Chapter 14

Chapter 11 → Ugly truth

Sahiba

Sahiba sipped her tea quietly, her eyes roaming the newspaper laid on the table in front of her. The headlines were unsurprising yet she felt nervous seeing the front-page pictures of her reception spattered throughout. While she had always known that the Brar's were rich, finally realizing that she was now a legitimate part of them. The realization made her uncomfortable. Never in her dreams had she thought her life would take such a turn. Perhaps it would take a few more days for her to get used to the fact.

The reception was a PR stunt; not to mention it was the stage on which the trap for Seerat was set. Her casual mention of her elder sister's name was for a reason. She hoped that plan went accordingly.

While she had preferred a direct confrontation as there were sufficient proofs in the hand, Angad had preferred a manipulative approach. He wanted Seerat to arrive at the Brar mansion by her own violations. He had presumed that for Seerat to run away, she must have been promised a marriage with her lover, as in Garry in this case.  Hence, he had given the inclination in the live coverage about Garry's wedding with a girl named Seerat. He was sure that Seerat would arrive at the Brar mansion thinking that everyone knew about her feelings and relationship with Garry.

What made Sahiba inquisitive was Seerat's feelings. She wondered whether her sister had truly fallen for Garry or was faking her love the same way Garry was doing with her.

"Sahiba..!!"

She was startled at seeing a semi-dressed Angad in front of her. He gestured at the food that was turning cold as she gave a sheepish smile.

"You seemed to be lost in thought." commented Angad as he took his seat before her in the balcony, looking sharp in a grey suit, "Any specific reason?"

"I don't understand why you wish to wait. I mean, sure, Jasleen bua seems a bit fishy but what makes you so wary of her?"

Angad glanced at her, humming in acknowledgment to her words. He said, "You don't know bua like I do. I already told you of the pasts of my aunts. I have come to realize that Jasleen bua is a scheming woman." He took a sip of his coffee, "In the past, due to familial relations and to not hurt Daarji, I've ignored her antics and even saved Garry from his own blunders. While I did not know that she would stoop so low as to sabotage me, I did understand that I had done a mistake by letting her go."

Sahiba shook her head, wondering what kind of logic Jasleen Baweja had.

If it was the case about who should be the 'Heir Apparent' of Daarji's business, it should be decided on merit. Everyone and their family knew how good Angad was in the business. Even, she had heard of his accomplishments from her money-minded friends.

But Jasleen bua had sabotaged and even tried to ruin Angad's life using her as a tool. Sahiba had nearly cringed at that; realizing that she was being used by someone for their own nefarious purposes.

And to sabotage the very business that provided her money to continue her lifestyle was similar to harming one own self. Sahiba really wanted to know what Jasleen had even been thinking. 

Sahiba said as much to Angad, causing him to shrug. "Even I don't understand her psychology. It's like if she is fixated on something, she has to get it. By hook or by crook. Not to mention she had never taken liability for her own action or punished harshly for the same. Papaji tried once, but Daarji shielded her even then."

"Similar to Seerat Di then," Sahiba muttered, "How enlightening!"

Angad stilled at those words, but she did not notice his reactions. She continued, "I understand what you have planned for Garry but how do you plan to deal with Jasleen Bua, Angad? Daarji and Bebe would be hurt either way."

Angad sighed, nodding in agreement. "I know. But the truth needs to come out. We can't live like this, Sahiba. I can't live like this..!"

Just then, Veer knocked on the open door of the balcony. There were three files in his hand and a resignation on his face. They glanced at him, while Angad gestured him inside.

"Kya pata chala?"

"It's true." Veer muttered, his eyes filled with a heart-wrenching agony as it flickered from her to Angad, "My guess turned true, Paaji."

Sahiba watched confused and frightened as Angad threw the cup towards the wall of the balcony.The cup shattered on impact while the coffee stained the wall and the floor. Both Veer and her got up with concerned looks. She turned in askance to Veer, who looked angry and disappointed.

