Fatima's Cozy Corner - Page 61

Originally posted by: suan

So the tension continues.

These two are stubborn. 😊

Looking forward to the next installment to get the results of this game and to see what the upsetting news is.

Originally posted by: vrushika

Hi ma'am. I know sorry wont do. But extremely sorry. Late like always but college keeps me busy. Was suppose to comment tomorrow but seems like wont get time again. Didnt get to like the previous chapters but they were amazing. My net speed is horrible today. So sorry. I like this story and m in love with this preet and meher.. I love their fights. Premeer just gives me the extra good feeling. :-D Maya preet and meher banter was cute <3 <3 the game was <3 <3 <3 and the song choice was <3 <3 gr8 update. Thank u for the pm. Love vrushika.

hi fatimaaa...*warm hugs*...thnks for the pm...

Originally posted by: fansush

hi fatimaaa...*warm hugs*...thnks for the pm...

hmm..i m terribly late...

but the read made up for it...preets attitude😎... meher is sweet..i like her...not taking shit..

awww...at the nok jhoks...

the song n dance ...cud imagine sushant... it s been so long seen him dance*sigh*

i m loving it...😛

let me know the part of the scene in ur siggy the dancing one whr meher is pulling him back...

direct link will be gr88..😛...wanna see...whats it about...

missing sushant onscreen terribly...

Chapter 7 - Bad News Travels Fast

Link to: Table of Contents

"Hey Preet! Welcome back! How was the wedding?" asked Gaurav, as he stopped by Preet's desk.

"Great, as far as weddings go", Preet smiled. He handed Gaurav an envelope. "These are pictures from the wedding. Veera said to tell you and Sam that she was damn mad about you guys not coming, but your gift more than made up for your absence".

"Okay", laughed Gaurav, as he flipped through the pictures. "Hey, who's this?" He had noticed several pictures of Preet with the same girl. A few of them showed the 2 of them dancing together.

Preet looked at the pictures Gaurav was holding. "Well well...Ms. Ghuseeli Hassena", he chuckled.

"Ms. Who?" Asked Gaurav.

"Never mind, it's a private joke", said Preet.

"She's very pretty", said Gaurav. "Looks like you did have a good time at the wedding after all".

"Gaurav...she was just some college roommate of a friend of a friend of Veera's", said Preet rolling his eyes. "And before you start getting any wild ideas in your head, let me tell you that we did not hit it off. In fact we couldn't stand each other".

"And that's why you brought back her pictures with you?" Gaurav asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No way man! Veera gave me that packet before I left", protested Preet. "I never even went through it".

"Okay baba, okay", smiled Gaurav. "Whatever you say".

"Look can we change the topic here?" said Preet. "Has Mr. Bakshi announced anything about his meeting with the Mondelez-Cadbury people?"

"Not yet, but he's asked everyone to join him in the conference room right after lunch", explained Gaurav. "I'm so nervous. What do you think he'll say?"

"Relax yaar", smiled Preet. "We worked really hard on this, I'm sure we're going to get the contract".

"I love your optimism Preet", sighed Gaurav.

"Umeed pe to duniya qaiyam hai", chuckled Preet. (Hope is what the world survives on)

Later that afternoon...

Mr. Bakshi looked over the eager faces staring at him in the conference room, and cleared his throat before beginning. "I'm sure you're all anxious to learn about my meeting with Mondelez - Cadbury. Well...I won't keep you waiting any longer. Congratulations people, we've secured the contract".

Mr. Bakshi, smiled and nodded as cheers broke out in the conference room.

"None of this would have been possible without the fantastic campaigns you all put together", continued Mr. Bakshi. "Now I'm sure you all want to know which campaign we'll be going forward with. Well...I'm happy to announce that it is the 'family cookie' concept that Gaurav's team came up with".

Gaurav and Preet looked up happily, hugged each other, and shook hands with other colleagues congratulating them.

"Ahem", said Mr. Bakshi, clearing his throat. "I'm not done yet folks. May I remind you that our first priorty here is the best interest of our company and client. I know all the teams worked very hard, and should be rewarded as such. So...I've decided to shuffle you around and put together a new team. This new team will be given charge of the contract, as well as further development of marketing and advertising strategies for Mondelez-Cadbury's Oreo product line. Gaurav, since your team came up with the idea, I'm assigning you as account executive in charge of this campaign".

"Thank you sir", smiled Gaurav. He looked at Preet, who nodded and patted him on the back.

"Rishap...you'll be working under Gaurav as the head of the creative team", continued Mr. Bakshi. "You'll be supported by Neil, and Farhan. I want you to use the research Gaurav and Preet did to put together one hell of a campaign. All the best gentlemen".

And with those announcements the meeting was adjourned.

Preet sat numb in his chair. Had he heard Mr. Bakshi right? All the hard work he had done was going to be the basis for planning a new advertising campaign, by a new team. A team he was not going to be a part of! As the reality of the situation sank in he got up and angrily stomped out of the conference room.

