Chapter 36: Arrived, Safe and Sound
~PAST~
"Coffee, sooda coffee," the vendor shouted passing through the train carrying a mini barrel container with hot tea.
Geet woke up with his loud cries of tea and looked disoriented, waking up suddenly from sleep. They had taken the flight from Delhi to Coimbatore before travelling to the train station to board into Nagore Express that began from Coimbatore and traveled all the way to Thanjavor. While Maan had insisted they sit in the first class AC devoid of general crowd and hustle bustle of the people, Geet was adamant to sit in second-class sleeper so that they could enjoy looking at the scenery and have fun. Since the train started in the afternoon and would reach the destination by night, Geet had dozed of a bit with Maan by her side. Although she hadn't seen him sleep when she fell asleep, he now slept comfortably, his head perched on top of hers. The cries of the tea vendor had not woken him, but any more shouts would have woken him up. Geet knew he hadn't slept properly and didn't want to disturb him.
"Shh!" she snapped at the tea vendor and gesturing him to lower his voice.
Seeing her angry, the boy also lowered his voice to a whisper, "Coffee, sooda coffee."
Geet smiled at him and carefully lifted her herself off Maan's neck and laid him on seat, lifting his legs off the ground and positioning her bag for a pillow. Assuring he didn't wake up, she turned to call the boy selling tea, "Oi paiyya, inga oru coffee, (Hey boy, I want one coffee)" she whispered giving him the money.
"Inthaga ka (here you go)," he said pouring her a glass of coffee in the plastic cup and handing it to her. She took the glass and came to sit opposite of Maan, as the seat was unoccupied. The coffee was too hot to drink so she kept it near the window to let it cool while enjoying the fresh breeze and beautiful scenery outside.
The coffee had seemed to cool down and Geet took it and sipped a little when the loud whistle of the train cooed. The loudness woke him up and he stirred. He slowly opened his eyes to find Geet looking at him alarmed, holding a cup in her hand.
"Kya hua?" he asked clearing his throat and getting up.
"Voh, you were sleeping peacefully aur uss whistle ke vajah se," she hesitated.
"Oh it's alright, voh kya hai?" he asked eyeing the cup in her hand.
"Coffee," she answered sipping again.
"You senior jellyfish, lao mujhe do," he said grabbing her cup from her. The sudden act caught her unaware thus allowing him to take the cup off of her. "Hmm," he sighed contentedly as the hot liquid made its way down his throat. "Accha hai, nahi scratch that, bahut accha hai," he grinned.
"Maan voh mera jhoota tha," she said uncertainly.
"Accha?" he asked sounding shocked and she nodded incessantly.
"Isiliye toh itni acchi hai," he grinned, soundly taking another sip of coffee and clearly enjoying it.
Geet was shocked at his reply while something stirred in the bottom of her stomach. She quickly discarded the feeling and continued, "Magar Maan kiski ka jhoota nahi khaatein. They say if a person eats the jhoota of a younger person, their life span will come down," she said, her eyes wide in fear.
"Toh kya hua? As long as I live that short life with you, mujhe koi aitraaz nahi," he said smiling genuinely causing her to blush.
"Maan!" she said whacking his arm and shaking her head, trying to shake away the new feelings seeping through her senses. She looked away through the window as a warm feeling continued to course through her body.
"What Maan?" he asked innocently.
Geet just shook her head, "Kuch nahi, just don't say that. You need to live long and you shall, samjhe aap?"
"Okay officer," Maan replied folding his arm and bending obediently. "Accha yeh batao, vahan tumhare relatives kahaan hai? Do you have any kind of information about where they stay? How are you going to recognize them? Wha—" he paused to see her gesture him to stop.
"Saans lijiye saab," she said standing up and grabbing her bag before opening it and taking out an old and tattered photo. "This was an old album which amma had preserved since she left her house. Of course they would have grown older but amma used to say their family was very well-known in Thanjavur so showing this anyone over there may help. Also she used to tell me they used to live near the big Thanjavur temple and their house was pretty well-known to the people in the town."
"Alright, magar how are you going to randomly show up at their house?"
"I don't know Maan, I am hoping I get some bahana. Dekhtein hain," she sighed putting the photo back in her bag. "But one thing for sure, I definitely want to see them," she said determinedly.
***
The ticket collector had come by to announce the arrival of Thanjavur.
"Voh chauffer ka baccha kahaan hai, abhi tak no sign of him," Maan growled looking at his watch.
Maan and Geet were with their respective luggage in the platform waiting for the arrival of their chauffer they had arranged. The weather was a bit murky and the sun was setting in.
