Ya know, I'm not finding online some Abhigyan writers whom I used to know. I wonder if they don't come regularly on wattpad. Kinda missing them.

Moving on...💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

Chapter 2 - Leaving You

"Pragya beta. Pragya? Pragya, please open the door. Pragya?" Lila kept knocking on Pragya's door with the food tray in hand.

"Hasn't Pragya come out of her room yet Lila?"

She turned to look at the voice of Manish.

"No Manish beta. She hasn't come out of her room since yesterday! She hasn't eaten anything either. Beta please call her out. I understand how SHweta's death might have affected her, and you all as well. But at least tell her to have her breakfast." She requested pointing to the plate in her hand.

"Don't worry Lila. Just give me the plate and leave it to me. I'll make sure she eats it all." Manish assured with a smile. "Can you please check on bhai? He hasn't eaten much either. I tried, but you know his temper. It's the only way he is coping with the grief. Maybe he will listen if you tell him to eat."

"Maybe. I'll try my best Manish beta."

"Hurry then. Don't worry about Pragya. I'll handle it. And if she doesn't open the door, I'll just break it. After all , I'm no less than Daya,huh?" joked Manish, trying to lighten the mood the least.

"Hatt! There you go again with your narcissism. Out of my way!"

"Wah!Bhalayi ka jamana hi nhi raha!" Manish rolled his eyes and knocked on Pragya's door. "Prags! Come out or I'll eat your breakfast. It smells delicious!"

"Imf nof hunfry" came the muffled voice from the other side of the door.

"Um..what Prags?"

Mani heard a noise which sounded like someone throwing a pillow towards the door.

"I said I'm not hungry bhai. Eat it if you want to!"

"Aww...you really don't want to let Lila kaki's hardwork go to waste now, do you?"

"Then go feed that big brother we have who refuses to understand things!"

'She never talks rudely about big bro. She must be really angry.' Mani sighed. 'What to do now? Think Mani think, think, thi-Got it!'

"Pragya...Arnav bhai is leaving for Chennai for some business related work. Won't you wish him goodbye?"

"Let him leave."

"He would be going off for quite some months maybe. You really don't want to wish him off?"

He could hear shuffling and Pragya unlocking the door. He smiled to himself. Mani knows that no matter what, Pragya loves her brothers more than anything. No matter how angry she is, she would always care for them.

"Did he have anything? Why is he leaving so soon?" Pragya opened the door with a concerned look. "But how could he resume work in this state. Shweta di just passed away. Her death affected him the most an-" as she looked at Mani's guilty face, she understood that she was being fooled.

Pragya's face scrunched up in anger. She tried to close the door in Mani's face, but he already invited himself in.

"Mani! Please leave."

"But I don't want to. And I can't eat this delicious breakfast while standing."

"Then go to your own room!"

"Nah. Its too far."

"Mani! Seriously!?"

Mani sighed. "Pragya, quit being difficult. I know you're hurt because of what happened and angry at Arnav bhai. But try to look from his point of view. We loved Shweta as our own di and her death hurts us so much. Bhai loved her a his better half, his true love! Just think how much pain bhai is in!"

Pragya let out a long shuddering sigh and sat down on the floor beside him. "I know Mani, I know. But this doesn't mean that he should blame Abhi and Samay. Its not fair!"

"It's not about fairness or unfairness. You see, bhai is in a position where he feels utterly helpless and doesn't know how to deal with the pain of her death."

"So he's just blaming Abhi and Samay?! Is that supposed to give him some comfort! How is that justice Mani bhai?"

"It's not Pragya. But...but atleast its giving him something to direct his pain, his anger on. Otherwise, he would go insane from the pain! He needs some time. The wound is pretty raw Prags. Moreover, every time he sees them, they remind him of Shweta. He needs comfort and support right now." Mani put the tray on the bes and crouched down to Pragya's level. "He needs his siblings the most Pragya. Bhai has supported us through everything. Its the least we could do for him."

"I know. I want to rid bhai of the pain as much as you do. I want to comfort him. But I don't want to do it at the expense of Shweta di's brothers. Just think of them as well." she looked at him with tears in her eyes. "They're my best friends. We've been each other's support in good and bad times since childhood! It's...it's not easy for me Mani."

"Arnav bhai comes first! If blaming them is helping him cope for now, then so be it!" Mani replied with a guilty voice, unable to meet her eyes.

"You don't understand Mani! This...this isn't going to help anyone in the long run!" Pragya stressed as she broke down into tears.

