Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Geet stepped over the threshold of the Khurana mansion for one final time as the daughter-in-law. This was the mansion; she had thought would be her home. She imagined she would live here, go to work, start making a home with Maan and one day maybe start a family with him. That sadly was not the case.

Geet smiled as dadima walked up to her and she hugged her tightly.

“How are you, bete?” Dadima questioned as she pulled back and cradled her cheek.

“I’m okay, dadima” she answered with a small smile.

“Naintara had helped pack most of your things. Maybe just have a look around to see if there’s anything else you need or want” Dadima responded.

“Thanks, dadima. Naintara didn’t have to go through the trouble of all that. I was just busy with so many things, but I was going to make time to pack properly”.

“I know, bete. But she wanted to do it for you” Dadima replied and paused for a moment. She hesitated then said, “Geet, you don’t have to move out you know. I…”

“Dadima, I really do appreciate that” she responded squeezing her hand in a reassuring manner. “I do, but dadima… if I stay close or… see Maan much, it wouldn’t heal my wounds. I’m hurt. Deeply hurt and I need to step back and re-evaluate everything”.

Dadima nodded in understanding. “Your papa said the apartment is relatively safe”.

“It is. There is a reception desk and security surround the apartment block” Geet confirmed. “My friends and I will not be going out at night, and we will be cautious at all times. To please you, I will tell you what I told my parents that I have purchased half a dozen pepper sprays so no one will mess with me”.

Dadima chuckled and sighed in relief.

“Also, Aditi has turned into a health freak recently and has said she’s going to drag me and Misha to the gym every other day for us to be healthy and fit which in turn will make us strong to beat someone up” she said with a wink.

“That is good. A healthy amount of exercise strengthens the muscles” she remarked.

“It does” Geet responded and smiled. “Where is Naintara? I wanted to pass on my thanks for checking the lease agreement for me and helping me and my friends open a secondary account for us”.

“She’s just freshening up. It has been a long day at the firm” Dadima responded.

“Okay then. In the meantime, I’ll go check the boxes and see if there’s anything else I need” Geet remarked. Dadima nodded and smiled gesturing her to continue ahead.

Memories slammed into Geet as she entered the bedroom. Their wedding night, the bickering, the few hugs, gentle kisses, the cries, she remembered it all.

She hadn’t imagined that she would be starting over. She turned around hearing footsteps and swallowed hard when Maan entered and halted noticing her.

He finished his call and pocketed his phone. “Geet… I didn’t know you’d be here”.

“Uh… I just came to pick up my things” she gestured to the boxes.

“Oh, right…” he murmured. “I’ll let you get on” he said and turned to leave.

“Maan?” she called.

“Yes?”

“Did you speak to a divorce attorney?”

“Yeah, I’ve spoken to one” he responded. “Before we can file the petition to the courts, we’ll need to live separately for a year. That is the procedure here”.

“Oh… So, for a year we’d have to stay separately before we can be divorced?”

He nodded.

“Oh okay” she responded and nodded in understanding.

“I’m sorry” Maan apologised once again. It was not enough but he wanted to tell her again. He had put her through so much and it wasn’t fair to her. “I’m sorry for everything” he repeated.

“Thanks, Maan” she said. “I appreciate it”.

Maan hesitated for a second before he stepped in further. Geet’s head tilted as he stopped in front of her. “I hope you find happiness, Geet. I hope you get everything you wish and deserve” he murmured. “I… I’m going to miss you”.

A tear slipped down the corner of her eye and her lips shuddered. She bit down on her bottom lip and Maan cradled her cheek. Geet closed her eyes as he dipped his head and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“Be happy, Geet” he muttered against her skin before he released her and walked away without a backward glance afraid he’ll fall to his knees and beg her to stay. He wanted her to find her way to him. If she belonged to him, if they were meant to be, she will be in his life. Geet stared at his back and swiped away the teat that cascaded down her cheek. She willed herself to remain strong. She could do this.

Geet walked over to where her boxes were waiting and rummaged through to make sure there wasn’t anything missing. She didn’t have much possessions, it was mainly clothes, toiletries, few ornaments she’d bought, her wedding gold, gifts from her parents, books and couple of decorative plush teddies.

She frowned and pulled out a photo album that she did not buy wondering whether Naintara had put it in by mistake.

“Hey Geet” Naintara called entering the bedroom and smiled.

