PART 190
Ma-hmmm ye to mushkil kaam hoga...acha chal main hi pooch lungi jab wo ayega. Ek kaam kar tu bazaar ja kar design choose kar le.. .shaam ko wo jab aega tab mani usse pooch lungi
G-Thik hai
Maa also nods and tells herr ki kis shop per jana hai
Maan picks after 5-6 rings
M-Hello?
G-Kya kar rahe the?
M-Kaam
G-Can't you pick up the phone?
M-Uthaya to maine, Geet. Batao kya kaam hai?
G-Suno, aate hue naa get something to wear for me. Kuch bhi nahi hai pehnne ka
M-Hmm ok. Anything specific you want?
G-No
M-ok. Aur kuch?
G-Sorry
M-Forget it Geet...
G-You forget it and forgive me
M-Leave it Geet.. .everything is fine ok...stop apologizing
G-I know it's not. I spoiled your mood. You can come and hittt me harddd. Dhaaam!!!
M-Geet... I sad it's fine...we are not fighting or physically abusing each other for petty thing like that. Stop over reacting so much over this
G-Hmm Maan
M-Yeah?
G-You love me?
M-I do
G-Me tooo [She grins happily]
Maan smiles too Geet ki harkaton par...
Peeche se awaaz aati hai, madam jaldi kariye naa
G-Sorry sorry. Chalo main rakhti hoon
M- ok... see you later. You also go and resume whatever you are doing...
G-I am making my way in the crowd...phew!
Geet was in jewellers shop
After few hours Geet calls again
G-Kahan ho? Kab aaoge? It's so late
M- I told you at 4.30. Do you need me to come earlier?
G-Haan..wo..ek minute...ek minute
Phone pe koi baby gal voice aati hai
'Kahan hooo, jali aaooo. Nahi aaoge to duduu nahi piyungiii keh dia maine, bashhh'
Geet takes the phone
G-Haan haan tum bolo Maan
M-Do I have to come at 4.30 and can't you lock that kid away somewhere...all the drooly, messy...lump..
G-Stop it Maan! They are my family and even the baby girl is concerned
M- She doesn't even know me..
G-Only monsters don't like kids
M-Who said I am not a monster...
G-Maan
M-And anyway it's not like I don't like them. I just like them from far
G-Don't speak to me ever
M-What are you getting angry about?
G-How can you be so rude to a kid? Kal ko hamare bachche honge to what will you do? Lock the baby somewhere?
M-I think you'll have me trained properly by then and there will be no need for it...
Maan mutters
She disconnects
He doesn't call her back contrary to Geet's expectation he was in middle of a meeting and he didn't think he said anything wrong
Geet goes muttering that what kind of man he is, he can't even call back...blah blah blah
He comes back at 4.30, as promised...punctual to the dot
Geet was conversing with her huge family in the living room
He rings the bell out of curtsy even if the door is already open
Ghar walo ke liye Maan apna hoga par Maan ke liye wo paraya hi hai
Door is full open, nobody bothers to get up again and open it
Maan ne phir ghanti bajai
Sab log wahin baithi the phir bhi Maan ghanti baja raha tha to ne baithe baithe usse weird look diya
Phir some nodded and smiled and Maan walked inside
Geet was busy in chapad-chapad, she deliberately didn't notice
Maan ne din mein apna aur Geet ka saman pack karwake Geet ke ghar bhijwa diya tha
Maan goes in do's the usual namaste round
Geet royally ignored him
Maan bhi jagah dekhkar baih jata hai and saari saliyoon ka jhoond aas paas ikkhatta hone lagta hai...Maan ki khatir mei npani and nashta and stuff... bhag bag ke laa rahe hain...uske sare brother-in-laws ghoor rahe hai.. .trying to figure out how much he can bench press...saare cousins Geet ke.. .Geet ko ignore karke deere dheere Maan ki side bhad rahe hain... saare kaan wahin lagaye baithe hai ki Maan kya bolega...
