Geet chopped the almonds to garnish the "halwa",she had prepared for the rasam of "
first rasoi".She was preparing today's dinner for her "first rasoi".She sprinkled them on the hot halwa with last few pieces of almonds going into her mouth.She was almost done as she gave final look to all the "dishes" she had cooked.One cube of white "paneer{cheese}" laying in the lush greenery of spicy "palak{spinach}" tempted her tongue buds to taste it.Controlling her saliva,she took the spoon and dug it to "serving bowl" having "
palak paneer".She was busy indulging her tongue so could not see Maya aunty entering the kitchen..
"Oh my god..girl..What have you done???"Maya said out loud with disappointment in her eyes. Her voice brought back geet from her bliss moment as she wondered what "crime" she had done.
"What happened aunty???"Geet asked in confusion.
"You were eating .."Maya told her the "crime"..
"Yes,I was...what is wrong in that???"Geet asked incredulously.
"There is nothing wrong in "eating" but You have eaten before "offering the food as bhog to God"..Today you have cooked for first time in your sasural and all the food you have prepared was going to be offered to God first as per the rituals..But it is not possible now..We can't offer "already eaten" food to God as bhog.."Maya explained geet's crime in details..
Geet remembered her mother's words as she realized her mistake. Rano had always chided for eating while cooking,though there was no "bhog" system in their house.Since she had married,one lesson she had learnt was "Mothers are always right and one should listen to them carefully.."
"I am sorry aunty.."Geet said apologetically.
"Your sorry can't rectify your mistake.."Maya said shrugging her shoulders.
Sudden commotion in the kitchen area brought Mamta and Kiran there."What happened Maya ji???"Mamta inquired entering in the kitchen.
"Your dear daughter in law could not control her salivating tongue.."Maya informed adding much needed "spice" to her words,however it only confused Mamta.
"I don't understand Maya ji.."Mamta said in confusion.
"I have eaten palak paneer maa.."Geet told her mistake herself.."I am so sorry maa ..I had no idea about this "Bhog ritual.."She spoke further.
Mamta did not like "guilt" on geet's face.She very well knew it all happened because of geet's unawareness about "rituals"..
"Its ok geet beta..You have eaten palak paneer only..We could offer "halwa" only as "bhog.."Mamta suggested.
Hope that rose in geet's heart hearing Mamta's words vanished as soon she finished her sentence.There was not a single cuisine left in the kitchen that had not faced geet's "taste test".Expression on geet's face told Mamta that something was still wrong.
"Something wrong beta???"Mamta inquired,
"Maa I have already checked "sugar" in the halwa.."Geet replied meekly..
"and kali daal???"Kiran asked opening the lid of serving bowl having daal.
"I was just checking whether i should add more "Garam masala" or not,di..."
"and rayta{curd}???" Maya asked this time.
"I could not stop myself when i added roasted cumin seeds to it..Aroma was too tempting to resist.."Geet justified her action while putting the all blame on "cumin seeds"."Yes,i have not eaten salad yet..!!!"Geet told in a voice full of hope.Childish innocence on her face made Mamta and Kiran smile little.
"But we don't offer "salad" for bhog,bahu rani.."Maya said with a wicked smile."You should have controlled yourself..You are not a "kid".."She spoke further.
"Its ok mayaji..Geet had no idea about "bhog" thats why she tasted all the food..She did not do it intentionally.."Mamta tried to defend her daughter in law.
"But It is not acceptable Mamta..She had made a mistake.."
Nani's voice made everyone turn towards the door.While Mamta tried to look "strict",geet imagined herself standing on the Kitchen shelf holding her ears.Maan's Nani was no less than a principal.
"I know that maa..and I would handle this my way.."Mamta said with all the "softness" leaving her voice.Sudden strictness in her mother in law's voice made Geet cringe in fear.
"All of you,please kindly leave the kitchen..I want to talk to Geet in privacy.."Mamta spoke further making everyone leave the kitchen.
As soon everyone else left,Mamta sprinted towards the gas stove.
"Get sooji{semolina} and sugar geet..We have to cook separate halwa for "bhog"..She said putting the pan on gas stove.Geet obliged Mamta's order as she handed her the things.
