It had been a catastrophic turn of events for the Brars. They had been dumped by the runway bride’s mother, and had to do a bride swap at the last minute.
The groom was livid. He had to marry the one girl whom he despised to the core, and the feelings were mutual from the new bride’s end as well. A baraat coming empty handed is a sign of disgrace, and the new bride, Sahiba to preserve her father’s pag on his head, had dejectedly agreed to marry the man whom she referred to as Mr.ATM. The press were hounding outside the gurdwara with the whiff rumors that the intended bride had run away. Keeping the families’ dignity intact now fell upon her.
Her mother in law Manveer wanted nothing to do with her, and would have gladly thrown her out on the streets had the elders of the family not intervened. Daarji and Bebe along with Veer were the only ones who sensed her genuineness and took her side. She had not deceived her so-called husband either. Before the marriage, she told him the truth, because her mother had spilled enough raita that now she had to clean it at the cost of her own life. She had rebuked her mother’s suggestion of keeping mum until the Anand Karaj would be over.
Everything had been a whirlwind after that. Angad held her with an iron grip, perhaps from the fear that she would run away for her dear life as well. Her face was streaming with tears at the pain from his grip, but she didn’t let out a cry as they completed the Laavan. Her tears fell on his hands, causing him to look towards her with an undescribable softness. They were both victims of circumstance.
He had to credit Sahiba for her presence of mind when dealing with the press at their reception. Everyone was asking the information about Angad marrying someone called Seerat. Angad was dumbfounded as to how to answer. It was at that precise moment, Sahiba took the mic from him, and answered with a dazzling smile that could disarm anyone “If my real identity would have been given, wouldn’t you come after me? Angad ji being the considerate person that he is, decided to safeguard my anonymity by giving an incorrect name so that I could be press-free.”
The whole family had a sigh of relief seeing how expertly Sahiba handled the press.
Angad’s room
Angad had felt horrible for dragging Sahiba in this unwanted marriage, but with the press hounding, and their family prestige at stake, his mind overruled and he discarded her pleas and tears. His anger on Sahiba was two-fold: First the unjustified anger of Seerat running away from the wedding; and second that of rejection from Sahiba. Who would dare reject him? Him, Angad Singh Brar, CEO of Brars Jewellers. This chit of a girl had the audacity to say no to him? How dare she? She will pay for messing with him. That he would guarantee.
He headed for the storeroom. That was the space allocated to her in Brar Mansion. As he headed there, he heard faint cries Seerat Di kahan ho aap. Nahin Papa, aapki pagri kabhi neeche nahin hone degi aapki Sahiba. Baba ji main khudkushi bhi nahin kar sakti.
He felt remorse, as he peaked in the room. There she was lying on bed, faintly crying in her sleep wearing a simple cotton suit, devoid of her jewelry which were placed neatly in their boxes. The plate of food was left untouched. He stepped in to see if there was a way to stop her crying in her sleep. Accidentally his hand brushed against her arm, and he was alarmed. Her body was burning like a furnace. Angad panicked seeing Sahiba in this state. He rushed to pick her up and bring to his room. As he carried her, he came across his mother and Veer who looked at him questioningly. He barked, “Get a doctor quick. Her body is burning from fever”.
Angad’s Room
When he had brought her in his room, the initial thermometer gave a reading of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Everyone became worried. The doctor who came to do a house call had asked if she was under any duress, and if she had eaten. Angad had no choice but to answer, “Yes, she’s been under stress lately and she didn’t eat her meal”.
The doctor prescribing medicines advised, “Ensure she takes these meds with food twice a day for the next 5 days. This should help her”.
Angad spent his wedding night putting cold presses to Sahiba’s forehead. When Sahiba woke up next morning she was surprised to see herself in another room. This wasn’t the room she was given. She slowly got out of bed, and started to walk holding the walls as she was too weak. Veer, who was coming to check up on her, came to support her instantly. He spoke up, “Parjai, aap kitthe jaa rahe thei?”
Sahiba, slightly alarmed by the new addressing of Parjai looked up and saw the reason why she was being called as such. Suddenly her legs gave away and she felt that she will hit the the floor, when suddenly a strong pair arms came and scooped her up.
Angad annoyedly said, “Ab apne ko Jhansi ki Rani mat prove karna. Jab tak chalne phirne layak na ho jaao, mujhe tumse koi bahas nahi chahiye.” He carried and gently placed her on his bed.
Ekam, who stood behind her brothers, came forward with a plate of aloo parathas for breakfast, “Parjai ji, aapke favorite aloo parathe breakfast ke liye”. She sat on the bed, ready to help feed Sahiba.
Sahiba softly asked, “How did you know aloo parathe are my favorite?”
Angad not wanting to miss the chance to rebuke her for her Lohri remarks, spoke up, “The thing is even here, people prefer to eat aloo parathas instead of a side dish of ego, arrogance and treachery.”
Both Veer and Ekam exchanged helpless glances at each other, not knowing what to do. They felt bad for Sahiba, but they didn’t dare intervene, sensing their Paaji’s foul mood.
