FF: Humesha Saath 1 - Link to 2 pg150 - Page 6

"Nahin Veerji, nahin! Usse maat maro! Woh marajyega!"

*~* 7 Years Later *~*

"Nahin Veerji, nahin! Usse maat maro! Woh marajyega!"

The tortured wail echoed through the palatial mansion that was home to the Handa family. It was only in the dark hours of the night that this call could be heard. Yet, of the eleven other family members living in the house, no one bothered to check on what was going on. This was not an uncommon disturbance in the Handa household; it had been taking place for the past seven years. At first when it used to happen everyone would rush to her room, but over the years, they had learned to ignore her cries. Over the years the family members had to accept the fact that this recurring nightmare, which they had caused, was part of her life.

Alone in her room, the oldest of the Handa daughters shot up in her bed gasping for air. Her eyes were red and brimming with tears, her forehead was drenched in perspiration and her entire body was shivering. As reality slowly, yet surely dawned on her, the tears fell from her eyes. She tried to compose herself by repeating that it was only a dream – no, a nightmare. It was a nightmare that took place seven years ago – it was a nightmare that could not be reversed.

She leaned her head back against the head board of her bed and listened to the wind howling outside her window. It was the same wind, the same high pitched howl that she had heard on that fateful night seven years ago. It was the same wind that reoccurred on this night for the past seven years, only to completely disappear by day break. It was also the same rain that fell that night. The same drenching, pounding rain that mixed with her tears that night, just like it had for the past seven years. This year it would be no different. Her cries were drowned out by the wind and her tears were accompanied by the rain – just like they had been on that night seven years ago.

*~*Flash Back*~*

(7 years ago)

She had gotten up early that day, earlier than usual, because it was very special day. Once she had showered and changed into a simple pink churidar she proceeded down the stairs. Just like any other morning her family was still asleep, or barely getting up.

What was she going to do with them?

She was the youngest in the family, after her 12 year old sister Pinky, yet she was almost always the first to rise. She knew what she had to do to get everyone down here. Pulling her dupatta over her head, she proceeded to the mandir that was nestled at the center of her home. Lighting the diyas and placing the fresh flowers by the God's, she began singing the hymn that she knew would call to each of her family members.

She had been right. Less than 2 minutes later she could feel her parents, her three brothers and their wives and even the servants of the household, all gathered around the mandir for the morning pooja. She didn't have to look back to know that the only person missing was little Pinky, she never woke up before 11am on any day that wasn't a school day, no matter what happened.

Once she finished singing the hymn and doing the pooja, she turned around so everyone could take the aarti. She first went to her oldest brother Brij and his wife, Naintara. Next came her brother Teji and his wife Meera, followed by her youngest-older brother, Adi and his wife Sasha. Lastly she went to her parents, first to her father, Mohinder Handa and lastly to her mother, Savitri Handa. She was putting the pooja ki thali down as everyone began to walk away, off to begin their daily routines. She quickly went and hugged her mother from behind, squeezed her tight and kissed her on the cheek.

"Happy birthday Maa!" she yelled, causing everyone to stop in their tracks and turn back.

Her mothers smiled and patter her cheek as she said, "Thank you beta."

"Kya Bauji aap bhi naa," Adi began to say. "Aaj Maa ka janamdin hai aur aap ne hume bataya hi nahin."

"Kaam se kaam yaad toh dena chahiye tha," said Brij from behind.

Mohinder looked like a deer caught in head lights as Savitri turned to face him with a raised eyebrow.

"Um…woh…main toh…." Mohinder as so flabbergasted that he stuttered his words.

"Tere Bauji ko khud yaad rahe, taab tum saab ko batayega naa," Savitri said.

"Savitri, woh main…" Mohinder began to say as he looked down and scratched his head.

"Rehne dijiyeh, mujhe koi bahana nahin chahiyeh," she said. "Kissi aur ko yaad rahe naa rahe, meri Geet ko humesha yaad rehti hai."

Geet puffed her chest out in pride and asked, "Iss ka kya matlab hua?"

"Kya?" Meera asked.

