"Mishti, we can't take them home," Adair said, his voice heavy with concern.
"Why?" Mishti demanded, not understanding his hesitation. Did he not feel bad for them? Her heart ached at the thought.
"Mishti, let's find them somewhere else to stay for a few days. Our house is too small for five people. Try to understand," he tried to reason, but her anger only grew.
"How stone-hearted you are, Ansh," she glared at him, her eyes blazing.
"I'm just saying for a few days, Mishti. Please, understand for once," he raised his voice, frustration seeping in. Mishti pressed her lips together and nodded reluctantly.
Adair made a quick call and then turned to her. "My friend has an empty house. They can stay there for now, okay?" He asked, and she nodded again, though her expression remained tense.
They took the old woman and the children with them, stopping in front of a modest apartment. Mishti bought some clothes while Adair cooked a meal for the boy and dadi, and prepared hot milk for the little girl who was crying on her brother's lap. Dadi tried to comfort her, but the boy wouldn't let anyone else touch his sister.
"Aa... aap hume yaha kyun laaye ho?" (Wh.. why have you brought us here? ) the boy asked to Ammaa in a small voice.
"Ye log bure nahi hain, beta," (These people aren't bad, son, ) Ammaa reassured him with a gentle smile. The boy looked at Adair, who smiled back warmly.
Adair approached the boy, attempting to take his sister, but the boy held her tightly. "Hum... hamari behen ko na lijiye," ("Please... don't take my sister," ) he stammered, fear evident in his eyes.
"She's hungry. Look how she's crying," Adair said softly.
"Aa... aap hume de do, hum pila denge," (Give
That to me, I'll feed her, ) the boy replied.
"Accha, aap pila do," (Alright, you feed her, ) Adair handed him the bottle and helped him with it.
"Aapko bhuk nahi lagi?" (Aren't you hungry? ) Adair asked, watching the boy closely.
"Hum... khayege toh maar padegi naa," (If I eat, I'll get beaten, ) the boy said, breaking Adair's heart.
"Jab tak aap hamare sath ho, koi nahi marega aapko," (As long as you're with us, no one will beat you, ) Adair assured him, looking at the sleeping girl on his lap. "Kya mai ise yaha sula du?" (Can I put her to sleep here?)
"Mai sula dunga," (I'll put her to sleep, ) the boy replied, and Adair sighed, covering her with pillows to prevent her from falling.
Mishti returned with clothes, and Amaa and the boy bathed and changed. Mishti looked at the little girl. "Ise nehlana hai," (She needs a bath, ) she said, but the boy ran towards his sister.
"Hamari behen ko kahi na le jaye, please," (Please don't take my sister anywhere, ) he pleaded.
Mishti looked at the boy, then at Amaa and Adair. Amaa explained, "Are ye aisa hi hai. Kisiko apni behen ko hath nahi lagane deta. Mujhe khud usne panch din baad godi me lene dia." (He's like this. He doesn't let anyone touch his sister. It took him five days to let me hold her.)
Mishti crouched down to his level. "Aap kaha se aaye ho, beta?" (Where did you come from, son? ) she asked gently.
The boy's eyes filled with tears. "Hum ammi abbu ke sath aaye the ghumne. Achank ammi kho gayi, abbu ne hame bithaya ek jagah par aur kaha ki kahi jana nahi... aur pari ka dhyan rakhna... uske baad bahot bada dhamaka hua fir abbu nahi aaye," (We came with our mom and dad to roam around. Suddenly, mom got lost, dad told us to sit in one place and take care of Pari... then there was a big explosion, and dad didn't come back ) he wiped his tears and said, "Lekin voh jaldi aayege, hainaa?" ("But they'll come back soon, right?)
Everyone was silent, understanding the tragedy that had befallen them. Mishti hugged the boy, and he clung to her. "Ammi abbu ki bahot yaad aati hai," (r. "I miss mom and dad so much, ) he said.
"They will come soon to take you," she reassured him, caressing his back.
Amaa watched in amazement. "Mujhe das din ho gaye iske sath rehte hue, isne ek baar bhi muh nahi khola. Voh chotu ne itna maara fir bhi nahi roya... tum logo ke paas aake dekho kaise patar patar bol raha hai." (I've been with him for ten days, and he never spoke a word. Even when that boy beat him up, he didn't cry... but look at him now, talking so much with you all.)
Mishti smiled at Amaa's words and kissed the boy's cheek. "Kya naam hai aapka?" (What's your name? ) she asked.
"Ayan Hussain, 4 years," he said in one breath, making Mishti chuckle.
