MM - Ch 9

 Maan who had turned Geet away from the stairs was facing towards the corridors leading to the bride’s bedroom and he saw Haider come out of the room rushing the opposite way.

He jerked Geet back breaking off the golden pearls of her tassel, as he rushed to catch up with his friend before anyone else notices. Geet got her feet balanced and was busy setting her dupatta right with her shaking hands. Rather than heading downstairs to find her mother in her nervousness she just shot back towards Meer’s bedroom.

Downstairs Dadima looked slightly embarrassed and turned to Jassi ji to hesitantly say ‘woh Maan zara hasmukh mizaaj ka hai, shayad Geet beti ko tang kar raha hai. Aap buraa na maaney main ussey…(uhh..Maan is light hearted and he might have been teasing Geet. Please don’t mind him I will have a word…) Jassi ji interrupted Dadima and said ‘Nahi nahi Dadima, main samajh sakti hoon. Geet kam thodi hai!! aur waise bhi yeh bache shaadi ke ghar main hi aisey shararat kartey hain..Bache hai bhagdod main mazey kar rahe hai aur Geet par bharosa hai mujhe’ (No, Dadima I understand. Geet is no less! And anyway these kids get mischievous in a wedding house. Chasing each other and having fun. I trust Geet anyway) and she smiled warmly at Dadima to wade away her embarassement.

Dadima was pleasantly surprised at Jassi’s open mindness. She patted her cheek with warmth and left towards the main hall again.

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Meer sat still at the edge of her bed and yet again with a sudden intrusion in her room, Geet walked in shaken and nervous than Meer herself. Meer caught hold of Geet and held her by the arms to ask her ‘kya hua Geet?!Why are you shaking?’ Geet stuttered looking down at her paranda (tassle) and said ‘woh woh kuch nahi.. Wahan raste main Ma a n..”(Umm oh nothing…over there on the way Ma a n) Meer cut her short only hearing the first half of Ma-an spoke ‘Ma! What happened? Did Ma tell you something? Meer stepped back and collapsed on the bed saying ‘Oh gosh I told Haider ji, not tonight!!’ Ya Allah how will I face everyone’!!

Geet who was trying to tell her that she almost had a fall and Maan saved her, forgot about her own story and was shocked to see Meer so distraught.

Geet abruptly sat on the floor infront of Meer and asked  'What happened Di, I didn't see Ma. Tell me! Did Haider bhai come to speak with you?’

Meer who by now had her eyes filled with tears with relief and this sadness didn’t know what she should tell! She just blurted out ‘Woh shaadi nahi karna chahte mujhse’ (He doesn’t want to get married to me). Geet held her hands tightly and blurted out a ‘Kya?!’(What?!)

Maan caught up with Haider whom he had seen going up a staircase leading to the terrace that he found on the otherside of the corridor. He reached the terrace and found Haider leaning over a balcony deep in thoughts. With all his impatience, Maan rushed forward and asked his friend ‘kya hua bataa na! (Tell me what happened?) What did you tell her and what did she say?!’

Haider looked at Maan and then looked away again, Maan turned him around wondering what exactly happened that Haider is shying away from his eyes. Maan asked him again. Haider sighed and replied ‘I told her to say no’.

‘Kyaaa!!’ (What!?) Maan echoed Geet’s words but only Haider heard him.

‘But why Di! Aapse nahi toh kisse! (If not you then with who does want to get married!?)He just put a ring on you in front of everyone!’ Geet exclaimed out loud.

‘He is not ready for a marriage so soon. He wanted some more time’ Meer stated Haider’s words.

‘What did she reply with when you asked her to say no, Haider’? Maan asked with his hands crossed over his chest staring pointedly at Haider.

Haider quietly added ‘She said that she didn’t lie to her father when he asked for her acceptance for this marriage and she won’t lie to him now either.’

‘Good!’ Said both Maan and Geet respectively to their narrators in different parts of the haweli yet their thoughts and words mirrored one another.

‘I thought you will be a man enough to say no yourself! But you asked her instead to say NO! So she can be your scapegoat! She doesn’t deserve that!!’ said Maan angrily.

Geet walked back and forth angrily and turned to ask Meer ‘His Baba should have asked him too like our baba asked you Meer! ’

Meer half smiled and said ‘not everyone are as lucky to speak their minds with their fathers like you Geet’.

