Dons of Punjab: Fluke of Reality✔️

Chapter 23

Prabhneet Kaur

Two years. It had been two long years, and still, he hadn't found me. Every day that passed without him tracking me down felt like a blessing. I could finally breathe, finally live without constantly looking over my shoulder. The fear that once kept me awake at night had slowly faded, replaced by a fragile sense of safety.

I missed my family terribly, but their love never left me. They visited as often as they could, filling my small apartment with warmth and laughter. My mother would fuss over me, making sure I ate enough. My grandparents, though older now, still showered me with their love. But there was one absence I felt the most—my eldest sister. Her marriage had tied her down, making it impossible for her to visit. I missed her hugs, her comforting words, the way she always made everything feel okay.

Even though she couldn't be here in person, she never let a day pass without calling me. Every evening, my phone would ring, and I'd hear her voice.

"Prabh, how are you today?" she'd ask, her voice soft but firm, the way it always was when she was worried.

"I'm okay, didi," I'd reply, even if I wasn't. "How are things at home? How are the kids?"

She'd laugh, a sound I held onto like a lifeline. "Running wild as always. But I miss you. So much."

"I miss you too. More than you know."

These calls were my lifeline. They reminded me that no matter how far I was, I still had a home, a family that loved me.

New York had always been my home. The city never slept, always alive with noise and movement. I missed it terribly. The flashing lights, the honking cars, the smell of hot pretzels from street vendors—it was all so different from the quiet town in England where I now lived. But most of all, I missed the people. I missed my mother's voice calling me down for dinner, my nephews running around the house, my grandmother's gentle scolding when I stayed up too late.

Still, England had been good to me. I had made friends, found family here that I hadn't known well before. I had built a life, one that felt almost normal. But life had a way of throwing surprises at me, both good and bad.

One of the biggest surprises had been my failed relationship. It had started beautifully, with love and laughter, but had ended in quiet understanding. We had both changed, grown in different directions. The pain had been sharp at first, but somehow, we had managed to hold onto the friendship we had built. Now, I was preparing to attend his wedding.

"You're really coming?" he had asked when I told him.

I had smiled, even though it still hurt a little. "Of course, I wouldn't miss it."

And I meant it. If I could find happiness for myself, then I could at least be happy for him.

But life wasn't just about weddings and friendships. It was also about fear. About survival.

At twenty years old, I was still running. Always moving, always hiding. My sister's brother-in-law had turned my life into a nightmare, his obsession with me twisting into something dangerous. He was always looking for me, always trying to find a way to bring me back under his control.

I couldn't let that happen.

"Prabh, you have to be careful," my friend Mira warned me one night as we sat in my small apartment, drinking chai. "I heard from my cousin—he's still looking for you."

I tensed, my fingers gripping the cup tightly. "I know. But he hasn't found me yet. And he won't."

She sighed, shaking her head. "You can't keep running forever."

I looked at her, determination burning in my chest. "I don't have a choice, Mira. He won't stop until he gets what he wants. And I won't let that happen."

Every day was a battle. Every move I made had to be careful, calculated. But I wasn't going to give up. I had made it this far, and I would keep going. I would find a way to be free.

Because I deserved to live. And I wasn't going to let him take that away from me.

The soft hum of the city outside my apartment is a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me. London's rain patters against the windows, a rhythmic reminder of how far I've come—how far I've run. The suitcase I brought with me from New York sits untouched by the door, still full of clothes I haven't unpacked. Maybe I never will.

I wrap my arms around myself, trying to ward off the cold that has nothing to do with the weather.

"Prabh," Mira's voice pulls me from my thoughts. "You're doing it again."

I blink and turn to her, confused. She's sitting cross-legged on my couch, a cup of chai in her hands, her brows knitted together in concern. "Doing what?" I ask, my voice quieter than I intend.

She exhales, setting her chai down on the coffee table. "Spacing out. Getting lost in your head." She leans forward, her brown eyes searching mine. "Talk to me."

I force a small smile. "There's nothing to talk about."

Mira scoffs. "Bullshit." She gestures at the untouched food on the table, the way I've been picking at my sleeves, my bouncing knee. "You think I don't know when something's eating you up inside?"

I sigh, leaning back against the couch. "It's just... it's hard." My voice cracks slightly, and I hate it. "Leaving. Knowing what I left behind."

Mira softens, reaching over to squeeze my hand. "You mean your family?"

I nod. "And Harry. I keep hearing his voice in my head, telling me to stay." My throat tightens. "But I couldn't. I couldn't put them in danger."

Mira stays quiet for a moment before squeezing my hand tighter. "I get it," she says softly. "You did what you had to do."

Did I?

I exhale, shaking my head. "Then why does it feel like I abandoned them?"

Mira gives me a sad smile. "Because you love them. And love makes everything complicated."

I let out a bitter laugh. "That's one way to put it."

We sit in silence for a moment, the only sound being the rain against the window. Then Mira nudges me with her shoulder. "So, what now?"

I hesitate, staring at my hands. "I don't know."

Mira sighs. "Well, you can't just sit in this apartment forever."

I glance at her, raising an eyebrow. "That was kind of the plan."

She groans dramatically, throwing her head back. "Absolutely not. You're in London, Prabh! A fresh start. You can actually live."

Live.

It's a nice thought, but the shadow of my past lingers, even here. No matter how far I run, I can't shake the feeling that he's still watching. Waiting.

Mira sees the hesitation in my eyes and sighs. "Okay. One step at a time. But at least eat something, will you? You look like you haven't had a proper meal in days."

I roll my eyes but reach for the plate of food anyway.

Mira smirks. "See? Progress."

I shake my head, but a small, genuine smile tugs at my lips. Maybe she's right. Maybe this is my chance to start over.

Maybe, just maybe, I can finally stop running.