Part 1:
Note: the story starts off from where Prem left Heer on Tuesday.
Both Prem and Heer couldn't forget about what had unfolded between them just hours ago. Prem sat on the plane, waiting for take off. A last minute meeting caused Preet to stay behind while Harman and Prem left for Canada. As a stewardess asked Prem to buckle his seat belt, he gave her a smile. The smile was given with a heavy heart. He couldn't believe that after all these years he found out that he had a daughter, only to be forced to part with her even before he had met her. Prem thought back to the first time he had meet the bubbly and talkative little girl for the first time at his hotel. Prem remembered how upset he had gotten because her balled made him spill the dirt all over himself. He had even yelled at her a little. As soon as he saw her, he could see that she was an adorable girl. He could see in her eyes how full of life and innocence was. When he had almost told on her she asked him not to because of her mother. Now Prem understood why she was afraid of her mother ' her mother was Heer. As sweet as Heer was, when it came down to it she could be very scary. An unwilling smile came across Prem's face as he thought of Heer punishing the little girl for something she had done. He had finally found his life, only to have it taken away ' much too soon.
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Heer woke up the next morning with a different kind of tiredness in her body. It wasn't the usual tiredness she felt because of having a full time job and running after a 5 year old spirited girl. This was something else completely. This was the tiredness that came form tossing and turning all night, it was the tiredness that came from knowing that you had just separated a child from her father without so much as a second thought. It was the tiredness that came from knowing that you had smashed the heart of the one man you had loved ' regardless of that fact that he had broken yours. His had been a mistake, an unforgivable mistake, but her's...her action, it caused deliberate pain to the man who still held her heart in the palm of his hands. It nearly killed Heer to threaten to tell Chahat about Prem's mistake. The look on Prem's face still sent shivers down Heer's body. How could she be so cold to someone she had loved so much? There was nothing that could be done to change the past. She wasn't even sure that she wanted to.
Looking at the clock Heer saw that it was time to get Chahat up and start the day.
"Chahat beta, utto. School nahin jaana kya?" Heer asked.
"Mamma, please. Mujeh sone doh naa. Baas 10 minute aur," her daughter protested.
Heer smiled and said, "Bilkul aapne baap pe gayi hai." The words were out of heer's mouth before she could even think. Immediately she pushed the thought out of her head and proceeded to wake up her child.
It was going to be a busy day for Heer. After she dropped of Chahat at school, she had to go and meet with the new couple who's wedding she was planning. They were a young couple, so much in love. Niel Singh and Payal Kapoor, a beautiful couple. That is why Heer got into this business. Her faith in love had been broken and she needed to have it restored. She did it for Chahat's sake. Once Heer found out she was pregnant, she knew that she couldn't raise a child in a world where she didn't believe in love. Love was a beautiful thing that everyone should experience. Just because she had been hurt in love, didn't mean that her daughter would be too.
Heer had spent the entire day on the run, doing something or other. This new couple had a lot of things that they wanted done for their wedding. On top of that, one of the planners had been out sick so Heer had to handle the reception for another client, which was no easy task since she didnt know anything about that couple. Some how, thanks to God, she had managed to get through that day. She had been so busy that she didnt even have time for lunch and now her stomach was grumbling. Heer took at seat at her desk and glanced at the clock, it was nearly 3 ' it was time to go and get Chahat from school. As hungry as she was, if she stopped to eat now she'd be late and Chahat would have to wait. If Chahat had to wait, Heer would never hear the end of that! Grabbing her purse and phone Heer headed out.
The taxi pulled up to the gate of Chahat's school with just 3 minutes to spare. Already there was a crowd of mother and a few fathers there waiting for their children. For a moment Heer could picture Prem waiting outside of the school with the other parents waiting for his daughter. She could see Chahat running our of the gates and straight into Prem's arms. It wasn't hard to imagine Prem as a father, a good father. He had been so great with all of Kulraj's children, it was a natural. Heer was pulled back to reality with the shrill ringing of the school bell. That sound was followed by the laughter of children rushing out after a full day's worth of school. Heer stretched her head to try and see her precious daughter but couldn't. Finally, after a good chunk of children were already out, Heer saw Chahat trying to balance her lunch box, her backpack and water bottle.
