Hey Guys! I'm back with a new chapter!
It's not edited so I'm very sorry for any mistakes. If you notice any point them out and I'll change it immediately!
Love, Mirai ❤️
Chapter 12 - A step to a New Beginning.
Shimlapuri Market, Ludhiana.
It was an early morning, around nine'o clock. The market of Shimalapuri was buzzing with vendors. Various people had started to open up shop. Small stalls of morning street foods, tea shops and grocery stores were filled to the brim with customers. Working people were seen hurrying towards the main road to catch their preferred way of transport. Rickshaws, autos and cars had started to create the early morning traffic.
The market area was so busy that no one had time to glance when a silver shiny car with shaded windows stopped in front of a dilapidated building. The people around did not even glance at the car, other than wondering who was blocking that part of the road so early in the morning as they moved around it with annoyed grumbles.
Angad glanced up at the building in front of him. He looked around his surroundings with a curious gleam in his eyes. He had never thought he would ever be in a busy market such as this, standing in front of a building that had seen better days.To not stand out from the crowd, Angad had ditched his expensive tailored suits and had donned on casual jeans. He had paired it with a black shirt that remained tucked in and leather shoes. He had even ditched his Porsche and had used one of the Company’s cars. To be even more unrecognizable, he had used a mask and his sunglasses. It did a great job in hiding his face.
He entered the building with an uncertain look. Looking a bit thankful at the clear reception area and a better interior design than the outside of the building, he approached the receptionist.
“Is Mr. Chawla busy at the moment?” His words was a bit muffled through the mask but it got the attention from the gossiping receptionist.
“Kon ho tum?”Angad was startled at the rude voice and barely held on to his distaste. How did this ‘Chawla’ get clients with such behavior?
He decided to cut the chase and removed his mask and sunglasses, causing the woman to gasp loudly. Barely looking at her for a second, he ordered, “Ask Mr.Chawla that Angad Singh Brar wants to meet with him immediately.”
Usually he would have been far more cordial but he was at the end of his patience. Within moments a man came out with a bright smile. Angad knew at one glance that this man was a flatterer.
“Brar Sahab! What a surprise!” Chawla smiled brightly, “It’s an honor to have you here.”
He raised an eyebrow, slipping his sunglasses back on his face, “Can we head inside Mr. Chawla? I will only take a moment of your time.”
“Of–course, of–course. Aap ke liye toh pura din free hai hum, Brar Sahab.” Angad did not deign it with a reply at all, feeling exhausted with the man already.
As he was escorted to an office, he noticed the open and airy space in a curious glance. Taking a seat on the cheap leather chair, he pulled out a check book.
"Kya baat hai ji? Kaise help kar sakte hai hum?"
Writing a check of twenty lakhs, he handed it to a bewildered Mr.Chawla. Gesturing at the check, Angad explained, "My wife has a loan of twenty lakhs. This is the repayment of the loan."
A shrewd glint entered Mr. Chawla gaze. It was noticed by Angad who waited for the older man to speak.
"Mr. Brar while I've no problem with the repayment, what about the interest?" Mr. Chawla's eyes glinted greedily, "I remember telling Santosh Parjai that as long as she does not pay the loan she would be paying a twenty percent interest monthly on that loan." On noticing no change of expression on Angad, he prowled on with a bit of hesitance, "Dekhiye Brar sahab, aap bhi businessman aur hum bhi businessman. Ab business mei profit aur loss ka dhyan toh rakhna parega na. Aab Santosh Parjai ne itne kam samay mei itna paisa liya hai toh uske hisaab se bharpayi dena toh banta hai. Hai ki nehi?"
"Maine kab roka hai bharpayi lene se, Mr.Chawla." Angad got up from the seat, folding his shirt sleeves casually as he glanced at the wavering look the man sported. "As far as I know Sahiba had already paid the interest of two months."
