PART1:
This story extends from the scene on the show where Abir learns Baba Mehulâs truthand proceeds to have his meltdown beside the lakeside.
SCREEECH! Abir abruptly slammed the brakes on his jeep, as Mehul frantically screamed at him,
âSTOP the car right now!â Mehul shouted.
Abir jolted back into his driving seat, as he watched his shaken father scramble out of the jeep. Taking a deep breath, Mehul grabbed on to his chest and closed his eyes to calm down. Abir slowly got down from the jeep and placed a comforting hand on his fatherâs shoulder. Mehul immediately looked up and asked,
âWhat did you say?! You have every right on that property and money. Why are you losing it, just for my sake?â
âBut Baba, Maa thinks she can buy you with that money, she thinks that the bond and love we share can be negotiated for money. We both know relationships donât work like that. If you were so selfish, then why would have come back to Rajkot to look for me? If money was all that you were sought after, you could have snatched it years ago. So why did you come back after all this time? For me right?
Mehul stood quiet, looking at Abir. Shit, how do I convince Abir now? Abir marched back up to his father and asked again, âTell me Baba, you didnât come back just for the money, right? We donât need that. We donât need all that mone--
âNO!! I need it! I want the money!!â Mehul yelled. âI have always struggled for finance in my life, so I will do anything and everything to get it. Even if it means I need to act like a loving father I will! I NEED THAT PROPERTY ABI--- Mehul suddenly realised what heâd done, and looked at a blank Abir standing in front of him with a stoned face. Abir couldnât believe his ears. Was this the father he always believed in? Was this the father for whom, he always fought against his mother for? Was this the same Baba who taught him family always came first?
âA-ABIâABIR,listen to me, Mehul stammered, and pleaded Abir. I didnât mean all that. You know Iâm not that kind of person, you know I canât hurt you for money. You know me right?â
âHa, I thought I knew, but now I know for sure. Aap mere Baba hai hi nahi. Aap sirf aur sirf MEHUL KAPADIA hai! Nothing more!â Abir took a few steps away, with tears welling up in his eyes, he said âI believed YOU, your words over my own mother and naanu who repeatedly warned me. How could I be so stupid?! I feel ashamed to even think that I agreed to add Kapadia to my name.â
The sound of running footsteps, interrupted Mehulâs attempt to rectify is blunder and re-gain Abirâs trust. âAbiiir!!â she exclaimed. Abir and Mehul turned around to see a troubled Mishti running towards the lakeside. She immediately stopped to catch her breath upon finding Abir and slowly walked towards both of them. Just as Abir was going to hold her arm for support, Mehul charged in between,
âTu!? Yeh sab tumhari vajse hora hai ! Do you even understand what youâve done Mishti? If ONLY you listened to me, and kept your mouth SH--!â before Mehul could finish his line, Abir firmly stepped infront of Mehul, guarding the small Mishti behind him.
