MM- Ch 14

Across the hallway of the veranda and up the spiraling stairs overlooking the orchards at the back of the haweli, Geet ran with a letter in hand, her dupatta as usual flaring behind her and her long thick curls bouncing with her quick steps.

She entered her father’s room from the wide doors of the balcony connected from the stairs and excitedly she called out ‘Bauji, My letter has come!’

Mohinder was on an international call for business. He saw his 18 years old Geet standing across him, grown into a young beautiful woman but as she stood waiting for him to finish the call, her masoom child like patience couldn’t let her stand still in nervousness and excitement.

‘I am due to fly out at the start of next month, so I will see you then, but send me the preliminary blue prints that you have’. Mohinder said and hung up on his call.

‘Bauji Bauji, please open it for me! I can’t do it myself’ Geet nervously hand the letter to her father.

‘Acha acha theek hai!  Let’s see what the letter beholds for your future’.

‘To Ms Geet Jhatt Handa,

We are glad to welcome you at University of Delhi as you have successfully qualified for a Honoroury fully funded Scholarship at our university!’

Oh hoye! My Geetey! You done it! Meri Beti makes me so very proud! You have outdone us all’.

Mohinder hugged her daughter with outmost happiness on her achievement.

Geet hugged him back gleefully and said ‘not yet Bauji, still need to reach your’s and Amma’s standard’.

Jassi ji stood on the doorway to the bedroom with tea in her hand and overheard the good news. She couldn’t keep herself contained and said ‘Hayye meri Kudi! Your hard work paid off! Haye Sardar ji, Bebe was right, she really is the Maan of our khandaan’. Jassi hugged her daughter and showered her with kisses.

A 13 year old pudgy little Roop entered the room announcing that Daijaan has come by with Behroz Uncle downstairs. She was excited to know what her sister has done to be cuddled by her parents.

On hearing the news, she suddenly turned with tears and left the room. Geet looked at her parents and sighed ‘She thinks I will be gone forever! Just like Meer did!'.

A tinge of sadness could be felt from Geet’s words but Jassi ji waded it off by saying 'Well on the thought of Meer, your most favourite person has come and that too at the right time… let’s tell her your good news too’.

Geet followed her parents happily to meet Daijaan and Behroz (Bade Baba) downstairs.

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As Geet served tea to Daijaan and Behroz, she heard her mother say ‘Acha bohot mubarakan aap sab ko Praaji Ji, Meer ke yahan doosri baar khush khabri hai! Rabb ussey changa rakhey (Congratulation to you Behroz brother, Meer is expecting her second child, may God keep her happy)’.

‘Iss baar toh zaroor woh yahaan ayegi na? Pehli baar bhi nahi bheja tha, shehar main aur acha khayal rakhenge uska kehkar phir baad main bhi nahi bheja usko’ (Well this time, they will send her here right? For the first born they kept her with them saying that in the city she would get better care and then didn’t send her over later either)’ said Mohinder.

Daijaan looked saddened but said ‘Nahi ji, woh hi humein wahaan aaney ko keh rahe hain, toh main soch rahi thi ke hum sab jayenge isiliye aayi hoon yahi kehne ke agley hafte Delhi ho hi aayein’(No, they are asking us to come over there. So, I am thinking that this time we should all go and visit Delhi together)’.

Geet clapped with excitement and said ‘Sachi! Main abhi Roop ko bol kar aati hoon’ (Really! I will go and let Roop know of the good news).

Daijaan smiled after her and said ‘ Yeh abhi bhi kitni masoom hai (She is still so innocent’), look at her running off to share the good news with her sister, just like she had done the same when Meer’s wedding was fixed and she ran off with Jalebis in her hand’.

Everyone chuckled at the fond memories of the wedding three years ago. Mohinder then said ‘She isn’t so small anymore Daijaan, we just got the letter for her scholarship, she scored the highest in the state and got it on her own merit!’.

