FF:Interview with the Vampire - Pt 07, Pg51(28/01) - Page 33

Originally posted by: Live.Laugh.Love

Lovely update, do update soon, I will be waiting!!!hey dear thanks alot..wil be updating in a short while 😃

I want to know if she remembers everything and how does he help her!!! I loved it 😊 she wil start remembering and milind wil help her afterwards😃

Originally posted by: prachi..panchi

greattttttttttthanks dear

prachi ko kya ho gaya???????? nothing she is just remembering her past

yaar suspence ..................... i knw hate it dont u? but i wont keep u all in suspence for long :D

haye main to ab yahi sochti rahungi ki use kya hua/?dont worry i wont let u thnk more🤗

Part 6

Florence, 1864

"WOW, this is just amazing" Prachi murmured wide eyed to herself as she plucked a darkest red colored apple from the tree. It was late spring and Prachi has taken off to pluck apples off from the tress off the farm her father owned at the outskirts of the city. As Prachi kept admiring the reddish apples she has ever seen in the whole season, her ears pricked as she heard the noise of a horse galloping. The noise increased with every passing second and so did her heartbeat. "oh no, it must be the baron who wants the land" Prachi said to herself as fear began to grip on her. with her vase dangling in her hand, she tiptoed inorder to catch a glimpse of the person who was heading towards her. but all she saw was a person in a dark cloak galloping fast towards her farm.

"Oh no, I wont let you threaten my father again" Prachi said angrily as she picked up her skirt and ran as fast as she could towards the person. When she was in appropriate distance, she picked up of the apples from her basket and aimed at him which landed hard and straight on his nose knocking down from the horse at the very instant.

Prachi heard a loud moan and she almost jumped with victory. Thinking that it was the same baron who had once again came to threaten her father, she began to throw the apples one by one at him as he cried with pain with every aim.

Whoosh

"this is for wanting our land" she threw an apple which landed straight on his jaw.

"this is for threatening my father" She threw one more and he yelped in pain. He was now on the ground and his head almost peering out from the cloak. "I'm not here to threaten your father" she heard him say with pain.

"oh yeah? so you're here to kill him then?" She asked angrily and then was about to throw one more when she caught the sight of the signature knitted on the cloak. The signature of the mishra's who were no more less than the king himself. Prachi gasped and immediately lowered herself on the ground.

"I'm so sorry My lord, I didn't know"

"what?" He asked getting up with pain.

"I really apologize for my behavior sire, I thought that you are one of the—thieves" Prachi said still not looking up and bending her head further down so that he will not see her face at all.

"yes I guessed as much, but how did you know that I am of royal?"

"the signature on your cloak sire"

"oh okay" She heard him reply, he seemed unexpectedly calm about the whole incident nothing of which Prachi expected him to be. She looked up and saw him brushing off the dirt from his cloak and shirt, rubbing his hands on the marks of the whole where she had hit him. she studied him for brief moment and immediately realized that she was kneeling before non other than Milind Mishra, the only heir of the famous Mishra family. she have heard several stories about them and people respected them but she knew that there was more to the way they were as they never go any of the day affairs but rather prefers night affairs. She also heard that it was a sin for them to go out at night which only raised her curiosity about the Mishra's even more. But now at that time of the day, she was seeing a Mishra. Not any Mishra but the next heir of the Mishra clan. She wondered what he was doing against his family traditions out in the broad day light.

When he finished dusting off, he looked down at her and she immediately lowered her head once again hiding her features from him.

"Don't you dare tell anyone that i was out here today" he said which was not a request but of a command.

"I wont sire" Prachi stammered and replied with a small voice.

"good" he said sounding almost pleased and then tossed few coins at her. "this is the price for your silence" he said and then she heard him climb on his horse and gallop away.

Prachi got up from her place and then stared at Milind Mishra who was galloping towards the town area. She felt an immediate dislike towards the man whom she came across just moments ago.

"Arrogant" was the only word that left from her mouth as she watch him until he was out of sight.

