New FF: Heer's Secret prt22 pg96 Jun9 - Page 13

thanx 4 ur PM n da awesome update ...... impatient 2 know Prem's reaction plz update soon i will b w8n

Prem's hands balled into fists when he heard that Heer was engaged. Engaged…as in soon to be married…married to another man…another man that wasn't him. How could she be engaged? It just wasn't possible…this was not happening. He knew it was stupid to hope that no one had replaced him in the last four and a half years; but none the less, he had still hoped. His own record wasn't clear, he had replaced her, quite a few times; but no woman had ever affected him the way that Heer had, God help him - the way that Heer still did.

'Preet', was it? Well, Prem really didn't know too much about him other than what he had heard regarding the business. According to his sources Preet was an extremely generous person as well as business man, he was kind, did lots of charity work, he had a good chunk of change in his bank to live a comfortable life. Right now all that didn't matter. The man's character didn't matter, the man's personality didn't matter; all that mattered was that he was the one that Heer was engaged to…his Heer. That fact alone was enough to make Prem deeply hate the man. He knew he was being childish, but at this point…he didn't care.

Prem looked at Heer's hands, which were folded demurely on top of the bar counter, when his eyes fell on the third finger of her left hand, "You don't have a ring," he challenged.

"So? What's your point? I didn't need one while I shacked up with you. What makes you think I need one now?" she spat back in a heart beat.

Prem knew that she was right of course. Through out the duration of their relationship there was never anything indicating that they were together; they had made no commitments to each other…correction…he had made no commitments to her.

Knowing that she was right, he kept quiet for a few seconds. "What if I told you I have had to...rethink...a few of my old stand points? What if I told you…I had changed?" he asked his eyes full of hope for the future.

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

Heer looked at him as if debating in her head whether she should believe him or not; whether he was being honest or lying. After a pause she got to her feet, rummaged through her purse, pulled out some money and placed it on the counter next to her untouched drink. She turned to face him, her eyes filled with ice and anger all at the same time, "Then I'd say...you were four and a half years too late Prem Jhuneja."

She turned to leave but felt his hand come down on her wrist and stop her, and he pulled her to face him once again. The skin to skin contact sending a shiver down her spine. "Let me go Prem," she demanded, "I'm engaged to someone. I no longer belong to you."

The sudden flare of heat that slashed across his face and into his eyes was not something anyone could miss, least of all herself.

"You are not married yet," he whispered right into her ear, before he let go and stepped back.

Heer didn't know if that was a statement of fact or a threat. Whatever it was, Heer didn't stay long enough to find out, and instead she turned on her heel and walked out of the hotel.

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

The anger rose inside Prem's veins when Heer told him she 'no longer belonged to him'. When he held her wrist and felt the soft delicate skin under his fingers, a shot of pure desire shot through his body. She was so close; close enough that if she took a deep breath, her breasts would push up against his own chest. It was crazy the effect this woman had on him, even after all these years. As he watched her go his chest felt as if a giant hand had just plunged between his ribs, wrenched out his heart and slapped it down on the bar next to the ten dollar note she had just left.

Prem didn't know what bothered him the most, the fact that Heer was engaged to another man or the way that engagement made him feel. He hadn't come here to start a relationship with Heer, not in the least. He met up with her to get 'reacquainted' with her. He had no intention of becoming a permanent fixture in her life; he just wanted to see her while he was in town taking care of his fathers affairs. He wasn't ready for Heer to be engaged, he was even less prepared to deal with the rush of emotion that hit him when he saw her. Jealousy, anger, confusion, and obsession had come out all at once. He never felt so protective of any other woman in his life…ever. He knew Heer was special, and he didn't like it…he didn't like it one bit; he didn't like that one woman could have such potent power over him, even after all the time that had passed between them.

