Abhigya FF ~Jaise Tum Na... Waise Hum~ Completed

Adiandsid thumbnail
Visit Streak 1000 Thumbnail Visit Streak 750 Thumbnail + 8
Posted: 3 years ago
#1

Presenting an Abhigya FF. My take on the current leap. Will be around 10 chapters. I pick up the story from Pragya and Sushma on the way home from the airport. Chapter 1 is pretty similar to what was shown. Hope its an interesting read.

Abhigya FF

Jaise Tum Na... Waise Hum


Chapter 1: Pragya Returns to Delhi

Chapter 2: Abhi's new lifestyle

Chapter 3: Purab meets Pragya

Chapter 4: Abhi sees Pragya

Chapter 5: Abhi gets injured

Chapter 6: Sushma's words bewilder Abhi

Chapter 7: Purab questions Pragya

Chapter 8: Pragya tells her truth to Purab

Chapter 9: Abhi kidnaps Sushma

Chapter 10: Reunion.


--

Thanks for all the 👍🏼's and ❤️'s.

Edited by Adiandsid - 3 years ago

Created

Last reply

Replies

11

Views

3.3k

Users

1

Likes

50

Frequent Posters

Adiandsid thumbnail
Visit Streak 1000 Thumbnail Visit Streak 750 Thumbnail + 8
Posted: 3 years ago
#2

Chapter 1

Sushma noticed the tensed look on Pragya’s face as their driver negotiated the traffic. Pragya hadn’t spoken anything to her throughout the journey – just some glances of approval and agreement were all she had given as they went through the formalities at the airports. She preferred to sleep on the flight too and apart from the pleasantries she exchanged with the flight attendants, she preferred to keep by herself. She did say something to the driver before they got into the car, but hadn’t bothered to inform her what it was about, and neither did Sushma find it necessary to ask.


Pragya’s silence was something she was used to, but Sushma felt concerned today. Coming back to the city where you were conspired to be killed is not something that she could empathise with, but something she wanted to help her with. And Pragya hadn’t yet talked about how she plans to go about punishing her husband and his co-conspirators – the sole reason for her coming back here.


She felt good that despite the visible tension, Pragya had the same focused and sharp look that she had associated with her over the past couple of years – which to her, were signs of the courage, determination, and willfulness that she had always seen in her. It’s the thing that had brought her where she is now – a very capable and successful businesswoman. But she was also aware that what she may be going through will not be pleasant for her.


She was scared of what might be in store for her daughter but was sure to be besides her come what may. She held her hand and said, ‘Pragya… don’t worry. I am with you’, but wondered whether she was reassuring herself or Pragya, for apart from the first few days after she had met her, where she was quite shaken and broken, Pragya never needed any reassurance from her. She felt that perhaps it’s she herself who needed some reassurance that she will be with her daughter this time around – something she failed to do before.


Pragya looked at her, tightened her lips, and after a brief moment nodded, and moved her mouth to say a thank you, without actually saying it, and moved on to look ahead, anticipating that the driver would turn towards Saket. Sushma noticed the pain in her eyes and wanted to comfort her, but was surprised that the car took a turn.

‘Hum is raaste se kyu jaa rahe hein?’ Sushma asked.

“Shortcut hai” Pragya replied.

“Shortcut?” Sushma asked and looked at Pragya, a bit surprised but taking a guess as to what’s going on.


Pragya, though, was busy looking around. She tensed up a bit as they passed through the familiar neighbourhood – the Shiva temple, the grocery store, the garden and the bench where she had shared ice-cream cones with Abhi when he was sick, the parking lot where she had to hide Abhi when he was chased by the goon moments later, the clinic, and a couple of blocks from there – the Mehra Mansion. She patted on the drivers shoulder signalling him to stop after they passed the gate of her erstwhile home and then looked at Sushma and said, “Wahan… peeche woh… medical shop se paani lekar aati hu”. Pragya got down the car, took a deep breath, and walked towards Mehra Mansion.


She had always planned to do it this way – walk straight up to Abhi and stare at his eyes. She wanted to see the fear in his eyes as she announces that she is not dead but very much alive and kicking, that too right in front of him. If he is not at home, find out where he is and do it, even if it be in the middle of a meeting for him. She didn’t care how busy he was or whether he was with Alia, Tanu, or some new person in his life.


She glanced at the name plate and remembered how she had rather foolishly and religiously touched and ran her fingers over it when she had entered the home after 20 years, as if she were entering some kind of a sanctum. It used to be a sanctum for her – the place she had lived the best months of her marriage, the place where the love of her life lived. But now she couldn’t help thinking how foolish she was to think so.


The gate reminded her of the day she had to force herself inside with the help of the guards – the day he had taken Meera to the temple and she wanted to stop that wedding. It made her think how foolish she was to believe Abhi wanted to marry her instead of Meera. She cursed herself under her breath for forcing herself on his life that day, for, though he may have loved her, he never wanted her in his life. And even if he did it was always painful for her. Perhaps she would’ve been much better off without him and he … he’d have happier without her around.


She opened the gate and noticed nothing much had changed. But that feeling didn’t last long. She noticed that the walls needed to be painted and the lawn was not as well kept as it used to be. She didn’t see Abhi’s car and guessed he wont be at home. Memories of her being thrown out by Alia and Tanu flashed in her mind as she took a couple of steps inside the gate. She was stopped by who she thought was the guard, but was surprised to see a plain clothed watchman.


“Ji madam kin se milna hai aapko?’ the watchman asked.

Pragya looked at him. He wasn’t a familiar face – an old guy and definitely someone who wont be employed in their erstwhile security agency. “Abhi… Abhishek Prem Mehra” she said.

“Madam woh to ab yahan nahi rehte”, the guard said.

Pragya was surprised at that. “To kahan? Sainik farms wale bungalow me?”

“Nahi madam, pata nahi… Abhi sir to …” he said after a brief hesitation, “Abhi sir to ghar choddke chale gaye… kisiko pata nahi woh kahan hai’.

“Ghar chodke chale gaye?’

“Ji… unke patni ke jaane ke baad woh yaha kabhi nahi aaye.”

Pragya was surprised at that too – not just that the watchman seemed to talk a lot without asking much, but also that Tanu is now dead or did he mean left him?

“Patni? … Tanu?”

“Nahi madam… Tanu madam to yahi hai… woh… woh koyi aur thi… kuch naam bataya tha purane watchman ne… yaad nahi.”

“To yaha kaun rehte hai? Alia aur Tanu?”

“Ji madam… aur Mithali madam bhi.”

“Aur Dadi?’

“Nahi… kisi dadi ko maine yahan kabhi nahi dekha..”

“Aap yaha kab se kaam kar rahe hai? Woh Ramesh nahi hai kya?”

“kuch dedh saal se… Ramesh mera rishtedaar hai. Uska to contract hai na… to woh doosre jagah pe hai… Usine mujhe yahan aaneko kaha.”

“Theek hai, Thank you” Pragya started to walk away.

“Madam … aap kaun?”


She didn’t care to look back and walked towards the car where Sushma was waiting for her. “Kya hua?” Sushma asked, “medical shop me paani nahi mila kya?”

Pragya looked at her, “Nahi woh… Actually, ye …” she said pointing towards the gate, “ye unhi ka ghar hai…” and after a short pause “Abhi… Abhi ka”.

“Mujhe pata tha ki tumhara ye short cut kis raste se jaa raha hai” Sushma said and comforted her by holding her shoulder “Pragya … beta agar tumhe yaha aana hi tha to mein tumhe nahi rokti… tumhe mujhse jhoot bolne ki jaroorat nahi hai.”

“I’m sorry” Pragya said and opened the door. She got into the car and Sushma got in after her.

“Ab office chalein?” Sushma asked.

“Nahi… Aaj nahi…actually, I am very tired… hum ghar chalte hai” Pragya replied, “aapke ghar”.

“Ok… I’ll cancel the meetings then…” Sushma said, “Naresh… Ghar chalo”.


Pragya felt odd that she referred to Sushma’s home as ‘Aapka ghar’. She had always associated Mehra Mansion to be her home, even in the days when she had lived in Hoshiyarpur. Mehra Mansion was her rightful home which she had left and later had come back to. It felt odd now, that she could have anything she wants in the world but no place that she could call ‘my home’. Though she loved and respected Sushma and was grateful for what she has done for her, living with her was never like living in her home. For a brief moment the question lingered in her mind ‘Where is my home?’ and was a bit frustrated that she got images of Mehra Mansion in her mind and even more so cause those memories had Abhi in them.


She was aware that the CCTV cameras would have picked her talking to the watchman. But she didn’t care. After all, there is nothing much Alia, Tanu, and Abhi can do to her now. She felt something odd when she thought about Abhi… ‘mere accident ke baad woh ghar choddke chale gaye?’ Something about that felt amiss to her… but she didn’t know what.

“Beta… are you Ok” Sushma asked.

Pragya looked at her, smiled, and nodded a yes. It was a 15 min drive to Sushma’s home and Pragya was lost in her own thoughts, confused, trying to make sense of the things she had learnt.

- - -


Edited by Adiandsid - 3 years ago
Adiandsid thumbnail
Visit Streak 1000 Thumbnail Visit Streak 750 Thumbnail + 8
Posted: 3 years ago
#3

Chapter 2

Abhigya’s bedroom, Mehra Mansion

“Suniye… Uthiye...” Pragya said, stroking Abhi’s hair and placed the coffee cup on the side table.

“Sone do na please” Abhi said with a cringe as he turned to the other side of the bed.

“Dekhiye ye dopahar ko sone ki aadat naa… aapko badalni padegi” she said as she walked towards the sofa and folded the laundry, “Mote hote jaa rahe ho aap”

“Hmm… Mota hoon par…” he said with a sheepish grin, turning towards her, “tumhara hoon”

“Coffee layi hu aapke liye” she said folding a bedsheet, “pee lijiye”.

Excited, he opened his eyes but then acted to be disappointed “Coffee?”

“Haan coffee” she said, placing a folded sheet on the sofa.

“Tumhe kya laga, coffee peene se meri neend chali jayegi?”

“Nahiii… mein to … aise soch bhi kaise sakti hu” she said in a mocking tone as she walked towards the bed, sat next to him and continued to fold the laundry “Aap to rockstar hai na … Aapko to...”.


“Ek minute… Ek minute” he interrupted, sat up on the bed and looked around for a while as if some thing is really wrong. He got tensed, stared at her for a while, touched her right cheek with his forefinger, got surprised, and said “arey… ye sapna nahi hai?”.

She looked at him curiously and his surprise turned into seriousness, “Par… Par… Tum Yahan?”.

She came closer and asked with a mocking smile, “Kyu? Mein yahan nahi aa sakti?”

A bit embarrassed, he said, “Nahi… mera matlab hai … mujhe bohot achcha laga tum yahan aayi… par…” he said, “par… tum to… tum to … gayi thi na?” signalling with his fingers that she is dead.

She came closer to him until their noses almost touched, stared at his eyes and said “Mein kabhi aapse door ja sakti hu? Aur woh bhi aapke birthday pe?” and raised her eyebrows once. Their eyes locked for a few moments after which she retreated and said “Woh sab choddiye… coffee pee lijiye.. thandi ho jayegi” and got up from the bed, picked up the folded laundry from the sofa, and walked towards the changing room.

“Hey… ek minute” he said and reached out to hold her hand, which startled him out of his sleep, jolting him on his cot.

Chawl

A dejected Abhi got up and sat on the cot, let out a sigh, and thought Oh…to mein aaj bhi jinda hoon and buried his face with his palms.


This cot outside his friends room in the chawl had become his home ever since he had left his past behind. Abhi had stayed back in his Sainik Farms bungalow for a month even though everyone else had moved to Mehra Mansion a week after Pragya’s accident. Dadi stayed with him for a while and then he asked her to move in with her sons. After she left, he left his life of luxury too.


He wanted to go as far away as possible and many times felt he better move to the other side of the world – not the US or Canada, but somewhere like South America or Australia. He seriously considered moving to Australia a couple of times and even completed his visa formalities for the same, but it was the hope that Pragya would come back that made him stay in Delhi. He knew he was holding on to the last thread of hope, for they had searched for her in all possible places and all they found was one of her jhumkaas, stuck on the mangled steering wheel of her car. But the fact that she had come back from her supposed death before, kept his hopes alive.


He found it difficult to go unrecognised as he roamed around in Delhi for the first couple of days, but soon found a way out – go bald – and with the extra pounds that he had put on, he soon became almost an anonymous person on the streets of Delhi. He had no issues with money – had a few accounts and sources that none of his family members except Purab knew about, not even Pragya, for they never got enough time to talk about it. He was a billionaire who now preferred to live the life of a vagabond.


He did two things often however – visit Saritaji and his neighbours at Mehra Mansion and Saink farms. Saritaji had often insisted that he stay with her, but he turned down her offer all the time. The lifestyle he was moving into, he feared, wont go well with her, and he was in no mood to have any more relationships in his life. But he always made it a point to visit her once every ten days or so, not just to know if she had learnt anything about Pragya, but also to check in on her health, which was slowly deteriorating.


