Chapter 42 - Ek Ladki Thi
(Title Translation: There was This Girl)
"Meher!" cried Shampa as she hugged her best friend. Manmeet had just brought Meher home from the airport. "Welcome home! Let me look at you". Meher felt extremely conscious as her friend looked her over admiringly. "Hmm...it seems the good doctor did some fine tuning here and there but...Yup! It's definitely my Meher! In fact it's just amazing! It's as if nothing ever happened!"
"Thanks Shampa", said Meher quietly. "And thanks for taking me in.
"I would have been really upset if you hadn't come" smiled Shampa. "Oh and look who's been waiting to meet you". Meher looked over to see a cute little toddler peering from behind his mother's leg. "Harpreet this is your aunty Meher. And Meher you remember Harpreet don't you?"
"Yes", smiled Meher, "although when I last saw him, he was a lot tinier than this big boy".
"We're sort of going through the terrible two's", warned Shampa. "But Harry promised to be on his best behavior for your welcome today".
"Is that so?" said Meher, as she pulled the little boy towards her and scooped him up. "Well in that case, I'm very pleased to meet you Harpreet. I mean Harry. Kya aap mujhse dosti karo gay (will you be my friend)?" The little boy shook his head no. Meher pulled out a chocolate bar and held it out for him. "How about now?" she asked. Harpreet nodded and grinned as he gladly took the chocolate from Meher's hand.
"Don't tell me your going to spoil him", said Shampa.
"Thoroughly", giggled Meher.
"It's really nice to see you smile Meher", said Shampa. "Come on I'll take you to your room". Manmeet came downstairs after putting Meher's bags in her room. Meher handed Harpreet over to him and followed after Shampa.
"It's the same room you had before, so you know where everything is", explained Shampa. "Just remember to keep the door closed, especially of the bathroom. I don't want Harpreet sneaking in and splashing around in the toilet. I'm afraid that's his latest thing".
"I'll try and remember that", laughed Meher.
"Oh and I have a surprise for you," said Shampa, "look what I brought over from Ambala". She walked over to the dresser and picked up a small wooden box and handed it to Meher. "I wish I could have brought over everything, but I thought this would be special. You probably have happy little memories stored inside". Meher opened the box and the first thing she saw were the bangles Preet had gotten for her.
"And that's not all", continued Shampa. She walked over to the closet and pulled out an easel with a canvas covered by cloth. "I know how you love to paint and well...when we were over in Ambala, I found this painting of yours. Sort of like an unfinished piece. I'm not very artistic but it looks like it was going to be beautiful". Meher looked up and was surprised to see her unfinished painting of the Mandir in Kasauli.
"Anyway", continued Shampa, "I don't know what possessed me, but I brought it back for you. I thought maybe it would bring back more happy memories. Maybe you'd like to finish it".
Tears began to well up in Meher's eyes.
"What's the matter Meher?" asked Shampa worriedly. "Didn't you like my surprise? Did I say something wrong? Are you thinking of Heer and Chachee ji? Don't worry we'll find them".
"No Shampa, it's not that", said Meher. "You and cousin Manmeet have been wonderful. I guess I'm just a little tired".
"Of course", said Shampa, "you go on and get some rest. I'll see you later at dinner".
Meher closed the door behind Shampa and then quickly walked over to the painting and pulled the cloth back over it. She then walked over to the bed where the trinket box lay open. She quietly ran her fingers over the bright green bangles, before removing the heart shaped pendant from around her neck and adding it to the box. Memories...they were the last things she needed right now.
Meanwhile...
Heer was pacing back and forth in the living room. "Hmpf! Phone pe kaha tha...main seedha ghar aa raha hoon. Pichle ek ghante se intezar kar rahi hoon...aur ye saab abhi tak nahin aye", she grumbled. (Hmpf! On the phone he said he's coming straight home. I've been waiting for one hour and he's still not here).
"Heer stop pacing", said Teji. "Watching you go back and forth like that is giving me a headache. Prem ko koi kaam aa gaya hoga...bas abhi aata hi hoga (Something important must have come up at work. He'll be here soon)".
