SS: Rays of Sunshine UPDATED LAST PART PAGE 7 - Page 5

"Tanu look, you are my best friend so i'm saying this for your benefit. Move on, this just won't work."

"What the hell Aaliyah? Do you even know what you are saying? Have you gone mad? Tanu was aghast. What the hell was Aaliyah saying? How could she even think she would leave Abhi? She was mad.

"Tanu, bhai, he is not.. he is not right for you"

"Aaliyah. I was with him for three years for gods sake. We are in a relationship. We're in love. You know all this. Why am I even telling you?"

"Tanu, you were in a relationship with bhai. You arn't anymore. You can't be"

"Aaliyah, maybe you are forgetting Abhi is still my boy friend."

"No Tanu, maybe you are forgetting Abhi is married. Abhi has a wife, Pragya bhabhi."

"Pragya bhabhi? Really Aaliyah? That behenji you are calling Pragya bhabhi!?"

"Tanu. Come on sweetheart. You've got to accept it..

No more behenji..

Pragya stood near the windows, the wind brushing across her hair, her curls lightly hitting her shoulders as she played with her Mangalsutra that was delicately tied around her neck. She remembered the day Abhishek had put it on her, she remembered the day she felt content. Someone had willingly married her, joined their name onto her bhagya. No refusal, no desire for dowry, the Mehra's had simply wanted her. Just her. The awareness that she was really wanted, she was going to married made her forget about the countless times she had been rejected for not being beautiful enough, for not being rich or whatever excuse would be created to prevent the wedding. It was beginning to rain and she put her hand out, her fingers touching the raindrops when she felt a big, warm hand carass hers. She looked sideway to find Abhi staring at her. His gaze was so intense, his eyes were locked on hers. With his free hand, he pushed the strand of hair that flew across her face and tucked it behind her ear.

"Beautiful" he whispered.

She had definitely heard it. He had called her beautiful.

"Purab. It's me"

"Aaliyah. You? Are you okay? Is Abhi okay?

"Purab, I'm fine. Bhai is fine too. Umm that.. Actually I wanted you and Bulbul to come over tomorrow."

"Aaliyah, I dunno. Bulbul is still a bit"

"Purab, I know what you're going to say. I understand but this is important. Bring Bulbul with you, come for bhai if not for me." Aaliyah quickly cut the call. It was hard to do this but it was better then she expected. She was going to get through this, she was going to get her family through this. Only, this time Pragya would not be doing everything. After all, Pragya needed her share of happiness as well. It was about time she had her share too.

It's what daadi would have liked too.

"I'm in love with her. I'm in love with her. I know I am daadi. I can feel it." Abhi watched his daadi's beloved picture and smiled. His eyes were glistening with unshed tears and a massive smile was plastered on his face.

"Daadi, I'm scared. I've done a lot of wrong things in life but I am a good guy. She knows that, You knew it too.. thats why you chose her didn't you. You knew I was with Tanu yet you chose her for me, you chose Pragya" he smiled and shook his head. It took a moment for him to stop smiling, for him to realise reality. It seemed so easy, everything did but it wasn't. Tanu was still here, she didn't know and he had led her on for so long. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair on Pragya either but he had to do the right thing. He wanted to be selfish, he was going to be selfish because in his selfishness would be the beginning of a blissful life for him and her and a chance for the other.

A chance to live, love and let live

"Abhi, this is not done. No baby, please don't do this. You can't"

"I'm sorry Tanu. I'm really sorry. We can't"

"Abhi, I left everything for you. You were mine, you were always mine. She can't take you away from me."

Pragya had ran out of her room hearing the racket that was going on downstairs. She stumbled as she saw what was going on. Tanu was here and she was hitting her palms along Abhi's chest. She looked upset. Pragya was apprehensive going down, she knew Abhi had not exactly been on talking terms with Tanu lately but she just stood watching. She had just been unpacking a few things, before contemplating what she was doing with her life. She was so unsure, she was so scared. Sometimes she felt there was more to fight for, there was her Abhi but than when was he ever hers to begin with? These thoughts disturbed her. She had so peacefully been thinking about Abhi's words to her. He had called her beautiful and just like that, her dream had snapped. It had gone, Abhi had gone. It felt so real, how could it not be? It was of course, but there was Tanu. She was real too and she existed.

