Dive into the past

The next morning, there was security all around Diljeet's place. Almost 50 men were guarding the house. When Arjun woke up and saw his house surrounded by so many men, he was shocked and confused. He didn't know what was happening, so he went to Diljeet and asked his father about it.

Diljeet replied, "It's just for security."

"Security from whom?" Arjun asked.

"It's not your problem, son," Diljeet responded. "And I think we already have more than enough money to live a good life without working or studying. So, I want you to drop out of school, and I am quitting my job too."

This information struck Arjun like a rock. He was stunned and asked, "Why, Father? Why are you doing this?"

"You don't have to know everything, son," Diljeet replied.

"But it was Mom's dream that I would get a degree from college," Arjun protested.

"That's a thing of the past, son. Now we have to think about our future. Your mom is not here, but I am, so listen to me," Diljeet insisted.

They both got into an argument, but in the end, Arjun was saddened and locked himself in his room. Diljeet started knocking on the door, but after some time, the knocking stopped. Arjun opened the door to see what had happened and found Diljeet collapsed on the ground. Panicked, Arjun tried to call an ambulance, but Diljeet, still conscious, said, "Call the doctor here, son."

Arjun quickly called the doctors to their home. After a while, the doctors arrived and treated Diljeet. When Arjun asked what had happened to his father, the doctors said it was a heart attack and that he was under some kind of tension. They advised Arjun to take care of his father and said he could see him after they finished their treatment.

Once the doctors were done, Arjun went inside and talked to his father. He promised that he would drop out of college, saying he didn't want to lose his father like he had lost his mother. He started crying and hugged his father. Diljeet then told his son that there was a reason behind all of this and that he would explain everything when Arjun was ready to hear it. In a small town in Uttar Pradesh, India, Labbu sat in a modest house, making a phone call. When the unknown caller answered, Labbu said, "I need weapons." A heavy voice on the other end replied, "You will have them tomorrow morning." It was 9:30 PM, and Labbu had already contacted the other six. They were ready to join him on the hunt for Parm. Karan was working with his father and mother on their farm in the midst of a heatwave. They were collecting cotton under the scorching sun. Karan, feeling exhausted, asked his father if he could go home and let the workers finish the job. His father replied, "Come on, kid. You're a man, and you're already tired? Look at your mom, she's doing great."

His mom started laughing, despite the heat. Karan, overwhelmed by the oppressive weather, eventually lay down in the middle of the field, unable to continue. After about ten minutes, his father came over and said, "Let's go, kid. We should sit under the tree, it's hot."

Karan, trying to control his laughter, looked at his father. His mom chimed in, teasingly, "You were talking big a while back."

His father added, "You can come with us too."

His mother replied, "I'm stronger than you, you weakling," and they all started laughing,Parm woke Karan up. "Karan, we're here. There's our car. It's July 2, 2018. Ten days have passed since that incident."

Parm noticed Karan's confused expression and asked, "You look confused. What happened?"

"Oh, I was having a dream," Karan replied.

"About your parents, huh?" Parm guessed.

Karan didn't answer immediately. Parm said, "It happened to me too when my father died."

Then Karan spoke up, "Uncle, tell me about your past. Who is helping us in this? Where is Aunt, Grandma, and my brother(cousin)? How are we still walking freely after doing all that stuff? I need to know, and I need to know now."

Parm nodded. "I was planning to tell you our history, Karan. I'll tell you from the very start." They sat in the car and started their journey as Parm began recounting their life story.

"You already know that our father died when your father and I were young," Parm began. Karan nodded in agreement. "Your father was 16, and I was 19. Our father died right in front of my little brother. They were working in the field when my father collapsed. My brother, Jaga, tried to save him. He called for nearby people, and they put him in a trolley attached to a tractor. But it was too late. Our father died in front of Jaga's eyes. That changed him forever. He always blamed himself and fell into a deep depression after that."

Parm continued, "After our father's death, things got tougher. Your father and I had to take over the responsibilities of the farm. We struggled to keep things going. Your grandma was a strong woman, but losing her husband took a toll on her. She did everything she could to support us, but it was never easy. Jaga became distant and withdrawn, consumed by guilt and depression. He couldn't bear the sight of the fields, the place where he lost our father. It broke him, Karan."

Karan listened intently, absorbing every word. Parm went on, "Eventually, your father and I had to make some hard choices to keep the family afloat. We got involved in things we never imagined we would, just to survive. It's those choices that brought us to where we are now. The people helping us, the resources we have, all stem from that time. But there's more to the story, and I promise to tell you everything as we go."

Karan nodded, appreciating his uncle's openness. The journey continued, filled with the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future.