The family spent Abir's birthday, at home and kept it as low key as mishti allowed. She refused to not celebrate the day that Abir was born and Abir had to convince her by telling her that, he will throw the biggest and most lavish party ever on the arrival of his baby girl. Abhi who was a mini Abir was completely on board with the plan and handed a card to mishti and said, "mumma, this year you listen to papa. See I've already made a card for Myra. And for papa." He smiled. Mishti's heart melted at Abhi's gesture and so the family agreed on a family dinner. The Maheshwaris had gone to Udaipur for some family function. Badi ma was reluctant to leave mishti alone, so close to her due date but Abir and mishti had convinced them that they would be alright.
24.09, was celebrated really well. The family cut a cake, ate all Abir and Mishti's Favorite food items.
It was much later in the night when mishti had started becoming more and more anxious about the birth of their baby girl. She looked at abir who had fallen asleep with abhi sleeping on his chest. No matter how many times she had seen it, she would never ever get over that sight. She put a hand on her belly and caressed it softly and whispered, "your papa and your bhai are so excited for your arrival and they'll love you so much baby." She smiled as she felt a gentle kick. She shut the door of the room softly and waddled towards the kitchen. She wanted something that would take her mind off the impending delivery. She had heard enough horror stories and kuhu's screams on the birth of kiara would forever haunt her. She shuddered at the mere thought of Kuhu screaming in pain.
"Come on Mishti! Tu abir ki angry violent chorni hain! You got this. Abhi se itna tension mat le!" She murmured to herself as she reached the kitchen. Much to her surprise she found kunal rummaging through the fridge. She giggled at the sight and that caught Kunal's attention. "Mishti bhabhi? Aap yahan? Itni late night? Sab theek hain na?" He asked in concern. Mishti rolled her eyes and and said, "kunal! Ek abir kaafi hain!! Mein theek hoon, bas neend nahi aa rahi thi...toh socha ki kuch kha loon. Tum batao tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" She asked. Kunal looked down sheepishly and said, "woh...Woh mein ice cream dhoondh raha tha..." he admitted. Mishti laughed and asked, "kyun?" He frowned and said, "bhabhi, yeh kuhu aur kiara ki energy khatam hi nahi hoti...I was feeling super drained and just wanted to relax for a bit. Aur aap toh jaanti hain na, diet or no diet, ice cream mera guilty pleasure hain...so wohi dhoondh raha hoon, but i can't seem to find it!" He said. Mishti giggled and walked to the fridge, opened the freezer and moved some things around and removed a big ice cream tub. She looked at kunal and said, "yeh tumhe tabhi milega if you agree to share this with me." She said with a straight face. Kunal laughed and removed two spoons from the drawer and said, "DEAL!" He grinned. Mishti grinned too as kunal held his hand out for her. Mishti held the tub close and held his hand with her free hand. They walked towards the lawn where kunal helped Mishti sit on the bench as he ran inside the house and grabbed a shawl and then wrapped it around Mishti. Mishti smiled at his gesture as kunal said, "I don't want you or kian to fall sick!" He said. Mishti laughed at Kunal's confidence and gestured for him to sit down. Mishti then opened the ice cream tub and they both dug in silently. Lost in their own thoughts.
