Hi everyone!
Sorry I'm not replying back individually but I really really appreciate each and every comment made! Glad everyone liked the Harry Potter He Who Must Not Be Named reference 😆 Thought I make light of the fact that the fiancee is finally here and an huge obstacle for Prem and Heer. Some of you are hoping the romance will still be alive and kicking despite having Prashant around...all I can say we'll see 😛 don't beat me too much if it's not
Anyways here is the next chapter...
Chapter 33: The Uninvited
Prem looked down at the hand that was being extended towards him in greeting. "Prashant Chabaria," the young man smiled. Prem grasped the man's hand firmly, his eyes never losing its fierce stare as he greeted, "Prem Juneja."
Prashant grinned despite feeling uncomfortable at the way Prem was staring at him. He flexed his hand a couple of times after the handshake had ended and said, "You've got quiet the grip there."
Preet quickly walked over to Prem and placed his hand on his brother's shoulder. "He works out a little too much...sometimes he forgets how strong he is," Preet replied with a joke. He wanted to intervene before the atmosphere became even more awkward. He had seen the death stare Prem was giving Prashant and knew deep down inside Prem was just itching to enact some sort of violent behavior on the unsuspecting man. But being who he was he couldn't let an opportunity go when he saw one. Preet's eyes twinkled with unknown mischief and asked, "So, Prashant you workout? You'll be in town for awhile right? Prem Bhaiya goes to this really great gym. I'm sure he'll take you...you guys can become workout buddies. There's also a boxing ring downstairs," mimicking a few boxing moves with his fist towards Prashant, "You know...you guys could spar." Prem inwardly smiled at his little brother's antics while Heer and Meher nervously watched at the scene unfolding before them.
"Aah, I do some jogging. I could use a good gym...and um, the boxing sounds interesting," Prashant replied nervously.
"And you know Prashant was just telling me that he's staying at our hotel," Preet continued.
"Oh really? How do you find it so far? I hope we've been accommodating," Prem said.
Prashant smiled glad that the conversation had turned toward something less violent. "I just checked in today. It's great. The service is really excellent."
"Well, if you need anything just let me know," Prem said.
"Thanks for the offer," Prashant replied.
"Well, Meher and I are going to the store to pick up a few things," Preet announced pushing Meher towards the front door. "You guys sit down and chat. I'm sure you'll have lots to talk about."
Heer glanced pleadingly at Meher who just responded with a helpless stunned look as Preet dragged her out of the house. As the sound of the door closed shut Heer turned her attention to the two young men standing in the living room. "Hi Prashant," she finally greeted.
He smiled, "It's been awhile," and hugged her.
Prem instinctively balled his right hand into a fist at the sight of Prashant touching Heer. He calmed himself when he saw Heer's innocent eyes telling him not to do anything rash. Heer wearily smiled as she broke away from him. "Um, until Preet and Meher come back I'm afraid the only thing I have to offer is water."
"Water is fine," Prashant answered.
Heer quickly left the living room and headed for the kitchen to get some water leaving the two men alone. Prem motioned for Prashant to sit. Prem sat in the middle end of the couch while Prashant sat on the right end of the love seat. "So what brings you here to Canada?" Prem asked trying to strike up a conversation.
"I'm here on business...there's a food convention going on this week," he answered.
Prem nodded his head, "Yes, we've had a lot of rooms booked because of that. So, you're staying for the week?"
"After the convention I'm taking some time off...I've got a lot of vacation time built up so I thought I use it," he explained. "Any recommendations of the sights I should see and visit?"
"There are a lot of great parks and hiking trails around here, the harbor, and of course Niagara Falls," Prem answered. "By the way how do you know Heer and Meher?" He knew full well what his relations were to the sisters but he wanted to see if Prashant was going to divulge his secret.
Prashant coughed nervously, "Our parents work together so I guess you could say we're family friends?"
Prem flexed his eyebrows upward, "Ah...family friends," he repeated.
