Sweet Tidings

Chapter 9

"Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid." 
 Fyodor Dostoyevsky

"I try to stay in a constant state of confusion just because of the expression it leaves on my face." 
 Johnny Depp

Elders general advise that we should live our lives in such a manner that when someone bad-mouths you, no one would believe it. That's what is happening at Mehra mansion. Tanu thought to herself. Pragya put on such a wonderful facade of being a sweet wife, caring bhabi and responsible bahu; all the 3 daddi were praising their Pragya, their ghar ki Laxmi none stop. She just could not stand it anymore and this Abhi, calling the vocalist to work with the Chasmish. Height of disaster. She has been waiting for Abhi for the past 3 hours; there was no sign of him. His phone was out of reach and to increase Tanu's ire, Andy's assistant had just walked in with this latest creation. The lady, Linda who used to gush over Tanu barely acknowledged her. Tanu was fuming. Alia too was behaving very oddly ever since bade bhaiya Arjun started showing his face. It was as if, Alia had created a conscience to suit bade bhaiya Arjun. "Tanu, Linda just informed me that bhai has called for a press conference to announce bhabi's impending move to his troupe, I think, we should leave before the conference starts. I don't want you to feel bad about this. It's just bhai's move to contain the issue with the playback singer", Alia said.

After an exhausting 4 hours of vocal training, Pragya walked out from Abhi's room, tired and confused. What was Abhisek Mehra up to? She just could not fathom. He was a contradiction beyond her analytic mind could decipher. If Abhi had been the thesis she had to work on to obtain her master's degree, she would have failed miserably. Now, Alia had informed her about the press conference, Andy's new creation and Linda waiting to assist her. Alia was another puzzle. She too was behaving a little bit like normal human being. If this persists, Pragya would start caring for Alliya the same way she cares for Bulbul. God! This Mehras are like deep sea. What you see is not what you get. Shaking her head in confusion, Pragya heads towards her room to find Linda. The dresses Andy had sent were beyond Pragya's comprehension. Everything was in sheer silk, transparent and in western style. She was not going to be seen dead in this kind of clothing. Linda had rushed out to obtain different sets of dresses and had arrived barely 30 minutes ago. Now, Pragya's hairdo and minimal makeup were completed. "Ma'am, I need to make a move, my mom is not well, I need to take her to the doctor", Linda asked Pragya's permission to leave. "You should have told me earlier, I could have taken care of my dressing. Just leave. Do you have enough money? I'll ask the driver to send you home". Linda was overwhelmed with Pragya's thoughtfulness. She had interacted with Abhi, Alia and Tanu for the past 3 years, none of them behaved like Pragya.

Pragya wore the camisole; the silk was so fine it looked as if she was wearing the barest whisper of covering. Luckily, there was another dress to be worn on top of the camisole, a tight figure hugging pants and high heels open toed shoes finished off the look. Pragya didn't know how she would look in the whole get up, the past 2 hours she had fretted and worried about meeting Abhi. After wearing the camisole, pragya pulled on the pants. It was really a very close fit. She put on the shoes and it looked wierd on her, so she put her leg on the chair and was adjusting the straps, when Abhi walked in, unannounced.

Abhi stood, hands clasped behind his back, surveying the city view but he didn't take in the glittering vista. It was Pragya he saw in his mind's eye. Spunky, sassy Pragya with her air of challenge and smart mouth (coming to think of it, it was only when they were alone, in private). Berating him in his own house! Infuriating him as no one in recent memory had been able to do. When he had walked in, for a moment his heart beat had stopped. Nearly naked Pragya wearing surprisingly delicate under-wear. A see through camisole, her full body blush had made her look like a virginal innocent, even with sexy heels and even sexier tights accentuating the long, slender line of her legs. Abhi shook his head to banish the vision. How could he think her sexy when he preferred ripe, voluptuous women like Tanu? True, Pragya wasn't as bone thin as she felt when he carried her the other day, in fact, what he saw today blew his mind away. He'd found her slim form with its lithe curves and high, pouting breasts surprising arousing. Yes, he had a glimpse of the twin orbs before she had snatched a covering and ran to the bathroom. Abhi's gutter mind was on overdrive. Would her pert breast fit his palms? How would it feel to bury his face in her long tresses? Those long, coltish legs wrapped around his waist. Blood pooled heavily in his groin as he remembered her half naked and delectable form. Gosh! He was behaving like a sex starved teenager.

