PART 25
Milind paced the length of the terrace, he was nervous. He wasn't sure if he should do this right now, perhaps it was too soon. His anxieties were intensified when he saw Prachi climb the stairs upwards. She walked towards him, her hair billowing in the wind. He was staring, he knew it was obvious but she looked beautiful. He turned away, gripping the rail, he had to focus.
She joined him, standing next time him. She didn't speak, but instead glanced at the box lying on the wall. She waited for him to say something, when he didn't, she a placed her hand on his arm. He looked down at her and smiled.
"Milind, aap ko kuch batana tha?" she asked
He looked troubled now, was this necessary? He had asked himself many times but deep down he knew it was. He gently pushed the box towards her and gestured to her that he intended for her to open it. She was secretly delighted, it was a present.
"Milind, Ritwik ka Khilona iss me shayad galti se aap ne rakha hai…" she said, opening the box. She picked out a silver rattle and looked towards Milind. He had his eyes closed and was obviously deep in thought.
"Prachi…" he breathed, "Yeh Ritwik ka nahin, hamare bachche ka hai…"
"Hamara bachcha?" she squeezed hard on his arm. Milind held back tears, not from her touch, but due to the pain he was about to cause her.
"Hamara bachcha jo aab nahi raha…tumhe yaad bhi nahi Prachi, tum maa banewali thi!"
"Milind, yeh kya keh rahe hai…please bas kijiye…" her distress visible as her hands held her head
"Nahi Prachi tumhe suna hoga…tumhe yaad nahi yeh tumne muje diya tha?"he shook her.
"Milind please…" she cried, tumbling to a heap on the floor out of his hands. He fell down beside her; he took hold of Prachi face tightly. He voice was at first low, "Tum Maa ko bhool gayi, apne parivaar ko bhool gayi, Ritwik ko bhool gayi yahaan tak muje bhool gayi…" he raised his voice now, "Lekin tum aapne bachche ko kaise? Tumhe eshaas nahi hota, kuch kahlipan ka?…Prachi…yaad karo" he pressed his forehead against hers, his tears mingling with hers, she didn't resist.
Prachi threw herself against him, clinging to him. He pulled her in, holding her closer to him. How long he had waited for this? For closure, to be able to grieve his child…
He had hoped he might be able to trigger some memories by this, he had spoken to Premlata beforehand and she had told him to be careful. He held her close for some time till her crying subsided. He wiped her tears, but she was in shock, her body shaking violently. He enfolded her in his arms again until her felt the shaking settle.
"Milind…"she said in an unsteady voice against his chest, "Yeh sach hai…?"
He shook his head resignedly and he felt tears penetrate his shirt.
"Main kitni badnaseeb hoon, Milind, muje yeh bhi yaad nahi aata, ke me maa ban ne…" she struggled to breathe "hamara bachcha, yeh sab kya hogaya Milind!"
Tumhari koi galti nahi hai Prachi…"
"Milind aapne muje kyun bataya?"
"Shayad main khud ke swarth me andha ho gaya tha, Prachi, maine socha ke tumhe kuch yaad dila saku. Lekin, galti meri hai, tumhe waqt dene ka wada kiya tha…ek pal me bhool gaya…" he confessed sincerely "magaar mujse bardaarst nahi hota Prachi…tumhare hote hue, main tumse apni dil ki baat nahi kar sakta. Tumse yeh bhi nahi keh paya ke maine tumhe, apne bachche ko, in dou saal kitna yaad kiya. Prachi, tumse nahi to kise apna gaam baton?"
"Milind…aap mujse kyun nahi ke sakte? Hum dost hai…" she offered earnestly
"Prachi, main jaanta hoon ke tumhe meri dosti ki zaroorat hai…lekin muje tumhare pyaar ki…"
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