MM- Ch 19

Devansh Khurana looked a new person with his sons around. The quiet broody man turned all smiles and spoke at length about Maan’s achievements in college around his friends and family.

 Devansh said to Behroz who stood with Waleed Ullah and Mohinder and said ‘Although I wanted Maan to go abroad like US or UK to study his masters and Sahebzyada ko scholarship bhil mil rahi thi. Lekin inhe toh yahin DU main padna hai’ (and He was getting a scholarship for it too but he refused because he wanted to study right here at DU).

Haider piped ino the conversation and said ‘koi prized JJ honorary award hai jo kai saal pehle sirf ek MBA student ko mila hai lekin phir kisi aur ko woh award nahi mila. Aur Maan ko wohi chahiye kyunki waise score kisi aur ke bas main hi nahi hai’. (there is this prized JJ honours award that was given to an MBA student many years ago but no one has ever been given the same award again. But Maan wants just that since he is the only one who can get a score like that!).

Waleed Ullah then added to Behroz ‘As soon as he is done with his studies, Devansh wants to hand over his business to Maan just like I have done with Haider’.Devansh smiled at his son .

Maan stood quiet next to his father with a small smile on his lips and hands folded as he was eyed by all. He wore a blue shirt with dark denims. A small stubble shaped his jaws and made him look the young man he is now at 22 years.

Behroz looked happily at his son in law who is managing so much and is due to deal with the likes of Khuranas who the whole of Delhi knows of. 

But Mohinder said ‘so much responsibility in such inexperienced hands causes a lot of pressure to build in their young lives’.

The smile from Haider’s face dwindled as he heard Mohinder’s comment. However, it was Devansh Khurana who looked more offended.

‘Khuranas ke khoon main hai, business ki bhaag dhodh toh hum sab ne aisi hi kachi umar main sambhali hai, yeh naye businessmen ki sonch hai jo aaj kal nahi karna chahte’. (Its in Khurana’s blood to handle business like this. We have all taken over our business at the same tender age. It’s the likes of new businessmen who think otherwise’.)

Intrigued with Mohinder’s thought process, Maan spoke for the first time in the conversation and asked ‘Where did you study Mohinder Chacha?’.

Mohinder said ‘I went to LSE beta ji. Maan looked at him impressed but Mohinder added with a small sigh saying ‘My father wanted one of his sons to study abroad so it was I who was sent away’.

He then placed a hand on Maan’s shoulder and said ‘you have made a good choice beta ji, hope you can get the JJ award. It’s a tough cookie to beat!’. He winked a small smile at him.

‘Pal hi main chacha banadiya tumne Mohinder bhai ko Maan’(in just a few moments, you turned Mohinder into your uncle) Devansh said looking at Mohinder.

Maan replied to his father whilst smiling at Mohinder ‘They hosted us like family in Haider’s wedding in Hoshiarpur, Papa’.

‘Haan haan, Maan toh Hoshiarpur ke kissey bohot suna raha tha humain jab woh Ma ke saath wapis aya tha’. (Oh yes, yes Maan was talking on and on about Hoshiarpur when he had returned with his grandma’).Devansh replied and turned away with the intention of ending the conversation.

But Maan wanting to have the last word, stood with his hands now in his pockets, looking squarely at his father’s back and said in quiet but confident tone ‘ek apna pan mila tha Dadima ko aap sab se aur mujhe pehli baar ek family kaise khushiyan manati hai nazar aya tha’. (Dadima felt a closeness with them and I for the first time saw how a family really comes together to celebrate their happiness).

Others around looked quizzically between the father and son, who looked equally hurt with each other.

To break off the tension, Haider took Maan on the pretense of introducing him to Meer’s grandma

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‘Oh masha’Allah, kya qoob qad nikla hai aur bhi jawan aur khoobsurat hogaya hai aap ka pota Savitri ji’.(Oh with the grace of God, how tall and even more handsome your grandson has become Savitri ji.) Said Daijaan as Maan came to greet her with Haider.

Maan smiled at her warmly and hugged his Dadi sideways.

Dadima smiled at Daijaan as she was praising her grandson’s look. She added ‘bilkul apne Dada ki tarha hai, wohi shakal aur surat hai’. (He is gone totally on his Grandfather, the same face and looks).

Sasha interjected from behind ‘Aur uska gussa bhi bilkul unhi par gaya hai’(And his anger is also just like his too). 

Maan looked at his mother and plainly said ‘Hi Mom.’

‘You finally got some time to see your mother! You came back after so many days from God knows where! But you have the time to meet and greet others except for your mum.’

