Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Gautam opened his arms out for Geet as she arrived at their home. She had travelled home after a year and a half and rushed into her father’s arms. Geet hugged him tightly and felt the sting of tears welling up in her eyes.

“Pammi! She’s here” Gautam called out to his wife leading Geet into her childhood home. Geet was released and embraced her mother tightly.

“Mumma! I missed you” she cried softly.

Geet had decided she would need to speak to her parents face to face to explain the situation. She wanted to reassure them that she would be okay. She just needed them to support her and love her. Geet spent the day like old times listening to her mother relaying funny stories of what was happening in the village and how her father keeps annoying her mother as usual. Geet helped placing the plates on the table as her parents brought out the food they’d cooked together.

After they’d eaten, they all sat together and Geet cuddled between both her parents.

She mentally prepared herself before she looked between them before she informed that she and Maan were going to get a divorce.

This shocked her parents and Geet asked them to wait to ask questions until she has explained why they were divorcing.

Geet explained to her parents that she and Maan have tried making the marriage work for the past and a half but they were not compatible. She is struggling as she has tried and it is now hurting her and him. She did not reveal that he had an ex-wife or child. She did not want to tarnish Maan’s name or tarnish the trust they had in dadima since it was their familial relationship that had her parents trusting Savitri and Maan to take care of their daughter.

Geet stated she knows this is all upsetting and she is not happy about all this, but there’s just too much for her to endure and she cannot live unhappily like this. She then informed them that she only wanted their support and hope they will happy for her.

Pammi asked what she was going to do once the divorce goes through. Geet explained her new plans of moving into an apartment where she’d live with her friends.

“No, no” Gautam said shaking his head. “This is not safe”.

“Papa, please” Geet touched his hand and squeezed. “I want to be independent. I am not going to return here and I am certainly not going to be living under Maan’s shadow. I will not be his responsibility or burden after we divorce”.

“Geet, bete. Your papa is right, it is not safe”.

“Mama, I c…”.

“No, it is not happening” Gautam stated firmly and shook his head. “You’re young. A girl. In a big city like Delhi. No” he stood and started pacing. Worries consumed him as he thought of the several different scenarios along with the news that comes on air nearly everyday about some attack on young, defenceless women.

Geet waited patiently for her father to calm down. She didn’t want to say anything that could cause further frustration as she understood he was angry and upset right now.

Gautam slowed his pacing and looked at her. “Geet… I don’t want you to appear on the news like another girl… I don’t want…”

“Papa, I know” she stood and approached him. She took her hands into his. “I am not going to be alone. If it makes you happy, I will keep a pepper spray in my handbag and I will take a self defence class. I will not be going out at night, especially alone. I am always cautious to go out with a group of friends”.

Gautam sighed heavily.

“Please, just support me” she pleaded. “I cannot do this without your support. I need you both to understand and support me. I need you to be in my corner”.

Gautam and Pammi though reluctant agreed and hugged her tightly.

Geet felt a burden release and cried into her father’s shoulder feeling overwhelmed as she was afraid of losing her parents support but they had not disappointed her.

The next morning as they ate breakfast, Gautam informed Geet that he had called a friend of his who has an apartment in Delhi that was going to be leased out since their son had left to go abroad for his job and their daughter had also left to study further. The area was relatively safe and a decent area. The apartment comes with 24-hour doormen and gates being locked after 1am.

There is two bedrooms, one of them did have twin beds in but it was fully furnished and ready for use if she and her friends would be interested.

Geet thanked her father and said she and her friend would surely love to see it as they had not yet found anything suitable. Most were unfurnished that they had checked out and the few they did find were unreasonably expensive. They still had not found the third person to move in and help them with the expenses. Aditi was speaking to her parents this weekend as well and will inform them on Monday if they’d agreed to allow her to move out to be with them.

Gautam informed Geet that whatever her portion of the rent comes, he will be covering it. Geet tried to protest but he had a response for that.

“You are my only daughter. Everything I have will be left to your mother and you. Everything I do is for you both. Your mother and I have agreed that I will cover your rent. It is the least we can do. If it had not been for us, then… your life wouldn’t be in tatters like this” he sighed.

Geet noticed the unshed tears in her father’s eyes and got up from her chair to hug her dad. She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him. “Papa, please don’t blame yourselves for anything. We… we just couldn’t make it work”.

“If you don’t want us to blame ourselves, then you’re going to allow this. If you like this apartment and it is suitable, I will speak to Randeep and cover your portion. I am going to set up an automatic monthly payment so do not pay for the rent”.

Geet hugged him tighter and kissed his cheek.

That evening Geet returned to Delhi feeling unburdened and slightly free. She had been so worried but was glad to have their support. Her parents were devastated by the turn of events that was happening but they at least support her. That was all she wanted and needed in order to gain further courage and know she was going to be just fine.

Geet contacted Misha and explained to her about this apartment that her father found for them and Misha had been eager to check it out as soon as possible.

On Monday, Aditi informed them that her parents agreed if it’s a good apartment in a relatively good area. Geet contacted Randeep on the number her father gave and arranged for a viewing on that evening. Randeep met them with his wife and led them into the building to show them the apartment.

