Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai - 30 Aug 2025 EDT
MAIRA KNOWS 30.8
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai - 31 Aug 2025 EDT
CASE IN COURT 31.8
Vicky says Katrina hates ‘honest feedbacks’ about her acting but…..
Why Sidharth Malhotra films flop! Guess with the hint written in this
Queen 2 Tanu Weds Manu 3 Get Rolling
Anupamaa 31 Aug 2025 Written Update & Daily Discussions Thread
Unseen bollywood pics
CID episode 75 - 30th August
Anupamaa completes FIVE Years !! Fifth Anniversary Celebrations
BALH Naya Season EDT Week #12: Sept 1 - Sept 5
24 years of Lajja
The Curry-ous Readers 🍛 Book Talk Reading Challenge September 2025
The Naan -Stop Readers 🫓📚| BT Reading Challenge || September 2025
7 Years Later
"Nahin Bhaia, nahin! Usse maat maro! Woh marajyega!"
The tortured wail echoed through the palatial mansion that was home to the Maan family. It was only in the dark hours of the night that this call could be heard. Yet, of the eleven other family members living in the house, no one bothered to check what was going on. This was not an uncommon disturbance in the Maan household; it had been taking place for the past seven years. At first when it used to happen everyone would rush to her room, but over the years, they had learned to ignore her cries. Over the years the family members had to accept the fact that this recurring nightmare, which they had caused, was part of her life.
Alone in her room, the oldest of the Maan daughters shot up in her bed gasping for air. Her eyes were red and brimming with tears, her forehead was drenched in perspiration and her entire body was shivering. As reality slowly, yet surely, dawned on her the tears fell from her eyes. She tried to compose herself by repeating that it was only a dream – no, a nightmare. It was a nightmare that took place seven years ago – it was a nightmare that could not be reversed.
She leaned her head back against the head board of her bed and listened to the wind howling outside her window. It was the same wind, the same high pitched howl that she had heard on that fateful night seven years ago. It was the same wind that reoccurred on this night for the past seven years, only to completely disappear by day break. It was also the same rain that fell that night. The same drenching, pounding rain that mixed with her tears that night, just like it had for the past seven years. This year it would be no different. Her cries were drowned out by the wind and her tears were accompanied by the rain – just like they had been on that night seven years ago.
*~*Flash Back*~*
(7 years ago)
She had gotten up early that day, earlier than usual, because it was very special day. Once she had showered and changed into a simple pink churidar she proceeded down the stairs. Just like any other morning her family was still asleep, or barely getting up. What was she going to do with them? She was the youngest in the family, after her 12 year old sister Veera, yet she was almost always the first to rise. She knew what she had to do to get everyone down here. Pulling her dupatta over her head, she proceeded to the mandir that was nestled at the center of her home. Lighting the diyas and placing the fresh flowers by the God's, she began singing the hymn that she knew would call to each of her family members.
She had been right. Less than 2 minutes later she could feel her parents, her three brothers and their wives and even the servants of the household, all gathered around the mandir for the morning pooja. She didn't have to look back to know that the only person missing was little Veera, she never woke up before 11am on any day that wasn't a school day, no matter what happened.
Once she finished singing the hymn and doing the pooja, she turned around so everyone could take the aarti. She first went to her oldest brother Rishab and his wife, Kulraj. Next came her brother Nihaal and his wife Meher, followed by her youngest-older brother, Harman and his wife Maya. Lastly she went to her parents, first to her father, Balraj Maan and lastly to her mother, Teji Maan. She was putting the pooja ki thali down as everyone began to walk away, off to begin their daily routines. She quickly went and hugged her mother from behind, squeezed her tight and kissed her on the cheek.
"Happy birthday Maa!" she yelled, causing everyone to stop in their tracks and turn back.
Her mothers smiled and patter her cheek as she said, "Thank you beta."
"Kya Bauji aap bhi naa," Harman began to say. "Aaj Maa ka janamdin hai aur aap ne hume bataya hi nahin."
"Kaam se kaam yaad toh dena chahiye tha," said Rishab from behind.
Balraj looked like a deer caught in head lights as Teji turned to face him with a raised eyebrow. "Um…woh…main toh…." Balraj as so flabbergasted that he stuttered his words.
"Tere Bauji ko khud yaad rahe, taab tum saab ko batayega naa," Teji said.
"Teji, woh main…" Balraj began to say as he looked down and scratched his head.
"Rehne dijiyeh, mujhe koi bahana nahin chahiyeh," she said. "Kissi aur ko yaad rahe naa rahe, meri Heer ko humesha yaad rehti hai."
Heer puffed her chest out in pride and asked, "Iss ka kya matlab hua?"
"Kya?" Meher asked.
"Iss ka matlab yeh hai Bhabi, ke iss ghaar mein, saab se zyada paar main Maa se karti hoon!" Heer announced as she hugged her mother again. "Ek aur matlab bhi hai."
"Aur woh kya hai?" Nihaal asked.
"Woh yeh hi ke saab se zyada pyaar Maa mujhse karti hai," Heer said.
"Aaisa kyun?" Maya asked.
"Aaisa iss liyeh Bhabi kyun ke zaara soochiyeh…theen theen bete hai Maa ke paas, lekin ek ko bhi yaad nahin raha ke aaj Maa ka janamdin hai!" she said with a childish smile on her face.
She could see her brother's turn red with shame and pretend to hit her as all three of them swung their hands in the air as if aiming right for her head or cheeks, and she head her Bhabi's all break out into a quiet fit of laughter.
"Mere pyaare Bhabi's, aap bhi kuch kaam nahin hai," Heer said.
"Kyun, kyun? Woh kyun?" Kulraj asked.
