Secretly Smitten#1 (Thd 2 Link @ Pg 143)) - Page 11

"Calm down Mohan. I know what suffering your heart is going through but we all know, whether her marriage was just a game but yet, it was true!! It happened in front of everyone eyes and Pujaari ji is the sole witness of it. How can we deny her fate, her ill-fate which she had brought with her''

Mohan anger rose high hearing someone saying her Geet itt-fated. His eyes were spitting fire. "Don't ever try to call my daughter ill-fate Bhaiya!!!''

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it''

Jagan got scared seeing his anger. He did not want to spoil his younger brother's mood; he was the only source of income of this family. Mohan had been carrying expenses of Neer marriage and all spends of the house. Being a manager in the village fertilizer factory and educated till collage he had good friend groups and he was the one who had brought an alliance for Neer from a good family of the city.

Though Jagan and savita were elder but Jagan is a slacker always had been neglecting his duties and responsibilities toward family but Mohan never complained of it. He wanted a peaceful environment in house. He had small world with her Geet and could bear every hardship for her, making her happy but seemed, his Babaji was wanting him to see more suffering that He played a playful yet cruel act with little Geet.

Well, this argument was not new for people of this family. Since one and half months time they had been arguing like this on every small bug matter related this marriage. Though Mohan knew what he was saying was morally correct but he even knew that no one would agree to his wish. He dragged Geet with and walked in his room.

##

He was lying in bed taking Geet with him. He was hell worried for her future. Looking at her just once, his eyes welled up with tears but lips smiled. Lil Geet was sitting beside was playing with her doll and combing her hairs, completely unaware of what had happened with her life which was unripe yet.

Mohan sat up and took Geet in lap. He caressed her hair lovingly and kissed on the her head. Lil Geet looked up to him and found tears which was slipping down on his cheek, Mohan hurriedly wiped it but she had already seen them. She raised her small arm and touched her father wet face and saw with curious eyes.

"Why you crying Baba'

"Nothing Beta, dust fell in eyes'', he wiped eyes properly and smiled. Geet smiled back and again became engrossed in her doll.

##

Geet used to sleep with Neer when suddenly she started crying loud in the morning. Neer abruptly woke up hearing her cry and tried to ask what happened but Geet was only kept crying. Mohan came running to see. He took her in lap dearly asked, wiping her eyes,

"What happened Geet?''

Geet hugged him tight scared. She was shaking in fear. Mohan was hell worried for her because he had guessed the reason of her fright. It was not the first time she had woken up crying after seeing same dream.

"Shh Geet, nothing happened'' He patted her head.

"Baba they are shouting on me!!!'' Geet spoke between sobs. "Pujari Baba is shouting on me, I did nothing yet he scolded me''

"Don't cry Beta, I will scold him back. No one can make my baby cry, hai na!''

Geet looked him feeling relief. The soothing lap of her father always used to give her peace of heart. She slept again swinging in his arms.

##

Later in day, Geet was all ready to go school. Neer was making her hair and Geet was silently reading her 'ABC' book.

Neer- Geet 'A' for?'

'Apple' Geet spoke smiling.

Neer- "B for

'Ball'

C for'

'Cat'

….

'M for'

Maan'

Neer shocked hearing Maan name from her mouth after long. She made Geet look her,

"Geet, you still remember Maan?''

Geet nodded innocently. 'Why would I forget him Didi, he was my friend and you know, what he had gifted me'

Neer shook head smiling sadly.

Geet took out a gold chain was wrapping in black thread which she used to wear always after that day and showed excitedly

'This necklace!!'' She was so happy finding the world best gift from her friend Maan, who had been there for few days, in her village. She again hid it behind shirt.

"It's beautiful na Neer di'

Neer nodded. She had been worrying for Geet future same like Mohan and used to pray Babaji, to bring back her Maan back.

"Geet Beta, are you ready???'' They heard Mohan calling from outside.

"Ji Chachaji, she is coming'' Neer shouted back. "Hurry up Geet, keep books in your bag!!'' Hurriedly Geet started to collect her things and then hastened out but then again returned back to Neer

"Neerdi you forget something!!!'

Neer was confused and then she saw, Geet took out a small box from her drawer and showed,

"isse lagado, I can't apply properly. Mujhse nose pe gir jaati hai''

Neer eyes welled up seeing sindur in box but it was their daily routine to do.

"Hurry up na Didi Baba is waiting for me!!!'' She was jumping in hurry. Neer took out little sindur between fingers and placed in Geet head. Geet runs out waving bye to her.

##

"Neer!!!!''

Mohan shouted and Neer came running out what happened. She had just sent Geet and why uncle is shouting but as she looked him, understood that again argument was on the way on same topic.

"How many times I would have to tell you Neer, don't ever apply sindur to Geet!!!''

"But Chachu, Maa.. '' She could speak further when saw Savita came out, wiping her hand in her Saree Pallu.

"Neer, you go inside'

Neer bowed head down and left inside.

"I'm sorry Mohan, I know you don't like this traditions but still this all I do for Geet's sake only. You don't know what this villagers talks about her when see her head and neck deserted. She is married for God sake Mohan whether you believe it or not. It was truth and no one can remove this reality from her fate''

Mohan knew, he could not win over this conservative mentality minds. He looked Geet who was again scaring, looking them with her beautiful big eyes and for her sake, he stopped arguing further. He made her sit on his cycle handle and paddled toward her school.

Precap: Glimpse of past..