With his neighbours at Mehra Mansion and Sainik farms – he had made arrangements to fix a CCTV camera facing his house so that he could see if Pragya comes there. He knew Alia and Tanu will never let him know if she ever came back and he had no hopes on Rhea and Mithali too. He would check in on the footage every week or so, but with no luck. Four months into his life in the chawl, it was through this footage that he came to know something else.


“Sirji… coffee.” Prashant said, holding out a glass for Abhi.

“Coffee…” Abhi said with a smile, “Aaj meri Fuggi ne bhi mere liye coffee laya tha”.

Prashant looked at him, smiled wistfully, and said “I am sure, is se to achchi hi hogi.”

Abhi smiled back, took the glass from him, had a sip, and nodded a yes.

“Sirji ek call aaya tha, audition ke liye” Prashant said, “Koi Marcus talent management”

“Marcus?” Abhi asked, picked up his phone and searched for it, “Mmarcus, double m … Oh … Sushma Tandon… I’ve met her … kuch 4-5 saal pehle … humare saath partnership karna chahti thi … I was keen, par kuch problem hua … bohot time baad pata chala ki Alia nahi chahti thi ye partnership karne… suits her well … suna hai ki isine mere… yani … ab jo Alia ki company hai use apni aukat dikhayi hai … dekh lo… offer achcha lage to le lo… jahan tak mein use jaanta hoon, she’s a nice lady… I’m sure kuch galat nahi karegi.”

Prashant nodded a yes. The phone rang once, Prashant checked it and said “Bula rahe hein apne bhai log… carrom khelne… Chalein?”

Abhi nodded a yes and sipped on the coffee, “Don’t worry, you’ll do good. Side vocalist chahiye na… to waha se phone kar mujhe.”

Prashant smiled.


Prashant was one of the very few people who recognised him in his new avatar. He was an aspiring singer in his early twenties and considered Abhi his idol. He had met Prashant in an hospital while he was admitted for malaria, a couple of weeks into living on the streets. Prashant’s mother was hospitalised in a critical condition and Abhi had noticed him struggling to make arrangements for money and offered his help. Though the money didn’t help bring his mother back, they formed a good bond ever since.


Prashant offered his home to stay for Abhi. He was anyways left alone after his mother passed away and would love the company of his idol. When Abhi refused he insisted he hang around – or at least sleep his nights on the cot outside of his home. Somehow Abhi liked that. In return Abhi would help him with his music and filled the void left behind in Prashant’s world with the loss of his mother.


Over the months Prashant became his conscience keeper, who would even force him to tone down if he found his idol going a bit too far, much like Purab used to do in his past. His bond with Prashant made him think it would have been better if he had sons – like Pragya always wanted. Somehow he seemed to get along better with boys than with girls. Thinking about it, he couldn’t help feeling regret as to how Pragya was right all the time and how foolish had he been. All the time? Naah… itna bhi credit theek nahi hai, sar pe chad jayegi … sometimes she was right.’ Abhi thought.


Knowing his talent, Abhi had asked him to meet Alia but she had turned him down saying he sounded like ‘singers in cheap bars’. Abhi knew that was a loss for Alia… and perhaps now a gain for Mmarcus and Sushma Tandon.

“Chalein?” Prashant asked.


Abhi sipped the last of his coffee, picked up his hip flask from under the pillow, and walked towards the terrace – their usual place where they play carrom with the Sharmas. He wondered what his life had come up to – waking up to the dejection that he isn’t dead and had to live another day, and drinking alone to sleep in the wee hours in the morning. The only good part of it were these moments with his friends, the music sessions with Prashant, playing carrom with him and the Sharma brothers, and sometimes the gigs at the bar. But playing carrom… that had unexpectedly become the closest thing to his heart – for that’s the closest he felt to living his life with his Fuggi – meeting her every day and then losing her.

Pragya’s bedroom, Tandon House

Pragya looked out the window as Abhi’s words roamed around in her mind. ‘You know ghussa itna aata hai na kabhi kabhi mann karta hai ki bhaag jaavu’, ‘Promise karo ki agar tum mujhe Tanu ki chungal se nahi bacha payi na… to hum kahin bhaag jayenge… we’ll just… we’ll run away’. ‘I hate you Pragya, Tum mar chuki ho humare liye’, ‘Ab tumhara chehra dekhunga to sirf mara hua’.

Sushma held her hand which startled her out of her trip into memory lane.

“Kya hua Pragya?” Sushma asked, handing out a glass of water.


Pragya gathered herself and took the glass, had a sip, and looked at Sushma, “Pata nahi…” she said “I really don’t know”.

She walked towards her bed and sat on it. Sushma followed her and sat next to her.

“Kya hua?” Sushma asked.

“Woh watchman keh raha tha ki woh…” she let out a sigh before she continued “ki woh ab wahan nahi rehte… woh ghar choddke chale gaye hein.”

“Abhi?”

Pragya nodded, teared up a bit, and looked away. “Unke wife ke death ke baad woh kabhi wapas nahi aaye”

“Tanu mar gayi?” Sushma asked.

Pragya nodded a no and looked at Sushma “Tanu… Tanu wahi rehti hai, Alia, aur Mithali bhabhi bhi”.

“Matlab?”

“I don’t know” Pragya said, nodded a no while she looked down.

“Matlab… tumhare…”

Pragya teared up, closed her eyes, and nodded a yes “Unhe lagta hai ki mein mar gayi and he never came back.” She looked towards Sushma “But why? what’s going on? Is that guilt for killing me?” and after a long pause in which she looked ahead “Ya kuch aur baat hai?”


Pragya placed the glass of water on the bed, stood up, and walked around a few steps. “Unhone mujhse promise karvaya tha ki agar mein unhe Tanu se bacha nahi payi to hum kahin bhaag jayenge… is he keeping his end of the promise?”

Sushma looked on she continued, “Par car ka break unhone hi fail kiya tha… unhone mujhse kaha tha… kaha tha ki woh ab sirf mara hua chehra dekhna chahte hai.”

Pragya stopped moving around and teared up a bit, looked at Sushma, and continued, “To phir kyu? Unhe to khush hona chahiye tha na… khush hona chahiye tha ki mera …” she teared up more as she continued, “ki mera manhoos saaya unke zindagi se chala gaya… To phir aise ghar choddkar kyu chale gaye? Unhe jo chahiye tha woh to unhe mil gaya, mujhe maarkar.”


Pragya sat besides Sushma, visibly upset, and confused. Sushma comforted her by stroking her back.

She looked towards Sushma “I don’t know aunty… There is something really wrong.” she continued “Ye bhi ho sakta hai ki woh watchman yuhi kuch keh raha tha… Actually… I didn’t ask him much, par who bus bole jaa raha tha.”

Sushma comforted Pragya by making her lean on her shoulder and stroking her face. After a while Pragya sat up straight again and said, “Actually… a year back ek article dekha tha, claiming Abhi the Rockstar is now on streets. I hadn’t taken it seriously… But now, search kar rahi hu toh I am not getting anything like that.”

“We’ll find out… don’t worry.” Sushma said.


“Aunty… I need your help” Pragya said.

“Bolo beta”

“I’ll give you a number… Its Saritaji’s… Jab mein yahan thi unhi ke saath rehti thi … Shayad unhe kuch pata hoga… But I am not getting the call through.” and gave the number to Sushma.

“I will… Tum freshen up hoke aaram kar lo”. Sushma got up but turned around “Meetings maine cancel kiye hai, lekin ek client hai who would like to meet us today. Woh kal koi business trip pe ja raha hai and he requested ki hum aaj mil sake to achcha hoga. Keh raha tha ki idhar paas hi rehta hai and that he can meet us at our home. Bula doon?”

Pragya thought about it and said ‘Haan… bus aap unke saath kya dealings hai mujhe forward kar dijiye”.

“I will” Sushma said “tum thodi der aaram kar lo”

--

Edited by Adiandsid - 3 years ago
Adiandsid thumbnail
Visit Streak 1000 Thumbnail Visit Streak 750 Thumbnail + 8
Posted: 3 years ago
#4

Chapter 3

Terrace, Chawl: A couple of hours later.

There were 2 black, a white, and the queen coins on the carrom board in the winner takes all game.

Sumit struck the black coin but failed to pocket it. It was now Abhi’s turn.

“Chal bhai Prashant… tu dhar mat” Sumit said “Aaj tak Abhine rani nahi liya hai. Jeetenge to hum hi”.

“Haan… yaar” Abhi said, “Ye rani humesha se meri weakness rahi hai” as he prepared to take the strike.

“Aur Rani mili to bhi cover nahi nikalega” Amit said and laughed, “Lekin Abhi, mein hu yahan… ye bachche bolte rahenge, jeetenge to hum hi.” Abhi laughed along without any complaints.


Abhi and Sumit were considered the weaklings in the game – Sumit because he actually didn’t play well, but Abhi for very different reasons. Ever since he had started playing with his friends he had never pocketed both the queen and the cover coins. That seemed like the eternal duty of whoever his partner was. He could clear up all the other coins but when it came to the queen and the cover, he faltered. Its something that he was annoyed with in the beginning, but soon something that he learnt to accept, and something he kind of liked deep down, for he had started associating the queen coin with Pragya.


Pocketing the queen coin felt like the times she came into his life, and not taking the cover coin, to him were the times he lost her because of his foolishness. He believed he didn’t deserve the queen in any of her forms – be it the carrom coin or Pragya. There were times when he liked to think that the day he gets the queen and the cover together will be the day Pragya comes back in his life forever and in the first few months he would deliberately try to make it happen, but had never succeeded. After a while he gave up trying as he did with expecting her back in his life.


He aimed his striker towards the queen. He had a smile on his face when he got it.

“Ab cover” Sumit said “Cover kaise nikaloge bhai?”

“Ye to mere naseeb me hi nahi hai” Abhi said and aimed at the white coin. Though the aim was good as it went right towards the pocket, but he did strike it a bit too hard which made it hit the frame and flip. But then it rolled towards him slowly much to the anticipation of all, and fell into the pocket on his right.


Everyone cheered and laughed and Abhi joined in the celebrations with them. It seemed like quite an achievement for him, something he hadn’t been able to do for a couple of years, but soon he couldn’t help feeling dejected too. He walked towards the parapet and sat on it, had a sip from his hip flask, and looked over at the skyline at the rising moon. He was happy that he did get the queen and the cover like he always wanted, but now he was met with the stark reality that Pragya isn’t alive any more to come back to his life, to be with him, to love him… well… to love her, and to live with each other.


The sadness though led to peace when he considered that perhaps this can be the day he unites with her again, in heaven. And what better day for that to happen’ he thought on my birthday.’ He was sure his Fuggi was waiting for him, ready to have a fight, with that stern look that would shatter the lens of her spectacles if she didn’t ground it by touching the frame at the right moment. That image brought a smile on his otherwise morose face – Fuggi being as Fuggiest as she could be.


Prashant approached Abhi and said “Sirji… aaj jaa sakte ho kya aap? Mujhe kuch kaam hai” breaking the small trip to memory and peace that Abhi had.

Abhi looked at him and said “Arey nahi yaar… Mujhe aaj gaana gaane me koi interest nahi hai” and had a sip from the hip flask.

Prashant insisted “Sirji… please… Rani milne ki khushi me”

“Khushi?” Abhi said with a smirk “Ye rani mili hai yaar… Asli rani… woh to gayi na.”

“Sad song ga dena Sirji”, Prashant said “Sad song ke liye aaj mood achcha hai aapka”

“hmm...” Abhi said, “Chalo… kitne baje”

“Wohi … 7:30”, Prashant said.

Abhi nodded a yes.

Tandon House: Evening

Sushma was in conversation with the client as Pragya walked down the stairs to meet him. Sushma got up to introduce her to him. “Mr. Khanna, She’s my daughter with another surname, Ms. Pragya Arora. From now on she will be handling all our businesses over here.”


Pragya walked towards him to greet him and was shocked to see who it was when he turned around to face her. Purab was equally shocked and all he could manage to say was ‘Di!!!’

He took a few hasty steps towards Pragya and hugged her. She returned the hug and they couldn’t help themselves from crying.

After a few moments Purab wiped his tears and asked “Di kahan thi aap?’

Pragya wiped her tears and waited to be comfortable enough to speak and asked “Tum kaise ho Purab?”, smiling at him.


It was for the first time that Sushma saw what seemed like tears of joy on Pragya’s face, something she had longed to see ever since she met her. She had thought that Pragya’s success in business will bring this emotion in her, make her forget her past and move on in life, but she noticed she was wrong. Its only her loved ones that can move her daughter so much. It scared her, for she noticed she cant take her daughter too far away from her roots. This is where she belongs and she didn’t know whether it was for her good or bad.


Holding back his tears Purab said “Achcha hoon di… bohot miss kiya aapko… bohot” and hugged her again for a brief moment, “Thank God aap theek hein Di…” he said retreating from the hug and holding her shoulders, “You have no idea how badly we missed you”.

