Chapter 5 - An Unruly Welcome
Later that evening...
Meher came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on the apron she was wearing. "Phew! I'm finally done with the cooking!" She said. "Now all I have to do is tidy up around here and then I can tackle the guest house." She looked at Ashlesha. Her friend was busy applying a coat of polish on her nails. "You know, I could get done a lot faster if you helped me. How about it?" She asked hopefully.
"And ruin my nails?! Not a chance!" said Ashlesha.
Meher shook her head, then quickly began to straighten out the sofa cushions and dust the furniture.
"Besides," continued Ashlesha. "I don't see why you're going through all this trouble for some old man."
"Ashlesha! Mr. Juneja happens to be my father's boss," said Meher.
"Did you say Juneja?" Ashlesha asked in surprise.
"Yes, Papa-ji works in the luxury hotel they own in town. I thought you knew that," said Meher. "Kuljeet-Ma is always complaining about it."
"Oh that...yeah well...she complains so much about everything that after a while I have a tendency to tune her out," Ashlesha shrugged her shoulders then went back to painting her nails. "But the Junejas are like one of the biggest business families of Delhi. You know...old money. My dad is always talking about how he wants to be bigger than they are one day, and he will be. In fact, he's their biggest competitor."
"Well, competition or not, I wish Mr. Juneja would come to Ludhiana and see for himself what's going on with his hotel, and what his employees had to go through when it shut down," sighed Meher. "I don't know why anyone would set up a fancy luxury hotel and then just let it go to waste."
"No wonder Kuljeet Maasi complains," remarked Ashlesha. "I guess that's what happens when you work for the enemy."
"The enemy?" said Meher. "That's a bit extreme isn't it?"
"What else should I call my dad's competition?" asked Ashlesha. "I wonder if mom knows Uncle Balraj works for old man Juneja. Maybe she wouldn't want me to stay for dinner."
"Well, it isn't Mr. Lalit Juneja that's coming here," said Meher. "Remember Papa-Ji said his son is coming instead. Now what did he say his name was? Oh yes...Preet...Preet Juneja. I wonder what he'll be like."
"Preet Juneja? The Preet Juneja is coming here?!" cried Ashlesha.
"You know him?" asked Meher.
"Not personally," admitted Ashlesha. "But I have heard a lot about him. Preet is the youngest son of the Juneja family, and the only one who is still single. They say he's quite a catch. Good looking too. Many of my mom's friends have tried to set their daughters up with him, but he's never shown any interest in them."
"Oh," said Meher. "Well...perhaps he hasn't met the right girl yet."
"Yes," smiled Ashlesha. "The right girl. Um...Meher...do we still have any cucumbers left?"
"Yes," said Meher. "I just sliced some up for the salad."
"Great," smiled Ashlesha as she headed towards the kitchen. "If I hurry I still have time to put on a face pack. And...you know...I just realized that I've had this dress on since morning. It isn't all that great, especially if we're having company tonight. I'm going to have to go change."
"All this trouble for the enemy?" chuckled Meher. "The one ready to snatch the morsel from your mouth?"
"No way!" scoffed Ashlesha. "I...uh...I always make sure I look good." She turned and threw a glance at Meher. "Um Meher...you might want to change too. After all your dad works for the guy."
Meher gave Ashlesha a weak smile, and waited until she had left the room before turning to look at her own reflection in a small mirror that hung on the wall. Wisps of brown hair stuck out from the small triangular scarf wrapped around her head. Her salwar kameez and dupatta were plain and certainly not of the latest fashion. And the apron she wore bore testimony to the hardwork she had put into the dinner preparations. She glanced around the room and surveyed the cleaning that still remained, then glanced back at the mirror. Her appearance would have to wait.
Later that evening...
Gaurav pulled into the front of the Maan's residence in Ludhiana. "I think this is it," he smiled. "Home cooked meal here we come." He rubbed his hands together happily.
"Yes, here we come," sighed Preet.
"Well you certainly don't sound excited," said Gaurav. "Anything wrong?"
"No," said Preet shaking his head. "It's been a long day, and I guess I'm just tired."
"Well of course you're tired, you hardly got any sleep last night" said Gaurav. "Are you sure you won't take up Mr. Maan's offer of staying here? It's a nice sized house. I'm sure they have plenty of space."
