Guys, This is the last part...will post the prologue in a few days...😳
PART – 37
"Prachi, you look very beautiful today" Milind whispered huskily against her ears. His hands went around her hips as he pulled her against him. Resting his chin on her shoulders both of them looked in the mirror.
"I missed this most of all. The soul deep closeness is what I have missed most of all in the last 5 years" he said as their eyes collided on the mirror.
"Milind…" prachi said as sudden guilt took over.
"Sssh" he said placing his hands on her lips as they watched each other on the mirror.
"You need not say anything. We are here together now and that is more important than anything else. Let's forget the past and move on" Milind husked as he straightened himself. He still had his towel around his waist and his hair was slightly wet. He turned around to go and suddenly realized that he had no clothes to wear for the party tonight
"Prachi…." Milind called her hesitantly
"Kya hai, Milind"
"Prachi, What dress do I need to wear tonight?" He asked sheepishly with a slight quirk on his lips.
After a minute he said in a dead pan tone "If you want me to come in my towel, I have no objections as well"
"Milind…" shaking her head exasperatedly at him she continued "I totally forgot to tell you. Ma has got you a Sherwani. It's inside the wardrobe. Let me get it for you." In a hurry prachi turned away from the mirror and rushed to the wardrobe as he laughed at her hurried response.
"Prachi, If it pleases you I can come in my towel too." he said teasingly.
"Milind…." Prachi turned around and gave him a stern smile.
Opening the wardrobe she pulled out a dark blue silk sherwani her mother had gotten for Milind. Taking it out, Prachi held it by the hanger and walked towards him.
"You are not coming out of this room without dressing up properly" she said sternly trying to hide the smile that was escaping.
"Now, here you go" Prachi extended the dress and Milind got it from her and started dressing in front of her. Prachi blushed seeing him dress in front of her. Milind looked up and smiled. He very well knew why his wife was blushing. But it gave him a thrill to see her this way. She was way too shy.
"Want to help me dress" He asked with a raised brow and a question in his eyes.
"Eehmmm" Prachi replied back with a negative shake of her head.
Milind held out the stole "Chalo, at least come and adjust this thing for me." Prachi walked up to him and took it from his outstretched hands; standing on tip toe she pulled it around his neck and adjusted it to fall evenly on both sides of his body.
"It's perfect now." Prachi was saying to him and all of a sudden Milind held both ends of the stole in his hands and pulled her against him.
"Milind, What are you doing?" Prachi's eyes looked up at him startled.
"Well, I am hugging my wife. What else will I be doing?" Milind laughed as he bent his head to capture her lips.
Both of them were in their own private world and Prachi was drowning in trembling sensations when they both heard a knock on the door. Prachi escaped his hold in haste and stood beside him watching the door. The door opened and Rithwick came inside.
"Mama, see Rithwick looks like a big boy. Saumya aunty dressed me up like papa for the party." Rithwick was dressed in a sherwani which almost the same shade as Milind's. Both of them looked so adorable together that tears slightly formed on Prachi's eyes. Rithwick turned from one side to the other showing off his dress to Prachi.
"Yes, sweetie. You look exactly like your papa" with that she pulled him against her body to give him a hug. Rithwick scrunched his nose as prachi hugged him tightly. "Mama, my dress will have wrinkles" he said looking up at his dad for an escape from his mom's hold.
"Yes, Yes, My son's dress will get spoiled. Leave him Prachi" Milind said with a conspiratorial smile to his son.
Prachi placed a light kiss on his forehead and let him go. Rithwick immediately went to Milind. Milind lifted him into his hands. "So, are you ready for the party?" Looking at Milind, Rithwick shook his head and said "Yes" enthusiastically.
"Then, let's go" saying Milind's hands went around Prachi's shoulders as the three of them walked out of the bedroom.
Premlatha watched the three of them walking down the stairs.
Milind looked elegant in his sherwani and Prachi looked beautiful tonight. Milind was carrying his son while his other hand circled his wife's shoulders..
A small heartwarming smile lit from her daughter's face as they walked down the staircase, a perfect family. Saumya who was standing beside her mom immediately stepped in front them and took Rithwick from Milind's hands and with a mischievous wink told them to enjoy the party.
Milind and Prachi stared at each other with a soft smile. Milind's hands went around her as he held her closer to him as they welcomed guests who had arrived for the party. Milind had invited some of his business associates to attend the party too. He introduced Prachi to all of them proudly. He also had a big surprise in store for Prachi.
Milind looked at his watch and then looked at the door waiting for someone to arrive. "Milind, whom are you waiting for?" Prachi asked seeing Milind looking at the door expectantly.
"No one….You look beautiful tonight" he said trying to distract her from noticing his constant scan of the main door.
Prachi and Milind weaved through the crowds talking to everyone and accepting their wishes.
Suddenly someone stepped in front of Milind. Milind and Prachi looked at the person with surprise and huge smile.
"Bhaiya!! Bhabhi …Congratulations" saying sukriti hugged both of them.
"Sukriti, I was going to surprise Prachi with your arrival….Now see you are already here" Milind said chiding his sister.
"It's alright Bhaiya. I just wanted to surprise the both of you" Sukriti answered her brother and smiled at Prachi. Sukriti had been waiting in anticipation to meet prachi after a long gap of five years. She was very happy for her brother. Her brother had waited for Prachi all these years and it looked like he had finally gotten what he had always wanted. Prachi Bhabhi, as his wife.
"Sukriti, How are you?" Prachi interrupted sukriti's musings and asked with elation as she looked at her.Prachi was really happy to see Milind's sister after all these years. She looked very pretty tonight.