"Iss ka matlab yeh hai Bhabi, ke iss ghaar mein, saab se zyada pyaar main Maa se karti hoon!" Geet announced as she hugged her mother again. "Ek aur matlab bhi hai."

"Aur woh kya hai?" Teji asked.

"Woh yeh hi ke saab se zyada pyaar Maa mujhse karti hai," Geet said.

"Aaisa kyun?" Sasha asked.

"Aaisa iss liyeh Bhabi kyun ke zaara soochiyeh…theen theen bete hai Maa ke paas, lekin ek ko bhi yaad nahin raha ke aaj Maa ka janamdin hai!" she said with a childish smile on her face.

She could see her brother's turn red with shame and pretend to hit her as all three of them swung their hands in the air as if aiming right for her head or cheeks, and she heard her Bhabi's all break out into a quiet fit of laughter.

"Mere pyaare Bhabi's, aap bhi kuch kaam nahin hai," Geet said.

"Kyun, kyun? Woh kyun?" Naintara asked.

"Kuyn ke ghaar mein theen theen bahuein hai. Lekin aap theeno mein se, kissi ko bhi yaad nahin raha," Geet said as she winked her eyes at them.

Now it was her brothers turn to laugh and for her sister-in-laws to look at her in horror.

"Geet ki baachi! Ther, aaj tujhe main nahin chodungi!" Sasha yelled as she began chasing Geet around the house.

Sasha was her youngest Bhabi, she was also the one that Geet was closest to. Sasha was older than Geet by four years, and more than a sister-in-law, she was like the older sister Geet never had. She could talk to Sasha for hours on end, she told Sasha every detail about her life – she trusted Sasha, like she trusted only one other person. Of course, that is not to say that Naintara and Meera were not great, because they were. But for some reason, Geet had a closer relationship with Sasha than anyone else in the house, aside from her mother.

Soon everyone else dispersed with the intent of getting on with the day. Her mother and Sasha had headed towards the kitchen to get breakfast going for the family, as the two older bahu's headed upstairs to pry their children awake. Brij and Naintara had a darling 5 year old boy named Ketan, while Teji and Meera had 3 year old twin girls, Rashmi and Diya. Adi and Sasha didn't have any children, yet.

The men went off to read the paper and make some business calls as the servants brought them chai. However, it was Geet who had the toughest job of the entire household – waking up Pinky. Geet would rather wake up and help get her nephew and nieces ready any day, and let someone else handle Pinky. She had tried repeatedly to barging with someone to take that job, but everyone knew how hard it was so no one dared take her up on the offer.

It took Geet nearly 45 minutes to get Pinky out of bed and into the shower. All that talking, pushing and prodding – Geet felt like she could use a cold shower! She ran to her room and set her hair, which had finally dried, before returning to join the women in the kitchen. As Geet descended the stairs she saw flowers being put up, the hall being decorated, the servants running around in chaos – so much was going on. Even her father and all three brothers were gathered in the sitting area looking like they were in a very serious discussion. Geet reached the dining table where her mother sat cutting apples and various other fruits as her Bhabi's set the table. Geet grabbed a slice of apple and bit in.

"Wah, bohot zooroon shoroon se tayariyaan chal raha hai. Kya baath hai. Aaj kuch khaas hai kya?" she asked.

"Maa ka janam din hai," Naintara said, "Party toh honi hi chahiyeh. Kyun?"

"Of course!" Geet said as she hugged her mother. "Lekin Bhabi, aapko nahin lagta ke yeh kuch zyada hai?"

"Haan, lagta toh hai," Meera said.

"Phir aapne itne logoon ko kyun bulaya kaam karne ke liyeh. Maa ke janam din ke liyeh hum saab kafi hai naa?" Geet asked.

"Iss saab ka intezaam humne nahin, tumhare bhiayoon ne kiya hai," Sasha announced.

"Toh aap unhi se pooch lete," Geet said.

All three of her Bhabi's stopped what they were doing and looked up at her with the same are-you-kidding-me look in their eyes.

"Tumhare Veerjiyoon ne khabi humare sawal ka sida jawab diya hai?" Meera asked.

