AbhiGya Fiction ~ Cross Connection - Completed pg 42 (chp. 25 + epil) - Page 4

loved the long update.. abhi does look out for pragya in his own way😉 aww! poor prags was stranded at the pub.. bulbul s a sweetheart😳

can i just say you're amazing!👏👏
ROFLMAO at ali trying to find a girl for herself and then feeling bad when neil finds a girl for himself

Can't get better than this
Pragya enjoying in club, abhi's growing attraction, tanu's jealousy, bulbul's protective nature towards her di and
Finally suresh entry
This is getting very interesting
Hope pragya will stand up for herself here after and make her friends realise her importance
Great going please update sooonnn

Great story as always thank god Suresh found her poor girl can't wait to read what happens next

Wow! Aafrah awesome awesome awesome! This Tanu! I'm not even gonna say how much I dislike her... But anyway, I like bulbul and he bubbly self. So even tho Abhi is not attracted to Pragya- or so he thinks- he thinks it's his responsibly to keep her safe from any boys? Nice to see him insecure. Poor Pragya, they all left her but Suresh is here! Wonder what happens from here. I like Ali and Neels bonding tho. Love it! <3

Nice update aafi
Abhi jealous of pragya oops I love it
Suresh yo make more envy to abhi by coming close to pragya
I think so, thanks for pm

Hi Guys! One more update! I am really enjoying penning down this light hearted story for you! Hope you like reading it too!

Okay, one clarification - now that I have introduced all my major characters!

All these character's go to the same college, but are spread between two batches (it is mentioned in the story in a subtle way, but this is for you reader's convenience and understanding)

Senior Batch - Abhi, Pragya, Tanu, Purab and now Suresh

Junior Batch - Bulbul, Aaliya and Neil.

On that note, Happy Reading! 😳😉

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Chapter 4

Ali sat there, impatiently biting his nails, he had called Pragya some twenty times in the last half an hour, but her phone wasn't reachable. He sat there panicking, and grumbled to himself, "However, flirtatious, Prags will remain a silly fool! Why couldn't she tell me she wanted to come with us?" huffed Ali impatiently. As he sat there waiting, he got a call from Abhi, he sighed in relief hoping that his bhai must have found Prags. But on receiving the call, he was even more agitated to know that even though Abhi had reached the club, and he had checked inside out, Pragya wasn't anywhere around.

"Bhai, call up Tanu and check, maybe she has gone for a sleepover with her sister?" asked Ali hopefully.

"No, I dropped Bulbul and Tanu myself, she wasn't around" Abhi's voice was thick with tension, "But don't worry, let me drive along the area and see if she is anywhere around okay? I will keep you posted." He finished and hung up abruptly, the more he spoke with Aaliya about it, the faster he was losing his cool.

Abhi drove along all the nearby lanes and even the highway, there was no trace of chashmish anywhere, the longer it took, the more, an unknown fear was plaguing him. He drove around like a maniac in the middle of the night for another half an hour when Aaliya called. He picked up her call hopefully.

"Bhai, she is here, she reached home safely" finished Aaliya breathlessly and Abhi sighed in relief. Then an unknown fury engulfed him, how irresponsible was this chashmish? Where the hell was she all along? Couldn't she just make sure she was reachable on phone? Couldn't she inform him that she was left behind? With all these thoughts in mind, he asked through gritted teeth, "Aalu, can you pass on the phone to her?"

He heard Aalu unnecessarily clear her throat once and responded, "Maybe this is not a good time to talk bhai, and she is quite shaken"

"What do you mean?" he asked, not being able to mask his concern.

"Well, she is not really acting like herself - for the first time, she didn't reply to my questions. She just walked straight into her room and shut the door behind her." Confessed Ali uncomfortably.

If Abhi was angry at her callousness a few moments back, hearing that she was shaken by the night's event and that she wasn't talking, made him forget his fury completely. He had softened again, but he knew better, maybe she needed some lone time to get over the shock - so without much ado, he hung up. He decided to check on her the next day.

Pragya sat on her bed, finally inside the security of her room. She was still for some time and then the enormity of the situation was crashing down on her, and she started shaking vehemently as tears rolled down her eyes. What would have happened if Suresh hadn't found her there by chance? Would she still be stuck out there? She felt wounded by her friends and their behaviour towards her - maybe it was time, to realize that they weren't really her friends - if they were, wouldn't they have realized that she was missing? As she sat there, there was a text message on her phone.

