Dadi's Bride T2 - Completed - Page 37

Part 21: The selling test and willing the best

Morning started off with unusual commotion, the ladies sat around the kitchen table discussing tactics rather than cooking while the males conducted a secret meeting in Darji's room unlike their usual morning routine.

'No no no Darji its my task so I do what I like'

'But give something reasonable son' Mohinder added, Brij's bizarre quest for Maan had the men worried. He wanted Maan to fight a raging bull one minute and the nest wanted him to fetch a lone flower from the highest mountain in the district; both of which task costing Maan a limp or more.

'Why are you teaching me, I know it OK' his sharp voice had a hint of annoyance, last night Suman and now the male gang also seemed to be light on Maan.

'Brij' came the reprimand from Tauji putting him in check for raising his voice at elders.

'Remember I'm the umpire so what I say goes, if I feel it's not acceptable then that's it, you'll lose your task' Darji stepped in seeing Brij's building broodiness to which he scoffed and ran out the room with a heave leaving the men shaking their heads. Kids would be kids, even when they're old.

This was like the Olympics for Maan Singh Khuranna, only that in the end he would win Geet Handa and not a solid gold medal. So Maan did what Olympians do best: exercise. As soon as the sun was out, so was he; bumping out his muscle. Benches, crunches, jogging; he's done it all. Ready as a might, gleaming in joy and sweat. Today was it, today was his day, a day dedicated to his love.

Sameera walked back and forth thinking of ways to stop this charade. A part of her still wanted to live the dream of being Mrs Khuranna but the other part, which included ego, pride and hurt wanted revenge for being fooled in front the Handa's. 'Sameera shall get her revenge' she thought slyly looking at the smiling reflection of Maan in the mirror, who was too caught up in his self and the long corridor to pay attention to anything else.

Maan was on a world of his own, thinking of the inviting tests. Men love challenges, to prove their worth, to magnify their ego or to just simply boast of their capabilities. Likewise, Maan was more excited than terrified. There wasn't a task in mind which he couldn't handle, he was the best there could be. He was or rather say is Delhi's hottest bachelor, Khuranna Construction's future and today's fighter. With his head high in sky, he readied himself for the battle, if they want him to fight he'll fight.

'hehhh' he breathed harshly throwing a vertical punch in the air

If they want him to eat then he'll eat, no no no he shall feast like a Viking and with a thumped out chest he started jumping reaching high on his toes and crouching down to his knees. If they wanted a juggler, he would juggle, he could even walk through fire. Ok maybe not fire, he thought stepping back a little. With his imagination getting as wild as it can get, he stepped down a stair, only then falling back to earth and with him in tow.

'Careful' Geet sighed pulling Maan back to level ground, she then threw him a look of something he was too confused to understand. Was it anger, no... worry, maybe...can it be disappointment.

'Geet I shall do you proud' he immediately spoke not wanting to disappoint his lover, more over not wanting to fall in the same category his parents and Dadi put him in

'You don't need to do anyone proud, just do your best' she smiled moving back a little holding onto his tiny finger

'Just be you' she repeated descending down the steps while he followed with a rather smug look. It felt nice to be in love.

'What are we? Winners! What do we do? WIN' Adi and Pinky roared seeing Maan come down, slightly jumping the rest of the residents who had been sitting casually in the hall.

'What do we dooo?' Adi continued his wolf-chant trying to encourage an even more conceited Maan who yelled 'WIN' like never before.

'Silence' Darji only whispered yet it had its desired effect, immediately everyone rushed to sit round the breakfast table.

'Yesterday we came to the arrangement of these mini tests'

'Mini' Sameera and Brij shot up from their seat looking every bit appalled

'Yes mini tests, we would essentially be testing Maan's compatibility with Geet'

'But Darji' Geet interceded with a low voice

'I know two partners can be very different yet work a relationship but the foundation needs to be right Geet and that's what we are looking for' Darji continued observing Geet, Maan and the rest of the members with his watchful eyes.

'Can I go first?' Brij jumped walking to Darji with a proposition causing Sam to throw a smug smile towards Maan who gulped in fear, 'What are we? Winners, What do we do?' Win' he continued an internal mantra to boost the confidence that Sam was trying very hard to knock down and truth be told it did have its effects, smouldering his confidence to half its initial size.

'Darji may I say something' Pari stopped all side conversation, her tone loud and clear focusing everyone's attention on herself. Pointless to say, she was after all a business woman and pitching was her forte.

'I personally think someone like Mohinder uncle or Tauji should start off this completion, shall we call it that shall we? Simply because being older I think they deserve to assess Maan more, obviously Brij would have his turn at a more appropriate time. This way Maan and Brij would both be aware what to expect and how to plan a task?' Pari proposed looking directly at Darji in confidence, although deep down she was never this scared, Darji's silent gaze could make the strongest tumble in fear. While Brij fretted in annoyance throwing glares but Pari had her own reasons, she had assumed Brij would set something which would obviously harm Maan's changes and his performance hence opting for something relatively easier would help Maan confidence and Maaneets love story.

