Heya Peeps!
And I have finally managed to pen down the next update. I did write a lamba wala update tying some loose ends, hope you like it. I won't bore you with my lecture and put you right onto to the update 😃 Chapter 45: Homecoming
She sat by the window staring at the fluffy clouds far into the horizon. She smiled for the first time in months clutching what looked like a torn pages off a sketchbook. She reread the lines that had captivated her.
"Wo Mohabbat Ka Sauda Bhi Ajeeb Karti Hai... Bas Muskurati Hai Aur Dil Kharid Leti Hai..."
The page had a beautiful sketch of her standing by the fire hydrant as water splashed on her face. Her face held a blissful smile as she welcomed the cool water splashing on her face. Those words were inscribed on the bottom of the page with Maan's signature. She would have never guessed Maan could sketch so beautifully if not for these pages.
She clearly remembered this day when she danced freely with those children. Doctors had given her hope about her mother's treatment. She felt light and joyful as she danced carelessly for the first time in months since her mother's treatment started. Things seemed hopeful at that moment. But it had taken a turn for worse the next day as her mother's health had suddenly deteriorated and she had lost her mother forever.
She flipped the page to reveal another beautiful sketch of her thoroughly enjoying the season's first rain twirling and dancing to the natural and beautiful sounds of nature. Her flung back to let those tiny droplets caress her face while her arms were wide open welcoming the rain. It was right after the finale dance when she had been intoxicated. They had shared very intimate moments together safely tucked under a blanket of stars.
Below were these words written by him...
"Tum bilkul chaand ki tarah ho meri sanam... noor bhi utna, guroor bhi utna, aur door bhi utna."
She bit her lip wiping away the lone tear on her cheek. She still wasn't sure if she deserved this man after all the pains she had given him if not for Angie knocking some sense into her.
"Stop crying like a fool and go get your man!" Angie exclaimed smacking Geet's head.
It hadn't taken Angie long to figure what might have transpired as she gathered the papers along with those sketches. And finally she shook Geet off her stupid misconceptions and about going back to where she really belongs right beside her Maan. She immediately arranged for the next available flight and gave Geet an earful about not informing her before of these things.
Geet hugged Angie for one last time before stepping in for security for she was overwhelmed with Angie's love and concern for her.
"Pagal," Angie remarked while patting Geet's back. "I better hear good news from you the next time I meet you guys. Samjhe?" she asked cupping Geet's cheek.
"Tum bhi aajao na mere saath?" Geet pleaded.
"Dad ko akele chodke nahi aa sakti. But don't worry I'll come to meet you soon," Angie assured with a smile.
At the time of the marriage she was blinded by her mother's death and her father's negligence and didn't pay attention to what Maan had to tell her. Would it be too late now? Her mind swirled with fears and doubts. She took a deep breath. She wouldn't let her fears overtake her chance at happily ever after. No more! She would fight for him just like he had fought to keep her. He had cared for her, he had fought for her, he had even lied to his own family about their relationship to keep her happy. And she had easily trampled over him blinded by wanting to fulfill her mother's dream. Only if she knew her mother really wanted her to be caring, protective, and loving. Her mother wanted to see her accomplished but not at the cost of losing a family. Being devoid of a father's protection and a brother's love, Anagha Handa had always hoped Geet would cherish and nourish a family of her own. Anagha Handa's prayers didn't go in vain but Geet had overseen it. Her fear had overcrowded her thoughts and never let him give proper explanation for her sudden marriage. She had seen his love, she had seen his sacrifice, she had seen his forgiving nature yet she had shamelessly walked away from them. Her illogical fear that she was neglecting her mother's dreams and that he deserved someone better had really pushed her away from him. She would show him he was right all along and claim her love!
***
Geet walked into a home she had carelessly walked out of almost a year ago. It was the only house she could call her home, their' home. She stepped into the hall holding the same bag she walked out of the mansion. She was about to take another step when she heard a stern voice.
"Ab kyun aayi ho Geet?"
She looked to see him sternly stare at her with his hands criss-crossed on his chest. He seemed to have lost his boyish charm. The lips that held a naughty smirk were replaced with a pursed line. His mischievous eyes had turned cold. Every muscle in his face was tense and without a word he communicated intense mistrust, anger, despising. He stood glaring, seething, clenching his fists rhythmically.
She stood frozen at his sudden outburst. She was ready to face everyone's anger except his. Blood drained from her face and her heart hammered erratically. His lethal stare felt frightening as she stood holding her bag tightly causing her knuckles to turn white.
