Chapter 47: Har Khushi Apni
"Maan please mujhe chodke mat jayiye," she mumbled shaking her head. Her eyes were tightly shut. "Maan please," she whispered again. But all she could see was his car zooming away. "Maan!" she screamed jerking her eyes open only to see she wasn't in the same place she was in, when she fainted. She blinked a couple to times to get familiar to the surroundings only to realize she was back in her room and covered with blankets and sheets. She wondered who brought her back here but she could only recollect falling after that everything was blank. She was about to get out of the bed when daadima walked in.
"Arre Geet bete aap uth gaye? How do you feel now?" Daadima asked looking a bit tensed.
"Ji, main," Geet gulped trying to ease the lump in her throat. "Main yahaan kaise?" Her voice was still raspy due to all the screaming.
"I brought you in because I didn't want any media attention of your drama." His hardened voice boomed through the room as he walked in.
"Par Maan," daadima tried to interrupt only to stop seeing him glare.
"Please Daadima, I don't want to discuss anything further in this matter," he said with a no nonsense tone.
"Daadima, aapne naasta mangwaya," Nakul announced walking in with a tray filled with food putting a stop to any further discussion.
Daadima took out a glass from the tray, "Yeh leejiye Geet dhoodh pee lijiye," she said forwarding the glass of milk.
Geet frowned slightly in response. If there was one thing she couldn't tolerate it was plain milk. She hated drinking milk and that's the reason her mother always made her a glass of Horlicks instead of plain milk. She didn't want to offend daadima who had lovingly held the glass for her but at the same time she knew she wouldn't be able to drink even a sip from it.
"Nakul, usse Horlicks laake do!" Maan commanded without meeting Geet's eye. "Daadima aap please jaayiye, aapko bhi rest zaroorat hai," he said taking the glass from her.
Geet looked up feeling grateful for Maan's interruption. Her lips curled in a small smile while hot tears gathered in her eyes. She watched daadima walk out on Maan's insistence. "Thank you Maan," she whispered feeling obliged for his care.
"It's Mr. Khurana." If there was any hope left, it was overturned with his harsh reminder. "Aur vaise bhi we treat our guests with utmost importance and take care of their needs," he smirked seeing the effect of his words on her and turned to leave the room.
Geet turned ashen. She knew she had turned him bitter but never expected him to turn so cold towards her. Her stomach churned causing the bile to rise up her throat and leaving a bitter aftertaste in her mouth. No, she wouldn't be fooled by his taunts. She had to regain his love and trust and for that she was ready to take all the taunts he threw at her. She pushed away the blankets with a determined look and rushed to block his way out much to his annoyance.
"Get out of my way," he barked glaring at the intrusion.
"I won't until you hear me out," she replied with equal demeanor.
"I don't have time for your nonsense," he said trying to dodge his way out only to be unsuccessful.
"Dekhiye Maan," she began undaunted by his glaring.
"It's Mr. Kh"" he began only to be shut by Geet.
She heard him repeat the same thing he did since she met him since evening and closed his mouth forcefully. "It's Maan, Maan for me!" she declared scrunching her eyebrows with irritation. "I know I have wronged you in ways more than one." Her hold softened as she looked down ashamed of her deeds. "And whatever I say is going to sound like an excuse. Sirf sorry kehne se voh sab dard mita nahi sakti. I want to undo all the pain I gave you. I want to win your love and trust," she said earnestly. "Main galat thi, bahut galat. I had turned a blind eye to you and your unconditional love. Magar aur nahi. I have realized I cannot stay away from you. Aap mujhe nafrat kar sakte hain magar please, please mujhe dur mat bhejiye. Main aapke bina nahi reh sakti," she finished with tears flowing freely out of her eyes. "Please Maan, mujhe bas ek mauka deejiye, bas ek," she pleaded folding her hands.
Maan stood looking grimly at her. Thre was no anger, no sadness, no joy, or resentment. Geet wondered if she was talking to a store mannequin. She hoped there would be some response from him. She was even ready to face his hate and anger but this scared her. She stepped slightly back in horror seeing him stare blankly at her.
"Ho gaya?" His calm voice sent a chill through her spine. "You asked me to listen, I have listened aur ab main ja raha hoon." With that he walked out of the room without second glance leaving a stunned Geet behind.
Maan hurried across the hallway. He would never let Geet know what had transpired the minute she fell down unconscious.
