"Prachi..."Milind whispered and Prachi felt a tug in her heart. He did not think she had heard him and the surprise was clear in his eyes. He felt like running but his legs felt like lead and he just stared at her. He couldn't do this...but he wanted answers.
Prachi did not know why Milind was looking at her with such intensity; she wondered why he had called out to her but Prachi's legs moved towards him involuntarily and had she not stopped herself, she would have collided against him. He was looking at her with such confusion but the hope shone through like a beacon. She opened her mouth to speak but the words had already flowed from his. "Kya tum Neev se pyaar karti ho?"
The question had struck her like an arrow and she stole her eyes away from him. She could not continue to look at him and turned, for if she did, she would not be able to say yes.
She felt his hand on her shoulder and her heartbeat quickened. Milind felt the goosebumps form across her under his touch and he bought her back towards him. He lowered his head, bringing his mouth closer to her ear. Prachi shook from the closeness of his body but Milind held her in place, he would not let her go without knowing, "Jawab dou Prachi..." he said as his breath fanned against her ear.
"Aap...aap..yeh sab kyun pooch rahe hain Milind...?" she stammered but his hold was unyielding and Prachi was afraid she would break soon. She had waited so long for him to hold her like this but now that he had, she was afraid. But he released her not long after; his own mind in turmoil. He did not have a right to ask her that, but why did he want to know? Why did he care?
He had expected her to leave but Prachi stood there, turning back to face him and in that moment he felt the overwhelming desire to gather her in his arms. She looked helpless and when she spoke, he could tell that she was trying hard not to show him her tears. "Aap ko kya farg padega Milind..." It had taken all her courage but she deserved answers too.
"Kya tum nahin jaanti Prachi? Kya tum mesoos nahin karti isse...yeh jou hamare beech hain..." he asked, seizing her shoulders again.
"Aisa kuch nahin hain Milind...hum dost hain...bas..."she trailed off but she was pleading with him to accept that, she could not risk harming him. Closing his eyes, Milind took a deep breath; when she had said the words, he felt as though she had slapped him. "Dost Prachi?...aisi becheni...aisa esaas...kya yehi dosti ke maine hote hain?"
She looked visibly shaken but Milind could not allow himself to let go of her. He wanted to hold her forever and his desires were overriding his sense of propriety. He leaned his forehead against hers in defeat and he felt Prachi's chest heave, she could no longer keep her tears from flowing and they fell thick and fast. "Engagement pe, tumhari aankhon main aasoon kyun the? Tumhare aasoon is baat ki gawahi dete hain ke tum khush nahin..."
"Aapko mere aasoon tou dikh gaye Milind...lekin aapne nazaar andaaz kar diya? Milind...mene aap ke taraf dekha bhi...kya aap ko kuch samaj nahin aaya? Aap kitni aasani se muje kissi aur ka hone dete...tou ye sab kya hain aaj?" her voiced was raised and the suddeness of her speech and accusation in her tone shocked Milind. He had been angry at her but he had not realised that she too could have the same sentiments. "Kya sun na chahte hain aap? Ke main aap se pyaar karti hoon? Haan karti hoon main pyaar...Milind...aapko apna pyaar tou nazar aaya...lekin mere aasoon ke peeche aap ke liye mera pyaar nazar nahin aaya..." but Prachi could not continue, Milind had pulled her to him with such force that she gasped and as she felt his arms wrap around her, she felt as though she had finally come home.