The conversation stalled as both men turned their attention to Heer who was holding a serving tray with three glasses of water. Heer glanced at the way they were sitting noticing the empty space by Prashant on the loveseat and one next to Prem on the couch. She gingerly made her way over to the couch and placed the tray on the coffee table. Prem inwardly smiled as Heer sat down next to him. She took a sip of water and remained quiet so the conversation could continue.
"So you guys go to the same university?" Prashant inquired.
"Yes, we do. Heer and I are classmates in the MBA program. Meher and my brother Preet are both Sophomores. And our fathers are childhood friends so I guess you could say the Junejas and Maans have a very long history together," Prem explained.
Prashant reflectively nodded his head and took a sip of water. His eyes glanced over towards Heer who immediately looked down unwilling to meet his gaze. Prem watched the interaction with a tense tingling feeling in the pit of his stomach.
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Meher sighed as she stood next to Preet at the grocery store checkout line. "Why did you drag me away from Heer Didi again?"
"I thought it would be the perfect time for them to clear the air...Prem Bhaiya and Heer Bhabhi can break the news to Mr. Prashant Chabaria that the engagement is over and he should get back on a plane and fly back to London and stay there," Preet explained.
"And what happens if they don't tell Prashant this?" Meher asked.
"Why wouldn't they?" Preet responded.
"Didi isn't going to tell him to take a hike like you want her to. She'll want to talk to our Dad first...if she ever gathers the courage to even say something to him about it," Meher said. "You're brother is going to have to restrain himself from doing anything rash before our parents come back."
"Not do anything rash? I think it's a little too late for that from both of them...they've already slept together," Preet replied rather loudly causing the people in line to stare at them.
"Preeeeet," Meher whispered. "We don't really know that yet..." He gave her a sarcastic yeah right look. "Okay, fine all clues are pointing to a very highly possible rendezvous in bed but seriously we need to talk to them first but this stupid Prashant had to show up out of the blue."
"Well to answer your concerns about PB..." he replied lowering his voice so no one else in line could hear them. He knew it was kind of pointless because they had said enough to have captured the attention of the entire checkout line. He could sense them straining their ears to listen to the rest of their very private but public conversation. "...he normally doesn't do things like that...acting rash. But you know how it is...or least what they always say love can make you do some pretty heroic or very stupid things. I have a feeling and just knowing my brother he's going to allow Prashant to come to dinner at our house tonight. When you can break Bhabhi away from the family...go talk to her. I'll do the same with PB. It shouldn't be hard considering Harman, Kulraj, Rishi, Kiran, and Ma will be there...plenty of people to distract Prashant or for that that matter themselves from us."
"Preet, I'm really worried. The thing is...the stress of the promise that Didi made to Papa is really messing with her. She's torn between making Papa happy or making herself happy. I saw what it did to her when she was trying to hide from Prem. That ended well...their together now...sort of...but...she could change her mind. If she sacrifices herself...I don't know what Prem can do. She can be pretty stubborn once she makes her mind up," Meher said with great concern.
"Prem's pretty stubborn himself. He's not going to give up that easily. I've never seen him act like this before with any girl...Bhaiya is deeply in love with Bhabhi...he's in it till the end. As for Heer Bhabhi's decision we just have to make sure she chooses the right one."
Meher sighed again, "I hope you're right about that. We got to hurry home...Didi must be dying right now."
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Heer quietly sat in the passenger seat concentrating on the passing scenery wondering why all of this had to happen now. She briefly glanced over to the driver, Prashant, who was busy focusing his attention on the road. She was bit annoyed and amazed that he had somehow managed to stay at the house for four and half hours. She was hoping since he had just flown in he would have eventually gotten tired and went back to the hotel to rest but no such luck occurred for her. The saving grace in the whole situation was Preet and the movies he brought over. It made the time more manageable and reduced the awkwardness of the entire situation. She still remembered the look on Prem's face when he got called away to work. She felt the same reluctantness he was emoting from his eyes when he walked out the door. Preet did his best to crack jokes and liven up the atmosphere so there weren't any long drawn out dead silences. Heer turned her head towards the back of the car and was greeted with her sister's comforting smile. Meher had hopped into their car when Prashant suggested that Heer ride with him as he needed someone who knew how to get to the Juneja household just in case he lost sight of Preet's car. She joked that it was probably better to have two people helping him instead of one. Heer was ever so thankful for her sister's quick reaction and ability to understand that she did not want to be sitting alone in the car with Prashant.
