||SS : Soulmate|| Chapter 22 Page 79 :) - Page 52

Hey guys!

So, chapter 18 of the FF is here finally. It's a bit too long.. Sorry yaa.. got carried away. Hope it's not too boring.

Also, there is a little surprise for the IPKKND fans out here.

Hope you like it.. Have a good read!

Chapter 18

Home Alone

"So Guys, now that everything is on track, why don't you people go for your honeymoon?" Purab asked as the family sat together after lunch.

"Aww.. My husband is so smart! I'm so proud of you Purab!" Bulbul said pulling his cheeks. "Ouch baby! That hurts!" He pouted making her giggle.

"So bhabhi, where do you wanna go? We'll get you guys the tickets." Aaliya announced and dadi nodded.

Pragya was about to say something when Abhi cut in, sulking.

"I'm not going anywhere"

"But Jiju.. I thought you guys have confessed and all. What's the problem now?" Bulbul tried to explain

"No problems guys.. Its just that I have come home only a few hours back and you're talking about travel again. Come on Al.. think of your bechara bhai for once. You've changed sides ever since Pragya came home." He pouted.

"Awww bhai... sorry cant help.. Bhabhi love overflowing here." Aaliya chuckled.

"No worries Jiju, I'll take your side." Bulbul said holding Abhi's hand

"Haww Bulbul, that's cheating. You're my sister. And besides, there are no sides. Me and Abhi are on the same side okay." Pragya said possessively, holding on the Abhi's other hand. Everyone burst out laughing at Pragya's expression. Dadi had a satisfied smile on her face. Her kids had finally found their companions. They were happy together. She was content and didn't have to worry for them anymore. They had each other to look after.

"But Abhi, Bhabhi's vacations last only another couple of weeks. Once the university resumes, you won't be able to go right?" Purab asked thoughtfully.

"That's alright Purab. Abhi's right. He must be exhausted and I don't want hi to strain himself. His health matters the most. And besides, dadi and Aaliya will be leaving for Delhi day after tomorrow." Pragya explained.

"Delhi dadi?" Purab asked.

"Yes beta. You remember Manorama mami?" Dadi asked

"The hello hi bye bye mami?" Purab asked scratching his head, looking amused while Aaliya, Pragya and Abhi burst out laughing.

"Hello Hi Bye Bye mami? And Purab, how do you know her?" Bulbul asked confused

"Yeah Bul, Manorama mami keeps repeating Hello Hi Bye Bye in her broken Hinglish sentences. She's actually quite amusing." Aaliya explained.

"I met her once when I had come home to meet Abhi for some work. Dadi, how come they didn't come for Abhi and Di's wedding?" Purab asked.

"They were in New York then to visit Anjali, Arnav's sister." Dadi explained.

"They were Abhi's old neighbours. She had this cute nephew Arnav. It's his wedding." Pragya put in.

"Arnav isn't cute! He's rude and has no expressions on his face." Abhi sulked.

"Oh yeah! Abhi hates him because his crush Khushi had a crush on Arnav and they're getting married now." Pragya teased him.

"Even if I had a crush on Khushi, I have had wild thoughts only about this one girl who happens to be my wife now." Abhi whispered so that only Pragya could hear. She looked into his eyes and he held her gaze. Her cheeks had turned red. The others noticed the small exchange, the change of expressions and started clearing their throats.

"So when will you come back dadi?" Purab asked

"I'll stay there 10 days. Arnav's nani insists we stay with them. It's been long since we met. We haven't seen each other for 5 years now." Dadi smiled remembering the happy times spent with the Raizada family.

"Wait a minute.. Now I get the reason Jiju doesn't want to go anywhere. The house is gonna be empty anyway and Di has vacations." Bulbul said suddenly.

Abhi and Pragya looked everywhere but at each other. The others realized what Bulbul meant and started teasing the couple who could do nothing but sit and blush. Their little secret plan had just become public.

They had been looking forward to spending this time alone ever since Dadi and Aaliya's tickets had been booked. Earlier, it was to get to know each other and understand the other's feelings. Since the dimension of their relationship had changed since last night, it was to spend more time with each other.

"Okay kids, stop teasing them. Enough now." Dadi said after a bit.

"Kya dadi, look at them. It's so much fun. They act like they are in the teenage crush puppy love phase" Aaliya chuckled. Dadi laughed with them too.

"Excuse me guys, I have a call." Pragya said waving her phone, thanking her star as well as the caller for saving her in time and quickly moved towards her room.

"I have to call my manager too. I'll see you guys." Abhi said standing up.

"Looks like bhai can't be away from Bhabhi anymore." Aaliya chuckled.

