FF : Yeh Dooriyaan *SahAn + Veerat* (Updated 10/06) - Page 2

Chapter 2 → Angad and Veer.

Brar Estate

Veer Singh Brar

Veer entered the main hall of the Brar mansion, within the estate with a thoughtful look on his face. It was a rare occurrence that the 'happy-go-lucky' Brar was pensive. Rare enough that when his mother Gurleen saw her son, she was surprised.

"Veer!" Her call startled Veer, "Ki hoya? You look tensed, puttar."

"Kuch na Mumma," Veer shook his head with a brilliant smile, "I was just thinking of which sherwani would I wear tomorrow!"

"Bohot serious topic hai yeh!" laughed Gurleen with a relieved smile. Veer gave a grin in reply. "Tu jaake aapne Angad veerji se puch le."

Veer nodded in reply. His smile stayed till his mother disappeared round the corner.

His mind continued to reflect the turmoil filled look on Keerat's face. Something about her answer to his questions, the sudden guilt in her eyes and her tensed expressions made him anxious.

Veer was not a superstitious person yet he felt unhappy in his own brother's wedding. Seerat was not someone he could see his brother with.

Raab ke vaastey chor de, Veer. Wo jo karega sahi karega. He murmured to himself, try to reassure his sudden thundering heart.

Going up the stairs, he passed by Angad Paaji's home office. Curiously the lights were switched on. Understanding his brother was in there working, he knocked on the door.

Craning his head inside, he gave a disbelieving look. His Angad Paaji was neck deep in work. With his laptop open on the desk, three to four files strewn around and a cup of coffee in his hand, his brother was reading another one of those office files.

"Paaji!" Veer entered, taking the file from his hands, "Aapka vyaah hai kal. And you are working here. Within a few hours Jaggo will start. Why don't you rest till then?''

"Veer, I can't." Veer watched how Angad's face twisted in an annoyed scowl, "Someone had messed up the designs of our new launch." He was handed some papers, designs of jewellery collections. "Just look at this! The previous ones in compared to this was so different and classy."

"Paaji," Veer kept the papers aside without looking at it, "Go and freshen up. There is at least three months time before the new launch. You can deal with this matter after your wedding."

Angad was about to protest when Veer held his hands with a pleading look, "Please?"

"Ugh, fine. But you will keep an eye on this till then."

"Absolutely Paaji." Veer assured with a genuine smile, watching as his brother left the office with a skip on his step. He turned towards the file, a small frown on his face as he shifted through them.

His elder brother was correct. The current designs submitted were mediocre. Moreover, it did not match their launch theme of 'Old & New'.

If this designer was the same one who designed their previous exclusive collections of diamonds pendents, then why would he/she mess it up now?

Veer searched through the files of their previous project. As he went through the drawings, he searched for the name. Unfortunately there was no name given in the file; just the designs.

Veer was perplexed. Those designs in their previous project were familiar. It held a simplicity in its form and a delicate balance between elegance and detailing. There was a touch of sophistication and dedication in the designs.

Why did he feel he had seen such an imprint before?

Angad Singh Brar

Twirling the golden colored liquid in his glass, his mind reverted back to the vibrant party happening in the gardens.

He stood, leaning against the railing on one of the numerous balconies of their outhouse. The gardens around them had been bedecked with sparkling lights and gorgeous decorations befitting their status. The people around laughed, smiled and chatted their way through the night. The excitement for the wedding was clearly visible on every family member's faces.

Angad was happy. It had been a while since he got some alone time to himself; always being needed to take care of the family members or their company or clean the messes of Garry.

Sometimes he wondered how Garry thought he did not know of the affairs he had. Suddenly noticing the absence of his younger cousin brother in the party, he frowned. He hoped Garry wasn't up to his usual flirting and messing with girls.

"Angad."

"Papaji." Angad smiled gently, watching as the older man came to stand by his side, "Tum khush ho na?"

"Haanji." He replied, a bit perplexed at the question. He asked back, "Why? Aren't you happy?"

"Meri khushi maine nehi rakhdi, puttar." smiled his father, "Tum khush, mei bhi khush."

"Bohot khush hu Papaji." murmured Angad, glancing at the merrymaking crowd before a thought crossed his mind. "Papaji?"

His father raised an eyebrow in question. Angad seemed to hesitate before he asked, "Aap Seeratji ke baarey mei kya sochte ho?"

