hey guys...here is part 7 for Tanhai...hope you all enjoy it...and cant wait to read comments... 😃😃
Part 7
Heer couldn't believe that it was Veera's wedding day. Her little sister was getting married today. She still couldn't wrap her head around the fact that their little Chutki was going to be someone's wife and daughter-in-law, in only a matter of hours. It seemed like only yesterday Heer was complaining to their mother about how Veera played with her make up and ruined everything. From the bottom of her heart Heer wished Veera all that happiness and she prayed that this day went off without a hitch. Heer was thinking of her moments with Veera when Kulraj came barging into the room where the girls were getting ready.
"Aare, ladke wala aate hi honge. Veera tayar hai ke nahin?" she asked as she entered the room.
"Aare Bhabi, aap tension kyun leti hai?" Heer asked. "Aabhi bhi bohot time hai. Chutki time paar tayar hojayegi."
Kulraj sat down on a chair before she continued. "Paata hai. Main baas yeh nahin chati ke barati kissi bhi cheez ko lekar complain karein. Khatir daari mein koi khami nahin honi chahiyeh."
"Bhabi, aap chinta maat kijiyeh," called one of their cousins. "Hum barati ke aaise khatir dari karenge ke woh log humesha yaad rakhenge."
Since Veera had no younger sister to have fun with the groom's side, it was left to their five younger cousins to make up for it. Heer had heard a few of their plans and she was looking forward to all the fun. Of course they had planned on how to take Manmeet's shoes. Aside from that, they had chopped up and mixed chilies into the ladoo, they had put turmeric and salt in the lassi. If anyone was to ask why the lassi was yellow, their answer was that it was mango lassi. There were so many different plans that Heer knew the night was going to be an interesting one.
"Kuch zyada maat kaar naa, samje," Maya said as she too walked into the room.
"Uff Bhabi aap bhi?" Another cousin complained. "Shaadi wala ghaar hai. Thoda bohot masti toh chalta hi hai."
With that being said the five girls ran off to set up their other ambushes for the night. With their heads joined together it seemed like they were planning something diabolical rather than something fun.
Meher came in with the hair and make up people. "Ok, bohot hogaya. Aab Veera ko tayar kaarna hoga aur hume bhi tayar hona hai."
"Bachoon ko kaun tayar karenge?" Kulraj asked.
"Humare patiyoon se maine kahaa hai ke aaj bachoon ko unhe tayar karna hai kyun ke hum busy hai," Meher said.
All of the girls in the room looked at Meher like she had lost her mind. Telling the guys to get the kids ready was almost as good as telling the kids to dress themselves. Of course the older ones were not a problem, all you had to do was lay out their clothes and they could get ready. It was the younger ones that needed the help, and their husbands delivered no help at all.
"Don't worry," Meher said before they all attacked her. "Maine saab ke kapde nikal ke diya hai. Baas pehna naa hai."
"Woh toh tik hai," Maya said. "Lekin mujhe lagta hai ke hume check kaara chahiyeh ke kaam tik se hua ke nahin."
"Bhabi aap fikar maat kijiyeh, main bachoon ko tayar kardungi," Maya said.
With that began the ladies rush to get ready. Each one of them had to get their hair and make up done and then get dressed. Heer helped in every way that she could from putting curlers in Kulraj's hair, to helping Maya apply her foundation, to tying the doris at the back of Meher's blouse. Once the Bhabi's were situated to finish the rest themselves, Heer was off to help with Veera.
By that time Veera's hair was already done in a low set bun decorated with gajra and red roses. Her make up was done in a smoky fashion that emphasized her eyes. Her lips were a nice shade of maroon/cherry red that matched her bridal dress. Heer came in just as she was putting her jewelry on. As Veera put her earrings on, Heer helped place the mang-tika on her forehead and then helped with her necklace. Once all of her jewelry was on, it was time to put on the dress. The timing couldn't have been more perfect because through the window they could hear the music from the barat. Both Heer and Veera rushed to take a peak at the commotion downstairs. The whole family was gathered to welcome Manmeet and his family.
"Chal Chutki, jaldi kar. Waqt bohot hi kaam hai," Heer said as she walked away form the window. When Veera didn't follow her, she called out again. "Chutki?" Still no response. Heer went back and saw Veera staring at Manmeet. "Veera," Heer said as she grabbed onto her arm and dragged her towards the bed. "Puri zindagi padi hai Manmeet ko dekhne ke liyeh. Pehle aapni shaadi ke liyeh toh tayar hoja."
Veera was now turning a hundred shades of red. "Didi, aap bhi naa," she said in a whisper.
Heer was just about to lock the door and help Veera get changed, when their three sister-in-law's came barging in.
"Chalo chalo Veera, tayar hojao. Barat aachuka hai," Maya announced.
"Usse paata hai," Heer said as she closed the door. "Besharamoon ki tarha khirki se ghoor rahe the Manmeet ko."
"Aye haye," Meher and Kulraj said at the same time.
"Hota hai, hota hai," Maya said. "Saab ke saath aaisa hi hota hai."
"Kaise hota hai?" Veera asked innocently.
The women all laughed before Meher answered her. "Aapne paati pe lattu hona. Saab ke saath hota hai."
Veera blushed as the ladies all began to take out Veera's clothing to help her change. It took no time at all to get Veera into the ghagra-choli. What killed them was pinning her dupatta just right and then getting the chunni on her head with out messing up her hair. Finally, after 30 minutes Veera was ready. She was dressed in a white ghagra-choli which had red border and designs on it. The dupatta was red and draped across her body elegantly.