Prachi was seething with anger. Never in her life had she thought that the mysterious Mishra's would have such arrogant behaviors. Furious as she was she went home and Inder poked his head from the kitchen hearing the loud stomp of foot every now and then. He saw his daughter walking around the around her fists balled. he sighed as he knew that she was really angry over something. She has always been like that. whenever she was angry she tends to pace around with her fists balled. he knew that she was counting numbers backwards till she could cool her temper down. her pace slowed down and Inder took hold of the soup pan and went out of the kitchen. "Child, sit down, I'll make an omlete for you"

However, prachi didn't respond. Inder once again asked. "so shall I make one? in this?" Prachi sighed and turned around and said. "yes Papa, make me one in that"

"child are you okay?" He asked concerned. Prachi turned to him puzzled. "you just told me to make an omlette in this pan" He pointed and it was then prachi realized what she said.

"I'm sorry Papa, I wasn't thinking" Prachi apologized and smiling, Inder put the pan down and walked across the small room and stood next to her. "what's wrong?"

"I ran to a Mishra today and he was so arrogant and so- so- rude" Prachi started to complain not being able to let out Milind's name.

"what did you do?" Inder asked sighing. He knew his daughter too well and he also knew that the Mishras aren't the type of people who will be so rude. As far as he knew, they are strange but doesn't come across as rude people.

"I thought he was a man sent from the Benjamin Locke and uh sort of hit him—"

"so that's why" Inder smiled coming to his own conclusion.

"no it wasn't the reason, he didn't care about me hitting him but he gave me this to keep my mouth shut about seeing him outside his castle" Prachi replied showing him the coins.

"what the—" inder's eyes widened seeing the gold coins. "oh this is wonderful, we can pay the debts now"

"no papa, this isn't right, we have to return them"

"but child this has come to us like a blessing, we mustn't return anything that they gave us so generously"

"Generously?" Prachi laughed. "Papa, this isn't generous this is bribing. And you know well that we cant take bribe for whatever reason it is, I'm going to return this first thing in the morning" said prachi and went into her room leaving her father standing there watching her.

Prachi lay down on the small bed and recalled the time she met him. he had an air of arrogance and she wondered if he was really like that and why he was so hell bent in not wanting her to tell anyone to that she saw him outside. It doesn't make sense at all. After so much of tossing and turning, she finally fell into a troubled sleep. Partly because of Milind Mishra but mostly it was because of what her father has said when he first saw the coins. The debts. Her father was so into gambling that they have almost lost everything. Even the house too. he mortgaged the house and now, he Benjamin Locke the person to whom her father lost their house was threatening them to leave the place or to pay off the debts. The debts are so high that she could never give them back in this lifetime. Thinking that she should do something soon, she slept just for few hours.

It was still dusk. The sun wasn't up yet. She got up from the bed and put on her clothes before finishing her morning routine and stepping outside her house. It was freezing cold and she had to wrap around her cloak tightly before she made her way to the town area. she had to walk the entire way as they don't own a carriage and since they live in an abandoned area, there was no one to ask for a ride even. It was her usual routine to walk 3 miles to the town to work. Prachi work in a small embroidery shop where she make embroideries on rich people's clothes. The customers who come to the shop was very less that they hardly have enough to run the place. But the man who owns the shop is generous enough not to throw her out knowing well what her financial condition was and also, since she use to be there since she was a child watching him work expertly on the dresses, she became more fascinated with the work and grew up learning to the embroidery work from the elderly man. She sat down near the window and took the needle in her hand and stared at it. her one dream was to show her talents to the world. She don't just want to make handkerchiefs or scarf. She wanted to make gown. Elegant gowns. Like a fairytale. But she knew her dream wasn't something that was to come true any time sooner. just as though she wished it aloud, she heard someone enter the shop. Looking up, she saw the a woman of her mid forties, her clothes all ragged entered. Prachi got up from her place and asked. "may I help you ma'am?"

"oh yes, child, i'm sent by Salvators and we need to make some fine gowns for the ball next week"

Prachi began to smile. It was the moment she has been waiting for. The Salvators were the most respected and one of the rich people and she couldn't believe her luck! She was to say yes when she remembered that it wasn't her shop and she glanced around to see where the owner was.

