FF: Ek Paal...Epilogue pg45 Oct 8 09 - Page 34

i will be waiting eagerly!!!! plz add me to ur pm list

Mitwa

Mere maan yeh bata deh tu

Kis orr chala hai tu

Kya paya nahin tune

Kya dhund raha hai tu

Jo hai ankahee joh hai ansuni

Woh baath kya hai bata

Mitwa kahe dhadkane tujhse kya

Mitwa yeh khudse toh naa tu chupa

Santa Monica Pier, CA – 2 years later

Heer was standing in her most favorite place in the world, Santa Monica Pier. She was just taking in the familiar scenery in front of her as she waited for her workaholic husband to join her. As she thought of her husband, Prem Jhuneja, a smile spread across her face. They had been blissfully married for just over two years. Those two years had been the best in her life so far. After all of the heart ache that she suffered at the hands of her ex-husband, Manmeet, she finally saw what true happiness was all about.

Life had been a whirlwind, but in a good way. Life had been unexpected, but in a good way. Life had been crazy, but in a good way. Life had been almost perfect, but something was missing.

The past two years passed in a blur. They had spent three glorious weeks in Aruba for their honeymoon. However, after that Prem had become busy shifting the home base of his company from London to Los Angeles. Once he was settle in out here, he began getting more and more contracts; which meant more and more work. He did have help in the form of Nancy and Meher. Nancy had quit her job at the hotel, only to happily. She had been absolutely ecstatic the day she told their boss to "shove it". Meher had graduated from UCLA and was now an architect in Prem's company. Of course, Prem spent half the day trying to pry Nancy and Meher away form each other – either they were gossiping or at each others throats.

Nancy was now seeing a very nice gentleman named Steven Sandoval. They had met through Prem, because he was employed at Prem's company – he was the head of accounting. Meher on the other hand, had met a very nice young fellow at school, Preet Kapoor. They had been dating for about a year. Even Marco had managed to get a lovely girl, who he married only 7 months back, Gloria. Everything was going good for everyone. Everyone was happy, everything was perfect. Well, almost perfect.

Heer glanced at her watch and saw that it was nearly 6pm. Prem was supposed to have met her nearly an hour ago. She had big news to tell him. The moment they had hoped for, prayed for, and even planned for, was finally here. What better place than to break the good news to him than the pier. The pier was a witness to their love and their journey. The pier was what had brought them together, the pier is what kept them together.

It was getting a bit chilly so Heer turned to go get a sweater from her car when she saw Prem running down the bike path.

"I'm so sorry babe," he said as he came to a stop in front of Heer. "I completely lost track of time in the meeting."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," Heer said as she gave him the cold shoulder. "Don't make excuses, just admit that for you work is more important than your wife."

Prem put his arms around Heer and hugged her. "You know that's not true. My wife is my life." He teased her as he placed a kiss on her cheek.

"You have kept me waiting for nearly on hour! One hour!" Heer yelled. "You could have at least called." Heer was becoming distracted by the kisses Prem was showering on her. Trying to gather her thoughts and keep her anger intact, Heer pulled away. "Your kisses are not going to win me over this time Mr. Jhuneja!"

Prem knew he was trouble, but he wasn't worried. He knew exactly how to pacify his wife, in fact, he had managed to turn pacifying into an art form. "Babe, I am really sorry," he said as he pulled out a single long stemmed rose from his coat. "I'm really really sorry." This time he pulled out a single chocolate kiss from his pocket. "I'm really really really sorry." Finally he pulled out an orchid.

"Prem," Heer whispered as she took the orchid. It was her favorite flower, and Prem knew how much she loved it. "I hate that you know me so well," she said as she wrapped her arms around him.

"I love it," Prem said. They stood like that, embraced in each others arms, for a minute or two when Prem spoke up again. "So, what did you need to tell me that had to be done here?" he asked.

Suddenly, Heer became shy. She had pictured this moment in her head countless times. She had even practiced what she was going to say to him a million times on her drive to the pier. Now, her mind was a complete blank and she was nervous.

"Heer, what happened? Why are you quite?" Prem asked.

"Um…the thing is…I…" Heer was stammering.

"Babe, you are really beginning to scare me. What happened?" Prem asked.

Heer took a deep breath and began to talk. "God has finally answered our prayers," she said as she took his hands into her own.

"What do you mean?" Prem asked.

"What do we want more than anything else in this world? What would complete our lives?" Heer asked. She was giving him an opportunity to guess.

