A/N : Inline comments are love, so are your final comments on how you feel about the whole story after you read it. Looking forward to lots of both as you read each chapter! 

Happy Reading!

***

Daadi had intervened one more time. This time she had successfully managed to send Abhi and Pragya for a vacation in Mauritius. Abhi, though reluctant, saw how the idea of the beach and white sand had lit up Pragya's face. He decided to take her this time - not because he started feeling for her or anything of that sort, but after the MMS fiasco had ended, and Pragya had forgiven him and decided to stay back with him solely for his daadi. She could have easily ditched him, her mother knew everything now after all. But she stayed back - she fought with her own family to do so, so that daadi would get time to recover.

They had to end their marriage pretty soon anyway. Not because they still had a tiff between them - well for once all misunderstanding were cleared and they were kind of friends - but because it was too late, super model Tanu was pregnant with Abhi's child. They knew this news couldn't be kept under the warp for too long. In spite of his repulsion towards Tanu, Abhi had decided to marry her and name his child. It wasn't easy - he was about to marry the woman who, so venomously has sent daadi that MMS that deteriorated her health - but he wasn't left with a choice. Pragya had taken the news with grace and dignity and supported Abhi in his decision of marrying Tanu. She wanted the child to have a proper family. Abhi had talked Tanu into waiting for some time before revealing this news to his daadi - so that she had a chance at recovery before hearing the result of his final act of illegitimacy.

In fact, truth be told, Abhi was actually looking forward to this holiday. It was his last chance at happiness. Daadi had mostly recovered, and he and chashmish had decided, after honouring this last wish of her's, they would go back and break the news of Tanu's pregnancy to her. Once that was done, Abhi's fate was sealed. He would be stuck with a woman he now despised from the core of his heart, for life. On the other hand it was pleasant to see and believe chashmish for whatever she said at face value now - for once he wasn't having two minds where one wanted to believe her innocence and the other waned to hold on to facts naming her to be a gold digger. He enjoyed her company and childish innocence.

They reached the airport only to be greeted by Tanu, who was planning to gate crash their vacation.

"Hello baby? Did you miss me much?" asked Tanu flirtatiously, as Pragya moved aside out of habit.

"Tanu, what are you doing here? I told you right, that once I am back, I will break our news to daadi? These are the last seven days, can't you wait?"

"Of course not munchkin! I mean, I thought if you're going to break the news to daadi once you return anyway, it then doesn't matter even if we are caught together in Mauritius right? You're about to tell her anyway. Besides she made you promise, you will definitely take this behenji with you this time, but you didn't promise that you won't take anyone else! See, technically you're not breaking your promise honey. Unless of course you're trying to tell me you want lone time with her" Tanu eyed Abhi viciously.

Truth was, indeed Abhi wanted to spend this last bit of time with chashmish alone, but he couldn't own up to it - not because Tanu's feelings mattered, but because he didn't want to make their separation harder for chashmish, now that he knew she had feelings for her - he wanted to show emotional indifference to easen it for her to leave him and try her hand with a better man sometime in life. He wasn't going to show her his softer side for her - not now - he owed her that much.

"Please refer to her as Pragya henceforth. Fine you can join us" spoke Abhi nonchalantly and glanced at chashmish. She had a resigned smile on her face.

***

When they boarded the flight, Abhi and Pragya had adjacent seats and Tanu's was two rows behind. But seeing that Tanu suddenly clutched her underbelly and pretended to feel uncomfortable and complained of pain. Pragya instinctively reached for her and made her sit, and got the flight attendants to get some water for her. She then told the airhostess that Tanu was flying with them and requested for a seat swap and made her sit with Abhi, as she moved to Tanu's place.

"Chashmish, it wasn't necessary, I am sure it was nothing, she was just pretending, why did you swap seats?" Abhi whispered to Pragya.

"We can't be sure Abhi, what if she was actually in pain? The child is your's Abhi, you should take care of her" Pragya whispered back and left a longing Abhi and a smirking Tanu next to each other.

***

Soon after spending a day on the beach and various other tourist spots, Abhi realized Tanu was using her pregnancy as a cover to call for Abhi's attention - each time she complained of her health, Pragya would nonchalantly send Abhi to her - it was her plan. Abhi noticed, when Tanu was alone in his room with him (Tanu insisted she and Abhi shared a room and Pragya stayed in the other - "baby were are going to marry now"), she never complained of nausea or uneasiness. It is only when Pragya was around and Abhi tried spending some time with her, that her health issues cropped up. Abhi hit upon a plan - he had a friend here who worked for a very well-known designer label, last time he checked on FB, he was in Mauritius too. He called him up and invited him for dinner with the trio that evening.

Tanu was ecstatic at the news. It could be a great career opportunity for her. And Abhi knew, when she would have such a hot-shot by the table she would be too immersed in impressing him for bagging one last show before she disappears for maternity leave. And he would take advantage of the situation and spend some time with chashmish.

But all hell broke loose when his plan backfired on him instead, that evening.

***

"Hello there Abhi! Long time man!" smiled Armaan Suri.

