Chapter 49: Hum Aapke Hain Kaun?
Since morning daadima had kept Geet on toes. Geet was given responsibility of everything from setting up pooja items to overlooking food and arrangements for the guests because daadima had complained of headache. Not wanting to stressing the old soul, Geet decided to take over everything. Cursing her luck she went about arranging everything daadima had asked her to arrange. Arjun was assigned to help her in case she needed anything and he stayed true to his word and helped her arrange every little detail for the pooja and party.
Daadima had selected a beautiful red anarkali for Geet and handed it to her to wear for the evening. The piece wasn't exuberant yet it looked regal and elegant fitting her curves snugly. She had tamed her tresses by straightening them and let it flow freely. The sindhoor she adorned on her forehead matched the beautiful color of the dress. The only piece of necklace that adorned her neck was the black-beaded string. The long chanderlier earrings matched the shining gold lining of her dress.
Maan watched her place the plate of flowers by the pandit before arranging the plate holding the things needed for aarti. A beautiful smile adorned her lips as one of daadima's friends came to compliment her. As the woman continued to say something, a slight hue crept up her cheeks. Biting her lower lip, she nodded her head while keeping her eyes downcast. A bunch of other ladies joined to what seemed like more teasing causing her to find an excuse and run from there.
While handing the plate to the pandit, Geet saw daadima's friend come to wish her. Geet indulged in a bit of conversation asking about the lady's daughter and came to know she was pregnant with her first baby. The lady then mentioned she would like to hear similar good news from Geet too making Geet blush. And soon other friends of daadima joined and began to tease her incessantly. Her cheeks turned hot listening to the ladies tease her. Not wanting to be the center of attention, she excused herself and dashed from there only to realize she had tripped over something. Impending a nasty fall, she shut her eyes tightly and was waiting to hit the hard ground but it never came. She was caught midway in a steely firm grip. She fluttered her eyes open to see a familiar pair of chocolate brown eyes angriliy staring at her.
Maan tried his best to keep his eyes away from her yet it seemed to wander back to her. Cursing his heart, he decided to go take a walk outside and clear his mind. He was about to turn around when he saw her trip over something. In an instant he lunged forward to catch her before she fell and hurt herself again. Anger bubbled inside him at her carelessness. Not wanting to show his care, he harshly pulled her up before letting go of her. He turned around to leave when he heard her whisper thanks. Not bothering to reply, he walked away from her. He was about to walk out when he heard Arun call him to come for the pooja that was going to begin in a few minutes. He tried to excuse himself but daadima had come to pull him to the front where the pooja mandap had been set up.
The pandit began the pooja much to Maan's chagrin. Everyone took turns with the aarti thali as they sang the final aarti for the day.
Savitri Devi requested everyone to take prasad and then proceed to dining area for dinner. Once again people scattered into groups after the aarti. Servants went around serving sweets and nuts that were offered to Goddess Lakshmi only a few minutes ago.
Chaitu had forcefully brought Geet to stand beside her in spite of her excuses to go see to everyone's comforts. Daadima had managed to bring Maan reminding him that it wouldn't look nice to disrespect guests.
"Arre vah maaji. Yeh sab dekh ke hume bahut khushi hui," Shekar beamed just as Savitri Devi came to stand by him. "Bas ek kami hai," he added sadly.
"Kya hua beta? Humari khatirdari mein kami reh gayi?" daadima asked worriedly.
"Arre nahi nahi. Bas jalebi khaane ka mazza nahi aaya," he said grinning evilly causing Maan and Geet to jerk their heads up.
"Aur voh kyun?" daadima asked still perplexed.
"Jalebi khaane se kisi aur ko khilaane se mazza aata hai," he said taking a bite of the sugary dessert before winking at Arjun.
"Oh shoot! Ab yeh Buddha mujhe marvaayega Maan veerji ke haath se!" Arjun murmured wanting to hide from his brother's angry glare.
"Oh accha?" daadima said catching on to Shekar's suggestion. She beckoned a nearby server who held a plate of warm jalebis. He readily came to stand near Savitri Devi while holding the plate for everyone to take the sweet.
Shekar turned to look at Geet before forwarding a piece of the sugary dessert. "Last time bhi tune mana ki. Aaj main nahi chodne wali. Iss Diwali ke khushi mein apne pati ko ek jalebi khilao," Shekar ordered.
"Bhai vah! Yeh hui na baat," Pavan added patting Shekar's shoulder. "Chalo Geet, khila bhi do."
Geet gulped and tried to peek at Maan through her lashes. She knew she would be in trouble if she tried to feed him the sweet but she would be in bigger trouble if everyone came to know about their current marital status. She looked at daadima for help only to see her nod her head in assurance. She knew he cannot avoid her in front of these people and took this as a first step in Mission Manao Maan'.
With a nervous smile, Geet brought a piece of the sugary sweet near Maan's mouth much to his annoyance.
"Papa, main kha lunga," Maan said trying to avoid eating out of her hands.
"Arre aisa nahi chalega, Pavan, hold his hands, aur Geet beta come on feed him!" Shekar declared with a laugh.
Geet came to stand very close him, "Ek piece kha leejiye na, daadima ke kaatir," she whispered. Before he could reply curtly, she pecked his cheek, much to his shock and surprise. His mouth automatically opened to give her an earful but no words came out as she had stuffed a piece of jalebi into his mouth.
