Khurana’s were on their way back home.
“Dad, why you promised to wait for six months”
“Because of Maan. It will take at least five to six months for his brain to accept that he have to get married”
“But in six months, Maan can fall in love with anyone or Geet can fall in love with anyone”
“Do you think Dev that Maan is even in a state of falling in love? He is hell busy and stuck in proving that his career decision is right”
“He is not doing to prove it but he is working to make it successful as it is his dream” countered Sandhya
“Yes, Sandhya is right” supported Savitri Devi
“Ohh, here comes his two biggest advocates.” Raj cribbed.
“Okay, let’s talk positive everyone” interrupted Naintara.
Okay now nobody could deny their darling lively daughter in law
“We loved Geet and we all want her in Maan’s life”
“I want her in my family. And I trust she will be able to fix his ways. She has that calmness and composure. I don’t know if Maan even deserves her. She has so many dreams and this boy cares for no one except himself”
“Daad!!” Naintara interrupted him as among all only she had guts to interrupt Raj.
“I want Geet in my Maan’s life” spoke Sandhya
‘My Maan, again’ repeated Raj, shaking his head. Dev and Vicky laughed with their lips closed.
“Okay everyone. So we want Geet for Maan. I have a plan”
“How fast your brain works in these matters, Naina” spoke Dev.
Naina gave look to Dev “Bhabhs you speak.” Vicky supported her
“So in these six months, Geet can fall in love and Maan can fall in love. How about we make sure if they fall in love, it has to be with each other”
“How?” asked Raj excitedly.
“If the two get married, looks like Geet is going to get Dad’s more love than Maan”
“Yes. I want to give her all the love she has been deprived of. This boy has got all love but he cares less for our concern for him.” Raj had felt a different fatherly connection with Geet. He had within his heart already made her his daughter and wanted her in his home.
“So I have a plan and it goes like this” she stated all her plans to the family and they loved it.
“But Bhabhs, how will we convince Bhai after six months? I mean, if nothing happens between them” Vicky asked the valid question.
“You are doubting my plan”
“No Bhabhs. But the person in question is Maan Bhai. We need to have plan B as it is Maan Bhai we are talking about”
“I will take care of it,” declared Raj. They all looked at Raj, shocked.
Maan had got bored with no one at home and left to meet his friends
“Maan, we need some privacy at least on Sunday” commented Sameera hugging Karan from behind.
“Shut up… and am not here to see your PDA. Karan come yaar, let’s go for our bike ride. Roads will be pretty clear today.”
Karan was about to get up when Sam settled on his lap “Really you don’t want to see? Then leave.” She teased Maan.
Maan got up and immediately turned to the other side and closed his eyes “Shit yaar. Have some shame” Sameera was laughing at Maan and Karan looked angrily at Sam. He signaled her to keep quiet.
“Maan, come let’s go for a ride”
Maan moved out fast “haan haan give him some lessons to grow up.” Sam laughed. She always teased Maan for his one girl theory and old fashioned thought of coming close to a girl only after marriage.
“You see Sam, my friend will have most wonderful love story” Karan favored his friend and ran to catch up with Maan who was walking fast to get out of the situation.
Sam shook her head “Dostana inka”
Maan and karan settled on the bike. They soon zoomed out on the empty highway road to the outskirt of the city.
“Karan, why don’t you guys marry and stay together. What is this fashion of staying together before marriage?”
Karan laughed at his friend who was modern in all ways but stuck to old school theory relating to girls. Typical Maa ka ladla, they teased him.
“My dear friend, when you fall in love, you will know.”
“First, I am in no mood of falling in love or having a girl in my life anytime soon. I have my career to focus on. Second, I am not going to stay with a girl before marriage. I really don’t see any valid reason for what you guys do. Anyways, it’s your life, why do I interfere”
Karan looked at his friend. He was handsome with features, physique, manners, caring, respect and many more ways. So many girls have given their heart to his friend but Maan was aloof from realizing any girl's crush on him. One girl has rejected him on his engagement day and that rejection has settled in Maan’s head. All he knew was that girls would reject him and thus could not see girls advances or say completely ignored girls falling for him.
