It was Saturday, Milind had picked up Prachi as planned and they both went to the new house. "What's that?" Milind asked referring to the big book that Prachi had brought with her. "I was waiting for you to ask...I could see throughout the whole car journey you were wondering what it was so I'll put you out of your misery," Prachi smiled while Milind gave an embarrassed smile knowing he had been caught out. Prachi opened the book, slowly flicking from one page to another while Milind stared in awe. "Wow Prachi this is great..." Milind slowly found his words, "...you've done all that?" "I told you I have not been busy so I thought I'd make use of the time but it still needs work." Milind took the book in his hands and carefully flipped page to page. Prachi had put together a design book for the house. Each double spread focused on a specific room with a sketch, colours, furniture and other little touches. "Still needs work? Prachi it's amazing, everything looks so good and you've gone into so much detail! Thank you!" "What's there to say thank you about aren't I your friend?""Of course you are...""So no formalities, now come on then let's start, first we need to go collect the paints then arrange for the painter's to start their work.""Let's go to the paint shop, while we're there you sort paint and I'll sort out the painters."
Milind and Prachi went off to the paint shop collecting all the paints they needed and Milind had arranged for the painters to come the following day but first they met with their boss to give him clear instructions of the job. Prachi handled the meeting with the boss explaining how she wanted everything precisely. Milind sat back and watched as Prachi came alive when talking about the house. He saw a different side to her. The quiet and slightly reserved Prachi he had known so far had disappeared instead was this self-assured and confident woman. "Milind...Milind..." Prachi nudged him. "Sorry what?" Milind replied coming out of his thoughts. "Let's go," "Oh ok...where do you want to go?" Milind asked still dazed. "To the house..." Prachi said slowly giving Milind odd looks.
As they arrived once again at the house they took a seat as there was nothing they could do. "Milind why were you staring at me so strangely earlier..." "Because I was amazed..." "Amazed?""Yes the way you are when you are working or talking about it, you change," "In what way?" "You transform from someone who is slightly unsure of herself to someone so self-confident..." "Really I think when it comes to work, something I am passionate about I lose my inhibitions and it feels good that's why I love my job so much." "Well it was a different side to you I'd never seen and it was good to see that somewhere inside of you is a confident person who needs to show herself more often." "I'll try..." Prachi honestly said. "Prachi you know I have had a great week and it's all thanks to you," Milind had a broad smile on his face. "Me?" Prachi asked surprised with the statement. "Ever since I opened up to you and you did all your psychology stuff I feel so untroubled." "Psychology stuff..." Prachi chuckled, "I'm glad I could help you out." "Thank you Prachi you don't know how much it helps talking to you especially about all this Ayesha stuff." "No need to say thanks I am fulfilling my duty as your friend." "Prachi you so much more than friend, you're my friend, therapist, counsellor and interior designer..." Milind laughed and gave Prachi a hug to show her his appreciation. At first Prachi did not know how to react to the hug it felt strange, but slowly she also wrapped her arms around Milind. Both felt the comforted and slowly parted from the hug which no longer felt odd but quite normal.
During the week the painting of the house was underway. Milind and Prachi had started talking over the phone more regularly to share the smallest of events in the lives but more importantly just to hear the other talk. The next weekend had arrived which both Milind and Prachi had been looking forward to. Prachi had already ordered all the furniture and items for the house without Milind seeing it as he said he had faith in her choice. As Milind and Prachi reached the house for the second weekend of work all the deliveries did not take long to arrive. The deliveryman placed the items where Prachi instructed them while Milind happily relaxed not having to do a thing. As the deliverymen left Prachi was still not satisfied at the placing of certain things. In the front room she tried attempting to move the sofas to a different angle but couldn't manage. As soon as Milind realised what Prachi was trying to do he stopped her. "Please Prachi just tell me to move things and I'll do it," Milind said finally feeling he could come to some use. Milind causally approached the sofa and started pushing it yet it did not move. Giving Prachi a reassuring smile he realised that the sofas weren't as light as they looked. After half an hour Prachi finally told Milind that the sofas were in the correct position. "Prachi this is how they were in the first place," Prachi's need for perfection was taking its toll on Milind. "Were they? Or well I needed to see them in the other positions to make sure which way it would look best," Prachi said glad that she was not the one moving the sofas around. "You've tired me out..." Milind collapsed onto the sofa but Prachi hadn't finished with him yet. "Milind you're tired already we still got all the other rooms to sort out. Come on get up," Milind narrowed his eyes while looking at Prachi then got up. "I am starting to dislike this confident Prachi," Milind complained and then broke into a smile. "Well Mr Mishra I am doing this all for your benefit now that's go," Prachi pulled Milind to the next room. After some hard work from both Milind and Prachi, they had put in almost everything in place. However they needed to return the next day in order to have the house fully complete.
