Abhi and Pragya FF (New).... Updated at Pg.4 Chap 4&5

"Pragya di, Pragya di! Hurry, get up! Do you know its 9a.m. in the morning and you're still asleep?" I heard Bulbul shouting. At first, I thought I was dreaming, but suddenly when I felt the sun's ray on my face, I knew I was screwed. I quickly opened my eyes and found Bulbul staring at me. She opened up the curtains purposely to annoy me. I sighed and got up. I leaned my body against the bed's headboard and drank the coffee that Bulbul brought for me. To all of you, who find it disgusting that I drink without brushing my teeth, welcome to my life. Without a shot of caffeine in the morning, I can barely get up or function for half of the day. For the other half, I'll have to get another shot of caffeine.

Bulbul came and sat next to me on the bed . "Why are you up so late? That's pretty unusual of you considering you are a morning person", she asked.

"Yeah, but only with the help of caffeine. By the way, where's mom? Why did you make this coffee? She's the one who always makes me coffee in the morning. I only drink black coffee and I hate when people use powder in it, especially cinnamon," I said.

"Well, I did that on purpose. The black bitter coffee that you always take is the reason you are bitter too," she said. I can't help but laugh. She is always going on about how I'm such an uptight person and need to loosen up a bit, in order to find love. But little did she know that I already did. Not love, of course. But I do have someone that I like and accepts that I'm uptight and boring.

Bulbul took the mug from me and kept it on the small table next to my bed. "Have you been reading Sense and Sensibility again? Di, you're officially obsessed with it and it's worrying me. I'm sure that's the reason you stayed up last night and got up late," she said. She took the book from the table and placed it back on the rack.

"I don't get why you even like this book," she said.

"Well, that's because you never asked me before. The book focuses on feminism and it's also Jane Austen earlier works and she published it during the time where women works in literature weren't recognized and appreciated. You know I am intrigued by all these stuff," I said defensively. I've read the book since I was ten. It was there for me my whole life and helped me to cope when my dad betrayed us and left my mom stranded with three kids. I could very well relate to Elinor. I felt her pain throughout the story and how she handles the problems with maturity compared to Marianne who is dreamy and lets emotion get in the way.

"I don't see anything that's likeble in that book, to be frank. I mean how Marianne can ever marry to that Colonel Brandon when she loved Willoughby first. I find the ending stupid and unsatisfactory," she argued.

"Wait a minute, you read the book?" I asked excitedly. I've pressured her to read this book countless times, but every time she turns that book down.

"Don't get all excited. I just Google-d it. I was curious why you loved it so much that's all. And turned out there's nothing in it, really. I get Willoughby made mistake but, that doesn't mean she needs to marry someone else. Besides, no one is perfect but everything can be fixed by love. Especially, if it's the way Willoughby and Marianne felt for each other," she came and sat beside me on the bed, tucking the blanket closer to her. I scooted a little so she has some space.

"Well, when you fall in love, and if ever someone made that mistake, come and tell me what you've decided, okay?" I said, playfully.

"I'd definitely forgive, if he's the love of my life," she said. I just nod, because I disagree. If my love of life ever cheats on me with someone else, I'd never forgive him.

"By the way, you know Rachna has gotten some free tickets for Abhi's concert and she invited us."

"Who is that? Your new boy toy?" I asked because I knew that would get on her nerves. And it worked.

She swatted me playfully, "Di, don't play. You knew he's my Idol. And I want you to follow me." Abhi apparently according to my sister is a lead singer of the band "The Rockstars". The band also consist of a guitarist Purab and drummer Akash. I never listened to any of their music and would like to keep it that way. But this band is heartthrob of all girls in India including my sisters, except me. I don't get the whole hiatus on this band.

"So, go. I am sure this is like your lifelong dream. Go and fulfill it. But leave me out of it," I said.

"Mom will never let me go without you. She thinks you're the responsible one. She'd never allow me to go to a concert without your supervision. And I don't feel like cheating to her," she said in a sad voice. This is one of the many things I love about her. She can be a little over the top at times, but she's such a sweetheart in her heart. She reminds me of Marianne sometimes.

I sighed and nodded yes. She smiled and gave me a huge hug. "Now get your butt out of the bed. We got a rock concert to attend to," she said and left the room, jumping happily. I took the pillow and hit my face with it. What have I gotten myself into? What an introvert bookworm neurotic person like me would do in a rock concert?

...

Abhi

My throat is dry and I my hands are all sweaty. I've always managed to avoid playing gigs on this date. But my dumb cousin Akash booked our concert on this day and I have no choice but to join. He took the payment and finished half of it on his endless long list of girlfriends. So, we can't even return the payment or cancel this concert. Thank god, I am in my trailer where no one can't see me breaking down. I've most of the time managed to get my act together, but today I just can't. Because 10 years ago on this date, I lost my parents and my sister, Aaliyah and I were labeled as orphan by the world. I know I've always put up a good act on where everyone thinks that I'm this jovial guy where no one can break me, including my girlfriend Tannu. But only my dadi knows how vulnerable I am. God, how much I need her right now, to hold and console me.