Geet suddenly looked at Meer and asked ‘So are you not telling Baba the truth either?’ Meer hastily replied ‘No, I mean… I did speak the truth to Baba, I thought he would be happy getting married to me as well’ Meer tried explaining to herself more than to Geet’

‘What are you going to do now Di?’ Geet asked her the impending question as Meer looked ahead lost in her thoughts.

‘She told me I know we are still very young and we have a lot to do in life so getting married this young will help us grow together… I never looked at it in that way Maan! I have been thinking that she will stop me from achieving everything in life that I wanted but she thought so much more…and better’ Haider spoke Meer’s words to Maan but it was as if he was mulling over every word she uttered and each word opened his eyes to her perspective even more.

‘I will speak to Baba tomorrow morning, Abhi toh woh sab bohot khush hai. Aaj ki raat yehi khushfehmi main guzaar lene dein unhe ke unki beti ki baraat ayegi kal chaukath par’ (He is so happy right now,let them all live this night under the guise of happiness that tomorrow is the arrival of his daughter’s wedding on his doorstep).

But is that what you really want?! Geet asked Meer as Maan asked the same to Haider.

Haider turned to look at his friend with the realization dawning upon him that he is about to make a huge mistake in his life. 

On the other side, Meer flicked the tears away from her face and instead asked Geet ‘ Ma must be looking for us! Why were you looking so tensed when you came in?! ohh! coz your tassel broke! Here, I will fix it and let’s go downstairs after, they must be looking for us’.

Geet looked at her friend through the mirror who was busy fixing her tassle in her hair again and but really was trying to dissuade the sadness off her own demeanour. Geet turned around and said ‘ Di, Daijaan kehti hain, ke har mayoosi ke peche ek seekh hoti hai khushiyon ko paane ki. Yeh gham bhi dhal jayega, aur waise bhi aap ko ab dukh hora hai na.. Haider bhai ko baad main hoga unki yeh galti par!’ (Di, Daijaan says that behind every disappointment in life there is a lesson to find real happiness. This time of sadness will pass too. And anyway you are sad now but Haider will be sad later for making this mistake!).

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The girls went downstairs again and Meer sat in the hall with other guests and family with the pretense of being a bride-to-be.

A while later, Maan saw Geet sitting quietly in one corner of the veranda outside, staring in blank space and her hands mindlessly playing with the ends of her chunni. The guests had thinned to its last with just the immediate families inside discussing details of the proceeding days ahead.

Just from the outline of her drooping shoulders Maan instantly felt that Meer has poured her heart out to Geet and she was feeling sad for her best friend. He walked towards Geet with two glasses of lassi in his hands and simply offered it to her. Geet saw him approaching and prepared to to leave from there as the scenes of her last encounter with him flashed before her eyes.

Maan quickly said ‘Ruk jao na!’. 

The colour in her cheeks rose yet again with embarrassment at his nerves to tease her with those very similar words! Even before she could think of saying anything, Maan took a chance that Geet knew the situation between her friend and his and added ‘Haider wants to get married to your friend and he doesn’t want to break this relation now.

Geet’s eyes turned from bemusement to elation as they filled with tears of happiness and a smile broke on her face.

 She leaped forward and held his shirt ‘Really!! Haye Rabba! Are you for sure?’

Maan was taken aback in surprise at her sudden closeness, as he stood on his weak leg he tried to balance himself with her and placed his hands lightly around her shoulders. Her genuine happiness for her friend made his heart fill with warmth and he nodded at her with the same excitement shining from his eyes affirming her of the truth he knew; forgetting that they were in each others arms for the second time in one evening!

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Daijaan who was walking back after bidding away some guests, stood stunned as she saw the scene in front of her:

 Geet and Maan in each other's arms with beaming smiles.. still and lost under the beautifully flowered veranda -alone.

MM- Chapter 8

‘Oye!....

Chich chich…

Wohoo!.....

Main Yahaan ....

Oye idhar .....

 Meri taraf yahaan dekho!

Chich cheech chich!

Maan hissed at Geet from behind a set of curtains in the dinner hall where Geet was busy seating Dadi ma on the dinner table with other guests of the evening. If he could whistle he probably would have done that too to catch her attention!

She heard the hissing and looked to see who was making such noises and noticed Maan pointing at her and signalling her to come closer. 

