Chapter 42

Chapter 42

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“Take me to him” her punishment was not above him. And before Vicky could say anything, she ran to the ICU.

Now it was Raja Sahib’s order and the guard let her in.

*****

Geet ran to open the door to his room. She saw him surrounded by the medical equipment, he lay there looking at her with a smile on his face. Relief ran through her, she closed her eyes and tears slid down. She ran near him, he spread his arms, still lying on bed. Geet sat on his bed near him and hugged him, placing her head on his chest. Her tears did not stop, wetting his chest.

“Geet’ he said in a low voice but she could feel the intensity. She simply kept lying there, listening to his heartbeat, feeling it.

“Geet” he called her again, in a low voice, lovingly. Geet lifted her head and placed her finger on his lips

“Don’t speak. Intna kuch ho gaya…” her tears again slid

“Geet” she nodded for no, for him to not speak. Maan obeyed her, he could feel what she had been going through. He was at fault for bringing her in this condition, Maan was worrying how he would ask for forgiveness from his wife.

Nurse came in and Geet tried standing but Maan held her wrist. Geet sat beside him but turned her face, her tears just were not stopping.

“Sir, Your medication and food”.

Maan lifted his hand to hold Geet’s chin and turned to him “I need medication” Geet took the medicines from the nurse. Nurse, smiled and explained to her the medicines. Geet fed him the medicines but the more she looked at him, her fear surfaced not letting her tears stop.

After she fed him the medicine, she looked at nurse “When will he have something to eat”

“I am bringing it now. It will be a semi liquid diet for now” while Geet helped him lay down.

Nurse turned to leave but then stopped “ma’am, now sir is fine, you should eat something as well”

Geet signaled her for not speaking and turned to Maan who had question written over his face.

“For how long have you not had food?” he asked immediately. Geet signaled the nurse to leave. She came close to Maan and caressed his wounds “This condition..” her lips shivered and she bent to place soft kiss on his bandage

“Geet, how long have you not eaten”

“It’s all my fault. I don’t deserve… i hate myself” she kept on blabbering, the more she was seeing him in that condition, the more pain she felt.

He cupped her face in his palms and turned to make her see his face. He saw she was all worn, pale and looked tired “How long have you not had anything?” he asked again. Geet lifted her hand to caress his face and then his neck, his chest, his whole front, as if absorbing him “It must still be hurting, na? How did… what could have…” she did not know what she was speaking, lost in her own world of his pain and condition.

Maan knew she was not in her senses. All have been devastated by this incident, Dadima, Vicky, Annie but Geet’s condition was worse. He knew he could not even fathom what she had gone through in these hours

He stretched his thumbs on her both cheeks and wiped her tears “Geet, I am all fine now” he said. A little pain in his arm made him wince. Geet immediately got alert

“You rest. i am fool, making you sit for long” she made him lay down

“Geet, I am fine” he assured her “shhh.. no talking” he smiled in his heart. His crazy little wife was in front of him, taking charge of him in her own way, what else could he ask from life.

“Why is the nurse not coming?” she got up in a jerk to look up for the nurse. But her being without food and water for more than twenty hours, crying alone, took a toll on her and getting up in a jerk, made her head spin and she stumbled.

“Geet!!!” Maan was worried for her now. How has she been behind him? Why has everyone let her be uncared?

“I am fine”

“No, you are not. Come sit beside me, nurse will be here” She came to him and placed her head on his chest softly. Nurse came in with the tray for his dinner

“Nurse, since when has she not had anything” Geet signaled No to nurse but she looked at Raja Sahib

“Sir, Vikrant Sir, asked to inform you that she had nothing since she has heard of your situation.”

“And what was he doing letting her be like this” Nurse lowered her head, she was just a messenger.

“I am fine. It is time for you to take care of your condition. Mera kya, see I am all good” She took the tray from nurse and started setting up plates and bowls for him

He signaled the Nurse to leave.

Geet brought the spoon of Kichdi to feed him “Only after you take a bite” he declared

“It is not your time to be stubborn and order”

“Do I ever order you? But you have to take a bite first” Maan was adamant and to make him eat, Geet had to take a bite and at that moment Savitri Devi entered. She had been irked with Geet’s long stay with her grandson. She had already decided in her mind that Geet was the reason for her grandson’s condition and she could not bear Geet near him, esp. in his condition.

“I understand Geetanjali, the dinner is for Raja Sahib” Maan was shocked to hear sudden harsh words from Dadima for Geet. Shame covered Geet’s face seeing Dadima and she immediately started getting up but Maan held her wrist from the bed and made her sit, which Dadima could not see.

He could sense some deep tension between the two

“Dadima, we are having dinner together. I need to spend some private time with my wife.” he said in a low yet declarative tone. She changed her expression to smile as she looked at him. She came closer to him

“Why not son but first you should get better. With her here, you will not be able to rest”

“Dadima, if Geetanjali is here, she will take care of me, more than anyone. She will be staying in this room with me. I am getting her bed set up here. So now you should not worry at all. You are old enough and have tired yourself. You should take a rest” He cleared all that she needed to know in one go.