Someone opened the trailer's door and it was Purab. He came and hugged me because he knows. That's how we've always been. Our friendship was definitely one of the luckiest things in my life. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to. Nothing is worth your panic attack," he said and let me go. He sat in the couch next to me and rubbed his hand.

"Are you nervous?" I asked.

"No. It's just a little cold here," he said.

"Let's practice our songs again, okay?" I asked. He nodded. I handed him the guitar and we started fixing our notes and lyrics, because we came up with a new song to be played out there today. The sound of music always calms me down and I finally felt like I belonged somewhere.

"By the way, where's Akash?" I asked.

"Where else do you think? Probably in a backseat of a car doing who knows what," he said. I just nodded because there's nothing to be surprised by that.

"Are you sure you're okay? Usually you'll have good comebacks on his promiscuity," Purab asked. I just nodded. Well, today is not a usual day, is it.

The concert is going to start in about an hour and it was time to change our clothes and apply make-ups. I am feeling much better, thanks to Purab. Purab went back to his trailer and my hairstylist and make-up artist came in to get me ready. When, they were finished with me, they got out of the trailer. I got out of the trailer and was on my way to the backstage to meet and greet the fans before performing. I don't even know if I have the energy.

As I was on my way to the backstage, I saw a glimpse of my parents. I don't even know what was that but I felt like I saw my parents shadows just passed by. I stopped walking and turned back. My bodyguards looked at me with a puzzled expression. I know I look like a crazy person right now. But that's the least thing I'm worried about right now. I don't think I can do this. I turned front and took off as fast as I could. I fled so fast and the bodyguards were chasing me. If I don't escape now, I'll be dragged into the backstage and after what I saw just now, there's no way I can play today. I need to go home right now. I came to the car parking lot and saw someone was sitting in the car and the headlight was on. I quickly rushed to the car without thinking and opened the door.

I sat in and a woman screamed. "Excuse me, who do you think you are? Get out of my car, right now," she shrieked. I turned to her. I put my index finger on my lips to ask her to not make so much noise. The bodyguards might find me. But she wasn't listening. She kept screaming and to make her stop, I had no choice but to put my hand on her mouth. I looked at her eyes that was hidden by a fully trimmed black spectacle. There was something on her eyes that made my heart flutter for a slight moment. Then, she did something that no one ever did and bit my palm.

This is where I belong, with a book in my hand and a lonely quiet place to read. Being inside the stadium with tons of crazy teenagers gives me headache. So, I decided to come back to my car to take a break and leave Rachna, Bulbul and Purvi in there. I was reading the part where Elinor meets Edward Ferrars the first time, when someone opened my car door and barged in. "Excuse me, who do you think you are? Get out of my car, right now," I shrieked. He turned to me and asked me to lower down my voice. His hair was shaggy, and he was wearing this rugged jeans and black leather jacket. What if he's some kind of rouge? What'd I do? I started to freak out more and screamed louder at him to get out of the car. This is my entire fault. I should've just stayed with Bulbul inside. Or at least locked the car door. All of a sudden, he put his hand on my mouth to shut me up. Oh, god! He's going to chloroform me and put me to sleep. That'd make things much easier for him. He kept looking at my eyes like he was searching something in them. Instinctively, I bit his palm, which wasn't easy.

"Ouch," he cried and withdrew his hand. "Are you crazy?"

"Well, why did you even put your filthy hand on my mouth in the first place?" I asked.

"Shh, can you quiet down please?" he said slowly. He quickly looked outside finding for something or someone. Slowly, I opened the door and planned to flee from the car. Before I could even put one of my foot out, he held my hand. His hands were cold and he was shivering.

"I need your help, please" he said.

I was about to pick my phone with the free hand without him knowing and call the police, but something in his face wanted me to give him a chance. I sighed and removed his hand from mine and asked, "What can I help you with?"

"Can you please send me to my house? I'll pay you as much as you want," he said and pulled his wallet. There were huge amount of cash and tons of credit cards. This guy must be extremely wealthy.

"Look with this amount, you can rent a car or get a cab to get home. Why'd you need me to do it? I'm sorry but I just can't give a random stranger ride home. I don't trust you," I told him.

"I know that you don't know me very well, but it's me Abhi," he said while holding out a rockstar' sign using his hand. I looked at him dumbfounded.

"Abhi, who?" I asked. He looked like he was insulted.

"Wait, are you saying that you don't know who I am?"

"That's what I've been telling you all the while," I answered.

