Fatima's Cozy Corner 2 - Link to New Corner on Pg 152 :) - Page 88

Originally posted by: Fatima_Q

Thanks for reading dear 🤗

Hopefully I'll get a chance to update this weekend 😛

Originally posted by: Rhea_401

😲

Chapter 18 - Rebel Heart

Preet burst into the study, where his family was gathered along with the Rampals, looking visibly upset.

"Ah Preet, it's a good thing you're here," smiled Lalit. "Mr. Rampal just arrived. Rishap, this is my youngest son Preet. Your future son-in-law."

"Glad to meet you son," Rishap smiled and extended his hand.

Preet stared at Rishap's hand but didn't shake it. Instead, he turned and faced his father. "How could you do this to me?" He demanded. "How can you sit here and plan my life and not even let me in on it?"

"Preet! What kind of behavior is this?!" cried Lalit.

Herman walked over to Preet and put a hand on his shoulder. "Preet, we have company, he reminded him."

"Is that all you care about?!" Preet shrugged his brother's hand off. "Don't you care about me? And Heer Bhabi and Prem Bhaiya, you guys were in on this too? I trusted you."

"Preet it's not what you think," said Prem.

"Well now I'm confused," stated Maya. "I thought you'd be happy with this arrangement. I thought you and Ashlesha were living together."

"Living together?!" cried Preet. He raised his hands to his head in disbelief. "I happened to be staying in her aunt's guest-house in Ludhiana. It was a coincidence. We barely spoke. Gaurav was there with me too. I don't see anyone fixing a marriage between him and her." He turned towards Ashlesha. "I'm sorry Ash. There's obviously been a huge mistake. I can't marry you. I don't want to marry you. I'm not in love with you."

Offering him a smile that said she believed he was joking, Ashlesha shook her head at him. "That can't possibly be true darling." She reached out and tried to place her hand on his cheek, but he pushed it away.

"Stop doing that!" Preet cried. "Stop behaving as if there is something going on between us, when you know very well there isn't!"

"Lalit, what is this?!" Rishap stood up and exclaimed. "We didn't come here to be insulted or to watch our daughter be insulted like this. If you have issues to work out with your son, I suggest you do so before wasting any more of our time. In the meantime, we too will have to re-evaluate this deal."

"But daddy!" protested Ahlesha. "I love him!"

"Keep quiet Ash!" ordered Rishap. He shook his head disappointingly at Preet then took his daughter by the arm and led her out.

Daljeet too gave Preet a disdainful look as she left.

"Deal? Is this what this is about?" Preet asked Lalit. "I'm a pawn in one of your business deals?"

"It's not as simple as that Preet," said Herman. "Juneja Enterprises is in trouble, big trouble. We barely have funds to cover the cost of our operations for the next few months. Bad investments have led the banks to mark us as a high risk and they refuse to lend us any more money. We've liquidated some of our company assets, but it's not enough to keep us afloat for long. Yes, this marriage will bring us money...a lot of money, but it's more than that. The Rampal name joining with ours sends a message of strength and stability to the business community. Just think of all the doors it will open for us."

"And seal my fate to spend the rest of my life with a girl I can barely stand to be in the same room with," replied Preet.

"Oh God! Stop being so dramatic Preet," said Maya, rolling her eyes. "So what if you don't love the girl. This is India. Arranged marriages are a tradition. You'll get used to each other over time, everyone does. Think how much we'll all benefit from this union. All you have to do is say 'Yes'."

"I...I can't," stuttered Preet.

"Why not?" demanded Maya. "Your family needs you.""

"Maya Bhabi, I would do anything for this family," said Preet. "But not this. Never this."

"Why?!" Maya asked again.

"Because I just can't!" said Preet.

"That is not an answer!" said Maya.

"Maya please stop!" pleaded Heer.

"No Heer," cried Maya. "Tumhare hi laad pyar ne is ko bigard ke rakha hai (You're the one who has spoiled him). Forget about the business, do you have any idea how much it costs to run this household? How much it costs to maintain all those fancy cars we drive or the properties we own? How much it's going to cost to give Veera the wedding of her dreams? We're on the brink of bankruptcy. He can save us, but instead he'd like to sit by the sidelines and let us sink. I think the family deserves an explanation as to why. Why Preet? Why?!"

"Because I'm in love with Meher, okay!" Preet blurted out. He exhaled loudly. "I'm in love with Meher, and that's the girl I want to marry, not Ashlesha."

"Meher? You mean that manager's daughter?" Maya cried in disbelief. "If you're grateful for the hospitality her family showed you in Ludhiana, trust me Preet, having lunch at the Juneja Mansion is more than enough repayment for their kindness. You don't have to marry the girl!"

"Maya," said Herman. He place a hand on her arm to calm her, but she wasn't listening.

