Part Nine Days that followed were the most stressful. I returned to my ancestral village for the funeral ceremony of my wife. The final goodbye can’t even be described. Only the people who lost someone loved ones can understand my state of mind then. It's heart-wrenching. Di and Jiju came to support me. My parents moved back to the US to be with me and my daughter. I was thankful as it was quite difficult for them to adjust in a completely different environment. I was thankful to the maid as well. She knew how to cook Indian food which was a big relief to my mother. And most importantly I didn’t want to burden my mom with cooking at her age. She threw a big fit when I wanted to hire a babysitter, so I let it go. My daughter was an angel from heaven. She took over all my lonely nights. The emotional attachment was still missing but it was gut-wrenching to see her cry. As she grew up, I could see my wife’s replica in her. There was a time when the monotony of life made me run away from everything so I took up work which involved traveling. I knew it wasn’t fair to travel with the responsibility of my daughter but my parents understood the need and were always supportive. I had a chance to go to India and I grabbed it with both of my hands. I took leave for extra few days to go to my sister’s place. I informed Jiju of my arrival and my stay at a nearby hotel. He told me to cancel the hotel booking if he wanted me to live. I threw my head back in laughter. I made those arrangements and gave my flight details. My arrival was a surprise to my sister. She cried happy tears when she saw me first thing in the morning one day. I was given my nephew’s room to relax for the day and I woke up in the late afternoon and had light brunch. I didn’t notice the house when I came so I was given a tour of it by my niece. It was an independent duplex home in a completely residential area. Front of the home had a small grass patch with some vertically growing conifers trees. Staircase to the terrace was hidden from those tall trees. There were mattress, pillows and few books lying on the grass. Apparently, the kids study there sometime. The backyard had a kitchen garden and a few flowering plants with high boundary walls. Lastly, we went to the terrace, it was also mostly filled with potted plants. My niece went off to study due to her forthcoming exams. I came at a very bad time, I felt. The in-laws were very warm people. They knew everything about me, insisted to show them the recent pictures of my daughter. Well, my phone was returned after a few hours. We all had an early dinner. That night it turned out to be cloudy and it started raining, the kids persisted to play in the rains as they had all boring previous days. None gave them permission except their grandmother, that too for 5min, but it went on for 45min. Kids pulled everyone in the rain and we all were completely soaked as it rained cat and dogs. Never I remembered doing such a thing. After the rain stopped we all went inside and changed, warm soup was waiting at the dining table a few moments later. I noticed that my sister didn’t change. She wanted to serve it as soon as possible so that no one gets sick. I took the serving duty and told her to change. Di, Jiju and I had a chat until late night.
----- Authors note: Thank you for stopping by :) So, like it so far!! please do tell me in your reviews. I apologize for my grammatical mistakes in advance. I would like to sincerely thank ajuswa19 Jasmine Rahul Prabhleen Arora Debolina Chaulay navdeep kaur crabysorus kashianaju for commenting on this story. Your comments made my day, thank you:) Sorry for mentioning about you all, this late, I hope to not repeat this in future. Special mention to kalpana devi for taking the time and giving lengthy comments, I really hope you continue to give your support and enjoy this story. Thank you so much :) I hope you have a great day ahead :) -----
Part 13 After dealing with the media Maan was completely lost in his own thoughts while driving home, he was tapping his fingers on the steering wheel thinking about Geet Maan adjusts the rearview mirror to see Geet's eyes which had a strange happiness in them as though she achieved everything she wanted in her life. He was delighted to see her this way, unable to control his thoughts, he turns his head a bit to watch her and sees her playing with the bracelet which united them..a smile crept upon his face. Seeing her filled with happiness filled his heart with content, he just coulnt take away his eyes. Finally he spoke after a long time, You're different today Geet: Different means? Maan: Different means unusual Geet: Unusual means? Maan: Unusual means I don't know, sort of something new and beautiful Like really a wonderful thing happened Geet: Hey Maan, drive properly As he drove his car lost in her words and thoughts, he hit a tata sumo parked just in front of him. A furious Muslim fellow [MF] chewing