The storm seemed to have subsided as he went out of the room leaving her behind as always. She wanted to cry out loud but held back and sniffled lightly. The windows which were going back and forth all this while came to a standstill. She rewinded what just happened.
**Earlier**
The entire Rajvansh family was having a gala at tea time. Naanu training Abir on being a perfect romeo, Ketu looking for recommendations from Kuhu on some online shopping with Maami trying to put her nose in that conversation, Parul making everyone's favorite snacks in the kitchen, Khoshlu and Meenu discussing business with Kunal and Mishti in the kitchen helping Parul.
Mishti brought out chai for everyone. Just when Kuhu started drinking the chai Mishti accidentally slips and spills Kuhu's chai. This makes her angry and she starts shouting at Mishti.
"Tum na chashma pehna kar pehle ki tarah. Dikhayi nahi deta kya?"
"Kuhu I'm sorry. Galti se ho gaya"
"Itni pretty dress thi kharab kar diya", frowned Kuhu.
Mishti was still mad at Kuhu for hiding the sleeping pills fiasco but she listened to Abir and kept it a secret for the better good. She didn't like the tone in which Kuhu reacted and that just made her more irritated.
"Arre Mishti yeh kya kiya tumne? Kuhu teacher ki dress kharab kar di? Bhery bad", added in Maami.
"Dekhiye na Maami! Yeh toh jalti hai mere aur mere fashion sense se. Chod do main dusri dress pehen lungi", she said to lighten the mood. Least did she know that irked Mishti even more.
"Meri itni si galti pe tumne itna kuch suna diya. Aur tumne jo galti ki uska kya?", she said not realizing everyone stopped only to look at her.
Meenu immediately took advantage of the situation.
"Kaun si galti Mishti? Kuhu ne kaun si galti ki?"
Mishti realized what she's done and tries to cover up along with Abir but Meenu wouldn't let go of this opportunity. This was her last chance to prove to the family that the sisters are of no good for them.
After much persuasion Mishti tells everyone about Kuhu's mistake of accidentally mixing sleeping pills in the coffee. Abir covers it by saying it was just an accident.
Amidst everyone there stood Kunal stunned and shocked. What was he hearing? Did his wife spike her brother's coffee?
Kuhu had tears flowing down her cheek. Before she could explain anything Kunal angrily went upstairs. She ran behind him. Meenu had a sly smile on her face. After all she got both the couples at loggerheads. Kunal is upset with Kuhu and Abir with Mishti for letting out the secret.
Kunal started throwing away the books on the bookshelf, ripped off the curtains, threw the blankets off the bed and just when he was about to throw their wedding pic, he stopped himself. He just couldn't throw that away. He had tears in his eyes, tears of sadness, betrayal and anger.
Kuhu came running only to see the room and Kunal in a mess. She closed the door and started pleading.
"Kunal meri baat suno. Uss din Mishti ki wajah se..."
Before she could complete he stopped her.
"Seriously Kuhu? Phir se? Humesha sab kuch sirf Mishti ki wajah se nahi hoti!"
"Par meri baat toh suno"
"Nahi. Pehle tum mujhe batao. Kya tumhe pata tha ki bhai ke coffee mein pills the?"
She sill wanted to explain, "Par meri baat suno.."
"Pata tha ya nahi?"
"Nahi. Mujhe toh yeh bhi nahi pata ki pills coffee mein giri"
"Aah! Now it makes sense. Toh tumne apna, khud ka coffee giraya. Khud ko bachaya aur meri family ko danger mein daal diya?"
It was at this moment that Kuhu realized how selfish she was. She could've mustered courage to tell everyone that it was an accident and stop them from drinking the coffee but she didn't. She thought only about herself. Now that it dawned on her that she didn't even think about Kunal it made her feel terrible.
"Kunal I'm sorry please mujhe maaf kar do. Galti ho gayi. Please"
Kunal could see that she is feeling sorry and it was genuine but he couldn't take in the fact that it did hurt his Bhai, the most important person in his life.
"Galti toh hui hai and uski wajah se mere Bhai ki woh haalat hui. Uske liye main shayad tumhe kabhi maaf na kar sakoon", he said and stormed out of the room.
