OS: Farewell Prt 2 pg10 Jan 6 - Page 6

It had been four months since he'd last smiled. It had been four months since he last felt like life was worth living. It had been four months since he'd been happy. Because, it had been four months since Geet had left. He had looked for her everywhere – everywhere – but he'd found no sign of her. It was like she'd disappeared into thin air. He had hired the best private detectives but no one was able to trace an 18 yr old pregnant girl. There was no girl named Geet Handa working in any company, no girl named Geet Handa who was renting a home, and no girl named Geet Handa registered in any maternity hospital. Nothing.

It took all he had not to think about Geet. Not to think about her smile, her laugh. Not to think about her eyes, her smell, her touch. Not to think about her spirit, her soul, her love. It took all he had.

Maan had immersed himself in his work because it only when he kept himself busy that he didn't think about her. He had been handling at least 3 projects at a time since Geet had left. It had been hard but he had to do it. He was running on just a few hours of sleep a night, but he refused to stop. Of course, no matter what he did, Geet and her memory were always present in his life.

Every moment at work he was reminded that her cabin sat empty day after day, every cup of coffee reminded him of how she added two cubes of sugar all the time, every flower reminded him of her beauty. Every late night reminded him of the night they'd fallen asleep on the couch after being locked in, every jhumka, every payal reminded him of her simplicity. Every candle, every gust of wind, every drop of rain – everything reminded him of her.

After she'd left, he had done some reading on pregnancies and he was astonished. So much happened inside a womans body, it was amazing. A life was growing and living inside of her. Every book, every article he read they always talked about how it was important for the baby's father to be there, not only to share the experience but to be there and support the mother. His heart ached knowing that Geet was facing all of this alone. No one was there to take care of her morning sickness, no one was there to hold her hand when she was at the doctors office, no one was there to share the first kick, no one was there to share in the miracle. What scared him the most is that no one would be there for her when she need someone the most – during her delivery. The thought of Geet in pain was enough to shake him, but the thought of Geet in pain with no one there, that killed him.

Every time he saw a pregnant woman he couldn't help but think about Geet. How as she feeling? Were her feet swollen? If they were, who was taking care of them? Was she eating right? Did she get her prenatal check up's done? Was she prepared for the baby? Did she have the financial means to support a baby and herself?

On this night, Maan walked the streets of Mumbai alone. His coat hang over his right arm, as he strolled along the streets aimlessly. He pulled his hand out of his pocket to see what time it was, when his eyes fell on the scar on his left hand. He remembered getting that scar like it had been yesterday.

A few days after Geet had left, Dev had come to see Maan at work. Dev had been wanting to talk to Maan for a while but Maan was preoccupied with finding Geet. Maan agreed to give Dev five minutes and nothing more. He had no idea that those five minutes would sever his relationship with his younger brother. Dev had began by telling Maan that he'd been desperate to get money to pay off his debts. Naintara had come up with a simple plan. Find a innocent girl from a well to do family, pretend to marry her, then once all the property and money was in Dev's name, leave her. And that's exactly what they did. Dev explained how they'd gone to small town, and found an innocent young girl.

"Woh gaoun Hoshiyarpur tha, aur woh ladki…woh ladki Geet thi," Dev had said.

Maan was stunned to say the absolute least.

"Geet…meri Geet?" Maan asked.

Dev simply shook his head. Furry ripped through Maan like it never had in the past. Then, before he knew it, he found himself on top of Dev, his fist pounding into Dev's face. Maan didn't even feel Dev's glasses break and imbed itself deep into his fist. Maan didn't feel his knuckles become raw and start to bleed at the friction of his skin against Dev's. All Maan remembered doing was nearly beating Dev to death. It took Adi and three other men to pull Maan off of Dev after he'd thrown Dev clear through a window. That had been the last time he'd seen Dev. The next day he did however find out that Dev had suffered severe injuries. He had a broken jaw, his right eye was blinded because of glass that penetrated it, he was even partially paralyzed because of how he landed on his back after being thrown out. Maan didn't regret one thing – not one thing. If the police wanted to take him to jail, he'd go happily. And if he had to do that moment over again, there was not one thing he'd change, not one!

