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Chapter Five
Abhishek Mehra had had moments of epiphany earlier as well but the one he experienced the night where he had left pragya's room still brought back memories of their first night together as husband and wife. He was so lost in his passion that he hadn't realized until the act was done that he might have hurt her. She was so petite and demure. And so generous when it came to giving, whether it was care, time or her own self. Not once had she resisted his touch, not once she had refused him. Instead she had returned his each move fervently.
That night he was so close to brand her again, in her hostel, on her single bed, had she not thought of him so lowly. That woman, Abhi grimaced and wondered if he had really given her enough reasons to think the worst of him. The answer was clear but he refused to accept.
After another cold shower, Abhi went back to bed but sleep seemed to evade him. His only silver lining was the relief running through his vein when Pragya had right away neglected the thought of getting rid of their baby, given her circumstances.
She was away from home.
From her family.
And pregnant.
Every time he imagined her pregnant, he grew agitated. How will she carry their baby when she hardly took care of herself. He wondered if she had told anyone in her family. He decided he could talk to his own to hold on to his belief of a family life.
"How are you?"
"I'm all right." She replied, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. She flipped the printed pages of her assignment, focusing on the words but her mind refused to cooperate. It was too much to comprehend in the span of only a few days when she had been told she was pregnant by her ex-husband. The man had shown out of nowhere and demanded she let him in her life via their unborn child. She inhaled the fresh morning air, looked around the lush garden of their university which was still damp due to rain.
She really was pregnant. A hint of smile lurked on her lips.
"Where are you lost pragya?" Ali brought her out of her reverie.
She looked at her friend and wondered if she should tell him her new secret, well it wasn't really a secret when she will be showing in a couple of months. She decided against it. "Nothing."
"Looks like you have an admirer." Ali teased her.
When Pragya followed Ali's gaze, she found Abhi walking towards them. She wondered if it was too late to fill Ali with the rest of the details of her marital life, that the man was no other than her ex husband. All Ali knew was pragya's ex husband was in town and that he was trying to talk to her, the rest was not revealed by pragya and Ali did not bother asking. That was one of the reason why she had befriended Ali, he never pried into her personal matters and for that she was fortunate to have him by her side.
"So, I need to get back to the library and finish off my assignment. Are you coming along?" Ali stood up and hugged pragya from one side when she refused to accompany him. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
By the time Abhi reached their side, pragya had changed her mind. She picked her bag and avoided looking at Abhi. After that night at her hostel, she was seeing him in broad daylight and it brought back memories of the almost kiss they had had.
The one she had blatantly asked for and the one he refused to give!
"Are you too busy to accompany me?" Abhi asked, looking at the duo and then setting his eyes on pragya. As much he tried, he could not ignore the pang his heart felt when he saw another man draped an arm over pragya's shoulder. He rolled the sheet of paper he had in his hands while Ali was bemused. "You guys know each other?"
"He is ..." What should she say? A singer? Abhishek Mehra? Her ex husband? "Abhi" She ended up saying at the same time Abhi replied. "Her husband."
Ali looked at pragya first and then at Abhi who had quirked an eyebrow indicating at the contact Ali's arm had around pragya. Ali instantly removed his arm and took leave, leaving an agogged Pragya and an irritated Abhi.
"What?" Abhi asked when they were alone.
"Why did you lie?"
"Why? Are you planning on ditching him also soon after he accepts you as his consort?"
"Abhi!"
"Right. Only I have the privilege to be left." He replied looking around them.
"Why do you sound so peevish?"
"Because we are late." He looked at his wrist watch. "You have an appointment at 11."
"With?"
"Your Dean." He made way to the pavement, leaving pragya to follow suit.
"What is the matter with you?" She asked when she reached his side. "I can't leave my studies just yet."
"Then when? After the baby is born?"
"It's.. I. I haven't thought about it." It was true, she hadn't had the time to ponder over her future. The present itself had too much to keep track of.
"Relax. We are going to visit your doctor."
The ride to the clinic was silent as both of them were lost in their thoughts. While Abhi's concerned Ali and the emotion he refused to acknowledge as jealousy, Pragya was confused the way Abhi had acted since he made a grand reentry in her life. He had been adamant about her pregnancy when she had not even wondered about her missed cycle. He had brought her fruits and pregnancy test strips the other day and today he had booked an appointment, all for his child.
Their child.
She glanced at him sitting beside her in the taxi. She studied his profile now that he was looking out of the window. He still looked handsome to her, though the dark circles under his eyes were prominent. The stubble he had last week was gone. It was then when Abhi received a phone call, she realized he was still wearing the wedding ring she had given him.
The sun is filling up the room
And I can hear you dreaming
Do you feel the way I do, right now?
I wish we would just give up
'Cause the best part is falling
Calling it anything but love
Lyrics- Distance
Christina Perri ft. Jason Mraz
Tum Se Tum Tak
Ganesh Kartikeya
18