To kuch bachhe finally pooch he lete hai ki how much do you bench press and how many repeats and stuff you can do...and blah blah
Geet to lagi hai maa, kaaki, bhai, kids ke saath
Bhai and kids to Maan ke saath lagne mein interested hai but chotte bachche asking him ki can he lift them alone or in twos or even in threes aur wo choti si jo bachi thi.. jo kal Maan ki god mei so gai thi.. aaj phone par bhi ladai karwa di... she crawls up to Maan... dham jakar singhasaan kabza kar liya..I.e. Maan's lap
Maan bhi bechara...bhachon se lagav nai hai alag baat hai...par ab kisi bachche ko he can't handle roughly and put her away or let her fall from him lap...so like last night he has trying his best to hold her securely in his lap but bachchi is interested in standing on his lap and exploring his face and hair
Maan kisi tarah se bacha raha hai khud ko harass hone se...cousins bhi mazze le rahe hain Maan ke ki abhi se nahi sambhalna seekhoge... to jab aapke bache hnoge to kya karoge.. specially aap to di se itnaaa pyaar karte ho...[Implying ki bache to jaldi ho hi jayenge]
Bachare Maan ko inn sabse chutkara mile to wo Geet se baat kare...logon ne Maan ko gher rakha hai...bura wala
Maa decides to take pity and tells them ot back off and let her breath...
Maa tells Maan ki he should go freshen up...ye bachchi ko mujhe dedo...
Maan jaise taise awkwardly bacchhi ko pakad kar deta hai runs off to Geet's room
Saare cousins are giggle ... samjh nai aata ki jiju itne seedhe hai...ya he is the angry cold revenging, godfather types jo subah cousin describe kar raha tha
After some moments Geet enter the room, lazily
Maan to kapde badal raha tha...Geet to innocently ghus gai when he was just getting into his pants
G-OH ! Ahhh
He almost falls down in shock
She shuts her eyes
G-Maine kuch nahi dekha
She is panting hard
G-I swear maine kuch nahi dekha
She blabbers
He quickly wears them and pulls a shirt over his chest...his fingers not coordinating well enough to close the buttons
M-uh.. hmm.. haan..
She is still panting
G- I am...umm...
She slowly opens her eyes
He discards the shirt and picks up a t-shirt as button band hi nahi ho rahe the...he is still bare-chested with his low riding jeans...jakar he is looking ki koi to to mille
Geet phir eyes kholti hai then again shuts them
G-ohhh
Saari shirt hi nazar aa rahi hai poore 30 secs baad milta hai
Maan quickly wears it
M-I am decent now
He says running a hand through his wet hair...Maan naha ke aaya tha
G-emm..No...I will go out
M-No I am decent
He says picking up his discarded shirt and stuffing it back in the wardrobe
Geet turns and dares to open her eyes real slowly
G-emm..[She is looking down]...main..bass ye kehne aayi..thi..ki
Maan jakar baith jata hai
M- Ki?
G-emm...bhul gayi
M-oh...
Geet jhagda karne aayi thi...par Maan ko aise dekhkar...
He pats a seat next to him ki sit next to me gesture
She was looking down all the while
M-Geet,... you have seen me in swimming trunks...come here
She frowns
M-Come here
She walks and sits near him...he looks at her for a long time...chup chap...and then asks
M-Boys...I mean...little kid boys.. .are they like little girls too?
G-Huh?
M-Little kid boys are they like little girls too?
He asks again
G-in what context?
He shrugs...
M-Behaviour wise
M-Yes...in some manner yes. Why?
He shrugs again
G-What happened?
M-Nothing.. .I was just wondering ...well...are they or are they same?
G-Hmm...I told you before too, I won't force you to tell me things that you don't want to
She takes a deep breath and looks out of the window thoughtfully
M-It's nothing like that.. I mean nothing to do with past...
Itne mei n cousins aa jaate hani ki chalo chalo der ho rai hai
G-Ek min..ek minute...you people go..I will just come
Geet bhaga deti hai cousins ko
Saare chale jaate hani...guessing that Maan and Geet were k i s s i n g
Geet remains sitting at her place, waiting for him to open up
She decides waiting about 5 minutes
Maan ka bhi ab mind divert ho gaya.. wo to yeh soch raha hai ki Geet aayi kyun thi..kya kaam tha.. Cousins ko kyun bhaga diya
Geet chup chap baithi hai...bahar dekhte hue with countdown in her mind
Maan isl sitting silently and enjoying the company... no countdowns here..
PART 191
Geet bhaga deti hai cousins ko
Saare chale jaate hani...guessing that Maan and Geet were k i s s i n g
Geet remains sitting at her place, waiting for him to open up
She decides waiting about 5 minutes
Maan ka bhi ab mind divert ho gaya.. wo to yeh soch raha hai ki Geet aayi kyun thi..kya kaam tha.. Cousins ko kyun bhaga diya
Geet chup chap baithi hai...bahar dekhte hue with countdown in her mind
Maan isl sitting silently and enjoying the company... no countdowns here..
