Chapter 21
Abhay had the same dream again.
He was standing in the forest again, surrounded by fire, and Piya was looking at him, pleading...and then, before he could react, she turned and ran back into the darkness.
But then, the forest and the fire dissolved, and he felt as though he was standing on a chess board. He looked down : he was in the centre of the first row, flanked by white chess pieces around him. He realised he was in the king's position. Across him, stood the black chess pieces, and surprisingly, Siddharth was there too, as the king in the black. For a while they stared at each other. Abhay felt a slight movement around him, and realised that the queen piece next to him had moved, towards the black pieces.
'The queen goes where she pleases,' said a soft voice, and Abhay looked up, meeting Reina's gaze. She smiled at him. 'Worry not, for this is but a dream- albeit, one which I am manipulating, of course.'
'What do you mean to show me?' he asked swiftly.
She laughed softly. 'Nothing, much. Just that I seem to be playing a game of chess here.'
'I see,' hissed Abhay. 'We are pawns in your game, is it?'
'Oh, no!' she said, sounding hurt. 'You are kings, as I am sure you must have noticed?'
She gazed contemplatively at the chess board, and Abhay following her gaze, found himself looking at the queen, who was...a person. Her face was hidden in shadow.
'Unfortunately, your queen seems to have taken her own course,' she said, sounding rather disappointed. 'It does not matter however. She shall return to you. Where else can she go? This is my board, after all.'
The colours shifted and the scene dissolved as Abhay's eyes opened. He paused to consider what his dreams meant- he knew that his intuition was stronger than most vampires he'd known.
Piya, for one. She was in distress, that was for sure. Yet, as he tried to find that speck of alarm- he was sure she was safe. But something seemed to trouble her badly, something he needed to know- but what? She was supposed to have arrived that day, so where was she now?
His thoughts strayed to Reina and the chess board. He felt a stab of anger, knowing she was using him for something- but for what? As his anger reduced, thought, he wondered if Reina had been giving him a clue. Surely it was no coincidence that Siddharth was the black king while he was the white king? And who was the queen, who had chosen her own path? Could it be-
His musings were interrupted by the door shutting : his mother had entered the house.
He swept downstairs, noticing his father arrive a split second after him.
Haseena looked troubled, yet there was a secretive smile playing about her face. 'Don't worry about me,' she said, touching his father's arm, a rare display of her affection. 'I am fine. I just went to find out about Siddharth.'
Abhay tried to keep the accusatory tone out of his voice, but was not entirely successful. 'You met Siddharth.'
Chand's eyebrows shot up as he looked at Haseena. 'Is this true?'
She nodded. 'Yes.'
However, she volunteered no other information, instead going upstairs, away from them. Chand and Abhay exchanged a wary look, before Chand said, 'I...will..find out.'
Next morning, as Abhay parked his car outside the college, he spotted Alina Khurana hanging around, her lips curled in a smile. As she saw him, her smile widened. 'Hello, Abhay. How are you doing this beautiful morning? Did you have a nice sleep?' Her tone was deliberately mocking, and he felt a sudden realisation...
'You.' he hissed, moving to her. 'You tampered with my head. You manipulated my dream, Alina Khurana- or should I call you Reina?'
'No, you shouldn't,' she said mischievously. 'Someone might hear.'
His fingers curled around her throat, applying enough pressure to make her eyes bulge. 'Where is Piya?' he ground out. 'I know you know where she is.'
'Hands off, vampire, or I won't tell you,' she hissed back, though slightly blue.
He released her almost instantly, and she rubbed her neck, erasing the red marks of his fingers.
'Have you tried to sense her?' she asked.
'You do know that is the first thing I did when she left!' he growled. 'I cannot do it! I cannot sense her, no doubt thanks to whatever you've done!'
'No harm in trying again, vampire,' she mocked. 'Try, try and try again!'
'If this is some joke-' began Abhay, but she cut across him. 'Do it.'
He closed his eyes, trying to sense her aura, when the fragrance of her essence hit him like a physical blow, and his eyes opened at once. She was near him!
He turned to see Piya Dobriyal, wearing faded blue jeans and a red pullover, her eyes shaded with dark glasses, make her way inside the college.