Jassi ji added ‘Haan ji samajhdar hogayi hai meri kudi, ghar wich saarey kaam bhi aagay lekin haan shararti toh abhi bhi hai, (Yes, she has become so sensible and has learnt all of the household chore but she is still very naughty). 

She then began to tell them of her daughter’s daily antics on which everyone laughed and began planning the Delhi trip.

Mohinder suggested that they visit Delhi at the time when when he is due to go on a business trip to Europe, so he can accompany them.

Geet and Roop were excited at the prospect of seeing their sister and best friends Meer.

MM - Ch 13

Next day, The Nikah ceremony was one that Hoshiarpur had never seen. The Nizami traditions were brought alive in this small town. The Haweli was lit not just with lights but with the traditional attire of the women in ghararas and khada dupatta; adorned with pearls and jewels of Deccan. The men were dressed in Sherwani, rumi topis and salim shahi (shoes).

The likes of such a regal baraat being welcomed was matched with no less. Meer’s family were all similarly dressed and hosted trays of perfumes, sweets and garlands of flowers for the Groom and his family.

The simplicity of the ceremony along with the beauty of keeping the bride hidden under a veil until she openly accepts the hand in marriage offered to her. The submissiveness of a man to the woman by offering her a form of possession to keep for her rights and safety. All of this impacted on the young minds of Geet and Maan who have never witnessed a wedding from another culture and for them it left an impression of respect knowing how differently a marriage in their families might have been but yet the bond tied tonight is the same for every couple who commit to each other.

As the time of farewell came for the bride, there was not an eye left dry in the Haweli. Seeing off the young bride with her new family was a moment of happiness and great sadness for the single parent father who raised her, for the grand mother who saw her own daughter through her, for Jassi ji who loved her like her own daughters, her two daughters who saw her as her sister and for all the guests who witnessed the love and warmth these family held for each other.

For Dadima, she was glad that Wali Ullah and Asma had insisted on her coming to their son’s wedding otherwise she wouldn’t have witnessed a wedding like this again in her lifetime with all its old world grandeur and simplicity or met such down to earth people.

For Maan, he didn’t think he would enjoy his stay in this small rural town and he was glad he accompanied his Dadima, for after many years he noticed her genuine delight with being around people away from the hustle bustle of their own lives in Delhi. To his amusement, he didn’t think he would find anyone who would hold his attention but his eyes wouldn’t waver anywhere other than the young Geet, who now stood with eyes full of tears.

He stood on the side waiting to pass by Geet as the family and friends were walking the bride to the doorway. Geet was lurking in the back, assumingly out of sadnesss and not wanting to witness her friend departing.

He slowly whispered to her ‘Itna kyun dukhi ho rahi ho? Tum ne hi toh apni saheli ki shaadi karwayi hai! (Why are you getting so sad? You were there one who got your friend married)’.

Haan, lekin ab Meer itni door chali jayegi woh nahi socha tha! (Yes, but I didn’t think she would be gone so far away!)’. Geet  looked at her with a sad eyes and said with increasing sadness in her words.

Maan teased her instead wanting to divert her attention, he felt weird seeing her sad ‘Toh tum bhi chal sakti ho’ (So, you can come too!’).

Meer ki Shaadi hui hai, Meri nahi! Main kyun aaoun? (Meer got married, not me! why should I come?) Geet said in return.

‘Sochlo, yeh Dilwala toh tayyar hai (You can think about it, this heart of mine is ready)’.

Dilwala! Geet looked at him with her big rounded eyes!

But seeing Geet look at him with her big innocent eyes Maan quickly said ‘Ehh haan! Dilli Waale! Hum Dilli waale tumhe saath lekar jayenga, koi problem nahi hogi. Tumhari Meer di ke saath thode din reh kar ajou. Woh bhi khush hojayegi unka koi apna unke saath hai. (Eeehhh Yes! us Delhi (Dilli) people wll take you with us, we won’t mind. You can stay with Meer for a few days over there and she will be happy too, to have someone from her own with her).

