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Chapter 3
The thought to be shackled in matrimony and to forever lose his freedom were just enough to get rid off whatever little guilt Maan felt, after seeing his Dadi so morose.
He knew he still had a long way to go, but he slept… content with the knowledge that he had already taken first step towards his freedoom.
Aditi Handa was on cloud nine. The anxiety of the last two nights was long forgotten.
She had been scared when G left. She had been expecting her family to grill her about what had transpired between Maan and her, but a fuming Tej bhai had left immediately, followed by her bhabhi. Dad too left for his study all but dejected. Di and jiju thought it best to leave and her mom started to prepare for the same. Relieved she too left for her room, when after almost 2 hrs her mom appeared with her dinner.Amidst tears she told her all about Aditya and that having no other option she had asked Maan to reject her. Her mom though initially upset at being kept in dark had promised her that she will get Aditya and her married and also warned her not to do anything stupid again.
She slept off dreaming about Aditya and their new life together.
Geet Handa did not think much about the day and dozed off the minute she landed on her bed blissfully unaware that her life was about to change forever.
If tonight was much needed breather for the younger folks of the Handa's and Khurana's, the senior members were a disturbed and unsettled lot.
Mohinder Handa had a lot to worry about but his immediate concern was figuring out a way to decline a proposal from a man like Maan Singh Khurana, that too when he himself had asked for his wayward daughter's hand.
Mrinalini Handa was deep in thought; the man who had come today and asked for the hand of her feisty youngest daughter had her perplexed. She had heard him to be very arrogant but he had not displayed any tendencies of a typical haughty Indian male; he had not ratted out on Aditi nor insulted them because of Aditi's immature act. Out of all the possible options, he chose to ask for Geet's hand, WHY was beyond her comprehension.
At the other end of the city was Savitri Singh Khurana, the matriarch of the Khurana clan who had not only single handedly managed the Khurana empire for a decade but had also kept together all the members of her extended family.
Her eldest grandson, her Maan, her pride had always made her proud by his achievements- both personally and professionally. Though he was very stubborn and always did his own thing he had never given her a chance to question his decisions. He was a rebel – never the one to conform or give in to societal norms but the one to pave his own path and that is what made him more special but today he had truly disappointed her.
All she asked of him was to marry and settle down with a girl who would keep up with the traditions of her family, but what does he do -------goes and proposes to a girl who ………….. she will never let this happen.
He could not possibly like Geet, she was confident . She knew he did not want to marry - so all this is just a ploy to not marry. But then she is his Dadi – if he thinks she is going to back down, he is so mistaken. She is going to keep on with her search for a perfect girl for him.
For now she is going to agree to his marriage to Geet, and she was sure he would go to any lengths to call off the wedding and when that happens she will get him married to the girl she had choosen – if needed than on her death bed.
Next morning, Khurana mansion
When Maan came down for breakfast, his Dadi did not acknowledge his good morning, all throughout the breakfast she refused to even look at him.
' Alright so his Dadi has decided to give him a silent treatment', he mused. 'If she is hell bent on acting like a grumpy teenager then so be it, a sensible adult that he is, will not give in to her tantrums' and thus did not attempt to speak to her.
After the breakfast when he was about leave for office she stopped him.
"Maan, I want to talk to you" she said in a clipped tone and left for her room. He followed her with a knowing smirk. He knew her well; she will initially try to threaten him, than persuade him, next will be emotional blackmail and so on and so forth, but this time he is not going to relent. He waited for her to start with her theatrics.
After keeping quiet for several moments she finally dropped the bomb, at least it seemed like that to him,
"Hum aaj hi Handa's se aapke aur Geet ke rishte ki baat karne ja rahein hain."
She observed him for his reaction and was happy with what she saw : he was shocked.
"Aaj hi" was all he managed to squeak.
"Haan, why wait when u have already made up ur mind?"she asked.
