Shooting back to the shots:
Abhi woke up to the sound of children giggling and laughing. He wore his slippers and marched outside and saw Pragya, dressed up as a clown, having all the children around her laughing. She made a dork face which made the children to burst into a fit of laughter and abhi himself couldn’t help but give a light chuckle. He then saw Purab coming with some roses.
“Hey Purab,” said abhi while Purab who was lost in his dreamland jerked out to reality. “hey abhi,” he said and hugged him.
“How was your night?” asked Purab.
“Kinda peaceful,” he answered.
“Are these for me?” asked abhi with a glint of mischief.
Purab turned red at the question which was noticed by abhi.
“I guess not,” he said.
“who’s the lucky one?” he asked
“well you can follow and see,” said Purab blushing badly.
“a mental note, men do blush,” said abhi and followed. Just beside pragya’s group a girl came out of her room on a wheelchair. Purab approached her and sat down to her level.
“hey bulbul,” he said
“Purab,” she greeted and he handed over the flowers.
“they’re amazing, thanks Puru,” she said.
“bulbul meet abhi, my long lost brother like friend,” said Purab
“hey,” said abhi with the wave of hand. Bulbul kept on staring at him which made abhi a little uncomfortable.
“you look familiar,” said bulbul and came back inside her room, she had never allowed anyone in except for pragya and had taken Purab to her other room.
“Purab she surly loves you back, go for it,” said abhi
“really?” he asked
“surely,” said abhi
Pragya came back from the behind, taking off her hat and red nose.
“hey there, you’re looking good, hi Purab,” said pragya
“hey di,” he said.
Bulbul hurriedly came outside, pushing herself.
“you’re Abhishekh Prem Mehra, the cricketer who is very hot, I’m a big fan,” she said with excitement and was jumping in her seat.
“I see you’ve already introduced yourselves, abhi you need to come with me,” she said
“not before giving me an autograph and selfie,” said bulbul.
After getting done pragya dragged abhi outside from bulbul’s room as he kept on talking.
“its time for your dose and sleeping pills, plus a light breakfast,” she said.
She took him back to his room, made him bath, fed him and gave him the sleeping pills.
“yummy!! You male tastier food than dadi,” he said as he lay on the bed.
“thank you,” said pragya as she sat beside him.
“you know abhi I have to tell you something….a… abhi I know you, we have already met, many years back, and the fact that I really…..” she looked up and saw him snoring. He had slept. Pragya just hit her head in her hands. she couldn’t help but smile widely at his innocent face while sleeping. He still did have a crush and the fever of the crush was increasing. She leaned forward and kissed his forehead.
“sweet dreams my Prem,” she said and left the room.
“BOO,” said someone as pragya came out of the room scaring her.
“Bulbul!” said Pragya sternly and walked ahead while bulbul laughed wholeheartedly at her di. She followed her behind.
“I see my di is in love,” said bulbul.
“what are you blabbering bulls,” said pragya
“well I can see that you are really head over heals in love with him,” said bulbul making pragya blush.
“now stop fantasizing about him and help me get on bed,” said bulbul and pragya helped.
A few days later
In the garden area, Purab was checking all the arrangements. Abhi approached him.
“What’s happening?” he asked
“I am going to propose her,” said purab
Screen shifts
Bulbul woke up from the knock at her door. After a lot of struggle she got on her wheel chair and moved to open the door. She peeked outside and found no one. She wheeled herself through the corridor as the wind blew, giving an eerie effect.
“pragya! DI!” she shouted as the voice echoed through the corridor.
She then turned towards the garden which was decorated. She saw Purab standing with his back facing her in a suit. He turned around with a smile. Bulbul too smiled back at him. Purab walked forward.
He got on his knees as he took out a ring from his pocket.
“bulbul, never in my life have I seen, such a bubbly, charming girl, bulbul you’re bravery, your smile, your eyes, when I saw them for the first time I fell in love with them and I want to bulbul arora I love you! Will you marry me?” he asked
Bulbul who was shocked stood up at once astonishing Purab.
“yes Purab,” she said but purab stood there in his boot in an awe.
He came out of a trance and made her wear the ring and hugged her.
“SURPRISE!”
Purbul turned around to see everyone standing there with a cake in hand.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
In front of them all stood pragya. Tears rolling down her cheek. Bulbul walked to her and asked “what’s wrong di?”
“bulbul you’re walking,” she said and bulbul who realized that at the moment looked at her feet and felt the grass against her toes and hugged pragya.