"Kuyn ke ghaar mein theen theen bahuein hai. Lekin aap theeno mein se, kissi ko bhi yaad nahin raha," Heer said as she winked her eyes at them.
Now it was her brothers turn to laugh and for her sister-in-laws to look at her in horror.
"Heer ki baachi! Ther, aaj tujhe main nahin chodungi!" Maya yelled as she began chasing Heer around the house.
Maya was her youngest Bhabi, she was also the one that Heer was closest to. Maya was older than Heer by four years, and more than a sister-in-law, she was like the older sister Heer never had. She could talk to Maya for hours on end, she told Maya every detail about her life – she trusted Maya, like she trusted only one other person. Of course, that is not to say that Kulraj and Meher were not great, because they were. But for some reason, Heer had a closer relationship with Maya than anyone else in the house, aside from her mother.
Soon everyone else dispersed with the intent of getting on with the day. Her mother and Maya had headed towards the kitchen to get breakfast going for the family, as the two older bahu's headed upstairs to pry their children awake. Rishab and Kulraj had a darling 5 year old boy named Ketan, while Nihaal and Meher had 3 year old twin girls, Roshni and Diya. Harman and Maya didn't have any children, yet. The men went off to read the paper and make some business calls as the servants brought them chai. However, it was Heer who had the toughest job of the entire household – waking up Veera. Heer would rather wake up and help get her nephew and nieces ready any day, and let someone else handle Veera. She had tried repeatedly to barging with someone to take that job, but everyone knew how hard it was so no one dared take her up on the offer.
It took Heer nearly 45 minutes to get Veera out of bed and into the shower. All that talking, pushing and prodding – Heer felt like she could use a cold shower! She ran to her room and set her hair, which had finally dried, before returning to join the women in the kitchen. As Heer descended the stairs she saw flowers being put up, the hall being decorated, the servants running around in chaos – so much was going on. Even her father and all three brothers were gathered in the sitting area looking like they were in a very serious discussion. Heer reached the dining table where her mother sat cutting apples and various other fruits as her Bhabi's set the table. Heer grabbed a slice of apple and bit in.
"Wah, bohot zooroon shoroon se tayariyaan chal raha hai. Kya baath hai. Aaj kuch khaas hai kya?" she asked.
"Maa ka janam din hai," Kulraj said, "Party toh honi hi chahiyeh. Kyun?"
"Of course!" Heer said as she hugged her mother. "Lekin Bhabi, aapko nahin lagta ke yeh kuch zyada hai?"
"Haan, lagta tho hai," Meher said.
"Phir aapne itne logoon ko kyun bulaya kaam karne ke liyeh. Maa ke janam din ke liyeh hum saab kafi hai naa?" Heer asked.
"Iss saab ka intezaam humne nahin, tumhare bhiayoon ne kiya hai," Maya announced.
"Toh aap unhi se pooch lete," Heer said.
All three of her Bhabi's stopped what they were doing and looked up at her with the same are-you-kidding-me look in their eyes.
"Tumhare bhaiyoon ne khabi humare sawal ka sida jawab diya hai?" Meher asked.
"Hmmm…" Heer sounded as she tried to come up with a moment.
"Nahin! Khabi nahin. Humesha ghuma phirake jawab dete hai," Kulraj said.
Just as Heer was about to say something else, from the corner of her eye she saw her father and her brothers all get up and approach the dining room table.
"Kuch khaane ko milega Badi Bahu?" Balraj asked.
"Ji Bauji, aap baitiyeh naa…khana lag gaya hai," Kulraj said just as all the men sat down.
"Bhaia…" Heer began to say as her brothers began to attack the fruits her mother had been cutting, "Aapko nahin lagta, ke yeh saab tayariyaan kuch zyada hai?"
"Nahin. Kyun?" Harman asked, as he stuffed an orange in his mouth.
"Mera matlab hai ke, Maa ke janam din ke liyeh…itni sari tayariyaan?"
Before anyone could answer Meher interrupted, "Aare Nihaal, jaake bachoon ke leka aao naa. Roshni aur Diya, Ketan ke saat TV room mein cartoon dekh rahe hai. Aur haan, Veera ko bhi. Paata nahin yeh ladki kahaan reh gayi hai?"
"Shayad bathroom mein phirse soh gayi hai," Kulraj teased as everyone laughed because it had happened quite a few times in the past.
Nihaal got up as did Harman, because through experience, they knew that tackling the 3 Maan grandchildren as no easy task.
"Heer tujhse kisne kaha ke yeh saab Maa ke birthday ke liyeh hai?" Harman called as he walked away.
"Phir?" Heer asked confused. "Yeh saab kis ke liyeh hai?"
"Aare pagli, yeh saab tere liyeh hai," Rishab said from the table.
All of the women gathered around the table stopped what they were doing and looked up at one another. No one was more confused than Heer as she tried to make sense of the comment.
"Mere liyeh? Mere liyeh kyun?" she asked.
What her brother, Nihaal, said next caused Heer's heart to skip a beat. "Kyun ke kaal Rajveer ke saath teri sagaai hai!"
Heer held her breath and tried not to panic. Immediately she looked at Maya who was already looking at her with remorse, confusion and sadness in her eyes. All other female eyes fixed on Heer as the attempted to process the information that had just been laid out.
"Didi ki sagaai hai kaal?" Veera said as she climbed down the stairs. "Kisse ne mujhe nahin bataya! Koi mujhse kuch nahin kehta. Ghaar ke saabse choti hoon naa, issi liyeh saab mujhe ignore karte hai!"
"Chutki chup!" Heer yelled. "Yeh aap kya keh rahe ho Bhaia? Meri sagaai? Woh bhi Rajveer ke saath?"
