lekin, please! Har cheez ke liye Akshu ko blame mat karo! Jo kuch hua, kisi cheez mein uski koi galti nahi thi!”

“Abir,” Mishti breathed, holding his hand and tugging him close. “It's okay. Hum araam se baat karte hain.”

“Araam se baat karne ka waqt 22 saal pehle tha, Chaand. Aaj nahi!” Abir denied. “Lekin tab toh Mr. Manish Goenka apni pregnant poti ko ghar se nikaalne mein busy the! Woh bhi tab jab uske pati aur uski behen ko guzre mahina bhi poora nahi hua tha!”

“Manish Ji! Kya yeh sach hai?” Madhav breathed, stunned at the revelation. Manish hung his head in shame, which was answer enough for everyone.

“Manish Ji… Aapne sach mein, aisa kiya?” Manisha asked. “Apne ghar ke bachche ke saath koi aisa karta hai kya?”

“Mr. Goenka ne kabhi Akshu ko apna mana hi kahaan?” Mishti sneered.

“Mishti!” Manish cried, offended. “Teri har shikayat sahi hai. Maine galat kiya hai meri Akshu ke saath. Galti nahi, paap kiya hai. Main maanta hoon. Lekin… Yeh mat keh, ki maine usse kabhi apna nahi maana. Bachchi hai woh meri. Inhi haathon mein paal-poske bada kiya hai maine usse. Kartik aur Naira ke jaane ke baad, main hi uski Maa aur Papa tha. Ghar choota toh kya hua? Rishta toh nahi toota na? Bohot pyaar karta hoon main usse.”

“Ghar aur rishta, dono choot chuke hain, Mr. Goenka,” Abhira finally whispered, turning in Armaan's embrace to face her past. “Jiss din aapne Mumma ko ghar se nikaala tha uss din aapne saare rishtey tod diye!”

“Toh tum kya chaahti thi? Meri Matashree ke murderer ko hum apne ghar mein rakhte?!” Ruhi cried.

“Yeh jabse murderer-murderer kya laga rakha hai tumne?” Armaan burst out. “Woh murderer nahi hain, Ruhi! Unhone mujh jaise anjaan insaan ke liye, jo saalon pehle unka student tha, uske liye apni jaan dedi. Woh kisi aur ki jaan kaise le sakti hain? Woh bhi apni hi behen ki? Thoda toh soch ke bolo! Jo hua woh bohot bura hua. Aarohi Aunty ki iss haadse mein death ho gayi, yeh bohot dukh ki baat hai. Lekin, woh ek accident tha! Akshara Maa ne jaan-boojhke tumhaari Mumma ko nahi maara tha!”

“Unki wajah se hi meri Matashree mujhe chodke chali gayi!” Ruhi insisted. “Aur mere Papa bhi!”

“Neil ki death mein Akshu ka koi haath nahi tha, Ruhi,” Mishti insisted. “He died while trying to rescue girls who were victims of human trafficking. Tumhaare Papa ek bohot bahadur insaan the. He died a hero. Jo bhi hua, usme Akshu ki kya galti? Kya Akshu ne usse kaha tha wahaan jaane? Kya woh usse zabardasti wahaan leke gayi? Bilkul nahi! Wahaan jaana, unn ladkiyon ki help karna… Woh Neil ka faisla tha. Jaanti ho kyun? Kyunki woh yeh duniya tumhaare liye aur safe banana chaahta tha. Usne Akshu se kaha tha… Ki woh Papa ban'ne wala hai, toh woh kisi aur ke bachchon ko iss tarah musibat mein chodke kaise jaa sakta hai? Akshu ne usse force nahi kiya tha!”

“Yeh sab bakwaas baatein hain,” Ruhi countered. “Aapke aise ghuma-firaake, yaa iss tarah sugarcoat karne se sach nahi badlega. She's the reason my parents are dead!”

“Aap log sab, please! Please! Shaant ho jaiye!” Swarna finally intervened. “Main haath jodti hoon. Iss tarah se meri bachchi ka dil mat dukhaiye. Dekh nahi rahe aap iski kya haalat ho gayi hai?”

