FF: The Truth (Chap. 3 on Page 4 updated: aug 17th - Page 2

With shaky hands, Heer began to dial Prem's number and prayed that Chahat was really with him. It doesn't matter if she's with him, as long as she's safe. She finally managed to dial the numbers after messing up several times and was about to press the call button when a little voice came from behind her.

"Mama?"

Heer frantically turned around and breathed in relief. There, she was. Standing in front of her in her school uniform looking up at Heer. Her Chahat.

"Chahat!!!" Heer said as she ran to pick up her daughter in a massive hug. "Where were you? I was looking all over for you. Where is Pap -- Prem?" Heer stopped herself from calling, Prem, Papa. She looked around and couldn't see Prem.

"Mama, Hotel Ke Owner Ji is not here. Why are you looking for him? You don't like him, na?" Chahat asked puzzled.

"Woh, umm weren't you with him?" As Chahat shook her head, Heer started to worry again. "No? Who were you with then? Chahat where were you? I was looking all over for you!"

Still puzzled, Chahat looked at her mother and gave her an answer that was supposed to be obivous. "Mama, I was in the library. You were late. Remember when parents are very late, we have to go and stay in the library. You should know that by now. You are always late so I always go and stay in the library." She than looked away sadly continuing, "And Papa, sorry, I mean Hotel Ki Owner Ji will never come here again. I told him to not meet me again, Mama. I told him you don't like him."

Not knowing how to react, Heer took Chahat's hand and started to walk toward the main road to get a taxi. They finally were able to stop a taxi and while driving home, Chahat just looked outside the window not saying anything. Heer wondered what's wrong with her as Chahat was a little chatterbox and it was hard for her to stay quite. Maybe, she's mad at me for being so late, Heer thought.

"Chahat? What's wrong, baby?"

Chahat was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't hear Heer. Heer called her name a few more times until Chahat looked at her mother, "Yes, mama?"

"What's wrong, Chahat? What are you thinking about?"

"Woh main....nothing Mama."

"How was school?"

"Huh? Oh it was ok." Chahat answered as she went back to looking outside the window.

Heer sat there confused and worried. This was very unlike her little happy go lucky daughter. Was she stil upset about last night? Chahat told her that she told Prem to not come visit her. Did Prem say something to her to make her upset? Prem. It has to be him. He probably said something to her.

"Chahat, did Prem Juneja really came to meet you today?

On hearing Prem's name, Chahat looked at her mother with teary eyes. "I told you Mama. He came to visit and I told him to not meet me again like I promised you. You are happy now, right? You won't stop talking to Chahat now, right?"

As Heer was about to say something, the taxi stopped. They have reached their desitnation. Heer and Chahat got inside their house with Chahat going straight to her room without Heer noticing as she was lost in her own thoughts. As her thoughts broke, she looked around for Chahat. Where did she go now, thought Heer. What's wrong with her today? I need to talk to her. Heer went up to Chahat's room to find her standing near the window looking outside. The night was about to fall and the moon was already a bit visible.

"Chahat, after you told Prem to not come visit you, what did he say to you?"

Chahat looked at her mother and Heer realized that she was crying. "Nothing, Mama. I left. Mama, I promised I won't meet him again, so don't worry. You don't like him Mama, why are you asking him about now? But Mama, you said it's wrong to break someone's heart and today I made Hotel Ki Owner Ji cried. I think I broke his heart. I don't know why you don't like him, Mama. He was Chahat's best friend."

Standing there, Heer didn't know what to say. Was she shocked or confused, she herself didn't know. She decided to not ask Chahat more about Prem. Why was she asking him about Prem anyways? She was the one who told her to not talk to Prem. And Prem. He made her cry and now he's making her daughter cry. Heer knew now that the reason for her daughter's tears was Prem. Heer had not realized how attached Chahat had grown to Prem over the last few days. Of course she knew that was nothing surprising since Prem was kind of a person that anyone would fall in love with. And he had a way with everyone. He knew how to talk to anyone. It was not that hard to get lost in those eyes of his and lose yourself forever in them. And when he spoke.....wait, why is she even thinking about him like that? Why did Prem get so close to Chahat? She was afraid of this. That once Prem comes back into her life, it would be harder for her to pretend to hate the man she loves so madly and deeply. When he was near her, she had a hard time controlling herself from getting lost in him. She couldn't afford to love him again. She just couldn't.....if she goes back to him than.................


It was much later in the night and Chahat was already in bed. Heer couldn't sleep so she went near Chahat's bed and started to stroke her head. "I am sorry, beta," she whispered to her sleeping daughter, "I am sorry I am keeping you away from your father. I know he loves you and I know you love him. I know you need him in your life but I can't lose you. You are my everything and I know if your father knows the truth, he would want me to do this too. It hurts me to see you both misunderstand me but I have no other way, please forgive me."