Chapter 18 - Conditions and Compromises
Part I
Present
Milind and Neev had rushed to hold PL as she was falling and they both carried her to the couch. Ayesha and Prachi were understandably nervous but within a few seconds PL opened her eyes slowly. She was drained from the dizziness, she hadn't eaten anything since that morning. So they let her stay in her stuporous state and rest until she was strong enough to get up again. Prachi went to the kitchen to get her mother some food. Ayesha stayed put with PL and Milind had no heart to leave yes because Ritwik was warming up to him more and more as the minutes passed. Neev felt awkward and decided to join Prachi. He also had some questions for her.
As Prachi was warming up the food, she thought back to what had just transpired between her and Milind within the half hour.
Prachi had been startled by her mom's voice that said something about Milind and she had hit her head hard on the bottom of the bed. She slowly came out from underneath to be even more embarrassed by the amused look on Milind's face. Prachi hadn't even started to gather herself when her mother left the room and the door closed behind her. Prachi had felt intruded. Her room was her personal space and now Milind was standing in it.
"Voh, mein Ritwik se..", Milind started to say but Prachi put her fingers on her lips motioning him to be quiet. Then she gestured with her eyes that he was under the bed. Finally Milind understood why Prachi was laying on the floor like that. "I am trying to get him to drink some milk," she whispered. Milind walked around to the other side of the bed, though he felt very uncomfortable in the confined place, especially with Prachi's eyes following his every step. He pulled on his pants slightly and bend down near the bed and slowly poked his head underneath. Ritwik was laying on his stomach, facing the head of the bed. He was enjoying his coloring book and the crayons were scattered around him. The presence of a stranger caused him to jerk up his head and Milind immediately reached in with his long hands to protect him from hitting it on the bed. Ritwik got intimidated by the gesture and slid towards Prachi who was now watching them from the other side. Prachi tried to reach his hand and pull him out. "Munna, aajao dudh pee lo, she tried to tell him but he quickly retreated from her too and into the top corner. He looked quizzically at Milind and Prachi said, "beta yeh aapke maama hain. Aapse milne aye hain. Namaste karo." "Namaste maama," the little one obliged sweetly. "Ok now, bahar aajao aur jaldi se dudh pee lo. Phir hum maama ji ke saath bohot saare games khelenge," Prachi tried again. He looked at Milind as if considering the offer then, shook his head with an impish grin and screamed "Nahi". "Ritwik, dekho mein tumhaare liye toys laya hoon, bohot saare. Lekin agar tum bahar hi nahi aayoge toh toys kaise milenge tumhe?," Milind tried to bribe him. Ritwik was slightly enticed and dropped his crayons. "Toys" he said with a glint in his eyes. He was now facing Milind and while Ritwik was distracted, Prachi was trying to sneak further in and grab Ritwik from behind. But soon Ritwik changed his mind and said, "Toys nahi" and as he was about to go back to his coloring, Milind grabbed his hand and pulled him out with the kind of force that even Prachi came out the other end because she had also grabbed hold of Ritwik at the same time.
Milind got up with a squirming Ritwik in one hand and gave his other hand to Prachi who was still half way under the bed. Prachi was now slightly flushed at her own weightlessness and she mindlessly grabbed his hand and pulled herself up. As soon as she was standing Ritwik jumped into her hands and she almost fell back on the bed. But she made him drink his milk none the less before he got himself free from her grasp.
Milind had watched the boy closely. He had Sukriti's eyes, her nose, and lips, eyebrows. But his hair was curly like…never mind he thought. He resembled Sukriti in more ways than one. But he had also watched how Prachi was with Ritwik. The way she was holding him while he drank the milk and getting him to drink one more sip every time he handed her the glass back. A familiar feeling crept up in him. He had longed for a mother so much as a child. Even though he never showed it to anyone, secretly he used to be miserable every time he saw a mother lovingly care for her son. He decided then that he would do anything he could to make sure Ritwik never felt that void in his life. Which brought him to the other reason he was in Prachi's room.
Part II "Prachi, can I talk to you?", Milind said as Ritwik went back under the bed. She looked up to give permission. He was leaning on her window sill and continued. "I am sure that if we go to court for Ritwik's custody, likely, I will win the case." Here he goes again, thought Prachi. But she wanted to let him finish before she said anything. "But the truth is that Sukriti is not in a position to take care of Ritwik and I can't spend every moment of the day with him either. And I am not willing to let my nephew be raised by an employee of mine. So I have been giving serious thought to Ayesha's proposal for the past two days and I have come to the same conclusion. You would be the best person to take care of him and I think we should…"
"We should what?" came a sharp reply. "Are you asking me to marry you Milind?", Prachi asked standing up. So that you can have a caretaker for Ritwik whom you don't have to pay." Prachi was having an out of body experience at this moment. She couldn't figure out why she was angry at Milind even though he had just agreed to the same things she wanted. It was probably the fact that Milind was assuming too much about Prachi. What made him think that Prachi would see this an an opportunity of a life time.
