"A star falls from the sky and into your hands.
Then it seeps through your veins and swims inside your blood and becomes every part of you.
And then you have to put it back into the sky.
And it's the most painful thing you'll ever have to do and that you've ever done.
But what's yours is yours. Whether it's up in the sky or here in your hands.
And one day, it'll fall from the sky and hit you in the head real hard and that time, you won't have to put it back in the sky again.
~~~C. JoyBell C.
Geet watched impatiently as Maan sat there stone-faced and quiet. She didn't know what he was thinking and it killed her.
Geet chuckled nervously, "You must think I've gone crazy...I understand...I understand if you don't believe me. I would not have believed it myself"
"I do", replied Maan in a whisper. His eyes staring into the distance as he tried to process what he was hearing. It was alien to him and beyond his rational comprehension. But Maan knew one thing. He could tell when she was lying. Deep down he always could and tonight her heart was out there and he wanted to know it all.
"What?", she asked puzzled. Did he think she was crazy?
"I believe you Geet. Tell me more... I want to know everything."
That was all the motivation she needed.
Geet poured out everything that she was holding back for so long. Every single thing about her, she told him. The world she was used to, the family she was born into, the time she lived, her supposed alliance with another Khurana, Dev. She told him all as if she had always been waiting for this chance to get it all off her chest. It had been kept a secret for so long she could no longer bear it. She needed his support to get through this whichever way it went.
Maan paced to and fro listening to each and every word of her. His eyes showed astonishment when he learnt how she ended up in that river and empathy when she told how lost she felt. He didn't quite understand everything that she told him but he listened to her rant about everything that happened so far. How torn she was the night when dadisa was sick or how she felt confused with the tradtional ways of his family. Maan Singh Khurana heard it all.
Geet saw him lost and confused at times trying to keep up with her. At times her heart went out for him as she knew better than any one else how hard the shock could be when you discover something like that.
"You still believe me Maan?", she asked unsure. Why would he?
He replied thoughtfully as he sat next to her, "hmmm...I think I do. I have always found the truth in your eyes. I know they are not lying to me now.."
"I am sorry Maan. I should have told you...but I..I was scared", a drop of tear trickled down her eyes.
Maan wiped them away, "Now My Lady, don't be sorry. Even I wronged you. All that time you were trying to get back to your home, your family. And I stopped you and threw you in the stables and then I went ahead and married you as if things were not complicated enough..."
She shushed him at once, "Don't say that...You didn't know any of this...How could you?"
She cupped his cheeks as she declared in her broken voice, "Finding you was the best thing that happened through it all. I don't mind doing it all once again if it brought me to you..."
There was some unsaid pull that brought them closer even after all the bizzare events. Maan hugged her in an embrace that was so tight and protective that made feel cocooned safely into her new found home, his heart.
They parted after a long time. Geet was exhausted emotionally and physically. She lied on his lap as he patted gently on her silky brown hair.
It was Maan's time to ask questions and he had so many of them.
"So...this other Dev..Did you love him?"
Geet laughed, "No...He was good company like a long lost cousin. You know if I never met you I would have said yes to him for I didn't know what being in love meant."
Maan had a smile now, "and now you know?"
"What do you think?", she teased and he leaned to place a soft kiss on her lips.
They remained silent for some time still trying to come to terms with what happened with the night owl's hooting in the bacground.
"How did you treat dadisa?", he asked after a long time. The night was still too long.
"Nandini helped me. She showed me the medicines to be used."
"hmmm...And you never doubted her..being a sorceress then?", asked Maan hesitantly.
Geet got up from his lap and looked at Maan with a sense of
disorientation, "Maan...something in my gut tells me that Nandini is from the future as well."
Maan frowned. How many of them were there from the future? His face refelcted his thoughts like a mirror.
"You said you recognised many of us from your future whom you met here. Do you remember her?"
