PART 12. DAADIMA THROWS A GOOGLY!
Previously on Kya Pyar Karoge Mujhse
Maan sighed as he came out of his thoughts just as Geet spoke up, "Ab Mannat, tum soch rahi hogi ki aisa kya hua ki tumhaari mummy zindagi ulat pulat hone ki baat kar rahi hai? Toh yeh raha uska jawaab! Daadima ne mujhe aur tumhaare papa ko bulaaya aur jab hum dono Daadima ke saamne pahunche toh..."
Two and half years earlier...
A Day after Rain Romance
"Humne faisla kar liya hai!", Daadima announced just as Maan and Geet came into the living room and stood before her. Geet looked on confusedly. "Bahut jald hum Maan ki shaadi karwaayenge!" Geet felt the earth shift beneath her. She looked down in horror. Her Maan was getting married! She could not breathe. She felt the walls close around her. Blackness was threatening to darken her eyesight. Somewhere she heard Maan roar asking who was the girl but his voice seemed so far away. She felt like she was under water and drowning. Just when she thought she was going to faint Daadima's voice rang out clearly, acting as an anchor and pulling her out of what she thought was her nightmare, "Geet se! Aur kis se!"
The darkness cleared and Geet came back to herself. She looked at Daadima in shock. Her! Maan's bride was her, Geet Handa! Hey Babaji! She felt hope blossom in her heart and slowly the hope took wings. Her heart started beating faster and tears of happiness filled her eyes. She was getting married to her Maan! Her mind started racing as she imagined their wedding, him dressed royally in sherwani and her looking like a princess. Just as she imagined their saath phere, Maan roared again, "What! How could you Daadima? Aap kaise mere zindagi ka itna bada faisla aise kar sakti hain?"
Geet's eyes widened in shock as her brain went blank. All she could do was stare at Maan in shock. In her happiness of falling in love for Maan, she never once considered the possibility that Maan might not love her. Hey Babaji! Nahi! Yeh aap mere saath mat keejiye! Mera dil is tarah mat todiye!
"Chillaayiye mat!", Daadima roared as she stood up, "Aap bhool rahe hain ki hum aapki Daadima hain! Aur us rishte ke naate humein poora haq banta hai aapke liye ladki dhundhne ka aur use apne ghar ki bahu banaane ka! Aap toh koi naya kadam uthaate nahi, koi ladki pasand karte hi nahi. Isliye humein hi kuch karna pada! Ab humne Geet ko chun liya hai! Uske Daarji se bhi baat ho chuki hai aur unhonein bhi iss rishte ke liye haan kardiya hai! Toh ab toh yeh shaadi hoke rahegi!"
Maan glared at Daadima for a second and then turning around he stormed off to his room. Geet felt her knees wobble. Her family wanted them married. His family wanted them married. She wanted them married. But the person she wanted to marry did not want her! Tears welled in her eyes and she ran away from the hall to her room to avoid breaking down in front of his family. NT's voice echoed behind her, "Dekha Daadima! Geet sharma gayi!"
The moment she reached her room, she flung herself on to the bed and sobbed her heart out on the pillow. Why? Why was this happening with her? Why can't Maan love her? Was there something wrong with her? Why? And now she can't even refuse to this marriage. Because she never had gone against her Daarji and she would never go against him now either. She had to marry Maan. If only he loved her back, today would have been the happiest day of her life.
Geet continued to cry for another half hour before there were no tears left to come out of her eyes. She sat on her bed hugging her legs to her chest, her head against the wall as she stared at a distance. Her thoughts were all jumbled. Was it that bad marrying Maan? It was obvious he cared for her. And yes, he did not love her and did not wish to marry her but atleast she was getting to marry the love of her life. How many girls in the world were that lucky? Very few, Geet realised. Not everyone gets what they want. She was getting it. She was getting Maan as her husband. She should be happy.
