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PART 2
As Prachi neared the coffee house, she saw Lisa coming from the other side. "Perfect timing" she waved enthusiastically to get her attention. They went in and found a corner table overlooking the lake. The gentle afternoon sun glistened on the water and the waves rippled along the lake. It looked picturesque. Prachi signed in contentment. The smell of baked bread made her mouth water.
"Umm!!! They make the best scones in the whole wide world . Let's order now"said Prachi. "Wait, Its my treat", said Lisa pulling the menu from her hand. "I know what you want. Let me order". She order scones and coffee for both of them.
"Now, tell me everything. And first of all, how is Peter ? Have you decided on the wedding date yet" ? asked Prachi. Lisa's eyes took on a dreamy look. "The wedding would definitely be by the end of this year but we haven't decided on the date yet. I just can't wait" she sighed happily.
Prachi met Peter, Lisa's boyfriend last year and gave her approval straightaway. He was handsome, came from a rich family (his family was in the hotel industry), very decent and totally in love with Lisa. Her middle class status didn't matter to him at all. He loved her clearly and deeply and was perfect for her. Prachi felt that men couldn't come in a better package than that. They were getting engaged in two weeks, both families having approved.
"When can I meet him this time ? I haven't spoken to him for a long time", Prachi complained. "Oh, hold on. He wanted to meet you too. But he is out of town and will be back tonight. I am supposed to invite you on his behalf to the barbeque party he had arranged at the cottage tomorrow and he is not going to take no for an answer", Lisa said.
"And I was not planning to say no. Barbeque sounds like fun. Perfect weather too. Will it be just us" , Prachi asked excitedly. "No, no. Neelam, Rishi and Suraj are coming as well along with a couple of Peter's other friends and it will be a perfect group. You are going to love it" assured Lisa, knowing fully well that Prachi is not very comfortable around new people. Prachi bit on her lower lip slightly unsure but Lisa's pleading eyes and assuring hand made her smile back "okay then". "Great , then I shall pick you up at 3 pm tomorrow" clapped Lisa excitedly.
They finished their coffee and started strolling towards the lake. Prachi found the perfect spot to sit down, a slightly higher rock and started adjusting her binoculars. Lisa knew she would be lost for minutes tracing every bird through the lens.
"Crazy girl", she hit Prachi's head slightly. "You carry on with it, I am going to get us some bhutta ( fried sweet corn, with a bit of red chilly powder and a dash of lemon , they are just YUMMY)". Prachi gave her a thumbs up. She loved bhutta.
She spotted a lovely white bird with eye catching black patterns in its wings on the water and gluing the binoculars to her eyes adjusted the lens. The bird suddenly fluttered its wings and soared in the air. With an excited laugh, prachi traced its flight with her lenses. A sudden movement caught at the end of her eyes, she adjusted her lens to have a proper look. A man was on a black horse in full gallop. The animal looked magnificient , a shining body that looked darker that the night and its full mane fluttering in the wind , it was in full gallop. Strong thighs gripped the animal's body on either side, the man sat on the saddle with his body slightly bent forwards from his waist, Strong hands held the reins and the muscles could be seen rippling in his arms. Prachi sucked in a breadth and just stared. The orange rays of the evening sun shone on his curly and unruly hair that spread out and moved with his every movement. She adjusted her binoculars to look at his face but the glare from the sun was not making it easy. Just then he tipped his head back and laughed with the sheer excitement and happiness of the moment. Prachi's breath caught in her throat and kept tracing the horse's path. Just then it took a turn and came straight towards her.
Realising that the image was getting much closer that it originally was, Prachi hastily dropped her binoculars and just stared ahead. Reducing the speed to a trot, the black stallion stopped just a few meters away from her and a man dismounted. With the sun rays blaring from behind him, he looked like a sight to behold. He was tall, dark and looked …… WOW. Prachi's chest constricted with an unknown feeling. His rugged looks, full lips with a stubble, trimmed beard, curly long hair, piercing eyes , a well built body and a gait like a cheetah, made him look like a greek god. Prachi realised that he had seen her watching him, but still couldn't look away. With amusement lurking in his eyes and a slight smirk, he gave her a glance and walked to the man at the nearby shop and asked him something. Is this real or has he just stepped out of a Mills and Boon novel, Prachi wondered with a frown, still following him with her eyes.
"Prachi , pra…….chi", hit Lisa on her shoulders. "I have been calling for so long, what are you staring at now". She turned to follow prachi's gaze , and whistled softly, "Wow, you have a good eye girl. Now, that is one perfect specimen" said Lisa startling Prachi out of her trance. The man turned to look at them and slowly walked towards them looking definitely amused. "Oh no, he heard it", prachi turned bright red.
