It was evening by the time Mishti woke up. The colour drained off Mishti's face in a microsecond as she scanned the room to find Abir. Her heart skyrocketed with fright when all she found was an empty room. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to calm her erratic heartbeats.

"Relax Mishti. Breathe, jaise Abir kehta hai. Woh yahi hoga. Usne kaha tha na. Toh woh kahi nahi jaayega. Just breathe Mishti. Just breathe," she tried to calm herself down. She slowly opened her eyes and they fell on a note that was kept on the bedside table. Mishti picked it up and unfolded it. 

Hi Angry Chorni!
Ab uthte hi panic mode mei mat chali jaana! Mei yahi hu, bas tumhare paas nahi hu. Woh kya hai naa, saare kaam mujhe hi karne padte hai. Aur ab mei tumhare paas kab aaunga, yeh toh tum hi decide karogi na. Confused? I know. Isliye jaldi se jaao aur cupboard kholkar dekho! Waha par ek box hai. Baaki ki baatein mei tumhe waha samjhata hu. 
- Meri sab kuch ka Ajeeb Rajvansh

A humongous smile spread across Mishti's lips as she read through the note. Her breaths become even as a familiar kind of feeling settled in her heart. She quickly got up from the bed and bounced towards the cupboard. Impatiently, she opened it and found a gift-wrapped box. She took it out and sat on the bed. Like an excited kid, she hastily unwrapped the paper and opened the box. The baby pink saree in the box made Mishti's heart flutter in joy. Her mind flashed back to the memories of the Karwachauth night. There was another note in the box which she briskly unfurled. 

I know tum kya soch rahi ho Angry Chorni. Uss din aur aaj mei sirf itna fark hai ki uss din mei tumse shaadi karna chahta tha aur aaj hum married hai. Still feels like a dream na? Lekin yeh ab hamara khoobsurat sach hai. Ab apne pati ko aur kitna wait karvaogi? Jaldi se taiyaar hokar mujhe waha milo jaha humne Mahashivratri ke pehle wali raat bitayi thi! I can't wait to see you!
- Tumhara impatient Ajeeb Rajvansh

Mishti's grin reached her ears while tears pooled her eyes. A lone teardrop fell on the note. The love that Abir was showering on her was overwhelming her heart and she didn't know if she deserved it or not. Wasting no more time, she quickly got dressed just the way Abir would've liked - pink saree, minimal makeup, small earrings. With one last glance at herself in the mirror, she left the room. 

She was hit with partial darkness as soon as she stepped out of the room. The only light that filled the space was the one that emanated from the candles that lined the sides of the stairway. Mishti was left in awe when her eyes fell at the decorations. The railing was beautifully decorated with white flowers while the candles complimented them perfectly.

Slowly, she walked towards the staircase. She caressed the flowers lightly. Admiring Abir's efforts, Mishti started taking small steps towards the destination that Abir had mentioned in the note. When Mishti reached the place, she was left spellbound. A pathway, lined with tea light candles led to a tent-like structure. The curtains were adorned with lights while some candles hung at the back.

Mishti walked and stood in the middle of the set-up. "Abirr.." she called out. No response. "Abirr.." she called out a little louder this time. She was about to turn around when a soothing tune hit her ears, followed by the familiar voice that she had fallen in love with.

Ehsaas ki jo zubaan ban gaye
Ehsaas ki jo zubaan ban gaye
Dil mein mere mehmaan ban gaye

Abir strummed his guitar as he sang the lyrics but didn't come in front of Mishti. Mishti scrutnized the entire place but to her bad luck, she couldn't spot Abir. 

Aap ki taarif mein kya kahein
Aap humari jaan ban gaye
Aap humari jaan ban gaye

Aap hi rab aap imaan ban gaye
Aap humari jaan ban gaye

Mishti gave up her hunt for Abir. She knew he wouldn't come in front of her until he expressed his feelings for her. So instead, she focused all her attention on the lyrics and his voice. 

Kismat se humein aap humdum mil gaye
Jaise ki dua ko alfaaz mil gaye
Socha jo nahi wo haasil ho gaya
Chahun aur kya ki khuda de ab mujhe

Mishti sang the lines, meaning each of the words that left her mouth. Abir's eyes filled up with tears but he quickly wiped them off and continued. 

