Chapter 60 - Thorn In My Side
The next morning...
Meher stood by Preet's cot and tried to nudge him awake. She had much rather do the morning chores on her own, but her step-mother had insisted that if he wanted to stay at the farm, he had to earn his keep. "Preet...uttho (wake up). Preet..." She shook her head, then walked over to the stalls and untied the rope that kept the horses in. She then walked back to the barn door, and threw it wide open, so that they could head out to the pasture for grazing.
"Mmm...Meher," Preet mumbled in his sleep and clutched his pillow tightly. He was dreaming about Meher. She was nuzzling her cheek against his trying to convince him to wake up. His nose wrinkled up as a certain odor wafted up his nostrils. What the hell? He thought. Since when did Meher's breath start smelling like hay? Suddenly he felt something warm and wet on his cheek. He slowly opened up one eye and found a large horse's face staring back at him. "Ah!" Startled, he fell out of his cot. The horse whinnied as it passed him by. Stupid horses! They had already made his night miserable, and now he had their sticky slobber all over his face. Yuck! He cringed. After wiping his cheek with his sleeve, he climbed back into the bed, and pulled the blanket over his face.
"Uff! Unbelievable Preet Juneja!" Meher frowned when she returned and found him still in bed. "Sapne dekhna band karo aur ooth ke kam karo (Stop dreaming, wake up and get to work)!"
"Sapne toh door ki baat hai, un ghadoon ne meri to neend hi poori nahi hone di (Forget about dreaming, those donkeys didn't even let me get enough sleep)," whined Preet.
"Get up Preet," Meher rolled her eyes. "There are a thousand things around here that need to get done."
Preet pulled the blanket from his face and gave her a pleading look. "Come on Meher, have a heart. Just let me sleep for another half an hour. One hour tops."
"Suit yourself," Meher checked the time on her watch. "But you know how Kuljeet feels about you. If you're not up in the next 10 minutes, you'll miss breakfast. Then you can do all the chores on an empty stomach."
Preet shot out of bed. One of the horses had already robbed him of his dinner. There was no way he was going to miss out on breakfast. "I'm up!" he assured her. "I'm up."
"Good," said Meher. "You can wash up at the pump."
Preet nodded as he watched her head back towards the house. Yeh Kuljeet bhi na...she belongs right up there with the other villains of my love story...Hitler Juneja...and Dangerous Daljeet.
Later that morning...
Meher stepped out of the house with a basket full of freshly laundered clothes, and headed for the clothesline. She stopped midway when she spotted Preet. Stripped to the waist. Faded jeans hugging his hips like a second skin. He stood with his back to her focused on splitting the sawed pieces of wood laying at his feet. Fascinated, she watched the muscles ripple across his shoulders and down his back, as he lifted the axe again and brought it down with a resounding crack, sending pieces of wood flying. The sweat on his body glistened in the sun. He looked...earthy...dare she say it...sexy. Wait a minute! That was a dangerous line of thinking. Kuljeet was wrong. She wasn't about to fall prey to...hormones of all things. She shook her head clear of all thoughts and hurried onto the clothesline. She began to put up the clothes to dry, when she saw Preet walk over to the water pump. He hadn't noticed her, which was a good thing. It meant she could quickly finish her work and go back inside.
Preet filled a bucket with water from the pump. He had been working non-stop all morning mucking out the stalls, feeding the chickens, collecting eggs, milking the cows, filling the troughs with fresh water for the barn animals, and chopping wood. He was hot and dirty and every muscle in his body ached like hell. He lifted the bucket over his head and poured the water over himself. "Phew!" He shook his head sending water drops flying in every direction. That was one way too cool off. Just then, from the corner of his eye he spotted Meher staring at him over the clothesline nearby. He turned his head to meet her eyes directly. "Hey Meher," he winked at her. "See something you like?"
Meher felt the heat crawl up her cheeks. Damn! Damn...damn...damn it! He had caught her staring so blatantly at him! She quickly pinned a neutral expression to her face and cleared her throat. "I...uh...I was just...I had to put some clothes out to dry." She picked up her basket, and started walking back to the house.
"Meher wait!" said Preet. He plucked his shirt off from the fence, threw it over his shoulder, and ran towards her.
