Part 18
"Aap key paas itney paisey nahin phir bhi aap Sunaina key liye itna kuch kertey hain" You don't have much money still you do so much for Sunaina Prachi had finally voiced her thoughts and Milind had simply smiled he had been waiting for her to speak up on the issue. "Shayad yeh bhi meri zimmedarion main sey eik hai nahin to woh mujhey uss haalat main milti nahin" Maybe she's a part of my responsibilities else I wouldn't have found her in that state he had stated clearly turning the car towards the park they had visited the previous day. He parked it in the adjacent empty plot stepping out Prachi had shadowed him absorbed in her thought train and was only snapped out of it when she had bumped into Milind as he came to a halt. She looked around surprised "Oh... hum to park main hain" Oh.... we're in the park she glanced around her to see a vacant swing set her feet had automatically diverted in that direction. As she gently lowered herself on the seat she felt herself being pushed lightly, instinctively she had known it was Milind. "Milind" she had called out "Hmm" "Aap mujhey Sunaina sey milaaney kyun ley gaye?" Why did you make me meet Sunaina? the single question had been boggling her mind it occured to Prachi that no one knew about Sunaina not even Ali and that Milind had let her on his secret for a reason. Milind had circled the swing set and stood in front of her "Prachi tujhey Sunaina sey iss liye milaaney ley gaya tha keh tujhey andaaza ho sakey eik duniya main tuu hii akeli nahin, aur bhi buhut log hain jo tujh sey burey haalaton main jee rahey hain. Zindagi phoolon kii sej nahin Prachi phir bhi hum jeetey hain umeed key sahaarey keh shayad koi khushi humaarey naseeb main bhi likhi ho." I took you to meet her because i wanted to make you understand you'r not the only one alone in this world. There are others who are sufferring more than you. Life is not a bed of roses yet we all live it in the faint hope that someday somewhere we'll get our share of happiness too. A gentle breeze blew Prachi's velvet tresses across her thoughtful face and Milind had felt as if he had indeed been transported to heaven only there did he recall were angels to be witnessed and he stood watching one. Prachi had lifted her eyes to watch Milind who had crouched beside her taking her hands in his own he had looked attentively in her clear hazel pools "Kuch kaheygi nahin?" Aren't you going to say anything? he had questioned. "Kiya kahun aaj aapney mujhey zindagi ki sachaii dikhaii hai aaj ehsaas hua Papa ney sirf nafrat hii to kii mujh sey bas kam az kam marney key liye to nahin chor diya. Shayad maa baap ka pyaar merey naseeb main nahin per achi taleem eik acha ghar aur eik acha dost to likha hai na qismat main" What can I say you've revealed the truth of life today I understand my father simply hated me. Maybe I wasn't destined to get my parents love yet I've been bestowed with good education, a good house and a wonderful friend she had softly breathed life in Milind who was still contemplative on his actions earlier.
"Dost" Friend he had inquired puzzled.."Aap" You Prachi had smiled "Itna haq to banta hai mera keh aapsey dosti ker luun waisey bhi merey har dard ko duur kerney ka ehed to aap ker hii chukey hain" Well I believe I have a right to be your friend now as it is you've decided to do away with all my problems she had smiled a light hearted smile that had made Milind feel like a new man. "Acha dosti bhi ker lii mujh sey..." So you've even befreinded me he had teased her masking amusement with a serious face "Jii aur ab nibhani pareygi aapko" Yes and now you'll have to fulfill this responsibility too Prachi's smile had deepened. "Nibhaunga...." I will Milind had assented whole heartedly "Sach main" Really! Prachi's eyes had glittered in elation she had not expected him to give in so easily "Sach main" Really! Milind had promised capturing her delicate form in his mind's eye. "Per eik vaada tujhey bhi kerna hoga" But you'll have to make me a promise too Milind had said as he got up on his feet "Kaisa vaada?" What promise? Prachi had joined him as they strolled on the green together "Tuu kabhi apney aap ko manhus nahin samjheygi Prachi, jeeney ka haq to sab ko hota hai or bhagwaan sab ko eik hii tarah pyaar kerta hai.. uskey liye to koi manhus ya bura nahin phir tuu apney aap ko aisa soch ker khud apni hii nazron main kyun girna chahti hai?" You'r never going to call yourself a curse or a jinx, everyone has the right to live. God has created everyone equally no one is jinxed for HIM then why do you consider yourself that and demean yourself? Prachi eyes had turned moist no one had ever talked to her that way before.