A few more minutes of silence prevailed, Geet danced on her toes from one to another. While Maan looked keenly at the man at the head of the table wishing for an acceptance. Pari wore a smile seeing the well-wishers gleam at her in gratitude while others frowned in infuriation, namely Sam and Brij.

'Pari is right' Darji declared making everyone breathe in ease. It was then Mohinder who asked his older brother to initiate the test for their future son-in-law.

'The first challenge would be to assist me in the fields, collecting and readying the grains for harvesting' Tauji informed looking towards a relieved Maan, how hard could a day in the field be after all he spent a night in the fields. But the point was last time he danced and this time he was to slog out chopping down crops, the difference between night and day.

When breakfast finished, the males went their own way while the females went to Maan with words of advice.

'Drink plenty of water' Rano instructed

'Wear a cap' Suman advised

'Don't rush, take it easy' Dida caressed his cheek in affection

'Eat this' Tayji fed him something sweet, an way of wishing him the best

'Jump on an axe and kill yourself' Sam beamed her veneered perfected smile, a fake one at that; just like her faultless teeth.

'Chup kar' Dadi admonished breathing fire at the now scared looking Sam while tapping a giggling Maan's head in care.

'Don't do anything stupid' Pinky whispered hugging her cousin

'Take care of yourself, Maan' Geet was the final one to will the best within him, a face mirroring worry. But her said words only concentrated on his well-being, making him all the more determined. I will do this for you Geet' he promised himself and then followed Tauji out the door.

Geet watched with uneasy eyes as Maan sauntered out the main door, until he disappeared at the corner. With a sigh, she climbed upstairs; all the way praying for Maan's health.

'Don't worry didi, he'll be fine' Raji tried diffusing the tension but all it did was increase it further. It had been an hour that Geet neglected her chores and blotted herself in Raji's room thinking of all the possible problems Maan would face today. The blazing heat being the first thing, then they used a traditional knife that curved into a U rather than scissors. She doubted Maan ever used it, last and foremost it was a tedious and tiring task which Maan would hate considering his personality. Chewing down her nail, she thought of what she could do to support him like she promised.

'Didi where are you going?' Rajji called seeing Geet run out the room

'To cook for Maan' she answered smiling at her younger sister for she finally found a solution to see Maan and to be with him

'First you bunch a load from the top, work yourself to the bottom near its root, 2 inches higher than the ground and then swipe the knife through it. See like this, it's rather simple' Tauji very patiently showed Maan for the fifth time on how to cut the grain. His voice catching humour at the end, of course it was simple but even simple was too hard for this guy' Tauji thought looking at Maan in certain displeasure.

'So like this then' Maan tried this time getting it right

'Yes exactly, now I'll watch you and then I'll start form that end and you continue from here. Before we know it, we'll meet in the middle' Tauji although explained but didn't seem to buy he's own expectation, neither did Maan. The next few minutes Maan methodically cut a few heaps, finally seeing Tauji's pleased expression Maan breathed in glee. Soon that excitement turned to cockiness, Maan swished and swashed through the strands swinging his arm left to right. Overconfidence will drown you at the sea of reality' exactly that's what happened when Tauji jumped in to stop Maan, holding onto the blade that was a few centimetres away from his waist.

'Careful young man, you don't want to cut yourself in half' Tauji's laboured voice sounded scared, more scared than Maan's eyes.

'Hold the knife away from you, okay' Tauji instructed him like how a teacher shows kindergarteners who use the scissors for the first time. Not exactly ideal! For the next few turns, Tauji stood around just in case Maan had another attack of confidence but seeing him work slowly yet efficiently Tauji went back to his section. This was only Field number 1, they were yet to do another and that's just for today. But luckily workers would return tomorrow, this no workers' arrangement was only for Maan.

The midday sun shone high and proud, gleaming in joy seeing Maan work to his sweat. Maan wiped his forehead once again and gulped down another bottle of water. He looked up covering his eyes as the light hit directly in line with his vision, and then he looked to the other side wanting to see if Tauji was affected but the man stood like steel whipping through the field. Then Maan looked back to see his own work, the empty brown earth could be seen and to the far side stood his heap of grain making him feel slightly chuffed. Then he looked across to Tauji's which was double his size, and immediately the air deflated out of his system. Swigging at his water bottle again, he went back to work with a sigh. When would this torture finish' being his only prayer. But then the memory of Geet played, leaving him with no option but to play his part. Hence keeping his head down, he sturdily continued to work but the familiar sound of a pair of payals caught his interest. Without a seconds waste, he looked at the source to see Geet walking down the path with a heavy bag to her side and a smile of pure bliss.