Part 19
He had carefully put her down as he unlocked the car helping her get seated he closed the metallic door with a resounding thud. Taking his seat beside her he throttled the engine to life, she had rolled the window down and felt the cool wind caress her face as she settled back to enjoy the moment. The wind whipped Milind's hair as he rolled down his window to tap his burnt cigarette out of the car.Taking a deep puff he had slightly turned to watch Prachi lying comfortably beside him her eyes closed, her lips curled subtly every time the wind rushed through her hair she smiled, he smiled too at her childish antics. Tonight he felt happy without any rhyme or reason maybe it was the essence of the moment he flicked through the radio channels settling for one that had a beautiful tune playing.
Kuch nahin mangun bas hai mera ik sapna.
Duniya sey kiya lena dena bas chahiye ik apna
O dharkan, khwahish, baarish, boondein or ho koi apna
Uss sey mil key mousam badley or lagey sab apna.
O meri chahaton ka sawaal jahaan us key pyaar ki misaal wahaan
Baat banti nahin bananey sey reet hai yehi zamaney se
Ab key jo palat key dekhun sehmi sii hain raahein
Thaamey merey sapnon ko khamoshi sey bulaeein
Dil sey jo duaa dey waisa hai mera humrahi
Meethi sii sazaa dey waisa hai mera humrahi.
O dharkan, khwahish, baarish, boondein or ho koi apna
Uss sey mil key mousam badley or lagey sab apna.
Prachi had been astonished when the soothing music hit her ears, Milind usually didn't prefer listening to music when he had company that was something he practised in privacy. She opened her eyes to see him lost in his own world, did he desire such a companion she had wondered and had prayed that if he did he find her soon she simply could not bear him so desolate and forlorn. She noticed he was smoking again and watched him silently as he drove in the inky blackness of the night that had fast approached them.
Parking beneath her house he had stepped out and was at her side in a trice, shutting the car door he helped her amble to the stairs. Prachi had looked up at the stairs in disappointment, getting up them was one major hurdle and she feared if she applied too much pressure her wounds might just worsen. He had sensed her dilemma and scanned the area minutely there weren't many people about no one would notice. She had raised her foot when she felt his arms pick her off the ground once again this time he noticed she didn't flinch rather hung on to him. Taking wide strides he was soon at her doorstep and entered the open doorway only to meet a sight neither had imagined. The hall was cramped with his employees, what were they doing here, he stood rooted to the spot.
"Surprise!" they had screamed in unison, uh oh he had thought in despair they were her friends probably here to wish her on her big day. He stood perplexed at his situation of all the days this was the one she had to get injured on now he would be talk of the town, Premlata had emerged from the inner room at that moment and he had let go of his bated breath he wasn't even aware he was holding it. "Prachi kiya hua?" Prachi what happened? Premlata had questioned in worry hurrying to her daughter's side."Kuch nahin maa bas chot lag gayi" Nothing mom I just got hurt she had tried to assuage her mother gesturing towards her bandaged foot. Realizing that her daughter was still held by her friend she had lead them to an empty chair by the table where Milind had placed her softly. "Maa kuch nahin hua mujhey sach" Mom it's nothing really Prachi had tried to lessen her mother's fret. "Beta tum har baar iski madad kertey ho main kaisey shukriya ada karun tumhara." Son you always help her out I don't know how to thank you Premlata had said to Milind gratitude evident from her voice."Yeh kiya aunty beta bhi kehti hain or ehsaan bhi maanti hain yeh to sahi nahin" Aunty you call me a son and then express gratitude too this is not done he had replied walking closer Premlata had placed her hands on his face lowering it she had kissed him gently on the forehead "Sada khush raho" Stay happy always she had prayed and Milind had felt as if he'd found eternal bliss.
