Part 45
Prachi sat awaiting Milind in their room when Ali had explained her the plan not only was she taken aback but rather hesitant simply because she thought it would never work. Ali had though asked her to trust him on it and had taught her how to smoke a cigarette without coughing on the smog. She hated it instantly but was forced to do so because Ali felt it was the only way Milind would stop smoking himself, Prachi still had not been able to make a connection between the two acts. Why would her starting to smoke effect Milind in any way so much so that he'd quit on the cursed habit himself it simply did not make sense. But she trusted Ali and had let him tutor her on the activity making her puff a couple of sticks before deeming her ready for action and now she sat shrouded in smoke despising herself each time she put the cigarette to her lips. Her throat felt parched her lips dry it felt as if her insides would burst into flames any minute she felt suffocated and desperately wished for Milind to come soon. Ali had given her a missed call on her cell Milind was headed upstairs Preeti thankfully had been busy with Premlata downstairs and Prachi did not have to worry about her showing up amidst the act. Milind had entered the room to a shocking scenario Prachi sat on the sofa near the open window smoking or rather trying to smoke efficiently blinking hard to stop the water that threatened to spill from her eyes. What was wrong with her he had thought astounded and in a few strides stood by her side "Yeh kiya ker rahi hai Prachi?" he had inquired his tone, dead pan. Prachi's hands had trembled when she heard him he certainly had not liked what he had seen it was evident from the iciness in his voice. Clutching the cigarette tightly between her fingers she tried her best to act coolly.... "Kuch nahin aaj mainey socha thora main bhi try ker leti huun, aap jo roz peetey hain yaqeenan achi hoti hogi haina?" she had smiled up at him.
Milind's blood had started boiling as Prachi sucked at the filter like a pro "Kab sey pii rahi hai?" he had inquired patiently fighting the urge to give her a tight slap. "Thorey dinon sey" she had answered truthfully lowering her gaze guiltily. "Kyun?" he had questioned her again such sort of behaviour was not expected of her and he would certainly not see her continue this course of action. "Jeeney key liye" Prachi had replied looking at him in the eye and Milind was reminded of the time they had lunched together that was the exact same answer he had given to her. "Bakwaas band ker Prachi or aainda agar issey haath lagaya to haath tor duunga terey samjhi" he had viciously snatched the cigarette from her putting it out in a nearby ash tray. "Aap kon hotey hain mujhey rokney waaley or yeh aap mujh sey keh rahey hain jo khud itni saari peetey hain din raat....... aapko koi haq nahin mujhey mana kerney ka" she had answered stubbornly before reaching for another one from the packet. "Tera dimagh kharab ho gaya hai Prachi... tuu hosh main to hai?" Milind had hollered catching her by her arms shaking her thoroughly Prachi stood wincing as his fingers dug in her arms forcefully she had no idea her action was going to cause such a serious reaction from him. "Itni hii buri hai to aap kyun peetey hain.....aap ko sab kuch kerney ki ijazat hai mujhey nahin" she had protested in his firm hold ignoring his glowering eyes which made her feel as if she had committed a heinous crime.
Milind had gazed at her petulantly his fingers slacking as he finally let go of her it was true he smoked to a dangerous extent but it was a habit now and expending it was no easy task. "Bataiye Milind aap jo peetey hain woh sahi hai or agar mainey pii lii to burai hai?" she had questioned him again meekly this time she felt miserable for having causing him such heartache but it was for his own good. "Prachi mujh main or tujh main farq hai..." he had tried to explain in vain. "Koi farq nahin aap main or mujh main aap zindagi sey chutkara chahtey or mujhey bhi jeeney kii koi wajeh nazar nahin aati phir agar maqsad eik hai to raasta eik kyun nahin ho sakta?" she had reprimanded him openly. "Main piyungi zarur piyungi or eik din mar jaungi, yeh meri zindagi hai or issey apney hisaab sey jeeney ka haq hai mujhey" she had stated defiantly when he had held her ruthlessly by her arms catching her completely off guard. "Marna hai to mar ja, jee ker mujh per ehsaan nahin ker rahi waisey hii thak gaya huun main sab key liye jee ker!"
