"Didi zara jaldi karo na....kitna time laga rahi ho?" yelled Meher from downstairs. "Aa rahi hoon!" Heer yelled back and came running down the stairs. "Wow didi, kya lag rahi ho aap!" said Meher admiringly. "Prem jiju toh aaj gaye kaam se!"
As always, Heer blushed deeply on hearing Prem's name. "Chup kar aur chal jaldi!" she said shyly. "Kya baat hai....badi jaldi hai aapko" teased Meher, as she ran behind Heer, who had already gone out.
Prem sighed deeply and ran his fingers through his hair. "Samajh mein nahi aa raha main kaise kahoon maa bauji se Heer ke baare mein....." he said aloud dejectedly to himself. "Bauji ko jab pata chalega, unko toh heart attack aa jayega!"
Preet, who was passing by Prem's room, heard him, and a huge grin appeared on his face. "Preet Juneja ke hote hue aap itni fikar kyun karte ho PB? Aapka yeh kaam toh aaj hi ho jaayega! Aap bas dekhte jaao!"
Just then his phone rang. "Haan Veera...bol" he said. "Wow.....aa gayi woh? Use andar le aa, main abhi aa raha hoon." Preet grinned again. "Lo PB, ho gaya aap ka kaam."
Heer eagerly eyed the huge mansion in front of her. Prem's house. Thank god Meher's best friend and Prem's sister Veera had invited them for dinner today. Today after two whole days she would be seeing him again. Two whole days since their confession. She blushed and sighed as she relived the memory yet again in her mind.
"Kya bhabhi..." said Veera naughtily seeing Heer's pink face, "Bhaiya ko dekhne ke pehle hi yeh haal hai toh unse milne ke baad kya haal hoga!" and grinned as Heer's blush deepened.
The three of them got out of the car and stepped inside the Juneja Mansion.
"So bhabhi, kaisa laga mera ghar aapko?" "Wow....." said Heer admiringly, as she looked around the house. It was really spacious and beautiful. As she was looking around, her eyes fell on a huge painting. It ws a portrait of the entire Juneja family, right on the middle of the wall. As Heer went and stood closer to the painting, her eyes immediately fell on a certain someone in the middle of the painting and her heartbeats automatically increased. His handsome face, soft, silky brown hair falling adorably on his forehead, those beautiful laughing chocolate brown eyes, and his lips curved into a teasing smile never failed to captivate her.
Gorgeous.
She put out her hand, stroking Prem's face on the glass of the painting when suddenly she heard someone clearing their throat.
"Ahem ahem"
Heer immediately withdrew her hand and turned around, embarassed, her cheeks red, to find Meher, Veera, Kulraj and another young man, all grinning widely like three year old kids in a toy store.
Heer lowered her eyes in embarassment.
"Woh....yeh family portrait bahut achchi hai" she said shyly.
"Family achchi hai ya uska ek member?" asked Veera naughtily as Heer's colour deepened and Veera and Meher squealed in laughter.
The young man came forward, a grin on his face. "Welcome Heer bhabhi! Main Preet, Prem bhaiya ka chota bhai" he said warmly, hugging her.
"Hi" replied Heer smiling.
"Wow bhabhi" said Preet admiringly, "Prem bhaiya ne sach hi kaha tha...aap toh sach mein pariyon ki tarah khoobsurat hain! Aaj aakhir Prem bhaiya ne saabit kar hi diya ki woh Preet Juneja ke bhai hain....kya choice hai unki!"
Heer smiled shyly.
Just then, Gayatri and Lalit Juneja came there. "Arre maa, bauji...yehi hai woh kiske baare mein main aapko bata raha tha. Meri Heer bhabhi." Preet introduced Heer.
"Preet!" Heer exclaimed, shocked that Preet was calling her bhabhi in front of Prem's parents. She looked at them scared.
Gayatri sensed her nervousness and came forward and cupped her cheek, smiling. "Sach, meri honewaali bahu kitni pyaari hai" she said lovingly. Heer bent down to touch her feet, and then Lalit's. "Khush raho, beta" they both said.
"Toh yeh hai Heer" said Lalit, his face stern. Heer looked at him, scared on seeing his stern face.
"Bauji, aap itne naraaz kyun lag rahe hain?" asked Preet cautiously.
"Nahi toh kya khushi se kudne lagoon? Bahut naraaz hoon main. Arre, aaj Prem ne itni badi baat chipai hai mujhse! Meri hone waali bahu tak ke baare mein nahi bataaya usne mujhe! Uski sazaa toh use main zaroor doonga" he finished sternly.
Heer, Preet and the others heaved sighs of relief. "Woh...uncleji" began Heer.
"Uncleji?" queried Lalit, raising his eyebrows. Heer looked confused. "Ji...."
Lalit sighed. "Main kya lagta hoon tera?"
"Ji..?" asked Heer in surprise.
"Maine poocha, main kya lagta hoon tera?"
"Woh.....woh....." Heer blushed, unable to say anything.
