Saiyyan
Prologue
Kehte hain, agar kisi toothe tara par dua mangho...tho woh puri ho jaati hain.
Keeping this in mind, 10-year-old Heer Mann sat on her bedroom balcony and looked up at the heavens. When she spotted a shooting star zoom across the sky, her young heart leaped in excitement and she closed her eyes, murmuring her wish.
"I wish...That Prem Juneja goes back to Canada and I never have to see him again. Woh mujhe bilkul bhi acha nahin lagda...usse please Canada wapas bejh do."
Tonight was a very special night; the eldest daughter of leading business tycoon Balraj Mann turned 10 years old. After the lavish party thrown by her father and mother, Teji Mann, Heer went to her room and sat out on her balcony like many times before. This was her place. This is the place she came to think...will she pass her math final? Did everyone like her birthday dress? Will papa let her go to the new coffee shop that just opened with her friends?
This is the place she came to dream...what will she be when she grows up? A dancer maybe? Or a business tycoon just like her father? Who will she marry? Is there a prince charming waiting for her like in Cinderella's story?
And this is the place she came to pray. Please, let me always make my family proud. Let me keep the Mann name soaring high and be everything my parents wish for me to be. Let me find a love just as romantic as Cinderella's love story. Let him be the most amazing person in the world, after her dad of course.
And tonight...young Heer wished with her whole heart that the annoying Prem Juneja leaves and never comes back into her life again.
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Chapter 1
"Ahhh!" A 10-year-old girl screamed at the top of her lungs as she saw a black spider on her bed. Chubby cheeks with freckles across the nose, short hair tied in pigtails, and big brown eyes wide and filled with fear as she jumped off her bed.
After a few seconds of screaming she noticed the spider was not moving. She frowned and upon closer inspection, realized that it wasn't real. She heard it then, the goofy laughter of a boy standing by her door.
Heer spun around and glared at the scrawny 11-year-old boy, who was hunched over laughing and holding onto his stomach. "PREM!!!! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Heer screamed and dashed after Prem Juneja, who ran out still laughing.
Prem Juneja was tall for his age...a skinny boy on the verge of puberty. He had thick black disheveled hair and an awkward posture, a boy not completely comfortable with himself yet.
Being the eldest son of Hotel Billionaire Lalit Juneja and his wife Gayatri Juneja, Prem was the apple of his parents' eyes. Much like Heer was the darling of her parents.
The Junejas and the Manns were two of the wealthiest families in India. Balraj Mann is the founder and owner of Mann Electronics, one of the leading technological businesses in India and reaching other parts of Asia. Lalit Juneja started his hotel chain in India before shifting to Canada to expand his empire further. Owner and founder of Juneja hotels, his chain is known as one of the most luxurious with its elite cliental; and Lalit wishes one day for his sons, Prem and Preet, to expand his business further to the United States.
But before Balraj and Lalit were business tycoons, they were childhood friends. A casual meeting between two young boys in boarding school became the friendship of a lifetime. A friendship...that was just as strong today as it was yesterday, and will continue to be stronger in the years to come.
The Junejas came to India for a visit and were currently resided in the Mann's lavish mansion. The four elders were sitting in the living room chatting, with a young Preet and Meher, ages 9 and 8, seated on the floor playing a board game, when they heard laughter and an angry scream that followed.
"How is it that we are such good friends but our kids can't stand each other?" Balraj asked, knowing full well where the noises were coming from.
As if on cue, Prem burst into the room with an angry Heer chasing after him.
"Prem how many times do I need to tell you to not come into my room!" Heer yelled.
"Heer! Manners...they are our guests." Teji scolded her elder daughter.
"Yea Heer, I'm your guest...and all I want to do is get to know you..." Prem retaliated, being the goody two-shoes boy in front of the elders.
"OW maa!" Prem yelped as Gayatri yanked his ear. "I know very well how much you want to know Heer. You pulled another prank on her didn't you Prem?" Gayatri asked in a stern voice, knowing her son's every move.
Prem pouted and replied, "But MAA...she started it by putting the lizard in my room last time." Prem replied while accusingly pointing a finger at Heer.
"But that is only because he pulled my hair!" Heer complained and glared at Prem. Both children glared at each other and the elders shook their head at their kids' antics.
"Now now kids...our families have been friends for years...you children should really get to know each other." Lalit said in a gentle tone.
"EW! I don't want to know him/her!" Prem and Heer both protested at the same time.
"Enough! Both of you...be nice and go play outside. I will not tolerate any more of this." Teji said in a stern tone, causing both Prem and Heer to sulk and drag their feet out of the room.
"My God...what are they going to do when they grow up?" Teji asked to no one in particular.
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The moment Prem and Heer were out of hearing distance from the elders, Prem pulled one of Heer's pigtails. "OW! Stop doing that!!!!!" Heer cried and raised her hand to hit him.
"Why!? I thought you loved it freckle face!" Prem replied, dodging Heer's attack easily since he was taller than her.
"UGH! I can't wait till you go back to Canada chicken legs!" Heer retaliated by stepping on Prem's foot.
"Ow!" Prem let go of her pigtail and took a step back to look at Heer. A mischievous grin then bloomed on his youthful face. "You don't know do you?" Prem asked, amused.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Heer asked, confused.
"We're staying in India dumb dumb. My family will be moving into our house and I'll be joining your school soon." Prem answered, grinning evilly, liking the idea of playing more pranks on Heer.
Heer's jaw dropped. But she made the damn wish on a shooting star! It should come true!' Heer screamed in her head as she felt her world crash around her.
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