Chapter 22 - A Surprising Revelation
"Oh Meher, it was awful", sobbed Heer. "Nothing I said made any difference. They wouldn't let me see him. Then the watchman made some excuse about the family not being in town anyway. I don't know what to believe."
Meher was finding it almost unbearable hearing her sister cry and herself being miles away unable to hug or comfort her. She again contemplated whether she should tell Heer about Preet and what he said about Prem not thinking there was anything holding him back in India, then decided against it. She's already hurting, thought Meher, why add to it.
"Maybe they were telling the truth Di", Meher said quietly. "But why didn't you leave contact information?
"I guess I was too scared", said Heer. "Scared that what if I left contact information and he still didn't get back to me. I don't know how I would have handled it. I think I should just pick up the shattered pieces of what remains of my dignity and just face the facts and come home".
"But Di...", said Meher.
"You should have seen their house Meher", sighed Heer. "It wasn't a house. It was like a palace. Ha Ha...How could I...poor little Heer Maan from Ambala, possibly have even imagined being a bahu in that place. You told me to find answers, Meher, and the more I think about it...I think I read Prem all wrong. Waise bhi, insaan ko apni aukat mein rehna chahiye (In any case, one should remain within their social class). Look, I better get going now, or Mrs. Saxena will think I've abandoned her...Ab rakhti hoon (I'll put the phone down now)".
"I love you Di", said Meher, "Take care of youself".
Meher looked at her watch. Preet would be here shortly. She had been helping him and Sam guide the staff at the hotel with putting up the perfect Indian wedding decorations. In fact, she and Preet had been spending a lot of time together at the hotel recently. The excuse was always something or the other to do with the wedding. Then Meher would spare some time to work on her painting. It was going to be her wedding gift for Sam and Gaurav.
Preet would bring coffee and snacks, and they would just chat. They talked about their likes and dislikes, hopes and ambitions. Preet would tell her about his insecurities about living up to his father's expectations. Meher would tell him about her aspirations of becoming a famous artist someday. Both would endlessly talk about how they loved their older siblings Prem and Heer. And now her Di was hurting because of his brother. I can't hold it against Preet though, thought Meher. It's not his fault.
Just then Meher heard a car's horn, and ran outside. Preet was waiting for her. He got out and opened the passenger side door for Meher as she approached. "Thanks", said Meher, "Aren't we the perfect gentleman today?"
"Only today?" Asked Preet. "I always hold the door open for you. You haven't been speaking to my chand like bauji have you? Because he'll be the first to tell you that I'm far from perfect".
Meher only shook her head and smiled. It's incredible, she thought. A guy who she couldn't stand just a few months back was actually growing on her. He was funny, caring and Meher had to admit, even a little cute. Okay, maybe more than a little, she giggled to herself.
Of course he still didn't like Picasso, but what made Meher like him most was his fierce dedication to his family, even his Bauji who he made a lot of fun of, but deep down, she knew that he really loved him.
"So, what's on the schedule for today?" Asked Meher.
"Well", said Preet, "Tomorrow is the sangeet function, and we just have to make a final check of the decorations. The florist made a delivery earlier today, so you just have to let the staff know where to put everything, and we should be all set."
At the hotel Meher tied her hair up in a loose bun and quickly became engrossed in helping the staff in their final preparations. A hotel staff member gave Meher a basket of rose petals and asked. "What should I do with this ma'am?"
"Oh no no", said Meher, "tomorrow is the sangeet function, and these aren't going to be used until day after tomorrow at the wedding ceremony, you know... for the bride to walk on, to and from the mandap. Go call the florist and tell her we'll need fresh petals for the ceremony. In the meantime I'll think of some way we can make use of these".
"Yes ma'am", said the staff member walking away.
Preet had just set up a step ladder, and had climbed up to put up a Gaurav weds Simran sign. Meher was looking around for a place where the petals would fit in. As she came around a large pillar, she ran right into the step ladder, making Preet fall. Meher fell right on top of him, followed by the basket and a shower of beautiful red rose petals.
"Oh my God! Preet, are you alright?!" Asked Meher, sitting up quickly. Preet didn't answer. He just stared at Meher as if in a daze. He wasn't sure if he had imagined this lovely vision or it had been real.