"Maan, bechara would have got caught up somewhere, aajayega," Geet assured for the umpteenth time, sitting on the bench. She was fanning herself with the dupatta, due to the heat when she saw a short pudgy man with sunglasses matching his darkened skin tone perched on top of his head ogling at her. She squinted her eyes to make sure she wasn't imagining things when she saw him wink at her. Her eyes widened in response and turned to see if there was any other person he might be winking at. She turned to look at him to see him shake his head and point to her grinning cheekily. She scrunched her eyebrows and stared at him angrily while he shied like a bride and bit his nails. She bit her lower lip and pointed her finger threateningly towards him, gesturing him to be beware only to have him send a flying kiss in response. "Adapaavi, nee inikki kaali da (you are done for today)!" she yelled loudly grabbing the attention of Maan.
"Kya hua Jaanu?" he asked perplexed only to find her stomping towards the opposite direction. "Oye!" he said grabbing her by the waist, stopping her from proceeding further.
"Chodo mujhe, usko main nahi chodungi," she said angrily, struggling to get off his strong grip.
"Kisko? Dekho Geet, ek minute, tell me what is it," he tried to pacify.
"That monkey," she said pointing to the man. As soon as she pointed the pudgy man was alerted and distracted to move to another place. "Dekho voh kamina is trying to escape!" Maan had loosened his grip for a second to get a better view of what Geet was pointing at only to have her escape off his clutches and run in the direction she was pointing to.
"Arre Geet rukho!" he yelled before following her.
Geet reached the corner by the fruit stall and got hold of a man by his collar before he tried to escape and shook him badly, yelling and cursing away. "Yenda oru azhagana ponna partha odane vazhiya aramidiveengale! Nokku ella akka thangai kidayathu? (As soon as you see a beautiful woman, you start flirting! Don't you have sisters?)" she screamed almost strangling him.
"Ayyo naan onnum pannale!" the man retorted gasping for air. "Naan onnum pakale!"
"Nee parkama un mamana parthan? (Oh did your uncle see me then?)" she retorted angrily.
"Geet!" Maan said holding her shoulder. "Yeh kya tamasha hai?"
"Maan yeh mujhe ghur ke dekh raha tha aur phir aankh bhi maara!" she said, gritting her teeth.
"Kya!" Maan said taking over his collar and lifting him a bit above the ground. "You rascal, how dare you!" Geet hit him from the side while he screamed in pain.
"Ayyo enna vidunga sir! (Leave me sir!)" he screamed. "Naan eppadi ma parthiruppen, enakku andavan kai koduthan kal kothan aana kanna kudukaliye (How could I have seen, God has given me hands and legs but not eyes)," he said dramatically, groping the air.
"Eh?" Geet said doubtfully.
"Enakku kan paarvai illa thaye (I am blind)," he said trying hard to convince them.
"Kya keh raha hai Jaanu?" Maan asked confused.
"Get him down Maan," she said guiltily. The man gulped down hard, thanking his star for keeping him alive. "He says he is blind," she filled in. "I am sorry," she offered, straightening his disheveled clothes and picking his bag.
"It's vokay madam, ithu remba sagajamappa (this is very common)," he said touching her hand contentedly.
"I am really sorry," she apologized.
"Paravaillanga, neenga thappa nenaikkalenna enakku one gelp please (it's alright, if you don't mind one help please)," he said looking up.
"Chollungo (tell me)," she said eagerly.
"Enna antha—" he began.
"Auto yethi vidatuma? (Shall I help you get an auto?)" she said holding his hand and guiding him.
"Venda antha bus stop-la vitta pothum (No need please leave me in the bus-stop)," he said thoroughly enjoying her touch.
"I am really sorry, naan kova pattirukka koodathu (I shouldn't have become angry)," she repented.
"Che che neenga kova pattathan azhaga irukku," he said.
"Huh? Ungalukku eppadi theriyum naan eppidi theriyuvennu? (How do you know how do I look?)" she asked baffled by his statement.
The man bit his tongue and slapped himself mentally. "Unga voice-a kettale neenga remba azhaga irupeengannu theriyuthu (Your voice reflects your beauty)," he said chuckling nervously.
"Oh!" Geet said half-heartedly buying his reason. They reached the bus stop and she left him in the corner. She walked back a few steps when she realized that she had forgotten to return his bag. She hit her forehead and walked back to where she had left him when she heard him talk aloud.
"Yenda Balaji, intha idea unakku nethikki enda thonale?"he asked himself talking aloud.
"Dei Balaji, vandiya eduda, passengers ellam wait pannikittu irukanga!" another man shouted.
Geet was shocked to see that Balaji had faked being blind and had made a fool of her. She stomped her foot, anger evident in her blazing eyes and her mouth agape. "Paavi! (Idiot)" she screamed hitting him with the bag in her hand.
The sudden impact of her blow shocked Balaji and he looked to see Geet hitting him. He screamed in pain while she continued to hit him and a crowd seemed to gather around them. Maan had followed her and now saw her hitting the man and rushed forward to stop her.
"Geet!" he said pulling her from her waist and trying to pry her off, but his attempts were futile. "Geet chodo usse, dekho people are gathering," he managed to say.