"What? Meher getting married?" Prem asked. He knew that Heer wanted her sister settled with Preet.

"No," Heer said trying to keep her cool. "What have we been waiting for? What news have we been dying to hear?"

"What? Oh my God, is this about the New York contract? Did I get it?" Prem asked as he looked excited.

"No," Heer said between her teeth, "Think harder. What do we both want more than anything else in this world?"

"Umm…" Prem tried to think of something.

"What do YOU say would make our lives PERFECT?" Heer asked. She could feel her calm fading quickly.

"What would make our lives prefect?" Prem repeated. Then Heer saw it click, she saw the light bulb go off in his head. Prem gave her a huge smile and said "Nancy is moving to Siberia?"

That was it. Here she was trying to tell her husband the biggest new in the world, and he was teasing her about Nancy.

"It's about time. I'll be glad to have her out of my hair. I never get a moment alone with you because of her. She just pops up all the time, out of nowhere…" Prem continued his complaints about Nancy.

Heer couldn't take it anymore. "No you idiot! Nancy is not moving to Siberia."

"Then what?" Prem asked as he became quite.

"I'm trying to tell you that I'm pregnant!" Heer finally yelled.

Prem was stunned into silence. "What?" he finally said minutes later. "Really?" He looked like a deer caught in head lights.

Heer couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, really," she said.

"You're…we are…I'm gonna…" Prem just couldn't form a sentence. He took a deep breath and calmed himself before he asked, "I'm going to be a father?"

"Yes you are," Heer said what a smile.

"Oh my God Heer! Thank you," he said as he pulled her into his arms. He hugged her tight nearly crushing her.

Prem pulled back and looked at Heer – his wife, the love of his life. They had wanted to have children right away but the doctor advised them not to. She said that Heer wasn't ready to get pregnant so soon after her miscarriage. Heer had been seeing the doctor on a regular basis and was elated when they got the green signal to have a family. Heer was afraid that she may never have children. But now, now she was pregnant. Prem was beyond happy.

Prem leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Heer's lips. "Thank you," he whispered as he took her into his arms again.

"Thank you too," Heer said as she snuggled closer.

Now it was time to break the news to the two other important people in Heer's life – Meher and Nancy. Meher was her sister so she couldn't wait to share the news with her. But Nancy, she was Heer's best friend and so much more. Nancy had been with her through the worst years of her life, and not once did her friendship fail. Nancy had kept Heer alive when she had wanted to die. Nancy had kept Heer smiling when all she did was cry. Heer owed Nancy her life. So did Prem.

Once Prem and Heer reached home from the beach she glanced at the clock, it was just past seven in the evening. Heer knew that by 7:30pm Meher and Nancy would come barreling in for dinner. It was a Friday and that meant family dinner. It was a tradition Heer set up so that at least once a week they could all get together for a meal. She knew that Gloria and Marco were on their way. Preet left a message saying he would be a bit late because he had a quick errand to run for work.

True to form, it was 7:29 when Meher and Nancy came in laughing about something they had just heard on the radio. They knew Heer was in the kitchen so they went straight there.

"Mmm. What smells so good?" Nancy asked.

"I'm making Italian tonight," Heer said.

"Ooo! What is going on?" Meher asked as she grabbed a water bottle and sat at the table. "You only make Italian when it's a special occasion."

Nancy joined Heer in the kitchen and began helping her cut mushrooms. "Meher is right. What's going on?"

"Nothing," Heer said, suppressing a smile.

Prem walked into the kitchen with a bottle of wine.

"Jiju, what's going on? Why is Didi making Italian?" Meher asked.

"Nothing. I guess you could say she just had a craving," Prem teased.

"Okay," Meher and Nancy said.

"Forget this food talk. Didi, you know what I found out at work today?" Meher asked.

"What?" Heer was busy at the stove sauting the veggies.

"Carla from marketing, her sister is pregnant. She's going to be an aunt," Nancy said.

"Didi, I want to be a Massi," Meher whined.

"Meher you say the same thing every time I see you," Heer complained.

"I know but me and Nancy want to be Massi's. Right Nancy?"

"Absolutely," Nancy responded as she chewed on a carrot.

"Ok fine," Heer agreed.

Meher and Nancy looked at Heer and Prem, both were smiling.

"Ok fine, what?" Nancy asked.

"Ok, I'll make you two Massi's," Heer said.

"How?" Meher asked.

Just then Marco and Gloria walked in with a chocolate cake.