Hai Rabba (Good God)! Thought Meher. What did he want from her now? And...why hadn't he put his shirt back on yet? Did he really expect her to talk to him like...like that? Where would she look? She fought off the urge to bolt back into the house.
"Meher I'm glad you're here. I...," Preet said as he walked up to her.
"For God's sake Preet, will you please put a shirt on?" Meher interrupted him.
"What?" said Preet.
"Put your shirt on," said Meher. "It's a little hard to talk to someone who is half-dressed."
"Come on Meher," grinned Preet. "You've already seen me with a lot less on."
"And what about Kujeet?" said Meher. "I bet she's watching us from the kitchen window right now. Do you really want to make an exhibition of yourself in front of her?"
"Okay okay," said Preet. He slipped his arms inside his shirt. "I only took it off because I was chopping wood..."
"I saw...," said Meher. "Uh...I mean...so?"
"So, it got really hot," said Preet.
"If you can't take the heat...get out of the fire," said Meher. "Pick your stuff up and go back to Delhi."
"I already told you I'm not leaving without you," Preet shook his head.
"Suit yourself," Meher shrugged her shoulders. "I'll let Kuljeet know you're done with all the chores."
"Meher wait...I...uh...I thought maybe we could go somewhere and...talk," suggested Preet.
"No!" Meher said flatly. She turned and went back into the house.
A short while later...
Preet was sitting on the chopping block making notes in a small diary, when Balraj came out of the house. Using a cane to assist him, he slowly walked up to his son-in-law.
"Mr. Maan?" Preet looked up in surprise. He immediately got up and helped the older man walk to the where he had been sitting.
Balraj took a deep breath inhaling the fresh air, before sitting down on the large stump. "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"
"Yes Mr. Maan," smiled Preet. "Uh...Bauji...I mean Papa-ji...I'm sorry. 'Dad' is a word I have a little trouble with."
"I understand son," Balraj smiled back. "You got all the chores done pretty quickly. I see you've chopped some wood too."
"Yeah...I got tired of mucking the stalls," Preet shrugged.
"It's a dirty job but someone's got to do it. Better you than me," Balraj and Preet shared a laugh.
"By the way, thanks for convincing Mrs. Maan to let me stay here," said Preet. "And for lowering the stakes."
"I'm on your side in this one Preet," smiled Balraj. "I know how obstinate Meher can be."
"I don't blame her for being upset," sighed Preet. "But she's not even giving me a chance to make it up to her."
"Hmm...what were you working on there?" asked Balraj.
"A business plan," said Preet. He held up the little book. "10,000 rupees isn't a very large amount. I don't want to brag, but I can probably come up with that in a couple of days, or a week at the most. I figure there must be a firm here I could offer consultancy services for. Perhaps you could give me a couple of names...you know, point me in the right direction."
"I'm afraid there isn't much more than farms here," sighed Balraj. "There are a few construction companies, maybe a couple of small tech firms. Then there's a cantonment on the other side of town, but I doubt they would be needing your services." He fished around in his pocket and came up with a 200 rupee note. He handed the money to Preet.
"What's this for?" asked Preet.
"I would have had to hire someone to chop that wood," said Balraj. "It's not much, I know. But consider it your first step towards that 10,000."
"Sir," Preet shook his head and smiled. "I couldn't take money from you." He was about to return the money when he heard Meher cry out.
"Papa ji?!" Meher stood at the door of the house with a disapproving look on her face. "What are you doing out there?" she asked as she walked up to her father. "That too alone and without your wheelchair."
"I'm fine Meher," said Balraj. "And I'm not alone. I'm with Preet."
"Oh...so...this was your idea?" Meher's eyes narrowed accusingly at Preet.
"For God's sake Meher, give the poor boy a break," sighed Balraj. "No one brought me out here, I came on my own. I just wanted some fresh air. Fresh air is good for me. You wanted to see me out of that wheelchair didn't you?"
Meher nodded.
"Then give me points for trying," said Balraj.
"Well...okay, as long as you promise to be careful," said Meher.
"Uh...Meher...do you have some time to talk now?" asked Preet.
"I'm going into town," Meher ignored his request. "Did you need anything Papa-ji?"
No, I'm fine," said Balraj.
