Good evening.

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

Chapter 6- Chances and Choices

A woman could be seen carrying a bag of groceries towards her house.

"Let me help masi."

The woman smiled in gratefulness. "Thank you Abhi beta. I see you're back. But where is that troublesome brother of yours?"

"Samay went with some friends. I had to leave for some work at the office. I came back since its over." Abhi explained. "Isn't he home yet?"

"He wasn't home when I left for the market an hour ago. I assumed he was with you."

"Oh, I see." Abhi nodded, walking beside his Sneha Masi, carrying her bag of groceries.

Only Abhi and Samay were to come to Pune for the business deal. But their mother wanted to visit their Sneha masi. So the whole family decided to stay in Pune for a weekend. But after their father's injury, they now have to stay till he recovers. He had slipped in the bathroom and hurt his back and fractured his leg.

Sneha stayed in Pune with her husband and both were generous people. They didn't mind them staying here. In fact, Sneha seemed happy that Shikha, their mother, would stay for more days.

They entered the house and was greeted by a Shikha.

"Abhi, you're back! But where is Samay?" asked his mother.

"He went with some friends. I'm sure he will be back soon."

"Hmm...Okay freshen up. Sneha would you like some tea?"

"Tea would be nice. Thank you."

Shikha nodded and moved towards the kitchen.

Abhi kept the bags in the kitchen and went to check on his father.

#Raj's room#

"Dad, how are you feeling now?"

Raj looked up at the arrival. "Hello Abhi. Come, come."

Abhi came in and sat near his bed on a chair.

"So, how did it go?"

"The deal? I got Arnav to agree to it if that's what you're asking."

"That. And also about your meeting with him. It's been two years since I last saw their family. Are they well?"

"They seem happy. Manish still acts like a child, and Arnav hasn't changed either. Still the same kharus." Abhi said with a playful smirk.

"That is because you and Samay deliberately irritate him." Raj spoke with a smile. "And how is Pragya?"

"Pragya seems a bit more mature, she has become quite a beauty." Abhi commented, recalling her smile.

His father smiled a mischievous smile. "Are you taking a liking to her Abhi?"

"Hahaha...! No Dad. It not like that. I was just complementing her. I know when to praise true beauty when I see one."

"Oh." Raj sighed. "And here I was hoping you would say otherwise."

Abhi's eyes widened "Dad, what are you saying?"

"Hahaha...! Nothing Abhi. I was just messing with you. You must be tired. Why don't you go freshen up and have some tea?"

"Okay dad. Take care."

Abhi left the room, but he found his mother waiting at the door.

"I was just coming to check on your father. But I couldnt help but here someone admiring someone's beauty." Shikha teased.

Abhi rolled his eyes. "Ma, you don't start too. I only like that Chashmish as a friend okay?"

"Oh, it's Chashmish now? Some sort of endearing name for her?"

"Maaaaa!" Abhi whined. However, he hid a blush. 

"Hahaha...! Okay, okay. I won't tease you. But Abhi, wasn't it you who came to me 2 years ago and told me that you felt something special for Pragya? Don't think I've forgotten."

Abhi loked down on thought. "At that time I was just starting to feel something special for her. But Shweta Di's accident happened and they left. That special feeling never got the opportunity to grow. It was as if it was nipped in the bud Ma. So now, I only have feelings of friendship towards her."

"Hmm... Are you sure though? That your feelings have disappeared?"

"I don't know Ma." Abhi repeated. He looked at her curiously. "But why do you seem so interested?"

"Well, when you came to tell me about her Abhi. You sounded...I don't know how to explain it, but you sounded so sure that it was her. She was the one for you."

Abhi frowned. "I... I don't know Ma. These two years, I emerged myself totally in work to forget about everything...sorrow, loneliness, everything. I don't know if I have any such feelings towards her!"

"Then why don't you try and find out? After all, you've got nothing to lose."

"What do you mean?" Abhi asked in confusion.

"I mean that you should try to spend more time with Pragya. Maybe then you will realize if you feel anything towards her or not. If you don't, then it's okay, you two will grow more close as friends... And if you do, you can go confess your feelings to her."

"But how am I supposed to spend time with her when Arnav won't even let me be near her for a second?"

"Abhi...that is something you have to find out on your own. I can't help you with everything."

"Okay, okay! Can you at least please give me something to fill my stomach? All this thinking is making me hungry."

"Sure! Freshen up. There's yogurt in the fridge."

"Yogurt!? I'll freshen up right away!"

#Abhi's room#

Abhi had taken a shower, put on his clothes and was sitting on his bed, eating yogurt. He was in deep thought.

'Ma seems to think that Pragya will be a good partner for me. But, I don't have such feelings for her, do I? I may have had feelings for her long back. But...but now I don't know what I feel for her. Maybe Ma is right. I should try to spend more time with Chashmish. That way I can finally know if I like her as a friend or as something more.'