Prem watched as the one woman that mattered the most in all his life, after his mother, walked out of his life, once again. He watched as the one person he wanted, but couldn't have, walked away. Prem Jhuneja stood and watched the one woman he had ever loved; more than life itself… although he would never admit that to himself… walk out the door and out of his life...again.

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

The entire ride home Heer couldn't take her mind off of Prem, no matter how hard she tried. She drove around for about 20min to calm her nerves. She didn't want to be a nervous wreck in front of Aarav. Nearly a half an hour after she left Prem at the hotel bar, Heer pulled into the drive way of her parent's house. She took deep breaths as she walked up to, and then entered the house. She was leaning against the door organizing her thoughts and emotions, her eyes closed, when she heard a very excited "Mommy!"

She opened her eyes in time to see her son running right for her. Aarav…her son; a three and a half, almost four year old boy, a head of thick unruly hair, dark warm chocolate eyes, chubby cheeks, two deep dimples…the life and joy of everyone in this very house.

A smile automatically appeared on her face, and all her thoughts of Prem and any tension she had, were gone. She fell to her knees and opened her arms as Aarav ran right into her arms. When Aarav was in her arms, she gave him a tight squeeze; having his little warm body cuddled into hers felt like heaven. She told herself that Aarav needed the hug from his mom after an entire day apart, but she knew that the hug was more for her then for him at that moment. She only pulled back when she felt Aarav squirming to get free. She noticed that he was dressed in his Blues-Clues pajamas.

Getting to her feet, Heer faked a stern voice as she said, "Aren't you supposed to be in bed mister?"

Aarav suddenly lost his smile and began fidgeting with his fingers as he looked down and in a small voice replied, "Well I was just waiting for you to come home so I could show you what me and Nana-ji caught today. And...and...I wanted you to tuck me in Mommy," he finished, his eyes now looking up at her.

Heer's heart gave a squeeze and she picked up her son and kissed him on the cheek. Aarav's smile returned seeing that his mother was not mad at him for passing his bed time. Just then Heer's father stepped into the hallway.

"How did your 'meeting' go?" her father asked with one eyebrow raised, in a steady voice.

Heer put Aarav down and patted him on his bottom, "Ok, how about we take a quick peek at the fish and then it's off to bed. Deal?"

"Deal!" Aarav yelled and ran straight for the kitchen, his little feet making soft sounds as they hit the wooden floor planks in the hall way.

Heer turned to her father, "My 'meeting' went about as well as expected."

"Does Prem know he has a son?"

"No, he doesn't, and I plan on keeping it that way Papa."

"Wow, 'Papa'...that means you are serious. Ok, fine...it's up to you." Balraj knew that his eldest daughter only referred to him as 'Papa' when she needed something; like when as a child she did something wrong and wanted him to hide it from her mother, or when she wanted a car after graduation, or wanted to major in Art History instead of medicine. "By the way, Preet called. He mentioned something about dinner," her father informed her.

"Oh, I'll call him once I have seen the fish that you two caught." Heer went up to her father and hugged him and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thank you Papa, for...for watching Aarav today," then she headed off to the kitchen.

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

Balraj knew that his daughter meant more than a mere thanks for watching his grandson. He knew it was for letting her deal with Prem on her own, in her own way. He had to admit; when she told him she was pregnant four years ago he was furious with her for having such a relationship before marriage. He knew they were a modern family, but he had raised her better than that. He had set limits for his girls; even though they were born and raised in the United States, he had instilled traditional morals and values in them, just like his parents had done for him. Out of all three girls if he had to say which he may have expected such reckless behavior from, he would have to say Meher. She was the youngest, the most spirited, and in-your-face girl out of the bunch. He had never in a million years expected Heer, his Heer, to do something so unbelievable. However, he had to also admit, that she handled everything with great elegance and poise. Heer was a great daughter, sister...and most of all, she was a great mother to Aarav. She may have strayed from the path he would have liked her to take, but she found her way back. Obviously he and Teji had some something right, and no matter what happened, he does not for one second regret the little boy, full of life, in the kitchen. That little boy had become the center of the family in his short life time. The family would break apart if anything happened to him.