Eveyone grinned. "Heer, bauji ke kehne ka matlab hai ki tujhe unhe uncle ji nahi, bauji bulaana chahiye! Aakhir tu badi bahu banne waali hai iss ghar ki!"
"Lekin Prem ne toh ab tak mujhse poocha hi nahi...shaadi ke liye..." said Heer shyly, in a low voice.
"KYA?" exclaimed Lalit in shock. "PREM NE TUJHE AB TAK NAHI POOCHA?" he shook his head. "Ab toh main use kabhi maaf nahi karunga. Iss galti ke liye toh use sazaa deni hi padegi."
"Bauji....mere paas ek idea hai, PB ki taang kheechne ka" said Preet excitedly.
"Prem...bauji tujhe neeche bula rahe hain" Kulraj told Prem, going into his room.
Both Prem and Kulraj came down. "Ji bauji.....aap ne bulaaya..." Prem began, and stopped midway. In front of him standing, was Heer!
Prem blinked. Then he blinked again. And then again. But Heer did not disappear.
Prem sighed, still staring at her. Yeh pata nahi kya ho gaya hai mujhe. Jahaan dekho wahaan Heer nazar aati hai! Now why would she be here in my house. But my god, she is soooo beautiful! Her long silky black hair, those innocent eyes and that sari she's wearing....wow! They make her look so ethereal....
Enough. It was time to take control. What would the others think when they saw him staring into space at nothing?
Prem turned to Lalit with a determined expression. "Ji bauji, kahiye?"
"Beta, woh actually main tere future ke baare mein soch raha tha...kya hain na...teri shaadi ab tak nahi hui hai."
Prem stared at his father warily. "Um...bauji yeh mujhe bhi pata hai ki meri shaadi nahi hui hai, lekin yeh raat ke...." he consulted his watch, "....raat ke das baje aapko achaanak mere future ki chinta kyun hone lagi?"
"Beta tere future ki chinta toh mujhe hamesha hoti hai, lekin aaj socha ki uske baare mein kuch kar hi loon. Isliye toh maine Heer aur Meher ko yahaan bulaya hai!"
Prem was stunned. Heer was actually there? He wasn't dreaming?
Either that, or along with his eyes, his ears had also tuned themselves to hear only one name.
"Lekin aapne H...Heer ko kyun bulaaya?" he asked cautiously, hoping he wasn't making a fool of himself by saying Heer's name out aloud.
"Arre teri shaadi ki baat karne...aur kya?"
Prem stared at Lalit in amazement. Had he heard right? His father was talking about his marriage....to Heer!
"Lekin Heer kyun?"he asked once again to confirm if what he had heard was right.
"Arre Prem....tu itne ajeeb sawaal kyun pooch raha hai? Heer ki behen Meher ke saath teri shaadi ki baat main Heer se nahi karunga toh aur kisse karunga?"
Prem's eyes widened in shock as his brain registered Lalit's words and he immediately turned to Heer to see her reaction.
Heer's eyes were lowered towards the ground. Well, that was understandable. He himself wished the ground would open up and swallow him. And also understandable was the blush on her cheeks...
Wait a second.
Heer was blushing.
Heer was blushing.
She was blushing.
Okay, so his experience with girls was seriously limited. He didn't understand them or their expressions. But he did have intelligence and common sense. And enough of it to realise that girls didn't blush when they were angry or sad or depressed. They were supposed to start crying or throw tantrums or whatever.
But definitely not blush.
Something was wrong here.
Prem eyed Heer closely. She was definitely blushing. He then turned to Preet, the only one who knew about him and Heer. He was staring straight at the floor. And so was Meher.
And the remaining family members were staring at him as eagerly and excitedly as Tanu did when he was about to buy her icecream.
He frowned and his eyes fell on Heer once again, and then on Preet, and suddenly it clicked.
"Toh Prem, kya socha hai tune?" asked Lalit eagerly, waiting to see Prem's reaction.
Prem smirked to himself. Abhi batata hoon.
He turned to Lalit, and flashed him his brightest smile. "I can't believe it Bauji...aaj aapne mere dil ki baat keh di! Main toh soch soch ke paagal ho gaya tha ki main aapko kaise kahun apne aur Meher ke baare mein....lekin aaj bhagwan ne meri sun li! You are great Bauji!" exclaimed Prem, as he went forward and hugged his father.
Everyone stood stunned in their places. As for Heer, all colour had drained from her face, and she stared at Prem in shock.
Seeing eveyone's desperate and confused expressions, Prem could contain himself no longer, and burst out laughing.
"Kya, aap sab mujhe aise kyun dekh rahe hain, I was joking!" he said laughing. "All of you were pulling my leg, so I decided to do the same! Aakhir main aapka beta aur Preet ka bhai jo hoon! Main kitna smart hoon na?"
Everyone shook their heads and heaved sighs of relief. Heer simply turned and walked out of the room. Lalit came forward. "You're very smart, aren't you?" he asked. "Ab jaa, jaakar mana usko. And remember, I want her as my bahu in this house at any cost!"
