
Chapter 112
"I’m sorry dadima" Maan enveloped her in his arms tightly. "I’m sorry I’m not able to be there for you" he pressed his lips to her temple tightening his arms around her.
"I can understand Maan" dadima responded and pulled back cradling his cheek. "At this time, Geet needs you and a fresh start" she offered a gentle smile however she felt her heart sinking down.
Maan had informed dadima of what he’d discussed with Aditya over the last few days and informed her of their move, hearing this had hurt dadima immensely however she knew both Maan and Geet need to get away. She just hadn’t expected them to moving so far away from them.
"I want you both to take care of each other" she told him patting his cheek.
Maan nodded, he hurt within at the thought of going so far away from dadima. The woman had never left his side, she’d been there for him when he always needed her and now she needed him during this difficult time as well and he couldn’t be there for her.
"Vikrant mere saat haina, Meera, Karan, Amelia, Araina… sab yahan hai mere saat" dadima smiled lightening her tone. "Tum dono wahan akele honge" she added. "You’re going to have to call me every day"
"I promise" Maan agreed pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"Once you’ve settled and Geet is feeling better, I’m going to come and live with you both" she told him teasingly. Maan smiled weakly nodding his head.
"It’s late now, go and rest. You’ve both got a long flight tomorrow" dadima told him.
"Take care of yourself okay?" Dadima cradled Geet’s cheek. The morning had come too quickly, no one in the family had ever thought they’d come to this stage in their lives.
"Ji…" she mumbled nodding her head, dadima enveloped Geet into her arms hugging her gently. She didn’t want to be saying goodbye to her children, she felt pieces of her heart leaving her. She glanced up at Maan who was putting up a brave face for everyone.
"Take care of dadima" Maan whispered to Vikrant as he hugged his brother.
"I will bhai" Vikrant promised. "Keep us all updated" he added.
Maan nodded and turned to dadima. Geet looked at her mother, tears burned her eyes as she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Rano.
Dadima straightened offering a gentle smile up at Maan as he stepped forward, he closed his eyes as he hugged dadima for one final time. He felt his heart shattering at the reality of leaving her behind settled firmly. He didn’t know how he was going to be able to move forward without dadima besides him. In all steps of his life, dadima was always there for him.
A tear slipped down his cheek as he held onto dadima. This was going to be a trying new beginning for himself. Not only does he have to be there for his wife but he wasn't going to have the woman who had supported him for many years.
He wondered whether he can be strong for Geet and push himself forward without dadima’s encouragement.
Dadima cried quietly tightening her arms around him, she hated the thought of him leaving her but she knew it was required at this difficult time. She didn’t like it but she understood.
She slowly pulled away looking up at him, her eyes misty with unshed tears, she could’ve sworn she could hear her heart cracking, she wanted to be strong and bid him and Geet bye properly but she could feel herself losing her composure.
Maan cradled dadima’s cheeks pressing his lips to her forehead firmly, "Only a couple of months, I promise then you’re coming to live with me" he whispered.
Dadima nodded sniffing and bit back another sob, Maan straightened trying to hold back his own tears seeing dadima breaking before him. He wished deep down he could erase this pain of everyone, he glanced over at Geet as she held onto Rano. Her eyes numb, unshed tears filled her eyes but she held back. Rano tightened her arms around Geet crying, she hadn’t wanted this for her daughter ever, however, she could relate. She’d miscarried her first then was told it wouldn’t be possible for her to become a mother until Geet arrived. Rano hated seeing her daughter almost like a shell of her former self.
Geet shared a small hug with her best friends, she didn’t want to go but staying here with all these reminders, she just couldn’t take it any longer. Whenever she closed her eyes, she saw her daughter’s closed eyes. When she drifted off, her mind reeled with memories she’d made with Maan and their baby.
----------------------------------------------------
"Dadima…" Vikrant cried out rushing over as her legs weakened and she dropped down crying uncontrollably.
"Vikrant… Maan…" she sobbed. "Maan chala gaya… Mera Maan chala gaya" she clutched him tightly. An emptiness settled within when she watched her grandson and granddaughter leave the driveway, she couldn’t stop herself from breaking down. She tried to stay strong but even she wasn’t that formidable.
"Dadima… please" he whispered hugging her tightly. "Bhai and bhabhi are going to be back soon, you’ll see…" he tried to reassure her.
Dadima squeezed her eyes closed continuing to hold him as she cried.
"It’s not fair" Araina mumbled as she rested her head on Ranbir’s shoulder. "Everyone was so happy and now…" she closed her eyes feeling Ranbir’s fingers brush against her cheek.
"Take it a day at a time" he murmured. "Think about the happy memories you’ve created with them" he added. "Time will heal everyone slowly"
"I can’t see dadima like this Ranbir, dadima has never been so weak. Maan bhai was her rock, when bade papa died and that woman left, dadima didn’t break down; she stayed strong because Maan bhai was right there besides her" she told him. "He was her rock and she was his pillar".
"They’re going to be back before you know it" he rubbed her shoulders reassuringly.
Geet leaned against Maan as they settled in the plane, Maan reached for her hand lacing their fingers together and stared out the window as he looked back at their country one last time.
"I’m sorry" Geet mumbled softly.
Maan turned his head to her frowning in confusion.
"I’m the reason for your unhappiness" she whispered, tears sprung to her eyes. "You wouldn’t be going so far if I…"
"Shhh" Maan cut her off shaking his head. "We’re getting away because we both need some space and some time to… heal" he responded. "You’ve never been the reason of my unhappiness Geet. You’re my happiness"
Geet closed her eyes pressing her face into the hollow of his neck and slipped her arms around his middle, Maan tightened his arms around her shoulder offering the comfort of his arms.
Why? Why did it happen to us? Geet’s mind screamed internally. Why did you have to take my baby?
Hi all!!!! Massive massive apologies from my end for disappearing for a while. Unfortunately I had a lot of things going wrong at my end including my left hand completely being useless due to injury therefore was banned from being on the laptop. I will hopefully repost a few updates on IF. Sorry for keeping you all waiting...
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