CHAPTER 33
MISHTI'S POV
It's been over a week since we returned back to Rajkot and I am returning back to normalcy. Since it is New Year tomorrow, I plan to resume college from the day after. If Abir allows me, that is.
Ever since we returned back to Rajkot, Abir has been over protective of me. Everyday, he comes home early in the morning before I wake up, just to see me and then, goes to his office. He again leaves his office and directly comes home and sits in my room with his laptop open, apparently doing work. Whenever he is around, he monitors my every movement like a hawk.
But he has been behaving very distant with me. He tries to keep our conversations to a bare minimum, by only answering to all my questions with one word. It is as if he doesn't even want to talk with me.
But I know more than to believe that. I know something is bothering him and I know that it is somehow related to tomorrow, New Years Day. And I also know that it has some connection with his father.
Having known him from my childhood days, I know that he despises that one day every year. He makes up excuses for meeting us every time âhalf the time that he was unwell, rest that he went to Udaipur to meet Nanu. My stupid brother has always been oblivious to it, but I am not. I know he avoids meeting us on that day with a purpose and that is exactly why I am on my way to his house now.
Abir is under the impression that I have gone to visit Ketki today, to catch up with my studies. Since I know that Rajvansh Industries always gives a holiday today and tomorrow, I am sure he would be in his house today.
Taking a deep breath, I get down the car. I look at the huge house in front of me and sigh. The Rajvanshs' were never what they are today. They lived in a small tiny apartment when I met Abir first. If they are leading such an extravagant and comfortable life, all the credits go to Mrs. Meenakshi Rajvansh, whether I like her or not. She has strived hard to be where she is today, and I salute her for the businesswoman that she is.
I limp towards the front door and ring the bell in anticipation. In the seconds that I wait for the door to open, I look around the place and notice that it hasn't changed much since my last visit. The enchanting fountain and the magnificent pillars still leave me in awe, making me sigh.
This can be a sight I would like to behold forever.
The door opens swiftly, bringing my focus back to the present. In front of me is a stout and short woman, wearing simple clothes. Her hair seems to be put up in a bun and she has a very warm smile on her face. By her looks, she seems to be in her mid-30s. I immediately recognize her to be Parul aunty, their house help.
With a nod at me, she opens the door wide for me, giving me space to enter. I smile at her and look past her at the huge spiral staircase. Knowing that Abir's room is upstairs, I make a move towards the stairs, but I am stopped by a voice.
"Why are you here?"
I turn around to meet the furious eyes of Meenakshi Rajvansh. I sigh.
Why does she always have to be angry?
I give her a tight-lipped smile, "Good morning to you too, aunty. I am here to meet Abir."
She lifts one eyebrow at me challengingly, "Already my son practically never lives with me at home. He always lives with you and your stupid family all-"
I interrupt her, "And whose fault is that?"
There is pin drop silence in the room suddenly. I know I might have touched a nerve of hers, but someone needed to remind her how bad of a mother she has been.
I continue, "If you had been a nice and caring mother, Abir would want to spend time with you. If you had showered him with even five percent of the love that we had showered him with, he would be a happy person today, with no guilts and regrets. Even though he tries to put up a facade that he is happy, I know that he is guilty because of the fallout with you. I don't know what happened between you two, but unless and until you start caring and start behaving like a mother, you cannot expect the same from Abir."
Now, I know I definitely crossed the line, but I do not regret speaking those words.
She looked visibly offended and rage consumed her as she roared, "Who the hell are you to talk to me that way?"
I flinched at her loud voice, but I smirked at her, "Oh, me? I am your future bahu. Hi Sasuma!"
She narrowed her eyes at me and spat angrily, "What? I will never let you become my bahu. You and your family have always been trying to steal my son away from me and I will not let this happen. Get this into your head. Abir will never marry you!"
I laughed humorlessly, "Sasuma, I know what Abir wants and doesn't want more than you. At least once in your life think about what he wants and not what you want, can you?"
She took breaths to calm herself, "Now, why are you here? Anyway, he would come to your house soon. Couldn't wait for a few minutes also, huh?"
Just to rile her up, I shrug and say, "Just to make plans for tomorrow."
She stood silent for a few minutes before she seethed, "Oh, so you want him tomorrow also, huh? Tomorrow, his birthday is the only day he spends in this house every year. You want to snatch that also, huh? What the-"
"MOM", Abir's loud voice interrupted us. He came running down the stairs towards me, but I couldn't concentrate on anything else anymore.
His birthday?
Tomorrow?
"Mishtipie, why have you come here? If you-"
I interrupted his monologue, "Abir, when is your birthday?"
He visibly stiffened and looked at me in shock. His eyes wavered between his mother and I, before finally settling on me, "Mishti, I'll explain-"
I frowned, "Isn't it on July 23rd? What is she saying, Abbi?"
He stammered, "No, Mishti- I'll explain- "
I put out my hand to stop him, "Is tomorrow your birthday?"
He desperately tries to hold my hand, "Mishti, I- "
I swat his hands and interrupt him again, "It is a Yes or No question Abir. The answer should be very simple. Haa ya Naa."
He took deep breaths to calm himself down. He looked at the ground and whispered, "Haa."
I looked at him and found tears slowly sliding down his cheeks. I didn't know how to react. Shocked that tomorrow is his birthday or angry that he decided to hide it from all of us. Unknowingly, tears started pooling in my eyes too.
I whispered, "Why?"
He remained silent and still looked at the ground. When I realized that he was not going to answer, I continued, "Why Abir? Why did you have to lie about your birthday to all of us? All of us adore you Abir. We love you Abir. What was the need? Fifteen years, Abir! We have known each other for more than fifteen years! You have been lying to us all these years, Abir!"
He shook his head frantically, "No, Mishti, I wanted to tell you all! I did, I really did! But I- I couldn't find the courage to do so. Really Mishti!"
I sighed, "No Abir. You chose to lie to us. You had a choice. To tell us the truth, or to lie. Leave the rest of them, Abir. You could have told me! We promised we would share everything with each other â our happiness, our sorrow, everything! We promised to never lie to each other. We have been living a lie for all these years! Every year, when we celebrated your birthday on the July 23rd, you could have told us! We have been celebrating your birthday all these years with pomp and joy, but alas, it wasn't even your birthday!"
A rude laugh cut through the silence that followed. Abir's mom just laughed before she glared at me with challenging eyes, "You are telling me to be a good mother, while my son doesn't even trust you enough to share something as simple as his birthday with you! You claim to be my future bahu when my son doesn't even find you important enough to share the truth of how our relation broke with you! You claimed to know him more than me when you didn't even know his actual birthday! Get this straight into your head. Do not come back here or to Abir claiming any relations! Otherwise â "
Abir spoke loudly through his tears, "Maa! You cannot talk to Mishti that way! She is - "
I interrupted him in a silent voice, "But where did she lie, Abir?"
When Abir looked at me stunned with no words to say, I smiled sadly and turned back and limped towards the front door. Before heading out, I turned to him one last time and found him looking at me with pleading eyes.
Giving him a sad smile, I asked, "Tonight?"
He smiled through his tears and nodded frantically, "Tonight!"
***
Hey guys! Merry Christmas! This is Chapter 33!
I'm sorry for being super late; but I'm sure I'll make it up to you cause MishBir confession is on the way!
Hope you guys loved this one!
Will update soon!
Thank you! <3