Sweet Tidings

Chapter 6

"Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it." 
 Lloyd Alexander

"Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one." 
 Terry Pratchett

"My potha is a rock star and my bahu is going to be a superstar". Dadi beams her delight. Pragya was left in a quandary. She is a teacher, not model material. She turns towards Dadi to reject the claim when her eyes meet Abhi's murderous stare. If looks can kill, she would be dead by now. Abhi's firm mouth was twisted contemplatively. Such a cruel yet sensual mouth, she decided, in spite of her antagonism towards the owner. For a moment, crazily, she wonders how many times Tanu must have felt the pressure of it, known the power of this man's unrestrained passion. Pragya gave herself a mental shake. What the hell is thinking about? She berated herself.

"Dadi, your bahu is a real superstar; she has been tasked to work with me on Single Mothers' project and now this. She is going to be super busy. Pragya, whatever you do, make sure my time is exclusively for me", Arjun interjected. "Arre, Pragya, you need to work on your time allocation, Alia's wedding is around the corner. Bahu of the house needs to be the one leading the arrangement. Just tell us, the ladies at home what to do, we'll help", Dadi encourages Pragya. "Time management, which has always been Pragya's week point. She wants to help the whole world at her expenses. If you need to reduce someone's time, cut Abhi's time. He won't mind", Arjun pours oil on Abhi's burning feelings. "Will all of you just concentrate on the photo shoot, we need to decide who will attend the media conference with Pragya", Andy interrupts the conversation. "What media conference? Bhabi is not equipped to handle media. Tanu and Bhai can attend together, after all funds needs to be raised", Alia tries to divert everyone's attention. "Why not Pragya? Not only is she educated, she would make a wonderful role model for young women. She has sanskar and is a dedicated teacher. After all, it's her photos that has won the accolade of the media", Arjun cuts in. "That's totally right, our Pragya is wonderful. In fact, I told Tanu to get tips from Pragya on how to handle her boyfriend; our Pragya has grace and style that is most impressive", the Ludhiana Dadi plays on. "Gosh! Is this a Pragya cheer team?" Tanu murmurs to Alia. "Did you say something, Tanu?" Arjun asks. "No Arjun, Tanu didn't say anything. Didn't you want to go out somewhere?" Alia asks. "Yes, you, Tanu and I are going to Sarla ma's house. You are going to apologize for yesterday's ring debacle", Arjun's tone had a ring of authority. "But Arjun, Tanu and I have some urgent work related to my wedding." "Do it after you have apologized, no negotiation. Abhi, do I have your support?" Arjun turns to Abhi. Abhi's concentration was somewhere else. He nodded his agreement, which really reeled both Tanu and Alia. Without waiting for anyone's response, Abhi walks back to his room. What am I going to do? I need to find out what the actual situation with Purab is and why Pragya is admitting to a blame when she is blameless. On top of it, what's Arjun's connection to Pragya? Abhi really tries to make sense of the muddled up situation. After contemplating for nearly an hour, Abhi's mind wonders off to other things... The photos taken during the photo shoot had captured Pragya's essence. He has always taken an offensive attitude towards Pragya, in a way, it's like a protective shield but that didn't stop him from admitting that Pragya's look really caught his attention. One of the snaps had captured her long, elegant line of her pale, translucent throat, any more than, he could fail to notice her breasts - the cleft of which was just tantalizingly visible above the neckline of the chic but simple black anarkali suit. He wants to touch the high and generously proportioned assets of Pragya. He could just fantasize how they would fit his hands, handful. For a beanpole, she has... Oh! Mama Mia!. Stop it Abhi, he chides himself.

