CHAPTER 50 : The answers to all questions...or is it. đđ
On the occasion of the sliver jubilee of my FF, I'd like to thank all my readers and all those who encouraged me and bared with the boring FF in the name of mystery. I love you all. Thankyou very much from the deepest corner of my heart. đ¤
Milind was standing at the top of the stairs leading onto the terrace of SM. He stood a bit in awe. There she was the most beautiful creature he had laid eyes on sitting demurely by the small pool of water clad in a red Punjabi suit, adorned in all traditional jewelry, looking nothing less than a new bride. She hadn't looked up maybe she hadn't heard his footsteps as he came closer'but then she always was lost in her dream world. She was making ripples in the otherwise still water with the tips of her fingers when she suddenly stopped. She saw his reflection in the water and her fingers extended towards it but suddenly her eyes widened. If it was her imagination'why was Milind not smiling. He always smiled in her imagination'now he was looking very real. He's standing behind me, she thought shocked and turned around startled. She stood up quickly but that had not been such a good idea, she realized, as the corners of her vision started to go black and she felt herself sway. He had steadied her before she fell and she looked at his strong grasp on her arms'she wasn't dreaming again, he was really here.
"You alright?" he asked not letting go of her arms. She stood mute and he stared at her trying to fathom the silence of her eyes. Then his eyes fell on the thali that was sitting by the pool next to where she had been sitting. She could sense the question in his eyes but she was saved from answering when PL walked up to them. Neev and Ayesha had followed. "Beta jaldi vrat tod do phir sab saath mein dinner karenge" break her fast and we'll all have dinner togetherPL had smiled at Milind.
PL had been suspicious of Prachi's overextended stay at SM and tonight could have been a confirmation of her doubts and worries regarding Prachi and Milind's relationship had Milind not shown up much to her surprise. She had sent Milind up to the terrace where Prachi had been waiting all evening, first for the moon to show up and then for everyone to leave her alone so she could ask for another lifetime in which to be with the man she loved. But as PL got ready to get everyone for dinner she realized that this was Milind and Prachi's first KC and neither of them would know the rituals properly so she had come up to instruct them. Neev and Ayesha watched as Milind broke Prachi's vrat. Ayesha's mind was clouded with worries as she knew everything wasn't peachy between them but Neev sensed something else. There was something unspoken between them. Prachi had never been one to share her innermost feelings. It had taken years for Neev to realize that and finally start to read her silent cues. But she was still a mystery sometimes. As little as he knew about Milind, he suspected he too wasn't one to share his personal thoughts so often. So he wondered if the problem they were having was a result of some gap in communication.
Once the rituals were over PL walked down asking them to come for dinner. That's when finally Milind tore his eyes from Prachi and noticed that he had not even acknowledged Aeysha and Neev. "Tune vrat nahi rakha?" you didn't fast? he asked Ayesha who smiled and looked at Neev. "Aisi halat mein kaise rakhne deta Milind" how could i let her in such condition Neev answered. "Kaisi halat??" what condition? Milind asked wondering. Neev looked at Ayesha who looked apologetic at Milind. "She is pregnant, dude" Neev smiled and Milind looked at Ayesha a bit hurt. "Kehne ko toh main tera dost hoon na Ayesha'" So i am a friend of yours for namesake. Milind had accused her. "Milind voh Ritwik ka birthday aane waala hai na'maine socha uss din hi tujhe aur Sukriti ko kudh aakar bata dun. Phone pe khushi bantne mein todi mazza aata hai" Milind its just that i was going to come over on Ritwik's birthday and tell you guys face to face. Its no fun sharing good news over the phone. Ayesha had explained. But Neev interrupted "Don't worry man'mujhe bhi pata chale jyada vakt nahi hua hai." Even i found out not too long ago Ayesha turned and glared at him. He wasn't helping. Milind was very sensitive and she could see he was hurt. "Achcha aa kushi baantle" come share some happinesshe had said and extended his arm to her and she had hugged him warmly. Milind was reminded why he had come here in the first place. "Teri baat toh samajh mein aati hai Ayesha'tu roz kahan milti hai mujhe. Lekin kuch log toh din raat mere saath rehte hue bhi mujhse badi se badi baat chupa jaate hain." I understand you Ayesha..you don't see me so often. But some who were with me day and night have hidden several things from me. He had glared angrily at Prachi who felt like her heart had just leapt into her throat. She looked down and an irritated Milind walked off when he saw her playing with the end of her dupatta. He wasn't about to say more in front of Neev and Ayesha. Besides he was aware that Prachi had not eaten anything the whole day'at least she wasn't pretending to be keeping a vrat from the way she has almost fainted when she got up. He wasn't going to keep her from her dinner.
