Hey Guys!!
I'm back! I went to Sydney so couldn't update.. Sowiee. Here is the next update 😃 Here is the much awaited chapter. Hopefully you guys see why each character behaves the way he/she does...
Chapter 43: Colors of Uncertainty
The calm and cool night gave way to a dull, dark, and cloudy morning as if forecasting the events of the day. The city still seemed asleep disregarding the wake up calls of chirping birds.
She was clad in her favorite light orange pajamas and sleeping on her stomach while the alarm blared through the apartment. The blanket seemed out of place and so was her long curly hair. She lazily groped her hands towards the phone in the midst of pillows in various sizes that was surrounding her. She finally found the phone under one of the huge pillows to the left of her. Without fully opening her eyes, she squinted at the phone that read 3:30AM. She hit the snooze button promising to wake up in another five minutes but before she knew it, the alarm blared in her ears only to find it was 4:00AM. Her eyes widened with surprise and shock, she mentally chided herself to letting herself get lazy. She rubbed her eyes of sleep, looked into her palms and sent a quick prayer to the Almighty asking Him to help her get through this day. Today was a big day for her; all the efforts she toiled until now was for this big day. She had dreamed of this day ever since she knew the meaning of her life and goal but in the corner of her mind a doubt still lingered; she had feared may be she wouldn't be able to get through it like planned. But she quickly brushed away negative thoughts and started to focus on the impending day.
She brushed her teeth and took a quick shower so that she could finish her morning prayers before sitting down to review for one last time before her exam. She had reviewed ample number of times and could recite each scenario even in sleep yet she wanted to be fully sure she was capable right before her Step 3 United States Medical Licensing Examination. It not only required knowledge about the subject but hands on practical experience and working under pressure. Given a situation under which the student is asked to perform a physical demonstration of patient management in ambulatory care settings. And Geet Handa had made sure she practiced to treat every scenario possible that would allow her to ace the exam so that she could fulfill her mother's dream of becoming Dr. Geet Handa MD. It had taken a lot of efforts to get to this position, opposition from family, financial problems, and many more that could be added to her never ending list of obstructions, yet she had bravely fought every single hurdle with utmost strength. In the midst of her victory over her all her hurdles she was not proud of one.
They say all wounds heal with time. But there are instances when even time fails to heal leaving open and unhealed gashes.
***
"Geet I understand I have no business between you two but I can't help but ask what's all this beta?" she heard Daadima ask. There was no accusation or anger in her tone, it was plain confusion and hurt.
Daadima's soothing tone broke the last straw for Geet and she lunged forward to hug her before sobbing profusely.
"Sorry Daadima!" she hiccupped while tightly hugging the older woman.
"Shh beta, please don't cry." Daadima rubbed Geet's back hoping to calm her.
Savitri Devi's aged eyes had caught their lies and drama when Maan had brought Geet to the outhouse. She was sure things would settle down with time. And it seemed like everything did settle only to suddenly go haywire. It pained to see both her children suffer and she decided to step in to do some damage control.
"Mujhe maaf kar deejiye Daadima," she sobbed again.
Daadima held Geet's face and turned it to face her. "Look at me beta, royiye mat. Kya hua? Apni Daadima se nahi batayenge?"
"I cannot keep up this marriage Daadima," she said looking away. "Main Maan ke liye sahi nahi hoon."
"Aap yeh kaise soch liya Geet?" Daadima gasped.
"My priorities have been set somewhere else and I won't be able to keep him happy Daadima," she said biting her lower lip.
"But Geet," Daadima began uncertainly.
"Nahi Daadima please don't force me. This is the best for all of us," Geet pleaded her shoulders slumped.
Savitri Devi stared at the broken girl that sat in front of her. Geet's lips seemed to say something while her eyes said something else. Something had badly gone wrong causing Geet to run away from the problem instead of facing it. And she wasn't ready to even share it. Forcing her at this point would make her run away more. If anything, Geet had to realize on her own. And only for that reason Daadima decided to let Geet have her way for now. Years of experience taught Savitri Devi from trying to bring about change overnight.
***
She had arrived at JFK International airport nearly seven months ago passing through customs and into baggage area. Excited tourists as well as students rushed to pick up their bags and yet she stood lifelessly waiting for her luggage. She couldn't have cried even if she wanted to. The sadness was still there, but not raw anymore - now it was an empty unhappiness - the kind she didn't think would easily lift. She stared around her as if she was in a pit. She walked out to be duly received by someone named John who identified himself as her chauffeur.
John drove her through the lively New York City before stopping in front of what seemed liked huge penthouse apartments by lower Manhattan side of the city. He dutifully dropped her at the entrance when another courteous attendant came to receive her and escorted to her apartment.