paan came out of it and started cursing him How are you driving man? By this time both Maan and Geet came out of the car Maan: I didn't see. Spitting paan from his mouth, he said What do you think? That this is your dad's road or what? That fellow started pushing Maan while talking. Maan: It's my fault MF: what bloody fault? Look at the damage to my car Geet too joined Maan by now Maan: I will have it repaired MF: what? Do you think I cant have it done? Maan: ITS SUCH A SMALL DENT, showing that dent at the back of his sumo MF: This is small dent? What would happen if I am dismissed by the owner? Maan: I said it's my fault I said I will get it repaired MF: Why did you drive losing yourself in thoughts? Geet thought this man is now doing too much...time for some lesson She pushed Maan aside. With a baby face she said, actually it was my fault, I was talking to him MF: impossible madam Geet: It was my fault Maan was trying a lot to not to involve geet but Geet being Geet didn't listen to him MF: I cant keep quite even if it's your fault madam And Maan was banging his head to make both of them quiet. But what geet did next surprised Maan Geet: Whats your name? MF: Yaqub Geet: I am geet MF: okay Maan was surprised to see Geet freely conversing with him Geet: Where are you from? MF: I am from Malakpet Geet: Is it? I am from Bangalore MF: oh really! I regularly visit Bangalore Geet: Actually I am here for few days. And this your car MF: small dent madam!! I will look into it myself Spitting paan he told I will repair it myself Geet: Okay I am actually so sorry MF: don't worry madam...such things happen Geet: Oh thank you...thanks a lot Hearing so..he removed his sumo from the road and drove off happily Maan was dumbstruck as Geet rose her invisible collar and was happy from the core of his heart *** Geet made Maan go shopping with her yet again. Maan was having shopping bags in his both hands and a car passed very close to him with very high speed. Geet was unaware as she was listening to songs on her iPod and she continued walking humming the song. Maan was startled with that racing car and all the shopping bags fell on the street. He shouted as the car passed...are you blind or what? Geet by now moved a bit ahead of him passing by some cheap cad fellows who were eating butta by the side of butte wala [maize seller] Those fellows started passing cheap comments about geet which were not unheard by Maan. What a girl she is buddy!!! What a figure The figure is great like tender fresh corn Yes Hearing their comments Maan walked towards them with a damn serious face adjusting his watch When he was straight in front of them, one of them asked him, Who are you? Maan removed his goggles, How much? One of the cad: What? Maan: What's the time brother? One of the cad: Smart ass!!! Don't try to act smart Maan: Ok...but don't tease that girl...with his puppiest face ever One of the cad: Why? Will you beat us? Maan: No brother...she is completely mad...with fake tears in his eyes Don't know how long will she live Grew physically...but not mentally One of the cad: What happened to her?? Everyone shocked all of a sudden Maan: Has anyone seen film Anjali? One of the cad: One of them...I saw I saw...eating his butta (maize) Maan: Same problem hai brother One of the cad: Yes...she even has the similar hair style Everyone by now was convinced with whatever Maan told and were feeling sad for their so called ANJALI You are correct, said the other one Maan: Even doctors have given up Few had almost tears in their eyes except Maan who was having fake tears One of them spoke up, no melodrama please And one of them started walking towards Geet in trance. And the one who was speaking to Maan says, this even makes things better, we will tease or do anything, pointing his finger towards Maan and you will stay out of this Maan: Humanity is dead brother Cad fellow: It is dead Unable to bare Maan's melodrama he pushed him and Maan fell on the street with a thud. As he was about to get up; the one who walked towards geet fell on him and now Maan and that fellow were facing each other Maan: Hands off me u idiot...I agree its legal now...but whats this nasty pose?? Cant you even warn before beating?? He said, that Anjali baby is beating us without any warning Maan: Anjali baby? Who is that? As they both turn their heads they see Geet pulling one's hair with both her hands and turning him round and round on the street, as the other one went near her to save his friend but she hit him in between his legs without losing the grip on other's hair. That fellow was completely in pain and just fell on the ground holding his private part. As another fellow approached she hit hard on his leg with her high pointed heel Oh no!!! I am terribly dead Loosening one hand on his hair she starts beating him with her free hand's elbow on his back...he was shouting in pain, please brother tell her to stop One of them went to her with