Ab ke Baras! Chapter 14 up! On 12th Apr! On Page 41! - Page 22

nice update...

Originally posted by: khwaishfan

Happy New Year Kalpana!

CHAPTER 12. THAT TEMPLE! THAT HOUSE! THAT FEELING!

Maan sighed as he tried to relax. This is a good idea, he mused as he looked around. He was on the terrace of the Handas, lying on a cot looking at the open sky. He was so surprised when after lunch Geet took him to the terrace when he told her he wanted to rest. She explained that she enjoyed lying on the terrace with her family at night and chatting till they fell asleep. It was something they did once in a while and she was sure he would enjoy it too. She arranged the bed right in the middle of the terrace all the while chattering about how her Daarji lied on the bed while rest of the family slept on the floor. She left him asking him to call her if he needed something. He had shaken his head at her constant talking and lied on the bed. And once he lied on the cot for a while, he had to agree with her. It was relaxing!

Just then Maan heard some laughter. Who is laughing here? There is nobody living nearby according to Geet. He focused on the laughter and was able to identify as laughter of some children mingled with Geet's laughter. He got up in surprise and strode towards the edge of the terrace. He looked down and was surprised to see Geet playing with some children. One child was blindfolded and tried to catch others. Maan smiled. Ah yes! I have played this game in school! Just then Geet noticed him and grinned, "Maan! Dekhiye! Mujhse milne mere School ke bachche aaye hain!

Maan's eyebrows rose. She played games with her students! If only she was my teacher in school and not that rotten Mrs. Asher who used to be so boring and annoying! His thoughts were broken by Geet's laughter and he looked down again. Now it was Geet's turn to be blindfolded and run around. A smile graced his face as he saw her enjoying herself. As he observed her, his mind flashed back to the fall in the water. He looked away. What had happened to me? When I had walked towards Geet, I had hoped to get her wet as much as possible. But once I had her in my arms, I wanted to kiss her? Why? Something is happening to me. But what?

Maan knew that this was not something as simple as crush. When in college he had been attracted to many of his classmates and he had many crushes. But none of them, none of them were able to make me loose my control. My control is one thing I have always prided about. And now suddenly my control is hanging on a thread whenever she gets close to me! How? What is happening to me?

With puzzling thoughts, Maan headed back to the cot. He lied down and looked at the sky with intensity as if the sky would answer his questions and solve his dilemma. With such confusing thoughts swirling in his head, he didn't even realise when he fell asleep.

Later in the evening, Maan was woken by Geet who asked him if he was interested in looking around more. Maan nodded and soon they were off, with Geet pointing out places and Maan enjoying her constant chatter.

As they walked, Maan noticed that they were on the other side of the village and these places with empty houses were unused and barren too, but not because of the Mall, Geet explained, it was more because it was the older version of their village and people left it and shifted to the current place after some kind of calamity hit it. Maan nodded at her explanation and looked around curiously. All the houses surrounding them were of the same structure as Geet's and other houses that he saw in the current village of Hoshiarpur. But they were totally empty. Some had decayed and some had wild plants and creepers growing in them. Some were half demolished, most probably by the calamity. All around the area gave him the feeling of emptiness and something forgotten by the sands of time.

They reached the old town square and Maan suddenly had a flash of dj vu. Why do I feel as if I have been here before? Odd! Maan looked around in confusion before his eyes widened. Mohi's memories! That must be triggering this deju vu feeling! He looked around again hoping to have some flashes of his memory.

Geet continued to chatter when suddenly Maan gasped, "There is a temple around here!

"Ki?, Geet was confused but Maan ignored her. In his mind, he could see himself heading towards this temple.

Maan started to walk off and Geet followed him in surprise. What was he talking about? She wondered. But all her confusion vanished when she followed Maan and they reached a temple. The temple was old and no idol was inside. Geet realised it's the Kali temple of old times. She had heard that the Kali temple currently in the village had the idol, which was transferred from the old temple years back. Maan was looking around in worry. Geet placed a hand on his shoulder, "Kya hua Maan?

Maan reached the temple and was shocked. In his mind, the temple was decorated and had a beautiful Kali Ma idol in the midst. Now it was empty of its decorations and also of its idol. What happened here? He looked around in worry. It seemed the Mohi inside him loved this temple and now wanted to know what happened here. Geet's question brought him out of his thoughts and he asked her what happened to the idol. Geet explained where the idol was at the moment and Maan felt relief. Then Geet asked the question he did not expect but should have anticipated.

"Aapko kaise pata yahaan ek mandir hua karti thi?, Geet asked and Maan was flummoxed. What to answer to that? He had no idea. He started to look around in nervousness when the answer flashed to him. He turned to Geet and smiled, "My Daadaji told me about it!

