|| Carefree For The Moment. ||

|| Part Four. ||

"I'm going to head home." He sighed when they got to her home's gate.
"Hold on" Mishti told him & he raised an eyebrow as she went back into her bag & took out the container.
"You going to eat it all in front of me or something?" He teased & she rolled her eyes at him, with a smile.
"Here. Make sure you finish it" She warned him.
"But-"
"I've had as much as I want to. But I know you probably haven't had anything to eat"
"I had breakfast" He told her.
"Yeah, & if I go in there & ask Badi Maa, will she say you actually ate or will she say you disappeared before she got the chance to force-feed you?" She asked pointing to the house with her thumb before folding her arms & giving him a look.
He glared at her. "Fine, Angry Chorni. You're right" He told her & she smiled. "I didn't feel like eating"
"Well, now I'm giving you my favourite dish, make sure you do" She warned. "& I'm going to call & ask you later & if I find out that you haven't touched it, Ajeeb Rajvansh" She told him, wagging her finger at him.
"Then?" he challenged her.
"Then forget Karva Chaut" She folded her arms & a smile appeared on his face.
"Really?" He said pulling her close by her arms, making her attempt to resist the urge to smile. But it was of no use.
"Yes, now go before Bade Papa gets home." She said stepping back.
"Okay, I'll call you later"
"Bye"
"Bye" He smiled & she watched him turn to leave before making her way back into the house.

Abeer made his way into the home & sensed the emptiness that awaited him. "Bhaiiiii!" Ketki rushed over to him, followed by Nidhi, "Did you hear!?""What?" He asked, smiling at his sister's excitement."We're going to celebrate Karva Chaut at Maheshwari house!"
"Yeah, Mishti said-"
"Oh really?" She asked, folding her arms. "You see this Maa? Mishti & Bhai already have their secrets from me!"
"Ketu!" He laughed, putting his arm around his little sister. "Tell me what you guys need & I'll organise it for you"
"I'll make a list!" Nidhi Maami said excitedly, taking Ketki's arm. "Ketu, you come help me & I'll get Atul, the useless boy, to do something too" Nidhi led Ketki to the sofa so they could sit down to make her list.
"Maa" Ketki shook her head then glanced over at Abeer, who was about to walk off to his room."By the way, Bhai" She said & Abeer turned to her.
"What?"
"What gift are you planning on getting my soon-to-bhabhi, hmm?" She asked, folding her arms & sighed when he looked at his sister, confused. "Bhai!" She shook her head, unfolding her arms & took his arm. "It's her first Karva Chaut! Especially before her wedding; it's a big deal!"
"I know! But what gift can I give her?"
"Hmmm" She paused, tapping her finger to her forehead. "Good question. Let me think about it"
"Give her some jewellery!" Nidhi Maami called & the two of them turned to her.
"No maa," Ketki complained. "Mishti isn't into jewellery"
"Exactly" Abeer smiled to himself.
"Let me think about it, Bhai, I'll tell you"
"Okay" he nodded before turning to leave for his room."Bhai!" Ketki called & Abeer turned to her once again as she got up & playfully made her way over to him

"Now what Ketuuuu?"
"What's this, huh?" She asked, pointing at the container in his hand.
"Mine, that's what it is!" He said moving it out of her reach.
"But what is it? Sweets??" She said excitedly, rubbing her hands together.
"Khichdi" He told her & she pulled a face."Really!?" She asked & he nodded before opening up the container & seeing the majority of the khichdi was still there, making Ketki complain.
"Why are you eating khichdi!?" She asked him, confused.
"Khichdi!" Nidhi Maami rushed over at once. "What's wrong Abeer? Did something happen? Are you unwell? Do you need me to get you something? Some medicine? Some Haldi milk? Tell me Abeer!"
"Relax Maami!" he laughed. "I'm fine." She assured him.
"Then?" She asked him
"Badi Maa made it for me."
"Hold on" Ketki folded her arms.
"Now what?" He asked sternly."Isn't Mishti's favourite dish, Khichdi?" She teased, tilting her head at him.
"Here we go" Abeer rolled his eyes.
"Look maa, before karva chaut, they're sharing each other's food" She teased & Abeer went for her but she hid behind her mother.
"Why wouldn't they share? They're in loves after all"
"Not loves maa, love!" She corrected her mother.
"Yes. Whatever" She said flapping her hand."Is that it?" He asked his sister.
"Have you quite finished? Can I go now?"
"Yeah, you can go. I'll tease you more later on" She said proudly & he shook his head at his little sister, smiling

He looked up & saw his mother looking on from the side, Parul beside her, causing his face to fall at once. Naanu made his entry into the foyer & put his arm around Abeer. "What's going on Bro?"
"Bappuji!" Nidhi got up & rushed over to him excitedly. "We're planning for Karva Chaut! We're celebrating with the Maheshwari's because that Punjaban & she wants to celebrate"
"You mean Jasmeet Chaachi" Ketki corrected her
"Yes, yes. Her!" Nidhi said flapping her hand, disinterested.
"Wow! Karva chaut!" He exclaimed, excitedly. "Abeer, what are you planning?"
"Nothing yet Naanu" He said softly. "I'll let you know if I do"
"Make sure you plan something amazing. It's my daughter-in-law's first festival.
"She's not your daughter-in-law yet though, Bappuji!" Nidhi corrected him.
"So you'll tell me whether I can call her my daughter-in-law or not, mmmmm?" He teased & she bit her tongue as Ketki laughed.
"Sorree Bappuji!"
"I'll be in my room Naanu." He said, about to walk off when Naanu took his arm & lowered his voice."How long are you going to hide in your room, bro? Mm?"
"Until I can take a breath in peace" He shrugged.
"Abeer" His Naanu sighed.
"I'll come see you later, Naanu"
"Okay" he nodded, & watched as Abeer walked off towards his room.

"Bhaiyya, do you need anything?" Jugnu asked & Abeer stopped in his way, looking at the container.
"Can you grab me a spoon please, Jugnu?"
"Of course Bhaiyya" He smiled "I'll just bring it"
"Thanks" he smiled & Jugnu disappeared down the stairs as Abeer passed his father's room.
"Baba?" He peered his head into the room.
"Abeer beta. You're home" He smiled, sitting up in his bed. "How are you?" Abeer asked, walking over to the bed."I'm good. How's Mishti?"
"She's good" he smiled."Did you talk to Mishti about what I said?"
"About moving out?" He asked & his father nodded. "Yeah. Mishti's not happy with it. But I think she understands where I'm coming from" He said & sighed. "I wish things weren't so complicated"
"Maybe you should talk to her about it. See what she's thinking"
"Yeah, I will. I don't want there to be any kind of confusion between us"
"Exactly"
"I'm going to my room Baba, I'll come see you later"
"Okay beta" He smiled. "Go"

Abeer made his way to his room & opened the door. "Here you go Bhaiyya" a voice said behind him & he turned to take the spoon from Jugnu, smiling.
"Thanks" He said & was about to walk off when Jugnu hugged him. "Jugnu, what's wrong?" He asked when Jugnu stepped back.
"Nothing Bhaiyya, I just want you to always be happy. That's all" He said & Abeer smile. "You eat Mishti DiDi's Khichdi, I'm going" He teased & Abeer raised his hand to hit him as he ran off out of the room, making Abeer chuckle before he sat down to eat.