Chapter 15

Chapter 13-Gurleen

The car ride home was quiet.Gurleen was too embarrassed to say anything to her companion who seemed fixated on the round.She blushed at the memory of the arboretum.Had they been there longer and not interrupted by Prabhjyot , she was positive she'd have kissed him.She couldn't help but mentally chastise herself for getting distracted.This attraction between the two of them was far more trouble than it's worth.

Bringing her Parjaai along had been a bad idea.The confrontation with Manveer had all but hammered home the point that no Babbar would ever be welcome under her roof.While her Parjaai had reassured her and apologized to her over the phone, her worries refused to abate.Her companion cleared his throat,

"Prabhjyot told me that your parjaai and Manveer parjaai got into an argument and suddenly inder veerji was also involved.Please don't mind me asking,but what is the reason behind the hatred ?"

She thought for a moment,

"Parjaai loved your brother ,Inder.He had promised to marry her ten years ago.They had even planned to elope but he stood her up.Her parents caught her and I'm not sure what exactly happened after that but somehow she ended up marrying my brother.She considers your parjaai the reason behind the whole fiasco,which in retrospect is probably stupid considering the fact that it was your brother who was at fault."

"So that's whom veerji was in love with when Daarji forced him into marriage,"

Gurleen's eyes widened

"Forced into marriage?"

Jaspal pulled over by the side of the road.It was probably better to get this over with.

"Daarji decided veerji's bride without consulting anyone.At that time,Manveer parjaai was in love with someone,whom I suspect was your veerji.

However he didn't have to do anything as that's when the scandal with your veerji happened. Manveer Parjaai's brother fled to the states,leaving her to bear the brunt."

Gurleen started piecing the story together with growing horror.She turned to him,

"Manveer Di's prospects were ruined and she was forced to marry Inderpal Singh who had been blackmailed himself.And Pammi parjaii had been wedded off to my brother,knowing the whole truth;which means if I'd kept my mouth shut that day,none of this would have happened.

Next to her, Jaspal looked uncomfortable .

"Where you the one who found out about your brother and parjaai's brother?"

"Yes, it was Baisakhi and momsie had decided to throw a huge party for all her business associates.I remember one of the guests asking me if I could fetch his daughter from the storeroom.I had thought that the request was oddly specific but brushed it off.I had gone in search of her only to find my brother and another man kissing,whom I later found out was Manveer Di's older brother, Vikrant Arora.I screamed and you know what happened next."

There was a palpable silence.She spoke again when it became unbearable.

"I wish I hadn't screamed.I wish I'd helped them hide or something.I hate myself more than anything.And do you know what the worst part is,no one was angry with me.Amrit veerji had come and apologized for scaring me.He'd wished I had found out in a different way,after they'd courted.He had hoped I would tag along on a date and get to know my brother in law ,tie him a rakhi,bully him for presents and what not.But I ended up destroying their lives."

The dam broke and she ended up crying.She felt Jaspal stroke her back softly as she sobbed .The rhythmic strokes helped her call down. After a while,when she'd settled down enough,they continued driving.He pulled up outside her house.

"Gurleen ji, we're home.I appreciate the trust you've shown in me and it's not something I'll throw away lightly.While your story did fill in many gaps,I believe we still have one final piece missing.I have to do my own investigation but once I get to the bottom of this,I propose we meet again.I'm afraid this is the only way my you and my Parjaai can get closer."

Gurleen nodded wordlessly,stunned.

"Thank you Jaspal ji for taking the trouble to drop me off."

He simply bowed his head and pulled out of the driveway.She waited till the car turned the bend and she could no longer see it.Turning around,she found herself attacked by three people.Her momsie,veerji and parjaai were hugging her and .....were they crying?

"Let's go inside everyone.I think a long talk is overdue."