Hi ya! Back with another chapter.

Moving on...💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

Chapter 7 - What's This Feeling?

"WE WON!" screamed Bulbul and Pragya in unison as they entered the house. They had won in the college competition and couldn't wait to tell the others.

"Congrats girls!" greeted Mani as he came to while chewing on an apple.

"Mani! We won we won we won!"exclaimed Bulbul, giving him a hug. Pragya looked on wih wide eyes.

Mani was stunned. The apple dropped from his hand and his eyes widened. Bulbul, when she realized what she did, also froze on the spot. Arnav and Khushi entered the living room at the same time.

They whispered to each other when they saw Mani and Bulbul hugging. "I guess they are finally realizing their feelings."

"I hope so. Maybe then we will all have some peace."

"You sure Khushi? Because I think once they are married, they are going to fight forever."

Khushi just smacked her head and looked to the sky. "I guess that another possibility. Oh my! Good luck to us."

"Ahem!" someone cleared their throat and all looked towards the door to find the Mehra brothers standing there. At once, Bulbul and Manish broke apart, blushing.

"Looks like oil and water do mix together!" commented Samay, looking at them.

"Welcome Abhi, Samay. What are you two doing here at this time?" Pragya asked good-naturedly.

"Well, we had gone to your college to meet you both, but they said that you had already left. And congrats on your win!"

"Thanks Abhi!"

"I already knew you both would win. Know why?" asked Samay.

"Our talent of course. Right?" Bulbul spoke, flipping her hair over her shoulder with a smirk.

"Nope. Because you are friends of the cool and handsome Samay Mehra." he boasted.

Abhi smacked him in the head.

"Ow! You're so mean bhai. I'm soooo hurt and depressed because of you. Only Khushi's halwa will be able to cheer me now."

Mani rolled his eyes. "Just say that you want to eat halwa made by Khushi bhukkar."

Arnav glared at Samay. "Khushi isn't your maid. She isn't mak-"

"Relax Arnav. Its okay. Besides, its a time to celebrate Pragya and Bulbul's victory. You all sit here while I cook!"

"You're an angel Khushi. I really wish I could kiss your hands. Your cooking is delicious!" Samay praised.

"Hey! That's my future wife. Watch it!"

"Cranky old man."

"What did you call me Samay!?"

"Ooook. That's enough Sam." Abhi reprimanded and turned to Arnav. "I'm glad that you have left the past behind and are trying to be friends with us again."

"I'll do anything for my family." Arnav spoke sincerely.

"I know. Me and Sam talked about the matter. We have decided that Sam will stay with Bubul and Mani, while I stay with Chasmish."

Arnav looked at him suspiciuosly "Why do you want to be with Pragya?"

"Sam informed me that Bulbul has dance classes after college. So Pragya has to come home by herself no? I'm free at that time, so I decided to take responsibilty of her."

Abhi hoped that Arnav accepts his excuse. He didn't have any other excuse for wanting to spend time with Pragya.

Fortunately, Arnav nodded. Arnav was about to go to his room, when he suddenly turned back and walked up to Abhi.

"She is Pragya to you. Don't call her Chasmish or any other nick names!" with that, he left the room.

"Why is he always so angry!?" Samay exclaimed.

"Because you annoy him too much!"

"Hey! That's not true Prags."

Pragya just rolled her eyes. She was about to speak, when she suddenly remembered that Bulbul and Mani had been quiet for some time.

It was unusual as they both were the most talkative people in the house. She looked their way to find Bulbul lost in thoughts, while Mani was busy on his phone.

'Why did I do that?! Am I crazy! I hugged Mani. Mani of all people! What is wrong with me? Ugh! But...but it felt good hugging him. My heart...it felt at peace, felt safe when I hugged him... Do I like Mani?' Bulbul's eyes widened 'No! No way! I can't...its...its not possible! But...but then, why did I feel jealous when he was texting Riya? Do I really like him?....But if I do, why do I blush and get shy when I see Samay? What are all these feelings? At this rate, I'll go crazy! I don't want to be crazy!' Bulbul panicked. "NOOOOO!" she screamed , startling everyone to silence.

"Something wrong?" asked Pragya in concern.

"N-no-thing! I- I just need to ...to...do something! Yes thats it! Be right back." Bulbul rushed to her room and shut the door.

"Well, that was unusual, right Mani?... Mani?"

"Huh? Yes Prags? Sorry, I was busy texting Riya."

"Hmm...I was saying that Bulbul is acting weird no?"

"Who cares?! She always acts weird. When is she normal?" Mani joked.

Bulbul heard it from her room. Usually it would not affect her, but now she felt a bit hurt. However, she shook her head and returned to her tough persona.

"I heard it you ape!" she screamed from her room.

"See, she's alright." Mani declared, as if he reached the conclusion to a tough case.

"Everyone, halwa's ready." Khushi shouted from the kitchen.

"Awesome! The biggest bowl is mine!" Samay rushed to the kitchen, followed by Pragya and Abhi. Mani moved behind them slowly.

Actually, he wasn't texting Riya. He was pretending to, but he was actually thinking about Bulbul.

'Why did she do that? And why did it feel right. I .... I don't know why but, it felt as if she belonged in my arms. I felt at peace and happy. But......but I don't like her in that way, Do I?'

#Next day#

"Bye Pragya! See you later."

"Bye Bulbul!"

Pragya and Bulbul parted ways as Bulbul went with her friends for dance classes. Pragya headed home. However, before she could go any further, a car stopped in front of her. The owner stepped out and went around the car to open the door to the front for Pragya.

"Step inside Madam."

Pragya chuckled at his antics. "What are doing Abhi?"

"Being a courteous young man to a beautiful lady." Abhi joked.

Pragya just shook her head in amusement and entered the car.

#On The Road#

"So...How have you been?"

"Pragya, you just saw me yesterday. How much can a person change in a day?" Abhi asked, amused.

"I wasn't referring to yesterday. I meant about....about these past years."

Abhi didn't answer for some time. His face turns grim.

Pragya felt that she had intruded in something she shouldn't have. However, before she could apologize, Abhi spoke up. "It wasn't easy at first. We just lost our sister and top of that, we lost our best friend. I felt like as if it was our fault that everyone was leaving. Like we were poison." he gripped the steering wheel hard.

"Abhi, please don't think like that!"

"Di would have never rushed to the school if it wasn't for us. We killed her. Samay was young. But me? I should have acted mature. I killed her!?"

Pragya was about to say otherwise, but stopped. Such things won't make him understand. She would have to speak in a different turn. "So you want to say that if you knew about the accident before hand, you would still let her come? You would let her die? You would want to be responsible for her death?"

Abbi stopped the car abruptly and looked at her in shock.

"How...How could you say that Pragya!? You know I would rather sacrifice myself than let anything happen to her."

Pragya smiled and placed her hand on his. "Exactly Abhi. You would never do that. That is what I'm trying to tell you. You would never hurt Shweta di. So stop blaming yourself or Samay. You didn't kill her. It was fate. Understood Abhishek Prem Mehra?" Pragya questioned, looking at him straight in the eyes.

Abhi gave her a small smile. "Got it Miss Pragya."

They got lost looking into each other eyes. It was only when a car honked from behind that they snapped out of it. It broke their trance.

Pragya looked at their joined hands and quickly pulled away, blushing.

Abhi too blushed and looked forward. He cleared his throat and spoke "W-we should hurry. Else, Arnav would be worried"

"Not now. I want to visit my friend's house first."

"Eh?"

"She has been released from the hospital today. I want to go see her. It won't take long."

"Hmm. Okay."

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To be continued...