Chapter 17
Towards THE Fallout . . . Part 2
Unwavering rage shook Geet to the core as hatred for Dev rippled inside her and she slapped him hard on the cheek. His hand instinctively reached out to his now read cheek as he looked at Geet in anger coupled with shock.
"HOW DARE YOU" he roared just as she slapped him again "This was for ruining a girl's life" Her hand struck his face yet again "for ruining my friend's life" Tears stung her eyes as held him by the collar and thundered "Kya mil gaya tumhe Meera ki life --- She left his collar as she raised her hand to slap him again but he held her hand in mid air as he thundered "GEET" She pulled her hand away from him as she stumbled and warned him raising her finger "Don't you dare take my name from that filthy mouth of yours"
Then someone hauled Geet by her arm and just when she was about to hit Geet, Savitri Devi held her arm.
"Naintara" Savitri Devi roared "Dare you touch her"
"But'
Savitri Devi scowled at Naintara and that was enough to shut her. "What the hell is happening here" She demanded as she looked at Dev.
"Actually just a misunderstanding... Geet stumbled and accidentally slapped me and Naintara misunderstood and rest you know" Dev lied as he fearfully awaited Geet's response.
"Dadi ma he--- Geet stopped mid way as she realised she wasn't supposed to tell anyone what that rascal had done. "he' he was in the way and... I slipped and hit him"
"Dadi ma I'll see you at dinner" Dev took Naintara by the hand and hurriedly walked away.
The Geet threw her arms around Savitri Devi as she cried hysterically. "Meera" She hugged Dadi ma as her tears soaked and then Geet heard Meha cry. Instantly everything else was forgotten as she ran down the stairs.
Maan had gone with Meha for an outing and was on his way back to the mansion when she started crying. It had been fifteen minutes since she kept bawling and crying out "Mommy" Then as he entered the mansion he saw Geet rush down the stair as she ran towards him with tears streaming down her face.
Geet cried as she took her baby in her arms and hugged her for dear life. "Meera" She whispered. She ran a soothing hand through Meha's hair as she bit back her own sobs. Just when Meha stopped crying she crushed her close to her as she mumbled "Mamma is here" Closing her eyes momentarily she felt her baby close to her heart. She gulped the lump in throat as she looked at Meha and fought back her tears. Her angel was smiling at her. Her baby was in her arms. And it was all that mattered at that moment.
Maan watched her as she practically crashed into him and within no time pulled Meha in her arms. He heard her mumble Meera's name and then he watched her as she silently cried. What was wrong? For some not so unknown reason he felt daggers piece his heart as she watched her broken form. His fingers itched to hold her close but just when he took a step in her direction he heard Meha say "Ma". He now remembered just why he shouldn't sooth away Geet's pain. His eyes became slits as he took steps away from Geet and that was when he saw Savitri Devi climb down the stairs, worry etched all over her face.
"Geet is everything alright" Savitri Devi asked as she kept a hand on Geet's shoulder.
"I have to go NOW" Geet said as she dashed towards her room. Her instincts told her, her daughter was not safe here. She quite did not know why but she couldn't stay in the mansion a moment longer. She wanted to tell Savitri Devi all about that scoundrel's deed but the promise she'd made to a dying Meera held her back.
~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~
Geet ran as she saw Meera lying on the ground drenched in blood. Holding Meera's head Geet placed it in her lap as she urged Meera to say something. Meera was holding her stomach and wincing in pain.
"Geet my baby... save my baby" Meera whimpered as she rolled in pain.
Geet looked around for help and it was now she cursed herself for having come alone. When Meera's neighbours had offered to come along she'd politely refused by saying she just needed a car and she'd be back soon. And much to her misery she did not even carry a mobile.
"Meera your cell" Geet cupped Meera's face "Where is your mobile"
Looking around she saw the car had fallen into a ditch and flipped over. Carefully placing Meera on the ground Geet ran towards the broken car and searched for the mobile. Then she saw it lying near the rear tyre. Her hands trembled as she lifted the phone. By god's grace the cell was working. She quickly surfed through the contacts and called Yash.