âHow dare you!? You do realise, who youâre threatening right?â Mehul instantly felt Abirâs intense fierce gaze through his piercing hazel eyes. âMishti meri fiancĂŠ hai. Meri hone wali patni. Mind it! Iâm warning you, donât you dare say another word to her.â
Mishti stepped up beside Abir, pulling his arm away from Mehul. âIâm not afraid of you Mehul uncle. Aap ka sach ab saamne aachuka hai. You really thought you could trap Abir in your scam?â Mishti scoffed and continued,âbut you made a grave mistake, by believing I would stay silent. You under-estimated your bahu, yaad hai maine bhi aapse kya kaha? â Main bhol sakti hu, aur bolungi bhi, especially jab baat Abir ki ho. I will never allow you to hurt him.â
Abir simply watched his angry chorni, in awe and surprise. What was Mehul and Mishti on about? When did they have a fight? Does this mean Mishti already knew? No that couldnât be, Abir thought. But how? He questioned.Before he could interject Mehul and Mishtiâs quarrel, to clear his confusionâŚ
A police jeep arrived with the inspector accompanied by Meenakshi. Mishti quickly walked to Meenu, as Abir and Mehul exchanged stern looksand waited for the inspector to walk down. As Mishti was about to talk to MeenU, Meenakshi simply walked by and opened up the folded sheet of paper in her hand. Presenting it to the inspector and Mehul, she declared âSee this? This will be the end of your games Mehul Kapadia. I have got the evidence right here inspector, iss aadmi ne in saare scam kiya hai. And now he has threatened to steal my son, if I didnât give him my wealth and money.â
A smug Mehul, chuckled and retorted, âbut all these scams are under the name of Abir Kapadia.â Pointing to Abir, Mehul said to the inspector, âyeh hai Abir, he is the culprit you are looking for.â
âArre Baba, before you make such accusations, acche se soch lijiye,â Abir mocked. âYes I did want to change my name to Abir Kapadia, and you even got the papers ready. But remember properly, did I sign the papers? Nahi na? So how can I be Abir Kapadia? Stepping up beside his worried mother,Abir boldly announced âMera naam Abir Rajvansh hai aur hamesha rahega.â Meenu simply looked and smiled at her son, standing tall but quickly frowned seeingthe tears being held back in his eyes. The inspector analysed the evidence Meenakshi had, and came to a conclusion.
âThis report here, clearly exhibits all your previous scams Mehul Kapadia, it also explains your most recent plan to trap Mr Abir Kapadia into your next scam with Meenakshi Rajvanshâs property. However, as there is no evidence that Abir has changed his name and Meenakshi has not the signed the property papers in your name. Hence, you are guilty of fraud and attempted defamation.â And with that verdict, the police dragged Mehul into the jeep and left Mishti and Meenaskhi with relief and satisfaction. On the contrary, Abir finally let loose of the strong, bold and determined veneer he had been holding since the jeep ride with Baba. His arms limply fell beside him, whilst his legs began to giveaway strength, as he stumbled down towards the lake shore. Sinking his knees into the dirt, he broke down and let all the tears roll down his cheeks. Mishti and Meenakshi could not help but simply watch Abir and his helpless state, with their own hearts breaking for him.
Meenakshi approached Abir to try and comfort him, who was sitting numb with the ripples of water splashing against his knees and thighs,after his outburst of punching the water in frustration and agony. When Abir turned to see his mother, who called out to him to come back up, he realised hehad let his guard down, which he never does infront of his family members. He had finally removed the bright smile and revealed his inner most emotions of pain and misery. Deciding that his mother had seen enough of his raw state, he simply waved his arms, signalling her to leave him alone and go back home.
âIâm sorry Abir! Iâm so sorry Abir beta,â Meenakshi cried.The remorseful mother continued, âI tried saving you from this hurt and pain, I tried and believed I succeeded for the last 25 years. But now I have failed.â Abir looked up to see his mother head hanging down in defeat, he immediately ran up toher and looked into her water-filled eyes. Shaking his head, he wiped her tears with his hands and pulled her into a tight hug, not caring about his soaked dripping wet clothes.
Meanwhile, Mishti witnessed the special emotional, raw moment between the estranged mother-son, and thought Finally the wall between Abir and his mother has fallen. This moment is very sacred and personal. I should go. And with that, Mishti turned around walking away,whilst wiping her tears of grief that had changed to tears of joy, leaving the reconciling mother and son together.
âMaa, you canât fall weak now. Youâve always been the most resilientperson I know. I know youâre stronger than this,â Abir encouraged his mother.Sitting together on the bench silently, Abir began, âBaba had left us alone like this years ago, and you didnât break down. You survived and conquered with raising two children, maa. This time again, he is no longer with us, but thatâs because WE chose to leave him. WE decided that we donât need such a man in our lives.â Meenu was speechless, she just looked up at her son with pride. She held his hands and nodded with a small smile at her sonâs courage. Her smile dissolved, when Abir looked away out towards the water and noticed his forehead creased in discomfort.
âKya hua Abir? Whatâs bothering you? Come on let it out,ârequested Meenu.