"Kaam (Work)!" cried Heer. "You don't know these business-types Ma. They never think of anything other than their work. Agar main 5 minute bhi late aati...to janab apna thobda phula ke bait jate aur kehte...Heer!...Main bauhat busy admi hoon. Tumhe time ka hisaab nahin rehta to apne paas alarm clock rakha karo. Aane dein usko. Aaj mein uska alarm bajati hoon (If I had been 5 minutes late...he would have given me a lecture...Heer...I'm a busy man...if you can't keep track of time...keep an alarm clock with you. Just Let him come home. I'll ring his alarm today)".
Just then the door bell rang. Heer quickly sat down and began to flip through a magazine. Teji got up to open the door. She shook her head and smiled at her daughter's antics. Pregnancy had sure made her moody.
"Hi Ma ji", said Prem peering over Teji's shoulder. "Is it safe?" he asked worriedly.
"Are you armed?" asked Teji. Prem held up a jar of pickles and some ice cream. "She's all yours", Teji chuckled.
"Hi sweetie", said Prem as he came and sat next to Heer. "Sorry I'm late. Something came up at work, and then there was a line at Humphry Slocombe's for the ice cream, but I got the Salted Licorice, just like you asked for".
"Eeek! Salted Licorice!" cried Heer, as she snatched the ice cream from Prem's hands, and used her index finger to scoop some into her mouth.
"I guess this means I'm forgiven", smiled Prem. "Listen Heer, we need to talk. Guess who showed up at work today?"
"Where are my pickles?" demanded Heer.
"Uh...Believe me I was as surprised as anyone", Prem continued, as he handed Heer the jar.
"Aaj bauhat ziyada kaam tha, betay (Had a hard day at work son)?" asked Teji.
"Nahin Ma ji", said Prem. "Actually, I got a surprise at work today..." Just then the doorbell rang. "And it looks like its here".
"Who could that be?" asked Heer. "And what surprise are you talking about?"
Prem motioned for Heer to wait, and then went to answer the door. There stood Preet, suitcase in hand. Prem offered his younger brother a weak smile and ushered him in.
Heer and Teji were stunned to see their visitor. "Preet" whispered Teji, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Namaste Chachee ji, Heer Bhabi", said Preet.
"I'll go and heat up dinner", said Teji quietly, as she excused herself and went to the kitchen.
Heer also got up. She paused for a minute and collected her pickles and ice cream, and left the room without saying a word.
"Maybe this wasn't such a great idea PB", sighed Preet.
"Aray tu chinta kyun karta hain? Main hoon na (Don't you worry about a thing. I'm here for you)", said Prem. "Come I'll show you your room".
Preet followed Prem to the guest room. "Ma theek hai (How is mom)?" asked Prem. "And Herman, Kuldi, Bauji?"
"Everyone's fine", said Preet.
"And...Ash?" asked Prem.
"Desperate as ever", sighed Preet. "Listen PB, are you sure Heer Bhabi is going to be alright with this? I mean, she and Teji Chachee didn't look too pleased at my showing up. I can always stay at the hotel".
"Nonsense Preet. This is as much your home as it is ours. You're welcome to stay here as long as you want", said Prem reassuringly. "And don't worry about Heer. I'll talk to her".
"I just don't want to cause any problems between you and Bhabi. She hates me as it is, and the worst part of it is, I don't even know why?" Preet sighed.
"Preet", said Prem. "Heer doesn't hate you. She's just going through a lot of mood swings right now. Pregnancy does that to women, you know".
"Whoa!" cried Preet. "Heer Bhabi is pregnant?!? You mean I'm going to be a chachu? Do Ma and Bauji know? Is that why you didn't come up for my engagement?"
"Hold on a second!" said Prem. "We just found out about 2 weeks ago. You're the first one in the family to know. And I'd appreciate it if you keep a lid on it until we're ready to tell everyone else. Now go wash up. I'll see you at the dinner table. Oh and Preet...I'd also appreciate it if you don't bring up your engagement in front of Heer and her mother".
