AbhiGya Fiction ~ Cross Connection - Completed pg 42 (chp. 25 + epil) - Page 29

Chapter 24

Bulbul didn't talk much while they were on their way to Bulbul's - Purab tried asking why she looked so worked up, she only muttered that she was busy planning something - Abhi and Purab looked at her curiously - but she didn't let anything else slip. When they finally reached, before taking Purab and Abhi inside the house, Bulbul grabbed Abhi's hand and stopped him.

"Remember, you're not ABhi, you're Neil - Poo's boyfriend. Mom knows about Abhi from di, she wont be happy to welcome you right now!" Abhi gulped and nodded and they followed her inside.

When Sarla came to the living room, she was pleasantly surprised to see so many kids around - she wasn't expecting them -after all the roka was arranged in such a rush, she never expected that Pragya's friends would be able to manage.

Bulbul hurried to her and introduced Abhi as Neil and Sarla smiled at him - After all Purvi had told her all about Neil the other day - there was something in Neil's goofy smile she thought - it was very childish and lovable. When they had met Sarla and Pragya's daadi, Abhi was feeling agitated again, it had been an hour that they had arrived, yet there was no trace of Pragya - where was she? And after reaching home, Bulbul seemed so involved in celebrations that it seemed to him that maybe she had forgotten that there was a roka to stop!

"Oi cartoon!" he hissed at Bulbul and she raised her eyebrows in order to argue. " Did you forget that we are here to stop the roka, not help in its preparation?" he asked.

"Be patient! When there was so much time, why couldn't you propose my di? You think you're Shah Rukh Khan of DDLJ?" she hissed back. Purab laughed, "Don't worry Bulbul I have punished him enough for being late - lets go on with the plan and not waste time - where is Pragya?" he asked.

"Uff Purab, we cant just directly take him inside and give them privacy. Our friend s and cousins wont let her be alone with him - what is the use then? I have called up our other accomplice, she will come and only she can ensure their privacy!" she replied with shiny yes eagerly awaiting praise.

"Who is this new accomplice?" asked Abhi curiously.

" Why Poo, your girlfriend!" she replied laughing.

"Poo? Who Poo? And I don't have a girlfriend - chashmish is my, would be girlfriend!!" he replied indignantly.

"Uff! You are Neil! Remember?? And Purvi is Neil's girlfriend! Mom doesn't know that Di has met Neil, so Poo will excitedly take you inside to introduce di to her boyfriend, and with that she can shove others outside!" she chirped excitedly.

"And what about Purvi?? What about her? She will be with us inside while I propose my chashmish??" asked Abhi irritated." Purab smirked and Bulbul just couldn't leave this opportunity.

"Oho Abhi, what if she is there, you are just going to propose nah? Or is there other plans? Ahem ahem..well all other plans need to wait huh" she laughed as Abhi looked at her darkly.

"Let this mess sort out, I will get back at you!" he replied crossly.

"You have all your life to get even with me, I would be your sister-in-law after all" she laughed.

"Sister-in-law, how so?" all three got tensed hearing Sarla's voice from behind.

"Mom actually the thing is..." she mumbled when she heard a voice from behind, "Uff Badi Ma, Boo will be a sister-in-law only nah, of my future husband?" she spoke happily and came and hugged Abhi.

"Awww Neil baby, how are you??" she squealed much to Abhi's astonishment. Purab just about managed to turn his snort to a cough as Bulbul stole murderous glances at the boys for making fun of Poo.

"Mad girl! Romancing in front of me!" Sarla feigned shock and lightly patted Purvi's head.

"Um hi Purvi, how are you?" Abhi muttered, and then glanced at Sarla uncomfortably. Sarla realized he was uncomfortable with Purvi displaying affection around her, she thought of letting them be and was about to leave when Purvi chirped loudly, "Come baby, I will take you to Pragya di, bet she will be surprised to see you!!!" she almost pulled Abhi towards Pragya's room when Sarla stopped her.

