Part 2: Joys A Part/ Joy's Apart**
Geet sat in the plane, her thoughts drifting to the events of the day. She had fled away from the scene hoping to ease the aching pain in her heart. When he had proposed, she wasn't really prepared for it. She had clearly stated she would never commit for a relationship and he was completely okay with it although she knew he loved her dearly and dreamed of a wedding with her. She was and will never be ready for a committed relationship and marriage was never in her books. But when Maan had gone on his knees for her today, something in her heart had stirred; yet her fear of long committed relationships overrode causing her to flee from him. She decided that would be the best thing for both of them. Her stay with him would prompt him to dream about a hopeful wedding with her. She didn't want to give him hopes by staying with him and hurt him with her denial for marriage. So the only option was to keep herself away from him, so that he would be happy.
The captain of the flight announced the arrival and welcomed everyone to Mumbai. She took a taxi straight to her mother's house in Bandra. Other than Maan, her mother was her only refuge. Right now she just wanted to run into her mother's arms and lie on her lap like when she was young to assure her everything would be okay.
"Geet, tum?" her mother asked puzzled at her sudden appearance. Geet ran to her mother's embrace and held onto her tightly.
"I missed you ma," she managed to say. Her mother knew something was wrong, for Geet never visited her without informing. Her tear-stricken face and her deep sunken eyes said a different story altogether. And if she did, then that meant there was something serious going on. Not wanting to pester her further, her mother simply led her in and told that she would make something for her. Geet refused to let her go and held her wrist solemnly. Mrinalini led her to the nearest couch and gesture her to sit down beside her. Geet slumped beside her and placed her head on her mother's lap. Her mother bent and kissed her darling daughter on her forehead and gently caressed her hair. Silent tears rolled down from Geet's eyes.
"What happened darling?" Mrinalini asked, knotting her eyebrows. Geet shook her head vigorously and turned and hugged her mother and burst into tears. She continuously bawled like a child while her mother constantly rubbed her thumb on her arms and combed her hair, asking her to calm down. Mrinalini's doubts of something was wrong was confirmed with Geet's incessant crying. The last time she saw Geet crying was when she had learned about Rajveer's second marriage, after that she had always faced everything in her life with a determined mind. Emotions didn't have a place in her life. She took life as it came to her with no expectations or wants. Her decisions were rational and her thinking was too practical. But today to see her breaking down was something very unusual and Mrinalini wondered the root cause of her daughter's disturbance. She didn't want to insist Geet about what was bothering her and waited for her to compose herself before she brought the issue. Slowly her continuous crying came down and alternated from sniffs and sobs. Finally her tears died down and she stared blankly at the ceiling above.
"Geetu, remember I am always here. Whenever you are ready you can always talk to me. Teekhai?" Mrinalini smiled softly. Geet nodded, biting her lip from breaking down again. She caressed her forehead once again, "Maan kahaan hai?" she asked wondering he would always accompany her if he knew Geet was to visit her. She loved him like her own son and he took care of her darling daughter very well. She would have been more than happy to welcome him as her son-in-law but the pagal daughter of hers would never even step near the word marriage.
Geet's eyes widened at her mother's mention of that name, Maan. Unable to contain her emotions, she abruptly got up and wiped her tears away, "Ma mujhe bahut neend aarahi hai, can we sleep. Mujhe aapke paas sona hai," she said. Her mother was confused at her sudden change at the mention of his name. She curious as to what had really brought her here and why she fled hearing his name. She let her go hoping to piece the puzzle together on her own.
"Teekhai tum change karlo, I shall wrap up everything and be there in ten minutes."
Geet changed into a pair of pajamas, washed her face to rid of black stains on her face due to the dried tears on her face. She wore her hair in a ponytail and kneeled on the bed adjusting the pillows and blankets when her mom walked in. Geet saw her mother from the corner of her eyes and quickly snapped her fingers near her mouth, as though she was yawning continuously. Mrinalini didn't fail to notice her feigning a yawn and smiled, "Nautanki," she muttered under her breath at her childish act to keep her mother from asking again. Both slipped into the bed without further conversation. Geet closed her eyes tightly hoping to shun away her thoughts about Maan.
