Chapter 14 - Another Juneja
Meher spent the next few days trying her best to dodge Manmeet or Mannie as he liked to be called, while Chachee put all of her efforts into bringing them together.
"I don't get it!" cried Meher, as she and Heer were putting out laundry to dry on the line one morning. "They say actions speak louder than words. And I think my actions have been loudly screaming 'NOT INTERESTED!' but he seems to be determined! And Chachee is always bucking him up with false assurances. Uff! Sometimes I wish I could wring both of their necks!"
"Meher!" exclaimed Heer pointing to the 3 people walking up to them. It was Chachee and Vishaka, followed closely by Manmeet.
"Here you are Meher!" cried Manmeet. "I've been looking all over for you".
"Really?" said Meher acting shocked. "I wonder what for".
"Meher!" said Kuljeet Chachee, " Your mother wants some things from the market, and Manmeet has graciously agreed to accompany you".
"Um...Chachee...I'm really busy, maybe Vishaka can go".
"Oh sure", said Vishaka, "I don't mind".
"Shut up Vishaka", hissed Chachee under her breath. "Meher I insist you go right now!"
"Actually Chachee", interrupted Heer, "I need some things from the market too, and it is such a lovely day. Why don't we all go?"
"Thank you Di", mouthed Meher. Chachee wasn't too happy with Heer's idea, but she didn't want to push her luck too hard with Meher. "I hope you know we'll have to walk about 1-1/2 miles each way", said Meher.
"That's OK", said Manmeet grinning widely at Meher. "I run more than that everyday on my treadmill. That's why I'm in such great shape". Meher rolled her eyes and led the way.
At the market place, the girls had just come out of a store when Vishaka spotted some young army officers across the street. "Meher, Heer Didi...look...officers!"
" It's just Gurinder and his friends", said Meher. The wind was blowing and she was having difficulty managing the packages she was holding. Where is that stupid Manmeet?, she thought. At least he could help. She turned to see Manmeet looking at his reflection in a shop window and finger combing his hair. Figures, thought Meher.
Just then a gust of wind came and blew Meher's dupatta away. She stared helplessly as it blew across the street and landed on the face of a young man who had just joined the officers standing with Gurinder. He pulled it off and looked over at Meher and smiled.
"Who is that?" asked Vishaka, pointing to the young man of medium built and height, with light colored hair. "Isn't he handsome? Oh how I love a man in uniform!"
"Vishaka!" cried Heer, "Don't point and for heaven's sake keep your voice down...They'll hear you".
Sure enough Gurinder saw them and ran over to greet them, followed by the new young man. "Hi girls! Hi Heer!" said Gurinder smiling at Heer. Gurinder had a thing for Heer, but she never gave him a lift. Growing up he had a violent streak in him, and was always getting into trouble. His family finally got fed up and forced him to join the army, hoping the hard lifestyle would discipline him.
"Meet my friend Viren. He just joined our regiment. We're on a 3 day leave from our posting in Ludhiana, so I brought Viren home with me. And Viren, these are the Mann sisters. Heer, Meher...and cousin Vishaka. The 3 most beautiful girls in Ambala".
"Aap ki amanat (I believe this belongs to you)", said Viren with a warm smile as he handed Meher her dupatta back. Meher's face turned red as she smiled back and took her dupatta.
Manmeet, who by now was feeling like a neglected side-dish, cleared his throat and said, "Ahem!"
"Oh!" said Meher. "I'm sorry, I totally forgot. This is our cousin Manmeet. He's visiting from the U.S."
The men exchanged greetings and Gurinder and Viren invited the Mann's to join them for sugar cane juice. Manmeet was not too happy about the entrance of these 2 young men into the picture. He had been thinking of a way to get some alone time with Meher, but Vishaka quickly accepted their invitation. The group had just sat down with their drinks, when a jeep stopped across the street.
"Heer!" cried Prem, exiting the jeep. "I thought I saw you. We were just on our way to your house to see you. It's been so many days and I was wondering how you...". Prem stopped dead in his tracks.
From the other side of the jeep, Preet came out and walked over to Prem. "Kya hua PB, why did you suddenly stop?" He too stopped dead in his tracks. Meher looked at Preet and Prem and followed their gaze. They were looking directly at Viren in a state of shock.
Viren stood up with a slight smile and nodded at Preet and Prem. "Gentlemen!" he offered in a cold tone of voice. "Would you like to join us for a drink?"
