"Geet sab theek ho jaayega tum waise bhi kal apni Dadi ke ghar jaa rahi ho hai na main khud tumhe wahan chod doonga. Darro mat", I tried to assure her but she burst out crying more loudly. I placed my palm on her mouth though the mob was away but still any noise from our side could be dangerous.
"Sshhh" I warned her against making any noise.
She slowly confessed, "Amritsar mein meri koi Dadi nahi hain, main ghar se bhaag kar aayi hoon ... Main toh Mumbai jaa rahi hoon Shahrukh Khan se mil ne." I was shocked with her revelation.
"What!!! ... Tum paagal ho gayi ho kya? ... Kuch akal - wakal hain ya nahi tum mein? ... Tumhe zara bhi andaaza (idea) hain ke tumne kya kiya hain!"
"Tumhe kya lagta hain Shahrukh Khan tumhara Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus station par wait kar raha hoga!... Woh ek super star hain Geet ...yuhi nahi mil sakte usse!"
"Haqeeqat (reality) ko dekhne ki koshish karo Geet. Yeh koi film nahi hain! ... Yeh log jo talwar leke humaare peeche pade hain woh koi bhaade ke (hired) actors nahi hain ... jise ek filmy hero ki tarah main akela maar ke bhaga doonga! ... This is reality!!!!" I burst out on her.
"Agle pal hamaare saath kya hoga yeh koi nahi jaanta ... yeh log hume maar ke yahi dafna (bury) denge ... toh bhi kisi ko pata nahi chalega! ... Hamaare gharwale hume dhoodhte rahenge har jagah."
"Bacchi nahi ho tum Geet! ... Pata hain kitne haadse hote duniya bhar mein ... kabhi socha hain tumne? ... Tumhare jaisi kitni ladkiyaan films ke chakkar mein apni zindagi barbaad kar deti hain..."
"Ab tumhe apne parents ki yaad aa rahi hai... Ghar chodte waqt ek baar nahi socha tumne... kitne pareshan ho rahe honge woh aur tum yahan ... ." I lashed out in disappointment.
I just couldn't believe she had just left her house to meet an actor, not once thinking about consequences... And now we are stuck up here in all this mess. It couldn't get better than this I thought.
"SORRY!!" She apologized.
"Main toh sirf ek baar Shahrukh Khan se milkar wapas aanewali thi...Sacchi... Babaji ki kasam!" She sweared pinching her throat while I tried hard to keep my face stern seeing her childish antics.
"Main Papaji aur Veerji ko prove karna chahti thi ke ... agar unhone mujhe force kiya toh main sacchi mein ghar se bhaag bhi sakti hoon!"
"Kis liye force karenge?" I raised my brow now this was heading some other way, she continued slowly.
"Meri shaadi ke liye. Woh meri shaadi uss Bunty se karwana chahte hain ... Mujhe woh bilkul nahi pasand! ... Mujhe apni Babli kehta hain ... khotta, ullu, gadha, nalayak!"
"Woh hero thodi hain! ... woh toh comedian hain! ... Main usse shaadi kabhi nahi karungi issiliye main bhaag gayi!" She declared.
But I felt a strange pain in my heart. The very thought of her marriage to someone ... just shook up my whole being! I knew I was falling for her...She was different from all other girls I have met.
'Geet... My child woman!'
Her statement broke my thoughts. "Mujhe aisi shaadi nahi karni!"
"Toh kaisi shaadi karni hein tumhe?" I asked her. I was getting to know her now and I wanted to discover every facet of her. I could see a gleam in her eyes as she animatedly spoke.
"Mujhe arrangewali shaadi nahi karni ...lovewali shaadi karni hain! ... Jahan mera dream man ek hero ki tarah aaye aur mujhe ek white horse ya phir ek bahot badi expensive car mein bithake apni khoobsurat duniya mein le jaye! ... Mujhe flowers, gifts, cards, chocolates de aur romantic dates pe bhi le jaaye." She shared with me some of her fantasies for her life ahead leaving me astonished.