"Thank you , I shall take that as a compliment" he drawled in a perfect british accent looking at them with clear amusement. Lisa gave him her best smile feeling slightly embarrassed, "Of course it was a compliment. Welcome to Ooty". He mouthed a thank you, still smiling. Feeling completely flustered , prachi nudged Lisa and whispered "Let's go" and pulled her. The man gave a gesture of tipping his hat and said "See you around then". Lisa gave him a bright wave of her hand and turned to go.
When prachi was about to turn around, he bent down near her and whispered, "So…. liked what you saw?" Prachi jerked up her head, her eyes widening in shock and her gaze met his black eyes dancing in suppressed laughter. He gave her a slight wink. She turned bright crimson, and closed her eyes and just wished that the earth would open up and swallow her. Hearing his soft laughter, she opened her eyes to see him mounting back on his stallion in one smooth movement. He have her a small salute and swiftly rode past her leaving her to stare after him.
Unaware of any of this, Lisa turned back around realising prachi hadn't followed her "Hey prachi, who chala gaya hai ( he has gone). Now stop looking". Pulling at her hands, she said, "Ab chalo bhi" ( come now) and thrust the sweet corn in her hands. Unable to believe what had just happened, prachi gave herself a mental shake and followed her friend. After a while , Lisa said, " He could be one of those tourists you know, his accent definitely didn't sound Indian, thuje kya lagta hai, (what do you think) asked Lisa. "Yeah, may be" prachi muttered lowering her eyes. "Are you okay? You are acting funny today, that's definitely not like you. Going gooey eyed over a hot male and all that. What's up dear" nudged Lisa. "Oh, shut up lisa, its nothing like that" Prachi said annoyed.
As they walked back to prachi's house, they saw Inder and Premlatha just ready to go out. They greeted Lisa warmly and congratulated her on her impending engagement. Making use of the situation, Lisa asked Inder's permission to take prachi out tomorrow. Seeing inder looking thoughtful, Lisa rushed to assure him , "I will bring back prachi by 9 pm , Uncle". "Okay then, but no later than that" warned Inder. Lisa waved them a goodnight and left.
"Prachi, we were just about to take an evening stroll. Want to join us?" asked Premlatha. "Nahi mama, mein to thak chuki hoom (No mama, I am very tired). I will just have an early night today" refused prachi. They left soon afterwards. As she went up the stairs, she heard Ramu kaka's (the caretaker of the guest house) voice, "Arrey, prachi betiya, kaana laga doon kya ? ( Shall I set the dinner ready ). Nahi kaka, mein toh bahar bahut kuch kake aayi hoon. Bus ek glass doodh dhey dhejiye. ( No kaka, I have eaten a lot outside. Just give me a glass of milk ) She picked up her glass of milk and went to her room.
Changing into her night dress, she sat near the window, looking at the night sky. The sky was clear. It was almost full moon and the stars were shining brightly. She picked up the heart shaped pillow with the image of Cindrella printed on it from her bed and hugged it tight. She's had it since she was nine years old when the whole room was done in the Disney princesses theme. Cindrella was her favourite princess. She smiled at the memories. As a little girl, she had dreamt that her prince charming would come flying on a beautiful white horse and carry her away to a far away land and they would live happily ever after – every little girl's dream. A part of that little girl would always remain alive in you no matter how old you grow. Even when things changes in the harsh reality of real life, those little dreams keep you going and hoping, most of all living. She sighed aloud. Lisa was right. She was definitely feeling funny today.
The evening's events came back to her in full force. "What made me react so strongly to that stranger? No one had affected me like this before" she asked herself. "Was it just the sun light playing havoc on everything, or was it his black eyes, that she felt she could drown in the moment she looked into them and when he winked at her, oh my god, Or was it those full lips curled in a grin, looked so kissable". Uhh! She blushed furiously hiding her face in her pillow at her wayward thoughts. "Stop thinking about him. You may never see him again" she told herself , wondering at the same time as why that thought made her sad. She curled on her bed and willed herself to sleep still clutching her pillow.
Prachi was dreaming. She was standing all alone,and there came her prince charming , galloping towards her, lifted her up to him and settled her on the horse and smiled at her. But…….wait a minute, that wasn't the usual white horse, it was a black stallion and she was smiling and looking into a face with deep black eyes and a grin tugging at his full lips. She woke up with a start breathing heavily. She had just dreamt of that stranger. She hid her face in her hands , trembling. "What is happening to me" ? she asked herself as her eyes filled with tears. Hugging herself tight, she curled up in her bed. After a lot of tossing and turning, she fell into a restless sleep.
okay guys, here is the 2nd part. Please give your views and suggessions.cheers 👍🏼
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