"Alright then, I'll see you later," Meher gave her father a hug.
Preet sighed as he watched her leave. He kicked a pebble in frustration. "Mr. Maan, what do you do when it feels like you'll never get what you want?"
"One thing I wouldn't do is lose patience," smiled Balraj. "Ice cream my boy...ice cream."
"Huhn?" said Preet.
"It's a hot day. Go after her son," Balraj encouraged him. "Buy her some ice cream or something and cool her off."
"Yes sir!" smiled Preet.
A short while later...
Meher turned around suddenly. There was nothing but an empty dirt road behind her, but Preet was following her. She knew he was. She picked up a stick lying near her feet and walked back to the thicket of tall grass on one side. She listened carefully for the soft rustling sound of movement, then poked the stick right into the grass.
"Ow!" cried Preet, as he tumbled out from within rubbing his behind. "Are you crazy or or something? You could have taken my eye out with that thing."
"Hmpf!" scoffed Meher. "I didn't know your eyes were attached to your bottom." She threw the stick down and started walking. She heard Preet behind her again. Every time she stopped, he stopped. She could feel his gaze melting into her scalp. "Stop!" she turned around and ordered.
"Stop what?" he asked innocently.
"Choron ki tarah mera peecha karna bas karo (Stop following me like a thief)!" Meher cried.
"You're right," said Preet. "Why am I sneaking around?" He strode up to Meher and started walking alongside her.
"Who said you could walk next to me?" frowned Meher.
"What...? It's an open road, I can walk where ever I like," replied Preet. "Next thing you'll say I can't breathe the same air you're breathing."
"Do whatever you want," Meher rolled her eyes and walked on.
"I am doing what I want," said Preet. "I'm trying to make you understand that...this right here...you and me...this is what I want. I want you. I want you in my life. I want this stupid fighting over and done with. I want my wife back."
"Which wife?" asked Meher. "The one you couldn't trust enough to tell about Ashlesha's pregnancy? Or the one you conveniently forgot to mention about to your father?"
Preet suddenly stepped in front of her and caught a cricket ball headed straight for her head. "Careful guys!" he called out to the young boys playing in the field next to them, as he tossed the ball back.
"Sorry Didi!" the boys called out in unison.
"Phew!" said Preet. "That was close. You could have lost a couple of teeth. That would not have made for a pretty picture." Meher glared at him. "Uh...no need to thank me for my heroism." She remained quiet. "Well maybe you could thank me just a little. No one is stopping you, you know. Come on Cinderella, I get that you're angry but we have to get through this, please," he pleaded. "I love you damn it. Doesn't love mean anything to you?"
"Of course it does, but so does respect," said Meher. "And right now, you and your father have lost mine."
"I don't care what you think about Bauji, but I'm going to win back your trust," said Preet. "You'll see...I'll fulfill your Step-mother's condition before the month is up. In fact...here, I want to give you something." He put his hand inside his pocket, pulled out the money he had earned that morning, and handed it to Meher.
"What's this?" she asked.
"My first earnings from right here in Ambala," smiled Preet. "I want you to hold onto it for me. You'll see, I'll have the 10,000 your Step-mom wants in no time and..."
"Where did you get this from?" asked Meher.
"Uh...your dad...he paid me for chopping the wood," said Preet.
"You took money from my father, when he's already broke?!" cried Meher. "How cheap!"
"I...I didn't want it...but he insisted that I...," stammered Preet.
"You should have said no!" fumed Meher.
"Don't get upset," said Preet. "I'll give it back to him as soon as I get back to the farm. Dharti Ma ki kasam."
"Rehne do (forget it)!" Meher slapped the money back into his hand. "Aur isko apne hi pas rakho (and keep it with you)."
"Come on Meher, I was only trying to...," sighed Preet.
"You don't get it do you Preet?" She interrupted him. "It doesn't matter if the price Kuljeet set is 10,000 or a 100,000. Buying me back isn't going to change things."
Preet stopped in his tracks. It was as if her words had hit him like a hammer.
Meher looked back at him questioningly. "Ab kya hua (What's the matter now)?"
"Nothing," Preet shook his head. They had reached the market area. "I...uh...I just realized, I have to go this way. Maybe I'll catch up to you later."