She looked at him annoyingly remembering the brewing argument they had just a while ago. Geet turned back making a face and decided to ignore his signs of calls.

 'Mujhe ignore kar rahi ho!! (You are trying to ignore me!)

Mujhe ! Main Maan hoon.. meri taraf har ladki nazar juhka thi hai!' (Me! I am Maan! nobody ignores me, every girl turns her head at me!) Maan whispered  to himself under his breath. 

Maan noticed her resolute face of ignoring him and this hit his adolescent ego which usually sits at the tip of his pointed nose! So Maan walked straight at Geet and grabbed her by the hand. 

She almost screamed in surprise and a yelp escaped from her lips; of course others around noticed. 

Dadima was the first and sternly directed her eyes at his hand holding Geet's and said 

‘What’s going on here Maan?!’ 

Maan suddenly let go off her hand and edged closer to quietly say, ‘Dadima main isse jab se bula raha tha aur yeh sun hi rahi nahi hai!’ (I have been calling her out all this time but she chose to ignore me!)’.

Geet’s eyes went big with embarrassment at his straight talk and although she is still very young to decipher the suspicion in Dadima’s eyes but due to her mother’s strict code of conduct for girls in their family she knew that getting such attention from boys is not good for her.

Dadima squirmed her eyes and asked Maan ‘But why did you want to speak to her?! You have only just met her!’

Maan said ‘I didn’t want to talk to her! Woh toh Jassi auntie is calling for her! I saw her going up the stairs as I was making my way here and she asked me to tell Geet that bring bhabhi with her in her room she needs some help with something’

Dadima and Geet looked just as confused but for different reasons. 

Geet thought and spoke aloud ‘Amma ne bolaya hai?! Lekin mujhe hi kyun??...haan yeh Roop ki bachi kahin chupi hogi (but why me! She could have asked Roop too but this Roop must be hiding somewhere) eating to her stomach full’. Without waiting for any affirmation Geet strided past Maan to get Meet and go upstairs to find her mother’.

Maan who saw his Dadima suspiciously looking at him, didn’t give her a chance to ask any further and just added ‘I’ll go bring Haider, he is sitting out there still’ and ran out behind Geet.

By the time he met Haider and told him of his little made up story Geet and Meer were making their way up the stairs. He asked Haider to hurry after them. Haider instead took Maan along with him on the pretense of his friend needing a washroom just in case anybody was to ask.

Just as they chased after the girls on the stairs, Jassi ji was seen directing the servers with food to different tables along with Daijaan. She then led daijaan to a seat next to Dadi ma so to give her company at dinner.

On seeing Jassi ji here, dadi ma’s suspicion turned into a full fledged doubt on her grandson’s intentions. She thought of getting up to find out further but was pulled back down with Daijaan asking her to eat some more with her.

Meer and Geet entered the bedroom and called out for Jassi ji, Geet then said to Meer ‘Ma to yahan nahi hai! Hmm Meer you wait here, maybe Ma went to check up on things downstairs so I will go and ask her why she wanted us here, okay!’

Meer nodded and saw Geet head out of the room. Meer was relieved to get away from all the prying eyes downstairs. She was wondering how she will manage in the wedding which is just in two days! The thought of her Nikah led her thoughts to the impending wedding night with an almost stranger like husband! Knowing him as an occasionaly summer holiday friend and being his innocence play-mate was way different than becoming his wife so soon!

Meer clutched the ends of her dupatta and walked half hazardly to pour a glass of water to calm herself down. As she was drinking the glass of water, her eyes widened seeing her brand new an hour old fiancé and to be husband in two days dash into her room and close the door behind him!

She literally spit the water out of her mouth and squeezed her mouth to stutter a question:

 ‘AAPP!! Yahan kkkkya kar rahe hai!?!!’ (Youuu!! Whaaat are you doing?)

She walked anxiously towards him and further enquired ‘aur darwwaazzzza kyun band KIYA?! Kuch hua hai kya! Koi dekhega toh bohot pareshaaani hojayegi Haid…. Umm  ji!’ (And why did you close the door, has something happened? If someone sees us like this then it would be a lot of trouble Haid…umm Ji)’.