“Purab” Pragya said “Ye… Sushma aunty hein… And aunty… ye mera bhai hai Purab. Purab Khanna.” She looked towards him and said “Mein inhi ke saath thi… Australia me.”


Purab and Sushma greeted with a namaste, “Mein Pragya ko apni beti manti hu” Sushma said. She knew it was an odd thing to say but wanted to let him know she’ll be there for her. From what she could see Pragya seemed to be welcoming towards him, but she wanted her bases covered, just in case.

He said “Thank you.. Thank you meri di ka khayal rakhne ke liye” and looked towards Pragya “Par di… Australia me?”

Pragya looked down and didn’t talk. He noticed she was visibly uncomfortable and unwilling to talk about it. She signalled him to take a seat and sat on the sofa next to him, facing him.


After a long silence he continued “Us din … Abhi, Ranbir, Aryan … sabne aapko bohot dhoonda Di… par aap mili nahi…Agle din se mein bhi tha…ek hafte tak humne us jagah par aapko dhoonda… hospitals me bhi… lekin kuch nahi mila… bus doosre din aapki car mili aur kuch nahi.”

“Unhone bhi dhoonda?” Pragya asked, rather surprised… but he didn’t notice the surprised expression on her face.

“Pehle to use laga tha ki aap ghusse me ghar nahi aayi… Ranbir Vikram ko milke jab ghar aaya tab usne bataya ki aap ghar hi aa rahi thi … That’s when he got scared.” he said… “Aur bohot dhoonda… Kisine bataya ke ek car khai se gir gayi hai…tab tak raat ho chuki thi… agle din hi woh car dikhi. Aur Aryan se pata chala ki Rhea Prachi ko balckmail kar rahi thi… phir aapko jo baatein kahi uspe pachtate bas rota raha”.


Pragya wasn’t surprised at that – that’s how Abhi always has been. He would say the meanest thing when he is angry and then be ashamed of it, sometimes without even bothering to apologise, expecting her to forgive him just because she loves him.

“Kahan hein woh abhi?” she asked.

“Dilli mein hi hai … par area maloom hai, ghar nahi pata di.. Uske baad bas 4-5 baar mila tha.” Purab said, “Maine bohot insist kiya ki mere saath rahe… par woh nahi maana. Pichli baar hum chaar mahine pehle mile the jab Saritaji ka death hua tha. Abhi ne hi unka antim sanskar kiya tha. Kisi tarah use ghar le aaya par subah uthke dekha to woh nahi tha. I haven’t seen him after that.”


Pragya asked ‘Saritaji? Kaise?’

He said ‘Age related complications they Di.’

Pragya looked at Sushma and said ‘Hum aaj hi baat kar rahe the… mein unka number try kar rahi thi mil nahi raha tha.’ and remembered the moments she spent with her.


After a long silence Purab asked “Kya hua tha di us din?”

Pragya closed her eyes… and said “Pata nahi Purab… Kuch samajh me nahi aa raha.”

“Kya hua di?” Purab asked.

She looked away downwards and remembered Abhi’s words “Mujhe tumhare saath koi rishta nahi rakhna.I hate you Pragya, Tum mar chuki ho humare liye”, “Ab tumhara chehra dekhunga to sirf mara hua”.

She was about to speak as Purab’s phone rang and he picked up the call. “Disha… I’ll call you later.” but continued the conversation.


She was relieved she may not have to talk about what happened, and was sure even if the conversation comes back to it, she will not talk about Abhi and what he did. She knew Purab will never agree with her version of it and will come up with something like ‘Abhi aisa kabhi nahi kar sakta di’.

She also felt she needed more information before she could state something like that. Somehow, with what she had learnt from the watchman and Purab today, there were doubts creeping in her own mind to say things with the same conviction she had believed for the past couple of years. Purab hung up the call and looked towards her.


“Disha…” Purab said “Use abhi bataya nahi but woh bhi aapko bohot miss karti hai”

“Par… Disha?” Pragya asked.

“Humne shaadi kar li Di… ek saal pehle. Abhi woh London me hai… Sunny se milne gayi hai.”

She was pleasantly surprised on hearing it but then thought of Alia.

“Lekin Alia?” Pragya asked.

“Actually, use divorce deni padi. It’s a long story aur … Abhi bhi involved tha.”


Pragya looked at him curiously.

“Actually Di… aapke jaane ke kuch 4-5 mahine baad, raat ko ek phone aaya tha ki Abhi behoshi ke halat me mila hai. He was hospitalised. Woh doctor mere pehchan ka tha and he called me up. Abhi ko kuch pata nahi tha ki who wahan kaise pahuncha. Bus kuch dhundla sa yaad tha ki Alia aur Tanu use mile the aur kuch papers sign kiye the.” He continued “Discharge hone ke baad hum neighbours ke ghar gaye. Abhi ne wahan CCTV camera fix karvaya tha, aap ayengi to pata karne. Footage se maloom pada ki us raat Alia aur Tanu Abhi ko ghar le aaye the, kuch lawyers bhi aaye the… aur shayad koi judge ya registrar bhi. Baadme pata chala ki Abhi ka business aur saari properties Alia ne apne naam ki hai.”

Pragya listened on as he continued “Abhi ne kaha ki usey isme koi interest nahi hai… par mujhe Alia se divorce chahiye to is se blackmail kar sakta hai, to make her agree. Ek aur footage tha jisme Alia aur Tanu raaste me usey car se neeche dhakka marke chodd rahe hai. Woh footage dikhaya Alia ko. She agreed. She had to. Else she would have been in problem.”


Pragya thought about it for a while and then asked “Yani ab sab Alia aur Tanu ke naam pe hai?”

Purab nodded “Alia ke… But he has enough money with him… actually … that’s the reason I let him be by himself. Bas woh akele rehna chahta hai.”

Pragya nodded and asked “Aryan?”


“Aryan ab Mumbai mein hai Di… usne Shahana se shaadi kar li … aur woh dono Prachi aur Ranbir ke saath reh rahe hai… chaaron milke ek business sambhal rahe hai… khush hein di. Unki thodi photos hein mere paas.” Purab browsed his phone handed over his phone to Pragya.

She refused and said ‘I’ve seen their photos. Facebook pe.’

“Di aap Prachi se contact me hein?” Purab asked.

Pragya nodded a no.

Edited by Adiandsid - 3 years ago
Adiandsid thumbnail
Visit Streak 1000 Thumbnail Visit Streak 750 Thumbnail + 8
Posted: 3 years ago
#5

Chapter 4

Tandon house

“Di aap Prachi se contact me hein?” Purab asked.

Pragya nodded a no and asked “Rhea?”

“Rhea ab Canada me hai” Purab said “management course kar rahi hai. Par jaise maine kaha woh Abhi se contact me nahi hai. Alia uski guardian hai… and I’ve noticed woh bus Alia ki hi baat manti hai.”


“Mujhe bhi nahi pata tha ki woh Prachi ko blackmail kar rahi thi.” Pragya said, “Prachi aur Ranbir ne bhi kuch nahi kaha tha… bus shaadi ke waqt bataya. Maine poocha bhi tha donon ko, jab Rhea aur Ranbir ki engagement fix ki gayi thi… lekin tab donon ne kaha tha ki woh is rishte se khush hein… Pehle bataya hota to shayad … shayad ye sab nahi hota. Haan… Rhea naraz zaroor hoti par baat itni bigadtinahi.”

“Kya hua tha di? Aap do saal door kyu rahi?” Purab asked.


Pragya frowned at herself a bit. She didn’t want to open the topic but inadvertently did. She knew she had to be careful about what she said and lie at appropriate places.

“Maine hi unki shaadi karvayi thi, Purab” she said, “shadi ke baad yeaaye aur … mujhse saare rishte todkar chale gaye. Aur tum to jaante ho na, ye ghusse me kisi ki baat nahi sunte, wahi hua… Meri koi baat nahi suni. Mujhe laga ki mein baat karu to woh samajh jayenge.Ghar jaate waqt unhe phone bhi kiya… baat karte karte maloom padaki mere car ka break fail ho chuka hai.”

She sighed, and continued “Mein car se bahar koodi… aur girne se behosh ho gayi. Phir hosh aaya to mein Sushmaji ke ghar par thi. AndI didn’t remember what happened. Bas mera naam yaad tha, woh bhiPragya Arora. Yaaddaasht wapas aane tak me Sydney me settle ho chukithi.” She knew she had no choice but to lie here.


“Di par Abhi ne kaha tha ki last time usne aap se mandir mein baat kithi” Purab said, “Phone par baat hone ki… he never mentionedthat”.

And how will he say that to you Purab? she thought.

“Aur beech raste pe ek CCTV camera tha jis se pata chala tha ki car kabreak fail hua hai” he added “warna hume to koi idea nahi tha ki accident kaise hua, Abhi ko bhi nahi. In fact aap kahan gayi ye bhi nahi pata tha.”

After a long pause in which no one spoke, Purab said “Par haan di,footage me ye bhi maloom pada tha ki aap kisi se baat kar rahe hai…ya shayad chilla rahi thi.”

“Unhise baat kar rahi thi Purab.” she said.

“Par Abhi ne aisa kuch nahi kaha” he said.

“Unki koi wajah hogi” she said.

“Patanahi di” he said.

Pragyaknew she had to change the topic.


“Alia…Alia kya kar rahi hai ab?” she asked.

“Alia…”Purab said with a sigh, “uske saath jo bhi ho raha hai achcha haidi. Abhi se business hadapne ke baad usne Vikram se partnership toddi. Usme thoda loss hua. Phir aapka Mmarcus group competition me aaya and she couldn’t handle that. Abhi nahi hai to she couldn’t pick the right talent too. Kaafi losses hue. Kayi artists ne sue kiya and so did her clients. Talent aur event management khatam ho gaye hai.Resorts ka business kuch time tak theek chala, par Tanu ke kisi party me raid hua aur drugs mile. Woh bhi kaafi badi quantity me. Uske baad they don’t have permission to run the resort. Sirf ek business chal raha hai, par woh bhi bas naam ke liye, pharmacuticals ka. She is not doing good at all. Legal matters aur news ko dabane ke liye use kaafi saare paise dalne pade. Properties bechne pade, Sainik farms ka ek bungalow bhi. Actually… she cant survive much longer in business.Uska sab kuch khatam hote jaa raha hai. Ab Mehra Mansion aur Sainik farms ka ek bunglow ke alava shayad hi koi property bachi hai.”


Pragya was happy to hear that and relieved too. ‘Par is se unhe kuch nuksaan to nahi hua na?’ she thought but soon was taken aback by her concern for Abhi. In any case, she knew all this happened over the last year, long after Alia had taken over all of Abhi’sproperties and businesses.


“Di, Kya soch rahi hein?” Purab asked.

Pragya looked at him “Kuch nahi…” she said and looked down thoughtfully before she continued “Agar humara ghar woh bech rahi hai toh do let me know. Ya phir apne naam par khareed lo paise meindeti hoon. For the time being I don’t want her to know I am alive.”

“Di, Mujhe aisa kyu lag raha hai ki aap mujhse kuch chupa rahi hein?”Purab asked.

“Haan Purab” Pragya agreed, “Par isliye chupa rahi hoon kyuki mein jaanti hoon ke tumhara jawab kya hoga. Kuch sawalon ke jawab chahiye Purab… jo mujhe bus ye hi de sakte hein… aur koi nahi.”

“Aisa kya hua di?” he asked.

“Hua hai Purab” she said, “Anyways … humari meeting koi aur wajah se fix hui thi, can we… talk about that now?”

Purab smiled and agreed. He said ‘Par Di… kuch bhi baat ho aap mujhse share sakti ho.’

She smiled and agreed.

“Purab,inka kuch contact number hai tumhare paas?” she asked.

“Hai di” Purab said and gave the number to her. She thought whether to call Abhi now but decided to do that later.

“Aur Di” he said “Ye ek doosra number hai. Uske ke friend ka. Prashant.” and gave the number to her, “Abhi se contact nahi hoti meri… par is se baat hoti hai… kuch problem ho to yehi mujhe inform karta hai… bachcha hai… kuch 22-24 saal ka… Abhi ko apna idol maanta hai.”

Mehra Mansion

The watchman opened the gate and the car entered the driveway. Tanu opened the door and walked out from the car as the watchman ran towards her with two bags in his hands.

“Madam,ye courier wala deke gaya” he said.

“Abhike liye gifts honge. Ab woh idhar hai hi nahi to gifts ka kya karenge. Garage me rakh do.” Tanu said.

“Ji madam” the watchman said and started to walk towards the garage.

“Ruko” Tanu said, “Inme se kuch achcha bhi hoga. Ek kaam karo isse andar rakh do”.

“Ji madam” he said and started to walk towards the main door.

“Ruko” Tanu said, “Ab ye sab kholke kaun baithega? Tum ek kaam karo, inhe khol do…. Baadme sab dikha dena… kuch achcha hai to hum rakhlenge, nahi to garage me rakh dena”.

“Ji Madam”

“Aur koi aaya tha aaj, Rockstar ko wish karne?” Tanu asked.

