Chapter 8
Maan Singh Khurana. The name was enough to strike fear into any one of the thousands of KC employees scattered across the country. It generated respect and even a little envy among all of Delhi's top business men and women. Now the name was binding the man himself to another person's fate, another person's life. Maan signed his name on the marriage application, much like he would sign any document or contract at work.
Passing the paper mechanically over to the girl standing next to him, Maan clenched his jaw angrily when his eyes happened to glance at her face. The streak of red he saw on her forehead did not engender the typical feelings of pride and possessiveness, but rather a boiling rage that filled him from head to toe. Savitri, who could sense his emotions, placed her hand on his arm and gave him a warning look not to create a scene.
His grandmother's touch reminded him that it was only due to her persuasion that the red sindoor now adorned Geet's mang, placed there by himself before they came to the registry. She had cornered him that morning to explain that the Handas were not willing to leave Geet with them under the conditions Maan had set. She and Daarji had discussed things and come to an agreement that the couple would exchange garlands, as well as have a brief sindoor ceremony before they proceeded with the legal formalities.
Maan had been utterly against that idea, feeling that the whole thing would be one big lie on his part. Savitri disagreed, explaining that it would not make any difference to them, but that it would reassure the Handa family that they could leave Geet alone with her new family. She requested that he agree for her, which he had reluctantly, but he wasn't happy.
When all the documents and papers where presented and finished, Maan excused himself on the premise of a lot of work waiting for him at the office. He didn't leave before letting Savitri know that he expected the Handas to be gone by the time he got back. That left Savitri to deal with the family, which she did with much grace and respect. She knew that Geet would miss her family, so she tried to give them as much time together as possible.
Before they left, Rano took Geet aside and pressed a small package into her hand. "What is this, Maa?" questioned Geet in confusion.
"A family heirloom that I have been waiting eighteen years to give you," replied Rano emotionally. "It is a box to keep your sindoor in. My mother gave it to me when I married your father, just as her mother gave it to her, and now I'm giving it to you. When a girl gets married, she has to become a part of another family, but it doesn't mean that she forgets her myaka. Every time you open this box, you will remember us."
"Maa," choked Geet, the tears streaming down her face. "Maa, don't leave me."
"I'm sorry, Beti, but I have to. I know you are not happy with the situation, but believe me, we are doing this for your own good."
Geet turned to her father and pleaded, "Please, Papaji, I want to go home. Take me home."
Placing his hand on her head in blessing, he said sadly, "This is your home now, my Geet. Trust in Babaji. Everything will turn out all right, and we will see each other again."
That night Geet spent hours laying on the bed in the room she was given, crying out her hurt and homesickness. She couldn't believe the situation that she had gotten into and wished that it was all just a horrible nightmare. Maan's words from the previous day came back to taunt her, making her doubt her own role in the situation. She had felt so helpless, but he seemed to think she should have been able to do something, stand up to her family. It didn't matter now, because now she was stuck in this unwanted marriage, miles away from home, and with nobody to confide in.
Geet woke the next morning to a knock at the door. It was one of the servants telling her that she was being called for breakfast. She quickly got ready and hurried down to the main floor, feeling very hungry after the previous day's stressful ordeal. Savitri Devi was there at the table, ready with a smile when Geet arrived. Seeing the older woman's gentle face, Geet began to feel a bit better.
"Good morning, Geet beti," said Savitri.
"Good moring, Aunty," Geet replied.
"Oh, Geet, you must call me Dadima," Savitri insisted. "Now, what would you like for breakfast. I had Nakul make a lot of traditional Punjabi dishes, as I wasn't sure of your preferences."
Geet looked at the numerous plates and bowls, overwhelmed to see such a great amount of food on a table where only two people were sitting. No sooner did she glance at something than Nakul was there, serving her roti, daal, lassi, fruits, whatever she wanted. Savitri kept up a light conversation, making Geet feel more relaxed as they continued to eat. She even began to smile a bit until another voice intruded.
"Good morning, Dadima," came the sugary sweet voice that Geet would have preferred to never hear again.
Savitri's face harded very similarly to Maan's when she heard Naintara's greeting. "Nakul!" she exclaimed sharply, refusing to turn towards the younger woman.
"Yes, Dadima," he said, hurrying over to his mistress' side.
"Naintara will be having her meals upstairs from now on," came the firm command. "Prepare a plate for her and see that it is served in her room."
