NOTE: this is the longest part of the story...i swear it came out to a full 30pgs on microsoft word! so i wanna see looong comments 😃
Heer woke up to the soft, yet distinct tapping of a tree branch up against her window. Turning her face towards where the noise was coming from she saw that there was still light out, though it was quickly diminishing. Sitting up she felt a very slight throbbing in her head. She glanced at the clock to see that it was half past five.
"Oh my God, maine Veera ki pooja miss kardi!" Heer yelled as she scrambled to her feet. "Lekin…main yahaan kaise?" The last thing Heer remembered was telling Veera she had a gift for her, then she went upstairs to get it. After that she couldn't remember anything. Heer stared out the window for a few seconds when suddenly, like a ton of bricks, her memory cleared up. "Prem," she whispered.
Now Heer remembered what had happened. She had gone upstairs to get the earrings that she had bought for her sister. While she was looking in her drawer she heard Veera suddenly call for her. Heer figured that it was just Veera being Veera – impatient. As Heer headed back she hear Veera call out for her again and something shatter. Not knowing what was going on, she panicked and raced downstairs. As she descended the stairs she didn't bother looking up until halfway down. When she finally did, she was stunned. It was like time had unexpectedly stopped, her heart stopped beating and she stopped breathing. There he was – after seven long years – he was back.
Slowly she walked towards him, analyzing him from head to toe. He was more built and healthy looking than he had been at 20, filling out the black suit he wore. He had a ragged scar on his cheek that looked angry and red. His hair was a bit shorter and set back giving him an air of authority. His face was no covered in facial hair, a beard of sorts. However, it was him, it was her Prem. There was no mistaking it. His identity was in his eyes. Heer had seen into those eyes a million times, she had seen into his soul through his eyes. She knew these eyes. The eyes were the same as they had been for years. The eyes were filled with joy. The eyes were filled with love – for her.
Heer remembered trailing her fingers gently along the scar on his face, calling his name and then she remembered darkness consuming her. Without realizing it, her hand flew up to her mouth to cover her shock. Was Prem really back? How could that be? Had it all been real or a dream?
Heer raced out of her room and down the stairs to the main family room. "Prem?! Prem?!" she called out as she went.
There was no one in sight, not one single person. Heer ran looking for her Prem but she couldn't find him. She then thought about going to the mandir where she had seen him, maybe he was there. When she reached the mandir it was empty, like the rest of the house. Only the diya's illuminated the little room. Heer leaned against one of the pillars and fell to the floor as tears over took her emotions. She sat with her knees drawn up to her body and her head resting on her arms.
She had been wrong. Prem wasn't back. It must have been another one of her hallucinations or something. Why was her mind and heart playing tricks on her like that? Not like it wasn't hard enough to get past every minute without Prem, but to see him and think that he is real. Then only to find out he was still gone – it was heart breaking.
Suddenly Heer heard some noise. When Heer had lifted her head to see where the sound was coming from her eyes fell on a red stain on her dupatta. It was an odd place for any stain. Her head and just been resting there, how could it now be red? Was she bleeding? Slowly Heer raised her hand to her head, by the parting. When she brought it down her fingers were colored red, but it wasn't blood. It looked like…sindoor. Sindoor on her forehead, how? Before any other question could form in her mind, she got her answer.
"Heer," someone called.
Looking up Heer saw the door to the family room open and a tall figure step out. It was somewhat dark so she couldn't see who it was. As the figure raced towards her Heer felt like she knew who it was. She felt like she knew who the man was. When the man finally stood in front of her, Heer was left speechless. She climbed to her feet and came face to face with the man who had lived in her dreams and nightmares for seven years. Heer's mouth was left gaping open with one hand over it, as the tears once again collected in her eyes.
"Heer," he said again, "Main aagaya hoon. Tumhara Prem laut aaya hai."
"Prem?" Heer chocked between tears and sobs. "Tum saach ho, ya phirse main koi saapna dekh rahi hoon?"
Prem smiled, is eyes too wet from tears. "Chuke dekhlo," he said as he held his hand out to her.
Reluctantly and very carefully Heer reached out to him. What if he disappeared? What if he wasn't real? Slowly she brushed her finger tips to his palm and was amazed when she felt his warmth and strength.
"Prem, tum saach mein yahaan ho?" Heer asked as her eyes filled with tears and a smile began to play on her lips.
"Haan, main saach mein yahaan hoon," Prem said.
He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her forehead – he didn't are that her entire family was gathered behind them by this time. As soon as his lips touched her skin Heer felt her body, her heart and her soul come back to life. It was almost magical.
"Kaise? Tum…" Heer's voice trailed off as she felt a bit light headed.
From the corner of her eye she saw all three of her brothers rush forward to help her but before they could get anywhere near her, Prem had managed to get a hold of her. With one arm around Heer's waist, the other was held out to stop her brothers from advancing.
"Nahin! Koi aage nahin aayega!" Prem yelled. "Aap mein se koi Heer ko haat nahin lagayenge!"
"Magar…" Harman began to say.
"Baas!" Prem roared. "Saath saal pehle hi aap logoon ne bohot kuch kiya tha, aab aur nahin."
Heer understood Prem's anger towards her brothers, but she had to explain. "Prem…" she tried to talk. However, she was weak.
"Manmeet, doctor ko phone kaar. Jaldi." Prem ordered as he scooped Heer up into his arms and raced towards her room.
"Ji Bhaia," Manmeet said as he pulled out his cell phone.
Everyone stood stunned and shocked into disbelief at what Manmeet had just said.
"'Bhaia'?" Rishab asked.
"Woh…" Manmeet was tongue tied.
"Manmeet! Phone," Prem reminded him from half way up the stairs.
"Nahin," Heer managed to say as she gently pushed against Prem. "Doctor ko phone maat karo. Main tik hoon."
"Magar Heer…" Prem began to say as he put her down on her feet, but still held onto her.
"Saach mein, main tik hoon," Heer said. From the look in Prem's eyes she knew he didn't believe it. "Please," she pleaded.
Heer gave him 'the' look. A look that he hadn't been able to resist seven years ago, it was a look he couldn't resist today. "Tik hai. Manmeet, phone maat kar," Prem said turning to Manmeet.
"Mujhe neeche lekar chalo," Heer said.
"Nahin tum uppar jao," Prem said.
"Magar kyun?" Heer asked. "Main tik hoon."
"Shayad tum tik ho, lekin main tik nahin hoon. Main tumhe inn kapdon mein nahin dekh sakta," Prem said. There was a pain in his voice that was unmistakable.
Heer looked down to see herself draped in a white saree – looking just like a widow. Only problem was, she no longer was a widow.
"Kuch bhi pehen ke aao, lekin yeh nahin. Tumhe inn safed kapde mein dekh kar mujhe taqlif hota hai. Tum meri vidva nahin ho, meri biwi ho tum," he said as he placed a kiss on her forehead.
Heer nodded her head in agreement but was reluctant to leave him.
"Main kahin nahin jaunga, promise." He turned and called, "Veera…Heer ke saath jaao please."
"Haan Jiju," Veera said as she approached Heer. "Chaliyeh Didi."
Heer still didn't want to leave but finally did when Prem said, "Aab main aagaya hoon naa toh tumhe khabi chodke nahin jaunga. Khabi nahin."
