Posted:
This is a continuation of my ff Kuch Iss Tarah since the previous thread had reached the maximum number of page limit allowed on the forum I had to switch threads, hope you readers will continue reading it with the same fervor and zest. Link to the first and second threads.
Part 61
Milind had walked slowly towards Prachi's room he had not found the capacity to forgive her yet he ached for her he needed to see if she was doing alright. It had been twelve hours since he had last seen her being shifted to her room. No matter how hard he tried his heart refused to shun her, her helpless and vulnerable visual kept flashing in his mind. Images of her bloodied form being wheeled in the operation theatre would not grant him peace any minute. Yes he had tried by God he had to jerk it off think of alternative scenarios but there was this anguish an inexplicable anxiety that would not leave him. The reason he had driven straight from the airport to the hospital. He badly needed a change of clothes he hadn't had a bite since his meal the previous evening but those were secondary issues the primary and most important one was seeing Prachi. Ali had persuaded him to sample some sandwiches at the cafeteria along with the black bitter coffee he kept gulping by the pint but he had denied it all. How could he eat anything his body refused to register fatigue or any desire to consume any eatable. At the end of the day he had stopped fighting the desperate need to be near Prachi and given in to his guilty conscious that would not allow him to sit still for a moment until and unless he went and conveyed to Prachi everything he wanted to. The room was lit by an eerie bluish glow that kept emitting from the screen monitoring Prachi's blood pressure and heart beat. He had switched on the lamp by the bedside it's milky whiteness enhancing Prachi's sallow features. Sitting beside her on the foamed mattress Milind had held her limpid hand in his own. "Prachi he had wispered and had felt her stir yet her drowsiness remained overpowering and she had whimpered in slumber. He had brought her hand to his lips and had kissed it carefully as if it were made of glass his tears falling on it covering it in their salty wetness "Kyun kiya Prachi aisa.... kyun kiya?" Why Prachi.. why did you do this? he had questioned in the faintest of whispers.
He had run his fingers across her moist lips then recollecting the countless occassions she had kissed the tips bending down he had pressed his lips on them softly feeling their warmth on his own. Driven by passion he had sunk his arms underneath her lifting her torso tenderly and then hugged her gently. " Kaash keh tuu ney jaana hota Prachi terey iss vishwasghaat ney mujhey tor diya hai, mera wajood kuch nahin, kuch nahin terey bina. Eik baar to kaha hota, mujh per vishwaas to kiya hota Prachi" If only you had known Prachi this betrayal has left me broken. I'm nothing without you. If only you'd told me once, trusted me enough and he had cried silently. His tears had soaked her cotton gown as he stroked her velvety tresses with love "Kis baat kii saza dii mujhey Prachi, kis baat kii. Kiya pyaar nahin kiya tha mainey tujhey ya jeevan saathi nahin maana tha?" What have you punished me for Prachi, had I not loved you or considered you a part of my life? his pain had drowned his resolve to never question her and here he sat spouting his heart out. He had watched her longingly kissing her pallid cheeks, forehead and finally her eyes that remained close as if resting after a long and tiring watch. Having vented out a fraction of his affliction he had laid her assidiously on the bed smoothing her vagrant strands he had tucked her well switching off the night lamp letting darkness shroud her once again. Wiping away the remnants of tears lining his cheeks he had walked out as quietly as he had entered. It was no use his grievances were not substantial what right did he exercise on her he didn't hold any legal claim on her in any case. It was his mistake that he thought she loved him, entirely his fault to consider it a mutual sentiment and now he was going to rectify it.
Taking out his cell he had called Vijay up " Shashank key paas Shah mansion key papers hain. Woh kabhi legally ussey own nahin ker paya the deed still remains in Premlata Shah's name. Get it for me please I need that house as soon as possible." Shashank had Shah mansion's papers, he never owned it legally Vijay had assented immediately they had gone through most of Shashank's properties and had recovered the papers to Shah mansion. Shashank had never found the opportunity to get them transferrred in his name in the first place. Milind had done the math on his way to Mumbaii from Delhi if Alaap had never signed the papers neither had Inder then the ownership rested with Premlata the original owner of the mansion in the first place. Milind had found it best to get the house claimed before it was handed over to the government as state property since Shashank had no heir to him. Sapna, Milind's thoughts had been averted to the young girl Ali had filled him in with the details Sapna had provided him in regards to knowing Shashank. The poor girl had been jilted in love and had sacrificed her child for Milind's safety he simply could not get over the fact that those bullets were meant for him not Sapna's baby. Ambling through the long corridor Milind had reached the very end of it that opened up to the hospital lawns. Even in the pitch black of the night they shone as big effervescent lamps flooded them making them resemble a stadium ready to be played on. Stuffing his hands in his pockets he had strolled down the granite leading towards them, the night air was cool chilly too but he hardly cared. Moreover the cold whiffs helped ease the fire within him he knew he had lost in love but he had his responsibilities to fulfill even now. He had promised Inder to return what was his and he intended to do that, the properties he had methodically accumulated from various holders summed up to quite a bit and after gaining rights on the mansion he would be able to give it all back to Premlata the rightful owner. Bobby and Soumya need not toil away in Pune after regaining their riches they could both return home to their mother as for Prachi, yes she too needed to return. Whether Bua went back to Chandigarh or not he gave a damn he was going to finish this drama that he himself had been enacting since long. He had hoped to solidify his relationship with Prachi make her his in every sense of the word alas he had dreamt too many dreams unaware that they too were destined to shatter similar to his heart. He had taken a seat on one of the benches in the garden and had closed his eyes could he sleep no he couldn't but he could try could he not.
