Kavs Premeer Mania - Page 53

He sat on a bench on the platform lost in thoughts. The announcement brought him out of thoughts. The train was running late by half-an-hour. He mentally scolded himself for coming early and now extra time. He was always taught the value of time. He led his life as per a plan. He knew he wanted to get into business and accordingly worked to get through but things hardly go as per plan. Sometimes just a small moment changes everything. He learnt his lesson late.

~~~

He was born in elite business family. He grew up seeing his father Lalit Juneja put heart and soul in business and was inspired to follow his father's steps. His mother Gayatri Juneja, she always thought him good values. If it wasn't for his mother he and brother would have got carried by the lavish lifestyle they had.

He went to attend an interview for his internship and that's where he met her. She was there for an interview just like him but for a different post.

He saw her walking back and forth praying to god. "God please' please my designs should get approved and mam should approve me as her assistant. I promise I'll come to temple barefoot' ok barefoot is little too risky' I'll come to temple but please'" She kept ranting closing her eyes.

He couldn't help but laugh. She turned to face him as if she heard his laughter.

"What's so funny?" She asked seriously.

It was then he saw her face properly. Her eyes captivated his. They seemed so innocent. Coming out of his thoughts he said,

"You'" Before he could continue she cut him'

"What? I know I told my sister, these curls don't look good on me and this blue dress' blue it just doesn't suit me" She went on and on adjusting her hair and dupatta while he looked at her in shock.

"Woahh'chill' You look good." He caught her hands and that alarmed her.

"I'm sorry" He left her hands. She gave him a suspicious look.

"What I wanted to say was, your prayer' it was funny. Nice bargain with god." He winked.

"You heard my prayer. Oh no!! Don't you know you it isn't good manners to pry on others" She shouted.

"Excuse me. I've better work than prying on you' You were the one who were ranting it aloud" He shouted back on her.

"My prayer' my wish" She told.

Before he could answer her back, a man came and told him that his turn was next. All of a sudden he felt nervous. He sat in the chair and locked his fingers.

"Nervous??" She asked him politely. He looked at her in shock for a second and then nodded his head.

"I'm nervous too. Its' been my dream since childhood and when I'm one step away from it I feel like I'm losing everything." She told him.

"You know you're actually speaking out the thoughts on my brain." He confessed.

"Oh!! What should we do now?" She asked him.

They stared at each other clueless.

"Idea" She shouted.

"What??" He asked.

"Give your hand" She said extending her hand. He was dumbstruck.

"Don't worry I'm not going to hurt you" She told and he placed it in hers.

"Now close your eyes" She said closing her eyes and he stared at her puzzled for a second. Ultimately he closed his eyes.

"Live your dream" She said.

For whole of five minutes he imagined himself in the position he wanted to be, the successful businessman and saw his family proud at his achievement. He slowly opened his eyes and saw his hand wrapped in hers while she had a cute smile on her face. She too opened her eyes.

"How are you feeling?" She asked.

"Great" He answered.

"Now for all that to happen in reality you should go and attend the interview. So go ahead" She said signaling him. He laughed at himself and then went in carrying his file.

After almost twenty minutes he came out and got back to his seat. She was still there. He sat there glancing at his watch.

"How did it go?" She asked him.

"Good. They told me to wait outside." He told her.

"Oh! Probably you'll get it then don't worry" She told him smiling.

"Thank you. What about you?" He asked her.

"I don't know whenever I go to the receptionist she's busy on call and just points me to sit here." She frowned.

He was called in again so he left. He came out smiling after ten minutes. He was so happy and excited that he got through.

"Yay" He shouted and everyone stared at him puzzled.

"I'm sorry" He said embarrassed.

"Congratulations" She extended her hand.

"Thank you" He hugged her all of a sudden causing her to drop the file.

"I'm sorry" He said embarrassed helping her to pick the papers and designs.

"It's ok." She simply said.

"Wow!! These designs are just awesome" He said going through the designs he collected.

"Thank you. I wish these are approved and I get selected." She closed her eyes.

"Designs??" He thought for a while and then he spoke

"Hey you're actually on the wrong floor. The fashion section recently got shifted to the upper floor." He handed over the designs.

"Oh is it?? I was told it was here and I tried to talk to the receptionist but see she's on phone even now" She said pointing to the receptionist.

"She'll be taken care of but first let me guide you to your section" He guided her to her destination.

He made her sit and talked to someone. He walked back to her.

"So there you go" He said pointing to the door.

"What? How can I just go?" She suddenly became nervous and kept blabbering.

"Calm down. See there. That was your destination isn't it' now why do you want to step back when you are just two steps away. Your designs are just awesome and trust me you're going to get this job. Just go." He signaled her to go and she just walked ahead.

He thought of waiting for her there when someone he knew crossed by.

"OMG" He uttered to himself.

"What are you doing here" A man came to him and asked.

"Bhai actually I came here to attend an interview for internship" He said.

"Interview and here?" His brother questioned pointing to the surroundings.

"Not here exactly' Downstairs and I'm here for a friend now" He answered.

"Friend?" He was questioned.

"Oh now just stop it bhai. Sherlock Holmes role doesn't suit you a bit so stop playing around" He held his head.

"Okay now tell me how did the interview go?" He was asked.

"What do you expect?? Someone turning down Pratham Juneja's brother' Impossible!!" He winked.

"That's great!!" He hugged him.

"They didn't know who you are right" His brother asked him all serious.

"Bhai how would they know? Did I ever visit your office? I've been sometimes to bhabhi's though but I didn't even come to your section and that too I haven't told them I'm a Juneja and the certificates that'll be you who's going to check it. I told you didn't I' I'll get the internship on my own" He raised his collar.

"Well then I'm proud of you. Let's go and celebrate."

He forgot that he was waiting there for her and left with his brother.

