Chapter 5
Maan looked at the emotional face of her in almost a wonder. His fingers traced her brows, her cheeks, her lips and finally rubbed the tear falling down on her chin. She was beautiful. Most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Everything he had heard about her beauty which seemed a mere exaggeration had turn out to be true. She was the lotus flower of Kashmir, beautiful but dirty from underneath. Everyone who saw the beauty forgot the truth under it.
He picked her up in his arms carrying her to the jeep door, he opened the door with one hand and put her on the seat. After putting seat belt on her, he tried to move but she held his hand. She seemed to be lost in him.
He kissed her on forehead,'' I am here tcher. From now on I will be always with you.''
Geet held his hand tightly,'' promise.'' Her eyes showed the disbelief and fear embedded into her soul after living a bitter life.
Maan looked into her eyes,'' Maan was born just for you.''
Her heart melted with happiness on these words. She let him pull his hand out, close the door and walk to the other side. He sat on driving seat. He looked at her, his fingers lightly rubbed her cheek,''Tcher.''
She smiled at this endearment. The second one she had received in her life. The first had been ghuriya (doll). Her eyes suddenly became cloudy as she remembered the two boys, were they alive? Or were they lost like the promises they had made her. Still she prayed for them in her heart. She didn't hate them, not after everything she still couldn't hate them.
They had abandoned her in this hell and broke all their promises but still she didn't hate them. The three of them had shared such a bond of pain and utter terror that nothing could break it. Her hands slightly shook remembering the scariest time of her life. The memories were coming back now to haunt her much more frequently. She had feared she will go mad but then, Maan had come into her life and banished her terrors.
She looked at him, he was her saviour, her hope of life.
When they arrived at their home. She watched with happy eyes, it was a small house perched in cold valley surrounded by ice. But to her, it was paradise. She walked with him to the house holding his hand. She twirled around in amazement, her life which was ugly started to look beautiful to her eyes.
He asked her quietly,'' do you like it?''
She nodded,'' I love it.''
He teased lightly, ''You love easily.''
She looked at him with madness,'' I love everything about you or related to you.''
His eyes were slightly hooded as he looked at her,'' I don't have a family. So you will have to come in without aarti.''
She said,'' doesn't matter.'' She had no knowledge of these rituals.
He nodded and then held her hand and together they entered the house leaving the past out of the door.
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