By morning, the entire district was watching. Surti called the police. But the police knew: arresting Hakam Singh meant 200 tractors blocking the highway.

“ Jatt nahi vigardha , Guri. He only remembers who he is.”

Surti offered double the money. Hakam refused. He demanded the original deed, an apology written in Punjabi on a rumaal (handkerchief), and a public feast for the village.

Guri stammered, “Bhai... Surti said he’d give it back after a year.”

People whispered, “ Je Jatt vigarh gaya … nobody can stop him.”

When Hakam found out, he didn’t shout. He stood still in the middle of his dari (courtyard), fists clenched, jaw tight. His wife, Simran, knew that stillness. She took the children inside.

Instead, they negotiated.