Chapter
10
Reluctant
Her
(September
21, 1980...)
(Handa
Haveli...)
The constant tapping was
doing nothing good for her nerves. But sitting still during anxiety was also
not possible for her. It was such a paradox. She was just so nervous. Well she
is always nervous in matters such as these, but this time it was about the
finals.
Final exams of the first
semester of B.A. 2nd year, and Geet was on the edge.
Geography was always her
favorite subject. But how was she to know that opting for a Honors course in
the same subject will turn out to be so tough. And none of her elder sisters
had taken Geography in the graduation years, so no help there. It all came down
to her own efforts and tackling the exams suddenly seemed like fighting a
dragon.
With such thoughts and
worries in her head and teeth busy in chewing off the ribbon that held her hair
together, Geet was immersed in her studies thoroughly. She vaguely registered
the hustle-bustle around. She was not usually like this. She hardly worried or
fretted over anything unless it was right in front of her eyes. Like the whole
Khurana fiasco that happened a month back. She did not know what the outcome of
their visit was. No one spoke about it and that left her to assume that nothing
significant came out of it. Days passed and she found many other diverting
things to pay attention to. Why to worry about it all? And she has her father
to handle such things anyways. Her job was only to be a good daughter, be his
support in whatever decision he took and make sure she always kept his head
high.
And that meant doing
well in her exams. Even if it meant chewing a hole in her ribbon.
**********************************************************************
(Khurana
Kothi...)
"Veer..."
Maan looked back to see
his youngest sister, his darling Iqbal peeking from behind the pillar of their
porch and signaling him to come close. Seeing others heading towards the car,
he came upto her and raised a questioning eyebrow.
She gestured him to
bring his ear close.
"Best of luck Veer," she
giggled wishing him.
"Why are you wishing me?
It's not as if I wished this to happen," Maan rolled his eyes at her innocent
enthusiasm.
"You don't?" she frowned.
He shook his head for a No.
She gave him a wide
smile, "Pher taan changa hai na?" [Then its good, right?]
"How?"
"Arre, how can you
forget? You only taught me that Darjee says that if what we wish comes true,
then it's good. But if what we wish does not come true then it's even better.
Because then it means that Babaji has decided that for us."
"So you think this is
good because God wants to see me married?"
"Bilkul."
"I wish Babaji had stuck
to my original plan instead."
Iqbal giggled at her
brother's plight, "Veerji, Man proposes but God disposes."
**********************************************************************
(Handa
Haveli...)
She may confuse you as
to what her true character is, but one thing could be said about Savitri
Swaroop Khurana with full conviction. She would never give someone a chance to
outsmart her more than once.
And she needed to teach
Sashi a lesson.
If you want Tisha to not
do one thing, distract her with another. The moment the meeting was finalized,
the first thing she did was take Tisha into her confidence and promised her to
take her along to Amritsar. The excitement to see their futrure bhabhi and that
too before Sashi, was enough to keep her mouth shut. And keep Sashi away.
So here they were, six
of them sitting in the drawing room of the Handas. Herself, Sardar ji, Dev ji,
Nayantara, Tisha and ofcourse Maan.
And now she was eagerly
waiting for her bahu to come. So that she can make it official and call her
badi bahu openly with complete right as the proud mother-in-law she was sure
she would be.
**********************************************************************
"Kakku..."
Geet saw Sameera rushing in their room, "Jee Di?"
"Chal jaldi tayyar ho, tainu dekhan aaye ne." [Go get
ready fast, they have come to see you.]
Still chewing on her ribbon, she paid only the slightest attention to her sister, "Me? Who has come?"
"Khuranas."
"Khuranas?"
"Haan, woh Chandigarh wale. Chaudhary Ajaipal Singh
Khurana and his family."
Geet sat stumped. The ribbon finally fell off her mouth. She shook her head from side to
side. Maybe she has heard it wrong. She needs to clean her ears properly after
bathing. Or maybe go see a doctor and get the ear-wax out. Bad hygiene leads to
so much confusion.
"Di, shouldn't you go to Meera Di and ask her to get
ready?"
"Nahi Kakku, I know whom I have to go to. And it's
you!!"
"NO!"
"Yes! Savitri ji had chosen you as her bahu and
Papaji accepted her proposal. Today they have come, formally and with full
preparation, with Maan Singh Khurana in tow. And you have to get ready and come
down within next five minutes."
And that did it.
She wailed!! She cried like never before. Nose red
like a tomato. Tears streamed down her face like taps let loose.
"Chup!!" Sameera lost her patience. The guests were
sitting waiting for her and here the girl on a full-mode panic attack.
"Changeyy
rishte roz-roz nahi aande."
Sobs soon gave to hiccups and seeing her sister angry
at her.
"I want you ready and down in five minutes."
Geet hung her neck. Lips pursed and pouted, she let
out a quiet Jee.
Sameera regretted losing her temper at Geet. It
wasn't her fault. She was already tensed about her finals and suddenly the
arrival of a family who wants to propose an alliance for her must have shook
her. Especially the family which she knew had rejected her Sameera Di. And suddenly
now it must have dawned on her that they have sidelined Meera too, in favor of
her.
