Dadi's Bride T2 - Completed - Page 99

Chapter 35: Division and Decision

'OK koi to start karo?' Anita broached looking at the four youngsters who had their hands linked and heads turned to the ground, Raji at the end holding onto Geet, who held onto Maan, who held onto Adi. Like four peas in a pod, or even better four charms in a chain.

'Raji was this your stupid idea?' Brij accused looking sternly at his baby sister, who looked for ways to go against the family rules

'NAHI' came the horrified hand to mouth response, she might be the trouble maker but not the only one in the family well at least not anymore. Heights of injustice, just because she's a girl, make that cute young girl.

'Nahi veerji woh main ...woh' Geet stammered as Darji walked forward until his feet rested a centimetres away from hers and she looked around the crowd of family around them, each intrigued by what she was about to say.

'Darji it was my idea' Maan forwarded pushing Geet behind him and for the first time the Handa's especially Brij was impressed. This was a real man, protecting his woman even from her own family.

'So it was you' Darji continued menacingly, a smirk fore playing on his wrinkled face

'Ha ...nahi... bata nahi' he changed looking for someone to help when no one looked pleased he moved behind Geet and whispered something in her ear, just when they thought he was man enough he cowered behind his female, such a wimp

'Darji sorry' both whispered finally looking to the ground

'Just so you know I was kidnapped into this' Adi added pulling himself into everyone's attention and he almost kicked himself, if he stayed quiet he could have slipped away without anyone knowing but now with his big mouth open everyone looked at him with anything but understanding

'This is so disappointing, your son has gone out of our hands' Raj finally spoke standing firmly in front of them and looked at Darji in shame after directing a heated gaze at Anita

'My son, he is equally yours' Anita countered without paying any attention to everyone, not even her sons future in-laws in front of her husbands digs

'Papaji it wasn't only him' though a whisper but Geet tried defending and Anita smiled and so it Maan and Raj especially hearing her new name for him.

'Ha it was my idea but it would have never worked if Geet didn't come' Maan spoke without any realisation and then left a whack on his head

'Dadi' he cried rubbing the back of his head burn in a slap

'Don't blame Geet for your foolishness' and that is when his mouth rounded in zero and he made the mistake of looking at Geet who looked angry not much like Dadi but still angry. Why did he need to open his big mouth and throw Geet under the bus?

'Aisa nahi hai, woh main...woh.. main stupid hoon' he finished not knowing what else to do other than accept the universal truth

'So to hai' all concluded laughing loudly as Geet and Maan looked at one another in confusion

'Why do you think we all met here?' Pinky asked from behind and that is when the four noticed her dressed in a light pink top and white skinnies, Adi quickly shuck his hand out of Maan's and ran to Pinky apologising like the love sick puppy he was? The rest however looked on with interest.

'Kutta, kamina tu tera love story start kardia without mine completing' Maan accused holding onto Geet tighter, how can Adi hide such a thing even more worse how can Adi think of even falling in love when his love life was in such big crisis.

'Pinky I swear I didn't want to do this, I would never keep a secret from you but Maan swore he'll kill me' he begged holding onto her hand and Pinky looked the other way angrily. Both completely ignored Maan's over-dramatic sigh of being cheated.

'LIAR' Maan shouted running to them and punching Adi in the shoulder, one for pinning all blame of him (though he was to blame for ALL) and two for keeping him in the dark of the love-story between HIS best friend and favourite cousin.

'Wait why is Adi only apologising, Pinky too kept a secret' Brij added punching Adi's other shoulder and he cried in pain, Brij sala' running in his mind. However it did help clear Adi's head and now he looked on in accusation, this time Pinky apologised making Brij a proud man, after all proud men save the day and men don't apologise, no matter how wrong. Of course in the privacy of their bedroom, grovelling and working under wives instruction was a different story. But not in front of the world, or so he tried to pitch to a hostile audience.

