Chapter 3 "Phone calls"
Lying on the bed, Prachi wondered how Milind had surprised her earlier and thinking of that a smile had formed on her lips. He had always been there of her and even in the future, she knew that he would always be there no matter what. Taking her cell, she dialled his number, knowing that he must probably be sleeping since it was late in the night.
"Hello" answered a sleepy Milind
"Hello" she said and hearing her voice, Milind got all alert as he sat up on the bed.
"Prachi, you okay…any problem…what happened…" he said all in one go. Why would she call him at this time? Did anything happen to her dad? He remained silent for a while, not wanting to ask that question.
"Prachi…say something" he said again
After a moment of silence Prachi said in her soft angelic voice "Thank you"
"What" said a confused Milind. What was wrong with his girl he wondered? Did she call him to say thank you in the middle of the night?
"I don't know why, but I had this sudden feeling to thank you for always being there for me" and hearing this, Milind started to laugh.
Hearing him laugh on the other side of the phone she said "Here I am saying thank you and what are you doing laughing"
"Aarre pagli what's the need of thanking in friendship. I will always be there for you just like you will be for me" he said and that had made her smile immediately.
"Ok now, if you have finished with all your thanks, now can I go to sleep" he said
"Good night"
"Good night and yeah, don't forget to pick me up tomorrow for the airport" he said
"I wont, now bye" she said and hanged up.
"Bye" he said and looked over the phone for some time thinking what would happen once she would find out about her dad. And the worse part would be, if she found out that he knew about it and hid it from her. Wouldn't it be better if she was prepared from advance than it happening out of the blue? All these questions kept confusing his mind but soon sleep took over him. The answers to his questions still remained unanswered.
*****
Early next morning, Prachi drove to Milind's house. Greeting everyone good morning, she headed straight to his room. As she entered, he had just come out of the shower, only with a towel wrapped around his waist.
"There is something called knock on the door" he said
"Knock to enter your room…hmm oups I completely forgot about that, next time…and by the way, can't you get dressed in the washroom and then come out…" she said smiling. Milind smiled back at her, knowing that the next time, it would also be the same.
She handed him his clothes and then pushed him in the washroom so he could change. "It's my room and I can't even change properly" he said as he closed the door.
Prachi looked around his room, this guy was never going to grow up. His clothes were all over the bed. Shaking her head, as she started to clean after him, she heard him scream from the washroom "Can you please pack my clothes…I didn't know what to bring so I kind of messed up my room, this is why everything is on all over"
"Milind, you are acting as if this was the first time you are flying abroad"
"It is the first time I'm flying for something else than business…this time it's a matter of heart" he said coming out with the tie in his hand and continued "This here is your job"
"C'mon Milind, learn" she said taking it from him. "I will, one of these days" he said smiling
As she tied the tie around his neck, she said "What will you do, when I'm not here"
"What do you mean…"
"Milind, one of these, I'll get married and…" before she could finish he said "and you will still be there for tying my tie" and she simply smiled. These things would change with time she told herself. However, only they have not understood that time has passed only they have never changed.
"Okay listen, here I packed all the things you need. Since you will be back in a week, and there is only one meeting to attend, I kept an additional suit and all the others are all casual clothes and…" before she could continue someone from behind said "Bilkul ek panti ki taraf…Prachi your taking care of him just like a wife"
Both Milind and Prachi turned around and at the same time and said "Dadi…when did you come" They walked up to her, took her blessing and one by one hugged her.
As Milind hugged his grandma, she took hold of his ear "Why are you making her do all your work…woh teri biwi hai kya"
Trying to come to his help Prachi immediately said "Nahi dadi, Milind didn't ask me to do anything, its was me…"
"Bas Prachi, you don't have to lie…I know my grandson very well"
"Dadi, there is one question that keeps haunting me…are you my grandma or Prachi's" he asked. In fact, all his family members were more into Prachi than him.
Dadi simply smiled at him and said "Dono ki" Prachi's mom had died when she was a little girl, so ever since then, Inder was her everything and Milind's family had become hers as well.
Dadi wished Milind good luck for his meeting in London and then went to meet the others. Once she left, Prachi looked at Milind and asked "What's with that question…is she your grandma or mine?"
