LAST PART 11
[son or daughter..it doesn’t matter. Whoever it is, its a blessing for us.]
Tayiji sat beside her and cupped her face, “kyun aise bolti hai… beta hi hoga..nai?”, she said lovingly, making geet lose her smile.
[why do you say like this.. it will be a son only…right?]
“bahut sahi kaha aapne…”
[you said absolutely correct.]
Geet was startled to see dadima at the door, smiling. She was worried now, what if dadima heard all that tayiji had spoken? But it was needless to worry because dadima had heard and now she sat beside geet and pressed a kiss on her forehead and looked at tayiji, “ladkiyan ho tho chinta lagi rehti hain… par aapki baatein sunne ke baad hum chahte hain ki hume beti hi ho…”
[if there are girls in the house, there will be lot of things in mind but after hearing you, we wish we get a daughter only.]
Tayiji flustered, seeing dadima talk so sweetly, giving her subtle warning to just not poke her nose into this matter.
“han tayiji.. dadima sahi keh rahi hain. “, geet found courage in dadima to speak up,
“mere pariwaar ko agar koi pareshaani nahin tho aapko bhi nahi honi chahiye..”
[yes tayiji, dadima is right. If my family doesn’t have any problem, then you shouldn’t have any problem too.]
Tayiji was tongue tied. She dare not open her mouth in front of savitri devi now for she knew what this lady was capable of. She just walked out, quietly, leaving rajji with geet.
Time passed real quick and geet was so happy to see her parents, showering all their love on her. they had a wonderful lunch time and sat in the hall, having their desserts when rano gave away the gifts that she had brought for geet and everyone in the family.
It was time to leave and geet was teary. She’d be moving to London in the next few days so she wasn’t sure if she’d be coming back anytime soon. She hugged papaji when tayiji seemed a bit worried.
“puttar… ghar ka pehla baccha hain.. tu itni dur akele.. hum soch rahe they kit u agar humare saath rehti..maa ke paas rehna acha rahega…”, she spoke what she and rano had decided on their way to Delhi.
[puttar… its the first child in the family. And you’ll be staying so far from us. So we were thinking if you stayed with us… being with mother will be very helpful…]
“thank you tayiji… par meine rano maa se baar kar li hain, “, Maan intervened, with his cold attitude. He still hadn’t forgiven tayiji or Brij for what they had done.
[thank you tayiji but i have talked to rano ma.]
“unko koi problem nahi hain geet ke jaane se kyunki wo janti hain geet ke liye kya sahi hain aur kya nahi..”
[she doesn’t have any problem with geet’s departure because she knew what is right for her and what is not.]
Tayiji glanced at rano who seemed so proud and happy and just walked out, taking whatever dignity she was left with. Geet, though felt a bit sad, but she knew it served her well. She told rano how Sona bua took Simmi with her to her home in Bangalore to help her build up her life and rano couldn’t help but bless her child for being so brave. It takes a lot of courage to stand against so many people and take the right step. She
kissed geet as they left, “rote nahi baccha… hum phone karenge..khush raho dono..”
She blessed the couple and her family left after a long day. Geet was already feeling tired. They all settled on the couch, resting and chit chatting when geet whispered something into annie’s ears which made her giggle. Maan noticed that, “what’s going on?”
Annie laughed, knowing Maan would say no, “bhai..she wants to eat golgappe..”
Maan shot a glare at geet, “no outside food for you.. remember?”
Geet twisted her lips and looked away. She had fever a few weeks back for eating chaat from outside and since then Maan had banned outside food for her. dadima smiled, “stop being so strict on her…we will make golgappe for her at home only.”
Ahh! The pampering! She actually felt like a queen. Within an hour, she was relishing the savoury golgappe with that spicy sour water while Maan just watched her, smiling. The three ladies of his house were gorging on the golgappe like they had been hungry since ages!!! Cute!
“Maan… mein theek tho lag rahi hun na?”, she asked him the nth time, unsure, still standing in front of the mirror.
He rolled his eyes and put on his cuffs, “han pumpkin..you look absolutely gorgeous.. stop worrying now.”
He looked up to see her stand in front of the mirror, clad in a lose long blue evening gown, with her hair tied up in a bun, still skeptical. He sighed and hugged her from behind, “itna mat socho… you look more beautiful than ever.”
“do you think my tummy looks too big?”, she asked innocently.
It was 6th month of her pregnancy and they had been back in London. Annie and dadima had accompanied them. But right now, his pumpkin was too worried.
“pregnant women’s tummies are obviously big na jaan… its alright. Stop thinking. Come on, we’re getting late.”