Suddenly, another thought entered her head. What if Maan refused to marry her? Then what? She took a deep breath. Then so be it. Babaji ne aaj tak mere saath koi bura nahi kiya hai! Aaj bhi nahi karenge! Agar mere naseeb mein Maan ka pyaar likha hai toh woh mujhe jaroor milega! Aur agar Maan ka pyaar nahi likha hai, toh main kitna bhi ro lun woh mujhe nahi milega! Aur usi tarah agar mere naseeb mein Maan ki patni hona likha hai toh woh hoke rahega aur nahi likha toh nahi hoga! Bas mujhe Babaji pe bharosa rakhna hoga aur meri zindagi jahaan mujhe le chale mujhe wahaan jaana hoga!
Geet nodded to herself. She had left her fate on her Babaji. Whatever he decided, she was ready to accept it. And if she had to live with Maan as his wife but not as the person he loved, then so be it. Atleast she will be close to her Maan and that was more than enough. Geet stood up with determination and decided to put her thoughts away. She was getting married and she will be happy with that. She went and stood in front of a mirror and smiled widely, too widely for it to be genuine. I am getting married to my Maan! Be happy Geet! Be happy!
Present...
"Aur iss tarah meri zindagi ek jhatke mein bikhar gayi!", Geet reminisced as she talked to herself not noticing that Mannat had already slept, "Of course! Baad mein sab kuch theek hogaya! Maan aur meri shaadi hui, phir dedh saal baad tum hui, humaari zindagi khoobsurat hogayi! Lekin us waqt..." Geet shook her head, lost in her thoughts.
Outside, Maan sighed. Of course! Of course Geet would think like that! In his mind, the day meant something else totally. Of course he behaved very stupidly at first but his actions were valid because he wanted something else and something else happened. Maan smiled as his mind went back to those days.
Two and half years earlier...
A Day after Rain Romance
"Humne faisla kar liya hai!", Daadima announced just as Maan and Geet came into the living room and stood before her. Maan looked at NT and Dev for some indication about what Daadima had planned. Why do I feel as if Daadima is going to ruin my plans? Maan had a bad feeling when NT and Dev looked excited. Kuch toh gadbad hai Maan! Something is gonna go wrong!
"Bahut jald hum Maan ki shaadi karwaayenge!", Daadima announced and Maan's eyes widened. What? Nahi! No way! "DAADIMA!", Maan roared loudly, "Yeh kya keh rahi hain aap? Aap aise kaise kar sakti hain mere saath? Mujhpe aise koi ek rishta kaise thop sakti hain? Aur yeh ladki hai kaun jisse aap meri shaadi karwa rahi hain?"
Maan was agitated and he had the right to be agitated. How can his Daadima make him marry someone? He loved Geet! He cannot marry someone else!
"Geet se! Aur kis se!", Daadima announced and Maan was shocked the umpteenth time. Slowly his shock changed to hope, then to happiness as he realised that he was marrying his Geet and then to despair and slowly the despair turned into anger. He looked at his Daadima furiously, "What! How could you Daadima? Aap kaise mere zindagi ka itna bada faisla aise kar sakti hain?" No! No! No Daadima! How could you! I had plans of proposing Geet, of spending some quality time with her and then telling you people about our love and you went and ruined my plans. Why Daadima? Why?
"Chillaayiye mat!", Daadima roared as she stood up, "Aap bhool rahe hain ki hum aapki Daadima hain! Aur us rishte ke naate humein poora haq banta hai aapke liye ladki dhundhne ka aur use apne ghar ki bahu banaane ka! Aap toh koi naya kadam uthaate nahi, koi ladki pasand karte hi nahi. Isliye humein hi kuch karna pada! Ab humne Geet ko chun liya hai! Uske Daarji se bhi baat ho chuki hai aur unhonein bhi iss rishte ke liye haan kardiya hai! Toh ab toh yeh shaadi hoke rahegi!"
Maan glared at Daadima for a second feeling annoyance at his elaborate plans for confessing his love going down the drain and turning around he stormed off to his room.
As Maan entered his room, he sat down and fumed in anger. Why? Why was this happening to him? Why can't things happen the way I want? Mujhe kya chaahiye tha? Yahi na ki ab jab Geet mujhse pyaar karti hai toh main use apne style mein aise propose karun ki woh din woh zindagi bhar yaad rakhe! Lekin mila kya? Saari planning waste gayi. Arranged marriage hi karna tha toh do saal pehle Geet ko job nahi dilwaata! Do saal pehle hi jab Geet aur meri shaadi ki baat ho rahi thi tabhi hi main uss shaadi ko hone deta! Damn! Achche khaase do saal ki mehnat pe paani fer diya Daadima ne! Maan continued to fume in anger when Daadima marched into the room.
