Part 18
Hello my lovely readers!
Okay okay I know this isn't exactly 'tonight' as this should have been up last Saturday night. Anyhow, I hope you can all forgive me once more.
This part is dedicated to Meera, my friend and a new reader of this FF. I'd also like to dedicate this to all those you who waited so patiently and are still interested in reading this months later. Thanks so much for showing such enthusiasm. It really means a lot to me.
Now, without wasting any more of your time, here's the next part i.e. Part 18. It isn't as long as I had intended for it to be but don't worry the next part will be up by Monday 19th January if not earlier.
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"I've had enough of this! I understand you're in terrible pain but that doesn't give you the right to completely ignore me, your husband! We had promised each other to share both each other's happiness has well as sorrows but it seems you've forgotten all the promises we had once made." he made another attempt once she refused to respond.
But Heer just stood their rather statue-like until Prem had lost any patience that remained within him, grabbing her by her right arm and dragging her into the hospital. Heer didn't object though as she knew nothing could stop her furious husband now. They didn't receive much attention either seeing as there was hardly anyone around in the general ward. At this time of night, the hospital's emergency ward was most likely to be busy. Soon enough, they arrived at the entrance of the intensive care unit, they could both now see Balraaj through the clear glass windows and as Prem was about to turn the door knob, the nurse interrupted him, startling the two of them at the same time.
"Sir, its way past visiting hours. Aap abhi inko mil nahi sakte." she politely explained.
"I can't meet him? Prem Juneja can't meet him! We must meet him and that too right now! Do you understand?" he questioned gradually raising his tone of voice.
"Mr Juneja, the rules apply for everyone and I cannot allow you to meet the patient at such an odd time" she again tried to explain but this time not as calmly as she perhaps had earlier.
However, Prem had lost it completely as he continued to argue uncontrollably "So you will stop me huh? Aap mujhe, Prem Juneja ko rokengi?"
Heer had never seen him like this before. Prem had always been known to never use his status to have his way. He had always lead a simple life encouraging equality between all classes as well as races and here he was right this second trying to intimidate this poor nurse into allowing him into the room. In addition to this, he had pretty much succeeded in creating a commotion in the hospital's previously very calm and quiet waiting area. In no time, a senior staff member arrived at the scene and he too like the nurse had kindly requested Prem to leave. But Mr Juneja was in no such mood and fought with him as well. That was until, Heer took a step forward and pleaded with him to stop. Was this really the same Prem who was calming her down a while ago?
Prem despite not wanting to agreed and without saying a word more left the place. Heer, however did apologize on her stubborn husband's behalf and then she too exited the hospital hurriedly in the hope of catching up with Prem. He was so angry that he could have easily left her behind had she been even the slightest bit late. When she sat into the passenger seat of his BMW, Prem was staring into space. Heer didn't try to grab his attention but instead waited ever so patiently until he started the car which wasn't until another 15 minutes. The ride home was rather uneventful seeing as nothing more dramatic could have happened after the incident at the hospital. But they were wrong? Another surprise was waiting for the two of them at home. Something they could have never imagined!
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Juneja Mansion
Both Kiran and Kulraaj along with Gunjan were bidding everyone farewell just as Prem and Heer entered. They were certainly surprised at the sight of seeing everyone wide-awake at 2AM. But the fact that Kulraaj, her husband and Kiran were leaving was a lot more shocking. The two of them found it extremely difficult to comprehend.
"Are Prem! Shukar hai tum dono agaye. Otherwise I would have left without saying goodbye!" Kulraaj exclaimed.
Prem took a step forward and whilst embracing her questioned "Lekin Di....aap log kahan jaa rahe hain? Woh bhi itni jaldi mein? Any problem?" he finished asking as he turned to hug his brother-in-law.
"Bas Prem ek bahut bara project mila hai mujhe for which I have to be back in Canada by tomorrow afternoon. You know how it is with work and all buddy!" he finished in the hope of lightening the atmosphere.
"Lekin Kulraaj di aap aur Gunjan toh ruk sakte hain na?" Heer asked as Kulraaj enveloped her into an embrace.
"Aise kaise ruk saktein hain....jahaan mere Pati wahaan main. Tum rehti Prem ke beghair kya? I know you wouldn't either. Ab bas! I don't want to hear any more. We're definitely leaving so why not send us away smilingly and that applies to you especially Maa!
