Chapter 13 - Silence
Run! Run Prachi Run!, seemed to be the only words her brain had commanded her to do. But her feet seemed to be made of stone. She felt her face burning suddenly and saw the look Ayesha gave her. She immediately turned away, not wanting to give anything away from her face. She furiously tried to control herself. And she saw her escape…the door wide open…and her way was clear. All she had to do was run for it. She took a step forward but then halted.
Ayesha's suggestion had hit her like a bomb. It was completely unexpected and she couldn't even think a coherent thought let alone express what she felt about it. Her mind was blank one second and bombarded with images, words and memories the next. She knew the reason for her condition. But Milind also had not reacted yet to what Ayesha said. Or maybe she hadn't noticed Milind's reaction. Now she wanted to know what he was feeling at this moment. She wanted desperately to face him and read his face, his eyes. But her face was still burning, she was sure her face was red, flustered and she couldn't let Ayesha or Milind see her like this. In her dilemma she remained rooted, constantly twirling her fingers in her dupatta.
After what seemed like an eternity, Ayesha broke the silence. "Ahem, so…you guys have something to say, or would both of you rather rip Ritwik into pieces? Prachi? Milind? hello…earth to both of you!"
Prachi heard Milind shift. Prachi still had her back to both of them but she felt that Milind was about to say something. She realized she was holding her breath and mentally reprimanded herself for reacting that way. But the tense silence of the room was broken by Milind's cell phone. Milind picked it up and spoke while Prachi cursed the caller. After Milind hung up, he turned to Ayesha, and without so much as a glance at Prachi, he said, "I think you guys should leave now. I have something important to take care of."
Ayesha tried to protest. She wanted an answer from both of them. But Milind had already walked away toward one of the other rooms and Ayesha was left with no option but to leave. Prachi still had her back to her and Ayesha couldn't see what her reaction was either. She walked past Prachi and out the door and heard Prachi following her. The car ride home was silent. Ayesha had glanced a few times over at Prachi but she seemed to have a far away look in her eyes. Ayesha couldn't read her at all. Ayesha thought she should talk to Prachi and try to find out what she was thinking but then decided against it. Prachi looked like she had a lot on her mind and Ayesha wanted to give her the time to sort through her thoughts.
I would have updated sooner...but i couldn't decide if i want Alaap dead or alive.😆
Chapter 14 – Good times to come.
Premlata was running after little Ritwik who refused to wear his pants when Prachi and Ayesha walked in together. This was a new sight for Premlata. She didn't know that they had left together or where they had gone. When she came back from her shopping, Ramu kaka had informed her that Prachi had left Ritwik with him and gone somewhere urgently. To see her returning with Ayesha was a very pleasent sight to PL. To see the two of them bonding was a secret wish in PL's heart.
Premlata worried about Prachi. She had grown up to be a shy girl. With the problems that life dealt her in the past 5 years, she had gone completely into a shell. After Inder's death she barely spoke to anyone. And if she did, she usually sounded angry and irritated. She rarely interacted with any other family member. The ever smiling, sweet Prachi was gone. She even stayed aloof of her own mother. Prachi's mood swings had taken a dangerous turn sometimes and they had even consulted a psychiatrist a few time about this.
Occasionally, PL had seen Prachi react positively to Ayesha and wondered why it is that the sisters who seemed to connect on a deep level, remained cold towards each other. Then Ayesha had brought Ritwik home and Prachi had pretty much limited herself to him. PL only saw her smile when she was with Ritwik and so PL let her be with him, though the growing attachment between the two was a concern for her. She knew that Milind would come back some day and there would a battle over Ritwik. She had tried to warn Prachi but Prachi didn't seem to be bothered then. Ritwik had slowly started to change Prachi's behavior. As the years passed by, Prachi at least became civil to her family, well, excluding Alaap, PL thought.
