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Part 6: The Great Leap
"So?" Veera asked. "Okay we'll make it easy on you. We will start with Raj first. Pros..." Heer looked at her blankly. "And this is where you list out the pros dear. Like um, oh his smile. He has a nice smile right?" Heer automatically nodded her head.
"Oh, and teeth he has nice teeth," Sanjana said. "What?" noticing the strange looks the girls were giving her, "I notice people's teeth...is that a problem?"
"Hmmm...cute butt?" Ashlesha suggested.
Heer stared back at her friends wondering why her supposed list was getting hijacked by them. "Do I get some input on this? And why are you focusing on all the physical aspects?"
"Just to get you started that's all," Veera replied. "So we have smile and cute butt?"
Heer sighed, "Um right."
"Anything else?" Ashlesha asked.
"I like his dimples," Heer replied. Veera nodded as she wrote and motioned her to continue. "He has nice lips...um, feet...I don't know why but he has really nice feet...and I like his height."
"Okay. Now onto the real stuff," Veera said.
"Um, he's smart, charming, sweet...pays attention to me, very patient and understanding...doesn't like to fight and pretty much does whatever I say but you know sometimes I think he just tries to avoid confrontation...sometimes I kind of wish he would get angry...not angry but like voice an opinion," Heer rambled.
"Usually not wanting to fight is a good thing Heer. Why are you making this into a negative for him?" Ashlesha asked.
"At least he's following everything you say," Sanjana replied. "You want to fight over every little decision?"
"That's not what I mean," Heer replied. "I don't know...sometimes he's a bit bland."
"Bland?" Veera gasped. "He showers you with adoration all the time. Don't tell me you don't like that."
"Well, of course I do who wouldn't like it. But I don't know it doesn't mean as much when you always hear it," Heer replied.
"We'll didn't you tear up over the flower basket he gave you? Oh, wait that wasn't him was it. Who was it? You never told us," Sanjana asked.
"That's right who was it that sent you that basket? Don't tell me it was Prem?" Ashlesha probed.
Heer bit her lower lip and nodded. "Wait let me get the card." She handed over the second card they never got to see to Veera and waited as everyone had their turn to read it.
"Gosh," Veera replied. "Okay he may have earned some brownie points for that but still. After everything that's happened. Can you really forgive him Heer?"
"I don't know. Right now we're in a strange place. I'm not exactly calling him a friend but he's not exactly a stranger either. I'm just dealing with him right now," Heer sighed. "And tomorrow I'll be having coffee with him. I owe him one after spilling his and I'm returning his iPod. It's just coffee...nothing more..."
"Well, I certainly hope for your sake nothing else happens to you," Ashlesha replied. "I'd hate to be in your shoes. This would drive me crazy."
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Heer sat in the outside patio seating area of Le Pain Quotidien. The Belgium name translated meant Daily Bread. It served some of the best organic soups, salads, bread, desserts, and coffee around town. She stared down at her Blackberry checking the time wondering where Prem was. He was normally very punctual and it was already 10:05am. The more she sat there waiting the more her stomach started churning from the anxiety of meeting him again like this. Even though she tried telling herself this wasn't a date it was far from that but her nerves wouldn't shake. She lifted her head in time to see Prem walking up with a very apologetic look on his face. She felt the butterflies in her stomach multiply and wondered to herself why he had to look so good in what he was wearing today. Prem was in his casual wear; a gray graphic tee, jeans, and converse sneakers.
"Sorry Heer, there was an accident on the road," he replied. "I hope I didn't make you wait too long."
She shook her head, "No it's okay."
"So, um, we should order some coffee right?" Prem asked.
"Right," she replied and glanced down at the menu just so she could have something to look at. She was finding it really awkward to look at him.
Prem motioned for the waiter to come so their orders could be taken. "I'll have an iced cappuccino."
"Iced coffee," Heer simply ordered. She frowned slightly when the waiter took their menus and disappeared back into the cafe to place their order. Now Heer had nothing to look at but the person in front of her.
Prem coughed noting the strange silence between them. He was finding it difficult to come up with anything to say. He glanced at her briefly taking in how beautiful she looked despite being in her most casual attire; jeans and a t-shirt. He knew he couldn't let his eyes linger too long or say anything remotely complimentary about her looks without her over-reacting and thinking he was hitting on her. He was somehow rewarded with this opportunity to spend time with her and he didn't want to ruin it by doing something stupid. Prem glanced up at the same time Heer seemed to be looking his way. They both stared at each other and then gave an awkward laugh which somehow eased the tension between them. "So, um, how was your birthday night out?" Prem asked finally finding something to talk about. He couldn't believe he had forgotten about this simple topic.