3:15a.m. [Hey Pragya, hope you are feeling okay now? Please get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow : D]

3:17a.m. [Thank-You so much Suresh. I don't know where I would be, if you didn't find me today. And all the best for tomorrow, Bulbul is in for a very big surprise. Goodnight!]

Pragya smiled imagining Bulbul's expression when she saw Suresh tomorrow. Pragya and Bulbul's father and Suresh's father were best of friends, and it was in their childhood, when Suresh's mother had jokingly told their mother that they would take home Bulbul as their daughter-in-law when she grew up. Everybody had laughed at the suggestion, other than the two children who sat there in awe - the two children about whom this was said - they were about nine years old - since then it was somehow ingrained in Suresh and Bulbul's head that they were soul-mates, they were meant to be. Over the years, everybpdy had forgotten about that remark - only Bulbul and Suresh remembered it. Hence it was a big surprise when, in the teen years, Bulbul grew up to be this beautiful and attractive girl and Suresh became this overtly discipline, rigid, old fashioned uncle like figure with horrific sense of dressing - Pragya thought Bulbul would soon be over this obsession once she met new boys in her friends circle - but she was wrong of course - however weird, unfitting, silly or boring Suresh was, Bulbul looked at him like he was her prince charming. Soon, the families realized the depth of their bond, and before Suresh left for the UK for his MBA, they took a mutual decision to get them engaged once Suresh was back and Bulbul's graduation was over - everyone was happy. Pragya sighed, her sister was soon about to get her fairytale lovestory - that'swhat Suresh had told her tonight. He was back in India and he had chosen to finish his MBA's last semester of exchange programme in a college in India - in this city, so that he could get to know Bulbul better, her likes, dislikes and who she really was - he felt they really needed to understand each other before Bulbul finished graduation and they got engaged. Suresh was perfect for Bulbul, thought Pragya lovingly, as sleep took over.

***

It was 10AM in the morning and the bell rung obstinately. Ali turned in his sleep, and thought to himself, what was taking Prags so long? Why wasn't she getting the door? She always got the door. But then he remembered her plight from last night - maybe she was still sleeping it off - he decided to get the door. He opened the door to see Abhi standing outside, surprised he enquired about his visit.

"I came to, errr..I came to see Pragya. You said nah, that she wasn't sounding good?" muttered Abhi cautiously and for some reason didn't meet Ali's eyes. It was weird, why did Abhi put in so much effort to wake up in the morning and visit Prags? He could see how she was doing the next to next day in college itself! But then he thought, everyone was acting strangely nowadays and dismissed his doubt.

"Come in bhai, I will get her" replied Ali lazily and walked towards Pragya's room. He knocked the door but no-one replied, she slowly opened the door to see that her bed was neatly done, maybe she was in the shower he thought and proceeded to knock the washroom door - to his amazement the door was open - then he habitually looked at the key holder and saw her house keys weren't there - she is not at home? He thought to himself.

"Bhai, sorry she is not at home" offered Ali nonchalantly as he walked out of her bedroom.

Abhi was surprised, it was quite early in the morning, where could she possibly go? Then a sudden uncomfortable feeling gripped him - did she return at all last night? He turned to Aaliya urgently.

"Hey Aalu, are you sure you saw her last night?" he asked urgently.

"What do you mean bhai?" Ali asked surprised.

"I mean, I know you were drunk and sleepy too - did you..err..really see her - you didn't hallucinate right? I mean she DID return last night nah Aalu?" asked Abhi frantically.

"Bhai! What do you think I have in place of eyes? Two packs of toadstool? Of course she returned, I wasn't hallucinating! She left in the morning again! If you want to check, go inside her bedroom - her dress from last night is folded neatly and kept on the bed! Such crap!" replied Ali furiously. His brother had lost it - true he had requested him to befriend her, but this much care? He thought Abhi was utilizing his brotherly possessive instinct that he had for Aalu - on Pragya now! Good for her he thought!

Abhi breathed in relief - that meant she had returned. And she was fine enough to go out again - that was good news. He wondered why he was so restless though - why did he feel uncomfortable knowing that she wasn't okay last night - he wished he could meet her once, but he guessed he had to try again in the evening. He hung around with Ali for breakfast, and then went off from there.