"Yash Meera has had an accident" Then the line went dead. "Yash... Hello... hello... Yash"
Damn! She threw the mobile onto the ground. Then she heard Meera's cry of pain. She ran a hand through her hair as she darted her eyes round the place. Just then four men came out of nowhere and helped her. She couldn't have been more grateful to them.
*****
Geet was crying as she waited outside the OT. She was so scared. She had to tell Yash. This fear was eating her up. She then ran towards the reception as she again made a call. But this time no one answered. Then she called his home landline . . .
"Aunty is Yash there' Meera has had an---
"She is dead for us" She heard Yash's mother reply curtly and then the line went dead.
*****
"It's a baby girl but she is ---
"Is Meera alright" Geet asked impatiently.
"I am afraid she doesn't have much time left"
*****
Her legs trembled as she entered the ward. Each step she took towards Meera felt like an eternity and images flashed in front of her. She remembered hoe Meera had ducked ice cream onto her face just for some freaking dare. She remembered how Meera always teased her for staying aloof. She remembered the picnic to Shimla; Yash and Meera fought like kids over a seat, both wanted the window seat in mini-train. She remembered the day Meera and Yash had declared they loved each other and bang, she had been so shocked to learn THE Tom and Jerry were in love that she'd literally pinched herself damned hard. She remembered how Meera had called Maan and her soul mates. She chuckled remembering Meera's weird explanation for the same. She remembered seeing Meera jump in delight when she and Maan had told her about their relationship. The entire time she'd spent with Meera flashed in front of her and seeing her friend lying on death bed, snapped her insides.
Her eyes burned with tears as she held Meera's frail hands. Her voice chocked at she rasped "Meera"
"Promise me Geet... you will... take care of... my daughter." Meera rasped through as she puffed in air. "Meera you'll be fine... your daughter will not need me to take care of her. You, her mother would be there with her" Geet replied through the tears. "Please Geet, promise me" Geet nodded but rasped "You'll be fine" Meera's breathing hitched as she continued "I want my daughter to know who her mother was, what she was like... you'll tell her right" Geet cried "Meera please"
"You will not tell anyone about what dev---
Geet pulled her hand back as she flinched "I will... I will get you justice... I'll get him punished"
"NO" Meera yelled as she tried to sit against head read. Geet rushed to Meera's side as she urged her to lie down. Meera complied as she softly said "There is a reason Geet... please promise me you won't ever tell anyone... Please" Geet shook her head as tears ran down her cheeks. "Pl'lll...e..e..as'ss...e G...e...e...t" Geet closed her eyes as she nodded. Meera closed her eyes as Geet screamed "Meera... Meera"
"Meera... open your eyes... Meera"
Then the doctor and nurses rushed in . . .
She heard the baby girl cry and then she lifted the baby close to her heart.
~~~~~~Present~~~~~~
And with that she ran towards her room. Savitri Devi was about to go after her when Maan stopped her "She won't talk. Just give her some time". Yes, he'd hurt her, yes he wanted to always see her live an incomplete life, yes he wanted her to know what it felt like when you lose all that is yours to lose . . . but the woman who was standing before him a few moments ago was not the Geet whom Maan Singh Khurana hated, neither was she the Geet whom Maan loved. She was Meha's mother.
Then he knew he had to find out what had happened in the past few hours that she was so terrified.
*****
"Who the heel was she" Naintara demanded as dev shut the door behind him. "How dare she touch you"
"Calm down baby... it's not what you think... it was an accident like I told Dadi ma" Dev said as he pulled Naintara into his arms. She wriggled away from him as she roared "I have eyes and I was---
"Naintara could you get me a cup of tea" Pammi said entering the room. Naintara looked at dev and then at her mother-in-law and left for the kitchen.
As soon as Naintara was out of ear shot Pammi yelled "I told you not to come here"
"I did not know she's here"
"Dev it had taken us three months . . . three GOD DAMN months to get you back in the mansion"
~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~
He was standing in a corner, his face partially obscured by sun glasses and he was holding a knife in his hands. He observed her every move from afar, waiting for his chance to get back at her. That girl was the reason he was chucked out of his own house. She would pay for it . . . she would pay heavy and by her life.
