Hello All!😃 HAPPY JUNE!! 🥳Thank you for the lovely comments and likes! As always means a lot!😳
And here you go with the second chapter! Don't forget to leave your feedback!⭐️
Lots of love!
Happy Reading!
🤗
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Chapter 02
BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP!
What is that noise? Oh it's that damn alarm!
Pragya turned to her side groggily and tried to press the snooze button when her hand collided with a scruffy surface.
"Urgh! GO AWAY! GO AWAY CLOWN!"
She heard a shriek followed by a sharp pain in her hand. Frightened she opened her eyes to see someone falling out of her bed.
What! Who was that! Oh no!
"ABHISHEK! God! Are you all right?"
She watched as he struggled to his feet.
"What.the.hell.is.wrong.with.you!"
"Oh! I am so sorry! I was just trying to reach the alarm clock! Are you hurt?"
"Alarm clock!? Do I look like an alarm clock to you?"
"No!"
Pragya replied earnestly to be treated to an angry scowl.
"Will you please stop that thing before I break it into pieces!"
"Ya ya sure!"
Pragya instinctively reached to the right side when it hit her. Oops!
This was not her room so alarm will be on the other side. She quickly turned to her side and hit the snooze button.
"Sorry!"
She repeated again only to be ignored as he walked towards the washroom and banged the door shut.
"Hmmm... A very good morning to you too Mr Mehra!"
Pragya mumbled annoyed as she dragged herself out from the bed.
By the way, did he say go away clown earlier? Hmm... Weird!
~~~
Soon, the occupants of the Mehra Mansion, both new and old fell into a new routine. It was both exhausting as well as an exciting one for the old residents.
Pragya was already fed up with his towels by the fourth day. She tried to decide what bothered her more, whether it's finding his wet towels on the bed or seeing him sauntering into their room wearing nothing but a towel after a shower and to witness him taking his own sweet little time in front of the mirror wearing that spraying that insanely alluring perfume all over him leisurely.
Although sharing a room with 'her husband' part was rather exhausting Pragya couldn't deny the fact that she has started to enjoy the sharing a home with 'his family' part. Robin was already there waiting for them and she just had to ask him for a tea when she got home from work. But it felt nice to know someone was waiting for her for the first time in her life, to come home from work to have tea together. With Daadi and Aaliyah around time seem to fly by quickly.
But to be honest what surprised her the most was Aditi's apparent attachment to her. She was never a kid person. She failed to understand how and why the adults cooed at babies. Isn't that pretty silly! Hence she has maintained her distance from Aditi too. But surprisingly, she seemed to like her!
Why only yesterday Aditi had drawn a picture of her! Of course it took her sometime to understand that the red stick with black mop on top was her. But Aaliyah has assured her that it was indeed her and it was Aditi's way of showing her love. Saying she was surprised would be an understatement. Abhishek has already made enough jokes about her reaction upon hearing Aaliyah's words and she made sure she doesn't come upon his prying eyes as she carefully placed the drawing in the safety of her private journal.
As always, Abhi felt at peace to have Daadi by his side again. Aditi was a ray of sunshine in his otherwise mundane life. But what warmed his heart the most was the budding friendship between Pragya and Aaliyah. After Daadi if there was anyone with whom he could entrust Aaliyah's responsibility it would definitely be Pragya. He never had any doubts about that.
But on the other hand, Abhi was tired of sticking to his side of the bed when he could be sprawling all over it with no worries of accidentally touching 'his wife'. Just yesterday he woke up to find her deep in sleep, her face inches away from his, her leg thrown over the pillow border. What surprised him was his hand! His hand was lying comfortably on her hip. Of course instinctively he tried to move away but it simply refused to do anything but to hold her there till she stirred to the sound of that annoying alarm!
He was utterly conscious of avoiding touching her at any cost now because... Well because he didn't know what has gotten into him!
He found it strange to know; this was the same Pragya that he had been living under the same roof for nearly six months now. Well, in his defence he never knew that Pragya he married wore such clothes to bed! Offo! What has happened to him! She doesn't even wear silk or lace! It's just pyjama shorts with simple t-shirts most of the time! And it's not even sexy! Well, not sexy on anyone else! But on Pragya! Well, it's a different story altogether!
