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CHAPTER 57
ALL THE NAMES & PLACES ARE FICTITIOUS (if any resemblance to persons & places is purely coincidental) . Any royal titles, MEDICAL PROCEDURES, MEDICAL TERMS, MILITARY PROCEDURES, MILITARY TERMS, RELIGIOUS TERMS, Punjabi terms, Tamilian terms & expressions, architectural terms, IT terms & programs, office hierachy, wedding rituals, etc. are from my imagination hence THEY ARE NOT TRUE. PLEASE DON'T BASH ME !!!!!
ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS DOWNLOADED DO NOT BELONG TO ME BUT BELONG TO THE ORIGINAL UPLOADER. I HAVE JUST USED THEM AS THEY GO WITH MY STORY! PLEASE DON'T BASH ME !!
"GEET!" Maan thundered hearing about Geet's death. Hearing Maan's thundering voice, Devyaniji, Manorama, Anjali and Khushi rushed in along with Savitri Devi, Radhika and Pinky. Meera was home seeing to tired Rishabh and Raagini's needs. Also she was supervising the sleeping children.
"Maan kya hua?" (What happened Maan?) Savitri Devi asked.
"Apni laadli bahu ko samjha dijiye ki woh koi "bhagwan" nahi hai. Hum sabki tehra "aam insaan" hai. Mai Geet ko discharge karne ki formalities karke aata hoon." (Kindly tell your favourite daughter-in-law that she is not "God"! She just like us a regular human being. I'll go and complete the formalities for discharge.)
All the women were shocked at Maan's anger. Giving an angry gaze at shivering Geet, Maan left.
"JAB TAK YEH GEET ZINDAH HAI, MAAN KO KUCH NAHI HO SAKTA. PARMATAMA KO BHI GEET KA SAAMNA KARNA HOGA AGAR UNHONE GEET KE MAAN KO CHHUA!" (Geet and Maan's relation is not only for this life but next seven (7) lives. Any bullet or danger before coming to Maan will have to surpass Geet before it can even come close to Maan. As long as this Geet is alive, nothing can happen to Maan. Almighty will also have to face me if he decides to Geet's Maan.) These words of Geet were hammering in Maan's head after the children had gone to sleep. As it was Sunday unfortunately Maan could not get Geet discharged today. Maan was so frustrated at being away from Geet and missing her so much that he opened her cupboard so that her body aroma presnt in her clothes could envelope him. While going through her sarees and churidaars he came across a leather bound heavy book with hindi letter "OM" written on it.
Initially he dismissed the book but then a photograph of Maan fell out from its pages intriguing Maan. He opened the book and it read,
"January, 2000
Dear Diary,
Hi!
Today is my birthday. My mother gave me you, diary which was given to her by her father so that she could share her inner thoughts! But unfortunately she never had the time or inclination to write. But it was my luck that I got you. I will write to you in English so no one can read my inner thoughts and feelings. As only few professors speak in English here in Lucknow besides Amma and Appa. Diary, you'll be my friend whom I can speak to as I have no friends. Appa doesn't let me make friends with our neighbours as he says, "North Indians are uncultured and selfish people". But what about Amma? She is a North Indian, she not selfish, she is so sweet, humble and cultured. Amma loves me a lot and wants to protect me from harsh realities of life. She is my friend and my saviour but unfortunately doesn't have much time for me. The constant crunch of money has made her run a tailoring shop to make ends me. I wish she would have studied more and become economically independant, so Amma didn't have to be Appa's punching bag! Appa has no interest in me. His only interested in me is regards my academic marks and my dance and music class performances. I HATE THESE DANCE AND MUSIC CLASSES! I don't know what Amma saw in selfish, egoist, arrogant and bragging Appa. Amma comes from a rich and cultured family from state of UP (Uttar Pradesh) she could have got much better match than Appa. I wish..."
