Note: this is some what of a filler part...Premeer is a major part...this is leading up to the much awaited confrontation and all that...which will be the next part for sure...Enjoy 😃
Prem didn't know how long he stood in the middle of the terminal like a statue, with Heer still weeping in his arms. It wasn't until Preet came and touched his shoulder that he was brought back to reality.
"Bhaia, chalein?" Preet asked.
"Huh…" Prem said as he came back from his trance. He looked around and saw all eyes on him, including Preet and Harman's. "Preet, yeh kya hua? Heer kya keh rahi hai?" he asked.
"Bhaia woh…." Preet didn't know what he should say.
"Keh doh…keh doh ke joh kuch bhi Heer keh rahi thi, saab jhoot hai. Tell me my daughter has not been kidpanned," Prem pleaded. The look in his eyes already told everyone that his heart was shattering more than it already was. The newly discovered father in him was replacing the regular old Prem Jhuneja.
Both Preet and Harman stood in silence, not even able to meet eyes with Prem. This in and of itself was proof that Prem had in fact just walked into a nightmare he never imagined was possible.
"Lekin kaise, yeh saab kaise hua?" Prem asked.
"Meri ghalti hai," Heer said between her sobs. "Saab meri ghalti hai."
"Kya? Tum aaise kyun keh rahi ho?"
Seeing where this conversation had the potential of heading, Preet thought it was best to go back to the hotel and discuss everything there. They had no reason to draw everything out here, in the middle of the airport.
"Bhaia, hum hotel vapas chale? Vahin pe saab baatein karlenge," Preet said.
"Hotel? Hotel kyun?" Prem asked, not understanding why they were going there and not home. "Hume toh police ke paas jaana chahiyeh!"
"Hotel, kyun ke vahaan police ne aapne operations base kiya hai. Aur, police already humare saath hai."
It was then that Prem once again noticed the unusual police presence.
"Tik hai chalo," Prem said reluctantly. He needed to know what happened to his daughter, he didn't have the will to wait. However, hashing out everything in the middle of a public place was not going to be good for anyone; so he bit his tongue and proceeded towards the exit where a police motorcade awaited.
As they began walking, Heer seemed to stumble over herself. Prem helped her straighten up as he pulled her close to his side and placed an arm around her hip to steady her. Not caring about anything and ignoring everything her mind was telling her, Heer snuggled closer to Prem's body and leaned her head against his chest as they walked out.
Once they were in the police jeep, Prem couldn't wait – he demanded to know what happened to Chahat. Slowly and with a shaky voice Heer explained how she and Chahat had decided to take a walk through the park on their way home from school. She told him how she had only looked away from Chahat for a few seconds to pay the ice cream vendor when they had taken her. Heer didn't know how or when it happened because it happened so fast. After that, Preet explained about the police involvement and what was happening in terms of tracing calls and having them search for her.
"Saab meri ghalti hai!" Heer said. "Aagar maine uska dhiyan rakha hota toh…toh…" She couldn't finish as tears once again welled up in her eyes.
Prem pulled her close and just let her cry. "Nahin Heer, tum aaise kyun keh rahi ho? Iss saab mein tumhari koi ghalti nahin hai. Mujhe paata hai ke tumne humari baachi ka aache se parvirish ki hogi."
Hearing Prem praise her mothering skills broke her already broken heart. She had denied him the opportunity to meet his daughter, and yet here he was defending her as she doubted herself. Heer just grabbed onto Chahat's now disfigured teddy-bear and laid her head on Prem's shoulder.
"Lekin iss saab ke liyeh main zimedar hoon," Preet said.
"Preet, yeh tu kya keh raha hai?" Harman asked.
"Kidnapper's ne kaha tha ke police ko involve nahin karna chahiyeh. Lekin phir bhi, maine police ko phone kiya. Aur kaise bhi unhe paata chalgaya. I'm so sorry."
"Nahin Preet, main tujhe dosh nahin deh sakta kyun ke aagar main tumhare jaga hota toh aaisa hi karta," Prem said in an attempt to reassure Preet.
"Aagar Chahat ko kuch bhi hua toh main aapne aap ko khabi maaf nahin kaar paunga," Preet said, with guilt dripping from his voice.
"Nahin aaisa maat bol. Usse kuch nahin hoga, kuch nahin hoga."
