Part 2
"I'm still waiting here you know!" Milind practically barked over the phone as soon as he got through Prachi after waiting for her in his master suite almost for four hours. He thought that since she wasn't coming alone, she would require sometime with the packing. He was so sure of that she will come with their children that for a moment he had completely forgotton that Prachi had a huge ego and pride to think of.
"well, I'm sorry for disappointing you but there is no way I'm staying in a hotel room when I can very well afford a house for myself"
"that's it, I'm coming over!" Milind said angrily slamming the phone down and hurried to check out from the hotel. He didn't know how fast he took to reach Prachi's place. He knocked on the door louder than he wanted to. he didn't want to scare his children with his anger at any cost.
At the third knock, Prachi opened the door with one of the girl held in her arms. Milind tried to make out of she was holding Payal or Priya. "its Priya" Prachi replied guessing what Milind was thnking and said. "come on in, I was just giving them lunch"
"Prachi? we need to talk"
"we will but let me first give them their lunch and after that they will be having their siesta and then we can talk" Prachi replied ignoring Milind for the moment. Prachi went inside and sat down with Priya in her lap and began to feed her cooing words while she fed each morsel to her. she then turned to Payal who was sitting in her high chair food smeared all over her cute little face and then Prachi fed the second spoonful of yogurt and Milind watched her mesmerized as ever. Funny how she always manage to do that to him. Milind leaned onto the kitchen counter and just watched them. his daughters. They looked so beautiful that he still cant quite believe that they were his. Ofcourse their mother was a ravishing beauty so that had definitely passed onto them as well. Milind sighed as his eyes went to prachi. the way she moved, the way her voice echoed in his ears, it intimidated him. he felt oddly at peace. Once again.
"my two little miracles" Milind's ears pricked at the four words. "you are going to get a goody bath now, lets get you all washed up" she said to them and they squealed happily. Prachi put the yogurt bowl down which was almost empty and then she began to pick up the crawling one beside her feet and then was trying to pick up the next one in the high chair. Milind watched her as she struggled to lift the second child. Milind without hesitating, went to her and picked up the child in the chair. Prachi's turned to look at him in surprise and then nodded her head and said. "she is not crying this time, usually she is not comfortable with strangers" the moment she said it she regretted. She saw a jab of pain flicker in his eyes. "I'm sorry" she apologized and Milind just nodded his head and said. "I understand" that alone mad her heart to leap out. did he really? She wondered.
Prachi directed Milind to take Payal to the bath tub in her room and said. "can you hold them for a moment, I'll run the tub" she said handing Priya. Priya didn't even react like before she use to do when with strangers. Sure Milind is there father but still he is a stranger. Prachi was more than delighted than surprised. Prachi can already see the bond starting to form between them.
Prachi ran a bath and gently took Priya and Payal and placed them in the tub. As soon as they were in the tub, they began flapping their little hands splashing water around squealing with delight. They splashed water onto prachi who was desperately trying to rub soap on them. Prachi flinched as the water hit her and then started tickling both of them. their laughter rang around the small bathroom and then Prachi unconsciously turned to look at Milind who just stood there leaning onto the door. She smiled at him who smiled back at her more widely. He surely looked as if he longed to be a part of the fun. Prachi tipped her head back and invited him in to take part. He gave her a 'are you sure? Look and Prachi nodded her head. Soon Milind joined her and they both along with the children started to splash and slap the water while Prachi and Milind bathed them along with the fun.
Once or twice, their hands brushed and looked at each other. Prachi tore her gaze away every time scared of the feelings that were resurfacing.
When the bath was over, Prachi stood up and gathered Priya while Milind took Payal and after drying and wrapping them in a towel, they headed back into the master bedroom to which for Milind, it was as the same size as his washroom. He didn't let the thought out loud that he still want them to move back to his apartment. Prachi had promised him that they will have their 'talk' once the children were asleep. But for some odd reason. Milind didn't want to have the talk and just be with their children.
Prachi kept Priya on the bed who started to jump up and down and when Milind did so with Payal, she too started to jump up and down. Prachi just laughed and went to the cupboard to pick up the dresses for them. when Prachi took the dresses and came to them, Priya all of a sudden grabbed the dress and leaped off the bed and ran towards the door.
"Priya!" Prachi scolded but before Priya was out the door, Milind held her and scooted her in his arms and gently placed Priya on the bed once again. Milind watched Prachi as she slipped in the comfy dress over Payal and then to Priya who stood next to milind clutching his shirt as if she was scared of wearing clothes. A sudden rush of protectiveness ran through him as he held Priya.