After a long pause, Abir took a deep breath and asked in small voice, âWhy did you hide this truth for so long Maa? If you knew exactly how bad my Baba was, why didnât you reveal the truth to me before?â
Meenu replied, âHow could I intentionally hurt my son, when my main reason was to protect you from a man like Mehul? Besides, you never believed me, whenever I told you that your Baba left us. So how would you believe me if I told you he was a fraud?â
âMaa! Iâm your son! Just because I didnât believe you as a child, you allowed me to grow up into an adult with the same beliefs.â Abir impatiently stood up from the bench, breaking Meenuâs grip on her sonâs hands. âYou let me to live in Babaâs world of false hopes, dreams and words! My entire life principles have been based on a liar! Abir exclaimed.
âNahi Abir!, NahâAbir cut-off Meenu,
âMaine kitni baar aapko sawaal kiya hai? Huh? Kitni baar Maa!?Not once did you think of sitting down with me patiently to discuss and reveal the truth, you even had the newspaper evidence and Naanu for support all this time.â Walking around the bench, he continued, âBut you avoided facing the truth by hiding it from me. At least now that Iâm adult, didnât I deserve to know the truth? No!...instead you treated me like a child and pushed me away on aimless treasure hunts in search of my father, who was clearly not worth it. For godâs sake maa! Each time you refused to tell me the truth, I walked away from you, from the house, from the family because I felt suffocated being kept in the dark. Now I know I didnât walk away, YOU drove me further and further away.âAnd with that, Abir slumped down on the ground behind Meenakshi, dropping his head into his arms as they rested on his bent knees.
Meenu didnât say anything for little while. But her mind was running, âMehul Kapadia! Consider yourself lucky that I left you mercy with just the Police. Seeing Abir like this, would bring about a Meenakshi Rajvansh you wouldnât have seen nor be able to handle. If only you hadnât returned inour lives, all this wouldnât have happenedâŚ.Pausing for a moment, Meenakshi concluded MishtiâŚYOU brought Mehul back into Abirâs life. You single-handedly brought him back into our lives, and now look at the rift it has resulted in the family and Abirâs life. Main tumko nahi chodungi. You will have to be punished. Meenu bent down to Abir sitting on the ground and tried to pull him up, âChalo Abir, chalo ghar chalte hain. You need to rest.Come,â she requested. But Abir refused to move. He wouldnât budge.
âNahi maa, I need some time. Iâm hurt and disappointed with both Baba and you. But I canât deny that Iâve hurt you all, by trusting the man who was missing for most of my life, and forgetting those that have been with me all this time,â lamented Abir. âMujhe thodi dher ke liye akela chod dijiye. You go home. Iâll come later.â
âAbiir, youâre wet and cold. Everyoneâs waiting for youâŚ
âMaa PLEASE!â Abir folded his hands together pleading his mother, âAap ghar jaaye, I want to be alone for some time.â Reluctantly Meenakshi headed back up to the road and left, as Abir silently watched her disappear into the horizon. Abir sighed, âMera ghar ab kaha hai?â
GharâŚghar hota hai jahan ek ko dard lagti hai aur sab ko feelhota haiâŚhamare ghar jaise nahi, jahan sab apne apne gham ke saath akele jeethe hai. Ghar is a place of sukoon, a place of purity, love and comfort. Ha!Abir chuckled. My ghar doesnât give me those vibes. My gharâŚmera ghar? Abir began to wake up from his deep thoughts. Mera ghar kaha hai? Mera ghar to Mishti hai. Abir looked suddenly looked around him and the lake. His lost eyes searched for his home, for his sukoon, his comfort, âWhere did she go?,â he wondered.
Abir immediately got to his feet and hurriedly walked off in search of the being who felt like home, the girl who felt like his ghar. Mishti
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If you got this far, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.đ¤â¤ď¸ I genuinely hope you enjoyed my take on this scene. There's more to come I assure you. Next will be mishbir's conversation.đ
Forgive me for any grammatical mistakes, especially the hindi dialogues. Hindi isn't my first languageđľ
Please do like and leave your thoughts and feedback. I would love to read them