The fact that his very own brother was responsible for what happened to Geet, he couldn't tolerate it. On some level Maan blamed himself. Had he never kicked Dev out and cut him off, he'd never have stooped so low to get money. Geet would have never met him or married him. Geet would never have been pregnant with his baby, and she would never have been alone. That guilt ate at him every second of every day.

Now as he walked the streets of the small town within the bustling city, his mind automatically went to Geet. Maan was in Mumbai for a meeting. Khurana Constructions was working on a project jointly with the city to provide better, cleaner and safer housing for the low income families. As he walked through the streets, he passed many chawls. The buildings had many levels, people outside creating all kind of noise, the poverty clearly visible.

Maan was approaching one such chawl when he saw a crowd of people gathered talking about someone, hushed whispers, sideways glances. From the distance he was at, he couldn't see anything. Suddenly, a scream silenced all whispers. Clearly someone was in trouble, but Maan watched as no one made an effort to help the person in need. The scream came again, only this time it was a low, painful groan.

"Paata nahin iska kya hoga?" a lady said.

"Issne joh kaam kiya hai, ussi ka saza bhugat rahi hai," an older lady said.

"Bhagwan ke liyeh…koi mera madat kijiyeh," a weak voice called.

As Maan approached the crowd, he saw an arm shoot out as if to call for a taxi. He saw a woman stumble towards the street, one hand holding something in front of her while the other still singled to a taxi just a few feet away. She yelped and doubled over in pain, nearly hitting the floor. She turned slightly to balance herself, giving Maan a clear view. He now saw the woman was pregnant. He hurried forward to offer assistance. The woman attempted to take two steps forward but stumbled and almost fell, but Maan was there in time.

With the woman in his arms, Maan looked furiously at the bystanders.

"Aap log kya kaar rahe hai? Isse madat ki zarurat hai aur aap saab khade hokar…" Maan began but was stopped.

"Besharam aurat hai. Bin bihayi maa banne wali hai," someone called.

"Toh, insaniyat naam ki bhi koi cheez hoti hai," Maan yelled.

The woman groaned as she attempted to step back. It was when she straightened out that Maan got a look at her face. The face he'd searched everywhere for now stood in front of him. His breath caught as he gasped.

"G…Geet," he stuttered.

It was only after he'd called to her that she looked up at him. Just like always, her eyes spoke for her, and in this moment he could see the relief and shock in her eyes.

"Geet kya hua?" Maan yelled and he balanced her.

"M…Maan…mera baacha," she said in a barely audible tone.

Looking down Maan saw one of her hands cradling her bulging stomach.

"Bachalo usse…please…please…abhi sahi waqt nahin hai…nahin hai…" she pleaded.

"Geet, tumhe kuch nahin hoga!" Maan said.

"M…mera b…baach…cha…" Geet slurred one last time before passing out.

"Geet!" Maan yelled as he caught her again.

He lifted her into his arms and raced with her to the stalled taxi. As he walked with her he realized just how light she was, how pale her tear and sweat stained face was. He barked orders at the driver to take him to the nearest hospital. As she gently placed her in the cab and sat with her, he prayed to God that nothing happen to her.

"Tumhe kuch nahin hoga Geet," Maan said. "…kuch nahin."

The fifteen minute ride to the hospital seemed like the longest fifteen minutes of Maan's life. He watched over Geet as she took labored breaths. On impulse, he put one shaking hand gently on her swollen stomach trying to feel for a kick or something – anything that would tell him the baby was ok. He felt nothing.

Once they reached the hospital Maan took Geet out and raced inside.

"Doctor, mujhe doctor chahiyeh!" he yelled.

An orderly came running with an empty stretcher where Maan placed Geet. A doctor came running asking what happened, but all Maan could say is he didn't know.

"Kya aap inke paati hai?" she asked.

Maan just stared at Geet's lifeless body.

"Excuse me," the doctor called again. "Kya aap inke paati hai?"

Maan mutely shook his head, 'yes'.

They rushed Geet into a room, forcing Maan to stay outside. About a minute later another doctor came rushing down the hall.

"Kitni baar Geet se kaha tha maine ke aapna khayal rakha karo, lekin yeh ladki meri kahaan sunti hai!" she said as she walked in.