Geet nodded and they continued to look around the temple. After a while, they walked off to check out another area. That's when Maan felt it. A breeze touching his cheek as if pushing his face towards one direction. He looked towards the direction where the breeze came from. Why did it feel as if something was nudging him towards a certain direction? When he felt nothing after few seconds of staring he turned towards the direction the breeze had nudged. Something was there, that someone or something wanted him to see. But what? And who wanted him to see it? In confusion, he walked towards the direction, the breeze still nudging him. Geet called him from behind but he didn't react.

Geet was alarmed at the way Maan walked towards a certain direction. It was as if he knew where he was going. But how was that possible? Even if his Daarji had told him all about the old village, its not as if he had drawn a map and told Maan where to go exactly. How did Maan know so much about her village? Something was fishy. She followed him with a frown on her face.

Maan reached another old and forgotten area with more decayed houses around him. He looked around till his eyes fell on one house. There was something about the house that was calling to him. Why? What? How? All the questions swirled in his brain and for a while, he forgot about the breeze and the tugging he felt in his heart as his mind tried to solve the puzzle of what was manipulating him.

But when Maan couldn't make head or tail about the situation, he turned towards the house. One thing he knew for sure, this house was linked to his past. That was enough for him to push away his hesitation and head ahead. He reached the house and felt heartbroken at its state. He briefly wondered why the condition of the house affected him so much but then he pushed aside all his questions once again and forged ahead. The door was half broken and half open and Maan had no problem pushing it aside to open it. He went and saw the walls had decayed and the paints on the walls had vanished. Some areas were covered with spider webs. He wandered in and could make out that the small house had living room in front and kitchen in the back. There was nothing else to the house. He checked out the kitchen and was not surprised to see a picture of Babaji on the wall, still attached and still colourful albeit mildly faded at a corner. Suddenly he had an image of kneeling in front of it. Whose house is this? The question rose unbidden in his mind. He looked around taking in the bareness of both the rooms. If there were any furniture in the hall and utensils in the kitchen, they must have been taken away by thieves or the family living there. So nothing could give him an indication as to who owned this house. Mahi or Mohi? Who lived here? Maan didn't know the answers to his questions. He knew one thing though. This place provided him with safety at one time. At one time, he could enter this house and relax and simply bask at the feeling of having a home. The reason he had this knowledge though, was because he still felt the feeling in the back of his mind. This dilapidated, empty and small house gave him the same sense of safety and stability that his Khurana Mansion gave him. This had to be his house or Mahi's. Because herein lived peace for him, once upon a time.

"Maan!, Geet's whisper from behind startled him and he was back in present. He turned around to see a worried Geet. "Aap theek toh hain?, she asked in a whisper.

Maan nodded and waved towards the door, "Let's go back! Geet nodded and walked out. He followed her.

As they walked towards the Handa house, Maan sensed that there were questions bubbling in Geet's mind. She kept on giving him glances all the while fiddling with the dupatta of her dress. But she refrained herself from asking it and he was thankful for it. He didn't think he would have it in him to answer her questions in a way that didn't let out his secrets. He was not in the proper frame of mind to lie properly. He was too shaken by the breeze, the house and the feeling the house gave him to think and reply Geet's questions without sounding like a lunatic.

Once they reached the Handa house, Maan escaped to the room Geet had assigned him and sat on the bed, thinking about the experience he felt. Someone was there! Someone or something had nudged him towards the house! But what or who? He shook his head but those thoughts refused to leave him. And so the evening passed with Maan avoiding to think but unable to stop.

Soon it was time for dinner.

"Maan! Khaana tayyaar hai! Neeche aayiye!, shouted Geet and then she blinked. That sounded so domestic. Like a wife calling down her husband! She blushed at the way she called Maan. Stupid Geet! Aise koi mehmaan ko bulaata hai kya? Do din kya saath bitaaye, parivar waalon ko jaise bulaate hain, waise bula rahi hai! Jhalli! So lost she was in scolding herself that she almost didn't notice Maan arriving down.

Soon the dinner was served and like the day before, both sat in the hall and ate the dinner. Just then a thought crossed Geet's brain and she was unable to refrain from asking.

"Waise Maan, kal ka kya plan hai?, Geet asked.

Maan looked up from his food in confusion, "Huh?

Geet huffed, "Plan! For tomorrow! What is?

Maan thought for few seconds. He had already seen the whole village. What else is to see here? May be I should move on and check out the neighbouring villages. Hmmm... That's a good idea! But leaving this village means leaving Geet. Maan didn't know why but the thought of leaving Geet was not acceptable to him. But what else to do? I have to find Mahi. I have to do something! Just then his mind flashed to one of his visions. The palace! The palace that he saw in one of his visions!