"Priya is the most naughtiest one. wonder from whom it came from" Prachi commented and then she felt herself blush. She knew exactly from whom the trait came from. Her eyes flew onto Milind who was watching her with intense. Their eyes met and held for a while before he cleared his throat and averted his gaze handing Priya to Prachi.
"Prachi?" Milind called her as she worked on putting on Priya's dress. When she turned to him he asked. "How can you tell them apart? I mean, they are complete mirror image of each other and I don't see any difference to differentiate between the two" when he said so with so much of nervousness, Prachi glared at him with a brow raised and then gave a short laugh,
"Milind, I am their mother and I don't need anything to tell them apart but still, you can tell them apart by their appearances see here" Prachi told him turning Priya's head to a side and pointing to small freckles near her ear. "both have these freckles here, they are almost invisible but you can see them when looking very closely"
"yeah but that doesn't make them tell apart from each other"
"no no look" Prachi then pointed to Payal's freckles which was on the right side of her ear. "Payal have it on right when Priya have it on left"
Milind's smile grew wider at the new discovery. Now he will be able to tell them apart. He want to know them more. make them be a part of his life so that he don't have to search for any marks to tell them apart. But for that, he have to have them be with him and for that to happen, he have to offer Prachi something he have been avoiding all his life. Marriage.
Milind cleared his throat and said. "Payal is very sleepy, you sure you can handle them both?"
"Milind I've been handing them for almost three years" Prachi reminded him as she took hold of Payal and making Priya to lie down on the bed. "right" Milind said and exited the room closing the door silently behind him.
Milind dropped himself on the couch and then he buried his face in his hands and groaned. His thoughts were of the moments he spent with Prachi and their children. It was simply so…Wonderful.
Prachi laid down on the bed patting both Priya and Payal as they peacefully sucked their bottle. Their eyelids have gone heavy and Prachi knew that they were going to fall asleep in any moment. and with the thought. Payal's hand dropped off from the bottle and since Prachi was holding it, the bottle didn't fall off on her. Prachi slowly carefully not to wake her, took her in her arms and patted her back slowly and when she heard the small burp. She laid her down once again and rocked her to sleep. She did the same with priya as well. Prachi knew that they will be awake after few hours. And during the time, she have to come to terms with milind. but she cant. She wasn't just ready for it. she cant just make any desiciion with him. cant bare to meet any demands from him. not now. with the thought, Prachi just laid there with her daughters looking at them with eyes full of adoration, love and pain.
She still remembered the day when she found out about her pregnancy. It happened all so fast and the memory of the day was still so fresh in her mind.
* * * * * * * *
F L A S H B A C K
3 years ago
Prachi stared at the blue strip in her hands. it cant be! How can it be! She wasn't suppose to get pregnant. Because she simply cant get pregnant. The accident that happened all those years ago when she was sixteen, the doctors have clearly stated that she can never conceive. But what went wrong. Why was the results showing positive?!
After the most incredible night with Milind Mishra, Both of them avoided each other as it was as per their own plan. Just one night. Though after that night, her craving for him drew even stronger but she kept her feelings at bay because like him, she didn't want any relationship. After witnessing the relationships around her. she avoided them like a plague until Sukriti and her brother Milind.
After the accident which led her into a devastating state Prachi left India and took her job offer in New York. She got her a golden opportunity in working at one of the most prestigious hotel. The Palour as a chef! She met Sukriti there when she came to order a cater service for her graduation party. They both hit off well after that and during their course, Prachi felt like that she had finally found a friend and also a sister. and then, she was introduced to Milind Mishra. She knew that he was a flirt and a world class playboy. He never masked anything but still, she felt like as if he was hiding himself. Behind the flirty image, he have seen a flicker of a total different man. She wasn't quite sure what it was but she told herself that she was stepping into a dangerous territory. but it couldn't be undone now. Prachi thought. she knew that what can be done can never be undone. Milind bought out the passion and desire in her. and that was the moment. she lost herself to him. he knew very well that she was a no-string attached person. She was frank about that. and he respected their common understatement and he never looked at her more than a friend whom he could share anything. they were like best friends and the world thought that there was something going on between them. but only they knew that they enjoyed each others company and don't want any romantic strings involved.
But that night, something happened. They both felt it. Something unknown and unexplainable.
