Hi all! 😊😊
So here I am with another OS! This one is a continuation of the Jan 9th episode! It is about the Arora sister's drowning in the pool - I am sure this is NOT how it will happen in the show, but I wouldnt mind watching this alternate way! Oh this one has a lot of drama and mush (Just an insight!) 😆😆
Please proceed if you're up for a lot of cheesiness (😳😳)
On that note, please do leave you valuable opinions about this read! And on that note Happy Reading! 😳😳
________________________________________________
"Abhi! It's not funny anymore" fumed Pragya, as Abhi rocked in laughter seeing Pragya almost drenched from the last splash of water, he directed towards her from the pool! Her damp hair dripping water, and cheeks red in anger as she looked at Abhi with all the anger she could muster!
"Arre but fuggy you're looking so pretty! My fuggy chashmish mermaid from the pool" laughed Abhi holding his sides, he hadn't laughed so hard in a very long time! Pragya once again tried advancing towards him in vengeance but he motioned he was going to throw her in the pool if she advanced - this made her stop in terror.
"I will get back to you for this!" she hissed and was animatedly walking back indoors to reach for a washroom and change. Abhi peeped into the hall from the window near the pool. He realized the guests had started arriving, Pragya couldn't go inside so drenched. "Especially when her translucent saree was hugging on to her body so tightly, and making her look so deliciously sens-----what the hell Abhi! Control your thoughts" mused Abhi.
Pragya was about to open the door when she found a pair of hands stop her. "Abhi! What now? Haven't you already done enough damage? I will look like a scare crow in my own sisters 'roka' photos now! I don't even have enough time to go home and change! I will have to borrow something from Bulbul now, which in all probability won't even match my jewellery! Hmph."
"Well my fuggy chashmish mermaid, let me tell you it's worse! Now you can't even go in and change into borrowed clothes! Peep in and see! The guests have arrived! You will have to wait here under the moon until your clothes dry! And by then the roka will be over! Too bad you decided to be pally with water today of all days!" sniggered Abhi at a heart broken and almost in tears Pragya!
"Now I can't attend my Bulbul's roka! After so much of trouble she is going to be happy and I won't be by her side ----- and it's so cold also!" moaned Pragya as she turned away from the door.
"Okay okay don't do so much drama fuggy! When Abhi-the man is there, why fear? Now stop crying and go there (he pointed at it) - it's the pool changing room. Go inside and wait, while I go in and arrange for some clothes for you!"
"You are going to actually help me now? Aww..Thank-you thank you" Pragya then hugged Abhi tightly once in relief and ran towards the changing room, whilst Abhi called his friend and designer Andy whose store was thankfully in the next lane. He knew this occasion was special for Pragya, and he didn't want her to be in borrowed mismatching clothes and jewellery.
Fifteen minutes later
"Oi Bulbul! Come here once!"
"Yes Jiju? Where is di? I haven't seen her for some time!"
"Yeah, she is in the pool changing room, her clothes got drenched --- so these are the new ones, can you please go and help her change?"
"Drenched? How jiju? Did di fall in the pool? Is di okay? Jiju di is very scared of the water, how did she fall?" asked an anxious Bulbul.
"Arre my drama queen, relax! No you're di hasn't fallen in the pool...woh, we had a casual disagreement -----"
"Casual disagreement? Jiju you mean you again fought with my di nah?" asked Bulbul sternly.
"Arre no Bulbul, we were doing casual time-pass and I splashed water at her...and..." Abhi looked up cautiously at Bulbul to see she was trying very hard to camouflage a laugh. "Uff...you both naa..." drawled Bulbuls voice. She took the plastic from Abhi and looked into it. "Oho, designer wear with new matching jewellery and all accessories? Not bad Jiju! I am sure di will forgive you" she winked good naturedly at him and walked out of the hall towards the pool.
***
Bulbul knocks Pragya's changing room door. "Di, you there? Here are the clothes jiju sent!"
Pragya slowly put one hand out from the door and took the clothes. "Thanks Bulbul. This Abhi nah! Always has a prank up his sleeves in the wrongest of times! Imagine? What if you didn't have a spare set? What would I wear?"
"Arre no no di, this is not my spare set, jiju got a new dress and matching accessories from Andy's right now! Perks of being rockstar Abhi's wife di! He can manage everything in fifteen minutes! But you know di, when he asked me to bring you the clothes and help you, he looked so mischievously cute! In fact he told me ----------------"
And there was a splash near the pool. Pragya heard it and stood for a second, she waited for Bulbul to update her on what just happened. But none came.
"Bulbul?" called out Pragya in a tensed voice. But there was no response.
