Chapter 20 – The engagement.
The next few weeks had gone by in a blur. Milind had wanted the marriage to be a low key affair. He hadn't even wanted a traditional wedding, but Prachi and Ayesha had convinced him that PL was big on traditions and she would get suspicious if he didn't agree. But soon Milind found himself agreeing to a wedding much bigger than he had planned. Milind just didn't feel comfortable in his own skin when PL looked at him with her piercing eyes as he lied to her. So he tried to avoid any discussion regarding the wedding which allowed PL to pretty much decide that she would host every ceremony in the book for a traditional hindu wedding. It was another fact, that PL was trying to prolong the actual wedding as much as she could. She had gotten Milind to wait two weeks till an official engagement was held.
The day before the engagement, Bobby had arrived, alone. As Bobby came home, he saw his mother at the temple by the entrance of the house and he dropped his luggage slowly and sneaked up to her. But as he got close enough to hug her she finished her prayers and turned around with the pooja-plate in front of her and he disappointedly waved his hand over the lamp in the plate. PL however was ecstatic and he touched her feet and the first thing she asked him was about his exams. "They were fine ma," he replied "I think I did good." Immediately PL looked behind him and he turned around to the empty space. Then he realized she was looking for Anju. He sighed and turned around. "She didn't come with me. But I did leave a message with all her contacts in Chicago and her workplace. I am sure she'll get the message mom and she'll come soon enough. Now ma, can you focus a little bit on your son who is standing in front of you." He hugged her saying, "Missed you so much ma." "I missed you too beta," she smiled as she hugged him back with one hand. But she couldn't hide her disappointment in not finding Anju.
Bobby had had breakfast with his family and headed straight to bed. He was very tired after the cumbersome journey from Chicago to New York to London and then to Mumbai. He slept most of the morning and the afternoon until he was awoken for lunch. Soumya who now lived in Delhi with her husbad had arrived while he was still sleeping and they had caught up on each other's lives. Soumya had definitely changed in the last two years since her marriage. She was a mature woman now. She had had her share of troubles in the form of her in-laws but she had handled the situation with lan. She had successfully adjusted in her husband's family and was now very happy especially with the pregnancy. He in turn had the stories of med school to tell her, which mostly grossed her out. But he had always loved to annoy Soumya. Soon it was time for the engagement. Amidst all this Bobby hadn't got a chance to talk to Prachi. He had wanted to but Prachi had successfully evaded the situation.
The engagement was to be held at Milind's new hotel. Bobby, Soumya and Neev left for the hotel before the others. Prachi, Ayesha, and PL arrived with Ritwik 2 hours before the party was to start. They were given a few rooms on the 5th floor and Soumya was helping Prachi get dressed, while PL decided to check up on how things were downstairs in the party hall. Prachi had never been able to figure out how to use makeup properly and she had no intention of mastering that skill now either. She didn't like clogging her pores with chemicals. The most she was capable of doing was wear eye liner and slap on some lip gloss. Ayesha too was not much better than this. Soumya on the other hand, was an expert. So Prachi just sat still while Soumya used her face as a canvas. Ritwik was having a grand time pretending to be the bride as he played with Prachi's dupatta and jumped around in the elegant linen on the bed. Prachi was smiling looking at Ritiwk in the mirror and Soumya mistook it to be her happiness with the engagement.
Soon they were joined by Ayesha who was dressed in a simple blue lehenga. Ayesha rarely wore Indian outfits anymore, thought Prachi. Prachi herself was wearing something Soumya had bought for her from Delhi. It was an off white fusion between a lehenga and a saaree. Soumya had mentioned a designer's name that Prachi barely cared to recognize. Soumya wore a yellow and orange saree that understated her beauty but the happiness radiating from her face just couldn't be hidden. The girls were just about ready when Neev knocked on the door and told them that it was time to come downstairs as everyone was waiting for them. Ayesha opened the door as Soumya grabbed the dupatta from Ritwik and draped one end around Prachi's shoulder and let the other one hang loosely on her hand.
Neev was about to knock on the door one more time as he looked at his watch impatiently when he felt his knuckles hit something other than the door. He looked up to realize that he was knocking on someone's forehead. But as soon as he saw the woman standing in front of him, he had to blink a few times before he realized that it was really Ayesha, his wife. The lehenga she wore was a perfect fit and accentuated the curves that were usually hidden by the formal suits she wore to work. He hadn't seen her in Indian clothes since…well he couldn't remember the last time. Her hair was half down unlike the tight bun she sported almost daily. She looked gorgeous even though she had minimal makeup on.
