~~Tere bin na lage Mera Mann~~
Chapter 8
Tum Sach mein chahthi ho ki mein ruk jaaoo?"
Abir's voice cut her apology...
Mishty nodded...
A grin on his face blinded her senses...
"To iska Matlab hai ki tumne mujhe thodi maafi di hai......I mean...i will play dump, deaf and PH....if you want me to...stay..."
A smile came up to her lips thinking of the hollowness of his promise...
And then Abir did the unexpected...he had suppressed his guilt for Mishty's transformation and it popped up unknowingly when he saw the wind blow on to her ,pasting her silky top to mould her figure and blow her hair....
His hand went up to her hair...
how he missed her long hair...and Mishty held her breath when she saw the emotion flicker in his eyes...
His fingers rubbed the strands feeling its smooth texture....and then with a sigh he withdrew...
"Bohot der hogayi hai...so jaao.."
Before Mishty could answer a movement by the door distracted them...
"Nanko?" Mishty heard Abir mutter and walk to the door...intrigued , Mishty too followed him and when they reached the living room Kunal and Kuhu were sleeping on adjacent sofa's...
"Zyaada natak mat Kar Nanko ...c'mon get up you two spies!"
Kunal opened one of his eyelids....and then burst out into a laugh joined by Kuhu....
"Thank you Mishty ...you did it...!" Kunal hugged Mishty as Kuhu tugged Abir to sit on the sofa...
"Ha...she did it...isne mujhe maaf Kar Diya.." Abir said in a statement which immediately made Mishty defiant.
"Maine maaf to Kar Diya.....lekin itni Jaldi Sab bhoolne wali nahi hoon..!"Mishty shot back only to get 'that 'chuckle in response.
"Abir bhai..thanks a lot for staying....and tomorrow we are going to have fun...we have all things planned..." Kuhu was excited and Mishty frowned.
"Fun...? We..? "
"Yep! We are going for a hike to Rainbow falls tomorrow...! and none are excused..."
Kuhu declared with an excitement that equally matched Kunal's..
Next morning
Mishty frowned as she entered the kitchen....
"Badimaa ?! Yeh Sab Kya hai ?" she asked wide mouthed as her eyes fell on the sandwitches being stuffed into basket by Kuhu as per Rajshri's directions....
"Woh Mishty... Tum log picnic pe jaa rahe hai na to Maine Socha kuch khane keliye pack kardoo."
"Lekin Badima..itna saara...yeh sab kaun khanewala hai?"
Mishty stared at the big basket...in confusion...."surely Kunal won't be able to finish it off...!"
Rajshri and Kuhu laughed at Mishty's remark on Kunal..
"OMG .. Mishtyyou said that about Kunal..! ny ways ...we have company for the hike ... Rahul , Sneha , Sanju, Chris and that moron Avi..."
Kuhu scrunched her nose in disgust when she mentioned Avi...
"Mishty beta...Mei bohot khush Hoon ki tumne Abir se rukne ko kaha .." Rajshri said glowing ...
Mishty turned her face in a careless manner and nodded as she walked to the counter to grab a mug of coffee...
"Well .aisa nahi ki humare beech sabkuch theek hogaya.....woh mein...I am just being civil to him...as he is our guest thats all...!"
"Acha...?!..toh yeh le Coffee..use deke aa..." Rajshri struck a coffee mug in her hands .
Mishty exclaimed ...
"Kya ..?? Mein..??!..
Rajshri raised a brow in question.....
" Kyu...abhi to keh rahe the mehmaan hai..thodi mehmaan nawazi bhi Karo"
" Aisa hi bolna chahiye Dadi...yeh na Abir bro ke saath kuch zyaada hi drama Kiya tha Kal..ab bharpai bhi Karlo".
Mishty looked at Kuhu helplessly...and groaned inwardly....okay...Kunal will also be there...
" Okay Okay..mein coffee leke jaati Hoon..ek aur cup dena..Kunal keliye...."
"Kunal..woh to Jaldi uthgaya ..Meri tarah woh bhi excited hai picnic keliye..he is checking on the car and putting in the backpacks ...woh kehraha that ki Abir bro Soo Raha hai.. raat ko kaam bhi Kiya tha...Shayad ab utha hoga..."
