Fatima's Cozy Corner - Page 85

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Preet woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of his own teeth chattering. He sat up and rubbed his hands together. It had suddenly gotten very cold. He went to the windows and made sure they were all closed, before coming back to the sofa. The sheet he had taken to cover himself with last night wasn't doing the trick, so he decided to get a blanket for himself from the bedroom.

Preet quietly made his way to his room. He was about to knock on the door then decided against it. It would only disturb Meher's sleep and she'd get in a bad mood and probably fight with him because of it. Better just to sneak in and get it myself, he thought. He opened the door and peeked in. Meher was lying with her back to him and seemed to be fast asleep. Preet squinted his eyes and finally found his target, an extra blanket lying at the foot of the bed. I'll just be in and out, he thought.

As he tried to cross the room in the dark, Preet walked into a small arm chair and stubbed his toe. "Omph!" he cried in a muffled voice as he hopped about holding onto his injured foot. Meher turned in her sleep, but to Preet's relief, she didn't wake up.

Preet steadied his footing and began to walk towards the bed again. As he neared it, he tripped on the small floor rug and fell forward landing right on top of Meher. She woke up startled and screaming. "Aaah!!! Chor!! Chor!!" (Thief! Thief!)

"Shhh!!" hissed Preet. "Meher it's only me Preet".

"Preet?!" said Meher.

"Shhh!" said Preet. "There's no need to shout you'll wake up the neighbors".

Meher ignored his request and turned on the small lamp by the bedside table. "Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?! (What are you doing here?!) That too in the middle of the night!" she demanded.

"If you'll stop screaming into my ear, I'll explain" said Preet. "You see I was cold and I thought I'd come here and..."

"Oh!" Meher said, with her eyes narrowing. "You were feeling cold and decided to warm yourself by sneaking into bed with me?! Why you...!!" Taking him by his kurta's collar, she pushed him down on the bed, and began to hit him.

Preet raised his hands to defend himself from the onslaught of smacks he was receiving, before finally grabbing Meher's hands to stop her. "Meher you don't understand! Main...main gir gaya tha!" said Preet. (I...I fell).

"That's exactly what I'm saying", said Meher, "ke tum ek bahut hi giray huay insaan ho!" (That you're a fallen man).

"No, I mean...I just wanted to get a blanket. But it was dark. I couldn't see and I tripped on the rug and fell on you instead. It was an accident, Dharti Ma ki Kasam", said Preet.

Meher thought for a minute, it was possible Preet was telling the truth. After all she had tripped on that very rug and spilled water on him the other day too. "Acha...uttho", she said. (Alright then...get up).

"How can I?" You're practically sitting on top of me", groaned Preet.

"Oh, that's right", said Meher, as she quickly moved off him.

"Do you have any idea how much you weigh?" whimpered Preet.

"Shut up!" cried Meher, as she smacked him on the shoulder.

"Ow!" cried Preet. "Now what was that for?"

"For that comment about my weight", said Meher. "And for not knocking on the door before coming in. I mean, for tonight at least, this is my room. I'm a girl. Did you even for a second consider what people would say if they found out?"

"What people?" cried Preet, as he looked around the room. "It's just you and me here! Besides you weren't worried about what people would say when you agreed to live here".

"That's different", insisted Meher.

"Oh really? How?" said Preet.

"I told you before...ye meri majboori hai (I had no choice)", sighed Meher. "Luckily no one back home knows about you or our little arangement. But that doesn't give you the right to take advantage of my circumstances".

"Alright I made a mistake. I should have knocked", said Preet. "I just thought that we both had a rough day and you must be tired. I didn't want to disturb your sleep for a lousy blanket. I was...um...trying to be considerate...and what do I get in return? A beating!"

"Oh ho! So sorry", scoffed Meher. "Should I apologize? No no...words are not enough. Here let me touch your feet".

Meher bent down and pretended to reach for his feet. Preet leaned forward to stop her, but she straightened up abruptly accidently hitting his nose with her head in the process.

"Ugh!" cried Preet as he covered his injured nose with his hand. "Just forget it!" He stomped out of the room slamming the door behind him. How was he going to put up with 3 weeks of this torture?