Prachi could hear hoarse whispering going on nearby she saw Sumana and Heeba busy chatting sitting on the small sofa in the corner her eyes roved around and she was surprised to see all her friends present. "Tum log kab aaye?" When did you people come?she had inquired aloud and the whisperings had died down "Madhu ney bataya tha aaj janam din hai tumhara to hum badhaii deney chaley aaye" Madhu informed us it was your birthday so we came to wish you Sangeeta had replied. "Beta yeh sab to kab sey tumhari raah dekh rahi hain." Prachi these girls have been waiting for you since long Premlata had informed Prachi, Milind had found a vacant seat near Prachi and had taken it. "Tum log ruko main bas cake ley ker aati huun. Acha hua tum aa gaye nahin to yeh dukhi hoti keh iska sab sey acha dost nahin aaya iskey janam din per" I'll just bring the cake. It's nice to see you've come else she'd have been upset that her good friend hadn't attended her birthday party she had adressed the last sentence to Milind smiling at him. This was too much for the crowd present there Milind Mishra their arrogant and haughty boss was friends with his secretary their friend Prachi.
Reema sputtered spilling her soft drink while Heeba and Upasana whacked her back blue. "Pagal ho gayi ho kiya dono, aaj hii saarey badley nikaalney hain" Have you both gone nuts do you have to avenge me for everything I've done tonight? she fumed. "Or agar mar jateen yahiin soft drink peetey huey to... eik to jaan bachai upper se yeh inaam." And if you'd have died drinking this then what... we're trying to help here and you'r not even grateful Upasana had retorted "Dafa ho jao dono" Get lost both of you Reema had wailed "Eik to waisey hii boss ney dosti ker lii iss Prachi sey yeh dukh kam hai jo tum dono meri jaan leney per tuli ho." As it is boss has befriended prachi and here you both are hell bent to relieve me of life itself. "Apni chor yaar soch Sangeeta ka kiya hoga dekh lag raha hai abhi beyhosh ho jayegi" Forget about yourself look at Sangeeta looks like she'll faint Heeba had informed them. And sure enough Sangeeta looked as if she'd seen a ghost she had never imagined anyone other than herself to impress Milind to such an extent. True Milind considered her an honest and hardworking employee but she had the hots for him was never known by him, he had always known her to be married and even if she weren't he'd never have thought of her that way. Sumana had inched closer to Sangeeta trying to abate her shock and had succeeded considerably meanwhile Prachi had struck up a conversation with Upasana informing her about the little incident and her injury.
There was a knock on the door and all eyes had turned towards the entrant, it was Krithika she had made Prachi's favourite chaat to compliment the birthday cake. Karan and Teena were with her and had run up to Prachi wishing her, she had smiled accepting their humble gifts. Which reminded the others that they had yet to give theirs to her one by one they had congratulated her placing their gifts on the low table nearby. Milind had watched all this impassively he had come because he had been invited by Prachi's mother and because he had to get her safely home. Premlata had returned from the kitchen placing the cake on the dining table it was a small chocolate cake with a single candle that burnt brightly in the middle.
Prachi had blown out the candle amidst applause and shrill voices singing "Happy Birthday", she cut a piece and fed it to her mother. Premlata had bitten off a small portion and directed her hand to Milind "Ab apney doston ko khilao" Now give some to your friends she had smiled wholeheartedly. Milind had looked on dazed he stood petrified, he could feel all eyes on him, "Kha lijiye please." Have some please Prachi had plead and he had opened his mouth to taste the sweet dessert. Something about her eyes abrogated his reasoning try as he would he just couldn't snap out of their mesmerizing spell once they rested on him. The cake being distributed and the snacks polished off the plates the girls had stood up to leave. "Beta khana to khaya nahin.." Child you didn't have dinner Premlata had complained lovingly "Aunty agli baar zarur khaeingey." Next time aunty Upasana had promised hugging Prachi good bye, while the rest filed out behind her. Krithika too had been called by her husband and she left unhappily, she had developed a soft spot for the hot and handsome Milind Mishra and had hoped to have a tete ?a tete with him sadly all her hopes were dashed to the ground. Though before leaving she had generously invited him to the picnic that weekend and Milind had smiled perfunctorily, a picnic was the last thing on his mind right now.
