Silken Shadow#2 - Page 9

Maan couldn't find Geet and it passed around a week time. He even thought to ask nearby people but then, asking Geet name in front of natives, wouldn't be safe. Matter could've reached to her family. It could be suspicious that a stranger was asking her name in public and Maan didn't know her mother's name. Apparently, he had no method left to find her. And this failure, produced a kind of madness in him. To retrieve Geet had become his passion.

##

One night at dinner table,

"So young man, how long more it'll take to complete your work?" Ali Khan asked about his theatre.

But Maan remained silent. He had nothing to reply back. How could he say he was not going theatre since a week? He had not completed the job, he was supposed to complete in a day or two. He even forget that his father had sent him deputing a responsibility, trusting that his son will popularize his business. He had forgotten everything, even to enjoy his own life, his photography, and his friends. Almost everything! And that was, due to a girl!

Excuse me" Maan kept spoon down in plate. "I remembered something, I've to leave" Saying he left dinner in middle, surprising everyone. Mohsin wanted to follow him but Ali Khan stopped. "Let him go. I'm sure, he is taking so much stress, regarding work'

Mohsin nodded. They resumed dinner but somewhere Ali Kha guessed, matter was something else. But he decided to give him time.

##

Maan came back in room. His mind was not composed. He hated himself for lying. He hated himself for living a tamed life where the command was in someone else's hand. Geet had started dominating his mind. He had no control over his own action and statement. He had started deceiving his elder and his friends. And he hated most that his heart had no complain. He wasted his seven days behind a girl who was only a simple human, made of flesh and blood like others. Nothing was different in her. Like every girl she had same physique which could have attracted any man. Nothing was varied in her that could've hypnotized him "then why I'm becoming insane, like my life, every impressions, are depended on her on glimpse?" He shouted in temperament. Pushing his sweated hairs back in attitude, he announced. "She is nothing to me! Just Nothing!

"She is as similar as any girl would be and she has nothing for which I should waste my time, my emotions, my mind and my career. Forget him Maan just forget her!" He proclaimed.

I have to get her off from my mind. She can't take away serenity of my living", in anger he rushed toward closet. He took out his diary where between pages he had kept her photo securely.

Today, at the moment, I'm throwing you out from my life Geet. I'll burn every memory of you which is misguiding me from my promises. I can't let the thing take breathe inside my body, which is killing me every second, every moment. Neither in my heart nor in my mind you'll be ever able to sneak in. you can't return back Geet. I'll not let you do this to me, never again!"

He took out his lighter and enlightened it. Tiny fire flame started illuminating Geet face and shine of her eyes glittered. But it couldn't melt Maan or may be, he ignored the fact why his body shook, and seemingly, his hand trembled. His heart cried but he stopped his mind to interrupt in.

And tiny flame touched the corner of paper and started burning her photo, impassively.

Then suddenly, Maan heard a sob. A girl's sob. He looked at Geet as if she was crying in pain. He looked her eyes. It was staring him, helpless. Fire was slowly crawling up making her body black and his heart throbbed consequently and the cry sound also exceeded. He realized the sound was coming from next room. It was Nishad.

Why is she crying?" Maan frowned. Photo slipped down from his hand. It fell down on floor and fire blew off and he rushed to see her and found she was weeping softly clutching her thumb and Mohsin was applying medicine over it.

What happened?" He asked.

Both found Maan standing on door. "Nothing Yaar, she just burned her finger and see, crying like a baby' Mohsin laughed just to tease her.

"No Maan Bhai Jaan it's really' hurting", she snorted in pain.

"Really?" Mohsin asked dearly. Nishad nodded, few more tears rolled down from her eyes.

Aww, my baby. Nothing happened, see! I applied medicine. Now it can't pain any longer to my dear sister" he lovingly touched her face and wiped her eyes. She smiled finding touch of love and care. Maan was constantly watching them. A pure relation where one's pain hurts another.

His mind went around someone. Someone he felt, is the most important matter of his life. Seemed, he was neglecting something. Something as if, he had done which shouldn't have done. As like he has hurt someone closest to heart and now his heart has started bleeding. The pain was intolerable. His mind turned toward the girl he had just threw out from his life, giving her ache.

He rushed back into room. His eyes melted to see her photo lying on floor, half bruised and his heart felt like burning in equal heat. But she was even, smiling, hiding her lips with Dupatta, and staring him with same natural innocence. He immediately picked her up. He cleared dirt from paper and kept on bed. "I'm sorry" his eyes was in remorse. They were not able to meet with hers. Seemed, he had heard her cry ringing in air. He held her photo near heart.

"I'm sorry Geet. I hurt you. I was mad. I couldn't understand the language of my own heart which wanted you but I denied the need. I thought you are misguiding me from my way but couldn't see that it's not you, but, your absence, the failure of not finding you made me such impatience that I couldn't able to compile my own known life. The changes happened so fast, I couldn't understand this switching and punished you" He looked at her innocent face. Maan smiled. "How could I not see the swim of innocence in your eyes? It has pureness. It can fill a bliss around me, the same way I'm feeling right now"

He kept her photo near his heart as if hugging her. He closed eyes and heard his own heartbeats but it felt, as if it's her heart which is beating against his chest, and she became alive. He caressed the photo like, his fingers were playing in her hairs. He could still remember the feel of her soft and cold body which was in his hold, one night and her fresh restlessness. A smile carved upon his lips.

"Touching your photo giving me realization that you are in my arms Geet and I've no complain if you're in my life. It feels beautiful and you know why?"

"Because, I love you..."