A warning before you read the chapter: it might seem like a filler so please excuse if you find it a bit too dragging.
Belated Happy Birthday Avi! 🤗
Chapter Seventeen
The next morning, I wake up early and set off to the task of transferring all my pictures to my laptop and mailing them to Mamma and Raya. With that task out of the way, I take a quick shower, eat a nominal breakfast and get down to studying. Since Maan has already helped me through the problems I was stuck at in Algebra, I decide to study more of it. Only after I'm done with two chapters, I let my mind wander and think about the previous day. It was all so enjoyable. Ayush was right. I smile. Maan is a great guide. As I think about it, I realise that through our day together, I have come to see a side of Maan which he's never really let out in college: the fun-loving and naughty side. Recalling the dinner last night - and the consequential agreement of a real date - it dawns on me that I've probably crossed that line in all the joking which I shouldn't have. I shouldn't have agreed on something like that. A voice in me contradicts. You never had a choice. I squash that voice down. Of course I did. Maan asked me. He gave me a choice and I agreed. The voice speaks again. "Come on Geet. It's just a dinner. Maan was kidding and so were you. There's nothing much to it. I mull over that. But still. It wasn't what I would've done otherwise...
At the end of my musings, I'm left with no way out other than to fulfill the promise I've made to Maan of going to dinner with him. I decide to keep my friendship with him and not let him think the other way. I don't want him to believe that we can actually be more than friends when I'll just be going away within some time, not knowing if I'll ever be able to come back to this place. A knock on my room's door halts my thoughts and I open the door to let a hostel-mate in. She says she needs some help with a subject and so we both get down to solving her problems.
-------------------------------------'Hello?' Ayush's groggy voice hits my ears after a few rings.
'Dude, you're still asleep? Wake up already! You know I've done half a book since morning and you're still in bed.' I hear him groan.
'Maan, if you've called to lecture me on studying then I'm too sleepy right now. You can act like my Mom later. Bye.' Before he can cut the call, I stop him.
'No wait. That wasn't why I called.' He sighs sleepily, indicating me to continue talking.
'Won't you ask how my day was?' His voice is a little annoyed now.
'The day hasn't ended yet. It's only 12.' I roll my eyes. Being dramatic with a sleepy Ayush is a bad idea.
'I was talking about the previous day, you sleepyhead. Anyway, I'll tell you myself.' I pause a little.
'I asked Geet out on a date.' There's silence on the other side before I hear his voice, a little alert now.
'You're kidding.' I grin.
'No I'm not. I really did ask her.' From his voice, I know he's grinning too.
'And what did she say?'
'She agreed.'
'I can't believe it.'
'It's the truth.'
'So when are you taking her?'
'Not decided yet.'
'And where?'
'I don't know.''Cut the crap!' He's peeved.
'Tell me everything from the start.' Needing no more invitation than that, I narrate to him the whole day I've spent with Geet and the way we ended up agreeing on the date. A moment after I finish, Ayush's amazed voice reaches me.
'I didn't know Geet was a fun person.' I chuckle.
'I didn't know that either.' I steer our conversation from me to him and ask him how he and Anaya spent the day. He complains about how Anaya refused to go anywhere with him when she found out he didn't really have any occupation for the day.
'Did you tell her why you refused for coming with us?' He pauses for a moment before answering.
'Uh-huh. Yes.' I suck in a breath to say something but he cuts me off quickly.
'Before you get mad at me, just remember what a stubborn creature Anaya is. She wouldn't let me stay in peace once she smells something fishy.' I groan.
'Now she's going to poke fun at me too.' He chuckles.
'Don't be a chicken, Maan!' 'Whatever!' I quickly change the topic and remind him of coming over in the evening before hanging up.
-------------------------------------I look up from my book when my phone beeps with a text message from Chhoti telling me to come online since Mamma wants to video chat. Opening my laptop, I set it beside my book on the study table and sign in. Sending a video chat invitation to her, I turn my eyes to my book to read as I wait for the call to be accepted and connected. The ding which indicates the connected call, sounds and I look at the screen to see Raya's frowning and Mamma's smiling faces. Before Mamma says anything, I hear my baby sister speak.
'Di, you know you don't look pretty with that bun. Untie it now.' I roll my eyes.