"Right", said Preet, nodding his head in understanding. "She's probably upset she missed that along with Harman Bhaiya's wedding. Waise, abhi toh sirf announcement hi hui hai (But we've only just made an announcement). I wasn't going to make it official without the two of you there, but I know how senti women get about being a part of all these things, so don't worry I won't say a thing."
Prem left Preet to freshen up and went to his bedroom. Heer was sitting on the bed stuffing her mouth, alternating between pickles and ice cream. Prem sat down next to her and smiled softly. "Um Heer...I know you're eating for two now, but that was supposed to last you for 2 days", he said. {Silence} "You keep stuffing yourself like that and you won't be hungry for dinner". {Silence} Prem took a napkin and gently wiped a bit of ice cream from the side of Heer's mouth. "Heer, I know you're surprised to see Preet..."
"Surprised?!?" cried Heer. "Yes Prem, I'd say I was just a little surprised".
"Heer, I'm sorry", sighed Prem. "I didn't know Preet was coming to San Francisco, I swear I didn't. He just showed up at work today. Said he wanted it to be a surprise. I probably should have called and told you first, but..."
"But you didn't!" complained Heer. "You didn't because you knew how I would feel. So you told him to just show up. Heer wouldn't be able to refuse if he just showed up like that".
"No! It wasn't like that!" protested Prem. "Look Heer, Preet is going to be in San Francisco for a while. He's going to be overseeing the development of our new luxury hotel here. What was I supposed to say to him? Don't come and see me. Don't expect any guidance. I have a huge house but there isn't any room there for you so feel free to check into the nearest hotel. I'm sorry Heer, but he's my little brother, I can't do that to him. You have to let go of the past Heer. Whatever happened...you have to remember that it was an accident".
"I'm sorry Prem", said Heer. "I know it was an accident, but I can't help it. I can't help but feel that if it wasn't for Preet, my sister would be alive today, and so would my father. I mean did you even stop to consider how Ma would feel about this? Just looking at him will be a constant reminder of everything we lost".
"Alright Heer", sighed Prem. "I didn't mean for you to get upset. Your health and happiness is my utmost priority. I'll go and talk to Preet and tell him he can't stay".
"Wait Prem", said Teji as she walked into the room. "Heer, I don't want to you to put Prem in a position of having to choose between you and Preet. It wouldn't be fair. He loves you both and it would hurt him the most. He's already walked out on his family for our sake", Teji reminded Heer. "What more do you want from him?"
"But Ma...Meher", began Heer.
"Our Meher is gone Heer" said Teji quietly. "Perhaps in all of your anger you're forgetting that Meher loved Preet. If she was here...khair chodo...I came up to tell you that dinner's ready".
"Alright", sighed Heer. "He can stay, but don't expect me to be anything more than just civil".
2 weeks later...
"Hi sweetie!" said Meher as she scooped the toddler who had just run to her.
"Meher you're back", smiled Shampa. "How did it go down at the community center?"
"Great", said Meher. "I'm so glad you told me to go there. Mrs. Mathews, the director, was so welcoming, she said the center had been short on volunteers as of late, and I showed up at just the right time. Anyway she showed me around and my first assignment was reading to a group of senior citizens. We just started The Great Gatsby".
"That must have been nice for them", said Shampa.
"And for me too. I felt useful after such a long time", said Meher. "But you know I feel really sorry for the senior citizens there. I mean, they all try to be active and independent, but deep down they're all so alone. One of them joined our reading session late because she had gotten a call from her son and grandkids, who live in an another state. You should have seen the way her face had lit up. In fact I think everyone was more interested to know about her conversation than what Fitzgerald had to say. It's so different na, from our culture back home. I could never imagine abandoning my Ma and Papaji". Meher suddenly became quiet.
"Um...Uh...what else did you do?" Shampa asked quickly, trying to keep her friend from thinking depressing thoughts. "I mean you missed lunch...do you want me to heat up something for you?"
"Oh no thanks. I'm sorry I should have called, but I had lunch with Neha", said Meher.
"Neha?" asked Shampa.
