Hey guys! So sorry for the delay! I normally upload quicker on weekends! But I was down with fever 🤢
Anyhow! This is chapter 9 for you! I guess it doesn't remain a short story any more! Please consider it as a FF and read 😆😆
Well guys, I loved each and every comments that were posted. I couldn't reply to all considering I have a fixed quota for posts per day!! 😕😕
But your lovely comments and constructive criticism are both welcome!
Also guys, this time this Chapter is not proof read, forgive me for mistakes! If you point it out to me, I would be glad to make the edits! 😛😛
Actually I have a few good scenes in mind, and I am in a hurry to pen them down for you soon!🤗
So long then! Happy reading!
Longing for more comments and love from you guys! ❤️
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CHAPTER 9
FACING YOU
No' moaned Pragya softly as she took a step away from Abhi. Silent tears started rolling down her cheeks. What was wrong with her? Did she just---and she couldn't even think further. She glanced at Abhi one last time and saw that he was anxiously looking at her. She didn't stand there a second more. She turned to her heels and walked off, and as she did, she heard Abhi softly call out her name once. But she didn't stop. After entering the main hospital building, she let go of her breathe. The enormity of the situation came crashing down on her. Yet she couldn't help feeling that something felt so right ---no she rebuked herself. What was right in this? She was married! So was Abhi! If she couldn't accept the fact that her husband loved someone else, how could she expect Tanu to accept it? She felt guilty. She remembered Suresh's words, "I L"" and she was crestfallen at that and here she was standing here after she had kissed another man. What irked her the most was that she was not as horror struck as she would have imagined herself to be. She wondered how she was walking back with a straight face after what she did. There was only one answer - somewhere deep down she didn't feel guilty. Yes - it was wrong indeed she knew, but she wasn't guilty of the wrong doing. She was guilty of not feeling guilty.
Pragya reached outside BB's emergency room to find Suresh and Purab discussing something. Suddenly she remembered BB's state. Putting everything else aside, she rushed towards both men. They informed that BB had choked on smoke but thankfully she wasn't inside for too long. They were reviving her and for now she was out of danger. Pragya breathed a sigh of relief. Suresh then turned towards Pragya and asked where she had been. Once more her revendevous with Abhi came back to her mind, Pragya also remembered the promise she had made to Abhi. She turned to face Purab.
Pragya - Purab do you trust Abhi?
Purab - Di..yes I do, but why are you asking?
Pragya - Then for Abhi and his daadi's sake go take your complaint back from the police. You can't keep Aaliya in jail forever that you know. Eventually Abhi will find a way of releasing her. And when she is out, she will be vindictive. Then even her family cannot control her. She will pose greater danger to BB. Purab, you will make Abhi and his family members hear the audio clip such that they believe us that our accusation wasn't false. We will let them know that in spite of this we are taking the complaint back. So that they can take care of her and Abhi can ensure that Aaliya doesn't hamper BB's life in anyway. He promised me that if we help him in keeping Aaliya away from the bars, in return he will keep her away from BB. Purab I don't think anyone other than Abhi can control her, let's do this?
Purab - Di, I am not sure. You are right, no one can handle her better than Abhi. But are you sure Abhi believed you when you told him about Aaliyah exploit? Di you didn't even have the clip with you, how did you convince him?
Pragya suddenly found herself getting slightly red. She remembered how Abhi believed her even without asking for evidence. That was the true depth of their friendship. Only she wasn't sure how to put it across -now after what the shared sometime back, she wasn't even sure if the mental explanation she had so far was even true or not. But before she could answer, Suresh prompted.
Suresh - Yes Purab, Pragya is right. Do as she said. We are more concerned about BB's safety not anything else.
Pragya stared. She thought Suresh would never agree to her plan, but by agreeing to her plan Suresh silently proved that his concern for BB was also genuine concern and maybe not "love". What he had accidentally said was what came out from his mouth by chance. She looked at him guiltily. Suddenly she felt, Suresh hadn't cheated on her, she cheated on him.
Purab agreed and he decided to take his complaint back. Soon after that, Purab repeatedly insisted that Pragya and Suresh went home and rested for the night. All was well and Purab could handle it from her. Pragya decided to come back and visit BB the next morning.
THE ROCKSTAR INTROSPECTS
While Abhi was driving home, an enthusiastic Aakash called to inform him that Purab had taken his complaint back, so Aaliya was free - that he was on his way bringing her back.
