Hi guys! Here is another update for you all! In terms, of AbhiGya this maybe a transitional chapter, but it throws light into the life of all other characters. And gear up for a a chemistry exploding update sometime soon (who knows? Maybe the next one? or the next!) 😆😆
Anyways, Happy Reading! 😊😉
Please leave your lovely comments! I look forward to them!😳
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Chapter 8
Ali walked into Pragya's room the following morning, she was still in bed, thought she did look slightly less pale. Ali felt bad. He really didn't expect things to come this far, but then again this was Prags, the gentle, fragile and soft spoken room mate of his - she couldn't have handled it better.
"Prags..?" he whispered softly.
"Hmm.." she snuggled in her sleep.
He tried again, "Prags, will you be coming to college today?" Pragya awoke with a start, but she felt very weak. She was deciding whether she would make it to college or not when Ali spoke again.
"Prags, I don't think you should go to college today, take rest and come tomorrow" Pragya looked at him uncertainly.
"Why are you being so nice to me suddenly Ali?" she asked suspiciously. Ali couldn't help but laugh.
"Because you told me, you were hooking up with other guys last evening. That puts me back on safe grounds! Hence" he laughed some more.
"What?!?" Pragya asked, further confused.
"Arre Prags, I thought you have fallen in love with me or something, you know, after the way you tried to seduce me last Friday with the dress incident!" he replied darkly glancing at her awkwardly.
"Seduce you?" piped Pragya uncertainly. Was the fever this bad? Why was her head not functioning properly? She looked confused and looked at Ali for shedding more light into the matter. Ali seemed to read her mind.
"Umm Pragya, do you mind clearing this now? Are you fit enough to have a conversation over tea?" he asked cautiously.
"Sure"
Ali got back in the room with two cups of tea, he gave Pragya one, and sipped from his cup uncertainly, gathering his thoughts.
"You were saying?" Pragya asked curiously.
"Umm..Prags, I can see that staying with me for sometime now, you seemed to have developed genuine feelings for me, but Prags, I never saw you that way - I mean I do love you, but like a sibling - it is not romantic. I got shocked, when you tried to coze up to me that night - hence I reacted badly. But later I understood, we need to talk. We cannot spoil whatever we have because of a small thing like that. Prags, you're with me in this?" he asked softly.
Pragya just stared at her in absolute shock. Then it all started slowly registering in her head, Ali really, seriously thought he was a guy? Like this seriously? All of a sudden the revelation explained her behavior completely - she wasn't upset with him anymore, in fact she found it HILARIOUS.
To Ali's surprise, suddenly Prags started shaking on the bed, and then to her amazement, she was trembling in laughter. What was so funny thought Ali in bewilderment. Did the fever muddle Prags' head? He was debating whether to call for a doctor or not, when Prags finally opened her mouth.
"Ali you really really think that I am hitting on you?" and she clutched onto the sides of her stomach laughing hard.
"What's so funny Prags?" replied Ali in irritation.
Pragya laughed some more, she was feeling tired now, after all the fever, she felt considerably weakened. Then she stopped and looked at Ali with all sincerity, and gently held her hand.
"Aaliya look at yourself properly. Notice yourself. Recognize who you truly are, appreciate your reality. You are Aaliya not Ali. Don't deny your own-self your true nature." She spoke softly looking at his eyes.
"Prags, what rubbish is this" he flinched.
"Ali, I wasn't hitting on you. I have pretended for long enough to humor you that you are a man. But I feel it's high time someone shows you who you really are." Pragya began calmly.
"You weren't hitting on me?" he murmured confused, not focusing on the other gibberish she spoke about his gender - those were nonsensical.
"Ali, you are a GIRL. I am a girl and thankfully a straight one at that! Why will I hit on you? I was simply asking for a favour - like any girl may ask girl friend. You took it all in the wrong sense Ali. I love you too, but as a sibling not in any romantic way!" Pragya replied calmly.
