Part 21
"There is no love without pain"
High dive into frozen waves where the past comes back to life
Fight fear for the selfish pain, it was worth it every time
Hold still right before we crash 'cause we both know how this ends
A clock ticks 'till it breaks your glass and I drown in you again
Next morning, Maan found Geet sitting outside of his room. "Geet..what .., He said. "I want to talk, please, She pleaded. Maan sighed, "All right come in. Geet entered his room and sat on the bed. "The last time you were here, I was shocked to see you sleeping holding this photograph He said picking up their family photo. "Did you always knew that we are not siblings, She asked. "Yes..I always knew that, He answered. "Then why did you come for me, She asked. "Because I made a promise to my dad to look after you even when we are not related in any way, He said. "You know Geet, he really wanted to see you as a doctor, that is why I'm fulfilling his wishes, He said.
'Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why
If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?
"Are we not working, is it because I said that and you love Sameera di that you are sending me away, it means we can't be together like you said, She asked. Maan sighed, "Geet, please could you just do as I say this time, please don't ask any more questions. "You know Maan, now I have friends at school, I'm not alone anymore, it will be sad to leave them, She said. "Yes that would be but..., before he could complete she just stood up to leave. "Thank you for taking care of me and sorry that I bothered you with my words. I won't be troubling you anymore, She smiled walking out. Maan recalled the past...
Past
A young lady knocked on the door of her friend carrying her little daughter in her arms who was crying. A man opened the door shocked to see his best friend in this condition, she was bruised, "Madhu, what happened. "Yash, please help me...he is searching for us, She cried.
"Come on in, He ushered her inside. The noise broke the sleep of his five year old son who came outside to find a lady with an year old baby in her arms. "Maan, come here, Yash called his son. "Bring me the first aid box and take the baby from auntie, He told him and he nodded bringing the first aid box and took the baby in his arms. "Dad, she is running a temperature, Maan said. "How did all this happen, you were happy right, He asked his friend while tending to her wounds.
"I don't know what went wrong but I had to leave I could not live there any longer and save her, he used to be violent when she cried so to protect her I stood in the way ...He would have called my relatives as my mom is not here..So the only place I thought he wouldn't think of will be here to save my child, Madhu said.
"But why would he do that, I know he loved you then why..well leave that you are safe here. Alright, wait here I will call the doctor for the baby, He said. The doctor arrived and checked the little one and prescribed some medicines for her. Madhu held on to her baby patting her till she fell asleep. "We will leave by the morning, where is Rhea, She asked looking around for her other friend. "She died in an accident few years back, now my son is the only family I have, He told. "You did not tell me, She said.
"I was too broken ...I did not what to do , Maan was only an year old and I was lost , she was our only hope. The day I lost her...I was shattered, then only my friend Anirudh was there to bring me back, and you are not going anywhere, with this child where will you go, you will stay with us, He said. "But .., She tried but he said, "No ifs and buts you are staying here and that is final, you did not tell her name, He asked. She nodded in acceptance knowing her stubborn friend won't let them go, both Rhea and him were always overprotective towards her, so she gave up on the thought of leaving."Geet, She said. "I remember you always said that to us that you will name your daughter Geet. Rhea would have been delighted if she were alive, He smiled thinking about his decesaed wife, how much she missed Madhu when their son was born, the three of them have been best friends since childhood. Both of them were elated when Madhu announced her marriage but after that they lost contact with her.
Maan got a new playmate in the form of Geet, he would take her on walks but he still missed the one thing he wanted the most , a mother and looking at Madhu with Geet he wished for his mom to be there too. Maan used to get teased by his classmates for not having a mom and thereby he used to pick up fights unknown to his dad. It was one such day where he was outnumbered and was going to be hit when Madhu found him, seeing her the other kids dispersed leaving Maan alone. "What happened Maan, why were they beating you, She asked lovingly caressing his head. "They tease me as I don't have a mom and today is mother's day, He cried. "Did you tell your dad about it, She asked trying to calm the weeping child she could understand that he missed his mother.
