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Part 44
Milind still could not believe what he had just witnessed had Prachi stopped Naintara and back answered Bua for his daughter he was wonderstruck. True he knew Prachi loved Preeti but to such an extent was news to him he walked on to see his Baba look up at him with wet eyes "Aaj ehsaas hua mujhey tuuney patni chunney main koi ghalati nahin kii" Today I realized you didn't go wrong choosing a wife for yourself he had smiled at Milind. "Ab jaa warna bethi ro rahi hogi" Now go else she'll be sitting crying he had chuckled knowing full well Prachi's soft heart and her loving nature. Milind had smiled back at him squeezing his shoulder reassauringly and ascended the stairs to his room he could hear Bua curse Tara for her heartlessness in the background. He had entered the room noiselessly to see Prachi sit rocking Preeti in her arms "Mumma sey keh deti chips khaaney they to Tara Bua key kyun liye?" You could've told Mumma you wanted chips why did you take Tara aunty's? she had asked the child who watched her with thoughtful eyes. Prachi understood Preeti was in shock Milind had never raised a finger at her neither had let anyone else do so, the slap was a totally new experience for Preeti. It worried Prachi that Preeti had not cried after being hit rather had not uttered a single word since then. Normally children cried when they were subjucted to physical abuse but Preeti had reacted quite the opposite and no amount of consolation on Prachi's part had appeared helpful. She simply refused to show any reaction at all rather sat numbed in her lap "Preeti kuch to bolo dard to nahin ho raha..." Preeti say something are you hurt. Prachi was close to tears she simply could not see her that way cold and unresponsive. Milind could see Prachi was finding it difficult to put up with Preeti's way of mourning he knew his daughter inside out Preeti normally didn't cry it was a trait she had inherited from him. Like him she remained silent when hurt or depressed it usually appeared out of the blue for people who didn't know her well but he was her father he had known her ever since she was born how would he not understand her. Taking his seat beside Prachi he had yanked off his coat opening his shirt buttons he rolled up his sleeves upto his arms all the time smiling at Preeti. When she still didn't respond he had lifted her from Prachi's lap placing her in his own. "Kiya hua meri beti naraaz hai kiya Papa sey?" What happened is my daughter upset with Papa? he had asked gently smoothing her curls, she had looked up at him before slowly shaking her head in the negative. "To phir aaj chocolate nahin chahiye?" Then you don't want chocolate today? he had inquired again in an attempt to make small talk with her and she had denied the offer too.Taking her small face in his palm he had kissed her on the nose "Baat bhi nahin kerogi?" You won't even talk? Milind had whispered in her ear and she had given in.
"Papa..... Tala aanti...." Preeti had finally found her tongue after several agonizing minutes passed by complaining to her father she gesticulated the manner in which Naintara had slapped her, hugging her father tightly at the end of the demonstration. Milind had wrapped his arms protectively around her ruffling her curls as she clung to him her head resting on his broad shoulder her eyes spilling tears. He gently patted her kissing her cheek softly "Ab aapko koi cheez chahiye ho Papa sey kehna ya phir Mumma sey. Dusron kii cheezain cheentey nahin.... theek hai" Now you want something ask me or Mumma. Don't snatch other people's things... ok he had explained to her murmuring in her ear and she had nodded in assent. He had stood up then pacing the room with calculated steps he hummed softly rocking her till she seemed to have fallen asleep in his arms. He had laid her on the bed then kissing her on her forehead wiping away her tears. Prachi had been witnessing this dumbfoundedly she was awed by the level of understanding both father and daughter shared what was notable and rather remarkable was the way Milind gauged her pain and had soothed her troubled little heart. A tear had fallen down Prachi's eye and rested on Milind's hand he had watched her carefully for a few minutes before wiping another one that had found it's way on her cheek. "Chot ussey lagi hai dard tujhey ho raha hai" She's the one who's got hurt and it's paining you he had stated "Itna pyaar mat ker iss sey Prachi keh phir juda hona kayamath lagney lagey. Tu or main to samajhdaar hain qismet ka likha samajh ker bhuul jayeingey lekin main issey yun taraptey nahin dekh sakunga" Don't love her to an extent where parting with her might feel like the end of the world. You and i are grown ups we can understand separation deeming it as fate but I can't see her fretting over it he had pleaded.