She walked into what seemed like a huge penthouse elegantly furnished with royal dcor. Every single thing screamed antique and royal around her.
"Steve," she called to her helper who was about to set her lunch.
"Yes ma'am," he asked coming to stand in front of her.
"Could you help me find a smaller apartment and a part-time job?"
"Didn't you like this place ma'am? Should I ask the manager to find you a better place?" he asked courteously. If he was confused at her sudden request, he didn't let it show.
"No, no," she said hurriedly. "This place is beautiful, it's just I can't stay here. Will you help me Steve? You are my only friend here," she said hoping he would help her.
Steve was taken aback by her sincere request. His aged and experienced eyes could read the anguish in her voice and unrequited love in her eyes. He had taken a sudden liking to her innocence and smiled fondly.
"Of course ma'am," he said tipping his imaginary hat.
"Geet, call me Geet, Steve," she said returning a hollow smile.
It took a month for Geet to find her own little place few blocks down the lane. Steve helped her find a job in the nearby caf. In spite of the low pay, the old couple that ran the store were very warm and understanding. And it hadn't taken much time for owners of the caf as well as regular visitors to fall in love with the petite Indian girl who always ran to help anyone in need.
***
She ran her hands absentmindedly through the black beaded chain resting on her neck as she stared into nothingness. She had wronged him in every possible way right from the day she set foot in his life. He had given her everything but pain and she had returned him with nothing but pain. And the only way to redeem was to let him go. She couldn't bind him to her when she herself had her priorities set elsewhere.
She hissed as the hot liquid burned her fingertip as it overflowed from the cup bringing her thoughts back to reality. She put aside the tea filter as well as the vessel before hurrying to wipe away excess chai on the counter. Mechanically putting away dishes into the sink, she picked up her chai mug and walked out of her small yet cozy kitchen.
Rubbing her eyes of sleep, she took another sip of chai. She had planned to leave in two hours to arrive well in time for her exam. Few more pages of last minute revision and she would get everything ready before she left. She was about to turn the page when she heard her intercom beep. Scrunching her eyebrows, she looked at the clock that struck seven. It was too early for anyone to visit her. She had informed the Smiths and Steve about the exam so it wasn't quite possible for them to visit her. She walked towards the intercom before pressing a button to ask about her unplanned visitor.
"Yes?" Releasing the button she waited for the person on the other side to introduce himself/herself.
After a slight crackling static noise she heard him speak, "Geet, it's me Maan."
She stood frozen hearing his baritone voice after so long. She gulped bouts of air trying to calm her racing heart.
"Geet are you there?" he repeated holding the intercom.
Maan had drowned himself with work since the time Geet left. He had kept his mind engaged in business deals and more new projects exhausting him yet he never stopped. Only his exhaution let him sleep undisturbed for the few mere hours at night. His talking had reduced to monosyllables and no amount of cajoling from Anushka, Arjun, or Daadima worked. Professionally Khurana Empire set new and high standards with his incessant working but none of his close loved ones approved his behavior. All those years since his parent's demise, they had prayed he would come around to live a normal fun-loving and joyful life only for it to be shattered too soon.
Try as he might, he certainly couldn't come to hate Geet. How could someone hate the person they had irrevocably fallen in love with? He had fallen in love with her the minute he saw her carelessly dancing by the broken water hydrant. He loved her and he would keep loving her.
He was certainly broken. The searing pain in his chest never eased after she had walked away through the airport entrance. He never shed a tear after baring his soul to his Daadima.
A month later after Geet arrived in New York he was notified of her moving out of the penthouse into a small apartment down the lane. Steve had informed him about her need to move out of this place and find a place of her own. Although he was reluctant to let her move out of this secure penthouse, he wanted to give her the freedom of living where she pleased. From time to time, Maan kept tags on her whereabouts and activities and ensure she was safe.
Just a week before his arrival at New York, Pavan uncle had given him some papers that needed her signature before they could file their divorce in court. Maan suggested mailing the papers and have his staff take it to her but Pavan uncle had insisted Maan personally go and and get the signatures. Pavan uncle had smoothly pointed that leaking of these papers to media would lead to bigger problems for both Maan and Geet. And he couldn't let media barge in their lives; it wouldn't be good for her or him. Whatever be his differences with her, he couldn't spoil her studies.
"Jjji" he heard her stammer from the other side. And he heard a brief, "Andar aayiye," before the line went dead. Few seconds later he heard the buzzing sound of lock releasing that allowed him to walk into the apartment hallway. Walking up three floors, he knocked on her apartment door.
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