Chapter 7

InkedImagination

@Queen0fDarkness

Chapter 7 : Plans for the future

Geet sat on the steps of the library waiting for Prem to pick her up, whilst waiting she pondered about the boy next door. Maan had not joined them for breakfast like she wanted.

Her biggest worry right now should have been her prom as it was her last year of school, but her concerns were drifted to Maan Khurana. She shuddered as she thought of him staying outside last night, even if he was inside of the shed. Britain’s weather was not kind. They barely see much sun, even if it is going to spring soon, it did not mean the cold days were over.

Could he be ill? She wondered silently. She pulled out her phone and thumbed through her contacts pausing at his name and considered sending him a text.

‘Are you okay?’ she fired off the text and waited anxiously.

He didn’t reply so she put her phone away and glanced around for her brother.

Geet stood and descended the steps as Prem parked up, she grinned seeing Kiara sat in the passenger seat. “Hi Kiara” she jumped into the back seat excitedly, her concerns for Maan pushed into the back of her mind for now.

“Hey baby girl” Kiara responded.

“Babe, I’m sure I only say that” Prem winked as he drove away.

“Bhai, she can call me that” Geet rolled her eyes and leaned forward between their seats. “Are you going to be coming to ours anytime soon?” she looked at Kiara expectantly.

“You’ll have to ask your brother” Kiara replied and looked at Prem expectantly.

“I’m not taking you home to my mother yet, babe” Prem rolled his eyes. “She’s going to push for us to get married and pop out babies by next year”.

“Give it a few months” Kiara chuckled looking at Geet. “So, where are you planning to go to college?” she inquired.

“Greenhead College in Huddersfield” Geet answered confidently. “I’ve had my interview and if I get my GCSEs as expected then I’ll be accepted” she smiled.

“That’s quite a distance, it’s about an hour from here” Kiara said.

“About an hour, that’s why I want to get my driving licence soon” Geet agreed. “Probably quicker by train, so I’ll be using that for the first year maybe. Then drive the second year”.

“You going to let her go and study that far?” Kiara raised her brows curiously at Prem.

“It’s one of the top colleges in North West compared to the others” Prem answered, he was practical and even though he did not want his sister travelling so far for college, he wanted the best for her.

“You know they did a performance at the Royal Albert hall?” Geet added.

“Really?” Kiara glanced over her shoulder.

“Yep, the music group did” Geet nodded. “It’s number 1 college in Yorkshire” she informed.

“Aww that’d be good. What’s your career choice?” Kiara looked at her interested.

“I’ve still not decided” Geet chuckled shrugging her shoulders. “I’ll see what results I get, I understand the subjects and able to do my work and get good grades. But, I’m not sure which is my stronger subject now and I’m not sure what I want to become” she mumbled.

“Aww don’t worry about it, Geet. If you need help talking about this, let me know. I’m free” Kiara responded kindly.

“Thanks! Bhai, you have to marry her” Geet looked at Prem seriously.

Prem laughed and looked at Kiara wiggling his brows making her blush and laugh.

Geet wondered why they’d stopped outside of restaurant and Prem then informed his sister she was joining him and Kiara for dinner which had her squeal excitedly and hug him tightly.

During dinner, Geet and Kiara learned more about one another and in a way found a girlfriend in one another even if there were at least 5 years difference between them.

Geet also learned Kiara was an only child and lived with her dad and stepmother who loved her very much. She had also learned Prem had met Kiara’s parents and they approved of him.

After dinner, Prem dropped Kiara off home then headed home with Geet.

“You need to tell mama and nani about Kiara” Geet stated more like a suggestion as they arrived home.

“I will, baby girl. Just not now” Prem smiled climbing out of the car and walked around the side. “You know what they’re like though, as soon as they hear I’m dating they’re going to push for a wedding. Kiara and I are just 23yrs old so we want to date one another before we agree to settle down with each other” he answered. “Anyway, have you found someone to date yet?” he inquired nonchalantly.

“Well, obviously not yet. I spoke to Nyra about it today to spread out that Geet Singhania is ready to date” she grinned cheekily. “I can’t approach someone obviously”.

