In this story, Abhigya are divorced for six months due to some unfortunate events and for an unspecified reason, their families refuse to let them get back together. They still love each other tremendously but are forced to live apart and the only time they did manage to talk was when Pragya made Abhi promise he wouldn't try meeting her until she herself came to meet him first. Despite Abhi protesting, crying and begging to not make him stay apart from her like this, he finally gave in when Pragya told him to trust her and promised he would never lose her.
"Just a few months and we'll be together again, I promise," she had said, caressing Abhi's face, slowly wiping away his tears as he wiped away hers.
The two remained unmarried, fending off any attempts their families made to get them married to other people as the two families still suspected Abhigya had feelings for each other (even if they were acting as if they had moved on) despite their extreme measures to keep them apart. But this particular day, Abhi have to take desperate measures to be with' Pragya...
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Abhi was India's only rockstar. On a Friday morning, at the mall, when Abhi wanted to be absolutely alone (well, it would have been better if Pragya was there with him of course), the most important part of that sentence was probably India' and he had to be in full disguise. If anyone recognised him, he may have never gotten home by nightfall, and all he wanted to do was to buy a book.
The last time he had bought a proper book was back in his school days and even then, he barely read. But recently, he was missing Pragya so much, he had been trying any way possible to somehow feel closer to her. Knowing her immense love for books and remembering the hours and hours she spent buried in those mysterious pages (he loathed them to some extent for taking up the time she could have spent with him instead), he decided perhaps a book would somehow be a portal to her. He had been feeling particularly uneasy and upset (it had gone as far as him having lost his appetite) and was desperate to find some means of feeling Pragya close to him. Waiting to see the moon every night (something Abhi knew Pragya must also be doing from her room's window) was too long a wait from morning to night- he needed something more immediate' and a book seemed like a good idea.
His attempts to find Pragya in everything he did had actually gotten him into trouble sometimes. One day, when Dadi was praying, he silently went and stood next to her, thinking Pragya likes to pray, so I will too'. When Dadi saw him, she became annoyed, knowing her grandson was not praying at all but thinking of Pragya and shooed him away from the MM mandir. On the way to work, Abhi had once stopped to drink at a roadside shop, only to be recognised by passers-by and the next day, his picture was on the Celebrity News' section of the paper (which Pragya read by coincidence and had laughed and cried to herself, noting how her rockstar's helpless state in the picture reflected her own).
When he reached the bookstore, he found himself looking all around for Pragya, expecting her to be hiding somewhere amongst the books. To his disappointment, there was no Fuggy in sight so he finally resigned to actually looking for a book.
Poetry... she likes poetry. Abhi tried reading some poetry. He learnt he wasn't very into any poetry beside Pragya's.
Romance novel? No, that would just make him feel sad about his own adhuri' love story.
Non-fiction- okay, what does that word even mean?!
After much difficulty and failed attempts, he settled on an adventure, mystery novel called A Hint of Red' and to his surprise, with a murder described on the very first page of the book, he found himself hooked there and then. He had only picked up the book because the author sounded familiar (did Pragya have a book by this guy?). Maybe reading isn't going to be that bad at all.
He walked over to the counter, feeling excited to be finally experiencing something that had kept his wife so engrossed all her life. Maybe he'd understand her better now? The way she had embraced his music, his art, as one of her own passions had done wonders for their relationship. They even sang together and those moments were when he enjoyed his music the most. Maybe they could even read together from now on... when Pragya's back to me... when will that day come?!!!
Amidst his excitement, he was suddenly surprised to hear a man, about his age and waiting with him at the counter, say "I liked that book." The stranger smiled.
Abhi stared at him and managed a "Huh?"
"That book- it's really good."
"Oh... it seems good..." Abhi said, taking another good look at the book.
"Have you read any other books by this author?" the stranger asked politely.
"No, I've never read any books," mumbled Abhi to himself.
"Pardon?"
"No, I meant, my wife reads a lot. She's probably read some by this author..." Abhi said rather absentmindedly.
"So is this book for your wife?"
Abhi looked down at the book. Technically, it was for Pragya. He smiled and nodded in agreement.
"You must love her a lot," the man said smiling, pleased to have met such an unusual but loving husband of a very lucky wife.
"'A lot' doesn't quite cut it," Abhi said, more to himself.
The man looked at Abhi for a while and smiled, extending a hand.
"Hi, my name is Rahul Das."
Abhi shook his hand, "I'm Manav," Abhi made up.
The two paid for their books and exited the shop together.
"I really like you, Manav. I feel like I could learn a lot from you," Rahul said, smiling as always. Abhi noted he was a very pleasant guy and was surprised by how comfortable he felt around him. He almost felt bad for lying to him about his name. Would it really have been that bad to say his name was Abhishek? There were probably hundreds, if not thousands, of Abhisheks and what were the chances Rahul would guess he was the Abhishek Prem Mehra?
"And why would you say that?" Abhi asked.
"I'm getting married in two days and I need some advice," Rahul said, looking rather worried.
Hearing this, Abhi cracked up laughing, surprising Rahul. He laughed at how ridiculous it sounded to have someone ask him for advice about marriage. Sure, he could possibly say a thing or two about love because Abhi knew his definition of love' was simply everything to do with Pragya', but marriage was still something he had not mastered yet. Heck, staying married to his love was what he had been struggling to do since the day he married Pragya.