"Yes, Dadima," confirmed Nakul, moving quickly to obey the order.
"But, Dadima..." whined Naintara, only to be interrupted by the Khurana matriarch.
"Naintara, I do not want to see your face. Leave from here. At once!"
With no other option, Naintara was forced to go back to her room. She didn't leave before giving a deathly glance towards the younger woman who was the cause of her grandmother-in-law's harsh treatment. With Savitri's order to stay away, Naintara couldn't come in front of her again, at least not until her anger calmed down. However, she was unwilling to let things slip out of her grasp so easily. Later that morning she carefully concealed herself behind a rarely used corner, determined to hear all the conversation between Savitri and Geet.
"So, Geet, I think that we should go shopping this afternoon," said Savitri as she sipped a cup of tea.
"Shopping, Dadima?" questioned Geet, once she finished eating the slice of apple she had picked up from the snack tray setting on the table. "I don't think I...I mean I don't think he would like..."
Savitri raised her eyebrow at Geet's concern over Maan's reaction, before stating, "It really doesn't matter in the slightest to me what Maan might think about us going shopping. After all, I am his dadi and he is my pota, not the other way around. Anyway, I think when a girl goes to a new place, she should always spend at least one day shopping and finding herself some new things."
Savitri wouldn't here any arguments from Geet about already having enough clothes, or not needing any bangles, or any other excuse she tried. With all her elderly authority, Savitri whisked Geet out of the Khurana mansion and to the shops where they had some lovely girl time. Savitri learned that Geet had been doing a BA with the intension of becoming a teacher, something that raised her admiration for the girl.
Though Geet was reluctant to buy anything, Savitri's easy ways eased her tensions and took her mind off the recent troubles she had undergone. After trying on dozens and dozens of outfits, they finally purchased several colorful salwar suits that became Geet very well. When they left the last shop, Geet spotted a dhabba and gave it a longing look. She didn't dare suggest to the grand lady at her side that they should go there to eat, but Savitri was very sharp. She saw where Geet's gaze was pointed and gave the suggestion to eat there herself.
Geet couldn't believe how nice Savitri Devi was, especially when she thought about the woman's two grandsons. It was impossible for Geet to believe that the tiny woman who happily ate aloo paratha while telling that it was her father's favorite food, could possibly be related to such awful men. One behaved just like Ravaan, while the other was worse than a snake.
Soon it was getting late and time to head back home. When they arrived, Savitri ordered the servants to take all of the bags into Geet madam's room. Geet felt a little strange being called "madam", but she couldn't contradict Savitri's words. Instead she also went to her room, intent on figuring out how to fit all her new outfits into the wardrobe.
"You lost no time in getting into Dadima's good books," came a woman's angry voice from the doorway. Geet looked up to see Naintara standing there, eying her angrily.
"Please go away," said Geet softly. "I don't want to talk to you."
"Did you think that you could come into my home, and that I would be silent? Did you think you could force Maan veerji into marriage and that I wouldn't even say a word? I'm not going to let some small town, backward girl come here and ruin my life. Did you think you could turn Dadima against me as revenge? Well, let me tell you that you won't get away with it. You have no idea what I can do to you. It would be better for you to go back to Hoshiarpur right now."
Geet couldn't believe the woman's gall to speak as if she was the victim in this situation. Slowly walking over to Naintara, Geet countered, "What did you think, that you could come here and say all this to me and that I would care? Did you think that I would pay any attention to the words of such a shameless woman as yourself? A woman who would marry her own husband off to someone else for money? Chee! I do not care what you do or what you say. You simply do not exist for me."
"Why you little..." Naintara's hand began to raise, but she was interrupted when they both heard Savitri calling Geet's name.
"If you go running to Dadima to complain, I promise I will not leave you," threatend Naintara.
"I don't have to tell Dadima anything," replied Geet, moving passed Naintara with determination. "She has already seen your true face and you only have yourself to blame for that."
Naintara fumed as Geet walked away from her, unable to handle the girls calm response. "I won't let you get away with this, you stupid girl. I promise that I will see you leave this house, one way or another."
Wanting to get some kind of information that she could use, Naintara moved to enter Geet's room, only to hear a loud "STOP!"
Precap
"Geet, I'm sorry. I just..."
SLAP!
"You dare come in front of me and say sorry? After what you did?"
Ishaani
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