Chapter 11

(previous)

PART 8

Part 9-

The days passed quickly after that. Abhi hadn't been able to even take a glance of Pragya who had to help in every day arrangements. No one could understand the pain she went through but she constantly reminded that this was her best friend's happiness and she could do anything for her. She had seen Abhi a few times but never did they get a chance to speak and didn't want to either, she couldn't face him.

Tanu had slowly noticed that Abhi was behaving differently, his mind was always somewhere else and Pragya was the same. She had to constantly remind them about what she was talking about and she had also noticed that every time she spoke to them they were not with each other, never together.

The evening before the marriage day all families were full of happiness, Abhi saw that the house had been fully decorated and people were running about all over the place completing the last of everything but all Abhi wanted was to see a glimpse of Pragya before going home. She had gone into Tanu's room since the announcement of his marriage to Tanu but hadn't come out since.

Abhi looked around when he thought he saw Pragya walk past the hallway upstairs but then he saw his Daadi beckoning him to come over.

"Beta, are you happy?"

"Yes" Abhi lied.

"Abhi, remember the anklet that I gave to you that was something you're mother had kept for some time. Well, don't you think it's time you gave it to Tanu? She is going to be you're wife in every way tomorrow and you still haven't given it to her?"

"Yes, Daadi, I will go give it to her now" Abhi walked to her room and told her about the anklet again and how he wanted her to wear it the next day. Tanu was delighted and thanked him for such a precious gift and showed Pragya who had tried to walk away seeing him come in but hadn't been able to avoid this time like before.

"It's very pretty" Pragya told her.

Tanu snapped at both of them and sat them down much to their surprise.

"What is it guys?" She asked sitting in between them.

"What - what do you mean?" Pragya lied, knowing exactly what she was saying.

"You guys are behaving so weird, why? What has happened?" She asked them but Abhi excused himself and so did Pragya and Tanu was left hanging with questions once again. She sighed in frustration as they left.

~

The pandit was chanting the mantras as Abhi sat down and they waited for the bride who was still getting ready.

Pragya was with Tanu who was now fully ready in a red heavy lahenga and jewellery. Pragya complimented her and Tanu bent down to put on the anklet she had received by Abhi but she was struggling and when Pragya asked what the matter was she said that the hook of the anklet was slightly tight as if it didn't fit and seemed as if it wasn't made for her.

Pragya remembered that this had been Abhi's and told her to just wear it anyway but Tanu protested that she should try it on.

"Oh please just once" Tanu continued to protest.

Pragya sat down, putting it on and it was a perfect fit and hooked into place as if it was made for her. Pragya quickly took it off before running out, remembering all the times she had spent with him.

Tanu picked up the fallen anklet and looked at it in thought. It hadn't fit her, it had fit Pragya. She remembered Abhi once telling her that this anklet was something that would fit the love of his life. For some reason her suspicion was becoming more and more certain. Why did she feel as if Abhi didn't love her anymore and there was something that happened between the two in England that they weren't prepared to tell her?

She sat down sighing when her eyes fell on a book, and it was no other book but Pragya's personal diary which she never let anyone read not even Tanu herself. Tanu knew it was wrong to look through her personal stuff but it seemed as if the diary may hold a secret that Pragya wasn't telling.

She opened the diary and read-

I don't know what's going on lately. I was so happy for a while but then it all changed. I love Abhi and it feels so great to know he does too but I can't do this to Tanu who I love more than a sister. I can't snatch her happiness by being selfish. I just can't. On one side there is Abhi, who I very dearly love and have done since - since so long I don't even know, but Tanu loves him and for me my happiness is in hers so I won't be an obstacle in her life, she deserves the happiness that I may never

The sentence was left mid-sentence and Tanu could see the stains of tears and wiped her own as well.

This was why? This was what they had been hiding from her for so long?

Pragya had done so much for her and even gone to the extent to sacrifice her happiness for her?