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Once they got to the hotel, Prem didn't bother with freshening up, he went straight for the conference room where they had the command post set up. As soon as he was in the room, he asked for an update from the first person he came in contact. Much to his dismay, there was no new information on Chahat and her whereabouts, or who the kidnappers could be. The head detective told Prem that officers had questions people at the park, like the vendors, but no one could say what happened. The ice cream guy remembers Heer coming with Chahat for ice cream but he was busy to actually notice when someone came and took her. What confused the police was the fact that Chahat didn't scream or do anything that would draw attention to her and the kidnapper. This was also a matter of concern, because that meant one of two things. One, the kidnapper was someone she already knew, or two, the kidnappers used a chemical substance to leave her unconscious.
Prem was furious and helpless all at the same time. His daughter was missing and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it. He ran his fingers through his hair, when his eyes fell on a small 4 x 6 picture lying on the table in front of him. Prem picked up the picture to inspect it. The picture was one of Chahat, smiling at the camera as she hugged her teddy-bear; the teddy-bear that now sat headless in Heer's lap.
At thinking about her, Prem looked around the room for Heer. He quickly found her standing by the window, looking lost and in a daze. It had been six years since she had left him because of what he had done. After his last conversation with Heer before leaving for Canada, Prem never thought he'd be seeing Heer again in his life, let alone is daughter. But how twisted was fate. He now had the opportunity to be close to Heer, only because their child was missing. Prem needed to talk to her but he needed to get some perspective and calm down. He wasn't going to be a help to anyone if he was wound up, not that anyone would blame him. He figured he'd go freshen up, or at least throw some water on his face.
He walked across the room to the private bathroom that was attached to the conference room. Prem closed the door and went straight for the sink. Turning on the cold water, he splashed his face three times with the icy water. He braced himself by putting his hands on the skin and leaning in. He didn't even bother to wipe his face off, he just let the water droplets fall from his face to the sink.
One thing that was nagging at Prem was how anyone knew he was Chahat's father? For the past 6 years even he didn't know he had a daughter, then how could someone else know? Who ever they were, it didn't matter. They were sick sons of bitches who were using a child as a pawn. Not just any child, his child…his Chahat. Prem didn't know when or even how, but he was going to save his daughter!
He then ran his fingers through his hair and closed his eyes, sending up a silent prayer for the safe return of his daughter – his daughter, his flesh and blood. Prem's thought were interrupted when Preet's alarmed voice floated into the bathroom.
"Heer Bhabi!" Prem heard, Harman yell.
Instantly Prem shot to the door and opened it, nearly yanking it off of its hinges. As he looked towards the window where he had left Heer, he saw that she had her hand on her forehead and was unsteady on her feet. Harman was at her side trying to help keep her balance so that she didn't fall. Prem was by her side in a few seconds and offered his body as support. Heer didn't resist, she let him put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned against him. She knew there was no point in fighting him, she needed him now more than ever – and not just because she was too weak to stand on her own two feet.
"Heer! Heer kya hua?" Prem asked.
"K…kuch nahin. Baas thodi si chakar aagayi thi," she responded.
Prem guided her to the couch that was set against the far right wall of the room. Once she was settled he handed her a glass of water that Preet was already holding in his hands.
"Aaise kaise achanak..." Prem thought out loud.
"Bhaia mujhe nahin lagta hai ke pichle kuch ghantoon se Bhabi ne kuch khaya hai," Preet said. "Actually, jab se yeh hadsa hua hai, Bhabi ne kuch nahin khaya."
"Kya?" Prem asked.
"Haan."
"Preet, aaisa maat bol. Maine khaya hai naa," Heer said in her defense.
"Kaab khaya? Jaab se Chahat ki…" Preet couldn't even finish his sentence. "Kal se main aapke saath hoon, aur aapne kuch nahin khaya."
Prem was now growing more concerned about Heer. She looked weak and fragile as it was, but not eating – that didn't help matters.
"Heer, tumne akhri bar kaab khaya?" Prem asked.
"Woh…umm…" Heer became tongue tied. "Yaad nahin," she whispered under her breath. She hoped that no one heard her, but Prem was sitting so close he had heard it.
"That's what I thought. Preet kuch khana manga," Prem ordered.
"Ji Bhaia."
"Nahin, kuch order maat karo…mere khaane ka bilkul maan nahin hai," Heer protested.
"Zyada kuch nahin, lekin tumhe kuch toh khana padega," Prem said. "Preet, tu order kar."
Preet ordered simple sandwiches, juice and some fruits. The Jhuneja guys ate more than Heer, but not much. Heer had barely managed to swallow half a sandwich and a few sips of the juice that Prem fed her.