Geet is thinking in her mind 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
She gets up
Maan also gets up
She frowns
He creases his brows
She starts walking
He starts following
She stops abruptly
G-I just came to say that Purna ki ticket cancel kara dete hai naa
M-Why?
G- Because we are not going
M-Why aren't we?
G-Because...because we are not
M-We are not coz?
G-Just not
M-Just not? But you really wanted to go... what happened all of a sudden?
G-Forget about that
He holds Geet by shoulders and looks at her
M-What happened? Tell me?
She shakes her head
M- You don't want to go coz you want to stay here with everyone?
Maan tries the simplest logic he can think of
G-No we are leaving today
M-Today? What's the sudden hurry? Did something happen here Geet? Talk to me
G-Nothing happened
M-Then why? I thought you were happy here
G-Lets go back home
M-At least tell me what is wrong
G-Please...nothing is wrong...even if something would have been wrong I would have told my family, why you?
Maan narrows his eyes
G-I mean...we really don't match...we are actually not compatible
M-I see
He sacks letting go of her...his eyes shutting down... no longer are they door to his soul
Geet turns and leaves
Maan takes out his phone and starts making arrangements for them to go back
Geet goes downstairs
Ma-Bhaiya se keh do ticket cancel kara de
Half an hour later Maan comes down
He sees Maa and since he only likes her the most in the entire house he goes to maa
Geet is sitting with her head on her mom's lap
M- Aunty wo hum ...actually hum log abhi thodi der mei wapas jaa rahe hai...
He feels awkward... usse pehle kabhi kisi ko aise bol ke nahi jana pda hai...Geet ko to wo announce kar deta hai...but it is sort of different here
Geet gets up
G-KYA?????????????????????
He gives here 'what? ' expression
M- You only said you wanted to go
She frowns hard
Then she has a sad face
Her lips slowly pout and she suddenly breaks into sobs
Maan is confused...looking here and there...unable to decide what to do
Pure ghar ke saamne she is sobbing badly
Maan has an 'I didn't do anything expression'...he is totally shocked seeing her cry like that
Slowly he goes near her
M-Geet kya hua?
She pushes him hard on his chest with both hands and keeps pushing him
He backs away but aage aake she is pushing
M-What is wrong? Why are you crying?
Maan says alarmed
G-...hujdkslksksjjnmmdjkkd...[she is whimpering some inaudible with her sobs]
He is hold her hand as she tries to push him again and stops her
Geet rote hue kuch keh rahi hai...samajh nahi aa raha kya
M-What??
G-GHHSIKJKDIOLLDKKKDJLMD!!!! [she shrieks while sobbing]
Maan looks around helplessly
Maa is trying to console her
Ma-Kya hua beta? Kya hua?
M-Geet calm down honey
G-HONEY???????? Marr gai honey! I hate you!
M-What? You hate me?
Magazine padi thi usse roll karke Maan pe barsaa deti hai
He snatches it away after 2 or 3 hits
M-What is wrong with you?
G-Itne...itne bure pati ho tum...apni biwi ko mana bhi nahi sakte'
M- So what do you want?
G-I hate you
M-God what do you want? You want me to agree with you? Not agree with you? Chahti kya ho?
G-You will never understand! Hate you!
She walks off to the room and locks herself
He narrows his eyes at the closed door and counts back from 100 to 0 taking deep breaths
The man calls up for car thing
M- Hello?
'Sir the car is ready'
M-umm I don't think we would be needing that...
He sends away the car... He has never seen Geet crying so badly...aise mein he doesn't know ki kab shant hogi kab sab batayegi kab jayenge...
Ma is standing behind him
Ma-Maan
M-Ji?
He looks at Maa
Ma-Idhar aa...aa mere saath beta
He walks up to her
She takes him to her room and shuts the door
Ma-Aa baith
Bistar pe baithne ko kehti hai
He sits
Ma-Kya hua, pareshaan ho gaya bohot [uske sar pe uar chehre pe pyaar se haath ferti hai]
He looks at her confused..
M-Main? Nahi main... I am fine...it's Geet, she is crying
Ma-Chinta mat kar, sab thik ho jayega
M-I have to go and see..