'Well anyway we came to speak of you wedding?' Raj filled in seeing how his son time and again looked his way in accusation, though Maan hadn't voiced it but he knew his son too well, once home Maan for sure would accuse him for setting up the whole trap after all he was the one who asked him to attend the Amritsar trip

'Marriage' Maan jumped running to Dadi and his mum like a child too excited by the news

'But now we might have to postpone it seeing how you kids can't follow simple rules' Darji added standing between Geet and Maan purposely creating that tension and Maan almost compiled a 'why?' but instead he looked to the ground guiltily

'Nice, you agree Maan' Raj interceded smiling at Maan who scoffed a we do not agree but have no option' in return looking angrily at the floor and then shot a look of irritation at his mother as if to say 'throw ice on papa this time'.

'Mujhe shaddi kar ni hai' he moaned quietly dropping his head to her shoulder and she patted his face while Dadi loving stroked Geet's

'Wait you're both on the cheaters gang' he cried the next, running off to Geet and attacking Dadi's hand that rested on her face. Everyone else looked on amused, some rolling their eyes at his dramatics

'What have I done?' Anita complained

'You're meant to be on my side Mum, couldn't you have told me you're coming here then I would have planned to meet Geet elsewhere' he answered roughly and Darji watched in keen interest as Maan argued with his parents and then sulked like a baby. Oh boy Geet and him were such an unusual match. Dadi giggled and so did Brij seeing him fret and complain as Darji held onto Geet and walked onto the road with everyone following.

'I like you bowl of wrinkles' Brij whispered falling in her line

'I like you too hulk without brains' she added and then caught speed to walk along Darji, leaving Brij too stunned to even walk. Did she just insult his intelligence?

'So I reckon we should exchange horoscopes and see the best date available' Raj started seeing how the noise quietened down, the journey to the restaurant was rather a weird one, his son raced behind Geet who was firmly held onto by her Darji, and then once at the restaurant immediately sat beside Geet, even when Brij fretted over the seating arrangement. Both Darji and Tauji looked his way and then at Maan, and he too looked Raj's way, as if to say 'yes our son is just like yours', those silent talks weren't missed by neither ladies, Anita or Dadi. Pinky and Adi had walked away, newly in love with their first major miscommunication, so everyone let them be. To be honest most didn't care, or forgot due to Maan's shenanigans.

'You are right, I'll ring our panditji' Tauji started, Mohinder was supposed to come but last minute official matters kept him busy, finance was his department hence he was required to meet the suppliers.

'Pandit kyun, me and Geet love each other' Maan questioned holding up their intertwined hands and Darji immediately interjected with 'boro ka beech baat nahin karti'

'Why boro ko speech difficulties hai?' he whispered in a complain to Geet's ear who mocked a look to shut him up while Raji who sat beside giggled giving him a high five.

'Looks like we need to wait' Tauji ended the call and looked on in seriousness stopping at Geet's face, had he noticed Maan he would have seen the shock and anger

'Pandit ji has gone on holiday'

'Is umar main honeymoon, chi chi Geet ki babaji' Maan tapped the sides of his face in gross, like how Geet did when she asked for forgiveness, 'tauba-tauba' she called it. Raji burst into laughter catching everyone's attention as she repeated and raved.

'Maan and Raji chup' Darji again signed, reaching his wits end. Managing one child (Raji) with the attention span of 5 minutes was hard enough but Maan had like 5 seconds.

'Maan shhh' Geet fell closer to his ears, helping the warmth seep in and he like a doll followed for the rest of the time. While the elders discussed on their marriage he allowed his hands to play fingers under the table; itching, tickling, tapping and playing whatever they played between the elders. No one really took note of Geet's shying face or Maan's energised silence.

'Lets go' Raj announced after half an hour, reaching a conclusion. He stood up followed by Anita and Dadi

'No it was my turn' Maan cried still sitting

'Your turn for what?' Brij questioned inspecting his sister and her soon-to-be-husband closely

'Nothing' he answered rubbing off the pinch, a glare was thrown Geet's way too but she looked to the ground as Raj hugged Darji and Tauji promising to meet soon. An official act to formalise the wedding.

'So the marriage is fixed after 8 months'

'8 months, 8 BLOODY MONTHS' Maan cried shifting to the middle so he could see his dad who was driving, his mother looked back also with an awkward smile hearing the frustration in her sons voice and Dadi just looked out the window from the back waving at the Handa's who drove the other way

'Do you want to make it a year?' his father threatened and Maan whispered an 'I hate you' falling back and heeding to Dadi who attended his hurt. Since Adi had Maan's car keys, Maan was forced to travel with his parents, at that time it seemed like a good option to collect all the gossip but now under the roof of his father's car he felt otherwise

'Dadi 8 months' he cried and she smoothed his hair while Anita tried to distract his mood by asking of Pinky and Adi who remained in Amritsar, busy probably romancing making Maan all the more sour.

