yun hi tu mere saath rehna

Chapter Eighteen

Abhira looked up from her file when there was a knock on her door. She smiled seeing Mishti standing there. “Kya main andar aa sakti hoon?” 

“Aap pooch kyun rahin hain, Badi Maa?” Abhira laughed. “Aapko pata hai aap kabhi bhi aa sakti hain.”

“Pooch lena chahiye,” Mishti giggled. “Kya pata tera aashiq milne aaya ho.”

“Kya, Badi Maa! Aap bhi pareshaan karoge ab?” Abhira pouted. “Aur waise bhi… Armaan aayega toh aapko pata chal hi jaayega na.”

“Aisa zaroori thodi hai,” Mishti countered. “Agar woh chupke khidki se aaya ho toh?”

“Yeh sab ulti-seedhi harkatein main karti hoon,” Abhira chuckled. “Khadoosmaan nahi. Woh toh darwaaze se hi aata hai.”

“Yeh special trait hai humaari family ka,” Mishti confessed, smiling brightly. “Main hi aise chupke Abir se milne jaati thi. Woh toh bohot rarely aata tha.”

Abhira guffawed. “Aap dono jaise ho, mujhe lagta tha yeh sab karne ka department Bade Papa ka hai. Aap toh ekdum serious type ke ho, like Armaan. Bade Papa hi hai mere jaise Badbad Gadbad Express.”

“Yeh toh teri baat sahi hai,” Mishti agreed. “Lekin main itni bhi boring nahi hoon!”

“Of course,” Abhira nodded frantically.

“Yeh le,” Mishti finally said, passing Abhira a bowl. “Badam ka halwa banaya tha.”

“Wow!” Abhira cried, taking the bowl with eager hands. “Mumma ka favourite tha,” she commented with a soft smile.

“Mujhe pata hai,” Mishti whispered. “Aaj uski bohot yaad aa rahi thi… Toh socha bana lu.”

Abhira hugged Mishti, resting her head on Mishti's shoulder. “I miss her too. Everyday.”

“I know,” Mishti sighed. A moment later, she pulled back from the hug and cupped Abhira's cheek. “Tu theek haina?”

Abhira shrugged. “Mujhe kya hoga?”

“Don't,” Mishti commanded gently. “Itna sab ho gaya pichle kuch dinon mein. I know tu Armaan ke saath share karti hai. But, agar tujhe mujhse ya Abir se kuch kehna hai… You know we're always here for you.”

“I know, Badi Maa,” Abhira assured. “Sach kahun toh main ab tak sab kuch process hi kar rahi hoon. 

Aapko pata hai… Goenka family mein na, mujhe koi khaas pasand nahi karta. Ruhi aur mere beech hamesha se differences rahe hain, mujhe uske aur Armaan ke past ke baare mein pata chala uske bhi pehle se. Aur Mrs. Goenka ko bhi main achchi nahi lagti. Shayad isliye kyunki mere aur Ruhi mein hamesha itne problems rahe hain. But… Mr. Goenka. He was different. Pehli baar unse mili thi tabse aisa lagta tha jaise mera unse gehra rishta hai. Ab jaake samajh aa raha hai ki mujhe aisa kyun laga ki woh mere apne hain. Par, sach toh yehi haina ki unse zyada paraya shayad mera aur koi nahi hai.”

“Gudiya,” Mishti breathed, pulling her into another hug. “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.”

“Aap sorry kyun bol rahe ho? Aapne kya kiya hai?” Abhira asked. “Jo kuch bhi kiya woh Mr. Goenka aur unki family ne kiya. Isme aapki koi galti nahi hai. In fact, aap soch bhi nahi sakte how grateful I am ki aapne mujhe sab kuch bata diya. Yeh itni badi baat hai… It could not have stayed hidden forever. Kisi na kisi din mujhe sab pata chal hi jaata. But, aapne khud mujhe bata diya, toh kam dhakka laga. Aap, Bade Papa, aur Armaan saath the toh main sambhal gayi, Badi Maa. Warna pata nahi main kaise khudko handle karti.”

“Hum toh hamesha hi tere saath hain,” Mishti promised.

“I know,” Abhira smiled. “Aap hain tabhi toh main yeh important decisions itni easily le paa rahi hoon. Kyunki mujhe pata hai ki agar maine koi bhi gadbad ki, toh aap sambhaal loge.”