"If you don't know how babies are made, UCLA didn't teach you much. I think you need a sex-ed class," Marco teased.

"Ok eww!" Nancy said.

"I mean, when?" Meher clarified.

"Oh, I'd say in about nine months," Prem said. He was standing next to Heer now.

"What?" Meher and Nancy said at the same time.

It took a moment for the information to set in.

"Oh my God! You're pregnant!" Nancy yelled.

Heer shook her head. Both girls squealed with excitement and began jumping up and down. The rushed to hug her but found Prem in the way. Nancy shoved Prem aside so hard and he nearly fell over.

"Congratulations!" Nancy said to Heer.

"Congratulations to you too," Heer said.

Then, Meher and Nancy pulled away from Heer and embraced each other. "Congratulations! We are going to be Massi's!" they yelled.

The congratulations went on the rest of the night. It was definitely a memorable dinner.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dr. Davis' Office – 5 months later

Heer was waiting in the exam room when Prem walked in with a smile on his face. He went directly to her side and kissed her on the forehead.

"How is my Babe and my baby?" he asked as he placed a hand on Heer's growing belly.

"We are fine," Heer said, as she put her hand over Prem's.

Heer was amazed at how much Prem had changed since he found out she was pregnant. He had become a master delegator which allowed him to come with Heer to her appointments – he hadn't missed even one. He kept extra special care of her health by making sure that she ate healthy. Of course, he didn't know that Meher and Nancy fed her chocolate and ice cream on the side when he wasn't there. She was to rest and not strain herself, as per doctors orders. Heer was more than happy to comply because she wasn't going to do anything that put her baby at risk. Prem wouldn't even let her go out unless it was for doctors appointments. Again, this is where Nancy and Meher came in because they took her out on small outings for lunch and shopping when Heer was feeing up for it.

"Has to doctor been in yet?" Prem asked.

"No, not yet. Are the girls here yet?" Heer asked. Today was the day that they were going to find out the sex of the baby so both Nancy and Meher wanted to be here.

"Well no. Meher and Nancy are busy at work. They were just wrapping up a meeting as I was leaving so they should be here soon. But incase they are not, they have sent their representatives, Preet and Marco."

"Wow, you let Marco off the clock," Heer teased.

Marco had quit the LAPD and was no the head of security operations for Prem.

Prem raised an eyebrow at Heer and asked, "Do I have a choice?"

"No, I guess not," Heer said with a giggle. When it came to Meher and Nancy, no one won against them.

The doctor walked in and asked how Heer had been doing. She quickly began to check Heer and did the ultrasound. She told them what they were having and then left the room to give them a moment to themselves.

"Oh my God, we are going to have a girl. A girl!" Prem said in excitement.

"I know," Heer said as she felt tears of joy sting her eyes.

"That is the…" Suddenly Prem's face fell and his mood completely changed, "…WORST new ever!"

"What? Why?" Heer was confused. Only seconds ago he was delighted on having a girl, now he was devastated.

"How am I supposed to raise a girl?" Prem asked as he began to pace around the room.

"You can do it…we…" Heer began to say, but didn't get a chance to finish her thoughts.

"How? I wasn't raised a girl who played with dolls. I was raised a boy who played with monster trucks," Prem said.

"Not all girls play with dolls. What if our daughter wants to play with monster trucks?" Heer asked.

"Daughter? Oh my God, I'm going to have a daughter!" Prem said. He was growing paler by the second.

"Having a girl implies she is your daughter," Heer teased. She tried to suppress a giggle but failed.

"It's not funny!" Prem yelled. "She is going to grow up and turn into a teenager. Then teenage boys are going to come to take her out. Oh my God! No, she is never going out. Not until she is 30."

"Prem you are over reacting," Heer said.

"No. You have no idea what teenage boys think about, ALL THE TIME. They have only one thought running through their minds. They are hormonally charged bodies," Prem said in a rage.

"That is not something we will have to worry about for a while." Heer we trying to calm him down, but it did no good.

"No way she is going out with one of them. If any boy comes to take her out, I'll either put her in a convent or shoot the boy," Prem said.

Heer could see Prem plotting what exactly he was going to do if any boy ever came to take his baby girl out on a date.

"Prem…" Heer began to say, but was cut off.

"You know what? Screw it. I'm going to do both!" Prem announced.

Heer knew he meant that he would put their daughter in the convent AND shoot any boy that tried to take her out.

