Posted:
Part 60
"Mr Milind aakhir aisi konsi wajah thi jiskey chaltey aap apney dream project key inauguration per nahin aa sakey?" the journalist had thrust forward his question one out of the million he was being bombarded with. He was in the middle of a press conference his mind was blank eyes blood shot, his head throbbed badly the effect of the pain killer was probably wearing off. He had placed a heavy hand on his bandaged head trying to keep his mind alert he hadn't slept properly for quite some time now first the insomnia watching Prachi's dilemma and then the battle with Shashank, he felt drained and completely exhausted. His spokesman tried to play it safe "Dekhiye aap log shaant ho jaaiye, Milind sir ka accident ho gaya tha is liye woh nahin aa sakey" the man had put forward the statement they had prepared an hour earlier. The press meet was a necessity had it not been so Milind would've never consented to it but here his reputation as a businessman was at stake. He had been sipping coffee with Ali in the hospital cafeteria when he chanced to see a man opposite them read the paper and there on the first page his name glittered in all glory. "Milind Mishra is it worth it?" Milind had immediately bought the morning paper which was filled with anomalous calumnies and eccentric lies regarding him. Going through a few lines alone had made Milind realize how low the press could stoop to drag his name through the mud. References to his past were printed boldly accusing him of being irresponsible not attending the inauguration of his own dream project. It had been a known fact that he had worked the midnight oil to get the hotel on the map, it was a one of a kind the most expensive, lavish and elaborate hotel and club complete with golf courses, a mutiplex and it's very own shopping arcade. Milind had planned meticulously and had executed it with pristine precision and now it was all water under the bridge. In his face off with Shashank he had completely forgotten about the inauguration, all that had mattered then was Prachi's safety and after that her recovery.
Crumpling the paper Milind had thrown it away in disgust had Prachi told him the truth earlier Shashank could have been dealt with in a more appropriate manner, he could've made it to his inaugaration and wouldn't have become the laughing stock of the town. Taking out his cell phone he had asked Madhu to book him a ticket to Delhi on the next available flight. Ali had been watching him worriedly he had known about the inauguration and understood Milind's acrimony in his opinion he was justified in feeling that way. "Kahaan jaa raha hai Milind?" he had questioned when Milind had handed him his dedit cards in case he needed cash. "Delhi" "Per kyun?" everything had been finished what would Milind achieve by going there the press was ready to shred him to bits "Tamasha khatam kerney" Milind had replied coldly before driving away in the cool morning. Milind couldn't believe he had been played so bad by Prachi what did she think he was a bloody dog she could pet and shun at her own free will, what had he not given her love, trust and above everything else his heart and she hadn't thought twice before fibbing to him. How dare she, how dare she make him go through such misery she damn well knew what she meant to him, didn't she even once consider the consequences to her actions. What if she would've died what would he have done "Tum pyaar key qaabil nahin Milind Mishra..... qaabil nahin. Ghalati thi meri jo tum sey pyaar kiya, tumhain apni zindagi maana, paagal ho gayi tumharey pyaar main." Kaajal had screamed in all intensity and Milind had felt as if he had been pulled back in time, nothing had changed. He was the same Milind, the women were the same just their faces had been switched yet their hearts they were replicas of each other did he not deserve love. Maybe he didn't he had though fantasized that he did, been desperate to believe that he was capable of loving which was a lie in itself. It had suddenly dawned to him that Prachi had never been at fault it was he who was to blame. Had this not been the truth Kaajal would never had left him he had failed her then and had failed Prachi now, he was a certified loser and love was certainly not his destiny. He knew what he had to do making his mind clear on his task he had sped on the streets to the airport but before that he had to tell the world he actually gave a damn. On reaching Delhi he had arranged for a press conference and now he sat like a convict before a jury being accused and railed at. "Per aisey kisi accident ki khabar humain to nahin mili" another reporter had jumped up they were smart little rats who had done their homework properly.
"Hum aap sey jhoot kyun boleingey... aap dekh nahin rahey inki haalat" his spoekesman had retorted irritatedly this was getting too much. Anger bubbled in Milind well if the world was hell bent on painting him red then be it that way. "Band ker apni bakwaas" he had stood up glowering at the reporter who had immediately shut his trap "Kahaan tha kiya ker raha tha kisi key baap ka raaj hai kiya. Arey tum jaisey do takey key log jo paison key liye, eik khabar key liye kissi ki izzat daav per laganey sey pehley eik baar nahin sochtey un sey mujhey koi behes nahin kerni. Kiya jaanna chahtey ho, kahaan tha main then listen very carefully main eik kaam main busy tha. Kiya ker raha tha kyun raha tha none of your bloody business. Reh gayi reputation to Milind Mishra paanch saal pehley kuch nahin tha. Mera naam , meri izzat merey kaam sey hai zindagi key haadson sey nahin. Jissey mera hotel acha lageyga zarur aayega or jissey nahin lageyga uski mujhey parwah nahin. Now just get out from my hotel.... ALL of you!" he had shouted. Yes he'd been every thing but courteous and well it certainly didn't matter to him in his opinion all was already lost. He could feel countless pictures been clicked could hear the reporters openly calling him a snob and the power going to his brain. Only he knew though what actually had gotten to his mind sauntering out of the conference hall pertinaciously he certainly had put up a good act.