She was looking at him and furious was written all over her. When she realized he was staring, she looked down on her clothes and asked, "Kya hai Neev, kuch laga hai kya mere kapdon mein?" "I think jeeju ki nazrein nahi hat rahi hain aapse" came Soumya's voice from behind as she tried to hide her giggle. And she walked past them with Prachi holding Ritwik's hand. Ayesha ignored the comment and walked behind them closing the door but as she walked down the hallway she felt heat creeping up her neck and onto her cheeks. Neev was far from amused. Why were you staring, he scolded himself. No matter how beautiful she looked on the outside, she was a very ugly person and he wanted to have nothing to do with her.
I applogize for those who waited and fell asleep. I hope this part is good enough to make up for it. Do leave your comments.
Part II There was good gathering of the Shah's relatives and friends at the party. Some business contacts of Milind and the Shahs and a few reporters were present too. But Milind was simply waiting to get this task over with. He had been waiting for Prachi to arrive for the past half hour. He hated waiting. He looked over at Sukriti sitting to one side with Asha tai holding her hand and sitting next to her. He smiled at Asha tai but when he glanced back at Sukriti's empty eyes, all he wanted to do was take both of them home away from there. But he stayed put and soon enough Prachi arrived to put him out of his misery. Milind got up from where he was seated and all eyes drew to the door where Prachi was walking in. Suddenly Milind felt that his vision was playing games with him. The edges of his sight started to blur as he watched Prachi walk towards him. It has to be the glare from her white dress he thought. She was quiet and had her head slightly bent and so were her eyes. He blinked to clear the sudden eye problem and smiled at little Ritwik who was walking beside her.
After the formal announcements, Milind and Prachi exchanged rings and the DJ started off by playing a slow song for the engaged couple. Milind had half a heart to go over and punch the DJ but he took Prachi's hand and almost dragged her to the center of the dance floor. Milind didn't recognize the song but he did notice that the song wasn't one of the popular love songs that would normally play at such a situation.
(listen to the song here: Phir Na Kehna)
Anjaane mein pyaar ho jaye toh,
Dil deewana aaj kho jaaye toh
Ho apne the hum tere ho jaayen toh
Phir na kehna, Phir na kehna
Milind tried not to show his anger to the people who were now gathered around and watching them. But he had to pretend. So he kept his gaze on Prachi's face who was thankfully looking down and not at him.
Anjaane mein pyar mil jaaye toh
Dil deewana aaj khil jaaye toh
Chalte chalet yaar mil jaaye toh
Phir na kehna, Phir na kehna
Slowly his tension eased and a few more couples joined them on the dance floor. As he looked at Prachi with less intensity, he noticed the color of her eye shadow. It was a soft hue but it made her eye lids glimmer.
Chahat junoon hai isme sukoon hai
Kudh se hoon begaana
Teri panah mein mil jaayega mujhe jeene ka bahaana
Pyar kiya to pyar ka har sitam pad jaayega sehna
Phir na kehna, Phir kehna
Suddenly the image of a rose petal crossed his mind as he continued to stare at her soft features. This disturbed him as he didn't like the fact that the close proximity of her was playing tricks on him. He twirled her in his arms according the melody of the song
Aankhein bachaake nazrein churake, tum, jaa rahi ho jaana
she rolled from his left hand into his right and he pulled her back into his arms. And they swayed to the music as her back rested on his chest.
Baahon mein teri phir aagayi hoon main, jee mera na maana
Prachi slowly turned her body back to face Milind and this time she slowly raised her eyes to meet his.
Ho, chod ke duniya, tumko mere sang jo pad jaaye rehna
Phir na kehna, Phir na kehna
Prachi had an odd look in her eyes and Milind felt caught. He tried to look away but his eyes seemed transfixed on hers. And he continued to get drawn into them.
Anjaane mein pyaar ho jaye toh,
Dil deewana aaj kho jaaye toh
Ho apne the hum tere ho jaayen toh
Phir na kehna, Phir na kehna
There was something strange in those eyes…something Milind just couldn't read. Her lips moved as if she was saying something. And Milind still stared trying to read her lips. "Can I have my hand back" she uttered almost inaudibly. That's when he realized that the song was over and he was still holding onto her. He let her go with a startle and Prachi resisted the urge to run where no eyes could see her. Milind stood rooted for a few seconds still trying to remember where he was and looked at his hand that still held the sensation of having her warm fingers curled around them.