On the other hand, Angad's eyes were bloodshot with how furious he seemed. He was continuously clenching his hands as if wanting to punch and destroy a few more things. His breathing even seemed harrowed. 

Veer had immediately gone ahead, to try and calm his brother down. Sahiba decided to bring the inhaler she had seen on the bedside drawer last night. She felt it was needed at the moment.

Angad took the inhaler with a thankful look but he still looked immensely angry. He gestured at Veer to say something to her while he continued to use the inhaler. 

"Parjai, wo..." Veer hesitated for a few seconds before handing her the topmost file, "Yeh sketches aapke hai kya? Ek baar check karke kaho na."

Sahiba was perplexed but she did as he asked. When she turned the pages, she was surprised to see the designs she had sold nearly six months back.

"Haa yeh toh mere hai." She agreed, "I sold them nearly six months back. Yeh tumhare paas kaise aye Veer?"

What Veer said next made her stumble back in surprise. Her eyes flickered towards Angad who glanced at her with an unreadable look. He looked far more in control after his little....temper show.

She said addressing Angad, "Dekhiye, maine in sareey designs ko sell kiye hai. So there is no copyright or any other problematic issue. I don't think there will be a problem in business, legally or otherwise."

"Pata hai tum yehi kahogi." Angad mumbled, meeting her eyes with unknown emotions running through him; the prominent amongst them were betrayal. "Nonetheless, yeh tumhare designs hai aur credit tumhe milna chahiye. Other than that, the matter isn't of business. It is of another betrayal by another family member whom I thought could be trusted."

"I am not surprised," said Veer, passing a remorseful look at Sahiba, "I had overheard Kiara exclaiming to a few guests about how she was the one to decorate the Paath room. Parjai was there too and she stopped me from creating a scene."

Angad's eyes snapped to her, but Sahiba did not meet his eyes. There was a nervousness in her posture as she glared at Veer who passed  a 'I-am-sorry' look.

Thankfully the intercom rang breaking the awkward tension amongst them. As Angad heard what the Head security said, he smirked viciously. The anger and betrayal churning in his heart as he murmured putting the intercom down, "Game on!"

Brar Living Hall | Main Building

Sahiba watched with an indifference as Seerat stepped inside the living room with a wide smile on her face. She could see the nervousness in the way she fluttered her hands around her dupatta while she recoiled at the self-entitlement in her eyes.

Her eyes flickered towards Angad standing beside her as they watched the live feeding of what's happening in the living room.

Angad had sent out missives through the staff that he wanted all the family members in the well guarded security room. Numerous computers were linked to the strategically placed spy cameras. Except for the Baweja clan who had been sent a different notice, everyone had crowded in the room. 

Sahiba had learnt that except for the personal rooms of the family members, every other communal places had hidden cameras. These cameras in the inner house were rarely seen to protect privacy but they are always active in case of sudden problems.

Sahiba stood beside Angad, whose face was unreadable and Veer was on her other side, his hand clutching the files that he had shown her just half-an hour back in his hands. Her younger brother-in-law had a furious look on his face, barely hiding his disgust as he watched the Baweja clan arrive in the living room.

They seemed surprised to find Seerat present. Garry had horror written on his face, before it quickly morphed into a cunning and manipulative look that surprised the elders of the family. Kiara and Jasleen bua had looked genuinely confused at her presence in the Brar living room.

Not to mention, when Seerat approached Garry joyfully, they looked stunned.

'Garry..!! Tumne sabko bata diya? Were you talking about this surprise?'

She watched Seerat approach further, a bit surprised at her elder sister falling for the trap. As her eyes flickered around watching everyone's baffled reactions, her eyes met Angad's. Angad's eyes held pain but it seemed to be less than the burning vindictiveness as he gazed at her. She stumbled a bit back at that, her own eyes wide at what she understood.

Angad was able to quickly stabilize her only for her to flinch. He removed his arm on her back instantly at her reaction.