Kulraj took some eyeliner from her eye and placed a dot of it behind Veera's ear. "Kissi ki naazar naa lage humare Chutki ko," she said.
One by one they all repeated the gesture. Why? They didn't know, but they did anyway. It was like one last bonding moment for Veera and her sister-in-laws. She had been young when her brothers had gotten married and each of her sister-in-laws had always showed her with nothing but love. They had always treated her as their own younger sister and not as a sister-in-law.
"Mujeh toh yakeen hi nahin hota ke aaj Veera ki shaadi hai," Maya said.
"I know. Waqt kitna jaldi guzarta hai. Lagta hai ke kaal hi ki baath thi jaab main iss ghaar mein aayi thi," Meher said. "Aur aaj hum Chutki ko vida karenge."
At that moment everyone fell silent as the composed themselves and tried to fight the tears that were stinging their eyes.
"No rohna dhona," Heer said. "Aabhi saab roh denge toh bidaai ke waqt kya karenge?"
Kulraj sniffled as tears escaped her eyes, "Kya karein? I can't help it."
"Oh no!" Maya said. "Bhabi, no crying. Oh my God, jaldi chalo. Aagar Bhabi ne rona shuru kaar diya toh phir woh asoon rukhenge nahin."
Maya, of course, was speaking the truth. Kulraj's hormones were all over the place lately. Once she got to crying, it was hard to get her to stop. So now they needed to get her together before she drowned the entire wedding party. As if on cue the cousins came in and informed them that the pundit was calling for Veera – it was time for the wedding.
Heer, Kulraj, Meher and Maya all brought Veera down. Everyone smiled as they caught their first glimpses of the glowing bride. However, no ones expression compared to that of Manmeet's. He looked completely mesmerized and dazed by her beauty. Manmeet followed her with his eyes until she was sitting next to him. Only for a split second that Veera look up to him, before turning away as she blushed.
The pundit began his hymns and the wedding ritual. Heer watched from one corner as her eyes filled with tears. Try as she might she couldn't fight them. It was like she was reliving her own wedding with Prem. The same hymns, the same promises, the same moments. She watched as Manmeet put the mangalsutra around Veera's neck and the sindoor in her parting. Automatically Heer's hands touched the places on her body where she had once been adorned with such things.
Looking up towards the heavens she whispered, "I miss you Prem."
The wedding had taken place at Maan estates, and was followed by a reception out in the lawn. As everyone sat down to dinner Heer began running around the make sure that everyone had everything they wanted. Heer was just serving someone puri's when the lady grabbed a hold of her hand.
"Yeh kaisa nishaan hai beta?" she asked.
Heer quickly pulled her hand back and placed it behind her. "Kuch nahin Aunty-ji," she lied. As if there was a God, someone called out to Heer and she fled from there. The last thing she needed was people asking about her. Heer cursed herself for giving into Veera's wining and putting on the saree for tonight. Heer made sure that whenever she was in public she wore full sleeved clothing. However, today she was dressed in a white and silver saree that had a blouse with cap sleeves.
As the guests continued to eat, Manmeet's sister took the opportunity to announce Veera and Manmeet's first dance as a couple. It was now or never, because one everyone ate they would attack the dance floor for sure. As the newly married couple graced the dance floor hand in hand, the DJ began to play a beautiful song – "Tere Bin" from the film Jashan.
Tere bin kahaan humse jiya jayega
Zidd chod di lo aaj keh diya
Tere bin kahaan humse jiya jayega
As the song played Heer thought about Prem. The song posed a very valid question – how was she supposed to live without him? Would you call the past seven years of her life "living" or just simply existing?
Zindagi bhaag kaar humse aage chali
Thaam lo naa hume chaand taroon tale
Thod dali tanhai hai, aab mohabbat rut aayi hai
Zidd chod di lo aaj keh diya
Tere bin kahaan kaise jiya jayega
It was like everyone else was living their lives to the fullest, whether it be with family or other aspects. But her, she was just breathing because she didn't know how to stop. She was enduring pain with ever beat of her heat because she didn't know how to make her heart stop beating. But then she asked herself the question – did she want her heart to stop? Prem lived in her heart, and if it stopped beating then he would stop living. She was the only person in the world who as a testament to the kind of person Prem was. If she died, that died too. It was like Heer was stuck between life and death, not quite knowing where she wanted to be.
Jaane kitne baras dhup mein main chala
Tume mile jis ghadi jaise badal mila
Barso naa tootke zara, bheeg jaye maan yeh bawara
Zid chod di lo aaj keh diya
Tere bin kahaan kaise jiya jayega
Heer stood off to the side hidden by the darkness of the night as she remembered Prem. With her fingers she traced the old wounds that lined her wrists. She looked at Veera and thought about what kind of wedding night she was having and the kind that Heer had.
*~* Flash Back*~*
(Heer = 18 & Prem = 20)
Heer was on her knees pleading with her brothers and her father to let her go and save Prem. She swore that she would walk away from him as soon as she knew that he was going to be alright. She vowed to married whoever they chose for her. Her pleas fell on deaf ears. The men were not even slightly moved by her tears or her begging. Eventually it was Kulraj and Meher that helped her to her room. As soon as Heer was in her room she rushed to the phone that rested on her nightstand, nearly tripping over her own feet in the process. In her haste she lost the red dupatta that had been covering her head - it now lay across the floor like a forgotten piece of clothing. She dialed and number and waited until someone answered.
