"Whatever Happens, Happens for a Reason" True or False Final

A special Thanks to Shalu, Pooja, Sagar, Shuri, Vani, Riya, analy, addicted, yadi ramos. Thank you very much!!
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AFTER THREE YEARS

Neha was looking at the rains, it was 26th July today and again it was raining. She could not believe that it has been three years past that day. Her life had changed after that day, she had changed after that day. She knew she had hurt Abhi when she had gone without telling him. But she knew she had done the right thing. She still remembered the evening she had spent with the family.

She also vividly remembered the reaction Rima had given after her request. Rima had denied angrily but later understanding Neha's concern she had agreed.

That evening had gone too quick for Neha but she had enjoyed herself by cooking. Playing with Ayesha, and memorizing Abhi's smile, his laugh, and also the way he looked at her in middle of something. After everyone went to sleep, she had gone to her bedroom and she had waited for Abhi. He had come. They had talked for a long time and when he said he would go to sleep, there were tears in her eyes. She had known this would be the last time she would see him. Abhi had smiled and said he would see her in the morning and kissed her on the forehead and he was gone. She had not slept after that but collected her bag and had waited for morning.

Rima had come as she had promised and ignoring all her protests made her drink tea. Obeying Rima she had drank tea and had come in the living room and last time kissed Abhi on his forehead and left.

It had been so many times when she thought that Abhi would come after her, or how would they meet somewhere. But they never met each other. His opinion had changed hers and she had made changes in her life. She looked outside the rickshaw to see it was raining very heavily and the traffic was building.

She called her mom and informed her that she was stuck in the traffic and would be late. She had a mobile now, she had purchased it a year back.

She closed her eyes and remembered the talk she had with her mom after going back. She had strictly told her mom that she had to take a decision whether to leave dad or stay with him. Her mom had been shocked at Neha and argued. But when Neha had cried her resolve had weakened. Then she had asked Neha what had happened and Neha told her mom everything and again wept in her arms. That night her family changed, they had called their family elders and other people and told them what her dad did.

That evening had been long, some people had argued, some had sympathized, when her mom had told them that she was leaving her husband. Many had urged them to change her decision but finally they all agreed when she had told in no uncertain terms that they would stay with him. They had criticized her mom, herself but the decision was final. Her mom's cousin had a room she had given them to stay and they had moved from there. After that time had passed in a blur, Neha had done two jobs and helped her mom in the tiffin business she had started. They managed and survived, now they had their own flat not big but just what they needed. It was on a loan but even her sis had started earning so that was not her worry now.

They all had worked hard and achieved it, now they were good family. In all these years she had cried a lot for Abhi missing him. Since past two months her mom had first time taken his name and told her to go and meet him. She had denied, she didn't know how to face him. What if he had forgotten her, what if he found another girl, what if he was married. So many doubts had kept her from going to him, she knew his father's jewelry store's name. He had told her but how would she face him.

She had also kept in touch with Ninaz Ravi and Rima Pawan. They both called and spoke to her, they were good friends of hers. They had never once asked her about Abhi and she was grateful for that. Rickshaw stopped with a jolt and she came out of her trance. Her rickshaw had stopped in between the road. She asked the driver where they were and the answer was Vile Parle.

She noticed around to see they were on the side of the road and then driver explained that his rickshaw had broken down. Neha became furious since morning she had been in a crappy mood. Since morning they were saying things about the flood which had happened three years back making her remember everything again. Then when she had taken a leave her mom asks her to go and collect her saree. Everything reminded her of Abhi and the rains, and here she was stuck again. She looked at the driver and thought of shouting at him but it was of no use. With no choice left Neha paid him and came out in the rain, traffic was still there. She was getting wet as she had forgotten to bring her umbrella, cursing herself she sheltered her head with her dupatta. She was just standing there looking for another rickshaw when she noticed a store on the opposite side. Its name was "Shah Jewelers". Neha's throat became dry and hear heartbeat increased as she knew that this Abhi's father's store.

Paralyzed she just stood there, she could not move she kept looking at the name. She knew that Abhi had launched his designs as she had kept a watch on that news. She had been happy and proud of Abhi. She had also imagined various dialogs she would tell him whenever he came to her or if they met accidentally. But right now she couldn't remember anything.

Here she was on the same date stuck in rain and coincidentally standing in front of Abhi's father's store. What should she do? Go inside? But go inside and do what? Ask for Abhi? And what if they asked who was she? What was the answer? Her mind and heart were fighting with each other, she didn't know what to do? Even if she went inside and met Abhi what would she tell him? "Hi I am sorry I didn't say goodbye. Do you still wanna marry me?" That was pathetic.