Prachi had opened her eyes with a herculean effort it felt as if she was falling down an abyss deeper and deeper she wanted to stop but couldn't. She batted her eyelids still heavily drugged the room seemed to be dancing on it's own accord the walls kept bending in and out. She tried to move but couldn't she was being sucked in the vortex again someone was beside her though she couldn't make out who it was. "Milind" she had whispered lifting her hands to his face "Prachi.... Prachi" the voice had called it felt as if it was coming from afar "Milind" she had murmured again before lapsing in a dreamless sleep. "Doctor when is she going to wake up?" Ali had asked Deepa in anguish Prachi kept falling in and out of consciousness he was panicking now how long would she be that way. Deepa who had been there checking on her drip had watched the scene before checking out her pupils which were thankfully dilating and contracting as normal. "She's fine Ali but she'll sleep the morphine off I told you that before you'll get the same answer even if you ask me this ten times." she had tried to pass it off as a joke but the truth was she could gauge Ali's mounting anxiety. Till yet both Prachi and Sapna hadn't gained consciousness, Ali hadn't informed at home either but now he realized he couldn't hold it off any longer. He had dialled to Shah mansion asking Premlata to join him at the hospital "Ali sab theek to haina?" Premlata's shaky voice was proof to her worry, "Sab theek hai aunty bas aap yahaan aa jaiyiye or filhaal Baba ya kisi or ko kuch mat bataiye ga" he had reminded her on impulse. She had promised to do and had immediately left for the hospital half an hour later Premlata stood next to Prachi carressing her sleeping daughter's soft chheks her face a picture of sorrow.
"Itna kuch ho gaya tum ney humain bataya tak nahin Ali" she had complained visibly upset planting a tender kiss on Prachi's forehead. " Aunty Prachi ney humain kuch nahin bataya or jab tak pata chala buhut der ho chuki thi" Ali had confided the whole truth to her. "Or Milind woh kahaan hai?" she had questioned it seemed odd to her that Milind was not by Prachi's side at this hour. "Aaj ka paper shayad parha nahin aapney" he had brought it to her and going through it she had felt burdened with guilt for doubting him. "Kaash key Prachi ney kuch bataya hota, mujh sey bhi chupaya... main to maa huun uski" Premlata had rubbed her forehead wretchedly. Thoughts ran wild in her mind what if Milind hadn't traced her to the farmhouse she'd have lost her daughter forever. Premlata had shed tears of pain she was too numbed to think further she had lost Inder then her son and was not prepared to have her daughter be taken away from her too. "Aunty sanbhaliye apney aap ko" Ali had comforted her fetching her a glass of water which she had drunk in small sips. "Mishra ji sey kiya bolungi main kahaan gayi hai?" she had raised the question Ali had been trying to avoid he too had been thinking of various excuses for Prachi's disappearance from home. "Aap keh dijiyega Soumya key paas gayi hai" he had suggested and she had nodded thoughtfully that was the only ruse she could use at the moment. She had left after staying for a while Daadi had been alone at him besides she did not wish Bua or Milind's father to get suspicious of her unannounced absence from the house.
Ali had found his feet being drawn to Sapna's room automatically he entered hesitantly. Though the hospital staff considered him her husband and was being updated on her condition from time to time yet he had not found the courage to go check on her till then. The blinds were drawn and the room was silent except for the occassional beeps of the machine she was hooked on. Ali had advanced noiselessly just watching her there pale and expressionless had made his heart lurch what had she done to herself. He had prayed in all those days that he had known her to be happy remain smiling forever he though had not the slightest idea that his silence and sacrifice had made God make him have her for eternity. Taking her limp hand in his own he had felt his vision blur a tear had rested on her hand and he had kissed it away with love. Words failed him as he tried to speak there were none, none that could measure up to the torment he felt watching her that way it was too gut wrenching as if someone had driven a knife through him and had let it stay there watching him bleed to a slow painful death. The door had been pushed open and he saw a nurse step in "Mr Ali you'll have to step out I need to change her" she had informed him and he had left. The nurse though had witnessed him wipe away his tears in haste sympathising with the depressed husband as she supposed him to be.