Premlata had arrived early next morning she had informed Bua about her visit to the temple she had been shocked to see Milind sit on one of the benches in the park oblivious of the world around him. "Milind" she had called out and his eyes had snapped open had his attempts been fruitful, sadly no he hadn't slept for a minute he was beginning to fear the insomnia was going to stay with him now like a faithful companion. "Beta itni thand hai yahaan to, tum beemar ho jaogey" It's cold out here son, you'll get sick and he had smiled he certainly had loved the woman as her own mother she was the only one who had been as clueless of Prachi's actions as himself. "Nahin maa ab mujhey kuch nahin hoga" No mother nothing will happen to me now he had replied "Jo sehen kerna tha ker chuka ab agar toofan bhi aa jaye to mera kuch nahin bigarr sakta" I have borne all that I had to now nothing can effect me Premlata could not make head or tail of what he said but she knew the cause of his misery, it was indeed her daughter. "Prachi ney tumharey saath" What Prachi did with you she had tried to explain " Choriye maa raat gayi baat gayi. Aap Prachi ko dekh aaiye thori der main Ali aata hoga mujhey ab ghar jaana chahiye.... buhut der ho gayi" Forget it maa you go and see Prachi Ali will be joining you soon. I must go home now... it's been too late and he had left. Premlata had not stopped him his blood veined eyes and reproving looks had made her realize her daughter had left him broken and cheated it was no surprise he felt unwanted. Driving through the morning traffic Milind didn't find the need or energy to feel that the traffic was slow, that the streets were congested that he was stuck in a jam since the past half an hour. Did any of that matter to him, not at all it was as if he'd been living a fantasy all this while Prachi her voice her face her smiles they were illusions mirages that had vanished when he had dared to venture too close. It was time to start living the real life in the real world where he was was a widower with a daughter, an angel he'd been neglecting for his own selfish whims since many days. The gnawing remorse ate him up and he sped on the streets to reach his abode.
It was a relief that Bua was nowhere Baba too was not available Naintara sat feeding Preeti who certainly did not like being fed by her. "Preeti kha lo" Preeti eat it she had warned her yet the child refused to comply clamping her mouth shut. " Preeti!" Naintara had cried angrily "Bas!" Enough Milind had intervened taking the spoon from her. "Papa" Preeti's face had lit up to see her father after an absence of two days. She had wanted to ask him where he'd been , tell him that she had missed him yet she couldn't translate her feelings in words but had certainly cried her heart out to him. "Papa!" she had hiccuped and he had filled her in his arms his own eyes wet "Miss kiya Papa ko?" Did you miss Papa? he had questioned softly "hmmmm" had come the reply with a vigorous nod of the head "Mainey bhi, buhut miss kiya meri gudiya ko. Papa buhut burey haina, khayaal nahin rakhtey aapka" and she had kissed him impulsively tilting her head back she gazed at him sadly. She was young but not dumb moreover the bond they shared had made her an ace at guaging his sentiments like a pro. Bending closer she had kissed his tears away and Milind had kissed her raw her face her cheeks her eyes her lips her nose not a spot of skin was left untouched. "Sorry jaan I'm so sorry" he had embraced her again tightly this time afraid of losing her like the other two women in his life. Preeti lay her head on his shoulder her arms encircling his neck and he had carried her to his room there was much he seemed to have missed out on murmuring softly in her ear he had ascended the stairs.
