Chapter 15

Chapter 15

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[NOCOPY]

“Dadima, take care. I have some work, will catch up with that” He was talking to Dadima and Geet’s eyes were fixed on him.

Maan caressed dadima’s forehead and with complete down to earth posture left the room. Their path crossed, he did not meet his eyes with hers but signaled from hand to let her in.

Geet’s heart got a jolt seeing him this time. Not for her but for him. Physically he looked fine, but she could sense the lines of torn in him. He looked broken and defeated. Something pierced in Geet’s heart as he left the room.

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Geet had been thinking of going and talking to him but eventually could not gather her guts. Thought of going in front of him brought those red angry eyes. But then his soft demure in Dadima’s room pushed her to go check on him. She must stop thinking of herself for once. But that day passed and she could never gather that guts.

Next day Maan went out for his business trip to South Africa. Two days passed after which, Advay badly started missing his dad. He asked everyone in the house daily, when his dad would be back. Maan had been keeping very busy with high-level meetings with prominent people. But after a week when he got some breather, he called Dadima and talked to his son. Geet felt relief when Advay got to talk to Maan. At least he will now not bug her with his innumerable questions like why is she not calling Dad and asking him to talk to him? That this time when his dad comes back from the trip, she should ask him to stay with them in this mansion? Why can’t Dad not stay with them in the same house? Why did dad not take them on trips like other parents do…

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Months passed by and now it has been almost five months of Geet staying in Manor. She has adapted to family life here completely. Taking charge as eldest daughter. Annie gave birth to a baby girl. They named her Jiya and Nicknamed her Junnie for Arjun and Annie. Advay got a new baby doll and he took his role as big brother very seriously. They all laughed when he acted all protective for her. And he got all these teachings from his dad.

It was then the whole family of Arjun also joined them there. The Manor was lively and filled with people. Maan was trying to avoid his presence there, not wanting Geet to be uncomfortable around him and falsely being forced to behave like his wife in front of all. But his heart ached to see Annie’s baby girl and it was also an excuse to get her glimpse from closer. But then, how can he think about himself?

“Maan, you are hurting Annie. You don’t feel like seeing the baby?” scolded Dadima

“I am dying to see, but … woo”

“Maan stop it. She is all set in the family. Why do you think you even matter that much in her life? Yeh bhi toh ho sakta hai, that you don't matter to her anymore.” Dadima scolded. The way Maan was completely cutting off from all gatherings and was leading a completely lone life was scaring her. Advay was his only companion. Meera and Arjun checked on him but as Dev and Annie had not forgiven him for Geet, how much could they be with him when their spouses disliked it so much.

Dev and Annie still blamed Maan for Geet's lonely life for years, her humiliation at his hand and her bringing up Advay all alone. They didn’t want to risk Geet’s happiness with his presence in her life.

But Dadima was getting worried now. And this time Annie was as well wanting Maan to bless her daughter. However angry she was with him; he had been a father to them more than a brother. So everything felt incomplete to her without his blessings

Maan at last gathered and went to see the baby girl. As he entered the Manor, he got surrounded by Arjun’s family. Arjun always praised Maan and had great respect for Maan and thus his family respected him a lot as well. Maan talked to them patiently, his side unknowingly looking around to get someone’s glimpses. But that someone was sitting with Annie, unknown of his visit to the Manor. Maan at last excused himself from there.

As he entered Annie’s room, his eyes met with someone he was running away. Geet’s heart as if stopped seeing him this close. Their eyes met and stayed locked for, as if eternity. None of them could remove their gaze from others. The moment will soon finish and disappear and before it does, they want to absorb it all.

“Daaad” the eye lock was broken by the excited words of Advay and his tight hug on Maan’s feet. Maan bent and picked his son in his arms

“Will you not make me meet your little sister?” Ohh.. and proud brother Advay, led his dad to his sister, Jiya.