"It was good. Went out and had Thai and then some ice cream," Heer replied. "Had a girls' night out...actually in...at my apartment...gossip and cake and all that good stuff...yesterday."
Prem smiled, "Sounds like you had a lot of fun."
"Oh, here's your iPod," Heer replied as she pulled it out of her purse.
"Thanks," Prem said grinning.
Heer watched him as he began inspecting the electronic device. "You think I did something to it?" she asked bit bewildered.
"We'll you were rather reluctant in giving it back to me," he replied.
"Gosh, Prem how childish do you think I am?" Heer asked.
"Do I need to give you a compensation fee?" he jokingly said trying to relieve her tense attitude and bypass an argument. Heer stared at him wondering why he was acting so weird. Their conversation was interrupted as the waiter came back with their drinks. Heer sighed and took a sip of her cold beverage. Prem played with his iPod for a few more seconds before putting it down to take a drink of coffee. "Did you like the song?" he suddenly asked.
Heer glanced up and caught his gaze; the warm brown eyes sparking an unnerving feeling in her. "Yes," she uttered. "Thank you."
Prem simply grinned. "So um, what movies have you seen lately?"
"That's a good question. I haven't seen a movie in awhile. But the movie Going The Distance looks kind of nice," she replied and then saw the face he made. "It's a romantic comedy about long distance relationships."
"The title just sounded funny," Prem chuckled. "Haven't seen the trailer so wouldn't know much about it...sounds like your typical chick flick."
"Hey not all of them are that bad and come on admit it you liked a few of them," Heer replied.
"Fine...yes, I did like a few of them you dragged me to," Prem relented. "Anyways, the new George Clooney movie The American looks okay. Tell you truth the recent movies released haven't been too exciting."
"You still watch Top Chef?" Heer asked moving onto television entertainment.
Prem smiled brightly, "Of course wouldn't miss an episode."
"I really like all of the remaining 5 chefs," Heer said.
"You watch it?" he asked a bit surprised.
"You kind of got me hooked," she replied.
They both smiled at each other and from that point on the conversation started to follow more naturally. They talked about everything: entertainment news, world news, random things, and updated each other on some of their old college friends. They didn't realize they had been talking for two hours until they saw the cafe slowly fill up with people ordering lunch. Prem decided he would go ahead and make the friendly suggestion for them to order lunch. "So should we---" he started but never got to finish as he suddenly felt a hard knock and went tumbling down to the ground. He blinked and looked up to see a very angry man standing over him.
Heer sat there stunned for a few seconds before she was able to react. Raj had come out of nowhere and punched Prem. She grabbed onto his arm pulling him away. "Stop it Raj. You shouldn't have done that."
Raj turned to her his eyes dark, "Shouldn't have done that? I told you didn't I the next I see him." He glanced back over to Prem who had sat up and was examining his busted lip. "You stay away from her you understand?"
"Raj, stop being stupid!" Heer shouted.
"Stupid? I'm being stupid?!" he replied pointing at himself in disbelief. "Fine, go on and continue talking to him."
Heer bite her lower lip as she saw Raj walked away. She glanced back at Prem with an extremely worried expression at his injury. He motioned to her that he was going to be fine and that she should go and talk to Raj instead. "Prem," she simply stated.
"It's okay. I'll be fine," Prem replied shooing her with his hand. "Go and talk to Raj."
Heer looked at him one more time before turning around and to go and find Raj. It didn't take her long. He had gotten stuck behind an extremely long crosswalk light. "Raj," she said as she placed her hand on his shoulder. He turned around and walked down the alley so they could talk away from the crowd. "How can you still talk to that guy?" he replied angrily. "After everything he's done?"
"You didn't have to punch him. He wasn't doing anything," Heer answered. "That was totally unnecessary." She knew he had a right to be angry but it was irking her for whatever reason.
"I just don't want to see you get hurt by him again," Raj replied. "He should know where he stands."
"He knows he did wrong," Heer said.
"Are you seriously forgiving him?" Raj asked with scorn.
"That's between me and him," Heer blurted. "Let me handle my own business."
"Own business?" Raj repeated slightly stunned. "This isn't just about you and him. I'm here too...usually relationships include two people."
"I know they do," Heer replied heatedly. "It's complicated as it is and I don't need you acting like some hero who just punched the evil villain."
Raj stared at her and then sighed, "Fine. Do what you need to do," and then walked away.