"Preet...wait up! Where are you going?" Gaurav asked as he caught up with his friend.

"I don't know", Preet said angrily. "What the hell just happened Gaurav?! For 2 years I've been dragging my heels here waiting for an opportunity like this to come along. I pour my brains out for weeks over this campaign and what do I have to show for it...nothing!"

"Preet I'm so sorry", said Gaurav. "I don't understand myself why Mr. Bakshi over looked you".

"Yeah well, I'm not going to wait around to find out", Preet grumbled, as he began to walk away.

"Where are you going?" asked Gaurav.

"Back to my desk" retorted Preet. "I'm going make copies of my resume and then get the hell out of here".

"Preet wait! Will you calm down for just a moment?" Said Gaurav. "Look I know how you must be feeling. The entire campaign was your idea. But quitting is not the solution. Mr. Bakshi is going out of town this afternoon. He'll be back in about a week. Let things settle down a bit. And then as soon as he gets back, I'll go and talk to him. If anyone deserves to be on that team, you do. I promise I'll do whatever it takes to get you on board. Even if it means resigning from it myself".

"No Gaurav", Preet shook his head. "I don't want you to do that. We both worked very hard. You deserve the promotion".

"Then do me a favor and wait until I speak with Mr. Bakshi before you start sending out your resume", said Gaurav. "Okay?"

"Okay", sighed Preet.

"Good", smiled Gaurav. "Listen, I have to call Sam and tell her the good news. I'll catch you later".

Preet gave Gaurav a weak smile as he watched his friend walk away. Good news, he scoffed in his head. It didn't seem like a day for good news to him.

Meanwhile...

Meher was wrapping up her work at the universty's library when she received a phone call from Maya.

"Hey Maya what's up?" she asked.

"Hi Meher, I wanted to let you know that I have plans this evening so I'll be home kind of late. Don't wait up for me and don't worry", said Maya.

"Okay", said Meher.

"Oh and I almost forgot...your mom called this morning", said Maya. "She's coming to Delhi to see you today".

"Mom called in the morning, and you're telling me now", complained Meher.

"I'm sorry, it just slipped my mind", Maya said apologetically.

"I wonder why she's coming here", said Meher. "Did Ma say anything else?"

"No", answered Maya, "only that it was important for you to be here when she gets in. Anyways...I'm running late. Tell Aunty Ji I said 'Hi'. And if she brings anything resembling home cooked food, make sure to save me some".

Meher quickly collected her things and hurried out the door. Something really important must have happened for her mother to come all the way from Ambala to Delhi. The sooner she'd get home, the sooner she'd find out.

A shortwhile later...

Meher entered her apartment. She frowned as her eyes immediately fell upon the gift basket she had won at Veera's cocktail party. She had wanted to leave it behind, but Maya insisted that they bring it back as a momento of the time they had at the wedding. But Meher wasn't interested in remembering anything that had to do with Preet Juneja, so it lay on the coffee table, still unopened and untouched. Just then Meher heard the clanging of pots and utensils. She went to the kitchen. Sure enough her mother was there, and so was Maya.

"Ma...what are you doing?" asked Meher.

"Ah Meher! You're finally here", said Teji as she hugged her daughter. "It's a good thing Maya was home when I got here, else I'd still be standing outside your door".

"Actually Aunty Ji, I forgot to give Meher your message in time", said Maya.

"I decided to hang around until you got home just in case your mom got here before you did", Maya whispered to Meher.

"Thanks", Meher whispered back.

"It's okay dear. No need to apologize. Everything worked out in the end, it always does", said Teji.

"Ma, what are you doing here in Delhi? And why are you in the kitchen?" asked Meher.

"I thought I'd whip up some dinner before you came home. It's been so long since you had some of my cooking. But I guess I'm not as fast as I used to be", sighed Teji.

"But, you must be tired from your trip. You should be resting not standing in front of a hot stove", insisted Meher.

"All I did was sit during the trip over", chuckled Teji. "And there is nothing for me to do in your chachee's house either. It feels good to be active for a change. So...how was your day?"

"Fine. You came all the way to Delhi to ask me that?" said Meher with a raised eyebrow. "You could have asked me that over the phone".

"I know", sighed Teji, "But I wanted to see my little girl".

"Ma, is everything alright?" Meher asked worriedly.

"Yes", nodded Teji. "Everything will be alright. Now be a good girl and freshen up. Then we'll sit, we'll eat...and talk".

"Oh no...not the talk", Maya whispered as she walked past Meher and helped herself to a pakoda Teji had just finished frying. "Everything smells great Chachee ji. Uh...I'm getting late so I'll see you guys later".

Meher watched Maya leave, then quickly made her way to the washroom, changed her clothes and freshened up. Teji was setting the table when she returned. During the meal, Meher noted that her mother had hardly touched her food. She waited for her to say something but other than asking Meher not to talk with her mouth full, Teji said nothing. Once the meal was over, and the dishes were cleared, Meher followed her mother into the sitting room, where she settled down with a cup of tea.