For a few minutes, he just stood still, his brain numbed by anger, dismay, guilt, happiness- and most of all- the realization that this angel- who had been gone just a week- had captured his soul, not his heart, and he was hers forever.
She didn't even see him as she entered the college, and he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. It was Alina who roused him from his thoughts.
'Zor ka jhatka haaye zoron se laga, haan laga,' she sang, her voice not perfectly in tune, yet carrying a hint of mockery.
He whipped around to fix her with an icy glare. 'Don't make me regret sparing your life,' he said in a voice full of deadly intent.
She shook her head. 'Tut, tut. You vampires are so old fashioned. Perhaps I should sing an old song? Jaan-e-jaan, dhundhta phir raha...hoon tumhe raat din main yahan se wahan...'
She broke off mid-song at his murderous expression. 'Well, aren't you going to go after her?' she said, sounding puzzled.
'You don't need to tell me what to do!' he snapped. 'Get lost.'
He turned and followed Piya inside. He found her easily, swamped by Misha, Kabir and Jeh. She was apologizing to them, especially Misha, saying she had no choice but to do what she was doing.
He waited till classes were almost over before he found her alone in the corridor, making her way to the library. He caught up with her easily and swung her around to face him, whipping off the sunglasses in one quick movement.
They looked at each other for a moment. Abhay tried to read her mind, but he knew almost at once her mind had been blocked from him by Reina. She smiled , then suddenly, her smile faded and she lowered her eyes.
It was strange, he thought. He lifted her chin- her eyes, thankfull, were still as easy to read, but they were clouded over in what he could only interpret as fear or guilt.
He vaguely remembered he had to stay away from her , but it didn't seem very important, just then.
'Where on earth were you?' he asked her bluntly. She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again.
'Do you realise how worried everyone was? Your family and friends have been going berserk!' he snapped, irritated by her silence.
She drew away. 'I am sorry,' she said meekly. 'I didn't mean to cause you trouble.'
'It's not about trouble!' he retorted. 'Where were you?'
She shook her head. 'I can't tell you.'
'Can't, or won't?' he said shrewdly.
She looked away. Then, drawing a deep breath, she said, 'I apologise..for all my actions in which I have intentionally or not, hurt you. I promise I shall never pry into your affairs again. I won't force you to...accept our relationship..either. If you want, I want to make a fresh start- as friends, if you wish. If you don't, we can agree to be strangers. Whatever you want.'
He stared at her, suddenly feeling a chill creep over him. He couldn't believe it- she was giving him the option to walk away from her? 'No,' he blurted. 'I don't want us to be strangers.'
She looked at him with something akin to adoration mixed with relief...and there it was again. Fear?
'It's very...kind of you,' she said, obviously struggling for words.
Abhay weighed his position. He needed to know everything that was being hidden from her. He had to protect her from Sid as well. Being friendly with her would be safe for him as well for herself.
She started walking ahead, and Abhay fell into step with her. 'Where are you headed?' he asked.
'Library,' she told him. 'I missed a week's classes- I need to make up for lost time.'
'I'll help you with that,' said Abhay. 'I mean- I've got my own notes, which would be probably more detailed than say, Jeh's, or Misha's-'
She looked at him in surprise. 'Really?' she said, and Abhay mentally kicked himself. Had he been so mean to her that his being nice was shocking?
'Of course,' he said, casually, hiding his feelings. 'We are friends, right.'
'Oh, yes,' she said, though she still sounded a tad bit uncomfortable.
When they reached the library, they were greeted by Miss Gupta. 'Hello, dears,' she said. 'It's nice to see you both after so long.'
Piya smiled. She never knew why, but she felt an aura of calmness around her, and felt sure she could trust Miss Gupta.
She sat down, putting her bag on the table and pulling out Jeh's scribbled notes. Abhay's hand covered hers for a brief moment as he tugged it away, before placing his own rather elegant notebook in front of her. She smiled gratefully at him, trying desperately to calm down her suddenly tingling nerve endings.
He dropped down next to her, casually tilting it back on two legs. 'Go on then,' he said. 'I'm here, in case you have any questions.'