He watched as she walked towards the changing room and he sprinted after her. Just when he was about to barge into the changing room right after her, someone held his arm and a slap struck his cheek. He staggered backwards as he hit the wall adjoin the changing room and looking up he seethed "Choti ma why did you stop me"
"You want to kill her so that Maan kills you"
Dev gritted his teeth as he said "So I should forget bro chucked me out of the house because of her"
"No . . . even if you do I will never forget it" Pammi eyes darkened as she added "She will pay for it but not by dying. She will pay for it by her life which is Maan."
"What do you mean?"
Pammi smirked as she said "Meet me tonight at the outhouse. For now back off and leave"
Dev grudging left but only after saying "I hate her"
"So do I" Pammi replied as she watched Dev leaving.
******
"Maan proposed Geet a last week and she agreed. Your grandmother has given her consent and now he just has to talk with Mr Handa"
"How does it matter, I need my revenge"
"We will have OUR revenge son"
Pammi smirked swirling the wine in her glass. "Geet is the only daughter of Mr Handa. The Handa empire passes directly to her."
Dev smiled wickedly as he understood.
"Geet is an emotional girl... you just need to hit the nerve... Pretend to be remorseful... trick her into believing you have changed and BANG, she would be your entry pass into the mansion."
"Then we begin our game... but we have to wait until the marriage for the revenge"
*****
Pammi updated Dev about Geet's whereabouts regularly and he always showed up around her. Pretended to be unaware of her presence and helped anyone and everyone. Sometime he'd help an old carry her shopping bags, sometime's he'd give chocolates to young kids, sometimes he'd pretend to cry sitting in a corner. It was all planned. Even the people he helped were the ones set by him. Then one day as he knew it, Geet came up to him and bang he fell to her knees pleading forgiveness. And that was his way back to the mansion. It did not take Geet longer than a day to convince Maan t let Dev back in the house.
~~~~~~Present~~~~~~
"This time you wouldn't be alive to get back... God forbid he finds out that we framed Geet... he'd kill us with his bare hands...
"If Bro finds out Meha is MY daughter . . .
The door flapped open.
Pammi and Dev turned . . . "Naintara"
******
Savitri Devi paced up and down the room as she tried to figure out what the hell was happening.
The way Geet had hugged Meha, she was so frightened. The way she'd hugged her and cried out Meera's name it was . . . so confusing. She had no idea what had happened in her absence but she sure as hell knew it was something gravely hard on Geet. Pinky had told her all she knew of Geet . . . The condition she'd found Geet in the golden temple, how Geet would cry out in her sleep . . . how she'd worked day in and day out to provide for Meha. She was surprised when Pinky told her she hadn't a slightest clue Meha wasn't Geet's biological child. Apparently Geet had not opened up to even her best friend of two years. It was all such a maze.
She remembered the conversation she had had with Arjun that day after Geet's accident. She had been in the kitchen when her cell phone beeped. It was Arjun Rathore, Naintara's brother. She'd instantly attended the call and what she'd heard next shocked her to the core. Arjun had told her all about Geet's accident and how Maan had been taking care of her without letting his presence be obvious. Arjun had seen Maan with Geet that night in the hospital. He'd heard each and every word that Maan had said to an unconscious Geet. And he'd told Savitri Devi the same.
Geet was an angel and no ways in hell could she have done something unfitting. But she also knew her grandson would never leave Geet without a reason. He loved her and she knew it. She remembered the day when he'd told her he wanted to marry Geet or rather she'd guessed he wanted to.
~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~
Sitting at the ground, next to Savitri Devi's chair, he was holding her hand as he very softly let out "how do you like Geet"
"I don't like her at all. Nothing in her is likable" she said rather seriously. Maan looked up to her eyes as he tried "There must be something you like about her. May be spending some time with her alone would help. Wait I'll call her home for dinner tonight and you can talk with her. Believe me she is just wonderful and you'd love her."
Savitri squeezed her grandson's hand who was literally blabbering and replied "Maan if you don't remember I meet her every day and she is just not likable"
"Dadi ma how can you say so. I don't find a single thing in her which is not likable' yeah her washroom looks like her wardrobe with clothes loitered all around, her room is a bit shabby all the time and she rambles all the time and she is caring, loving... she is like... the sunshine which can lighten up anyone's life... her presence makes the dullest evening shine... her laughter is like melody... her smile is one which can bring a smile on anyone's face... She is an angel... aur sara din toh you both keep bitching about me and now you say you don't like her."
