Hello everyone 🤗, the next part will definitely be the engagement. Just wanted to sort out Neev's issue in this one. So bear with me. Cheers 😃
Part 59
Though Inder had arranged accomodation at a near by hotel for all his relatives and friends who had come to attend the engagement, the house seemed to be packed full of guests, with food and refreshments being served round the clock. Premlatha was thankful for the cook that Pranay had arranged, to help them during this time. With two assistants, he was doing a mighty good job leaving Premlatha to deal with the other chores and looking after their guests. She was even glad of Nihaarika's presence. Whatever bitterness Nihaarika had in her heart, she was so good at hiding it and with a permanent smile and sweet talk, she had been a mighty help since she came a week before along with Pranay. With the engagement the next day, Premlatha was very busy. Even Neelam had come from Ooty a couple of days earlier and was staying with Lisa. Prachi had all her friends around her and even friends from Uni dropped by. Her ghagra choli for the engagement had arrived only the day before and trying it on, Prachi was completely satisfied. Emerald green and dark maroon, the richness of the material hightened her fair complexion and her friends couldn't stop praising it. Actually Neev had helped her select it when she was divided in her mind between this and another similar blue and green lehenga choli and she was glad that she had listened to him. Trying it on, she rushed out to show it to her parents who had beamed in approval. Neev who was standing next to them had just stared at her and had walked out without a word. Frowning at him, she soon forgot everything as her friends pulled her back into the room.
Now, she was with her friends in her room, picking out accessories and make up for the next day. "Oh, if the engagement can be like this, I can't wait for the wedding, Prachi. Do you know what you are going to wear that day?" asked Rita dreamily.
Prachi just smiled at her, "There are so many dresses, Rita, for the wedding and the reception and during the bidaai. Mama and Milind's mom were talking about it the other day, on the phone. I have selected a few but Mama has got some and aunty is arranging for some to be delivered here, you see. I would know in a couple of weeks, I guess", said Prachi thoughtfully.
The girls quickly exchanged glances and Pooja came to sit next to Prachi, "Hmmm, Prachi, what are you wearing for the night?"she asked slowly.
Prachi looked at her surprised, "For the reception night……I just told you, yaar. I have selected a few", she said.
Pooja glared at her, "Who cares about your reception night? We want to know what you are going to wear on your wedding night?" she nudged her ignoring Prachi's furious blushes and the girls giggled around her.
Prachi gave a delicate shudder remembering Milind's words, "Whatever you wear, I would love to take them off you" and blushed even more. "I don't know, Pooja. I think mama is calling me", she got up to rush out of the room and the girls pulled her down again.
"Na……..not so easily. Tell us everything now. Did you and Milind talk about it?" nudged Reba giggling. As Prachi glared at her, she giggled again, "What about your honeymoon? What are you going to wear for him?" she asked naughtily and the girls ooooooohhhhed in the background.
Prachi was too embarrassed to even tell her off. With a smile, Lisa sat on her other side, "What else, Reba! Silk and laces….Time to shop for some sexy lingerie babes.." nudged Lisa and mortified, Prachi closed her eyes tightly, Milind's words echoing in her mind again.
Neelam hugged her from behind, "You can even compare notes with Lisa, Prachi darling. She will have valuable tips to give you. Lisa knows eve…..ryyyyyyything by now", she giggled and Lisa smacked her head.
Feigning anger, Prachi got up, "Enough now, girls. I am going to get some food. I am starving. Unlike you girls, I have other important things to think of", she said in a huff.
Reba blocked her way and glared at her, "I don't know how Milind fell for you, Prachi. There is no romantic bone in your body. If only it was me…………." She drawled dreamily and sighed, "Hai,hai…….I would be thinking of nothing else but that……., Milind……..Silk………..and laces………..hai, hai", she drawled again.