"Neha! Neha mera Prem!" Heer yelled into the phone. "Mere Prem ko bacha lo! Please usse bachalo!" Heer was holding onto the phone so tightly her knuckles were turning white.
Maya knew that Heer was blabbering and not making any sense so she took the phone from Heer's hands. "Neha, main Maya bol rahi hoon," she said. Then she began to explain, as much as she could, about what had happened after the wedding. She instructed Neha to find Rahul and Dev so that they could search for Prem. During her hysterics Heer had mentioned where the incident took place, so Maya repeated the location to Neha. She instructed Neha to call Maya's cell phone as soon as they heard something.
Hours passed without any word. All three of her sister-in-laws took turns sitting with her. They didn't talk to her, they didn't try to give her false hope – they were just there, and that's exactly what she needed. Heer hadn't even realized that the sun had come up until a phone rang. It was Maya's. Maya immediately answered – Neha was calling.
"Hello Neha? Prem ka kuch paata chala?" she asked. She was silent was Neha talked. "Kya!?" Maya yelled into the phone at some piece of information that Neha gave her.
Immediately Heer was on her feet as was Kulraj, who was also in the room. "Kya hua?" Heer asked repeatedly.
Maya finally hung up with Neha and turned to Heer. She didn't know how she was going to tell Heer what Neha had told her. Tears began stinging the back of her eyes, but she composed herself – for Heer's sake.
"Bhabi, kya hua? Prem ka kuch paata chala? Woh tik toh hai naa?" Heer asked. "Kaunsi hospital mein hai? Mujhe usse milne jaana hai?"
"Heer woh…" Maya began to say, but was quickly choked up by tears. "Neha keh rahi thi ke…woh…Prem ka lash mila hai."
"Kya!?" both Heer and Kulraj yelled just as Meher came in with a try of tea.
"Bhabi, yeh aap kya keh rahi hai!?" Heer asked. She walked up to Maya and began shaking her as she asked again, "Yeh aap kya keh rahi hai!?"
"Jahaan paar tumne bataya, vahaan paar Rahul aur Dev gaye the. Pehle toh kuch nahin mile lekin phir ek admi se poocha. Uss admi ne kahaa ke kuchi dehr pehle ek lash yahaan pada tha. Lash ka koi aata paata nahin that oh usse shamshan ghat tak leh ke gaye. Rahul aur Dev ke pouchne ke baad hi Prem ka antim-sanskar hua." The entire time Maya had been talking to Heer, she didn't have the courage to look her in the eye.
"Nahin! Nahin Bhabi, nahin!" Heer yelled as she let Maya go and stepped back. "Aaisa nahin hosakta! Unko koi ghalat fehmi hui hogi. Woh mera Prem nahin hosakta. Nahin hosakta woh mera Prem!"
"Jaise tumne kahaa tha ke Prem ke gaal pe chot hai, tik vaisa hi chot uss lash pe mila," Maya said. It broke her heart to be telling Heer all of this, but she had no choice. "Woh Prem hi the."
"Nahin…nahin…nahin…nahin." Heer kept repeating the same word as she fell on her bed.
Immediately the three women went to her side. Meher hugged Heer as she said, "I'm so sorry Heer. I'm so sorry."
Suddenly, without another word, Heer got to her feet and walked towards her bathroom.
"Kahaan jaa rahe ho Heer?" Kulraj asked.
"Mujhe inn kapdoon se nikalna hai," she said as she disappeared into the bathroom.
Once inside she turned her shower on full blast. She then went and stood in front of her mirror. She had some streaks of eyeliner visible on her cheeks, most of her make up had been washed away. Her hair stuck out like a crows nest, it was such a mess. However, in the middle of that crows nest she saw the blood red sindoor that decorated her parting. She looked down and felt the cold mangalsutra against her neck. She ran her fingers down the red and white chuda set on her wrists as well. Noticing a decorative candle holder, Heer picked it up. A loud scream came from within her as she hurled the holder at the mirror. The moment the mirror shattered, so did Heer. She didn't know how long she stood there or how she had gotten into the shower. As she knew is that she felt the cold water hit her like sharp, jagged icicles. The coldness of the tiled inside hurt as she rested her cheek on it. However, none of the physical pain compared to the emotional pain she was now feeling.
Meher had been left with Heer while Kulraj and Maya went to take care of the kids and family. Glancing at the clock Meher noticed that Heer had been in the bathroom by herself for over 45 minutes. She was just about to get up to check on her when Maya and Kulraj returned.
"Heer aabhi tak bahar nahin aayi?" Kulraj asked.
"Nahin. Main dekhti hoon," Meher said as she went towards the bathroom. She gently knocked and called out, "Heer? Heer?" After getting no response she tried the door handle and saw it was unlocked. Slowly Meher entered the bathroom and the sight in front of her terrified her. "Heer!" she yelled.
"Kya hua?" Maya asked as she and Kulraj came running.
The water in the shower was still running. The mirror and holder were shattered all over the floor. The women carefully navigated their way around so they could reach the shower stall. Kulraj was the one to pull back the door. "Oh my God," she whispered as a collective gasp escaped from Maya and Meher.
Heer lay on the tiled floor. The red from her sindoor was being washed away by the water. In one hand she held a jagged piece of the shattered mirror. It then that they noticed the water going down the drain was much to red to just be from her sindoor. It was then that the noticed blood spewing from deep cuts on her wrists. It was then that they realized Heer had tried to take her life.
