Rendezvous with Reality.

Rendevouz with Reality.

3 months. It's been almost 90 days since they both ripped out each other's hearts and crumbled them away for the happiness of those who only cared for themselves. But abir wasn't one of those people. Abir gave up his only chance at happiness, with a smile on his face and tears in his eyes only and only for the safety and security for his baby brother. Betrayal sucked. And he knew betrayal first hand alright. Be it his father who loved money more than him or his mother who loved her ideas and wishes more than the happiness of her sons or be it his masi who believed in taking undue advantage of the love and respect he had for her or be it his nanu who never used the authority and power that came with age for the truth. So yeah he had a fair idea about what betrayal was. And having been through that he pledged not to ever put his baby brother through even a twinge of what he went through, even if it meant driving a knife in his heart and further twisting it by stabbing the love of his life.
Perhaps, betrayal was what connected them. She too had a fair idea about betrayal, afterall her parents, her grandmother, her bf(f) had all done this to her and as if that wasn't enough his very own mother took advantage of the poor girl who only wanted to save him and betrayed her. But her misery didn't end there. He was the latest addition to this list of betrayals but being the strong girl that she is, she made each betrayal a mark, a trophy of yet another challenge that she had overcome but he had a feeling that this one was going to leave behind scars.
90 days in London, with the freezing weather had done nothing to thaw Mishti's heart. Just because she was strong didn't mean she wasn't struggling. She had gotten so used to seeing herself through his eyes that she had forgotten who she was before him. And this time around she didn't even have the pendant to draw strength from. At the mere mention or thought of the pendant her hand involuntary touched the small scar on the side of her neck and her eyes shut in pain remembering that awful moment of pain and reality. But she knew how to value those around her who loved her. Unconditionally. Like her Bade papa and so she steeled herself a little by little each day. She stopped seeing herself through his eyes. Literally. But what she didn't know was that she hadn't only steeled her mind but also her heart. So yes, he did leave a scar alright.
But now, today she was stronger. Braver. Tougher. She repeated this to herself each day, as she woke up. But today she really needed it, she was going home after all. She had missed the warmth and the shelter that her Bade papa's hug provided. The only thing that could warm her cold heart. And so, that's exactly what she did when she landed back in Rajkot. The airport had become a bittersweet home for her. The very place that housed the warmest and the happiest moments of her life to where it all ended.
From the way he hugged her and picked her up with so much vigour. He  unshed tears in his eyes when he realised that she hadn't left! To the very glimpse of him the day she left. She could almost feel the dream she saw that day. His arms around her, one hand cradling the back of her head and his warm lips on her forehead.
She shook her head vigorously to get rid of all those memories and went home with her Bade papa.
"Kuhu, is really excited to meet you beta. I'm so glad you're back Mishti. Humne aap ko bohot miss kiya." Her Bade papa said.
Mishti smiled and said, "Mujhse zyada nahi. But Bade papa, Kuhu isn't excited to meet me but she excited to check if I've gotten her everything from her never ending shopping list. Thank god Nannu is coming home in a few days too so incase I've missed something he'll get it. Warna Kuhu toh mijhe maar hi degi." Mishti joked. The father-daughter duo spent a couple of light moments before he asked her what he was dying to ask her, "Beta, Kya ab aap thik hai?"  She smiled at her father and pulled him in for a hug and said, "Aap ke hote hue main kaise thik nahi ho ungi?"  She said sweetly. But her father could still see the pain in her eyes. But decided to let it go but thanked god internally because god knows he didnt deserve her.
"Mishti beta, once we go home your Badi ma will hog all your time. And I want to spend some time with you. Let's go for a Khichdi date,abhi. What say?"
"I would love to! Let's go Bade papa!" 

On the other side of the city there was a man. Well shell of a man. He was so disappointed in himself and took blame of everything that happened. So much so that he refused to look at himself or the world through his eyes and that's why made shades a part of his daily wear. And just as he would do each morning, he opened his eyes to a bunch of colourful origami birds flowing with the wind. Those birds were the only splash of colour he was left with. He got up, caressed those birds with a faint smile on his face and went to the drawer near his window where he had stored all his precious memories of her. Be it the locket that he found after a rather long swim in the lake and the fact that even after it was thrown in the water it didn't break, it gave him some hope for their relationship as well, or be it the torn wedding card, or her letters or her earring. He had everything, right under a beautiful picture of her. The only time he ever removed his shades was to look at her. Because only she knew him. Only she saw him. Because only with her, he was home. All those memories were like salt to his wounds. His way of punishing himself for putting her through everything he did. This was his way of penance. His way of loving her. His way of keeping her and even himself alive.
A knock got him out of his trance. Knowing it was Nanco he put away the picture and greeted him with a hug, his eyes and his pain well hidden behind the glasses.
"Bhai, I have great news. The clients from Taiwan have agreed. We must celebrate bhai. And I know exactly the place. I know it's early and all but it's never too early for Khichdi. Get ready and meet me down in 20 mins. I'll have the scooter running for us." Abir smiled and nodded at his baby brother who had suddenly grown up. You see, Kunal loved Khichdi alright but he knew very well that eating Khichdi was his bhai's way of remembering Mishti. Of loving Mishti and it was the only time of the day where he looked genuinely happy. And his bhai's happiness was Kunal's utmost priority.
But as fate would have it. They all ended up in the same cafe. Ordering the same thing. And both Kunal and Bade papa had to leave for some emergency at work. But what Bade papa didn't know was that the entire emergency had been orchestrated by Kuhu. To bring Mishti and abir together.
Because they had placed an order for the same thing and the lack of staff in the restaurant meant they had to request the customers for self service. And then, their names were called out.
"Mr. Rajvansh and Ms. Aggarwal, kindly come to the counter and collect your orders."
On hearing these names together in one sentence after so long, both their hearts skipped a beat. But they both told themselves that it was simply a coincidence. They both walked towards the counter to pick up their food.
Only to come face to face with each other. After 90 days of separation. Abir felt light headed seeing her in front of him. Right there. Within his reach! He almost moved towards her but she took a step back. She looked at him as if she had never seen him before. So cold. She picked up her food and started walking towards her table. But abir couldn't stop himself. Before he could think, the words were already out of his mouth.
"Do you hate me so much that you got rid of the one thing I loved the most about you?" He whispered.
Loved?  She scoffed and turned around. "Loved? Isn't that too strong a word Abir? But to answer your question. Yes. Yes, I did. I refuse to look at the world through your eyes. This is who I am now because remember i had told you that if you go, Mishti Aggarwal's life will go with you. So yeah, I'm still trying to figure out exactly who I am. But you?
Have you started hating yourself so much now that you've become everything you pledged never to be. Hiding your eyes and cutting your hair, will not change your reality abir. Nor will it change you. Those who know, will always know." She said and she turned around. With her eyes watering but her head held high.
Oh how I wish I could tell you, just how much those glasses mean to me. And just how much I cherish them. How I couldn't go through with the surgery and so got lenses instead. She thought.
Abir felt another blow to his already battered heart and thanked god that his eyes were hidden because they were totally wet. He would never be able to forgive himself for turning the most beautiful person so callous.
Not being able to help himself he said, "Suno.."  and almost instantaneously and involuntarily she turned around.
And that's when. That's exactly when they knew that behind all these facades and masks they were still them. Still Ajeeb Rajvansh and still Angry Chorni.