To be or not to be-completed(epilogue) - Page 4

Just a small clarification,bebe is quite sobre in the last chapter 😂

Originally posted by: themasked

Just a small clarification,bebe is quite sobre in the last chapter 😂

Ohhhh no. That's a Disappointment 😅😅

I loved drunk bebe ❤️🥰

Don't worry,since it's Garry's wedding, there's bound to be more drinking, especially where the ladies are concerned 😂

Originally posted by: themasked

Don't worry,since it's Garry's wedding, there's bound to be more drinking, especially where the ladies are concerned 😂

I m happy 😅😅🥰🥰

Waiting for your next chapter

Part eleven

Kiara felt strangely happy.Daarji and bebe had been pleased with her saree and mummy and papa had even danced with her for a bit.She couldn't help notice the longing glances between her parents and felt her heart leapt.While she was old enough to understand that they had parted on a rather sour note and that chances of reconciliation were rather low,she fervently wished they could just live together as a family.Inder mamu had also shown up and was talking to Angad Paaji,who was laughing for a change,before going to Jaspal mamu and Gurleen mami.

She noticed mami stiffen as Inder mamu bent down to talk to her and frowned.While she was unaware of the details,she did know that mami had gone through something similar to her, perhaps even worse ,judging by her reactions.After around five minutes,she saw her excuse herself and walk back to the house.So intent she was on observing her aunt that she didn't see where she stepped.Suddenly,she felt the ground give away beneath her and she found herself falling,right into Shanaya Parjaai's lap.

The world seemed to recede around her as she plunged into memories of the past.

She was rather small,she noticed absent mindedly,as she gazed at the figure towering over her.The darkness obscured his face ,yet she knew he was smiling at her,a smile twisted and grotesque,a smile which didn't reach his eyes.He inched towards her,leering at her and she backed away,her heart beating wildly when she tripped and fell down,his knife catching her dress,and cutting her arm.

"Kiara! Kiara!"her mother's voice brought her back to the present.

She woke up with a gasp only to find herself in her room,surrounded by her parents,brother and Shanaya Parjaai.

"Are you feeling quite alright Kiara?"Shanaya asked.

She groaned internally,she had no desire to air her troubles in front of a stranger and elected to answer their questions with silence.Her mother and brother finally got frustrated and left with Shanaya in tow.

Good riddance,she thought savagely,before feeling guilty.Shanaya had only been trying to help.Finally giving up,she turned to her father,who had a strange expression on his face.

"I'm fine papa.I didn't eat breakfast today."

He didn't look convinced but she didn't care and simply closed her eyes.

******************************************************

It didn't take long for Ekam to poke her head around the door and tip toe inside.Kiara propped herself up on her elbows and gave her sister s reassuring smile.

"I'm perfectly fine Ekam,do not worry so."

The door creaked open and to her relief,it was Gurleen mami.Seeing her,the dam broke and tears gushed out in rivulets.Ekam and Mami held her as she exhausted herself.

"Mami, I remember exactly what happened.He cut me with a knife.That's how I got all those scars.When I fell, everything came back.And I now I can't stop thinking about it.I was happier when I didn't remember anything."

Her mami gently stroked her hair as she continued sobbing.Finally Ekam spoke up,

"Di, don't let him get to you.You're the strongest person I've ever known.No matter what happens you'll always have us and this is a promise."

"Ekam's right Sometimes not knowing the truth can seem like bliss but ultimately it's a fantasy we create for ourselves.But reality is what anchors our lives and as long as we are grounded in it,no matter how difficult our struggles are our innate sense of peace will be preserved,giving us the strength to overcome them."

Kiara sniffled and laughed,"And to think Mamu of all people tried courting you.May God save him,but he can't recite poetry to save his life."

"Who said he recited poetry?"mami replied smugly.

Ekam raised her eyebrows.

"My lips are sealed."her mother replied before she could even ask the question.

Kiara laughed,feeling lighter than before.

"Di,we got hold of some cones.We can draw your mehendi now."

She was touched by their gesture and eagerly held her hands out.They worked in silence and her mehendi was done.The door opened to reveal her chote mamu.

"It's lunch time you three.And Gurleen,daarji wants to talk to you."

And he left.

The three of them looked at each other warily before following him.