The sight of Heer nearly lifeless on the floor and her own blood swimming around her made Maya light headed. Suddenly it felt like the carpet had been pulled from underneath her and she was falling.
"Maya!" Meher yelled as she caught her just before she hit the floor.
The commotion drew out the three Maan brothers, all of whom came rushing in.
"Hay bagwan," Rishab whispered when he saw the sight in the bathroom.
"Maya!" Harman called as he raced over to Meher. "Kya hua?" he asked.
"Woh yeh saab dekh kar behosh hogayi," Meher said.
Harman quickly lifted Maya into his arms and raced to take her to their room. Rishab was calling the doctor already.
"Aur Heer?" Nihaal asked.
Meher and Kulraj looked at him with true disgust in their eyes. Kulraj moved away from the shower just an inch so Nihaal could see exactly what was going on.
"Heer!" he yelled as he raced to lift his sister out of the shower. "Yeh saab kya hai?" he asked.
"Khoon," Meher said.
"Kya?" Nihaal immediately came to a halt, at the same time that Rishab entered the room again.
"Khoon hai," Kulraj clarified. "Heer ka khoon."
Nihaal looked down and saw blood dripping all over the floor. Needless to say, Nihaal knew exactly what was going on.
The doctors had checked out both Heer and Maya. The OB said that Maya is in the most critical stage of her pregnancy and stress is not good for her. She asked the family to make sure that Maya takes care of herself and doesn't worry too much. On the other hand, the doctor bandaged Heer's wounds and told the family to keep watch on her for the next 24hrs. It wasn't uncommon for people to attempted suicide and failed, to try again.
When Heer woke up hours later she was highly disoriented. When she opened her eyes the sun was setting so it wasn't strong. She sat up with great effort. Immediately her hand went up to her head because it began to throb. It was then that she noticed that she had a bandage around her wrist. Heer was confused. What happened? Why was she sleeping? What was her head throbbing? Most importantly, why were her wrists bandaged?
Heer sat on the side of the bed and looked down to the floor. That was when she saw what she was wearing. She had on one of her long night gowns. It was odd for several reasons. First of all, it was the middle of the day and she was wearing a nightgown. Secondly, she never wore nightgowns – not even to bed. Lastly, it was strange because she could have sworn that when she had gotten up and showered she had been dressed in a pink churidar.
She got to her feet when she noticed something folded neatly on one of the chairs in her room – it was something red.
"Oh God," Heer whispered as her hand flew to cover her mouth. Realization dawned on her that it wasn't the day she thought it was. She still thought it was her mothers birthday, but it wasn't; it was the day after. "Oh God!" This time it was a yell, not a whisper.
Everything came rushing back to her. Everything. It was like she was reliving the horrible scene again.
"Prem!" Heer yelled as she stumbled on her feet when she tried to run for the door.
She was just about to get to the door when it opened and in rushed Meher and Kulraj.
"Heer," Kulraj called as she grabbed Heer and stopped her from running out.
"Prem! Mera Prem!" Heer yelled. "Mujhe usse milna hai. Abhi! Mujhse usse abhi milna hai!"
Meher helped Kulraj drag a feisty Heer back into the room and closed the door. "Heer, sambhal aapne aapko," she said.
"Chodiyeh mujhe! Mujhe Prem se milna hai!" Heer continued to protest.
"Heer meri baath sun…" Kulraj began to say. She didn't get to finish her thought.
"Maya Bhabi!" Heer called. "Maya Bhabi jaaldi aaiyeh! Mujhe Prem ke paas jaana hai aur yeh log mujhe nahin chod rahe hai! Maya Bhabi please!"
It was only seconds later that Maya staggered in looking pale. She looked like she could fall over at any second. Meher was about to rush to her side but stopped when she saw Harman guiding her.
As soon as Heer saw Maya she raced to her. "Maya Bhabi innse kahiyeh naa ke mujhe Prem ke paas jaane de." Heer grabbed onto her shoulders and shook her gently. "Please, mujhe mere Prem ke paas jaana hai. Usse meri zarurat hai."
"Heer woh…" Maya began to say.
Heer knew she wasn't going to get what she wanted. "Bhaia please, mujhe Prem ke paas jaana hai. Main aapke pair padti hoon." Heer fell to Harman's feet as she begged.
Harman couldn't see his sister like that. Without another word he left the room. Heer was still on the floor.
"Mujhe Prem ke paas jaana hai. Mujhe Prem ke paas jaana hai." Heer repeated the same sentence over and over.
There was not a dry eye in the room. Maya slowly sat down next to Heer and took her into her arms. Heer grabbed onto Maya as if her life depended on it.
"Mera Prem…Mera Prem…" she cried. "Main usse kaise bhulgayi? Kaise bhulgayi main?" Heer was referring to the moment after she had woken up when she thought it was a different day. "Kaise jiyungi main uske bina?"
As she continued to cry Kulraj and Meher helped get Heer up and onto the bed. Once again she fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion. When she woke up again, she noticed her room was empty. She laid still for a second as all the memories came back to the surface. She put one arm over her eyes as the hot tears burned her skin. She lay there silently crying. She didn't get up again that night, she simply cried.
The next morning when Meher and Kulraj came into Heer's room they saw the bed was empty. Meher heard the shower running and for a moment her heart dropped. Was Heer trying something again? Meher almost ran into the bathroom when she heard the shower stop. A few minutes later Heer came out. Meher and Kulraj gasped loudly. Her eyes were still red and puffy, her face was void of all make up and she was dressed from head to toe in white.