Geet thought for a moment, "I think no"
Maan held her hand gently into his, "That's alright. We can figure out things in time, my Lady"
Geet ran her free hand on his elbow and then back to his palm holding her hand. "You said you could help me only if I told you the truth. What did you think my reply would have been?"
Maan chuckled, "Well, most certainly it was not this"
Geet didn't have the hint of humour in her eyes, "You would have helped me even if I were a sorceress or a spy?". She questioned her eyes looking at him with a new found love now.
Maan smiled and caressed her cheek with his thumb, "Whatever you are, you are first and foremost my wife my Lady. That is what matters the most. I made a vow to you, my love", he chukled and his eyes crinkled in that peculiar way she always liked,"..although a spy or sorceress would have been so much easier..."
She didn't let him complete and invaded the space between them by placing her soft lips over his. Maan was taken by surprise for a second and then he he held her in his arms and closed his eyes kissing her back fervently. He leans on to her making her lie on the cool floor of the rock mandap on her back.
When they parted, Geet was heaving with her chest moving up and down rhythmically. As if it turned him on even more, Maan moved downwards placing wet kisses on her neck, her bossom and then on her stomach making her let out a whimper in the pleasurable sensations.
They have been intimate before but this was unlike anything that they had shared si far. Figuratively speaking, they have bared their soul to each other now and somehow it intensified their passion as well. Geet kept squirming as she felt his hands moving inside her skirt between her legs. She writhed and moaned as she felt the warmth of his sweaty body against the coldnight wind.
The situation, open air, the love she felt was all too much for her that finally she called out for him, "Maaan..I want to feel you inside..."
His eyes were gleaming at the pleasure he took on her sensual state but tonight was something different about him. Those dark eyes were so intent that Geet could do nothing but drown in their enchantment as he groaned in his hoarse voice, "Not tonight...I want to see you...hmm Geet..I want to watch you writhing in pleasure for me.."
His hands were wet now but he didn't care his eyes stayed on her as her body shook with the pleasure that he gave her and eventually she embraced him so tight as if he were her second skin.
"I love you Maan..."
"And I love you my Lady..."
He kissed her tenderly on her lips. "It's getting late we should get you home.."
Geet stretched lazily, "Can't we stay a little bit?"
Maan smiled at her adorable action and planted a kiss on her nose, "some other time My Lady love. We should get going. People would come out looking for us.."
Geet could only remember that she mounted a horse. She was completely drained by all the events of the day that she fell asleep resting her back on his chest. Maan held her gently but rode through the garden and out in the open night. Geet thought she saw the fort gates when she accidentally opened her eyes for a split second or so but she was too tired to ask anything and merely shifted a bit and closed her eyes again.
When she opened her eyes the next day, the scorching sunlight hit her hard and Geet blinked hard for sometime making her eyes adjust to the surroundings. It might be afternoon for the Sun was too hot. She had expected to be in the haweli or their bedroom but this was defintely not that. Geet suddenly felt wary of her situation and looked around.
"Relax Geet. We are well within the Khurana borders. No one is going to harm us here.", came Maan with a plate of freshly cooked meat.
From the smell, Geet could tell it was a deer. On some other timeline she was a person who would be appalled by the idea of eating a freshly hunted deer but here it was so regular that now she had surprisingly started to enjoy the taste and this morning especially because it was Maan who made it.
He smiled apologetically, "I cooked with whatever I had. It might as well smell like the deer meat, you know.."
She relished each bite for she was hungry since the past two days. Not that the prison didn't provide food, but Geet was in no mood to eat until today.
"mmm...this is good!!", she exclaimed.
Maan smiled happily. He wanted her to be happy like this always. The thought just flashed through his mind.
As she licked her fingers cutely Geet asked in an amused tone, "So tell me Maalik Maan, how come we are safe in Khurana lands if we are running away from them?"
Maan looked at her surprised, "you don't recognise this forest, do you?"
