"you have to go to his house and apologize..."
"house"
"Apologize"
"Maan's house..."
"alone"
"Maan's house, apologize, alone..Maan's house, apologize, alone...Maan's house, apologize, alone"
Geet kept turning her head back and fourth as these words kept playing, replaying, playing and replaying inside her head. "Alone...alone...alone..." NO..NO...she felt her cheek burn in pain..."what is happening.."
"Geet..wake up..Geet.." (she felt her other cheek burn in pain but worse then before...)
"Meera? I am sure this is Meera's voice..where is she?"
"Geet wake up...Geet.." (Geet felt something wet on her face...slowly she opened her eyes and screamed...Meera covered her ears with her hands...) "stop it Geet..you know since how long I have been trying to wake you up?"
Geet wipes her face..."you know Meera I had a nightmare...I dreamt that you told me to go to go Maan's house to apologize..." (She laughs) "isn't it funny?" (Meera looks at her weirdly..Geet touches her face with both hands feelings her cheeks) "Why is my face burning?"
Meera: Because I had to slap you twice to wake you up and when that didn't work I had no other option but to throw water on you and also for your information that wasn't a dream...You are going to go to Maan's house to apologize and start on the project together. Alone.
Geet: Meera please tell me you are joking..you know very well that I can't even formulate one sentence in front of him and I end up doing something to embarrass myself..how the hell am I going to muster enough courage to go to his house?
Meera (crosses her arms) I don't care..you are going and that is it! I will force you so whether you agree or not either way you are going to his house tomorrow.
Geet (whines) But Meera
Meera (takes out some suits that they bought from the mall) Stand up...(Geet does so) okay this white outfit will look nice...or maybe how about you wear a sari? You will look nice in one
Geet: Sari? I keep tripping on top of him in a suit how will I manage a sari? But anyone (she grabs the suits from her hands) am not going..I will write a letter and say sorry to him through that
Meera (scoffs) a letter? And who will deliver that letter? you? He is going to think you are a weirdo or a mentally challenged person who cannot cohere a proper sentence...I bet he already has started thinking that..so in order to prove him wrong you will go to his house and apologize.
For god sake's you are his partner...and work on this project together..you guys only have four more days...Today is the perfect day since its Sunday...Get up and lets get you ready
Geet: But...okay I will go if you come with me...Please I can't go there alone...please (she begs with cute face hopping Meera would agree)
Meera: okay fine..I know you will do something stupid I will be there to help you...now lets get ready
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maan worked out in his gym like every other day...but today was different..he couldn't concentrate on anything...every single time he would close his eyes or TRY to concentrate her eyes would come in front of his face...the same eyes that looked at him while hiding behind her friend..there was something in them that made him feel something different..something that he never felt before..what was it?
He sits on the floor taking a deep breath, trying to relax and trying not to think about those eyes...What kind of person is she? What is wrong with her? Why does she manage to embarrass herself in every situation? One thing was for sure, she is different from everyone else...there is something about her that doesn't make him get mad at her...something in her that controls his anger...
He shakes his head removing her thoughts...a servant came to give him his juice..it was 2pm...Maan liked everything to be done on time.. whether be it his projects, work, and his regular errands...he likes principle and some sense of having control of things...right now his mind is the only thing he can't control..."Where is Dadima?"
"She went to the temple"
"hmmm when she comes back tell her I went out and won't be back till late at night"
"okay sir.."
"Think fast" (he quickly throws the towel toward the servant making him drop his tray on the floor...Maan laughs as he exits the gym...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"okay Geet remember to smile and please don't do anything to embarrass me and yourself...god knows how his family members will be like"
Geet: Instead of helping me you are scaring me...even I don't know what to expect..are you sure we have to do this? I mean I can always write a letter
Merra (Looks at her) yeah am sure...we are almost there no backing out now..and remember to talk...
Geet: Meera please if you are my friend then please don't make me go...please
Meera: nope...bhayia please stop over here...(they stopped two houses away from Maan's house...Geet nervously got out of the auto holding his shirt that they bought in a hurry before coming here...) okay lets go Geet...
With each step she became more and more nervous...and the road ahead seemed to get bigger and bigger...her heart was pounding so hard that she was sure Meera could hear it..she looks at the side of the road to see a dog sitting there causally looking at her with mouth open. The dog stood on his two legs started pointing at her while laughing out loud in a horsey laugh...ha ha ha Geet shakes her head to come out of her imagination...she looks at the dog again who was quietly following them.
Just what she needed, a dog to witness her humiliation. She looks at the big gate with the initials of a big K in the middle where the handle was, behind the big gate was a big bungalow like the ones you would see in the movies, a garden pathway led toward the entrance of the house, a gardener was in the corner watering the plants, while another one mowed the lawn...she could see all the way at the end two more guards standing near the main entrance of the house...
Geet gulped in fear when she saw their thick mustaches and serious straight faces..she imagined them carrying her out of the house, before she could even step inside, dragging her toward the streets. She looks at Meera with puppy dog eyes hoping that it would work to melt her but nothing worked.
Meera, on purpose, ignored Geet and her looks knowing she will try everything in her power to make her change her mind but she was her friend after all and one thing she learned from Geet was how to be immune to the cute looks. In a way, it was better, when she has kids in the future their puppy dog eyes won't work on her...thanks to her friend Geet.
"Hello whom do you wish to see here?" (One of the guard spoke)
Meera: Maan..he goes to our college...
"I understand but Mr. Khurana didn't notify us that anyone would be coming to see him today...sorry"
Geet smiles inwardly knowing she would not have to see him at all today...
Meera: woh I didn't know we need an appointment to see him...please she (Meera pulls her closer) is his partner for school project and she just wanted to compare some notes with him...