Abhi sighed 'Easier said than done. That Arnav won't let me near her. And if I try to disobey him, he will surely beat me to death with those muscles of his.' Abhi shivered.

Samay had just come home and was about to enter Abhi's room, when he saw him sighing and deep in thought.
"You know bhai, usually such looks are seen on those with unrequited love stories. Who stole your girl?" teased Samay.

Abhi glared. "Shut up Samay! I'm not in the mood."

Samay chuckled. "Okay dude. Guess its a good thing that I have some good news to cheer you up."

"What news?"

"Arnav has agreed to let us be friends with them again."

"Eh?" Abhi looked at him in disbelief. "Samay, if this is one of your jokes, than I'm telling you, I'm really not in the mood right now."

Samay rolled his eyes and proceeded to tell him everything that happened earlier.

After sometime...

"Oh, I see. But how is it a good news. Chashmish and Bulbul are in danger!"

"Aree bhai, you worry too much. We all will protect them no? Don't worry. By the time we are done with Pawan, he won't dare look into any other girl's eyes."

"I guess you're right." Abhi agreed. 'And maybe....maybe this way, I could spend more time with Pragya too. Awesome!'

"Bhai, you can accompany Bulbul, while I-"

"NO!" Samay was startled at the way Abhi shouted.

Abhi composed himself and cleared his throat. "I mean..no, I can't."

"Why not?" Samay looked at him in confusion.

'Should I just tell him that I want to discover my true fellings for Pragya? But...no! No that would be suicide. Samay would tease me to no end. Its better if I give him some other excuse. Think Abhi think! Think...Aha!'

"I can't because Bulbul is so wild and unpredictable. Not to mention that Mani and Bulbil are always with each other, which means they will be fighting non-stop. I can't handle them." Abhi said as an excuse.

Samay chuckled but agreed. "Come to think of it, you are not totally wrong. Mani and Bulbul always stick together even if they claim to hate each other. I wonder why."

"Maybe its the case where opposites attract? Maybe they like each other secretly. And you loveeee to play matchmaker, don't you Sam?" Abhi teased. 'Come on Sam, take the bait. Agree already!' Abhi prayed.

"I'm the ultimate matchmaker. Of course I can't miss this opportunity." Samay boasted arrogantly. 'Although I wish I could spend more time with you Pragya.' thought Samay.

"Hahaha. ok Samay! There's some yogurt left in the kitchen if you'd like."

"Nah. I'm full. Khushi makes delicious halwa. I would have kissed her hands, but Arnav threatened to kill me."

"No. He would probably torture you first. Than kill you, slowly." Abhi said with a chuckle.

Samay shivered. "Not funny bhai."

Abhi just laughed in response.

#Mehra house, at mid-night#

'How dare he!? How dare he threaten Pragya and Bulbul? And to even think that he could have Khushi for himself. That...that bastard! I'll.... I'll kill him! No, that would be an easy death. I won't kill Pawan. I'll torture him first. Feed him to the lions. Bring him back to life and kill him again!' Arnav cackled at the thought.

"Arnav bhai, its mid-night and you're cackling like a churail. What are doing up so late?" asked Manish, yawning.

"I couldn't sleep. And I don't think I'll be able to sleep until I see that Pawan behind bars, or even better, dead!" Arnav fumed.

"But pacing back and forth in the middle of the night won't make Pawan die. You'll drive a hole into the carpet if you keeping pacing like that!"

"Don't care!"

"I do! I brought it with my own money!" whined Manish.

"What's all this commotion about? Arnav, Mani, what are you two doing here in the middle of the night?" questioned Khushi.

She and her sister had stayed over.

Arnav had asked Khushi and her to stay at his house for some days, for security reasons. She told him he was being over-protective and paranoid, but Khushi wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Mani probably wet his bed in his sleep and Arnav bhai is scolding him." Bulbil snickered as she came out of her room.

"Hey! Do you have to insult me always! I think you were born to annoy me." Mani retorted.

"Guys, why are you all talking so loud?!" asked Pragya as she came out of her room hearing their voices.

"Ask Mani. He was the one who woke me up. Stupid ape!"

"Hey watch it witch! And I woke up because of Arnav bhai."

"I couldn't sleep. It's Pawan's fault that I can't fall asleep. I should go beat him up for that!"

"Bhai, just admit that you want to go and beat up Pawan right now because he tried to steal Khushi Di." teased Pragya.

"He deserves it!"

Khushi came and laid a hand on Arnav's shoulder. "I'm right here with you. And Pawan can't come here. Neither will he be able to harm any one of us because we are all in this together. And I know that Pawan can't do anything to me as long as you are with me. I trust you." she smiled at him.

"I know. But this doesn't mean that I would worry less. I-"

"Arnav...how will you protect all of us, if you don't take care of yourself? You need to be in best shape to beat him. Not sleeping won't help you."

"Yea Arnav bro. Otherwise, he will make a pancake out of you. Did you see Pawan's muscles? He seems tougher than you." Bulbul commented.

