Chapter 5 → Revelations & Decisions
Guest Room, Gurudwara
Sahiba entered the room, making sure her mother wasn't going anywhere. When she noticed everyone approaching behind her, she gave a relieved look. In these few days whatever trust she had on her mother has evaporated. The moment her eyes fell on an injured Keerat, she gasped loudly.
"Keerat!" She speed walked towards her sister, who sat on the bed of the room with a laptop beside her. Her head was bandaged, a spot of red blood clear on it. Her hands had also been wrapped in gauze. Several scratches on her arms were visible before her shirt sleeves hid them. She fussed over her younger sister, worry and guilt in her eyes.
"Keerat puttar, tu thik hai lado?" Sudha Maasi's words rang out, as she quickly went to sit beside her on the bed. Keerat turned towards, assuring her well-being. By then all the Brar's and the Monga's had congregated in the room. It was tight fit but everyone was tensed, curious and anxious.
"Ab bataogi kya chal raha hai?" This time it was Manveer who spoke. Before Sahiba could retort back, Veer came in and replied, "Thand rakho Tayiji." He came and stood beside his Angad Paaji, an anxious expression on his face.
"Ki chaal raha hai kuriye?" Aakal glanced at Sahiba, guessing her to have all the answer. His perceptive eyes and calm mind had already joined all the dots. He had been waiting for the confirmation, hoping that it wasn't true. His grandson would have to suffer if his assumptions are correct.
Sahiba took a deep breath, eyes blank as she glanced at the older man; she turned her eyes to Veer who gave a small nod, before she met Angad's eyes. Gulping a bit of her nervousness, she revealed, "Seerat Di meri aur Keerat ki badi behen hai."
Angad jerked back slightly, eyes a bit wide. She continued, pushing forward and not allowing others to process or speak, "Aur Seerat Di bhag gyi hai vyah se."
Manveer's hand instinctively came forward to brace her only son, as he stumbled back. She glanced at Sahiba with disbelief in her eyes. Her husband, Inder had gasped loudly as his anxiousness towards the situation finally made sense.
Jasleen smirked as she stood at the very back, not at all surprised. She quickly hid her grin, as a bit of concern replaced it. She wondered what that Sahiba was planning by revealing the truth now. Kiara, on the other hand, was surprised at the fact that Sahiba was related to Seerat. She was not as bothered by Seerat running away than she was of their financial status.
Jaspal and Gurleen exclaimed loudly. Confusion, traces of anger and shock evident in their eyes. Their eyes sought out their son, Veer, who gave a grim look; looking least surprised. Their daughter, Ekam grasped her mother's hand tightly, shock and disbelief evident on her young face.
Prabhjyot wrapped her arms around her mother, who had turned ashen; incredulity clear in her face. Her husband, Hansraj looked surprised too as he held on to his own son. She glanced at her father, to find him not surprised; instead he looked grim and accepting of the information.
The most surprised amongst them at these two lines of information was Angad — the groom. His eyes spoke out his bewilderment, his skepticism and his doubt on Sahiba's words. He nearly stumbled back at the force of those words; his heart thundering and clenching in his heart.
Kaise? K-Kyu?
Angad gulped down, eyes staring unblinkingly at Sahiba, who was getting uncomfortable at his stare. "Jhoot kyu bol rhi ho?" His heart refused to belief that this woman was speaking the truth and his Seeratji had left him at the altar.
Aakal sighed, shaking his head at the question. Sahiba narrowed her eyes, even if she tried to be polite and understandable, "Mei jhoot nehi bol rhi! Look around, do you see her anywhere? We have searched the entire Gurudwara. She is nowhere to be found."
Angad shook her head, his heart paining and head throbbing. Veer mumbled, his arms going around his much taller brother, "Paaji, Sahiba sahi keh rhi hai. I searched everywhere too. She is nowhere here." Given Veer searched through the CCTV footage.
"But why would she leave?" asked Prabhjyot, "She never informed us that she was unhappy with the wedding."
Sahiba shrugged, "If I knew I would have told you."
Angad stumbled after a while, making Veer sit on the edge of the bed. Their Bebe, Japyjot joined him on a chair beside the bed.
"Tum phir iss livaz mei kya kar rahi ho, huh?" Kiara raised an eyebrow, taunting quiet cruelly amongst the current situation, "Did you want to replace your runaway sister as my brother's bride? I mean, Brar's hai hum. Koi bhi mauka pe chauka marna chahega!"
