Fatima's Cozy Corner 3 - Final Update on Pg 114 :) - Page 76

Originally posted by: Rhea_401

I am glad Preet is finally back man...Am so excited...At least he knows the truth..Phew.. Looking forward to how he manaos her...Can you please update sooner sweetheart...:P

Originally posted by: -Shwetasri-

Pretty is back!!!!!!!!!!! Yayyy! (That was literally my response) 🥳

Then the face off with Bauji! So cool! (I honestly felt like giving him a earful myself - I absolutely love the way you write, it makes you responsive)

Premeer, so supportive of him and the funny nok-jhok ---> ❤️

Finally, Meher! MEET!

(I'm just a bit scared though, she was really angry at Preet, hope everything would be fine.)

It was a really nice update di! 👏

And thank you for the PM!

🤗

Originally posted by: AASUS

Fatima lob you 🤗 *giving bunch of roses* in lilac and purple colours 😳 cz it's summer 🤡

Fatima gives me cool drink 😎 and I'm sitting in her porch sipping away *swinging my legs* browsing through album of Meet - which she created to show fans 🤣❤️

Originally posted by: kksoap

Hey Fatima I think that in meh absence 😲 many things happened I left on 52 oh meh the surprises on my way now for next chapters 😆 Lob ur efforts and hardwork

and thanks to b very kind to me that u tagged me every single chapter 😭😊thank u lotttsss of lob good luck to u and me too for facing the action drama 😆 romance 😉that happened ...!!!

Chapter 59 - A Not So Happy Reunion

"Preet...," whispered Meher.

"Meher, thank God I found you," Preet smiled in relief. He stepped forward and wrapped her in a tight embrace. He had missed her so much. Missed holding her. Having her next to him. Breathing her in. It took him a moment to realize that she wasn't reciprocating the hug. She only stood stiff and straight. He pulled back and looked into her eyes. They were cold and distant. Things had changed so drastically between them since the last time he saw her.

"Who is it Meher?" Kuljeet called out as she came up behind her. "Oh my Rabs! Tum (you)! How dare you?! How dare you show your face around here?!"

Preet looked at Meher. It was clear she was trying to fight off her emotions. "Meher...please hear me out," he pleaded. "I swear I came as soon as I found out. I'm so sorry for everything my father did."

"Hmph! Yeh acha hai," scoffed Kuljeet. "Baap chot deta hai, aur beta marham lagane aa jata hai (The father hurts us and the son shows up to mend things). Not this time Junior Juneja. Now it's our turn to say that you're not welcome here." She tried to shut the door on his face, but Preet put his hand on it.

"I just want to talk to Meher," he said

"Go away Preet. I have nothing left to say to you," muttered Meher. "So just go away." She moved his hand, and closed the door.

"Meher!" Preet banged on the door. "You can't do this to me...to us! I won't leave here until you give me a chance to explain! You know how persistent I can be!"

Meher remembered how Preet once stood outside Sam's house for days, waiting for her, even in the rain. Persistent or stubborn? He could be stubborn alright, but he wouldn't dare do his drama in front of her parents, would he?

"That was Preet Juneja," Kuljeet told Balraj. "Can you believe the nerve of the guy, showing up here and expecting us to welcome him with open arms?"

"Preet?" whispered Balraj. For the first time since he had come home from the hospital, his face lit up with hope. "If that was Preet, why didn't you let him in?"

"Let him in? After the way his father treated us? Are you out of your mind?" cried Kuljeet. "Let him beat on the door all he wants. He'll get tired after a while and go away." She wagged her finger at Meher in warning. "You young lady had better not cave into his false charms. His father made it very clear that he doesn't want anything to do with us. He robbed us of our home and livelihood and nearly killed your father! We'll not have anything to do with the Junejas ever again!"

Balraj shook his head and slowly rolled his wheelchair towards the door.

"Papa-ji, where are you going?" asked Meher.

"Preet," replied Balraj. "Preet has come."

"What the?" cried Kuljeet. "Didn't you hear what I just said?"

Balraj ignored his wife and continued to the door. "I knew he would come," he muttered. "I just knew he would." With a shaking hand, he reached out and turned the door knob.

"Meher I...," said Preet. He was surprised to see Balraj at the door. He immediately bent down and put a comforting hand on his arm. "Mr. Maan...Papa-ji...are you alright? I'm so sorry for everything. I don't know what possessed my father to behave the way he did with you all. Kul Di told me everything he said. I'm ashamed at the thought of it even. But don't you worry, I'm here now." He stood up and glanced inside at Meher. "I'll make everything alright again."