He looked frustrated. He took out his phone and used the app to on torch light and places it nearer to his face.

"I think you couldn't recognize me in the dark. Now, do you know who I am?" he asked. I don't know why I was even scared of this guy. He's acting like a nutcase. He probably fell somewhere and hit his head really hard. I just shook my head no. He sighed and turned off the torch.

"I've never had the problem introducing myself to people. This is definitely a first for me. Usually people would already know everything about me. Nowadays, with the help of internet they know more than they should," he said frustrated. "Hah, I know how to make you believe me," he said excitedly and got out his phone.

"Make me believe? Believe what? Sorry, but I think you need help," I said and was about to take my phone to call the asylum. He brought his phone to me and asked to look at the screen. He Google-d The Rockstars' and his photo along with two other guys appeared on the screen.

"Wait you are the lead singer that should be performing on that stage?" I asked. This is all so confusing. What is he doing here right now, when there are thousands of fans waiting for him? And why does he want to go back? Is he running away?

"Yes! Yes, finally," he exclaimed.

"Isn't it irresponsible of you to just run away from there? People, including my sisters are waiting there to see you perform and you are just leaving," I said annoyed.

"I have no time for your lectures. Now, that you know I am not some kind of ax-murderer can you please bring me home. When, they start realizing I am not there, they'd come out to find me. I need to leave this place before everything turns into mess. I am sure my bodyguards have already gone in and informed the stage manager by now. And don't ask me why, but I do have a good reason."

"But, what about my sisters and their friend? They are waiting to see you and when they come to know that you left, they will be disappointed. I can't do that to them," I said.

"Okay, what if we make a deal. You send me home and I'll have a private gig just for your sister and her friends. No payment needed. Is that okay?" he asked.

"You'd do that?" I asked.

"Yes. Now, can you please drop me home?" he asked. I nodded and closed my car's door and started the engine.

"By the way, where do you stay?" I asked as we were on the road.

"Lower Parel," he answered. I nodded, okay. Wow, I thought to myself. This guy is extremely rich. Then why is his acting like a crazy man? I wanted to ask him, but stopped myself because it's none of my business. He promised he'd play and I think he'd keep his promise.

Abhi

My phone keeps ringing. I am sure it's one of the boys or the stage manager. Without looking, I turned off my phone. I sighed and turned on the radio. Unfortunately, it wasn't working. The weird specky four eyes was staring at me. I can't even believe she doesn't even recognize me. Me, Abhi the lead singer of The Rockstars. We are currently the no.1 band in India. And our albums were all awarded platinum. And what was she even doing out in the car reading some book, when there was a concert being held. I had no choice but to get a ride from her. I can't just go and get a cab and there was no one else out there I could ask for help. I didn't even have my car keys with me. Again, she kept staring at me. This time, instead of looking away, I hold my gaze as hers. She was the one who looked away. Maybe, she is attracted to me. I mean, I don't blame her. I happen to have that kind of effects on ladies. But only one managed to grab my attention and that is Tannu.

"You attracted to me or something?" I asked.

"Whaaattt?" she asked back.

"You know when someone asks you a question, you answer them back instead of asking them another question," I said.

She scoffed, "well, my brain had to process hearing such a dumb question from you. And to answer your question, N-O. A big NO."

"Fine. But I don't blame you even if you did. I mean, this the first time you're seeing me," I said. She didn't say anything after that and kept looking at the road. And after that she stopped staring at me. The funny thing was, she wasn't affected by me. Usually, girls around me will sweet talk to me, or play with their hair and smile a lot at me. But she is so indifferent towards me. I find this somehow insulting. Firstly, she didn't even know me and now, she's completely ignoring me. I felt challenged.

"So, what's this book you were reading?" I picked up the book she was reading just now from the armrest. She quickly grabbed it from me.

"Okay, now I am extremely interested. What is that? Some erotic romance novel. huh?" I teased. She made a disgusted face and showed me the book. Sense and sensibility?

"Never heard of it," I shrugged.

"Obviously, moron and male chauvinist like you wouldn't know about this book. By the way, it's a classic book written by Jane Austen," she said in a cold voice. Wow, girls got some tongue.

"I'm no male chauvinist. And who do you think you are to call me one? I mean, you don't even know me," I said defensively.

"The fact that you pointed out that this was some cheap erotic novel, proved that you are one," she snapped.

"I was just joking. You just seemed so uptight and boring," I snapped back.

"Call me whatever you want. I don't care. And if that was a joke, then you and I have a very different sense of humor," she said and continued looking at the road.

"Obviously," I muttered and turned my head towards the window. What a horrible day this has been. And why is it taking so long? I can't wait to get myself out of the car. But then, I remembered I promised to perform for her sisters. Oh god, what kind of mess did I get myself into?

Thanks for reading and to be continued.😉