A moment.

Chap. 01

Background- Abir overhears Badi Ma and Bade Papa talking about being honest with him and the pit in his stomach grows deeper when his eyes fail to find Mishti. He goes up to them and demands to see Mishti. *this is where everything changes*.

Abir opens the door to Mishti's room and the fear and worry in his heart is ever increasing,"MISHTI!!" He exclaims. Only to find her, climbing up through her window with little to no strength left in her. The day trip to Rajgarh really drained her. On finding her struggling, Abir runs to the balcony and carefully brings her back in the room. By this time the day's activities are finally catching up with Mishti and she's barely even standing on her feet now. Abir grabs her and pulls her close to him. Badi Ma, Bade papa, Kuhu and on hearing Abir's voice, even Kunal is right behind them. Abir carefully caresses Mishti's face and tucks her hair behind her ears to get a closer look at her face. "Mishti! Mishti! Look at me! Are you okay? What's wrong? Are you hurt?" And abir looks at her from head to toe, to see if she's physically okay only to find the pinky of her right hand, bleeding profusely. The blood on the floor catches Kunal's attention too and the worry on his brother's face breaks his heart. "Bhai! Bhai! She needs help! Before she loses her consciousness please bring her to the bed bhai. I'll call the doctor right away!" Abir nods and just then feels Mishti go limp in his arms. His worry intensifies. Abir quickly picks her up and places her on the bed and Badi ma hands him a piece of cloth which he wraps around her finger to stop the bleeding. "Mishti! Oh god Mishti! Yeh Sab Kya ho gaya? Badi Ma, Mishti thik toh jo jayegi na?". Badi ma places a hand on Abir's head and nods yes. She feels so blessed knowing Mishti will be happy with Abir. His primary worry was her well being and not questioning where she had been all day. Bade papa asks everybody to leave the room and wait for the doctor to come.
Abir is actually crying now. The worry and fear driving him mad. With one hand in her hand, and the other in her hair, he notices a faint bruising on the side of her forehead and his mind is running wild with  scenarios about what could happen to her now. "Mishti! Please Mishti open your eyes. Aaj humara Goddhana hai! And we've been waiting for this day for so long! Please Mishti!" He caresses her forehead only to feel a fever Building. "Nanko! Nanko!" He calls out and Kunal enters the room. "Where is the doctor Nanko?" Asked Abir. "Bhai, calm down, I spoke to Dr.Mehta and he's on his way. He should be here in about 5 mins. Don't worry bhai. Mishti will be okay. You'll see!" Said Kunal while putting a reassuring hand on Abir's shoulder. "Where's Baba, Nanko? Why isn't he here yet?". As much as Kunal disliked the man, for his bhai's sake he answered. "He isn't here. And nor is Ma." Before Abir could react, Kunal said the most unimaginable thing, "Bhai, right now you need to stay here. Mishti needs you bhai. I'm sure wherever he is, he's okay and if he needs anything I'll go. You need to stay with Mishti bhai." Abir couldn't believe his ears and Kunal continued, "Bhai i promised you to be happy for you in your happiness and afterall aaj humara time-out hai. I'll handle everything, you just stay with her." Abir didn't know how much he needed to hear this and before he could express his gratitude the doctor entered in.
Kunal left the room to provide some space and privacy. Badi Ma and Bade papa knew abir could handle everything and afterall it was his right and they chose not to enter the room either.
"Doctor! Doctor! Dekheye na! Bas behosh ho gayi! And uski finger!" The doctor understood his plight and gestured abir to calm down and sit on the other side of the bed so that he could tend to Mishti.