"Hmmm…" Geet sounded as she tried to come up with a moment.

"Nahin! Khabi nahin. Humesha ghuma phirake jawab dete hai," Naintara said.

Just as Geet was about to say something else, from the corner of her eye she saw her father and her brothers all get up and approach the dining room table.

"Kuch khaane ko milega Badi Bahu?" Mohinder asked.

"Ji Bauji, aap baitiyeh naa…khana lag gaya hai," Naintara said just as all the men sat down.

"Veerji…" Geet began to say as her brothers began to attack the fruits her mother had been cutting, "Aapko nahin lagta, ke yeh saab tayariyaan kuch zyada hai?"

"Nahin. Kyun?" Adi asked, as he stuffed an orange in his mouth.

"Mera matlab hai ke, Maa ke janam din ke liyeh…itni sari tayariyaan?"

Before anyone could answer Meera interrupted, "Aare Teji, jaake bachoon ke leka aao naa. Rashmi aur Diya, Ketan ke saat TV room mein cartoon dekh rahe hai. Aur haan, Pinky ko bhi. Paata nahin yeh ladki kahaan reh gayi hai?"

"Shayad bathroom mein phirse soh gayi hai," Naintara teased as everyone laughed because it had happened quite a few times in the past.

Teji got up as did Adi, because through experience, they knew that tackling the 3 Handa grandchildren as no easy task.

"Geet tujhse kisne kaha ke yeh saab Maa ke birthday ke liyeh hai?" Adi called as he walked away.

"Phir?" Geet asked confused. "Yeh saab kis ke liyeh hai?"

"Aare pagli, yeh saab tere liyeh hai," Brij said from the table.

All of the women gathered around the table stopped what they were doing and looked up at one another. No one was more confused than Geet as she tried to make sense of the comment.

"Mere liyeh? Mere liyeh kyun?" she asked.

What her brother, Teji, said next caused Geet's heart to skip a beat. "Kyun ke kaal Arjun ke saath teri sagaai hai!"

Geet held her breath and tried not to panic. Immediately she looked at Sasha who was already looking at her with remorse, confusion and sadness in her eyes. All other female eyes fixed on Geet as the attempted to process the information that had just been laid out.

"Didi ki sagaai hai kaal?" Pinky said as she climbed down the stairs. "Kisse ne mujhe nahin bataya! Koi mujhse kuch nahin kehta. Ghaar ke saabse choti hoon naa, issi liyeh saab mujhe ignore karte hai!"

"Chutki chup!" Geet yelled. "Yeh aap kya keh rahe ho Veerji? Meri sagaai? Woh bhi Arjun ke saath?"

"Haan toh?" Brij asked as he popped a grape into his mouth. "Usse mein kya kharabi hai? Aacha ladka hai, bohot bada business/karobaar hai. Aur uppar se Rathod uncle ka beta hai. Tu toh usse janti hai."

"Veerji woh baath nahin hai!" Geet yelled as she felt her mother put a cool hand on her arm, asking her to calm down without actually saying it.

"Phir baath kya hai?" Teji asked as he and Adi returned with the children.

"Baath yeh hai ke…ke main…" Geet glanced once again at Sasha who discretely shook her head in the negative, because she knew what Geet wanted to say. "Baath yeh hai ke meri sagaai tai hogayi hai aur kissi ne mujhse poocha tak nahin!"

"Tujhse kyun poochenge?" Brij asked.

"Zindagi meri hai Veerji. Kya mujhe koi haq nahin hai aapni zindagi ke baare mein faisla karne?" Geet asked, as the rage insider her began to build.

It was then that her father, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke. "Humare parivaar mein, aaisa faisla humesha ghaar ke bade buzurg karte aaye hai."

"Lekin Bauji, zamana badal gaya hai," Geet tried to argue.

"Geet!" All three of her brothers yelled at the same time.

"Yeh tu Bauji se kaise baatein kaar rahi hai?" Brij finished.

"Zamana chahe jitna bhi badal le, humara yeh rivaz nahin badlega," he said in a strong tone and final tone.