'Kutta' he huffed

'Papa make sure to delay their marriage for at least 20 years' he asked in vengeance while his dada ignored

'Mummy I want to get married' he fought again while the rest rolled their eyes in usual mock

'You two have ruined him, always his way or no way' Raj rebuked shifting lanes and Anita immediately bounced back, arguing of all the time Raj let Maan off the noose resulting in what they faced today, a very childish son

'For god sake, just shut up the pair of you. No wonder Maan is a clown, since his parents run a circus' Dadi shouted from the back and both immediately quietened down throwing each other evils and Maan too directed the same to Dadi who blew him a kiss to annoy him further.

I'f there's any consolation Roka is in 3 days' Darji approached Maan's side of the car, ever since she called him a clown he shifted to the corner and remained there keeping an arm as a barrier so she can't enter his territory in the car.

'What's that?' he asked looking a little keen

'Engagement' she answered while he threw his arms around her in joy

'Geet tumari engagement 3 days main hain' Tauji produced the answer before entering into the Handa Haveli, all throughout the journey Geet asked Raji via her eyes, who tried her might but the car was very quiet and tensed hence they're best attempt to play charades was rather unfruitful.

'3 din' she repeated; shocked, pleased and shy.

Last Chapter: The love dove

The afternoon sun danced in the sky, brightening the day that was already too bright. Drums and men folk played games and sang high tuned songs, women catered syncing around the music and kids created havoc. Amongst them all were Maan and Geet seated in a decorated couch on a raised stage looking ever so happy, in a few minutes they were to be engaged and formally known as fiance.

Every few minutes a relative or an accustomed stranger came and blessed them with unity. Maan stood up greeting guests as told by Handa's and every time Geet bowed to collect blessing so did he, even though he complained the minute they left of a hurting back or of prying eyes. Darji and Dida sat near the front table and smiled their way, their granddaughter looked ever so happy in the white lengha her in-laws gifted for the occasion. It was costumed designed and Anita though planned it so many years ago, however assembled within the short time scale.

Once the priest did his part, Maan was the first to slide in the ring and ended with a kiss to her ring finger, most of the villagers gaped at the outplay which the Handa's ignored and just tried their best not to react to the usual way of the city dwellers. When Geet shyly slipped the ring into his finger, she only looked to the ground and the city folks looked on awed at the cute display while the villagers looked proudly on. When it was time to cut the cake, everyone threw petals and shimmers celebrating the unity of two people, so different yet so in love.

'This kurta is so uncomfortable' he stressed into her ears as they posed in front of the huge cake for photographs

'Brij veerji did ask which you'd prefer?' she answered looking his way in annoyance, ever since they sat down. He had been complaining of everything or anything; the hands too hard, why are there so many people, why is the sun out, why are you not looking my way and so on and so on. So now when she heard the like the 50^th complaint of the day, she just couldn't bite her tongue

'Well ofcourse after he say's that I can't pull off a sherwani'

'Ha ha Maan Singh Khuranna can do anything' she teased smiling for the camera

'Of course jaan-e-maan' he kissed onto her cheek as she burned in embarrassment and Brij almost 'oyed' his way but stopped feeling Darji's firm hold on his arm.

'Humara izzat Darji' he fumed as Suman pulled him away knowing how violent he'd get if Maan, the so called kissing machine as Raji nicely put it goes in for another peck.

'101' Tito counted blotting another line on the tally

'Kitna hua' Raji ran to him leaving her friends as he continued counting looking at the stage

'104 eww Raji di mujhe yeh nahi karna' Tito frowned while Raji gave him another chocolate to silence him but this time he grasped hold of the paper and pen and thrust it into Raji's hands and ran to his friends, when Raji called out for him he ignored and ran faster, why not? For the last 20mins he was counting Maan's kissing spree on the sum of being treated but every time Raji walked back with a free treat, if these were on offer he might as well fetch the candy from the desert table himself while playing with his friend. So now Raji was stuck with a paper and her friends on the other side holding onto a bet she very proudly announced, by the end of the day Maas was to place a 1000 kisses on her beloved sister if she was to be crowned as the queen for a week in college.