She still didn’t look convinced. They were to attend a party with Michelle and Ryan, who had over the years, become good family friends with the Khuranas. She made a face and Maan pressed a kiss on her cheeks, “you look cute pumpkin… and big tummy means healthy baby!”
She felt like laughing at his silly logic. She knew he was trying to cheer her up and she did smile, pressing a peck on his lips, “love you…”
He couldn’t be happier. Dadima put a kala teeka behind her ears as they headed out for the dinner party.
“Ohh my God…geet…”, Michelle squealed seeing geet and hugged her, being careful of her tummy. Michelle and Geet had become really good friends. Michelle caressed her tummy, “Ohh dear… we have a tiny pumpkin on the way…”
Geet frowned as everyone around laughed. And Maan did too. Michelle and Ryan still called her pumpkin and geet had settled with that..well she had to! There was no way out.
She talked to a few of her friends when her eyes fell on Maan who was happily talking to a lady.. precisely, the same lady she had seen him with on TV and the same lady that she had seen in the restaurant with Maan. She frowned..what the hell was she doing here?
Maan finished talking and got to geet, hugging her sideways, “you having fun darling?”
She twisted her lips, “she was the same girl whom you had an affair with, right?”
He rolled his eyes…she still hadn’t gotten over that incident, “come on pumpkin…you can’t be serious!”
“no am not serious… go hug her!“, she taunted.
He looked at her incredulously, “geet… I told you right she was a client and that thing you saw in TV, I had been to meet her in her hotel for she was to fly back in the next few hours. Media cooks up shit..”
“yeah i know… but what is she doing here?“, geet sneered.
“her dad apparently knows Ryan so..come on You know I love you right!”
She smiled resting her head on his shoulder, “yeah… I know.”
The evening went quite awesome for everyone and as everyone settled for dinner, Ryan raised his glass for a toast, “for Pumpkin and Junior Pumpkin..”
Maan, Michelle and few other close friends burst out laughing while those who didn’t understand, looked confused. Geet felt like hiding somewhere. This was so embarrassing! She didn’t speak to anyone till they got home and the moment she saw
dadima, she hugged her, “dadima see how he teases me every time…”
Dadima caressed her and glared at Maan, “Maan..what is this? Why do you trouble her all the time?”
“dadima…meine iss baar kuch nahi kiya… whatever happened was all for Michelle and Ryan..”, he spoke innocently.
“We don’t trust you… your wife is pregnant and you are hell bent on troubling her. have some shame!”
He rolled his eyes and made a face at geet, “aur jhooth bolo. And i get to hear all the taunts! Nautanki!”
He went back to their room, knowing geet wouldn’t be coming back anytime sooner for she had to fill in even the minutest details of the party to Dadima and Annie!
Geet sat in the living room, adorned with simple yet elegant jeweleries, with a red dupatta on her head. Maan sat beside her as people surrounded them to bless her on her special day- the baby shower. She smiled like she had never before and the glow on her face just said it all. their relatives had flown to London from India just to bless her and she could ask for nothing. Though she missed her family but Rano had sent her gifts with their blessings. Annie was busy handling the guests while Sona bua loaded her with gifts. Upon asking about Simmi, she told that Simmi was now a teacher in a school and doing absolutely amazing in her life.
She and Maan were busy talking to the guests when her eyes fell on a certain somebody, standing right in front of her with a smile on his lips. She couldn’t be happier.
She got up, actually Sona bua helped her stand as she took cute baby steps towards him and hugged him, “Ohh Aryan am so glad that you are here…”
Aryan smiled and hugged her back, “My my..you are quite a beauty to behold geet… pregnancy has done wonders on you!”
She laughed but her darling hubby hated the mere sight of the guy. His eyes shot daggers at the man who openly flirted with his wife. He didn’ t even understand why the hell was he invited in the first place! Ohh wait.. his pumpkin was the one! He sighed and walked to geet, unable to bear that sight.
Meanwhile Annie had joined Aryan and Geet in their chit chat and they teased him of his marriage!
“Aryan.. chalo find a nice girl and get married!!”
He laughed, “yeah…i Know right. And today you look so beautiful that I could actually marry you.”
Geet laughed and so did annie.
“oops.. you’re late Aryan… I am 7 months pregnant already.”
He knelt down in front of her, “doesn’t matter. Am ready to marry you even when you are 7th months pregnant.. come on..its a good offer. Apne pati ko chodo.. get married to me!”
