So, basically, in this one, there was no prenup drama. The Goddhaana date was fixed when Meenakshi and Nanu came to talk to the Maheshwaris. Meenakshi is taking genuine efforts to accept Mishti because she doesn’t want to lose Abir to Mehul.
Everything else remains the same. Kunal is still an idiot and he still wants to divorce Kuhu, who is still confused about whether to ship MishBir or not.
Chapter One
The alarm blared at 3 in the freaking morning, breaking Abir Raajvansh out of his slumber. He turned over on his bed, intent to shut the godforsaken thing off and sleep some more, when another alarm joined it, irritating him more. He shut the first alarm off, and then picked his cellphone from the table, which was the second alarm. When he read the reminder popping on the screen, he slapped his forehead. How could he have forgotten?!It was KarwaChauth! That's why he had to wake up so early.
It was his first ever KarwaChauth after falling for his Angry Chorni, and he was determined to make this a special day. Now that the rishta talks had commenced between the two families, and everyone was aware of their relationship, Mishti had decided to fast for him this year, a fact that had been communicated to his mother by Badi Maa the previous night when she'd called to invite them over for the celebrations.
Abir had been a blushing mess when his mother had announced the same fact at the dining table the previous night, and everyone had teased him, with the exception of Kunal, of course. Abir was still worried about everything that was going on between Kuhu & Kunal, but for today, he wanted to keep everything aside and make the day about Mishti, and himself. Their first KarwaChauth together. It was a big deal.
Not wanting to be late, he quickly got dressed, in his blue shirt, waistcoat, and jeans, that he’d worn the day they’d come with what was supposed to be Kunal’s rishta for Kuhu, which Mishti had admitted to him once were her favourites. Of course, he needed to look extra special for his Angry Chorni today. Giving himself a once over in his mirror, he quickly went downstairs, wanting to cook a meal for Mishti before delivering it to the Maheshwari House, because of course, sargee was supposed to come from a girl’s sasural.
“Arre! Abir?” Nidhi Maami exclaimed on seeing him up so early in the morning. She’d woken up to eat before sunrise. Parul & Ketu were serving her food. Meenu did not fast for her husband, having separated from him years ago. Typically, KarwaChauth had always been a quiet affair at the Raajvansh House because it was only Nidhi Maami who fasted. But this year, with Mishti, and Kuhu, everyone was excited.
“Good morning!” Abir greeted the trio.
“Abir, beta, aaj itni subah - subah?” Parul questioned.
“Haan…” He replied, a little embarrassed. “Woh… Mishti ke liye sargee le jaani haina,” he told them, looking down.
“Awwww! Bhai!!” Ketu exclaimed, running to him and giving him ahug. “You’re so cute! Mishti Bhabhi kitni lucky hai.”
Abir blushed at her words, not knowing what to say. He had a response at the tip of his tongue, but he knew saying that would only garner more teasing. He did think it, though. It wasn’t Mishti who was lucky. He was the lucky one.
“Abir... Yeh toh bohot achchi baat hai!” Parul said, taking some heat off him. “Ruko. Main abhi dabba banake deti hu. Mishti aur Kuhu… dono ke liye.”
Abir’s smile dimmed at the mention of Kuhu. With things the way they were, would Kuhu even fast for Kunal? Should she? Kunal certainly didn’t deserve that sort of devotion after what he’d done. But, Abir reminded himself not to think of Kuhu or Kunal or their problems today. It was just his and Mishti’s day.
As he waited for Parul Maasi to bring the food, Abir was greeted by Meenu. He was surprised to see his mother up so early. She smiled at him and handed him a few bags. “Yeh… Kuhu… aur Mishti ke liye,” she told him. “Sargee ka saamaan hai. Unn dono se kehna ki woh yehi pehene. Mujhe achcha lagega.”
“Jee, Maa,” he replied softly. Abir knew his mother didn’t particularly like Mishti, why he would never be able to figure out, but she was trying her best, and that made him absolutely ecstatic. It was all he’d ever wanted from her. To try to accept Mishti. And it was finally happening. He was over the moon.
“Yeh lo, Abir,” Parul said, coming with a huge tiffin. “Achche se khana daal diya hai. Lekin… agar kuch bhi kam zyada ho, toh mujhe turant phone kar dena. Main Jugnu ke haath aur bhijwa dungi. Waise toh tum unke ghar hi jaa rahe ho, par yeh neg toh saara sasural se hi hota haina.”
“Jee, Maasi,” Abir replied. Taking their blessings, he quickly left, knowing that his Angry Chorni must be waiting for him.
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“Mishti, Kuhu! Jaldi aao!” Badi Maa called out, startling Mishti who had been putting her earrings on, and blushing, remembering the time when Abir had put them on her, just a few days ago.
“Aayi, Badi Maa!” Mishti called back. She banged the bathroom door and shouted, “Kuhu! Jaldi kar! Sab bula rahe hain!”
“Mishti ki bachchi! Tu mujhe shanti se ready bhi nahi hone degi kya? Hashtag no peace! Ughhh. Jaa ab! Main aa jaungi!” Kuhu replied.
Mishti rolled her eyes at Kuhu’s response and quickly made her way downstairs where Badi Maa, Varsha, Jasmeet, and Bade Papa were already seated.It warmed Mishti’s heart to see Bade Papa there. It happened on every KarwaChauth, but every year, it warmed her heart so much to see that Bade Papa would wake up at 4 in the morning, just for Badi Maa and sit with her while she ate.
“Good morning!” She greeted everyone.
“Chal… Jaldi se aaja aur kuch kha le,” Badi Maa instructed. “Aur achche se khana. Phir poora din kuch nahi milega.”
“Jee, Badi Maa,” she answered. Just as she was about to sit, the doorbell rang, taking everyone by surprise.
