AbhiGya SS ~ No Strings Attached

Chapter 6: The Denouement (PART 2)

"It's you. If I stay close to you even for a minute longer...then...then..." whimpered Pragya

"Then?" asked Abhi gently, trying to calm her.

"Then...I will fall in love with you once again...and.." now she was again back to sobbing frantically.

Abhi stood there holding Pragya like a stone. Not emoting, not moving, just still - he had always loved her unconditionally, but she? When did it ever make sense for her to love him? But he said nothing about it. Instead in a cold voice he repeated again, "And..?"

"And you will NOT reciprocate to my feelings..once again" finished Pragya as a fresh bout of tears took over. Bulbul now came in front and gently guided Pragya out of the room, as Abhi stared there numbed in shock. He could not think of anything coherent and his limbs gave in - he crashed onto the couch.

After a moment Purab turned to him and Raghav weakly "Bhai and Raghav, you both have once more successfully broken my di's heart. Raghav by your indifference and Bhai...you want it or not, you always end up being the cause of her grief."

Abhi heard nothing. His mind was stuck at Pragya's word. But Raghav responded. "No Purab, I am not indifferent towards your Pragya di. I care for her too much. And first as a friend then as anyone else. And neither is Abhi the cause of her grief - her heart is broken because her love for Abhi is unreciprocated and Abhi's fault is only that he never told her his true feelings. They both love each other beyond anything else, yet they were separated for years, that was the cause of her grief not me or Abhi."

"Raghav, you don't know bhai as much as I do. He doesn't love di, he has an infatuation for her, if today she is married to you and she leaves, tomorrow he will forget her - he did that last time too. He didn't spend a moment in regret, he was with Tanu! I saw both - in one hand my sister crying like she lost a limb and on the other hand, Abhi getting intimate with Tanu. You think that didn't hurt me? But I tried being a friend to him too, tried understanding his situation too and never told him anything! That doesn't mean I will let him ruin my di'd life one more time Raghav!"

"Abhi doesn't love Pragya - Is that why even after all these years, he remembers every small details of Pragya? Is that why he still knows what her favourite food is, what food she hates, why she hates it? What book she reads when she is upset, how she reacts when she is trying to lie, how she hides her shyness and how she looks when she sleeps? Is that why he remembers all the nicknames he has ever given her? Or is that why he is marrying into a compromise because he knows he can love no one else? Tell me Purab! You call him your brother and you couldn't see it? I have known Abhi for a few weeks now and I can tell that he doesn't think too much about emotions. Did you not consider that maybe he loved her, just didn't realize in good time? Did you give him even one opportunity to go close to Pragya? You didn't. I know it's not your fault - you were thinking as an over protective brother, you're not to be blamed, especially after what has happened to her once - but think Purab - Is your protection helping Pragya or killing her? Maybe Abhi isn't reliable and maybe his love is an infatuation, but Pragya's love for him is true - would you not give her that once chance to live her life in those few days Abhi loves her? She can live all her lifes happiness in that Purab - that is, if Abhi ever stops loving her - and there is also a chance that Abhi loves her as much and will be with her for life - in that case you are stopping Pragya from a lifelong worth of happiness Purab - Is anything worth it? Yes that day I have purposely shown indifference in what I spoke about Pragya to Abhi - but that was because I was checking if he had any feelings for her - he did Purab - and I know how much Pragya loved him - I wanted to give her a fair chance to choose Abhi if she felt, she could reciprocate to his feelings today. Let go of the past Purab, Pragya's happiness lies with Abhi" finished Raghav.