Time is very slow for
those who wait.
Very fast for those who are scared.
Very long for those who lament.
Very short for those who celebrate.
But for those who love,
time is eternal.
~~~ William Shakespeare
Around midnight in that dark and dense forest, Maan was twisting and turning in his sleep. It wasn't easy for him either to just let her go like that. It took enormous amount of endurance within him to make up his mind to do what was right.
Geet had come into his life accidentally. Her world was elsewhere. She was here all alone and lost. As her husband and the Lord of the land it was his duty to send her back to her home. But at the end of the day he was only a man who was so much in love with his wife. He could not sleep for a moment but his body was so tired that after a few hours his eyes gave in and he fell mildly asleep when Veer started neghing unusally.
He felt irritated at his favorite horse. At least the time when he slept, the pain in his heart would have been less. And then he felt a tug at his coat. Maan thought it must be some night bug and tried to brush it away but the pull became stronger waking him up from his sleep. This was no bug. He opened his eyes, his mind alert. His hand swiftly picked up the sword and he turned around only to get the biggest surprise of his life. The sword dropped his hand and finally his heart started beating in rhythm when he uttered that name, "Geet!"
"You have to stop pulling that sword at me, My Lord husband..."
There she stood smiling at him with those eyes full of love only for him.
"I couldn't leave you Maan", she whispered almost to herself.
He didn't wait to hear the rest of it and closed the distance between them by hugging her tight as if his life depended on it.
Earlier, Geet was only one step away from getting inside the bright swirling centre when she woke up from her trance. What was she doing? Getting into that swirl meant losing Maan forever. How could she ever live with that? How could she make a choice where he was not present? How could she leave a man who would give up everything, even his love, just for her?
Geet Handa from the 21st century might have wanted to go back to her timeline and live there but she was not that person anymore. She was Geet Maan Singh Khurana, the Lady of the Maalik. The queen of his heart! How could she abandon her own heart and leave him? She backed away from the swirl and walked back to the shore.
She followed the trail straight along the pebbled pathway for Geet knew that he would have camped somewhere where she could easily spot him and there he was.
"You didn't leave?", he said in between kissing her forehead and cheeks turn by turn. Geet smiled and nodded for a no. She caressed his head lovingly.
"Why?", he asked and Geet could see his eyes gleaming black as it was almost filled with tears.
"I love you...Maan. How could I? My world would mean nothing without you in it"
And then she kissed him making him groan and kiss her back fervently.
This time they were both urgent to feel each other inside. Their clothes were scattered all along the ground. And then he led her near a giant tree with grass cushion on the ground.
There under the stars and the full moon, they loved each other with roaring passion pleasuring and finding each other once again like it was the first ever time. Tonight though, they discovered new heights of passion as their skin made contact with all that wilderness both inside and outside. It was a sense of liberation for them both.
Another dawn after a full moon. Maan woke up the happiest man in the world. The soft rays of the morning Sun greeted the Maalik's eyes. He opened his eyes with a divine smile and stretched himself. When he looked around, Geet was nowhere to be found.
For a moment his heart panicked, was last night a dream or hallucination? Did she leave him?
Maan walked towards the lake looking for her. "Geeet...Geeet..", he called out around the forest. Just then, he stopped on his tracks as he heard mild footsteps.
His eyes roamed restlessly and calmed down as he heard that laughter. A raspy laughter somewhere far. His lips curved into a smile as he saw her vague form. Her face was too bright to be visible in the aura of the morning light but he could see those almond brown eyes smiling down at him with emotions deeper than his reach, her face still hidden by the glow.
He waved his hand to reach out for her and the golden brown hair, smooth as silk, caressed his fingers. In the bright light he saw her running ahead of him unaware of the mud and dirt around them.
"Geet...stop now..", he called out and ran after her as his Lady made him playfully chase her.
He inhaled her scent as he closed in almost an inch away. It was raw and earthy, with a hint of almond oil perhaps but the rest was just her scent. As she ran with her back facing him, her chunni loosely slipping away, he could see how her milky white back contrasted with the doris of her choli. Oh, he so wanted to untie them in a single flick.
Maan could feel the arousal building inside him. He felt the raw earth beneath them as he pinned her soft form beneath him. The heat between them was so much.
Maan couldn't wait to ravish the beauty. Just as he began to feel her soft lips on his, he heard her moan in that raspy voice, "Maaan"
She bit his lip in anticipation and that was all the invitation Maan needed. This was the moment of bliss in his life, a moment Maan knew he would cherish his entire lifetime.
His hands reached the hem of her skirt when she held it tight, "Someone might see us.."
Maan panted as he finally peeled himself off her and lied next to her.
"We need to get back...", he said at last.
Geet nodded in agreement. Her eyes fell sad at the thought. Although she had walked back to him, what awaited her back was still a mystery. There were so many hurdles to cross.
They got up and walked back to their camp site. There was silence as both of them were lost in thoughts, the only sound being the chirping of the morning birds and the sound of the forest leaves brushing against each other.
Before they mounted their horse, Maan held her hand and made her sit on an enormous fallen branch of a tree, "Fret not My Lady, I shall not let any harm come to your way."
Geet smiled faintly, "I know that. But I don't want you fighting against your own people."
Maan assured, "It is not about fighting for or against my people. It is standing up for what is right. You have done nothing wrong. The only choice I have here is to stand by that truth."
Geet kissed him on the cheek lovingly. She found some restlessness in his face.
