"Ye are Blood of my Blood, and Bone of my Bone,
I give ye my Body, that we Two might be One.
I give ye my Spirit, 'til our Life shall be Done.
~~Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
When Maan finished the letter and looked around he found a divine glow all around the room. A well decorated array of red earthern lamps glowed brightly yellow in the room and standing there leaning on to the corner of the wall was the most beautiful woman he ever saw with her almond brown eyes reflecting the yellow glow around her and he repeated the last word of his letter as if it were meant only for him "Geet!"
When he moved closer she moved away from the wall and pinned him to it instead. Tonight was all about how much Geet wanted Maan, not the other way around it seemed.
"What are you planning to do, My Lady? You know running away from me isn't easy..", he teased.
"uhuh...I'm done running away from you", she said looking into his eyes in that sultry way of hers.
"All I want to do is give you your gift, just like you wanted", her eyes shifted from his eyes to his lips as she spoke.
"What would that be", he asked eagerly in his husky tone his eyes shamelessly staring at her lips.
"This". She flashed the most handsome iridium cuff bracelet in front of him. The artwork was intricate but if looked upon closely, one could find a soldier in cloak on one end of the bracelet and a mermaid, representing a woman in water on the other end.
She made him wear it as he continued to admire both the gift and the giver.
She took his hand in hers, "It represents us! The woman who appeared in the waters and the man who came to her in that cloak. It will tell our tale to the world!"
"You think so?", he asked with a smile.
She put her hands around his shoulders, "Well you are not the only one who can procure rare items it seems. Someone gifted this piece of stone as a wedding gift and I thought why waste it, when I can make this beautiful gift for you!"
"Ohh..whichever way I am glad about it..", his hands went around her waist.
"Just glad, huh?", she complained with a coy smile.
Before she knew he lifted her in his arms and they were on his bed their hands exploring each other.
In between she questioned his intentions, "you know...if you are planning to back...off..mmm...better don't...ohhh"
She shrieked as she felt the last piece of clothing leaving her body exposing her fully naked form to him.
"Who is talking about backing off tonight?", he asked in between kissing her in places she never knew were meant for kissing. All she did was moan a "hmm" as they continued their ministriations.
This was not a night of inhibitions or doubts. It was a night when they both accepted each other into their life as their complete partners. There was no more reason to hold back now and they definitely didn't when finally Maan realised she wanted him as much as he did and loved his Lady tenderly and fiercely at the same time as he made love to her and was pleasantly surprised to see her take charge after their first time.
It was well into the night when their bodies eventually got tired by their passion but sleep was still far as they both lied in each others arms.
"Geet..."
"hmm.."
"I didn't know.."
"What?", she snuggled closer to him and smiled as she felt his hands caressing her waist and moving down to her bum.
"That women too had their..umm..peaks?"
She giggled,"well if the man is a good lover, no woman can help it just as any man can't"
"huh...isn't that good to hear now?", he chuckled.
"Well, I defenitely know that you had a great time", she kissed on his chest.
"Indeed I did"
And yet again he leaned towards her with those unstoppable wet kisses that she couldn't resist for the love of her life to yet another sesssion of physically showing how much they loved each other.
******************************************
Two weeks had passed and Maan and Geet were so busy with each other that they never even got the time to think about anything else. Then again, even that sweet period had to end some day.
"Maan let go of me...saasu ma is expecting me downstairs early", she pleaded as her husband kept undressing her every time she tried to put on some clothes.
"mmm..Geeet..you have time for every one..even Champa..only I am the one who gets kicked every time I want you", he complained cutely.
"Really? Is that what we were doing last night? and the night before that and.."
She couldn't complete as his lips invaded mid sentence.
At last when they parted away panting, Maan commented, "You know...considering I am going on my trading trip for ten days, Maa ji wont mind if you show up late.."
"uffoo..Maan. You are becoming more and more shameless after each day"
"You are my wife. What is there to be ashamed of?"
He kissed her lips once more as she hugged him tightly feeling his warmth.
"I will miss you..."
"And I will miss you too..My Lady"
She played with her fingers on his chest and Maan sensed she wanted to ask him something, "What is it?"