He was a tall lean bodied man, dressed in a black dinner jacket with a black shirt and beige corduroy trousers. Abhi shook hands with him warmly and went on to introduce Tanu and Pragya.

"Armaan, meet my ----" Abhi stumbled for a second. He wasn't sure whom to introduce as wife and whom as friend, since in a matter of seven days, he was expecting their role reversal in his life. But Tanu picked up from there.

"Hi Mr. Suri, I am Tanu, a model by profession and this is Pragya, Abhi's wife - she is nothing - by profession I mean"

"She is a professor of literature" chided in Abhi, and Pragya looked at him with an uncertain smile on her lips. She was happy to see Abhi not letting Tanu tarnish her image.

"Well Tanu, I know you! I have a lot of friends in the industry in India too. And as rumours have it my friend Abhi, Tanu is the wife to be and Pragya the friend to be? But I guess it's good to see such a healthy relation between you three" smile Armaan intelligently.

Tanu's smile faltered. If he knew insider news like her and Abhi's relation, what were the chances that he would know about her pregnancy too? It has been doing rounds in the industry too. She didn't want to lose this opportunity for the stupid lie she put before Abhi to hold onto him. She was only trying to hold on to Abhi because her career was going low, if that very career boosted in itself, she didn't need Abhi anymore - thought Tanu to herself. "If the need be, I will own up to Armaan that I am not pregnant at all" thought Tanu.

As Tanu opened her mouth to interact more with Armaan, he turned to Pragya instead.

"So Ms. Nothing, I must say you have a very beautiful face" piped Armaan.

"Mrs." Rectified Abhi, "And she is a professor Armaan, as I said before"

"Aah, I like it better if she is nothing - because clearly as I see it - an empty slate is the best place for a new story to weave"

Abhi felt irritated. This Armaan was supposed to woo his "would be wife" so he got time with his wife. But he instead was flirting with his wife thinking she would soon be his "ex-wife", and left his "would be wife" burning in jealousy!

"So Pragya, may I offer you a drink? Maybe a Cosmopolitan?"

"My wife doesn't consume alcohol Armaan" responded Abhi, a little irritated. Clearly things weren't going his way tonight.

"I would love one though Armaan. I personally love cosmopolitan" laughed Tanu.

"Sure, Tanu, I will get you one. And come on Abhi, maybe your wife didn't consume alcohol, but maybe this Pragya - who is nothing - does?" smiled Armaan.

"Umm..no thank you Mr. Suri, I am good" spoke Pragya softly.

"Well then maybe some wine? It's only grape juice in a way isn't it Pragya?" coaxed Armaan.

"Waiter! Can you please get two JD on the rock for me and the other sir here, one cosmopolitan for the ma'am here and an orange and guava mixed juice with pulp for this ma'am" finished Abhi in one breath. He couldn't stand Armaan's friendly hint of Pragya's independent identity with a different choice for things anymore. Armaan raised an eyebrow for a second, but recovered fast.

"Armaan, aren't you planning to launch a collection this fall in India?" asked Tanu, still trying hard to divert his attention without realizing it's a lost battle.

"As a matter of fact I am. But you know Tanu, I don't like discussing work when I am with friends - especially in company of beautiful women"

Tanu faked a blush at that when Armaan completed his statement, "like our Pragya here". Abhi, annoyed as he was, but couldn't help a snigger just by seeing Tanu's face.

The drinks along with food arrived. Soon they were eating and Abhi was relatively at peace because Armaan was talking to him for once and not Pragya. Tanu still tried butting in the conversation, but Abhi could tell she was irritating the life out of him.

After the food, while they were sitting and talking, they started playing nice music in the restaurant.

"Pragya my beautiful lady, may I have this dance with you?" started Armaan. This infuriated Abhi and he was at the verge on losing it.

"My wife has two left feet. She falls down every time she dances - you will be embarrassed buddy - trust me" said Abhi, trying hard to keep it light.

"Aah then you my friend, weren't a great lead! What's in waltz? A man leads, the lady follows. And as far as I know, she has been following for quite some time now" shot back Armaan with a smile.

Abhi felt like he was punched below the belt. He stared at them as Pragya took his hand and went to the dance floor. Abhi somehow managed to sit through one dance with a ranting Tanu by his side. The moment the next song started playing and they showed no intentions of returning - in fact chashmish was smiling! How could she not see what a sly man this Armaan was - he was best suited for women like Tanu not chashmish! Abhi walked to the dance floor with Tanu at his toe.

Tanu seized the opportunity and asked Armaan for a dance. He was too polite to refuse. Abhi looked at Pragya and motioned her to dance with him. As she came close to him and kept her soft hands on his shoulder, he felt her melting in his arms and a strong surge of possessiveness took over him.

"Why can't you refuse him to anything chashmish?"

"I thought he was your friend, I didn't want to upset you"

"Couldn't you see, I was trying to dodge him from you for so long"

"I thought you were doing that to aid Tanu in connecting with him - he could open a lot of opportunities for her I guess"

Abhi sighed exasperated. Trust chashmish to see things in a wrong frame! The second song ended by then. A third was starting to play.

