Silken Shadow#2 - Page 16

Rano was finding something in a big trunk. She seemed tensed. She took out a small box and opened the lid. The box had few gold jewelleries inside and she took out one necklace among them.

''Maa what are you doing?" Geet leapt inside, playfully she asked. She snatched the necklace from Rano and placed around her sleek neck. She runs to see in mirror. "It's looking lovely, isn't it?" She turned in joy.

Rano just gave a tilted smile. ''Yes it is. Now give it back to me Geet I need to go to jeweller"

"For selling it?" Geet gave a desiring look at necklace. She then advanced it to her mother but Rano understood her wish. Her heart melted to see Geet upset. Indeed it was looking lovely on her daughter.

'But if you want, you can keep it with you. I'll take another one"

"Really?" Geet looked her surprised. She happily hugged her thanking and runs into her room to wear it properly. Rano shook head laughing but her happiness didn't last longer, when she found, she was left with very less jewelleries inside little box. These gold and silvers were only source of income for them. Which she had gotten along with property and it could've been over very soon. She had not another method of earnings. Selling these jewelleries used to provide them decent amount but if it finishes, they would be left without a single penny. Well, washing off those hurting thoughts from her mind, Rano kept the box inside trunk and locked it properly. She told Geet to stay inside home cautiously until she comes back.

##

It had been dark but Rano was not back yet. Geet was tensed. She didn't know what to do. She was alone and scared for her mother. Rano had strictly forbade her not to step out alone but it had already turned night! Her heart was sinking in worry. What if her mother would be in some kind of trouble? Like the previous day when they had been in problem while returning back from collage. "It's not possible to meet the same stranger again who could help her" Geet thought when suddenly realized what, she was thinking? "Why I'm thinking about him?" She blabbered. For a minute she recalled his face, his touch and his voice, forgetting everything. She touched own hand. Tint blush crept over her cheeks thinking how, he had held her hand. But then she scolded herself mentally. She forced her mind heeded toward Rano. She helplessly prayed for mother's safety. Geet waited more than half an hour but still, Rano didn't come back. Now, Geet had to think something.

"I think I should go out to check her'' She decided. Geet heart thumped rapidly when she put her one leg out of door. She looked around with hope, Rano would be coming. Her heart madden when found the area was filled with repulsive humans and she had to walk among them. Holding heart in place she walked little further when a drunken man collided her intentionally. His arm rubbed with her elbow. She dithered and moved back. Guy grinned. Geet squeezed her Dupatta tighter. Covering her face with cloth she doubled her speed when luckily found Rano was coming back. She breathed in relief but when Rano saw Geet, she was scandalized.

''Geet! What are you doing here!?" Rano held Geet scolding. Her temper raised when she witnessed blatant stares from passing people over Geet and then she saw the woman, she hated most. ''Let's go from here'' she grabbed Geet and hurried to leave out. Geet tried to march in same speed with mother. She was equally terrified and nervous getting nasty gazes over her when heard a woman shout.

"Why both mother daughter are running, in dark? Seems your daughter trapped new rooster Rano. I can see, the shinning gold necklace in her neck. Seems her new proprietor started showering his wealth over her head".

"Maa what is she saying'' Geet whispered. Rano made her silent. She only wanted to reach home as soon as possible. She didn't want to reply back to that woman who had no control over her mouth and Geet, must not hear her.

''Don't make her silent Rano. Let her speak. When her throat will remain neat, then only she would be worthwhile for me in future. Otherwise, you'll only scold me later, saying, that I give her the job, you hate much' She laughed devilishly. Few more nearby people supported her statement. Rano blood was boiling. She craved to answer back but when found Geet was getting scared, she controlled her anger. Geet clutched her mother's arm in fear partially understanding what the woman meant.

''By the way Jarina Begum, don't you think she looks more beautiful after wearing the necklace?" one random guy commented.

Geet hated his statement. She closed eyes feeling disguised clutching the necklace, when suddenly Maan's face flashed in her mind from nowhere. "You're indeed, so beautiful Geet'' when he had said, she didn't have felt disguised, but she had felt really good and shy. It had felt like a beautiful praise, not any mock.

When Geet recalled about weird meetings with her stranger, an uninvited smile carved upon her lips. It felt, his mirage was washing away every outrageous impacts from her mind and nothing was left hearable from around. What people were saying about her, seemed nothing mattered when her mind was thinking about Maan. His memory lightened her fears.

''Her looks seems shit in that old-dirty necklace Ratif. Wait for the day when I'll make her wear my jewelleries. That day when I will make her dance before the entire city. That day this Kotha would be decorated like a palace and Geet" Jarina smirked. "She will be the queen of every heart'' Jarina announced in attitude. Her eyes produced fire which was enough to burn an innocent life, so easily.

''What happened Jarina Begum? Why do you hate those women so much?" Ratif asked. Jarina glared him in firm posture. Without giving reply, she walked away inside.

##

"What was the need you had to come out Geet when very clearly I had announced?!!" Rano shouted. Her lungs were struggling to catch breath. She was in intense anger that didn't hear anything which Geet could've excused. Her body was shaking dangerously. Jarina's vow was still ringing in her mind and Rano knew, that woman will not forget the word she had taken out of mouth. She knew her very well.

