Chapter 7

                             Part- 7

Past.... Hoshiarpur... At the Handa house.... Khuranas visit the Handas..

Maan is still thinking about that pardha girl and is worried not to see her anywhere.... He is quickly scanning every corner for a glimpse of her....

Dadi: hare Maan bete, aap kadhe kadhe Kya dekh rahe hai? Yahan aayiye

Dadi wants to introduce her potha to everyone, specially Darji.. Maan comes forward still looking for her... Dadi is worried that darji'll take it disrespectful for Maan is not giving attention to Darji... 

Dadi: oh kya haina? Hummare Maan Ko aaise phurane zamaane ka ghar bahut pasand hai, unko aaise architecture pe bahut interest hai, haina Maan?

Actually Maan too takes note of the old British age bungalow which darji bought from a British officer who shifted to England after independence.... but now he is more desperate to see the face of that mysterious girl... 

Dadi: Maan bete, darji ka ashirwad lijiye

Thankfully Annie had taught this ashirwad culture to Maan haina... Maan bends down and gets Darji's blessings....

After a brief introduction of MSK they all settle for lunch...

Annie: hare Geet Kahan hai?

Rajji: Geet didi upar

Pummy(Brij's wife): Rajjiiii...., Geet Apne Nani ke ghar gayi hai, Amritsar

Rajji just nods her head....

Maan gets curious, Pinky was telling something about Nani and Amritsar... Then she must be Geet... So she finally went to Amritsar... Maan is little disappointed...

After dinner and lassi they all sit and talk in the backyard... Everyone one has a friend except for Maan... No one his age... Brij has gone out... 

Rajji has become a fan of Annie and her style... She keeps questioning Annie... Dadi is busy talking about the old days with Darji...

Yamuna and Mohan discuss Annie's wedding and also enquire about Geet's wedding plans with Maninder, Mohinder and their wifes...

Maan decides to take a tour of the house... Geet's like brother Teeto comes and joins Maan... He tries to signal something to Maan which Maan couldn't understand... He then holds Maan's hands and takes him upstairs.... 

Maan is confused... What's he upto? Teeto then leaves Maan infront of a locked room(just the latch is on and not a real lock) and runs down as his mother calls him seeing him missing... Maan tries to follow him downstairs when he hears a soft voice from inside the locked room... 

"Teeto Teeto" 

Maan looks in the direction of the voice... He is pleasantly surprised to see those Hazel eyes looking through the window panes.. she is here only... 

Maan keeps staring her.. Geet has seen him from up here and is afraid that he might tell something about his dropping her last night or about the bullies... So she asked Teeto to bring him up without anyone's knowledge...

Maan keeps looking into her eyes.. Geet feels uncomfortable and tries to get his attention...

Geet: suniye ohh aap yahan Kyun aaye ho?

What a stupid question? Maan didn't come here on his own, he was deliberately brought here by her sepoy... Haina? 

Maan: what? What do you want?

Maan comes to the point directly... Maybe she wants him to unlock the door... Maan opens the door and is about to enter when Geet rushes to stop him... She goes and almost  collides on him... Maan thinks that she'll blame him for that too... He moves back and stops her just holding her by her arms... Geet stops and is very tensed... Maan wonders why she is always under pressure...

Geet: woh woh

She is so scared that someone would come... She keeps looking out constantly...

Maan is in no mood to listen... He is mesmerized by her beautiful face.. he was just waiting to see her face and has been imagining a few faces to fit those beautiful eyes... She looked nothing like what he imagined.. she has got her own charm with a simple yet magical look...

Geet: woh thanks

So she finally has the courtesy to thank him... She has called him for that only... But why is she locked up here while her family lied that she is out of town...Maan needs answers...

Maan: what's wrong with you? What did you do that your family has locked you here?

Geet nods her head fiercely.... Nahi nahi

Maan: what? 

Geet is so terrified...why is she so scared? Is she hiding something from her family? Her friend was telling something about helping her..

Maan: what have you done? Who are those rascals? Do you know them?

Geet tries to stop him talking...if anybody hears him then she'll get into trouble...

Geet: sshhh sshhh

She goes and closes his mouth with her hand... But her hands are bruised( from last night's punishment) ... She cries in pain as she takes off her hands quickly and hides them behind before Maan could see...

Maan: woh tere haath Ko kya ho gaya?

Geet: kuch nahi

Maan: why do you keep lying? What did you do? You can tell me, I'll help you

Maan catches hold of her hand and looks at the bruises...

Maan: what's this?

Rajji comes in search of Maan... Dadi is looking for Maan ...she is afraid Maan left without anyone's knowledge...

Rajji: Geet didi Geet didi

Maan leaves her hand and moves back... Rajji is worried seeing the door open...

Maan pretends as if he doesn't know Geet... Geet is relieved...

Maan: woh ye Kamra locked Kyun hai? Aur ye yahan kya kar rahi hai? 

Rajji is feeling guilty for her family hiding Geet...

Rajji: woh didi ki tabyat teek nahi hai

Teeto comes after Rajji....

Teeto: rajji didi Darji aapko doondh rahe hai, aap inke saath kya kar rahe ho? Darji Ko patha chala toh aap bhi Geet didi ki tarah mar kaooge

Maan is shocked... How they beat the poor girl like an animal?

Maan: rajji, sach sach batho, warna mein darji Ko bhulaoonga

Rajji is afraid....

Rajji: woh kal didi Ko kissi ne drop Kiya tha na?

Maan: toh kya hai? Woh kahin ghoom ho gayi toh kissi ne ussko lift diya hoga

Rajji: par woh didi kissi paraye mard ke saath aayi thi na? Issiliye

Now Maan understands why Geet wanted him to drop her at Pinky's place... It's all his fault... He feels he has unnecessarily troubled this innocent girl thinking that he is helping her...

He should always remember that this is not Canada and moreover this is a strange place... everything is a puzzle for him here.... 

Teeto: rajji didi, Brij veerji aapko bhulathe hai

Rajji runs down with Teeto...

Geet: sshh 

She pleads Maan to leave and keep silent....

Maan now listens to her and leaves without further arguments... As he is about to leave he finds Geet peeping through the window and her eyes stuck on the latch...

Maan smiles: I have locked it as it was before

Maan keeps staring into her eyes... He feels sorry for her and wants to do something for her, in a way he has been the reason for her plight...

Maan: shall I tell you something?

Geet listens to him keenly....

Maan: you should fight back if you haven't done anything wrong

Maan believes self help is the best help.... She has to take charge of her life....

Maan leaves reluctantly for if he stays there any longer Geet would again be punished for no fault of hers...

Geet starts to think about what he said all night....