"So, um...I guess I should apologize first for not telling you about my trip here," Prashant suddenly spoke. "I know this whole engagement thing has been kind of tough...we barely know each other and our parents just got us engaged." Heer turned to him a bit surprised by his candor and especially in front of her sister. As if reading her thoughts he continued, "I know that this is pretty awkward talking about this right now but Meher knows our situation...we're all adults here, right? I just thought it would be nice to spend some time together and get to know each other a bit better. It's kind of hard doing it long distance, you know what I mean?"
Heer couldn't think of anything say and simply uttered, "Long distance is hard."
"I'm sorry for hugging you earlier I know that must have come as a shock. I thought if the story is family friends it would be weird if we weren't acting friendly towards one another," Prashant explained. "I'm really sorry. I hope you can accept my apology."
"It's okay. I understand...nothing has been officially announced by our parents so..." Heer replied.
"They've made quiet a place for themselves," Prashant said as he pulled the car into driveway of the Juneja mansion. "Prem and Preet were nice. I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of the family."
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Gayatri was surprised when her eldest son had called to inform her to set another place setting for dinner. A family friend of Heer's had just come into town and he invited him over for dinner. She didn't mind the request from Prem or the extra table setting to be placed. As far as she was concerned any friend of Heer's was welcomed to their house. But Gayatri could tell by the way Prem annunciated over the phone that he was stressed; something was bothering him. She often wondered if Prem had told Heer of his feelings for her. She knew the few days after that night she had spoken to him that he was in an agitated state. He was often distracted his mind wandering off to some distant place. However, Gayatri noticed as quickly as the depression had set in it also quickly disappeared. She pondered if he had made peace with his secret feelings or if he had confessed. If he had confessed to Heer what was her response? If Heer had rejected him would he have accepted it without further falling into a depressed state? The answer to that riddle was most unlikely. She had experienced heartache before during her tender years and no matter how many times it occurred it would still hurt and lingered for some time before it healed. And if Heer had accepted his feelings was it possible they were secretly dating despite her engagement? Gayatri wasn't that naive to think that her child wouldn't do something so reckless. Because when it came to the matters of the heart she knew anything was possible. Couple that with the fact that both were still young and inexperienced in love, it made the situation even more dynamic. It nagged at Gayatri's heart to know the truth of Prem and Heer's relationship but she also knew when the time was right all would eventually be revealed.
As she placed the last setting on the dinner table Gayatri's ears perked at the sound of talking in the living room. She smiled and went to greet her young dinner guests. Her eyes immediately fell onto the tall young man standing next to Heer. "Namaste, Auntie," he greeted folding his hands in front of him politely. "I'm Heer's friend Prashant Chabaria. Prem was nice of enough to invite me over for dinner I hope I'm not troubling you."
The name rang through Gayatri's head and instantly identified itself to be Heer's fiance. She gasped inwardly but then quickly recovered herself by smiling, "No, not at all...welcome. You must be tired from your trip please take a seat. Dinner's almost done just a few more minutes." She glanced over at Heer who was timidly standing next to Prashant. "Heer Beta, could you help me in the kitchen?"
A sigh of relief washed over Heer's body the minute auntie requested her to help out in the kitchen. She didn't think she could stand another uncomfortable thirty minutes of being in the same room with Prashant. Preet flashed Heer a knowing smile that he would take care of everything with his family members. "Haa, Auntie," Heer replied and followed her into the kitchen.
