Chapter 21
"Geet didi, please hurry! We need to meet Gurwinderji before I have to go to school."
"I'm coming, Rajji," replied Geet as she adjusted her dupatta before following Rajji out of the room.
The girls looked carefully to make sure that none of the family saw them leaving. Then Rajji led Geet through the village to a store room of an abandoned haveli. The people who had inherited the house were NRI's who had not yet come to visit their property, making it a good hiding place for those who didn't want to be found. When they entered, a young man sprang up in fear and looked at them anxiously. After he saw who they were and that they were alone, he visibly relaxed.
"Food," said Rajji, holding out a container to Gurvinder, who took it and began eating quickly. "I'm sorry that I couldn't come last night, but Geet didi came, so I couldn't get away."
"Rajji, what do you mean, 'come last night'?" questioned Geet.
"Oh, I've been bringing Gurvinderji food at night, because he would go hungry otherwise," answered Rajji.
"What? You've been coming here at night, alone? What were you thinking? If Daarji found out, do you realize what trouble you would be in?" Rajji's face became downcast at Geet's scolding, but that didn't make Geet soften.
"And not just Daarji, but suppose Brij veerji comes to know what you have done, what do you think he would do to you?"
"Geet is right, Rajji," agreed Gurvinder, getting up in agitation. "Just look what has happened to me. See how I have to sit here hiding in fear. If I'm afraid, why wouldn't you be afraid of a brother who is so ruthless as to kill people."
"Gurvinder!" cried Geet, not liking to hear him say such a thing, even if she knew that it was a possibility. "I can't let you just say things like that about our family."
"But Didi, you know what Brij veerji is like. Maybe he did..."
"Why would Brij veerji want to kill Channi? I know that he is always quick to get angry and very harsh, but I just don't think that he would kill anyone. That's not the way of our family and not how we were brought up. And what could Channi have done that would make Brij veerji her enemy?"
"I will tell you what she did. She dared to fall in love with a poor villager like me. She ran away and secretly married me against her family's wishes. She was going to be the mother of my child, and that's why your brother killed her. And he wasn't alone. Channi's brother was with him!" Gurvinder's agitated shouts were compelling, but that wasn't enough for Geet.
"I don't believe it, I can't, at least not without proof. The police won't believe it either. All this could just be your misunderstanding, Gurvinder," she responded.
"What misunderstanding? Where is my Channi, your friend, if this is all a misunderstanding? She's not at home, not with me, not in college, hasn't been seen anywhere in the district, so you tell me where she is! But you can't answer, because my Channi is no more. My Channi is no more!" cried Gurvinder, breaking down and turning away to hide his tears.
"Just because no one has seen her, that doesn't mean she has been killed. If the family was upset with your marriage, maybe they sent her away secretly. There's no way to know for sure what happened without some kind of proof. That is why I came here, to find proof of what really happened," stated Geet with confidence, trying to convince Gurvinder to agree.
"Just how do you think you are going to find any proof, when I haven't been able to find anything?" was his angry question.
"By hiring a private investigator."
"A private investigator, Didi? But won't that cost money?"
"Yes, Rajji, but I have arranged for the money. Since we don't know where Channi is, they will treat it as a missing persons case. Where every she is, whatever happened to her, the investigator will find out. If it is something bad, they will be able to take the evidence to the police and get justice."
Gurvinder shook his head, and said, "There won't be any such thing as justice for my Channi, but I won't leave the ones responsible for her death. You do what you want."
Geet watched as Gurvinder left the store room angrily, before turning to Rajji. "Come on, we need to get going or you will be late for school."
Though the rest of the day was spent in family activities, Geet's thoughts were never far from her mission, the reason she had come back to Hoshiarpur. Though she didn't want to believe that Gurvinder was correct, it was very difficult to forget his impassioned speech against her brother. She also knew, from personal experience, that even if he hadn't killed Channi, Brij veerji was still dangerous. They needed to be careful not to arouse his suspicions.
