An ABHIYA OS

Hey guys, am back after really long time. Just to drop an old banter filled os I had written long ago and found in my hard drive. Its long but hopefully its fun. Just exploring Abhay's fun side where he is not only an idiot but also more comic.
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Abhay pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. Trying to protect Piya from Sidharth was turning out to be far more difficult task than he could have anticipated. Only if Piya could figure out what he was. He has tried to give numerous hints to Piya. But Sidharth had been clever in hiding his tracks and managed to fool and manipulate Piya at every step. He himself could not reveal his true identity. That was the one ruleas a vampire they all had to follow. Never to reveal any vampire’s identity to humans. If they figured out on their own, it was another thing. The good thing about that rule was Sidharth could not find one up on him either.

He walked on the street lost in deep thoughts when Misha and Panchi almost knocked into him. They carried multiple shopping bags.

“Dude, are you blind or what? Can’t you see?”, Misha snapped.

“I was just…”, Abhay began to explain. Was Sidharth actually serious about getting married to Panchi? He was convinced that was just a ruse, a façade to fool the people of Dehradun. But then hasn’t this game gone on long enough?

“Let me help you with your bags. Need a ride?”, Abhay said pointing to his car in a distant parking lot. “A bride to be shouldn’t be carrying all these bags now should she?”, he added with his signature coy smile taking their bags.

“How are you suddenly so-“, Misha began to speak.

“Oh Am always a darling Misha”, he lead them to his car.

“Yeah yeah. Very darling. You and Piya are having a fight right?”, she asked. Abhay shoved their bags in the backseat opening the car door for either of them one by one.

“I am telling you dude I am not going to help you patch up with her okay. You are on your own.”, Misha continued talking. Abhay was driving to the Dobriyal house, still combing through both their minds.

“Mish Shut up yaar. You have no diplomacy. Abhay don’t listen to her. What happened between you and Piya. You tell me I will speak to her if I need to.”

“Panchi, I am telling you don’t get in the middle of these two. You have no idea when the things will turn around and come back to bite you in the ass.”

“Oh god Mish. Bas kar yaar”, her tone was wary. “Don’t mind her Abhay. You know she is always like this.”

Abhay kept chuckling as he drove.

“Don’t worry about it. Anyway, I heard you are getting married, Panchi. How are the preparations going?”

That brought Sidharth’s face to her conscious mind where he could read his expressions rather clearly. Was he actually serious about this wedding? Or so it seemed to Panchi. This was still from Panchi’s perspective.

“So many things still to be done. Weddings are such a hectic affair I tell you. And on top of that Mumma wants it to be a grand affair and Sidharth, he really seems to dislike all these rituals and functions and all. Apprently he can't be in rituals without having a fit or something. I am so torn between the two. But hey you must come too. I have personally invited Haseena aunty. One thing Sidharth was adamant about was making sure Haseena aunty attended. I don’t know why though”, she said thoughtfully.

Of course. He would never hurt their mother. That was the only thing they both agreed on.

“He is such a weird dude. I don’t understand why he is so concerned about Haseena aunty because Piya told me that you or Chand uncle don’t get along with him”, Misha commented again.

So, Piya had confided in Misha about their dynamic.

“What do you think? Panchi and Sidharth will get along better than I and Piya or not?”

“Oh I bet you they will. They are too perfect with each other. I mean don’t get me wrong they are nothing alike but somehow it just seems to work between them unlike you and Piya. You both are stubborn, loners and still always fight. So ironic.”

Is that so now?

“You should see these two when they are together. Sometimes I feel like someone has put me in one of those old black and white movie or something.”

This is curious. Panchi was in love so her perspective is expected to be skewed. But Misha seemed equally convinced about Sidharth’s feelings. He had arrived at Dobriyal house. After dropping them, he drove back to Raichand house, he left the car in driveway, threw the key to guard and rushed inside to Haseena’s room.

“Is Sidharth actually serious about getting married to Panchi?”, he blurted.

Haseena was sitting with a human. A bunch of boxes containing jewelery laid open on the bed. Haseena glared at him for being foolish enough to rush at his peak speed when a human was present.

“I will select one from these and send back rest with Ramsaran, Mr Jethmalani. I must deal with something else for now and I need some time to think about my choice.” Abhay could see the human flinch slightly. “Oh Mr Jethmalani, I am sure you can accommodate this small request. There is absolutely no reason for any doubt. If you want I can write you a cheque right here for all of these.”, Haseena added in her velvety tone. “Although then I would have to speak with Chand about that deal for diamond polishing that our firm has recently mined”, she added with an edge.