"Who's side are you? You're praising our enemy!" Mani accused.

"I'm on Arnav bro's side of course. But I'm only speaking the truth."

"I'll have you know that I was a black belt. Not to mention I had beaten almost every guy in college." Arnav boasted.

"And also that its been 10 years since your college days and 5 years since you last went to the gym." Pragya pointed out.

"Wha- You don't think I can beat Pawan?"

"Bhai, you're strong but Pawan seems stronger." teased Pragya.

"No problem, I'll help bhai in beating him up." Mani flexed his muscles.

"Mani, rehne do, you'll probably embarrass yourself and us."

"You haven't seen me fight Bulbul. Once you see me in action, you'll become a fan!"

"Hahahaha..nice joke!" Bulbul guffawed.

"Okay, enough all of you. You've got college tomorrow and Mani. Arnav, you can't be late for tomorrow's meeting. Move to your rooms and sleep." Khushi advised. Mani, however, couldn't let Bulbul have the last word.

"Joke! I'll show yo-" Mani's phone buzzed "Riya's message. Finally!"

"Riya, who's Riya?"

"Mani bhai met her at the mall yesterday, gave her his number. Finally she texted him. He had been waiting all day long" Pragya giggled.

"Huh. She probably thinks you are an ape too, Mani the ape." smirked Bulbul.

Mani, however, payed her no attention.

"Eh? No comeback? Finally accepted that you are an ape Mani?"

"Bulbul..." warned Khushi.

However, Bulbul was too busy glaring at Manish. She couldn't believe that Mani was ignoring her. His eyes were glued to his phone. 'Who is this Riya anyway!? And its not like she is talking about something very important. Must be a bimbo and an idiot like Mani. That's why they are getting along.'

"Um...Bulbul, are you okay? You look a bit red." Pragya said meekly.

"Whatever! I'm sleepy." she huffed and left for her room.

"Finally someone's listening. The rest of you please retire to your rooms to." said Khushi.

"Not now. I'm busy chatting!" spoke Mani, without looking up from his phone.

"I'll leave sometime later. Now that you all have insulted my muscles, I think I'll train a bit." Arnav added.

"Arnav its 12.10am! Who trains now!?" Khushi asked in bewilderment.

"I do. I'm Arnav Singh Raizada. I can do anything."

"Khushi di, I think I'll go a bit later too. Since I'm awake anyway, I think I'll finish writing the lyrics to my new song." Pragya smiled at her.

Khushi was getting irritated. She wanted them to rest but none of them would listen. It was like taking care of toddlers. 'Well, at least I could have beaten them up if they were toddlers. How do I make such grown up people understand the meaning of being responsible!'

"Hey! How could you do that!? Give me back my phone!" exclaimed Manish. Khushi turned to look at him and found him wrestling with Bulbul to get his phone back.

"Bulbul, I thought you were going to your room!"

"I was. But his phone's beeps kept irritating me!"

"Beeping?! My phone was on silent! Don't lie!"

"I was still getting disturbed by it somehow!"

"That's ridiculous!"

"No it isn't!" To tell the truth, Bulbul wasn't disturbed by any sound. She just couldn't stop thinking about how Mani kept ignoring her for Riya. She didn't understand why, but she didn't want Mani to give his whole attention to Riya. ''Rationality be damned! I won't let Mani ignore me for some bimbo in mini-skirt!'

Mani and Bulbul wrestled for the phone. Finally Mani won, but by that time Riya had already texted him 'bye'.

"You ruined it! I was about to set up a nice date with her!"

"Shouldn't we focus more on Pawan! Quit thinking about yourself!"

"Myself!? I think about everyone else more! You're the one who keeps on doing what you like! Always wanting things your way! I wasn't even disturbing you. Tell her bhai."

"Um...I didn't see what happened." he raised his hands in surrender. 'I'm not getting in this mess.'

"Bhai, you're protecting her!"

"No. Arnav bro just knows that I am right." Bulbul boasted.

"Bulbul, this time Mani is right. He didn't do anything. Why did you take his phone?" asked Pragya.

All of them started arguing, speaking over each other.

"ENOUGH!" shouted a voice.

They all stopped shouting and looked at the person who spoke.

"I have had enough of all of you!" fumed Khushi.

They all gulped. It was well known that Khushi didn't lose her temper easily, but when she did...

"I have been trying to get you all to listen to me, over and over again! But you all just keep brushing me off! Someone wants to train, Someone wants to write Lyrics! Someone wants to text! And someone just loves to disturb others!"

Arnav gulps nearing her. "Khu-khushi. Love, listen plea-"

"Shut up Arnav! No you all listen. I want you all in your rooms! Got it!"

"But Khus-"

"Move it!"

In a flash, Khushi was the only one left in the hall.

She took a deep breath and let it out. "Hmm. Now, it wasn't so hard now, was it? Admit it." Khushi smiled to herself and left for the kitchen.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

To be continued...

~ 🌹 Mona 🌹