“Nahi madam… Ek ladies aayi thi… Abhi sir se milne… bus”.

“Kaun?”

“Woh nahi bataya madam” he said.

“Theek hai”, Tanu said “Aur tum kuch jyada bole to nahi na?”

“Nahi madam” he said, “jab se aapne daanta hai mein to kuch jyada boltabhi nahi hu.”

“Good”Tanu said and walked inside the house.

Tandon house

Pragya stared outside her window trying to figure out how to make sense of things she had learnt since morning. Clouds hid the moon from her view like doubts that were clouding her mind. She knew something wasamiss but couldn’t figure out what.

Part of her was happy to hear about the downfall of Alia and the role she played in it. Things she did seemed to work just fine. In a way she was happy that what she thought she was doing against Abhi did go against Alia, for when it came to him, she felt confused now,and was glad it was Alia on the receiving end of her punches, even though she never expected it to cause so much damage to her.


She wanted to believe Abhi didn’t try to kill her and so it seemed, for she knew he wont leave his life behind and live alone if that wasn’t the case. He wouldn’t look for her otherwise. But the phone call and him saying that explicitly, led her in a different direction altogether. She would have believed her heart that Abhi can never do that if it weren’t for him saying it. And the only way she can findout was by talking to him directly.

She picked up her phone and called Abhi up…

Bar

Abhi was well into his second song and he found that he was in the perfect mood for sad songs today. Memories of Fuggi had enveloped the gig andright from the first line he found himself slowly drifting into his zone… with her, with her memories, just him and the only love of his life. The memories that came up were of the tough times they’ve had together, but there was no sadness… only peace. Peace in her presence even though only in his memories. He was slated to sing three songs, but he knew he wont mind going on for the whole night.

TandonHouse

… but he didn’t answer the call. She could see a young couple walking down the street from the corner of her eyes and observed them for awhile. The girl was visibly upset with something and the boy trying to please her. It brought in memories of her times with Abhi and she wished she could have those days back.

She thought about whether to call up Prashant, but heard a knock on the door and turned around. It was Sushma.

“Mein soch rahi thi ki aaj hum dinner pe kahi bahar jaayein.” Sushma said.

Pragya smiled at her and said ‘but I’m feeling sleepy already’.

Sushma said ‘Jet lag hoga’.

Pragya nodded, stretched her hands, and said ‘But its Ok… aapka mann karraha hai toh … we’ll go. I feel like I need a break too’.

“Mein ready hoke aati hoon” Sushma said as she left the room.

That’s what Sushma wanted too – take her out for a drive and a dinner, give her a break from what’s going on and she was glad she didn’t have to coax her to come along. What she heard from Purab was confusing enough for her and could hardly guess as to what Pragya maybe going through.

Street– An hour later.

Abhi observed the moving traffic seated on his usual place – the retaining wall under the tree. That’s where he would spend an hour or so after his gigs at the bar until Prashant would come and pick him up. The night of his gigs was his free alcohol night, the night when Prashant would let him drink as much as he wanted to. The rest of the days he would dole out alcohol in minimum quantities in his hip flask. Left by himself Abhi wont mind drinking all time every day and didn’t like Prashant’s interference in the only joy he could find after Pragya left. But he knew Prashant cared for him and didn’t complain.

Abhi felt different today though. He had woken up to the dream of Pragya, felt her presence all along the songs he sang, and somehow didn’t want to finish the whole bottle today. Yeah… he got the queen coin with the cover too. More than anything he felt peaceful which was quite a rare thing for him, even on his free alcohol nights, and decided to enjoy the moment while it lasts. He lied down on the retaining wall hoping to go to sleep in the same state of mind. He wished he could preserve this and carry this with him for the rest of his life, or rather, take this to his death. He knew that wont happen as Prashant will come soon to pick him up but today he hoped he wont.

Restaurant

Sushma walked out of the restaurant towards Pragya who was waiting on the driveway.

“Naresh kahan hai?” she asked.

“Usey kuch khareedne bheja hai” Pragya said, “bas aata hi hoga… woh raha.”

Naresh came along with two bags full of dinner packets and a youngster followed him with two packs of bottled water.

“Ye kis liye?” Sushma asked.

“Aate waqt kuch logon ko dekha tha… on the streets.” Pragya said “Socha unhe khana de doon” and opened the front door of the car for Naresh to place the bags on the seat.

She gave a tip to the youth and got into the car.

On Road – some time later

“Kitne baaki hai?” Pragya asked as they drove through the street.

“Madam paanch” Naresh said.

She looked outside and said “wahan… thode log hein.. ek, do…paanch… bas rok do.”

Naresh got down the car and took three packets and bottles and walked towards individuals sleeping on the retaining wall. He gave out one and walked towards the other taking a nap.

“Bhai,khana khaya?”

Abhi looked behind and said “Arey… chakna?”

“Chakhna nahi khana..” Naresh said “khana khaya?”

“Arey…khana kisko chahiye yaar… chakhna mile to achcha hoga” Abhi said. He looked at the water bottle and said “Pani bhi nahi chahiye…mein to neat peeta hoon” and showed him his half empty bottle.

Naresh cursed him under his breath “Kya aadmi hai yaar?” and moved ontowards another person.

“Kamaal hai!” Abhi murmured, “Khana la sakta hai to chakhna kyu nahi?”and turned around to have a nap.


Pragya meanwhile approached an old man sleeping nearby.

“Suniye, khana khaya aapne?” she asked.

Abhi heard her and said “nahi”.

“Ye leejiye, kha leejiye” she offered the packet to the old man and said “Pani bhi laati hoon”. She looked towards Naresh and said “Naresh, ek bottle inhe dena.” and walked towards the car, where Sushma was handing out the last packet to Naresh.

“Pragya?” Abhi thought aloud and looked at the source of the voice. He got up and sat as she passed him, stood up as she walked towards the car,and called her aloud “Pragya!!!”

“Haanji”she said and stopped. She was stunned, both by the voice and her reply.

Edited by Adiandsid - 3 years ago
Adiandsid thumbnail
Visit Streak 1000 Thumbnail Visit Streak 750 Thumbnail + 8
Posted: 3 years ago
#6

Chapter 5

Roadside

“Suniye, khana khaya aapne?” Pragya asked the old man.

Abhi heard her and said “nahi”.

“Ye leejiye, kha leejiye” she offered the packet to the old man and said “Pani bhi laati hoon”. She looked towards Naresh and said “Naresh, ek bottle inhe dena.” and walked towards the car, where Sushma was handing out the last packet to Naresh.

“Pragya?” Abhi thought aloud and looked at the source of the voice. He got up and sat as she passed him, stood up as she walked towards the car, and called her aloud “Pragya!!!”

“Haanji” she said and stopped. She was stunned, both by the voice and her reply.


She froze for a few moments. She knew who it was – the one she loved and the one who tried to kill her.

She turned around slowly and saw him. He looked different, bald but the beard remained, and heftier than before, looking at her, surprised, happy, tearing up, and drunk.

This was not what she was expecting. She had thought he would be shocked, scared, or perhaps even angry that his plans of getting rid of her from his life failed. But she was looking at someone who seemed to have missed her for a long time.


“Pragya” Abhi said as he walked towards her, his smile growing with each step. He held his palms on his bald head and looked at her in amazement.

He let out a sigh of relief and said “Mujhe pata tha… pata tha ki mein mar jaavu na… to tum.. tum mujhe jaroor lene aavogi”

She felt confused and could only stare at him, not knowing what to say or do.

He looked at her from head to toe. She was reminded of his words at the temple ‘Tum ek dhokka ho. Sar se lekar paanv tak ek khoobsurat dhokka’.

“Waise ek baat boloon?” he said as he looked at her in amazement “Suit boot me… bagair chashme ke … ekdum tota lag rahi ho” and smiled at her. He came forward and hugged her but she didn’t feel comfortable enough to return the hug.

“Dadi kahan par hein pata hai? Mujhe unse bhi milna hai.” he said.

Noticing that she isn’t hugging him he retreated and held her shoulders “Kya hua… yahan hug karna allowed nahi hai?” but she didn’t answer.


He let out a sigh as he let go off her, wiped off his tears and said “Pata hai… kitna miss kiya tumhe. Ab bhi yahin tumhare baare mein…” but stopped as he got surprised looking at the place where he slept and continued “arrey!!! meri body kahan gayi? Yahin to mein soya tha!”

He looked at her in surprise, trying to figure out what’s going on. “Ye corporation wale itne jaldi uthake le bhi gaye?” he asked, “Chalo koi baat nahi” and hugged her again and said, “No fear when Fuggi is here”.


Pragya felt confused and didn’t do or say anything, and heard Naresh shout “Oye” and his footsteps approaching them. But before she could react, he held Abhi by his shoulders, turned him around and punched him on the face, which made him fall down hitting his head on the concrete debris on the way.

“Ye kya kiya tumne?” Pragya shouted at Naresh “Ye mere pati hein.”

“Sorry madam” Naresh said “mujhe laga ye aapko … ”, but she paid no heed to him as she knelt down and called Abhi “Suniye” stroking his face.

Sushma rushed towards them with a bottle of water and sprinkled some water on Abhi’s face, which startled him and he looked at Pragya. “Fuggi?” he blabbered a couple of times.

“Ise ghar le chalte hein” Sushma said and Pragya with the help of Naresh picked him up and helped him into the car.


Prashant, meanwhile, could see someone hit Abhi and take him in a car from the other side of the road. He felt scared for he was stuck and unable to help because of the moving traffic. As the traffic stopped he came running but was too late. Pragya’s car was on the move and he couldn’t catch it. He took a taxi, followed her car, and called up Purab.


Purab picked up the call “Haan Prashant”

“Purab sir” Prashant said in a scared voice “Woh… Abhi sir ko koyi uthake le jaa rahe hein.”

“Uthake … ? Kaun?” Purab asked.

“Pata nahi sir. Woh log car me hein, mein unka peecha kar raha hoon. Taxi me” Prashant said.

“Kaun log hai pata hai kuch… huliya kaisa hai?” Purab asked.

“Do aurat hai sir” Prashant said, “aur unka driver bhi”

Tanu and Alia?’ he thought ‘but driver?

“Do Aurat? Purab asked. “Driver tha ki koi friend jaisa?”

“Nahi sir driver hai… uniform pehna hai” Prashant said.

“Gaadi kaunsi hai?” Purab asked.

“Gaadi sir, white SUV, Benz” Prashant said. Oh that should be Di and aunty’ he thought.

“Oh… Ok… woh humare taraf aa rahein hein kya? Yani mere area ke taraf?” Purab asked.

“Haan sir, lag to wohi raha hai” Prashant said.

“To dharo mat… shayad unki wife hain woh” Purab said “Woh shayad usey ghar le aayengi… tum bas unke peeche aa jao”.

“Unki wife?” Prashant asked.

“Haan” Purab said… and noticed he was getting another call “Achcha… Prashant… shayad unhi ka phone hai… I’ll call you later”. He picked up the call.

“Purab… Pehchan wala koi doctor hai?” Pragya asked. “Ye mil gaye hein… par chot lagi hai thodi”

“Haan Di… aap aajaiye… mera neighbour ek doctor hai. Use lata hoon mei aapke ghar pe” Purab said.

She looked at Abhi blabbering her name as he lay on her lap. “Dont worry” she said “Hum aapko ghar le jaa rahe hai. You’ll be fine”.


Tandon House: some time later.

Purab and Prashant carried an inebriate Abhi inside a room and helped him lie down on the bed as the doctor, Pragya, and Sushma followed them. The doctor examined him and bandaged his head after cleaning the wound as Abhi kept staring at Pragya. He gave him a sedative and looked at Purab and said “He’ll have a sleep now… He’s fine, nothing to worry about.”

“Thanks Doctor” Purab said.

“I’ll recommend you take some tests.” the Doctor said “I’ll send a technician over tomorrow if you want”.

“That’ll be good, Doctor, Thank you” Purab said.

Purab followed the Doctor as he went outside the room and looked at a concerned Pragya. “Di, dhariye mat… sab theek hai”.

She nodded and walked towards Abhi who was slowly drifting into sleep.

“Pragya… Tum aayi” he said with a smile and went to sleep.

She held his hand for a while, then closed her eyes as she tightened her hold. A couple of drops of tears rolled down her cheeks. She was happy that he is fine, but confused of why she was. ‘Why am I feeling for him after knowing what he did to me?’ she thought. She wiped the tears off her face, and let go of Abhi’s hand.


She looked at Prashant and smiled at him.

Prashant smiled back nervously and asked “Aap sir ki wife hein kya?”

She looked at Abhi and looked back at him, nodded a yes.

“Bohot bolte hein aapke baare me” Prashant said, “Fuggi… aap hi ho na?”

She bit her lips and nodded a yes.

“Aaj bhi bol rahe they, aap sapne me aaye aur aapne coffee di” he said with a smile.

Pragya didn’t want to have this conversation. It made her feel weaker and weaker. This was not what she had come here for. She wanted to see how much Abhi hated her but coming back all she was hearing about was how much he missed her, how much he looked for her, and perhaps how much he loved her.