"Beta Pragya is getting ready, how can you take Neil betaji now? She will get late for the function" she told Purvi gently.

"Offo Badi Ma, nothing will happen I will take five minutes pleaseee" she coaxed and Sarla allowed.

Abhi's heart was hammering inside his chest as he followed Purvi. He turned around one last time to see Purab and Bulbul showing him thumbs-up, he smiled and walked ahead.

Purvi knocked her door, and called from outside, "diii...are you done, look who has come - Neil! He wants to meet you!!" she said loudly.

Pragya who was ready with her plan of action, stopped suddenly, what was Neil doing here? She was almost tempted to open the door, but she stopped, she didn't have time now - she had to hurry.

"Two minutes Bulbul, I am tying up the dupatta" she shouted back. A smiled escaped Abhi's lip hearing her voice. Her voice was so melodious he thought.

"Stop smiling at her voice! You will give away the plan" Purvi hissed from beside. Then she shouted back, "Okay di, I am taking him to the living room, call me once you're done". Then she caught hold of Abhi's hand and led him away - as much as Abhi wanted to protest, he knew standing like a lovesick puppy outside Pragya's door would give him away, so he followed her unwillingly.

***

She thought this hoodie would work the best as it completely covered her face, as much as that made life easier, but it was also disturbing her line of vision - she slowly pushed up her hoodie and scanned the backyard, other than the helpers and attendants, no family member was outside - she sighed in relief. Then she tip-toed out of the balcony attached to her room into the backyard and soon she jumped over their low fencing and ran as fast as her legs could take her. When she reached her destination, she saw him sitting on a bench in the park, looking distantly at nothing in particular.

"What is wrong with you man?" Pragya asked in anger.

Nikhil slowly looked up at her, his face was drooped, clearly he was sad, very sad. "Sorry Pragya, I know I shouldn't have been so impulsive, but it's in my head ever since I saw her - I thought I was over her, it's been years and it was purely one-sided - but last week when you guys came over for dinner and I saw her, I was back to square one - I was feeling hopeless for never having confessed my feelings to her - what if there was a chance. I know I am late, she was telling me she has a boyfriend, but..." Nikhil sighed.

"Nikhil! Why are you thinking all this now?" asked an exasperated Pragya. "I thought you had given it a thought when you said yes to me? I had asked you! But you made me belief we are going to work out - and yes she has a boyfriend and he is here too - he arrived today morning. Nikhil stop tormenting yourself - imagine how shocked I was when you texted me saying you want to runaway? I must be the first bride to be in the history of Indian brides to have run away from her own roka, to try and stop the groom from permanently running away!!" she breathed hard.

"Sorry Prags" Nikhil mumbled holding Pragya's shoulder gently. Pragya flinched, "Nikhil, just one thing, NEVER EVER call me Prags EVER" she said breathing hard, Nikhil sighed, "Sorry Pragya, I know..he use to call you that right? I wont I promise - and I wont run away either - come I will drop you home and then go get ready - I have to be at yours this afternoon for the roka, remember?" he smiled.

11:23a.m. [Abhiii - get Purab and Poo and come out in the backyard like NOWWW]

11:25a.m. [Why cartoon, what happened?]

11:26a.m. [Uff this serious you monkey!! Come now else I will tell mom that you're Abhi and not Neil. Hmph.]

11:28a.m. [Okay fine woman. Coming!]

When Purab, Abhi and Purvi reached the backyard, Bulbul hurriedly took them towards the balcony attached to Pragya's room, they saw the door wide open and Abhi rushed inside - only to find it empty. He looked at Bulbul questioningly.

"Oyi, where is your di?" he asked her.

"Exactly Einstine! Di has run away!!" Bulbul replied in excitement - "Isn't it proof enough that she loves you??" she laughed.

"Genius! If she had run away for Abhi, wouldn't she have called him??" asked Purab exasperated. With that her face fell. "Purab then where did di go???" asked Bulbul panicking. "Maybe I should tell mom that di has run away with an unidentified entity. MOMMM" Bulbul had just begun screaming when Abhi grabbed her and shut her mouth.