After cutting the cake bulbul spoke “this was the best gift ever.”
Abhi who stood at the side, leaning against the tree witnessed the events was quite happy. But he too missed his loved ones, his dadi and his sisters. He felt alone at the moment when pragya turned around
And saw him, she gestured him to come but he just denied. She then came to him and took hold of his arm dragging him into the lobby.
“why did you bring me here?” asked Abhi
“well Purab and bulbul got their surprise now it’s your turn, tara bring them in,” said pragya.
Tears welled up in abhi’s eyes as he saw them, he rushed to them and hugged her tight.
“areey arey abhi it’s alright,” said dadi as she patted his back.
Abhi moved back and saw his sister standing there with tears. He hugged them both.
“we missed you so much bhai,” they spoke.
“hey chutku,” said abhi as he kneeled down and hugged him.
“I missed you so much chachu,” he said
“dadi you don’t worry, he is recovering well and in no time I will give you a new abhishek well the old one,” said pragya giving abhi’s reports.
Dadi, disha and aaliya took abhi away to his room while pragya folded her ams as he turned around bowing his head in gratitude to which she gave a no problem expression.
Time passed and Abhi grew more fond of Pragya. He loved spending time with her and Pragya too have most of her time to him. Life was moving perfectly forward as the petition adding Raj Mathur had been entered and the court hearings were proceeding but the fact that RM had gone underground and couldn’t be found investigation was still going on.
For his speedy recovery Pragya took him out every week to some monument or special place. The time they had gone to taj mehal had been the best time.
“Ain’t it beautiful, the calm sky and the wind blowing at our faces, the love in the air, and we both standing in front of the taj mehal, the symbol of love,” spoke Abhi
“Not bad mister Mehra, your choice of words was good, flirty tone though but I like it but I might not agree with the fact that taj mehal was the symbol actually is the symbol of love as in shah jahan had 14 wives, and he loved Mumtaz, na , still it was good,” she said and by entwining hands moved ahead.
Abhi glances at her and couldn’t help but admire the features of her angelic face. She was an angel, who had made his life heaven and still was. He realised the fact that he firstly needed to stand on his own feet and then propose her. He was head over heals falling in love, well at that moment he actually fell while Pragya caught him and they shared and eye lock which was broken by Pragya who helped him up and dusted him off.
They had grown quite close to each other. Abhi had never known that therapy could be so wonderful. He loved to listen stories form Pragya especially the poetry she herself wrote and read for him. His favourite one
You’re the reason I get up to face each hectic day
How did our lives get so consumed with nonsense on the way
We used to take the time to laugh and play a game or two
But now it seems we fight a lot and cry way too much too
So when you go to sleep at night I’ll slip in by your side
I’ll hold you close and squeeze you tight and feel amazing pride
You’re the one that I love best, it’s very clear to see
With every day I know I’m blessed that you’re a part of me
Now let’s just try to slow it down and savor all that’s past
For that’s what molds our future, and life moves way too fast
abhi felt that she too shared the same feelings but it was just a poem
“who is this on for?” he asked
“well i just right what comes in my mind,” she replied
“you’re romantic,” he remarked to which pragya blushed and ran away
Pragya to was quite happy and the fact that her secret crush was now coming back to normal gave her immense happiness. Well the hardest thing for her to do was give Abhi his medicine. When time came for his medicine
, Abhi would start to jump around here and there while Pragya tried to stop hi verbally but in the end she ended up on top of him and stuffing the pills in his mouth whilst Abhi would pout which was adorable and Pragya pinched his cheeks.
After a month
Now Abhi was back in the cricket team after being approved by the board of his mental and physical,condition and had been given a grand welcome by all his fans.
Abhi was returning home with disha when he received a call from Purab.
“Hey Abhi could you pick me up from the akoli bus stop?” He asked and Abhi agreed . At the same time he received a call from Pragya asking to pick her up from the place nearby to Purab. If Abhi would have paid attention he would have noticed ho close the distance was, and asked but he didn’t . Abhi picked up Pragya and then when he reached Purab he saw blood on Purab’s face. Upon pondering him Purab told about a fighting the office, looking spring not making eye contact but at Pragya who too was taking deep breaths, a little stressed.
“Well the thing is that you’re alright and that’s what matters,” Said Abhi while the duo took a breath of relief. Disha muttered something is very very fishy haaaan,” and everyone laughed
He other day Abhi was sitting on the bed holding his head in his hands. He had come back to Mehra mansion while Pragya used to visit him everyday.
