MM - Ch 17

Geet saw that Meer was looking happier as they spent time together eating out, playing silly, planning the party together and catching up on each other’s lives. Geet was careful to not ask too many questions, as she didn’t want to make Meer uncomfortable and wanted to let her friend feel that she could open up to her when needed. Haider had also gone away on his business trip the next morning after they had arrived.

An official party reception was to be hosted at Savitri Devi’s home on a Saturday afternoon. Haider and Mohinder were also set to return that day so they could also attend the party. Then later that evening, the party was to turn into close family event where Meer would have her baby shower with all women from their family and close friends and be given gifts and blessings.

On the day of the party, Jassi ji and the girls had thought to come early at Dadima’s house to help prepare with all that they planned together with Dadima over the past few days for the party.

 As the car rolled to a stop, Roop was the first to step out and head to the main door. She looked around with awe at the small modern mansion that Dadima called her humble home!

Dadima was instructing one of the house helps with a list of things to do and when she saw Jassi ji coming thru the main doors. She got up to happily greet her and said ‘ Oh Jassi, I was waiting for you, its been so many years since I hosted a party myself that I am not sure if I am forgetting anything, will you please go over the list I just made with Nakul here’. She pointed at Nakul, to whom Jassi ji folded her hands and said ‘Satriyakal’.

‘Nakul works for us here and he is part of our family’. Dadima said

Nakul gave her a warm smile and said ‘Hello Ma’am’. 

Jassi ji then went about going through the list with Nakul, whilst Geet looked around at the décor for tonight which she thought she could help out in and also prepare for the small surprise Geet and Roop had planned.

Roop followed Dadima to the kitchen, wanting to be her tasting buddy and of course deciding to help her with the food arrangement. Geet decided to let her have her way with food until she gets other things done.

In just over an hour, the whole place was turned around under the guidance of Jassi ji. Dadi ma had suggested for them to get ready here so they won’t waste time in going back and forth.

Daijaan was to arrive with Meer and Asma closer to the time of the party.

Nakul took them to one of the guest rooms upstairs where they could change and freshen up for the party.

As Geet and the rest got ready to for the party and headed for stairs to go downstairs. They could hear some commotion from down below.

‘Uff Maa ji, I told you I had to meet my committee today at brunch and things got held up so I couldn’t leave and come here earlier , but it seems like Nakul is mostly done with everything around here anyways’.

‘Of all days, you chose today to be out with your kitty crew! I know that Nakul is capable enough of managing the chores of this house but I wanted you to be here to be part of the preparations. But like always for you Sakshi, our home is your last priority’.

‘But Maa ji, you know the importance of my social and committee work that you turn a blind eye to! For you Nakul is a more important member than even I’.

‘Well damn right he is! He works hard for this house to be working on time and takes more care of the people living here than you have ever done so’.

‘Oh you will never appreciate the work I do and the way I have supported this house over the years, Nakul is a paid employee it’s his job to work here!’.

‘Today others have come to help me out, I haven’t paid them!’.

Just then Dadima glanced up at Jassi ji and Geet standing on the edge of the stairs. She willed herself to not say further and instead called out Jassi by saying ‘Here they are, Sakshi meet Jassi and her daughter Geet, they are Meer’s family friends from Hoshiarpur. They were kind enough to come over earlier than the rest and help us prepare a welcome for Meer’.

Sakshi looked them up and down, then folded her hands together and said ‘Namaste, so you are Maa ji’s new favourites! I guess at least someone could outdo Nakul on one occasion’.

And she laughed jokingly. Jassi ji smiled and said ‘It’s really nice to finally meet you, we had met Savitri ji and your son at Haider’s wedding but you couldn’t make it with them’.

‘Aah yes! Maan couldn’t stop talking about it to his dad but I was just so busy, you know how it is when you live in a big city, and there is always so so much going on! Well, actually how would you know?! You probably have never lived in a big city; silly me!’.

Jassi just smiled in response.

Sakshi then said ‘Please call me Sasha, and it was nice of you to come help earlier for the party Jassi, I am sure you know very well on how to manage household chores’.

She smiled and walked away saying ‘ I will just get ready and join the rest of you when the guests arrive’.

As Sakshi left for her room, Dadima looked at Jassi ji apologetically but Jassi ji just waived it off and instead asked ‘Ma ji, aap ka pota kahaan hai, jo Hoshiarpur aap ke saath aaye they’.

‘Arrey woh toh koi trip par gaya hua hai, shayad kal sham aayega wapis ya patta nahin kab, unka koi jawab nahi. But my chota will be coming home today, so you will meet him. (Oh, he is gone on a trip somewhere, he may come back tomorrow night or whenever he wishes. But my younger one is coming back today so you will see him’).

Jassi nodded and went about asking Dadima if anything else needs to be done.

Geet stood smiling remembering the young boy, who thought too good of himself ‘ heart throb’ She chuckled at the memory and said out loud ‘ Dusht danav’! 

Dadima said ‘Haye kaun itna dusht hai yahaan beta!’(Oh my! Who is so bad around here beti).

Geet smiled nervously and said ‘koi nahi Dadima, bas kuch kaam yaad agaya tha’.(No one Dadima, I just remembered some work I had to get done’).

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So let me introduce to Sakshi Khurana, Maan's mother. The Glamorous and the beautiful woman. There is a shade of grey in all of us. Sakshi has one too many in hers. A lot more of others. 
Sorry the Chapter was getting too long so had to cut it off here. Maan is coming soon please hang on.