"Wow, kitna pyaara naam hai aapka," (Wow, what a lovely name you have, ) she pinched his cheeks gently. "Chalo, Pari ko nehla dete hain. Dekho bichari gandi ho gayi hai naa?" she said, and he nodded.
Mishti picked up Pari in her arms, and Ayan held onto her dupatta as they headed to the bathroom.
Amaa watched them go, murmuring, "Kisiki nazar na lage." (May no evil eye fall on them.)
[time skipped]
They finished their meal, and it was time for Adair and Mishti to head back home. Mishti kissed the boy and hugged Amaa, and Adair did the same. They both kissed little Pari, who giggled as they showered her with affection.
As they were about to leave, Ayaan grabbed Mishti's dupatta with his tiny hand. She turned back to see him, and feeling her hesitation, Adair also turned to see Ayaan holding her dupatta.
"Mat jaye naa aap," (Please don't go, ) he said, looking up at Mishti with pleading eyes.
Mishti knelt in front of him and hugged him tightly, feeling a deep attachment to the boy. She kissed him and said, "We will meet tomorrow... and if you sleep early, we will meet early," she promised with a smile.
They left, and Ayaan stood at the door, watching their car as it drove away.
"Chalo beta, andar chalo," (Come on, son, let's go inside, ) Amaa said gently, leading him back inside and closing the door behind them.
Ooo
Riya's house
"Eee, Macchar... climb faster, idiot!" Riya called out, peering out of her window with a mix of amusement and impatience.
Raghav, clinging to the pipe outside, looked up and whispered back, "I'm not Mogli... and I'm okay with Macchar, but don't add idiot to it."
She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "If I close this window, Mr. Handsome, you'll have to go back down."
Grumbling under his breath, he resumed his climb, determined to prove himself. After a few tense moments, he finally managed to pull himself up onto her room. "See how cool I am," he declared proudly, flashing her a triumphant grin.
"Mogli," she laughed, her eyes sparkling with mirth as she turned and walked inside.
"Ahh, Riri," he pouted, trailing after her. He caught up to her, grabbing her wrist and pulling her closer. Their eyes met, and she blushed, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"What are you doing, Raag?" she asked, her voice shy and tinged with curiosity.
"Nothing, just testing if you still get shy around me. Looks like you do, huh?" he teased, leaning in closer. She playfully punched him in the stomach.
"Ouch!" he winced, stepping back slightly but still keeping her close. He laughed softly, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Still as fierce as ever," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She looked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest, the playful banter giving way to a tender moment.
"Don't scare me like that," she said softly, her voice trembling with a mix of emotions.
"Scare you?" he whispered, leaning in so their foreheads touched. "Riri, you're the bravest person I know."
Her blush deepened, and she looked away, but he gently cupped her face, making her meet his gaze. "You make my heart race, you know that?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Raghav..." she started, but he silenced her with a gentle kiss on her forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment. She felt her breath hitch as he pulled back slightly, their eyes locking in a heated gaze.
Slowly, he leaned in again, his lips brushing against hers in a feather-light touch. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she tilted her head slightly, deepening the kiss. It was soft at first, tentative, but quickly grew more passionate as their emotions took over. His hands moved to her waist, pulling her even closer, while her arms wrapped around his neck.
The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the warmth of their bodies and the intensity of their kiss. Time stood still as they poured all their feelings into that moment, the connection between them growing stronger with each passing second.
When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless
They sat on her bed, and Riya rested her head on Raghav's shoulder. His fingers intertwined with hers, playing with her hands as she gazed down at them, finding comfort in the simplicity of their touch.
"Can I ask you something?" she murmured, her eyes never leaving their joined hands.
Raghav sighed, rolling his eyes playfully. "I knew it... you can't sit still without wanting to know everything, can you?"
"Raag," she said softly, looking up at him with earnest eyes. "I'm not going to ask about Adair or where Ansh and Malti aunty are. But can you just tell me about Ansh and his life, please?"
Raghav was silent for more than a minute, his expression growing somber. He nodded slowly, a sad smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. His eyes filled with tears, though he fought to keep them from falling.
"I was in Kashmir before my dad got transferred, and we had to move to Mumbai. I'm not rich or anything like that," he paused, chuckling. "I'm sorry, let's start with Ansh."
Riya gently interrupted him, placing a hand on his arm. "No, no, let's start with you. Let me know about the person who holds the power to either melt or break my heart anytime," she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.