~~~

He was brought out of thoughts by a small girl selling flowers. He couldn't see a small child trying to sell so he bought the whole bunch of roses she was holding and handed over a 1000 rupee note. There were people everywhere around, people from all walks of life. Some forlorn in seek of their destination, some with their families in seek of pleasure, some in seek of their life, goals and some to escape from life but why was he here? What did he want?

~~~

His whole family was celebrating his small success at dinner. It included his father, mother, brother and sister-in-law. Everyone was happy to spend some time together away from their busy schedules.

"I need to inform everyone something." His father announced after he finished his dinner. As he gathered everyone's attention, he went on

"I'm expecting a friends' daughter visit to our place for a month. She's new to the city so until she's acquainted with the city my friend requested me to allow her to stay here. I couldn't deny hope that's' ok with everyone." He particularly looked in his wife's direction.

Her eyes looked at him questioningly and he simply nodded. The rest of them failed to understand what just conspired, all they could see was their parent's happy faces.

The servant came and announced the arrival of guests. So, they went to meet them. He too followed but he concentrated on texting his friend.

"This is my younger son" His father's voice brought him back to attention and he raised his head. He saw a man of his father's age with a smile on his face. He recognized him. It was the great business man 'Balraj Maan'

"I've read couple of your interviews. They were very inspiring" He said as he took his blessings. In reply he got just a smile. His attention then shifted to the figure standing beside him. He was shocked.

"You" both said at the same time as if acknowledging each other.

"You people already know each other" His father questioned.

"Yea, I met her in the morning while I was there for interview." He said.

"Hey" His bhabhi who just walked in from the kitchen looked at the girl in surprise.

Before she could say anything her husband cut her,

"Even you know her?" His brother asked mischievously.

"Of course' She joined me as an assistant today. She told.

"Oh that's great. Okay now I get it that's why you were near Gauri's cabin. You guided her there?" Pratham asked him.

"Yea actually the receptionist made her wait at a wrong place so I guided her" He told.

"That was really kind beta. Now, if you can do one more favor, please take her to the guest room upstairs." His mother instructed him.

She followed him,

"Prem" He said extending his hand.

She looked at him surprised and said "Heer" shaking hands with him.

"We didn't know our names so I thought of introducing" He said slipping his hands into his trousers' pockets.

"Sorry for leaving just like that. I found my brother there and I just went away him. Anyways congratulations!!" He said.

"That's ok and thanks a lot" She said with a smile.

He took her to the room.

"I'm really surprised Heer, you didn't want to join your father?" He asked her.

"I was never interested in it and moreover I was always interested in designing clothes so I just took this path. I'm really glad my father supported me. Last year I attended the seminar which Gauri mam gave in my college and I've decided that I'm going to start my career as her assistant. Now I'm here. I didn't know she was Lalit uncle's daughter-in-law. I've met him couple of times but had no clue about the rest of the family." She told him.

"That's great. Bhabhi is one of the best designers I've seen in recent times. You chose the right person and now that you're here she'd personally take care you excel." He assured her.

"What about you? You went for an interview in your own company." She questioned.

"I wanted to join like any other management intern. Most of my schooling and graduation was abroad so people hardly know me here. I just shifted a year back and since no one knew me I wanted to utilize the opportunity." He told her.

"Is it like a trap for the employees now?" She winked.

"Hmm' kind of. Lets' see" He smiled.

Heer started to make a presence in their lives. If his bhabhi brought the family together Heer added life to it. The dining table was a fun place with everyone sharing good things they did and funny experiences they had during the day. Earlier holidays seemed dull and boring with everyone just relaxing lazily but now they were time to go out and enjoy.

Her stay which was supposed to be for a month turned into a year as they couldn't let her go. She became an integral part of their lives. Initially he was surprised to see his mother pamper her so much but then later he got the answer. Not only their fathers, their mothers were friends too but her mother passed away when she was born.

Everything was going on fine until that day. It was his father's birthday and there was a small party thrown for family and close friends. His bhabhi and Heer were busy planning about things to be purchased before the baby's arrival. Yes, there'll a baby joining them after five months. His brother was on cloud-nine ever since he knew the news that he's going to be a father. He was giving his inputs too while he just watched them.

There was a momentary pause as Lalit grabbed everyone's attention.

"Hello everyone in few months a new member is going to enter our family. I'm sure everyone knows that but what I want to tell you is not one but there'll be two additions to our family'"