Mr.Chawla was a bit wide-eyed at being caught. He had assumed that Sahiba did not have a good relation with the man in front of him after everything that happened in the wedding and this was Angad's way of reconciliation with the stubborn girl.
He gave a stiff nod and a fake smile to cover up his blunder, "Perhaps Rekha, my receptionist, did not inform me. I'll check immediately."
"Please do so at your earliest."
Angad strode out of the building and took huge breath of relief. It had felt stiffing. Quickly entering the car, he asked his chauffeur to drive towards the Monga house as he dialed Keerat's number.
Monga House
Keerat was shuffling through the crowds of the Shimlapuri market with an ease of someone who had done it a hundred times as she struggled to find her phone in her bag. Upon getting it, she quickly took the call before it could rang out. She did not even notice who was calling her.
"Hello?"
"Keerat, tum ghar pe ho?"
Accidentally biting her tongue in surprise, she yelped a bit before straightening.
"Kya hua? Tum thik ho?"
"Haan, haan Jiju. Main thik hu par aap mujhse yeh kyu puch rahe ho?" She quickly by-passed the crowds, entering the well-known locality where her house was located.
"Batao pehle nehi toh nehi bataunga."
"Pohoch gayi ghar. Aab bolo." Keerat had just opened the door to her house as she entered the living room. She noticed her mother look up at her entrance. Ignoring her, she dumped her bag on the charpai and sat down with a huff.
"Ok. I am reaching in a few minutes."
"Kya!" Keerat got up again with wide eyes, "Aap yeha aa rahe ho? Achanak se yeh shauk kaha se aya? Di ko pata bhi hai?"
"Shauk nehi hai aane ka par Mr.Chawla ke waha aya tha socha ki baki ke kam bhi kar aata hu. Aur nehi Sahiba ko kuch nehi pata. Baad mei bataunga tumhari di ko."
She could envision the man frowning as she shook her head when Tayiji ambled up to her with a concerned look, "Keerat puttar, ki hoya? Sab thik?"
Keerat gestured at her to wait a moment as she spoke on the phone, "Thik hai Jiju. Rasta toh pata hai na aapko?"
"Haa, tum chinta maat karo. I am nearly there."
"Ok. Main rakhti hu."
"Bye."
"Jiju?" Keerat closed her eyes in annoyance the moment she heard Seerat's voice, "Tu Angad se baat kar rahi hai?"
"Aur koi Jiju toh hai nehi mere!" She snapped at Seerat, "Aur tu bahar kyu ayi? Tera drama chal raha tha iss ghar mei kuch din se, nehi? Sab dikh rahi hai mujhe. Kaha gya teri 'Main kuch nehi khaungi jab tak aap log Vyaah ki baat karne Brar Mansion nehi jaatey'?"
"Aankhe hai yeh button? Dikhna toh chahiye!" Seerat shamelessly argued, looking excited by the moment, "Wo sab chod! Tu mujhe yeh bata Angad yeha pe Vyaah ki baat karna aa raha hai, hai na?"
Keerat scoffed, looking disgusted at the mere mention of the wedding, "Nehi. Jiju yeha pe kuch aur baat karne aa rahe hai jisse tera koi lena dena nehi."
"Mujhse lena dena nehi!?" Seerat looked so affronted as if she couldn't believe that someone wasn't coming to speak about her and her wedding, "Toh kis liye aa raha hai Angad yeha? Sahiba ko chorne? Mansion se nikal diya kya useh? Waise wahi aukat hai uski. High class lifestyle uske liye nehi hai."
"Seerat!" yelled Santosh, who had been listening to the sisters argue. She glanced at an angry Keerat who looked ready to bash Seerat's face in the wall while her older daughter was casually flicking through her nails.
"Rehn do, Mummy." Keerat replied, eyes burning with ire, "Jab chillana chahiye tha tab toh aapne pamper kiya hai. Yeh drama na hi karo toh acha hai."
