Well, about time we know of Abhi's past, no? 😉😉

Of course Tanu is there in it. Any guess what could have happened between the two? 😜😜

Moving on... 💃💃💃

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversations

Chapter 10 - Abhi, the Player

Abhi simply smiled at her and sat back down. "Come here Pragya. Sit beside me. Today, I'll tell you one important aspect of my past that only me and my mother know about. And now...now, you will know as well."

Pragya didn't want to listen to any explanations he might have. However, the sorrow that she saw in his eyes touched her heart. He did not seem to be faking it. She silently sat down beside of him. "Okay. I'm listening."

Abhi looked towards the fire and began his tale. "This starts in my university days. It was when I was immature as any other rich guy would be. It was also the time I met the girl who impacted greatly on my whole life. The girl named...Tanu."

*flashback*

#Raymond College#

A guy could be seen coming through the gate on his bike. As he entered, the boys and girls parted the way for him as if he was the king.

Well, in a way, he was.

He was the king of the hearts of the girls in the college, the king of pranks among his male friends and the crowded king of the College Annual Music Awards.

He was none other than...

"Abhishek!"

Abhi brought his bike to a halt upon his cousin's shout. "Dude, how many times must I tell you it's Abhi! Abhi, the rockstar!" he declared, blowing a kiss in the direction where a group of girls were standing, making them swoon.

"Cousin, your name is Abhishek Prem Mehra and so I will call you that! It's the sanskari name th-"

"Okay okay shh! Not your morning lectures on etiquette again Suresh." Abhi swung his leg over the bike and got off. "It's not that I don't respect my name. I do. But here, Abhi sounds cooler. You know what I mean, right?"

Suresh rolled his eyes but nodded. "Whatever! Now listen, Tanushree is being transferred here to this college an-"

"Tanushree? Who's that? Someone pretty?"

Suresh looked at him shocked. "You...you don't know about her?" seeing Abhi shake his head, Suresh's eyes widened further. "But...but that's just not right! You sh-"

"It's alright Suresh beta. I'll talk to Abhi." came a voice from behind them. It was Abhi's father. Beside him was another man that Abhi didn't recognize.

Suresj nodded and left bidding goodbye to Abhi.

"Hey Dad! Good morning. What brings you to the college?"

"Good morning Abhi. Meet Mr. Yadav Singh, my childhood friend." introduced Abhi's father.

Abhi moved forward and touched his father's feet as well as Yadav's.

"My my! Impressive. Your son hasn't forgotten his values and principles." Yadav praised, making Raj proud. "I'm glad my daughter will get such a good and well-bred husband."

"Hu-husband?!" Abhi exclaimed. "Dad?"

Raj chuckled. "No need to panic Abhi beta. I'm not marrying you off to his daughter just yet! You've still got six months to know each other better."

*interruption*

"Wait a second! I thought you said only your mother knows about it. Then where did your father come into this?"

"Well, Tanu was the girl my Dad selected for me. Everyone knows about her and my marriage that was to take place. Those are the public facts." Abhi explained. "But the true events that impacted my life are known only to my Maa."

Pragya nodded in understanding. "I see. Okay, go on."

*continue*

Abhi kept looking from his father to Yadav in confusion.

"Dad I still don't understand. What is goi-"

"Papa!" came a shout from a distance. Soon, a girl came running and hugged Yadav. "Papa, what are you doing here? Don't tell me you came to chase off the boys here because of your over-protectiveness."

"Well, what am I supposed to do? They try to flirt with my innocent little princess." Yadav teased. He turned to Abhi. "Abhi, this is my daughter Tanushree. And Tanushree, this is Abhi."

Tanushree smiled at Abhi. "Hello Abhi. Nice to meet you. You can call me Tanu."

"Hey Tanu! Nice to meet you too." Abhi replied politely, although he still was confused about everything. 'Why do I feel like I just landed in an entirely different planet? I'm totally clueless here! Somebody explain or I'll explode!'

Raj patted Abhi's back. "Abhi beta, you see, I and Yadav promised each other long back that we will marry you and Tanushree once you both grow up. You both will make an amazing couple!"

Abhi's eyes widened in horror. 'He decided my marriage without even asking me?! How could he!? I'm not ready to commit myself to one girl yet! I'm only 23! I've got girls to flirt with, hot dates to go on and what not!' however, he didn't want to behave rude in front of Yadav and his daughter. Abhi decided he will talk with his father later.

"Abhi, all I've wanted for you to have a bright future and I know you'll do great career wise. But I want you to have a life partner who supports you in every decision and holds your hand through every thick and thin. I believe Tanushree is the one for you."

"And I will feel blessed if you accept my daughter as your wife Abhi. I know you will keep her happy." Yadav spoke in a soft voice looking at his daughter with moist eyes.

