Hello people! here is Chapter 12 for you, hope you like it. The story has progressed quite a bit in this one - I still haven't figured how to end it, but the end is not too far! I will try and be as regular as possible! 😉😉
Till ten hope you enjoy reading this one! And please do leave back your valuable comments on this Chapter - looking forward to them. 😳😳
Love, Aafrah.
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Chapter 12
Pragya was sitting in her room and working on Abhi's assignment, for this week she had not only taken up his assignments, but had also taken to getting him proxy attendance. Abhi was hardly ever in class, his audition was due the next day, and he was practicing with his heart and soul. Now that he and Pragya had become somewhat friends over text messages (they were still awkward in front of each other) he had generously invited her to his practice sessions when she was free, but thanks to the approaching finals and truckload oh her and Abhi's assignments, she never managed the time. Also at the back of her mind was Ali, he had been acting strange ever since the day they had gone for the movie - Pragya though things were okay between them, if so, then why was Ali always in his room? Why hadn't Neil turned up even once in the entire week? She initially though she should give her time, she would open up by herself, but its was almost a week now, and still no trace of Ali opening up - Pragya decided to talk to her that night, after she was done with her assignments.
As Pragya entered Ali's room quietly, she saw Ali notice her and suddenly grab a handful of things and shoved it in his drawer before turning to her - clearly he was hiding something.
"Ali, what's wrong, you're not behaving right somehow" whispered Pragya.
"No, er..no I am fine, could you please excuse me for sometime?" she replied. Pragya was taken aback and decided not to intervene, in fact she was just walking out of the door, when Ali got up to lock the door behind her - it was then Pragya noticed something that made the ground below her shake in astonishment.
"ALI!!!!! You are wearing a SKIRT????????" she almost shrieked and to her surprise Ali gulped air unnecessarily and mumbled something like, "found..wardrobe..clothes for wash". Pragya knew there was something wrong, she barged back inside and demanded to know what it was, and Ali having ben caught off hand, couldn't come up with an excuse that was convincing enough, so she confessed to her the truth.
"Prags, I er..know now - the truth"
"What truth Ali?"
Ali looked at Pragya for a long time before replying, "Aaliyah's truth"
Pragya stared at her for a while, before the meaning of the statement hit her.
"You mean...!?!?! How??" she asked breathlessly. Ali sighed once and went about telling her everything that happened that fateful night in the football field. Pragya's jaw dropped in shock. Even when she gave him the advice, she never thought Ali would take it so damn seriously!
"Now?" she asked him, still in shock.
"Now what? Neil hasn't spoken to me ever since - he has avoided my messages and my calls, the one day I went to class after that, he pretended he couldn't see me."
Pragya felt guilty now, of course she wanted him to realize his true identity, but she never understood how important it was for Ali to be recognized as a guy by all - it was so important, that he didn't think twice before even kissing a man? His best friend? Now because of her, his best friend was avoiding him. The guilt brought tears in her eyes.
"Ali, I am so sorry Ali, I never wanted to push you this hard to prove that you're a man, because of me you lost Neil, I am so sorry, I will talk to Neil, I will tell him, you are a man alright, it was my doing and he should punish me" whimpered Pragya, as Ali looked at her in shock - Prags had got it all wrong of course! That was not why she was lamenting of course!
"Prags, listen to me, calm down. You got it all wrong. I am not upset because Neil recognizes me as a girl now. I am upset because he still doesn't! I am not Ali, Prags. I am Aaliyah - I have understood myself for the first time in ages - I enjoyed kissing him Prags. You were right, my body did things, I never thought I was capable of doing. I cant be gay, because my mind and body both seeks a guy, so I have to be normal right? Which means I am Aaliyah not Ali. And I want Neil back" she finished.
Pragya stared at her in numb disbelief. Did Ali just say all that? Oh that explained him wearing the skirt - he was trying to accept Aaliyah. Pragya took a deep breath and asked her, "Who wants Neil back? Ali or Aaliyah?"
"Prags ever since that night, after arousal of those feelings, Aaliyah seems to predominantly overshadow Ali. I want Neil back. And I am Aaliyah" she replied not meeting her eyes.
Pragya smiled, Ali never realized himself how deep her bond with Neil was, but now that the mess in her head was clear, she would make sure, Ali got what she desired - Neil.
"I will help you Aaliyah" she promised.
"You will?" she asked hopefully, "Then I have one month for study leave before our exams, help me mould into a girl before I see Neil next?" she pleaded. Pragya looked at her for a second, and nodded her head, "I promise I will help you Aaliyah" and hugged her tight.
***
Neil was sitting in his living rom couch and watching football, gosh it was no fun without Ali - but the moment he thought of him, he changed the channel and diverted his mind. He was straight, he explained to himself the nth time this week. Maybe he did enjoy kissing a man sometime back, but it was only momentary, he wasn't gay or anything - he was with Purvi, and e enjoyed her company, so he was straight. True Purvi was no fun during watching a football match, in fact she had innocently asked him only the other day, "Baby, these players they are so rich, cant they buy one football each and be happy? Why so many of them need to run after one football?" Neil felt like jumping off his terrace hearing it - his instinct told him to call Ali and crack up over it, but no, he couldn't, did he forget the incident at the football field? He considered that maybe Ali had a rationale for doing this, he could give him the benefit of doubt, but not to himself, he couldn't lie to himself that he enjoyed their intimacy and couldn't help notice that beneath the shirt, Ali was filled up in all the right places, umm wrong places - there was something wrong with him, hence getting in touch with Ali seemed risky - He was sure, he wasn't gay. He was sure right?
***
When Pragya returned to her room, she found her cell phone lying on the bed, she picked it up to see a lot of new messages, she was surprised. She read them one by one and with each one her jaw dropped.
