Note
I lifted this storyline from the US soap, The Young And The Restless. A storyline, I hated and loved in equal measures. Nick and Sharon lost their daughter in a car accident after a school party. Nick felt guilty as he let Cassie go for the party against Sharon's wishes. Anyway he turned to Phyllis for comfort. They ended up having an affair, Phyllis fell pregnant and Nick ended up leaving Sharon to marry Phyllis. That will NOT happen here. Anyway, just thought I'll come clean about where the story came from.
Chapter 6
Flashback 2 Years Ago
"Prachi", said Premlata coming to sit next to Prachi on the sofa, as Prachi stared listlessly out the window. "I know it's difficult and I don't mind you staying here as long as you want but you need to go back home." Prachi turned around and looked at her mother bleakly, "I can't. Everything reminds me .." Her eyes quickly filled with tears, Prachi turned away from her mother. "Prachi, listen to me. It's been two months already. The more you avoid things, the more difficult it's going to get.", said Premlata. Prachi knew her mother was right. It had been two months since she had buried her daughter, two months since she had been back to the house that was filled with her memories. But Prachi didn't think she had the strength to face them.
Premlata looked at Prachi concernedly. Her mood swung from listlessness to outbursts of anger. As much as Premlata wanted to be there for her, she knew that Prachi needed the support of her husband more than anyone else's. Only the two of them were Kshama's parents and they needed to grieve her loss together and that was something they were not doing right now. "Prachi, you need to be there for Milind and allow him to be there for you.", continued Premlata gently. Prachi got up from her seat abruptly. "Milind doesn't need me.", she said. It had been more than a week since she had even seen him. After the accident and her DNC, Prachi hadn't been well physically. She had leaned on her mother and sisters for support. In the meantime, she hadn't noticed the chasm, developing between her and Milind. They both were in agony but found it almost impossible to reach out to each other. Milind didn't want to talk about the accident, at times it seemed as if he didn't even want to acknowledge it happened. Ever since the accident, all Prachi wanted to say to him was, "I shouldn't have started that fight." But he barely made eye contact with her anymore and the words got stuck in her throat.
Premlata was now even more worried. She could see the damage slowly been done to Prachi's marriage and she had to find a way to help stop it. "Prachi, you can not think like that.", said Premlata firmly, "Niether of you, will know what the other one needs unless you speak to each other." When Prachi didn't respond, Premlata turned her around to face her. "You're going back home today. I'm sorry but you just have to.", said Premlata resolutely. Looking at her mother, Prachi faced up to the fact she couldn't hide forever and she slowly nodded in agreement. Premlata hugged her while, she cried on her mother's shoulder.
"Another", said Milind to the barman, raising his glass. The barman looked at him dubiously. Milind was quickly reaching his limit. "I said another.", snapped Milind. The barman quickly poured him another scotch, neat. As he nursed his drink, Milind sank into self recrimination. What kind of a man jeopardizes his family in that way? He killed his daughter all for the sake of a meeting. Why did he have to speed like that? No wonder his wife hated him and didn't even want to be under the same roof as him. She was gone, lying deep in the cold earth and he had put her there. Milind felt as if he was in physical agony. He quickly downed his drink. He felt the scotch burn down his throat but it didn't stop his soul from burning with guilt and sorrow.
"Milind", said Mallika concernedly. She had been having dinner with her friends when she had seen him at the bar. "Ah Mallika, come join me. Another!", said Milind smiling lopsidedly, glad for the distraction and beckoned the barman. "No", said Mallika to the barman firmly. "Milind, you've had enough.", she said. She looked at him anxiously. He was in no state to be driving. She knew he was having a difficult time dealing with his daughter's death, not that he had ever spoke to her about it. He was now even more formal and businesslike than before the accident. "Milind, come on, lets go.", said Mallika. "Where?", asked Milind, still grinning. He was willing to go anywhere that would let him forget. "Home", replied Mallika as she took his car keys from him.
