Maneet FF: You are always on my mind. AN on P 150 - Page 78

Part 29


The fall semester started in three days and they has still a lot to accomplish. This morning they were on their way to Khurana Construtions, they had gotten their school schedules and were supposed to have a meeting with Human Resources at Khurana Constructions to work out their internship hours. Both the girls were really excited, they had been in India for almost a month and were now used to the city, they were able to get around without any problems and had even managed to spend a few nights at the clubs.

As Geeta sat in the passenger side seat, she wondered what exactly they would get to do at Khurana Constructions, she was sure that they wouldn't let inexperienced interns handle projects but she wanted to help with some of the projects. However the reality was that as an intern she would probably just be in-charge of Coffee and Muffins. As they were stuck in Delhi traffic she looked outside and saw all the people making their way to work, they all looked so burdened, she asked herself if she too would one day end up like these people, unhappy at the prospect of going to work. She couldn't answer her own question so she decided to ask the Guru. Yes, she had decided to give Radha the title of Guru, since she always had some gyan to impart on the sorry masses specially Geeta.

Radha had been thinking too, thinking about the wonders of life and how the world was so small and time passed by so fast; one day she was going to Kindergarten in Frankfurt and the next she was on her way to an internship in Delhi. She once again thanked globalization and the many wonderful things it was responsible for; if it weren't for globalization her parents would have never met and she wouldn't have been. She was pulled out of her thoughts by Geeta.

Geeta, "Radha, look at all these people, they look so sad, do you think that someday I too will look sad like them as I go to work?"

Radha, "I can guarantee that you are not going to turn out to be a sad unhappy grownup."

Geeta was surprised by the conviction in Radha's voice as she had answered her question. And although very happy that Radha saw her being happy in the future she asked why Radha thought so.

Radha, "Because you are going to be doing something you enjoy, you love architecture, you work hard and are learning all about it, and I am sure you will be very good at it, it runs in your genes girl, your mother too is an Architect and have you ever seen her unhappy as she goes to work?"

Geeta, "My mother is always happy at least when it comes to work and thank you for making me believe."

The girls once again went back to their own thoughts and were soon at Khurana Constructons. In less then an hour they had gotten their internship hours and they had also been to the security office to get their identity cards. They looked at their new picture IDs with awe.

Geeta, "Our first real work picture IDs, lets celebrate."

Radha, "Sure, what do you have in mind?"

Geeta, " A good lunch, some shopping, a trip to the spa and maybe a few drinks"

Radha, "What are we waiting for, lets start."

The next 4 hours were spent eating and pampering themselves, and since they had been told from when they were younger that drinking and driving was a big no, no; they decided to buy the alcohol and mixers and drink at home as they watched movies.

Once at home, they got into their pajamas and gathered all they needed, settled onto the sofa and started their celebration. They talked for what seemed like hours, about their childhoods, ex-boyfriends, crushes, friends and frenemies. And eventually the subject of the mystery man came up.

Geeta, "Radha, I think the mystery man is my father."

Radha, "I know you have already said that, but I don't want you raising your hopes."

Geeta, "But I just know it, I can feel it."

Radha, "Well we can try to find out who your father is first and then eventually see if the mystery man is that person."

Geeta, "How are we going to find who my father is?"

Radha, "You were born in India right? And didn't your mom say she was from Delhi?"

Geeta, "Oh! Yeah, you are right, and since my mom is from Delhi, that means that I had to be born here too, we could go to all the hospitals here and see if we can get my birth-certificate."

Radha, "See I should get you drunk more often, this way my brain can get a break once in a while, you are so smart when you are drunk"

Geeta, "Very funny, I am a seedha saadha baccha, no wonder I can't come up with nefarious ideas like you"

Radha, "Yes, you are seedha saadha, but that is why you have me. Since we only have two days before the semester starts we have to go to the hospitals tomorrow."

Geeta, "Sure thing, I am getting really excited now. Maybe we should sleep. I am feeling tired."

Radha, "We can sleep but not before we eat something, else we are going to have major hangovers."

Geeta, "We don't have anything to eat, wait wait, I have an idea."

She picked up her phone and called Sameer. Sameer who was always happy to come and spend some time in Radha's presence was at the apartment withing 15 minutes with tons of food and a big grin. Once the food was set on the table, Radha gave Sameer the money he had spent on the food and invited him to eat with them. As they were having dinner, Geeta couldn't help but notice how big of a crush her cousin had of Radha, who was totally oblivious to Sameer's feelings. Even in a drunken state Geeta knew not to say anything that would hurt Sameer. She did however tell him that she needed to talk to him alone and left it at that.

