Hello!! I am so sorry for the late update!! Enjoy!!
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Chapter 4
In the Aurora household
What an unexpected day it was, I thought to myself. Setting the groceries on the dining table, I walked into my room to find it empty. Where have this Bulbul and Purvi gone off to now, I wondered as I took my towel from the cupboard. It had been a blazing day and I desperately wanted to have a cold shower.
"Pragya! Do you want your ginger chai now?", Ma suddenly popped her head into the room.
"Oh Ma! Stop scaring me like that!", I whined at her while holding my chest.
"Hahaha, I am sorry meri bacche. Shall I make the ginger chai later?.", she asked sweetly.
"Yes Ma, I want to have a shower. Where are Bulbul and Purvi?", I asked her.
"They have gone to buy some accessories for Purvi's college culturals. She is the main dancer na this year!", Ma beamed.
"Ah okay! Aur Daadi and Jhanki Ma?", I asked her realizing that they were missing as well.
"They have gone to the mandir beta. You go have your shower and I'll finish making dinner.", she said and left.
It was refreshing to stand underneath the shower which hit me with ice cool water. The weather was bad and it hardly ever rained these days. I changed into my clothes and wrap my wet hair in a towel, twisting it like a doughnut and secured it. A similar habit as Ma's. I entered the hall and found Ma preparing dinner while humming a tune.
"Let me help you Ma.", I said as I entered the kitchen.
"It's all done Pragya. Just help me place them on the dining table.", Ma said as she handed me two tupperwares with chappati and dhal.
"We are home!!!", came a loud voice.
Ma and I looked up to see Bulbul walking in with Purvi holding two big bags.
"About time you two came home!", Ma scowled at her two daughters.
"Offo Baadi Ma! We are sorry, but the traffic was bad.", Purvi said as she set the bags on the sofa.
"Haan Ma, the traffic was bad and the shop was awfully crowded. It's not even Diwali yet.", Bulbul said as she walked up to me.
"You both need to think of better excuses. I am tired of hearing the same ones like a broken tape recorder.", Ma said in a huff and went to the kitchen.
"Di! Why is Ma like this?!", Bulbul wailed as she hugged me.
"Haha. She's right Bulbul. Even I am bored of the same excuses.", I said tickling her.
"Di! This is unjust! Daadi aur Ma aren't home yet na! Why do we get the scolding?", Purvi said as she hugged me from the other side.
"Trying to use us as scapegoats to escape, aren't you?", came a sarcastic reply from the entrance.
"Daadi!", my sisters and I said at the same time, looking to see Daadi and Jhanki Ma standing with their hands on their hips. What a pose, I thought to myself.
"What Daadi? We are elders and we can come home anytime we wanted.", Daadi said looking at Jhanki Ma, who nodded in agreement.
"Is that so? Then who will take care of the children when they get home?", came a pretty saucy reply from the kitchen.
"Arre Sarla! When will you ever learn that our girls are all grown up?", Daadi grunted and went to sit on the sofa.
"Haan Didi, you need to stop pampering them.", Jhanki Ma said taking the plates Ma handed to her.
"Jhanki, stop supporting Beeji. They will always be my children.", Ma said walking out of the kitchen.
My family. Mismatched in personalities, but perfectly matched in love. We sat on the dining table and started having dinner. I served Bulbul and Purvi, while Jhanki Ma served Daadi and Ma.
"How was your day Purvi?", I asked my sister.
"It was okay Di. We had our practice for the cultural programme and Bulbul Di came to pick me up when college ended.", she said tearing a piece of chappati.
"And you Bulbul?", I asked while scooping the dhal for her.
"Office was fine Di. I left a little early to fetch Purvi and we went shopping.", she said.
"Didn't Purab miss you?", Purvi asked cheekily.
"Shut up Purvi!", Bulbul blushing a faint red.
"Which reminds me, you slept like a log after coming home late yesterday Bulbul. I didn't want to bombard you with questions when you had your dinner, so I thought of asking you today morning. But, you ran off before I had the chance.", Ma said which triggered my memory as well.
"Did Purab beta talk to his family about you? What did they say? Or are you hiding something from me?", Ma asked giving her a suspicious look.
"Oh Ma!! I am not hiding anything! In fact, I have some extremely happy and shocking news!!", she beamed like a thousand watt bulb.
"Then, tell us!", Daadi spoke up.
She related her meeting with Purab and his elder brother. It seems that his elder brother was actually his best friend who wanted Purab to marry his sister. But understanding that Purab had fallen in love with Bulbul, they had happily called off the alliance.
As she was explaining, my mind wondered to the elder brother and his sister. How understanding and open minded they must be that they had compromised? Purab was not related to them by blood.
He and this elder brother of his just had years of friendship which had grown into a beautiful bond of brotherhood. And the girl who was supposed to marry Purab? She really must have a big heart to let go of her dreams for the sake of another person.
