Chapter 5 The Meeting
She took a deep breath before she opened the door to enter her college. A lot of good and bad memories came along. As she entered, she saw Neev and Ayesha, her two best friends behind a table giving people name tags. A smile had automatically formed as she headed towards them.
"And what will be your name" said Neev looking at Prachi while Ayesha was busy with someone else.
She smiled and looked at him. Neev knew that smile. No matter how much she had changed, she still had that lovely smile.
"Prachi… Oh my god… wow look at you… you look so beautiful" He came and gave her a tight hug. "I missed you so much"
"I missed you too"
"Prachi" came Ayesha's voice from behind. Ayesha couldn't control her tears as she hugged Prachi.
"So Prachi when did you come and how come you did not inform us" asked Neev
"I came last night and I will be leaving in like two hours" she said
As soon as she said she was going to leave, Neev and Ayesha's expression changed.
"Prachi you said you would not stay for long but I did not think it ment for less than a day"
"I know… but I have work and… Neev I will come again another time" she said smiling at both of them.
Neev knew there was no point in arguing with her. He had signaled Ayesha to call Milind and tell him come now. It was time that she knew the truth. Neev and Prachi headed toward the hall to grab a small drink. They were both sitting and catching up for the last 10 years they missed.
All of a sudden, Prachi felt something within her. A sudden heat had arisen within her. She had an impression that someone was coming towards her. As she turned around to look, she saw him coming in her direction. Milind Mishra the person for whom she left everything was coming towards her. Her eyes had immediately turned towards Neev for some answers.
"Prachi, just listen to him for once… you wont regret it I promise" he said holding her hand.
"I trused you" she said leaving his hand and headed towards the exit. She could not believe it. Why on earth did she even come here in the first place?
As she headed towards to the exit, she heard his voice. That same deep voice that has haunted her in her dreams all theses years.
"Prachi"
She turned around to see Milind on the stage talking on the microphone.
"Prachi, please…If you don't want to talk to me I will understand but at least let me explain"
Prachi stood there motionless as he talked. What was there to explain?
"Prachi… when I first met you and become your friend, it was all part of the bet. Prachi I was young, I wanted to prove everyone that I Milind Mishra could make any girl fall in love with me" he paused for sometime
"But Prachi… then I came to know you… I started to look at the world the way you did and it made me realize that being popular did not mean everything…The way you cared for me and the people around you made me admire you more and more. And slowly I started to fall for you… Prachi I myself did not know what was happening to me" he said and looked at her from the stage but she had no reaction in her but he continued.
"Prachi you made me become a better person… Not everything that happened between us was fake. Not everything was part of a bet. Prachi that night was not fake and it was not part of any bet, whatever happened that night was our own love… How can you forget all that?"
"Prachi I know I should have told you everything from the begining…but I got scared that if you knew then you would leave me… and thats exactly what you did… you left without even knowing the entire truth, without even asking for an explication"
Prachi was looking at Milind as tears were flowing from her eyes. Was he saying the truth or this was again some sort of game he wanted to play? Her mind told her not to believe him but her heart was saying the opposite.
"Prachi" he said again "listen to your heart and you will know that it's the truth… Prachi today I Milind Mishra tell you in front of everybody that I love you and that I have always loved you and I need you in my life… My life is nothing without you in it" he said coming towards Prachi. He wanted to take her in his arms just like he use to but as she saw him coming she just ran towards the door. Milind tried to go after her but Neev and Ayesha stopped him.
"We will take care of it… Let us talk to her first" said Ayesha and went behind Prachi with Neev.
"Prachi… What the hell is this? You can't just run away every time" shouted Neev
"You guys all planned it didn't you…but guess what even if all this was the truth its just to complicated now… its just too late"
"You are the one who once said that it's never too late for anything… so why is it any different now" said Ayesha and sat beside her on the stairs.
"I screwed up big time" said Prachi crying "I screwed up everything, I myself ruined my life and my daug…" but she stopped before finishing the sentence "When I had found out about the bet…My heart had broke, my life turned upside down…but I should've ask him for an explanation…I should of asked you Ayesha, he was your friend. But no…I just left. I ruined everything" said a sobbing Prachi
"No sweetheart… nothing is ruined…It was just all a big misunderstanding Prachi. Nothing is ruined, you still have your whole life in front of you and this time Milind will be there with you" said Ayesha trying to console her
"Tumhe sirf apne kadam barana hoga" said Neev "Your happiness awaits for you inside"
"No… you guys don't understand, it's not that simple, I have… have a daughter" she said quietly looking down
"WHAT" said both of them together all shocked
"But you told me that you were not married yet…so Prachi?" asked a puzzle Neev
"Neev its mine and… and Milind's daughter" she said all quietly
"WHAT" said both of them together looking at her for some answers
"Why do you guys think I left? I had found out that I was pregnant and I thought that he did not love me… I was 18 what was I suppose to do… So I just left…and now I figure out I was wrong… He will never forgive me for keeping his own daughter away from him all these years" she said all shaking
Neev and Ayesha both sat beside her and said "Well there is only one way to find out. You must tell him the truth"
"Prachi he is inside…you guys have lost 10 years, how many more do you want to lose" said Neev pulling her up.
Prachi knew Neev was right and she knew exactly what she had to do.
Hope you guys enjoyed it!
Coming up: The unfinished dance and family reunion
It will probably be the last part, however I will add a small epilogue to it.
Until then take care 😛