CHAPTER 21
MISHTI'S POV
As planned, we have reached Mumbai by 9 in the night. Since we have almost 3 hours before midnight, we decided to visit the famous Marine Drive. We enter the premises and look at the beautiful view in front of us. The dark night sky with a crescent moon is completely filled with bright twinkling stars. In the distance, I can see long, huge buildings that are illuminated and glowing due to their golden lights, forming bright reflections on the vast expanse of water, which takes my breath away. Involuntarily, a gasp leaves my lips.
Both of us settle down on one of the rocks. This place is even more beautiful than I expected it to be. It is absolutely breath taking and yet, very peaceful. But somehow, my heart feels heavy and there is something that nags the corners of my heart.
Ever since I woke up after a short nap this afternoon, I cannot help but feel that Abir is being a little distant with me. When I asked him, he said that there is nothing bothering him, but I can very clearly see that he is lying. He kept looking out of the window throughout the journey, with his hands crossed across his chest. His eye brows were scrunched together slightly and his lips were slightly turned downwards, something he would do when he was thinking very seriously. His eyes were slightly unfocussed and he did not smile genuinely again.
We sat together for some time in utter silence. I decided not talk to him now because I could say from his behavior that he needs some time alone to think about whatever it is that is bothering him.
Our silence was disturbed by a phone call. Abir picked up his cell phone from his pocket and a small smile appeared on his face as soon as he saw the caller ID. I looked at him questioningly with my eyes, to which he mouthed the words 'Nanu', before picking up the phone call.
"Hi Nanu", Abir spoke into the phone, "Yes Nanu, we have reached here. We are now at the Marine Drive."
He remained silent for a long time and seemed to be deep in thought before continuing, "Nanu, I will give it to Mishti.", he spoke lowly and handed over the phone to me.
"Hi Nanu! How are you?"
"Hi Mishti beta. I am good. How are you?", I heard the his ever-energetic, booming voice.
"I'm good too Nanu."
He cleared his throat, "Mishti beta, is the phone on speaker?", his voice seemed apprehensive.
His question was weird, "No Nanu."
I could hear him sigh on the other side, "Good. Now, listen to what I say. Just Hum to everything I say. Do not speak back, okay?"
I found his request very weird, "Hmm"
"Okay. So Abir is stupid. He over thinks about everything but doesn't think about it the way it is supposed to be thought. Every time I talk to him, I hint about the two of you and every single time, he would deny the possibilities. But today, when I asked him about you, he remained silent, which is a huge progress. I think that donkey has just begun thinking about this and we need to just give him some time."
Wow. This man might be old but he is super sharp and knows his stuff. He has known about my liking towards Abir since my childhood and has encouraged me, to be honest. He is the first person to have found out about it. But I never knew he has been pursuing the idea of Abir and I very seriously, all these years.
I come out of my thoughts and hum, giving him the cue to continue.
"I don't know if he can get even more pathetic. I mean, everybody knows about the two of you, except him. Even Vishambher knows. Usually, he is the slowest in understanding all this. But now, Abir has taken over that position."
And suddenly I feel as if all air is knocked out of my lungs. "What do you mean by my dad knows?", I ask in a sudden urgency. With that, I felt Abir turn towards me with an inquisitive gaze.
"Shh. I told you to just hum. Oh God! What a couple you have made! Both are idiots!"
I rolled my eyes at his drama, "Nanu, just tell me."
He sighed, "I meant to say that your parents are also aware of the 99.99% possibility that you and Abir would get married in a few years' time."
I scowled, "What about that 0.01%?"
I heard him chuckle, "Oh that? I felt bad for the option 2 for having 0%. So, I gave it 0.01%!"
Now I think it is pretty obvious where Abir gets his weirdness from.
I chuckled slightly. After a few minutes of casual talking, we both bid bye and I cut the call.
I turn around to see Abir looking at me intensely, "What were you talking to him about? What does Papa know? Since when did you two become close buddies?"
I placed both my hands on his shoulders, "Now shh. Listen to me. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. One question at a time, Abbi!"
He rolled his eyes, "What were you guys talking about?"
I shrugged, "You know, the cool people stuff."
He frowned, "What do you mean by the 'cool people stuff'?"
"You know, the stuff that cool people talk about!", I told him as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Ugh. Who told you that you are cool anyway?"
I looked at him as if he was mad, "Abbi, the whole world knows. You need to become more attentive.", I shake my head as if I was disappointed.