Her father never had found the time or need to be with her, her sister was the most wanted woman on the planet always out and about as for Kaaka he was too entangled in running the household. A tear had escaped her eye and had travelled down her cheek but Milind had wiped it away tenderly "Roney ko to nahin bola tha" I didn't ask you to cry he had murmured. "Kisi ney aaj tak mujhey acha samjha hii nahin aap ney pehli baar ehsaas dilaya mera bhi koi wajood hai, koi mujh sey bhi pyaar ker sakta hai, shayad main itni buri nahin. Warna mujhey lagta tha mainey koi buhut bari ghalati kii hai jiski saza hai yeh zindagi" No one ever thought of me as good you've made me realize for th first time that I have an identity, someone can love me too, maybe I'm not that bad. Else I'd always thought I had sinned the reason I was being punished with such a life she had spoken her woes aloud for the first time and it had made her feel extremely vulnerable. She had bent her head low and had let her tears flow free "Eyi Prachi" Milind had called out to her but Prachi had not found the heart to face him. A replay of all the occassions her father had cited her as unlucky for him had flashed through her mind in an instant. She stood traumatized by the havoc they created Milind had guaged her reflecting on past memories and had thought it best to divert her attention. "Vaada nahin kiya mujhsey?" You didn't make the promise he had reminded her and she had wiped her tears before meeting his gaze "Koshish kerungi" I'll try she had replied. "Kiya tujhey khud per yaqeen nahin? ya phir shayad mujh per nahin" Do you not have faith in yourself or then in me? he had instigated her "Aap per to hai khud per nahin..." I trust you just not myself she had softly answered. "Aur agar main kahun mera yaqeen hai tuu to..." And if I say you are my faith then... he had probed "Itna yaqeen theek nahin" Such blind faith is not right she had answered fear etched on her face "Merey yaqeen ko sach banana tera kaam hai Prachi...." It's your work to uphold my trust he had informed her "Aur agar tuut jaayega to " What if it breaks "To tuutney mat dena" Then don't let it break he had provided her with a solution.
"Kaisey?" How? she had asked through misty eyes "Mujh per yaqeen ker key.... kereygi na Prachi" By believing in me..... will you believe in me Prachi? and she had nodded her head in consent a fresh tear falling from her eye. Milind had wiped it yet again "Malum hota itna roti hai to eik baalti saath laata ghar sey" If I knew you'd cry so much I'd have brought a bucket from home he had retorted and she had smiled "Vaada?" Promise? he had asked putting out his palm "Vaada" Promise she had smiled placing hers on his. "Suniye" Listen she had addressed him a while later "Woh merey paas puja main pehenney key liye kuch nahin" I don't have anything to wear for the pooja she had explained to him as they drove towards home and Milind had promised to get her something the next day as he had spent his savings for the day on Sunaina's colouring kit. That night Milind had handed her the piano he had snatched from her a couple of days earlier and she had looked at him quizzically. "Tujhey pasand haina bajana... is liye" You like playing it... that's why he had clarified "Per yeh to aapka haina" But this your's she had reminded him "Aaj sey tera bhi hai" Your's also from tonight he had placed it on the bed before retiring to his own room. Prachi had smiled running her fingers on the piano in happiness and had proceeded to play her favourite tune Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. It somehow always soothed her soul and as her fingers pressed the keys expertly she had felt herself flow with the notes. Laying on his mat in the next room Milind had listened to her playing to her heart's content and had been struck with wonder at her immense talent with the instrument, she truly was gifted in this sense. In a very long time had both slept at peace for Prachi it had been a journey to self discovery and for Milind happiness of a different kind altogether.
The next morning Prachi had been awoken by a din emanating from the house next door she had quickly slipped on her slippers and had rushed outside to see Nadra begum head on with Ali in what appeared to be a verbal battle. "Kitni baar kahun aapsey bhaar main gayi Salma or kachrey main gayi shaadi" How many times do I tell you to hell with Salma and forget my marriage he had hollered in fury. "Salma pasand nahin to kis rajkumari sey kareyga shaadi, umer ho rahi hai main kitney din jiyungi or tera ghar bastey dekh sukoon sey to merungi" If you don't like Salma who will you marry then.. a princess? It's about time you got hitched atleast I'll die in peace kowing you'r well settled Nadra begum had tried to emotionally blackmail him. "Koi nahin mar rahiin aap or aainda aisey baat kii ammi to qasam sey baat nahin kerunga aapsey kabhi" You'r not dying and next time you say that I won't talk to you... ever