Veera walked upstairs with Heer. As they ascended the stairs, not once did Heer take her eyes off of Prem. Once she was in her room she went straight for her cupboard and pulled out a saree that was hidden in the back behind all of her white clothing. She went into the bathroom to get changed as quickly as possible. When she returned she was ready to do back down but remembered something. She went to her dressed to pull out a box. Opening the box she took its contents out when suddenly there was a lot of commotion coming from downstairs. Above everyone else's voice she could hear Prem's.
"Prem," she said in a whisper as she raced out of the door.
Veera called behind her but Heer didn't stop. She ran down the stairs calling Prem's name.
------------------------------
In the midst of arguing with Heer's pompous brothers, Prem head a voice calling to him. The voice wasn't loud and almost drowned out in the commotion that was going on in front of him. However, this was voice that he heard from his heart. No matter where he was, if he heard that voice he was immediately at full attention. Looking towards the stairs to his right he saw Heer coming down the stairs.
Seeing her brought a smile to his face. She was wearing a saree that he recognized. It was a very pretty shade of pink with black sequins running all along the border. It was a very old saree, it had already been used when he had given it to her – but it was a special saree. This saree had belonged to his mother. It was one of his favorite sarees not because it belonged to his mother, but because this was the first gift given to his mother by his father. Prem had given her the saree on their one year anniversary. Heer had been extremely excited about it, but only accepted it once she had his mothers blessing.
Today was the first time Prem was seeing Heer wearing the saree. A calm settled over his heart. He was finally with Heer – after all these years, the moment had finally come.
"Kya ho raha hai?" Heer asked.
"Woh Prem…" Harman began to say.
"Baas!" Prem growled. "Baas!"
"Prem…" Heer began to say but was cut off.
"Maa ki saree hai naa. Tumpar bohot khubsuart lag raha hai," he said.
Heer blushed and Prem's heart did a flip. He watched as she shyly met his eyes again, this time holding out her right fist to him. As she slowly opened her fist he saw something black cradled within it.
"Isse pehnadoge please. Saath saloon mein isse pehene ke liyeh main taras gayi thi," Heer said.
Prem took the object from her hand and asked, "Yeh kya hai?" He didn't need an answer to his question. He knew what it was – it was Heer's mangalsutra. It was the same simple black and gold necklace that he had bought for her seven years ago.
As Prem put the mangalsutra on Heer, it was like the rest of the room disappeared. It was just them two and no one else. Prem could envision Heer in her red shaadi-ka-joda on the day of their wedding. He could hear the pundit chanting the sacred hymns as they walked around the holy fire. He could remember the blush on Heer's face when he filled her mang. He could remember the happiness in her eyes when they were finally married in the eyes of God. It was like they were transported to the small mandir where they had been married years ago.
He saw Heer place a hand over her mangalsutra and heard her whisper a thanks to God for returning to Prem to her.
Prem cupped her face and leaned in close to her face.
"Ahem…Bhaia," Manmeet called out.
Prem was about to kiss Heer, everyone knew it. Manmeet just did that to remind him that he was in a room full of people. Heer blushed and looked down as Prem smiled.
He used his finger to tilt her face back to so that she was looking at him. Then, he leaned in and kissed her. As their lips met they both felt like they were in heaven. The kiss was soft, gentle and tender. The kiss was pure and sacred. The kiss was theirs and it was long over due. Prem didn't care who saw, he didn't what they had to say. This was his Heer and no one could stop him from kissing her. Maybe it wasn't proper, but Prem didn't care.
Prem took Heer's hand and guided her to the main hall. Once they reached the couches in the main hall, he helped her sit and then sat next to her. No one knows for how long they sat just staring at each other. It was like after seven long years their eyes were finally rewarded. It was like they had been surviving in a drought and only now they have found an oasis.
Slowly Heer raised her hands up to cup Prem's face. It was as if she still couldn't believe that he was sitting in front of her – alive and breathing. "Kahaan the? Itne din tum kahaan the?" Heer asked. Heer couldn't take it any more. Not caring that her family was present, she threw herself at him and held on to him as if her life depended on it. "Tum pehle kyun nahin aaye? Pehle kyun nahin aaye?" she cried.
"Pani…" Prem said as he searched for a glass of water.
"Abhi laayi Jiju," Veera said as she got up and rushed into the kitchen. She came back just moments later and handed the glass to Prem.
"Pani pi loh," Prem insisted as he held the glass to Heer's lips. Heer hesitated at first. "Pi loh phir main saab kuch batadunga tumhe."
That did it. Heer took three quick sips of water before Prem placed the glass on a table next to him. By this time, all the family members had gathered around them – only Balraj was missing.
"Tum zinda ho?" Heer asked as she placed a hand on top of Prem's. It was like she still couldn't believe that Prem was sitting in front of her alive and well. She had a feeling that if she pinched herself she would wake up from the wonderful dream that she was having. "Mujhe laga tha ke tum mujeh humesha ke liyeh chodke chale gaye ho."
Prem gently pushed back a few strands of hair that fell on Heer's face. He cupped her face and smiled at her. "Jis duniya mein Heer zinda hai, uss duniya ko chodkar Prem kaise jaa sakta hai?" he asked.
"Phir tim kahaan the? Itne dehr kyun lagadiya aane mein?" Heer demanded as her eyes filled with tears again.
"Pehle toh mujeh paata hi nahin tha ke kahin pe tum mera intezaar kaar rahi ho," Prem said.
"Kya matlab?" Heer asked.
"Abhi batata hoon."
*~* Flash Back *~*
(7 years ago)
(Prem = 20)
"Jaldi aao! Jaldi aao!" someone yelled. "Bohot khun beh raha hai. Isse abhi hospital leke jaana hoga!"
Prem couldn't open his eyes, move any muscle of his body but he could hear everything. He heard people gather around him and murmur about how he was bleeding and that they needed to get him to the hospital right away. He felt many hands on him as the people tried to lift him.
"H…Heer…" he called, or so he thought. He needed to make sure that she was ok. He needed to make sure that she would be alright, no matter what happened to him.
They people that were helping him loaded him onto a truck that was passing by. The entire ride Prem fought against the dark fog that was settling in and clouding his memory. He tried with all his might to open his eyes long enough to have someone notice, he prayed that he could just get one sentence out so that he could tell someone about Heer. Prem tried and tried to move his body but every time he tried he failed. Once they reached the hospital he was lowered onto a stretcher as doctors and nursed came rushing.
"Isse kya hua?" a female voice asked.
"Paata nahin nurse. Hum toh baas uss jaga se guzaar rahe the jahaan yeh pada tha. Kuch awaz suni aur jaab dekha toh yeh admi mila, iss halat mein," someone said.
"Bohot khoon behraha hai, lagta hai ke isse OT mein leke jaana hoga," called another voice. "Dr. Singh ko page karo, jaldi!"
As they rushed him off to the OT Prem heard them list off his injuries. Among other things he had severe head trauma, a deep laceration on his face that would need stitches and of course, the stab wound in his abdomen which was the most worrisome at the moment. They had to open him up to check whether or not he had internal injuries. Prem winced at the smell he encountered as he entered the operation theater, it was so sterile. Suddenly, darkness closed in all around him. Prem tried to fight it but he couldn't. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs but he couldn't.
------------------------------
Opening his eyes, Prem was greeted by the blinding brightness of the sun. He tried to lift his left arm to shield his eyes but to his shock, he couldn't move a single muscle. His entire body felt stiff and rigid. An unexpected groan escaped his lips and suddenly the brightness of the sun was replaced by the face of a smiling female.
"Toh aap finally jag gaye? Welcome back Mr. Prem," she said.
