Dear Readers,
Happy Diwali and Prosperous New Year...
Sorry no PMs were sent out for this update as I am very busy.
Enjoy
Polki
Part 30
As she put her feet on the floor she realized that today was the first day of the new semester. She had gone to bed last night in anticipation making sure that everything was ready for today. Clothes had been picked out and her bag had been packed, all that was left for her to do today was get ready, eat breakfast and leave for the university. She looked at her alarm clock, she smiled last year on her first day at Harvard she had her mother call to wake her up, today she had woken up herself. So much had happened in the last year, she had met Radha, had finished her first year at college and now she found herself in India.
She listened if there were any noises in the apartment. She wondered if Radha had woken up. She put on her robe and walked out to the living room where she saw Radha already ready and working on her computer. It was only 6am, since when had Radha been up. Geeta walked to Radha and peeped at the laptop screen, she couldn't really see what Radha was doing because the glare of the lights was making it impossible for her to look at the screen properly. She finally decided to ask Radha what she was doing.
Geeta, "Radha, what are you doing up so early?"
Radha, "I couldn't sleep so I decided to get ready and troll various Delhi chat rooms, see if I could find anyone who goes to our University, see if I could get any first-hand accounts of what to expect today."
Geeta, "Can't you ever just walk into a space without preparing?"
Radha, "Of course I can, but when you have time why not research?"
Geeta, "I am going to get ready; I want breakfast when I come back."
Radha, "What am I, your cook. You are lucky that I love you and just because of that I will make us breakfast. Maharani Geeta your Daasi Radha will be waiting with Nashta."
Geeta and Radha both laughed and went back to what they were doing. After about an hour Geeta came into the living room with her bag on her shoulders, she plopped herself at the breakfast bar. Radha too joined her and soon they were finished with breakfast. They made their way downstairs and found Adi waiting for them.
Adi, "Geeta since it is Radha and yours first day at college; I thought I would drop you both off."
Geeta, "Oh thank you Adi Mausa; that is so nice of you."
They all got into the car and in about 15 minutes they were at the university. It wasn't a big campus like Harvard but it had its own charms. They walked past the car park, which should have been called the bike park since most of the vehicles were bikes. They went to the Administrative building and met with the Registrar who provided them with the class and room schedule. Once done, they started walking through campus, getting accustomed to it. Their first class wasn't for another hour and they knew that they wouldn't always be together so it was important to know the campus and maybe even make a few new friends. After all wasn't that what college was all about- forming new relationships. As they walked around, Geeta noticed a guy, as she looked closer she realized he was the same guy she had seen at the mall, she didn't know what to do, so she tugged at Radha's shirt diverting her attention from whatever to the guy. On seeing the person Geeta was pointing to, Radha turned to her with a mischievous smile and asked, "Isn't that your Mr. Dreamy?" Geeta looked at her friend with disbelief, for some reason she was certain that he has heard what Radha had said. Radha looked at her once again this time a little annoyed, "He doesn't have supersonic hearing you know, nor is he a dog, whose hearing is better than humans. Why don't you go talk to him?"
Geeta shook her head in refusal. She wasn't bold like Radha; she wasn't even sure what she would talk to the guy about. Always one to help her friend out, Radha walked up to the guy and said something, the next Geeta knew was both Radha and the guy were walking towards her. What had Radha done this time? What had she told him? What did he think of her-Geeta? So many questions ran through her mind and yet she had no answers. Radha was now standing in front of her and started to talk.
Radha introduced the two people in front of her, "Hey Geeta, this is Aakash. Aakash this is my best friend Geeta"
Radha, "Aakash it seems too is an exchange student and you will never believe it, he too attends Harvard. Isn't that weird and awesome at the same time."
Geeta, "Yeah! It is weird, so what made you decide to come to India for the semester?"
Aakash, "Probably the same thing that made you come to India, wanted to spend some time here and learn something different. So have you been here before?"
Before Geeta could answer, Radha interrupted her saying, "Geeta, I have to get some stuff done, you can find your way to class right, don't be late, bye" and she disappeared. Geeta was left dumbstruck, what was she to do now? well the only sensible thing to do was talk to Aakash and make her way to class.
Geeta, "Sorry about that, she is like the wind, she comes and goes and no one knows how. No I haven't been here before. I was born in India but have lived my entire life in New York City. How about you, have you been here before?"
Aakash, "Yeah! I used to come here often when I was younger to visit my grandparents but once they passed away there weren't many reasons to visit."
Geeta, "Sorry about that."
Aakash seeing Geeta a little uncomfortable said, "No, it's okay, they were old, it was hard in the beginning, but isn't it the law of life- everyone must go at some time, I am just glad I knew them."
Geeta, "You are lucky and I am sure they were lucky to have a grandchild like you."
Aakash, "How can you know that they were lucky to have me?" he said teasingly.
Geeta, "Okay, that is what you tell everyone, but you seem nice, so FRIENDS?" she extended her hand.
Aakash, "FRIENDS" he took her hand in his.