"We went over this already Gaurav. It's not about space. He's an employee, and I don't want to be taking favors from him," explained Preet. He got out of the car and took out the bouquet of flowers from the back seat. "I guess I'll go and greet the Maans. Find a place to park and then meet me inside. The sooner we get done here the sooner we can get back to the hotel and hit the sack."
Preet quietly walked to the front door. He was about to ring the bell when he found the door to be slightly ajar. He knocked on the door, then poked his head inside. No one seemed to be at home. He took a step inside and was about to announce himself when he heard someone speak up. A girl had just entered the room. Her face was covered entirely in thick blue cream, and she was walking around blindly with her arms stretched out.
"Meher...is that you?" asked Ashlesha. "There is no hot water in the bathroom again and I've gotten this stupid cream in my eyes. It's stinging like crazy. Uff Ho! Why don't you say anything? Don't just stand there! Give me a towel or something!"
Preet looked around and spotted some napkins on the dining table.
"Hurry up Meher!" demanded Ashlesha.
Preet quickly stuffed her out-stretched hand with several napkins. The girl's voice seemed familiar, and as soon as she began to wipe the cream off her face he recognized her immediately.
"The things I do get glowing skin," sighed Ashlesha.
"Actually you looked better with the blue gook on your face," said Preet.
"Huhn?" said Ashlesha, startled by the strange voice. She quickly wiped her face clean and looked up to see Preet looking down at her with a sarcastic smirk on his face. "Tum (You)?! What are you doing here?!"
"I was...," began Preet.
"You followed me!" Ashlesha interrupted him. "It wasn't enough for you to bully me at the restaurant or the mall, you decided to follow me to the house."
"No...I...," tried Preet.
"Or maybe you finally found out who I was and came to apologize," Ashlesha suggested as she eyed the flowers he was holding suspiciously.
"Actually I'm here because...", Preet tried again, but Ashlesha wouldn't let him speak.
"Ha! I wouldn't accept those flowers from you even if you paid me!" She declared. "You threatened to call the police on me didn't you?! Well now you're in big trouble mister. I'm calling the police right now and having you arrested for trespassing!" She marched right over to the phone and picked up the receiver, but before she could dial a number, Preet snatched it from her hand and slammed it down.
"Are you crazy or something?!" he said. "You're not even giving me a chance to explain!"
"I don't have to do anything you say!" cried Ashlesha, giving him a slight push. "And how dare you snatch the phone from my hand! Where is everyone anyway?! Uncle Balraj! Maasi!! Meher!!!"
"Look, there's been a big mistake," said Preet, taking a step towards her. "I'm not trespassing. I was invited by..."
"Not another step!" warned Ashlesha. "Don't you dare take another step towards me."
Preet froze and stood in his place.
"You probably think you can take advantage of me, but...but...I'm not here alone you know," cried Ashlesha. She quickly grabbed a fork from the dining table and aimed it threateningly at Preet. "I'm warning you...don't you dare take another step! I said don't take another step!"
"Will you look at my feet?!" Preet cried pointing to the ground. "Does it look like I'm moving?!"
Preet watched helplessly as Ashlesha dropped the fork and ran out of the room screaming for someone named Meher. What have I gotten myself into? Rather than an invited guest, I'm being treated like a criminal. He sighed. I better find Balraj Maan and ask him to help resolve the situation, or else leave right away.
"Meher!!!" He heard Ashlesha scream again.
That's it! Preet decided as he headed for the door. I'm leaving!
Once outside Preet looked around and saw a driveway leading towards the back of the house. Maybe Gaurav parked the car back there. He hurried down the driveway, and had just turned the corner, when he collided with someone almost knocking them over. The flowers he was holding flew into the air, as he grabbed hold of the person's arms to keep them from falling.
With flowers and petals landing all around them, a smile crept up to Preet's face as he realized that the person he had run into was none other than the brown haired girl he had been looking for.
"It's you," he whispered, tightening his grip on her as if to make sure he wasn't imagining things. "It really is you."
Meher stared back at him equally stunned. She immediately recognized him as the young man who had shown kindness to the poor children in Ambala. "Aap (You)...?" She finally spoke up. "Aap mujhe chode gain please (Can you please let go of me)?"
Preet looked down and saw that he was still holding onto her and pulled his hands back immediately. "I...uh...are you okay?" He asked with a sheepish grin.
"Yes...and you?" Asked Meher.
Preet nodded.
"I'm sorry," they both said simultaneously.
