To be or not to be-completed(epilogue) - Page 5

Part fourteen

Most of the performances had gone without a hitch.True to her word Ekam dazzled everyone and would undoubtedly become the star of the night,Kiara thought proudly.Soon it was Sahiba's turn; Angad paaji had refused to dance with her so it was a solo performance.

"Di, she is amazing.I saw her practice and it was mind blowing."Ekam whispered.

Kiara felt a stab of jealousy upon hearing Ekam praise Sahiba.Would she also leave her and go, preferring Sahiba's company?She technically was a better person than her.

"But nothing beats dancing with you di,"she continued,as if reading her thoughts,"you'll always be my dance partner."

Kiara playfully swatted at her,oddly touched.The music started and the two of them sat up, backs ram rod straight.Instead of the expected giddha beats,the notes of Chikni chameli wafted through the air.They exchanged horrified glances and turned to Gurleen mami who looked as troubled at them before turning to Daarji who was starting to turn red.She scowled when she saw her brother's smug expression.No doubt he had tried to sabotage Sahiba's performance in order to humiliate Angad paaji.She fervently prayed her mother wasn't part of this ;it was so juvenile and petty.

Onstage, Sahiba wasn't faring any better as she looked around confused and rather terrified.Beside her,Ekam had a rather determined expression on her face which left her with an uneasy feeling.Without any warning,her younger sister darted off to the stage and started dancing, urging Sahiba to copy the steps.Against her better judgement,Kiara shook off her heels and joined them.If they had to get into trouble,might as well do it together,she thought grimly.There was no way she was letting her baby sister bear the brunt of Daarji's wrath,and maybe Sahiba as well,just a little bit,her mind grudgingly admitted.

To her surprise, Gurleen mami joined them as well.She threw her a grateful smile.Daarji was rather fond of Mami and might not punish them too harshly for their misdemeanor.This served as an invitation for the rest of the family, including Shanaya and her parents,to join in.Daarji himself was grooving with Bebe,his frown replaced by a smile as bright as the sun.Even as the songs changed,Kiara didn't stop dancing.She had never felt this light before as she twirled around with Ekam.It felt as if all her problems had vanished somewhere into a void ,never to be seen again.

Their final song happened to be a waltz and they had to change partners every ten seconds of so.Soon,she was dancing with her brother.

"You changed the song, didn't you?"she hissed at him.

"Yes,but why are you so upset?I thought we were in this together.Mom has been wronged badly,so I need to make up for it."

"If your problem is with Daarji and Angad paaji,why are you dragging Sahiba into it?"

"Since when did you start worshipping the ground she walks on?"

Before she could answer,she was forced to switch partners and was soon facing Veer.

"I'm proud of you."

She should've rejoiced at his words yet she only felt numbness settling within her bones.Veer's anger towards her was justified and she knew for a fact that she hadn't exactly been nice to Sahiba.But he'd melted the moment she had helped Sahiba who was his favourite person.Where did that place her in his life?He hadn't bothered reprimanding her;like the rest of them,he had never tried to know what she thought and just ignored her existence as if she were some mannequin they could stare at and ignore at will .The only person who had reprimanded her and tried to knock some sense into her was Ekam.It was Ekam who had held her hand as she burnt all her sketches and threw away her supplies.And the only other person who had been kind to her was Gurleen mami, though she wasn't sure if it actually counted as mami was nice to virtually everyone.

What is the point of all this,she thought numbly as her new found happiness vanished in a puff of smoke.She was exhausted,trying to follow the rules and regulations which everyone seemed to discard at will.For once,she wanted to be loved for who she was,with all her flaws and darkness.But then, wasn't she damaged inside as well as outside?She still didn't understand why her little sister continued looking up to her, despite her classism, prejudice and dishonesty.

Perhaps it was a question for another day,she mused as she danced with Daarji this time.

