Part 16
As he rode back to his own house Milind had felt a satisfaction etch over him one that was inexplicable yet very much relatable. He admitted to himself that having Prachi around him made him forget his past it did wonders to him. She somehow helped him understand the world in a better way, he wondered how she had come to acquire the mind of a savant in that fragile body of hers. He laughed remembering her fright for the bike ride she looked so cute when her eye lids fluttered in confusion and her smile made the most beautiful dimple on her cheek.
Parking the bike in the garage he had sprinted to his room checking on Baba before retiring to bed. Lying on the master bed he placed his hand on the empty space besides him, he certainly missed Preeti. He wondered how Prachi must be coping with his brat of a daughter in her house. Back at the chawl Premlata was shocked to see Prachi arriving with Preeti that too in the middle of the night she took Preeti from Prachi?s hands as she related the evening?s events to her mother. Premlata had been waiting for Prachi anxiously she usually returned home early but tonight she had been late and she hadn?t called her mother to inform her about her whereabouts either. Bobby had been staying over at a friend?s place his exams had drawn nearer and he had been studying extremely hard to clear all subjects in one go, tough he had thought but not impossible. If he'd been home he certainly would've traced Prachi, Premlata had just been about to go to the shop at the corner to call her at the office when she arrived .
Preeti had instantly taken a liking to Premlata she remained quite sombre as the elder woman changed her and gave her the bottle. Premlata had caressed her cheeks affectionately as she lay between her and Prachi that night. Somehow Preeti had pulled at her heart strings and she felt very much drawn to her. When Prachi had narrated about Preeti?s mother being no more Premlata had been deeply touched, her heart was instantly filled with love and empathy for the little girl. Prachi had been worried about her mother?s reaction to Preeti staying over but her fears had been put to rest when she saw Premlata kiss Preeti lovingly on the forehead as she lay asleep on the bed with her. She had closed her eyes in contentment little did she know that it was short lived as her dreams were yet to haunt her.
Milind had hurriedly gotten ready for office he hoped to escape his father who would inquire about his grand daughter the minute he laid his eyes on him. Milind did not want his father speculating on his relationship with Prachi, ofcourse anyone who?d come to hear of it would be shocked. Ever since Preeti had been born Milind had not left her side even when he went on trips abroad he?d take Preeti with him, being a single parent it caused him sleepless nights and much agony but he had borne it all with patience. And yet he had entrusted her to Prachi someone he had known for just five months. He sometimes reflected on the way Prachi invaded his thoughts, it was as if she had seeped into his system, his day seemed incomplete till he met her or talked to her.
Chiding himself on his obsession with her thoughts he rummaged for a decent shirt through his wardrobe, he found one that went with the suit but it had been kept in a corner of the wardrobe and had wrinkles on it. He didn?t have time if he waited to get it pressed he?d be in big trouble. Putting it on hurriedly he had sprinted down the stairs Ramu Kaka had tried stopping him for breakfast but he had denied the offer. Pulling out his silver Camry on the drive way he had fled through the open gates of his house once outside he had breathed a huge sigh ofrelief...Saved!!! he had thought.
Parking near the chawl he stepped out in the early morning sun ascending the stairs to her house, he?d thought he?d collect them both just to be on the safe side. The door to her house was open he had an excellent view of the inside from his vantage point. Premlata had seated Preeti on the small dining table in the lounge and fed her spoonfuls of rusks dipped in tea. He watched enraptured his daughter who fended breakfast off like a disease was willingly eating the meal. If that was the effect Prachi?s mother had on his daughter he was willing to leave her here for a couple of hours each day.
Premlata had looked up to see him stand motionless in the doorway, ?Arey beta tum. Aao betho na.? "Oh son come in." she had smiled inviting him inside the house. He had stepped in taking a seat beside her, ?Prachi to tayyar ho rahi hai.? "Prachi is getting ready." she had informed trying to keep an untidy Preeti away from him. ?Arey beta uncle key kaprey kharab ho jayeingey.? "Child uncle's clothes will get soiled." She had gently held her by the waist clearing her off the small table. He smiled at her ignorance thanking God Preeti didn?t speak yet, he didn?t want her mother knowing his position in Prachi?s life. She had handed Preeti to Prachi in the room while she bustled around completing her morning chores. ?Nashta kiya tumney?? "Have you had breakfast?" she had asked again, he had answered in the negative.
?Chalo Prachi bhi aa rahi hai saath main ker lena dono, phir office to jaogey hii tum uskey saath.? "Well then have it with Prachi, you'll be accompanying her to the office then won't you?" smiling she had said to him. He watched as she prepared the breakfast with expertise his eyes scanned the premises but she was nowhere to be seen, probably getting ready he thought. He berated himself again why the hell couldn?t he stop thinking of her, this was not good. His gaze shifted back to her mother who now laid breakfast on the table it smelt delicious.
She took a seat next to him pouring tea in the cups from a small kettle when her gaze fell on his shirt, it certainly looked as if he had slept in it. ?Beta tumhari shirt to buri lag rahi hai, press nahin kii thi kiya?? "Son your shirt isn't looking nice didn'y you press it?" ?Time nahin mila" "Didn't have the time to do it." he told her the truth. ?Acha lao main ker deti huun.? "Oh well give it to me then I'll do it." She had held out her hand for him to hand her his shirt. ?Lekin.? "But" He tried protesting how could he tell her that he intended to change it once he reached the office. ?Abhi ho jayegi jab tak tum nashta ker logey, jaldi lao.? "It'll be done before you finish breakfast, now hand it over." She commanded him and he had stood up reluctantly stripping off his shirt he sat there in his vest feeling ridiculous. Why did he do that he asked himself unhappily. She had disappeared in one of the rooms he sat put dazed at his situation. Milind Mishra shirtless that too in his secretary?s house this was the height of insanity.