“Yeh aapko dikh gaya, Mrs. Goenka,” Abhira commented. “Ki humaari baaton se Ruhi ko dukh pohoncha hai. Lekin, aapko yeh nahi nazar aa raha ki uski baaton se mujhe kitni takleef pohonch rahi hai? Woh yahaan, mere saamne khade hoke jabse meri Mumma ko murderer bula rahi hai, aur aap logon mein se koi kuch nahi keh raha. Kyun?

Ek baat bataiye… Jab kuch mahino pehle, Ruhi se mere Kaka ka accident ho gaya tha… Tab toh aapke poore parivaar ne jaan laga di taaki usse jail na ho. Mr. Goenka ne mujhe itna bhala-bura sunaaya, police officers se sifaarish ki… Kya-kya nahi kiya aap logon ne. Yeh jaante hue ki uski galti thi, aap log uspe parda daalne ki koshish karte rahe.

Lekin jab meri Mumma se bhi yehi galti hui, toh aapne kya kiya? Unse saare rishtey tod diye, unhe ghar se nikaal diya. Itne saalon mein yeh jaan'ne ki koshish bhi nahi ki ki woh zinda bhi hai ya marr gayi. Yeh nahi poocha ki unka bachcha theek bhi hai ya nahi. Mumma se gussa the, toh mujhpe bhi woh bhadaas nikaali aap logon ne.

Yeh bhed-bhaav kyun? Sirf isliye, kyunki Mumma ka accident aapke hi ghar ki beti ke saath hua tha? Kyun? Sirf Aarohi Aunty ki life ki value hai aapki nazron mein? Kaka aapke parivaar ka hissa nahi hain toh unke jeene-marrne se aapko kya farq padta hai. Right?”

“Abhira, tu baat ko kahaan se kahaan leke jaa rahi hai?” Manish questioned.

“Kya galat kaha hai Abhira ne?” Abir asked. “Aap sabne hamesha, Aarohi ko Akshu ke upar rakha hai. Har baar, Aarohi ki wajah se Akshu ne suffer kiya.”

“Akshu ki wajah se Aarohi ki shaadi tooti thi!” Swarna defended. “Shaadi wale din, Akshu ne Aarohi ke mangetar se kaha ki woh usse pyaar karti hai. Kya yeh sahi tha?”

“Nahi,” Mishti agreed. “Woh sahi nahi tha. Lekin kya yeh sahi tha ki Aarohi ne yeh jaante hue ki Abhimanyu usse nahi Akshu se pyaar karta hai, aur usse shaadi sirf isliye kar raha hai kyunki Akshu ne mana kar diya… phir bhi shaadi ke liye haan kardi?

Kya yeh sahi tha, ki saari zindagi Aarohi ne Akshu se itni nafrat ki, ek galti ke liye jo uski thi bhi nahi? Agar Sirat ne Akshu ki jaan bachaane apni jaan dedi, toh isme Akshu ki kya galti thi? Usne kya kiya? Bachchi thi woh bas. Mujhe pata hai, ki Aarohi bhi bachchi thi. Uss umr mein itni samajh nahi hoti. Usne Akshu ko blame kiya, main samajh sakti hoon kyun. Lekin bade hone ke baad bhi woh karti rahi… Kyunki aap mein se kisine usse samjhaane ki koshish hi nahi ki ki woh galat sochti hai. Uss nafrat ne Aarohi ke mann mein Akshu ke khilaaf itna zeher ghol diya tha, aur uski wajah se kya-kya hua yeh sab aap mujhse behtar jaante hain.

Lekin, sabse zyada afsos ki baat pata hai kya hai? Aarohi ke saath jo galti hui, aap logon ne phir wohi galti Ruhi ke saath dohraayi. Aarohi ki tarah, Ruhi bhi Akshu ko apni Maa ki maut ka gunehgaar maanti hai. Aur Aarohi ki tarah hi, aapne kabhi usse samjhaane ki koshish nahi ki, ki jo hua woh ek bura hadsa tha, jisme Akshu ki koi galti nahi thi.