Meher walked to the door and locked it, and returned to bed. She was about to turn the light off and go back to sleep, when her gaze fell on the spare blanket lying neatly folded at the foot of the bed. Had Preet really come just to take the blanket? If so then what was it still doing here? Maybe in all the confusion he forgot to take it with him. There is only one way to find out.

Meher picked up the blanket and went out into the living room. She found Preet lying on the sofa hugging himself, in an effort to keep warm. She shook her head and bit her lip in order to control her giggle. Okay Meher Mann, it's going to be a very long 3 weeks if you're not going to make an effort to get along with him, she scolded herself.

"Ahem", she said as she cleared her throat, and walked up to Preet. "You forgot this". To his surprise, Meher opened the blanket and laid it on top of him. "Oh and ...sorry about your nose".

The next morning...

Meher turned the alarm off and rubbed the remaining sleep from her eyes. She walked over to the window and pushed the curtains back to let the early rays of sunshine in. If she hurried, she decided, she could finish using the washroom before Preet needed it.

It was almost 7am, when Meher returned with a towel wrapped around her hair. She walked over to the closet, and picked out one of Preet's Kurta's to wear. She would wash her clothes and put them out to dry when he left. This would have to do in the meantime. After she finished dressing, Meher decided to fix herself some tea and wait in the living room while Preet got ready. To her surprise, she found him still asleep on the sofa.

Of course he didn't wake up, she sighed. How could he? The alarm clock was in the bedroom. I guess I'll have to wake him. She quietly walked over to the sofa where Preet lay slightly scrunched up, hugging a small square cushion. The bangs of his tousled hair were falling in his eyes and his mouth was slightly open.

How can this shaitan look so cute and innocent, while sleeping? smiled Meher, as she controlled the urge to push the hair back from his eyes. The sofa was barely enough to accommodate Preet's 6 foot frame, and the blanket she had placed on him last night had already slipped off from his legs. For a minute, Meher actually felt guilty for making him sleep out here. But just for a minute.

"Ahem", said Meher as she cleared her throat. "Preet...Preet wake up else you'll be late for work". She nudged him slightly, but he still didn't wake up. Hmm..., thought Meher. She went to the kitchen and put some water in a pan. A short while later she was back with 2 cups of tea. She placed them on the coffee table then nudged Preet again. But he still didn't wake up. Finally she took a deep breath, bent down close to his ear and yelled "Preet!"

"Huhn?!" cried a startled Preet, as he turned and fell off the sofa. "Ow", he mumbled as he rubbed his backside.

"Sorry", said Meher. "But you weren't waking up, and I didn't want you to be late for work".

"So you decided to throw my back out?" grumbled Preet, as he picked himself off the floor.

"At least, I didn't throw water on you this time", chuckled Meher. "Although I admit I was tempted to. Here...I made some tea".

"You did?" said Preet in surprise, as he took the cup of warm liquid from Meher's hands. "Thanks, but I thought you weren't going to be my maid".

"I'm not", said Meher. "I was making a cup for myself and decided to add some more water for you. It's called being considerate. Tumhe acha nahin laga, toh (If you don't like it) it's okay, I won't do it again".

"No it's not that", said Preet. "It's just that, after the beating you gave me last night, I was a little surprised at you suddenly being so nice to me?"

"Well...believe it or not, I am a nice person Preet", said Meher rolling her eyes. "And somewhere under all those layers, I know there is a nice person inside you just waiting to come out too. I'm also very tired of fighting. It'll be a lot easier to pass the next few weeks if we both let by gones be by gones and make an effort to get along, like we were when you first brought me home".

"Well I'm game if you are", said Preet, as he took a sip of his tea. "Mmm...this is real good. What are you doing up so early? It's not like you have to go to work or anything".

"I don't know", Meher said shrugging her shoulders. "I grew up on a farm, so I guess I'm used to waking up early. Anyway, the bedroom is all yours, so feel free to use it to get ready".

Preet smiled as he watched Meher get up, and dry her still wet hair with a towel as she walked off towards the kitchen. Maybe they could make this work after all.

