Sorry for the late update friends, here is the next part. cheers 👍🏼
PART 11
The day of Lisa's engagement dawned bright and clear. Prachi left in the morning to Lisa's house to be with her friend and help her get ready and Premlatha was going directly to the auditorium where the ceremony was held in the evening. Surrounded by her friends and fussed over every little thing, Lisa enjoyed her day to the hilt. In the evening, Lisa wore a bright red kancheepuram silk saree and adorned with gold jewellery and flowers in her hair, she looked absolutely beautiful. Prachi held her hands lovingly, "Really Lisa, you look mind blowing. Peter is a very lucky man. I wish you both, tonnes of happiness for the rest of your lives" she smiled at her. Lisa hugged her back silently wishing all the happiness for her friend as well. Premlatha and the other guests arrived soon. Premlatha also wished Lisa and her family.
Peter and his family arrived soon along with his friends. Dressed in a dark suit, he looked very handsome and on seeing Lisa, he just stared spellbound. He couldn't belive his luck that his beautiful and sweet girlfriend will soon be his fiancee and very soon, his wife. He looked at her with love and adoration shining in his eyes, and smiled happily as he saw his feelings mirrored in Lisa's eyes before she lowered her eyes shyly. Prachi sighed with happiness. "This evening is going to be perfect" she thought. Her eyes kept searching for Milind, but did not find him. Both he and Vicky were missing. Prachi wondered where they might be. The ceremony was in full swing and there was still no sign of Milind. Prachi was getting agitated. "What is keeping him? Where is he?" she wondered again. She hadn't spoken to him after the party and was now feeling restless. Just as the ring exchange ceremony was about to begin, Milind and Vicky walked in. Prachi's face broke into a big smile as relief and happiness flooded inside her. Her starved eyes were taking in his form, his smile, as he greeted his friends and silently mouthed his wishes to Peter and Lisa. He had dressed formally in a dark suit and a white shirt which made him look even more handsome. As Milind's eyes found Prachi, he gave a wave and smiled at her. She waved back happily. Peter and Lisa exchanged the rings and the guests had moved to the dining hall.
Prachi was getting desparate to speak to Milind but couldn't. As she found an empty chair to sit down with her plateful of food, Milind joined her. "Hey Cherry, You are looking very beautiful tonight"he complimented her. Dressed in a dark blue salwar with golden works, the dark coloured completed her fair skin, and she indeed looked very beautiful. Smiling shyly, "Thank you, You look good too"she said. He acknowledged the compliment with a slight bow of his head. Just then, Premlatha joined her daughter, "Prachi beta, I was looking for you everywhere and you are sitting here" she smiled at her daughter. Seeing the tall, dark, handsome man seated next to her daughter, she enquired her silently with her eyes.
"Mama, this is Milind, my….friend, and Milind , this is my mother" Prachi introduced them.
"Its lovely to see you Mrs. Shah", Milind greeted her, quickly getting up from the chair.
Premlatha smiled at him, "Nice to meet you, Milind" she said.
"The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Shah, here, allow me", he pulled out a chair for her to sit down.
Premlatha was very impressed with the good mannered young man. It is hard to find them these days, she mused to herself as she sat down thanking him. Prachi beamed at them happily. The talk flew easily on the engagement and their friends as all three agreed that they made a fantastic couple. Premlatha got up to leave, "Prachi, you stay with your friends. I am just going to meet a few people. Nice meeting you, Milind".
"Same here, may I just say, Mrs. Shah, I always thought your daughter was a very beautiful and lovely person, but now I realised that she just takes after you", Milind smiled at her, genuinely complimenting her.
Premlatha laughed. "He sure is a charmer and sounds sincere as well" she thought . Patting his arm slightly, she said, "Thank you Milind, but please, call me aunty just as Prachi's other friends do. Mrs. Shah sounds too formal".
Milind happily obliged, "Thank you, aunty" he said.
"Enjoy your evening" wishing him, Premlatha walked away.
Turning back to Prachi, Milind said, "Your mom seems to be a fantastic woman".
"She is, Milind and I couldn't have asked for a better mother", Prachi smiled fondly at her mother's retreating back. As they walked silently away from the noisy area towards the garden, Prachi couldn't help but notice the difference in Milind. Though he was his usual smiling and jovial self, his eyes seemed troubled. "Milind, is something wrong?" she asked him softly.
He turned to smile at her, "I knew you would notice" he said. "My dad called me last night. There's been a major problem at our head office in London. A senior board member had been charged with corporate fraud, and there is going to be an emergency board meeting in London in a few hours to discuss the strategy. If the board members vote against him, he might have to leave the company. But as the chairman of the board, it would be up to my dad to make the final decision. He is flying to London from New york and would land there in a couple of hours. My dad is worried that it might turn nasty as he is a senior member and has some member's support as well" he raked his hand through his hair in frustation.
Prachi felt sorry for him, he looked so worried. She placed her hand gently on his arm, "Don't worry, Miind. Everything will be alright. I am sure your dad would do what is best for the company. Now, have you eaten anything?"she aked him.
Milind shook his head, "No, didn't feel like eating anything".
"Rubbish, you are eating now, lets go and get some food for you", dragging him along, Prachi went towards the food hall. Smiling, Milind just went along.