***

Bulbul was wondering why Pragya di wanted to meet for breakfast early on a Saturday morning, then she thought maybe she was abou to shed light on Abhi's behaviour from the night before - she was more curious after hearing Tanu's confession - true Pragya di had abruptly left the dance floor after Abhi had told her something on her ear, but she couldn't buy the fact that he was being rude, his body language spoke differently. Her curiosity made her agree to join her for breakfast at an English Breakfast joint.

When she looked up from the table, her jaw dropped. Pragya di was walking towards her for sure, but she wasn't alone. Someone was accompanying him - and could it be? Was it really him? How did he become so..so..dashing? Oh My God, she thought as they approached nearer - it was indeed HIM. Suresh. Her Suresh. She squealed in joy and excitement and forgot about the Pragya-Abhi angle. She ran towards them and jumped on to a startled Suresh and hugged him tight.
"Suresh!!! You are here??? Finally?? When did you come?? How did you contact di?? Why didn't you tell me?? How are you??? Awww I missed my baby sooo much!!" screamed Bulbul in joy, earning curious glances from people around them - Suresh turned red in embarrassment and pushed her away gently. Bulbul didn't seem to notice his embarrassment or gesture. She then turned to Pragya and squealed and hugged her too before settling down - she pushed her chair closer to Suresh and held onto his elbow possessively before continuing - Suresh was very surprised, he could only stammer a, "You haven't really changed Bulbul, have you? I thought after starting college---" but he couldn't continue, as Bulbul started talking excitedly without letting him finish.

"Arre? Why should I change? How will my Surry recognize me if I changed? I am exactly how you left me, my Surry baby" she replied with a cute smile.

Suresh smiled stiffly in return, "Suresh, please call me that".

The breakfast went on like that, Bulbul didn't budge from calling Suresh Surry' but at the end reluctantly agreed to drop the baby' and Suresh tried very hard to digest this loud, dramatic personality he would soon be engaged to. Pragya understood his discomfort and spoke to him, after carefully sending Bulbul to get more coffee.

"Don't worry Suresh, she is just very excited to see you. She has waited for you more than anybody. Give her time, she will calm down." Suresh relaxed at her assurance and understanding.

"Does she know, I will be joining the same college as her's from tomorrow?" he enquired curiously, and when Pragya replied in negative, he relaxed. He requested her to tell Bulbul this once he wasn't around, as he couldn't handle more screaming in one day, he suggested light heartedly. Pragya laughed at that and agreed.

***

It was evening, Abhi called Ali and enquired where he was, Ali was with Neil at his apartment catching a football match with beer. Abhi thought it was a good opportunity to come over - that way he could catch the match with them and also check on Pragya - when it came to guy things like sports and matches, Tanu was a bore for company - and Purab had mysteriously gone under cover for the weekend after meeting that girl in the pub last night.

Soon Abhi was at Ali's - Neil and Ali was watching the match and cursing occasionally - he joined in and was having fun - he casually kept glancing at Pragya's shut door - she would have to come out sometime for sure. But soon it was past 11PM - the match got over - still she didn't open her door. Abhi casually suggested they ordered in dinner and watched a movie - Neil readily agreed and Ali was all in favour of the dinner but not the movie - he told them he would crash early after dinner, but they could catch up and watch the movie if they wanted - Abhi took the opportunity to ask Ali to call Pragya too, so that they could have dinner together - but Ali replied that Pragya wasn't at home, she hadn't returned since morning. Abhi was surprised.

"Does she often do late night-outs?" he asked bewildered.

"No bhai, she never does. I guess she is really mad at me or something" replied Ali in a as a matter of fact voice.

"I don't blame her, especially after your erotic encounter" sniggered Neil under his breath, but Ali and Abhi caught him.

"Erotic what?" exclaimed Abhi in shock and turned to look between Ali and Neil.

Ali cursed Neil and threw a cushion on him and barked, "Shut the f**k up dude!" and added to Abhi, "It's nothing really bhai. Chill." The he left for the kitchen to get takeaway pamphlets. An unconvinced and thoroughly shocked Abhi looked at Neil for explanation, Neil muttered under his breath, "Later bro, let him go to bed." Abhi nodded. Soon Ali was back.

