My heart is filled with happiness: Geeta

Geeta, the mute and deaf girl, today returned here to a grand welcome after spending 14 years in Pakistan but could not recognise the family she had earlier identified from photographs even as the government "whole- heartedly" thanked Islamabad for allowing her homecoming.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called it a "happy day" after meeting Geeta as the "innocent daughter came back home". She said the government will do everything possible to reunite her with her family.
The Mahato family from Bihar, which claimed Geeta to be their daughter, met her in presence of Swaraj, but she refused to recognise them though she had identified them from photographs when she was in Karachi.

"I am very happy to be in India. My heart is filled with happiness. I am touched the way I am being welcomed. In Pakistan, I used to often feel sad," said Geeta, through a sign language interpretor, at a press conference along with Swaraj.
Dressed in a red and white salwar kameez, Geeta, who had accidentally strayed into Pakistan 14 years back, said her priority is to stand on her feet and that she did not have plans for marriage.
"My heart has always been in India," Geeta was quoted as telling the Minister by MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

The External Affairs Minister said Geeta's DNA sample is being examined and if it does not match with the samples of the Mahato couple, then government will start afresh the process to find her parents.

"If the DNA samples match, then it will be a complex situation. We will ask Geeta to recollect things and go down the memory lane. We will make her sit again with them (Mahatos) so that she recollects her memory," said Swaraj, adding Geeta did not show any excitement when she saw the Mahato couple.
Swaraj said Geeta will stay in a rehabilitation centre for deaf and dumb people in Indore and that she will be imparted skill development training there.

"I thank the Edhi foundation which took care of her all these years. I on behalf of people of India and government thank Pakistan government for facilitating Geeta's return... It is a happy day for us innocent Geeta came after so many years," said Swaraj.
She, however, refused to answer questions on whether Geeta's homecoming will help improve relations between India and Pakistan.
Geeta was adopted by the Edhi Foundation's Bilquees Edhi and lived with her in Karachi. Bilquis and her grandchildren, Saba and Saad Edhi, have accompanied Geeta here. Swaraj hailed Edhi foundation for respecting Geeta's religious faith and bringing idols of various Gods for her.