"I knew you would come back son," Balraj gave him a weak smile. "You promised me you would take care of Meher. Keep her happy."

"And I have every intention of keeping my promise," Preet offered Meher a smile only to have her turn her face away. "Uh...that is...if she'll let me."

"Come...," said Balraj. "Come inside."

Preet nodded and pushed Balraj's wheelchair back inside the house.

"Really Balraj, I don't know if it was your heart or brain that suffered the attack," protested Kuljeet. "Why are you letting him in?"

"Ghar aye mehman ko hum thukrate nahin (we don't turn away a guest that's come to our door)," Balraj spoke slowly. "Besides, he is Meher's husband."

"Husband? Hmph!" Kuljeet folded her arms across her chest. "Perhaps someone should remind his father about that."

"Uh...I see you guys were eating," Preet tried to lighten the mood. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"No no at all, why don't you join us son?" smiled Balraj.

"Don't mind if I do," nodded Preet. "It's been a long day, and I..." He tried to pull a chair out for himself, but Kuljeet pushed it back against the table.

"But I mind," she said.

"So do I," Meher spoke up.

"Meher...Kuljeet, where are your manners?" sighed Balraj.

"Oh of course, where are my manners," Kuljeet said sarcastically. "Junior Juneja would you care to have something? Tea...coffee...dessert...poison?""

"Uh...right...," as if remembering something, Preet walked back to the front door. He opened it and picked up a bouquet he had left outside leaning against the door post. He brought back the flowers and held them up to Meher. "I...uh...I brought you these."

"Why?" asked Meher.

"What?" Preet said in surprise.

"Why did you bother?" frowned Meher.

"Meher don't be rude," said Balraj. "Take the flowers and put them in water."

Meher took a deep breath, snatched the flowers out of Preet's hand, and walked off towards the kitchen. Damn! Thought Preet. It had been next to impossible to convince this girl to marry him in the first place, and now thanks to this father he was back to square one with her. But he wasn't about to give up. No way! He wanted her back. He headed straight for the kitchen after her. Kuljeet raised a hand as if to stop him, but Balraj held her back.

Meher was at the sink filling up a vase, when she heard the door close behind her. She turned to find Preet just steps from her. She let out a small cry of panic. What did he think he was doing? If he tried to touch her... Her fears were unfounded. He only reached past her and turned off the tap, but she knew it was too late. Her face was already as red as a tomato, and the smile on his face told her he had read her mind.

"The vase...," grinned Preet. "It was overflowing."

Meher quickly turned around and busied herself with arranging the flowers.

"Um...your step-mom was sure laying it on thick with the sarcasm," said Preet.

"Well, can you blame her?" Meher turned back to him and frowned. "Her husband...my father had a heart attack! Do you know why? Because he couldn't bear the insults your father buried him under. He accused us of being gold diggers...of purposely seducing you...of having some grand scheme to infiltrate your family. He...he offered to pay me off, as if I was some...some cheap plaything you hired for the weekend for one last fling before your real marriage to Ashlesha!"

Preet could sense the bitterness in her voice. "Meher you have every reason in the world to be upset," he sighed. "I'm sorry. I never meant for you to get hurt. I never imagined Bauji would do what he did."

"You're lying!" said Meher.

"No, I'm not," said Preet.

"Yes you are!" Meher shot back. "You knew your father wouldn't accept me. That's the real reason you didn't take me home to Delhi with you."

"I...uh...I never...I never said Bauji was okay with our marriage," stuttered Preet.

"You let me think that your father was okay with our marriage, when he clearly wasn't! You know you did!" Meher pointed a finger accusingly at him.

"Wow," gulped Preet. "It sure is warm in here. You guys must have just finished cooking." He fished through his pocket and pulled out her phone. "Hey, I just remembered. I brought your phone."

"Don't change the subject!" Meher snatched the small device from his hand.

"Okay maybe I did let you think that," admitted Preet. "But what was the alternative? Letting you marry Viren? I did what I thought was right at the time. Besides, did you marry my family or me? I accept that our marriage is real, isn't that enough?"

"No it isn't! Hmph!" Meher crossed her arms. She frowned as he shook his head and smiled to himself. "What's so funny?"

"You," grinned Preet. "Do you have any idea how cute you look when you're angry?" Meher's mouth fell open. "No, I mean it. Your cheeks grow red, your nostrils flare up, and there's this fire in your eyes..." Annoyed, Meher rolled her eyes and tried to walk away, but he caught her by the arm and made her face him. "Stop it Meher. Stop pushing me away. You know it doesn't work. You love me too much." He pulled her closer and slid his other arm around her waist. "In fact, all I have to do is give you one little kiss to remind you of that."

