Posted:
I did NOT want to post this shot. But anyways, here it is:
May 15th, 2009, 11pm
He didn't know where she was. He didn't know what she was doing. All he did know was that he was alone. Left alone in this world. She had left him alone; alone in this big world, just because of that one cursed night. It had been wrong of him to suspect his own wife --the one who waited for him to come back; the one who still had the faith of him returning when his family and the world declared him dead. The one who had trusted him all his life, waited quietly. He had hurt her posing as Gaurav Sharma and he hated the fact that he left her alone in the claws of Rishabh Rampal, but what he did 6 years back, was nothing more commendable either.
He had stooped so low. So low, that he couldn't have any eye contact with anyone, let alone his wife. He still remembered her exact reaction when she saw Ashlesha in his bed. She had been mortified. Hurt. Disgusted. She had taken her suitcase out, while him and his family waited downstairs. He wanted to stop her, tell her he loved her, but he couldn't. He had just been so ashamed of himself. He didn't know how he would have been able to face her, but he wanted to make her understand. He wanted to tell her that he loved her and only her. This, that cursed night had just been a mistake. It had all been a mistake. He didn't know how that had happened. He had been drunk. Drunk after seeing his wife together with her childhood friend. He had never been that protective about her, but he was now.
He had been so lost in that sadness, that he had forgotten what was right, what was wrong. He didn't care one single bit of what Heer had been going through with all his accusations. She had just listened, listened to him quietly accuse her. After that horrible night with Ashlesha, Heer had showed up at thier Kasuli Log House to tell Prem the truth, the truth about her and Rajveer. It came out that someone was blackmailing Heer, and Rajveer was just a friend who wanted to help her. Prem had been shattered when he was forced to show Heer what he had done. She had been shocked. Out of words. She just cried. Weeped. She didn't say nothing.
His family had stopped talking to him because of what he had done. Heer had left him. He was alone now. He was all alone. No where to go. No one to tell how he felt. He was just, all alone.
Prem put down the paper work he was doing, and takes of his glasses. So much had changed in these 6 years. He was all alone now, no one to share his pain with. He had moved to Canada with his family and he had started wearing glasses. And he had become more sadder now. Much more reserved. Much more 'No-smile' Prem. The one that he had never thought of becoming and the one that he never wanted to become, but had became. He walks over to his Study window and opens it wide. A cool summer breeze struck him as he saw the moon high in the dark night sky. It was the same moon that had connected him to Heer, thier gift of love. It was the same moon, that had witnessed their love...the same moon, but now the times had changed. There was no more the same Prem, and there was no Heer. All that was left now was 'Industrialist Prem Juneja'
"Aaj bhi wohi chaand, wohi kaali andheri raat, bas, farak sirf itna hi hai, ki aaj waqt badal gaya hai, log badal gaye hai aur sabse ziyada mera pyaar." Prem says to the moon, much to himself, reminding him of what he did wrong. And of what he would never be able to forgive himself for. Prem closes his eyes to rest when he hears a knock on the door.
*Knock knock*
"Come in." Prem says without turning around. It must be one of his servants. 6 years and not even one of his family members even cared about asking him, how he was, what he was doing, how he felt. Not even one.
"Prem jiju..." he heard a voice say. Prem turns around to see Meher standing there, with a cake with lighted candles.
"Meher...tum yahaan?" he asks, quite shocked but in a quiet voice.
"Haan jiju. Baaki ke parivaar wale nahin, main toh aapko wish kar sakti hoon na?" Meher says, smiling as she turned on the lights and walked over to the little coffee table and placed the cake on the table.
Prem cursed his life. Meher, the girl who's sister's life he had ruined, was the only one that had come to wish him happy birthday. It was amazing. He couldn't believe how Meher could stand the guy, that had hurt her sister like such, that she even came to wish him happy birthday. Prem goes and sits on the sofa chair, while Meher kneels on the ground, beside the coffe table. She lights the candles one by one and pushes the cake over towards me. He gives her a teary eyed smile as he blows on the candles.
