😂😂😂 You know, the funny thing is... This was supposed to be a three shot. Well, seems like its gonna be 10 or so instead of three.

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

Chapter 6 - Best Laid Plans Always go Haywire

"A little to the right. Little bit to the left anddddd perfect! Now stand still Bubble." Purab adjusted the camera and clicked another picture of Bulbul. He, Bulbul and Aliyah were currently in Pragya's room. Abhi and Aliyah had their own caravans. However, the rest of the crew had booked rooms in the hotel there. "Just one more picture Bubble."

The magazine company had admired Bulbul's pictures that Aliyah had sent and wanted them to send some of her best pictures for selection for a brand. Hence, the photo session they were having.

Purab checked the pictures he had taken. "B-e-a-u-tiful! At this rate, out little Bubble will be a star in no time, right Aliyah?" On getting no response, Purab looked to find Aliyah lost in her thoughts.

Bulbul came near and climbed onto Aliyah's lap, breaking her from her thoughts. "Something wrong Aliyah Di? You look worried."

Aliyah ruffled her head. "It's nothing little Bubble. I was just thinking about something silly. Let it be."

"Are you sure it's nothing Aliyah?" enquired Purab.

"Well, to say the truth... I was a bit worried about Pragya. She had been acting really strange since yesterday. She behaved coldly with Abhi bhai when he went to talk with her and she even refused to talk to me."

"Is that so? Let me go and talk to her then." Purab got up and left the place. Once he left, Bulbul questioned Aliyah. "Di, were you thinking about our plan?"

"You guessed it right Bubble. I needed Purab out of here to tell you that I'm changing our plan."

"Eh? What change are you talking about?"

"We planned to make Abhi bhai jealous by using that good-for-nothing Nikhil, didn't we? But the thing is... Abhi bhai has realised his feelings for your Pragya Di. It's only because of a misunderstanding that they are apart now."

"Oh, I see! So, what do I need to do? Just say the words di!"

Aliyah smiled at her enthusiasm. "Okay, so here's the plan. Remember the big Maple tree that I showed you that day in the forest?" when Bulbul nodded, Aliyah continued. "You will rush off towards the forest in your Di's presence. Pragya will no doubt follow you to make sure you don't get hurt or lost. But you shouldn't stop even if she shouts. Not until you get to that tree."

"Got it! Then what?" Bulbul was ready to do anything for her sister.

"Then, you relax. Because then comes my role. I'll tell bhai that Pragya went into the forest and got lost. He and I will go in search of her and I will somehow convince him to search in the direction of the Maple tree."

"Then?"

"Then comes the real action Bulbul. I've hired some good actors to act like thugs. By the time me and bhai get there, the thugs will be troubling Pragya. And once bhai sees it, he will no doubt play hero!"

"Wow! It will be just like in those romantic movies! You are so cool, Aliyah Di!" Bulbul exclaimed as she hugged Aliyah tightly. "But what about us? What will we do then? Will the actors pretend to harm us too?"

"Nope. Those actors are only going to be after Pragya and bhai as I've strictly told their manager that his actors shouldn't divert their attention anywhere else! They are A class actors Bubble. No matter what happens, they won't leave their roles."

"Awesome! I can't wait!"

"Me neither Bubble."

"Lets conclude our plan with our signature laughter Di. Huhuhu...!"

"Agreed. Mwhahaha...!"

"Okay, what are you both up to?" Purab asked as he entered the room. He went to see Pragya, but she looked just fine to him. Either Pragya was a great actor, or Aliyah lied.

Purab looked at them with his eyes narrowed into slits and hands on his hips. "I know you're up to something notorious. Now spill." However, Aliyah didn't look fazed by his glare.

"We'll tell you everything in another time Purab. All in good time." Aliyah gave him a salute and went past him, with Bulbul merrily skipping away behind her.

Purab still felt suspicious. "If this was a cartoon, I would probably be hearing background music indicating doom." Looking at them go, Purab could feel his stomach becoming uneasy. "Aliyah won't ever tell me the truth. But I think I will be able to make Bulbul spill the truth somehow." with this thought, he rushed after them.

#Outside#

Nikhil stepped out of his car and looked around for Pragya. 'One week. I've been trying to seduce her for a week and yet, she doesn't even spare me a second glance! And yesterday, she even outright called me a stinking pig! How dare she!?'

From the corner of his eyes, he saw her sitting at a chair...alone. Nikhil smirked. 'You dare insult me, didn't you? Oh, you'll be sorry that you ever dared to talk to me that way.' He saw Abhi coming towards her. 'This trash! He keeps on interrupting my plans. Well...I guess I need to take care of him as well.'

