Here is the next part friends, cheers 👍🏼
PART 8
Pics of Ooty lake
Prachi was flicking channels on the TV completely bored. Its been two days since she went out with her friends. Lisa had gone with her mother to Coimbatore, ( a big city near Ooty), the day before for her engagement shopping and was coming back late in the evening. Her parents had gone out to meet some friends of Inder and prachi didn't want to go with them. And Milind, ''.. He hadn't called her at all. He said he would call her the next day and didn't. "Idiot" she muttered angrily. "I don't want to call him either. He can call if he wants to talk to me" she said to herself. As if on cue, her phone rang. Seeing the called id, Prachi jumped up to take the call. It was him. Calming down, she said "hello" in a completely indifferent voice.
Milind chuckled on the other side, "Hey , Cherry, Angry with me"?
"No, why should I be? I wasn't really waiting your call you know" she replied in a huff. Hearing him laugh out aloud, she bit her tongue realising what she had just said. "Sh*t".
"I am Sorry Prachi, I was busy with some issues at work" Milind said.
"I thought you were on holiday".
"Yes, sweetheart, But work always seems to catch up with me", he sounded tired. Her heart went out to him. "Is everything fine now?", she asked concerned. He smiled at the tone of her voice. "Not yet, but Vicky has gone to take care of it. He should be back in two days", he said. She was glad that he didn't have to go away.
"What are you doing now"? He asked suddenly.
"Nothing much. Just watching TV", said Prachi,
" Meet me near the coffee shop", he said.
"What now, I have to ask my parents and they are not at home".
"Call them, meet me at 3 pm" said Milind.
"Milind, I don't think''" before she could finish, he said "3 pm sweetheart", and cut the phone. "Uff, what does he think of himself?" she fretted. A girl should be allowed to refuse a few times before agreeing to anything. Is it not their birth right ? But this guy doesn't even give her a chance, She fumed. But the truth was that she did want to meet him'..very much. She smiled shyly and called her mama's mobile.
Milind was leaning against his car, waiting for her when she reached the coffee shop. "Hey, looking very good", he smiled at her and handed her a perfect red rose. She reddened as his eyes checked her out from head to toe. Dressed in a white salwar with chicken embroidery and a multicoloured duppatta, she looked beautiful. She took the flower from with a small thanks. Reminding herself that she is supposed to be angry with him, she asked him putting on her best annoyed look "What do you think of yourself , Milind? You expect me to appear in front of you at the click of your fingers ?" she asked him raising her eyebrows in mock anger.
"That would be very nice indeed. I wouldn't have to wait for you so long then" His eyes dancing in laughter, he clicked his fingers.
"Stop it , don't be so arrogant" Chided prachi.
"But sweetheart, arrogant or not, you still like me" winked Milind, handing her another rose.
Prachi took it and just looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"Don't you?" drawled Milind giving her a third rose.
With a small smile playing on her lips, she took it nodding her head slightly. Raising his eyebrows he handed her another flower, "Say it", he ordered huskily.
"Yes' Yes, I do like you", said Prachi slightly breathless.
"Thank god, I didn't have any more roses left", he chuckled.
"Milind'.", smiling she hit him playfully. It was really hard even to put on an angry act with him.
"Okay, let me be fair today. You came because I called you. So, you get to call the shots today. What do you want to do today?" He asked her pacifying.
"Are you sure you want this, Milind? Think again", she asked with mischief in her eyes.
"Very sure sweetheart, Once I give my word, I never go back. I always keep my promises", he drawled looking right into her eyes. Looking away from his captivating eyes, Prachi thought quicky.
"How about boating on the lake?" asked Prachi excitedly.
"Good idea, which one?" Milind agreed.
" Pedal boat, I just love them. Myself and Neev used to take them everytime we come to the lake. I haven't done any this time", she sighed.
"Its pedal boat then, come on". Holding her hand, he rushed to the boat house.
Prachi was enjoying evey minute of the boat ride. It was a sultry afternoon and surprisingly with very few boats on the lake. She looked at the man sitting next to her from the corner of her eyes. He looked gorgeous, leaning back with an arm draped across the back of her seat, head tilted back he looked very relaxed. His jeans taut across his thighs emphasised their muscular strength as he pedalled. Suddenly, he turned his head to look at her, staring at him and gave her a slow knowing smile. Caught in the act, she blushed furiously turning away from him.
Spotting a man with fried sweet corns close to the water front, she cried pointing at him "Bhutta". Startled, Milind lost his foot on the pedal , "Budda', god prachi that was rude. I am sure he was young once, '.a long time ago" chuckled Milind. She hit him "Very funny, I said bhutta, with lemon and chilly powder, ummmm, YUMM. I want them now". She started pedalling towards the old man and having no option, Millind followed. "Give me one, with lots of chilli powder", Prachi told the man. You want one, Milind", she asked turning to him. Making a face, Milind shook his head and quickly paid the man and pedalled away.