The beautiful morning dawned bringing a new beginning and new hope to many yet two people in the world dreaded its arrival. Maan, unable to sleep all night, had tossed restlessly on his bed, ashamed of his proposal that ruined her night. He paced around the room, every minute wishing he could take back what he said. He finally managed doze off on his couch. Geet had similarly tossed around, her thoughts delving back into Maan, his pain washed face when she called his proposal stupid. She couldn't forgive herself for behaving so immaturely at his proposal. She could have definitely sat down and talked to him about her reluctance but she had to blurt 'stupid'. But her mind had reasoned he very well knew about her and her thoughts about marriage, yet he managed to propose to her; that had infuriated her causing her to lose it. She slept off hoping she would wake up in his arms and all that happened would just be part of a huge nightmare.
The early morning rays of the sun shone brightly through Maan's window, illuminating his room. He woke up to find her absence and last night's events came crashing back to him. He groaned at the thought and banged his head back onto the couch in frustration. On the other side Geet groped around the bed for his presence but only to feel the coldness of the morning air surrounding her. She opened her eyes and frowned for she badly missed his warm embrace and his good morning kiss. She got up, clearly in a bad mood and stomped to the bathroom, muttering curses at him for causing her to miss her morning routines.
Geet ate her breakfast in silence while her mom observed her aloof musings and frequent mutterings under her breath. She chuckled at her daughter's absurd behavior. To confirm her suspicions she cleared her throat, "Geet, I miss Maan a lot, you should have brought him here too," she said keenly looking at Geet's face.
"Ma, I am going to visit the beach, I need to clear my mind of some things," she said conveniently ignoring the question at hand.
Her sudden declaration to get out of the house without bothering to answer about the question had confirmed her suspicions. Mrinalini knew some things could only be sorted without her interference. She didn't want to poke her nose and let Geet decide her feelings by herself.
Geet reached the beach; it was quite empty except for a bunch of people here and there. She was walking on the sand when she saw a young girl about six or seven years of age building a sandcastle or something of that sort. Geet, immersed in her own thoughts, walked past her without even looking at her.
"Hello!" young girl squeaked, looking up at Geet. Geet broke away from her thoughts to see a young girl, her eyes shining like the stars. Geet curtly nodded her head, not really wanting the attention of that young child. She tried to walk again when the little girl said, "Guess, what? I am building something," her chest swelling with pride.
"Oh that's very nice," Geet replied nonchalantly. "What are you building?"
"I am trying my hand at building a small canal around my little palace for my gudiya," she said pointing to her little doll. "Aapko pata hai, us mahal mein meri guidya rajkumar ke saat bahut khush rahegi," she said her eyes sparkling like the clear blue sea.
"Hmm," Geet managed to say hoping her less talk would stop that little kid from talking to her.
"That's a talking shell," the girl said pointing to something that lay a near the shore, a few feet away from where they stood.
"A what?"
"It's a talking shell, my dadda used to say it can solve any problem. It comes to bring us joy," saying so the little girl ran towards it. But the upcoming wave engulfed the shell and before they knew it was gone with the water. The girl stopped in her tracks seeing the disappearance of the shell and waved, "Goodbye joy!" She looked back at Geet, "Aapko pata hai when you are sad just keep the talking shell near your ears and it will talk to you and help you solve your problems," she said amused.
Geet scoffed at the little girl's enthusiasm, "Welcome sorrow," she said in a sardonic tone and started to walk away. Her main purpose of coming to the beach to clear her mind off of the things that was bothering her actually took a turn for the worse with the annoying girl's presence. As she couldn't scorn at the little one for being so excited about a shell on the beach, she wanted to go away before she lost her patience. Geet was definitely not happy of the things that were happening in her life. It almost seemed out of balance. And if one thing she hated was a life that wasn't under her control. She had always kept everything under control; even her emotions were always kept under check. But his proposal had evoked chaos in her mind and stirred unwanted emotions in her heart. And the fact that she didn't want to come face to face with the problem that caused a wreck in her irritated her more. She had never let her problems rule her but today she had let it take complete control over her actions causing her to end up in hiding her mother's home. She wondered how she turned into such a coward.
"You never told me your name?" the girl asked innocently. Geet wondered if the girl would ever give up.
"Geet," she replied, concluding the girl would nag her to no end if ignored. "My name is Geetanjali Handa."
"Mine's Radhika." "Aur aapko pata hai, I am going to turn seven two weeks from now," with her hands on her hips.
"Accha? That's very nice."
Radhika giggled at her reply. "You are funny," she said showing her two missing teeth. In spite of her gloom, Geet joined her in laughing and walked away.
