Okay girls, I am not sure if I did justice to this part. But honestly I tried. I am expecting to see jhootis and chappals flying towards me after you read it. diving for cover 😃
PART 13
Milind called Prachi at least two days a week and they talked into the early hours of morning filling in eachother with all the details of their day. It has become some sort of a routine for them. Prachi felt that she has become closer to Milind even more now that he is away. Milind felt the same. Thought he was thousands of miles away from Prachi, he felt that she has become a part of his life and he felt as if they had known each other for a very long time. A very small change in her voice was enough for him to know how her day had been. He marvelled at how well Prachi knew him and his moods. Sometimes that scared him and he tried not to dwell on it too much. Whatever it was, he looked forward to speaking to her. It gave him such a change in his otherwise busy life. He was sucked into the whirlpool of his business world and now there was no getting out.
The weekend at his home with his mom had been fantastic. As soon as their car entered the gates of the sprawling mansion in the outskirts of London, Milind's heart filled with joy and content, his eyes taking in the painstakingly well kept garden where he had wrecked havoc from time to time. "Home at last" he said smiling at his Dad. How he missed it.Jumping out of the car before it came to a halt, he ran up the steps to meet his mom who was rushing down to meet him and hugged her tight. Shweta's eyes filled with tears. She missed her son so much and hadn't seen him for months. Shweta fussed over her son like he was a small child and he enjoyed all her pampering and attention. He and his parents spent a very relaxing Sunday just like the old times.
When he narrated everything to Prachi, she had felt extremely happy for him. She realised how close he was to his parents and loved him even more for that. Her love and respect for him grew more and more with every passing day and her eyes longed to see him. It was Friday and Milind was not going to call her as he was attenting a very posh charity function organised by Mishra Industries to raise money for the Children's Leukaemia foundation. It was 2,500 a ticket event. Everybody who was somebody in that social circle would be there and Prachi couldn't wait to hear the details from him later.
Immaculately dressed, Milind and Vicky were circulating among their guests along with both their parents. It was high profile event and fantastically organised. Milind was talking to a group of executives when he heard a very seductive voice next to him, " Hello, Milind", and long manicured fingers painted bright red, touched his sleeve.
Turning around, Milind found a tall blond girl with blue eyes dressed in a very short red dress with legs that seemed to go on forever. Frowning slightly first, he broke into a smile, "Sally".
"Hmmm, you remembered. I am impressed", with a short laugh Sally hugged him brushing her lips on his cheek.
"How could I forget?" drawled Milind, though it was almost eight years since he saw her, he hasn't forgetten the girl he shared his first french kiss with when he was fourteen and had shared a few other things as well in their teens.
Daughter of one of the board members of their company, she had gone away to the States and now he can see that she was well back in town. Sally knew that he would grow into a striking man, but the sight of him took her breath away. He looked utterly male and dominating and she was not going to pass on this opportunity to get close to him.
"Memories, darling. That's what keeps you warm on cold lonely nights. Don't they?", she purred seductively. Milind laughed, "I am glad they did for you". Smiling, Sally Linked her hand around his arm, She struck to his side for the rest of the evening, keeping the conversation flow easily. She was a party girl and very shrewd and knew how to keep a man engaged and Milind found her company easy and entertaining and to top it all, she looked stunning. There was nothing to complain. As the evening drew to an end, It was time for good byes. Moving close to Milind, with her ample bosom pressing tantalisingly against his arm, she whispered sweetly close to his ears, "We should meet up soon, Milind. There is a load of catching up to do. Call me". Kissing him on his cheeks, she bade him goodbye. "That would be interesting. Will surely do" promising, Milind saw her to her car.
After her classes, Prachi rushed home on Saturday afternoon. She knew that she would find the pictures of the previous night's charity function on Mishra industries website. She eagerly opened it and her breath caught in her throat on seeing Milind's photo, her hungry and starved eyes taking his very sexy form dressed in dinner jacket. As she scrolled through the pictures, she was shocked to see a blonde girl clinging to him in most of them, kissing him and pressing her body so close to him. Her hand trembled as she scrolled through them and Prachi closed her eyes as pain and disgust washed over her. "Who is she? Milind seemed to enjoy her company so well" she wondered feeling a dread forming at the pit of her stomach. Her face lost all colour when she saw Milind kissing the blond girl's cheeks with his arms around her. Shutting down the computer, she went to lie on her bed, curled up, her face buried in her hands. She wanted to cry out in anguish as the pain in her heart was worse than any physical pain she had ever experienced. She knew that she was only a friend to Milind, but in her heart, she had hoped that she was a bit more than a friend to him. After seeing these picutes, it was painfully obvious how different his world was to her. She was nothing when compared to such beautiful and polished women milling around him. He could never be hers. She was rudely awakened to the reality and the pain was too much for her to even shed tears. She spent the weekend shut in her room which worried her parents even more. Just when Premlatha thought that she was getting a bit chirpy like she was in Ooty, she turned in for the worst. All her mother could do was to wonder what was wrong with her and pray for her happiness.
