Part 39: Alleyway by the dock.
<Geet's monologue>
It was like spring in Meer's life....and as my family I prayed that she was stuck there for the rest of her life. Yash was around all the time and it seemed like they were joined at the hip when they were not in office.
I loved the fact they were so much in love, but it made the emptiness in my life more pronounced.
Not that I was old and was dying out of desperation to be with another person, but the fact that I was introduced to being dependent on another person for experiencing happiness before I could even define it, made it even more harder. I didn't have the right to make my own mistakes and learn and define myself. I was asked to confirm and bend and now I'm broken, trying to define me...my reality.
I was restoring myself and I doubted if the process could ever complete. Even if it did, would it be too late by then for me to expect him to be a part of my world.
I didn't know if he could wait, nor was I ready to settle for an incomplete me.
Maan:"Geet...station aagaya hain...uthrogi?"
<Maan's monologue>
She seemed lost. She was pre-occupied most of the time nowadays as if she was processing something. I couldn't tell what it was. She wouldn't look me in the eye now and it had been the same for the last couple of days.
I was determined to find out what had changed and I was waiting for this day to spend some time with her. It was Friday and we were all going to visit a colleague's exhibit. Meera and Geet wanted to go as it was an antique jewelery exhibit and the theme was supposed to be different. It was being held at a dilapidated warehouse by the shipping docks to send home the feel that the the exhibits truly came from a different time and was still stuck in the ruins.
We walked along side each other to the apartment. She was silent. I wanted to break our silence, but for now I wanted to just look at her and be lost in her.
Agar koi bahar wala dekhega toh vunhe lagega ki mujhe goor ne ki bhimari hai...but only I knew how little time I got with her to take all of her in and live with it during all the time she was not next to me.
I followed her one step behind and I was diagonal to her rather by her side. I had worked this little detail out as my perfect position to look at her without being noticed. I smiled. Yeh! Ladki toh muhje sach mein pagal kar diya hain.
It was her floor and she was ready to get off. I followed her as if she had bewitched me.
I walked behind her mindlessly, but I was interrupted when my phone rang.
We kept walking as I was attending the call.
Maan:"Haan....Nakul, nahin mujhe 2% milk chaiye aur eggs bhi"
Maan:"Nahin, Oats or bread bhi."
<Geet's monologue>
I unlocked the door and the sight shocked me. I instantly closed the door and turned to rest my back on the door. Aah!....
His lips slightly brushed my forehead...babaji... he jumped back. I closed my eyes...I shut them as tightly as possible, for I couldn't resist looking into his eyes.
I stood there frozen, trying to understand what had just happened. It was for such a brief moment, that I couldn't completely believe that it did really happen.
It was an accident....He didn't expect me to turn instantly at the door and he was expecting to follow me. He wasn't concentrating that I was ahead of him.
<Maan's monologue>
I just....I mean....what had I done? She closed her eyes? I didn't understand her strange reaction. She seemed terrified.
Nakul:"Hullo...Maan sir aap hai? Call cut ho gaya hain kya?"
My hand automatically cut the call. My other hand was just about to touch her lashes...when I snapped out of it. I couldn't loose control. No not anymore. It was an accident. Should I say sorry? Its not my mistake though. I decided to leave it at that.
Maan:"Geet...tum palat kyon gayi..."
She opened her eyes and turned to aced the door.
Geet:"Ji...woh..woh log woh kar rahe hain.."
I didn't understand what she said. I slightly opened the door to see what it was she was talking about.
Meer and Yash were kissing in the kitchen. It was a direct view from the door.
Maan:"Geet usse woh nahin kehte'vuss kiss kahte hain'.tum sach mein 5 saal Toronto main thi'yaah kahin aur'tum kiss shabd bolne ke liye itna uncomfortable kyoon ho?"
She slowly turned to look at me.
Geet:"Ji'.mujhe maloom hain aur main ab NY ki rahne wali hoon'.mujhe tho sab kuch pata hain'or naahi main uncomfortable hoon"
I folded my arms and looked at her. I couldn't stop looking at her when she made such innocent statements.
Maan:"Accha'toh bolo ki Yash aur meera kya kar rahe hain?"
Geet:"Ji'woh'.yash aur meera'woh'."
Maan:"Aage bolo geet'"
She was mad'
Geet:"Yeh office nahin hain'yeh apartment hain'aur mujhe aapke har baath maanna zaroorat nahin hain'"
She didn't care about anything out of the blue. She opened the door and barged in.
Maan:"Geet'.ruko'"
<Geet's monologue>
I didn't mind walking in on Yash and meera. I didn't mind that embarrassment, compared to the one I would have faced with him.
