To be or not to be-completed(epilogue) - Page 7

Part twenty

Gurleen looked at her nephew in dismay.Not once in her wildest dreams had she imagined such behaviour from Angad.He had always been a quiet and conscientious boy yet here he stood before her,a twisted version of all the values Daarji had forced him to embody.

"Chachi, Daarji,I'm very sorry."

Daarji looked like he had aged ten years in a day.

"Why are you apologising puttar?"he asked ,his voice breaking.

"I've spoilt your reputation and embarassed you in public."

Gurleen's heart sank as she heard his words while daarji sat down in shock.

"Gurleen puttar, please talk some sense into him ,won't you?"

"It's too late daarji.The damage can no longer be undone.Now all that everyone can do is live with the consequences of their actions and wallow in their regret."she replied softly.

While she was upset to see the tears streaming down Daarji's face,she hurt more for Sahiba and Ekam who loved Angad unconditionally,who would probably forgive him readily,mindless of the consequences and their.....safety.

"Gurleen!"

Manveer burst into the room, closely followed by Inder.

"Leave Angad alone! How can you blame him for what that girl did? She's a stain on our family name."

"Does that warrant outright abuse,Parjaai?"

"Clearly she must have done something to warrant it.Otherwise,you know how calm and collected Angad is."

Gurleen sadly looked at the desperation on Manveer's face as she tried to convince herself and the rest of them of Angad's innocence.

Inder intervened,

"Gurleen,I know Angad has made a mistake.He had no right to threaten that girl in public but it's clear that she instigated the whole quarrel?"

"What do you mean?"

"Her behaviour has made Yashraj very uncomfortable and he expressed his distress to Angad as well.He wasn't happy to hear of how that girl tried to disrupt Garry's engagement with Shanaya by cooking up some cock and bull story of how he eloped with Seerat.It's clear that the Mongas have some hidden agenda.They're gold diggers,the whole lot of them.First they trapped Angad,and now they're trying to trap Garry as well."Inder ranted.

As the yelling and ranting began again,she simply tuned them out and focussed on Daarji who looked ready to collapse.

"Deep breaths, daarji."she gently whispered.

"Chachi,do you honestly believe Sahiba to be innocent?"Angad asked,looking hopelessly lost.

While she pitied him,she couldn't muster the love and regard she had once held for him.

"I don't have any opinion.I'm not her husband.But based on her actions,not once has she ever proved me wrong for trusting her.And Angad, don't you think you have some responsibility towards her as her husband?"

"Gurleen, don't you dare call that gold digger Angad's wife!"Manveer screamed.

She simply looked at the older woman calmly.

"Whether you like it or not,they got married in the Gurudwara and had the wedding registered as well."

"You know why I tolerated you Gurleen,even though you are from a simple middle class family,even though your mother had a questionable reputation? It's because you always knew your place in the family.You knew who your superiors were and never tried to throw your weight around.But today, you've shown your true colours to everyone.At first ,I didn't know why daarji even agreed to Jaspal's request to marry you.

But then I found the real reason and I've kept it a secret for a long time ,just to protect your reputation. However,I shall not remain silent any longer.I will break your spirit today or my name is not Manveer Kaur Brar.You seduced and trapped Jaspal didn't you,just like your mother trapped your father?And Veer was born out of wedlock wasn't he?"

A deadly silence rang throughout the room.Not a single man spoke a word.She knew she ought to be feeling angry or even upset.Yet she felt nothing,just relief as the last of her bonds with Inder veerji's family snapped.She did not owe them anything anymore in lieu of affection.She didn't have to convince herself of Manveer's helplessness as she projected her own trauma,pain and destruction on other people.She was finally free to follow her conscience.She simply walked out of the room,head held high even as Manveer's venom echoed behind her.

To her surprise, she met her husband outside,who had no doubt heard the argument.He looked ashen grey but to his credit,he was able to retain his composure.

"Sahiba's pregnant."

Oh

"Should we tell Angad?"he asked.

"Too late for that,"she said as she watched a familiar figure in a turban run towards his wife's room.

I love your update!!

Love the way Gurleen took a stand for Sahiba and how she stood on her ground and didn't respond to Manveer when she said she trapped Jaspal and convinced Veer before wedlock!

I wonder under what circumstances did Sahiba get pregnant!? Cause Angad hates her right!

Missed Ekam and Kiara in this chapter!