"I'll speak with Mr.Manning and I know he wont say no to you but alas, I'd like you to give me the exact address so that I can go and give you his answer when he returns"

"oh sure, Mr.Mannings knows the Salvators well, he wont say no, I'll give you the address, be there on time" the lady patted her arm and took the paper and quilt and wrote the address before leaving the shop.

Prachi took the paper and began to jump up and down. the moment she was waiting for has finally arrived. She was going to fulfill her dreams as well as pay off her fathers debts too. she began to frown as she remembered her encounter with Milind Mishra, she still had the coins in her pockets and she realized that the ball would be the perfect opportunity for her to return the coins. She cant wait.

While she stood lost in thoughts, Mr. Mannings entered the shop with huge roll of clothes. He grunted and panted as he took the rolls and stuffing them to the corner with a loud thud.

"Mr. Mannings, we got an order from the Salvators"

"Salvators?" He asked wide eyed. Hie eyes reflected true horror.

"why sir, this could change our lives, we got such a huge order"

"yes, it will change our lives that's why I don't want you to take this order got that?' Mr. Mannings cut in and strolled away. for a moment prachi felt like her dreams was falling apart.

"Mr. Mannings please what's wrong with that? this is a huge opportunity for me and for you as well"

"I know but its not going to work, I'm sorry, send them a message saying we aren't going to take their order and make arrangements elsewhere"
"Mr. Mannings, this is not done, for all I know you have never turned anyone down, why the Salvators? They are so respectable and—"

"they are also dangerous" he finished for her and she gasped. For all she could guess there was more than meets the eyes. Mr. mannings knew the Salvators well. That means there must be something that no one knew. she had to find out that too. he was being irrational. But she owed him so much. the only way to solve all the problems was to take the order. Gently prachi took hold of his fragile hands and said.

"I know you are like a father to me and is concerned about my safety but believe me, nothing will happen and besides we need to take little risks in life"

"prachi we are playing with fire here"

"Mr. Mannings I don't know anything about them so maybe they wont care about me too, I'll just do my work and come back, please sir, this is a huge opportunity for us"

"alright" He sighed giving up and Prachi broke into a huge grin and hugged him and said.

"I knew you will say yes"

He just sighed and went back to work lost in deep thoughts. He knew very well who and what the Salvators. And he wished and prayed that she never get involved in anything that they do. Especially when the Mishras were close to them.

Prachi walked through the high grass field which happened to be a short cut to the Salvator castle. She was too tired to take the longer route but now she regretted as the fields were slippery with last night's rain and her feet looked like a mud hole! She was really going to lose the opportunity with impressing them with her sorry state.

Prachi let out a huge sigh of relief as she saw a well just nearby and then hurried towards it. looked down at the well and began to grin from ear to ear as she saw water. She reached the bucket and threw it down before hauling up it up with the rope. After washing her feet and feeling rather refreshed, she switched her path to the drier path and continued the rest of her journey.

She stopped in front of the castle and gazed up; it was huge and frightening. the high towers, the grey walls, the huge windows. And there was no sight of a living soul even. She shivered as she gently knocked on the door.

It was barely a knock to her and she knew that the sound of that knock will surely wont reach the other side of that door. So she banged the door with her fist. still there was no answer. She did once more. no answer frustrated she banged the door hard enough which made her to wince in pain. And almost instantly she heard a loud voice bellow behind her.

"are you thinking of tearing the door down?" she turned around and was shocked to see Milind Mishra just a few feet away his brows twitched in mockery.

Prachi started to stammer she lowered her eyes almost too ashamed and scared to meet his eyes. " I uh, was, I mean I got called from the um Salvats I mean Salvators and I um have been knocking the door but um no one is um opening"

She waited for a reply and then she heard him burst out laughing. Surprised, she looked up. sure she haven't cracked a big joke so why was he laughing like that? she wondered.