Awhhhhhh

Jaspal and Gurleen

Kiara and ekam

Part fifteen

They sat on the floor of the storeroom,the one place where they wouldn't be disturbed by anyone.Sahiba Parjaai had given them permission to use it on the condition they allowed her to join in and not leave her behind with a drink Angad.While mummy and Kiara di had been initially uncomfortable,the mention of a drunk Angad sent them scrambling as they virtually dragged Sahiba with them to the store room.Ekam took a look at the faces around the circle.Parjaai looked curious while di seemed lost;her mother looked ready to throw up.

Ekam took a deep breath,"So, before we start,I think we should have a small recap session for Parjaai's benefit."she said,gesturing to Sahiba who was starting to feel very confused.

"Di,will you do the honours ?"

Kiara rolled her eyes and launched into a succinct history of the events bygone and her own past.Sahiba eyes widened with each detail and was dumbstruck by the time the story had ended.Observing her Parjaai 's reactions,Ekam finally had an epiphany.Were they underselling whatever had happened? The way Kiara di was able to summarise her assault didn't sit well with her.Deciding it was a discussion for another day,she turned back to the gathering and directly addressed her mother.

"Mummy, it's your turn to come clean.Take as much time as you want but remember,no one's leaving the room without hearing the story.And I know how hard it is to talk about it,so I've brought along something which might help."

She brought out a familiar looking decanter from the folds of her skirt.Her mother groaned.

"Ekam,this is exactly what got me into trouble the first place."

"Funny you call your own assault 'trouble ',mami."Kiara quipped with a grin.

Ekam glared at her.

"Mummy, we're here to protect you.So you may drink as much as you want and no one will be able to get to you.But if you're that insistent,you are most welcome to tell your story sobre."

Her mother sighed and grabbed the decanter and took a swig.She started coughing,her eyes watering.

"God,this stuff is horrible."

"Really?It can't be that bad."Kiara took a swig as well before dissolving into tears herself.

To Ekam's horror,the two of them passed the decanter back and forth till it was empty.

Sahiba whispered,"Is this a good idea?They won't end up poisoning themselves or anything right?"

Ekam shrugged.

"Bebe drank three fourths of that decanter and made it through hospital without event.And she's over seventy now.These two are worse than her.While Di's penchance for partying is second only to Garry paaji's, do not let mummy's innocent looks fool you.That woman can outdrink every grown man in Punjab and still remain sobre."

Sahiba looked at them in awe before saying sadly.

"They haven't left any for us."

"Never trust those two with a drink,they never share. That's why I got another bottle for us."

"Thank you Ekam "said Sahiba,hugging her.

"I normally don't drink,but I need something strong if I wish to hear mummy's story.And like civilized people, we'll drink from glasses and not straight from the decanter."she said,directing a disapproving glance at her mother and sister who were giggling.

"Bottoms up",the two of them managed to empty two glasses in quick succession.

Ekam felt woozy and decided to call it quits.She stopped Sahiba from drinking ,unsure of her alcohol tolerance and corked the decanter.

"Enough"

Then she stood up and walked to the middle of the room,feeling extremely happy and whistled, catching everyone's attention.

"Listen,what we hear in this room stays in this room.Mummy ,start the story."

She was surprised by her own sobriety.Perhaps she had inherited her mother's alcohol tolerance. Anyhow,she had no desire to test it's limits. Someone had to be sobre to handle this bunch.

Her mother blinked slowly,

"Do you want a story?"

Her mother was as drunk as a sailor.Papa and Daarji were going to kill her.

"Yes mummy."

"Alright puttar.What kind of story do you want? Comedy,horror,romance...."

"Tell us a funny story mami."di interrupted.

"Chupp Kiara!Chachi, I want a romantic story."Sahiba yelled.

"Who are you to yell at me?"

"I'm your parjaai."

"No you're not,neither does Angad consider you his wife nor does Manveer mami her bahu.Why are you so eager to please people who treat you like dirt?"

"But Daarji..."

"Forget about daarji.He's a senior idiot who's ruined everyone's lives Don't you value yourself at all?You have everything to make it big in the world of art.Your art is beautiful, you're a good person,unlike me who is just trash."