"I was just joking" he said and before they would start another fight on it, he said that it was time to leave. His flight was in exactly two hours.
Everyone at home had wished him good luck and as Prachi was driving to the airport, Milind asked her to make a small stop to her house. He wanted to take Inder uncle's blessing as well.
*****
Inder was sitting on the rocking chair and looking at Prachi's childhood pictures when Milind and Prachi came in.
"Arre tum dono, yahan…Milind aren't you suppose to be leaving for London?" he asked all surprised to see them here.
Milind walked up to him and as he bent down to take his blessings, he said "Uncle, how could I leave without taking your ashirwad…"
Tears had formed in his eyes but he controlled himself. "May you be successful in everything my child and may god bless you" he said and hugged him.
Prachi, who was standing by the door, smiled at them as tears had also formed in her eyes. One was her father and the other was her best friend, the two men that meant the world to her.
Noticing his daughter, standing far form them, he called her too and hugged them both together. After a while, as they both left for the airport, Inder prayed for their happiness and togetherness.
*****
As they drove to the airport, Milind thought of saying the truth to Prachi. He had been thinking about it a lot and came to the conclusion that it was better if she knew. At least, she would be prepared in some way. But then again, he put the thought aside. He was going to say it to her, but just not now. Once he was back from London, he was going to tell her everything. He would make her understand that it wasn't in our hands and that it was God's will. She would be heartbroken and devastated but he would be there and with time, things would slowly get better, at least that's what he hoped and wished. Only if he knew that nothing was going to be the same once he was back.
*****
Milind was supposed to call her an hour ago. She was pacing around in her office. She was supposed to be looking over some important files but here she was worrying about his phone call. She had tried the hotel, but they said that he hasn't arrived yet and his cell was unreachable. She was going to yell at him, what was the use of a cell if it was meant to be unreachable. This guy was going to drive her nuts one day she thought. Prachi sometimes wondered why she worried so much about him, he was a grown up and he could take care of him. But the worries were something natural she told herself, they just came naturally. It was something that was part of them. Something that kept them connected.
She was about to call him again, when her cell rang. Without even looking at the caller ID, she answered by saying "Milind…what took you so long"
"Prachi, they flight was a bit delayed so we landed late" he said and Prachi felt stupid. She could have checked about his flight "So tell everyone that I here…I'll go and freshen up…will talk to you later"
"Wait, Milind…"
"What…"
"Are you going to see her tonight?"
"Who?"
"Ayesha, who else…"
"Maybe…"
"Good Luck…"
"Thanks…so bye…"
"Wait…" after a moment of silence she continued "Are you sure she is the ONE"
"Why you don't like her…" he asked. Why was she asking him this all of a sudden?
"No, its nothing like that, I'm just asking…is she the ONE" she asked again.
"I think she is Prachi…I think she is" he said.
"Ok then, best of Luck" she said and hanged up. If he thought Ayesha was the one then she was the one. There was nothing to worry about.
*****
A week had passed so fast, he was supposed to be back in India tomorrow. He had met with Ayesha everyday, and they were both becoming more than just friends. He still hasn't said anything about his feeling but somewhere deep down, he felt that she knew. Prachi kept on telling him to say it, but he simply wasn't ready. However, today, he made up his mind. Before leaving for India, he wanted her to know. This is why he planned a beautiful dinner for both of them. He had everything planned out.
Milind was getting ready for his date, but before that he wanted to talk to Prachi. He called her cell, but for the first time in his life, she did not answer it. He tried again, but it was the same. He then called at her home, and even there no one answered. Getting a little bit worried, he tried the office and it was the same thing. What the hell was happening he thought?
He was about to call again, when Ayesha had called him asking if he was coming. He said that he was on his way. Sitting in the car, Milind tried calling Prachi again, but just like earlier, no one answered. Was she playing some sort of game with him he thought? Whatever it was, it wasn't funny.
After a while, as Milind sat in the back seat his mind else where, his driver said "Sir…"
"hmmm" said Milind, looking up.
"Sir, your phone, its ringing"
"Hello" he said as he answered his phone.
"Bhaiya…" came Sukriti's teary voice from the other side.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
