Abhi-Pragya fiction: RESTLESS (Epilogue- Page 85, Dec 29) - Page 7

Originally posted by: sweetysathya

Nice chapter tia thanks for the new story i read ur rockstar story its such an entertaining story loved it.

Originally posted by: -Tia-

Chapter 3: Coming soon!

Chapter 3: A friend, who is a boy?

"Di, friend or a friend who is a boy?" Bulbul teased while I rolled parathas in a hurry.

"What is this boy... friend? What are you girls talking about?", our mother interrupted before I answered Bulbul back.

"What boyfriend Maa? Di will never find a guy for herself. Remember I tried to set her up with Suresh and how badly I failed? You start searching for a guy, it will take ages to find a match for her. Think about me also, na? If she doesn't get married, my turn will never come", Bulbul acted dramatic.

"Shut up, Bulbul. Help me pack these", I said quickly.

"Pragya, I already had made three parathas for you to take with you. Why have you made more?", Maa questioned.

"Maa, my friends like your parathas, so I made some more", I explained.

"So many of them?", Maa seemed shocked to see the pile of 10 parathas.

"Maa, my friends eat a lot", I said as I washed my hands. I quickly got ready and left to catch my train to Mumbai.

It was the first time I was lying to my people. Obviously I was making extra parathas for Abhi. And may be for Purab and Nikki too if they wanted. Last couple of weeks when I visited home over the weekend, my mother did not pack parathas and Abhi had asked for them. So I just wanted to take some for him this week.

And I have figured out he has a trashcan for a stomach and can accommodate enormous amounts. So, there was a need to make that many parathas!

Actually I have figured out a lot of things about Abhi in the last couple of weeks.

He has pierced his ears and wears black button like studs.

He always wears beads and bracelets and dog tags..

He is fond of skull-designed tee shirts.

He likes strawberry ice cream.

He bunks half of his classes and Purab does proxy attendance for him.

He often brings a guitar with him and uses benches and desks as drums...

...yada yada yada...

Well the thing was I spent a lot of time with him and his gang. He didn't let me be alone while most other classmates did not bother to really talk to me. He invited me to join him and his gang for lunch and I did. His gang was Purab and Nikki mainly but there were other members who joined occasionally. Purab seemed to love him to death and he called him Bhai although they were not brothers really. Apparently Abhi and Purab are friends from childhood and Abhi is a bit older, but Abhi flunked a class by not writing exams one year so that Purab and him end up in the same class the next year! Nikki was a chatterbox and Abhi and her always fought over one or the other thing. Abhi talked a lot too but he did not talk much about himself. He cut the silliest jokes and made me roll my eyes and laugh so much. With in a few days I was comfortable in the college and got used to the routine of it.

I had to admit there was a fresh air in my life in Mumbai. I had started to enjoy the college and my life more. And as I was on the train to Mumbai, I could not wait to reach my college.

So that Monday I finally reached college and attended the two classes for the morning session. I was disappointed to not find Abhi in the class and Purab informed me that he was going to come later in the afternoon. During lunchtime I waited for him in the canteen since Purab told me he would come there directly. Nikki and Purab had left to the admin building for some official work.

"Hey Chashmish", Abhi finally showed up and gave me a high five.

"Hi Abhishek", I was excited to see him.

"You make my name too long", he complained for the umpteenth time. For some reason, I was comfortable addressing him as Abhishek than Abhi unlike everyone else.

"As long as you don't give up on Chashmish, I may not give up on Abhishek", I replied.

"That's a good one, but Chashmish will stay as long as you wear chashma", he punched my cheek lightly and sat besides me noticing my lunch box. I moved away a little since him sitting close bothered me.

"WOW, parathas!", he started to eat.

"Who made them? You did?" he asked me taking the next bite.

"How did you know?", I asked in surprise.

"Well, they are dry, hardly any butter. I will become sukda (thin) like you if I keep eating these", he commented.

I felt slightly hurt and annoyed at his words. I looked away.

"Felt bad..? Come on, I am just kidding", he put his arm around me giving me a slight squeeze. No need to say, the "bothering" flutters returned and I were alert again.

"I will eat them all. I know you made them for me. Did you guys eat?", he said continuing to eat.

"Yes we all did. Where had you been in the morning? Why did you miss classes?", I asked him to distract myself. However it was also the first time I questioned him about his personal matters.

"Had to meet someone. Why do you ask? Did you miss me?", he replied facing me and I looked away. The flutters were back again.

Purab and Nikki returned by then. I was distracted thinking about the flutters and what Bulbul mentioned about a friend who is a boy this morning. I wondered if what I keep feeling was just because Abhi was the opposite sex. I never really had males around in my life and having studied in girls' only colleges, I had hardly ever interacted with men.

I suddenly thought of an idea to clear my mind and I got up and sat close to Purab in the excuse of grabbing the water bottle. I waited for the flutters to feel inside me but when they didn't I moved a little closer. I waited for my heartbeat to go up as it did in Abhi's nearness but it didn't seem to change significantly. I wanted to may be move one more inch closer but some other person showed up and Purab got up to talk to him.

I suddenly felt so silly about what I was doing. But I also felt anxious over my feelings.

A friend, who is a boy, does not make a boyfriend. And Abhi does not become my boyfriend just because I feel some flutters. Abhi being friendly with me does not make him my boyfriend either. And I am here to finish my degree and not feel flutters or have a boyfriend or even think on those lines- I told myself repeatedly as we walked to the classroom.