Knock, Knock! Who's there? Pt 21/22 pg 80, 82 23/04 - Page 59

Chapter 21

'Geet you ready?' Maan asked taking her cold hands in his, the ride from London to Central Lancashire was both easy and hard, easy because the traffic seemed mellow; no rush, no wait, and hard because both were involved in their own thoughts making the environment in the car very dense with worry. Geet had catastrophized herself so much, almost freezing up with the thoughts of Maan's mother and the sisters, whom Maan had briefly mentioned but Sameera was sure, actually guaranteed 'bitchy sisters', her exact words, 'Geet hot baby daddy is so kind and his mum is like a shark wrapped in a Mickey mouse outfit, I bet the sisters are as bad as the mother. Geet be careful of the bitchy sisters. Hun just call me if they give you shit, I'll pop down with Adi and teach them a lesson. Don't worry babe, I'm there'.

'Geet don't worry, I'm here' Maan encased her small shoulders into a hug feeling her shiver even against the car's heater. If you don't like it, we'll leave as soon as Natasha' wedding is over' to which she smiled despite the tremor, Maan hadn't visited his parents in a while so Geet definitely didn't want to be the cause of his short stay especially at his own sister's wedding.

'I'll be fine' she tugged his hand with a gentle smile to which he smiled back before settling for a quick kiss on the cheek. It wasn't long before their car was spotted in the driveway and a boisterous Vicky ran forward with a happy smile. 'Maan bhai' he called banging Geet's side of the window, spooking her up a bit. 'Let's go' Maan laughed walking out and was immediately taken into a bear hug by both his brothers, Vicky and Karan, even Karan's son circled his mini hands around his favourite uncle as Geet watched keenly. Not long afterwards, before Maan could walk to Geet's side of the door, Pinky pulled it open and slowly escorted Geet out the car, wearing a huge smile.

'I am Pinky, Maan's youngest sister, and baby in the family' she pouted with a smile making Geet smile along. Pinky was then fast enough to head towards the front door tagging Geet along as Maan still stood surrounded by his brothers and now with a few more men who all stood at the frond yard. 'Geet' he called in worry as she stared at him for help, 'Don't worry bhai, I'll look after Bhabi' Pinky shouted pulling Geet to hurry up, seeing him not saying anything Geet finally turned around and slowly began to take in the surrounding. Pinky kept waving at people and whispering their introductions to her but nothing seemed to soak in, all she noticed was the amount of people in the house. The house had 3 rooms downstairs, including the kitchen, relatively decent size but not big enough to host that much people. People stood in groups, sat on the floor, women around several table's gossiping while working. 'Their making the fruit carvings and mishti taals (Indian sweet)' Pinky whispered seeing how Geet looked intrigued. 'Why?' she whispered in a daze, 'oh Natasha is having her sangeet and mehndi at the local community centre, so we're catering our own food' Pinky informed, as they walked into the kitchen Geet noticed more women and young girls, the woman cooking and rolling out roti's, while the girls cut up vegetables and helped by washing and cleaning down surfaces. Once in the garden, Geet thought she'd be able to rest but even that place was crowded, most of the girls were sitting on the warm grass making all sorts of things, several cutting tissue paper and others arranging pots, rows of glasses stood upright on table of what looked like miniature cheesecakes, different coloured jellies, breakfast cereal bars, marshmallow pops, several canapes; basically everything edible and colourful. In the midst stood the bride, Geet could tell with her heavy makeup and natural happiness.

'Anjali di and Natasha, meet Geet bhabi' Pinky called walking to the small group of girls who stood inspecting all the work, both the woman turned and looked Geet up and down and then settled on her stomach. 'Gosh di mum wasn't lying, veerji has really got her pregnant' Nastasha quavered with big eyes, clearly shocked as Anjali swatted her shoulder, 'ouch di I'm marrying soon and yet you hit me' she complained next rubbing the place she was hit. 'Nice to meet you, I'm Anjali, Maan's older sister, and this is Natasha, the bride and Maan's younger sister' Anjali smiled before proceeding into a warm hug, Natasha soon followed apologising for the incorrect statement. 'Mum says you don't know hindi or punjabi' Angali asked to which Geet meekly nodded, 'SO WHAT?' Maan questioned back, he then stood beside Geet and wrapped his warm hands around her waist to which she immediately relaxed, all the new faces and the load of people secretly watching her made it extremely difficult for her, 'Are you nervous?' he asked tucking in a loose strand of hair as she noded and then placed her head on his shoulder, as if it was natural. With her acceptance to his proposal, both seemed much more comfortable around one and other, hence touching and comforting came like instinct. 'Maan it wasn't like I was making an issue, I just asked for god's sake. No need to get all huha on me' Anjali surrendered raising her hand in air as if calling it a truce, 'Yeah nice to meet you too di' he smiled as both his sisters hugged him eagerly, finally it was Pinky's turn who as usual complained of being the last, 'Not my fault, you were too eager to meet your bhabi' he joked as Geet noticed the huge smile on his face, he seemed at ease with his siblings even amidst so many people. 'You OK or do you want to rest?' Maan asked and even before she could answer, a small child ran to him calling 'chacha', she leaped into his arms and laughed as he twirled her around, soon the boy whom she saw with Karan also ran forward.