"Robin! Robin!" Robin runs towards Abhi. "Ask Pragya to come up immediately", Abhi tells Robin. After a few minutes of waiting, Pragya walks in. "Apne bulaya", she asks. "It has been 20 minutes since I called you, what kept you" Abhi nearly yells. "Arre, I had to make sure Dadi's medicines were given to her and plan my time with Arjun for the project work. Anyway, 20 minutes is not late, what's so urgent. You have an array of assistants, they could help you". "Aha! Will they be my wife?" Pragya stands in shock. "Anyway, what was all the ice cube thing?" "You said you felt hot and you looked hot, so I decided to cool you down". "Really, I looked hot, what do you look like now? Look at yourself, why the blush?" "I'm not blushing" Pragya looks worriedly at Ahbi, thinking is he going to retaliate for the ice cube prank, before she could finish her thoughts, a spray of water hits her. "Ouch!" "What are you doing?" "I'm giving you a water spray shower for the success of the photo shoot, to cool your blush done", saying that Abhi sprays more water on Pragya; Pragya gives a shriek and runs around the room with Abhi in pursuit. The whole room's floor was wet and while trying to spray water on Pragya, Abhi slips and falls down. At this time, Tanu walks into their room wanting to complain about Arjun's demand to go to Sarla's house. Pragya worried for Abhi ran to Abhi and tried to help him, in the process she too slips and falls on top of Abhi. Their close proximity is seen by Tannu, she leaves fuming as she spies Dadi coming towards Abhi's bedroom. Abhi and Pragya stand up at the time Daddi enters their room. "Pragya, Abhi, please be ready by 4 pm, Andy says media would be coming down to interview both of you; he wants both of you to wear stylish matching wardrobe during the interview". "All your clothing is bhenji types, I'll choose something for you. Don't worry it will be desi design, nothing western. I'm going to change", Abhi walks into his washroom.

Pragya was at the kitchen, doing Manchurian Gobi for everyone at the same time, frying chapatti for Daddi. Tanu who had spied Pragya at the stove, felt the need to hurt her. She just wanted to stop Pragya from doing the interview. If the interview goes through, the whole world will know that Abhi was married to Pragya. She casually walks into the kitchen, asking for a cup of warm water. Robin turns to the other side to get her the glass of drink when Tanu, pushes Pragya's arm; Pragya's finger gets burnt on the chapatti skillet. "Ouch!" Pragya shrieks. Abhi and Arjun heard her shriek, both rush to the kitchen, Arjun was ahead of Abhi and he immediately rushed Pragya to the water tap; her fingers were held under the running water. He gave her first aid. Abhi stood gaping at the entrance of the kitchen. "I'm so sorry Pragya, it was accidentally", Tanu's crocodile apology irritated Abhi.  Everyone was at the living room, sympathizing with Pragya when Robin brought the cup of water for Tannu. Hot steam could be seen from the water cup, when Robin was nearing Tanu, Arjun casually puts his leg out; Robin collides with Arjun's leg and the water cup slips from his hands onto Tanu's arm. Tanu screams in pain. "I'm so sorry, Tanu, it was accidental. I didn't see Robin coming over", Arjun with a worried face tries to console Tanu. Tanu throws dagger look at Arjun and rushes to the wash basin, followed by Abhi and Alliya.

It was nearing to 3 pm, when Pragya walks into the bedroom. Abhi was not around but her dress was on the bed. It was a heavily embroidered kurti with tight salwar bottoms. It took tremendous effort for Pragya to wear the suit. Her hurt fingers were aching and she could do up the hooks on the salwar bottom. The worst part was the back of the kurti had a low cut and the multiple dori were available. She sat on the bed totally tired of the effort when Abhi walked in. He saw the hook of the salwar bottoms were open, he realizes that with hurt fingers, Pragya could not do up the hooks. He squats down and takes hold of her foot. Soft foot pad, delicate ankles, he slowly puts Pragya's foot on his thigh, caresses her inner toe bottom, eliciting a shiver from Pragya. While doing up the hooks he touches her knees through her kurti. Pragya feels the electrifying energy. Her mind wanders to what it would feel for Abhi to run his fingers through her legs. Abhi trailing his naughty fingers under her knees, she could feel heat clamoring up from her breasts. Pragya is totally confused about her feelings for Abhi at present. What kind of man, is Abhishek Mehra. One minute sweet and helpful, next minute spiteful and angry. How little she knew about him, not an iota that mattered. This close up, his thick hair, his muscular physique, debonair looks totally ensnared her. He raises his eyes and they both have an eye-lock. It was mesmerizing. "Stand up and turn around. I'll do the dori". "It's okay, I'll call Dadi or Mitali Bhabhi" Pragya avoids Abhi's gaze. "We are late, let me do it. I don't want the media to comment on us", saying so, he helps Pragya to rise up and turns her around. She was facing the mirror, he stood behind her. Her kurti was gaping open and she feels embarrassed on how she must look. No one has seen her this way. She slowly raises her eyes to look at Abhi, he too is staring, not at her shoulders but at her eyes. "I'll close my eyes and do up the dori", he mutters in a low voice.