Sweet Tidings

Chapter 8

"Everything changes and nothing stands still"

-As quoted by Plato in Cratylus,

"It is harder to fight against pleasure than against anger"

-As quoted by Aristotle in Nicomachean Ethics,

Nothing is constant in life; the only equation that's constant is change'. Everything changes constantly. There is a saying that states whatever happened, it happened for good. Whatever is happening it's happening for good. Whatever will happen, it happens for good. Is this a true fact? Pragya muses to herself. Why did she initiate the kiss? The past few days she has been fantasizing about Abhishek Mehra, today was the turning point, in her fantasy, Pragya has always been the silent partner, she was so caught up with her imagination, she actioned her imagination. That had to be the reason, anything else, she needs her mind checked... The whole evening Pragya had been walking on egg shells. Now...she is on bed and Ahbi is on top of her... Pragya swallows hers saliva.

Abhi's eyes are closed, his arms around Pragya's neck. His fingers inch towards her hair. He twins her hair and pulls it. "Ouch!" Pragya shouts in pain. Abhi snaps open his eyes. His gazes fastens on Pragya, something pulsed and blazed between them. The very air seemed to tauten around them, crackle with the sudden electrical energy they had created. "Quite a tight fit". Abhi remarks, looking at the way both of them were spooned together. "You are outrageous" Pragya gasped. "I'm not the one who started this, sweetheart." "Yes, you did. When you touched my..." she couldn't continue, Abhi's fingers had trailed down to her neck, he was slowly stroking the nerves that was pulsing erratically. Abhi saw Pragya's eyes dilate with desire. He slid his fingers lower. "You are not going to get it", Pragya said breathlessly and Abhi arched an eyebrow. "One way or another I always get what I aim for". "I don't think so", Pragya answered, her tone mocking him perfectly. He almost laughed but stopped when he looks into her wide innocent eyes. "Don't you dare," Pragya whispered and Abhi smiled triumphantly. "I think today's whole encounter is about daring, don't you?" Abhi took his hand away. Pragya stared at him, pupils dilated, lips parted and her breath coming in little pants. "You wouldn't".  "Want to bet?" And with his gaze still hard on Pragya, he flips her over, pulls the doris . Pragya went rigid. What is he up to? What am I going to do... Her heart said go with the flow, he is your husband, you like him to, what's wrong in this? Her brain demanded her to stop it. It rationalized that he doesn't love her. He married her for revenge. A rock was in place of his heart.

By now his fingers warm and seeking were on her bare flesh. She knew in her heart that no matter how angry and bitter he was towards her, he felt something for her. She could feel the attraction between them, heavy and thick. Suddenly, Pragya feels the depression on the bed. Abhi is sitting up. He moves towards the balcony. "Your dori is open, change and go to bed". Feeling totally like a fool, Pragya realized that Abhi had been talking about her dori when in her mind it was something else. Pragya changes into the night dress and walks out to the room, Abhi was still standing at the balcony. "Abhi!" He doesn't respond. He had a glass in his hand and a bottle of whiskey was at the table. "you should not drink too much, this late at night. You didn't have anything to eat as well" Pragya quietly comments. "Really! Do you care? A person who conceals truths from me, cares about me? Joke of my life" Abhi retorts. "What do you mean?" Pragya was worried Abhi got to know about Purab and Bulbul. "How many secrets to do you have? You are multi-talented, if I'm to believe Arjun. A trained musician, a singer...what else? You didn't think I was fit to be informed? If not me, at least daddi. Why did you hide it?" "I didn't mean to. I'll take whatever punishment you meet out" Pragya answers. "Really! Good. You better be prepared..." saying so, Abhi corners Pragya to the wall and closes in to her.  "Really! Are you turning into a vampire?" Pragya teases him. Pragya likes baiting Abhi. She needed to do it, because the intensity of her attraction-and her emotion- it scared her. Teasing Abhi defused the attraction, at least a little. Pragya met Abhi's gaze, determined to stay insouciant, never to let him know how much he affected her.

Abhi reached out one powerful hand closed around Pragya's waist, pulling her slowly and inexorably towards him. Pragya didn't resist. She couldn't; already she felt heavy languor steal through her veins, take over her brain. Abhi brought her forward to brush his lips against hers. It started gently but within seconds it flamed into something else entirely - something deep, primal and urgent. His tongue slid into the warmth of her mouth and his hips rocked against hers and so much for her pride because she rocked back helplessly, her body taking over, she was on another plane... And then, with a quick rustle of adjusting her cloths, he moved over and walked out of the room.

Next morning, Pragya woke to the chants of Gayathri. Her head was aching, she had barely slept. She kept waiting for Abhi. She had checked the house she couldn't find him last night. Later, she concluded that he must have gone to Tanu. Her heart felt so leaden. Did he think, she couldn't be the wife he needed? She couldn't match Tanu? If only, he would give her a chance, a small leeway, she'll make him proud. What was she doing? She was behaving like a love sick fool? With that thought in her mind, Pragya had finally fallen to a restless sleep. She slept on Abhi's side of the bed, her hands hugging his favorite pillow. Now, she is awake, Gayathri mantra chants is going on, a cup of steaming coffee was on the dresser, no sign of Abhi. Abhi must have done all these. Only Abhi, Pragya is very sure. Pragya quickly freshens up, lights the diya, does the arthi, finishes her coffee and practically runs down the stairs, hoping to catch Abhi before he left to the recording studio. "Beta, Abhi, left early. He has some kind of urgent meeting" Dadi told her.  

At that moment, Abhi's vocal trainer walks in with Arjun. "Bhai is not here, he went to the studio", Alia informs the vocalist. "I know ma'am. Abhi sir asked to work with Bhabiji on her vocal abiliites".  "Pragya's vocal abilities. You must be mistaken. Abhi will not do so", Tanu who had arrived at Mehra mansion looking for Abhi said in surprise. "Actually, Tanu ji, our lady playback singer for the Mumbai concert has lost her voice, the ENT specialist are recommending 2 months of complete rest to her voice, so, Abhi sir needs a replacement. He wants me work with bhabiji", the vocalist, Kumar, explains. "What?" Tanu splutters. "Tanu, let it be. If bhai needs a replacement, I think, there could not be anyone better than babhi. Let her train", saying this Alia pulls Tanu away. Alia was surprised to see the pride she saw in dadi's eyes and Arjun bestowed a beaming smile on her. "I'm proud of you betaji", dadi says to Alia. Blushing, Alia pulls Tanu away. "I need to discuss the Single Mothers' project with you but not now. You go ahead and work with the vocalist. I'll come back later in the evening", saying that Arjun leaves the house.

P.S. In case everyone is wondering who to imagine as Arjun. Let me just clear that up. He is being played by Mishal Raheja, but without all that glitter and ridiculous Rapstar attire.