Eagerly waiting for the next one! Please update soon!

Oh no,so It is Jaspal who R**ed gurleen.

I love the way gurleen stood up for herself and sahiba.

Wit till veer find's out.

Originally posted by: themasked

Part twenty

Gurleen looked at her nephew in dismay.Not once in her wildest dreams had she imagined such behaviour from Angad.He had always been a quiet and conscientious boy yet here he stood before her,a twisted version of all the values Daarji had forced him to embody.

"Chachi, Daarji,I'm very sorry."

Daarji looked like he had aged ten years in a day.

"Why are you apologising puttar?"he asked ,his voice breaking.

"I've spoilt your reputation and embarassed you in public."

Gurleen's heart sank as she heard his words while daarji sat down in shock.

"Gurleen puttar, please talk some sense into him ,won't you?"

"It's too late daarji.The damage can no longer be undone.Now all that everyone can do is live with the consequences of their actions and wallow in their regret."she replied softly.

While she was upset to see the tears streaming down Daarji's face,she hurt more for Sahiba and Ekam who loved Angad unconditionally,who would probably forgive him readily,mindless of the consequences and their.....safety.

"Gurleen!"

Manveer burst into the room, closely followed by Inder.

"Leave Angad alone! How can you blame him for what that girl did? She's a stain on our family name."

"Does that warrant outright abuse,Parjaai?"

"Clearly she must have done something to warrant it.Otherwise,you know how calm and collected Angad is."

Gurleen sadly looked at the desperation on Manveer's face as she tried to convince herself and the rest of them of Angad's innocence.

Inder intervened,

"Gurleen,I know Angad has made a mistake.He had no right to threaten that girl in public but it's clear that she instigated the whole quarrel?"

"What do you mean?"

"Her behaviour has made Yashraj very uncomfortable and he expressed his distress to Angad as well.He wasn't happy to hear of how that girl tried to disrupt Garry's engagement with Shanaya by cooking up some cock and bull story of how he eloped with Seerat.It's clear that the Mongas have some hidden agenda.They're gold diggers,the whole lot of them.First they trapped Angad,and now they're trying to trap Garry as well."Inder ranted.

As the yelling and ranting began again,she simply tuned them out and focussed on Daarji who looked ready to collapse.

"Deep breaths, daarji."she gently whispered.

"Chachi,do you honestly believe Sahiba to be innocent?"Angad asked,looking hopelessly lost.

While she pitied him,she couldn't muster the love and regard she had once held for him.

"I don't have any opinion.I'm not her husband.But based on her actions,not once has she ever proved me wrong for trusting her.And Angad, don't you think you have some responsibility towards her as her husband?"

"Gurleen, don't you dare call that gold digger Angad's wife!"Manveer screamed.

She simply looked at the older woman calmly.

"Whether you like it or not,they got married in the Gurudwara and had the wedding registered as well."

"You know why I tolerated you Gurleen,even though you are from a simple middle class family,even though your mother had a questionable reputation? It's because you always knew your place in the family.You knew who your superiors were and never tried to throw your weight around.But today, you've shown your true colours to everyone.At first ,I didn't know why daarji even agreed to Jaspal's request to marry you.

But then I found the real reason and I've kept it a secret for a long time ,just to protect your reputation. However,I shall not remain silent any longer.I will break your spirit today or my name is not Manveer Kaur Brar.You seduced and trapped Jaspal didn't you,just like your mother trapped your father?And Veer was born out of wedlock wasn't he?"

A deadly silence rang throughout the room.Not a single man spoke a word.She knew she ought to be feeling angry or even upset.Yet she felt nothing,just relief as the last of her bonds with Inder veerji's family snapped.She did not owe them anything anymore in lieu of affection.She didn't have to convince herself of Manveer's helplessness as she projected her own trauma,pain and destruction on other people.She was finally free to follow her conscience.She simply walked out of the room,head held high even as Manveer's venom echoed behind her.

To her surprise, she met her husband outside,who had no doubt heard the argument.He looked ashen grey but to his credit,he was able to retain his composure.

"Sahiba's pregnant."

Oh

"Should we tell Angad?"he asked.

"Too late for that,"she said as she watched a familiar figure in a turban run towards his wife's room.

So Veer was born out of wedlock

Manveer can be a headache at times.

She doesn't have the right to criticize Gurleen; her approach is excessively harsh.