*******************************************************

Ekam and Kiara frowned at their plates.There was no way they'd be able to eat with mehendi on their hands.They glanced at the other ladies who were in a similar predicament.Yashraj Baweja took his plate without hesitation and started feeding his wife.This gave the other men the impetus to start feeding their wives.Kiara felt proud of her dad and was grinning ear to ear.Everyone was having fun except Manveer mami who refused the food offered by Inder mamu.Instead,Angad paaji ended up feeding his mother leaving the older man dejected.

Ekam immediately ran up to him.

"Will you feed me? I'd ordinarily ask Veer paaji but I don't trust him.He never gives me the paneer and chicken and eats them all up."

Kiara smiled at her sister.She really was too kind for her own good ,she thought with a sigh.They'd already argued more than once over their treatment of Sahiba.Kiara still didn't understand how they could trust Sahiba when her family had managed to scam them.Some people had to be shown their place.Veer passed by without so much as a glance at her.Ever since the debacle with the plagiarism,he had refused to talk to her,avoiding her like the plague.She hated being ignored and decided to talk it out once and for all.

Part twelve

Kiara followed Veer yelling after him.

"Veer!Veer!"

"What do you want Kiara?"

"You've been avoiding me.It's almost as if you hate me."

"Perhaps I do."he whispered.

Kiara felt her heart break.She asked him,

"Is it just because of the plagiarism issue?"

"Just plagiarism?"he asked incredulously.

"Do you know how much work Sahiba Parjaai put into her designs?She literally bled her heart into it and you went and bought it off for a measly five thousand rupees.But then, what would you know of the value of art?"

Kiara felt hot tears streaming down her cheeks.

"And I despise the person you've become off late.What did Sahiba Parjaai ever do to you?Why do you treat her so horribly? Granted you don't trust her,but what happened to basic human decency?"

She remained quiet in face of his accusations which only infuriated him further.

"And one more thing Kiara,mummy and Ekam are the kind ones.I'm my father's son and I will never forgive and forget once you've crossed your limits.So I beg you to just leave me alone."

She watched his retreating back despondently.

"Kiara di,"she heard a tiny voice call out.Wiping her eyes she turned to find Prince looking up at her hopefully with a plate of food in his hand.

"May I feed you?"

She let out a strangled sob,"Why?"

"Otherwise you'll be hungry."

"Don't you hate me?"

"Why would I?"

"Because I have made a lot of mistakes."

"Have you said sorry?"

"No"

"Then perhaps you should.It will make you feel better."

She smiled a bit and let him lead her to the dining room.

*******************************************************

Gurleen took a deep breath and entered the study where daarji was pacing restlessly.

"Daarji,did you call for me?"

She asked,making sure there was enough distance between them that they couldn't touch.

"Haan puttar, please take a seat."

She sat on the couch and watched him warily.

"Puttar, I'll get straight to the point.I'm very worried about your bebe."

She frowned.

"Didn't the doctor say she's perfectly fine?"

Daarji looked at her sheepishly before replying.

"It's not about her health.I'm more concerned about her feelings towards me."

She raised her eyebrows and leaned back;this was going to be quite a story.

"Well Daarji,is this about her drinking?Are you saying that it's uncouth of women to drink?I really can't believe you . You're fine with men drinking but if women do that it seems like a sin to you."

"No puttar.Please don't misunderstand me.It's not get drinking that concerns me,it's what she says after drinking that concerns me.When we were in the hospital she kept on talking about Naman Gupta and wanted to leave me for him,but now she denies even knowing him."

She felt a headache coming along.

"Daarji,when exactly did you have this conversation?"

"Well,it was after she asked me to find my name on her hand and that useless husband if yours brought up Naman Gupta."

She badly wanted to facepalm but resisted the temptation.

"Daarji do you honestly expect her to tell you the truth after writing another woman's name on your hand?And who on earth is this Parminder?"

"So are you saying that I'm tactless? How can it be?"

"It's very possible daarji."her husband replied from the door.

She stifled a giggle at the sight of Daarji's fury .

"Jaspal,may I know why you're interrupting a private conversation?"

"I'm here to feed my wife.And now, you're the third wheel between us."

"Gurleen puttar,thank you for listening to me.You are kind and sympathetic, unlike certain people."daarji glared at her husband on his way out .

"Daarji, perhaps you should try looking at the world from bebe's perspective."she called after him.He simply nodded and left ,leaving her alone with her husband.

The two of them looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"He's impossible,"he said.

"He's not that bad."

"Unfortunately Gurleen,I don't have your patience and tolerance for his shenanigans. "

"He's just scared of losing his wife."