Mani hugged his little sister. "Come here Pragya. Don't cry sis. I can't see you or bhai like this. Don't cry. Just...just give it a little time. Its going to be okay. Trust me, okay?"

"I didn't even get to meet them. How are they? Are they blaming themselves? Have they hurt themselves? Did they eat?"

Mani hated the helpless and pained look on Pragya's face. He came to a decision. "Tell you what. I'll take you to the Mehra Mansion. I'll ask Bhai's permission."

Pragya looked at him shocked. "Bhai will never allow it. I don't want you to fight with him for this."

"Don't worry. I'll find a way to convince him."

"Are...are you sure?" Pragya asked with hope.

"Yes. But you have to promise that after meeting them, you will not discuss this topic anymore. Promise me Pragya." Mani said as he looked Pragya straight in the eye. "You meet them once and that's it. You won't speak of meeting them again, and neither will you sneak off to meet them. Promise me!"

Pragya never thought that she would see such a serious look in Mani's eyes. He was never this serious. But she had to give him an answer. She looked down in thought. If she promised him, then she may never get to talk with Abhi and Samay again. 'But maybe if she promises, then when they go to the Mehra house, Arnav bhai would realize his mistake and stop blaming Abhi and Samay upon seeing their condition.' With this hope Pragya looked up to Mani in determination. "Yes bhai, I promise."

#Next day, Mehra Mansion#

"She was such a sweet child. I'm sorry for your loss Rakesh." said Rakesh's friend Prabhat.

Rakesh Mehra sighed. " I always wished to live a long life. But if my death would bring back Shweta, I would happily go away with the Reaper."

Shikha gasped hearing this statement from her husband. "Please don't say such things. I already lost my daughter, I can't lose you too."

"Shweta wouldn't want you to break down like this either Rakesh. And where are Abhi and Samay? Are they okay? I can't imagine what they might be going through." Prabhat sympathized.

"They both are in Shweta's room. Have been there since yesterday. Won't move, won't talk to anyone, won't speak to me and...and..." Shikha took a deep breath to stop her tears. "They just keep staring at Shweta's pictures in her room."

"Can I try talking to them please Maa?" Shikha looked up. There was only one person besides her children who called her Maa. It was Pragya.

"Pragya! Thank goodness you're here." Shikha noticed Manish and Arnav behind Pragya. She could see the pain clearly in Arnav's eyes. Arnav quickly adverted his eyes, but she knew he loved Shweta truly. She understood how hard it must be for him. "You already know where Shweta's room is. Only you can talk some sense into my boys Pragya."

Arnav fisted his hands, with his nails digging into his palms. 'Its because of those boys that Shweta is dead. They shouldn't even be allowed to be in her room.'

Arnav didn't want to see their faces. However, Mani told him of Pragya's pain. He might be cold hearted businessman as some say. But his sister's tears mattered to him. That was why he agreed to let them go. However, he feared to let them out of sight. He already lost someone he loved. He didn't want that to happen. So he came along.

He was snapped out his musings when Mani laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Arnav..." he looked up at Shikha's voice. "Arnav, if you want you can go to Shweta's room. If you want any pictures of her, you can take from her room beta." Shikha said in a soft tone, understanding his grief.

#Shweta's Room#

Tears threatened to leak from Pragya's eyes as she entered Shweta's room. She could still hear the echo's of her laughter in the room. She could recall Shweta calling her name-'Pragya! Pragya wait! Hahahaha..Pragya catch me if you can!''

Her death still seemed like a bad dream to Pragya. She was still hoping to wake up and find that it was all an illusion. But she knew life wasn't a fairy tale. And Shweta won't magically come back.

In the middle of the room, Pragya could see Abhi sitting on a chair. Samay was beside him on the floor, both staring at Shweta's picture on the wall.

"Abhi, Samay...." she called their names. Her whispered words seemed too loud in the otherwise silent room.

Abhi didn't move an inch. Samay however heard her and turned towards her. "Pragya. So you finally remembered us." He said in spite. "What are you here for? To see if we are still suffering or not?"

"Samay, I'm sorry. I really wanted to come but-"

"But what? Something more important came up? More important than Shweta di!?"

"Samay please, its not like that. I wanted to come to you. But Arnav bhai was also in pain. You know how much he loved her. He needed our support." she explained, hiding the fact that Arnav didn't let her come.

"Leave it Samay." said Abhi, his voice rough from not talking for hours. "Its okay Pragya."