'Geet come here beta' Dadi pulled her to clan of friends and Maan reluctantly let go while shooting Dadi an evil, every minute he got cosy someone or the other pulled them apart. It was meant to be their engagement yet he spent far too much time being introduced or she was being pulled away to meet their friends and relatives, all stupid if you ask him.

'Hogaya tum sab ki milna milana' he questioned when Raj returned Geet, Pari stood beside in a teal salwar kameez wishing Geet once again.

'Nahin I think Tommy reh gaya' Raj joked pointing to a dog while Maan screamed out a daddy', the people on the stage laughed, others unusual to Maan's way looked their way and sniggered seeing his foolishness. Beeji wanted to be one of them, she so wanted to gossip of the fool on stage even if he was a millionaire but couldn't since the haughty queen sat beside with a love sick puppy by her side. Teji and Sam officially dating was like the biggest misery of her life.

'Sam you sit and I'll fetch you some food' Teji offered while Nandini and Beeji rolled their eyes, both women looked at one another ready to claw out the eyes of the women sitting opposite but stopped since Teji vowed to move out and move in with Sam if anything was to happen, so in front stuck to fake smiles and snide remarks.

'Ugly monkey' Nandini coughed

'Filthy giraffe' Sameera mocked pulling at her neck and Nandini flew across the table ready to wing Sam's neck, everyone knew Nandini was sensitive about her oddly long neck.

'Didi she looks so happy' Rano teared holding onto her husband

'Ha bohot khush hai' Taiji added tearing herself as Tauji tightened his hold around her, then both the brothers looked at one another and shared a watery smile themselves. Sending off a daughter was the happiest and the hardest moment for a father, what an oxymoron?

'Look at them' Suman cooed pulling Brij's face towards Maan and Geet on stage, it seemed like Maan said something to Geet who burst out laughing. The crowd dimmed and the waiters got to cleaning the open-spaced plot which the decorators did up for the engagement party, only close friends and family remained for immediate photographs but that too was thinning down thanks to the commanding photographer who looked as ready as the groom-to-be to get out of here.

'Ready' he screamed one last time as Pari, Pinky, Adi, Raji and Tito stood around for the last picture of the day.

'Savi whatever you wanted has finally happened' Padma said looking at Dadi and Dida too looked pleased

'It's not fair you two will be family' she added as the two smiled fondly and hugged once again

'And enemies too if that fool does anything wrong' Brij interceded hugging his Dida from the back making her giggled as Dadi belittled him under her breath looking crossly at Padma who shrugged as if to say part of the package'.

'Jaanu please' he pressed as they walked down the stage, Pinky and Adi where helping but in reality they were busy romancing and Geet and Maan were left struggling by themselves

'Nahin it's too dangerous, if Darji finds out'

'Please ab hum adhi wife and husband hai' he probed kissing her hand which he held onto tightly

'Maan' she gushed like the rest of the evening, looks the 2 weeks away has turned him into some kind of serial kisser, every few minutes he's either hugging or kissing, pecking her forehead, eyes, cheeks or hands, thankfully it stopped there but now with his want to meet along she just knew he had other things on mind.

'Maan please' she cajoled while he pulled the doggy face, when it didn't work he went into being the broody teenager he was. 'We don't talk anymore' he sang still helping but looking the other way, even when Geet called him, 'I'm leaving tomorrow never to return' he continued singing catching Adi attention who threw a tissue his way knowing of what he is up to and Maan threw a bottle back only for it to hit Pinky and he immediately hid behind Geet saying Adi started it and Pinky instead kicked Adi who fell to the ground in a cry.

'Kutta kameena' Adi screamed as they walked past him, still rolling on the floor in pain

'Maan ab bohot mean ho'

'Me and mean, you don't even care about me' he cried in the most dramatic way, covering his face in his hands and she finally agreed to meet in the shed later at night and he danced all the way back to the Handa Haveli.

