As mishti had told naman, dinner was served at 8. Abir had picked up kuhu on the way and Nishant had obviously tagged along.
The table was set in the backyard of the inn, so everyone could enjoy the lovely weather outside. The first thing that Abir did as soon as he saw mishti was hug her to him and said, "kuch galat nahi hoga. Hum kuch galat hone hi nahi denge na mishti. So just breathe. And we'll be home in no time. And I just might have a surprise waiting for you!" He winked and turned around to look for Kunal.
Nishant approached her next and said, "Ms Teapot, I know how big a deal this is for you. And I'm very proud of you for being the bigger person. Bas ek cheez yaad rakhna, tera aur unka khoon ka rishta ho sakta hai, but you're NOTHING like him okay? Tu Maheshwari and Rajvansh ka combination hai. Samji? Ab chal, bhook lagi hai, khana khate hai!" He grinned and led her to the table. Mishti felt so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who loved her so much.
When Naman, came outside to the backyard he looked visibly shocked to see a gang of people hovering around mishti.
He slyly walked towards the table and said, "mishti beta, mujhe laga yeh sirf ek family dinner hoga. Ek baap aur beti ko time spend karne ke liye. Lekin tum toh puri fauj hi lekar aayi ho. Kya tumhe mujh par bharosa nahi hai?" He acted. Abir took a step closer to mishti , held her hand and said, "yeh ek family affair hi hai. Mishti ki family yahan uske saath hai!" He said with barely contained anger. Nishant put a hand on Abir's shoulder and said, "Arey uncle, I wish you would've worked harder to make a good reputation for yourself. Toh shayad hum aapko trust kar bhi lete. But anyway, it's dinner time. Let's start please!" He smirked at Naman. Nishant wasn't a baby when Naman was thrown out and arrested and amongst Kuhu and mishti, he knew naman the most. And so he also knew better than to trust the man.
Naman sat at the head of the table, Nishant sat to his right, with Kunal next to him and kuhu next to Kunal. Abir sat to Naman's left and mishti sat next to Abir, away from Naman.
Mishti, held Abir's hand underneath the table for two reasons. To derive strength from him and also to keep him calm. Abir squeezed her hand in agreement. Kunal too had requested kuhu to be as quiet as possible and not to stir trouble in the already tense situation.
"Abir Rajvansh, toh batao mujhe, tum meri beti ko ek baar hurt kar chuke ho. Toh tum uski zindagi mein waapis kyun aaye ho?" Asked naman. Everyone rolled their eyes at Naman's "concern" for mishti and Abir answered, "mishti hi meri zindagi hai. And all the people who matter to us, are well aware of that. So it's a no brainer that you had to ask this question!" Abir snapped. Naman fisted his hand but stayed quiet.
"Kunal, Maine suna hai ki tumhe kheer bohot pasand hai. Maine specially tumhare liye order ki hai. Please khao. Ab tumhare bhai ko toh mein kuch bhai nahi keh sakta. Lekin kuhu bhi meri bacchi, toh tum mere bete jaise hue. Please kheer kha lo." Naman said sweetly. Abir and Nishant exchanged concerned looks but mishti reassured Abir by saying, that, "saara khana inn mein hi bana hai. Don't worry." It didn't do much to soothe Abir's worry but he nodded for mishti.
Kunal obliged and had some kheer.
It was by the end of the dinner, that Abir and nishant's worry was peaking. How was everything smooth? Why hasn't he attacked or done or said anything? They wondered.
Until, kunal started coughing. Loudly. He was becoming breathless. Nishant looked at Abir in alarm.
Kuhu offered Kunal some water but his breathlessness only increased. Now mishti too was worried. She immediately called for the in house doctor who took Kunal inside and kuhu followed.
"Aapne kya kiya Kunal ke saath!?" Demanded mishti. Abir and Nishant flanked her on each side. Demanding answers.
"Mishti beta. Yeh kaisi baat kar rahi ho tum? Mein kyun kuch karoonga? Aur yeh sara khana mein thodi lekar aaya hoon, yeh to yahin bana hai na?'" He defended himself.
Mishti visibly paled.
As if on cue, a loud voice boomed.
"MISHTIIIIII!" Mishti practically trembled at the voice. Meenakshi Rajvansh had marked her entry.
She barged in and stood bang opposite mishti and started screaming, "tumhari himmat kaise hui? Mere bete ko zeher dene ki?" She screamed. Abir physically lodged himself between Meenakshi and mishti and, tucked mishti behind him safely and said, "aap bhool rahi hai, aap kisse baat kar rahi hai. Woh meri wife hai and you'd do better than to remember that." He snapped.