"See now you are just being crazy," Heer said.

"You don't know what you are talking about. You're a woman, you don't get a say," Prem said without thinking. The minute the words were out of his mouth he regretted it.

"What do you mean I don't know what I'm talking about? I'm her mother!" Heer yelled. "I'm the one who is going to carry her for nine months, not you. I'm the one who has to deliver her. I do all the hard work of raising her and you say I don't get a say!"

"Heer I didn't mean…." Prem didn't get to finish.

"All men are the same!" Heer said. "We, women, do all the work and you just swoop in like you are in charge!"

Prem knew when to argue and when to keep quiet. This was a situation to keep quiet. Not only was he the one who made a mistake, but he could see Heer's pregnancy hormones kick in. This was not going to end well. He saw Heer leaving the room so he quickly followed behind her.

Heer came to the lobby of the doctors office to see Marco and Preet waiting. The both stood when they saw her.

"Everything alright?" Marco asked.

"Do we know if it's a boy or girl?" Preet asked at the same time.

"It's a girl. Marco, please take me home," Heer instructed as she turned to Marco.

"What about Prem?" Marco asked. When he saw the look Heer gave him, he changed his mind. "Alright, let's go."

Marco took Heer's coat and bag from her just as Prem came into the lobby.

"Where are you going?" Prem asked when he saw Marco holding Heer's things.

"Marco is taking me home," Heer said without looking at Prem.

"No he isn't. You are going home with me," Prem argued.

"Marco, let's go." Heer began to walk away.

"Marco you make one move and you are out of a job," Prem threatened.

Marco looked stunned as he looked at Prem, who was giving him a very angry look. Heer didn't pay any attention to them. Instead she took Preet to get herself a bottle of water from the vending machine.

"Don't make eyes at me," Marco said. "I'm not scared of you. Your wife on the other hand…" Marco looked behind him to make sure Heer was our of ear shot, "…she scares the crap out of me now."

"You are such a wuss!" Prem said.

"If I don't listen to you, I don't have a job. If I don't listen to Heer, I wont have a life. She will literally cut my head off! So if I have to choose between a job and staying alive…I chose staying alive," Marco countered.

"Come one Marco," Prem pleaded. "She is mad at me, I have to fix it before she kill's me!"

"And have her kill me instead, no thank you!"

Preet and Heer returned just as Marco said those last words. Heer didn't seem fazed, she was too busy eating a chocolate bar Preet had bought for her. Prem wanted to say something but didn't, because now was not the time.

"Preet man, help me out," Prem begged.

Preet looked back and forth between Heer, Prem and Marco. He knew what he had to do.

"Yeah…I'm with him on this one," Preet said as he pointed to Marco.

Prem rolled his eyes. Two grown men, scared by a pregnant woman. Then again, who was he to talk; he was terrified of his wife's mood swings.

"Marco, shall we?" Heer asked.

"Sure, let's go." Marco headed towards the door with Heer.

Just then Nancy and Meher rushed in.

"So?" Meher asked as she tried to catch her breath. "What is it?"

"A girl," Heer said.

Nancy and Meher both had grins on their faces that reach from one ear to the other. "Oh my G…" they began to say.

Heer didn't let them express their joy. She looked at Marco and said, "Let's go."

Without another word Heer walked out of the door as she heard Prem call out to her again. Heer didn't so much as turn back. Marco just shrugged and left. Nancy and Meher quietly watched as Marco and Heer disappeared. As soon as they were out of sight, the two women looked at Prem.

"What did you do?" both women asked with their hands on their hips.

Prem knew that look. "Oh hell…" he muttered under her breath. Round two of women against Prem Jhuneja. *ding* It didn't help that Preet was standing of to the side enjoying Prem's torture. "What are you laughing at Preet? I wont help you talk to Heer about proposing to Meher anymore," Prem said in a whisper.

Preet just shrugged his shoulder. "I don't need your help anymore. I bought her chocolate. She loves me now," he teased.

Prem cursed at his own fate. His pregnant wife loved everyone, but him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Northridge Hospital: Labor & Delivery – 4 months later

It was two in the morning when Prem brought Heer to the hospital.

She had been complaining of back pain for a few hours but Prem thought it was just because of the baby. The doctor said that back pain was very common in the final trimester. It happened because the baby was growing rapidly, and the extra weight put stress on the mothers body. The last few months had really taken its toll on Heer. Even if she could manage to find a comfortable position, the baby moved around so much it made sleep impossible. She was definitely a night owl. Prem felt useless because he couldn't do anything to ease her discomfort.