Maan's anger took the better of him as he decided to leave her stranded in the middle in spite of the impending thunderstorm. He watched her run behind his car pleading him to listen but he was scared. He was scared she would break his heart once again. He was scared she would leave him stranded just like she did the last time. The pain had numbed but the scar was still there. He decided to stay away from her in spite of the searing pain in his chest. He drove until the end of the road keeping an eye on her only to see her fall on the ground lifelessly. He instantly applied brakes causing the vehicle to skid due to slippery rain. Not bothering to see if the car came to a full stop, he rushed out of it.
"Geet!" he screamed running towards her. "Geet!" he called again falling on his knees near where Geet lay. "Utho Geet!" his voice held urgency and fear. He patted her cheeks vigorously hoping she would open her eyes. "Geet please utho!" his voice strained with fear. Gathering her in his arms, he ran back to his car.
Geet still remained lifeless as Maan drove hurriedly past each signal. He occasionally tried to shake her hoping she would open her eyes but her body seemed to get colder. He had managed to get their family doctor on the line and have her ready for their arrival back home.
The doctor immediately began to examine Geet as soon as he brought her in much to daadima's shock. He hovered over an unconscious Geet in spite of the doctor's assurance that Geet had suffered a mild concussion due to the fall. He kept checking if she regained her consciousness all through evening but refused to face her once she woke up much to daadima's frustration.
He had vowed to never let his guard down in front of her. He couldn't let her play with his emotions. Not again. Her pleads seemed genuine but somewhere he still felt insecure. He wasn't sure if his heart could handle more deceit. He didn't want to build any hopes regarding her. She clamined to have come back to him but he was not ready to take chances. He would keep her far, very far.
***
"Daadima," Geet whined sitting on the floor by daadima's bed, "aapka pota bahut ziddi hai. Kuch keejiye na!"
"Hmm kya karein, uska naam ka kuch toh asar hoga na?" she sighed shaking her head while absent-mindedly running her hand over Geet's hair. She knew her grandson was a hard nut to crack but Maan's antics were beyond her reasoning. She saw him fretting over Geet and refused to leave her side until she woke up. She thought things would have eased out but she was so wrong! The minute Geet woke up he wore his indifference mask. Unless he made up his mind, there was no way she could change his decision.
"Teekhai daadima main abhi chalti hoon. Bahut late ho chuki hai. Kal hum milke plan karenge." Geet stood only to feel a slight dizzy spell. She hurriedly grabbed the nearby bedstand to prevent her fall.
"Geet aap teekh hai?" she heard daadima rush to where she stood.
"Haan daadima bas toda sa chakkar aagaya. Please don't worry, main bilkul teekh hoon," Geet assured with a smile.
"Main Maan ko bulaoon?" Daadima asked still unconvinced.
"Maan ko?" Geet scrunched her nose. "Voh toh pura ka pura dusht danav ho gayein hain. Nahi nahi daadima main akeli chali jaaungi. Aap so jaayiye."
Daadima chuckled at Geet's description of her grandson. They were really made for each other. She just hoped things would be back to normal soon.
Geet tiptoed towards Maan's room hoping to get a glance. Today's encounter made her realize the depth of the situation. It would take a lot more than askingfor forgiveness. She had pushed him to the edge and now she had to bring him back from the darkness she had pushed him into.
Walking to stand nearby the door, she slightly creaked it open not wanting to gain his attention. But to her surprise nobody was in there. She opened the door wider to make sure she didn't miss him sitting in the corner but he wasn't in there. She wondered if he had already retired to bed and walked hurriedly towards his room. But he wasn't found there too. She rushed out to the kitchen to ask Nakul if he had seen Maan anywhere.
"Nakul kaka aapne Maan ko dekha?" she asked worry laced in her tone.
"Voh, voh," Nakul stammered fearing Maan's anger if he told her.
"Please kaka batayiye na, hume bahut darr lag rahe hain," Geet pleaded with her hands folded.
"Voh maine chote saab ki outhouse ke taraf jaate hue dekha. Maine unhe rokne ki bahut koshish ki magar vuh bahut gusse mein the," he confessed.
Geet gasped audiably. Outhouse at this time of the day only meant one thing, she didn't wait another second and rushed towards the outhouse, hoping stop him before it was too late.