Savitri pulled his ear as she said "That is not called bitching my dead grandson... it's called discussing my dukh bhari kahani with my future granddaughter-in-law. Hum toh sirf aapki shikayat karte hain"
Maan's head shot up as he delightfully asked "What did you just say"
"That I complain about you"
"No not that, before that aapne kya kaha tha"
"That it's called discussing"
"No dadi ma, after that"
"My future granddaughter-in-law" Maan sprinted from the couch as he sat on his knees and hugged Savitri Devi.
Running her hand through his hair she stated "you love her a lot" Maan smiled as he kept his head in her lap and replied "too much".
"She's like sunshine" She teased her already flushing grandson as he truthfully replied "Yes... my sunshine... my angel... my love... my life"
"Then why are you still here?" Maan looked at her in confusion as she smirked "Don't you have some arrangements to do... Baithe baithe propose karne waale ho" Maan chuckled as he replied "no way... I have loads of things under my sleeves"
~~~~~~Present~~~~~~
A knock at the door brought her back to reality and Geet came in with Meha.
*******
"Naintara . . . please listen to me once" Dev snatched the suitcase away from her hand.
"Tara please . . . I know I made a mistake but trust me I do . . . I really do love you. I really love you" Dev held Tara's hand as he pulled her to him.
"Don't touch me" she yelled as she pushed him away with tears in her eyes. Then she ran out of the room just as she opened the main door she met her brother. She cried as she threw her arms around him while he held onto her with utmost care.
Arjun had just arrived from Amritsar along with Pinky as per Savitri's request. He had not even stepped inside the house when he came face to face with his sister . . . who was tearing her eyes out. What the hell was wrong?
"Bhai . . . Dev . . . cheated . . . on . . . me" she said between the sobs as Arjun gasped. "He has a daughter . . . his daughter" Arjun froze. "He . . . cheated . . . Bhai . . . Dev . . . he . . . take me away bhai . . . please take me away"
"Bhai I want to go from here NOW . . . please bhai take me away... please take me away" Seeing his sister in this disoriented state he just had to take her away and he did exactly the same as he walked towards his car.
*******
Dev saw Arjun take Naintara with him and he was terrified to even think what if she tells him . . . No he had to act fast. With that he ran towards Pammi's room.
******
"Geet beta please kuch din ke liye ruk jayiye" Savitri urged.
"I am sorry Dadi ma but I really have to go" Geet replied as she hugged Savitri Devi one last time. She would never come back . . . ever. "Dadi ma you've loved me as your own and I'll always be grateful to you for all the affection you showered on me" Geet smiled as she fought back her tears. "I really love you" Savitri Devi cupped her cheek as she said "Geet what happened that you are leaving all of a sudden. If it was because of Naintara I am sorry on her---
Geet cut her mid way as she urged "No Dadi ma, please don't" Geet looked away momentarily as she braced herself to lie "I will come back soon. For now I have to go"
"But---
"Please Dadi ma" the plea and desperation in Geet's tone was evident and Savitri Devi just couldn't say anything further. "Just one day . . . just tonight. Please" Geet did not have the heart to refuse the old lady who stood before her. She simple nodded as Savitri Devi smiled.
******
"Had it been for Maan, the man who loves Geet, we would have always been together. But it isn't about Maan, it's about Maan Singh Khurana" he hissed as he gulped another drink whilst watching her from a far. Maan Singh Khurana was the Khurana heir, he was his mother's eldest son and he had some responsibilities. He lived by his principals which his mother had instilled in him. And his love and duty towards his deceased mother held more importance than his love for Geet.
Maan simply couldn't stop loving her. He did not burn her house because he wanted to give her more pain, yes that indeed may have been the reason he sighted to himself while he set her house on fire, but even he knew it to be nothing but a mask to hide the real motive. In all honesty, somewhere down the line he couldn't bear to see her around him and not be with her. He did not know how long he could have pulled the act of ignoring her, disregarding her, belittling her. He just couldn't have done that for too long. Had she stayed anywhere near him, someday his control as he knew it, would have crumbled and that was something he could have never let happen. He dreaded the day he would have had to face her again and he did all in his power to assure that encounter should never happen. But despite it all, he eventually had to go to Amritsar. Subsequent to seeing her again after two years, what all he did, he had no control over it. And now that, she was in the mansion, in his house, it was killing him.