She looked at her sister-in-law's but silently walked over to the corner of her room where a table and three chairs rested. Sitting down with her back to them, Heer looked to the chair at her right. Slowly she ran her fingers across the red fabric that sat there – her wedding dress. Tear's filled her eyes and spilled but she didn't make a sound. It wasn't until Maya came and put a hand on her shoulder that Heer looked away.
"Mera Prem," Heer cried. "Kissi ne mujhe usse akhri baar milne nahin diya."
"I'm so sorry," Maya said as she hugged Heer.
"Kyun hua aaisa mere saath? Kyun? Main uske bina kaise jiyungi?" Heer asked.
"Tujhe jeena hoga," Meher said. "Prem ke liye tujhe jina hoga."
"Haan. Prem toh yeh nahin chate naa ke tu bhi jina chod de," Kulraj added. "Yeh safed kapde…"
Heer put a hand up to silence Kulraj. "Koi maane ya naa maane, main Prem ki paatni thi. Aab main uska vidva hoon aur uska vidva banke hi jiyungi. Varna nahin jiyungi."
"Kaise nahin jiyehgi?" Maya said, suddenly angry. "Tu chala jayega toh mera kya hoga? Khabi soocha hai ke tere bina main kya karungi? Tu massi banne wali hai, aur tu hume chodke jaana chati hai! Tu aaisa nahin kaar sakti. Mujhe teri zaruart hai."
It was Maya's pregnancy that had saved Heer. If it hadn't been for the pregnancy Heer was sure she would have died of a broken heart. If it hadn't been for Maya's appointments, cravings or tantrums, Heer would have drowned in her memories. If it hadn't been for Preeti, Heer would have never had the small urge to live. She loved all of her nieces and nephews but Preeti was her special little one.
*~* Back to Present *~*
The night passed in such a blur that before they knew it, it was time for Veera to leave. It was time for her to leave this house as a daughter, and hopefully enter Manmeet's house as one. The ending rituals all took place one after the other. Everyone in the Maan family stood with tears in their eyes, everyone except Balraj. Veera had come to hug Heer last, so it was Heer who took her to Manmeet.
As Heer put Veera's hand in Manmeet's she said, "Humari Chutki ko humesha kush rakhna."
"Didi," Veera said. She didn't know if she should cry because she was leaving, or if she should kill her sister for calling her 'Chutki' in front of Manmeet.
Heer placed a hand on Veera's cheek. "Iss ghaar ki laadli hai woh. Iss ghaar ki jaan ko leke jaa rahe ho. Vaada karo ke isske akhoon mein khabi asoon nahin aane doge."
Manmeet put his hand over Heer's and said, "Main vaada karta hoon Didi. Veera se humesha pyaar karunga aur humesha kush rakhunga. Khabi asoon aane dunga uske akhoon mein."
Those were the last words said before they sat in the car. All three brothers walked with the car until it was clear out of Maan estate. Slowly everyone turned to go inside and deal with the face that Veera would no longer be living in this house. Heer was headed upstairs with her sister-in-laws who were going to put the kids to bed. As the climbed the stair case the ladies began commenting about how Veera was so nervous about her wedding night. Heer cue to leave came when they started reminiscing on their own wedding nights. Sometimes, these ladies had no shame at all.
Heer watched as her brothers went off into the library. This only meant one thing, they were going to drink and talk. She knew that when her brothers were stressed or upset they went into the library for drinks. They disappeared into the library just as Heer was climbing the stairs to go into her own room.
She was just about to get changed when she saw Preeti's green giraffe on her bed. Heer knew that Preeti would raise all kinds of hell and never go to sleep until that giraffe was next to her. Before the commotion started Heer raced over to the kids room. As she entered the room the saw Preeti's eyes fill with tears and her lower lip began to quiver – Heer had made it just in time.
She was on her way back to her room when she heard one of her brothers say something that stopped her dead in her tracks.
"Heer ki shaadi bhi aaisi dhum dhaam se honi chahiyeh thi," Nihaal said.
"Haan. Jaise humne Veera ko kushi kushi vida kiya hai. Vaise aagar Heer ko vida kaar paate, toh main kushi kushi maar sakta hoon," Rishab added.
Why were they talking like that? Heer didn't know.
"Lekin woh toh kissi se shaadi nahin karegi," Harman pointed out.
"Aab toh nahin hoga. Lekin aagar saath saal pehle usse vida kiya hota, Prem ke saath. Toh aaj woh kitni kush hoti," Rishab said.
"Humne uski zindagi kya se kya bana diya," Nihaal said as he downed his drink.
"Haan, lekin koi nahin jaanta ke humne aaisa kyun kiya. Baas hum teeno hi jaante hai ke kaise dil pe pathar rakh kar humne woh saab kiya tha," Harman said.
"Kaise Bhai hai hum?" Rishab asked.
Heer stood rooted on her spot outside the door as her three brothers recounted the events of that fateful day. What had really happened after she announced her love for Prem was about to come into the forefront.
*~* Flash Back *~*
(Heer = 18 & Prem = 20 / Rishab = 30, Nihaal = 27 & Harman = 24)
The brothers were still reeling from the fact that their little sister had a boyfriend, who she claimed she was in love with. When they had first heard the news it took them everything they had not to go hunt down the mongrel and kill him. Here they were planning her engagement to Rajveer, while she was off romancing some street hoodlum. There was no way that Heer was going to ruin her life by marrying this Prem Jhuneja person. No way!