Kiara di started crying and was soon joined by Sahiba who hugged her.Before long,both were clinging to each other,sobbing as if the world was about to Thankfully,her mother was too lost in her own world to pay them any heed and console them.Ekam sighed,it was going to be a long night.

loved the way kiara told sahiba that she has her art!!

waiting for the next part

Kiara is supportive in a mean way

Still trying to figure out who the attacker is

Part sixteen

It took a while to console Kiara and Sahiba.Utterly spent,Ekam turned to her mother,

"Mummy,you will tell us the story of your assault.No one's leaving until the whole story's out.And one more thing everyone,what we hear in this room,stays in the room.Got it?"

"Yes boss!"said Sahiba ,saluting her drunkenly.

Kiara hiccupped and said,her speech slurring,

"But Ekam is a girl.Boss is only for boys."

"Then what do we call her?"her Parjaai asked,closer to tears "We can't leave her nameless."

"Let's ask maami.Maami is her parents and parents name their children.Maami,what is Ekam's name?"

Ekam took several deep breaths to calm herself down.She regretted being sobre for the first time in her life.She let out a loud whistle.

"Everyone except for mummy,just shut up!"

Turning to her mother,

"Mummy.Story.Now."

To her relief,her mother wasn't too drunk to comprehend her and she nodded.

"Where do I start? It was the day of my engagement with your father Ekam."

She was rather nervous,smoothing over her skirts several times.Marriage was not something to be dismissed off easily even if the man in question had professed his undying love to her,albeit indirectly,so she wasn't exactly sure about the nature of his feelings.As of picking on her restlessness,he gently squeezed her hand in reassurance as they faced the cameras together.Thankfully no one noted it and berated them.

After the ceremony,all the ladies in the family gathered together to chat.Soon they were singing and dancing.And true to her word ,bebe had snuck in alcohol as well. They were staying the night at Brar mansion upon bebe's invitation,so they didn't have to worry about driving safely or staying up late.Everyone was having a lot of fun,even her future sister in laws who seemed to have buried the hatchet for the night.

Something seemed to be different about the alcohol served .

"Bebe,what exactly is this?It burns a lot."she asked.

Bebe leaned in with a conspirational smile,

"It's my special concoction and the recipe is a secret."

She raised an eyebrow,"Does daarji know about it?"

Looking around to see if anyone was eavesdropping, bebe whispered,"No one knows about this.And don't you go around telling anyone alright."

She nodded with a laugh and the older woman kissed her on her forehead.

"I hope the two of you remain happy for the rest of your lives."

She decided to stop drinking after two glasses,already feeling out of sorts.While she did have a high tolerance,she had no desire to drink herself senseless.She wished to be sobre enough to atleast get herself to bed without causing scene.It wasn't long before she developed a pounding headache.The concoction clearly didn't sit well with her,so she decided to call it a night and excused herself.Brar mansion was eerily quiet when she entered and wandered the corridors in a daze.Soon,she found herself lost amidst it's many wings.

Suddenly,the hairs on the back of her neck stood up straight.She felt as if someone was watching her.Whipping around hoping to catch them,she found nothing but thin air.She started walking faster,hoping to get to her room or even her fiance's quickly.That's when she heard the footsteps.Too scared to turn back ,she hastened only for the footsteps to keep pace.Then she started to run when a hand caught hold of her hair and pulled her back.

Her mother zoned off,staring into space,a blank look in her eyes.Her eyes were surprisingly dry which worried Ekam greatly.Her own eyes were wet with tears as she listened to her mother's harrowing tale.

"Mummy,"she whispered,"did you see your attacker?",dreading the answer as she started joining the dots. Suddenly,her mother's hostility and reaction to her father's touch made a lot more sense.

Her mother slowly turned,speaking as if from a great distance away.

"I don't remember his face."

Ekam blinked;of all the revelations,this was not she'd expected.