Ma-Bachpana hai usmein...bacchchi hai abhi bhi
M-But still...she has never cried like this before...I mean I don't even know this time what she is crying about
She puts her hand on his, with motherly affection... he is getting a bit fidgety...all that Maa is saying is fine and he likes it here.. .but still he is worried about Geet
Ma-Main janti hoon, tu usse bohot pyaar karta hai...she just wants to be pampered
M- She has this stupid asthma and she always buries her face in pillows while crying...but you know I do almost everything she wants
Ma-That's all she wants, when she doesn't get it she becomes cranky
M-What more does she want? But I didn't say no to her about anything
Ma-You know when a baby is in a pain or discomfort it wants the mother to carry it, caress it, love it. Geet is also like the baby
M-Then shouldn't you be with her? I mean she is crying and she must be sad too
Ma-Geet chahti hai ki wo naraaz ho jaye to tum usse manao, do chaar pyaar ki baatein karo. Bass
He looks at Maa ki 'what bass?'
Ma-She is just cranky...she will be fine
M- You mean this is just drama? She is just getting over-reactive coz she wants more attention from me?
He points a finger towards Geet's room and says
Ma-She is just irritated and confused. She doesn't know how to vent it out
M-What's is irritating and confusing her? Everything is simple around here
Ma-She knows you love her but...
He slams his head into his open palms and groans
M-But she can't wait. Like I am not trying!
He feels like pulling his hair out just for a few delusional seconds
Ma-Take an example
M-An example?
Ma-She disconnected the phone today...she expected you to call ki tum usse manaoge so thta she could feel your care
M-I was in a meeting...and I came here straight after that
Ma-She doesn't know that
M-She didn't ask and don't tell me she is crying like that coz I didn't call back
Ma-She loves kids too...and..emm..you...
Part 192
He slams his head into his open palms and groans
M-But she can't wait. Like I am not trying!
He feels like pulling his hair out just for a few delusional seconds
Ma-Take an example
M-An example?
Ma-She disconnected the phone today...she expected you to call ki tum usse manaoge so thta she could feel your care
M-I was in a meeting...and I came here straight after that
Ma-She doesn't know that
M-She didn't ask and don't tell me she is crying like that coz I didn't call back
Ma-She loves kids too...and..emm..you...
M-I what? I was never around kids... they are too...too small and squishy and lumpy and loud and messy and...and so small
Ma raises an eyebrow
M-And they look so easily hurt able...I mean... they are so small...
Ma-I am sure you were not grown up man from the day you were born
M-Yah but...it was my mum who raised me and...I am sure Geet would do a fine job at that too...but little girls... I...
Maan looks around helplessly...unable to explain
Ma-Little girls? You don't like little girls?
M-That kid downstairs... she is so...she moves around so much...what if I drop her?
Ma-I am sure you won't and you were doing a fine job with her
M-I mean they are so squirmy and bratty and...
Ma-Little boys are naughtier
M-Crying ...I don't like crying things around me... oh...emm...little boys...do they cry less then?
He says leaning forward looking more interested now
Ma-No, you know, initially boys cry more
M-oh... [Looking dejected...]... but still on an average... which ones cry more?
Ma-Hmm...depends...but kids love you unconditionally
M-Yah sure but...I don't like having their love expressed by getting my hair pulled out of my head..
Ma starts laughing
M-It' not like I have anything against them...I just...
Maan buries his face in his palms again groaning aloud and mutters-
M-What am I gonna do?
Ma puts her hand softly on his back
Ma-You will make a great father with angle like kids, who would give you lifelong happiness
He looks at here really doubtfully...
Ma-Believe me son, I am experienced. Tumhari Maa jaisi hoon main
M- You can't be sure about that...my father was abusive... what if I turn out like him? What if I slap around my kids if they irritate me?
Maan ke muh se nikal jata hai..
Ma-People are not good or bad from their birth, what decisions they take in life make them good or bad
M-Yah and I saw him grown up and who knows how he influenced me...besides even if I am not like him...still kids are... too fragile...only mothers can handle them safely
Ma-Fathers protect them
M-I can do that from safe distance beside...isn't giving birth dangerous? Don't women die during it?
Ma-No it's the biggest boon to a lady
M-But woman die!
Ma-Well...it's all about fate
M- Which could be changed if she never gets pregnant
Ma-Hmm...you know people can die of accidents too...don't they? People die of car accidents...stop driving?
M-That's why we have seat bells and speed limits
Ma-People drive when they are asleep...don't sleep? People die due to eating, don't eat? People die of ceiling fan falling, stay without them?