this was a spectacle for Prachi who had never seen Ali in a rage. Yes Milind had informed her of his tantrums and mood swings but she had never witnessed any first hand the reason she stood there shocked to the core. "Dekh Milind bhi bahu ghar ley aaya kitni susheel or sunder hai, kitni dekh bhaal kerti hai burhey susar kii lekin tuu mujhey araam na kerney dena" See Milind has also brought his wife home, what a sweet and loving girl takes care of the father in law too but you cannot let me rest Ali's mother had taunted him. "To apni marzi sey laaya hai thop to nahin diya kisi ney Prachi ko uss per aap ko kiya lagta hai Salma sey shaadi kerkey main khush rehunga?" He's married on his will no one forced her on him do you think I'll remain happy after marrying Salma? he had questioned her icily while he buttoned his shirt. "Milind key naseeb achey they itni pyaar kerney waali patni mil gayi tujhey kon mileygi" Milind is lucky he got such a loving wife where will you find one from? she had wanted to know "Sach bata Ali tuu kisi ko chahta hai keh nahin" Tell me honestly Ali do you love someone? and Ali had stood still. How in the world did his mother have such a notion and before the situation got worse Prachi had stepped in "Aunty woh Ali ney mujhey bataya tha usey eik larki pasand hai bas aap kii ijazat kii zarurat hai hum ussey aap sey milwaaney ley aayengey." Aunty Ali told me he likes a girl we are just waiting for your permission to make her meet you Ali had glared at Prachi hard her intrusion was certainly not welcome "Batao na Ali aunty ko keh woh kitni achi hai sach aunty buhut sunder hai.... or samajhdaar bhi hai." Tell aunty how sweet and charming she is Ali and intelligent also. She had tried to ease the situation and had succeeded considerably as Nadra begum stood in deep thought. "Aunty Ali ki zindagi ka sawaal hai please eik mouqa to dijiye na ussey aap kam az kam mil to lijiye uss sey" It's Ali's life at stake here please give him one chance atleast meet the girl once aunty she had tried to coax the elderly lady. "Hmm theek hai naya daur hai humara kiya hai iss sey kaho chai per bulaaye ussey phir faisla hoga" Fine the new generation tell him to call her for tea I'll meet her then Nadra begum had assented to meeting Ali's love interest and had left the place in ire, her only son was really becoming a mystery for her. Soon after she had left Ali had turned to Prachi "Kis ney kaha tha taang araaney key liye..." Who asked you to butt in? he had asked rudely "Kyun tum kisi sey pyaar nahin kertey?" Don't you love anyone? Prachi had asked ruefully she had not expected such a reaction from him.
"Kerta huun per uss tak ko nahin bataya to maa ko kiya bataunga"I do but i haven't told her yet how can I tell maa? he had sighed heavily leaning on the wall in his lounge. "To bata do na aaj" Tell her today she had suggested "Itna aasan hai, bola or ho gaya.... woh achi larki hai Prachi or phir main pyaar kerta huun uss sey woh to nahin" It's that easy you said it and it's done besides I love her she doesn't he had slammed his fist in the wall in trepidation. It was then that Prachi realized that Ali was burning in the fire of one sided love watching him mutter something inaudible she had followed his hurried foot steps as he left the place in anger. Prachi felt responsible for creating a mess Ali was right why did she have to barge in on the mother and son. But she had only tried to help she knew Ali was worked up because of his tiff with his mother which had now become a daily routine but her reason for involvement was Milind. No matter how hard he tried Milind could not hide his anguish regarding Ali and his problems and Prachi could not see him that way. That afternoon as Milind had helped her cook Prachi had narrated the early morning events to him. "Prachi kiya zarurat thii yeh bolney kii?" What was the need to say all this? he had questioned her in shock " To kiya kerti aap meri jagah hotey to yeh nahin kertey?" Wouldn't you have done the same if you were in my stead? she had cross questioned him. "Ab kiya kereingey woh ullu to kabhi batayega nahin Pam ko" Now what he's never going to tell Pam about this he had fretted. "Pam" Prachi's eyes had shone in excitement "aap jaantey hain usko?" do you know her? she had asked in happiness... "Agar aap jaantey hain to ussey kisi tarah yahaan ley aaiye baaqi main sanbhal luungi" If you know her get her here someway I'll handle the rest and Milind had glowered at her. "Kitney rishtey kera chuki hai jo sanbhaal leygi... itna aasan hai kiya?" How many marriages have you fixed... that you'll handle it. Is it that easy? he had smirked. "Hum koshish to ker saktey hain na... please" We can try.. Prachi had pleaded and Milind had given in to her puppy face. "Fine... kuch bhi garbar hui meri koi zimmedaari nahin hai" Fine anything goes wrong I'm not accountable he had consented though they both knew if anything happened it would be Milind who would be facing Ali's wrath.
