Chapter 18
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Untouched Yaadain:
Part 18:
Location: Outside of the hotel, on the street
Geet walks ahead of Maan, ready to face the reality and leave this country forever. She looks around for the car but can't find any. Maan, who just walks slowly behind her, tries to observes her movements and expressions. Slowly all of the guests members were leaving, coming in between Geet and Maan.
"Maan, gadi nazar nahi aa rahi hamari.."
"Maine gadi ko bhaij di hai."
Geet turns into a flustered girl.
"Don't tell me, aap helicopter mangwa rahe ho. Maan, hotel is 15 mins away from here. Itna door nahi hai."
"Geet yeh kya bachkaani baatain ker rahi ho. Helicopter main kyun mangwaon ga?"
"Aap ka koi pata nahi hai. Aap The Maan Singh Khurana ho. You can do anything."
"Well Geet.."
"Maan, to phir hum ghar udh ke jain gain?"
"Geet. Sabr kero. Sabr ka phal meetha hota hai."
Without giving a care in the world, Geet sits at the edge of the sidewalk. Maan brushes his temples with his hard hands.
"Geet, yeh kya ker rahi ho?"
"Kya ker rahi hoon? Baithi huwi hoon. Aapne khudi to kaha tha sabr kero. So just waiting for the other car to come."
Maan raises his hands up as if to seek patience from God. One last time he rubs his hands all over his face, trying to hide the embarrassment while people around them watching.
"Saare daikh rahe hain Geet. Utho."
"Uff Maan. Aap kitna darte ho. Pata nahin kitni dair main gadi aaye gi. Main thak gayi hoon."
Without listening to anything else, Maan picks her up, embracing her in his arms. Everything happened too quickly that Geet didn't have any chance to fully impress her reaction.
"Ab theek hai?"
"Maan!"
Geet tries to push his hands off of her so she can get off, but all the luck was saved for Maan. Everyone around them stares vacantly at them, some smiling and some shocked.
"Maan! Saare daikh rahe hain. Please mujhe chodiye!"
"Geet calm down. Apni wife ko bahon main laina is not a bad thing. Aur waise yeh Paris hai, tumhara Hoshiyarpur nahi hai jahan pe loug 100 baatain banate hain."
"Phir bhi Maan... Please..."
"Ab to hamari manzil pe hi main tumhe utaaron ga."
"Manzil? To hum is tarha hotel wapis ja rahay hain?"
"Geet, how about this, tum so jao meri bahon main. Jab manzil aaye gi to main tumhe utha doon ga."
Geet raises her eyebrows and makes a confused face. Geet is well aware by now that giving up on Maan's wishes is the best. She knows he won't let her go anymore.
"Geet tum abhi tak soi nahi ho?"
"Maan, main koi machine nahin hoon, jisse kaho so jao aur woh so jaaye. Mujhe neend nahi aa rahi."
"To kya lori sunaon?"
"This is so not you Mr. Maan Singh khurana."
"Geet mujhe aisa kyun lagta hai, ke jab bhi tum mera naam laiti ho, tum kisi insaan ko nahin jis tarha kisi ravaan ko bula rahi ho?"
"Aap ko kaise pata chala?" Geet giggles. At first Maan gets angry but then sees her jolly face and he reminds himself that this is the first time she actually giggled openly in front of him, he lets it slide this time, a little sign of smirk appears on Maan's lips.
"Waise hum ja kahan rahe hain?"
"Daikh laina."
"Per hotel..."
"Aaj Geet sab kuch bhool jao. Sirf 1 cheez yaad rakho."
"Woh kya?"
"Hum"
That did it. That somehow, intentionally brought tears in Geet's eyes. This man standing before her teary eyes, looked way different than the guy whom she got married. Whose definition of the world was Ugly and the definition for life and love was Conquer. How can a person change so dramatically and that too in a short period of time? That question was beyond her ability to answer it. She will never know the answer of this question unless if he himself lets her explore his life fully. Geet was by now speechless. He was the first man in her life who not only complimented her but appreciated her. This moment definitely felt like those filmy romantic movie scenes. Those types of scenes which she believed to be a fantasy and knew will never come true.
"Geet kuch bolo.. Chup kyun ho?"
How can she say something? She was flattered in his lost words.
"Geet.."
"Hmm Maan."
"Kuch bolo. Itni chup kyun ho gayi ho?"
"K-kuch nahi. Bas aise."
She felt now a little urge of discomfort by his words and actions. How long will this last? She felt like something was wrong. Even if this all is true, how can she accept this? It's not written in her destiny. This is something that has been long ago decided. Even if he is having some thoughts she needs to clear out everything, that is if, which she doubted.
"Maan please mujhe neeche utaariye."
"Kyun Geet. I am fine. Tum itni moti nahin ho jitna maine socha tha.."
"Maan please.."
