Chapter 14
It Hurts!
"Bulbul.. Knocking the door won't be enough. Bang it if you wanna get bhai and bhabhi to open the door!"
"But aaliya.. Why do you want me to bang?"
"Bul, don't you know bhai and bhabhi must be busy with their ever so famous eyelocks! You know what.. I literally imagine Allah Waariyaan when i see them staring at each other!"
"Aww Aaliya.. That's like my favourite song too. Wait.. Lemme try to sneak the door open. Maybe i can witness the ever so famous eyelocks with the song playing in my head!"
Pragya was awakened by the deliberate loud talks outside their room. It was a fortnight since Abhi and Pragya had been married and the family has never missed an opportunity of teasing the two of them. They had mentioned a couple of times that they were just friends but, their red cheeks and constant staring told a different story altogether. It was a sunday which meant Bulbul and Purab would be here too. They had decided that Sundays would be family days and all of them would spend it together in whatever way.
Pragya turned to look at the clock and it was beyond 9. They had overslept and Bulbul and Purab were here already. This meant the teasing wouldn't end today. Pragya and Abhi had decided to watch a movie last night and they had ended up sleeping quite late. But obviously, the siblings wouldn't understand that. Pragya immediately got up and walked towards the door. She could hear Aaliya and Bulbul giggling outside and talking in hushed whispers.
"Bulbul today is gonna be fun!" Aaliya giggled when the bedroom door opened. The two looked up to see Pragya standing there with her hands folded and eyebrows raised. "Good Morning di" Bulbul giggled. "Why are you two here?" Pragya asked with a serious face, suppressing her urge to smile at what she had earlier heard. She knew, one smile from her and these two will tease her to no end.
"Aah.. Woh bhabhi.." Aaliya began. Pragya raised her eyes at her while Aaliya turned to Bulbul for help. "Woh di.. Haan.. Its late na. We came to call you down and decide the plan for the day." Bulbul managed. "Okay, we'll be there in a bit." Pragya said sternly while Bulbul and Aaliya were trying to peek into the room. "What now?" Pragya asked. "Woh bhabhi, where's bhai?" Aaliya asked? "He's sleeping." She replied as a matter of fact.
Aaliya was about to say something when they heard him. "Good morning ladies!" Abhi said walking towards the door in only his tracks. "Good Morning prags!" He said hugging her from the back and kissing her on the cheek. Pragya stilled at this sudden, unexpected gesture. Her eyes grew wide and a deep breath escaped her lips. "Slept well, baby?" He asked. Aaliya and Bulbul couldn't stop laughing at Pragya's expressions. She blushed hard and turned towards him, glaring at him. "What the hell Abhi! What are you doing? There are people around!" She hissed. "They're family! And besides, no one would mind me hugging my wife, right girls!" He winked at bulbul and Aaliya. The two stopped laughing and made a serious face. "Of course jiju!"Bulbul said. Abhi smiled at them and walked back into the room. Pragya stood there not knowing what to do while aaliya and bulbul began laughing again. "Bye di! Looks like we won't see you down soon!" Bulbul said and before Pragya could react, she and aaliya ran away.
Pragya shut the door and walked back inside. Abhi was whistling to himself, looking at the mirror and playing with his hair. Pragya came up behind him and stood with her arms crossed. "What-was-that? She said angrily, emphasising on each word. "What was what chashmish?" He looked at her through the mirror, still playing with his hair. "The stunt you pulled out at the door! What do you think you were doing?" Pragya asked. "What? I just wished everyone good morning!" He shrugged. Pragya raised her eyebrows and her lips formed a thin line. She continued glaring at him.