"Milind you and I both know how much you hate me and my family. What makes you think I want to marry you? And what, you think you are doing me a favor by allowing me to take care of Ritwik? Let me clear that misunderstanding for you."
"Ritwik" She called and the boy came out. "Beta yeh uncle aapko apne saath apne ghar le jayenge thodi der ke liye. Aap inke saath jao, theek hai? Bohot bada aur achcha ghar hai inka. Vahaan bohot saare toys hai. Theek hai?" Ritwik looked at Milind and then Prachi and his big brown eyes filled with sorrow. He hugged Prachi as if his life depended on it and hid his face from Milind." "Milind, jo bachcha mujhse kuch ghanto ke liye bhi door nahi reh sakta tum usko mujhse judaa karne chale the?" came Prachi's smug reply.
Ritwik was now crying and wetting Prachi's salwar. He needed to be consoled by Prachi that she wasn't going to make him go with the stranger. But he insisted on being held and Prachi sat down with him on the bed.
Milind was quiet. He had started off on the wrong foot, he realized. But before he could muster up a good come back, Prachi had started her speech again.
Prachi looked at Milind's concerned face and said, "Don't worry Milind. I am not refusing the proposal. I just wanted you to know that I am doing this not just so that I can be with Ritwik, but because I want to see Sukriti healthy again just like you do. Believe it or not, I used to like Sukriti a lot."
Milind: "I didn't come to discuss your feelings for Sukriti. I don't care if you feel sorry for her or not, I just care about my sister's and her son's future." A few seconds later he continued in a calmer voice, "Since we seem to be on the same page in regard to whether or not we should get married, I want to make a few things clear. This is in no way a real marriage.Don't expect a husband-wife relation between us. It will never happen. Don't ever interfere in my matters and I will not interfere in yours. Alaap will never step into my house to meet you. And if ever you want to break this marriage, you will give up claim on Ritwik and if I am the one to seek a divorce then you can keep him."
Milind looked at Prachi's face for her reply and he only saw a stone face but immediately it turned into a painful expression and Milind thought she was about to cry. "How can you do that to me Milind. I have so many dreams in my eyes of a life with you. How could you break all of them in one instance with your cruel and unusual conditions." Prachi had wailed holding onto his hand. Milind realized that she was teasing and jerked his hand from her grip. She burst out laughing. Milind turned his head and was surprised that he was smiling too but he quickly wiped that smile off and turned back to Prachi who also got control of her laughter.
"Milind, I have no problems with your conditions. But I want to add two of my own. Firstly, as long as we are married, you will not make any decisions effecting Ritwik without my consent." Milind thought for a moment and said, "Fair enough." "And my second condition is even more important and I want you to promise me this without any added clauses." Prachi had gotten sober and Milind now wondered what could be so important. She looked intently into his eyes and Milind was starting to get the eerie feeling again, like he had known her before. "I want you to promise me Milind that you will, under no circumstance, fall in love with me." Milind was shocked for a second. Then he laughed so hard his stomach hurt. But Prachi was still serious. Milind looked at her and said, "I don't watch too many English movies Prachi but A Walk To Remember was definitely one that I saw. And trust me nothing like that is going to happen in our lives. I promise you that I will not fall for you. Beside I am already…Milind stopped himself. But he continued laughing.
Part III "So Prachi, that was quite a surprise you threw on us," Neev's voice startled Prachi who had been unaware of his entry into the kitchen. "What do you mean a surprise. It was your wife's idea," came the reply. "What?" he asked even more surprised than he was with Prachi's initial announcement. "It was her idea that Milind and I should get married, Prachi continued. "This way we both get to keep Ritwik. Isn't she so wonderful. Coming up with brilliant ideas that solve everyone's problems." Neev had a feeling that Prachi was being sarcastic. "But how can you agree to that Prachi? What about...?" Neev stopped his sentence midway seeing the expression on Prachi's face. "I am sorry Prachi. I shouldn't have brought it up," Neev truly felt sorry.
Prachi: "Neev, I have waited long enough. And its time to let go. How many times have you and mom tried to get me to move on. So here Neev, I am moving on."
Neev: "But he hates you Prachi. He will always see you as Alaap's sister. What kind of life will you have. How can you make such a huge compromise after all that you did."
Prachi: "I am not expecting anything from him. I only want the satisfaction of having Ritwik in my life, that's it. I don't need anything else." Prachi turned around indicating that she didn't want to continue this conversation. She listened for his retreating steps and gave out a sigh. Neev was right, she had compromised her dreams for Ritwik. But Ritwik was every bit worth the pangs that her heart was sure to feel. She had come to terms with her destiny. A destiny that left no room love in her life.