"Kya hua Preet tum theek to ho na? (What happened Preet? Are you alright?)" asked Meher as she put her hand on his cheek, then put her ear to his chest and rubbed his hand with hers. "Preet! Tum kuch bolte kyun nahin? (Why aren't you saying anything?)" cried Meher worriedly.
The warmth from her touch was making Preet feel light-headed. "Ah...ah...actually Meher...Sab kuch out of focus lag raha hai", he finally uttered. (Actually Meher..everything seems to be out of focus).
"Kya? (What?)" asked Meher, and then realized she was holding Preet's hand. She quickly pulled her hand back in embarrassment and said. "I'm really sorry Preet, pata nahin mera dheyan kahan tha. Ziyada lagi to nahin?" (I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. I hope you're not hurt too badly).
"Koi baat nahin...waise bhi tum khulay balo main ziyada achee lagti ho", said a dazed Preet. (It's okay. You look better with your hair open anyway).
"Kya?" asked Meher putting her hand up to her hair, which had come loose due to the fall. "Main tumse tumhari chot ke baray main pooch rahi hoon, aur tumhe mere balo ki chinta padi hui hai?" (I'm asking you about your injury, and you're worried about my hairstyle?)
"Chot? (Injury?)" asked Preet. "What chot? Oh chot! Ow! Ah!" cried Preet, sitting up and pretending to be in pain. He held his back with one hand and took advantage of the opportunity to put his free arm around Meher for support. "Bauhat dard ho raha hai! Akhir ladder say gira hoon. Aur phir tum bhi to mujh pe hi aa kar giri". (It hurts really bad. After all I fell from a ladder. And then you also fell on top of me).
"That's not funny Preet", said Meher, "tumhe kuch ho jata toh?" (What if something serious had happened to you?)
"Toh (So)?" asked Preet looking into Meher's eyes.
Meher bit her lip trying to control her smile, and pushed Preet away. "Nautanki baz (Prankster)", she said, as she got up to leave.
(Song credit: Kuch to hua hai from Kal Ho Na Ho)
Meher (looks back and smiles shyly towards Preet):
Kuch to hua hai...Kuch ho gaya hai
Preet (smiles at Meher):
Kuch to hua hai...Kuch ho gaya hai
Preet (gets up and climbs the ladder again, then pauses to think about Meher):
Kuch to hua hai, Kuch ho gaya hai
Kuch to hua hai, Kuch ho gaya hai
Do char din say lagta hai jaise
Meher (gives instructions to some staff, and then pauses to think about Preet):
Sab kuch alag hai
Sab kuch naya hain
Kuch to hua hai, Kuch ho gaya hai
A hotel staff member walks up to Meher and asks for colorful streamers, she just shrugs her shoulders, before realizing that she is holding them in her hand.
Meher (hands the streamers over):
Cheezain mein rakh kay bhool jati hoon
(She spins around):
Be khyali main gun-guna-ti hoon
(She hides behind a wall and smiles to herself):
Ab akaylay mein muskara-ti hoon
Badli hui si (She snaps her fingers) meri ada hain
Kuch to hua hai, Kuch ho gaya hai
Preet (climbs down the ladder):
Pigla pigla hai dil mera jabse
(He smiles widely):
Acha rehta hai mood bhi tabse
(He grabs and hugs a staff member passing by, who is surprised but smiles back):
Hans ke milta hoon aaj kal sabse
Khush ho gaya hai, jo bhi mila hai
Kuch to hua hai, Kuch ho gaya hai
Meher (throws some confetti into the air):
Rang chamkeelay saray lagte hain
Raha mein bikhray tare lagte hain
(She picks up some flowers and smells them):
Phool ab ziyada pyare lagte hain
(She spins around):
Mehki hui si jaise hawa hai
Kuch to hua hai, Kuch ho gaya hai
(Preet fixes his shirt's collar):
Dheyan aab apna ziyada rakhta hoon
Sochta hoon main kaisa lagta hoon
(He passes by a mirror on the wall and stops to fix his hair):
Aina ho to dekh layta hoon
Kaise yeh chehra, aisa khila hai
Kuch to hua hai, Kuch ho gaya hai
Preet (sees Meher spinning around and smiling to herself):
Yeh nasha jisme doono rehte hain
Meher (unaware that she's being watched):
Yeh nehar jisme doono behte hain
Preet: Ho na ho isko pyar kehte hain
Meher: Pyar mila to
Preet: Dil kho gaya hain
Preet & Meher (think about each other and smile to themselves):
Kuch to hua hai, Kuch ho gaya hai
A few days later...