Neha took a deep breath and decided that she was not going to go inside and will go back home. She would tell mom because of rains she didn't go to the store. She signaled a rickshaw and asked him to take her to Andheri Station and he told her to rickshaw from opposite side. Now Neha didn't what to do, she was looking at the other side as it was made of thrones and designed with snakes. Laughing at herself she started crossing the road, finally she was on the other side. In front of the shop where Abhi worked.

She thought how had she reached here and suddenly rain started coming more hardly. With no choice left she went towards the store, they had kind of small roof at the entrance and most of the people ran there. Going with the flow she also went there and stood. She just stood there thinking behind her maybe Abhi was there, looking outside, or may be he was working. OR maybe Abhi was not there at all, he might be on his honeymoon with his wife. Or else maybe he was proposing to his girlfriend. Neha wanted to scream, she wanted to run away from here. She could physically move but mentally one question will always haunt her. What if?

She had made the right choice and learned from her mistakes instead of cursing the family she had acted on it. Today they were not rich but they were comfortable and she had learned from her mistakes and made savings for her mom and sis. They were not much but it was a start, she glanced back at the shop. Everything looked normal like a shop. Should she go and ask?

Calming herself down she decided that may be she was stopped here for a reason, and the least she could do was go inside and find out. After counting till 10 she turned towards the door, it was a large glass door. The doorman smiled at her and opened it for her, and she stepped inside.
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Abhi was sulking, he didn't know for what but since morning he was feeling restless. Maybe because it was their third anniversary today. Laughing at the irony of the situation he again leaned at the sketch pad, he had not done one decent design today. His family had also kept their distance today, they knew he was hurting.

He still remembered the morning, Rima's face and his own shock. And then he remembered Neha's tears the before night, he had been broken that morning. Without saying anything he had changed and left their house, his first instinct was to search Neha. But where and how? She didn't have a cell with her but he had her mother's no. When he was about to dial he realized that she had gone without telling him so maybe she didn't want him. He also had his pride, but his heart had made him save the no. Then he had gone home, his family noticed the change in him but didn't comment or blame him, they thought it was because of the ordeal he had been through in rains.

So they had left him alone in his room to sleep, but he could not sleep. While thinking and remembering about Neha he never realized that his granny had come in the room and sat next to him. She kept his wrinkled hand on his shoulder and that was too much for him. The pain, the betrayal, the yearning, he hugged her granny and wept till he thought he was empty.

Disturbed at his train of thought he got up and washed his face. It was a past matter and he had tried to forget it, tried very hard. And failed. But that only he knew, he has made sure his family never knew he still remembered Neha. Her laugh, her smile, her eyes, and her taste. He had never kissed her and he regretted that, he also regretted that they could have had something together but he was robbed of that chance. Maybe he was not going get any work done today, he went outside his studio.

Since he had told his dad about his designs and of starting it as a brand. His dad had agreed, and he had a studio in their store. He designed in his studio and made small things also. They had a factory where production was done but small rings and earrings he made himself in the studio. He went out and saw that it was raining very heavily, his studio was on the first floor, with glass as walls. He could see outside but to others it was a mirror, he looked at himself and just stood there. They had renovated the store nearly 2 years back. This place was theirs since a long time, but before it had been only ground floor with old decor. Then when they changed they constructed one more floor for office and his studio. The bottom floor was still for jewelry, but now there was elegance. Ceiling had been made high, there were different sections of jewelry. There was a large sofa and chairs on the middle. Cold drinks were served to the customers, and the business was thriving.

Today it was more crowded because of the rains, there was a crowd outside also as they had taken a shelter under the makeshift roof. He scanned the room, his dad were with one of the clients showing a diamond necklace. His brother was with his wife as she was expecting a baby. Soon he would be an uncle. And he remembered Ninaz and Ravi, he had kept in touch with them. They always volunteered to give him information about Neha but he declined he just asked them if she was okay? Still Ninaz informed him regularly about Neha.

So he knew that they had left the place with her father and moved somewhere else. He was proud of her, she had done the right thing for her family.

His Granny had made him understand that if he was in her position what he would have done? And he realized that she was right, just because Neha was a girl didn't mean that she could not help her family. He also would have done it himself if her mom and sis or brother would have been in trouble. Since then he stopped blaming her, but that didn't stop the ache in his heart or the hurt. That didn't stop him to remember the time spent with her. That also didn't stop him to imagine what could have been. Ravi and Ninaz had been telling him to go and talk to her after 6 months of purchasing her own flat.