Maan paced the hall for another fifteen minutes until the doctor came out.

"Doctor," Maan called as she walked past him.

"Yes?"

"Geet kaisi hai?" he asked. "Aur…aur uska baacha?"

"Aap kaun?" the doctor asked as she looked at him confused.

"Main, Maan Singh Khurana."

The doctor studied him for a few seconds and then realization hit her as she said, "Toh aap hai Geet ki Maan Sir."

"Ji?" Maan asked.

"Kuch nahin," the doctor said.

"Geet kaisi hai?" he asked after a moment.

"Aab tik hai," the doctor said.

"Baacha?" Maan questioned.

"Woh bhi tik hai. Hum kuch tests kaar rahe hai, jaise mujhe kuch aur paata chale, main aapko batadungi."

It was then Maan finally breathed a sigh of relief. The doctor began to walk away but Maan stopped her.

"Kya…kya main Geet ke saath bait sakta hoon?" he asked.

The doctor simply smiled and nodded before walking away.

Maan walked in silently not wanting to disturb her. His heart fell at what he saw. Geet lay on the bed with wires and IV's sticking out of her. She was dressed in a hospital gown, her face, still pale, had some color back. He didn't know what to do or say. All he knew was that he wanted the absolute best care for Geet and her baby. He stepped out from her room to make a call. He had been on the phone for about fifteen minutes when he heard a nurse page a doctor to Geet's room. Not knowing what was going on he raced to her room, but stopped from going inside because the doctor was talking to Geet, who was not sitting up in bed.

"Kya hua doctor? Mera baacha toh tik hai naa?" Geet asked, one had protectively over her belly.

"Relax, Geet, saab tik hai, kuch nahin hua hai," the doctor said.

"Phir woh pain…" Geet said.

"Maine tumse kitni baar kaha tha ke aapna khayal rakho, zyada tension maat lo," the doctor said as Geet looked away. "Meri suni nahin naa, issi liyeh tum premature labor mein chali gayi."

This caught Maan and Geet's attention.

"Maine haar checkup mein tumse kaha tha ke yeh ek high risk pregnancy hai, dusri aurtoon se tumhe zyada careful rehna padega. Lekin nahin, meri baath toh tum manti nahin," the doctor said. "Aab ke liyeh toh humne tumhara labor rok liya, lekin main akhri baar keh rahi hoon, sambhal jaao Geet, varna pata nahin kya hoga."

"Mera baacha tik toh hai naa?" Geet asked again.

"Haan, tik hai," the doctor said. "Dekho Geet, hum humesha kosish karte hai ke jitni dehr tak hosake hum baache ko Maa ke andar rakhe. Yeh tumhari saathva mahina chal raha hai. Main nahin keh rahi hoon ke aagar baacha aabhi hogaya toh kuch bura hoga, magar yeh aacha bhi nahin hoga. Tum samaj rahi ho naa meri baath?"

"Ji," Geet answerd. "Magar, woh koi harquat nahin kaar raha hai."

"Relax. Joh ek Maa mehsoos karti hai, wohi baacha mehsoos karta hai. Relax, be calm…phir dekho, tumhara baacha kaise tumhe tang karega."

After saying that the doctor walked out, while Maan ran through everything she'd just said. His thought were interrupted by Geet's voice. Looking into the room, he saw her head bent, and both arms cradling her belly.

"Mamma ko maaf kardo baby," she said. "Mamma tikse aapka khayal nahin rakthi naa. Main vada karti hoon, ke aab Mamma ek dum shant rehgi…koi tension nahin. Baas, aap Mamma ko dikhado ke aap tik hai."

Maan stood and watched as she gently rubbed her belly, and continued to talk to her baby. Then, suddenly, her shoulders sagged, she laid her head back. It was then Maan saw tears rolling down her eyes.

"Than you, thank you baby," she said.

Maan figured that the baby had probably kicked, which made Geet cry in relief. Not wanting to bother her, Maan turned to leave. But just his luck, he ran into an orderly carrying a tray of instruments that hit the floor with a loud bang. When he turned around, Geet was looking at him with shocked eyes.

"Maan Sir," she mouthed.

Maan couldn't turn away now, so he walked in.

"Geet, kaise ho?" he asked, but felt stupid for asking.

