Ardent Lovers

The Wanderer's Home - 2

A. N. - I'm so sorry for the delay! I was stuck with college commitments and seminars. But finally, here it is! And to make it up for the delay, it's more than 3000 words long!
Happy reading❤️

Mishti and Abir walked in through the doors of the Rajvansh house, hand in hand.

"Maa, Mamu, Mami, Ketki, Kuhu, Masi," he called as he stood in the middle of the hall. Everyone gathered in the hall as they heard Abir's shouts.

"Ab kya hogaya Abir? Aise kyu chilla rahe ho?" Nidhi Mami asked. Abir ignored Mami's questions and declared, "Hum yeh ghar chodkar jaa rahe hai." Loud gasps filled the room. Mishti who was silently standing besides Abir, gaped at him. Her hold on his hand loosened but Abir's grip on her hand was firm. Everyone was in a state of shock but Meenakshi was the first to come out of it.

"Yeh tum kya keh rahe ho Abir? Ghar mei shaadi hai aur tum ghar chodne ki baat kar rahe ho? Kyu Abir? Mei puchti hu kyu?" Meenakshi thundered. Abir didn't want to create a scene but was that ever possible in the Rajvansh house?

"Kyunki iss ghar ke logo ne har choti badi baat ke liye Mishti ko blame karna apni aadat bana li hai," he snapped. "Yaha par kuch logo ko aisa lagta hai ki Mishti unke khilaaf mere kaan bhar rahi hai. Lekin agar wo hi cheez woh Mishti ke saath kare toh, unke according, woh bilkul bhi galat nahi hai," he glanced accusingly towards Kuhu. Kuhu lowered her lashes, sensing what Abir may have meant. Taking a deep breath, Abir focused his gaze back at Meenakshi and spoke calmly, "Mei faisla kar chuka hu Maa. Aur ab yeh faisla nahi badlega."

"What do you mean ki hum sab Mishti par ilzaam lagate hai? Agar woh galti karegi toh kya mujhe usse daatne ka bhi haq nahi hai?" Meenakshi questioned. Did Abir really think that it was all so easy? Could anything ever happen in this house without Mishti being blamed for it? Before Abir could say anything further, Meenakshi sneered, "Ohh, I see. Toh tum yeh sab Mishti ke kehne par kar rahe ho! Ho kya.." Abir cut her off and fumed, "Mishti ko beech mei mat laliye Maa." Abir's eyes were red in fury. He was tired of this blame game where everyone targeted his wife because she kept mum as a sign of respect. "Yeh faisla mera hai. Mishti ka nahi. Toh behtar ye hi hoga ki aap mujhse baat kare," he warned. "Aur daatna? Woh toh aap rehne hi dijiye. Aap Mishti ko daanti nahi hai. Aap sirf usse blame karti hai," Abir remarked. His patience was wearing out. He was tired of trying to prove Mishti's innocence in front of these people whom he called his family.

"Abir beta, shaant ho jaao. Tumhe zarur koi galatfehmi hui hogi. Koi Mishti par ilzaam nahi laga raha tha. Benbaa toh bas usse puch rahi thi ki usne tumhe woh cards kyu nahi diye. Aur kuch nahi, Abir," Parul Masi intervened.

Abir looked towards Parul and said, "Masi, yeh baat aap bhi achi tarah se jaanti hai aur mei bhi, ki yeh sach nahi hai," Abir uttered and Parul Masi lowered her head. She knew that he was right. "Aur Maa ke iss sawaal ka jawab hai mere paas. Haa, Mishti woh cards mujhe dena bhul gayi thi. Lekin aapko yeh kisne bataya Maa? I'm sure ki Mishti ne toh yeh aapse nahi kaha hoga. Toh aapko kaise pata chala?" He commanded. Meenakshi kept mum. She partly understood where this conversation was going to steer. "Kya hua Maa? Koi jawab nahi hai aapke paas?" Abir mocked. He shook his head in disbelief. He took Mishti's hand in his and started to walk away from there when he heard Meenakshi clap her hands. She wasn't going to leave any chance to stop Abir from leaving this house. Abir halted and so did Mishti. They turned to look towards Meenakshi.

"Well done Mishti! Aakhir tum yeh ghar todne mei kamyaab ho hi gayi. Issi maksad se yaha aayi thi na tum? Issi maksad se tumne Abir ko apne pyaar ke jaal mei fasaya tha na?" Meenakshi seethed angrily.

"Yeh sab kya hai muhboli? Hamara ghar toh tu tod hi chuki hai. Ab iss ghar ko bhi todna chahti hai?" Jasmeet added fuel to the already burning fire.