Finally it was the night of Gaurav and Sam's wedding. Meher was humming to herself as she got ready for the party. She was looking stunning in a beautiful green outfit with intricate gold work on it. "Well...it looks like someone took extra care in getting ready tonight", said Shampa, sticking her head into the room. "Wow! Let me look at you!" she said.
Meher got up and walked over to her best friend and gave her a hug. "Oh Shampa! Thank you so much for lending me this outfit. Are you sure you're okay with me wearing it?"
"Meher...my baby's due in 2 weeks...trust me I couldn't fit into that outfit, let alone do it any justice", laughed Shampa. "Besides, I'm glad my best friend will be wearing it. Still I do feel bad about one thing", she said.
"What?" asked Meher. "You're not supposed to look more beautiful than the bride!" said Shampa, smiling admiringly at her friend. "Now hurry up and come down. You know how Mannie hates to be late".
"Just 5 more minutes", said Meher as she gave Shampa another hug.
Meher quickly took out her suitcase. She was sure she had packed them. She pulled out her little jewelry box and from it a set of beautiful green chudiyan (bangles). "I wonder if he'll remember", she said smiling nervously.
Meher suddenly felt guilty about feeling so happy when her sister was going through a heartbreak. "Insaan ko apni aukat mein rehna chahiye (One should remain within their social class)", Heer had said. Okay Meher Mann, let's not get carried away, thought Meher, hitting herself on her head. He's just being nice to me. In a few days I'll be back in Ambala, and this will just be a pleasant memory, she sighed, as she gently slid the bangles on her hand and hurried down stairs to join Shampa.
Preet was giving instructions to a waiter, when he saw Meher enter the wedding hall behind Manmeet and Shampa. He quickly hid behind a pillar, so he could look at her for as long as he wanted, without her knowing.
She looked stunning. She had left her long brown hair open, and it seemed to flow in waves and adorn her beautiful fair skin. Her eyes seemed to sparkle and brighten the world around her. When she smiled Preet would sigh with contentment. And when she laughed, he felt the world was laughing with her. Preet swallowed hard as he felt his heart beat wildly in his chest.
Meher's eyes too were searching, but there was no sign of Preet. Preet came out of his hiding place, just as she came and stood by the very pillar he was watching her from. He crept up to her and whispered into her ear, "Mujhe dhoond rahi thi kya?" (Were you looking for me?)
"Preet!" exclaimed Meher, "Tumne to mujhe dara hi diya! Kahan se aye tum?" (You scared me! Where did you pop up from?)
"Wahan se (From there)", replied Preet, pointing to the pillar behind them.
"Tum bhi na Preet", laughed Meher, "Kabhi nahin sudhro gay". (Preet, you'll never change).
"Man!" sighed Preet. "If only I had a penny for every time someone said that to me, I'd be a rich man. Wait a minute, I'm already a rich man", he laughed.
"Meher!" called Shampa, "come on the ceremony is about to begin".
"I guess I'll see you later", said Meher. Preet looked as if he were about to say something, but instead just shook his head in understanding, as he watched her leave to join Shampa and Manmeet.
Soon the wedding ceremony was over and Gaurav and Sam were now officialy Mr. and Mrs. Sherma. After dinner, music played, as a few couples got up and began to dance. Meher was putting her gift on the table with the others, when Preet came up to her again.
"Hey", said Preet, pointing to Meher's outstretched hand, "Aren't those the chudiyan I picked out for you at the Mela (fair)?"
"Oh...Are they?" asked Meher smiling at the fact that he had noticed. "Before you get any ideas Mr. Juneja..." she said, "they happen to go with my outfit".
"Waise...aaj is party main aap se ziyada khoobsurat to koi nahin lag raha (By the way, no one in this party is looking more beatiful than you are tonight) ", Preet leaned in close and whispered. Meher could feel her cheeks turning red. "May I have this dance Ms. Maan", asked Preet, holding out his hand.