Mishty looked at Kuhu in open alarm .. OMG!!! Now she must face Abir all alone...
" Yeh lo tumhari coffee bhi saath le jao.." Rajshri said handing over her cup.
" And No gadbads Mishty ki bachiiii...all the best!!"
Kuhu's warning ringed in her ears as she walked to his room.
She was not sure of facing him after their unexpected reconciliation ...they had.. no..she still had issues with him...!!!
She gulped a lump of anxiety as she stood by the door and mustering courage nudged the door open with her shoulder....
She spotted Abir in the balcony and her breath quickened....
he was in his blue denims and a white tee..and a towel on his shoulders..he looked as if he was just out of bath....
A giddiness started to brew in the back of her head as she shamelessly checked him out.....
It was like she was regaining her lost habits.... Mishty Agarwal would normally cast a sweeping glance at the most popular guy in the school and shrug away......
But only she knew that once she had eyes only for a boy who never seem to notice her...
And from yesterday she was finding it more than harder to keep her eyes off him than before....
Abir was on call..
"So sorry Piya...tum toh Kunal ko jaanti ho ...he is super excited with this idea of trekking...and Kuhu too..."
Piya must have asked something about Kuhu..as Abir chuckled fondly..
"Ya..woh donon toh abhi se partners in crime wale vibes de rahe hai..."
Then Mishty saw a shadow pass his face with a thud in her heart..
"Haan...haan..... Mishty...ah! yes...! Dekho mere presentation ko proof read karna mat bhoolna..Jaldi Jaldi mein Kiya tha..and for today do take Neil's help if you get any doubts....see you soon ... thanks for helping out..luv ya.....!
He turned picking the towel from his shoulders and drying his hair..but stopped as he spotted Mishty...
Surprise glittered in his eyes as a smile begin to dawn on his lips....
"Good morning Mishty..!"
Mishty bit her lips...what a fool she was ...! she would have never let him past her defences last night ....now see what it did to her .....heartburn again...!...
"see you soon...., Luv ya!"
His resonant voice into the phone echoed in her ears....he have a GF too...! It brought a crushing feeling within her and the humiliation at the thought that Abir never will think of her in that way seared her heart.
Abir walked to her confused....it was as if she was looking through him.....
He looked at the coffee mugs in her hand and then to her face...
"Mishtiii ???"
What he did now? Is wishing Good morning a mistake?
Mishty jolted back to her senses when his fingers curled on hers ....upsetting the coffee mug.
Abir firmly gripped the mug and being truly concerned with her reaction he asked "are you alright Mishty..Tabiyath toh theek hai tumhari...?"
Afraid that he would parade on his sisterly emotions to her , Mishty took a step back...
"Mein ...mein theek hoon. Badimaa ne yeh bheja hai"
She thrust the coffee mug into his hands... her face was flushed and the defiant stare was back.
Abir sighed ...this girl was never easy to deal with.....
"Iski Kya zaroorath thi.Mein kitchen hi aa raha tha....tabhi Piya ka call aaya...wait ...let me put on my shirt..."
But before Abir could finish putting on the shirt he found Mishty gone....
**************************
Abir was angry......
Only he knew how much pride he had to swallow last night to apologise to her....and now it seemed like a futile excercise...she was back to the irritating mode ...her face an impasse...and God knows how much her attitude angered him.....
But the thing that unsettled him most was Avi's Presence....
Mishty's friends had joined them at the base camp and Abir was irritated the moment he spotted Avi among them.
Why he felt an urge to rip him off whenever he was somewhere near Mishty?!
Abir looked at all in a glance....Kunal was having fun time with Kuhu and Chris .Avi ,Rahul and Sneha walked with Mishty ,but Abir could tell that Avi's eyes were always on her.....He spotted Sanju coming his way..
Oh! Did somebody tell him hiking relaxed mind...!!
They were halfway up the steepy trail and as Mishty looked around a smile warmed her lips seeing Kunal pulling up Kuhu on his back.....
oh! Kunal ..he was such a sweet boy....and there was no wonder how both of them glued up...as far as she could remember of her childhood days in Rajvansh sadan..she could'nt think of a moment Kunal left her out of his sight.....the way he fretted for her when she fell down occasionally....