"Yes. Remember Mrs. Saxena, my neighbor who used to give me art lessons?" said Meher. "Well, Neha is her niece. Small world isn't it? When I told Mrs. Mathews I was from Ambala, she told me she had another volunteer there with roots in Ambala. She introduced me to Neha, and we got to talking and that's when we discovered the link. She's a really nice girl. She works in some architect's office, but volunteers a couple of hours a week at the community center. Anyway Neha told Mrs. Mathews about my art background so she asked me to help out a couple days in the afternoons and maybe give the kids that come down there some lessons. You know a lot of kids here have parents who work and aren't home when they come home from school. So it's either TV or hanging out with friends as a time pass. The director at the community center thought that having art classes available at after school hours would give the neighborhood kids a productive outlet and help keep them out of trouble. It'll give me something to do too".
"That sounds wonderful Meher", said Shampa. "and painting again will be a great outlet for you too".
"Who said I was going to paint?" asked Meher.
"But Meher...", said Shampa.
"Was Cousin Manmeet able to find out anything new?" said Meher in an attempt to change the topic.
"No", sighed Shampa. "Just what the lawyers told him before. That Teji Chachee came to hand over the relevant documents and keys at his office in Ludhiana. There's been no contact from her since. If only someone had contacted us before hand and let us know what was happening, we would have told her there was no need for her to leave".
"I can't believe our farm has been rented out", Meher said sadly. "That place had so many memories for us and now someone else is living there. But then I guess it's for the best. I mean it's better than the farm just sitting there and collecting cobwebs".
"You okay?" asked Shampa.
"Yes", sighed Meher. "Oh...I almost forgot to tell you. Neha and I are going down to the Museum of Modern Art tomorrow, they're having an exhibit on photography from Mexico, and after that I want to go down to the wharf area and test out the digital camera Rajveer gave me. I've been meaning to since I got here.
"A digital camera? From the doctor no less...hmm", smiled Shampa. "How is he managing without you?"
Meher rolled her eyes. "It's not like you think Shampa. Rajveer bought me the camera as a going away present. I couldn't bring myself to paint again, so he thought this might be a good alternative. Anyway, we're just friends. There is nothing going on between us".
"Uh huhn", said Shampa crossing her arms. "That's what you used to say about Preet". She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. The sound of Preet's name made Meher jerk . "I'm sorry Meher. I didn't mean it...it just sort of slipped out", Shampa said immediately.
"It's alright", said Meher, as she tried to hold back her tears. "I've purged Preet and the Junejas from my life. I don't want to have anything to do with a man who I could walk right by and it wouldn't matter. Um...I'm going up to my room. I think I've got it figured out, but I still have a couple of things I need to check out in my camera's instruction booklet. I'll come down in a little while and help with dinner".
"Meher, you never read instructions", said Shampa.
"I do now", said Meher.
The Next Day...
Meher rushed into the atrium of San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art. "Hi Neha", said Meher. "I hope I'm not too late. I missed the first bus".
"It's okay", said Neha. "Listen Meher, the guided tour doesn't begin for another half-hour. I have to hand some papers over to my boss's client it'll take just 5 minutes do you mind?"
"No of course not", said Meher. "I'll just look around in the meantime". Meher walked towards a nearby exhibit on graffiti art and began to look around. Suddenly she heard a familiar voice.
"Hey Nicole it's me", said Preet. "I'm at the museum. Yes, I met the artist just like you said, but I don't know...he seemed a little weird to me. You know how these artist types are. This project is really important for me...and I don't know...I just didn't get the right vibes from him. Anyway I'm waiting for the designs, but no one from Harry's office has showed up. Yeah, I'll give him a call and see what's up with that, because I have another meeting back at the office soon."
I'm imagining things, thought Meher. It can't possibly be him. What would Preet be doing in San Francisco, and that too in a museum? He could care less about art. I better go find Neha before I go totally nuts. Meher quickly ran back towards the atrium looking for her friend. Maybe she's upstairs, she thought as she ran up the stairs, but her friend wasn't there either. Just then Meher remembered her cell phone. "Damn it Neha where are you?" she hissed into her phone.