"Where is this question coming from, puttarji?"

"Actually you haven't participated much in the wedding function from the start. I...I thought you might want to be involved in your only child's marriage functions."

Inderpal smiled, seeing the hesitance in Angad's face, "Koi na puttarji. Seerat tujhe pasand hai, teri mummy ko pasand hai. Isse bari baat kya ho sakta hai? Vyaah tujhe karna hai, mujhe nehi."

Angad chuckled lightly seeing the teasing smile on his father's face.

"Waise, mujhe ek baat sahi nehi laga." Angad watched his father's mood change from pleasant to thoughtful. He asked, "Konsi baat?"

"Yeh baat ki tum yeh vyah itni jaldbaazi mei kar rahe ho." Angad straightened, smiling a bit when his father glanced at him with slight worry, "Tum yeh vyah sab ke dabaav mei aa kar toh nehi kar rahe ho?"

"Papaji, you are worrying for no reason. Mai yeh vyah apne maarzi se aur apni pasand se kar raha hu." Angad hoped he was being reassuring towards his father, "Waise bhi Seeratji ki mummy ka sehaat kharab hai. I like Seerat a lot, Papaji. So, mujhe koi problem nehi hai jaldi vyah se."

"Yehi baat kuch khanak raha hai. Pata nehi kyu ek ghabrahat si hai maan mei."

Angad heard what his father said, but did not reply. He knew his father wasn't much happy with Seerat. He also knew his father loved him the most. So if he was happy, his father would support him. No matter the troubles his parents had in their relationship, they almost always were amiable regarding his matters. He as a child and even now, had wondered what problems they had which created this barrier within their marriage. But as usual, his parents avoided the topic very skillfully. Angad hoped one day they would be able to speak about it freely, at least to him.

Still he was happy with his parents. His mother, Manveer, could be a bit demanding and stern but she had a heart of gold. She loved him a lot and Angad knew that for her, he would always be the priority. While his father was classified as the 'failure' in the family due to his disinterest in business or designing or anything related to jewellery in general; he was the best father for Angad. His father was his friend, whom he knew wouldn't judge him for the image that he projected and would always wait to listen to his side of things.

To Angad, both their opinions mattered a lot. To hear his father, though not very impressed by Seerat, still supported his decision brought a relief in Angad. He was sure once his father had mingled with Seerat and spend some time with her, he would start to like her too.

His thoughts were broken, when his father spoke again.

"Wo sab rehen deh puttarji. Tum ek baat batao, wo kuri kon thi jis seh tum itni baar mile aur jhagra kiye?"

"Pata nehi Papaji." Angad's response was immediate the moment his father asked. His expression very readily conveyed his irritation at being reminded of her. "Koi stalker hogi. Kami nehi hai aise taise kuriyoh ki."

"Agar sachi mei stalker hoti, mujhe nehi lagda ki tum itni thand rakh ke useh sirf insult aur jhagra karte." Angad noticed his father's amused expressions. He was sure his father was hiding a chuckle with the way he was pressing his lips together. "Abhi takh toh police custody mei hoti wo kuri."

Angad did not understand how could his father find that girl so amusing. She was ill-mannered and irritating with a razor sharp tongue that did not know when to stop.

"Koi proof na hai mere pas Papaji." There was irked expression on his face as he grumbled in reply to his father's chuckle, "Aap uski baatey bandh kijiye. Ye kya topic leke byath gaye aap?"

"Proof na hai toh useh stalker ki tarah treat karna bandh kar." Angad protested briefly at the statement, but kept quiet when his father levied a stern look. "Manta hu ki wo kuri rich nehi hai, sophisticated khandan se nehi hai. Shayad thodi taiz zubaan hai. Par kaam toh changi karti hai. Uske kaam mei sincerity jhalakta hai, Angad. Aur mera puttar, acha kaam aur wo kaam karne waale insaan ki kadar karta hai, hai na?"

Angad pursed his lips in reluctance. His eyes were brooding as they went over what his father said. He finally nodded after nearly ten minutes. There was a grudging acceptance in his eyes.

He watched as his father smiled knowingly. Angad glanced at the party again, taking a sip from his glass when he nearly chocked on his father's words.

"Waise achi kuri hai. Pehle baar maine dekha ki kisih ne mere smart, handsome and capable puttar ko chup karwa ke aur useh karara jawab dekeh chali gyi."

