Situation: VeerAt suspects Seerat of her ill intentions. Angad and Sahiba are baffled by the odd behavior of Seerat, but are trying to find a tactful way to handle her.
Title Inspired By:
Yeh raakhi bandhan hai aisa
Jaise chanda aur kiran ka
Jaisa badari aur pavan ka
Jaise dharati aur gagan kaa
Yeh raakhi bandhan hai aisa
Night before Rakhi:
Keerat’s phone rang with the name “Lallu Lal” flashing. She closed her bedroom doors before picking up the call.
“Hello Lallu Lal. Bolo kya baat hai?” Keerat spoke.
“Oh ji Keerat Pehelwan! Ek vadda siyappa ho gaya hai ghar mein. Bhabhi Angad Veer ji se baat nahin kar rahi.” Veer divulged.
“Zaroor Angad Jiju ne kuch kiya hoga. Sahiba Di thode na waise gussa hongi.” Keerat shared her opinion.
“Arre Keerat, Veer ji ke wajah ke se nahin hua yeh siyappa…yeh tumhari Seerat Di ke wajah se hua hai.” Veer clarified.
“Ab Cindy Baby ne eisa kya kar diya?” Keerat frowned.
“Dekh, mujhe theek se nahin maloom, kyunki main mian-biwi ki baatein bahar se suni thi. Par eisa lag raha ki Seerat Bhabhi Angad Veer ji ke kareeb aana chahti hai. Aur Sahiba Bhabhi keh rahi thi ki Veer ji ko unhein Seerat Bhabhi ko limits samjhana hoga, jab haddein par ho jaayengi, tab samjhaoge?” Veer recounted everything he heard.
“Theek hai, mere paas ek idea hai, Aati hoon kal tere Brar Mansion. Aur sun, jab main wahaan aaoungi, toh bewakoofon ki tarah baithe mat rahna. Nikal jaana mere aane se pehle.” Keerat warned him.
Raksha Bandhan @ Brar Mansion:
Sahiba had gotten up earlier than usual, and made sure that the food was prepared in honor of the Brars sisters, Ekam and Kiara. Even though if the daughters were not able to be here, at least everyone could savor the girls’ favorite dishes, and feel as if they were present amongst them.
Sahiba had also decorated thalis for the men of the house, as her Phua saas Jasleen and Prabhjyot wouldn't bother. She had decorated Daarji's thal with rakhis from his cousin-sisters, and muh-boli behans, Inder Sir’s and Jaspal Chacha’s, and Angad and Veer’s. Sahiba also had bought a rakhi for Veer. Even though Veer was her devar, he had always acted like a protective little brother to her. For her, Keerat and Veer were the same, there was no difference in the affection she held for them both.
Once everyone had assembled in tha hall, the rakhi thals were presented in order of seniority. Manveer and Gurleen helped tie Daarji’s rakhis to him. Soon came Inder Sir and Jaspal Chacha’s turn. Both Jasleen and Prabhjyot came forward to complete the rituals. Prabhjyot did make a snide remark or two on Sahiba while Jasleen showered unnecessary praises on her bahu Seerat who stood in a corner with a constipated look. Seerat wanted to stay aloof in her little bubble.
Angad still hadn’t come down, as he was running late. Getting permission from Bebe, Sahiba brought forward Veer’s thali, and helped tie the rakhis to him. She brought her own rakhi and asked, “Veer ji, kya main bhi apni taraf se aapko rakhi bandh sakti hoon? Aapne hamesha mere saath ek chhote bhai ki rahe hain. Mujhe khushi hogi agar aap accept karein.”
Daarji and Bebe were touched seeing how caring Sahiba was. Gurleen chirped up, “Veer puttar, yeh toh badi garv ki baat hai. Bhabhi bhi badi bahan jaisi hoti hai. Bandhwa le Puttar.”
Angad who was coming down the stairs, too had heard Sahiba’s request. She’s so thoughtful. Rabba yeh eise hi hamesha smile karti rahe. Yeh jab smile karti hai, toh main bhi khush rehta hoon.
After Veer tied his rakhi, his phone beeped with a message, seeing which he discreetly and stealthily excused himself. Soon, Keerat was ushered into Brar Mansion along with Kulcha.
“Sat Sri Akaal aap sabhi ko. Aaj rakhi ke tyohar par Kulcha aur main rakhi bandhwane aayein hain Sahiba Di se, aur agar aap sab ko eitraz na ho toh Angad Jiju ko main bhi bandhna chahungi.” Keerat spoke.
Angad, who had made his way down to the hall, was pleasantly surprised by Keerat’s request. Bebe consented while Manveer held her usual grimaces.
“Haan Keerat, tum bhi mere liye jaisi Ekam aur Kiara, waisi hi ho. Aao, bandho mujhe.” Angad forwarded his hand.