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Prem walked slowly into the house rubbing his forehead. He had a wicked headache after leaving work. The sounds of silverware clanging and soft murmurs told him everyone was in the dining room eating. He entered through the archway and was immediately greeted by his little nephew who threw himself on his leg hugging it tightly. "Mamu!" He gave a weary smile and picked him up, "You've been good today, Rishi?"
He nodded his head adamantly, "Of course!" and then asked, "Mamu, can I have a dollar?"
"Why do you want a dollar?" Prem replied looking at the innocent face of his nephew.
"I want the new LEGO police station but I have no money. So, Mommy says for everyday I'm good I get a dollar. I've been good today so can I have the dollar?" he explained.
Prem softly chuckled while Kulraj shook her head in disbelief. "Rishi, you are not supposed to ask people for money. I'll give you a dollar if you have been good."
Prem searched through his pockets and pulled out some coins. "Don't have a dollar Rishi but I have a toonie (Canadian word for the $2 coin)."
"Prem don't encourage him." Kulraj said.
"Relax Didi, it's going to take him awhile before he reaches the $60 he needs to even get the set," Prem replied. He then handed the two dollar coin over to Rishi. "Now, there's a condition for this. Every morning you have to wake up early...and without crying...and help Grandma make breakfast for your Mom." His nephew nodded and then moved his body forward indicating he wanted to be put down. "Wait," Prem commanded pointing to his right cheek. Rishi gave him a sloppy kiss. "And what do you say?" he probed.
"Thank you Mamu!" Rishi shouted. Prem smiled and let him down.
"Prem Beta, you look tired," his mother greeted noticing his pale complexion.
"I just got this killer headache when I left work," he replied.
"Well, go and freshen up and come and eat. You'll feel better. We've just started eating. And afterwards you can take some medicine," she instructed.
Prem nodded and turned around but not before swiping a piece of paneer off of Harman's plate. His brother frowned, "Hey, it's not going to disappear before you come back." Preet snickered at the interaction glad he was sitting in the middle instead of the end of the table. Prem gave a slight grin, "Didn't know you were that possessive over your food."
Harman hovered his hands over his plate, "I'm hungry just go and washed up or I'll really eat every last piece of paneer."
"He's been a little testy today. I wonder if it's because he hasn't received any calls today or he's really missing someone," Preet teased.
Harman felt his face flush warm as he noticed his mother, sister, and brother-in-law staring at him. "I-um...Preet stop talking nonsense. There is someone all of us are really missing and that's Bauji...and Veera...and they are both coming home next week," he replied.
Preet just smiled and went back to eating his dinner. Prem glanced down the table and noticed that Prashant was sitting next to Heer. The only empty chair left was the seat next to Prashant's. His eyes traveled back to Heer who had her head lowered concentrating on her food. As if sensing his gaze she looked up. She directed with her eyes telling him to go and freshen up. He gave her a slightly pleading look for her to come up with him but she answered back that there were too many people present. Prem acknowledged and quietly left.
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Meher placed the dirty dishes on the side of the sink and announced, "That's the all of it," and then smiled, "Auntie, you go and sit down and rest. Heer Didi and I will take care of it."
Gayatri smiled, "Okay Beta, but remember there's fruit and tea in the living room."
They both acknowledge and went about washing the dishes. Heer scrubbed while Meher placed them in the dishwasher. "So Didi...um, is there anything you like to tell me?" Meher off handily asked.
"Tell you what?" Heer replied handing her a plate. "Why do you always ask these cryptic open ended questions? Just get to the point."
"Well, I don't know..." Meher nervously continued. She wasn't really sure how to approach such a delicate subject. She was trying not to sound crude by flat out asking if her sister and Prem had 'did the deed' and slept with each other. "...um, last night...did something happen...like after the date...did you and Prem...eh-hmmm..."