“Paani kuch chahiye?” she asked Prashant.

“Nahi bhabhi” Prashant said, “Thanks”.


She walked out of the room where Sushma was waiting for her. Sushma hugged her and she returned the hug. “Dont worry, sab theek hoga” Sushma said. She noticed Purab arrived after sending off the doctor. Shagun, the service girl followed him.

“Di, mein yahi rukta hoon aaj” he said, “aur… kal ka trip bhi cancel kar diya. I’ll be here.”

Pragya nodded, “Chaho to yeh kamra use kar sakte ho” she said, pointing towards the adjacent room, “Mein pani bhijvati hoon”.

“No issues Di,” he said, “Mein yahi hoon, aap so jayiye. You look tired.”

Pragya nodded and walked towards her room. She noticed Sushma talking to Purab, but she had enough for the day and just wanted to retire to bed and try to sleep.

Mehra Mansion

An elegantly dressed Tanu walked down the stairs and towards the main door.

“Kahan jaa rahi ho” asked Alia who was having dinner with Mithali at the dining table.

“Tumse matlab?” Tanu retorted.

“Matlab ye, ki itni raat gaye madam sahiba kahan jaa rahi hein?” Alia asked.

“You know what Alia,” Tanu said, “Mein tumhari tarah nahi hoon. Mujhe mera future secure karne aata hai.” She looked at her, waved a good bye, and walked away, leaving Alia fuming in anger.

“Choddo na Alia” Mithali said, “Tum khana kha lo”.

Alia slammed the plate and walked off as Mithali smiled at the outcome.

Tandon house 2 AM.

Sushma walked in to Pragya’s bedroom and sat besides her.

This was a daily routine for her ever since Pragya started living with her. The first couple of weeks Pragya hadn’t slept at all. It was only after they moved to Sydney that she started having regular sleep. Regular, but disturbed, as she would often wake up having nightmares, every night. It took her months to sleep without having nightmares and it was only then that Sushma felt comfortable enough to sleep in another room. Her own health forced her to attend natural calls a couple of times in the night and she would check on Pragya whenever she woke up. And every time it was the same – blabbering something in sleep, disturbed, scared, and sometimes angry.


Much to her surprise though, she found Pragya sleeping comfortably today. She looked pleasant and in deep sleep. There was no blabbering and no sign of tension on her face. Sushma ran her hand on Pragya’s forehead and hair, and kissed her forehead. This should have been enough to startle her and wake her up, but tonight even that didn’t happen. Sushma felt happy, happy that her daughter is finally peaceful. But she was concerned about the source of this new found peace.


From what she had seen and heard today she liked to believe Pragya misunderstood Abhi, that Abhi was not the monster who tried to kill her, but someone who loves her and cares for her. She remembered how very pleasantly surprised Abhi was when he saw Pragya and he felt like a genuine person. But was he? She looked at Pragya and hoped he was. Hoped he was as loving and caring as she had mentioned to her when she talked about her past. She hoped what Pragya believed in was a huge misunderstanding. Looking at Pragya’s pleasant face in deep sleep brought a smile on hers… and with it, peace and hope.


She got up and walked towards her room and found door of Abhi’s room ajar. Purab was sleeping on the couch and Prashant on the floor. She walked in and found Abhi blabbering what seemed like Pragya’s name. Listening to it re-instilled her hopes for her daughter. She wanted to ask Prashant to sleep on the bed in the adjacent room, but didn’t want to wake him up. She picked up a blanket from the wardrobe and covered him.

Edited by Adiandsid - 3 years ago
Adiandsid thumbnail
Visit Streak 1000 Thumbnail Visit Streak 750 Thumbnail + 8
Posted: 3 years ago
#7

Chapter 6

Tandon house 5 AM

Abhi felt a pain on his left temple as he woke up. He felt it with his fingers and got surprised to find his forehead bandaged. ‘Yani who sapna nahi tha? I really got hurt!’ he thought, ‘Yani… Yani… Pragya bhi?’

He sat up on the bed and looked around to find Purab sleeping on the couch. ‘Purab ka ghar?’ He got up to call Purab and found Prashant sleeping on the floor. ‘Nahi… Ye Purab ka ghar nahi hai’ he thought, ‘toh phir?’


He tried to recall the events of the night before. The best he could tell he had a dream in which he had met Pragya and she hadn’t spoken anything, until he was hit by someone and got hurt. He felt his bandage again and thought ‘It wasn’t a dream… surely.’ He recalled her saying “Dont worry, Hum aapko ghar le jaa rahe hai. You’ll be fine” as he lay on her lap in the car and then brought him to her home. He looked around ‘Ye Pragya ka ghar hai? Pragya zinda hai? Oh God… please… ye.. ye sach ho!


He got up from the bed and walked out of the room. He looked around and found the opposite room open. He looked inside, there was no one. He walked towards Pragya’s room, the door was ajar. He looked inside and could figure out it was a woman sleeping. He looked away as he didn’t want to be misunderstood if it was someone else, but caught a glimpse of Pragya’s face as he turned. He looked again and buried his mouth in his palms as he recognised her, let out a deep sigh, and whispered ‘Pragya!’.


He opened the door and walked in, overwhelmed with joy, and tears welled up in his eyes as he took each step towards her. He was scared whether this was another dream and really hoped it wasn’t. He pinched himself just to check, even though he wasn’t sure whether that was a fail safe method. He sat on the bed next to her, looking at her, as tears started to roll down his cheeks.


“Pragya” he whispered for he didn’t want to wake her up. He ran his hand at a distance over her hair. He looked away and buried his face as he cried.

After a few moments he looked at her again, kissed the first two fingers of his right hand, and planted the kiss on her forehead. He was happy, happy to see her, happy that she is back in his life.

He got startled as he heard a knock on the door and looked towards it.


It was Sushma. Abhi got up as she came near by, and said as softly as he could “I’m sorry. I know mujhe yahan nahi hona chahiye. But… she is my… wife” and wiped his tears.

“Please, mere saath bahar aa jao” Sushma said.

Abhi nodded, looked at Pragya, and followed Sushma as she walked out of the room. He looked at her, the better lighting outside the room making her recognisable.


“You look familiar… I think I’ve met you” he said.

She nodded and said “Sushma Tandon, Mmarcus group”.

“Oh…yes… well we do have a past.” he said, “I’m sorry, it all happened because of...”

She interrupted him, “You have apologised for it and we have reconciled our differences”.

“Over e-mails” he said, “Is bar personally karta hoon”.

“Is baar mein Pragya ki ma hoon.” Sushma said, “and I am sure you know I am not her mother, par mere liye woh meri beti hai”.


She turned and gestured Abhi to follow her with a “Please” as she walked towards the stairs.

Abhi followed her as she said, “Its two years since she is living with me, aur aaj tak maine Pragya ko itni chaien se sote huve nahi dekha hai”.

They reached the stairs and she gestured him to sit on one of the chairs besides it, After he sat down, she did too on the opposite chair. “And I want this peace for her all the time”.

Abhi nodded. “Thank you. Pragya ka khayal rakhne ke liye. I hate to say this but… ” he said “achcha lagta hai ki jab mein uske saath nahi hoon, koi na koi to rehta hai jo usey… jo uska khayal rakhe”.


Shagun arrived with tea and served it to Sushma. She gave a glass of water to Abhi. Sushma said, “Saat baje tumhara blood test karne aayenge. You are not supposed to have anything else other than water”.

“It’s Ok, Thanks” Abhi said, had a sip of water and asked “Par aap log Dilli mein the and I never knew of Pragya being here? I mean… not easy but… had no clue.”


“Hum Sydney me the… kal hi aaye hein” Sushma said, “Aaye kisi aur wajah se they, par… ab lagta hai ki aane ki wajah badal gayi hai.”

Abhi smiled, “That’s what happens with us.” he said, “chahe hum kitne bhi door ho… milte jaroor hein, aur sadly, mile to humari hi bewakoofi ke chalte door bhi hote hai”.

“is baar shayad Pragya tumhe maaf kar de, apna bhi le” she said, “par mein meri beti ko tab tak tumhe nahi doongi jab tak ki I am not sure she is absolutely safe with you. Aur mein meri beti ke liye kuch bhi kar sakti hoon. Phir chahe woh tumhare aur Pragya ke beech me aana hi kyun na ho”.

“I respect that” Abhi said, “and… I’ve left my past behind”.


“But don’t expect her to” she said with a stern voice, “In fact, you will have to revisit your past with her. There are some… unanswered questions there… some unfinished businesses” she placed her cup on the teapoy and continued “She will need some answers from you. And … perhaps even I will too.”

He nodded in agreement.


Abhi sighed and said “For now I am just happy she is around. Bohot dhoonda usey… and I had given up all hopes.”

She smiled at him, and said “well… seems like she is having a good sleep too. Normally woh aake mujhe jagati hai. Actually feels good that she is sleeping peacefully.”

Abhi smiled at her.

“You can have a rest if you want” she said, “and… make yourself comfortable, consider this your home”.

Abhi nodded and said “Thank you, I think I’ll go have a rest.”


Abhi walked back towards Pragya’s room. Had a look at her from outside the door and walked back to his room. He tried to make sense of the cryptic way in which Sushma talked. He felt odd, for one moment he was happy to see Pragya and then what Sushma said tensed him up.


It led him to some questions. ‘If she didn’t die in the accident why didn’t she meet me?’, ‘Did she have a memory loss?’, ‘Why did she look nervous looking at me yesterday?’, ‘Why was she silent all the while?’, ‘Why did Sushma say aaj tak maine Pragya ko itni cheain se sote huve nahi dekha?’, ‘And what’s this about having to revisit our past? What happened?’

God!!! Too may questions’. He had often thought that his life will be peaceful from the day he meets Pragya, especially now that he had left all his relationships behind. But that felt like a dream to him now.


Pragya’s room: A couple of hours later

Sushma entered Pragya’s room. She had a smile on her face on noticing she was still sleeping. This was perhaps the longest stretch that she had seen her sleep. Shagun followed her with a tray and placed it on the side table. She took the kettle but Sushma interrupted her “Tum jao, mein banati hoon”.


Sushma ran her fingers across Pragyas forehead and hair. Pragya slowly opened her eyes, looked at her, and smiled.

“Good morning” Sushma said, “Aaj badi achchi neend aayi?”

“Good morning” Pragya said as she sat up on the bed, let out a big yawn, and stretched her arms. She got surprised to see the sunlight and asked “Time kya hua?”

“Saat baj gaye hein” Sushma said.

“Saat baje to woh blood sample lene aayega na?” Pragya asked and got up from the bed.

“Pragya woh aaya nahi hai ab tak” Sushma said as Pragya walked into the washroom.


Sushma smiled and wondered about the change she was noticing in Pragya. 24 hours back she was hell bent on punishing Abhi and now she seemed concerned for him. She decided to let Pragya be the way she wants to be, to let her do what she wants to do, while making sure everything is all right by herself.

She made coffee as Pragya, having brushed her teeth, came and sat besides her.

“Coffee?” Sushma asked as she gave her the cup.

“Thank you” Pragya said, but had a concerned look on her face.

“Aunty” she said fiddling with the cup, “I don’t know what to believe in.”

“Ab coffee pee lo. We will find out later.” Sushma said.


“Ye uth gaye kya?” Pragya asked.

“Paanch baje utha tha… tumhe dekhne bhi aaya tha” Sushma said. Pragya looked at her. “Mujhse thodi baatein kari and then I asked him to rest”.

“Kya baatein ki?” Pragya asked.

Sushma thought about it for a while and said “Let that be between me and him”.

Pragya nodded.

Shagun entered the room and said “Ma’am, woh lab technician aaya hai”.

“Haan” Sushma said, “usey Abhi ke paas bhej do”.


Abhi’s Room

Prashant woke up and found Abhi lying awake. He got up and sat besides Abhi.

“Sirji, Aapki rani mil gayi aapko” he said with a broad smile.

Abhi smiled at him and said “Rani mili hai Prashant, cover nahi. Cover lena baki hai”.

“Mil jayega sirji” Prashant said as Shagun entered the room.

“Sir aapka blood sample lene aaya hai” she said as the lab technician entered the room.

Abhi cringed a bit, “Ye blood sample lena jaroori hai kya?”

“Sir woh...woh to mujhe pata nahi” Shagun said “Ma’am ne bola hai”.

“Kaun Pragya Ma’am?” Abhi asked.

“Ji” She said “aur Sushma Ma’am ne bhi”.

“Ye ma-beti na… dono mileke badla le rahi hai” Abhi whispered and Prashant and Shagun smiled as they heard it.

He looked at the technician and said “Theek hai… le lo”.


The technician came near him and prepared the syringe.

“Ye sui ke alava doosra koi raasta nahi hai kya blood lene ke liye?” Abhi asked him.

The technician smiled at him and asked “Kyu dhar lagta hai aapko?”

“Nahi dharta nahi hoon” Abhi said “Bas… sui dekhke ghabra jaata hoon”

He noticed Pragya and Sushma entering the room. “Pragya ye blood sample lena jaroori hai kya?” he asked.