Waiting for the next chapter..

Part twenty- one

Kiara and Ekam watched silently as Shanaya raged at Garry.

"Garry,you disgust me!I hate you to the core.How can you do this to me?"

Garry just stared at the ground,refusing to meet her eyes.Ekam earnestly hoped she wouldn't resort to physical violence.She honestly felt bad for Garry paaji as he winced at every word thrown at him.While she didn't exactly agree with her Di's methods,she had done the right thing by exposing their brother.No one deserved to have their relationship built on a mountain of mistrust,only to have it crumble at the slightest of tremors,she thought bitterly as her thoughts went to every marriage that had occurred in the Brar household,the latest being that of Angad paaji and Sahiba .

Why were men so tiring?She wondered even as Shanaya bid a final adieu to Garry.

"I have no desire to marry you.Do whatever you want but this engagement ends now."

She walked out.

Garry let out a relieved sigh,

"Thank you Kiara."

Kiara looked at him coldly,

"I did it because I hated you.I wanted to destroy your relationship with mom and Shanaya."

"If you really hated me,you would have kept your mouth shut and let me get pressurized into marrying her while still in love with Seerat."

"I would've done it even if you had actually loved Shanaya."

"That's because you're a good person,unlike me and honestly,Shanaya deserves better than this house."

"And you think Seerat deserves all this torture?"Ekam blurt out angrily.

"Well my little Spitfire,"he replied,"Seerat is smart enough to deal with the psychopaths here, especially my mom.Wait and watch , sister dears,soon she'll have the entire house dancing to her tunes."

Kiara simply raised an eyebrow,"You're forgetting something o brother mine,how exactly are you planning to woo her?You did insult her during your engagement and dump her "

"She was the one who suggested the whole ruse."

"WHAT?"the girls exclaimed in unison.

"I had to protect her from mom and dad.Had we declared our love publicly,dad wouldn't have hesitated to get rid off her,even going to the extent of killing her.And Kiara,she was the one who asked me to take your help.Whether you did it out of spite or out of the goodness of your heart,I don't care.Whatever may be, I will be eternally grateful for the help you've rendered today.Now daarji will have no choice but to marry me off to Seerat as Shanaya goes public."

"But what guarantee do you have that bua won't hurt Seerat Parjaai after the wedding?"Ekam asked worriedly."Won't she be angrier and more desperate?"

He simply smirked,

"My mom will be scrutinized twenty four -seven,by the media and the rest of the household after this debacle.Even a single scratch on Seerat will reflect poorly on her.By the time she figures out a loophole, we'll be long gone.Seerat's gotten a modelling contract and I have secured a job at the Aroras.We're planning to invest in my father in law's shop and launch him as an antique craftsman.Good to see you girls,got to go now."

With a wave of his hand,he left.

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

Sahiba woke up to Angad looking tenderly at her.She looked at him quizzically as he stroked her cheeks,tears shining in his eyes.

"Sahiba , I'm so proud of you.We're going to have a baby.I love you so much."

She melted at the love he expressed,all her anger slipping away and got up to hug him.

"I'm going to inform daarji of the happy news.Don't get involved in anything ok,just make sure you get lots of rest.You have no idea how important the baby is."

Kiara and Ekam watched with narrowed eyes as Angad cajoled her a bit and left the storeroom.Ekam turned to Sahiba.

"I thought you hated paaji.How on earth are you pregnant?"

Kiara winced at her sister's inelegance.

"I apologise for her crudeness,but how?"

Sahiba blushed,

"We've been reconnecting since the reception."

"You mean the night he tried to assault you?"

Ekam asked incredulously.

Kiara shook her head exasperatedly.

"He apologized afterwards and has been sweet to me ever since."

"In private I assume,"Ekam muttered,loud enough only for Kiara to here."Because he sure as heck doesn't respect her when taiji is around.

Kiara intervened,"By the way,Garry and Seerat are getting married.Shanaya dumped him."

Sahiba blinked in confusion.

Gurleen entered at that precise moment.

"Chachi, I'm pregnant!"Sahiba cried in joy,her face lighting up in a dazzling smile.

Gurleen's heart broke at the sight of the girl who was clear unaware of what the future held for her.She felt a comforting hand on her shoulder.To her surprise,it was Jasleen.She looked like she had been crying.

"Sahiba,I know you hate me and won't believe me,but that pregnancy has sealed your doom?"

