Part 5

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Kunal looked at Mishti and said, "this calls for a celebration. Aaj shaam ko let's have a party, I mean ma ka birthday toh hain hi, and itni badi aur itni acchi news hain, we have to celebrate this. Please!" Kunal urged. Mishti started panicking at the thought of people knowing about the pregnancy. "N...nahi...nahi...kunal...please kissi ko nahi batana...please..." Mishti said. Her hands shivering and her forehead sweating. Abir ran to her and pulled her in his embrace and said, "nahi, nahi. Shhhh, relax Mishti. Hum kisi ko kuch nahi batayenge. Jab tak tum ready nahi ho, tab tak kisi ko kuch bhi pata nahi chalega.." abir consoled Mishti. Mishti looked at Abir with panicky eyes and said, "abir, mein...mein kuhu ko na aur hurt nahi karna chahti...mein uski spot light nahi chhinna chahti, aur...aur...tum dono ki relation bhi nahi kharab karna chahti..." Mishti admitted with frantic eyes. Abir cupped her face and pushed her hair away from her face and said, "Mishti...Mishti...shhh..aisa kuch nahi hain...tumhari wajah se kuch nahi ho raha...lekin, tumhe kuhu se darr ne ki koi zaroorat nahi hain. Okay?" He asked her softly. It was just hitting Abir how disturbed Mishti was after kuhu's drama and just how much her words had hurt Mishti. He hated that he had let it go in the past but promised himself that never again will he let anyone upset Mishti anymore. She nodded her eyes and hid herself in Abir's embrace. Kunal looked at the interaction with a puzzled look. He was about to ask further when Abir shook his head, signalling that he'll explain everything later. Kunal nodded and understood. "Sorry bhai..sorry bhabhi, mein thoda overexcited ho gaya. But ma ke birthday ka dinner hum sab saath milkar karenge. Aur cook mein aur bhai karenge. Pichle 3 mahino mein na mein MasterChef ban gaya hoon! Aur woh meine ketu ko humara plan batadiya hain aur usse keh diya hain ki woh Varun ko bhi invite kar le. Aakhir hum bhi toh mile ketu ke iss Varun se!" Kunal boasted. Trying to bring a smile on his bhabhi's face. But when he didn't see her smile, he continued, "Mishti bhabhi, ab aap bhai ko cooking mein challenge karna, aur mein aapka pura saath doonga. And hum bhai ko pakka hara denge!" He said. That made Mishti look up at kunal. "Aap meri team mein hain na?" Kunal asked and held his hand out for her Mishti. Mishti smiled softly and stepped out of Abir's embrace and said, "Hamesha kunal. Hum dono milkar tumhare bhai ko pakka hara denge." She said and placed her hand in his. Abir sighed in relief but rolled his eyes and said, "Woh toh cooking competition mein hi pata chalega!" He teased. But put a hand on his heart and thanked kunal when Mishti wasn't looking. Perhaps, with nanko's help, he'll be able to make Mishti feel better.
"Accha ab chalein?" Kunal asked. Mishti and abir nodded. Kunal had called for a cab and once inside he asked Abir, "bhai, aapne ghar pe kisi ko bhi mere return ke baarein mein nahi bataya hain na?" He asked. Abir smiled and shook his head, "nahi Nanko. Lekin tu dekhna, ma bohot khush ho jayengi tujhe dekhkar. Aur masi bhi." Abir pointed out. Kunal nodded. Not  much was said, but kunal could feel that something was wrong and his bhai wasn't happy with Kuhu. He just hoped that the 3 months apart would have made his wife a little more empathetic and welcoming towards Mishti.

They reached home soon and Abir told Mishti, "Mishti, subah se you've been running around. Tum room mein jaakar thodi derr lie down karo. Mein Nanko ko ghar mein sneak karta hoon okay?" He asked. Mishti smiled and nodded and got out of the car and straight to the room.
Abir sneaked kunal in and led him straight to the roof so that he could talk.
Once on the roof kunal asked, "Kya chal raha hain bhai? You're freaking me out. Aaj Kuhu ne kuch galat kiya na? She hurt bhabhi again?" He asked with a frown. Abir sighed and put a hand on Kunal's shoulder and said, "dekh Nanko, you know I've always supported Kuhu and taken her side. In fact I've seen her as my bro even before y'all got married. But right now, Mishti is not a very good place. And Kuhu is not helping. I know ki mein chahta tha ki yeh dono behne humare jaisi bann jaye, but maybe they're just different. But I need you to understand that Mishti is my wife. Her happiness is my priority and if Kuhu hurts her, I can't let that happen. Especially now that we know she's pregnant. Mein mishti ko sirf khush dekhna chahta hoon. Nanko, itni khushi ki baat and Mishti was scared to share it with the family. It says a lot. Iss ghar ne Mishti ko meri wife ke roop mein accept kiya hain, lekin ek family member ke jaise nahi. The last 3 months have been terrible and I don't want to add to Mishti's misery. I...I hope you understand Nanko." Abir explained.
Kunal frowned and nodded his head and said, "you're right bhai. And aapko sorry bolne ki koi zaroorat nahi hain. It's not a secret that ma and Kuhu don't like bhabhi. And I don't know what went wrong in the last three months that is making her this sad but I promise bhai. We will try our best and keep Mishti bhabhi happy. Mein aaj hi kuhu ko samjha doonga that she needs to keep her distance from bhabhi. Aur Ma se bhi baat kar lunga." Kunal said firmly. Abir smiled and hugged Nanko and said, "thanks Nanko. I knew you'd understand. It's so good to have you back!" Kunal smiled and said, "it's so good to be back bhai."
"Ab aap jaao aur meri bhabhi ka dhyaan rakho!" Kunal said. Abir laughed and went to his room.