"Ugh!" cried Meher. "You...you over confident chauvinistic jerk! I'd rather kiss a snake!" She yanked herself free and left him standing in the kitchen with his jaw hanging wide open.

Okay. That didn't quite go as he expected, thought Preet.

Moments later...

Meher walked back into the living room with Preet following close behind.

"Oh my Rabs they're back!" cried Kuljeet.

"I hope you were able to talk things over," said Balraj.

"Yes," said Meher. "And Mr. Juneja here was just about to leave." She walked over to the door and held it open for him.

"No I wasn't," Preet shook his head. "Look Meher, I've already apologized, and Ill apologize a thousand times over again if you want me to, but I'm not leaving here without you."

"Oh my Rabs!" cried Kuljeet. "What does he expect? To take Meher back to his house, after everything his father said?"

"No," sighed Preet. "I would never do that. I've left my father's home. For good." He saw Meher look up at him in genuine surprise. "I know you never wanted me to choose between you and my family, but...I had to...and I chose you Meher."

"Left them or were you thrown out?" asked Kuljeet.

"Kuljeet...," sighed Balraj.

"No no, I'm being very practical here," said Kuljeet. "If you have left your family, I'm betting your father has cut you off from his money too. So, where will you take Meher? How will you 2 live? Or will you abandon her again at the first sign of hardship."

"Mrs. Maan, I never abandoned Meher," said Preet. "My brother was in an accident in London and..."

"Yes, yes, and a very pregnant Ashlesha was in London too," Kuljeet waved her hand at him. "Some would have us to believe, you were the baby's father."

"You didn't believe that for even one second did you?" asked Preet. The question was in answer to Kuljeet, but Meher knew it was addressed to her.

"I don't know," said Kuljeet. "After everything we've been through, it's difficult to trust anyone, especially a Juneja."

"Kuljeet...the boy left his family," tried Balraj.

"That's not my problem," Kuljeet shrugged her shoulders. "I still don't trust him."

"I...I don't understand," said Preet. "What more do you want me to do?"

"Your father is so very proud of his accomplishments...about his status in society," said Kuljeet. "Well, what about you? Where do you stand now that you've separated yourself from the Juneja name?"

"Just what are you getting at Kuljeet?" asked Balraj.

"Well, I think it's only fair that he prove himself to us," Kuljeet said with narrowing eyes. "Let him put his money where his mouth is. If not his father, at least let him come to our level. Then only he can have Meher."

"I can have Meher?" Preet's face lit up at Kuljeet's words. "Just exactly what do I have to do?"

"What? Wait a minute," Meher stammered. "How come no one is asking me what I want?"

"Because I refuse to let us become victims of your raging hormones again," scoffed Kuljeet. "Ye tumhe do meethay bol bole ga aur tum phir se iske saat bhag chalo gi (He'll whisper sweet nothings in your ear, and you'll run off with him again). But not this time. Go bring me the accounts register."

Meher's gaze darted towards Preet. There was that trademark smirk of his dancing on his lips. Was he laughing at her step-mother's assessment of her? She frowned. If he thinks she was some sort of prize he could win at the fair, he had another thing coming.

"Go!" cried Kuljeet.

Meher slowly walked over to a desk on one side of the room. In the top drawer, there was a beat up old ledger. It contained the monthly income and expenditures of the family farm. She took it out and brought it back to Kuljeet.

"Ah let's see," said Kuljeet, as she flipped through the pages. "50,000 rupees." She saw Balraj frowning at her. "40,000?"

Balraj shook his head. "10,000."

"Oh my Rabs!" cried Kuljeet. "That's barely enough to pay the monthly rent on a 1 bedroom flat in Delhi."

"We're not in Delhi," Balraj reminded her.

"Fine!" Kuljeet rolled her eyes. "10,000 rupees. Show us that you can live out here in Amabala and make at least that much in one month, and then we will decide about letting our daughter go with you."

"Earn here...in Ambala?" asked Preet. "Mrs. Maan, I'm a businessman. I don't know anything about working on the farm."

"You're a clever young man," remarked Kuljeet. "I'm sure you'll think of something. In any case, that's the proposal before you. Take it or leave it."

"I'm willing to do anything to get Meher back," Preet said determinedly.

"Good," smiled Kuljeet. She walked over to the door, and waved her hand at Preet. "We'll see you in a month then."

"Kuljeet, you can't just turn him out like that," protested Balraj.