"But I dream of it every night.And the face changes everytime.Sometimes it's your father, sometimes Inder veerji, sometimes Yashraj ji and even daarji."

Ekam felt hollow.The thought that one of the men in the family was capable of such heinous acts was puke worthy.Sahiba parjaai staggered over and hugged her mother tight,as if hoping to give her some strength while Kiara di just stared at them shell shocked.She came up to Ekam and put her arms around her, allowing the younger girl to cry.The sight of her tears seemed to snap her mother out of whatever reverie she was in and she hugged her as well.Di retreated and went to Parjaai who started consoling her.

"Ekam,"mummy whispered,"Don't worry about a thing.I won't let anything if this sort happen to you.I swear I will always protect you."

It only made Ekam cry harder.

"You're not supposed to be worried about me now.You were the one who was attacked,even if it was twenty five years ago.We're the ones supposed to be comforting you.And I'm sorry about all those times I called you overprotective."

"Puttar, I'm truly alright, really."

"No,you're just drunk."

They sat in silence for a while .

"Mummy?"

"Hmm"

"There's more to the story isn't it?"

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"Yes.I want the truth once and for all,no matter how painful it is."

"Veer was conceived that night."

Originally posted by: themasked

Part sixteen

It took a while to console Kiara and Sahiba.Utterly spent,Ekam turned to her mother,

"Mummy,you will tell us the story of your assault.No one's leaving until the whole story's out.And one more thing everyone,what we hear in this room,stays in the room.Got it?"

"Yes boss!"said Sahiba ,saluting her drunkenly.

Kiara hiccupped and said,her speech slurring,

"But Ekam is a girl.Boss is only for boys."

"Then what do we call her?"her Parjaai asked,closer to tears "We can't leave her nameless."

"Let's ask maami.Maami is her parents and parents name their children.Maami,what is Ekam's name?"

Ekam took several deep breaths to calm herself down.She regretted being sobre for the first time in her life.She let out a loud whistle.

"Everyone except for mummy,just shut up!"

Turning to her mother,

"Mummy.Story.Now."

To her relief,her mother wasn't too drunk to comprehend her and she nodded.

"Where do I start? It was the day of my engagement with your father Ekam."

She was rather nervous,smoothing over her skirts several times.Marriage was not something to be dismissed off easily even if the man in question had professed his undying love to her,albeit indirectly,so she wasn't exactly sure about the nature of his feelings.As of picking on her restlessness,he gently squeezed her hand in reassurance as they faced the cameras together.Thankfully no one noted it and berated them.

After the ceremony,all the ladies in the family gathered together to chat.Soon they were singing and dancing.And true to her word ,bebe had snuck in alcohol as well. They were staying the night at Brar mansion upon bebe's invitation,so they didn't have to worry about driving safely or staying up late.Everyone was having a lot of fun,even her future sister in laws who seemed to have buried the hatchet for the night.

Something seemed to be different about the alcohol served .

"Bebe,what exactly is this?It burns a lot."she asked.

Bebe leaned in with a conspirational smile,

"It's my special concoction and the recipe is a secret."

She raised an eyebrow,"Does daarji know about it?"

Looking around to see if anyone was eavesdropping, bebe whispered,"No one knows about this.And don't you go around telling anyone alright."

She nodded with a laugh and the older woman kissed her on her forehead.

"I hope the two of you remain happy for the rest of your lives."

She decided to stop drinking after two glasses,already feeling out of sorts.While she did have a high tolerance,she had no desire to drink herself senseless.She wished to be sobre enough to atleast get herself to bed without causing scene.It wasn't long before she developed a pounding headache.The concoction clearly didn't sit well with her,so she decided to call it a night and excused herself.Brar mansion was eerily quiet when she entered and wandered the corridors in a daze.Soon,she found herself lost amidst it's many wings.