While the rest of the family chatted animatedly, Milind and Prachi remained silent. Prachi was happy she was sitting next to Milind and not in front of him because she could just sense the tension in his body. If he had looked at her she would have squirmed. She didn't know why she was so nervous'maybe it was because she could see that Milind wanted some sort of explanation'and he was surely going to ask her things that she had no answer for. How much could she lie? Suddenly they heard Suyesha's loud voice, "Mehmaan Prachi ka pati hai toh phir Prachi mehmaan ke ghar kyun nahi rehti." If the guest is Prachi's husband then why does Prachi not live in the guest's house Everyone looked at her direction shocked and a perplexed Alaap tried to tell her to be quiet. She had been questioning about Milind since he had come. Finally Alaap had told her that Milind had every right to be there as he was family. But soon she had other questions for him and he wanted to just keep a lid on that mouth of hers. Her mother senses the scene Suyesha was about to create and offers to take her away from the table but she only stood up and refused to leave. "Mummy aapne kaha tha achche bachche shaadi ke baad apne pati ke ghar rehte hain. Main achchi bachchi hoon. Prachi achchi bachchi nahi hai." Mom you had said to me that good children stay at their husband's house after marriage. I am a good kid. Prachi is not. Suyesha declared making a face at Prachi. Milind had enough. "Prachi I need to talk to you" he said getting up and headed towards Prachi's room. Prachi stole her gaze from everyone at the table and slowly walked towards her room knowing well that she didn't want to face Milind right now. Meanwhile Suyesha had started to cry and said that if Prachi was allowed to stay at her mother's house and then she too wanted to stay with her mother.
Prachi had entered her room to a Milind who stood turned away from her. "Milind'" she called out softly. He had turned around swiftly and Prachi could see the tension in his body. "Meri kya ehmiyat hai tumhari zindagi mein, Prachi" whats my place in your life Prachi? he had asked outright and Prachi had stared at him shocked. "Kya matlab?" what do you mean? she asked stammering and tried to look anywhere but at him. She was going to play games again'then fine we'll do it your way, he thought. "Prachi tumne apne ghar mein'apni mom ko, kisisi ko Ritwik ke baare mein bataaya hai? Ya yeh ki tumne usse apna kidney dene ka faisla kiya hai." Prachi have you told anyone in your family about Ritwik or that you plan to give your kidney to him? She dared to look up but had to turn away from him. "Kyun?" Why? she asked wondering about the changing tone in his voice.
Milind: "Kyun'unhe jaanne ka hakk nahi hai Prachi? tumhe yeh baat pichle 4 saal se maloom hai'lekin aaj tak kisi ko nahi bataaya tumne. do they not deserve to know? You have known this for the past 4 years and yet you told no one. You were having nighmares every day Prachi about loosing him'tab bhi kisi se apna darr baantna zaroori nahi laga tumhe? yet you didn't share your fears with anyone. Kyun? Kudh ko insaan nahi samajhti kya?" why? do you not think yourself human?
Prachi: "Milind kuch baatein bataane se apno ko takleef mein dekhna padta hai. Milind certain things, if told cause pain to those we love. Bataakar kya ho jaata. Ritwik ke liye jo kiya jaa sakta tha kar chuki hoon main. Sabko bataati toh sirf unki pareshaani bad jaati." What was the use of telling them. I had done whatever could be done for him. If i told anyone it would only help to get them worried.
Milind: "Aur mujhe kyun nahi bataaya?" And why did you not tell me?
Prachi turned back to look at him surprised. "Isliye ki mujhe bhi pareshaan dekh nahi sakti tum?" because you can't see me troubled either? he had stared right into her almond eyes moving closer to her and she had widened her eyes in panic. When had he started to read her? "Jin apno ki takleef se tumhe takleef hoti hai'unme mujhe kab shaamil kiya tha Prachi?" when did you include me in the list of people who's pain you can't bare he had asked coolly almost feeling proud at the expression on her face. She didn't have to answer really for him to know he was right. She loved him'and she couldn't deny it'he wouldn't let her.
"Aisa kuch nahi hai Milind" there is nothing like that Milind she tried to brush past him her face still giving away her fear of being caught. But it was too late. Milind had caught her arm and turned her to face him again. "Achcha toh saara din bhooki reh kar kiske liye dua kar rahi thi tu? Mujhe dekh kar khushi se tere aankh chalak rahe the.." whom were you praying for while fasting the whole day. Why was the happiness in your eyes brimming into tears when you saw me he said menacingly. "Voh toh mom ko dikhane ke liye'" I was pretending for mom's sake but her sentence was cut short. Milind had put his hand behind her head and pulled her to him by the neck and now he stood pressing his forehead against hers' "Don't lie to me Prachi" he said grinding every word in his mouth. "Mujhe jhoot bilkul nahi pasand" I don't like lies Prachi and Prachi had tried to push him away but she couldn't. He was too strong and she looked away unable to hide her tears. Why was this happening, she cursed her fate. Why must everything be so difficult. Milind released his grip on her and she staggered back to her bed and sat down staring into space. "Prachi tu apne dil ki baat sach sach kyun nahi kehti" why don't you share whats in your heart truthfully his tone had changed again. Now it almost sounded like pleading. He had come towards her and sat by her on the carpet looking up at her tear stained face. "Prachi" he had said softly his eyes expressing his desire clearly to her. He had placed his hand on her clasped ones. But she suddenly shot up shrugging his touch. She couldn't let him talk. He'd break her resolve. She couldn't look at him. She couldn't see his pain. She had to be stronger.
