A Chance At Love - Prem Preeti

Qubool Hai...

Seated for dinner, Prem smiled at the spread of all his favourites. Tej kaka arrived with the last addition being Gajar ka halwa and Prem stood up.

"Kaka, aapne tho aaj itna kuch... thank you... bohat din baad aapke haath ka khana mila hai aaj aur sab pasand ka... bohat bohat shukriya.."

"Aaj tho karna hi tha... Jamai Babu bann kar jo aaye ho..." he smiled and Prem looked down smiling.

"Aaj pehli baar bitiya ke saath aaye ho.. aaj maan tho hoga na8hj" he smiled and Prem sat as kaka touched his head blessing him.

"Ab main bhi kahoon, lihaaz sharam nahi karna, achche se khana.." and Prem shook his head.

"Yeh zaroori nahi hai Papa.. Waise hi lunch nahi kia... bohat bhook lagi hai..." he smiled and looked ahead to serve when his gaze met Preeti's.

"Lunch kyun nahi kia... kya huw..." and Pritam Uncle held his words as he spotted Preeti who looked at Prem frowning.

"Actually, meri lunch meeting thi jo late ho gayi... aur kuch kaam nikal aaya tho.."

He smiled at Preeti and looking her her gaze still strong, Pritam Uncle laughed, "main aaj kuch nahi bolunga.. Bhagwaan tujhe khush rakhe.."

Preeti glared at her Papa and Prem hid a smile. "Pehli galati maaf hoti hai na..."

"Beta yeh galati na teri pehli baar hai, aur na aakhri hogi... aaj thak Main, Tere Papa, Vivek koi nahi bacha iski daant se... tera number bhi aa hi gaya..."

"Daantne ka haq rakhti hai... par aap sab se ek baat alag hai meri... main galat hote huwe khud ko sahi nahi kehta..." he smiled and looked at her who tried to avoid a smile and Pritam Uncle laughed as Preeti gave in smiling and he looked down.

Preeti had butterflies in her stomach. How could one get annoyed at such gentleness.

She watched him enjoy his food and he then stopped by the kitchen to speak to Tej Kaka. "Khana bohat achcha tha Kaka... thank you.." and he turned to look at Preeti as he said, "Gajar ka halwa bhi bohat achcha tha.. thank you..." he smiled as he moved ahead.

"Kaise pata chala..." she asked softly as he walked back to the living room and he looked at her. "Kaise nahi pata chalta..." he winked as he moved ahead as she stood rooted. How did he know.

*****

The evening was good as they discussed cricket and other random stuff till almost 11pm.

It was time to leave and Prem stood up. "Papa, yeh hum aapke liye.."

"Kya huwa..." Pritam Uncle asked and Prem took out a wrapped pack from the inside of his coat and smiled at Preeti as he gave it to Papa.

"Kisi ke liye kuch nahi liya Maldives se par aapke liye yeh perfect tha.. kya keh kar dena hai soch raha tha par hamesha ki tarhaan bahane ki zaroorat nahi padi.. yeh aapke liye..."

"Yeh kya hai..." he smiled taking it and Prem gestured to open it as Preeti neared them smiling.

It was a white t shirt that said

The Coolest Papa In Town

"Yeh tho bohat cool hai.." he smiled as looked at them and Preeti smiled as she hugged him.

"Aapse ziada nahi..." Prem smiled as he came close and was pulled for a hug. "Hum chalte hain Papa.. aur aapse.. phir kal milte hain.."

"Hum sunn kar achcha laga..." Pritam Uncle smiled as he held them close before leading them outside.

"Chalein," Prem smiled at Preeti as he started the engine and he asked for her hand as they came out of the gate.

"Kuch poochon..." she asked him softly and he smiled. "Poochne ke liye permission ki zaroorat kabse hone lagi tumhe Jaan.."