"I mean, you actually want to pass over the heiress of the Rampal fortune for a hotel manager's daughter?!" cried Maya. "Wow! You sure know how to pick 'em Preet."

"Enough Maya! This isn't one of your court cases," said Heer.

"Preet, I can understand how you feel," said Lalit. "You meet a nice family, you stay at their place. They show you hospitality, their daughter says 2 nice words to you and you think you're in love. But that's not love son. True love can only happen between equals, and you can't make apples and oranges equal. Have you even once considered the disparity in the social and economic status between her family and ours?"

"That doesn't make a difference to me," said Preet.

"But it does make a difference to me Preet!" said Lalit. "And it will make a difference to her. She'll never fit in here. She'll never be happy. She'll never be able to understand you."

"You're wrong Bauji," Preet shook his head. "Meher understands me better than anyone."

"Uff! I can't talk to this boy!" cried Lalit, throwing his hands in the air. "Will someone please talk some sense into him? Heer, he always listens to what you say. Do something!"

"I'm sorry Bauji. I don't know what you expect me to do," Heer said quietly. She walked over to Preet and passed her hand over his head affectionately. "My Preet is finally in love with someone. I couldn't be happier. Meher is a wonderful girl. I couldn't have picked a better one for him if I had tried. I don't know anything about business, but I know it isn't fair for anyone to expect Preet to play the part of the sacrificial lamb. And I'm not going to stand by and let that happen."

"Of course!" cried Maya. "Apne chamche ke liye ab Heer khadi ho gayi (Heer is standing up for her pet)!"

"Heer, you're letting your emotions get the best of you!" said Lalit. "You're not thinking things through. Meher instead of Ashlesha Rampal?! What will people say? We'll become the laughing stock of society! And what if we're forced to declare bankruptcy? I've worked way too hard and way too long to build an empire, and I'm not going to sit back and watch it crumble over some girl. A girl who doesn't belong in this family."

"So Meher's only fault is that she's poor?" said Preet. "Well according to Maya Bhabi we're about to go bankrupt, so I guess that makes us pretty even then."

"Preet, this is not a laughing matter!" Lalit said through gritted teeth. "Think of Ashlesha. She's in love with you."

"Unlike you Bauji, I am thinking about Ashlesha," said Preet. "I'll never be able to return her love. So while you sit and count the money her father will pump into your business, she will be miserable."

Lalit passed his hand over his face. "Think of everything Ashlesha would bring to this family Preet...name...connections...resources. Think of your future and all the doors your marriage to her will open for you. Meher...she can't offer us anything. I'm your father Preet. Can't you see that I only have your best interest at heart?"

"My best interest?" laughed Preet. "Now that's a joke if I've ever heard one. Since when did you start giving a hoot about what was in my best interest? When was the last time you sat down and even asked me how my day went? Half the time you don't even know I exist!"

"Preet!" said Lalit.

"You don't give a damn about me Bauji!" said Preet. "All you care about is saving your stupid business...or cracking another deal! It's what you do best isn't it?"

"You're trying my patience Preet!" cried Lalit.

"That's right! Just crack that business deal!" continued Preet. "Who cares if someone gets hurt or crushed in the process, because you'll be too busy partying afterwards, just like the night you were partying when you killed Ma!"

"Preet!" Roared Lalit, as he raised his hand. Suddenly, the loud sound of a slap rang out.

Heer and Veera put their hands on their mouths. Herman ran to his father's side to calm him, while Prem ran to his brother's side to do the same.

"Thanks Bauji," hissed Preet. He placed the back of his hand on the side of his face where his father had just slapped him. "Thanks for showing me just how much you care. He shrugged Prem's hand off his shoulder and headed out of the room."

A shortwhile later...

Preet was pacing inside his room seething in anger. He hated his father, but never more so than he did at this very moment. To hell with everything! He would never give in! He would never do as his father wished! He walked over to his desk and shoved everything on it onto the floor. The he went to his bed and began to yank all the covers off.

Prem and Heer stood outside the room watching everything.

"I have to go to him," said Heer. She took a step forward but Prem stopped her.

"No Heer...let me take care of this," he said.

Prem knocked on Preet's door just as he picked up a chair and was about to throw it against the wall.

"Wow!" said Prem, as he surveyed the room's strewn contents. "This place has seen better days." He picked up a book and held it out to Preet. "The dressing table's mirror is still intact. You want to take that down too? It may make you feel better?"

Preet put the chair down and snatched the book out of his brother's hand and tossed it to one side. "Leave me alone," he grumbled. He walked over to the closet, pulled out a small suitcase, and began to randomly toss his clothes into it.

"Where are you going?" asked Prem.