"Magar Bauji…" Geet began to say, only to be silenced when her father held up on hand.

"Mujhe aur koi behes nahin chahiye!"

Geet was speechless for a second. Her frustration and anger was so pent up inside of her she couldn't see straight any more.

"Main yeh sagaai nahin karungi!" she yelled as she ran up the stairs and slammed the door to her room.

Everyone at the table was quite for a minute or two – just quietly eating away like nothing had happened.

"Sasha," Savitri called.

"Ji Maa?"

"Naintara aur Meera yahaan saab sambhal lenge. Tu jaake Geet ko dekh," Savitri ordered.

Without another word Sasha handed the bowl, out of which she was feeding Diya, over to Meera and silently traced the path that Geet had taken minutes ago.

Upstairs in her room, Geet had thrown herself on her bed and began crying.

How could her family make such an important and huge decision about her life without so much as asking her opinion?

Why were the men allowed to walk all over the women's lives?

It wasn't something she had seen only happen with her – she had seen it happen countless times with her mother and sister-in-laws. They were just too nice and obedient to say something, but Geet was not. She had grown up and leaned to stand up for herself, to be confident and independent – all thanks to one person. This person had taught her how to respect herself so that others would also. This person had taught her to listen to her heart because it would never take her down the wrong path.

As she cried, Geet head the hinges on her door squeak as someone stepped in.

"Maa mujhe akela chod doh," Geet said, but her voice was muffled by the pillow against her face.

"Main hoon Geet," Sasha called out softly as she closed the door.

Geet immediately sat up and turned around.

"Bhabi…" she whispered as tears once again filled her eyes and spilled.

Sasha was instantly at her side as she took into her arms. "Shh, nahin rote," she soothed.

"Bhabi yeh saab kya hai?" Geet asked. "Saabne itna bada kadam uthaya hai, lekin kissi ne mujhse poocha tak nahin?"

"Tum toh aapne Veerjiyoon ko aur Bauji ko jaante ho naa," Sasha said.

"Kya aap saab ko pata tha Bhabi?" Geet asked as she wiped her tears with her hand.

"Nahin, yakin mano hum arutoon ko kuch paata nahin tha."

"Lekin Bhabi, aap toh jaanti hai naa? Main yeh sagaai nahin kaar sakti!" Geet yelled. "Main toh kissi aur se…"

"Shh, jaanti hoon," Sasha said as she gently stroked Geet's hair.

Geet pulled back from Sasha as she sniffled. She looked into Sasha's eyes and immediately her own eyes filled with tears.

"Saab tik hojayega naa?" she asked.

Sasha pulled Geet in for another hug.

"Saab tik hojayega. Saab tik hojayega," Sasha said.

She didn't know who she was trying to convince more, herself or Geet.

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It was almost 4 hours later when Geet finally came down. The only reason she came down is because she knew that until she had at least eaten something, neither her father nor her brothers would eat their lunch. If Geet had her way, she wouldn't have come down until she woke up from the nightmare she was sure she was having. As she once again made her way to the dining room table she hoped that preparations for her engagement would have died down or stopped altogether. When she reached the dining table she was surprised at what she found, or what she didn't find. Instead of the table surrounded by the male members of her family, the top of the table was covered in sweets – any kind you could think of, it was there. Looking towards the family room she saw her father and brothers engrossed in another conversation. The sight made Geet's stomach tie into a knot. She quietly approached them; once she was close enough she was disgusted as she heard them making a list of who they could invite to her wedding so they could build more network connections for their business. Geet lost all forethought, she lost all normalcies and she lost all common sense.

"Yeh kya kaar rahe hai aap log?" Geet asked as she grabbed one list out of Adi's hands. "Maine kahaa naa ke main yeh shaadii nahin karungi!"

As she yelled, Geet began to tear up the piece of paper in her hand.

"Geet!" her father shouted.

By this time her mother and all three sister-in-laws had come running at all the commotion.

"Yeh shaadii koke rahegi!" Brij yelled, "Tu chahe kuch bhi karle!"