 Maan stuttered and added ‘Isiliye toh saath chalne ko keh raha hoon’ (that’s the only reason, I am asking you to come with me’).

Geet mulled over his proposition with expressions of happiness and sadness passing on her face with every thought that she was deciding through her mind. She then said ‘lekin kitne din bhi rahoon, ghar ana hi hai aur Meer nahi hogi mere saath, woh toh wahin dulhe bhai ke saath hogi’ (But I will have to come back home without her anyhow, even after some days. Meer will anyway stay with Dulha Bhai now’) She said the last with a tinge of anger at Haider for taking her friend away.

She then whispered to herself ‘main toh aisey chodh ke kahin nahin jaoungi, apni Amma Bauji ke paas hi rahungi, jo bhi dusht danav mujhse shaadi ke liye ayega, usey itna sataungi ke woh khud bhaag jaye ya mere saath yahin rehjaye!( I am not going anywhere, will stay close to my parents, whoever wicked comes to my house for marriage I will make sure that I make it so difficult for him that he either rusns away or agrees to live here with me!) And she clapped with happiness at her solution to marriage! 

Maan overheard her bickering and whispered from behind in her ear ‘Pata nahin kaun darpok hoga jo tumhari batoun main tumhare saath rehne ajaye! (Poor guy, whoever he is, he would be a scardy cat to agree to your terms and live with you’).

Geet stepped away, annoyed with his jab. She pointed a finger at him and Jabbed him back with ‘Tumse toh koi bohot acha hi hoga! (He will be at least be way better than you though!).

Maan held her finger and said ‘mujhse acha? Ha! Main Delhi University ka naya heart throb hoon! Abhi college shuru bhi nahi hua…aur facebook par friendship requests ki line padi hai’ (Better than me?! Ha! I am the new heart throb of Delhi University. The college hasn’t even started yet and I have a list of friend requests on my Facebook profile) He raised his invisible collar with his other hand, proud of his adolescent reputation. 

Geet looked at him and up and down and said ‘Shakal dekhi hai, Hero samajh rahe ho khud ko! Daijaan kehti hai ke college padne jaate hain, dillagi nahi… aur tum koi Raj ya Rahul nahi ke koi Simran ya Anjali jaisi milegi! Tumhe toh bilkul wohi milni chahiye jo Di ki movie thi.. muphat’ (Have you looked at your face in the mirror. Thinking of yourself to be a Hero/Prince. My Daijaan says that you go College to Study not for love play! And you are not a Raj or Rahul that you will find an Anjali or Simran. You need some one like that girl from Di’s movie – Outspoken!’).

Maan inched closer to her face, now holding her hand instead staring into her brown eyes and asked ‘Tum se badi muphat kaun milegi mujhe?! Aur kaunsi English movie ka hero samajh rahi ho mujhe?’ (Who will I find more outspoken than you for me? And which English movie’s hero have you made me into?)

She squirmed her hand out of his grip and turned around with Maan just a mere breath behind her.

She started taking steps forward and with a tinge of laughter in her voice she shouted ‘Wohi Nakchada Mister Darcy!’(That one! The proud/arrogant Mister Darcy!). Her sparkling dupatta was caught in his hand but he let it go and saw it trailing behind her as Geet ran towards the rest of the crowd bidding farewell to the bride.

Maan wondered who this Mister Darcy was, he reminded himself to ask Dadima once he gets back home.

As Maan saw her disappear in the crowd, still catching a glimpse of her amidst the people . He stood and thought what kind of a woman Geet would become. 

He guessed that she would be molded to become another traditional and demure Meer wanting to get married and live happily as a house wife.

He chuckled at the thought of her threatening her future alliances to reject her in marriage so she never has to leave her parents. Maan then sighed and shrugged his shoulders now also walking towards his family thinking he will probably never return to Hoshiarpur again or see Geet choose her future husband but he thought if he could ever find someone similar to her again.

With that on his mind, he also made his way towards his family. To then return back to where he belonged, back home in Delhi.