Kaisey Kahun Chp 1 - 22 - Page 81

"Hmm" Ali had mused this certainly was a major problem true Milind and she had become comfortable towards each other but that comfront sprung from sheer necessity. Asking her to fake as his wedded partner would be difficult since they were not even friends. Immersed in thoughts they both had reached the house Ali had taken leave his mind a muddle. Milind had thanked him for looking after Baba and feeding him his dinner before advancing towards Prachi's room. Placing her items in the cupboard he had turned to look at her she hiccuped even while she slept her fingers closed tightly and Milind's heart had gone out to her. Her self accusations had saddened him moreover her outburst revealing the tragic chain of events that had led her to flee her home disturbed him, he could not get over the fact that she felt unwanted and rejected. If indeed her mother had deceased while bringing her in the world did not make her accountable she on the contrary had suffered a greater loss of having both her parents snatched from her. Milind could not understand why her tears cut through his heart what was happening to him lately, he pondered seriously, why could he not stop thinking about her. He understood he had to restrain his train of thought that sped at bullet speed when it came to her. Taking a seat on the bed beside her he watched as the faint moonlight highlighted her features. Those plush lups and that mole near them he could not resist gently carressing her cheek with the back of his hand. As he got up he saw she was still wearing her shoes smiling to himself he had removed them cautiously before covering her feet.


Milind had come in his room to find his father wide awake "Soye nahin Baba?" You aren't asleep yet father? he had questioned surprised to see him watch him intently. Milind had noticed his father's eyes didn't seem melancholic anymore they bore a twinkle in them a spark he had longed to see, the spark of life. Mishraji had tried to speak then " Puh.. Puh...Puh" but that was all he could manage. Milind had stared at him astounded that was his father's first attempt at conversation since the stroke. Tears welled up in Milind's eyes his father had kept his first step on the road to recovery."Kiya Baba... paani chahiye?" What father... do you need water? he had questioned his frail form again and baba had batted his eyelids twice which indicated a no to his query. Milind had clasped Baba's warm hand in his own "Phir Baba..... P sey kiya?" Then Baba what of P? Baba's eyes were frantic he wanted to speak his heart out yet was handicapped at that front. His eyes had widened and he thrashed his head in frustration "Baba.... Baba" Milind had cried out aloud in an attempt to calm him gently rubbing his palms. "Main samajh jaunga bas thora waqt dey do mujhey" I'll understand father just give me some time he had pleaded looking in the misty depths of his father's hollow eyes. As his father had closed his tired eyes in an attempt to sleep Milind had found his eyes restless..."Main huun hii manhus" I am unlucky the words kept ringing in his ears her voice then had been laced with a resolute knowledge of her being jinxed which was all untrue. How in the world did she ever come to label herself as that he understood her father had a part in this obviously holding her responsible for gracing the world in the first place. Milind's hands had balled into tight fists at the unknown perpetrator Prachi's father, how dare he label her as a jinx, he found the entire thing quite cruel. If it hadn't been for her father Prachi wouldn't have been born in the first place but he couldn't reprimand the man for that single action he had indeed helped Prachi breathe a life, a life Milind had come to accept as part of his own. He hadn't changed his kurta being in the cupboard he had lain down on the sofa in the lounge he was bone tired and craved sleep hoping it would be generous on him soon. Prachi had woken up with a start where was she, she looked around the room to find familiar surroundings she had no idea on being transported back home neither any clue on the means of transportation.