"Nahin!" Geet yelled back just as loud. "Yeh shaadi nahin hogi! Nahin hogi yeh shaadi kyun ke…kyun ke main Maan se pyaar karti hoon!"

There, she had said it. The one, most important truth in her life, which she had hidden from her family for 13 years, was now out in the open. The one secret that she had guarded with all her life was finally common knowledge. The shocked gasps could be heard echoing in the hall as everyone stood stunned, rooted to their spots – all except Sasha. Sasha's eyes had no shock or surprise in them, instead her eyes were filled with fear – fear about what may happen next.

"Kya?" her mother finally asked.

"Haan Maa, main Maan se pyaar karti hoon. Maan Singh Khurana se. Usske elava main kissi aur se shaadi nahin karungi." Turning to her father and brothers she said, "Sunna aapne, main kissi aur se shaadi nahin karungi!"

"Tu Maan se pyaar karti hai? Woh Maan, joh Mittal Uncle ke yahaan ek mamuli associate hai!?" Teji asked in sheer horror.

Geet didn't need to answer because she was positive they knew that the peon from Mittal Uncle's office was the same Maan that held her heart.

"Tu janta hai Maan ko?" Brij asked as he turned to Teji.

"Aare Veerji, aap bhi jaante hai usse," Adi said. "Aapko yaad hai, kuch mahine pehle hum jaab ghaar aa rahe the toh ek taxi ke saath takar hogaya tha?"

"Haan toh?" Brij asked.

"Woh ladka yaad hai, joh taxi wala ka saath deh raha tha? Woh hi toh hai Maan."

"Woh? Tu usse pyaar karti hai?" Brij asked as he turned to face Geet.

Geet knew what incident her brothers were referring to. A few months back her brothers had been on their way home when they had an accident with a taxi. Her brothers and began to curse and beat up the taxi driver because they felt that the taxi driver braked suddenly on purpose to get money from them; they also blamed him for causing damages to their new Mercedes. Maan had been at a near by and seen everything. A little boy had run into the middle of the street after his ball. If the taxi driver hadn't slammed on the breaks he would have hit the boy. When Maan had tried to make her brothers understand that simple fact, her brothers had gotten into a heated argument with him. Before they knew it, the argument had turned into a fist fight – of course, her brothers had been the first to throw the punches.

"Tu usse shaadi nahin kargi!" Mohinder yelled. "Aaj ke baad tu usse nahin milegi!"

Geet knew that this was coming, but it still hurt her to be face-to-face with her families inability to see beyond money and status where Maan was concerned.

"Samji tu?" Mohinder yelled again.

"Magar Bauji…I love him Bauji," Geet said.

Before anyone said or did anything else, the sound of skin meeting skin reverberated across the room. Immediately Geet's right hand went up to her stinging cheek as she looked up as saw an enraged Brij looking down on her.

"Brij!" both Savitri and Mohinder called out at the same time.

"Kaal teri sagaai hai aur agle hafte shaadi!" he announced.

"Nahin Veerji, nahin! Main uske bina nahin jee paungi. I love him Veerji please!" Geet pleaded as she fell to Brij's feel.

"Baas! Faisla hogaya hai!" Mohinder yelled as he and his sons stormed out of the room, each going in a separate direction.

"I love him Bauji, I love him," Geet cried as she felt her body go limp on the floor.

Quickly Meera and Naintara were at her side helping her up and attempting to comfort her as the guided her to her room. Sasha helped Savitri gather herself and settled her in the chair. Sasha knew that Geet needed her and she would go – but first, there was something she needed to do.

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Once her Bhabi's had got her settled in her room, they didn't bother her again. Geet could see in their eyes how sorry they felt for her, but she also saw how helpless they all were – there was nothing they could do now. Somehow, through all of her crying, Geet had managed to fall asleep. It wasn't until she heard a faint scratching at her bedroom window that she woke up. Glancing at her clock, she saw that I was 5pm. Cautiously she went to her window and moved the curtains to reveal a young man of only 20, smiling at her through the glass. It was Maan – her Maan, dressed in tattered jeans and an old t-shirt.