She was living in her own dreamworld which was largely influenced by movies. She was way too far from harsh facts of reality!
"Geet yeh saari baatein sirf filmon mein hoti hain ! ... Tumhe pata bhi hain Mumbai kitna bada shehar hain?... Pind ka chota gaon nahi hain jahan tum akele ghoom ke wapas aa jaogi!"
"Rahi baat pyaar ki toh ...Pyaar ho jaata hain aur jab pyaar hota hain toh yeh flowers, gifts, cards etc ...maayne nahi rakhte... feelings maayne rakhti hain!"
"Romantic dinners se zyaada ... saath baith kar ek chota biscuit ka packet share karna maayne rakhta hain... Apni khushi se zyaada apne pyaar ki hasi maayne rakhti hain!"
"Jiss din tum MAIN ke badle HUM ke maayne samajhogi ... uss din tumhe pyaar ho jaayega..." I declared.
I looked at her she was attentively listening to what I was telling her probably todays events had already given her a much needed reality check and now she did understand the seriousness of the situation we were trapped in. Not wanting to scare her further I spoke.
"Geet thodi der yahi ruk kar aaram kar lete hein ... subah hote hi main tumhe tumhare ghar le jaaunga." She nodded.
I looked around it was indeed a small temple of Devi Maa. A small diya was lit here which I felt strange as looking at ruins around I doubt anyone would visit this place often. But chose to ignore as I was too tired to ponder over these details right now. Geet went near the idol and I too accompanied her, praying for a while and then we both sat down near a pillar closing our eyes to rest a little.
After sometime some faint noise caught my attention I opened my eyes to see Geet was feeling cold I guess her shawl must have been lost somewhere in all this chaos. I removed my jacket and covered her she cuddled up in it seeking some warmth I smiled seeing her.
In just a matter of few hours so much happened, she just barged in my life and turned it around. In these few hours it seems we have lived an entire lifetime!
And now I know what I feel for her... is love! But she is totally unaware about these feelings. Whatever maybe the case I will always cherish this love even if it isn't reciprocated.
I LOVE HER AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERS!!!!
[Geet's POV]
Maan... yes he said his name is Maan Singh something. He told me to sleep for sometime but I couldn't sleep a wink, first the fear that those people will kill us and second I was feeling cold and hungry too. But I can't trouble him anymore, he has already helped me so much. I couldn't help thinking over...
'Maine unhe itna sataya ... phir bhi unhone ek baar mujhe akela nahi choda aur aaj mujhe ehsaas bhi dilaya ke maine ghar se bhaag kar kitna galat kiya! ... Agar main sach mein kahi phas jaati ya kho jaati toh? ... Main toh kabhi bhi ghar se bhi akele bahar nahi gayi! ... Thank you Mata Rani aap ne inhe mere liye bhej diya ... Yeh bahot acche hain'. I felt him stirring maybe my thoughts were too loud so I pretended to sleep but he realized that I was feeling cold so he covered me with his jacket.
I slowly opened my one eye and glanced at him, he had again closed his eyes and for the first time I looked at him carefully.
He was so handsome, not clean shaven but ... as Rajji says that now stubble look is very hawwtt! I was getting a different feeling seeing him.
'Jaise mere pet mein gudgudee ho rahi ho... par aisa pehle toh kabhi nahi hua?... Lekin Channi Di jab shaadi kar ke wapas kuch din maayke aayi thi toh unhone bhi toh yahi kaha tha ke ... jiju ko dekhke unke pet mein gudgudee hui thi ... Aur phir unki shaadi ho gayi! ... Toh kya meri bhi shaadi ..."
"Main bhi kya soch rahi hoon woh mujhse thodi na shaadi karenge... woh toh kisi wadde (big) shaher ke lagte hain! ... Aur ab toh meri reputation itni kharab ho gayi hain ke ... bilkul nahi karenge'. I smacked myself.
Was I actually thinking about marrying him ... what is wrong with me! He told me na that when I will fall in love I will think about HUM not only ME ... I guess I need to sleep.