He had wanted but then his pride was asking him not to, his sister-in-law had given him some mean names when he had refused to go and see her. Coming back to present he looked again down and thought maybe he should help his dad as he was not working. Suddenly he stopped the door opened and a girl came inside, she smiled weakly at the doorman. She was drenched in the rain, she had worn red Punjabi suit, a bag on her shoulder. Long hair tied in a braid and he knew he was dreaming.

She couldn't be Neha, It was all a dream. Neha couldn't be here, why not? His heart countered. She was looking around the room and when she was offered cold drink she smiled and declined. It was Neha. Abhi dashed downstairs but controlled his speed when he reached down. Slowly he went towards her, a sales man had approached her now. She looked the same and he was aching to touch her, to smell her. She looked nervous as she listened to the salesman. Abhi went on towards her and heard her asking, "Is Abhi here?"

"Abhi?" Salesman asked and Neha felt foolish. "I mean Abhishek" She was scared and nervous, the shop was elegant and it scared her. Before the salesman had approached she was going to run outside but when he had asked her if he could help and stupidly she had asked for Abhi.

Before salesman could say something she heard a voice, a familiar voice. "I'll handle it Wasim. You can go" Neha's heart stopped and she could not breathe.

It was Abhi, her Abhi. After three years she was going to see him. She looked up at him, and her heart started beating again.

They both stood and looked at each other. He was the same, but he looked more serious now. His hair was longer and he had not shaved maybe for past 2 days and had stubble on him, his eyes were devouring her. No one spoke, they did not know what to say.

Neha tried to clear her throat but failed, "How are you?" she asked him in a small voice.

Abhi was not sure if he could speak, he had wanted to tell her so many things that he was not sure what to tell her.

"I am fine." came his own reply. And there was silence, after a moment they both said together "Ninaz had a baby Boy" and they smiled awkwardly at each other. Abhi raked his fingers through his hair and Neha realized he was still the same. She gathered her courage and went one step closer.

"I am sorry Abhi, I left without saying Goodbye but I knew you wouldn't let me go. I had to settle down my family Abhi that was important to me, so were you. You helped me a lot" When he looked at her in question, "You made me see things, you changed my approach towards life and you gave me courage." When she saw that he flustered it warmed her and she took one more step ahead and looked into his eyes.

"I love you Abhi, the past three years were for my family but in my heart it was you. So can you forgive me and" Neha could not say anything further.

Abhi looked at her, if it was a dream he didn't want to wake up. He knew what she was asking, he also knew it must have cost her to swallow her pride as he saw her struggling and then looking at him. "and if you still love me" he didn't let her say anything but crushed her against him.

"I never stopped loving you. I wanted to forget you, hate you. But I couldn't. I love you." Abhi said in a thick voice, her arms had come around him and her smell was surrounding him. She was wet and making him also wet. It was not a dream, she had come back to him. He dropped his head in her neck, "damn it i missed you so damn much"

Neha smiled and hugged him tighter, "I missed you too"

They had forgotten they were in the shop with people around them, but when murmur started they came apart. Abhi looked at her dad and mouthed, "This is her" His dad smiled at him and pointed his studio. Nodding Abhi dragged Neha towards the stairs and into his studio. Neha was too dazed to say anything, but she recognized Abhi's dad as he smiled at her. Suddenly she was in a room before she could say anything, Abhi closed the door and trapped her there with both his arms around her.

"I have waited long for this" saying this he captured her lips in a kiss. Neha forgot everything but him, it was the first time they kissed. Her fingers went in his hair and his were massaging her spine. They both didn't want the kiss to end, they sampled, savored each other. It seemed that three years had never happened between them. it felt the same like they had met three years ago.

When he took her lower lip in his mouth and sucked she could only moan. He did the same with her upper lip then he entered her mouth and tasted her. Her taste was so Neha, he couldn't think of anything else. He had been hungry for her and when her tongue shyly came and touched his, he groaned and tightened his hold.

They came up for air and both were breathing heavily, slowly they both smiled at each other. "I am Sorry Abhi" before she could finish Abhi kept his finger at her lips. "No more sorry. You needed that time and you are right. I wouldn't have let you go. Whatever happened, it happened for good as it made me work hard and you your mom and sis are happy. So from now onwards No sorry." Neha's eyes stung as tears were threatening to come, she just nodded.

Abhi saw in the glass that his father was coming upstairs, he straightened and smiled at Neha. "Let's go and meet your father-in-law. Then, I am taking you home to meet my mom and granny"

The tears were on her cheeks running as the first time she didn't curse god for breaking down her rickshaw but thanked him and got ready to meet her new family..

The End.