Mallika watched Milind closely as he stumbled into her apartment and flopped down onto her sofa. She had acknowledged to herself a long time ago that she was deeply attracted to him, that she hated the fact he was married with a child, that she would gladly welcome any opportunity to get closer to him. Was this that opportunity? "What's wrong, Milind? You know you can talk to me about anything don't you?", asked Mallika softly. "Talk!", laughed Milind cynically. Then he added bitterly, "My wife doesn't want to talk to me anymore. Not that I blame her." Mallika inched closer to him and tentatively stroked his hair, "Well like I said, you can talk to me about anything you want." Milind looked at her startled. She was beautiful. She looked so different from his wife, so different from his daughter ...
"Want me to come in with you?", asked Neev, as they pulled into the darkened driveway. "No, it's fine.", said Prachi as she looked at the house. It didn't look like Milind was at home. "Thanks", she said to Neev, before waving him goodbye. Prachi put on the lights as she entered the living room.
"Kshama, stop jumping on the sofa.", said Prachi exasperated as her daughter gleefully bounced on the sofa. Her daughter may look like her but she took after her father in every other way. "Mama, bored.", complained Kshama. "Okay, here is your coloring book and crayons.", said Prachi. "Mama, play with me.", said Kshama pleadingly. "After I cook dinner.", promised Prachi. "Now!", demanded Kshama. Prachi sighed. Stubborn and impatient, just like her father but Prachi was a pushover when it came to both of them. "Okay, just half an hour.", agreed Prachi as a way of a compromise. Two hours later, Milind found them in the garden, happily blowing bubbles. He got his dinner very late that night but the sight of his wife and daughter playing in the garden more than made up for it.
Prachi quickly fled upstairs. This was turning out even more difficult than she thought. She was already crying when she entered Kshama's room.
"And they lived happily ever after.", said Milind closing the book. "Papa, tell more.", said Kshama. "Okay, then the prince turned into an ogre and gobbled everyone up.", said Milind as he tickled her on her stomach. "Papa!", shrieked Kshama with laughter as she tried to wriggle out of her father's reach. "Okay, that's enough now.", smiled Prachi, as she entered the room. As she tucked Kshama back under the covers, Kshama asked, "Mama, did he gob them?". "No, Papa is joking. Actually the princess married an ogre but then he turned into a prince and they lived happily ever after.", replied Prachi. Kshama smiled contently as her parents kissed her good night.
As they closed the door behind them, Milind pulled Prachi close to him, "So, the princess married an ogre, did she?", he asked, slightly sulkily. "But he turned out to be her Prince Charming.", replied Prachi mischievously. "Really?", asked Milind pulling her even closer, his voice husky with desire. Prachi nodded, her cheeks already coloring. Milind swung her into his arms and carried her to their bedroom.
Prachi suddenly desperately needed Milind. She quickly called him. "Hello", said the female voice. Prachi froze. She recognized the voice. "Hello", repeated Mallika. In a daze, Prachi cut the call. Why was Mallika answering Milind's phone at this time of the night.
Prachi waited the rest of the night for Milind to phone her back with some sort of explanation but the call never came. Milind returned back home at 3am. His head hurt but he was sober by now. He noticed the light on in the living room and quickly went upstairs. He found Prachi in Kshama's room, sitting on her bed, her face tear stained but she looked calm. They looked at each other, neither saying a word. The silence became oppressive. As he looked at his wife, standing in a room where he could feel his daughter's presence all around, he felt as if his head will explode.
"I phoned you. Mallika answered.", said Prachi. "Why?", asked Prachi. Milind could feel the room slowly start to spin around. Prachi was looking at him accusingly. Just as accusingly as his daughter looked at him in his dreams, "Why?", the questions swirled around in his head. "Why was he speeding?", "Why didn't he put his family first?", "Why did he kill her?". "Milind, answer me.", said Prachi despairingly. He was just looking at her, looking at her so guiltily. Milind was overwhelmed with a need to escape from it all and at the same time to punish himself. He ended up doing both by saying nothing. "Milind!", pleaded Prachi, imploring him for some sort of answer. He just shook his head, walked out the door, got back in his car and drove away. Prachi sank to the floor. She couldn't even cry anymore. Two weeks later, Milind moved to Istanbul.
Edited by blackcurrant - 16 years ago