Maan knew by now that there was something wrong. What could it be? A normal girl would become a freaking ninja when she hears about her fatness and that too by her own husband. But Geet... Without arguing, Maan places her down on to the concrete sidewalk. Right before their eyes stood the Eiffel Tower. The lights were shimmering at this time of the hour. There stood people right underneath it. Geet couldn't believe her eyes. Her dream came true of seeing the Eiffel Tower up close. It was extremely huge, her neck started to ache when she looked up. Her face brightened.
"Maan.. Yeh.."
Maan was right behind her, holding her from the waist.
"Maan mujhe pinch kerain. Main kahin sapna to nahin daikh rahi."
Maan grins. Instead of pinching her, he places a quick peck of kiss on her cheek. Geet's eyes popped. She never expected something like this and that too out of all those people in the world, Maan was the one.
"Ab to yaqeen ho gaya hai na."
"Maan yeh aap kya ker rahay ho?"
"Kya ker raha hoon. Tumhe khud hi yaqeen nahi ho raha tha to maine yaqeen kerwa diya."
"Maan please chahliye."
"Per Geet tumne khud hi kaha tha ke tumne Eiffel Tower daikhna hai."
"Woh to hai na. But ab maine daikh liya hai. Chaliye."
"Ok ok Geet. Chalo. Wait here main gadi le ker aata hoon. Woh corner mai khadi huwi hai."
Without waiting for her answer, he leaves flusterely. Meanwhile, Geet couldn't believe it. But she can't accept anything. She wants to be free but her problems have tied her in a room, unable to get out. She knew she won't able to come out. She can't let Maan suffer after she leaves. Tears started to make their way out of her eyes. But still how long will this sweet act of his will carry on? It will end soon. Maybe in few days or maybe in couple of hours depending on Maan's mood. She knew this can't go on for so long.
"Maan.. Sorry.. But main aap ko nahin dard pohncha sakti."
The tips that Rohan gave her, she tried to follow them but couldn't. It was like an invisible thread was pulling them two closer no matter how far she tries to run away. But no this time she reminded herself to break the thread by her own hands. If this carried out then he will be hurt. Right when she was remembering her friend's words, her phone rang and it was Rohan. Trying to get her act together she "bravely" answers the phone.
"Hello."
"Geet! Kahan ho? Paris ja ker to bhool hi gayi ho."
"N-nahin aisi koi baat nahi hai. Bas busy thi.."
Rohan immediately senses that something is wrong.
"Geet. Kya huwa?"
Geet couldn't keep it in her anymore. She unknowingly split well half of the story out.
"Main kya keroon? Tumhe to pata hai na yeh ehsaas sahi nahi hai. Main aisa nahi ker sakti. Tum to jaante ho. Tumhe to mere baare main sab pata hai."
Unknowingly to her, Maan came right behind her. But noticed that she was on the phone, he let her talk. But he didn't know what was coming next will shatter his heart in to million of pieces.
(BTW Maan can't hear Rohan talk only he can hear Geet talking) "Daikho Geet, just say it to yourself. You'll feel better. Even though yeh sach nahi hai but phir bhi it'll lighten you up, hopefully."
"Haan tum sahi keh rahay ho Rohan. Main keh doon gi unse. 'Main nahin pyaar kerti unsi' and jaise 2 mahine khatam hon gain main unki zindagi se hamesha se chali jaon gi. Main is tarha nahin reh sakti."
"Good Geet. Yahi behtar hai."
"Rohan tum nahin hote to mera kya hota. Thank you. India aa ker milti hoon. Aur han yaad rakhna kisi ko tumhare mere relationship ke baare mai nahin pata lagna chahiye. Yea ok bye."
Maan was taken back. Her words were playing drums in his ears. He couldn't bare it. Relationship? He was confused about it. Geet hung up and turned around. She sees Maan standing right there with a flushed face. He was more shocked about her trust in Rohan rather than him. He knows everything about her where as he stood aloof from her, no matter how close he wants to reach her. And then those painful words, 'Main nahin pyaar kerti unse'. Everything was shattered within in seconds time frame. Time and destiny has once again thrown him back in to old him.
"Maan chalain." She wanted to tell him now but couldn't. It'll be better if she tells him when they get back to India tomorrow. At least she didn't want to worsen his mood now. What if he doesn't like me that way, what if it's just my hallucination? Oh God, kitna mushkil hai!
Geet sits in the car, and after yelling Maan's name for the 500th time, he stirs a little and comes back to sit down, but doesn't say anything. He was quiet the whole time which disturbed Geet. She was already battling with herself now his attitude changed with a blink of an eye. She wanted to cry out loud, cry on his shoulder. But she needs to be strong now for his future. Geet turned on the radio, just to escape this endless silence. A song started to play.
Bejaan dil ko..
Bejaan dil ko..
Bejaan dil ko tere ishq ne zinda kiya...