"Haan toh?" Rishab asked as he popped a grape into his mouth. "Usse mein kya kharabi hai? Aacha ladka hai, bohot bada business/karobaar hai. Aur uppar se Walia uncle ka beta hai. Tu toh usse janti hai."
"Bhaia woh baath nahin hai!" Heer yelled as she felt her mother put a cool hand on her arm, asking her to calm down without actually saying it.
"Phir baath kya hai?" Nihaal asked as he and Harman returned with the children.
"Baath yeh hai ke…ke main…" Heer glanced once again at Maya who discretely shook her head in the negative, because she knew what Heer wanted to say. "Baath yeh hai ke meri sagaai tai hogayi hai aur kissi ne mujhse poocha tak nahin!"
"Tujhse kyun poochenge?" Rishab asked.
"Zindagi meri hai Bhaia. Kya mujhe koi haq nahin hai aapni zindagi ke baare mein faisla karne?" Heer asked, as the rage insider her began to build.
It was then that her father, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke. "Humare parivaar mein, aaisa faisla humesha ghaar ke bade buzurg karte aaye hai."
"Lekin Bauji, zamana badal gaya hai," Heer tried to argue.
"Heer!" All three of her brothers yelled at the same time. "Yeh tu Bauji se kaise baatein kaar rahi hai?" Rishab finished.
"Zamana chahe jitna bhi badal le, humara yeh rivaz nahin badlega," he said in a strong tone and final tone.
"Magar Bauji…" Heer began to say, only to be silenced when her father held up on hand.
"Mujhe aur koi behes nahin chahiye!"
Heer was speechless for a second. Her frustration and anger was so pent up inside of her she couldn't see straight any more. "Main yeh sagaai nahin karungi!" she yelled as she ran up the stairs and slammed the door to her room.
Everyone at the table was quite for a minute or two – just quietly eating away like nothing had happened.
"Maya," Teji called.
"Ji Maa?"
"Kulraj aur Meher yahaan saab sambhal lenge. Tu jaake Heer ko dekh," Teji ordered.
Without another word Maya handed the bowl, out of which she was feeding Diya, over to Meher and silently traced the path that Heer had taken minutes ago.
Upstairs in her room, Heer had thrown herself on her bed and began crying. How could her family make such an important and huge decision about her life without so much as asking her opinion? Why were the men allowed to walk all over the women's lives? It wasn't something she had seen only happen with her – she had seen it happen countless times with her mother and sister-in-laws. They were just too nice and obedient to say something, but Heer was not. She had grown up and leaned to stand up for herself, to be confident and independent – all thanks to one person. This person had taught her how to respect herself so that others would also. This person had taught her to listen to her heart because it would never take her down the wrong path.
As she cried, Heer head the hinges on her door squeak as someone stepped in.
"Maa mujhe akela chod doh," Heer said, but her voice was muffled by the pillow against her face.
"Main hoon Heer," Maya called out softly as she closed the door.
Heer immediately sat up and turned around. "Bhabi…" she whispered as tears once again filled her eyes and spilled.
Maya was instantly at her side as she took into her arms. "Shh, nahin rote," she soothed.
"Bhabi yeh saab kya hai?" Heer asked. "Saabne itna bada kadam uthaya hai, lekin kissi ne mujhse poocha tak nahin?"
"Tum toh aapne bhaiyoon ko aur Bauji ko jaante ho naa," Maya said.
"Kya aap saab ko pata tha Bhabi?" Heer asked as she wiped her tears with her hand.
"Nahin, yakin mano hum arutoon ko kuch paata nahin tha."
"Lekin Bhabi, aap toh jaanti hai naa? Main yeh sagaai nahin kaar sakti!" Heer yelled. "Main toh kissi aur se…"
"Shh, jaanti hoon," Maya said as she gently stroked Heer's hair.
Heer pulled back from Maya as she sniffled. She looked into Maya's eyes and immediately her own eyes filled with tears. "Saab tik hojayega naa?"
Maya pulled Heer in for another hug, "Saab tik hojayega. Saab tik hojayega," Maya said. She didn't know who she was trying to convince more, herself or Heer.
------------------------------
It was almost 4 hours later when Heer finally came down. The only reason she came down is because she knew that until she had at least eaten something, neither her father nor her brothers would eat their lunch. If Heer had her way, she wouldn't have come down until she woke up from the nightmare she was sure she was having. As she once again made her way to the dining room table she hoped that preparations for her engagement would have died down or stopped altogether. When she reached the dining table she was surprised at what she found, or what she didn't find. Instead of the table surrounded by the male members of her family, the top of the table was covered in sweets – any kind you could think of, it was there. Looking towards the family room she saw her father and brothers engrossed in another conversation. The sight made Heer's stomach tie into a knot. She quietly approached them; once she was close enough she was disgusted as she heard them making a list of who they could invite to her wedding so they could build more network connections for their business. Heer lost all forethought, she lost all normalcy and she lost all common sense.
"Yeh kya kaar rahe hai aap log?" Heer asked as she grabbed one list out of Harman's hands. "Maine kahaa naa ke main yeh shaadi nahin karungi!" As she yelled, Heer began to tear up the piece of paper in her hand.
"Heer!" her father shouted.
By this time her mother and all three sister-in-laws had come running at all the commotion.
"Yeh shaadi koke rahegi!" Rishab yelled, "Tu chahe kuch bhi karle!"
"Nahin!" Heer yelled back just as loud. "Yeh shaadi nahin hogi! Nahin hogi yeh shaadi kyun ke…kyun ke main Prem se pyaar karti hoon!"
