A few days later,

At night when everyone was asleep.

She was walking to and fro in the room when Abhi came inside.

"Sir... What was that?" she asked.

Abhi, "What are you referring to now Pragya?"

Pragya took a deep breath before saying, "I understand that you're acting in front of everyone to instigate Tanu. But...."

Abhi, "But?"

Pragya freaked out, "How can you kiss my cheek? You said you won't cross your limit right?"

Abhi, "It's just a kiss Pragya."

He said casually and walks to the bed to sit down.

Pragya, "Just a kiss? Like seriously? Do Friends kiss each other?"

Abhi, "Again you're getting it wrong. It was a friendly kiss. And a friend can lightly peck on a friend's cheek. It's common."

Pragya, "I don't have such friends that you're referring to."

Abhi,"Exactly! Your problem is you don't have friends at all!"

Pragya, "Who said so? I also had friends in college but nobody behave the way you say."

Abhi, "Pragya please... Don't start again. I am telling you again that whatever I am doing is just to make everyone believe we are husband and wife. It's the very first step to achieve our plan as soon as possible."

Pragya, "I know but...."

Abhi, "The problem now is you're confusing yourself with unwanted thoughts. Or I don't know whether you want those thoughts to happen."

Pragya shrieked, "What?? What did you say?"

Abhi, "I am telling what I feel Pragya. I am doing only with the intention to make others believe we are husband and wife. But recently you're getting scared we will be husband and wife."

"No... I... Never think like that...." she said incoherently looking away from him

Abhi, "Pragya... Look at me and tell that you are sure that you're not scared of us becoming husband and wife."

Pragya never looks at him but confidently tells, "I am sure I don't have such thoughts."

Abhi sighs and then tells, "Then it means don't ever talk about what I am doing to make others believe that we are husband and wife. If next time, you talk this way, then we have to do something else."

Pragya, "Something else?"

Abhi teasingly said, "Romance! What else?"

Pragya, "Sir!"

Abhi, "I was kidding."

"Nowadays you're kidding too much." she murmured which was inaudible to him.

Abhi, "What are you saying?"

He asked looking curious.

Pragya, "I am saying I find it awkward that you kissed me in front of my family especially my Ma and Bhai."

Abhi,"Acha... You call them your Family? The family who never talk to you a single word or never acknowledge your presence at all!"

Pragya turned away thinking about it.

Abhi, "I didn't want you to feel bad now but I personally believe that in a family they forget and forgive each other's mistake."

Pragya, "It's true sir but in my case it was not a mistake."

Abhi, "Then what was it?"

Pragya, "I can't tell you."

Abhi,"As expected!"

He sighed and headed towards the room door when she said, "Don't leave. I will tell you one day."

Abhi,"Fine but I wasn't leaving the room!"

Pragya, "Really?"

Abhi, "I was going to lock the door. We can't take the risk of leaving the door unlocked when Tanu is around."

Pragya, "Oh... Okay..."

Abhi, "You see I am not scared of her. It's just a precaution!"

Pragya smiles and replied, "I know sir. I know you're not scared of her."

Abhi grins and locks the door. He then goes to the bathroom to take a shower.

She then walks to the balcony and looks at the moon.

After getting changed Abhi sees Pragya to be nowhere in the room. He then looks towards the direction of balcony.

"What is she doing there instead of going to sleep!" he thought.

He went there too and stood beside her.

"Not sleeping ah?" he asked.

Pragya,"Not feeling sleepy!"

Abhi gasped and finds it unbelievable.

Abhi, "Like seriously? How is it possible you don't feel sleepy as you have been working all day after your family had arrived?"

Pragya, "I am working as per usual."

Abhi,"Don't lie. You think I don't know if I am at work? I know from Hema that you make sure your family have the food they prefer and make sure it's cooked well too. Then you also make them occupied with interacting with elders by organising activities secretly."

Pragya," Wo... I... "

Abhi," Not only that you also make sure your bhai have regular updates from the doctor who checks on him. And also visiting temple in the evenings for prayers! Obviously for his speedy recovery!"

Pragya," But all this doesn't make me sleepy. These are just normal work."

Abhi,"Normal work? Oh my god! For your kind information, you still keep track of my schedules and meetings. I still receive your email reminder about my work. What about that?"

Pragya, "Haan sir. But that's part of my work right?"

Abhi, "Impossible! You do so many things but you still don't feel tired and sleepy."

Pragya smiles and tells, "Maybe I am a superwoman and that's why I can do all this!"

Abhi, "Maybe but you're a mysterious superwoman."

Pragya, "Mysterious? Why do you say that?"

Abhi, "Simple! You care for your family who don't care for you. You care for the boss who actually teases you a lot nowadays."

Pragya, "Who said my family never cares for me?"

Abhi, "They do?"

Pragya, "They did. Not now. So..."

Abhi, "Alright so it's like you doing your part now as you couldn't do it last time. Fine it makes sense. Then how about you caring for the boss who tease you?"

Pragya, "That's what make me mysterious! I also don't know why I care for him. Maybe I think he is a child at heart so he needs to be cared."

Abhi,"Excuse me?"

Pragya, "Sir... You're a child at heart. Very innocent and you need to be cared for that."

Abhi,"Are you saying I am immature in a good way?"

Pragya, "No sir! Not at all!"

Abhi, "I hope so..." he tells looking serious.

Pragya, "I am sorry if..."

Abhi interrupts her and said, "Anways, I love to be cared by YOU!"

He stressed the word you before yawning loudly and said he is sleepy now.

He soon left the balcony leaving her alone.

"Is he telling the truth or teasing me now?" she wondered and decided to leave her thoughts aside as she also was feeling sleepy now.

Sneek peek to next part,

Abhi, "Believe me! It was never your fault!"

Pragya, "You don't know what happened sir. It was because of me. I was at fault."

Abhi,"Are you trying to lie now? You know it's not your fault. They never understand the truth. In the end, you had no choice other than staying silent and leave."

Pragya shook her head in denial.

Abhi, "What if I show you the proof that you were not at fault!"

Pragya, "Proof? How's that possible? It happened five years ago!"

Abhi asks her to look at the direction he pointed. She was shocked at what she was seeing.

Thank you for reading! 😊📖