She cupped Geet's face and wiped her tears. "Go wash
your face, wear your new suit and come down. Smile and trust us. This means a
lot for Papaji. Will you do that for him?"
"Haanji."
**********************************************************************
Maan wasn't one to give into romantic notions. He had
no aspirations of love. Such things did not occur in their society. And he had
absolutely no inclination to marry. Now that he had given in and decided to get
married, the least he wished for was a girl of nice family, decently educated
and not someone who would impose on his mental status quo.
"Kakke..."
He cringed at his given pet name as his mother leaned
down to whisper in his ear.
"Chaiyyiji, don't call me that. Atleast not here!"
"Oho! Don't get so worked up. I just wanted to say
that I know this is difficult for you. I mean I know you don't take me for a
very attentive mother but I do know my children. This is something you were not
prepared for and it makes you uncomfortable. I am proud of you for being a good
son and fulfilling my wishes. But," she took a pause and again leaned back
towards him, "if you feel that you won't be able to go through this you can
always say no'"
Maan felt a vein twitch near his temple. His mother
was just impossible.
"Chaiyyiji, I do not say you are an inattentive
mother. You are an inattentive and insensitive person on a whole..."
"Kakke!"
"If you were so concerned about my comfort, you
should have given me this option before you set this get-together up. Now that
I am here, I am not going back out of the commitment my parents have implied. Whoever
she is, she is the one I will marry. I refuse to be the reason that causes
Handas anymore grief than they have already gone through due to your choices.
That is not the person I wish to be."
**********************************************************************
"Sarru Singh Khurana!! What has happened to my
Papaji's choices? But this not the time to think about it. I will have to have
a word with him later. But I will not wear my new suit at all. Why should I
waste it on him? He couldn't
appreciate my lovely sisters, how will he appreciate a nice suit?"
She marched towards her cupboard and rummaged through
her clothing. I wish I could wear any of
these old ones. But then they wil say Mohinder Lal can't even buy his girls
good dresses. Nahi, main papaji nu sharminda nahi karungi.
She looked around more for something suitable but not
her best. Her reluctant mind was not willing to give in.
She found a olive green suit that was still pretty with
all the cream flowers embroidered on it but atleast a year old. Her heart did a
victory dance at the small win she accomplished, keeping her father's pride
intact and yet not indulging the fancies of her future-in-laws.
In-laws?
Saying the word suddenly brought down the weight of the situation on her. She
was to get married. Married! So soon?
What about my studies? No more college for me? Nahi Geet, this can't happen.
It's our Papaji's dream. He won't let it fade away this easy. He must have
thought about it. He must have a solution for it. I am sure! I am very very
sure!
**********************************************************************
Maan took in his surroundings. The residence was
named as Haveli but was modern in its architecture. It was huge, spacious but
at the same time very homely. It did not have rich decorations. But the home
boasted of a rich environment in way that would endear it to anyone who steps
inside. Every thing had a personal touch. The furnituture, he was informed was
made by Mohinder ji himself. The walls were adorned by paintings made by their
daughter called Sameera. The carpet was made by Rano ji, with help from her
second daughter named Anwesha. It was so unlike his home which reeked of
expensive things. Cold. This was what a home should be. Warm.
He saw how his father was being so comfortable with
Mohinder ji. He had rarely seen his reserved by nature father like this. This
was enough for Maan to believe that the man his father was conversing so openly
with must be a man worth respecting and admiring.
And within a few moments he drew the same conclusion
on independent evidence. Never had he seen a man so humble, so kind, genuienly
content from life and happy in his own space. The ex-Army man exhibited the
principles that Maan recognized and looked upto. Rano ji was everything that
his mother ought to have been. Maan could not help but feel a little lucky if
this was the kind of a family he would become a son-in-law to. And the kind of
people the Handas seemed at first sight, they would probably welcome him as a
son than a son-in-law. Maybe marrying their daughter would not be such a bad
thing if by Providence she takes everything good that her parents are.
A sudden disruption was caused in the conversations
across the room and he understood that the girl whom he was here to meet is
about to enter. He saw a girl entering the drawing room with her one arm held
behind. She was okay he supposed. Sharp eyes set in a face with dusky
complexion and way too short than him. But Maan was at odds to believe that his
mother went ga-ga over her. True, the girl exuded an inner strength of
character, but it was higly unlikely for his mother to recognize and appreciate
beauty in such form. Her choice would a typical gorri-chitti kudi, someone like...
...like the girl who emerged from behind. Only
discrepancy being that she was in no way a typical pretty young thing. She was
much more and beyond. Dressed in a olive green suit, she gingerly stepped
forward and came to stand beside Mohinder ji. And Maan for the first time
understood the word attraction.
Nazaare ne bhi kaam kiya waan naqaab ka
Masti
se har nigaah tere rukh par bikhar gayi (Ghalib)
[See
what the sight of your unveiling has done
Every
intoxicated glance came to rest on your face and withered away] (Ghalib)
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Chapter 11 - Page 114
Together Them
Edited by jazzerette - 12 years ago