Heer felt her heart racing knowing her sister had probably heard Prem in her bedroom. She didn't want to lie but she didn't exactly want to have Meher think badly of her. She took a deep breath and acknowledged, "Yes, we slept together." Meher's eyes bulged out and she forcefully grabbed her sister's upper arms with both hands. Heer was expecting a reaction but was still surprised by the vigorous response. "You did it, really?!" she exclaimed.
"Um, yea..." she replied trying to play off the overreaction that Meher was exerting into the conversation.
"Heh, um, oh wow...I-I thought so but I wasn't quite sure...the towels, the toothbrushes, the cuff link underneath the bed, Prem's phone on the night stand...Didi how could you compromise yourself before marriage?" Meher rambled out.
Heer gave her sister a confused look, "W-w-wait a second...wh-what do you mean compromise?"
"Didi you guys slept together right?" Meher asked.
"Yes, we did sleep together..." Heer repeated and then her eyes lit up in understanding, "we slept together but..."
"You slept together...there is no but. Once it's done you can't reverse it," Meher continued.
"Hold on Meher before you start getting carried away...we slept in the same bed but it isn't what you think...nothing happened...nothing of that sort happened. We just cuddled," Heer explained.
"Really?" she replied.
"You don't trust me?" Heer asked. "That's a line I'm not ready to cross yet and Prem won't do anything without my permission. Marriage first is still my thinking."
Meher sighed in relief, "Phew, thank goodness cause that would have surely complicated matters."
Heer frowned, "Don't tell me Preet thinks the same thing?"
"Well, hehe...you know how it is...if I know, he knows and if he knows..." Meher said.
"You know," Heer completed for her. She grinned shaking her head, "I swear...you two and your ideas."
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Prem splashed his face with some cold water hoping it would help dull the throbbing pain he was feeling in his head. He frowned when he realized he had gotten his black polo shirt wet. He was about to turn around and grab his towel when it suddenly presented itself in front of his face. He glanced over to see his brother smiling at him. "PB got the headache medicine and water for you too," Preet said shaking the Tylenol and water bottle in his hand.
"Thanks Preet," he replied wiping his face and then using the towel to dry the ends of his shirt.
"I also have your cuff link," Preet said.
"My cuff link?" Prem repeated. "Why would you have that?
"Oh, just like how Meher had your cell phone and gave it to you earlier this afternoon...because she found it in Heer's Bedroom," Preet replied. Prem almost dropped his towel at the way Preet had stressed the word 'bedroom'. He looked at his brother's face; a knowing smirk spread widely across it. "So, Bhaiya you spent some quality time with Bhabhi, huh? Lots of rrromance last night?"
"I don't know what you're talking about Preet," Prem replied popping a Tylenol capsule in his mouth and taking a swig of water.
"Stop playing dumb PB. It was pretty obvious from the clues left behind...the mess up bed sheets, the two towels, the two toothbrushes, the cuff link underneath the bed, your cell phone on the night stand...it all leads up to the fact that you spent the night in Heer Bhabhi's bedroom," Preet explained.
Prem sighed, "Preet, whatever it is you are implying never happened. I would never cross that line with Heer...not without getting permission first or marriage..."
"But you did spend the night," Preet interrupted.
"Yes, I did," Prem replied. "And we just slept." Preet frowned a bit disappointed at the actual truth. "Sorry to burst your bubble there." Prem put his towel back on the hanger and walked out of the room. Preet sulkily followed his brother downstairs to where the rest of the family was chatting.
Prem glanced around the living room and was again disappointed by the fact that Prashant was sitting next to Heer on the couch. His eyes caught with Heer's and she answered him with an apologetic look. Preet tapped his brother's shoulder and motioned for him to take a chair from the dining room and place it next to Heer's end of the couch. He grinned at his brother's idea and went to go execute it. Preet plopped himself onto the couch next to his brother Harman and grabbed some grapes. Harman gave him a dirty look as he was annoyed with the way Preet had been teasing him all night.
