Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Geet didn’t waste a second. She unbuckled her belt before Mohan parked up and opened the door as soon as he stopped outside the mansion. She slipped out of the car striding into the mansion swiftly. She stumbled to a stop seeing Dadima in the hall chatting to Dev and Naintara and cursed inwardly.

Dadima smiled and her eyes brightened even more when Maan walked in just a few steps after her.

“I thought it wasn’t date night” Dev joked.

Naintara looked at Geet apologetically and cursed her husband.

Geet smiled stiffly. “It wasn’t…”

“We just happened to bump into each other” Maan explained.

“And turned into a romantic date” he teased.

“Dev, leave them alone” Naintara nudged her husband.

“Oh, yeah ok. They probably want to go upstairs and continue their romantic night” he winked playfully.

“Dev, aap na” Dadima laughed.

Geet gritted her teeth plastering a fake smile and headed upstairs muttering incorrigible that they didn’t understand. Maan watched her retreating and frowned at Dev. “It isn't always funny” he remarked coldly.

“Maan, Dev sirf mazak kar rahe hai” Dadima responded.

“There’s a time to joke around, dadima. Tonight isn't it” he narrowed his eyes and stalked away.

“Bhai, I was just joking” Dev called out. “I didn’t mean anyth…” he stopped hearing the door slamming shut.

“Un dono ko kya hua?” Dadima mumbled curiously.

Naintara remained silent glancing over her shoulder in worry at the bedroom door.

Geet jumped hearing the slam of the door. She was in the closet grabbing a change of clothes and watched Maan stride inside and pacing like a wounded lion. She turned her head when he glanced across at her into the closet. She picked her clothes and kicked off her heels then padded out towards the washroom.

“Geet…” Maan called her name wanting her attention. “I… I’m sorry about Dev…”

“The jokes are just innocent words” she answered. “Your ignorance hurts more” she stated before walking into the washroom and closing the door behind her.

Before she could turn the lock into place, the door handle was pushed down and Maan stepped in blocking her from closing it.

“I’m not being ignorant!”

“Then what do you call this?” she questioned tossing her clothes on the counter. “In just under 2 hours, it’s going to be a year since we married. In that year, there’s not been a whole month that has passed where we’d been okay”.

He blinked at her. It’s been a year already into their marriage? In just a few hours, it marked the anniversary where he’d filled her maang and tied her to him. She hadn’t deserved this. He pulled out his phone hearing it vibrate and swiped to read the message and pocketed his phone when Geet continued.

“You have gone out of way to avoid me, ignore our relationship, you even went out of the country to avoid me. So, what do you call that if nots ignorance?”

Maan sighed heavily, he stepped back and turned his back to her.

“Why are you avoiding me?” she asked as she followed. “What have I done to deserve this?” she stepped in front of him demanding an answer.

“N… nothing” he exhaled.

“Then tell me, Maan. Please”.

“It’s getting late” he muttered and moved to walk past her.

“Do you not feel anything for me?” she asked softly. “Nothing at all? Maan, just tell me please why you’re ignoring me? I want to make this work. I… You’re my husband. I feel something for you, even when I didn’t want to, but I do” she bared herself to him.

He didn’t answer.

“I have two guys wanting to date me, they asked me out and all I could say was I’m not looking for a relationship. Considering to even date someone when I am tied to you feels like I’m cheating on you. I’ve got this blind sense of loyalty for someone who pretends as if I don’t even exist”.

Maan didn’t give away any insight to his feelings, instead he replied, “We’re going to be separating soon so if it is you find someone else then you can…”

Geet looked at him disgusted and shoved him back. “I hate you!” she screamed. “Get out! Just get out!!!”

“Geet…” Dadima appeared with Naintara and Dev looking concerned having heard her screams.

Geet sniffed and looked at Maan. “Just get out, Maan” she ignored dadima and the others. “I hate you”.

Maan looked at her then at his family members, he walked past them climbing down the steps and walked out of the mansion.

Geet covered her mouth slumping onto the edge of the bed crying.

She had bared out her heart to him and his only response was to suggest she goes out and finds someone else. Dadima and Naintara rushed to her side cradling her shoulders.

“Geet, Maan ne kya kahan?” Dadima asked swiping her tears. “Dev, go find Maan” she instructed. “Bete… Kya hua hai? Aap hame bataiye, hum Maan se baat karenge”

Geet closed her eyes shaking her head continuing to cry.

“Kya hua bete? Hame toh bataiye toh sahi… Aaj aapko ka saal gira hai, aise koi karta hai kya” she muttered caressing Geet’s cheek and wiping her tears.

“I… want… a divorce, dadima. Mujhe… talaq chahiye” she sobbed.

Dadima inhaled sharply and closed her eyes, she took Geet into her arms nodding seeing Geet sob. She regretted tying Maan to her and ruining her life. She hadn’t thought Maan would hurt Geet like this.

Dev had managed to catch up with Maan as he rounded towards the car and stopped in front of him. “Bhai, what jus happened? Why is bhabhi crying?”

“Dev, just leave me alone” he tried to move him aside to reach for the car door.

“You’ve been drinking. You can’t drive” Dev snatched the keys off of him. “What did you do?”

“That’s between me and Geet”.

“It isn't anymore. Everyone heard you both. What did you say to bhabhi? Why is she crying so much?”

“Leave it alone, dammit. I told you guys I didn’t want to get married” he shouted.

“Are you being serious right now? It’s been a year”

“That doesn’t change the fact that I didn’t want to get married” he countered sharply. “We’re both tied down together in a marriage that neither of us wanted”.

“If she didn’t want this marriage, then why did she ask you for a chance?” Naintara walked out and looked at Maan questioningly. “She asked you for a commitment, you agreed giving her false hope, Veerji. Only to hurt her in return”.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Naintara” he narrowed his eyes.

“Veerji, I do know. Geet told me everything a couple of days ago. She’s 20 years old and she… she’s been brought up with the beliefs of being married once so she wanted to make it work. You said you’d try but you kept making excuses. She’s upstairs crying her eyes out, and she’s reached the end of her tether. She’s asking for a divorce”.

Maan gritted his teeth and clenched his fists to his side. “Fine, if that’s what she wants”.

“No, Veerji. It isn't what she wants. Its what she’s had to choose because of your behaviour towards her and your marriage” she stated looking disappointed at him and turned around gesturing her to husband to come inside as well. Dev glanced at his brother dejected and returned inside.

Maan stared at their retreating backs, he took a step forward considering heading inside when his phone vibrated alerting him of another text.

He cursed shaking his head and called for Mohan.