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MILAN- The Final Destination
PART- 126
Seconds turned into minutes and stretched into hours. Maan just kept stroking her hairs taking comfort in her peaceful breathing n dreading the recording of her voice. A whimper entered his ear n he looked down at Geet's furrowed brows. Her breathing slowed down then became rapid, face contorting and body shaking... going cold. It all happened so fast Maan almost panicked.
Geet took in a deep breath n wriggled as if her limbs were chained. There was that extreme expression of agony on her face and it sliced through him. For just a moment her body was still before she went crazy.
Don't touch me. Maan flinched hearing her voice pulling his hands back. Her words were shaky but tone threatening that of a wounded animal trying to save itself.
Maa... Papaji... Koi hai... Please. Her pleads filled the room. Tears leaking from her eyes were unstoppable, the high words dying into muffled cries. Geet... He desperately called and she started trashing wildly. When he tried to wake her up she pushed him away. He wasn't going to take that. Holding her hand tightly he pulled her into him, rubbing her back. She tried to fight, her cold body shaking at regular intervals as he whispered soothing words into her ears. He didn't want to scare her. God! She was ice, cold n melting, slipping from his hold. You are alright Geet. It's okay. I am here. She went still n he parted her body from his.
Geet opened her bloodshot eyes, orbs darting from left to right. Her chest heaved up n down as if there wasn't oxygen left in the air. Wo aa jayega. Wo yahan hai.She rubbed at her hands furiously. He touched me. She was disgusted. Mai... mai... Usne mujhe-
Shh... He again took her against his chest, wrapping her in his arms completely. Everything's okay Geet. Tum mere saath ho, apne Maan ke saath. She hid her face into his neck, rocking both of them with her sobs. As her shoulders dropped n body relaxed, she hugged him tighter. Haan mai thik hu... hum... hum yaha hai na? Wo yaha nai hai. Mai yaha thik hu. She was desperately assuring herself. Tears slid down his cheeks but he didn't want her to hear his voice crack. His voice was as strong as it had always been. Haan Geet. Mai hu yaha. Koi tumhare kareeb bhi nai aa sakta. Tum thik ho.
Mai thik hu. She lowly repeated it like a mantra. Maan hai mere saath. Mera Maan. Her body started to warm up n by the time her heavy eyes started closing Maan gritted his teeth. Whoever has done this to her, he would take revenge. He laid her down and covered her body with the duvet. Don't leave me, okay? Never again. He kissed her forehead n she sighed. Maan thought she was asleep but she spoke up. I didn't want him to do this. Par... waha koi nai tha meri help ke lie... I tried to fight and-
I know. He said. You don't have to tell me toy girl. Go to sleep, okay? Mai hu yahi par aur koi nai hai.
She clutched his hand to her chest n squeezed her eyes shut then abruptly opened them again. What if... what if I closed my eyes n he came again?
I won't let him. And if he did, I will kill him.
Nai. Tum uske paas nai jaoge. Wo tumhe chot pahuchayega.
Wo mera kuch nai bigaad sakta hai. Tumhe mujhpe bharosa hai na? She nodded. Then close your eyes, take two deep breathes and go to sleep. She did as he told while Maan stayed close, sharing his warmth with her.
God, he was scared of hearing it n she had endured it all. Maan wouldn't fall weak, he decided. As soon as he was sure she wouldn't wake up, he stood up n went into the adjoining study. Opening the drawer he didn't blink before inserting the cassette in the tape.
Some shuffling n then her voice hit his ears. Yeh.. Yeh kya hai?
Maan clutched the chair's arm. Her voice was low, so timid, flat. So full of emotions yet devoid of them simultaneously. He imagined her sitting stiff on the chair, spine straight, nervously looking here n there n fingers fumbling into each other. It was almost like he could see her.
Oh, don't worry. We tape the important sessions. It's just a formality Geet. And I might need it for future reference. It was Neeraj's voice this time.
But... I don't want anyone to know- you know... what I mean? Her voice broke. Specially Meera... She wouldn't be able to take it.
Geet, relax. Whatever you would say here won't go out ever.
You promise?
Yes.
You sure this would help me? Mai... thak gai hu. Every time I look in other's eyes there is pity or sorrow for me. Or worse, disgust.
Who you think is disgusted with you?
Apart from those who knew me in previous life everyone else is.
Why you call it previous life?
Because it has passed. Her voice held that edge of irritation. It's... no more there. This life is new. I feel as if I had died n then reborn in a different body. I feel scarred, rotten. You... understand?
Hmm.
Aur aisa lagta hai... jaise... jaise I am not me anymore. A sob broke out of her throat. Meera doesn't... sleep at nights. She tries to talk to me. She never talked. I am changing her. A burden. I would ruin her with me. I... will stay away from her. Yes. I will. She thinks she could help me. She left everything behind in London n shifted here. Geet must have kept a hand on her mouth because next her voice was muffled. Oh god. Isse behtar hota ke mai... mar jaati.
There was a scraping sound of a chair n then another. Neeraj had surely come around from his chair behind the desk to sit in front of her. Maan imagined him taking Geet's hand in his before speaking next.
Life is a gift. If you are alive there is certainly a purpose for it. This would work out. Throw everything out. Tell me all of it n I am sure it will help you.
Haan. I want to sleep at night. And I want Meera to sleep too. And I don't want Rajendra uncle and Karan worrying about me.
That's good. There were more words of encouragement from Neeraj then she started.
There was a guy. I don't want to tell his name.
It's alright, you don't have to. What Neeraj was doing was just assuring while giving her freedom to tell her tale, the way she wanted, to the extent she wanted.