After all that was over with, they waited. They all waited and waited as the hours droned on with no new news or contact from the kidnappers. Prem wanted nothing more than to hold Heer and talk to her. She just kept staring at the wall, isolated in her own world. Prem wanted to take her mind off of it all. Selfishly, he wanted to hear about Chahat…his Chahat. He wanted to know everything about her – but now was not the time or place for that conversation. He felt so useless, it was beyond words. Prem got up from the couch to stretch when on of the hotel employees brought in a letter that was apparently left for him at the front desk.
Prem looked at the envelope with caution; it had nothing written on it except for 'Prem Jhuneja' in big, bold letters. From the corner of his eye he saw Heer get up from her place on the couch.
"Woh kya hai Prem? Chahat ke baare mein kuch hai?" she asked.
Prem could sense her tension and hypersensitivity so he lied. "Nahin, office ke kuch kagazat hai. Kuch nahin, tum bait jaao."
Prem hoped that she would be satisfied with that answer. However, the chances of that were slim. Prem waited until she was sitting, with her eyes closed as she leaned on the back of the sofa, before he subtly signaled for his brothers and one of the officers to join him as he opened the letter. Prem had a nagging feeling in his gut that whatever this was, it was from the kidnappers and it wasn't going to be good. He carefully opened the envelop and spilled the contents onto a table. First, Prem grabbed the folded piece of paper, which was a letter from the kidnappers.
"Pehli baar aapni beti se miloge naa. Uske liyeh itne door aaye ho, woh bhi humare kehne paar – Canada se India, choti baat thodi naa hai. Mere liyeh tum itna kuch kaar rahe ho, mera bhi toh kuch haq, kuch farz banta hai. Issi liye, iss letter mein main tumhari beti ki ek tasveer aur kuch 'personal' items bej raha hoon. Enjoy!"
With fear in his heart, Prem slowly turned over the picture that was laying face down on the table. As soon as he did that, all four men gathered there sucked in their breaths in shock – it was like they stopped breathing at the same time.
Heer's eyes shot open when she heard the faint sound coming from one area of the room. She looked to see Prem, Harman, Preet and an officer all gathered around a table looking at something. She knew, as soon as the letter was delivered that it was something dealing with Chahat's kidnapping. She knew Prem was worried and that is why he didn't tell her, but it concerned her daughter so she was sure as hell going to find out what it was. She walked over to the men as silently as she could until she was standing behind them and could see what they were looking at.
Behind him Prem heard a loud gasp. He turned around to see Heer's pale face staring at the contents of the letter, with a hand over her mouth and tears filling her eyes. She was focused on the picture the kidnappers had sent along with other memento. The picture was one of Chahat, still in her school uniform, but she was unconscious on the floor somewhere. There was a smudge of something red on the side of her face and lips, something that looked too much like blood. Her arms and legs were just laid out, in no particular fashion, kind of like what happened when you throw a doll randomly on the floor. Also sent with the picture was a lock of Chahat's hair, a clipping of her school uniform and a small butterfly clip that she had been wearing in her hair.
Seeing all of this was too much for Heer. That was her baby – her innocent baby – lying on the floor. Chahat, her Chahat looked dead. That thought was too much to even contemplate. Suddenly Heer felt like all the oxygen was sucked out from the room and the walls were closing in on her. Her world turned black and she felt herself falling as she whispered Chahat's name one last time before her knees gave way.
"Heer!" Prem yelled as he took a step back to keep her from crashing onto the floor. She was already in his arms as he lowered her to the floor. With one hand he shook her face trying to revive her. "Heer! Heer utto! Heer!" he yelled.
Harman brought some water which they sprinkled on Heer's face but it did no good. Prem lifted Heer's limp body into his arms as he began walking towards the door leading out of the conference room.
"Preet, doctor ko bula!" Prem called out as he carried Heer up to one of the VIP suites on the 10th floor of the hotel. "Jaldi!"
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Prem, Preet and Harman all paced outside the hotel room where Heer was being checked out by the doctor. Prem didn't know how much more he could take, first Chahat now Heer. It was like he wanted to jump out of his skin because it was crawling with insects. He had this restless feeling like he had to do something but at the same time there was nothing for him to do. Prem was getting impatient. The doctor had been inside with Heer for the past 20 minutes and still there was no news.
"Aur kitni dher lagayegi yeh doctor?" Prem asked no one in particular.
No sooner had the words left his mouth, did the door open and the doctor emerge.