It was almost like old times, she mused as she copied out the beautifully written notes, noting that her own writing seemed shabby scribbles in comparison to his elegant one.
It was almost as though she were Piyali and he was Abhayendra, looking out for her, helping her, correcting her...except the electricity that sizzled between them whenever they looked at each other, or their arms-mistakenly?- brushed one another.
It had been so long since she had felt...comfortable, without that unease and tension in recent months. Perhaps good friends were all they could be.
She felt something break inside her at the thought, but she knew she could not stay apart from him. She needed to stay close to him so she could help him.
She shook off her thoughts, concentrating with all her might on copying the notes.
The bell rang, and she breathed a sigh of relief, because finally she could get away from Abhay.
Abhay got up with her, but there was a voice from behind. 'Abhay dear, do you think you could spare a moment?'
She saw her chance and hurried out. As she came out of the college, she saw a pretty brown haired girl standing outside, clearly waiting for her by the expression on her face. 'Hi, I am Alina Khurana,' she said. 'Actually, I work for Siddharth Malik. He requested an urgent meeting with you, could you come now, if you are free?'
Piya realised that it was Sid- a human one, she reminded herself. Remembering her promise, she smiled. 'Sure,' she said.
Alina guided her to a car. 'Here you go,' she said, letting her sit in the passenger seat next to the driver's. She gave Piya a sudden smile, and Piya found herself warming to her at once.
'Yes, Miss Gupta?' said Abhay. He respected the lady- she had always given off the aura of a sensible woman. 'So, what happened?' she asked. 'Did you apologize to her?'
Abhay shook his head. 'No, I didn't- she apologized to me, and said we should be friends.'
Miss Gupta sighed, looking sympathetic. 'I can see why,' she said. 'You have finally convinced her she and you are not meant to be.'
Convinced? Abhay knew he should feel happy. 'I should be happy, so why am I feeling so awful? This is what I wanted.' he thought.
'Sometimes, people don't really know exactly what they want until it is taken away,' said Miss Gupta softly.
Abhay started in surprise. 'Did I say that out loud?'
Her eyes twinkled with amusement. 'Of course you did, my boy. Well, you have an uphill task now, don't you? She seems pretty stubborn.'
Abhay shrugged, and left. Quite unlike most humans, the librarian was one of few people he trusted not to go around gossiping about others' problems.
Piya was nowhere in sight. He closed his eyes, but he couldn't get much of where exactly Piya was. He saw a dazed rush of colours, and Piya's face, looking worried and nervous but otherwise okay. His shoulders sagged in relief.
'Are you a relative of Jeh's?' said Piya suddenly.
Aline smiled ruefully from the wheel. 'Unfortunately, yes.'
'Although you should know,' added Alina, 'I know all about you, and I mean all- about your trysts with the past as well, and Abhay, and Sid...everything.'
Piya stared at her. 'Reina thought you could use a friend,' she explained. 'That's why.'
'Oh,' said Piya, still trying to take it in. She felt suddenly thankful that Reina cared for her. 'So why aren't you telling him?' said Alina. 'Abhay, I mean. Why aren't you with him, as in WITH him?'
'You-you know that I time travelled, right?' said Piya in a small voice. 'Of course,' said Alina. 'Why can't you tell him you know everything?'
Piya felt her eyes prick. 'No, Alina. Because that would be exploiting his goodness, making him pity me enough to have a relationship with me. It's just my face that he gets attracted to-'
'How can you say that?' said Alina in disbelief. 'After everything!'
'No, don't you see?' said Piya desperately. 'When I hadn't showed my face, he didn't love me. He respected me, yes, but love? Hardly. We were friends- but he didn't even trust me to listen to me when I needed him to. Alina, Abhay has always said we aren't meant to be together, and I see it now! Because he still loves that princess Maithali, no matter what a twisted bitch she is now,' he voice had sunk to a whisper.
Alina shook her head. 'I really don't get you,' she said. 'That's sort of dumb, Piya.'
'Maybe it is,' said Piya. 'Maybe I am dumb, that's why I never realised it till now. Alina, I have messed up Abhay's life all the time, trusting Sid over him, accusing him for all the wrong things, dressing up as her, just to know the truth- would you love someone who hurt you every chance they got?' She shook her head, wiping away the tears. 'Hell, I hate myself, how can I expect Abhay to fall in love with me just like that?'
