Fatima's Cozy Corner - Page 96

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A few days later...

Meher closed the folder full of art work she had been looking over. She had begun volunteering for the remainder of the summer session at the school Sam worked at, and was enjoying herself thoroughly. Though the work was unpaid for, she was sure the experience and references would help her when she looked for work back in Delhi. She glanced over at the wall clock. Preet was still not home. He's probably stuck at work again, she thought, as she walked to the kitchen and decided to go ahead and have dinner without him.

Much later, Meher was lying on the sofa engrossed in a book, with her legs tucked under a blanket, when she heard the front door open. A very haggard looking Preet entered the apartment.

"Hey Preet", smiled Meher. "You're awfully late tonight".

"Tell me about it", sighed Preet, as he put down his briefcase and coat and came and sat next to her.

"You didn't even call, or answer any of my calls", continued Meher. "I was worried, but then I spoke to Sam and she said Gaurav Bhaiya hadn't come home either".

"Sorry Meher. I was in meetings all day", he explained. "The Cadbury people didn't like any of the commercial ideas we presented to them, so we all had to stay over time. Being creative head of the team means I'm one of the last ones to go home".

"Oh...sorry about that", said Meher. "Um...I'm afraid I got tired of waiting and already ate. Would you like me to heat up something for you?"

"Nah, I'm too exhausted to eat", said Preet as he got up wearily. "I think I'm just going to hit the sack".

Later...

Preet was fast asleep in his bed, too tired to dream, too tired to notice the weather outside had turned bad, and too tired to even realize someone was knocking on his door.

Meher opened the door slightly and peeked in. She knocked on the door again, but it had no effect on Preet. She quietly walked up to his bed and nudged him. "Preet", she said, but received no answer. After several attempts of trying to tap him into consciousness, she finally smacked him on his shoulder.

"Huhn?! Wha...What?!" He sat up startled. "Meher? What is it? Is everything alright?"

"I was just wondering if you were asleep", she asked quietly. She gasped as thunder clapped in the background.

"What kind of a stupid question is that?" Preet asked in frustration. "You know how tired I was tonight. Of course I was asleep!"

"Oh...okay", said Meher.

Preet watched her reluctantly walk out the door. He pulled the covers back over his head and tried to slip back into sleep, when he felt someone tapping his shoulder again. He looked up to see Meher smiling apologetically at him.

"What?" he asked.

"I was just wondering", she said. "Are you hungry now?"

"No Meher", sighed Preet.

"Thirsty?" asked Meher.

"No", said Preet.

"I'd be happy to bring you a glass of water you know", offered Meher.

"Okay that does it!" said Preet as he got out of bed, took Meher by the arm and walked her to the door. "What is this some stupid attempt of yours to rob me of a good night's sleep? Well you can forget it".

"Lekin Preet...", said Meher. (But Preet).

"I didn't expect such a childish act from you Meher. I mean you know I had a tough day today. It's my turn on the bed, fair and square. Now please go", said Preet, as he turned Meher out of the room and locked the door.

Women! I'll never understand them, especially not this one, thought Preet as he slipped back into bed. Who wakes up someone in the middle of the night just to offer them a glass of water? He attempted to go back to sleep, but the fact that he was wide awake now coupled with the sound of the storm outside made it almost impossible to do so.

Water water water. The words kept going around in his head. He should have been thinking Oreo cookie, but all he could think of now was...water. Maybe he would go ahead and have a glass after all, he decided. He went out to the living room and noticed right away that Meher was missing. That's strange, he thought. He walked towards the washroom and saw the light on from under the door. He then proceeded to the kitchen and poured himself some water. Preet took a sip as he walked over to the living room window and observed the storm. Heavy rain, lightening, thunder, this one had it all. How was he ever going to get back to sleep?

As he walked back to his room Preet noticed that Meher had still not come out of the washroom yet. He shrugged his shoulders and walked on. Within minutes though, he was back, this time to use the washroom. This was all Meher's fault, he decided, as he hurried his stride. If only she hadn't woken him up.

To Preet's dismay he found the washroom still occupied. "Meher?" he said as he knocked on the door. "What are you doing in there for so long?"

