Bygones! A MishBir Story

Chapter 3: Pain

"Are you ok?" asked Abir. Mishti was about to respond when they heard a knock on the door. Abir turned out to check while Mishti stood still. It was Kunal.

"Abir! I don't want to talk to anyone right. I just want to be left alone for sometime." Mishti requested. Abir nodded and walked towards Kunal. Kunal told Abir that Kuhu had informed him. He asked Abir how Mishti was doing and whether he should talk to Mishti since his and Mishti's situation was similar. He had loved the way Mishti had shown him the path towards acceptance and he would love if he could do something for her. Abir felt glad for Kunal's gesture. His little baby brother had finally grown up. There was a time when Kunal wanted to hurt Mishti. Abir had hoped that Kunal would have turned around and he did. And now he wanted to help Mishti. Abir couldn't be more proud. He placed his hands on his shoulder and hugged him tight.

Abir thanked him. "Kunal. Mishti just wants to be alone right now. Maybe come by tomorrow? Let's give her some time. Ok?" Kunal nodded in agreement as Abir continued to talk. Kunal understood Mishti's need to be alone as he had felt the same then.

"Sure Bhai! I understand. Just call me whenever you need me." Kunal left the room after taking one last glance at Mishti. Abir walked towards the porch and stopped by the door and rested his shoulder on the door. He understood her. He knew when she said she wanted to be alone, she wanted him to leave her alone too. He hated it but it was what she needed. He was dying to comfort her, but only when she was ready. And he had no idea when she would need him. So he stood by and watched her from a distance to make sure he could just go to her whenever she needed him.

Mishti stood still with her eyes closed. She had probably closed her eyes for her tears to not fall. But it wasn't helping. The sudden reappearance of her mother brought back so many memories. The sudden reappearance acted like a key to a box, placed in some corner of her brain, where she had stored all her memories. Everything that had happened in her life was playing in front of her eyes like a flash movie. Her time with Singhania's, with the Maheshwari's and the Rajvansh family. Every good and bad memory.

A smile appeared on her face when she remembered her good times with Singhania's. A very loved and a pampered child. She was the only child in the house for the longest time since Akshara and Naitik had moved to Cape Town with their kids for a while. She was the light and sunshine of the Singhania household. At least that's what everyone told her. She felt a little ignored by her parents then but it never bothered her. Her grandparents paid full attention to her. A small smile crept on her face as she remembered how many times her dadi and badi dadi had saved her from her parents wrath after all her mischievous 'helps'.

She let out a small chuckle as she remembered how disastrous all her 'helps' had turned out. Even after the return of her Tayaji and their family, nothing changed. She was still loved immensely by everyone. In fact she became Akshara's favorite. Mishti smiled continuously as she thought about her. She knew Akshara loved her the most. She could bet anything to prove that. Even when her parents were outcast from the house for their mistake, Mishti stayed with the Singhania's. Akshara made sure that Mishti was never judged or punished for her parents' mistake. Even Mishti loved staying with her taiji. She could not remember any moment where she felt she missed her own parents. She definitely felt bad that her parents were not around.

She remembered how after that separation from her parents, Naman and Karishma had become extremely possessive of her. Especially Karishma!! Karishma had always disliked the fact that Mishti was more close to Akshara than her. "Why do you always want to stay with your Taiji Mishti! Stay with me. Play with me." She remembered Karishma's words as she recalled that time. She remembered how time and again Akshara was there for her. How Akshara opposed and never let Karishma send Mishti away to boarding school. As she remembered the moment, she recalled her taiji's words. "Yes Mishti! You will always stay with your Taiji". She even recalled Badi dadi's words for her. "Mishti is a thread who is keeping this family together. "