After dinner Geet spent some time playing games with Titoo. They had just gotten into a good game of snakes and ladders when Rajji came running into the room. Whispering into Geet's ear, she told her that Gurvinder was outside and wanted to speak with her. Titoo wasn't happy to end the game, but Geet gave the excuse that he had school the next day. When she met Gurvinder after leaving with Rajji, her first question was why he had come to the Handa haveli.
"Geet, are you serious about hiring a private investigator? Have you even thought through the idea? It will be difficult to find someone, because you won't be able to hire anyone local without your brother finding out. If you are able to get someone, they won't be able to search your house, or speak to your family without raising suspicions. I appreciate that you want to help Channi, but I don't really think there is anything you can do without putting yourself at risk.
Geet was touched by Gurvinder's concern, but felt it was unnecessary. "Don't worry about me, I'll make sure to be careful. What I want to know is how did you get that cut on your forehead?"
Bringing his hand up to his head and touching the wound gingerly, he said, "Oh, it must have happened when I fell while running about from your brother's friends."
"Gurvinderji, why didn't you stay hidden? It's too dangerous for you to be out like this."
"Rajji is right, Gurvinder. I appreciate your concern, but I will be careful. Right now you need to leave from here before Brij veerji sees you. Come, we will help you leave."
Geet and Rajji began to walk Gurvinder out of the compound when the object of their concern was spotted. Geet saw Brij first, and immediately motioned to the others to get back. All three hid in a corner, with Geet worrying about what might happen if Brij discovered Rajji and her with Gurvinder. If that wasn't enough to worry about, when she turned around, Geet ran right into an angry Maan.
"You!" he taunted lightly. "Is it just you, or is your entire family just one big bunch of liars?" While Geet looked at him with wide eyes, he continued, "Didn't you promise to go with me to Amritsar to sign the registry papers? Yet here we both are, still in Hoshiarpur, just wasting time."
Geet watched as he walked forward slowly, and she could feel it in her bones that he would look and see the other two hiding quietly. As she clutched her dupatta, she had a moment of hope when he paused, only to loose it the second his head turned. Now the situation was even more difficult, for if Maan drew Brij veerji's attention, there was no way Gurvinder would be able to get away.
"Oh, so here is the reason you wanted to come to Hoshiarpur," stated Maan as he looked the young man up and down, virtually ignoring Rajji.
"No, I..." tried Geet, only to be stopped by Maan's words.
"I supposed that your brother is responsible for his condition, after all he is the type to injure first and ask questions later. Whatever, it doesn't make any difference to me. I really don't care what your reasons are, or what you are doing. There is only one thing between you and me, and that is a signature. I'm sure you get my point, so I don't think I need to say any more." Maan intended to leave after that, but Geet's words stopped him.
"Look, whatever you think about me, think it, but please, please take him away with you," she requested, taking a chance that he might help. Far from feeling helpful, Maan was angered by her words.
"I'm not your slave, that I will jump to complete every order as soon as you give it!" he burst out, once again annoyed by her talk.
"Please, I'm not asking, I'm begging, please take him with you. Please," she requested with more calm that she actually felt, knowing that Brij continued to come closer.
Even requesting as politely as she could, Geet didn't think that he would agree. Yet Maan surprised her by motioning to the that they should proceed. Quickly she grabbed Gurvinder and helped him hide in Maan's jeep. With only seconds to spare, he got down behind the back seats, just as Brij rounded the corner.
"You! What are you doing here?" Brij question Maan in his domineering way.
"Visiting the moon," Maan replied sarcastically. "If I want to speak with your sister for a few minutes, I don't see that it's anything to get worked up about."
"Oye!"
"Listen," interrupted Maan, tired of Brij Handa's overbearing attitude. "Talking with you is the same as wasting time, something that I never do. I came here to speak with Geet, now that's done, I'm leaving."
Brij watched angrily as Maan got into his jeep and drove away. Seeing Geet and Rajji standing there silently, Brij yelled that the should go back inside. He wanted to do a lot more, but there wasn't much that he could do. Maan was considered to be the Handa's damaad, and had a perfect right to talk with Geet whenever he wished.
Precap
"Saabji, this alcohol and wood chopping never does any good. It is better to speak out ones problems, like to a wife."
Cricket
Financial markets and global economy
Ishaani
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