Part 2
As Milind watched she sat unperturbed a silent and dismal figure he waited patiently for her to approach him for shelter but even when fifteen minutes later she sat put in the heavy shower he couldn't control his ire. Getting out of the car he walked up to her "What do you want to prove?" he had barked it was'nt generally that he addressed women in such a tone but her obstinacy had angered him. She very well knew he was not going to seize the opportunity and advance towards her in any lecherous manner then what stopped her from joining him in his car. She had not answered rather watched him with reproachful eyes the fear being replaced by remorse now. Holding her by her arm Milind made her stand up gathering her dispersed books he opened the other door of the car and made her sit in the passenger seat of the Cadillac, he noticed she had not resisted. Getting in the driving seat he put off the wiper blades and switched off the headlights lest he run out on the battery charge. "Who are you?" he had questioned intrigued by her personality the girl however was in no mood for conversation and remained mum. Milind glanced at her to see her shivering wrapping her wet dupatta around her for comfort she rubbed her shoulders noiselessly. With the silence pregnant in the confines of the car Milind had found it best to stop probing her for details she obviously did not trust him enough to confide her name or details to him. Minutes ticked wearily and Milind prayed the water would stop pelting he wasn't a fan of summer showers and preferred to stay indoors during the monsoon onslaught. Tonight though he had been caught unaware he drew in a long breathe and lifted another cigarette from the pack lighting it he puffed on it lazily laying back his head on the headrest of his seat he exhaled the pungent smoke. He heard her cough instantly though she tried to stifle it but it continued frustrating Milind who had rolled down the window and flicked the freshly burnt cigarette out of it.
Barely a few minutes had passed when the girl had started sneezing she obviously had caught a cold sitting in the rain for God knows how long. Milind had jerked up and switched on the overhead light illuminating the interior of the car in a faint glow, opening his glove compartment he pulled out the first aid kit he kept there for emergency purposes. Rummaging through the contents he fished out a Panadol and handed it to her she had accepted it but refrained from taking it making Milind realize she needed water to wash it down her throat. He remembered filling water in a bottle before leaving home in case he needed to put it in the engine to cool it down leaning towards her he groped for the bottle by her feet. He noticed her flinch by his sudden lurch and sidle further away on the seat while his hands searched the bottle they accidentally brushed her wet skin her feet strapped in sandals. She was very cold and Milind feared would be down with temperature soon Milind could not help but smell in her fragrance it was something he had never smelt on any other woman before most probably because it wasn't Davidoff or Zegna. It was a combination of dry flowers and soil he paused momentarily breathing in her the more she abstained from conversation the more he was tempted to unravel her persona. Shaking his head off irrelevant thoughts he had managed to track the bottle and had flourished it in triumph handing it to her. She had taken it from him with gratitude and proceeded to gulp down the medicine wiping moisture off her face. Milind's coat had remained dry as he had pulled it off and thrown it in the back seat before driving back fom the pub. Reaching for it Milind had asked her to wear it "You'll get sick otherwise" he had explained and she had slipped it on settling it she felt her eyes dropping close and had given in after a brief struggle. Finding her asleep Milind had relaxed the seat from its upright position hearing her moan he switched on the car heater wondering why he had not thought of it before. The fact that she trusted him enough to sleep in his car was heart warming for him he was though surprised at his emotional outburst. He had not only talked to a complete stranger woman but had also sheltered her and that was so not like Milind Mishra.... Milind Mishra did not speak to strangers he kept his cool at all occasions and never acted on impulse, yet tonight he had negated all aspects of his personality doing exactly the opposite.
In the dim light he studied her properly for the first time, she was remarkably beautiful her oval face was adorned by a pair of mesmerizing eyes arched eyebrows a small nose and soft but supple lips. Her hair was lustrous though wet yet strands of it fell on her face obstructing his view and without a second thought his hand had reached for them tucking them behind her ear. She looked serene in sleep and somehow Milind had felt the urge to protect her why was an astounding concept. He decided to smoke another cigarette but then recalled her reaction to it and immediately discarded the idea sighing he had locked the car securely. His eyes had inadvertantly fallen on her books finance, accounting, economics she seemed to be a student at college flipping open one of them he caught her name printed in the inside page in bold letters Prachi Inder Shah. Prachi he had mused the name suited her he wondered what could have caused her to resolve to a stakeout away from home in an abandoned alley closing the book again he had replaced it on the dashboard before settling for a rest himself.
Morning shone bright and clear the sunbeams filtering in through the windshield Milind had stretched himself languidly only to feel his neck stiff due to his uncomfortable position the previous night. He opened his eyes to find himself in his car and the seat next to him empty he rubbed his eyes for better vision and confirmed that the girl evidently Prachi had left. He sat straight to see the car heater switched off his coat on the seat and the door to the passenger seat bolted. Somehow he felt angry after all that he had done for her she didn't even have the audacity to wait for him to wake up and say thank you. Not that he required it but he had hoped to know more about her angrily tugging at his coat he put it on when a slip of paper escaped from it and landed at his feet. She had probably torn a small part of a page from one of her books and written the words Thank You on it.
The pen definitely was his Parker she had spied in his coat pocket and his lips had turned into a smile, their transient yet exciting meeting had given new meaning to his life. The girl was definitely an enigma to him one that he planned to solve soon he however had no lead on her and realized that just a name was not going to help him get by with the perusal. Starting his car he reversed through the alley coming out on the main street and drove back home. Prachi on the other hand had awoken at the crack of dawn she could not help but silently thank the generous stranger for taking care of her the morning light had made him seem even more handsomer as if that was possible. She quickly gathered her things switched off the heater and tearing a portion of a page wrote the words Thank you on it before casting a final glance at him and exiting the car. The events of the previous night came crashing down on her she remembered being hunted down by Vikram's men they had stood outside her college lying in wait for her. She however had been quicker and much more light footed than them sprinting through a maze of alleys she had dodged them and finally when her legs had refused to walk another step she had hidden in a remote corner of an abandoned lane. Her heart had thumped to see Milind's car drive in on her the men following her had probably fled watching the car approach though none had seen her there and hence she had been saved. She knew she could not out run the gang forever and had felt tears stream down her face she had nowhere to go her only respite now was her friend Gauri who lived in a working women's hostel and that was where she was headed before morning settled in and Vikram's men smelt her out. With swift strides she had reached the bus stand and boarded one she could not go home because she knew she was unsafe there she journeyed in silence getting off at her destination. Minutes later she stood at Gauri's doorstep who was not the least moved to see her there, Gauri had been expecting this sooner or later and ushered her inside while she burst into sobs.
Hugging her Gauri had consoled making her sit on the bed fetching water for her she allayed her anguish to a great extent "Gauri Vikram tried to kidnap me yesterday" she had informed her bosom friend between sobs. "That son of a bitch was going to do that anyways I had warned you not to take money from him. See now what he is upto" Gauri had seethed. Prachi could not help but shed silent tears her helplessness had been her worst enemy she wished she had never met Vikram or asked him for a loan, but could that be helped... she knew not. Gauri had made her lie on her bed and asked her to rest while she proceeded to get ready for work she knew she was violating the hostel's laws but she had no option she could not let Prachi return to her house which she was sure was being watched closely by Vikram's men. Finding a stowed packet of chips and biscuits from her dinner last night she had handed them to Prachi "Eat them you must be hungry and don't step out of here till I return" she had advised her friend before leaving for work.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