"Honestly Purab, how do you plan to handle this one here?" asked Abhi earnestly, then he turned to Bulbul, "Oyi cartoon, shut up - let's just lock this door from outside and try and look for chashmish? What if she is around only?" he asked reasonably. A worried Bulbul and Purvi instantly agreed, and together then jumped off the fence with Purab and Abhi and decided to search the nearby area for her.

When Aaliya entered Pragya's house, Sarla saw her and stared in disbelief - Pragya had told her about Ali's transformation but never did she think it was so drastic! Aaliya beta' was all that escaped her mouth when she saw her - Aaliya went to her and hugged her and then turned around to introduce Neil. "Aunty ji, this is my..." but Sarla peered at Neil sternly and replied, "I know him, I heard a lot about him - just wondering why he is here though" she spoke darkly, it was obvious to her that this lost looking boy was Abhi for sure, who else remained in her daughter's gang of friends to turn up anyway?

Aaliya smiled awkwardly not understanding why the usually cheerful Sarla aunty looked so displeased to see Neil, she stupidly tried stirring the awkwardness back to norma, "Err..I hope you've heard good things about him" and Neil shot her a confused look.

"Not necessarily betaji, but today is a holy day, my darling daughter is going to perform the first ceremony of her wedding with her beau - everyone is welcome to wish them goodluck" with that she motioned them to come in and she left. Aaliya stood there awkwardly wondering what on earth was Sarla aunty talking about.

"Err..Aaliya for some reason Purvi's badi ma doesn't like me I think" Neil spoke. Aaliya convinced him that it must be a confusion and urged Neil to follow her, they needed to meet Pragya and sort her confusion. As Aaliya knocked Pragya's room, she heard Pragya answering from inside, Aaliya didn't respond, she just opened the door and barged in, as Neil towed behind her.

"You sore loser, how dare you do this without even telling me!!!" she barked in anger.

"Oh Aalu, I am soo glad to see you, I am so sorry, I should have told you at least - I soo need you here" brawled Pragya, somehow seeing Aalu there felt like she was closer to something related to Abhi, the silent knot in her heart she as ignoring was starting to loosen just by the mere presence of his sister.

"I HATE YOU PRAGS!!" she hissed.

"Oh I love you too Aalu" Pragya kept mumbling and hugging her in relief. Aaliya kept quiet, she was pacified seeing Pragya's listless state.

"Why are you doing this Prags? You know this wont make you any happier! Did Purab break your heart?" she whispered.

"Purab? Why no..Oh no Aalu, it's a long story - there is no time for it now - just know that Purab and Bulbul are happily together and I am very happy for them" as Aaliya gaped at her, she just hugged Aaliya and then hugged Neil too, she was feeling high and low at the same time seeing them all there.

"Is there no way you are going to backout of this roka Prags? Are you happy?" asked Aaliya in a scrutinizing tone.

"Ye---yes.." Pragya stammered, but before she could talk further, Sarla called her outside.

"Yes Ma" she replied and ran away from there as Aaliya sighed and crashed on her bed staring at Neil.

"Where were you beta?" her mother asked concerned, she knew Aaliya and "Abhi" were in her room, she wanted to ensure her daughter could take it - when Pragya came out unperturbed, Sarla was surprised, wasn't her daughter head over heels about that Abhi boy, then why was she so unperturbed? Did she really move on? Well seems like she did - And Sarla wasn't complaining.

"Beta, did you see your friends? How nice of them to turn up in such short notice nah?" Sarla asked, clearly not bringing up Abhi's topic.

"Yes ma, Aaliya and Purab I would have understood, but even Neil - I guess it will be fun" she smiled half heartedly - well if she was compromising anyway, it was better she was doing so with a friend like Nikhil who understood her and himself has been on her shoes - it would be that bit less difficult to forget Abhi now - wherever he was.