The apartment was located in quite a decent area guarded with security and there was a doorman. There was a small reception desk which was manned to ensure no outsiders were entering the building or going up the floors without approval. There were only 6 floors with 3 apartments on each floor and they were on the 5th floor.

All 3 ladies were quite impressed with the layout of the apartment. It consisted of two bedrooms with ensuites and a common bathroom attached to a utility area as well.

There was a moderate sized kitchen with a breakfast bar and a beautiful living room area. From the living room, there were sliding glass doors which led to the balcony.

“What do you think?” Randeep questioned as he finished showing them around.

“Could we have a couple of minutes to discuss this?” Aditi asked.

He nodded and walked away with his wife to let them talk.

“So?” Aditi asked.

“It’s decent and clean. I don’t have any complaints” Misha said. “It is much better than my old place” she added.

“It really is a nice apartment” Geet agreed. “We need to find out the costs of moving here” she added.

“That’s true. This one is surely expensive. Can we all afford it?” Misha responded.

“Alright, let’s negotiate then?” Aditi said and called for Randeep and his wife.

“Uncle, this apartment is great for us. But we need to discuss the rent costs because whilst we’re all working, she’s in an internship and so is she” she pointed to Misha who worked for an insurance company. “And well, I’m working at car sales company” she informed. “If you ever need a car, come to me” she said jokingly.

Randeep laughed. “Sure, bete. I have spoken to Gautam, Geet’s dad and agreed that for our friendship’s sake, I will lower it a little. I was going to rent it out for 65-70K but I will accept 45K. You will have to cover the bills as all do and you’ll need to discuss how you’re going to split that. I will take a deposit of 45K and you will be refunded if there’s no damage or and the apartment is restored to how it looks here. I would recommend you take videos of the apartment, we do have videos of it ourselves but in case if we need it in the future” he responded.

“Thanks so much, uncle” Misha said grinning widely.

“Uncle, can you send us across the lease agreement and we will sign it and return it to you?” Geet asked. She trusted her dad and Randeep, but she just wanted to get it checked once by Naintara so they aren’t screwed over when the tenancy comes to an end as there are some greedy landlords who take advantage of young women.

Randeep agreed to have their accountant send them the original in the post and once signed, they were to return it to the accountant’s address.

Geet, Aditi and Misha thanked them and left feeling giddy and excited at the prospect of their new apartment. Aditi drove them to one of their regular restaurants which was 30 minutes away from their new apartment to grab something to eat and discuss their new apartment.

“We’d have to find a new place to eat at” Geet joked. “We can’t be driving here for 30 minutes each time”.

“True that” Misha responded. “I’m sure we’ll find a favourite regular restaurant we can go to eat”.

“This was easier to come to because it’s central to where we all work. We could still meet for lunch” Aditi said. “But for dinner, it’s going to be closer to the apartment”.

They then discussed the different bills they could cover and how to split it but if one was more than the other then it could mean someone would be paying more or less which would be unfair on the others.

“How about we open a bank account together? One where we’ll put in let’s say 10,000 each and from that all our bills are deducted from that? We’ll have a list of grocery shopping and either we’ll go together or whoever goes has to buy everything on that list and use that card?” Geet suggested.

“Oh, that is really great idea” Aditi said and Misha agreed.

“I don’t work in finance for no reason” she responded with a wink.

In the Khurana household, Dadima and Maan had sat down to eat dinner. The dining room was quiet. It has been different since Geet did not live here for the past couple of weeks. Usually, the table was lit up with chatter between dadima, Naintara and Geet. Her presence was missed by them all. Dev and Naintara soon joined them on the table.

“Naintara bete, have you spoken to Geet?”

“Yes, dadima. She’s informed me that she’s going to spend her birthday with her friends. They’re not aware of everything that’s happening and she does not want to unload any of this on them right now” she replied.

“So, we aren’t going to do anything?” Dev asked.

“No, but Geet has suggested that we meet up for lunch somewhere and spend it together. She isn’t in the mood for a party”.

“Hmm, that’s understandable” Dev responded nodding his head.

Maan only listened and didn’t offer anything. This was all his doing.

“Geet also called to tell me that she’s found an apartment with the help of her dad. She’s sending across the lease agreement to me so I can check it out before she and her friends sign it and start making plans to move in”.

“Oh, will it be safe?” Dadima asked in concern.

“She’s assured me that there is a doorman, reception, and even security”.

“Ok, ok… that’s good I suppose. Did she mention how her parents reacted?”

“She said they were upset but understanding and supportive”.

Dadima nodded. “I will have to call Gautam and speak to him as well. This is a difficult time for every family” she murmured.

Maan excused himself without eating much.

“Maan…” Dadima called. “I…”

“Dadima, it’s fine. It is a difficult time for every parent. I just need some space” he muttered and walked away.

After dinner, Dev found his brother stood outside in the garden staring up at the moon seemingly lost in his thoughts.

“Bhai” he called out.

Maan glanced over his shoulder. “Yes, Dev?”

“Do you want to speak about it?” he inquired.