"Meher relax. I just located our client. I'm heading back to the atrium, just meet me there in 5 minutes", said Neha.
Meher rushed back down stairs and was coming around a pillar when she crashed into Preet making them both fall. Meher and Preet were both stunned. Meher was cursing her bad luck when she felt Preet reach out and push her hair back from her face. A soft smile appeared on his face as he stared at her as if he was trying to recall something.
"Aise kyun dekh rahe ho (Why are you looking at me like that)?" Meher snapped at Preet. "It's not like it's the first time this has ever happened to us you know".
"Uh...yeah...but do you mind?" said Preet as he motioned for Meher to move. "I mean, we are in a public place. I don't want people thinking we're part of some exhibit on the battle of the sexes", said Preet.
Meher's face turned red. She quickly got off Preet, stood up and adjusted her clothes.
"Oh my God! Meher, Mr. Juneja...Are you guys all right?" cried Neha catching up to them. "Mr. Juneja I'm so sorry. Harry Rogers just called me. I was at the wrong exhibit. Here are the papers".
"Is this how Harry has all his designs delivered?" said Preet grinning at Meher. He noticed she was rubbing her wrist. "Hey are you alright?" he asked as he reached out to help her.
"Don't touch me you traitor!" cried Meher as she smacked Preet's hand and stormed out of the building.
"Ow! Traitor?! What are on earth are you talking about?" Preet called after her.
Meher walked out of the museum and onto the ramp leading to the upper deck of the waterfall display. This is so not fair! She thought. Why did he have to show up here? And why is he behaving like this? I thought he loved me! I thought if he found out I was alive he'd be elated. But he just doesn't seem to care! Apne pyar ko khone ke baad (after losing their love)...men grow beards...take to drink...but not the Great Preet Juneja...he's totally unaffected by anything! A car accident and one year! One lousy year was all it took for him to put everything we shared...all the promises we made behind and go on with his life! "Ugh!!!" She cried as she slammed her hand on the railing.
"You're not thinking of jumping are you?" asked Preet, his voice startling Meher. She turned around surprised to see him. "I mean I know it's only about 50ft up, but you're definitely bound to break a leg", continued Preet. "Besides if I was going to jump I'd pick a bridge or something. What kind of person picks a museum?"
Meher rolled her eyes. "Samajh nahin aata ke khud challaang lagaoon ya tumhe dhakka doon (I don't know whether I should jump or throw you over)!" she hissed.
"Mujhe (Me)?" asked Preet in surprise. He had only intended to find out why this girl had called him a traitor, but now she was threatening to push him off the deck! God! The kind of people that show up here on free admission days! He thought.
"Do you have any idea how much you hurt me? How could you do it?!" demanded Meher.
Okay, now she's lost it, thought Preet. Wait a minute...maybe she's one of those con artist that pretend to hurt themselves and then sue you for damages. "Really?" said Preet. "I'm sorry. But...I mean it wasn't much of a fall. Besides you fell on top of me, so if anyone should complain it should be yours truly. Other than that you can talk to my lawyer".
"What are you talking about?" asked Meher.
"I don't know? What are you talking about?...Miss...What did you say your name was?" asked Preet.
Meher's mouth fell open. "Ab yeh bhi main tumhe bataoon (You need me to tell you that)?!" she asked.
Okay, now I know for sure she's lost it, thought Preet. Think fast Preet...What did her friend just call her? "Meher? Right? Look Meher..."
"How could you Preet? How could you get engaged?" demanded Meher.
"Huhn? What does that have to do with anything? Anyway since when does my private life become public business? Just who do you think you are?" asked Preet.
"Who do I think I am?!? Ha! Main jo bhi hoon, per tum duniya ke sab se bade jerk ho (Forget about who I am...You're the world's biggest jerk)!" cried Meher.
"Nahin", Preet shook his head. "main Preet hoon aur tum bilkul pagal ho (No...I'm Preet and you're absolutely crazy)".
