Abhigya FF:Night To Remember LAST ch PG 75 NEW FF LINK pg 1 - Page 48

It was very much possible my heart said, her presence in my life had that same soothing effect which that soulful voice had that evening. No wonder I always felt drawn towards her like I did when I'd heard her sing, that connection which was missing between me and tanu was always there between pragya and me, what all I wished to see in her sister I found in her unexpectedly.

Who else other than her could have touched my heart? It had to be her, just that it didn't struck me before.

She was twirling around in the rain with her arms spread wide open, unaware of her surroundings, unaware that a pair of hooded eyes was watching her so closely. Her innocence, her smile was breathtaking as rain drops touched, kissed and played with her. Leaning against the door with my arms crossed before my chest and my head tilted slightly I enjoyed the beautiful sight before my eyes. She threw her head back as water droplets tickled her cheeks, the radiance and happiness on her face made my mind wonder the reason behind it while my heart only took pleasure in seeing her sing and spin around carelessly.

Suddenly she stopped and started looking around, her dark eyes were surprised to see me standing, she dropped her gaze as she blushed a deep crimson. Without tearing my eyes from her I began walking in her direction, nervously or shyly she began stepping back slowly till her back hit the terrace railing.

I stopped in front of her and glanced at her, she was drenched completely from head to toe, she lowered her head feeling my gaze on herself. Lifting her chin up with my finger I made her look up and asked," that night you were singing this song?" she nodded a yes silently.

" then how come I spotted tanu instead of you?" My mind wanted all the answers, she too appeared confused then replied after slapping her head," oh I'd gone inside to change and tanu had come out to pick wet clothes ..maybe that was when you saw her."

I shook my head as everything started to fall into place, that night she was singing when there was a power cut, daadi caught me looking at her, I turned my back to her for just a minute when power resumed and we both thought that tanu was singing as by then she'd already left.

A smile spread across my lips as I realized that fromThis day one if at all I was in love then it was always with her.

" but why are you asking all this ?"

" now I know the girl that I'd fallen for was not tanu but you ..it had been your voice ..it had always been you pragya. Always you. And only you."

She smiled in surprise and bit her lower lip on hearing my words. I cupped her soft and wet face in my hands and looked into her ocean eyes before telling her," my love story started with you and ends on you." For long I considered her as the unwanted part of my story unaware that in reality she was my story. The fact that I'd always been in love with her thrilled me to no extent and I brought her face closer. Her lips quivered in a smile that could light up the whole area and I pressed mine against her forehead for a few seconds before taking her in my arms and whispered in her ear," I love you pragya."

The clouds thundered, making her shiver and she buried her face further in my chest, her head rested on my beating heart and her finger nails dug into my skin. I smiled inwardly holding her close and rested my chin on her head as the rain soaked both of us, how could I hate the rain anymore? It brought love in my life and now in my arms. Moving back a little I leaned my head against hers with my arms still wrapped around her waist, savoring this priceless moment, when she called out softly," suniye."

I glanced at her tender lips which either lectured me or remained silent or sometimes would call me out but whatever they said it always touched my heart. Angling my face I brought it near her, she was clutching my shirt firmly in her fists and kept her eyes shut when I brushed my lips against hers making her gasp.

She pushed me back with force and said loudly," NO.This Is Not Right."

She was breathing hard and tears welled up in her eyes while speaking," this can't happen. There's nothing between us..".I ..I .." she stammered badly ,"I'd told you on the wedding night, I wouldn't do this." I was rooted to the spot and looked at her in confusion as all this was not making sense to me. I couldn't believe and understand what I was hearing.

Without meeting my eyes she ran back in and I couldn't stop her.

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Shutting the door of my room I dropped myself on the bed and cried my heart out as everything changed within seconds before my eyes.

Hour back I was so happy when I overheard his conversation with tanu, where he confessed that if at all he loved anybody it was me. I'd went behind tanu to give her the handkerchief which I'd embroidered for her but stopped in my tracks when I heard her speak to him, fearing that she might say something bitter, I decided to overhear, it wasn't decent on my part but I didn't wish him to get hurt by her again and when he said that he loved me and only me, I was on cloud nine, giggling to myself while turning back to go in, purab spotted me. I think he noticed that grin, nevertheless I was ecstatic.