She ran through the empty hallways not caring about anything on the way. She could hear faint sounds of things breaking as she neared the outhouse. She made her way into the main open hall and the sight in front of her confirmed her worst fear. He sliced through another huge boulder of ice like it was a piece of cake. Ice shattered due the force before falling on the floor and breaking into pieces. She was about to scream when she heard someone call out to him.
"Maan!" Geet saw Anushka run towards him. "Maan stop this! Yeh tum kya kar rahe ho?" she reprimanded trying to hold his hand from hitting another block.
"Leave me!" he barked not ready to listen to his bestfriend.
"Nahi, not until you stop this madness," she rebuked equally angry.
"I said leave me Anushka," he repeated gritting his teeth.
"Please Maan, dekho khoon beh raha hai," she pleaded alerting Geet.
"I don't care," he dismissed before pushing Anushka out of the way. She was about to fall when someone held her. She looked up to see the person she hated most at the moment, Geet.
"Tum?" she said in disgust.
Geet lowered her eyes unable to face Anushka. "Voh main," she began not knowing what else to say.
Maan stilled hearing her voice. His anger doubled seeing her stand meekly a few feet away with Anushka standing in between. Before he could say anything Anushka's voice boomed across the empty hall.
"Please, save your apologies." Anushka spat. Arjun had come to meet her regarding Geet's return and how sorry she was. He had assured that things had taken a turn for the better with Geet's return and that she was really repenting. But remembering Maan's state when Geet left him behind, she had refused to accept her apology. Maan had always been her anchor of support and to watch him shatter to pieces every single day had killed her. She wasn't ready to give Geet a chance. She turned around not wanting to hear another word from Geet and rushed back to where Maan stood.
"Bujji please you are hurting yourself. Please aao mere saath," she begged.
Slow desolate tears ran from her unblinking eyes and dripped steadily into her dress. She furiously wiped it away and walked to where Maan and Anushka stood. "Maan please," she whispered forwarding her hands to touch him.
"Anu ask her to leave," he said sternly without looking at her. But it served no purpose as Geet stood rooted.
Anushka sighed, she turned to glare at Geet before adding, "You heard him didn't you? Leave!"
"Main nahi jaanewali." It was barely a whisper but was firm.
"Kya?" Anushka asked surprised at Geet's audacity.
"Main nahi jaanewali." She looked up before repeating herself. "Ek galti ki sazaa ab tak bhugat rahi hoon. Aur nahi," she said shaking her head furiously.
"Geet!" he gritted his teeth hearing her rant the same thing since she came back.
"Aap kuch bhi samajh leejiye lekin main kahin nahi jaanewali. Main yaheen rahungi, even if you hate me." Tearing two pieces of her dupatta, she forcefully tied it around Maan's bleeding hands. "Aur agar aapko gussa dikhana hai toh mujhpar dikhayiye apne aap par nahi," she asserted much to Maan's annoyance.
"Ho gayi tumhari ilaaj?" he asked not bothering to react to her previous declaration. "Ab tum jaa sakti ho Dr. Handa," he dismissed pulling his hands away from her.
Geet wanted to reply but refrained from saying anything. Irking him more would lead to worse consequences. For now she would let him be and let Anushka take care of him. She knew Anu would tend to Maan's wounds. "I will leave now. Magar ek baat kaan kholke suniye, I am not going anywhere. Jeeyungi toh yahaan aur marungi bhi toh yahaan," she declared wiping her cheeks of the streaming tears before walking out through the double doors.
Anushka saw her walk out with her head held high. The guts of this woman! "Why did you let her in?" The question was simple and straightforward.
Maan kept staring at the cloth Geet had tied around his hands. It had started to turn red due to incessant bleeding but nothing seemed to deter his concentration from staring at the cloth.
"Maan," Anushka repeated touching his shoulder.
Maan looked up, his lips forming a grim line. "What else could I do?" he sighed, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "I saw her fall lifelessly on the ground. I couldn't just leave her to die," he said with a faraway look.
Anushka stared at him not having anything to say. Silence prolonged between the two. Only sound prevalent was occasional dripping of water from the ice.
"You still love her?" she asked after what seemed like a while. It was more of a statement than a question.
"The answer holds no value right now," he said shrugging his shoulders before getting up. "But if you think I have forgiven her, then the answer is no," he said determindedly.
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Pati Patni Aur Panga
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