Prem walked into Heer's place for the first time.
"For you!"
Heer took the flowers and looked around for a vase. There should have been one on the sideboard but Fari and her sidekicks must have buried it. Walking around the flat Heer blew out all the candles she could. Prem stood politely in the doorway, getting his coat off.
"Oh come in!, sorry I'm just looking for this favourite vase of mine." Heer left the flowers on the table and went to Prem to get his coat and close the door behind him.
"Is it just the two of us? For dinner?"
"Looks like it. Clarissa is out for the night."
"what about Fari?"
Heer looked at Prem, " Do you need Fari to be here?"
Prem knew he was being teased and wanted to see more of this side of Heer.
"She's our mutual buddy isn't she? So I thought she'd be here that's all."
"Well you can always call her, I know you've got her on speed dial, and ask her what you should do next."
Prem's eyes widened in surprise, "What I should do next? I can't ask her that, even Fari would blush. And I'm a gentleman."
Heer averted her eyes for a second, "There's only one thing that Fari didn't have anything to do with."
Prem nodded, a grin forming. "Exactly! That's why I think we can take it from here."
Just then, both their phones rang. Heer was still standing with Prem's coat on her arm and the phone was in it. Prem fished it out and Heer grabbed hers from the kitchen counter. It was Fari.
Prem and Heer rushed into Chiswick Hospital, Sona was waiting for them at reception.
"Fifth floor" she told them and they all made their way to the lifts.
"Oh Guys! I'm sorry, I didn't know who else to call" Fari went to them and hugged them. Biru was in bed, his leg in plaster and some cuts to his face and arms.
"I've told Biru a thousand times. DON"T RIDE YOUR BIKE here! He's used to American road rules and
everything's the other way around here!" Fari fumed and paced up and down.
"It's all ok now Fari, he seems to have been lucky." Heer soothed her friend.
"Lucky! Ya that's the word for it! He's lucky I didn't strangle him out there on the road!"
"Fari calm down! He's Ok! "
"Ya I just needed to vent! Thanks for coming."
The two friends hugged. Prem went over to Biru, who was happy that someone actually cared enough to come talk to him.
"So, er…how did it go?" Fari was back in match-making mausi mode. Sona and Mercedes also sidled up with expectant smiles. Heer shook her head.
"What? You thought a few candles and you three would be aunties overnight?"
All three gasped and shrank back. Prem looked over at them and thought there was more bad news.
"He's coming over!" Mercedes hissed. Heer smirked, "Serves you right!"
"Is everything alright?" Prem had a worried look.
"Oh everything is fine!" Fari smiled at him and took his arm, and leaned her head against his shoulder. "We were just having a small gossip session. It helps to relieve stress."
Heer thought this was a good time to say hi to Biru and walked off.
"Psst. Prem, I'm sorry to interrupt your evening. Hope I haven't ruined it completely It's this Biru's fault!" Fari was willing Prem to tell her everything.
"I don't know what you want me to say, we were just chatting when you called."
Prem smiled and Fari knew that Heer must have played hard to get again. What was wrong with that woman? Why would you chat when you had just kissed a hundred times on waterloo bridge? But then Heer was not the type to rush things. So kisses on the bridge today could mean no kisses till next year! She needed to come up with a plan!
"Heer!" Heer looked at Fari, wished Biru a speedy recovery and came over to her friend, who was still hanging onto Prem's arm. Did she think she was making Heer jealous? Heer suppressed a giggle.
"Can you guys stay with me for a while? Sona and Mercedes need a break."
Sona and Mercedes looked disappointed. They wanted to stay and watch but Fari was having none of it, as she bundled them out of the room.
Prem and Heer were now like two actors in a scene with Fari as director.
"There's a waiting room just across the hall. If you can make yourselves comfy there? I'll be happy if I know you are close by."
Fari showed them to the room. It was empty, thank goodness! Her plan was on track. She almost pushed them in and was about to close the door when Prem got hold of the door handle,
"I think we should leave this open." Heer was behind him as he winked at Fari.
Fari spread her arms like an understanding host, "As you wish!" and walked back to Biru's room.
"Do you think she's alright?" Heer was more worried about Fari's state of mind than Biru's mild fractures.
"Oh she's fine! Just needed us to be around that's all." Prem dropped to the sofa and stretched his legs.
Heer was still standing. "why don't you sit Heer." Prem wasn't asking, he was commanding.
Heer thought about arguing, just because she didn't appreciate his tone and there was nowhere else to sit except next to him. But then realised it would look stupid. With a sigh she sat next to him, leaving just the right amount of space, according to her, between them.
"I don't believe what I'm seeing" Prem chuckled.
"What?"
"Never mind." Prem shifted closer and put his arm around her. "That's better"
It certainly was. Heer suddenly felt safe. She had never thought she needed to feel this way – protected. But then again, a father or an uncle, or a big brother could just as easily fill this role. No this was different. Prem needed her and that's what he had meant, "That's better."
Suddenly Fari's lectures about 'physical attraction' were floating around in Heer's mind. That was the theory and now this was the practice. Her heart rate was definitely higher.
"what were you planning to serve for dinner?" Prem made it sound very intimate.
"I…I'm not sure." Heer realised that she hadn't asked Fari what she had ordered. She only hoped this didn't sound like she was all goofy because of his proximity. "Fari ordered the food, and I don't have the foggiest idea what she got!" Heer said it quickly to clarify.
Prem wasn't listening now as he kissed her ear and then her cheek.
"Prem, what are you doing?"
"Nothing illegal."
Just then Heer caught sight of Fari's big eyes peeping in.
"What is it Fari?" Heer asked while pushing Prem away.
Hindi TV Shows
Bindi
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Jodha Akbar