Alina smiled slightly. 'I won't force you,' she said. 'But just remember- you fell in love with someone who hurt you too, every chance he got.'
'We established I'm dumb, remember?' she said, trying to joke. "Plus, give me the name of one girl who wouldn't fall for Abhay. And whatever he did...he didn't mean to!"
Alina looked at her pityingly and shook her head. 'Whatever you say, Piya. We're here, by the way.'
The car came to a stop and Piya gazed apprehensively at the office.
A few minutes later, Alina was ushering her into Sid's office. 'Well, good luck,' she said at last stopping in front of a door. 'He's inside.'
Heart hammering, Piya pushed open the door. Sid had been looking at something on his mobile screen, when he looked up to see Piya and stood up at once.
'Thank you for coming, Miss Dobriyal,' he said politely. 'Please have a seat.'
She sat, wishing he would take the lead. 'We used to know each other, Miss Dobriyal,' he began. 'However, I heard of your tragic memory loss, so I don't mind making introductions again-' 'Gosh this is awkward, ' he muttered in an undertone.
'Well, um actually, Piya, I need your help- you don't mind if I use your first name, do you?' he said.
'I- no, of course not!' said Piya at once.
'Oh, very well then,' said Sid, looking rather flustered himself.
'Actually, I- oh man, this is awkward without your memory-'
Piya sighed. 'If I told you my memory was returned, would you promise to keep it a secret?' she said. Sid's reaction was shocked : he got to his feet, his mouth fell open.
'Wh-what?' he said.
Piya felt herself smile almost without meaning to. 'Yes,' she said. 'But please don't tell anyone, please.'
'Of course, of course,' said Sid. 'So- you know everything? And you are still here?'
Piya shrugged. 'You're human now, you can't hurt me.'
'Yes, but...' began Sid, and then said abruptly, 'I need you to convince the Raichands that I am trustworthy. I want my family back.'
Piya raised her eyebrows. 'Why should I, after all you have done? And what makes you think I could convince them?'
'Please,' he said. 'Please trust me. I swear, all I want is a chance. That's all I need, I promise. As for the other thing, well... You're Abhay's mate, right? Plus, my mom loves you.'
'No, Sid,' she said, slightly bitterly. 'Abhay and I- we aren't together.'
Sid goggled at her. 'What? I mean- why?'
'It's personal,' she snapped, her tone clipped.
Sid seemed to understand she was upset, and did not ask further. 'All right,' he said resignedly. 'Will you try to trust me then?'
Piya looked at him, not willing to trust him, but Reina's words were still at the back of her head. 'I can try,' she said doubtfully. 'But, Sid, why?'
Sid looked away. Then, with forced lightness, he said, 'Let's just say I know what it feels like to be manipulated , used and betrayed. Plus, now that I'm human... I seem to get guilt complexes nowadays.'
Piya was taken aback. 'What?'
'Yes,' he said heavily. 'I betrayed a friend, a long time ago... Do you know, I just realised you two share the same name. Your full name is Piyali, right?'
'Yes,' said Piya, although she felt sudden joy. Sid missed Piyali- it was a start.
'Yes, well anyway- do you think you could join in the designing department?' said Sid.
'I mean- if you don't want this job-'
'No, it's fine,' she said. 'Of course I'll join. Tomorrow, or next week?'
'Tomorrow, it is,then, Piya,' said Sid.
They rose and shook hands. 'I will try to trust you,' said Piya as she made for the door. 'And only then will I ask Abhay to do the same.'
'Of course,' he said, and the door closed behind her.
Office hours were over, yet Piya found Alina waiting for her in the parking outside. 'So how did it go?' she asked. 'It was nice,' said Piya. 'I got a job.'
'Great!' said Alina, looking relieved. 'Come, I'll drop you home-'
A smooth voice interrupted her. 'That won't be necessary. I'll drop Piya home myself.'
Piya turned in shock to stare at the speaker.
PS. See I made AbhIya meet..now remember to like and comment 😉
Edited by bookworm-ALS-- - 12 years ago
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