Abhi stalked to the sitting room where decanters set on a sideboard. He poured a slug of whiskey and drank it in one gulp. The emotions Pragya was arousing in him was really disturbing. Since when he experienced feelings for Pragya? His mind taunted him. This was the lady he had married for revenge. The brought him back to the conversation he had with his brothers earlier today. Purab and Arjun are his brothers in arms. They always covered his back. Arjun's argument on behalf of Purab made Abhi realize how much he had missed their comradeship. Arjun had a point on Purab and Bulbul's relationship but Purab had loved Alia before, didn't he? According to Arjun, both Purab and he loved Alia. The only difference is, Alia's feelings towards Arjun were brotherly but with Purab it was different. For both of the guys, they cared for Alia because she was family, which meant it was brotherly.  What a confusion. No wonder Purab told Alia off when he realized his feelings for Bulbul. Abhi being an idiot did not think beyond Alia's hurt, hence, he had slapped Purab. Every way was blocked. Whatever he does, it's going to hurt Alliya or Purab or Bulbul. At present, the plan was to make sure Pragya was away from Alia and under Abhi's eyes, so that Alia will not target Pragya. Next, Purab is to go oversees in the pretext of concert requirements but in actual sense he was to meet Arjun's cousin, Nakul who always had a soft corner for Alliya and bring him back to India. Hopefully, Nakul still had some feelings for Alliya. If not, Arjun's plans were going to fall flat on his face.

A hand touched his shoulder, he jerked it away, heart thudding as a premonition of danger punched hard at this guts. He turned around, there stood Tanu. "How do I look? Chasmish rejected Andy's new creation, I told Linda that I'll wear it during today's press conference. What does Chasmish know about current style and trend", Tanu pouted at Abhi. Abhi looked at her from head to toe, not registering a single aspect of Tanu. "I need to check on Pragya, it's time for the media conference", Abhi ran up the stairs to his room. He knew he needed to apologize to Tanu for his behavior, she is his girlfriend but the sight of Pragya, defiant and desirable had ignited a blaze of desire in him. There she stood in his room, a vision to beholden. The black tights accentuated her feminine shape, her dress clinging to her waist and draping over her thighs, the silk was fragile, shifting with each breath she took and shimmering invitingly over the unfettered curves of her breast. "I'm ready", the husky voice swept across his senses. Heat roared in his belly as he prowled across the room to stand before her. Her eyes widened but she didn't bulge. He reached up to release her hair. The chignon tumbled down to uncoil long, glossy swinging curtain, soft wavy hair across her shoulders and half way down her back.

He held her head and brushed his lips to hers. Exploring the fine texture of her flesh. He tasted her sulky pouting lips and lost himself in pleasure. The sort of pleasure logic decreed should be forbidden between them. Pragya's eyes gleamed provocatively and shadowed with secrets and intrigued him as if he was a callow youth lusting after his first woman, not the Rock star young girls adored. Abhi forked his hand through his hair in exasperation. "Your hair is all messed up", Pragya pulls him down on the bed and hand combs his hair. Giving him a debonair look but with a hint of mischief. They both descended the staircase. Abhi didn't touch her but Pragya was aware of his palm hovering at the small of her back as he ushered her into the living room to meet the press. They passed Tanu, who was hovering near the entrance, Abhi did not even spare her a look. There was a sense of relief in Pragya's mind; now, she was ready to meet the wolves. Her smile was like the sun rays breaking free of the mist.