FF: Come Back To Me 6th Part (Page 7) - Page 4

The next morning, Heer woke up to find Prem sitting next to her on the bed, with his head leaning on the headboard. Trying not to wake him up, she quietly placed a pillow under his head and covered him with a blanket. Afterwards, she carefully got to her feet and tried to walk to the restroom. The stitches had definitely slowed her down, and she would have to stop frequently to recover from the pain. On her way, Heer accidentally knocked down a flower vase, waking Prem up. He sprinted to her side.

"Heer, why did you get up?"

"I need to go to work, Prem"

Heer was about to take a step forward, but Prem grabbed her arm and forced her to face him. Heer noticed a sudden change in Prem's expression. A moment ago, he was soft and concerned. Now the Prem staring at her was infuriated, and by judging the look in his eyes, it seemed as if he was about to kill someone.

"Who did this to you?" he asked in a calm yet shuddering tone.

"What are you talking about," Heer replied with her gaze averted to the side.

"Heer, you can't lie, so don't even bother. I already know that you didn't get those bruises and that huge cut from falling'you were attacked, weren't you"

Heer knew that lying would anger Prem even more. "Just forget about it'it's no big deal."

"It's a big deal'for me. I want to know who did this?" Prem said while losing some of his patience.

Heer calmly removed her hand out of his grip, "Prem, just leave it'I need to go to work." Not giving him a chance to inquire any further, she made her way to the restroom.

After taking a shower, Heer had stepped out of the room to find Gayatri staring at her with a stern face and Prem standing next to her with a grin on his face. "What is he up to?" she wondered.

"What is this Heer? You are going to work?" Gayatri demanded to know.

"Yes, mom. I have to take care of some things"

"Absolutely not'you are staying home all day. I want you to take complete bed rest, and Prem this is your responsibility. You are going to be by her side all the time" she ordered.

"Yes mom" Prem answered with a smirk.

After Gayatri had delivered her verdict and left the couple alone, Heer threw the towel on the bed out of frustration and looked at Prem with fury, while he responded with his usual smile.

"What are you up to?" she asked.

"What are you talking about" Prem responded in an innocent tone.

"You persuaded mom to stop me from going to work"

"Yes I did" he said.

"Why?"

"Since you aren't telling me who did this to you, I was left with two options in order to keep you safe (1) Force you into telling me everything or (2) Keep you in my sight at all times'since you have become very stubborn in the past two years, I chose the latter option," Prem explained. "So if I were you, I would just make myself comfortable."

"He's still the same," she thought to herself. Knowing that Prem will do anything when he is determined to get his way, Heer accepted defeat and sat on the couch.

Prem had to admit, Heer looked like a small child right now. While giving her a victorious smile Prem said, "I'll get us some breakfast."

Meher and Preet volunteered to have breakfast with Heer and Prem, giving them some company. Afterwards, the next few hours went by fast with family members visiting Heer. First Kulraj and Kiran paid her a visit to see how she was doing. Later, Lalit decided to check on her. Gayatri, in the meantime, would drop in periodically to make sure that both Prem and Heer were complying with her orders.

By mid-afternoon, however, Heer was bored out of her mind. She had looked through all the files she had, and Gayatri wouldn't allow anyone to bring more work for her from the office. After reading a magazine cover to cover for the second time, Heer threw it onto the table out of frustration. Prem, who was quietly working on his laptop, came forth and sat next to her.

"Bored?" he asked.

"No! I'm having the thrill of my life!" she responded in a sarcastic tone.

Before Heer could react, Prem had lifted Heer into his arms and started walking out the room.

"Prem, what are you doing"

"You'll see." Prem carefully carried Heer out of the house to the garden in the back. He placed her on one of the patio chairs. Heer just gave him a questioning look. "I figured you could use some air," he responded.

"Thank you," Heer said with sincerity.

"Is there something else that I can get you?"

"Well, you can stop fussing over this incident and let me resume back to work" Heer dared to say.

"Your well-being is of upmost importance to me," Prem replied in a serious tone, "If I didn't stop digging dirt on Manmeet after you asked me not to, then I definitely won't leave this matter alone'I don't know why you won't tell me who did this, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to find out. I'll find that person by any means'and when I do find him, I'll dig his grave."

Heer could tell that Prem meant every word that he said. She sensed his blood boiling underneath his calm expression. For a second, even Heer feared the Prem in front of her. Sensing her uneasiness, Prem lightened his face and continued, "As for letting you work'well, I guess it is impractical to lock you up in the house. I'll talk to mom if you promise not to push yourself and keep someone with you at all times'deal?"

Knowing that this was the best offer, Heer shook Prem's hand'agreeing to his conditions. After a long time, Prem felt that there was hope for their relationship. Heer hadn't pushed him away and allowed him to take care of her. However, he knew that he had a long way to go before she could trust him completely.

