Always with you... abhigya os

''Ugghh yaar someone turn down the sun it's too bright " he complained in his sleep.

"Rise and shine superstar! Come on you have to wake up. You can't sleep in all day"

Abhi knew that voice too well, it was the voice that was embedded in his brain. He couldn't go one day without listening to it.

"Come on chashmish, just 5 more minutes. Please have some mercy" he whined into his pillow, turning his head to the other side to avoid the scorching sun.

"Nope no mercy, come on" pragya tried to reason with him

But when she saw he was already drifting back to sleep, she had to go to her last resort.

"Aakhri baar pooch rahi hoon, will you get up or no?"

The grunt she received in reply just added fuel to her already intense anger.

She grabbed the already waiting pitcher of ice cold water on the side table with frustration and without thinking twice dumped all its contents Straight on abhi's head.

Abhi jumped up completely awake and very cold. But not at all surprised after all this was a regular morning ritual of their's.

"Pragya, I'm getting sick and tired of this." Abhi said feigning anger "You can't keep treating me like this. You have to show me some respect after all I am your f-"

But abhi's pretense was interrupted with a burst of giggles.

Pragya stood there giggling away. "You may be the best singer in the world but you could use some acting lessons."

The sight of his chashmish standing there just laughing away unaware of the cruelties life was capable of throwing your way warmed abhi's heart. If he had to choose one sight to always remember in his life, then it would be this one. But abhi looked away he didn't want to look too long at her and unintentionally cast an evil eye on her. He wasn't superstitious but he could never take risks with his pragya's happiness. He knew life was very unfair it could give you the world of happiness only to sweep them out from under your feet the very next moment. He of all people knew it very well.

He was brought out from his reverie with a towel on his head.

He looked at pragya in an inquisitive manner.

"I don't want you to catch a cold, I don't like it when you are uncomfortable." She said innocently.

Abhi couldn't help but admire her. He was so lucky to have her.

"OK go get dressed I'm going to go to the kitchen to eat a Gulab jamun. I'm hungry"

"Kya? Gulab ja- subha subha meetha mat khao. It's not good for you. Pragya!" Abhi hollered after her.

But it was too late she was already sliding her way down the railing of the staircase.

*****************

Abhi came out of the shower drying his hair and whistling when his gaze fell upon the calendar.

"7th March" he breathed as tears formed at the brim of his eyes threatening to make their way down.

Suddenly he could hear everything again, the honking of the car, the blood curdling scream and the sound of his world crashing down.

Two words said to him snapped him out of his heart wrenching memory.

"What's wrong " asked pragya worriedly looking up from her book.

"Nothing" Abhi smiled gently.

"Then Don't make that face because a) it worries me and b) I'm at a very important part in my book so it distracts me" pragya reprimanded.

Even when chashmish scolded him he Felt immeasurable love and adoration for her. He walked up to her and lifted her in the air.

She squealed in surprise then started laughing.

"You made me drop my book" she said pretending to be annoyed just as abhi had in the morning.

Abhi put her down.

"sorry dadima" he joked.

"Hawww don't say that I'm not a grandmother."

"Yes you are, you even have the glasses to prove it." Abhi said pinching pragya's nose in affection.

"Acha sorry you're not a dadima you are my princess. My chashmish princess. I love you." Abhi said.

"I love you too" pragya smiled. "You love me more than anyone else right?"

Abhi's face had a sad smile. "Nope there is one person i love more than you."

At first his reply puzzled pragya then realisation dawn upon her.

"Oh yea I love her more than anyone else too. Even more than you" pragya nodded knowingly.

"Let's go meet her" Abhi said

While pragya said "i want to visit her right now" at the same time.

Both chuckled and put their arms around each other and headed off to meet the single most important person in their lives.

********************

Abhi stood there with his eyes closed and felt the wind rushing towards him. It was as if he felt her presence there.

"Hi maama" he heard pragya say in front of him.

And he opened his eyes and saw pragya crouching down in front of the marble stone in front of her and stroking it lovingly.

Abhi's eyes wandered to the headboard attached to the marble stone and read the inscription on it;

Pragya Abhishek Mehra