Chapter 5

   Part - 3

At KM...

Dadi is happy for Maan...

Finally his hardwork has paid off...

Dadi prays to god that He keep her Maan busy in his games like this so that Maan would come out of his bad habit...drinking...

But Dadi has no idea that success too is celeted with alcohol...

Maan comes very late owimg to a party ith his friends...

Dadi is very disappointed...

She knows very well that this habit will put an end to his cricketing career sooner or later...

Maan somehow manages to keep off drinking during matches as he too knows that it's his life now...

He succeeds in getting a permanent place in the one day squad...

Though Geet is not much interested in this Maan, she can't stop herself from admiring his game and style...

And the girls going gaga over him hurts her a little...

She thinks that he doesn't deserve such adulation, after all he is so proud and full of attitude...

This is not a good sign for a good player, sachin ko hi dekho, aaj bhi kitna humble hai...issiliye toh aaj bhi millions like him and adore him...

Babaji, issko jaldhi sabak sikhana, warna ye apne ahankar se hi barbad ho jayega...

Somehow Geet wants him to keep playing...she loves watching him play...

Itna achcha kehltha toh India bhi jeetega, aur issiliye Geet chahathi ki ye aaisa hi khelein, haina? Aur kuch nahi? Personally she hates his attitude and his gamand...haina?

But whenever Maan plays she is glued to the TV, parying for his success...

Just like any other crazy MSK fan she has also become this diehard fan of his...

Little did Geet know where this fanfare is going to take her...

Ranno has spoted the difference in her and she thinks that they should add another line in the matrimonial column when they look for a groom, handsome, well educated, plump salary and should be a cricket fan...but for Vicky she would want her bahu to be a serial lover for she needs to strengthen her team, now it's 3 - 1 minority, after Geet's wedding it would be 2 - 1 and when her bahu comes it should be 2 -2 then it would be interesting to see what Vicky does? Support his father or wife?

Now Geet has become superstitious too waering same earrings whenever Maan plays and so on...

She never thought she would end up doing such crazy things which looked insane for her earlier...

But Vicky says that these are the characteristics of a true Indian fan, welcome to the insane cricket fan club Geet...

At KM...

Dadi is happy with Maan's progress...

And the critics are quick to point out his weakness along with his strenghths as a batsman, Maan's irregular timings, constant absence from practice and preparation camps, his lack of commitment, and his over confidence...

Dadi knows the reason behind this, it's not that he is taking everything for granted or he is not interested in cricket, it's his drinking habit that comes in the way of his career once in a while and that is not acceptable in this gentlemen's game of cicket, you should be a gentleman first on and off the field like Sachin or Captain cool Dhohi, and hone your cricket skills and body staying away fron bad habits and bad company...you have a lot of examples for players ending their successful career b'coz of bad behavior and over confidence and complacency ...

Dadi wants someone to keep him in check, someone to take the responsibility of his mother and who has that right to question him, correct him, and punish him when he is wrong, you need some one to point out his mistakes, and that would surely be his better half...hare ab toh Dadi apne sare zamidariyan apne bahu ko sopna ki intrezaar kar rahi haina?

Dadi has pampered Maan and spoilt him too much that he takes her for granted now, he knows the art of fooling her with fake promises...

"Dadi, kal se dekho, mein ussko chootha bhi nahi, choona kya uske taraf dekhtha bhi nahi"

Next day...

"sorry Dadi, woh meinne toh ussko chooa bhi nahi, woh karan haina, ussne zabardasthi mujhe philadhi"

And he makes another promise..."ab dekho, ye aakhri vada hai"

Dadi knows that his promises only hold in the mornings and when the evening comes they vanish into thin air...

Some of his team mates and seniors who have true affection and who really care about his career try to advice him but Maan hates advices...though he tries hard to keep himself under control he has become so addicted that he has lost control on himself now...

And the team for the Newzealand tour is announced...

Maan is part of the team now...

He is very happy...

He has proved himself as a strong opener in India and he has to prove that abroad too...

It's more important to win abroad, we need a good opening stand, and the team has high hopes on him, this is a huge responsibility on his shoulder and he is ready for this, he has awaited such a challenge and he likes challenges, and the wickets in Newzealand being bowler friendly Maan has a tough task ahead...he is committed and he keeps his friends and his dear drinks away for the past few days and is serious with his cricket...he hates failures...he is here to win, never has he lost in his life before and that won't happen in the future too...

*Don'y compare this with our Newzealand tour L ...any cricket fan here?*

Maan had a rough start but he is backed by his captain...

He is confident that he can get back to his form and he works hard at the nets which is unusual...

Btu someone is not that much happy with his performance...

Geet feels as if she has failed...

She is so frustrated...

She knows that it's not in her hands to change someones fortunes, but how she wished to see him winning, and scoring like he used to do in the beginning...

So is Maan, staying away from his bad company and under the watchful eyes of his manager and most importantly his cricket has kept him away from his bad habit...

Though there are many chances for him to drink he knows that he is a new member and he respects his seniors and he also loves his game, and his bad form doesn't help him to relax...

He concentrates in his practice and in the last game which is a series decider Maan has to prove his critics wrong who had already written him off as a failure abroad...

And guess what? It's Geet's b'day and she is not in a mood to celebrate...

Ranno makes her laddu and asks her to have a darshan of babaji before heading to Sanjeevani...

Geet gets ready earlier...

Vicky has forgot her b'day as usual and is thinking about India's match today...

It's a crucial game, the last match...

Ranno is still busy preparing her lunch...

Breakfast bhi tayaar nahi hai...

Geet ko bhi khana ka mann nahi laga...

She leaves without having her breakfast...

At the gurudhwara she sincerely prays to god for Maan's success...

Apne b'day ko bhi bhool gayi...

Sirf Maan ki jeet chahathi...

She never knew how she became such a Maan maniac...

She often laughed at people who worship their idols and treat them like god...

She would never do that...

But she has got addicted to this man's style and attitude and his game...

She wants him to win always which is not possible...

If he returns without scoring in this match too then his cricketing career will end and maybe he won't be able to make it to the team again...

Then she can't see him on TV...

Then what will she do?

Then how will she watch cricket...

She got hooked to cricket b'coz of Maan you should say...

She was not so addicted before that...

Now she had become so crazy even Vicky is left behind...

She loves watching him...

She wants to keep watching him...

She wants to see him at the top...

She wants him to play for many many years so that she can keep watching him...

It's just like the Maneetians who love to watch them forever...

Geet Maan ke naam ki pooja karthi...aur Dhoni aur Indian team ka bhi pooja karthi...

Apne janam din pe kissi anjaan aadmi jiskko sirf TV pe dekhthi usske naam ke pooja karthi, toh ye toh pagal ho gayi hai...haina babaji?

You have so many fans praying and holding poojas for their stars to perform well...

This is quite common atleast in our country...

And Geet's prayers don't go waste...

Her babaji had fulfilled her janam din wish...

Maan hits his maiden test century helping India win the series and bagging the man of the match for himself...

His teammates are very proud of him,,,,,

Vicky apologises for forgetting Geet's b'day and promised to get her a cake if India wins...

India had won and Geet is very happy...

Her star Maan has won the match for them...

It's all the more special for it's her b'day...

It's really the best b'day gift she had ever got...

And she falls in love with this man instantly...

This is just a love for his game...and nothing more...