"I think I jut asked you a question. Ab kyun aayi ho?" he repeated his voice increasing a notch higher.
"Mmain vvoh," she stammered trying to find the proper words.
"Kyun chilla rahe ho Arjun?" Geet heard another feeble voice walk out of the corner room only to let a gasp as she saw her. "Geet bete!" Daadima screamed in joy, "tum kab aayi?" Without waiting another second Daadima came down the stairs to stand in front of Geet. Praying this was no dream she reached out to touch her daughter-in-law. "Geet, tum sach mein aayi ho?" she asked cupping Geet's cheek.
"Ji," she managed to whisper ignoring the lump in her throat.
"Thank you Vaaheguru!" Daadima said looking up and thanking the Lord for sending her child. And now everything could be set right.
By that Arjun had walked down to stand with his arms crossed on his chest. "Ab aur kya cheenane ke liye aayi ho Geet?" he asked clenching his teeth.
"Arjun, bhabhi hai teri. Geet bhabhi bol," Daadima gasped, admonishing her younger grandson.
"Bhabhi thi Daadi until she stepped out of this home, deciding never to return back," Arjun countered unfazed.
"I gave her permission to leave," Daadima argued.
"Usse support karna chod deejiye Daadi. She wanted to leave Veerji and all of us. She didn't bother about Veerji or any of us for that matter. Aur ab vaapas kyun aayi hai?" His eyes spoke of betrayal and pain.
"I'm so sorry Daadima. I am so sorry Arjun. Main- main majboor thi," she gulped trying to prevent the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. "I, I thought Maan would be better off without me."
"And now what changed?" Arjun questioned trying to keep his anger in check.
"I realized I can't live without him," she replied without batting an eyelid.
"Bas bhi keejiye Arjun," Daadima began only to be interrupted by Geet.
"Nahi Daadima, he is right. I deserve all the punishment for walking away like that. Magar uss, uss waqt mmmujhe kuch samajh main nahi aayi," she said struggling to keep her voice steady. "Mujhe bas ek mauka deejiye, I want to set everything right. Aap log mujhe saza de sakte ho magar yahaan se mujhe mat nikaliye," she pleaded with her hands folded.
"Geet!" Daadima exclaimed seeing her vulnerable state. "Yeh aap hi ka ghar hai beta, andar aayiye," she tried to reason.
Daadima sat by the sofa while Geet kneeled down to sit beside her with her head down. She took a deep breath before beginning her side of the story. "I lost my mother just a few weeks before my marriage," she paused while shutting her eyes tight of tears. She didn't want to fall weak now. She had to explain her side of the story. Every single person she betrayed deserved an explanation for her erratic behavior and sudden exit. "Agar aaj main zinda hoon, voh sirf meri maa ki wajah se. When I was born, my father wanted to kill me because I was a girl child. Somehow my mother managed to save me from his clutches. Although I was allowed to live, my father and my older brother never left an opportinity to show me my place was behind closed doors. My mother was abused every day for giving him a girl child and every single mistake of mine cost her. My father was the head of the village so nobody dared to go against his word. We were helpless and every day was like living in hell. My mother wanted me to pursue my education so I would never be dependent on men like my father and my brother. My mother was able to get me into a medical college with the help of my Daarji. Since my father couldn't really go against my Daarji's command, he kept quiet. But within months of me joining, my Daarji passed away. We were once again left helpless under my father and my brother. I managed to stay in hostel as much as I could and never came back home for any holidays. My mother secretly visited me to make sure I was well protected from the men from my family. But as fate would have it, my mother was diagnosed with ischemic heart disease. She had always neglected her health and my father didn't care if she lived or not. The doctors tried to see if a heart transplantation would help and tried their best to get her operated. Unfortunately the transplant was unsuccessful and the doctors lost hope. That time was the worse period of my life. I had just lost my Daarji and now my mother was struggling to stay alive for me. My father had washed away his responsibilities towards his wife and left for her to die in the hospital," she paused wiping her eyes.
Daadima had pulled Geet near her lap and kept stroking her hair hoping to ease her pain as she recalled the most horrifying days of growing up.
"Geet please don't stress yourself beta, hum samajh sakte hain," Daadima once again tried to pacify her.