When Heer first complained about her back pains Prem wanted to bring her in to the hospital right away. It had been Heer who talked him out of it. She said that they were just Braxton Hicks contractions. He made her promise that if the pain didn't die down or got too strong, then she had to tell him. Prem knew that he was so tensed he wouldn't be able to sleep, so he needed something to do. He set up Heer with a few movies before he went to work in his study. He planned to check up on her every so often so make sure she was ok. However, things didn't go as planned.

Prem began working and before he knew it, over an hour had passed. Stretching out he decided to go and check on Heer before he got back to work. Since Heer hadn't called for him, Prem figured that she had fallen asleep. When he walked into their bedroom he was shocked at what he found. Heer was doubled over in pain clutching onto her stomach. She was covered in sweat and was very flushed.

"Oh my God Heera. I'm talking you to the hospital," Prem said.

"No, no. It's not so bad. I don't need to go yet," she said.

Prem didn't bother listening to her. He went to her side of the bed and scooped her up into his arms. When she didn't fight him back, Prem knew something was definitely wrong. Lucky for them, since it was so close to Heer's delivery Nancy and Meher were staying in their house. Prem woke them up immediately and told then what happened. Marco and Gloria lived down the street so Prem called them – there was no he was in any condition to drive. They all packed into Prem's SUV and drove to the hospital.

The doctors immediately admitted Heer and transferred her from the ER to the labor and delivery ward. Prem had made sure that Heer got a private suite, and he had obtained permission to have Meher and Nancy in the room for the time being.

Heer was in so much pain that it was killing Prem to see her like this.

"Dr. Davis, cant you give her something for the pain?" Prem asked when the doctor stepped in to check on Heer.

"No Prem…women do this all the time…" Heer began to say.

"But I can't see you like this Heer," Prem said.

"I'm afraid not Mr. Jhuneja. It's too late for an epidural now. Heer is already 10cm dilated," she announced.

"What? Already?" Meher asked.

"My guess is that Heer has been in active labor for some time now. Why didn't you come in sooner?" the doctor asked.

"Yes, why didn't you come in earlier?" Nancy asked.

"I told Heer we should come in but she wouldn't listen to me," Prem said in his defense.

"Uff, Jiju. You should know better than that!" Meher yelled.

"She doesn't listen to me," Prem said.

"Excuses," Nancy replied.

"Alright guys, we don't have time for this. Heer is ready to have this baby now. Who is going to be in the delivery room?" the doctor asked.

"Cant they all stay?" Heer asked. Of course she wanted her husband there, but she also wanted her sister and her best friend in there as well.

"I'm sorry but no. I can only have two people in the delivery room."

"How about if Prem stays and we wait outside?" Nancy asked.

"Yeah, I think that's best. That way me and Nancy don't kill each other about who gets to stay and who has to leave," Meher said.

"Ok, that's fine. The waiting room is down the hall. I'll send a nurse to get you once the baby is delivered," the doctor said.

"Do you think you can handle this?" Meher asked.

"Of course," Prem said unconvincingly. "I'm Prem Jhuneja, I can handle anything."

Meher and Nancy rolled their eyes. Men and their ego – never a moments peace. They walked out and were both discussion how excited they were, what they were going to name the baby, what they were going to do to spoil the baby. The had only gone half way down the hall when they head foot steps behind them. Turning around, they saw a ashen looking Prem following behind them.

"What happened Jiju?" Meher asked.

"I lied. I can't handle that. I can't," Prem repeated.

"What do you mean YOU can't?" Nancy asked.

"She is in so much pain. I can't handle it. It's too hard," Prem whined.

"Too hard for YOU!?" Meher asked.

"Prem Jhuneja, you march you business tycoon ass back into that delivery room, or so help me God, I'm going to kill you!" Nancy ordered.

"But I…." Prem began.

"You put Didi in all that pain. It's your fault she is in this position. You better be there," Meher ordered.

"She is going to be doing all the hard work. All you have to do is hold her hand. You can't do that much for YOUR Heera!?" Nancy asked. Guilt trip – it always worked.

"But…" Prem really didn't want to be in there, he was terrified. However, when he saw the look on Nancy and Meher's faces, he knew he had to go.

Nancy and Meher both waited in the hall until Prem was inside the room. They burst into laughter. Men. Idiots – the whole lot of them.

