Dons of Punjab: Fluke of Reality✔️

Chapter 14

Prabhneet Kaur

The moment my two elder sisters became mothers, our home transformed into a place of warmth and chaos. Tiny feet pattered against the wooden floors, and the sweet coos of newborns filled every corner of the house. Laughter echoed from room to room as family and friends constantly arrived, eager to hold the little ones, their arms full of gifts and blessings. Our home, once peaceful, now brimmed with love, life, and an energy that never seemed to fade.

But that night, despite the joy in our home, I felt my world crashing down around me.

The dining hall was alive with celebration. The long table was beautifully decorated with golden candles casting a soft glow, their flames flickering gently. Plates of delicious food filled the air with mouthwatering aromas. Everyone was dressed in their finest, smiling, talking, and enjoying the company. But amidst the laughter and joy, I felt an uneasiness settle in my stomach.

As I walked past my brother Lalli and Aman, deep in conversation, something about their hushed tones made me pause. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but the words that floated to my ears sent a shiver down my spine.

"Aman, you need to tell her. She deserves to know," Lalli said, his voice firm yet urgent.

My heart pounded. Who? Know what?

Aman's voice was lower, filled with hesitation. "No, Lalli. I love her so much that I can't bear to hurt her."

I felt my entire body freeze. My breath caught in my throat. What did he just say?

Lalli wasn't letting up. "Aman, Prabh is my sister. I only want what's best for her. She deserves to know that she'll be marrying you."

The words rang in my ears. Over and over.

She'll be marrying you.

I stumbled back a step, my hand covering my mouth as I tried to process what I had just heard. Marrying? Me? Aman?

No. No. No. This had to be some kind of misunderstanding. This couldn't be happening. My own brother had decided my future without even asking me. Aman, my best friend, had known all along and never told me.

Anger, betrayal, and disbelief swirled inside me like a storm. My legs felt weak, but I forced myself to move. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of them, my voice shaking with rage.

"How could you do this to me?" My voice cracked, but I didn't care. Tears blurred my vision as I looked between them. "You were my best friend, Aman. You knew, and you didn't tell me!"

Aman looked at me, pain written all over his face. "Prabh, please—"

I cut him off, my voice rising. "You knew just like Harry Jija knew about him marrying Gunu Didi!" My chest heaved as I sucked in a shaky breath. "And you didn't tell me? You let me believe everything was normal? That I had a choice?"

Lalli stepped forward, his expression serious. "Prabh, calm down. We only did what we thought was best for you."

"Best for me?!" I let out a bitter laugh, my voice thick with disbelief. "You're deciding my future without even asking me!" I turned back to Aman, my vision swimming with tears. "And you! I thought you were my friend! But all this time, you were just waiting? Pretending? Hiding this from me?"

Aman ran a hand through his hair, his face filled with regret. "No, Prabh, I swear! I never meant to keep it from you like this. I wanted to tell you. I was scared... scared of losing you."

I shook my head. "You already lost me."

Aman's face fell. He reached out, but I stepped back. "Prabh, please listen to me."

"No!" I screamed, my voice raw. "I don't want to hear anything!"

I turned and ran up the stairs, ignoring their calls behind me. My heart pounded as I flung my bedroom door open and slammed it shut, locking it behind me. My knees gave out, and I collapsed onto the cold floor, sobs wracking my body.

How could they do this? How could my own family betray me like this?

Tears streamed down my face as I clutched my chest, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. The memories of Aman and me—our laughter, our fights, our late-night talks—flashed through my mind like a cruel joke. I had trusted him. I had thought he was different.

But I was wrong.

I was so, so wrong.

And now, my whole world had fallen apart.

Amandeep Singh Aulakh

The moment Prabh's eyes met mine, I felt my heart sink. The hurt in her gaze was unbearable. I had never wanted to see her like this—to be the cause of her pain.

"How could you do this to me?" she cried, her voice shaking. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, her whole body trembling.

I wanted to reach for her, to explain, to tell her that this wasn't what she thought—that I never wanted to deceive her. But before I could even get a word out, she continued, her voice rising with raw emotion.

"You were my best friend. Yeah, we fought, but that didn't mean I didn't care about you! And you—you used me! You knew about this all along, just like Harry Jija knew he was going to marry Gunu Didi!"

Her words cut deep, sharper than any blade. I shook my head desperately. "No, Prabh, it's not like that—"

She didn't let me finish. Instead, she shoved me away. The rejection stung worse than anything I had ever felt before.

"Prabh, please listen to me!" I pleaded, stepping forward, but she took a step back, her hands clenched into fists.

"Stay away from me!" she shouted, and before I could stop her, she turned and ran up the stairs.

I watched her disappear, my hands shaking at my sides.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Lalli—her brother—watching me. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "You should've told her sooner," he muttered before walking away.

I felt like the walls were closing in on me. My chest tightened as guilt twisted inside me. I had spent years imagining how I would tell Prabh that I loved her. That I wanted to spend my life with her. But not like this. Not with her looking at me like I was nothing more than a liar.

I leaned against the nearest wall, running a hand down my face.

I had lost her.

And I had no idea how to fix it.