Haider who literally was catching his breath looked at Meer whose cheeks were turning pink despite her looking like she has seen a ghost! He grabbed the glass of water from her hand and drank the rest of it, he then walked straight ahead and sat on the bed saying mujhe baat karni thi… bohot urgent hai! Mere dost ne yahi ek idea diya mujhe tumse milne ka! (I wanted to talk to you..its urgent! And my friend could only think of this idea of getting to meet you!)’

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As Geet hurriedly walked in the balcony of the corridor overlooking the floor below towards the stairs hoping to find her mother she was struck with a voice from behind her and she stopped in her tracks and turned around only to see and hear this:

Ruk ja o dil deewane
Poochhoon toh main zara!!!!!

Tannnaa tannnaaa …..
Ladki hai ya hai jaadu
Khushboo hai ya nashaaaaaaa

Tanna tannnaaaa

There stood Maan leaning against the pillar with his legs crossed right behind her, playing an imaginary guitar with his hands and teasingly looking at Geet! He raised his eyebrows at her and added:

Ha ruk ja o dil deewane
Poochhoon to main zarrraaaa!!!

Geet’s big brown eyes glared at Maan and she stompedly retreated her steps towards and pointed a finger right at him about to blurt out a hurl of rightful abusing words she could think of to put him in his place for his audacity to stop her midway by teasing her with a song! 

But instead Maan just stopped her mid-sentence and rolled off the next lines in the song:

Paas woh aaye toh
Chhoo ke main dekhoon zara…

And he touched her cheek with back of his hand playfully to rouse her cute anger further.

But little did Maan realize that his one innocent touch would make him loose himself yet again in her innocent aura and he managed to merely whisper the last line: 

Ruk ja o…. dil… deewane…. Poochoun toh main…. Zara…

Geet suddenly felt the heat rise to her cheeks and she didn’t know why the flutters in her stomach would appear whenever Maan came this close to her.

She looked into his eyes mirroring the questioning emotions arising in both of them unknowingly.  

Her eyes watered with the unwavering stare and she blinked back to reality!

She suddenly stepped back from his close enclosure and didn’t realize that she was on the edge of the stairs so her foot tripped and she lost her balance just then Maan saw her falling backwards he lurched forward and pulled her by the hand and she fell into his arms.

Geet looked half shaken half surprised; her form clutching him tight with the scare. Maan realized that she needed space to get a grip on herself so he tried moving back but his shirt button tugged on the ends of her paranda tassle.

From down below, Dadima and Jassi ji stood stunned at the scene they just witnessed of Maan pulling Geet in his arms and Geet holding on to him tightly with both her hands around his neck.

MM- Chapter 8 Teaser

‘Oye!....

Chich chich…

Wohoo!.....

Main Yahaan ....

Oye idhar .....

meri taraf toh yahaan dekho...

chich cheeecchh chich!!!!'

Maan hissed at Geet from behind a set of curtains in the dinner hall where Geet was busy seating Dadi ma on the dinner table with other guests of the evening. If he could whistle he probably would have done that too to catch her attention!

She heard the hissing and looked to see who was making such noises and noticed Maan pointing at her and signalling her to come closer. 

She looked at him annoyingly remembering the brewing argument  they had just a while ago. Geet turned back making a face and decided to ignore his signs of calls.

'Mujhe ignore kar rahi ho!! (You are trying to ignore me!)

Mujhe ! Main Maan hoon.. meri taraf har ladki nazar juhka thi hai!' (Me! I am Maan! nobody ignores me, every girl turns her head at me!) Maan whispered  to himself under his breath. 

Maan noticed her resolute face of ignoring him and this hit his adolescent ego which usually sits at the tip of his pointed nose! So Maan walked straight at Geet and grabbed her by the hand. 

She almost screamed in surprise and a yelp escaped from her lips; of course others around noticed. 

Dadima was the first and sternly directed her eyes at his hand holding Geet's and said 

‘What’s going on here Maan?!’ 

MM - Chapter 7

Haider was sat in the centre of the canopy decorated with fresh flowers and frills. Maan came and stood next to his DadiMa with the rest of the family.

All guests had arrived from both Waleed Ullah and Behroz’s side and just as everyone were waiting to see the bride to be, Meer appeared at the top of the stairs with her godmother Jassi on one side and her best friend Geet on the other side.

With a net dupatta covering her head, Meer’s eyes were glued to the ground and Geet guided her down the stairs holding her by one side. Meer was made to sit on another chaise facing Haider.

