MG ff - Ajeeb Dastan part 12- Pg 44/10 dec - Page 10

After some time Ramu and Nakul returned from the market hiring a cycle rickshaw as they had too many things to carry. Seeing him carry loads and loads of things inside, Maan teased him asking "Have you bought the whole market? I think I gave you too much money." That was his way of getting out of his depressive thoughts.

Ramu "I'm sorry sir but you had said you were settling here. I bought only those things that Nakul Bhaiya said were essential. Here are the bills for everything except the vegetables. I also have over two hundred rupees left."

Maan "Hey don't get so worked up, I was only pulling your leg. I know setting up a house isn't an easy or cheap job."

Ramu "thanks to teacher didi, at least we don't have to do any cleaning."

Suddenly they heard raised voices from the adjacent side of Haveli. Aryan chachu was shouting at Nakul. "I tell you, I've no nephew and have nothing to give or take from the man next door. If you want to keep relationship with anyone in that house, you'll no longer be in my employment."

Nakul "I'm sorry bade saab, I shouldn't have gone without your permission, but it won't happen again. You know the condition of my family. Please don't ever talk of throwing me out of my job."

Chachu "This is the first and last warning, remember well."

Maan and Ramu just looked at each other.

Ramu "the old man seems to have lost it. Not wanting to help his own nephew, especially when he is so badly injured?"

Maan "Please don't say anything against Chachu. You don't know anything. It's all my fault. Today I'm paying the price for my past mistakes."

Late that night, after he had retired to bed, he heard footsteps outside. He heard Mayuri's voice saying "take care Maa. I would be happy if you came and stayed with us for a few days at least."

Geet "I told you na Mayuri, I'll come during the vacation. Commuting from your place to school, early in the morning, becomes difficult. Don't worry about me. I'm fine. You take care of Pari on the scooter; she's already nodding with sleep."

He heard them bid each other bye and heard Geet going back to the outhouse. He was very curious to know how Geet had changed so much in these 20 years. How independent and brave she had become. He remembered her as a timid, introvert, homely girl with hardly any friends. As far as he knew she was an 8^th standard dropout because in those days girls weren't allowed to school once they attained puberty.

He recollected he had been in the second year of dental college then. As her prospective groom, he had been asked to come home urgently to perform some religious function for her having attained puberty. He had found it ridiculous and refused on the pretext of some important exam.

Even when he had left for London, she wasn't much different. Her saree was always tucked up higher than her petticoat and her hair tied into a haphazard knot above her head. But today she was well dressed, well groomed and sounded so well read too. If she was a teacher she must have done some training etc., he thought to himself.

The next morning, he was sitting in the verandah outside with a glass of coffee in his hand, looking out for some newspaper boy. He saw her come outside with a handbag on her shoulder and another bag in her hand. She walked towards the gate without even acknowledging his presence. He called out to her. "Geet, I need a newspaper. Where can I get it?" She dug into her bag and taking out a newspaper handed it to him, saying "I'll ask the newspaper boy to tap on your door tomorrow morning. He usually comes around 6 o'clock."

Maan "Don't you want to read today's paper? It's ok. Give it to me in the evening."

Geet "not a problem, I can get a copy at the school."

Maan "thanks. Have a nice day!"

Geet smiled to himself. She felt some thrill hearing that from him, for that matter, just talking to him itself made her heart race. She smiled all the way as she walked to school nodding smilingly at everyone who greeted her on the way. But that, she always did. The whole day she did all her work with a smile on her face. She didn't even punish the erring students much that day letting them off with a warning. But no one seemed to notice much difference in her because she was even otherwise a very warm and friendly person, though a strict disciplinarian.

Love,

Hinal

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