Sorry friends, Been busy this week. That's the reason for the late update. Hope you all like it, Cheers 👍🏼
PART 5
Inder was waiting impatiently in the lounge with premlata, when Prachi walked in. "Prachi beta", premlata rushed to her anxiously, "Tum teek toh hona ? Tumhara phone bhi nahi lag raha tha. Humhe toh bahut chintha ho rahi thi". (Are you alright ? Your phone was also not reachable. we were very worried) .
Before prachi could answer, Inder shouted at her, "Yeh bi khoi waqt hai ghar aane ka ? Ek din friends ke saath bahar jane ki permission de diya toh uska fayida uta liya tumne. Tumhe dedh ghante pehle ghar aana chahiye tha. Kahan thi tum idni dher and tumhara phone bundh kyoon tha" ? ( Is this the time you get back home. I had given you permission to go out with your friends for one day and you have taken advantage of it. You should have been home one and half hours ago. Where were you and why was your phone switched off ? )
Prachi staggered back in shock. This shouting and angry Inder was new to her. Eyes rapidly filling with tears, prachi said "Nahi papa, woh,..woh baath karte karte waqt kab nikal gaya patha hi nahi chala. Sorry papa". ( No papa, I lost track of time while chatting with friends) Picking up her mobile phone, she realised that it was turned off. "Woh , shayad battery nahi thi , isliye bandh ho gaya.i didn't even notice".
Before inder could scream again, premlata held a now sobbing prachi gently and moved towards her room "koi bhaath nahi beta, chalo, bahut dher ho gayi, ab dress badalke so ja". ( Its okay dear, come, its very late, now change your clothes and to to bed) Prachi nodded slightly and ran to her room.
Premlata turned back to a glaring Inder and admonished him, "Aap bhi na, itne chillane ki kya zarrorat thi. Bechari ro rahi hai ab. Bahut samazhdar hai humari beti aur apna khayal rakhna jaanti hai. Lisa bhi to thi na uske saath" (What is the need to shout at her so much ? Now she is crying. She is a wise girl and can take care of herself. Lisa was also there with her )
Inder was looking down at the carpet silently, already regretting his outburst. Premlata gently touched his arm, "Ab jaane dheejiye, Kal subah baath karlena prachi se".( Its okay, You can talk to prachi tomorrow morning). He kept his hand on hers , "Iam sorry, Kal subah thak wait nahi kar paaoonga, bas do minute usse baath karke aata hoon" ( I won't be able to wait till tomorrow morning. I will talk to her for 2 minutes and come ) and walked towards prachi's room.
Meanwhile, prachi sat on her bed still crying. "Yeh papa bhi na, kitna dhaant diye hain mujhe. Main choti bachi thodi hoon . Thoda zyada hi overprotective ho gaye hain aaj kal". ( He has scolded me so much today. I am not a little kid. He has become very overprotective now-a-days). Immediately, she felt guilty, "Yeh main kya soch rahi hoon. Papa toh mere bhalayi ke liye sochthe hai na. Kal subah mein unse phir se sorry bhol dhoongi".( what am I thinking? Papa always thinks about what is good for me, I will ask him sorry again tomorrow) Wiping her tears , she was about to go to the bathroom, when a knock sounded on the door.
Inder walked in and on seeing prachi with a tear stained face, he felt even more miserable. Keeping his hand on her head, he said gently, "Sorry beta, mein tumse thoda zyada hi gussa ho gaya tha. ( I became very angry towards you) I was very worried Prachi, I am sorry". "Nahi papa, I am sorry. Mujhe hi waqt ka khayal rehna chahiye tha. Aayinda aisa nahi hoga papa" . ( I should have kept a track on time. I won't repeat it dad). Patting her head gently, "Its okay beta. Toh ab batha party kaisi thi" ( Tell me how was the party). A smile brightened her face that reached her eyes, "Bahut acha tha papa. Maine bahut enjoy kiya. I made new friends. You know, I was the first to leave the party. I am sure it would go much longer". Inder felt better on seeing her smiling face. "Good. Ab tum jaldi so jaana beta. Good night". Prachi bid him goodnight and smiling now that everything was alright, she quickly changed into her night clothes and curled up in her bed.
Though way past her bed time, sleeping was the furthest thing in Prachi's mind. Lying on her bed and hugging her pillow, she smiled remembering the evening. Only yesterday, she was wondering if she would ever see him again and today she has spent the whole evening with him and they had even became friends. "Milind…" she murmured his name and smiled shyly savouring the feel of his name on her lips. He was a mixture of everything, hot, sensitive, flirty, friendly, understanding, easy going and ….. she could just go on. Her heart fluttered with the strength of emotions he seemed to evoke in her. His eyes, his smile, his nearness ….. No one had ever made her feel like the way he did. Holding her burning cheeks, she thought, "He was right. He is the only one who makes me blush" and blushed even more. With thoughts of him churning in her mind, her whole body tingling with a new feeling, and a slight smile on her face, she fell into a deep sleep. If she dreamt about her prince charming tonight, deep down in her thoughts, she knew exactly who that would be.
Soft yellow rays sneaked into the room through the curtain drawn windows. Milind stretched his body and turned his face back into the pillows with a slight smile playing on his lips. Milind never does early nights. Quite at loss as to what to do after coming home early last night, he strummed his guitar for almost an hour, watched an action movie on the DVD , emptied a bottle of beer and went to bed well in the wee hours of morning. Vicky had not come home till then and Milind was thankful that he can save the inevitable explanations he would have to give, till the next morning. It was almost noon when he came down to the dining table.