Prachi: "Tum yahaan yeh bataane aaye ho ki mujhe tumse pyaar ho gaya hai Milind?" Did you come here to tell me that i am in love with you? Milind had knitted his brow surprised by the suddenness that she had stood up with. He too stood up but remained quiet. "Aur shayad tumhe bhi mujhse'" and that maybe you are too. she had turned around and wiped her face forcefully. She gave him a smile that was full of all the sarcasm she could muster. Then she walked upto her almirah and produced a stack in black satin while Milind just gaped at her. What was this doing with her? "Yeh haina'tumhaara pyar." this is your love right And Milind suddenly started to feel guilty about something..he wasn't sure what. "Jis pyar ka tum 5 saal intezaar karte rahe Milind'bhool gayi uss pyar ko? Kyun?" You forgot the love you had waited for for 5 years...why? Prachi questioned him putting the stack of papers back in his hand. He looked down at them and filled with rage he flung it on her bed. "Yeh pyaar nahi dokha tha' sirf ek khel" Its wasn't love, it was betrayal...just a game he replied anger flashing in he dark eyes and Prachi had to take a step back involuntarily. Then she composed herself and replied, "Yeh dokha tha toh itne saal intezaar kyun kiya Milind. if it was betrayal then why did you wait so many years Milind? Sach yeh hai Milind ki meri aadat ho gayi hai tumhe. Mere saath zindagi asaan ho gayi hai tumhaari. The truth is that you have grown used to a life with me. I make your life easier. Isliye bhool gaye ki kisi ka intezaar tha tumhe'ki tumhaara dil kisi aur ki amanat hai. So you conveniently forgot that you were waiting for someone, that your heart belongs to someone else. Mujhe kisiki aadat bankar rehna manzoor nahi hai Milind. Joh insaan apna pyar bhool sakta hai'adaat bhulte kitni der lagegi." I don't have any desire to live as somone's habbit. The man who can forget his love can forget a habbit just as easily. Her words had pierced his heart. One thing was clear to him that she had no clue it was Anjali who had played games with his heart and his life. And he could have told her now'that the woman he was accused of betraying had no remorse for leaving him at all'but knowing the bond Prachi shared with Anjali he thought it better to hide that fact from her. She just didn't know the depth of his feelings. "Prachi jaisa tum samajh rahi ho vaisa nahi hai" Prachi its not what you think but he was cut short. "Vaisa hi hai Milind'aur mujhe kuch nahi sunna. Tum chale jaao yahaan se please" It is exactly like i said Milind and i don't want to hear anything else. Just leave from here. She had burst out with fresh tears and he had tried to reason with her. She was pushing him away refusing to let him speak and exasperated he had held both her hands. He had felt desperate. He felt that if he gave up on her now he'd never find his happiness. He wanted her in his life and he wasn't going to let go that easily. She had to understand that his feeling ran deeper for her than it did for the other women he had ever thought of.
Suddenly Milind found himself pushing Prachi against the wall to get her to be still. She was trying to free her arms so she could put it on her ears and tune off anything he was saying. He didn't understand why she was being so adamant and not even letting him utter a word. She kept shaking her head and saying no and asking him to get out. It was then that her back hit the wall and she bounced back against him, only this time he had come way too close to her face and as she turned her face and their lips had met. It was a graze but Milind had suddenly let her hands go free. He stepped back a bit in dazed confusion. She still had tears streaming her face but she had turned away from him and was hugging the wall. Milind had taken a few more steps back and he ran his fingers through his hair in absolute confusion. Maybe it was that he wanted Prachi so much that he was imagining the similarity. But his heart was beating loudly in his chest and he could feel the pulse right up to his ears'it was as if his heart was telling that she was the girl'it was Prachi that he loved'and it was only her that he had ever loved. The moment their lips had touched..he knew the taste..he knew what it felt like to kiss her. They had never kissed before, then how? Then suddenly it had hit him and his eyes had flashed. Prachi had noticed the glimpse of it and she had cowered down, away from his sight. She had prayed fervently that he'd not remember. But it was no longer in her hands.
He turned away from her, his thoughts running wild in his head driving him crazy. It was ridiculous'he wasn't even sure'maybe if he kissed her again he'd know for sure'but he couldn't. She had slid down the wall and was now sitting with her head buried in her knees. But still it wasn't possible, he told himself. How could he be mistaken'how could he not know the difference between Anjali and Prachi. It made no sense. Everything Prachi had said to him today'just moments ago..what was that'why had she said all those things. He looked at the papers strewn on the bed and back at Prachi's sobbing form. He needed to get away'he needed some air'and he needed to think clearly. He grabbed the pieces of the puzzle his life had become now, off of Prachi's bed and he walked out without saying a word. It was after Milind left that Prachi looked up at the closed door and started crying bitterly. Things were definitely not going as she had hoped.
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The rest of this FF will be dedicated to my dearest akka - Optimist for all the numerous guesses she gave me on the mystery behind Michi relationship.
Next part: will have some flashback.đ
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