Abhiya SS: Magnetic Dipoles Epilogue(+NOTE) page 168 - Page 36

"Uh-I guess I should cook dinner while you unpack," said Abhay. Piya frowned. "No, just order some Chinese or something. You can help me unpack. And have you spoken to my driver?" "Yeah, I have," said Abhay. "He knows the area, and he'll pick you up tomorrow. Ok, I'll order something." Piya walked back to her room. Her clothes and other accessories were sorted quickly and she had finished putting them in the cupboard when Abhay entered. "Good heavens, how long do you take to unpack?" he said, pointing to the three unpacked suitcases still lying on the floor. She scowled at him, brushing away the curls which were coming out from her ponytail. "This room hasn't got space for my books," she retorted. "Do you have any other room?" Abhay gaped at her. "You have THREE suitcases for books? What are you, a walking library?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Last I checked, I came to live here for six whole months," she snapped. "If you have space , tell me or back off." "As pleasant as ever, thought Abhay . smirking slightly. "You can use the attic on the roof," he said at last. He got a glare in response. "My treasures are not lying in a musty old attic," she pronounced. "I'm trying to see how much I can fit in here. And you better clear out a cupboard in your room." "What?" he said, protesting, but Piya cut him off. "I'm doing a favour for you, remember?"

...

"So tell me something," said Abhay when they were having dinner. "Yeah?" she said. "Why did you agree? I mean- you're not the kind to make a decision just like that. I really hadn't much hope that you'd agree." She scowled down at her chilli chicken. "I was coerced into it. Emotionally blackmailed." "I didn't blackmail you," said Abhay irritated. "You didn't ," stated Piya. "It was-" she cut off , ponting at the clock. "8.45!" she squealed. "Where's the remote, where's the remote?" "What's the matter?" said Abhay in surprise. "What's the matter? I missed half the show and you ask me what the matter is?" Give me the remote- no way am I missing any more of it!" Abhay's eyes widened in comprehension. "Oh, it's a television serial you want to see?" She glared at him. "Am I talking in Greek?" "No, you aren't," he retorted, passing her the remote controls. "Just Gibberish." Piya didn't even answer back, flicking through the channels and finally stopping at a channel.

"One?" said Abhay in surprise. "What kind of a channel is that?" "It's STAR One, idiot," she snapped. "And shut up." She was watching the show now. He knew it was a love story at once- by the way the male and female protagonists were arguing in the corridors of a college. "Piya- are you seriously telling me you watch such- such teenage stuff?" "Shut up," she repeated, not even looking at him this time. Abhay was mildly astonished to see that she had forgotten all about her food, her eyes glued to the screen. He suddenly wanted to laugh. She was behaving like a child. As the ad break came on, Piya turned her attention to her food, wolfing it down. "Can I speak now?" said Abhay, grinning. "Yes... and why are you laughing?" she said, looking suspiciously. "Have I something on my face?"Abhay couldn't stop himself from chuckling. He leaned over, and wiped her the tip of her nose with the napkin. "There's nothing there anymore," he said. She rolled her eyes. "You could have told me." "I wanted to ask you something." Said ABhay. "What? About my show?" "Yeah, " he said. "When does it end?" She looked mournful. "In about five to ten minutes." "I thought they wore heavy jewellery, from all the ones I've caught glimpses of." "That's cause you didn't see this one," she said, grinning. "It's about the love story of a vampire." Abhay scoffed. "Please. Vampires are part of horror stories. It can't be a love story." She scowled at him. "Shut up. I watch the serial, not you." He shook his head. Piya was always slightly weird- and here was another proof of her weirdness. Which sane person spent their free time giggling over a vampire love story? Granted, the vampire was good looking, but seriously...He decided it must be a girl thing.

When they finished dinner about ten minutes later, Piya insisted on helping to stack and wash her share of the dishes. Once they were done, Piya turned to him questioningly. "You know, this house has a really nice dcor. I didn't know you were into interior decorating." "Oh, Pankhuri did it," said Abhay carelessly. "This isn't really my house."

"Kabir's wife," he explained to Piya, who was looking bewildered, "loaned the house to me. One of her relatives died a while ago and left her the house, but she and Kabir didn't want to shift, plus I needed a change of my apartment..." He trailed off. Piya looked surprised. "Kabir Rathod, the guy who was at school?" she said, eyebrows raised. It was Abhay's turn to raise his eyebrows at her. "You remember him?" "Of course I do," she tossed back defiantly, then her eyes softened at some memory. "He once gave me a pen when mine ran out of ink." "Oh," said Abhay, feeling slightly wrong-footed. "Yeah," he said. "The same one." She smiled faintly. "What does he do?" "He's a research scientist cum professor at Calcutta University- of microbiology." "So he's married," she said, thoughtfully. "Yeah, and he has a little daughter too," said Abhay fondly. Piya smiled too. "Nice to know he got a nice life."

