Hello, shello friends. Here's a loooooooooooooooooong part. The next one will be of two parts as it would be even more looooooooooooooooooooooooooong. So, pls have patience and read it through and comment pls. Cheers😃
When Neev reached home, it was almost 11 pm. Mumbling an appology to Ramu kaka for waking him up, he went up to his room. He was tired after a busy and enjoyable day at Milind's estate. They had played tennis, swam in the swimming pool and then had a fantastic dinner with champagne flowing freely. Milind and Vicky had been perfect hosts. But now all alone, the restlessness and a nagging feeling that he had been experiencing through out the day was catching up with him even more strongly. What all he had planned for this holiday and things that were happening around him couldn't have been more different. And everything came down to one person, ……..Milind. He didn't know what to think of him. He couldn't decide whether he liked him or hated him. He seemed to be a very nice person, who made friends very easily. Even after their spat earlier in the day, he had been very friendly with him and seemed sincere enough. He was definitely not a snob though Neev expected him to be. Vicky was of a similar nature too. But for some reason, he just couldn't warm up to Milind and he knew the reason too…………….Prachi. He just can't stand their very obvious closeness.
"Why is he being that friendly to Prachi?", he wondered silently. Not just friendly, but something more than that. "Is he interested in her?", he drew a sharp breath, the very thought filling him with anger and disgust. "No, he could pick any girl he wants, beautiful and sophisticated girls who would drop at his feet at the click of his fingers. Why would he be interested in a normal girl like Prachi? No, it can't be", he reasoned. But why does he behave as if he knew her inside out and had every right over her? The way he shouted at her at the plantation was just a bit too much. And Prachi………… he thought with resentment. She didn't say a word then. She had wanted Neev to leave her alone but didn't send Milind away. When they came back to join their friends, she was all smiles and looked very happy. And it disgusted him to see the adoring look in her eyes everytime she looks at Milind, the blush on her face whenever she sees him and her shy smile……………..Neev stilled suddenly. Is Prachi attracted to Milind? As soon as the thought entered his mind, he denied vehemently. "No"…..It can't be. They were getting married soon. She had given her consent for their marriage already. She was in love with him too, just as he was in love with her………………or Is she really in love with him? For the first time, a dread startred filling his heart. What if she didn't love him?, he thought with a frown. That very thought scared him.
Rewinding the days, that he had spent with her since leaving Chennai, he looked for a clue, at least one that would show him that she loved him too. And there was……..none, he realised, his whole body trembling now. Oh my god. What was he going to do now? He will have to talk to her. He cannot put it off any longer. He will have to tell her how much he loves her. But she had agreed to marry him, he reminded himself, hope flaring up in his heart again. That itself told him that he means something to her. That she wanted to spend her life with him. She may be not in love with him in the conventional way but she wants to be his wife. May be she is just too innocent to know how deep her feelings really are, or she is just too shy to tell him. Both, he thought happily, the dread in his heart fading away slightly. But he wouldn't waste time any more. He can't be that stupid as to ignore what a big threat Milind actually was. His flirtatious ways, his charisma and his smile would floor any girl, Neev accepted grimly and Prachi is a very innocent, young girl. No wonder she likes him so much especially when he is diverting all his attention towards her. But Neev knew that it was all an act. Girls were just a plaything for the mighty Milind Mishra and he would never let him come anywhere near Prachi, he vowed silently. It was all his fault, he cursed himself. He was still behaving like a friend towards Prachi. Girls love to be wooed and charmed. Its time to act now, he smiled to himself. And in no time, Prachi would realise the depth of her feelings towards him. She would realise that Neev is not only the man she wanted to marry but he is also the one, she is in love with. With a sudden burst of energy and confidence, he picked up the phone to call her.