Aur toh aur, jis tarah aapne Aarohi ko khush rakhne, hamesha Akshu ko ghar se door rakha… Usse boarding mein padhaaya, college bhi sheher ke bahar bheja… Jabki ghar ke baaki bachche ek saath bade hue, aur sirf Akshu ko, itni badi family hone ke bawajood akela bada hona pada…. Aapne Abhira ke saath bhi wohi kiya. Jab Akshu pregnant thi, jab usse aap sabki sabse zyada zaroorat thi, aap sabne usse munh mod liya, sirf Ruhi ke baare mein sochke. Aapne ek pal ke liye bhi uss bachche ke baare mein socha hi nahi jisne paida hone se pehle hi apne poora ka poora parivaar kho diya.

Aap karte honge Akshu se pyaar, lekin aapne har baar usse sirf dukh aur nirasha hi di hai, Mr. Manish Goenka. Aaj agar mere BF yahaan hote, toh woh apne bachchon ko kabhi itna suffer nahi karne dete. Unke jaane ke baad, unke saare bachchon ki zindagi barbaad kardi aapne. Aur kuch nahi toh yehi soch lijiye, kisi din jab bhagwaan ke ghar unse mulaqat hogi toh kya jawab denge aap unhe? Aapke bharose chod gaye the woh sab kuch, lekin aapne koi qadr nahi ki.”

“Meri galti hai,” Manish agreed. “Sab meri galti hai. Maine Kartik, Naira, aur Sirat… Sabka bharosa toda hai, sabke dil ko thes pohonchayi hai. Lekin, mujhe ek mauka dedo. Please, sirf ek mauka. Main sab theek kar doonga. Apni har galti sudhaar doonga. Sirf ek mauka chahiye mujhe. Ek baar Akshu se milwa do, please. Main uske pairon mein girke maafi maangunga. Usse waapas ghar le aaunga. Meri bachchi ab akeli nahi rahegi. Bas… Ek baar.”

Abhira let out a choked sob at his words. Armaan moved to pull her into his arms once again, but she turned to Mishti, throwing herself in Mishti's arms. Mishti hugged Abhira tight, their tears mingling together. Abir stepped forward, pulling both of them in his protective embrace. “Kaash, Mr. Goenka,” he breathed. “Kaash aapne yeh pehle socha hota. Shayad aaj Akshu hum sabke beech hoti.”

Manish's face crumpled as the weight of Abir's words settled in his stomach, as every interaction with Abhira flashed in front of his eyes, reminding him how Abhira was an orphan, how she'd lost both her parents. “Aksharaaaaaa!” His broken cry reverberated in the entire house. “Aksharaaaaaa! Meri bachchi. Mujhe maaf karde.”

As the true weight of his mistakes finally fell on him, Manish Goenka stood in front of all of them, a completely broken man, with no clear path ahead of him, no chance at salvation, and a heart that might still be beating figuratively, but was dead otherwise. Because, Akshara took with her, the man that Manish Goenka once was.

Please make Ruhi and Goenkas suffer without any maafi being given.

This ....i was just waiting for this chapter.....kassh ruhi ko thappad milta innn sab mai ek....

Loved the chapter...... waiting for more to come....

Originally posted by: Pinecone

Please make Ruhi and Goenkas suffer without any maafi being given.

Don't worry they're not gonna be spared. I know on the show Abhira will forgive them, but I don't want that to happen, so the fic will give them their due for sure!

Originally posted by: ashsamik

This ....i was just waiting for this chapter.....kassh ruhi ko thappad milta innn sab mai ek....

Loved the chapter...... waiting for more to come....

Haha itna bhi violence nahi aayega. Ruhi will be given her own reality check, though. That's for sure!!

Chapter Twenty Two

In the aftermath of all the revelations that had shook everyone, the Rajvansh & Poddar family stayed in the living room of the Rajvansh Villa, unmoving. The Goenkas had finally left after Abir had ordered them to, Ruhi & Rohit taking them home. Abhira was still ensconced in Mishti's arms, clinging tightly to her.

Mishti turned to Armaan and gestured for him to take her. “Ira,” Armaan whispered softly, trying to pull her to him. However, in a first, Abhira's hold on Mishti tightened when Armaan did that.

“Gudiya Rani,” Mishti murmured gently. “Armaan ke saath upar jaa. Main bas tere peeche-peeche aa rahi hoon.”

“Pakka?” Abhira asked softly, afraid to let go of her. She couldn't lose Mishti. Not now, not ever.