He was smart enough to know Dadima had been very hard on Geet. But why? Whatever be the reason, he could not tolerate his Rani Sahiba not being treated with respect and this was harsh behavior, completely not acceptable to him. He has to get better to deep dive into what all happened behind his back.

“But bete, Vikrant could stay with you, He will be able to better take care of you”

“Dadima, I want to spend time with my wife. Some private moments, we have missed each other”

“But dear..”
“Good night Dadima. Don’t take stress. You should take rest now and leave my stress on my wife from now on. It is her duty and right as well, right?” he ended and looked at Geet

“Feed me, I am feeling hungry” Savitri Devi had to leave as Raja Sahib declared his wish. She was not happy with it though.

“Dadima is… “ Geet started but Maan placed his index finger on her lips

“No one has the right to decide between us. Being my wife, you have the most right to me and my life. Dadima had to be prepared to accept this before marrying me.”

“And I was incapable of properly doing my duty of safeguarding you. It’s all my fault that Dadima does not trust me”

“What fault? You are at no fault. Get that out of your head. Give the bowl, I will eat myself” he had to show his anger to her

She pulled the bowl, and fed him. In between he forced her to eat. Attendant came and placed a nice bed for Geet at the other end.

Everyone outside knew, Geet was staying with Raja Sahib. Annie and Vicky were so relieved and so were her parents. Savitri Devi was completely disturbed. Vicky took her from there to the hotel, gave her medication so that she can have a good sleep.

After a slow dinner, Maan took Geet’s hand in his “Come” he said lying down pulling Geet to lay on his chest “I shiver thinking of the pain you went through. Whole incident, I felt…”

“And you made sure to give pain to yourself for that? Do you know how much it is hurting me”

Geet stayed quiet for a while there, feeling his closeness

“I am so grateful, I am allowed near you. it is a big obligation on me”

“Who on this earth has the right to give permission to you regarding me. You, being my wife, have more right to me than me.”

He paused, lost in thinking

“Geet what happened? Why are you feeling guilty? Those guilty have been arrested” he said, rubbing her back slowly from another arm that was unharmed. It was so soothing to have her near him but her condition and what she must have gone through was hurting him

“You will hate me, if you know the truth” he gave a small laugh “That’s not possible, not in this life not in any life.”

They lay there like that, quiet for a long time, simply absorbing each other’s closeness. Questions and answers will happen later. Due to the effects of medication, sleep took over Maan and later Geet due to tiredness and mental stress that were being relieved now.

At 2 am when the nurse came to check on Maan, set up his drippings and check the parameters, a smile formed on her face. Raja Sahib was sleeping on his back, straight on bed, while his Rani Sahiba was sleeping in a sitting position at the edge of bed, her head peacefully resting on his chest.

She hesitated but then woke up Geet “ma’am you can sleep on bed”

“Ohh, did I hurt him”

Nurse smiled “No ma’am, he is all fine. You go take proper sleep on bed while I take his parameter”

Geet went to lay on her bed, while Nurse woke Maan for parameters. Maan’s eyes went on Geet who was settling on her bed, Geet’s eyes were always on him

“Good Night” he mouthed.

In the morning when the doctor came to visit Maan with all the parameters that the nurse had recorded, he found both in deep sleep. Maan’s eyes opened with the nearing of the doctor. First thing he did was lay his eyes on his beautiful wife, sleeping in deep slumber. She had been tired, mentally and physically and now that relaxation took over, she got a deep sleep. Slight snore could also be heard

“She had exerted herself” Maan explained her snoring to the doctor. Doctor smiled and nodded, then checked on him

“Can I be discharged today?”

“hmm.. everything looks good as you are completely on rest. We can discharge you with a few strict instructions. Sorry for giving instructions to the great Raja sahib”

Maan laughed, “You are an expert in this area.”

“hmmm… I wanted to give the instruction in front of your family members as they will be in charge of caring for you. Do you want a nurse to call your brother, sister or grandma” Doctor had seen how his wife was kept away during the whole process so he accordingly suggested other members of the family who were actively involved when he was being operated on.

“Can you ask the nurse to wake up my wife? She is the one who should know all”

Nurse gently woke Geet up and found it was already morning “ohh I slept so long”

“You are not late Mrs. Khurana. We just wanted to run through few instructions for care of your husband”

The doctor explained to Geet and Maan all that was needed. He should do at least or no movement for five days, a professional nurse should be available, he gave dietary instructions, after a week, he should start with little hand and leg exercises, etc etc.

“Saying so, we will observe you till day time today and you can only be discharge in the late evening”

By Nine, Maan was done with breakfast and freshening up. Nurse came with a sponge bath for him, but Geet took it from her. Maan smiled and signaled the nurse to leave.