The little one's musical laughter followed her. "Come again Geet didi. We shall have another happy day."
Geet reached home by late evening appearing tired and distant to the curious eyes of her mother. "You love him don't you?" her mother asked out of the blue.
Geet's eye shot up at her mother. "What nonsense," she said irritated. "The word love doesn't exist in my dictionary."
"The word love doesn't exist in my dictionary," Mrinalini imitated Geet and shook her head. "Pagli, it doesn't exist in your dictionary but it does in your eyes."
"Whatever ma, I don't know from where you come up with these things, I don't love that idiot Maan," she said crossing her arms on her chest.
"Maine kab kaha voh Maan hai, oh achha voh Maan hai?" her mother asked surprised.
Geet bit her tongue; "Oh Mom please, mujhe bhook lag rahi hai, what's cooking?" she said hurriedly changing the topic. Mrinalini's heart danced with joy; her dream of Maan becoming her son-in-law would at last come true. She just hoped her buddhu daughter of hers realizes her love for him so that she could see them marry before her time ends.
The days that followed belonged to others; case readings for Geet decided to keep herself busy with her work, a silent rift with her Maan, and the discovery of her mother's deteriorating health.
Geet was enraged to find out about her mother's deteriorating health issues through the mistaken call from the doctor. Since she and her mother had a very similar voice when talking on phone the doctor managed to blurt out all the tests results to the shock of Geet. She had continuously fought with her mother for hiding from her but had to finally give up when her mother became emotional.
One morning while Geet was busy trying to cook something at the instructions of her mom, took her hands off stirring the soup, "I shall visit the beach today," she instructed herself. As she had been overwhelmed with the current issues at hand she never bothered to visit the beach to calm her nerves. Today, she felt she needed to spend some time alone.
The never changing seashore awaited Geet's arrival by late afternoon. She had completely forgotten about the encounter with the child and was startled appeared in front of her smiling her toothy grin.
"Aap aagayi Geet didi," she said animatedly. "Aap mujhse khelogi?" she asked eagerly.
Geet, "What do you want to play?" she said, her mind pre-occupied with things other than playing.
"Jo bhi aap kahengi."
"How about chupa chupi?" Geet asked, her tone hinting sarcasm.
Radhika burst out laughing loudly. "Magar didi, in this huge wide beach hum kahan chup saktein hain?"
"Haina? So why don't we just walk for sometime?" she asked looking at the little girl's bright features yet her face reflected a delicate fairness. They walked by the shore, the water hitting their bare feet periodically. "Where do you live?" Geet asked, curious why she found that little girl often by the shore.
"Vahan," she said pointing to a row of houses on the other side of the road.
They continued to walk while Radhika happily chatted away about the things she did when Geet wasn't visiting the beach. Geet nodded absent-mindedly as her thoughts went back to Maan. She wondered if he really missed her all these days she was out. He didn't make an attempt to reach her nor did he call her mother like he usually did. It was unusual of him to stay quiet especially after a fight she had with him. He always made it up within a few hours or maximum a day but he would never ignore her. She fretted whether she took him granted causing him to find another girl for himself. She despised at the thought of another girl beside him but quickly brushed it off thinking he would never think of another girl beside her. 'He loved her too much didn't he?' she thought but her mind hesitated to accept it. How could he still love her when she had repeatedly shunned his advances of marriage and commitment? She had always overstepped her rights and took his care and love for granted. She knew he had always dreamt of a family, a life in which he wanted to grow old with her beside him. But the thought of commitment itself freaked her out. Somewhere in her heart she feared that getting attached him in life, she might also be left alone just like her mother. This prevented her from getting too attached to the things around her.
Geet headed towards home after sometime when Radhika commented it had been a happy day. Geet felt surprisingly better at her declaration and smiled back genuinely at Radhika. "Indeed it has."
A week passed and Geet again met the little girl Radhika on the beach. She beamed at Geet's arrival but Geet was in no mood to even smile back at her.
"Hi Geet didi, aa'" she began only to be cut off by Geet.
"Look, I seriously am in no mood to talk today. If you don't mind could you please leave me alone?" Geet said sternly. She looked at the little one and her face seemed a little pale than usual and she was breathing hard as though she had problems breathing normal.
"Why didi? Is everything okay?" Radhika asked with concern.
