PAYBACK TIME

C H A P T E R - 24

Purab Khanna has lived all his life in misery. He lost his parents at the age of six. An age at which he didn't really know the meaning of death. He hoped his parents would come back. There were days when he wondered why God was unfair. During school functions, the kids would be graced by the presence of their parents, sitting on cushioned seats and supporting them. But he never got to experience that. But he was grateful to have his Paternal uncle, his dad's younger brother. His chacha-ji was the one who took care of him.

As a young boy he had felt he had no one to confide in, share about his pain. All that was until he met Abhi, his only friend. Purab and Abhi were opposites. Purab was the silent and introverted guy while Abhi was the loud and extroverted guy. At the age of eight, his chacha-ji had to move to Mumbai for work. So Purab went to a convent school and that's where he met Abhi. Abhi too had lost his parents at a very young age. They both became friends after a few encounters. He had always been grateful to Abhi for being there for him. When Purab's Chacha-ji died, he was just fifteen.

He was pushed to a situation where he needed to give up studies. No source of income and no guardian. He was to ge sent to an orphanage. But Abhi's grandmother volunteered to be his guardian. She took care of him like he was her own grandson. That's why Purab had always felt that be owed something to Abhi and his dadi. That's why he always felt that he owed something to the Mehras. If not for them he would have never been able to live happily.

After studies, he worked with Abhi. That's when a new problem arose. Alia Mehra. She was beautiful,rich and intelligent. Moreover, she was Rockstar Abhi's sister. Any boy would want her but Purab was not any boy. He was never able to think of Alia in a romantic way. He had always seen her as a sister. But Alia was stubborn and adamant. She always gets what she wants and she wanted Purab. At first he thought he could talk to her, make her understand it probably was a childish crush. But he soon understood Alia was obsessed with and she viewed him as a toy. Something she wanted to possess.

He knew If Abhi had asked him to marry his sister, Purab would have agreed because denying would feel as if he was ungrateful. Well he would have agreed if he had not met her. Bulbul Arora, his first love. His first wife who attempted suicide within a month of their marriage. He never thought about love while growing up. He never thought he'll experience such a beautiful feeling in life. People say first love is unforgettable and he agreed. He would never be able to forget her. She taught him to love himself. She taught him how much more fun life was. Making him laugh at the most silliest things. He felt safe with her. She was his home.

The Mehras had helped him at a time of crisis and welcomed him into their home. But he always felt he was an outsider and a burden to them. Nonetheless he was happy to accept Bulbul as his girlfriend. He had imagined a life with her. But things never went right when it came to him. Everything messed up when Abhi mistook Pragya for his girlfriend and married her. He had felt guilty. A thought that often crossed his mind in those days. Maybe he was the reason for Pragya's problems. Though she came from a middle class background, she had a good family who loved her alot. She was happy and optimistic. Living life to the fullest. But Abhi did not treat her right. Even after marriage he was cheating on her with Tanu. He felt if it had not been for him Alia would never have asked Abhi to marry Pragya and all this would not have happened.

That's why he helped Pragya to strengthen her marriage. He was very happy when Abhi realised Pragya's live and reciprocated it. He saw Pragya as his sister and he knew Pragya too considered him her brother. Despite all odds she was the one who got him married to his love, Bulbul. Things were starting to fall in place. He was excited at the prospect of a life with Bulbul.

But things were never right when it came to him. Bulbul met with a chandelier accident which damaged her face. Insecure of her appearance she attempted suicide or that's what he was told. He could never believe that was the true reason for Bulbul's death. His heart never agreed to it. After her death everything went back to normal. The same old Purab who shuts off everyone. Never shares about his miseries with others. Though surrounded by a lot of people feels lonely. He mechanically got up, went to work and got drunk.