Abhi looked up and his eyes were red shot.
“Why me, why did she do this with me?” He kept on murmuring and started to mess up his room, throwing all the things around.
Pragya who had messaged him about coming there peeked inside the room and found him messing up his room.
She rushed forward and tried to stop him
Pragya “Abhi, Abhi what’s wrong, Kya hua?” She asked but Abhi paid no heed to her and kept on murmuring.
“Pragya came in front of him and cupped his face, “Abhi what’s wrong?” She said in a stern yet sweet voice.
“Why did she used to do this with me?” He said
Pragya tried her best to calm him down but he grew more restless and with all her force pushed Pragya away.
“Just go away, just go away,” he said and dragged her out of the room.
“Abhi!!” Pragya kept on knocking but got no answer. She just moved from there to her car and took out her phone.
after sometime Abhi came out of his room. he looked around and found pragya nowhere
“i shouldn’t have behaved like that with her, why should she be scolded for my bad past , i need to apologize to her but where is she?” he thought.
he then looked at his phone and saw a voice message from her, he played it
Abhi i don’t know what’s haunting you
what’s the reason of your current state but i do know that this is not the abhi i know, hey don’t feel bad, i didn’t not get hurt by your talks but sad that you never shared this with me. i am going to the therapy centre, you go wash your face and call me alright? bye buddy!
abhi couldn’t help but smile as tears flowed down his cheeks. he freshened up and went to the hall area where something caught his eye. it was pragya’s poetry book. sadly it was the new one having only a single poem.
If I thought for just one moment that this would be my last breath,
I’d tell you I’ll love you forever, even beyond death.
If I thought for just one moment that your face would be the last I’d see,
I’d take a million pictures and save them just for me.
If I thought for just one moment that your voice would be the last I’d hear,
I’d listen attentively and promise not to shed a tear.
If I thought for just one moment that your touch would be the last I’d feel,
I’d embrace you and know that this has all been real.
If I thought for just one moment that my heart would beat its last beat,
I’d thank the Lord for allowing us to meet.
“wow,” was the only word that escaped his lips.
at that moment his phone ringed and it was purab
“hey abhi i just reciceved a call from pragya’s number, they’re saying she has had an accident,” he said which alarmed abhi to such an extent that he dropped his phone.
“hey purab let me inform bulbul and arjun, i’ll be heading to the hospital,” he said and rushed there.
All of them arrived at the hospital and rushed towards the reception.
“an accident case just came in,” said abhi
“oh and you are?” she asked
“family,” said arjun
“room 506, left from here,” she said and abhi thanked the receptionist and rushed towards the room.
as soon as they reached the room they saw pragya standing beside the bed talking to the women on bed. he arm was plastered. she then came out and abhi without wasting a moment hugged her tight. pragya was shocked at first but then patted his back.
“ouch,”said pragya and abhi moved back.
“you’re alright, but the caller said that..” abhi said confused
“oh abhi i’m fine well actually after the happening between us i left to the centre, on my way i saw a tea stall and decided to have tea, i was actually thinking about you, lost in your thoughts when i saw a pregnant lady crossing the road and a car speeding towards her so i just rushed and pushed her out of the way, well tried to and in that process the car did bump into my arm, and see this (the plaster) yeah,” she ended. abhi felt guilty that in some way it was his fault.
“hey abhi, its not your fault at all, thanks to your thoughts i got to save 2 lives,” she said with a smile.
she then moved towards bulbul and arjun, who were scolding her while abhi looked at her with love.
“you love her, don’t you?” he asked
“nah<" said abhi looking away.
"lier, even i used to stare at bulbul like this from far," he said.
abhi blushed.
"bhabi ko kab la raha hai," said purab by nudging him and teasingly.
"soon," he said.
Well now sides switched. On abhi's strict demand pragya wasn't allowed to work and abhi took care of her. she too used to run away from medicines and loved abhi's care towards her. after sometimes pragya's arm was back to normal.
It was a new day at MM, the sun shining, the sky glistening and the streets bustling. abhi was sitting in the hall area when the police commissioner walked.
"good morning commissioner, how may i help you?" he asked while pragya was seen coming down then stairs. purab came in from no where.
"mr. mehra no help needed, we're actually here to inform you something, Mr. Raj Mathur has been arrested and is officaily in our custody," he said
"but how sir, we didn't have enough evidence?" siad abhi.
"mr. abhi for that you should be thankful to miss pragya who put her life on stake and gathered this much evidence," he said while abhi turned towards pragya who was looking towards the ground.