Seeing Rahul's perplexed expression, Abhi tried to explain, "Listen buddy, all I can say is that marriage is wonderful if you marry the right girl and you both treat each other right. It's complicated- rituals, and all these rules in society that I myself don't understand- but as long as you stay each other's best friends, try and understand each other and find love in the small things, you should be okay..." Abhi said, reminiscing his own good times with the woman he still considered his wife.
Rahul's faces brightened up a little. "Say Manav, what is your wife's name?"
"Pra-" Abhi fell silent. Pragya could only be the wife of Abhi, not some Manav'. The next name that came to mind was, "Bulbul."
"Oh! Isn't that funny?!" Rahul said in excitement.
"She is a little a funny," Abhi said with a certain fondness remembering his saali.
"No, I meant, my future sister-in-law's name is Bulbul- though I've never met her. She lives overseas with her husband."
"Is that so...?" Abhi said, slightly alarmed. Purab and Bulbul live in London...
"This will be my second marriage. I hope this works out though- I really like my wife-"
"-You haven't married her yet. She's not your wife," Abhi said, suddenly feeling it an absolute necessity to point that out. No, it can't be... With a hint of panic, Abhi asked, "Say, what's the name of the girl you're marrying?"
"Pragya."
Abhi's heart stopped. Her name rang in his ears, over and over and over again, echoing about everywhere. He clenched his fists tightly so that they went a deathly white.
"Her name is Pragya Arora but she keeps referring to herself as Pragya Mehra-"
"Pragya Abhishek Prem Mehra," Abhi corrected under his breath. He felt a surge of emotion hearing her name with his. She still loved him. She still thought of him. She was still his and always would be. She was in so much pain. The pain he had been feeling day and night suddenly felt insignificant. Why couldn't I have been there with her?! He was on the verge of tears- tears of pain, love, happiness, sadness and pure anger...
"Her mum explained to me that she was still not over her ex-husband but I don't blame her. To be honest, I'm not over my ex either. But she's beautiful, yaar, and so smart and caring. She's perfect. And once she becomes Prag-"
"Don't you dare say her name..." Abhi said in a low ominous voice.
Confused, Rahul thought he had heard wrong and continued with his talking, "I'll take her to Canada and then she'll forget he ever ex-"
In a split second, Rahul was on the ground, clenching his head where Abhi had punched him square on.
"YOU CAN'T TAKE MY PRAGYA AWAY FROM ME! Not to Canada! Not to anywhere! She's staying with me! She's mine! And if you try to so much as look at her, I will kill you!" Abhi was fuming. His disguise had come off and he didn't care that a group of onlookers had gathered on the scene. He didn't care that he had blood on his fist or hot tears running down his cheeks. He could only think of her. How could someone even think of taking her away from him?! Without a second thought, he pushed blindly through the crowd and in what seemed like a feverish daze, he found himself in Pragya's mum's living room in no time.
"Where's Pragya?!" He shouted as he entered.
Sarla stood up from the sofa, shocked. "How dare you come here-?!!!"
She helplessly watched as Abhi bashed through doors and searched any room he could find. He was like a ravenous beast, thirsty and unquenchable till he had found what he was yearning for. He was crying nonstop, angry and upset, calling put Pragya's name at the top of his lungs.
Sarla knew it was no use trying to stop him. She watched, horrified.
Then a call for help amongst the chaos. "Suniye!!! I'm here! Please!!!" Pragya was crying as well, pounding the door of a room hidden away in the corner of the house.
In a second, Abhi was at the door, warning Pragya to stay away from the door as he pounded against it with his full body. He had never felt so desperate before. He was only a door away from seeing her.
At last, the door gave way and in his next conscious moment, Pragya was crying in his arms, her body frail from days of protesting, not eating nor drinking and constantly crying.
No wonder he had felt so restless for the past couple of days. No more. This has gone on for long enough. I don't care anymore. She's staying with me.
Abhi held her so tightly, he was scared he may even crush her in his arms. But Pragya didn't seem to care at all. She dug even deeper into his chest, beckoning him for his touch and warmth and Abhi was responding with no reservations. Abhi was relieved to finally have her in his arms where he could keep her safe. He cherished how she fit into his body like a perfect glove. He cherished how close' was not close enough'. He cherished her.
"Suniye...!" Pragya said between tears that shook both her and him, "No one understands our love! Take me away from here! Please! Where it's just the two of us! I... I beg you!!!" Pragya burst into a fit of more tears and Abhi buried his hands into the back of her head, tangling his fingers in her hair, trying to calm her down. He, of course, was crying too- more from happiness than anything else.
"It took you this long to figure that out?!!!" Abhi said, almost laughing. "I missed you so, so much, Pragya! You have no idea!" Abhi tilted his head upwards briefly, as if to thank God.
"I...*hic*... missed you too!"
"I'm never listening to you again! You come up with the worst solutions! How could you even think of staying away from me?!" Abhi said, his anger evident. No one can stop me now from staying with her. Not even Pragya herself.
"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry..."
"You better be! Did you know- I was going to read today to try and be like you?!"
Pragya looked up from Abhi's chest, shocked. "You were going to do what?!"
Abhi let out a laugh, "I know!!! Ridiculous, right?!"
Pragya allowed herself to laugh with him. They were finally together. Everything was going to be okay. No more staying apart from him- ever. Or else her rockstar husband may do something as ridiculous as reading a book!
She was going to read to him and he was going to sing to her. This was how it was meant to be and meant to stay.
Anupamaa
Real Estate
622