'Chhoti, I'm not getting ready for a photo-shoot here. I'm studying.' Mamma laughs slightly and Chhoti pouts at my retort. Mamma quickly interrupts and asks how college is going, how my preparation for exams is coming along. I ask where Baba is and find out that he has gone for a game of golf with a few of his friends. Chhoti butts in, talking about the pictures and how much I must have enjoyed my day. She wants to know details of my day and so I launch into the whole story.
Chhoti comments that Maan must be a boring person like me, to have taken me to a museum. They laugh after knowing the clock-tower scene and get surprised when I tell them about eating gol-gappe for lunch. As I narrate the rest of the day and reach the point of our joking at the dinner, I see Mamma raising an eyebrow and Chhoti grinning widely.
'And so we agreed on a dinner date tongue-in-cheek.' 'You what?' My mother's shocked words make me realise what I've said didn't sound good so I hurry to salvage the situation.
'Uhh... No Mamma. I didn't mean it that way. It's just a dinner that he asked me for and I agreed.' Hoping I sounded convincing this time, I wait for Mamma to speak.
'Are you sure that's all?' I nod immediately, not wanting Mamma to get angry.
'Yes Mamma, he's just a wonderful friend.' She nods thoughtfully with a
'hmm'. Smiling, I change the topic of conversation inconspicuously, steering it towards Raya and her activities these days. After a few minutes of her giving me a rundown of what she's been up to, I tell both of them I have to study and so our video chat ends right there.
-------------------------------------When Mom calls me for lunch, I realise I've been shut in my room, studying for hours without a break. Only when I sit for lunch with Mom and Ranbir, I let myself think about the impending date with Geet. The thought brings a smile to my face which Mom and Ranbir notice right away. Ranbir clears his throat to catch my attention.
'So how was your day with Geet?' His question is only expected because I haven't met him either last night or since morning due to him being busy and me being locked up in my room. Before I can answer, Mom - who has already extracted all the details of my day last night - speaks up.
'Oh it was wonderful. They enjoyed so much.' We both turn towards her and Ranbir grins, turning back to me.
'Where did you take her?'
'Lots of places. Like the museum, the food street where they ate gol-gappe, and to the park where they fed the ducks. And...' She thinks for a moment.
'Oh yes, the clock tower and that hilltop where we'd gone for picnic a few times and finally a dinner at his favourite restaurant.' She finishes with a wide smile. Mom's excited tone doesn't really surprise me.
She is, after all, the kid amongst the three of us! Ranbir looks back at me.
'Oh wow! That's cool. But that's it? Really Maan? Are you my brother or what!' I open my mouth to respond some way but Mom beats me to it. Again.
'No no no. That's not it. He's your brother and he's proved it. Never mind that he's done it after three years.' She laughs at my expense and I wonder if I should just make an escape.
'So how did he prove it?' Ranbir has taken the cue that Mom isn't going to let me speak.
Or maybe he wants to poke fun at me like always. If it is possible, Mom now appears even more excited than before and dramatically speaks, dragging through her words like she's creating the best suspense. I roll my eyes at her.
'He asked her out on a date.' Ranbir too plays along with her and looks at me with his mouth hanging open and a phonily shocked look across his face.
'Don't tell me she slapped you after that.' Mom bursts out laughing at his assumption while I mumble.
'Why in the world would she slap me?!' He grins.
'Because she's not the type to agree on a date. I can bet on that.' For once, I feel smug.
'Well then, you just lost the bet you're placing because she agreed.' 'You're lying.' I shake my head with an ear to ear grin, the teasing from a few moments earlier long forgotten.
'You mean she said yes to coming with you?' I roll my eyes.
'I don't know what's so hard in that for you to believe.' His face takes on the look that I always dread, the one that means I'm a much-teased dead meat. His eyes glint with unsuppressed humour as he leans forward.
'Hell yes it is! To see that the girl who my kid brother used to peek at and never had the courage to talk to, that girl has agreed to go on a date without much of an effort from my brother's side.' I groan.
'Yes it is hard to belie-' His words are cut off by the ringing of his phone resting on the dining table. He checks the caller ID and smirks at me.
'Your Bhabi saved you this time.' I sigh in relief as he gets up from the table, answering the call as he goes. The rest of the lunch passes uneventfully for me. I ask Mom if she needs any help with the evening's preparation, to which she tells me there's isn't much to do and that I should just go and study with concentration.
-------------------------------------As I come back to my room after a light lunch at the cafeteria, my phone rings and I see Anaya's name flashing on the screen. I pick the call with a smile and the first question I get is how my previous day was and, for the second time in a day, I launch into that tale. Her reactions are exactly what I expect from her: childlike enthusiasm, as if she's the one who has experienced it all. As I reach the part of the dinner and the following conversation, I hesitate.