"Chashmish, i know i look hot! Stop staring at me!" He said turning around. Pragya still looked pissed. "Okay, i heard them teasing you, but you were being a bore. So I thought maybe we should have some fun." He said. "And this was my revenge!" He added. "Revenge for what?" She asked. "Revenge for all that you made me do in these 15 days." He said casually. "Like, Mr mehra?" Pragya asked, still pissed. "Like, making me clean my closet, not giving me my coffee as soon as i wake up, moving my gym equipments to make space for your books and so much more!" He counted on his fingers. Pragya stood staring at him with her mouth open. He casually walked towards her, closed her mouth and went to the washroom, whistling.
The day had been spent at home with a nice meal cooked by dadi and dasi for their kids. No one else was let into the kitchen. Meanwhile, Abhi and Purab sat discussing investment options. The girls were sitting at the other end, teasing Pragya. She tried acting serious and stern initially, but after a point, even she gave up and joined them in their laughter. After lunch, Abhi played his new scratch for everyone. It was a mellow tune, suited for a love song and he looked at Pragya throughout.
As he returned after keeping his favourite guitar back in the music room, he saw aaliya and bulbul still teasing Pragya. Though she hadn't really minded the teasings, she acted as though she was irritated and mad at abhi. She would laugh with Her sisters, but make a serious face when Abhi was around, making him think that she was getting angrier each minute. He knew that if she got really angry, he would have a hard time later and hence, he decided to put a stop to it.
"Girls! Enough now!" He said walking towards them. "Stop teasing her! She's already become a tomato with all the blushing and i hate tomatoes!" He said sitting down next to Pragya. She moved a little away from him. 'Dammn, she's pissed!' He thought to himself. "Aww.. Jiju to the rescue" bulbul squealed. "Bhai, couldn't see bhabhi being teased huh! You're so cute!" Aaliya began. "Okay Bhai.. We won't tease bhabhi if you answer what we ask, alright?" Aaliya asked. Abhi nodded and glanced at Pragya who seemed to be suppressing her laugh. Abhi looked back towards Aaliya and Bulbul. "Shoot!"
"Okay jiju.. It's been two weeks since your wedding. What are your plans?" Bulbul asked. Purab came in too and slumped on the couch next to Bulbul. Dadi and daasi followed him in making themselves comfortable across Abhi and Pragya.. "What plans?" Abhi asked, still trying to gauge Pragya's mood. He picked up the bottle of water lying next to him and took a sip. "Kya what plans bhai! What do people do after marriage? Honeymoon obviously!" Purab said and abhi almost choked the water half way down his throat. He started coughing up and Pragya rushed to him. She patted his head and run her hand on his back.
"Abhi, can't you even drink water properly now! You are not a kid!" She scolded him while the others looked on in awe. "Yeah so jiju, when and where is the honeymoon?" bulbul asked again when Abhi was okay. "Yeah abhi beta, tell us as well. Which temple do you want to take bahu to?" Dadi asked. "What Didi, people go to exotic destinations these days. Temples was in our times. So where are you kids going?" Indu dasi chirped in. "Indu, i was joking." Dadi lovingly slapped her sisters hand.
Abhi had gone blank when he was asked the question. It was something neither him nor Pragya had spoken about. He didn't know how to answer his family who looked at him with so much expectation. He himself wasn't sure of the relation between Pragya and himself. They fought like friends, cared for each other to the extreme but love, he wasn't sure about. And he didn't know what Pragya was thinking about. He looked up to her for help but what he saw in her eyes was a glint of mischief. She suddenly moved closer to him and leaned on his shoulder. "So hubby dear, when are we going for honeymoon?" She asked winking at him. He stood up suddenly, stammering "woh dadi.. Woh.. We.. I .."
Everyone suddenly burst out laughing while he looked around in confusion. "Umm Abhi, Pragya di already told us that you are postponing it. You have a tour coming up in a couple of weeks." Pruab said. "And bhai, Since exams are approaching, Bhabhi wont be able to take leave na!" Aaliya added. Abhi scowled at the family and then at Pragya. He then stomped away to his room. Everyone looked here and there not knowing how to handle Abhi's anger. Yes they wanted to have some fun, but they never thought Abhi would be mad at them. Only Dadi saw Pragya smiling to herself. She looked at Pragya and knew that she had made the right choice.