He was there with me in my college in New York when I was doing my masters. For sometime... we were together, at least I thought so. I... I liked him. I mean I knew him from when I was in school here in Delhi. I was kind of hooked to him since then. I thought of him over the years after I had to leave Delhi but had never expected to see him again.
We met again. He joined the same college as me for his MBA. You know he punched his best friend on our first meeting because I made him touch me. Geet giggled then sniffed.
Handkerchief? Neeraj asked.
Th-ank you. He... was dream come true. All girls of college were behind him but he never paid heed to them. It was like he had eyes only for me. And he made me feel like a princess.
The longing in her voice was like a slap on his face. He wanted it, she wanted it. And so they had suffered same time, at different places. Wish even in bad days they had been together but then if he had her no suffering would have caused him pain. A waste of god's effort to shatter them. Shit! If there was pain why it wasn't just for him? Why she had to go through hell when she had her fair share of agony by misunderstanding him.
Despite my craziness, he always pampered me. One night when he was drunk he even put his blood on my forehead. Her voice zealous then all of sudden it became bottomless, a void with no feeling.
I loved him. His heart missed a beat. He repeated the words in his mind. How much he had waited, yearned to hear these words. Yet, her words didn't bring peace to him. Strangely, they hurt. And the way she said it in one breath as if it didn't mean anything to her, just like that. She must have stopped loving him. Anyone would. Her next sentences proved him wrong. I love him. Will do forever. Can't stop.
Her hysterical laugh echoed through the room. Even when he betrayed me. Kia told me he never loved me. I was just a time pass. I didn't believe her. His father told me he was getting engaged. I didn't believe him. Did I tell you who Kia was? She was in our college. She hated me, I hated her more. She had kissed Maan in front of me. Her voice was hard.Maan knew she was gritting her teeth. She also took his name when she had said she didn't want to tell it. Geet probably had forgotten everything n was spilling the baggage without thinking, stopping. And she told me he was just playing with me. I knew she was wrong. I knew Maan's father was wrong. Everyone was wrong. How could my Maan betray me? My perfect Maan, whom I loved, who loved me.
Do you know who was actually wrong? How would you know you weren't there, were you? I. I was wrong. And everyone was right.
I saw them selecting ring and he was putting it in her finger. They were happy together. So ver-y... happy.
Son of a bitch.
Dare you say that again. Her words boomed, said with a fervor that certainly scared Neeraj because he instantly said. I am sorry?
You don't know him. And I don't want to hear a word against him.
I won't.
Geet resumed once again. After that I left.
To where?
Somewhere. Away. I didn't want to stay there. I couldn't see his face everyday n die.
Did you talked to him before leaving?
No. I left a letter.
A letter? Why you didn't talk to him?
There was nothing to talk.
There is always something to talk. You certainly had many things to say. Didn't you want to know why he did it?
No. I didn't want to know. Because somewhere I already did and no matter how much pain he gave me. I wanted him to be happy, with the one he chose for himself. And Shreya was better than me. She had black long hairs and beautiful eyes. Maan's dad loved her too. And look at me. Nobody would want me. I can't look at myself in mirror. Why someone would love me, want to spend their life with me?
There was no use of making him feel guilty when he didn't feel the way I did. I knew he was a good person. And he never said he loved me. Maybe... maybe I read too much behind the lines. He was entering a new life and there was no place for a despo bitch like me, having one sided feelings.
I am happy for him. He must be having a child by now, living a good life with his wife. I wish he is happy wherever he is. If he is happy, breathing is easier for me.
Maan didn't realize he was crying. He wasn't happy. He wanted her. What he wished for... was a single chance to explain?
Meera... Meera was never the one to cry. She didn't cry when her mom died. I had always admired her strength. She cried, the night I was leaving for London, when she knew I wasn't coming back. She tried to explain. I was ruining my life. Why a guy who ditched me could ruin my career, my everything? But the fool I was I didn't stop. I couldn't. There was no career, no aspiration. My life had ended. I was weak. I begged, blackmailed my best friend with whatever I could to let me go. And I took promise that she wouldn't say a word to Maan.
Selfish. I was so selfish. That time all I thought of was my misery, my pain. She wouldn't say but she needed me just as much as I did. But I left her behind.
What happened in London?
I waited. I waited for him to come. I used to be crazy. Pagal thi mai. Maine soch wo aayega, mujhe lene. Jaise filmo me hota hai. Mujhe laga shayad yeh sab ek bura sapna ho n wo mujhe isse bahar apni duniya me le jaane aaye. Maine mama, papaji aur beeji se bahana banaya k meri tabiyat thik nai hai n mai travel nai kar sakti. I told them ke mai kuch din baad India aaogi. Daarji was not well so they had to leave. Uske baad maine intezaar kia, saare din, saari raate. Bas wo nai aaya. And I still don't know if that wait was more difficult or the disappointment that came after that. Mujhe India se call aaye ke mai jaldi aao kyuki Daarji mujhe ek baar dekhna chahte hai. There was not much time left for him. And in the end I had to go.
Only when I reached Hoshiyaarpur, I became aware how cruel fate n life could be.
There was death ceremony going on. All were dressed in white. A high laugh erupted from her mouth. It seemed they were mourning for my heart, mu love. I thought that maybe the ceremony was for Daarji. But it was for my parent. I was so very late.
I wrote this part with choked throat and I was a fool to think I cud end it in one update... I don't know how it came out n sorry for it being heavy. It was hard for me too to write.
Please I desperately need ur motivation because the climax of any story is tough for any writer. So like n comment😕.
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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