Geet threw the window's open and waited for him to be inside safely until she threw her arms around his neck and held on for dear life. Instantly the familiarity of his warmth and sent brought tears to her eyes. It was Saturday, not a day that he usually came because he knew everyone would be home. Geet had wanted to call him but her brothers had taken her phone from her so she had no other option.

"Geet? Kya hua?" Maan asked.

"Tum yahaan kaise?" she asked.

"Sasha Bhabi ka phone aaya tha. Unho ne kahaa ke jitni jaldi hosake mujhe yahaan aana hoga. Woh, Mittal sahaab achaank aagaye issi liyeh dehr hogayi, varna main pehle aajata," he explained.

"Sasha Bhabi ne?" Geet said as she finally lifted her head from his chest.

"Haan Sasha Bha…" Maan stopped talking.

He gently pushed away her hair revealing a still red hand print on her face.

"Yeh kissne kiya?" he asked in an icy tone.

Geet didn't respond, knowing too well what the outcome would be if Maan found out.

"Geet yeh kissne kiya?" he asked. When she didn't answer he spoke again, "Tumhe meri kasam Geet. Tumpar kissne haath uthaya?"

"Woh…Brij Veerji ne…" Geet stuttered.

Immediately Maan made the move towards her door. His hand was already on the knob when she stopped him.

"Nahin Maan! Tum kuch nahin karoge!" Geet yelled.

"Geet, koi tumpar haat uthaye yeh main bardasht nahin karunga!" Maan roared quietly.

He moved again. Geet had to find a way to stop him.

"Maan tumhe meri kasam!" she yelled

That did it – he stopped.

"Lekin kyun? Veerji aaisa kyun karenge?" Maan asked, trying to figure out what was going on.

"Woh…" Geet couldn't finish her sentence as someone jingled the knob of her door.

Both Maan and Geet's hearts stopped as the feared one of her brothers or her father would barge in. Instead, they were revealed when Sasha walked in with something hidden behind her.

"Sasha Bhabi…aapne…" Geet wanted to ask why she called Maan but couldn't as Sasha locked the door and spoke quickly and quietly.

"Dekho, humare paas waqt bohot kaam hai. Main kissi bhi tarha tumhare Veerji aur Bauji ko sambhal lunga," Sasha said. She pulled out the bundle she was hiding and revealed its contents. "Yeh mere kuch zevar hai aur kuch paise hai, joh maine jama kiye the. Isse tum leke jaao."

"Bhabi yeh kya hai?" Geet asked.

"Maan, kya tum Geet se shaadi karna chate ho?" Sasha asked.

"Kya?" Maan asked caught off guard.

"Kya tum Geet se shaadi karna chate ho? Kuch maat poocho, sirf jawab doh."

Maan looked confusedly as Geet once but didn't hesitate to answer. "Haan Bhabi, karna chata hoon."

"Bhabi yeh saab…." Geet began to say.

Sasha paid no attention to Geet and looked at Maan instead. "Maan, Geet ko lekar bhag jaao. Bhag jaao!" she pleaded.

"Bhag jaoon? Kyun?" Maan asked, confused.

"Baas jaao!" Sasha ordered.

"Magar Bhabi…main kaise…" Maan began to say, only to be cut off.

"Dekho Maan, baath ko samjho! Geet ki shaadi tai hogayi hai," Sasha said.

"K…kya?" Maan asked, in complete and utter shock.

"Haan. Kaal sagaai hai aur aagle hafte shaadi. Aagar tum aaj usse nahin leke gaye, toh kaal woh kissi aur ki hojayegi!" Sasha said, nearly in hysterics. "Joh mere saath hua hai, main nahin chati ke woh Geet ke saath ho!"

"Aapke saath?" Geet asked, and then she remembered.

It had been nearly one year since Adi and Sasha had gotten married. It was actually their first Valentines Day. That day Geet had noticed Sasha looking rather upset. Geet poked and prodded until Sasha finally broke and told Geet about her past.