Prachi gasped in shock and embarrassment, "Stop it, Reba. How dare you think of such things? You……You……" picking the pillows she threw them at her with Reba dodging every one of them and running around the room. Laughing, the girls fell on each other. Lisa hugged her blushing friend, "Liar, I am sure you are dreaming of nothing else, Prachi. Okay, we will get Pooja to ask Vicky. He would definitely know about every thing Milind has planned for the honeymoon", she laughed along with a giggling Pooja.
"But Milind said it would be a surprise", said Prachi and immediately realised what she had just said and went bright red. "Ohhhhhhh, so you and Milind have been talking about all this. Come on, now, Tell, tell", shrieked Rita and as her other friends joined her, a very shy Prachi buried her burning face in her hands.
Promising to bring food from the kitchen for Prachi and the others, Reba and Rita ran down still giggling.
"Poor Prachi, we shouldn't be teasing her so much. She looked like she was going to burst into tears", a laughing Reba gave a shriek as she bumped into Neev.
"You girls watch where you are going", smiled Neev. As they continued giggling, "What are you girls up to? Why are you giggling so much?" asked Neev.
"Oh, we were just teasing Prachi. You won't believe how much she blushes" said Rita.
Neev gave a small smile, "The wedding is still two months away. So save it till then", he said.
Reba made a face, "Buddhu, who was talking about the wedding? We were busy teasing her about Milind and her wedding night", she giggled.
Neev turned a sickly green and stared at them. Lisa who followed them downstairs pulled Rita and Reba away from Neev immediately, irritated with their blabbering. Her heart went out to him as Neev turned and walked away hurriedly.
It was late in the night, when Prachi walked down the stairs to get a bottle of water from the kitchen. Neev's and her parents had retired to their room early that night as the next day was going to be very busy. She smiled clutching her mobile phone harder. She had just finished talking to Milind. He had returned after a week in London along with a few of his friends. He was having an early night too to sleep off his jet lag. By this time tomorrow, she would have his ring on her finger, she smiled shyly. She felt dizzy with happiness. Milind had sounded very excited too, especially with a group of his close friends around him and tomorrow, he was going to introduce every one of them to her. She wondered how they would receive her. A few of his friends couldn't make it to their engagement and to her relief, one of them was Sally. She was in the States now and she had some prior commitments. She had promised Milind to come well before the wedding. Prachi had struggled hard to contain her happiness and sounded equally sorry when she spoke to Milind. She wondered if Milind picked it up but then he was too excited to even notice it. She smiled to herself and turned to walk out of the kitchen when she came face to face with a very angry Nihaarika.
Nihaarika's face was contorted in anger and as she glared at Prachi, "Of course you will be smiling, won't you? You have got everything you wanted. Milind, …engagement and wedding…very soon! Wah, who would believe such an innocent looking girl, would rope in such a man! The world is going to be at your feet, Prachi. Of course you must smile, laugh. Why would you care of other's pain? You call him your best friend, don't you? My poor son, what have you done to him, Prachi? How can you be so heartless?" her eyes were spitting fire and Prachi trembled.
"Aunty, what are you saying? What happened?" Prachi's voice shook.
"Why would I say anything, Prachi? Anyone with eyes can see for themselves what Neev is going through, except you. Your eyes are blinded by your so called love. I came here only for my son. Just to be with him. If only he would listen to me and get out of this place! The pain is killing him and here you are rejoicing. Wah, kya dosti hai tumhari!" she hissed furiously and Prachi shrank back as if slapped.
"Aunty, where is Neev?" Prachi asked desperately.
"What do you think, Prachi? Tomorrow is your engagement and do you think he will be happily sleeping? He is upstairs in the terrace and he has been there for sometime. He didn't even eat properly. My poor son!" she dabbed at her eyes and looked at her with eyes full of contempt, "Now, why will it bother you? Be happy, Prachi", she said and turned around and walked away leaving Prachi reeling in shock.