He frowns at Maa...not at all happy
M-I should go and see Geet
He say getting up
M- If she expects me to pacify her... I should do it soon
Geet enters with bhoot wali shakal due to excessive crying baal bikhre hue and all
She says 'I am sorry' grumpily
M-umm... sorry about what? You...umm...don't have to apologize it ok
He says and pats Geet on her head, giving her a half hug
Geet pouts
Maan pats her back
M-Are you feeling better now?
G-Don't you get angry on me
M- I am not angry
G-Really?
He says his arm around her shoulder leading her to the bed near Maa
M- Yah...just don't cry like that again without giving me reason first. It scared me ook
She nods
G-Then...then..hurryyy we are going to Purna yaaayyy
Geet uchalke bhaag gai
Maa looks at Maan and shrugs
Maan looks at Maa worried
M-But I cancelled the tickets...
Ma-Tickets are with Shekhar
M-oh thanks!
He nods and gives Maa a smile before hurrying after Geet
PART 193
G-Don't you get angry on me
M- I am not angry
G-Really?
He says his arm around her shoulder leading her to the bed near Maa
M- Yah...just don't cry like that again without giving me reason first. It scared me ok
She nods
G-Then...then..hurryyy we are going to Purna yaaayyy
Geet uchalke bhaag gai
Maa looks at Maan and shrugs
Maan looks at Maa worried
M-But I canceled the tickets...
Ma-Tickets are with Shekhar
M-oh thanks!
He nods and gives Maa a smile before hurrying after Geet
Geet to bass khushi-khushi ready
Puri family chodke aati hai railway station mein
Shekhar said, ticket confirm nahi hai RAC hai baith jaana
Maan nods...wo to bina RAC ke, bina ticket ke bhi train mei ghuma hai kabhi...
They get into the all low class wala train
Geet look guilty as they make way among the crowd
Maan is moving around as he belongs there...not feeling out of place at all...setting up their luggage quickly and hogging down the unconfirmed seat
G-I am sorry, wahan tak ye hi train jaati hai
M-So what are you sorry about? You are not the rail minister..
He says relaxing into his seat
G-No...I shouldn't have got you into this mess
M-It's not a mess Geet
She also sits
'Ayeee hatto ye hamari seat hai
Geet ko aaake ek lady sarka deti hai
The lady starts counting heads
Lady-6 ki jagah hai, 8 kaise hain? Aaye chalo chalo apna ticket dikhao
Geet shows the ticket
Lady-Arre ye tere paas RAC ka ticket hai. Jaa TC se baat kar
Maan khada ho jata hai
M- Aap baithiye
G-Tum jaake TC se baat karke aao naa
Maan nods and goes
TC aata hai Maan ke saath seat dekhne
5 ki family hai lady ke saath aur saath mein bachche
TC says aapke paas ek ticket hai, aap upper berth lelo dono bass. Ek raat ki baat hai, you people are young, chad jao
TC goes
Lady-Jao upar waise hi itni jagah kam hai log RAC mein aur aa jaate hain
Maan asks Geet ...'Is upper berth ok with you?'
She nods
Maan looks at lady- 'Sorry for the inconvenience'
Geet thoda train ke saath hilte dulte chadne ke lie pohonchti hai
Maan is observing her ki kahin gir naa jae
G-Tum chadoge? Main chadoon pehle?
M- You go ahead
G-No...you go. You have to hold my hand
Maan nods-'ok'
Wo phatak s chad ata hai... jaise zindagi bhar yahi kaam karta ho and holds out his hand to Geet
M-Come
Geet uss rod mein adha chadti hai, it's difficult for her short legs
She grabs his hand as he pulls her up in a jiffy
She looks down holding the securing rod,
G-oh...It's so high
She purses her lips
M- It's not that high...
She looks at him
G-I hate upper berths
M-Why didn't you say so before?
G-Tum kya kar lete?
M-Negotiate
G-You don't have to I am fine
M- Are you sure?
G-. Oh God, there is so less space ...so high probability of falling down
M- Look if you fall down...I'll hold you
He says holding her hand
She giggles
G-You can fall down too. Then?
M - I won't fall.
He says ki kaisi absurd baat hai... Maan Singh Khurana fall down? Never!
Dono baithe hain, par its difficult as they have to keep their heads low as its touching the roof
Wo pantry guys, 1 kambal aur takiya phek ke jaate hain
Jab neeche bhi log settle jate hain Maan uttar jata hai since he is pretty tall he doesn't need to use the side bars for climbing down
G-Where are you going? Maan?
M-Tum let jao... rest for a while
G-But where are you going?
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