"That is a sentiment I can understand very well.Though in my case,I worry that I'll lose her to her own demons."

The air seemed to still around them and she could feel her smile vanish,a blanket of despair settling over her heart.He didn't react however,offering her a morsel of food which she accepted after much reluctance.

Loving daarji and bebe's relationship here

I like kiara but veer gave her what she deserved

Originally posted by: Amanita09

Loving daarji and bebe's relationship here

I like kiara but veer gave her what she deserved

True

Word Count: 1

Originally posted by: themasked

Part twelve

Kiara followed Veer yelling after him.

"Veer!Veer!"

"What do you want Kiara?"

"You've been avoiding me.It's almost as if you hate me."

"Perhaps I do."he whispered.

Kiara felt her heart break.She asked him,

"Is it just because of the plagiarism issue?"

"Just plagiarism?"he asked incredulously.

"Do you know how much work Sahiba Parjaai put into her designs?She literally bled her heart into it and you went and bought it off for a measly five thousand rupees.But then, what would you know of the value of art?"

Kiara felt hot tears streaming down her cheeks.

"And I despise the person you've become off late.What did Sahiba Parjaai ever do to you?Why do you treat her so horribly? Granted you don't trust her,but what happened to basic human decency?"

She remained quiet in face of his accusations which only infuriated him further.

"And one more thing Kiara,mummy and Ekam are the kind ones.I'm my father's son and I will never forgive and forget once you've crossed your limits.So I beg you to just leave me alone."

She watched his retreating back despondently.

"Kiara di,"she heard a tiny voice call out.Wiping her eyes she turned to find Prince looking up at her hopefully with a plate of food in his hand.

"May I feed you?"

She let out a strangled sob,"Why?"

"Otherwise you'll be hungry."

"Don't you hate me?"

"Why would I?"

"Because I have made a lot of mistakes."

"Have you said sorry?"

"No"

"Then perhaps you should.It will make you feel better."

She smiled a bit and let him lead her to the dining room.

*******************************************************

Gurleen took a deep breath and entered the study where daarji was pacing restlessly.

"Daarji,did you call for me?"

She asked,making sure there was enough distance between them that they couldn't touch.

"Haan puttar, please take a seat."

She sat on the couch and watched him warily.

"Puttar, I'll get straight to the point.I'm very worried about your bebe."

She frowned.

"Didn't the doctor say she's perfectly fine?"

Daarji looked at her sheepishly before replying.

"It's not about her health.I'm more concerned about her feelings towards me."

She raised her eyebrows and leaned back;this was going to be quite a story.

"Well Daarji,is this about her drinking?Are you saying that it's uncouth of women to drink?I really can't believe you . You're fine with men drinking but if women do that it seems like a sin to you."

"No puttar.Please don't misunderstand me.It's not get drinking that concerns me,it's what she says after drinking that concerns me.When we were in the hospital she kept on talking about Naman Gupta and wanted to leave me for him,but now she denies even knowing him."

She felt a headache coming along.

"Daarji,when exactly did you have this conversation?"

"Well,it was after she asked me to find my name on her hand and that useless husband if yours brought up Naman Gupta."

She badly wanted to facepalm but resisted the temptation.

"Daarji do you honestly expect her to tell you the truth after writing another woman's name on your hand?And who on earth is this Parminder?"

"So are you saying that I'm tactless? How can it be?"

"It's very possible daarji."her husband replied from the door.

She stifled a giggle at the sight of Daarji's fury .

"Jaspal,may I know why you're interrupting a private conversation?"

"I'm here to feed my wife.And now, you're the third wheel between us."

"Gurleen puttar,thank you for listening to me.You are kind and sympathetic, unlike certain people."daarji glared at her husband on his way out .

"Daarji, perhaps you should try looking at the world from bebe's perspective."she called after him.He simply nodded and left ,leaving her alone with her husband.

The two of them looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"He's impossible,"he said.

"He's not that bad."

"Unfortunately Gurleen,I don't have your patience and tolerance for his shenanigans. "

"He's just scared of losing his wife."

"That is a sentiment I can understand very well.Though in my case,I worry that I'll lose her to her own demons."

The air seemed to still around them and she could feel her smile vanish,a blanket of despair settling over her heart.He didn't react however,offering her a morsel of food which she accepted after much reluctance.

Waiting for your next chapter 🥹

Part thirteen

Kiara threw one last furtive glance at her reflection in the mirror before leaving her room.While her sharara did have scooped out shoulders,it did cover the bruises decently.She ran into Ekam who was looking exceptionally pretty.