A sob broke out of her and she held on to the kitchen door, her body trembling. Suddenly everything felt wrong, her happiness, her excitement, it was totally wrong, especially when her best friend is suffering. With a determined sigh, she walked up the stairs.
Neev stared at the dark sky as another thunder rolled by. Even nature reciprocated his feelings, he smiled grimly. It should have rained by now but for some reason, only empty thunders were rolling by. His mind was in turmoil as it had been since a couple of days. He should have left when he had the time, when Ma told him to. What was he thinking? Did he really think that he was that brave, that strong? He gave a sarcastic smile. From the time, he saw Prachi wearing her engagement dress, he had been struggling. He had suggested that colour to Prachi when she was so divided in her mind. It was the exact colour he had always dreamt of seeing her in, during their engagement. But now she would wear it but instead of him, it would be Milind who would slide his ring on her finger. Especially after Reba's comments that afternoon, he was filled with such hatred and rage, he didn't know who it was directed towards……….himself or Milind. His mind was filled with images of Milind and Prachi together, in each other's arms. He closed his eyes tightly willing to shut them out. His mind replayed the scene on the night of Reba and Rita's Birthday party…the way they held each other, the way they kissed eachother……
He let out a shuddering sigh when he felt her hand on his arm. A full minute passed before he turned around and looked at Prachi. His eyes took in her wet cheeks, troubled eyes and slowly he cupped her face, his face betraying every emotion he had carefully shielded from the world all these days. A shiver went through Prachi as her tear filled eyes searched his, her heart constricting with strong emotions, "Neev", she called softly.
Without a word, he moved away from her and turned his back to her. "Neev", Prachi called again, her lips wobbling. Neev struggled to get himself back in control. It was a few minutes later, he turned back to her. "Sorry, Prachi, I am being a complete jerk", he said with a grimace.
Prachi shook her head slowly and holding his arm, she pulled him towards the steps. Making him sit down, she sat next to him. She didn't know what to say to him. His eyes had barred his very soul for that one short moment and she didn't need to know anymore. "I wish I could make things better, Neev. I wish I could take away your pain but…..but I don't know what to do. All these days, I wanted to talk to you but I was worried that I might say the wrong things and hurt you even more", she said softly, her voice trembling. She looked at him with eyes full of remorse, "I won't stop you if you want to leave, Neev. I will have no complaints. I can't see you in pain. Please go if that will ease it. I am sorry, Neev. I am sorry for everything", she sobbed softly.
"I will go, Prachi. I will definitely go away for some time, but after your engagement and I will definitely come back before your wedding" he said and his hand squeazed hers. He felt calm again. She had come to him to share his pain and that meant a lot to him. "These last couple of days have been really hard for me, Prachi. I used to dream of you in a similar dress to the one you will be wearing tomorrow. I can't help thinking that it should be me, you should be getting engaged to, instead of Milind. I know I shouldn't be thinking along those lines, Prachi but I just can't help it", he said slowly and Prachi's heart constricted on seeing such raw emotion in his eyes. Neev gave a sad smile, "I keep thinking that I shouldn't have let go of you so easily. I should have put up a fight. Both Inder Uncle and Ma would still prefer me to Milind. But it's only you, Prachi. I think I should have been a bit stronger and tried harder" he said and Prachi stayed silent. "Would it have changed anything, Prachi?" asked Neev softly.
She looked at him, her eyes clear and honest, "No, Neev. It wouldn't have. It has always been him and it will always be", she said slowly.
Neev grimaced, "I thought so, too. Good that I didn't waste my time", he sounded more like his normal self and Prachi smiled. He looked thoughtfully at her hand that he was holding, "If it was the other way round, if it Milind was in my shoes, I don't think he would have given up. He wouldn't have rested until he got you back", he said almost to himself and turned to look at her, "But then things would have changed, right, Prachi? He would have got you back and I still would have let you go" he sighed.
Prachi just nodded. Yes, If Milind was in Neev's place, he would never have let her go.