"Arre, there you go being all emotional again. What yaar Yadav? At least don't empty the fountains of your eyes in front of the kids." Raj teased. "Come on! Let them chat. I'll get you a cup of hot coffee." saying so, Raj went away with Yadav.

Abhi balled his hands into fists. 'This isn't fair! Dad should have at least asked me once before deciding my future wife. What the heck!?'

"Judging by your looks, I guess you don't want this marriage to take place either." Tanushree said with a chuckle.

"No I...It's jus-" a thought struck Abhi. "Wait a minute! 'Either'? What do you mean by 'either'?"

Tanushree smirked. "Abhi, I don't want to marry you either. I mean, you're handsome, talented, rich and also respectful of elders." Tanushree praised. "But it's just that I believe in love marriage. The kind of love that's able to touch your very soul. Not that love at first sight kind of thing."

Abhi chuckled. "Yeah, I agree. I too doubt if love can really happen at first sight."

Tanu nodded. "I told my father the same. But instead of cancelling the marriage, he thought of transferring me to this college and have me spending six months here to get to know you better. No offense Abhi, but you just aren't my type. I don't think I will fall for you, be it a month or a year."

Abhi could feel his bubble of pride being burst like a balloon with a needle. 'I, the college heartthrob, is being rejected by this girl?! Unbelievable!' nevertheless, he refused to show his insecurity. He smirked at her. "Good good. You made it easy for me. I thought I would break your heart by saying that I don't like you in that way."

Tanu raised an eyebrow. "Really now?"

"Of course! In fact, I've got my own fangirls fawning over me. I didn't want one more."

Tanu rolled her eyes at his arrogance. Nevertheless, she smiled and put forward her hand. "Let's just be good friends till I'm here for these six months. After it, I'll find a way to convince my father not to make me marry you. Deal?"

Abhi smiled back and put shook her hand. "Deal!"

*flashback end*

"So what happened? Did you two manage to convince your parents? Or is it that some problem occurred?" Pragya enquired.

Abhi chuckled. "The problem wasn't very much about them then about us. Life has an unusual way of throwing surprises at you, you know. If you can catch it, it's your win. But if you can't, it will hit you and knock you over."

"Abhi, I can't understand anything. You're being cryptic."

Abhi sighed and looked towards the fire. "Me and Tanu. We became good friends over the months. Whenever our parents were close, we would act like we were happily courting each other. But the truth was we were actually both players dating different people each week. Yes, we kept our morals and never went far. But there was always a guilt in us that we were lying to our parents. Nevertheless, we continued our obnoxious ways until...until three months later when situations came to an extreme.

*flashback*

"Yo Tanu Yo!"

Tanu turned around and smiled as she noticed Abhi coming near her. "Good morning Abhi."

Abhi swung an arm around her shoulders and smirked at her. "So? What's the plan for today? Found another lovesick puppy pinning for your attention?"

Tanu chuckled. "No Abhi."

"I know some guys who were fawning over you earlier. Want me to get you a date for the day?"

Tanu shook her head and tightened her grip on her books. "No Abhi. I don't want anyone such. I..." Tanu took a deep breath and looked at him pointedly. "I don't want to be a player anymore. It's...it's childish and cruel to the boys that I date."

Abhi looked at her in disbelief. "What are you saying? Are you drunk or something?"

"No Abhi. I think I was acting like a drunk headless teenager till now. Now, I can finally see the harm that I was causing others for my own fun, the hearts that I was breaking."

"Tanu! What is wrong with you?! Why are you being so sentimental? Besides, it's not our fault that those boys and girls fawn over us. In a way we give them happiness by spending time with them, while we also enjoy our time."

Tani shook her head. "It's not right Abhi. Each of those boys and girls already know we would ditch them eventually. But still they always hope that maybe, maybe they are the one we would fall for. It's...it's not nice to crush their false hopes. I don't want to break so many hearts that eventually...eventually I lose my true love as well."

Abhi laughed out loud. "Did you visit a shrink or something? You're talking gibberish. You know what? I'll just leave you to sober up. Meet you tomorrow. Bye!"

#Evening#

"🎶 Love love, happy love... 🎶 " as Abhi came into the house humming to himself he heard loud music from upstairs, no doubt from Aliyah's room. As he passed by his parents' room, he heard his father's voice.

"What am I supposed to do Binita? What am I going to do?!"

In curiosity, Abhi edged closer to the room and tried to hear what was going on. He heard his mother's voice next.

"Raj, calm down. We'll find a way. We'll find one, alright?"

"I've tried everything Binita! But I don't have a clue how and where to get this much money."

"What about taking help from Yadav? I'm sure he would lend you some money."

Raj shook his head. "I don't want to Binita. Not when I know that...that Abhi isn't planning to marry Tanushree."

Abhi's eyes widened on his words. 'How did he know?! Shit shit shit!'