"I don't know. And if I did know I wouldn't tell you anyway. What did Bauji do, send you here to spy to me?" Preet eyed his brother suspiciously. "Wait, let me guess, he sent the good son to go talk some sense into the idiot son."

Prem put his hand on Preet's shoulder. "I'm not here because of Bauji Preet. I'm here because of you. I know how you're feeling right now..."

"No you don't Bhaiya!" cried Preet. "No one knows how I feel! You have always been the perfect son. The over achiever. The considerate and obedient one. The shining boy. The one I had to measure up to. Me..I could disappear tomorrow and Bauji wouldn't even notice. You have no idea what it's like to be the lowest man on the totem pole! You have no idea what it's like to be me! No one cares about me!"

"That's not true Preet," sighed Prem. "Main hoon na (I'm here for you). I care about you. Heer, Chahat, Herman, Kulraj, Veera and even Bauji...we all love you."

"Stop saying that! It's not true!" cried Preet. "All my life, I've looked up to you PB. You know how much I adore you and Heer Bhabi. But Bauji even turned you against me. How could you do it? How could you and Heer Bhabi be in on Bauji's plan to barter me off to the Rampals? I trusted you."

"We weren't in on anything," sighed Prem. "If you give me a chance to speak, I'll explain everything." He motioned for his brother to take a seat, then took one beside him. "Mrs. Rampal met Maya at a social event recently. She gave her the impression that you and her daughter were in love and wanted to get married. When we met Meher this afternoon, Heer and I realized right away that you had feelings for her. We thought you were afraid to talk to us openly about her because she was the Rampal's daughter. We thought you'd be happily surprised knowing the entire family was behind the marriage."

"But she turned out to be someone else," continued Preet. "A poor manager's daughter, who can't pump millions into Juneja Enterprises. So she's automatically not welcome into this family, right?"

"God Preet!" Exclaimed Prem. "Do you really think Heer and I are that shallow?"

"I don't know!" said Preet. "I don't know what to think any more!"

Prem passed his hands over his face. "Yes, the business is in trouble. Yes, we're facing bankruptcy," he sighed. "No, that is not an exaggeration. No, it is not a happy prospect. But no, I don't think it's fair to ask you to marry someone you don't want to spend the rest of your life with, just to save the business. At the same time, I don't blame Maya or Bauji for entertaining the Rampal's proposal. No one wants to be out on the street. Yes, Rishap Rampal's investment offer came at the right time, but they also had no idea about Meher. None of us did. We thought we were doing what you wanted. And that's the truth."

Preet got up and began stuffing his suitcase again.

"You know, running away is not going to solve anything," said Prem.

"Then what do you expect me to do PB?!" cried Preet. "Sit back and let Bauji ruin my life?! You know he never rests until he has his way. I can compromise on a lot of things, but not this. Ashlesha and I get along like oil and water. I have no idea where she got the idea that we could ever be married, because it certainly wasn't from me. She could have walked into a room beating a drum and I wouldn't have taken notice. From the very beginning it was Meher...it has always been Meher. We hit it off right away. She's such a sweet, simple and honest girl. She never tries to be someone she's not. And she's so full of positivity, not jaded like so many people I know."

"I know," smiled Prem. "Heer and I liked her right away too."

"I knew Heer Bhabi would like her," smiled Preet. "Ma would have loved her too." There was a brief silence, then Preet spoke up again. "Out on the street? Is it really that bad?" he asked. "I mean, the finances."

"I won't lie to you Preet," sighed Prem. "We are in big trouble. We've made one bad investment after another and expanded into arenas that were not our forte, and now we're having to face the music. On top of that, Rishap Rampal is nipping at our heels, shadowing our every deal, ready to pick up the pieces and take over everywhere we seem to fall. He's unstoppable and it's so damn infuriating. Despite being neglected, our hotels are about the only thing that are making some money, but most of them are just breaking even."

"Isn't there anything at all you can do?" Preet asked worriedly.

"We've liquidated some assets, but we'll have to sell off a lot more," said Prem. "Even then it may not be enough."

"So then I'm screwed!" Preet threw his hands up in the air. "I really will have no choice other than to marry Ashlesha!"

"I didn't say that," smiled Prem. "Things look bleak, but it's not over till it's over. I have a few deals in the pipeline, and if they come through...well...keep your fingers crossed."

"And if they don't come through?" asked Preet.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," sighed Prem. He put his arm around Preet's shoulder. "Worst come worst, we'll have to start all over. We've done it once, and together we can do it again. Right?"

"I guess," sighed Preet. "I wish there was something I could do...other than marrying Ash, that is."

"There is something you can do," said Prem. "First, clean up this room, then go freshen up and cool your mind off. And then, call Meher and reassure her. You made a commitment to her and then she finds out your family is arranging your marriage to someone else. I can only imagine what the poor girl would be going through."

