Chapter 40
Geet sat with the Khannas at the dinner table. She was about to take some rice when Pinky exclaimed "Geeet, what is that?"
Geet looked at Pinky in alarm. "Oh dear, why is Pinky calling me like that. What has she seen? My mehndi? Has she spotted Maan's name?" she thought anxiously.
Geet began to panic, when Pinky held her left hand. "Arre Geet. What is this yaar? Did you get engaged in Hoshiyarpur? Did that brother of yours finally bully you into getting married?" Pinky teased.
Geet looked at Pinky in horror. "How has Pinky guessed?" she wondered. "I have been very careful removing all of my marriage symbols".
Pinky saw Geet's face which had gone pale and asked with concern "Geet, what happened?"
Geet remained silent. She didn't know what to say. Should she come clean to Pinky? Tell her what happened.
Pinky looked at Geet and then said, "Oi Geet. What did you expect? You wear a huge, and I mean huge diamond ring on your left ring finger and you don't expect me to tease?"
Geets eyes widened in horror. She had removed her chooda and returned the mangalsutra, but forgot about the ring.
"Geet, Geet, where have you drifted off to?" Pinky said shaking Geet back to reality. "I am talking to you Geet. Did you get engaged?"
Geet continued to stare mutely at Pinky who continued talking "Well, it would explain the ornate mehndi in your hands...very bridal.."
"SSstop! Ppinky enough teasing. Let Geet have her meal in peace" Jatinder said trying to get Pinky to stop.
"Dad I know Geet is your laadli, but let me have some fun. I have not had the chance in 2 weeks." Pinky whined at her father, who was trying to stop her fun.
"So Geet? What's the secret? Who gave you the ring?" Pinky asked wiggling her eyebrows at Geet.
Geet gulped. What should she say? She looked at the roof and quietly whispered 'help me Babaji'
"The rlng was actually a gift.. from family.. not an engagement ring" Geet said. In her head she apologised to Babaji saying that she is not lying, since it was not her engagement ring, but her wedding ring, which was sort of a gift from Maan, who was family.
"And...the mehndi is from... a wedding...I attended in Hoshiyarpur" Geet finished, again telling herself, that she hadn't told a lie. She did indeed attend a wedding..it was her own. Yes she was stretching the truth, but what else could she do.
Pinky laughed looking at a very anxious Geet. "Are yaar, I was only teasing. Don't get so tense. I know you wouldn't get engaged without your best friend!" she said patting Geet on the hand.
Geet suddenly felt awful. She had just lied to her best friend. Jatinder saw Geet looking thoughtful and upset and decided that it was time to change the subject to lift Geet's mood.
"Ppinky do you want the last of the pppaneer or shall I have it?" Jatinder asked, knowing this was a sure way of distracting his daughter from her current job of teasing.
"Yesss I want it. It is mine, Papa" Pinky said, snatching the bowl. "Geet, don't even look at it" she warned her best friend.
Pinky's antics made Geet laugh and Jatinder was relieved to see Geet smiling.
"Sso Gggeet, are you looking forward to Mmonday?" he asked.
Geet looked at him in confusion. "Monday?" she asked.
"Have you ffforgotten? Don't you join Kkkhhhuranna constructions with Pinky on Mmmonday?" he continued.
Geet's face lit up. "Yes, of course" she shouted in excitement.
Now this was a subject she was happy to talk about. Geet became quite animated thinking about her new job and started talking non-stop about what she wanted to do. Jatinder was happy to see Geet like this, chatty and happy.
"I heard that th th the MD Is quite strict" Jatinder commented. "Yyyou ttwo will have to be on your best behaviour. Bbbut who knows. I only have that rrrascal Adi's word to go by"
Pinky looked at Geet as if to say "Help me... stop him from talking about Adi''
"Uncleji, let Monday come and I will tell you myself" Geet said confidently.
"Haa, Papa and let us finish this lovely food before it gets cold" Pinky chipped in trying to get her Dad's attention off Adi.
Once dinner was over and the kitchen tidied, Pinky and Geet sat in Pinky's room thinking of what they would do on their last weekend of freedom, before they joined the workforce. They decided that this weekend they would behave like tourists and visit all the landmarks in Delhi, "Not forgetting the restaurants" Pinky reminded Geet. Both chatted well into the night about their plans. Both finally fell asleep in each other's arms. Pinky dreamt about food and Geet dreamt about Maan.
Maan slept fitfully. He was missing the warmth and softness of Geet. He awoke early feeling restless. He decided to burn some of the restless energy in the gym. That is where Daadi found him when she went looking for him
"Maan, are you trying to avoid me?" she teased.
"No Daadi. I am in the gym exercising. As you can see, I am running on the treadmill, or should I say was running until you interrupted me" he winked.
"Accha? I interrupted you?" Daadi said as she whacked him on the shoulder playfully
"Well why should I not assume you are avoiding me? Huh, what else should I think? You ran off aided by that Annie ki bacchii when I began to talk to you about marriage and now you lock yourself in the gym" Daadi continued.
"I have not locked myself in the gym!" Maan replied
"Aha... so you admit you ran off last night" Daadi exclaimed.
Maan rolled his eyes 'Daadi' he whined.
Daadi smiled "You know Maan, I only wish the best for you. I tease you, to make you smile. But I am worried about you Maan. I would like to see you settled with your life partner. Life is too short to be alone" she said seriously. "You shouldn't let your past, Sameera, Dev or even your Dad, stop you from moving forward with your life"
"I know Daadi. And you will be happy to know that I am ready to move on" he said as he stepped off the jogging machine.
Daadi smiled and hugged Maan "I am glad puttar ... by the way you stink. Please go and have a shower before everyone in the house faints"
Maan looked at his Daadi and held her hands. "Daadi, I just want to do things on my terms and my timelines. But when I find her, you will be the first to know".
Daadi was happy with Maan's decision and chose not to push her luck. "Okay Maan. I will be waiting"
"I love you Daadi" Maan said before hugging his Daadi again, this time deliberately to wipe his sweat on her saari.
"Urgh, Maan. Will you ever grow up?" Daadi laughed while playfully hitting Maan.
"Maybe I will...maybe I won't" Maan chuckled leaving Daadi in the gym.
Daadi looked at Maan in awe. Something had changed his mood in the last few weeks and she hoped whatever it was, continued to influence him positively.
Maan showered and went to his study. He called his private detective firm, asking them to look for Geet. He gave her details, description, name of her college and course as well the name of her friend Pinky. He was assured that they would do their best to find her. He didn't however tell them of his relationship with Geet. He didn't want anything being leaked to the media until he was ready.
Maan spent his weekend with Daadi and Annie and when they got too much for him which was often, he hid himself in a study under the pretense of work. He loved both of them, but he couldn't wait for Monday to come, so he could get back to his office and normality.
Ufff Yeh Love Hai Mushkil
Jhanak
Bigg Boss 19
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