In the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Jasveer Singh, a young man from Punjab, finds himself trapped in Delhi. His close friend Rohit, a local student, hides him from the violent mobs. Rohit's mother, Sunita, comes up with a plan to disguise Jasveer as a newl...
As expected, the neighbor woman returned, this time accompanied by five to eight men, all eager to uncover the secret they believed was hidden inside Sunita's house. Their faces were stern, and their intentions clear as they approached the door.
"We know you're hiding someone," one of the men demanded. "Let us in to search the house."
Sunita stood her ground, her heart pounding. "There's no need for that," she said firmly. "I'll tell you the truth."
The men hesitated, waiting for her explanation.
Sunita took a deep breath. "It's my son's mistake. He ran away with a girl he's been in love with since his school days."
The men exchanged doubtful glances but didn't move. Sunita turned towards the inner room. "Jiya, come out, please."
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Jiya emerged slowly, taking small, hesitant steps. His face was mostly covered by the veil, with only his painted lips and fair chin visible. His slim frame, adorned in the saree, gave no hint of his true identity.
As Jasveer saw those men through the veil, he was shocked to find that the man leading the mob was none other than his PG landlord.
The men looked at Jiya closely, but his appearance, combined with the veil that concealed his features, convinced them. One by one, they started to nod, accepting Sunita's story. The tension began to ease as they believed they were indeed looking at Rohit's wife.
"Looks like she is his wife," one of the men said, turning to the neighbor woman. "You gave us false information."
The neighbor woman, feeling embarrassed, muttered, "I thought I saw something. My mistake."
But she wasn't ready to let it go completely. As the group began to leave, she turned back to Sunita. "If the marriage is already done, then when are you celebrating the first rasoi of the new bride?"
Sunita, thinking quickly, replied, "We planned a small ritual for tomorrow, just among a few people. We'll have a big celebration once these riots have cooled down."
The neighbour woman nodded, though her eyes still held a glint of suspicion. "I'll be sure to keep an eye out," she said, her voice dripping with a veiled threat.
After everyone left, Sunita quickly closed the door. She turned to Jiya and Rohit, her face a mixture of relief and determination. "We have to be extremely careful," she said firmly.
Jiya and Rohit nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Sunita, Rohit, and Jiya sat in the hall, tension still lingering in the air. Sunita broke the silence. "We can't take any risks now," she reiterated.
She turned to Jiya and called, "Jiya, listen."
Jasveer, still adjusting to his new identity, didn't respond immediately. Sunita repeated, "Jasveer."
He looked up, startled. "Yes?"
Sunita took a deep breath. "Forget you are Jasveer. You must fully embrace the role of Jiya. We can't afford any mistakes. You have to live just like a newlywed bride. Cover your face under the veil whenever you are out of your bedroom and don't talk to anyone except us."
Jiya, still in disguise, nodded. "I understand," he whispered. "I'll do whatever it takes to stay safe."