"Rishtey itni aasani sey bhulaye jaatey Milind to phir duniya main dukh naam ki koi cheez nahin hoti. Per yehi to dukh ka kaaran hotey hain, meri zindagi main ab buhut andhera hai Milind or roshni ki wajeh sirf aap or aapka parivaar mujh sey jeeney kii wajeh kyun cheen lena chahtey hain aap?" If relationships were this easy to forget no one in the world would've been unhappy, but sadly they are the reason for all the pain. My life is extremely dark Milind you and your family are the only ray of light in it why do you wish to deprive me of my reason to live ?she had questioned him ruefully. "Jaisey teri marzi main na tujhey dukhi dekh sakta huun na issey per shayad tum dono ko khushiyan dena merey bas main nahin.." As you wish I cannot see either you or her hurt but it seems happiness is something I'm unable to provide you both with he had sighed walking out in the balcony. There was a waxing moon out that night and it shone brilliantly covering the world like a thick cold blanket of silver Prachi had followed him outside too. "Aap sey agar aaj main kuch manguun Milind inkaar to nahin kareingey?" If I ask you for something Milind will you deny it? Prachi had asked him meekly. "Nahin" NoMilind had replied promptly "Aaj jaisey aap ney Preeti ko samjha kabhi agar mujhey aapkey saharey ki zarurat pari to deingey aap mera saath. Kabhi agar mujhey aapkey saath kii aapkey yaqeen kii zarurat ho, aap kareingey mujh per vishvaas?" Today as you understood Preeti if I ever require your support would you understand me? If I were ever to need your faith in me would you believe me? she had questioned him hope flickering in her eyes. Milind had looked at her deeply for what seemed like eons he knew she was driven by fear and wished to seek solace in his answer but did she really need to ask him. Was the answer not evident she just had to look in his eyes to know what he felt for her. His procrastination had caused Prachi to repent her decision to ask him to believe her she had known though he wouldn't have denied her help, his eyes had said so even if his lips didn't. "Haan...." Yes... Milind had replied after a while "Karunga tujh per vishvaas kyunki tujh per to aaj bhi vishvaas hai mujhey" I'll believe you because I believe you right now too he had informed her honestly. "Phir chahey duniya merey khilaaf ho....tab bhi?" Even if the whole wide world is against me.... even then? Prachi had extended her query causing Milind to revert his eyes back from the lawns to her beauteous face. "Duniya kuch bhi kahey mujhey parwah nahin isski" I don't care about the world it can keep saying what it wants to he had stated calmly folding his hands on his chest. Prachi had cast an appetent look at him before tearing her gaze away from his handsome face she could not stand there for long then and had disappeared in the room. Much later when Milind had entered it he had found it empty Prachi had seemed to have left, thinking she might've gone to serve dinner he had quickly changed and then lay beside Preeti on the bed soon entering dream world himself.
Ali had arrived late in the afternoon the next day being a Sunday he had lazed off before dropping in to have a word with Prachi. He still had not forgotten the detective's advice and hoped to draw information on Prachi's past from her. Milind and Preeti were splashing in the pool it had been hot and Milind had thought it best to teach Preeti a few tricks of the trade helping her paddle in the water. Prachi watched from a distance seated in a shaded spot sipping on fresh lime when Ali had popped in. "Kiya ho raha hai aaj yahaan yeh dono swimming competition main bhaag ley rahey hain kiya?" What's happening here are these two entering some swimming competition? he had laughed watching Milind train Preeti. "Arey bhaiyya aap kab aaye?" Oh brother when did you come? Prachi had questioned pleasantly "Chai laun aapkey liye?" Shall I bring tea for you? she had asked. "Itni garmi main maaro gi kiya thanda laao fatafat" You gonna kill me in this heat get me something cold fast Ali had ordered her making himself comfortable on the wicker chair. Prachi had returned a few minutes later carrying a jug full of lemonade. She had poured out a glass to him which he sipped in satisfaction "Dil khush ho gaya mera!" I'm very much satisfied he had remarked aloud grinning ear to ear. Prachi had watched him contemplatively for a while trying to gather courage when Ali had observed her looking at him pensively. "Kuch puuchna hai Prachi?" Do you wish to ask something?he had inquired leaving her flustered "Haan bhaiyya... woh..." Yes brother...I she stammered."To pucho na ghabra kyun rahi ho.." Then ask why are you getting nervous? he had smiled at her patting her head affectionately. "Bhaiyya Milind itni cigarette kyun peetey hain?" Brother why does Milind smoke so much? she had finally put forward the sole thought that had plagued her mind ever since she had met Milind. It hurt her to see him waste himself over the slim rolls of tobacco he puffed by the dozen each day. Sometimes she'd wake up in the mornings to find the ash trays over flowing with burnt stubs and her heart would bleed to see his discoloured lips as he'd lay asleep beside Preeti. She had had enough of it and wanted to put a stop to it, she vividly recalled the way he had snubbed her query regarding the habit while they dined in the restaurant a couple of months back. Back then she was afraid of him and had not understood his condition as much as she did now but the fact that she despised the habit remained the same she simply could not bear to see him give in to such an injurious leisurely pursuit.