Sasha had been in love with Yash, a boy from her neighborhood. They had both loved each other from a distance because their families never did get along. The day that Sasha had decided to finally suck it up and tell Yash how she felt, was the same day that Adi's rishta came to her house. As much as she had loved Yash, she couldn't defy her father, who had raised her by himself after her mother left. So Sasha bottled up her love for Yash and quietly agreed to marry Adi. Sasha was a devoted wife and daughter-in-law. Sasha loved Adi and she loved the rest of the family. However, the saying that you never forget your first love – is absolutely true.

"Magar Bhabi, saab loog…" Geet said, but her voice trailed off.

"Ghaar mein saab ko main kaal tak sambhalke rakhungi. Aaj raath ko hi tum dono shaadi karlena, aur kaal subha tak kissi dusri sheher mein chale jaana," she said.

Sasha then pulled out a bag, which she must have stashed when Geet was sleeping, out from under the bed. She proceeded to stuff the jewelry and money in the bag as she talked.

"Iss bag mein bohot kuch nahin hai. Maine iss mein ek laal suit rakhdi hai, Maa ke kuch gehne aur mera ek extra chuda ka set bhi hai. Tum dono ke liyeh main isse zyada aur kuch nahin kaar sakti," Sasha said as her eyes became teary.

Geet immediately hugged Sasha and began to cry herself.

"Aapne itna kuch kiya. Iss se zyada main aur kuch nahin mang sakti," Geet said.

Geet sat at her small desk and wrote a quick note to her family as Maan got on the phone and made arrangements for their future. Maan may not be rich but he was a good man with good, trustworthy friends – that is exactly what they needed. Geet hurriedly signed the letter and tucked it into an envelope before laying it to rest on her bed.

Maan had already thrown out the bag onto the balcony and was just waiting for Geet would was hugging Sasha. Maan came to both of them and stood as they shared this last moment. Once Geet pulled back, Maan leaned down, as did Geet, to take Sasha's ashirwad.

"Maan, tumse ek binti hai," Sasha began to say. "Meri Geet ko humesha kush rakhna. Woh meri nanad kaam aur choti behen zyada hai."

Maan silently nodded his head, as Sasha and Geet once again were locked in a teary embrace.

"Main dua karti hoon, ke tum dono jahaan bhi raho, jaise bhi raho…kush raho," Sasha said.

Maan was about to help Geet out the window when Sasha called back one more time. "Tum dono aapni zindagi ke saab se badi kadam uthane jaa rahe ho. Main chati hoon ke saab shub shub ho. Issi liyeh, tum dono ko vida karne se pehle main tumhe ek kush khabri dena chati hoon."

"Kya?" Geet and Maan both asked.

"Geet, tum Bua banne wali ho," Sasha said with a sweet smile.

"Kya! Oh my God Bhabi! Congratulations!" Geet yelled as she hugged Sasha again.

"Isse pehle ke koi aur aajayeh, tum dono jaao," Sasha insisted.

Geet was halfway out the window when she stopped.

"Ek baath aapne ghalat kahi hai Bhabi," she said.

"Kya?" Sasha asked.

"Main bua nahin, massi banne jaa rahi hoon," Geet said with a smile. "Aapne joh kuch bhi kiya, thank you."

Maan too thanked Sasha and took her ashirwad one last time before he too disappeared outside the window.

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Maan took Geet directly to the small apartment he rented above a car garage in town. Already their friends Neha and Sahil were there making sure that their plans would all go off without a hitch. While Sahil made last minute arrangements with the pandit, Maan was headed out to buy a mangalsutra, while Neha was about to take Geet inside to get changed. Before Maan left, he had to ask Geet one question.

"Geet, tumhe pura yakeen hai ke tum yeh kadam uthana chate ho? Kya tum saach mein mujhse shaadi karna chati ho?" Maan asked.

He knew that once they took this step, there would be no turning back – not that he would ever want to. Maan had no one to answer to him; he had no family and no one who cared what he did with his life. Geet on the hand, she had a family that she loved with her whole heart. He didn't want to take that away from her even if it meant he would be left to live without her.