It was quite late when Prachi and Premlatha left the party. On the way back in the car, Premlatha asked Prachi, "Beta, how do you know Milind?". Prachi looked up at her, "He is Peter's friend, Mama. I met him at his place when I went with Lisa to the barbeque party", she said leaving out their very first meeting. "He seems to be from a well to do family and very well mannered too" Premlatha said. "Yes, he is a very rich man and he is from London. But he has business in India too," explained Prachi. "He is a very nice young man. I liked him" Premlatha smiled at her daughter. Prachi heart soared with happiness. "Yes Mama, he is a very nice man"she said huskily, making Premlatha look at her curiously.
Prachi woke up to the shrill of her mobile phone, very early in the morning. Picking up her phone, she said sleepily, "Hello".
"Prachi, I am sorry to wake you up, but didn't have a choice", came Milind's appologetic voice.
Jerking up fully awake, Prachi asked, worried by the tone of his voice, "Milind, what's up? You sound worried, is everything alright?".
"Not actually, there has been difference in opinion in the board meeting and Dad wants us with him now. Myself and Vicky were passive board members and now dad wants us to become active members and sit in the next meeting. I am leaving for London today", he said.
Prachi's throat dried up, "Today?" She croacked out.
"Yes, actually, I am at Coimbatore airport now, I am flying to Chennai and should be on the plane to London in a couple of hours. The board is meeting at 5 pm, london time. Its only 2 am there, and we should be there well on time to get a quick briefing before the meeting. I am sorry that I couldn't even say bye properly", he sighed. Shocked completely, Prachi was at a loss of words.
"Are you there, Prachi? Milind asked again. "Hmmm", muttered prachi.
"I am sorry sweetheart, I didn't have a choice", he said huskily.
"Its okay milind, I understand", prachi said softly fighting her tears.
"Prachi, I got to go in now. We are boarding . Vicky says bye to you". He spoke urgently, "You have a safe journey home. You just have a week to start uni. Don't you? All the best for your course. I will call you as soon as I can. But with the way things are there, I am not sure when. Hope you understand".
"I do Milind. Don't worry, everything will be alright. You just take care", she choked on a sob.
Milind closed his eyes, he knew that she would cry. He felt terrible. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Controlling himself, he reassured her, "I will, sweetheart, you take care. And Prachi, this is not good-bye. Just remember that", he promised.
"I know, you take care, Milind, Bye", she was crying now.
"Bye, cherry", Milind hung up.
Prachi burst into sobs as soon as she hung up. Everything had happened so quickly. She never thought that Milind would have to leave like this. She suddenly felt bereft and lost. What is she going to do? She didn't know how long Milind would have to stay away. Burying her face in the pillow, she cried into it. When Premlatha called her down at 8 o'clock, Prachi had no more tears left to shed. She felt worn out completely and her eyes had taken an empty, lost look. Premlatha was shocked to the core to see her daughter look so pale. "Prachi, kya hua beta? Tum theek toh ho na?" she asked very concerned. "Kuch nahi mama, just headache. I will take rest for some more time please" gulping down her coffee, Prachi ran back to her room. Just as premlatha was frowning with worry, Lisa rushed in. "Aunty, where is Prachi?"she asked her slightly breathless. "She is in her room, Lisa and she is not very well" said premlatha worriedly. "I know", said Lisa rushing to Prachi's room leaving premlatha frown even more. One look at her friend's face is all Lisa needed. Rushing to her, she hugged Prachi, gently comforting her assuring her that everything would be alright though she herself was not sure if anything would be. She had rushed to Prachi's house as soon as Peter called her with the news that Milind and Vicky had left for London. Lisa stayed back with her friend comforting her gently, till Prachi and her mother left for Chennai.
Prachi was very quiet on the way back and just lay back with her eyes closed. Premlatha didn't disturb her and just left her to rest. Inder was very happy to see them but soon was very concerned about Prachi's health and sent her to her room to rest as it was already quite late. Next morning, Prachi noticed that she has had an email from Milind the previous night. She opened it excitely. It was a urgently typed message sent to a group of people. "Hello eveyone, we have reached London and on the way to the office. Shall call later. Bye". Prachi's face fell immediately though she was glad to know that they had reached safely. She prayed that eveything should be sorted out and Milind should be back quickly. The rest of the week passed by without any calls or emails from Milind. Growing completely restless and upset, Prachi had drawn back into her shell. Premlatha couldn't take it anymore. Prachi seemed so bubbly in Ooty and the change in her was drastic and it scared her.
"Is everything alright, Prachi? Please tell me if something is bothering you" she asked her daughter running her hand on her head fondly.
Guilty that she had caused so much concern to her mother, Prachi assured her, "Nothing Mama, the classes are starting on Monday and I am just worried about that. New place, new people and all that you know". Premlatha let out a sigh of relief and quickly assured that she would be fine within a few days. "Mama, I want to do a short interior decoration course. You know I am very interested in it. Can I apply for a place please? Its only part time on Saturdays and some weekday evenings" Prachi asked her Mom. Premlatha was surprised by her request but happy that Prachi wanted to do something that she liked and spoke to Inder straight away. Though Inder fretted that it would take so much of Prachi's time and she would be tired, he agreed. Prachi managed to get a place in a very good private college and was very happy about it. She wanted to tell Milind about it so badly knowing that he would be very happy for her. Just that knowledge was enough to comfort her as she missed him terribly and her longing to see him or atleast hear his voice increased every passing day.
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Bindi