Sahiba looked at her coldly, replying cuttingly, "Bohot ehsaan faramosh ho tum! Upar ka mala pura khali hai kya?" She raised a mocking eyebrow at her fuming face, before a smirk played on her lips, "Waise, idea tumhari mummy ka hi tha. Jaisi Maa, waisi Beti."
Angad was about to speak up when Jasleen screeched, eyes narrowing at Sahiba's audacity.
"Maine?" She scoffed, "When did I speak with you? I was with everyone here." Fear was finding it's way in her heart as she watched an unfazed Sahiba.
"Laga hi tha, aap aisa kuch kehne waali ho." Sahiba's eyes glinted. She was glad she had recorded the conversation now; she hadn't failed to recognize a chameleon when she met one. Santosh, on the other hand, looked stricken and horrified at Jasleen changing her colours.
She opened her mobile, playing the voice recording.
'Aab kya? Sahiba ko bitha dijiye vyah mei, jab tak Seerat ka kuch pata na chal jata.'
Jasleen's voice was clear. Her face has turned ashen. Aakal shook his head, least surprised. He hadn't managed to discipline and install any values in this child of his.
'Mainu?'
Sahiba's shocked voice sounded.
'Haa tum! Aab dekho raita toh tumhari mummy aur behen ne phaila hi rakha hai. Tum sameth doh. Waise bhi bahar entrance mei media reporters hai. Pata chal gyi na un logon ko, toh Brar's ki business mei bohot problems hogi. Share price down ho jayenge. Aur jhelna toh, at the end of the day, Angad ko hi hai. CEO jo hai wo!'
Jasleen looked a bit sick as the recording played her words. Japyjot gasped, turning stricken eyes at her elder daughter. Angad was emotionless as he listened and watched what was happening around him. His heart still in denial while his mind tried to force him to accept the truth.
'Aab tum kaho kya karne waali ho? Aur koi idea hai tumhare paas? Dekh lo Sahiba, aab toh Brar's ki reputation and tumhare papaji ki pag ki izzat tumhare haathon mei hai.'
"Jasleen!" Japyjot looked furious, as she tried to get up but felt weak. Angad stopped his grandmother, his eyes not lifting from the floor as he listened. Japyjot wouldn't be stopped though. She yelled, furiously glaring at Jasleen, "Why didn't you tell us when you knew? You knew much before, didn't you? Sahiba ko dulhaan kyu banne ko kaha tune? Bol kuch kuri! Chup na rah!"
Jasleen blinked furiously at being scolded in front of other family members and outsiders. She watched the smirk on Sahiba's face and the amusement in her eyes. A stem of hatred slithered in her heart for this middle-class girl. She huffed and left the room, not wanting to be humiliated by her own mother any further. Kiara glared furiously at Jasleen before leaving after her mother.
"I hope you understand now." Sahiba said when both of those people left, turning to face Aakal, "Mainu jo bhi kara, wo sab kis liye kara. Jasleen mam chahti thi ki vyaah ho jaye aur kisiko kuch pata bhi na chale. Maine unka plan istemal zaroor kiya ta ki mei aap sab ko Divan hall mei laa saku aur sach batah pau, without any media interference."
Aakal nodded, "Samaj aa gya hai mainu kuriye. Tainu clarification deine ki zaroorat na hai."
Sahiba sighed a bit relieved. Then Gurleen asked, a bit hesitantly, "Seerat ka kuch pata chala? Kyu bhagi wo?"
"Pata chala hai mummy." replied Veer, surprising everyone. He glanced at Keerat, who handed him the laptop, her eyes damp and swollen. He gave a gentle look at her, before he typed something in the laptop.
"Footage se kya pata chala hai, mainu na pata." Sahiba said, glancing at everyone especially at Mr.ATM and his uptight classy mother, "Mainu sirf footage check karne ko kaha tha Keerat se. Par haa, yeh letter hai jo hume room se mila tha."
She held it out, and Angad nearly snatched it from her. She did not react, glancing at Veer who gestured everyone over to the laptop. Angad read the letter, which cemented whatever was spoken by Sahiba. If he still denied it, the footage of the laptop nearly destroyed any such hope.
It was clearly seen in the car space provided, that Garry and Seerat had hoped on a black car and left right when their baarat had entered the premises at Gurudwara.