Rishab had said she was to forget Prem and marry Rajveer. That was that – no arguments about it. He knew his sister was sensible and she wouldn't go against her family, especially her brothers. The three of them had decided that all she needed was some time to cool down. Then they would sit down and talk to her reasonably. Sooner or later she would see what a huge mistake it would be if she stayed with Prem Jhuneja. They were sure that Heer would fold and give in before any time at all. Boy, had they been wrong.
Heer came down a few hours after the first encounter. When they had first seen her they thought that everything would be fine, everything would go exactly as they had planned it. Things didn't go as planned. Heer was adamant about marrying Prem and only Prem. Rishab had been so caught up in the moment that he had slapped her. He was so beyond angry over her disrespect and arguing that he couldn't control himself. The slapped happened before he even had a chance to think about it.
Rishab, Nihaal and Harman had followed their father out of the room. As they left, they could hear Heer professing her love for Prem over and over again. The brothers found themselves in their study less than 30 minutes later. Originally they had each gone in different directions to calm themselves down, but somehow they all ended up in the study. Nihaal was the last to walk in. Rishab was already sitting in a chair looking lost in his thoughts. Harman stood by the window that overlooked their garden talking to someone on the phone.
"Yeh mujhse kya hogaya?" Rishab asked. It was a rhetorical question. "Zindagi mein pehli baar maine kissi ke upar haath uthaya. Aur woh bhi…woh bhi aapni choti behen ke uppar. Chi!" Rishab was disgusted with himself. As his palm made contact with Heer's soft cheek, a jolt went through him. Rishab felt like he was having and out-of-body experience.
Nihaal didn't say anything because there was nothing to say. What Rishab had done was wrong; there was no excuse for it. Rishab knew it – he realized his mistake – that was all that mattered.
"Hume Prem ke baare mein paata kaarna chahiyeh," Rishab said to Nihaal. "Heer ek samajdar ladki hai. Aagar woh usse pasand karti hai toh koi baath zaroor hogi. Hai naa?"
"Mujhe bhi yeh hi lag raha hai. Hume Prem ke baare mein jaankari karlena chahiyeh," Nihaal said in agreement.
"Jaankari hogaya," Harman announced as he joined his brothers by the fire place.
"Kya matlab?" Nihaal asked.
"Jaab Heer ne pehli baar Prem ka naam liya tha, taab hi maine aapne kuch admiyoon ko laga diya tha uske baare mein paata karne."
"Aur, kya kahaa un logo ne?" Rishab asked.
"Haar kissi se yehi khabar milta hai ke Prem Jhuneja ek bohot hi aacha ladka hai," Harman said. "Baachpan mein hi uske baap guzar gaye the, Maa ne paal poske bada kiya hai usse. Kuch saal pehle uske Maa ka bhi dehant hogaya."
"Aur?" Rishab asked.
"Woh ek bohot hi brilliant student hai. Uske Maa ke paas paise nahin the usse padane ke liyeh. Usse haar saal scholarship milta tha. Aaj bhi woh college mein padta hai, toh scholarship ke zariyeh. Saab ka kehna hai ke aage jaake Prem Jhuneja kuch banke dikhayega," Harman said.
"Lekin Nihaal toh keh raha the ke woh Mittal Uncle ke yahaan pe kaam karta hai. Woh kis liyeh kaarta hai? Aagar usse scholarship mila hai, phir toh college ki fees ka chinta nahin hai," Rishab said.
"Mere baath hui hai Mittal Uncle se. Unka bhi yeh kehna hai ke Prem ek bohot hi kabil ladka hai. Woh kaam karta hai take woh aapne ghaar ka kharcha chala sake," Harman explained.
"Woh saab toh tik hai. Lekin hume yeh paata karna hai ke woh Heer se kaise mile. Dono pehle kaab mile, kaise mile…" Nihaal said as his voice trailed off.
"Woh toh mujhe nahin paata. Lekin jahaan tak mujhe bataya gaya hai, Prem Heer se bohot pyaar karta hai. Naa sirf pyaar, lekin uski bohot izzat bhi karta hai," Harman said.
"Hume toh baas yeh hi chahiyeh ke Heer jahaan bhi ho, kush ho. Haan, Prem ke paas paisa nahin hai. Lekin kya woh Heer ko kush rakh payega?" Rishab asked.
"Aagar who Heer se pyaar karta hai aur Heer uss se pyaar karti hai, toh dono kush hi honge," Nihaal said.
"Aur jahaan tak paisoon ka sawal hai, hum hai naa. Hum usse madat kaar sakte hai aapen pairoon pe khada hone ke liyeh. Humara business join karlega. Ghaar ka damaad hai, itna toh haq baanta hai. Heer ke liyeh, hum itna kaar hi sakte hai," Harman said.
"Hume pehle Prem se ek baar milna chahiyeh, phir hum teeno milke Bauji se baath karenge," Rishab announced.
"Koi zaruarat nahin!" someone said loudly.
The three Maan men turned around to see Balraj standing in the door way of the study. Without saying anything else Balraj entered the room and closed the door.
"Magar kyun Bauji?" Rishab asked. "Jahaan tak hume paata chala hai, Prem ek aacha ladka hai."
"Haan, shayad Heer aish-o-aram se nahin jiyeh, lekin kushi se toh jiyehgi," Nihaal added.
"Woh zindagi kaise jiyeh, isse mujhe koi faraq nahin padta," Blaraj announced. "Mujhe baas yeh business deal chahiyeh. Baki ka mujhe koi parva nahin hai."
"Magar Bauji…" Harman began to say.