Nikhil took out his phone and dialed a number. "Hello Damru? In want you and your gang to come to the location I'm going to text you. You need to help me kidnap someone. And don't worry. It won't be boring. You'll get to beat up someone as well."

He cut the call and looked on towards Pragya and Abhi with a sinister smirk.

#With Pragya#

As she tried to memorize the script, she couldn't stop her mind from thinking about Abhi. She threw down the pages on the table near her in anger. Pragya sighed and put her head in her hands. 'Abhi, I can go days without taking to you, months without seeing you but...but there's not a moment that I wouldn't think about you. It hurts so much to know that you don't love me. It hurts so much to know that you think of me as a burden, an emotional mess!' Pragya looked up as she felt someone come and stand beside her.

"Hi Pragya. Are you...are you okay now?" Abhi asked in a soft voice.

Pragya didn't know how to respond. Looking at him brought back all the things that she heard him say about her the previous day. It hurt her to look at him in the eye. But at the same time, she was also glad to see him. She just kept looking at him, unable to choose the right words. Finally, she nodded.

"Thank goodness! I was really worried about you. It really shocked me when you spoke to me in that tune. Must have been because of your headache, eh?"

Pragya knew what he was referring to. Abhi had come to her the previous day, smiling, and told her that he wanted to talk to her. However, she told him to go away. After all, she was hurt after hearing his chat with his mother. It pained her, as well as made her angry to look at his happy face. When he wouldn't leave, she herself got up and left, telling him not to follow her and 'piss off!'

"I...I'm fine."

Abhi gave her a bright smile. "Good. Now I can finally tell you what I wanted to! I wan-"

"Good evening Pragya, Abhi." interrupted a voice. They looked towards the voice to find Nikhil approaching them.

"Nikhil. Hi there. I...I...um...I'm sorry for yesterday." Pragya spoke out in embarrassment. She herself couldn't believe that she lost her cool in front of Nikhil and even called him a stinking pig, that too in front of some of the crew members. Even though he did deserve it, didn't mean she should have insulted him.

"Its okay Pragya. I already let it go. The past is past." Nikhil spoke with a flirty smile.

Abhi could feel his eye twitching in irritation. 'Aa gaya kabab mei haddi. Why does this guy keep appearing at the wrong place in the wrong time?!'

"Still, I shouldn't have spoke to you like that. I'm really sorry Nikhil."

Nikhil took her hand and gave it a kiss. "Any mistake of such a beautiful lady can be forgiven by me."

Abhi's eyes widened and he smacked away Nikhil's hand from her. "Stop doing that!"

"Eh? I was just praising her beauty."

"You didn't need to kiss her hand for that!"

"Well, in a sophisticated society, that would be called being a gentleman."

"She isn't sophisticated, so quit doing that!" Abhi bit out. However, in his jealousy, he didn't realize that he had unintentionally hurt Pragya.

'Isn't sophisticated? So he thinks of me as some middle-class bimbo? Some low class trash? How dare he!?' She pushed past him and smiled at Nikhil.

"I really appreciate the gesture Nikhil. Thank you very much."

"You're welcome, my lady."

"She isn't your lady! Watch your words!" Abhi shouted.

Pragya couldn't understand why he was acting that way. 'Why are you acting like you care when I know you don't! Can't you see it hurts me? You hurt me so much. Maybe...maybe you hurt me more than I deserve because I loved you more than you deserve.'

"Yes, I'm not his lady. But what's it to you? Why are you so affected by it, huh?!" Pragya retorted. She was hurting and anger was the only way she knew to express it.

"I...I..." Abhi wanted to tell her it was because he liked her. However, her actions were making him uncertain. 'She's defending Nikhil so much. Could it be that...that she likes him?'

"Forget about him Pragya. Its such a nice and beautiful evening. Would you like to take a walk with me around the forest?"

"No, she won't go with you!"

Pragya looked at Abhi in irritation. He called her weak, he told he didn't want someone so broken. And now...now he was acting as if he cared about the fact that Nikhil was making advances towards her. 'Or maybe...maybe its because he thinks I can't decide on my own. He thinks I'm too pathetic. Well, I'll show him!'

Pragya went and hooked an arm around Nikhil's. "Sure Nikhil. I would love to!" Even the thought of being near Nikhil made her want to gag. However, she did it as it meant going against Abhi's decision.