She had never been able to forgive Alaap, and to some extent even PL hadn't forgiven him. But he was her son and no mother can hold a grudge against her own child, nor can she wish ill for him. Alaap was the only child that had disappointed PL. She wondered what she had done wrong with him. He had grown up to be a person with no conscience, a disappointing son, but he was a very caring brother. He was especially close to Prachi, possibly because he had spent the most time with her as a child before he went away to boarding school. Prachi's cold shoulders had really gotten to him. No longer being able to live with her hatred he had decided to move in with his uncle in Delhi and handle their business there. He had hoped that distance would allow his family to forget the past. But Prachi couldn't forget, especially since she witnessed Alaap's sins taking a toll on Ritwik. The boy's survival had been nothing short of a miracle.
It was strange, but sometimes PL felt that Prachi had attached herself to Ritwik purposefully. She felt that Prachi was doing a penance for Alaap's sins. So many times, PL had tried to get her daughter to move on in life but two broken relationships later, Prachi had decided that she wouldn't let others decide her fate. PL had tried her best to get Prachi to change her mind, but Prachi seemed content living her life as Ritwik's mother.
She came out of her surprised expression when Prachi asked her for Ritwik's pants, which she was still holding. "Tum kahan gayi thi, mein iss shaitaan se pareshaan ho rahi thi." Prachi had a preoccupied look on her face and she didn't hear what PL had asked her. As Prachi walked away with Ritwik in her arms, PL turned to Ayesha who was headed to her room. "Tum aaj jaldi kaise aa gayi, Ayesha. Aur Prachi kahan mili tumhe."
"Voh, Prachi mere saath hi thi. Hum dono…kuch kaam tha" Ayesha trailed off. "Jo kaam do behnon ke beech ki duriyan mitaye, voh achcha hi hoga. Bhagvaan kare tumhaara kaam poora ho jaye", PL had replied. "Mein bhi yahi chahti hoon, ki jiss kaam se mein gayi thi voh poora ho jaye", Ayesha said under her breath. And PL thought she saw Ayesha's lips curling into a tiny smile. God must have decided to bless her children, she thought. And she couldn't help feeling that good things were about to come.
Chapter 15 – "Double Double Toil and trouble."
Milind drove himself in his recently arrived favorite car straight into Shah mansion. As he passed the gates, he remembered the last time he had entered the place. Instantly filled with bitter memories, he tried to push away the thoughts and parked the car. He was about to take a risk and he looked more confident than ever as he entered the front doors. He walked in through the long corridor and tried to be more positive keeping in mind that he was about to meet Ritwik for the first time. The thought brought a smile to his face. As he was walking he could hear someone talking in the room parallel to the corridor. A woman, who he guessed to be PL, Inder Shah's wife was excitedly telling someone to go somewhere.
PL had walked into the living room and started to call all the residents of Shah mansion. Neev was the first to appear in front of her and she grabbed him excitedly and said, "Neev jaa, jaake mithai lekar aa." Neev was excited seeing PL so happy. "Kya baat hai maa," he asked unable to hold his curiosity. "Tu phele mithai laa phir bataongi kya baat hai." "Haa, maa mein le aayunga par yeh to batayiye baat kya hai." "Neev tu waqt barbaad mat kar, mithayi lekar aa bas. Aaj mein tujhe tera favorite gajar ka halwa khilaungi." And she pushed him towards the door. Neev wouldn't blink twice before jumping a 5 story building for gajar ka halwa by PL. But he really wanted to know what was the good news and he kept looking back at PL's as she told Ramu Kaka that God has brought happiness to their door again.
And for a second Neev felt like it was the happiness PL was referring to that he had bumped into at the door. He turned around to see a surprisingly sophisticated looking Milind standing at the door, waiting for him to apologize. He got a flash of the last time he had seen Milind in his torn jeans and shabby unbuttoned shirt, unruly hair and a snarl on his face. At least the snarl was still there. Neev stood at the door with his arms crossed staring at Milind with an scowl matching his. PL noticed someone at the door and stepped forward to see who it was. She wasn't too surprised to see Milind. And she invited him in, as Neev stepped aside.
