FF-A Story of Friendship and Love End/Pg22 11/01 - Page 15

It hard been a year since the last time Prachi was getting ready for a wedding but this time it was her own. She now understood the nervousness that Ayesha was experiencing on her wedding. The knowledge that her life would change forever daunted Prachi and made her question whether she was ready, Prachi broke out of her thoughts with the sound of tapping at her window. "Milind what are you doing here? If someone sees you then..." Prachi was surprised by Milind's presence.
"Can't I come to see my beautiful fiance before we get married?" Milind held onto Prachi's hand took her to sit next to him on the bed. "Now tell me why you're beautiful eyes are full of so much worry?" Milind could tell that for some reason Prachi was feeling uneasy. "I'm a little scared Milind," Prachi truthfully told Milind.
"Why? Is marrying me going to that bad?" Milind laughed trying to ease her worries. "No, I don't know if I will be able to handle all these new relationships. I am not just going to be your wife but a daughter-in-law and sister-in-law. What if I don't know how to manage these relationships? What if you get fed up of having me around constantly? What if I mess up?" Prachi unearthed her anxieties to Milind. Milind carefully placed his hand on Prachi's face making her turn to look at him. "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 but in time you will not only be good but a fantastic wife and daughter-in-law I am sure of it. Always remember, that the love you and I for each other can only get stronger with time and I could never stop ever loving you." "Milind you always steal my own lines," Prachi said removing Milind's hand from hers. "Well maybe you should start listening to yourself," Prachi realised that if she'd remembered what she had said then maybe she may have not been as scared. "Actually how do you know that I said that, you weren't there," Prachi realised that she had only ever said these words in the presence of only Ayesha. "I was. I had come to see Ayesha that day but before I knocked I heard Ayesha crying I thought I just stay outside to make sure she was okay. That's when I heard you comfort her with those words. I was blown away with the love and sincerity in which you spoke to your sister. If I hadn't heard you that day then maybe I would have not approached you that day on the beach to unload my grief. I thought that if I talked to you that you may be able to make sense of things that I couldn't and I was right. That night you told me that nor you and Neev or I and Ayesha were destined for each other. And I know why...because Prachi, you were destined for me. Prachi you taught me the true meaning and importance of love. Prachi I love you and with each day my love only grows." Milind gave Prachi a soft kiss on her forehead to which Prachi responded with a tight hug. "I love you too." All the worries and fears Prachi felt were gone in a second. She realised that nothing was as important that the fact that she was getting married to Milind, her love and that he would always make her happy.

Breaking away from the hug Milind gently wiped away Prachi's tears and asked her, "So how are you feeling now soon-to-be Mrs Prachi Milind Mishra?" hearing Milind call her that Prachi gave a big smile, "very happy, but you have to go now..." Prachi pushed Milind off the bed to the direction the window. "Please Prachi two more minutes..." Milind pleaded but today his cute expression was not going to work. "Fine but before I go give me one kiss..." Milind said mischievously "...or I won't go." Prachi knew how stubborn Milind could be so told him to close his eyes and gave him a peck on the cheek. Milind opened his eyes looking a little disappointed by Prachi's peck. "Before you say anything you said one kiss and I gave it you, now go." Milind understood there was no point staying anymore and bid Prachi farewell by giving her a sly wink.

As Milind climbed out the window he cautiously made his way out making sure he was not caught. As he approached the gates he felt someone hold onto his arm and his smile gave way to a worried expression. He turned to face the person he had been stopped by but to his relief it was only Ayesha. "So you couldn't wait a few hours to see Prachi that snuck into the house to meet her. Wait till I tell everyone, what will Papa and Baba think?" Ayesha said teasing Milind. "Please don't tell anyone especially Baba he doesn't even know that I left the house," Milind requested to Ayesha who burst into laughter seeing him fret. "Fine I won't tell anyone but..." "But..." Milind repeated knowing very well that there was a price for Ayesha's silence. "But you have to promise me that you will always keep my sister happy." "Ayesha I promise you that I will give her every happiness in the world," Ayesha knew that Milind meant ever word and he would always keep her sister happy. "Now go upstairs and ask Prachi to make the same promise after all I am your best friend you have to look after my interests too," Milind chuckled before walking out of Shah House. Ayesha was delighted to see the happiness she saw beam through Milind.

The wedding was completed in a simple manner just the way Milind and Prachi wanted it. Prachi bid a sad farewell to her family and found it very hard saying goodbye to her father who had shed a few tears. Milind comforted Prachi on the car journey to his house; he understood the sadness Prachi was feeling as she was leaving her family forever. Milind and Prachi were greeted at their home by Sukruti and Baba who performed an aarti after a few rituals Prachi was sent to her new room.

Milind walked into the room and locked the door behind him. He slowly approached Prachi who was standing looking out the window; he wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "Hello Mrs Mishra." Prachi held onto Milind's arms feeling at peace in his warmth. "Look how beautiful it is tonight. The stars, the moon and the clear night sky it all looks so perfect," Prachi said still looking out of the window. "Of course it is perfect as today we are finally together as one," Milind softly spoke then placed a little kiss on Prachi's ear. "Milind will everyday from now on be perfect like today?" Prachi asked turning to face Milind. "As long as we are together every moment will be perfect. If we always have trust, honesty and love in each other we will always be together and I promise Prachi that I will never do anything to endanger us being together. I love you too much to let anything happen to us." "I promise too because I love you," Milind captured Prachi's lips in his and they both felt the passion of their love. Milind then lifted Prachi into his arms and placed gently placed her on the bed. That day was the day where Milind and Prachi become one and then after nothing or no-one could come between the love they had for each other. Their journey from strangers to friendship to love had taught them many things but most of all is taught them that love is above everything else.