[Maan's POV]
Suddenly there were some loud noises outside, those people must have come again finding us. I gestured Geet to keep quiet and not to panic. I tried to hear their conversation. They had got some shawl nearby I closed my eyes in regret!
It must be Geet's shawl!
I need to act fast and save her at any cost. I moved to look around with the faint light of my mobile and saw a small hollow in a dark corner ... it was a perfect place to hide Geet. Holding her arm and we quickly ran towards the place but in the dark Geet slipped and hurt herself. We didn't have much time so just lifted her up in my arms walking up to the place to hide her there and instructed her.
"Chahe kuch bhi ho jaaye... kuch bhi Geet... Tum yahan se bahar nahi aaogi! ... Agar main pakda bhi jau ... tab bhi nahi! ... Main jab tak na kahu tum bahar mat aana ... Samjhi tum." I could see tears and fear in her eyes not wanting to waste any more time I gathered some hay stakes around to cover the hollow.
She held my hand, "Maan". This was the first time she uttered my name, it suddenly sounded so good but right now I couldn't even wait to let that feeling sink in me!
"Mujhpe bharosa hai Geet?" I asked her.
"Khud se bhi zyaada..." she replied and I smiled assuring her and covered her again. I prayed to God to keep her safe even if something happens to me and she reaches her home safely.
I quickly moved away from the hollow as the mob broke in the temple there were around 10-15 men. One of them said I was not the man they were looking for, maybe I was the one helping them, so they caught me. I was too confused to react first but did give them a tough fight!
They were too many ... so they overpowered me and started beating me up ... So that I disclose the truth to them! I had no idea about whom they were talking but was satisfied that atleast ... My Geet was safe and they will never reach her I smiled at the thought of My Geet!
And that fueled their rage, they started hitting me all the more with their lathi's but a sudden scream stopped them.
"MAAN..."
I closed my eyes in defeat as I saw Geet emerging out from that dark corner.
"Please unhe mat maariye... please chod dijiye ... woh mere pati hai ... hum ne kisi ko nahi bhagaaya aur hum toh iss gaon ke bhi nahi hain ... bas yahan phas gaye hai." She pleaded to them but in vain.
"Lagta hai yeh sab mile hue hai. Iss ladki ko maaro phir sab bolega yeh ladka, " said one of the man. But taking advantage of the chaos I slipped out of their grip and hugged Geet they started hitting us both but I tried to take all the blows on me protecting her in my arms!
"Ruk jayiye, please bandh kariye yeh sab." We saw a couple who had been hiding behind Devi Maa's idol coming out. The mob was hunting for them probably and they had mistook us as this couple in the dark. Some more people entered the temple ... they were some influential people I guess. It seemed as some personal problem. The couple's confession confirmed my assumption.
"Bas kijiye, hamari wajah se inn dono ko kyun maar rahe ho aap log ... yeh toh yaha ke hai bhi nahi ... Aap log hume dhoondh rahe the na toh hum aap ke saamne hain ... Inn logon ko jaane dijiye ... Yeh toh bekaar mein hamari wajah se phas gaye." The man confessed.
"Yeh dono kaun hai aur inhe kyun maar rahe ho?" One of the middle aged man questioned the group I assume he was their head.
"Main batati hoon Papaji ... inhe laga ke yeh dono humse mile hue hai lekin yeh sach nahi hain ... Aap hume maar na chahte hai na ... waise bhi aap ne hi mujhe yah zindagi di hai!"
"Humne Devi Maa ko sakshi maan kar shaadi kar li hai! ... Ab agar hum mar bhi jaaye toh koi gham nahi ... Bas please inhe jaane dijiye." The girl urged.
"Yeh toh Maan Singh Khurana hain ... Savitri Deviji ka pota aur yeh ladki toh Brij Handa ki behen hain". One of guy recognized both of us.
"Arre nikkamo itne bade aadmi ko haath lagane se pehle socha toh hota." He blasted all the people.