Abhi reached home and silently walked towards his bedroom. Everyone in his family was sitting in the hall. As he entered, Tanu automatically tried to walk up to him and talk. But daadi held her back. She knew the deep bond her grandchildren shared and after this shock, daadi knew her Abhi needed some time of solace. No one spoke to him hence and he didn't seem to notice anyone around anyway. He reached his bedroom and shut the door behind him. Once inside the safety of his room, he crashed down on the floor. The events of the evening started unfolding before him once more. He thumped his fist on the floor in frustration and at the same time felt a piercing pain in his fist. But he didn't care - no pain was greater than his losing his chashmish. She was gone today thought Abhi. He had lost that one person who was like a warm drop of sunlight in the otherwise winter that was his life. But today he shut that window himself. He sat there as silent tears rolled down his cheeks. He kept blaming himself for the act. Why did he have no self-restraint? - Pragya's plea of helping her save her marriage kept playing in his head - hadn't he promised to help her? How would that happen now? She would never see his face again - the thought brought in fresh tears in his eyes. He had to do something - anything - but he couldn't let Pragya go - not like this, he needed her.
An hour later Aakash knocked his door to inform, Aaliya was back. Abhi asked Aakash to bring her to his room. In a short while Aakash got Aaliya to his room with Tanu walking behind them. Aaliya came in and hugged Abhi first. She knew only Abhi could have managed to bring her out that night itself.
Aaliya - Bhai, I knew it bhai. You wouldn't let that loser with his silly accusation hold me behind the bars. Bhai he put you sister - rockstar Abhi's sister in jail. You can't leave him just like that bhai. You will see to it that loser Suresh suffers, right bhai?
Abhi - How do you want me to see to it that he suffers Aaliya? He doesn't even have a sauna where I can suffocate him. Since you're the expert maybe you can advise me?
Aaliya - Yes bhai, I will help you figu---
Aaliya stopped. She looked up at Abhi in surprise. Did he just say she was the expert in it? Does he believe that Suresh that"
Aaliya - Bhai, you -
Abhi - No. No. Aaliya, don't stop, you were figuring out another way of murdering another person - go on.
Abhi's voice was deep and cold. A chill ran through Aaliya. She looked at Tanu once mentally asking for help.
Tanu - Abhi you believe that Suresh? You believe him over Aaliya? Don't you know your sister? You think she is capable of such an outrageous act?
Abhi was irritated hearing Suresh's name here. Why would he trust that double batteried foul loser? But even Pragya had said Aaliya was guilty - Pragya would never lie.
Abhi - No, I don't believe Suresh. I believe in Purab.
Aaliya - Of course Purab will think I have done this, he is insecure of his wife's health. You really want to trust his judgement at this moment?
Abhi realized, he hadn't even trusted Purab when in the hospital he had tried explaining. He had believed in this when his chashmish had said this to him. It seemed there remained no space for confusion. For him, Aaliya's crime felt like it was written on rock once Pragya validated it.
Abhi - No, I am not depending on his judgement. Pragya validated it. I believe her.
It was Tanu who spoke now - Pragya? Who Pragya?
Aakash - Rachna's bhabi Pragya - Suresh's wife and BB's sister.
Tanu - Abhi how is that even relevant huh? What this Priya said how is that relevant? She will obviously support her husband.
Abhi felt infuriated for a second hearing the indifference in Tanu's voice when she used a wrong name while referring to Pragya, he shot back - The name is Pragya, not Priya. At least get your facts right Tanu.
But even as he shot back at her, a sudden new realization which he had forgotten to think about came and smiled before him - Tanu was his wife. After what he did tonight, he had cheated on her. This new guilt stung Abhi like poison. He couldn't look into Tanu's eyes. But oblivious to all this Tanu continued.
Tanu - Abhi how does it matter what that woman's real name is? Why do you believe her statement over your own sisters? Did she show you any evidence?
"No" replied Abhi. He knew chashmish hadn't shown him any evidence. He didn't even need one. But how could he explain this to these people? How could he explain how he felt towards Pragya? She was the one who agreed to free Aaliya at the risk of her sister's life - just by putting her faith in him. Wasn't that reason enough to trust her? - A small voice inside his head spoke - would he have trusted any other woman who would have taken the same risk and told him this about Aaliya? Abhi had to admit he wouldn't still believe her - Abhi realized that he may use a hundred justifications for believing in the allegation on Aaliya, but in reality there existed just one reason - he believed it because chashmish had said it. He suddenly heard Tanu repeating her question and that brought him back to reality.