She smiled and said “Yes. Doctor ne kaha hai”.

“Doctor ne kaha ya tumne kehalvaya?” Abhi asked.

“Baat mat ghumayiye, haath aage kijiye” Pragya said as she came near him.


Purab walked out of the washroom and smiled at Abhi.

“Hey… Purab” Abhi said, “chodd… tujhse kya ummeed rakho tu to isi ki baat maanega na? Di ka Bhai.”

Abhi held Pragya’s hand as the technician inserted the needle, tightening his grip all the way until the procedure was done.

“Hogaya” Pragya said “ab chodd dijiye”

“Hogaya?” Abhi asked, “kuch pata hi nahi chala”.

“To ek aur le lu sir?” the technician asked.

“Arey nahi… kitna khoon choosega… itna kaafi hai”.

“Reports kabhi milenge?” Pragya asked.

“Shaam ko 7 baje” he replied and packed his case and left the room.


Shagun prepared coffee for the three. Pragya looked at her and after a brief moment of hesitation, said ‘Shagun, ye cup me dalcheeni aur elaichi daal dena’ and walked out of the room. Purab smiled at her as she went past him, but she didn’t notice. “Abhi laati hoon sir” Shagun said and left the room. Sushma accompanied her.


Purab sat besides Abhi and asked “Aur Abhi, kaisa hai?”.

“Theek” Abhi said, “par teri Di theek nahi lag rahi hai. Bhaav nahi de rahi hai. Aur ye, Sushma, Sushmaji… Hitler hai… aaj subah subah sunaya mujhe.”

Purab smiled and said, “Hume nahi pata na di ke saath kya hua. Woh jaanti hein. Tu bas… thoda time de unko… Di ko bhi.”

Abhi agreed.

Purab said “Tu aaram kar, I’ll come” got up, and walked towards Pragya’s room.


Pragya’s room.

Pragya observed the early morning sight from her window. She could hear the chirping of the birds and feel the dampness that the morning brought with it. She felt quite peaceful and wondered when was the last time she did.

She looked back as she heard a knock on the door.

“Di aap se kuch baat karni thi” Purab said.

“Haan, bolo na Purab” she said.

“Yahan nahi Di” he said, “Kahi aur chalte hein. Mmm… mera ghar paas me hai… wahan? Aap ghar bhi dekh lijiyega aur baat bhi karte hein”.

“Theek hai” she said “breakfast ke baad?”

Purab agreed and left the room.

Pragya looked at him, wondered what he had to talk about, and continued to observe the morning sight from her window.

Edited by Adiandsid - 3 years ago
Adiandsid thumbnail
Visit Streak 1000 Thumbnail Visit Streak 750 Thumbnail + 8
Posted: 3 years ago
#8

Chapter 7

Purab’s Home

Pragya switched off the stove, poured tea into two cups, and offered one to Purab. Her concoction of tea was something he had really missed and she was glad enough to prepare one for him when he requested.

“Thanks Di” he said, “bahar chalein?”

Pragya nodded and they walked out of the kitchen, into the hall. He asked her to be seated on the sofa as he sat on the other end, facing her.

“Di aap se kuch baat jaan-ni thi” he said.

“Poocho na Purab” she said as he had a sip of the tea. He smiled and said “Chai achchi lagi, bohot time ke baad aapke haaton ki chai pee hai, Thank you.” She smiled back.

He had another sip and continued, “Di aap jo kar rahi ho, uske baare me”.

She looked at him with curiosity then looked at her cup of tea and had a sip.

“Mujhe pata hai ki aap kuch kar rahi hein” Purab said, “but is baar bhi… wajah nahi pata”.

“Mein kya kar rahi hoon?” she said, “kis bare me pooch rahe ho?”.


He looked at her, smiled, and had another sip.

“Di, shayad aap nahi jaante.” he said, “meri life me sabse jyada ijjat mein aapki karta hoon. Aise teen baar huve hai ki aap akeli thei aur mein kuch kar nahi paya. Bulbul aur Disha ke saath, it has always been my biggest regrets.”

She smiled wistfully and had another sip.

“Dadi ke death ke baad maine aapka peecha kiya tha. Aap auto me kahin jaa rahien thi aur mein car me follow kar raha tha. Ek traffic jam hua aur… aapki auto nikal gayi par mein phas gaya. Phir who auto dikha bhi nahi. I tried to look for you par kahin nahi mili. I didn’t even want to move to Delhi. Abhi ne force kiya to aaya tha.” he said, and had another sip.


“Kiara ke…” he cringed as he said that, “ yani… jab aap ghar choddke gayi thi tab bhi aisa hi kuch hua. Aise situations me mein jaldi samajh nahi paata ki kya karu… aur late ho jaata hoon. But 2-3 mahinon baad I came to know you were in Hoshiyarpur… aapko ek do baar wahan dekha bhi. Ek baar jab aap Prachi ke vaccination ke liye hospital gaye they, aur doosri baar jab aap use school choddne gayi thi, kuch 5-6 saal baad. Us din maine aapko ghar ke bahar se dekha bhi tha.”

“To aaye kyun nahi… milte na?” she asked.


Purab had the last sip and kept the cup on the teapoy.

“Pehli baar I was confused.” he said. “woh tab tha jab Disha ghar choddke chali gayi thi… and I needed you. Aapse baat karke kuch ho na ho par rona tha. Par dhar gaya tha Di… laga ke mein aapko kyu in uljhanon me wapas laavun. Doosri baar bhi aisa hi kuch hua. Aap apne life mein khush lag rahi thi… wahi laga… aapko kyu mein pareshan karoon.”


“Doosri wajah hai Abhi. Aap jaanti hein ke I love him. I can die for him. Par agar ek wajah hai ki I actually don’t like him woh aap hein… and I didn’t want to bring you back to him… unless of course if you wanted to. Mein phir se aapko un museebaton se jaate huve nahi dekh sakta tha. Tanu to nahi thi par Alia was very much there. Us din jab aap Meera ki Shaadi rok rahi thi aur Alia ne jo sign kiye huve divorce ke papers dikhaye they… shayad Alia ko mere se hi pata chala hoga aapke baare me. I don’t know. Waisa hi sab dhar tha mujhe… contact rakhoon to kuch bura ho sakta hai aapke saath.”

She nodded and had a sip.


“Is baar … aapka accident ka news Aryan ne diya tha jab mein London me tha. Aapko pata nahi hai par Disha was sick… uska cancer ka treatment chal raha tha… London me. Mein aaya to phir se mujhe wahi baat maloom padi… ke Abhi ne aapko kuch sunaya and now woh phir se uspe pachchta raha tha… ro raha tha” he said, “but I had enough of it. Mann kar raha tha ki mein usey jor se maaron. Par nahi kiya…. Ek hafte baad mein wapas London chala gaya.”

Pragya had a sip of the tea as she listened.


“Maine kal aapse kaha ki mein Abhi se contact me nahi hoon. Woh is liye hai di kyu ki mein us se contact nahi rakhna chahta tha.” he said. “I hated him for what he said to you”.


“Aapse mein yeh sab isliye keh raha hoon kyunki mein jaanta hoon ki aap mujhse kuch chupa rahin hein” he said, “whatever it is, aap mujhse keh sakti hein… I’ll only help you in it.”

“Aisa kuch nahi hai Purab.” she said, had the last sip and placed the cup on the teapoy.

Purab smiled “Baat chupane ki aapki purani aadat hai di. Achchi tarah jaanta hoon aapko… Par haan…. Wajah hamesha ki tarah… is baar bhi mere samajh ke pare hai. Aap hi bata dengi toh … I can even help you… waise… in any case, from what I know, ab karneko jyada kuch bacha bhi nahi hai. Isn’t it?”

Pragya got a bit nervous as she saw Purab smiling at her.


“Dhariye matt di” he said, “Jaise maine kaha, aapse jyada mein kisi ki ijjat nahi karta. I can never do anything against you. Aur mujhse jo ho sake woh sab I am ready to do for you. Bas aap kuch obviously galat kar rahi hein to I can only suggest ki mat kijiye… shayad rokne ki koshish bhi karoonga … but I don’t think aap kuch galat kar rahien hein.”

“Tumne aisa kyu kaha ki ab karne ko jyada kuch bacha nahi hai?” she asked.


He sighed and said “Aapke accident ke kuch ek-do mahine baad mein ek business trip me Sydney aaya tha. Ek raat maine aapko dekha… ek restaurant me. Aap aur Sushmaji mere saamne se aaye aur mere peeche wale table me baith gaye. Sirf aapke naye dressing style ke wajah se doubt tha, and then aapko Sushmaji se baat karte hue suna… and beech me aapne Abhi ke baare me bhi kuch kaha. Toh...”

Pragya nodded and looked on.


“Mujhe hamesha se teen doubts they Di… pehla ki aapka accident nahi hua hai… yani… woh karvaya gaya hai… doosra ki aap jinda hein… Ye doubt to aapko dekhke clear ho gaya tha… aur teesra … agar aap jinda hein to kuch to baat hai jiski wajah se aap wapas nahi aayi” he said, “Aapke accident ke baad maine ek aadmi se kehkar accident ke din ghar ke sabhi logon ke call details nikalwaye they… Yaha tak ke Dadi aur Saritaji ke bhi. Par woh information mujhe London jaane ke baad hi mili thi… aur Disha ki tabiyat theek nahi thi… woh kaafi serious thi toh us waqt I couldn’t look into that. Ek mahine baad dekha to kuch ajeeb laga tha. Especially Tanu ke phone aur Abhi ke phone records pe.”


“Tanu kyu ki us time ke aas paas ek anjaan number pe 3 ya 4 baar phone aaye aur kiye gaye the. Aur Abhi kyu ki usne mujhe kaha tha ki aakhri baar usne aapse mandir me baat ki thi… aur usse pehle usne aapko phone kiya tha … shaadi rokne ke liye. Par call records par aapne use phone kiya dikha raha tha aur woh bhi aapki baat shayad kuch 3 ya 4 minute tak chali. Aur wahi aapki last call thi.” He continued “Maine usey phone kiya yeh jaanne ke liye… par uska number nahi lag raha tha… Aryan se pata chala ki woh ghar choddke chala gaya hai. Number bhi obviously badal diya hoga.”


“Tanu ne kise phone kiya tha?” Pragya asked.

“Pradeep… woh details hai mere paas.” he said.

“Pradeep Tanu ka husband hai” she said, “ya… tha.”

Purab nodded “Us se mujhe yahi lagta hai ki Pradeep ne hi shayad aapke car ki break fail ki hogi”.

No. Purab, that’s where you are wrong. It was Abhi’ she thought, ‘But was it?’


“Aur, Abhi se property hadapne ke baad, Pradeep resorts handle kar raha tha. Shayad woh uska reward tha?” he said, “Abhi se mera contact nahi ho pa raha tha, toh I was confused ke kya karu. And then 4-5 din baad I saw you in Sydney. Toh for the time being … since I knew you were safe … maine woh ignore kar diya. Bas mere sources se aapke baare me pata lagaya … yani aap theek hein ki nahi… woh sab.”

“Toh, Di...” he said, “Ab aapne jo poocha tha woh. Mein jaanta hoon jyada kuch bacha nahi hai ab karneko. Kyu ki mein aur bhi kuch jaanta hoon Di… is baar aapke baare mein” he said.

She looked at him curiously.


“Pradeep ab jail me hai Di” he said, “resort me jo drugs mile, usi silsile me. Narcotics ka case hai to its a very long term for him. Alia aur Tanu ne kaafi koshish ki but paise barbaad karne ke alava kuch nahi kar paaye. All for good I guess.”

“And I am sure aap ye jaanti hein.” he said and looked at Pragya who kept staring at him. He continued, “Mujhe yeh pata chala ki woh drugs aapne rakhvaye the. Aur jisne rakha tha woh mera friend tha. Friend yani … wohi aadmi jis se maine call details nakalvaye they aur aapke baare me pata lagaya tha … Aapke aadmi ne woh kaam us se karvayi thi… Aapka aadmi yani Sushmaji ke jo pati they unke friend.”

She was stunned and looked away.

“I was also told ki usne aapse poocha tha mere baare me.” he said “and aapne kaha tha ki mujhe kuch hona nahi chahiye”.

She nodded in agreement.


“Ye sab mere alava koi nahi jaanta di.” he said,“Aur Mmarcus group pehle se tha par aapke aane ke baad hi kaafi changes aayi market aur competition me. Aapne Alia ke business ko khatam hi kar diya. Haan… aage naam Sushma ji ka rehta tha, par kaam aapka tha. And you did really well… jo artists aur clients ke cases aur compensations… actually I don’t know … kyunki aapne kaafi kuch kiya tha unhe barbaad karne ke liye.”

She nodded.


“Alia ko doubt hua” he said, “par Sushmaji pe… use laga ki woh purani baat ka badla le rahi hein. She didn’t look beyond that. Dekhti to shayad use bhi pata chalta aapke baare me… and shayad nahi bhi… kyu ki aap … you were very cautious not to expose yourself. Aur isme aapke aadmi ne bhi aapki kaafi help ki.”