Suddenly,the hairs on the back of her neck stood up straight.She felt as if someone was watching her.Whipping around hoping to catch them,she found nothing but thin air.She started walking faster,hoping to get to her room or even her fiance's quickly.That's when she heard the footsteps.Too scared to turn back ,she hastened only for the footsteps to keep pace.Then she started to run when a hand caught hold of her hair and pulled her back.

Her mother zoned off,staring into space,a blank look in her eyes.Her eyes were surprisingly dry which worried Ekam greatly.Her own eyes were wet with tears as she listened to her mother's harrowing tale.

"Mummy,"she whispered,"did you see your attacker?",dreading the answer as she started joining the dots. Suddenly,her mother's hostility and reaction to her father's touch made a lot more sense.

Her mother slowly turned,speaking as if from a great distance away.

"I don't remember his face."

Ekam blinked;of all the revelations,this was not she'd expected.

"But I dream of it every night.And the face changes everytime.Sometimes it's your father, sometimes Inder veerji, sometimes Yashraj ji and even daarji."

Ekam felt hollow.The thought that one of the men in the family was capable of such heinous acts was puke worthy.Sahiba parjaai staggered over and hugged her mother tight,as if hoping to give her some strength while Kiara di just stared at them shell shocked.She came up to Ekam and put her arms around her, allowing the younger girl to cry.The sight of her tears seemed to snap her mother out of whatever reverie she was in and she hugged her as well.Di retreated and went to Parjaai who started consoling her.

"Ekam,"mummy whispered,"Don't worry about a thing.I won't let anything if this sort happen to you.I swear I will always protect you."

It only made Ekam cry harder.

"You're not supposed to be worried about me now.You were the one who was attacked,even if it was twenty five years ago.We're the ones supposed to be comforting you.And I'm sorry about all those times I called you overprotective."

"Puttar, I'm truly alright, really."

"No,you're just drunk."

They sat in silence for a while .

"Mummy?"

"Hmm"

"There's more to the story isn't it?"

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"Yes.I want the truth once and for all,no matter how painful it is."

"Veer was conceived that night."

The attacker's face changes everytime 🥺😲...

The dream is really bad.....

I want to know the whole story....

❤️🥹

Waiting for your next chapter......

Part seventeen

Ekam stared at her mother.

"Are you joking?"

"No puttar, I'm being absolutely serious here."

She finally started laughing till the laughter once again turned to tears.Her mother simply patted her back.

"Does Veer know?"Kiara asked.

"No,he doesn't.And how can I tell him?Veer Puttar, there's a chance that your father is not your father?"

"Good point mami."Di quipped.

Ekam was starting to get frustrated.

"What on earth is wrong with you people?How can you casually discuss this as if you're deciding the menu for dinner?"she yelled.

"Ekam's right.Your reactions are all wrong."Sahiba came to her defence." Do you remember how I reacted when Angad tried to rrr......"

"Slowly Sahiba,it will take time but you'll get it ."her di cheered her on.

"Rape me?There I said it!"

She looked so proud of herself at having admitted it that Ekam felt her heart break.

Sahiba continued,"I cried a lot and I was very angry.I even yelled at him.Why are you two joking about it?"

"Because we don't know who attacked is,simple.It's not as if we can be angry at every man in the house,can we?"Kiara said with a laugh.

"I know right,"her mummy concurred solemnly,"Imagine being so mad with Daarji for twenty five years that you only give him makkhi ki roti without the sarson da saag."

She promptly burst into peals of laughter.It seemed the alcohol had finally hit her.All three of them seriously needed help,Ekam thought to herself as she settled in a corner watching the three women giggling to themselves,with the occasional half strangled sob.Unable to bear the onslaught of thoughts, she considered drinking herself to a stupor but remembered her mother's story.Someone had to be sobre in the event the attacker decides to strike again.But then Kiara di and Sahiba Parjaai were sobre when assaulted.It really didn't make much of a difference did it?

A loud knock on the door made her jump.Heart pounding wildly,she gingerly opened it to find a smiling bebe,flanked by daarji who looked as if he wanted to be anywhere but here and a very worried looking papa.She found herself unable to look at the men in the same way again.