When Geet was doing the sponge bath with all care, Maan pulled her closer by her arm from his unharmed hand. Geet’s face closed his. Maan smiled and winked at her. He moved closer simultaneously pulling her to him

“See your condition. Even now this is what comes to your mind?” she whispered with a smile. Ohh it was so beautiful feeling she was having after long, with his naughty self back

“Why you won’t romance your husband because he is on hospital bed”

“Shhh…” she placed her lips on his to make him stop speaking. Maan pulled her completely to him and pushed his tongue inside hers. It was a deep kiss, their tongue rolling inside each other, they fighting hard to suck each other's saliva as if sucking the pain that each other is going through, calming their heart. He did not find a better way to confirm her, he was there for her, always. Geet was simply pouring her deep relief of his recovery and safety.

“It is already 9:30, I do not know how Raja Saheb has been all alone” Savitri Devi complained her anxiety to Vicky

“Bhabhi is there with him, Dadima. He is fine now. We do not need to worry anymore”

“ohh really? she will take care of him” Dadima and Vicky were about to enter his room but stopped at gate by a nurse and the guard

“Raja sahib is freshening up. He is with Rani Sahiba. He has instructed that he should not be disturbed or no one should enter the room until he rings the bell. “

Savitri Devi’s irritation was not lessening. This never happened. This girl was creating distance between her and her grandson.

“I will have to fix this blunder of bringing this girl to his life”

“Dadima, Bhai loves her and is so happy with her. You are over stressing. She is a family Dadima, part of us”

Maan completely pulled Geet to him on his bare front and his lips on her earlobe “I can’t wait to be in our room in Kalsia” he said in husky voice, making blush flow all through her. He only released her for sponging after he had her close to him for a while.

After Geet was done sponging, he rang the bell to let them know that anyone can now come in.

Dadima entered with Vicky. Geet was about to move but Maan kept holding her wrist to make her sit beside him on bed

“Good Morning Dadima” he greeted her trying to settle his back on headboard

She smiled at him “Good Morning son”

“Good Morning Dadima” Geet said in a low voice. Savitri Devi gave quick look at her and then turned to Maan

“How are you feeling now?”

“Much better Dadima” She caressed his face “Can I get to talk with my grandson alone?”

“You can speak. I will make sure no one from outside comes in”

“Geetanjali, I think, has now spent enough time with you. She can go meet her parents outside, while I talk to you”

“They are here? Since when?” He looked at Vicky in anger. Vicky lowered his head “Since yesterday morning, Bhaii”

Maan could sense a lot of messing up has happened and he will have to fix them all. He felt guilty towards Geet in all ways. He has considered her parents as his and this is how they were treated.

“You can talk to them later, no one is going away dear” she turned to Geet

“Geetanjali, can you go meet them”

“Dadima, she will meet them when they come to meet me. You were talking something”

“I wanted to talk to you in private, Can’t I as your Dadima”

“Of course Dadima. But you are also Geetanjali’s Dadima, right? She is part of me, my wife. Anything you can talk to me you can talk to her, right?”

Maan was not going to give anyone any chance to speak against his wife and show her low. She was his Rani and he cannot let anyone demean her, not even Dadima. Dadima was messing up things and he won’t let it happen.

“Then listen. Do you know your dear wife is the cause of this all happening?”

“She is not” he said straight

“So I am lying? Your Dadima is lying?”

“No. The only thing is, you have once again come into their trap.”

“You are trusting her too much. How can you say so?”

“We will talk about this later, not to clarify Geetanjali but to make you aware of how you are being targeted.”

“I see you have been blinded by her love. let me be clear,her presence itself displease me now as she is reason of your condition”

“Nahi Dadima…” Geet tried to give clarification but Maan stopped her by raising his palm to stop her.

Maan as Raja Sahib did not like his words not being taken seriously. If he is loose, anyone in the family will be targeted and thus their family and empire will be targeted via them. He cannot let history repeat with Dadima’s vulnerable behavior.

“Dadima, no one from the Kalsia Empire has the right to raise questions on Rani Sahiba of kalsia.As you grandson, I will later let you know what game is happening. For now, it is strict instruction, you are not showing your displeasure with Geetanjali anywhere in public. I want to convey the message outside that we are completely united. We are not showing them something that they are dying to see.”

“How can I disobey Raja sahib” she taunted

“You should be away from these heinous political games now, Dadima. With your age, you should rest and enjoy your life. You are becoming a weak target for enemies. Your views and expressions are getting visible, which will make our situation vulnerable. But above all, at this age I want you to enjoy the affluence your grandson has brought. I want my Dadima to leave all her stress to me”

He turned to Vicky “Vikrant, you take Dadima to Kalsia. She is very tired and needs rest. I will board my jet in the night with Geetanjali” He declared in a way that there was no scope of negating. It was a clear cut order.

He has risked his life, hidden his life-risking plan from his wife, making himself her culprit all his life, all this not to let the enemy win due to Dadima’s misunderstanding.

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tellyme2023-09-08 01:40:41