"Dekho Maan, humare paas waqt nahin hai," Sahil cut in before Geet could answer. "Pandit-ji tayar hai tum dono ki shaadi karvane. Neha, tum Geet ko tayar rakhna, thodi dehr mein Rahul aayega tum dono ko mandir lejane."

"Tum dono kahaan jaa rahe ho?" Neha asked.

"Main Maan ke saat jewelry shop jaa raha hoon. Hum dono vahaan se sida mandir pouch jayenge. Dehr maat karna," Sahil said.

With that he grabbed Maan and walked out.

Neha helped Geet slip into a simple red suit, which was now her shaadi ka joda, after she had drawn small 'M's' in Geet's palms. Gently she put on the earrings and necklace that Sasha had packed. Once those were on, she proceeded to put on the red and white chuda set as well. Once her dupatta was pinned to her hair, the last remaining detail was a red bindi on her forehead. Geet looked at herself in the mirror, albeit hesitantly. In just an hours time or so, she would no longer be Geet Handa – she would be Geet Maan Singh Khurana. As much as her heart broke that she had to take such a drastic step against her family, she knew that it needed to be done.

Geet was supposed to be at the mandir by 7:30pm, however, due to the horrible traffic at that time of day, they were delayed for nearly an hour. Geet was worried about what Maan might me thinking as he waited for her with Sahil and the pundit-ji.

Maan knew that Geet would come, nothing would stop her. Yet for some reason, there was a nagging voice in the back of his mind that said she may have changed her mind and gone back to her family. Maan was just about to look at his watch for the thousandth time when he felt a gentle nudge on his arm. Looking up he saw her – his future wife. As she ascended the stairs he noticed just how beautiful she looked. The suit was simple, the make up was simple, even the jewelry was simple – still, she managed to glow and shine like the brightest star in the sky. When she looked up at him shyly, just for an instant when their eyes met, he felt his heart skip a beat.

Maan and Geet took their spots next to the pandit as he began to conduct the wedding. Neha did their gat-bandhan and it was Sahil who did Geet's kanya-daan. Geet couldn't help the tears that formed. She had a father and three brothers – never in her wildest dreams had she thought that a stranger would be doing her kanya-daan. The pundit instructed Maan to put the mangalsutra on Geet. Maan reached for the thali where it was kept and gently picked it up. It was a simple black and gold bead mangalsutra, it was nothing special at all, but it was all Maan could afford at the time.

When Geet saw the mangalsutra, her heart smiled. It was so simple and not very expensive, but for her – for her that one necklace was equivalent to all the riches in the world. That one black and gold necklace was priceless for her because Maan had bought it out of love – he bought it out of the love that he had for her. As soon as it was put around her neck, Geet promised herself that she would treasure this necklace no matter what. Next, when Maan moved to put the sindoor in her forehead, Geet held her breath. Even though her eyes were closed, she felt the instant Maan's fingers touched her prating. A solitary tear escaped her eyes as she vowed to love and protect the man who was putting the sindoor on her.

Hand in hand Geet and Maan took their phere's, each swearing to love the other no matter what happened. They promised each other happiness, loyalty and promised themselves to the other. As Geet walked around the sacred fire, she felt like she was changing. She could feel the spirit of the holy fire seep into her veins and go straight for her heart. She was no longer just a woman, she was a married woman. All the joy in the world couldn't express how happy she felt at that very moment.

After the ceremony was completed, Sahil told Maan and Geet to head back to Maan's apartment. Sahil was working on getting them a car so that they could skip town and so somewhere no one knew who they were. Neha strictly ordered Maan to walk home very slowly, he as not allowed to take a taxi. Maan's apartment wasn't that far away from the mandir after all, so he agreed. Both Geet and he knew what her intentions were – they knew that she was going to try and make this night as special as she could.

With Sahil gone, and Neha leaving, only Maan and Geet were left. The had entered that mandir as two separate people, but they were leaving it as one. Quietly Maan took Geet's hand in his and guided her towards the streets. Geet, squeezed his hand as the snuggled closer to him. The walked for 20 minutes in complete silence. The only sounds were that of their own breathing and that of the winds, which were picking up.