Kunal sighed and walked to his room. He was about to enter when he overhead voices. He peeked inside the room and found Kuhu sitting on the bed, applying nail paint on her toes and talking to someone via speaker.
"Kya?? Abir ne tujhe daant diya aaj? Aur woh bhi uss mooh boli ke liye?" Came Jasmeet's voice. Kunal shook his head but didn't enter yet.
"Haan chachi. Ab abir bro bhi meri side nahi lete. Sab badal gaya hain, #EverythingHasChanged. And Sab uss Mishti ki wajah se. #KhushiChor." Kuhu complained. Kunal frowned. Three months apart and his wife hadn't change one god damn bit. He was about to step in when he heard, "pata hain chachi, aaj toh abir bro ne sab ke saamne maha Shivratri waali baat bhi keh di. Jab ki mein unse ek baar sorry keh chuki hoon and mein unki drink spike karna bhi nahi chahti thi." Kuhu whined. "Mein jaanti hoon badh boli, accha hota agar woh coffee Mishti hi pee leti." Chachi said. Kuhu agreed and said, "Haan chachi. Socha toh meine bhi yehi tha..." but before she could continue she was cut off by Kunal's menacing voice "WHAT? You did what kuhu?" He asked.
Kuhu turned around and couldn't believe her eyes. Her husband was back after 3 months. She hung up the phone without saying goodbye and ran into his arms. But much to her surprise, kunal didn't hug her back. She cupped his face and said, "#BestSurpriseEver. I missed you so much kunal!" She said with a smile. Kunal removed her hands off him and asked, "meine tumse kuch poocha kuhu. You did what on mahashivratri?" He asked. Cold fury in his eyes. Kuhu gulped and said, "kuch nahi Kunal. Tum kya bol rahe ho mujhe nahi pata." She pretended to be innocent.
Kunal took a step back and said, "if you're going to lie to me on my face, I really shouldn't be here." He said and was about to leave when Kuhu held his hand and stopped him.
"Nahi...please kunal. Mat jaao. Mein...mein tumhe sab sach batati hoon..." she said. Kunal got out of her grip and nodded at her to continue.
"Woh mein mahashivratri waali puja karna chahti thi tumhare sath...and I wanted Mishti to stop hogging all the attention. I swear kunal, Abir bro ki coffee mein woh pills galti se gir gayi thi...mein unhe kyun harm karungi Kunal...and phir meine unse sorry keh diya tha..." she fumbled. Kunal shook his head and said, "so let me get this straight. Tumne coffee spike ki, Mishti bhabhi ke liye, jo galati se mere bhai ne pee li and then you remained quiet when Parul ma was being thrashed for a mistake that wasn't even hers? And not once did you feel like apologising or even standing by Parul ma?" Kunal asked. Kuhu fumbled with her words. "N...n...nahi Kunal. Aisa kuch nahi hain. Tum mujhe galat samajh rahe ho..." she said. He shook his head and said, "aaj pehli baar tumhari sachhai dekh raha hoon kuhu. Aaj subah kya hua tha?" He asked.
"K...kuch nahi Kunal, tum meri baat toh suno..." she tried. Kunal held his hand to stop her and said, "you know what? It doesn't even matter aaj subah Kya hua tha. Itne mahino se tum mere bhai aur bhabhi ke against compute kar rahi ho, with that chachi of yours and I had no idea about it. I had no idea ki tumhare make up ke peeche yeh tumhari reality hain kuhu. I was excited to come home to my wife, but not one thing has changed Kuhu. Stop gossiping with your chachi all day long and take your own god damn decisions. And for gods sake, please grow up. Whatever happens in your life has nothing to do with Mishti bhabhi and it's high time you get that through your head." Kunal said as he shook Kuhu by her shoulders.
"Get one thing straight, right here right now. My bhai means the world to me. And will always be my first priority and Mishti bhabhi is his wife. Which makes them one unit. So if you ever ever ever hurt Mishti bhabhi, you'll be hurting my bhai too, and you don't want to do that. I am not kind to people who hurt my bhai. Secondly, treat Parul ma with some respect. Woh meri Ma hain. And she's just as important to me as Meenakshi Ma. These people are my family, and I don't like people who insult my family. So get that clear." Kunal said and turned around.
Before he could step out of the room, he said, "I'm thoroughly disappointed Kuhu. I thought 3 months away from me, would've changed you, that you would have missed me just as much as I missed you. But perhaps not." He said and walked out with his head held high.

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