Chapter 1 – A Stranger’s Eyes
The steady beeping of the machines was the only sound in the hospital room. The sharp smell of antiseptic filled the air, making it feel colder than it already was. Outside, the rain had stopped, but droplets still clung to the glass windows, sliding down slowly as if the sky itself was crying with her.
Geet stood at the doorway, her hands clutching the end of her dupatta tightly. Her heart raced, beating so loudly it drowned out every other sound. She had prayed for this moment — that Babaji would return her Maan to her, safe and alive. She had imagined running into his arms, hearing his heartbeat, feeling the safety of his embrace again.
But when her eyes finally rested on him, reality broke her heart.
Maan Singh Khurana.
Alive. Breathing. Sitting tall on the hospital bed with his usual commanding posture. Even with the IV line in his arm and his hair disheveled, he carried the aura of a man who was born to lead.
For a fleeting second, relief filled her chest, tears of gratitude burning in her eyes. Her Maan was here.
Then his gaze met hers.
Those eyes — those intense, stormy eyes that once held every shade of love and anger for her — now stared at her like she was a complete stranger. Empty. Cold.
Geet’s lips quivered as she whispered, “Maan…”
He frowned, his brows drawing together in confusion. His voice was sharp, detached, the tone that once frightened his rivals but had never been used on her.
“Tum kaun ho?”
The words slammed into her chest, knocking the air out of her lungs.
Her fingers gripped the doorframe for support. “Main… main Geet hoon. Aapki Geet.” Her voice broke, trembling with both hope and fear.
But Maan only shook his head slightly, his jaw tightening. “Main tumhe nahi jaanta.”
The denial cut deeper than any blade. Her heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces.
Daadima, who had been standing quietly at the corner, stepped forward with tears in her eyes. Her voice shook, but it carried warmth and truth.
“Maan beta… woh tumhe sach keh rahi hai. Geet meri bahu hai. Tumhari patni.”
Maan’s eyes snapped toward her, his expression hardening further. “Patni?” He almost scoffed. “Daadima, mujhe yaad nahi hai ki maine kabhi shaadi ki. Aur aap jaanti hain… main bina saboot ke kisi baat par yakeen nahi karta. Jab tak main sach na jaanu, yeh ladki mere liye koi nahi hai.”
Geet’s tears spilled freely now. His rejection wasn’t just words — it was like he had erased her entire existence from his life.
Her voice cracked as she whispered, “Aapko bas yaad nahi hai, Maan… lekin dil ko sab yaad hai. Yeh rishta sirf yaadon pe nahi, dilon pe tikha hai.”
She stepped closer and placed her trembling hand on his wrist. His pulse throbbed fast beneath her touch. “Dekhiye… yeh dhadkan aapko jhoot nahi bol sakti. Yeh sirf mujhe hi pehchanti hai.”
For a brief second, Maan froze. A flicker — a flash of something he couldn’t place — darted through his mind. A night under the stars. The feel of her hand in his. Laughter in the rain. His heart lurched painfully, betraying the cold mask he wore.
But in the next breath, he pulled his hand back sharply.
“Door raho mujhse,” he snapped. His tone was harsh, but his voice trembled almost imperceptibly. “Mujhe apni zindagi mein ajnabiyon ki zarurat nahi hai.”
Geet’s tears kept flowing, but her eyes burned with determination. She wiped her cheeks quickly and said, her voice low but unwavering, “Aap bhool gaye hain… lekin main nahi. Main har ek pal yaad rakhti hoon, har ek vaada, har ek ladai jo humne milke ladi. Aur main haar nahi manungi. Chahe mujhe kismat se ladna pade, main aapko wapas paake rahungi — apne Maan ko.”
For a heartbeat, his gaze faltered. Something stirred deep inside him — restlessness, confusion, a longing he couldn’t name. He turned his face away, fists clenching against the bedsheet.
Daadima closed her eyes, whispering a silent prayer. She had seen the truth in Geet’s eyes, the love that could never be denied. She prayed that Maan’s heart would find its way back to her.
Geet stepped back toward the doorway. Her soul ached to rush into his arms, but she knew this would be a battle of time and patience. At the threshold, she turned one last time. Her tear-streaked face shone with quiet strength as she spoke firmly.
“Main kabhi haar nahi manungi, Maan. Chahe aap mujhe pehchane ya na pehchane… main hamesha aapki hi rahungi.”
Her footsteps echoed as she left, each one heavier than the last.
Maan sat rigid in silence, his eyes shut tightly, his fists trembling on the sheets. He didn’t know why her words lingered in his ears, why his chest felt tight, or why a single name kept echoing in his heart.
Geet.
That’s it for this Chapter! Please do like and comment!
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Edited by heart882 - 20 hours ago
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