Chapter Six
Are you sure?" Abhi asked one more time before dropping pragya back to her university.
"Yes. I'm fine." She assured him and got off the taxi. She just wanted to get away from him. Their close proximity and his indifference were driving her up the wall. It already seemed like a long day today. Her mind was reeling with questions she could not find answers for. Twice she had tried talking about Tannushri only to have him deflect the topic. Abhi was either on call the entire time they were together or checking his emails, the only time she had his undivided attention was when the doctor did her check up.
Exiting the taxi in her denim jeans and a floral print pastel shirt, she was glad she had an unfinished assignment at her hand to divert her mind. She texted Ali asking his whereabouts and set forward to accomplish her task. By the time, Ali replied she was already feeling dizzy. She cursed Abhi for overfeeding her. She knew she was not capable of eating a foot long sandwich but the man demanded she finished her meal or else he wouldn't drop her.
Looking at pragya's demure physique today, Abhi wondered how will she carry his child. She seemed too weak to become a mother. Fortunately, her health was fine and it was a miracle she was doing fine given her nausea. He was worried about both her health and the baby but the doctor had relieved him of all his fears, though she needed more rest as the first trimester required. After what had transpired between them, he was glad she wanted to keep the baby. The fear in her eyes was still fresh in his memory when she had assumed he was going to suggest abortion.
~~~
Pragya remembered clearly, she had been walking down to library when she felt a jolt of pain in her stomach. She had tried to steady herself with the help of pillar on her right. She remembered walking to the bathroom with some one's assistance, was it Charlotte or Ali, she couldn't recall now.
She woke up again only to find herself in new surroundings. The curtains were drawn. They were in the shades of off white. The color of the walls was tea pink or was it off white as well? She fluttered her eyes to guage where she was but the weight on them seemed to grow more and she closed them just so she could gain more strength when she opened them again.
The next time she opened her eyes, a lamp on her side was switched on. She tried to sit up but before she could summon enough strength, a pair of hands steadied her and fixed her pillow behind her head. She looked up to find Abhi reaching for a glass of water.
"Where am I?" Though, she already knew the answer.
"In my room."
"How did I get here?"
"You fainted."
"That's not what I asked." Her voice was still hoarse due to sleep.
"You asked them to call me." He said keeping the glass back on the table. His eyes averting hers, he was afraid she will see the truth in them.
Or the fear of losing thier child.
Of losing her.
She blinked twice, taking her time to grasp the meaning of his worrds.
"Is.. Is.. The.." The mere thought of her fear shook her core.
"You both are doing fine." He stood up and went to dial room service. He needed to stay from her or he will brake down. The sight of her lifeless form whe he had reached her still lurked in his mind. He would never have forgiven himself for acting so reckless with her or their child. He was once again as vulnerable as he was when he was played for a fool with pragya's accident rumour, acting on his impulse the last time had already made her leave him. He didn't know if he could do with the same battle again but today seeing her pale and anemic had awaken new emotions he didn't know he was capable of.
Foremost of them all was love.
Pragya stirred in her sleep and fluttered her eyes open to the sun rays peering through the window. She was still in Abhi's bed. She picked her wrist watch from the side table, it was quarter to ten. She almost jumped out of bed but realized it was Saturday and she had no class today. The sound of running water from the bathroom made her think of Abhi. She hastily gathered the quilt around her chest. Fortunately, she was wearing a night gown but it definitely did not belong to her. She gulped, praying Abhi had not slept the night with her on the same bed. She reprimanded herself, she was here in his room and all she would want was for him to sleep on the couch? Floor?
She shut her eyes, a little too tightly as if they images her mind conjured up could be avoided. She had to gather herself before he came out of the shower. Oh no, that did not help either. As series of new ideas emerged in her mind. Celibacy of more than two months was playing tricks to her mind.
She shifted her side only to have her eyes widened at the evidence she found. The quilt was halfway hanging from the bed, the pillow still had the impression of someone's head. That made her sit up abruptly. They had indeed shared a bed, without her knowing. God only knew how she had acted last night. She only prayed she had had an ounce of pride and sense left in her and that she hadn't thrown herself at him like she did the last time.
A whiff of colonge made her eyes jerk. There he was standing next to the vanity table, a foot losely crossed at the ankle of the other, his arms crossed at his chest and a lazy smile on his lips. Was it in the morning that he looked verile in his blue button down shirt and and dark denim or was her sedative to be blamed for being attracted to this man, all over again?
"Like what you see?" He asked when he noted her surveying him.
A tinge of scarlet appeared on her cheeks as she averted her eyes. She bit her lower lip, wondering if her voice and her senses had taken leave permanently when she heard him say, "don't do that." She shot her eyes to his and saw him making way to her bed. He took place on her side, facing her, searching her eyes for any sign or recriminations but all he found was confusion and a myriad of queries. He answered the most prominent one. "Yes, we shared the same bed last night. "
"Did..." She could not bring herself to ask beyond one word.
"I wish." He sighed looking at the mess on the bed. "But you were too busy slipping in and out of consciousness on your own."
"Why do you still wear this band?" She whispered. Hoping against hope, what it implied was true. She wanted, no, she needed him, not just as the father of her child but more. This was the first morning they were together after the eventful night and she wondered had that morning been different than what it was today.
Seeing her lost in her thoughts, Abhi feasted on her morning face. He ignored the sudden urge he had to tuck her strand of hair away from her cheek or to kiss her just to make sure she was here, with him. Last night was not easy for him, he had been awake mostly, keeping a vigil on her. Alternating between feeding her soup, pushing syrup down her throat or watching her sleep. To say, he was worried sick himself would be an understatement. He had not taken care of pragya before, it had always been the other way around but he was glad, at least he had her now, with him. She had almost knocked the air out of him, this woman was driving him mad with fear, love and desire.
"Because I like wearing it." He replied, taking her hand in his.
"Your wife doesn't object?" She hesitated for just a second before letting him slip his fingers between hers.
He shrugged. "Perhaps. Ask her."
"What will happen to the baby? I mean, you have another child to look after as well."
"My baby will be my responsibility."
And me, she almost asked. She closed her eyes and rested her head on the head rest of the bed. A lone tear rolled down her cheek. She had left him because he had enough on his plate, a girlfriend who was pregnant. She had left him because she wanted the child to have a rightful childhood, a name he deserved but she ended up becoming the victim of more problems. Adding more to his worries.
Before Abhi could stop himself, he caught the tear on his forefinger. "You need to have food for breakfast not tears."
"I can't stay here. With you, I mean... I must return to my room." She took her hand away drom his grip and flung her legs on the side of bed. "To my world." She said keeping aside the quilt. "Before it's too late."
Abhi held her wrist and tugged her until she was back on the bed. Her face a few inches away from his. "Stop this nonsense. You are not going any where." He closed his eyes to gain courage and to control his anger. "You are too weak to take care of yourself."
"But your wi-"
"Shut up. Just... Shut up!" He let go of her wrist and stood up. "You are my wife, you idiot." He raked his fingers through his hair. "We are still married!"
And I will make sure to keep my distance
Say "I love you" when you're not listening
And how long can we keep this up, up, up?
Lyrics- Distance
Christina Perri - ft. Jason Mraz
Udne Ki Aasha
18