Present –
Prem filled his glass to the brim with his favorite drink. Prem Jhuneja never was a drinker in the past. Yes, sure he drank but only socially and never on a daily basis. When and if he drank it was always one drink and nothing too strong. These past few weeks had turned him into a regular drinker. Prem now couldn't be seen without a drink in his hand. No one dared question his habits, especially not after all Prem had been through.
Drinking was the only thing that seemed to numb his pain. Be it only for a few hours, but still, it meant that for a few hours he could forget what had happened to him. Every night he would drink himself to sleep. He would drink until he literally passed out or couldn't think any more. For a few hours each day, he didn't have a care in the world – no one to think about, and nothing to worry about. It was Prem and no one else. It was like a small piece of heaven. When he was drunk he didn't live which was what caused him the most pain – living. If he was sober he couldn't handle it. When he was sober his mind played tricks on him.
When he was sober Prem could hear Heer's laughter, he could hear Heer humming Sonny to sleep, he could hear Heer teasing and taunting him, he could hear Heer calling out his name the way she did when he made love to her. Not only Heer, bhe he could hear his most prized possessions calling out to him – Papa. He could hear their laughter and their joy. Every time he closed his eyes he could see their faces. When he was drunk those noises kill him softly inside anymore. He was left in total silence, total abandonment. His head was absolutely chaotic when he was drunk, but oddly in that chaos he found a calm that kept him alive after all that happened.
Prem suddenly remembered the night that Heer had given him the new that he had secretly died to hear.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Past –
It had been one year to the date since they had adopted Suraj – their darling baby boy. It was time for their third anniversary. Prem didn't want too much of a bid deal made out of it because he noticed that for some time now, Heer wasn't feeling well. Every time he asked her what happened she just brushed it off. He didn't like her being sick. Heer kept telling him the doctor said it was nothing serious and it would correct itself in a matter of time. He had just about had enough of this doctor. What surprised him ever more was that Raaji Bhabi was taking it lightly as well. She kept repeating what Heer said; it was like the two sisters were in cahoots with one another. Prem had made up his mind to take Heer to another doctor so he could get a second opinion, it would never hurt anyone. He thought once their anniversary was over he would take her himself.
The day of their anniversary, Raaji Bhabi had very generously offered to take Sonny for the day so Prem and Heer could enjoy each others company. Prem had agreed at once. Sonny loved his Massi and Chacha, but his bond with Aaryan was the greatest. Put those two boys together and they forget that other people exist in the world. By then Sonny could talk in broken sentences. Prem was afraid that Heer would refuse because she wasn't feeling too good. Much to Prem's surprise, Heer had agreed.
They left the house before lunch so they could enjoy a nice meal together. The got to the restaurant and oddly it was the same one where Heer had taken Prem to tell him she was pregnant the first time. Prem was afraid that Heer might feel apprehensive but she didn't. Heer seemed perfectly fine with the venue. They ordered lunch and ate together. It was great. they fed each other lunch. Heer only took a few bites here and there, but they still had a good time. When the dessert cart pulled up, Heer's eyes widened with joy. Prem settled on a simple cheesecake with cherries, while Heer picked a large piece of chocolate chip fudge cake. Prem was shocked to see this. Heer didn't like chocolate too much. She ate a few pieces here and there, but never like this. She tended to stay away, but not today. She swallowed it down so fast she didn't even bother to offer Prem any.
Wanting to tease her just a little bit, Prem managed to get some whipped cream off of his plate and onto his finger. Before he could do anything, Heer placed a hand on the hand that rested on the table.
Looking into his eyes she said, "Thank you for this. I had a great time. I've missed spending time alone with you Prem. Thank you."
Prem raised his other hand and made it seem like he was going to stroke her cheek, instead he put a dollop of whipped cream on her nose. Heer was shocked and caught off guard. She gave him the 'don't-mess-with-you-wife' look. However, her anger didn't last for too long. Before she knew it but her and Prem burst into laughter. They soon got cleaned up and left the restaurant.
At Heer's request, Prem had taken her shopping and to the beach. They had walked along the shore hand in hand, with Heer resting her head on Prem's shoulder. It was almost sunset and the atmosphere was beautiful. Heer spotted a bench and insisted on sitting because she was feeling queasy. Once they were sitting Prem reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a black velvet box – it was an anniversary present for Heer.
