Chapter U
me and mom were in separated rooms, i didnt see her but i had the news that she is angry with me for giving away my kidney to her. i spent 2 days in the hospital with constant pain that was killed with pain killers, sometimes i would feel really sick and they would give me something to stop the feeling. i couldnt eat for one whole day, only ice chips which didnt really stop the hunger, Maan said imagine you are eating a taandori chicken but still didnt work, they said i have to start drinking first then eat if i could. on Sunday, the doctor said i can leave the hospital with so much instructions, asking me to walk step by step as if i just started walking, he said i have to be careful with everything now, pregnancy was not possible for 6 months, i shouldnt be lifting anything that weights more than 10 Kgs.. which means, holding up Geet would be impossible for 4 months.
the doctor and nurses were in the room, Maan.. Amit and Geet too, all waiting for me to stand on my feet and see how i would feel, Maan was holding my hand when i stood, i almost shouted from the pain i felt but instead bit my lip "just walk for small steps, Mrs. Geet" the doctor asked me
i walked for one step and held Maan's hand tight "can i at least get a wheelchair at the door?" i asked with my voice that indicated pain
the doctor nodded "you will have to practice that though at the house"
"ji" i would stop after each step and just few steps before i get to the door i looked at Maan "i dont think i can go any further"
"its ok" he kissed my head and Amit brought the wheelchair, i slowly sat and sighed heavily, Maan was still holding my hand, looking at me worried "are you ok?"
"haan" i tried to smile but couldnt, i never expected it to be this painful
we went back to the apartment and i asked Maan to help me walk a bit, he almost was lifting me up not letting me touch the ground but i told him i need to practice this more often to get back to normal, he put me on bed and i stretched my legs "hurting still?" he asked
i looked at him and finally smiled "no.." i held his hand tight "its good to be home"
he got closer and hugged me "God Geet.." he said kissing my head "i dont think i can see you like this.."
"like what?" i was resting my head on his chest listening to his heart beat
"hurting.. in pain.."
"it wont last forever.. just few weeks.." i said closing my eyes
"weeks will be years to me.. just to" he paused "i dont want you to go through it alone.."
"you're here.. how can you say alone?" i mumbled still closing my eyes
he was quiet, as if thinking.. and i didnt move back to see his eyes, he was tapping my back, making me more sleepy "Geet" he whispered
"hm.."
he kissed my head "good night sweetheart" i felt him lying me down.. changing my clothes, kissing the operation scar and lying next to me, putting me in his arms.. as if protecting me from everything else.
a week has passed, i was walking in small steps now without feeling so much pain, and i could feel that i can get back to normal life but Maan wast agreeing "you cant ask me to quit my job Maan" i said as i was sitting on the bed, Maan was wearing his shirt
"yes i can, and you will have to do it" he said firmly
"i want to live my life in a normal way not like a handicapped person!"
"Geet, you are going through pain still.. any wrong action, anyone passing by hitting you with their elbow would cause you more pain that you might faint"
"i will be careful i told you" he looked away "i want to work again"
"you can teach Geet here at the house in regular hours as if you are working" he said wearing his jacket
"i want to have my own salary"
he looked at me "ok, i will pay you for teaching my daughter"
i sighed looking at him "no" i said "i want to go out again.. it's been one damn week since you've locked me up here"
"GEET" he shouted that i moved back "for the first time in my life with you i will have to say END OF DISCUSSION" i looked away with tears in my eyes "im going to work"
"lock the door, i might run away" i mumbled
"very funny" he said slamming the door behind him, i started having tears looking outside the window.. this was probably the hardest argument i ever had with Maan and it was irritating me, because he doesnt want me to do anything that would cause me pain.. which was basically everything. 30 minutes later, the bedroom door was open.. Maan walked in, sat on the bed and looked down "i die everytime i see you close your eye tight, bite your lip.. thinking about something else but the pain you go through" he said softly, not looking at me "what do you want Geet?" he asked
i looked at him sniffing "i want to work again.."
he nodded "just give it a time please" he said "you can quit from this school.. when you are better, i will make sure you go to the best school in Mumbai to work in" that seemed reasonable "what else?"
"what am i going to do until then?" i looked at him, he still had his head down
"i told you, teach Geet.. i can bring Mish's kids too.."
"salary?" i reminded him
he sighed "where did i go?"
"we talked about this Maan"
"fine" he paused "i will pay you, and then.. you can pay me later"
"promise?"
"haan promise" i smiled, he still didnt look at me "what else?"
i stared at him, hoping he would meet my gaze but he didnt.. i reached my hand for him, touched his shoulder, saw him closing his eyes "i want you to make love to me" i whispered
a smile appeared on his face "next" he said
"no, that's about it"
he looked at me "i have to pass the request"
"kyon?"