It was not only his old school thought but also to safeguard himself from heartbreak that he had ignored any indication from the girls. He took the excuse of focusing on work.
But Karan wanted Maan to fall in love. He wanted Maan to know that a girl can love him unconditionally for the awesome person that he was.
“The girl you will fall in love with, will be most lucky”
“Ohhh come on Karan. Not you too yaar.”
Maan reached home late in the evening. Whole family had already arrived. He thought it was safe to not indulge with anyone as they will have just one topic to discuss.
At Dinner,
“Maan,” came Raj’s strong voice. Maan closed his eyes, anticipating something sour to come. Raj did not miss it.
“Is my speaking out your name so unpleasant to you Maan” Maan looked up. He felt sorry for his unintentional behavior but he was wrong.
“Sorry Dad”
“No, don't be. I am used to it by you” Maan could see his Dad was hurt.
“I am sorry Dad, I really am. I thought you were upset with me that’s why” he lowered his voice to merge it in thin air.
“You feel our concern for you as a burden. You feel your family as a burden. But Maan, you should see how people crave for a family if they don’t have one. You keep running away from your family. You should have seen that girl, I saw in her eyes, the craving for family” Maan looked down and without any added expression, listened to his Dad without a word. At this moment, one word from him and the lecture can go up to ten pages.
Other members were relieved. It was one of rare moments when Maan behaved sensibly without poking Raj further.
“Okay Maan, so let’s not talk family” Raj said and everyone was surprised and looked at Raj, including Maan
“You are a businessman, as you claim. So I will talk to you on that term” Maan looked curiously at his Dad. Ohh the man is coming up with some big bomb.
“I want to make a deal with you.”
“What type of deal? Dad you don’t need to” Maan was a bit scared, what was going in the brain of his shrewd Dad.
“I need to, as otherwise you have a habit to say No to me” Maan stayed quiet as others were curiously listening to the next turn of events.
Ohh… these two on the table can beat any thriller drama
“Okay Dad, what’s the deal”
“Maan, you have taken your career on your wish. Though I don’t approve of it, going from a reputed profession of bureaucrats to become a businessman, literally the money making man. Anyways, I can’t do anything about it as you are so stubborn. And I have decided to not interfere anymore with your career decision and accept it”
Maan, along with others, looked surprised at Raj.
“Wow…. is this real or a dream?” Maan wondered but in his mind.
“But only if you agree with my other condition. Again that is in your favor. You are hell bent on playing with your life, I can’t let it happen. So I give you six months of time. Either you find a girl for yourself, the one that we approve of or you will have to marry the girl we say. ”
“But Dad!!”
“Maan, enough. I am giving you more liberty than you deserve. Giving you six months or else a girl of my choice.”
“But Dad”
“So you are hell bent on proving that I have no rights on you as your father. I have no say in your career, not your settling-in family, right? What am I asking Maan? I am giving you time to find a girl of your choice, if not then you settle with my choice. Am I that wrong?”
Everyone looked at Maan. Dad looked reasonable and compromising. Even now if he says no, he definitely will look like a disrespectful son. He looked at Vicky. If Vicky also starts saying No to Dad in his influence then. Anyways, six months is a long time.
“Okay.” Maan ended it there. He was relieved that at least his Dad will not demean his career now. That was his focus as of now. Marriage he least cares about. He will have six months of peace, he was happy.
“So they said nothing about the boy” asked Nanda
“No. But it seems like the whole family loves him. Except his Dad, the whole family was Gaga about him” Said Sheela.
Geet was lost in her interaction with the family. She felt a very positive vibe. But did not know if she would get the same vibe from the actual person in the question. He did not even come to meet her. They said he was not ready as of now but he will if she says OK. Will they force him? She didn’t want to be binded in an unwanted relationship.