Balraj may despise Prem Jhuneja for what he put his daughter through, but there were other feelings as well. He felt some how indebted to Prem Jhuneja, because without him, Aarav would not be here. So in an odd and twisted way, he was thankful to Prem Jhuneja. However, if that scum-bag ever hurt his daughter again, nothing…nothing…could save him from the barrel of his shot gun.

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

Another half an hour later Aarav was quietly tucked into his race car bed. They did their nightly routine, which they did as much as possible. Aarav had enthusiastically told her about the 'ginormous' fish they had caught. His name was Bob, and according to Aarav, Bob had a wife named Joan and they had lots of little fish babies. Aarav felt bad taking Bob away from his family so Aarav let him go. Aarav gave her his dashing 100 watt smile when Heer assured him that she was proud of him for being so mature and thoughtful.

Once she was back downstairs, she called Preet and they agreed to grab a late dinner at the Panini Caf, although she was in no mood to eat. Heer arrived there early but Preet was already there, she had seen his car in the parking lot and spotted him as soon as she walked into the caf.

Preet was the man of many women's dreams; he was tall, dark and handsome. He was such a friendly person, full of life, love and joy. He was definitely the type of guy you took home to meet the parents, and at the same time he was the guy who the biggest prankster. He never failed to bring a smile to her face. Heer looked around the room to see more than just a few pair of female eyes on Preet. He was dressed in stone washed blue jeans, a striped Express shirt with the sleeves rolled up, casual shoes and hair was let lose, not in place, but not a mess either; he looked young and fresh. When he spotted her a smile spread across his face as he rose to greet her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and then he pulled out her chair for her. It surprised Heer every time just how chivalrous he was; you didn't get that much these days. Heer could almost the feel the angry glares that the women in the restaurant were giving her; her presence said that Preet was taken…too bad for them.

"Where did you go? I called the house and your cell," he asked.

"Oh, just errands…you know." Heer felt horrible for lying to him, but she wasn't ready to tell him about Prem, not yet.

"Oh. All done?" he checked.

"I hope so," she muttered under her breath.

"Huh?" Preet looked at her in confusion.

Heer didn't have to answer and the waiter approached them to take their orders. Preet ordered an iced tea and the grilled chicken panini with grilled peppers and onions with a side of coleslaw. Heer ordered a lemon Perrier, minestrone soup and side salad with balsamic vinegar dressing.

"How is Aarav? Did he catch any fish, or did her just 'let them go'?" Preet asked. He knew all about the fishing trips her father and Aarav took. He and even joined them a time or two.

"Oh well, you will just have to wait to hear that for yourself. Aarav is beside himself in excitement. He cannot wait to tell Uncle Preet about the adventure he had with his Nana-ji."

Preet let out a sigh of disappointment. He took her hands, which rested on the table, into his own and looked at their joined hands as he spoke, "I really wish you would pick a wedding date in the near future Heer. I love you and Aarav so much. I don't want him to call me 'Uncle' anymore. I want to make him my son and give him my name. I want to do all the things that dads do with their sons, with Aarav. As much as I want to make you my wife, I also want to make him my son. I think I fall a little more in love with him every time I see him, just like his mother."

He raised one hand and gently caressed her face, then Preet paused for a second and Heer opened her mouth to say something but snapped it shut before she could get one syllable out, "But I know, I know...you want to wait until Aarav is settled in with school and everything before we get married. And you know what, I may not like it, but I respect and love you more for putting your life on the side-lines for your son." He then picked up her hand and placed a kiss on the top of her hand.

Heer was speechless. She didn't know what to do; should she cry after what Preet said, should she get up and hug him and say 'I love you' for being so understanding, should she look to the sky and ask God how she ever got so lucky to find a man like Preet for herself. She opted for neither; instead they ate their dinner and had some light conversation through out dinner.

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