What ever doubts, whatever suspicion and whatever accusations they had were completely swept away in disbelief as they watched a family member betray them. Angad's eyes darkened in fury, sadness prickling his broken heart. His head throbbed painfully, yet he glanced at the footage.
"D'Souza." Angad's unfeeling voice broke the silent room, "Pata karo Garry Singh Baweja aur Seerat Kaur Monga kaha hai. I need every details on these two person by tomorrow morning."
He broke the call, and asked Sahiba without glancing at her, "Aur kya jhoot bola hai tum logon ne?"
"We are normal middle-class people." Sahiba spoke unrepentant, quickly explaining and clearing that whatever her mother had spoken was a big fat lie. She went into details of what her father and she did as a living. "Aur haa, mera gunah itna hai ki, mainu sab jaan kar bhi mainu kuch na kaha. Khamosh raha inn sab ke mamlo mei."
"Kyu jaan sakte hai, puttarji?" asked Inder, not unkindly.
"Mai batati hu Uncleji." quipped Keerat, from where she was seated on the bed. They turned to face her. "Mummy nu ek bara tamasha kiya tha ghar vich. Kerosene ki puri dibba daal diya tha aapne upar." Inder's eyes widenned at the quiet, ashen faced Santosh Monga. Veer looked horrified. Even Angad was startled at the extent Santosh Monga had gone to silence her other two daughters.
"Ab ki hondah hai? Matchstick lakey khud maarne beithi thi. Sahiba Di aur Papaji ko manna hi para unki baat. Upar se yeh jo kharche hai na, in saab ka intezzam bhi meri already overworked Di par gyi. Aisi Maa toh maine aaj tak na dekha."
"Tum hara hi Mummy hai, Keerat." Manveer gave a snide remark. Inder glared at her. Keerat shrugged giving a sad smile, "Nam ki mummy hai Aunty. Mummy ke tarah jisne aaj tak treat kari hai mainu woh Sahiba Di hai. After all, itni injuries ke baad bhi, Santosh Monga ne abhi tak haal-chaal bhi na pucha. Seerat Di meri jagah hoti na toh yeh auraat aafat laa deti."
Santosh snapped her eyes at Keerat who looked completely unapologetic. Sahiba sighed.
"Baat tune sahi kahi." Sahiba shook her head ruefully, "Aab kya karna hai aap sab ko? Media ko kaise handle karenge?"
Before the Brar's could reply, Sudha Maasi spoke up, "Sahiba, lado, tu pehle vich yeh kapre badaal. Jis kaam ke liye tune ye kapre pehne the woh toh ho chuka. Tab tak sab soch lenge karna ki hai."
"Ji haa Maasi." Sahiba blinked, feeling the onslaught of tiredness, "Kal se joh jhatke mil rahe hai na, tab se dimaag jam jani hai aab." She picked up her simple clothes, that were beside Keerat, proceeding towards the attached bathroom in the room.
"Ruko."
Angad's voice held an authoritativeness that wasn't there whenever he spoke with Sahiba or his family. Veer sighed, a bit relieved to see the 'Businessman Angad' who actually used his brain. "Koi change karne ki zaroorat na hai. Mainu baat karni hai tum se, akele mei."
"Akele mei?" Sahiba clutched her clothes in her hand, "Pagal na hui hu mei. Jo baat karni hai sab ke samne vich kaho. Mainu koi shauk na hai aapse baat-waat karne ki."
Angad closed his eyes, trying to avoid the headache. As it is his temper was high, this chit of a girl was challenging him again in this situation amongst everyone. Veer sensing things would again go out of hand if these two again fought, requested Sahiba, "Sahiba, Angad Paaji ki baat man lijiye na. Please?"
Manveer and Gurleen glanced at Veer surprised, while Aakal had approval on his face. He could again guess what his grandson had in mind. Sahiba looked indecisive, "Okay, but Keerat mere saath rahegi."
"Koi problem nehi hai." Angad replied quickly, "Mumma, aap aur Papa, bhi rukh jao."
Sahiba relaxed a bit at that. Ajeet, looked at Sahiba, wanting to stay to listen as well, but his middle daughter neither glanced at him nor acknowledged his stare. Manveer and Inder also glanced at each other also agreeing.
One by one each of the other family members looked at each other before leaving the room. The door was closed and locked by Angad, once everyone left.
He sat down on the chair, a sigh escaping him. Manveer came to stood behind him with a grim expression. Inder sat down on the bed beside Keerat. He gave the college-going girl a small smile.