And now the same care he is giving to Kuhu..their teaming up was very much refreshing...even though it came coupled with her sense of loss..
Her mind went back to Abir...and when she raised her eyes to glance him...she burned in anger...
Sanju..!! of all the girls ,she had to lose her head over him....?
And what an accomplished flirt is he...he listened to her attentively and she heard him complementing her for her hair do... !!
OMG..! can she take this much dose of heartache in a day...
Mishty stepped her feet hard on the path...taking out her fury on the fallen twigs in their path...
"Mishtiiii..!!watchout...!!"
A sudden yell on her way stiffened her as she recognised it..Avi?!
But it was late..she had stepped on to a wobbly stone and she tripped....
Mishty saw Avi lung towards her ..and her hands groped in the air in a hope of getting hold of something ...
A clamp of strong palm held on her hand...and she clinged to the arm...
She was deftly pulled up....
Abir..??!..from where did he materialise.?..he was with Sanju.!!...and she had left them far back...!
"Sambhalke Mishtyy....dekh ke chalna chahiye na...!." Abir's voice was rough...
Oh! so it was actually her fault that the stone was wobbly...!!!
"Thank you...par Meri galthi nahi thi.....aur agar mein gir bhi gayi to girke sambhalna mujhe aata hai..I would have managed to get up on my own...! Ab...tum.....mujhe chodo...?"she stared at him defiantly..
Abir's face reddened in anger...he was about to snap out something at her...but then with a groan he let go of her arm ...
Mishty struggled a little to put her balance back..and then with the mutinous upward chin she climbed off...
Avi joined her and Abir felt like slapping himself....was that guy really blind.??.. not to notice his warning looks?
"I am ..so sorry...she was rude to you....but this is unlike of Mishty to lose her temper ..."
Abir groaned inwardly as Sanju muttered away apologies for Mishty's behaviour....
******************************
Mishty stood petrified at the opening of the wooden bridge....
"Oh! c'mon...Mishty..you have done this before ... many times...remember....c'mon?" Kuhu called out to Mishty from the other end...
"Hey Kuhu..you mean .. Mishty ko abhi bhi..."Kunal puckered his brow in deep thought...
Kuhu shrugged ..
"Yup! She is hell scared of this sound of water rumbling under the bridge...she says..pata nahi use Kya ho jaata hai...but she manages to cross with some help....and I hate to say it was always Avi who coaxed her fear out..they were such good buddies and I hate him for ruining it...."
"Mujhe pata hai ki use Kya ho jaata hai...Hmm...so the guy was of a bit importance..." Kunal tapped his chin as he turned to face Kuhu "do you think he might give me a competition?"
Kuhu was strained a bit seeing Mishty's precarious state and was doubting if Avi could help her ....but everything vaporised in a moment when Kunal threw the question with that boyish grin and innocent eyes....
A laugh bubbled up from her throat and the next she was clutching her stomach....
"OMG! Kunal .You are impossible.and a little dense..you will end up a loser if you stand still like this instead of competing for Mishty........"
A sheepish grin crossed his face....and with a look at Mishty he took a step to the bridge...
"Kuhuuu?"
"yeah? Bataao....!"
"actually this is a tough bridge to cross...and to think of doing it twice ....you know...!"
"Kunal! You are backing out from the competition..?!
"Kuhu'ss eyes danced in merriment...it was pure ,out and out fun to be with Kunal and she was loving every part of it...
"Well not exactly...may be your Mishty ki bachi will give me another chance.."
Kunal grinned wide when he saw Kuhu roll her eyes...
****************************
"Mishty ..c'mon...let me hold you and you put this hood on..."
Avi was directing her ...the feel of rumbling water under her feet began to sicken her more than it did in last years...why could'nt she just brush off the feeling....
And then ..Avi....somehow Mishty felt reluctant to accept his help....it was not like that before ..she had no qualms when he had held her and let her shut her ears with her palms and guide her to the other end...but not any more....
"no Avi...I'll do it...alone...."
She saw shame filling Avi's eyes as he cast them down...
"okay...if you think so, but can I be near you...?"
Mishty could not neglect his request ..after all what if her head swooned when she got into the middle...and nodded.