“Of.. of.. course not Mrs Raichand. Aaabsolutely. You can take all the time you need. I would leave you to it. Please. Do not worry at all. After all Mr Raichand has placed his immense trust in me with his project” He got up quickly and nodded his head to Abhay in a small greeting gesture before exiting.

“Abhay. You should know better. I had company with me.”

“I… I am sorry mom. But first tell me..”, he was still looking at the boxes on her bed and asked, “who are you buying these for? Panchi? Are you serious right now?” He didn’t need to convey each of his doubts in words. Haseena picked up in his telepathy.

“It appears so. I don’t know what has gotten into him but he has become obsessed with Panchi.”

“A wedding? An actual fuc-“,Haseena glared at him and he corrected himself, “sorry but seriously a marriage between a human and a vampire? My brother? Your son? Sidharth is serious about marrying Panchi?”

“Yes Abhay. I know how ridiculous it sounds. I have tried talking him out of this so many times.”

“How are we sure that he is not just marrying her now and then … you know… I mean lets be honest he doesn’t have great control over his thirst.”

Haseena sighed and got up and picked tabloid and placed it on bed for him to see.

“It would be a disaster if he couldn’t control himself. The entire affair is very public.” Of course, the local reporters had covered the details about this affair. How could Sidharth be so reckless if his only plan was to eventually trap and kill Panchi for his pleasure.

“Does she know?”

Haseena shook her head.

That didn’t help. He could not figure out if he was just playing Panchi or not.

“What’s your feeling about this?”

Haseena rolled her eyes.“Sidharth has fallen for Panchi and he is afraid.”

“What’s his plan? I mean if they stay together how much longer before she eventually figures out the truth? He is being really reckless.”

“I know. I have explained to him so many times but his mind. He is just not ready to listen. I gave up eventually.”, she said with a sigh. “But why are you suddenly interested?”, she asked with narrow eyes.

“I… well I was just curious on how he has gotten so reckless.” If Sid was indeed serious about all of this affair then… a plan was forming in his mind.

“Abhay! Oh god Abhay! When are you two brothers going to grow up? Its been over two centuries and you still fight like little kids.”

“Mom, come on. Its just a little game”, Haseena was about to interrupt but he quickly added, “that he started. Its really simple a wife for a girlfriend. And you promised you won’t interfere between us.”

“Very well. I won’t. But then I make one more promise Abhay. I will not interfere even when something went wrong and Chand got furious on both of you. you both will be be on your own.”

“Mom, what are you afraid will go wrong? If anything I am just going to make it easier for him to leave Piya alone.”

Haseena kept glaring at him with half-narrow half-indulgent eyes.

Abhay, don’t push it.

“Of course, not mother. You see I know just what to do now. Finally.” he winked. "Besides you love us too much to let Dad get angry on us", he added before exiting hastily. There was a spring in his walk.

*

It was evening time and Abhay was leaning over the bar and chatting with Panchi when Sidharth walked in with Piya. Panchi was laughing and smiling at a joke he had just told.

“Hello darling”, Sidharth exclaimed. His mouth twitched slightly as he sized Abhay up.

“Ohhh Sid here you are. I have been waiting for so long that Abhay gave me company.”

“I can see that and you were laughing too. I didn’t realise Abhay had witty side”, he commented. His eyes flickering between them.

Panchi sniggered again. “He was just telling me a funny story about when you and Mr Raichand contested for same bid.” Her eyes flickered over to Abhay as she explained.

Abhay was still by the bar, his elbows casually resting on the counter, as he took a sip from a glass.

“Anyway hey Piya what are you doing here?”, she asked.

Piya looked furious as she eyes Abhay.

“Hi Panchi. I was free and Sidharth invited me related to something about the wedding plans. I will tell you later”

“Aah right. I nearly forgot”, Abhay said. “Panchi and Sidharth are getting married. We should celebrate.”

After all my older brother is getting married. He said to Sidharth through their mind link.

“You know Panchi I can tell you so much about Sidharth. He is almost like an older brother you know”, Abhay said.

“Really?”, Panchi asked very curiously.

“Yeah pay attention to almost. He is kind of a brother you can’t really get along with. No matter time or situation.”

She suppressed her laugh in a half-amused snigger and commented, “Oh god Abhay. You are so moody. I couldn’t have imagined this side of you.”

“You are right about that”, Piya commented with her hands folded over her chest.

Yeah Abhay was going to pay for his behaviour later. She was pissing her teeth.