"Are you all having a drinking party without me?",bebe asked in a hurt voice.

"You've already had a peg which is more than enough."

Daarji tried cajoling her as she tried to pick up the half full decanter.In desperation,he grabbed the decanter and tipped everything into his mouth.Ekam heard her father groan.

"Papa, judging by your reaction,is it safe to assume that daarji and alcohol don't mix well?"

He sighed and nodded.

She gulped and watched the chaos unfold.As daarji struck up a conversation with Bebe,it didn't take long for the argument to become heated.

"Jabjyot,do you not love me?"

"I do ,from the very bottom of my heart.My dreams are nothing without your soft caresses.But alas,we can never be together for this cruel world won't let us be."

"I am Akaal Singh Brar, Jabjyot,not Naman Gupta."daarji said, with tears in his eyes.

"I know I haven't been a good husband to you as I never let you take any decisions or gave you shy autonomy.You are but a caged bird trapped in a gilded cage and I'm your captor.I know my love for you can never compensate for the injustice I did to you.But rest assured,I won't keep you tied to me longer.Go forth and live happily.That's all I ask if you."

"Daarji, you're stupider than I thought."Sahiba butted in.

"It's not stupider, it's more stupid"a rather annoyed Kiara corrected her.

Sahiba simply stuck her tongue out at her and the two started bickering about syntax while a befuddled daarji looked on.

"Daarji,"mummy softly called out.

"Even now, you're not giving bebe any autonomy.You're not listening to her.Why don't you just let her speak her heart out for once?And in case you want to know,Naman Gupta died forty years ago."

Ekam wasn't surprised that her mother knew about Naman Gupta.No doubt bebe had confided in her at some point of time.

Bebe just sighed sadly.

"What's the point Gurleen? He's forty years too late.I loved your daarji with all my heart,yet what did I get in return?A man who writes another's name on his hand in spite?Whether I leave him or not,it doesn't make a difference anymore.What's the point in gaining my voice now when my whole life has been wasted."

Daarji looked upon his wife, distraught.

"Won't you give me another chance?"

"No, it's too late.I'll remain Jabjyot Kaur Brar till I turn to dust,voiceless and songless."

*******************************************************

Papa had entailed Veer paaji's help in getting daarji and bebe back to their room to rest.Taking one look at them he'd agreed without protest.Sahiba Parjaai and Kiara di decided to have a sleepover and kicked the three of them out.Ekam observed her parents as they stood in the middle of the empty corridor.

"Ekam puttar,are you alright?"papa asked her.

Unable to meet his eyes, she simply nodded even as her mother's words echoed in her head.No matter how much she craved the comfort her father had to offer,she had to remain strong for her mother's and sister's sakes.

He frowned and asked,"I know it's been a long and tiring day,why don't you go back to your room and rest?We have to be up early for the gharoli tomorrow."

"I'll take care of your mother, don't worry."

She resolutely shook her head,panic seizing her.Her mother was intoxicated,anyone could take advantage of her.Sahiba and Kiara di had locked the room so they were safe .Now she had to protect her mother at all costs.Realising her fragile emotional state,he nodded wearily.

"You can sleep with your mother in our room.I'll be in the study."

And he walked off.Ekam's heart broke a little more.In one night,her whole family had fallen apart and she wasn't sure if the broken shards could be fixed so easily.

Part eighteen

Kiara found herself nursing a terrible headache as they gathered for the gharoli ceremony.Her fellow drinkers ,Ekam, Sahiba and mami didn't fare well either.Infact,Ekam looked positively green.It felt as if the world were laughing at her when she saw Bebe dancing around in glee.Why did they have to suffer hangovers while the person responsible for that concoction,the one who had outdrunk them the previous night,got to frolick around without a care in the world.She however,did feel a sense of vindication as she spotted an extremely miserable looking daarji.Bebe had driven some home truths after all.

