Hello everyone!! Chapter 7 is here and there is a surprise!! š
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Chapter 7
In the Aurora household
What is that sound? Who could it be at this hour? Cursing the person who invaded my slumber, I searched for my phone under my pillow.
"Bulbul...is that your phone?", Di mumbled to me still sleeping.
"Sorry Di. I don't know who it is.", I said rummaging in the darkness.
"You better attend it na.", she said turning to the other side on the bed, facing Purvi.
"For that, I need to find the bloody phone Di!!", I wailed, may be too loud.
"Bulbul Di!! Why are you so noisy?!", Purvi lightly shouted in irritation.
"Found it!!!!", I shrieked.
"BULBUL!!!!!!", Di and Purvi shouted at me.
"Okay okay! I'll go out.", I said in a huff.
Slipping out of the bedroom, I tiptoed and sat on the sofa. Purab. Why was he ringing me at this hour? Maybe he missed me? Chuckling to myself, I answered his call.
"Hey sweetheart.", I said, hugging my legs to my chest.
"Bulbul, what took you so long to answer? Do you know how many times I kept calling you?", came an irritated voice.
"Arre Purab, I had to look for my phone na. Besides, why are you calling me this late? Do you know what time it is?", I scowled at him.
"So what? I can call you anytime I want.", he said with an arrogance.
"Really? And who gave you that permission?", I said sarcastically.
"Whose permission do I need?", he said laughing to himself.
"Ma's, meri Daadi aur Di.", I told him bluntly.
"Accha, fair enough. But, after Friday, I won't need any permission.", he said with a mischievous ring to his voice.
"Friday? What's so special about Friday?", I asked him.
"Because after Friday, you will be my fiance.", he said in a seductive whisper.
"I WHAT?!!", I said, my voice sounding louder than I wanted it to be.
"You heard me right! FIANCE!!", he shouted on the other end.
"Purab, you aren't drunk are you? Or did you hit your head somewhere?", I asked him rubbing my forehead.
"Meri jaan! Open your ears and listen to what I am going say very carefully. Ready?", he said and I sensed something was up.
"Haan! Ready! Now, tell me!", I said siting up straight.
"My Daadi and Daasi had met the panditji today. He said that Friday is an auspicious day. So, my family and I are coming to your house, this Friday, for our marriage proposal.", he said loud and clear.
"Are you serious?", I asked him quietly biting my nails.
"I am not deaf. I heard my Daadi aur Daasi extremely well.", he said with full blown sarcasm.
"Aaahhh!!!!!!!!!!!!", I screamed at the top of my lungs.
"Bulbul!!!! You are going to make me deaf!!", I heard him yelling before the line got disconnected.
"KYA HOGAYA?!!!", Jhanki Ma shouted running out of the bedroom.
"WHAT HAPPENED??! WHAT HAPPENED??!!!", Ma shouted in distress running behind her.
"MA!! BAADI MA!!", Di and Purvi burst through the doors.
"IS THIS A MADHOUSE?!!! WHY ARE ALL OF YOU SCREAMING YOUR HEADS OFF LIKE LUNATICS IN A MENTAL ASYLUM??!!!", Daadi boomed coming out of the room with her hands on her hips.
They scurried here and there, and saw me siting quietly like a mouse on the sofa, with my phone clutched to my chest. I smiled at them guiltily.
"Hi...", I said beaming wide.
"BULBUL!!!", they screamed together, and my eardrums vibrated, making me dizzy.
"Okay okay!! I am the one who screamed. Sorry!!", I said standing up and faced them.
"What's wrong with you beta? Do you know what time is it?", Ma said sounding harassed.
"Di!! I have college tomorrow!", Purvi said making a mess of her already messed up hair.
"Are you mad Bulbul? Looks like it's you who should visit a mental asylum.", Daadi said rolling her eyes.
Di and Jhanki Ma burst out laughing.
"I am sorry Ma! Purab called me. He said that his Daadi had met the panditji and he told them that Friday is an auspicious day. So, the whole family is coming on Friday for the marriage proposal.", I quickly rumbled on.
Everyone's eyes enlarged in shock.
