UPS & DOWNS (MG) Epilogue (page117) 23rdJUl - Page 34

poor maaneet such a long period ...loved kids... both the name... hope dadi will be able to bring her back... they r ture lovers

Ups and Downs

Part 23

The kids went in the police ambassador and Dev sat with Maan in his car, they reached the house by 11:00 am, on the way Dev called NT and told her that some one was joining them for lunch today, and he will be with that person in few minutes.

The kids came in first and straight away went to NT and showed her their respective prizes and sat to have a late break fast, Russell came in the drawing with water and served it to Maan, "hello Maan sir, how are you?" he asked casually, Maan was surprised "I am fine, but do we know each other?" Russell just smiled and left, later NT came in bringing some milk tea with ginger added and fried onion potato pakoras with green and red sauces, "hello Maan, sorry for coming in late, I was with kids, you know they left without breakfast in the morning, Geet says its typical as you also miss meals when you have to participate in some functions, they are so much like you she says" NT said casually, Maan gave her a shocked look as to how comfortably she was talking as if she had known him for ages, Dev was on the phone being independence day he was to instruct now and then "I am fine, you know me and Geet?" inquired Maan, "what type of question is this? of course I know you, and as for Geet, she is Dev's Rakhi sister and stayed with us in Berkley" Dev excused himself "honey, duty calls, I have to be at the parade ground there is some small fight there" NT nodded and said "try to come by 2 pm, lunch will be served at 2 and if you can not make it just give me a call" and Dev left apologizing to Maan.

"Mom, can be join Maan and you" said Sunaina, "of course sweet heart, come" Dervish also came in with his sister, after few minutes the wins also joined, Maan just looked at Dervish and then at twins, remembering the conversation that took place on the stage.

Sunaina "hi, Maan I am Sunaina, you have already met Dervish, Jeet and Preet, I am the eldest" and she extended her hand, Maan shook hands with her, she was calling him by name, no uncle he amused, but she looks very courteous and not at all offensive. "How are you Sunaina? Nice to meet you" he said, NT excused herself "Maan, you talk to kids I'll just give instructions to the cook for the dinner, though Lucy knows all your favorites still, let me peep in for a while" Maan nodded OMG these people know about me.

"So dad you were gaping at us, why?" asked Jeet sitting on Maan's lap and encircling his neck with his small arms. He was speechless, it was sure that they are his kids they looked so much like him, but then why Geet never told him about them, "where is Geet? I mean your Mom" he said mustering courage, Preet giggled "don't say Mom she will bash us, she likes when we say Maa, she is not here she is still at the university" Maan asked "why?" Jeet kissed his cheek and said "Maa is wrong, you always are careless about things and also tend to forget dates" Maan puzzled with his accusation "what dates did I forget?" Preet pulled Jeet from his lap and hit Maan's head by her hand "don't you remember she has a 5 yr contract after her 2 yr course" Maan made a baby face "yes, sorry I forgot, but I don't usually forget things" Jeet said "Maa also says so, but if you don't forget why you never send a card on her birth day" Maan was embarrassed "and you did not mention your birth day" Preet said in a surprise "but Maa said you do not know about us, then how can you know our birthday and when you do not know how can you forget" Maan was shocked "Geet told you that I do not know about your existence" Jeet "what's there to hide in this? after all we should know why our father is never at our side" Maan was speechless, Dervish said "its ok Maan, how could you know, Mom says you never came to Berkley and Geet never came to India after they were born" Sunaina added "take it easy Maan, after all its no issue but yes, you should have been sending Geet cards on her birthdays, she really missed you on two days, on her birthdays and on 28^th Dec, Maan, you care for her, do you?" Maan was feeling uneasy, he never thought that he will get a shock one after another, Geet missed her, and what did he do here, she was all the time doing things for him and he just sat here and enjoyed his life.

NT came in "sorry Maan, hope they did not start their chattering, they are perfect chatter boxes" she looked at his pale face "hey, Maan are you ok?" Maan nodded and drank some water "Bhabhi, can I call you Bhabhi" he asked she nodded he continued "how is Geet?" "Oh she is fine, just a bit too busy and yes, now that we are here she is a bit lonely also, but any ways she has Julie with her" Maan looked at NT with hope, NT looked back and got it "you want to talk to her? Wait I'll cal her on video call" Maan was not in a state to talk to her he already was in shock "no, I don't want to talk to her, you just call her, and I'll see from the place where I will be out of range of the camera" Maan was in tears, "dad, don't get emotional, its ok if you two have broke up, we don't mind, its ok" said Jeet, "yes, dad my friend back there also lives with her mother her father does not even talk to her, you are at least acknowledging our presence that's enough for us"

Maan hugged the twins and cried his heart out, for the past 6 years he was holding back his pain his tears, now he could not hold back. He was missing Geet like hell and there she was missing him too and he was not surprised though he was shocked that kids and all knew about him and there was nothing hidden no lies were told, facts were quoted as they were.