“Pakka promise,” Mishti vowed. She squeezed Abhira tight, kissing her forehead. As Mishti's arms slowly unwound from her body, Armaan's arms took their place. Effortlessly, Armaan lifted her in a princess carry. Abhira hid her face in his neck, clutching him tight. Mishti squeezed Armaan's bicep, assuring him that she would follow. Satisfied, Armaan made his way upstairs, not sparing a glance to the Poddars, who were looking at the entire scene unfold in shocked silence.

They'd hurt him deeply today, with the way they'd all questioned Abhira. It was not new, this allegation of being a gold digger. His grandmother and uncle had both said it in the past as well, but he thought they were past all that, especially with the Rajvansh family in the picture now. With all the property that had been earmarked for Abhira, she was now richer than the Poddars, not that anybody knew that, Abhira included. Abir & Mishti knew that Abhira would never accept money from them, so they had instead transferred land in her name, just in case. Armaan was privy to the information only because he had handled the paperwork for them. But, whatever the reason, he had thought that now that Abhira had a family, and such an influential one at that, his family would never again be able to call her a gold digger or an orphan. Yet, they had somehow found a way to say it. They had assumed Abhira's guilt without listening to her side of the story. In a house full of lawyers, it was a cardinal sin to pass judgement like this. Yet, somehow, Abhira always ended up being judged this way. And it was getting on Armaan's nerves.

Would he and Abhira ever be happy in this family? Would they ever truly accept Abhira, like Abhira's family had accepted him? He thought back to just yesterday when he had rightfully turned to Mishti for support, not having to think twice about it. And today, Vidya had called him back, asking him to abandon Abhira.

Armaan had always felt that the love that the Poddar family had bestowed upon him was the greatest favour they'd done him. They didn't have to accept him. After all, he was Madhav's son from his first marriage, a marriage that Kaveri didn't approve of. Vidya hadn't even known about him before Madhav had brought him home one fine day, declaring that his son would live with them henceforth. Despite that, the family had accepted him. As much as they could.

Armaan had been very young when he had understood that he was different from the other children of the family. Of course, some of it was because he was the eldest, but mostly, it was because his mother had not been a member of the family like the other childrens' parents were. He understood that not everyone in the family liked him. Yet, they still let him be a part of it anyway. With time, he came to accept this conditional welcome he had been bestowed. It became a part of his life, so ingrained in him, that he never thought twice about it, didn't question it.

Now, though… He was starting to question it. In such a short period of time, the Rajvansh family had already been more welcoming of him than his own family had ever been. When Misha Masi made his favourite dessert, she didn't ask a favour in return. When Kunal Nanu ordered his favourite coffee, he didn't need to ask Armaan five times before remembering his order. When Mehr Mami pulled his leg, she never did it with malice. When Badi Maa & Bade Papa said he was her son, they truly meant it with all their hearts, unlike his own mother. In all the time that he'd known them, nobody in the Rajvansh family had treated him any differently than they did to the other family members. His voice was heard, his opinion was important. His happiness, his dreams, his heartaches, and his tears… They all mattered to the family. Nobody ever expected him to suppress his emotions, neither did they ever make him feel like he was wrong to feel them. They all supported him in any way they could.

When he compared that to his own family, he could only remember Sanjay Phupha Sa undermining his worth as a lawyer, Dadi Sa always reminding him that he was sautela, his mother taking it as a personal insult if he so much as whispered his birth mother's name, while at the same time making it plenty clear with her actions that he would never be as important as Rohit to her. In all of this, his father remained a silent spectator. He never said anything to anybody, letting the family treat Armaan however they pleased. In stark contrast, he remembered every time Badi Maa and Bade Papa had taken a firm stance in support of Abhira, how they hadn't flinched away from going toe-to-toe with anyone when it came to protecting Abhira. His own father didn't love him fiercely enough to do something like that for him. It was too much to expect from his step-family, then. Step-family. The word tasted sour in his mouth, but seemed fitting. After all, they had said he wasn't their blood often enough that he could never forget that.

And, if they couldn't even accept him, what hopes did he have of them ever accepting Abhira? Would they be doomed to putting out such fires everyday, providing emotional labour to the family, being their punching bags for every wrong thing that happened? Would he spend his entire life only defending Abhira for no fault of her own? Would Abhira spend her entire life only proving herself to be a decent human being? That was not the life he wanted for them.