"Teri toh! (Damn you!)" cried Preet as he made a dash for Viren clenching his fists, his face turning red with anger. Prem grabbed Preet from behind.
"Preet! Preet calm down!" cried Prem.
"How dare you?!" shouted Preet "How dare you show your face!" he said as he took a swipe at Viren, causing his drink to spill.
Meher and Heer were shocked at all that was transpiring before them. A small crowd of people had begun to gather around to see what was going on.
"Janay do Preet!" reasoned Prem. "He's not worth it! Neither is the bad publicity!" Prem pulled a struggling Preet back into the jeep. He smiled weakly at Heer, and then drove away without saying another word.
"What was that all about?" Meher wondered out loud.
"I'm sorry for all the commotion, and the spilled drinks", said Viren.
"It's okay", said Meher, "but I wonder what got Preet so rattled".
"Do you know Preet very well?" asked Viren cautiously.
Meher paused and thought about all of the times she had fallen on top of Preet. "Not really", she said. "I mean I spent 2 days in the same house with him and his friends, and I was really glad to leave".
"But Prem and his sister Kulraj are really sweet", added Heer quickly.
"I guess I should introduce myself more formally", said Viren. "My full name is Viren Juneja. Meher's mouth fell open and she and Heer exchanged surprised looks. "There was a time when Preet, Herman, Prem and I were really close...almost like real brothers. But I shouldn't trust myself on that. As you just saw, we're not exactly on friendly terms. After what Preet's done to me'" Viren trailed off as if lost in thought. A look of sadness took over his previously cheerful face.
"I don't mean to pry", said Meher, "but what has Preet done to you?"
Viren was about to say something, when a group of officers in a jeep stopped by and yelled, "Gurinder! Viren! Come on let's go!"
"I'm sorry Viren", said Gurinder, "but you'll have to continue another time".
Meher desperately wanted to know what Viren's story was. She thought quickly. "If you're still in Ambala, would you like to have breakfast or some tea with us tomorrow?" she asked.
"That's really sweet of you Meher", said Viren with a soft smile. "I can't remember when was the last time I had a home cooked meal". Meher smiled back. There was something about him...his smile...or the sadness she had seen in his eyes, that was drawing Meher to him.
"Yeah, we'll be there!" said Gurinder smiling at Heer.
Oh no! Thought Meher. I totally forgot about him.
As soon as the officers had left, Heer whacked Meher on the head. "Ow!" cried Meher. "What was that for?!"
"Gurinder!" hissed Heer and started her walk home.
Later that night Meher lay awake in her bed replaying the day's events over and over again in her mind. Viren was a Juneja!! But he didn't seem rich like them...just a poor, entry level soldier. And why did Preet react the way he did? Then again why did Preet do anything the way he did? I have to get to the bottom of this, thought Meher. After all if Prem is going to become my Jiju as everyone is hoping, I have to know what kind of a family my Di is marrying into.
Then she thought of how the wind had blown her dupatta and landed it right on Viren's face---full filmy andaaz main (style). "Aap ki amanat". Meher blushed as she remembered his words, then shook her head and turned to go to sleep.
Chapter 15 - Viren's Tale
Morning could not come soon enough for Meher. She was the first one up, and soon had the entire house up and running around for the guests they would be having. By 9 am, she had completed all her morning chores, made all the parathas, squeezed the juice, and scrambled all the eggs so that they were ready to go in the pan---but no guests came. "Maybe he's not coming", said Meher gloomily.
"Don't worry", said Heer, "If Gurinder has anything to do with it, they'll be here". Just then they heard men's voices in the living room. Meher ran to see who it was, but it was only Manmeet, Balwant Chacha and her Papji.
"Beta, nashta laga do. (Please get the breakfast ready). I'm starving and I have to go back to the fields soon", said Balraj.
"Ji Papaji", said Meher, and was turning to go when she heard someone say---"Are we too late to join you?" Meher's face lit up as she saw Viren and Gurinder standing at the front door.
After Gurinder had introduced him to the elder Manns, Viren took a step towards Meher and pulled out a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. "Some pretty flowers for a very pretty young lady", he said smiling at Meher. Meher blushed, but before she could take them, Vishaka grabbed the flowers from Viren's hands.
"They're beautiful!" she said. "Don't the yellow ones match my outfit?"