Dinner was done, left overs were put away, Sameer had left and the girls were comfortably sleeping in their bed, tomorrow as a new day and they were going on a mission. Mission find Geeta's father.

-X-X-X-X-X

Today was going to be the day to find out who her father was, she really didn't care that he hadn't been in her life since her mother had done everything in her power to be a good parent. She had been an excellent mother and an awesome father at the same time. There were times when a male had been required and Neil had always been kind enough to step into whatever shoes the role required. Geeta realized just how lucky she was to have her mother and Devi Masi, Kate Masi and all in her life.

Both Geeta and Radha got ready and were out the house by 9am, they started making their way from hospital to hospital; by mid afternoon they had been to about 7 hospitals and had come up empty handed. They took a break for lunch and were soon once again on the hunt for Geeta's father. After a day of running from one hospital to another they had to return home without any success. It was already 6pm and as they had dinner both Geeta and Radha were perplexed regarding their failure. How was it possible for them to return without answers they both thought.

Radha, "Geeta, are you sure your mother is from Delhi?"

Geeta, "Yes, that is at least what she has told me all these year, she considers Delhi home."

Radha, "Then how is it possible for us to not find your birth certificate here? You know finding your birth certificate can tell us who your father is."

Geeta, "Yes, I know. This is really depressing. I really thought today was going to be the day. I don't know but I was really excited and nervous. I wish there as some way to find out the information we are looking for."

Geeta noticed that Radha was deep in thought and decided to ask what was going through the Gyan Guru's head.

Geeta, "What are you thinking about?"

Radha, "I think there is a way to find out who your dad is. Give me your passport."

Geeta, "How will my passport help?"

Radha, "Well, I know for a fact that my passport has my place of birth stated in it. I am hoping yours does too."

Geeta, "Fine, but you Germans love to document everything, didn't you also tell me that you all have something called a familybook which has your entire family in it."

Radha, "Yes, we Germans are very particular, but lets hope that the Americans too are interested in particulars."

Geeta went to get her passport, although born in India, Geet had applied and gotten both her and Geeta American citizenship. She had never really considered returning to India and had done everything to get a new life for her and Geeta.

Geeta returned with her passport and Radha went through it and right there on the first page with all her details, right under her date of birth was the place of birth.

Radha, "Bingo, we have it, do you want to know where you were born?"

Geeta, "Of course, just tell me" she asked trying to grab the passport out of Radha's hand who at this point was taking pleasure in teasing Geeta and was taking some sick joy in seeing her suffer.

Radha, "You my darling were born in Mumbai, I can't believe you never looked at your passport before."

Geeta, "Never had the need to, just assumed I knew it all."

Radha, "As Stephen R Covey would say We simply assume that the way we see things is the way they really are or the way they should be. And our attitudes and behaviours grow out of these assumptions."

Geeta, " What are you trying to say?"

Radha, "Only that when we assume things we tend to believe that they are true. After a while we stop questioning what we believe and that becomes reality. You never asked your mother, where you were born, you assumed that since she was from Delhi, you too were born in Delhi and you believed it. We just wasted an entire day on this belief of yours."

Geeta, "Yup, I learnt my lesson, I am not going to assume anything anymore, better to ask then to wonder later."

Radha, "Well getting back to point, since we know where you were born, tomorrow we can get in touch with hospitals in Mumbai and find your father. Now we just have to have a plan of action, since there are plenty of hospitals in Mumbai and there is no way we can call them all."

Geeta, "One thing I know for sure, my mother love me to bits and has always provided the best for me. So for my birth too she must have gone to one of the best hospitals. Lets start with the top hospitals in Mumbai, maybe we will get lucky."

The night had brought a new hope into the defeat laden day that they had experienced. They decided that they had to tackle this matter the next day since the semester started soon and once school and the internship started they would have no time to focus on the mystery man or Geeta's father.

They wished each other good night and retired to their rooms.

-X-X-X-X-X-

Today was the day, they had breakfast and made the dining table as their base of operations. Everything they needed was set, the computers, the phones, notepads, pens, snacks and drinks. They were not going to get up until they found out something, of course there was always an exception, in their case it was using the bathroom.