"well...now that You are going back on your work, I was thinking even I could go to my work?"
"What do you mean?", he inquired.
"Maaan..I am a healer!", she demanded.
"I know but.."
She finished it for him, "But your family wont approve?"
He pursed his lips while Geet waited patiently anticipating his reponse, "I guess they just have to make peace with that."
Her eyes grew wide with excitement, "Really? You don't mind?"
"Geet...I don't think that I need to stop you from doing something that you are so passionate about."
She groaned at his tone,"again...but?"
"Guru Aswath is the official healer here. Now, he is not back yet but when he comes back, you have to seek his approval to continue."
She jumped on him with excitement again, "So I can practice until then, right?"
Maan's world was lost the moment she jumped and sat on him, "Sorry you were saying something?"
His hands moved to cup her breast...
"mmm...you really don't mind?"she asked softly.
"Well, I would say you might want to regulate your working hours while I'm in the haweli.."
She leaned closer to his ears and whispered as she entered him, "That I will do.."
Maan could only grunt in response to her.
*************************
"Nonsense! Your Ladyship is not a peasant to keep working after marriage."
Yash Khurana's disgust was evident in his voice.
" Is she going to touch other men in the pretext of doing her job?"
Anuradha supported her husband like the devout wife she was.
Maan rolled his eyes, "Those are human beings with ailments. I know my wife better. She just wants to heal people and I can't see any valid objection since we don't have Guru Aswath here and have lost Sudev."
Dadisa was quick support her kids, "She saved my life. You didn't oppose then. By the law of land every life is equal and precious be it the nobility or the peasant, man, woman or babe..All are alike. Am I not right Yash?"
Her tone was victorious even before she finished.
All Yash could do was groan in agreement, "Ofcourse mother. You always are."
Dadisa smiled at Geet who was waiting patiently for them to come to a decision.
Maan got up from his seat, "I guess that leaves us all in peace. There is no more need for me to delay. Adi...ready the men and prepare the horses."
Maan bid goodbye to everyone and kissed his wife a brief farewell. Watching him leave from the fort gates made her heart ache. He was the sole purpose of her life at Samaypur in this timeline. When he was out of sight, the emptiness started creeping into her mind slowly yet steadily.
Geet didn't let it defeat her. She loved him and she could not fail him and his trust. She had to put her mind elsewhere.
It was difficult initially but in two days she set a routine for herself. She woke up early in the morning, checked all the stocks along with Champa. Then she would go to kitchen and do her best to help Amba and Malti. They were such adorable sisters to Geet that she felt the warmth of Anika and NT even though their presence made her miss them terribly.
By noon when the rest of the women were off to take a nap, Geet went to the medical chamber and resumed her studies. People came by in the mean time to ask for relief from their ailments until sundown. Geet would stay longer to read more about the kind of medicines used, She had learnt how to work with the scriptures from the assistants there. It was not easy but then again Geet was not one to give up that easily.
***************************************
Seven days passed since Maan left. Geet was out in the early hours of dawn amidst the north-east garden. She ventured out deep into the trees in search of herbs that she had noted down from her Book of Antidotes. It was about a rare plant that the scripture mentioned. One that had regenerative healing properties. Geet had no idea what was the modern name of this particular plant, but in the scriptures it was clearly described as the Sanjeevani plant which could cure serious nerve ailments. The leaves of the plant glowed in the early light it said. Her natural curiosity brought out her out deep into the denser forest part of the garden where no one tended or visited. She tracked the location with the help of the books she read, the ideal location for the growth of the plant.
As she cut through the bushes, there it was as bright as the light of the early rays of the Sun, the leaves of the plant were yellowish green so much that with the morning mist and the rays of Sun it looked as if the plant was actually glowing in the dawn. Geet had a divine smile of satisfaction. She went near the plant and kneeled down. She tenderly took a few leaves from the plant.
A sudden voice startled her, "Look at you...you are learning, aren't you?"
Geet turned around and found Nandini leaning against an enormous peepal tree.
"Nandini?", Geet asked in surprise. "Where were you all these days? You just disappeared!!"
