PART 24
"Papa, main theek hoon…yahaan sab bauhat aache hai…" Said Prachi, she thought of Milind and of how incredibly patient he was, she had learnt so much from him. They had spent some considerable time together; everyday he would tell her something new. It was exciting and she grew to look forward to talking to him, finding out more about herself.
"Nahi, Papa…muje kuch yaad nahi aa raha…lekin, jane kyun aab sab aapna sa lag raha hai…"
Prachi was glad to have come, but sometimes she missed her family terribly. She talked often to Jhanvi and wondered about her own brother. She found him to be conceited and disinterested in getting to know her.
"Papa, Jhanvi kaisi hai? Usse kahiye na, yaha khabhi aaye…" suddenly she felt a pair arms encircle her waist and squeeze her tight.
"Tanu, Tanu, Tanu!" screamed Jhanvi in her ear
"Papa, haan, woh Jhanvi hi hai…aapne muje kaha kyun nahi?" she laughed, covering her free ear "acha papa, aap kal phone karenge na?" she put the phone down; turning around she hugged her sister close.
"Jaan…bauhat din baad meri yaad aayi huh?" Prachi accused crossing her arms.
"Tuje tadpana jo tha…Tanu, sach me to, tumhari bina ghar kitna soona lag ta hai…"
"Jaan, main bhi tumhe bauhat yaad karti hoon, lekin ye mera parivaar hai, mere ek beta hai, Milind hai…aisa karte hai, tum bhi yehi aajao?"Prachi attempted to make light of the situation and Jhanvi laughed.
Milind stood by the door, watching Prachi. She looked happy and his heart ached at the thought that he had not succeeded in bringing such a smile to her face. She trusted him now, he felt it, but he had been reduced to nothing more than a friend… that much he knew.
He longed to hold her, to feel her skin, to stroke her hair, to kiss her, to love her.
Jhanvi suddenly stopped laughing as she saw Milind standing by the doorway. Prachi's smile grew when she turned towards him. He walked in, apologising if he had disturbed them.
"Nahi, Milind…yeh Jhanvi hai…aur Jhanvi yeh…"
"Milind?" said Jhanvi, her eyes sizing him up. He was immactulately dressed and very handsome, that much was evident. But Jhanvi had heard about his upbringing, where he was from and wondered at what an unlikely couple he and Prachi made.
"Milind, aap Jhanvi ke paas thodi der betenge? Main kuch laati hoo us ke liye…"
Milind shook his head in agreement and Prachi left to get something to drink for her sister.
There was a preganant silence that ensued, but Jhanvi was the one to break it first.
"Aap shayad jaante hai…main nahi chahati thi ke Tanu yahaan aaye, me sirf itna kehna chahati hoon, ke woh bauhat nazuk hai, usse to ye bhi nahi pata ke usne ek bachche ko khoya hai, to aap please…uske saat…"
"Jhanvi, woh meri biwi hai…shayad aap se zayada main usse pechaan ta hoon. Lekin me samaj tha hoon aap kya kehna chahati hai…main bhi yahi chahata hoon ke woh khush rahi, chahe usse ki khushi mujse na ho, lekin koshish to kar sakta hoon na?" Milind said honestly.
Jhanvi's eyes teared and Milind placed his hand on her shoulder as she became overcome with emotion, "Tanu kushnaseeb hai ke aap hai uske paas…aur woh jaanti bhi nahi…"
Prachi entered, holding a tray in her hands, her eyes fell to Milind's hand, which was still on Jhanvi's shoulder. He removed it quickly as Jhanvi wiped her eyes. A strange knot tightened in her stomach but she ignored the feeling and walked towards them.
Milind stayed with them till Jhanvi left, he liked seeing Prachi like this, animated and at ease. Once she had gone, Milind stood to leave but Prachi quickly asked, "Milind, aaj aap ko kuch nahi kehna?"
She had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge about herself, the family, about them.
"Kuch batana hai…shaam ko, terrace pe…Aaogi?"
"Zaroor…"
Prachi watched his retreating back, eagerly anitcipating the day turning into dusk.
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