"You mean the way his father turned us out?" scoffed Kuljeet. "Yes I can."

"Well I can't," Balraj shook his head. "Preet...you're welcome to stay here if you want."

"What?" Kuljeet looked at her husband incredulously, but he was adamant. "Oh fine! I suppose he can help out with morning chores in exchange for staying here. But by here, I mean the farm, not this house. You can make yourself comfortable in the barn."

A short while later...

"You can go make yourself comfortable in the barn," Preet mimicked Kuljeet's voice, as he walked into the small structure. "Just who does she think she is?" She was punishing him for his father's mistakes and it just wasn't fair! He removed his backpack from his shoulder and pulled out the envelope Prem had given him. There was enough inside to meet Mrs. Maan's condition. In fact, he had a good mind to walk back into the farm house, stuff the money in her face, take Meher by hand, and walk out of this place. But no! Because, rather than welcoming him back with open arms, Meher was upset with him! Great! Women! He would never understand them. They always did the exact opposite of what you expected them to do! Preet looked down at the envelope again. Like it or not, he had to win back Meher's trust again, and he had to do it on his own. He stuffed the money back into his bag, tossed it to one side, then plopped down on a small pile of hay. How difficult could it be? He would start bright and early in the morning. Maybe head into town and look for work there. There had to be more to this place than just farms. There must be an office or firm or something looking for a qualified candidate like himself. 10,000 Rupees in a month was peanuts. He could easily get hired for at least ten times that.

Just then a large face bent down and took a bite from the pile of hay where he sat startling him. "Hey!" cried Preet. He jumped out of the way, as a horse bent down and took another bite of hay. He had been so lost in thought that he had almost forgotten about the animals he would be sharing the barn with. The last time he was here, one of the cows had tried to kick him. "Ahem!" He cleared his throat. "Listen up ladies and gents. You and I will be roommates for a while. Quite frankly, I'm not happy with the situation, but as long as we understand that between man and animals...the man is the boss...we're going to get along just fine." A stench arose from the stalls. "Ugh!" He waved his hand in front of his nose. "Wait...did one of you just...poop?! Really?! Like, how am I supposed to sleep here then?"

As if in response one of the horses snickered at him. "Oh you think that's funny, eh?" he cried. "Well, we'll see how you like it if I do this?" He promptly walked over to the pile of hay and began to kick it out of the animals' reach. The horses whinnied in response. One of them took hold of his backpack and began to chew on its straps. "Hey! You give that back to me!" protested Preet. He tugged at his bag from the other end, but the horse held onto it firmly. Just then another horse swung its head around and snapped its teeth at him. Startled, he jumped back and fell back on the ground. "Why you?!" Furious, he grabbed a fistful of dirt and was about to throw it at the mare, when he heard a voice behind him.

"Preet! What do you think you're doing?" cried Meher. She was standing by the barn door holding a tray. She carefully put it down on a bale of hay and walked over to her animals.

Preet quickly scrambled back onto his feet. "Meher...I...I was just..."

"Tumhe in massom bezuban janwaroon ko abuse karte huay sharam nahi aati (Have you no shame in abusing these innocent voiceless animals)?" Meher scolded him. She walked over to the horse he had about to get into a mudslinging fight with and hugged it. "There there Badal, don't you worry. No one's going to hurt you." The horse gently nuzzled his head against her.

"Masoom (innocent)? Aur bezubaan (and voiceless)?" Preet's mouth fell open. "Gunday hain ye gunday (they're a bunch of thugs)! They were ganging up on me." He pointed a finger accusingly at one of the horses. "See...this one still has my bag. I was only trying to get it back from him."

"Bahadur, give him his bag back," Meher said firmly. The horse shook his head tossing the bag in the air.

Preet caught it, then winced at the chewed up strap. It was wet with the horse's saliva. "Ew! How am I supposed to spend a month with these junglee...animals?"

"No one asked you to," Meher reminded him. "You're free to walk out of here right now and go back where you came from."

"I'm not leaving here without you," Preet shook his head.

"Suit yourself," Meher shrugged her shoulders. She walked over to where a cot stood leaning against the wall by the animal stalls. She pulled the cot down, and from a trunk nearby, took out a pillow and an old blanket. "Nothing fancy, but I'm afraid you'll have to make do with it." She then walked back to where she had left the tray, brought it back and placed it on the cot. "You should eat before it gets cold." She was about to walk away, when Preet reached out and grabbed her hand.

"Meher wait," he pleaded. "Please...don't go just yet. Let's talk..."