PURAB: "Hey Pragya! Guess what I have two good news for you. 1 - I have found someone, and you will be surprised to know whom. 2 - Abhi and Tanu aren't ever going to be together now, you have free pass - CONGRATULATIONS!"
SURESH: "Hey Puggie, please don't be mad at me. Bulbul must have told you? Listen, it wasn't going to work out between us anyway, we were young and silly when we wanted this - I want the best for her as well as me. I have found what I was looking for - Tanu. Lets still be friends, I don't want to lose you. Please?"
BULBUL: "Err..di, Surry and I are history. Don't worry I am not upset, you study well. I can take care of myself you know nah? Even Poo is here along with another friend. I am happy. Gosh di, lots to tell you, finish you exams soon! Xoxo"
ABHI: "Chashmish, needed a little bit of your help. I plan to propose to Tanu tomorrow, just before I go in for auditions. Can you arrange for her to be at the venue? Mind you she doesn't know anything about the audition. Thanks! If all goes well, I owe you a massive treat chashmish! And thanks for everything!"
Pragya stared at the phone for a while, for the life of her, she didn't know how to react. Bulbul was okay with her and Suresh's break-up. Infact she was cheerful. Suresh dumped her for Tanu. Tanu was Bulbul's roomie. Purab has found someone and Abhi wants to propose to Tanu amidst all this, that to before his audition tomorrow - Oh Dear.
She slowly typed a reply to each.
ABHI: "Abhi, I don't think it's a good idea, why don't you wait till your auditions are over? I mean, Tanu isn't exactly running away is she?"
BULBUL: "Bul, I don't know what you're upto, but forget him, there are better fishes in the see. I will come to see you as soon as I can. I am sorry to hear it baby. Here's a hug from me."
SURESH: "I don't know what to say Suresh. I hope you know what you're doing. Just never ever even think of returning to my Buls. All the best and yes, friendship between us may take time to resurrect."
PURAB: "CONGRATULATIONS PURAB!! Who is the lucky girl? When do I get to meet her? And why does Abhi not know that Tanu is with Suresh? He plans to propose to her tomorrow."
Only Abhi and Purab replied to her instantly.
ABHI: "Guess I expected too much from you chashmish. Anyway, don't bother, I will manage to get her here, with or without your help"
PURAB: "Thanks Pragya! And I haven't told him that's why he doesn't know. Let him propose to her and get rejected - only then he will never ever think of going after her - it makes life easier for you! And I am doing this because, I don't think anyone can love or understand Abhi more than you. All the best Pragya!"
As much as Pragya was dejected at Abhi's cold message, she was more alarmed at Purab's idea - true, Purab was only looking out for her in the first place, but it could affect Abhi in the wrong-est way! Winning the talent hunt was Abhi's age old dream, it shouldn't be affected by Tanu's whimsical behavior or her liking for him! She couldn't blame Purab, after all he didn't know about the talent hunt at all, btu how could she save Abhi from being affected before the auditons? She had to do something, anything - but what?
She thought for a while and decided to approach the matter in the only way possible - she wasn't sure it would work, but it was worth a try. She texted Tanu.
12:57a.m. [Hi Tanu, Congrats! Suresh just told me about you guys. But I guess Abhi doesn't know about all this? He wants you to be there at Imera Auditorium tomorrow at 11a.m. Please be there? He will propose to you - it's an important day for him - for the sake of his friendship, just say yes to him? You can tell him the truth by evening. But please bear with him in the morning? He is you friend, you can do this right? It would mean the world to him]
1:05a.m. [Thanks. Sorry babe, I have a movie date with Suresh tomorrow. Why don't you tell him about us?]
1:07a.m. [Tanu, it's a big day for him. Please don't ruin it, do it for the sake of friendship? Please don't tell him about you both till evening and accept him in the morning?]
1:12a.m. [Not happening babe. I don't care if it's an important day for him. It's my and Suresh's first movie date after we got together]
Pragya was furious, how horrible could Tanu be? Until and unless Suresh was around, she would fawn over Abhi like a bee, now that he was around, even a crises couldn't melt her to help Abhi? No she wasn't going to let this selfish woman ruin Abhi's dream.
1:23a.m. [Tanu, this is not a request. If you don't turn up tomorrow and say yes to him in the morning, I will tell Suresh all about how you hovered around Abhi all this while - I will tell him you were almost two-timing. And guess what, Suresh will believe me. We are best friends from childhood, he knows that I don't lie. Think, what is important, a healthy relation with Suresh or a movie date?]
Pragya felt guilty for blackmailing Tanu thus - she somewhere deserved it for breaking Bulbul and Abhi's heart - the two people she loved the most - but even then, if Tanu had agreed to her request, she could have saved herself from doing this - but right now she was desperate. She couldn't let anything come between Abhi and his dream.
1:32a.m. [Fine, I will be there in the morning, and pretend, so that whatever important he has, it doesn't get affected. But you don't open your mouth before Suresh. Deal. And yes, I wont be there to explain things to him later - you do that."
1:33a.m. [I wont open my mouth before Suresh. Deal. And thanks.]
Pragya smiled with satisfaction. Now at least his audition wont be affected. True he would be hurt later, but that was still manageable - she would be by him. She smiled in peace and texted Abhi before going to bed.
1:40a.m. [Okay don't breathe out fire on me now. It's done. She will be there and I will be there too, and all the best.]
Pragya smiled, true she will be hurt seeing Abhi proposing to Tanu, but she had to be there to ensure, Tanu kept her part of the bargain and to ensure that nothing went wrong - she felt bad thinking she will herald the bad news to Abhi in the evening, but at least his performance will be done by then. She sighed and went to sleep when Abhi replied back.
1:46a.m. [PRAGS YOU'RE THE BEST - LOVE YOU!!]
