Read the author's note at the end ~

Mishti looked at everyone with tears in her eyes and made her way outside the house. No one came after her. No one.

She walked herself to Maheshwari Mansion's gate, looked at her house, and moved away. She didn't have anything with her. It was just her, her tears, and her unexpressable pain.

She walked and walked, her feet carrying her to a cliff she didn't know existed. It was late in the evening, and darkness was beginning to settle. Instead of seeking refuge somewhere safe, she sat down there with her back pressed against a tree. She cried, remembering her father's harsh words:

"Jab tak main na kahu, tab tak ghar wapas mat aana."

Was she really that bad? Did she deserve to be slapped by her father? She didn't think she had misbehaved.

Mishti sobbed, recalling her childhood. This always happened when her bua visited, but her father had never slapped her before. Today, he did. The sting of the slap and the weight of his words bore down on her. She felt utterly abandoned and betrayed by the very person she had always looked up to.

As the night grew darker, the loneliness around her intensified. She felt the chill of the evening breeze, but it couldn't compare to the coldness she felt inside. Mishti hugged her knees, trying to find some semblance of warmth and comfort, but all she could find was more pain and unanswered questions.
She remembered the past and cried and sobbed again.

Flashback -

Mishti was just 8 years old, It was her birthday, and her father had invited her friends from school-friends only in the eyes of her parents. To Mishti, they were just classmates who constantly bullied her, but she never had the courage to tell anyone. Her father had also invited her bua's family so that Mishti's cousins could come and celebrate her birthday.

But no one showed up. Not her so-called friends, not her bua, no one.

She stood at the entrance gate, looking at the cake and decorations. Her father and mother took her inside, assuring her that they would come. She waited until around 10 at night, but no one came. She eventually cut the cake with her parents and her brother, who had brought her gifts.

As she offered them cake, she glanced at the hall. The games they had planned to play were left untouched, the return gifts placed on the table. Tears gathered in the eyes of the 8-year-old girl who just wanted to celebrate her birthday like everyone else. Her parents looked at her and said, "Mishti bacha, wait," but she didn't wait. She rushed to her room and locked herself inside, not wanting to become a burden on her parents. She cried, sitting there looking at the return cards she had made for everyone, each with their names on it. She threw them into the dustbin and cuddled herself on the bed, crying until she couldn't cry anymore.

Soon, her parents entered her room and looked around. Her mother was crying, looking at her daughter's heartbreak. She looked at her husband, who seemed equally worried. They felt helpless, watching their beloved Mishti crumble under the weight of loneliness and rejection. They wanted to comfort her, to take away her pain, but in that moment, all they could do was sit beside her and hold her close, sharing in her sorrow.

Mishti was 12 years old , when her parents organized a Pooja in honor of her dadi and dadu. She was about to take her place at the ceremony when she overheard her bua whispering that Mishti shouldn't be allowed to sit there because she was a bad omen. Mishti quietly rose from her seat and stood at a distance, watching the Pooja unfold from afar.

After the Pooja, her cousins played in the backyard. Mishti approached them, her heart filled with hope, and cheerfully asked, "M bhi khelu?" Her cousins exchanged glances before walking towards her. She smiled, anticipating acceptance, but instead, one of them said, "Mumma ne mana kiya h tumhare sath khelne se, you are a bad girl." They turned and resumed their game, leaving Mishti standing alone.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she retreated to her room. She gathered her toys and looked around, realizing once again that she would have to play alone. She tried to distract herself with her toys, but the pain persisted. After ten minutes, unable to hold back her tears any longer, she began to cry. She wanted to tell her parents but didn't want to burden them with her troubles.

One of the butlers brought her dinner. Mishti sat alone, watching cartoons on TV while eating. Later, she stepped outside her room and looked down from the first-floor railing, seeing everyone else gathered around the dining table. The sight of being excluded filled her eyes with tears. She went back to her room, crawled into bed, and cried herself to sleep.

That night, sleep eluded her. She lay awake, feeling abandoned and forgotten, especially since her mother hadn't come to check on her. It was past 2 AM when her room door opened, and her brother walked in. Mishti sprang up and hugged him tightly. Her brother kissed her forehead and asked, "My princess didn't sleep yet?"

"Nah, I was not able to sleep, Bhai," she said, pouting. Her brother chuckled and replied, "Come on now, let's sleep, bacha."

He held her close, and that night, Mishti finally found comfort in her brother's arms and drifted off to sleep.

Mishti was 16 years old, and had just started her class-11. She was introverted and didn't have any friends, often sitting alone at the front bench of her class. As she observed her classmates, she saw groups of friends laughing and making fun of each other. Mishti smiled wistfully, realizing she might never experience such friendships.

Unexpectedly, Himaksh, another introverted student who was part of one of those groups, started talking to her. Their conversations grew, and soon they were close enough to call each other friends. Mishti didn't intend to make a friend, but Himaksh became her best friend. She even helped him try to win over a girl he liked, who was also a classmate. Unfortunately, the girl rejected him, saying she didn't want to be in a relationship. Mishti supported Himaksh through his heartbreak, helping him to overcome the rejection.