There, she had said it. The one, most important truth in her life, which she had hidden from her family for 13 years, was now out in the open. The one secret that she had guarded with all her life was finally common knowledge. The shocked gasps could be heard echoing in the hall as everyone stood stunned, rooted to their spots – all except Maya. Maya's eyes had no shock or surprise in them, instead her eyes were filled with fear – fear about what may happen next.
"Kya?" her mother finally asked.
"Haan Maa, main Prem se pyaar karti hoon. Prem Jhuneja se. Usske elava main kissi aur se shaadi nahin karungi." Turning to her father and brothers she said, "Sunna aapne, main kissi aur se shaadi nahin karungi!"
"Tu Prem se pyaar karti hai? Woh Prem, joh Mittal Uncle ke yahaan ke mamuli associate hai!?" Nihaal asked in sheer horror.
Heer didn't need to answer because she was positive they knew that the peon from Mittal Uncle's office was the same Prem that held her heart.
"Tu janta hai Prem ko?" Rishab asked as he turned to Nihaal.
"Aare Bhai, aap bhi jaante hai usse," Harman said. "Aapko yaad hai, kuch mahine pehle hum jaab ghaar aa rahe the toh ek taxi ke saath takar hogaya tha?"
"Haan toh?" Rishab asked.
"Woh ladka yaad hai, joh taxi wala ka saath deh raha tha? Woh hi toh hai Prem."
"Woh? Tu usse pyaar karti hai?" Rishab asked as he turned to face Heer.
Heer knew what incident her brothers were referring to. A few months back her brothers had been on their way home when they had an accident with a taxi. Her brothers and began to curse and beat up the taxi driver because they felt that the taxi driver braked suddenly on purpose to get money from them; they also blamed him for causing damages to their new Mercedes. Prem had been at a near by and seen everything. A little boy had run into the middle of the street after his ball. If the taxi driver hadn't slammed on the breaks he would have hit the boy. When Prem had tried to make her brothers understand that simple fact, her brothers had gotten into a heated argument with him. Before they knew it, the argument had turned into a fist fight – of course, her brothers had been the first to throw the punches.
"Tu usse shaadi nahin kargi!" Balraj yelled. "Aaj ke baad tu usse nahin milegi!"
Heer knew that this was coming, but it still hurt her to be face-to-face with her families inability to see beyond money and status where Prem was concerned.
"Samji tu?" Balraj yelled again.
"Magar Bauji…I love him Bauji," Heer said.
Before anyone said or did anything else, the sound of skin meeting skin reverberated across the room. Immediately Heer's right hand went up to her stinging cheek as she looked up as saw an enraged Rishab looking down on her.
"Rishab!" both Teji and Balraj called out at the same time.
"Kaal teri sagaai hai aur agle hafte shaadi!" he announced.
"Nahin Bhaia, nahin! Main uske bina nahin jee paunga. I love him Bhaia please!" Heer pleaded as she fell to Rishab's feel.
"Baas! Faisla hogaya hai!" Balraj yelled as he and his sons stormed out of the room, each going in a separate direction.
"I love him Bauji, I love him," Heer cried as she felt her body go limp on the floor.
Quickly Meher and Kulraj were at her side helping her up and attempting to comfort her as the guided her to her room. Maya helped Teji gather herself and settled her in the chair. Maya knew that Heer needed her and she would go – but first, there was something she needed to do.
------------------------------
Once her Bhabi's had got her settled in her room, they didn't bother her again. Heer could see in their eyes how sorry they felt for her, but she also saw how helpless they all were – there was nothing they could do now. Somehow, through all of her crying, Heer had managed to fall asleep. It wasn't until she heard a faint scratching at her bedroom window that she woke up. Glancing at her clock, she saw that I was 5pm. Cautiously she went to her window and moved the curtains to reveal a young man of only 20, smiling at her through the glass. It was Prem – her Prem, dressed in tattered jeans and an old t-shirt.
Heer threw the window's open and waited for him to be inside safely until she threw her arms around his neck and held on for dear life. Instantly the familiarity of his warmth and sent brought tears to her eyes. It was Saturday, not a day that he usually came because he knew everyone would be home. Heer had wanted to call him but her brothers had taken her phone from her so she had no other option.
"Heer? Kya hua?" Prem asked.
"Tum yahaan kaise?" she asked.
"Maya Bhabi ka phone aaya tha. Unho ne kahaa ke jitni jaldi hosake mujhe yahaan aana hoga. Woh, Mittal sahaab achaank aagaye issi liyeh dehr hogayi, varna main pehle aajata," he explained.
"Maya Bhabi ne?" Heer said as she finally lifted her head from his chest.
"Haan Maya Bha…" Prem stopped talking as he gently pushed away her hair revealing a still red hand print on her face. "Yeh kissne kiya?" he asked in an icy tone.
Heer didn't respond, knowing too well what the outcome would be if Prem found out.
"Heer yeh kissne kiya?" he asked. When she didn't answer he spoke again, "Tumhe meri kasam Heer. Tumpar kissne haath uthaya?"
"Woh…Rishab Bhaia ne…" Heer stuttered.
Immediately Prem made the move towards her door. His had was already on the knob when she stopped him. "Nahin Prem! Tum kuch nahin karoge!" Heer yelled.
"Heer, koi tumpar haat uthaye yeh main bardasht nahin karunga!" Prem roared quietly.
He moved again. Heer had to find a way to stop him.
"Prem tumhe meri kasam!" she yelled
That did it – he stopped.
"Lekin kyun? Bhaia aaisa kyun karenge?" Prem asked, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Woh…" Heer couldn't finish her sentence as someone jingled the knob of her door.