The world seemed to stop just for a second for both of them. They let go and walked to their class. Radha was already waiting for them and had saved two seats next to her. Once class was over, the girls bid Aakash goodbye and made their way home. It was only 12pm and they had 2 hours before they had to report to Khurana Constructions.
As they entered the building the doorman called them and told them that a letter had arrived for Geeta. Taking it from him she thanked him and they went to the apartment. They sat down on the couch and Radha looked at Geeta.
Radha, "What is it?"
Geeta, "It is from Mumbai, I think it is my birth certificate."
Radha, "What are you waiting for? Open it."
Geeta, "I am scared, the information in this envelope can change everything. It can change my sense of being, my identity. I am not sure if I should."
Radha, "Stop being scared and open it.
Geeta, "No, you open it." She closed her eyes and passed the envelope over to Radha.
Radha tore open the envelope and removed the birth certificate. She searched for the information they were truly looking for and on finding it let out a sharp yell. Geeta looked at her worried, seeing her friend worried Radha calmed down and took a deep breath.
Radha, "Mother- Geet Khurana; Father- Maan Singh Khurana"
Geeta, "What did you say the name was again?"
Radha, "Maan Singh Khurana"
They sat there in silence for about 20 minutes trying to digest the information. Radha who usually would run her mouth a hundred miles an hour waited for her friend to say the first words. Geeta seemed to be in a daze, the expression on her face looked like she was trying to pin point something in her memory. Finally she spoke.
Geeta, "I have met him before."
Radha, "When? Where? How?"
Geeta, "First day at Harvard, He was standing in front of my mamma."
Radha, "And?"
Geeta, "I went looking for my mamma and found her in the hallway standing in front of this nice looking man, she looked frazzled when she saw me, but she was composed and introduced him to me as her business associate. She told me she was seeing him after a long time and I suggested they go out for coffee."
Radha, "There has to be something more."
Geeta, "Now that I think of it, everyone that day seemed to be shielding me from something. He stayed the entire time until it was time to leave. I didn't make much of it cause I thought he was there just to talk to mamma. Do you think he came to see me?"
Radha, "I don't have answers for you, but what I can say is that maybe it is time to face him. I think there was a reason we ended up at my Shimla Dadu's place, how we found out that I was related to the Khuranas and how we ended up getting internships at Khurana Construction."
Geeta, "What am I supposed to say to him?"
Radha, "How about nothing, since you don't know much, maybe let him do the talking."
Geeta, "You know what you are right, I don't know anything, but I sure as hell am going to find out and if one thing I have learnt from my mamma is that never jump to conclusions, always listen to the entire facts and then judge. He seemed really nice and mamma didn't look hurt when she was with him so I wonder what happened?"
Radha, "That's my girls. Well how about we get ready and go to your Daddy's office?" she giggled.
Geeta, "This is going to be weird, do you think he knows I am going to be there? How can he, he doesn't even know me and probably doesn't even know I am in India, plus it is a big company so they don't tell him everything I am guessing."
They had lunch, picked up their id badges and purses and made their way to Khurana Constructions. While in the taxi, Radha looked at Geeta and hugged her. And said as if she has just realized it, "Geeta we are related. I always wanted a nice sister and now I have one."
Geeta, "I completely forgot, Yeah! But you already have a sister."
Radha, "That is why I said a nice sister, not just sister."
They arrived at Khurana Constructions and reported to their respective departments. Geeta was going to be working with Sasha while Radha was working in the advertising department. Geeta was told by Sasha's secretary that Sasha was away for a meeting so she would help Mr. Khurana's assistant so that she could learn about some of the accounts they held.
Mr. KIhurana's assistant Mira seemed really nice; she seemed to be in her late 30s just like Geeta's mom. She wondered how long Mira had been working for Mr. Khurana. She knocked on the door and walked in, Mira looked at her and instantaneously her eyes seemed to grow larger. The young girl in front of her looked very much like the picture that had been sitting in her desk for 18 years. She had been given clear instruction by Adi to never remove that picture from the desk. When she as inquired why, she had been told that the person in the picture was someone very important and if she was lucky she would someday meet her.
She opened the drawer and looked at the picture and looked at the girl. She closed the drawer and signalled the girl to the chair.
Mira, "Welcome to Khurana Constructions, I hear you are Sasha's new intern. She is really good at her profession and because of that she expects a lot from her interns, I hope you are ready for a challenge."
Geeta, "Yes ma'am I am ready, unfortunately she isn't in today, she is away for a meeting and I was told to meet with you and assist you today."
Mira, "I can always use some extra help. Mr. Khurana is very particular about everything, however I am used to him by now, and I have been working for him for 18 years."
Geeta, "So ma'am what should I do?"
Mira, "Well this is going to sound really clichd but could you please bring the boss some coffee, I need to prepare some files for a client meeting and it would save me some precious time if you fetched the coffee."