"Chahat!" Heer called out and waved. She was rewarded by a cheeky grin from her daughter.
"Hi Mamma," Chahat said as she reacehd Heer.
"School kaisa tha?" Heer asked.
"Jaisa haar roz hota hai, vaisa tha," Chahat responded.
Heer couldn't help but giggle at her daughter. She always had tons to say, but when there was something she wasn't interested in, she only had a few words to say. Heer called for a taxi as she took the lunch box and water bottle form Chahat.
"Mamma?"
"Hmm...bolo."
"Kitna aacha din hai naa, chalo naa hum aaj taxi nahin lenge" she said.
Heer knew very well what she was hinting at. "Kyun? Phir hum ghaar kaise jayenge?"
"Paidal jayenge, nice day for a walk. Hai naa?" Chahat asked, under her eyelashes.
"Haan, woh toh hai. Chalo, hum market ke road se jaate hai. Vaise bhi mujhe kuch saman kharidna hai."
"Nahin! I mean...nahin, market se kyun? Park se guzarte hai naa."
"Park se? Kyun?" Heer teased.
"Woh...um...Mamma...." Chahad hesitated.
"Chalo, chalte hai...idea aacha hai." Heer said.
That brought a beautiful smile on Chahat's face. Heer knew exactly why her daughter was suddenly interested in taking the park route. It was only a matter of time before her daughters true intentions were revealed. Intentions that had nothing to do with the nice weather or with a walk. It had very much to do with the sweet tooth Chahat had.
Heer walked with Chahat, holding her hand as she rambled on and on about how Rahul was teasing Priya today but then Chahat had intervened. Chahat had yelled at Rahul about how it wasnt right to tease people because that hurts their feelings and what not. Chahat talked about the art project they did in class, about how she shared her lunch with Diya because Diya's mom gave her a tomato sandwich again. Heer loved to hear her daughters banter, it still amazed her that Chahat was her child. When Prem's adultery all of Heer's dreams had been shattered - not only that of being his wife, but that of having his children. Three weeks after she left she found out that she was pregnant. She knew that she couldnt have Prem, but she would be happy with his baby. Chahat had been what saved her from complete destruction.
"Mamma? Mamma?" Chahat called, breaking Heer's trance.
"Hmm?"
"Woh dekho, ice cream wala. Mujhe ice cream khani hai, please." Chahat's eyes were filled with mischief as she looked up at Heer.
"Ice cream khani hai? Aacha. Issi liyeh walk karna tha tumhe?" Heer asked.
"Nahin, mujhe toh sirf walk karni thi. Ice cream wala yahaan pe baita hai, meri ghalti toh nahin hai naa?" she asked innocently.
Heer let out a whole hearted laugh as Chahat looked to the floor.
"Chalo, aaj tumhare saath Mamma bhi ice cream khayegi."
"Saachi?" Chahat asked in amazement.
"Haan, Mamma ne lunch nahin kiya aaj. Bohot bhook lagi hai," she admitted.
"Mamma, aap hi humesha kehti hai naa, ke khali pet ice cream nahin khana chahiyeh. Ice cream dessert hoti hai, khana nahin."
Heer stood in shock as her daughter just used on of her lines on her. She didnt know why she was surprised, she should have expected that from Chahat.
"Ice cream chahiyeh ke nahin?" Heer said in a mock angry tone.
Chahat quickly shut her mouth and smiled as she shook her head in the affirmative. They walked up to the vendor and Heer ordered two ice creams. Heer dug in her purse for the money which took longer than usual to find. She made a mental note of cleaning her purse out once she got home. She handed over the money as the vendor handed her two cones.
"Thank you Bhaia," she said as she turned around.
Heer frowned when she didnt see Chahat next to her.
"Chahat?" Heer called out but got no response. Heer looked around but didnt see Chahat anywhere. Finally her eyes fell on the little play area that was about 50ft away from her and saw a uniformed girl on the swings. "Yeh ladki bhi naa, bina batayeh khelne chali jaati hai."