“Ekam, you are responsible to ensure that the meds are taken as prescribed. I will hold you accountable” said Angad with a no nonsense attitude as he exited out of his room but not before throwing a furious glare at Sahiba.
Ekam looked at her new Bhabhi pleadingly. She did not want to fail on anything that Paaji had asked, requested or rather ordered. Sahiba too, would hate for anyone to get in trouble because of her, so she nodded reassuring Ekam of the same.
The next four days were arduous for both Veer and Ekam. They were the ones whom Angad had entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring Sahiba had her meds. This gave them the chance to bond with Sahiba better as well. The more they got to know her, the more they were happy that Sahiba came into their lives. They shared their findings with Gurleen, and she was relieved to know that Baba ji had protected their family, as Sahiba would work to keep the family together being the eldest bahu of the next generation.
Sahiba was getting better with the attention from Veer and Ekam. There was one thing she wasn’t aware of, and that was how Angad would open the Murphy door (camouflaged secret door) adjoining his study room to his bedroom, and just come and check in on her late at night. He didn’t want to alarm or stress her out given how fabulously they didn’t get along.
On the fifth day, Sahiba woke up a bit early and was mortified with what she saw. Angad was in his jeans and had a handkerchief on his head covering his unshorn hair. He was searching for a kurta from the closet, and had a white dastar already pooni’ed for turban tying on the table. She quickly pretended to go back to sleep. It was the first time she was seeing a man shirtless, and who wasn’t related to her. Well, he was now, being her husband, but he didn’t share the same bloodline as her! She didn’t want to delve on his physique, as there was nothing to critique there! Oh no, I thought all along I was in a guest room. He had brought me to his own bedroom instead! Hey Babaji please help me, I don’t want him to know I’m awake. It will be so embarrassing.
Unaware of Sahiba, Angad continued to get dressed. Once he was about to leave, he turned and stopped for a minute looking at Sahiba. That one minute seemed like an eternity to her, understanding that he was looking at her. Please Baba ji - she fervently prayed in her mind.
Evening after supper - Storeroom
After Angad had left, Sahiba had Keerat bring her art supply materials. With art as an excuse, she shifted back to the storeroom as per the promise she had given Manveer to stay away from Angad.
She had sketched a painting, with the subject being a perplexed dulhan looking ahead not knowing what lies ahead. It would be apt to say that art was imitating real
life in this instance. She also finished painting one of her custom orders, a Bengali Hindu bride holding the betel leaves for shubho drishti for a client. It was drying at the moment, and she’d send it for delivery tomorrow.
Finally when she was tired of doing her customers’ orders. She took a blank canvas and just painted what she felt. It was a mix of melancholic colors reflecting her own state of mind. Just at that instant, Angad stormed into her room.
“Why are you here?” he asked in a firm voice.
Sahiba, suddenly alarmed, took a swift turn, splashing the paint from her brush onto Angad.
Angad lost his cool seeing the color splashed on him once again. He grabbed Sahiba’s wrist and yelled, “what did you do again? What is it with you and spilling colors all over me?”
“Well, I was concentrating on my work, and you startled me. It was an accident. Sorry. Now let go out of my hand” Sahiba replied back unsuccessfully trying to get her wrist released.
Somehow Sahiba’s attempts to free her hand from his, released an unknown fury in Angad. He grabbed her other arm and pinned her against the wall.
Sahiba was shocked at the turn of events, “I said let me go” she screamed. She had never witnessed such behavior anywhere.
“What if I don’t?” Hissed Angad coming closer to her.
“Are these your family values on how to behave with people?” Sahiba questioned him.
Her belittling him somehow always managed to unleash a side that even Angad was unaware of. He came dangerously close, such that there was barely any space between them and taunted, “Don’t you dare get me started. Your family’s values and morals. Liars, and cheaters”.
Sahiba couldn’t stand his proximity. It somehow scared her. She turned her face away, and still keeping firm, replied, “I didn’t cheat you. Now leave me alone for Wahe Guru’s sake.”
Prabjyot who was passing by, was aghast seeing what was happening. She intervened, “Angad, Angad” and started to try to remove his hands from the deathly grip he had on Sahiba.
Angad came to his senses and left Sahiba. Prabjyot saw the bruises on Sahiba’s hands. She called for a house help to get some ice to give temporary relief, and consoled a scared Sahiba whose tears finally spilled out.
Angad’s Room
Angad banged his fist against the wall. Why was he losing all his cool when it came to Sahiba? Even before they got married, she was the only one who could bring out the worst in him. He had seen how she turned away her face from his. He had seen the unshed tears she was keeping. Why couldn’t he do justice to her? He knew he was at fault for always misunderstanding her, yet why couldn’t he accept it in front of her? What was her fault for trying to find an absent Seerat from her very own roka? What was her fault when Seerat ran away from the wedding and her mother was trying to force her incognito to the altar. She was right, she hadn’t cheated anyone, but this pain he has doesn’t seem to go away. He wiped the tears from his eyes, and kept looking out the horizon thinking:
Ajeeb dastaan hai yeh,
Kahan shuru kahan khatam,
Ye manzilein hai kaunsi,
Na woh samajh sake na hum
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