Balraj was not in the least bit interested in listening to what his sons had to say. He threw a file on the table in front of Rishab and waited.
Rishab picked up the file and asked, "Yeh kya hai Bauji?"
"Khud hi padlo." Balraj went and took a seat behind the oak wood desk and fixed himself a drink.
The three brothers read the document at the same time and with each line that they finished, their shock and horror grew ten fold. The papers were doctors reports for their mother – she was suffering from breast cancer and needed surgery to take out the lumps that had formed.
"Maa ko…cancer…" Nihaal said, not able to complete his thought. He didn't know what to say and neither did any of his brothers.
"Haan, aur agar tum theeno ne Heer ki shaadi Rajveer se nahin karvaya, toh Teji ki operation ke paise main nahin dunga," Balraj said.
The three Maan boys stood stunned. Was their father really putting down an ultimatum?
"Aagar aap nahin denge toh kya hua, hum theeno milke denge," Harman said. He had always been the hot headed on the lot and didn't think before he spoke. Of course, in this situation, both his brothers agreed with him.
"Tum kaise doge?" Balraj said with an odd glint in his eyes. "Tum theeno ke paas paisa ho, taab doge naa. Tumhare saab paise toh mere paas hai. Maan bank account ka primary holder main hoon."
Rishab, Nihaal and Harman stood like frozen statues. Balraj was right. The boys had never created their own bank accounts. They figured that since they worked for their fathers company, and they all lived in the same house, they didn't really need separate accounts. Balraj had been more than happy to give his sons access to the account so they could spend as they pleased. However, all it would take is one phone call and he could end all of their access to the money. Balraj knew he had his sons cornered because not only did they have their own families to worry about, but now their mothers life was on the line.
"Toh kya hua," Rishab began to say. "Hum kaise bhi hokar paisoon ka intezaam karlenge."
"Before you decide…aage padke dehko," Balraj ordered.
Rishab flipped a few more pages and almost dropped the documents when he read what else his father had planned. In this file were copies of death certificates, doctors sworn statements and police complaints – all about a kidnapping. The documents said that Teji had delivered a still born child twelve years back, and she had been so distraught that she managed to steal another baby from the nursery. According to the paper work, Balraj intended to show that Veera was not their sister, but someone else's child who Teji had kidnapped. There was an official police report filed by another couple stating that their child had been stolen from the hospital. If Balraj went through with this plan of his, Teji could easily go to jail and Veera would be taken away and put in an orphanage.
Of course, the brothers knew this was all a lie. Veera was their sister and there was no mistaking it. They had all been there when she was born. They remembered when their Massi had come straight form the delivery room carrying their baby sister after she was born. There was no way that their mother had delivered a stillborn baby. No way. However, they also knew that Balraj Maan was a man with resources. It would take no time at all for him to bribe the hospital officials and judge to get a ruling in his favor.
"Bauji yeh aap kya kaar rahe hai?" Harman asked. "Veera aapki beti hai, Heer aapki beti hai. Kya unke kushiyaan aapke liyeh koi maine nahin rakhte?"
"Bhar mein jaye kushiyaan!" Balraj roared. "Mujhe baas aapni business ko aage barvana hai. Baas! Woh dono sirf boj hai boj. Khabi kuch kiya hai iss ghaar ke liyeh? Ya mere business ke liyeh?"
The other three men couldn't believe what they were hearing. Never in their lives had they thought their father despised his daughters so much. Daughters, especially Heer and Veera, were the hearts and souls of a family. How could anyone have so much hate for them? They knew Balraj was a shrewd business man. Apparently, he was a shrewd man – period.
"Sooch ke baatana, ke tumhe kya karna hai." With that, Balraj left the study.
For the next hour or so the Maan men went back and forth as they tried to come up with other ways to solve this huge problem. The ultimate goal was to have Heer marry Prem because that is what made her happy, yet at the same time they needed to gather money for their mothers surgery and find a way to defeat Balraj. Every plan they came up with resulted in a dead end – they had nothing.
"Ek raasta hai humare paas," Nihaal said.
"Kya?" Rishab and Harman asked at the same time.
"Kyun naa hum Heer ko saab kuch saach saach bata de. Main Heer ko jaanta hoon. Heer woh ladki hai jo aapne parivaar se bohot pyaar karti hai aur haanste haanste aapna saab kuch luta degi unke upar. Aagar Heer ko paata chala ke Bauji kya kaarne wala hai, toh woh Prem ko chodkar Rajveer se shaadi kaar legi."
"Tu bilkul sahi keh raha hai Nihaal," Rishab said.
"Haan Bhaia. Heer hai hi itni aachi ke woh hum saab ke liyeh kuch bhi karega. Aur Maa. Saab se zyada Maa se Heer pyaar karti hai. Maa ke liyeh toh woh aapni jaan bhi deh dehgi," Harman said.
"Vaise bhi, hume toh baas iss shaadi ko taalna hai. Kaise bhi karke iss shaadi ko postpone karna hai. Prem ko him settle karenge, aur kuch saal baad phirse Bauji se baath karenge," Nihaal suggested.
"Kya tumhe lagta hai ke Bauji maan jayenge?" Rishab asked.
The question was left unanswered.
Suddenly there was commotion downstairs and Veera rushed in announcing that Maya had passed out. The brothers rushed downstairs. Harman went straight to Maya, lifted her in his arms and raced to take her upstairs to their room. In the mean time Nihaal was on the phone calling the doctor. As soon as the doctor arrived everyone cleared the room to give her space to work. Rishab and Nihaal returned to the study.
