Part 12
(i)
Prachi reached Hotel Le Meridien well on time. As she got off the cab after paying the fare she was surprised to see Rehana with the kids going towards the hotel. Seeing Sahana and her they came hurrying towards them. Aamir, Aarif, Amaan and Ayaan circled Prachi and pulled at different parts of Sahana's little body in excitement. Sahana herself was more interested in Asma who was in Rehana's arms. The two girls reached out from their mamas' arms and caressed each other's chubby cheeks in admiration. Prachi noticed a young teenage girl by Rehana's side.
"This is my niece, Farzana," introduced Rehana. "She is doing her first year B.Sc zoology in Nagpur. She's here on vacation."
"So how come you are here?" asked Prachi, a little puzzled.
Rehana was surprised to hear this question.
"For the same reason that you are here, to attend Neelima's daughter's first birthday party."
It is only then Prachi remembered that Neelima, Rehana's best friend had invited her as well to the party when she had gone to Rehana's house the previous weekend. Somehow in all the emotional turmoil she was going through since yesterday, she had forgotten about the party. Prachi hit her forehead and apologised to Rehana, saying that she had completely forgotten about the party.
"Then what are you here for?" asked Rehana curiously.
After hesitating for a couple of seconds she said, "One of my friends from London is here on a short visit. I came here to meet him."
"Oh...Where is Milind? Your friend must also be his friend, wouldn't he?" asked Rehana perceptively.
Prachi felt that Rehana had caught her in the act of lying. Quickly composing her thoughts she said, "No. Milind does not know him well enough. Since he was my class mate in college, he was much junior to him."
Rehana was not convinced by Prachi's story. She wondered whether Ali finding Milind drunk the previous night had anything to do with Prachi meeting this 'friend' of hers. Anyway she was not one to pry into her friend's life unless she was willing to share things with her. Clearly Prachi did not want to discuss this issue further. So she let things be for now. Although she had seen very little of Prachi, she knew her well enough to be sure that she will not betray her husband.
Seeing that their daughters were getting along famously, she suggested that she take Sahana to the party.
"She will have more fun with the kids there than be forced to listen to her mother go yack, yack yack with her old friend," she said light heartedly.
"But how will you manage so many kids?" asked Prachi sceptically.
"Don't worry. Farzana here will take care of Asma and I'll look after Sahana. Sahana darling, you do like your Rehana aunty, don't you?" she asked and handing Asma to Farzana she stretched her arms to Sahana who gladly leaped into them.
Prachi was relieved that she did not have take Sahana in for she was not too comfortable letting Neev see her. She thanked Rehana and promised not to be too long with her meeting. She then realised she had not bought any gift for Neelima's kid. She asked Rehana to wait in the lobby area and went to the gift shop inside the hotel to quickly pick up a large teddy bear. Handing it to Aamir, she asked him to give it to the birthday baby on behalf of his little friend Sahana. Aamir nodded his little head and held the teddy tightly in his little arms. Patting his cheek she took leave of them. Sahana kicked her legs in glee at being in the company of so many kids and waved her mama good bye.
While Prachi went to the hotel's lounge, Rehana and her little troop turned into the adjacent banquet hall of the hotel where the party was being conducted. Prachi looked around and spotted Neev sitting in one of the plush sofas waiting for her. The minute he spotted her, he rushed to her and held her hand tightly in his.
"How are you Prachi? Am I glad that you are still alive!" he said warmly. He tried to put his arm around her but Prachi ducked away and took the seat opposite to his. Neev could sense her discomfort and did not press on.
"What do you mean that you are glad to see me alive? Did you anticipate that I will commit suicide after you ditched me? If you did, then you are some man to still go ahead and leave me in the lurch after asking me to abscond from my home. Was the lure of the money your boss's daughter could give you greater than your so-called love for me?" she spat out in anger.
"I understand your anger Prachi. You are perfectly justified in feeling this way but you do not know the whole truth. Please listen to what I have to say in my defence before passing a judgment on me," pleaded Neev.
Prachi looked at him with a mixture or confusion and scepticism.