Both Prem and Heer's hearts stopped as the feared one of her brothers or her father would barge in. Instead, they were revealed when Maya walked in with something hidden behind her.
"Maya Bhaibi…aapne…" Heer wanted to ask why she called Prem but couldn't as Maya locked the door and spoke quickly and quietly.
"Dekho, humare paas waqt bohot kaam hai. Main kissi bhi tarha tumhare Bhaia aur Bauji ko sambhal lunga," Maya said. She pulled out the bundle she was hiding and revealed its contents. "Yeh mere kuch zevar hai aur kuch paise hai, joh maine jama kiye the. Isse tum leke jaao."
"Bhabi yeh kya hai?" Heer asked.
"Prem, kya tum Heer se shaadi karna chate ho?" Maya asked.
"Kya?" Prem asked caught off guard.
"Kya tum Heer se shaadi karna chate ho? Kuch maat poocho, sirf jawab doh."
Prem looked confusedly as Heer once but didn't hesitate to answer. "Haan Bhabi, karna chata hoon."
"Bhabi yeh saab…." Heer began to say.
Maya paid no attention to Heer and looked at Prem instead. "Prem, Heer ko lekar bhag jaao. Bhag jaao!" she pleaded.
"Bhag jaoon? Kyun?" Prem asked, confused.
"Baas jaao!" Maya ordered.
"Magar Bhabi…main kaise…" Prem began to say, only to be cut off.
"Dekho Prem, baath ko samjho! Heer ki shaadi tai hogayi hai," Maya said.
"K…kya?" Prem asked, in complete and utter shock.
"Haan. Kaal sagaai hai aur aagle hafte shaadi. Aagar tum aaj usse nahin leke gaye, toh kaal woh kissi aur ki hojayegi!" Maya said, nearly in hysterics. "Joh mere saath hua hai, main nahin chati ke woh Heer ke saath ho!"
"Aapke saath?" Heer asked, and then she remembered.
It had been nearly one year since Harman and Maya had gotten married. It was actually their first Valentines Day. That day Heer had noticed Maya looking rather upset. Heer poked and prodded until Maya finally broke and told Heer about her past.
Maya had been in love with Prashant, a boy from her neighborhood. They had both loved each other from a distance because their families never did get along. The day that Maya had decided to finally suck it up and tell Prashant how she felt, was the same day that Harman's rishta came to her house. As much as she had loved Prashant, she couldn't defy her father, who had raised her by himself after her mother left. So Maya bottled up her love for Prashant and quietly agreed to marry Harman. Maya was a devoted wife and daughter-in-law. Maya loved Harman and she loved the rest of the family. However, the saying that you never forget your first love – is absolutely true.
"Magar Bhabi, saab loog…" Heer said, but her voice trailed off.
"Ghaar mein saab ko main kaal tak sambhalke rakhungi. Aaj raath ko hi tum dono shaadi karlena, aur kaal subha tak kissi dusri sheher mein chale jaana." Maya then pulled out a bag, which she must have stashed when Heer was sleeping, out from under the bed. She proceeded to stuff the jewelry and money in the bag as she talked. "Iss bag mein bohot kuch nahin hai. Maine iss mein ek laal suit rakhdi hai, Maa ke kuch gehne aur mera ek extra chuda ka set bhi hai. Tum dono ke liyeh main isse zyada aur kuch nahin kaar sakti," Maya said as her eyes became teary.
Heer immediately hugged Maya and began to cry herself. "Aapne itna kuch kiya. Iss se zyada main aur kuch nahin mang sakti," Heer said.
Heer sat at her small desk and wrote a quick note to her family as Prem got on the phone and made arrangements for their future. Prem may not be rich but he was a good man with good, trustworthy friends – that is exactly what they needed. Heer hurriedly signed the letter and tucked it into an envelope before laying it to rest on her bed.
Prem had already thrown out the bag onto the balcony and was just waiting for Heer would was hugging Maya. Prem came to both of them and stood as they shared this last moment. Once Heer pulled back, Prem leaned down, as did Heer, to take Maya's ashirwad.
"Prem, tumse ek binti hai," Maya began to say. "Meri Heer ko humesha kush rakhna. Woh meri nanad kaam aur choti behen zyada hai."
Prem silently nodded his head, as Maya and Heer once again were locked in a teary embrace.
"Main dua karti hoon, ke tum dono jahaan bhi raho, jaise bhi rahoo…kush raho," Maya said.
Prem was about to help Heer out the window when Maya called back one more time. "Tum dono aapni zindagi ke saab se badi kadam uthane jaa rahe ho. Main chati hoon ke saab shub shub ho. Issi liyeh, tum dono ko vida karne se pehle main tumhe ek kush khabri dena chati hoon."
"Kya?" Heer and Prem both asked.
"Heer, tum Bua banne wali ho," Maya said with a sweet smile.
"Kya! Oh my God Bhabi! Congratulations!" Heer yelled as she hugged Maya again.
"Isse pehle ke koi aur aajayeh, tum dono jaao," Maya insisted.
Heer was halfway out the window when she stopped. "Ek baath aapne ghalat kahi hai Bhabi," she said.
"Kya?" Maya asked.
"Main bua nahin, massi banne jaa rahi hoon," Heer said with a smile. "Aapne joh kuch bhi kiya, thank you."
Prem too thanked Maya and took her ashirwad one last time before he too disappeared outside the window.
------------------------------
Prem took Heer directly to the small apartment he rented above a car garage in town. Already their friends Neha and Rahul were there making sure that their plans would all go off without a hitch. While Rahul made last minute arrangements with the pandit, Prem was headed out to buy a mangalsutra, while Neha was about to take Heer inside to get changed. Before Prem left, he had to ask Heer one question.
