Chapter 7 → The Contemplation
Brar Estate
Angad punched the boxing bag another time. His hands bleeding badly. The forgotten boxing gloves laid strewn on the ground. He took in a deep breath, trying to exhale steadily. His mind, kept on replaying those moments with Seerat which he thought to be true. Now, as he watched them again and again, he noticed those lies told on his face, attempts to avoid topics, giving answers according to his liking and most of all, playing fiddle with his feelings.
The gym was scattered. Dumbles, equipment, even stress-balls were all around the room, away from their designated places. In trying to deal with his emotions, Angad had turned the room upside down.
Not caring about his bloodied hand, he crossed the corridor towards his room. Feeling relieved at not seeing Sahiba anywhere within his room, he went and sat down on his bed. Taking a gauze out he wrapped his hand haphazardly.The decorations, those flowers and all other things had, thankfully, being removed before they had even gotten home.Those were meaningless now.
To distract his mind from what he learned in the morning and the betrayal he received from his own brother (which was far more important than Seerat); he switched on the channel, turning on any of the news channel.
'It is been speculated that Sahiba, a normal middle-class girl, had shammed her way into the marriage with prominent businessman Angad Singh Brar. It was recently in the news that a girl named, Seerat, the daughter of a textile exporter would be his wife. However, it is still speculated what the truth is. Well, the speculation had already caused a bit of indecisiveness amidst the shareholders. It is waiting to be seen what the truly situation is and what impact does this have on the Brar Group of Companies.'
Angad switched off the television, throwing the remote away. He did not want to think about Seerat. However, he blinked at what he heard. He again opened the same channel, eyes shrewd as he watched the reporter. Why did she felt familiar?
He called the intercom, dialing Veer's room number.
'Haanji Paaji, kahiye, ki hoya?'
"Come to my room, now."
Angad knew his brother would be confused. So he waited, flipping through other channels whose reporters had come to the Gurudwara to cover his wedding. Those channels seemed to be neutral, barely speculating about drops in share-prices or even rise in them based on the marriage reception to be held tomorrow. The reception would contain various well-known people in their industries, their company stakeholders and even politicians and people from other fields.
A knock sounded and he opened the door, gesturing his brother inside. He showed him the channel where the female reporter's highlights were being repeated.
"Paaji, yeh reporter toh thi Gurudwara mei. Mainu isseh dekha hai. Par mainu toh Sahiba Parjai ka naam tak na liya. Toh iseh kaise malum?" Veer's confusion was evident on his face.
"That's exactly what I want to know," said Angad, eyes fixed on the screen, "Pata kara iss reporter ke barrey mei. Reception se pehle saari details chahiye mainu."
"Okay Paaji." Veer replied, "Dekhta hu ki kar sakta hu. Tusih chinta na karo."
"Sun!"
Angad instructed, "Apne Parjai nu in sabh mamlo mei na daal. Pareshan ho jawehgi bekar mei." He need not turn and look at Veer to know that his brother was smiling widely at his words.
"Ji Paaji." Veer's smile was even evident in his voice. Angad sighed, with his glance falling upon the wall clock. It was evening and Sahiba was no where to be seen.
Sure, he wasn't comfortable with sharing his room with her; but he refused to allow anyone to speak against her on petty matters like sharing room and having meals. That was not only inhuman but also undeserving to someone like Sahiba. No matter how much he held a grudge towards her, he wasn't unaware that the woman was not so bad. Otherwise she wouldn't have exposed her own mother and sister in such a manner.
As for him, he knew who he was marrying with all the details. So while the situation wasn't favourable, he would turn his decision into one. He promised his father that he would give a chance to this relationship; he intend to keep it.
Deciding to call his mother, he dialed the intercom in his mother's room.
"Puttarji, ki hoya? Sab khairiyat? Phirse tainu apna inhaler ghuma diya kya?"
His mother's worried voice sounded through and he gave a genuine soft smile.
"Na mumma, inhaler ki baat na hai." He took in a breath, "Wo, Sahiba nu dekha kahi? Room mei abhi tak na ayi."
"Store room mei abhi bhi hai?" His mother sounded surprised, "Wo usseh storeroom sahi laga apne workshop ke liye. Mainu kaha hum vanwa denge ek naya workspace, par usne kaha zaroorat nehi hai."
Angad's eyes had widened in surprise at what he heard, before he realized that her actions were in accordance to what he knew from the start. "Thik hai Mumma, thanks." He cut the call, shaking his head as he ventured out to find Sahiba.