Less than twenty minutes later a nurse in pink scrubs came to call Meher and Nancy from the waiting room. By this time Preet had also joined them. Nancy and Meher nearly tripped over each other in their rush to get to the room. As soon as they entered their eyes went to the little bundle of pink cradled in Prem's arms.

"We have a daughter," Prem said as he grinned at Meher and Nancy.

"Can I hold her?" Meher asked.

"Of course," Heer said.

Prem gently laid his precious daughter into Meher's arm. "Hold her head," he instructed.

Meher looked down at the baby girl who was staring up at her with big brown eyes. "I'm a Massi," Meher said as she felt her eyes tear up.

"Me too," Nancy joined in.

Meher and Nancy were too busy drooling over the baby, giving Prem a private moment with Heer.

He ran his hand across her head and then leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you," he said.

Women, he thought, they are amazing. The strength that men had was nothing when compared that of women's. Not only were women caring, nurturing and loving. But, seeing Heer deliver their daughter, another living person, shocked Prem. It was miraculous, that was the only way to describe it. He had so much more respect and admiration for Heer – for all women.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Santa Monica Pier – 6 years later

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and the entire clan was gathered at the pier. Nancy and Steven had come early with Hannah, their 3 year old daughter, to set up the Bar-B-Q. Steven paid extra special attention to Nancy, because she was 6 months pregnant with their second child. Marco and Preet were off getting drinks, because they forgot the girls Ginger Ale. That left Meher to look after her 2 year old son and daughter, Ajay and Naina, while Gloria ran after her 1 year old, David. Prem and Heer were the last to arrive, but they had a good excuse. It was not easy gathering up three children and all of their belongings for a trip to the beach. It took Heer nearly 2 hours to get EVERYTHING together. Of course, she wasn't complaining.

They had been blessed with three beautiful children. Of course, there was Chahat, their oldest daughter who had just turned 5 a few months ago. Then they had Ketan who was 4 and Vidya who was 2. Everyone made fun of Prem and Heer because they had so many kids in such little time, but they didn't care. Early on Prem and Heer had decided that they wanted to have a big family.

The day was spent beautifully. The food was great, the company even better. It was just around sunset when Prem and Heer walked hand in hand to the spot of the pier that they were familiar with. From the distance they could still see their kids playing with their cousins as the adults relaxed.

"I hate this," Heer grumbled.

"What? Having a good time with your family and friends?" Prem teased as he hugged her from behind.

"No, of course not. I hate that we only have these few moments where we are all together," Heer said. "Everyone is so busy now."

It was true, things weren't like before. Now with all the children, and the every growing business, things were crazy. Everyone had a million and one things to do everyday. Their weekly dinners had been changed to every other week. They rarely got to go out and enjoy a day like this. However, Heer was thankful for one thing. Regardless of the fact that they didn't spend too much time together, the bond they all shared only got stronger as the days passed. Even if the girls may not talk every day, Heer knew that she could still count on them as a shoulder to cry one. She knew that if she was having a bad day, all she had to do was all and all of them would come over with Ben n Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream and chocolate fudge brownies. Prem too, knew that the same was true for the guys.

"I know babe, but what can you do? This is life," Prem said as he kissed her on top of her head.

"I know, I just miss them that's all," Heer said. "These isolated moments aren't enough."

Prem thought about his wife's comment. It made him think back to the fateful night ten years ago when he first ran into her. It made him think of the night that had started their relationship. He thought back to all the moments he could point out that held importance in their relationship. Then he thought about what life would be like if those moments hadn't happened. What if he hadn't meet Heer? What if he hadn't come back? What if he hadn't protected her? What if he hadn't fought for her? What if?

"Sometimes Heera, all you need is one moment. One moment to live your life. One moment to fall in love. One moment for dreams to shatter, one moment for dream to take flight. Sometimes Heera, all you need is one moment…to change your life. One moment is all you need for it to last forever."

Saying that, Prem sealed his fate with a kiss. A kiss – just one kiss. A moment in his life, like so many others, that were just too precious to forget.

Ek Paal…

Ek paal ke liyeh hi sahi,

Ghadiyaan humko milli makmali, pyaar ki

Iss ek paal ko, jee le zaara…

Yeh lamhe phir mille naa mille,

Kho jaane deh sabhi duriyaan, faasale…

Aa dil milla le aur paas aa…

Phir kya ho, kya khabar

Dekha hai kisne kaal,

Aa raath rok leh, phir ho naa jaaye seher….