To say Nikhil was shocked, would be an understatement. He had thought that he would need to do a lot to convince Pragya. However, she seemed to agree without any effort of his. 'Well, I guess I shouldn't try to count the teeth of a gifted horse. I should just take it as it is.'

"What?!" Abhi exclaimed in disbelief and anger. If he was a bull, he would have jabbed Nikhil with his horns and tossed him into oblivion, with Nikhil screaming 'bloody murder!' He shook his head of those thoughts and looked at her. "How can you agree to go with the likes of him!?"

"Yes, I want to go with him. What's so wrong in it Mr. Abhishek?" For a moment, Pragya thought she saw hurt in Abhi's eyes. However, she dismissed it, thinking she was imagining things. "This is my life you know."

"You're going with this guy? Are you out of your mind? He isn't right for you!"

"I can decide for my own. After all, I am an adult Mr. Abhishek."

Abhi balled his hands into fists until his nails started digging into his palms. He felt hurt seeing her with Nikhil. But more than that, he was angry at the fact that she was going with a guy that didn't deserve her. A guy who didn't value women and treated them as commodities of beauty! 'I'm trying to make her see the truth, but she is being so damn stubborn! Fine then!'

"Okay then. Go and do what you want. I don't give a damn!" Saying that, Abhi stormed away from them.

Pragya looked at him go with sad eyes. 'Did I do something wrong? He looked so sad. Or was it my imagination?' She was broken out of her thoughts by Nikhil's voice.

"Pragya? Lets go, shall we?"

"Nikhil I...I just..." she unlinked her hand from his and stepped back. "I just said it to piss off Abhi. I...I'm sorry I lied."

'No! This bitch won't spoil my plan!' Nikhil managed to fake a smile. "It's just a walk Pragya. Please don't refuse. I...I want to apologize for the way I behaved with you when you first came to me for a film. And also for how I treated you on my first day here. Let's just take a walk, talk about our likes and dislikes and start anew as good friends. I really want to become your friend Pragya. Please don't refuse." he spoke, making a miserable face.

Pragya felt touched at his words and smiled. "Alright then." Pragya looked around and noticed that it had started snowing on the hill station as it neared sunset. She could feel the cold breeze even while wearing her coat. It would no doubt be very cold in the forest. "Let me get my scarf and gloves, alright Nikhil?"

"As you wish Pragya." Nikhil watched her go with a smirk. 'Finally the day has come when I break your ego.' Nikhil felt like someone was watching him and turned around. He smirked as he saw who it was. 'Poor little bird.'

#With Bulbul#

"Two ice-creams?" 😉

"Nope." 😐

"Three?" 😓

"Nope." 😜

"Alright, how many?" 😕

"Puru bhai, its useless. No matter what you give me, I won't reveal Aliyah Di and my plan. Why are you even trying?" Bulbul and Purab were currently inside Aliyah's caravan. Aliyah wasn't with them however. Purab was using the opportunity to the fullest to question Bulbul.

"Because I know you both working together means an apocalypse will strike!" 😣

"Wow. A little too dramatic, don't you think?" 😑

"What else am I supposed to do when you're being a cheeky brat?" 😒

Bulbul grabbed her glasses and stood up. "Watch it! You're talking to the next child supermodel."

Looking at her, Purab felt like looking at a mini Aliyah. Bulbul was already beginning to copy Aliyah in her personality and actions. 'And now..now style as well?!'

"Being over-confident Bubble?" 😒

"I'm 100% sure that magazine is gonna choose me!" She waved behind her as she went out of Aliyah's caravan, humming to herself. However, her good mood was ruined when she saw Nikhil standing there with her Di. She heard her sister speak.

"Let me get my scarf and gloves, alright Nikhil?"

"As you wish Pragya." Nikhil spoke.

Bulbul glared at him as he looked on towards her sister walking away. Suddenly, he turned directly to look at her. For some unknown reason, he was smirking at her.

"Ooo why I ought to hi-"

"Calm down Bubble. Don't forget he is related to Mr. Mehra." Purab spoke as he came up behind her.

"But I can't bear to see his face!"

"I understand he is a bad person, bu-"

"I got only one motto Puru bhai. See bad things, smash and smack bad things, problem solved!"

"Bubble, we can't do that. It won't be th-" Purab saw Pragya come out and go towards Nikhil. They both smiled at each other and headed in the direction of the forest. "What the heck?! Bubble, did you see what I just saw?" He looked down to find Bulbul gone from her place beside him and run inside the hotel.

