Kartik and Naira walked towards mishti and Abir and congratulated them on the arrival of baby Abhi. Kartik told Abir, "Abir, yeh time bohot precious hain. Make the most of it." Nairas heart hurt at Kartik's words but she hugged mishti and said, "I can't believe my baby sister is old enough to have a her own baby! If you need anything at all, we're always there for y'all." Mishti nodded with a smile. Grateful. The mingling was interrupted by a loud cry. Abir instantly made way towards Abhi and took him in his arms and started bouncing him. Badi ma said, "Abir beta? Tum usse upar mishti ke kamre me lekar jaao. Mein thoda doodh bhijwati hoon. Mishti ke haath. Usse bhook lagi hogi." Badi ma said. Abir nodded and took Abhi upstairs. Kunal came forward and said, "bhabhi, I'm sure there is a list of things that you've made for Abhi. Mein aur kuhu jaakar sab kuch lekar aate hain. Aap yahan bhai aur abhi ke saath rahiye. We'll be back." Mishti smiled at Kunal's suggestion and said, "we do need a lot of things, lekin, at this hour, how will y'all get everything?" Mishti asked. Kuhu said, "tu woh sab mat soch. Bas list text kar de. #WeWillManage." Mishti nodded as Kuhu and Kunal left. Kairav was feeling sleepy too, so varsha showed a room to Naira and Kartik for the night. Jasmeet had retired to the room as well and Bade papa had gone to help Abir. Badi ma and mishti went to the kitchen to get some milk ready for Abhi.
Upstairs in the room, Abir was rocking Abhi, who for some reason hadn't stopped crying. Bade papa smiled at the sight of a panicky Abir and said, "Abir beta? Aap jhule par baithye aur Abhi ko aaram se apne kandhe par rakhiye. Woh shaant ho jayenge." Bade papa instructed. Abir gulped and followed the instructions and much to his surprise, Abhi had calmed down. Abir smiled gratefully at bade papa. Bade papa sat on the bed opposite the swing and said, "Abir beta, isse special life mein koi feeling nahi hoti. Ab aapka apna ek chhota sa parivar hain. Lekin, aap apne aap ko kabhi bhi akela mat payega. Hum humesha aapke saath rahenge. Agar kabhi bhi aapko humari zaroorat hogi, hum aapke peeche hi khade honge. Jaise yeh Abhi aapke bete hain, waise aap humare bete hain. Aur humesha rahenge. Aur hum aapke liye bohot khush hain." Bade papa smiled. Abir said, "bade papa. Mein bohot lucky hoon, ki mere paas aap jaise ek role model hai. Thank you." Bade papa smiled and said, "ab aap apne bete ka dhyaan rakhiye. Hum aapki badi ma ke paas jaate hain." And left. Abir nodded and looked at Abhi in his arms and said, "aap ne suna Abhi? Your nanu loves us so much!" Abhi gurgled as if he understood everything his papa said. Abir kissed Abhi's nose.
Devyani was standing outside the door and heard the entire conversation. Mishti stepped inside the room with a small bowl of some luke warm milk in a small bowl. Abir sat on the bed as mishti fed baby Abhi. He was a really calm baby and not at all fussy. Abir kept making silly faces at Abhi which kept him happy and smiling. Mishti felt extremely fortunate to have such a calm baby. They put Abhi to sleep and surrounded him with pillows. They would have to wait till Kunal got the crib. Abir and mishti both kissed Abhi good night. Abir looked at mishti and said, "mishti? Tum kab se itne heavy gown mein ho. Tum jaakar change karlo. I'll be here." Abir said. He had discarded his suit jacket long ago so he was comfortable in his shirt. Mishti nodded and removed her pyjamas and went to change. As soon as mishti was out, Devyani stepped in. Abir looked at her in question.
