As he was about to cross the road across from Pragya's house, he suddenly heard her voice.
"Please try and understand Suresh. I can't marry you."
Abhi stopped dead in his tracks, his heart suddenly thundering in his ears as Pragya's words filtered through to his brain. He looked wildly around and then realized he was standing underneath the window of what must be Suresh's flat. Pragya must be up there talking to that double battery...about marriage?!
Without thinking about what he was doing, Abhi leaned against the building and tried to keep hearing the conversation happening above.
"I can't marry anyone, Suresh," Pragya was saying. "Even after the divorce. I'm just not meant for marriage."
"Don't say that!" Suresh sounded like a teacher scolding a student. "I know we could make it work, Pragya. We want the same things now, family and partnership. Let's be sensible about this -"
"No, Suresh. I just want a quiet life. I just need my job and my mom and my sister, the way things used to be."
"But I know it's not comfortable at home for you anymore. Sarla Aunty is so mad at you-"
Her mother's mad at her? Abhi wondered. Because she didn't stay with me or because of the lies? From what little he knew of his mother-in-law, both reasons seemed possible.
"Ma will get over it. Mostly she's just mad at Abhi," Pragya answered.
Abhi felt an inexplicable twitch of delight at hearing Pragya say his name, and he wasn't even offended by what she said. It's OK Auntyji, I'm mad at me too.
Suresh was apparently stuck on one point, and instead of replying to her he presented a new argument. "Pragya, I know you're hurting because of everything that happened, but that's only because it's all so fresh. You just need to move on from Abhi, I know that will help. I'm your friend, I can help you forget him -"
The hell you can! Abhi thought, wild with outrage. What is wrong with that double battery, trying to marry someone who is already married! He turned to go up the stairs to Suresh's flat, unwilling to listen to any more of a conversation that shouldn't even be happening.
Apparently Pragya had the same idea, because by the time Abhi was halfway up the stairs, she was stepping out the door of his flat. She turned to Suresh and patted his shoulder awkwardly. "I know you just want to help, Suresh, but I will be ok. I just need you to be my friend. We can do that, right?"
You don't need a friend who wants to marry you, Abhi thought irrationally, watching from his half-hidden position on the stairs.
"Of course Pragya. I just want you to know that I'd do anything for you, that's all." He placed his hand over Pragya's and gave an odd sort of twisted-half smile.
Pragya smiled at him in return, a smile Abhi rather thought he didn't deserve. Then she turned to leave, and Suresh closed the door behind her.
If he wanted to, Abhi had about 10 seconds to hurry back to the street before Pragya could see him. Instead, he stayed rooted to the spot, watching for Pragya to round the corner and start down the stairs.
Pragya didn't see him until she had already started down the stairs, and then she almost tripped as she stared at him in surprise.
"Y-you?" She stuttered as he caught her elbow and steadied her back to her feet.
"Eeey, chashmish," Abhi said with a grin, suddenly thrilled to be back to the old and familiar. She was wearing her dark purple umbrella anarkali, and her glasses were a bit crooked. "We need to talk."
So, serious, questioning Abhi seems to have taken the backseat to impulsive & hot-headed Abhi again! Forgive me, dear readers, who wanted a more grown up story. Abhi didn't let me write it, he insists on being himself. I have no idea when I can update the next part as it isn't anywhere close to being written...so please be patient with me...and tell me your thoughts on what should happen now!
Thanks for reading and for your likes and comments!!
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