Chapter Fourteen
The Reception From Hell
After Geet's parents left, a relieved Maan carried her up to the suite reserved for them by Dadimaa. Laying her down carefully on the bed, he sat next to her and started thinking-it suited him better than speaking.
Had anyone stole his shoes?
Had any friends of his teased him?
Had his parents given the couple their aashirwaad?
Had there been any friends of Geet dancing at the sangeet?
No, it really was a sham marriage. And it worried Maan, because he had realized that he was as alone in the world as Geet was. They both had their respective families and colleagues but no one really that close.
He looked down at her and was shocked to see he had been stroking her forehead the entire while. His hands moved away just as her eyes fluttered open.
"Mama and Papaji left?" she asked, though she knew the answer. He nodded his head. They both looked forward, blushing furiously.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Maan! Geet! Come outside darlings, it's time for the reception,"Dadimaa called out. They both immediately headed to the bathroom and stopped-there was only one bathroom.
Dadimaa, how could you?
"I'll wear the same clothes...you change, and wear some light jewellery, you must be tired of all this heavy kaarigari."
She nodded her head and headed inside.
She came out dressed in a resplendent red sari, with a diamond necklace adorning her neck. Maan's jaws dropped for a second then closed again.
They headed downstairs to the ballroom where the mandap had been replaced by a podium and the antique chandeliers with the flashing lights on the photographers. They stood there, giving fake smiles. Suddenly they looked down and saw they had linked their arms without realizing. In order not to startle the guests they continued to smile.
Dev and Naintara came down, Naintara already forming ideas of how Dev must have probably felt sorry for Geet, paid for her expenses in Delhi, and arranged a match for her with Maan.
She was ready to announce why the marriage could not happen when the lightbulb in her head finally switched on-this was the reception! Dev was beaming, obviously pleased by the media attention. Naintara dragged him towards Dadimaa.
"Dadimaa, I have to tell you something," she hissed.
And out came the whole story she had concocted in the comfort of her suite-how Geet tried to seduce Dev in Amritsar, passed off her baby as his, and came to Delhi to trap Maan in the same way.
Dadimaa looked at Naintara for a second.
And then in front of the entire crowd, she slapped her.
Everyone hushed up, except the photographers. They were thrilled-who would not be? Maan and Geet looked towards the source of commotion and Geet's face turned pale.
Dadimaa took the entire family, including the new bride, to a side room.
"If you don't believe me, ask her!" shouted Naintara, pointing towards Geet.
"Geet, are you pregnant?" asked Dadimaa.
Sasha nearly fainted from delight.
She looked at Maan, and then at her belly, and firmly said, "Yes."
"And is it Dev's child?" she asked softly.
"Yes," she said softly.
Maan felt like someone had just hit him on the head with a hammer.
"How could you hide this from me?" said Dadimaa angrily. "I trusted you, and you lived in my house for so much time without even telling me?"
"I didn't know he was Maan's brother!" a teary Geet said. "I thought I had got rid of him!"
"But you should have told Maan at least!" she said.
"That's it!" said Maan. "I don't want to hear any more of this."
"I should have known!" Geet said tearfully. "I should have known my past would never leave me!!"
And saying that she ran away, clutching her stomach, promising her baby that everything would be alright-though she herself did not believe it.
Debate Mansion
