Okay friends, here is the next part as promised. Cheers 😃
PART 9(B)
"Where are we going next?", asked Prachi eagerly as they walked away from the stables.
"To a very special place", smiled Milind as he turned to look at her. "You will really like it", he promised. "It a short walk away or if you want we can take the jeep" he asked.
Prachi preferred to walk as the scenery was just too beautiful. The region behind the house was not used for plantation and was dense with trees and shrubs. There was a distant sound of a stream running, and the place was quiet apart from the chirping of the birds. Suddenly, Prachi stopped walking and stared at the sight before her with her mouth hanging open in awe. In front of her was the most beautiful house she had ever seen in her life. Built of bamboo and perched high on logs, it was circular in shape and utterly beautiful.
"Oh my god, Milind, this is…." she turned to him eyes sparkling.
"My special place. Come and have a look inside", smiling, Milind helped her up the stairs.
The Bamboo House
Once inside, Prachi twirled around and laughed in wonder. It was even more beautiful inside with one large bedroom with a king size bed, a smaller one, more like a study, a hall with very few furniture and a small kitchen and bathroom. Milind leaned back against the window with arms crossed across his chest, watching her intently. He knew she would love it and was glad that he brought her there. He himself had fallen in love with it on first sight. Nestled between trees, it was cool and breezy inside. Like a small kid, Prachi ran into each room feeling everything as if she is trying to make sure that it wasn't a dream. Looking through the bedroom window, she gasped. The view window was breathtakingly beautiful.
"Milind, I just want to stay here forever and ever. Its just so beautiful", she sighed dreamily.
Milind laughed and pulled her hand, "Come and have a look at outside".
They went into the balcony. There was just lush greenery as far as the eyes could see. Prachi could see a gentle stream flowing near the house nestled among the shrubs. The wind tugged at her hair flipping her ponytail. With a smile, Milind pulled out the handkerchief tied in her hair, letting it fall in luxurious waves. He wondered if it would feel just as silky as it looks and longed to run his fingers through her hair. Not able to withstand his intense gaze on her, Prachi lowered her eyes. Cheeks burning, she turned away from him. Just behind her, there was a beautiful cane swing chair with cushions dumped on it. Prachi ran to sit on it and swung it pushing her legs on the floor laughing excitedly.
"Milind, this day is the best day of my life. God, This is heaven on earth. Thank you for bringing me here", she smiled at him, eyes clouding with varying emotions.
Milind tipped his head slightly, "The pleasure is all mine. I knew you would like it just as much as I did". Leaning on the bamboo rail, he picked up the guitar he had been playing the other night and strummed it gently.
"Milind", called Prachi gently, "Can you please play something for me?"
"With pleasure, anything for you sweetheart", winked Milind and thought for a minute, and said, "This is one of my favourite songs since a very long time" and strummed the strings gently. The music from the guitar and his deep seductive voice as he sang along filled the sultry afternoon transferring both of them into a world of their own.
Bryan Adam's (Everything I do) I do it for you
Look into my eyes - you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart - search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you
Look into your heart - you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Take me as I am - take my life
I would give it all - I would sacrifice
Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more
Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you
There's no love - like your love
And no other - could give more love
There's nowhere - unless you're there
All the time - all the way
Oh - you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more
I would fight for you - I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you - ya I'd die for you
Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you
Watch it on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGoWtY_h4xo
As the song ended, Prachi sat spellbound staring at him, her face and eyes betraying the churn of emotions in her mind. Milind's eye were on her taking in every expression on her face and couldn't take his eyes off her. "So many promises", she whispered softly to herself. "That was so beautiful. Thank you", she sighed. Her face fell suddenly, "Milind, I will cherish this holiday forever, the days I spent with you. They were the best days of my life. Thank you for bringing me here and for everything else as well. I shall be leaving Ooty the day after Lisa's engagement. I might never see you again" she said softly.