Meher watched in surprise as he slowly walked away from her. Why did he suddenly decide to leave? she wondered. He was up to something. She was sure of it. He'd probably show up again to annoy her when she least suspected it. She walked onto the shops to make her purchases. Each time she stepped out of a shop, she almost expected Preet to be standing outside waiting for her. He wasn't. She looked through the glass window of another shop she entered. He still wasn't there. Where had he gone? And why was his absence, bothering her so much?
Later that evening...
Meher took a deep breath and walked into the barn holding a tray of food. She craned her neck and looked around but there was no sign of Preet. She hadn't seen him around when she returned from the market place either. "Waiting for me Meher?" he suddenly came up from behind and whispered in her ear.
The tray trembled in her hands. "Who...who said I was waiting for you?" she gasped.
Preet looked around the barn and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, if you were waiting for someone else, he obviously hasn't turned up."
"I...uh...I was just...I brought you your dinner," stammered Meher.
"Thanks, but I already ate," said Preet.
"You did?" Meher asked in surprise.
"I did," Preet nodded as he looked past her at the 2 older men headed their way. "And now if you'll excuse me, I have a business meeting I need to get to."
"A business meeting?" Meher watched Preet greet Mr. Kapoor and her father at the barn door.
"Gentlemen...please step this way," Preet smiled and led them to some chairs he had placed outside. "I thought we'd have our meeting in the fresh air under the stars."
"Excellent excellent," Balraj said encouragingly. "Uh...Meher beta, why don't you bring us something cool to drink?"
She nodded and headed into the house, and was soon back with a pitcher of cool lemonade. She poured it into some glasses and served it to the men.
"I'm telling you sir, agro-forestry is the way to go," Preet was saying.
"I can barely pronounce the word," laughed Mr. Kapoor.
"You don't have to be able to pronounce it, just try and understand what it is," smiled Preet. "Combining agriculture with trees."
"So you mean to say, I should plant trees where I would normally plant my crops?" asked Mr. Kapoor. "That's asking for a lot my boy."
"Consider it an investment," said Preet. "In as little as 3 years time, those trees will be ready to use as poles in construction, furniture making, filler material in plywood, or even pulp for making paper. Until then they can act as windshields to protect the crops you're already growing. With the demand for wood as it stands right now, you're looking at an estimated potential income of anywhere from 8 to 10 lakhs per acre."
"Woah! That's a good price," remarked Mr. Kapoor. "Meher this husband of yours is brilliant."
"Hmm," remarked Meher. "He certainly knows how to spins his words around."
Preet looked up at her knowing full well the biting remark was intended for him. "Uh...Meher...," He picked up his glass to ask for a refill, but realized he was only talking to her back.
Later that night...
A slender beam of moonlight filtered into Meher's room. In a darkened corner, Preet stood quietly waiting for her to come out of the bathroom. She would be surprised to see him there for sure. He just hoped he got to her before she screamed. He looked at the small bouquet of red roses in his hand. He had to win her back, but he had been approaching this whole situation incorrectly. Not anymore. Unwittingly, Meher herself had pointed him in the right direction. He pressed himself against the wall as he heard the bathroom door open.
Meher stepped out drying her face with a towel. "What happened to the lights?" she wondered out loud. "Bijli chali gayi kya (did we have a power outage)?" She shook her head and slowly made her way to the light switch by the door.
Preet gulped as he watched the silky nightgown she was wearing underneath her open robe move along her body like a silent invitation. Where the hell were those grandma type, flannel nightgowns she liked so much up in Kasauli?! Okay, it wasn't exactly flannel weather down here, but...damn! His knees were literally turning into butter, along with his resolve to keep his hands to himself.
Meher flipped the light switch, then turned around and walked right into Preet's arms. "Tum!" she gasped in surprise.
"Shhh!" Preet put a finger to his lips.
"What are you doing in my room?" Meher hissed.
"Not what I want to be doing that's for sure," mumbled Preet. Did she even realize how much it hurt to have her so close and not be able to do anything?
Meher's mouth fell open. She wiggled her way out of his arms and pulled her robe shut. "Don't you dare even think about it Preet Juneja."
"You're all I ever think about Cinderella," sighed Preet. "But don't worry, I just came to talk."