"M…main kahaan hoon?" Prem asked as he tried to look around. It surprised him how scratchy and soft his voice was.
"App St. Josephs Hospital mein hai. Main abhi doctor ko bulati hoon. Aapke saab sawaloon ka jawab doctor saab hi denge. Main abhi aayi," she said as she left.
When she returned a minute later, Prem was in the process of sitting up – well, he was attempting to sit up. The nurse came over and helped him get propped up on his bed and placed two pillows behind him. As she finally got him settled him, two doctors in white lab coats walked in.
"Good afternoon," said the one whose coat read 'Dr. Garewal'. "Good to see you awake."
"Matlab?" Prem asked. This was the second time in less than five minutes someone had said it was good to see him awake. What had happened?
"Main hoon Dr. Singh aur yeh mera colleague hai, Dr. Garewal," said the second doctor.
"Doctor, saab yeh kyun keh rahe hai ke finally main jag gaya?" Prem asked.
"Main saab sawaloon ka jawab dunga lekin pehle tumko mere kuch sawaloon ka jawab dena padega. Tik hai?"
"Ji."
"Tumhara naam kya hai?" he asked.
"Prem."
"Last name?" the doctor asked.
Suddenly Prem fell silent. What was his last name? Was Prem really his first name? The only reason he was able to answer that was because that is what the nurse had called him when he woke up.
"Tumhara last name kya hai?" the doctor asked again.
"Paata nahin," Prem answered. He began looking frantically around the room.
"Kahana ke rehne wale ho?" Dr. Garewal asked.
"Paata nahin," Prem answered.
"Aapne baare mein kuch yaad hai tumhe? Maa ka naam, baap ka naam…kuch bhi?" Dr. Singh asked.
"Nahin!" Prem yelled. "Mujhe kuch yaad nahin. Mujhe kuch yaad kyun nahin?" he asked as he looked helplessly at the doctors. "Main yahaan, iss hospital mein kaise?"
The look on the doctors faces told Prem that he wasn't going to get good news. The doctors explained to him that a few villagers had found him dumped behind the forest next to a road here in Amritsar. He had suffered major abdominal wounds including internal injuries, a facial laceration and severe head trauma from what seemed to have been a physical attack on him. They explained to him that during surgery his vital signs had dropped and he had gone into a coma. He had been unconscious for the past five weeks. It was due to the immobility caused by the coma that he was unable to move without difficulty at this point. The doctors assured him that with physical therapy he'd be as good as new.
They had been waiting for him to wake up so that they could assess his mental capacity as well as figure out where he came from and who he was. After talking to him the doctors diagnosed him with post traumatic retrograde amnesia which is when a patient cannot remember his past. They also felt that maybe his mind was repressing the memories that were tied to the incident that left him in this condition. The doctors said that he could possibly regain full memory or even part of his memory. However, there were no guarantees. This was a situation that they were going to have to take one day at a time. They also warned him that if he focused too much on remembering his past, that it could cause more harm.
"Lekin mera naam? Aap logon ko mera naam kaise paata hai?" Prem asked.
"Tumhare haath mein ek bracelet tha jispe tumhara naam likha tha. Nurse, zaara woh bracelet lekar aana," Dr. Singh asked. "Aab tum aram karo, main thodi dehr mein aaunga check up karne."
And so began the first day of many where Prem woke up knowing nothing more about himself other than his name. He hoped that the bracelet would jog his memory but it did nothing. Day turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. He was receiving physical therapy at the hospital and was nearly fully recovered from the atrophy his muscles experienced when he was lying in bed due to the coma.
Through out his two month stay at the hospital he had come to know and respect Dr. Singh more than anyone else. Dr. Singh, one of the top neurologist/neurosurgeon of the country, was at the hospital consulting on a new neurological research lab that was being set up. He must have told his wife about Prem because it was only a few days after he woke up that Mrs. Singh, an OB/GYN by profession, had started bringing him home cooked meals and stopped by to visit him every now and then.
Since both Mr. & Mrs. Singh were working at the hospital, often times Prem found himself interacting with their two children, Manmeet and Priya. Manmeet was a boy of fifteen who had really become attached to Prem. Any help Manmeet needed, be it with homework or life in general, he came and talked to Prem. They had a brother bond which is why Manmeet addressed Prem as Bhaia. Even Priya, twelve at that time, called Prem Bhaia. She wasn't as close to Prem like Manmeet was, but Prem found her extremely adorable and fierce. It got to the point where both Manmeet and Priya would come straight to the hospital after school, hang out with Prem until their parents finished their shift and went home after. Inadvertently, through this mess Prem had found himself a family. He had began calling Mr. & Mrs. Singh, uncle and aunty, Manmeet garnered the nickname of Mannu and Priya was simply knows as Sweetie.
It broke Prem's heart the day he found out that he was going to be discharged from the hospital. For one thing, he didn't know where go to. Secondly, it was the same day he found out that the neurological research lab was complete so the Singh's would be returning to Mumbai, their home, within the week.
"Nahin!" Manmeet said, "Main Bhaia ko chodkar nahin jaunga!"
"Magar beta, hume Mumbai vapsa jaana hoga," Mr. Singh argued.
"Aap log jaao, main yahaan rahunga…Bhaia ke saath!"
"Mannu," Prem said, "zidd maat karo. Tum mere saath kaise rahoge. Mera khud ka koi ghar ya thikana nahin hai, main tumhe kaise sambhalunga?"
"Lekin mujhe vapas nahin jaana. Ghaar pe sirf Priya hogi. Eeks…nahin, main Priya ke saath nahin rehsakta!" Manmeet said.
"Hey, meri Sweetie mein kya kharabi hai. World ki saabse pyaari ladki hai meri Sweetie," Prem said as he patted Priya on the head.
"Thank you Bhaia!" Priya said as she stuck her tongue out at Manmeet.
"Suniyeh ji," Mrs. Singh called. "Main sooch rahi thi ke Prem humara parivaar ka ek hissa bangaya hai. Aur uppar se woh kahaan jayega? Kyun naa hum usse aapne saat Mumbai lekar chale?"
Prem was shocked at the suggestion. He was just about to decline the offer when Mr. Singh spoke up.
"Excellent idea!" he said.
"Yay!" Manmeet and Priya yelled simultaneously.
"Lekin uncle main kaise…" Prem began to argue.
"Nahin, mujhe koi bahana nahin chahiyeh Prem. Tum saach mein iss praivaar ka hissa ho, humara bada beta jaisa. Tumhe hum akele chodke nahin jaa sakte," Mr. Singh said.
"Lekin uncle kyun? Naa mujeh aapne bare mein kuch paata hai, naa aapne parivaar ke bare mein kuch paata hai. Yahaan tak, mujhe aapna pura naam bhi nahin paata," Prem said.
"Aaj se tum Prem Singh kehlaoge aur hum tumhara parivaar hai," Mrs. Singh said.
"Lekin…" Prem began to say.
"Kya Bhaia, baar baar aap inkar kyun kaar rahe ho?" Manmeet asked.
"Kya hum aapko pasand nahin?" Priya asked.
"Aaisi koi baath toh nahin hai…" Prem began.
"Phir?" Priya asked.
Prem was tongue tied. What was he supposed to say? He didn't have anywhere to go, he didn't have anyone to call his family or anything like that.
"Baas, tay hogaya hai. Prem humare saat Mumbai chalega," Mr. Singh announced.