On the way, he met Jasleen bua. His mother's words during lunch repeated within his mind. He noticed how forced and saccharine was the smile his aunt gave at the moment. Has all her smiles being this fake before? He shook his head, wanting to by pass his aunt with only a small fake smile to her.
He was about to move past her, when her words stopped him.
"Aukat dikha diya tainu uss kuri nu, puttarji." Her words held a sick amusement in them, that made him grimace in shock. Thankfully his back was turned and she couldn't see his face. He turned slightly, asking nonchalantly, "Kya gaal kar rhi ho aap Bua?"
"I just saw Sahiba inside the storeroom." Jasleen informed him, something Angad had already anticipated, "Our Storeroom is the perfect place for a middle-class, fraudster girl like her."
Angad counted till ten under his breath, feeling his temper rise. Especially since Garry's betrayal was fresh in his mind. He knew his aunt and Kiara knew nothing about Garry and Seerat's truth. His grandfather hadn't apparently spilled the beans and has ordered the other family members to stay quiet as well. Angad had found out when his Daarji had messaged him personally with that information.
He wondered what to reply to Jasleen, as he watched her waiting for a reply. "Aap nu Sahiba ke liye chinta karne ki zaroorat na hai. Goodnight Bua." He kept his answer short and neutral. He will let Sahiba deal with her if his aunt wanted to speak out like this.
As he approached the storeroom, he found it cleaned and bereft of all the unused furniture dumped there. Instead the room was looked empty with just a few small tables and vases. As he neared the threshold, he stopped at the scene in front of him.
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Sahiba glanced at the nearly empty room, as the staff finally left. She used her dupatta as a mask around her face; skillfully tying them so they wouldn't loosen. She started with opening the three wooden windows. She was surprised to see the view of a beautiful, lush flower garden. She smiled, eyes taking note of the bright sky; it was so unlike her life that it felt surreal to her.
Today when she woke up, she definitely did not think she would get married instead of Seerat. The day turned out to be the worst for her yet somehow different. She was first surprised when instead of announcing his decision like a brute (he had given off that impression whenever she had met him; it wasn't her fault she thought he was an idiot with a caveman attitude), he had asked her and stated his own view regarding the situation.
As usual both her mother and sister had spilled raita, which she had to deal with. Honestly, she had been surprised at not only been asked her own opinion but also given a choice. Although she would admit that it wasn't much of a choice; it was more of the need of a situation. Today she saw the businessman behind the name 'Brar' who has heralded the new start for the Brar Group of Companies when he joined the company as it's head. Sahiba did keep up with the news, even if she wasn't fond of rich people.
She decided marrying Angad Singh Brar with only one single thought. Keerat. Her little sister.
Sahiba knew that somehow or the other rumors would spread. It would effect negatively on her sister, who hadn't even started college officially. She did not need to deal with the kind of drama that was bought on a family whose daughter had run away from her own marriage; especially when the marriage was with someone who was chased by the media.
If marrying could give some mental peace to Keerat, Sahiba was ready to do even that. Keerat was the ray of light for her. She refused to get her into any kind of trouble due to the foolishness of some of their family members. The familiar ringtone of her mobile brought her out of her mind-space. She let go of the broom with a thud as the name 'Keerat' flashed on the screen. A brilliant smile appeared on Sahiba's gloomy face.
She took the video call, her heart filled with a sense of calm the moment she saw Keerat on a bed, looking rested and pampered.
"Hi Di! Kya haal hai waha ka? Garam hai na?"
Sahiba gave a teary laugh, sitting down on the floor, "Nah, thoda sa thanda hai."
"Kya baat kar rhe ho aap? Matlab, Braro ne aap ko kuch na kaha?"
Sahiba nodded her head negatively, a small smile on her face as she remembered how Angad stood up for her even if he didn't have to do it. In her reminiscing she did not notice the perplexed look Keerat send her.
"Acha thik hai. Where are you know? Aap aapne room mei na ho ke?"
She chuckled seeing Keerat trying to look around. "Stop looking around, Keerat. I am in the storeroom."
"Kya!?" She watch her sister fume in anger on behalf of her. A sense of longing and homesickness startled her just then. Hearing her sister's protective words made her teary-eyed."Uss Angad nu itni himmat! He married you, knowing what he was doing! How dare he not give you equal rights even after...! Lagta hai Jijaji nu aapne saali ke haatoh dhulayi unke khatey mei likha hai."
She laughed at the thought, tears spilling in response. Her eyes expressed her longing to go back home; to go back to laughing, scolding and bickering with Keerat. She was even missing her father even if she was disappointed with him currently.
