Part 10
It was a difficult evening for Prachi as she slipped on her yellow lehenga the one Milind had bought for her, her eyes glassed over as she recalled her trip to the boutique with him. Brushing her hair back she stood motionless infront of the mirror his memories assailing her, why had she done what she had done. She had absolutely no ruse to go floundering away from him when on the contrary she should have confessed her feelings to him. She looked at the bangles in her hands unhappily "This one" his voice had reverberated in her mind and that had been the point when she had broken down completely. "Milind" she had sobbed hysterically crumbling to the floor weeping as if there was no tomorrow she had lost him due to her sheer inability to interpret her feelings for him. She had thought time was the primary factor which enabled people to understand each other and eventually fall in love yet she had been so wrong. Even after knowing Neev for a maximum period of three years she had failed to love him yet her association with Milind had been for a mere week and it had led her to fall hopelessly in love with him.
"Milind... Milind... Milind" she hid her face in her palms lying on the denuded floor depressed and unhappy and that was how Gauri had found her "Prachi" she had called out to her filling her naiive friend in her arms. "What happened" Gauri had asked gently... "Milind" Prachi had hiccuped unable to utter any other word besides the one she kept chanting. "You love him Prachi accept it" Gauri had spoken against her ear smoothing her tresses. "Yes I do Gauri I do... and now he's gone and never coming back" she had squeezed her eyes shut as the truth hit her with full force. "What about Neev, Prachi" Gauri had asked her gently rocking her now "I don't love him Gauri I don't love him, oh God what have I done" the fact that she had led on Neev was killing her. Gauri had smiled ofcourse she had known it all along that her rather dumb friend was head over heels in love with her benefactor the reason her discomfiture was quite evident during her conversation with Neev at the hospital. "Prachi now that you have promised Neev to attend the party we do need to be there" Gauri had gently wiped away her tears making her stand up. "But Gauri I do not wish to go" Prachi had pleaded not that Gauri was listening to her picking up the brush she had made Prachi sit on the bed braiding her hair by the sides "Whether love or not you are friends with him and you did promise to be there so act your age now and get ready, instead of sulking here you can atleast make someone happy by sharing their happiness with them" finishing with the braid Gauri had clipped the ends of the hair letting the rest of it fall gracefully at the back. Prachi had tried to smile at her in the mirror "You'r right I did promise to be with him and that's where I shall be" wiping away her tears she had proceeded to apply her makeup.
Downstairs in the ballroom the party was in full swing Neev kept glancing at the entrance in hopes to see Prachi walk in any minute his trepidation had not gone unnoticed Niharika Shergill his mother had walked up to him then. "Darling who do keep looking out for?" she had smiled knowing full well who it was his eyes kept searching for.. "Maa" Neev had cried indignantly making Niharika laugh her son was a handful at times. "Fine I'll be there you can tell me when she comes" kissing her first born on the cheek she had left to join her friends in the latest gossip. Prachi had felt skeptical of this entire scenario she had read Neev's eyes that had spelt admiration for her sadly she had become very used to watching the burning fire Milind's eyes held for her Milind just the thought was enough to make her feel like a criminal. How could she have been so stupid as to forsake his love and a life together with him just on a flimsy whim of hers. Her heart ached to see the swirl of colour and extravagance around her everything yet nothing, sighing she had felt a friendly squeeze on her hand to find Gauri look at her questioningly "Coming?" and Prachi had nodded her head before stepping inside the ballroom. Neev had been by them in an instant leaning over he had gently kissed Prachi on the cheek "Shall we?" he had asked Prachi holding out his hand to her. Prachi had relented unenthusiastically she let him lead her to the dance floor. Sliding his arm around her waist he drew her to him much to her discomfort "I have an announcement to make tonight you know" he had whispered in her ear clasping her hand in his own. She had looked up at him to find him smile fondly at her I must tell him what the truth is she had thought to herself before things got out of hand. But Prachi never got the time to do so after their rather elegant dance Neev did the usual rounds introducing her to friends and family.
"Maa this is Prachi" he had told his mother and Niharika had smiled looking at her "You'r beautiful child" she had smiled warmly kissing Prachi on the forehead "Now I understand why my son is hopelessly in love with you". Prachi had looked at Gauri panic stricken he had told his mother about her how was she ever going to get out of this mess. "I uh .... where's the restroom aunty?" Prachi had asked desperately in an attempt to flee from there. Gauri had come to her aid then "Left door in the hall Prachi" she had instructed her watching her friend's face go pale. As she turned to leave Neev had held her by her arm "Prachi I'll wait for you in the lawn downstairs near the swing set there, I need to talk to you in private" and had let her go. Prachi was in no mind to go on private talks with Neev she had rushed to the washroom teary eyed heaving she had flung herself against the wall he had introduced her to his mother too what was left before he popped the question to her. She had splashed cold water on her face to clear her vision wiping it clean she had stared at her long and hard in the mirror " I can do this... I must tell Neev I do not love him" . With newfound conviction and a sense of exhilerating liberation she had walked out of the restroom towards the lawns now where was that swing Neev mentioned she had looked around the dimly lit area, ah there she had spotted it nestled between a crop of over grown bushes. Making her way to it she had shivered slightly it was a cold night and she was chilled to some extent rubbing her shoulders she had reached there to find a shadow awaiting her. Before the man could move or talk Prachi had addressed him so burdened was her heart with the thought of marriage to Neev that she had not waited for him to turn around even. "Neev are you going to propose me tonight?" she had asked bluntly the shadow had then stretched a hand and pulled her within the enshrouding bleakness beside him she could feel his hot breathe on her and suddenly the idea of such proximity with a man other than Milind seemed to repel her. She struggled to get free of his grasp "Leave me Neev I thought you wanted to talk" she had screamed faintly. The stranger had not relented rather his grip on her had tightened bending closer he had filled her in his arms and kissed her on the forehead "Neev!" Prachi had screamed out raged how dare he touch her without permission.