Maan closed the book with a loud thud, realising that he is reading Geet's personal diary without her permission. But he also felt that he is getting insight into Geet's feelings as Geet seldom shows Maan her inner emotions and feelings. Today in the hospital Geet first time expressed her fear for safety of his life and he yelled at her. Maan realises what he did was wrong but after seeing his Mishty so close to her death he is still getting goosebumps! What if he had not come at the correct time? He could have lost...He had already asked CID as well as his trusted Detective Agency to find if Raghav and Dev as the same guy? Maybe if he reads Geet's personal diary, he will be able to understand her better and know few truths about Dev and Raghav! Maybe also know if Geet is suffering from amnesia or something else? Maan was about to open the tie of the diary when a crying Vashi dressed in her pajamas came to him saying, "Daddy, Vashi...is feeling...sc...ared!" Maan picked Vashi in his arms and slowly started patting her back, slowly and steadily Varshi went to sleep but refused to leave Maan's T.shirt, hence Maan also slept next to her.
When he woke up it was morning and looking around he saw himself sleeping next to his children in their room. Seeing that Veer and Vashi are still in deep sleep and during the night Vashi had left Maan's T.shirt. Maan decided to read some more of Geet's diary thereby giving his work out a miss today and quickly went for shower. He went to the kitchen made himself a cup of black coffee as the whole household was still asleep at 6:00a.m. While waiting for water to boil he called Vicky at the hospital to know about Geet's welfare. Last night Vicky and Meera had stayed at the hospital as the scared and insecure children would get restless at not seeing Maan around. Sitting with his cup of black coffee, Maan opened Geet's diary.
"January, 2004
Dear Diary,
Hi!
Today is my 14th birthday. Amma wished me and made a very nice halwa for me, as its my favourite. Appa didn't even remember my birthday. Today I'm not happy as my parents fought and Appa hit Amma. That Man. I wish I was older and stronger, I wish...I could...Anyway tomorrow I'm going to Baldev chachaji he said he will teach me karate for free so I can protect my mother from that man I call Appa!
Early June 2005
Dear Diary,
Hi!
Today my world of happiness, laughter and being child like was destroyed. Amma and I were given the news that Appa had committed suicide by jumping off the Gomti river. I was right that Appa was a selfish, egoist and arrogant man. Amma is totally broken and she collapsed on the road after seeing Appa's one week old disfigured body. But I'm neither sad nor broken. I'm relieved that finally that man is out of our lives. However, despite of his behaviour with Amma and me I couldn't hate him. Few aspects of his personality I had hero worshipped i.e. when he would go dressed for taking a lecture in his college or when he spoke in a crisp and fluent English. But that hero worship died over time seeing his inhumane behaviour towards Amma. I no longer hero worship him! There are only two people in this whole wide world I hate, they are Prof. Rajshekhar Iyer and Mrs. Devyani Raizada(my maternal grandmother). If Appa was not selfish and full of himself, he would have never committed suicide by jumping off the Gomti river. Appa never even once considered that how will his wife and daughter stay without him, where will they live, what will they eat, how will I finish my education? Yes I'm selfish (like him) to think about Amma and my comfort i.e. where we live, what will we eat as we have no money to pay the house rent; for groceries and my education. With Appa's current salary we have paid all the pending bills but don't have enough money for house rent. Somehow with Appa's meagrely Provident Fund we cleared the rent till end of this month. But then what? Lord Venkateshwara please help!"
There was a photograph of a man in his early fifties looking distinguished and intellectual.
Seeing the photograph Maan kept feeling as if he has seen this middle aged man somewhere but where he couldn't pin-point!
"Late June 2006
Dear Diary,
Hi!