This had after-all been part of the initial plan, so why exactly was everyone in a state of disbelief? This day had to come sooner or later, didn't it? Perhaps, it was the rapidness of it that astonished everyone.
Once they had said all their goodbyes, Prem drove them to the airport whilst everyone else retired to their rooms in a sullen condition.
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The following morning
"Bauji, main aur Preet bhi soch rahein hai keh ab waapis chale jayein. We can't afford to miss any more days of college!" Veera explained at the breakfast table.
"Lekin itni kya jaldi hai Veera!" Gayatri immediately inquired.
But before either could answer, Lalit interrupted "Yeh sahi keh rahi hai Gayatri. Their studies should be their first priority at the moment. Shukar hai ise thori si toh fikr hai warna ye Preet toh poora ka poora hi nalayak hai."
"Dad! Aap ko kya pata, ye kis ka idea tha." he moaned.
"Mujhe sab pata hai. Tumhe aisa khayaal kabhi nahi aasakta" he responded ever-so casually.
"Waise Bauji maine bhi waapis jaane ka faisla kar liya hai. I don't think I'll be able to adjust at the branch of my firm here in India. Woh hai bhi Mumbai mein, yahaan Ludhiana mein toh nahi. Isliye behtar yahi hoga ke main bhi in dono ke saath Canada chala jaoon. That's if you agree."
It was then decided that Preet, Veera and Harman as well would be returning to Canada the next day whilst the father and son continued to argue about whose idea it had been throughout the rest of breakfast.
That is until Prem stood to leave for work "Acha Maa, main chalta hoon. I've got an important meeting at the office. Shayad thodi deir hojaye." he informed as usual.
"Ab yeh sab mujhe nayi, Heer ko kaha karo samje?" she said teasingly just as, Heer rushed into the dining room exclaiming "Suno Prem!"
Although he didn't want to respond, he simply nodded that too very slightly for her to continue seeing as all eyes were on him.
"Kya tum mujhe Chachu keh ghar chor sakte ho. Woh raaste mein hi aata hai." she asked uncertainly.
When there was no answer however, Gayatri intervened "Are isme poochne ki kya baat hai Heer beta, Prem tumhe chor dega. Kyun Prem?"
He had no choice but to agree "Ji Maa. Heer main bahar wait kar raha hoon." and then quietly exited the room. Heer quickly took both Gayatri and Lalit's blessings and then she too followed her husband to their garage where his car was parked. By the time she had arrived though, Prem was already in the process of starting up the car. Heer got in and they left almost immediately. However, Prem said very little throughout the journey whilst Heer very unlike her normal self was the one trying to possibly make conversation or what one would usually call 'small talk'. Ever since yesterday's episode at the hospital, they hadn't spoken. She couldn't understand what he was upset about. Was it her behavior? If it was, then hadn't he noticed the change in her behavior since last night? It was clearly evident that he was making an effort. Or was it something else? Like an attempt to teach her a lesson? Only God knew what was playing in her husband's mind that moment as she certainly had no clue whatsoever.
"I'm in a hurry. Tum yahaan se toh chal sakti ho na?" he inquired rather tauntingly.
A disappointed Heer had no choice but to oblige "Haan....tum jao. Main chali jaoongi." Did Prem really not care for her anymore? How was the incident at the hospital her fault?
As soon as Heer stepped out, Prem drove away without any form of a goodbye. She mindlessly crossed the road almost getting run over in the process and as she continued to walk carelessly, Heer came across a very recognizable individual in a situation she could have never even imagined. Heer recalled how Kulraaj and Kiran had supposedly left for Canada the night before. But what was Kiran still doing in India, that too with his arms wrapped around an unfamiliar woman. Fortunately he hadn't noticed Heer yet who was now part of the herd which was quite usual for the area her Chachu-Chachi lived in at this time of day seeing as it was filled with shops and a wide-range of restaurants. Now, it was highly unlikely that Kiran would identify Heer from such a great distance giving her the perfect opportunity to do what she does best. 'Spy' or which in a more indistinct way would be considered 'Investigating matters of great concern' and this was surely one. After following the two for a while, Heer came to the conclusion that something was definitely not right and she needed to find out.
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