As Prachi came back to the present she could hear her mother calling her, she swiftly left her room glancing one last time at her face in the mirror sealing her pain with a smile. Her mother asked her to go help Ayesha who was having some sort of crisis. As she walked into Ayesha's room she found it empty, then as ventured further in she found Ayesha sitting by the window staring aimlessly into the clear skies. "Ayesha..." Prachi said softly placing her hand on Ayesha's shoulder, "...what's wrong why are you sitting here?" "Prachi I'm scared...I don't know if I can do it, I don't think I can marry Neev." Ayesha confessed as tears streamed down her face. "What do you mean?" Prachi asked with confusion. "What if it all goes wrong? What if Neev stops loving me or I can't be a good wife, a good daughter-in-law or I can't adjust to my new life? What if I mess it all up?" Ayesha unburdened her doubts that had all of sudden hit her this morning. Prachi understood that Ayesha was feeling vulnerable and scared about this big change that was going to happen and sat beside Ayesha. Clasping Ayesha's hand in hers Prachi spoke, "I know that after today many things will change forever and it may not be easy. You cannot just be a good wife or daughter-in-law you have to learn to be one and you may make mistakes along the way but in time you will not only be good but a fantastic wife and daughter-in-law I am sure of it. There is one thing for certain, that the love you and Neev have for each other can only get stronger with time. Whenever I look into Neev's eyes all I see is pure love for you so there is no way that he could stop ever loving you. Now stop all this and get ready. Ayesha you're getting married." Prachi said excitedly as Ayesha wiped her tears with a smile and hugged Prachi. "Prachi I don't know how you always know the right things to say or where all this wisdom you have comes from but thank you," Ayesha thanked Prachi deeply before letting go and heading towards her dresser. Prachi stood by the window for a second wiping the tears she did not want Ayesha to see and then walked to Ayesha to help her get ready. Ayesha and Prachi turned to the door as they heard a knock and a man entered the room.
"Milind!" Ayesha shouted on the top of her voice. "When did you come? I didn't think you would make it but know you are here I'm so happy. Everything is going to be perfect now," Prachi was happy to see that Ayesha was now excited about her wedding but yet was confused who this man was. "I just came today Ayesha, you know I would never miss your wedding," Milind said while embracing Ayesha in a hug. "Prachi this is Milind my best friend you have never met him before because once I left the chawl to come live with you, Milind went abroad. I think it has been two years since I have seen him..." Ayesha explained while Prachi and Milind greeted each other. Sensing that Ayesha and Milind may want a minute together Prachi left the room making up an excuse. As Prachi left she looked over to Milind though he was smiling, in his eyes she saw a deep hidden pain which she could relate to.
The wedding had taken place without a hitch and Ayesha bid a sad farewell to her family before leaving for her new home. Everyone at the Shahs were drained and still dampened by Ayesha's departure. It had been two years ago when Ayesha had come to live at the Shahs .After finding out Inder was her father Ayesha had been furious been but slowly came to terms with things when she had a heartfelt talk with her long lost father Inder. After a couple of months Ayesha's mother, Amrita passed away, Inder then invited Ayesha to come and live with him. At first Ayesha was hesitant but in the end agreed. Over time she got to know her new family and developed a strong bond with Prachi, also was able to accept Premlata as a mother figure.
Prachi wanted to escape home due to the atmosphere that Ayesha's wedding had left. She wanted to spend some time alone and organise her thoughts. She walked to the beach where she slipped off her sandals and walked on the warm sand looking at the setting sun. She carefully took a seat on the rocks and let her tears fall freely. Today she had been through an array of emotions leaving her confused and broken. Prachi was sincerely happy for Neev and Ayesha yet disheartened that she would never had the happiness of being in love. Prachi had always found it hard opening up to people she thought that if she kept her emotions hidden then no-one could get hurt her. However she found out the truth today that keeping everything bolted in meant that she suffered a great pain which she had to bear on her own. Neev and then Ayesha were the two people Prachi allowed herself to be really open to but she could have never shared the pain she was feeling as the guilt would kill her. Prachi understood that she and Neev were never destined to be nor did they love in each other but after all these years foolishly thinking he was going to be her future husband it was going to take time to move on. Even worse than that was the fact she could no longer share her pain with anyone as telling the two closest people to Prachi were now starting a new life together and her relationship with them had changed forever.
"Are you alright?" Prachi recognised the voice it was earlier that day that she heard the voice for the first time. She quickly wiped her tears before replying, "yes I'm fine." Milind took a seat beside Prachi as he sensed her loneliness a feeling that he shared. For a moment they sat in silence lost in their thoughts. "I thought she loved me..." Milind said breaking the silence which startled Prachi. "Who?" Prachi replied turning to face Milind. "Ayesha...I thought she loved me and that she'd wait for me. I was foolish to think that Ayesha could ever love me," Milind said dejectedly, he didn't know why he was telling Prachi, Ayesha's sister after all she was merely a stranger to Milind yet his heart felt that it needed to unload its grief.