He picked the baby girl in his arms, pressed a deep kiss on her forehead, blessing her in his ways “Our princess. Your Mama, uncle Maan, promises to fill your life with all the happiness and blessings” he handed the baby to Annie, who turned away to hide her tears.

She resisted but he pulled her in a tight hug.

While leaving the room, Maan’s eyes met Geet briefly but they both soon averted their eyes.

After that again Maan went into his lonely shell of work.

Annie left Khurana Manor with her in-laws. Maan thanked Arjun for accepting his request. All this news kept reaching Geet in various ways.

Slowly the reality of change in Maan was sinking within her. But how and why? Is her disappearance the reason? This thought also knocked her head sometimes but then would disappear soon. How can she be the reason? He hated her. But did he, really? Deep down her heart had an opposite answer. It knew how tough it would be for him to survive without her. But she kept that thought locked inside. She could not accept this even to herself.

Festivals came and went, Maan kept himself away from family gatherings. It was only in the power of Advay to take him outside on occasions. On Advay’s insistence he did come out a couple of times but still kept his distance from the main event and before she could get free from other family members and bring her focus on him, he would disappear.

One thing that hit Geet was Advay’s Birthday. Maan went out of the way to have a grand, larger than life birthday for Advay. Whole family was invited, Geet was made Queen of the party, Advay the prince but in all this Maan was unavailable. She knew very well by now how Advay was Maan’s lifeline and not coming to his birthday party was a shock for her. The party was all about Advay and his mother, Misti Khurana. There was a beautiful, emotional presentation on mother and son bond, how Advay is crazy about his mother and how his mother had single handedly brought up Advay. She had no idea where old pics of hers and Advay were found. Maan, whose love of Advay more than life avoided his presence in that party.

Was it not clear to Geet that Maan didn’t want to claim his right for Advay in any way? But why? Geet was curious but then she explained herself that it was not for Maan that she was here, she was here for Advay and he has got everything. But the heart doesn’t work on your decision, it has its own way to see things. And her heart deep down has started feeling for him. If he is keeping himself away from all the gathering, his son’s party, now she was wondering and getting scared of how he was dealing with his life.

Other than her all-time confusion on how Maan was leading his life, happy or troubled, Geet’s life had been taken care of fantastically. All her hardship and loneliness were replaced with comfort and family pampering. Still the pain and void of him not in her life, pinched.

The 2nd phase of the Geetanjali Dreams Ad campaign was a hit as well. The brand has picked up in the market as words have spread. The social media campaign was getting viral as well with its tagline and steps.

She has started work on the Final phase of it. Maan had no interference and Meera was working with her. Meera, for sure, let her lead. It was now known to Geet very clearly that the Geetanjali Dreams was in the name of Geet Khurana. Geet has shown her resistance to this but Meera has asked her to talk to her Veer ji in that matter. Geet could never do that.. How does it matter to her, she was Misti Khurana now,legally and not Geet Khurana?

The other day, Geet came from the office and found unusual movement and tension in the house. Advay was also crying as he had not been allowed to go to his dad.

Now, whenever Maan was there in the town, they had a schedule set up for Advay’s horse ride training. Maan was himself training his son and Advay was very excited about it. Today, Dadima at first tried to softly convince him that he cannot go to his dad but then when Advay, darling of his dad, behaved stubborn, Dadima had to be strict with him.

Geet would have been okay with Advay being denied entry there. Maan can be very busy with his work, after all he handles his huge empire single handedly. Dev and Meera supported but Maan has way larger responsibility. Coming to present, what looked weird to Geet was tension lingering in and around the Manor. Dadima gave her a smile, but it didn’t seem organic, the worry on her face was.

Curious, she went to look from her window and saw people entering the Manor. What alerted her was they had some things, like some equipment with them. The Outhouse was far for her naked eyes to gather what they had but they had something. Her heart was beating fast, was everything fine with Maan? She was worried.

