Chp. 30 Dreams or Reality?
There, standing with his back to her, was none other than Kunwar Maan Singh Khurana. He was wearing a cream sherwani with a chocolate brown turban. Geet just stood there taking in his features-he was tall and handsome as she had expected. Maan heard the door open and turned and Geet quickly lowered her eyes. She dared not look at him!
"Shall we leave?" Maan asked her.
She nodded and they left. Geet's heart was thudding wildly as she walked with him. Her dream had come true! She was walking with her Prince Charming!
As Maan was walking, he was constantly thinking of Geet. He just imagined how she would look were she here in Nandani's place. This pink shade would look so perfect on her innocent face. How he wished it was Geet here in place of Nandani.
Geet was too excited and while turning down a corridor and coming down the stairs, she lost balance because of the stilettos and twisted her ankle. She suddenly let out a gasp, "Ouch!"
The moment she gasped, she was scared, what if Kunwarji recognized her voice and realized she was not Nandani. But something distracted her that put her fears at bay. That touch, it felt so familiar, as though she had always felt it. Maan had held her just in time but was shocked, that voice had sounded so much like Geet's. Could this be Geet? He was too tempted to lift her ghunghat and see her face as he held her in his arms. He lifted his hand to move the veil from her face and at that very instant she straightened up.
"Erm, sorry, I was just..." said Maan.
Geet felt her heart thumping wildly. Had there been a moment's delay she would have been caught!
"Kunwarji, I'm sorry, but you're not supposed to see my face until the engagement, it's part of the royal traditions," said Geet mustering courage.
"You think these traditions hold value in the modern times where majority people have love marriages?" asked Maan.
"Yes I do believe in these traditions as long as they are not harmful to a person's social or personal life," she replied.
Maan was impressed and he couldn't help but think of Geet. Nandani was speaking like Geet today. But then Maan thought that he was thinking too much about Geet and he was too obsessed with her hence he was imagining her voice and her presence everywhere.
They went down for the pooja, Geet being more careful now with her stilettos. As CR saw them coming down, she approached them and whispered in Maan's ear, "Had a good time?"
Maan smiled in reply. She led them both to the royal temple with everyone bringing up the rear. Geet's pulse kept racing throughout the way to the temple. The pundit explained what was to be done and then asked Geet to begin with the aarti. Geet hesitated for a moment, then glancing at Maan she began. Everyone present there was mesmerized by her voice.
Maan was charmed and stood humming along. Nandani's parents were shocked because they had never heard their daughter sing so melodiously before. Maan and Geet did the aarti together (with Maan's hand on hers) and Geet kept blushing finding it difficult to concentrate.
Finally the aarti ended, breaking Maan's trance. He thought there was no mistaking. This voice belonged to Geet and not Nandani! Did that mean it was Geet with him right now? Then where was Nandani? But how could it be possible? With a whirlwind of thoughts racing in his mind, Maan and Geet took the blessings of the elders. Maan needed to find out! It was no longer his imagination, it was Geet and he was going to find out.
As they left the temple, Maan making sure he wasn't overheard, whispered in Geet's ear, "That's a very melodious voice you have."
Geet went all red and murmured, "Thanks."
Maan was sure CR would again leave them alone for a while before dinner and he would use that time to find out about Geet. But he was highly mistaken. CR led her away to sit with the ladies and Maan was forced to go and sit with RS, and Nandani's father. But all through the conversations he was restless and kept looking to where Geet was sitting. After long last, dinner was announced and everyone proceeded to the dining hall. Maan and Geet were supposed to sit by each other. All along Geet had to make huge efforts to control her excitement and happiness.
As everyone settled down and dinner was served, Maan was about to help himself when Sasha suddenly got up and announced, "Bhaiyya, you and bhabhi have done the pooja together, alright, now you're supposed to do one more thing."
Maan looked at her with interest, he hoped whatever he had to do would help him find out whether the person next to him was Nandani or Geet.
"You have to feed bhabhi the first morsel of food," said Sasha as Maan gave her an incredulous look.
He couldn't do that, not in front of everyone! He was a private guy and public displays of affection were not something that he approved. Whereas for Geet, she could hardly believe her ears. She had not only met her prince charming but had also spent the evening with him and now he, Prince Maan Singh Khurana, was going to feed her! She was so close to him, yet she hadn't mustered the courage to look up at him and see his face! Maan looked at his father for help who usually didn't approve of such behavior but it seemed he too was happy for his son so he gave a nod of consent and Maan had no choice but to obey.
"C'mon bhaiyya, let's begin with sweet first," said Sasha.
Maan looked at her and she was beaming at him. He took a spoonful of kheer and fed it to Geet and Geet was happy than she had ever been in her life. Dinner went on with Sasha coaxing Maan to feed Geet with a morsel of every delicacy present until finally CR and RS intervened and asked Sasha to leave them and let them finish dinner in peace.
