Sorry it has been so long. Was not too sure if I would continue so I'm posting an update and depending on feedback might just leave it at what I've already written.
Thank you for your patience and again feedback and positive criticism appreciated.
IT LASTS A LIFE TIME -Part 5
Purab got home to find the house empty. It seemed like his chacha chachi were working late again. They loved him but he often felt lonely as he didn't have any siblings and majority of his evenings after homework were normally spent alone. He was glad he found a brother, friend and a second family in Abhi and now Pragya. It was funny how he'd only known her less than a day but she gave him a warm sense of comfort and a sense of protection that only an older sibling offered. He was glad he'd met her, Abhi was an amazing friend but he wasn't very subtle and Purab knew his friend really well, he was loud and straight to the point and never really thought of consequences till after he'd had a chance to think about it. Pragya di seemed the complete opposite; calm, collected and very mature for her age, slightly reserved but nothing a few months of hanging out with them wouldn't change.
He snapped out of his thoughts and quickly, remembering his earlier conversation with Abhi, checked his saved pocket money. He wanted to get Abhi the guitar for his birthday in a few months. He calculated and guessed that he would have enough for the deposit but didn't know how he would get the rest. He thought about asking his chacha chachi but they were already doing so much he felt bad asking them. Trying to get a solution was proving difficult so he thought to sleep over it and was sure that an answer would come to him in time, but in any way he had to make sure he got that guitar. It was the least he could do for a friend that was always there for him.
The next day started off the same; same routine getting ready for school; same walk to school where the only difference was Pragya joined them halfway. She stood at the corner with her book already on her hand. As Purab called out to her, she looked up and started walking with them. It wasn't intentional but as Abhi was closest to her she walked beside him Pragya didn't want to make it a big issue by moving next to Purab; And it felt nice, comfortable. Abhi didn't say a word to her and kept talking to Purab who was on the other side but he automatically kept an eye on her, just as he would with Aliyah. He had to pull her to his side a couple of times when she almost tripped over the uneven paving. Why does she read so much? He wondered, does she not realize that if he wasn't there she would have gotten hurt. He wanted to rip the book out of her hand but he had noticed yesterday as well that she had a certain peaceful look when she read. At the school gates she finally looked up and waited for Purab to finish talking to Abhi before heading off to their different classes.
Pragya, although hadn't said much during the walk, she noticed that Purab had been quiet and still looked lost in his own thoughts. She asked him what the problem was while they were in class, when he hesitated she reminded him that he called her Di and there was nothing wrong in sharing worries with your own. He quietly told her that he wanted to buy the guitar for Abhi's birthday but he might not be able to gather enough money to get it. She told him not to worry and that today after school they'd make any excuse to get away from the group and find out how much it would cost and then go from there. Purab hadn't thought of doing that and got excited that there was a plan in place.
At lunch they sat under the verandah on one of the tables, she ended up between Abhi and Purab. When she asked Purab if he wanted to swap, he told her not to worry and started talking to Aliyah who was sitting next to him. Pragya ate half her lunch and left the other half in the tin for everyone to have. She was curious as to who had helped finish her lunch. Sneaking glances from her book she noticed Abhi reach for the tin whilst talking to another boy sitting at the table. It seemed like he wasn't doing it consciously. Pragya felt a strange sense of relief wash over her knowing that he had her lunch. She went back to reading her book and when she looked up a while later she found food in her tin, that she did not have in there before. She looked at Abhishek who motioned her to eat it and although Pragya was quite full she ate it as she didn't want to be ungrateful. As the stood up to go to class Abhi lent down and whispered in her ear "Bookworm you need to eat a bit more than just half you lunch." and strolled away.
That evening Pragya told everyone that she needed to go to the bookstore to buy a couple of books that she needed and would see everyone the next morning. Purab on the pretext of not wanting Pragya to walk home by herself said that he'd accompany her. After everyone was out of sight they quickly ran to the music store and asked the price of the guitar in the window sill. The shopkeeper told them the price was Rs. 20,000 and asked if they had enough money to buy it. Purab had brought his savings and it was just enough to put a deposit on the guitar. He requested that he take the guitar off the window sill and would bring the rest of the money in soon. As they walked out Pragya asked Purab how he was going to get the rest of the money, to which he said that he would make all Abhi's family and friends contribute a small amount. Pragya thought it was a brilliant idea and would make the guitar all the more special for Abhishek. When Purab reached their chawl he went to meet dadi and asked if he could speak to her. She wondered what had happened that he didn't want to say in front of Abhi. Purab explained what he'd done and what needed to be done and dadi quickly gave him the money for her favorite pota's birthday. He asked his chacha chachi that night and they were also more than happy to contribute towards Abhi's gift.
In class the next day Pragya gave Purab close to 6000 rupees. Purab was shocked and refused to take the money when Pragya whispered, "Take it Purab. Don't make me fight with you in class. I really want you to get Abhishek that guitar and after what he did for me on my first day at school, this is the least I can do. I do have one condition, don't tell Abhishek that I helped pay for the guitar. He seems like the kind of guy who'd get very upset if he knew you'd collected money from all his friends so I thought this might be better."
"But Di that's a lot of money. How can I take it. I won't need to ask anyone else."
"I know, that's why I'm telling you to keep it instead of asking all his friends. Listen to your wise Di okay!" she replied firmly but with a smile and turned to look at the blackboard to avoid any further conversation with Purab. Boys can be so stubborn she thought.
Edited by Mkgp88 - 10 years ago
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