Rab se mila ek aayan ban gaye
Khwabon ka mere mukaam ban gaye

Aap ki taarif mein kya kahein
Aap humari jaan ban gaye
Aap humari jaan ban gaye

Aap hi rab aap imaan ban gaye
Aap humari jaan ban gaye

Abir's voice dripped off all the love his heart held for Mishti as he sang the last few lines of the song. Listening to him pour his heart out in the form of a song, Mishti could no longer bear the distance between them. Abir came into the light with his guitar in his hands. In the translucent white shirt and light blue pants, he looked nothing short of a Greek God. As soon as he caught sight of Mishti in the baby pink saree, his heart skipped a beat just like it had on Karwachauth when he had seen Mishti don his gift. 

Abir left his guitar at a side while Mishti ran towards him and jumped into his arms. Abir was taken aback but he maintained his balance and wrapped his arms around her waist while he lifted her a little above the ground. Mishti's hands were wound around his neck as she buried her face into his nape. Abir had been so lost in the feeling of having her in his arms that he didn't realize when Mishti's body started to shake with sobs. It was only when he felt wetness on his shoulder that he realized that Mishti had been crying. The smile wiped off Abir's face in a millisecond. He immediately put her down and broke the hug. Seeing her tiny face covered with tears, Abir's heart broke a little. He cupped her face and hastily wiped the tears off. 

"Mishti, kya hua hai? Tum aise kyu ro rahi ho? Surprise acha nahi laga kya? Mishti please yaar, batao mujhe.." he begged. Mishti faintly nodded her head sideways, unable to speak due to her clogged throat. But Abir's panic had shot up the roof. He was so worried that he hadn't seen Mishti shake her head. 

"Bolo na Mishti? Mujhse koi galti hogayi? I know maine tumse kaha tha ki mei yahi hu aur fir mei tumhare paas nahi tha. I'm sor.." before Abir could complete, Mishti had cupped his cheeks and sealed their lips. Abir's mind was frozen at her sudden action but as soon as his mind registered what was happening, he responded back fervently. His arms curled around Mishti's waist while Mishti's hands found their place around Abir's neck. The kiss was soft and platonic. After a few seconds, Mishti broke apart. Blush crept up her cheeks the moment she realized what she had done while Abir's eyes were fixated on her face. Mishti gazed away and tried to get out of his hold but his grip around her waist was strong enough to restrain her. 

"Itni aasani se nahi Angry Chorni," he smirked. The pink hue on Mishti's cheeks darkened. Her eyes travelled everywhere except Abir's face. 

"Meri taraf dekho," he urged. How could she not then? Mishti steadily lifted her eyes to stare back into those hazel orbs. The very orbs that were the windows to his soul. Abir was gazing at Mishti with the love of the world filled in his eyes. And the adoration that Mishti saw in those eyes for her was something she wouldn't forget even if she forgot the world. He placed a tender kiss on her forehead and hid her away in his arms. Mishti's head rested near his heart, her ears doing the one thing they loved the most. Listening to his heart beat. They stayed in that position until Abir remembered something and broke apart. 

"Kya yaar Mishti! Tumhare iss surprise ne toh mera pura surprise hi kharab kar dia," he pouted and folded his hands near his chest. Mishti giggled at her husband's dramatic behaviour. Trust Abir to crib about the most inane things. Abir didn't want anything more than to hear Mishti's laugh. He was ready to make a complete fool out of himself for the rest of his life if it meant that Mishti's giggles would resonate around him. But he put on a serious face. 

"Thike thike. Ab haso mat. I know tumhara surprise best tha lekin agar mera surprise acha na bhi lage toh jhoothi tareef kar lena," he said nonchalantly. "Woh kya hai na mujhe acha lagega," he finished off. A small smile tugged along his lips as he saw Mishti roll her eyes at his antics with a smile on her face. He entwined their hands and walked her to the middle of the set-up. Once there, Abir went down on his knee before Mishti. Mishti eyes widened in surprise at his act. Abir looked straight into her eyes before he started. 