"Heer, tumhe pura yakeen hai ke tum ke kadam uthana chate ho? Kya tum saach mein mujhse shaadi karna chati ho?" Prem asked.
He knew that once they took this step, there would be no turning back – not that he would ever want to. Prem had no one to answer to him; he had no family and no one who cared what he did with his life. Heer on the hand, she had a family that she loved with her whole heart. He didn't want to take that away from her even if it meant he would be left to live without her.
"Dekho Prem, humare paas waqt nahin hai," Rahul cut in before Heer could answer. "Pandit-ji ready tum dono ki shaadi karvane. Neha, tum Heer ko tayar rakhna, thodi dehr mein Dev aayega tum dono ko mandir lejane."
"Tum dono kahaan jaa rahe ho?" Neha asked.
"Main Prem ke saat jewelry shop jaa raha hoon. Hum dono vahaan se sida mandir pouch jayenge. Dekhr maat karna," Rahul said. With that he grabbed Prem and walked out.
Neha helped Heer slip into a simple red suit, which was now her shaadi ka joda, after she had drawn small 'P's' in Heer's palms. Gently she put on the earrings and necklace that Maya had packed. Once those were on, she proceeded to put on the red and white chuda set as well. Once her dupatta was pinned to her hair, the last remaining detail was a red bindi on her forehead. Heer looked at herself in the mirror, albeit hesitantly. In just an hours time or so, she would no longer be Heer Maan – she would be Heer Prem Jhuneja. As much as her heart broke that she had to take such a drastic step against her family, she knew that it needed to be done.
Heer was supposed to be at the mandir by 7:30pm, however, due to the horrible traffic at that time of day, they were delayed for nearly an hour. Heer was worried about what Prem might me thinking as he waited for her with Rahul and the pundit-ji.
Prem knew that Heer would come, nothing would stop her. Yet for some reason, there was a nagging voice in the back of his mind that said she may have changed her mind and gone back to her family. Prem was just about to look at his watch for the thousandth time when he felt a gentle nudge on his arm. Looking up he saw her – his future wife. As she ascended the stairs he noticed just how beautiful she looked. The suit was simple, the make up was simple, even the jewelry was simple – still, she managed to glow and shine like the brightest star in the sky. When she looked up at him shyly, just for an instant when their eyes met, he felt his heart skip a beat.
Prem and Heer took their spots next to the pandit as he began to conduct the wedding. Neha did their gat-bandhan and it was Rahul who did Heer's kanya-daan. Heer couldn't help the tears that formed. She had a father and three brothers – never in her wildest dreams had she thought that a stranger would be doing her kanya-daan. The pundit instructed Prem to put the mangalsutra on Heer. Prem reached for the thali where it was kept and gently picked it up. It was a simple black and gold bead mangalsutra, it was nothing special at all, but it was all Prem could afford at the time.
When Heer saw the mangalsutra, her heart smiled. It was so simple and not very expensive, but for her – for her that one necklace was equivalent to all the riches in the world. That one black and gold necklace was priceless for her because Prem had bought it out of love – he bought it out of the love that he had for her. As soon as it was put around her neck, Heer promised herself that she would treasure this necklace no matter what. Next, when Prem moved to put the sindoor in her forehead, Heer held her breath. Even though her eyes were closed, she felt the instant Prem's fingers touched her prating. A solitary tear escaped her eyes as she vowed to love and protect the man who was putting the sindoor on her.
Hand in hand Heer and Prem took their phere's, each swearing to love the other no matter what happened. They promised each other happiness, loyalty and promised themselves to the other. As Heer walked around the sacred fire, she felt like she was changing. She could feel the spirit of the holy fire seep into her veins and go straight for her heart. She was no longer just a woman, she was a married woman. All the joy in the world couldn't express how happy she felt at that very moment.
After the ceremony was completed, Rahul told Prem and Heer to head back to Prem's apartment. Rahul was working on getting them a car so that they could skip town and so somewhere no one knew who they were. Neha strictly ordered Prem to walk home very slowly, he as not allowed to take a taxi. Prem's apartment wasn't that far away from the mandir after all, so he agreed. Both Heer and he knew what her intentions were – they knew that she was going to try and make this night as special as she could.
With Rahul gone, and Dev leaving with Neha, only Prem and Heer were left. The had entered that mandir as two separate people, but they were leaving it as one. Quietly Prem took Heer's hand in his and guided her towards the streets. Heer, squeezed his hand as the snuggled closer to him. The walked for 20 minutes in complete silence. The only sounds were that of their own breathing and that of the winds, which were picking up.
It was Prem who first spoke.
"Paata nahin mausam ko kya hua hai. Lagta hai ke koi tufaan aane wala hai," he said.
The winds had suddenly picked up and were swirling around them as black clouds huddled over head.
"Kya sooch rahi ho?" he asked, as he nudged her with his shoulder lightly, when he got no response.
"Kuch nahin," she replied coyly.
"Kahin tum yeh toh nahin sooch rahi ho, ke tumne bohot badi ghalti ki hai iss garib admi se shaadi kar ke?" he teased.
She looked up at him and gave him a look – a look he understood too well.
"Aare baba, aaise akheen maat dikhao. Main toh baas mazak kaar raha tha," he said as he drew her hand up and kissed it. "Aab bata bhi toh, kya sooch rahi ho?"
"Main sooch rahi hoon ke…" she said as she snuggled closer to the warmth of his body, "…ke main tumse bohot pyaar karti hoon."
"Woh toh main jaanta hoon," he said arrogantly.
"Aur tum? Tum mujhse pyaar nahin karte?" she teased.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead before saying, "Iss duniya mein saab se zyada toh main hi tumse pyaar karta hoon."