"Thank you. Thank you so much sir," Prem said as he held his hand together in front of Mr. Singh.
"Ek aur baath," Mrs. Singh began, "tum iss ghaar ka bada beta ho issi liyeh aajse no more Uncle, Aunty or Sir. Aajse tum hume Maa aur Papa bulaoge. Tik hai?"
Prem was numb with all the emotions going through him. All he could do was shake his head in agreement as the children danced around the room in their excitement. Mr. & Mrs. Singh left the room to go finalize his discharge plans and to hand over their patient loads other doctors.
The next day, Prem was discharged from the hospital. He went home to Mumbai with the Singh's and began a whole new life there. At the insistence of his new found parents, he had joined one of the top colleges in town where he placed first in anything and everything he did. By the time he graduated with his MBA four years later, he was already running the Singh family business. It was a business left to Mr. Singh by his father who had been a very big business tycoon. Until Prem came into the picture, it was run by a board of trustees since Mr. Singh was a doctor and not a businessman. He was only too happy to have the newest member of the family run the family business, which Prem did perfectly. In a short time he was able to take the business to new heights.
Seeing the success and respect that Prem was receiving, Manmeet too followed in his big brothers foot steps and joined business school while he was working side by side with Prem at their offices. Singh Industries was a force to be reckoned with.
*~* Back to Present *~*
"Aur vaise hi meri zindagi ke char saal katgaye. Uss hadse ke baad mujhe paata nahin tha ke yahaan Amritsar mein mera koi hai," Prem said.
"Char saal tak tumhe kuch paata nahin tha?" Heer asked.
"Nahin, bilkul paat nahin tha," Prem said.
"Aap, inhe pehle se jaante the?" Veera asked. Her question was for Prem, but was hinted at Manmeet..
"Manmeet ko? Haan, chota bhai hai mera," Prem said as he smiled at Veera.
"Lekin kaise? Manmeet toh…" Rishab wanted to say so much but he was tongue tied. What was going on?
"Veera ki zindagi mein, maine hi Manmeet ko beja tha," Prem said.
"Kyun? Kaab? Kaise?" Nihaal asked.
"Kyun ke jaab mera yadash vapas aagaya tha, tab hi maine faisla kaar liya tha ke joh Heer ke saath hua hai, woh meri Chulbulli ke saath nahin hoga," Prem said as he got up and went over to where Veera was sitting. He placed a hand on her head and said, "Veera ke zindagi barbad hote hue main nahin dekh sakta tha. Issi liyeh, jaan buj kaar maine Priya ke dosti Veera se karvaiya aur phir dhere dhere Manmeet ko bhi Veera se milaya. Mujeh pata the ke dono ek dusre ke liyeh perfect hai."
"Lekin tumhe saab kaise yaad aagaya? Kaab?" Heer asked.
"Theen saal pehle," Prem answered. "Saab kuch mujhe theen saal pehle yaad aagaya tha."
*~* Flash Back *~*
(3 years ago)
(Prem = 24, Manmeet = 19 & Priya = 16; Heer = 22 & Veera = 16)
"Prem Bhaia dekho naa MB meri book vapas nahin deh raha hai," Priya wined as she chased Manmeet throughout the house.
Prem looked up from the file he was studying to see Manmeet standing next to him waving the book at Priya while she tried to get it out of his grasps.
"Mannu yeh kya kaar raha hai tu? Chal book vapas deh deh," Prem ordered.
"Haan Mannu Bhaia, book vapas doh," Priya teased.
"Eh! Mujhe Mannu sirf Bhaia bula sakte hai, tu nahin," Manmeet said.
"Whatever, book vapas doh," Priya pleaded.
"Mannu Book vapas doh, aur Priya phirse Manmeet ko Mannu nahin bulana," Prem said.
Priya winced at hearing her name. Prem only called her Priya when she was in trouble or he was upset with her. Other than that he always – always – called her Sweetie.
"Sorry Bhaia," the two siblings said at the same time.
Prem went back to his work only to have Manmeet hovering over his shoulder.
"Kya hua Mannu?" Prem asked.
"Yeh kya hai Bhaia?" Manmeet asked.
"Yeh humari nayi factory ki plan hai. Yeh factory tere naam pe khul raha hai," Prem said.
"Mere naam pe? Kyun?"
"Kyun ke kuch saloon mein jaab tera degree complete hojayega, isse tujhe hi sambhalna hai."
"Akele?"
"Haan, bilkul."
"Kaise? Mujhe toh kuch nahin aata," Manmeet pointed out.
"Tujhe bohot kuch aata hai. Aur tu fikar maat kar, main hoon naa tere saath," Prem said.
"Prem, Manmeet, Priya," Mrs. Singh called from the hall.
"Hum saab library mein hai Maa," Prem called back.
Less than a minute later Mrs. Singh stood in the doorway looking at her three children with a smile on her face. She had just returned home with her husband after a very long day at the hospital.
"Tum saab ka packing hogaya hai naa?" she asked.
"Kiske liyeh?" Prem asked.
"Uff Prem! Kya hoga tera. Hum saab ko Naina ki shaadi mein jaana hai," she reminded.
Naina was Mrs. Singh's niece who was due to get married next week in a typical, big Punjabi wedding.
"Oh haan. Lekin Maa main nahin jasakta, office mein bohot kaam hai," Prem said.
"Nahin, koi bahana nahin chalega. Humesha tu office ke kamoon mein busy rehta hai aab baas. Amritsar gaye hue bohot din hogaye, tujhe toh iss baar jaana hi hoga," she announced.
"Magar Maa…" Prem began.
"Prem," Mrs. Singh said.
Prem knew there was no getting out of this. When his mother took that tone, no one fought her, not even his father.
"Kya chal raha hai yahaan par?" Mr. Singh asked as he too walked in.
"Papa, dekhiyeh naa Maa kaise zabardasti kaar rahi hai mere saath Naina ke shaadi mein jaane ke liyeh," Prem complained.
Mr. Singh exchanged a look with Mrs. Singh.
"Aare beta, I'm sorry. Iss baar main kuch nahin kaar sakta. Tum toh aapni Maa ko jante ho. Ek baar koi plan dimag mein ghus jaye, toh woh khabi hatthi nahin," Mr. Singh said.
"Kaunsa plan?" Priya asked as she sat in a chair next to Prem's.
"Shaadi ka plan," Mr. Singh said.
"Kiski shaadi?" Manmeet asked.
"Prem ka," Mr. Singh said.
"Kya!?" all three of them yelled.
Mrs. Singh gave her husband that shut him up right away. She knew her son wouldn't agree to a marriage, which is why she wanted to keep it a surprise. That plan was clearly down the drain.
"Dekho Prem tum kuch nahin kahoge," Mrs. Singh ordered. "Tumhara MBA bhi complete hogaya, tum business bhi bohot aache tarha se sambhal rahe ho. Aab waqt aagaya hai tera shaadi karvadeh hum."
"Lekin Maa mujhe shaadi nahin karna hai," Prem said as he stood up.
"Kitne din akela rehga tu?" she asked.
"Main akela kahaan hoon?" Prem asked as he went and hugged his mother. "Aap saab ho naa mere paas."
"Batein banana band kaar. Iss baar tera ek nahin sunungi main. Shaadi wala ghar hoga, ek aachi ladki toh milhijayenge," Mrs. Singh said.
"Maa…" Prem began to complain.
"Aapni Maa ke liyeh itna nahin kaar sakta tu?" she asked.
