FF-I like the way it hurts-1/11ch17pg58+NOTE pg 59 - Page 34

Being intimate with a stranger always leaves you with a sense of guilt so usually most people just pull up their pants and run for it, but what do you do when that stranger is your spouse? You've done it, now you've got to live with it!

For Heer waking up and feeling sore was weird, she realized she was undressed and panicked. What had happened? Why were her legs feeling wobbly? She was late for work, now she'd have to face the rush hour madness in the DLR, probably would have to skip breakfast too, she opened her eyes and was shocked to see the unfamiliar surroundings. What had happened to her room? Where was she? She turned her right and noticed a man sleeping on his back, he was also in his birthday suit. She freaked out, where was she? What had she done?

It took a while for things to register, Heer groaned when she realized where she was. She didn't have to go to work, she was in India, on vacation, and she was married. The man next to her was Prem, the guy she was married to, she'd done 'it' with him and didn't even know him, her legs felt weird and her head was hot, she thought she had a fever but realized it was probably the after effects of everything that had happened in the last 24 hours.

She felt she'd need a crane to drag her to the bathroom. All she wanted to do was go back to bed but she realized it wasn't possible as she was already late, it was 9 a.m. what would her in-laws think of her? She somehow made it to the bathroom and ran a hot shower. The steam from it helped her ease a little and the fog around her brain disappeared. She wondered where her relationship with Prem stood? What was their status quo? More importantly, how were they to move on from here? She wished she'd fallen in love before getting married being with a stranger definitely wasn't going to be easy.

She kept rehearsing lines on how to greet him while in the shower and while dressing and realized it was all to no avail as he was still fast asleep, she'd have to wake him up to talk to him. But did she have to wake him up or go out all by herself and he'd come when he wanted to, it was his house after all. Heer was in a state of dilemma when he greeted her with a groggily mumbled 'morning' She hadn't realized that he would just wake up and the shock of the sudden greeting put together with the awkwardness thrust her further into a state of confusion and she realized he'd made his way to the bathroom before she could even respond. Figures, she thought, it's always wham bam with the men. Why would he feel awkward? What does he care about? It's his house, his bedroom, his turf. I'm the one who's got to deal with the strangers, strange surroundings and the strange, strange man!

Prem stood in the shower running his hands through his hair. He'd woken up and realized she was not in bed. As he recalled the night's events he couldn't help but think how perfect his wife was. Her skin was like satin, no, probably softer, he could still smell vanilla and roses, he could still smell her and her smell was enough to turn him on, make him feel good. He then frowned as he realized he'd now have to talk to her. The women he'd been to bed with before had either been acquaintances or one night stands that went their way after a passionate encounter. This was different, he didn't know her but she was his wife so he'd decided he'd get to know her before forming a physical relationship but hadn't been able to control himself and now, he'd have to know her after he'd bedded her. He'd turned around and seen her dressed, her hair wet from the shower, thankfully she had her back to him. He'd quickly retrieved his track pants from the pile of clothes that lay scattered and hurried off to the bathroom.

He knew he'd acted like a chicken and he knew she was as scared as him, if not more. But this was as new for him as it was for her and she wasn't making things easier for him. He came out of the shower and realized she was not in the room, perfect, he thought, at least he wouldn't have to face her all by himself now.

Kulraj had rescued Heer. She'd been feeling fidgety when she heard a knock on the door, Kulraj asked her to come downstairs if she was ready as everyone was waiting, PB could come later and Heer had gladly joined her sister-in-law. Once downstairs, Heer realized the situation was no better, the Junejas and their extended family who still hadn't gone back to where they came from were waiting to grill her, like she was a criminal! The men patted her head and the women grabbed her face and pulled her cheeks saying the 'glow' on her face said she'd a satisfying night. Heer was fuming, her back hurt from having to bend over and touch so many feet and the 'glow' the women talked about was anger, what went behind closed doors was private business! Who were they to question her and judge how her night had been. Suddenly she panicked, a mausi ji laughingly asked Gayatri to count the days till her daughter-in-law got pregnant! Heer wanted to smack the mausi and slap herself, how stupid had she been! She knew she didn't want to get pregnant and she'd had unprotected sex with him! She sighed in relief when Gayatri said something about hurrying up with breakfast because Prem had to take Heer to her mother's.

Later at the Maan's

Prem had brought Heer to her mother's and gone home after a tea session with her family saying he'd come to pick her up in the evening. Heer grabbed Maya when she had a moment and her friend was at her idiotic best that morning

Maya- woah Heer! I didn't know you were so desperate to tell me about the night's events!

Heer gritted her teeth- don't test my patience Maya, I need help

Maya- what? You want a divorce? Was he that bad?

Heer rolled her eyes- will you please listen to me?

Maya- sure, go on

Heer- we, er, we did it

Maya was genuinely confused- what did we {she pointed to herself and Heer} do?

Heer was exasperated- not us you idiot, me and Prem, we did it

Maya- did WHAT?

Heer went pink as she said- we slept together

Maya squealed in delight- how was it?

Heer- that's not important, I don't want to get pregnant

Maya- didn't you tell him so?