"Thik ho na puttarji?" asked Inder, with a tiny smile. Keerat replied, her voice soft, "Zakhm hai, bhar jayenge Uncleji."
Sahiba exhaled at their words before taking a seat at the edge of the bed. She asked, looking at the silent Mr. ATM. "Kya kehni thi aapko?"
"Seerat ne jo kiya aur tumhari family ne jo kiya, useh kaise chukaogi?"
Inder protested immediately, "Angad! Yeh kaisi baat kar rahe ho? Sahiba ne galti thori ki hai?"
"Ek second, Papa." Angad stopped his father, still keeping his eyes locked with hers, "Baat karne dijiye. So Miss Monga, kya kehna hai aapko?"
Sahiba clenched her teeth. She should have seen this coming instead of being blindsided by him. She had thought after the truth is out either police would come and arrest her mother or they would humiliated and insulted.
"Bahar media hai." Angad continued, "Humari puri family ki izzat aapke behen ki wajah se dubti hui nauka pe hai. Kuch haadh tak galti humari bhi hai. Hume investigate karna chahiye tha." Sahiba and Keerat was surprised at his admittance, while Angad prowled on, "Daarji, most probably, chahte hai ki hum dohno, as in tum aur mei, yeh vyaah kar media ko sambhal le."
Sahiba instantly nodded negatively, looking horrified.
"Mujhe tumse vyah nehi karna." Angad said providing relief to Manveer, Keerat, Sahiba and Inder. "But, it's not wrong to say that if we file a case against your mother and sister for their fraudulent acts; then also Brar's businesses would be effected. If we don't marry, then also our family will be effected. Share prices would drop either way, being driven by news, and our investors might sell their shares, causing a huge problem for us."
"What do you want me to do?" asked Angad, meeting Sahiba's stricken eyes, "I want your mother and sister in jail. I don't want to marry you to save my family goodwill. If I do that, the fraud people would escape punishment. At the end, my family would be effected against no faults of theirs. What do you want me to do, Sahiba Kaur Monga?"
Sahiba was placed in a quandary. What Angad was saying was not wrong. Sure the Brar's behave idiotically, but that wasn't exactly a crime. On the other hand, her mother and sister had duped them. If the marriage happened, it would have been a fraud marriage. That was a crime.
Babaji, kaha phasa diya aapne?
"Apke bhai Garry ne bhi toh aapke parivaar ko dhoka diya hai." Keerat called out, a bit hesitant when Angad's eyes fell on her. He nodded, "Haa, you are right Keerat. But woh zabardasti Seerat ko na le gya. Seerat khud bhagi hai uskeh sath. Usne galat kiya hai, par crime nehi."
The stacks were against them, mussed Sahiba, gnawing her lip worriedly. She was really hating Angad when he spoke wisely. Babaji, aapko abhi lautana tha iss Mr. ATM ke buddhi ko!
Inder shook his head, still against what his son was doing. Papaji ka potah hai yeh bohot achey se samaj aa raha hai mainu. Manipulation tactics bhar bhar ke sikha hai isne.
Inder tried once again, "Puttar, for the first time, apne baarey mei soch. Media, business, Papaji aur parivaar ke barey mei na. Maat kar yeh saab."
"Haa Angad puttar." Manveer sided with her husband for the first time, making Inder and Angad both glance at her in shock, "Tere Papaji sahi keh rahe hai. Mujhse bohot bari galti hui hai. Maine bhi apne ek laute puttar ke vastey sahi maine mei jeevan saathi na dhund payi." Manveer glanced at the listening Keerat and the relieved Sahiba, "For the first time, choose yourself puttarji."
"Bohot hi galat time pe saahi baat kahi hai apne, Mumma." Angad replied ruefully, "Bohot pehle kehna chahiye tha. Ab toh aadat ban chuki hai in sab chizo ko priority dena." He glanced at Sahiba who was thoughtful as she eyed him. He could recognize a silver of respect in her eyes, before it disappeared. "So, Miss Monga kya socha aapne?"
"Kya karwana chahteh ho aap mujhse?"
Sahiba knew what he was doing. His manipulation was not easy to see, since he sprouted facts. At least this man had some brains; although how did he not recognize the kind of person Seerat is. Tu apney parivaar ke pyaar mei unki galtiya nazar-andaaz kar sakti hai toh yeh toh phir bhi ullu hai. Dekh ke bhi nehi dikha inhe kuch. She sighed, already thinking what she would have to do. Her eyes went towards Keerat. Nehi, Keerat ke upar koi ungli uthney na dungi mei.