"MAAN! YEH KYA HARQAT HAI AAPKI? Iss tarah koi rishte ko thukraata hai kya?", Daadima shouted. Maan stood up and shook his head, "Aap nahi samjhengi Daadima!"
"Hum samajhte hain! Hum sab samajhte hain!", Daadima spoke and Maan looked at her in shock. O teri! Inko kaise pata chala mere plans ke baare mein!
Daadima continued, "Hum jaante hain ki aap Geet se pyaar karte hain! Aur hum yeh bhi jaante hain ki aapko ab tak iss baat ka ehsaas nahi hua." Maan blinked and then blinked again. Errr...what?
Daadima sighed, "Do saal!", she took a pause and then continued, "Do saal se humein pata hai that you love Geet. Aur do saal se hum ruke rahe ki kabhi na kabhi aapko ehsaas hoga ki aap Geet se pyaar karte hain aur aap humse aake apne rishte ki baat chalaane ko kahenge! Lekin nahi! Aapki iss dimaag mein koi baat ghuse tab na! Sach kehte hain hum Maan! Aap duniya ke sabse badhiya businessman honge lekin dil se ek dum bewakoof hain! Aur romance ka R' bhi aapko nahi pata!"
Maan stared with open mouth as Daadima ranted at him. He? He, who made all this plans to win Geet's heart, was a fool at heart? He, who planned such an elaborate proposal for Geet, had no knowledge of romance? He blinked. I did not know that I was so good at acting that even my Daadima, who claims to know me the best, did not understand my intentions. Shabaash Maan bete! Ise kehte hain khudki pair pe kuraadi maarna! Karo aur planning aur intezaar Geet ke izhaar ka! Ab karni padi na arranged marriage!
While Maan was musing and scolding himself, Daadima continued her rant, "Ab bas! Bahut hogaya! Agar hum aapke liye aise hi rukte rahe toh aapko apne pyaar ka ehsaas hone tak Geet aur aap dono buddhe ho chuke honge! Toh isliye humne faisla kar liya hai ki che mahine mein aapki aur Geet ki shaadi hai!"
Maan felt restlessness well up in him. No! He had to tell Daadima! He had to tell her that he loved Geet and planned to propose elaborately. He had to tell her his plans! Maybe she might postpone his wedding and give Geet and him some alone time too. Yes! He will tell Daadima! He will include her in his plans! Kya pata? She might even help him. Maan nodded and opened his mouth.
"Nahi Maan!" Daadima said sternly, cutting him off before he could even speak, "Humein aur kuch nahi sunna! 6 months mein aapki shaadi hogi matlab hogi!"
"But Daadima ...", Maan spoke up and Daadima hushed him, "Chup! Ek dum chup! Agar aap apni Daadima ka zara sa bhi lihaaz karte hain toh aap iss topic pe ek aur shabd nahi bolenge!"
Maan sighed and shut his mouth promptly. He looked down and his shoulders slumped in a defeated manner. Daadima turned to walk out of the room but stopped at the threshold. She turned around, "Aur Maan bete..."
Maan raised his head and looked at her. Daadima continued, "Humein pata hai ki aap aage kya karenge!" Maan frowned and Daadima spoke, "Aap jaake Geet se baat karne ki koshish karenge aur use convince karenge ki woh iss shaadi ke liye manaa kar dein! Aur humein poora yakeen hai aapke convincing power ke aage uski nahi chalegi aur woh bechaari aapki baat ko maan bhi legi! Lekin hum aisa nahi hone denge! Hum iss shaadi ko rukne nahi denge! Aur isliye hum kal hi Geet ko waapis Hoshiarpur bhej rahe hain! Ab woh iss ghar mein shaadi ke baad hi aayegi!"