"Di,you look beautiful."she said with a smile.

"Says the young lady who'll charm the dance floor tonight.Speaking of which,do we have any competition from the bride's side?I know our newest parjaai is an only child and doesn't have many cousins either."

Ekam frowned,"Di , it's not the stage performances we need to worry about .We have a dance off with the bride's side afterwards."

"What's wrong with the dance off....oh.You don't like dancing alone,do you?"

Ekam looked like a lost puppy as she shook her head.

"It's alright Ekam, you'll do great,trust me."

"I don't like calling attention to myself and all those people staring at me while I dance, it's unnerving and I know I'll definitely mess up.Do you remember the incident with the juicer?"

Maybe her little sister did have a point.Ekam did not perform well under scrutiny and disaster usually followed them.The great juicer incident of 2022 would never be forgotten, especially by daarji who had spent weeks picking out fruit peel bits from his beard.But reminding her of it at this crucial juncture would be detrimental to her cause so she settled with a reassuring hug.They were interrupted by her mom who shooed the two of them downstairs.They gasped in surprise as they descended the stairs ;their living room was utterly unrecognisable.

"It's all Sahiba Parjaai's work."Ekam whispered in awe.

Kiara felt a wave of sadness hit her.No matter how hard she tried,her art would never measure up to the others' standards.Daarji had even gone as far as to call it dull and characterless.So she'd stopped.She'd packed away her paints and burnt her sketches.

They are as worthless as you.

When Angad paaji had finally asked her to submit her designs,she had only felt numb,a pervading sense of despair taking over her psyche.She had nothing to show him and in desperation, she'd bought the designs from Sahiba and tried passing them off as her own,and it had spectacularly backfired.While she had not been fired from the company,her credibility had taken a hit.No one had treated her the same after that,both at work and at home.She was too tired to even blame Sahiba ,just sticking to the occasional barb which gave her no satisfaction.

Most days,she couldn't even face Sahiba without being reminded of her failures so she preferred to stay away from the infamous Brar hall dramas.While Veer and Ekam expected her to speak up for their Parjaai,she finally realised that she was voiceless in the house.She was the characterless daughter of a characterless woman,or atleast that's what they whispered.No matter what she did, it's not as if anyone was going to look past the fact that she was her mother's daughter so as far as she was concerned,there was no point in doing the right thing.

Yet her little sister had argued,"Di, you don't have to be kind to others for their sake.You're doing it for yourself as well.If you are kind to them, perhaps you'll learn to be kind to yourself as well."

Those words echoed in her head as she watched Sahiba scurry around,putting on a few last minute touches.Without even realising it,she walked towards the other woman.

"Sahiba Parjaai, the decorations are beautiful."

Sahiba looked shocked before her face broke into an uncertain smile.Mortified at what she'd done,Kiara turned a heel and walked away as fast as she could on her heels.It wasn't long before Ekam caught up with her.

"I'm proud of you di."she whispered,which made Kiara smile.

*******************************************************

Gurleen stared at the huge chart spread out in front of her as she knelt on the floor,a frown marring her face.She had gotten ready an hour ago but the restlessness refused to abate So she'd taken out her charts to plot .Something was off ,yet she couldn't pinpoint her mistake.She heard a chuckle;it was her husband ,leaning against the bedpost with an amused grin.She scowled,

"What's so funny?"

"Sorry, you've mislabelled Canis minor as major, that's why your calculations are a bit off."

"Oh,"she glanced back at the chart and realised he was right.She swiftly made the correction.

"It seems all that research did pay off at the end."

"It had to.After all, wasn't I the one who lied to you that astronomy was my passion despite being a jeweller?"

She smiled at him,

"It took me quite a while to realise it though ,atleast until Daarji showed up at our house , proposal in hand."

He came over and knelt beside her,

"I thought you'd hate me for lying."

"I did for a while,I felt as if I couldn't trust you."she admitted.

"I thought I could make it up to you and apologized profusely."

She smiled at the memory,

"When did we finally talk?"she wondered aloud.

"Holi "he replied with a soft smile.

He seemed to glow in the moonlight,she thought absent mindedly.This was comfortable,just sitting and talking, reminiscing of times past.

Unexpectedly, he reached out and caressed her hand.The sense of tranquility vanished as the memories crowded her head,of the awful night and his face morphing in and out of darkness.