He rolled his eyes, "Okay, what does Dad know?"
"Again, cool people stuff. It is only between Nanu and me."
He scoffed, "Oh yeah?"
I nodded, "Yep", I said, popping the 'p'.
He smirked, "Once we reach home, I will reunite with Kuhu and you will then realize who is actually cool."
Huh. Cocky Rajvansh.
I shrugged, "Form a team with her, I don't care. Me and Nanu will always form the best team."
He raised a single eyebrow, "Oh yeah? Let's see that tonight."
I nodded, "Let's see."
But after this phone call with Nanu, I can see a slight upliftment in his mood. And as if in a chain reaction, my mood gets better too.
He chuckled slightly, "Mishtipie why are you like this?", he hugged me by my shoulders.
I felt my heart skip a beat, "Like what?"
He looked down at me with mischief in his eyes, "Self obsessed"
I gasped loudly, "Well, not as much as you are!", I hit his shoulder once between every word and he began to laugh.
The laugh that has been missing today.
The laugh I have been waiting to hear all day.
***
It is now 11.55 PM and we are currently parked outside Kunal's apartment. We take the staircase and reach the door of his apartment. Abir is holding the unwrapped and ready-to-cut cake that we bought for Kunal in one hand and reaches for the door bell with the other. I hold his hand immediately and stop him from ringing the bell.
I whisper, "Abbi, I have the house keys!"
He looked at me wide eyed and whispered back, "You have what?"
I roll my eyes and take the pair of keys from my purse, "I begged dad and bought the extra pair of house keys Abbi. Just stay silent, I'll open the door. Once we go inside, we will directly go to his room."
He did not seem so sure about my plan, but he still nodded. I inserted the key slowly and as silently as possible. With a few turns, I heard a slight sound, indicating that the door is now unlocked.
I open the door as slowly as possible, preventing all the noises that could be made. Once both of us were inside, I closed the door back. Abbi nudged his face towards the right, indicating the direction of his room. The room of his door is open. The whole house is pitch dark, illuminated only by the light coming out from his room. I nod at Abir and slowly tip toe towards the room. I feel anxious. How will Kunal react once he sees us? Will he be shocked? Or happy?
I take a deep breath and reach the entrance of his room, with Abir following me behind. I cannot see Teddy from my line of sight, but I can hear him making noises. I frown slightly as I entered the room and turned to my left and I felt as if my heart dropped to my stomach.
There stood a girl, leaning against the wall, clutching onto his shirt tightly. And my not-so-innocent brother hovering over her, holding her waist possessively, kissing her.
Oh God.
I felt as if the sight just burned me. As a reflex, I cover both my eyes with my palms and I do the only thing that seems right for me.
I scream.
Loudly.
I hear two other voices scream with me, which I recognized as Kunal's and the girl's.
"Oh, I got scarred. My life is ruined. I will be tainted for life. Oh god, why did you do this to me?", I mumble to myself.
I felt two arms hug my shoulders, "Mishtipie, open your eyes, it's okay.", I could sense that Abir was on the verge of laughter.
I peeked out from my palms to see that the kissing couple now stood at least 10 feet apart. I sighed and removed my hands from my face and looked at them.
Kunal has grown a slight beard, which I do not like. I personally feel he looks better with a clean shave. I look at the girl beside him and immediately recognize her from the pictures as Kuhu. She is wearing a bright green salwar suit and her dark, long curly hair is slightly out of place due to their recent make out session.
Both of them looked at me with guilty eyes.
After a few seconds, Abir starts laughing as if he was a mad person. He clutched his stomach and bent down and laughed so hard. I actually don't know what is so funny in this. After seeing all three of us glare at him, he shut up.
Kunal walked in front of me and cleared his throat, "Hey Mishtu. Um- Actually- am-I- ah-I didn't know you were coming to Mumbai.", he looked at me sheepishly.
"I didn't know I would be welcomed by such a sight. If a had known, I wouldn't have even come", I replied, still in a daze.
He chuckled nervously, "If I had known, I would have kept things ready for you too."
I patted his shoulder, "Happy birthday, Teddy. I'll go to the living room", with that, I walked back to the hall and plopped myself down on one of the sofas.
I see the cake we bought rest on the dining table. I sigh.
This is not how I wanted things to happen.
But sometimes, unexpected things happen in life and we should just go with the flow.
***
Hey guys! This is Chapter 21!
Hope you guys liked it!
Thank you! <3