"Relax guys! I'll handle him." Pragya said. "Okay di! All the best!" Bulbul said. "Di, we need to leave. I have some work that needs to be done urgently." Purab said checking his phone. Bulbul looked at him disappointed while he made a baby face. "Okay! But I want an ice cream on the way." Bulbul said and he nodded like an obedient child. The others couldn't help laughing. Pragya hugged her little sister "Bye manu! See you around!" Bulbul hugged her back too with a tiny drop of tear starting to form in her eyes. "Bye di! The house feels so empty without you! And this bore does nothing but watch The Newshour all the time with Arnab shrieking on my head! When you were around, i had someone to talk to!" She said pulling out of the hug.
"Whoa bul! You're talking like you live in stone age! Phones exist!" Aaliya exclaimed. "Yeah they do Aaliya, but I don't wanna be disturbing their 'eyelocks' you see. Bye di!" Bulbul said and hurried off while Purab followed her. Just then, Aaliya got a call and the blush on her cheeks confirmed who it was. Dadi and dasi decided to go to the temple for the evening aarti and Pragya went back to her room.
Abhi was still sulking and randomly strumming his guitar. "What happened stud boy?" She asked him coming in. He just looked away. Pragya went and stood in front of him. "What?" She asked. "Why did you do that?" He said angrily. "Well, they were teasing me since morning all because of you. I thought it was time to turn the tables!" She said smiling. She picked up het towel and was about to go towards the washroom when he leapt over the bed and ran in shouting a "me first!" On his way. Pragya smiled to herself "such a kid!" She thought.
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Abhi was rehearsing his songs for the tour next week in his music room when Robin entered. "Abhi sir, Pragya madam has come home with a friend. She seems hurt. She wanted me to call you." He said. Abhi immediately put aside his headphones. "Where is she?" He asked concerned. "She just reached. She must still be in the living room."
Abhi rushed out of his room and down the stairs taking two at a time. He saw Pragya walking in with a lot of difficulty, supported by her friend. He immediately rushed to her. "Prags! What happened? Are you okay?" He asked taking charge. She was all sweaty and teary and she could hardly speak because of the pain. As soon as Abhi had his arms around her, she leaned onto him, letting him support the whole of her weight. Abhi held her protectively and asked the colleague what had happened.
"Mr. Mehra, she happened to slip and fall off the stairs in college. She's hurt her back. We took her to the doctor who said that she would have to rest for a couple of days and not exert much. And he's given this." The colleague said handing him a tube of gel and a prescription. Aaliya who had also come out by then took it. Abhi immediately picked Pragya up in his arms and thanked the colleague. Aaliya offer her some tea which she politely refused saying she needed to hurry back home.
He then carried her to the room and lay her on the bed. Pragya, who was exhausted by now from bearing all the pain, fell asleep almost immediately. Abhi sat by her on the bed and caressed her hair, holding onto her hand. Aaliya came in after a while. "Bhai, i got the prescribed medicines and here's the gel." She said handing it to Abhi. "Thanks chotti!" He said gratefully. "Bhai, she's my bhabhi! You don't need to thank me for her." She said.
Aaliya could see how much her brother was in pain seeing Pragya in this condition. He had hardly spoken since the colleague left and looked worried. She could see the love he had for her in his eyes. She had seen this a number of times in the two months since he was married Pragya. She had seen how he was holding her hand and looking at her intently. And Pragya loved him just as much. Aaliya had noticed the spark in her eyes when Abhi would come back home in the evening. She would make sure all his needs were met. Aaliya had seen how a number of times, Pragya would have that goofy smile on her face when she was alone. She had seen how impatient Pragya got if Abhi didn't reach home in time without prior information. Though they always claimed that they were only best friends, Aaliya had seen how incomplete without each other. Oh how she wished these two realise their true feelings and get together.