The door had opened to the other room and Prachi had emerged holding Preeti who looked much civil now, her dress changed and her hair brushed back. She had looked up to see him and then her mouth had opened slightly in amazement her eyes grew a size larger as she noticed his shirt missing. How did he come to be in this position she had no clue she had been busy getting ready when her mother had handed Preeti to her calling her for breakfast. ?Aap? "You" she had managed after what seemed like ages, he stole his gaze away from her face.
She looked simply exquisite in the dress Ali had given her it added to her innocence, the white contrasting with the blues. She wore matching small earrings that dangled from her soft earlobes, her long hair flowed freely and she tucked strands of it behind her ears.Her eyes looked breath taking the kohl neatly lining them, he noticed she looked different today more beautiful he admitted. Either she was unaware of her beauty or she was too modest to acknowledge it he had thought as she pulled out a chair beside him. "Aapki shirt ....." "Your shirt..." her voice trailed off questioningly . He had refrained from answering her and focused his attention to the omelette in front of him, they had dined in silence.Premlata had appeared carrying his shirt neatly pressed and he had donned it gratefully pulling on his coat too. Breakfast over Prachi had picked up Preeti and her bag of accessories kissing her mother on the cheek she had stepped out in the corridor.
He had thanked Premlata for her hospitality and turned to leave when she had called out to him ?Beta shaam ko wappas zarur aana.? "Son come again in the evening." ?Koi kaam hai aapko mujhsey?? "Is there anything you want to get done from me?" he had asked with concern. ?Nahin? "No" she laughed ?Aaj tumhari dost ka janam din hai shaam ko ghar main hii celebrate kareingey tum bhi aa jaana. Zyaada dost to nahin isskey issi liye tum aaogey to issey acha lageyga.? "It's your friend's birthday today we'll celebrate it in the evening at home. She doesn't have much friends she'll like it if you come over." Hmmm so it was her birthday ?Kosish karunga.? "I'll try" He had promised before following Prachi?s foot steps.
"Prachi aunty!" a small voice had squeaked they had turned to find Tina standing in the corridor behind them... "Aunty mumma bula rahi hain aapko" "Aunty my mother is calling you." she had informed her before disappearing in her house again. Casting an apologetic look at Milind she had gone inside to find Krithika pulling at Tina's hair with a brush probably attempting to tame her wild mane. "Prachi acha hua tum aa gayi, der to nahin ho rahi?" "Prachi good thing you came along Ihope you'r not running late." she had asked busily tying Tina's hair with a scrunchie. "Nahin tum kaho kiya kaam tha..." "No tell me what did you call me for" ,Milind had decided to wait for her in the corridor instead of getting burnt in the sultry sun downstairs. He could hear every word that passed between the two, Krithika had noticed Preeti in Prachi's arms and inquired about her, Prachi had informed her that Preeti was her boss's daughter. "Acha wohi kharoos boss tumhara, uski itni pyaari beti kaisey ho gayi." "Oh that grumpy boss of your's, how did he end up with such a beautiful child."
Krithika had wondered aloud. Prachi's eyes had lowered to the ground laden with guilt she knew Milind was in ear shot distance and could hear everything. "Krithika tum choro na unko..." "Krithika you leave him na." she had tried diverting the conversation. Krithika acted like she choked when Prachi said this "UNKO!!!" she stressed on the word her eyes threatening to pop out of her eye sockets. "Waisey dikhta kaisa hai tumhara boss.... smart, handsome, sexy hai keh nahin?" "Well how does he look like anyways.... Is he smart, handsome and sexy or not?" Prachi had wished she could've vanished in thin air at that moment her cheeks turned a deep shade of scarlet "Jaisey bhi hain merey boss hain tum sey matlab" "He's my boss he can look however he wants to look wat's it with you.." she had hissed how could she forget that he stood outside what if he was listening. "Wah wah...merey boss aiy Prachi sach sach bata love shov to nahin ho gaya tujhey uss sey.... Oho my boss... tell me Prachi have you fallen in love with him or what. Chal Prachi ho gaya tujhey Ishq ka bukhaar ab kiya hoga tera rey... Oh Prachi you've contracted the love fever now wat will become of you." she put her palm to her forehead in perfect filmi style. "Krithika bolo kiya kaam hai nahin to main jaa rahi hun" "Krithika tell me why you called me here else I'm leaving." .The threat had worked and laughing at Prachi she had come to the point "Tumharey bhaiyya ney program banaya hai picnic ka mujh sey kaha hai tumko bhi keh duun, saath chalney key liye." 'Your brother as in my husband has decided to take us all on a picnic and you'r invited. "Magar" "But" Prachi had tried reasoning she really wasn't in the mood to go "Agar magar kuch nahin, chalna hai to chalna hai bas. Main aunty sey puch luungi ab koi bahana nahin chaleyga." "Nothing doing you'r coming with us that's final. I'll get permission from aunty." she had warned Prachi.
Meanwhile Tina and Preeti had struck up a friendship both had found some crayons in a box and were now busy tracing intricate patterns on Krithika's lounge walls. And it had been quite some artistic display as they progressed with it it was only when Prachi had assented to join Krithika's family for the picnic that weekend had she allowed Prachi to leave. Milind had tried to dismiss it as trivial talk but he had heard it all and he couldn't help noticing Prachi's flushed face as she stepped out of Krithika's house. "Sorry aapko meri wajah sey der ho gayi." "I'm sorry you'r late cuz of me." she had apologized which he had waved off with a casual glance at her. "Chalta hai" "It's ok" he had answered as they descended the stairs together.
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Kindly ignore any typos or other mistakes this is the most hurried attempt at any pice of written literature by me....
Edited by blind horizon - 17 years ago
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