Maan collapsed onto the bed aghast as Daadima turned ahead and walked away. Geet was going! He won't be seeing her for six months! No! No way! Yeh nahi ho sakta! He shook his head and fell backwards on the bed. Why? Why is this happening with me?
Half an hour later, Maan stormed out of the house. He had to plan something. He can't accept defeat this easily. He will have his way! With determination, Maan entered his car and went for a long drive, hoping that the long drive would cool his anger down and inspire his brain for a new plan.
Three hours later, Maan entered his house with determination written all over his face. His anger had cooled down due to driving just as he predicted and now armed with a plan of action he dashed towards the terrace. Till few hours earlier, Maan's plan of action after hearing that Geet also loved him was to the point. He was going to have an elaborate proposal for Geet, a proposal so unique that Geet would never forget it. His goal behind his plans of wooing Geet was quite simple from start, and that was to give Geet a love marriage. He knew that he could have easily allowed Daadima to get them married two years ago itself, when she was planning for it and he was in love with Geet but he believed that Geet deserved a beautiful love story, a love story in which he was the hero, she was the heroine and their life was happily ever after. And one of the important step in love marriage was expressing their love to each other and spending some time together and Maan did not want Geet to miss out on that.
But thanks to his Daadima, Maan's plan for elaborate proposal and time spending went down the drain. While he drove around the city mindlessly, he realised one thing. He might not be able to give Geet those lovely moments lovers create when they spend time with each other before marriage and his proposal might not be elaborate but he would still be able to express his love to her and she will have the chance the express her love for him. And that is when Maan decided that he would tell Geet about his feelings in the evening itself, so that when she would leave the house in the morning for Hoshiarpur, her mind will be filled with dreams about their future and her heart will be filled with the love that he had for her.
Maan smiled as he imagined their phone calls where he would whisper sweet nothings into the phone and would hear her reply shyly. She might be in Hoshiarpur and he might be in Dilli but he would call her daily so that they would be close to each other even with the distance between them. And when he will go to her house on the ghodi with his baaraat she would be readily waiting for him with twinkling eyes, radiant face and a shy smile on her lips.
Maan continued to imagine their wedding as he climbed the stairs of his house when he heard Dev talk behind him, "Achcha! Toh bus Dilli se baahar nikal gayi? Badi fast hai! Good! Achcha dekho! Call me the moment you reach Hoshiarpur ok?" Maan's eyes widened in shock. Hoshiarpur!! He turned around only to see Dev entering the house swinging the car keys in his hands, talking in his phone, "Kya? Oh ok!... Haan! Bye!... Kya?...I love you too Jaan!". Dev sighed dreamily as he disconnected the call.
Maan ran down the stairs and questioned Dev with surprise on his face, "Hoshiarpur? Bus? Kya?"
Dev looked up from his phone and was surprised to see his brother look so agitated, "Bro? What's wrong?" Maan shook his head and fumbled, "Wrong? Nothing is wrong! Kyun kuch wrong hoga? Kuch wrong nahi hai! You just tell me! Kisse kya baat kar rahe the?"
Dev rolled his eyes, "I was talking to NT Bro! Aur kaun hai meri Jaan? Achcha yeh sab chodiye aur yeh bataayiye aap kahaan the? Pata hai main aapko kab se dhund raha tha?" Dev started walking towards his room and Maan joined him. Dev continued to talk as he climbed the stairs, "Socha Geet ke jaane se pehle aap dono ek duje ko goodbye bol dein lekin aap the gaayab! Bechaari Geet kitni sad thi pata hai jab use pata chala ki aap use bye bhi bolne nahi aaye!"
"Ek minute! Ek minute!", Maan grabbed Dev and both stopped walking. "Yeh kya baat kar rahe ho? Geet kahaan gayi?" Dev huffed, "Bro! Geet! Gayi Hoshiarpur! NT ke saath!"
"Kya?", Maan roared in shock. Dev nodded, "Haan Bro! Daadima ne Geet ko Hoshiarpur bhej diya. NT was missing her family toh woh bhi saath mein gayi. Abhi just dono ko bus mein chadhaake aaya hun! Infact abhi NT ka phone aaya tha! They are already out of Dilli!"