She knew she had him cornered. Not waiting for a reply she questioned him further, "Or is it that u r having second thoughts."
He pulled himself together; he will have to be careful, he had messed with savitri Khurana, she was definitely not going to make things easy for him.
"Dadi, I have never been surer about anything else… It's just that I did not expect you to change ur decision SO SOON - until yesterday you were dead against her." He said trying not to raise his voice.
"How does it matter?" she retorted but composed her self quickly,
"And anyways I don't have any problems with Geet". She continued.
"So you have no problem with the way Geet is?" He asked not believing her.
"Well, u like her and that is what matters most, and I'm sure with some grooming she will be just fine." She said
"What grooming?" he was sceptical
"Nothing much …just change her dressing a bit and of course hair… they can always be grown and spending some time at a finishing school will help ………"
"For the first and the last time, Dadi I like Geet just the way she is, I wouldn't want to change a thing about her." He lashed out.
"Thik hain Maan agar aap yahi chahte hain to, I just want you to be happy." She sighed
Not wanting to give her the satisfaction of having the last word, he gave her a dazzling smile, and said, "Thanks Dadi, ur the best.".
After Maan left Savitriji called Mohinder Handa and apologized profusely for the way her grandson had treated Aditi. she requested to meet them again to set things straight as she did not want things to be unresolved between them
Evening, Handa Residence
After the initial awkwardness and hesitation died down, Savitri devi appologised again on behalf of Maan and told Mr and Mrs Handa to consider what she is trying to put forward.
"I know u might think it is not right to ask for the hand of a daughter for the same man who has rejected her sister, such things though weird are not uncommon, so I'll come straight to point and ask for Geet's hand for Maan"
Mohinder had not anticipated Savitriji's consent – she had not mentioned anything about Geet on the phone, and was truly bowled over by her proposal.
"Woh kya hain we have not thought about Geet's marriage, besides she is the youngest - until Aditi is not married we cannot think about her marriage."
"I understand, lekin Aditi jaisi pyari bacchi ke liye rishtein ki koi kami ho hi nahin sakti, aur hamei koi jaldi nahin hain shadi ki we'll just fix the alliance and marriage may happen at a later date."(I'm sure there won't be dearth of good proposals for Aditi, we will wait till that happens.)
Mrinalini grabbed the opportunity and said "ek rishta already aaya hain , par aapke yaahan se achanak ….. to humne unhe koi jawab nahin diya."
"Aapne to Geet ko dekha hain woh shayad aapke parivaar ke liye thik nahin." He advised
"Humare Maan ko wohi pasand hain." She replied.
"She is very stubborn and headstrong." He said not giving up.
"Humare Maan bhi kuch kam ziddi nahin."
"Woh… usne apni padhayi bhi complete nahin ki……" he faltered.
For a second she really wanted to back out, but she knew she could not.
"Hume kisi bhi baat se koi problem nahi hain ." she affirmed.
"Thank you, but shayad aap nahin jaanti ki Geet………." He hesitated.
She interrupted, "hum jaante hai".
"Geet shayad is rishte ke liye kabhi nahin maanegi." He said.
"Hum itna jaante hain ki bachho ki zidd se badi unki bhalayi hoti hain aur agar unki khusi ke liye hamein sakhti baratni padein to usme kuch galat nahin. Aap uske parents hain, koi na koi rashta doondh hi lenge unhe maanane ka ………aur hume koi jaldi nahin hain."[if we have to choose than we should opt for our childs happiness and not give in to their obstinacy, there is nothing wrong in being strict if it is for their own good. You are her parents – take your time to persuade her.]
Even after she left, her words rang in his ears; she was right it was his duty as a father to think of her future. he can no longer let his guilt come in the way of his daughter's happiness, he will make this wedding happen.
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Precap: Sunday morning
It was a long standing tradition in the Khurana household to spend the Sunday morning together. It was a usual lazy Sunday morning brunch for the Khuranas when they were hit by a tornado called G.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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