Geet leaves the radio on as this song fits her situation right now. She knows she'll end up crying and heartbroken more after listening to this song but she wanted to listen. She wanted the harmony of the song to touch her soul. As for Maan, he focused merely on the driving, but was half dozed in his own thoughts after the lyrics started to play. They both were suffering from the same problems.
Tadap tadap ke is dil se aha nikalti rahi
mujh ko saza di pyaar ki aisa kya gunah kiya
to lut gaye haan lut gaye
to lut gaye hum teri mohabbat main..
A tear dropped from Maan's eyes. He couldn't help but recall the moment when he kissed her cheek, her giggling, her talking non stop. All of the scenes came flashing before his eyes. As if he was watching his own life movie at the front car window in the midst of his driving.
Ajab hai ishq yara..
Pal do pal ki khusiyan...
Gham ke khazane milte hai phir
milti hai tanhayian.
kabhi aansu
kabhi aahein
kabhi shikwein
kabhi naale
tera chehra nazar aaye...
tera chahra nazar aaye...
mujhe din ke ujaale main..
teri yaadain tadpain..
Teri yaadain tadpain
raaton ko andhero main
tera chehra nazar aaye
To hide her teary face, Geet stared out the side window , hoping that Maan won't catch her crying. While Maan was lost in his own life flashbacks, Geet was developing her life movie slowly. Everything came out clear.
Machal machal ke is dil...
Maan couldn't bare it anymore. He turned off the radio before the song was finished. The rest of the way they drove in silence, not looking at each other, but lost in their own endless thoughts. After the endless journey, the hotel finally showed itself from afar. Geet sighed of relief. This silence was killing her from inside. She was right, his sweet acts will end sooner or later. And it didn't end in few days nor in few hours but in few minutes; it changed like nothing had happened. It was finished now for eternity she concluded. He was back to old him. I guess she was somewhat hoping for that, because she felt an urge of regret building a tower in her heart. Even if he does fall for her, she would have to leave him with empty hands. Well now he's back and she doesn't need to worry about anything.
Maan parks the car and gets out without even glancing once back at her. He was too hurt from inside that he couldn't show his teared up face. If she didn't care about me or my feelings then why should I show my weakness? He went inside the hotel, hoping that Geet would come on her own.
In the hotel room, it was dead silence. Maan "exploring" on his laptop for something fascinating that could distract him, while Geet was on her ipod listening to some Salman Khan sad songs. The atmosphere was like a zombie area; dead silence. After some time, Geet got up to ask him about whether if he's hungry or not. But Maan in return snapped at her.
"Tumhay kyun fikr ho gi mere khaane ki? Aur waise bhi mujhe kisi ki zaroorat nahi hai! Chali jao Geet! Just go!"
Tears started to flow down her cheeks.
"Rona mat Geet! Nafrat hai mujhe aansu se! Jao yahan se!
She awkwardly made her way back to the bed while she knew those eyes were glaring her back.
"Geet! Is kamre se chali jao! Main tumhari shakal nahin daikhna chahta!"
"P-per Maan.. Main kahan jaon gi?"
"Kahin bhi, but not here! Main tumhe yahan bardasht nahin ker sakta! Is se pehle mera dimaagh phat jaye Geet, just geto ut of here!!"
Without uttering another word, Geet ran out the room, in to the corridor. Where will she go for a night? That she didn't know either. So she made a decision of getting another guest room.
"I am sorry Ma'am. We have no rooms available." Said the receptionist.
"Please check one more time, there has to be a room..."
"I am sorry Ma'am."
Geet didn't know what to do or where to go? She thought about sneaking back to the room, but what if Maan is still awake? He will eat her alive. He's mad at her for something she doesn't even know. Having no choice, she quietly exited the hotel. "Chal Geet, aaj ki raat tujhe bahar guzarna padhe ga.."
As of Maan, he was mad at himself for getting mad at Geet, but then those heartless words by Geet haunt him and so his anger shifts to Geet.
"Yeh Rahul is ka boyfriend to nahi hai? But is ne mujhe kyun nahin bataya! Shaadi ke baad koi aise herkatain kerta hai? Chahe wohi nakli shaadi kyun na ho!"He bangs his fists against the table. He trusted her. And now his trust was gone down the drain. Couldn't she see me changing? Couldn't she see me in love with her? Is she too naive to understand the formation of my love for her? How could I be so stupid to fall for a girl like her?! After his endless bashfulness for himself, he went to lay down, trying to calm himself down while Geet is not here.
"Waise yeh ladki kahan ja sakti hai? Mujhe kya farq padhta hai. Lai liya ho ga koi aur room. Mujhe ab us ki koi parwa nahin honi chahiye"
And that night was heck long for both Maan and Geet. They unwantingly thought of each other, not sure what their tomorrow is going to be? What will happen when they get back to India tomorrow.
-The End-
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