"Kya aap mujhe hospital layeh?" she asked. When Maan nodded yes, she added, "Mujhe laga tha ke woh mera vehem tha."

For a long while, she started at him and Maan filled with warmth. Her gratitude was expressed through her eyes. It warmed Maan knowing that she could still look at him that way. However, the moment was short-lived.

"Aapne humare liyeh joh kiya," she began, one hand protectively on her belly. "Uska ehsaan main khabi nahin chuka paungi, magar…aap yahaan kyun aaye?"

"Kaise nahin aata Geet," Maan said. "Tumhe akele hospital mein kaise chode ke jaata?"

"Kyun, iss mein kaunsi badi baath hai?" she asked. "Jaise char mahine pehle chodke gaye the, vaise aaj bhi chale jaate."

Maan gasped at her comment. He'd never thought that Geet could have so much venom in her, of course he had to accept that he'd put it there. He could have easily said that she had left him too. He could have told her that he'd searched heaven and earth to find her but couldn't. He could have, but he didn't – this was neither the time nor the place to hash out old wounds. Besides, he didn't blame her for anything; this was all on his shoulders.

"I'm sorry Geet," Maan said. "Mujhe tumhari sari baatein sunlena chahiyeh tha."

"Please, aap jaiyeh," she said as she turned her face away.

"Chala jaunga," Maan said. "Baas aapne bhai ke taraf se maafi mang loon."

"Aapke bhai se mera kya lena dena?" she asked.

"Tumhara gunegar mera chota bhai hai…mera chota bhai, Dev Khurana."

The look of surprise on Geet's face was not one Maan would easily forget.

"D…Dev…Dev aapka bhai hai?" Geet asked. "Aapko pata tha…phir bhi…"

"Haan Dev mera bhai hai, lekin mera yakin mano, mujhe nahin pata tha ke Dev khabi tumhari zindagi mein aaya tha," Maan said.

"Nahin…aaisa nahin hosakta…" Geet said as she shook her head from side to side.

Putting his coat down he rushed to her. The doctor had just said that she shouldn't stress herself out, not take any tension. And like a complete buffoon, he decided to tell her that the man responsible for all the sadness in her life was his brother. Something never changed, like him putting his foot in his mouth every time he was anywhere near Geet. He prayed that he could calm Geet down and that nothing happened. God, however, was not smiling down on Maan.

"Aaaah!" Geet yelled as she doubled over holding her stomach.

"Geet!" Maan yelled as he went to her. "Doctor! Doctor!" he continued to yell.

Within seconds, the doctor rushed in and assessed the situation.

"I'm sorry Geet, magar…tumhari delivery toh aaj hi hogi," the doctor said.

"Nahin, abhi bhi waqt hai…yeh sahi time nahin hai," Geet said between her teeth.

"Kuch nahin hoga Geet, kuch nahin," the doctor reassured. "Just breathe….breathe…main aabhi aayi." With that the doctor left.

Maan was beside himself with grief, what had he just done? If anything happened to Geet or her baby, he'd just kill himself. He didn't want to cause her any more pain, so he turned to leave. He was surprised when he felt a tug on his arm. Turning around he saw Geet's hand holding on to him.

"Mujhe bohot daar lag raha hai," she said softly. "Maat jaiyeh…please…"

"Geet," Maan said as he exhaled. "Tumhe kuch nahin hoga, main hoon tumhare saath. Aur iss bar, chahe kuch bhi hojayeh, main tumhe chodke kahin nahin jaunga."

Maan took her hand and kissed it.

"Main tumse bohot pyaar karta hoon Geet. Baas main hi jaanta hoon ke tumhare bina maine yeh char mahine kaise kate," he confessed.

"Main……main….ahh!" Geet screamed as she squeezed his hand.

It took a few seconds until she let go. He'd done enough reading up on pregnancy so he knew that was a contraction. She began breathing shallow, almost panting. The next few hours passed with the contractions coming faster and stronger. It was killing Maan to see her in so much pain, he'd never felt to helpless and useless in all his life. He had begged and pleaded with her to take the epidural to paralyze the pain, but she refused. Leave it to Geet to fight strong and hard even when she didn't have to.