Sahiba tried to calm down. She hadn't actually understood things like vengeance and pay-backs. She had never been in a position to actually be faced by such strong feelings of revenge. When she had uncovered her own set of betrayals, all she had felt were immense mind-numbing pain and utter helplessness. There had been sadness, disbelief and raw pain but not the need for revenge. She had automatically started to think how to manage the situation and the most straightforward way to do so.

She had felt indifference towards the ones who had betrayed but it had never crossed her mind to make them feel the same amount pain. If anything she did not want anything to do them. Sahiba would prefer them out of her life, like cutting a rotten branch of an otherwise healthy tree.

 'Garry kya hua? Tumne sabko sab bata diya hai, hai na? Mainu sab pata hai! I saw everything with my-" As if realizing people were around who could find out she had sneaked in, "-in the T.V. Sun rahe ho tum meri baat? Kuch kaho toh sahi..!!'

Seerat irritating voice broke through her thoughts. Her body immediately leaned against the wall she was standing by to take support. She gave a grateful look at Angad when he covered her back. He nodded at her in response.

Her eyes flickered towards the screen where Seerat was being questioned. It was disgusting for her to watch how Jasleen bua questioned Seerat's character.

'Kya hua kuri? Angad kafi nehi tha ki tum mere bete par apni nazar daal rahi ho?' Jasleen bua looked like she had caught the cat, 'Haa samaj sakti hu. Braro mei mera beta asli heera hai. Par tum jaisi Shimlapuri waali ko mai apne bete par nazar nehi daalne dungi.'

Her mother-in-law looked ready to slap Jasleen bua. Actually, she went straight out of the room looking furious. What surprised Sahiba was Angad's lack of reaction and his smug look.

A tight slap echoed throughout the room when everyone arrived. Seerat had been slapped tightly. Garry looked shocked while Jasleen had a glint in her eye, her mind trying to find a way to handle the situation.

Angad looked on with an indifferent look on his face; even Sahiba was feeling completely detached to the situation. 

"How shameless are you, Seerat Kaur Monga..!?" roared Manveer, "To stand amidst the people who you had betrayed without shame? And to even speak to Garry so familiarly?" Garry was the next recipient of her scathing glare, "Garry ne kya bata diya hai?"

Seerat was wincing at her furious words looking nervous and was pleading Garry with her eyes. Her eyes flickered to Angad, making her flinch at the indifference in his eyes. Noticing Sahiba stand by his side, she felt envy in her heart.

How could she not feel enviousness when it was her who was supposed to be in Sahiba's place? She was supposed to be surrounded by riches and been amidst all these influential people. She had seen her sister in the reception, looking so gorgeous that she felt all her insecurities drudge up in her mind. Not to mention, her equally sizzling chemistry with Angad. Through out the entire evening she had watched how Sahiba shone amidst the throng of influential people like a sun, being complemented by several and creating awe amongst everyone.

The envy in her heart, mingled by the insecurities she always felt whenever she tried to compare with her sister, blackened her heart in-regards to Sahiba. The envy always took a front seat whenever she thought of Sahiba. Her sister, the hardworking, kind and selfless woman, that got praised by people behind her back. Seerat was never praised by people in a manner to Sahiba's. Whoever met Sahiba doted on her, loved her as if she was their own child.

Even the loan mongers had never spoken to her impolitely. They might have been demanding in the matter with the repayment but they had given a lot of leeway to Sahiba, allowing her more time than most people. 

The only person who had loved her wholeheartedly completely ignoring Sahiba's allure was their own mother. It was a fact that Seerat enjoyed greatly. She loved to rub it in both of her sisters' faces. 

When she was confronted by Manveer in such a befuddled situation, she saw the envy in her heart rise at Sahiba's indifferent look as she leaned against Angad so familiarly. But at the moment, Seerat as she had always done, prioritized the envy in her heart than her common sense.

