|| Carefree For The Moment. ||

|| Part Five. ||

Mishti went through her cupboard, frustrated. "No, no, no"
"What are you looking for?" She heard a voice from the door, beside her & she sighed, looking up to see Rajshri walking in, her hands behind her back.
"Look at this Badi Maa. It's the first festival since Mine & Abeer's rishta has been confirmed & I've got nothing to wear!"
"Think your Badi Maa has the solution to all your problems" She said proudly.
"Meaning?" She asked, raising an eyebrow before Rajshri took out her hands from behind her back & placed the red colour dress on her bed. "Badi Maa!" She gasped, feeling the fabric of the simple yet elegant red sari. "Is this for me!?"
"No, it's for me!" She said sarcastically & Mishti looked up to pretend to glare at her, making her laugh. "Of course it's for you!"
"It's beautiful, Badi Maa" she said then threw her hands around her mother's neck. "Thank you!" She squealed."You're welcome, meri bachi" she said hugging her tight. "Now start finding whatever you need to go with it, okay?" she said, moving some hair behind Mishti's ear.
"Yes Badi Maa" She smiled."& if you need anything, just tell me, I'll ask your Bade Papa to bring it"
"I will" She said then paused. "Badi Maa?" She began
"Yeah?"
"What about Kuhu? I mean-"
"I know" She nodded. "She says she wants to celebrate it, for Jasmeet. & the divorce isn't final or anything yet anyway. So let's let her do what her heart wants, mm?" She asked & Mishti nodded. "& you do what your heart wants" She smiled, her hand to Mishti's cheek as she looked away. "Within reason, mm!" She warned, pretending to glare at her daughter, making her smile coyly.
"Badi Maa!" She hugged her mother, hiding her face in her shoulder, making Rajshri laugh.

Mishti's phone rang, causing Mishti to look up to see her phone was on the bed, grabbing it. "You'd better answer it" Rajshri said as Mishti grabbed the phone before looking up. "It'll be your husband to be" She teased & Mishti shook her head as Rajshri leaned over to see Abeer's name on the incoming video phone. "Yes, I was right"
"Badi Maaa" She said sternly & Rajshri chuckled. "Okay, okay. I'll let you two talk in private, happy?" She said & Mishti watched as her mother walked out, closing the door behind her.

"What is it?" She asked, shaking her head.
"What's with the mood,  Angry Chorni?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at her."Nothing, Badi Maa's just teasing me" She sulked
"About?" He asked, leaning back on the stairs.
"Nothing important." She said, amused. "Anyway, why did you call?"
"To show you this" He said lifting up the empty metal container.
"You didn't give it to Atul?"
"No" He told her.
"Ketki?"
"No..." He sighed.
"Jugnu Bhaiya?"
"No!" He exclaimed. "Not Maama, Maami or Naanu! Happy?"
"Very good!" She said, opening the dress with one hand, whilst holding the phone in the other.
"So you're going to keep the fast for me?"
"I said I would, didn't I?" she asked, distracted.
"What are you doing?" He asked, noticing her attention had been diverted.
"Just trying to see whether I need to make any alterations to my dress." She mused.
"What dress?" he asked, sitting forward. "Your wedding dress?" He asked & her head shot up.
"Oh, hello! We haven't even had our godhana yet! Shaadi dress" She rolled her eyes.
"Which dress then?"
"If you must know, my karva chaut dress."
"Ooh, let me see!"
"Er, no" She said simply
"Why not?" He complained
"Because I don't want you to. It's a surprise"
"Oh, is it?" He said sitting forward.
"Yes, now if you don't mind. I need to go & try it on" She sighed.
"You need any help?" He teased & she closed her eyes.
"I'm putting the phone down in 3... 2... 1"
"Waait, wait, wait!" He laughed. "Okay, I'll stop"
"No, you won't" she said, opening her eyes but refusing to look at the phone's screen.
"At least look at me"
"No, I don't want to!"
"Fine, you can look at me when I come over tomorrow"
"Oh jeez" She sighed, her hand to her forehead.

"Bhaiiii!" A voice called & Abeer looked up.
"Hold on" He told Mishti. "Yeah Ketu? What's up?" He asked as she walked in.
"Oh, are you busy?" She asked"Just a bit"
"Is it my bhabhiiii?" She teased & Mishti smiled to herself & Abeer turned to the phone, giving her a look as she glared at him.
"Hey Ketki!" She called
"Hiii would-be-bhabhiii" She teased, leaning on Abeer's shoulder to wave at her.
"Are you all set for tomorrow?" Mishti asked, ignoring the looks she was getting from Abeer when Ketki wasn't looking
"Oh yess. We're all looking forward to it. Especially Bhai, right Bhai?" She asked & Abeer turned to his little sister. "What!? I did warn you that I'd come & tease you later. Not my fault I chose THE best. moment. possible!" She laughed. "Bhabhi, is bhai keeping a fast for you"
"No!" She said & Abeer eyes widened.
"What? Why not?"
"Because I said so. You don't eat as it is nowadays, I don't need you to fall unconscious thank you very much!"
"Aawww, let him Bhabhi, I think it's adorable"
"Thank you Ketu, see!"
"Ketu, I'm telling you, make sure he doesn't keep one tomorrow. It's your responsibility"
"Yes Bhabhi!" She said & Ketki leaned back from the phone's screen to reassure her brother, making him smile.

"What was that?" Mishti asked
"Huh?" He turned to face her.
"Ketki. Abeer" She warned
"What am I missing?" a voice called & Abeer sighed, his hand to his face as Mishti chuckled.
"Nothing. Come. Bhai's talking to our bhabhi"
"Ooooh" He rushed over, to lean on Ketki, waving at Mishti, who waved back, smiling.

"Hey Bhabhi!"
"Hey Atul. How's things?"
"All good actually, you know today-"
"Here" Abeer offered the phone to Atul as Mishti smiled. "No, you both talk to her. I'll ask Jugnu to come so you can aaaall talk to your heart's content, mm?"
"Aaaaaw, Bhai. I'm sorry. We'll let you two talk in private. Come bhai, let's not disturb the lovebirds" Ketki waved at Mishti from behind Abeer as she tried to bat her away. "Bye Bhabhiiii"
"Ketu!" Abeer admonished her
"Bhai loves youuuuu" She called & Mishti chuckled.
"Bu-" Atul tried to speak but Ketki pushed him out. "I was just-"
"We'll talk to Bhabhi when we go over tomorrow bhai, don't worry."
"Fiine" he sighed as he was being pushed out of the room.

"Abeer!" Mishti shook her head at him.
"What!? I'm trying to talk to you & those two just came & butted in!"
"Well go & make it up to them. I'm going to go & see if Badi Maa needs my help after I try on my dress"
"My offer to help still stands, you know?" He suggested, softly.
"& I'm ending the call!" She admonished him.
"Fine" He pulled a face. "I'll go & find something to do"
"Go & spend time with Atul & Ketu. Don't sit on your own" She told him softly & he nodded.
"I'll go now""Good."

"Mishti, beta?" Her Bade Papa called & Mishti looked up.
"Coming Bade Papa!" She said getting up. "Iloveyoubye" She whispered quickly & ended the call, making Abeer smile to himself.

I love you too. The message said as Mishti smiled to herself, making her way downstairs, sighing happily.