“What is there to say?” he answered with a question. Maan walked across and sat down on the bench and leaned back. Dev joined his brother on the bench.

“Did you love her?” he queried.

“Honestly?” Maan asked glancing at his brother.

Dev nodded.

“I haven’t fallen in love with Geet. I like her. She’s my wife. I have accepted that now, but I accepted it too late” he replied honestly. “I want her now but I didn’t before. I screwed everything up”.

“Does she love you?”

“She was falling in love with me” he recollected when she’d confessed that as her heart was breaking with his revelation. However, whatever feelings she had for him were tainted due to his betrayal. He didn’t see how he would even get her forgiveness.

“Why don’t you try to fight and make up for everything?”

“Because some things cannot be fixed. The love that was stirring in her is now tainted with my betrayal” Maan murmured wistfully. “I’ve done too much…”

“What do you mean?” Dev inquired curiously.

“What have you done?” Dadima asked.

Maan turned his head to see his grandmother and Naintara stood by the door and looking at him curiously. They waited for his response.

“Sit down, dadima” he gestured to the bench and shifted to make space for them.

Dadima walked over and sat down beside him.

“There’s something… that I haven’t told you all” Maan said as he briefly glanced at his family members. “I… When I lived in London, I… I met someone… Sameera. We started dating and I had fallen in love with her” he forced the words out despite wanting to clamp his mouth shut. He then continued to tell them what had happened between him and Sameera. He didn’t stop until he let the events of London roll of his tongue and confess what had driven him and Geet apart.

To say his family were shocked would be an understatement. Tears had spilled down his dadima’s cheek, even Naintara’s eyes were glistening with tears. Dev looked at him sadly, almost looking like he pitied him.

“Why would you hide all of this?” Dadima croaked out.

“I was too hurt and just wanted to forget everything” he admitted. He stood unable to stare at them.

“Is that why you never tried to work things out with Geet?” Naintara asked.

“Yes” he breathed out honestly. “I… Its why I didn’t want to get married. I… I had fallen in love once before and I had lost everything. I was hurting and couldn’t see myself moving forward. Until one day, I did. I wanted to take a chance with Geet. But I was too late” he said and swallowed hard. “I couldn’t tell her the truth so I lied and kept it a secret until now”.

“Oh, Maan” Dadima sighed heavily and covered her mouth as tears slid down her cheeks. “You should’ve told us all…” she cried out. “If I had known… then I wouldn’t have pressured you. I wouldn’t have ruined another girl’s life”.

“I know, I know” he hung his head in shame. “I know, dadima” he turned around and kneeled down in front of her. “Dadima, I know” he repeated. “I wish I did things differently. None of it is on you. I am to blame, dadima. I… I should have told you everything then… all… this wouldn’t be happening” he dropped his forehead onto her knee inhaling deeply trying to keep himself together and not break down.

“I don’t even know what I can say to you, Maan” Dadima responded. “You’ve lied to us all. You kept such a big truth hidden and didn’t even confide in us. Did you think we would not understand?” she questioned.

“No, no, dadima” he said lifting his head and looking up at her. “Everything happened so fast and we were mourning papa. I just wanted to get rid of the pain that consumed me. I lost Sameera. I lost my home. I lost our life in London. I was divorced and reeling from the pain. I then lost papa after a couple of weeks and I just didn’t know how to handle my grief except to just shove it into the back of my mind and focus on my career. It was just too much pain, dadima” he whispered.

Dadima cradled his cheek when a tear slid down the corner of his eyes. “Oh, bete…”

Maan didn’t say anything except lift himself onto the bench and wrap his arms around her and bury his face into her shoulder. Dev squeezed his brother’s shoulder in support and clasped his wife’s hand with the other as she leaned against him in concern...

Geet swiped through the photos on her phone. There were a couple of her with Maan. Very rare but a couple that Naintara had snapped on festivities that they’d celebrated.

She thought of their marriage and how much they’d initially fought. How she’d hated him when they got married.

He was such a saru. That made her chuckle to herself even though tears stung her eyes. She recollected the times he’d called her jungli billi. And the time she had made him angry and he refused to eat. And he ate only when she planted herself forcefully on his lap. And how she wanted his attention and spend time with him. The first argument and she finally expressed she wanted his time and attention. His first promise of trying. Only to break it. Then their first kiss after he realised that he had upset her when he refused the chocolate cake she had baked for him…

Geet pressed a palm to her eyes trying to stop the tears from spilling.

Stop! Stop it, Geet! She internally shouted at herself.

It is over. It was over before it even began.

They couldn’t even lay down the first brick of honesty as their foundation. Their marriage was surely going to crumble. And it had.

Every moment of theirs together was tainted. Every moment was shadowed with his betrayal. The happiness she’d yearned for from him led to nothing. Everything good that was trickling into their life was ripped away from her.

She closed her eyes.

I was falling in love with you.

And you ruined us.

Another FF that had reached the 50th mark. Thank you everyone for your comments and support for this FF. I know it is a little sad right now, but I promise it will get better. I hope you will stick around for this MG journey. Thank you all once again.