Father life

1979, Jaga and Parm had been grappling with the loss of their father for three months. Jaga, once outgoing, had withdrawn into himself, his temper now easily ignited. Parm, taking on the role of the family's leader, provided both practical and emotional support to their mother. However, his leadership style with Jaga was marked by orders rather than guidance, believing it would toughen his younger brother.

Their already strained relationship reached a breaking point one day while working on the farm. A dispute over boundaries with their older neighbor, a 36-year-old farmer, escalated from arguments to insults, including an offensive remark about their deceased father. Enraged, Jaga lashed out, striking the neighbor with a rock, blood staining the scene. Parm, realizing the severity of the situation, intervened, preventing further violence. The nearby people swiftly took the injured farmer to the hospital, while others guided Jaga and Parm back home. Upon hearing the harrowing tale, their mother's reaction was visceral – she slapped Jaga and burst into tears, demanding an explanation for his actions. Overwhelmed by guilt and emotion, Jaga joined her in tears. In an attempt to shield his brother, Parm intervened, taking the blame upon himself. However, he also defended Jaga's actions, highlighting the neighbor's disrespectful comments about their late father.

Their mother's response was one of empathy and wisdom, urging Parm to consider the broader perspective. Despite their neighbor's wrongdoing, she emphasized the importance of compassion and understanding. Determined to make amends, she announced her intention to seek forgiveness from the neighbor.

Left alone with Jaga, Parm assumed the role of both protector and mentor. He reassured Jaga that their father would have approved of his actions, instilling in him a sense of validation and strength. Together, they found solace and distraction in playing with their one-year-old sister, a poignant reminder of the familial bonds that would see them through even the darkest of times. In 1983, Punjab was engulfed in one of its darkest periods in history. The demand for a separate nation, Khalistan, was at its peak, spearheaded by the influential figure of Saint Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Under his leadership, a militant force known as "kharku" emerged, but amidst the struggle for sovereignty, atrocities were committed in the name of this movement. The police, fueled by suspicion and fear, resorted to indiscriminate killings, targeting anyone suspected of association with the kharku.

Feeling the call to action, Jaga journeyed to Amritsar to join the kharku force, driven by a sense of duty to fight for the rights of his people. Despite his mother's attempts to dissuade him, Parm, Jaga's older brother, supported his decision, recognizing the gravity of the situation. He understood that failure to resist would jeopardize not only their own lives but also the safety of their community.

However, their aspirations for justice were soon shattered when Jaga, merely nineteen years old, was apprehended by the police. Accused of involvement in militant activities, Parm was also targeted, despite his innocence—he had been diligently working on their farm. Their fate intertwined, they found themselves confined in the same cell, subjected to unimaginable brutality.

Beaten relentlessly with sticks, deprived of sustenance for days on end, and subjected to torturous methods, they endured the harrowing ordeal inflicted upon them by their captors. Each day was a struggle for survival, with their spirits gradually wearing thin under the weight of despair.

Amidst this darkness, a flicker of hope emerged when they were transferred to a different jail, albeit one even more sinister than the last. It was there, in the depths of despair, that they encountered Diljeet, a fellow inmate who extended a hand of solidarity amidst the suffering.

Introductions were made in subdued tones, reflecting the toll their suffering had taken on their spirits. Diljeet, witnessing the extent of their injuries inflicted by their oppressors, expressed empathy tinged with defiance. He shared plans of escape, offering them a chance at freedom from the torment that had become their reality.

With measured determination, Parm affirmed their commitment to the plan, recognizing it as a beacon of hope in the bleakness of their existence. Diljeet's assurance resonated with them, igniting a spark of resilience amidst the darkness that threatened to consume them whole.

Together, bound by shared suffering and a collective desire for liberation, they forged a pact to defy their oppressors and seize their chance at a future free from the shackles of tyranny.