Posted:
Hello everybody ,
Mina and I bring to you episode 2!
Link to episode 1 : http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4150756
Enjoy x
| Abhi-Pragya/KKB Series : "Yaariyan" : 2.0- "The One where Pragya moves in" |
----At Indigo Cafe -----
Pragya began explaining her story while Aaliya, Aakash and Abhi listened.
"So as you know after high school , I stayed back in Ludhiana with my family. In my house there's my little sister Aashna, my mom and dad, my grandma, and me. I got a college degree and then I did my master's and PhD. I helped my parents run their marriage hall business and when I was done with my doctorate I applied for teaching jobs."
"It was through the job aplication process that I met Tarun. My mum knew his mum from work and he was based in Mumbai and landed me with the interview at this great college , we spent time together and I liked him , we were like minded. When the proposal came, I thought it was mutual and agreed. Then Tarun and I came to Mumbai 4 months ago. We lived together as an engaged couple and I started my job application and prep for it and he continued his job. Then today was the wedding, and our families flew in, and well..." Pragya's voice trailed off as the difficult memories of that morning came back to her.
"Honey, you don't have to talk about it if you do not want to," said Aaliya as she placed an assuring hand on her shoulder.
"No, I want to, I need to," said Pragya looking at her.
She took a deep breath and continued, "Well , before any rituals, he came in, called all of us and said that he never "loved" me and that - that - he loved s-someone else!" Her voice broke as her last words turned into a sob.
"I'm so sorry," said Aaliya and she almost had tears in her eyes.
"Oh wait, it gets worse! He was in love with Priya, my so called friend from the PhD program. It turns out he thought that he asked the job offer for her and not me. I mean he blamed it on his so called misunderstanding! How dumb does that sound!"
"Everyone was sympathizing with me, and constantly asking me how I was, and my grandma who I love very much started talking about society and love and all that crap. I just had to get away so I just abandoned them and came out for fresh air and just happened to come here..."
Prgaya looked at Abhi just as she finished that sentence.
"Wait, so you are not going back?" Aakash inquired.
"Well, um...no. My family is going back to Ludhiana tonight and, well, here I am. I just don't want to go back, metaphorically or literally. I wanna move forward, I wanna get that job and live life here in Mumbai where this "society" does not know me that well ..."
"That's great Pragya, I love that you are so strong and fun about all this." Aakash encouraged her with a smile.
"Wait , do you have a place to stay or --?" That was what Abhi immediately enquired of her.
"Um well, did not think that through did I?" said a confused Pragya.
"Well it's an expensive city, you need to figure out a place to stay, your job, your belongings, your driver's license ---"
"WOW Thanks Mr. I Am From The State Department!" snapped a flustered Pragya who was taken aback at his reaction, part of her expected some comforting words from him.
"Hey I am just trying to help" Abhi said throwing his hands up.
"Okay, here's the deal," Aaliya spoke up. "Call your parents let them know of your plan and whereabouts, ask them to send your basic necessities and stuff that you need to my address," she continued.
"But your place? Why?" questioned Pragya.
"Cause that's where you will be staying!" assured Aaliya.
"Wait, what? No, Ally I can't, I mean -- I can't just barge in after all these years and just change your life," Pragya said.
"Sweetheart, I know we have not stayed touch that often in these years , but from elementary to high school , you and your family were there for us , and I love you and I want to do this for you," Aaliyah said lovingly.
"BUT---"
"Okay, how about you stay with me until you get settled ?"
"Okay fine , but I'll pay half rent?"
"Just like Pragya , okay done." Aaliya said as she smiled and pulled Pragya into a hug.
"Okay I'm gonna call my family excuse me," Pragya said. She got up and went to the back of the cafe to make her call.
"Ally, I'm proud of you," Abhi said, coming up to pat his sister's shoulder.
"Bhai, she is Pragya, our Pragya. We can't just let her go na,"Ally said, looking at her brother for approval. Abhi nodded his acceptance, smiling at his sister's good heart.
Soon Pragya came back to their booth. She was smiling a little and said, "Kay guys , I informed them and I even called the university they want to meet with me tomorrow!! "
Aaliya squealed with delight and gave her another hug. "Okay great, so Bhai will bring you to my place, I'm gonna go now and set it up and get food for us okay?"
"Hey what about me? whined Aakash. He never wanted to miss a chance for food, especially if Chef Aaliya was cooking.
"You are coming and helping," ordered Ally.
After Aaliya and Aakash left, Pragya sat down on the couch awkwardly playing around with her bridal chuda and Abhi sat on the single seater.
"Don't you wanna change?" Abhi asked trying to break the ice between them.
"Um, I did not run away Abhi , I came out for fresh air," Pragya said a little sarcastically.
"O--Kay , Snappy are we," Abhi replied defensively.
"What, I am allowed to okay? I just am like a lost puppy right now and I hate being that way," Pragya said with a pouting frown.
"But didn't you just say ---"
"YES YES, THANK YOU, I'm aware of what I just said , don't rub it in," she snapped. Pragya wasn't normally so moody, but it had been a long day.
"What?" Abhi was both confused and a bit worried.