"I am really sorry maa.."Geet apologized genuinely to her mother in law who were busy cooking Semolina in desi ghee.
"Its ok beta..It was not your fault entirely..I should have told you.."
"You are not mad at me maa???"
"How could I when you told everything so truly..If you want you could have lied about not tasting rest of the cuisines..no body had seen you..But you did not..You told the truth..Always remain "same" beta.."Mamta said caressing her face lovingly."Now common lets cook it faster geet ,,we can talk later.."
With in next twenty five minutes,MIL-DIL duo was ready with "halwa" for "bhog"..
"Don't smile geet..Make a sad face..You should look like i have scolded you alot.."Mamta said handing her the bowl of halwa.
"Wanna have some fun maa????"Geet asked with a wink.Before mamata could answer geet,she exclaimed herself.."We should have fun,maa.."
Mamta saw geet walking towards the refrigerator as she took an orange from it..Next she found her daughter in law squeezing orange peels in to her eyes...
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"Mamu..."Aarav yelled as soon he saw Maan entering the hall.
"how is my champ???"Maan asked taking the little boy in his arms.
"I am fine mamu.."Aarav answered as his hands got busy in searching maan's cell phone in his pocket."Mamu..give me your cell phone,i want to listen my favorite music.."He spoke further.
Aarav was in the age where he wanted to get "older and bigger" as soon as possible so he could do all the fun that all the elders do like going out alone,driving the car,having coffee etc etc..He had seen all the elders,specially his maan uncle listening to music on his cell phone and he also wanted to do same just to enjoy that special "Elderly" feeling, that was why maan had downloaded some nursery rhymes on his cell phone especially for his nephew.
Maan took out the cell phone from his pant pocket and gave it to aarav..
"Thank you mamu..I would enjoy my favorite music in MY room.."Saying this Aarav ran towards Kiran di's bedroom.An amusing smile crept on maan's lips as he remembered how he had pestered aarav telling him that it was his room and because he was a good boy,he should allow his parents and little sister to sleep there.
"So maan beta ,land deal is fixed on our price???.."Maya inquired as maan settled himself on couch.
Before he could answer her,noises coming from Kitchen made him as well other members present in hall move towards kitchen.
Maan was at loss of words as he saw geet knelt down near his mother's feet with red eyes and tears streaming down her cheeks.
"please maa..don't send me to my mother's house..I promise I won't repeat my mistake.."Geet spoke in a teary voice hugging Mamta's legs. Mamta who was as astonished as all the other people standing in the kitchen looked at Geet with wide eyes.
"Geet.."Mamta tried to speak but loud cry from geet did not let her as she found her hugging her legs with more force.
It was "Nani" who bent down to make geet stand on her feet.."Mamta you should not have scolded her like this...Her mistake was not that big.."Nani spoke further wiping geet's fake tears caused by orange peels.
Next moment,Nani took the halwa bowl from Mamta's hands and left the kitchen to complete the ritual of "bhog" to be followed by Maya.
"Geet beta what was that???"Mamta asked bewildered.
"I was showing my acting skills,maa..."geet answered with a toothy grin on her face
"That was not funny geet.."Maan exclaimed in angry tone."Thank god aarav was not here..He is impressionable.."He spoke further.
"I am sorry..I did not think that way.."Geet said meekly realizing her mistake.
"Its ok maan..aarav did not see all this.."Kiran interrupted this time.."and it was really funny.."She tried to ease the situation.
"Even i enjoyed this strict mother in law drama..I wish geet had told me earlier,i would have acted little more natural..."Mamta exclaimed with smile.
"I am very sorry maa..It was my second mistake in a row..Sometimes i act without thinking about the consequences..."Geet said with a sad face.
"Its ok beta but be careful next time..however your "acting" had helped me alot..."
"How???"Geet asked with furrowed eyebrows.Even maan and Kiran were confused equally.
"My mother won't lecture me for being "Strict" with you anymore...""Mamta said as she laughed."Common lets have dinner now...Maan must be hungry.."She spoke further.