To love or to be loved?

"You cannot easily get rid of me. You have wronged me Abhi Mehra. You have wronged me" Tanu had her hands clasped on her hair. She was pulling at the strands violently. She was literally going mad, she was on a war path and she would destroy everything or anyone who came in her way.

"Purab what is she!?" Bulbul had exclaimed. She had been watching the spectacle in front of herwith confusion. Purab had told her Aaliyah had called. She was aprehensive of course but she had mentioned Jiiju. They both looked at each other with surprise and attempted to find out what was going on.

Pragya had rushed out of her room when she had heard Tanu's scream. She recognised it a mile away. Tanu was furious. She ran down almost immediately as she watched Tanu attempt to scratch Abhi's chest over his t-shirt.

"Aaliyah this, what is she?"

"You. This is all your fault" Tanu had pointed at her with such venom in her voice Pragya stilled. She had never been subjected to such hostiliy, to such hatred and her mouth was left open with shock. "YOU!" Tanu rushed over to Pragya ready to lash out when Abhi had come in between protecting Pragya and pushing her back while Tanu scratched Abhi's back in anger. He clenched his eyes shut with pain.

"Tanu what are you!?" Aaliyah rushed to her and grabbed her by her wrists. "It's over Tanu. I had told you, It's over"

"How dare you? How dare you all?" a voice echoed through the hall of Mehra mansion. Rucha Narula had entered the household and stared at her daughters wild behaviour. She was shocked. "Aaliyah, you are letting this all happen? Tanu is your best friend for gods sake"

"Aunty, this is not Aaliyah's fault. It is mine" Abhi had spoken up. He glanced at Aaliyah and Aaliyah stared at him. They were always a team, they were always together. Brother and sister.

"Don't you dare. Don't you say anything MR Abhishek Mehra." Rucha pointed her finger at Abhi as she glared. "You have ruined my daughters life but it's okay. I'm taking her away from here forever. She will go far from here. She will come back with me and her father to America were she will stay as our queen." Tanu stared at her mother's suggestion and shook her head disagreeing. Rucha continued her eyes bulging, eyesbrows raised. "Never contact my daughter again."

"I'm sorry" Abhi whispered meekly.

"Whether you believe me or not, I was a coward and I am sorry"

EPILOGUE:

To love or to not love,

To trust or to not trust,

Our perception of love does not always have to be happiness, flowers or roses,

Sometimes to love requires sacrifice,

Sometimes to love requires a heart.

Ghaltiyaan insaan seh hi hoti hai,

Hum insaan hai, khuddha nahi,

Maaf karne wale dilwale hai,

Maafi maange wale barreh.

(Mistakes are made by humans. We are humans, not god. The people who forgive are hearty, the ones who apologise are big.)

Abhi and Pragya were hand in hand as they walked along the sand. Their footprints were together, walking side by side. They paused and looked at each other, Abhi's hand on her face as the wind blew Pragya's dupatta over their faces. They stood there in a moment of passion as the rays of sunshine hit their reflections reflecting their silhouettes on the sandy shore.

The ray of sunshine shone bright among Supriya daadi's picture.

The ray of sunshine was enough to see the light.

Just want to say a MASSSIVE thank you to everyone who I've shared this journey with. Writing this SS has been fun! I know some may say this chapter was not up to standard, it didn't conclude what happens to the characters. Aaliyah, Purab, Tanu and Bulbul etc but thats because I don't want to close or limit their characters by giving them a particular ending.. it may sound a bit weird😆.. Awww I feel a bit sad.But thank you all for the comments and the likes. They kept me going and I will be back soon.. 😉🤗

Apologies for the mistakes. NOT PROOF READ!