"Bete hume maaf kar dijiye ... Aap log jaayiye yaha se ... yeh hamare gaon ka maamla hum suljha (solve) denge." The girls dad urged me. I was sure that they were gonna kill this couple in the name of family honor.
The old, regressive and sick mentality!
I had two ways either I move out of here safely thereby securing Geet and myself leaving them deal with their issues! ... Or the second one was to fight for this couple as they need my help but Geet...
Holding her hand I walked out of the temple. Geet was my responsibility and I had to keep her safe. The moment we walked out of the temple she just hugged me! She broke into sobs looking at my wounds and said.
"Kitna khoon beh raha hai ... hum yahi ruk jaate hai aur main aap ki chot pe patti baandh deti hoon."
"Nahi Geet hum yaha nahi ruk sakte ... yaha khatra hai! ... Main theek hoon tumhe meri fikar karne ki koi zaroorat nahi." I asserted sternly.
"Kitni aasaani se apne keh diya meri fikar mat karo1 ... Yeh sab meri hi wajah se hua hai... na main ghar se bhaag ke aap ki gaadi mein chupti aur na yeh sab hota! ... Aap ko kya pata mujhpe kya beet rahi thi jab woh log aap ko maar rahe the! ... Kya zaroorat thi aap ko wahan ruk ne ki?" She complained.
"Toh main kya karta tumhe akela chod ke bhaag jaata ... unn gundo ke haathon mein?"
"Kyun kar rahe hai yeh sab ...woh log kitne khatarnaak the! ... Agar aap ko kuch ho jaata toh? ... Kyun mere liye apni zindagi daav pe laga rahe hai ... lagti kya hoon main aap ki? She questioned me as tears glistening her eyes.
Hauling her close to me I declared to her.
"Meri zindagi tumhaare bina adhoori hai Geet! ... aadat pad gayi hai meri zindagi ko tumhaari Geet! ... Inn kuch ghanto mein aisa lag raha hai jaise hum ne saalon ka phaasla tey kar liya hai!"
"Aur jab tak main hoon ...kisi bhi musibat ka saaya tumhaare aas-paas bhi nahi aane doonga... Kisi bhi takleef ko tumse pehle mujhse ho kar guzarna hoga... Samjhi Geet." She just kept looking at me. Slowly tearing her dupatta she carefully tied it around my wound. Her eyes not once breaking the eye contact but we were running out of time.
"Geet ab meri baat dhyan se suno... yeh jagah highway se zyaada door nahi hain... subah hone ko hain ... Main tumhe highway tak drop kar deta hoon! ... Please meri baat maan lo aur kisi bhi public transport mein apne ghar chali jao ... Please Geet." I pleaded her but in vain.
"Nahi mein kahi nahi jaaungi! ... Main jaanti hoon aap mujhe yahan se bhej kar khud akele andar jaana chahte hain ... Lekin main aap ko yahan akela chod ke kahi nahi jaaungi... Samjhe aap!"
"Aap ko kuch ho gaya toh main kya karungi? ... Kahan jaaungi? ... Aap ko dard hota hai toh takleef mujhe hoti hain ... Pyaar jo karne lagi hoon main aap se ..."
"Main samajh gayi hoon ke mujhe apne aap se zyaada aap ki fikar hain... Main bhi aap ke saath andar jaaungi ... Jo bhi hoga uska hum milkar saamna karenge!" She had just confessed her love for me so easily while I was still trying to find ways to make her realize my feelings for her.
She was still unaware of the fact that unknowingly she had confessed her inner feelings. I knew wasting time to send her back was futile as my sherni would not budge from her decision once made. I could see it in her eyes.
She had accepted me whole heartedly and ... now there was no return!
These few hours had inscribed our love deep in our soul! ... We were on a threshhold of death and still both of us were worried for each others well being!
Making up my mind I spoke. "Ab iss pal ke baad hum jeeyenge ya marenge..."
She completed the remaining sentence."Saath saath." holding my hand firmly we headed back in the temple to save the lovers.
Part 3
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