"Go away!" replied Meher.

"I'd love to", said Preet. "But unfortunately I have to use the bathroom".

"You're just saying that!" said Meher.

"No I'm not", insisted Preet. "Now will you come out already?"

"No", replied Meher.

"Okay...that's it! No more Mr. Nice Guy. Meher Maan, are you going to open the door or do I have to break it down?" cried Preet. There was no response. "Meher this is no time to be playing games. I swear this is an emergency!" Still no response.

"Alright...you asked for it! Don't say I didn't warn you!" said Preet, as he rammed himself against the door. "Ow!" he squealed, as his efforts produced nothing but an aching shoulder. "Alright...you're going to have to open the door right now young lady!"

To his relief, Meher opened the latch and stepped out.

Moments later Preet returned ready to lecture Meher on her lack of consideration. It was then that he noticed her tear streaked face. Just then there was a loud sound of thunder clap, and Meher immediately covered her ears in fright. Preet smiled. So this is what this was all about. She's afraid of the storm.

"Hey Meher", he said as he sat down next to her. "Are you okay?"

Meher nodded, then shook her head No'. "I hate the thunder", she whispered.

"Aw come on...A big girl like you...afraid of a little storm", chuckled Preet. "Don't you know it's just the angels rearranging their furniture?"

Meher frowned at Preet.

"Well that's what my mom used to say, when I was little", chuckled Preet. "Or sometimes she'd tell me it was the angels playing bowling. Anyway it's no big deal...It's just a storm...a phenomenon of nature...a..."

"My father got killed in a bus accident in just such a storm", Meher said in a small voice. "I was only 12 years old at the time. I never thought I could have a worse day in my life, until I lost my mother. It was raining that night too".

"Meher...I'm so sorry. I didn't know, otherwise I wouldn't have yelled at you earlier", said Preet. "But its okay, you don't have to be frightened anymore. Just think of the thunder as a bunch of noise trying to scare you. If you let it, you'll just get more and more frightened each time. I have an idea. How about if we make you face your fear? Come on".

Preet took Meher by the hand and tried to pull her towards the window.

"No Preet!" cried Meher, as she pulled away. Just then the thunder clapped, and Meher hugged Preet out of fright and started to sob.

"Shhh...it's okay...relax", Preet said in a soothing voice, as he brought his arms around her and comforted her.

Meher stepped away shyly as soon as she realized what she had done and looked at Preet. "You think I'm acting like a big baby, don't you?" she said.

"Nah!" Preet smiled teasingly.

"You do too", said Meher.

"Do not", insisted Preet. "Come on...I have another idea. How about if we show Mr. Thunder here who's the boss and drown out his noise with some music".

"Music?" said Meher.

Preet walked over to his stereo and turned it on and a song began to play.

Bheege hont tere

Pyasa dil mera

Lage abar sa, ye tan tera

Meher looked at Preet with her eyes narrowing.

"Sorry...wrong song", said Preet, as he quickly pressed another button on the stereo. This time the song Bheegi Si Bhagi Si began to play. He extended his hand out to Meher and smiled. "May I have this dance?"

"Are you serious?" grinned Meher.

"Of course", Preet smiled as he pulled her close to him, and began to dance with her.

Preet's enthusiasm was contagious, and his genuine concern for taking her mind of the storm touching. And for a while Meher forgot her worries and began to enjoy herself. Just then the thunder roared. Preet saw Meher tense up again and decided to try something else.

"You know Meher, I think I'm beginning to feel a little hungry after all", he said. "You want to make some popcorn?"

"I've got a better idea. You didn't have dinner so how about if I heat up something for you?" asked Meher.

"Sure...I'll help", said Preet.

"No, I think I can manage", said Meher.

"Okay", said Preet as he walked to the window. "But if you change your mind just holler".

A short while later...

Meher returned to the table with a plate of warm food. She called out Preet's name, but he didn't answer. She went to the living room to call him, just as the thunder clapped again. She froze in her tracks, not out of fear but rather from surprise on seeing Preet leaning out of an open window.