Meher looked around at the flowers scattered on the ground. They looked awfully familiar. She bent down to collect them. "You were in Ambala weren't you? What are you doing here?" she asked as Preet bent down and began to help her.
"You saw me?" Preet asked in surprise. "So I guess I wasn't imagining things after all, you really were there. Hey, you know, I really liked how you helped those handicapped children outside the museum in Delhi. I've been looking for you ever since."
"How do you know about that?" Meher asked worriedly. She immediately stood up and took a step backwards. "And why were you looking for me? I don't even know who you are?"
"He's a tresspasser!" Cried Ashlesha. "He's a bully and a tresspasser!"
Preet and Meher turned around to see Ashlesha come up behind them with Balraj and Kuljeet following closely at her heels.
"There he is!" Ashlesha pointed a finger accusingly at Preet. "That's the guy who harassed me at the mall. I want you to call the police and have him arrested for trespassing!"
"Hush child," said Balraj with a fear stricken look on his face. "You don't know what you're saying."
"I do too uncle Balraj," argued Ashlesha. "He's..."
"No no beta, try and understand," pleaded Balraj. "This is my boss, Preet Juneja."
"What?!" Ashlesha and Kuljeet cried in unison.
"Aap Preet Juneja hain (You're Preet Juneja)?" Meher asked in surprise as the flowers slipped from her hand.
Preet nodded and gave her a small smile.
"I'm so very sorry my wife and I weren't here to meet you when you came in," said Balraj. "There were some last minute things we needed to pick up from the market."
"Um...uh...yes...but only to make our humble abode more welcoming for you sir," Kuljeet said quickly. She threw an angry glare at Meher. "But you were here weren't you? Is this how you greet such an important guest by not even inviting him inside the house?!"
"Ji...woh...", stammered Meher.
"And these flowers...did you bring these Mr. Juneja?" Asked Kuljeet.
"Yes...I...," said Preet.
"Then what are they doing scattered all over the floor?" Kuljeet demanded from Meher. "A guest brings us a gift and this is how you show thanks?"
"Woh...main...galti se (it was an accident)," stammered Meher.
"Oh my Rabs! Does this girl do anything but make mistakes?!" cried Kuljeet.
"Kuljeet please...that's enough," whispered Balraj.
"Yes, you musn't blame your maid...," said Gaurav as he joined the group.
Preet looked back at Meher in surprise, noticing really for the first time how she was dressed. The maid? He thought with a sinking heart. I finally see a girl I want to get to know better and she turns out to be the Maan's maid?
"...She was in the back showing me where to park when we heard shouting coming from the house," continued Gaurav. "She ran off to see what that was about and..."
"Ack! Did you hear that Balraj?" Kuljeet interrupted him. "He thinks your daughter is the maid for crying out loud!"
"Your daughter?! Oh my God! I'm so sorry," said Gaurav, clearly embarrassed.
"You needn't be sorry," sighed Kuljeet. "Hamari Meher hai hi aisi, koi bhi usse maid samajh leta (Our Meher is so simple anyone would have mistaken her for the maid).
Meher stared at the ground. Her face turned red with embarrassment at her step-mother's biting remark.
The remark also caught Preet off guard. Why would anyone purposely embarrass their own child in front of important guests? He wondered. His own father never shied away from being critical of him, but at least in front of strangers, he held his tongue.
An awkward silence befell the small group, until Balraj spoke up. "Um...uh...Meher beta, I'm sorry your mother and I didn't return in time to help you around the house. Why don't you go and change now," He said.
Meher nodded and ran into the house.
Balraj then turned to Preet. "You'll have to excuse my wife sir. She has a tendency to be very vocal with her opinions." Kuljeet was about to say something but Balraj put his hand on her arm. "Well...I'm sure this is the most unusual welcome you've had to anyone's home," he said. "Heh heh...why don't we start over? Preet Sir...Gaurav Sir...welcome to our home. Please, let's all go inside."
Preet and Gaurav began to follow Balraj and Kuljeet towards their house. Ashlesha on the other hand stood in her place motionless as if stunned into silence.
"You know she's not so bad when she's in silent mode," Preet remarked as he passed by her.
So there you have it. Hope you all liked the update. Sorry I was a late with the update...I finally got a stable net connection. Phew! 😳
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Take care and happy reading. 🤗
Chapter 6: Preview: Meher asks Preet to stay.
Link to Chapter 6: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/130535799
Link to: Table of Contents
Edited by Fatima_Q - 9 years ago
Real Estate
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
