Wherever You Will Go

Part 4 - For All of Time

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I know now, just quite how

My life and love might still go on

In your heart, in your mind,

I'll stay with you for all of time

***

When Pragya opened her door and saw Abhi, her first instinct was to slam it back in his face. However, she spent a moment too long staring at him in disbelief. Before she could close the door again, he stepped inside her apartment.

"Nice haircut, Chashmish. Where are your glasses?" he asked, without even saying hello.

"What are you doing here?" Pragya demanded. She watched with dread as he curiously looked around her flat and then made himself comfortable on the sofa.

"I thought maybe you'd need some help packing. Although, I don't think you'll really need any of this stuff. And most of your books and clothes are still back at home, so maybe you don't need to pack after all."

"What are you talking about? I just moved in here. I don't need to pack."

Abhi was looking at her, suddenly staring at her face and neck. "Where's your sindoor? And that mangal sutra you used to hold onto?"

"I don't need them anymore. I'm not Mrs. Rockstar here, you know?" Pragya answered sarcastically.

"Well, you'd better put them back on before Daadi sees you again. She won't like it if you're not wearing them."

"I'm not seeing Daadi again, so that shouldn't be a problem."

"Come on Chashmish, don't be difficult. It's time to come back home."

"I am home. This is my life now. You wanted me out of yours, and I left."

"Yes, you're so good about doing what I want, right? Well, now I want you back. I need you back."

"Why?"

"Because Daadi wants us together. And even Maa gave me a second chance. She said that I probably didn't deserve you but at least I should get a chance to try. And you make all your choices with Daadi and Maa in mind, don't you? So come back. Because it's what they want."

Pragya shook her head. "What's the point? We'll only find that we don't get along anyway. We never should have been married in the first place. Better to end this now."

"OK, be honest with me Chashmish. Have you been able to forget me? Because I haven't been able to forget you."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I mean, you came into my life as a problem and mistake, but really you were the answer to all my problems. Daadi was right, I need you. She chose you to be my better half and you tried your best to be that. Now it's my turn to make this work between us."

Pragya tried to tell herself not to believe him. Sure, he was saying these things now, but who knew when he would change his mind? It would be better to stay where she was, to continue with her new beginning. Going back with him would just mean going back to the same old conflicts.

But that soft corner of her heart that had made her care about him when he actively hated her was somehow growing softer at this new possibility he was offering, at the idea of a second chance.

He said he hadn't been able to forget her. She knew she would never be able to forget him.

Maybe it was worth just one more try.

***

If I could turn back time,

I'll go wherever you will go

If I could make you mine,

I'll go wherever you will go

I'll go wherever you will go

***

After their return to Mumbai, Pragya found that Abhi had made himself into her shadow. He would spend whole days accompanying her on all her little errands, even following her around as she did simple chores in the house. She found it very uncomfortable at first, but he insisted that Daadi said the only way to get to know each other was to spend time together. He argued that this was how they should have bonded in the first place, by trying to build a life together, and she found there wasn't much she could say to that.

Gradually it grew more comfortable as they discovered their bickering habit could thrive even without misunderstandings about each other's true intentions. Also, Pragya tried to get rid of Abhi by making him help with the chores, but it didn't work because he actually did whatever he was told. He had finally picked up some useful life skills this way, and at least Pragya could now be confident that if she ever left him again, the goofball would be able to make his own coffee and sort his own closet.

Eventually both of them had to return to work, and their days of playing house thankfully ended. Still, Abhi made a point of spending much more time at home with his family than he had in the past. He said he was trying to reconnect to what was important in life.

As the months stretched on, Pragya discovered that Abhi could actually be as strong, reliable, and calm as he looked. It had just taken a series of disasters to clear up his vision and settle his mind. Now that he was committed to living life in a way that would satisfy both him and Daadi, he was growing into a decent husband.

She still wasn't sure if she would ever find happiness in this marriage, though she was coming to accept that her future really was by Abhi's side. Certainly her life had a lot more peace and contentment now that her husband accepted her for what she was.

And at least he was trying now. He was trying to have a life with her, and so she was trying to forgive him for the past. They were making progress. There was a long road ahead, but maybe, now that they were walking it together, they could really reach their happy ending. 

The End!

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