That evening Milind had taken her shopping to the bazaar he usually shopped from and much to Prachi's surprise she had enjoyed purchasing items there, not only were they cheaper but the people selling the wares were more friendlier. Most of them knew Milind and when they saw her with him she had quite a gala time. Since they had never seen him accompanied by anyone they mistook her for Sukriti but he clarified that as a wrong guess the next assumption was definitely of his better half. "Arey bhabhi yeh saree to buhut sunder dikheygi aap per" Bhabhi this saree will look perfect on you Milind's friend Nakul had shown her a beautiful crimson saree with a threadwork border in bottle green. Milind had loved it the moment his eyes had rested on it he touched the fabric in delight Prachi could see he liked it the only problem was she had never worn a saree in her entire life. She fiddled with it dilly dallying when Milind had turned to her "Prachi khareedna hai keh nahin?" Prachi you want to buy it or not? he had asked and she had nodded her head in assent, chiding herself for it all the while. But then wasn't she supposed to act his wife their first puja together and she wouldn't be in a saree how was she going to pull off the act if the costume wasn't right. She followed as he took her to a place selling ready made blouses "Choose your size I'll wait outside" he had guided her inside disappearing in an adjacent shop. The salesgirl was friendly and Prachi thought asking her for help wouldn't be a bad idea. Pretty soon Prachi was learning to wrap a saree around her and after countless tries had managed to tie one on her own. She smiled in joy and repeatedly thanked the kind salesgirl who couldn't help but return her smiles in similar fashion. As they stepped out of the taxi back at their chawl they were surrounded by a group of young girls in their teens. It appeared they had been waiting for them "Kyun Milind bhaiyya chupkey chupkey shaadi ker lii humko bataya bhi nahin" Milind bhaiyya you got married secretly and didn't even tell us a young girl in her twenties stepped forward complaining to Milind in a loving tone causing Milind to smile. "Teri bhabhi ney time hii kahaan diya kuch sochney ka" You'r bhabhi never gave me any time to think he had answered truthfully reminiscing on the terrorist attack at the airport causing Prachi to look away guiltily.
"Haan bhabhi itni sunder hai isi liye to aapney time nahin lagaya nahin to koi aur ley jaata ura key" Yes bhabhi is so beautiful you didn't waste any time else someone else would've flown away with her an other girl had pitched in. Prachi had blushed shyly while Milind had found the situation extremely awkward and had tried to flee."Naina main chalun tum log Prachi sey baatein kero" Naina I'll leave you can talk to Prachi he had started to walk away when Naina had pulled him to the wooden platform they all used as a common place for chatting in the courtyard. "Kahiin nahin jaa rahey bhaiyya jaldi sey battaiye aapki love story" You'r not leaving till you tell us your lovestory and Milind had stared at her in surprise now however did they manage to have that particular idea. Naina was one of Sukriti's best friends at the chawl she was often spotted at his house while the girls chatted, studied and ate together. Milind had come to accept her as a younger sister over time, the sole reason she mingled freely with him without any qualms. "Kisney kaha love marriage hai?" Who said it's a love marriage? Milind had questioned still confounded "Oh come on bhaiyya sab ko malum hai Ali bhaiyya ney humain bata diya hai kaisey aap ney bhabhi ko gundon sey bachaya tha. Unko aap sey pehli nazar main pyaar ho gaya... muscles wuscles you know. " Bhaiyya everyone knows Ali bhaiyya has told everyone how you saved her from the goons and how she fell in love with you after that and the group assembled there had laughed aloud. Prachi had turned crimson embarrassed to the core Ali had spun quite an elaborate story and now she sat surrounded by a group of intrigued teenagers who had found the love story extremely interesting. "Kyun Bhabhi am I right?" Naina had asked and Prachi had looked at Milind for help "Woh... yeh... hum" That.. I.. um she faltered she couldn't find words to support this work of fiction. "Is it true bhabhi you left your dad's wealth and comfortable life to marry Milind bhaiyya" and Prachi stared at Anju as if she had lost her brain."Yeh bhi hua tha?" This happened too? Prachi had replied catching Milind's eye who had rolled his own in disbelief trust Ali to make a mountain out of a mole hill. "Sach bhabhi bari lucky ho Milind bhaiyya miley tumhain pata hai kitney shareef hain aaj tak kisi larki sey dosti bhi nahin kii" Bhabhi you'r lucky you found Milind bhaiyya he's a true gentleman never ever had any female friend also Naina had informed her "Larkiyaan to khud inkey aagey peechey ghumti rehti theen" Girls used to pester him to be friends with them Naina had further fanned Prachi's curiousity. "Haan shareef to hain, itna to malum hai mujhey" I know he's a thorough gentleman she had softly assented smiling at him and he had been caught in the moment, why did she have to be so mesmerizing he had wondered then. "Waisey kitni larkiyaan theen tumhaarey bhaiyya kii fan?" So how many fans did your brother have? she had pulled Milind's leg who had collected the packets and had stood up to leave. "Bhabhi puja main to aaogi na waisey suhaganon kii hii to puja hai" Bhabhi are you coming in the prayers? Naina had asked Prachi smiling at her and Prachi had vigorously nodded in assent hurrying after Milind who had made a dash for his house. Edited by blind horizon - 16 years ago
Cricket
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