I shouldn't tell it to her. Another part of my mind contradicts.
I should. She has a right to know, doesn't she? As I fall silent for a while, she questions if I'm alright.
'Yes I'm fine Anaya.' Pausing momentarily before continuing, I think over how to tell her.
'Umm... Anaya...' When I don't speak, she probes and asks what I want to say.
'Maan asked me out for a, umm, date last night.' After a beat's silence, I hear her excitedly squeal and I pull my phone away from my ear.
'Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! I can't believe this! Maan asked you out. Please tell me you said yes.'I swallow and decide to dampen her delirious mood.
'Wait Anaya. Don't think otherwise. I just agreed to a dinner with him and there's nothing more to it.' It doesn't work because she squeals again, now muttering something I don't get. I ask her what she's saying only to regret it.
'How will a nice evening gown do for your date? Oh and some great makeup. I'll tell you what. I've got a perfect dress with matching shoes and you're going to wear that.' I sigh.
'Anaya, please don't make a big deal out of it. It's just going to be a casual dinner. Maan and I are not actually dating.' I hear her reply in a matter-of-factly tone.
'That's for you and Maan to sort out if you're dating or not. I just know that you're not going to ruin my chance at dressing you up. And that's it!' There's no point arguing with her.
'So when is the big day?' I shrug and then realise she can't see me.
'I don't know. The day isn't decided yet.' I hear her mumble again but this time, I catch what she says.
'Leave it to you two to spend a whole wonderful day together, agree on a date and not decide when!' I choose not to answer this one and divert her attention, asking her how she spent the day. She stammers for a moment and I wonder why.
'Err... Ayush took me to movies and... err... yeah, he wanted to watch this stupid action film and he dragged me with him.'
'Didn't you enjoy your time with him?'
'No! The guy is an absolute jerk! He hides things from me!' Her voice is complaining. Perplexed, I ask her what she means by that but she doesn't answer my question. She says her mother is calling her and we will talk later. I stare at my phone after she hangs up.
That was weird. I put my phone away, brush all thoughts aside and clear my head before getting back to studying.
-------------------------------------Only when I reach my room, I think of whether Mom has called Geet to tell her to come over in the evening. I rush back down to the kitchen where Mom is standing, washing the dishes of our lunch. Without beating around the bush, I ask her if she's invited Geet yet. She looks up at me.
'Uh-oh. I forgot to give her a call.' She sees that I'm going to complain so she quickly wipes her hands with the dish towel and looks for her phone.
'Where's my phone now?' I look around as well.
'I think it's in the living room.' Before she can turn and walk out of the kitchen, I offer her my phone and she tells me to dial Geet's number.
-------------------------------------While going through my notes, I hear my phone ringing again. I pick it up and my heart skips a beat when Maan's name appears on the screen.
Does he want to talk about the date? Taking a deep breath, I calm myself and answer the call in a friendly voice.
'Hi Maan!' 'Hi Geet! It's Maan's Mom.' Equal parts embarrassed and disappointed at finding Aunty at the other end of the phone instead of Maan, I greet her and answer her query of how I am and what I'm doing right now. She asks if I'm free in the evening and I tell her I have no plans except studying.
'Great then! You have to come to my house in the evening.' I ask her why and she just says it's a casual get-together so I have to come. I consent and she asks me if I need to be picked up. I tell her I'll manage and with a
'see you in the evening', she ends our conversation.
As I take my phone away from my ear to put it back, I hear a muffled sound and realise
the call hasn't ended yet. I hold the phone against my ear again to hear Maan's voice. 'Is she coming?' His mother answers in affirmative and he asks another question.
'Should I go pick her up?' Aunty tells him not to worry and I cut the call myself, not wanting to hear any more of their conversation with me as the subject. Looking at the time, I decide to get ready first and then get back to studying before I leave for Maan's house.
-------------------------------------Reaching Maan's place, I find out all the people who've been helping in the preparations for Ranbir's wedding have been invited. Aunty is the first person to greet me. She leads me inside as I look around to see Anaya, Ayush and Maan sitting on the floor cushions. Anaya sees me and waves, signalling me to come over to them. After greeting Zara and her mother, I walk over to the trio, aware of Maan's eyes on me and his face holding one of those bright smiles. After the customary greetings end, Anaya excuses herself and asks Ayush to accompany her, leaving me and Maan alone.