Mamta's words freshened the memories of "call dinner" for geet as she asked maan,"You had proper breakfast today or ate biscuits like the dinner last night???"
"What???He had biscuits for dinner???"Mamta asked with "motherly worry" in her voice.
"Yes maa...Place where he stayed was in some backward area and they don't give dinner after 9 pm..and he returned to lounge quite late,Thats why he was having milk and biscuits for dinner last night,when i called him..."Geet explained only to get an angry glare from maan .
"I am so sorry laddu..You have to stay at such place all because of me.."Kiran said with regret.
"No di..Please don't say sorrry..and It was not like I was starving for last two days..Having biscuits in dinner for one night won't make me malnourished..."Maan tried to make his sister understand.
"We can discuss all this later,lets have dinner now.."Mamta said as she literally dragged maan with her out of the kitchen. Maan knew very well that his mother and sister would not let him even change his clothes after knowing he had not eaten properly since last two days.He sighed loudly as he made his way towards towards dining table.
************************************************
"Geet,why did you tell maa and di about "milk and biscuits"???"Maan said as soon they entered the bedroom after dinner."You know they would worry unnecessarily now every time i would go out of the station..."He spoke further opening his shoes.
"I was also worried maan..."Geet exclaimed settling on the bed.
Her words made him look towards her intently as he realized that there was one more person in his life now who could worry for him.His conscience instructed him to apologize because since he had returned,he was only yelling at her.No,he could not start the conversation with "I am sorry" once again,he thought making his way towards his wife.
"Geet..I am not a kid and I can look after myself..you don't have to worry this much..."He said taking her hand in his.
"hmm..I understand...You go and change..."Geet answered with her gaze fixed on the wall ahead.
Her "lost" voice made him guilty more but he could not dare to apologize.It would have irritated her more.
Maan came out from bathroom after changing into night clothes only to find geet still sitting at same place with lost look on her face.
"What happened geet???Are you mad at me???"He asked in a restless voice.
"I am changing maan..."She answered.
"hmm????"
"I am becoming like my mother maan..Today i have completed the first stage..."She spoke in a worried tone.
"I am not understanding geet.."
"oho maan..I was worrying for your "food"..Is not that "primary symptom" of our mothers??.I would be like my "mother" very soon.."Geet explained.
Maan wanted to laugh but somehow controlled himself."Ok thats the first stage..what is the second stage geet??"he asked.
"On second stage,i would take care of all of your things..and when you would ask me "where are my socks geet???"Suppose I am in kitchen that time,you know what would i answer..."
Maan nodded his head for no,as he asked with much curiosity.."what???"
"I would yell form kitchen,"THERE!!!!"..and rest of your life would spend in finding this "THERE" in your room..."
"Hmm..and third stage..???"
"When I would go to buy some clothes for me,Instead of concentrating on designs and colors,i would be more concerned about "material"..I would take the saree or suit material in my hand to check whether fabric is silk,cotton or georgette..."
Maan who was controlling himself till now burst into laughter.
"You are impossible geet..!!!."he said wiping his tears due to hard laugh.
"Don't laugh maan..This is very serious matter for me..."Geet spoke whacking his shoulder.
"ohk ohk geet..."He said as he stopped laughing.."you should not worry geet,we have caught your symptoms at first stage only..your disease can be cured easily..."Maan tried to say as genuinely as possible.
His words brought smile on geet's lips,"Thanks for being with me maan at this tough time..."She exclaimed making both of them laugh once again.
"Geet you were serious or kidding all the while???"Maan asked after some time.
"It does not matter now maan..What matters is that you enjoyed and laughed..."
Her words as well as genuineness in her eyes made him tongue tied as he keep looking at her without blinking his lashes.
"Common lets sleep now..I am too tired after cooking dinner..."
He smiled as he nodded for yes.
Maan adjusted himself on his side of bed as he saw geet entering the bathroom to change.Even from bathroom she kept on talking with him,telling him what happened in house after he was gone..how she earned some bucks form aunties who came for "munh dikhai" and gave her some money as "Shagun"..
Her voice act as a lullaby for him as he closed his tired eyes for most peaceful sleep...
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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