MishBir OS - "But you can give up on us?"

"But you can give up on us?" - Part 1

Mishti heaved a heavy sigh, her eyes shutting in pain as she pulled her pillow closer to her mouth to drown out her sobs. She didn't want anyone in the house being privy to her pathetic state. Not that they could not guess. All hell had been unleashed when the truth about her and Abir's relationship had come out. With Bade Papa and Badi Maa in a state of daze and shock, Kuhu's bitterness against Mishti winning against her better judgement as usual with her clear refusal to help them,  Kunal's harsh words and hurtful accusations that she was just using his brother to hurt and manipulate him the way she had done to Kunal causing a rift in the relationship between him and Abir, Jasmeet Chachi's relentless mocking and cold words and the unforgiving glare of Varsha Aunty boring into Mishti's face everytime she appeared in her line of sight ,everything had been enough to cause her to reach her breakpoint if it hadn't been for the only anchor in her life - Abir. His positivity and strength, his love and complete faith in her had been what kept her going. Holding his hand and convinced that he wouldn't ever leave her side she had been ready to fight the world side by side with him for their love. Yet one thing had to be remembered. This fight wasn't with strangers. If only that had been the case it would have been a million times easier, yet it wasn't. It was with our own, the people we loved, our own families. Mishti shuddered, hugging the pillow to her chest as she remembered Meenakshi Aunty's words to Bade Papa and Badi Maa. 

"Your daughter is from a broken family and I will never allow a girl of her lineage to ever be a part of this family. Even if you support her and Abir and her marry without my consent, I will never accept her or allow her to feel welcome in this family. Neither will I allow anyone else in this house to do so. She will always be the outsider in this family, the unwanted piece, the  burden. She will only be here because Abir wants her to tag along and the minute my son stops wanting her she will be gone. Is that the house where you want to send your daughter Vishambhar Ji? The decision is yours." 

The words haunted Mishti and kept her sleepless for days. Unwanted. A burden. An outsider. Words she'd heard before, words her own family had uttered for her, words which had cut so deep that this time having them repeated yet again no longer affected her. The same words continuously repeated from different mouths had left her numb. So habitual she had become to being a burden wherever she went that a part inside her had stopped caring. All she cared about was the one person who did make her feel wanted, her refuge, her solace, the person who was her home. Abir. She knew that as long as she would stay near him life would be worth living. 

Yet fate had other plans. 

Bade Papa had made his decision. He resolutely refused to allow Mishti to marry Abir. He didn't want her anywhere near a family where everyone but one was against her. Mishti recalled his sad, helpless pitiful gaze as he put his hand above her head in an attempt to console her. But his decision was firm. She persisted, she pleaded, begged him for days, desperately trying to weaken his resolve and change his mind but to no avail. Fed up by her refusal to give up Bade Papa put forth his condition to Mishti, the condition which broke her completely. She had to choose between him and Abir. If she continued her relationship with Abir he would end all his ties with her because he could not bear to see his daughter in a home where she would be shunned and insulted everyday.

"One day Abir's love wouldn't be enough Mishti. The harsh words you will have to hear in that house everyday will leave you bitter and broken. And I wouldn't be able to see that. Because I raised my daughter to be strong but also to keep her self respect intact. Not to willingly throw herself in the line of fire and pain. I know you well so I know you will never allow Abir to move away from his family, because you will never want to break a home. And I couldn't bear to see my daughter in pain. It would break me. Now the choice is yours." 

Mishti had been left stricken and shocked. Bade Papa and Badi Maa were her only support system. The ones who had showered her with endless love and support, the love her own parents had failed to give her. They were the reason she was able to stand up on her own feet today.  How could she ever cut ties with them? She was indebted to them, in a debt that she wouldn't be able to repay in 10 lifetimes. She couldn't do it. It was impossible.