"Marry me Prachi" he had sighed in defeat " I love you so much" " I won't" Prachi had cried in defiance "How dare you touch me without my permission" she had glowered at him though the pitch dark did not allow her reactions to be highlighted to their full strength. "Well you didn't mind that Mishra guy touching you without permission why is it not allowable now?" he had snickered. "That Mishra guy is the man I love and he's not a womanizer like you. He damn well had the decency to tell me he desired me" she had chided him openly. "He desired you allowed him to kiss you?" he had mocked her "And you my lady are no saint you kept making out with him while sending me mails too, how could you two time both of us!" his tone was louder now and Prachi had shivered, yes his accusations held ground. "I wasn't two timing anyone" she had sobbed "Then what exactly were you doing?" he had seethed holding her roughly by her arms. "I wasn't sure of myself I didn't think I could love him because a week is not enough time to love someone" she had put forward her excuse which appeared rather lame at that point. "And you could not have confided this to either of us?" he had questioned his anger clear in his voice though his hands had released her. "I'm sorry Neev I didn't wish any of this to happen, but now I've lost him and am denying you my companionship. Please try to understand me" she had pleaded.
"No I'm not going to understand you at all and yes marry me you will and tonight I will announce you as my bride to be" with that he had pushed her out in the light before disappearing away. Prachi had stared at the empty space in bewilderment she was going to be punished for her foolishness served her right in a way Neev was true when he said she had two timed both of them. Sad and distressed she had reached the ballroom to find Neev happily chatting with Gauri as Niharika's eyes had rested on Prachi she had tapped her tumbler with a spoon to draw everyone's attention. "Ladies and gentlemen tonight we are gathered to celebrate the engagement ceremony of my son with Prachi Shah... come on beta" she had held out her hand to Prachi who had clasped it in reluctance she wanted to cry so badly but refrained from doing so. The lights were shining brightly on all present Prachi wished she would disappear in thin air then she lifted her eyes to see the man stand next to her and in that one moment her world froze. There smiling in jubilation stood Milind, how in the world did he get here was he here to attend Neev's party too. Baba and Sukriti pushed through the crowd and appeared on the fore front amidst cheers and claps Milind had slipped a diamond on her ring finger she stood confused unable to react when Niharika had handed her a plain gold band that she had mechanically slipped on Milind's finger.
She had looked upto see him stare at her coldly perplexed she had tried to read his expressions but failed to miserably. Niharika had hugged her then and congratulated her Baba had been next and the rest had followed she had smiled perfunctorily at all not registering anything, slowly and gradually the crowd had dispersed and Gauri had slunk in beside her. "Gauri what is happening?' she had asked in a quivering voice "You just got engaged duffer" she had laughed. "But what is Milind doing here? Wasn't he in Mumbaii?" she had asked still astounded "He would've been if Gauri hadn't called him up" Neev had butted in. "You called him?" Prachi had asked stupefied "Ofcourse I had to else you'd be weeping your eyes out for the rest of your life" Gauri had replied smiling. "But when did he have a mother?" Prachi still had lots of questions "My maa considers him a son, we are first cousins by the way. All those mails that you wrote to me were on his account. Yes you did chat to Neev but he was the one you always talked to since I had made my account and forgotten all about it. It was he who befriended you and you took an instant liking to him. Later we got busy and forgot all about the account. It was only when you mentioned you were in Haryana did he come to know you were sweet girl. That was when he got mad and left for Mumbaii. But I had returned from Vegas by then and we planned to call you here." The details had been overwhelming for Prachi who had not guessed for even a fraction of a second that she was being played by her best friend."Gauri you did all this behind my back" Prachi had asked thoroughly taken aback "Yes hun I did... I had no choice, left on you we'd all be in a deep stew" she had laughed and somewhere Prachi had felt a huge boulder being removed off her chest. She had smiled and hugged Gauri "Thanks a ton sweetheart" she had whispered her eyes scouring the ballroom for her new fiance.
"Where's Milind?" she had asked Neev "Didn't you just talk to him in the lawns?" he had inquired smiling and Prachi had stood stunned so it had been him in the dark. "I believe you'll find him there" Neev had chuckled "You better return back quick this time we do plan on serving dinner to the ravenous guests" and Prachi had hugged him "Thanks Neev" she had mouthed before running out of the ballroom again. Once in the grounds she had rushed to the swing set to find him sitting there awaiting her as she neared him breathlessly he had stood up "Milind" she had called out to him. "So you'r not going to admonish me this time?" he had asked seriously "I'm sorry Milind for doing this to you" she had apologized not that he was in a forgiving mood. "You must know Prachi you have caused me immense pain, if only you would have had confided in me, it wouldn't have come to this. I had asked you if I were to leave Mallika would you marry me and you had consented. Would you have married without loving me then Prachi?" he had asked her. "I've always loved you Milind and I'm really sorry for not understanding it earlier but I didn't want to burden you with my responsibilities" she had sobbed quietly. Milind had held her chin and lifted her face up studying it intently only he knew how he had spent the two days without her she had closed her eyes to let her tears flow free then. He had bent down and tenderly wiped her tears away with his lips "Don't apologize Prachi just promise me that you are never going to hide anything from me now" he had whispered kissing her on her cheek. "I promise" she had told him as his arms had enveloped her in a hug planting soft kisses on her lips "Do you love me Milind?" she had asked pressed against him "I always have" he had replied lifting her in his arms. She had smiled in happiness resting her head against his shoulder as he carried her to the ballroom the night had just begun and so had their life together.
Edited by blind horizon - 16 years ago
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
