Chapter 24

Chapter 21-Amrit

"Gurleen"

He stood at the door to her room,hesitating.She frowned and beckoned him in.

"What's wrong veerji?"

"I saw the paper this morning."

"Are you disappointed?"

"No,not at all."

Pammi had managed to wrestle the truth from her,not once believing in this new found romance.She really did know his sister the best.The whole idea of this farce did not bode him well.

"Are you sure about this?You don't have to go through with this engagement just because we agreed.Mummy,Pammi and I are ready to support you through this.You are more important than our reputation ."

"Veerji, it's alright.I know you'll support me no matter what.But unfortunately,we need this engagement to work.I've talked to Jaspal ji.They're as desperate us."

Desperately enough to resort to blackmail, he thought viciously.He held his tongue for his younger sister's sake,against his better judgement.His mother had no desire to invite Gurleen's hatred.Akaal Singh Brar was a piece of work ,and they had the misfortune of getting entangled with him.

This was all his fault.The company 's financial woes, his collapsed marriage,a lack of Babbar heirs;he had managed to destroy everything by not being forthcoming.His mother had been furious when the affair with Vikrant had been revealed.

"Couldn't you have at least informed us that you were dating the boy?We would've been prepared for such contingencies.And couldn't you have been more discreet?" She had yelled at him for hours before collapsing into sobs and apologizing over and over again.They had to sedate her.

Deciding to man up and attempt damage control he had tried distancing himself from the whole mess,marrying Parminder.He had ended up breaking his own heart and Vikrant's as well.His lover had been forced into conversion therapy ,enduring isolation for months at a time before he had attempted suicide.His scared parents had finally seen sense and shipped him off to the states where he had settled down with a nice young man who loved him unconditionally. They had two children.

At home,things had gotten worse.Parminder hated him for the way he had ditched Vikrant for the sake of his reputation .She had moved into the guest bedroom and whatever relationship they could've had had bitten the dust.Gurleen had started to struggle with her identity as news about their father started to make daily rounds.His mother had refused to get involved,the hurt and betrayal unable to overshadow the sliver of affection she had for the girl especially when her first born had hurt so much.

Once again,he had done the only thing he knew,he had run away.This time he threw himself into the business for which he had no aptitude, nearly running it to the ground before his mother intervened and had him kicked out.Numb with frustration and worthlessness,he had turned to alcohol,which in turn had only compounded his despondence.

The vicious cycle had finally come to an end the day Vikrant had left for the states.Gurleen had chased after him all the way to the airport,hoping he'd stay behind,only to meet with an accident on the way .

He still remembered Pammi's frantic call ,the rush to the hospital,only to be met with her battered body,her blood dripping all over Pammi as she sobbed over the broken child.There had been a scene outside the operation theatre with Pammi berating him and his mother in the strongest and crudest words she could muster,grief paving way to anger.

He had sat next to his mother in silence when the doctors pronounced Gurleen stable and Pammi rushed in to see her.

"Mummy, we've messed up badly.We cannot continue like this.Gurleen nearly died today.We should have talked her out of her guilt a long time ago."

"No wonder she likes Pammi the best.",his mother had mused.

He had become furious,

"Really mummy?Is that all that you can think of?How can you blame her for loving you less when you yourself barely gave her a glance?This is not about you.It's about Gurleen.While she owes you nothing,you owe her the world,as the person who adopted her.Whether you like it or not,this is the family we've been given,we have to learn to be happy together."

He had stormed off into the ward,where his wife and sister were waiting.Pammi had flashed a grudging smile; she'd overheard the outburst.

He now looked at his little sister,conscientiously sorting out her paperwork .

I may have broken my own heart, but I'm thankful for the people who have been sent to patch it up.No matter what happens, I'll be there for you Gurleen .Akaal Singh Brar will rue the day he makes you cry. He vowed to himself.

Jaspal Singh Brar was their wild card.While he did have a blemish free history,even the best of men had monsters hidden within them.Unless Gurleen herself fell in love with the man and he with her, there was no way he'd let this engagement take place.He'd have to talk to mummy first and convince her to tell Gurleen the truth.If the business went bankrupt,so be it,one less burden on them.