FF: KAUN HO TUM? 26th Mar: Chap 22 on Pg 99! - Page 44

hope everything is fine at ur end..
Tc

CHAPTER 11 (C). DEV CHECKS HIS THEORY OUT

"Kya? Sachchi? Maan ne aisa kiya?", Geet gasped and then burst out laughing. It was late in the evening and Maan, Geet, NT and Dev were seated in the farmhouse terrace laughing and joking. Geet had woken up around afternoon and was treated to delicious cooking of Naintara and stories of Maan and Dev's childhood antics narrated by Dev. Afternoon turned into evening and evening turned into late evening but Dev's stories refused to end. It left all four of them in laughter and now as Dev readied himself to tell another story, Geet noticed the water jug empty.

"Hey Babaji! Yeh paani ka jug toh empty hogaya! Main bharke laati hun!", Geet spoke and taking the jug, she turned around and walked away. Dev looked at his watch and noted the time. Maan frowned at this gesture of his.

"Yeh baar baar time kya check kar rahe ho Dev?", Maan asked.

NT focused on her husband too, "Haan Dev! Humne bhi notice kiya ki aap har aadhe ghante mein time check kar rahe ho!"

Dev took in a deep breath and looked at Maan with a serious expression on his face, "Main nau bajne ka wait kar raha hun!"

"Nau? Ab yeh nau ka kya chakkar hai?", NT wondered.

Dev ignored NT and focused on Maan, "Yaad hai Maan, jab tum mujhe Geet aur Preet ki kahaani bata rahe the, you said that Geet falls asleep at exactly 9 PM!"

Maan nodded and Dev continued, "Aur tum shaadi ki raat apne kamre mein pahunche after 9?"

Maan nodded again and spoke up, "Haan! Reception ke night around 11 PM main kamre mein pahuncha!"

"Aur kal raat bhi Preet around 9 PM emerge hui right?", Dev questioned and Maan's eyes widened as he recollected that moment.

"Yes! Main ghar pahunchte pahunchte almost 8:30 ho raha tha! I remember checking my time in the car. Matlab it must be around 9 PM when Geet became Preet!", Maan spoke in shocked tone.

"I think yeh chakkar 9 PM ka hai! Its as if 9 PM brings Preet out!", Dev explained.

"Time kya hua hai?", NT asked.

"8:45 PM!", Maan spoke in horrified tone.

"Buck up guys!", Dev spoke up, his eyes positioned on the terrace door, "In 15 minutes, we are going to meet Preet Ahluwalia!"

Maan took in a sharp breath while NT paled but other than that neither showed any other reaction.

All three watched the door with bated breath. On Maan and Dev's wrist, the clock ticked and tocked.

Dev blinked when he felt something wet on his hand. He wrenched his eyes away from the door and looked down on his hand. Water! Ab paani kahaan se aagaya! Another drop came and then another! And suddenly the sky opened up and it started raining.

"Baarish!", NT squealed and all three got up and ran into the bedroom.

"Phew! Bach gaye!", Dev commented as they watch the terrace get wet in seconds.

His eyes drifted to his watch, "Guys! Only five minutes left!"

Maan and NT who were looking at the terrace turned and looked at him with surprise.

Dev looked back at them sternly.

"You remember what to do right?', Dev asked NT and NT nodded.

"I am scared! Agar usne humpe haath...", NT stuttered.

"Nahi! As far as I understood her, she might hate men! Or atleast Maan! But a woman always seems unthreatening to most people! And hence, she might not attack you!", Dev explained.

"Might!", NT spat, "You are not sure!"

"NT! Don't worry!", Maan spoke up, "Main aur Dev wahin rahenge! If something wrong happened, hum dono scene ko sambhaal lenge!"

"And don't forget main apni medicine bag saath laaya hun!", Dev spoke up, "I have kept the syringe ready!" He pulled out the loaded syringe from his pocket, "I can drug her if necessary!"

NT nodded and all watched the rain lost in their thoughts.

As NT watched her mind flashed to the discussion that happened between her and her husband an hour before Geet woke up in the noon.

Few hours earlier...

"Par main kaise...", NT chirped in worry.

"Tum hi NT! Only you can do this!", her husband explained as he grabbed her by her shoulders gently.

"But...", NT stuttered.

"I know you are scared!", Dev smiled, "And I am too. MPD might not be scary as your bhoot and all, but the fact is Preet is unpredictable and that makes her dangerous! So I am scared for you. But the truth is only you can do this! I think by her reaction to Maan she won't talk to a man at all! Only you, a woman could do this! And I need you to do this. To diagnose her condition and to help her get well I need you to do this! Only after your conversation with her, I can determine our next course of action!"