“Obviously” Prem rolled his eyes laughing sliding his arm around her shoulder and they headed into the house.

Geet excused herself and headed upstairs to her bedroom, upon entering she remembered about maan and pulled out her phone.

‘I’m okay’ he’d replied half hour ago. It was cryptic response and she wasn’t sure what to make of it. There was no way he was okay. Nobody should be okay with the situation.

Geet closed her bedroom door and locked it, she then dialled his number.

“Hello” he sounded out of breath.

“Maan, its me” she mumbled softly.

“Geet?” he whispered.

“Um yeah” she sat on the edge of the bed unsurely. Geet could hear someone in the background yelling for him. “Are you busy?” she asked softly.

“I’m at football with Kabir and the guys” he answered.

“Can we talk tonight?” she asked.

He didn’t speak for some time.

“Maan” she prompted checking her phone to see if the call had cut off.

“We probably need to speak” he replied. “I’ll call you later” he told her then cut the call without waiting for a response.

Geet felt a wave of despair coursing through her in that instant.

What did he mean that they needed to speak?

“Hey Kabir” Jay ran up to Kabir after their football game with the ball in his hand.

“What man?” Kabir asked opening his bottle of water and chugged thirstily.

“There’s rumours going around that Geet is looking to date” Jay inquired.

Kabir scowled, “Don’t even think about it” he snapped slapping the football out of his hands.

“Geet’s allowed to date?” Maan looked questioningly.

“Is she heck” Kabir chuckled rolling his eyes. “Prem bhai wasn’t going to be a hypocrite and say no when she asked. So, he said yes but it must be someone from her year. Now we were 16 and we know how immature we were” he laughed.

“That is cruel” Jay shook his head. “He should allow someone our age date her, we’re mature”.

“You and mature?” Maan laughed hard.

“F*ck off” Jay shoved him back in jest.

Maan laughed even more, “Even if Prem did let anyone older date her, he certainly wouldn’t allow you”

Kabir agreed and they teased Jay together before he flipped them off and stropped off home.

“You need to give me the notes for the 2 sessions this morning” Maan reminded Kabir.

“Oh yeah, come to ours. It’s in my bag” Kabir answered as they headed home together.

Maan followed Kabir into his house, he glanced around seemingly nonchalantly but his eyes were searching for Geet. He couldn’t get out her voice that echoed when he answered his phone, she sounded upset. Had he done that to her? He wished she hadn’t gone into their garden that night, he wasn’t able to get out the expression on her face, she was pale and looked so uncomfortable. And when he had been stupid, he had spilled a little to her and now he was occupying her thoughts and causing her to be worried. That is not what he wanted.

“Maan” Shivani smiled noticing him as he waited in the hall. “Bete, why don’t you come join us for dinner?” she invited as she set dinner on the table. With that, his stomach muscles clenched and growled reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since lunch today.

If he were to go home right now, its most likely that he would be either sent outside without eating or into the basement which was his bedroom.

“Geet, Kabir, Maa, Prem” Shivani yelled out for them. “Come and eat!” she then told Maan to join not giving him much of a choice though he didn’t need further encouraging. He washed his hands and sat down, Kabir joined and placed the notebook on the table besides him.

“Geet said she’d eaten with Prem bhai” Kabir informed.

“What are those two doing?” Shivani inquired.

“They’re in bhai’s room gossiping like two girls” Kabir informed.

“I heard that” Prem called out as he descended the stairs with a gleeful Geet following behind.

“Bhai, it’s only true” Kabir responded. “You both are hiding something”.

“You’ve got a problem with everyone” Aparna pointed out joining them. “Leave them alone”.

Maan slowly lifted his head and looked at Geet as she came closer, her eyes drifted over to his and for a moment they widened before she quickly masked her expression however he noticed the small curl of her lips smiling in his direction.

“I’ll make you a coffee bhai” Geet told Prem and headed into the kitchen, she bit down on her lower lip smiling widely. He was here and eating.

