CHAPTER 09. MAAN AND GEET CONVERSE
"I still can't believe you want me to eat at a Dhaba!, growled Maan for umpteenth time.
Geet just rolled her eyes. When he had first said it, she had felt irritated. But by now, she just tuned him out.
"And I can't believe that I actually agreed!, Maan continued to complain.
Geet huffed but ignored him again as she focused on the road. It was almost 1 in the noon and they had yet to find a dhaba. Geet was hungry and was ready to eat whatever she got her hands on.
"Seriously? A Dhaba?, Maan mumbled and Geet resisted the urge to start giggling. Kitne ajeeb hain yeh Amreeka waale! She thought as he drove.
Suddenly Geet saw a dhaba and grabbed Maan's arm eagerly, "Maan! Dhaba!
"Finally! Lets get over with your condition!, Maan grumbled as he slowed his jeep and turned it to park it on the side.
Geet ignored him as she looked at the Dhaba with hungry expression. She was a Punjabi girl used to having heavy breakfast in the morning and today she was surviving on just a small glass of tea. So she had every right to be hungry today.
The moment Maan parked the Jeep, Geet jumped out of it.
"Geet!, Maan shouted in surprise as he also got down and started to follow her.
The Dhaba was a typical one with a compound where food was cooked and where the owner kept the money. Then there were cots spread outside on which people usually sat to eat. By the time Maan reached Geet, she had already ordered some food and was sitting on one of the cots, pointing to the cot in front of her for him to sit. Between his seat and hers was a small table. Maan sat down feeling a little awkward and looked around. For once, there was no people sitting to eat at the dhaba leaving only Maan and Geet as the client for the owner.
Maan turned to look at Geet and smiled when he noticed the eagerness displayed on her face. He had to admit, he was fascinated by this girl. She was a firecracker with witty demeanour and cheerful disposition. She was also not bad to look at, he thought. But he then straightened up. Maan! What are you thinking? He shook his head to get rid of the thought making Geet frown. She looked at him curiously and he shrugged letting her know that everything was ok.
Just then food was placed in front of him and Maan's eyes widened. So much food! He had heard about Dhabas in India but he never had experienced eating at such places. And so much food on one plate was not something he was used to. Just then he noticed something. He frowned and looked around the plate. And then he looked up, "Geet?
Geet was having a time of her life. After being hungry since the morning, this was a treat for her. She dipped the paratha into dahi and closed her eyes as she raised her hand to put the piece into her mouth when Maan called her. She paused her action and opened her eyes. For a second, she looked so comic that Maan had to resist the urge to chuckle.
"Ji! Boliye!, Geet spoke up.
Maan started to look around again as if searching for something.
Geet frowned. Yeh dhoondh kya rahe hain?
Maan started to speak, "Where is the knife and fork?
"Ki?, Geet asked out of habit. Inhein kyun knife ki jaroorat hai?
Maan blinked and looked at her in shock, "Knife and fork! You know jiske saath log khaana khaate hain!
Geet frowned and then her face cleared, "Achcha! Chammach! Lekin use toh Angrezi mein spoon kehte hain na?
Maan resisted the urge to slap his hand on his forehead, "No! I mean... eh forget it! Just tell me! Ise khaate kaise hain?
Geet shrugged, picked up the discarded piece of paratha and put it into her mouth, "Aise! She grinned at him and started to chew her food.
Maan could only watch with wide eyes as Geet gulped, grabbed another paratha, picked up the sabzi with it and continued to eat.
"You have to eat with your hands?, Maan gasped.
Geet nodded as she licked her fingers, "Waah! Kya khaana banaaya hai!, she praised the food and continued to eat.
"I cannot eat like this!, Maan shouted.
Geet finally realised that Maan had a genuine problem. And she finally turned her focus onto him.
"Kyun? Kya hua?, Geet asked.