"What's this?" asked Teji, as she placed her tea on the table and fingered the colorful fabric ribbon adorning the gift basket.

"Oh that...It's nothing", said Meher.

"Well it has got to be something if it's decorating your coffee table like that", said Teji.

"It's just a little prize, I sort of won at Veera's wedding", sighed Meher.

"Well why haven't you opened it yet?" asked Teji.

"I haven't had a chance to", lied Meher. And she never would. How could she make her mother understand that this basket was her prize for being the idiot of the night at the cocktail party, courtesy of Veera's brother?

"Well it looks very pretty. You should make sure there's nothing in there that'll spoil", said Teji. "So...did you have a good time at the wedding? When do I get to see some pictures?"

"Okay, now you're making me nervous", sighed Meher. "I'm sure you didn't come all the way up here just to see Veera's wedding pictures. Please talk to me. Why are you really here? What's wrong?"

"Why does anything have to be wrong?" replied Teji.

"Because you keep answering my questions with another question!" cried Meher.

"I do?" said Teji.

Meher glared at her mother.

"You're supposed to come home in a week. You haven't even started packing yet. Maybe I can help", offered Teji, as she looked around the room.

"I've been meaning to speak to you about that. I wasn't exactly planning to come home right away", explained Meher. "I thought I'd finish out the summer working in the library. It would help pay for my upkeep here. The recruitment office said they'll help with job placement. I may even start working as a substitute teacher this fall".

"Perhaps that won't be necessary", said Teji.

"Not necessary? Why not?" asked Meher. "Ma I'm finally graduating in a few days. This is what we were waiting for, in order to become independent from Chachu and Chachee".

"I'm afraid things have changed", sighed Teji. There was a long pause before she continued. "I've been going to the doctor again Meher. Something finally showed up on his radar. I...I have cancer".

"Cancer?" cried Meher, as she covered her mouth in shock.

"It's in the pancreas", explained Teji.

"Oh my God! Ma why didn't you tell me?" said Meher, her eyes brimming with tears. "Don't worry...We'll find a specialist right here in Delhi. We'll have it taken care of before..."

"...it's too late", Teji finished Meher's sentence. "I'm afraid it's too late. The doctor says it has already spread to stage 4. I guess that means beyond repair. He said I could be looking at just 2 to 3 months maybe more...maybe less".

"No, no, no", sobbed Meher as she laid her head in her mother's lap and hugged her knees.

"It's alright dear", said Teji as she passed her hand lovingly over Meher's head. "I've led a full life. I have no regrets...except one maybe...I wanted to see you get married".

"What?" said Meher.

"Meher...You remember Mr. Kashyap, don't you?" asked Teji. "He has a son. He used to study in the same university as you do, he's even seen you. We can have the wedding in 2 weeks".

"I can't believe this!" Meher cried in disbelief. "We should be discussing treatment options and here you are making plans for my wedding!"

"I'm being practical Meher", insisted Teji. "I don't have much time".

"Ma please stop talking like that!" sobbed Meher, as she hugged her mother.

Teji pulled Meher away from herself and made her look into her eyes. "There's something else...I lied to you about the farm Meher. I never did get an offer from any big buyer. In fact I was lucky to sell it at all. The money I got wasn't even enough to cover the debts we had incurred over the years. That's when Mr. Kashyap stepped in. He paid off the remaining debts and he was the real source of your university tuition. All these years, all the doctor visits...like a guardian angel...he's been taking care of all the expenses...never asking for anything in return. And now, when I learned of my fate, he was the one who offered his son's hand in marriage. I don't know how we can ever repay him for his favors. I hope you'll forgive me Meher, but I've already accepted Mr. Kashyap's offer on your behalf. It seemed like the right thing to do. I just wanted to see my baby girl happy...before..."

"Ma please...", sobbed Meher.

"You'll do as I tell you, won't you Meher?" asked Teji. "I want...I need...to see you settled...so that...I can die in peace".

Still reeling from the shock of all she had just been told, Meher nodded absentmindedly, as she quietly laid her head in her mother's lap again and wept.

Hope you all liked the update for this week. Kind of sad I know...sorry but it had to be done...🤔

Please do leave your feedback or at least hit the like button. See you next week 😛

Pre-cap: Can Meher be the solution to Preet's problems or will she become the problem?

Link to: Chapter 8

Loved the update <3 Awesome <3

Originally posted by: -Xpress-

Loved the update <3 Awesome <3

Oh my.. This was unexpected..!! Especially meher wali bad news..
Sigh.. Lets see who this new guy is.. I hope he is a jerk so that i can roote for meet without an guilt.. Hehe. : P
Waiting for the next part, story is going great fatima!

I liked it...but wondering how their lives wud interwine!...the story is progressing beautifully

Yeh kya ho gaya 😲 ... This is so sad and unexpected.😔..
How will these two meet so soon and fall in love n' all.. I mean, I am assuming the Meet love story will have to kick off and culminate in wedding in a couple of months, so that Teji is able to see it...