Everyone in the room suppressed giggles while Prem groaned out loud. That was the one thing that Mrs. Singh needed to say to get Prem to do pretty much anything she wanted him to do.
"Tik hai Maa. Aap ke liyeh kuch bhi," Prem agreed.
Mrs. Singh turned to face Prem with a big, beaming smile spread across her face. She squeezed his cheek and said, "Haye, mera aacha beta!" Turning to her other children she said, "Kuch sikho aapne bade bhai se! Ek yeh hai ke mere liyeh kuch bhi karega, aur ek tum dono ho ke meri ek bhi baath nahin sunte."
Now it was Manmeet and Priya's turn to groan. They knew that as soon as their parents left the room Prem would give them his usual lecture about how lucky they are to have such wonderful parents. Blah, blah, blah is pretty much all they heard.
The next morning the family headed out to Amritsar for the wedding. It was the first time Prem was returning to Amritsar after he had moved out here to Mumbai with the Singh's. After moving to Mumbai, a part of him felt a twinge of pain at leaving behind his past and his memories. He felt like he owed it to himself to find out what had happened and who he was. However, he owed his life to the Singh's. Had it not been for them God knows where Prem would have ended up. After moving to Mumbai he had been able to adjust into a life with the family. Slowly he had pushed back any memory of the incident and focused on his present, his family and his future.
However, as the plane they were in began its final descent, an uneasiness settled over Prem. It was an odd feeling that he just couldn't seem to shake even after they had reached the farmhouse where the wedding was going to be held. Prem busied himself with work that needed to be done around the house. The rest of the week passed in much the same manner, except for the one day he went shopping with Mrs. Singh to pick out his clothing for the wedding.
It was the night of the sangeet and Prem, like all the other men were forced to seclude themselves on the lawn since the function was for ladies only. Prem, Manmeet and a few of the other men were just kicking around a soccer ball when some of the guests began to leave. He watched as a BMW pulled up to the drive way and four women walked out.
"Veera, dekh naa ke Heer kahaan hai," one of them said.
When the woman mentioned the name 'Heer', Prem felt his heat give a funny jump. However, Prem pushed that feeling aside as he watched the youngest girl of the group head back inside.
"Heer ko lane ke liyeh thanks," Naina's mother said to the older woman.
"Aap toh Heer ko jante hi hai, khabi ghaar se nikalti hi nahin. Aagar yeh Naina ki sangeet nahin hoti toh woh khabi nahin aati aaisi function mein," another one said.
Prem went back to his game with the other boys and stopped paying attention to what the women were talking about.
"Thank you for coming beta," Naina's mom said again.
"Aare aunty, iss mein thanks kis baath ki? Mujhe toh aana hi tha," someone said.
Prem immediately stopped what he was doing. That voice, it sounded so familiar. Prem turned his head in the direction that the voice was coming in but couldn't see the person who had just spoken. She was hugging Naina's mother and then got into the waiting car so quickly that he only managed to get a glimpse of the side of her face. The windows of the car were tinted so he couldn't see through them.
As the car drove off, Prem once again brushed off the odd feeling he felt when he heard that voice. However, try as he might, that voice and that name refused to leave him. The rest of the night he kept thinking about that name and kept hearing the sound of her voice ringing in his ears. That entire night he couldn't sleep, every time he closed his eyes the voice played in his ears. It was early morning when he finally dozed off after sheer exhaustion.
"Prem," Mrs. Singh called.
Prem woke up groggily and glanced at the clock on his wall, he had only been sleeping for three hours. "Haan Maa, kya baath hai?"
"Haila, yeh kya hal banake rakha hai? Sari raath soya nahin kya?" she asked as she picked up some clothes that was cluttered on the floor.
"Nahin Maa, tik se soh nahin paya," Prem answered.
"Oh ho Prem Bhaia," Priya said as she jumped on the bed where Prem still lay. "Kahin kissi ladki ka chakar toh nahin hai?"
Prem was already deep in thought and didn't answer.
"Oh my God Maa, lagta hai ke ladki ka chakar hai!" Priya yelled.
"Priya chup kaar! Aaisi koi baath nahin hai. Kyun Prem?" Mrs. Singh asked. "Aagar aaisi baath hoti toh saab se pehle mera beta mujhse kahega. Hai naa?"
Still Prem was lost in his thoughts.
"Prem?" Mrs. Singh called out. Finally he looked. "Kahaan khogaye ho? Kher chodo. Ut jaao, ghaar mein pooja hai."
"Baas abhi aaya," Prem said as he staggered off of the bed and headed towards the bathroom.
After the pooja was done and breakfast was served Prem went off to help get the mandap ready for the wedding. He worked all through the afternoon only stopping for lunch when everyone else did. He would have kept working had it not been for Mrs. Singh who insisted that he go and take a nap because he looked sleep deprived. Prem agreed only too happily.
He went up to his room and laid out on the recliner to take a short nap. It was no more than five minutes later that Priya came bursting in.
"Sorry Bhaia maine aapko disturb kiya. Woh kya hai naa ke MB phirse mere peeche padgaye aur mujhe padne nahin deh raha hai. Main, yahin pe bait jaun?" she asked.
"Haan, bait jaa," Prem said.
At the age when most girls were running after their parents for latest fashion clothing, makeup and other odd things, Priya was running after her parents and him for books. To say that she was a book worm as an understatement. She loved reading. If you caught her without a book, you'd be lucky. Not that Prem was complaining. When most girls were running after boys, Priya was running to the bookstore. It made Prem's life a whole lot easier. He'd be no good to his family if he was sitting in jail for killing some highschool loser who hit on his sister.
Manmeet on the other hand was like all older brothers – out to annoy his younger sister. The only reason Manmeet wasn't in the room now harassing Priya right now was because this was Prem's room and he knew better.
Prem closed his eyes and tried to sleep as Priya got comfortable on his bed and began to read. One habit of Priya's that Prem usually loved was the fact that whenever she listened to music, she hummed aloud to whatever was playing. Prem would have enjoyed it now, except the humming was keeping him from falling asleep. Prem was about to say something to Priya when the tune caught his ear. It sounded so familiar, but he couldn't place it.
"Sweetie, kya sun rahi hai tu? Hindi gaana hai?" Prem asked as he sat up straight.
"Nahin Bhaia, English hai. Woh Suhani hai naa, usne kaha tha ke bohot hi aacha gaana hai," Priya said. "Kyun? Koi problem?"
"Zaara yahaan aana," Prem said.
Priya came over and handed Prem her earphones.
"Start from the beginning," Prem ordered.
"Magar…"
"Priya, joh keh raha hoon woh hi kaar!" Prem suddenly yelled.
"Ji Bhaia," Priya said as she started the song from the beginning. Prem had said her name, it was best to not ask questions.
Prem listened as the music began slowly with the sound of violins. Then the singer came on, and he took in the lyrics.
Find me here
And speak to me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That is leading me
To the place where
I find peace again
You are the strength
That keeps me walking
You are the hope
That keeps me trusting
You are the life to my soul
You are my purpose
You're everything
"Gaane ka naam kya hai?" he asked frantically.
"Everything, by Lifehouse," Priya replied.
And how can I
Stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me
How could it be
Any better than this
As the song played, Prem was suddenly reminded of the name he heard at the party the night before – Heer – he also began to hear her voice in his head again. Then, like a ton of bricks it all came rushing back. Like the song said – everything – everything came rushing back.
