MG FF: Quantum of Solace Thread 2 - Page 17

The morning following the party Maan invited Mr. Chopra over to the house. Neither of them needed to clarify the reason behind it because to both of them it was more than obvious. Mr. Chopra had numerous questions about Geet's current situation and how exactly she ended up there. Maan gladly filled him in on whatever he knew especially about the Walters and lawsuit.

After listening to it all Mr. Chopra was only further disappointed, he couldn't understand why such a sweet girl like her was forced to go through so much. But he was pleased about one thing, that of all the people she could have met during this ordeal it had been Maan. Seeing the concern and protectiveness he showed towards Geet consoled Mr. Chopra that she was indeed in good hands.

"Maan, you can't imagine how happy I am that I got to see Geet finally. Ever since she left I have had people searching for her everywhere but with no luck. I guess we just never expected her to be here of all places. I'm relieved that she's safe but saddened at why even in this stage of her life Geet is forced to go through so much."

"I understand Mr. Chopra but don't worry about her case. I have everything for that under control. The more important thing on our hands is helping her through this. If only I would've recognized Geet sooner I could have done something sooner but I just can't recall my father ever mentioning Mr. Handa even had a daughter."

"How would you know Maan? Her mother made sure she was well concealed from society. It was only after Geet turned eighteen and ran away when she was supposed to be given her share of Mohinder's fortune did people know his oldest child was Geet. The media had a field day when the news broke out." He remembered how difficult it was back then and wished he would've done more to protect Geet.

Maan felt sympathy for the man. He could see he felt responsible for not being able to do more for Geet who he clearly cherished like his own daughter. "Mr. Chopra, please don't dwell on the past that we can't change. Instead we need to find a way to help Geet."

He nodded in agreement. "You're right Maan but how is the question. The things that have been inflicted upon her have affected her to the core." Maan knew what he was trying to say. It was what Geet herself told him, that she didn't deserve to be loved. How does one make a person understand otherwise when that's all they've felt and accepted.

Mr. Chopra smiled sadly thinking of the days when Geet was born. She was the sweetest and most beautiful baby in the whole hospital ward. Everyone from the nurses to interns adored her, well everyone except the one person who ought to have.

He saw Maan pacing and realized if there was anyone that could get through to Geet it would be him. Mr. Chopra asked Maan calmly to sit down and listen.

"I don't know what Geet has told you about her past but I suspect it isn't much. It's a bitter tale that undeniably stemmed because of her mother, Ragini. Mohinder and her got married quite young, their first years together were blissful but as his business expanded he became busier and she got more agitated. Although that was understandable, she had many other faults that went down to her character. On the surface Ragini appeared to be genuine and kind but she had a sharp tongue and didn't think twice about demeaning people. Mohinder wasn't in the least bit like her and always saw the good in people. It's one of the reasons he wouldn't believe a word against his wife that he loved more than his own life.

It was only when they were expecting their first child did he start to get a glimpse of exactly what she was like. With the traditional mindset that Ragini had been raised with, her expectations of a first child were always of a male. So when they found out it was otherwise, she went hysterical. Mohinder had her put on watch with doctors and nurses because of numerous incidents she attempted to hurt herself and the baby.

When Geet was born, she refused to look at her let alone even hold her. Can you imagine what it would feel like to be brought into this world and not be given warmth and love from the first moment of life? It broken my heart when I saw all of this, I begged Mohinder to leave Ragini because she wasn't good for him and especially not for Geet. But he said no, thinking that he would change Ragini and she'll accept Geet soon. It was all false hopes because she didn't change.

Instead her behavior only became more erratic as the years past. Ragini would accidentally bathe her in scalding water or mistakenly leave the crib latch open causing Geet to inevitably fall and get hurt. Mohinder tried to keep Geet with him as much as possible but it was difficult since he was often out of town for business. As Geet got older, the abuses only got worse and more twisted. Ragini would constantly hit her for trivial matters but the last straw for Mohinder came when she had to be taken the hospital.

Past

"Didi! Let me have the doll. I promise I won't do anything to it."

But she was a smart eight year old and knew her brother all too well. Seeing his Tonka truck in hand Geet knew exactly what he was going to do with her doll. "No Rohan, you say that all the time and smash my doll."

Rohan moved in and tried to snatch the doll from her hand. "Dad always gets you a new one, so what's the big deal?"

"Stop Rohan! You are going to break it." But he was an impatient six year old and tantrums were his expertise. Rohan continued to pull beginning a tug of war between him and Geet for the plastic doll. It's no surprise the doll was weak compared to their strength and the head snapped off causing Rohan to fly across and hit the table.

Geet rushed over hearing him cry. "Rohan, I'm sorry. Are you okay?" She rubbed his head to make it feel better but he continued to cry. "It'll be okay Rohan, let me get you some ice."

Geet got up and turned to head towards the kitchen only to see her mother fuming. She opened her mouth to say something but was left numb with the tight slap across her face.

"How many times have I told you to stay away from Rohan? You are always finding ways to hurt him." Geet only looked down towards her feet and silently cried. She never intentionally meant to hurt her brother and felt horrible seeing him cry.

"It…was…a…accident….I'm…sorry……" Ragini looked at her with disgust. In her eyes Geet was devious and was always intentionally hurting Rohan.

"Shut up Geet. I don't want to hear any more of your lies. This time I'm going to punish you so much you'll never think of hurting Rohan again." She roughly tugged Geet's arm and dragged her towards the gallery where a door led to the backyard.

Ragini opened the door letting the icy gust of wind blow inside. Geet suspected what was going to happen and stopped walking but Ragini yanked her outside and shut the door. "Now sit outside quietly until say you can come in."

"I'm sorry…Rohan can have my doll… he can have all my toys…Mom…I'm sorry…please let me in…Mom…" But Ragini walked away without a second glance heeding no attention to her daughter's pleas. Rohan saw Geet shivering and ran towards his mom. "It was my fault Mom….please let Didi in…"

"Rohan don't lie for Geet. I know exactly what she does to you. Always taking what's rightfully yours. This will show her…" She said while continuing to walk away yelling at servants to get back to work. They came running hearing the commotion and saw what she had done but felt helpless in their position.

Rohan walked to the glass where Geet stood with her arms crossed trying to protect herself from the wind. "I'm sorry Didi...Mom is punishing you because of me…like always..." He looked down with guilt.

Geet could hear despite the glass and shook her head. "No Rohan…it was my fault…I should have given you the doll. Don't worry though…she will let me in soon." She said shivering but soon came hours later that felt never ending.

"Geet…Rohan…Ragini…where is everyone? Why is the house so quiet?" After an exhausting three day business trip Mohinder wanted to do nothing more than spend some time relaxing with his family. He placed his briefcase on the table and was soon met with Rohan running into his arms.

"Oh there's my boy. How are you kiddo?" He asked giving Rohan a tight hug.

"I'm fine Dad but Geet…"

"You're finally home. I was expecting you hours ago. Dinner is getting cold. Let's eat." Ragini said approaching him to take Rohan away from his arms but the little one wouldn't let go.

Mohinder realized something was off with hearing Rohan mention Geet's name and looking scared. Not to mention Geet was always the first one to come and greet him when he came home so not seeing her caused fear to set in. "Ragini, where is Geet?"

Ragini made her way back to the kitchen not paying much attention to him. "Oh she must be somewhere around the house. I don't have time to keep track of her all day."

Rohan tugged his Dad's collar and shook his head. He pointed in the direction of the gallery door. Mohinder immediately put Rohan down and rushed outside. And there lay his daughter curled up in ball against the door trying to fend heat from her own body.

He rolled her over only to see her skin pale and icy to the touch. She looked so lifeless with no trace of blood flow, only whiteness all over her. "Geet, wake up! Sweetheart…wake up…Geet!" There came no response and he gathered her into his arms carrying her into the house.

He took Geet towards the fireplace and asked everyone in his way to help him. "Rohan get a blanket for Didi, Ramu kaka call the ambulance quickly." Just then Ragini came by hearing her husband screaming. "What's the matter? Why are you yelling?"

Mohinder glared at her. He couldn't believe she would stoop so low and that too with their daughter. "Ragini! How can you be so heartless? Do you have any idea how cold it is outside? She could get hypothermia!"

"Stop overreacting. I was only disciplining her. She's perfectly fine, only acting for sympathy." Ragini sneered.

"Just stop it Ragini…stop it! She's only eight years old! This is not discipline and this…." He said looking at Geet's unconscious body "…is not acting. What has Geet done to you to have to endure your anger? Explain to me logically why you keep hurting her! She's your daughter for God's sake!"

"What hasn't she done? She's taken away everything. My pride, my happiness, my life, you…everything! Anyone who takes away what's mine can never be my own." With that Ragini stormed away as always leaving him to console not only himself but his children.

Mohinder watched with sorrow as she left them. Rohan sat next to Geet's unconscious body caressing her forehead. "Come on Didi…wake up…I promise I won't ask for your doll again…I pinky promise Didi…please wake up…" Rohan was scared and began to cry seeing his beloved sister lay so quiet and unlike her bubbly self.

"Why won't Didi wake up Dad? Please tell Didi to wake up…I won't trouble her anymore…I promise…just make her wake up…" Rohan was bawling now and Mohinder hugged him tight. His own welled tears fell seeing his children suffer because of their own mother.

He couldn't understand how she could think like that especially of her own child. Couldn't she see what she was doing not only to Geet but all of them was simply wrong? Seeing Geet's body being carried out by paramedics absolutely defeated him inside.

He had tried everything, absolutely everything to keep her safe but he failed. He failed as a father in protecting her. He failed as a man to mend his fragmented family. He was at point now where he had no idea of what, if anything could be done to become a true family.

Present

Mr. Chopra had to stifle a few tears before continuing remembering the callousness of it all. "She made her own frail young daughter sit outside in the blistering cold winter with nothing on to protect herself but the thin clothes on her back. What category do you fall into to be that cold and heartless?"

"It was miracle Geet made it through. Even the doctors were losing hope at one point. The hypothermia was so severe it caused Geet to have heart problems. She spent a full week in the hospital trying to recover from the cardiac arrhythmias. It was seeing this, his innocent eight year old daughter fighting for her life that made Mohinder finally understand she was in no way safe with Ragini around.

Mohinder placed Geet in a boarding school away from home. He didn't want to but had no choice because risking Geet's life definitely wasn't an option neither was divorcing Ragini with Rohan to worry about also.

He hoped things would get better this way but Ragini still wasn't happy though. A soul like hers can never be happy. She believed he was favoring Geet and fights ensued between them. Mohinder tried his hardest to make things work and even put up with her conditions but it all got to him.

The stress of constantly fighting Ragini and seeing his daughter living in solitude yearning for love completely destroyed him. After suffering two mild heart attacks, it was a third that killed him in the end when Geet was twelve.

In his deathbed Mohinder signed over Geet's custody to me, knowing her own mother couldn't be trusted with her life. Ragini, however, destroyed the paperwork, moved Geet home from boarding school and barely let her out of the house. She knew Geet would get the majority of Mohinder's assets and couldn't bear to see that happen.

I almost never saw Geet but the servants I had inside kept me updated. It was all the same unbearable news about how Ragini verbally and physically abused her for Mohinder's death. But there wasn't much I or anyone else could do because Ragini wouldn't let anyone near her.

I don't know about Mohinder but if she was my wife I could never forgive her for inflicting undue hate and pain on a child. Ragini twisted Geet's thoughts and made her carry the burden of all her own wrongs. She ruined an innocent girl's childhood, slashed her hopes of a family to call own, and worst of all corrupted her mind for the rest of her life."

The air had gradually turned icy and numbness settled through him. Maan was stunned silent but was going through a million emotions inside from absolute rage towards her mother to unceasing agony for Geet. With each word, he felt as if the knife just went deeper and deeper inside of him.

He believed the first years of life were so cherished within our memories because they were supposed to be the finest. Childhood was a fragile stage where innocence, protection, wonderment and carefree imaginations were to run with abandon through young blood. It's supposed to be a time when a child is to feel secure from the harsh world and be given nothing but all the love and care it has to offer.

But when cruelty is introduced so young, a child is forever left traumatized with the feeling they are unworthy of all love, care and protection. They are scarred with the false notions that settle in their mind that it's what they deserve because it's all they ever were known to feel.

The drops that welled in his eyes trickled out. His heart ached thinking of her lost childhood and grief she had to endure at the hands of no one but her mother. What kind of human being would treat a child like that, especially their own? What kind of mother would put her own flesh and blood through all this with no remorse or fear of even God? He quickly wiped his face trying to gain his composure hearing her hollow voice behind them.

Her intentions were to grab Piyu's beach towel and head back to the shore but hearing fragments of her past being repeated stopped her. All the memories flooded back but none more so than the one so clearly imprinted into her mind. She was transported back to that snowy night where she lay on the concrete hoping her wish would finally come true.

"It was so cold that day. The first winter storm of the year I remember. A night when I thought it was all so near…but I wasn't that lucky. I didn't know then that I had a lot more to endure."

Geet leaned against the glass door looking out into the distant water remembering how desperately she wanted her wish to come true that night. Maan felt utterly helpless seeing the raw pain etched on her face.

"It's still the only thing I clearly remember...sitting with my chin buried between my legs and arms wrapped around the knees...praying that someone took me." She gave out a quiet sad laugh.

"There was this song I heard one of the maids singing around the house. It was the reason the silly belief settled in my head that angels existed."

"So that night the only thing I wished for, as the minutes turned to hours and the hard concrete became my bed, was that an angel would come by and take me with her...a place where instead of iciness there was warmth...not for my body but for my heart...a place far, far away from there...so everyone I cared for could live in peace afterwards...a place where everyone including me could be relieved forever..."

Hot tears rolled out as she also slid down to the ground losing the support she leaned against. Mr. Chopra rushed to the kitchen for some water as Maan ran over gathering her into his arms which she readily buried deep into. "Things would have been better had I been gone that night..." She murmured against his neck.

Maan cradled her head trying to best calm her when in fact he himself wasn't calm. He wanted nothing more to do than take out all of the rage but first priority was Geet. "Ssshhh...Please Geet don't say that." She continued to cry as Maan did his best to soothe her marred heart.

He could only imagine what it must feel like to carry the heartache of feeling unwanted. He despised Geet's mother for condemning an innocent girl to the point where at the age of eight she prayed for death. He closed his eyes holding her tighter in attempt to console not only her pain but also the one he felt inside for her. So distant in thoughts both were that neither of their attention fell on the tiny bystander.

The sight of seeing her beloved Geet crying caused tears to seep down her angelic face too. She didn't understand why Geet was sad but she did understand the word gone which was enough to make Piyu feel the same way. Somewhere in her heart, Geet had made a place that was all her own and in Piyu's mind could only be filled by her. And hearing the word gone from her lips completely tore Piyu apart.

"You can't go Geet...I won't let you be gone...I always want you here...not gone Geet." Piyu cried out loud.

Maan felt his heart swell hearing Piyu say that and couldn't help but tear up again. He didn't realize how attached Piyu could have come to Geet but he was happy about it. Maan thought if not him alone, then definitely with Piyu they would be able to bring Geet back from the depths.

Geet pulled away from Maan hearing Piyu crying who immediately rushed over into her open arms. "Promise me Geet you won't be gone..." Piyu continued to cry uncontrollably on her shoulder. "Dad…tell Geet you don't want her gone either...tell Geet you always want her here."

Geet's head was on Piyu's shoulder giving a clear view straight into Maan's eyes. They were not only physically tense but weighted down with concern only for her. Her reflection could be clearly seen because they glistened with unshed drops. But past her own image she saw unbounded compassion and dare she say it, promising love.

Maan moved his hand to rub Piyu's shoulder then slowly snaked it down where Geet's was splayed on her back. He didn't need to say anything because his eyes said it all but wanted to give her affirmation.

Maan clutched on to her hand, wrapped his fingers on her palm and squeezed tight. "She knows Piyu. Geet knows that I want her here always...I want her with us forever…I never want her to be gone from our hearts. You know that…don't you Geet?" His voice trembled at the end.

Geet closed her eyes with an unknown feeling washing over her then. She knew Maan had always cared for her, that he always wanted to be there for her and saw right then in his eyes that he would always be. This gave her faith in knowing that all things aren't hopeless in life…that a day eventually comes when all things will be okay.

She breathed a deep sigh. It was apparent that she wasn't ready…at least not yet to completely let go and give in. But Geet acknowledged to herself of the possibility that one day she would be with him by her side. Geet opened her eyes to look at him and slowly placed her free hand on top of his as if saying yes, I do know…

This gesture was enough for everyone watching to take a breath of relief. They were at the edge with their hearts throbbing seeing the painful yet hopeful scene unfold before their eyes. Dadima wiped her eyes and smiled alongside an equally emotional Mr. Chopra. They recognized that the past was yet to be entirely closed but something told them it wouldn't be in the forefront much longer for either of them.

Something told them that this was a sign of a new beginning nearing. The two shattered souls in front of them had endured different hardships yet they were undeniably parallel. They had suffered dark solitude for years walking along barren isolated paths, but now it seemed the time had come where each of them finally found someone to merge paths with and heal together.

Hope you enjoyed it! If you didn't listen to the song earlier, please I recommend you do.