It was just after lunch the next day when they had finished. Milind and Prachi both fell on to sofa feeling satisfied as they looked around the house. "Prachi you have truly transformed this house into a home. Baba and Sukruti will love it. And we've finished early. Thank..." Milind stopped as he saw Prachi look over with darting eyes. "Honestly you have done an amazing job, you really an expert interior designer..." "Why did you not believe it before?" Prachi asked. "Umm...not entirely I needed to see it to believe it and now I believe it." "Well Mr Mishra you should be honoured that I Miss Shah interior designer for Shah Hotels have helped you out." Prachi extended her hand. "I am truly honoured Miss Shah..." Milind laughed after kissing Prachi's hand. Hearing the door Milind got up to receive the food which he had ordered. Prachi sat on the sofa smiling at what a good time she had shared with Milind. She had slowly got so comfortable with that they were able to joke around with each freely not taking anything to heart.
After lunch they sat on the sofa next to each other watching the TV however they slowly dozed off to sleep. The tiredness that had accumulated in the past two days had taken its toll as they gave into sleep. While sleeping Prachi had burrowed into Milind's arm placing her head on his chest, Milind in his sleep had wrapped his arms around Prachi pulling her closer. They slept for hours in a peaceful slumber in each other's arms. Prachi was the first to wake, as she slowly moved she felt something not allowing her move, a warm blanket enveloping her. As she lifted her eyes open she realised that in was not a blanket tying her down but Milind's strong arms. Prachi's fidgeting had also awoken Milind who was surprised to see the position he taken on the sofa whilst sleeping. Realising that he was still holding Prachi in his arms he let her go and straightened himself up. "Sorry..." Milind said feeling embarrassed which Prachi also mirrored. "I'm sorry too...don't know when I fell asleep. What's the time?" Prachi asked. "Its 5'oclock," Milind said stretching his arms. "Oh that's not too bad...I think the sleep has done me a load of good. I feel so refreshed." "Me too but I was the one moving the furniture around, was it that tiring bossing me about..." Milind joked, "...now that we're awake let's talk about something we haven't talked about in a while..." "What?" "The serious issues in our life..." Milind grabbed a cushion and focused in on Prachi. "Ok..." Prachi said wondering where Milind was heading with this conversation. "Well it has been ages since you have talked to me about Neev while I have ranted on about Ayesha and even solved all my issues. It's your turn now to be the patient and me the therapist, though I don't know if I'll be that good." Milind chuckled. "Well there is no Neev issue, he is my best friend married to my sister simple," Prachi replied not wanting to start a conversation where she was the focal point. "Come on Prachi please just talk about it," Milind tried encouraging Prachi he wanted to help her just like the way she had helped him. Prachi saw the concern Milind had clearly conveyed and she knew discussing matters would help her. "Fine, I suppose my issue is not Neev but that I don't know if I'll ever find the right guy or even if he exists, plus I'm quiet, reserved and shy especially when it comes to guys. I don't know how to open up and let go my inhibitions. I don't want to change myself; I want to be accepted by a guy for who I am. However what if that's not good enough? " "Prachi you are an amazing person and the right guy will come along who you won't have to change yourself for. Prachi you will open up to him as he will understand you and everything will piece together somehow. Also whatever guy rejects you, which I seriously doubt, but just in case just send him to me and I'll sort him out." Milind said sincerely which deeply touched Prachi. "So Prachi what kind of guy do you want so I can keep an eye out for him," Milind asked while raising his eyebrows. Prachi replied after a little thinking time, "Someone like you who is caring, generous and I can be honest with." "Then why not marry me?" Milind asked with smirk. "I would but there's one problem..." Prachi replied suppressing a smile. "What?" Milind was curious about what this fault. "You not exactly very high up in the looks department," Prachi laughed. Milind remained silent but gave a hurt expression. Prachi stopped laughing and apologised but Milind did not heed. Prachi held her ears and apologised once again to which Milind smiled then started to tickle Prachi. Prachi ran around the room trying to escape Milind however he caught a hold of her and both fell to the floor. Milind held Prachi to the floor and then asked, "so what's wrong with my looks," Milind asked with a serious tone. "Nothing you are very handsome...honestly," Prachi said surrendering. "So you find me handsome Miss Shah I didn't know you looked at me such a way..." Milind said raising one eyebrow to tease Prachi. Prachi blushed, realising the close proximity she sharing with Milind and he noticed her uneasiness so let her free. "So Mr Mishra what types of girls do you like?" Prachi asked easing the tension and taking a seat on the sofa. "I don't know. Simple like you, no hidden agendas just uncomplicated and undemanding not interested in money but family. I can talk to her like a friend but love her as a wife." "No big demands then?" "Nope after all I am a simple man." Both Milind and Prachi laughed.
As the night quickly approached Milind dropped Prachi back home. As Prachi lay asleep in bed she couldn't wipe away her smile. Whenever Prachi was with Milind or even talked to him he always had this effect of making her blissfully happy. Prachi recalled waking up in Milind's arms and once again she felt that peace and indescribable warmness, the moment had felt so right. Prachi racked her brains to figure what was so special and perfect about that moment however could to single it out. After innumerable attempts she gave in and drifted off to a relaxed sleep.
Milind also lay awake that night recalling the moment where he awoke to find Prachi's cuddled in arms. She looked so fragile and he appreciated the beauty she possessed that he had never noticed before. When she was in his arm he had a strong longing to hold her and protect from the world. Milind did not know what it exactly meant but he knew when he was with Prachi she had an ability to make him forget everything and find joy. Her words and help had done wonders to his life and his life had once again started to make sense.
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Edited by bbb999 - 16 years ago
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