"Trust me Geet. It is but for your own good.", replied Nandini in that casual yet strikingly mysterious tone of hers.
"What do you mean?", Geet asked puzzled.
Nandini walked towards her, "You have become quite the Lady! Does this place...it suits you well?"
"I found my home here",Geet felt contented as she said that out loud. Indeed she did.
"Is that so?", Nandini raised an eyebrow critically. "The plant...Geet. If I were you, I would also take the seed. Sanjivni's seed. It could work miracles."
"Well, the plant is growing here. It's the leaves that are useful...", argued Geet.
"Well leaves are useful today. What about tomorrow, huh?", Nandini's smile sent shivers through Geet.
She spoke as if she knew. Did she?, wondered Geet.
"What are you not telling me?", Geet asked deciding to confront this woman.
"I am only helping you. Take the seed. You are going to need that", Nandini took a twig and plucked a few dried fruits of tha plant. She opened the dried up skin and took the seeds and handed it to Geet. She pressed it into her palms.
"Thank you", mumbled Geet awkwardly.
"Thank me later..", Nandini's eyes were kind even if her manners were confusing, Geet realised.
"Not, not just the seeds. For helping with dadisa. She is a wonderful person."
Before Nandini could reply they heard the clacking of horse hooves as the men surrounded them.
"Take them both, sorceress!", the leader of the soldiers shouted.
Geet tried to resist and reason, "Stop it now! I am the Lady of Khurana haweli! How dare you command to arrest me?"
The men laughed. "Lady?", mocked the leader.
"Remember this one with a veil? She came to us on that festive night! Now that you have spread your evil eyes on the Lord you claim to be the Lady?"
"Watch your tone soldier or I will make sure you have no tongue to speak like that again", she commanded in a voice so fierce that the men almost backed out.
But the leader didn't budge even though his tone mellowed down. "We are here by the orders of Bade Maalik. He is in charge of the haweli in the Lord's absence. The sorceress and anyone associating with her has to be taken into custody."
"Does that include his daughter-in-law as well?", questioned Geet.
"As I stated already, we are here due to orders, Maalkin. Forgive us and allow us to do our duty!", the leader pleaded.
Geet let out a breath of despair and complied with the order.
Nandini and Geet were bound by iron chains as they were led back to the haweli in the iron cage on a carriage. The entire haweli was abuzz as they saw the Maalik's wife being treated like a common prisoner.\
Geet expected the men to take her to Maan's office chamber or the Bade Maalik's office or worse the durbar but none happened. Instead she and Nandini were dumped into a dungeon with strong iron bars guarding its door. The dungeon was dim and constructed of rock that made them look like a cave only dark and dirty.
"When my Lord husband comes to know of this, he will not spare anyone of these foolish men! ", Geet assured herself.
Nandini smirked, "You think they are that foolish? The trial and judgement will happen before your husband arrives and no matter how he avenges your fate, it will not save you."
Geet looked at Nandini like a wounded warrior,"My Maan will come and give me justice. I believe in him."
"Let that belief save you then", Nandini's voice was eerily calm despite their predicament. She came closer to Geet the sound of her chained shackles echoing in the dungeon.
"Here take these..", she handed her over a camel skinned pouch.
"What?"
"The seed. I told you.Do NOT drop it again. You can thank me later for that", with that Nandini slumped next to Geet her back resting on the rough rocky surface of the dimly lit dungeon walls.
Geet examined the Sanjeevni seeds suspiciously. She had an unshakable feeling that Nandini knew something about her which she herself was not aware. As much as she wanted to know more about that, there were more pressing issues at hand. She had no idea what was about to happen come the sunrise. Why would Yash Khurana want her in the dungeons? Was it because he disapproved of her ways? Geet had no idea. She had asked for all their permission before going to work. Everyone seemed to agree. Where did she go wrong?
Geet missed Maan more than ever now. She already felt the burden of the two days wait and now it only doubled a hundred times. How she wished if there was anyway she could communicate with him, a cellphone perhaps!! That was not a possibility here.
If there was one person who would understand her, it was him. She didn't know if she could trust anyone else. All she had here was him.
"Come back to me Maan", she mumbled to herself in sleep.
Current Affairs
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