MG FF - Gharwali, Baharwali - note page 149 06/12 - Page 80

Chapter 22

"Hai rabba, why didn't things work out just this once?"

Geet & Pari shared a confused look as Rano sat in the middle of the couch, her hands on her head. Mohinder stood behind the couch, shaking his head at his wife's over dramatic nature.

"Maa, it's not like we called the wedding off," Geet stated matter of factly.

Rano gasped. "Don't say things like that! I sent you both off to Delhi to make a good impression on your future in laws, to show them you're the ideal daughter in laws. The week isn't even over yet & I open the door to find you both standing there sheepishly with your suitcases in hands! Is that what you'll do during married life? You get bored of being Mrs Khuranas and you'll come back home?"

"Rano please, calm down," said Mohinder. "They came back because Pari was ill."

On their car journey home, Geet had managed to convince Pari to feign a stomach bug so that their mother wouldn't have a hissy fit over their return. Pari had tried to keep up the pretence, but it was hard to pretend to look pale & peaky.

Pari managed to nod once, clutching her stomach as if she was in pain.

Rano sighed as she looked at Pari. "I'd better make you some hot tea. If the Handas call, please let me handle it," she said, before going to the kitchen. Mohinder followed his wife.

Geet was staring at the floor, lost in her thoughts of her ashamed behaviour whilst drunk when Pari nudged her.

"Didn't you hear what Maa said? When the Handas call?"

"And?"

"We told them we were leaving because we were homesick! We told our parents I'm ill! We're about to be exposed as liars & schemers, Dev will never want to look at me again!"

"Pari, calm down. It won't come to that."

"You have Maan's number. Call him & ask him to run with our version of the story."

"I can't do that," Geet said, looking away.

"Why not?"

"I'm embarrassed to look him in the eye after we got drunk."

"He got drunk too."

"We danced!"

"We all danced, when practising in the living room."

Geet sighed dejectedly.

"I don't understand your point of view," Pari said, frowning.

Geet wondered if Pari would ever be able to understand. How could she tell her sister hers & Maan's relationship was nothing like the one she shared with Dev?

"Geet?"

"Huh? Oh, well you know. You & Dev seem a lot closer than me & Maan."

"There's really not much of a difference of the situation we're in."

"I know, but... look, never mind. I'll call him, ok?"

"Make sure you do it now, before Dadima calls Maa."

Geet took a deep breath, retrieved the Blackberry that Maan had given her as a present & went upstairs. She reached her room, sat down on her bed & stared at her phone like it was a strange object. A few minutes later, she gained the courage & dialled Maan's number, before pressing the call button.

"Please don't pick up, please don't pick up," she whispered.

"Hello?" came the familiar voice.

Damn! thought Geet.

"Oh, hi, it's Geet."

"I know. Is everything ok, have you reached Hoshiarpur safely?"

"Yes, we're home now. I called to let you know that-"

"Just a minute, I have a call wanting to come through from the office. Just hold."

Geet tapped her feet impatiently as she waited for Maan's other call to end. After a few minutes, he came back.

"Geet, I'm so sorry, I have to go to office urgently."

"But I-"

"We'll talk later, I'll call you. Take care, bye."

"I just-"

Geet heard nothing but the beeping sound of an ended call.

She got up & paced her room, wondering how she could save their lie. She knew Pari didn't have Dev's number so that wasn't an option. It would be too obvious to call Dadima. Naintara had given Geet her number when they left on a piece of paper but she had thrown it out of the taxi on their way back home.

She was still thinking about what to do when her eyes fell on the cable line that was installed in their room. She smiled to herself, then hurried downstairs, praying her parents were still in the kitchen.

"Did you tell him?" Pari asked. Geet didn't respond; instead she started searching for the cable line to the telephone.

"Geet?"

"I'm busy."

"Did you tell him?"

"No but I have an idea."

"What?"

"Disconnect the phone line."

"What?!"

"There's no other option."

"Maa will find out!"

"She won't. Where are the damn phone lines?"

"Geet, this will go horribly wrong."

"The other room!"

Geet ignored her sister & rushed over to the other room where the TV was set up. She pushed the TV forward, pulled the blue line out which connected the house to the phone & clapped her hands delightedly.

"Now nothing can go wrong."

Precap: Geet's idea fails & wedding prep