Chapter 12
The orange sun was rising slowly, ever so slowly, whilst the light breeze of the air blew across, touching the budding flowers lightly, very lightly. The sky coloured in the orange and red, the rays beamed over the green land, lightening the whole place every inch of darkness faded.
Slowly the orange red hues all gone only to be replaced by the clear blue sky.
Geet smiled sadly, as she watched, the sunrise, it was beautiful watching the birth of a new day.
"Geet"
She turned to see her mother standing there with Pari on her hip. She smiled remembering the last two weeks, she had no where to go, nowhere at all. Arohi and Arjun were out of town so was priya and the only other person she knew was Maan.
Flashback
Geet couldn't think what to do, she was still in shock how they'd suspected her, who could edit such pictures and have it sent to Khurana mansion. No one knew where she lived, not even Him he'd stopped calling since she left her home. She wished she could go back but it wasn't a risk she was going to take. He might be there waiting for her.
She did what she thought was best for her and Pari.
She dialled the number....
"Hello!" the rough voice echoed in her ear.
Her tears welled up as she heard his voice after 2yrs. She'd never thought she'd call him but he was the only person who she thought of.
"Veerji" her voice choked with sobs.
Brij's ears became alert, for the 2yrs he'd lived regret and guilt, due to his mother's words he'd thought his innocent sister was only ruining their reputation, he hadn't thought of her ruining her own life for a baby she was thrust with. He lived with remorse, he nearly killed his sister in the name of honour, the one and only sister he’d had he nearly ended her life.
"Geet.." as soft as a whisper, Geet recognized the tone, he always used that tone when she was upset with him and he wanted to pacify and apologize.
"Veerji mujhe aapke zarurat hai"
"Geet tu kahan hai"
"Delhi..."
"hoshyapur ke bus leke yahan aaja, main aur darji tujhe lene ayenge"
"mujhe maaf kar dijiye veerji"
"pagli tu galat nahi ti, galat toh main ta"
She cried over the phone, she got her brother back, the one who would go to any extent to fulfill her wish.
"ma..ma" Pari called out.
"Geet yeh..."
"meri beti hai veerji" she voiced with pride, she wasn't ashamed of her daughter, she never will be, never.
"kya naam rakki hai?"
"Pari"
Brij laughed over the phone, he remembered the 8yr old Geet playing with her dolls and she named one Pari..
"tu ne usko apne gudiya ki naam de di"
"kya karu? Sirf yehi naam soojhi ti" she chuckled, only her chuckles broke into soft sobs.
"Geet tu ro mat... Ghar wapas chali aa"
"hmm" she wiped the tears away, preParing to go back, she didn't know what is in store for her.
But 2 weeks later she was happy of her decision, she was with her family, the very family she'd lost 2yrs back.
What more could she want?
But she'd been feeling an emptiness within her, as if she left a part of her in Delhi.
She looked at her mother approaching her, 2weeks ago her mother had been ill, so ill she was bedridden, after Geet left she had lost her senses, but today there was a vast improvement.
"Geet chal nashta tayyar ho gayi hai"
"mama..." Pari called, stretching her arms to be taken.
Geet took Pari and cradled her near her chest, Rano looked lovingly at her daughter, who’d would’ve thought her daughter was so mature and that too at the age of 19.
Rano caressed her hair, "Geet aaj hum dargah jayenge, tu bhi chal"
"Ji.." she nodded, Rano left the room, Geet sat on the bed and fixed Pari in her arms for her feed.
**********************
Checking all the places that was possible for Geet to seek shelter Maan decided the only last place there is was HP. He was tired from the long flight and hungry as well but he needed to find Geet. He knows whatever he says won’t ease her pain but he needed her to know he truly cares for her, loves her for who she is, loves her and still accepts her as his wife.
He came back to Khurana mansion, taking a shower and changing into comfortable clothes, he packed an overnight bag, he walked out the mansion without glancing at anyone. He was upset with them for doing such a thing especially while he was not here, had he been here and dadima questioned her he would’ve stepped in and answered all her queries.
Geet changed into a white salwar kameez, carrying Pari on her hip she went to join everyone for breakfast.
Darji took Pari off her as soon as she came to the dining room.
Pari took the first chance she had and pulled his beard.
darji chuckled- badmaash...
Pari glared and tugged at it harder.
Geet sat next to her father with Brij on her left.
Rano served her all her favorite foods,
"Bas bas, mama"
"chup, dekh kitni patli hogayi hai"
"Patli nahi moti hogayi hoon, wahan Maan aur dadima kilate kilate..." she paused, remembering her last encounter at Khurana mansion.
"Kaun?" Rano asked unaware of whom they were.
Geet hadn’t mentioned of her marriage to anyone but daarji and her papa.
"Kuch nahi" she muttered and ate her food, papa and darji shared a knowing look.
The look wasn’t missed by Brij and neither was the slip up of Geet’s tongue, he was going to find out what was amiss. Since Geet had arrived back, she had a distant look to her eyes as if waiting for something. She ate but very little, she couldn’t consume the food, she hadn’t been able to eat properly the last two weeks.
"Khane kha ke, sab tayyar hojaiye darga jana hai" Rano informed everyone.
After breakfast, everyone got ready to go to the darga, Brij took the jeep out whilst her chachu got the car. The women took their seats in the car whilst the men settled in the jeep.
Maan arrived in HP after the hours of drive, he searched and asked for Geet but no one knew her address, unknown to him he’d come to the other side of their land. He drove a little more keeping a lookout for her. He couldn’t even show her picture since he had none on him.
He was terribly worried about her, the threats still floated in his mind, what if HE had got them, what if... No, he has to keep thinking she’s safe. Geet is Safe he mentally reassured himself.
Rano had Pari, whilst Geet walked behind as they entered the darga going to the women’s side. Geet settled her dupatta over head and walked alongside Rano. She folded her hands and prayed. She silently prayed for solace, She wanted solace for her restless heart, she wanted answers to her restlessness. Why did she feel this restlessness.
"Kaisi bechani hai babaji? koi raasta dikhaye babaji" she whispered.
She walked to tie the knot, as she walked she froze on her spot looking straight at the person before her.
"Maan" She muttered under breath.
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