Part 53
Prachi was trembling with suppressed anger and fury by the time they reached home. Inder had continued with his non-stop tirade of cursing Milind all the way home in the car and every time Prachi was about to make a cutting retort, Premlatha squeezed her hand, her eyes pleading her to be quiet. She had whispered that she would talk to Inder and make him see some sense. Neev had been helpless and his attempts to stop Inder were unsuccessful as he drove them home. The image of her father holding grabbing Milind's collar and Milind almost raised fist, stayed in her mind. A sense of absolute desolation raked through her. How worse can it get? How will she even look at Milind after this? He didn't deserve any of this. Is this all she could give him?..... Insult and more insult. How much more could he take? He was so close to snapping today. She shivered remembering the look he gave her before he walked away. She closed her eyes in pain as Inder continued his tirade.
Entering the house, Inder bellowed, "He thinks he will get away with all this, that man. Tomorrow, every newspaper is going to print the photos of him with Prachi, speculating about her being his latest fancy. See Premlatha, this is where your daughter is going to end up, on these cheap gossip columns", he bit out in fury and turned around to see a trembling Prachi, "And you, how dare you go around with him in front of everyone? Did you even stop to think about the reputation of our family? Have you become that shameless after being with that scoundrel of a man", he shouted.
Prachi's eyes narrowed with fury, "Stop it, Papa", she shouted back, her shrill voice cutting through.
Inder stared at her and Premlatha rushed towards her daughter worried that Inder might lose his temper completely if Prachi talks back.
Ignoring her mother, Prachi stood in front of her father, "Not a word more, Papa. Do you hear me? I won't tolerate even a word of insult about Milind. How dare you call him names? He didn't know that we will be there at the party. Don't worry about me ending up in the gossip columns Papa. What they print about us wouldn't be actually gossip, right? It would be the truth. I love Milind and I am glad that the whole city would know the truth tomorrow morning", she said clearly.
Inder clenched his fist in anger. How dare she talks back? "Shut up. Have you forgotten that you are speaking to your father, Prachi? All because of that man,????.that Milind Mishra, who doesn't have any respect for others", Inder walked towards her pushing Neev out of the way.
Prachi was beyond caring. She had lost every hope the minute Inder grabbed Milind's collar. How can her father behave like that? She stared back at him defiently, "You are talking about respect, Papa, especially after the way you behaved. Do you know how people treat him?.........with respect and awe. People go out of their ways to welcome him. But you?? Instead of thanking him for saving us, you insulted him. You accused him of planning it all. What happened to you, Papa? You have changed so much. Why are you so against him? What has he done apart from falling in love with me? He doesn't deserve any of your mindless anger", her voice cracked as tears spilled out.
Inder's fist clenched tighter as his eyes blazed, "Not a word more, Prachi. I don't want to hear anything about that man. Go to your room now", he said with his voice trembling.
Ignoring the warning bells in her head, Prachi glared at her father. She won't do as she was told, not tonight. "Why, Papa? Did you think that you would say anything about Milind and I won't say anything? He behaved in a far better way than you at the car park. You should be the one apologising to him after what you??..", she never finished her sentence as Inder's hand flew across her face slapping her hard.
"How dare you tell me to apologize to him? How dare you stand in front of me and talk like that?", Inder thundered not even registering the stunned silence in the room and what he had done.
Holding her throbbing cheek, Prachi stood rock still, unable to believe or comprehend what had happened. In a blink, Neev was pulling Inder away, shouting at him to get away from Prachi, unable to believe that Inder had slapped Prachi. Premlatha was visibly trembling. Hatred and anger rose inside her as she stared at Inder with disbelief. Did he just do that? How could he? Who is he? This is not the man she had married, loved and respected.
Neev shook her, "Ma, take Uncle into the room". Premlatha's mind at last registered a stunned looking Prachi still standing at the same spot, "Neev,???.Prachi", her voice trembled. Neev walked towards Prachi, moving her slowly towards her room.
Premlatha stared at a furious Inder pacing the room. Has he still not realised what he has done or just didn't care? She didn't know. He looked like a stranger. She stood there looking at him for a long time and without a word turned and left. Her priority now was her daughter.
Neev looked at Prachi with concern. He had pulled the sheet on her and she had curled into a ball. Her eyes were wide open, glazed and distant. She hadn't uttered even a word, not shed a tear. It scared him. He sat next to her and stroked her head. Her cheek was an angry red now and he could make out imprints of Inder's fingers. He could feel anger and resentment rise in him. Inder had never hit her before. He couldn't understand Inder. Instead of thanking Milind, he had insulted him and then hit Prachi. He could feel her pain and anger. And Neev could see that Prachi was right tonight. Milind didn't deserve any of this. He turned as Premlatha walked in. Equally disturbed by her daughter's state, Premlatha attempted to talk to her. Prachi never responded. After a while, Neev said, "Ma, we should let her get some sleep. Everything will be alright", holding a sobbing Premlatha close, he walked out and closed the door behind him.
