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Chapter 08
Damn!
Abhi mentally cursed himself seeing Pragya's pained expression as she left the room.
"Bhai! You did not just say all that rubbish to Bhabhi right now! That is just so mean! How could you even think like that! I can't believe this! How could you talk like that to Bhabhi..."
He heard Aaliyah rambling nonstop but he didn't stop her knowing it is the truth. He deserved it.
How did this happen! How could he be so thoughtless!
He collapsed on to a chair.
"What do you think you are doing?"
Aaliyah asked crossing her arms.
"Aaliyah you know I didn't mean any of that! I was just caught up in the moment!"
Abhi tried to defend himself.
"How could you even say such a thing to her! Can you even imagine how she must have felt? She was only doing all that for me! For Aditi! That's because she loves us! Because she considers us a part of her family. And what did you do? You go and say the meanest thing possible to the only person who really tried to understand what I am going through right now..."
"Aaliyah I know! I am sorry I couldn't control my anger. It just slipped out of my mouth!"
"I am not the one you should be apologizing for Bhai!"
***
Pragya angrily, began to fold the cloths lying on their bed.
So what! It was the truth! You are an outsider!
A little voice whispered in her mind.
But how could he! Outsider? I am an outsider for him? I am his wife! He is my husband! How could he even think like that!
Pragya argued with the voice.
Well, not really! Don't forget it was just a deal! Voice argued back.
Damn the deal! What does he expect me to do? Be blind to all the pain Aaliyah is going through? Well, I am not going to do that!
But Pragya you really have no say in the matter. You are just an outsider for him.
I.Am.Not.An.Outsider! Aaliyah is my family! Aditi is family!
Irritated, Pragya threw the cloths away and sat on the bed.
Abhi entered the room to find Pragya lost in thoughts.
He sighed guiltily.
Okay Abhi! Go! Apologize!
"Pragya!"
He saw her shoulders clench hearing her name but she didn't respond.
"Pragya yaar... I am sorry! I really am! I never meant any of that! You know I didn't!"
She chose to ignore him.
"Pragya come on! I am sorry! Please forgive me! It just came out just like that. I was angry! And I was stupid! Sorry! Pragya... Pragya!"
Pragya was about to break her silence and accept his apology when she found the TV remote pointed at her.
She looked up at Abhishek confused.
He took her hand in his and placed the remote in her hand.
While she looked on confused he went on to clear his side of the bed. Pragya saw him taking away his pillows and sheet. He went on to remove the pillow border next.
"What are you doing?"
She asked confused.
"Peace offerings!"
Pat came his reply.
"What?"
"TV and remote! The whole bed! Privilege to use the washroom first... That also without any disturbance! Privilege to keep your light on as long as you want without any complaints! All peace offerings! Do you accept them?"
Oh god! Why is he like this!
Pragya closed her eyes and shook her head trying to control the laughter that is threatening to burst out.
"Abhishek!"
"Do you accept my peace offerings Pragya?"
He asked in all earnest while his eyes glinted mischievously knowing the battle is won now.
"Oh god Abhishek! Why do you have to be such a drama queen about everything!"
Pragya said as she got up to hit him with a pillow.
He easily dodged it and caught her by her hand.
"Pragya I really am sorry! I was not thinking straight. And I just said it just like that! There is nothing more to it. I hope you would understand..."
Pragya gently tugged on the hand that held hers.
"I know. Apology accepted!"
"Really? Thank god!"
"But on one condition!"
"Oh please don't tell me you want the whole closet!"
"Abhishek! Stop it!"
Pragya said laughing as she took his free hand in hers and moved closer.
"Abhishek I accept your apology if you just promise to give Aaliyah a chance to make her final decision. One last chance. After that whatever her decision is I won't interfere in any way! I promise."
She waited anxiously for his response. She saw the conflict in his eyes but finally saw determination settling in.
"Okay!"
"Okay?"
Pragya asked again.
He nodded.
"Okay? Just like that? Aren't you the same guy who was screaming on top of his lungs playing villain few minutes ago? What happened? How did you agree so fast?"
"Okay Pragya now you are just testing my patience!"
"So you will give her a chance? Like really?"
"Yes! Really! I will! If you feel that is the best thing for Aaliyah and Aditi then I will go by your words. I just want them to be okay. And if you think this is the best for her then I trust you!"