"ABIR! Iss ladki ne tumhare bhai ko maarne ki koshish ki hai aur tum abhi bhi iss ladki ka saath de rahe ho? Kaise bhai ho tum!?" She accused.
"Mrs Rajvansh, chilla ne se aap sahi nahi ho sakti. Apne words ko control mein rakhiye. Mishti ne aisa kuch nahi kiya jaise aap keh rahi hain!" Said Nannu.
"Mr Nishant M, iss ladki ko kabhi bhi Kunal accha nahi laga hai, humesha mere bete ko hurt kiya hai and today is no different. Iss ladki ko mein nahi chodungi!" She said.
"Iss ladki, uss ladki kehna bandh kijiye. Mishti hai uska naam, Mishti Abir Rajvansh. Aur iss tarah se baat karne ka Haq kisi ko bhi nahi hai. Kisi ko bhi nahi. Mishti ne kuch nahi kiya hai. Kuch bhi nahi." Abir threatened. Mishti was shaking internally but she still asked, "aap yahan kyun aayi hai? Aur mein Kunal ke saath aise kyun karungi?" She asked with a firm voice.
"Kyunki, abir ki good books mein rehne ke liye, you pretended to like and accept Kunal and ab tum mere bete ko maar na chahti ho. Toote hue ghar ki beti ho na, parivar ke bare mein nahin jaanti! Just like your father! Murder too runs in your veins!" Said Meenakshi.
"THATS IT! STOP. Not a word ma. Not a word. Mishti has loves Kunal just as I love him. Lekin problem na, aapki hai. All you've ever valued is blood relations, actually not even those, so there's no way you can ever understand a relationship that is as pure as the one mishti shares with everyone. Blood maybe thicker than water, but love trumps all. Rishtey pyaar se bante hai, lekin afsos, aap yeh nahi samjati. But you know what? I've had it. You cannot keep talking to mishti like this. On what basis are you accusing mishti of anything?" Snapped Abir. Nishant immediately put his arms adjunct mishti, to support her. To let her know that she wasn't alone.
"What basis? Abir, tum abhi apni ma ko jaan hi nahi paaye ho. What are you going to tell your beloved Parul masi? Who is worried about her son in there?" Smirked Meenakshi. And on cue, Abir mishti and Nishant all ran towards Kunal's room inside the inn.
Naman was running away, but jugnu caught him.
Inside the room, kuhu was helping Kunal drink water, who was now sitting on the bed, looking pale but alright.
"Ku..Kunal.. are you okay?" Asked mishti.
Kunal looked up, gave a faint smile and said, "of course mishti. Absolutely alright. Don't worry." And he looked pointedly at Meenakshi as if daring her to say otherwise.
"Dekho! Ladki, tumne mere bete ka kya haal bana diya hai? Kunal beta.." said Meenakshi.
Parul was standing and crying. Without a single word.
"Yeh sab tumhari galti hai. Tum chali kyun nahi jaati, mujhe aur mere parivar ko chhod kar!" Snapped Meenakshi.
"Mrs Rajvansh. Mind your language. She is Abir's lawfully wedded wife. You wanted drama and you got it. So LEAVE." Said Nishant. Before Meenakshi could retort back, kunal said,
"Oh for gods sake! Stop this nonsense. Mrs Meenakshi Rajvansh, fact is, you've never loved me. All you have done is use me. MEIN AAPKA BETA NAHIN HOON. AUR BANNA BHI NAHI CHAHTA. Meri ma, yeh hai. Jo zindagi bhar chup rahi, aur aaj bhi chup hai. Jo kabhi mere liye ya meri khushiyon ke liye nahi ladi. Aap mujhe use karti gayi, aur yeh chup rahi. So for gods sake stop this. Mishti ki koi bhi galati nahi hai. Sunn liya aapne? Yeh aapka plan tha. As usual. Jo naman Aggarwal ne execute kiya. Mishti meri bhabhi hai, and mein kisi ko bhi meri family se iss tarah baat nahi karne de sakta. So if you've had your fill, PLEASE LEAVE. Or you know what? Hum chale jaate hai. Chalo kuhu. It's time to go HOME!" He snapped. Got up, with the help of kuhu and Nishant and left the room. But not before glaring at Meenakshi and Parul both.
Mishti, too ran away and before Abir could go, Meenakshi said,
"She will regret this. And so will you." Abir realised that making sure mishti was okay was far more important than Meenakshi Rajvansh and her dhamkis. All the while hoping that she wouldn't actually do anything that would harm mishti more than what she has already done.
A/N- phewwww!! This drama is no where close to being over!
Stay tuned.
