New FF : Silken Shadow#1 (New thread Link @ Pg 141) - Page 83

After few days,

"Geet hurry up Beta you'll get late in exam!"

Rano shouted while packing lunch-box for Geet. She came into her room while Geet was collecting her books and pens and ink-bottle and she came out running. "Let's go I'm ready"

"Correct your Dupatta Geet" Rano replied. They came out of house. Luckily Rano found a conveyance at her door. She called driver and told Geet to sit inside first and after locking the door she also settled in. Rano told him collage address.

##

Exam took four hours to finish. Geet was happy that she did well. Happily she was telling Rano about the paper and came out on entrance talking but found that no empty vehicle was available on road. Rano suggested to walk for little ahead so that they can find any.

It was bright, shiny afternoon and it had been an hour they were walking. But still no vehicle came out in sight. It was strange. Rano was feeling tired and her legs had started giving ache badly. "Geet, I can't walk anymore Beta. My legs are paining terribly. Let me sit here for some time" She said wiping her sweated face and neck with Dupatta. At roadside she sat on a stone in shadow of banyan tree. She was huffing in weariness. Geet looked around for any carriage but road was silent. Across road she found chain of shops and there she saw a water tap. She was thirsty and exhausting too. She decided to get some water for herself and for mother. She asked Rano but Rano forbade her going there alone. She was afraid that Geet was not habituated walking on busy road properly however the road was quiet but the risk was still alive.

"But.. "Geet tried to convince. Her throat and lips were scorching in lack of water and she needed it immediately otherwise she felt like, she would fell sick. "Maa please" she pleaded.

Finally Rano had to agree. Geet looked around and when found empty road, she almost run in hurry when suddenly a speedy car crossed her way, almost touching her toe. She paused on middle of road clutching her ears in fear and squeezed her eyes, when following car ceased at an inch away from her legs.

"Geet!!!"

Rano shouted and rushed. At the same time one more guy came out of his car and runs to Geet, shouting her name but luckily, Rano didn't hear him. She held her daughter protectively. "Are you okay Beta?" Geet nodded, almost crying. She hugged her mother shaking.

"Is she okay?"

Rano heard the stranger was asking and in his voice she found the same tension which she had in her voice. She nodded. Taking Geet along with she came at roadside while stranger followed them, but Rano didn't mind his concern. She was busy to manage Geet but Geet, she did recognize his voice and her sense started noticing his every move forgetting about the recent accident.

"Are you alright Beta?" Rano cupped her face checking for any hurt.

"I'm fine Maa" She said in low tone. Her voice was conscious and as equally as her heartbeats. They were beating accordingly the way his' eyes were checking her out for any injury. Though Geet wasn't facing him but still, she could guess his compassionate eyes over her.

"She is alright Beta. Thank you for your help" Rano said. A hint that he should go now but he' was not ready to leave, guessing they must be in some trouble.

"Is there anything I can do for you, Maaji" Maan asked.

Rano looked him amused. Why he was showing so much concern?

"Please, don't think otherwise. I just want to help you as I'm seeing, you're in some kind of problem" He said giving tender smile that melted Rano. She described her problem.

"Oh, but Maaji, you anyways not going to find any vehicle at this time" He said that road is blocked at some far and that's why there was very little chance they can get any help. Rano started thinking what should do, while stealing gaze from Rano, Maan stare was on Geet'.

Geet hid behind mother pressing Dupatta corner between her teeth and looked down.

"But if you want, I can drop you home" Maan advised.

Rano took long time in thinking if they should go with a stranger. She had Geet with her. Should she believe on an unknown boy?

"Maaji, you can trust me. I'm from good family and I'll safely drop you home. I know I can't force you, but you're not going to get any conveyance till night and it's already started getting dark" He was genuinely concerned for them.

Rano knew that if she doesn't think sooner, she will be in major risk further. She nodded. She told Geet to settle in backseat and herself sat beside Maan. He opened door for both.

