Epilogue (iii)
One month later
Milind waited at the airport to receive Neev and his family. He had called Prachi and told her that he will pick them up from the airport on his way back home and asked her to make all the arrangements to house them. He heard that their flight has landed and yet there seemed to be no sign of them. The last people to come out were a family of five. The woman, who was stunningly beautiful, had a small boy in her arms. Alongside her was a slightly plump tall gentleman in dark shades. The two of them were preceded by two young children who were pushing together the trolley with their luggage. As there was still no sign of Neev, Milind wondered whether he had missed his flight and turned to leave when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Milind, are you not going to take us to your home?" asked Neev genially.
Milind turned around in shock and stared at the gentleman in shades.
"Neev? Wow, I did not recognise you. Man, have you put on some weight there!"
"Don't all Indians do when they go abroad?" retorted back Neev. "By the way, this is Neha my wife. Her excellent Punjabi culinary skills are also to be blamed for my physical transformation. And these are Sanaya and Sanjay, the twins and Abhay, my little boy," he introduced his family.
Milind shook hands with all of them and wheeled the trolley to his car, loading the luggage in the trunk. On the way to Mishra Mansion, Milind caught up with Neev's life in London.
*****
Ishan opened the door to them and seeing Neha with a sleeping Abhay on her shoulders, his mouth gaped open.
"Mama, come soon. Katrina Kaif has come to our house!"
Prachi who was setting the table for dinner looked up and asked, "Katrina who?"
Hearing his shouts Sahana came out from inside her room and was stunned to see the woman at the door. She did bear a striking resemblance to Katrina Kaif but what would a bollywood actress do at their house, particularly with a small child in her arms?
Ishan continued, "Katrina Kaif, the actress!"
"Shut up Ishan. She is not Katrina Kaif," yelled back Sahana as she came down the stairs.
In the meantime Prachi hurried to the door where a smiling Neha fondly pinched the cheeks of Ishan, who still could not get over the fact that a famous actress had come to their home.
"Yes?" she prompted the visitor to identify herself.
Before she could respond she caught sight of a healthy looking Neev who had joined his wife and son, holding the hands of the twins.
"Neev! My, have you changed!" she exclaimed and gave him a bear hug. Ishan looked at his mother in confusion.
"Prachi meet my wife, Neha. Neha, this is Prachi my childhood friend. And these here are my children, Sanaya, Sanjay and Abhay."
Sahana came slowly towards them and Neev's eyes left Prachi's to catch sight of his daughter. Seeing his stunningly beautiful daughter, he felt a lump in his throat. Milind who had joined them after parking his car looked over Neev's shoulder at his daughter and said, "Sahana, this is your Neev uncle."
Sahana's face lit up and she rushed to shake his hands and hug him.
"Are we going to stand at the entrance like this all night?" asked Milind.
Prachi apologised and escorted the visitors in. Milind handed his car keys to the driver, Prabhu asking him to bring in the luggage from the trunk.
The children got introduced to each other and Ishan and Sahana took them to their respective rooms. Extra beds were fitted in the kids' rooms so that the boys can crash in with Ishan and Sanaya with Sahana. Milind and Prachi took Neev and Neha to their guest room. After the visitors had showered, they all sat down to have their dinner. The children were in animated conversation with each other, all trying to speak at the same time. Prachi's pleas asking them to first finish their dinner before chatting fell on deaf ears. Milind asked Prachi to let them be. After a noisy dinner, the children rushed to their rooms to play while the grown-ups caught up with old times.
It was close to midnight before they all turned in. Neev and Neha first checked on their boys, kissing them good night and switching off their lights so that they go to sleep. When they came to the girls' room they found that they were already asleep. Neev stood by the door and stared at his daughter's face lit up in the moon light. Neha laid her hand on his shoulder and pressed understandingly. Not wanting to give in to his feelings, he turned around and smiling at her, he held her waist and led her to their bedroom.
Milind was in the kitchen helping his wife clean up. When they were done he linked his arms around her waist and pulled her to him.
"Darling, you are sure about this, aren't you? There would be no turning back after tomorrow."
"Yes, I am. You are right. Sahana deserves to know the truth. She is old enough to understand. I hope she will forgive her mother," she said her eyes filling up fast.
"Hey, don't cry baby. Everything will be alright. We will make sure it is. Sahana loves you and will always love you, no matter what. Come on, give me one of those charming smiles that captured my heart!"
She smiled through her tears and he lifted her in his strong arms, taking her to their room amidst her protests that somebody may see them.
Next up... Sahana's party and the Revelation
P.S. I did say that the epilogue will be three sections. But like all other promises I made in this FF, I am breaking this one too. There will be one last final section to complete this FF.