"Did you ever tell her?" Prachi enquired further. "I had loved her since childhood she was the only girl I ever got close to. I thought that our relationship was more than the friendship that everyone else saw, that our love didn't need words to express it. Once she left the chawl I missed her so much but realised that I needed to prove myself to worthy of her before I confessed my love. So I left the chawl, India and Ayesha in the hope I could return to make Ayesha my own. How wrong I was, she never loved, she never saw me beyond a friend and when I heard that she was getting married I was crushed. But she is still my friend, my best friend and I knew how much it would mean to her so I came today. I didn't realise it would be this hard," Milind said suppressing the tears that were threatening to spill. Prachi comfortingly placed her hand on Milind's. She wondered why Milind who she only meet today was being so open with her but it didn't matter he needed someone and she didn't want to be alone either. Milind got a hold of himself he felt much better after freeing himself from his pain. "I'm so sorry here I am talking to about being in love with your sister which you probably don't want to hear about," Milind said while Prachi slowly took her hand off Milind's. "No need to be sorry I'm happy that I could help by just listening. Maybe you and Ayesha were never destined to be just like..." Prachi stopped halfway. "Like who?" Milind asked. "Umm...No-one," Prachi tried to conceal the matter. "No tell me just like you listened to me I will listen to you. Trust me it will feel good." Prachi took a deep breath in, she didn't know why she was going to do this but she had a sense of trust in Milind. "Like me and Neev," she hesitantly finished her statement. "So you love Neev?" Milind asked surprised how similar his and Prachi's experience was. "No he is my best friend but I had always thought that I'd marry him. We have known each other since childhood and I always assumed I'd marry him, like it was an unspoken thing between us. Now Neev is married to Ayesha I am so happy for both of them but it changes everything. Neev was the only guy I had ever been so open and comfortable with, it took how many years for me to form such a relationship with him. I find it so hard to express my feelings and I don't know if I can be so honest with any other man. What's a relationship without trust, honesty and love?" Prachi asked Milind and he could give no answer. "Prachi you'll slowly learn to be open it's because you are only used to talking to Neev, just like me with Ayesha but look aren't you talking to me? See you already are moving on you just got to realise it and believe in yourself," Milind imparted his wisdom and took note of his own advice. "You're right Milind but I'm so confused and now that Neev and Ayesha have gone I feel so lonely," Prachi spoke with sorrow. "Prachi trust me I know how you are feeling." Milind stood up brushing his coat then put his hand forward to Prachi who took it and pulled herself up. "Let's take a walk and talk about something, something less depressing..." Milind said trying to lighten the mood and Prachi nodded her head in agreement. As they walked the sandy beach front they talked to each other about their lives, likes, hobbies and families. After what seem liked ages Prachi decided that she needed to get home before her parents started to worry. Milind offered Prachi a lift to which willing agreed as she knew finding a taxi would be hard.
Milind pulled up Prachi's house and before Prachi got out he needed to say something to her. "Prachi talking to you today after everything it really helped thank you," Milind said gratefully. "No need to say thanks, you also helped me. I thought I wouldn't be able to talk to anyone about the way I was feeling but somehow with you I was able to and now I'm feeling much better."
"I am feeling much better too. It's weird just meeting you today plus you being Ayesha's sister but still talking so much. I feel lighter after letting loose to all those thoughts that have been plaguing my mind. Prachi here's my number if any time you need to talk or need anything please just give me a call even if it's the smallest thing I'll be here for you as a friend." Prachi was touched by Milind's words and the sincerity that he said them with. "Here's my number and you do the same thing whenever, wherever just call," Prachi replied before leaving the car with a big smile.
As Prachi went to bed that night she recalled the strange meeting with Milind. She had only met him that day yet she felt she knew so much about him. Just talking to him, unloading her heart had made Prachi feel so much better and that the way things were in her life weren't that bad. Prachi also empathised with Milind as he had lost his love that he never could confess his love to. Feeling content Prachi drifted off into a peaceful sleep. On the other hand Milind was still feeling troubled by Ayesha's marriage however his chat with Prachi helped let out his suppressed emotions and brought him hope that destiny just had something else planned for him. When talking to Prachi about his life and love she understood what he was saying and did interrupt him or tell him he was wrong. She let him bare his heart without judgement or resentment and gave him guidance. Milind knew that in Prachi he made a good friend as she knew and understood him in an instant.
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