Chapter 20 - The Bachelor Party
Another week had gone by. Meher had been talking to Heer on the phone. But Heer had no positive news to report. Meher had contemplated whether she should tell her sister that she had met Preet, but then decided against it. After all, she hadn't been able to get any information out of him either. If only she could some how, meet him again. Well, she thought, he said he was supervising events at Sam's wedding, so I'm bound to run into him. I just hope I don't fall on top of him again.
"Hurry up Meher!" called Shampa. "Sam will be here any minute!" "I'm coming I'm coming!" cried Meher as she ran down the stairs. Shampa looked Meher over. "You're going to a bachelorette party dressed like that?" asked Shampa.
"Why what's wrong with the way I'm dressed?" asked Meher. She was wearing a pretty pink shalwar kameez and dupatta with silver work on it and her hair was pulled up in a neat bun.
"Nothing", sighed Shampa. "It's just that we're not in Ambala anymore".
"I know where we are", replied Meher, "But this is how I am take it or leave it".
"Okay okay", laughed Shampa.
Just then they heard a car's horn honking. "Oh that must be Sam. Now Meher, here's the number of the restaurant Mannie and I are meeting his client at. And mama is going to be at the kittie party at the Desai's so I'm giving you the spare key. Have fun and don't do anything I wouldn't do". Meher hugged Shampa and ran out to meet Sam who was waiting in the car.
"Ready?!" asked Sam.
"Yes, I guess", said Meher. She had heard of such parties in the movies, but this was the first time she was going to one. What would Papaji and Mama think if they found out? "So, this is how you guys do Indian weddings here?" asked Meher, "a bachelorette party in between Mehndi and Sangeet".
"No", laughed Sam, "But it's just something some of my American friends have put together for me. Besides Gaurav and his guy friends are having one too. In fact we'll be at the same place across the hall. No harm done. So just relax and have fun".
"Okay", smiled Meher.
The scene at the party immediately reminded her of what she had experienced at the 'Elevate', only this time it was ladies only. Loud music was blaring, and alcohol was flowing. Sam was quickly pulled away by some of her other friends, and Meher suddenly found herself alone and feeling very much out of place.
"What on earth are you doing here?" asked a familiar voice. Meher turned around to come face to face with Ashlesha and Maya.
Great, thought Meher, first Preet and now this dynamic duo. "Hi Ashlesha, Maya", said Meher as she forced herself to smile.
"Meher Darling", said Maya with fake sweetness. "What brings you to this neck of the woods? A little bit like a fish out of water aren't you?"
"Hmpf!" cried Ashlesha. "Preet ka peecha karte karte yahan tak pohnch gayi kya!" (Don't tell me you followed Preet all the way here!)
"Excuse me?" said Meher as she rolled her eyes and turned to leave.
"Oh come on Ash, be nice", said Maya. "Meher you can't leave us right now. The fun's just about to begin, and we so need to catch up on old times. Here, let me buy you a drink".
"I don't drink", said Meher.
"Right, I meant some juice". Maya winked at Ashlesha as she pulled Meher into a booth on one side.
"So, Meher, how's your family?" asked Maya. "Heer and that cute little cousin of yours...what was her name?"
"Vishaka", said Meher. "Look I think I should find Sam".
"Sure", said Ashlesha, as she put down the drinks she had just brought from the bar. "But first finish your juice". Meher looked at her glass suspiciously. After the way these two had ditched her in Delhi, she wasn't exactly trusting of them.
"Um..I'm really not that thirsty", said Meher.
"Hey Ashlesha did you see Preet?" asked Maya. "I wonder if Prem is going to be here soon?"
The mention of Prem's name made Meher's ears perk up. "Do you know if Prem ji is going to be here?" she asked. Maya pointed to the glass of orange juice in front of Meher. Meher took a deep breath and took a sip. "Yuck!" she said. "It tastes kind of funny".
"Hmm", said Ashlesha. "It's from concentrate you're probably used to picking the fruit yourself and squeezing it by hand".
Meher took another deep breath and quickly gulped her drink down. "You were saying something about Prem" she said.
"Oh Maya, I think she needs a refill", said Ashlesha as she motioned to a waiter to bring another drink.
"No, I'm fine", said Meher.
"Right", said Maya as she took another drink from the waiter and placed it in front of Meher. "So, what I was saying is...where there is Preet...Prem is not that far behind. He's actually away on business in London...but Gaurav is an old friend of Preet's so, Prem and the rest of the family just may come to the actual wedding ceremony".
"Really?!" squealed Meher. She quickly downed her second drink only to have another one placed before her by Maya.
"Do you know why he left Ambala all of a sudden?" asked Meher. She was starting to feel a little dizzy. All of a sudden there were loud cheers as male dancers entered the hall. Ashlesha and Maya quickly abandoned Meher just as she had downed her third glass of 'juice'.