Heer opened the box carefully but immediately fell in love with what lay inside. Prem had gotten her a pendant of platinum surrounded by diamonds. In the middle of the heart were two initials – P and S – for Prem and Suraj.
Taking the pendant from her, Prem gently moved her hand to put it on her. "If you wear this, no matter where you are, your family will always be with you. By your heart," Prem whispered.
The gesture brought tears to Heer's eyes. Now it was her turn to give him his present. Turning to him she took his hands into her own she said, "Well, I have a very special gift for you too my love."
"Oh really?" Prem said as he pulled one hand out and laid it in front of Heer. "Where is it? Hand it over."
"Actually, I don't have it with me, so to say. I mean, I have it but then again I don't have it," Heer said.
"What? How is that possible? Is this the chocolate talking?" Prem asked. "Speaking of chocolate, what was that back at the restaurant? Did you just have a craving for chocolate all of a sudden or what?"
Heer blushed slightly. "I guess you could say that." She decided to change the topic so she said, "You are going to have to add another letter to this pendant in a few months."
"What? Why?" Prem asked confused. He shook his head and said, "Forget your gift for now. Where is mine?"
"You need to wait about six months for it," Heer said.
"What? what kind of gift is that?" Prem asked. He noticed Heer wasn't looking him in the eye and that didn't sit well with him. "Heer, you are beginning to really worry me. What is going on?"
Heer looked up at Prem as she said, "I'm giving you the gift of life."
"What?" Prem seemed to be getting more and more confused by the second.
Heer took a deep breath. "Prem, I'm pregnant."
First Prem was confused, then he was furious. "What? How is that possible? It isn't possible! We were careful all the time! How can you be pregnant?"
"I know we were careful," Heer said, "But it happened."
Prem got up and paced along the shore. "Not again Heer, not again. I cant bare to see you go through all of that again. I'll die if you hurt again." Prem knew that he wasn't strong enough to watch Heer go through another miscarriage. As he paced, a thought occurred to him. "Wait. I have to wait six months. That means……"
Heer got up with a smile on her face. She took Prem's hand and said, "Yes Prem, I'm already a little over three months pregnant."
Prem pulled his hand out of Heer's. "You knew. You knew you were pregnant and didn't tell me?"
"I knew how you would react," Heer said in her defense.
"Heer, this is your life we are talking about!" Prem was raging. "I'm more than happy with you and Sonny. I don't need anything else."
Heer once again took Prem's hand in hers. "I know, I am too. But when I found out I was pregnant again, I knew it had to be a sign from God. After all the precautions we took, I still managed to get pregnant."
"But Heer…." Prem began to say.
"I'm having this baby," Heer announced.
"But…."
"No Prem," Heer said. She was not going to let him talk her out of having this baby. "It's already over three months. It's ok. I've been seeing a doctor from the beginning."
"What!?" Prem yelled.
"Yes. For the other pregnancies I always miscarried within the first trimester. This time I didn't. The doctor said that with regular check ups, this pregnancy will be fine," Heer explained.
"Really?" Prem asked, as he calmed down a bit.
"Yes my love, really," Heer said. "I just waited to be sure until I told you, that's all."
"So, we are having a baby and you'll be just fine?" Prem asked.
"Yes," Heer said as she put a hand over her stomach. "We will both be fine."
"So all that sickness was actually morning sickness? And that chocolate craving as really a pregnancy craving?" Prem asked.
"Yes and yes," Heer said with a giggle.
"So you are really fine, right?" Prem asked. He just couldn't be too sure.
"Yes, I told you," Heer took his hand and placed it on her stomach. "Baby and Mom are perfect."
"Our baby. Mine and yours. Our baby," Prem said as he sprawled his hand over her stomach.
Prem enveloped Heer into a hug. He was so happy that he was going to be a father again. No matter what, Sonny was their son, their oldest child. The baby would just add to the happiness of the Jhuneja family. He was ecstatic. He promised her not to miss any appointments or classes or anything related to the pregnancy. He would be there every step of the way. And he was.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Present –
At that time Prem didn't know that Heer had lied to him. Point blank, she lied to him. She had looked him in the eyes and lied to him. Heer had never done that, but as they say…there was a first time for everything.
JAZ
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