Although Neev had retreated, Prachi knew that her mom would soon sit up and ask her the same questions. She couldn't tell the same sorry story to her mother. She quickly prepared the plate and took it out to the dining table. Then she joined Milind and Ayesha in the living room. "Milind could you come out for a minute", she whispered to Milind as she came closer to him. She didn't want to wake her mother yet.
Milind and Prachi walked to the side room. "Milind I know what our marriage is really going to be. But my mother is someone I don't want to hurt. She worries about me a lot and by revealing the terms of our marriage I don't want to burden her heavy heart. I know I shouldn't ask but as a favor could you please not let my mother know about it. Just for her could you pretend that you really want to marry me."
This is what Milind was afraid of. He hated pretense. And he knew he might have to do exactly that if he chose this path. "Milind please," Prachi was almost pleading. But Milind just clenched his jaws and walked away with his hands in his pocket. Prachi had tried. She came back into the living room and woke up PL. "Maa app kuch kha lijiye." PL sat up and looked again at Prachi who was trying her best to not give out any emotions. Then she addressed Milind. "Tum log sach mein shaadi..?" She asked still trying to fathom how this had happened. Milind took a long breath and Prachi turned to him still pleading with her eyes. Jee, agar aap ki ijazzat ho toh" he kept it short trying his best not to lie. "Lekin yeh sab…achanak…mujhe kuch samajh nahi aaya." Prachi cut in, "Maa aap pehle kuch kha lijiye. Baad mein sab baatein ho jayengi." Milind was relieved that he didn't have to answer PL.
Later, after Milind left, Prachi had told PL that Milind had changed quiet a bit in the past 5 years. She tried her best to make her mother believe that Milind wanted to marry her because all his anger against the Shahs had melted away by the way Prachi had cared for Ritwik. She further added that he was trying to forget the bad past and make a better future. PL had listened to the crap Prachi fed her and let it leave through the other ear. She had seen more life than Prachi cared to acknowledge and she knew well that this was a compromise marriage for her daughter. But if Milind and Prachi were not going to be honest about it with her, then she would just play along she decided.
She couldn't let Prachi be in a fake relationship. For how long was Prachi planning on continuing it. As a mother she just couldn't let her daughter make such foolish decisions. But when it came to Ritwik, Prachi just knew no reason. She quickly brainstormed ideas but she couldn't come up with anything. That night she decided it was time to call for help. She dialed Bobby's cell phone. The call went straight to the voice mail "If you hear this message, it means that I am busy studying or that I just don't wanna talk to you. So leave a message but I probably won't call you back" Beeep… "Bobby, mein teri maa bol rahi hoon. Agar tune adhe ghante mein vapis phone nahi kiya na toh ghar ka raasta bhool jayio, samjha."
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up next: Does PL find the help she is seeking???😃
[code]Translation:
Part I
"Voh, mein Ritwik se..", I came to meet Ritwik..
"Munna, aajao dudh pee lo, Munna come and drink the milk.
"beta yeh aapke maama hain. He is your uncle. Aapse milne aye hain. He came to meet you Namaste karo." Say hello. "Namaste maama," Hello uncle, the little one obliged sweetly. "Ok now, bahar aajao aur jaldi se dudh pee lo. Ok now come out and drink your milk. Phir hum maama ji ke saath bohot saare games khelenge, Then we'll play lots of games with your uncle"
"Nahi". NO! "Ritwik, dekho mein tumhaare liye toys laya hoon, bohot saare. Ritwik look I brought you so many toys. Lekin agar tum bahar hi nahi aayoge toh toys kaise milenge tumhe?," But if you don't come out how will you play with them.
Part II
"Beta yeh uncle aapko apne saath apne ghar le jayenge thodi der ke liye. Aap inke saath jao, theek hai?" Baby you are going to go with this uncle to his house, ok? Bohot bada aur achcha ghar hai inka. Vahaan bohot saare toys hai. Theek hai? He had a big and beautiful house with lots of toys.
"Milind, jo bachcha mujhse kuch ghanto ke liye bhi door nahi reh sakta tum usko mujhse judaa karne chale the?" Milind the child that can't be without me for a few hours, you are trying to take him away from me?
Part III
"Maa app kuch kha lijiye." Maa eat something
"Tum log sach mein shaadi..?" you guys are really getting married. "Jee, agar aap ki ijazzat ho toh" yes, if I have your permission
"Lekin yeh sab…achanak…mujhe kuch samajh nahi aaya." But how did this happen…suddenly
"Maa aap pehle kuch kha lijiye. Baad mein sab baatein ho jayengi." Maa please eat something first. We can talk about this later
"Bobby, mein teri maa bol rahi hoon. Agar tune adhe ghante mein vapis phone nahi kiya na toh ghar ka raasta bhool jayio, samjha." Bobby, this is your mother. If you don't call me back in a half hour you might as well forget your way home.
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Edited by jinc118 - 17 years ago
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