Half way through his late breakfast/early lunch, Vicky joined him. Sitting opposite to Milind, he kept looking at Milind with a raised eyebrow and a smirk silently challenging him. "Cut it Bro" Milind tried to give him his best bored look. Vicky chuckled deeply obviously not buying it. "Come out with it mate, I heard that there weren't any stars left to count in the sky for you and Prachi, last night".
"Oh yeah, You could join us next time, it would make the task much quicker", grinned Milind.
"Would you guys welcome the intrusion"? Vicky cocked an eyebrow.
"Come on now, Vicky, It was nothing of that sort, I only wanted to drop Prachi home as Lisa couldn't leave".
"Ummm, at the cost of an early night, Milind? Now, that's something new"
"You know what , an early night once in a while, with a bottle of beer and a DVD, is good for health you know", grinned Milind.
Vicky laughed out aloud, "Be careful about what you say bro, I might take you on your own words one day. Now , tell me , when and where are you meeting her next"? Vicky understood yesterday itself that Milind liked Prachi.
"Hmmm", Milind's eyes brightened, "come to think of it, I have a phone call to make" , and on the way up the stairs and he turned back and said " and make sure you keep the day free tomorrow".
"Oh man, don't tell me, is it going to be a group date ?", Vicky sighed dramatically.
"You got it right mate" chuckling, Milind rushed up the stairs.
Prachi was lounging on the sofa with Inder and Premlata watching a Dvd. They went to the temple that morning and had lunch outside and had returned home. Hearing her mobile ring upstairs in her room she quickly ran up. Frowning on seeing a number she did not recognise, she picked it up quickly and answered "Hello".
"Hey Cherry", drawled a deep voice from the other end. "Milind !!!" exclaimed prachi in surprise. "Right on" smiled Milind into the phone.
"But how did you get my number"? Prachi couldn't believe that it was him.
"Let's just say I have my own ways" Milind said.
"I know, You got it from Lisa right" said Prachi excitedly.
"My, My, aren't you clever"? Chuckled milind.
Feeling stupid , prachi laughed. "So, are you staying at home with mama and papa like a good girl, trying to make up for yesterday"? asked Milind.
"That's exactly what I am doing. But how did you know"?
"I just know, sweetheart" Milind said smilingly.
"I am not your sweetheart", said Prachi indignantly.
"Hmm , aren't you"? milind drawled in his most sexy voice.
Her heart lifting in joy, she tried to keep her voice stern. "Stop flirting , now, and tell me why you called".
"Okay", chuckled milind. "I wanted to invite you along with us for some sightseeing tomorrow. Actually the whole group from yesterday is joining us. Are you game ?"
"But milind, I have seen everything already. I know Ooty very well".
" No, you don't. Tomorrow, you would see Ooty in a way you have never seen before. Trust me... And I really want you to come. Will you, …..please ?" he cajoled her, his voice husky, sending a slight tingle down prachi.
"I would love to come but have to ask my parents" Prachi said slightly breathless.
"Good girl, we shall meet tomorrow at 8 am, at the coffee shop near the lake. We will have a early start and finish the day with dinner. Myself and Vicky would pack lunch. Haan, one other thing, we would be walking a lot, so wear something comfortable".
"But milind, I can't promise you anything just yet".
"I know you will be there, Prachi, see you tomorrow. Till then, take care……. Sweetheart !!! laughing softly, Milind hung up.
Prachi just stared at her phone. " I know you will be there Prachi" she mimicked him. "Arrogant idiot" scolded him softly. "And he calls me sweetheart, uff" she frowned in mock anger her cheeks turning pick at the same time. She sat down on her bed and started thinking about how to take permission to go out tomorrow. Her phone rang again. It was Lisa. She picked it up immediately, "Hey Lisa, I was just about to call you".
"Oh, looks like Milind called you already. You know, he insisted on inviting you himself!!!" Lisa's voice was curious. When prachi didn't reply, she continued, "So…. What's the plan now?".
"Hmmm, I was just wondering how to ask papa ?2
Lisa laughed happily, "Good going girl, I am liking this new Prachi very much", making prachi smile. "Don't worry, I was going to come to your place to invite you all for my engagement. We will ask him then.
"Thanks Lisa, You are always the best", squealing happily, Prachi bid her friend bye, and with a smile on her lips went down to join her family.
Lisa came with the invitation cards late in the afternoon . Premlata and Inder blessed her feeling genuinely happy for her. "Uncle, I know you always stay for two weeks in Ooty. But this time please stay slightly longer for my engagement" Lisa asked Inder.
"I am sorry Lisa, I won't be able to stay longer. But Prachi and her mother will stay back for you . We have already discussed it". Prachi smiled at Lisa, her eyes sparkling with happiness. She could never miss her engagement.
"And Uncle, We are all going for sightseeing tomorrow. Can I take prachi with me please ? We won't be late this time, I promise", she pleaded.
With yesterday's incident fresh in his mind, he didn't want to upset his daughter again. "Okay, but just get back well in time. I get very worried if Prachi is not home on time".
Prachi couldn't control her joy. She squealed, "Thank you , papa, you are the best", and hugged him. Inder and premlata smiled at each other. Lisa left shortly afterwards after making quick plans with prachi regarding what to wear and bring. Prachi was in very high spirits the whole evening with her eyes sparkling in happiness and premlata was happy to see her child in that way. "Baghwan, Prachi ko aise hi hamesha kush rakhna. Mujhe aur kuch nahi chahiye" (God, Please keep Prachi happy always. I won't ask you for anything else) She uttered a quick prayer.
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