Heer looked at his retreating figure shaking her head. He backed away again so they wouldn't have an argument. She hated when he did that. He'd say half the things he wanted and then just walk away letting her do whatever she wanted to do. She didn't understand if he was really afraid of confrontation or was just afraid to have one with her; that if somehow they had a huge fight she would just simply break the relationship with him. It frustrated her to think he thought she was that type of person. Heer's thoughts soon wandered back to Prem and how she had left him at the cafe. She quickly went back to find their seats already being occupied by another couple. She glanced around her trying to think where he could have gone. She reached into her pocket thinking her cell phone was there when she realized, "My purse! Where's my purse?" In all the commotion she had left her purse behind. Heer went inside the cafe to ask if they had seen it but to her disappointment no one had. She frowned as she stepped out of the cafe and just started walking across the street. She had no cell phone, no money, no way to drive home, and no way to get into her apartment. Heer glanced up and found herself in front of the neighborhood CVS and wondered if Prem could possibly be inside. She decided she had nothing else to lose and walked into the pharmacy store.
The design layout and gray carpeting wasn't very appealing but it served its purpose; being the 24 hour place to go to for flu medicines, vitamins, eye drops, bandages, and other medicinal needs. Heer strolled through the aisles and found Prem thoughtfully debating on what type of ice pack to buy. She saw him holding her purse in one hand while he read the instructions and ingredients of a particular ice gel product with the other. "Prem?" she called out. The minute he turned towards her she winced at seeing his lip. "Oh God," she mouthed and came closer to inspect it.
"I'm fine," he replied trying to smile even though it hurt him.
"That is not fine," Heer replied as she gently pushed his chin to the right with her finger tips. "Did you get ointment?"
"No, I was looking at the ice packs. Who knew there were so many? I thought of just getting some plastic bags and paying for a cup of ice but then thought maybe I should get a small ice pack instead...never know when I might need to use it again," he replied.
Heer turned her attention towards the ice packs and quickly located a suitable product for him. She then went over to the antiseptic aisle and got a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide to disinfect his wound. Prem followed her around the store amazed at the way she was speeding through the place and picking out things for him. "Let's see Neosporin...no probably better to go with Orajel instead...it will help numb the pain and you'll be okay if you end up ingesting some of it."
"Orajel? I'll have trouble feeling anything...start drooling for no reason," Prem complained.
"You rather feel pain or drool?" she asked eyeing him in a commanding tone.
Prem lowered his head, "Fine." They walked to the checkout counter and Prem placed the supplies down. Heer took her purse from him and pulled out her credit card. "What are you doing?" Prem asked as he flipped his wallet out.
"It's my fault all this happened," Heer replied guiltily.
"What are you talking about?" Prem asked. "Put your money away."
"I'm paying for it," Heer said with insistence.
"No you're not," Prem replied.
"Yes I am," Heer said. "Stop acting like kid."
"Who's acting like a kid? I'm not letting you pay," Prem answered.
"Will one of you please decide?" the clerk asked and then motioned with his eyes at the line forming behind them. Heer quickly slid her card through the card machine and triumphantly smiled at winning the paying fight. Prem frowned and put his wallet back.
"Okay, than I owe you lunch," he said as he took the bag and walked out of the store.
"Lunch?" Heer repeated slightly stunned as she placed her card and receipt into her purse and ran after him.
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Prem sat on the park bench in thoughtful wonderment as Heer went about cleaning his lip. His eyes followed her every movement and he couldn't help but stare at the way she was concentrating so hard to carefully disinfect and place ointment on his lip. She was wielding the Q-tip in her hand like some surgical tool. "Sorry about taking your purse...you left it there and well after what happened thought it was best I left. I left my number with the guys at the cafe...told them to call me when you came back looking," Prem mumbled.
"Sshh, stop talking until I'm done," Heer replied. "It's okay. But the guys at the cafe had no idea what I was talking about. Good thing I ran into you at CVS."
"Really? Idiots," he grumbled.
"I'm really sorry about what Raj did. He shouldn't have punched you," Heer apologized. She pulled back and examined her work; her fingers gently holding onto his chin.
Prem gave a painful half grin, "If I was in his shoes I'd probably do the same. Can't say I didn't deserve that."
Heer looked at him a bit disturbed by his comment. Before she had found out the truth she probably would have relished in seeing him punched but now it was different. He was still wrong in what he had done but she really couldn't bear to see him get physically hurt like this. "Don't say that Prem," she softly said.
"It's the truth and you know it," he replied as he gently took her hand away from his face. "I'm really sorry." Heer just stared at him and made no effort to remove her hand from his hold. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble."
Heer shook her head, "You didn't cause any trouble." Prem gave her a crooked smile in response. And in that moment Heer felt like kissing him but she stopped her impulsive notion knowing it wasn't the smartest thing to do. Instead she slowly removed her hand from his and handed him a gel pack. Prem broke the chemical seal and rubbed the packet allowing the friction to turn the liquid inside to a cold temperature. He placed it on his lower lip to help slow the swelling. "You probably shouldn't eat anything really spicy for the next couple of days...and remember to disinfect three times a day with the hydrogen peroxide...when it starts hurting use the Orajel and don't forget to ice it...the icing it will help the swelling go down..." Heer rattled off to him.