"Jasleen ma'am ,with all due respect,this conversation doesn't concern you.I'm aware that Shanaya broke up with Garry but please don't take out your anger on us."

"Parjaai,Garry paaji orchestrated the whole break up so that he could marry Seerat parjai without bua's intervention."Ekam explained nervously,"He was really scared that bua might murder Seerat or something."

Jasleen huffed,"That girl is brainless enough to walk into trouble herself. I don't need to waste time trying to kill her when she can easily do me the favour."

She was silent for a moment,before the full implication of Ekam's words hit her.

"Garry loves Seerat?!"

To be updated

Edited

Eagerly waiting for the next part!

Part twenty -two

I can't believe the he believed I'd resort to murder."said Jasleen tearfully."How could he think so lowly of me?"

Kiara rolled her eyes.Even now her mom was worried about Garry having a bad opinion about her.Gurleen mami was awkwardly patting her.

"Bua, perhaps this is something you should discuss with Garry paaji."Ekam said stiffly,offended on her sister's behalf.

Jasleen took one look at their hostile expressions and left the room, closing the door behind her.The four of them looked at each other.Ekam cuddled next to Sahiba on the bed while her mami stood by the window, watching the sun set ,her expression unreadable.Kiara herself paced the room, frustration and anger threatening to burst out of her.

"I have never met someone as stupid as you."Kiara remarked,her voice pulsating with anger.

Ekam nodded fervently while Gurleen mami just stared at the birds flying west.Sahiba looked downcast.

"Why do you say so?"

"Why do you wish to stay with a person who cares only about himself and his precious mumma?"

Silence

"He's trying hard to be nice to me ."

"By burning your hand?By nearly destroying your career?By nearly assaulting you? He's ready to believe every Tom,Dick and Harry except you.Do you think he loves you just because you're pregnant?Mark my words Sahiba Kaur Brar, you're just a baby making machine as far as this family's concerned .The day you give birth to that baby if yours is also the day Manveer mami kicks you out? She'll ensure you never see your child again."

"Are you even ready to have a child, Parjaai?"Ekam asked softly.

Sahiba just looked confused.

"You have no idea what it's like to hear a child Puttar and let me be honest you're too young for such a responsibility."Mami finally spoke .

"What if I wish to keep to keep the child?"

"Then we can only support you.I know that child hearing is considered to be extremely pure but mark my words, it's as much a curse as it is a gift.You will cease living the day you decide to have a child when you don't know what it entails.That day,the world will bind you in a golden cage and throw the key away.You will remain there till you die and convince yourself that bondage is better than liberty."

Kiara wanted to comfort her aunt yet was at a loss.She seemed far too gone to truly come back to them.For the first time,she was thankful for her own abortion .While everyone had pressurized her into going through it,Ekam had stood by her side and let her choose.But her words to her where what had finally clinched the decision.

Words about a gilded cage and a cruel world ready to tear her down,her own health going for the toss.She realised they had been mami's words all along.Without further ado,she just hugged her aunt.Mami simply patted her head.

Mami turned to Sahiba,

"There are a lot of issues associated with this pregnancy, especially medical ones.Neither are you physically strong enough nor mentally prepared.There will be a lot of stress and an overbearing family involved.But remember this,at the end of the day it's up to you.We'll respect any decision you make and support you wholeheartedly."

"Thank you Chachi.Can I think for sometime?"

The three of them nodded and left the room.

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

"Chachi,why did you stay?"

It was nightfall and Gurleen had been instructed by daarji to take care of Sahiba.They were on the terrace where the star charts and telescope were set up.Gurleen meticulously plotted the night sky while Sahiba sketched.

"Were you forced by societal norms to stay?"Sahiba prodded

Gurleen's fingers stilled as she pondered over the question .

"I fell in love with him."

"I love Angad as well.Shouldn't that be reason enough for me to stay?"

"Not when you clearly know who's hurting you.In that case , staying put is doing injustice to both yourself and the ones dependant on you.

Do not compare my situation with yours.I still have no idea who my attacker is and I have no proof at all.No matter what happens, I'll never be able to look at anyone the same.It hurts you know?I can't hate him when he's being so nice to me but at the same time my dreams don't let me love him either?"

Sahiba watched her aunt painstakingly mark a star,almost as if in a trance.

To be continued....

can't wait for the next chapter