Chapter 35

Part 35 

**************

Maan was busy in his study when he got a call from Geet. Excited he picked the call “Darling”

“Maa-aan” he Panicked hearing her crying “Geet, what happened”

“Maa-hh-n” and she was crying unstoppable “Geet Geet” but all he heard for long was her cry leaving him in panic “Keep the phone on” It must be 2 am there. He panicked , placed his bluetooth on and rushed out.

“Maa-aan hnnnn hnnn”Maan heard her cry with hiss.

“What happened.. tell me damn it. I am dying now” He reached his Dad’s room still on bluetooth. 

“Geet keep talking”

“Dad” Raj saw Maan in panic 

“Dad, Geet on the other side. Get your private jet ready ASAP. I can’t wait for a flight”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. Just need to be immediately. Get the jet ready”

“What happened Maan. You just came back two weeks back”

“Mom, I don’t know. She is not saying anything, just crying. It’s late at night there and she had a party… Ohh no, I will go crazy. Geet say something, kya hua”

“Maan come soon please” Geet kept repeating with broken voice

“Sona, I am coming soon, soonest possible” His mother went to pack Maan’s bag. She knew he was not in a sense to keep anything for himself.

Maan got on their private jet arranged by his Dad. 

“We will talk to Mohinder and Rano. You take care of Geet” they were all shaking with fear.

Maan reached Geet apartment by 12 noon. He rang the bell like mad and then Geet opened the door in a messed up state. Her hair was all messed up, her eyes red with crying. Though she looked safe in the house and had calmed down after crying for a long period. Maan stepped inside and locked the door. He turned and Geet hugged him tight. Maan hugged her back even tighter “Jaan I am here, I am here, Calm down” but Geet got fresh layers of tears seeing Maan close to her. All the tears that had dried after continuous crying, broke out in streams

“Chup, Bilkul chup” he smoothed her hair to comfort her. Geet then with tears still flowing cupped Maan’s face

“I somehow saved myself. I didn’t let them .... Trust me Maan, no one ....”

Maan looked at her shocked and confused. But he left his confusion a side and wiped her tears

“Calm down” he brought her closer and made her rest on his chest, kept smoothing her back

“Maan, you trust me, I saved myself, I saved myself but they” she again started crying

Maan was getting restless now. Who had dared to even try to lay their hand on his Jaan.

“Jaan come” he took her and settled on the sofa, making her sit close to him on his lap “Calm down and tell me what happened” he spoke with all calmness though inside he had a storm going on. How can anyone lay their hands on her?

Her cell rang and Maan picked it up “Hello”

“From the police department, Florida. Can we talk to Miss Geet Handa”

“I am her boyfriend. You can tell me”

“I am sorry but we need to talk to her.” Maan placed the phone on speaker and signaled Geet

“Hello” Geet spoke in shaky voice

“Miss Geet Handa, We have caught three men based on your description. You will need to come and identify them”

Maan looked at Geet, he could not speak as the police were talking to Geet. It was not India where you can jump and take charge of conditions. It was Geet’s complaint and she had to speak.

“I will come” Maan looked at Geet. She was broken but still she had made a police complaint and now was ready to recognize the culprits. He was proud of her and at the same time deeply pained by . 

Maan took Geet to the police station. Geet recognized them and left from there soon. They were locals and Maan could not take things into his hand here. Had it been India he would have half killed them for even thinking to lay his hand on Geet

Geet was quiet all the way. incidents repeating in her mind. She would have completely lost her respect and they would have taken her in the worst way but she had a narrow escape. How she had been able to dial 911, after escaping from the clutch of one of them. Her top was completely torn in the hand of that man and she had run to car only in a Bra. She was about to sit in her car when the other man pulled her skirt and pulled her down by her leg. But the police arrived at the correct time. 

She looked at Maan. He was her friend who was by her side at this hour. Will her boyfriend Maan trust her? Will he trust that she saved herself. They had placed their hand on her in the worst way but still she had saved herself. Will Maan trust this?

They reached her apartment. Again as Maan closed the door, Geet hugged him.

“You trust me Maan, right? I did not let them…. they grabbed me but I saved myself”

“Geet, are you crazy? It is not time for my trust issue, it is for you to be calm. You are in my arms, safe.”

“Bolo na, you trust me”

“Geet, what has happened to you. Why are you asking for my trust? You have gone through so much. I am feeling so ashamed, I was not with you. Mera hona hee bekar hai”

“You don’t trust me”

“Of course I do. But where does this question even come from? You stop thinking about me.”

Maan made Geet sit down and cupped her face in his palm “Can you trust your Maan? Take your time and tell me what happened.” Geet closed her eyes and tears again dripped down

“Okay, tell me only if you feel like it. If it hurts you, then don’t”

“How can I keep things from you?” she cried, he pulled her again to his lap

“woo..” she started but could not speak. “Leave it for now, we will talk about it later.”

Two days passed. Maan did everything for Geet, as she had gone mum and did not speak.

 He was always available for her, not leaving her alone even for a minute. He fed her with his own hand, made her sleep on his lap and kept cradling her till sleep would take over. He would then transfer her to the pillow and slide beside her. Maan had a bad urge to punish himself for not being by her side when she needed him most in his life. 