"i'll be leaving, stay safe," he said and left while abhi turned towards pragya.
"i know i owe you and explanation," said pragya
"we do," said purab from behind.
"abhi, raj mathur destroyed you and me and pragya couldn't see him roaming around free, upon investigating we found that he has a whole drugs racket and is destroying the lives of college students by selling these," said purab
pragya continued "and so we after talking with people found his Headquaters and remenebr that day whne purab was beaten up, this is the reason, we had actually broken in and stolen the evidence file," said pragya
"and now he is in custody," said purab.
abhi again stared at her in admiration for she had done this all for him. He was definitely proposing her the first thing tomorrow.
"thank you pragya," he said
"NO need after all we're friends," she said
"well i'm gonna change it tomorrow," he murmured.
the next day when abhi woke up and found pragya leaning against the wall.
"you're here again," he said
"why, i can't be," she said
"you're my hallucination," he said
"how can you say that, she came and you forgot about me, well leave that abhi, why hallucination, hallucinating is a symptom of a problem, i am not a hallucination, i was one but now i am your imagination, and there is a big difference between imagining and hallucinating," she said
"Well you are my imagination and today i'm gonna propose her, i'll miss you," he said
"well sometimes things have to go, and you have to stop imagining me but see me in real and be with me my handsome hunk, best of luck," she said and vansished
"hey, i wanted to" he said when disha came in.
"who were you talking to?" she asked
"just a figment of my imagination." he replied
"bhai!! now come down for breakfast. abhi moved out to the hall
in the evening
when pragya came to MM, all the lights were out. abhi had messaged her to come here
"buddy," she called out
"abhi," she called out again but no answer. suddenly the lights came on, dimmed and she found herself in the most romantic ambiance.
Before I met you,
I felt that I couldn't love anyone,
That nobody would be able to fill the void in my heart,
But that all changed when I met you…
Then I came to realize you were always on my mind.
You're funny and sweet,
You make me laugh and smile,
You take away all my anger and sadness,
You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,
More beautiful than any flower that I have ever seen.
You made me weak when I talked to you.
Then I started to write poems about you,
Now I have come to realize that I am hopelessly in love with you.
she knew it, it was his voice. she looked around and found him walking towards her. she couldn't take her eyes off him. was the suit to tight cause she could clearly see his well toned abs and was drooling over his beards and haircut.
He reached her and went on his knees.
"miss pragya arora, when i saw you for the fist time i never thought i would fall in love with you but you…. you helped me out and the life which was messed up, you made it a heaven again, tum ne mujhe sudhar diya, meri zindagi sawar di. Pragya at first i had addiction, you took me out. it was attraction first, then it turned into affection and now pragya, now an addiction pragya. I am Addicted to you in every sense, your smile, your care, your anger, your eyes your personality, everything pragya and …. i want to grow old with you, be with you in a garden when we're old holding hands and complementing you, loving you. So will you be my better half," he said as he took out a diamond studded ring.
she nodded her head as yes as tears flowed down her cheeks. abhi made her wear the ring and pragya lifted him up and hugged him.
"i love you pragzie," he said
"i love you too abhi, i never thought i would find you again, in this phase of life, i've loved you from the college days and now you're here with me," she said and they hugged again.
After sometimes both of them were lying on the couch on the terrace looking at the moon.
"well you sometime back said since college days, what was that," asked abhi
"well abhi i have to confess, i knew you since the college days, i had a big crush on you, remember that girl who treated your wound, that was me," she said while abhi looked at her.
"aha so it was you and that why i imagined you," he said
"what?" said pragya
"well pragya even before you came i had seen you, actually you were the girl, my partner, well my nursing angel in my hallucinations, so it was you, those eyes which i was seeing," he said
"you're kidding," she said
"no i'm not pragya and that day when i pushed you out of the room, pragz it was my parent death anniversary, my mum was a drunk addict, she god knows why became like it but she used to beat me up, scold me, tell me i can't be anything and i felt bad about it and one day when she was beating me, dad took her away in the car and the next day came the news of their deaths, so only but now i'm happy that you're with me and now everything is normal," he said.
"whatever the reason was abhi, your dad did love you so you shouldn't feel bad, surely they will be looking at us from above, might be one of these stars," said pragya
Abhi pulled her close and tightened his grip around her, hugging her more close.
"they would be." he said and kissed her on the forehead.
The End
so this short story comes to an end. thank you all for the love and support you showed to this story. i'm coming to think that writing short stories is my forte.