Angad smirked, "Vyah karna hoga mere saath. Apne maarzi se."
"Marzi na hai." replied Sahiba, "If I have to marry you, then it would be only for Keerat." Keerat glanced at her surprised, almost about to stand in utter protest. "Beithi reh!" scolded Sahiba with narrowed eyes, when she noticed that. Keerat sulked, but did not move. "Seerat ke iss kand ke liye waise bhi Papaji ko bohot kuch sunna parega. Isse zyada sunne ki himmat unmein na hai."
Angad nodded, "Sahi hai. Mujhe bhi tumse vyah karne ki koi shauk na hai. Meri wajah, meri business aur mere Daarji hai. But, this leaves us in a quandary."
"Ib kya hogaya?" muttered Sahiba, glaring at the man she was thinking of marrying.
"Tumhari mummy, Seerat aur mera bhai Garry, sab ko koi saza na milegi." Angad murmured, eyes meeting hers with a vindictive glint, "Aise kaise chor du unhe?"
Inder and Manveer glanced at each other, perplexed at the conversion going in front of them. Keerat perked up for the first time when she heard that. She grinned, a genuine mischievous smile on her face. "Seerat Di nu vadda bura haal hoga jab wo loteygi. Uski chinta aap na karo." She gave a grumpy look at Sahiba, "Aap iss baar rokogi na mujhey Sahiba Di."
Sahiba shook her head at Keerat's antics but acquiesced her head in approval. Angad's lips lifted too, at the excitement in the eyes of the youngest Monga. Keerat reminded him of Veer and Ekam.
He replied to her words, "Seerat jitne din tumhare saath rahegi, apna badla le lena Keerat. Uske baad mera turn hai."
Keerat blinked, "Huh? Ki gaal kar rahe ho? Mainu kuch samjha nehi."
"Seerat Di and Garry ki shaadi ki baat kar raha hai." Sahiba said, meeting Angad's surprised eyes, before he nodded, "Sahi kaha. Mere ghar mei hogi toh yeh hisaab-kitab pura hoga."
Inder shook his head, completely blown away by these two stubborn kids. He said, "Gurudwara mei itna saab kuch ho raha hai; toh iseh Waheguruji ka aashirwaad aur maarzi samajh ke hum accept kar bhi lenge." He stood up glancing at Manveer, before gesturing both Angad and Sahiba to get up.
He joined their hands, his own engulfing their joined hands. Glancing at both of them, their surprised and perplexed expressions and fidgeting hands, Inder smiled genuinely. He wondered what kind of martial life his son would lead with a girl who wouldn't bow to whom, a true equal.
"Manveer aur mei bhi saath denge tum donoh ka. Kyu Manveeriye?" Manveer nodded hesitantly, standing beside her son. Inder smiled, happy to have her agree.
"And one more thing."
"Ab kya hai papaji?" asked Angad anxiously. He was getting uncomfortable holding onto Sahiba's hand. He could see her being uncomfortable too.
"Ye hi ki tum donoh apne iss rishtey ko ek mauka zaroor dogeh."
Both Sahiba and Angad snapped their heads towards him, looking wide-eyed and astonished.
"Apne samay mei dena, mainu ye na kaha ki abhi dena hai. Adjust karne mei, misunderstandings, ego, arrogance, ke bagair —" Inder paused, looking sternly at his son, "—ek dusre ko pehchaney mei time lagega. Par jab comfortable ho tab mauka zaroor dena. Okay?"
Inder wanted Angad to apologize to Sahiba for all his misbehavior, insults and ire. He couldn't force his son though; that would not be a sincere apology then. He hoped, after whatever happened today, they would come clean to each other.
Honestly, he liked Sahiba more than Seerat. But that wasn't how he wanted his son to wed. So it was his try to somewhat normalize the marriage for them; to at least create a place where both could deal with the onslaught of betrayal they have been dealt with and relate to each other.
"Okay Papaji, try karunga." Angad responded mulishly, glancing at Sahiba who looked a bit too surprised. Sahiba nodded hesitantly, when Inder looked at her.
"Chal Maan," Manveer blinked at the name Inder hadn't called her as in a decade, "Papaji ko khush khabri sunatey hai. Tum teeno bhi chalo."
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