Hence why she spilled about her affair with Garry completely disregarding what Garry had told her to do previously at the hotel a few days back.

As horror donned on every family members face, except the Baweja's who seemed disgusted at the mere thought of their brother/son mingling with a girl of such a poor class. Daarji looked furious with resignation marring his face.

"Acha hua sach tumne khud bata diya Seerat." Angad said, his eyes holding a vindictive glint, "Nehi toh bhanda phorne mei mujhe bohot mazaa ata hai." Seerat paled at his words, while Garry stuttered, "Kya keh rahe ho Angad? Yeh pagal kuri hai. Pata nehi kya bole jaa rahi hai."

Angad turned his eyes on his brother, approaching him with slow and steady walk. His eyes glinted like a predator who had caught his prey. On reaching him, he turned to face Seerat. Almost as if amused, he asked, "Ek baat batao Seerat. Tum Garry ke baarey mei kya jante ho?"

Seerat blinked, "Bohot kuch janti hu, jaise yeh pura business Garry khud sambhalta hai. Yeh fir woh kitna zimmedar hai."

"Responsible?" Angad raised an eyebrow, tightly reigning in his explosive temper, "Pura business wo khud sambhalta hai?" A mocking chuckle escaped his lips, as he eyed the pale face of the Baweja clan. He met Garry's fidgeting eyes, "Kya baat hai Garry? Tumne toh pura roop hi badal diya! Par ek gaalti kar baithe ho, pata hai kya?"

Jasleen came into his defense, speaking out loudly, "Angad puttar, tu yeh kya keh raha hai? Garry aisa kuch nehi kar sakta. Yeh iss fraud larki aur uski Maa ka plan hoga. Just think about it. Ek larki ko toh usne tumhare gale mei fasa diya hai aur aab dusre ko fasana chahte hai. I guess Keerat ko bhi woh Veer puttar ke gaale fasa degi!"

Veer snapped at her, at the end of his patience with his two-faced aunt, "Bua aap apni fikr karo. Mera fikr karne ki zaroorat na hai. Keerat meri dost hai. Aap usse janti nehi ho jo itna kuch faltu ka bak jao! Aur rahi baat, meri fikr karne ki, uske liye mera parivaar mere saath hai. Aapki defense ki koi zaroorat nehi hai mainu!"

Jasleen looked surprised at the audacity of the soft spoken child, as she said condescendingly, targeting a warily watching Gurleen, "Itni bhi kya bharak rahe ho Veer? Gurleen ne kuch tameez toh sikhaya hi hoga, nehi?"

Veer glared, a look of utter disgust in his eyes as he glanced at Jasleen. Bebe came forward, slapping her elder daughter. Watching as shock and humiliation marred her daughter's face, she snarled, "Tuh chup rah Jasleen! Tu Gurleen ko kya keh rahi hai? Maine hi tujhe koi tameez nehi sikhayi hai! Seerat aur Santoshji ne dhoka diya hai par usme Keerat yeh fir Sahiba ka koi galti na hai! Yeh baat hum sab ko pata hai. Vyaah mei tune jo kiya wo hum sabko pata hai, Jasleen!"

Jasleen fumed at her mother's tirade against her. Before anyone else could speak anything else or divert from topic, Angad said, "Before anyone can divert from topic, let's come back. Garry, tune kya galti ki hai tujhe pata hai?"

Meeting Garry fidgeting eyes, Angad smirked, "You thought you could behave like me. That's where you made a mistake. Waise acha hi hai ki maine Seerat se vyah na kiya." He eyed a surprised Seerat, "Woh ekdam perfect hai tumhare liye. Both of you are chameleons."

"Anyway, galatfehmi mita deiti hu mai tumhari." He noticed Seerat eyeing him in confusion, "Brar Group of Companies mei sambhalta hu for the last eight years. Aur haa, tumhara Garry ek unemployed munda hai jo mere kamaye paiso se zindagi guzarta hai." Seerat looked horrified as she glanced at Garry's insulted face. His mother even looked furious.

