I know i said next update will come in the weekend. But this is a short one and next two chapters are very important and probably longer. So i thought i'll update this bit now.
Chapter 10: Sweet Dreams
For Shaboo not winning the menace of the year award.😆
Milind's flight had a delayed landing due to the bad weather. He was a half hour late for his appointment as he came out of Indira Gandhi International airport. He quickly rushed to a standing taxi and gave the address slip to the driver. As the taxi passed by a PCO he had the driver stop and he got down to make a phone call. He didn't want the number showing up on his cell phone bill. He quickly dialed the number and an authoritative voice grunted a "hello" on the other end. He explained that his flight was delayed and so he was running late for the appointment. The voice didn't sound sympathetic at all and informed him that the gates close at 8 pm and if he wanted to see her today, he had 10 mins to show up.
~~~~~~~
Prachi had just put munna to sleep. He had been playing all day today and was pretty exhausted. So she was relieved from her duty to sing to him today. He had fallen asleep on her shoulder as she carried him from the dining table up to her room. She had then come down to help her mother close up shop. The kitchen was her mother's shop. As she descended the stairs, the phone rang and she rushed to pick it up. But Ramu kaka was closer to it and he picked it up.
She headed to the kitchen as she heard Ramu Kaka saying "Aapko kisses baat karni hai?" But then she thought something and turned around to ask "Kiska phone hai Ramu kaka?" "Pata nahi betiya, Ayesha memsaab ke liye hai". Then Ramu kaka put the receiver aside and headed to Ayesha's room to inform her. Prachi wondered why Ayesha would get a call at the Shah residence. If it was a personal call it would go to her cell phone. And Ayesha always kept business away from home. She knew she had to clear her doubt and she walked up to the phone and slowly put it to her ears and said an uncertain "hello, Kaun?". And a deep voice resounded over the receiver "Bas kya meri aawaaz bhi bhool gayi? Main aaj hi Delhi pohuncha hoon. Kal tak Mumbai bhi aa jayoonga. Aur haan, teri best friend Sukriti bhi mere saath aa rahi hai. Ayesha…Ayesha…tu kuch bolti kyun nahi hai". Prachi had dropped the receiver. Then she ran to her room and covered her ears. Ofcourse she knew that voice. She wouldn't forget that voice in this lifetime. She slid down the door against which she was supporting her body and she gave a longing look towards her baby sleeping soundly. And she pressed her body even more firmly against the door as if she was holding a fort against any entry in that room.
Milind hung up the phone and smiled slyly. He knew that he wasn't talking to Ayesha. He had grown up with Ayesha and more than that he had once claimed to be in love with the woman and today she was his best friend. He would know her voice in a chorus. He had heard Prachi inquiring about the caller. And if he had his information right, it could only have been Prachi who had said the "hello" to him. He had tried to call Ayesha on her cell phone but it was switched off. So he had purposefully called the Shah residence even though there was no urgency to call Ayesha. He wanted to see if the news of his return had reached Prachi. And if it hadn't, now she knew that he was back. And that was all he wanted to accomplish tonight. "Sweet dreams Prachi", he had muttered as he hung up the phone because he knew if she had a drop of sleep tonight, she'll only have nightmares. He looked up at the sky and said, "Tomorrow Prachi Inder Shah, Tomorrow you will meet Milind Mishra."