I felt happy and grateful to them. It would be nice to meet them, my mind voice spoke. They were a close knit family, as they had no parents, only their grandmother who had singlehandedly raised them. It reminded me so much of my own family.
After Dad passed away, Ma had raised us, feeding us with confidence, compassion and smart wits to survive in this world. But, she had Daadi and Jhanki Ma by her side. But, their Daadi was all alone, Purab's Daadi, I mentally smacked myself for forgetting. She must be a really strong willed woman.
"Sooo, his elder brother said that he will speak to his Daadi and let Purab know of when they would be coming over!!", Bulbul beamed.
"Accha, some good news! I was quite worried.", Ma said with tension in her voice.
"Oh god Sarla!! Would you stop being worried about every single thing?!!", Daadi growled at her.
"Beeji, you don't understand how this feels. I am a mother!", Ma complained.
"Then, what am I? A clown?", Daadi glared at her.
We roared in laughter at their childish antics. It was always like this and as the years passed, it only got worse.
"BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!!", Bulbul shrieked making us jump.
"DO YOU KNOW WHO HIS ELDER BROTHER IS?", she asked in a loud voice and I feared she would blow any second.
"Who?!!", we asked, not missing the timing.
"ROCKSTAR ABHI!!! ABHISHEK PREM MEHRA!!! THE ONE AND ONLY HOT AND SEXY ROCKSTAR ABHI!!!", she screamed at the top of her lungs.
The walls were radiating and probably the roof even moved a little. Everyone's mouth had dropped to the floor.
"WHAT??!!! YOU ARE JOKING?!!! ROCKSTAR ABHI IS PURAB'S BHAIYA?!!", Purvi screamed in return shaking the table.
"YES!! I AM TELLING THE TRUTH!!", Bulbul shouted nearly bringing the roof down.
"Calm down you two!!", Ma exclaimed.
"Wait a minute!! Ek minute!!!", I said raising my voice.
"Rockstar Abhi?", I said holding my head.
"What's wrong Pragya beta?", Jhanki Ma asked.
My mind was in overdrive. That means, Abhishek was Purab's brother and Aaliya must be the girl Purab was supposed to marry!!
"I met Abhishek and his sister Aaliya today.", I blurted out with my eyes wide open.
"Abhishek?", Ma asked me in confusion.
"Haan Ma! Abhishek, Abhishek Prem Mehra. Rockstar Abhi!", I said failing to keep the volume of my voice down.
"WHAT?!!", my family asked me looking shocked.
I started telling them of my encounter with Aaliya and our subsequent friendship at the bookshop yesterday. Then, about our planned lunch date and the unfortunate accident Aaliya was involved in. I explained to them that I had admitted her in the hospital and called her brother, who turned out to be the famous Rockstar.
"What a small world!", Daadi started laughing rubbing her eyes.
"Di!! This is not fair!! You met him??", Purvi whined.
"Pragya, how were they?", Ma asked holding my hand.
"Ma, they were wonderful. Do you know something? Aaliya is a really sweet and matured girl. And Abhishek is an exceptional brother! Both of them share a really precious bond and seeing them together brought me to tears Ma!", I told her placing my hand on hers.
"Ma, you know, when we were waiting outside the room for Aaliya to be treated, Abhishek had broken down. He was literally in tears Ma!!! Abhishek's face was in complete anguish thinking about his behen!!", I rumbled on loudly to my mother as his sad face came to my mind.
"How is Aaliya now?", Ma asked me smiling.
"She is fine Ma. Thank god! I stayed with them until he took her home.", I replied her.
"Abhishek had wanted to drop me home as well, but I asked him to bring Aaliya back as she needed to recover.", I continued, images of him carrying her to the car flashed before my eyes.
"Wow Di, what a day you had!! With Rockstar Abhi and his sister!", Bulbul said with a pang of jealousy in her voice.
"No Bulbul. Abhishek wasn't Rockstar Abhi today. He was just Abhishek, a loving brother.", I told her firmly.
"Daadi, Abhishek never had an ounce of arrogance that he was Rockstar Abhi!! He was so humble and polite!", I said gleefully looking at my grandmother.
"That's probably because you saved his sister Pragya and he must have noticed what a down to earth person you are.", Daadi said with pride.
"Abhishek was too.", I muttered to myself.
We finished our dinner albeit not really hiding the excitement which had filled the atmosphere. Ma and Jhanki Ma had herded us into our bedroom as it was already late.
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"Beeji, that's your last peg.", I told my mother-in-law.
"Oh Sarla!! I am so happy today! Don't spoil my mood.", she complained as she put her glass down.
She fondly referred to her alcohol as cough syrup and the name stuck like glue.
"Even I am happy Beeji, but a little worried as well.", I said which earned her irritation.