The three brothers all rushed up to the doctor at the same time, and spoke at the same time.
"Doctor Heer kaisi hai?" Prem asked.
"Doctor Bhabi kaisi hai?" asked Preet and Harma.
"Dekhiyeh, Mrs. Jhuneja aab tik hai lekin bohot kamzoor hai. Ek toh unhone tikse khana nahin khaya, upper se tik se soya bhi nahin," the doctor informed. "Haan main janti hoon ke joh kuch bhi aap saab ke zindagi mein chal raha hai, woh asaan nahin hai. Lekin aagar unho ne aapna khayal nahin rakha…she is no good to anyone."
"Doctor aab hum kya karsakte hai?" Prem asked.
"Filhal toh woh soh rahe hai. Main kuch vitamins ki nam lik dehti hoon, usse aap mangvalena."
"Ji doctor. Preet, doctor ko chodke aa aur vitamins leh aa," Prem ordered.
Preet followed the doctor out silently as Prem went inside the room. Prem saw her lying there, looking weaker than he had ever seen her. Heer, his Heer, had always been a head strong woman who sided with the truth no matter what it cost her. It was her strength that allowed her to walk away from him without ever looking back. It was her determination that allowed her to raise a child by herself in a society that judged everything under the sun as good or bad. Prem sat on the side of the bed and ran his hand along her forehead, only after hesitating for a second. God, it felt good to be with her again – touching her, holding her, seeing her.
Prem didn't want to leave her side yet. He told Harman to let him know immediately if the kidnappers contacted them or if any new information came in. Prem wanted to do nothing more than to sit next to her and hold her, but he decided against that. There were here together for their daughter sake – their own relationship was still in limbo. Prem instead sat in a chair on the other side of the room. He leaned his head back and immediately he saw the memories of him and Chahat in the hotel lobby as she pleaded with him not to tell her mother about her mischief.
Prem didn't know when he drifted of into sleep, or how long he had been sleeping. It wasn't until shrill screams broke his slumber that he realized he'd been sleeping. Opening his eyes he saw Heer sitting up in the bed, her knees drawn up to her chest as she cried out for Chahat.
"Chahat! Chahat!" she yelled. "Usse maat maro, baachi hai! Please! Usse maat maro!"
Within seconds Prem was at her side and took her in his arms, not having to think twice about it.
"Shh, kuch nahin hua hai…kuch nahin," Prem said in an attempt to sooth her.
Hearing Prem's voice brought Heer out of her trance. She grabbed onto his shirt and pulled him closer as she cried.
"Aagar usse kuch hua toh main maarjaungi Prem, maarjaungi," she said.
"Kuch nahin hoga usse Heer. Humari Chahat ko kuch nahin hoga. Uske upar thodi si bhi aach aayi toh main zameen asmaan ek kardunga, aur unn logoon ko jaan se mardunga," Prem promised.
Heer cried for a few minutes as the tears subsided, the whole time Prem held her. She got up to go to the bathroom so she could wash her face. Prem left a nurse in the room as he went back to the conference room to get an update.
It was just striking 4 in the afternoon as Prem barged into the conference room, rage spewing from his pores.
"Baas! Bohot hogaya! Jaab se main aaya hoon investigation bilkul aage nahin bada! What the hell is this!?" he said as he verbally attacked the police. "Mujhe meri beti chahiyeh. Aap log kaar kya rahe hai?!"
Preet saw Prem's excitement and tried to call him down. "Bhaia, please shant hojayeh." Preet placed a reassuring arm on Prem's shoulder.
"Kaise shant rahoon Preet?" Prem asked and he moved away from his brothers touch. "Meri baachi – meri Chahat – kahaan hai, kaisi hai? Kissi ko paata nahin. Main shant nahin rehsakta!"
Almost instantly, Prem's phone began to ring. Prem didn't recognize the number but answered right away.
"Prem…Mr. Prem Jhuneja. Welcome back to India," the familiar voice said.
"Kaun ho tum?" Prem asked.
"Main woh insaan hoon jiske paas tumhari beti hai."
Prem's hand closed in tighter on the phone as he indicated to the police that this was the kidnapper. The police immediately began tracing the call.
"Kya chahiyeh tumne? Paisa chahiyeh tha naa?" Prem asked.
"Paise toh mil hi jayega. Mujhe kuch aur hi chahiyeh."
"Kya?"
"Tum…mujhe Prem Jhuneja chahiyeh, woh bhi aapne ghutno paar!" the voice demanded.