"Am sorry but I can't allow anyone to go inside without an appointment..."
Geet: Meera its fine...we can come back later..(she gives her a sad look) come lets go...(As they were about to leave a car stops in front of them...guards quickly opens the gates to let it in...Geet saw an elderly lady sitting inside the car as it drove past them but not before stopping little bit ahead. Meera and Geet look at one another not knowing what to expect. The driver gets out of the car opening the door for the lady.
Geet was so mesmerized by her.the way she walked and dressed spoke class and elegance. She was dawned in off white sari, with simple necklace, earrings and bracelet that complimented her sari. Her walk alone showed how much class and power she has, her head held high in pride as the guards bowed down to her. Geet wished she had that much of confidence and power on people. The elderly lady stood in front of Meera, Geet gulped in fear as she looked at them with serious and straight face much like the guards.
Geet had to admit, she was more scared of her then of Maan. Compared to her, Maan was nothing, now she wished that Maan was standing in front of her. Both didn't have enough courage to look at her straight in the face.
"Babaji is everyone in Maan's family like this? What I mean to say is, is everyone in his family scary and intimidating? First, I had to worry about being in front of Maan and now I have to worry about this lady in front of me? I hate Meera for bringing me here..I knew this was a bad idea...now what will happen? She seems so strict and scary..ohh God what will I do now?"
"Who are they?" (Geet jumps hearing her stern voice)
"Ma'am they are Maan saab's classmates..they are here to see him" (Geet looks up a little as she scans both of them from head to toe making both even more nervous..Geet felt like puking...it was a bad idea to eat before coming here..very bad idea...she tried to take a deep breath or talk to explain but her mouth refused to open up...Meera nudges Geet, slowly both greet her by namaste...
"What class do you both have with him?"
Meera: Ji psychology and this is my friend Geet...she is uhh his partner for this project the professor assigned to us. Right Geet
Geet (looks at Meera and then at her...after great difficulty she manages to speak) Namaaste..ji I just came to work on our school project...
"hmm I am Savitri Devi..I am Maan's grandma...lets go in and talk shall we?" (Both nod their head...)
Geet and Meera were amazed to see the mansion from inside; it was as beautiful as the outside. Right at the beginning of the entrance there was a water fountain with two kids on top holding a little pot where the water was coming from, they had to go through another entrance to the inside of the house, Geet almost tripped seeing the actual house.
She felt like she was in some fairy world...everything was so beautifully decorated; each corner had different touch to it making it all so warming and home like feeling. There were two staircases that on either side of the living room that eventually contacted at the middle..if the bottom was this beautiful she imagined what the top would look like.
SD: What would you like to have?
Geet: Ji nothing..thank you...your house is very beautiful...very nicely decorated (For once she didn't have any hesitation to talk...she felt like she was home...)
SD (smiles) Thanks beta...Maan's mom decorated this house herself when she was alive...you are not the only that complimented on this...
Geet: Ohh am sorry to hear this...
SD: Its okay...let me call for Maan...Nakul (she shouts once and immediately a short guy wearing a black tux comes running out) Nakul call Maan..tell him two of his classmates have come to see him
Nakul: Ma'am he is not home..he left about half hour ago
SD (shakes his head) Am sorry beta but he is not home...
Meera: ohh no problem ma'am...we will just meet him in college then (Meera eyes the packet in her hand...Geet shakes her head no...Dadima looks at all this amused...)
SD: Any problem?
Meera: Woh actually ma'am my friend here (she gives Geet angry look) is kind of shy and embarrassed
SD (goes up to Geet putting her hand on her shoulder) You don't have to be shy in front of me..I am not as strict as my grandson (she smiles)
Geet: woh uhh (she looks at Meera for help but she turns her face..Geet takes a deep breath) I got this shirt for him as an apology for ruining his shirt yesterday at the mall. I know its not the same shirt that I ruined but I didn't mean to ruin it..I swear..its just that when I get nervous I tend to do stupid mistakes and/or embarrass myself..please forgive me..and if he doesn't like this shirt then I will buy another one...(she says everything in one breath leaving Dadima and Meera in shock..Geet does a nervous laugh looking away after realizing what she said and done...)
SD: hmm let me see the shirt...(Geet, with shaky hands, gives her the shirt..)
Geet: Ma'am I know its not what he might be used to but this is what I could buy with my savings and am sorry for ruining his shirt
SD (laughs) so you are the girl that did all that yesterday to him? (Geet and Meera look at one another..) come sit...Nakul bring some snakes and drinks for these girls...
Meera: woh ma'am that is not necessary
SD: its not a problem beta...you know (she looks at Geet) when Maan came home yesterday you have no idea how hard it was for me to control my laughter..for the first time I had seen him in such a state...(Geet gulps..she wasn't sure whether she was trying to help her or make her more scared of facing him) I was wondering who had enough courage to do this to him..and now here you are...my grandson is always so serious..for once I had a good laugh looking at him...(Nakul brings some snakes and drinks) please help yourself
Geet: woh thanks..but we should get going now...we have some errands to run
SD: hmmm but come back again and I will tell the guards to always let you in..thanks for the shirt..am sure Maan will like it (Geet nervously smiles as both leave...)
Just as they were outside the house, Geet sighs in relief..Meera laughs looking at her state...
"Baap re...I was so nervous coming here and after seeing Dadima I was even more nervous...thank god she is not as strict and angry looking as Maan or else I don't know what I would've done in nervousness"
Meera: I know..she was so nice...now aren't you glad we came?
Geet (smiles and hugs her) yes I am..thanks..you are the bestest friend anyone could have
Meera: I know..
Geet: lets go and celebrate
Maan comes out of his hiding spot with a smirk.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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