Walking into their room, Premlatha found Inder in the balcony. As he turned to look at her, she was taken aback on seeing the pain and remorse in her husband's eyes. So, reality has at last dawned on Inder, she thought to herself. Unable to look into his wife's eyes, Inder looked away. What has he done? He had hit his child. How could he ever forgive himself for this? He buried his face in his hands.
He looked up as Premlatha spoke, "Why, Inder? Has anger and hatred blinded you so much? You would never have sent us out alone in the middle of the night to a darkened car park, but tonight you did. I am terrified to even think about what would have happened if Milind had not turned up at the right moment. Without even attempting to know what had happened, you insulted Milind, in front of Prachi. It was only because of her he controlled himself. And now, you have hit Prachi,??..your daughter. What do you resent, Inder? The fact that your daughter has fallen in love with Milind and that he has taken an important place in your daughter's life or the fact that you won't be able to tell Milind what to do, like you would have told Neev. Is that what you actually resent, Inder??..that Milind would stand up and challenge you? You don't want to let go of the control you have over Prachi, do you?", she spoke quickly. Tears streamed from her eyes as she looked at him, "Let go of her, Inder. She is grown up now. She will snap if you push her too much. Would you be able to live with it if she just walks out?", she said softly and Inder's head shot up, his eyes full of shock and fear. Her voice softened, "I don't know if love is blind, Inder. But I do know that love is strong and Prachi's love for Milind is very strong. Don't make her do anything that you would never be able to live with", Premlatha said and walked to her bed, leaving Inder alone with his thoughts. All she could do was pray for the happiness of her family.
Milind had been in the filthiest of moods when he reached home. Vicky was away in Delhi and that didn't help matters. If it was not for Prachi, he would have punched Inder. What sort of a man is he?, he thought with disgust. He was leaving for Pondichery early next morning and has meetings planned all day. He didn't know what was happening in Prachi's house but didn't want to take the risk of calling her. He would text her just before he left. Picking up the phone, he dialled Vicky's number. He needed to let it all out of his system.
Morning dawned and a uncomfortable silence filled the Shah house. Inder had gone to bed only in the early hours of the morning and slept restlessly. His mind pondered over Premlatha's words. He was ashamed of himself and didn't know what to say to his daughter the next day. He had crossed a fine line yesterday both with Milind and Prachi and now he was scared to even think of what it might lead to. He went through his morning chores mechanically and was about to go to Prachi's room when he saw his daughter standing at the top of the stairs ready to go to her Uni. Her face was swollen, her cheek still red. Her eyes were completely lifeless and Inder felt a chill go through him. Prachi slowly walked down, her eyes seeing past Inder. "Prachi beta, I am really sorry", Inder stammered and without a word, Prachi walked out and stood near the car. Throwing a helpless look towards his wife, Inder walked to his car.
Prachi walked into the campus not registering the clutter of conversation around her. Walking slowly, she sat on a bench under a tree. Inder had looked at her many times trying to talk to her but Prachi didn't even acknowledge her presence. Her mind was completely vacant of any other thought apart from Milind. All she wanted was to see him, hear him tell her that everything would be alright, feel his arms around her. She choked down a sob and her eyes fell on one of her friends walking towards her.
Sharon took a double take on seeing Prachi. "Prachi, you don't seem well. Are you okay?", she asked concerned. When Prachi didn't answer, she touched her forehead and frowned. "You seem to have a temperature, Prachi. Why don't you just go home and take rest?", she said looking worried.
Prachi looked at her and nodded and thankfully, Sharon left her alone. Prachi sat there for a few minutes not knowing what to do. She wanted to call Milind. Picking up the phone, she saw the text message from him. Just the knowledge that Milind was away that day hit her much harder. She dialled his number and reached his voice mail. He would be in the meeting now. Getting up, she walked out of the Uni, just letting her legs take her wherever they wanted to go.
Her head throbbed and her throat felt parched. The March sun had bet on her mercilessly and now she felt dizzy. She didn't know how she ended up in the beech and how long had she been sitting there staring at the crashing waves. She got up and struggled as a wave of dizziness swept over her. Steadying herself, she looked at her watch. It was almost 2 pm and she hadn't eaten anything since last night and she didn't want to. Where else could she go now? Definitely not home, she told herself and walked away from there.