In another part of the room, Ayesha was watching the two closely as they danced away without the knowledge of the world around them. She smiled to herself and admonished all the doubts that Neev's anger yesterday had registered in her mind. Her eyes were now scanning for Neev. She wished he would have seen them dance. While she was still looking, she was approached by a familiar guy.
She looked at him trying to place his face. She was sure she had seen him at work a few times. He had a glass in his hand and he already looked drunk. Ayesha first instinct was to move away but she remained in her place. He was increasingly irritating her with his nonsensical blabber. But Ayesha wasn't even listening to him. She was furious at the way he was staring her down. But Ayesha had seen his kind before. They are all the same, she thought. He then asked for a dance and though Ayesha wanted to scream that there is no way in hell he would ever dance with her, she politely refused and continued to look for Neev. She desperately needed an excuse to get out of this and where was Neev when you needed him, she thought frustrated. "kyun, aap ke pati ko bura lagega isliye," the drunk continued to pester her. "Don't worry madam, I know that he wouldn't mind," he said with a wink. If it had been the old Ayesha she would have walked up the bar, took a bottle and slammed it on his head. She turned her head and tried to control her anger.
Suddenly she felt someone place a hand on her shoulder and she was just ready to swing her arms but she stopped. It was Bobby. "Hi di, aapko mom bula rahi hain. Prachi di ka lehenga fix karna hai." Ayesha looked at his smiling face for a second and he gestured with his eyes to where PL and Prachi were standing. She wanted to kiss the boy right now but she wasn't going to look at that filthy guy for another second. As she walked away she turned around once because something had just struck her, Bobby had never called her 'di' before. She watched as her half brother put his hand around the drunk fool's shoulder and guided him towards the exit. Suddenly Ayesha felt happy. She couldn't remember that last time she had so many good things happen to her at once. Her plan to bring Prachi and Milind together was working wonders. Bobby had called her "di" for the first time, which meant that he had accepted her as part of his family. And Neev had stared at her. Urrr..scratch that she thought. Why was that even on the list.
The multicolored part is the lyrics of the song Phir Na Kehna from Musafir. The words in blue is sung by male and pink is sung by the female. I'll be posting the link to the song here soon for those who have never heard it (just as i figure out how to post it).😆
Do leave comments ppl
Takhliya
Me off to sleep now
JC
[code]Translations:
"Kya hai Neev, kuch laga hai kya mere kapdon mein?" What is it, is there something on my clothes? "I think jeeju ki nazrein nahi hat rahi hain aapse" I think he just can't take his eyes off of you. (jeeju means Brother-in-law)
Part II
"Hi di, aapko mom bula rahi hain. Prachi di ka lehenga fix karna hai." "hi sis, mom is calling you. Prachi's lehenga needs to be fixed.
Anjaane mein pyaar ho jaye toh, if by chance I/you fall in love,
Dil deewana aaj kho jaaye toh if this crazy heart is lost,
Ho apne the hum tere ho jaayen toh I was my own, but if I become yours, then
Phir na kehna, Phir na kehna don't complain, do not complain
Anjaane mein pyar mil jaaye toh if by chance love is found
Dil deewana aaj khil jaaye toh if this crazy heart blossoms today
Chalte chalet yaar mil jaaye toh if on the way a companion is found
Phir na kehna, Phir na kehna don't complain, do not complain
Chahat junoon hai isme sukoon hai Love is an obsession but there is peace in it
Kudh se hoon begaana I have forgotten myself
Teri panah mein mil jaayega mujhe jeene ka bahaana in your arms I might find a reason to live
Pyar kiya to pyar ka har sitam pad jaayega sehna if you love then would also have to bare its pains
Phir na kehna, Phir kehna then, don't complain, do not complain
Aankhein bachaake nazrein churake, tum, jaa rahi ho jaana stealing your eyes you are leaving me
Baahon mein teri phir aagayi hoon main, jee mera na maana but I came back into your arms, my heart didn't listen
Ho, chod ke duniya, tumko mere sang jo pad jaaye rehna if you end up having to live with me, leaving the rest of the world
Phir na kehna, Phir na kehna then don't complain, do not complain
[/code]
Edited by jinc118 - 17 years ago