"No nothing is okay damn it!" Geet shouted harshly at her. "How would it be okay, my mother died!" she screamed in agony shaking Radhika's shoulder furiously. Then she suddenly realized why was she talking all this to this strange little girl?
"Oh I see," Radhika whispered quietly, "then it is definitely a very bad day."
"Yes, today is a bad day, so was yesterday, and the day before," Geet said angry tears rolling down. "Oh just go away," she groaned before she completely lost her sanity in front of the girl.
"Did that hurt?"
"Kya?" Geet snapped.
"When she died, did it hurt?"
"Of course it hurt! What do you think?" she yelled and strode of in anger. She wondered if that girl would shut her annoying mouth. She was already drowning in sorrow and cursed that her Maan was not even there by her side to soothe her pain. On top of that this girl was asking if death would hurt? She wondered if she was so innocent to unaware or was she acting too smart.
It had been exactly a week when Geet again visited the beach as she her mother's thoughts haunted her as she stayed in that house. Geet remembered the last rough encounter with that little girl Radhika and felt very guilty of her behavior towards that innocent one. She admitted to herself that she did miss the little one's chirpy company. Figuring she would pay a visit to her, she went to the house Radhika pointed as hers. A young woman greeted her in her early thirties at the door.
"Namaste," Geet said hesitantly. "Main Geetanjali Handa. I was wondering where your little girl, Radhika is. I was actually missing her."
"Oh haan, Geetji please andar aayigeyega," the lady smiled, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Radhika used to talk a lot about you. I hope she didn't trouble you much with her non-stop talking."
"Bilkul nahi'she was indeed a darling and delightful child," Geet said suddenly her words seeping into her. "Voh kahan hai?"
"Radhika died yesterday. She had severe case of heart murmur. I don't think she mentioned it to you," she said solemnly, her eyes filled with tears.
Geet couldn't believe her ears and the ground seemed to disappear for and she tried to grab the nearest chair as the news hit her hard. She slumped on the chair dumbfounded at the sudden news that swept her off her feet. She had never seen this coming; the girl whom she had known only for a very few days was no more.
"Radhika loved this beach a lot, thus I always let her come and play here. It always brought a smile in her lips and she cherished each day on the beach as a happy day. But in the last few days her health deteriorated rapidly," she said her voice in a deadly whisper. "But even in those days she used to talk about you, wishing you would visit her again for she felt bad for upsetting you. Actually she left something for you' ek minute main abhi aayi," the woman said disappearing in the nearby room.
Geet nodded foolishly, her mind was scrambling to say something soothing but her mind was completely blank for words. The woman came back with a big neatly wrapped gift box. On the top of the box it read "Geet didi' that seemed to be carefully written in childish letters. Geet carefully opened the box as though it was a delicately precious thing.
Inside the box was a huge conch shell; Geet remembered the mention of a similar shell on the day they met. She smiled through her tears as she slowly lifted the conch shell and leaned on it a little while her tears freely flowed down her cheeks. few seconds later she sniffed back her tears and looked into the box to find a brightly colored drawing of the sea along with two people building for what seemed like a canal around the sandcastle. Under one drawing the name Geet didi was written and the other Radhika in childish scribble. Geet instantly hugged the drawing that was now dearer than her life. The closed doors of her heart that had forgotten the word love opened wide.
Geet ran to Radhika's mother and took her in her arms. "I'm sorry, really sorry" she burst into tears but continuing to apologize in the midst of her sobbing. Both wept together having no words to soothe each other.
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Geet stood staring at the moon from the Khurana mansion in her dark green and golden lehgha choli, her ghungat clearly hiding her pretty face. The room was beautifully decorated with all types of flowers that hung around the king-sized bed. The door creaked slightly indicating her love's arrival. He entered into the room and gently latched the door. He searched through the dimly lit room for his lovely bride, the love of his life, his jaan, Geet. She stood near the window, facing away from him.
He strode towards her silently and came to stand behind her. Geet felt his presence and turned to face him with her head down. He put his thin long fingers under her chin and slowly lifted her to get a glimpse of her flawless and elegant beauty. To his shock her eyes were brimmed with tears that threatened to fall any second. She looked at him, her eyes reflecting her inner turmoil.