The trio burst out laughing, unknown to the fact that a certain somebody stood behind geet, fuming in rage. How dare he!! That guy proposed his pumpkin and now when she was pregnant, he was proposing her again!! unable to take that, he stood by geet and pressed geet closer to him possessively, “glad you could come Mr Sharma… it seems my wife is having quite a gala time with you..”
Aryan shook his hands with Maan and smiled, “pleasure is all mine Mr. Khurana…”
“ahh..do you mind If I borrow geet for a while? Why don’t you enjoy dinner? Annie please see Mr Sharma is well settled!”
And the next moment, he frisked her away from the crowd, making her wonder if he was still jealous of Aryan.
The moment they were a bit away from the crowd he pulled her close, “tum uss Aryan se dur raho samjhi..”
And then her doubts were cleared and she burst out laughing.
“you are laughing? Damn that guy…I hate him!”
“ohh Maan… you are jealous!! That too Aryan se?”
He made a face and looked away. She cupped his face and made him face her, “Maan… You think Aryan doesn’t know how much I love you? Or I love you any less?”, and she took his hand and place it on her baby bump, “ It always takes two Mr Khurana…”, and she winked.
He leaned forward and kissed her tight, catching her off guard. Her eyes widened in surprise, more than that she was scared if someone saw them like this…she’d die of embarrassment.
He broke the kiss and smiled, “I know..but I still don’t like that guy.”
“Grow up Maan. You are going to become a father!”
“that doesn’t mean I start liking that guy!”, he snapped and hugged her close. Geet sighed…this man was incorrigible and she knew there’s nothing she could do about it. so she just left all thoughts behind and hugged him back, basking in the warmth of his love and his cute jealousy.
———————————————————————————————–
EPILOGUE
3 Years Later
“no no… mamma No miki…”, tiny Aarushi Khurana ran around while Geet ran after her with a glass of Milk. She was going to be three soon but she was so naughty that she gave geet headaches.
“Nishi…please beta… mumma is tired...”, geet sighed. She called her daughter Nishi out of love and so did Maan. It was 6 in the evening and she had been running after her for the past one hour. Nishi wasn’t a very innocent kid…she was naughty, as geet said, just like her father, always up on her toes and geet had tough times to hold her still even for simplest of things.
And finally she caught hold of her daughter who was jumping over the couch, “Nishi.. you are a good girl right.. finish this..”
Nishi frowned…she was one enthusiastic kid who wouldn’t rest even for a minute. Getting her to sleep was one herculean task for geet and with her condition now, she was getting tired very quickly.
Nishi looked at geet and frowned, “no mamma… nishi no miki..”, she shook her head vigorously, snapping geet’s patience and she lost it, “stop all this and finish your milk else you are going to be punished!”
Nishi glared at her and then pushed her hand away that held the milk, spilling it all over the floor, “No bad pumpkeekin… nishi no talk to fat pumpeekin… nishi go to papa…”
She had learned pumpkin from Maan and she just could never get it right so it became Pumpeekin for her. and when she was angry or upset, she used pumpkin for geet.
Geet glared at her and held her hands, “is this the way to behave?”, she reprimanded, “Nishi is a bad girl and mumma isn’t going to speak to her ever…”
The maid servant quickly cleaned the floor and asked geet if she’d get another glass to which geet refused, “No. No more milk for Nishi..she is a bad girl. You go finish your work.”
Poor little nishi’s heart broke with her mother’s anger. She knew geet somehow made her drink milk, no matter what and this time she wouldn’t even try. Geet just left her hands and fell on the couch, tired. And seeing her mother give up, she started crying. She ran to geet, hid her face in her lap and wailed out, feeling so heartbroken.
Geet was so tired after all that running, especially during the third month of pregnancy and with Nishi around, it was a bit difficult for her daughter was too energetic. She softened seeing her baby cry her eyes out just because her mother wouldn’t speak to her. she lifted her plump self up in her arms and embraced her, “ohh mela baby… its okay…Nishi is mamma’s angel..”
But she cried louder, making geet smile. she hid her face in her mother’s bosom and just cried. Geet caressed her, cajoled her and kissed her telling her stories and that she wasn’t mad and that Nishi was a good girl. It took her half an hour until she stopped crying and slept off in her arms. Geet reclined on the couch, with Nishi sleeping on her and looked at the wall in front, that had dadima’s portrait hung. She had had a peaceful death after Nishi’s birth and geet missed her. Dadima was her support…her strength and everything she could have asked her.
Even today, dadima’s memories made her teary. Annie was back in India and she was finally engaged to Aryan, almost a year back. She’d be back the next week for the marriage preparations would kick off. she didn’t realize when she slept off, holding Nishi in her arms.