"Bulbul are you there?" still no response. As panic engulfed her, Pragya tried to drape her saree fast in order to come out and check. That's when she heard a yelp from the pool which sounded like "di help". Her doubts were already confirmed, when she dashed out of the changing room to witness a horrible scene of her Bulbul struggling to float in the water and failing miserably. She was drowning. For a moment Pragya stood there shocked. Time seemed to have slowed down for her. It felt like she was experiencing each moment in slow motion. She watched Bulbul's frantic efforts to survive. She noticed, Bulbul had fallen on the 8 feet deep side. She saw the fear in her eyes, that was now creeping into her - the fear that stopped them both from even trying to learn swimming - the fear of water - the fear of losing a close one. She tried to scream out and ask the others from the hall to come out and help, but her voice was choked.
A certain old memory flashed in her mind. It was a dark dingy room of a public hospital. There was a window in the room, but it only overlooked the hospital dumping ground. The eerie smell of medicines reeking everywhere. A single bed in the centre of the room. A man lying there with tubes inserted into his mouth, nose, neck, chest, hand - absolutely everywhere. He was lying there for the fifth day now. It was a Sunday, hence the little girl and her sister was allowed inside the room. The man looked at the older girl tenderly. He was her favourite. Doe eyed, quiet and very sensitive. He motioned the nurse to take off the tube inserted in his mouth. The nurse unwillingly obliged - he wasn't going to make it anyway - this was in all probability his last moment with his children.
"Beta, take care of Bulbul, Ma and Daadi. You're my brave lioness nah?"
"Papa, please don't say that, you will take care of us"
"I wish I could Pragya - but it doesn't seem likely. But I know you will take after me. Always remember I will be guiding you from your heart"
"Papa I am scared. I don't have the courage"
"Don't be my love - and remember - courage is not the absence of fear, it is the mere judgement that something else is more important than fear"
Pragya snapped back to the present situation. Her eyes found Bulbul's slowly giving in figure. Her frantic pants were going, she was slowly being consumed by their age old enemy - the water. But she was not going to let the water claim one more of her loved one.
"Bulbul! Hold on!" she screamed and jumped into the darkness.
****
"Abhi have you seen Bulbul?" asked Purab.
"Yeah, she is near the pool changing room, helping Pragya change. She will be here in a bit"
"Yaar Abhi, my friends want to meet her, you please go and help Pragya di for a bit and send her nah! Samjha kar yaar (Try and understand buddy)"
"Alright! Alright! Your roka, your night! I will go"
As Abhi came out just in time to see her jumping into the pool. Abhi stood there motionless for a second before he could act. He couldn't understand why Pragya would jump into the pool like that when he clearly saw how scared she was of the water. He automatically ran towards the water and screamed out her name. He could see her struggling in the water, but not to come out or float, but to go in deeper - no she wasn't drowning naturally, but why was she purposely trying to drown herself wondered Abhi. But there was no time to lose. He turned around and tried screaming for Purab once, but the blaring music from the hall ensured that Purab heard nothing. Abhi frantically turned around to see Pragya had stopped struggling now. She was limp and was slowly being consumed by the dark water. That's it, more time couldn't be wasted. Him took off his jacket and jumped into the water. The water was cold, so it took him a second to get his bearings right. He then turned around towards the direction where he saw Pragya drown and swam furiously towards her. A little longer chashmish, I will get you then thought Abhi. In a few swift strokes he reached her and grabbed her from the waist with one and started taking sharp strokes with the other. In no time he managed to pop her head out of the water surface to enable her to breathe, but she had consumed too much water, she was still unconscious, though her ragged breathing resumed. Abhi sighed in relief, as he started pulling her to one side of the pool from the centre, he heard her mumble, "Bulbul, don't worry, I will reach you. I will save you". Abhi was numbed. Bulbul was in the water too? Then it suddenly made sense to him - that's why Pragya set aside her fear and jumped into the water - to save Bulbul. And hadn't Pragya mentioned, that she was hydrophobic too? Abhi turned around and looked uncertainly into the water and saw a dark outline of a woman slightly floating at the bottom of the pool. Effortless, unconscious floatation was a bad sign. He realized Bulbul was in the water for longer than Pragya - it was because of her that Pragya jumped. He knew he couldn't risk taking chashmish all the way to safety and coming back - unless it was already too late - but he was in the centre of the pool and Pragya hadn't revived yet, if he let her go, she would drown too.
Abhi found himself in the worst of all dilemma - his wife, who he didn't love or his best friend's fianc whom his best friend dearly loved. His daadi's favourite or his wife's favourite. In all probability it would be either one. At least Bulbul was innocent thought Abhi for a second - but wasn't Pragya as innocent? Now he knew didn't he? And his heart? And his heart would let go of Pragya, but he knew if he didn't rescue Bulbul - the very same Pragya wouldn't ever forgive him. But how could he let go of her and simply watch her drown? What if he ended up saving Bulbul and losing Pragya? Could he afford that? Then he would blame his own self for the rest of his life. And the continuous pedalling to keep Pragya afloat was tiring him - he couldn't give in before saving both either. Amidst all this he heard her mumble "Don't worry papa, will take care of Bulbul, Ma and Daadi..I will..." and then she was incoherent.