He pinched her nose affectionately. "Melt, yes... break, never ever, chuhiyaaa." Riya chuckled at his words, the warmth of his touch making her heart flutter.
"Okay, so... you see, my childhood was never easy. We were a poor family. My parents were government teachers, and my mother spent all her money on my education because my dad never focused on us. His attention was always on his school... you know how government schools are. So, my dad used his money to renovate his school. He was the Headmaster there at that time."
Riya listened intently, her heart aching for the struggles he must have faced. She gently placed her hand over his, encouraging him to continue.
Raghav took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "My mother, she was the backbone of our family. She worked tirelessly, always putting our needs above her own. Despite the hardships, she never let us feel deprived. Her strength and resilience were what kept us going."
Flashback
It was morning in Kashmir, and Raghav stirred from his makeshift bed on the floor. His mother lay beside him, both of them wrapped in thin blankets. His father, however, slept alone on a small bed, the only one in the room that could fit one person. A cooler stood at the entrance of the door, providing a faint semblance of comfort in their modest home.
The room was still cloaked in darkness as Raghav carefully stood up, moving the cooler aside just enough to slip out of the room. He then repositioned the cooler back in place and stepped outside, feeling the chill of the morning air.
Unlocking the main gate, he grabbed a broom and began sweeping the area clean. Afterward, he placed a pot of cold water on the gas stove to heat and quietly returned to the room. Kneeling beside his mother, he gently shook her awake.
"Mom, I put the water on the gas. It's time to get up," he whispered, intending to lie back down beside her. But as he tried to settle, his mother's weak grip on his hand made him freeze.
"What's wrong, Mom?" he asked, alarmed by the lethargy in her eyes. At first, he thought she was simply sleepy, but the slur in her speech and the effort it took her to even move made him panic.
"Papa, Papa!" he called out, shaking his father awake. His father grumbled, irritated by the sudden disruption. "What happened?"
"It's Mom. She's not feeling well," Raghav said urgently.
His father got up, a hint of concern breaking through his annoyance. He checked his wife's forehead and frowned. "She has a fever. Turn off the cooler and cook something for her. I'll take her to the hospital."
Raghav nodded, quickly moving to follow his father's instructions. He turned off the cooler and hurried to the kitchen, the gravity of the situation weighing on him. His mother had always been the pillar of their family, and seeing her so vulnerable was terrifying.
Raghav's mother had been diagnosed with a severe respiratory infection exacerbated by their living conditions and the high-altitude climate of Kashmir. The infection had progressively worsened, leading to a chronic illness that now threatened her life. The cost of her treatment would be a significant burden on their already strained finances.
Raghav sat in his class, staring blankly at his notebook, lost in a whirlwind of troubling thoughts. Normally the chatterbox of his group, he had become uncharacteristically silent over the past few days. His father's harsh words echoed in his mind: he had to stop going to school and use his mother's money for her treatment, as his father refused to spend his own. The resentment boiled inside him, and he muttered under his breath, "How can a husband be so heartless?"
Just then, the classroom door creaked open, and the teacher walked in with a boy wearing glasses. "Good morning, students," the teacher greeted.
"Goooooooodddd mmmorrrrrnnniiinnggg ttteeeaaaaccchhhheeerrrr," the class chorused.
The teacher introduced the new student. "This is Ansh Patel, and he will be your fellow classmate from now on. Help him and be good friends to him." He gestured for Ansh to take the empty seat beside Raghav.
Ansh approached and settled into the seat. "Hey," he greeted Raghav softly. But Raghav remained ensnared in his thoughts, not acknowledging Ansh's presence.
"Rude," Ansh muttered, feeling slighted but resigned to focus on the lesson instead.
Half the period passed, and Raghav hadn't moved an inch. The teacher, growing impatient with his lack of attention, threw a piece of chalk that struck Raghav squarely on the forehead. "Ouch!" Raghav exclaimed, snapping back to reality.
"Good morning, Raghav. Welcome back from your daydream. Please focus," the teacher said, prompting a wave of laughter from the class.
Embarrassed, Raghav looked around and finally noticed the boy sitting next to him. "Who are you?" he asked, bewildered.
Ansh frowned slightly and adjusted his glasses. "So, you didn't even listen when I said hi?"
"I'm sorry... By the way, I'm Raghav." He extended his hand.
"Ansh... Ansh Patel." Ansh shook his hand, a small smile forming.
"Why did you change your school, by the way?" Raghav inquired, genuinely curious.
Ansh opened his mouth to answer, but the teacher's stern voice cut him off. "Raghav, Ansh, pay attention and stop talking."