Maan and Dadima rolled their eyes at Sasha. Then Dadima motioned at Maan to go to his mum. He hugged his mum and said ‘Sorry ma! Wahan phone reception nahi tha, warna phone karta zaroor!’ (Sorry Ma, there was no reception/signal over there, otherwise I would have called you for sure!).

‘Wrong! Mom he deliberately CHOSE a place where there is literally no reception and no one around. I went with him to gim him company!’ said Vikrant who overheard his brother’s explanation to his mum.

‘More like tagged along with me, thinking that it’s like college camping with lots of other guys and girls around!’ Maan retorted.

‘Exactly! Said Vikrant ‘Lekin Bhai itne boring kab hogaye mom! Main wahaan itna bore hua na! meri zabardasti se aaj mere saath wapis aye hai..warna pata nahin aur kitne lakdi tod tey aur jungle ghoom they!’(Exactly! But Mom when did brother turn so boring! I was getting so bored over there. I forced and insisted him to come back with me today otherwise he would have stayed chopping more branches and enjoying the walks in the woods!)

Dadima smilingly said ‘atleast your one son likes the lights and glamour of the city, Sasha’.

Sasha laughed too and said ‘haan yeh toh sahi kaha aap ne Ma ji, yeh Vikrant  hi toh raunaq hai iss ghar ki (Yes, you are right about this Ma ji, he is the light of this house). Vikrant smiled at his mom and hugged her tight from around her shoulders he asked Haider who stood with Maan and Dadima.

‘Hey Bro, where is the one who was stealing the limelight off of me tonight?’

‘Who?’ Inquired Haider

‘Wohi, Didi tera devar deewana wali, pehle toh bhai ki nakal ki phir bechari unhi ki bahoun main aakar giri? (That one who was dancing, first she acted out Maan bhai then poor her! fell right into his arms.)

Everyone giggled at Vikrant’s description of Geet. But he continued to tease his brother infront of all.

‘Waise bhai kya entry thi woh aapki! Just like a movie! You stood all tall and handsome at the door and she spun across the hall and fell like a delicate princess in your strong macho arms! Now I know why you wake up so early in the morning and do your Tai-chi! I gotta take lessons from you on catching a girl like that! Never know when I would need a skill like that!’

Maan ogled his eyes at Vikrant and quietly said ‘Chup’. At which the giggles turned into full blown laughter from the women around including Sasha, Daaijaan and Dadima!

Haider laughingly said ‘Oh Geet! She is Sameera’s best friend from Hoshiarpur, She is just with Meer, helping her with Haadi in one of the rooms upstairs.’

‘That’s exactly what you had said to her! ‘Chup’! Bechari must have gotten scared of you already! It took you two seconds Bhai, to turn from her Knight in shining armor into the Devil dusht we know you!

‘Vikrant!’ Maan glowered.

Daijaan said 'Geet toh bohot masoom hai usse toh yahi tension hogi ke hum usko kitna tease karenge, we call her our chalti phirta toofan at home... always been clumsy. (Geet is very innocent and she is probably worried about being teased by us more than anything. We call her 'disaster on the feet'). Dadima and others smiled at Daijaan's affection for Geet.

The younger Khurana grabbed Haider by arm in an effort to evade his mighty older brother and said ‘bro lets go, introduce me to your cousins! Man’.

Haider laughed and went along with Vikrant leaving Maan in between the women.

Maan then said ‘Mom, I am going to head to my room, Its was nice meeting you after so long Daijaan’.

Sasha smiled and Daijaan nodded as Maan took to the stairs.

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Meer came out of the bathroom and closed the door loud and Geet shushed at her saying. ‘Di, he just fell asleep with this toy car in his hand!’

‘Thanks Geet, That’s Maan’s. Aah my back is so sore! I want this baby out of me’! Meer achingly said.

Geet quietly giggled then said ‘You go downstairs and have your dinner, until then I will sit with Haadi here. When you are done, we can go home’.

‘You eat with me too na Geet.’

‘Nahi Di, I am too tired from the dancing to eat a full stomach now.’

Was it the dancing or the falling that’s made you queasy huh? Meer whispered to tease Geet.

‘Di! Hayye Rabba! It was so embarrassing sab ke saamne! Pata nahin sab kitna Mazaak uda rahe honge mera! (It was so embarrassing… infront of everyone! I wonder how much fun everyone is making of me downstairs!) Geet looked genuinely worried.

Meer came over and held her hand to say ‘No one is making fun of my sister, we all saw that it was Vikrant who pulled at you so hard! I am glad Maan came there just in time otherwise you would have been badly hurt.’

‘Acha you stay here with Haadi, rest until we are ready to go home. We will drop you to the hotel on our way okay? Meer said and Geet nodded a yes.

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