/\~ff:Simple love~/\NOTE Pg 117/\ - Page 39

Chapter 8

Maan teased her,'' you alright Geet? Last night, did you see the friendly ghost?''

Geet gave him another pout.

Maan smiled as he finished the milk, she was angry but still bringing the milk, which was very fishy.

Maan,''geet why..''

But before he could say anything further, Geet snatched the empty glass from him, mumbled a good night and went downstairs.

...

Next day Maan didn't see Geet anywhere, worried he asked one of the servant who told her that Geet was not well. He thought she was playing some trick again until he saw her next day. She looked very weak, her skin colour had a yellowish tint. He stopped her in corridor and asked worried,'' Are you alright? What happened?''

Geet replied,'' Nothing, I am fine. Amma ji just love to make a molehill out of a mountain.''

Maan frowned as he grabbed her arm and then touched her face, she still had temperature.

Geet pushed him away,'' don't touch me.''

Maan sighed, ' Sorry, I was just checking your temperature but I should have asked you. Did you see a doctor? Your temperature is high.''

At that moment Naintara came out from a room and said,'' Geet what are you doing out of the bed. Go lie down, you have just stopped vomiting.''

Geet's beautiful eyes filled with tears,'' I am fine, I don't want to rest.''

Naintara let out a deep breath to calm herself, geet was a very bad patient,'' how about we play ludo?'' she looked at Maan who was looking worriedly at geet.

Naintara settled geet onto a manji (charpa), wrapped a blanket around her and then, put the ludo board next to her on manji.

Maan grabbed a chair and Naintara did the same. They started playing. Geet was happy now. She was so simple, so childish that Maan had started to feel protective and possessive over her. he had asked Naintara what was wrong with geet but she had looked away mumbling nothing serious, just temperature. She was a very bad liar.

His mind on her sudden sickness, he didn't pay any attention to the game. So, he kept losing which cheered Geet further, so after that he deliberately kept losing.

Amma ji came from outside to see all three of them sitting and playing. She couldn't say anything to Maan but she was really angry at Geet and Naintara. Didn't she tell them to stay away from this guy and maintain a distance? What would he think?

Maan saw her first and stood up in respect.

Amma ji smiled at him as she lightly told Geet to sleep now as she must be tired. Then, she asked Naintara to help her in kitchen.

Maan couldn't sit after this so throwing a last glance at Geet, he went outside of the Haveli.

...

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Geet got better after few days but Maan wanted to know what was wrong. Finally, one of the servant who Maan had to bribe with a branded brandy bottle to get the details,'' Geet ji? Peeno told me its woman issue. She gets sick every few month. She hates taking any tablets and then, doctor said she need to drink milk regularly and take calcium tablets. But she hates drinking milk. Amma ji has tried everything, that's why she gave dhanu to her. No use though, Amma ji gives her milk glass daily but she gives the milk to neighbors, bully brij's son to drink, force us servants but now dar ji had warned everyone that if he saw anyone helping geet, he will break their legs.''

Maan didn't know what to say except that geet was very stupid playing with her own health.

...

Maan waited for Geet to bring him milk, she had been absent for some days but now that she was well, he was sure she will be here and sure enough, his door was knocked and Geet was standing with milk.

Maan smiled and took the milk glass, then grabbed her hand and pulled her inside and shut the door.

Geet asked him angrily,'' how dare you? If you touched me again I will tell dar ji and brij. They will break your legs.''

Maan asked her,'' is it a hobby of your family, breaking legs? Every other sentence ends with I will break his/her legs.''

Geet looked at those big eyes and the way they were staring at her, he looked serious and... handsome. Well, he always looked handsome.

Worried about her own thoughts she asked him to drink milk quickly.

Maan said,'' No. I won't drink this milk. You are going to drink and from now on wards, every day you will finish the glass of milk in front of my eyes or...'' he left the sentence unfinished.

How did he know about milk? Who told him? geet thought puzzled.

Maan sat down on the bed with milk glass in his hand,'' won't you ask what I will do if you didn't drink milk?''

Geet looked down at her feet,'' you will tell everyone I am the ghost?''

Maan smiled,'' No.''

Geet frowned,'' You will tell them I took money from you?''

Maan laughed remembering the incidence,'' No.''

Geet couldn't think of anything else. He couldn't know about dhano, only she knew what had happened,'' what then?''

Maan,'' I won't speak to you again and I will go back.''

Geet wanted to say that okay as you wish but then something stopped her. What if he actually went back,'' Why would I care if you go back or not?'' she asked

Maan looked at her,'' If that day you hadn't run away to play friendly ghost, you wouldn't be asking me this question.''

Geet bit her lip.

Maan held out the milk glass,'' drink it.''

Geet hated the taste of milk,'' I don't want to drink it.''

Maan asked,'' Why?''

Geet,'' I just can't drink it. When I was young, I saw someone forcefully moving the calf away from its mother. It was crying but just because he used to drink all the milk, he was taken away from its mother. I just hate drinking milk now, I know it's nothing like that with dhano but I just can't do it.''

She had said it so sweetly, so simply that Maan couldn't force her. He got up from the bed, 'If I bring you soya milk, then you will drink it?''

Geet, 'only if I like it.''

Maan got up,'' You have to drink milk. I am only giving you a choice between a plant based and animal based.''

Geet didn't like the way he was trying to dictate her.

Maan,'' I really care about you Geet haunda and I think you know it. '

Geet felt her heart started doing disco dance but she kept her composure. She took the glass from his hand and looked up at him,'' I will go now.''

Maan had seen the blush spreading on her cheeks, there wasn't any sign of dislike or anger about what he had told her. He smiled,'' Soon you will have to answer me Geet Haunda.''

Geet avoided his eyes and left the room.

...