"Ab jab hum yahan baithe hi hain, toh ab bata bhi dijiye. What's bothering you bhabhi?" Kunal asked. Mishti smiled. No longer surprised at how well kunal could read her. She sighed and said, "labour. With abhi it was all so effortless and now I'm scared. Plus none of us have ever made abhi feel like he's adopted and I'm anxious that after the birth of this baby, I don't want him to feel any different. I don't want things to fall apart kunal. Abhi sab perfect hain, lekin what if Abir and I aren't able to do balance things between abhi and this baby? I've read so many articles about the elder child feeling neglected after the birth of the second child and I don't want abhi to feel that. Ever. What if I'm a bad mom and can't handle both the kids equally kunal?" Mishti voiced her fear. Kunal smiled at Mishti's silliness and said, "bhabhi, after the birth of kiara, if there's anything that I've learnt is that, as parents you learn something new. Every day. And that the most important thing is just loving your baby unconditionally. But mujhe aapko yeh batane ki zaroorat nahi hain. In fact even Kuhu thinks of you as an ideal mom, not that she would ever admit it but she does. You're already the perfect mom to abhi. He adores you. And bhai. Aap dono ne hum sabhi ko sikhaya hain that love is unconditional and much deeper than blood relations. So trust me when I say this, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. And rahi baat abhi ke adopted hone ki? Bhabhi, you've loved him and taken care of him since the day he was born. His birth mom might have been different, but you're his mom in the true sense of the word. The blood in his veins may not be yours but his spirit is completely yours. Abhi has your brave spirit and bhai's kind heart. Abhi sirf aur sirf aapka beta hain, and I will fight anybody who says otherwise. And I'm sure that abhi is going to love his baby sister just as unconditionally as you and bhai love me. Technically speaking, mein aur bhai bhi step brothers hain, lekin he loves me way more than a real brother. And that is going to be exactly the case with abhi and Myra. Blood relations or not, it doesn't matter. And who would know this better than all of us? So trust me Mishti bhabhi, this baby is going to be loved and adored by all of us. Especially abhi. And you'll see. As for the labour, I can't tell you it'll be easy, but I promise it's going to be worth it." He said and smiled at Mishti. Mishti smiled at Kunal's words. He had grown so much in the last few years and she was incredibly proud of him. She smiled at him and said, "you're right kunal. Rishtey sirf khoon se nahi bante. Pyaar se bante hain. And pyaar se bane rishtey sabse zyada strong hote hain. Thank you for reminding me this. I needed it. Ab tum batao, what's bothering you?" She asked as she sniffed and wiped her tears. He sighed and said, "kiara is so much like Kuhu and I have made so many mistakes in my life bhabhi, what if...what if I make them with kiara as well?" He asked. Mishti squeezed his hand and said, "kiara is part you and part Kuhu. Your daughter adores you kunal. She truly does. Yes she's like Kuhu in a lot of ways but she's also like you. She has your heart. And jo bhi past mein hua, let it be there. Usse yaad karke don't torture yourself. You're a changed man now kunal. Not only did you realise your mistakes but you also worked on them. And that takes courage. Which you have kunal. So don't let this fear overpower you. Nothing will go wrong. I promise." She said. Kunal smiled and said, "the same thing goes for you too bhabhi." He reminded her. Mishti laughed and nodded her head. He shut the ice cream tub and said, "Ab aap jaiye aur so jaaiye. I'll put this back and re stock it tomorrow itself. Aap subah se bhaag rahi hain. Get some rest." He said. Mishti smiled and said, "yes kunal. Don't worry. I'll sit here for a few more minutes and then I'll go and rest pakka." She smiled. Kunal nodded, got up and said, "good night bhabhi." He said. Mishti nodded and said, "good night kunal" he smiled and turned around when Mishti called her again and said, "waise technically you've lost the bet. Tumhe bhi lagta hain ki baby girl hogi. But because I love you I won't tell Kuhu!" She grinned and winked at kunal. Kunal shook his head sheepishly and scratched the back of his head and said, "thanks bhabhi!" He grinned and went inside the house.
Mishti smiled at his antics and pulled the shawl tighter around her. She was feeling so much better after sharing her fear with kunal. They really had come a long way and she was so so glad about it. She was smiling thinking about their journey when she felt a pair of warm lips on her scalp and heard a whisper, "missed you angry chorni!" The voice whispered. Mishti grinned and looked up into Abir's caramel eyes and said, "missed you too Ajeeb Rajvansh! But I saw you with abhi and I didn't have the heart to wake you up." She said. Abir smiled and said, "Saw you with Nanko and didn't have the heart to interrupt as well. God, I'll never get over how close y'all have become." He smiled. Mishti smiled back and said, "me too!" He offered his hand to her and said, "Ab chalein? You need some rest wifey!" He offered. Mishti said, "thodi derr baitho na! Please." She requested. He smiled. Abir was defenceless when Mishti asked for anything from him. He smiled and took a seat next to her on the bench. And immediately pulled her close and in his embrace. The winter was setting in and there was slight snip in the air. Mishti sighed in content as she relaxed with her head on his chest and his chin resting on her head.
They spent the night in silence. Content to be with each other and with the first Ray of the sun in the sky Mishti felt her first contraction.
