AbhiGya Fiction ~ Cross Connection - Completed pg 42 (chp. 25 + epil) - Page 17

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Chapter 14

"Uffo di, I know it is not the exam pressure or homesickness that is worrying you. Unlike that Ali, I know you well. Spill it out - NOW" commanded Bulbul with hands on her waist.

Pragya looked at her for a moment, and couldn't take it any longer, she dashed to hug her sister and weeped on her shoulder. Bulbul was too alarmed to speak, she had never seen her di break down this bad - must was terribly wrong.

"Bulbul, I love him Bulbul, I really do. But he doesn't love me Bulbul. He thinks I am his best friend and that's all - he loves someone else - why is it always me? Can't snerdy people who have specs fall in love? Can't they be happy Bulbul? I can live without him, but I cant live when he is with someone else - I just got to know Bulbul he is going out with her" she breathed. Bulbul stood scandalized - her di was in love? This was matter's of the heart? Really?

"Di who is it di?" she asked her soothingly.

Pragya was about to answer when she realized she couldn't tell her about Abhi and Tanu, she wanted Suresh to be the one to come and tell her that he has left Tanu for her - that was what would make Bulbul happy - no she couldn't give her names, not right now anyway.

"Bulbul, you know him. But I cant give names right now. Please trust me, I will tell you later" although Bulbul wanted to, she didn't press the matter further, her di was upset anyway - she didn't want to aggravate her misery.

"Okay, okay you needn't tell me di, but calm down, and if he doesn't love you it's his loss not your's - unlucky man he is di"

"Bacha promise me you will keep this to yourself? I don't want anyone knowing about it okay"

***

As Abhi and Tanu entered the classroom, Abhi's eyes flashed towards their corner, but chashmish wasn't there. Uff this chashmish he thought, yesterday he couldn't talk to her because he was in a hurry and today she disappeared. He tried calling her, but her phone was switched off. He called Aaliya, but she said Pragya was at her sister's last night - she even mentioned how panic stricken and home sick she was the other night and Abhi was troubled hearing about it - she seemed absolutely fine until evening, then what could have happened. He tried calling her again and again her phone was switched off. In the mean time, a whole bunch of his classmates came and congratulated him on clearing the first audition of the talent show - a surprised Abhi turned to face Tanu - how on earth did they know? Tanu hissed back, "I am sure Pragya must have told everyone, such an idiot she is." But Abhi dismissed the idea, "No Tanu, Pragya wouldn't ever do this, she knew about this all along, she knew I wanted privacy. Are you sure you haven't spilt it out unintentionally?" Tanu had indeed told everyone and had played her cards to blame Pragya, but seeing Abhi's faith in her, she got further agitated - who thought that hopeless behenji could be competition?

Abhi turned around and asked Purab if he knew where Pragya was, but he replied in negative. And for some reason Purab seemed a bit off at him - well he was dating his sister afterall, as a brother he was allowed to be a bit protective Abhi mused.

***

Pragya was sitting with Aakash in the library and revising, when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder, she looked up to see a very concerned Purab peering down at her. He whispered and motioned her to come out with him. She silently followed him and he led her to the caf opposite to their college. He didn't ask her anything, he just looked at her gravely and that was enough to bring her down to tears.

"Purab, trust me Purab I wanted to tell on Tanu. I wanted to tell him that she was a gold-digger, but I couldn't. It doesn't matter that I love him, it doesn't even matter that Tanu doesn't - what matters is that he loves her and wants to be with her. I know if I have hidden it from him today, Tanu can leave him tomorrow and it would hurt him. But I am depending on Tanu's selfish nature Purab. If Abhi wins the talent hunt, he will be a celebrity overnight! And then Tanu would never leave him - And I know my Abhi will win it, he is so so good Purab! And then at least he would get to be with the love of his life. That's why I kept quiet Purab - I know he doesn't love me." She finished breathlessly.

Purab nodded silently and sighed, so much for love - Abhi was a fool, he couldn't have got a better girl than Pragya. He soothingly hugged Pragya, and for once in her life, Pragya felt what a brother's love might feel like - she felt loved, cared for and protected. She clutched his tee and weeped on his shoulder as Purab gently patted her on her shoulder.

Abhi while entering inside the sae caf with Tanu, happened to notice Purab hugging a girl, he instantly put on his lopsided smile and thought of catching him off guard - he vaguely remembered him telling him that he had found someone, but due to auditions and the pressure it had escaped his mind - as he proceeded with tanu at his toes, he stopped dead on his track when the girl raised her head and broke the hug - it couldn't be - it was chashmish. Chashmish and Purab? Abhi stood there motionless for a second and caught Tanu by her wrist and walked out unnoticed by Purab and Pragya. He didn't know what infuriated him, why was he feeling revolted, but he was.