"What is it Maan?", she caressed his cheeks.
"There is something...that's been bothering me ever since you said it...", he clenched his jaw in his hesitation.
"I told you that Dev from the other time is nothing..", Geet cut him off before he could complete.
Maan smiled weakly and nodded for a no, "Not that...something else..."
Geet looked at him her brows starting to crease with worry. "You can ask me anything you know.."
Maan's face was grave when he replied, "hmmm..You said you know what is coming for us. You said there is a bigger enemy. What does that mean?"
Geet sighed. How could she tell him that his way of life, the culture and traditions that he had held so close to his heart were all going to perish with the invasion of the British? That these petty fights could be the reason to the end of a civilization? Everything in here would turn into dust and ashes with only the ruins left!
But she had had enough secrets from him. So Geet decided to tell the truth to her husband. The truth about the little that she came to know from her supposed fiance Dev and what she witnessed during her brief time at the modern day Samaypur.
Maan listened to her intently and summed it up eventually, "So these foreign traders will rule us for three hundred years? And our nation, our pride will fall in front of them? All of it?Even our Samaypur"
The shock and pain was evident in his voice. Geet's heart went out for him. It was one thing to read about the struggle of independence and another thing to actually struggle during that period.
She rubbed his shoulders trying to sooth him,"It doesn't have to be that way. We can fight and stop them from ruining this even if we can't stop them from invading. There has to be a way to protect Samaypur..even Mewar as a whole"
"You are just trying to comfort me...", Maan said dismissively.
"No..I am trying to find a solution to a war. You are already giving up but I wont. The history makes it clear that the internal fights in the kingdom were the reason for failure. If someone could unite this whole province, we could defend this place. It has to be you..You have that charisma of a true leader. I have seen your might during the gathering after our wedding. You should summon the leaders and make peace with them all.."
Maan raised an eye brow, "All? You mean to say even Rana Handa?"
"Yes even him. We can't leave a chance. If he goes to the British traders, then you lose a good deal of mighty men capable of war.."
Maan kept at staring at her amused for sometime without saying anything.
"What?", Geet asked slightly irked. She was so charged up with all the plans to save their village.
There was a faint smile at the corner of his lips, "You are starting to sound like The Lady of Khurana haweli, The one with the pride of the Sun!"
Geet blushed at the compliment yet held her head high, "Why now, I am the Lady of Khurana haweli."
He smiled and kissed on forehead lovingly. "Lets go back and remind everyone that first!"
*************************************
The moment they dashed inside the fort gates, murmurs started erupting from different corners.
"Is that the Lord and the Lady?"
"Didn't she run away with the witch?"
"Did the Lord capture her back?" "No..no it was him who took her away. He let the witch out too.."
Maan could hear conversations like this on their way to the haweli. As they dismounted the horse, people inside the haweli gathered to get a peek. Maan paid no attention to anyone. His body language was evident as he shielded Geet in every way possible.
Maan saw his mother, grandmother, Amba, Malti and Champa as he led his wife into their bedroom. He didn't stop to make conversation with anyone.
Once inside the room, they heard him commanding, "Champa"
The handmaiden rushed to the Lord and Lady's bedroom timidly.
"Your Maalkin is exhausted. Make sure she has a hot bath and is rested properly. I don't want anyone and I mean ANYONE coming in to interact with her in any form. Not even family, understood?"
Champa nodded meekly. No threats were needed as his tone implied how much he meant those words.
Geet held his hand before he left, "Maan, it's family. Be gentle"
He nodded gravely and left the room.
Throughout the day Champa tried her best to stay normal and Geet could see the effort she was putting in but her eyes looked at Geet with fear. She bathed her, guarded her, served her food and made sure no one asked Geet anything so that she could rest properly.
"You think I am a witch Champa?", asked Geet rabdomly as she did her hair in the evening.
Champa stopped for a moment and then continued to brush her golden brown hair. "I don't know that. But I have seen you save lives. Witch or not, you are a good person. Thats all I know"
Geet smiled and turned around. She stood up and hugged Champa.
They were both startled as they heard Maan clearing his throat and found him standing at the door.
Champa took her leave and left them alone.
"You know even I think you are good Geet", teased Maan.
She punched his arm playfully with a smile. A moment later it faded and anxiety was evident in her eyes, "So..what happened?"
Maan shrugged, "Everything will be done as it should have been in the first place. A fair trial will take place tomorrow."
Geet was still worried, "And what if they prove this time?"
"You trust me Geet?"
"Do you doubt that?"
"Of course not! You skipped your timeline for me My Lady. I wont let it be futile."
Geet walked closer to him and hugged him tight, "What about your father?"
"What about him?", he asked as he caressed her back softly.
"Did you talk to him?"
"uhuh...", there was an edge to his tone and Geet thought it better to leave it at that. There was evidently a strain now. One that would run deep as time passed!
Maan cleared his throat, the naughty grin pasted on his face, "why do I have a feeling that we have some unfinished business from this morning...one near the lake perhaps..."
Geet blushed as she leaned against his chest. "Is that why you made me rest all day?"
"aaahh you got me..", he smiled and lifted her in his arms and led her to his bed.
I guess this part might have mixed feelings as most of you wanted Geet to return. Well, not yet.. Lets just say if I was Geet, I wont go like that.
Waiting to hear your perspectives on this part...
Before we leave, you might want to bookmark this part as it has a subtle hint there. Read again and find out 😉 😆
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
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