As she took a step on to the slightly creeking wooden plank her heart leapt into her mouth...Mishty pressed shut her eyes and inhaled hard...she need to overcome this....
"Mishty ..please ..will you trust me?" Avi's voice was full of concern and apologetic...
Suddenly she was on air ....!
Two strong hands supported her ...one behind her back and the other behind her knees...!pulling her to a wall of muscles.....
"Trust is something precious brother...ek baar Dil se woh ehsaas Gaya toh phir vapas nahi aate.."
Abir ?!!!
"Tum Kya Kar rahe ho..Abir .. mujhe neeche rakho..Abhi.."
Mishty thought of screaming all those and wriggling out of his hold....
But the assault of his scent ...the mixture of his sweat and deo...numbed her feelings...and all she could manage was a whimper of protest...
The result was too good that he held her more close.and tight...
She did'nt hear the roar of water beneath them....
Instead she heard ...she felt ...his heart beat...
She felt the heat of his body through the soft cotton of his tee..and all her pretense to him ...and to herself ....that he meant nothing to her .....lifted off in a moment just as bright sunrays did to morning mist...
From the moment she had started feeling and caring for him this was the first time she was this much close to him....and the thought of an naive 8 year old girl finding her anchor in a 13 year old boy brought a shy smile to her lips and she unknowingly turned her face to his chest.......
Mishty... Mishty.... tum safe ho.."
Abir's's voice cut into her conscience.. there was nothing tender about that statement...
So sad.....should her dreams must have such hard realistic ends...
Mishty sighed as she inhaled his scent once more before opening her eyes....
OMG.!! when did she do that?!
Mishty stared at her own arms which were now encircled around Abir'ss neck....
Unable to meet his eyes ..She snapped open her handclasp and was unceremoniously dropped down...
She opened her mouth to spit out a caustic remark but he had walked off and Kunal was now supporting her...
"Mishty tumhe abhi bhi wo dar hai??!....I.I thought you overcame it when you agreed for the hike...us incident ko itni power mat dona ...Kya tumhe.. nightmares bhi aate hai pehle jaisa??"
Mishty gave him a stern look putting her hands to her hips...
" Tum kahaan the..? Tumhe pata tha aur phir bhi mere help nahi kiya "
Kunal scratched the back of his head giving her a mortified grin and looked at Kuhu ...
"Woh Mishty.....he was kinda thinking of strategies to help you out...but before he could think of something which might work ,Abir bro brought you to him...bechare ka plan fail hogaya.."
Kuhu winked at Kunal who was blinking his eyes in disbelief....
Mishty could not help smile at his expression..
"whatever...c'mon...the guys are up..." Mishty walked ahead them as she heard Rahul voicing for them..
Kunal pulled Kuhu to his side ,and gave her a bear hug....as he dragged her with him....
"you are lovely Kuhu... Mishty ki saamne Mera izzath bachaya ....thanks a lot...!"
Kuhu looked at Kunal...she felt something strange....like her throat dying up...like her fingers trembling.....and as if all her weight was lifted off her.....she blinked at him....not at all registering the things he told her...as she walked beside him....
**************************************
Abir grunted a curse under his breath as he walked a bit away from the group with a bottle of water and granola bars .. finding a place to sit...
They had halted beside a small waterfall for refreshment ...after his interaction with Mishty by the bridge ..Abir could not bear to stand near her .....
What possessed him to take her in his arms.....!???
Last time when he did that he had heard her say that she hated him......but when she put her arms around his neck...he felt an over whelming feeling....and then he had left her abruptly....just because he dreaded her response.
He had felt an odd peacefulness with her in his arms...but ...when he moved away he had felt an unknown fist squeezing something in his chest.....and to think that he had said to her about caring for her as his sister last night .....Gosh! what he felt for her now was not even remotely a sibling affection..!!!
Abir smashed his fist on the nearby tree in frustration....
No...!..he can't...she dislikes him for sure....and her attitude irritates the hell out of him...
But when she is nearby he seem to lose his ability to think clearly....
Abir sighed ...all the more reason to keep away from her...! she had made it pretty clear ...and it will be the right decision....
A bubbly laughter caught his attention....when he turned to look ...he was mesmerised...!
Mishty was standing below the waterfall....her wet hair plastered on to the side of her face...the white v necked top clung to her body and even if it was full sleeved it gave the utmost appealing look...
