FF : Yeh Dooriyaan *SahAn + Veerat* (Updated 10/06) - Page 7

Chapter 6 → Settling in.

Gurudwara

The wedding happened.

Sahiba did not cry during the vidaai. It wasn't possible for her to shed more tears. All she felt was a sense of helplessness. Glancing at a crying ashen face of her mother and the soft face of her father, all she felt for them was an indifference towards their emotions.

Where was this father, whom she loved the most after Keerat, when she was being humiliated by her own mother and sister? Sure he stood up for her at times, but at the end he still followed along with schemes of his wife and daughter. Why couldn't he have boycotted the wedding? Why couldn't he have said that he wouldn't be a part of any of Santosh and Seerat's lies?

She wanted to cry. To scream and to vent out. The vulnerable side of her broke even further at the sacrifice she did. She knew the women she called a mother cared not for that. Santosh Monga was probably grieving at the betrayal and hurt she received from her eldest to care about the other daughter who was paying the price for her actions. If anything she would probably rejoice at getting at least one daughter married to a rich household.

As she glanced at the displeased and grudging faces of the family members, she was sure she would pay the price dearly.

"Puttar!" Sahiba heard her mother call out weakly, almost a whimper when she passed her by without a word.

"Aaj yeh aakhri baar tha jab aapne mujhe iss shabd se pukara hai." Sahiba turned back to meet her mother's eyes squarely. Her mother's betrayal, her actions and her lies tightly coiled within her heart and suffocating her as she spoke, with eyes burning with angry tears, "From now onward, I don't want to ever speak with you."

A strangled gasped escaped Santosh, but Sahiba moved on glancing at her father. She had nothing to say to him. She was about to move on from him too, when he stopped her.

"Sambhalke rehna puttar." He raised his hand to bless, but Sahiba glanced at him with emotionless eyes, not responding to any of his words. A bit uncomfortable at seeing his usually chirpy daughter so 'dead-like', he glanced at a watching Angad. His next words were directed at him, "Meri bachchi nu koi galti na ki hai; usse uski Maa ki saza na diyo."

Angad glanced at Sahiba, before acknowledging the words with a small nod. His expressions remained blank, much like Sahiba's own. When Sahiba proceeded towards her Tayiji, her Maasi and her little sister, Keerat, Angad's face softened slightly. He watched and listened to them as they conversed; wondering how different one sister was to another. It was applicable in both Sudha and Santosh along with Seerat and Sahiba or Keerat.

"Maasi, mainu aapse kuch maangna hai? Doge?" said Sahiba, her voice breaking slightly for the first time.

"Keh na laado. Mainu ki karna hai?"

"Keerat aapke saath reh sakti hai?" requested Sahiba, "Uss ghar mei..." She trailed off seeing the crying Keerat, "No one will take care of her there in that house. With the kind of wounds she has, can you please allow her to stay with you?"

This surprised everyone, including the watching Brar's and Monga's. Santosh stumbled a bit as Sahiba proved her incapable of caring for her other children even further and Ajeet was not surprised. Although he felt angry at his own inability to defend and care for his children.

"Tune mainu paray nu samjha hai na, kuriye?" Sudha Maasi sniffled, "Meri bachchi hai Keerat. Mainu sambhal lena hai, tu chinta na kar."

Sahiba smiled and even Angad's lips upturned a bit at the bonding they shared. He remembered how Seerat never shared such a sweet bonding with her Maasi. More he thought about all the moments he spend with Seerat; he could see how fake and pre-planed all her words were.

Keerat cried, hobbling forward as she tackled her sister in a bear hug. It was too much for a weakened Sahiba, who had been dehydrated and without food for nearly the entire morning.

A warm supportive hand came up in anticipation of her stumbling as Angad stabilized her. He retreated his hand immediately after she managed to take her sister's weight on her own, not knowing that this small gesture could mean a lot in their future development.

Sahiba ignored her surprise for her sniffling sister, strictly ordering her, "Maasi aur Mausaji ko tang maat karna. Aur haa, bed se niche utri na tu, toh aafat aa jani hai."

Keerat nodded, smiling and crying both at her sister's concern and her words. Sahiba proceeded towards the car, when she heard her Mausaji approach her new father-in-law, Inder.