Pragya looked up surprised. The familiar warmth of his eyes was rather comforting. She could see the truth in them.
She smiled.
"Well, thank you Mr Mehra! I am honoured that you chose to trust 'an outsider'!"
She couldn't help but pull his leg a little more.
"Come on Pragya! I said it already! You are not an outsider! You are family! You are my wife!"
Pragya felt a strange happiness hearing his words.
"Okay! I am glad that we sorted that out Mr Mehra!"
She said smiling as she turned to go back to her cloths.
Abhishek reluctantly let go off her hands.
"Hey! You know what Pragya! I think this was our first fight!"
He said after awhile.
"Oh my god you are right! First fight! Well, I don't think I like it though..."
"Well, easy for you to say! I am the one who has to give up on all my luxuries!"
"Oh yeah you are right! I mean fight isn't fun... But I like the making up part!"
"Oh you would! You don't have to give up on anything!"
"But I had to listen to all the crap you said! Oh and by the way where are you going to sleep tonight?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I mean you gave up your bed as peace offerings... So..."
"What? That was just for the show! I am sleeping here only!"
"What? What kind of peace offering is that? I don't agree!"
"But you got your condition!"
"What! No! I want peace offerings too! Or do you want to have the second fight today itself?"
"Okay okay baba! You take the TV for as long as they are here but please don't let me sleep on the floor!"
"I don't know! I have to think about this!"
"What?"
Abhi and Pragya went on to banter till both could reach common ground.
***
After seeing the relief in Aaliyah's face hearing his decision to leave it upon her to make a final decision, Abhi was even more sure he was doing the right thing.
It escaped him how Pragya could see Aaliyah's state instead of him. Pragya was never the one to be overly sensitive to other's emotions. Well, at least that's what he used to think.
Hearing about her involvement in this scenario Abhi wondered whether it has got anything to do with her past. Of course they have never spoken about her past or for that matter his past till now. The topic has never really come up before as well right?
By the way where is she? Abhi wondered as he roamed around the house looking for her...
~~
"What!"
"Haan Jiju! Today Di is making breakfast for all of us! And especially for you!"
"Oh come on Bulbul! Pragya and cooking?"
"Well, then go and see for yourself Jiju!"
Bulbul gently pushed Abhi towards the kitchen.
Oh! There she is!
Hearing his footsteps Pragya turned to him and his eyes widened seeing her appearance.
Ever prim and proper Pragya was replaced by a messy, untidy Pragya. A cuter Pragya.
"Hi! Sorry to disturb you! But what are you doing in our kitchen and what did you do to my wife Pragya?"
"Oh! Very funny!"
"Oh yes! I know! Seriously, what are you doing Pragya?"
"Can't you see? I am making breakfast! Aloo ka paratha! Daadi taught me!"
"You meant to say burnt Aloo ka paratha?"
Abhi said lifting one paratha.
"Oh! Just go away!"
"You must have some talent Pragya! See all burnt! But in different patterns! Wow! Some tal... Urgh! PRAGYA!"
Abhi stared at Pragya in disbelief as he stood covered in flour.
"Did you just... Did you just throw flour on me?"
"Well, you wouldn't stop criticizing my parathas!"
"Really! You just wait!"
Abhi grabbed a handful of flour in one hand and grabbed Pragya by waist from the other and smeared flour on her face.
"Eww! Abhishek! Stop! Let me go!"
Finally he let go off her and walked over to the stove as Pragya tried to clean her face.
"What are you doing?"
"Wait and watch!"
Pragya watched fascinated as he pinched two small balls from the dough and flatten them and dust them with flour expertly.
Hmm... He looks hot doing that!
"By the way Pragya, I told Aaliyah that I won't interfere with her decision any more. I thought I should let you know as well..."
Abhi added with a sheepish grin, much to her amusement.
In no time he placed a perfect aloo paratha in a plate in front of her.
"Wow!"
"Thank you!"
"From where did you learn to do all that?"
"From Daadi only. But then when I started to live alone I got better."
"Really? Can you teach me too?"
"Well it's not that hard... See you just have to do like this..."
Together they began to make breakfast for their family.
Edited by Diahh - 10 years ago
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