"Papaji!" Angad scowled and glared furiously at his father's laughing figure. He continued to sip his champagne, cautiously glancing at his father so could not give him any more shocks.

He faced his father, when he patted his back. "Tum jao apne room mei Angad. Kal tujhe bohot jaldi uthna parega. mujhe bhi jana hai. Tujhe aur nehi sataunga."

Angad nodded, watching his father retreating to his own room after giving him a bright grin. At least his father was happy, even if it was at his expense. Finishing the glass of champagne, he also proceeded upstairs to his room. After changing, he freshened up. As he settled the duvet, turning the air conditioner on, his mind took him to reminisce about the time he had spent with Seerat.

Unfortunately whenever he tried to think of her, the face of that girl floated in front of his face. He blinked, an annoyed look crossing his face.

Instead of trying to think of how beautiful Seerat looked during their first meeting, all he could recollect was the fierce eyes of that girl and the red vermilion smeared on her parting along with the fight he had during the Lohri celebrations. He couldn't even remember what kind of dress Seerat had worn when they first met!

Instead his mind diverted back to the brief glimpse of the beautifully decorated pot he had, which he had accidentally broken when he had first met that girl.

Sarah kasur Papaji ki hai! Kisne kaha tha unse uss nakchadi kuri ki baat karne ko?

Frustrated with his mind playing games with him, Angad groaned loudly and flopped back on his bed. He got up and drank some water. Dismissing all the thoughts as the jittery nerves for tomorrow, he started to scroll through his social media pages to numb his overactive brain down.

Perhaps, he mussed, he should not have been so rude with that girl, Sahiba. His father was probably right. He might have overdone it; just like the decorations of the Paath room.

Sure, they had a very bad first impressions and he had looked down on her work. He was a bit suspicious of her as well. Wherever he went, he saw her. He had no proof to accuse her of stalking since most of the time there was an alibi for her; he had checked to make sure.

His father was correct to point out his own reactions to her presence. He wasn't the kind to disrespect someone on their work. He disliked her mingling with Veer, his younger brother and then she spoke so disrespectfully with Kiara, right in front of him. But his siblings weren't kids. They could handle themselves. Kiara gave her befitting replies. Veer, on the other hand, was far to chummy with her to his liking. As long as she did not step out of line, in Veer's case, he could not do anything. It wasn't like he could tell his brother whom he should make friends with.

What he did not understand, was his reactions to her. Why did he always loose his sense of calm whenever she was around? Whatever she does, it effects him. Hell, even if she smiles sweetly at Veer, he gets annoyed.

Whenever they had a squabble, his anger at her presence and annoyance at her sharp tongue would clash to create a tsunami of overwhelming emotions. It always clogged his rational mind. Then his own brother would try to defend her, and her grateful look towards his brother would vex him. Sometimes he also thought of her as a gold-digger.

Innocent until proven guilty, Angad. Calm down. Angad exhaled a breath, slowly counting backwards to calm himself down. He decided he would stay clear of that girl even if she appeared in front of him.

Finally, his nerves and brain, both stopped reflecting back on the angry fights and exchanges of insults he had with that girl. Hoping he could sleep now, he prayed in his mind.

Raabji meher karna. Kal ek nayi shuruwat hai meri zindigi ka.

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Chapter 3 - The mortgage papers

Monga House

Keerat sighed in relief, noticing no one around in their house. Well, no should have been home anyway. All her family members, except for Sahiba Di and her had gone to Sudha Maasi's house.

Her Papaji, Tayiji, Mausiji and all the other relatives, friends and invited guests she had no idea about where staying there. It was the 'home' of her mother's lies. She wondered how her Maasi even agreed to host such a large group.

Taking a glass of water to drink, she tidied up the house. She did not want to make her Sahiba Di work any more than necessary. She found she loved her house the way it was today. It was calm and quiet. There were no more arguments with that Sindy-baby or with her mother regarding her behavior and choices. There were no one to ask money from her Sahiba Di the moment she came home. There was no one to berate and insult her father for earning less and taking loans.

Sometimes she wondered how were they even related to Santosh Monga. Keerat never thought she or her Sahiba Di could ever stoop as low as her mother had for this farce of a marriage. She was never an idealistic woman. She wasn't the one to believe in love or marriage. Quiet different from the ways every other girl behaved, she never even thought anyone would accept her the way she was. Other than her Sahiba Di, who worked day and night tirelessly to feed their family a meal three times a day.