"Ali, don't you think you should text her once? To find out if she would return or you should save dinner?" asked Neil casually, to dull out Ali's anger at him. It worked, Ali looked thoughtful, and decided to leave her a text.

11:19PM [ Hey Prags, when are you returning? Should I save dinner?]

Then they ordered food and they all chatted jovially. Abhi kept glancing at Ali's phone to see it ringing or blinking to notify message received. But for another forty odd minutes nothing happened. Abhi was starting to feel uneasy again - he was debating if he should call her from his phone or not when Ali's phone finally beeped. Ali read the text with a frown and read it to them. It was from Pragya.

12:14AM [No thanks, don't save dinner for me. Not returning before Monday]

Abhi's jaw dropped. She had left the house on Saturday, and wasn't going to return till Monday? Where would she be for that night and the next? He felt disappointed because he wouldn't be able to see her before college - he wanted to enquire how she managed to be left back last night, and also question why she didn't call him, and maybe also scold her for letting herself get stranded out there in the middle of the night - but Monday was too far, and somehow, in college he could imagine questioning her so much in front of others - especially Tanu - she may take it wrongly. But what could he do now.

"Aalu, you won't ask where she is?" Abhi tried once more.

"No. She is old enough to manage" replied Ali curtly. It surprised Abhi. Aaliya was always over protective about Pragya, what could have happened that made her so cold towards her? He mentally noted that he will ask Neil once Ali retired to bed. Neil was Abhi and Aaliya's childhood neighbour - he was always closer to Ali, but Abhi and Neil also shared quite a comfortable space - Abhi knew he could get this information out of Neil.

Once Aaliya retired, Abhi turned casually to Neil and asked about his earlier remark. Neil let out a boyish grin and went on to tell him, how he thinks Prags was secretly hitting on Ali, and how she tried to get him to zip her up - he told Abhi, how Ali wasn't interested in her, and hence Pragya was heartbroken and avoiding Ali - even Ali was now very awkward around her. "Women" sighed Neil.

After heating this bit of information, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry in exasperation - he wanted to jerk Neil into realizing that his Aalu was a GIRL and Pragya knew that! She never considered Aaliya a guy, she just humoured him - he wanted to scream that, Pragya was genuinely asking her a casual favour of zipping her up - like any girl asks her girl friend or roomie - it wasn't a sexual innuendo! But who would explain this to these two sighed Abhi - he also realized Pragya wasn't avoiding them for this - it was because of leaving her behind last night - but trust Ali and Neil to think so twisted - he almost laughed thinking about Neil's explanation that Pragya was hitting on Aaliya - like that was possible. But he also made a mental note to talk to Aalu - she couldn't go on thinking she is a guy - she is too old for it now.

***

Pragya was sitting on Bulbul's bed hugging her. Thank God the chudail Tanu had left for a weekend trip with her friends - it worked out perfectly for her. She wanted to be away from her self centred set of so-called friends - Aaliya had hurt her the most, and Abhi too. She wanted to be away from them - and Bulbul needed her too. By the evening even Bulbul had realized that Suresh was a bit uncomfortable around her, and it broke her heart - Suresh on the other hand had requested Pragya to tell Bulbul that she didn't behave like this in the college - there he was an exchange student for a reputed college - he had an image to protect. Pragya understood Suresh was right - but she knew Bulbul was too immature to see it - she decided to be with Bulbul and gently make her understand before Monday. Here she was holding on to a teary faced Bulbul explaining it to her - to treat Suresh just like any other senior - and to not even call him "Surry" in college. Bulbul agreed, but she was very upset - her Surry had changed.

Pragya consoled her, and told her, Suresh had made plans to catch up for a movie with them - she should make tomorrow a frsh start and try and be a little more sombre and matured around him - Bulbul nodded silently with a sad smile and hugged her di.

"Thank-You di for being here, I so need you."

Haaayeee so rooting for SuBul here. But too many troubled waters for them I guess.

Really liking Abhi's growing anxiety.

Thanks for all the updates!!

prags doesn't know abhi and alia were equally worried and tensed of her return.. wanna see how prags will react when she gets to know.. nice to see abhi so worked up over pragya.. bulbul and suresh are engaged? suresh behavior to bulbul is a bit weird..

So now all the characters are on scene!! Things to thicken...I have some ideas, mixed feelings about what might happen, but looking forward to where you take us ;)