"You can take me to the Palace!, Maan blurted out.

"Palace?, Geet frowned, "Yahaan koi Palace shalace nahi hai!

Maan blinked, "But... but..., Maan spluttered in confusion, "I have seen it!, he blurted out.

"Kitthe?, Geet asked in confusion too. If he has never come to India, where did he see it?

Maan seemed to have realised the same thing, because he started to stutter, "uh... Uh... Oh ya! Daadaji showed me a photo!

God! How many times more do I have to lie? Maan pondered in annoyance.

Geet became eager, "Achcha? Photo dikhaaye! Shaayad photo se mennu jagah pata chal jaaye!

Maan made a sad face, "That I don't have with me!

Geet huffed and pouted, "Ab ki karein?

Both pondered the situation when suddenly Geet perked up, "Aap na mennu uska vyakhyan karke bataayiye!

"What karke bataayiye?, Maan was confused again.

"Vyakhyaan!, Geet tried to explain, "Woh kya kehte hain angreji mein? Haan... Describe! Describe karke bataayiye!

"Oh ok!, Maan nodded all the while thinking how tough Hindi actually was! I can't even pronounce the word she just said. Maan started to describe the palace. He started with its grandeur and opulence. Then he talked about its architecture. He had seen the Palace only from the outside and that also once. But once he started describing it, more details came to mind.

"The inside walls... they have beautiful murals drawn onto them. And each pillar is distinct and different from others. Once you enter the house and cross the hall, there is this beautiful staircase, a piece of art in itself if you ask me! There are more rooms than you could count in the palace. And there is a special room where the photos of the ancestors of the family reside..., Maan continued to explain not noticing the glazed look on Geet's face. Poor thing! Couldn't understand a single word because Maan was using words that she had no idea about. She bit her lip in worry. Agar mennu inki gal hi nahi samajh aayi, toh jagah kya khaakh bata paaungi! Geet knew that if she couldn't tell him about the place, he will have to find a new guide for himself. And Geet didn't want him to leave her. After ages, there was something exciting, something new and something good happening in her life and she didn't want it to end so soon. She knew there will be a day when it has to end. But she didn't want that day to be today. So with confused and worried expression on her face, she watched Maan get lost in his words, trying his level best to describe the place which held special place in Maan's heart, something which was obvious to Geet by the expression on his face but unknown to Maan.

Maan continued to speak, now done with the inside and starting to describe the outdoors, "Behind the staircase is the backdoor which leads to the gardens! The gardens hold all colors of flowers. Beautiful, colourful flowers all around the backyard. And you will also see peacocks dancing!..., Maan's monologue continued but Geet stopped listening as one word stuck in her mind. Peacocks! Yaani mor! In this whole district, you will find Peacocks living as pets in only one place!

"Badi Kothi!, Geet shrieked, jerking Maan out of his thoughts.

"What?, he growled in confusion.

"Arre! Badi Kothi! The place you are talking about is Badi Kothi!, Geet explained.

"Oh!, Maan mumbled as he tried to see if the name sounded familiar. But it didn't. Nothing triggered in his mind.

"Are you sure?, Maan asked.

Geet nodded, "Haan! Wahi ek jagah hai poore Hoshiarpur ke district mein jahaan Mor matlab Peacock ek pet ki tarah rakhe jaate hain! Badi beautiful jagah hai! Yahaan se sirf kuch 30 kilometer door hai! You will love that place!

Maan nodded.

The dinner was done and both got up.

"Main na aapko wahaan parso le jaaungi! Pakka promise!, Geet chattered.

"Parso?, Maan asked.

"Day after...tomorrow?, Geet tried to explain.

Maan rolled his eyes, "I know what parso means! I meant why parso! Why not tomorrow?

Geet sighed, "I have some work at the bank! She wanted to remove all her savings from there. She will need it for survival once Maan left and she was homeless!

"So I cannot take you to the Kothi tomorrow! But day after tomorrow, pakka!, Geet assured him.

"Ok! No problem!, Maan mumbled, "Then tomorrow I will work on my Laptop and chat with my associates!

Geet nodded.

And that is how Maan's second day at the Handa house ended.

Hey Folks! Happy New Year!

Hope you liked the latest update. Let me know what you think!

Thanks, take care and have fun,

Kalpana

geet hi kya mahi hai?kya maan mil payega apne mahi se?...

fabulous part. Maan remembering many things and recognizing places means he is on the right track to find out about Mahi soon. Both Maan and Geet not wanting to leave each other as of now. Strong attraction from both sides.😊 waiting for next.

superb update