"I know mei iss world ka sabse perfect insaan nahi hu. Lekin tum mujhe aise treat karti ho jaise mujh mei koi flaws hi nahi hai. Mishti, I know maine past mei bahut saari galtiyan ki hai. Kuch toh tumhari maafi bhi deserve nahi karti thi lekin fir bhi tumne mujhe maaf kar dia. Mujhse shaadi karke mujhe iss world ka sabse happy insaan banaya. I don't know ki tumne mere liya aaj tak jo kuch bhi kia hai, utna mei tumhare liye kar bhi paaunga ya nahi. But aaj mei tumse ek promise karna chahta hu, Mishti. Life mei chahe jo bhi ho, tum mujhe hamesha apne saath khada paaogi. Aaj ke baad, mei kabhi bhi tumse dur nahi jaaunga. Kabhi tumhe chodkar nahi jaaunga. Hamesha tumhara point of view samjhne ki koshish karunga. Aur agar nahi samajh paaya toh, tumse naraaz rahunga, jhagda karunga lekin tumhe kabhi aisa nahi feel hone dunga ki mei tumhe chod kar chala jaaunga. Aaj ke baad, mei tumhe kabhi kisi ke saamne jhukne par majboor nahi karunga ya fir tumhe koi ultimatum nahi dunga. Tumhe kabhi bhi, mere liye, apni self-respect ko crush karne ko nahi kahunga. Tumhare decisions ki respect karunga aur apne decisions tumpar impose nahi karunga. I know pichle kuch dino mei jo kuch bhi hua usse tumhe bahut dard hua hai. Aur sabse jyada maine tumhe hurt kia hai. I'm sorry for that Mishti. I'm sorry for everything. I know sorry bahut chota sa word hai lekin kya ek aakhri baar tum apne iss Ajeeb Rajvansh ko maaf kar dogi? Please?" Abir held his ears by the end of his confession. The tears that had pooled in Mishti's eyes started to stream down her face as Abir finished speaking. Abir's brows furrowed in confusion at her tears. Before he could react, Mishti kept her hands on his shoulders and pulled him up to his feet. She rubbed off her tears with the back of her hand and took his large face in her tiny hands. 

"Abir, tumhe sorry bolne ki koi zarurat nahi hai. I know tumne jo kia woh kyu kia. Aur Abir, chahe duniya ke liye tum kaise bhi ho, mere liye tum perfect ho aur hamesha rahoge. Tumne bhi mere liye bahut kuch kia hai Abir. Hum ek doosre se pyaar karte hai aur agar hum ek doosre ki dhaal nahi banenge toh aur kaun banega? Abir, tumne mujhe woh fairytale di hai jiske sirf mei sapne dekhti thi. Agar tum meri life mei nahi aate toh shayad mei pyaar ko hamesha ek ehsaan hi maanti. Hamesha yeh maanti ki pyaar conditional hota hai. Kisi se unconditionally pyaar karna kya hota hai aur aise pyaar ko paana kya hota hai, yeh tumne mujhe sikhaya hai, Ajeeb Rajvansh. Aur iss cheez ke liye mei tumhari ek toh kya, hazzar galtiyan bhi maaf kar du toh kum hai," she admitted sincerely and placed a soft kiss on Abir's forehead. He closed his eyes to take in the feeling. Bereft of words, Abir engulfed her in his arms. They poured their adoration for each other in that one hug. As they broke apart, Abir eyed Mishti for a long moment. The air around the two of them changed its course. Their heartbeats soared. A silent conversation between their eyes and they both knew what their hearts wanted. Abir's eyes were filled with pure adulation and desire but he wanted to ask for Mishti's permission before he went ahead. Even before he spoke a word, Mishti blinked her eyes in response to his unasked question. Swiftly, Abir picked Mishti up in his arms and headed towards their room. And the entire night was filled with their soft moans. 

Hey guys!

So how was this update? I hope I did justice!
Well, the main story of this book starts from the next chapter! I'm not sure when I'll be able to update next, but I'm hoping I'll be able to do it by the weekend because I'm stuck with college assignments😓 Please bear with me🙈 Lastly, if y'all liked the chapter, do vote and comment!
- Sakshi❤️