Episode 31
The reception was over and everyone had retired to their rooms…except for Abhi.
Pragya had no idea where he went.
He wasn’t in their room or anywhere inside the house.
She had tried calling him, but his phone was on the bedside table.
Where could he be? she wondered.
Maybe he’s outside…
Abhi was sitting poolside, on one of the swings, lost in his own thoughts. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and without turning, he said, “Hey Fuggi…”
“What are you doing out here?” Pragya wanted to know.
“Just came out for some fresh air…” he said.
“Are you okay?” she asked, coming around to sit next to him on the swing.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” he said.
“Thinking about Tanu?” she asked.
Abhi nodded.
“Maybe we rushed into things a little too fast.” he said.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“I mean, she returned about a year ago and we’ve hardly spent any time really getting to know one another. We rarely talked about the important things…. you know, those talks that couples have that somehow strengthens their bond.”
Pragya nodded as she knew exactly what he was speaking about.
She and Abhi always had those kind of talks.
About their hopes and dreams…and life in general.
All the other stuff… their favorite things, their likes and dislikes, hobbies etc….were learnt gradually over the years living together. Abhi continued, “Most of our times together were in the company of others. Tanu was always ready to go a party or a club. I mean, that stuff’s great, but how about once in a while, we just sit quietly at home and watch a movie or play a silly game…or anything to bond as a couple. You and I enjoy doing those things all the time, so why couldn’t she?” “If you hardly knew each other, what was the need to get married so quickly?’ Pragya asked.
“Because Tanu insisted.” he said. “She kept saying how she couldn’t wait for us to get married. I told her it was too soon and that there was alot we still needed to learn about each other. But she kept trying to persuade me, saying we would spend the rest of our lives getting to know one another. I agreed…even though we weren’t ready yet. I thought ‘Why not? We’re gonna end up married eventually, right?’ Maybe learning about each other after marriage might not be such a bad idea. It worked out so well for alot of other couples…so why not me and Tanu?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.
Abhi shared almost everything with Fuggi.
He thought about telling her about this too, but then decided against it.
“You were so busy with your classes and other activities ….” he explained. “Poor excuse, Mehra.” she said. “You know you can talk to me anytime.”
“Yeah, I know. I guess, I just thought everything would work out just like Tanu said, and in time, all my hesitations would fade away.” he said. “If I had just listened to my first instinct and waited, maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation right now.”
Pragya felt a little hurt at his statement.
However their marriage happened, she was still happy to be his wife.
It would take a little getting used to, but it was still better than being in a foreign land and nursing a broken heart, wishing every second that she was with him… “Thank you for what you did.” he said, interrupting her thoughts.
Pragya opened her mouth to speak, but Abhi stopped her by putting a finger to her lips.
“You had your new life planned out already and was all set to go… and you gave it up for me without even thinking twice.” By marrying you, I’ve gained my happiness, Pragya thought. And no job could ever be better than that… “You would have done the same for me.” she said after removing his finger. “Are you disappointed?” he asked
“Disappointed?” she repeated.
“Yeah, that you didn’t make it to Canada….and now you’re stuck here with me.” he said.
How should she explain to him that she was exactly where she wanted to be….
“Actually, I’m not.” she replied.
Abhi looked at her.
“I mean, Canada would have been a great opportunity, but it wouldn’t have been the same. Would have missed you guys too much.” she said. “So…in a way, I’m kinda glad I missed my flight.”
“Yeah, me too.” Abhi said. “I was really happy to see you the day of the wedding, and then I was a bit confused about how you ended up there in a wedding dress…..and you know all the drama that happened afterwards.”
“Yeah.” Pragya agreed.
“Please don’t do that again.” he requested.
“Don’t do what again?” Pragya asked, confused. “Hijack your wedding?”
Abhi smiled.
“No, Fuggi. I mean, please don’t hide anything like that from me again…or anything at all.” he explained. “No matter how bad it is, I always want you to be upfront with me, ok?” Pragya nodded.
“Promise?” he asked, extending his hand to her.
“Promise” she replied and put her hand in his.
“Ok, good” he said as he clasp her hand in his.
“We should inform the rest of the family that you know everything now.” she said.
“No” he replied. “Let them wait a little longer for lying to me.”
“It’s not their fault.” Pragya said.
“Still, they kept it from me.” he said childishly.
“So what…we just pretend once again that we are husband and wife like before?”
“We are husband and wife” he replied. “Unless, I married someone else and you’re not telling me.” he joked. Pragya made a face at him.
“We’re not a married couple in the true sense.” he said. “But we’re friends, right?”
“Yeah, so?” she asked, wondering where he was going with this.
“We’ll just continue this marriage as friends.” he said. “And if you meet someone else?” Pragya asked, trying to keep the jealousy out of her voice. “What happens then?” “That seems highly unlikely…but if you find someone, then I will free you from our marriage.” he said in a strange voice. Pragya looked at him. The one she wanted was right here next to her, Pragya said to herself, she didn’t want anyone else. “What about our family?” Pragya asked.
“When that time comes, I’ll make them understand.” he said.
He seems to have everything planned out, Pragya thought dryly.
“But in the meantime, we continue as before.” he said.
Pragya nodded and then got up from beside him on the swing. “It’s getting late” she said to him. “Come on, let’s go inside.”
“Ok dear” he replied, also getting to his feet.
“Ok dear?” Pragya asked, turning back to face him.
“Just being an obedient husband” he joked.
Abhi put his arm around her shoulder and escorted her inside, heading straight for their room.