"So Pragya, do you mind gong out for a walk with me? As we let the rockstar and his fianc enjoy this dance by themselves?" asked Armaan with a warm and friendly smile. He had returned by her side with Tanu at his heel. Pragya uncertainly looked at Abhi - she had clear expressions of turning down the offer, but she was to poilte to say so - Abhi thought of intervening.

"Hey, Armaan, I don't think my wife would be comfortable -----"

"Aah relax Abhi, we all are from the same industry - I know how much of a wife she is to you. Let her enjoy life!" winked Armaan and held out her hand for Pragya. To Abhi's surprise, Pragya took his hand and walked out, as both Abhi and Tanu sat there fuming.

***

Next morning, as Abhi and Tanu got outside for breakfast, Abhi noticed Pragya already in the beach caf, sitting with Armaan having breakfast. Anger boiled inside Abhi as he hurled towards them. But before he could open his mouth, Armaan got up and hugged him in congratulation!

"Abhi you'll feel like the proudest soon to be divorced husband in the world, when you hear this" chuckled Armaan handsomely.

"What?" Abhi looked at Pragya with curiosity and an unclaimed anger.

"Well, you're wife who was nothing until yesterday, has bagged herself a modelling contract for being the showstopper for our collection launch in India this fall! Hah" finished Armaan!

Abhi looked at Pragya blankly, but for some reason she wasn't making eye contact with him. His anger soon turned to remorse. Maybe it was true, Pragya indeed needed to have a life of her own now - he wasn't going to be around for long. He went close to her, held her by the shoulder gently and said, "If this truly makes her happy, then you're right Armaan, I am indeed the proudest soon to be divorced husband in the world"

Pragya's head shot up at Abhi, but before she could responded, the air was filled with Tanu's shrieks.

"Armaan! I am the super model here, I have years of ramp experience - you know you will need me to strengthen you base in India, but no, you ignore me all of yesterday, and you give the contract to a novice like this behenji?" screamed Tanu in jealousy.

"Well Tanu, to begin with, I would appreciate if you didn't use such regressive words in my model's reference. And yes, you were indeed a good option for us - but as I said, nothing hides in the industry - I know you're pregnant and you cannot honour the contract. Hence I thought of taking a fresh face - Pragya's face, the face I have taken to liking ever since my eyes fell on her" confessed Armaan.

Abhi was about to advance towards Armaan, for so blatantly opening up about his liking for his Pragya, but what happened next made him freeze. Tanu jumped and responded to Armaan.

"But that's the thing Armaan! It's a rumour! I am not pregnant! Now will you sign me instead?"

"You're not pregnant?" asked Abhi and Pragya in unison.

Before Tanu could reply, Armaan spoke, "Well if indeed you're not pregnant, than definitely you're my first choice"

"Thank you so much Mr. Suri" gleefully responded Tanu and hugged Armaan.

But this was too much, Abhi pulled Tanu towards him and shook her roughly and repeated.

"Why the hell are you lying Tanu? You are pregnant!"

"Of course not Abhi! You think I am that stupid? That night, nothing happened between you and me! You were too drunk, you came and crashed at my place that's it!"

"Why the hell did you lie then Tanu?" screamed Abhi in frustration.

"It doesn't even matter now Abhi, because you don't matter! Why don't you and behenji go and enjoy the rest of your honeymoon and let me get some real work done here with Armaan"

***

Abhi and Pragya were in the beach now, walking silently holding hands as the clear waves greeted their bare feet.

"Chashmish, why did you go with Armaan last night?"

"I wanted to tell him that he shouldn't really waste his time on me, as I am taken. I didn't want to say it in front of you and Tanu and hurt his ego or tar your friendship hence."

"What did he say?"

"He told me he liked me nonetheless, but he respected my boundaries. In fact he told me something startling about Tanu too. He told me that Tanu was currently working under a modelling contract with his friend in India, so after the rumours of her pregnancy took momentum, they had asked for a pregnancy test report from her to confirm that she didn't dishonour the contract. She provided the report and continued work. But she had requested to keep the news just within the company itself that she wasn't pregnant. So when Armaan came here last night, he understood what Tanu was playing at - he saw us and realized, why her being on the news for being pregnant was important - he said, otherwise nothing else could draw you away from such a woman as me (She blushed badly as she quoted him), then he told me he could help find out is she was lying to us or the report she provided was fake."

"Oh" replied Abhi relived. Something else was playing in his mind now.

"So, when you turned him down, was it because you are taken or is it because you actually don't like him?"

"I turned him down because I actually don't like him, and I am already taken by the man I have always loved" smiled Pragya at a bewildered Abhi.

"I love you too chashmish" whispered Abhi.

It was a cloud free afternoon as they walked and the sun could finally be seen burningly brightly over them, heralding a happy life of togetherness ahead.

And Tanu never managed the contract - it turned out, Armaan had already finalized some other model for their show

However, Daadi's final attempt to bring AbhiGya together did succeed!

***

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