'Aliyah told us she had something to discuss with her father. Bulbul must be going to meet her. This is the perfect chance to find out their plan!' nodding to himself, Purab rushed after Bulbul.

#With Abhi#

Abhi paced around in his caravan. He punched the table in frustration and sat down on the seat.

'Let her go with him! I don't care. I don't care at all!' He sat down and grabbed the bottle of water. 'I don't care! I don't care what they are talking about. I don't care if they are laughing together. I don't care if they are holding hands!' He took a sip from the bottle to calm himself.

'I don't even care if they are kissi-' at once, he ended up spitting all the water out of his mouth. He coughed from this sudden action and gasped. He could see different images of Nikhil and Pragya in his mind. Of them holding each other in their arms, of Nikhil pulling Pragya closer to him, of them kissing.

Abhi got up and tried to shake his mind of those thoughts. However, his over imaginative mind didn't help him as it started cooking up more intimate images of the both of them.

Abhi abruptly stood up in horror. "No! No no no! Nikhil isn't right for Pragya. He is going to betray her and throw her away. I must stop her from falling for him, even if she hates me for it!" with that thought in mind, Abhi headed out to go after them. However, in his hurry, he forgot to take his coat and scarf.

#Mr. Mehra's Room#

"Why now? Why would you want to cause me so much headache?"

"Dad, look! This is the only way to unite Abhi bhai and Pragya. So, you need to add this scene to the film. Besides, mother's going to throw you out of your shared room if you fail to make Pragya her daughter-in-law, remember?"

Raj pulled his hair in frustration. In fact, with the amount of trouble Aliyah caused him, he was surprised he had any hair left to pull. "Fine! But who's going to film it?"

Aliyah smirked. "Don't worry. I've already made some of the crew men install some hidden cameras in the forest. There's a total five of them in different locations."

"Didn't you say you planned to get them near the Maple tree?"

"I did. But just in case our plan goes haywire, I installed some more cameras elsewhere. Call me paranoid, but whatever! The best laid plans always go haywire."

Raj got up from his seat. "Fine fine. Let me go check the script again. I need to make some changes to fit in the new scene. A whole load of work, all thanks to you!" 😒

"Your welcome old man." Aliyah smiled at him as he went away, knowing it would irritate him further.

A few seconds later, the door burst open again and Bulbul rushed in, looking breathless. "Di, Di, Di! Pragya Di already went with Nikhil to the forest! What do we do? What will happen to our plan?!"

Aliyah gasped. "No no no! She wasn't supposed to go now! My thugs aren't here yet!"

"Alright enough!" Purab shouted from the door. "No more games. No more deceptions. You both are going to tell me what the heck is going on Right. This. Instant!" He shouted, completely pissed off.

Aliyah and Bulbul could only look at each other in dread.

#Outside#

A van came to stop at the film site. Five people got off and looked around. One of the men came towards another. "Damru boss, where is that Nikhil you spoke about?"

"He should have been right here. Whe-" Damru felt his phone buzz and checked the message.

Come into the forest. Towards the east. - Nikhil.

"Boy's, lets go." saying that, he marched on towards the forest with his men following.

#Elsewhere#

Five men stood there, each getting ready in front of the mirror, looking like thugs. One of them moved to the center and clapped his hands to get the attention of the rest. "Alright boys. Lets sum up the facts." They all gathered around him to listen.

"Our manager told me we are being appointed by someone to act as thugs, alright? My name will be Commando for the mission. You all are my men, alright? In fact, start addressing me as Commando from now on. It will be good practice." he waited for all of them to nod.

"Good. Now, we will go the place that we have been told to and ambush the girl named Pragya. Once someone called Abhi gets there, we will fight him for real. And we won't pay attention to anyone other than those two. Got it?"

"One question boss. How are we going to know who is Pragya and Abhi?"

"Our manager sent me the pics. Although, I haven't seen them yet. One second." He checked his pocket for his phone. However, it wouldn't come out. He jerked it harshly, making it fly out of his hands and out of the window. There was silence for a moment. Finally, one of the actors spoke.

"Oops! Commando, I guess we should go and ask for the pictures again." Said one of the men.

However, if he did that, Commando knew their manager would no doubt insult him. He tried to handle the situation. "Ahahaha...I lied to you all! Of course I looked at their picture when I got it. I would be able to recognize them. Let's go!"

The men nodded and followed him, not knowing that Commando himself was in a fix as to how he will recognise the pair. 'Well...I guess I'll just have to wing it!'

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To be continued...

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