|| Carefree For The Moment. ||

|| Part Nineteen. ||

"Abeer, do you hear yourself!?" Meenakshi exclaimed
"Abeer! What are you doing!?" Parul exclaimed.
"I'm doing what a son should do. Taking his father's name forward"
"I'm proud of you, beta" Mehul said, putting his arm around his son's shoulder.
"Thanks Baba" He smiled. "Maa, I know you're not happy about it, but for me. Please, accept it" He said, watching the look of disappointment in his mother's eyes.

She took a deep breath. "I guess I have no choice but to-"
"But Behn Baa-" Parul spoke & Meenakshi turned to give Parul a look, shaking her head, silencing her into bowing her head.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Abeer" Meenakshi told him & Abeer nodded.
"Of course he knows what he's doing" Mehul smiled, squeezing his son closer to him. "Meenakshi, I know this isn't what you want but Abeer is happy, isn't that all that matters?" He asked sweetly.

Meenakshi put her hand on Abeer's cheek. "All I've ever wanted is your happiness, Abeer" She said & Abeer smiled softly, believing her.
"Thank you Maa."
"I actually called you down here to tell you that Rajshri Ji phoned"
"Oh? What did she say?" Mehul asked, speaking before Abeer could say anything.

Meenakshi ignored Mehul, & spoke to Abeer. "They want to do your Gordhaana in two days or in two months what do you think about that?"
"I'm happy with it." He shrugged & Meenakshi smiled softly.
"That's what I told her, that you'd be happy with it. See Parul, I know my son"
"Of course Behn Baa. Anyone can come in, but they can't replace a mother's love" She taunted

"What's going on?" a voice came from the stairs so all three of them looked up to see Kunal making his way down the stairs, followed by Ketki & Atul.

"Your brother's Gordhaana is in 2 days" She smiled & both Ketki & Atul cheered.
"2 days?" He asked, confused.
"Really Behn Baa!?" A voice exclaimed & Nidhi came rushing out, followed by Naanu & Kaushal.
"Yes, Nidhi. Bappu Ji. I did the right thing, didn't I?"
"Of course you did Meenu" Yashpal assured her, as usual.
"Thank you Bappu Ji" She smiled. "Nidhi, this is your responsibility. I don't want anything to be missing. Got it?"
"Yess Behn Baa!" She said excitedly & Abeer watched as they all began to discuss the upcoming function excitedly.
"What's this Bhai?" He asked, taking the card from Abeer's hand. "Abeer Kapadia" he read out loud.

"Kunal-" Abeer began, he was waiting for him to flip as Kunal's head shot up. "You're changing your identity. Who you are?"
"No Nanko, listen to me-"
"Bhai, I can't believe you'd get sucked into his words. He abandoned us!" Kunal exclaimed.
"Kunal" Mehul began meekly. "I understand you're upset"
"I wasn't talking to you!"
"Nanko, come with me" Abeer said, putting his arm around his brother's shoulder. "Come" He said, taking his brother & leading up back up the stairs.

Mishti was working on something for the NGO when her bedroom door knocked before opening it slightly. She had managed to get the room to herself that night seeing as Shaurya & Varsha had taken Kuhu out for a change of scenery.
"Mishti Beta?" a voice said & she looked up to see her father peering his head around the door.
"Bade Papa" she smiled softly. "Come in" she said & he stepped into the room, closing the door behind him as she moved some of the papers for him to join her. "Is everything okay, Bade Papa?"
"That's what I wanted to ask you" He sighed, sitting down on the bed, in front of her.
"Yeah, everything's fine" She shrugged & he smiled softly.
"& between you & Abeer?" He asked & she sighed.
"Badi Maa told you"
"Of course she did. In case you forgot, your Badi Maa & I have been friends long before we were your Badi Maa & Bade Papa." He said & she looked down.
"I know what you're going to say Bade Papa"
"If you know what I'm going to say, why did you do it in the first place Mishti?" He asked her softly.
"I thought I was protecting him!"
"By hiding things from him?" He asked her. "When has anything good ever come from hiding the truth from those we love? Mm?" He asked & she nodded.
"You're right. I just didn't want to tell him anything until I knew for sure that my suspicion was right. & once I found out..." She sighed. "He had his accident & then..."

"So, how did he take it?"
"He took it pretty hard at first" She told him, & Vishamber nodded, understandably. "But I think he's dealing with it better than I imagined"
"See" He said softly. "Just because we think we're helping, doesn't always mean we are. We could be doing a disservice to that person. To their feelings. Do you understand what I'm saying?" He asked & she agreed.
"I understand you Bade Papa"
"The last thing I want right now is for things to complicate between you & Abeer. We already have Kuhu & Kunal to deal with" He sighed & Mishti nodded.
"You're right. I won't let anything happen between Abeer & I, Bade Papa. I won't let it happen again"
"Good girl" he said & opened his arms for a hug so she smiled, hugging her father. "Speaking of which" he said when the two of them pulled apart.
"Have the two of you decided when you want your Gordhaana, or are you looking to have a long engagement?" He teased & Mishti smiled.
"We haven't decided yet, Bade Papa" She said & her phone rang, as if right on cue."Ahh, maybe you should ask him"
"How do you know it's him? It could be anyone else!" She said & he chuckled."I'm your Bade Papa, Mishti. I know that much" he teased & she chuckled as he got up. "You two talk. I'll go & see what your Badi Maa is doing"
"Thanks Bade Papa"

"Hey" Mishti smiled to herself.
"Heyy." he sang ."What are you smiling about?" He asked her, skeptically.
"Is everyone able to read me or something!?" She sighed, exclaiming.
"You're predictable, Angry Chorni" He teased. "So, tell me"
"I was just talking to Bade Papa"
"Oh?"
"He wanted to ask if I needed more time so I can change my mind from marrying you"
"Oh, did he!?" He scoffed. "Tell him that I said I'm the one who's going to change my mind first! I don't want to marry an Angry, Violent Chorni!"
"Ajeeb Rajvansh!?" She gasped in shock, making him laugh. She smiled before pausing.
"So, what did your mum say?" She asked & he sighed.
"I told Maa that the name change was my idea"
"What!? Abeer!? Why did you do that"
"I wanted to see how Baba would react." He said then sighed. "You should've seen the look on his face, Mishti. I don't know how I didn't notice it all before"
"Abeer" she sighed. "You weren't to know. Stop blaming yourself" She said & he sighed. "tell me, what shall we do next?"
"We'll go to Rajgarh & speak to Pandit Ji, like you said. Maybe we'll find something out."
"You sure?"
"Positive. We have to do this"
"How are we going to get out of the house? I don't think Badi Maa or Bade Papa will let me go anywhere so close to the Gordhana"
"Leave it to me. I'll think of something"