Silken Shadow#2 - Page 24

Geet was laying on her bed, so silent, calmed. She was thinking about past events. She had been badly affected by Jarina's words. But couldn't spoke out before Rano. Geet knew, her mother was worried for her safety that's why was not allowing her freedom, but now, since few days this prison had started annoying her. It was almost a week she hadn't step out of her room. She had forgotten smiling. She had forgotten to laugh and forgotten to talk with nature. But one thing happened strange, that there went no days and nights, when she hadn't thought about Maan. This male had somewhere knocked the door of her heart, very securely had peeped in. But Geet was unable to name this feeling. She never tried to clarify her thoughts. She never tried to stop Maan coming inside her mind. Because, tt was the only thing which gave her peace of mind and a spirit, to face all suffering.

Many nights she had already spent sleepless, turning and tossing and imagining about Maan. She stopped heeding toward music and poetry. When she had been left with nothing to do, she made his thought a task, which used to pass her time.

Tonight, she was staring the blank celling, motionlessly, when heard a weak sound, as if something was jingling in water. After many hit-or-miss, she understood what it was. Her friends were calling her out, making glass sound by hitting the edge wall, but she had promised Rano. She can't step out. Geet ignored. She turned another side and squeezed eyes in term of avoiding the call. Whatever happens but she will not go to them!

"Go away! I'll not come"

She shouted in annoyance and covered ears with pillow.

But seemed her friends were becoming desperate. Wind increased its speed and glass started making double noise. Perhaps Maan had put few more bottles in water and they all were making clear hear-able sound that finally Geet had to come out to make them hushed otherwise, mother could've woken up. She first hesitated remembering about the promise but as she stepped toward stairs, and cool breeze touched her body. She shivered. She felt fresh. She forgotten everything and smiled when found gathering of friends, waiting for her at one place.

"Why are you all making noise?" But anyways, she had to show fake anger. Geet shouted resting hands over waist. Wind tickled her open hairs but she moved back, hiding the pleasure. "Don't try to pacify me okay. I'm not going to talk to you all" she pointed her index-finger out.

Bottles sounded again. Alarmed Geet thinking the noise might have disturbed her mother's sleep, she immediately kneeled down and took bottle out. "What's inside?" She surprised when found, something was kept inside. She took letter out and read. And everything started spinning out around her. Her heart skipped several beats in consequence. Her breathe became double in anxiety and she threw paper in water frightening and raised her shaking body up. She walked back but stopped in half way. She heard the sound again. There were more bottles she found floating over waves. Though, the sound seemed much irritating but her mind wished to find more letters as previous. A corner of her heart wished to read more of his writing. But stopping her heart to yearn, Geet resumed walking off. She didn't know what this was? What was those emotions which was so painful but if she moved a step ahead, her heart used to push her more back forcefully. Light breeze turned into stormy wind. Water started stirring more violently. And moon, started hiding behind clouds showing their disapproval toward her decision. Geet clutched her ears screaming in helplessness.

"I can't go why you don't understand!!"

She cried. She knew who he' was. She had guessed it could've her stranger only who knew, this pond was the only way of her escape out. But why did he want to meet her, she didn't know and in desperation, she doubted about this unknown meeting with an unknown guy. Though she knew, he was unlike others but still, she was fearing. She was scared of this rapid heartbeats which were not in control. But another way, she was amazed also, this unbalanced speed was not hurting her but giving a kind of pleasure. But still, she decided not to go!

She tried to leave out the place but violent stormy wind pushed her back. She was forced to come back on the bridge. She was forced to see another letters inside bottles because, she had lost her strength battling against nature. Bottles were producing much sound. Every letters increased madness of her heart. Her eyes cried to read that he' will not go back until meets her. Her heart also desired unknowingly to see him, about whom she had spent thinking several nights. But she was helpless. She couldn't go!.

She found a bottle was floating at much far. She got-in into water to reach it. She swum and grabbed it and read the message. Same words she found written on paper. The same request, her to meet him. But Geet cried because she knew, she can't go! She had promised!

The letter slipped away from her hand. Wind had done naughtiness but Geet heart startled. She followed in water and after going at distance, paper itself sit over her eyes. Geet chuckled. She removed it from face and read again. "Maan" she touched the name of him, with her wet fingers. Sudden blush crept over her cheeks. She turned to swim back when suddenly felt, she had seen someone! A shadow, sitting under tree, on bank of pond. Her curiosity enhanced.

"Maan?" She whispered, then shied for taking his name out of mouth. "Was he "him?" Geet didn't realised when had already crossed the pond and now, he was before her eyes, sitting at some far! Maan couldn't see her.

Geet frightened to go near him but her heart ignored to go back, without seeing him. She was in strange dilemma. She had never felt this feeling before where own heart and mind was fighting. But without thinking much, she decided to catch a glimpse of him, secretly. There was no harm in it". She came out of water and hid behind a tree. She stayed there for sometimes but darkness was blocking her eyes to see him. She looked up to moon, in pouted anger. Perhaps Moon too, would've smiled understanding her request, he came out of clouds. Now, Geet could see Maan, clearly. She peeped out and glimpse him. Her insane heart amazingly started getting cooled down. Her breath begun turning normal. She then again hid behind tree, squeezing her heart in anticipation.

After sometimes, when her wish had been granted, she felt extreme relief. She felt like to rest in this hushed peace. After a week prison when she found freedom, lost sleep also seemed, started coming back into her eyes. A kind of relaxation runs through into her aching body. It was like, her secret desire had been gratified and now, her restless soul wanted to rest in heaven, over clouds, forgetting every burden. She closed her eyes to secure this contentment.

"Geet, you came back?" She heard him, but she thought it was a dream. She dropped on ground feeling weightless.

"What happened you?" Maan asked worried. He held her arms protectively. He caressed her hairs in tension. But it was like, silent, cool weather was patting her hairs so smoothly that Geet felt herself laying in embrace of her friends. In arms of security. She was feeling so good and comfort and safe. She cuddled closer feeling cold.

"Geet..." Maan whispered, bringing his lips, so near of her ear.

"I'm very tired. Please let me rest here, in your arms" She said simply, getting lost in pleasing hallucination. She rested head on his shoulder. She slept very soon, being embraced, by her dream. In her stranger's arms.

~~

Sangay mar-mar se tarasha hua ye shukh badan
Itna dil kash hai ke apnanay ko ji chahta hai

Naram seenay mein darktay hain woh nazuk tufaan
Jin ki lahroon mein utar janay ko ji chahta hai

Tum se kya rishta hai, kab se hai, yeh maloom nahin,
Lekin is hussn pe mar janey ko jee chahta hai

Be-khabar soye hain woh loot ke neendain meri,
Jazba-e-dil pe tarss khaney ko jee chahta hai

~~ Sahir Ludhianvi