Soon dinner was over and it was time for Princess Nandani and her parents to return and Geet was sick with fear. It was Princess Nandani who was supposed to be here now and not her but how could this happen? She had no way of communicating to Princess Nandani about this situation. Her mind was racing and she had to think of something and quick. RS and CR were having a final word with Nandani's parents and Maan and Geet were given a few moments' privacy.
It was then, as she stood with her prince charming for the last few moments that it struck her.
"BR!" she suddenly exclaimed.
"Sorry?" Maan asked shocked.
"I haven't been to see Mom, would you mind if we go and meet her and take her blessings before I leave?" she asked.
Maan was pleased, however by the moment he was more and more forced to believe that this was Geet with him. He agreed and after informing everyone, they went to meet BR. Geet was relieved of half her tension because now she was alone with Kunwarji but she still had to find a way to get away from him and to Rajkumari Nandani without Kunwarji suspecting anything. She had to think fast. They soon reached BR's room. BR was awake and Pinky was sitting with her. Pinky saw them enter. They took BR's blessings and Maan said, "Mom, Rajkumari Nandani wanted to see you and take your blessings before leaving. Choti maa had invited them for a pooja."
BR gave a smile though she knew how difficult it was for her son to be with Nandani and do all the 'rasams' when he loved someone else. Pinky was pretty shocked wondering why did Nandani have to go out of her way and act like the perfect daughter-in-law when she wasn't one.
After a while they decided to leave as Princess Nandani's parents would be waiting. Geet was feeling too tensed now. What could she do to escape from here and get Princess Nandani instead? Maan still wanted to find out the truth but time was running low. It was time for Nandani to return and he couldn't think of anything. Both of them conscious of the other's presence kept walking silently. As he was walking Maan saw a servant coming from the opposite direction holding a tray with a glass of juice on it. He just knew what he had to do. As the servant neared them, he carefully stuck out his foot and the servant tripped shattering the tray and the glass and splashing juice all over Geet's sari. Geet was jolted out of her thoughts by the crashing noise. She stared around and realized what had happened.
"Can't you watch your step while walking?" Maan scolded the servant while watching Geet intently at the same time.
But before he could scold the servant any further, Geet intervened and said, "It's okay Kunwarji, it isn't his mistake it was an accident."
Maan was joyous. He had got his answer. It was indeed Geet with him! Because had it have been Nandani, the poor servant would have had a hard time. However, Geet was a total opposite of Nandani and this action of hers had proved why she was so much better than Nandani. The servant apologized and left.
Geet was grateful that the servant had dropped that glass because now she had an excuse! She needed to go and change and so now she could swap places with Princess Nandani again. Now that Maan knew that it was his true princess who was with him, he wanted it to be a memorable meeting for her.
"My sari is a total mess, I'll need to change it," Geet told Maan.
"Okay, then I'll leave, you can change and then come down," he replied.
As he was about to leave, he spotted a vase of fresh red roses, he smiled and picked up one, then turned and called out to Geet, "Rajkumari!" (He didn't wish to call her Nandani and he couldn't call her Geet).
Geet turned and Maan walked up to her and said, "This was our first official date but unfortunately I couldn't get you a gift so I got this."
He showed her the rose and as she raised her hand to accept it, their hands brushed with each other and he held her hand while she said, "This is the most special rose and a gift closest to my heart. Thank you Kunwarji."
Geet's eyes were stinging with tears and she was glad that Kunwarji couldn't see her face. Maan came close to her and took her hand bent over it gallantly and lifted her knuckles to his lips for a kiss as if she were a grand lady. As his lips brushed her skin, Geet felt tingles and she blushed.
"Hope we meet soon," Maan said in a husky and romantic voice.
"I shall miss you."
Geet freed her hand from Kunwarji's grasp and ran, tears of happiness now flowing down her eyes. As fast as her legs could carry her with the stilettos, she ran. Maan watched as Geet disappeared from sight.
*****
Ta-da!
What comes my way 'eggs and tomatoes or chocolates?
Okies people, so this was chapter 30 and we're on page 127. Now, the next chapter, 31, will be put up in the next thread but before that, this thread needs to reach page 140. As soon as we're on pg.140, I'll put up the next chapter 'be it tomorrow or one week later, it's up to you! So, over to you!
***EDITED***
Geet not looking at Maan's face throughout the meeting was a li'l over to the extremes, but hell, MaanEet make me take fantasy to the extremes!
P.S: We're over 30 chapters now, but I'm still asking this. Would anyone like to make me a banner for this FF? If yes, drop me a PM and we can discuss it out. :)
Edited by tes_v1 - 13 years ago
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