"We can talk in the morning, outside, in broad day light, in front of everyone else," said Meher.
"No we can't," insisted Preet. "I'm always stuck in farm chores, or trying to figure out a way to fulfill Mrs. Maan's conditions. And then of course...I have your mood swings to deal with."
"Oh! I have mood swings?!" cried Meher.
"Shhh!" hissed Preet. "See...mood swing...you're getting upset for no reason."
"Hmph!" Meher folded her arms across her chest. "If Kuljeet finds you up here, she'll be swinging a lot more than her mood."
"Hey Cinderella, will you lighten up already?" smiled Preet. "Look what I got for you." He showed her the bouquet of flowers.
"I already told you Preet," Meher shook her head. "You can't buy me back."
"I'm not buying...I'm romancing you back silly," replied Preet.
"Matlab (meaning)?" asked Meher.
"Check the card," said Preet.
Meher took the flowers from him. Sure enough there was a card attached. It read:
To a fresh startYou & Me Friday NightA second first date?"You're kidding, right?"
"Not at all," Preet stared longingly into her eyes. "Let's start all over again. Maybe you'll finally put your anger aside and find out you want to be with me after all." He pulled a flier out of his pant pocket and showed it to her. "I've got it all planned. There is a fair being held on the fair grounds this weekend. There will be fun rides and games. We'll have a really good time."
"The fair? Uh...no," Meher shook her head.
"Why not?" asked Preet.
"Because I...I don't want to," said Meher.
Preet looked at her and smiled. "Your eyes say something different."
"I had better get my eyes checked then," She said. "Besides...uh...Kuljeet will never agree."
"Meher we're married," frowned Preet. "We don't need her or anyone else's permission to go out together. Now stop making excuses, and just say yes."
"No," Meher shook her head.
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite get that," said Preet. He walked towards her determinedly until he had her up against the wall. He placed his hands up over her head, trapping her between his arms. "Yes or No?"
"Meher!" Kuljeet called out from the next room. "Meher I need you to come help me change the bed covers."
"I'm coming!" Meher called out. "Preet...move!" she hissed. "If Kuljeet finds you here, she'll kill both of us."
Instead of moving Preet leaned in closer to her. A small almost imperceptible smile danced on his lips, as his eyes scanned her face, and for a moment, she was convinced he was going to kiss her. But he didn't. "You should know one thing about me by now Meher. I am persistent. Yes or No?" he asked again.
"Persistent? Don't you mean stubborn?" Meher shot back.
"Actually, on me I like persistent," said Preet. "On you stubborn seems to fit better."
"Meher!" Kuljeet called out again.
"Friday night...7 O'clock sharp," said Preet. "I won't take no for an answer."
Meher heard footsteps heading towards her room. She threw a panicked glance towards the door then looked back at Preet. Kuljeet could walk in any minute now, and he had her trapped. Her heart was pounding in her chest so hard she was having difficulty drawing a breath, but he continued to stand there cool as a cucumber. "Yes," she whispered.
"Good. It's a deal," smiled Preet.
"Alright...now go...please!" she pleaded.
Preet dropped his arms to his side, stepped back, and headed for the window. "This Friday...you and me...be ready by 7," he reminded her before slipping out the window.
Meher breathed sigh of relief before realizing that the roses Preet had brought were lying on the bed in plain sight. She made a mad dash, and threw herself on top of them just as Kuljeet barged in. "Umpf!" she muffled a scream as the thorns pricked her side.
"Meher! Have you gone deaf child?!" cried Kuljeet. "What are you doing lying on the bed, when I've been screaming at the top of my lungs calling for you to come?"
"I...uh...stomach ache," lied Meher. She scrunched her knees up, and made a face as the thorns continued to prick her.
"Stomach ache? You were just fine at dinner. Let me see," offered Kuljeet.
"Nahin!" Meher put her hand out. "I'm fine now. It was just...uh...gas. Aap chalein, main aati hoon (You go, I'm coming)."
Kuljeet shook her head disapprovingly and left.
"Ow!" winced Meher, as she peeled the squished bouquet from her side. Preet Juneja had become a thorn in her side. Literally!
Edited by Fatima_Q - 7 years ago
CID
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
