Part 6: Separation
Day 1:
Pragya had gotten up early as was her routine. She had already given breakfast to dadi and dassis.
She was just pouring coffee for Abhi, in a mug to give to Robin- to take it to him, as this was about the time he woke up, when Indu dassi entered.
"Who are you making coffee for Anshuman?" asked Indu dassi.
"No, woh/ its..." stammered Pragya.
"I see" said Indu dassi. "Robin bring the coffee here"
Robin did as he was told and gave the tray with the coffee mug to Indu dassi. She took the mug from him and threw away the coffee in the sink.
"Ah..." said Pragya.
"What did dadi and I tell you yesterday? You even promised us, was that promise a lie?", asked Indu dassi with head shaking and sadness in her voice.
Pragya felt way too guilty for breaking her promise, she didn't do it intentionally, but out of habit.
"No dassi, I did not do it intentionally, it was..."
"I understand no need to explain" said dassi.
"You had breakfast yet?
"No am waiting for Anshuman."
"OK. Robin as dadi and I said yesterday, from now on, you or Ramu will make coffee or food for Abhi, just like before, understood!! No asking for Pragya's help, or making her cook for him. Have I made my self clear" said Indu dassi with authority in her voice.
"Yes Maam" replied Robin, and Ramu kaka and the other servants around.
Thus following the given instruction, Robin made coffee for Abhi sir, just like he made one for Aliyah maam, using the coffee maker, that Tanu maam had given Abhi sir, as a Birthday gift.
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Abhi, due to the restless night had gotten up way early and had already done his prerequisite exercise that he did early morning, everyday and was waiting for Pragya to come any second now with his coffee.
He heard the noise at the door and he turned expecting Pragya but found Robin at the door with his coffee.
"Pragya maam?" asked Abhi taking the coffee from him and looking out the door waiting for her.
"She's in the kitchen waiting to have breakfast with Anshuman sir" said Robin and left.
"So busy, waiting to have breakfast with that Anshuman that she couldn't come up with his coffee. Didn't she realise they needed to talk. Whatever...I'll show her...showing me attitude. When she need to talk with me, see if I care." Abhi mumbled and grumbled to himself.
Abhi put the mug to his mouth, took a sip and spluttered it all out. This coffee definitely was not made by Pragya, as she knew how he liked his coffee; as dadi had stopped making coffee for him from the second day of marriage, once Pragya had started making it. Then who? As it was not how he liked his coffee.
Abhi at once started shouting at the top of his voice, "Ramu Kaka, Robin, Pragya!!!!!"
"Yes Sir" said Robin coming back into the room , as he was waiting for such a reaction.
Indu dassi who was expecting the same was also waiting for this and made a timely entry.
Pragya had been strictly told by Indu dassi and dadi too, to not respond to Abhi's shouts demands etc, thus stayed put and also because Anshuman had come down at the same time and had decided that they would go out for breakfast and thus was dragged by him out the door.
"What happened Abhi beta? Why are you shouting?" asked Indu dassi acting all curious.
"Woh/that..."
"Yes, what?" prompted Indu dassi.
"My coffee its all wrong, Dadi and Pragya are the only ones who knows how I like my coffee and yet..." Abhi was telling when he was stopped by Indu dassi mid sentence.
"Robin you may go" she dismisses him and continues.
"Abhi beta, as Dadi and I have told you, from now on Pragya will not do any work for you or serve you anymore. She's not your wife anymore but a daughter and a guest of this house till we get her married off. Don't you remember? Anyways, Robin and Ramu are there for all your needs and wants from now on, just like before you got married to Pragya and soon it will be Tanu's duty anyways. As for dadi you know her heath, thus she can't stand too long and make your coffee," saying all this she made her way out with a gleeful smile on her face.
He was left stumped. The only thing that he heard was Pragya married before him. Dadi and dassi were way too serious and were in earnest about getting Pragya married before him. Why did hearing this make him feel uneasy.
No...he was happy for her, she deserved all the happiness in her life after all that he and his sister put her through. He couldn't be grudge her a happily ever after when he was getting his with Tanu. No he was worried that Dadi and dassis will force her to marry someone she did not like. Yes that was it. He will have a talk with dadi about it. Making sure Pragya was not forced into getting married.
The coffee untouched and forgotten, on the table. He took a clean towel from the closet where he remembered Pragya putting then and went to take a bath.
On coming out he noticed a number of missed calls and SMS's on his phone and they were all from Tanu and Aliyah.
It was a reminder from them about him promising to spend the whole day with Tanu and her family.
Gosh he had completely forgotten about that and got ready in a hurry to meet them before Tanu ate his head up with her nagging and constant messaging. Already he had received ten SMS's from Tanu and a few miss calls too.
On his way down, he looked around trying to catch a glimpse of Pragya before he left but she was no where to be seen.
On asking the servants about her whereabouts he got the answer that they did not know and he did not want to ask dadi or dassis about her.
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Pragya had a wonderful time with Anshuman. They had breakfast at her favourite restaurant and from there they went to the beach and talked. Talked about themselves and all that had happened in their respective lives, her marriage and the changes that he saw in her.
It was freeing and refreshing to get it all out of her chest. She so needed a friend, a confidant, and having Anshuman here with her at this moment made her realise how much she needed one.
Dadi and mom, she couldn't ever talk too, she couldn't hurt them with the truth of her marriage, they had already seen too much pain due to her.
Suresh was a dear friend but with all that took place between them, she couldn't talk to him. He wouldn't have understood at all and would find more reasons to dislike Abhi and his family.
Bulbul was a dear dear sister, but with her over enthusiasm, bossiness and her need to meddle, she was not the go to person for a heart to heart talk, or even to just listen without any prejudice. After all that she had been through and at last things in her life going smoothly, she did not want to burden her with all her thoughts and feelings that she had kept inside herself and did not even realise she had done it till meeting Anshuman.
It truly felt good to talk and not be judged for her actions and non actions. Her soul felt lighter ...she felt like a huge weight was lifted off her chest, that she could breath again. No more deception, no more lies, no more fake smiles, no more...not being who she wasn't.
She spent the whole day with Anshuman talking, crying, discussing her future plan and laughing with her whole heart her being. She felt light as air and free as a bird. After ages she had inhibited Fun.
They had already called and informed Indu dassi they would be very late, and by the time they reached home all were asleep. Being exhausted themselves they wished each other goodnight at their respective room doors and fell asleep instantly on hitting the bed.
Pragya that day did not once see Abhi at all nor dis she think of him after the coffee making incident and her talk with Anshuman. After a long time she slept peacefully.
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Abhi reached home very very late, it was nearly sunrise. The whole house was asleep and quiet.
He felt so so tired. The constant talk, questions, interrogation it felt like by Tanu's parents, about his work, his eminent divorce, the marriage date, the booking of venue, the booking of the designer, getting in touch with the best wedding planner, honeymoon destination, prenuptial agreements, etc and 101 questions about Anshuman and Pragya knowing each other and Tanu parents wanting him to fix a meeting with him.
To top it off Tanu did not do anything to get her parents to stop with their questions or nagging but joined them and Aliyah ...Aliyah it seemed was enjoying herself egging them on.
He was exhausted and knew just the person to get rid of his headache...Pragya. Yes he will tell Pragya to give him her famous head message.
He made his way to his room and looked towards the sofa where she slept and it being empty brought back the fact that she was here no more.
That day he did not see Pragya at all.
Once again he went to sleep looking at the empty sofa.
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Hope you all enjoyed reading it...
Once again all comments Good and Bad most welcomed...
Thank You All..😃
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