The contractions were just seconds apart when the doctor asked Maan to leave the delivery room. Maan really didn't want to, but he wanted to give Geet her privacy.

"Nahin," Geet said, latching onto his hand. "Main akele nahin kaar paungi. Please mujhe chodke maat jaiyeh."

That was all the coaxing that Maan needed. He didn't care if the doctor refused, he was staying and no one could do anything about it.

As the contractions grew closer, Maan stood by the head of the bed, holding onto Geet's hand encouraging her as best he could. When the time finally came, Maan stood speechless at what he was witnessing – a miracle. He'd always known Geet to be an amazing woman, but seeing her do this he didn't have the words. His love, respect and admiration for this woman grew ten fold. This is why there was nothing like a mothers love – she fought against everything and anything to bring her child into this world safe and sound. People always thought men were stronger than women, but clearly they were wrong. No matter how hard men tried, they never be able to conquer the power and strength a mother displayed – never.

With one final push, the baby was out and Maan stood wide eyed. He saw Geet hold her breath, and not let it go until the baby cried. It was only then that she leaned back against the bed, trying to catch her breath.

"Mubarak ho, ladki hui hai," the doctor announced.

"Ladki…" Geet whispered as she smiled.

The nurses cleaned up the baby while Geet's breathing finally steadied. Just minutes later the brought a tiny baby wrapped in a pink blanket. When they placed the baby in Geet's arms, she wept.

"Hi baby," she said.

As if recognizing the voice, the baby opened her eyes and looked at Geet.

"Main aapki Mamma hoon," Geet said.

She then leaned over and placed a soft kiss on the baby's head. Maan couldn't help but marvel at the moment. Not ten minutes ago, the baby was inside, one with Geet, and now – now she was here to greet the world, to be her own person. Looking at her, Maan instantly knew that nothing mattered more to him than her being happy and healthy. Nothing mattered more to him than seeing her smile, hearing her laugh, watching her grow – nothing mattered more than this baby girl and her mother.

"Kya naam soocha hai," the nurse asked.

"Naam……?" Geet asked. Clearly she'd not thought about one.

"Koi baath nahin, aksar aaisa hota hai," the nurse. "Filhal hum isse Baby Girl Handa bulayenge."

"Nahin," Maan interrupted. "Baby Girl Khurana."

Geet and the nurse both looked at him surprised.

"Maano ya naa maano Geet, aab tum aur yeh baachi hi meri zindagi ho, mere duniya ho, mera parivaar ho," Maan said. "Yeh banegi Baby Girl Khurana, aur tum banogi Mrs. Maan Singh Khurana."

"Magar…" Geet protested.

"Chup, bilkul chup," Maan said as he put one finger on her lips to silence her. "Ek baar tumhe kho chuka hoon, dubara nahin kho sakta Geet."

It was then that Maan reached into his pocked and pulled out something – Dadi Maa's ring, causing Geet to gasp.

"Pichle char mahino se isse aapni jeb mein lekar ghum raha hoon. Bhagwan se yeh hi pratna kaar raha tha ke tum mujhe kahin miljao take main tumhe keh sakoon ke main tumse kitna pyaar karta hoon, aur phir tumhe yeh pehna sakoon," Maan said.

Geet cradled the baby securely to her body as Maan took her left hand and slid the ring on her finger.

Maan couldn't help but smile as he thought that the ring was back where it belonged, just like he was.

"I love you Geet…I love you too baby girl," Maan said as he leaned over and kissed the baby on her head. He then leaned in and placed a kiss on Geet's forehead.

"Bohot pyaar karta hoon main tumse Geet," Maan repeated.

Tears sprang to Geet's eyes. "Main bhi aapse bohot pyaar karti hoon."

There, just like that, they were one forever. Funny how the night had started off with Maan on the streets alone, but ended with him finding the happiness and love he'd been craving. There was nothing more for Maan to want. He had his girls and that's all that mattered.

At that very moment, Maan said farewell. Farewell to lonliness, farewell to sadness, farewell to sorrow, farewell to depression, farewell to darkness. He said farewell to a life without Geet, as he welcomed happiness and love with open arms.

Hello to Geet's Maan, and farewell to cold, stone hearted Maan Singh Khurana…farewell.

The End