"Does he know I'm here?" she said suddenly. Abhay nodded. "I spoke to him while you were unpacking," he said. "They were cool with the idea. Kabir knows your name, but I don't think he knows you're , well- you." Piya laughed mirthlessly. "He doesn't know I'm the ex-bitch who used to be his classmate?" Before Abhay could reply, she shrugged. "I should be finishing my work. Good night, Abhay."

"Wait,"said Abhay as she was at the door of her room. "It's ten thirty at night. Couldn't it wait till morning?" She shook her head. "Too much. Good night, Abhay." The door closed with a snap.

Delhi :

Alina Khurana hadn't stopped smiling all day. Her mind kept running back to the conversation she had had in the morning.

*Flashback:

"Leena, help me out, please," said Piya, sounding frantic. "What is it, Piya? Everything all right?" "No!" she said. "He's here!" "He?" repeated Alina in confusion. "Abhay Raichand, Leena!" said Piya, now with an edge to her voice. "He's been plaugued by some exes who stalk him the minute he steps out of his house- they confront him in his hospital, and in front of the gates'.And he wants me- me! To come live with him so he can say we're a couple and he's committed to me. Bloody hell, what am I to do?"

"What?" said Alina to make sure she had heard correctly. As Piya began to explain all over again, Alina cut her off."OK, OK, I get it," she said. She grinned as she said the next words with dead seriousness. "Why dind't you just say no? After all, you are not a cousellor for failed relationships. And no stranger has the right to just come and ask you for help, no matter his state!" There was a pregnant pause, and Piya's voice came, sounding rather small. "He looks really miserable, Leena. I don't want to hurt his feelings or anything." "So agree then" said Leena. "What's the problem?" "Leena said. "Leena, come on," said Piya, sounding exasperated. "I can't just pack my bags and leave my flat and just- live with him?" "Okay, try understanding his situation, Piya,"said ALina carefully. "Think about it like this. You are a successful psychologist. You have money-tons of it- but you don't want to socialize much. You date a few girls. Things don't work out, so you break up with them. But they don't leave his side. They pester you whenever you go out. You have lost your sense of freedom. You decide to lie that you are committed to someone else. You tell them you two live together, so they stop accosting you when you leave your house or anywhere else. But your ex wants proof. So what do you do?"

Piya had gone silent on the other end. Leena carried on. "You are at a loss. You have no idea what to do and who to ask to pretend to be your live-in partner. You do not want any complications arising of it either. So what then? You ask the only person you trust not to be interested in you. All your hopes are pinned on this person, to help you out. You get my point, Piya?"

"I get it, Leena," said Piya sounding morose. "But what about me?" "What about you?" said Leena impatiently. " Your social life is nonexistent.No boyfriends and no friends either! All you are changing is the house you live in! Besides, when you're in a strange city, it's better that you live with Raichand than live all alone. I'm always uneasy about that. Plus, he's not the kind to drug, rape or kill you, if that's what you fear. So why not do him a good turn?He'll be forever grateful to you, poor man. Remember how Anurag stalked you for a month? How awful it felt?" "Fine, I get it," sighed Piya. "I'll go tell him in my office that I'll live with him. Happy now?" "Bless you, dear," cooed Alina, trying to control her laughter.

*End Flashback

Leena grinned as she dialed Piya's number now. She wanted to know how the evening had gone. She so wished she was at Kolkata right now.

...

In the morning, Abhay, not finding Piya, pushed open the door and entered her room. The bed was very neatly made up, not a crease in the linen. His eyes fell on the mass of bushy hair that was slumped over a sheaf of paper. As he drew closer he saw Piya's sleeping face, her mouth slightly open as she slept. Smiling slightly, he tapped her lightly on the shoulder and she awoke with a yelp. "Were you working all throughout the night?" he said, smirking. "I see old habits die hard, eh?"

Piya didn't answer his question. "What time is it?" "It's ten past eight," he answered. "And you really should be getting ready, you know- I'm running late as well, and I can't keep waiting for breakfast." Piya's eyes widened in horror. "I'm late!" She got up and once, rummaging trhough her cupboard for clothes. "Abhay, I'll join you in fifteen miutes," he heard her muffled voice, real panic underlying in the tone. "You can leave if you want." "I'll wait for you," he answered, going back to the dining hall.

Fifteen mintes later, Piya was wolfing down her sandwich as fast as she could, while Abhay snickered. She glared at him but she couldn't speak a word , thanks to her too-full mouth.Taking advantage, he said, "You don't seem like the girlfriend Aliya came to see yesterday." Then he left the room before she decided to physically attack him.

As Piya was getting into her car, Abhay tugged on her arm. "What?" she said, sounding annoyed. "I'm late!" "Spare keys," he said, holding them out to her. "SO if you come earlier than me, you don't have to sit and wait on the porch for me. Not that I'd mind if you waited for me in the apparel you greeted my ex with... Without waiting to hear her splutters, he turned swiftly and got into the car."Bloody moron," muttered Piya to herself, but she was smiling slightly as she got into her car.

PS. Wrote this in my Hindi class instead of writing a summmary of the novel Nirmala😛 Thanks everyone for the comments, I had never expected such a great response...😆

My pre-boards are knocking at my doors right now so...updates will be very very irregular...😳