Raghav nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips for the first time in days
After some time, Adair hurried into the classroom, his face flushed and breathless. "I'm sorry, sir, I'm a little late," he panted.
"It's fine, Adair. Come in," the teacher said, smiling warmly.
Turning to the class, the teacher announced, "This is Adair, Ansh's brother. He'll also be in your class, so be good to him—"
Before the teacher could finish, Adair interjected, "It's okay, sir. I'll handle it." He walked forward, his eyes seeking Ansh, who avoided his gaze and slumped on the last bench, isolating himself from everyone.
Days passed, and despite their proximity, Ansh barely acknowledged Adair's presence. It was as if a wall had been erected between them, one that Adair struggled to break through.
One day, while Ansh was playing on the ground, a group of boys approached him aggressively. "How dare you ignore my order to complete my homework?" one of the boys snarled, shoving Ansh hard.
"W-why would I do that? It's not my job," Ansh stammered, adjusting his glasses. But before he could react, another punch landed, knocking his glasses to the ground.
Ansh staggered back, his vision blurry. The boy grabbed his collar, pulling him closer. Raghav, witnessing the scene from a distance, sprinted towards Adair, breathless and desperate.
"Adair! They're hurting Ansh!" Raghav yelled.
Without hesitation, Adair dashed to the playground, fury blazing in his eyes. He reached the boys and without a second thought, began to pummel the one holding Ansh. "How dare you touch my brother!" he roared, fists flying in a blind rage.
It took the arrival of a teacher to finally pull Adair away, his chest heaving with anger. "What are you doing? Fighting on school grounds?!" the teacher bellowed.
"He hit my brother," Adair spat, still glaring at the boy.
Suddenly, Ansh's voice broke through the tension. "I am not your brother!" he screamed, fists clenched at his sides.
Adair turned to him, stunned. "Ansh..."
"Stop pretending to be my brother! Your father is not my father!" Ansh's voice cracked, tears streaming down his face.
Adair's heart ached, remembering his own struggle when he learned Malti wasn't his real mother. "I know how it feels, Ansh. I understand."
Ansh stepped back, shaking his head vehemently. "No, you don't! You know who your parents are. I don't even know my father!"
Adair took a step forward, desperation in his voice. "That's why we're here. No matter who our parents are, the truth is, I am your brother. Nothing can change that."
But Ansh pushed him away, his face contorted in anguish. "No! You are not my brother, and that's the truth. Nothing can change this." With that, he turned and ran, leaving the school grounds behind.
Adair stood frozen, the sting of Ansh's words sinking deep. The teacher, still holding Adair's arm, softened his grip.
Flashback end
"Ansh never liked Adair?" Riya asked, her voice tinged with confusion and a hint of disbelief. She had always imagined Ansh in a very different light, possibly because she had seen Adair as Ansh from the very beginning. This new revelation felt like a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit.
"No, it's not like that," Raghav said, shaking his head. "They had just come to India, and Malti Aunty got Ansh admitted to my school. Adair came along because of Ansh. At that time, Ansh hadn't met his real father yet. When he found out the truth, though not the full story about what happened to Malti Aunty—both Ansh and Adair are still in the dark about that—he felt like they had taken his father away from him. Meanwhile, Adair had to live with his own father. It created a lot of resentment."
Raghav paused, his eyes clouding with the weight of those memories. "After that, Adair's father wouldn't let Adair come to school anymore, to avoid causing any more problems for Ansh. But trust me, from that day on, every girl started asking about Adair, and no boy dared to mess with us."
Raghav chuckled a little
Ooo
Mishti stood by the window, watching Adair deeply engrossed in his laptop. His legs were casually propped on the table, and his glasses reflected the screen's glow. She huffed in annoyance, realizing he hadn't even glanced at her once.
"Kya baat hai, Mishti?" (What's the matter, Mishti? ) he asked, still focused on his work.
Raising an eyebrow, she wondered if he had been looking at her without her noticing.
"I was thinking about Ayaan," she said, her voice laced with a hint of frustration as she glanced at him, but his eyes remained glued to the laptop. She turned her gaze back to the moon outside the window.
"He must be sleeping by now," Adair replied, still typing away.
"Yeah... but we know that his parents must be..." she trailed off, concern evident in her tone. She looked at him, hoping for some acknowledgment, but his attention remained fixed on the screen.
"We'll think about it tomorrow," he said dismissively, his eyes never leaving the laptop.
Frustrated by his lack of attention, she moved closer, determined to make him notice her. Finally, he lifted his head, placing the laptop aside and dropping his legs from the table.