How can she run and ask? With what right? She has broken all ties and gone away. He had provided her with all comfort and respect but never asked for her. It was clear she was not needed in his life. But she needed him. Even if they are far away, she cannot survive if anything happens to him, she will die. No, why will anything happen to him?

Geet ran to the temple to make her prayer. Geet was lost in her prayer, only wishing him to be all fine. Dadima entered and Geet ran to her, without giving a thought of her act

“Dadima, is everything fine” Dadima knotted her brows

Geet gathered herself “I mean, you stopped Adhvay from going to his dad. He must be busy, right?”

“You want to know what he is busy with?”

“No Dadima.. Woo”

“Okay you don’t want to know”

“Dadima woo Advay..”

“Stop hiding behind Advay’s name… what is this nervousness for Geet? Why are you rubbing your hands… kiski fikar hai”

Geet saw unusual anger on Dadima’s face. Savitri Devi immediately stopped herself. What was she about to do in emotion? Maan has strictly said that he will stop all his treatment if Geet is dragged in any way for his health. If Geet gets any indication of his health, he will decline all the treatment and Dadima could not risk his health.

She immediately composed herself and cupped Geet’s face

“I am teasing you silly. You know he has different kinds of projects. People come to show samples, etc. I am just checking that he does not forget to take care of himself while losing himself at work.”

Advay had been crying and Dadima diverted Geet by bringing her attention to crying Advay. Geet took Advay out for a drive and ice cream to calm him down. Next day onwards the new assignments got Geet so busy that she didn’t even get time to have her lunch properly. But there had been uneasiness all the while but then Dadima’s sweet phone call calmed her down.

On the other side, in the out house:

“Doc, I am fine. It’s just a high fever. Dadima gets stressed for no reason”

Maan said, looking around at all the medical equipment around him.

“Mr Khurana, I request you. Please do not say a word. Your high fever is unstoppable, its effect may permanently damage any part of your body, even your brain. So, please Mr. Khurana let us treat you"

"At least think of Advay, Maan. Not for yourself, not for us but Advay - He deserves you" scolded Dadima.

Maan held his head tight as the fever was just not dropping and the headache had gone to its peak. Electrical Massager were rolled on his legs and arms to make him feel better.

The scene was horrendous. If Geet and Advay saw it they would be badly traumatized. Last thing Maan wanted was to traumatize them due to him.

"Mr Khurana, you can shout and pour out your pain. You need to let it out" Suggested nurse, who was trying to give him the medication through his veins.

"I am fine. I can take this much pain"

"You cannot, you just want to. Bearing this physical pain will not wash your acts, talking to her will." scolded Dadima who had to see her grandson in this pain.

"Why can't we treat this doctor?" she asked helplessly.

"We will Ma'am. First Mr. Khurana was not at all cooperative but now I think he is ready for the treatment. I have consulted with Dr.Jose Franklin from New York. This is one of the case of unknown Fever symptom. After studying Mr.Khurana's symptoms, we have a treatment plan but you have to keep yourself strong to witness the pain he will have to go at starting stage of it and Mr.Khurana has to support us"

"My old eyes are already bearing the pain of seeing my grandson in this pain.If he can be permanently cured, I am ready for some more"

"Dadima, your these tears hurts me more" "You just shut up"

Next day Geet was getting ready for the office. Maan had talked to Advay and pleaded with him to forgive him for being too busy. That talk has calmed Geet. She reprimanded herself for being crazily worried. What will Dadima think about her?

When she came down for breakfast she found Dev there.

"Dev, you?"

Dev gave her a faint smile "Yes, was missing Dadima" Geet knotted her brows not convinced but let it go. She is over thinking these days.

Geet left for the office and after she left Dev went to the outhouse to be there with Maan, who still was in high fever and pain. This unbearable pain stayed for at least 3-4 days when he got this attack in the interval of 4-5 months.

Next - Geet shocked with the reality

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