Prachi had not expected such a severe retaliation to her comment and gasped in surprise staring him wide eyed. For a moment she was compelled to tell him the truth tell him that she loved him and it hurt her to see him inch closer to certain doom each day because of his cursed habit her eyes glazed with a film of tears, she could see it hadn't been easy for him to watch her following his foot steps. "Sach sunna chahti hai to sun us jail kii chaar deewari main dum ghutta tha mera uss gunah ki saza bhugat raha tha jisey mainey kabhi kiya nahin. Tab jab zindagi ka har darwaza band ho gaya tha tab mujhey laga jeeney ki ab koi wajeh nahin marna to waisey bhi hai phir main maut ka intizaar kyun karun" he bored his eyes in hers his voice icy cold istrumental in making her understand all that had happened in that short duration of his sentence had left him hard and cruel to his ownself. "Tab haar ker mainey iss main zindagi ko dhunda tha haan maanta huun ghalat kiya lekin kiya kerun keh aadat ho gayi hai meri....." he had lashed at her furiously. "Or tuu kehti hai farq nahin hum main" he criticised her sarcastically....... "farq hai Prachi Shah farq hai. Farq hai zindagion ka, farq hai hadson ka, farq hai chahaton ka buhut farq hai hum main" he had bellowed angrily. "Nahin chahta main keh tujhey koi takleef ho Prachi tuu kyun nahin samajhti.." he had murmured helplessly pulling her closer to him in an attempt to pacify her. "Or aap kyun nahin samajhtey keh mujhey takleef hoti hai jab aap dukhi hotey hain, takleef hoti hai mujhey aapko yun is dhuawein main jalta dekh ker..." she had whispered sobbing she had died a hundred deaths in these few moments of their confrontation hating herself for being the cause of his suffering. "Prachi ab yeh chorna namumkin hai" he had stated matter of factly releasing her so that she stood staring at him aghast. "Or merey liye aap ko yun pal pal jalta dekhna namumkin hai" she had said in a moist tone completely broken, something in her voice had caused him to gaze at her with such longing he feared she might just read his thoughts. Steeling himself he had looked away hoping she would not press the issue further but alas "Theek hai aap apni zid puri kijiye main apni zid puri kerungi jab tak aap yeh peena nahin choreingey Milind I promise main bhi nahin chorungi phir chahey kuch ho jaye" she had informed him in a clear though wet tone before exiting the room.
It had been a week since their confrontation and Prachi had kept her word though she alone knew how she mustered up the courage to do so, she would smoke regularly after Preeti would fall asleep, the minute Milind would reach for a cigarette she would do the same. It was frustrating for Milind to see her act insanely he had thought he would ignore her and she would finally give up on him but she had proved more implacable than he had imagined. Ali had kept a constant watch on the two and fretted inwardly on directing Prachi on this path now both of them were hell bent to make each other despair but he knew there was no other way out. If Milind were to give up on it Prachi was the only one who could make him do so his love for her would change him for the better he knew that for a fact. Both Milind and Prachi were not on speaking terms with each other several times Prachi had thought of talking to Milind but she knew it would be no use. It wasn't his fault that he acted indifferently to her he had formed a nasty habit which definitely would take time to wear off and Prachi hoped he'd succumb to the emotional blackmail soon. She knew he couldn't stay mad at her long neither could he bear to see her that distraught he himself had said so too she hoped and prayed he'd have a change of heart soon. Bua had asked Prachi to prepare for Karvachaut it was her first fast and Bua had wanted it to be one she would cherish for a lifetime. Milind was totally unaware of the preparations at hand he had considered it another one of the countless pujas Bua kept conducting and would hardly take any interest in the matter.
His current concern lay with Prachi and her newfound obsession with tobbacco "Edhi ho gayi hai saali maanti nahin kuch" he had complained to Ali the other day. "Tuu maanta hai kisi ka kehna jo ussey ilzaam dey raha hai" Ali had thrown it back in his face mercilessly. "To tuu kiya chahta hai manmaani kerney duun usko kal ko beemar ho gayi to?" Milind had replied irritated. "Tuu itney waqt sey pii raha hai...tujhey kuch hua? Nahin na phir woh bhi theek rahey gi" Ali had back answered he was in mood to buy Milind's lame excuses. "Meri maan to chor aa ussey uskey ghar theek ho jayegi , tuu itna bhao deta hai ussey isi liye tera meter ghumati rehti hai" Ali had proposed cunningly knowing full well Milind would never do such a thing. "Saala sab key sab paagal ho gaye hain idhar" Milind had cast a bloody look in his direction throwing a cushion at him which Ali had caught deftly smiling at him as he stomped off to his father's room.