Looking at her sweet corn, fully covered with bright red chilly powder, he gulped. "Oh my god, Prachi, how can you eat so much chilly? That looks very spicy".
"Oye, Mr.Angrezi, where is your Indian blood? All that bland English food has killed your taste buds. Can you not handle a bit a spice?" She challenged him.
He looked at her with narrowed eyes. Just as she was biting into the corn, he leaned close to her and bit on the sweet corn, from the other side. Prachi's eyes widened like saucers, god, his lips were so close to hers with just the sweet corn in between them. Without breaking eye contact, he bit a few corns and sat back slowly munching them and said, "As you see, I can handle a lot of spice" and gave her a slow wink. Prachi who was staring at him wide eyed completely forgetting the bhutta in her hand, took a double take, and started to bite into the juicy corn like her life was dependent on it. Oh dear, she was feeling hot now, really, really hot. Milind turned away with a slow smile licking his lips tasting the remaining chilly powder and grimaced slightly. He didn't like them particularly, but at least they were red chilly, which was fine with him.
"What next?", Milind asked her after they came out of the boat house. Prachi thought hard and couldn't figure out what to do next. "I will let you do it this time, you choose, Milind?" She gave up. "Hmmm, how about a ride around the lake, on a bicycle?" he asked her eyeing the cycle hire shop close to the lake. (You can hire bicycles for an hourly rate and ride around the lake).
Prachi's face took a funny expression, "oh god, its been years since I rode one, and to be honest, I was never really good at it", she gulped. "You know, once you learn it, you can never forget it. It will come back to you", reassured Milind. Soon they picked up their cycles, and started off. Well, actually only Milind started off, while Prachi kept slipping on the pedal and getting off the bike.
Milind gave her a incredulous look, "Are you sure you know how to ride a bicycle?". Prachi gave him a sheepish look, "Sort of", she said. Shaking his head, he laughed at her. Depositing her cycle back at the shop, he waved to her, "Hop on, your highness, I shall take you wherever you want to go". Prachi giggled, "And where am I supposed to sit ? There is no carrier at the back". She pointed out.
"Did you think I was giving you a pillion ride. No sweetheart", he patted on the front bar "Here". Shocked, Prachi shook her head, "No, I can't. I will fall off". Assuring her that she wouldn't, he helped her get on. "Think of the old hindi movies, Prachi. Here we go" he chuckled. Giggling, Prachi held on to the handle bars tightly. Only when he started off, she realised what she had gotten herself into. His hands that held the handle was so close to hers, his body behind her was almost touching her back and as he leaned forward to pedal, his breath tickled her neck. Her body tingled with awareness of him. Prachi closed her eyes and shivered. "Oh my god, help me to survive this ride, without making a fool of myself" She silently prayed. Milind on the other hand, whistled softly, thanking his lucky stars, that Prachi couldn't ride on her own. He never anticipated this little treat. Smiling at her taut form, he bent close to her ears, "Relax cherry, you have nothing to fear about". Smiling shyly, Prachi felt herself relax and soon, was wishing that the ride would never end.
By the time, they handed over the bike, they were laughing silly with excitement. It was the best ride they have had together. The sun was setting fast and the water was shimmering in the light golden rays. They looked at each other and smiled. Prachi wondered how everything seems to be so perfect when she was with Milind. She couldn't believe that it was exactly in that place she first spotted him a week ago. She never dreamt that things would turn out like this. She gave a contented sigh, moving closer to him.
Milind suddenly realised that Prachi had stopped walking. Turning back he saw her staring wistfully at a street shop and let out a silent groan. "What now", he asked her apprehensively. "Pani puri", she smiled at him excitedly, pointing at the shop. He closed his eyes in dread, "Not that god, please". Pulling at his hand, she ran to the shop. She got a plate for herself and one for him.
"Ummm, Prachi, these have green chillies in them, you know" Milind looked at her nervously. "Red or green, what difference it makes, they are just'.". He stopped her, "I know, YUMM'" .
"Correct, now, lets see who can eat quickly", Prachi popped one straight into her mouth. Milind followed suit and felt his eyes would pop out of its sockets. Man, these were spicy. He was trying hard to stop the tears flowing from his eyes. Prachi narrowed her eyes, "Are you sure you are okay ? You don't have to eat them if you don't have to", she said concernedly. "No ,no, I am fine", Milind gave her a brilliant smile. Prachi stopped at three plates, while Milind went on with the fourth. Prachi smiled happily at him, "You really like it , don't you? I knew you would". Milind mumbled something in response.
As they walked towards Prachi's home, Milind asked her, "Prachi, I want to take you to my coffee estate tomorrow, will you come?"
" Tomorrow, let me see, who else is coming", she asked him thoughtfully.
"Actually, no one else. Lisa and peter have less than a week left for their engagement and I don't want to disturb them. It will be just us. Will you come?"He asked again. "I will check with my parents and call you later", she promised him and waving him goodbye she ran up to her door.
Edited by ambul30 - 16 years ago
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Tum Se Tum Tak
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Vasudha