Maan was beyond shocked. All his plans to tell his feelings to Geet smashed into pieces right in front of his eyes. Geet gayi? Yeh bina jaane ki mere life mein uski kya ehmiyat hai? No! No! NO! Maan looked at Dev agitated, "Par woh aaj gayi kyun? Woh toh kal jaane waali thi na?"
Dev nodded, "Haan! But Daadima ne unhein aaj hi jaane ko kahaan! God knows why!" Dev shrugged and walked away while Maan stood there is shock. Daadi? Daadima ne yeh kyun kiya? Mujhe Daadima se baat karni padegi! Haan! I have to talk to her! He turned around and ran towards Daadima's room.
"Daadima!", Maan stumbled into Daadima's room with such a force that Daadima who was relaxing on the bed almost jumped.
"Maan!", she shouted in shock as she placed her right hand over her heart, "Yeh kya harqat hui? Aise koi kamre mein aata hai kya? Hum kitna dar gaye the!"
"Daadima! I have no time for your drama! Aap bas mere sawaal ka jawaab deejiye!", Maan announced.
Daadima huffed. Maan continued to speak, "Daadima! Geet toh kal jaane waali thi na? Phir aapne use aaj kyun bheja?"
Daadima smirked, "Arre waah! Aapko badi padi hai ki Geet aaj gayi ki kal? Humein laga tha aapko unki koi kadar nahi?"
Maan rolled his eyes, "Daadima! Baaton ko mat ghumaayiye and answer me!"
Daadima shrugged, "Theek hai! Theek hai! Humein apni akad dikhaane ki jaroorat nahi! Geet ko humne aaj hi ke aaj isliye bheja kyunki hum aapko achchi tarah se jaante hain!"
Maan frowned in confusion. Seeing his reaction, Daadima stood up from her seat and glared at him, "Haan Maan! Hum aapki rag rag se waaqif hain! Aap mauka nahi chodenge use behla phuslaake dara dhamkaake iss rishte ko thukraane ke liye! Isliye humne use jaldi bhej diya! So that you won't have a single chance to even talk to her! Ab milna Geet se direct shaadi ke mandap pe!"
Daadima huffed and stormed out of her room while Maan stood there in shock. Yeh ho kya raha hai yahaan? Maan could not understand a single thing. Ek simple plan tha! Geet ko apne feelings bataane the! Aur woh plan ko bhi chaknachoor kar diya Daadima ne! He collapsed on the bed and stared at the distance. Kya kiya aapne Daadima! Bechaari Geet yeh sochke gayi hogi ki main use pyaar nahi karta! What did you do Daadima? What did you do? Mere achche khaase love story ko arrange marriage kar diya!
Maan got up and dejectedly walked out of the room. He reached his room lost in his thoughts. As he sat down on his bed he stared around blankly for a while. After few minutes, he stood up. No! He won't let his Daadima ruin his dreams. Mera plan kaamyaab hoke rahega! Aaj I love you nahi bola toh kya? Phir kabhi bol dunga! Che mahine hain mere paas! In mahinon mein ek din toh mauka mil hi jaayega dil ki baat bolne ka! Roka, sagaai, haldi, mehendi kitne functions hain shaadi mein! Inme se ek function mein toh chance mil hi jaayega! Aur uske pehle bhi toh main wahaan kisi bahaane se jaakar Geet se baat kar sakta hun! Yes! I should not give up now! Main apne pyaar ka izhaar karke rahunga!
Maan then sat down and frowned. Par tab tak kya karun? He looked around and then smiled. Haan! Geet ki taste ke hisaab se iss kamre ko saja sakta hun! He smiled as he imagined Geet entering their room after their wedding and getting delighted at the room decorated in her favorite way. Yes! Maan nodded. This is the best plan! But pehle I will get a stereo for this room. Geet ko gaane se bahut pyaar hai right? So she will have the best stereo in the world in her new room!
Excited about his new plan, he fell back on the bed and closed his eyes daydreaming about the stereo playing while he danced with Geet in their room.
PRECAP:
Next update, epilogue for Kya Pyar Karoge Mujhse but not the end of this unique love story!
Thanks for reading, take care and have fun,
Kalpana
1.2k