"Let jiju go na Aaliya.. Jiju must be.." Bulbul said

"Yeah yeah.. Abhi must be wanting to cancel all the meetings and recordings scheduled in those 10 days na." Purab completed her statement and the three of them along with dadi burst out laughing again.

"Aaliya, take care of Dadi okay. She gets excited when she is with the Raizada's."

"Abhi, I'm not a kid. I can take care of myself. You concentrate on Pragya." Dadi chuckled.

"Dadi, please take your medicines on time and Aaliya, give a big hug to Arnav from me. Oh yeah, and tell Khushi she's a lucky woman." Pragya said, looking at Abhi from the corner of her eyes. He sulked and looked back at her angrily. She winked at him and raised her eyebrows to ask him what was wrong.

"Aaliya, let me know when you reach. You should probably check in." Abhi cut in.

"I will bhai. But looks like you're getting too eager to spend time with Bhabhi." Aaliya teased him.

"Aaliya.. enough with it. Go get in. I don't want you guys to rush in. Take dadi carefully and call Aakash when you land. Keep me informed too." Abhi said seriously. The others got the hint that he was probably irritated and decided to leave the couple alone.

After a session of hugs, goodbyes and see you soon, Abhi and Pragya got back to the car, driving back home silently. Pragya tried to initiate a conversation but dropped it when she got no response from him. He screeched the car to a halt banged the door shut and without waiting for her, walked straight into the house, into their room, locking it from inside. Pragya was puzzled why he was behaving like this. She had only been teasing him and he didn't mind before. What had gone wrong suddenly?

She slowly got off the vehicle and went in, towards their room. She knocked a couple of times but he didn't open the door. She felt terrible. It had just been a couple of days now that they had confessed their love and shared intimate moments together. It had only been a couple of days since she had found her world, her happiness. It was only a couple of days since she had this felt this complete and she didn't want to lose it yet. She decided to give him some time and went to the study. Reading always helped her relax, calm down and that was the exact thing she needed at the moment.

It was probably a couple of hours before she realized the time. The lights had gone off suddenly. She had hardly read through a page fully, her mind going back to Abhi. What did she do so wrong that he was so mad? He never did that. She had thought he'd probably open the door in a few minutes but it had been two hours now. She was beginning to worry. Worry about losing yet another loved one and she wasn't ready to do that. He eyes had started tearing up and she was scared now. It was cold and the darkness only added to her fear. She remembered the nightmare from not so long ago about losing him. All she wanted right now was the comfort of his arms. She wanted to reach out to him but she didn't know if he was still angry.

"Prags, Pragya, baby where are you?" She heard Abhi's faint voice in the hallway outside. Soon, she heard him come into the study.

"Pragya? Are you here? Talk to me, please."

"Abhi.." she let out a meek whisper. The next moment, she felt a pair of hands wrap around her.

"Abhi.." she sighed, cuddling closer to him. "I was so scared Why didn't you open the door? I'm sorry I hurt you. I was only teasing you. Please don't be mad." She sobbed.

"Pragya.. shh.. shhh.. don't cry baby.. I'm not mad at you okay.. I'm sorry, I just wanted to do something for you but I slept off instead because of the jet lag. I'm so sorry!" he said soothingly in her ear, caressing her hair simultaneously.

"Abhi, please, whenever we have a fight, just talk to me. Don't turn away from me please. I've lost too many people in life. Dammn, I've lost you once too. I can't do it again. I wont survive. Just promise me Abhi, that I won't lose you ever. I love you Abhi.. Please just promise me." She cried in his chest.

"Pragya.. I promise, love, you and me are one for life. I promise we wont drift apart. I won't let that happen, no matter what. You and me are meant to be and no one can change that okay. But Pragya, I don't want to see you weak. You're a strong woman and I want you to remain that way. Don't let anyone affect you so much that you feel your life worthless without them. You are a person an individual and your happiness depends on you. I or anyone else can only be a part of it and not the only reason for it. Don't make someone so important that you suffocate without them, you get it?"

"Abhi? Why're you talking like that? Are you still mad at me? I said I'm sorry. You are the most important person to me and I can't help that. And besides, would you be able to do what you're asking me to? Would you be able to live without me?"

Abhi fell silent. He had said the words all right, but that was only because he wanted Pragya to be strong.

"Okay, let's not talk about all this. Come with me. I have to show you something." He said holding her hand and helping her up.

"Abhi.. this is beautiful" she exclaimed, her eyes going wide in surprise. He had set up an open gazebo in the balcony. White curtains surrounded the make shift bed right at the center. The bed was surrounded by candles on all sides, illuminating the place and giving it a soft, romantic feel. Besides the gazebo was a coffee table with two chairs, laid out for dinner. She was touched by the gesture and her eyes reflected her happiness.

