Recap: Milind realizes that despite the past, he still has feelings for Prachi. Aryan arrives in Syndey.
Part 42:
Prachi spent the entire day coordinating the inaugurating event for the hotel with Aryan. The event was only a couple of days away, and still, a lot had to be done.
It was about six o'clock in the evening, and Prachi was immersed in her work. Aryan was helping the hotel staff place banners outside. In the meantime, Prachi was inside coordinating the final details of the VIP list. As Prachi sat in the hotel lobby, fully occupied with her task, she heard someone clear their throat.
Prachi turned around to see Anjali Nagpuri standing there not looking pleased.
"Can I help you?" asked Prachi.
"I want to sit on the couch that you're sitting on. Get up," snapped Anjali.
"Excuse me?" asked Prachi, astonished by the iciness in Anjali's voice.
"Are you deaf? I said get up!" screamed Anjali.
"There are eight other couches in this lobby. I am sure you can sit on another one," answered Prachi calmly, as she bent her head back down to continue her work.
Anjali furiously ripped Prachi's notebook out of her hand and flung it across the room. "Do you know who the HELL I am? I AM ANJALI NAGPURI. This is MY boyfriend's hotel. UNDERSTAND?"
Frustrated, Prachi has enough. She stood up and faced Anjali. "I really don't care who you are. I don't care if you are the world's most powerful person. You have no right to speak to me so disrespectfully."
"You bitc-" before Anjali could utter a profanity to Prachi, she spotted Milind entering the hotel.
"Wait a second! I am going to get you fired right now!" smirked Anjali, as she waved over Milind.
Milind glanced over to see Anjali waving at him, and he also caught sight of a distressed looking Prachi. Wondering what was wrong, he walked over to the two women.
"What's going on here?" he asked flatly.
"Milind, baby, I want you to fire this ungrateful girl immediately," snapped Anjali.
"Why?" asked Milind, avoiding eye contact with Prachi.
"She doesn't need to explain her reasons," interjected Prachi, "I quit."
Her statement left Milind utterly confused. Was she serious? Before he could respond, Prachi walked off in haste, picked up her notebook and entered into an elevator.
"She's probably gone to pack her things," grinned Anjali, as she put her arms around Milind. Milind just stood there motionless.
As Prachi entered the elevator, she turned around as the doors were closing, to see Anjali wrap her slender arms around Milind. For a reason Prachi cared not to acknowledge, Prachi felt her rage skyrocket even more.
***
Prachi spent the remainder of her evening in her hotel room. She didn't want to go back outside and risk spotting either Anjali or Milind. She felt safer in her own room.
Diya called her to tell her to come down for dinner, but Prachi lied and told her that she'd already eaten. Prachi didn't want to tell Diya the real reason she was avoiding going to the dining hall, and also didn't want to distract Diya from her work by asking her to bring some food up to her hotel room.
It was at ten o'clock that night, when Prachi heard a knock on her door. Prachi clicked off the television, on which she was watching an old Friends episode, and answered the door.
"Where have you been hiding Pari?"
It was Aryan. He casually walked in and sat by a chair near the window. Prachi sat on the chair across from him.
"Sorry Aryan. I wasn't feeling too well, plus I figured I could get more of this work done in my hotel room."
"Is everything okay Pari?"
"Yes, why?" inquired Prachi.
"Well, because, I don't know, but it seems that ever since I got here, you've been acting different. It seems like you have something on your mind."
Prachi feigned laughter. "No not at all, Aryan. I was just kind of stressed about this hotel launch, but now that you are here, I am sure everything is going to work out well."
"Thanks. But, I think I still may need your help."
Prachi was not too pleased with this statement. She had reluctantly agreed to stay in Sydney until Aryan arrived. Now that he was here, she saw no reason to stay any longer. She wanted to get away from Milind as soon as possible. She needed to go back to India and start up her divorce procedure, as she now knew that legally, they were still a couple.
"But Aryan, you said that I could go back to India when you arrived."
Aryan sighed, "I know Pari. I am sorry, I did promise you that. To be fair, if you would like to go, you can go. The only thing is that about an hour ago, Mr. Mishra promised our company another big contract for his upcoming Chandigarh hotel if you stayed here until the opening."
Prachi was shocked. The nerve of Milind to offer such a condition! He knew that this company meant a lot to Aryan, and he knew that such a contract would benefit the event company immensely. How could Prachi say no know?
"Why does he want me to stay on?" inquired Prachi, curious to see what Milind had told Aryan.
"He said that he was really impressed with your work ethic. He said you were a pleasure to work with and that he couldn't see this inauguration without your presence"
Prachi sighed. She put her hand on her forehead, in distress. She was sure caught in a dilemma.
Aryan put his hand on Prachi's other hand, and spoke "I will understand any decision you take Pari. Please, just think it through. I'll let you rest now, and leave the decision up to you. Good night."
"Good night Aryan," responded Prachi, as she walked him to the door.
***
Milind was frustrated with what had occurred earlier that evening. Prachi had, to his face, told him that she quit. She clearly wanted to go back home. Milind didn't want to lose her again. He had quickly made a proposal to Aryan, promising another contract in exchange for Prachi staying in Syndey until the inauguration. He hoped that would be enough to sway her decision. Still, he did not want to take a risk.
So, even though it was 10:30 pm and he should have been having an important conference call with Neev and the other company shareholders, Milind found himself walking to Prachi's hotel room.
As the elevator opened up, Milind stepped onto the floor where Prachi's room was located. He took a couple steps, when he noticed Aryan Malhotra stepping out of Prachi's room.
Milind felt his rage swell up. His hands formed into fists, and he gritted his teeth in anger. Aryan Malhotra was coming out of Prachi's hotel room. Milind did not like what he saw.
Since Aryandecided to take the staircase up to his room, which was in the opposite direction from where Milind was standing, he didn't see Milind.
Milind watched Aryan walk away before he made his move.He furiously walked up to Prachi's room and banged against the door in a livid rage.
Prachi quickly opened the door, and before even glancing at who was standing there, said "What do you want now Aryan?"
She looked up to see that it was not the jovial Aryan standing at the door, but rather her husband. Milind Mishra did not look pleased at all.
***
There is another update for you guys.
I posted it as a thank you to everyone who posted their comments. I really appreciate it. It motivated me to write this update and post is as soon as possible.
Thanks for commenting, and please continue to leave your thoughts and suggestions.
Edited by canadianbeauty - 16 years ago
Cricket