He gently pulled her onto his lap, and she looked around nervously. "Ye kya kar rahe ho?" she asked, scanning the room.
"Kitna sharma jati ho... main hi hoon, koi aur nahi hai," (Why are you so shy? It's just me, no one else, ) he teased, enjoying her blush.
"Aisa kuch nahi hai," (It's nothing like that, ) she replied softly.
"Fir kaisa hai... pyaar toh nahi ho gaya?" (Then what is it... falling in love? )he teased further.
Meeting his gaze, she gathered her courage. "Ek baat bataoge?" (Can I ask you something?)
"Ji, sab bataunga, aap puchiye toh," (Of course, ask me anything, ) he smiled warmly at her.
"Tumhe mujhse kya achha lagta hai?" (What do you like about me? ) she asked, looking directly at him.
"Tumhari ye aankhein," (Your eyes, ) he smiled, his eyes reflecting admiration.
Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered how he had once fallen for someone because of her eyes, which were similar to hers. She stood up abruptly and walked toward the window, lost in thought.
"Kya hua?" (What happened? )he asked, noticing her move away and smirking, sensing her jealousy.
"Yaha aana," (Come here, )she said, looking out the window.
"Kyu, kya hua?" (Why, what happened? ) he asked, starting to stand but quickly sitting back down as she glared at him. "Kyunki aankhein nochne hain mujhe tumhari," (Because I want to scratch your eyes out, ) she replied teasingly.
"Maine kya kiya?" (What did I do? )he asked, genuinely confused.
She looked at him, then looked away with a faint smile. Chuckling softly, he walked towards her and held her from behind as she tried to wriggle free.
"Choro yaar," (Let me go, )she struggled lightly.
He held her closer, refusing to let go. "Kabhi nahi yaar." (Never)
"Apni aankhon wali ladki ke paas jao tum," (Go to your girl with the beautiful eyes )she taunted him.
"Vahi toh hoon," (I'm already here, )he replied, making her look back at him.
"Mujhe kya samajh rahe ho, main tumhari aankhon wali jadugarni nahi... main Mishti hoon," (What do you think? I'm not your sorceress with enchanting eyes... I'm Mishti, )she replied, trying to free herself again.
He held her tighter, resting his chin on her shoulder and whispered near her ear, "Meri Mishti ho." (You are my Mishti.)
She stopped struggling, a smile spreading across her lips as she heard his words.
"Tumhe itni baatein kahan se aati hai, Ansh?" (Where do you get all these lines from, Ansh? ) she asked teasingly, a smile playing on her lips.
"Adai..." he almost said but stopped himself, feeling his control slip in her presence.
"Kya?" (What?)She turned around as she sensed his grip loosen around her waist.
"Kuch nahi," (Nothing) he said, sitting back in his chair, avoiding her gaze. She felt unsettled by his behavior but didn't press further.
Adair's heart raced; he was on the verge of revealing everything about himself. He glanced at her, contemplating, "Am I wrong to keep this from her? She deserves to know... Should I tell her now? Will she still accept me?"
"Mujhe ghurna hi tha, toh door kyun gaye?" (If you wanted to stare, why did you walk away? )Mishti smirked at him.
"Abhi kahaan gayi sharam?" (Where did your shyness go? ) he chuckled, trying to divert his thoughts.
She approached him, curiosity written on her face. "Kya soch rahe ho?" (What are you thinking about?)
He looked up at her and took her hand in his. "I need to tell you something, something very important," he said earnestly.
"Yeah, I'm listening. What is it?" she asked, her eyes fixed on his.
He stood up, removed his glasses, and hesitated, "Mishti, I..."
She waited, anticipation growing, but he faltered, unable to continue.
"What?" she prompted.
"What if I say I am not the person you think I am?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Mishti held her head, taken aback. "Huh... What do you mean? Are you some kind of ghost, or do you have superpowers, or are you not as old as you appear?" she teased.
"I am not Ansh," he confessed.
"So, are you his ghost then?" she chuckled.
He saw her for some seconds and chuckled "right I am ghost" he didn't got the courage to tell her the truth he needs time and he knew it
He hugged her "you know, my people always love someone else, its good they love someone else too but they give also all the love which was mine to other, I guess I have to always watch that from far
Mishti thought he was talking about the raj and his family and his lover from the past
She hugged him hard "don't worry, now I am here naa"
His eyes widened for some seconds but he smiled "promise?" he asked closing his eyes
"Promise" she replied
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