In order to brighten up Heer's day further, Prem brought her favorite chocolate ice cream. As soon as she put the first spoon in her mouth, Heer's face lit up with delight. They discussed their childhood memories while eating their ice cream. Heer finished hers before Prem, and she still wanted more. In order to divert his attention Heer called out, "Gayatri mom, come sit with us"

Prem instinctively turned towards the house while Heer quickly grabbed a spoonful of ice cream out of his cup. Unfortunately, she wasn't fast enough because Prem saw her.

"Hey, that's my ice cream"

"I wanted more'" Heer said with a cute frown.

"Give it back, Heer"

"Oh come one Prem, it's just one spoonful"

However, Prem was adamant to get his ice cream back. He tried to reach for the cup but Heer held her hand to other side, making it difficult for him to reach. Prem automatically came closer to able to reach the cup. After a few failures, Prem broke into laughter, and Heer joined him. It was then, they realized the proximity between them. For a moment, the two just stared at each other. Heer, who's feelings for Prem were resurfacing wasn't sure what she wanted to happen next. A part of her wanted to push him, while another part wanted to bring him closer. As for Prem, he only wanted to end the little distance that was left between them.

Before either one of them could react, Prem felt a tight grip on his shoulder. He turned around to find Nihaal staring at him. Prem stood up to face his brother-in-law, and Nihaal immediately grabbed Prem's collar.

"I told you to stay within your limits," Nihaal fired out.

Heer intervened before Nihaal could react further. She forced his hands off of Prem.

"That's enough Nihaal," she said sternly, "Prem didn't do anything wrong'he just brought me here, so I can get some air."

"He should be keeping his distance, but all I see, is him trying to get closer to you," Nihaal retorted back.

"Maybe you are forgetting that he is still my husband'he doesn't need an invitation to look after me," she answered back. "Now would you please stop making a big deal out of this?"

Succumbing to his sister's wishes, Nihaal managed to calm down. Sensing the awkwardness, Prem decided to leave the two alone while he fetched Nihaal something to drink. While walking back to the house, Heer's words kept on replaying in Prem's mind. He felt like dancing at that moment-Heer had referred to him as her husband, and acknowledged his right to be concerned for her. This was enough for Prem to realize that their relationship still carried value for Heer.

After a few minutes, Prem headed back towards the garden. He was about to show himself when Nihaal and Heer's conversation grabbed his attention, forcing him to hide behind the bushes and eavesdrop on them.

"Have you told Prem?" Nihaal asked.

"No, he has no idea, and I want to keep it that way," Heer answered back.

"Heer, you're not safe'not until he is caught"

"I know, but there is too much going on this house. I don't want to get this family involved. As for me, don't worry'I'll be more careful. I have already called the inspector and given him updates on what happened."

"Alright, but I have arranged for two guards to be with you at all times. They won't interfere with your daily routine. They'll just keep an eye on you from far away. In fact, they are keeping watch from a car parked a few meters from the house'I just hope the police find that man soon"

"I'm sure they will, and thanks for the guards'anyways, did you call the hospital to check up on him?" Heer questioned.

"Yes, I have arranged for two guards to stay with him also'there hasn't been a change in his condition at all. I've spoken to the doctors about transferring him to India. They should be able to do it within a couple of weeks"

Prem could hear Heer sniffle by that point.

"Heer everything will be alright," Nihaal said assuringly.

"I hope so'I just want him to come back," Heer said.

"He will, have faith in him and yourself."

There was a momentary silence, and Prem decided to come out of hiding. He placed the tea on the table.

"That's okay'I have to go now," Nihaal said, "Heer take care of yourself, and Prem, I'm sorry for overreacting."

"It's okay," Prem said, "I understand."

After Nihaal left, Prem carried Heer back to their room. When placed her on the floor near the bed, Heer noticed a huge wrapped package on the bed.

"What's this?" she questioned.

"It's for you'I think you'll like it'open it" Prem instructed.

Heer gingerly opened the wrapping paper, and was amazed to see the contents of the package. It was the same guitar Balraaj had bought her years ago. "How did you'?"

Understanding what she was trying to ask, Prem answered, "I had asked Meher about whom you sold this guitar to. That man still has his shop there, and I called him up. He told me that he couldn't help selling your father's gift, and had saved it, hoping you would return to buy it back. This package arrived when you were talking to Nihaal."

Heer gently touched each string and fret of the guitar. All of the memories she shared with her father came back to her. She looked back at Prem. By then tears had started rolling down her cheeks, but she managed to give a smile. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Anytime," he said. He then gave Heer her medicine, and put her to bed.

After Heer had fallen asleep, Prem stepped out to the balcony of his room for some air. Remembering what Nihaal said about the guards, he gazed down his street and managed to spot a single car with two men looking in his direction. Heer and Nihaal's conversation had aroused more questions rather than answering the ones he previously had. He was glad that Heer wasn't keeping this situation to herself, and she agreed to let the guards keep an eye on her.

The only thing that Prem could figure out was that there were two men involved with this matter. One was the man who attacked Heer, and he knew that it's someone she hates. The other man sounded like someone Heer really cared about. All Prem could tell was that this man was ill and was coming to India in a matter of weeks. The best thing Prem could do now was wait'wait for someone or something to show him the right direction.