That changed everything and showed Abhi duty over love, companionship and even the heart. Pragya had promised her father that she would take care of them - now when she was incapable of doing so, as her husband, it was Abhi's duty to fulfil her promise.
As he unwillingly let go of chashmish, he saw her head dip back into the water and her limbs make frantic movements in suffocation. He was this close to holding her and bringing her up above again, but he restrained, and with the strongest will power he ever imagined he could muster, he turned around to rescue Bulbul, as his wife drowned helplessly behind him.
He swam swiftly and reached Bulbul, she was limp. He tried feeling her pulse - it was impossible under water - he supported her and tried very hard to swim fast - but Bulbul was hefty unlke Pragya - hence her limp form was proving more difficult to be pulled up. Abhi struggled with all his might, in the meanwhile saying just one thing in his mind - Hold on Pragya. After what seemed like forever, he managed to pull Bulbul to ground by the pool. She had bloated from massive water intake - her pulse was very weak - Abhi knew he had to revive her first - else all would be waste. He tried giving her a cardio pump and a lot of water escaped her mouth - still she was unconscious - Abhi was too helpless to decide - when he heard Purab.
Purab after waiting for a good ten minutes, decided to come out and get Bulbul himself. When he came out he saw her lying limp and Abhi trying to revive her. Shock ran though him and rooted him. But he managed to control his reflexes and ran towards them.
"Bhai! Bulbul, what happened to her?"
Abhi was never so pleased in seeing Purab as he was today. Relief ran through him. He staggered as Purab fell next to him, holding Bulbul up and trying to revive her.
"Bhai how the hell did this happen?"
But ABhi didn't have the time to answer. Purab just heard the word "Pragya" and turned to see Abhi jump back into the water. He turned at the pool to notice the dark outline of Pragya too. He was torn between jumping in, and reviving Bulbul - but he couldn't leave Bulbul in such a state. Instead he pulled her up and took her in his arms and called and informed Aakash to come and help Abhi.
***
As Abhi reached Pragya, he feared the worst. She wasn't moving, she was gently floating along the water. He pulled her closer and hugged her tight first - but something didn't feel right - he realized he couldn't feel her heart beat. Another shot of panic seemed to paralyse him - No he thought, he must be mistaken - He got hold of her and swam like he never swam before - he was completely used up, yet he didn't give in. Once he resurfaced, he realized Aakash was already in the pool.
"Bhai, let me support her, I will pull her up"
But Abhi couldn't let go, unless he was sure, she was safely put to ground. With Aakash's help, they got her to the ground faster. Once out of the water, Abhi staggered next to her and dropped to his knees. He patted gently on her cheek. "Ae fuggy, wake up now! Don't act nah!" but Pragya was limp. Slowly he heard Aakash telling him, "Bhai, bhai - bhabi isn't breathing".
"What the hell Aakash! Have you lost it?" Abhi screamed. He went closer to Pragya and gave her cardiovascular pushes. Aakash and the others were now rubbing her hands and feet - but still no response. He heard Bulbul moan faintly from behind "Di..wake up please.."
Abhi was stunned. The only image that was coming to his mind was when he let go of Pragya in the pool for Bulbul. How could he let her drown in front of his own eyes? He was anyways guilty of wronging her in so many other ways - but now did he take her life too? He remembered her huffing for breath when he let go - and she was gone? NO. She couldn't be gone. Abhi came out of his trance in a more affirmed way and gave her one massive cardio push.
She thankfully responded to that coughing out the water that had choked her. As she coughed, he started crying. The more she coughed, the more he cried in exhaustion. Finally when she twitched her eyes into opening, she found herself being fiercely and protectively hugged by him. "Bulbul?" she asked in alarm. "Di, I am right here di" piped Bulbul from somewhere Abhi didn't care any longer. He knew the sisters might need a moment now, but he was past caring - he couldn't ever let go of her now.
After quarter of an hour, when the dinner was being called off by both families inside the hall, Abhi, Pragya, Bulbul and Purab still sat by the pool. They had decided, they would now do the roka as a simple ceremony among the family members and go home early - everyone needed rest. All four were quiet, trying to get over their personal shock of almost losing a close one. Bulbul and Purab were lost in each other's' eyes. As for Pragya, she looked at Abhi in tired embarrassment - it had been a long night that opened doors to a new future, only Pragya didn't know it yet.
Abhi noticed her awkwardness. "Fuggy, I guess whatever I do, you were destined to be photographed in Bulbul's wedding in a drenched attire!" and Abhi's grin was back.
"From next time, we ll ask Andy to always bring three-four extra outfits ready" laughed Pragya, as their heads gently bumped into each other's.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
621