"Nahi Daadima," she denied shaking her head before continuing, "I had promised my mother I would never steer away from my goal and would become a good doctor. And the day she passed away I took a vow never to let my mind think about anything but my mother's sacrifices and my goal. The only way to repay all the things she suffered through was to keep her alive in my thoughts and drive towards my goal of becoming a doctor. I had planned to go back to my hostel without going back home. But things took a turn for the worst. My father got to know about my mother's death and forcefully brought me back home. He had decided to marry me off to some guy from the village. I don't know what happened, within a week my marriage was set with some unknown guy and my father had come to inform me about it. Horrified, I planned to run away but was caught every single time. Beaten and bruised I had no strength left to escape and decided to free myself once I was married. It seems Babaji had spread his compassionate hand by bringing Maan as my life partner. And I at that time I was a fool to see through it. All I had in mind was to get out of this shackle and continue my studies. Maine Maan ko mana kiya aur ddivorce maangi." Her voice wobbled with anguish.
"Aur kya voh sab Chaitu ke shaadi mein jo humne dekha sab dhikhava tha? Ek naatak tha?" Arjun interrupted still not conviced the woman in front of him deserved his brother.
"Nahi!" Her head shot up immediately in horror. "I had decided to give our marriage a chance. I realized I wasn't being fair to Maan and wanted to give us a chance. Things began to settle and I felt I had come to the right place. Magar mere daaman mein khushiyan ke liye jagah nahi hai. The day before I walked out, I received a call from Brij veerji reminding me about my mother's barsi. And I couldn't think right. I concluded I had been distracted so much that I had forgotten my mother's death and the reason she died. I thought I have been blinded by this marriage and it is the reason something so big. Having my mind set on something I didn't want Maan to suffer in this mess. I figured he was better off without me and deserved someone who would love him and cherish him unlike me. Mujhe pata hai main galat thi but I was helpless at that time. All I could see was I had forgetten that one person who gave me everything and that, that scared me," she finised her voice a mere whisper.
There was dead silence in the room.
"Daadima," she said breaking the silence, "Mujhe ehsaas hua main galat thi. Aap please meri yakeen maaniye. Please mujhe ek mauka deejiye. I promise to set things right. Please daadima." She turned towards Arjun and folding her hands she pleaded, "Please Arjun, bas ek mauka, I promise I won't let you guys down."
Daadima's eyes were brimmed with tears listening to Geet's past.
Arjun had come to realize it must have taken a lot of courage for her mother to stand against her husband and society to give a good life to her child. And Geet had tried her best to keep her mom alive in her thoughts and actions. She had wronged by taking some hasty decisions but who didn't make mistakes. He was afraid his veerji would be left heartbroken again. But listening to Geet's pleas, he wanted to give her a chance in proving him wrong. He was there to protect his veerji if something went wrong.
"Beta please, yeh aapka haq hai. Mujhe afsos hai ki I was not there when you needed me badly. Magar yeh humara vaada hai ki ab koi nahi rokega aapko. From now on aapki zindagi mein khushiyaan hi khushiyaan hi honge. Mujhe bas apni bacchon ki khushiyaan chahiye," Daadima smiled wiping away her tears.
Geet thanked her Babaji squeezing her eyes shut. She was quite unsure if Daadima would accept her back into the family. She prayed and hoped to have another chance at her love and happiness. She was partly relieved with Daadima's approval. She was still terrified how Maan would react but with Daadima on her side, she hoped to win him over too. She then turned towards Arjun to seek his permission. She looked at him expectantly, badly wanting him to approve her presence back in Maan's life. She knew he was fiercely protective of his veerji and thus refused to let her back in the first place.
Arjun cleared his throat before beginning, "Teekhai bhabhi, mujhe koi aitraaz nahi. Mujhe bas Maan veerji aur aapki khushi chahiye. You mean the world to Maan veerji bhabhi, please dobara aise mat keejiyega. I hope you won't let me down," he said with a small smile.
"Thank you!" Geet let out a cry of joy. She was overwhelmed with Arjun and Daadima's approval. She promised to not let them down and earn a place in Maan's heart. She got up to tightly hug Daadima while continuously mumbling thank you. It was almost as if the weight was lifted off her shoulders. She was finally back to where she truly belonged. Her home. I know there was no Maan in this update, because that is an update of it's own. Also I wanted you guys to understand Geet's point of view. Hopefully I did enough justice to her character. I wanted Geet to appease Arjun and lay her side of the story. I know you must be thinking what about Anushka, uski bhi entry karaadenge na hum 😉.
I wanted to lay out Geet's story before Maan makes an entry, because with the mood he is it kya pata voh kya karenge 😲
🤗❤️
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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