"Happy birthday to you,
happy birthday you dear Prem jiju
Happy birthday to you."
happy birthday you dear Prem jiju
Happy birthday to you."
Meher exclaims, clapping her hands together. I give her a weak smile as I cut the cake. She feeds me a little peice of cake, making my eyes moist while she has tears rolling down her eyes. She managed to wife them away and give me a smile, but even I could understand her pain. She missed her sister, but she didn't want to blame me for sending her sister away.
"Happy birthday jiju." Meher re-states smiling and before I could say anything in return, I could hear Preet calling for Meher.
"Meher!" we hear Preet exclaim and before she could hear what I had to say about her gift, she runs out of the room.
Prem sighs. Preet. His Lakshman. Even he refused to talk to Prem now. The one who had supported Prem all his life was now running away from him. Not even wanting to see his face. It hurt. It hurt like thorns would hurt a precious flower. It pricked Prem to see his family such torn, just because he had committed a mistake. Prem closes his eyes and kneels back on the sofa. It was just like another day for him. Another day like every other he had faced within 6 years.
~*~
May 15th, 2009/ 11:50pm
She held out the cake infront of her. It was time now. Heer tip -toed in to the bedroom carrying the chocolate cake in her hands. She was so excited now. Heer slowly opens the door and peaks in to see her sleeping. Heer smiles and walks into the room. There she was, her Chahat. Her 4 year old Chahat, who would turn 5 in exactly 1 minute. It was 11:59pm now. Heer placed the cake on the side table and took out a little birthday wistle. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Heer counted in her mind and bend down near Chahat's ears and gave a loud below in the wistle. With a jolt, Chahat woke up and sat on the bed. Heer smiles and picks up the cake.
"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Chahat. Happy birthday to you." Heer says showing her now 5 year old daughter the cake with exactly 5 candles on it.
Chahat smiles as she gets excited and hugs her mother. "Thank you mummy! Thank you sooooooooooo much!" Chahat exclaims, unable to control her excitment while Heer just smiles, moving the cake away from her body.
"Ab bas bas! Cake toh kaato?" Heer says, while Chahat inches away from Heer's body.
Chahat cuts the cake and Heer feeds Chahat one peice of cake, which Chahat nibbles on to while Chahat feeds Heer a peice of cake.
"Ab, time for presents!" Heer exclaims, passing Chahat a huge box with nicely covered wrapping paper. Chahat excitedly starts to open the present while Heer runs her hand through Chahat's hair. 'Happy birthday beta...Happy birthday Prem.' Heer thinks, her face suddenly carrying the 'sadness' on it.
Heer didn't want to remember what had happened 6 years ago, but what she did know was that God had given her the most precious gift. He had given Heer her support and something that reminded Heer of Prem, something that reminded Heer of Prem, her Prem...not the Prem she had saw on the night she had decided to leave. Her Prem, who had always been there for her, her Prem who had always loved her, her Prem who had always protected her against all the odds, and not the Prem who had suspected her. Chahat was Prem's nishaani for Heer, the one that Heer loved immensely. Her Chahat. Prem's Chahat. Heer didn't know if she would be able to forgive Prem for what he did, but she knew one thing, she would not be able to forget him for the present he had given her...Chahat.
Heer didn't find it a co-incidence that Chahat and Prem shared the same birthday, because in many ways, Chahat and Prem have the same qualities, the same walk of walking, talking and further more. But she was happy. She was happy that she would now be able to celebrate Prem's birthday, despite not being with him. Heer sighed, and felt tears running down her eyes. She quickly wipes them away before Chahat had a chance to question her. She knew, that if Chahat did question her about Prem, she would not be able to hold herself back.
"Aww, thank you mamma!" Chahat says, giving Heer a tight hug.
Heer hugs Chahat back, closing her eyes to seep in her pain. "So, like the teddy?" Heer says, trying to sound hyper, even though she knew what the truth was.
"I love it!" Chahat replies back, smiling.
* * *
Comments, suggestions, LIKE button clicks are welcome! I didn't like it...š It came out confusing.
Love,
Shifu
Shifu
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