Ali had fixed his eyes on Milind happily splashing in the blue with Preeti it took him some time to return his gaze to a very curious Prachi. "Insaan ki zindagi main jab umeed khatam ho jaati hai to jeeney ki khwahish bhi mar jaaya kerti hai Prachi" When a person loses hope he even loses the reason to live Prachi he had spoken haltingly. "Yeh aadat Milind ko jail main lagi thii tab haalat aur they uski zindagi beymaqsad thii. Tab qanoon ney ussey qaatil qarar dey diya tha, maut key intizaar sey behter us ney maut ko galey lagana samjha. Wahaan buhut log piya kertey they iss aas main keh phansi sey pehley lung cancer sey mar jayeingey. Buhut samjhaya mainey ussey lekin....... ab shayad aadat ho gayi hai issey khud ko jalaney ki". Milind picked up this habit in jail back then things were different Indian law had deemed a ruthless murdere. Instead of waiting for death he thought he'd embrace it himself. Lots of people smoked there in a hope to contract lung cancer before they got hanged. Placing his empty glass on the wicker table he had looked up at her with inquisitive eyes "Per ab tak to tumko iss ki smoking sey koi problem nahin thi phir aaj yeh sawaal kyun?".But you never had a prolem with him smoking then why this question today? Prachi had toyed with the lemon slice perched atop her glass before meeting his amused gaze "Bhaiyya main unhain aisey nahin dekh sakti, din raat itni cigarette unki sehat key liye achi nahin. Woh mujhey kuch batatey nahin bas chup chaap saara ghum akeley sehna chahtey hain. Main kiya kerun soch soch ker main pareshaan ho gayi huun keh unhain kaisey rokun...." Brother I can't see him this way, excessive smoking day and night is not good for his health. He won't confide in me about his problems, wants to bear it all alone. What do I do I'm so worried thinking of ways to make him stop....her turmoil was evident from the way her voice quivered during the last sentence. "Hmmm" Ali had mused for a few minutes "Eik raasta hai merey paas.....lekin" I have an idea...but he had paused in mid sentence peering at her questioningly "Ker paogi yeh sab uskey liye?" Will you be able to do it for him?Prachi had shifted her gaze from him to a dripping Milind laughing at Preeti's attempts to swim like him. "Unkey liye to kuch bhi ker sakti huun main" I'll do anything for him she had answered determinedly her mind set to conquer all hurdles that threatened to harm Milind in any way.
Sapna waited impatienty outside the arrivals section of the airport lounge Shashank was nowhere to be seen. His flight had landed and he would be by her side any minute her happiness knew no bounds. It was true she loved Shashank more than he loved her they had met at a discotheque in Mud Island owned by him she'd been invited to a friend's party and surprisingly they had hit it off the first evening. In a month's time they had become inseparable but there were times when Sapna felt she was really a ruse to him, a mere pawn he intended to use for some bigger purpose. She'd fight with then call him names but he always managed to placate her, blandish and adulate her in the choicest of manner making her fall in love with him all over again. She stood tapping her feet eyeing her wrist watch when she felt someone pull her by her waist. She twirled round to see Shashank grin at her his eyes glittering like bits of jewels hugging her close he had captured her lips in a dominating kiss. Moments later when they had parted Sapna had blushed involuntarily "Shashank sab dekh rahey hain" Shashank everyone's watching she had whispered guiltily. "Dekhney do Shashank Saxenna kisi sey derta nahin waisey bhi tum meri ho...... sirf meri" Let them Shashank Saxenna is not afraid of anyone besides you'r mine..... just mine he had given her a seductive smile. Once back at his apartment he hadn't wasted any time in stripping off her attire quenching his thirst with her beauty. As she lay bare against him his hands had outlined her curves expertly making her want him from the bottom of her heart giving in to his desires letting him play with her like an ace. Much later when they lay sated she had asked him the same question she always used to ask "Shashank hum shaadi kab kareingey?" Shashank when will we get married?. "Kar leingey jaan jaldi kiya hai abhi umer hii kiya hai tumhari jo in sab chakron main par rahi ho..." Oh we'll do it besides you'r too young to get yourself in these problems there's a lifetime for it he had smiled slyly. "Per Shashank kab tak ab to mumma bhi mujh sey tumharey baarey main puuchney lagi hain.." But Shashank till when do we stall this my mother's started asking about you now she was genuinely worried as her mother wanted her married soon. "Baat ker lunga main mumma sey" I'll talk to your mom he had cajoled her turning her towards him "Per" But she had tried to protest when he had silenced her with a passionate kiss running her hands up her thighs making her moan with pleasure right now he was hungry and she was a feast waiting to be devoured.
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