'Beta you look for beautiful' Anita acknowledged Geet as soon as she returned home for the supermarket, a little baby girl on her hip, 'Anjali take her, usne mere sare kapare gile ho'e hana (she wet all my clothes)' Anita complained handling Anjali her daughter. She then looked at Geet appreciating her efforts of wearing a long maxi dress with sequences looking like an Indian attire before fleeting over to glare at Maan, disapproving of the way he stood holding Geet in the garden, which for now was a woman only zone.

'Hatt' she whacked his hand and ushered him out whispering 'Sare gapa-suda malakam ne ithe a cuka ham, pahilam hi meri pratisatha da savala tutade tom hai. Isa nu badatara banau na karo (All the gossip mongers are here, already my reputation is in question because of you. Don't make it worse?)', with those final words she pushed him to the kitchen and narrowed her eyes calling for Karan to take his brother

'Kya hua Anita, Maan apni biwi ke bina nahi reh sakta (What happened Anita, Maan can't stay without his wife)' an neighbour shouted laughing at the way Anita pulled a face, then most woman started gossiping, and as expected they pulled Maan into it. So he sat, and someone even had the audacity to bring Geet and make her sit beside him, she looked like a dear caught in the headlights, totally confused and scared making Maan sigh internally for stupidly making himself available.

'How far is she?'

'How long have you been married?'

'Is she a Punjabi?'

'Is she even Indian?'  

'She's so beautiful'

'Where did you meet?'

'How did you meet?'

All the women questioned at the same time in hindi and punjabi, most resulted in screaming in order to be heard scaring Geet who immediately held onto Maan. It was then an older lady asked, 'Tum dono shaadi karli, aaj kal ki bache bina shaddi ki bi maa banjai (You're married aren't you, in today's day and age people fall pregnant even before marriage)' she seemed disgusted and looked at Geet as if she's some filth which pissed Maan off but before he could answer Anita beat him to it,  'Yeh kaisa sawal hai, dono shaadi shuda hai. Ab sab apki granddaughter jaise nahi hai aur Maan toh mera pride hai (What kind of stupid question is that Aunty, ofcourse their married. Now not everyone is like your granddaughter, plus Maan is my most priced son)' she claimed in calm, a smile reflecting her trust in her son. 'Toh phir humme bulaya kyun nahi shaddi mein, yeh choro humme toh malum he nahi tha Maan ki shaddi ho chuka hai (Then why weren't we invited, forget that how come no one knew of their marriage before)' the same old lady questioned angry as the tables turned to her, 'Ab sab ko bata hai nah Maan kaisa hai, anti-social, isliye kisi ko nahi bataya. Sirf hum and bahu ki parivaar thi (Well you all know Maan, he hates parties and all human interaction, so you weren't so lucky. It was a private affair between our family and Geet's)' Anita answered picking Geet and ushering her towards Pinky who immediately took her upstairs and away from gossip, Maan stayed and helped his mother answer some questions before being pulled by the elbow and led upstairs when everyone went back to work paying little attention to the mother-son duo.

'Iha bilakula uhi si jisada maim dara gi'a si (this is exactly what I was scared of)' Anita whispered angrily looking at both Maan and Geet, she even didn't spare Pinky who complained 'Maine kya kiya (what did I do?)' and prepared to stage a walk out but was stopped by Anita, 'Aja vi tusim karava rahe ho, tuhade cace rava'itam nu pura karanage, jiven ki rajisasatara ki kitaba jadom tusim caho (Today itself you're getting married, your uncle will carry out the rituals, as for the registrar book him when you want)' she ordered in aggravated anger, Geet stayed mute not understanding anything however was clued up on why she was angry, the women downstairs must have questioned of her existence.

'Lekin Maa' Maan urged forward in complain, just yesterday they planned a civil service and today his mum wanted them married, traditional style. 'Save it Maan, you did what you had to?' she retorted looking at Geet's pregnant belly to which she slumped trying to decrease its size. 'Maan' she called when both the mother and son looked at one another in challenge, 'I agree to whatever aunty wants' she spoke slowly as a hand went to her protruding belly in comfort. 'So it's settled tonight you'll get married' Anita smiled walking away and Geet gasped looking at Maan in shock, seeing him nod she realised what she agreed to. 'Geet it's ok, I'll speak to mum' he said after a few minutes seeing how she started to grow conscious. 'It's ok, we planned to marry anyway then why not now' she answered with a small smile, trying hard to limit the nervousness, 'But Geet' he tried to intervene, 'Its Ok Maan, I checked the GOV site last night, apparently we need to place in a notice and wait for about a month. At least this way we'll be married immediately, and then we can settle it legally' she smiled buying her own explanation, by then the baby would be in their arms too. 'WOW I didn't know my beautiful fianc was this eager to get married' he kidded pulling her by the waist with a smirk, he then lowered his face to hers, 'Bhai' Pinky screamed running out the door but making sure to close it behind her, Maan stayed still looking intently as Geet shied into his chest. He waited until she looked up again, and his time he wasted no time in sealing her lips with his. It was their first kiss on the day on their wedding, soft and serene just like how they depicted their life to be.

Note: I know last time you all said google translate is not correct, and that it defo isn't Punjabi. Rashmi was kind enough to even offer help, which I would have utilised but since she's going through a rough patch it wasn't fair hence you all have to bear with as Anita just has to speak PUNJABI lol, like last time I have added English translations to help lol. Also most woman conversed in hindi since i tried to show a mix community (sorry plus hindi came much more naturally)

Next: Wedding