"Na, tu galat samajh rahi hai. I asked the storeroom to be my workspace. Teri fees, Ghar ke interest, aur Ghar nu kharcha abhi bhi mainu sambhalna hai. Vyaah kiya hai, zimmedariya kam na hogayi hai meri."
"Oh!" She wanted to pull Keerat's cheeks at the cute face she made in response. She rubbed her eyes, wiping the tears away. She said, "Tu meri fikar na kar. Sirf ek kam kar degi?"
"Haanji Di, hukum farmao!"
She shook her head with a fond smile, before she said, "Kulche nu keh ki mere art supplies jo ghar pe hai, usseh yeha deliver kar de. There are so many orders to fulfill." She watched her sister nod. Both them spoke for a while longer before she cut the call. She could not hold on to her emotions and resolve any longer.
She pressed her lips together, as her shoulders shook from the suppressed sobs. Her eyes turned red from being rubbed, and her cheeks reddened at being wiped at fiercely. Sahiba felt exhaustion creep into her very bones. Last day, she found out about her mother's deception and today, her sister ran away. She had been overwhelmed even just a few days back.
Sahiba never had so many breakdowns in such successive orders. Yet she understood her situation were such, that she couldn't catch a break. A much deserved one at that.
At least previously she had been sure what she wanted in her life. She wanted to save enough money to be able to do a Fine Arts Program. She wanted Keerat to fulfill her own dreams. She wanted her family debt free. Ironically, not even one of them was fulfilled yet.
Now, her life had taken the most unexpected turn and somehow she was in a position where there so many uncertainties. It made her anxious.
Finally, she managed to calm down in a few minutes. She again tied her dupatta around her face as she stood up to continue what she was doing. When she was about to pick up the broom, a slight tap on her shoulder had her startled.
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The unfamiliar touch startled Sahiba. She whirled around coming face to face with Angad, whose eyes remained stuck on her own.
Meanwhile, Angad who had watched her sob, had hesitated to interrupt. He felt a bit of guilt for dragging her in a mess without much fault of hers yet he understood it was neither of their fault. Both had trusted the wrong people and got betrayed for the same.
He understood that Sahiba would not want to appear weak. He did not know much about her, but he could guess that she was the only earning member of the family. Her entire household must have depended on her. So to keep some respect and normalcy in their already fragile relationship he decided to wait for her to regain some composure before he came in.
So when he was met with sharp, cat-like, golden flecked eyes that could hypnotize anyone; he had a sudden flashback of a similar eyes he had seen on the deserted street that dawn. He wondered if that women was Sahiba. Their eyes matched eerily.
He shook his head as he took a step back to give her some space since she seemed to be a bit frightened at his presence. He said, "Wo..kamre mei na ayi itni der tak, I was worried."
Sahiba gave a slow blink, wondering if she was hearing correctly. Mr. Angad Singh Brar, aka The-Man-who-ate-ego-for-breakfast was worried for her?
And why did he sound like he was explaining his presence here? It was his house, he could go anywhere he wanted to go. She then glanced at the window, a bit surprised at seeing the dark sky.
"Actually, I lost track of time." Sahiba admitted, "Kam mei busy hoti hu toh mainu time ka khyal na rehta."
Angad nodded, glancing at the broom in her hand and the half-cleaned room. He took note of her redden eyes and tired posture. Instantly making a decision, he took the broom from her dialing the staff head with his phone on the other hand. "Room mei chalo. Take some rest. You look exhausted. I will have the staff clean the room."
"Na mei kar lungi." Sahiba protested, almost in reflex. Angad glared at her, speaking sternly, "Mainu na sunne ki aadat na hai. And I won't budge on this matter. You do look tired."
"Toh sunne ki aadat daal lijiye." Sahiba replied fiercely. She extended her hand to take the broom back only for her to spin so quickly that she gasped loudly. Their reflection was clear on the floor length mirror in the room. Her back was to his front. Although their bodies weren't touching, she could feel his body's natural heat. Not to mention the height difference was a bit intimidating as in the mirror, he nearly engulfed her with his broad shoulders nearly dwarfing her. Her eyes were wide, as she watched Angad gently open the tucked dupatta from around her face.
His face came a bit closer beside her, still not touching or very inappropriate, as he whispered, "Look at yourself. From which angle do you look well enough to clean this entire room by yourself?"
Sahiba gulped, a bit awkward. She felt funny. To get out of analyzing her own pendulum-like emotions, she quickly nodded in agreement. She exhaled the moment, he back away from her.
Angad smirked at her reaction; finally a bit happy at getting the stubborn girl to listen to him. Every time it was her who managed to shut him down. This time it was him. Victory tasted great.
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