"Should I also cut my food into little bite sized squares? " Prem teased, "...better yet just throw everything into the blender and make myself a shake...you want me to send you pictures so you can check?"
Heer stared at him not amused that he was making fun of her concern for him. "No," she replied rather miffed.
"I'll be fine Heer. Don't worry too much," Prem said. "Really, thanks for taking care of me and buying all the supplies. I owe you lunch."
"Lunch," Heer hesitantly repeated. "I---"
Prem nodded realizing he was asking too much too soon. "It's okay. We don't have to do it now." He gathered his things and stood up from the bench. "So, I'll see you around then?"
Heer thoughtfully nodded. Prem turned to walk away and then quickly turned back around, "Hey Heer," he said catching her before she left.
"Yes, Prem?" she replied.
"Raj seems like a good guy," Prem said. Heer looked at him a bit taken back by his comment considering what he had done to him. "I mean he let you come back and talk to me. If things between us...don't work out...you know the decision you make...don't feel too bad about it. Maybe it was meant to be this way...you and Raj. I just want you to be happy." Heer just stood there as a strange feeling over took her. Her heart was racing in her chest and she was literally left speechless. Just when she thought she knew where she stood and how he was feeling Prem had to go and throw her a curve ball. He wanted her back but said he would wait. Now that they were on talking terms he said he would be okay if she didn't come back to him. She silently watched as Prem waved his goodbye and turned and walked away. Heer put her hand on her forehead and sighed to herself. She was completely confused and there was only one decision she knew she had to make.
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Heer paced back and forth nervously on the boardwalk. She couldn't believe that this was really happening but she knew for her own sanity she needed to do this. She couldn't keep doing this to Raj because it was unfair. He had no idea what was going on and she had lied to him so many times. He was right that a relationship took two people but how could she be involved in one when she was starting to doubt why she was in it in the first place. It wasn't like she was ready to run off with Prem either. She was still trying to sort out if her feelings where just because of all those memories she had of him or if she still had a place in her heart for him. "Heer?" Raj called out. She turned towards him and gave him a half smile in the attempt to soften the blow he was about to receive. "Hi Raj," she greeted.
"It's beautiful out here tonight isn't it?" he asked as he gently took her hand into his. Heer pulled her hand away feeling uncomfortable and walked further down the boardwalk to find a more secluded spot to talk. Raj followed behind her knowing that something was wrong. "Heer is everything okay?" he inquired.
Heer stared out into the dark ocean and simply said, "I need some time to think."
"Think? About what? Moving into together?" Raj replied. "I promise I won't mention it again."
Heer felt rather annoyed by his promise. He was doing his usual apology for things just so they could move on again. "It's about a lot of things," she continued still staring out into the night. "I think we should take some time off."
"Does this have anything to do with today at the cafe?" Raj replied. "If it is...I'm really sorry."
"Do you always have to do this?" Heer replied finally looking at him.
Raj stared blankly back at her wondering why she was angry again. "Do what?"
"Apologize like this," Heer said.
"So you don't want me to apologize for the punch? You were angry that I did it in the first place. Did he do something again?" Raj replied rather confused.
"No, he didn't do anything," Heer answered curtly.
"I don't know what exactly you want from me," Raj replied with frustration. "You wanted me to apologize earlier and now you don't want me to apologize?"
"This has nothing to do with that," Heer said in an exasperated voice.
"Then what is it?" Raj asked. "You've been acting a bit distracted lately..."
"It's me. I just need some time for myself...to clear my head," Heer said.
"You know I love you don't you?" Raj replied.
"I know you do," Heer answered.
Raj took her hands into his and held them tightly, "If time is what you need to come back to me...then I'm willing to let you go for now. I don't want to be away from you but I just want my Heer back."
Heer didn't know what to say as he hugged her. She felt relieved that the conversation ended so easily but there was a lingering sense of sorrow that something was ending. Heer knew that she needed this if she was going to able to move on with her life. Now freed from her relationship she would be able to think things through and make a decision.
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Hope you guys enjoyed that!
Don't know how well this chapter was 😳 The Pros and Cons list was a lot harder than I thought...I had to try to show there are good and bad on both sides making Heer's decision even more difficult (Prems Pros and Cons will be revealed in Part 7). And the conversation between her and Raj was tough cause I had to try to show the type of guy he was. He just wants to make her happy all the time by giving in all the time but that isn't necessary a good thing in a relationship...you have to have some give in take and balance in the right portion.
---Grace 😃
Edited by iheartChai - 14 years ago
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
