CHAPTER 81 (A). GOLMAAL AND PATAKHA!
Day - 7 Thursday
Sheeshmahal
Geet gulped in fear as she walked ahead. Was this right? To follow a stranger this far? She looked behind and noticed that Sheesh Mahal was far enough that even if she screamed no one will hear her. She swallowed again as she looked ahead. If someone kidnapped her now, no one will notice her missing till tomorrow morning. No! With two weddings scheduled in the morning no one will notice till her name will be called for Aakash and Paayal's gatthbandhan. Hey Babaji! Tab tak toh bahut late bhi ho jaayega! Aur phir sabko meri laash milegi! Nahi! She squealed in her mind as horrifying images crossed her mind. But then she took a deep breath. No! She should not let her overactive imagination rule her decisions. I will see this to the end!
Determined Geet sneaked across the lawn as she followed the shawl wearing stranger to the edge of the lawn. Soon they had crossed the border of Sheeshmahal and entered a nearby farm. And that is when the shawl wearing stranger stopped and removed the shawl. Geet's eyes widened and her jaw dropped open. Lavanya? At this time? Here? What the!
Lavanya started speaking to someone and Geet felt her eyes squint. As it was late in the night with no light around Geet could not see who was talking to Lavanya. The only reason she could see Lavanya was because of her bright yellow sundress. No wonder she was wearing a shawl! That dress is like a beacon in the darkness. Even Kanha would have recognized her! Geet mused as she tried to hear the conversation without let them know of her presence. She stepped a bit closer and heard snippets of what Lavanya was saying.
"You were right... Nahi... But...Tum samajh nahi rahe ho...", Lavanya was heard murmuring. Geet frowned in annoyance. Arre! Lavanya Madam jor se bolo! I can't hear you! And suddenly as if Lavanya heard her mental request she said in a loud voice, "You don't understand! You just don't!" She broke down crying and Geet looked at her with wide eyes. What is not understandable? Even I don't understand! Wait a minute! Kal iski shaadi hai! Why is she outside meeting someone so late? Kahin iska lover shuver toh nahi! Geet grinned in excitement. She looked up with pleading expression and pressed her hands into praying position. Hey Babaji! Please let there be some lover who Lavanya wants to marry! Mere AB ki doobti nayya paar ho jaayegi! Please!
Geet looked on as the stranger talking to Lavanya said something to her softly and Lavanya nodded as she wiped her tears. Must have told something reassuring to her! She squinted, again trying to look at the person Lavanya was talking to. Arre! Yeh hai kaun? Thoda sa aage aao! The light will fall right on you and I can see your face! Just take few steps ahead! But this time her mental plea did not work and she huffed in annoyance. She leaned closer trying to hear the conversation. And that is when she heard Lavanya say something that made Geet very happy.
"I know that I don't love you, but I also know that one day I will fall in love with you!", Lavanya spoke with conviction and Geet grinned happily. Haaye! Babaji! Aapne meri sunli! Par yeh ladka hai kaun? And then she frowned. Will fall in love? Kya yeh iss ladke se pyaar nahi karti? Toh kyun AB se rishta tod rahi hai? But Geet found her answer right away. Because her AB never gave La a chance! He always remained aloof from her! This stranger must have some strong feelings for her and she must be inclined towards him too! Is there a wonder why La is choosing to give this man a chance rather than her AB!
The stranger murmured something and Lavanya nodded, "Yes! I want the same thing! I want to give you a chance but...!" Her voice has taken a helpless tone and Geet could not help but wonder what is stopping Lavanya from taking this chance. And soon Lavanya answered her question.
