Here you go friends, updated at last. cheers 😃
Milind was thrust into a whirlpool of action as soon as he stepped in London. Among a quick briefing by one of the secretaries in the car, it was a miracle that he managed to send atleast an email to his friends. His Dad hugged him and Vicky as soon as they walked into his office at the head quarters in Canary Wharf in central London and Milind could sense the tension in him. He got down to business straight away and there was no turning back. There was chaos in the board room and the meetings dragged for long hours before his father called an end almost well past midnight. Catching a few hours of sleep at his penthouse apartment, Milind was back in the office very early in the morning with Vicky in tow. He wondered if his Dad even went to bed. This had become a routine for almost two weeks and thankfully they were nearing the end. He hadn't gone home to his mother since he came to London, and she knew better than to disturb him and his dad at work. He missed her and could not wait to go home and meet her and get pampered. The full extent of his Dad's responsibility and the burden he carried hit him and stunned him. He had it so easy all along and his Dad never forced him to plunge into the business completely. But now he realised how much his Dad needed him. And he hadn't disappointed his father. He sensed his father's pride in him, when he read the silent appreaciation in his eyes, everytime he put forth his views and suggestions and drew out strategies that stunned the other members and drew their support as well. Vicky had been with him day and night discussing issues and trying to find solutions. It had been a terrible but rewarding week.Today, his Dad had the majority of member's support and the senior member had at last backed down agreeing to resign with just financial settlement and no more legal backing from the company. "The price you have to pay to save the company's reputation", he thought frustated to the end.
It was Friday night almost midnight, and there he was at his penthouse apartment overlooking the river Thames and Tower Bridge, taking in the fantastic view of the london skyline and the river, nursing a drink in his hand. Friday nights had always been for wild parties, well it used to be, he thought musingly. He had forced Vicky to go home to his mom along with his father, for a proper weekend. Milind and his dad had to sort a few more things in the office the next morning and planned to go home late in the afternoon. He looked around his aparment, he loved the place and the privacy it gave him. His dad just stayed at his suite in the office building saying that it suited him better. This apartment was a 21st birthday gift from his parents and he fell in love with it straightaway hugging them and thanking them over and over again. The very next day, he threw a very wild party to his friends and he and vicky had gotten drunk silly. Milind smiled recalling those memories.
But tonight there was just one thing on his mind – Prachi. He hadn't called her for almost two weeks, the time was never right. Even now, it was too early in India to call her. He missed her terribly, he raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. The night he dropped her home after the dance, he felt completely disturbed as he drove back to his friends. He wondered what was happening to him. Why making her dance with him was so important to him? Why couldn't he take her being ridiculed about anything even if it was in her childhood ? Why did his heart thud in his chest when he held her close? And when her eyes sparkled with happiness, he had felt that he would have happily put his life on line just to see that look on her face. No one has ever affected him as much as she did. He couldn't understand himself. Closing his eyes in frustration, he silently vowed, Milind Mishra never lets any one affect him. And that's one thing that's not going to change, not any time soon.
Turning to his laptop, he brought the screen up to life and noticed that there was a mail waiting for him from Vicky. He opened it quickly to find an attached file with a message that said, " Just to cheer you up on a long, lonely work filled Friday night. Open it now and you will feel better, much better. Trust me – Vicky". Curious now, he opened the attachment and slowly his face broke into a grin. "That dog" he cursed fondly and his smile grew wider and eyes softened as Prachi's smiling face filled the computer screen in front of him and suddenly the long, lonely Friday night didn't seem too bad anymore.
He put it on a slide show and leaned back in the sofa to watch it, his mind going back to Ooty and Prachi. Vicky had sent him photos that he clicked of Prachi on Dodabetta. He chuckled softly when he saw that photo with Prachi posing with her leg perched on that unstable rock and recalled Vicky's silly big brother joke. A sudden longing like never before filled him. He wanted to speak to her now, hear her voice, her tinkling laughter. He could picturise her in his mind so clearly, of how she would react if he called her now. She would be surprised, very happy, would smile with her dimples deepening and blush. Oh, how he loved to see her blush. Though he cannot see it now, he would definitely sense it. Not caring about the time difference any more, he picked up the phone and dialled her number.
A very sleepy Prachi jerked up awake as soon as she heard that sexy drawl, "Hey, cherry".
