PART 1
The palace was all topsy-turvy as everyone wanted to finish their work and that too with perfection. All the staff wanted to give their and didn't want to have any flaw in their work. It was like the palace was being renovated for someone special. Perfection was reflected in every visible and hidden corner. From the furniture on the floor to the majestic chandeliers in the roof, from curtains to every single piece of painting, everything was eager to welcome the special person.
The king sat in the magnificent hall besides the queen as they waited for their beloved son, their pride-Maan. He was an image of his name. The charisma of his personality was amplified by the possession of various accolades that he had won. He had stayed away from his parents and the palace, in distant towns and cities where he lived in the company of the best popular teachers who gave their best to transform him into the invaluable jewel that he was now. His training continued as he travelled abroad escorted with the best of the king's men. He didn't know any boundaries when it came to learning, whether it was his education or other complimentary skills. His parents couldn't find a better name on the birth of their son than this one. Once on their tour to Asian countries they got to know of the Hindi word, it was its meaning that appealed them the most, and when the king held his son in his hands for the first time he could not find a better suited name for him. He was indeed their pride, their MAAN! The king always wondered about the coincidence that both his and his son's names were derived from Asian languages.
The long passed memories of their son reeled in front of their eyes leaving the eyes of the queen moist with love and longing to see her son. The king was though emotionally stronger, but even he was emotive to know that in some his son will be with him as he looked at the state of his wife he smiled and engulfed her in his arms.
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She had been busy all the day at an NGO's headquarters. Not that she was doing some high profile official work, but she thought it was the most important thing what she did. Giving away gifts to those innocent little kids and then spending the day with them was the most valuable thing one could do, she thought so! The smile that spread on their cute faces while she played with them was the reason of her own smile. She liked being a kid among those little souls who wished to have their parents' time oblivious to the fact that their parents will never be able to come to them.
She herself was a pure soul like those kids. Her sweet innocent smile was enough to make people lose their senses, her curly hair flowing like her fee soul. She was an epitome to beauty, innocence and kindness.
As soon as she entered her residence she found her grandmother waiting for her. One look at her and she knew that it was going to be like many other encounters before which were followed by such wait by her grandmother.
"Geet, where have you been all day?" she inquired in her most serious tone.
Geet sensed the danger and her mind quickly started thinking of ways to sooth her anger.
She threw her bag on the couch and hugged her grandmother from the side, "Hello granny, how are you?" she asked in her cheerful voice completely ignoring her grandmother's question. But granny was not in a mood to let go of the topic.
"Answer my question first!" she asked her in her signature strict tone. Now Geet realized that it was one of those very few days when she failed to divert her granny's attention.
"I was at some NGO." she answered her grandmother's question and waited for her to start her scolding session.
Her grandmother Anna sighed at her answer, as usual her guess was right.
"Geet, love, when will you listen to me?? or will you ever??" she said softly though the last couple of words were said in loud and hard tone.
Geet did realize that she was worrying her grandmother, she was about to open her mouth to say something when her grandmother continued with her words.
"Why don't you start taking life seriously?? I'm not saying that what you do is useless or unimportant, but giving all your time to such activities is not right dear!" she again continued with soft tone trying to make Geet understand.
Geet dipped her head on her words. She had always got concerned when she saw her granny worried because of her.
Anna held her hand and made Geet sit on the couch besides her.
"Geet, I know what you do is not wrong. But that is not your role child!"
"Why don't you listen to me? How many times I have told you to sit with me in office, attend social functions; you will learn a lot by doing that" she tried to persuade her again her tone suggested that she was irritated by her behavior.
"But granny, I don't want to learn all that, it looks so artificial. How can you serve the people when you don't spend time being among them?" as always came Geet's reply trying to convince her granny without hurting her.
"But that's not practical. How will you serve people? by playing with kids all day and doing those childish activities, hunh??" she got hyper again.
"Grannyy..." Geet tried to plead her making baby face.
"I won't listen to you now! The king has invited us to a party at palace tomorrow and you are going to accompany me! How would you know people and the course of dealings when you never participate in any formal party!" Anna told her decisively in stern tone. She had been trying to make her understand but now it was time to do it through orders and force.
"But granny you know that I don't like those high profile parties... and God, those dresses that you're supposed to wear in such parties... I'm sure those are designed to punish us. It's so painful to carry all those heavy and flowy dresses. And you are supposed to act in that awkwardly formal manner which is so difficult for me to follow. Walk like this, drink like that; meet this person, dance with that one; don't talk about this, discuss that ...ugh... granny it's all too difficult for me " she exclaimed eagerly trying to count as many negatives as she could hoping that her grandmother would understand her pain and exempt her from the torture.
Anna rolled her eyes at her drama decided not to pay any heed to it "I don't know anything. You're coming with me tomorrow and that's final." she said to her aggressively and left for her room.
Geet sat there on the couch and gasped rolling her eyes on her bad luck.
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Anna sat on the arm chair in her room worried by Geet's tantrums and her mind scrolled to the past. Her son had also been stubborn and obstinate like Geet. She still remembered how he didn't listen to her when he decided to marry an indian girl. She had opposed him at first but then seeing his firmness she had agreed to lose to his wish, His choice was not wrong. Her daughter in law was a sweet and sensible girl. She easily understood other's point of view and was not bullheaded at all, like her husband. Then they were blessed with a daughter and she suggested her to be named "Geet". Anna when got to know the meaning of the word, also happily agreed to it. Geet was actually like her name- like a sweet melody.
Then one day, Geet's parents died in an accident. Anna was shattered at her son and daughter's death but then she had to take responsibility of 3 years old Geet. She could see her son in her. Geet had got the looks and personality of her father and was close to Anna just as her son was. She had brought her up with love and care; and she was proud of her upbringing. But Geet had inherited that obstinate and stubborn trait from her father and sometimes Anna felt helpless before her stubbornness.
Anna sighed and shook her head in helplessness as she thought that.
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Hello readers đ
Pheww... here is the first part! I've tried to put in best of my effort, I hope I comes out to be a good one. Do tell me how did you find it. đ
Please do hit the like button and share your views in comments.
Enjoy!! đ
Edited by captcha1 - 14 years ago
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