A short while later...

Preet came out of his room, dressed but still struggling with his tie. "Something smells really good", he remarked, as he took a deep breath and inhaled the aroma of freshly cooked food coming from the kitchen.

"I made some parathe for myself", said Meher, as she got up from the table and went to put her dishes in the sink. "The kitchen is all yours now".

"Oh", said Preet, with a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"Don't worry", laughed Meher. "There's a plate on the table with your name on it too".

"Thanks Meher. I think I'm beginning to like this considerate side of yours", Preet said gratefully. He sat at the table and began to quickly gulp down everything she had set out for him. "Mmm...this is delicious, almost as good as my mom's".

"I'll take that as a compliment", smiled Meher.

"So...any plans for today?" asked Preet. "I mean what are you going to do for the next 3 weeks?"

"I'm not really sure", said Meher. "But I guess I can finally think about that now that I don't have to worry about being thrown out of here. Maybe I'll take a walk or check out the local library. I have to call some friends and see if they can help me get in touch with Maya. Someone has to be able to give me an update on what's happening back home. Sam left me her card last night too. She's a teacher, just like I want to be. Maybe I can visit her school and volunteer for a couple of days".

As she spoke Meher walked over to the living room windows and pulled the curtains back to let the sunshine in. Still holding onto the curtains, she paused in front of one of the windows to watch the scene outside. The rays of light flowing into the room highlighted her figure within the oversized shirt she was wearing, and Preet couldn't help but admire her.

The blowing of a horn outside brought Preet back from his thoughts. "Um...Meher...do you mind coming away from the window?" He said.

"Why?" asked Meher.

"I'd rather not explain", grinned Preet. "Waise...You shouldn't be wearing my clothes you know".

"Sorry, but it couldn't be helped", sighed Meher, as she looked down at the borrowed clothes she was wearing. "I have just that one outfit you know. I need to put it for washing. I went yesterday to see if I could sell the wedding dress I had. I left it with a shop owner and though he found it unusual, he said he'd let me know if he found a customer. Once I get some money, I can get some more clothes and then I won't have to raid your closet".

"I have a better idea", said Preet. "I'll leave you the car, and some money, and you can go shopping for yourself".

"Thanks Preet", smiled Meher. "I'll take you up on the offer of money, but keep the car. I'm afraid I don't know how to drive".

"You don't?" asked Preet.

"Well, I've never owned a car, so I never bothered to learn", explained Meher. "Anyway, there is a local bazaar with small shops not too far from here. I can easily walk, and I'm sure I can find whatever I need there".

"Well, you can get yourself some stuff for wearing at home, but don't do any major shopping there. In any case, I doubt they'll have anything appropriate enough for any office related functions", said Preet. "I tell you what, I'll take you shopping on the weekend".

"You will?" Meher said happily.

"Yeah, we'll have dinner then go down to the mall, and you can get whatever you need", said Preet. "We'll pick out something real nice for you to wear for Mr. Bakshi's party too".

"That sounds wonderful", smiled Meher.

"Oh and I'll also give you a couple of driving lessons", said Preet. "I mean what will people think if they find out that Preet's wife doesn't know how to drive a car?"

"Pretend wife", Meher corrected him.

"Okay...even my pretend wife should know how to drive", chuckled Preet.

"Are you sure you'll be able to teach me?" asked Meher.

"Yes I'm sure. Who do you think taught Veera to drive? Trust me, it'll be a piece of cake", said Preet. "Well, I better go else I'll be late for work".

"Wait!" said Meher. Preet looked at her questioningly as she walked up to him. "You're forgetting about that tie", she said, as she tied it for him properly.

"Thank you pretend Mrs. Juneja. I suppose you'll be wanting a kiss good-bye in return", grinned Preet.

"In your dreams Mr. Juneja", scoffed Meher.

"It was worth a try", chuckled Preet.

Meher smiled and exhaled a sigh of relief as she closed the door behind Preet. They were going to make this work after all.

Chapter 16 Pre-cap: What's worse teaching your wife to drive or going shopping with her?

Preet finds out... 😆

Link to next chapter: Chapter 16