Dadi “Abhi!! She left. Did you saw her leaving?”
Abhi who was seeing his laptop looked at Dadi bluntly.
Dadi “Tell something Abhi…”
Abhi passed the letter he had beside him on his bed.
Dadi taking it start to read.
Dear Dadi & Abhi,
Thanks for allowing me to stay here for the night. It was helpful in a way. I am leaving now as I have some important work. I didn’t want to wake both of u & disturb your sleep. Sorry for not informing.
Always your
Fuggy….
Dadi looking at Abhi “What’s this Abhi? She came then left not even informing us. What’s the urgency to meet you in the first place? Then now what’s the urgency to leave like this?”
Abhi had no answers with him so he shrugged his shoulder.
Dadi “There is no point in talking to you. Hug that laptop of yours!!”
She got irritated that Abhi was not responding to her properly.
Abhi saw her leaving in anger.
In fact, he was very angry on Pragya. Is this how she behave after meeting him? That too after a long time.
He was further confused by her yesterday night. Yes he knows she might be uncomfortable in sharing about her personal issues with him. Even he would feel that way especially when sharing something to a person who is lost in touch for many years. But what he don’t understand is she could have said to him that she was uncomfortable in sharing it. He knows she is a direct person when it comes to expressing herself. Where was that Pragya gone? She never react the way she did last night.
He emailed her later asking whether she reached safely. But this time there was no reply from her. Time to time he did checked for her response. He was worried of why she is not replying him. He then decided to enquire his friend for her number.
A few days later,
Dadi & Abhi are going in car to their relative’s house. Dadi “Did you get any news about Pragya?”
Abhi nodded his head as no.
Dadi “We should have been more alert. I am worried whether she reached home safe.”
Abhi also felt the same. He tried contacting her through calls, messages & even whatsapp. Unfortunately, there was no reply or no sign of her seeing the messages.
Dadi “I hope she is safe Abhi.”
Abhi looked back in a way that he also hoped the same for Pragya.
They reached their relatives house. Abhi went to park the car first while Dadi entered the house. It was actually his cousin’s birthday celebration. Her name is Tanu. He was quite friendly towards her before losing his voice. Now he don’t know how she will behave towards him. It’s been a long time he met her after his accident. He was little upset that she never came to visit him. That was ok as he knew she would be busy with her works as she is one of the best business woman in the city.
He went inside & saw Tanu who was busily talking to her friends.
Tanu who saw him from a distance signalled to come and join her.
He walked towards there with a broad smile.
Tanu introduced him to his friends as a fashion designer first instead of his cousin. He didn’t like it. It paved way for her friends who knows his name to ask a lot of questions on fashion tips. How the hell will he tell when he can’t speak?
Tanu then said he lost his voice. Then he faced the usual way of people sympathizing him. He hated this thing.
They were all talking on & on either sympathizing him if not about his works. Abhi was feeling awkward to stay there. He felt like walking to where
Dadi was but he couldn’t find her. He scanned through the crowd. That’s when he saw her!!!
Abhi, Fuggy?? Serving drinks??? How is she related to Tanu’s family??
He managed to excuse himself & followed her.
She was cheerfully talking to everyone while serving them drinks. What made her more beautiful was her smile. Even her dressing sense was admirable to him. A peacock green color Saree. Its his favourite color too.
He managed to follow without her knowledge. Finally he was at the back of her at the kitchen. She was now busily taking the sweets & arranging it on bowls.
Pragya “What’s up? Why are you following me?”
She asked by turning back & seeing him.
Abhi was shocked.
She knows that he was following her? Then why she reacted as if he wasn’t following him?
Pragya “Don’t think too much dost!”
Abhi looks with eyes widened. How did she knows that he was thinking now.
Pragya “I will talk to you later. Need to attend to guests later. Haan meet me at the terrace in 10 mins. Ok tata bye bye!” She said hurriedly & walked off to attend to the guests.
Abhi standing there find her hard to understand. Why does every time makes him think??
He brushed away his thoughts by seeing the gulab jamun. He gobbled them & looked around if anyone was seeing him. There was nobody to his relief. But pragya was watching him secretly. She grinned at how adorable he looked when eating.
After a while at the terrace, Abhi heard her bangles sounds. He turned back to see her.
Pragya “Not bad, you are here before me.”
Abhi raised his eyebrows. He really wondered why she thinks this way. She had lots of work but he had nothing to do here. Hence, it’s obvious that he is before her.
Pragya “Right! You are free so you are before me.”
Abhi opened his mouth in shock. Even now she finds what he thinks.
Pragya “Close the dam!” She said with a light laughter.
Abhi gave an expressionless face looking at that Pragya could only smile back.
Pragya “Well, first of all sorry for leaving that day & also for not responding back. I was too busy to reply you.”
Abhi frowned hearing it. He was still angry on her for doing like that.
Pragya with a wink “Don’t be like this. This angry face looks very cute to you. You know I easily fall for cute things.”
Abhi, What?? Am I looking cute when I am angry?? Is she mad or trying to make me mad?
Pragya “Let’s talk something. When are you getting married??”
Abhi, Not again. Why is she being another Dadi now?
Pragya “I am not being another Dadi yaar.”
Abhi, Then what? Why are you asking about marriage now?
Pragya “Just being curious….”
Abhi, Keep your curiosity with you!
He now crossed his arms & looked away.
Pragya holding her ears “Sorry bee…bee…”
Abhi smiled inwardly. He liked showing his anger towards her. He loves being cajoled by her like before.
Pragya “Oye! You are smiling na…”
Abhi was trying to suppress his laughter.
Pragya “You know actually I am not married! I am not pregnant too.”
Abhi looked back at her in bewilderment.
Pragya now tried to suppress her laughter.
Abhi shaking his head inwardly gestured is she really telling the truth?
Pragya “First you tell me the truth. Why are you being not yourself?”
Abhi’s eyes teared. Yes he was not being himself. He missed his carefree attitude. It’s partly due to his
disability now. He doesn’t know how to handle this. Yes he does try to be busy in work to overcome it but people around him look down on him. It hurts him.
Pragya “I know it hurts Abhi, but do remember you are not the only one in this world facing this situation. Everyone have a disability. Some disabilities are explicitly seen while others are not.”
Abhi, That’s true. He never thought in this way.
Pragya “Oh I just remembered something. Are you free next friday? I have something to show you!”
Abhi pondered for a moment. Pragya’s excitement filled face made him nod his head as yes. She instantly hugged him in response which was a pleasant shock to him
Precap
Pragya bending on her knees “ Will you marry me??”
Abhi slapped her hardly & she still looked persistent in getting an answer.
To be continued…..