Ok, me posting from part 2. Those who havent read the beginning read the beginning. Those who have read part 2, read part 3. I hope everyone has read part 1. So not posting it.
Part 2 starts from Maan questioning Geet, why she left him.
The revelation of the truth
"Geet" Maan murmured. She opened her eyes, they seemed to be surprised, laced with a tinge of disappointment. "Tum aaj mujhe akele chod kar yaha kyun aayi?"
The breeze blew a gust their way. Momentarily distracted, both turned to look yonder into the woods. The wind seemed to be picking up speed. The trees and the dried leaves rustled with the wind. The night insects had quietened in the anticipation of forebrooding disaster. Apart from the low howl of the wind, it felt like the calm before the storm.
Maan turned back to look at Geet. She seemed distracted, lost in thought about something sad. Her eyes were confused. He couldn't understand how to comprehend them. Whatever it was, it was something big and ominous for she had walked out on their engagement. She would have never done something like that, unless she felt she couldn't talk to him. Why could she not talk to him? What was it?
"Geet, bolo na. Aisa kya hua jo tum mujhe bata nahi saki? Mujh se mile bagair hi chali gayi. Kya, kisi ne tumse kuch kaha? Yah, kisi ne kuch kiya?? Batao Geet!! Kya hua?"he questioned.
Geet didn't know what to say, how to begin. How could she just tell him that her past had confronted her, when she was least prepared for it. How could she even begin to tell him that the guy who was responsible for her fate today was none other than his dear little brother Dev.
Maan himself had mentioned that after his grandmother, if anyone was important to him, it was his brother. She could not bear to think of the pain and hurt that Maan would come to face, once she tells him the truth. Should she be the one responsible for the break in his and Dev's relationship? Like Dev had asked her earlier today, was her love for Maan more important or her hatred for him.
Her eyes were running through a whole gamut of emotions, but they all seem to be asking him one question, "Should I or shouldn't I?" Why was she having these doubts? What was it that she felt so unsure about? Did she think that if she told him, something would go wrong in their relationship? Did she think he would let that happen? Is that all she understood him in all this while?
"Geet.. Tumhari ankhen jo sawal pooch rahi hai, uska jawab hai, Haan, tum mujhe batao", Maan beseeched. "Geet…kyunki mein yeh to jaanta hun ki tumhare yeh kadam is tarah tabhi uthenge jab tumhe lage ki humare is rishtein ki koi neev kamzor hai. Aur tumhe maloom hai ki sach or bharose ke siwa humara yeh rishta adhoora hai. Isliye tum mujhe batao geet. Kya hua?? Bolo Geet, mujhe batao".
Geet removed her hands from his shoulders, with a sense of restlessness. Maan sensed her wanting to need some space and let go of holding her. Geet took a step back looking at him made up her mind, lowered her eyes and said "Mujhe darr lagta hai ki mera ateet hum dono ke beech deewar ban kar khada na ho jaye".
Maan was surprised. He hadn't expected her to talk about her past. Had they not discussed this earlier? When he had wanted to find the person responsible for her state today, she herself had dissuaded him saying that her past was past and she would never let it come between them. So why did she suddenly feel otherwise? "Geet..main kuch samjha nahi." Maan responded. "Aisa kya ho gaya aaj, ki tumhe is baat ka darr lag raha hai? Tumhare ateet se mujhe koi farak nahi padta. Mujhe sirf tumhare aaj or humare kal ki parwah hai. Aur tumne hi mujhe kaha ki tum apne ateet ko bhula chuki ho. To fir yeh kyun?" Maan could see his questions were upsetting her more. What am I doing? I hope all is fine, he thought.
What was she supposed to say? Geet thought. If she didn't tell the truth to Maan, then the start of this new relationship of theirs would be based on a lie. Could she do that to them? Could she forget her past, forgive Dev and live with Maan happily? Would Maan want her to do that? But if she did tell Maan the truth, does that mean that she chose her hatred for Dev over her love for Maan? What would the world say? Would they condemn her for this act? What would Maan think? Geet could hear the distant rumble in the skies. The storm was threatening to descent upon them any moment. The winds had the trees dancing with it. Was this a sign from babaji about her imminent future with Maan?
Maan looked up at the skies. Dark clouds had settled in, he could see a flash of lightening streak across the sky at the horizon. For a moment, it felt as if the devil was seizing his share of bounty from the earth, leaving his scar behind. He had an unsettling feeling of impending danger his stomach. Why were negative thoughts flooding his minds? He looked back at Geet. Her eyes had started to moisten, but then there was a sense of resolution in them. "Geet…" he questioned.
Geet had made up her mind. She was going to tell him the truth, because she knew she could never live with the fact that she hid this knowledge from Maan. He would be shattered once he knew what she had to say, but that was the right thing to do and she believed in doing right, irrespective of the consequences. Life had thrown too many hurdles her way, but she had fought through all of them with truth standing by her side and she was not going to give up on this one. Time and again, Maan had supported and admired her courage and she was not going to buckle this time, because this was a difficult test.
Geet looked up at Maan and met his eyes. Maan was surprised, for she had rarely looked directly into his eyes before, except for the night when she had bound them in a lifelong commitment. He waited for her to speak. Geet felt scared. She hoped Maan would understand her.
"Mera ateet… jise mein bhula chuki thi…"she hesitated, "woh ateet….aaj mere saamne phir aa khada hai….." her voice wobbled. There she had said it. She felt unburdened, but fearful.
Maan looked confused and perplexed. The frown between his brows deepened on hearing her speak. "Tumhara ateet….aaj..??" he was asking rather telling himself…. and it all came back in blur of flashes.
She had been upset and agitated, when she had come looking for him in the morning. She had taken him up to his room and said, "Maine use dekha, maine Dev ko dekha". He had commented upon how he would have liked to introduce them and how Dev was his younger brother. As soon as he had said, younger brother, she had taken a step back in shock, as if he had he had said the unthinkable, unimaginable and she had become more and more upset as he spoke of Dev. He had wanted to ask her why she was upset talking about Dev when he had gotten distracted with others around. By the time he came to talk to her, she had left…
The trees shook with the loud rumble of thunder. "Dev…???" Maan questioned shocked beyond belief. The storm had begun bearing down upon them.
Fan Fictions
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