Hello, this is a collab fanfic written between SRKFangirl and myself. I am writing the first chapter, but she will be writing the second and we'll be alternating between chapters.
Chapter One:
Preeti was red in the face when Vinod pushed her back into Prem and made to rush out but Pritham, her father suddenly tensed and pulled Preeti close.
"Papa?" Preeti said, losing her shyness. "Kya hua?" [What happened?]
Sapna smiled. "Lagta Pritham Uncle ne mind kar liya Vinod aapka Preeti ko satana." [Looks like Pritham Uncle took offence to you teasing Preeti, Vinod.]
"Pritham ji, yeh to iski bachpan ki adat hai," [Pritham sir, this is his habit from childhood] Mamta said, hitting Vinod on the head.
"Ow, Ma ji…" [Ow, Mum] Vinod complained and Prem glanced at Preeti looking confused.
"Sangeeta," Pritham said softly. "Preeti ko andar le jao." [Take Preeti inside.] He gently pushed Preeti towards Sangeeta who caught her.
Ramkishen looked confused. "Kya hogaya?" [What happened?]
Pritham just shook his head, his expression firm yet it cracked slightly.
"Sangeeta, jao," [Sangeeta, go] Prem said, seeing Pritham's expression. "Preeti ko andar le jayein." [Take Preeti inside.]
Sangeeta nodded, leading Preeti to another room. As soon as they were gone, there was a loud knocking on the door.
"Main dekhta hoon," [I'll go check] Vivek said, exchanging a look with Prem as they both noticed how pale Pritham was right now.
Vivek went to the door before the person on the other side broke the door down. There was a man standing there. He was about the same height as Prem but looked nowhere as civilized as any of them.
"Kahan hai woh?" [Where is she?] He demanded to know. "Main ushe itni asani se nahi chodoon ga." [I won't let her go so easily.]
"Jee aap kis ki baat kar rahein hain? Yahan toh koi nahi hai." [Yes, who are you talking about? There is no one here.] Vivek said, looking confused.
The man turned to Pritham. "Kahan hai woh?" [Where is she?]
Pritham glowered. "Tumse kahin bahut door." [Somewhere far away from you.]
Ramkishen was frowning. "Pritham, kaun hain ye?" [Pritham, who is he?]
Pritham sighed. "Preeti ki Ma ke intekaal se pehle, yeh jo mere door ke rishte daar hain inunein apne bête Raja ke liye rishta bheja ke hum bachpan ki maghnin karlein. Main to haan bhi karne wala tha, lekhin phir humne ek najumi se mashwara liya. Usne bataya ke Raja barey hoke ek khiladi ban jayega. Bachpan sayhi woh ghalat logoon mein ghoomta tha aur us najumi ne toh humhe door hi kardiya." [Before Preeti's mother died, some of my distant relatives sent a proposal for Raja to us. They wanted us to arrange a childhood engagement. I would have said yes but then we talked to a fortune teller. We were told that Raja would grow up to be a player. Even as a child, he didn't hang out amongst the right people and the fortune teller made us stray even further away.]
Ramkishen's breath caught, Vinod's eyes were wide and Vivek had a hand on Prem's shoulder who looked shocked. Prem opened his mouth to ask something but Vivek shook his head at him allowing Pritham to continue.
"Maine jab rishte se inkaar kardiya to Raja ko baut buri lagi yeh baat. Apne Ma aur Pa ka ladla tha. Uske baap neh humhe dhamki dhi ke aghar humne is rishte pe haan nahi ki to woh Preeti ko utha ke lejayenge. Is khauf ne Preeti ki Ma ko heart attack de diya aur woh humari zindagi se hamesha ke liye chali gayin thi. Main Preeti ko kohna nahi chahta tha is liye paise jame kar ke hum Ramkishen ji ke pas mein hi agaye." [When I refused to the proposal, Raja was very upset. He was a precious child of his Mom and Dad. His father threatened us that if we didn't change your answer, they would kidnap Preeti. That fear gave Preeti's mother a heart attack so she left us forever. I didn't want to lose Preeti so I saved up my money and moved into Ramkishen's neighbourhood.] Pritham explained.
"Uncle, kya Preeti ye sab jaanti hai?" [Uncle, does Preeti know all this?] Prem asked, glancing up the stairs where his sister had taken Preeti.
"Yeh kya batayein ge usko?" [What will he tell her?] Raja scoffed before smirking. "Lekhin main ushe apne saath le jane aya hoon. Upar hai kya woh?" [But I am here to take her with me. Is she upstairs?]
Pritham shook his head. "Prem, Preeti kuch nahi jaanti aur main nahi chahta woh kabhi bhi jaane." [Prem, Preeti doesn't know anything and I don't want her ever to know.]
Prem nodded and stepped forward before Raja could make his way upstairs. "Humhare ghar mein mehman ho is liye aapke saath batamizi toh nahi kar sakta. Lekhin itna zaroor kahoon ga ke mehman kamroon mein nahi ghuste. Kyun Ma?" [You are a guest in our house so I can't be rude to you. But I will say this much that guests are not allowed in the bedroom. Right Ma?]
Mamta smiled. "Haan, bilkul. Aye hum chai pi rahe the. Aapko kuch chahiye?" [Yes, definitely. Come, we were just having tea. Would you like anything?]
Ramkishen went over, wrapping an arm around Pritham as a way of reassuring him that Preeti was safe with them.
Raja bristled in fury. "Joh cheez mujhe chahiye hai woh upar hi hai." [The thing I want is only upstairs.]
Vinod moved forward to punch Raja for calling Preeti a thing but Sapna grabbed his hand pulling him back.
"Nahi Vinod," [No Vinod] Sapna shook her head, attempting to stop him.
Prem's fists clenched as well but he exhaled through his nose, managing to keep calm and gave Raja a small smile. "Phir main aapki koi maddat nahi kar sakta." [Then I can't do anything to help you.]
Raja smirked. "Acha toh yeh baat hai?" [Oh so is that it?] He made to storm past them but Prem pushed Raja back, now openly glowering.
"Get out," Prem said, his voice tight.
Raja bristled. "Chodoon ga nahi tum logoon ko." [I won't spare you guys.] He stormed out of there.
Ramkishen smiled. "Fikhar mat karein Pritham ji. Preeti ki chinta mat karein." [Don't worry Pritham. Don't worry about Preeti.]
Pritham reached to touch Ramkishen's feet but the other quickly stopped him.
"Arey nahi," [Oh, don't] Ramkishen said. "Mujhe sharminda kar rahe hain aap." [You're embarrassing me.]
"Prem ne jo mere ghar ki izzat ki hifazat ki hai uska ahsaan main toh umhar bhar na jhuka sakoon," [How Prem protected my treasure, I won't be able to ever repay the favour.] Pritham said and Prem smiled.
"Nahi Uncle, maine toh kuch bhi nahi kiya, maine toh bas wohi kiya joh mera farz tha," [No Uncle, I haven't done anything, I've only done what I should have done.] Prem assured, although his heart fluttered. He knew it was more than that but that was something he was too shy to admit even to himself right now.