"That's such a good news!!", Di said happily coming over and hugging me.
"Woohoo!! Di is getting hitched!!", Purvi ran and crashed into us.
"That's wonderful!! Jhanki, chalo, we have to prepare so many things before they come. I'll make them my signature laddoos and you can make the gulab jamuns. Before that, we have to go to the market and get some good vegetables. I think they will come in the morning, so we can prepare some breakfast. Or better still, they can have lunch...", Ma kept speaking like a train.
"Di!! Aapko kya hogaya?", Jhanki Ma stopped her.
"They are coming this Friday! We have one whole day to prepare. The market is not open at this hour and I am certainly not making gulab jamuns now!", Jhanki Ma said shaking Ma.
"I thought the daughter was the one who needed to go to the mental asylum. But I think, your condition is more serious. Shall we go now?", Daadi asked blankly staring at Ma.
"Beeji!! That's not funny!! I'm just overwhelmed! I don't think I can sleep!", Ma said smiling through her tears.
"Accha, thanks for the warning. Pragya aur Purvi, I am sleeping in your room. Bulbul, you go and sleep with Sarla and Jhanki.", Daadi said walking towards our room.
"Daadi! Kya hua?", Di asked her.
"Did you listen to your mother or are your speakers out of order? She won't let me sleep. And by looking at your sister's red face, I am guessing that she too won't sleep. Be smart Pragya.", she said waving her hands.
"Beeji!! How can you abandon me?!!", Jhanki Ma said running behind her like a child.
"Arre Jhanki, I am not abandoning you. I am just rescuing my eyes and ears from your Di." Daadi said before disappearing into the room.
"Pragya Di, I have college na. So I am with Daadi on this one." Purvi blabbered before running into the room.
"Fine!! I still have Di aur Ma!", I said loudly towards the room.
"Right Di?", I asked my sister linking her arm in mine.
"Bulbul, you know I love you to bits right?", she asked me.
"Haan Di, that's why you are sleeping with me na?", I said gleefully at her.
"Ummm...but I love my sleep too Bulbul.", she said with a pout.
"Offo Di! Fine! Go and enjoy your slumber!", I said pushing her away.
She howled in laughter before dancing into the room and shutting the door behind her. That was so unlike her. Something smells fishy, I thought to myself.
"Ma! No one loves me!", I whined as I ran to a giggling Ma.
"Arre meri bacche! I love you na! Chalo, let's go and chit chat!", Ma said and led me into her room and closed it shut.
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My heart was fluttering with joy. Daadi, Jhanki Ma and Purvi were already fast asleep. I willingly offered my place on the bed to Jhanki Ma. Why? Well, because I needed some privacy and sleeping on the floor was ideal.
Bulbul was happy. There was nothing wrong in it. She had every reason to be. But me? I was ecstatic and I had only one reason. I would see him again. Abhishek. Butterflies swarmed in my belly as I said his name.
I couldn't sleep. Obviously. What was this strange feeling I had every time I thought about him? I couldn't pinpoint. Slipping under the blankets, I flipped through the photo album in my phone. I began staring at a photo of him I downloaded from the Internet. What a smile. I was going to see that smile on Friday.
How would he react after knowing who I really was? I chuckled to myself, plugging my earphones and listening to 'Happy Love', this time on my phone.
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In Mehra Mansion
I was so comfortable talking to Pragya Di today, talking about my fears and guilt. The way she consoled me soothed me and it had a motherly feel to it. I smiled to myself thinking about the growing bond I had with her.
Unable to sleep, I hopped off my bed and made my way to Daadi's room.
"Daadi?", I whispered quietly as I opened her bedroom door.
"Aaliya? Kya hua beta?", she said looking up from her book.
"I can't sleep Daadi.", I said with a pout standing in her doorway.
"Arre, come here.", she said closing her book.
I closed the door behind me and jumped on the bed. She moved back, giving me space to lie down as I put my head on her lap.
"Kya hua Aaliya? What are you thinking about?", she asked me caressing my hair.
"Kuch nahi Daadi.", I said holding her knee.
"Aaliya, are you thinking about Purab's marriage proposal?", she asked quietly.
