Chp. 6 Death, the saviour
The silence that hovered in the waiting area of the hospital was disconcerting. Dadi's tears flowed without any hindrance, Dev paced to and fro in the corridor whereas, Myra and Adi stood huddled in a corner. It had been over an hour since Maan had been wheeled in on the stretcher, pale as a ghost, into the surgery unit. The doctors refused to say anything as yet about his condition. The scurrying of nurses in and out of the surgery unit only set everyone's heartbeats racing. What no one understood was how an unconscious Geet was suddenly walking and talking and what exactly had transpired between the duo that had Maan killing himself. The answer lay only with Maan because Geet refused to speak and was totally in hysterics if the reason for Maan's condition was probed deeper.
"Dev bhai," a worried Anvesha rushed in. "How's Maan bhai?"
Dev shook his head saying, "The doctors aren't speaking, yet."
"How's Geet?" he asked after a moment of silence.
"She's asleep. It took me a long while to convince her that Maan bhai would be fine. But I had to give her sleeping pills," Annie replied.
At Dev's appalled look she said, "I had no choice."
***
The evening had been a perfect one. The party had been to her liking. It had felt great to be back in the society with the elite. She had all but forgotten the power and influences the name "Khurana" wielded. The Khuranas were unmistakably the crme de la crme of the society. This evening back in the social circles had reinforced that in her mind. And now that this fact had been reinstated in her mind, she was not going to easily let her power and position in society go. Dev was hers and always was! And if some low life chit like Myra had eyes for her Dev, then she knew how to deal with the bitch.
The Khurana mansion was uncannily silent when she returned. Everything was quiet yet in a restless sort of a way. The lights were on in the whole mansion and considering the nightly hour, it seemed out of place. Something was wrong. Incredibly wrong, her conniving mind told her. And that gave her a sense of accomplishment. She hailed the butler whose response to her questioning seemed to confirm her suspicions.
"Is no one at home?" she queried.
"No, Nayantara ji," the butler solemnly replied. "They're all at the hospital."
"Hospital?" she asked with narrowed eyes. "Is something the matter with Geet? Is her condition worse?"
"It isn't Geet ji, ma'm. It's Maan Sir," he replied.
Her eyes narrowed to slits, "What happened to him?"
"Poison," was all he replied.
"Out of my sight," she snapped; the butler scurried away.
Maan and poison?!
***
Nayantara had arrived in time for an update on Maan's condition. The appearance of the doctor hitched the breaths of everyone present. Anticipation weighed heavy in the air. The blank expressionless face of the doctor did little to help. Dadi gave a little sob as she spotted the doctor, this was the man who had news about her son and he was the one who could save him.
"How's my son, doctor? How's Maan?" she asked frantically.
"Relax Mrs. Khurana, your son is in a critical state'"
Everyone gasped.
"'and," the doctor continued, "His situation is frail. He's unconscious at the moment and only when he's conscious again can we truly be assured of his safety. And that, we do not know, will take how long. The poison has been cleansed from his stomach and he's under medication. We've done what we could and the rest now lies with the creator. One of you is allowed to stay the night. Now excuse me, I'll need one of you to accompany me; certain formalities have to be addressed."
"I do that," Dev said and walked away with the doctor. As Myra saw Dev walk away, she hoped that Nayantara would let everyone be and not resort to her conniving tactics.
"Geet must not know about this," Annie said to no one in particular.
Dadi looked up. The tears still wet on her lashes, "Annie, I want to know what happened between Maan and Geet that Maan had to resort to this'" She couldn't complete the sentence.
"Dadi, believe me, I do not know'"
"What is happening in this house?!" Dadi cried. "Ever since that accursed day when Maan and Geet got engaged, nothing has gone well. First Geet and now, my Maan! What is going on?" she sobbed.
"Perhaps, Geet has an explanation? After all, she's the one who's responsible for all this, is she not?" smirked Nayantara. Myra looked warily at Nayantara. She was definitely up to something.
"Geet is responsible?" Dadi asked bewildered.
Nayantara rolled her eyes, "Dadi, you are too nave for your age. It's Geet's condition that has forced Maan veerji to take such a drastic step."
"You mean, Geet's pregnancy'" Dadi said.
"But Maan bhai is not the kind of a person to take the chicken's way out and shirk his responsibilities," Annie intervened.
"True, if the responsibility was his," Nayantara replied.
"Erm, Nayantara, could we talk about this later, please? This is neither the time nor the place for a conversation of importance," Myra tried to talk Nayantara out of it but she knew it was a vain attempt.
"Myra, it'd be better if you kept your nose out of our family issues," Nayantara sneered.
