Silken Shadow#2 - Page 59

Her veil slipped down revealing her full face. Maan couldn't take his eyes off from the sight. In red darkness of evening, amongst the reverberation of Namaaz when they met, everything became serene around like God and nature itself had planned this venue, for this foregathering. Maan forgotten to blink and so was Geet and when she realized the fact, her head automatically bowed down in Sazda, in return of successfully fulfilment of her wish. Or may be, in shyness.

Maan held her chin and lifted her face up. ''I knew, you'll come back Geet'' he whispered.

Geet gasped for breath. She then realized, what she did! Another sin! She cheated her mother's trust. She panted in embarrassment and moved back taking slow steps. ''I'd have to go back'' she blabbered. She took few more steps back and then turned around to run away and became vanished into forest.

Maan frowned in amazement and anger. He couldn't understand this sudden shift of moments. ''Why she always do the same?" His mind thundered. "Does she not like me? Then why the hell she has to come every time when I need her? Does she enjoy humiliating my emotions, my love?'' He bang fist against tree in anger. He wanted to scream.

Geet legs paused. It felt so weighty to be furthered up. She tried to walk but her legs seemed had ditched her already. She made face in helplessness. She looked back in wait for something then complained. ''Why this time he didn't stop me?" Geet perhaps had, badly missed his anger for her leaving. She even peered back that if he would be following, but Maan did not. That made her disappointed. She decided to wait there for sometimes, hoping if he would come. But Maan decided not to stop her, this time. He was offensive due to her strange behaviour. He punched over the hard trunk again and again, this time more aggressively.

''Ishh! Don't do it. You'll get hurt''

Maan startled hearing her unexpected voice. Suddenly his hand stopped and so was his tempestuous breathing. But he didn't feel like to turn back. He feared, she'll again plead to leave and he would again failed to stop her. He tightened fist in term of holding back. His hand started bleeding. Geet hasten hissing in agony. ''You're bleeding'' she said staring his hand.

''Why you're worried?" He replied angrily. ''Go away Geet, I'll not stop you'' he turned face aside. But her concentration was only over his hand which had cut. ''It must be paining'' she spoke feeling sting in heart.

''Why do you care" Maan glared her. "This pain is nothing Geet which I have been feeling since weeks''

But Geet didn't understand his mean but she didn't like his being ignorant toward this injury. Her heart was melting like wax in heat. It was so painful to see Maan in pain. Once he had helped her and Rano, so now she should do the same!" Giving this logic to her weirdly concerned heart Geet became desperate to help him. To soothe his ache. She looked around, hurried toward pond and brought a handful of water filling between palms but before reaching to Maan, all water had been dropped. She made face. She didn't find courage to command over him to go to pond himself nor found any right to drag him forcefully. Finally finding no other way she started tearing her Dupatta thinking can bandage with it when Maan grabbed her hand, thoroughly amazed with her act,

''What you're doing?" He shouts.

''You're hand is bleeding'' she said timidly, feeling butterfly in stomach with his touch.

''Let it be uncured. You don't need to worry about my pain' he turned away in frustration. This girl was really a mystery for Maan and failure in understanding her had forced him to feel miserable. ''Go away before once again I lose my temper over you!"

But amazingly Geet didn't fear with this threat. She had understood, he can never hurt her. She had trust on him and at this moment, she didn't want to leave him in pain.

''Run off Geet!" He glared her shouting, showing his ire eyes.

No. I will not'' she replied boldly, straightway. Maan watched her stunned and her bravery flew off. ''I mean after nursing your hand, I'll leave''

Mentally he burst out laughing in reaction like insane. He didn't know what this girl wants to do with him. He didn't understand should he pity over this scared-deer or should do sympathy over his own destiny, which was making fun of his love sentiments, but in a beautiful way'' but he couldn't deny her demand though.

Geet walked toward water and Maan followed her silently. Both were unvoiced and so was this atmosphere. Geet didn't have noticed Namaaz had been ended. Noor must be looking for her, Rano could've come back anytime but Geet, seemed had forgotten everything and the only thing she could remember, was his hand in her hands.

She cleaned wounds with water then rubbed wet soil on his hand. Maan didn't groaned even after feeling much sting. But more pain he was feeling in heart. There waves were curdling to jerk her closer. To pull her in arms and not to let her go back. And when love couldn't seat back inside silently, it battled to come out. To reveal his feeling. To touch her, to love her till next-world. To crush her in hug until death separates them aggressively. He wanted to tell her everything, right there! He clutched her both hands and tugged closer.