Meher gladly accepted, but not before she noticed something. "What's this?" she asked Preet, as she tugged his shirt sleeve up slightly to reveal the colorful string of beads wrapped around his wrist. "Aren't those the same beads you won for me at the Mela?"
"Um...Yeah well...", stammered Preet, surprised at having been caught, "don't get any ideas Ms. Maan, they...uh...just happen to go with my outfit too".
Meher just shook her head and smiled. The song Aadha ishq from Band Baja Baraat played, as Preet pulled her in close to dance with him. All this had not gone unnoticed by Ashlesha, who was seething with anger watching Preet and Meher together.
"What does he see in that gawar girl?" she complained to Maya. "Mere paas paisa hai, height hai, white hoon... aur Loius Ferragamo shoes pehenti hoon. (I have money, height, I'm white, and wear Louis Ferragamo shoes). I mean what does she have that I don't?"
"Preet", remarked Maya, dryly. "Right now she has Preet and you don't".
"Hmpf!" cried Ashlesha. "Main itni jaldi har nahin maanay wali. (I won't admit defeat so easily). Listen Maya, I have a plan to get rid of Meher Maan from Preet's life once and for all. Come on", she said pulling Maya to one side, "I'll fill you in".
Meher couldn't believe it. She was dancing with Preet and actually enjoying herself. This was the same Preet Juneja who she had once disliked so much that the mere mention of his name would make her frown. And today, the very same Preet Juneja was responsible for the smile on her face and the warm glow she felt inside.
It was Preet's phone that brought her back from her thoughts. "Um.. Meher...'I'm sorry but it's an important business call. Will you excuse me for just a bit?" asked Preet.
"Sure", said Meher, "I'll just go and freshen up in the meantime".
Seizing the opportunity Maya and Ashlesha followed Meher to the ladies room. Meher
finished touching up her make-up and was turning to leave when Maya and Ashlesha entered. She smiled as politely as she could at them, and continued to head towards the exit when she heard Maya say, "Hmpf! I can't believe that gawar girl! She manages to be everywhere we go! It's like she's following us or something! Aur ab Preet ke peechay haat dho baithi hai. (And now she's after Preet). I mean who does she think she is?"
Meher just rolled her eyes. I'm not going to stoop to their level and get into a fight, she thought. She was about to leave, when she heard Ashlesha say, "Don't worry it's just a hoax".
"What?" asked Maya.
"You know, after the way she treated him at the Mela, ditching him for that Viren character", explained Ashlesha, "Preet's been waiting to take his revenge on her. He made a bet with me that he could trick that behanji (loser) and take her out, get close to her and then just as soon as she begins to think something special is going on, drop her like a bomb. It all started that day at the restaurant. She was so lost when real cuisine was placed before her. You know I almost felt sorry for her. I mean I told Preet he could have been a little less cruel. But you know him...he doesn't forgive or forget that easily. What a joke? We had a real laugh over it afterwards."
Meher's blood began to boil, she couldn't believe what she was hearing, but it was nothing compared to what she heard next.
"Well at least he's not as gullible as Prem", said Maya, "Can you believe it...actually choosing that Heer over Sanjana Rampal. I mean, what was he thinking?! That girl had gold digger written all over her. Thankfully Preet put an end to that fiasco in the making. Herman confided in me that it was Preet that rallied the family against Prem's decision to propose to Heer. And he's made sure any communication from her never reaches Prem.", continued Maya, as she and Ashlesha also headed towards the exit.
"Why Meher! Were you still here?" said Ashlesha in mock disbelief.
"Chup chup ke hamari batein sun rahi thi kya? Ye chote aukaat ke log bhi na..." said Maya. (Were you eavesdropping on us? These lower class people are so cheap)
Ashlesha could see the effect of their words from the the expression on Meher's face. "Looks like our job here is done", she whispered to Maya, as a wicked smile crept up to her face.
Meher felt sick. Tears were welling up in her eyes. And she felt the color drain from her face as she grabbed on to the door handle for support. Air, she thought, I need some fresh air.
I'm sure everyone will recognize specific dialogue from Kis Desh that I used in this chapter.
Hope you all liked it. Please leave your feedback. 😛
Chapter 23 Preview : Meher confronts Preet.
Edited by ummesulaiman - 10 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