The bell rang just then. Keerat squeezed her eyes shut for a few seconds to control her overflowing emotions as her Sukhi Tayi went to open the door. When she opened her eyes, she could see the bafflement in Angad's eyes as he stepped inside.
"Yeh tumhara ghar hai?" He looked so shocked that Keerat couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips, "Haanji Jiju. Aab har ek ke paas toh aap ke jaise mehel nehi hai. Waise, welcome to humari choti si kutiya jaha pe Sahiba di and mere hazaro yaade judi hai!"
"Jaise ghar sirf tum dono ka hai!" Keerat scowled immediately at Seerat's words while Angad's voice cut through like a cold knife, "Ghar tumhara bhi hai par mujhe farak sirf dono se parta hai. Sahiba aur Keerat se. Baakio se nehi."
She smirked at the embarrassed expression that crossed Seerat's face. Angad said to Keerat, "Aapne Papaji ko bhi bula lao. Baat khatam karke ghar jana hai mainu."
"Bulane ki zaroorat na hai puttar." Ajeet ambled in, looking exhausted and perplexed at the same time, "Bethiye. Humare paas zyaada kuch hai nehi par thoda paani yeh chaas lenge?"
"No, thank you." Angad took a seat on the only stable looking chair in the room while everyone sat around him with Keerat and her father being the closest.
"Kahiye, puttar. Kya kehna tha apko?" Sukhi Tayi asked.
"Usually I wouldn't interfere in such matters but since the matter directly relates to my wife, I had to interfere."
"Sahiba?" Santosh looked desperate when she asked, "Kya hua hai use? Meri bachchi thik hai na? Mujhse baat bhi nehi kar rahi hai. Kitni baar call kiya hai maine! Ek baar bhi phone nehi uthaya usne!"
"Sahiba thik hai." Angad replied with a clipped tone as his gaze did not shift from Ajeet although Santosh's voice made his blood boil.
"Come to the matter at hand, Jiju." said Keerat. Angad nodded in response, "I don't want Sahiba to handle the shop any more. I want her to follow her own dreams rather than taking care of all of you. It is hardly her job to do so in the first place."
Ajeet looked surprised while Santosh looked stumped. It was Seerat's reaction that was the loudest.
"Yeh kaise keh diya tumne!?" She screeched in incredulity, "If she doesn't work then how will my wedding happen?"
Angad stiffened immediately. Ajeet's face turned pale and Santosh and Sukhi Tayi glared at her. Keerat was about to get up and slap her when Angad pulled her back to her seat.
"Vyaah tumhari hai toh kharcha bhi tumhara." Angad's voice was so cold that it made Seerat gulp in fear, "Brar khandan ki bahu tumhara vyaah ka kharcha kyu uthayigi?"
There was a hint of malice when Keerat taunted Seerat, her eyes red with anger. "Seerat ki aaukat nehi hai khud ka kharcha khud uthane ki Jiju."
"Kuch naya bolo, Keerat." Angad turned to his favourite sister-in-law completely dismissing Seerat, who fumed in humiliation and anger. Keerat shrugged in reply with a small smile tugging her lips.
"Puttarji..." Sukhi Tayi looked indecisive as she looked between the two, "I understand what you're trying to say and I agree to it as well but Keerat's college expenses and anything related to her is usually handled by Sahiba." There was a fondness in her voice as she said, "..While Sahiba can be understanding, she is also very stubborn especially when it comes to Keerat."
Keerat rolled her eyes waving off her unspoken question, "Uski chinta aap na karo Tayiji. Di ko mein sambhal lungi." She turned towards Angad with an impish smile and eyes filled with genuine respect, "Di zyada zid kare toh call karna Jiju. Unka dimaag thoda hila hua sa hai. Main thikane laga dungi."
Angad let out a genuine chuckle after a long while as he nodded in relief. Tackling Sahiba would be tough and he knew that.