The girls were having the time of their lives. Utterly pampered at the parlour and feeling extremely gorgeous, with their naughty talks and giggling, the girls were enjoying themselves to the hilt. It was almost midnight and Lisa's other friends and cousins had left. Her hands and feet decked with mehndi, Lisa sat with Prachi, admiring the design that Neelam's cousin was drawing on her hand. She was puzzled at the confusion in Prachi's face. Even though she was laughing and teasing Lisa along with Reba and Rita, there was a shadow of tension on her face. Thinking to ask her about it later, Lisa concentrated on a new mehndi pattern in the book. As soon as mehndi was applied, Prachi excused herself from her friends to get some fresh air and walked towards the garden. Clad in a dark green and blue salwar, her dupatta fluttered in the wind as she stood near the door, lost in her thoughts. She was slightly confused and worried after the phone call from Neev. He sounded different, she frowned. She had become irritated when he kept asking if she had written anyone's name in her hand and in the end she had told him that it was Lisa who was getting married and not her and she has Peter's name drawn in her's. She even told him curtly that even if she had written anyone's name, she wouldn't be telling him. And what the hell did he mean when he said that he would be there to see her first thing in the morning as he had every right to see her mehndi first, she thought annoyed. Why was he behaving like this? He used to so much fun to be with, she thought irritated and disturbed. She had been feeling slightly uncomfortable with him of late, especially after finding him so close to her when she woke up after falling asleep on the sofa. Even though he was her childhood friend, she had always maintained a decent distance between them and this possessive, questioning and annoying Neev was new to her and that disturbed her even more. And she was even more upset that Milind hadn't called her yet. He had promised her that he would meet her later tonight and it was well past midnight now. She didn't even know if Robert had come home yet. With her hands full of mehndi, she won't be able to call him either, she pouted sadly. She was so excited about meeting him, to show him her mehndi, to tell him to find the first letter of his name that was hidden in the design. Her face fell knowing that it is too late for him to come here now. She hadn't even had dinner properly and she was slightly hungry. With a sigh, she leaned again the wall and closed her eyes in disappointment.
"Prachi….", Lisa's voice made her turned around and she smiled as her friend walked towards her. "Good that I found you here. I was looking for you to tell you to go up to the terrace and we will join you later", Lisa said to her with a smile.
"No, Lisa. I think I will just go to bed. It is really cold outside and I don't want to go up there", Prachi refused in a low voice.
Seeing her friend's sad face, Lisa smiled to herself. "Please, Prachi. Just for a few minutes. You go up first and I will join you soon", she persisted and with a sigh, Prachi walked up to the terrace.
The December chill was shocking and with a slight shiver, she walked towards the sit out area. Atleast it was warm under there than outside, she thought as she shivered again. It would be full moon tomorrow, she thought to herself looking up at the sky. The moon was playing hide and seek behind the clouds and the soft moonlight in the cold, dark night, the frost in the air made the place look magical. "Milind….", she whispered to herself, her voice husky with longing.
A slow appreciative whistle made her jerk up and her eyes opened wide in shock and amazement. Standing in the dark, Milind was leaning against the wall, his eyes slowly moving over her taking in her appearance. She looked beautiful standing there in the moonlight, her glowing face even more arrestingly pretty tonight. His hair messed up in the strong wind, black t-shirt pulled taut across his wide chest, hands carelessly thrust into the pockets of his jeans, he walked up to her slowly as she stood staring at him mesmerized. "Milind……aap!!", she whispered again, her voice shaking with disbelief and happiness.
"I told you that I would come, sweetheart", Milind said moving close to her. Tracing her cheeks, turned pink in the cold, he said huskily, "I always keep my promises, Cherry", he drawled.
She smiled shyly, "I was so worried, Milind. But I didn't see you coming in", she said. Milind smiled at her, "I know. That's why I told Lisa to send you up here. God, you look so beautiful today, Prachi", he whispered bending down to kiss her forehead.
Prachi moved back shyly and stopped as she felt the wall behind her. She could feel his heated gaze as his eyes roamed over her and she blushed. "Don't look at me like that", she warned huskily.
Milind chuckled, "Sweetheart, with your hands full of mehndi, you can't even close my eyes. This has given me such an advantage", he drawled naughtily moving even more closer to her. As Prachi put her hands out between them instinctively, he held her arms careful not to touch her mehndi and shook his head, "No, baby. We don't want to spoil such a beautiful work, do we?", he said and moved closer to cover whatever little distance was left between them. Prachi gasped as she felt herself pinned against the wall by his warm body and squirmed to get away from him. The movement only fuelling his already hightened senses, Milind groaned and he buried his face against her neck and whispered in her ears, "Don't do that, sweetheart". He smiled as she went absolutely still and moved his lips trailing down her neck, pressing soft kisses and nibbling at her skin. Finding the path of his lips blocked by her duppatta, holding the soft fabric between his teeth, he pulled it down slightly to get better access and kissed along her collar bone. His arms gathered her shivering body close to him as his tongue traced a wet burning path on her skin. Helpless as her hands couldn't push him away or hold him closer, Prachi moaned his name as she felt him move her duppatta even lower. The soft sound brought Milind back to his senses and he moved away from her slightly. It had been always difficult to control his senses when he was around her, he sighed and it was getting even more harder lately. Looking at her closed eyes and flushed face, his heart lifted up in joy and possessiveness in the knowledge that he was the only one who could bring out this response in her. Cupping her face gently, he pressed his lips on hers in a soft kiss and whispered her name, "Prachi……….".