She smiled and hugged him with all her might. She was married, she was happy and she had the love of her life with her forever. No, definitely no regrets.
"No regrets?" Prem asked, quietly under his breath.
Heer stopped walking. She put her hands up cradling his face in her palms. "When it comes to you…no regrets. Ever," she said.
By this time the sun had set and not many people were on the street. Heer pushed herself onto her tip-toes as she placed a soft, yet quick kiss on Prem's lips. When she pulled back, it was Prem who leaned in and placed a kiss on her forehead.
Then walked hand in hand for another 20 minutes, talking about their future plans.
"Pehle mujhe ek beti chahiyeh," Prem announced.
"Beti? Nahin, nahin, nahin. Pehle mujhe ek beta chahiyeh, bilkul tumhare tarha," Heer countered as she squeezed his cheek.
"Nahin, pehle beti hi hogi. Maine toh uska naam bhi sooch liya."
"Naam bhi sooch liya?" Heer asked. "Baath itni door tak pouch gayi. Chalo, aab bata bhi doh. Beti ka naam kya hogi?"
"Woh hum dono ki pyaar ki nishaani hogi," Prem said with a dreamy look in his eyes.
"Chi, kya tum uski naam 'Nishaani' rakhoge?" Heer asked, as she stuck her tongue out.
Prem's mouth formed an 'O' as he gently smacked Heer upside the head. "Nahin. Humari pyaar ki nishaani, humari Chahat hogi," he said.
Before Heer could respond a car behind then beamed them with its lights. Prem tugged on Heer's hand pulling her more towards the side walk, freeing up the main road. However, still the driver kept the light shining on them.
"Ajeeb baath hai," Prem said as he turned around to face the car. The lights were so intense he had to use his hand to shield his face from the brightness.
Prem and Heer both saw people get out of the car but couldn't see their faces. Suddenly someone pulled Heer by the arm, snatching her hand out of Prem's.
"Prem!" she yelled.
"Heer! Heer!" Prem yelled as he tried to spot his wife.
Suddenly Prem was grabbed by two people, one holding onto each arm. It was then that the driver killed the power to the engine as the street fell dark once again.
Heer's face became pale and her blood ran cold. The inhabitants of the car were none other than her three brothers. Looking up at the man who was holding onto her, Heer saw it was her father. Her brothers, Nihaal and Harman held onto Prem as Rishab approached. She already knew what was going to happen.
"Nahin Bhaia, nahin!" Heer yelled as she tried to get away. "Usse kuch maat karna!"
Her cries fell on deaf ears as her oldest brother threw punch after punch to Prem's gut. Heer felt the hot tears roll down her face as she still struggled to free herself from her fathers hold.
"Prem ko chod doh Bhaia! Usse chod doh!" Heer pleaded. As Heer fought harder and harder she noticed that the garlands they had exchanged during the wedding ceremony, now lay on the street.
Prem was hunched over in pain as he grabbed onto his stomach. It was now all three of her brothers against Prem. Each of her brothers swung blindly, not caring where the punches landed as long as they all landed on Prem.
"Nahin Bhaia, nahin! Usse maat maro! Woh marajyega!" Heer yelled again.
Suddenly Heer saw something glitter in the darkness. Heer soon recognized it as a knife, which was being held by her brother, Nihaal.
"Nahin! Nahin Bhaia!" she yelled. "Bauji mujhe chod dijiyeh! Please Bauji, please! I love him Bauji!"
Her father did not heed to her cries. Instead, in one swift movement he hit Heer so hard she fell to the floor. The sound of that slap echoed quietly through all the commotion, yet it still managed to reach Prem's ears. Suddenly, Prem pushed her brothers away as he discovered a strength he didn't know he possessed. In the process of getting away from the Maan brothers Prem moved left when Nihaal moved right, the knife still in his hand.
Prem first felt a stinging sensation and then a warm sensation as blood escaped from the wound caused when the tip of the knife sliced across his face.
"Prem!" he heard Heer yell. Looking over he saw she was still struggling to get away from her father.
Before Prem could do anything, he was caught off guard by a fist that came directly at his face, causing him to stumble backwards and fall. Nihaal tossed the knife to Rishab as he went and grabbed Prem by the collar, pulling him up. Harman and Nihaal proceeded to kick and punch Prem like he was a dummy that felt nothing. When Harman shoved Prem, it caused him to take a step back, putting all of his weight onto Nihaal's feet. Almost like an automatic reaction, Nihaal pushed Prem forward with all his might.
From the distance Heer watched as Prem fell right into Rishab's arms. Oddly, for a few seconds, no one moved – Heer couldn't figure out why. Suddenly, Rishab pushed Prem back. It was then that all time stopped and Heer watched in horror as the knife emerged in Rishab's hand as Prem stumbled backwards. Prem held onto his stomach but Heer could still see the red liquid spill out of his body and onto the streets. Rishab dropped the knife at the exact moment that Prem's body hit the pavement.
"Prem!" Heer yelled.
Just like everyone else, Balraj was too in shock. Heer took this opportunity to rush to Prem's side. As she ran her dupatta flew off from the sheer force of the wind. She fell to her knees and only then did she see the extent of the injuries that Prem and suffered. She saw his eyes open and close numerous times.
"Prem! Prem, utto Prem!" Heer pleaded. "Please Prem utto!" She turned to her brothers and yelled, "Yeh kya kiya aap logoon ne!? Yeh kya kiya!?"
"I…l…love you," Prem managed to get out.
"Main bhi tumse bohot pyaar karti hoon Prem! Please Prem utto, mujhse baath karo!" she ordered.