Inder parked the car near the gates of Prachi's Uni just before 4 pm and got up. His eyes fell on the group of Prachi's friends with whom she usually walked out. He frowned not spotting her daughter among them. After waiting for a full 15 minutes, he wondered if he should go inside. Has she gone to the library? he wondered and walked into the gates. He looked in surprise as a girl rushed towards him. He didn't know her name but had seen her with Prachi.
Sharon looked at him with surprise, "Uncle, are you looking for Prachi? Did she not call you? She wasn't feeling very well this morning and I suggested that she goes home. She didn't attend the class today, so I am sure she must have gone home. Okay Uncle, Tell Prachi to take care. I will see her tomorrow", she rushed away. Inder stood very still for a minute. His heart thumping heavily, he called Premlatha.
It had gone past 7 pm and fear had settled in the Shah household. Premlatha had been crying non-stop from the minute Inder called and asked if Prachi had come home. Inder had looked for her everywhere on the way from Uni, wondering if she had stopped in a coffee shop or at a temple. By the time he reached home, his face was ashen with fear and worry. Neev on the other hand had called each and every one of Prachi's friends and tactfully asked if Prachi was with them without letting them know that Prachi was missing. Lisa was in Ooty and none of her other friends had any idea about her. Milind's phone was had been busy all along. He had called Vicky and found that he was in Delhi and that Milind was out of town too . Inder slumped heavily on the chair as soon as he knew that Milind was out of town. It was his last hope that Prachi might be with him.
Premlatha's sobs increased, "She doesn't even have a mobile phone. What if she is in trouble? What if something had happened to her? She hadn't even drunk her morning coffee and God knows if she had eaten anything at all?", she cried harder and Neev held her consoling her.
Inder got up, "I think we should inform the police", he said heavily and Neev nodded. He had kept dialling Milind's number hoping to reach him but everytime he reached his voice mail.
Just as Inder and Neev were about to leave for the police station, Neev's phone rang. He picked it up immediately, "Milind, Where are you? Are you back in Chennai?", his voice was urgent.
Milind frowned at the urgency in his voice. He had seen several missed calls from Neev and he was busy making an overseas call. "Neev, what's wrong? I am just on the outskirts of Chennai. Sorry I was busy on the phone", he said and jerked up when Neev asked if Prachi had contacted him and that she hadn't reached home. "No, Neev. I saw a missed call from her this morning. I could call her back only now but she is not picking up her phone. Where could she be? Neev, what's happening there?", his voice shook with panic. The watch on his wrist showed 8 pm. It's not like Prachi. Where could she have gone? Why is she not picking up her phone?
Neev frowned, "Does Prachi have a phone with her? But??..", before he could finish, Premlatha took the phone from him.
"Milind??..beta, I am very scared. She hadn't attended her classes. None of her friends know where she is. She was so upset, Milind. There was a big showdown between her and her father last night and now she is missing. I thought you might know but now???.now, oh god, what has happened to my child?", sobbed Premlatha uncontrollably.
Blind panic gripped Milind. Is that why she called him this morning? He hadn't even realised. What could she have been thinking? Where could she have gone? His mind conjured up scary thoughts and he shook his head trying to clear them. No, Prachi is not stupid, he told himself. But as her mother said, if she had been very upset and then he was not in town as well????.he raked his hand through his hair, afraid and worried. He desperately tried to work out all the places she might go to but fear settled in deeper when he heard that Inder had checked almost all of them. With a sudden thought, he told the driver to drive to the beach cottage. He rushed into the dark cottage, calling Prachi's name in panic and not finding her, rushed to the beach, peering through the trees. He was breathless when he reached his car and by then he felt choked by fear. His flat?????Could she be there? He ran out before the car came to a stop and rushed to his penthouse. Again darkness greeted him and he slumped against the wall dejectedly. Tears pricked his eyes, "Prachi", he said her name in despair.
As he turned the lights on, his eyes fell on a single shoe. Shocked, he picked it up. It was Prachi's. With a mad rush, he ran into the rooms calling out her name. Finding her bag at the foot of the stairs, he rushed up to the bedrooms. He stopped short on entering his bedroom. He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes letting the tears fall down. His breathing slowed down as his eyes fell on Prachi's sleeping form. She was curled into a ball on his bed and she was breathing evenly. Turning on the bed side lamp, he walked towards her gently touching her forehead. She had a temperature and his eyes hardened as his gaze fell on her red, swollen cheek. So, this was what had happened. Anger coursed through him and he took deep breaths trying to control himself. She was safe and that was all that mattered. Bending down, he kissed her gently on her swollen cheek and pulled the sheet over her and tucked it in. Straightening up, he called Neev's phone.
Edited by ambul30 - 16 years ago
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