And she was enjoying the play in water just like a kid who got her favourite candy....or favourite ice cream with double cherry on top...!!
If Only he had an inkling of her idea about her favourite double cherry topped icecream...!!!
Looking at her brought a warm smile on his face ....and for once in the whole day he forgot to glare at Avi...
Mishty was indeed happy.... and the urge to express her happiness was so strong that she got into the falls....and then dragged Kunal to join....followed by others....!
She was feeling lightheaded ....the way his nearness affected her was a shock .. but she felt content even though her mind warned her that he was just being protective for her from Avi and of course her fear for .....he knew it too well....
But all the reasonable thinking got clouded when the ecstacy of being in his arms dominated her brain.....heating her and she defenitly needed to cool herself..!!
************************
There were oohs and aahs when they reached the top....the water mist from the waterfall was magnificient in the back drop of the plush green mountains ......
The wind was blowing harder now and the sky was fast becoming cloudy .....the whoosh of the wind blowing brought wrinkles on Abir''s forehead..he looked at Rahul and Avi and found them tensed too.....
"Guys..we need to get down soon....it seems the wind is becoming stronger..."
His suggestion was accepted almost immedietly and all began their descend along the trail....
The heavy downpour was unexpected and the walking through the narrow trail was becoming difficult with wind blowing hard causing the branches to hit them...they could not even see each other and Rahul shouted to stick to a safe place till the storm passed away..
It was then the natural instincts to protect and care for the one close to heart despite of all bitterness surfaced....
Mishty was about to trip on a branch that a hand gripped her from falling...
"Easy Mishty..bohot steep hai..it's not safe to move...."Abir held her close and looked around...
"Kunal..."he called out ..and a muffled answer was heard from some distance....
Mishty was now really frightened.....and Abir knew it from the way she clutched his arms...
"Shh..Sab theek hai...mein hoon na.."
He pulled her to a tree side.as the wind blew with ruthlessness..he shielded her from the torrent with his body......
Mishty held her breath...she didn't know whether to feel grateful or irritated by his action....
Her inner mind was in a turmoil in response to his closeness and being drenched was not helping her at all....
"Kuhu..Kuhu kahhaan hai.. ...?"
"Uh? Kuhu .. Kunal..Kunal uska saath hai.." Mishty answered Abir a bit embaressed by the fact that she had forgot to think of Kuhu's safety in this dire condition.
"Hope he is sensible enough not to pull her down the trail...."Abir's voice was worried ..and Mishty felt a strong urge to defend Kunal..
"Woh aisa kuch nahi karega...and I trust him with Kuhu ..and I trust Kunal with my life .so don't worry about them...."
Abir bent a little pinning down Mishty to the tree in response to a strong wave of wind...
Her heart beat had gone erratic....this was torture....to have him close to her heart and to know that he cared for her none the less than Kuhu..!
Abir lifted his head as the wind passed and saw Mishty with her eyes shut ....his own face was close to her and their bodies were just inches apart....but...above all the emotions that were whirling within him... he felt sadness....
It had always pained him to know that Kunal possessed an important role in her life...she never said a word against him.or tolerated anything against him..and the trust she placed on him.....something that he could never achieve..
He was not jelous of his brother....he could never be ...because Kunal was such a good brother..and he knew how much his little brother loved him.....
Mishty opened her eyes...and frowned slightly at the blank expression on Abir's face....he had moved away...the wind had calmed down and the rain had weakened...
"So you trust him with your life..huh?" Abir resumed their convo and Mishty somehow felt that Abir felt let out..was he hurt..?....
"yes....hmm...and you must know ...hmm..that you both are different... for me..."
Mishty had difficulty in putting her thought into words....she had wanted to assure him that she had infinite trust in him...without arousing Abir's suspicion about the way she felt for him....how could she not trust him...? ..
Abir straightened himself and turned away...his heart crushing in an unknown weight.....
The weight of the realisation that it pained him beyond agony to know that he felt something deep for this arrogant girl ...and the weight of the truth that she had said in the most subtle way ..... Kunal was special for her...!!
Suddenly Mishty's phone rang....and she scrambled up to take the phone out of her jeans.