'Maan' Geet whispered creaking closer to the shred

'Maan' she whispered louder looking back at her house house, hoping no one catches her in the garden at this time of the night. After the function, the Khuranna's settled in the guest rooms in the Handa Haveli with the notion to leave the next day hence Maan was desperate to meet her alone.

'Ma...' before she could complete a palm covered her shocked mouth and pulled her behind the shred making her all the more scared. Horror travelled along the red cells in her body and a silent scream erupted as she felt the cold wall behind.

'Geet it's me jaan-e-maan' he whispered in her ear as she continued in her struggles

'Geet stop' he screeched removing his hand off of her hand and placed it on her waist, but she still continued fighting not paying any attention, and then within that second he felt a hard slap against his warmed cheek. Solid and firm unlike herself.

'Geet' Maan cried staggering backwards due to the shock, tears making its way down his not to happy face

'Maan tum' she jumped wanting to get closer to inspect his face, feeling ever so guilty while he moved further into the bushes behind now whining like a hurt kid

'Tum ne mujhe mara, mujhe mara' he cried stomping to the ground, crossing one leg over the other as his hands caressed the slap

'I didn't mean to Maan, sorry' she apologised sitting beside, trying her might to look at him while he turned away saying I don't want to talk to you, EVER' making her all the more guilty

'Maan please, I'm so sorry jaan' she apologised trying to sugar coat everything knowing he would melt with sweet calls.

'You hit me' he repeated looking hurt into her eyes and her hands went around his neck pulling closer enabling Geet to place a soft kiss over the reddened cheek making him sigh as he rolled up his T-shirt, making her gape in shock. He was now dressed in a simple T-shirt and dark blue jeans while she wore a simple white kurta pyjama dress.

'What?' she asked feeling slightly ashamed as he continued revealing his tout chest and pointed towards his heart

'Kiss me here too' he fretted saying how his heart also hurts but the mischief could be clearly seen

'Maan' she warned shying away

'Fine don't talk to me' he ordered getting up to walk away while she immediately pulled him down making him fall on top of her thus disabling a yelp of shock from the both of them.

'SHHH' they hushed straightaway looking around to see if they caught anyone's attention, luckily they were behind the shred and hidden by large snowflower bushes. They lay there in the middles of dozen flowers, engulfed in scented sweetness and revolved around loving eyes. She had dared to look into his eyes while his hands travelled to her messy hair and cleared a spot allowing him to place an unfathomable kiss to her forehead.

'I love you' he whispered against her skin before rolling over to his side, noting how conscious Geet was getting with him so close to her

'I love you too' she answered quickly placing a fast kiss over his heart not the way he wanted, her soft lips on his naked chest but even then it was cherished. Anything this woman did was extremely, lovingly precious.

'Ok jaanu shall we talk babies' he added as a hand travelled to her waist and pulled her closer making her all the more shy and red

'Atcha lets discuss colours for the wedding' he laughed wanting to see her face which she hide into his neck, setting off electrocuting impulses in his rigid body.

'Jaanu' he called as she felt soft feather light petals against her skin

'Shall we get married' he asked with eagerness finally making her come out her hidden spot and look at him in mock anger

'Then stop hiding like a bride and kiss me' he ordered while she whacked the flower out his hand and got up on her legs

'Geet' he whined as she began to walk away from the darkened spot between the fragrant snowflowers

'There' she answered placing a soft kiss on her cheek while his shocked hands pulled her back into the shadowed pits of flowering and delicately placed his demanding mouth over hers, as their craving musk travelled along the shying flowers his mouth devoured her fragrance, pulling her body against his firm one until the flowers around looked away and the sky reddened poured its joy in misty hues.

'Savi you got what you wanted' Dida hugged Dadi, both crying in joy

'Haan akhir jo main chati hoon woh hota hai Radi, Dadi's bride won the battle to Maan's heart' Dadi pronounced lifting her invisible collar, feeling ever so proud. After all she was a proud woman, more proud than Brij at times and hence the battle of proud-ness.

'Maan's Dulhan' he whispered against her ear as they lounged out the flowering brushes

'Dadi's bride' she corrected still red with the thought of the kiss while he looked up towards Dadi's bedroom window where two silhouette sat smiling looking at the emerging lovers which they made possible.

The End