A lone tear escaped his eye as he missed something which he could never have . . . a life with Geet.
She was sitting at the swing and playing with Meha. Had she not been in a way responsible for the doom of his mother, things would have been different. He would have been sitting next to her on the swing, with Meha in his lap and his one arm would have been wrapped around Geet, while her head would have been resting at his shoulder and they would have been one small happy family.
He jolted as he felt a hand over his shoulder and looking by his side he saw his grandmother standing right behind with wet eyes. He did not have it in him to lie to her at that moment. The look in her eyes said it all, she wouldn't believe him anyway. He simply walked off to his room.
Slamming the door behind him he plonked the glass onto the ground, spilling the drink all over the floor. Frustrated he ran a hand through his hair as she thundered "WHY" He sank to his feet as he whimpered "Geet". The broken pieces of glass pierced into his knee, cutting his skin and making way for blood to ooze out. Lifting the broken fragments into his palm, he fisted his fingers as thick red fluid gushed out of his hand.
"If you love her so much why are you driving her away?" Savitri Devi said, walking inside his room.
Maan looked up with red eyes burning with rage. He was angry at her, at himself, at his destiny. He loved her god damn it! But he hated her. He was fed up of fighting his inner feelings. The man, whose life and soul resided in Geet, was slowly overpowering the righteous son in him and he hated his helplessness. He could fight others but how was he supposed to fight with himself.
"Maan I know it wasn't mutual" She walked over to Maan and she sat next to him on the floor. "The break up wasn't mutual. You left her"
Maan looked away as he got on his feet and was on his way out of the room when---
"Did you ever love her?"
The statement made him whip around immediately as Savitri Devi had hit the raw nerve.
"If you did... you would have seen through her pain." Maan's fingers curled into a fist as the words sank in. "You would have seen the void you left in her life." It was like someone was slowly and torturously tearing him apart. "You would have been with her right now"
"No Maan, you never loved her" That was the final nail and Maan roared "I loved her..." He walked towards his grandmother as he looked in her eyes and whimpered "I love her"
Savitri Devi cupped his cheek as she whispered "Then why the distance Maan. Why the lies. Why?"
His face hardened as he replied "She could have saved Ma"
"What are you saying?"
"She called my mother a Wh**e"
Precap: "Dadi ma, please... stop her... she can't leave me..."
Hugging Savitri's waist and hiding his face in her stomach he cried "Dadi ma Geet..."
Thread 3
So guys . . . I know I had promised to update two days back but like Di had posted the note on my behalf 😊. . . my net ditched me😡 and I had written this yesterday itself . . . my damned net😡😡😡 . . . I had changed my service provider and my sim . . . and I was unable to connect to the network . . . I called that customer care guy n he told me the documents of the new sim were being checked and I asked him why can't I connect to the internet using my cell as modem and he asked me if the net is functioning in the mobile and I was told him yes and he told me to call so n so number and I did n then I got a SMS saying I'll be contacted shortly and that shortly hasn't yet arrived😡😡😡😡😡 . . . then I went to the mobile shop ate that guy's (Who sold me the sim) head off😆 . . . no use . . . he said that the documents had been sent four days back . . . came back waited for like a day and again called the service provider . . . he told me to wait until the documents are checked😡 . . . and I asked him how long would that be and he was like around a day or may be three 😡😡. . . and I cut the call mid way 😆. . . I have no idea how I was still calm and not yelling😆 . . . then I tried connecting again and couldn't . . . called my sister . . . yelled and took out all my anger . . . then she told me to try out something and . . . after three hours of banging my head with the mobile and lappy . . . finally net connect hogaya but then . . . it was like connect then on its own disconnect and it is still that way😡 . . . I am pissed😡😡😡😡 . . . Well this is indeed India like shika di says . . .😭 anyway this update is long as its more like two in one . . . BTW guys u wanna hate maan . . . Go ahead . . . BUT PLEASE DO NOT COMPARE HIM WITH DEV . . .
Edited by 7thHeaven - 14 years ago
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