Part 24
Milind had reached home to find Baba busy chatting with someone, the stranger had his back to him as he came forward he was surprised to see Shashank seated on the couch. Exchanging handshakes he had sat down to a pleasant conversation with Shashank. Baba had taken Preeti to his room she was sleepy and he had wanted her fed before she dozed off. "So what makes you come here?" Milind had asked smiling, "Well the picture in the paper today for starters" Shashank had laughed, his laughter was infectious and soon Milind had joined him feeling extremely light hearted about the whole issue. It turned out Shashank had a large chunk of assets in Mumbai but was clueless of their use to him. He had inherited a lot of wealth from his late father the only thing was he had no intention of setting up business in Mumbai and so was in search of a profitable solution of this. "But why come to me?" Milind had questioned perplexed "I mean you could always auction off your properties believe me with the amount you have you could get the highest bid in no time" he had advised him honestly. "Well I came to know through reliable resources that you have been keenly interested in purchasing Shah properties....." he had remarked coolly.
Milind had been totally confounded, he knew that Shah Industries asset stripping had been an uproar in the press all and sundry had pitched in to pull the business apart piece by piece. It had been a secret desire of his to put Shah Industries together as it had been formerly, right down to Shah mansion and return it to their rightful owners.The task was slow and tedious and he was going about it with care he hadn't wanted to attract unwanted attention to the project and so had purchased Shah properties through various means. "I know you want to restore the property to their rightful owners and so I thought you'd be the most reasonable person to talk to before putting it up for auction." "What do you have for me?" Milind had asked intrigued "Shah mansion" he had replied with ease. "Why do you want to help me?" Milind still remain dissatisfied "I guess Inder uncle was like family to me especially Prachi" he had added slyly. Milind's hands had trembled slightly as he fished for his lighter in his pocket. "Prachi" he had repeated quietly "What about her?" he had questioned his tone grave and Shashank had been quick to notice the change in his voice. He was a cunning gamester and he had Milind exactly where he wanted him to be suspicious, flustered and vulnerable. If Milind had known what evil thoughts churned in his mind at that moment he'd have killed him on the spot. "Oh nothing much" Shashank had answered in a wayward manner "It's just that we were in love but Inder uncle never approved of the match. You know how parents are they want you to be something before you commit, I was busy with my education in the States and then Inder uncle remained no more. I tried tracking down Prachi but I guess it wasn't meant to be" he had added sighing disheartedly.
Milind had felt his entire world crumbling around him, she was in love with Shashank but he thought she was attracted to him. Oh what a fool he had been to consider her sympathy as love. Ofcourse she could never love him, she loved Shashank and his she would be he had vowed. She deserved to be happy with the one she loved atleast now he wouldn't have to relocate her to another office he had thought smiling sadly. His work done Shashank had left promising to meet Milind soon and hoping for their friendship to become a strong bond with time. Milind felt crushed and defeated how he wished the world would come to an end or he would cease to breathe that instant. The pain was killing him even though he had been attempting to drive Prachi away from him a part of him was adamant that she would never leave his side. His firm belief in her staying with him always had been cruelly butchered tonight, he realized he was the one at fault she had never told him that she loved him or had any intention of being his. He was the one building castles in the air not she and he deserved to be punished for it.
Breaking his resolve to never drink again he had taken out a bottle of whisky from the cabinet and trudged up the stairs it seemed like a long night up ahead and he knew sleep would never be kind to him again.Prachi had lain awake that night thinking of ways to make amends to the situation she understood Milind's outrage and hoped to find a solution to it soon.Little had she known that at that very moment downing the whisky in his dark room Milind had promised to himself to make her happy and seated in his car driving off to his house Shashank had planned fatal destruction for her.
The next day was a busy one Sonya had come from Canada and a lot of crucial matters had been resolved by her arrival. Caterers had been contacted the menu remaining the same, she had made an extensive study of the decorations Karan was going to put up and had run a glance through the list Prachi had provided her. Her assistants Fatima and Monami were quick and charming girls who had everything under control in no time. Milind could not help but feel indebted to Prachi calling Sonya was her idea after all and neither had known when day had given to nightfall. Prachi hadn't got a chance to apologize to Milind and planned to do it at dinner that night.She had taken care to look her best for the occassion, Krithika had helped her get ready she had curled her straight hair so that it fell in soft layers at her back, an extra touch of kohl and a dab of pink gloss had done the work. Krithika had lent her emerald green saree to Prachi, the only one that didn't have a plunging neckline to the blouse.
As Krithika had said before picking up her brush to volumize her curls "Aaj agar zinda bach gaya na tera boss to maan jaungi keh woh waqaii main pathar dil hai." Now if your boss survives this I'll be assured that he's heartless "Krithika" Prachi had warned her "Acha baba nahin bolungi kuch terey un key khilaaf. Sach bata Prachi kiya woh bhi terey liye wohi sab kuch mehsoos kerta hai jo tuu us key liye kerti hai" Ok I won't say anything against him. Tell me honestly Prachi does he feel the same for you as you do for him? and Prachi's eyes had clouded with unshed tears. She had avoided answering the question and concentrated on putting on matching bangles in her hands, Krithika had sighed unhappily she knew her innocent friend had fallen head over heels for her heartless boss, there was no way out Prachi was the type who lived and died for their love. Nothing and no one could make her believe that she was in for a massive heart ache.
Milind had knocked on the door impatiently he hadn't wanted to pick her up but Ali had insisted on it stressing that they come together and here he was standing at her doorstep. Krithika had opened the door as Premlata had been busy tending to her mother in law. "Aaiye aaiye aap hii ka intizaar tha" Come in come in we were waiting for you Krithika had welcomed him inside. Prachi had appeared then and Milind had forgetten to breathe she looked stunning, her emerald green saree accentuated her curves perfectly, her soft curls framing her angelic face. Her kohl rimmed eyes looked mesmerizing as they met his he felt as if they were the answer to all his prayers. Her supple lips smiled at him as she nervously tucked a stray curl behing her ear her matching bangles tinkled as she adjusted the dangling emerald earring. She lowered her gaze feeling his fervent eyes on her the heat they emitted threatened to melt her on the spot. "Mr Mishra agar aap yunhi issey taktey rahey to shayad yeh yahiin pighal jayegi" Mr Mishra if you keep staring at her this way she might just melt on the spot. Krithika had remarked rather boldly. Milind had immediately come back to his senses tearing his gaze away from her he had mumbled that they were getting late. Prachi had followed him outside glaring Krithika she always came up with the most outrageous comments when Milind was around.
Prachi couldn't help but stare at Milind in awe she wondered if he could hear her heart that beat wildly at that moment. He seemed to have outdone himself his negligence only served to increase his ruggedness. He wore a charcoal black business suit with a black shirt the unbuttoned cuffs peeping out of the coat sleeves. The shirt buttons were left open revealing a bare chest, his hair was tousled, his unshaven face highlighted his excrutiating forlorn eyes. As they sat in the car he had carelessly sprayed himself with Calvin Klein's One causing Prachi to curse herself for getting carried away with his looks. He was just her boss she tried to put her errant thoughts back on track she had no right to think of him that way. Besides she was the one who was attracted to him he didn't even have a clue of it and the day he would know of this he'd kick her out of the office in the blink of an eye. His reaction to the article flooded her mind and she hoped he would accept her apology that night. As she adjusted her pallu she saw Preeti fast asleep in the baby seat at the back and smiled atleast she wouldn't be bored she had thought turning her face to the window.
🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
Edited by blind horizon - 17 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Sports
Current Affairs
Sadda Haq Season 2
CID
Jhanak