As time passed, Mishti and Himaksh grew very close. However, the girls in Himaksh's group started to feel jealous of Mishti. They frequently tried to interfere in her friendship with Himaksh. After class-11 ended, things seemed fine, but a month into class-12, Himaksh's behavior changed. Mishti noticed his growing distance and tried to find out the reason. Then, Himaksh sent her a text message saying he no longer wanted to be friends with her. Mishti was devastated. She couldn't believe her best friend had turned his back on her.

Her heartbreak deepened when she overheard Himaksh badmouthing her to their friends. Tears welled up in her eyes. It was during one of these moments of despair that Abhimaan saw her at school. He was there because a teacher had called them about Ahaan. Abhimaan, who was Mishti's safe place and always there for her, listened as she poured out her heart to him. He consoled her, becoming her new best friend.

As they moved on to college, Abhimaan, Mishti, and their new friends, Tara and Ahaan, formed a tight-knit group. Their bond was strong, offering Mishti the genuine friendships she had longed for. Through the ups and downs, they supported each other, creating a circle of trust and love that Mishti had always dreamed of.

But Himaksh would always be her first best friend, the one she made during a time when she felt invisible and unloved. Despite the pain he caused, Mishti couldn't forget how he made her feel seen, appreciated, and valued when everyone else neglected her.

Even now, she sometimes wonders what Himaksh is doing, where life has taken him, and if he ever thinks about their friendship.

But that day not only himaksh hurted her but her family did too .

The way everyone blamed her ,that day a little part of her died .

Flashback over

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she remembered her childhood. For most people, childhood is something they always wish to relive, but for Mishti, she never wanted to relive it again. The pain struck her eyes, signaling the onset of a migraine. Realizing she couldn't sit there and cry any longer, she stood up. Staying here meant spiraling deeper into her sadness, possibly to the point of giving up on her life.

Determined to find a way out, she walked towards a tea stall. She asked the old man running the stall for a phone, and he kindly handed her one. Quickly, she dialed Tia's number, her safeguard.

"Tia, come soon. I need to go somewhere," Mishti said, her voice trembling.

"Coming, ma'am," Tia responded without hesitation.

Mishti thanked the old man for his kindness and waited. Within ten minutes, Tia arrived with her car. Mishti climbed in, and Tia handed her migraine pills, which she quickly swallowed. She instructed Tia to book a plane ticket, order a new phone, and gather her debit cards. She explained her plans, and Tia nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

Soon enough, after freshening up, Mishti found herself outside the airport. She hugged Tia tightly, feeling a mix of relief and sorrow.

"Kisiko batana mat, Tia. Not that anyone cares. Okay, take care," Mishti said, her voice wavering.

"Take care, Mishti di," Tia replied softly.

With a tight smile, Mishti turned and walked towards the terminal. She needed this break, a respite from everything and everyone. It was time to find herself away from the pain.

On the other hand, Abir was frantically searching for Mishti, calling anyone who might have a clue about her whereabouts. Abhimaan and Ishaan were scouring places they thought she might go. They were gathered in Abir's penthouse because he couldn't bear staying at the Maheshwari mansion without Mishti; he didn't trust himself not to explode at everyone who had hurt her.

They couldn't even trace her , because she left her phone with them .

Abir sat on the sofa, his head in his hands. "I don't know where she went. Mann, is she okay?" His voice trembled, the weight of his worry palpable.

"Abir, we will find her. You can't lose strength now, okay?" Ishaan said, placing a reassuring hand on Abir's shoulder.

"I asked Tia, she said she doesn't know where Mishti is either," Tara said, joining the three of them, her face a mask of worry.

Abir sighed softly, tension etched across his features. "Abir, she will be fine. She's Mishti. She always overcomes situations. She will be back," Tara said, trying to reassure herself as much as Abir.

Three days passed with no contact from Mishti. Advik, Jiya, Tara, and Ishaan stayed with Abir in his penthouse, not wanting to leave him alone in his worry.

"Abir, come to the Maheshwari mansion now," his mother, Neha Rajvansh, called him.

"Maa, I don't want to, please..." Abir started to protest, but his mother cut him off, "Abir, come quickly. I'm waiting."

Reluctantly, Abir told everyone they needed to go to the Maheshwari mansion. Once there, they sat at the dining table to start their breakfast. Abir glanced around at the Maheshwari family, trying to understand why they weren't more worried about Mishti.
Was this usual? Mishti missing?

They began eating when something on the television caught their attention. The news flashed on the screen, and what they saw made Abir stand up abruptly, moving closer to the TV, his heart pounding .

____________________________________
I don't know suddenly why everything's going downhill in my life . At this point, I want to give up but I can't -
Okay let's leave this

It looked better in my head .
I don't know I guess I didn't give justice to this chapter . This chapter is totally not upto my expectations.

Nevermind , do let me know how's it .

There's still many things to discover about Mishti's past .

Target - 20 votes
Comments are on you !!!!!!

But motivate me please !!!!!

Thank you for reading 🤍
~ Author T