Meher watched with eyes widening as cheering women stuffed money into the skin tight pants the male dancers were wearing. One of the dancers stopped by Meher's table and started to dance seductively in front of her. Meher made a run for it just as he was about to unbuckle his belt.
The heat from the crowd, loud music and colored lights began to add to Meher's feeling of dizziness. She was trying to find her way to the exit when she ran into Sam. "Meher are you alright?" asked Sam.
"Yeah", said Meher as she held her head. "I mean no...I mean I think I want to go home".
"Sure", said Sam. She led Meher to the lobby and sat her down on the sofa there. "Look Meher, I can't leave the party right now, but I'll go and call you a cab. Stay here until I come back okay".
"Okay!" said Meher rather loudly. Sam looked at Meher. She sure was acting funny. No, she thought, Meher doesn't drink. As soon as Sam left Meher remembered that she left her purse with the house key back inside the hall. I'll just go back inside and get it, she thought.
Meher stumbled back into the hall. Her mind was really fogging up, she thought, because all of the girls were looking like guys.
Just then two young women in skimpy dance costumes walked up to her. "You must be be Anjali's replacement. You're late!" said one of them.
"Yeah", said the other. "You took like forever to get here! Come on the cake is waiting, and what's with this behanji outfit? We're not doing strip-tease tonight, I mean the groom's fiance is across the hall."
"What...what are you talking about?" cried Meher "And where are you taking me?"
Preet walked up on the stage and took the microphone in his hand. "Okay guys! We all know that our good friend Gaurav Sherma is getting married in a few days. He's a really lucky guy because Sam's a beautiful girl inside and out, and she's stuck with Gaurav through thick and thin. But tonight Sam's not here...I mean she's across the lobby in the other hall...And she's been open minded enough this evening to let us celebrate the last few days and nights of freedom of our good friend. So Gaurav this one's for you!"
Preet concluded his speech and walked over to the bar and ordered a Coke, as female dancers started to come out onto the stage. Colored lights started blinking and focusing on a huge cake that had just been rolled in.
The song "Laila main Laila" started playing as the top of the cake popped open and confetti flew into the air. Preet almost choked on his drink when he saw a very confused looking Meher stick her head out of the cake.
"Meher?!" he exclaimed in shock. Preet tried to make it back to the stage, only to be pushed back by the crowd of young men. Two guys took Meher by her hands and helped her out of the cake.
"Where am I?" she asked.
"Hey Laila, how about a dance?" asked a guy as he danced his way up close to Meher. Another young man yanked Meher's dupatta making it fall. She bumped into another guy causing her hair to fall open. "Here sweetheart, have a drink", offered yet another guy.
"Oh...No thanks!" cried Meher helplessly, as she was forced to down the drink.
The alcohol and environment were starting to get to her even more now and she began to sway to the music much to the joy of the crowd. Meher kicked off her shoes and started dancing and spinning around when all of a sudden she slipped. She closed her eyes fully expecting to feel the impact of the floor against her back, when instead she felt herself being caught by two strong arms.
Meher opened her eyes to find herself staring into Preet's brown eyes that were full of concern. "Preet", she whispered as she smiled and put her hand lovingly on his cheek.
"Meher! What do you think you're doing?!" asked Preet. He leaned in close and smelled her breath. "Tum ne pee hoi hai?!" (Are you drunk?)
"Oops!" giggled Meher as she covered her mouth with both hands.
"Hey Majnu, zara humko bhi bari de na (Hey Romeo how about giving us a chance)", said a young man putting his hand on Preet's shoulder. Preet glared angrily at the man, causing him to pull his hand back.
"There's been a mistake", said Preet, "this girl is not one of the dancers we hired. Come on Meher, let me take you home".
"But I want to dance!" cried Meher as she freed herself from Preet's grip and tried to go back to the dance floor. Preet rolled his eyes and scooped up a protesting Meher over his shoulder and carried her out.
"Put me down!" cried Meher as Preet carried her out and made her stand on the curbside. "What do you think you're doing?!" she cried.
"What am I doing?!" cried Preet. "What do you think you were doing?! Popping out of a cake at a bachelor party! And you've been drinking!"
"I have not!" argued Meher, taking a step towards Preet and stumbling as he caught her again.
Preet sat Meher down on the curb and told her not to move as he called Sam on her cell phone. Sam had been sick with worry looking for Meher, and was much relieved to get a call from Preet letting her know that she was alright. She gave him Meher's address so that he could take her home. Preet hung up and turned around only to find that Meher was gone. He looked around frantically and saw a bare-footed figure clad in pink running down the hill. "Oh God help me!" He prayed as he ran after Meher.