Maan looked at the food in shock, "I cannot eat with hands. Main haath se nahi kha sakta! Yuck!
Maan's expression was so comic that Geet giggled a little.
"You are laughing at me?, Maan growled.
Geet shrugged, "Aap ho hi itne ajeeb!
"Phirse woh word ajeeb?, Maan growled, "You know what, agar main tumhaare English pe nahi has sakta toh tum bhi mujhe ajeeb nahi bula sakti, ok?
Geet nodded, "Ok!
"Aur mujhe yeh bataao! Our hands are dirty! How to eat with dirty hands?, Maan growled.
"Bas! Itna sa problem?, Geet commented and then she asked him to keep his hands to a side and pulling a water jug from nearby, she poured water onto his hands to wash them.
"Ab khaayiye!, she said and started to eat.
That's it? Maan had a disgusted look on his face. No soap? No towel? Nothing! Oh well! I did agree to her condition. Chalo Maan bete! Eat with your hand! He sighed and started to eat with his hands. Luckily for him, he had eaten with hands with his Daadima many times so he wasn't unknown to it. But he wasn't also big fan of it and avoided eat with bare hands as much as possible. Because of that and also his disgust to eat without properly washing his hands, his movements were jerky and awkward.
Geet noticed the way he was eating and started to giggle.
Maan glared at her half-heartedly, "Its not that funny!
That only made Geet laugh louder. Maan ignored her for few seconds but then he also smiled a little. That made Geet laugh harder and Maan's expression turned a little tender as he noticed how her laughter made her look prettier.
Geet noticed the peculiar expression on Maan's face and quieted down a little, "Kya? Kya hua?
Maan smiled at her, "Tumhaari hasi ... very pretty! Aise hi haste rehna!
Geet smiled and looked down a little shyly, "Thank you!
Both feeling a little uncertain, turned to their food and started to eat.
Soon they were done and Maan once again insisted that he paid.
Geet resisted this time too, "Dekhiye Maan! Yeh Dhaabe ka idea mera tha! Toh treat bhi mera!
"What? No!, Maan growled.
"Ji! Haan!, Geet growled back.
Maan sighed, "You know what? I am too full to fight with you! Pay! Do whatever you want!
Geet cheered, "Yay! and she went to pay eagerly.
Maan shook his head. What a girl! She is happy just to pay for food!
Soon Geet came back and both climbed into the jeep. In few minutes, they were off to Hoshiarpur again.
As Maan drove, Geet suddenly had a thought and turned towards Maan.
"Maan!, Geet started, "Mennu aapne ab tak yeh baat bataaya nahi ki aap Hoshiarpur kyun jaa rahe ho?
Maan shrugged, "You never asked!
Geet narrowed her eyes, "Jyaada smart mat baniye! Bataayiye! Kyun aa rahe hain aap humaare gaao? Dekhiye Maan! Maine apni kahaani bataayi na aapko! Toh ab aapko bhi bataana padega!
Maan looked at her in amusement, "Excuse me! Just because tumne apni kahani bataayi uska matlab yeh nahi that I also tell you my story!
Geet's jaw dropped open and she stared at him, "Haww! Dekha Babaji!, Geet looked up at the sky, "Kitne chaalu bande hain yeh!
Maan looked up. Who was she talking to? Then her words penetrated his brain and he looked at her, "Chaalu! Doesn't that mean to start? I am a starter?
Maan looked so confused that Geet couldn't resist from laughing, "Arre! Chaalu matlab starter nahi! It is... woh kehte haina..., Geet fumbled as she tried to explain the word, "Haan! Jaise Smart! Chaalu smart jaisa hi hai lekin...
Maan cut her off as he straightened up, "Smart? That I am! You are right! I am chaalu! I am very chaalu!, He said proudly.
Geet giggled as she realised that Maan had misunderstood the word. Maan looked at her curiously for her laughter but looked back towards the road when Geet shook her head letting him know that it was nothing.
