Chapter 14
"Milind, here is your shirt. I finished ir..", said Prachi, walking into Milind's room, only to stop dead in her tracks, completely mortified. Milind having just come out of the bathroom, was wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. Prachi instantly spun on her heels, ready to flee the room. She reached as far as the door when Milind said, "Prachi, I'm going to need that shirt." Prachi slowly turned around and keeping her head down, walked back to Milind, who seemed completely unconcerned about his state of undress. Milind was thoroughly enjoying watching usually calm and composed Prachi squirm. She was turning very shade of red which went really well with the black sari, she was wearing. "Prachi, would you mind ironing my pants also?" asked Milind nonchalantly holding out his pants to her. Prachi was forced to finally pick up her head and instantly regretted it. His hair was dripping water, infact water was still dripping of his entire body. Prachi didn't think it was possible but the room suddenly got even more uncomfortable than it already was. Prachi grabbed the pants and got out of the room as quickly as she could.
Half an hour later, Milind, fully dressed, entered Prachi's room. "Prachi, aren't you ready as yet? The party starts at 8.", said Milind, seeing her busy still putting on her jewellry. Prachi glared at him, "I had some last minute ironing to do." Milind grinned at her and watched as she struggled to clasp on a bracelet. Milind impatiently took hold of her hand and the bracelet. Prachi smiled as Milind's decidedly larger fingers struggled even more with the bracelet. Finally giving up, Milind tossed the bracelet aside, "You don't need it, come on lets go, we're late.", said Milind, holding onto Prachi's hand and pulling her out of the room.
Shah mansion was done up magnificently as befitting for Inder's 50th birthday party. As Prachi hugged her father tightly and Milind shook his hand, Inder was once again convinced that he had made the right decision, regarding Prachi's marriage. "So Milind, have you decided about the conference as yet?", asked Inder. "Not yet but I'll have to soon as it's in 2 weeks time.", replied Milind noticing Prachi's questioning look. As soon as Inder left them, Milind explained, "I have been invited to a conference in Zurich. I am seriously thinking about going." "Oh", said Prachi, reflecting that this will be the first time they will be apart since thay got married and found herself, not liking the idea. "If we go, we'll have to leave next Friday.", continued Milind, watching her carefully. "You want me to go with you?", asked Prachi, greatly surprised. "Only if you want to, you don't have to.", said Milind quickly. Prachi smiled inwardly, Milind sounded really nervous asking her and she decided a little payback was due for earlier. "I don't know Milind, I have been to Europe before and this is really short notice.", replied Prachi. "No, that's fine, I just thought you would have liked to have come along.", said Milind flatly, scarely able to believe how disappointed he was. "But then again I have never been to Switzerland and I'm sure I can be ready in 2 weeks time.", said Prachi slowly smiling. Milind and Prachi were still smiling at each other when Neev and Ayesha approached them.
This was the first time either Prachi or Milind had seen Neev and Ayesha since their wedding. They both felt completely wrong footed while Neev and Ayesha unaware of any tension greeted them warmly. Ayesha pecked Milind on his cheek and Neev gave Prachi a hug. Prachi was feeling guilty. It was still the same Neev who she once had shared everything with, who made her laugh and who was always around but in the last few months their lives had grown so far apart. She felt sad about the loss of their friendship. But the gulit, stemmed from the fact that she realised their wasn't much place for that childhood friendship in her new life. Milind was feeling confused. Ayesha was the woman, he once had pinned all his hopes and dreams for the future on but was now someone he scarely thought about. Milind wondered what had happened to all those intense emotions, he once felt whenever he saw Ayesha. Prachi feeling increasingly uncomfortable excused herself and went to help Premlata.
Two hours later, Somuya getting the family together for the cake cutting asked for Prachi. Milind realising that he hadn't seen Prachi for a while, went upstairs to look for her. Going towards her old bedroom, he was surprised to hear angry voices. "Ayesha please, they are my family, what's wrong with living with them?," asked Neev. "Why are they suddenly so keen to have us live with them when they didn't even want us to get married ?", replied Ayesha angrily. "They realised they were wrong and they are trying to make ammends.", said Neev. Ayesha laughed derisively, "Yeah, that's right your mother wants to make ammends with me." "Is it too much to ask to give them the benefit of the doubt?", yelled Neev just as angry as Ayesha now. "Neev, please it's been fine just the two of us living in the apartment.", said Ayehsa. "How would you know ?", retorted Neev, "You are never at home. You are on that bloody set 24 hours a day."
Neev stormed out of the room, barely even noticing Milind standing at the doorway. Ayesha however did notice him and flung her arms around his neck, crying into his shoulder. Once Milind, would have wanted nothing more than to hold Ayesha in his arms but now it just felt wrong. "Milind, I don't know what to do. Neev just never understands what I want.", sobbed Ayesha. Milind gently pulled himself away from Ayesha and said, "You need to talk to him when you are both calmer. He'll understand once he cools down." "At least I still have you as a friend.", said Ayesha giving him a weak smile. Milind realised for the first time ever, he was fine being just her friend. Meanwhile Prachi was outside talking to the caterers when, she saw Neev walking towards his car without Ayesha. Prachi stopped him, "Neev, are you leaving so soon? Where's Ayesha?" "I don't know and I don't care.", said Neev angrily. "You don't mean that.", said Prachi quietly. "God Prachi, tell me what to do? Why can't she understand that she is important to me but so is my family?", asked Neev. "Well, leaving without her is not going to help.", said Prachi reasonably, "Come back to the party. You will be able to sort things out when you are calmer." Prachi found herself sincerely hoping that they would able to sort out their differences.
Prachi went back into the house and was happy to see Neev return back to the party a few minutes later. As she looked at him, she felt a rush of affection for her old friend. But that's all she saw, an old friend and nothing more. She then looked up to see Milind coming down the stairs and realised when she looked at him, she saw her husband. Prachi smiled at him. Milind realising there wasn't much more that he could do for Ayesha came back downstairs but still felt slightly bad about leaving her while she was still upset. However upon seeing his wife smiling radiantly at him, he knew he had done the right thing.
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