MG FF - Gharwali, Baharwali - note page 149 06/12 - Page 3

Chapter 1

"Geet! Geet! Wake up!" Pari tapped her twin sister's shoulder. Geet turned over in her sleep, mumbling. "Geet, come on, you've been asleep for a good 10 hours now! How much more sleep does one person need?!"

Geet pulled the duvet over her head.

"GEET!"

Geet shot up, fury written across her face.

"Parineeta Handa, will you shut up and let me sleep for another 10 minutes!"

"Geetanjali Handa, you've been asleep all night, you're hardly deprived!"

Rano walked into the room, adjusting her bangles.

"Geet, you're still in bed? I thought you would have been ready by now, we can't wait around all day. The first family coming to see Pari is arriving in a few days."

"I don't see why I have to come shopping, this has nothing to do with me."

"It has everything to do with you," Rano replied. "They're not just coming for Pari; people will expect to see you too."

"But I-"

"No more arguments, Geet. Now get ready, I expect you to be downstairs in 10 minutes. Pari, help her get ready, will you?"

Pari nodded, & Rano left the room. Geet angrily got out of bed, did her bathroom duties & came back into her bedroom to find a shalwar kameez & a set of jewellry laid out for her. Pari had moved her career based books to one side to make room for makeup.

"I'm not wearing that jewellry. It's bad enough that I'm forced to wear a shalwar kameez all the time."

"You have to make an effort."

"For who? I don't see why I should walk around all day, trying to please people. It means nothing to me."

"Sometimes we all have to do things we don't like, Geet."

"That's where you're wrong. Everyone has rights, everyone is equal, everyone deserves to make their own choices."

"We live in Hoshiarpur."

"Exactly." Geet walked over to the window, which overlooked the Punjabi fields. "I don't feel like I belong here. I feel like I'm a modern woman, trapped in a traditionalist society. If only I could move to somewhere like Delhi, one of India's thriving cities, where women aren't seen as a possession, only fit to serve in the kitchen."

Pari appeared beside Geet. "But this is your home. Our home. We grew up here, we played in those fields. I don't know why you see marraige to be such a bad thing. Being the blushing bride, having a husband to take care of, your own family, it's what every girl dreams of."

"It's what you dream of, Pari. Not me. We might be twins, but we're worlds apart. I just wish everyone else could see that." Geet moved away from the window. "I'm not wearing any jewellry or make-up," she remarked, & left the room. Pari sighed & followed.

Rano & Mohinder were talking amongst themselves in the living area when their daughters appeared at the top of the stairs. They walked down, side by side, contrasting with each other like black & white does.

Pari had long, glossy, straight black hair, like Rano's. She had green eyes to match, which were lined with kajol. She had a fair complexion, her cheekbones emphasised with a light blush, her lips shining with the light pink lipgloss she had sweeped over them. She was wearing small gold earrings with gold bangles to match her gold embroidery on her red salwaar kameez. She was looking like a bride already.

Geet had long, curly brown hair, similar to Mohinder's, with hazel eyes. She never wore any kajol, yet her naturally long eyelashes complimented her eyes perfectly. She also had a fair complexion, with good bone structure, but no blush or lipgloss was ever seen on her face. Geet wore a simple white salwaar kameez, with only a few bangles in sight. She prefered the simple look.

"Pari, you look beautiful," said Rano, stepping forward to kiss her cheek. She looked at Geet. "Geet, you look beautiful too, but you would have been gorgeous if you'd worn a little makeup with more jewellry to match. I know you're not a fan of getting glammed up, but it doesn't hurt to make a bit of an effort."

Mohinder stepped up, patting a hand on Geet's head. "Our Geet looks lovely just as she is."

Geet smiled at her father. "Thanks, Dad."

"Let's go," said Rano, leaving the house with Pari, with Geet & Mohinder following them behind.

~

The Khurana Mansion, nestled in the heart of the city of Delhi, was littered with suitcases all over the place. Maan came down the stairs, sorting out his collar when he saw his Dadima rushing around with the servants, making sure everything was packed. She saw her beloved grandson appear & went over to him.

"Dadima, we're only going to Hoshiarpur for a few days. The amount of things you're packing, you're making it look like we're moving there permanently."

"Maan dear, the family we're going to visit doesn't have one girl in the house, but two. I talked to the mother of the household, Rano, myself and she said they're twins. Which means-"

"Please tell me that you're not getting Dev involved."

"A traditional Punjabi girl is just what he needs to get him to behave."

