Pyar Ke Pal
"Bauji, we have come to bid you goodbye. My company has given me a position in Mumbai and I have decided to take it. Heer and Meher are also coming with me. I hope you can forgive us…" Nihaal folded his hands in front of Bauji and turning to Heer and Meher, he said, "I'll be waiting outside for you."
Heer and Meher bent down to get Lalit's blessings and a teary eyed Lalit pulled his daughters-in-law into a hug and said, "God bless you my children, I hope happiness follows you where you go." Both girls nodded and turned to get Gayatri's blessings but before they could Gayatri turned away from them and walked away along with Veera and Maya.
One by one, Heer and Meher bid goodbye to the rest of their family, Kulraj, Kiran, Harman and the kids. The only people missing were their husbands. Heer looked sadly at the empty staircase and towards the room where she knew her husband was hiding and finally she turned away and walked out of the house filled with memories and love she knew she would never find again.
Meher turned to follow her sister's suit but as she did, a face at the window caught here eye. She smiled and he smiled back. She blew him a kiss and he caught it and brought it close to his heart and then he watched as a sobbing Meher ran out of the house and his life.
Pyar ke liye char pal kam nahin the
Kabhi tum nahin the kabhi hum nahin the
Pyar ke haseen kab yeh mausam nahin the
Kabhi tum nahin the kabhi hum nahin the
"Meher, you don't have to do this. You can go back, you know Preet loves you and he will stand by you no matter what." Heer urged her little sister.
"It's too late for that didi." Meher replied as she packed away the last of her belongings into dreary brown boxes.
"I don't understand why? What happened? Preet didn't kick you out; you didn't have to leave not for me or bhaiya."
Meher sighed, "I was never any good for Preet didi. And after everything that happened I knew we would get affected eventually. Ma is angry with our entire family, and that anger would have slowly destroyed Preet and my relationship too. Its better this way didi, while we still have fond memories of each other to hold on to."
Heer squeezed her sister's hand, "I hope you don't regret this decision Meher."
Meher picked up one of the boxes and carrying it out she replied, "I won't."
Part II
Yeh din barson ke baad aaya
Kuch tumhe kuch humein yaad aaya
Kasak phir yeh dil mein uthi hain
Hothon pe baat aake ruki hain
Kabhi itne majboor to hum nahin the
Meher was just putting the finishing touches on the cake when the shrill sound of the doorbell broke through her concentration. "I almost finished the dang thing…who could it be now…argh!"
"Who is it?"
"Preet" came the soft reply.
Meher stopped in her tracks. After all this time, that voice still held an unnerving power over her. With shaking hands she finally managed to open the door, "What are you doing here?"
"Can we come in?" he asked politely, that cheeky smile lighting up his face like always.
Meher frowned at the use of the word we and finally peered around Preet to see that the entire family stood behind him, including Prem jiju, Heer didi and Nihaal bhaiya. They were all smiling conspicuously as if they were collectively part of some special secret.
"Of course come in."
As they all entered, Meher pulled Heer aside and asked, "Didi what's going on?"
"They found out about Viraag."
Meher frowned, "How?"
"Nihaal bhaiya called Prem. He didn't think it was right to not tell Prem about his baby."
Meher smiled, "Go bhaiya!"
Heer chuckled, "Well Prem flew down and was at the hospital just as I went into labor. Ma came with him. They found out about Veera's abortion and Maya's scheming. They have come to take us home."
Meher grinned, "So much for making Jiju pay…"
Heer blushed, "I love him and I always knew he loved me and now we have Viraag."
Meher hugged her sister and replied, "I am so happy for you didi. You both deserve all the happiness in the world. Now can we go meet my nephew please?"
"Your wish is my command…" a voice replied from behind her just as her tiny little nephew was gently delivered into her arms.
Meher knew that voice and felt that familiar, comforting warmth engulf her. She looked down at her nephew and smiled, "You look just like your papa."
"Nah I happen to think he is slightly more handsome, kind of like his chachu…don't you think bhabhi?" Meher felt his arms come around her, his face settling into the curve of her neck.
Heer laughed, "I happen to think that my son looks a little bit like his maasi too."
"You mean like his chachi…" Prem added as he reached out to take his son back into his arms.
"I'll go make tea for everyone…" Meher said as she stepped away from him and headed back to the kitchen.
"I think I'll go help my wife…" Preet excused himself as well as he hurried after her.
"Meher wait up…Meher!" Preet called out as he ran after her, "What's the rush?"
"Nothing…I am sure everyone is tired and would love a comforting cup of tea."
Preet grinned, "They can wait a little longer I am sure." He came forward and gently pulled her against him and turned her in his arms. His hands framed her face, "I missed you so much."
Meher's eyes misted up but she stood there silently.
Preet kissed her forehead, "Did you miss me? You look like you did. Did you take out all that pent up sexual frustration in the gym? I feel like half my wife is missing."
Meher couldn't help but smile at that, "Preet seriously I should make tea. You have all come to our house for the first time…"
"…and the last. You, Heer bhabhi and Viraag are all coming back with us. Finally!" He leaned forward and nuzzled his wife's neck.
Meher pushed him away. She walked over to the sink and as she filled the kettle, she replied, "I sent you divorce papers Preet. I am not coming back."
Preet frowned, "And I tore those up. I don't get it Meher. I never got why you left in the first place."
"You and I were never meant to be Preet. Just leave it at that."
Preet took the kettle away from her and roughly pushed her against the sink, "I can't leave it be Meher. You are my wife!"
"I am not anymore Preet, I signed those papers."
"I didn't…and until I do, you are legally my wife!"
"Preet you are hurting me…" Meher cried.
"And what are you doing Meher…" And with those words an angry Preet stormed out.
"I am so sorry…" she whispered.
Anupamaa