''Geet, I want to say you something''

But this pull brought Geet out from her calmed world. Reality hit her mind sharply. Geet remembered where was she? What risk could've been awaiting for her. She stood up trembling, a half scared with this sudden closeness and half due to upcoming. ''I need to go" she blabbered. She hurriedly placed veil over head which had been slipped on floor. It was not her manner. She hesitated. She started running off when Maan grabbed her hand.

''Where are you going?" He questioned dominating.

Geet looked him in pity. She was really in danger from both side and even her heart was increasing her problem. It was denying to leave but mind was scolding strongly. She looked up to sky. Moon had been visible clearly filling deep darkness surround. Maan understood her worry. He calmed down his tone.

"Will you come back tomorrow?" He asked helplessly. This time no anger nor any depression but a wish to hear her saying "yes!"

She replied nervously. "Please leave my hand. I need to go back. What if Maa comes back before me reaching home!" she blabbered in fear which Maan heard. He understood what her trouble was.

''Be calm Geet. Don't worry I will drop you'' he commanded. Geet looked him stunned. "How she can go with him?" She said no but Maan didn't let her deny more. He forced her to agree. Only this way he could find chance to know about her address. Geet couldn't decide what should reply but finally she had to accept. She sat next to Maan and he stopped car opposite side of road from Noor's home.

''Is it your house?" He asked but without reply Geet escaped. Geet walked in inside and peeped through door. Maan smiled in satisfaction that at last, he found her house. He knew, she was looking at him secretly and enjoying her steal, he drove off pleased with a success.

##

"Geet?" Noor patted her shoulder startling Geet in instant fear. She turned back.

"Where were you Geet? You know I was scared after not finding you in home?"

Geet was in dilemma, what to say. She first danced her eyes at every corner getting view if Rano would've come, but breathed in relief, not finding her. Now she could tell any convenient lie," she thought. Geet said, a snake charmer had come outside and she had gone to see the fun.

"You're really fool Geet. At least could've told me before leaving. You scared me!"

"I'm sorry" Geet said, looking down but she knew, she was forgiven. After they did dinner together and late night Rano came and took her home.

##

There was no bound of happiness today for Maan. He was smiling like a charmer and his walk was showing his glee. Even on dinner table when Ali Khan asked about his work Maan gladly said it's going very fine. In next few days he will organise an audition for actor and actresses and pamphlets has been already distributed. Everyone appreciated his job leaving Mohsin. Maan found him unexpected silent and thought to talk him later.

"Bhai Jaan did you find any hidden treasure in your theatre that looking so happy?" Nishad commented while Maan was going in his room. He turned back and smiled and replied, "May be, yes!"

"Really?" She was amazed. She runs behind. "Then keep my share aside. I'm not going to share it with Mohsin Bhai Jaan"

"Even I'm not going to share this treasure with anyone Nishu" He pulled her cheeks in fun. "This treasure is only mine" he announced and left, giving her an offer to notice his transformed behaviour.

"What happened him?" Nishad thought. She decided to ask him and runs behind.

"Bhai Jaan what are you hiding.."

Suddenly Mohsin walked in letting her stop her question in middle. "Nishad I need to talk Maan in alone" He sounded serious that Maan noticed but Nishad did not. She fought back to stay with them but Maan dearly convinced her. After her leaving Mohsin locked door from inside.

"What happened Mohsin? You seems serious"

"Wo.. I need your help Maan"

"Help?"

Mohsin then nervously said that his friends has made an outing trip in night. But Ali Khan will never allow him for going on this night picnic.

"But what i can help in it Mohsin?" still not guessing the matter Maan asked.

"Maan Bhai if you also come with me I'm sure Abbu wouldn't deny"

"No way!" Maan clearly denied. "You know I don't like this picnic thing and they would be your friends. What I would do there?"

"Maan please. I know Abbu trust you more than me and if you will say you'll be me, then only he can say yes. Please yaar, its matter of my reputation. You know in collage everyone make fun of me, saying I have life of a girl. I have no allowance to enjoy out in night, like girls" He felt like will have a puppy-cry right there. Maan laughed over his expression. Anyways his mood was super gleamed today, he agreed, without asking, where actually they had plans to go.