|| Carefree For The Moment. ||

|| Part Fifteen. ||

That evening Abeer lay away in his hospital room, replaying what Mishti had said for what felt like the hundreth time. He couldn't make sense of it. It was if his head was continuously spinning but his feet hadn't left the ground. He glanced at his phone beside him. Should he message her?

Mishti stared at the ceiling as Kuhu snored in the bed beside her. She glanced at her phone on the bed beside her, & picked it up to go into her messages to see Abeer's name at the top of the list. She sighed deeply. She wanted to message him. To apologise. To make sure he was okay... but-.

She went into her photo gallery, looking at the photo of the two of them on their First Date. She smiled softly, her eyes brimming with tears & she held the phone close to her mouth.

Her phone suddenly vibrated so her eyes widened & she checked what it was. Abeer. It read. He had messaged her! She sat up at once. Her fingers trembling as she held the phone with both hands, in case she dropped it.

Are you still awake? It said & she replied almost instantaneously, not wanting to waste any second in case he thought she was sleeping & didn't message her again.
Yes. I'm awake.
Are you okay?
I'm fine. Came the reply then she got another message. Can you meet me tomorrow? I'm being discharged.
Really!? That's great. Of course I can.
Do you want me to come & get you?  She added quickly.
No, it's fine. He replied & her heart sank. Nanko & Maa are coming to get me.Come to the lakeside. His next message said.

Not 'our usual place.' As he would often call it. She closed her eyes briefly before replying.
I'll be there. Just let me know when.
I'll message you in the morning.
Get some rest. He added.

Okay. See you tomorrow.

Good night.

He was still upset. Of course he was. She could sense it from his messages. & why wouldn't he be? His world had been turned upside down. & he was upset with her.She sighed, not able to get any sleep as her anxiety began to rise when her heart began to pound. She swung her feet so that they were both on the ground. She needed some air. She got out of the bed with her phone & grabbed her jacket from the side before quietly leaving the room, not wanting to disturb Kuhu.

She made her way into the courtyard & sat down on the sofa. Taking a deep breath.She ran her hands over her face as she closed her eyes. Everything was a mess. "Mishti?" a voice said softly & she quickly wiped her eyes when she recognised the voice before looking up to see her Badi Maa walking out of the house, in her sari. She hadn't gotten ready for bed yet. Even though it was late. She must have been in the kitchen still."Badi Maa" she managed, composing herself as she smiled faintly. "What are you still doing awake?"
"I could ask you the same thing" She said making her way over to Mishti. "Why are you still awake Beta? What's the matter?"
"No-" She stuttered. "Nothing Badi Maa! I'm just trying to take a few moments after everything that happened" she sighed & Rajshri came & sat down beside Mishti taking her daughter's hand in hers.
"I know" She sighed. "A lot has happened, hasn't it?" She said & Mishti nodded, silently. "At least Abeer is okay now. & your Bade Papa was telling me that he's going to be discharged tomorrow!" She said excitedly & Mishti nodded, still as silent.

Rajshri narrowed her eyes at her daughter so Mishti looked away, scratching her head. "Badi Maa, do you think we should go to Rajvansh House tomorrow to see him?" She asked, hoping that would distract her from the look of worry on her face.
"Forget all that" It didn't. Rajshri took Mishti's chin to face her. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing, Badi Maa-" She said taking her mother's hand."Don't Badi Maa me" She warned "There's something on your mind & you're hiding it from me. What is it?" She said & Mishti sighed. "Tell me Beta, maybe I can help?" She pleaded.

Mishti gave it a moment before sighing as she hugged her mother's waist. Resting her head on her chest. First she had hidden the truth from Abeer. Then from her Badi Maa & her Bade Papa. She hadn't just lied to them all, she had essentially betrayed their trust. What would she say?

"Mishti!" Rajshri said worriedly & took Mishti's hands away so that she would sit up. "Look at me" she said. "Talk to me beta. What is it? What's got you so worried?" She asked & Mishti sighed, taking her Badi Maa's hands.
"Badi Maa-"
"Yes, I'm listening" She told her & Mishti began to pour her heart out. Telling Rajshri everything that had happened that had led up to that point. Rajshri's eyes widening at what she was hearing. "Are you sure?" She asked & Mishti simply nodded, her eyes filled with fear. Rajshri sighed deeply. "I can't believe-" She sighed. "Why didn't you tell us any of this sooner Mishti!?" She demanded & Mishti looked down at her hands, for shame. "You shouldn't have kept something like this to yourself!" She admonished her daughter.
"Badi Maa, I wanted to find out the truth before I said anything. Badi Maa, Abeer-"
"Abeer is going to be angry, isn't he?" she asked her. "If you hide something like that from him. Of course he'll be angry. He's right to be! How could you do something like that Mishti? He's not just your friend anymore! He's about to be your life-partner. Do you realise what that means?" She asked & Mishti daren't reply. She knew her Badi Maa was right. This was exactly what had been eating her up since the beginning.

"Getting married isn't just about the ceremonies & the rasams, Mishti. It's a life long commitment to be by each other's side. To protect one another when they need it. & that's not going to happen when you hide things from one another. Is it?" She asked & Mishti closed her eyes. Rajshri sighed then shook her head at her daughter. "What did Abeer say?"
"Nothing" She said opening her eyes. "He wants to meet me tomorrow. But-"
"But?"
"I'm scared Badi Maa!" She said desperately & Rajshri's heart sank seeing her daughter in this state. "Badi Maa, Abeer is really upset with me. I can't lose him Badi Maa"
"Stop" Rajshri said softly, taking her daughters cheek. "You've already given up hope?" She asked & Mishti's eyes softened. "Is that what your Bade Papa & I taught you? That when the going gets tough, you give up?"

"No Badi Maa, but Abeer-"
"Abeer just needs some time to take all this in, Mishti"
"But he asked me to meet him tomorrow" She repeated.
"Then meet him" she said simply.
"Badi Maa" She cried.
"Mishti" she said sternly. "Enough" she said, wiping her daughter's eyes, even though her own were filling with tears as she saw her daughter's state. Rajshri took a deep breath. "Stop. You're going to go & see Abeer tomorrow & you will listen to what he has to say. If he needs to vent, you let him vent. If he gets upset, you let him. Just be there & support him."

"Badi-"
"Take that thought out of your head, first of all" She warned. "Your Bade Papa & I didn't raise you to become weak in front of any challenges. You've never been weak before, so why are you starting now. Everything will be fine. I promise you."
"Really?" She asked in a child-like manner.
"Really. You wait & see, mm?" she said nodding as she touched her daughter's cheek, with a smile.
"Badi Maa" she sighed, hugging her mother, holding her tightly as she closed her eyes.

Now all she had to do was wait & see what Abeer would say to her tomorrow...