"Baas, hume Heer ko baatane ke ilava koi aur chara nahin hai," Rishab said just as Harman walked.
"Chalo. Hum theeno abhi usse baath karte hai," Nihaal said as he got up.
"Uske liyeh bohot dehr hogaya hai," Harman said. "Heer ghaar chod ke chali gayi hai."
"Kya!?" Rishab and Nihaal yelled.
"Haan, woh bhag gayi hai."
"Tujhe kaise paata?" Nihaal asked.
"Hume abhi abhi paata chala ke Maya maa banni wali hai. Yehi kush khabir dene ke liyeh main Heer ke paas gaya tha. Taab hi dekha ke woh vahaan nahin hai," Harman explained.
The men stood in silence. This was one of the happiest days in Harman's life – he was going to be a father. But that happiness was ruined by what they knew was coming.
Balraj burst into the room, seething in anger. "Tum theeno ko joh bhi kaarna hai, abhi kaarna hai. Faisla tumhare haath mein hai." That was it, he left.
The Maan brother knew what they had to do now. The didn't want to do it but they had no choice. Heer hadn't left them any other option, not that they blamed her at all. As the walked out of the house they took one look back at their mother. She was their mother, she had given birth to them, she had raised them – now it was their turn to do something for her, it was their turn to give her life. They had to save her.
They had a plan, of course. They planned to get Heer back from where ever she was and then, when she was calm, they would explain to her what ultimatum Balraj had put in front of them. They would show her that they had absolutely no choice. They were sure, that once all the facts were laid out in front of her, Heer too would accept their decision.
However, everything was ruined the minute Rishab accidently stabbed Prem. They had been so confused, scared and worried that the fled the scene. They were sure that some passer by would see and save him. That didn't happen. The next morning when they got news that Prem Jhuneja was dead, their world shattered. Not only had they separated Heer from Prem, but now she would never listen to them and thus she would never know why they did what they did. She would never know the grave mistake that happened at their hands.
*~* Back to Present *~*
"Saab ko yehi lagta hai ke Heer ko Prem se juda kaar ke hum bohot kuch hai," Nihaal said.
"Haan. Kissi ko yeh nahin paata ke jab bhi hum Heer ko dekhte hai, hum andar hi andar ghutne lagte hai," Rishab said.
"Koi yeh nahin jaanta ke haar paal, Heer ke saath saath, hum bhi maar rahe hai," Harman said.
"Kyun naa mare?" Rishab asked. "Aapni choti behen ki kushiyaan humne aapne hatoon se khatam kaar diya hai. Humare saath aur kya hosakta hai?"
"Ek paal ki kamzori…ek ghalat faisla…saab kuch barbad dariya….saab kuch," Harman said.
"Woh toh……….." Nihaal began to say but stopped.
A slight movement at the entrance of the study caught his eyes and he turned only to find Heer. She stood there by the door with tears in her eyes and disbelief written all over her face.
------------------------------
Heer stood, unable to move from her spot outside the study. She had over heard the entire conversation her brothers just had. She couldn't believe it, yet she did. The pain, the sorrow and the guilt that shone in each of her brothers eyes were too pure to be fake. They hadn't even known she was there. They had seen her go up to her room. How were they supposed to know that she would happen to pass by as they talked?
Her father. How could her father be so evil and callous? How could he say and think such horrible things about his own daughters, his own flesh and blood?
Before the incident, Heer prided herself as being a Daddy's Little Girl. Her friends had always said she was spoiled by her father, but Heer clamed that they were wrong – she was simply much loved. He father had always been her rock, he was her go to person. She knew that if she was ever in trouble – no matter what the issue, no matter what the time – her father would be there for her in a heart beat. Even after the incident with Prem, she still had a soft corner for her father. She blamed her brothers for Prem's death, they had done it. She still knew that somewhere she was Daddy's Little Girl. He was her father, how could she not love him?
Now, now everything had changed. The one man on the planet who she thought would never hurt her ended up not only hurting her but killing her. What he had done was despicable; she could never forgive him for that.
She watched her brothers look at her uneasily as tears fell from her eyes. She had blamed them for so much, yet there were not at fault. She knew, in her heart, that if they had explained to her the entire situation, she would have done everything possible to help them. If that mean walking away from Prem for the time being, so be it. The thought of losing her mother to cancer or losing her younger sister – it was unbearable.
Heer slowly walked into the study and went to where her brothers stood gathered together. As she thought of everything that had happened after that fateful night, she was conflicted. Her mother had gotten he treatment that she needed, she was now a healthy and cancer free woman. Veera had had a great life. She was now married to a man who cared and loved her. She was going to have a beautiful and happy life. How could Heer regret any of that? But that still didn't change the fact that Prem had died. It didn't change the fact that Heer would have to spend the rest of her life without him.
"Bauji ne…" Heer couldn't finish her thought because she chocked up.
Her tears were coming out in full force now, she could barely see. Without another thought, she threw herself at her oldest brother. He was the brother that had always protected her, always fought for her, and always loved her immensely. It was a brother she thought had died seven years ago, only to find out now that he still very much existed.
Heer wept because after seven years she had her brothers back. She wept because even today the pain of Prem's death hurt just as badly as it had when it happened. She wept because tonight, her father had died in her eyes. She was no longer Daddy's Little Girl. Apparently, she never had been.
JAZ
ps: i expect extra long comments for an extra long update...and i feel...like you all have lots to say 😉