“Itni subah kaun hoga?” Varsha wondered.
“Main dekhti hu,” Mishti said, only to be cut off by Bade Papa. “Nahi, Mishti. Aap baithiye. Hum dekhte hain,” he said.
Bade Papa opened the door and was surprised to see Abir standing there. “Abir, beta… aap? Itni subah subah?” He asked.
Abir smiled and touched Bade Papa’s feet before replying. “Haan, Bade Papa… Woh… Aaj KarwaChauth hai toh Maa ne Mishti aur Kuhu ke liye sargee bhijwayi hai,” he replied.
Bade Papa smiled widely on hearing this and ushered Abir inside. “Mishti! Kuhu! Dekhiye… aap dono ke liye kya aaya hai!” He called as he guided Abir to the dining table.
“Kya, Dadu?” Kuhu, who had joined the others, asked. “Arre! Big Bro!!” She exclaimed, giving him a quick hug.
Abir smiled at her and then touched Badi Maa’s feet before greeting the others at the table as well. But, when his eyes fell on Mishti, he was left stunned. She was dressed in a pink sundress - he had to give it to her for remembering his favourite colour - looking absolutely gorgeous. He took a seat beside her, making the others smile knowingly and her blush. But, he just passed her a smile and turned to Badi Maa.
“Abir… Aaj itni subah kaise aana hua?” Badi Maa asked.
“Kyu?” Abir asked, “Main nahi aa sakta kya?”
“Yeh bhi toh tumhaara hi ghar hai. Jab chahe aa sakte ho!” Badi Maa replied, making him grin.
“Thank you!” He said. “But… main kuch kaam se hi aaya hu,” he told her. “Maa ne sargee ka samaan bhijwaya hai… Mishti aur Kuhu ke liye.”
The Maheshwari women beamed at that. It felt so nice to see things progressing so well between the two families. It had only been a few days since Mishti and Abir's goddhaana had been fixed, but in this short time, the families seemed to have come closer together.
It warmed Badi Maa & Bade Papa to see that Meenakshi was taking genuine efforts to accept Mishti. She'd called a few times to talk to her and had even visited once, only talking to Mishti and Kuhu the entire time, locked in their bedroom.
The only sore spot that remained was Kunal, who was still staunchly against the union but was keeping his mouth shut to please his mom and his brother, who seemed to be on the same page for the first time in their lives, at least where Abir's marriage was concerned. Both of them wanted Mishti to become a part of their family as quickly as possible, though Abir's motivation was his love for Mishti, while Meenakshi's the need to prove to Abir that his happiness mattered most to her.
"Meenakshi Ji ne itna kiya… Humein itna sammaan diya… Uskeliye dhanyawad," Bade Papa told Abir.
"Nahi, Bade Papa! Aap aisa kyu keh rahe hain? Yeh toh humaara farz hai. Aur waise bhi… Pehla KarwaChauth hai inn dono ka. Itna toh karna banta hai. Aapko bhi toh pata chale… Ki Raajvansh parivaar ke sab log aapki dono betiyon se kitna pyaar karte hain," Abir replied.
"Abir… Hum jaante hain ki wahaan Mishti aur Kuhu dono bohot khush rahengi," Badi Maa answered.
Kuhu looked down at that, not wanting to let anyone see her distress, but Mishti smiled at Badi Maa's words. Things had been going so well lately and she couldn't be happier.
"Kunal nahi aaye?" Varsha asked. Her question stumped Abir, Mishti, and Kuhu, who looked at each other in alarm before Abir handled the situation with a flimsy excuse.
"Aunty… Woh actually… Kunal kal bohot late tak kaam kar raha tha. US mein koi conference call thi uski toh ghar aane mein hi 12 baje gaye the. Toh woh so raha hai," he said.
"Oh," Varsha replied, disappointed.
"Varsha, beta… Baaki baatein baad mein hoti rahengi. Aap sab khaana khayein," Bade Papa interrupted.
"Jee, bauji," Varsha replied.
"Abir… Ruko… Main abhi tumhare liye thali lagati hu," Badi Maa said.
"Arre, nahi Badi Maa… Aap kha lijiye. Main baad mein kha lunga," Abir replied.
"Aise kaise baad mein? Nahi, nahi. Bas 2 minute lagenge," she told him. "Tum baitho."
She promptly went and got a new plate and served Abir, who lookedat her serving him with a fond smile on his face. She had become like a mother to him so quickly after they'd met, and now she really was going to be his mother. The thought made his heart burst.
He looked at his overloaded plate and shook his head. Moms never changed. But… He was grateful. Not eating the entire day would be tough. Eating such a full meal might help. Because of course, there was no way he wouldn't not fast for his Angry Chorni. But, he definitely did not want it to be announced in front of the world, because if it happened, everything would become about him, and how amazing he was for fasting for his girl. But… He wasn't doing something extraordinary. He was just doing what his Mishti was doing for him. So, what if he was a man? Why did that make all the difference in the world? Why should he be applauded for doing something that was expected out of a woman as her duty in this society?
He hadn't even told Mishti yet because he wanted to surprise her. He couldn't wait to see her face in the evening when he asked her to break his fast too. He was just grateful that he had a busy day at the NGO and no one would question him not eating while he was there.
As he shared a hearty meal with the Maheshwaris, Abir couldn't help but smile. This was his family now. And he couldn't have hand-picked a better one. His hand found Mishti's and they both looked at each other, a thousand conversations happening with that one look. This was just the beginning of the rest of their lives, and neither of them could wait.
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So, here we go! Hope y'all like it! This will most likely be a two shot or a three shot depending on how much more I write! :)
Sorry for the lack of MishBir, but I'll make it up in the next chapters! :D
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