Milind could call Prachi only on Monday evening as he was busy over the weekend spending time with both his and Vicy's parents. Milind told her about meeting Sally at the party and Prachi was shocked to hear that it was the same girl that Milind had first kissed. Greatly disturbed that she should turn up again after all these years, she disliked her even more when Milind described her as stunning. Hearing Prachi monosyallable answers, Milind wondered what was wrong. "Is everything alright, Prachi?" he asked her gently. Struggling to sound normal, she quickly assured him that everything was alright, she steered the conversation away from Sally, and talked about evey other thing apart for the party. Thought not completely satisfied, Milind did not press too much and was in his usual cheerful mood. Prachi broke into tears as she soon as she disconnected the phone. It was hardwork trying to talk to him normally and that "stunning" Sally really got to her. "Stunning, my foot", she thought acidly and felt ashamed to even think like that. She wanted him to be happy, and that was all that mattered. Sighing, she went to bed for another sleepless night.
Milind felt strangely disturbed after the phone call but couldn't figure out what was bothering him. Prachi was not happy about something. "What was it?" he wondered replaying their conversation in his mind. Suddenly he jerked up straight. She didn't seem very eager to hear about Sally. She sounded disapproving almost angry. He frowned. Why should she disapprove? There was no need to be. Milind never looked for anyone's approval in anything he did. But It definetely bothered him if Prachi didn't like anything he did. But why, he didn't understand himself. Then he chided himself for being silly, "There can't be anything. He was just making a mountain out of a molehill". Shaking himself out of such thoughts he immersed himself in his work.
Prachi called him a couple of days later, sounding extremely happy. "Milind, you know what? Neev is coming to Chennai this weekend. I am so happy. Its been so long. I really can't believe that he would be here on Saturday".
Milind gave a small smile, "That's very good news, Prachi. I am glad that he is coming to see you", he said trying hard to sound cheerful though he didn't feel so, not even a bit.
Prachi, completely oblivious to it, went on happily."Oh, you don't know what a horrible week I had been having. I am glad he is coming. I needed this change very much. He has promised to take me to the movies and the amusement park and we are going to have lots of fun. I just can't wait" as she continued speaking happily, Milind's frown deepened.
After she hung up, Prachi sat back with a sigh. She congratulated herself for managing to sound extremely enthusiastic to Milind that she actually felt. He had sensed that there was something wrong when he spoke to her last time and if she keeps sounding dejected and unhappy, it wouldn't take him long to guess the reason and figure out that she was in love with him. And if he found out, he would run a mile. She shuddered at the thought. She was glad that Neev was coming, but that wouldn't soothe her aching heart. And she is not going to let Milind find out that. If friendship was all that he offered, so be it. She was not ready to lose it for anything in the world. She vowed silently with tears filling her eyes.
After he hung up the phone, Milind sat back with a scowl on his face. "Why is she so happy about seeing him? And what did she mean when she said that she had a horrible week and seeing Neev was what she needed? What horrible week she has had and why didn't she tell him anything about it? Won't talking to him make her feel better?"he thought angrily, his scowl deepening. And he decided that he didn't like Neev very much, however he was. How dare he plans to take her out everywhere? No one takes his Prachi out except him. What, wait a minute. Did he just say "his Prachi"? He went absolutely still shocked to the core. What the heck was he thinking? When did she become his? She is just a friend. Or is she? He told her to go out and have fun the other day, he reminded himself. "But not with Neev", his mind screamed completely outraged at the thought. Frustrated he threw the phone on the sofa and got up. No, this should stop. It was crazy and Milind Mishra never went crazy. He only drove others crazy. He smirked arrogantly. He blamed it all on too much work. He should wind down a bit and that would sort out his confused head, he decided.
The shrill of the phone broke through his thoughts and he scowled at it. Picking it up, he growled into it and immediately his face broke into a small smile and his eyes taking an arrogant look. It was Sally, inviting him out on Thrusday for clubbing with a group of friends. She went on to assure him that's exactly what he needed to break his monotonous week. She purred on with her voice inviting and promising a wild night. Sally knew that he was not working that Friday and had planned it according, so work would not be an excuse when she persuades him to stay the night. Milind smirked knowing fully well what Sally was up to. He has played these games for a long time, but by his rules. This is exactly what he needs to get a grip on his life and his wayward thoughts. He was going to have fun, he thought as he agreed and hung up. A lot of fun, he promised himself. Wild and wicked, just like the old days and like the Milind Mishra that he had always been.
Fan Fictions
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