Pulling a chair close to her swing, Milind sat down and looked at her, "I don't know about the promises that Bryan Adams made, but all I can promise is that this is not a holiday friendship that would wither away once we leave Ooty. I am leaving the day after you leave. But we are both going to be in chennai and we can definitely meet there. This is only the beginning, Prachi and from where I stand, I can not see an end".
Prachi gave a sad smile, "Milind, be practical. You would go back to your busy life. I don't move in your social circle. I am not one of those sophisticated, elite women you would want to hang around with".
Taking her hand in his, he rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand slightly, making her shiver in response. Looking straight into her eyes, he asked, "What sort of a person do you think you are Prachi?"
Prachi gave a short laugh, "I am just a normal, dull, quiet, boring and unsophisticated girl".
"Says who?", he asked softly.
"Everyone does. Even Neev says that I can be dull and boring sometimes" said Prachi pouting slightly.
"I don't care what others think of you. Its their perspective. My prachi is quite different from that", he said softly.
"Your prachi", whispered prachi savouring the feel of those words.
"Umm, she is the most sweet and intriguing girl I have ever met. She is a mixture of shy and innocence, very beautiful, not just in looks but inner beauty as well. She can be caring and stubborn, naughty and childish at the same time. She doesn't need much to excite her. A spicy bhutta, a rare bird, a simple wooden house would do the trick. She might not be one of those high flying social elite butterfly, but she is the most warm and lovely girl I have ever known and she is very special to me. And I am glad to have met her and am fortunate enough to be her friend" he said gently.
She heart soared in happiness at his words and she looked at him in wonder. "Is this how you see me?", she asked .
"No, this is how you are", he replied. "And most importantly she is the only person who could make me eat chillies", he said with a laugh and she smiled shyly at him.
"Thank you Milind, You don't know what your words mean to me. I feel much better about myself", she squeazed his hand in gratitude, her eyes filling up with tears. His words had meant the world to her.
"You are the best, my cherry girl. Just belive in yourself", he smiled at her. "Now, If you have had enough of hearing praises, get up and get ready to leave. Home beckons you, Cinderella. We don't want your papa to be upset", laughing he pulled her to her feet.
"Of course, not when he is leaving to chennai tomorrow. Lets go", Prachi laughed back.
When he dropped her near home, she turned to smile at him with eyes full of happiness and…something else. "Thank you milind for such a lovely day". He tipped his head in acknowledgemet and bent closer to her, "One more thing, You have the most beautiful smile in the world", and winked at her. "Bye, sweetheart, take care" and drove off.
On the way back, Milind thought that the day had been just perfect. But everything seems to be perfect when he is with prachi. He wondered why. He didn't know why it mattered so much as to what she thought of his favourite place and why he played a song for her, which he had never done before for anyother girl. Not wanting to dwell too much on these thoughts, he whistled happily as he drove home.
Inder was quite happy that Prachi came home nice and early. On his suggestion, they went out for dinner, and after helping her dad to pack, she went to bed. Sleep was not going to come to her easily tonight. Her mind and heart were in complete riot today. She felt like a leaf tossed in a storm. Yes, Milind had entered her life like a storm and everything has changed. She was very much attracted to him from the first time she laid her eyes on him. But she has started to lose her heart a bit by bit as she got to know him better. The way, he described her today… She closer her eyes tightly. That was like hearing about a different person. Is that how she has become in these few days or Is that how she actually was and just never knew? May be she was waiting for Milind to help her know herself. Does she want to be just a friend to him? "No", her mind screemed vehemently. She wanted to mean much more to him…..everything to him. She wanted him to make all those promises that he sang about, to her. Tears streamed from her closed eyes. Her common sense chidded her. Inspite of all his assurances, she knew that he was way out of her league. "God, why can't I be happy with just being his friend?" She cried silently. "No, I should get a grip on myself. The holidays will be over soon. He will go back to his world and I will go back to my old life, back to just being a dull and boring, Prachi" she smiled through her tears. Though her mind thought sensibly, her heart was no were in favour of it and kept her awake and crying into her pillow silently, for something that was way beyong her reach. She fell into a troubled sleep only in the wee hours of the morning.
Edited by ambul30 - 16 years ago