Mujhe kya problem hai'.main tho'chilla chilla ke bol sakthi hoon'.Kiss, kiss'kiss'le'hogaya?
I have even asked him if he had kissed a girl, but this time, he was teasing me and I could see it in his eyes.
Yash and meera were embarrassed and she squeaked a sorry and they both went into Meer's bedroom.
Maan followed in after a minute.
Maan:"Tumhe ho kya gaya hain? Itna guss kyon?"
I was about to walk away when he held me by my upper arm and stopped me. His hand was cold.
Geet:"Gussa'nahin to aur kya'aaj kal aap mujhe itna tang jo karte hain'mein to pagal"
Babaji'maine yeh kya keha diya hai'
Maan:"Main tang kar raha hoon?'.kis din ka gussa nikhal rahi ho? Mujhe kuch samaj mein nahin aa raha hain"
<Maan's monologue>
She was frustrating me with her weird behavior. I had no clue what was causing all this.
<Geet's monologue>
Geet'.thoda'shanth ho ja'I took a deep breath and tried to calm down. I tried to meet his eye for a short while.
Geet:"Ji'.woh kuch nahin'.actually hame nikhal na bhi hain'nahin tho der ho jayega'"
Maan:"Maan'baat mat badlo'.mere sawal ka jawab do."
Just then Meer walked out and saved me. He instantly let go of my arm.
Meera:"Geet'tum abhi tak tayar nahi hui'.we have to leave'Maan'aap bhi'"
I took the time she bought me and ran to my room without looking behind.
<Maan's monologue>
There is no way I'm letting this go today. She has to give me an answer.
Maan:"Meera'main abhi tayar ho ke aata hoon'Main drive karoonga aaj"
I was upset and mad. I didn't know why. I had already dealt with this indifferent Geet for the last couple of days and I was done with it. I didn't know if this was yet another time she was running away from the world with her own theories or it was something else. I thought we had promised to walk beside each other and not one pursue the other. Today was the last straw. Why was she avoiding me? She even got mad at me today.
My anger was melting like ice for she looked like the first ray of run, so radiant. She got into the car and I didn't know if I could keep my eyes on the road or would I slip to gaze her through the rear view mirror. She was wearing a white suit and her eyes'so deep.
We reached the warehouse and I gave the keys to the valet for the car to be parked.
We went in but my gaze only followed her.
<Geet's monologue>
The place was very different. Couple of yards down from the entrance there seemed to be many alleyways. I got reminded of Sherlock Holmes and Nacy Drew for in the books there was always evil lurking in the alleyways.
It gave an eerie feel. The inside was set up like ruins of an ancient civilization and the jewelery was strewn around carelessly as if they belonged to some loot.
We were being watched by a dozen cameras and it was strictly by invitation only. I was able to spot a few of my colleagues there. We were allowed to move in small groups and every group had a guide to explain the history and antiquity behind the jewelery.
He pulled me away from our group. Yash and Meer continued.
Geet:"Maan'.chodiye'yeh kya ho gaya hain aapko'"
Maan:"Wahi baat main tumhe pooch na chahta hoon. Tumhe kya ho gaya hain."
He left my hand as someone passed us.
Maan:"Baar baar'mujhe avoid kar rahi ho'aur mujse aankh tak nahi mila rahi ho'"
I understood that he was determined to find out the answer today. He had been questioning me the same way on and off the whole of this week and I for one had nothing to tell him.
Kahti bhi to toh kya kahti'.I was not there yet and I was not ready for him to enter my world.
I thought how I could cover up.
Geet:"Ji, Maan'aisa kuch nahin"
I had to do something for him to believe that it was not the case. So I let my guard down and tried to look at him, to meet his eyes.
I was stuck. My emotions were running high. I didn't know if I could stay away from doing anything irrational. Maan'.kaise ho aap? I missed you'
I had closed myself down after the dance class that I felt I had not been with him for the whole week.
<Maan's monologue>
She held my hand. I looked down at her hold. I was trying to understand what she was doing. Can she please speak for once?
I immediately looked around to see if someone was watching us. Our colleagues were there too.
Maan:"Geet, tumhe ho kya jaata hain'please'agar tumhe kuch problem hai toh mujhe batao."
She immediately snapped out as if she was in a trance and walked out of the exhibit.
I wanted to follow her and just then Meera yelled out my name.
Meera:"MK'geet kahan hain?"
Maan:"Abhi wph bahar gaye'Let me get her"
Meera:"MK, sab kuch teek tho hain aap dono ke beech"
I was angry she was not letting me go. I snapped back at her in anger.
Maan:"Meera'I will answer your questions later."
I turned and ran to get her, before she could get far away. I was confident I would find her nearby.