Heer- nooo, it just happened

Maya- and he obviously didn't use anything?

Heer- of course he didn't! why else would I be asking you for help?

Maya- you silly girl! You should have been careful!

Heer- oh Maya, tell me me what to do, I'm so scared

Maya- don't be silly, there's the morning after pill

Heer- I don't have it

Maya- but your kaki ji from Ambala has some in her pouch

Heer- you went through kaki ji's pouch?

Maya- don't get worked up, she asked me to fetch her an aspirin this morning, I saw it then, I guess kaka ji keeps her busy {Maya snickered}

Heer rolled her eyes- that's gross Maya! I don't want to think about what they do behind closed doors

Maya- why? Only because she's 40 and he's 45? Wait till you're that age, how stay here, let me get you that pill

Heer sighed as Maya walked off to get the pill, her friend was weird, she had issues but Heer knew she could always count on her.

A week whizzed by and Prem and Heer were busy attending post marriage dinner parties with friends and family and packing their stuff, they hardly got to spend any time alone as their siblings surrounded them whenever they were free saying it was only a couple of weeks before they went away. They were due to fly in five days and Heer couldn't wait to get back to London. She loved India but she realized she was not cut for it, especially now that she was married. She'd have to live with the Junejas and boy were they a noisy bunch!

It was a rare, quiet evening at home with the family when Preet burst through the front door shouting, 'got it, I got it!' Lalit choked on his tea and looked up at Preet in anger

Lalit- what's your problem? Can't you for once behave like a normal human being? You nearly gave me a heart attack

Preet- for once, I don't care what you have to say

Lalit- you never did! At least you admit it now

Preet-why are you not at work chand ji? Did the bank finally realize how irritating you are and give you an early retirement?

Lalit gritted his teeth and shouted- Gayatri, tell his idiot to get out of my sight before I break this tea cup on his head

Preet- and sleep on the living room couch tonight? In case you're forgetting, that's ma's favorite set

Gayatri- Preet, please stop irritating your dad. You don't have to create a ruckus

Preet- but I have news for you guys!

Everyone looked up and waited for him to continue and Prem spoke when he didn't- go on!

Preet- I got accepted into the MBA program at FMS!

Lalit- I will not allow you to'{he trailed off as he realized what Preet had said the whole family was in a state of shock}

Prem- you WHAT?

Harman- did you just say MBA?

Gayatri was the first to rush forward and hug him- I knew you'd do it someday! Everyone of you used to say my son is useless! See, he's finally done it

Prem- are you serious Preet?

Preet- yup! 100%, here's the letter saying I made it! Have a look, classes start in 3 weeks

Lailt grabbed the envelope from Prem and put on his glasses to have a read, he was stunned, the whole family was shocked. Preet had finally decided to get into the post grad program and he'd done it all by himself! They eagerly listened as Preet told them how he'd taken the crash course and applied secretly but he said he'd done it because he wanted to be a part of his band without the family putting up and opposition. He skipped the bit about Meher as he didn't think the family needed to know about it, he would take her to lunch and thank her personally later.

Preet hadn't forgotten the girl he'd met after the entrance exam and hoped she was also into the marketing stream and had been accepted by the university.

Calcutta

A girl jumped and shouted with glee after reading the letter that had come in through the post for her. She had been accepted into the MBA program in Delhi. This was it! Her freedom! Her happiness! She went to the dining room where her family sat drinking tea and munching samosas and felt guilty for being happy that she'd finally be able to get out of their clutches. They were family after all, but she wished they understood her a bit better.

The girl smiled and said- mom, dad, I got it, I got into the MBA program!

Her family looked up, Balwant Maan and his wife Daljeet couldn't say they were happy or proud. They wanted Ashlesha to stay back in Calcutta and get married to a nice, well to do guy. Her brothers Gurinder and Ranvijay were less tolerant, they frowned and fumed and mumbled something about it being not too late and she should just stay back.

Gurinder's wife Gurmeet was the worst among the lot, she had problems with Ashlesha's stay in a hostel and told the family about a cousin who'd stayed in a hostel but gotten herself pregnant before the first semester was over.

Daljeet decided that Ashlesha would only be allowed to go on one condition, she'd have to stay in Balraj's house under his and Teji's watchful eye. Ash couldn't believe her luck, she barely knew her uncle and his family and thought they were like her own family so she tried to resist but was given two options in turn, she could either take it and get a degree or leave it and stay back in Calcutta. She obviously chose the former.

Balwant thought it wasn't nice to ask Balraj to keep his daughter there especially because he'd refused to attend Heer's wedding and his brother was now related to the Junejas but didn't have much of an option as Daljeet called Balraj without consulting him and Balwant's elder brother said he and his family would be quite happy to accommodate Ash so that was it. Ashlesha Maan could go to Delhi but she'd have to stay with her uncle.

Five days later in Delhi

Heer and Prem were flying out to London today, they'd been extremely busy the last two weeks and as they sat in the plane they realized they were on their own now. They had no family to hide behind and this is the way things would be from now on. Unfortunately for both of them, they couldn't say they were happy.