"I can't! I can't face my family! My family is not as liberal as yours! Amma and Buaji would hate me for my decision. And for what? Taking a chance with you! They would not be happy with my decision! And that scares me! I don't want their hatred! I don't! They are my only family left!", Lavanya was crying again and Geet also sighed. Indian mentality! She huffed. Pyaar ko koi chance hi nahi deta! Bas ladki ki achche ghar mein shaadi karwaani hai bas! But then she rolled her eyes. Was she seriously having this argument with herself right now? Hey Babaji! Main bhi na! As she looked ahead, she felt a wave of sadness wash over her. Atleast La was trying to give her love a chance! Humein toh woh mauka bhi nahi dete! Bas dil pe teer chalaake chale jaate hain! She felt tears well up in her eyes but she wiped it. No! This was not the time to cry or worry! This was time to make sure that if not her, atleast her AB gets his love! Kya pata kisika bhala karungi toh mera bhi bhala ho jaaye!
Geet looked up from her little pity party only to stumble back in shock. The stranger had stepped forward and it was none other than her Golmaal. What the! What the hell is happening here? When did he get the time to fall in love with her? When you were flirting with your Maan, a voice sounding like AB whispered in her brain and she huffed. Ho sakta hai! NK grabbed La's face and whispered something to her. La nodded and NK hugged her. Geet smiled tenderly. Aww! How sweet! Kitni pyaari Jodi hai!
NK hugged La tightly and then as he pulled back, he spoke to her with an air of confidence, "Don't you worry! We will face the whole family together!"
"You can face the whole family later! Right now you better face me!", a voice called out making Lavanya and NK look at each other in shock. They turned and were even more shocked to see a determined Geet standing in front of them, with arms folded against her chest and a stern look on her face.
"Pataakha!" Nk whispered as he stared at his oldest friend.
Geet growled, "Yes! Your pataakha! Now can somebody this pataakha why her friend is confessing feelings for her brother's fianc before the said pataakha blows up?"
"Uhhh...", NK hesitated. Geet glared at him. And that is when Lavanya decided to speak up.
"It's because of me!", Lavanya spoke up, "I don't want to marry ASR!"
"Why?", Geet asked. Even though she knew the answer, she wanted to hear from their mouth.
"I love her!", NK whispered and Lavanya grasped his hand tightly and looked at him sweetly. Geet smiled sadly. It was clear that both had feelings for each other. Who was she to come between two love birds? Haaye! Iss tarah ek baar Maan mujhe dekhle, main waada karti hun Babaji unko kabhi akele nahi chodungi!
"So what's the plan? How are you going to break this to the family? You do know that Lavanya is getting married tomorrow right?", Geet interrupted La and NK's stare fest. NK shrugged, "Bolna kya hai? Jaayenge sabke saamne aur we will just speak!"
Geet blinked and then retorted sarcastically, "And I can really imagine how that will go!"
NK huffed, annoyed at her attitude, "Kyun? Tumhaare paas koi kachcha plan hai?"
"Kachcha?"
"Kachcha?"
NK blinked when both the ladies stared at him, "Kachcha, you know! Good! Good plan!"
Geet rolled her eyes while La shook her head and ruffled his hair affectionately.
"Waise mere paas ek kachcha toh nahi par better plan hai!", Geet spoke as NK and La looked at her in curiosity. Fifteen minutes later, Geet knocked on the door with NK and La standing behind her and when it opened she chirped, "AB! I might need your help!"
Arnav stomped through the room, agitation prevalent in his body language. Of course, that is what NK and La thought. Only Geet and Arnav knew that it was not agitation in his walk but excitement, the hope that not everything is gone, that maybe there was still a chance to have Khushi in his life, not as a relative but as his wife.
NK and Lavanya could only watch as Arnav paced to and fro. They wondered what he will do next. It was obvious that the marriage has to be cancelled but will their family accept it, approve it? Only time would tell. And of course if Arnav accepted it graciously and helped them, then convincing the rest of the family would be easier too!
"So you two love each other?", Arnav finally spoke. Nk and Lavanya jumped in their places at the sudden speech from Arnav. Arnav was wearing his businessman face, which was cold, calculated and emotionless. And that is why the couple was scared for their future. Geet was the only one who knew that behind the mask was Anjali's Chote jumping around excitedly at the thought of not marrying Lavanya next day.