"Right, excuse me," Myra replied and walked away in search of Dev. She knew, he was the only one who could control Nayantara, if.
"What are you trying to insinuate, Nayantara bhabhi?" Annie asked
"That Geet was already pregnant before she met Maan veerji," she announced coolly.
A collective gasp met the declaration.
"Bhabhi, are you aware of the harm your words can cause to everyone?" retorted Annie.
"Very well, dear, but at the same time, I cannot deprive my family of the truth. They're entitled to it," replied Nayantara sweetly. Looking at Dadi she continued, "Dadi, Geet was a destitute, an outcast banished from her family due to her pregnant state, and running for her life. And when she met Maan veerji, he had mercy on the impoverished female and helped her by giving her a lift to Delhi and eventually a job as his secretary. And that ungrateful s**t! How did she repay him? By her sweet words and pretty face, she roped him into romance and stealthily found a way to his heart. And once she was sure that Maan veerji was crazy about her, she dropped the bomb. Surely, Maan veerji being a respectable man from a respectable family and a status in society could not take it. Yet, he didn't say a word and now, I'm sure she must've forced something else upon him that led him to take this drastic step."
Dadi gaped at Nayantara aghast. She couldn't believe that a girl so innocent and nave could have so easily brought the downfall of her grandson.
"If what you say is true, Nayantara, then Geet will not see the break of dawn in the Khurana mansion," stated Dadi.
"Dadi, you can't do that ' "
"No Annie, to me, nothing holds more importance than Maan," replied Dadi with a note of finality to her voice. "Now, you may all leave, I'll stay here."
"Dadi, you must be tired and you need to rest. I'll stay here," Annie tried to talk Dadi out of it.
"That's okay '"
"No Dadi, it's not. Please?" Annie pleaded.
"Alright," she sighed exasperatedly. "Come Nayantara, we should leave now."
Nayantara had a smirk dancing on her face as she walked away with Dadi. Ten minutes later when Dev returned with Myra, Annie told him all that had transpired in his absence. Dev was flabbergasted. He couldn't stop the profanities that escaped his mouth. However, a moment too late, Dev registered Annie's presence when Myra nudged him. Annie didn't miss the sudden change in her brother.
"Bhai, what're you keeping from me?" she queried as she looked suspiciously from one to the other.
"Erm, no- no, nothing at all," Dev replied hastily. "At this moment, what everyone needs is rest and I suggest that you go home. Don't exert yourself much, I'll stay here. Myra'll go with you."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes dear. And don't forget, Geet needs you."
She nodded and left with Myra.
***
"Geet?"
Annie rushed into the room and frantically searched for her in every corner. Geet was nowhere to be seen. The blood and shards of glass had been cleared and the spot where Maan had lain insentient was clean of all evidence. The bathroom was vacant; the bed messed with the tousled sheets. A couple of hangers lay sprawled on the bed and the wardrobe was partially open. All tell-tale signs that Geet had disappeared. But where? Why? The answer lay on the bed; a nearly crumpled piece of paper, out of Geet's notepad, with a clear and crisp text scribbled on it. Annie grabbed it and scanned it quickly. Her heart sank.
What is one expected to do when the one you love the most, trust the most, and the one who is your life turns your life into one big joke? Ridicules your very existence? Whose betrayal and deception slashes deep into your heart? Being around such people every day, every moment can only mean mocking yourself. Life loses its meaning. Death then, turns the savior.
Maan Singh Khurana
The letter was smudged with tears, which were undoubtedly Geet's. Annie couldn't believe that her brother had actually tried to commit suicide. Her brother, the Maan Singh Khurana had actually attempted suicide. Did that mean Nayantara was right? But Geet, she couldn't just be left on her own. They needed to find her. The letter had turned wet once again due to a fresh splurge of tears which Annie realized were her own. Something just didn't seem right. Despite all the facts, something was missing. Some vital key that connected it all. She closed her eyes and tried to visualize, once again, the scene when they had found Maan on the floor. As she tried hard to concentrate, she could see it all. And then, her eyes jerked open.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Precap: "Maan will live or not is impossible to tell."
Okay, I agree this update has come way too late and was also a tad bit shorter, but I'm trying to find time out of my busy schedule for this. One more thing, I know many of you may believe the story is moving at a very slow pace, but believe me, I'm trying to speed it up, the results of which shall be seen in the ensuing chapters. Gotta rush! Liked or not, do let me know. AND, since I have around 400 people in my buddy list, sending PMSs is a pain, so henceforth, only those who hit the LIKE button and COMMENT will be receiving PMs, makes life much easier for me and you too! So act accordingly!
CHEERS!
Edited by tes_v1 - 14 years ago
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