Darling please don’t grind your teeth. This is all for you, he thought.

“Actually Panchi, I wanted to freshen up. Do you mind joining me to the powder room?”, she asked.

Before Panchi could even answer Piya had pulled her away. The moment they left Abhay saw Sidharth’s face darken.

“What do you think you are doing?”, he asked. Grim.

“What! I am just.. chatting. I thought Panchi should know you well so she can adjust after your … wedding apparently”, Abhay said taking another sip.

“Listen Abhay if you try and harm her-“

“Are you concerned brother? I thought you were just playing a game and Panchi was just a pawn.”

“She is. She means absolutely nothing. I will leave her when I am done with you.”

“Of course”, Abhay said slowly measuring Sidharth’s face as he continue, “I am sure she is used to being tossed around after all the fiasco with her ex … what was his name ... ahh Danish. Something.”

And there it was.

The darkened eyes, the flared nose, the clenching of his jaw and that tightening of his arms.

“What happened big brother. I thought Panchi was just a collateral.”

“You think you have got a leverage on me. Don’t you? Panchi in return for Piya”, Sidharth said after a couple of minutes. “But you seem to be forgetting something little brother. I am not above killing your little girlfriend whereas you... tch tch tch... you are a vegetarian. You don’t drink human blood.”

“You are right! Oh dear god I absolutely forgot about that. Oh no! At this rate Panchi will…”

“Abhay”, Piya’s voice came from behind. “Can I speak with you? Now!” And she was already pulling him away.

This girl asked questions but then removed any choice for anyone to actually choose their answers or say no to her.

“Yes?”, he asked in formal tone.

“Cut the drama with me. You and I we both know this is not your scene. What’s your plan? Abhay I am telling you if you are just using Panchi to antagonise Sidharth…”

“But why I did absolutely nothing than just…”

“Abhay!”, she had stern tone.

“Why do you care about him so much? About Sidharth? You say you love me but then you go dining with him, dance with him with you in his arms-”

“Are you still jealous because I had one dance with him?”

“Piya, you didn’t hold Kabeer’s hand for a week, refused to go on any date with him for the entire month and he was your boyfriend. But now with him, who is your boss by the way, you are hanging out like –“

“Like what exactly?”

“Like… doesn’t your company have some POSH rules or something? No workplace romance rules? And that to between a boss and his employee?”

“Excuse me. Sidharth and I are not dating. He is marrying Panchi.”

“Oh yes I can see that. He is marrying her. Tell me then why was Panchi here alone waiting for him while he was off driving in this mad rain to pick you up?”

“I was simply helping him pick out a wedding gift for Panchi and then when he mentioned he was meeting Panchi and asked me if I would like to join I said-”

“Asked you to join? You do realise they are about to get married right? Honestly Piya, don’t you think you should give the two a little privacy. It’s not very polite to watch when two people who are about to get married”, he made a suggestive gesture and raised his brows, “you know what I mean. Not to mention she is your sister. Do you really want to watch them?”

Her jaw hung open. “What… I… no…ewww. No. What are you – Abhay that’s so –”

“Yeah I can see your brain has gone into freeze mode. Here have some vodka. It will shock it right back on again”, he took a glass from bar top and handed her.

She watched him with twisted angry expression and threw the entirety of the glass on his face. “You seriously are a jerk, Abhay Raichand. I hate you.”

She turned and went to Sidharth and Panchi who had their arms linked with each other, leaning in. Abhay shook his head and pulled out his kerchief to wipe the face.

Piya had reached them by now. She faked a cough before saying, “Ok anyway I need to go. You two enjoy.”

“But Piya it’s raining so bad outside. How will you go? Just stay and we will drop you later.”

“I wish I could Panch but hostel curfew. You know. I will find a cab.”

I seriously hope you know how to keep your fangs in, brother dear. Otherwise it would turn into one bloody kiss.

He said mind-linking to Sidharth. Piya was still speaking with Panchi both obsessing over details of cab or auto one trying to stop the other, while the other insisted on leaving. Abhay was proud of what he had suggested. There was no way Piya would want to stay and be third wheel between Sidharth and Panchi for a long long time, now. Not without that intrusive thought crossing her mind.

Little brother whatever game you think you are playing, drop it, Sidharth replied.

I will if you do. Simple. A wife for a girlfriend.

So you admit she is your girlfriend.

As far as you are concerned, she is. But if you tell her I will murder you.

Murder me? Do you think I would bother this whole charade if I had the option to kill you?