Prem and Heer nudged the parents-to-be asking if it was twins while the couple looked at each other in confusion.

"Well actually a part of the family already but why not we make it official. I take this opportunity to thank my friend though he's not here for accepting my request and making our bond even stronger. I formally welcome Heer into the Juneja family."

There was loud cheering around and even Pratham, Gauri clapped smiling widely. Heer looked like a lost deer. It seemed she didn't understand the meaning. Well even he didn't, he stood confused as people kept smiling widely.

"Prem, Heer come here" Lalit called them and they went.

"Very soon the wedding bells are going to ring in Juneja house." He took Prem and Heer's hand and placed it together. Prem and Heer stared each other in shock.

Before they could speak anything, Pratham and Gauri came and hugged them. Gayatri too blessed them and rest of them came to congratulate them one by one.

They didn't even get the opportunity to talk to each other. Later in the night Prem found Lalit in the study "Dad, what was that??" He went in screaming.

"What?" Lalit asked him cooly.

"You made the announcement just like that. You neither asked me nor Heer?" He questioned.

"What do I need to ask Prem? You and Heer are good friends already, you would make a great couple too" Lalit answered back.

"Yes dad we're good friends but this is our life. It's not business where you and Balraj uncle strike a deal and we've to collaborate. We're people dad" Prem reasoned out.

They heard some noise and saw Heer standing by the door. She had no expressions on her face.

"Uncle, dad asked you to ring as he's not able to connect to your mobile" She turned to leave while Lalit dialed the number. Prem looked at them both and then ran after Heer.

"Heer" He called out.

"Good night Prem' I need to be up early tomorrow. Have to dispatch a consignment." She left while he stood watching her go away.

The next day she wasn't there at the breakfast table. She left early he was informed. He went to office too and now that his internship ended and he joined his brother, his responsibilities grew too. He was busy all day and by the time he left home she was sleeping. Two more days passed and it became quite evident to him that she was avoiding him.

The next morning he woke up early so as to catch her.

"Good morning bhabhi" He said as he settled on the couch taking the newspaper.

"Good morning. Up so early?" She asked.

"Need to go to the office early" He winked.

"Ohh" She smiled.

"Where are others?" He asked.

"Others or Heer?" Gauri raised her eyebrow.

"Bhabii" He whined.

"Pratham went to station to drop Heer" Gauri told him.

"Station? Heer's going somewhere?" He asked.

"Yea didn't she tell you? We're opening a branch in Hyderabad. As I can't travel, she's going on my behalf. Don't worry she'll be back in a week." Gauri told him but she seemed suspicious.

"Yea she told me I just forgot but wasn't she supposed to take a flight" He didn't know about the trip but he didn't want anyone to find out so he came up with this.

"Yea she was in fact the flight is tomorrow and it would take just 2 hours or so but she cancelled the tickets and booked for train. Now it's a week-long trip. Is everything fine?" Gauri asked him in concern.

"Everything is fine bhabhi. You know Heer right, she's so excited about train journeys. Probably she wanted to spend some time alone or so." He convinced her.

"Okay, I believe you for now but in case there's a problem you know you can always talk to us" Gauri patted his cheek and left.

Prem sat there in despair. How could she do this to him? He thought she'd call him at least once but she didn't. He was so angry that he didn't want to call too.

He was never so sulky in his whole life. This one week was damn frustrating for him. She used to talk to his mom, Gauri for hours on phone but not once did she bother to call him and that hurt him.

He didn't know how the week passed but it just went away. It was Sunday morning. All of them were having breakfast when Pratham informed that Heer would be returning that evening. He told Prem to go and pick her. Prem knew Pratham found out that something was wrong between them by his behavior in the past one week. He simply agreed.

~~~

Now here he was to pick her. He couldn't hold himself at home and actually came little early but Indian trains run hardly on time. He knew why it bothered him so much to be away from her but didn't she feel the same way as him? How could she do this to them?

He lost his heart to her without planning to but by the time he had come to terms with it she left him. In a way what she did was good for them because he realized the depth of his love for her. He wouldn't delay anymore. He looked at the flowers in his hand and smiled.

Time passed as he made calls instructing about the arrangements to be done. The final announcement that the train has come was made and he went to find her. He saw her on the platform waving good-bye to a kid and a lady. His heart leapt as he saw her. Even though she looked very simple in the blue dress she wore when they met for the first time, she just seemed beautiful to him.

He hid the flowers in a bag he carried. It seemed she noticed him which is why the smile slowly started to disappear. He walked to her not caring about it as he knew by the end of the day she would have a big smile on her face.