Heer quietly sat next to Prashant as he talked computers with Kiran. She could hear her heart beating in her ears when she felt Prem's presence next to her. He gave her a tiny grin as he positioned the chair as closely as he could to the arm of the couch. "Heer, why don't you take some grapes?" Kulraj politely order when she noticed she wasn't eating like the rest of the family. Heer nodded and reached inside the bowl. She froze as she felt Prem's fingers gently brush up against her skin and then curled ever so slightly around her pinky in an attempt to hold her hand. She glanced at Prem in alarm while he just gave a sly smile and moved his hand over grabbing himself a hand full of grapes to eat.
After some time Heer noticed Meher softly yawning indicating it was time for them to go home. "Thank you for dinner Auntie," Heer politely spoke. "We have school tomorrow so I think it's time we go home before it gets too late."
"No need to thank me. You're family. I figured it was about that time. Meher has been yawning away for quite some time now. You should go home and rest," Gayatri replied.
Prem automatically got up and said, "I'll take you home."
"No need to Prem. I'll take them home. I'm heading back that way into town anyways. No sense in you driving all the way into the city and back," Prashant said.
"Prashant's right," Gayatri affirmed. "You also have a headache you should rest at home."
Prem obediently nodded his head and glanced at Heer with a forlorn look. She and Meher slowly walked to the front door with the rest of the family saying their goodbyes. Preet rubbed his chin trying to think of some fast excuse for his brother to have the chance to properly talk to Heer about Prashant's unannounced appearance in Canada. "Hey wait...um, PB don't you have something to give to Heer for class? For that project?" Preet suddenly announced.
Heer's eyes traveled up to Prem's; both of them reflecting a twinkling happiness. "Oh, yeah I almost forgot. Thanks for reminding me." Prem replied thankfully. Heer quickly followed him to his room. Prem locked the door behind them making sure they wouldn't be interrupted.
Heer cupped his face in her hands and gently rubbed his temples. "How's your headache?" she asked.
"It's still there. I just took the Tylenol so it hasn't kicked in yet," he replied. "This has been one strange day."
Heer nodded her head in agreement. "I can't believe he just showed up like that. I had no idea. He says he is here because he wants to get to know me better...spend some time with me."
Prem frowned, "Great, my girlfriend's fiance actually wants to start dating her now."
"Prem, don't start saying that..." she replied.
"Well, there's no other way to describe what is going on," he said. Prem's eyes suddenly flexed as thoughts started running through his head. "He's going to try to make a move on you...try to hold your hand...try to hug you...try to k---"
Heer silenced him with her finger on his lips, "Don't worry Prem I can handle him on my own."
"I swear if he ever tries to touch you inappropriately I'll beat him up," Prem replied fiercely. Heer looked at him in alarm. His face softened seeing her reaction. "Seriously, Heer we have to tell our parents. I know you don't like sneaking around and I don't enjoy it either. Once we tell them we can just be together."
"I know," Heer replied. A nagging sense of responsibility started to creep into her thoughts. She hated how she seemed to flip back and forth in her mind about what she wanted to do. Should she just bite the bullet and tell Prashant directly or should she wait for her father? Or the scariest thought was to just end everything because she couldn't deal with the fact of making her father upset and letting him down especially with his failing health. She had made a promised to him; the man who had brought her into this world, who had raised her, who had showered her with love, who supported and encouraged her to become who she was today. Could she forsake all that for her own selfish love? She would have to make a decision soon. It wouldn't be fair to lead Prem on if they didn't have any future together. She snapped out of her wandering thoughts when she felt Prem's muscular arms engulf her into a hug. Her head automatically rested on his strong shoulder and she tightened her arms around him. "I love you," he whispered. "Everything is going to be all right, don't worry."
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Pre-cap:
Chapter 34: Forgetfulness
Heer's having a bad day and Prashant is making himself a nuisance.
What do Prem and Preet plan to do about it?
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Well, hope you guys enjoyed that!
Leave Comments!
Until Wednesday!
---Grace 😃
Edited by iheartChai - 14 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
