Chapter Two
Friday morning 8:00 am!
Dressed in a mohair sweater and electric yellow pant, get was moving out of the drawing room. She had the first lecture at 8:30 and wanted to reach on time.
Quickly reaching the big drawing room she stood in front of a huge garlanded photo of her father, Squadron leader Mohinder Handa. Joining both hands, she bowed low in reverence. It was 15 years since her father left during the indo-pakistan war of 1994. Back then, she was barely three years old. She missed her dad terribly, having very few people to make up for the big loss.
Having prayed to her father, she went to the dining table and picked up her two tiffins. One for breakfast and other for the lunch break. She was stuffing them in her bag when she heard a soft, male voice behind her. She turned and came face to face with Randeep Kapoor, her late father's best friend and now her mom's second husband. Rano had married her husband's friend at Daarji's insistence.
"Wish you a very happy birthday, Geet beta!" Randeep wished her with a big smile on his face. Today, 29th december, Geet had begun the 18th year of her life.
"Thank you uncle." Geet reciprocated very formally and politely excusing herself, exited to enter her car. Randeep stood there as the car pulled out of the driveway, looking at his daughter. Alas! She had not accepted him as her father.
Mohinder's death had come as a big setback for Geet, for whom her Dad was everything.
Sighing in defeat, Mr. Kapoor stood there when he felt a soft hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw his wife Rano, assuring him with a soft blink of her eyes.
"Maine bahot koshish ki Rano. Par shayad geet mujhe kabhi Papa kehkar nahi pukaregi. Lagta ab mujhe iski umeed bhi chhod deni hogi." Randeep unburdened his heart in front of Geet's mom.
"Nahi Randeep! Geet abhi bachhi hai. Usey kuch theek se pata bhi nahi thaa. Jo kuch bhi hua, usme aap ka koi kasoor nahi hai. Ye sab to babaji ki marzi thi. Ab mohinder aur humara saath itna hi likha thaa. Usme koi kya kar sakta hai?
Aur phir main aur Daarji dodo jaante hain, ye parivaar kitna khali ho gaya thaa. Par jab aap is ghar me aaye, tab Daarji ko unka beta mil gaya. Aur mujhe meri beti ke liye ek achha pita. Nahi to humare saare relatives, isi baat ka faayda lekar, mujhe aur Daarji ko sadak par le aate. Phir itni saari property aur meri bachhi ke future ka kya hota?
"Rano theek keh rahi puttar." Daarji joined them. "Raha sawaal geet ka, aaj nahi to kal, wo ye baat zaroor samajh legi. Mujhe bahot khushi hai ki aap logo ne geet par kabhi koi sakhti nahi ki. Aise maamlo mein hum logo ko hi usey samajhna hoga. Usey hum sab ki bahot zaroorat hai." Poor old man finished with a weary sigh.
Meanwhile, in the college:
After the driver left, geet climbed up the porch steps and started walking towards their classroom. Reaching there, she found the teacher hadn't arrived yet. So she sat down on her place, waiting for the bell to ring. There was a strange emptiness in her hazel orbs. Her face was downcast, unshed tears were swimming in her eyes. Like every year, today she was missing her dad very much. Biting her lips to control her pain, she opened her bag to take the books. Just then, she felt a weight beside herself.
Lifting her head, she smiled happily looking at the intruder. It was her dear friend Maan, who came with a gift as usual.
"Happy Birthday Mishti. Ye lo tumhara gift, hum sab ki taraf se!" Maan placed a large box in front of her. Sorrows long forgotten, geet hugged him happily as one by one adi, pinky, pari, meera and yash too descended to give their smaller presents. Meera had even got a cute cake for geet.
Overwhelmed with her friends' love geet was really happy. Just then the teacher came and class began. For full 50 minutes, nobody uttered a word. Then the bell rang for lunch break. Geet and gang quickly left for the canteen, where they would eat the cake and celebrate the special day.
Maan noticed geet's somewhat pale face and guessed she was upset. He cleared his throat and holding her in his big arms, asked softly, "Kya hua mishti, aaj bhi tum thodi si udaas ho. Kapoor uncle ne phir tumhe wish kiya hoga, hai na?" Maan lay his question carefully. The whole group knew geet had never accepted Randeep taking her father's place.
"Hmmm!!!!! Aaj unhone wish kiya thaa mujhe. But you guys know it, main unko apne dad nahi maan sakti. Main Mr. Mohinder Handa ki beti hoon. Mera naam Geet Handa hai, Geet kapoor nahi. Wo sirf meri mom ke pati hain, aur mere liye mere papa ke dost. That's it." Geet finished heavily. Meera then tried to say something, but Adi silenced her showing his hand. All of them knew Geet would bite their heads off if they said anything to support Mr. Kapoor.
This was the main gist of little Geet Handa's life. A soft natured bubbly girl, she lost her father at a very tender age. His friend tried his level best to fill the void, but she could never accept the poor replacement. Despite having everything, Geet badly craved one thing. Her father's love, his warmth. Losing him was a huge shock for her, something she knew she might never be able to rid herself off.
So friends, here is chapter two. Please read carefully, press likes and comment. I have spent almost three hours on this. Don't make me feel my hard work was wasted. Can i expect comments, please?
Edited by turbulence - 7 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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