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Sunlight poured over her face as she opened her eyes. Her head throbbed, and her body ached from the night before. She lay there in the balcony, closing her eyes for a few more minutes. The heat of the rising sun soon made her uncomfortable, and she stood up, a sharp pain shooting through her back. Inside her room, the events of last night came rushing back, but she shrugged off the thoughts and pulled on a kurti and jeans.

She had no desire to go to the office today. Perhaps she wanted to spend some time with her family or simply have a day to herself. She headed to the bathroom, took a long bath, and washed her hair.

- Her outfit -

By the time she came out, it was almost 11 in the morning. Realizing how late it was, she decided to focus on her skincare routine and drying her hair. Once she was ready and felt somewhat presentable, she left her room and headed downstairs.

As she descended, she heard a cacophony of voices. Curiosity piqued, she continued down the stairs and found herself looking at a lively scene in the living room. Her family was gathered, engaged in animated conversations. The confusion on her face was evident as she tried to understand what was happening.

As Mishti took in the scene, her face registered clear irritation at the sight of her father's sister and her families. Her bua, who harbored a strong dislike for her, had never hidden their disdain, and Mishti felt the same animosity towards them.

If they hate her , then
She hates them too !

She moved towards them, forcing a polite smile. She knew she couldn't afford to give them any reason to criticize her to her father.

The Rajvansh family was present too, making Mishti wonder what special occasion had brought everyone together. She headed to the kitchen where Ahaan and her cousins were gathered. Though she didn't harbor a strong dislike for them, she wasn't particularly fond of them either. After grabbing a glass of water, she moved back to the living room.

Just as she was about to sit, she overheard her bua, Anamika, talking animatedly and drawing everyone's attention. "So, bhabhi, Pooja kab hai?" Anamika asked.

Confused, Mishti looked at her mother. "Pooja? For what, Mumma?" she inquired.

Everyone turned to her with confused gazes. Mishti watched as her parents exchanged looks before glancing at her brother.

"Batao mujhe bhi," she insisted, looking around.

The youngsters burst out cheerfully in unison, "Naira bhabhi is pregnant na , that's why there's a Pooja!"

"Kartik Bhai and Naira bhabhi are going to be parents," another cousin added.

"You know what, Kartik Bhai, when you called to tell us, I was so excited. I mean, a little baby is coming! I'm going to be a chachu yay" Mishti's cousin Rohan exclaimed.

Mishti felt a mix of emotions washing over her as she smiled . The room was filled with joy and celebration, yet she couldn't shake off the feeling of being an outsider in her own family's happiness.

Smiling, I moved toward the soon-to-be parents and stood in front of them. As I stared deep into my brother's eyes, I could feel tears gathering, ready to fall at any moment. I moved closer to him and whispered, "Congratulations, Bhai," then took him into a hug. Not giving him a chance to say anything, I quickly moved away and looked at my bhabhi, who smiled cheerfully at me.

"Congratulations to-be-mumma, can't wait for a little Naira running around the house," I said.

She laughed and hugged me, and I wrapped my arms around her. After a moment, I broke the hug, grabbed my car keys, and moved sideways. I no longer wanted to stay here. I could feel myself losing my breath again. No, I cannot get a panic attack here. I took a deep breath and moved outside.

As I was heading out the door, Mumma called, "Mishti, kaha ja rahi hai, breakfast kar le sab ke sath, aaja."

"No, Mumma, you all have breakfast. I have work," I said, moving outside. I heard her telling me to come back as soon as I whispered, "Ok."

I stepped outside and handed my keys to a worker, asking him to get my car from the garage. I stood there, my gaze fixed on the entrance gate. Someone stood beside me. I looked sideways and saw my bua standing there. She smiled evilly at me and said, "So, the princess of the house didn't know this, huh? Aur shayad kya pata gharwalo ne important nahi samjha batane ko." She laughed at me as she finished.

I clenched my fists. My inner self wanted to slap her and punch her, but I controlled myself because she is older than me.

"Mishti, tujhe pata hai, sabko pata tha, shayad Kartik nahi chahta tha ki tujhe pata chale," she said pointing at me.

I moved closer to her and whispered, "Apni had mein rehke baat kijiye, guest hai toh guest ban ke rhiye "

I moved toward my car and looked back at her as she lowered her eyes again. Settling into the driver's seat, I drove away from the house. Thoughts swirled in my mind. My brother didn't tell me about this. This was a big thing. I was the last one to know that I'm going to become a bua.

My chest felt heavy as I arrived at the land where my dadi was buried. It was our private land; she wished to be here beside dadu. I moved to the place where we buried her and settled myself on the grass. I looked at the ground beside me and then at the cliff in front of me.

Perhaps Bhai didn't want me to know this. I'm not that bad, right? Or am I?

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I lay down on the grass and looked at the sky. Mere bhai ne mujhe hi nahi bataya. It hurts, but who should I tell? Koi sunega hi nahi.