They started with the best hospitals in Mumbai as Geeta had suggested, they called Tata Memorial Hospital, Lilavati Hospital, Breach Candy Hospital, there were still a few hospitals to call however it seemed that Geeta had stuck gold. She had called Wockhardt Hospital and had explained her situations, she had been transferred to the archives department just as they had been at every other hospital they had called, however this one was different. At the Archives Department she talked to Mr. Dhobale.

Mr. Dhobale had asked for her and her parent's name in order to find out if she had been born in their hospital. She had explained to him that she could only provide her and her mother's names as she was unaware of her father. He said that was fine. He had entered Geeta's information in to the system and had very cheerfully informed her that she indeed had been born in their hospital. She had asked him if she could get a copy of her birth certificate however had been told that due to privacy laws she had to provide some proof of identity. Geeta said that would be no problem but since she was out of state what exactly did she need to provide. Mr. Dhobale told her that a notarized copy of her passport would be sufficient. She told him that the matter was urgent and he told her that she could send the document directly to him and he would call her once the certificate was ready.

Once of the phone although the girls wanted to celebrate they went and retained the services of a lawyer and got Geeta's passport copy notarized. They went directly from there to the local DHL office which was at the mall and had the document overnighted to Mr. Dhobale.

The excitement was getting to much for Geeta and she was all over the place, she was supposed to be the more subdued one between the two of them and Radha was starting to get scared. She looked at Geeta with concern, which was not lost on Geeta.

Geeta, "Stop looking at me like that, I feel like I am animal at the Zoo that you are seeing for the first time."

Radha, "I agree you are like an animal at the Zoo that I have seen for the first time, what happened to you, you are all hyper and acting insane."

Geeta, "Sorry, but you are not the only one who can be walking on clouds all the time, what you are witnessing now I am subjected to everyday." she giggled.

Radha was annoyed and let it be known, " I am not insane, this is who I am, you get what you see, no surprises."

Geeta, "Lets stop arguing, it doesn't work for us. I am really excited, I wonder who my father is?"

Radha, "Oh! what if he is a circus clown, oh! wait wait maybe he is an insurance salesman, or better yet he is a police deputy, what do they call them 'Havaldar'" Radha was now holding her stomach laughing and from the looks of it she was no where close to stopping with her suggestions.

Geeta, "Well maybe he is an architect, you did say that architecture was in my genes."

Radha, "I meant from your mother's side. Your father can be anything. He could be a Zookeeper." just as she was about to continue her phone rang. She looked at it and told Geeta in a surprised tone that it was Sameer. 'Why the hell was he calling her and not Geeta? After all he was her cousin.' Radha thought. She picked up the call.

Geeta laughed at Radha's confused annoyance, if only she knew what a huge crush Sameer had on her. They were now in the middle of the mall and Geeta was attracted to a particular store. She didn't know why, but she went into the store and there in front of her was a sight every young woman would kill to behold. The most beautiful person in the world stood in front of her and she was shocked at her ability to not move from where she stood. She knew if anyone saw her she would come across as a gaping fools with her mouth open almost drooling but she wasn't able to stop herself. She prayed silently for Rahda to come and rescue her.

Radha got off the phone and looked around only to find Geeta missing. 'What had happened to her today?' Geeta had been acting unlike herself, but Radha didn't care, it was most definitely something to be joyous about. Geeta was going to have her birth-certificate in a few days and hence the identity of her father and now Sameer had just told her that his friend's brother had come through and had acquired the name of the person to whom the phone number that Geeta's mother had called again and again belonged to. She looked aroung for Geeta and finally spotted her in a store.

She walked with great speed towards Geeta since she wanted to give Geeta the good news but stopped just a foot or so away from her friend and smiled, aww her friend seemed to have developed a soft spot for some dude. She rolled her eyes at her friends plight and went to her. She tapped Geeta on the shoulder, grabbed her when she didn't move and pulled her out the store.

Radha, "Hello! where were you lost?"

Geeta, " I don't know? Did you see him? Have you seen anyone so beautiful?"

Radha, " Yes, I did see him and I don't think he is that beautiful. Sorry but I have seen better."

Geeta, " You lie, anyways lets go home, before I walk back into the store and you have to pull me out again."

They left the mall and in the whole excitement of mystery boy the phone call from Sameer had been forgotten. Radha forgot all about it unfortunately in dragging Geeta away from her Mr. Dreamy


Spoiler
What name did you say?