"That's why we're late", offered Gurinder. "Viren insisted on stopping and buying them. I would have just picked out a ready made arrangement". Of course you would have, thought Heer. "But", continued Gurinder, "Viren picked out each flower and had this bouquet specifically made to his taste".
"Thank you", said Meher, smiling shyly.
"Yes thank you", said Vishaka. "I'll go put them in some water".
After breakfast was over, Balraj left for the fields, while Balwant, Manmeet and Gurinder quickly became engrossed in discussions of world politics. Meher was observing Viren. He seemed very quiet and little interested in the typical male bonding conversation taking place before him.
"Can I offer you some more tea?" asked Meher.
"Oh no, I'm fine", said Viren as he got up and walked towards the window. He took a deep breath, as if taking in the fresh morning air. "I wouldn't mind taking a walk around your farm", he said smiling politely.
"Of course! I'll take you", exclaimed Vishaka. Meher glared at Vishaka. "I mean Meher Didi and I will be glad to show you around".
"Vishaka is getting sillier and sillier over officers, Kuljeet Chachee I don't know why you allow it", whispered Heer.
"I had a weakness for the military myself when I was young", said Chachee smiling at her daughter. "I remember I cried for 3 days non-stop when the regiment left our town'".
"That's really patriotic Chachee", interrupted Meher. "Come on Vishaka, let's show Viren around".
"I'll join you", offered Manmeet getting up.
"Of course...how could I forget", said Meher. "Um...Cousin Manmeet, have you shown Gurinder the wonderful book on California that you brought us. You'll really like it Gurinder, it's full of ...pictures".
"California?" asked Gurinder. "Isn't that where Hollywood is?"
"Well yes", said Manmeet hesitantly. He had a feeling Meher was trying to ditch him, but how could he refuse an eager Gurinder.
It wasn't long before Vishaka, Viren and Meher were out walking in the fresh country air. Vishaka, however, was manipulating most of the conversation. "All this land belongs to us Maans", said Vishaka proudly. "We grow wheat and sugar cane. Of course my family has its own home in Ludhiana too. You should come over sometime and visit when we're back over there".
They hadn't gone much farther when they ran into a group of Vishaka's friends. She quickly became engrossed in conversation with them, leaving a grateful Meher behind with Viren.
"I am sorry about that", said Meher. "Vishaka can go on and on".
"Oh no...She's a sweet girl", said Viren. "Besides she gave me an excellent narrative of your family's farm. Quite impressive".
"Actually", said Meher, "it's not that much...you see cousin Manmeet...'"
"Why do you only grow wheat and sugar cane?" interrupted Viren, bending down and picking up some soil between his fingers. "You know you could also grow mustard and get a multiple crop of seeds, oil, and greens. The soil and climate is just right for it too".
"You seem to know a lot about farming", said Meher, "an interesting side interest for a soldier. I mean, I thought all of the Junejas were citified people".
"I don't really belong in the army", said Viren. "I abhor violence of all kinds, but you know what they say...Majboori ka naam hai shukriya. (Necessity is the mother of invention). Would it surprise you to know Meher, that I actually wanted to be a farmer? I even studied hydroponics in University---only to have my dreams and family land taken away...No...Literally thrown away by Preet".
"What?!" cried Meher.
"As I told you before, my last name is also Juneja. My father and Lalit Juneja were half brothers. After my grandfather's death Lalit Chacha left for Canada, while my father continued to tend to the family farm. It was my father who had given Lalit Uncle his life's savings so that he could start a new life in Canada. And even after that, whenever he needed money, my father was there for him. I had lost my mother when I was a child, and was only 16 when my father became ill and passed away. But before he did, he got in touch with Lalit Chacha and asked him to become my guardian. Our home and farm land were to be mine once I turned 21. Lalit Chacha and Gaytri Chachee took me in and I immediately became part of the family. You know Meher, they're super rich, but Chachee kept all the kids well rooted in our sanskar. I was the same age as Preet, so we sort of got paired up in everything, but he never let me forget that I was an outsider. And I could never keep up with his ways...Nor wanted to keep up", said Viren with disgust.
"Keep up with his what ways?" asked Meher.
Viren seemed to hesitate before continuing. "Preet fell into bad company in his freshman year in college. When we should have focused fully on grades and college, he took up drinking, occasionally smoking pot, and...womanizing".
"Drugs and womanizing?!" cried Meher, her eyes widening in shock.