Neev then recounted the chain of events since that fateful day when they landed at the VT station but could not meet each other. By the time he had finished his story her eyes were streaming with tears. She could not believe that her family could go to such lengths of viciousness. She remembered seeing Mr.Dalal's men at the station, and getting into the nearest train to avoid them. This corroborated Neev's statement that he was hit by Dalal's men. It was appalling to know that Alaap or some other person had sent the SMS from Neev's cell giving her the impression that it was he who had sent it. The news that he had ditched her had pushed her over the edge and made her consider ending her own life, a decision she regretted to this day. How can people be so cruel to their own kindred she wondered. More than what happened to her, what pained her more was the fact that Neev was made to bear the brunt of their anger against her for absconding on the wedding day. The guy was not only put through physical torture, being laid up in hospital for six months as it were but was also put through the emotional trauma of being made to believe that his lover had killed herself. She can well imagine Neev's guilt of feeling responsible for her death as he had impregnated her. As she sat sobbing her heart out, Neev bent forwards and tried to console her by holding her hands in his.
********
Back in Mishra Mansion, Milind woke up with a pounding headache. He cursed himself under his breath for having binged on too much alchohol the previous night especially on a half empty stomach. Trying to shake off his hangover, he looked around and found Prachi missing. He then looked into the cradle and found Sahana missing as well. Presuming them to be down in the hall having breakfast, he staggered to the bathroom to brush his teeth and have a quick shower. As he was getting dressed for work, the events of the previous night slowly dawned on him. He remembered Prachi talking of leaving the house and asking for an annulment on the grounds that she was pregnant by another man. That hurt real bad even now. Then he remembered landing in the bar and trying to numb his pain by drinking heavily. He vaguely remembered the conversation with Neev asking him to accept Prachi and the baby. At this point he started sweating profusely. What has he done? He has gone and handed HIS wife and HIS baby to her erstwhile lover, virtually on a platter. How can he do that? What was he thinking? He suddenly felt like kicking himself hard. Would Neev have called her by now? What would have been her response? Forgetting his headache he rushed down calling out to Prachi. Bua informed him that she had gone with Sahana to meet her friend from London. Hearing this he panicked more.Has she left him for good after getting the call from Neev taking away his daughter? Has he lost them forever?
"Did she say where she was meeting him?" asked Milind, his heart pounding by now.
"Yes, she said she was going to Hotel Le Meridien," answered Bua.
"I'll be back," he said and rushed out even as Bua and Baba shouted after him to have his breakfast first.
"What is wrong with our children?" asked Bua to Baba. "First Prachi rushes out without having her breakfast and within minutes Milind follows her skipping his breakfast too. What is more important than the first meal of the day?"
Baba shrugged and said that this generation gave scant regard to both their health as well as advices from their elders.
*****
Milind hit the accelerator as soon as he got into his car and drove like a mad man. He had to stop his wife from leaving with her ex-boy friend, come what may. He cannot afford to lose the two most precious beings in his life. Prachi may not love him right now but he will make her love him. He just needed more time to make her see and realise how right they were for each other. He is not giving up on them so easily. He wondered whether she wanted to leave him because she thought he did not love her. After all they did have a deal that she will leave after the baby was born. Maybe she thought she had to fulfil her end of the bargain and leave him for good. But then could she not feel his love? Did she not realise that his life is meaningless without her and Sahana? He cursed himself for not confessing his love to her before. Why did he hesitate? Why did he have to wait for the first anniversary of their meeting to bare his heart? He was never shy of revealing his feelings or to speak his mind. Then why was he dumbstruck whenever he was in her presence? He will never be able to forgive himself if she leaves him thinking that he does not love her. She needs to know that he loves her with all his heart before she makes her choice.
He soon reached the hotel and jumped out of the car. He ran into the hotel and looked around for her. He heard the loud singing of the birthday song in the nearby banquet hall and turned in the direction of the sound. Through the open doorway he caught sight of his daughter in the arms of Rehana. She looked so happy in the crowd and clapped her small hands when the song was over, mimicking the kids around her. His heart tugged at the sight of his beautiful angel. How can he give her up? No he will not. He will get her back at whatever cost, he thought. He was about to enter into the banquet hall to find Prachi when he overhead her unmistakable sobs coming from the lounge area. He turned around and saw his wife sitting opposite to Neev in one of the sofas, her hands held in his and his head bent towards hers. Something snapped in him seeing his wife so close to another man and being touched by him. Blood rushed to his head and he scurried to them. He caught Neev by his collar and dragged him up. Neev stared back at him in shock. He then balled his fist and threw him a punch under his chin. Neev went sprawling on the marble floor. Prachi's eyes widened in shock and she screamed out "Milind.......". Edited by Opti - 16 years ago
Bindi
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Jodha Akbar