For few minutes there was silence and then Geet once again turned to Maan, "Bataayiye Maan! Aap mere gaao kyun aa rahe hain?
Maan frowned as he wondered how to answer the question. He opened his mouth to explain but then he shut his mouth. How am I supposed to explain this? And from where should I start? From the beginning obviously. But what is the beginning? The night of the accident? Or the past love story of Mahi and Mohi? Maan didn't know what to say.
Geet took his silence as reluctance and smiled sadly, "Achcha! Nahi bataana hai toh mat bataayiye! Mennu koi problem nahi!
Maan glanced at Geet and noticed that she looked a little sad. He realised that while she said she was ok with it, she was a little upset that he had yet to share anything with her despite her telling him her whole story.
Maan sighed, "Aisi koi baat nahi hai, Geet!, he paused as he realised something. Was he really going to tell her, a random stranger about his past life? They might have come close but at the end of the day she was just a random stranger, right? And even if she would have been his friend, would he have been able to tell her that he was in search for his soulmate from past life? The thought itself sounded so ridiculous! She would think I have run away from some mental hospital. She would chuck me into mental hospital before I could even say her name! No! I can't tell her the truth! He took a deep breath as he realised that he would have to lie.
"Woh... actually Geet...uhhh... My Grandpa I mean Daadaji was from here... I mean... from India and he had visited this place... Saalon pehle... And as a kid he told me the story... so main unki favourite place dekhne aagaya!, Maan shrugged feeling uncomfortable at lying.
Geet frowned. Hey Babaji! Aisa kyun lag raha hai jaise yeh kuch chupa rahe hain? Maan gave her a glance and Geet smiled politely.
"Oh! Toh aap Hoshiarpur dekhne aaye hain?, Geet spoke up after few seconds.
"Haan! And not just Hoshiarpur, uske aas paas ki jagah bhi!, Maan said as he remembered the ruins where Maahi had led Mohi in his vision.
Geet nodded and then yawned. Maan noticed it.
"Lagta hai tumhein neend aa rahi hai! Why don't you sleep?, Maan suggested hoping that she would sleep and that way he won't be pestered by her questions. He didn't have it in himself to lie more.
Geet agreed and leaned back. In few minutes she was asleep. Maan heaved a sigh of relief. Saved by the sleep!
It was evening by the time Maan neared the Hoshiarpur. He took in a sharp breath when he saw a milestone on the road with words written on it, "Hoshiarpur 7 kms He looked around as the milestone passed by and he realised that it was the exact place he dreamed about. He was here! He was near to his destiny! A soft smile came on his face as he remembered he would meet his Mahi soon!
Maan may have been hesitant about the whole visit and he may have been sceptic about the whole soulmate thing that his Daadima so blindly believed in, but he couldn't deny that somewhere in the corner of his heart, he was eager to see how Mahi actually looked and whether she genuinely was born again like him! Maan surmised that the part of his heart which was eager to see Mahi was the part where Mohi resided.
Maan shook his thoughts off once he realised that they had reached the outskirts of Hoshiarpur already. Just then Geet woke up and perked up once she realised that they had reached the outskirts of her village.
"Hum log aagaye!, she whispered excitedly.
"Hmmm..., Maan murmured as he focused on driving due to the road being rugged.
At one point the road was so bad that one bump made Geet fall right into Maan. She tried to pull herself back to her seat right away but winced when her hair got pulled.
"Your hair is stuck into my button!, Maan mumbled in surprise when he noticed it.
"Koi gal nahi! Main nikaal deti hoon!, Geet mumbled and raised her hand to her hair that was tangled with Maan's button. But due to the hair that got tangled was at the back of her head and very close to the scalp she couldn't see it. She tugged her hair in one direction and then another but it was of no use. Her hair remained tangled.
"Ek minute!, Maan mumbled and took one of his hands from the steering wheel and fiddled with the button. In one second, the hair came off the button.