Slapping her own forehead in thinking such pessimistic thoughts, she went to the only cupboard in the room where she slept. Taking out her books, she sat down on one of the khatia beds they had.

Keerat aspired to become an IPS. This was the only dream she had for her own self. She wanted to make her Sahiba Di proud. She was just in the starting year in her college. Just another two years before she could be qualified to gives the exams.

Wrestling and Martial arts were something she enjoyed doing. It was a hobby that was an outlet of her emotions similar to how Sahiba Di had her paintings. Moreover she took such an active interest in sports so they could afford to apply for the sports quota reservations.

For a few hours, she had a good session of studying. Keerat liked being productive instead of being idle. As she tidied up the room, she glanced at her reflection on the mirror. Her usually tightly braided hair was left open. The black curls barely touched her shoulders in a barely there ringlets. Keerat blinked back the sudden onslaught of tears as she pondered on her reasons to keep her hair so short.

Slapping her own head to get out of the bewitching bad thoughts, she proceeded towards the kitchen. Another assumption people had regarding her was that she did not know any household chores like 'a normal sanskari girl'. If only those gossip mongers around her locality knew how much of the household chores her Sahiba Di and she did.

Absolute Nonsense.

The door bell rang bringing a bright smile on Keerat's face.

"Welcome home Di!"

Sahiba laughed at the enthusiastic welcome, gently combing the open hair of her younger sister with her fingers as a response.

"Nay books layi thi na tu? Open karke dekhi kya hai usme?"

Keerat nodded in response, bringing a glass of water for her. "Haanji Di. First ke kuch chapters reading de rahi thi kuch der pehle."

Sahiba glanced around with a puzzled look, "Keerat, ajj bhi koi ghar mei nehi hai kya?"

"Nehi Di." Keerat shook her head, "Jaggo hai ajj, bhul gyi?" Sahiba's mood changed from pleasant to dejection within a few moments. She replied, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "Bhul gyi thi. Rehne de. Ek kam karte hai, ajj na hum noodles party karenge."

"Sachchi?" Keerat brightened up within moments, "Aap change karke fresh ho jao mei jugar karti hu!" With that exclamation, she ran towards the kitchen.

Sahiba gave a fond smile at her energetic bundle of a sister. Her own mood uplifted seeing the way her sister was excited at a small party of noodles. Taking her bag, she went towards their shared room. Keeping away her dupatta, she suddenly noticed the zigzag way Keerat had kept the books. On keeping the books correctly, a set of papers fell out. Thinking it to be some kind of form for the college, Sahiba went towards the kitchen calling for Keerat.

"Keerat, ye papers teri hai kya?" asked Sahiba, entering the kitchen, "Yeh raha. I am keeping it here." She kept it on the table top, "Check kar lena ek baar."

Keerat nodded absentmindedly. After she finished cutting the vegetables to be added in their noodles, she wiped her hands. Taking the paper bundle, she wondered what form was it. She did not remember bringing home any papers at all. After opening and reading the first few lines, she stumbled back in shock.

Property Mortgage papers.

"Sahiba Di!" She screamed out loud. The paper clutched tightly in her hands as she frantically read through them. She knew her mother was lying when she avoided the topic that day by scolding them and faking her love. Still she tried to believe her mother when she said those expensive dresses and jewelries were Sudha Maasi's shagun to Seerat.

Sahiba came running, her hair wet and wrapped with a towel. She was surprised seeing the distress on her sister's face and the way she was clutching those papers. She asked anxiously, "Keerat, ki hoya? Kya hai iss papers mei?"

"Iss papers mei likha hai," Keerat's eyes blurred with angry tears, as she rubbed her cheeks roughly, "Ki-Ki yeh ghar Santosh Kaur Monga ne mortgage karke karza liya hai bees lakh rupay ka!"

"KYA!"

Sahiba sank down on the floor.

'Tu ne paison ke baare mei agar mujhse aur kuch pucha na to mai teri zubaan sil deni hai Sahiba!'

Her emotions ran amok on her hyperventilating mind.She sank further down as the lies her mother told her repeated in her mind like a broken recorder.

'Yeh tere Sudha Maasi ne shagun diye hai.'

'Maine koi ghar girwi-shirwi na rakhe hai. Mai invitation dene gyi thi Chawla Bhaisaab ke office.'

'Tu aur tera baap itne paise laa sakte hai kya? Nehi na?! Toh phir iss mamle mei teri koi khabardari nehi chalegi, samjhi?'