"Do you have any idea what kind of hell this past year has been like for me?" cried Meher, as she walked up to Preet and looked him squarely in the eyes. "Of course not...why would you? You don't even care! Main tumse nafrat karti hoon Preet Juneja! Nafrat (I hate you Preet Juneja! Just hate you)!" Meher ran off leaving a bewildered Preet behind.
Later that night at Preet's office...
Preet had fallen asleep at his desk while working. A young girl's voice echoed in his mind.
Main tumse nafrat karti hoon Preet Juneja! (I hate you re Juneja!)
Tum soch bhi nahin sakte...us say bhi hazar gunna ziyada (Even more than you can ever imagine)!
I wouldn't marry you even if you were the last man on earth!
Preet woke up with a startle just in time to see his friend enter his office.
"Here Preet", said Gaurav, as he handed Preet 2 large books and plopped down on the sofa on one side of the office. "The things I do for you, man! Do you know how upset Sam was? She was so stressed about a meeting she has in the morning with an important client. Itni mushkil se toh usse neend ayi thi...and then you phoned. I'm afraid I'm gonna have to camp out on your sofa for the rest of the night."
"Sorry Gaurav", said Preet apologetically as he began to rifle through the books Gaurav had brought. "You're a true friend. And I'll call Sam and apologize to her first thing in the morning".
"Han per itni bhi kya qiyamat aa gayi thi (Yeah but ...you made it seem like it was the end of the world)...so much so that you had me get out of bed in the middle of the night and look for our high school and college year books? Who are you looking for?" asked Gaurav.
"Ek ladki thi (There was this girl)...", said Preet.
"Oh! So you put my marriage on the line for a girl?" said an exasperated Gaurav. "Preet...tum bhi na! Lalit Uncle just recently announced your engagement...ab toh sudhar ja (grow up)".
"Aray nahin yaar (No man)", said Preet. "It's not like that. Look, I ran into this girl at the museum earlier today. I mean literally...we collided...and she fell on top of me. In fact it's the second time it's happened with the exact same girl".
"Coincidence?" said Gaurav.
"Of course...at least that's what I thought", said Preet, "But then she turns around and tells me she hates me!"
"What?" said Gaurav.
"Yeah", said Preet. "I mean no one hates me...except for maybe Heer Bhabi, but that's just her hormones going haywire. I mean Preet Juneja and the word hate just don't go together. You know I don't remember anything that happened in the last few years before the accident, so I thought if I looked up old classmates in our yearbooks, maybe I'll find a connection. There's something about this girl that I just can't seem to get out of my mind".
"She was that beautiful?" asked Gaurav.
"It was more than that", said Preet. "I had no clue who she was, but she knew me. Her eyes...there was so much pain and hurt in them. And the way she looked at me before she left...I'll never forget it. It made me feel like I was responsible for that pain.
"Forget about her Preet, just chalk it up to PMS. Besides, you're engaged remember", said Gaurav, stifling a yawn.
"Not officially", smiled Preet.
Gaurav glared at Preet.
"Just kidding yaar", said Preet. "Waise bhi woh mere type ki nahin thi. Bilkul pagal aur bechari si thi (In any case, she wasn't even my type. She was nuts. I actually felt sorry for her)".
Preet watched Gaurav settle into the couch, then turned his attention towards the yearbooks. Just what was it about that girl that was making her so hard to forget?
Hope you all liked it 😛. Please don't forget to leave your comments or at least hit the like button. Thanks again for your support.
Credit: Heer's alarm clock dialogue is adapted from Samadhi.
Also a special mention. As most of us know...Sushant is soon going to be making his bollywood debut in Abhishek Kapoor's next project based on a Chetan Bhagat novel. I'd like to encourage everyone interested, to join other Sushant fans at his Fan Club (#6), for the latest up to date news and discussions. The link is below:
Also for all those who loved Preet, Meher & the rest of the KDMHMD gang...please help increase their rank by taking the time out to comment on their profiles. Again no compulsion but a humble request...the choice is yours. Thanks again. 😃
Chapter 43 Preview: Preet and Meher keep running into each other.
Link to next chapter:
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/55437741 Edited by Fatima_Q - 10 years ago
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