"Maan iss dhokebaaz ne mujhe ullu banaya," she said continuing to hit him.
"Geet, chodo, we'll hand him to the police," he offered.
"Nahi iska toh main," she said flaying her arms in the air as Maan had managed to pry her off the man.
The word police had the man repenting, "Ayyo police venda ka! Me remba sorry! (Please no police. I am very sorry!" he pleaded.
Geet hit him a few more times and being satisfied, she huffed in anger, threw the bag on him while Maan managed to get her away from the crowd.
"Achacho maami, enna ippadi pottu thaakkarel (Oh my god maami, how come you are bashing him so badly?" he said chuckling. "Lagta hai bambaai maami ke jagah Punjab ki sherni jaag uthi hai." She turned to glare at him. "Joke tha ji," he said grinning, not wanting to get into her bad books. "We need to go varna that idiot guide will miss us," he said diverting the topic and dragging her back into the train station.
Just as they entered, a man wearing white shirt and a cream colored dhoti and a bag under his left arm stood holding the end of his dhoti in his hand. The red and white clay neatly drawn on his forehead and a ring on his ears clearly showed his religious association.
"Namaskaram," he said holding his hands together and smiling, revealing his red-stained mouth due to betel leaves. Maan and Geet looked at him confused while he seemed know them well. "Mannichukanum setha late ayiduthu (My apologies, I got a bit late)," he said looking at them through his thick glasses.
"What is he saying Geet?" Maan asked perplexed.
"Namaskaram, ungalukku yaar venum? (Hello, who do you need?)" she asked looking at the man.
"Ambi Maan avar thane? (Mr. Maan is him right?)" he asked pointing to Maan.
"Aama (yes)," she confirmed.
"Naan Srinivasa Narisimhachar Desikan, all-in-all guide and head accountant in State Bank of India. Mr. Raman thaan anuppivecchar," he said introducing himself.
"Oh cheri cheri (I see)," she smiled. "Maan yeh hi hai voh jisne Mr. Raman ne bheje," she said looking at Maan. "By the way en peru Geetanjali, Geet-nu koopiduva aathule," she said looking at the new man who had introduced himself.
"Oh lakshanamana peru, ava un athukkara? (Nice name, is he your husband?)" he asked eagerly looking at Maan.
"Ayyo illa mama ennoda boss," she said biting her lips while her cheeks turned red.
"Voh kya pooch raha hai Geet?" Maan asked perplexed at the banter between the man and Geet. He wondered what had caused her to shy down and turn crimson.
"Kuch nahi, hum chalien?" she asked quickly changing the topic while taking her bag and walking along while Mr. Desikan led them.
***
Since the hotels didn't offer much comfort Mr. Desikan had offered to let them stay in his huge colony. Since there were empty rooms right beside each other and there was no problem for food as his wife willingly offered to provide food and other necessary amenities. Mr. Raman had called to apologize for not being able to come in person as he was held up somewhere and promised to meet them the next day. The old couple had nobody else staying in the huge house as all his kids had moved out. They treated Maan and Geet like their own children and Geet felt homely. They had had their dinner and the couple retired to bed while Maan and Geet had decided to sit out for a while on this beautiful night.
***
~PRESENT~
"Maan?" she whispered softly, her voice rasped. She opened her eyes with difficulty, her sight still blurry. She let herself familiarize with the room while searching for the face she had always longed to see. Having no reply she called out again, "Maan?" her voice coarse. She licked her dried lips and tried to get up only to find her body stiff and her head throbbed in pain. She closed her eyes and reached for her forehead to find it tightly bandaged.
"Jaanu?" she heard him call out to her and opened her eyes to find him anxiously striding into the room. She smiled weakly as he walked to her bed and held her hand tightly. "Jaanu yeh kaisa tareeka hai mujhe darane ke liye?" he admonished. "Agar tumne phir se mujhe chod ke chali jaogi toh mujhse bura koi nahi hoga, samjhi tum?" he said tears streaming freely from his eyes.
Geet smiled through her tears and gestured him to come sit near him. He settled beside her and buried his head in the crook of her neck while holding on to her, fearing if he let go she may disappear. He kept crying, wetting her hospital gown while she soothed him, rubbing his arm. His sobs died down and continued to sniff but he lay motionless.
"Maan?" she called out softly. "Dekhiye, I am fine," she assured.
"Haan mujhe dikh raha hai how fine you are," he mocked lifting his head and looking at her.
"Kriti kahaan hai?" she asked searching the room.
"I'll bring her," he said getting off the bed and kissing her forehead before walking out of the room.
please hit the LIKE button and I do appreciate people commenting... if i see no comments or likes it really puts me off n i seriously cannot write anymore... so please do me a favor n hit the like button 😊 CRITICS AND DLAWS OF MY WRITING WELCOME TOO 😃
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