“This isn’t mine” Geet said.

“I know, I made a copy of the one we’ve got. It’s pictures of our memories” Naintara responded as Geet opened the first page. It was her wedding picture.

Geet swallowed hard and smiled faintly.

“It isn’t just the wedding pictures. There are our pictures as well from going out, the festivities and other trips we’ve done together” Naintara explained further.

“Thank you, Naintara. I really appreciate that” she responded and placed the album back into the box. She looked around the bedroom one final time before she turned to look at Naintara whose eyes were glossy with tears.

Geet’s face crumpled and she hugged Naintara tightly. And together the two soon to be ex-sisters-in-law cried together.

Geet walked out of the Khurana household feeling exhausted. She’d held dadima and cried for so long, she was going to miss them terribly. She had not seen Maan again since he’d walked out of the bedroom. She’d learned from dadima and Naintara that Maan had told them about his life in London and that Sameera was here with their daughter. They were also soon going to meet Maan’s daughter. She was glad for them.

Maan deserved happiness also.

Geet had met dadima and Naintara for lunch after her birthday and they gifted her store gift cards which would assist her into making her rented apartment into a home for her. She’d thanked and hugged them tightly for the gift which would be useful to her. She told them about her mini birthday party her friends had held for her. She’d partied and enjoyed the evening and received housewarming gifts from them to wish her on new found independence. Dadima and Naintara were happy hearing her gush about the party and the fun she’d had. They were glad she was enjoying her time with her friends and were glad to know she was moving into her new apartment in a couple of days. She had packed her things in the farmhouse also and was ready to shift to the new apartment.

Geet entered the new apartment she would call home for the next couple of months, possibly for another year or two if she didn’t need to move out. The new step stamped on the reality that this was a new beginning. She was no longer dependent on anyone, especially Maan and his family. She wouldn’t be spending another night waiting for a husband and his attention. She wouldn’t be waiting for the crumbs he’d offered. This was a new beginning for her.

Aditi and Misha insisted she take the master bedroom since it was because of her father they had gotten a decent discount that wouldn’t take a chunk of their income and they could save handsomely. Thankfully the apartment had come fully furnished so that also saved them, they only had stock up with food and toiletries and split the bills amongst themselves. She started on setting up her room and was so focused on finishing it that she didn’t notice the time. Misha knocked on her door pulling her attention away from wiping down the nightstand. Geet pulled off her headphones.

“What’s up?”

“We’ve been calling you” Misha informed. “Pizza is here”.

“Oh, I hadn’t realised” Geet replied and entered the washroom to wash her hands.

“We figured” Misha responded looking around the spotless bedroom. “You’ve dusted and wiped down every corner of this room haven’t you?”

“I wanted to clean it and just set everything” Geet re-entered her bedroom. “I’ve just got the final box to sort out”.

“Aditi and I started wiping down our room before we got distracted” Misha said as they walked out of the bedroom and headed into the kitchen. Aditi already laid plates out and had the pizza box settled in the middle of the counter. They took their seats and dived into eating discussing nonchalantly.

Once they’d finished, Geet returned to her bedroom to finish off her room. Misha and Aditi decided to join her in the bedroom. They sat on her bed chatting whilst she finished wiping down the nightstand and grabbed the final box. She pulled out some of her books and started placing them on the desk nicely whilst Aditi dipped into the box handing her more books. Misha looked intrigued as she came across an album.

“What’s this?” she asked flipping open the album.

Geet and Aditi didn’t pay much attention as they organised the books together.

“You’re married?” Misha’s voice echoed in shock.

Geet stilled and whipped her head around as did Aditi.

Geet’s eyes drew to the photo album that Misha was holding in her hands.

“You’re married?” Misha repeated.

“What are you talking about?” Aditi frowned closing the distance and grabbing the album out of her hands and her eyes widened.

“Geet… this is Maan Khurana” Aditi said slowly and looked up at her for confirmation.

Geet swallowed hard and bit down on her lip. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything, she had tried to focus on everything except her crumbling marriage. She looked at Aditi and Misha and felt her lips tremble unable to hold herself together.

Aditi dropped the album on the bed and rushed to her side. Misha jumped off the bed and came to her side holding her tightly.

Geet closed her eyes and cried softly in her friends’ embraces and they didn’t say anything further. They simply held her and allowed her to cry.