After greeting each other, Milind without wasting time told PL that he was here to see Ritwik. "Ritwik toh Prachi ke paas hai. Main usse bula kar laati hoon," PL said uncertainly. She headed to Prachi's room but Milind stopped her and said, "Mujhe Prachi se bhi baat karni hai, kya mein un dono se akele mein mil sakta hoon?" Now this was surprising to PL. PL looked at Milind waiting for further explanation but she got none. She then motioned him to come with her and she took him upstairs to Prachi's room.
She knocked on Prachi's door and slowly opened the door and found Prachi laying on the carpet with her head under her bed. PL quickly said, Prachi tumse milne Milind aaya hai. As expected, Prachi jerked her head, startled, and hit her head on the furniture. Then she slowly removed her head from under the bed and looked at her mother surprised. But her eyes widened even more as she saw Milind standing behind her mother. "Milind, Ritwik se milne aaya hai, Prachi aur tumse bhi kuch baat karni hai usko," PL said looking back and forth between Milind and Prachi. PL couldn't figure out what was going on between them but something surely was. She slowly stepped out of the room and the door closed on her.
She walked downstairs not knowing what to make out of Milind's sudden request to talk to Prachi alone. "Voh Prachi se kyun milna chahta hai maa," Neev's voice broke her thoughts. "Pata nahi Neev, shayad Ritwik ke baare mein…" Then she realized that Neev had not done what she had asked him. "Maine tumhe mithayi lane ko kaha tha na. Tum abhi tak yahin kade ho." Neev didn't want to go but PL pushed him out.
"I don't like him", Neev thought as he headed out. And he didn't like the fact that Milind was in Prachi's room, unmonitored. What could he be saying to her. Could he be threatening her, was he here to take Ritwik? Milind was the kind of people who thought they could intimidate everyone around them to get what they want. But Neev was not going to let Milind hurt his family. Neev was going to make sure he comes back before Milind leaves, and if anything had happened while he was gone, he would make sure Milind regretted it.
20-30 minutes later:
Neev and PL were sitting in the living room, anxious about what was happening in Prachi's room. There was no noise coming downstairs, so at least they weren't fighting thought PL. Ayesha had joined them and PL had told them that she had something good to tell them all but would tell them together when Prachi also comes down. So they were waiting.
Finally Prachi and Milind came downstairs with Ritwik holding Prachi's hand. PL looked up at their serious faces and thought she should probably spill the beans first. "Prachi mujhe ek kush khabari deni hai tumhe. Pehle yeh mithayi khao," PL said taking out a piece of the sweet Neev had brought. "Saumya ka phone aaya tha beta," she continued.
Prachi: "maa pehle mein aapse kuch kehna chahti hoon."
PL: "Usne mujhe aisi khabar sunayi Prachi ke mere pair zameen pe nahi tik rahe."
Prachi: "Maa, maine ek phaisla kiya hai." PL wasn't listening.
"Beta woh maa banne wali hai," PL said at the same time Prachi screamed,
"Maa main aur Milind shaadi kar rahe hain."
And PL dropped the piece of barfi she was holding out for Prachi. PL didn't hear everything Prachi had said, but heard "Milind" and "shaadi".
PL stared at both of them in disbelief and both of them turned their gazes away from her. PL had a sinking feeling. She looked down at little Ritwik who was now standing between them and holding both their hands and swinging himself joyfully. PL tried to replay the last 2 minutes in her head but all she could see was darkness as she felt her body going limp and thought it must have been Neev who grabbed her to prevent her from falling down.