"I am fine bhabhi. How are you? You are looking beautiful tonight" with that compliment she hugged Prachi close to her.
Prachi was excited seeing sukriti tonight. She had been planning on asking Milind about calling Sukriti. But now, that she was here it doubled her happiness.
"O.k..Bhabhi. Now, that I have met you. I will talk to you about everything that has been happening in my life later…Now, you guys go enjoy. I will catch up with you all in a bit." Sukriti excused herself from them giving them some privacy.
"How did you know I wanted to meet sukriti?" Prachi asked with surprise.
"Prachi, Don't you think by now I know everything that's on your mind?" Milind smiled at her as Prachi blushed.
"Hmmm! So, tell me what am I thinking now?" Prachi asked trying to tease him.
"Well, that's not such a difficult question instead of telling you let me show you" saying Milind pulled prachi into an alcove which was hidden from everyone's view.
With his hands he slightly traced the loose tendril that had escaped from the side. "Milind, someone might see us" Prachi tried to escape but he held her hands and pulled her back into the privacy of the alcove.
"Milind, this is not what I was thinking?"Prachi tried to smile and escape by dunking under his arms but he once again pulled her back and imprisoned her against the wall.
"Liar, I know deep down this what you have been thinking because I have been thinking about nothing else but this" With that Milind quieted her and slowly traced her face with his hands.
"Milind…." Prachi whisphered..
"Sshhh…" saying he placed his forefinger on her lips as he bent his face and his lips traced her forehead. Her breathing hitched and she was tumbling once again into a sea of emotions.
Luckily before both of them could lose all their self-control the DJ announced the married couple to take the stage. "Milind, they are calling us for the dance" Prachi said urgently.
"That's o.k…" He said leisurely not interested in stepping away from her.
"Milind!!!" With that she pushed him away from her and stepped out of the alcove and watched Milind following her leisurely behind as though nothing had happened. But he had a mischievous smile on his lips.
As everyone clapped as Milind and Prachi took center stage as the DJ played a very slow number. It was one of Prachi's favorite songs
"Chup tum raho chup ham rahen,
khamoshi ko khamoshi se zindagi ko zindagi se baat karne do
Aankhon mein kho jaaye aankhen bole haathon se haath,
baahon mein chupkar saanson se jaise dole raat,
ungaliyo ko ungaliyo se mausamon ko shokhiyon se baat karne do.
Hothon par hothon se likhe bin shabdon ke geet,
dharati se ambar tak guunje jismon kaa sangeet,
bekhudi ko bekhudi se aashiqui ko aashiqui se baat karne do"
The music wafted through the silence as Milind extended his hands and took Prachi in his. Prachi's head rested on his shoulders as their eyes collided as they both held each other and silently danced mesmerized in their own private world.
Both of them came to their senses when they heard a thunderous applause from the gathered guests. Prachi blushed as she lifted her head and her eyes collided with Milind's. There was so much emotion there. The song heightened the intensity of their feeling for each other. Reluctantly both of them stepped away and smiled at the gathered guests.
By the time the party was over and the last of the guests left it was 12.30. Prachi went looking for Rithwick and found him sleeping peacefully with saumya.Sukriti had left too. She was going to meet them later tomorrow morning.
With a smile she turned around and walked back to her room. Slowly she opened the door and found Milind standing with his hands folded watching the night sky.
Not wanting to disturb him Prachi closed the door and locked it. As she turned around she saw Milind turning around at the same time. Probably, his thoughts were disturbed by the noise of the bolt.
"Milind,…I didn't want to disturb you.."
"It's alright. Come here…" he said asking her to come closer to him.
Prachi walked towards him without taking her eyes off of face. His eyes held hers mesmerized as Prachi stood in front of him. "I love you…you know that don't you"
"mmm.." Prachi said with tears in her eyes. He hadn't said that to her in a long time. The last time she had heard him say that was five years ago. She always knew that he loved her but Milind saying it out loud made it all the more special.
Milind pulled her against him as he held her tightly. Both of them stood in silence as their hearts beat as one. After a few minutes, Prachi stepped out of his hands and walked to the vanity stool. Sitting down she slowly removed her earrings and Milind watched her in silence.
He wanted to talk to her. His heart was full now. He wanted to share everything with her. Prachi removed her bangles and as her eyes looked up her eyes collided with Milind's. He was watching her every action with intensity.
Prachi got up from the vanity as Milind came and stood behind her. His lips slowly traced the curve of her neck as his hands held hers to the side. "Milind…." Prachi whispered with love.
His hands went around her hips as he held both their hands against her stomach. His lips traced the shell of her ears and she shivered slightly. Turning her around he pulled her closer to him and lifted her into his arms as he carried her towards the bed.
Later as both of them lay sated, Milind started talking about Manish and Ayesha. Thinks he had kept inside him the last five years came spilling out as Prachi quietly listened to him as her head rested on his shoulders.
Milind and Prachi talked into the wee hours of the morning. Prachi told Milind about how she had met Ayesha and how they had became friends.
"If only I had known that you knew Ayesha, I would have told you everything and none of this would have happened" Milind said with heartfelt emotion.
"Milind..There is nothing we could change now. The past is gone. Let it be there..If we keep thinking about it, it will hurt us even more… But this last five years have taught me one thing Milind. It has taught me that I need to hold on to my love even more preciously than before. I will forever treasure our love Milind" saying she placed a tender kiss on his chin as her hands went around his hips.
"I love you, Prachi…." With that last words Milind and Prachi went to sleep in each other arms.
Happy, that they were now together and till eternity.
Edited by panache - 17 years ago