Heer marched over to the swings and was all set to give her daughter a piece of her mind. "Chahat, maine kitni baar kaha hai ke......." Her words died in her throat because when the girl turned around, it wasnt Chahat.
Now Heer was getting really worried, she dropped the ice creams and began to yell for Chahat. She got no response. As the seconds passed her worry and fear intensified ten fold. Heer was becoming histerical as she repeatedly called and searched for Chahat. Suddenly her cell phone began to ring. Heer prayed that it was Chahat. Heer had made Chahat memorize Heer's cell number in case of emergency, she hoped that it was her calling now. She fumbled for her phone and quickly answer once she had it.
"Chahat?" she called into the phone. There was silence. "Chahat, kahaan ho tum?"
"Sorry, Chahat iss waqt available nahin hai," said a deep voice.
"Kya? Kaun hai aap?" Heer asked as she gripped onto the phone harder.
"Main kaun hoon, yeh jan naa zaruri nahin hai. Yeh jan naa zaruri hai ke aapki beti, Chahat, mere paas hai."
"Kya? Please, usse kuch maat karna," Heer begged."
"Kuch nahin karunga. Pyaari si baachi hai, main kyun usse kuch karoon," the voice asked.
"Please, usse vapas deh doh. Choti si baachi hai," Heer pleaded.
"Aaise kaise vapas deh doon? Mujhe kya milega?"
"Aap...aapko kya chahiyeh?"
"Kuch zyada nahin...baas 2 carore."
"Kya? 2...2 carore. Mere paas itne paise nahin hai," Heer said.
"Nahin hai, jaanta hoon. Lekin intezaam toh kaar hi sakte hai aap," the voice ordered.
"Kaise...itne saare paisoon ka intezaam main kaise karoon?"
"Woh mera problem nahin hai. Baas aapko intezaam karna hai. I'm sure you have some connections."
"Connections? Aap kya keh rahe hai? Kaunsi connections?" Heer asked in a state of confusion.
"Aare, aap nahin jaante? Come on, don't try to fool me!" he yelled.
"Nahin main...." Heer didn't know what to say.
"Come on dont play dumb! Aap Mrs. Heer Prem Jhuneja hai, of course you have connections."
"K...kya?"
"Haan, aap Mrs. Heer Jhuneja hai aur yeh aapki beti sirf Chahat nahin...Chahat Jhuneja hai."
"Nahin, nahin...woh...woh Prem ki nahin hai!" Heer said, in an attempt to get her daughter released.
"Mujhe ullu samaj ke rakha hai! Yeh Prem Jhuneja ki baachi hai, main jaanta hoon. Mujhe 2 carore rupee chahiyeh. Aagar aapne mujhe bewakoof banane ki kosish ki, toh aapki baachi zinda vapas nahin aayegi!!" the voice threatned.
Just then Heer heard the sound of a slap, followed by Chahat's cries.
"Nahin! Nahin, please usse kuch maat karna. Main...mere paas Prem ki number ya aaisa kuch nahin hai. Main kaise..."
"That is not my problem! Jitni jaldi mujhe mera paise milega, utni jaldi aapko aapki beti vapas milegi."
"Please, mujhe uss se...." Suddenly there was a click on the other end of the line. "Hello!? Hello!? Koi hai!?" Heer pleaded as tears fell from her eyes.
Someone had kidnapped Chahat and they wanted 2 carore rupees. If she didn't give them the money the would...no Heer couldn't even think like that. Heer's eyes filled with tears as she ran to get a taxi.
Heer had no idea where she should begin, how was she going to get her daughter back? Only one thing was certain. The man that she had once loved, the man that broke her heart, the man that gave her Chahat - he was the only one she could turn to. The father her daughter had never known, was the only man that could save her life. The man she had hated these past 6 years, the man that she had pushed out of her life and her heart, was now the only person who could save her daughter..........their daughter.........their Chahat.
JAZ
ps: looking forward to comments 😳and...the kidnapper isnt a family person trying to reunite Premeer...lol...its really someone bad...😉Edited by jnawaz - 16 years ago
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