"Sahiba ne toh iss vyaah ka koi bhi pre-wedding riti-riwaz kuch na kara." Her Mausaji gave a grim look when he said that, but then he requested which surprised Sahiba, "Agar vyaah ke baad ke pag phere ki riwaz humare ghar mei ho toh hume acha lagega. Of-course, aap sab ki maarzi ke saath."

Inder smiled, "Vyaah karne ka decision bachcho ka hai. Unhi pe chor dete hai." He glanced at Manveer, who nodded looking relieved at the thought of not having to deal with the fraud mother of her new daughter-in-law. Inder, then looked at Angad who glanced at Sahiba once. Sahiba shrugged at the unasked question, although her heart and head both felt heavy at the mere thought of more drama and riwazey.

Angad nodded in response to his father, who looked on with a subtle pride in his eyes as he watched his son ask his newly-wed wife without having to be prompted to do so. After that, Angad got inside his car while Veer and Ekam helped Sahiba with her lehenga.

Veer decided he needed to stay with his Paaji and new Parjai, in case they fought again. His concerns seemed to be unfound as the newlyweds seemed to be completely silent as they both looked out of each of their window. The silence almost felt like a calm before the storm.

Sahiba was exhausted. Back-to-back she had been getting one shocks after another. Never in her life, did she thought she would get married in such a manner. The resentment towards Seerat grew a bit more in her heart as the anger was stroked further. For that sister, she had to give up her life. Her first worry was how to deal with the aggrieved members of Angad's family. She had noticed how Angad's Bebe was displeased; although she felt no negativity from the women.

"Jo karara jawab deti ayi ho mujhe, wo mujh tak limit maat rakhna." Angad murmured, eyes still glancing out the window. Sahiba turned her head towards him with a raised eyebrow. She asked, instead of answering his words, "What happened to the media outside the Gurudwara?"

Instead of Angad answering as she expected, it was Veer who replied, "Parjai, mainu media walo ko kaha hai ki wo exclusive interview aap dono ke saath Reception party mei lei sakte hai."

"Kya?" Sahiba nearly lurched forward in shock, "Mainu koi interview na dena."

"Brar khandan ki vaddi bahu ho," Angad says, meeting a startled Sahiba's eyes, "Angad Singh Brar ki votti bhi ho." Sahiba's mouth dropped open at his words, "Media ko toh sambhalna sikhna parega. Yeh shuruwat hai."

"Kya baat hai, Paaji! Ek dam sahi gaal ki hai aapne." said Veer, looking pleasantly surprised at those words. Sahiba shook her head, completely ignoring those words.

"This marriage was done with both of our consents and we talked it out. I don't see where the problem is in admitting it." Angad replied, his voice quiet casual in the way he spoke.

"There are thousands of problems within that one sentence," said Sahiba, exhaling with a perplexed expression, "When can I get out of this dress?"

"Kuch der aur, Parjai." Veer assured, "We are near." They spent a few moments of blissful silence as the three occupants of the car thought back on the hectic day they had. Within moments they appeared near the huge gates of the Brar estate, as their car entered the pathway leading to the main building.

After all the rituals were done, performed willingly by Manveer, Jasleen brought up a question that stumped them all. "Angad puttar, yeh kuri tere room mei rahegi?"

Angad's eyes were frigid when he answered back, "Vyah hua hai Bua toh ek hi room mei rahenge. Humare liye koi different rule hai kya?" Sahiba glanced at him wide eyes which Angad ignored, staring at his gaping aunt.

"Na, Mumma ka matlab hai ki, yeh vyaah toh normal nehi tha na, Paaji." intervened Kiara, glaring at an indifferent looking Sahiba, "Aap toh iss larki se nafrat karte hai. You hate her."

"Zubaan sambhal ke. Parjai hai teri Kiara." Angad further surprised everyone else, "What I do in my life is no one's concerns. Those who matters have already been involved. Whom I hate, whom I love, is my personal matter. Please, tu usse dur reh. Samajh aya?"

Kiara nodded, wondering what had changed amidst these two people who always fought like cat and dogs. Angad left after that towards his room, Manveer gesturing Sahiba to follow.