'Mai Seerat ke vyah ki itni soni, itni changi sajawat karungi na sab dekhte reh jayenge, dekh lena Sahiba!'

'Mere Seerat ka vyah Brar o ke khandan mei ho raha hai! Barabari toh karni paregi na unke saath.'

Her breathing started to falter at the nasty surprise, as she clutched her head tightly. The memories, the words of her mother and the excitement on her sister's face echoed all around her.

"Di! Sahiba Di!" Keerat gently brought Sahiba in an upright position. She helped her to drink water.

Sahiba was numb. Nothing made sense to her. Her mind, always filled with something or the other, was blissfully silent. The disbelief at her mother's actions and her lies made her head hurt.

"Itne paise kaise chukaungi mei Keerat?" Sahiba muttered. Her entire body shook as she thought of the interest she would have to pay for a huge amount like twenty lakhs. "Mummy ko fikr nehi hai meri, hai na Keerat? Meri kya, teri bhi fikr nehi hai!"

Sahiba tried to gulp down her tears. Her tears betrayed her just like her mother. Instead she sniffled, tears escaping her eyes and chest heaving and shuddering with each breath she took. She has been betrayed by her own mother. She should not have trusted her mother. She should have listened to Keerat.

"Di." Keerat tightened her arms around her sister, trying to stop her own tears from flowing. "Ab aap ko samaj aa raha hai ki yeh vyaah kitni khatarnak hai humare liye. Kitne pareshaniya leke aa rahi hai yeh vyah humare zindegi mei."

Keerat was least surprised at her mother's acts and lies; it was the shock of the amount of loan she took and the name of the one who would be paying it that shook her composure. While the recipient of the loan amount was their mother, the one who would pay for the loan was her elder sister Sahiba.

It was clearly mentioned that the interest payments would be given by Sahiba until the entire principle amount is re-payed by Santosh. It wasn't a stroke of genius that her mother was banking on Angad Singh Brar to pay the loan amount after his marriage with Seerat. That way her father and sister would not have found out.

"Mummy ne aisa kyu kiya Keerat?" Sahiba mumbled, her voice filled with heartbreaking anguish, "Mera naam iss contract mei, meri maarzi ke bagair, kyu dala unhone? Maine unka kya bigara hai? Sagi beti nehi hu mai unki? Bata na Keerat!"

"Di, aap yeh kya anab-shanab bole jaa rhi ho?" Keerat shook Sahiba by the shoulders, jerking her to bring her back to her senses.

Sahiba was tired. Tired of playing along with her mother. Tired of being good. Tired of being kind to her mother and sister. Tired of acquiescing to all their wishes. It was clear that her mother had made her sign these papers fraudulently. She should have forced to read through agreements instead of blindly trusting her mother.

This was the last straw.

She rubbed her tears from her cheek, nearly turning them red at her rough treatment. She stood up, taking the papers with her to the room.

"Bohot chalaki se yeh kaam kiya hai Mummy ne." Keerat frowned as she watched her sister open the only locker they had in their home. "Unhone ye papers apse tab sign karwaye the jab aap jaldi mei the. Yaad hai Sindy ke mehendi wale din aapko kahi jana tha urgently?"

"Sab samaj aa raha hai." Keerat observed the anguish, anger and the pain of betrayal in her Sahiba Di's eyes. "Kal hum vyah mei naa jakar ek jauhari ke waha jayenge."

"Kyu Di?"

"Iss interest ka settlement karna parega na." Sahiba took out the earrings she had received as blessings from her Bebe. The very earrings that Seerat had lost knowingly in the Brar's event. Along with them was the emerald pendant Seerat had received from that Brar event.

Keerat's mouth opened in shock. She could not allow her sister to sell the earrings."Di, ye saahi nehi hoga. Aap chaho toh mere naam ki FD turwa ke yeh interest bhar doh par ye aap nehi kar sakte. Bebe ka aashirwaad hai yeh Di."

"Galti maine ki hai." Sahiba spoke, her voice cold and unfeeling, "Mujhe natija toh bhugatna hoga."

Hey guys! Is the story going good? Does it makes sense?

I am quiet new to writing; just penning down what comes to my mind and bringing it in a sequence. Do give some feedback.

Which parts did you like the best till now?

P.S. If anyone wants to get tagged; please inform me and I would make sure of it.