After a series of check-ups, the doctor removed his kit and dressed Mishti's finger and gave her stitches. Imagining the pain, abir closed his eyes and held on to Mishti's hand. It was almost as if he was getting stitches and not her. "Her rapid heartbeats indicate that she's had a panic attack not too long ago. And her finger wound was pretty deep too. I've given her some stitches but because of the delay in the treatment, her wound was a little infected which has led to septic and that's why, the fever. But don't worry that's not our main concern. Her panic attack is. She should be up in a while, the exhaustion has led to the fainting but when she wakes up, deal with her patiently. She'll need your love,young man." Abir felt as if he could finally breathe. He quietly thanked the doctor and the doctor left the room to tell the same to the rest of the family.
Abir kept kissing Mishti's hand and forehead repeatedly to assure himself that she was there. Finally there and that she was okay. Just as the doctor had said, Mishti opened her eyes in a couple of minutes and finding Abir right next to her, with his head on her hands, reality hit her. She realised everything she learnt today about Mehul and Masi was actually true and not a figment of her imagination. 
"A..a..abir" She croaked. Abir looked up at her and finally saw her awake. He put a finger on her lips and asked her to stay as she was. He quickly got up and brought a glass of water to her lips and waited patiently till she had some. Water was exactly what Mishti needed. After she was done, Abir stroked her hair and cupped her face and in the softest voice possible, asked her, "Mishti? Mishtj? Are you okay? Is your head hurting? Is your finger hurting? Do you need anything? I'll go and ask Badi Ma to make some Khichdi for you?" He got up to go to Badi Ma and before he could move, Mishti tightened her hold on his hand and gestured him to sit. "Abir. Main thik hoon. Don't worry so much. I'm so sorry main yahan nai thi.." Abir didn't even let her continue. "Mishti, I trust you. Agar tum yahan nai thi woh bhi humara Goddhane wale din then I'm sure it was something important and something big. Lekin yeh saari baatein baadme. Pehle tum. Aur tumhari health. I've heard that the body drains out completely after having a panic attack and I don't need you fainting on me for the third time in the last two days. So you sit here while I'll go and get some khichadi for you." He bent down to drop a kiss on the crown of her head and left the room. Mishti couldn't believe how lucky she was. How much he trusted her. She wiped her tears as the door knocked. Expecting Abir she got up a little from the sleeping position and tried to sit up. Unknown to her, it was actually Kunal and seeing her struggle to sit up, Kunal went and helped her. Mishti was truly shocked to see him helping her. "Tum ab thik ho? Mujhe pata hai aaj Kya Kya hua but it isn't my story to tell bhai. I hope you know what you're doing." Said Kunal. Seeing the questions in her eyes he continued, "Ma called me to tell me everything Mishti. We're gonna throw that man out Mishti. Don't worry. And thank you. Thank you for always being there for bhai. For being the friend he deserves." Mishti was delighted and grateful to hear that Kunal was on their side too. Before they could continue talking, Badi Ma and Abir came in with a bowl full of piping hot Khichdi. "Dekho Mishti! I didn't even have to tell Badi Ma! By the time I went down she already had a bowl of Khichdi ready for you! Chalo ab jaldi se khaa lo? Fir goddhana bhi toh Karna hai." Kunal smiled at her and left the room. "Meri bacchi, Tu ab thik hai na?" Asked a worried Badi Ma. "Haan Badi Ma mein bilkul thik hoon. Aap dono bhi na bohot tension lete ho!" Said Mishti. "Haan obviously. Tumhe apni chinta nai hai to ab kisi ko toh karni hogi na. Chalo ab baatein baad mein. Mooh kholo!" Exclaimed abir.
Abir sat patiently and fed Mishti with the utmost love and care. Badi ma went out and stood outside the room with Bade papa, both extremely happy to see Abir take care of Mishti.

"Abir. Bas I can't eat anymore!" Said Mishti with her mouth full. "Nai Mishti, last two bites. Chalo finish karo. Mooh kholo." Abir made sure Mishti finished her bowl and then gave her some medicines.
"Abir, woh Abir I'm so sorry. Aaj humara Goddhana hai and tum itne taiyyar hoke mera wait kar rahe the aur mein..." and a tear was about to slip from her eyes and abir caught it. "Nai Mishti. You. Your safety. Your health. Your well-being and your happiness are the only things that matter to me. And seeing you here with me, is enough. I could marry you right here. Right now. Your beauty doesn't lie in those heavy clothes or heavy jewellery. Your beauty is your heart. Thik hai?" He said while kissing her hand. "Arey Abir bro. Don't you worry. I have the perfect solution for you. Just wait down for 15 mins while I go and get your bride. #ReadyIn15. "Okay bro, but please make sure she doesn't exert herself too much." Pleaded abir. Mishti smiled at him and mouthed the words, " I promise". Abir smiled and left the room. "Tu thik haI?" Asked Kuhu slyly. "Yes Kuhu. Don't worry. I'm okay." Said Mishti with a smile. Kuhu smiled back and helped Mishti get ready. Afterall they had only 15 mins!

As soon as the time was up, there was a prompt knock on the door. The sisters smiled knowing it was the over excited groom. Ajeeb Rajvansh! Thought Mishti. Kuhu opened the door and it was as if Abir was left spellbound. He couldn't help but stare. She looked like an angel. His angel. Dressed in all white. She looked ethereal. Pure. (Sorry has to change the colour of her dress!) "Ahem Ahem! Close your mouth bro warna #FliesInYourMouth" teased Kuhu. Abir looked down all flustered and mishti was all red with the blushing. Abir walked towards here and extended his hand to her. Mishti held his hand and together they walked down. "Tich lag rahi ho!" Murmured abir, repeating the words from many moons ago. Mishti smiled at him and looked away blushing.

They soon reached down where everyone asked Mishti if she was okay. And abir supported her through everything with one arm being her shoulder and the other holding her hand, till Nanu finally requested everyone to start with the rituals. The ritual with Kunal only deepened the happiness of the couple. And mehul's absence was the cherry on the cake. Meenakshi needed time and mishti's condition brought her that time. Finally it was time to exchange rings.
Abir had a beautiful platinum ring with a single Solitaire on it. With the words, "I believe in you." engraved on the inside of the ring but he would let Mishti discover that one on her own. He slipped the ring on her finger and gently kissed her hand with the ring. Ketki, Kuhu and Atul spared him nothing for his romantic gesture.
Mishti has a simple platinum ring, with the words, "I'll always protect you" engraved on the inside but decided to let Abir discover that on his own. She slipped the ring on his finger and smiled at him with tears brimming her eyes, the only proof of a thousand unspoken promises that they exchanged. Looking at them together, they looked like a vision. The sky felt empty that night for the moon and stars had turned bleak due to the love shining in the eyes of the girl that looked like a moon clad in white along with the boy that shone like the stars in his white and silver kurta.
They were finally together. Finally one. Finally MishBir.