pleading hands and told, please leave him sister, he may die When she didn't hear him he turns to his fellow mates and yells, yaar this girl is a real terror. The fellow whose hair geet was pulling somehow manages to escape. Finding other one with pleading hands she shows no mercy, she holds his collar and starts slapping him across his face continuously. Maan just stood rooted to his place watching Geet, he came out of the trance as she shouted top of her voice. Geet: Bloody crook..!!! who is this Anjali? She took one of his hand and twisted it back and bit his arm with her teeth...he started shouting in pain... Maan approached Geet and her back was facing him. Without turning back she just hit him with her leg at his private part. Maan: GEEETTT Leaving that fellow Geet ran towards Maan who was wincing in pain Geet: Oh my god maan...are you hurt?? Where are you hurt?? Maan: YOU ARE ASKING DETAILS!!!!! Seeing those idiots running away she spoke, where are you going?? Stop right there And she started running behind them and even managed to catch one of them Geet: Rascal...you teased me Cad fellow: Leave me, sister Maan ran behind her and managed to pull her away Geet: Leave me, leave me Maan !!! Where the hell are you running away?? I will kill you all She was struggling to get out of maan's grip but maan tightened his hold and said, Geet...listen to me After much pleading, he managed to calm her and even forgot his pain. Taking all the shopping bags they both went to a bakery to chill. *** Maan ordered a pastry while Geet took her juice As Maan was about to relish his pastry...he thought of giving a bite to Geet, Will you eat? Geet: I don't want Okay, he started to enjoy his pastry Geet: Whats in your mouth is 150 calories as he took his first bite, whats on the plate is 250 calories, if you eat all this you will become a fat slob and when I will call you from behind, you will have to turn your entire body to see me But these words had no effect on Maan and he continued to eat his pastry By the way, she sipped her juice and just took his another bite, excess sweets induce hair loss That's it!!! Geet hit the correct nerve. As he heard this...he spat out everything and Geet sat there laughing holding her stomach. Maan was glaring her and all of a sudden he saw his sister [she was wearing green suit] and brother-in-law entering the same bakery...immediately he hid under the table Geet was confused with his behavior, she too bent under the table and asked him,What are you doing? Shhh he tried to calm her Geet: What? Maan: Friends are coming Geet turned and saw a green dressed girl coming with a guy and she asked him bending under the table Geet: The one with that green dressed girl Maan: Yes...you sit properly Staying in the same pose she smiled and asked him, is this how you play with eachother always?? Maan: Playing?? With them??...they are a big bheja fry batch Geet found it very funny, she immediately went to both of them and asked, hey are you guys the bheja fry batch?? Annie was surprised to see this girl directly coming and asking them, she was confused, what bheja fry batch?? Geet: Aren't you Maan's friends?? What?? Arjun sounded surprised Annie:Friends?? Meanwhile, Arjun went to attend his call as his cell started ringing, I will come back in a sec Geet: Ya, Maan, he is right here Annie:Where? Meanwhile, Maan managed to hide behind a small bush and pretended to call his mother, Mum...did sister call you?...its been many days since I saw her mom Geet found him hiding in the bush and took Annie there. Maan acted surprised seeing her, Sis!!! I was just talking to mom about you. Annie lifted her eye-brow giving a look is-it-really-so Geet just stood staring at both of them Maan again started his melodrama, mum please be on line, he said on the phone and then looked at both of them saying, am I dreaming or is it real??It is really a wonderful life in the pursuit of happiness, you know sis !!! just now I was, unable to find words he lifted his hand to the sky and told, God is really crazy you know !! Seeing Geet smiling at both of them, he introduced Anwesha to her, Geet, this is Annie my sister, my darling behan giving Annie a bear hug. Hugging Maan Annie told Kamal Hassan hasn't retired yet, don't go overboard Maan Geet had a hearty laugh hearing this. Maan: What have u said about me sis?? Just now I was talking to mum about you Patting his back Annie showed his bro-in-law still on phone, look there Maan: Hmm..ya..its jijaji [It's brother-in-law] Annie: Do you know who he is talking to? Maan: Who? Annie: With mum Geet suppressed her laughter as Maan glared at her TO BE CONTINUED
----- Anjali is a famous movie directed by Mani Ratnam about a child who was born mentally ill and with a terminal illness. The doctors did not give the child more than a couple of months to live. The film deals with the emotional trauma experienced by her family during that stage of the child's life.