NK nodded while La shook her head. Arnav raised an eyebrow and that prompted La to speak, "I don't love him. But I like him and one day might fall in love with him!" Arnav did not care whether La loved NK or not. He was just happy that he was not getting married to her. But he had to maintain his image! If he showed his approval right away, the duo would get suspicious and Arnav did not want that. He had to play this very carefully.
"And that's it! That's enough for you to leave a marriage, leave ASR! Leave a rich tycoon for a chance at love!", Arnav smirked. But his smirk vanished when La's eyes sparked with a fire, the same fire he had seen in Khushi's eyes half an hour ago. She stood up with anger and stomped towards him. Standing toe to toe with him, she spat, "You may be rich, you may be tycoon, but you don't give a damn about me! And I would rather be unmarried than be in loveless marriage!" She stepped back and was about to walk away when Arnav piped up, "What is the guarantee that your relationship will be better than what you could have had with me?" Lavanya stepped ahead and spoke again, "I am may not love him but atleast he loves me. In our relationship you don't even care for me! That itself speaks of how horrible our marriage would be! Take from someone who has envisioned our future, ASR! You are better off without me! And I am better off without you! You will thank me for this decision, ASR! You will thank me!"
As Arnav stared at her, impressed by her fire filled words, Lavanya turned around and walked off to sit beside NK. NK smiled at Arnav smugly, "Any more questions ASR?" Arnav shrugged and Lavanya spoke, "I have said my piece. Now it is your turn. Tell me would you help us or not!"
Arnav remained silent for a while and he did not speak until NK started getting jittery and tapping his leg in nervousness, "You know what? I will help you! I will make sure that everyone understands that it is my decision to support you and will help you handle any fallout too!"
NK and La stood up in sync and before Arnav knew it he was being smothered by hugs and thank yous. "Yeah yeah yeah! Its alright!", Arnav muttered as they separated. "Now you three go and call everyone to the main hall. I want them assembled there in one hour. Got it?", Arnav ordered. Nk and La agreed and soon were out of the room. He turned towards Geet with raised eyebrow, as if asking why was she still here. Geet, who was silent till now stood up and smiled at him, "Aapne situation ko achcha handle kiya AB!" Arnav rolled his eyes, prompting Geet to say, "Par itna drama karne ki jaroorat thi kya? Thoda over nahi hogaya?" Arnav gave Geet such a glare that Geet scrambled away from the room giggling.
Arnav huffed at his sister's antics and turned around only to come face to face with the Devi Ma's idol. His eyes widened as he realised that Devi Ma had helped him again. He felt tears well up in his eyes as he realised that his Khushi would finally be his. He smiled at the Goddess tenderly, "Thank you! You saved my life! Thank you!"
Outside Arnav's room, Geet stood looking up. "Main samajh gayi Babaji! Main samajh gayi aapka ishaara!", she whispered to her Babaji, "AB ne sam dam dand bhed, sab try kiya! Jo kar paaye woh kiya apni Khushi ko paane ke liye! Kyunki unhonein haar nahi maani, isliye aapne unki madat ki! Main samajh gayi Babaji! Ab main bhi haar nahi maanungi! Aansu bahaake rone ke bajaay main apne Maan ke liye ladungi! Jaise AB ne haar nahi maani, waise main bhi nahi maanunga! Kya pata aap meri bhi madat kar do aur Maan ko jaane se rok do!" She looked away from ceiling and stared at the wall straight front imagining Maan standing in front of her, "Mr. Maan Singh Khurana! Get ready! Kyunki Geet Raizada itni aasaani se apne pyaar ko jaane nahi degi!"
AUTHOR NOTE:
I could have written the first scene from NK or La's point of view but then the scene will be very emotional. Already Anjali is going to make future scenes emotional what with her personality; I did not want another emotional scene here too! So gave it a light humor by writing it from Geet's point of view! Soon the story will turn serious! So brace yourself for twist and turns!
And from next update it will be Day 8 Friday instead of Day 7 Thursday, as it will be past midnight when the family will assemble in the main hall!
Thank you, take care and have fun,
Kalpana
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