Prachi opened her eyes and blushed a deep red attempting to move away. With a smile, he let her go and watched her and she sat on the settee, eyes downcast. Sitting next to her, he held her hand towards the moonlight to look at the design properly. Breathing in the divine smell of the mehndi, he admired the dark pattern on her fair skin. With a shy smile, Prachi looked at him from beneath her lashes, "What designs can you see here?", she asked softly.
Busy concentrating, his eyes brightened up on the seeing the one design he was trying so hard to find. With a well satisfied smile, he traced over her hand with his finger, "Hmmm, let me see. I can see some flowers,………leaves, aw….. that's a fish …….. and that's all", he leaned back.
"That's all!!", Prachi asked in a low voice as her face fell.
With a smile, he traced the first letter of his name, "And……..a…. 'M'. With a shy smile, Prachi buried her face against his arm and with a chuckle Milind bent to place a soft kiss on her head, "My sweet, sweet Prachi….. I love you, darling", he whispered holding her close to him.
As they sat there talking sweet nothings, Milind asked suddenly, "Prachi, did you have your dinner?".
Prachi nodded, "I did. But not much and now I am slightly hungry", she complained.
Smiling, Milind took the hot pack from the table. "Robert brought me some hot kheer, just to keep me warm while I waited for you. You wanna have some", he opened the lid and the smell of the kheer made Prachi's mouth water.
"Hmmmmmmm, Milind. It smells so good. But how will I eat?", she whined holding up her hands.
"Silly, why do you worry when I am around?" chiding her, Milind started to feed her.
Giggling Prachi ate happily and licking her lips, she sighed in content, "That was….yummy", she smiled at him with her dimples deepening.
Milind bent down to take her lips in his, wiping the remaining kheer that had coated around her lips, "Yes, very yummy", he winked at her naugtily as she smiled shyly.
Resting her head on his shoulder, she spoke softly, "You know Milind, kehte hai ki agar pyar gehra ho, toh mehndi ka rang bhi uthna hi gehra hota hai", she said looking at her hands.
Milind nodded, "Then yours will be more darker than anyone else because I love you so……so….much", he said with a shrug.
Smiling shyly, she kissed him on his cheek, "Thank you. I love you very much too".
"Should I also apply mehndi and check it out?" Milind asked naughtily and chuckling he pulled her closer as she whined. "I will see you again tomorrow, Prachi. I will be here as early as is decently possible. I want to be the first one to see how dark it really is", he said huskily.
"Of course, you will be the first to see. And you better be early haan, before that idiot Neev turns up", she pouted, a shadow crossing her face at the same time.
Quick to notice it, Milind frowned, "Neev? Why is he coming here so early?", he asked.
Prachi proceeded to tell him about the conversation she and Neev had over the phone. Milind fell silent as anger and suspicion assailed him. That guy is not behaving like a friend. "Has he developed feelings towards Prachi that's got nothing to do with friendship?", he thought confused. The very thought angered him even more. Looking into Prachi's worried face, he managed a smile, "Don't worry, sweetheart. No one has any right over you except me. I think its time we told Neev about us. There is no point in waiting for the right time. I will talk to him as soon as possible", he said with a finalty and Prachi nodded silently. It was better in a way, she said to herself. They would become friends in time and as Milind said she was there to bring them closer, she smiled relieved.
As Milind prepared to leave, he turned to her, "Prachi, there is just one more day left for us and we will be way too busy on the day of the wedding. So, I want to make the most of it. Tomorrow, you will have breakfast, lunch and dinner with me", he said and placed his finger on her lips before she could protest, "Shhhh, Leave it to me. Remember darling, ….breakfast, lunch and dinner", he said huskily and placing a quick kiss on her lips, he left.
Morning dawned bright and cold and Prachi was ecstastic to see the dark colour of her mehndi. Milind had kept his promise again and he was the first to see her hands that morning. Equally delighted, Milind placed soft kisses on her hands and looked at her proudly, "See, here is the proof of the depth of my love", he said dramatically drawing a shy smile from her. Neev arrived minutes later and his face contorted in anger finding Milind there. Still holding Prachi's hand in his, Milind's eyes silently challenged Neev's and the tension between them was broken by Lisa's mother calling them inside to have breakfast. As much as he tried, Neev couldn't spend even a minute alone with Prachi which frustrated him to the hilt. Breakfast was full of fun and laughter as the girls showed off their mehndi to eachother and teasing Lisa to the extreme.
