AbihGya SS ~ Frozen

Chapter 10 : Frozen Forever - Pragya's World - Part 1

It felt like my whole world culminated around the Mehra Mansion - I was more involved in this house than I ever was in my own house. My house was always my mom's that way - she was the nourisher there - she took care of daadi when she had the gout pain, she gave papa his morning medicines, she made breakfast for me and Bulbul before going to school - essentially she was the manager of all our homely affairs. We aided her, but never did we decide for her.

Here in this mansion it was different. Once I confirmed that I was to stay with daadi here, she handed me all her responsibilities. I became, what ma was, to our house. I was reluctant - I didn't want to get involved here, after all, I was an outsider wasn't I? But what felt awkward for me wasn't awkward for any of the Mehra's. No sooner did daadi tell Abhi and Aaliya about her wish of me taking over the charge of the household, they came and wished me good luck! No one felt insecure!

I began handling the day-to-day affairs of the Mehra household along with my work. Soon days turned to months and it was almost four months that I had moved in. I had forgotten about the Pragya who also existed amidst all this - what did she want? What did she need? What did she like? Who was she? But it wasn't really a sacrifice for me. None of the Mehra's expected me to forget myself - I did it because of my love for each one of them. I didn't need to remember myself.

I was happy coming from work, freshening up and spending some quality time with daadi, we discussed my day, her day, if she took her medicines, if she had spoken to Indu daasi or Swarni daasi over the phone, how were they, if Bunty and Bubbly (they were Abhi's cousin's children, who lived in Bangalore with their parents) had Skyped her - if daadi wanted to go somewhere, how her puja was going etc. Then I would give her, her evening medicine and go to Aaliya's. We would chat up over a cup of lemon tea. Aaliya was the radiant mother of a five month old Krish - she always had stories of Krish's antics for the day. I would listen to her and we would laugh together, sometimes if Krish was awake, he would join us and entertain us further with his cute gestures. Aaliya would talk about Neil, and feel low sometimes since she missed him - I would comfort her in those days and cheer her up. After being around Aaliya, I missed my Bulbul much less - sometimes Bulbul would complain that I hardly called her! But where did I have the time? Unlike my house, time flew in the Mehra house and stayed there absorbed.

Abhi was extensively touring for his new album launch around this time - he would seldom stay at home. But whenever he was, once he returned from work, I would take his cinnamon coffee for him - he loved it. Normally Robin served him, but he never mastered the art of cinnamon coffee from daadi like I did. His coffee always either had more cinnamon or less of it - that never went well with Abhi. Plus I knew Robin had studied till his eleventh standard. I was encouraging him to complete twelfth. All day the poor boy worked - only in the evening he got time for studies, I never like to disturb him then - so I would take coffee for Abhi - he would sip his coffee and we usually got into these light banters. Abhi and his strange notions and quirky answers could never stop teasing my mind. Sometime he would make me listen to his music scratches - I had to always like it, because if I didn't he would annoy me to all end telling me off for my bad taste in music! It amused me - but I would mostly agree that his music was good (honestly they were, but the moment he added his lyrics to it, the damage went beyond repair!).

During my stay with the Mehra's, I picked up small things about them - daadi liked to keep her wardrobe colour coded, and even at this age, she had a fetish for sandals. Aaliya's nose flared when she lied! Aaliya loved Neil, but loved fighting with him more, it made her feel closer to Neil. And Abhi? He was the weirdest of the lot - to begin with, he had coffee with cinnamon! He wore mismatched socks (to all his fans! Here is a buzzfeed - Abhi always mixes two pair of socks to wear! Always!), he sang songs like "Love, love Happy Love", "Kaali billi cut my way, Yey Yey" etc. but he loved listening to ghazals (there is a secret folder called "Keep Away" in his iPod playlist!), he had a non-satiating love for sweet - his paneer was less paneer and more like sweet curd! And he was scared of ghosts!