Today our landlord came and said in strict terms that if we want to stay next month in this house we have to pay half month's rent in advance otherwise on 1st July, he will throw our things out of his house. After few enquires around we managed to find a charitable trust which gives shelter to young children (boys below 13yrs. of age), destitute girls and women with no family support and financial backing. The trust was very safe not involving Management Committee's having connection with the world of child labour, human trafficking, sex and slave trade (which now-a-days most Charitable trusts are involved in). Charitable Trust was called "Stree Shakti" but unfortunately it was in Delhi. It was runned by some Khannas/ Khuranas (I could not make out in our neighbour, Sharda Mausi's toothless speech). Trust's head is Mrs. Savitri Khanna or Khurana. Savitriji is a very compassionate woman moving with times but strict as well when needed. But we could stay in "Stree Shakti" only as long as Amma did not find a job. As I was only 14yrs. old and still a minor, hence I could not work as per labour laws. Savitriji is very strict regarding rules, regulations and legal laws. Hence, we both mother and daughter have packed our meagre belongings. For Amma its Appa's photograph, Amma's father's given sarees, Amma's father's given gifts in form of little jewellery and for me my school certificates, few of my dailywear clothes and my diary you!
End of June 2006
Dear Diary,
Hi!
Today we finally gave the key of our home to our disrespectful and horrendous landlord, Mr. Sudhanshu Pandey. Part of my being was rejoicing at finally being set free from this unnamed prison, we use to call home but part of me was scared at the thought of moving to an unknown place and a big city called New Delhi, capital of our country. Amma and I were walking with our luggage till Gomti bridge and then we would catch a tempo from there for Chaarbagh station in order save a little money.
As soon as we reached Gomti bridge, Amma suddenly fainted on the bridge. People gathered around but no one helped. A group of overly dressed women were passing in their tempo and they stopped to help. The elderly lady (Amma's age) in the group asked other women in the group to carry fainted Amma to their tempo.
Unable to take any decision I followed the women with my unconscious mother to the tempo with our belongings. Reaching the women's home, I was taken aback seeing ONLY WOMEN of all shape and sizes wearing very revealing clothes with gaudy make up.
Their clothes were even embarassing me who was pretty dumb in this respect for my age but I was looking around in wonder. Then the elderly lady (Amma's age) came and asked me if I want any drink or something to eat? The lady asked me to address her as "Heera Mausi".
Doctor came and said that my mother is too malnourished and hence very weak to travel for 3months. I wanted to pay but Heera Mausi said that as she Amma's sister she will pay the doctor's fees.
Early December 2006
Dear Diary,
Hi!
Today I met the man of my dreams.I was returning home from Nainital for my Christmas vacations. I was waiting at Sitapur bus stop for my next bus to Lucknow when I saw a jeep swirvelling uncontrollably. I was too far to stop the accident. But I went towards the accident spot, I found a youngman doubled over his jeep's steering wheel with his forehead bleeding. Luckily he was breathing. I pulled him out with great difficulty as he was very heavy!! Passerby didn't help as they didn't want to get involved in a police case. When I finally couldn't pull the man anymore I put him on the grassy patch a little away from his jeep. He opened his eyes and stared at me and my world stood still. His eyes were so beautiful the shaped of lotus (Kamalnayan) and pupils (cornea) brown as melted chocolate! I felt as if the Almighty has made him only for me. It was love at first sight for me. Then he fainted, and his forehead was bleeding, I turned to go back to his jeep to get water and tend to his wounds but found the jeep was enveloped in sky high flames. Luckily a compassionate rickshaw puller agreed to take us till the nearby hospital where by chance I met the man (no not man but "Maan")'s brother. "Maan" means pride and respect. In hospital, Mr. Maan's brother took over his brother's responsibility. Mr. Maan's brother, Advocate Rishabh Khandelwal was so compassionate and protective towards me just like a father (I wish Appa was like him) that he got me dropped all the way to Lucknow in his personal luxury car."
Now Maan finally came to know the full truth about his accident near Sitapur ST bus stop. The accident which he always had a doubt was planned by Mrs. Kaamini Kailash Khurana but had no proof for it. The guilt that Maan was feeling at reading Geet's personal diary without her permission also reduced as he felt that he able to look into her past life and her inner emotions which she has always kept hidden from everyone even him. Reading about Geet's past made him realise how harsh and tough her childhood had been. He always felt that his life was tough as he lost his parents at age 18, but compared to Geet his life felt like bed of roses.
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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