Smirking,she felt happier when Sahiba openly refused Angad's company and chose to stand with her.Soon they were joined by Ekam and Gurleen mami.They drew little attention to themselves and the ceremony was completed smoothly.Kiara knew she ought to be more excited and emotional about her brother's wedding but she couldn't find it in herself to care.Garry was a commitment phobe and would probably grow tired of Shanaya anyways.Her soon to be Parjaai was happily walking into a trap,she thought wryly.

"Mami,when are you planning to tell Veer?"

"I honestly don't know what to do."

"What if he finds out from someone else ?"

Her mami looked troubled.

"I really don't know how to tell him.And I don't know how he'll take it.What if he reacts in anger?"

Kiara thought for a while.Mami did have a point.If he were to find out about their 'experiences',he wouldn't hesitate to act in anger.Behind his calm demeanor and sugary sweet personality,lay a monster.She had seen it first hand the day Ekam had come back home from college bruised and cut up from a beating .Veer hadn't wasted a second.He had tracked down the boys and thrashed them black and blue with hockey sticks.Only Daarji's intervention had saved him from prison.

Ekam was no better, her sharp tongue often got her into trouble with people twice her size and she never backed down despite the damage they did to her.It had always eluded her as to how these two were born to parents as calm and unruffled as Gurleen mami and Jaspal mamu.But then,mamu had caused his fair share of trouble while in college himself.

Then she remembered the secret about Veer's parentage which was a double edged sword.He would end up hurt either ways,she thought with a pang.On one hand,if mamu wasn't his father,their family unit would remain intact but he'd become illegitimate.On the other hand if mamu was his father,well.....

Either ways he was a product of a rape; there was no other way to put it.

Suddenly she giggled.The other three looked at her,t heir expressions a mix of concern and puzzlement.

"I'm sorry but I just had a thought.What if Daarji was Veer's father?That would make Veer Ekam's uncle."

"Di,how could you joke about it?"

"And he'd be Chachi's son and brother-in-law."Sahiba added with a peal of laughter.

Finally mami and Ekam broke and burst into laughter.

"What are you laughing about?"asked a suspicious looking Veer who had siddled up.

"What if you were Ekam's uncle?"

He looked at them in horror.

"I'm thankful that God has spared me that fate."

As he fled,the four of them burst into fits if giggles again.

"Did you see his expression?"

"He looked terrified."

Soon bebe announced the end of the ceremony and the guests started leaving for lunch.The four of them looked at each other and nodded ; loading their plates with food,they convened in the storeroom where no one would bother to look for them and sat in a circle.

"Before we start , let's just eat up.The food looks especially good today."

All of them tucked in except mami and Ekam.

"What's wrong?"Kiara asked through a mouthful of paneer.

"It keeps bugging me."Ekam muttered."I want to kill that man."

Mami looked at her sadly.

Kiara on the other hand felt chills,remembering Veer's words.Whether he was mamu's biological son or not,Ekam was definitely her father's daughter.

"Ekam,first eat,then rant."Sahiba told her firmly."If we want to catch the culprit,we need your brain to function."

"CATCH THE CULPRIT?"Kiara and her mami looked exclaimed in unison .

"What are you saying puttar?"

"Chachi,I know how distressing this can be for you and Kiara but a rapist never strikes once.And Ekam,judging by your past experiences, you might be the next target."

"Ekam?!"Kiara was ready to throttle her little sister for concealing such important information.

"I didn't want to worry you all."she whispered,looking guiltily at her mother,who had turned pale.

Without saying a single word, Gurleen got up and left the room.Sahiba made to follow her but Kiara stopped her.

"Give her some time,she needs to let out some time before she can have a civil conversation.And if you're worried about safety, she's sobre and the house is filled with people.No one in their right minds would try anything.Ekam,eat up quickly.The sooner we catch that....man, the better."

They ate in complete silence.

Really enjoying your story... wonder who is Veer's real father!?

Also would it be possible to add like a scene of Angad and Sahiba?