"I know what you are trying to get at Daadi. Mein theek ho. I am very happy for him. Best dost na. Besides, I have you and Bhai in my life. I can't ask for more.", I told her and felt a kiss on my cheek.
"You have matured well Aaliya.", she said proudly.
"Haan haan Daadi. Accha now you tell me, why haven't you slept? Don't lie to me, I know you all too well.", I asked her mischievously.
"Kuch nahi beta. Just thinking about your Bhai.", she said with a sigh.
"What about him?", I asked siting up on the bed.
"Didi is thinking about his future beta.", Daasi said walking out of the bathroom.
"Future? Matlab?", I asked Daasi.
"Shaadi Aaliya.", Daasi said coming to sit on the bed.
"Shaadi??", I stared at Daadi.
"Don't you want your Bhai to settle down?", Daadi asked me.
"Of course I do Daadi.", I said holding her fingers.
"Your Daadi is worried about getting Purab married before Abhi. Purab is younger na. So, she wants a girl for your Bhai.", Daasi said to me.
"Offo Daadi! How are we going to get a girl so soon?", I said hugging her like a bear.
"And also, if we do, we must find a girl who understands Abhi. His strengths and weaknesses. His ambitions and desires. She must be someone who stands by him and supports him through life's challenges. Above all, she must love him for who he is as Abhishek, not Rockstar Abhi.", Daasi finished.
I fell silent and I kept replaying her words in my mind. Scrutinizing each word carefully, my mind began to wonder, connecting the dots, like a puzzle. Suddenly, I heard the classic wedding bells ringing in my head!
"Daadi aur Daasi." I said catching their attention.
"I know a girl who fits the criteria perfectly.", I told them.
"Her name is Pragya and she is perfect for Bhai.", I said.
Soon after I said Pragya Di's name, Daadi related her encounter with a girl at the mandir earlier today. Her name was Pragya. With Daasi's help, Daadi described her to a tee and I knew the girl she had met was none other than my Pragya Di.
Laughing at the coincidence, I narrated my story as to how I met Di in the bookshop and how she was the one who saved me after my accident. I made sure to mention how she contacted Bhai and comforted him while waiting in the hospital. Especially, how she saw him as just Abhishek, not Rockstar Abhi.
As Daadi aur Daasi were excitedly talking about Pragya Di, my subconscious mind began recalling the phone conversation I had earlier today. Pragya Di asked about Bhai hesitantly and she got all agitated when I told her Bhai didn't sleep.
Most importantly, she said the same thing as Bhai. "You Bhai will say that you have done even more for him." Jiggling my memories, I realized Bhai said the exact same thing. "You have done more for me than I have done for you."
Talk about great minds thinking alike. I realized that even though she met him only once, she understood him. I replayed her worried voice saying that he will fall sick if he doesn't sleep and that he was difficult to console. Aaliya! How could you have been so blind! My mind screamed at me.
"Aaliya!!", Daasi shook me out of my thoughts literally.
"Does your Bhai like Pragya?", she asked me intently.
"I don't know Daasi.", I told her shaking my head.
My two grandmothers looked disappointed like children who have been scolded at. I knew I had to do something. This was a lucky card which had fallen onto our laps. I couldn't miss this by having butter fingers. Think Aaliya!! For heaven's sake, THINK!!
"There is a way to find out.", I smirked mischievously as Daadi and Daasi looked at me.
"How?", they asked in unison.
"Mein Rockstar Abhi ki behen hoon.", I said proudly.
"Just sit here and relax. I'll be back in a minute.", I said before sprinting out of the room.
I peeped into Bhai's room. It was dark, he was sound asleep. Thank God! Slipping in like mouse, I crawled on all fours towards the side table using my phone's dim light.
Somehow, I felt like a dog looking for food. Pushing those stupid thoughts away, I slowly opened the drawer. Stealing in your own house Aaliya? My mind asked me. How embarrassing, I thought to myself. Well, anything for the best brother in the world.
There it was. He wrote his thoughts and feelings in it. It was his secret friend. Bhai's red diary was staring right back at me and I beamed in delight.
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Edited by abi5991 - 9 years ago
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