With the wedding next day, there was no chance for Lisa to get out of the house and Neelam opted to stay with her. Prachi, Reba, Rita and Robert opted to deal with the last minute alterations with Lisa's sarees and blouses and along with Neev and Milind left for the shops. As Neev adamantly stayed with Prachi and the girls, Milind and Robert left them to do their own bit of shopping, promising to join them for lunch. Though Neev was slightly put off by Prachi's cold behaviour in the morning, he was happy as she gradually warmed up to him again. After some strenous last minute shopping, it was a relief for the girls, when they all met for lunch at the restaurant.
Vicky had also joined them there and lunch was another jolly and leisurely affair. With Neev seated next to her, Prachi sat opposite to Milind and they had their own silent conversation with their eyes inspite of the smirks going around between Vicky, Reba and Rita.
Busy eating the indian food, Prachi narrowed her eyes watching Milind eating roti with salad. "Milind, are you not going to taste any of these curries? You have a very bland taste", she said admonishingly. With a sheepish smile, as Milind proceeded to eat, she kicked him from under the table and the sudden jolt made him drop the piece of roti he was about to eat.
As Vicky struggled to control his laughter, Prachi stared at Milind, "I am talking to you, Milind. Tch, tch, I wonder what your mother fed you………………only salads!!", she said mockingly.
"Don't forget the pastas and pizzas", grinned Vicky, enjoying the way Prachi was pulling Milind's legs.
Annoyed, Neev turned to her, "Prachi. Let him eat whatever he wants. You finishe your food. We will have to leave soon", he said curtly.
Giving him her best bored look, she was about to take a bite of food when Milind leaned across the table to hold her hand. She gasped and her eyes widened as he pulled her hand towards him and ate the roti from her hand, his eyes never breaking contact with hers. "Ummmmm, now I know what I was missing", he said huskily and winked at her making her go bright red. As the ooooooooooohhhhhhhhs of Reba and Rita and the chuckles of Robert and Vicky filled the place, Neev gritted his teeth in helpless anger.
Soon after lunch, Milind and Vicky left them promising to meet at the church later, much to the relief of Neev. Both bride and groom, along with their families were attending the evening service at the church. The girls looked beautiful and the glow on Lisa's face told volumes. The stolen glances between Lisa and Peter through out the service was very sweet and Prachi smiled at her friend, her heart blessing them with every happiness in the world. She was getting tired of Neev's awe struck expression and he hadn't taken his eyes off her all evening, making her very uncomfortable. She knew she looked very good that evening as all her friends told her so, even Neev, but there was no need to look at her like that. She was even more tensed as she couldn't spot Milind anywhere in the crowd.
Milind and Vicky had arrived slightly after the service started and had to sit in the back row and Milind's eagerly searching eyes couldn't find Prachi either. Quickly walking out as soon as it finished, they waited to join their friends. A tingling sound of laughter made Milind turn around and……………. he forgot to breathe. His heart skipped a beat and then started thumping so very wildly that he wondered if he was going to have an heart attack. In front of him was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in the world, the olive green of her saree complimenting her fair skin, the flowy chiffon saree hugging every curve of her, her hair left open and the tingling sound of her bangles and the sweet sound of her anklets………..and then the strong breeze blew her saree away slightly showing him a glimpse of her creamy waist and his heart missed another beat. Hand clenched by his side, he took a sharp breath struggling to get an hold on his wayward thoughts as his eyes drank her etheral beauty.
Puzzled by the sudden silence, Vicky turned to look at Milind. One look at his clenched fist and heated eyes, he noticed where her friend's eyes were glued to and smirked knowingly. Spotting Milind, Prachi smiled brilliantly and then blushed a deep shade of red at his heated gaze and the way he was looking at her. She lowered her eyes shyly, unable to stand the intensity of his gaze. Her heart flipped with joy for his expression told her everything she wanted to know. She had dressed specially for him and his approval was everything for her. Tonight there was much more than just approval in his eyes, she thought shyly.
Milind's eyes narrowed as his eyes fell on Neev standing close to Prachi. Clearing his throat, he turned to Vicky, "I am taking Prachi out. So,…..keep him busy", he indicated towards Neev.
Vicky smirked, "And how am I supposed to do that?", he asked naughtily.
"Well, ….I am sure you will think of something", Milind smirked at him with his eyebrows raised.
Laughing, Vicky slapped his shoulder, "Milind……..behave", he warned, seeing his friend's heated look towards Prachi.
"Shut it, bro", chuckling Milind winked at him and walked towards Prachi aware of Vicky's amused laughter behind him.
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