"Mr Ali aapki wife ko hosh aa gaya hai" Mr Ali your wife has gained consciousness the nurse had informed him and Ali had nodded numbly well what was he to do now. The doctor had beckoned him standing at the doorway to Sapna's room and he had trudged forward with heavy feet towards him. They had entered the room to find Sapna sit up propped against pillows supporting her lean frame, her head bent her eyes downcast she was a picture of dejection. "How are you Mrs Ali?" the doctor had questioned her and Sapna's eyes had flicked up to meet Ali's no words were exchanged yet Ali could interpret shock and then guilt in the sandy greens of them. She had averted her eyes to her hands "I'm fine" she had managed after what had appeared to Ali like a million years. Checking her pulse the doctor read her chart "You seem to be doing well you'r lucky the operation went smoothly, also the abortion" Ali had been dreading this moment but it had to come. "Abortion" Sapna's hoarse voice cut the air like a knife she had been praying for her child to be safe yet her sins had killed it. Her hand had involuntarily wrapped around her stomach her eyes had shed silent tears the truth had finally sunk in the emptiness she had suddenly started feeling was the loss of a part of herself. "Mr Ali I think I will leave you two alone" the doctor had decided to give them space exiting the room. As soon as the doctor had left Sapna had broken down sobbing hysterically her body heaving. Ali feared the stitches she had received just forty eight hours ago might come apart or hurt her more due to the the convulsion. He had stepped forward but had then reminded himself he had only pretended to be her husband he certainly had no relation to her but he could not let her cry this way too soon his mind had lost the battle to his heart."Sapna" he had called her gently but Sapna refused to ackhowledge his presence near her. "Sapna" Ali had called again and this time she had jerked his hand off her shoulder in a fit. "Kyun bachaya mujhey, kyun laaye mujhey yahaan. Mar jaaney diya hota uskey saath wahin us narg main" Why did you save me? Why did you bring me here? You should've let me rot in that hell with him she had shrieked glaring at him with accusing eyes. The mother in her had been murdered ruthlessly her child was no more she had formed a million dreams of a pleasant life with her child and Shashank and they had all been butchered cruelly by the child's father himself. Burying her face in the pillows she had continued to wail like a lost animal "Mera bacha" My baby she kept repeating sobbing pitifully.
Ali could not just stand there and watch her torture herself like that. " Sapna meri baat suno" Sapna listen to me this time Ali's grip was firm he held her by her shoulders and made her sit up. She hiccuped badly her lips quivering in anger sorrow and remorse "Jo kuch hua uss main tumharii ghalati nahin thi woh eik haadsa tha" It's not your fault it was an accident he had tried to explain. "Woh haadsa nahin tha merey gunahon kii sazaa thii jo merey bachey ko bhugatni pari" It wasn't an accident it was a punishment for my sins and my child had to bear it she had replied heartbroken. "Kyun laaye mujhey yahaan, kyun laaye. Mainey apney bachey ko maar diya nafrat hai mujhey apney aap sey, main marr jaati to acha tha" Why did you bring me here, why. I've killed my child I hate myself, I should've died she had moaned in agony tears streaming down her face. "Aur unka kiya jo tumko chahtey hain, unsey bhi jeeney ka haq cheen lena chahti ho tum" And what about those who love you do you want to take away their hope to live too Ali had inquired shaking her arms forcefully. "Kon chahta hai mujhey... koi nahin... main iss qaabil nahin kisi key pyaar key qaabil nahin" Who loves me... no one... I'm not capable of being loved crying she had hidden her face in her hands "Chor do mujhey please mujhey akela chor do. Chaley jao yahaan sey nahin to mera dum ghut jayega" Leave me alone please else I'll suffocate she had pleaded to Ali folding her hands infront of him she had begged him to leave. Ali had no other choice but to leave how he wished he could soothe her heart tell her what she meant to him, that her smile made his day and that he could not watch her subject herself to self affliction yet he could not and had had left with a heavy heart. At the doorway he had turned around to see her clutch a pillow to herself crying to her hearts content love certainly was a disaster Ali had thought it had not brought anyone any happiness. Kaajal had died loving Milind, Milind had been heart broken loving Prachi, Prachi in turn had been miserable in his love. Sapna had loved Shashank and that had cost her a child and Ali his love story had given him nothing but heartache firstly seeing Sapna in love with Shashank and secondly watching her fret over the scars it had bestowed her. Was this the destiny lovers had to face Romeo Juliet, Cleopatra Antony which of them ever found tranquility in love none did and none could that was love's fate to forever burn in a silent hell.
Part 62 page 6
Part 62 page 6
Part 63 page 13
Part 64 page 20
Part 65 page 30
Part 66 (A) page 39
Part 66 (A) page 39
Part 66 (B) page 44
Part 67 page 52
Part 67 page 52
Part 68 page 59
Part 69 page 65
Part 70 page 71
Part 71 page 76
Part 72 page 81
Epilogue page 92
Part 69 page 65
Part 70 page 71
Part 71 page 76
Part 72 page 81
Epilogue page 92
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