As the cold breeze hit my face, my eyes instantly looked out left and right to see which way she had gone.
I couldn't believe my eyes. She was nowhere to be found.
I walked to the corner where the valet drivers were standing.
Maan:"Hi'did you see a lady in white dress, walk this way?"
Valet:"No Sir. Not this way"
I turned to look the other way. Did she venture into the alleyways?
I was sure I will be able to find her. My heart called out a bad omen. I still wasn't sure what was awaiting me. I kept telling myself that everything was going to be ok and that she was just simply mad because I was forcing her to talk to me.
I was almost half jogging and walking into the alleyways. She was still not to be found. It was getting darker. I convinced myself that she wouldn't have come this far.
I came out and started going away from the shipping docks. I didn't think it was a good idea to search by foot.
I ran back to the valet to get my car. Every second seemed like an hour. What was delaying the valet to get the car?
I couldn't stand there and wait, so I ran behind the warehouse to get the car myself.
I saw my car approaching halfway. I got in and started driving. It was driving me mad. It was already 15 mts since her disappearance.
I drove for another 10 mts and she was still nowhere. Where did she go? I was going mad. My head was aching. AAh'.it was not a safe place to be alone at this time. I called Meera to see if she was back at the exhibit. She was not.
There was no time to delay. I called 911 while I was driving.
911 caller:"Hello 911. Please state your emergency"
Maan:"Hi'.My close friend is missing and I need some officers to help find her."
911 caller:"Alright sir, now calm down please. Are you hurt? And what is your name Sir?"
Maan:"No. I'm not...My name is Maan Khurana, I need help searching for Geet'Geet is her name"
911:"Sir, Where are you calling from?"
Maan:"I'm driving towards XXXX and YYYYY, but we had actually gone to ZZZZ for an exhibit. It's in Warehouse NN. Can you please send someone immediately? I will drive back to the warehouse immediately. I will be at the entrance"
I gave them the other details they needed and drove back to the warehouse. The cop car was already there.
I half parked the car at the entrance, flung the door open and ran.
Maan:"Officer, my 'I mean'Geet is missing. "
Officer 1:"Please calm down'Mr'"
Maan:"Please call me MK"
Officer2:"So what happened?"
I gave them all the details that she walked out of the front door and that she was probably angry with me.
They took the car in the alleyways. They switched on powerful search lights and scanned all the alleyways and the car disappeared around the corner.
I was asked to stand by the entrance to the alleyway. I couldn't argue with the cops, I was a nobody here in the US.
As I was waiting, another cop car came by and stopped.
An officer got out of the car and was on the wirless talking to someone.
Officer3:"Yes this is office Brian Mckinsey, badge # NNNNN, I would like to call for medical assistance at ZZZZ, warehouse NN."
Medical assistance? Yeh! Kya ho raha hain? I was going crazy and didn't know if this was all for 'I trembled mentioning her name.
Maan:"Officer, is everything alright? Is this for the same call I made a little while earlier?"
Officer3:"Calm down'Mr..?"
Maan:"Call me MK'please'tell me what is happening?"
Officer3:"Mr MK, there is a female who has been found in the alleyway. She is alive, but she appears to have some physical injury. She could have been mugged, but we are not able to ascertain her condition now. She is unconcoious and so we are not sure if she is your friend. I have called for medical assistance. They should be here any minute and we will let you know immediately, but sir, you gotta calm down now. We will find your friend if this is not the same person."
The ambulance was here before the officer could finish the sentence. The EMT's ran into the alleyways.
With every passing second, my life was slowly being sucked out of me. I called Meera and Yash to come out. They rushed by my side.
One of the EMT's came back to get the stretcher. The officer was still not letting me go into the alleyway.
I could see the EMT's carrying someone from the other end. The whole world slowed down infront of my eyes. I was waiting to find out if it was her. I prayed that she was somewhere else safe. I saw a white garment sweeping the streets as they were coming towards us. I argued with my sanity that it could not be her and that she was probably going back to the apartment.
I was wrong. My intuition had failed me. Or was my intuituion right about finding her but just not in the way I had hoped for?
It was heart wrenching to see her like that. My heart winced in pain. I was responsible for this state of hers. What had I done?
Maan:"Geet'..tum teek tho ho?"
EMT:"Sir, you can come with us'but you have to calm down first"
I got into the ambulance with her. I didn't know what was going on. All I could think of was that she was in this state because of me. I could never forgive myself for this. Never.
I held her hand all the way to the emergency.
She was never going out of my sight. Never again.
Ok...people, another long one. Hope you like it. Please post and comment.This leads to some major turn of events starting the next part. No she is not pregnant.😉.
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