"sorry about that but you look really funny stammering like that" he commented and then said pointing to a string. "you know you have this bell to pull. Knocking the door like that wont help"

Blushing deep red, Prachi lifted her hand to pull it when she realized that he too had lifted his hands at the same time. their hands brushed for a brief moment and their gaze locked and held. Prachi felt like she was drowning into the pools of his dark eyes. they were so intense and so dangerous. The thought again terrified her which made her to avert her eyes and step back breaking the eye contact. When Milind pulled the string, the door immediately opened and a short-sturdy looking man wearing dark trousers and an open-necked shirt appeared. He smiled warmly seeing Milind hardly glancing Prachi who was standing next to him.

"Good afternoon Mr. Mishra what brought you here?" He greeted him.

"good afternoon Roberto, I was just passing by and wanted to meet Damon, is he here?"

"yes sir, he is getting a list ready for his engagement ball next week" he replied while Prachi just stood there as they exchanged conversations.

With that short conversation, Prachi got to know that it was the ball of Damon Salvator's engagement. But with who? She wondered and she had no idea. She glanced at Milind who kept talking to the elderly man as if they were meeting after a long time and Prachi patiently waited until they took notice of her. slowly as it was, she started to think. Mishra's weren't allowed out. but Milind Mishra came out and bribed her not to utter a single word seeing him outside his palace. it wasn't making any sense to her. if he really don't want to be seen, why was he here in the Salvators miles away from his palace? so many questions. She shook her head vigorously causing both men to turn to her. "and who is this young lady?"

Roberto questioned her. she was to answer him when Milind cut in, "oh yes, I believe she was sent here to do the gowns for the ladies?" he turned his eyes to her and she felt a sudden rush of color rising her cheeks. Meekly she nodded her head. "Well then you better follow me, Ms Gilbert is waiting with her friends to let you take the measurements" Roberto spoke to her inviting her in and then glanced at Milind. "and you young man, better go and meet Damon and catch up"

Prachi couldn't help but break into a smile at the warmth of the conversation and caught her eye of Milind raising a brow at her. She ignored and followed Roberto in deeply aware of the fact that Milind's eyes followed her until she was out of his sight.

Prachi breathed a huge sigh of relief as she reached away from the heated stare of Milind Mishra. He was looking at her as if he knew who she was. but she knew that it was impossible. He couldn't possibly know that it was she who darted him with apples yesterday. But still she couldn't belive that it was the same person whom she encountered just a day before. he seemed a different person altogether. Not the arrogant person who offered a peasant to shut her mouth about his wandering outside his castle but a very warm and kind man instead. It seemed that he had changed over night. Perhaps she aimed a right place in his head and knocked all the arrogance out. she laughed at her own thought. not wanting to think about more of him, she gazed around the Salvator castle where she saw that the place was enourmous. Nothing she saw before. Roberto directed her into a chamber and immediately she was welcomed by a warm looking brunette. She was prettier than anyone else in the room and looking at the way she dressed, Prachi knew that she was from the royal.

"hello, I'm Elena I believe you were sent by Mr. Mannings to do the gowns?" She asked warmly and Prachi almost opened her mouth in shock. So far, she had come across royal women who were full of riches and their egos showing just like sparkling jewelries. But this, she was seeing an entirely a different kind. Maybe not all women are the same. prachi thought and nodding her head as Elena waited for Prachi's answer.

Elena introduced her bride maids to be who were exactly the like the rich snobs prachi has come across. They looked at Prachi with disgust but Elena made sure that Prachi was never out of place and let her work without any discomfort. After taking out the initial measurements, Prachi asked. "I'll make all the gowns by next week but ma'am, what's the theme?"

"Call me Elena and there is no particular theme, just a masked ball"

"you mean engagement?" Prachi asked.

"No, just a ball, we got engaged in a short ceremony a day before" Elena corrected her and Prachi nodded her head her thoughts suddenly drifting to Milind. 'poor guy he had no idea that his friend's engagement has already taken place' she shook her head to divert the thoughts from him.

"are you okay?" Elena asked breaking her thoughts. "you seem to be thinking about something"

"uh yes" Prachi replied not wanting to lie. "I met your butler, and he said that Mr. Salvator is getting ready for his engagement ball so I was a bit confused"

"oh is that so" Elena laughed. "well, Roberto must be mistaken, its just a masked ball our engagement has already taken place" she said fingering her ring. "so many things have happened in the past few days and also our marriage got fixed during this haste"

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry, I'll get the work done as soon as I can" Prachi apologized and standing up to leave.