"Mi……Milind" she stammered completely stunned.
"Who else would call you that?" came the arrogant reply, his deep voice sending shivers down her spine.
Oh, how much she longed to hear it. She drew a shaky breath trying to fathom if it was just a dream. She has been having quite a few of them these days. "Ouch" prachi jumped up.
"What's wrong?" milind was concerned.
"Oh,… nothing, I just pinched myself" said prachi closing her eyes, her face turning red.
Milind chuckled deeply. "Now she is blushing" he thought feeling strangely elated. "Aw, sweetheart, god knows how much I missed this. Sorry I couldn't call you earlier. Are you really angry with me?"
The way he asked her made her smile. "No, Milind. I am not angry. Just sad. But I knew you would be busy".
"Sorry", he appologised again. It had been manic here. And I knew this is not the right time to call you. I woke you up, didn't I?", he asked her.
"I am glad you called, Milind. Please don't worry about waking me up? I really don't mind" she said soflty.
Milind smiled, in his heart he just knew all along that she wouldn't mind but he really didn't want to disturb her. Soon he filled her in all that had happened and that he was going to see his mom the next day. Prachi felt sorry for him. He should be really tired, she thought. She told him about her uni. She liked her class and starting to make friends with a few girls. When she told about the part time course, Milind was very happy to hear that. "That's fantastic Prachi, I am glad that you are going to do something you always wanted to. Well done" he said with his voice filling with appreciation and approval.
That was exactly the reaction that Prachi expected from him and she closed her eyes in content. "Thank you, Milind, for everything" she said huskily.
"Aw Sweetheart, don't thank me. There is a whole world out there Prachi waiting just for you. Venture out. Do everything you want to do. Don't worry about making mistakes. Beacause even if you do make them, they are entirely yours and you will definitely make them right in the end. Live your life prachi, the way you want to. That would make me the happiest person in the world" he told her gently.
Prachi's eyes welled up thanking god silently for making this fantastic person come into her life. Milind spoke about how much his Dad needed him and the pride he had seen in his eyes and Prachi understood that Milind had already made that plunge into his world that he was so carefully stalling till next year. He already sounded more mature, more serious.
"Shouldn't you be in bed now, Milind, it must be well past midnight, there?"She asked him concerned.
"Why, do you want me to hang up, now?" He sulked.
"No, don't be silly. I was just worried that you might be tired" she admonished him.
"I am not sleepy, prachi, I was working and haven't even had my dinner, just had a glass of wine", he explained.
"What, you haven't had dinner yet? And you are drinking on an empty stomach. Are you crazy? Get up and eat something. NOW. And haan, change into bluetooth. So, I can keep talking to you", she ordered him.
"Yes, mam, As you say", he laughed. He loved it when she ordered him around and the knowledge she is so concerned about him made his heart soar high. Rummaging through the fridge, he took out a ready meal pasta and heated it in the microwave, speaking to Prachi all along. "Get some salad to go with it" came the next order.
Chuckling, he obliged. "Done, now the table is set and let me get another glass of wine to go with it". Milind was about to pour another glass when Prachi's voice stopped him.
"No more wine tonight, Milind. Fruit juice", she said sternly.
"Prachi, all I have is cranburry juice", he whined.
"That will do absolutely fine", Prachi giggled.
After his dinner, Milind relaxed back on the bed. He felt completely relaxed tonight after all these days. "Thanks Prachi, I needed that. You know this is what I was missing. I should have called you long back" he sighed.
"Yes, you should have. But better late than never. So its okay", Prachi laughed lightheartedly. "You should get some sleep. Your mother will be worried about you if look haggard when you meet her", she said genlty.
Milind smiled at her words, "I will, you should go to sleep too. You have classes tomorrow. I will call you soon prachi. No more worrying about time difference".
Prachi smiled, "Goodnight, Milind".
"Good night, Prachi", said Milind.
Just as she as about to put the phone down, he said in a very husky voice, "I miss you, my cherry girl, I miss you very much".
"I miss you too, Milind , said Prachi with tears welling up in her eyes.
"Bye sweetheart" said Milind softly.
"Bye". Holding the phone close to her heart, she sat still for a while, "I love you, Milind, I love you so much …………..that it hurts" she whispered softly with her eyes closed and a lone tear trickled down her cheek.
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kumkum Bhagya
