KUCH ANKAHA

3. || The Nightmare ||

Monday, 9:56 PM, Rajvansh Mansion

Lost in contemplation, Abir was startled when kuhu approached him, retracting his hand abruptly. "Are you alright, Abir bro?"

"Yes, I'm fine," he managed, adjusting his spectacles.

Exhausted, kuhu inquired, "Do you have any solution for this?"

Abir replied, "Yes... Kuhu, tomorrow please bring all of Mishti's prescribed medications when you come. Mishti, you won't feel depressed anymore. You must share everything, and try to remember what happened during that time..."

Mishti stared at Abir with hollow eyes. "I try to remember, Abir, but nothing comes."

Drawing closer, he took her hands. "Don't worry, Mishti. I will uncover every secret of your past... trust me."

Mishti smiled faintly and rose. "It's been quite some time; we should leave now... let's go, kuhu."

As they prepared to depart, Abir signaled for kuhu to stay.

Kuhu turned to Mishti, "Mishti, go sit in the car. I'll talk to Abir bro for a bit." Mishti nodded and headed towards the car.

Turning to Abir, kuhu asked, "What is it, Abir bro?"

Hesitating, Abir replied, "I don't know, kuhu... how to ask. For so long, I've only been with memories of my angry chorni. Now that she's before my eyes... what about her marriage to Nishant?"

Kuhu sighed. "Yes, Abir bro, it's true. After moving there, her marriage to nanchak was arranged. But Mishti was never happy with that marriage. And in that accident, na...nannu bhai also passed away."

Aryan clenched his fists. "Does Mishti remember Nishant?"

Kuhu shook her head. "No, Mishti doesn't remember Nanchak. It's probably for the #best. The one time I mentioned him, she fainted. Since then, I've refrained from mentioning him."

Aryan tightened his grip and hugged kuhu warmly. "Thank you, kuhu. Besides being Nishant's sister, you've been looking after kuhu all this time. Thank you. Now you go; she must be alone."

Breaking the embrace, kuhu asked, "Can I ask you something, Abir?"

He nodded. She continued, "If you love Mishti so much, #why didn't you tell her about your feelings? Why didn't you tell her when her marriage was fixed. You simply distanced yourself from her thoughts?"

A pang of memories hit Abir. "I could never forget Mishti, kuhu, I..I didn't tell Imile because I didn't want to lose our growing friendship due to my one-sided feelings. As for Mishti's marriage, her happiness is my happiness. Who am I to remove her from her own thoughts? Her memories are what I've waited for here for a year."

Kuhu exclaimed dramatically, "Ah, this love, this passion, this obsession that transcends any limit!"

Abir's expression turned serious. "Abir Rajvansh ka deewanapan srif Mishti ke liyee haii, mera harr dard uska diyaa honna chaiye. Agar maut bhi Mishti ke hathon se mile toh woh bhi khubsurrat hogi. But for now I think tujhe Mishti ke pass jaana chaiye. She's alone."

Kuhu nodded and departed. As she drove towards Mishti's house, Abit remained on the balcony, watching their departure with a grave yet poignant expression.

Tuesday, 4:55 AM, At Mishti's Residence.

Kuhu and Mishti settled into bed after dinner, with kuhu planning to stay the night. Exiting the bathroom, kuhu found Mishti peacefully asleep.

Smiling at her friend's serene face, kuhu lay down beside her. Soon, sleep enveloped them both.

In the dead of night, Mishti found herself once more in the grip of a haunting nightmare.