You calm the storms
You give me rest
You hold me in your hands
You won't let me fall
You steal my heart
And you take my breath away
Would you take me in
Would you take me deeper now
And how can I
Stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me
How could it be
Any better than this
He remembered his name, he remembered his mother, he remembered his childhood, but above all else, he remembered Heer – his Heer.
And how can I
Stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me
How could it be
Any better than this
Cause you're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything
Everything
He remembered seeing her for the first time on the playground of their old school. He remembered helping her with the bullies. He remembered the first time they talked, the first time they held hands, the first time they hugged and the first time they kissed.
You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything
Everything
He remembered sneaking into her room to see her. He remembered taking care of her when she was sick. He remembered crying on her shoulder when his mother died. He remembered her face, her voice, her smell, her smile and her beauty.
You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything
Everything
He remembered running away with her. He remembered marrying her. He remembered her red shaadi ka joda, her mangalsutra and the sindoor he placed in her mang.
You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything
Everything
He remembered that night, the night she was taken from him. He remembered the storm. He remembered the ambush. He remembered the pain and the tears. He remembered saying that he loved her. He remembered the feeling of her fingers slipping out of his hand. He remembered losing her.
"Heer," Prem called out in a barely audible whisper.
Prem raced out of the room looking for Mrs. Singh as Priya called out after him. Prem was running all through the house yelling "Maa!" as he went.
"Kya hai?" Mrs. Singh finally called from the kitchen. She came towards him with flower all over her hands.
"Maa aap mere saath aaiyeh," Prem said as he grabber her arm and pulled her along with him.
"Pehle haath toh doh loon," she said.
Prem didn't stop until the reached the secluded library.
"Prem kya kaar rahe ho?" Mrs. Singh asked.
"Maa, Heer kaun hai?" Prem asked.
"Kaun Heer?" Mrs. Singh asked confused.
"Woh, ek ladki thi kaal sangeet mein."
"Oh, woh. Woh toh Naina ki saheli hai. Bechari, itni si umar mein kya kya sehna pada usse," Mrs. Singh said.
"Matlab?"
"Heer baas 24 saal ki hai, aur iss umar mein vidva bangayi hai. Shaadi ke din hi uske paati ka mauth hogaya tha."
"Uske paati ka naam?" Prem asked. He could feel his pulse begin to race.
"Umm…mujhe yaad nahin."
"Maa, please, yaad kihiyeh. Please," Prem pleaded.
"Kya tha…umm…haan!" Mrs. Sing said as she remembered. "Uska naam Pr…" suddenly her voice died down "…uska naam Prem tha."
Hearing Mrs. Singh say that validated everything that Prem had remembered and validated everything he was feeling. Tears formed in his eyes as he said, "Main hi uska Prem hoon, Maa. Main hi uska Prem hoon."
"Kya?" Mrs. Singh said.
"Mujhe saab kuch yaad aayga Maa. Saab kuch. Main hi Heer ka Prem hoon," he said over and over again.
"Hey bagwan," Mrs. Singh said.
"Mujhe abhi usse milna hai. Abhi!" Prem said as he headed towards the door.
"Prem ruk jao! Tum toh yeh bhi nahin jaante ke woh rehti kahaan hai," Mrs. Singh called after him
"Mujhe saab kuch paata hai Maa." That was the last thing that Prem said as he raced out of the house.
"Manmeet!" Mrs. Singh called. "Jaldi jaa. Prem ke peeche jaa! Jaldi!"
Manmeet raced off after his brother not asking any questions. He could hear the worry and fear in his mother's voice. Questions could be answered later.
Prem didn't even bother to take a taxi or rikshaw, he ran the entire way to Heer's house. As he came up to the main gate he stopped. He knew that he couldn't just waltz in like he owned the place. Then he remembered the back pathway that he used to use when he snuck in to see Heer all those years ago. He quietly found that path again and snuck in. He didn't realize Manmeet was behind him. Prem peaked into Heer's room to find it empty but then he heard a soft chuckle and the patter of feet.
Suddenly, a chubby and unstable little girl ran into Heer's room displaying a sweet smile. Prem immediately hid and nearly knocked Manmeet over in the process.
"Tu yahaan…" Prem began to say to Manmeet but stopped when he heard the voice again.
"Preeti, badmash kahaan chupi hai tu," it came.
Then she appeared. His Heer, in front of his eyes after four long years. How could he have not remembered her? How?
"Massi," the little girl called.
Prem watched and Heer fell onto her bed as she tickled the little girl until she was pink. Hearing the girl call Heer massi, made Prem realize that this was Maya Bhabi's little girl. She had to be three years old or so. The girl managed to get out of Heer's grasp and toddled over to her dressed. Opening one of the drawers she pulled out a red velvet box. Immediately Heer was on her feet. She took the box from the child, sat on the stool in front of the dressed and pulled the girl onto her lap.
"Yeh kya hai tum jaante ho?" Heer asked the child. "Yeh meri mangalsutra hai, joh tumhare Mausa ne mujhe diya tha."
"Ooh," the child cooed.
"Tum jaante ho ke tumhare Mausa ke saath tumhara ek bohot hi gehra rishta hai. Tumhara naam Preeti hai kyun ke uska naam Prem tha. Prem matlab pyaar aur pyaar ka dusra naam Preet hai," Heer explained. "Aagar woh aaj yahaan hote toh tumse bohot pyaar karta."
"Mausa," the girl repeated as she gently touched the mangalsutra that was nestled in the box.
The girl was adorable. No, not girl – her name was Preeti.
"Chalo, sone ka waqt hogaya hai," Heer said as she closed the box and put it away where it belonged.
Heer laid down with Preeti next her. She began to pat Preeti gently and hummed soothingly. Prem watched Preeti put a finger in her mouth and dozed off. He watched as Heer took a blanket and covered her little body. It was then, when Heer got up and adjusted her saree in front of the mirror that reality dawned on Prem.
There she was, his beautiful bride – dressed in white. He couldn't believe his eyes. To this day, she was mourning his death when he wasn't even dead. At an age when she should be adorned with colors and jewelry, she was dressed in plain, blank clothing. At an age when all she should know is happiness and joy, there were tears and pain in her eyes. Prem nearly jumped through the window to go to her, but was stopped when Veera entered.
"Didi, Maya Bhabi aapko bula rahi hai," she said.
"Tik hai, main jaar rahi hoon, tu yahaan Preeti ke paas bait," Heer said as she walked out.
Prem had seen enough. Both him and Manmeet climbed down. They were about to leave when from the corner of his eye Prem saw a car pull up to the house and four men climbed out – the Maan men. Prem's blood began to boil as he clenched his hands into fists. He took one step forward but then felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Bhaia, kya kaar rahe ho?" Manmeet asked.
Now was not the time of place Prem realized. "Kuch nahin, chal," he ordered.
Once they reached home, both Mr. & Mrs. Singh were waiting for them in the library. Before anything else, Mr. Singh examined Prem. He explained how sometimes all it took was one trigger to set off a domino effect that caused the memories to come flooding back. For Prem, that trigger had been the song that played as he shared his first dance with Heer.
It was after the exam, that Prem explained everything to his family. He told them about his humble life with his mother. He told them about Heer and their love. He told them about the Maan family and how they had taken away everything for the sake of money. He told his family how the Maan's had tried to pawn off their daughter for monetary gain.
There was no way that Prem was going to let the Maan men get away with what they had done. That night he sat and put together an elaborate plan for the Maan's. It was a plan that would be hard to carry out but would pay off in the end. It was be a plan that they would never see coming.