“Jiju aapne joh tedhi lomadi wali video bheji thi, mast thi!” Keerat alluded to Angad’s video of Sahiba when she was frantically pacing to get her exam results. Sahiba gave a mock angry look at Angad who was grinning from ear to ear.
While Keerat was tying rakhi on Angad, Sahiba tied a rakhi on Kulcha’s wrist and affectionately fed him sweets.
Angad playfully stuffed Keerat’s mouth, while the rest of the family looked on amusingly.
Keerat looked around, and locked eyes on Seerat. “Cindy Baby err I mean Seerat Di, why are you standing in a corner, milogi nahin mujhse?” Saying so , she pulled Seerat out of her corner.
“Haan nahin toh, bata kaisi hai tu Keerat?” Seerat made small talk being in the eyes of the whole family.
“Dekh, hum dono behenein hain, aur aaj ka din humein thoda khalta bhi hai kyunki humara koi bhai nahin. Toh kyun na, tu bhi Angad Jiju ko ek rakhi bandh de. Yeh bhi toh humara bhai jaise hain.” Keerat chirped.
Keerat’s words elicited a wide range of reactions amongst those present in the hall. If Seerat felt oddly uncomfortable and nauseated by the thought of having Angad as an adoptive brother; Manveer and Bebe’s eyes lit up. Veer, who was watching all this in hiding, was smirking. Needless to say, Angad and Sahiba found Keerat’s idea a diplomatic way to counter Seerat’s unwanted lustful advances.
“Arre Keerat, yeh toh vadda hi achha idea hai. Aa na Seerat Di, bandh de Angad ko rakhi. Waise bhi tu bhi kuch na kuch gifts lekar aati rehti hai Angad ke liye, shirt ho ya wind chimes.” Sahiba enthusiastically approached Seerat with Angad.
“Waise it’s a good idea, I think. Angad waise bhi ek rishte mein jeth hai aur dusre mein chhoti behan ka pati. Kyun, aapko sahi laga Bebe?” Manveer turned to Bebe.
“Haan puttar, Angad tere bhai jaisa hai. Phir isne toh vaada bhi diya hai tujhe ki woh teri dekh bhaal karega. Akhir bhai bhi toh eihi karte hain.” Bebe said.
Only a very perceptive person could be able to read through Jabjyot’s mind. She had always been careful to camouflage her thoughts. She hated to admit it, but ever since the odd hug that Seerat gave to Angad, and Garry’s allegations of infidelity, Bebe had been worried. She could not share her worries with Manveer, because Manveer could not handle the situation carefully; and Gurleen was just too pure to even get involved in such messes. However, if an opening came where she could influence discreetly, then she would definitely do it. She had been seeing the blossoming relationship between Angad and Sahiba. If things needed a nudge, she was ready to get Brar Sahab to sanction a “business trip” for the young couple. Jabjyot knew that if Angad and Sahiba’s relationship was built on a solid foundation, then nothing could affect it.
“Arre Keerat, tu bhi kuch bhi bolti hai. Jhalli hai ekdum.” Seerat did a mock rebuking, and tried to escape.
“Koi baat nahin Seerat. Aao tum bhi bandh do rakhi mujhe.” Angad forwarded his wrist towards Seerat. He too wanted to put a stop to Seerat’s immoral behavior, and was trying to find effective ways without ruining her reputation in front of the whole family.
Poor Seerat, she was cornered by everyone. This was going against everything she was striving for. How could she have any amorous feelings for Angad after she ties a rakhi to him? She was still thinking when Gurleen came forward with a rakhi and gave it in Seerat’s hands, “Lai Puttar, bandh de.”
Seerat was left with no choice, even Jasleen was not helping her. Usually in sticky situations, her “Mummy ji” usually found a way out for her. Today, if she backs out, everyone would ask why, and then believe that everything Garry had said about her. On the other hand if she ties a rakhi to Angad, it means accepting him as a brother; and then holding lustful feelings for him would go in incestious territory which could prove to be too much for her own imagination.
Jasleen, too, knew what Seerat was thinking, but there was no way she was going to go against the family’s popular demand for Seerat. If it was for her own children, she would have, but Seerat was not worth it for her to take extra burden.
Prabhjyot’s comment, “Seerat, tu kya soch rahi itni dair se?” followed by Hansraj Mausa’s snide comment to Prabhjyot, “Darling, usse toh saali aadhi gharwali wala scene chahiye na ki bhai- behan wala. Usmein maza kya hai?” brought Seerat back to face her unavoidable reality of tying a rakhi on Angad.
Seerat reluctantly tied the rakhi on Angad. Veer entered the scene after he knew there was no threat to him getting a rakhi from Keerat. He and Keerat were videotaping Seerat’s unwilling acceptance of Angad as a brother!
While Seerat looked depressed, everyone else was beaming with joy. Sahiba actually sighed in relief with Angad.
Sahiba, Keerat tum dono ko main dekh loongi - vowed Seerat to herself.