Ali stared at her incredulously. "She didn't hit on him, good. She looked at him as a sibling, good. But she thought he was a GIRL!?! That was not acceptable - of all the people, he knew Neil and Prags were the only ones who accepted him as he is. Then why now was Pragya challenging him?"
"Prags, all is well between us now. We are good. You rest, I need to go" he replied ignoring the gender attack.
"Aalu, listen to me, understand your self before it's late" Pragya tried again in desperation.
"Prags, I think that's enough. I don't need you to tell me who I am. I am a guy. That's my truth." Ali replied back in force. The determination in his voice further irked Pragya, she shot back with equal force,
"Fine! Believe that and live in illusion for life! Never step into reality you escapist! But for one moment also if you trust your brother's judgement if not other's - remember he calls you Aalu not Ali. He thinks you're his sister not brother - Ali if not for yourself, at least for him - open your eyes! You are a girl!"
"Shut Up now Prags! If you were anyone other than yourself, it would have been very ugly by now! But you're close to me, hence this is your last chance - what shall I do to prove it to you that I am a guy Prags? How will I convince you and bhai of my reality?" he asked in frustration.
Pragya looked at him breathing heavily, "Don't try proving you're a guy Ali, if you really want to give us proof. Prove it to us that you're not a girl. Then why only Abhi and me? Everyone will believe you"
Ali stared at her in shock. "How?" he whispered softly.
"Go close to a man, really close, get intimate, maybe kiss him? Then see, if your body reacts differently than a man's should. Then come and talk to me" replied Pragya looking straight in the eyes.
Ali shuddered, then he left.
***
Bulbul was wishfully looking out of her classroom window - she was a bit put off, God knew why - she couldn't put her finger exactly on her misery. Last night was fun - she, Tanu and Suresh had a great time. Suresh was in a jovial and fun mood - quite different from how he was in their last few interactions - he was giving both ladies equal time and attention - Tanu was enjoying, but she somewhere felt a tug in her heart. Wasn't Suresh supposed to give a tiny bit of more attention towards her? But he was strictly polite and casual towards her too. May be he didn't want to make it obvious? She tried consoling herself. She envied Tanu seeing her laugh and enjoy and be herself before Suresh, she wished she could be too - she had wanted to grab Suresh by the collar and take him to dance, but she figured that would be counted as a childish act before him - she had refrained. Then when Tanu mentioned some movie their class friends were going for and asked if I can join, before Bulbul could answer Suresh had spoken on her behalf saying she hated sci-fi's and also would get bored with their gang. Bulbul sadly agreed after that - it felt good in a way that he took a decision for her, she only wished the decision could help them be together for a while instead of distancing them. Overall they had a nice dinner and had fun too - but something was missing - she wished she knew what it was.
***
Abhi was sitting in the class with the lecturer droning about the same old things he cared the least about. He was super bored today - Purab was sitting next to him and reading a book on photography - if there was something more important to Purab than life itself, it was photography - he was passionate about it to say the least - he attended all possible workshops for it and according to Abhi, he was a fantabulous professional photographer in making. So when he was deeply engrossed in a book on the same topic, until and unless a tornado came and blew the book away, chances are that Purab Khanna wouldn't respond to anything else.
Abhi lazily turned back to look at Tanu - she was sitting on Pragya's spot today - and beside her sat Suresh, Tanu after observing that Pragya was absent had generously invited him to join her at our corner and he had obliged with a smile. And in order to make him "comfortable" she had moved to Pragya's spot leaving Purab next to him - now as he looked back at her, he saw her smiling and whispering something to Suresh. Abhi felt agitated - Tanu was his, then why was she suddenly so alien to him? He decided he would talk to her after the movie that evening - would Pragya be able to come? Well if she wanted to, he could go and pick her up. But he remembered their conversation from last evening - he'd better ask Purab to check on her.
***
Ali was sitting in the class next to Neil. He was severely disturbed. What did Prags mean? If he could prove it to her that he wasn't a girl then everybody would accept him as a guy? Was there a way to gain that unchallenged acceptance about her gender? Would he achieve it just by doing what Pragya said? Well, getting intimate and kissing a guy was repulsive, Ali shuddered at the thought, but if that was the final price, should she consider paying it?