Pragya in her cotton nightwear wearing her huge reading Chashma completely engrossed in her book was a quite a sight for him. It screamed sexy!
Woah! Woah! Woah! Abhi! You can't think about Pragya like this! She is your wife for god's sake! Well, WIFE! MY wife! Oh! This has got to stop!
***
"Abhi!"
"Yes Daadi."
Abhi responded without looking up from his work. Daadi didn't say anything and after awhile Abhi turned to her questioningly.
"What is it Daadi? Are you feeling ill?"
He asked worried.
"No no! I am okay. I just wanted to talk to you. Can you give me 5 minutes?"
"What Daadi? Aap bhi na! Why are you asking 5 minutes? Tell me I am listening."
Daadi sat down next to him.
"Abhi you know there is something bothering me."
Is it her imagination or did Abhi really look troubled. Daadi wondered.
"What Daadi? Tell me I will fix it!"
Daadi observed him for a minute. He seemed earnest and going by his expression there was no clue that anything was amiss in his life. Maybe she was over thinking.
"It's Aaliyah."
"Aaliyah?"
"Yes. Well, Abhi I feel as if she is hiding something from us. I have tried to talk to her but she keeps avoiding talking to me. You might not have noticed but she is lost in her own world... I am scared whether it's something to do with Neel..."
Abhi felt his blood boiling hearing the name.
"Daadi I am sure whatever it is, it is surely not about that Neel. Aaliyah is a smart girl and she is my sister! She knows what is good for her. You don't worry Daadi... I will talk to her. I will talk to her and then I promise you I will solve whatever problems she has..."
"I know Abhi. I know you will!"
Daadi said, relieved finally.
***
"Okay Bulbul! I promise! Happy now?"
Pragya sounded exasperated as she gave into Bulbul's demands once again.
"Okay Di. Where is Jiju? I want to talk to him."
"Okay baba! Just give me a second. ABHISHEK! Can you come here for a minute!"
"Okay Di! Don't tell him it's me! I want to surprise him! Okay? Di! Did you hear? Di!"
"Yeah yeah! I won't tell him!"
Abhi entered the room to find Pragya shaking her head as she smiled at the screen.
"Abhishek! There is someone who wants to talk to you."
"Bulbul?"
Abhi asked even before looking at the screen.
"NO! Di you told him! I wanted to surprise Jiju!"
"No I didn't! You saw me! I was facing you!"
Pragya protested as Abhi came and peeked at the screen above her shoulder.
Suddenly feeling conscious of their proximity, Pragya moved to the furthest corner giving him the chance to sit and chat with Bulbul.
"So how is my favourite saali doing?"
"UFF! Jiju! I am your only saali na!"
"Well yeah and my most favourite too! So where is Purab? What's up?"
"Oho! Leave Purab! He has gone out! And I want to tell you guys something! Guess what!"
Pragya instinctively looked at Abhi. Oh! He still hasn't caught up with her crazy cousin's antics. But Pragya knew that look. She knew that tone! Bulbul is definitely up to something and whatever her plan was, this time it involved Abhishek and her.
"Now what Bulbul?"
"Di! Guess who is coming to see her favourite Di and Jiju in let's say SOON!"
Bulbul asked jumping up and down in her seat.
"Wow! Really? You two are coming here? That's great news! Why didn't Purab tell me about this before? Pragya can you believe it I spoke to him yesterday as..."
Abhi turned to Pragya and paused seeing the look in her face. Well, she doesn't look too happy. But why? He knew despite being cousins, Pragya and Bulbul were nothing less than real sisters.
"Jiju I can't wait to see you all! You, Di, Daadi, Aaliyah! And more than anyone, Aditi! Imagine all of us together under one roof! Oh! It's going to be so much fun!"
Oh no! That's why! Abhi finally understood.
Abhi and Pragya groaned internally imagining upcoming days as Bulbul went on and on about her plans for them when she comes.
Edited by Diahh - 10 years ago
Financial markets and global economy
Ishaani
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