Feeling much calmer now, Neev relaxed back against the wall. "You guys are really meant to be together. That was what Milind said that evening when he came to meet me. Destiny……You know Prachi, I wish he was a horrible person, a real snob, who I could have easily hated. But he is not, Prachi. He is a very nice person and I can't hate him even if I want to. That doesn't help at all", he grimaced and Prachi squeezed his hand understandingly. "If I had told Milind about everything I was thinking of in these past two days, he would have punched me silly but the worst thing is that he would have understood as well. I know I shouldn't say this but you are really lucky to have found him, Prachi. He is crazy about you and he will keep you very happy", he said with genuine affection and Prachi smiled at him, tears of happiness filling her eyes.
She should have spoken to him much earlier. But she was glad that Nihaarika pushed her to take a brave step today. They sat in silence for sometime, holding each other's hands. They used to sit like this holding hands and talking in whispers, sharing secrets and laughing, hiding in the shadows of the staircase, in his Mumbai house since they were children. Filled with those sweet memories, they looked at eachother and smiled.
Neev lifted up his face to the sky as the first drops of rain fell. Atlast……..He turned to smile at his friend, "See Prachi, all you have to do is to come and sit with me for a few minutes and I am much saner now. I don't know why I was getting so worked up. I am sorry I made you cry on such a happy day", he said.
"Are you going to be alright, Neev?" asked Prachi, her eyes worried.
Neev smiled, "I will be, Prachi. Enjoy your big day tomorrow and the days to come. I will be so relieved once you are married, you know. Then I am going to live my life. I am going to meet girls, go on dates and wait for the perfect girl to come into my life", he promised.
Prachi smiled sweetly, "That perfect girl will definitely come into your life, Neev. And then you would never let go of her. You will fight the world dirty, for her", she said with heartfelt affection.
"Oh, yes", Neev flexed his muscles, "Come on, Milind Mishras of this world. Let me fight you all dirty", he challenged and they laughed together. "You know, Prachi, My perfect girl will not be short and skinny like you and definitely not a cry-baby. I wonder how Milind fell for you", he teased her and glared at him.
"Milind thinks that I am the most beautiful girl in the whole wide world. I am his perfect girl", Prachi tossed her head arrogantly.
Neev rolled his eyes, "Then he is definitely blind", he muttered and ran down, shrieking and trying to escape Prachi's well aimed punches.
It was well past midnight when Prachi went back to her room. Getting into her bed, she struggled to sleep, her mind completely restless. She was glad that she had spoken to Neev, that he was feeling much better. They had even laughed and teased each other. But she knew that it would still be very hard for him tomorrow. His words tormented her. The thought that Neev could think of her in such a way brought a wave of nausea in her. He had even dreamt of her wearing a dress similar to the one she would wear tomorrow! Is that why he helped her to choose it? No……She wanted to dress up for Milind, just for him. Tomorrow is their special day, hers and Milinds. Neev's thoughts seemed to have violated her happy little world and she struggled to come to terms with it. On the other hand, she was feeling guilty for feeling so happy when her friend is suffering. Like Nihaarika aunty said, what sort of a friend was she? Neev was willing to go through so much just for her. But she…….but what could she do? She would never be able to give him the one thing that he wanted. A shudder went through her. No, she shouldn't be thinking of all these. It was just not fair. How happy she was just a few hours ago? Now guilt and remorse assailed her. Oh, how she wished that Milind was there with her! He would have understood and comforted her. She wanted to feel his presence, hear his voice…….just wanted to hold on to the knowledge that nothing or no one could come between them,….. neither Neev nor his thoughts about her………just wanted to know that her bubble of happiness was intact. She struggled between the need to call Milind and the commonsense to not disturb him. He would be in bed and sleeping. She knew that he was tired. He had been travelling a lot that week and jet lag was catching up on him. Willing herself to think of the next day, she struggled to go to sleep. After almost an hour, she gave up and called Milind. She cursed herself when Milind sounded groggy on the phone.