However, Prem said nothing. Suddenly he became quite and oddly still. Heer tried and tried to wake him up but he did not respond.
"Nahin Prem, tum mujhe chodke nahin jaa sakte," she reminded him. "Humarii abhi abhi shaadi hui hai. Tum mujhe aaise chodke nahin jaa sakte…nainh jaa sakte…nahin jaa sakte."
The instant that Heer fell against Prem's lifeless body was the same moment that the dark clouds covering the heavens broke and unleashed their fury. The rains mixed with Heer's tears and drenched Prem's kurta as his body lay in the street. She cried as she repeated his name over and over again.
She felt two strong hands come and pull her up; those hands belonged to her brother Rishab. He dragged Heer towards the car where Balraj was already waiting.
"Nahin!" Heer yelled and fought, "Mujhe Prem ke paas rehna hai. Usse hospital leka jaana hoga! Nahin toh woh marjayega Bhaia! Please, Bhaia please!" Heer refused to accept that he was dead. No way the man she just married a few hours ago was lying dead on the street as his blood continued to drain out of him.
Rishab paid no attention to her whatsoever. "Clean this up," he ordered to Nihaal and Harman.
"Nahin! Prem! Preeeem!" Heer cried as she was stuffed in the car by her brother and father.
Heer sat in the car and watched her two brothers pick up Prem's body and take him into the forest like area next to the street. They dumped his body and soon returned to the car.
"Bhaia Prem. Prem kahaan hai?" Heer asked.
"Harman, gadi chalao," her father announced.
------------------------------
When Heer was dragged into the house, she immediately saw her mother and three sister-in-laws sitting in the living room. As soon as they saw her the all got to their feet. Heer, seeing her mother, went straight to her.
"Maa, please. Bhaia se kahoo naa ke mujhe Prem ke paas jaane deh," Heer pleaded. "Please Maa. Prem ko meri zarurat hai. Mujhe jaane do Maa, mujhe jaane doh." Heer fell to her mothers feet. "Main jaanti hoon, mera Prem abhi bhi zinda hai. Abhi bhi zinda hai woh."
From behind her, Heer heard one of her brothers' scoff at her. Heer quickly stumbled to her feet and staggered to where her three brothers stood – she headed straight for Rishab.
"Aap logoon ne mere Prem ko maar diya! Mere Prem ko maar diya aap logoon ne!" Heer cried as she beat her fists against his chest.
Immediately Meher and Maya went over to stop Heer before she hurt herself – not that they thought that was possible.
"Mere Prem ko maar diya inhone Bhabi. Maar diya mere Prem ko," Heer cried as they pulled her back. Heer couldn't feel her knees anymore and fell to the ground as she clutched to Maya. "Mere Prem ko maar diya. Mere Prem ko maar diya, Bhabi. Mere Prem ko maar diya."
Heer kept repeating the same phrase over and over again. Her brothers and father walked away. Her sister-in-laws were left behind with picking up the shattered pieces of her life, her heart, her soul and the broken pieces of her body.
*~*Flash Back Over*~*
(Back to Present Time)
It had turned out that after Heer had left with Prem, Maya had been so nervous and scared that she had passed out just before her family sat down for dinner. The doctor was called and she announced that Maya was pregnant. It was a fact that Maya had not told anyone up to that point – anyone except Heer that is. Her brother, Harman, had known that if Heer heard this news she would be ecstatic so he rushed off to tell her before Maya could stop him. Upon entering her room he found her letter and went into a fit of rage. With Nihaal tagging along, Harman found out where Prem lived. Her brothers waited there until Neha and Dev returned. By threatening to harm their families, her brothers had been able to get Dev to spill his guts about what had happened and where Prem and Heer would be. That is how everything was ruined – their plans and their lives.
Getting up from her bed, Heer went to her dresser and pulled out a red velvet box. Opening it, she gently pulled out the black and gold beaded necklace Prem had given her on their wedding day. Going to the chair next to the window, Heer listened to the wind and the droplets of rain.
It was the same wind, the same high pitched howl that she had heard on that fateful night seven years ago. It was the same wind that reoccurred on this night for the past seven years, only to completely disappear by day break. It was also the same rain that fell that night. The same drenching, pounding rain that mixed with her tears that night, just like it had for the past seven years. This year it would be no different. Her cries were drowned out by the wind and her tears were accompanied by the rain – just like they had been on that night seven years ago.
Placing a kiss on the mangalsutra, Heer looked in the sky for the star that shone the brightest. The star was twinkling, as if it was talking to her. Heer looked at the clock on her night stand – it read 3am. It was no longer today, it was tomorrow – a new day had already begun. A small, weak smile broke on Heer's face. She gathered the mangalsutra in her hand and held it close to her heart.
"Happy 7th Wedding Anniversary Prem," Heer said as she stared of at the dark sky.
Reserved...
I dont know how many times I read this chapter.. Probably like 100! 😆 I absolutely loved it!!😊 The first line of the chapter i was like whattttt is going on???? Then i realized towards that actual part and then i was like oh! I love the Mother and Daughter relationship...Its sweet and funny how only Heer remembered her mothers b-day and nobody else did. I love how Heer is so close to Maya! Veeras nickname is Chutki?? 😆😆 Im trying to picture that.. but im glad Veera is good in here and shes Heer's sister! What is with these men???? They just decide anything they want??? After Heer said she doesnt want to get married they are standing there and making a guest list and which will help them in their business🤢. How dare that Rishab slap Heer?😡. I was sooo glad to see Prem come. Maya is sooo nice, she herself is telling Prem and Heer to runaway. The marriage between Prem and Heer was sooo nice. I loved how they talked about their future plans and how Prem wanted to name his daughter Chahat!
Cricket