His new family was only more than happy to help. The Singh family agreed to shift their lives to Amritsar. Mrs. Singh would open her own practice there while Mr. Singh looked after new branches of their company. Prem was beyond thankful to him because he agreed to put his medical practice on hold for Prem. He had said that Prem was his son, and for his sons happiness he'd do anything. It was at that moment that Prem thought about Veera. She was sixteen now and soon her father and brothers would be after her to get married. Prem couldn't let his Chulbulli's life go up in flames like Heer's did. That is when he thought of Manmeet.
Manmeet was a sweet boy, who was honest and loving. Prem couldn't force Manmeet to marry Veera; all he asked was for Manmeet to get to know her. This is where Priya agreed to attend the same high school that Veera attended. Once Priya and Veera were friends, Manmeet would have an excuse to get closer to Veera.
Prem's soul duty was to build a completely new business empire that would catch the eye of the Maan's. He had to spread the word that this young, new business tycoon was razing all kinds of hell as he reached for the top of the corporate empire. What worked the best to Prem's advantage was that none of the men in that house knew what he looked like. They had only seen him in passing for a few seconds and then on that fateful night four years ago, he doubted they even remembered that.
That night Prem once again snuck into Heer's room where she slept. Carefully, not making a single sound he sat in a chair next to her bed. He just stared at her. She hadn't changed much – she was still the most beautiful girl in the world. She still had the same smile that could light up even the darkest room. She still made his heart skip a beat. However, one thing had changed – she no longer had that warm spark in her eyes. To Prem, her eyes seemed dead and unfeeling, much like how she must have felt. All he wanted to do was hug her and tell her that he was back. All he wanted to do was make her happy again. All he wanted was her.
However, he couldn't do that. As badly as he wanted do take Heer and go some place no one could find them, he wanted revenge more. He wanted revenge on the Maan men, not for what they had done to him, but for what they had done to his Heer. How dare they make her shed even one single tear? How dare they cause for her to lead a colorless and miserable life? How dare they hurt her? How dare they!? The Maan's were going to pay. They were going to pay with tears. They were going to pay with blood. They were going to pay with what they held dear the most – their money.
Prem left Heer's room after placing a soft kiss on her forehead. He had a mission to complete, and until it was accomplished he would not show his face to Heer. It was tike to implement the plan.
Prem needed a new alias. What was he going to call himself? Then like an angel, Heer gave him the answer. In one day Prem went from being Prem Singh, back to Prem Jhuneja. That night, at the moment, he went from Prem Jhuneja to Preet Mehta. Heer had been right; Prem and Preet are one in the same.
*~* Back to Present *~*
Prem further explained how starting the very next day. Lucky for him Singh Industries was a big time business corporation and the Singh's were trusted and respected throughout the business world. It didn't take them but a few hours in one meeting to convince all of their partners and fellow business associates to go along with their plan. Of course, the various companies were reimbursed in the form of having guaranteed contracts with Singh Industries for the duration of this period. Everyone was only too happy to accept.
And so, three years ago, began the biggest con ever in the Indian business industry. Three years ago Preet Mehta entered the scene with nothing but raves and success. Three years ago, even though they didn't know it yet, the Maan's had lost everything that mattered to them.
"Aaj, theen saal baad main kamyab hua hoon," Prem announced with a smirk on his face. The pleasure of accomplishing his goal was evident in his eyes. "Kyun, aab kuch kehne ko nahin raha?" Prem asked his three brother-in-laws.
Of course, no one had any response.
"Prem, jaise tum samaj rahe ho, vaise nahin hai?" Heer said.
"Kya matlab?"
"Matlab ke saath saal pehle joh kuch bhi hua tha, uss mein meri bhaiyoon ka koi dosh nahin tha," Heer said.
"Yeh tum kaise keh sakte ho?" Prem asked in his state of shock. Was Heer really making excuses for her horrid brothers?
"Joh bhi hua saab ek ghalti thi," she said.
"Nahin Heer nahin! Kuch ghalat nahin tha. Saab kuch ek soochi samji chal thi. Inke batoon mein maat aao."
"Haan chal thi, lekin inka nahin, Bauji ka."
"Kya?" Prem asked.
Heer then went on to explain what had really happened seven years ago. She told him about her brothers willingness to help them be together, she told him about her fathers ultimatum – she told him about it all. At the end, Prem stood speechless and utterly disgusted.
"Ek…ek admi aaisa kaise kaar sakta hai? Woh bhi aapni biwi aur bachoon ke saat?" he asked.
"Hume maaf kardena," Rishab said with his hands folded him front of him. "Humare vaje se tum dono ko kya kya sehna pada."
"Aare yeh aap kya kaar rahe hai," Prem said holding Rishab's hands. "Joh bhi hua aap logoon ki baas ek ghalti thi. Aagar main aap ke jaga hota toh main bhi vahin karta. Maa ki aur behen ki ehmiyat kya hai, woh mujhe paata hai."
"Balraj ne aaisa kyun kiya?" Teji asked herself.
As if on cue, in walked Balraj – from the look on his face, he was not too happy. A crooked smile played on Prem's face because he knew exactly why Balraj Maan was in such a foul mood.
"What is the meaning of this?" Balraj yelled as he threw a file on the center table. "Aapne aapko kya samajte ho Preet Mehta!?"
Balraj went on to explain how he spent the last few hours at his lawyers office attempting to gain all of Mehta Industries. According to the contract Preet had signed over 100% of Mehta Industries to Balraj. However, when his lawyer went to make all the necessary arrangements to get everything officially in Balraj's name, he ran into a problem.
"Mere sawaloon ka jawab doh Preet Mehta!?" Balraj ordered.
Prem walked over to Balraj with a glint in his eyes. "Jaab koi Preet Mehta hi nahin hai, toh Mehta Industries kahaan se aayega?" he asked.
"Kya matlab?"
"Matlab yeh Bauji," Prem teased, "ke main Preet Mehta nahin hoon."
"Toh phir, kaun ho tum?" Balraj asked confused.
"Main? Main woh hoon jisko aap aapni beti di hai. Main woh hoon jiska aap saab se bohot purana rishta hai. Main woh hoon joh aapki barbadi hai." Prem leaned in close to Balraj's ear before he whispered, "Main…Prem Jhuneja hoon."
Balraj turned white, like he had seen a ghost. Of course, he had just seen a ghost. In his eyes Prem was dead.
"Nahin! Tum…nahin. Kaise…" his voice trailed off.
As Prem reiterated the entire story, Balraj sank into a chair next to him. Prem also informed him that starting tomorrow, any and all companies that Maan Industries had contracts with would be pulling out and terminating the agreements. By the end of the week Maan Industries would be nothing but a memory of what had once been a staggering empire.
"Baas itna hi nahin aur bhi hai," Prem teased. "Aap ko Heer aur Veera se nafrat issiliyeh hai naa kyun ke woh dono ladkiyaan hai? Aapko yehi lagta hai naa ke aurtein useless hai? Toh mera ek aur baath bhi sunlijiyeh. Mere naam joh kuch bhi hai…business, properties, bank accounts…saab…Heer ke naam pe hai. Mere paas toh ek photi kaudi bhi nahin hai, lekin aapki iss beti karorpati hai."
"Kya!?" Balraj said in outrage.
"Maine bhi aapna saab kuch Veera ke naam pe kardiya hai," Manmeet announced shocking their audience even more.