Fairytales were only stories and real life was much harder, but not this much. He knew it would never be all sunshine and roses for them, that life would not be smooth sailing. There would be problems, they would face bad times, they would fight. He knew that. But, he also knew that he didn't want just that. He wanted both good and bad times, not just a fleeting moment of happiness between one mishap and the next.

All these thoughts were swirling in his head as he took Abhira away, so drained with everything that she had fallen asleep even before he fully climbed up the stairs.

Just as Armaan disappeared from their line of sight, Abir & Mishti's arms shot out, reaching for each other in perfect sync. They both exhaled loudly, finally in the comfort of home in each other's arms. The events of the afternoon finally made their effects known to the couple, now that they had a moment to themselves before they had to be strong for their Abhira once again.

“Abir!” Mishti exclaimed desperately, running her hands all over his shoulders and back, in a bid to reassure herself.

“I know,” Abir agreed, his lips roaming every surface of her face just as desperately. “Hum abhi himmat nahi haar sakte, Chaand. We have to be strong. Agar hum aise karenge toh Heera ko kaun sambhalega? She needs us the most right now.”

“Woh Akshu ke baare mein…” Mishti protested.

“Tumhe pata haina… Woh sab galat tha. Akshu ne kuch nahi kiya hai. It was just an accident,” Abir reassured her, for probably the millionth time. This was not the first time they'd had this conversation. Abir ventured it wouldn't be the last either. Over the years, they had despaired over the turn of events that led to Akshu leaving countless times. He suspected they always would. The hurt was too deep.

“Yeh sab meri galti hai,” Mishti insisted. “Uss waqt, Abhinav se shaadi ke baad agar hum unn dono ko Rajkot le jaate toh sab theek hota. We should have tried harder. Aarohi ke accident ke baad aur koshish karni chahiye thi, Abir. Akshu deserved so much better from us.”

“I know,” Abir muttered. He would carry the guilt of it forever. As would Mishti, he knew. They should have protected Akshu. They should have been there for her.

“Lekin, iss waqt Heera ko humaari zaroorat hai, Mishti,” he reminded. “Hum usse niraash nahi kar sakte. Not like we've already done. We can't fail again. Yeh galti dobaara nahi honi chahiye.”

Mishti pulled back, her face wet with tears. “Nahi hogi,” she agreed. “Heera ke saath woh galti nahi hogi.”

“Badi Maaaaa!!” Armaan's loud wail halted their discussion. “Badi Maaaaaaaa!!”

Abir & Mishti looked at each other for one long second that lasted an eternity, their hearts in their mouths, before running upstairs to see that Abhira was in the deep throes of a panic attack, weakly calling out for Mishti. Armaan was trying to soothe her, rubbing her hands in his, instructing her to breathe, but it wasn't working.

Mishti immediately rushed forward, taking Abhira's hand in hers. “Main yahin hoon, Gudiya Rani. Kuch nahi hua. You're going to be okay.”

Abhira calmed a little at her words, and a little more at her touch. Mishti then began humming a soft tune, singing lowly. Armaan stepped aside, letting Mishti work her magic. He collapsed on to the settee beside the bed, his eyes stuck on Abhira. Abir stood by his side, rubbing his shoulders, his gaze never wavering from the two women in front of him either.

Slowly but surely, Mishti's presence soothed Abhira enough to go back to sleep. Once she did, they all breathed a sigh of relief. “She'll be okay,” Mishti stated. “She'll be okay.”

“Usse thode time rest karne do,” Abir murmured. “Let's go outside.”

“Main yahaan rukti hoon,” Raj said. “Hiru shouldn't wake up alone. Woh darr jaayegi. Mujhe pata hai aap sab bade logon ko jo bhi hua sab baat karni hogi. Aap sab jao.”

Abir pulled his little girl into a hug, kissing her forehead. “Tu itni badi kab ho gayi?” He asked. “Not allowed.”

“Aap tension mat lo, Bro,” Raj laughed. “Raat ko aapko mujhe aapki special wali noodle party deni padegi to make up for it!”

“Done and done!” Abir promised.