She didn’t think she’d ever felt so elated seeing him sat on their table and eating. She’d used to complain and hate him coming around but now the times have changed.

“Kabir, which university have you applied for?” Prem inquired.

“The Huddersfield one you suggested” Kabir answered.

“Hmm, good” he nodded.

Geet squinted for a moment then her eyes widened, “Bhai! He is not going there”.

“You didn’t think I was going to send you alone, did you?” Prem arched his brows. “The university is only 4 minutes away by car, max 10 minutes walk. This way you both can make the journey by train together, or if Kabir passes his driving test by September, he can drive you there” he explained.

“I knew there was a catch. I just knew it” she shook her head slapping down his cup of coffee.

“I love you too, baby girl” he laughed grabbing her hand and pulling her onto the chair besides him and pressed a kiss to her temple. “I wouldn’t be able to watch over you over there. I want someone there if I’m not able to make it in time if you need me” he tweaked her nose. “Kabir is good for that. You’re only 16, Geet. I know you want to be independent and I wholly support that, baby girl but you’re still our baby sister and we want to protect you as much as we can until some prince charming comes along to take the burden off our hands” he finished off mockingly.

“Bhai” Geet whined slapping his arm and he embraced her tightly.

“I love you” he laughed.

Maan smiled, he admired the relationship Geet shared with her family and he couldn’t help but compare it to his own relationship. He picked up the glass of water sipping, the knot that formed in his throat made it difficult for him to swallow the food.

“So, Maan, have you decided on which university to apply for?” Prem asked.

“No, I… I’m going to look for work after I finish”.

“Oh, don’t you want to study further?” Prem curiously raised his brows.

“It would be nice, but university is expensive. I know there’s student loans, but I don’t want to be spending my life paying it off” he shrugged nonchalantly.

“Hmm, that’s understandable. What about your dad?” Prem asked.

“He’s… you know on disability benefits so…” he mumbled uncomfortably.

“Oh, alright” Prem nodded thoughtfully. “Let me know your results, I’ll see if they’ll take on any interns at our place” he told him.

“You sure?” Maan inquired, he wasn’t one to take on any favours but if he wanted to be able to survive and become independent he had to grasp opportunities.

“Yeah, positive” Prem smiled nodding his head.

After they’d eaten, Geet lingered for a moment in the living room but she realised neither she nor Maan could talk to one another, especially not with everyone around. They barely looked at one another, almost afraid someone will catch onto their lingering stares and figure something out.

Geet excused herself bidding goodnight and locked herself in her bedroom, she grabbed her phone from her dressing table and noticed Maan had sent a text.

‘We’ll speak tomorrow, if possible’

At this, Geet frowned feeling disappointed.

‘Can’t we talk by text?’ she responded and put her phone away as he wouldn’t be replying so quickly as he was downstairs and due to leave to his house now.

‘Sorry, Geet. But this needs to be said face to face’

‘What do you mean? Are you going to stop telling me stuff?’

Geet waited for his response, she’d noticed he had read the text and seemed to typing a response but stopped. She waited for the 3 dots to be moving again. They did then stopped. No response received.

After half hour, Geet finally got a response.

‘I think that would be best. I wish you’d never seen what happened and I would take that day back in a heartbeat. You’re young and you shouldn’t be worrying about something like this. I am okay. I hate that you’re filling yourself with worry over this. It’s nothing. In the olden days, kids got beaten up all the time. Our generation have just made everyone sensitive lol’

‘It doesn’t matter what generation we’re from! This is wrong, its cruel and don’t you dare tell me it’s nothing. It’s something. It’s abuse!’

‘That’s enough. You’re Kabir’s sister, Geet. This is nothing to do with you. Stay out of my business’

Geet read the reply, her eyes stung as the words danced in front of her, as she read the words to herself, she could hear them laced with Maan’s rough voice.

‘Fine. As you wish.’ She fired off her text and shoved her phone under the pillow and curled up underneath the covers, in the dark, under the stars, her tears slipped down her temple soaking the pillow.

[NOCOPY]

[MEMBERSONLY]