Abhi kept looking at her to know if she liked what he had done for her. He had asked Purab and Bulbul to set everything up while they were away to drop dadi and Aaliya. He had even faked his anger to ensure she doesn't get into the room and the surprise doesn't get ruined. He had wanted to check the arrangements one more time and light the candles. He decided to freshen up and wait for some time but he fell asleep instead and everything had become haywire. When he woke up, he realized that the house had no electricity. He remembered his plan and cursed himself for ruining it himself. Quickly lighting the candles, he went to look for Pragya. He knew she would either be in the puja room or the study. Those were her favorite places in the house.

"Abhi, thank you so much! This is really special." He heard her say as he stood there observing her expressions and falling more in love with her with each passing second. He could never get enough of this woman and that was a fact.

"I'm glad you like it, love. Come, let's eat. I hear my stomach rumbling already." He said, holding her hand and leading her to the table.

"Maa always said that people turn into stars after they die." Pragya said, cuddling into Abhi's arms after dinner. They lay on the bed, gazing at the starry sky above them.

"I believe in that theory too" he said, hugging her closer.

"Hmmm.. you see that bright one there? that's my mother." She said pointing out to a bright star on the sky. "and right next to her is papa."

"The other bright star next to her is my mother and see, papa is right next to her too." Abhi said pointing out to a couple of stars next to the ones she did.

"Do you think they're happy up there? You think they're watching us?" Pragya asked

"The reason they are the brightest stars in the sky tonight is proof that they're happy. They are smiling down at us see!"

"Abhi, thank you for coming back into my life. Thanks for completing me. I mean it when I say this, every moment I spend with you is bliss."

"The feelings are mutual wifey. By the way, I wanted to ask you something." He said leaning towards her

"Yeah?"

"You think our parents would mind if I kiss you right now?" he said moving closer. His lips were inches away from hers. She could feel his warm breath over hers and that excited her more.

"I don't think they would mind at all!" She said, reducing the gap.

The next morning, Abhi woke up to the warm rays of sun on his face. He squinted his eyes a couple of times to adjust to the brightness. He looked around to see candles burnt out. He remembered the moments from the last night, bringing a smile to his face. He looked around for his clothes but could only find his pants in one corner. Quickly wearing them, he walked out in search of his wife.

He came down the stairs, still looking for her when the fresh aroma of coffee caught his senses. Realizing that she was in the kitchen, he walked in silently. She was working on the kitchen counter, he back towards the door. But what caught his attention was her clothes. Lately, she had been wearing a lot of his clothes when they were alone and today was no different. She wore his white button down shirt from last night. Her hair was tied up in a bun. He settled on one of the stools near island counter behind the main one. He could see her sway a little as if she was dancing happily while mixing the coffee. She turned around to get some milk when she noticed him.

"Good morning, handsome!" she said ruffling his hair, smiling widely.

"Good morning! Someone looks really happy." He said smiling back.

"Well, someone is." She walked towards him, carrying a mug of coffee in her hand. She placed her mug on the counter and settled on his lap. He held her around the waist and kissed her on the cheek.

"And may I know the reason?" he asked

"You!" came the reply instantly. "Having you in my life makes me happy!" she explained, sipping her coffee.

"Can I have a sip too?" he asked. She extended the mug towards him.

"I'm sorry mam, my hands are a bit occupied with holding my wife," he chuckled. She shook her head amusedly and held the cup near his lips.

"Umm.. amazing.." he relished the taste. He was about to lean forward and kiss her when his phone rang. He ignored the call and continued withhis work but Pragya stopped him and picked up the call, which happened to be dadi's and put it on speaker.

"Abhi beta, we called you last night when we rreached but you didn't pick up. Is everything alright?"
"Yeah dadi, there was a power cut. Its fine now. How are you two?"

"We are okay beta. The journey was fine and Aakash had come to the airport."

"Dadi how is the preparation? and how are Arnav and Khushi?" Pragya asked

"They're great Bhabhi. In fact, Arnav bhai and Khushi wanted to video chat with the two of you. They're right here. Put the phone down and I'll connect." Aaliya replied.

"No!!!"both Abhi and Pragya said simultaneously.

"Woh.. I mean.." Abhi fumbled

"Aalu, we just came back from a jog. Give us 15 minutes to freshen up and we'll call you okay.

"Jog haan bhabhi?" Aaliya chuckled.

"Okay, we understand. We're waiting." they heard Khushi scream from the back and blushed while the people at the other end had a good laugh.

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Okay guys! That's it from my side for now.. Hope you'l are still awake after this long long ramble. If you are , lemme know through your comments..

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