When Geet started getting in, he was stood holding opened door for her. His constant gaze was making Geet more nervous. As she tilted down to get in, she held door for support and mistakenly, she kept her hand over his hand. A hot stream run through her veins all over, in speed. She hurried to go inside when Maan placed his another hand over her hand. She looked him stunned. Their gazes mingled. Her veil slipped down, leaving her head, naked, to fly few curls freely over her forehead and eyes. She blinked eyes in irritation. Maan's eyes followed the teasing movement of her eyes and her devilled expressions. She frowned flustering. She tried to slip her hand out of his grip and pouted in failure and in fear what if Rano sees them. But her restlessness made him smile. And when she glared in anger, Maan released her. She thumped in seat composing her scattered hairs and gathering her disordered heartbeats and her vigorous, breathings.

Rano told him address but she told the wrong one. She couldn't mouth out about the location of their living.

Maan glimpsed Geet through front mirror but Geet didn't notice him. But her attention was on something else. There was a water bottle kept on seat and her throat remembered its dryness. She looked Rano, but afraid to ask. Geet knew Rano will not allow to take anything from a strange. But she couldn't control anymore. Maan noticed her wondering eyes as if she was going to do some mischief. Geet smirked in naughtiness. She grabbed the bottle but suddenly found Maan was looking at her. She gulped saliva down. She got scared thinking if he would be angry for taking his thing without asking. But fatigue was getting intolerable.

Gaining little courage she thought for an idea. She slipped little down from seat so could not be seen through mirror. And being sure she was not in sight, slowly she grabbed bottle and stared opening it. Here, when Maan couldn't find her in mirror his curiosity increased. He bent little to get her view when at the same time Rano asked,

What's your name, 'Beta?"

"Haan?"Startling Maan for a moment lost control over steering wheel and stopped car straightway with a screech. Unprepared Geet hit her head in front seat and she groaned.

Maan stopped the car. He and Rano runs together. Rano took Geet in arms but Maan couldn't. His heart squeezed in thought why he was feeling bad if couldn't ask her if she was fine. He desired to hug her protectively, keep her safe in his arms. He wished if could ask her cupping her face that Are you Okay Geet?". But in lack of fulfillment of his wish, his heart ached . It happened twice today that she was pain and why his mind was wishing to pray for her safety for further, for lifetime. As if no harm could touch her ever. And if anyway it happens, he wished to be her beside, holding her hand. Maan curled fist in desperation.

When Rano asked Geet said what she was doing. That she wanted water.

"If you needed water you could've told me. I had glass I would've given you myself. What was the need of taking risk now see what happened!" Suddenly Maan yelled. His depression came out in form of shout but both ladies looked him stunned. He cleared his throat. 'I mean if she needed water, she could have told you at least. I would've stopped car. Now see, she got hurt' he spoke very calmly.

"She is anyways thoughtless Beta. You leave worrying for her'

Geet glared her mother in anger. Maan chuckled. He then brought a glass. After having stomach full of water Geet felt better. Rano made him stop car little away from her location. She showed a random area and said that car can't go inside. Lane is narrow. She got down with Geet and thanked him and left before he could ask anything else. Maan scanned the place, in term of mark the location in his mind. He must not forget. He was happy that he got to know something about, Geet.

##

After the day his wish to see Geet expanded. There was something in her, something exceptional that attracted his heart and mind efficiently. Her innocence, her childlike maturity and her serene personality, was everything which he couldn't forget. With every day distance, it was going impossible for Maan to keep control over his heart. Unknowingly and mechanically he started waiting for her at same spot, near the location where Rano had told, they lived. But they never could be found.

It passed five days. Now her absence started affecting his life in a different way. He couldn't sleep at night. It used to creep slowly, taming her thoughts and day, went in wait for her. Maan was losing interest spending time with his friends and his focus had been interrupted from his job. The only aim he had to find Geet, to see her once again. And this time, he will not miss the chance to ask her identity.

But that moment, did not come. Learning from her mistake Rano arranged a carriage which used to take them collage and drop home till exam would be finished and Maan couldn't see her thereafter.