Though she knew very well why she was up at this late hour her stomach rumbled she hadn't had anything to eat after lunch that day. Clutching her hands to her stomach she awoke it would be a hard feat trying to supress her hunger she hoped there would be something left for her in the kitchen. She walked out slowly to see Milind sprawled on the sofa making her way to the kitchen noiselessly she tried to probe about for utensils. Unfortunately the glass kept on the shelf next to her had bumped off it and banged hard on the ground before rolling to one side. Milind's eyes had flown open with the din he had risen up and switched on the bulb to see Prachi stand near the kitchen scared out of her skin. "Woh main... main" I...uh... I she stuttered expecting to hear a scolding but was taken aback when he had simply smiled "Bhook lagi hai?" Feeling hungry? he had asked and she had nodded her head in assent. He astonished her further by heating the food setting the plates placing the mat "Main khud ker lungi aap rehney dijiye" I'll do it myself you don't need to really she had tried to stop him but it fell on deaf ears. Making her sit on the mat he had watched her eat in silence "Prachi tujh sey kuch kehna tha" Prachi I need to tell you something Milind had started trying to find words that would make his request seem genuine. Prachi had raised her eyes to his in question "Woh... woh...." he couldn't believe he was stammering Milind Mishra who never buckled under any sort of pressure was reluctant to ask a damsel for her help. "Kahiye" Yes Prachi had encouraged him gently "Woh chawl waalon ney humain pooja main bulaya hai iss Sunday" The chawl residents have invited us to a prayer this Sunday he had enlightened her and she had looked at him through thoughtful eyes. "Ji acha" Ok fine she had answered after a long pause. Milind felt quite uneasy narrating the next statement to her "Woh mujhey unsey kehna para hum pati patni hain" I had to tell them we were married Prachi's eyes had rested on him widened in wonder "Aapney jhoot bola?" You lied? she had questioned him. "Haan" Yes he had assented "Mujhey malum hai ghalat kiya per agar yeh nahin kehta to woh tujhey leyker bakwaas kertey or yeh mujhsey bardassht nahin hota" I know it's wrong but if I wouldn't have said this they would've talked all sorts of rubbish about you and I wouldn't be able to bear it he had explained haltingly. Prachi had understood his dilemma she very well knew how hard survival was in conditions which he bore in submission. "Jaisa aap theek samjhein" As you please she had answered deeming it to be the best excuse for the moment Milind had expected a chiding from her on his lie but she had left him spellbound by her consent. "Tujhey bura nahin laga Prachi?" Aren't you upset about it? he had wanted to know why she had not questioned him once about his stand regarding their relationship. "Aap jo bhi kareingey soch samajh ker kareingey itna bharosa to hai mujhey aap per" What ever you'll do will be for my good I trust you with that she had astonished him further before cleaning up. Even though she had assented Milind could not help but notice she had been quiet since their confrontation in the park he had certainly hurt her bad. "Sun" Listen he had called before she disappeared in her room again "Kal kahin chaleigi merey saath... kaam tha" Will you come with me somewhere tomorrow.... had some work he had hoped she would say yes and she had nodded her head in consent before turning off the lights.


"Milind tum baat kero uss sey meri to sunta nahin woh larka" Milind you talk to him that boy does not listen to me Nadra begum had complained to Milind in a depressed tone. Ali had walked out on her yet again it wasn't anything new. Milind had been aware of countless earlier situations where Ali had left home in a state of rage the problem being his marriage. Nadra begum his mother wanted him to get married to Salma her sister's young daughter who was employed at a bank in the same city. The match was appropriate and Nadra begum could not understand his continuous denial to the proposal "Kitni baar kahun aap sey ammi nahin kerni mujhey kisi Salma sey shaadi. Akela chor dijiye mujhey" How many times do I tell you mom I don't want to marry any Salma. Just leave me alone he would fume inwardly unable to explain his mother that his heart already belonged to Pam. Prachi had served her tea while she sat on the sofa in the lounge "Jeeti raho bahu" Bless you dear she had patted her head gently returning her concentration to Milind seated next to her. "Chachi aap ney kabhi Ali sey uskey dil ka haal pucha, theek hai woh Salma sey shaadi nahin kerna chahta per kiya aap ney uss sey yeh pucha keh woh kis sey shaadi kerna chahta hai?" Aunty have you ever asked Ali about his feelings fine he doesn't want to marry Salma. Have you ever asked who he wants to marry? Milind had calmly provided her with a solution to the problem. "Kiya tum jaantey ho woh kisi ko chahta hai?' Do you know who he loves? Nadra had gazed at Milind in suspicion. "Chachi yeh meri zindagi nahin Ali kii hai or behter hoga yeh sawaal aap uss sey puchein mujhey yaqeen hai koi na koi hal to uskey paas hoga hii iss masley ka." Aunty this is not my life it's Ali's I believe you should ask him this question. I'm sure he'll have an answer to it Nadra begum had pondered on the suggestion what if Ali actually was in love with someone. Was that the reason he had constantly avoided the issue even after several attempts on her part to broach it. She had then excused herself making up her mind to have a detailed conversation with her son about the matter. Prachi had gazed at Milind in awe "Aap kaisey ker letey hain yeh?" How do you do all this? she had questioned him. "Kiya?' What? he had asked confused at her query. "Sab key dil kii baat kaisey jaan letey hain bina koi sawaal kiye" How can you know what the heart says without the other person uttering a single word and he had studied her forlorn figure discreetly. "Kyun jaanna chahti hai?" Why do you want to know? he had counter questioned and she had looked at him wistfully "Shayad kabhi main bhi kisi key dil ka haal jaan sakun, jaan sakun keh woh mujhsey pyaar..." Maybe someday I'll be able to understand someone's heart. Know whether he loves me.... and Milind had known she had been talking of her father. "Jo hum sey pyaar kertey hain unhain lafzon kii zarurat nahin hoti na hii pyaar ka izhaar kerney kii, phir bhi agar pyaar ka andaaza lagana ho to aankhon ko parhna chahiye jawab mil jaayega" People who love us don't require words neither do they need to express it, still if you want to know try reading their eyes you'll get your answer he had informed her dusting his shoes clean he had gotten up to leave. Before exiting he had turned around to see her glued to the same spot "Aaj shaam tayyar rehna tujhey kahin ley jaana hai mujhey" Get ready in the evening I have to take you somewhere and she had nodded her head absent mindedly.