"I'm afraid so", said Viren. "You don't know how many times I caught him sneaking a girl into our dorm room. If it weren't for Lalit Chacha's generous donations to the college I...I mean Preet would have been kicked out on numerous occasions".
"I always hated how Preet looked down on everything, not to mention his snide remarks", said Meher, "but I never imagined him to be as bad as this. But you said something about Preet throwing your inheritance away".
"Yes", said Viren. "It happened just one week before I was going to turn 21. Lalit Chacha and Gaytri Chachee were out of town, so Preet decided to have a boys' night with his friends. Some girls came over, a poker game started, and alcohol started flowing. Initially Preet was winning, but then things began to turn sour. I warned him to quit while he was ahead, but he just started bad-mouthing me, so I left there in disgust. Little did I know what he would do next".
"What? What?" Asked Meher anxiously.
"Being down on cash and wanting to impress the ladies", continued Viren, "Preet went into Lalit Chacha's study and broke into the safe where some property deeds were kept. He lost them in that poker game. Unfortunately, one of those was the deed to my family's farm in Ambala".
"So he literally threw your inheritance away!" exclaimed Meher.
"Yes, but that's not it", continued Viren, "When Lalit Chacha and Chachee returned from their trip and found the papers missing, Preet put the blame on me. Not only that but he had Veera, his younger sister, accuse me of trying to hit on her. You can imagine how furious Lalit Chacha was. He simply told me to get out and never show my face again".
"Incredible!" said Meher. "And no one bothered to listen to your side of the story?"
"None of the family members was there to witness anything", said Viren, "And Prem...'"
"What did Prem ji do?" asked Meher hesitantly.
"Nothing!" cried Viren in frustration. "That's the problem! He knew what Preet's character was like, and yet he only covered his tracks. He's always coming to Preet's rescue you know. So now I'm a lonely foot soldier, left to make my way in this world the same way I started out when my father died...alone".
"I can't believe this", said Meher. "I mean I believe you, but I can't believe Preet would stoop so low. He should be publically disgraced".
"Hmmm", said Viren, "but they're Junejas...And when money talks people listen".
"I'm so sorry", said Meher sadly.
"Meher Di, why do you feel sorry for Viren?" asked Vishaka, rejoining them suddenly.
"Why?" said Viren winking at Meher. "Well it's because I haven't spent time with such pretty or sympathetic young ladies since as long as I can remember".
"We'd love for you to spend more time with us", said Vishaka smiling shyly. "Why don't you come over next weekend too, and then there's the community fair coming up soon. "Oh it'll be so much fun!"
"I don't know about next weekend", said Viren. "Gurinder and the guys want to try out the 'Elevate' in Delhi---It's supposed to be a nice place to hang out. But the Mela (fair) sounds nice, as long as you ladies promise to save me a dance".
Meher blushed knowing his request was targeted at her, but right now all she could think of was getting back home and telling Heer of what she had learned.
Later that evening over dinner, Meher was retelling Viren's story to her family. "It sounds incredible", cried Heer. "I mean I can't believe that so much evil hides behind that cheerful manner of Preet's. No, I can't believe any brother of Prem's could be like this. Meher are you sure?"
"Oh come on Di, drinking, drugging, womanizing...yeh to ameerzadoon ke bai haat ka khel hota hai. But to have gambled away someone's inheritance like that. That's shameful! And you remember how Preet tried to attack Viren that day at the market. Prem stopped him, warna pata nahin kya ho jata"
"Meher Beta", said Balraj. "I don't want you to delve on this matter any further. We only know one side of the story. You might just learn that Preet Juneja is no more black-hearted than your average rich man".
"I agree", said Heer. "Besides, I think you're inclined to be prejudiced towards Preet since he hurt your pride on one or two occasions."
"My pride!" exclaimed Meher. "He's the one always looking down at everyone and everything. For him India is too hot, has too much dirt, too many flies, too many country hicks! And...and...I saw how he was looking at me when... (she was about to say when she got wet in the rain), I mean...there was truth in all of Viren's looks when he was telling me his story. And I believe him!
Hope you liked it. Please leave your feed back. Thanks 😛
I myself hated writing these 2 parts, especially since it invoves a character assassination of Preet by Viren, one of my most hated characters from Kis Desh.
Chapter 16 Preview: Preet rescues Meher
Meet spend the night together😲
Edited by ummesulaiman - 10 years ago
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