She has seen in these days living with them how he used to look at her when she fed Geet with her hands. The child needed a mother's love."No...dad will be worried, I don't want that. Daddy still cries looking at Mom's photograph. I will not trouble him more, He sobbed. "Alright then, you can take me as your mom, She said. "Really, I can, He asked. Madhu wiped his face with her dupatta, "Yes, you can.Come on now smile. He was very happy that day and Madhu never told about that incident to Yash as she promised Maan. Maan found a mother in her and after two years they decided to get married for the children as Maan wanted Madhu as his mom and she really loved him as her own son. Yash was very attached to Geet wanting her as his daughter he never had. In these two years many moral inspectors tried to poke their nose in to Yash and Madhu's relation but they never bothered, they had been friends since long so they never cared what others said. They only decided to get married when they wanted not for the society but their children and decided to move on. The four of them lived happily. Yash had legally adopted Geet just six months before their marriage.Everything was fine until that fateful day where everything ended. Maan was returning from school when he saw a crowd near his house, his friend came running to him."Maan there is a fire at your house, His friend told him. He ran towards his mansion to find it in flames. "Dad...Madhu Mom ...Geet .., He cried.
"Hey kid, back off its dangerous, The Police held him. "No please I can't lose my dad...let me go, He yelled. "Sir the lady died on the spot, Another officer told. "No she can't leave me, Mom you promised..., He cried. "We found the man, hes charred badly...he does not have much time either, He told. Maan was shocked he lost a motherly figure again. His dad's burned body was bought when he ran to him. "Dad.., He cried. "Maan ..li..listen to me...you have to p..protect Geet...though she is not your sister but protect her ...b..but t..treat her like your f..family..never let her be alone...never blame her for anything ...i..its not ..her fault...keep her safe..you have to..Promise me ..., Yash gasped. "Sir please don't talk much we are rushing you to the hospital, A doctor said. "I promise dad, I will look after her, Maan said crying. "Maan always remember I'm proud of you son.., Saying this he died. maan did not even get time to mourn over his death when he found Geet missing. "Geet...Geet, where are you, He called searching for her. "Maan, help me please ...I'm scared help me, Geet called. Maan found her in a confined place with smoke all around. "Geet take my hand, He said. He got her out and she cried. That was the last time they saw each other as both were taken by different families.
Present
Maan was bought back from his thoughts with the sound of his phone ringing, he looked at the photograph, "That day, I lost my mother again.I have hated fire ever since it took away from me all that I loved. I don't remember my mom but she must have been like you only. You left me when after two days you would have officially been my mom. I will protect Geet, I won't let her be harmed. I promise...You were always the best..the days we had were always be my happiest memories.

Geet's transfer news spread amongst the students, her friends Naina and Kia cried hearing about it, "Geet why are you transferring. "Please don't go, Kia cried. "Its fine, I hope you uys don't forget me sorry for any troubles I caused you all,Geet said. "What are you saying Geet, we are friends we will always be right, no matter where you go, Naina cried. Geet felt sad seeing them cry. She went to the gardener, "Uncle, I would be leaving soon. The gardener was burning down the fallen leaves from the garden. He looked up shocked to hear her, "Why are you leaving. "My guardian has got me arranged in a boarding school and after that a renowned medical school then he will returning to the states with his fiancee, She said. The gardener was sad to hear that, "Are you happy. "I don't know I guess I should just go there because he wants that. The gardener did not said anything further. "I wonder how we learn to use matches does it need to be taught, She said. "Hmm..children are not allowed to do so though anyone can use them by watching, He said. "You know I was thinking I don't remember anything from when I was young, guess must be bitter memories though I don't have much happier ones even now, She said.