"About what?" she pulled her hand back. "Shall I tell you once again how my father nearly died? No wait...let's discuss how hurt I am? Or...maybe you'd like to hear about the nights I stayed awake waiting for you to come and get me...to tell me everything your father said about you...me...us...wasn't true. I told you we came from 2 different worlds, and that your family wouldn't accept me, but you always assured me my fears were unfounded. Well, I was stupid to believe you, and I only wound up getting hurt."

"Come on Cinderella...," sighed Preet.

"Stop calling me that!" said Meher. "I'm not your Cinderella. Life isn't a fairy tale. I learned that the hard way. I'm not willing to let my guard down, nor will I let you or anyone else hurt me or my family again."

"You're not going to get hurt, I promise," said Preet. "And I'll stay out here in this barn, and fulfill all of your step-mother's conditions, if that's what I have to do to prove myself. Dharti Ma ki kasam."

"You shouldn't have left your family," said Meher. "They probably need you."

"You and I are also a family," said Preet. "We belong together too."

"Preet...," Meher shook her head. "Kuljeet may think she's extracting some sort of revenge from you, but it's not what I want. I...I don't know if things are going to work out. Actually, I'm not sure what I want anymore."

"I know what I want," smiled Preet. "I want things to go right back to where we left off. And more than anything right now, I want to kiss you."

He took a step towards her, but she put a hand out to stop him. "Don't."

"Don't kiss you? Or...don't want to kiss you?" asked Preet.

Meher slapped her forehead with her hand. "Uff! I swear Preet, kissing you is starting to look a lot better than talking to you!"

That was all the incentive he needed. Without hesitating a moment longer, he pulled her in close, latched his arms around her back, and pressed his lips to hers. She initially stiffened in shock, but her body slowly softened. Her lips parted and she had just begun to kiss him back, when one of the horses snickered. She broke off the kiss abruptly. "No...no...we can't do this."

"Why not?" frowned Preet. "Because the horse is jealous?"

"Because I'm still mad at you Preet Juneja!" fumed Meher. "God I could kick myself for being so weak! I can't believe I just did that..."

"We didn't do anything," grumbled Preet. He wanted to do something. He wanted to do a whole lot. He wanted to drag her off to the nearest haystack and make love to her.

"And we're not going to do anything either!" Meher said as she backtracked towards the door. "Stay away from me Preet Juneja!"

"Meher...Meher wait," tried Preet, but she left anyway. He heard one of the horses snicker behind him. "She's gone," he turned around and glared at it angrily. "This is all your fault kabab mein haddi (3^rd wheel). Tum ghoday nahin ghade ho ghade (you're not a horse you're a donkey)!"

As if in response, the horse leaned over to the cot where the tray of food lay and snatched up several rotis.

"Aw crap!" sighed Preet.

A short while later...

Meher stood by the window peaking out from the drapes at the scene outside. Preet was pacing in front of the barn. He was talking to himself. He would stop every now and then to throw his hands in the air or kick the dirt on the ground. Had he eaten? She wondered. How would he manage with the mosquitoes out there? Damn it! Why couldn't she stop worrying about him?

"Meher," Balraj came up behind her.

Startled, Meher began to fiddle with the curtains. "Pa...Papa-Ji...I was...I was just adjusting the drapes."

"Don't worry, he'll be alright," said Balraj.

"Worry? Who me?" a nervous chuckle escaped Meher's lips. "I...I don't know what you're talking about."

"You love him very much don't you?" smiled Balraj.

"No...I...I don't," stammered Meher. "I fell in love with the lies he told me. I let them cloud my judgement. But I can see my future very clearly now...and it doesn't include Preet."

Finally meet mettt😉

Originally posted by: sherma

Finally meet mettt😉

I m sorry not for commenting was reading the update though. Really don't know Wat to comment without meet. Thanks for still pming. Meher will surely melt😆 do continue soon.

Originally posted by: Fatima_Q

Thanks for reading and commenting Sweety 🤗

With so little feedback...I'm sometimes left wondering if I'm writing just for myself...🤔

In anycase...Preet is back and no matter what Meher says or does...he's not about to leave her side again...so a lot of Meet scenes coming up 😃

i totally understand but really don't get into mood to comment without meet. Hatts off to u u write about other couples too. No offense any1 but premheer was also too idolistic for me. Although loved premm preet n heeer Meher bnd

Originally posted by: sherma

i totally understand but really don't get into mood to comment without meet. Hatts off to u u write about other couples too. No offense any1 but premheer was also too idolistic for me. Although loved premm preet n heeer Meher bnd