Prem grinned. "Aapko wohi milegi bauji" he said, as he bent down to touch his father's feet.
Heer gazed at the quiet night sky, as the moon and the stars shone upon her, making her look even more beautiful. Suddenly she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and a huge bouquet of tulips was thrust in her face. She snatched them and dumped them on the floor, and turned back towards the sky. A minute later, she felt another tap on her shoulder, and this time when she turned round, she was greeted by a bouquet of orchids. When she felt a tap on her shoulder yet again, and she turned to a huge bunch of red roses, she became really irritated.
"Prem, jao na!" she said in irritation and pushed the bouquet into his hands.
"Ouch!" screamed Prem as a thorn from the bouquet pierced his thumb. He dropped the flowers on the ground.
Heer turned around at once. "Prem? Kya hua? Did you prick your finger?"
Prem made a sad pout and showed her his thumb. She snatched at his hand and immediately put his finger in her mouth, sucking the blood. Prem simply grinned, enjoying her concern.
"Is it paining?" asked Heer, when she released his finger.
"Not anymore" replied Prem, smirking and he winked at her. Heer stared at him and suddenly realised that she was supposed to be angry with him. She turned away and was walking away from him when he caught her hand.
"Ab jaane bhi do na Heer" he pleaded. He turned her towards him and forced her to look up at him.
"Prem you...." she began, and he silenced her with his lips. Heer was shocked , but within seconds she responded. The kiss was gentle at first, with Prem nibbling on Heer's lower lip oh so softly, but it soon turned passionate. Prem's tongue slid inside her mouth, gently caressing her softness, while Heer moaned softly in ecstasy. The kiss went on and on and on, as their tongues danced together in passion, and love. After what felt like an eternity, Prem finally pulled back. Heer's eyes were still closed in pleasure.
When her eyes finally opened, he flashed his most gorgeous smile at her. "Ab toh maaf kar do, Heer!"
Heer's eyes widened as she struggled to maintain her stern expression. "Not fair Mr. Juneja! You have used unfair means to persuade me!" A small smile appeared on her face. "But if you do that again, I might think about forgiving you."
Prem smiled teasingly as he came closer to her. " That would be my pleasure sweetheart!" he said softly.
Just as his lips were about to touch hers, his phone rang. Prem sighed and pulled out his phone, cursing under his breath when he saw who was calling.
"I swear, Preet, one of these days I am for sure gonna murder you!" he said in irritation. "Kya chahiye tujhe?"
"Bhaiya....woh bhabhi ne aapko maaf kiya kya?"
"She was in the process of doing that when you called. Ab jaldi bol, kya chahiye?"
"Chill bhaiya, aap itna hyper kyun ho rahe ho? Bhabhi's not running away anywhere!"
"Dekh Preet....."
Heer giggled and blushed as she heard Prem yelling at Preet. Bechare ki kitni kharaab timing hai!
Just then she saw Prem cut the call and come towards her.
"Preet ka phone tha?" she asked with a smile.
"Yeah yeah...go on laugh...ab isi ki kami thi!"
"Premmmmm" Heer whined.
"Haan Preet ka hi call tha, he doesn't seem to have any other work other than bothering me!" Prem paused. "By the way, usne bauji ka ek message bhi diya mujhe."
Heer frowned. "Message?"
"Haan. Bauji ne kaha ki woh jald se jald tumhe unki bahu ke roop mein iss ghar mein dekhna chahte hain, so he asked me to ask you to marry me. Actually unhe lagta hai ki tumse behtar iss ghar ki bahu koi aur ho hi nahi sakti." Prem ended casually.
Heer's eyes widened and she glared at him, putting her hands on her hips. "Oh, so that's why you want me to marry you, because your family feels that that I will be the perfect bahu of this house?"
Prem pretended to think. "Well....that's one of the reasons...but that's not why I would ask you to marry me"
He went down on one knee in front of her.
"Heer..." he said softly. "A man asks a girl to marry him so that she can light up his life, fill it with happiness and laughter. But I am asking you to marry me beacause you are my life Heer. Without you this Prem has no meaning. My heart is with me but it beats for you. You're my life, my soul, the very purpose of my existence is you, Heer. Everywhere I look I see only your face, hear only your voice..."
He paused. "Today it seems I have everything-a loving family, health, wealth, influence....but without you none of this has any meaning. No one knows what will happen tomorrow...but one thing I do know....that as long as this heart lives, it will beat only for you.....tomorrow the whole world might change...everything might change...but one thing will never Heer.....my love for you. That will never change."
Prem held a beautiful diamond ring in front of her. "This is why I want to marry you....Marry me Heer. Make me the happiest and luckiest man in the world by marrying me."
With tears streaming down her face Heer launched herself into his arms. "Yes..." she whispered. "Yes, yes, YES!"
So that was it, guys!
Waiting for the comments...😳
Anupamaa