NT took a deep breath and nodded.

"So the first thing is I need to see Preet. That can be done at night when she arrives!", Dev started to explain. NT nodded while looking nervous. Dev continued, "Second thing is I need is to know if she knows Geet. So for that you have to ask her who Geet is!" NT nodded again and then Dev took a deep breath and placed the last and scariest condition. When NT heard it, she had freaked out. She had refused to do it. But Dev had managed to convince her and she agreed to talk to Preet at night. Dev had left then to explain to Maan what would happen at night. NT was left behind with fear, second thoughts and anticipation.

Currently...

NT was brought out of her thoughts when Dev nudged her and pointed to his watch which just struck 9 PM.

O Sajna...

A voice came out of nowhere and all three stiffened.

"She is here!", Maan mumbled.

He turned and ran out of the room and into the terrace. The terrace faced the main gate and was right above the front lawn.

O Sajna

Barkha Bahaar Aayi

Ras Ki Puhaar Laayi

Akhiyon Mein Pyaar Laayi

There she was! Standing in the middle of the front lawn, her arms raised as if welcoming the rains.

O Sajna

Barkha Bahaar Aayi

Ras Ki Puhaar Laayi

Akhiyon Mein Pyaar Laayi

Her voice rang clear despite the heavy downpour and Maan felt chill down his spine at the eeriness of the situation.

O Sajna...

"Maan!", Dev called out, "Lets go down!" Dev and NT scrambled downstairs and Maan followed them.

Tumko Pukaare Mere

Mann Ka Papiharaa

All three reached down and walked towards the main door.

Tumko Pukaare Mere

Mann Ka Papiharaa

As they reached the door, they saw Geet twirling in the rain.

Mithi Mithi Agni Mein

Jale Mora Jiyara...

Dev pointed towards the door and Maan nodded. All three hid behind the door and observed Geet.

O Sajna

Barkha Bahaar Aayi

Ras Ki Puhaar Laayi

Akhiyon Mein Pyaar Laayi

O Sajna...

Geet sang the song with enjoyment on her face.

Aise Rimjhim Mein O Sajan

Pyaase Pyaase Mere Nayan

Teri Hi Khwaabon Mein Kho Gaye

Maan stared at his wife. No! She is not my wife anymore. She is Preet now! He felt sadness overwhelm him.

Aise Rimjhim Mein O Sajan

Pyaase Pyaase Mere Nayan

Teri Hi Khwaabon Mein Kho Gaye

Preet went to the swing nearby and sat on it while continuing to sing.

Saawli Saloni Ghata

Jab Jab Chhaayi

Preet was totally lost in the song.

Saawli Saloni Ghata

Jab Jab Chhaayi

Akhiyon Mein Raina Gayi

Nindiya Na Aayi

NT grabbed her husband's hand worriedly, scared to talk to Geet when she was Preet. Dev nodded at her assuredly.

O Sajna

Barkha Bahaar Aayi

Ras Ki Puhaar Laayi

Akhiyon Mein Pyaar Laayi

O Sajna...

Preet got up from the swing and walked towards the house. Dev, Maan and NT scrambled to a nearby room and watched from behind the door of that room.

Barkha Bahaar Aayi

Ras Ki Puhaar Laayi

Akhiyon Mein Pyaar Laayi

O Sajna...

Preet entered the house and then looking around, she saw a towel hanging nearby. She grabbed it and she started to wipe her hair and her face. Dev nudged NT who gulped. He pushed her forward and NT stumbled out of the room.

"He...he..hello!", NT stuttered. Preet turned around and NT gulped.

Preet looked at her curiously and NT felt her heartbeat built up. She still had the fear that Geet didn't have any MPD and Preet was actually a ghost in Geet's body and that made her more nervous.

"Hum NT hain. Naintara! Aap...", NT continued to stutter.

"Ji... hun Preet Ahluwalia hega! Tussi etthe rehte ho?", Preet asked.

NT nodded, "Ji!" She looked around dreading about what she had do next. She looked at Dev worriedly. Dev signaled her to continue talking. NT winced and turned back to Preet. Preet by now was looking at the rain through the window. NT walked and stood by Preet. She didn't get too close though. She was still scared of Preet.

"Aapne Geet ko kahin dekha hai kya?", NT asked while pretending to look around. She looked back at Preet who shook her head, "Nahi! Yeh Geet hai kaun?"

"Humaare Jethani hai! Nahi dekha?', NT replied. Preet shook her head and turned back to look outside the window. NT turned her head slowly looking at Dev wondering whether the answer Preet gave was enough. Dev nodded and NT heaved a sigh of relief. She turned back to Preet and then her eyes widened as she remembered the last question Dev wanted her to ask. She gulped. Chal beta NT! Tujhe apne husband aur Maan Veerji ke liye yeh karna hoga!