Devyani started, "Abir beta, itna bada faisla? Mein bohot khush hoon ki mishti ki soch itni acchi hain aur tum uske saath ho, lekin, aisa sochne mein aur zindagi bhar uss faisle ko nibhane mein bohot fark hota hain." Devyani was cut off by mishti.
"Hume aapki advice ki koi zaroorat nahi hain." Mishti said firmly. Devyani stepped forward and said, "beta, mein advice nahi de rahi hoon. Meine dekha hain, kisi paraye ko apna ne ke baad bhi, woh paraya hi rehta hain. Naman paraya tha. Aur ussne woh prove kar diya jab usne Naitik ko maarne ki koshish ki thi. Mein jaanti hoon, mein kya bol rahi hoon mishti." Devyani cried. Mishti gasped.
"Nahi. Take it back! Aap Abhi ko apne bete se compare nahi kar sakte!" Mishti cried. Abir got up and stood by mishti.
Devyani was defeated as she said, "Singhania house ke pehle I had two kids from my previous marriage. And naman is my son from that marriage mishti. The Singhania house accepted him and loved him. Just like Naitik if not more. And what did Naman do? Usne Naitik ko marne ki koshish ki! Paraya, paraya hi hota hain mishti. Aur mein tumhari dadi hoon. And I'm trying to protect you!" Devyani said. Mishti was appalled now. She said, "Dadi? Protect? Everyone has a choice in life. Singhania family ne aapke bete ko accept kiya that was their choice. Aapke bete ne jo kiya that was his choice. But this has nothing to do with either of those things. This is about you. About your choices. You have no idea what kind of life I've lived. Mujhe aapke choices aur aapke decision ke wajah se kya kya sunn na pada hain! You have no idea. Moohboli, home breaker and what not. Badi ma and bade papa have done everything for me. They made me feel loved and wanted when even my dadi didn't want me. Do you know how it feels to be kept in the dark about something so huge? Do you know how it feels like to have your entire life uprooted for someone else's decision? Do you know what it's like to have panic attacks? Do you know what's its like to wait by the phone, or by the door, just to see your dadi or anyone from your family come back for you? No you don't. Aapko mere baarein mein kuch nahi pata. Not one thing. For formality sakes you call Badi ma and take updates. But guess what? Aap mujhe nahi jaanti. Aur ab mein aapko nahi janna chahti. Mein khush hoon. Bohot saalon baad. Aur aap achanak se aise meri life mein aakar apna Haq nahi jata sakti. Aaj ka din mere liye kitna important hain aapko koi idea nahi hain. Lekin suniye. Hume adopt isliye karna tha kyunki, we know first hand what it feels like when your immediate family doesn't want you. What it feels like to wait for your parents. But the good thing about growing up is that we can prevent another child from having a childhood like ours. Hum Abhi ko itna pyaar denge jitna shayad uske real parents usse nahi de paate. Hum usse apna banayenge. Aur yeh na sirf humari choice hain, but humara final decision bhi hain. And that's that. And don't ever try to compare Naman Aggarwal to Abhi. I won't be so kind next time." Mishti said. Devyani looked at Abir for help. Abir put his arms around mishti as he said, "yeh hum dono ka decision hain." He said. Softly but firmly. Devyani nodded and left the room.
Mishti immediately collapsed to the ground and broke into sobs. Abir cursed under his breath as he kneeled by her and cocooned her in his embrace. "Abir..Abhi humara hain.." she cried. Abir kissed Mishti's head and said, "haan mishti. Abhi sirf humara hain. Aur humara hi rahega. I promise. Shhh, aaj humari Abhi ke saath as a family first night hain. Chalo, angry chorni. You're stronger than this. Shhh.." Abir whispered. Mishti felt her lungs close up. As she panted for air and collapsed in Abir's arms. Abir supported her head in his arms and took a better look at her. Her skin was warm to touch and her nose was bleeding. Abir cursed under his breath as he scooped mishti in his arms and placed her on the bed next to Abhi and called Nanko.
A/N- be ready for the ride🤭