Later that night, Abhi was sitting on the bed, Looking after Pragya. She had woken up for sometime in between. Abhi had asked Aaliya to help her get changed. "Bhai I think bhabhi will be all the more comfortable with you." Aaliya had said. Abhi looked away not knowing what to say. "Aaliya, i might hurt her. She looks so fragile, Im scared!" He'd came up with a reason ultimately and she agreed. After that, Abhi did feed her and gave her the medicines. She still looked so exhausted and pale. Abhi's eyes watered as he imagined the pain she must have gone through to be in this state. "Prags, where does it hurt? We need to apply the gel." Abhi asked her. "My back Abhi. Here." She choked, struggling to point out.
"Okay then, lift up the top. I'll apply it." He said without realising what he was saying. Pragya looked at him with her eyes wide. Abhi unscrewed the tube and looked at her only to realise what he had spoken. He bit his tongue and looked away. "Umm, I'll send Aaliya." He said walking towards the door. "Abhi no, she would ask you to do it and this and you have no excuses." Pragya said. "And dadi and indu dasi must have slept." She said reading his mind. "So now?" Abhi asked. "Umm! I'll do it myself. You be around though." She said. He nodded, gave her the tube and walked to the balcony.
He let the cool wind hit his face and was about to sit on one of the sofas there when he heard her yelp in pain. He immediately rushed into the room and noticed the tube that had fallen on the ground. She had tried to get it when her back hurt. He rushed to her side and helped her into a comfortable position. "What the hell were you doing?" He scolded. "It slipped." She said meekly. He picked up the fallen tube and looked at her.
"I'll do it. Come ahead." He said looking at her determined. She knew she had no other way and slowly came ahead. He sat on the bed, behind her. "Abhi..can we switch off the lights please?" She asked. Abhi immediately agreed and switched off the lights, leaving a small one so that it wasn't completely dark. He then carefully applied the gel and helped her lie down again. She slept off almost instantly.
Wanting her to be comfortable, he decided to sleep on the couch that night. He had just about Fallen sleep when he heard her whimpering in pain. He immediately rushed to her and caressed her hair. She felt better and slept. Since then, he had been sitting there, patting her hand and supporting her.
Pragya's sleep was disturbed somewhere in the middle of the night. She had been sleeping on her side for too long, unable to rest her back on the bed. Now, her side was getting sore and she had wanted to turn. Her back felt better due to the pain killers and the massage Abhi had given. She blushed slightly at the thought and tried turning around when she felt his arms around her waist, holding her closer to himself. She felt the warmth of his body pressed against hers and the warmth gave her back some comfort. She sighed loudly in pain as she tried to turn and Abhi involuntarily loosened his grip on her, patting her and soothing her. She managed to turn around in the little space she had before Abhi held her again. Abhi felt her movements in his sleep and adjusted himself such that she now had her head on his arm and he held her close to himself by wrapping his arms around her completely.
Pragya noticed his face closely. This was the first time since the wedding night that he was sleeping this close to her. After that night, he always took the right side of the bed, like he wanted. She couldn't help but observe how babylike and innocent he looked while sleeping. She couldn't help but stare at those perfect jaws of his that she could never take her eyes off from. She couldn't help herself from running her fingers on his sexy stubble. She couldn't help but smile at his small snores that she was so used to by now. She then snuggled further into his chest and slept off again.
The next morning, Abhi had woken up first and he noticed Pragya cuddled up in his arms. He smiled looking at her and tightened his grip. He noticed how their fingers were interlocked on one hand while her other hand was wrapped across his torso. He noticed how she smiled in her sleep when he held her closer. Pressing his lips against her forehead, he closed his eyes again. He didn't want to let go off this moment. He didn't want to let go of her. If this was a dream, he never wanted to wake up and be a part of the real world again.
CID
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