Asma, Haider’s mother came and sat on one side of Meer and on the other was Jassi ji. She held Meer’s face from her chin and said ‘Masha’Allah iss Chand jaisi beti ko aaj se humare ghar ka noor banayge hum’ (God has willed it, that this moonlike beautiful daughter will become the light of our home). Jassi ji held out Meer’s hand forward and Asma slipped the engagement ring on her left hand finger.

Across them next to Haider sat Behroz Khan who hugged Haider and gifted him a band as a token of the engagement.

Maan whispered to his Dadima ‘yeh kya dadima (what’s this Dadima) why aren’t the bride and groom exchanging the rings and instead the elders are slipping rings on them?!’ Dadima replied ‘In muslim tradition, the girl and boy should not have any physical contact until the Nikah (marriage ceremony) is done so out of respect to this rule the elders have performed the engagements rites’.

Maan listened intently and said to his Dadima, ‘Itne saare rules lekin bohot cute hai, shaadi ke baad pehli baar woh milna aur baatein karna its super cute Dadi ma!’ Dadima was pleasantly surprised at Maan who didn’t think it to be backwards but respected the differences. She was proud of her grandson’s genuineness. She patted his cheek lovingly and moved forward to meet Haider’s now fiancée.

Asma moved out of the way for Dadima to sit down next to Meer and she introduced her. Meer shyly spoke to Dadima. Then to make small talks with Meer and put her at ease she commented on her beautiful star stringed dupatta. Meer looked appreciatively and with ease said ‘Geet sewed the beads and made the dupatta so pretty for me’ Dadima asked ‘who is Geet beta?

Meer pointed Geet out to Dadima, who was with Jassi ji arranging the platter of sweets and drinks for the guests. She then told her that she is Mohinder Chachu’s eldest daughter and like a sister to her.

Dadima chuckled as she noticed Geet hiding a laddu in her dupatta and turned towards a younger girl who was also hiding under the table and handed the laddu over to her.

Meer noticed and informed Dadima ‘Woh Roop hai! Geet’s younger sister. Her only interest in life is to eat and they both play and love each other as much as they fight’. Dadima and Meer both looked at each other and started laughing as they noticed that just moments ago Geet who gave Roop the laddu now both were being reprimanded by Jassi ji who caught their blatant attempt of cleverly!

Haider and Maan who were now sat together were watching Dadima and Meer interact and Maan then told his friend ‘Bhabhi looks friendly yaar, she comes from this small town but seems like she might be alright to talk to and let her understand your situation’.

Haider who was also thinking the same said ‘ Yeh I was thinking the same that maybe your idea of talking to her might work… but bro you manage a meeting for us… over here all girls and women are just staring at my every move! I can’t even attempt to talk to her here!’

Maan was thinking how to make it happen when all of a sudden Geet walked towards them with a tray of sweets and drinks.

She held the tray forward to Haider and as he smiled and raised his hand to pick up a glass of juice she turned the tray around and said quietly ‘Di ne kaha aap ke liye thandai banana ke liye (Di, asked me to make a drink for you) you have an upset stomach so this will help’.

Haider looked embarrassed but Geet didn’t laugh at him just smiled warmly and moved onto serve Maan who was watching her closely. He said to her ‘and what’s there for me?’ Geet looked at him and wryly replied ‘Ji, the dulhe bhaiya got a special drink for his special problem… Do you have a problem too?!’

'Ji I have a problem with my toe, its hurting ever since a wild cat decided to attack me!’

‘Main jungli billi nahi mere bauji mujhe sherni kehte hai! Geet said proudly!’

‘Aur main koi dusht nahi apne papa ka Maan hoon!’

Meer sensed something going on when she saw Maan stand up to Geet and to avoid her toofan express like sister doing some embarassing herself in front of guests… she called her out ‘ Geet!! Yahaan aana!Come here)'.

Geet who heard Meer call her name said to Maan ‘aap ko drink chahiye ya nahin! Aur bhi khaas mehmaan hai yahaan!’(Do you want a drink or not! there are other special guests out here too).

Maan annoyed at her rebuttal yet again, just said ignored her and sat back down.