"Kya? Joh bhi chahiyeh, main dunga. Lekin meri beti vapas deh doh, phir."
"Aab itni assani se toh nahin lauta sakta, hai naa? Tumhari saab se kimti cheez, tumhari beti hai naa? Isse kaise aapen haath se jaane deh doon? No way. Wait for my next call." That was all the voice said before clicking the call.
"Hello?! Hello!?" Prem yelled into the phone, but got no response. "Shit!"
"Call trace hua?" Harman asked?
"Nahin, too short," the officer answered.
"Damn it!" everyone cursed.
"Prem?" someone called out in a soft voice.
Turning around Prem saw Heer enter the conference room.
"Kya hua?" she asked
"Kuch nahin," he said.
"Jhoot maat bolo, woh kidnapper ka call tha naa?"
Reluctantly, Prem nodded his head in the affirmative.
"K…kuch kaha kya? Chahat…"
"Nahin kuch nahin kaha," Prem said dejectedly.
Prem fell into a chair that was next to him as he groaned out loud in frustration. This nightmare was getting worse and worse as the minutes wore on.
"Sir," called one of the police officers as he ran into the room.
"Kya hua?" everyone shouted at the same time.
"Lead mil gaya Sir," the officer said.
"Kya?!" Prem and Heer asked as the both shot to their feet.
"Kaise?" Preet asked.
"Lead kya hai?" Harman asked.
"Woh Dev iss tasweer ko lab leh jane wale tha jab meri nazaar uske upar padi," he said. The picture in question was that of Chahat unconscious and on the floor. "Jaab maine ghor kiya tab maine dekha ke inn tile's pe ek design hai."
Everyone looked closely at the picture again, and this time, they too noticed the floral design that was nearly hidden under Chahat's body.
"Floor ke designs se hume kya lena dehna?" asked one of the supervising officers.
"Sir, mere ghaar ke paas ek warehouse hai, joh khali pada hai. Mera beta aur uske dost vahaan kafi jate hai, khelne. Pehle toh mujeh paata nahin tha kyun ke uska vahaan jaana mana hai. Lekin ek din maine dekh liya ke woh log vahaan khel rahe hai. Jaab main vahaan gaya tab maine dekha ke uske floor paar tik aaisa hi design hai."
"Kya? Kahaan pe hai yeh warehouse?" Prem asked.
The officer told then the exact address for the abandoned warehouse. Immediately a team was assembled to go and surround the premises and rescue Chahat.
When Heer heard what was going on she immediately had to grab onto Prem to steady herself, she was afraid that she might pass out again. Both her and Prem had the twinkle of hope in their eyes and their hearts.
In thirty minutes the police team was ready to go. The men were suited, the weapons were ready – everything was a go. Prem tried to allow him to come along but the refused saying it was against protocol because if the parent was present, the police wouldn't be as efficient as they needed to be. Prem watched silently, holding Heer in his arms, as the police cars pulled away from the hotel parking lot.
As soon as they were out of sight, Prem asked one of the valet men to get his car as well.
"Bhaia, aap kahaan jaa rahe hai?" Harman asked.
"Warehouse," Prem said.
Preet knew there was no use in arguing with his brother. "Main bhi jaunga," he said, as did Harman.
A sleek black Mercedes was brought out and Preet loaded the trunk with the bags of cash that they had ready for the kidnappers. They were not taking any chances – not with Chahat's life at stake. Preet took the back seat and Harman got into the passenger seat of the car. Prem was about to get in but he stopped as she spotted Heer from the corner of his eye.
He walked up to her slowly as his eyes burned into hers. Gently he took her hands in his before he spoke. "Chahat ko kuch nahin hoga, main vada karta hoon. Tumhare paas main usse vapas launga."
"Magar Prem, woh police…" Heer began to say in protest.
Prem put a finger on her lips to silence her. "Meri beti ko bachana hai. Meri Chahat ko bachana hai. Aaj mujhe kuch nahin rok sakta. Maut bhi aajaye, lekin main nahin rokunga," he said.
Hearing him talk about his death caused Heer to put her hand over his lips, almost like a reflex. Prem took her hand away and began walking to the car. It was then that he heard Heer say, "Humari Chahat ko vapas lana. Aapna khayal rakhna."
Prem stopped and retraced his steps until he was once again in front of Heer. He put his hand on the side of her face and kissed her forehead before he got into the car and sped away.
JAZ
ps: Cant wait to read comments....
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Mangal Lakshmi