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Authors note: So, like it so far!! Please do tell me in your reviews. And I would like to thank all my readers for taking their time and leaving a comment/reaction. I apologize for my grammatical mistakes in advance. ------
Part 12 Next morning Near a police station A police officer was seen checking the time and other police men were seen gossiping... Media people were also there Maan was seeing around and asked geet Hum yaha kyon aaye hai? [Why are we here?] Geet: Surprise Maan: Commissioner tumhara relative hai kya? [Is Commissioner your relative?] She nodded her head for a no Maan: Toh tum logon ka criminal background hai? [Do you have criminal background?] Geet gives him a stern look A police vehicle was heard and it came and stopped in front of the entrance... The door was opened by a police officer... Nearly a 10 yr old kid came out of it wearing a commissioner of police uniform... Maan: Yaar Geet this kid's get up is too good...is he commissioner's son? Geet: No he is commissioner Maan: Oh..!! Kya?? Kya kaha tumne? [What did you say?] Amidst of all this, the saluting ceremony was performed and media was taking photos Maan stood confused. After the ceremony, everyone was busy going into the conference room of the station Maan: He is not even 1/4th of me yaar...how could he be commissioner? Does he even know the spelling? Geet: Maan please Maan: Yaar pinch me She literally hits him hard...Maan stood wincing with pain... Inside the police conference room All the police officers saluted commissioner and clapped Commissioner was made to sit in his chair With that, other officers and the media people were seated Geet: You people can go ahead with the questions Mediaperson (mp)1 : congratulations sir Kid(commissioner): thanks to all of you Mp2: how are you feeling sir? Kid(commissioner):great Mp3: what do you want to convey sir? Kid(commissioner): one min He takes out a paper from his pocket and speaks excitingly... As he was addressing the media... Maan: Ye sab log pagal hai...now Hyderabad is in his hands or what? [Are they all mad or what] Geet: Yes Maan: Hmmm...acha hai...chocolate ki tarah de dete hai kya kisi ko bhi commissioner ka post? Is episode ka director kaun hai? [Hmm, good, this post is like chocolate or what? giving it to a kid? Who is the director of this episode?] Geet: Bhagwaan...pointing her finger upwards [God] He is a cancer patient maan...blood cancer...maximum 1 month Maan was numb...he looked at that enthusiastic kid addressing media... Geet: I am a volunteer in make a wish foundation..last month when I met this kid he told me he wanted to be commissioner of police...when I approached DGP he conducted all this under humanitarian grounds...he is living his dream today maan...but I fear this might be his last birthday... That kid(commissioner) speech ended with this...everyone had a round of applause Mp4: sir from when are you having this health... This media person was cut down by Geet...No no no...enough of questions...ladies and gentleman...please come this way... She herself addresses the media outside... Geet: Please don't write much about this kid...that boy doesn't know about his disease completely... Maan was observing her Geet: We are not doing anything for publicity..please try to understand...its humble request... Mp5: whats the guarantee that he will survive if we don't telecast about him? Geet: Sorry...what did you just say... Geet was completely annoyed...so was Maan...he thought to interfere but... She literally shouted, Do you even think before you talk? If he sees himself on tv that he is dying then did you think what will be the psychological condition of him? For god's sake, he is just 10yrs old... Calming herself... Sorry...don't do anything against your conscience for the TRP ratings of your channel..please understand...he doesn't want your sympathy just a bit of humanity... Maan was smiling quite impressed...
TO BE CONTINUED
----- Authors note: So, like it so far!! I apologize for my grammatical mistakes in advance.
I would like to sincerely thank Khwaishfan[IF] for taking time and making the first comment on this story in the blog on a previous post THAT'S HOW IT STARTED - Part 11. Your words mean a lot, thank you :)