***Present***
He was trying to get himself together. This was his second chance. It was supposed to be much better than the first one now that he cared for her. What was going wrong? He asked her hand for marriage, he said he loved her in front of everyone, he brought her back as a Rajvansh bahu, he gave her everything she needed. Why was she so insecure and jealous of Mishti? The one who taught him to be mature is now behaving so immaturely. The one who was mad at him for spiking her brother's drink now spiked his brother's coffee?
He then recollected what happened during Nannu's drink spiking incident. Kunal had the courage to not let Nannu drink it but it was accidentally given to him. Maybe Kuhu's intentions were not wrong but her timing was? Or maybe she realized that she made a mistake and is really sorry like how he was. Does she deserve a second chance?
At the same time he notices Abir and Mishti in the balcony patch up and hug each other. He realizes something and immediately rushes to his room.
Kuhu was picking up the books and putting them back on the shelf. She felt terrible for not stopping everyone from drinking the coffee. But there's nothing she can do after the damage was done. She made up her mind that everyone was going to be mad at her and she will have to pacify them one by one. She was alone before and even now but what broke her heart was this time it was supposed to be different.
Kunal came running and stopped at the door. He saw her sad yet determined face cleaning the mess. She was surprised and happy that he came back.
"Kunal.. Tum.. Mujhe laga.."
"Kya laga tumhe? Main tumhe chod ke chala gaya?"
"Nahi.. mera matlab.. tum itne gusse mein the toh.."
"Haan tha main gussa. In fact abhi bhi hoon. Par Kuhu yeh humari second chance hai. Iss baar pichle baar ki tarah jab bhi jhagda ho toh main tumhe chod kar nahi jaaunga"
Her eyes welled up with tears. She couldn't say a word. She collapsed and started crying her heart out.
"Kunal.. Main buri nahi hoon aur na main banna chahti hoon. Jab bhi main Mishti ko dekhti hoon mujhe woh saari baatein yaad aati hain jo bachpan se usne ki hai. Main usko like nahi karti par main uski ya Abir bro ki life mein problems nahi daalna chahti..", she sobbed uncontrollably. This was the first time he saw her so vulnerable. Even during the times when he treated her badly she never opened up in front of him. She never blamed him or cursed her fate in front of him but now here she was sharing her insecurities.
He sat beside her and held her hand.
She continued, "tumhe pata hai usne humesha sabki nazron mein acha banne ki koshish ki hai. Main aisa nahi kar sakti. Main jo hoon waise hoon. Mujhe bas jo sahi lagta hai main woh karti hoon! Mujhe humesha kisi ko impress nahi karna. Par agar main usse dekhti hoon toh lagta hai ki agar maine kuch nahi kiya toh log mujhe pasand nahi karenge.."
"Kuhu.. pehle calm down. Aise kisne keh diya ki tumhe koi pasand nahi karta? Sab toh pasand karta hain tumhe. Maa bhi. Tumhe try karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Tum jab khush ho toh tumhare aas paas sabhi khush hain"
She smiled weakly.
"Tumne jo meri family ko, bhai ko sambhala yeh jaante hue ki humara divorce hone waala hai is commendable. Usi Kuhu se toh mujhe pyaar hua hai...", he paused realizing what he just said and looked at her.
It was the first time he said he loved her to her. She felt something strange. Positively strange. It felt like a mini explosion of fireworks inside her. Both their hearts started beating faster.
"Ww...ooo... mmmm...ain... mmm..era matlab.." he stuttered.
She took his hands in hers. "Bolo.. main sunn rahi hoon".
"I... love you... Kuhu"
She hugged him tight, burying her face in his chest and sobbing uncontrollably. This was the moment she had waited for since a long time. It was the most precious thing she ever wished for. He loves her! He does! He accepted her with all his heart.
"Thank you Kunal.", she said breaking from the hug. He still had his arms on her shoulders.
"Abhi jo maine kaha uska reply thank you hai?, he asked puzzled to lighten the mood.
She chuckled and playfully hit him. "Thank you for understanding me. Maine jo galti ki hai uske baad bhi tum mere liye waapis aaye. Kunal, I'm not perfect. I have flaws and I know about them. Main unhe theek karna chahti hoon.."
"I'm not perfect either. Tum mere saath tab khadi thi jab mere paas koi nahi tha. Ab se hum dono ek dusre ke against nahi saath honge..", he said pulling her back in a hug.
"I love you Kunal. I always did.."
She looked up at him and he looked down at her both lost in each other. He lifted her chin up and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