“Aur Alia ne jo jo properties bechi hein woh sab Sushmaji ne khareedi hein… unke kisi na kisi company ke naam pe… Yani… aapne khareedi” He said, “Hai na Di?”

She nodded.


“Aur… kal mein jab aapse baat kar raha tha tab mujhe pata tha ki aap Abhi se naraz hein… shayad nafrat bhi karti hein … par usey chot lagi to usey ghar le aayi” he said, “Aur aaj… mein jaanta hoon ki aap naraz nahi hoti to Abhi se is tarah nahi milti. Lekin jyada naraz bhi nahi… kyu ki coffee uski pasand ka banane ko kaha … even though you didn’t make it yourself… toh obviously narazgi abhi bhi hai.”

“So… aapki halat bhi meri jaisi hai Di… Abhi se naraz reh sakta hoon par museebat me nahi dekh sakta. Maine us se contact nahi rakha … par ye jan-ne ke baad ki uske paas paise hein… ki woh safe hai. Mein Abhi se baat nahi karta tha… par Prashant se contact rakhta tha.”

Pragya nodded.

“Kya hua hai di?” Purab asked. “At least ab to bata dijiye ki wajah kya hai.”

Edited by Adiandsid - 3 years ago
Adiandsid thumbnail
Visit Streak 1000 Thumbnail Visit Streak 750 Thumbnail + 8
Posted: 3 years ago
#9

Chapter 8


Abhi’s room, Tandon House.

Abhi thought about Pragya as he rested on his bed. He knew something was wrong and her behaviour was not what he had expected from her. It felt as if she was maintaining a distance. ‘But why?’ He had hoped he would hug her and never let go off her if he meets her again but now, having met her again, she seemed like a different person.

Cold, ‘but not too cold’. She hadn’t made him his coffee ‘but did ask someone else to make it for me’. She gave him a supportive hand ‘but didn’t stay longer than that’. She was silent while having breakfast toobut had my favourites made’. And even while going to Purab’s place she had said “I’ll come back in some time” but ‘left without even looking at me’. Her behaviour left him confused.


He wanted to know the reason and with what Sushma had said perhaps she was the only one who could answer him now. He got up from the bed but felt a pain on his wound as he did so.

Sushma entered his room with Naresh and found him holding his forehead. “Are you Ok?” she asked.

“Fine” he said as he got up, “Just that it pains sometimes.”

“Okay… He’s Naresh” she said, “He’s the one who hit you yesterday and … has come to apologise to you”.

Naresh came forward but before he said anything, Abhi said “Arey… its okay … koi baat nahi”.

“Nahi sir” Naresh said, “mujhe pata nahi tha aap kaun hein”.

“Bola na… It’s Ok. Woh time pe tumhe wahi karna chahiye tha… Tumne jo kiya sahi kiya.” Abhi said with a smile, “Sahi kaam karne ke liye maafi nahi maangte.”

“Sorry saab” Naresh said.

“Tum jao abhi” Abhi said.

“Theek hai saab” Naresh said and left the room.


“How are you now?” Sushma asked.

“Feeling very tired and sleepy” Abhi said as he sat back down.

She smiled at him and said, “must be the medicines, Doctor has asked you to take rest.”

He nodded and said, “I have to ask you a few things. Can I?”

She nodded and he said “actually… two things. Ek recommendation hai.”

She sat on a chair nearby and waited for him to speak.


“That boy, Prashant… who went home now.” he said, “He is a very talented singer… and he has an audition at your studio today. I am sure he will be a good asset for you.”

“Oh… It’s Pragya who looks into that.” she said, “But… I’m thinking … lets see what our people do with him. Since its you recommending him, I am sure he will be good. Lets see what they do. You know… like a… test of their ears as well. Fair enough?”

He agreed, “Yeah… sounds good”.


“Second thing” Abhi said, “and this is something I wanted to ask you in the morning. Its about… Pragya”. After a long pause he asked “How did you meet her.”

By the look on her face he could tell he may not get the answer, and he was right. “Its better if you talk to her about it” she said.

“I will tell you something though.” she said, noticing the disappointment on his face, “She has been through some really bad stuff, believed in something that now seems to be wrong, and now is confused. So, if you feel she has changed, or something is wrong with her… give her time. And let her take her time. The way I see it, things will be normal soon. Don’t know how… but seems to be going that way.”


He nodded, “You know… I was so very happy seeing her that I couldn’t help myself from crying. Its still unbelievable for me. But she … I don’t know… It feels like she is not her … like you said I felt she is confused.”

“She is” Sushma said, “and she has a very good reason to be. To be honest, I am in the same boat myself. Figuring out what’s going on along with her.”

“Why is that?” he asked.

Sushma said “Again…its better if I leave that to her for now.”

“Okay”, he said.


Purab’s home

“Kya hua hai di?” Purab asked. “At least ab to bata dijiye ki wajah kya hai.”


Pragya got up from the sofa, walked towards the window and looked out. Purab followed her, stood besides her, and waited for her to speak.

After a few moments she sighed and said “Mujhe pata nahi Purab. Jab se mein yahan waapas aayi hoon, I am not sure any more.”

She paused for a few moments and said, ““Tum theek keh rahe ho Purab. Yeh sab maine hi karvaye they.”

She looked at him and he could see the anger growing on her face.


She looked away and continued, with anger seemingly growing with each word she spoke, “Aur maine yeh sab isliye karvaye they kyun ki mein inhe barbaad karna chahti thi. Barbaad karke itna neeche girana chahti thi ki ye dubara kabhi uth na paaye. Aur agar uthe bhi to phir se vaar karkar unhe wapas gira dena chahti thi.”

He was stunned to hear that. He had never before seen her like this or heard such things from her about Abhi.

“Di?” is all he could manage to say.


She wiped the tears that had started rolling down her cheeks. She looked at him and then looked away, walked towards the sofa and sat on it.

He picked up a jug placed on the teapoy, poured a glass of water, and offered it to her. She refused and continued, “Yeh sab jo maine karvaye hai na Purab, isiliye karvaye they. Unke artists ke music ki piracy karvayi, artists se case karvaya, jo jo events woh lete they unme kaafi saari problems khadi kar di, resort me drugs rakhvaye… bas, maine unka jo pharma ki jo factory thi usme kuch nahi kiya. Baaki sab businesses me kuch na kuch problems khade kiye jis se ki woh toot jaaye. Aur yeh sab maine almost ek hi waqt me karvaye taaki woh in sab se bach nahi paayein. Maine yeh bhi jaan liya tha ki Alia ab apparels ki business try kar rahi thi… usme bhi maine usey problems diye… aur wahan bhi woh kuch kar nahi payi.”


“Aur yeh sab mein isliye kar rahi thi, kyun ki mein inse nafrat karti thi” she said.

“Mein yahan bhi isliye aayi thi kyun ki mein dekhna chahti thi ki aage kya karoon” she said, “Par yahan aakar jo sun-ne aur dekhne ko mila woh… I wasn’t expecting that. And I don’t know… kya ho raha hai, kyun ho raha hai, aur ye aise kyun kar rahe hein.”

“Mujhe pata nahi tha ki ye ab wahan nahi rehte ya phir Alia ne unki business hadap li thi… Maine kabhi aisa socha nahi tha, aur nahi kisi se inke baare mein poocha. Yeh jaanti thi ke ye ab business jyada sambhalte nahi hai, sab Alia kar rahi hai… par I never knew what’s going on. In fact maine jab suna ki Alia business sambhal rahi hai to mujhe laga ki ye shayad Tanu ke saath holidays pe gaye hai ya phir uske saath khush hein.”

“Tanu ke saath, Di?” Purab interrupted.


She looked at him and noticed the cringe he had on his face. “Kyun ki, inhone hi kaha Purab … inhone hi kaha tha ki achcha hua ki unki shaadi Tanu se ho gayi. Ki woh mujhse koi rishta nahi rakhna chahte hein”.

She looked away, and said, “Prachi aur Ranbir ke shadi ke waqt ye ghusse me they… meri koi baat nahi suni … inhone ye tak keh diya ke Tanu meri Rhea ke liye mere se achchi maa banegi.”

“Woh Tanu, jisne jab se humari shaadi hui hai na jaane kya kya kiya hai hume alag karne ke liye. Woh Tanu jiski wajah se aaj Kiara humare beech nahi hai. Woh Tanu jinhone inhe ek rape case me phasakar inse shaadi kar li, ab wahi Tanu ab meri Rhea ke liye mere se achchi maa banegi!!”

She wiped her tears.


“Mein phir bhi jaanti thi ke ye ghusse mein hein aur ghusse me ye kuch na kuch bol dete hein … aur unka ghussa jaayaz bhi tha … kyun ki woh Rhea ki sachchai nahi jaante the… mein yahi baat karne ke liye ghar jaa rahi thi. Mujhe pata tha ye ghusse me honge and I will have a tough time convincing him, and I was ready for it.” she said, “Par, mein ye nahi jaanti thi Purab ke inka ghussa itna jyada hoga ki ye mujhe maar dalne ki koshish karenge.”

“Mar dalne ki koshish?” Purab asked, surprised to hear that.


“Haan Purab.” she said, “Maine unhe phone kiya jab mein gadi me thi. Tanu ne phone uthaya tha phir inse baat hui.”

She narrated the conversation she had over the phone with Abhi to him.

“Phir meri gaadi ek khai se giri aur mujhe bas itna yaad hai ki mein ek nadi me gir gayi. Jab hosh aaya to Sushmaji mere paas me they. Woh wahan apni beti ka antim sanskaar karne aayi thi aur mein dikh gayi, aur mujhe bacha liya. Mujhe apne ghar le aayin.” she said.

She looked at him, wiped her tears.


“Mein toot chuki thi Purab.” she said, “Tum keh rahe the na ki tumhari life me tum sabse jyada ijjat meri karte ho… mein… mein sabse jyada pyaar aur ijjat inki karti hoon… aur tab bhi karti thi jab mein inke saath nahi rehti thi. Aur ye … inhone to mujhe maar hi daala!”

“Jinda laash thi me Purab. Kayi hafton tak so nahi paayi. Neend aati to bhi itne bure sapne aate they na ki mein dhar ke maare phir se so nahi pati thi.”


“Maine thaan liya tha Purab ke mein inhe neeche giravoongi. Aur bas isi liye maine yeh sab kiya.” she said. “Aur jab yahaan aayi, mein seedhe ghar gayi thi… mein inhe dikhana chahti thi ki mein jinda hoon.”

“Par ghar gayi to watchman se pata chala ki woh mere jaane ke baad ghar choddke chale gaye hein. Tumne kaha ki woh pachchta rahe hein, mujhe dhoond rahein hein.” she said, “aur kal raat jab hum mile to mujhe dekhke unhe itni khushi hui ke mein hairan rah gayi. Mein kuch nahi bol payi. Unhe laga ke woh mar gaye hein aur mein unhe lene aayi hoon.”

“I don’t know… I am confused. Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha ki kya hua hai.” she said, “agar ye mujhse itna pyaar karte hein to mujhe maarne ki koshish kyoon ki?”


Purab waited for her to be comfortable.

“Di… Par Abhi aisa nahi kar sakta. I know him” he said, “Woh aapko pareshan kar sakta hai, narazgi dikha sakta hai, aapse kuch khari-khoti suna sakta hai, … par aapko maar daalna… ye nahi kar sakta Di.”

“Ye unhone mujse khud kaha na Purab.” she said, “kisi aur ne kahi hoti to mein bhi uspe bharosa nahi karti. Agar tumne bhi mujhse ye baat kahi hoti na Purab… mein tumpe bhi bharosa nahi karti… but ab inhe dekhti hoon to ye … I don’t know… ye aise behave kar rahe hein jaise ki he doesn’t know anything.”

After a few moments she said, “Mujhe inse jaan ni hai ke sach kya hai”.

“Aap mat poochiye Di” he said, “Mein poochta hoon… kuch baatein hein jo mujhe bhi jan-ni hai.”

Edited by Adiandsid - 3 years ago
Adiandsid thumbnail
Visit Streak 1000 Thumbnail Visit Streak 750 Thumbnail + 8
Posted: 3 years ago
#10

Chapter 9

Tandon House, ½ hour later.

Shagun knocked on the door of Pragya’s room and asked “Ma’am, mushroom curry bhi bana doon?”

“Nahi, mushroom inhe...” Pragya said, “… Purab… Purab bhi aa raha hai na, usey pasand nahi hai.”

“Toh Ma’am, aur kuch?” Shagun asked.

“Aa jao mein dekhti hoon.” Pragya said and walked out of the room. Shagun followed her.


The door bell rang as they walked down the stairs. Shagun opened the door. It was Purab and a delivery boy.

Purab walked into the hall and noticed Abhi sitting on the sofa, sleeping with his head resting on his palm. He sat besides Abhi and patted on his thigh, waking him up, as Pragya waited for Shagun to arrive with the delivery box.


“Ma’am, ye designer ne bheje hein” Shagun said.