Pragya sighed. "Okay I'm sorry. It's just, I don't know okay, I don't know what I'm gonna do. How I feel -- I feel like I'm just a question mark right now. I told my family I'm okay here and Aaliya is being so nice, but I just am so frustrated at everything..."
Abhi got up and sat next to her. He put one arm on the top of the sofa behind her back, trying to be comforting without getting to close. "Hey, you know what? There's one thing you need to remember. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life you have a 100 reasons to smile."
Pragya gave a small watery laugh and shook her head at him. "Seriously? That's your advice?"
Abhi smiled back, he didn't mind her skepticism. "You know when Andy dropped my lunch on the ground in the 5th grade, some girl I knew told me those exact words. Then she gave me her lunch and said , show life you have a friend that will share her food and that girl was --
"Me," Pragya mumbled, looking at him in surprise as the memory came back to her.
"Pragya, sometimes you can be pissed at things or people or life. You do not always need or get answers from life when you want. So this bad stuff happened to you, now you need to show life you can get something great out of that as well! Show life you can rise from anything. Even after this terrible thing, you now have an opportunity to build something fantastic here , a new life. That's definitely something to smile about, don't you think?" Abhi said, giving her a small wink as she met his eyes.
Pragya laughed again, a real laugh this time. "You know what you're right! You are so right. And when did you get so smart huh, Mr 'Oh I'm sorta famous' Rockstar?" she said in a mimicking tone.
Abhi burst into a giggle, pleased to see her cheering up. "Well, I had a good teacher," he said with another wink.
Their eyes met again, and this time their gazes locked, and for a few minutes they were lost in each other's eyes...
Abhi snapped out of it first and said quickly, "So we should, um, we should get going! We'll get you some clothes for 2 days until your stuff comes, and then I'll take you to Ally's place."
"Um yeah, that will be nice, thanks." Pragya replied, slowly getting up and shaking out the skirts of her lehenga.
Abhi led her out of the cafe and accompanied her to the boutiques nearby so that they could get started on their shopping. After some arguing over styles and prices, finally Pragya found something she liked that Abhi admitted wasn't entirely unfashionable. She went to get changed in the store and he paid for her new clothes while she wasn't there. She tried to argue with him about that, but he just ignored that and got them to a cab to take them to Aaliya's place.
----At Aaliya'a place-----
SO FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN THE SHOW F.R.I.E.N.D.S AALIYA'S APARTMENT IS LIKE MONICA'S.
for those who have not ( heres a pic)
http://paintersplaceblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/monicas-apartment.png
When Abhi and Pragya arrived at Aaliya's apartment, they saw that everything was freshly cleaned and very neatly arranged. It reminded Pragya of the way Aaliya used to carefully set up her dollhouse and how she used to keep her room absolutely in order when they were children. Aaliya used to say that cleaning and tidying was her hobby, until she realized that other than Pragya all the kids at school thought it was weird.
"Erm, she still does that?" Pragya whispered to Abhi.
"Oh wait till you live with her," Abhi said.
"Hey guys , come on in! Pragya, that's your room and from today this is our place," said an excited Aaliya.
"Ooh and Ally has made the best dinner tonight, you are one lucky girl Pragya" joked Aakash as he munched on some food.
" Aakash , not everything is about food and chicks!" snapped Aaliya. She slapped his hand away from the appetizers, but he kept eating after she looked away.
Pragya looked around the apartment, and slowly she started to be sure that she was going to love her new home.
After Pragya dropped off her shopping in her new room, everyone sat down to dinner and chatted about random things. Pragya started to feel comfortable and relaxed; it felt like she was just picking up where she had left off with Aaliya and Abhi, and even Aakash soon felt like an old friend since he was so easygoing and funny.
As dinner ended, Abhi raised his glass for a toast. "Here's to Pragya , to new beginnings , to a new roommate, a new job , just everything new and everything good," he said, grinning at them all.
"To Pragya!" everyone followed and clinked their glasses, cheering and laughing in good humor.
"Pragya , here is a list with our numbers and address just in case, and here is the key to the house" aaliyah said as she handed over the list and key
Pragya held the key and kept looking at it, lost in her thoughts.
"Are you okay?" asked Aaliya, surprised by her sudden silence.
"Yeah...yeah. Yes. I'm gonna be okay for sure," she said slowly. She looked up at Aakash and Abhi and Aaliya, and for the first time that day, her smile reached her eyes.
-----------Meanwhile -----
At the opposite apartment (Joey and Chandler's for those who know), a young bubbly fun girl had just moved in as well , and she knocked on Aaliya and Pragya's door.
"Hey guys! I'm your neighbor and just wanted to say hello," she said, walking into the apartment as soon as Aaliya opened the door. "I'm not new to the city but I am looking for new beginnings," she continued, talking at a mile a minute. She took a seat on the sofa and told them all, "So my name is Bulbul Singhal, but please call me BB! And here's an advertisement I designed, I'm looking for a roommate. Do you know anyone who needs a place?" She handed a copy of her ad to Aaliya.
"Um, sure thanks. Welcome to our building," said Aaliya as she took the pamphlet from Bulbul.
Bulbul's energetic personality made Pragya smile even more. She felt like she had a connection with BB when she spoke about new beginnings, so she went over to talk to her. Who knew, maybe she could make another new friend in this new life she had started...
TBC
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