"But bhai, ho-"

"Leave it Samay. I'm too tired too argue or accuse anyone. I don't have it in me to feel anything other than hollowness and pain."

Samay looked down in misery and didn't say anything further to her.

Pragya went near and spoke addressing Abhi.

"Abhi please don't lose hope like this. If you break down like this, who will support your parents?! Who will give strength to Samay?" Pragya spoke, standing in front of him.

Abhi stood up suddenly making the chair fall over.

"How can I anchor anyone when I couldn't even save my own sister?!"

His one statement made Pragya understand the guilt he was undoubtedly going through.

"It wasn't your fault Abhi!"

"Yes it was Pragya! If only i was responsible enough and listened to her!"

She grabbed Abhi and made him look into my eyes. "Listen to me Abhishek Mehra! It was not your fault! None of it was. And if Shweta di was here right now, she would say the same!"

"How would you know that Pragya?! How could you be so sure that she wouldn't blame me for it if she was here?!" he shouted in a broken voice.

"Because you're her brother! Because she loves you! Both of you!" Pragya spoke softly, looking at both on the verge of tears.

"Pragya I do-" Abhi finally broke down and cried on her shoulder. Pragya extended her other hand to Samay. At first he was hesitant, but accepted the hand. The three of them cried together remembering Shweta, her smile, her kindness, her love for them.

After some moments, Pragya spoke to them. "Your parents are going through a lot of pain Abhi, Samay. Both of you need to comfort them."

Both of them nodded in understanding and together, all three of them moved out of the room.

As Pragya moved away from Shweta's room, she wanted to say goodbye to Shweta's picture one last time...alone. She was like a sister Pragya never had and she wanted to tell her how much she meant to her...to all of us. "You both go ahead, I want to say goodbye to Shweta di one last time."

As she walked back towards Shweta's room, she could hear sobs coming from it. Pragya peaked into the room and saw that it was none other than Arnav.

"Shweta, why did you have to leave me like this Shweta? What am I supposed to do now? Every object I see reminds me of you. The park reminds me of our high school days together, the beach is where I realized that I love you, my house where I hoped to create a future with you after our marriage...everything! Shweta why? Why Shweta? W-w-hyy-y!" he sobbed into his hands. It was like hearing a trapped animal whimper in pain.

People say that a heart-wrenching sob is just a phrase in fictions.But listening to Arnav, it was like someone was twisting a knife into his heart, pulling it out..slowly. Pragya couldn't watch anymore. She ran away from there with tears flowing. Never in her life had she seen her brother so broken and vulnerable.

'He's in so much pain! It was mistake to let him come here.' deepo in her thoughts, she wasn't looking and collided into something strong in the corridor.

"Wow! Where's the fire Pragya? Why are you in such a rush?" Mani questioned., "And why do you look so pale? What happened?"

"Mani...Mani we need to leave. Mani, Arnav bhai...I...I can't see him like this. We need to take him away from this town Mani bhai. It's killing him from the inside!" she cried out to him.

"Pragya? Pragya wha happened? Tell me sis."

She told him everything what she saw, how much pain their brother was in.

"Poor bhai..yet, he refuses to share his pain." Mani said with a helpless look. "You're right Pragya. But I know he would not leave if we tell him its for his benefit. We need to think of something else."

" Mani, I would begin college soon. My grades aree good enough to get me into one of the colleges in Pune. Moreover, our parents were originally from Pune. I know that bhai hasn't sold the house there as it has memories of Ma and Papa. I would tell bhai that I want all of us to move there. I know Arnav bhai would do that for me. Lets leave Rohini and go there. Its the only way Arnav bhai would agree to leave."

"But what about Abhi and Samay? I know how much they mean to you. All three of you have been best friends since childhood. Are you ready to leave them?" Mani questioned. 'And although you may not realize it Pragya , but I think you are falling for Abhi. I don't want to take you away from your love.' Mani thought to himself.

"Bhai, Abhi and Samay has their parents. They are their for them, to heal them. But big brother only has us. And you know Arnav bhai, he wouldn't admit his pain even if it kills him. We have to leave!"

"Okay Prags. I think you are right. Its time we took care of our brother like he has always done for us."

Pragya knew that her decision would change all of their lives, but she had to do it for her brother. 'Abhi, Samay. I'm sure you guys would think I'm being selfish when you hear that I decided to leave for my studies. I'm hoping that you guys would not accept the things you hear and understand that i have a good reason to leave. I hope I can explain my reasons to both of you one day. Goodbye Abhi,Samay.'

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To be continued...