They all vacated the room silently. The others made their way back downstairs but Armaan held Mishti back. “Badi Maa,” he whispered. Without a word, Mishti gathered him in her arms. Armaan clutched Mishti tight, sobbing into her shoulder.

“Mujhe bohot darr lag raha hai,” he told her again. “Abhira aise…”

“Shhhh,” Mishti soothed. “It's okay. Kabhi-kabhi ho jaata hai, Maani.”

“Woh saans bhi nahi le paa rahi thi,” Armaan choked. “Meri jaan nikal gayi thi.”

“It was a panic attack,” Mishti explained gently. “Aisa hota hai panic attacks mein. Saans lene mein takleef hoti hai. Haath-pair thande pad jaate hain. But ab tension lene ki koi baat nahi hai. She's going to be okay. Okay?”

Armaan nodded against her shoulder, making no move to separate from her. Mishti ruffled his hair. “I'm so proud of you,” she told him. “Mujhe pata hai… Aaj, it wasn't easy for you either. Tumhaari family ne itna bura-bhala kaha Abhira se… It must have hurt you. Aur uski haalat dekhke tumhe kaisa feel hua hoga, I can understand. Lekin, tumne phir bhi kadam peeche nahi hataye. Bas, yehi karna hai humein aage bhi.

I know yeh waqt humaare liye asaan nahi hai. Lekin, Abhira ke liye… Yeh sab humse sau guna zyada difficult hai, Maani. She needs us now more than ever. Isliye humein uske liye strong rehna padega, okay? And we have to be each other's strength. Abhira ke saamne tum iss waqt weak nahi pad sakte, lekin main aur Abir hamesha yahaan hain tumhaare liye.”

“Aur main bhi hoon aap dono ke liye,” Armaan promised. “I know ki aap aur Bade Papa ek doosre ke liye kaafi ho, Badi Maa. Lekin, main yahaan hoon aap dono ke saath. Sirf aaj nahi, hamesha.”

“I know,” Mishti smiled. “You're the best, Maani. I'm really very proud of you.”

Armaan exhaled at her words, finding solace in them. Yes, he needed to be Abhira's pillar of support right now, but he was not alone. He had his Badi Maa and his Bade Papa. They would make sure that he stands steady for Abhira. “I love you,” he murmured gently, overcome with love and affection for this woman who was slowly becoming his mother in every sense of the word.

“I love you,” Mishti replied, grinning wide. She finally pushed Armaan out of the hug, standing on her tiptoes to kiss his forehead. Armaan's grin brightened at the gesture and he squeezed Mishti's arm in silent acknowledgement.

Vidya chose that exact moment to walk in on them. She was a little surprised to see Armaan so comfortable with Mishti. And she would not deny that it hurt deeply when she heard Armaan say he loved her so casually. As if it wasn't even the first time he'd said it to her. He had never said it to Vidya in all the years they'd known each other. Not even once. She wanted to march up to Armaan and demand answers, wanted to know what exactly Mishti had done to be treated as such, when he hadn't been able to vocalize his love to his own mother.

However, now was not the time. Everyone was waiting for the two of them downstairs so that they could talk. Their absence had already delayed things enough. She couldn't let her emotions get in the way now. They needed some answers and they needed them immediately.

“Neeche sab wait kar rahe hain,” she informed the duo. Unable to help herself completely, she turned to Armaan and added, “Mujhe laga ki pata nahi kya ho gaya. Chinta ho rahi thi teri. Isliye Samdhi Sa ki jagah khud chali aayi. Lekin, tu toh bilkul theek hai. Tujhe meri zaroorat hi nahi thi.”

“Haan, Maa,” Armaan replied, still reeling from the events of a while ago, still on edge about the fact that his mother had expected him to leave Abhira in the middle of this entire mess. “Main theek hoon. Badi Maa hai mere paas.”

Saying so, he took Mishti's hand in his and pulled her down the stairs, leaving Vidya behind. And to his own surprise, it felt good. This was not some bold rebellion, but even a little act of defiance had made him feel better. And, he decided not to question it. He had much more pressing matters to attend to. This would be dealt with later.

Its good that Armaan is seeing people's true colors

It's good that armaan is seeing and accepting everything that has happened with him and his experience with the poddhar family......

Would love to see more of these....

Nice chapter...