She felt his breath over her lips and smiled in her sleep, knowing he was back. She slowly opened her eyes to see his smiling face as he leaned over and pecked her lips softly, taking sleepy Nishi in his arms.
“what has she been upto today?”, he rocked her in his arms and kissed her forehead.
Geet rubbed her eyes and stood up, “You need to do something about her Maan. Naak mein dum kar rakha hain isne..”
He went to their room and placed his darling daughter in her cot and made geet sit on the bed, “She is a kid pumpkin… she’d be alright when she grows up..”
Geet rolled her eyes, “han… kid! Aur sikhao usko Pumpkin…like father like daughter! Too difficult to handle. Can you believe she called me a fat pumpkin today!!”
He laughed and leaned down and kissed her tummy, “how’s the other one coping up?”
Geet fell on the bed and he lied down beside her, taking her in his arms.
“I hope for a boy now… totally calm and not a shaitaan like Nishi..”
He laughed and kissed her cheek, “I hope its a girl again..”
she yawned, “then i will go mad am sure.”
He laughed, “Mein hun na… I will take careof my crazy pumpkin. By the way when is Annie coming back?”
“she’d be here next week… can’t believe she is getting married!”, she sighed.
He frowned, “i don’t understand why do I only end up with Aryan the jerk?”
She giggled and waked his arms, “stop bad mouthing him..he is going to be your brother-in law now!”
“yeah right. The women of my house love him more than they love me.”
She raised her head and pressed a kiss on his cheek, “After all he is Annie’s Hubby…he should be pampered you know.”, she teased.
He rolled over and came atop her, “acha? What about me pumpkin? I am being ignored here!”, he complained.
“don’t worry.. mein hoon aapko sambhalne ke liye…”, she winked.
“you better do that… “, and he lowered his mouth to hers, capturing her into a never ending kiss.
Rano helped geet sit and hold the baby boy in her arms. She’d been a bit weak in the last few months and Rano had been in London for her. Maan and Nishi waited outside to see the baby.
Nishi was dangling on her father’s shoulders, “dadda…”
“hmm beta?”, he handed her another bar of chocolate.
“did baby come?“, she asked in her cutie voice.
“Yep..and Nishi and dadda are going to see him in a while..“, he smiled.
“but dadda Nishi won’t give choci to baby… baby naughty… he kicked mumma..”
Maan laughed recalling the time when Nishi had first felt her baby brother kick in geet’s tummy and since then she’d been mad at him. she was actually waiting for the baby to come out so that she could teach him a lesson for hurting her mamma..!
She sat by geet, with her eyes widened, looking at the baby in geet’s arms, so pink and so tiny that actually scared her.
Maan held her hand and made her touch the baby’s feet, “princess… say hi to your brother..”
Nishi was so scared that she actually withdrew her hand and hid in Maan’s arms, making everyone laugh.
“Surprise Surprise…” Annie entered wth Aryan and rushed to hug geet. It had been just three months to her marriage but she had stayed with geet till Rano had arrived. Maan hugged annie and shook hands with Aryan, still not sure about whether he liked him or not.
Annie took a closer look at the baby and turned to geet, “hope he is not as naughty as Nishi. You need rest geet..”, she winked, making geet giggle.
“I miss dadima today…”, geet spoke after a long silence that made everyone look at her. she was emotional and got Annie emotional too. Maan went beside and hugged her,
“Pumpkin…she is always with us darling…and am sure wherever she is, she must be jumping in joy.”
She nodded and wiped her tears. Maan pressed a kiss on her temple, “I love you mera pumpkin…”
She smiled through her tears while Annie took pictures of the cute family together. And the next moment, Nishi was running after her to get the camera that had caught her attention.
Aryan congratulated Maan and Geet and they stayed there the whole time, talking and taking care of geet. It was in the evening when they took geet home. Rano had cleaned the entire house and Annie helped in making dinner.
Geet was asleep with the baby beside her and Nishi beside the baby. He entered and smiled seeing the trio sleep, after a long day… how cute they all seemed and how happily they slept”His pumpkin and two little munchkins!
He laughed at his own thought and kissed each one softly, not waking them up and lied down beside Nishi, watching his three cute angels.
Thank you everyone for supporting me in this new journey of Maan and his Pumpkin.
I will be back to my hibernation mode…so no writing for a while.
But If you want to see me writing, then do give a chance to my combined ff
with Tanya and Sanjana. I will be updating there occasionally. For link, Click below.
Aishu's World 