"oh you don't need to go anywhere, you can have all the materials brought here, besides, I want to see your work" Elena said smiling. Prachi's eyes widened and began to grin like a fool.

"oh it will be wonderful" was all Prachi could say. She was breathless when she got out of the room and she walked all the way down the corridor smiling happily as her dream was finally coming true. What more could be more beautiful than elegant women dancing in the gowns she was going to make? It was definitely everything she wanted. she beamed all the more and it was when she hit a solid male's chest and she almost lost her balance when a strong hand held her writs preventing her from hitting the ground.

Prachi opened her eyes slowly and saw Milind Mishra standing before her his eyes full of amusement. Surely he will find it amusing since she was walking around like a grinning fool and bumping into people like that. hot color started to rise up her cheeks and immediately she grasped out of his hold and muttered a quick sorry before she hurriedly strolled away from the place. While she walked away, she heard another person slap Milind's back loudly and ask. "what are you looking at?"

"I don't know I think she looks very familiar" came Milind's reply and Prachi's heart skipped a beat and began to move faster and then started to run.

'oh god he was going to recognize her' Prachi panicked as she reached her home. she had been running all the way from the Salvator castle to her home. panting franctically she couldn't even let her hand to turn the knob of her own house. She was trembling with such fear. She knew that if Milind get to know about the little 'incident' then her whole dream would shatter into pieces. 'no!' she vowed/ that would never happen. She will not let Milind nor anyone find out what she did. At least not until the ball was over' she carefully made the plan, to avoid Milind as much as possible. There was a possibility of not seeing him at all because he was only a visitor which meant that he would be in the Salvator palace less frequently. Prachi began smiling at the thought. "there was also a possibility of not seeing him AT ALL!" Prachi said out loud and her father poked her head out of his room and asked. "what was that?" and then shaking her head, she went to make dinner. Prachi chose not to tell her father about her contract. As least not yet. Or else she knew that he would pressure her to get advance from them. and she didn't feel like asking for anything until the work was done.

The next morning, Prachi set off to start working on her dream. Before she left, she told her father that she will be late giving the excuse that she wanted to work extra hours at the shop. Inder didn't ask any further question as he knew that Prachi was forced to work harder just because of him. he felt guilty for putting her through such difficulties when she should have been settled down and having children by now.

Prachi entered the Salvator palace when she saw a man of early twenties stood before her. Prachi gasped with surprise and his lips twitched into a grin. Prachi smiled back nervously and asked. "I'm sorry I'm called by Elen—Ms Gilbert" when he gave a confused look she added. "gowns for the ball"

"oh right" he nodded and said. "I'm Damon"

"your highness" Prachi bobbed a curtsey. "Apologies for I didn't recognize you"

"No problem, just make sure that Elena don't look like a Christmas tree" He said with a straight tone and Prachi couldn't help but laugh but he held a straight face and she knew that he wasn't joking. Prachi turned her laughter into a cough and then said.

"of course, she will look so beautiful that all eyes will be on her"

"I don't want all eyes, just mine that's it" he said evenly. And Prachi had the urge to frown. she tried to find a way to escape from further conversation with Damon but she knew that there was no way.

"Prachi" To her relief Prachi heard Elena's voice from the top the stairs. Both Damon and Prachi looked up and Prachi gave a short wave to her. "come on up, we don't want to be late do we?"

"of course" Prachi smiled at her and then turned to Damon."Excuse me your highness, I'll try my best not to disappoint you" and with that Prachi went upstairs where Elena wait for her to start her work.

While Prachi expectedly wrapped, cut and sewed the material. As Prachi worked, Elena kept talking to her filling her with little details about her life and mostly about her and Damon's story.