Inside their room both changed and got ready for bed.
Pragya grabbed a pillow and blanket and headed for the sofa.
“What are you doing?’ Abhi asked.
“What does it look like I’m doing… I’m going to sleep.” she replied, resting the pillow and blanket on the sofa. “On the sofa?” he asked.
“No, I’m just putting the pillow and blanket here so the sofa will be comfortable and won’t feel cold at night and then I will go sleep on the floor.” she replied sarcastically. “Very funny” he said. “You can sleep on the bed with me.”
“The last time I tried to sleep in that bed, I ended up out on the balcony. So no thank you, I’m good.” “Sorry” he said, and gave her a sheepish smile. “It won’t happen again.”
She rolled her eyes at him and mumbled, “Yea, right” under her breath.
“Did you say something?” he asked.
“No” she replied, shaking her head.
“Are you coming or not?” he asked
“Nope” she said. “You take the bed.”
Abhi stood there wondering if he should make her sleep on the bed or not, as he felt she was just being stubborn. He then decided not too, as that would only make her mad and then they would end up fighting again…so he let her have her way. “You’re passing up on an opportunity to share a bed with Abhi The Rockstar?” he said, putting a hand over his heart, pretending to be hurt.
“I’ve had that opportunity last night, remember? It’s not that great.” she lied.
“Oh really” he replied, walking closer to her. “You didn’t like sharing a bed with me?”
“No” Pragya replied.
“I don’t believe you.” he said, looking straight into her eyes.
Pragya turned away from him.
“Will you stop all this nonsense and go to bed!” she said.
Abhi smiled as he knew she was trying to change the topic and he decided to make it easy for her. “Fine. But you didn’t have to yell at me.” he replied childishly.
“Go. Now!” she said, pointing toward the bed.
“I’m going” he said. “Boy, you are one bossy wife!”
But before heading over to the bed, Abhi moved closer to her and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Good night, Mrs. Mehra” he said playfully. “Sweet dreams”
He then turned and went over to his bed.
“Good night” Pragya replied softly.
Then both of them got into their respective sleeping quarters.
What a relief! Pragya thought as she lay on the sofa.
Abhi knows the truth…. All the lying and hiding the truth can finally stop.
He didn’t seem to be taking the news too badly.
Well not as bad as she was expecting…and she was really expecting the worst.
Maybe he was hurting and didn’t want her to know.
He might not have been ready for marriage to Tanu, but his feelings would still be there.
She would talk to him tomorrow, she decided.
Atleast there was one thing to be grateful for….
Her relationship with Abhi was back on normal footing. Abhi had this whole “Married as friends till somebody falls in love” plan.
Well according to him, it was till she fell in love. But sooner or later, he would get over Tanu and what would happen then?
Back to square one, Pragya thought sadly. He would find someone else to love…
No matter how good things were now, eventually, it would change between them…
They couldn’t stay like this forever….
Whatever destiny had in store for them, she would deal with it when the time came.
With that, she closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep.
What day! Abhi thought as he lay in bed, unable to sleep.
He couldn’t believe Tanu could be this selfish!
If only she had said this was what she wanted…he wouldn’t have stopped her.
Yet she left without saying a word.
No phone calls, no messages…nothing.
She even refused to reply to my calls and messages. As he lay there reflecting on all that had happened… for about the hundredth time now, he started thinking, ‘Maybe this all happened for the best.’
Tanu got what she wanted…and in a way, he did too.
He wasn’t ready for marriage at first, but now he felt a strange relief coming over him.
Was it because he didn’t get married to a selfish woman like Tanu….or was it because he married Fuggi, the girl who knew him better than anybody else? Whatever it was, he decided to put the whole thing behind him.
No sense in constantly dwelling on stuff that would keep him from being happy.
Tanu left him? No problem… it was her loss.
He couldn’t spend the rest of his life brooding over it.
Time to move on and concentrate on more important things… His career…his family…Fuggi…
He turned and faced the woman in question.
This beautiful, selfless, stubborn woman…
Her eyes were closed, her breathing even.
She must be asleep, he thought. He looked at her and smiled, remembering a little less than twenty-four hours ago, Fuggi was asleep in his arms. It was the best sleep he could ever remember having…well, that was until she started hitting his chest with her fist, pounding him like a hammer on a nail. Abhi watched her, thinking how peaceful she looked.
He smiled sleepily, remembering all their pranks on each other.
She was really just as stubborn as he was…
Soon his thoughts became blurry and then, finally….looking at her, Abhi fell asleep too.
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Hey everybody!
Missed me? 🙂
I know you all were expecting a Karwa Chauth episode, but that’s gonna be in the next update.
I thought I should highlight a little bit of Abhi’s thoughts before we moved on with the storyline.
I’ve read and replied to all your comments and most of you were really shocked that Abhi found out the truth.
Actually that’s why I didn’t put a pre-cap in the 29th episode.
I knew you all would have guessed it and I wanted it to be a surprise….
Thank you so much…
Rithu, Emmy, Myna, Haritha, Ani, Rosy, Varsha, Lucky, Minu, Abhigya,
Abhigyash, Di, Nasima, Suhani, Surbhi, Kumkum, Rosetta, Vigan, Yogi, Maahi,
Sugan, Saranya, Durga, Aliza, Asmithaa, Monesha, Priyanka & Mukund!
Your comments stole my heart! Love you all!
Silent Readers…Hi!
To my fellow writers, keep up the excellent work!
I am totally amazed by your stories.
Next update: Friday!(or hopefully before that!)
What did you think of this episode?