Neil was noticing Ali since he entered class - he was not himself today, he seemed disturbed - he nudged Ali, "Hey buddy what's wrong?"
"Nothing" he grunted and looked away. He realized he was in a tough crossroad of life. It was either all or none. Ali felt a chill catch her.
Neil on the other hand just nodded and got back to his phone, he was going to ask Purvi out in a day or two! Then maybe find someone for Ali too, maybe someone from Purvi's friend circle?
***
Tanu was looking at Suresh and smiling as he sat deeply engrossed in the sum she wanted him to solve for her - he looked sexy when he was thinking deep she mused. Abhi could never solve these sums, she was sure. He would probably get it solved from behenji if she ever asked him, and then bask in his fake glory thought Tanu scornfully - how immature - she wished she knew if Suresh had a girlfriend, she thought he didn't, but one could never be so sure. Of course behenji would know, but asking her really wasn't even an option. Oh, she could ask Bul! Though not directly, Bul would then tease the life out of her she giggled. Then she saw Abhi looking at her from the seat before her - she smiled at him too.
"How are you now? Illness from last night, all gone it seems" he whispered.
Tanu looked startled, she was hoping Suresh hadn't heard that, when Suresh looked up in response to Abhi's remark. Damn! She thought.
"I am good Abhi, how sweet of you to enquire" she croaked with an unconvincing smile. Abhi frowned, why was Tanu being so formal? If he wasn't mistaken, she was a bit uncomfortable too. Before he could enquire, Suresh spoke,
"Hey Tanu, were you unwell after dinner last night?" It confused Abhi now, why did Suresh sound like he was with her last evening, but before he could question further, Purab diverted Abhi's attention as the professor was asking for assignment submissions.
Tanu heaved a sigh of relief.
***
Purab was waiting during recess for Tanu to come out of the class, Abhi had called him, but he had excused himself. Then he saw Tanu coming out of the class with Suresh.
"Hey, we er..need to talk" Purab called at Tanu.
"Hi bhai! Umm now?" she looked reluctant.
"Yes now. Suresh could you excuse her for a bit?" he asked turning to Suresh not waiting for Tanu's response. Suresh did a friendly shrug and went away. Purab pulled Tanu by the hand and took her back to the now empty classroom.
"Tanu, I know what you're up to. You like Suresh, that's fine. Don't play up with Abhi and his feelings. You know very well he likes you. I don't want him hurt okay?" began Purab
"Bhai, this is really none of your business" replied Tanu with a tight lip.
"It is Tanu. It is because Abhi is my friend and you're my cousin, your behavior with him will impact my relation with him and I don't want it tarred. I have saved you today, I wont help again. Don't mess with my friend, he is a very nice guy Tanu" finished Purab gently.
Tanu nodded in pretentious understanding and walked away. Purab stood there and sighed. Out of all his cousins, why did Tanu have to join his college?
***
Pragya was curled up in her bed and reading a book, when she received a text message.
5:47p.m. [Hi Pragya! How are you? Are you well enough for joining us for the movie tonight?]
5:49p.m. [Hey Purab, yes I am much better. I was going to come anyway! Cant miss Avengers can I? : P ]
5:50p.m. [Oh great! I will pick you up in an hour? Or would you join Neil and his soul-mate, your new found bitter enemy? Heh.]
5:52p.m. [Haha, meanie! Don't worry, Suresh is picking me up. Er..is Abhi coming too?]
5:55p.m. [Oh great then, Suresh will pick you up. And yes he is coming. Sorry cant avoid this one Pragya. But I will keep him away from you. Plus this is technically not a group hang-out, so you're not breaking rules!]
5:57p.m. [See you Purab! : ) ]
Pragya slowly got up lazily from her bed, to get ready. She was getting ready when her phone vibrated again, thinking it was one more of Purab's teasing texts, she smiled and ignored it, and continued dressing for the movie in the evening. After a long and tiring day home, she was looking forward to the evening.
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