"Geet, you know roses require a lot of attention, He said. "Yes, She said. "Do you know it needs to be cut to grow more, He said. "Yes Dev once told me about this, She recalled. "Here take this, He said giving her a branch in a vase. "Its up to you how you want to grow. No one can decide it but you, so bloom as the flower you would like yourself to be, good luck dear, He said. Geet smiled at the old man and left thinking on his words. She went out to see Sameera standing there with her car it has been frequent now a days. "Why are you picking me up daily, She asked. She smiled at her, "Because I want to. Geet nodded and they went to buy new dresses for her and then she took her for a meal. Sameera liked the kid in front of her but her love for Maan has messed her rationality.
Maan came back home late from work as he was going to enter he thought he saw something but suddenly Yash grabbed him, "Maan, I'm hungry lets go for dinner my stupid sister took the car so please lets go."Yash, wait a moment, I think I saw someone there, Maan said running in the direction but there was no one. "Must be your imagination, Yash said. They dined at a restaurant. Yash looked at him and asked after a while, "Are you for real. "Excuse me what do you mean by that, Maan asked. "I mean you sending Geet away ...for what may I ask..when you worked like a Robot for her all these years, He said. "A Robot...you know that is a rude thing to say Yash,He smiled. "Why, I haven't said anything wrong, I mean you have been a robot all your life. A Robot which works only for Geet. And here I was under a happy delusion that living with her is finally making you soften up a bit, Yash said concentrating on his food. "You mean I was letting go of my Robot self ", He smiled.
"You know Maan, I don't know what have you programed in your Robot brain the morals values or whatever but when I look at you I see lies written all over your face. You hide your real self under that mask. For once ...just once I want you to let go of that ...For once I want to see the real you not the Robot you, Yash said making Maan surprised. They left for their home. "You going back to work, He asked Yash. "Yes I'm working on something, He said. "Hey Yash, have I always been a Robot, He asked. Yash scanned his face, for some reason he could always read him under his mask. "Yes you have, I gave up on you the moment I met you. You remember what you said, Where is Geet...why didn't dad bring her here and after that you asked dad to tell you the fastest way to grow up so you can go and get her , you have been working so hard all for her and now you are doing this. I just don't get what you are thinking anymore.Do you still think you want to let her go, He said. "Hmm...I have to, He said. Yash looked at him once more before leaving. "You know Maan, I think its not bad to let out the real you once in a while.
Walk on through a red parade and refuse to make amends
It cuts deep through our ground and makes us forget all common sense
Don't speak as I try to leave 'cause we both know what we'll choose
If you pull then I'll push too deep and I'll fall right back to you
Finally the day arrived when Geet had to leave to give her test for the boarding school. Sameera accompanied her till the airport from where Maan would take her there. "Have you taken everything, check again, Sameera said. "Yes I have, thank you, Geet said. "Good, just look at your hair, let me comb them again, Sameera said. "Now its good, do your best, She said. "Goodbye, Geet said moving out of the car towards the airport. She stood there thinking about the decision she made when her thoughts broke hearing Maan's voice. "What are you doing, He said looking at her knitting something. "Nothing, She said. "Good, now let's go I guess our flight will be due in sometime so do you want to get something to eat, He asked. "I'm not going, She said making him stop in his tracks turning to look at her.
'Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why
If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity? (Lyrics "Clarity" by Zedd)
"What.., He asked. "I said I'm not going to give that test, nor I'm going back to school or the house. I have decided to live alone and do some little jobs again to make a living. I have saved a lot of money though lets see how much it was ..., She said calculating in her mind. "Just wait a second, you think I will go with this idea of yours, Maan yelled. "I know its not the ideal way of living but its my life to live and since we are not related there is no need for you to take care of me. You can live your life and I will live mine. Since I love you so much , there is no need for me to live with the lie of being a family anymore. Goodbye Maan, its time for to be free, She said turning back leaving.

When he saw her leaving, something broke in him. Yash's words echoed in his head, "For once just for once I want to see the real you. He turned her to him only to find her in tears, Yash's words echoing in his head made him do the unexpected ...as he kissed her . "Please don't say goodbye ...I will tell you everything...please don't leave me.
1.1k