Brar Mansion - At Night
The balcony overlooked the gorgeous garden in full bloom with various flowers and well maintained shrubs and bushes. As Sahiba glanced up at the dark inky sky, she smiled at the full moon that spread it's luminescence all around. There was a joy in the air that hasn't been there in the past few days. After a long while, she had felt so light. She felt stable where she was and there was finally a direction to an unknown road.
Her mobile ringtone rang in the air. Seeing Keerat's video call flash in the ID, she quickly received the call.
"Keerat!"
Keerat smiled at the happiness in her sister's voice. She teased, "Kyaa baat hai Di! Aap toh ek dam sitaro ki tarah chamak rahi ho! Jiju ka surprise itna acha laga kya!?"
"Badmash!" admonished Sahiba with a stern look before it melted into a jovial smile, "Bohot din baad itni khushi mehsoos ho rahi hai Keerat. Sapna sa lag raha hai."
"Toh sapne ko azadi samaj ke ji lo!" Keerat's soft voice held a tinge of melancholy but an overload of excitement as she questioned further, "Koi College choose kiya? Punjab mei choose maat karna! Aapke talent ke according Mumbai yeh fir Delhi acha rahega."
"Arey abhi kaha kuch decide kar payi." Sahiba spoke, taking a seat comfortably on the balcony couch, "Aaj hi toh pata chala ki mein apna sapna pura kar sakti hu. Waise soch rahi thi koi distant course karlu. I mean, media waaley bhi mujhe pehchante hai aab. Uske wajah se college life enjoy nehi kar paungi. Ulti sidhi khabre aa gayi toh problem ho jaygi yeha pe."
"Woh sab Jiju pe chor do! Aap bas decide karo. Aur haa, accha college choose karna. Waise aap abroad bhi jaa sakti ho!"
Before Sahiba could put a stop to Keerat's overexcited blabbering, her phone was taken from her. Looking up she noticed Veer scowling at Keerat. Glancing around she found an amused Angad sipping his coffee quietly as he watched the proceedings. Noticing her looking at him, he started to walk towards her.
She glanced back at Veer when she heard him say, "Parjai ki behena, thoda sa sharam karo. Abhi abhi vyaah hua hai inka aur tum unhe Paaji se kilometers dur bhejne ka soch rahi ho!"
Angad nearly tripped on his way towards them while Sahiba sputtered and looked around flustered. Angad slapped Veer on the head while scowling at a laughing Keerat as he took a seat beside a much more relaxed Sahiba who gave him an embarrassed smile.
"Arey Di ke chamche! Samjha karo...movies nehi dekhi kya? Distance creates love amongst couples."
Both of them giggled away after that making both their elder siblings scowl at them with pink faces.
"Oye murkho ke Sardar!" Angad called out, surprising Sahiba while Keerat chuckled and making Veer glare at him, "Iddhar aao!" As Veer sat down with a sheepish smile, Keerat glanced through the screen with a curious smile.
"Tum dono ko aur koi kam nehi hai?" Angad asked exasperated. Although within moments his tone of voice turned a bit mischievous, "Keerat, tujhe toh khush hona chahiye ki mainu tera help nehi laga teri Di ko manane mein. Itna bhi dimaag hila hua nehi hai teri di ka."
"K-Kya?" gasped Sahiba amidst their chuckles glaring at Keerat, "Keerat, teri khair nehi! Jiju ki chamchi banti jaa rahi hai tu!"
Angad gestured at Veer as he teased with a playful voice, "Haa toh tumhare paas bhi hai na Parjai ka chamcha." He gently bumped their shoulders, "We're even with one follower each."
Sahiba giggled at Keerat and Veer's mumbling disgruntled faces before they both chuckled as well in acceptance.
This was the scene that Inder and Manveer were faced with. It lightened their heart to see the children smile and laugh after the storm that had passed through them. Inder sneakily wrapped an arm around Manveer's shoulder, leading her away from their son's room as he whispered to her, "Let's go. Bachche khush hai toh hum gham kyu manaye?
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