Dawning

Chapter 2

Sukhi's father had allowed Hardy to lodge with them for a few days. He was now standing in front of the only English speaking class in the village. "Gulati courses" the bright and ugly borad read. The class must have ended just then, because a misfit bunch of men and women started exiting the building. Hardy spotted a haggard looking Sukhi at the back. Sukhi looked up at the same time and saw a man dressed smartly in kurta and pajama. He approached the man, having a faint recognition,

"Hey.. aren't you that-"

"Yes. Yes I am. My name is Hardayal Singh Dhillon, and I'm glad to have finally met the one who saved me."

Hardy replied giving Sukhi a brigh smile. He extended his hand to shake hands with Sukhi.

"Great to see you well my dear friend!" Sukhi returned the gesture with a bear hug that would have people assuming that these two knew each other for a long time.

"How did you find me?" Sukhi let go of Hardy and they began walking together towards a nearby bench and took a seat.

"Asked around once I was conscious enough. Found out you took a train to Laltu. So I grabbed the tape recorder and here I am."

"You have to stay with us for a few days at least. Let me show you around. My father would love to meet you." Sukhi eagerly offered.

"Yes about that. I have already been to your house. Uncle ji already offered a place for me to stay." Hardy replied with a smile.

There was a beat of awkward silence, as they both looked at the students still coming out of the class. Hardy finally decided to address the elephant in the room.

"Hey.. I know this is none of my business, but may I know why are you in this class? I thought you would be an athlete already, looking at the way you ran that day." Hardy kept his tone light.

This really was none of his business. But he felt a deep sense of gratitude towards Sukhi, and he figured he owned them any help he could offer. Sukhi on the other hand and a grieving look on his face as he started to speak.

"Jassi."

Hardy waited for him to continue.

"The girl I love. We were engaged to be married. Cards were given out, sweets were distributed in the whole village. You know the day I found you? I was headed for my Asian games selection. My father in law was very happy with the news. But I couldn't make it there in time." Sukhi gave him a sad smile before continuing,

"and all hell broke loose. He immediately called off our wedding. He found some NRI guy from London and arranged for my Jassi to get married with that man the same weekend."

The word NRI left a bitter taste in Hardy's mouth. It had him thinking of another wedding that didn't take place not so long ago. Where he was the groom left waiting at the altar, because Rajjo's father had found someone better for his daughter. Hardy was feeling even more guilty now. It was somewhat irrational but he held himself responsible for Sukhi loosing the love of his life. He rested a hand over sukhi's shoulder.

"I- I crashed the wedding you know."

"To stop it?"

"No. To see her one last time. We were both idiots. Too proud and egoistic to admit our feelings. But it hit hard when her plane flew over my head. I realised I might never see her or hear from her ever again."

Sukhi was crying now. Hardy was still waiting on finding out how the English speaking class came into picture.
After a while, sukhi wiped his tears and took out a paper from his pocket,

"Until I received this." Sukhi handed the paper to Hardy.

"She's in hell Hardy. The man she was married off to was already married to someone else. He tortures her every day. Her father doesn't answer any of her calls. She's as good as dead to her family. I need to help her Hardy. They will kill her Hardy.."

Hardy glanced over the letter, his blood boiling and guilt quadrapling with every word he read. He didn't know this Jassi but suddenly he was protective of her.

"I asked around and the only way I could enter England was through a student visa, for which I need to know English and clear IELTS. Gulati says he can teach me in two months but I'm not sure. I don't know what to do." Sukhi regaled his sad tale.

"Everything will be alright Sukhi. I'll help you."

Hardy gave him confidence.

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Author's note: trust the process really. also, it was awks, to write a fic in English and have the characters speak English and also attend classes lol