It was again the next gloomy morning “Jaan just have this soup”

She nodded for No “Not now, please”

“Jaan please. I have placed your favorite flavor in it”

Geet pushed the bowl far. Maan placed the bowl on the table and cupped her face “If you feel like speaking to me, please tell me. Don’t you trust your Maan with your worries? Is our relationship of years that superficial?”

“I am scared, you will not trust me.” 

“How can you even think so? I am going to trust each word of yours. Where are you getting this idea? And you don’t even let me come close physically, itna paraya ho gaya main?”

“My friends said, any boyfriend or husband won’t trust me”

“I will, in any circumstances” Geet slowly stood up and started undressing herself completely. Maan was shocked at what she was doing but he did not stop her. But his shock further increased when he saw the cut marks on her breast and her thighs and most private parts between them. Maan immediately covered her from the throw on the sofa and hugged her tight. Geet fainted in his arms. It had taken tons of mental strength for Geet to present her torn self to Maan. Fainted Geet in his arms, tears flowed like streams from his eyes. He felt a cramp in his heart. 

All Of Maan's words were lost. He took Geet in his arms and walked up the stairs to lay her on bed. He wanted to let her sleep but he couldn't let her be in a fainted state. He gathered all the strength somehow and sprinkled water on her face. Words were not coming out from his lips but he forced himself to get words out “Geet, wake up please. Come to sense, Jaan”

Tears flowing from his eyes, he kept sprinkling water on her face. At last she came to sense and saw tears in his eyes. He bent down to hug her tight.

“Now you don’t..” she was speaking but he completed “I do. Hundred percent trust you. And no matter what would have happened, my love for you will only increase everyday, just like it has increased everyday till now.”

They sat there for a long time. Maan did not know what to do. Geet was mum, just sitting on his lap, clutching herself to him.

“Do you want go to doctor”

“You don’t trust me now”

“No Geet. Just for these cuts. just to prevent any septic, nothing else.” He was so scared of Geet’s mental state. She had barely escaped but anything could have happened. 

For Geet, one this was going again and again in her brain, how could Maan trust her? On the other side, her brain was also clouded by the incident, it was circling in her head.

Maan was actually thankful and proud of Geet. She should feel relieved that nothing happened. He has to get her out of this shame. Something would have happened but she saved herself. Though the thought of those mens dirty hands on her burned his whole self but her getting out saved, sent a sense of relief to him. He had to be with Geet and get her out of this thought. He has to bring happiness back to their life. Geet’s shocked and pained state troubled him and he wanted to bring back a smile on her face.

That night Maan went in a quilt beside Geet and pulled her closer to him. Geet stiffened but today he did not give up and pulled her even closer and tightened his grip around her. Geet was fearing his closeness but she slowly loosened to his warmth, later turned and cocooned herself on his chest. 

Next morning, Geet’s eyes opened to see Maan looking at her so lovingly. She did not know why he would still look so lovingly at her. Maan ignored her confused face, bent down and placed soft kisses on her eyes. 

He was lost looking at her beautiful face when the bell rang. He went down and opened the door to find Rano Aunty and his Mom at the door.

“Mom? Aunty?”

He let them in. “How is Geet?”

“Not so good but I will bring her back. But you two here?” He took their bag and let them in.

Rano touched Maan’s face “I have no doubt that you are taking care of her properly. But mothers have their own place in such need. ”

Rano went upstairs to see her daughter.

Anita, Maan’s mother looked at him “Rano was so restless, we all were.” 

“Mom, I understand. Just one request, don’t make her feel that something huge happened. It was an incident and it passed by. She is safe and she needs to come back to real self”

Maan went upstairs and removed his stuff from bed to make space for Rano to settle.  He kept his eyes low, not meeting her. Even though everyone had the idea of two living together, being caught openly, Maan felt a bit hesitant.

“Maan, let it be dear.” “Ji Aunty” he left her there.

Maan left Geet the whole day with his and her mothers. He kept himself busy in his work but was observing the whole scenario. 

Geet’s apartment was a townhouse and quite big. Maan had selected it for her, keeping in mind her comfort and their family, who would definitely keep visiting her. It had two bedrooms on the upper floor. At bottom were a formal seating room for guests, a pretty big kitchen,  a big common dining area and an additional room. The room  was big enough to be used as a Study and hold a separate sitting area and hold a queen size double bed. Even after all this setup, it had a big space. It was not used till now in any other way than Maan as his study when he was here or in General Geet’s study for her research work. Now that their mothers are here, he has to move his setup down.

Other than thinking about this setup, he was watching their pampering to Geet and Geet was going into a more gloomy state. He was making a decision now. He cannot see Geet sulking into remorse for no fault of her. In fact she had been brave, saved herself and got the culprits behind the bars for strong punishment. She should be proud of herself. He wanted his smart and proud Geet back now. If delayed this can go into her head and she will think low of her for no reason. He was making a decision. It may not seem very pleasant at first take but that was to be done, he decided.

Precap - Tell me your guess what major event is going to happen next

Author's Note:- I know this is a painful part and twist in the fairy tale. Please do like and comment for motivation. These old story need more motivation as fresh one's have captured my brain.

Also give try to my new story if you want. Dheere Dheere Se

-Anu