Prachi buried her face in her hands as she tried to think of a solution. What was she going to now? tell Milind that he was going to be a father? He will surely throw her out. she knew it because he have told her himself that he don't want children of his own. Not now or not ever! So there was no question of telling him. but she have to tell him. he have the right to know. Placing a hand over her stomach, she sighed. She knew what the answer was going to be but still she was ready to take the chance. At least she will be satisfied that she told him.
Prachi was about to leave when her cell rang. "hello?"
"Prachi we are waiting for you when are you coming?" Prachi heard Sukriti's shouting at the other end. The music was loud at the background and she could hardly hear.
"I'm about to leave hon, just gimme 15 minutes, I'll be there" Prachi replied smiling and hung up the phone as she went out. Prachi took her usual bus route to Mishra's apartment. Milind acquired the penthouse and Sukriti lived next door. Prachi greeted the doorman and went straight upstairs to Sukriti's room first. To her surprise, Sukriti was there talking to someone over the phone and when she saw her, Sukriti apologetically mouthed one minute and Prachi left to go up the terrace to join the others she was just passing by when she stopped near Milind's apartment's door as she heard a burst of laughter. The door was half open and she saw a glimps of Milind's back who was sipping his drink quietly while chatting with five others who stood in front of him. There was no mistaken that they were Milind's old friends from college.
"I still cant quite believe that how you managed to bed her" one of them commented and Prachi leaned more to hear with curiousity.
"yeah man, for all I know, she is one ice queen, how did you do it?"
"I don't know it just happened" Prachi heard Milind say and it was then she knew that they were talking about him. Prachi knew about Milind's affairs and he would tell her about it all. And during the time, he was with her, he have never slept with anyone though he dated them. 'there might be a possibility that he slept with someone else whom I don't know of' Prachi thought as a pain gripped her.
"but Prachi Shah? Have you gone out of your mind?" Prachi's eyes widened at the mention of her name. "she is a plain jane man what happened to your taste!"
"oh come on dude! Even Plain Jane's can fall under the charms of this playboy!" another said slapping Milind's back which was followed by a hoot of laughter.
"so are you going to marry her?" she heard someone ask. There was a silence and then Milind started to laugh and said.
"on the subject of marriage, I told you before a man will be fool enough to settle from one flower to another when he can flit from one blossom to another with impunity and retain his freedom--" Prachi's eyes stung with tears but she wasn't going to cry because she knew Milind's view about marriage before and she didn't question why. but for some odd reason, she just couldn't help herself of the pain in her heart as he said so.
"you played hard to get what you wanted milind, we should all learn from him" someone has cut in and said raising his glass for toast. "to Milind the great player!"
"cheers" all echoed and Prachi just watched in horror. So it was all just an act! Play hard to get! It was she who was hard to get! What a fool she has been that she was blinded by the act of kindness from this man! Prachi just stood there watching. Watching Milind as he turned, his expression terse unable to read the emotion that was flickering. Was it guilt? She thought. no it cant be guilt the face bore pure mockery! They are jeering at her. for her naivety of course that was to happen. Milind raised his glass and clinked his with the other glasses as he joined along with them saying 'cheers'
As he did so, Prachi closed her eyes letting the tears fall freely.
F L A S H B A C K ENDS
* * * * * * * *
Knock Knock
Prachi's eyes snapped open as she heard the knock on the door which brought her out from the reverie.
"Prachi?" she heard Milind's voice softly call her and she closed her eyes not wanting to confront him. Prachi pretended to sleep and then she heard Milind letting a sigh and softly closing the door. She knew that he will be waiting for her for answers. Tonight was going to a one long night.
Milind dropped himself on the sofa and exhaled deeply. It was a relief that she was asleep along with them. he needed time to sort out his own mind as well. Before he was so sure that he would offer her marriage but later, he started having second thoughts. Well at least he will have some time to come to a decision that will be best for all. Especially their children. For a moment, Milind kept thinking and then his mind reeled back to the moment he saw Prachi feeding their daughters when he came in.
The way she called them her 'two little miracles' made him think a lot. Some how he could sense that there was more than meets the eye. What was that she mean earlier that day? Plain Jane falling for the charms of a playboy?
The sudden realization made him frown. she must have heard the conversation he had with his friends three years earlier. No wonder she is so angry. His eyes fell onto a picture of Prachi holding Payal and Priya. His heart constricted seeing them. they were now a part of him. he have to make the amends now. it has been too long and he don't want to wait any more.
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