"Milind…….Sorry, I disturbed you", she said softly.
Surprised, Milind sat up in his bed. Why is she calling him at this hour? Was everything okay? "Prachi.., darling, what's up? Are you okay?" Milind asked concerned. As she apologised again for waking him up, he smiled, "Come on, Prachi. How can you disturb me? You can call me at anytime and don't apologise. Now tell me what's bothering you?" he asked.
Prachi hesitated. What should she tell him and how much should she tell him? As he called her name again, she struggled, "Milind…….I just wanted to talk to you. I tried to go to sleep, but I couldn't".
Fully awake now, Milind's voice sharpened, "What is it, Prachi? Did something happen there?" he asked again.
"Nothing, Milind. It's just that Neev…….Neev was upset and I…....sat with him for sometime. He…..he is better now and gone to bed" she said wondering if she shouldn't have called him.
Milind was very quiet on the other end. He leaned back and raked his fingers through his hair. Neev………what did he tell Prachi to make her so restless? Though irritated and angry, he also felt sorry for him. He sighed as Prachi called his name. "It is hard for him, Prachi. Do you want me to talk to him?" he asked softly.
"No Milind, he is better now. Don't say anything to him. It's just that……." She hesitated, "Talk to me, Milind. I am scared now. Everything will be alright tomorrow, right. What if something goes wrong?" she sounded distressed.
Milind smiled, "Sweetheart, nothing can go wrong and nothing will. Neev will be fine. He is a good guy. Give him some time. He will come to terms with it. Don't stress yourself now. You need your beauty sleep", he said gently, his voice soothing her already. "I can't wait to see you, Cherry. I can't wait to see the blush on your face, the sneaky looks you would be giving me from the corner of your eyes…", his voice dropped huskily.
Prachi shivered slightly. Atlast………this felt so right. This is what she wanted to hear. She wouldn't think of Neev or anyone else. The day is for her and Milind. "I love you, Milind", she said softly.
Milind's smile grew tender, "Love you too, honey. Dress for me, Prachi but don't blame me if I can't keep my eyes off you. Oh, I can't wait to show you off to my friends. They won't believe how lucky I got", he said in a husky voice.
Prachi closed her eyes, letting herself to be pulled into their own magical world, "I wish you were here now, Milind", she said longingly.
"I would love to climb through your window, Prachi. How romantic would that be! But your poor Papa would faint in shock if he found out. Let us give him some peace, honey. I am trying to be in my best behaviour now. So don't tempt me", he said naughtily.
Prachi giggled. "Let me leave my window open……just in case you change your mind, darling", she said equally naughtily and Milind groaned, "Temptress", he said softly and a blush crept up Prachi's cheeks.
After a few minutes of talking sweet nothings, she bade him good night. Sleep came to her easily after that. She was more than eager to go into their dreamy little world. With a smile on her lips, she slept restfully.
Morning dawned bright and warm and the shah household bustled with activity. Prachi couldn't hide her excitement and happiness and after trying for a while, she gave up. She had every right to be happy, she told herself and pointedly ignored Nihaarika's scornful eyes. Even Neev had wanted her to be happy and catching his eye, she had smiled brilliantly, which he returned immediately. Her heart fell at peace. Prachi's heart thumped heavily as their car drew into the function hall early that afternoon. She clutched her mother's hand tightly as she was taken to the room to get ready. Her friends had everything under control and she was kept very busy by the beautician to even bother about the hustle and bustle outside. Her parents would take care of everything there. Milind would be arriving with his family and friends a bit later in the evening. She was already impressed with the decorations and the arrangements and she was sure that Milind's family would have no complaints. After all, her father had taken charge. As Milind said, nothing can go wrong and nothing will. She leaned back with a smile giving in to the expert hands of her beautician. Milind would be here soon……..very soon.
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