She looked at him puzzled.
"Walk with me, will you?", he lend his hand like a gentleman and she took it gently still trying to figure out where they were. They walked through the woods for half an hour and it was not until they reached the pebbled pathway that Geet realised where they were going.
"Maan...is this...", she broke off skeptically.
A few more miles of silent walking and all she could do was gasp when they finally reached the lake.
He said nothing but walked ahead and she followed him a few feet behind. He sat there and so did she. They said nothing but kept staring at that mysterious deep Veersagar lake. The one from where their story initially began.
Geet rested her head on his shoulder. Even in that silence, a big question was lingering around to which they both knew the answer. The horse ride all night, the long walk and the emotional strain all of it took a toll on them and they drifted off for a brief period there.
A gush of wind made Maan open his eyes. He jerked and Geet too woke up from her nap. They didn't look at each for if they looked they would have to say it out loud and that would become the truth.
Maan got up and walked closer to the lake staring at its mysterious beauty holding a reality that was beyond any human mind's understanding.
"This is where you say you came from Geet. There is where you always tried to come back..well, here we are", Maan announced in a grave tone at last.
Geet on the other hand was torn and happy at the same time. "I...I don't understand...Why would you bring me here?"
Maan stood near her and cupped her cheeks lovingly looking into those innocent wide eyes, "My Lady Love, being in love with someone means always looking out for their best chance and this (pointing to the lake) is your best chance. You have nothing to look forward to here. These people will never understand you. All your life you will have to fight people to do what you love the most. But there in your own time, you can do so much more, save so many lives...be with your real family that loves you. Live in peace whereas here only war is left...there is countless bloodshed...rivalry..You don't have to go through any of this.."
Geet was tongue-tied. How could someone be so self-less? Perhaps the appropriate question would be how could someone so self-less could be so much in love with her?
"But what about you? What about the trial? People will question you...your father back in the haweli..."
"Shhh...Geeet", he kept his finger on her lips. "I am the Maalik. I can manage..."
Geet sighed defeated, "It is the right thing to do, isn't it?"
He nodded in agreement.
"But...you are forgetting something..It has to be the full moon night."
Maan smiled pleased with himself, "It will be night soon and when it comes there will be a full moon tonight."
Geet looked at the lake and then at her husband. "Are you sure?"
His eyes crinkled once again but the tinge of sadness in them didn't miss her, "It is the right thing to do, My Lady.."
He kissed her deep on those lips and stayed like that for sometime embracing her slender form in his arms.
"It will be dark in an hour or so... You should take the dip as soon as the lake is ready. I will be around not far from you just to make sure you are safe. But Geet...*his voice broke but Maan tried hard to keep a straight face*...I wont be standing here to watch..."
She held on to his hand as he kept backing away and held on to his strong fingers as long as she could but then he turned away swiftly and walked away just like that. The sun was about to set and the sky was orange red. Geet stood there silently as she watched her walking far away and disappearing among the trees like silhouette as her eyes filled with fresh tears.
It was only a matter of "time"now. She could finally go back to her time where she belonged. Wasn't that what she always wanted?
She sat there totally blank. Geet knew that it was the time to think about the right thing and bring herself the courage to do it without any hesitation but all she could visualize was his retreating form into the forest. It was as if her brain was on a loop of its own. It played her visions of him lifting her from that lake and then him bringing her to the exact same spot and leaving her back. The hours passed and the night came along with the full moon.
Geet stood up from her spot and walked towards the lake to the direction of the glowing centre. She had waited for this moment for so long and yet tonight it felt all so mechanical. The full moon witnessed the scene as she approached the centre and could almost feel the termors and pulls of the swirl. In that exact moment Geet gasped for air as if she woke up from a trance.
What do you think about Maan's reaction? Did he do the right thing? Should Geet return back? Let me know your thoughts
Eagerly waiting to hear you from all... 😊
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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