"Preet!" she cried. "What are you doing? Why do you have the window open? All the rain water is coming in and you're getting wet. You'll get sick".

"Meher take a look at that", Preet said, as he straightened up and pointed out the window.

"Oh no you don't", said Meher. "I know you want me to face the storm, but I don't want to...and..."

"No Meher", interrupted Preet. "This isn't about you. I can swear there is a kitten stuck in the tree outside. I saw it just as the lightening illuminated the sky".

Meher cautiously approached the window and peered outside. "I'm not sure I can see anything", she said.

"I know it's down there", said Preet, as he raced towards the door. "Come on, we have to do something".

Meher grabbed a towel and followed Preet downstairs. "Preet wait! What are you going to do?" she asked.

"I'm going to climb that tree and get that kitten down", said Preet. "I don't think it's going to make it if we leave it there through the night".

"But what if lightening strikes while you're on the tree?" Meher asked worriedly.

"Meher, nothing is going to happen to me", Preet reassured her. "Look, just stay here. I'll call you if I need you".

"Me?" whispered Meher. She watched from the lobby's glass doors as Preet raced outside, surveyed the situation then took off his shoes and started climbing the tree. It wasn't long before he had reached the kitten and plucked it off the tree and into the safety of his arms.

"Hey little guy", he said calmingly to the frightened animal. "How on earth did you manage to get yourself stuck up here?"

Meher watched as Preet tucked the kitten into his shirt then carefully climbed back down. She had the towel ready when he reached her.

"Oh...it's so tiny, and it's trembling", said Meher, as she wrapped the kitten in the towel.

"It'll be fine once it's dry and has a bowl of warm milk inside it", smiled Preet.

Right", agreed Meher.

Later...

Preet walked out of his room. He had changed out of his wet clothes and was still drying his hair with a towel. He paused for a moment and watched Meher happily cooing as the kitten greedily lapped up milk from the small bowl she had placed before it. She always looked extra pretty whenever she smiled, he thought.

"Ahem...Looks like somebody's hungry", he said, as he came and sat next to Meher.

"Oh Preet! Isn't it the cutest little thing you've ever seen?" said Meher excitedly.

Preet's gaze settled on Meher once again. "She sure is", he smiled.

"Actually I think it's a he", said Meher. Oblivious to the fact that he had been referring to her, she watched Preet gently rub the kitten between the ears with a finger. "Come on", she said getting up. "You were hungry too. I'll go and reheat your dinner".

"It's okay Meher", said Preet as he stood up and grasped her hand to stop her. "It's late. Maybe I'll just have a glass of milk too".

To his surprise Meher smiled and hugged him tightly. "You know what Preet? Heer Didi was right. You are a wonderful person. I think it was very brave of you to go out there and save this little kitten".

Preet looked down at Meher and smiled again. The storm had finally subsided, the smell of the rain in the air was overwhelming, yet for a moment he was lost in the subtle scent of lilacs coming from her cascading hair. He cleared his throat in an effort to regain his composure. "Ahem...You know what Meher?" he said.

"What?" asked Meher, as she looked up at him.

"I thought we agreed jhappi shappi's (hugs) were strictly off limits", grinned Preet, "but you just hugged me for the 2^nd time tonight".

Meher gasped and quickly pulled herself away, but she could feel the color rising in her cheeks. "Did not!" she lied.

"Did too", said Preet.

"Did not", said Meher.

"Did too", laughed Preet.

"You...you typical man. You took advantage of the situation!" cried Meher.

"Did not", argued Preet.

"Did too", said Meher.

"Well if I didn't hug you and you didn't hug me. Then I guess it didn't happened", smiled Preet.

"I guess not", Meher said quietly.

"Are you going to be okay now?" asked Preet as he began to walk towards his room.

"I think so", said Meher, as she sat down and cradled the kitten in her arms.

"Good night Meher", smiled Preet.

"Good night", said Meher. "Um...Preet?"

"Yes?" said Preet.

"Thanks", smiled Meher.

Chapter 19 Pre-cap: Preet takes Meher site-seeing.

Link to next chapter: Chapter 19