Meher: Hmmm Hmmm Hmmm Hmmm Hmmm Hmmm
La la la la la la la...La la la la la la la
(Meher stops running and Preet catches up to her)
Meher: Zara sa jhoom loon main
Preet: Na re na re na
Meher (spinning around): Zara sa ghoom loon main
Preet: Aray na re na re na
Meher (grabbing Preet by his shirt and pulling him close): Aa tujhe choom loon main
Preet (smiling and releasing his shirt from Meher's hold): Aray na re baba na!
Meher (running down the curb again): Main chali, banke hawa
Preet (running after her): Rabba mere, Mainu bacha!
Meher (stumbling and Preet catching her again): Zara sa jhoom loon main
Preet: Aray na re na re na
Meher: Zara sa ghoom loon main
Preet: Aray na re na re na
Meher (cupping Preet's face in her hands): Aa tujhe choom loon main
Preet (pointing to people staring at them): Aray na re baba na!
Meher (running down the curb towards the waterfront): Main chali, banke hawa
Preet (running after her): Rabba mere, Mainu bacha!
(Meher reaches the water and runs into it and starts splashing around with Preet standing by the waters edge waving at her as if pleading with her to come out)
Meher : Thandi thandi pawan, Jalta hai yeh badan
(She grabs Preet and pulls him into the water with her)
Jee chahta hain bana loon tujko apna sajan
(Meher pulls Preet close to her)
Hua nahin yeh pehle kabhi
Meri chal badal gayi abhi abhi
(She pushes Preet into the water, sticks her tongue out at him and runs off)
Main chali ban ke hawa!
Preet (Looking up at the sky): Rabba mere mainu bacha!
(Meher running with Preet running after her)
Meher: Zara sa jhoom loon main
Preet: Aray Na re na re na
Meher (spinning around): Zara sa ghoom loon main
Preet (ducking as Meher spins around and almost slaps him): Aray na re na re na
Meher (blowing Preet a kiss): Aa tujhe choom loon main
Preet (getting frustrated): Aray na re baba na!
(Preet decides to turn the tables on Meher, and grabs her gently by the hair and pulls her to him)
Preet: Jaati hai tu kahan
Janeman jane jaan
Ladki hai tu khoobsurat.
Ladka main nawjawan
(Preet hugs Meher tightly):
Tujhe gale laga loon Aa,
Palkhon main bitha loon aa.
Ho gaya...mujhe nasha
Meher (breaking free from Preet's grip with her eyes widening): Rabba mere mainu bacha!
Preet (walking towards Meher): Zara sa jhoom loon main
Meher: Na re na re na
Preet: Zara sa ghoom loon main
Meher: Aray Na re na re na
Preet: Aa tujhe choom loon main
Meher: Na re baba na
Preet: Ho gaya mujhe nasha
Meher (As Preet scoops her up into his arms): Rabba mere mainu bacha!
Preet managed to carry a very exhausted Meher to a curb nearby and hail a cab. He gently sat her down in the cab and instructed the driver where to go. Meher locked her arm with Preet's and snuggled into his chest trying to find a comfortable spot to rest her weary head. Preet carefully put his arm around Meher and smiled as he felt her soft breathing against his chest. If I could die and go to heaven...this would be it, he thought.
Soon the taxi drove up to the Mann's residence. Preet carried Meher to the door, and rang the bell with his elbow. Inside Shampa and Manmeet were frantic with worry. Sam had called them more than 2 hours ago saying Meher was coming home, and yet she had not come. Shampa opened the door. Her mouth fell open, when she saw a sleeping Meher in the arms of Preet Juneja.
"What happened?" asked Manmeet as Preet walked into the house. "Is she all right? Why is she all wet? Shampa, I told you letting her go alone like this wasn't a good idea. What if something had happened? What would I have said to Balraj Chacha and Teji Chachee?!"
"She's alright", said Preet reassuringly. "Umm...Iska kamra kahan hain?" he asked Shampa. Shampa still couldn't believe Preet Juneja was standing in her living room with her best friend in his arms. She smiled and motioned him to follow her upstairs. Preet carried Meher to her room and gently laid her on her bed. He was still staring at Meher's sleeping figure, when Shampa cleared her throat.
"She's okay isn't she?" asked Shampa. "I mean Sam called like 2 hours ago and I was so scared...".
"She's fine", interrupted Preet. "We..uh..took a slight detour on the way home. You should just let her rest now...but I think she'll need some black coffee in the morning". Preet took one last look at Meher and then excused himself as he had to leave.
What is going on between these two? wondered Shampa, as she watched Preet leave and then turned to look back at her friend.
Hope you all liked it. Please leave your comments, or atleast hit the like button. 😛
Chapter 21 Preview: Preet and Meher's "first date". Daljeet Chachee's entry.
Edited by Fatima_Q - 10 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Debate Mansion
Parineeti
Chakravarti Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan
