The moment passed as second, minute and hour hands in all the clocks of the world moved on their path..It passed and it took away"his" anger in its womb. What was left with him was an intense "pain" and more intense "guilt" as he looked in her teary eyes..His nails dug into his palm while he clenched his fist in regret.He could not look anymore in her pained eyes thus his gaze roamed around in the room..All he could find was teary and pained faces of "Three" most beloved people in his life as he could not decide whom to console first..He himself was in dire need of consolation at that moment..With anger leaving his system,his brain got back its sanity as it raised the "obvious question"..
"Why did geet slap aarav???"..His brain had raised the question however his heart did not want the answer now.He knew the question had lost its "worth" with time.It was needed to ask before he had raised his hand on her..
"Geet..."He somehow managed to bring her name out of his lips..Her averted eyes answered him as well as pricked thousand needles in his heart..
He saw her making aaravi lay on the bed as she moved towards Aarav who was literally shaking with fear sitting at the one corner of the bed.It was the first time when he was slapped by someone,moreover it was the first time when he had seen any elder slapping other elder in the family..
Geet raised her hand to caress aarav's head but before she could touch him,she saw him jumping off the bed and running towards his mother who had arrived in room lately after hearing wails of both of her kids..
"Mumm..Mummaa..."Aarav spoke amid hiccups hugging his mother from her waist..Kiran behaved just like a worried mother as she knelt down and started wiping her son's tears with her "Flour-smudged" hands.."What happened beta??"She asked.
"Mumma..Mami slapped me..."Little boy grumbled to her mother pointing his finger towards geet..A little surprise marked Kiran's countenance as she looked towards geet who was standing near the bed.
With much effort,geet raised her eyes to look in to Kiran's eyes.She had expected "anger and accusations" in those orbs but all she found was "confusion".Next moment she heard Kiran asking her,"What was he doing geet???"
Geet somehow swallowed the lump in her throat..Her "sister in law" was reacting the way she had expected her husband to be..Kiran did not miss the dampness in geet's eyes as she waited for her answer..
"Tell me geet what did he do???I know he has got very naughty and mischievous these days.."She exclaimed further brushing off the flour from her hands."Tears" which were brimming in geet's eyes finally trickled down her cheeks as she tried hard to answer Kiran's question but words did not come out from her mouth.
"Geet...!!!" Kiran said with bewilderment and looked towards her brother who was standing there with his head hung down in shame. Kiran was surprised watching geet cry.She immediately turned towards her son as she questioned him in strictest voice ever.."What did you do aarav???"
Aarav's lips were quivering with fear and anger..Once again,everyone was being "harsh" with him..
'Tell me boy..what did you do???"Kiran yelled at top of her lungs as she held her son from his elbow.
Kiran had never expected the "reaction" she got from Aarav. Using his little arms,he pushed away his mother with as much force as he could apply.
"Aarav..!!!."It was maan who yelled this time.."Say sorry to your mother right now.."He ordered further..
"I won't say sorry,mamu.."Aarav's stubbornness shocked every person present in the room..
Maan inhaled sharply in an attempt to control his anger.His anger had already done enough damage.
"Why are you behaving like a "bad boy" champ???"Maan asked in a soft voice kneeling down near his rebel nephew.
"I am a good boy mamu still no one loves me ..You all love aaravi only..."Aarav replied wiping his red nose with back of this hand.
His statement made Maan tongue tied for a while as he gave an incredulous look to Aarav..
"You are wrong beta..Everyone loves you..." Maan exclaimed as he brought out his handkerchief from his pocket to wipe aarav's nose.
"No mamu..You are wrong..You and maami also love aaravi more than me..Thats why you allowed her to stay in your room but not me..."Aarav grumbled.
"Its not like that beta.."Kiran intervened in an attempt to make aarav understand the entire situation but before she could say further,she was cut by her son himself.."Mumma I hate her..Can't you give her back to the hospital from where you had brought her???"
His innocent statement was enough for everyone to gauge the seriousness of the "problem",especially geet,who had witnessed the extreme of aarav's anger for his little sister..
"That was why you were trying to suffocate her with this cusion,aarav???"Geet exclaimed meekly as the realization dawned on her.
Kiran's both hands covered her lips in astonishment and shock where as Maan closed his eyes as remorse hit him with full force.Everything was crystal clear for him now.He opened his eyes after some time getting up from his place. Geet and Kiran could not understand anything as they saw maan steering aarav towards the bed. He made him sit near aaravi on the bed before giving aaravi's little hand in to his..
"look at her hand beta.."He said making aarav look carefully at aaravi's hand..She was holding her brother's finger now..
"Its very small mamu.."Aarav stated what his mind could conclude.
"Yes beta..Its very small..She herself is very small aarav..She can't walk by herself..She can't eat or drink by herself like you..She can't take care of herself..Thats why she needs a little extra care from all of us,including her "BIG" brother..."Maan said emphasizing more on word "BIG"..
"You mean I should take care of her???"Aarav asked much surprised.
"Ofcourse you should..You are a big boy now..You can brush your teeth by yourself..You are responsible enough to chew the "mint gums" without gulping them..You know how to play your favorite music on cell phone..don't you??"
"I do mamu.."Aarav replied with pride dripping in his voice.
"That means you can take care of your little sister like a good big brother..."Maan said as he made aaravi sit in aarav's lap.A smile appeared on his lips as he saw his nephew securing his arms around aaravi small waist..
"If i would take care of her,you all would love me more than her mamu???"Aarav asked with his expectant eyes looking towards every person in the room one by one.He had raised his neck little upward as aaravi's head was obscuring his view.
"We all love you both equally beta..." Kiran exclaimed making her way towards her kids.
"Yes aarav,,You and aaravi both are my most favourite.."Maan consented with his sister..
"No maamu..That is not possible.." Aarav denied his uncle's claim very blatantly.
"It is possible champ..!!!"Geet said this time making herself comfortable near the kids on the bed.."Tell me..which is your favorite "gems"???She asked caressing his head..
"Blue and Red gems"..Aarav answered adjusting his little sister in his small lap.
"Whom do you like more???Pink bunny or Hot wheels car???"
"I like both of them maami..."
"In the same way,we love both of you beta..."Geet tried to make him understand..Her "examples" had hit at right spot for little boy as he gave his "precious" smile to Geet..
"Really mami..I am your favorite just like aaravi...!!!"Aarav exclaimed in a happy voice."Slap" was long forgotten by his innocent brain..
"of course champ..!!!"Geet said kissing his cheek.."Now say sorry to your mother..."She spoke further taking aaravi from his lap..
"I am sorry mumma..!!"Aarav said cutely holding his ears..
"I love you alot beta.."Tears trickled down Kiran's cheeks as her hands hid her son in her bosom.She kissed at top of his head before mouthing a "Thank you" to geet who was watching them with misty eyes.."Its time for your sponge bath beta..Lets go.." Kiran spoke after some time making aarav get down the bed and taking aaravi in her arms..
Trio left the room leaving behind two souls and enormous tension in the room.
Few more seconds passed in silence as awkwardness made a prominent appearance between them for the first time. Maan knew very well that "a mere apology" could not mend the "damage" between them but still it could initiate the process of repair..Putting all his wits together,he tried to bring some words out of his mouth.."Geet...I am soo..."
"Why are you home at this time???" Geet's sudden question sabotaged his effort of apology completely..His gaze followed her as she got down the bed.Her hands were busy tying her hair in to a messy bun..She still had not let her gaze meet his eyes..
"I have to leave for Agra with in few hours" He answered taking small steps towards her.
"hmm..Lets pack your luggage then.."She exclaimed pulling the small table near the cupboard to get the travel bag which was kept on the top of cupboard.
Every time maan tried to apologize,he was cut by a mundane question from geet regarding how many shirts he would need there??? or where is his portable shaving kit??? or whether he had kept his tooth brush or not???
His bag was ready for the journey after some time but "apology" was still hanging on his lips..
"Let me get some homemade snacks for you from kitchen.." Geet exclaimed suddenly moving towards the door..Before she could succeed in her effort of leaving the room,Maan held her wrist.."First listen to me geet.." He said making her sit on the bed..
"I am really very sorry geet.." Finally he managed to apologize as he cupped her face.She was looking at her hands in her lap."I know ,,I should not have reacted this way geet but the moment i saw aarav's teary face,I could not..."
"Its OK maan..!!" Geet intervened once again with a wan smile on her lips and "Indifference" in her hazels..
"Stop doing this to me geet..." Maan almost pleaded.
"What maan???"
"I can't bear this indifference and ignorance of yours...If you are angry,then yell at me..Fight me with..Just vent your anger at me..."
"I wish,it was "that" simple,maan.."Geet exclaimed in a teary voice.."This "love" has complicated everything..I am unable to understand what I am feeling right now..If you have slapped me few months ago,I simply would have punched you hard in the stomach and it would have been over..But strangely I did not feel any anger when you slapped me..All I felt was "intense pain" because you did not trust me...You reacted like I am an outsider who has slapped your nephew..You behaved like Aarav and aaravi are only "your" kids not "our kids"..."
"Its not like that geet.."
"No maan..Its like that..You tell me,would you have slapped Kiran di if she had slapped Aarav ???"
"No geet..I would not have slapped her but.."
"Please maan..I don't want to discuss all this any more..I don't need any "apology" or "explanation" from you..I need a "Break" from all this.."
"What do you mean geet???"
"Can i stay with Mumma and daddy for few days???"
Maan nodded his head for "Yes" however each and every cell of his body was screaming "NO"..May be "Staying away from his love" was his punishment for slapping his wife..
"Promise me..you won't switch off your cell phone.."He exclaimed further picking his bag..
"I would definitely talk to you if "Cell phone Network" allowed me..." She said with a smile as she bid "bye" to her husband..He knew,he had to wait a lot for the moment when his wife's smile would reach her eyes once again..!!!
Important-
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