Tanu thought for a few moments and decided it would only be right to give Pragya what she deserved. She put down the diary and began to take her wedding attire off.

~

Down in the mandip the pandit was calling for the bride, Pragya who was ignoring Abhi looking at her walked to get Tanu but stopped as she watched her walking down.

The heavy red lahenga was gone, her makeup was gone, her hair was no longer in a bun and she seemed to be holding on to something.

Every one gasped as they saw her but she seemed to be smiling.

Abhi stood up and before anyone could question her she spoke.

"Maa, I don't want to get married." She stated.

"Why? What happened? Tanu this is no joking time, look everything is ready" Her parents told her irritated at her behaviour.

"What I mean is, that Abhi will get married today but not to me?"

"What do you mean, why not you? Who?" Abhi's Daadi asked.

Pragya glanced at Tanu nervously and so did Abhi but he felt like he knew what was coming.

"He will get married to Pragya" She pointed at her and Pragya's eyes widened in shock.

"What?" Pragya asked in horror.

"Don't act Pragya, and there is no point in hiding anything from me anymore. I know everything" She held out the diary and Pragya mentally cursed herself for leaving such a personal thing behind so carelessly.

"No Tanu, listen, this is your wedding day why are-" Pragya was cut off with Tanu's interference.

"No Pragya, why are you doing all this? Since day one you have been sacrificing things, whether it be big or small for me? I never once appreciated it? But the thing is that I don't deserve a happiness that makes you sad. If you can do so much for me why can't I do anything for you? I never have done and I can't believe it took me so wrong to realise all this. Pragya you deserve Abhi's love not me. I got you to mail him each day, I refused to tell him the truth when you asked me to, I messed up our lives, so why should you or Abhi suffer because of my mistakes?"

Pragya, Abhi and the rest of the families stayed silent.

"I know about everything that happened between you and him in England, and you may have realised you love each other then but I had always had a feeling that something wasn't right since that day of the fashion show. Pragya, I have messed up everything since day one and I was so spoilt always getting what I wanted. But now, marriage is a big decision I can't ruin so many lives"

"Enough" Sarla shouted. "Pragya because of you today Tanu and Abhi are not together, why did you do this to your friend?"

"Wait Aunty ji" Tanu interrupted. "Pragya has done the right thing because had I gotten married to Abhi today then Pragya and he wouldn't have been happy in the first place but I wouldn't be happy either. How can I be happy in a loveless relationship? Marriage is no joke, it is a promise between two people and for that there needs to be love and trust. I know Abhi may like me as a friend but he doesn't love me and I'm not going to force him to either. He deserves Pragya not me"

Tanu stepped forward and took Pragya's hand and gave it to Abhi.

"This is what they deserve"

Abhi looked at Pragya who seemed to be smiling and crying at the same time.

"Oh come on now, I know you guys want to hug each other" Tanu teased them as everyone wiped their tears and laughed.

"You know what beta, I am very proud of what you did today, it was a hard thing to do but it was right as well." Tanu's mum and dad hugged her.

"Of course it was right, who's friend am I after all" She winked at Pragya hugging her tightly.

"Okay so without any more drama I think it is the right time for them to get married. The groom is ready, bride is ready, families are ready, mandip is ready so why the wait?"

The elders seems to agree and right there and then Abhi and Pragya completed the rituals. Tanu smiled as she watched them, it felt relieving to give someone their happiness after giving them so much pain.

Pragya and Abhi smiled at each other as they took their blessings, it was all okay. Abhi hugged her tightly and so did she. The moment was too perfect to let go.

"Ahem ahem, all this can wait till you get to your room, after all you have the rest of your lives to do all this" Tanu chirped in as Pragya moved away from Abhi quickly blushing red and Abhi smiled at his shy chashmish. The rest of the families burst into laughter which echoed the hall ways, and they all hoped it would always stay like that.

Forever

~The End~

EPILOGUE