Geet walked away towards Meer and placed the drinks tray on a table closeby said ‘dekhno na Di, dulhe bhaiya ka dost bohot hi akdoo hai! Maine toh sirf chunni mangi thi waapis aur woh de nahi raha tha toh maine bhi usko ek de di!’(Look at him Di, dulhe bhaiya’s friend is such a snob! I had only asked for my chunni..when he wasn’t giving it back I gave him one good one!)

Meer looked at her surprised ‘ Ya Allah kya Di tuney usko!(Oh God! What did you give in return!!?)  

‘One good kick to his foot’! said Geet proud of herself.

Dadima who was sitting next to Meer still, and totally ignored by the two girls burst out laughing!

Meer tried covering up for Geet.. ‘Aisa nahi hai Dadima, yeh na bas toofan ki tarah hai..bina kuch samjhe keh jaati aur karjati hai!’ (It's not as it seems Dadima, She is just a motor mouth! Does't think before she speaks or does something!)

Dadima placed a hand on Meer to calm her down and looked at Geet and ushered her close. Geet walked towards the old lady and touched her feet then said ‘Satriyakal Dadiji aap Dulhe bhai ki dadi ho na?’(you are Haider bhai’s grandma right?)

Dadima smiled at the innocent girl and said ‘Yes and his akdoo friend’s too’. 

Geet caught offgaurd went red in the face and started twining her chunni in loops around her finger.

She said ‘woh maafi ji, maine unhe chot nahi pohchani thi woh bas hogaya!’ (I’m sorry I didn’t mean to hurt him kicking it just so happened!)

Dadima touched her face softly and said ‘acha kiya use thodi akal toh aye, (good he learnt a lesson) on how he should behave with such pretty and nice girls’.

Geet giggled and looked at the kind old woman who sat with so much elegance. She looked fun and yet respected by all. Geet then offered her the drinks and sweets tray...and sat with dadima who asked Geet how she knows to stitch so well.

Haider turned to Maan and pointed towards Geet who was now leading dadima towards the dinner hall and  said ‘Bro that girl is the key to arranging a meeting for me!you approaching the bride would be too suspicious as well… this is a small town and people talk very easily’

‘No way! Am I approaching that chalta phirta toofan and request her to arrange a few mins for you with her friend! She is too dumb to understand why and this time she might just really hurt me!’

‘Maan Singh Khurana and scared!!! Wah aaj yeh din bhi dekhne milgaya!(today I got to witness this too)

‘Main kissi se nahi darta! You know’… Haider interrupted his warning and said ‘Toh bhai mere please help me out!’

Theek hai Theek hai I will think of something! Maan exhasperatedly said.

MM- Chapter 6

Maan had his hand with the dupatta behind his back as he walked down the corridors following his dulha friend into the main hall. As he turned one corner suddenly out of nowhere a little girl barged into him with her one hand extended forward. Maan first looked at Haider who walked ahead without knowing that he got stumped behind.

He then raised his eyebrows questionably at the little plump cheeked girl. She in turn raised her eyebrows and pointed at his hand behind his back with her eyes and said "main Roop hoon Aur aapke paas meri Di ki chunni hai, aap mujhe dedo"(My name is Roop and you have my sister’s scarf, please return it to me). Maan raised his eyes at her and added "mujhe kya milega badle main?" (What will I get in return?) Roop looked back annoyingly at him and said "Ma kehti hai ke kisi ki cheez wapis karna humara farz banta hai"(Ma says that to give someone’s belonging back to the person is our duty and not a favour).

Maan chuckled and was surprised at the little girl with her witty response. He held his hand out with the dupatta saying "theek hai insaaf ki Dadi maine apna farz pura kiya" (Alright, you wise old grandma, here! I have fulfilled my duty) he pulled at her one pigtail braid with his other hand.

She felt doubtful of his intention but reached out to grab the dupatta anyway. Maan suddenly raised his hand up and added ‘waise meri Dadi kehti hai ke jiski cheez hai usi ko waapis karte hai! Aur yeh toh tumhari ‘Di ki chunni’ hai toh wapis bhi usi ko hogi’. (By the way my Grandma says that one should return someone’s belonging only to its rightful owner and anyway this is your “Di’s scarf so it will be given only to her).

Roop now looked very annoyed and pointed her finger at him saying ‘Dekho Dulhe bhaiya ke veerji Give the Chunni back to me now otherwise it won’t be good!’ She looked perplexed and murmured under her breath ‘over there she has taken my bowl of sweets due to this stupid chunni and here you are holding me away from my sweets’.