Everyone around saw her feeding the sweet and cheered. Geet smirked at her victory while Maan fumed at her act. Wanting to avoid further teasing, he excused himself in the pretext of a business call.
Everyone continued to tease Geet causing her to blush. She turned to watch him leave hurriedly, giving her a murderous glare. She suppressed her smirk before turning to look away from him. "Dekhte hai, ab aap kya karte ho Maan babu," she mumbled under her breath before joining everyone for dinner.
The dinner was uneventful with Maan avoiding to eat with everyone while Geet went around looking to everyone's needs. Knowing Maan wouldn't come back anytime soon, daadima decided to send a plate for him through Geet.
Geet found him staring at the open space from his balcony. Sighing in relief he hadn't taken to any extreme measures, she tiptoed into the room. Keeping the plate on the bedside table, she walked into the huge balcony. She walked to stand right behind him and was about to touch him when she heard him.
"Chali jao Geet," he said solemnly without bothering to turn. She was about to protest when he continued, "Maine tumhe jaane ko kaha tha, toh tum gayi kyun nai?"
Geet stood numb unable to answer him in the best way possible. She knew saying anything now would only make him madder. Not wanting to attract anyone's attention from downstairs, she decided to leave only to have him harshly pull her back.
"Simple si baat tumhe samajh mein nahi aati?" he spat wringing her wrist behind her back.
"Voh main," she began trying to find the right words to calm him.
"Chali jao Geet!" he repeated, his eyes burning with rage.
"Maan please," she struggled to free off his grip.
Knowing he would do something that would hurt her physically, he jerked her away and turned to hold the railings tightly.
Steadying herself, she once again walked close to him. "Maan yeh aap kya kar rahe hain?" she said her voice beginning to sound panicky. She saw him press his hands on the railings causing his wounds to open up again. Blood began to drip from the gauze dressing. She dashed towards the dressing table in search of some anti-septic and fresh dressing.
Finding them, she tried to get his hand so she could apply the ointment. "Maan please let me dress your wounds," she cried. Her heart shattered watching blood ooze out of his hands like water.
"Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye," he said grabbing the ointment from her hands and throwing it away. "Tum sirf chali jao yahaan se aur meri zindagi se," he repeated like a robot.
"Mujhe yahaan daadima ne bheji," she tried to reason.
"I don't care why you are here. All I need you to do is leave." The bitterness in his heart reflected in his words.
"Aap darr gaye na Maan?" she laughed mirthlessly. He turned to look at her. His eyes reflected burning ember. "Aap darr gaye Maan kyunki mere hone se ya na hone se aapko farq padta hai," she declared fearlessly staring at him.
He grabbed her by the arm and furiously jerked her forward causing her to fall on his chest. "Yeh veham hata do Geet. Hum dono ke beech ab koi rishta nahi hai Geet! Samjhi tum?" he whispered angrily near her ear. She shuddered as his painful words rung through her ears. Her eyes stung as fresh tears made their way down her cheeks wetting his suit. He cupped her chin harshly and made her forcefully look at him. "Mujhme ab tumhaari koi asar nahi hota Geet. Jaanti ho kyun?" he paused but didn't let her answer. "Kyunki main tumse nafrat karta hoon!"
Her grip loosened and she let her hand slide down his chest limply. Had she completely lost her chance at happiness? Her presence seemed to torture him to the point where he couldn't stand the sight of her. She had hoped to gain entry into his life and heart but now the hope seemed to diminish in thin air. She took a few steps back, shock and pain reflecting on her face. But before she could move back further, she was once again jerked forward into his embrace causing few tendrils of her hair to stick on her wet cheek.
"Itni nafrat ki tumse chookar gazarne wali hawa bhi," he paused, few strands of her hair stuck on her cheek grabbing his attention. He proceeded to tuck them behind her ear while continuing, "main saas bhi nahi lena chahta," he completed causing her to look at him. "Main uss jagah se gazarna bhi nahi chahta jiss jagah se tumhare parchaayi bhi guzri ho. Geet tumhari awaaz main sapno mein bhi nahi sunna chahta hoon. Mujhe tumse nafrat hai Geet, nafrat. Suna tumne? Isiliye mujhse door raho," he spat before letting her go.
She felt numb at the least. She was prepared to fight but the battle was completely one sided. She knew she couldn't live without him but it seemed like she prepped him well to live without her. Isn't it what she hoped for few months ago? She wanted him to hate her and let her go away from his life. And she had achieved that today. He hated the mere presence of her and wanted nothing to do with her or their relation. She paused and turned around.
"Agar door hi rehna tha mujhse, toh kyun raaste dhoondh rahe the mujhe kareeb lane ke liye?"
He was taken aback by her sudden question and his eyes widedned in shock at her revelation.
"Jab bhi main aapse door jaane ki koshish karti thi aap peeche peeche chale aate the. Every single time I tried to run away from you, run away from your love, you cocooned me in your care. You let me revel in your love. Kyun kiya aapne huh?" Her voice cracked in pain. "Humaare beech rishta toh hai. Bhale hi nafrat ka sahi par aapko faraq padta hai," she declared and walked away without a second glance.
It was his turn to become speechless at her unperturbed declaration. He stood motionless seeing her walk away from him. Her questions certainly struck a chord somewhere in his heart. A slight crack seemed to appear on the wall he had built for himself. 
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
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