AbhiGya FF ~ Destiny's Children caught in a Web - COMPLETED - Page 3

CHAPTER 3

THE PROFESSOR'S TRUTH

That same night, when Pragya was serving dinner to Suresh he seemed disturbed about something. It must be another bulling student mused Pragya to herself. She knew Suresh enough to not stir him at that moment. It would result in him getting so agitated that he would end up not having dinner and leaving the table in despair.

True, Suresh had been a very caring husband and he made sure Pragya was leading a comfortable life, but in spite of a two year old marriage, when in agitation, Suresh preferred to lock himself alone throughout and not share his despair with her. This troubled her often as she felt that she didn't have access to his deeper emotions. He shared his apartment and wealth with her, but his emotions he kept to himself. But Pragya would brush these thoughts aside. She thought she was being silly. Of course Suresh loved him, why would he take care of her needs so well? Didn't he make sure she did no work when she fell ill so badly last year? Didn't he buy her, her new scooty because she found it difficult to commute on her own for small things as they didn't have a local transport stop close-by? Suresh just wasn't expressive enough that's it. And if she Pragya didn't understand that much, she didn't deserve to be with him. Pragya smiled in satisfaction after explaining this to her own self and looked at Suresh.

Pragya - Suresh, you want some more daal?

Suresh - No, thanks.

Pragya - How was your day? Did you take that surprise viva you had planned?

Suresh - Yeah, yeah I did, it went well.

Pragya was surprised. If everything went well why was he disturbed? She kept quiet and thought to herself, whether she should mention her revendevous with Abhi to him, there was nothing she couldn't share, but he seemed disturbed anyway, plus he didn't like their family at all, she decided she didn't want to bug him more and so she wasn't going to tell him about her little adventure that day. She waited till Suresh finished his food, then she begun again.

Pragya - Suresh, are you okay? You seem very upset!

To her surprise, Suresh smiled.

Suresh - You were waiting for me to finish my food right? So I didn't leave without eating?

Pragya smiled - There! That is how well he knew her, and she keeps thinking there is something missing in their marriage.

Pragya - Well, how could I not make sure you ate your food? If you're disturbed already, you shouldn't be punishing yourself more by going without food! But what has happened?

Suresh - It's Purab. Pragya I don't think he cares enough for BB.

Pragya was taken by surprise. Why would Suresh blame Purab suddenly? Suresh continued.

Suresh - I met him today after college. I told him to check on Aaliya. I don't like that rockstar and his cousins. They cannot pass a day without harming peoples' interest. The other day ma tells me, Akash tried calling Rachcho again. All I ask is why? Is there anything left for him there? When Rachcho said she has nothing to do with him then why can't she leave him? And now this Aaliya! When Purab knows she is this spoilt brat who has never been denied anything in life, and she has been so aggressive ever since their wedding last month, then why can't he keep an eye on her for BB's sake? I told him I don't believe it that it is a mere coincidence that it was her car that collided with BB's.

Pragya was taken aback as guilt shot through her. She was worrying about his feelings for her, and here he was worried sick for her family.

Pragya - But Purab knows Abhi and Aaliya since childhood nah? Maybe he has his reasons to not doubt on her! Don't worry BB is fine---

Suresh - See Pragya this is your problem, you take everything very lightly until hell breaks loose. What is the point in crying later when you don't like taking action in good time anyways?

Pragya sighed and started patiently again - Suresh, I know you are upset about what has happened, but he is her husband, he will not take this lightly, I am sure he---

Suresh - ..Sure of what? When he is not ready to even dig in deep into the matter? I fail to understand how you two are so careless about her, if the cars collided, we could have lost her!

Pragya - Suresh, Purab and I are not careless! She is my sister and Purab's wife! You really think we don't have her best interest at heart? All I am trying to say is, she is married now, Purab has a greater say in matters concerning her life right now.

Suresh got up from the chair in irritation. Pragya was surprised, why was Suresh being so aggressive?