Dev looked on worriedly as he remembered the last question he wanted NT to ask.

Few hours earlier...

"Kya? Humein kya poochna hoga?", NT looked at him with wide eyes.

Dev repeated his question, "You have to ask Preet about her husband!"

"No way! Forget it! Maan Veerji ko yeh thappad maarti hai jab ise pata chalta hai ki Maan Veerji se iski shaadi hui hai! Pata nahi woh humaara kya karegi! Nahi! Hum nahi kar sakte!", NT started backing away.

"Please NT! Mere liye! Aur mere liye na sahi toh Maan aur Bhabhi ke naye rishte ke liye! They need our help desperately! Dono ek doosre se pyaar karte hain lekin iss ek Preet ki wajah se unki zindagi bahut mushkil bhari hogayi hai! Aur Geet Bhabhi ko toh kuch pata bhi nahi hai! Please NT!"

NT nodded and huffed, "Fine! I will ask her about her husband! Lekin agar usne mera khoon kar diya na toh I will come and haunt you for the rest of your life. Got it?", NT growled the last part. Dev nodded and NT sighed.

Currently...

Dev looked at NT cautiously wondering how she would take up the topic of husbands with Preet.

"Waise aap gaana bahut achcha gaati hain!", NT commented.

"Ji shukriya!", Preet replied but didn't speak much.

NT took in a deep breath. This was the right time to ask the main question, the reason why her husband had this encounter. She nodded to Dev letting him know that she was about to ask that question that could create chaos if not handled carefully. Dev gave her a thumbs up.

"Waise aapke pati toh aapke gaane ke fan honge nahi? Unhein aapka gaana bada pasand hoga na?", NT questioned and waited with bated breath for Preet's reaction. She was not disappointed.

"NAAM MAT LENA MERE PATI KA!", Preet whirled around and roared. NT took a step back in fear. Preet started to walk towards her, "MERA PATI EK NUMBER KA KAMEENA INSAAN THA JO AB MARR GAYA HAI! AUR MAIN KHUSH HUN KI WOH AB ISS DUNIYA MEIN NAHI HAI! SAMJHI?"

Maan felt his heart stop at her statement. He had to remind himself that the girl who was happy with her husband's death was not his wife Geet.

NT had continued to walk back as Preet had started to walk ahead. Just then, NT stumbled and fell down.

Preet continued with her rant as she loomed on NT, "Aaj tu ek vidhwa ke yeh baat gaanth baand le! Kabhi shaadi mat karna! Shaadi zindagi barbaad karti hai! Yaad rakh! SHAADI ZINDAGI BARBAAD KARTI HAI!", Preet screamed the last part and then suddenly, she gripped her head and fell into dead faint. Dev and Maan came running out of the room at the moment. Maan grabbed Geet into his arms and started to pat her cheeks. Dev helped NT up and NT stared at Geet horrified. She looked at Dev with tears in her eyes, "I am sorry! Humaari wajah se Geet behosh..." Dev shook his head and hugged his wife. He looked at Maan who was still trying to wake Geet up.

"Bhabhi ko chod do Maan! Unhein uthaao mat!", Dev's quiet voice made Maan look up. He frowned. Dev explained, "Ab woh uth gayi toh Preet banker uthegi! And if Preet saw you holding her, she will go through another attack and faint again. Better put her to bed instead of waking her up!" Maan nodded and lifted his wife in his arms. He climbed up the stairs and headed into their room. He took her to the bed and placed her on it. He carefully covered her with comforter and walked out. As he walked out, he noticed Dev and NT standing there. Dev placed a comforting hand on Maan's shoulder. Maan nodded and all three trudged downstairs. Dev and NT headed to a smaller room on the ground floor while Maan stretched out on the sofa in the living room so that he could keep an eye on the stairs and indirectly at Geet. That night, Dev, NT and Maan fell into a restless sleep, all thinking about the fourth person who slept soundly through the night in the master bedroom.

And the Chapter 11 update finally ends! Phew!

Next up, Geet leaves the Khurana Mansion!

Err... what?

BTW, the song is from Parakh (1960) and is sung by Lata Mangeshkar and picturised on Sadhna.

Thank you, take care and have fun,

Kalpana

Wonder Ye Preet and geet ka kya connection hoga?

awesome update, waited for this eagerly, tq, wanted a long one, but may be next time

Loved part 11C 👏
How did Geet get the persona of Preet, eager for the unveiling of this mystery.
Eager for the next part 😃

Interesting update. Dev trying to find about Preet- Geet connection. Quite scary for all three there seeing Preet rant about her husband. waiting for next.