"Thank you!, Geet mumbled as she turned sideways to look at Maan. Her eyes widened in surprise at how close she was to Maan.
Maan also glanced down and felt his heart skip a beat when he saw Geet's face so close. The Jeep gave a jerk and both pulled away from their eye lock. Geet shifted back to her seat and looked away and Maan also focused on the driving avoiding Geet.
Just then Maan had a thought and he questioned Geet, "Hey! Where is a 5 Star Hotel here?
He waited for some answer but no answer came. He glanced sideways and frowned when he saw that Geet was looking at him in confusion.
"Um... hello! Geet!, Maan mumbled. But Geet continued to look at him as if she was seeing some kind of alien.
"Geet! Hotel! Yahaan kahin hai?, Maan asked.
Geet again stared at him for few seconds before she spoke up, "Hotel? Woh bhi 5 Star?
"Haan!, Maan nodded wondering why Geet was so surprised.
Suddenly Geet burst out laughing.
"Why are you laughing?, Maan was confused.
"Hasun nahi toh kya karun Maan!, Geet said in between her laughter, "Aap ek gaao mein, jahaan dhang se light nahi aati, five star hotel dhundh rahe hain! She continued to laugh.
Maan resisted the urge to slap his forehead. What was he thinking? Of course there would have been no 5 Star Hotel here!
"Toh koi 3 Star Hotel..., he trailed off when Geet shook his head.
Maan huffed, "Ek normal Hotel?
He growled when Geet shook her head again.
So where am I supposed to stay now? Maan wondered.
Maan voiced his thoughts and Geet replied quietly, "Yahaan... kahi saare... Lodges hain! Aap wahaan ruk sakte hain!
Maan nodded but winced mentally. They had stayed yesterday night at some random Lodge and he wasn't that much impressed by it. The thought of staying there for a while didn't appeal to him much.
"Ya toh..., Geet trailed off and Maan turned to look at her. She was looking straight ahead but gave him a glance sideways and spoke rapidly, "Ya toh aap mere ghar theher sakte hain!
"Come again?, Maan was once more confused.
"Ki?, Geet was confused too.
Maan realised that Come again?' was an idiom, something Geet wouldn't have understood.
Maan sighed, "Matlab phir se bolo?
Geet took a deep breath and mumbled, "Aap mere ghar pe theher sakte hain!
Maan rolled his eyes, "Jor se bologi? Mujhe kuch sunaayi nahi diya!
Geet huffed, "Maine kahaa, aap mere ghar pe reh sakte hain!
Maan gave her a double take, "Really?
Geet shyly nodded and then elaborated, "Woh ki haina, aap ne meri itni madat ki, ki mujhe laga mennu bhi aapki madat karni chaahiye!
Maan opened his mouth to refute her idea, ready to say that she didn't owe him anything but Geet noticed it and spoke up hurriedly, "Aur waise bhi India mein mehmaan bhagwan hai aur mehmaan ki seva karna humaara dharm! Aur aap toh poore India ke mehmaan ho! Aapko toh special service milegi!
Maan nodded, "Theek hai! I will stay at your house!
"Arre waah! Wadhiya!, Geet clapped excitedly, "Dekhna Maan! Main aapko apne haath se Punjab ke special dishes banaake khilaaungi!
"Toh tumhein khaana banana aata hai?, Maan asked in surprise.
"Aur nai toh ki! Saalon se banaa rahi hun!, Geet said proudly, "Aur agar aapne apni ungliyaan na chaat li toh mera naam Geet nahi!
"You mean phirse haath se khaana padega?, Maan asked worriedly and Geet let out a laugh at his comment.
Aww! They are so cute together, nahi?
We will see more of their cuteness in next few chapters too!
Get ready for some Maaneet, moments, romance and sweet talks!
Till then, thank you, take care and have fun,
Kalpana
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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