Geeta was nervous, first day in the office and she was about to come face to face with her father, she nodded her head and replied, "Not a problem ma'am" and walked to reception and inquired where the break room was. As she waited for the coffee to brew she decided to call her mother. For some reason there was a nagging feeling in her stomach as if she was about to do something wrong.
Geet heard her phone ring, it was 4am and she wondered who would be calling her. She had been unable to sleep since Maan has left the day before. He had only been gone for a day and she was already missing him badly. She wondered if there was ever going to be a time when they wouldn't have to say goodbye, with his every visit it was getting more and more difficult. She wondered if she should tell Geeta the truth.
She picked up the phone and heard her child's voice on the other end.
Geeta, "Hi meeri pyaari mamma, wanted to call you and tell you I have started my internship and am making coffee for the boss."
Geet, "Do you even know what time it is here? Well anyways I am so proud of you, so how was your first day of school?"
Geeta, "School was good, made a new friend, Adi Mausa dropped us off and now I am at my internship."
Geet, "Great, I am sure you don't have a lot of time, we will talk in detail later. So tell me why did you call me?"
Geeta, "What if I did something wrong, how mad would you be?"
Geet, "What are you talking about?"
Geeta, "I am not telling until you tell me what to expect."
Geet, "It depends, what you may think is wrong may not actually be wrong, as long as you don't do anything that hurts another human being intentionally and as long as I don't have to come and bail you out of jail, my anger quotient will me at a minimum. Now tell me what did you do?"
Geeta, "I was just curious so I have been investigating."
Geet took a deep breath, Maan had told her that the girls wouldn't be able to find out anything and now more than ever she wanted to be the one to tell Geeta the truth and she definitely didn't want her daughter finding stuff out before that. She felt relieved and didn't wait for Geeta to finish what she has to say, Geet said, "It's okay beta, we all sometimes get curious, but since you have told me, you don't have to worry about me getting angry. Now relax and work hard. Talk to you soon."
They ended the call and Geeta now feeling confident took the coffee to Mr. Khurana's office. She knocked on the door and was told to come in. She stood there looking at him, there in front of her sat her father, talking on the phone really engrossed in what he was doing. She decided to put the coffee on the desk and leave, just then she heard, "I still take only one tea spoon of sugar not two Geet." She thought maybe he had mistaken her for someone else. Her mother had left India 19 years ago so why would Mr. Khurana be talking to her. Geeta then said to clear any doubts, "Sir my name is not Geet, it is Geeta."
He couldn't believe what he heard, same voice different name, it couldn't be. Since when had she started working here at Khurana Constructions, wasn't she supposed to be in university. Why was she bringing him coffee and what the hell was he supposed to do now? He slowly looked up and saw her standing in front of him.
They stared at each other, looking at each other, not knowing what to say. He looked in her eyes and he knew instantly that she knew. She knew he was her father, she had her mother's eyes but it seemed unlike her mother she didn't want to hide anything. Her eyes were clear, clearly saying hello and please tell me what happened.
She looked at his eyes and she was surprised at what she saw, she initially saw love, pride which then slowly turned to fear and anger. 'What was going on in his head?' She wondered.
He got up and walked past her, where was he going? He can't leave like this, he has to say something, do something, she turned around and before she could say anything, she saw him close the door and give her a big hug. She was taken aback, she surely wasn't expecting this. She wasn't sure what to feel, in a way he was a stranger but on the other hand he was her father.
After a few minutes of holding his daughter he let go and asked her to sit. Seeing that she was clearly uncomfortable he called Mira and told her to cancel all him appointments, he also told her that the new intern was going to be assisting him off site. He told Geeta that he expected her to be down in the garage in 5 minutes and to tell Radha that she had to go home alone today.
Geeta left to grab her belonging and talk to Radha, in the meantime Maan called Geet.
Once again someone was calling her at this weird time of the night, didn't people know that everyone needed to sleep. She picked up the phone and this time on the other end was Maan.
Maan, "Geet I need to talk to you."
Geet, "Father and daughter are both the same, 15 minutes ago she called and now you. Don't you all have watches in India?"
Maan, "Geet she is here at Khurana Constructions."
Geet, "What, she told me that she was at her internship."
Maan, "Guess, where her internship is and now guess who she brought coffee for?"
Geet, "No! this can't be happening. I was just starting to think about how I am going to tell her the truth."
Maan, "Geet I think it is a little too late for that, and I think she knows I am her father."
Geet, "No wonder she was asking me about doing something wrong and I told her not to worry that I wouldn't be mad at her, but how does she know?"
Maan, "I don't have answers for you, but I promise to call you as soon as I find out. Please don't stress, she had to find out someday, and that someday is today. Relax and sleep."
Geet, "Easy for you to say, you have no idea what is going through my head right now."
Maan, "It isn't easy for me either; Maan Singh Khurana who is always ready is very unprepared today, so give me a break. She is coming will talk to you later."
Spoiler
Really?- Guys this is the spoiler...I wasn't questioning the need for a spoiler...I was giving you all a spoiler...the spoiler is the word Really?
Tum Se Tum Tak