Milind had left for office early he simply could not bear to be in the same space with Prachi now. Her silence was killing him inwardly and it took every ounce of her patience to see Milind leave without having breakfast. She had cleared the table disheartedly when Baba had called her to his room reaching there she was surprised to see Bua and her mother already present. Baba had then handed her a platter filled with accessories customary to the occassion covered with a red cloth. "Milind kii maa hoti to tumhain deti per ab woh nahin hai to main dey raha huun. Mujhey vishvaas hai aaj ka din tumharey or Milind key liye buhut saari khushian laayega" he had smiled patting her head and she had touched his feet in devotion. Her mother had smiled serenely as Bua had handed her a gold chain as a gift for the evening. "Iski kiya zarurat thii Bua" she had tried to forbid her but Bua was adamant on her accepting it as she had got it made specially for her. "Pehla karvachat hai tumhara haq banta hai beta" she had smiled kissing her cheek. Bua certainly had formed a soft spot for Prachi in her heart not only had Prachi won her over by her selfless acts and kind gestures also Bua had noticed how keenly she had taken care of her brother and his family. It gave her immense pleasure to think that finally she would be leaving the house in capable hands. The day had passed quickly come evening the house had started filling with guests Prachi's first karvachaut was certainly going to be memorable.
Milind had been trying hard to focus on his work a the office but to no avail everytime he thought of smoking a cigarette Prachi's image would flash in his mind. Her teary eyes and trembling lips had him going insane with fury why was she torturing him and herself. He knew she hated the smoke often he'd seen her cough incessantly after smoking a few sticks she'd go scarlet trying to smother her coughs by burying her face in her pillow but that didn't turn her off from putting another one to her lips.He knew if this prevailed he would very well have to give up smoking himself and that drove him mad to think that he'd have to give in to her. Damn it he had pounded his fist in the wall forcefully first his house then his life and now his thoughts the woman didn't let him have peace anywhere. He had not been able to smoke with a clear concience once after that incident it annoyed him to think that Prachi was in a sense ruling him if not directly then indirectly. She did not say much but when she did it made sense and no matter how hard he tried to suppress that inner voice of his it kept chiding him for his actions. He knew he was acting renitantly and it was costing him, he just couldn't stand seeing her smoke. Opening his shirt buttons he stood infront of the aircondition vent in an attempt to cool himself off but it was no use. Despite the minimal temperature in the room he felt as if he was on fire being scorched slowly and steadily. As the clock struck eight he had wrapped up his work clicking the lights shut he closed his office behind him. Tonight he was going to have a word with her and she had better comply he had thought decisively before throwing his coat on his arm angrily enough was enough.
Parking the Kompressor in the garage he had sprinted towards the threshold as he stepped inside he was faced with another dilemma what the hell was happening here. He stood perplexed scanning the premises it seemed women of all sizes and colours had appeared magically from thin air just to crowd his house. Prachi sat amidst a few smiling as they examined the artistically painted henna patterns on her palms time froze then all that he saw was her in that crimson lehenga she had worn at their wedding reception. He couldn't decide whether she had looked prettier back then or now glowing with happiness her eyes were starry probably reminiscing some memorable moment spent. Her lips turned at the corners she gazed at her hands with hope, desire and a yearning he could not understand. Sensing him nearby her eyes had flicked in his direction and he had seen them light up shining radiantly as his charcoal ones met hers. For a moment he was tempted to smile back but he reminded himself that he was supposed to be furious at her. Picking his way through the crowd he managed to reach the kitchen where Premlata stood overlooking the dishes prepared for the evening. "Maa yeh kiya ho raha hai ghar main?" he had questioned irritably. "Beta aaj to karvachaut hai Prachi ka pehla vrath hai woh bhi tumharey liye isi liye tumharey Baba or Bua ney in sab logon ko bulaya hai" she had smiled informing him about the details regarding the event underway. Milind had looked at her speechless today was karvachaut and Prachi had even kept a fast for him...what was she, mad. She didn't have to play her role as a dutiful wife to such lengths she didn't need to fast that too for him. "Maa iski kiya zarurat thi?" he had questioned crossly. "Arey iss main ghussa kerney waali konsi baat hai... tumhari patni hai beta woh nahin rakheygi to or kon rakheygi?" Premlata had laughed aloud at his perturbation "Yeh to rasm hai nibhani to pareygi ab jao ja ker tayyar ho jao chand abhi nikalta hii hoga." Milind's head had turned in Prachi's direction once again "Chand to kab ka nikal aaya maa" he had mumbled causing Premlata to follow his gaze to her daughter watching her painted hands with a shy smile playing on her lips. "Kiya tohfa liya usskey liye?" Premlata hai asked a distracted Milind standing mute in the doorway "Haan!" he had jolted out of his wayward thoughts at her call. "Mainey pucha kiya tohfa liya usskey liye? Liya bhi keh bhool gaye?" Premlata had joked smiling at her son in law she certainly had come to love him as her own flesh and blood. "Tohfa....." he had echoed would his love for her qualify as a gift... he had thought..... maybe not. "Hmm tohfa" he had looked back at Premlata watching him in anticipation "Tohfa to hai per shayad uskey qaabil nahin" he had stated turning to leave for his room.
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Edited by blind horizon - 16 years ago
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