My heart was filled with joy, I wanted to share this with someone so sometime later went to maa's place, she was busy preparing the lunch and said would listen to me later but I couldn't contain my happiness and went to the terrace. It was pouring, a part of me didn't wish to step into the rain but still I went out and stood there silently as rain drops fell on me. His words echoed in my ears making my lips stretch in a smile and automatically my hands spread out to feel the rain, I began spinning around relishing the moment by singing the same song which I'd sung months back without knowing that this time I wasn't alone, he was watching me from a corner and what happened thereafter was beautiful as a dream but dreams broke once you opened your eyes.

The magical spell got lost as reality struck me and it struck me really hard. Grabbing the pillow underneath my head I questioned myself, why was my happiness so short lived? Why did I break his heart? Why did I stop him? And most importantly why couldn't I tell him that like him even I loved him and that too not from today but from the very first day I met him? He was, is and would always be the love of my life!

Maa knocked at the door and said," beta you didn't go with Abhi?" Wiping my wet face I got up and replied," I will after changing."

Dragging my legs to the cupboard I opened it and took out an old suit of mine, I was pulling out the matching dupatta when something else also came out with it, his blue waist coat Holding it fresh stream of tears poured out of my eyes as I recalled the evening when we'd accidently met.

Flashback

It had been only a few days since we'd shifted to this place. My holidays were coming to an end and before going back to the hostel I had to buy some important books. It was a dark cloudy evening and the place was new to me still I decided to visit the nearby market alone. The road was silent and deserted with puddles around, I walked carefully to save myself from not falling into any of those puddles filled with mud.

Suddenly a bike rode past me, two boys were riding on it, they made a u turn and came back to me. I stopped seeing them coming close, they began circling around me and started passing lewd comments. Even though terror gripped my body, I preferred to ignore them and started walking, this time hurriedly when all of a sudden one of them pulled my dupatta and I asked in fear," hey, what do you want?" they smirked and came close to me before replying," you" then tried to touch me.

I pushed the bikers hand but the other one ripped my left sleeve and I ran for my life, unaware where my legs were taking me till I stumbled and fell down badly in a muddy puddle. My face was fully covered with mud, still I tried to get up but it was too late, the miscreants had already reached and now they got off the bike.

My whole body was shivering with fear as they started walking towards me, one of them extended his hand to catch hold of me when someone dressed in a blue suit came in between and grabbed his hand and punched his face with his other hand," this is my hometown. Abhishekh Mehra's! how dare you even think of doing something like this?" his deep husky voice roared in the silence.

The biker attempted to attack him with a knife but he twisted his wrist and kicked him hard, he then turned to look at me, I was trying to hide my ripped sleeve with my hand. He took out his blue waist coat and offered me, I grabbed it instantly and covered myself with it. Next moment he was hitting, kicking and punching them left right and centre till both of them collapsed.

Then coolly went to his jeep and began fixing the punctured tyre as if nothing had happened. I stood still and watched him, the whole incident had shaken me up, had he not intervened I would have been ruined. I walked up to him to thank him, he stood up and turned around," should I drop you somewhere?" he asked, I nodded a no and parted my lips to thank him when his cellpone rang, he took the call and started speaking," yeah purab ..i'm on my way.." he raised his brow questioning me, I folded my trembling hands in gratitude and began walking down the road.

On reaching home I went to my room quickly before anybody could question me. Taking a fresh pair of suit I watched myself in the mirror, I was looking really shabby and dirty in fact beyond recognition with that mud all around my face.

Closing my eyes I stood under the shower, images of my savior flashed before my eyes, one moment he was angry, ruthless towards those molesters, the way he was beating them up I feared that he might end up killing them and the next moment he was so soft and gentle towards me that it touched my heart. Without knowing who I was he jumped in to save me, no wonder the people of this town worshiped him. Everything seemed so dramatic, fairy tale yet it was real. I was a damsel in distress and he was my knight in shining amour. Picking up his jacket I rubbed it against my cheek and realized that I'd given away my heart to him, love could happen so easily and so suddenly I'd never imagined.

Beaming in delight I ran out in the terrace and began getting wet in the rains, I loved the rains and now I loved them even more. I twirled, danced and sang in joy

Roz sham aati thi ...yeh aaj meri zindagi mein kaun aa gaya

Indeed the evening was really special for me as love had stepped into my life.

End of flashback.

Thanks for reading

Rose