Tanu - Answer me Abhi, did she show you some evidence?
Abhi - No she didn't. She just told me.
Tanu - Than how on earth Abhi---
Abhi - Tanu please stay out of this. I will handle it my way.
Tanu - But Abhi---
Abhi - Tanu please excuse us for a moment (even as he said this, he couldn't bear to look at Tanu straight in the eyes. He had cheated on her, and he was guilty, but he couldn't help feeling that - in that moment, with chashmish in his arms, nothing could have felt righter)
After a fuming Tanu left the room Abhi turned to Aaliya.
Aaliya - Bhai you trust the accusation a woman who is a middle class nobody, over your sister's saying? Who is Pragya? Why is her statement so important to you? Why do you believe in Pragya over me?
Abhi didn't have any answer to these questions. However, he was too mad at Aaliya to feel guilty right now. He simple turned to Aaliya and said -
Abhi - Aaliya, you will be going to handle the new media company we took over in London last month. I needed a trustworthy person there - prove it to me that you're worthy of my trust.
Aaliya - But bhai -
Abhi - Please go and pack. You will be flying down to London tomorrow evening. Don't worry about daadi, I will explain things to her. She is better off not knowing your true colour.
A shocked Aaliya left the room quietly. As for Abhi - he just turned around as the newly realized guilt of cheating on his wife sunk deep inside him. He slowly thought to himself - Chashmish wants to work out her marriage, and after this, the best way he could help was by staying away from her and remaining faithful to Tanu. Maybe his and chashmish's story had just this short a life - even so, in these few days, he had lived his lifetime. With these as his memories, he will continue to lead the rest of his life and hope that someday chashmish truly gets the love she deserves from her husband.
As Abhi walked towards the bed slowly, his tired muscles ached. And that hollow inside him, that that filled up with chashmish in his life, seemed to rip apart again - only bigger and wider this time.
THE RECONCILING PROFESSORS
As Pragya went home and was making herself a cup of tea, she felt tears roll down her eyes. There were too many things happening in her life. Firstly she was upset at misunderstanding Suresh's protective behaviour for BB - Aaliya being found guilty had changed the entire game. Then she was guilty on cheating on Suresh, she was upset for losing a friend like Abhi and she was guilty of finding that intimate moment with Abhi - the best moment of her life. Pragya had never felt such diametrically opposite emotions within herself so far. And today when she did, she didn't know how to react.
When she came to the hall room with her tea, she found Suresh sitting in the couch - he was waiting to talk to her. But Pragya had to apologize, if that could take one burden off her.
Pragya - Suresh, I am really sorry for misunderstanding your concern for BB the other day. I know what accidentally escaped your mouth - you didn't mean it - I am really very sorry Suresh.
Suresh - Calm down Pragya. I know after what escaped my mouth; it couldn't have been easy for you. I just wanted to say, before anything else, we are friends and I would never dream of hurting you. Pragya, the time off I took, I took it for two reasons. One was to track a way to catch Aaliya red handed, so I set up ways of tapping her calls, and getting her followed. And secondly I wanted to give myself time to think what went wrong between us, why did such a word escape my lip?
Pragya looked up guiltily. When she was spending the best days of her life with Abhi, Suresh in reality was helping in tracking down the person who had harmed her sister and was also thinking of ways to make their marriage work. Her guilt knew no bound - but even then she realized something inside her had changed since the day Suresh had left. She was guilty, but she was not inclined in making their marriage work anymore. She felt indifferent towards her and Suresh's relationship. It was like it didn't matter to her whether Suresh loved her or not - but yes seeing Suresh's efforts, she indeed felt guilty. But no' thought Pragya to herself. Suresh was her husband. She would forget that weak moment that she had with Abhi - which felt treacherously right - and works towards leading a happy life with Suresh. She would forget Abhi - yes maybe she will lose a dear friend but this was best for both of them. As more tears rolled down her eyes, she looked at Suresh.
Pragya - Suresh how can we fix this? Our marriage?
Suresh - Pragya it is common to see a marriage come to a standstill, or decay with time. In such times you need to pump new life into the relationship, to make it healthy, to make it work. It is time we pump new blood into the relationship - that will strengthen the core of our marriage. It is time Pragya, that we have a baby.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Debate Mansion
Parineeti
Chakravarti Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan
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