Oh right, you already used that one on me. Haven’t you? How’s that working out for you by the way? Two centuries later and I am still here.

Yeah just more morbid and grumpier. You remind me of that old man in our village who used to shout at kids.

Funny!

“I can drop you to hostel. Besides in this rain I doubt you will find any cab or auto”, Abhay offered to Piya cutting short his telepathic conversation with Sidharth.

“Yes that would be perfect. Thanks Abhay. You know when you are in nice mood you really are considerate”, Panchi said agreeing. She had placed her hand on Abhay’s arm. Just in friendly manner. But it was enough to agitate both Piya and Sidharth.

Delicious. He thought. He really was enjoying this new drama. Only if he had seen it before.

He opened the door for Piya as they reached the entrance. The valet brought his car around and she humphed taking the passenger side seat while he opened the door. in next second he was driving them away.

“You know what Abhay? I really want to help you but honestly I don’t know any psychiatrist who specializes in vampire disorders. What is up with you? Why are you suddenly all this charming and funny and witty?”, she said after a while.

“You know I could say the same about you. I mean in entire world with eight billion people on this planet did you really have to pick the one with such secret to fall in love? I mean how did you manage that?”

Not to mention you also managed to find my brother. Seriously, you Dobriyals seem to have been born with some weirds upernatural curse or something. He thought.

“I mean Misha seems the only sane one so far you know.”

“What is that supposed to mean? You are again pointing to Sidharth aren’t you. I don't understand what is your obsession with him?”

“What I don’t understand is what is his obsession with you? For all he knows - you are supposed to be Misha’s best friend and not Panchi’s sister. Misha should have been the one he goes to if he really needed any help in regards to his bride to be”, he said air-quoting. In the moment he took his hands of the wheel, Piya caught it.

“Hands on the wheel please. I do not wish to die”, she said.

He placed the hands back on wheels with his eyes rolling. Like a split second would make much difference. Humans! “Would you relax? I am not letting anything happen you”, he said shaking his head. And then immediately regretted it.

She shook her head. “There we go again. With the whole drama of Piya I love you but no I will never say that to you so I am just going to forever live in this dark corner of my dead black heart and stalk you everywhere preventing you from dying and instead make your life miserable.”

“Stalk you? Is that what you think am doing? Stalking you?”

“In everything I said that’s the only thing you decided to fixate on? And ignored everything else?”

“Seriously? Stalk you? I am stalking you?”, he was turning his face between road and her.

She folded her arms on her chest again and said, “Yes”

He punched breaks sharply and turned to face her. “Piya Jaiswal. I am not the one stalking you. Life has played some really twisted joke on you that you keep attracting dangers everywhere you go.”

She took a deep breath. “Any why do you keep running around entire city to save me? Why do you care?”

“And what will you do Piya? If I said that I love you? What then? Is anything going to change between us? You will still remain human and I will still remain Vampire.”

“Then take a leaf out of Sidharth’s book. He is marrying Panchi and he is vampire too.”

“Wait…”

“Yes I know. Did you really think I would not pick up on the same signs in him as I saw in you? You always underestimate me. And that’s your problem.”

He was still looking at her face. Somewhat stupefied.

“What I don’t know is what’s the issue between you two? Is this some kind of vampire rivalry or soemthing?”, she asked.

So, she did not know the relation.

“If I asked you to stop hanging out with him, would you listen to me?”

“Not unless you give me a reason”, she said. Then immediately held up her finger and added, “a valid one. No more just a gut feeling.”

He started the car again and drove. Thinking. He could not tell his vampire secret and he could not tell her his relation with her. until now. Because that would have led her to figure out he was. But she knew now. So could he- no. It was better this way. How did it matter what reason he had to want to keep her away from him. He told her to stay away from Sidharth. She should have listened. But she never did.

“You know what Piya, Misha was right. We are both equally stubborn. If even after knowing his secret you can’t fathom why I would worry about your closeness to him, any reason I give or not give remains invalid. So let’s just leave it at that.”

“Fine.”

They drove in silence. But he did not drive her back to her hostel. He was driving around out the city boundaries towards hills.

“Do have any plans to drop me to hostel?”, she asked.

He shook his head. She let out a breath and looked out the window her hands still folded over her chest. She was cold. He turned on heater to keep her warm.

If Misha had been there – she would have surely called them both idiots. Maybe they were. Two idiots in love who would not accept they were in love.

But at least she was here with him.

And he could see in her mind she was thinking same. At least he is here with me for tonight.

U r back ya fir gayab hona h