Maan turns to me and I notice him completely at ease.
'So what've you been up to for this whole morning?' I shrug.
'Just studying.' He nods understandingly.
'Me too.' As if suddenly remembering it, he speaks with a renewed energy.
'You remember your promise, right?' I smile wordlessly.
'When do you want to go then?' 'Anytime.' He thinks for a moment.
'How about this Wednesday? Two days later?' I smile again.
'I'm good with it.' He flashes his dazzling smile again and for a few seconds, I admire it.
'It's decided then.' Saving me from having to answer him, Anaya and Ayush return, plopping themselves down on the cushions.
-------------------------------------Since all the people Mom wanted to be present here have come and are seated, my mother gets up from her place, interrupting the multiple conversations going on around the room and making an announcement of her own.
'Everyone, listen to me.' When she's sure she has every person's attention, she speaks with a big smile.
'From now on until the wedding,' she looks at the bridal couple sitting there, fingers interlaced, 'we're going to have family dinners at our place every night.' A loud cheer erupts around us and Mom smiles.
'And and and, whatever these kids have planned, dancing and all, it'll also be practiced before dinner.' Another cheer fills the room. After the voices lower a bit, I hear my Bhabi-to-be's voice.
'Aunty.' Mom looks at her questioningly.
'Can we make the dinners to every third or fourth night?'
'But why, dear?' Mom softly asks her.
'The kids, I mean, Maan and all are going to have exams soon. Getting together every night for dinners and dance practice might hamper their studies so...' She pauses and Mom's face turns thoughtful when Zara quickly adds,
'only if you agree, that is.' Mom looks at her and smiles, passing a loving hand over her head.
'You're right, dear. Thank you for reminding me of it.' Zara smiles back at her and Mom announces the revised plan with the reason for the change.
-------------------------------------Mom calls Geet and signals her to come with her. I get curious and raise my eyebrows in question when Mom's eyes meet mine but she only smiles and turns to lead Geet into her room. I don't miss the quick glance Geet throws my way before entering the room.
What does Mom want to talk with her? As I bring my gaze back to the people in front of me, I notice G's teasing smirk. I give her a slight smile before turning back to pay attention to what Ayush and Anaya are bickering about.
-------------------------------------As Aunty closes the door to her room, I feel a sudden, uncalled-for nervousness about why she wants to talk to me alone. Clearing my throat, I ask her the same - in a polite way -in a small voice, to which she laughs and tells me to relax.
'Give me your mother's number. I want to talk to her.' At my puzzled expression, she explains with a smile.
'Sweetheart, I want to invite your family for Ranbir's wedding.' I nod a little.
'But Aunty, there's no need for it.' 'That's for me to decide, sweety. You just give me her number. Or better, here, take this.' She hands me her mobile phone.
'Dial the number and tell your mother I want to talk to her.' Still unsure about calling Mamma but not wanting to deny Aunty either, I take her phone hesitantly and dial the number. She answers the call herself and I talk with her in a constrained voice, telling her Maan's mother wants to talk to her. She stays quiet for a moment before telling me to get her on the line.
I listen to the one-sided conversation as Aunty talks to Mamma. Though the conversation starts off on a formal note with Aunty introducing herself and courteously asking how my mother is, it turns into a more easy chat when Aunty talks about me and how much she adores me. I get a little embarrassed as I hear Aunty praise me to my mother. Then comes the real topic of the phone call and Aunty formally invites my whole family to come and join her for the wedding. After a slight insistence which I suppose, arises due to my mother's denial of coming over, the look on Aunty's face turns into one of understanding and she nods.
'Oh. That's a great suggestion. We'd love to have her here.' She pauses as Mamma speaks.
'No no no. I'm not going to let her stay anywhere else. She'll stay here, in my house.' I don't quite get where the conversation has veered to, or who is it that Aunty is talking about when my name pops in again.
'I'll bring Geet over to my place as well. For the whole time that the wedding functions are going on and Raya is here, I'm not letting Geet stay in the hostel as well.' All her words click into place and alarmed, I open my mouth to object but stop in time reminding myself it's bad manners to interrupt when someone is on the phone.
Only a few moments later, the call ends and Aunty smiles at me.