"Oh that...uh...actually Prem Bhaiya...I haven't exactly proposed to Meher yet," Preet gave his brother a weak smile. "I haven't even told her how I feel about her."

"What?!" Prem said in surprise.

"I wanted to...that's why I invited her here," explained Preet. "But then Bauji dropped his bombshell, and things kind of went sour after that."

"Hmm...Preet, how do you know if Meher feels the same about you?" asked Prem. "What if she doesn't...?"

"She does PB," Preet didn't let him finish. "I know she does. I just know."

Meanwhile...

Rishap Rampal stormed into his home, followed closely behind by Daljeet and Ashlesha.

"Of all the stupid things you've talked me into doing Daljeet, this one really takes the cake!" he exclaimed. "Never did I imagine setting foot inside the Juneja's home, let alone asking them for anything! But I did it! I put aside all of our differences for the sake of my only child's happiness! And what did I get in return? Insulted by a 20 something year old punk!"

"I'm as disappointed as you are Rishap," agreed Daljeet. "Kids these days have absolutely no manners or common sense."

"The boy must be mad!" cried Rishap. "Why else would he refuse such a lucrative offer?"

"Especially when his family's business is trouble," added Daljeet.

"Well maybe it's not in trouble," Rishap though out-loud. "Maybe the rumors floating around the corporate world are just that...rumors. Maybe Preet led Ashlesha on. Maybe this entire marriage idea was a charade master-minded by the Junejas. A slap in the face to get back at us for the business we've stolen right from under their noses."

"Oh come now Rishap," chuckled Daljeet. "Now you're just being paranoid. I told you already, Ashlesha confided in me that she liked the boy and I put the proposal before his sister-in-law at the Mehra's social. She was clueless about him even staying at Kuljeet's place. I asked her to pass the proposal to Lalit Juneja, and as expected, he went for it. What we need to figure out is why he said 'No'."

"I don't know why, and frankly I don't care," said Rishap. "I'll be damned if I go back to Lalit Juneja and ask him for his son's hand a second time. The nerve of him to snub my daughter! I can think of a dozen other families whose sons would be eager to line up for her hand."

"But daddy...," protested Ashlesha. "I love Preet. I want to marry him."

"I know you do princess, and daddy is going to do everything in his power to get him for you," Daljeet reassured her daughter.

Rishap stared at his wife in disbelief. "How can you make false promises like that to her?" he said. "Were you not in the room when the boy flat out refused our proposal?"

"I don't care," Ashlesha said. "I still want him."

"Ashlesha, Preet is not some walking talking doll in a toy shop that I can buy for you," said Rishap. "He's a grown man, entitled to make his own decisions." He gritted his teeth. "And apparently accepting you is not one of them. The sooner you get over your infatuation with that high handed young puppy the better it will be for all of us."

"No!" cried Ashlesha. "He doesn't know what he's doing. We got on so well at Kuljeet Maasi's house. He...he probably was too shy to admit it in front of his family, but I know he loves me. You have to do something daddy. You just have to...otherwise I...I'll never speak to you again."

"That's right Rishap," agreed Daljeet. "You have to do something."

"What do you want me to do?" asked Rishap.

"There is a bid for a construction project that we're competing with them against," said Daljeet.

"I know," nodded Rishap. "We have a week left to submit the bid."

"Good. Talk to your source then," smiled Daljeet. "Find out all he knows about the Junejas plans and ruin them. It won't be long before they come running to us. Then we'll deal with them...on our grounds."

Nice to c u🤗

Hi Fatima,

No Meet...yyy 😭 ...
The update was nice. I am glad Preet stood firm to his decsion of not marrying Ash despite the financial pressure his family is in.

I dnt understand y Ash is suddenly so interested in him ...I mean she is a beautiful girl to have a good boy following ..y would she stoop so low and she has no reason to feel that Preet loves her ..

Nevertheless i feel even Preets family os not wrong. These alliances are very common in business families ...

Look forward to what will happen next!

Originally posted by: AASUS

Nice to c u🤗

I'll b back here this weekend

Originally posted by: Rhea_401

Hi Fatima,

No Meet...yyy 😭 ...
The update was nice. I am glad Preet stood firm to his decsion of not marrying Ash despite the financial pressure his family is in.

I dnt understand y Ash is suddenly so interested in him ...I mean she is a beautiful girl to have a good boy following ..y would she stoop so low and she has no reason to feel that Preet loves her ..

Nevertheless i feel even Preets family os not wrong. These alliances are very common in business families ...

Look forward to what will happen next!

Okay...I don't know if my story is a failure or people are really into it because I'm getting so little feedback

😆 oh hoo Fatima don't be sad 😭 IF in general is quiet and I know ppl don't come in as often as before. Reading story is only possible if they visit here hai na.

Great Update.