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*Sigh* I'll never stop loving this beautiful couple. 😳
This OS is dedicated to Fatima and Sherma - two people who inspired me to write on Meet even after 3 years since the last I wrote on them.
Hope you all Meet fans enjoy it. :)
***
Meet OS - Tum Hi Ho
Me, her, and Harman living under the same roof. Akward would be an understatement.
And it was always when me and Meher are together having a good time together, that he would show up. And her laugh, her laugh would get stuck in her throat and a sad look would befall her eyes. What exactly was in those eyes? Was it guilt for spending time with me and not him? Was it remorse for not ending up as Mrs. Harman Juneja? Either way, the pain is evident. Meher Preet Juneja, my wife, longs for Harman Juneja, my older brother.
And me? ... I love her. I love her so much. Don't ask why. I won't be able to put it in words or explain it. Maybe that's how I know it's love; I can't think of reasons for why I feel so strongly for her. Can't explain the urge to be around her, to make her laugh, to see her happy, to protect her, to care for her, to be there for her... more than just a friend.
Friend. The word has started to sting me.
I shared my worries with Kul Di today. She noticed that I have been unusually quiet for the past couple of days - not even a single baldie joke to my father during dinner time - and decided to force my problems out of me.
When I told her about my insecurities about Meher, that she only loved me as a friend, and that she still might have a soft corner for Harman bhai, Kul Di was a little surprised at first and then shook her head at me.
"Preet Juneja, my bro, are you blind!?"
She claims that Meher is crazy about me and had I been more observant I would catch the way she looked at me when she thought I wasn't looking. And that's the whole problem. How am I supposed to know she is looking at me if she is waiting for me to not look to check to see if she's looking, when she looks. See, it even sounds confusing!
Still, talking to Kul Di gave rise to a new ray of hope. And so did something else.
I was walking to our room with my glass of water only to bump straight into Harman bhai. My water spilled and his files scattered across the floor.
"Sorry," the two of us said at the same time and smiled at each other before I helped Harman collect all his papers that had flewn all over the place.
I was busy sorting the papers out in the folder when Harman's eyes looked past my shoulders, alarmed.
"Meher, watch out!" He yelled out to my wife who as usual, lost in her own little world, walked straight into the puddle of water, losing her balance at the same time as Harman called out a warning.
She was slipping and yelped the next second, "Preet!"
More satisfying then catching her in my arms was the thought that she called for me when she needed help.
I sighed remembering the incident.
Preet, you would be a complete idiot if you ignored all the signs you've been getting. Just talk to her!
I walked into our room (our room - sorry, it just sounds so good that I have to repeat it in my head), and my eyes fall on her, capturing her small movements as she folded the clothes scattered on the bed (our bed).
For a few seconds I forget everything around me and what I wanted to say, but only for a few seconds. I shake myself out of it. This speechless ogling since the past five months is the reason you haven't even reached first base! Just STOP it Preet! You're on a mission here!
I walked towards her and sat on the corner of our bed. She continued folding the clothes without looking up once. I cleared my throat to announce my arrival. She continued working absent-mindedly.
I coughed and cleared my throat louder this time. It worked, and she finally looked up. Only to scare the living daylights out of me as she started thumping my back without warning.
"Preet, are you okay?! Did something get stuck in your throat?"
"Meher, mai teek hoon!" I yelled defensively and thankfully she stopped. Only to resume working.
Get to the point Preet!
I opened and closed my mouth a few times, but I couldn't figure out how exactly to phrase my words.
"Preet kuch kehna chahate ho?"
I looked up to see her still folding the never-ending stupid pile of clothes (why do you have to be so messy Preet?).
"Uhh yes Meher...actually mujhe tumse kuch kehna tha..."
Meher stopped working and sat down on the bed across from me to give me her full attention.
"Kya kehna hai Preet," Meher asked expectantly.
Confess! Confess! My brain seemed to be screaming at me. But looking at her serious face, I couldn't remember the last time in my life that I had felt so nervous. Then my mouth seemed to have developed a brain of its own because I most definitely didn't remember telling it to say what it said next.
"Meher, tumhe kaise ladke pasand hai!?" I blurted out.
Meher looked up at me with a shocked expression for a second and then burst out into peals of laughter.
"Preet, hum poora din dost dost karte rehte hai toh shayad isiliye tum bhool gaya ho ke meri shaadi ho chuki hai, tumse! Mai aur larkon ko kaise pasand kar sakhti hoon?" Meher replied, highly amused.
I slapped my forehead. Why would I say that!
"Meher I was asking generally what you like in a guy. I'm not trying to match-make and marry you off!" I said, trying to cover up for my stupid question. Meanwhile Meher resumed folding socks.
"Preet lekin tum yeh sab jaan ke kya karoge?"
"Meher just answer the question!" I said impatiently.
"Okay fine..well let me think," Meher said pausing again in the middle of her work.
"I think I like guys who are the shy reserved types, that don't talk too much."
My face fell.
"Aur kya kya requirements hai?"
"Aur... they have to be really hard-working, going to the office everyday, living a very simple sort of life."
Damn it!
"Aur looks-wise?" I asked with a hopeful expression on my face and even ran a hand through my hair to make it look boyish.
Meher brought her hand up and started to flatten it down.
"I really don't like messy boyish looks at all." Meher said making a face.
Hearing her words, I felt less like Preet Juneja and more like a deflated balloon.
"Oh and I forgot to add, I absolutely HATE clean-shaved men!" Meher announced, stepping on my last nerve. I couldn't hold myself from yelling at her.
"Oh my God Meher! Everyone has their preferences, but that doesn't mean you have to be so rude about it!" I yelled, hurt and disappointment evident in my voice.
To my surprise, Meher burst out into laughter again.
And that's when it hit me. She had been pulling my leg all along! I held her by the shoulders to get her attention while she continued giggling.
"Meher, you were just trying to tease me the whole time?" I asked.
"Of course Preet!" Meher said and ruffled my hair lovingly and I couldn't be mad even if I wanted to after she did that. I let her go.
"Truth is, I've never really had a list of requirements for a guy, as long as he has a good heart. Besides, we can never really control who we fall in love with anyways, right?"
I stared at her for a few seconds, deep in thought before answering, "Right."
"Okay, so can I finish my work now?" She asked cutely.
"Yes!"
She smiled at me before turning away to go, but I quickly held her hand.
"What happened, Preet?"
"Umm..uh..Meher I just wanted to make sure..you really were joking about that shy, serious and clean-shaved thing right?" I asked nervously.
She smiled and gave me a very mysterious answer.
"Come on Preet. I think you know me enough by now to know the answer to that," she said with a glint in her eyes.
Then she pulled my cheeks one last time, before turning around and leaving the bedroom.
I touched my cheek where she had pulled it and fell back on the bed with a a sigh of satisfaction and a permanent smile on my face.
***
Tadaa! Hope you guys liked it! Do like and comment on how you found it :)
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Cricket