''You will not come out of this room until or unless I will not allow you! got you girl!!'' She dragged Geet and threw inside room. Geet cried for forgiveness but madness was dancing over Rano's head. She took promise from Geet that she will not keep legs out of this home, not even she will go near pond. Rano then hastened inside her room and thumped the door behind. Her body was still shaking in lack of strength thinking about the upcoming.

##

"What did I just said?"

Maan opened eyes in shock. He couldn't believe what did he just uttered. Was that true?

"No it can't be true. It just can't happen!"

He pushed hairs back in anxiety. He stood out of bed. Maan looked back toward the photo, how easily she was smiling, staring him, laying on his bed, in his room. How easily she had stepped in his life and she was looking happy even after getting burned by his hands and she had no complain. "But I don't know you" Maan questioned as if talking to her. "But why I feel, only I should be right to know you, and no one else" His himself answered.

Maan walked toward window and looked out to the round moon.

"But how can it happen? I mean, I am not ready to welcome anyone in my life. I have some goal, I've some promises which have to complete. How will I be able to give you your part of happiness? It's hard, not an easy task to love anyone. I am afraid, I can't succeed in loving you Geet"

He took up her photo and stared her face for some time. Her eyes were saying something, in an unknown language which Maan tried to read. But he failed, "Your eyes talk. It says something. But what?" He raised photo up to his eyes level, it seemed she was next to moon. "Why your eyes bother me so much Geet? Why it feels that I should understand them. It seems they ask something, they want something from me. Why whenever I met you, I felt fear in your eyes, and a fear in my heart of losing you again. I know you are beautiful but, it's not the only thing which attracted me. You have something else. Something more in you that pull my body, my heart, even my soul in your direction. I want to know you Geet" He whispered losing his mind over her. He brought her photo near his lips. "I want to feel you Geet. I feel to keep you secure from this world. I want to keep you safe, inside me, inside my heart" He kissed her forehead. "I don't know if I am ready to love you, but, I feel, I need you near me, always"

Maan decided he will concentrate on his work. He will not give anyone opportunity to raise finger on his efficiency and more, no one should question over his changed behaviour until he finds her. After realization about his feeling toward the new girl, his eagerness increased instead of lessening down, to know about her. But this time, he will control over his frustration. It was true, he had started loving her, but he had to examine first, will this emotion remain last longer? Will he able to give her the same treatment of love which, he was experiencing right now? Or in few days, he will forget her thinking a beautiful dream. He needed the answer. He needed to scrutinize his own feelings. The three words he had uttered out while drowning into wet-emotions, could they become the truth of lifetime? He had no doubt the girl had already made an intense place in his life, but will she stay there for ever? And he knew, Geet was the only one who could have given all answer.

"I have to find you Geet, soon. Because only you, have solution of my curiosity"

From next day Maan started spending entire day in theatre. Like a machine he worked but his evening was for Geet. He tried hard to find her, securely asked nearby people, but had she been living there, it could've been possible to get know about her. Rano had anyway told wrong address. Maan could find no clue about Geet.

"Where are you Geet? Where I should search for you?" the questions bothered him.

He started losing his patience. The theory he had made about his feeling was getting evident. Slowly he started understanding that he really needed her. The more he was failing, the most he started missing her. Her face danced before his eyes. Her fearing eyes made him smile in middle of work. Her cute pout started skipping his heartbeats. In isolation Maan used to talk with her photo. In crowd his eyes used to find her in every face. In evening wind, his ears used to hear her anklet sounds and in night, his heart used to cry for her touch.

##

One evening, defected Maan was walking near pond. Remembering the time when suddenly once he had found Geet in arms. He had been hoping for the same miracle but his mermaid didn't come back again. Sometime he had tried to go inside water and reaching to her but he lost which direction should swim.

Tonight, he felt, as if he will die if she doesn't meet him. His madden, aching mind was yearning for her one glimpse. He had to see her! Or otherwise, he'll not see next sunrise!

He went to pond. Kneeled down. He requested water to send Geet to him. Like a child he was talking to water the same way Geet used to talk. "Once she had said you're her friend. You know well where she lives then why can't you tell me goddamn!" He clutched hairs in frustration. "I need her. Please do something. I failed. I have no way to reach her but you've! I know you can do anything. That day also it was you who'd brought her here. Please, I beg you. I'll die otherwise!"

In silent water, waves stirred. Perhaps water was getting his words, his cravenness. Suddenly Maan felt, as if water wanted to make him see something. He turned head and found an empty bottle was floating in his direction. He narrowed eyebrows. His heart didn't want to believe but still couldn't stop himself believing, water wanted to help him. "Do you want me to write her letter?" he asked. He actually wanted to laugh over his childlike actions but still, didn't ignored. He wrote a letter saying,

"Geet, I'm waiting for you and will be waiting, until, you don't come. Yours Maan", He rolled letter and slipped inside bottle and swept into pond. He kept staring it until it disappears. He actually laughed thinking what he was doing. It seemed he was trusting over a fairy tale. But if by this way, he can find his girl, his love, his Geet, he had no shame in believing in dream-world. He just hope, she reads and comes.

(A small part I'll post tomorrow as this part had become very long 😛)