"What are you saying Raj?" Binita questioned.

"I know my son. And I know he's just passing away his time until six months are over. Already three months are gone. I...I don't know how I will face Yadav after these three months are over. I'm sure he's going to end his friendship with me."

"Then let me talk to Abhi. I'm sure I can convi-"

"No Binita. I don't want Abhi to be in a forced marriage. It's my fault I decided his marriage to Tanushree without taking his opinion. If he breaks it then...then I guess I'll accept it. Anything for my son. And please, don't tell Abhi anything about our monetary problems."

Abhi could no longer bear to hear his father's miserable voice and ran away to his room. 'Dad's taking so much pain for me. He's in dept but won't tell me. And me? I'm wasting my time being a good-for-nothing useless college brat! He's willing to let Yadav insult him and break their friendship for me. He's thinking about my happiness before his.' Abhi gritted his teeth in anger. "I can't let this happen. I must do something. I must!"

#Next day#

"Carnivalization in Congreve's plays was link-" the professor stopped speaking when Abhi burst into the room. "Yes Abhishek? You better have a good reason for interrupting my class."

"Sorry Professor. But I must talk to Tanushree urgently." he scanned the room for her and noticed that she was no where in the room.

"Not only you Abhishek. I too need to have a few words with Miss Tanushree. She has been bunking my classes since two weeks."

'Eh? But she always comes to college and attends the other classses. I see her hanging out with her friends too.' Abhi thought in confusion. "Um...she...she is going through a hard time ma'am. I'll talk to her. Excuse me please." saying so, he left to find her.

He went to the bench near the football field where he knew she liked to spend some alone time. "There you are! Tanu, your English professor says you're missing out on your classes. Why?"

Tanu moved to the side, making space for him to sit. "I attend the other classes. I only skip hers. Literature has too much about romance and love, too much emotions and feelings if you ask me."

Abhi chuckled. "Yeah, I guess."

"So? Why are you here?"

"Tanu I..." Abhi hesitated, but composed himself. "Tanu you're my friend and so I want to ask you straight away. What qualities will you look for in your future husband?"

Tanu was bewildered on his question. "Um...any reason why you're asking me this?"

"Because I want to become such for you to agree to marry me."

Tanu looked shocked by his answer. "W-what?"

Abhi nodded. "I...I think I like you Tanu. And I want to marry you. Please tell me what I can do to become the person you want as your husband."

Tanu kept looking at him quizzically. Finally, after a moment, she laughed out loud. "Abhi, you said I'm your friend. Am I so cheap that you think you can lie to me about your intentions?"

It was Abhi's turn to be shocked. "I...I didn-"

"Shut up Abhi! I know you don't like me in that sense. But what I can't understand is why are you lying to my face about it?"

"I...I'm not!"

"Is it that...is it that you're bored of all the other girls and so you now want to play with me now?!"

"Tanu! I would never do that to you!"

"Then tell me the truth. Tell me why are you lying to me. Right. Now!"

Abhi sighed in misery and narrated the events.

After sometime...

"I see. So you think that if you and I genuinely become a couple, your father won't hesitate to ask money from Yadav. And even their friendship won't end either. For your father you're doing this?"

Abhi nodded. "My father sacrifices so much for me. It's the least I could do for him."

Tanu smiled at him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "No need of all this drama Abhi. Vivian uncle hasn't told my Papa about his money problems. But I can tell him. As for my Papa? I know him well. He won't refuse to help Vivian uncle."

"But Ta-"

Tanu placed a finger on his lips. "No 'but's Abhi. I'll handle everything, don't worry. We'll continue the way we were. No need for you to force yourself to marry me. And by the end of the next three months, I'll have my father convinced that you're not meant for me, while also making sure his friendship with Vivian doesn't end."

"But how?"

"Simple. I'll go tell him the truth. My father is a good person and I'm sure Papa will understand."

Abhi let out a sigh of relief. He felt as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. "Thank you Tanu. You're really a true friend." he then reverted back to his playful self. "You know, sometimes I think you're falling for me since you do so much for me." he teased.

Tanu let out a loud laugh at his words. "You wish Abhishek Prem Mehra. I can't fall for you Abhi. Trust me, I won't." she said with a smirk and turned around. "See you later."

*flashback end*

"Tanu seems like a true friend." Pragya acknowledged. "Did she manage to help out?" she asked hoping for a happy ending.

Abhi nodded. "She did. She told her father about the money problem and Yadav uncle helped my Dad."

"And what about the marriage thing?"

"She didn't tell him. When I asked her, she said she would do it at the end of the six months time."

"But why not? Telling after six months or right then would be the same thing, wouldn't it?"

Abhi balled his hands into fists. "I didn't understand why either until...until it was too late. What she did? I couldn't have ever imagined it."

************************************
To be continued...

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