"Bechara Bauji aab toh aapke paas kuch bhi nahin hai. Kya hoga aapka?" Prem asked. "Yahaan tak ke yeh ghaar bhi aapka nahin hai. Yeh ghaar Heer ka hai."
Suddenly like a ton of bricks hitting him, Balraj was stunned. Balraj had originally purchased the house in Heer's name, only at Teji's insistence. Shortly after Heer was born Balraj's business began to really take off. That is why, when the bought this house, Teji asked Balraj to put their home in Heer's name – after all, she was the lakshmi of the house. Balraj had given in to Teji's request – he didn't know why. But no he realized that he had never fixed it and put it in his name.
"Tum kya samajte ho aapne aapko?" Teji asked.
Balraj looked at his wife shocked. "Tum?" She had never addressed him like that.
"Haan tum!" Teji yelled. "Aaj tumhare liyeh mere dil mein koi jaaga nahin hai, aur akhoon mein izzat bhi nahin. Aapni hi biwi aur beti ke saath tum aaisa kaise kaar sakte ho?"
"How dare you question me?" Balraj roared.
"Oh shut up!" Teji roared back. "Tum shayad bhul gaye ho ke khabi tum bhi Prem the. Khabi tumhare paas bhi kuch nahin tha. Tum bhul rahe ho ke joh business empire tumne banaya hai woh tumne mere naam pe banaya hai."
Everyone stood shocked at seeing Teji like this. The stood confused at what she was saying.
"Tum bhul rahe ho ke main Vikram Oberio ki beti thi. Paaisa mere paas the, tumhare nahin. Izzat meri thi, tumhara nahin. Business mera tha, tumhara nahin. Mere pyaar ke saamne meri Bauji toh jhuk gaye. Meri kushi ke liyeh unhone saara business tumhe deh diya. Tum bhul sakte ho lekin main nahin," Teji said.
Teji explained how before turning into Maan Industries, the company was called Oberoi Co. Teji had fallen in love with a boy who was not from their society or class. However, for the sake of his daughters love and happiness Vikram Oberio had happily turned over the reins over to Balraj. When Teji asked him why he gave it all, he said that he built all of this for her and if it helps her husband then that is just fine with him.
"Tum shayad aapna ateet bhul sakte ho lekin main nahin. Aaj bhi log Vikram Oberoi ka izzat karte hai. Aur main vaada karti hoon, ke aagar maine aur mere bachoone tumhe sadak paar lekar aayenge. Aagar maine aaisa nahin kiya, toh mera naam bhi Teji Oberoi nahin," she threatned.
Everyone was stunned to see the usually quiet and reserved Teji fighting with all she had. Looks like the saying is true, don't mess with a mother and her children. If you do, she will attack and no one will be spared.
"Now get out!" Teji ordered.
"Aab aap jaane ki kasht karenge. Ya phir main dhake marke aapko bahar nikaloon?" Prem asked.
"Tum aaisa nahin kaar sakte!" Balraj said.
"Kaise nahin kaar sakta? Main toh kaar chukka hoon," Perm said.
Prem and Manmeet literally pushed a screaming and frustrated Balraj out of the house. After instructing the guards to never let this man within even 300 yards of the house, they returned to the family. First thing Prem did was go and take ashirwad from Teji.
"Maya, pooja ki thali la," Teji ordered.
"Kyun Maa?" Veera asked.
"Humare ghaar ka bada damad pehli baar ghaar aaya hai, swagat toh karna hi padega," Teji said.
Teji did Prem's arti and blessed both him and Heer. The entire family watched with smiled on their faces and tears in their eyes. After all these years Heer was happy, after all these year a miracle had taken place. Taking Prem's hand she placed Heer's hand in it.
"Tumhari amanat, sambhalke rakhna," she said.
Heer hugged her mother as tears sprang to her eyes.
Suddenly the room erupted in laughter. Looking around, Heer saw Veera gathered on the couch with their three Bhabi's laughing their butts off.
"Itna haans kyun rahe ho?" Rishab asked.
"Woh…" Kulraj began to say but continued to laugh.
"Aare hume bhi batana," Nihaal said.
"Woh…Manmmet…" Veera began but she too fell into another fit of laughter along with the other ladies.
"Kya hua Manmeet ko?" Heer asked.
Veera got up and walked to where her husband, Manmeet, stood with her brothers.
"Tumhara naam…" Veera laughed, "…tumhara naam Mannu hai!"
As Manmeet cringed everyone else burst into laughter. Heer tried to fight it but couldn't, she too laughed whole heartedly.
"Tum kyun haans rahi ho?" Manmeet asked Veera. "Tumara kitne naam hai. Chulbulli aur Chutki. Ha!"
"Dono naam bohot cute hai. Mannu toh…kissi lallu ka naam hona chahiyeh," Veera said.
Meher finally piped in saying "Mannu the Lallu!"
That was it, everyone was laughing so hard that they had tears in their eyes.
"Yeh kya kiya aapne Bhaia?" Manmeet asked Prem.
"Sorry Mannu," Prem said as he ruffled Manmeet's hair.
The rest of the night went off with everyone getting reacquainted with each other. Prem was introduced to all the new members of the Maan family. He talked to Heer's brothers about setting up their own businesses. He joked around with her sister-in-law's and played with the kids.
The entire time, Heer held onto his hand, not once letting go. It was like she feared that if she let go, he would disappear.
As they all sat down for dinner Prem leaned in and whispered, "Aab toh haat chodo, main kahin nahin jaaunga."
"Nahin, main nahin chodungi. Tum phirse chale gaye toh?" Heer asked.
"Maine kahaan naa. Jis duniya mein Heer zinda hai, uss duniya ko chodkar Prem kahin nahin jayega. Aab humesha tumhare akhoon ke samne rahunga," Prem promised as he kissed her forehead.
Heer once again traced the angry looking scar on Prem's face. "Bohot dard hua hoga naa?" she asked.
"Nahin, isska toh bilkul dard nahin hua. Dard hua to hiss baath pe ke main tumse door hoon," Prem said. "Inn saath saloon mein tumhe laga tha ke main iss duniya mein nahin hoon."
"Haan, bohot muskil se maine uss baath se samjota kar liya tha," Heer said.
"Mera soocho. Tum mere itne karib hokar bhi tumse door rehna pada. Yeh jaante hue bhi ke tumhare daard ka dawa main hoon, main kuch nahin kar paaya. Usska daard mujhe haar roz chubta tha. Pichle theen saal maine kaise guzra hai baas main jaanta hoon aur Bagwan jaanta hai. Bheer mein bhi tanha tha main."
"Aur main, tumhare bina mera hai hi kya? Tumhare bina kissi ka kuch maine nahin tha. Main bhi toh tanha thi," Heer added. Tears sprang to her eyes as she rememberd how much she had missed him.
"No more crying," Prem said as she wiped her tears. "Main aayga hoon naa? Aab tumhari zindagi mein koi tanhai nahi hogi. I promise."
That night Heer cried, like she did almost every night, except this night was different. This night she didn't cry tears of pain, she cried tears of happiness and joy. For the first time in a long time Heer looked forward to the dawning of a new day because, with Prem by her side once again, she knew everything would be alright.
He was hers forever. She would never be lonely again.
The End
JAZ
ps: ill be waiting for all the comments to be updated before i post the epilogue...and if you wanna see Premeer romance after all this tragedy...best update your comments...😉
😉
Sports
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Cricket
Hindi TV Shows
CID