As Abhi silently walked back to their campus, the rational part of him argued, why not? Afterall Purab had always sided Pragya, he had been her sole support when all of them were ignoring her, he was a nice guy, so it wasn't wrong of Pragya to like him, but then why was he bothered? Why didn't he like it? Maybe because he had told chashmish he loved Tanu but chashmish didn't confide in him? Could that be? Surely it was that.

Tanu on the other hand was silent too, so behenji had finally played some trick on her bhai - this was what she feared, having to be associated with the behenji - seriously, bhai had such bad taste in women? But on the other hand maybe it was not such a bad thing after all - she was getting annoyed Abhi's closeness with Pragya, this could take care of all that - Abhi would know his limits, even if he felt for her, and that was enough for her.

"Abhiii I am so happy for them - bhai and Pragya look so cute together nah!!" she squealed and Abhi grunted only half-heartedly. Coming to think of it, this Tanu was so damn noisy!

***

Bulbul was sitting outside her classroom when Suresh came and sat next to her. She was surprised, ever since Suresh had joined college, he had never acknowledged the fact that they knew each other, let alone sit next to each other. But today he came on his own and startled her. She didn't say anything and got up to leave when he suddenly caught her wrist and motioned her to sit down - not wanting to create a scene, she sat down silently.

"I am sorry Bulbul. I really am. My mind was clouded with useless concerns and I thought I could leave you because you would be mine anyway - I took you for granted, you love is valuable, but I disrespected it - I am sorry Boo. Please give me a chance, I will never disappoint you again."

Bulbul's eyes moistened at "Boo" that was what Surry use to call her, but that Surry had died long since - and this was an invader in his body. She loved Purab, he came into her life at a time when she had lost all faith, he reinstilled life in her, she was reborn, and she was now Purab's for life. But she wasn't going to explain all this to him, he wouldn't understand anyway - but she had the mind of telling him something indeed.

"You know what Suresh, I hate cappuccino, and I hate cumin cookies too. Oh, I love red velvet cakes and chocolash - the ones kids have? I like to embarrass people around me with my childish antics and I love Disney movies. And you know what Suresh, people still love me for who I am, people still want to be around me and they don't do it as a favour - the Bulbul you met on the first day was the real Bulbul Suresh, after that whatever she was, she was constructed and customized for you - but you know what, now I know one thing for sure, Suresh you're not worth it after all." She tossed her head and left with that, leaving a stunned Suresh behind.

Bulbul was sitting in her room and doing an assignment when Tanu danced inside, they were having a cold war now, ever since Suresh and Tanu were going out - but today after a long time, Tanu flashed her smile at Bulbul. She hugged Bulbul and told her that she had no idea that Suresh was Bulbul's when they started, but then it was too late when she knew - she said she wasn't with Suresh anymore, and their's was nothing more than a friendly fling - she wished to have her friend back. Bulbul looked at her calmly for a moment, true she wouldn't ever trust tanu again, but even she had to make amends with her eventually. After all she was Purab's cousin. So she smiled and returned the hug.

"Awww Buls it's so good to be back together isn't it. I missed you!! And oh, welcome to the family yaar!!" she jumped in joy leaving Bulbul puzzled. "family" did Purab tell her about them? Why didn't he tell her then?

"Family?" she mouthed.

"Arre don't tell me she's hidden it from you too! Arre your sister loves Purab!! So she will soon be family right? And you as her sister is extended family!"

Time seemed to have stopped for Bulbul. Di loved PURAB? Purab is the man who didn't reciprocate to di's feelings because he loved "someone else" - and she was the someone else? She was the reason, her di had cried to sleep? Of course di didn't know she was dating Purab, she had told him to wait till se confided in her herself, and so far she hadn't.

Bulbul's world collapsed before her very own eyes. And Purab? He loved her not her di - what could she do to change that?

***

7:37p.m. [Hey Pragya, Bulbul has decided to give me a chance. I guess we were always meant to be]

Pragya stared at Suresh's text in disbelief. She knew Bulbul would eventually forgive him, but so abruptly? Well she was Bulbul, there was no telling!

"What happened Pragya, why do you look so zapped?" asked Purab, while having dinner. Ever since after noon Purab had spent the rest of the day with Pragya, to ensure that she didn't feel low.

"It's, my sister Bulbul, her abruptness still manages to catch me off guard." She replied. Purab stiffened. How much he wished he could confide in Pragya, but Bulbul had made him promise that he needed to wait till she thought it was the right time. So he asked as nonchalantly as possible,

"Why what did she do?"

"She was about to be engaged to a guy, who had previously gone ahead and dumped her, but now when he realized his mistake, she has forgiven him just like that..imagine, no frill, no anger, just plain acceptance." She mused.

Purab's world crashed to his feet.