Up Next: What happened between Michi in the room. 😳 (hey no naughty thoughts...Ritwik was in there with them.😆😆😆)
[code] Translations:
Chapter 14
She came out of her surprised expression when Prachi asked her for Ritwik's pants, which she was still holding. "Tum kahan gayi thi, mein iss shaitaan se pareshaan ho rahi thi." Where did you go, I was having so much trouble with this one. Prachi had a preoccupied look on her face and she didn't hear what PL had asked her. As Prachi walked away with Ritwik in her arms, PL turned to Ayesha who was headed to her room. "Tum aaj jaldi kaise aa gayi, Ayesha. How come you are early today, Ayesha? Aur Prachi kahan mili tumhe. And where did you find Prachi?"
"Voh, Prachi mere saath hi thi. Hum dono…kuch kaam tha" Prachi was with me. We went together to…there was something important. Ayesha trailed off. "Jo kaam do behnon ke beech ki duriyan mitaye, voh achcha hi hoga. Whatever brings two sisters together must be a good thing Bhagvaan kare tumhaara kaam poora ho jaye", May god make that work successful PL had replied. "Mein bhi yahi chahti hoon, ki jiss kaam se mein gayi thi voh poora ho jaye",That's what I want too, that my work would be successful Ayesha said under her breath. And PL thought she saw Ayesha's lips curling into a tiny smile. God must have decided to bless her children, she thought. And she couldn't help feeling that good things were about to come.
Chapter 15
and said, "Neev jaa, jaake mithai lekar aa." Neev go and buy some sweets. Neev was excited seeing PL so happy. "Kya baat hai maa," What is the matter maa he asked unable to hold his curiosity. "Tu phele mithai laa phir bataongi kya baat hai." First go get the sweets. "Haa, maa mein le aayunga par yeh to batayiye baat kya hai." Yes I will but tell me what is going on "Neev tu waqt barbaad mat kar, mithayi lekar aa bas. Neev don't waste time, just go get some sweets Aaj mein tujhe tera favorite gajar ka halwa khilaungi. Today I'll even make your favorite dessert"
"Ritwik toh Prachi ke paas hai. Ritwik is with Prachi Main usse bula kar laati hoon," I will go get him. PL said uncertainly. She headed to Prachi's room but Milind stopped her and said, "Mujhe Prachi se bhi baat karni hai, kya mein un dono se akele mein mil sakta hoon?" I need to speak with Prachi too, can I meet them both alone. Now this was surprising to PL. PL looked at Milind waiting for further
Milind, Ritwik se milne aaya hai, Prachi aur tumse bhi kuch baat karni hai usko," Milind has come to meet Ritwik and has something to talk to you about.
"Voh Prachi se kyun milna chahta hai maa," Why does he want to meet Prachi? Neev's voice broke her thoughts. "Pata nahi Neev, shayad Ritwik ke baare mein…" Don't know Neev, maybe its about Ritwik Then she realized that Neev had not done what she had asked him. "Maine tumhe mithayi lane ko kaha tha na. Tum abhi tak yahin kade ho." Didn't I tell you to get sweets, why are you still standing?
"Prachi mujhe ek kush khabari deni hai tumhe. Pehle yeh mithayi khao," Prachi I have to give you some good news, first take this sweets PL said taking out a piece of the sweet Neev had brought. "Saumya ka phone aaya tha beta," Soumya called. she continued.
Prachi: "maa pehle mein aapse kuch kehna chahti hoon." Mom I have something to say first.
PL: "Usne mujhe aisi khabar sunayi Prachi ke mere pair zameen pe nahi tik rahe." She told me such a news that I can't contain myself.
Prachi: "Maa, maine ek phaisla kiya hai." Mom I have taken a decision PL wasn't listening.
"Beta woh maa banne wali hai," She is pregnant. PL said at the same time Prachi screamed,
"Maa main aur Milind shaadi kar rahe hain." Mom, Milind and I are getting married.
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Takhliya
JC
Edited by jinc118 - 17 years ago
Shiv Shakti
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Arjun