The celebration over the small house seemed silent all of a sudden Premlata had cleared the dining table and was now busy making dinner washing dishes alongside. She had asked Milind to stay over for dinner and he couldn't deny her. Prachi shifted uncomfortably in her seat she had been sitting in one position for long and her leg ached from remaining still. Milind had noticed this he stretched out his hand to her and she took it gratefully walking to the sofa he helped her sit on it in a comfortable position easing her legs up on it. He had then produced the wrapped box and had handed it to Prachi, she had taken it amazed since when did her boss go around distributing birthday presents, nonetheless she accepted it graciously.
Opening it she was shocked further to see it was the same bracelet they had purchased that afternoon she looked at it for a long time slowly lifting her gaze to his reticent eyes "Aapney yeh merey liye khareeda tha?" You bought this for me? she had questioned in a dewy voice he could see she was genuinely touched by his act. "Haan" Yeshe had stated folding his arms across his chest. "Terey liye khareeda tha" Yes I had bought it for you he stood staring at the maze of buildings in the distance through the windows wondering how quixotic his fate had been. He had never imagined gifting this to her yet here he stood watching her look at the bracelet with a distant expression in her eyes. "Yeh to buhut mehenga hai" This must be very expensive she had said quietly.
"Iss ki qeemat uss khushi sey zyaada nahin jo tuuney mujhey aaj dii hai Prachi. Main chah ker bhi tera ehsaan nahin bhula sakta meri beti ney aaj pehli baar mera naam liya hai, tuu soch bhi nahin sakti iss din ka kitna intizaar kiya hai mainey." It's not costly than the happiness you've given me today. I can't overlook the happiness you've bestowed on me, my daughter took my name for the first time , you can't even imagine how I have waited for this day. He turned to face her and she could see the truth on his face. "Buhut sapney dekhein hain mainey Preeti ko leykar aur aaj un main sey eik sach ho gaya.... teri wajah sey. Yeh bracelet to kiya aaj tuu jaan maang ley meri main woh bhi dey duun." I have many dreams for my daughter and this was one of them, it's come true ... because of you. This is just a bracelet if you'd ask for my life tonight I'd give that to you too his sombre voice indicated the depth of the statement Prachi had immediately clasped his hand in fear "Aisey nahin boltey, mujhey bas eik cheez ki zarurat hai aapsey. Dengey mujhey?" Don't say this. I just need one thing from you, will you be able to give it ?she had asked smiling. "Bol kiya chahiye" What do you want? "Aap udaas mat raha karein" Don't remain upset she had answered softly "Aap udaas hotey hain to mujhey acha nahin lagta" I don't like it when you'r unhappy and he had stared at her as if she'd lost her mind.
Here she could've asked him for a promotion, a raise in salary, discount in office hours or work but she had asked for his happiness. His dark eyes rested on her there was a flicker of something in them not pain, but patent pleasure, confound happiness as if he had found the key to a treasure, his hands had touched her face his fingers outlining her lips. They brushed her cheek bone resting on her closed eyelids, she had felt his other hand cup her face and felt too his raw passionate gaze on her as his thumb pressed against her lips. She had savoured the pressure his thumb had exerted on her lips startled by the intensity it had radiated she was drawn to his magnetic touch closing her eyes revelling in the moment all she could feel or think then was him. She knew she should stop him but she couldn't something inside her had longed for this moment, craved for his loving caress.She had opened her eyes to see him stare at her hypnotized his hands worked on their own accord.
"Prachi" he had whispered softly almost inaudibly but her heart had heard his cry, every muscle in her body had longed to reciprocate that silent call and then she had felt his fingers recoil from her face in haste. She saw his expressions change a wave of contempt washed over him , he staggered back a few stepslooking at his hands in horror as if unable to comprehend his own actions. Picking up his coat he had sauntered out in the black night and she had not stopped him, she knew somewhere she had pulled down some part of the barrier he had built around his heart.
http://www.apniisp.com/songs.php?id=699
Link to the song it's Humrahi by Atif Aslam from his album Meri Kahaani.
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Edited by blind horizon - 17 years ago
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