This FF is specially dedicated to our 'MICHI' and 'Hyderabad', the Nizam city where I live.
Part-3
Time passed by like a wink of an eye. It had been two complete months, when Prachi came to Hyderabad. Ayesha and Kashish made number of unfutile attempts to divert her mind from the grief. But Prachi, still did not show any sign of getting out of that grief. They took her out wherever they out in the city. But Prachi was so adamant in getting out of it. She did not even left wearing the light colour dresses without any jewellery, even they both urged her to wear some dark coloured clothes with some jewellery. But Ayesha and Kashish didn't give up. They made plans and plans, by introducing her to their friends, by taking her to small parties that held in their apartments. It was August and the Hyderabadis was preparing to celebrate important festivals as shravan month had also entered. The heavy rains slashing the city did not prevent the people from shopping and all. It was the second week in the August and that week witnessed a line of holidays due to Id, raksha bandhan, Varalakshmi Vrath and Independence day. That was the week starting and Ayesha had just got up from her sleep. She saw Prachi in the kitchen who was cooking with a pale sleepless face. She lets outs a deep sigh and sits in the hall reading newspaper. Hearing the door bell she goes and open it. "hi, di how are you", Keerthi came from no where and rushed inside the house. "how come you here at this time. When did you come to Hyderabad, don't have college today." By the time Kashish and Ragini also assembled in Ayesha's house. "leave it di, this is the week of festivals so we have a week line holidays." "but today is Monday and I don't see any festival today and also tomorrow." Kashish asked her tasting the dish what Prachi was making. "no listen to me first. Wednesday is Id so holiday, Raksha Bandhan that too holiday, but in Nizambad it's not declared, but we are mass bunking, Thursday is Independence day and Friday my mom is keeping Varalakshmi Vrath( it's a vrath kept by married woman ,for well being of the husbands and for prosperity. That comes in the month of shravan, the varth can be done on any Friday in the month starting from the second Friday. Morning the married woman who keeps the vrath decorates the mandir with Lakshmi devi's face on the fresh coconut and does the puja and in the evening calls some married woman and gives them haldi and kumkum to them for the blessings ) so I'm not going as to help my mom with the puja and all. And saturday whose going back, mom needs to clean up the puja place. Suddenly, in the middle an idea struck to Ayesha. She just tightly hugs Keerthi, and utters "thanks" and jumps in joy. After some time she becomes normal, seeing puzzled faces around her and stops. But she doesn't find any expression on Prachi's face, she stood there thinking something, and staring blankly as if she was out the world. Milind had arrived exactly at that moment. He just sees Prachi's pale face, a month ago was when they first met. That morning, Prachi was in the kitchen preparing tea and breakfast for her Ayesha. Ayesha was in the washroom, having bath and she took almost an hour in there. Hearing the door bell, Prachi first hesistated and it was new location and did not know the people there well as Ayesha answered most of them. Seeing no sign of Ayesha, she slowly goes towards the door and opens the door. There she saw a tall, dark eyed man standing infront of her. She did not know what to ask or address. Before she could do, "hi, I'm Milind Ayesha's friend. I live in that house." He starts while pointing his hand towards the house opposite to them. "I actually need a small favour from you'll, I need some sugar, as the sugar in my house is over. And I don't find the shop nearby is still open. So if you please….." he hands over the small bowl he had got with him. She takes it and goes inside followed by Milind. Milind goes straight to the refrigerator and opens the freezer door, "didn't still keep the ice cubes in the freezer, it's ok, I'll ask Ayesha to keep some, plz make it soon na", she sees Milind sitting in the sofa. She goes into the kitchen, Ayesha makes her way to the hall where Milind sat there sleepily. "you are still not out of the sleep." "na not still. Hey Ayesha I want to clear a doubt." "what" Ayesha shouted back. "na nothing serious, why your friend doesn't talk with anyone. What's the matter with her." "it's none of your business Milsi, just don't ask this question ever again. I want this matter to end it here." Milind stands up and walks towards Prachi, seeing her hesistantly walking towards him. "thank you…….Ms", Prachi simply stared at him but did not reply or speak out a single word. She just left the place, going towards the washing machine and picking up the dried clothes, she went to the balcony adjacent to the bedroom. Milind sratches his head out of confusion and leaves off.
"And raksha bandhan I'll be not coming till midnight to home. This time I'll make a hole in their pockets that next time they won't mess up with me on my birthday." Keerthi declared loudly, making Milind jerk and come out from the past thoughts. "what did you tell, come again once. Tell me what happened on your birthday." Milind who just heard Keerthi saying something about the birthday. 'nothing….." gloomily Keerthi slumped to the sofa nearby. "last time when it was my birthday, saying it was my birthday gift they showed me Siddarth's Bomarillu film in I-Max and on the way they took me to Eat-Street in the Necklace road. Awgrhhhhhhh" "hey stop crying and continue the story." Milind demanded "bhaiyya you are so demanding. Now listen to me. After they ordered all kinds of chaat, panipuri, cooldrinks and the bill came out and washed all my pocket money that I have been saving all these years." "chooooo sad", saying Ragini hugs Keerthi. "ok I forgot.' Keerthi stands up and hits her forhead with her hand. "mom called you'll for lunch on Wednesday." "for what" screamed Ayesha from the kitchen, who was trying to pull Prachi out of the kitchen. "just for simply. That's it. Hey don't forget to get your friend also. Mom had invited her also." "kkkkkkk", Ayesha screamed back. Keerthi started running out and stops at the entrance. "by the way, inform me when you'll bring haleem. I'll also join you'll and one more thing last day for haleem is tomorrow, and I can't take it into my house." "why", Ragini asked her. "nothing mom will just kick me out of the house if I'm going to take any non-veg items into the house this month." Saying Keerthi ran out in the haste. Ayesha who was trying to get an apt reason to take Prachi out, got a right occasion that is Keerthi's house. She looks at Prachi with a wicked smile. "now you can't escape. Keerthi's mom is so stubborn. If we won't take you there she'll all by herself pulls you to the house. And before that we should make you look some what presentable." Ayesha and Kashish pulls Prachi into her bedroom, while Ragini followed them inside leaving ever confused Milind outside in the hall.
Hope you'll like this. Sorry for the mistakes. Plz do comment.
41