“Is he as well in similar jobs”
“They didn’t say anything. As the boy himself is not ready for marriage now, they said they didn’t want to tell lot about him. They don’t want to force his thoughts on Geet as of now. Geet too wants a chance for herself, the boy is not ready. They said after six months these two can meet and get to know each other.”
“It is clear they dropped the idea of this alliance” said Nanda
“No, it’s not like that.” came immediately from Geet
“Yes, from their side. They have left the decision on me” Geet said with pride. It was the first time people have given her the choice of yes and No. Mostly it was the other side which gave their decision.
Had her parents been alive now, they would have said this with pride for Geet. But as they were not here with her, she has to show her pride herself.
“Then definitely there is some problem with the boy. Or else why would they let you decide” countered her Aunt
Geet stayed quiet. Just because they left the decision on her, she should think there is a problem with the boy. No, she should not think negatively.She should respect the fact that a girl's view matters to them. She mattered to them. And has she not dreamed of a family which will give importance to her wishes.
But still she has six months. She will try to fall in love by then. Anyways, they will not force her. When she meets the boy in question,even after six months, she will have the option to opt out. There is nothing for her to worry about.
It was Wednesday noon time at Bluemoon restaurant. Karan, Sameera, Pari, her boyfriend Armaan, Aditya aka. Adi, his Girlfriend Pinky were seated in front of the whole Khurana family except Maan.
Maan’s friends were hell scared of what must have Maan done that they were called by the whole family. Though they would not mind the idea of getting scolded at the price of a great lunch here.
“Ok guys, tell us, are you all real friends of Maan or a fake one?” asked Naintara
“Bhabhs, how can you say that?” karan felt offended
“Yes, how can you say that” Jumped in Adi as well
“Unfortunately Bhabhs, we are true friend of the weird Bro in law of yours” said Sam
“So it’s time to prove your friendship,” said Savitri Devi.
Then the menu arrived and they ordered the appetizers and the drinks.
“Don’t take this discussion lightly as I have taken two hours off from my office for this. We are Civil Servants not owning any fun business where you can work as per your wishes. We are bound by rules and important responsibilities.”Stated Raj
Maan’s friends and their partners dipped their heads down, realizing Maan has to face these kinds of dialogues everyday.
“Uncle please state” Said Pari. She wanted Maan’s friend circle to make a good image in Maan’s family. His Dad held Maan’s friend responsible for misleading Maan into taking an uncertain career path of Business.
“We want Maan to settle in life. But as you all know he thinks he is not ready for it.” sated Naintara
“Bhabhs, we agree on this. He definitely needs a girl in his life. But seeing him, he doesn't even look at any girl” said Sameera
“What if we place the girl in front of his eyes?” Naintara raised her eyebrows.
“Very beautiful and sweet one” she added
“Guys let me come straight. We have found a girl for Maan and Dad wants her as his Daughter in law. So you guys are needed to place her in position that she is in front of his eyes whole day” added Dev
“Whole Day?” they said in unison
“He is either in office or in meeting whole day” added Adi
“Yes, so here is why you all are needed.” Their appetizer arrived and they placed lunch orders in between.
“Create a situation where he cannot manage his work and he needs some help,” said Naintara. Sandhya and Savitri Devi were listening quietly.
“That he needs anyway. His office gets messed up and he juggles his meetings. We all have someone to manage and assist us with these small things but he loves to work as lone warrior and then keeps juggling” Said Karan
“He needs a personal secretary. I have read they do all the office work and help bosses with tea, coffee, and snacks. I have researched” added Savitri devi
“Dadima you!!!” said Vicky with a surprise
“Wow it will be interesting and we would love to set him up. At least he will stop disturbing our Sunday” added Sam.
Naintara gave them Geet’s details. All were excited with the plan.
“They don’t know each other’s name?”
“We intentionally did not mention. What is the use if they are not ready yet.”
Everyone later enjoyed their lunch and left.
https://tellymeanu.wordpress.com/2023/03/30/dheere-dheere-se-part-5/
Thanks to my readers for liking this story.
-Anu
tellyme2023-04-01 00:44:25
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