"Dadi, aap toh ho na sath mere," I whispered, looking at the sky.

"Aapko bhi yahi lagta hai kya ki main buri hoon, Dadi? Bhai doesn't talk to me, Mumma and Papa bhi zyda baat nahi karte. I want to talk to them, Dadi. Mujhe Mumma ki god mein sar rakhna hai, I want Papa to call me his princess, or make me pasta like he used to. I want Bhai to make some time for me. It's been so long, Dadi. I can't do this anymore. It pains. No one cares, Dadi. Aap kyun chale gaye?" I sobbed as I complained to my dadi, knowing that she would never say anything back.

I could no longer control myself. I cried harder, wrapping my arms around myself, hugging myself tightly. My phone rang, and I took it out of my pocket, seeing Abir calling. I knew he was worried; he had been watching me ever since I stepped downstairs. Controlling and steadying myself, I picked up the call.

"Hello," I said.

"Mishti, where are you? It's been an hour since you left. Where are you, Mishti?" he spoke instantly, not giving me a chance to reply.

"I'm out somewhere, Abir. I'll be home soon."

"Mishti, m aayu lene aapko ?" he said softly.

I almost cried at the sound of his voice, though I didn't know why.

"No, Abir. I'll be home soon," I said softly, waiting for him to speak again.

"Okay, come soon. I'm waiting, sweetheart," he said, waiting for me to end the call.

I ended the call and looked at my phone again. He was the only one who had called me after my sudden departure.

I looked at the scene in front of me, and it somehow gave me peace. The sunlight, clouds, sky-everything was calming. I looked at my dadi's grave, and tears formed in my eyes again. I sobbed, remembering how she always pampered me and told me she would be there when I became a fashion designer.

I stood up and put my phone back in my pocket. I stood there for a moment, smiling at everything. Then I moved toward my car and settled into the seat. I slowly sped up the car, not wanting to reach home too soon.

But after about 20 minutes, I reached home and got out of the car.

She just came downstairs in that blue kurta and jeans. Haaye! How can anyone be so beautiful? She moved towards the kitchen without even looking at me. Wait, is she angry with me? As she was about to sit beside Baba, her bua spoke up about a Pooja. Instead of aunty answering, Mishti confusedly asked about the Pooja. Wait, she doesn't know about this? Okay, maybe she doesn't know about the Pooja, but she knows that bhabhi is pregnant, right?

While I was lost in my thoughts, the youngsters told her, and her face held a surprising expression. Wait, everyone knew but she didn't?

She moved towards Bhai, and they hugged. Her face held a pained expression. She moved outside, and as I was about to follow her, bhabhi called me for something. After talking with her, I moved outside, but Mishti was already gone. Instead, her bua, Anamika aunty, was there. She smiled at me and asked about my well-being. I answered her, and we both went inside. Everyone was talking and having breakfast, but I wanted to have food with Mishti. So, I refused to eat with them and decided to wait for her. It had already been an hour, and she wasn't back yet. I called her, and she told me she would be here soon.

I was seated on the couch when I saw her coming in. I stared at her as she looked back at me. Her eyes were puffy and slightly red.

Wait, had she been crying? I stood up, wanting to go to her, but aunty (mishti's mother) called her, and she went towards her, nodded, and then headed to her room.

I went to the kitchen to fetch some food for her because, after seeing her eyes, I knew she hadn't eaten. As I was picking up the plate, aunty, Mishti's mother, came and asked me what I wanted. I told her that I wanted to get food for Mishti. She smiled and teased me a little. I smiled back and took the plate filled with her favorite rajma chawal, raita, and a glass of lassi.

I opened the door to her room with my leg. She was standing beside her window and looked at me, startled. I placed the plate on her bed, and she seated herself. I mixed the rajma with the chawal and was about to feed her when she held my hand and said, "Abir, I'm not hungry, please."

As soon as she said this, her stomach growled, and I chuckled. "You sure, bub?"

She looked down and laughed, seeing me smile. I fed her again.

As I was going to get water from her side table, she asked, "Tumne khaya, Abir?"

"I, uh, didn't. Vo, abhi khaunga main," I said, and she glared at me. I settled beside her as she placed the plate in her lap and fed me. "Tumne kyu ni khaya sab ke sath, it's late, Abir. Don't compromise on food, please," she said while keeping her gaze on the plate.
I smiled at her care.

"Aap nahi thi na yaha pe, isliye nahi khaya," I said, looking at her.

"Abir, vo..." she nervously said.

"Shh, I know. Khana kha lete hain, baad me baat karenge, hmm?" I said. She smiled, and we finished the food.

"Mishti, did you cry?" I asked. She widened her eyes, avoiding eye contact, and said, "Abir, nahi, nahi toh."

"Mish, sweetheart, you can tell me. You know that, right?" I said, placing my hand on hers. She looked at me as her eyes filled with tears, and her breath slowed down.

"Abir, woh..."
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