"damon is the most difficult person I have ever met" and Prachi agreed onto it silently. She had seen the man talking like ice to her but Prachi didn't tell Elena anything and just kept quite while she made the conversation. "I met him while I was on my way to a picnic with my friends, we were suddenly attacked by some road thieves and it was then this dashing young men came to our aids. And you wont believe, he made his entry like a hero, jumping out of nowhere and knocking out cold the man"

"very heroic" Prachi smiled as she worked on and she could sense that Elena has once again gone off to her dreamy state as she heard her sigh.

"yes I was bowled over by his braveness but then he had this attitude of his and I felt like slapping him. I so hated him after that" Elena began to laugh.

"excuse me, but are you talking about same Damon Salvator? The person you are going to marry?" Prachi asked teasingly. She couldn't help but talk to her like a friend. Prachi bit her lips with embarrassment. She wasn't suppose to be talking that way. She was only a stranger to them and they were too. Prachi immediately apologized and surprised by her answer. "I like talking to you, unlike the rich friends of mine who only roam around me just because I'm popular"

Prachi was touched by that and then she heard herself say. "you can consider me as your friend"

"I know" Elena smiled back at her and then again went on telling her about Damon.

"after that little incident, I never wanted to see him again, but I kept running on to him in different parties and then it happened" Elena blushed at the word 'it' and Prachi all could guess was that they must have had a night together. They are after all high sophisticated people.

"love happened" Elena said as if reading Prachi's thoughts and Prachi went red with embarrassment. "it was all so sudden, he came in with his friend Dean and cousin Milind—"

"Milind is damon's cousin?" Prachi echoed in shock and Elena nodded her head.

"Milind's father married to Anaida Salvator who is Damon's aunt" Elena informed her and then continued on not noticing the utter shock on Prachi's face. "I don't know much about the history of how Mishras and Salvators came together but it was really friendly though and Damon is very fond of Milind. always talk about him. sometimes I feel so jealous of Milind as he get so much attention from Damon" Elena laughed. "but I know, it's the brotherly love between the two. Infact his other friend Dean is also very close to them, the trio is always together"

"no wonder" Prachi wondered out loud.

"what was that?" Elena asked and prachi shook her head and went on back with her work. She now knew that why Milind Mishra was so arrogant. It runs in his family. the weird behavior of them always make people wonder and now she is one of the victim.

"what are you doing here?" Prachi heard Elena ask someone and when she spun around to see who she was surprised to see Milind Mishra leaning on the door his arms crossed over his chest. It seemed that he had been listening to them for long. Milind's eyes were solely fixed on her for a moment Prachi felt like crawling into a corner. he must be thinking of her otherwise as she was talking to his cousin's fianc about their family.

"just came to meet Damon" Milind answered with a shrug. Prachi spun around and began to work on her fingers almost trembling. She prayed that he would just leave for the moment. the very presence of him was making her nervous. She closed her eyes and prayed that he wont be suspicious of her at least not for now.

"by the way, your Dummy is looking for you" Milind said and Prachi's eyes snapped open. She looked at Elena who shot him an angry look and said. "its Damon and not Dummy!"

"yeah right" Milind snorted.

"Prachi, I'll be right back" Elena excused herself and went out to meet Damon as she stuck her tongue out at Milind before leaving.

Prachi turned to put a lace around the waist of the gown when the silky lace fell down and she bent to pick it up when she bent down. Milind too bent down at the same time as her their hands touched. Prachi looked up at him and their gaze met and held. Prachi looked at his eyes as if they were the most beautiful thing on earth. She felt like drawing into those dark pools again. She was simply mesmerized.

Prachi averted her gaze hastely and retreated her hand back muttering a quick sorry. Milind too straighten himself up and said. "have we ever met before?" Milind asked and Prachi gasped. She recovered quickly and replied tried to be as calm as possible. "No I don't think so Mr. Mishra, excuse me please" she excused herself and went out of the room with Milind standing exactly where he was lightly stroking the lace his brows furrowed deeply.

Originally posted by: ytanuja

siya dear for the loooooooooooooooooooong update we love u.thank u.

Originally posted by: sam78

read and commenting later.

Originally posted by: $ara_$hachi

so i am third one huhawww sara.
will read & comment take ur time hun🤗

Damn good jaanu! I loved it!