"Badimaa...what...?...Badimaa...Badimaa...?"
Abir snatched the phone from her .."massima..?"
The line went dead ...and lines of worry formed on his forehead...
"Woh wahaan akeli hai..kuch ho Gaya tho... Mishty humhe Abhi jaana chahiye."
Abir grabbed a bewildered Mishty and started to run...
"Abirr ...stop...!!" Mishty yelled as he moved fast past the trees.. pulling her along..
He didn't stop but with one look at her .. increased his speed... Mishty was now at her wits end....she never saw Abir so tensed and worried ..his face was dark, and she even imagined tear drops from his eyes....
She jerked away from his hold and stood still....
"Mishtyyyy.." Abir's voice was shocked ...."humhe Jaldi Ghar pohochna hai Mishty..it's urgent.."
"Kyu Abir....tell me ..why... Badima aisee hi check Karne keliye call Kiya hoga ...to check whether we are okay out here...par tum toh aise behave Kar rahe ho jaise woh koi danger mein hai...? what is it Abir...?"
Abir shifted his eyes from her apprehensively...how was he going to tell her ?
Abir's silence and his stealing of eyes made Mishty furious....
"Batao Abir...tum kyu yahaan aagaye...does this visit have something to do with badimaa's condition...?..its just the starting stage and we are confident that badimaa will overcome it ...but...."
Her frown deepened seeing his flushed face....she didn't imagine the tears in his eyes !! Of all the things she held against him she knew for sure how much Abir loved and respected his Massima...she had often wondered about the coldness he expressed to Meenakshi aunty....but with Badimaa.....he was never ever more gentle and caring.....
A thought crossed her mind like lightning....!
"is there something else...?...tell me Abir...Tum kyu itna khabraye hue ho....oh! Abiiirr.please tell me..."
Tears were rolling down her cheeks uncontrollably as she read the answer in his eyes....her whole body sagging under it's impact.....
"she lied to us.....!..Abir...she lied to us...."
Abir scooped her in his arms and hugged her tight ....
"She did'nt want to frighten you two.....now please pull yourself...we need to get by her side fast....I..I heard a sound of falling down...."
Horror appeared in her eyes as Mishty heard those words....Abir clasped her hand and without another word they were moving ...
By the time they reached home Abir had contacted Kunal and briefed him about the situation...
Mishty found Rajshri unconscious in the kitchen....the phone lay by her side ....
Everything was done quickly.... Rajshri was shifted to the hospital..and it turned out to be a minor heart attack. Abir notified the doctor who treated Rajshri that they intent to take her to New York for better treatment...and the doctor assured him that as soon as Rajshri gets stabilised she could be transported....
Rajshri was in CCU and when Abir returned from the doctor's cabin he found Mishty slumped at the door...she was sobbing ...her knees drawn to her and Abir realised with a pang that she was dreading losing badimaa.....she was drenched and cold...both of them were ....but what could be done...
" Mishty....Mishty ..utho...aise himmat math hàro...massimaa theek ho jaayega..."
He bent on his knees before her...
"Nahi...Abir..Woh bhi mujhe ....,. chodke jaane waali hai....mujse jhoot kaha.."she said between.hicupps ...
" Koi kisi ko nahi chodke jaa rahi...tum utho.." strong dependable hands pulled her up and seated her on the steel chair in the corridor..
"Abir Bhai...? massima...hua Kya tha?ab kaisi hai Woh??"
Kunal came running to him when he spotted Abir......
"She had a minor attack.."Abir said in a low tone...
"Oh GOD.!" Kunal buried his head in his hands as he dipped himself beside Mishty..
"Kunal? Kuhu kahaan hai?!" Abir's voice was barely out of his throat that he saw Kuhu walking to them..she was limping hard but her face was bewildered...as she reached them her eyes darted to Kunal,whose shoulder was heaving slightly indicating that he was crying...then to Mishty who was now blankfaced was more than enough to say about the situation....
"Abir bro....?"
Her voice was hoarse . the stupor which dawned into her seeing Kunal and Mishty in this condition was fast waning.
Abir moved to pull her into a hug but frowned in worry when Kuhu winced in pain..
Thank you dears for your encouragement
,❤️❤️
Hope all of you will enjoy this part
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