[code] Translation:"Aapko kisses baat karni hai?" (whom do you want to talk to?) But then she thought something and turned around to ask "Kiska phone hai Ramu kaka?" (who is it Ramu Kaka). "Pata nahi betiya, Ayesha memsaab ke liye hai" (Don't know, its for Ayesha). Then Ramu kaka put the receiver aside and headed to Ayesha's room to inform her. Prachi wondered why Ayesha would get a call at the Shah residence. If it was a personal call it would go to her cell phone. And Ayesha always kept business away from home. She knew she had to clear her doubt and she walked up to the phone and slowly put it to her ears and said an uncertain "hello, Kaun?" (who??). And a deep voice resounded over the receiver "Bas kya meri aawaaz bhi bhool gayi? (Did you forget my voice already). Main aaj hi Delhi pohuncha hoon (I just arrived at Delhi). Kal tak Mumbai bhi aa jayoonga (I'll reach Mumbai tomorrow). Aur haan, teri best friend Sukriti bhi mere saath aa rahi hai. (Your best friend Sukriti is also coming with me) Ayesha…Ayesha…tu kuch bolti kyun nahi hai (Ayesha, why aren't you speaking?)".[/code]
Chapter 11 – Fight your own battle
Ayesha was a light sleeper and she woke up as soon as she heard the knock. It was odd. No one ever came up to her room during the day let alone at this hour of the night. She opened the door slightly, not wanting to awake Neev, she stepped out. Prachi looked like she had been electrocuted. Her hair was all over the place and her eyes looked dry, red and swollen. Clearly she had been crying for some time, and she probably hadn't slept well for a few nights, Ayesha had concluded.
Prachi and Ayesha walked to the balcony quietly. Prachi had a wired relationship with Ayesha. Sometimes she felt so distant from her and at times she barely felt the need to speak. Today was one of those rare times when the sisters seemed to read each other's mind. After a long pause, Prachi said, "He is your best friend, Ayesha". "If anyone can do anything at this point, it is you". Prachi watched as Ayesha's face hardened and she turned to face Prachi. Prachi didn't like that look. It wasn't very sympathetic.
Ayesha had hoped to talk to Milind first but that was no longer an option. He was coming tomorrow and she needed Prachi to pull herself together. "No, Prachi I can't help you", she replied without flinching. "I am Milind's best friend, and its not fair of you to put me in the middle of this." "If you want him to understand your point of view, you need to speak to him directly". "No one else can speak your mind for you". But seeing the obvious hurt on Prachi's face , she changed her tone. Trying her best to look sincere she said, "Prachi, in the past 4 years I have watched you give a new meaning to the word 'mother'. If you yourself are not convinced about your rights, then no one can keep Milind from taking him. Milind is coming tomorrow, and if you want I can come with you to meet him. But you have 10 hours to decide what you want to do. Either you let Milind take him or you fight for him. Now I need to go back to bed Prachi, Neev might get worried if he wakes up." With that Ayesha left without looking back.
The little pep talk had only strengthened Prachi's resolve. Prachi had never intended to let Milind take Ritwik away from her. But Prachi had doubts about her ability to face Milind. Now she was more confident, because no matter what her past was with Milind, she just couldn't live without Ritwik. Ayesha was right, Prachi was Ritwik's mother and no one could refute that. But the last bit was a lie, Prachi thought, as she looked at her sister's form disappearing into the darkness. She had unintentionally witnessed the separated bed in Ayesha's room. She had known that Neev and Ayesha didn't have an ideal marriage. But she didn't know that their differences were so wide that they lived like strangers in one room. Some day soon, when she was done dealing with the current threat to her peace, she would try to bring Ayesha and Neev together, Prachi thought, as she looked up at the stars and remembered her father.
Ayesha had almost sprinted back to her room not wanting to let Prachi see the concern on her face. Even though she had given Prachi what she thought to be a good, encouraging speech, Ayesha herself was worried about how Milind would react to what she had in mind. This was the reason she had wanted to talk to Milind before she said anything to Prachi. But now she could only pray that all goes well.
Neev had awoke when he felt the cold wind blowing in from the open door. He had gotten up when he didn't find Ayesha in her bed and saw her and Prachi talking in the balcony. Something was surely wrong, he thought. Prachi had not been herself for the past week. Actually she hadn't been herself since Inder uncle died but there was something that had been making her restless for the past week. The last time he saw Prachi this worried was when Ritwik was in the hospital. So what could it be that would worry her now. Neev knew there was no use asking either of the sisters. Don't-share-your-problems-with-anyone had become their family motto. He couldn't do anything but keep his eyes and ears open lest the two girls get themselves into trouble.
Up Next: Prachi and Milind meet😃
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Edited by jinc118 - 17 years ago
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