Milind looked through the clear glass of the aircraft it had just been air borne below he could see the earth falling away the buildings mere specks. He leaned back letting the sinking feeling in his stomach settle down as the airplane gained altitude closing his eyes tiredly. It had been a long day rather a long lifetime after his rather outrageous outburst at the press conference he had made a few quick calls to Vijay in Mumbai asking him to draw up something that would prove as an alibi for his accident. He did not want the Shashank fiasco being unearthed at any cost. If indeed that happened Prachi's name would be the talk of the town the media would go wild in frenzy another tidbit on Milind Mishra and Prachi would've sufferred at his hands, that certainly was not acceptable. The deed had been done the evidence fabricated late that afternoon another press conference had been arranged by his board of members explaining to the press the cause of his absence. Proof was provided including images of a wrecked car on the highway and a recorded statement from The Police Commissioner himself. The wagging tongues had halted and he had been given a clean bill by the numerous dailies that had till that morning been branding him as fickle and capricious not that it mattered to him. Moreover his physical injuries were also substantial in adding leverage to his case he had read the evening paper "Milind Mishra wrongly accused" and had thrown it in the bin before boarding the aircraft. He wondered when he would actually stop being in the limelight for all the wrong reasons why was he never mentioned when he won accolades for his thriving business or his hotels got tagged as brand of the year, or hotel of the year. But such was the world wasn't it, it never remembered one for the good one did rather kept digging graves of the skeletons in one's past. "Sir would you like some juice or coffee?" the flight attended had inquired she waited patiently for his answer as he mused. "Coffee.. make it black... no sugar" he had instructed , the woman had looked at him puzzled but had complied filling a cup with steaming black liquid. He sat with it running his fingers on the edges of the cup feeling the steam scorch them his gaze flitted back to the sky which was a bright crimson. The sun was bidding adieu welcoming the inky shadows that would fast approach but for now it was a palate of hues bright vibrant and spectacular. It had appeared heavenly then tufts of clouds were stretched as far as the eye could see their wispy forms billowing like froth, the sun's rays painting them red and deep gold it looked perfect just like a dream. He was overcome with a childish desire to step out of the airplane on this thick carpet of vapour. That looked like painted cotton rather bales of it at a glance run over it letting his feet sink in the fluffy contents and he had smiled.
He was instantly reminded of Preeti she loved sunsets and clouds had taken a lot after him.
"Papa coud" she had raised his face to hers as he lay on the grassy nook in the lawn. It had been a beautiful sunny day with white hordes of clouds scurrying across the welkin. "Cloud" he had corrected her she sat straddled atop him putting up her hands to the skies she had closed her fists in a futile attempt to catch some. He had smiled watching her that way and his heart had filled with pride, his daughter , his life she made his day ... every day. "Papa!" she had cried tired at last giving up on the task altogther her curls ruffling in the breeze. "Kiya hua?" he had questioned lazily and had opened one eye to look at her sad face. "Nahin aaya cloud haath main?" and she had shaken her head in the affirmative. Pulling her closer he had kissed her on the lips before shifting her off him "Koi baat nahin abhi dekh lo Papa key saath phir main apni gurya ko khud bana ker duunga clouds" he had promised. She had clapped her hands in elation grinning her father kept his promises and had lain on his out stretched arm her left leg resting on his torso. They had spent a wonderful afternoon watching the clouds make different patterns on that sunny day. Much later they had both dozed off the cool wind fanning them the shaded seclusion providing them the much needed peace and had only stirred to hear Prachi waking him. "Uthiye na Milind, shaam ho gayi yahiin so gaye. Aap aaye kyun nahin kab sey intizaar ker rahi huun aapka" and Milind's eyes had flown open. Her voice it had felt so close as she had just been beside him moments ago yet he was only joined by a few more passangers in the business section of the aircraft. Intizaar he thought unhappily gulping down the bitter scalding coffee " Intizaar to ab bas teri khushion ka hai Prachi jo ab shayad merey saath nahin."
Later as he entered the hospital corridor he had found Ali exactly where he had left him his eyes were puffy registering sleeplessness and he looked as if he'd walked a million miles. "Ali ghar jaa ab" he had told him. "Per Milind tuu bhi to abhi" he had tried to reason but Milind knew Ali had responsibilities of his own. He had called Saadia up telling her he had stayed over at a friend's place but it was night now and Milind wanted him to have some rest before resuming his watch at the hopital. "Behes mat ker Ali maan jaa, ghar jaa maa ko shakal to dikha apni pareshaan ho rahi hogi." Milind had explained. Ali had informed him earlier that he had indeed told Premlata about their little adventure in the night and Milind had deemed it an appropriate act someone had to be informed and Premlata was the safest bet. He had hugged Ali then he had been his sole confidant for so long he'd lost track of the years Ali's eyes had closed then his heart at ease "Pareshaan kyun hai Ali woh theek ho jayegi" he had assured him patting his back. "Woh tuut jayegi Milind" Ali had mumbled afraid of the wind carrying the news to her if he spoke aloud. "Tujhey to rab per bharosa hai na, phir aaj kiya hua? Kahaan gaya woh yaqeen jo teri aankhon main dikhta hai?" Milind had questioned him staring at his worn face. "Rab per to khud sey zyaada yaqeen hai bas khud per nahin" he had confided in him. "Chal saala mujhko maama banata hai" taking his face in his hands Milind had made him meet his eye. "Kiya bolta tha tuu pyaar sey barh ker kuch nahin hota, phir tera pyaar uskey har zakhm ka marham hoga. Ab chal ghar jaa" Milind had smiled and Ali had beamed. "Yeh kyun nahin bolta apni waali key saath time pass kerna hai" Ali had joked punching him in the stomach before leaving the hospital for home.
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