Abhi reached the coffee house at 3.45...15 minutes before the scheduled time. He was anxious and excited to meet his fuggi after all this time. He kept clicking on the DP picture of Pragya on her WhatsApp. She didn't age at all. Looking the same even after a decade. The same sweet,innocent fuggi. How could he let her go? She insisted on leaving but he could have stopped her. 'Mujhe use rokna chahiye tha. Mein ne kyun use jaane diya?' he thought.
Pragya at home: 3.30:
'Hello...Pragya answered the call from Vikram, an acquaintance at work. 'Sorry vikram, am going to meet someone very important right now. Can you come later? Maybe on the weekend?We'll plan something.Ok bye.' There was no way she was entertaining anyone at this point and no way anyone will stop her from meeting her husband.
She ordered a taxi on her Uber app immediately. She didn't want to be late.
Abhi at the cafe: 3.55
As he snapped out of his thoughts, he saw Pragya entering the cafe. She looked ethereal in her blue block print salwar suit, he thought to himself. Beautiful as she looked on their wedding day. He ran up to meet her halfway across the cafe.
'Kitna intezaar karvaya fuggi.' he said as he stood infront of her. 'Intezaar kahaan? I am 5 minutes early.' Pragya said. 'Arre woh nahi. itni saalon ki doori...woh kaun khatam karega?' he asked and hugged her. He lifted her up in his arms as they kissed and hugged each other. After he put her down on her feet, Pragya saw that the cafe was empty. She looked around and asked Abhi why it was empty. 'I booked it all up for us.' In such a short notice? In the evening?' Pragya asked astonished. 'Yes, babe. I know one of the partners who run the cafe.I called and they said it can be done.'
'Aap bhi na.' Pragya said smiling and shaking her head. 'Aur kya mein tum se aise bheed wali jagah mein milta kya?' I really wanted to make it special for us.It's our evening and I don't want any disturbance.'
He took her hand and led her to the table that he selected for them. He seated Pragya at her chair and took his seat opposite her.
So what do you want to order? Abhi asked her. 'Mocha as always?' She was pleasantly surprised that he remembered her preferences, even after a decade. She was impressed. 'abhi bhi yaad hai aap ko?' she asked.
'Kyun nahi yaad hoga? Tumhe kya laga mein sab kuch bhool gaya hoon tumhare baare mein?' he asked with a childlike innocence.
'Nahi.' she shook her head and smiled. 'Do you want anything to eat? she asked. 'No am not really hungry. I just want to talk and spend time with you,Pragya.' he said. She echoed his feelings.
They called the waiter and placed their orders. As soon as the waiter was out of sight, Abhi held Pragya's hands on the table 'Pata hai maine kitna miss kiya tumhe. Tumhare bina ye dus saal kaise kaate main hi jaanta hoon. I missed you so much, Pragya.I am so sorry that I let you go that night. I am so sorry I didn't stop you.I regretted every minute of it.I regret it to this day. Tumhare bina main kuch bhi nahi hoon. Jee toh raha hoon. Lekin zinda nahi hoon.'he said with anguish that was all over his face.
She had tears welling up in her eyes and she couldn't control them from flowing. 'Main bhi. Main ne bhi aap ko bahut zyada miss kiya. Shayad mujhe bhi itni jaldi gusse mein nahi jaana chahiye tha.Aap ke bina meri zindgi bhi adhoori hai.'
Debate Mansion
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