Angad glanced at his cousin's face, a cruel smirk on his face which surprised Garry, Kiara and Jasleen who had never seen him like that, "But now nothing like that will happen any more. Joh family ho kar bhi family na ho, unke liye mere dil pe koi sympathy nehi." He literally ordered glancing at Daarji's reassigned face, "Garry won't bhi associated with our business any longer. And he will marry Seerat since he did run away with her."

Seerat seemed uncaring as long as she could take active advantage of the riches which was one of Garry's allure.Hence the decision of marriage was perfect. She did not really care that he did not work as long as he could provide her with the riches of the Brar name.

"Ek second Angad!" yelled Jasleen fuming with anger and spite, "Tum hotey kon ho mere beta ke life ki decision lene waale?! Garry aisa kuch nehi karega..!! Mai iss kuri ko apni bahu nehi manungi!"

Angad's eyes hardened, "Aap ke liye koi alag rules nehi hai Bua. Agar aap mere zindagi mei dakhl-andaaz kar sakti hai toh mujhe rokne wala yeha hai kon? Vyaah ke din aapne hi Sahiba par zor daala tha. Maine kuch nehi bhula hai bua." Jasleen's eyes widened, as Angad continued, "Apke mobile pe ek video sent kiya hai maine. Check kar lijiye."

Jasleen checked and nearly stumbled back while Kiara looked stunned. Garry had paled further. Seerat felt an unknown fear in her at the cctv footage.

Angad's voice held an mock innocent note, "Agar yeh video kissi bhi tarike se viral ho gaya na toh Brar's ka brand value bohot deteriorate karega. Agar mai apne family ke liye vyaah kar sakta hu toh Garry kyu nehi?"

"Yeh vyaah hoga." Angad stated calmly, "Aapki maarzi ho yeha nehi. Mujhe aapko manana bohot ache se aata hai." He glared at Jasleen, who felt an unknown fear in her. She gasped widely, looking at Angad in trepidation as he said, "Aap ne business mei kya kya karname kiya hai woh mujhe bohot ache se pata hai. Itne saal maaf kiya hai aur nehi karunga. Isliye bohot soch samaj ke decision lijiyega bua."

"Thik hai," shuddered Jasleen, her eyes frantic with terror in her bones, "Garry ko Seerat ke saath vyaah mujhe manzoor hai." Her son glanced at her in shock while Kiara gasped loudly.

"Mujhe koi problem nehi hai." Seerat looked genuinely excited at the thought, "Mujhe toh Garry ne kaha hi tha vyaah ke bareey mei." Garry glared at her in response which she ignored. Others looked disgusted.

Inder glanced at his father, wondering whether he would interfere like before. Instead he found his father looking resigned and sad. He felt pity rise within him for the man who had loved Jasleen like his own daughter. Someone who did not deserve such love.

Sahiba, who had watched everything turned to Seerat, "This is the final time I am helping you Di. Meri maan aur yeh vyaah maat kar. Garry is not the kind of person you think he is. Marrying a man like him would destroy your life."

"Tu chup kar Sahiba," Seerat thought Sahiba was jealous, "Tu kya janti hai Garry ke barey mei! Tu replacement hai meri, samjhi? Maine bhaga isliye tu yeha khari hai." She said haughtily, "Koi aukaad na hai teri aise parivaar mei bahu banne ki."

Sahiba smiled, a smile full of teeth, "Aise dialogues serials mei hi saahi lagte hai, Seerat." The absence of 'Di' was felt very clearly, "You are destroying your own life by this decision. I tried to help but honestly? I don't care."

The indifference in her eyes, the lack of emotions and care in her voice, made Seerat flinch at the foreboding she felt in her words. It was the first time Sahiba had spoken in such a manner with her.

Sahiba glanced at Angad who nodded back in support.

A chapter in their life has finished.

It was time for another chapter to start.

[NOCOPY]