Suresh - You see Pragya why I don't share my feelings with you? Because you don't understand them. I am trying to tell you Purab is making a mistake and you are saying he is not. Well if this is not a mistake then maybe he and for that matter even you, don't care about BB enough to bother!

Having said that Suresh started walking towards the guest room. Pragya knew the procedure for the night. He would lock himself up and when he will come out, he will pretend nothing ever went wrong between them. But she was so hurt at his last statement, that she couldn't control herself and spat out.

Pragya - So you think you care for her more than both her husband and I combined?

Suresh - Of course I do damn it. I lo---

And Suresh stopped dead on his track. No, he didn't mean that! Or did he? He found himself asking that question. He looked at Pragya, she stood there still, with no trace of emotion on her face. He instinctively came out to go near her, but he couldn't go. He needed to answer his conscience a few questions before he could clarify her doubt. So he quietly turned around and locked the door to their guest room behind him.

AFTER ALL THIS TIME

Pragya quietly cleared the table and shut the lights of the kitchen and the hall and retired to her bedroom. She sat on the corner of the bed resting her back to the backrest of the bed. She pulled the duvet up to her waist and stared at the wall opposite. Tears rolled down her eyes, even after giving two years of undivided attention and care to her marriage this was what he had in mind? Her Suresh was still in love with her BB? All those moments where they were intimate on the bed, was he silently taking her name in his mind? Had he not promise her that, that part of his life would never cast a shadow in their married life? Pragya didn't know whether to cry for the fact that her husband loved someone else or that she cannot even hate that other' woman because she was none other than her innocent little sister, who was happily married to her husband. Why did life always pose such impossible situations before her she thought empathetically

As the night passed and she sat staring at the wall opposite, she realized that this was always the truth of her marriage. She loved Suresh, but he never reciprocated. She was his wife but never his partner. These thoughts that were wilfully pushed back my Pragya all this while, came before her today and she couldn't deny any longer that this wedding was nothing more than a way of compromising with life for Suresh. He wasn't happy himself, how could he keep her happy? And in all this lay tangled was her love for her husband Suresh.

BABY, IT'S A DATE?

When Tanu called Abhi that evening, he was expecting the usual "Baby I will be late tonight, you don't wait for me", but instead when she asked him out for a dinner date, he was most pleasantly surprised. As he got ready and went to the venue, he found his ever glamourous wife in a very elegant looking slightly shimmery LBD. He went and took her hand and kissed her on the back of her palm and they sat.

Abhi was very happy to see Tanu taking the time out for him. He reasoned with himself that it's not that she didn't try but she loves her work too and can't always manage to balance her life. As there was good music playing in this rooftop tavern, he asked her for a dance, but to his surprise, she refused and said she didn't feel like dancing, she just wanted to sit with him and talk. Abhi reasoned that maybe she wanted to spend real quality time with him talking, he didn't mind. But while he talked, he couldn't help notice that Tanu wasn't attentive at all, she kept skimming the place like she was looking for someone. After a good twenty minutes, two very sophisticated gentlemen walked into the tavern and Tanu looked like she found what she was looking for. She had this accomplished smile about her face!

Abhi kept quiet, he didn't quite realize what she was up to, but he was curious. Tanu on the other hand didn't even seem to notice that Abhi had stopped talking and was watching her closely. She kept staring at the two men for making an eye contact. And soon that happened. Tanu then smiled a little at them and walked across the table to them, excusing herself from Abhi. From what he could overhear, Abhi could make out that these were foreign MNC clients who have newly invested in India, and was looking for an Indian brand ambassador for their brand. Clearly they hadn't approached Tanu, and so she set this whole plan up to greet them. After about half an hour when Tanu was back, she looked ecstatic. Her plan had worked, they had liked her, they were meeting her the next day to finalize the contract!

Tanu was surprised to see that now that she was finally giving her full attention, Abhi didn't seem as interested. He just quietly ate his food and soon they were on their way home. An irritated Tanu thought - and he thinks I don't have time for him. When I plan something he is this uninterested!