"His name is Dev. He lives for women. He's not looking for a wife. It's impossible to get him settled down."

"Nothing is impossible, Maan. It may be difficult to get him to agree, but I'm sure this visit to Hoshiarpur will change his outlook on everything. But you can't tell him that we're taking him to meet a girl. I've told him that he's coming to support you. Now, is everything packed?"

Maan nodded.

"And the office work?"

"I've put Adi in charge of everything until I get back."

"Good." Dadima patted her eldest grandson's head. "I know that I'll always be able to rely on you. I can't tell you how happy I was when you finally agreed to marraige. Just think, very soon, a beautiful bahu could be roaming this house..."

Maan laughed. "Dadima, don't get ahead of yourself, we've not even met the girls yet."

"I'm positive this visit to Hoshiarpur will change everything."

~

The Handas reached the main Hoshiarpur mall half an hour later. Rano & Pari dragged Geet & Mohinder into a shop which specialised in custom made Indian outfits for special occasions.

A long, gold lengha caught Pari's eye & she rushed over to it.

"What do you think?" she asked, holding it up.

"It's a bit too much," said Geet. "You're only meeting a boy & his parents, it's hardly like you're getting married straightaway."

"Our Pari is so beautiful, they'll want to accept her as soon as they see her. We can buy this now & save it for one of the main wedding functions," encouraged Rano. She shared an excited smile with her daughter.

Geet was looking around for simple plain suits with as little design as possible. Rano noticed & walked over to her.

"Geet, are you a widow or something? You need to choose beautiful, exquisite clothes, like your sister Pari. Pari!"

Pari rushed over to her sister & mother.

"Help your sister choose something nice, she doesn't seem to understand when I say that she needs to make a good impression."

Geet rolled her eyes sarcastically. Rano left, leaving Pari to suggest different lenghas to Geet.

"Pari, stop showing me lenghas!"

"Lenghas are so beautiful!"

"Lenghas are so annoying! They're so long, how are you expected to walk in them? And too tight around the waist, how can anyone breathe in them?"

"Ok, fine. At least choose a beautiful salwaar kameez, seeing as that's the only thing you tolerate." A green suit with silver designs caught her eye. "How about this one?" she suggested, walking over to it.

Geet followed and eyed it - it didn't look too bad, & wasn't very different to the white suit she was wearing now.

"Ok, I'll wear it," she sighed. Pari clapped her hands in delight. "At least it will get you & Maa off my back," she muttered.

Three hours later, the Handas returned home from their trip. Pari carried a total of 7 bags - she had 5 different outfits, several pieces of jewellry to match her outfits, 2 pairs of shoes & more make up than needed.

Geet carried only 2 bags - her 3 outfits she had chosen and a pair of small high heeled shoes Rano had forced her to buy. They sat their bags down when the house phone rang. Mohinder picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Hello, this is Savitri Devi from Delhi calling."

"Who is it?" whispered Rano. Mohinder mouthed 'Delhi' - Rano & Pari ran over to the phone, trying to listen in. Geet sat on one of the couches, flicking through the business channels.

"Hello-ji, how are you?"

"I'm well, thank you. I just called to let you know that we're setting off from Delhi and should reach Hoshiarpur first thing tomorrow morning."

Rano overheard and began panicking. Mohinder gestured for her to calm down.

"We look forward to seeing you."

"I thought I'd also let you know that both my grandsons are coming."

Rano began fanning her face with her dupatta.

"Oh, that's fine..." Mohinder trailed off.

"See you then," said Savitri Devi, and she put the phone down.

"Hai rabba!" said Rano. Geet turned around.

"Maa, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Two boys are coming!" exclaimed Pari.

"Two?"

"Yes, Geet," said Mohinder. "Both of Savitri Devi's grandsons are coming. We'd better start cleaning this place up properly."

"But-"

"Geet, there's no time for arguments now," said Rano, frantically rushing around the room. "Both of you better take your things upstairs then start cleaning up the rooms, as fast as you can! Pari, you'll have to shift into Geet's room, Savitri Devi's grandsons need a room each."

"What?!" exclaimed Geet & Pari in unison.

"Please girls, no arguments, just go!" ordered Rano. Pari picked up her bags and ran up the stairs, followed by an annoyed Geet who walked as slowly as she could to avoid what she considered as unneccessary preparations.


{The credit for my siggie goes to the amazing kashndsel4eva aka Sani}



Precap: Meet the Khuranas!