"you heard the doctor na?"
i sighed and folded my arms "ok" i shrugged looking down
"not even pouting is going to change my mind"
i looked away from him "i didnt pout"
he giggled, he got closer and put his arms around me, i didnt look at him "to see you hurt is something, to cause you pain is something else" i slowly looked at him "i miss feeling complete so much.. but there might be consequences that i could never handle living with" he kissed my forehead "you are the sexiest lady Geet.. controlling myself with you is an achievement.. but im trying my best"
i giggled blushing "i love you"
"i love you too.." he leaned down and kissed me "now that's solved.. can i go back to work with a kiss back please?"
i giggled and kissed him back "have fun"
"ye right.." he sighed leaving the bedroom.
at night, mom and Amit came to visit.. the moment she saw me, it was her first time after the operation, she started crying, hugging me "i told Amit not to tell you anything afraid that you might do something stupid like this" she said hugging me tight
"you're welcome" i joked
she looked at me worried, her hands on my cheeks "did you have to go through a lot for this?"
"nahi ma" i smiled kissing her hand "if i didnt do this.. you wouldnt be here acting like a drama queen" they all laughed but me and ma kept looking at each other "it would hurt even more to miss you ma" i bit my lip
"who's being drama queen now?" ma giggled as she hugged me again
"ok, enough with the tears please" Maan complained putting his arm around me
"i told Shublee, TV seriously needs her!" Amit said
"chup!" mom hit his shoulder as she sat next to him
we were laughing, saying jokes.. having a good time that we didnt have since summer vacation. when mom left, me and Maan were lying down in bed.. i was on my back and he was lying on his left side, looking at me.. i pushed myself up.. and got closer to him.. just to feel his breath on my face made my heart race, my lips were just an inch away from his.. i slowly let them touch his lip then moved back, he leaned down and kissed me again, i put my hand on his head and ran my fingers through his hair, he was about to get on top of me when his knee accidentally touched my right side, i pushed him away shouting in pain "Geet! kya hua? what happened?" he was holding my hand in horror, i looked at his face, crying "did i hurt you? it was my knee wasnt it?"
i didnt want him to blame himself "can you.. bring me the pain killers please?" i stuttered from pain
he ran outside and within few seconds, he was back with my tablets and glass of water.. i had two pills and lied back on the bed, he sat on his knees on the floor, holding my hand "did i hurt you Geet?"
"no" i said closing my eyes, trying to think about something else "its not your fault.."
i heard him sniff "im sorry"
i looked at him "Maan.." the meds were kicking in and i was almost sleeping "dont say that please.. i shouldnt have started it"
but he kept on apologizing, kissing my hand and soon i was sleeping.
i wok up the next day, there was a slight pain in that area but it didnt bother me, not as much as not finding Maan in the room, i looked at the clock and it says 1.. pm of course. i thought that he maybe left for work, i got up and walked slowly to the bathroom.. let me not explain how hell it is to go to the bathroom and just do what i need to do normally, i would take about half an hour there.. and its not fun at all. when i came out i saw Maan coming in "Maan" i smiled but soon my smile faded, he was limping "kya hua?" i almost ran towards him "why are you limping?"
he smiled kissing my head "kuch nahi.. i hit my.. leg with the car door.." i looked at his eyes "how are you feeling now?"
"better.." i hugged him "did you really hit your leg with the car door?"
"haan Geet" he kissed my head, hugging me back "i have to go to Delhi tonight.. for 3 days"
i looked up at him "kyon?"
"meeting" he said placing his hand on my cheek
"i will prepare your bag"
"i will do that"
i sighed looking at him "treat me normally please.."
he bit his lip "ok" he said not really agreeing, i smiled and started packing his clothes, what he needs like i always do when he has to travel, Geet came running helping us by blabing about Barnie.. he hugged and kissed her, then me and him walked towards the elevator of the apartment, he stopped looking at me "dont do too much things.." i was smiling at him "i called aunty and Amit to come and stay with you"
i rolled my eyes "thanks a lot"
he giggled, brought my head to his lips and kissed my forehead, my eyes and my lips.. passionately "i love you" he whispered between the kisses he was giving me
i looked at him worried "dont say that now"
he smiled "no plane crashing Geet"
"great, now i feel much better" i lowered my gaze, he kissed my head then left, i stopped looking at him inside the elevator.. once the elevator door closed my heart ached, i almost ran towards my room and dialed Maan's number
"i knew you'd call" he giggled when he picked up
i smiled "make sure you eat properly cause i know you forget to eat when you are busy" i paused "and please change the sheets of the bed, i put one in the bag for you ok? it wont take you a minute" i paused again trying to remember what he doesnt do all the time he leaves to a meeting outside Mumbai "aur haan! dont forget to call me w.."
"when i reach Mumbai airport, when i land in Delhi airport and when im at the hotel.." he finished my sentence and i sighed "i wont forget.."
i sat on the bed "take care please"
"i should say that to you"
"haan well.. i dont want you back with a cold.. just stay warm at night, it gets cold there"
"uffu" he whispered "how can i stay warm when you're not there with me?"
i blushed and smiled "i'll miss you.."
"just 3 days Geet.. promise" he paused "and.. dont call ok.. i mean you know i get busy and.. i might not be able to answer and then you'll get worried for nothing"
"text me at least.."
"i will.."
i bit my lip "why do i have this feeling.."
"shhh" he said "everything will be fine.."
i kissed the mobile "i love you" i whispered
"i love you too sweetheart"
PRECAP
i walked as fast as i could towards him but then stopped in the middle of the way.. i held the dining table chair.. my smile left my face as i looked at Maan, he looked tired.. pale.. like something had happened to him, my heart started pounding as i started linking things together
Ishaani
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