'All done and decided.' I smile wordlessly at her as she tells me that my mother and father will not be able to make it due to some work that my father has but Mamma has promised to send Raya over for the wedding, and all through the time of festivities, me and my sister are supposed to stay here, in Khurana residence. She also tells me that Mamma is going to send all the clothes I'll need during the wedding, with Raya. As we both leave the room to join everyone outside, my eyes fall on Maan and coincidentally, he looks up at me. That is when the full realisation sinks in.
Here. In this house. For almost a week. In Maan's
house.-------------------------------------I observe Geet's lost expression as she comes out of the room. On the contrary, Mom is smiling widely and I can't guess what has happened to make the two react so differently. I make a mental note to ask Mom afterwards since she goes ahead to say something to Ranbir and Zara and Geet makes her way to sit beside G. For a few short seconds, I just look at Geet, willing her to turn to me but she doesn't. And I come to the conclusion that all those movies are stupid where the heroine turns and looks at the hero when he wills, without him having to say a word. Ranbir gets up from his place and my rumination is cut short. Clapping his hands for attention, he grins at me and I grin back.
'Okay everyone. It's time to get down to some work. We're going to pair up for dances and select songs right now. We won't begin practicing just yet. It'll be on the third day from today, that is, Wednesday, the day of our next get-together.' I sit up straight.
What?! Wednesday! No. With an internal groan, I immediately look at Geet and she's already looking my way. She smiles at my expression in amusement and then shrugs. I give a half smile to her and revert my eyes to Ranbir as he continues taking suggestions of songs, the most active participant being Neil.
After a discussion of a few minutes, another announcement is made that there are going to be at least three dances. One is a pair dance, one a group dance and the third one will be decided later. Ayush, who is sitting sandwiched between me and Anaya, holds Anaya's hand and declares in a low voice only enough for the two of us to hear, that he already has his partner for the pair dance. I smile and get up when Ranbir calls for the youngsters who're going to dance. Anaya, Ayush, Jess, Neil and I stand in a loosely formed circle and I notice that Geet hasn't come. Before I or anyone else can call her name, Zara tells her to join us. She formally refuses, saying she doesn't dance well but Zara insists. Mom walks up to Geet and joins Zara in convincing her. Geet tries to refuse again but I can see her defence weakening by the minute. The final push comes when Mom uses that tone of voice which neither I nor Ranbir can say no to.
'Won't you do this much for me?' Geet looks up at Mom and not more than a few seconds later, she smiles and nods, thus agreeing on dancing.
Seeing my mother lovingly caress Geet's head and her smiling warmly at Mom, I feel
happy. I feel
content to see them bond so well. Looking at Ranbir, I realise this is how he must feel when Mom and Zara interact like very good friends. As I smile at Ranbir, he turns and catches my eye, signalling me to come to him. I walk to him and he whispers in my ear that he wants to have a little fun with Anaya and Ayush. I ask him how and he tells me he's not going to let them pair up in the dance. I agree to have some fun and he turns, telling to the two love birds that they're not allowed to dance together. As they express their displeasure at the decision, I notice Jess coming to stand by Neil and I take the opportunity to go and stand beside Geet, pretending to be nonchalant about having the chance to dance with her but jumping in joy from the insides. My hopes are crushed when Ranbir turns and tells Anaya to pair with Neil, Jess with me and Geet with Ayush. I look at Ranbir and shake my head vigorously.
I don't want to dance with Jess!With a lopsided smirk thrown my way, he changes the partners, telling Anaya to pair with me, Jess with Ayush and Geet with Neil. My mouth pops open at this new arrangement and I stalk over to Ranbir to tell him not to let Geet pair with Neil because he's a flirt and she won't be comfortable. Silently laughing at me, he whispers his denial to me, visibly enjoying playing the devil.
'Sorry bro! Not happening. You don't want to dance with Jess so this is the final arrangement.' He shrugs and I grit my teeth at his play. Wanting to get things done my way, I open my mouth again but he cuts me off.
'Ooh! I smell something burning.' With that, he walks off towards Zara and I look at Mom with a pout, to which she laughs as well.
They've both done this on purpose.
Having no option left, I walk back to Anaya and keep my eyes on Neil and his ways around Geet. I see him smilingly offer his hand to Geet, introducing himself in a pseudo-gentlemanly way. I pray for Geet to not put her hand in his but silently huff when she shakes his hand with a very formal smile. The only solace I get is the kind of smile she gives him, the one that she used to give me for the first few days before we became friends. As Zara calls for attention, I mentally sigh.
This isn't going to be nice! Edited by mayyo13 - 12 years ago
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Cricket