Aakal, who had been watching the entire drama, smiled. He was sure that the future of his family was in safe hands. He glanced at the apprehensive looking family members, except for Jasleen and Kiara, with a small smile. He had met various people in his life; he couldn't be more prouder of Angad than he was today. His grandson had finally taken a sensible decision in his life.

As for the rest of the family, they would learn with time. He was sure of it.

Angad's room

As Sahiba entered the vast room, she glanced around with a blank face. Manveer watched her for any change of reactions, surprised to see the girl not even awed at the luxurious suite of her son.

"Acha nehi laga?" She asked, curiously as she watched Sahiba enter further in the living space. Angad who had removed his sehra, the velvet stole, his shoes and even his watch by then, glanced at her in askance at the question.

"Thik hai," Sahiba shrugged, "Excessive hai. Very much like the paath room your son decorated."

Manveer's eyebrows rose, a bit amused at seeing her son bristle like a teased lion. Angad spoke out, "Aadat daal lo excessive chizo ki. Brars hai hum."

"Yehi ek dialogue hai aapke paas jisme copyright strike nehi lagta." Sahiba's words dripped with sarcasm, "School mei iske alava aur kuch sikhaya nehi hai aapko?"

Manveer couldn't help herself, as she chuckled at the exasperated look on her son face. Even with Seerat, she hadn't seen him so animated or life-like. She patted Sahiba's back, "Fresh ho jao tum dono. Then we are going to have a talk. I will send lunch in the room." She went out of the room closing it with a small smile.

Angad noticed the utter hesitation in Sahiba's face as his mother left. He sighed, gesturing at the suitcase in the room, "Tumhara samaan waha hai. Bathroom mei change karlo."

After they both freshened up and had changed, lunch and Manveer, both had arrived. As they started to eat, Sahiba and Angad glanced at Manveer who was pensive. She glanced at them, eyes a bit soft in contrast to the determination seen on her face.

"Usually, I wouldn't have told about it immediately but seeing both of you wanting to deal with your siblings in your own way, I think I should inform of you of a matter that might shed some light on why Jasleen and Garry are behaving in such a manner."

Angad was startled, while Sahiba was curious. Angad asked, "What is the matter Mumma?"

Jasleen took a sip from the glass of water, eyes meeting both her son's worried gaze and Sahiba's curious ones.

"Jasleen is the daughter of our estate manager, Ranvir." They ignored their shocked looks, continuing forth, "When he died, your Daarji promised that he would take in his child and give her his name. He would love and care for Jasleen as her own father."

"What does this have to with Jasleen mam and Garry?" asked Sahiba, looking perplexed at the information.

"Mam maat bulao useh." said Manveer irritated, "She is no one's mam. Jasleen had always tried to harm Angad's reputation and business image. Somehow I think Garry is trying to do the same. I won't be surprised if this mother-son duo is working in the shadows to harm Angad."

"But why?" asked Angad, although his mind refused to believe what conclusion he was drawing.

"Because they want Garry to have a share in the properties, shares and other legal assets of the Brar's." replied Manveer, dashing whatever hope Angad had. He simply stared at his plate with a blank expression. Sahiba glanced at Manveer surprised before looking at Angad. A slight worry entered her eyes.

Manveer knew she was being harsh on her son by informing him of this, especially when he had received a huge shock today. Yet she felt this was the correct time. She would let them process her words and then take any decision. The situation they were in had worsened with one of their own family member betraying them in such a manner. It would be better for her child to confront them with all facts rather than being half-blinded.

"Wo, I actually needed something." Sahiba said almost hesitantly, wondering if she should ask or not. Manveer glanced at her, hiding her own suspicions, "Haa bolo."

"Actually I need a room where I could work peacefully. I can't leave my shop and I won't leave it either."

Manveer blinked, a bit relieved that her assumptions of this girl being similar to mother was proven wrong. She nodded, a small smile on her face, "Come with me. Let's see if we can get a room for you to work in." She glanced at Angad, "Puttar, we will leave you be."

Angad nodded, barely listening with his eyes distant as he stared towards the open window that showed the midday sky.