“Sir ko dena” Pragya said, and looked at Abhi and said “Thode kapde hein aapke liye. Subah mangvaye they. Pasand na aaye to keh dena, exchange kar lenge.”

Shagun gave the box to Abhi, who tried to open it. He picked up a knife placed on the fruit basket on the teapoy and started to tear the sealing of the box.


Purab said, “Di, ek chai?”

Pragya nodded and said “Bhijvati hoon” and turned to walk towards the kitchen as Abhi hurt his finger with the knife and yelled out.

Pragya turned around and said “Yeh kyaa hai aap…dekh ke nahi kar sakte?” and held his finger, brought it near her mouth… but stopped. After a long pause she cleaned the drop of blood with her finger and said “First aid box bhijvati hoon” and walked towards the kitchen as Shagun followed her.


Shagun came back with the first aid box and Purab took some cotton and dabbed Abhi’s finger.

As Shagun walked back to the kitchen, Abhi asked, “Kuch pata chala?”

“Kya?” Purab asked.

“Arey, tu teri Di ko ghar le gaya tha” Abhi said, “kuch to baat huvi hogi na. Bas ghar dikhane to tu nahi leke jayega”.

Purab nodded. “Scene complicated hai” he said, “and honestly, jo doubt Di ko hai who mujhe bhi hai.”

“Kaisa doubt?” Abhi aksed.

“Bolta hoon.” Purab said, “pehle mein thoda woh process to kar loon.”


Pragya added cinnamon and cardamom into the boiling coffee as Shagun was preparing tea on another.

“Ma’am” Shagun said, “ek baat poochoon?”

“Haan poocho na Shagun.” Pragya replied.

“Yeh Abhi sir, aapke husband hein na?” Shagun asked.

Pragya stirred the coffee and after a while looked at Shagun and nodded a yes.

“Aur unhe mushroom pasand nahi hai na?” Shagun asked.

Pragya stared at her and Shagun said “Sorry Ma’am”.

“It’s Ok.” Pragya said, “Ye coffee aur chai unhe dedo” and poured the coffee onto a cup.


Shagun walked out of the kitchen with a tray and gave Purab tea and Abhi, coffee. She left some snacks on the teapoy and went back towards the kitchen.

Abhi had a sip of the coffee and relished it. “Ye Pragya ne banayi hai” he smiled as he looked at Purab. Purab had a sip of tea and said, “Lekin Di ne aaj mere saath bhed bhav kiya.”

“Woh kaise?” Abhi asked.

“Tere liye coffee banayi. Ye chai Di ne nahi banayi hai”.

Abhi gave him a sheepish smile.


Purab smiled back and noticed Pragya walking out of the kitchen.

She came towards them and said “Woh… mujhe thoda kaam hai, toh… ek do ghante ke liye mein busy rahoongi. Aapko kuch chahiye to Shagun ko bol dena”.

Abhi nodded and so did Purab. She smiled back nervously, “Woh… haath…aapka haath… ab theek hai?” she asked.

Abhi nodded and smiled.

“Theek hai” she said and after a brief moment of hesitation asked “Aaj teen talents ka audition ho raha hai. Normally mein finalise karti hoon. Director unke audio clips bhejenge… aap sun sakte hein?”

“Yes…” Abhi said, “But after you have listened to them.”

“Ok…” she said and after a bit of hesitation said, “Theek hai” and walked towards her room.


When she went away from their sight, Purab said, “Kya soch rahe ho?”

“Tera business kaise chal raha hai ab?” Abhi asked.

Purab smiled and siad, “Tu aur Di na… mann me kuch aur chalta rahega, bolenge kuch aur. Baat nikalvani padti hai.” He sighed and continued “Chalo… yehi sahi.”

“Arey poocha to tha tujhe” Abhi said, “tu hi bol raha tha na, ‘process’ karna hai. ho gaya tera ‘process’?”

Purab smiled and nodded.


He said, “Yaha aane tak Di tujhse naraz thi…sirf naraz nahi, nafrat bhi karti thi”.

A surprised Abhi looked at him. “Nafrat?” he asked.

“Haan, Nafrat.” he said, “aur unki yeh nafrat jo hai woh jaayaz tha”.

“woh kaise?” Abhi asked.

“Batata hoon.” Purab said, “par is se pehle mujhe kuch baat jaan-ni thi.”


“Tune mujhse kaha tha ki aakhri baar Di se teri baat mandir me hui thi.” Purab said, “Tu ye bata ki uske baad tune kya kiya? Aur detail me bata.”

“Mein maindir se bahar nikla, seedhiyon se neeche aaya, chappal pehna, compound me...” Abhi said.

“Arey...kya kar raha hai yaar!” Purab asked.

“Tune hi to kaha detail me bata.” Abhi said, “to mein detail me bata raha hoon na.”

“Utna bhi detail nahi” Purab said.

“Nahi… bolunga to full detail me hi” Abhi said.

“Achcha chal, bol” Purab said.


“Haan to mein mandir se bahar nikla, seedhiyon se neeche aaya, chappal pehna, compound me aaya,” Abhi said, “Car khola, baith gaya, ignition …”

“Car kholne se pehle kuch nahi kiya na?” Purab asked.

“Kiya na… Chabi lee pocket se, Thanks poochne ke liye.”

“Hmm... Di ki gadi dikhi?” Purab asked.

“Haan woh road ke us tarf thi.” Abhi said.

“Unki gaadi ke aas paas kisi ko dekha tha?” Purab asked.

“Kyu re?” Abhi asked.

“Kisi ne Di ki gaadi ki break fail ki thi” Purab said, “Woh accident nahi tha… kisi ne unhe maarne ki koshish ki thi, unki break fail karvake.”


“Woh Tanu hi hogi…”Abhi said.

“Alia bhi” Purab said.

“Alia?” Abhi asked, “But Alia to us time Pragya ko support kar rahi thi.”

Purab smiled, “Alia… aur Di ko support?’ Purab said, and continued “Tere saath jo kiya uske baad bhi tu yeh maanta hai?”

Abhi agreed.

“Par baat idhar nahi rukti. Aur bhi kuch hai.” Purab said.

“Kya?” Abhi asked.

“Di us accident se bach to gayi par un logon ne shayad aisa kuch kiya hai jis se ki Di toot chuki thi.” Purab said.

“Kya?” Abhi asked.


“Tu pehle mujhe ye bata” Purab said, “Ghar aane ke baad tune kya kiya? And… this is serious, so is baar mazak mat kar.”

“Pehle bhi mein serious hi tha” Abhi said.

“Haan” Purab said, “Pata hai mujhe. Ab bata.”

“Ghar aane baad mein Rhea ko milne gaya. Woh soyi hui thi. Doctor chala gaya tha.” Abhi said, “Phir mein mere room me gaya. Ghusse me tha toh had a drink.”

“Nahi” Purab interrupted, “Sorry… thoda details chahiye.”

“Abe tu hi to bola na detail me mat ja, mazak mat kar. Ab kya?” Abhi said.

“Sorry...” Purab said “Ab detail me bol”.

“Haan… ghar aane ke baad mein Rhea ko milne gaya”.

“Koi aur tha wahan par?” Purab said.

“Haan … woh Tanu aur Alia.” Abhi said.


“Aur Rhea so rahi thi.” Purab said, “Koi phone aaya?”

“Pragya ne phone kiya tha.” Abhi said, “par mein ghusse me tha toh uthaya nahi.”

“Uthana chahiye tha…” Purab said, “any ways, baadme?”

“Baadme mein mere room me gaya” Abhi said, “Kapde badle aur piya”.

“Di ne wapas koi phone kiya tha?” Purab asked.

“Nahi… uske baad to bas kal dikhi.” Abhi said.


“Tera phone kahan tha?” Purab asked, “Tere paas, ya tu usey Rhea ke kamre me choddke aaya tha?”

“Arey mera phone to mere paas hi rahega na?” Abhi said.

“Really?” Purab asked. “Barabar yaad hai tujhe? Ya phir aisa bhi hai kya ki Tanu aur Alia bhi tere saath tere kamre me aaye the?”

“Nahi mein akela tha.” Abhi said, “In fact darwaja band kar diya tha maine. 2-3 ghante ke baad hi khola tha, jab Aryan ne bulaya.”

“To phone tere paas tha ki nahi?” Purab asked.

“Oh nahi...” Abhi said, “kyun ki, Aryan ne jab bola ki Pragya wapas nahi aayi aur uska pata nahi hai toh mein phone dhoond raha tha … mujhe Rhea ke kamre me mila.”

“To tu tere kamre me phone nahi leke gaya tha” Purab said.

Abhi nodded a yes.


“I knew it” Purab said and got up. He asked Abhi to get up too and hugged him and said, “Thanks bhai… Thanks… Tu nahi jaanta tune kitna bada doubt mere mann se nikal diya.”

“Kya hua?”Abhi asked.

Purab said, “Ab mujhe pata chala ki Di ke saath kya hua tha.”

“Kya?” Abhi asked.

“Alia aur Tanu ne bohot bada game khela hai” Purab said, “Bohot bada… aur Di ko itne bure tareeke se gumraah kiya hai ki … kya batavu…”

Abhi looked on.

“Bas ab sirf ye jaan na hai ki kis kis ne kya kya kiya.” Purab said.

Purab saw Sushma walking downstairs. He walked towards her and said, “Sushmaji, Mujhe pata chal gaya kya hua tha us din PragyaDi ke saath”.


Pragya’s room: A couple of hours later

“And ma’am… just one more thing” her secretary said, “You really look happy today. Good to see you like this”.

“Oh...Thank you” Pragya said, “and have a nice weekend” and called off the video meeting.

She stared at the screen of her laptop. I look happy?’ she thought. She realised she was. She had slept peacefully since what felt like ages. That felt like heaven.

Par ye?

That familiar pain that came with the thought of Abhi creeped up her spine. She wanted to believe he was innocent, that he didn’t know anything. She wanted to give him the benefit of doubt. She knew that’s what she wanted to do deep down. ‘but it was him who did it and he said it himself. And why am I even thinking this?’.


She shrugged off these thoughts and got up to and walked towards Abhi’s room. He wasn’t there. She walked towards Sushma’s room. She wasn’t there either. She walked towards the stairs and looked down and was surprised to see no one.

“Shagun” she called out.

“Ji Ma’am” she heard Shagun say as she came out of the kitchen.

“Ji Ma’am” Shagun said again, looking up at Pragya.

“Ye… yani Sushma aunty kahan hai?” Pragya asked.

“Ma’am, Sushma Ma’am Abhi Sir ke saath kahin gayi hai.” Shagun replied.

Pragya was surprised to hear that. “Kahaan? Kuch bataya?” Pragya asked.

“Nahi ma’am” Shagun replied.

“Aur Purab” Pragya asked.

“Ji Purab Sir shayad apne ghar gaye hein.” Shagun said.

“Theek hai… woh wapas aaye to bata dena.” Pragya said and turned to walk towards her room, but heard a noise coming from the kitchen. She looked down and found a startled Shagun.

“Woh … Sorry ma’am” Shagun said “Shayad koi … plate ... plate gir gaya”.

“Theek hai” Pragya said and walked towards her room.


She felt odd that Sushma and Abhi went out. She hoped Sushma doesn’t ask anything to Abhi. ‘Somehow, Purab would be better’ she thought, ‘if someone else was to talk to him.’

She thought about calling up Sushma, but felt it would be inappropriate. But she felt restless and decided to call her up. Shagun entered her room with a jug of water and placed it on the side table. Pragya walked towards the window and rang up Sushma but the call was not received. It tensed her up a bit but she heard her phone ring. It was Sushma’s call.


“Hello Aunty.” she asked, “Kahan hai aap?”

“Hum bahar aaye huve hai” Abhi said.

“Aap?” she asked, and after a pause, continued, “Kahan?”

“Bahar” he said.

“Bahar yani kahan?” she asked.

“Kamaal hai yaar” he said, “ab sab tumhe bolke jaavu kya?”

“Achcha… Sushma aunty kahan hai, Unhe phone deejiye” she said.

“Woh mere saath hai aur mein phone kyun doon?” he asked.

“Aap aise kyun baat kar rahe hein? Sushma aunty ko phone dijiye na.” She said.

“Unse tum baat nahi kar sakti” he said,

“Kya?” she asked and continued, “dekhiye aap mazak mat kijiye… unke medicines ka time hua hai.. lunch bhi ready hai… aap jald hi wapas aajayiye.”

“Nahi aaya to?” he said.


She felt that creepy sensation again crawling up her spine, “Yani?” She asked.

“Sushmaji ne tumhe bachaya tha na?” he said, “unke saath milkar hi tumne mujhe aur mere parivaar ko barbaad ki hai na? Unke help se hi tum meri Alia aur meri Tanu ko pareshaan karti rahi ho na. Unhe iski sazaa mein doonga”.

Edited by Adiandsid - 3 years ago

Related Topics

Top

Stay Connected with IndiaForums!

Be the first to know about the latest news, updates, and exclusive content.

Add to Home Screen!

Install this web app on your iPhone for the best experience. It's easy, just tap and then "Add to Home Screen".