"There she goes again! Sarla, what am I going to do with you! What are you worried about now?", she asked me.
"I am happy that Purab's family have accepted the marriage. But Beeji, what about Pragya? How can Bulbul get married before her?", I asked with uneasiness.
"Sarla, are you deaf and blind?", my mother-in-law growled at me.
"What are you trying to say Beeji?!!", I asked her in frustration.
"Sarla, you are so naive sometimes! I wonder how you are a mother to two grown up daughters! Did you notice how Pragya's face lit up when she was speaking about Rockstar Abhi?", she asked me suddenly.
"We all referred to him as Rockstar Abhi, but your smart and practical daughter addressed him as Abhishek.", Beeji finished.
Her words triggered my memories at the dinner table. Pragya was so happy, in fact she was ecstatic when speaking about Aaliya and Abhishek, especially him. Towards, the end she did mutter something about him, which I didn't quite catch.
"Beeji, probably she was just excited that he was Purab's brother and besides, they have only met once", I said not clearly convinced.
"Everything needs to start from somewhere Sarla. Did you ever think in your wildest dreams that something like this would happen?", she asked rolling her eyes.
"Pragya is practical na, she is the complete opposite of Bulbul who goes by what her emotions say.", I reminded Beeji.
"Which is exactly my point. Why would your eldest daughter who thinks using her brains and wits most of the time, be so upbeat and entranced when speaking of Abhishek?", she hit me and I had no answer.
"Even you and your younger brother share a lovable and understanding bond. We all know that and admire it. What was so special about this particular siblings' relationship that had your daughter so frenzied?", Beeji hit me again.
"Was it the relationship only or was it Abhishek himself?", she asked me taking a sip of her cough syrup.
"So, you see, destiny and fate can never be controlled. Who knows we may get a good alliance for Pragya or she may find love in someone?", she said after finishing her drink.
"Just relax Sarla and see what happens. Go and sleep, and don't bother me with your never ending tension!", Beeji got up and left my head in complete haywire.
I couldn't relax, but what Beeji mentioned about Pragya was true. An alliance? She may find love? Beeji definitely had Abhishek in her mind when she said this, I am sure of it.
He was a celebrity, a famous Rockstar, how would Pragya share a life with him if by chance it happens. These celebrities were high flying characters with shape shifting personalities, one minute they were married, six months later they were divorced.
Would Pragya fall in love with him? Would he even turn to look at Pragya in that way? I was engulfed in endless questions which I had no answer to.
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Bulbul and Purvi were fast asleep, but I couldn't. My stubborn mind was replaying the events that happened today. What a coincidence. But was it really a coincidence or something more? No! It's pure coincidence, my brain yelled at me. Are you sure? Probably it was something more, maybe destiny, my heart whispered.
I didn't have an answer, yet the sweet whisper of my heart seemed to overpower the rational brain. Abhishek. What a charming name. Rockstar Abhi was his stage name, his brand name, his identity for the nation. It wasn't him as person, as an individual. The man I met today was just Abhishek Prem Mehra.
I stared at my hands in the moonlight which poured silvery rays through the open window. My hands had touched him. Comforted him. I don't normally do that, not to even men I know. So, why him? Why Abhishek? Wait, he touched me as well. His large hand was softly over mine. If it was some other man, I would have instinctively brushed it off.
Why didn't I do that? It felt nice and warm. A sense of lightheartedness. Why did his tear stricken face and tormented voice make me bitter? He was after all, just a stranger. Why was I compelled to console him? I did it listening to my heart.
I addressed him as Mr. Abhishek much to my brain's delight. Nevertheless, why did my heart flutter slightly when I called him as Abhishek? Why did my heart soar when he happily allowed me to do so? During dinner today, I was so elated talking about him. Just mentioning his name made me sort of delirious.
Although my brain shouted at me relentlessly to regain my composure, I had listened to my heart. What will Ma think? What will Daadi think? At the moment, neither did I bother nor did I care. Was it because of him being Purab's brother? It couldn't be. Then, I would have spoken about Purab or Aaliya. Most of what escaped my lips was Abhishek, Abhishek and Abhishek.
The unconditional love for Aaliya. He treated me with kindness and was a perfect gentleman. Abhishek's love for Aaliya touched me, but I felt something else. A tiny wish, a yearn. Why? I don't know. My mind was swirling in emotions, but they pointed in the direction of enchantment and bliss when I imagined him. His smile.
My brain's voice was lost in this swarm of feelings slowly building in my body. Think Pragya, you have met him once only and he is a Rockstar, my brain fought through. Don't think Pragya, you have thought all your life, for once just listen to me, my heart soothingly filled my ears.
The images of him kept lingering as I drifted off to sleep, while listening to "Happy Love" through my earphones which were plugged into Bulbul's phone.
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~Chapter 5~
Edited by abi5991 - 9 years ago
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