"Maan," she said softly. "Mujhe galat mat samajho. I need you to know, I have never taken advantage of your love and care for me. I shall never take your emotions granted and I promise to never take them for granted in the future too. You have meant everything in my life to me. I was a fool, buddhu, pagal, idiot, stupid, ugh I am running out of bad words here," she whined before continuing her rant. "It was silly of me to conclude you would leave me too like that stupid man who left his wife and kid for another woman," she said contorting her face. "I want to be loved Maan," she finished looking hopefully at him.
Maan just stared back her and before she began again he bent down and took her lips by surprise. He softly kissed her luscious lips before invading her mouth with a dash of his tongue. The kiss that had started as an assurance turned into something more demanding and hot. He explored the contours and the crevices of her mouth sensuously while she slipped her hands around his neck and finally caught his hair, bringing him closer to her. He deepened his kiss and tightened his grip on her petite waist and freely explored the bare skin that was exposed. She moaned against his mouth increasing his urge to kiss her as if there was no tomorrow.
Once Geet came back with the gift pack from Radhika's house, she rushed to pack her things and took the next flight to Bangalore, fearing she would lose him too if she delayed more. He had always stood by her and for her, so it was silly of her to fear he would leave her in any point of her life.
They let go of each other and gasped for breath. This man who stood in front of her, never failed to surprise her with his love for her. "Maan," she said cupping his cheeks, her breath still rugged. "I love you," pecking his lips and smiling through her tears.
"Do you have any idea how many years I have waited to hear these three words from you?" he asked looking at her lovingly. "Iska treat toh banta hai Geetanjali Maan Singh Khurana," he said his eyes glinting mischief. He lifted her and purposefully walked slowly towards their bed, savoring every moment with his beloved wife.
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"Radhika!" Geet yelled on top of her lungs. The gentle sea breeze hit her as she inhaled the salty air before yelling, "Radhika don't go too near the water!"
"Mamma don't worry, dadda is there always with me," the six-year-old squeaked. Geet smiled at her daughter's declaration; of course her Maan would always be there she thought looking at her handsome husband who was holding Radhika's hand tightly and walking back and forth as the cold waves hit their feet. She was admiring him when she heard Radhika jump up excitedly, "Mamma voh dekho it's a talking shell!"
"Haan shona, it's the talking shell, and it brings us—"
"Joy!" Radhika completed proudly.
Maan and Radhika walked back Geet who was lying down on the sand under a huge beach umbrella. Radhika went back to building her sandcastle while Maan bent down to kiss her lips softly before settling down beside her. He shook his wet hair purposefully causing huge drops of water to fall on her face. "Maan!" she said feigning anger.
"Kya hua jaan?" he asked with a lop-sided smile.
"Behave Maan, we are at a public place," she said whacking his arm.
"Acchaji?" he asked tickling her.
"Maan please, chodo mujhe," she giggled trying hard to keep his hands off her. Unable to take his continuous tickling she abruptly got up and tried running away from him. He also got up with her and continued to assault her. She pried his hands off her and started running warning him to keep his hands to himself.
Ignoring her order he ran behind her, "Geet come back warna."
"Maan you are such an evil man, tumhari pregnant wife ko aise daudate hain kya?"
"What?" he asked his eyes widened. "Tum? Main?" he said running out of words. He brought her close to him and hugged her tightly before kissing her forehead tenderly. "Thank you jaan. I'" he began.
"I love you Maan," she said sealing her declaration with a deep kiss.alright here is the next and last part... please ignore my mistakes as i hvnt had the time to edit it this part is reaaalllyyy serisously longgg i better get long comments if u want a WK update 😈 (i know i am such an evil girl magar mere long part keliye treat banta haina?😉)
**: the name of this chapter could be read in two ways --> as joys apart as in happiness is separated. or joy is a part of life.
PLEASE NOTE: ONLY GEET'S ENCOUNTER WITH RADHIKA N HER MOM IS THE SEEN THAT ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE IN THE SHORT STORY THAT I READ. IN FACT THAT IS THE WHOLE SHORT STORY ITSELF. THE PROTAGONIST STARTS WITH HER FIRST ENCOUNTER N ENDS WITH THE SAD NOTE OF THE LITTLE GIRLS DEATH. I HAVE USED THAT SIMILAR CONCEPT AND WOVEN A MAANEET STORY OUT OF IT. NOTHING HAS BEEN COPIED OR PLAGIARIZED!
hope its to ur liking... hit the LIKE button 😊 Edited by Maaneet_09 - 14 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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