Maan pretended to scowl and said ‘acha?!’ toh phir dekh hi lenge’ (really?! Okay so then let’s see) and he turned away on his heels. Then just as he turned so, he heard a:

‘Suniye’

Maan turned around to look at the face of the caller and there she stood again besides her little sister…in her pink suit as she stood anxiously fidgeting with the ends of her braid’s long tassle (Paraanda). The sight of her now up close felt even more magnetizing than the first time when his eyes fell on her standing in the window from the veranda. She slowly raised her eyes to meet his and just as quickly looked down again. ‘Woh sagai ka waqt hone ko hai aur meri chunni yahaan aapke paas… matlab …wahaan bageeche main gir gayi… aur abhi sab humara intezaar kar rahein hai, mainu Meer ko lekar aana hai sagai ke liye’ (umm, the engagement ceremony is meant to begin any time now and my scarf is with you… I mean … fell in the courtyard behind…everyone is waiting for us, I need to bring Meer downstairs for the engagement) and she whispered to herself ‘bina chunni ke Ma toh mujhe maar hi dale gi’ (and if I go without my scarf, Mother will murder me!).

Maan was walking towards her as she was giving her stuttering little speech to get her scarf back. Roop in the mean time ran off probably to find her bowl of sweets again and Geet looked up at him, seeing him slowly walking towards her made her flutter and her feet unknowingly backed away. She didn’t know if she should look away or stop walking backwards his unwavering stare made her nervous.

As she almost stumbled backwards into a pillar in the corridor he held her shoulders to balance her feet. The Dupatta now hanging off his hand down on her shoulder.

He whispered ‘sambhal ke’ (be careful)

She suddenly looked at him shocked at his touch and moved away grabbing the dupatta from his hand on her shoulder.

He quickly held the end of her dupatta and said ‘Aisey kyun ghabra rahi ho??…main tumhe khaa nahi jaounga, daro matt! Main ek ladka hoon koi Dusht Danav nahi… (Why are you getting scared? I'm not going to eat you alive, don’t be scared! I'm a guy not an evil demon to eat you up like that! )

Geet suddenly burst out laughing and turned to look at him mimicking ‘Dusht Danav’.

Maan stood mesmerized at her laughter yet again, He didn’t know what it was but seeing her this way made him short fall for words. However in between her laughter Geet blurtered ‘waise dusht ka patta nahi haan par danav zaroor honge aap! Apne dost par kaise hass rahe the) and she continued laughing. (By the way, you may not be evil but you sure are a demon.. why else would you laugh at your friend’s plight that way!!)

Maan came out of his trance like state when he heard her statement and exclaimed ‘Kya!! I look like a danav to you!?’ (What!!??I seem like a Demon to you)

Main Maan sign khurana hoon! Mere Papa jaisa banunga! Dev hoon Danav nahi!! samjhi tum! And he held her tightly laughing form again by the shoulder! (I am Maan Singh Khurana! I am going to be like my dad, Divine (Lord)! You better understand!)

She stopped laughing and tried struggling from his steel grip saying ‘chodiye mujhe! Honge aap ke bauji Dev jaise, mere Bauji aur bhi ache hain! Aur main darti nahi aapse! (Let go off me! Your father may be like a lord for you but my father is better and I’m not scared of you!)  And she stamped his foot with her one foot and said ‘darre meri jutti!!’ (Scared! Huh? My foot! ).

Maan yelped and let go off Geet’s shoulders. She instantly jumped and ran back down the corridors towards the stairs… before she turned the corner she said ‘suniye!’

Maan looked at her angrily.

 She said ‘chunni ke liye shukriya aur jutti ke liye maafi she held her one ear with her hand then added ‘Dusht Danav ji’ and ran off.

Maan was visibly annoyed and was just about to go and give her a piece of his mind when he heard some other people coming into the corridor.

Jassi ji spotted Maan and called him out ‘Maan puttar aap sab ka isteqbal karne hum yahaan hai ajayiye (we are waiting here to welcome you, please come over here)

He turned and straightened himself and said ‘ji, main aya’ and added under his breath ‘I have begun to taste this very warm welcome already! Aap ki betiyon ne udghatan kardiya hai mera yahaan (your daughters have inaugurated my coming already)  One threatens with her pointy fingers and another stomps my foot