A Cursed Up Love T4 Complete (Extra 1/2) pg 37 14/02

Chapter 55: A return to the Curse

'Hasn't Geet come home yet?' Mohinder questioned settling beside his older brother, Saminder, who had ducked his face into his palm, worry running paramount like the previous day. It had been 3 days since that morning, the next morning after Maan felt precisely.

The warmed sun saw off to Maan, who was treated to a huge breakfast and a few words of appreciation and advice by the male folks completely understanding Geet's inadequacy as a wife. She hadn't exhibited the norms of a wife hence the worrying females asked their male counterparts to draw in an acceptance. For Geet displayed a few unwifey traits: there was no 'what would you like to eat?', no badgering around him unlike the other wives in the household, and definitely no hush-hush romance. Rather she ran out the room and stole her favourite chair at the table, and then ran around her Tito, her youngest brother while Maan finished the breakfast silently. If that wasn't all, she had then ran to her father with a hurt knee crying silently as Maan stayed in the peripheral quite like an outsider. But then there was the silent stares and the blood red blush on Geet whenever Maan looked, showing otherwise. He had also placed a silent kiss to her forehead in the mist of her family before leaving, again suggesting Maan was accustomed to Geet's differing ways.

'Darji I have something to say' she had said that afternoon when everyone came home for a late lunch. Understanding it to be one of her usual demands, they had looked on with love, a couple of hearts floated in red seeing her soft smile but then it stalled, halted abruptly with the next sets of words. As if freezing in air, cold and sudden. Red gone blue in an instant.

'I want to discover Hosyarpur ALONE' she stated, firm and composed regardless of the fluttering heart and the nervous sweaty beads running down her standing form.

'Ok sure but with Tito' Mohinder interrupted without a look, focusing solely on the food completely disregarding her request.

'Or Lakhan' Brij interjected with a silent gleam

'PAPA' she moaned with tears collecting

'Teek hai, just Tito' Darji fought looking squarely at Brij for making Geet upset

'NAHI' she whispered afresh

'Geet you know the rule' Tauji interrupted, this was after all his decision. Geet was not to set a foot out the door alone, conveniently forgetting the marriage part.

'I want to change the rule' she raised in her seat looking at the untouched plate of food, very conscious of all eyes on her. Some of the women, that were seated held her breaths while the rest that were standing and serving stilled, Geet had always been spoilt but she abided and never fought against a decision.

'What do you mean Geet beta?' Chacha who sat beside her at the dining table spoke tugging at her hand lightly, so she sat back down looking at him with baby eyes.

'I want to find myself, I want to be independent. I don't want to be scared of being alone' she teared feeling the silence of the family, they had all stared numbly feeling an ache in their hearts.

'What's wrong, did Maan say something?' Teji had asked patiently however it was Brij who slammed his hard hands on the table and stood up menacingly shouting 'I'll break his bones'.

'It's not him but me' she answered immune to Brij's hard threats but not the directed hard stare forcing her to break into a run towards the sitting area in the hall.

'Beta what's wrong?' Rano ran behind her daughter, as did every other individual but no one other than her could muster the courage of asking, too sacred of the outcome. Geet just couldn't be alone, it wasn't natural. She was just not made for it.

'What's wrong? What's wrong is I don't know how to walk out the house without getting scared! What's wrong is I freeze when some stranger asks me anything! What's wrong is I look for reasons to stay away! What's wrong is everyone I know make their own decision and I can't! Or simply won't, I rely on others; first my family and now on Maan or Vicky' she wiped her tears but they hadn't stopped. Her family hadn't stepped to wipe it off either like they usually do. For this was something they hadn't even thought of, Geet questioning her independency wasn't something they even cared about; no one expect Rano that is.

'They called me a freak mama, a freak' she whispered almost inaudible remembering Sasha sniggering with Tasha and Nisha. Although no one really said anything to her, yet she heard the loud whispers that wandered along the elongated corridors.

'How can Maan sir be married to her?' someone had said

'She's so weird man, doesn't talk to no one' another squeaked

'How can MK marry that thing?' she heard a frustrated voice, clearing knowing of its owner. She and Sasha had spent numerous hours within a cabin with Sasha reluctantly teaching and Geet innately studying.

'She's different for one' a male piqued in

'Yesterday when I went to her with some work, she froze. Like I was about to jump on her or something; I got shit scared thinking Maan sir would sack me for scaring her' a deep voice added as the rest tutted in agreement

'She's a freak' Sasha ended and then stopped noticing Geet's sudden appearance, the tears rolled by as the group immediately dispersed looking away and she quietly walked back forgetting why she even set foot outside her cabin. Freak, scared and different' floated in her being silently yet she never really focused, not until she understood its meaning after meeting Sameera.

Sameera sat dimly on the bed wondering what kept Adeel busy, he hadn't answered any of her calls yet once in a while sent a message keeping up her faith of him returning yet somewhere deep she couldn't really believe him like she didn't believe anyone, not even Maan when time and again he expressed his love before his marriage.

'Baby will he be back?' she asked in a small unconvinced voice looking out the window, she was still at the Khurrana house thankful that no one asked her to leave yet but that didn't mean no one will especially now when they knew Maan held no responsibility for her or her baby. Then her thoughts wondered to the unknown man who fathered her baby, would be shoulder some responsibility of her and her child if the Khuranna's kicked her out, with Adeel still out the country she was unsure what to do other than stay secluded in the guest bedroom she as provided. But even then how was she to find the faceless man, she didn't remember who he was but clearly pictured his ringed finger, men like him never recognised woman like her in broad daylight. She was destined to be single, it seemed. Soon her thoughts drifted to Geet and the morning before she left.

KNOCK KNOCK

'Can I come in?' Sam tapped smiling brightly, this was the first time Geet met her and unlike what she thought, she couldn't make herself hate Sam, even after Vicky spent a good part of last night degrading the exact woman in front of her.

'I'm sorry for coming back' Sam smiled despite of the tears that rolled down

'Main kabhi nahi ati but then it looked like something else was in store' Sam tailed looking out the window thinking of Adeel Rana, unconsciously rubbing her belly where Geet seemed focused upon.

'I'm sorry maine' Geet corrected instead standing beside, both woman stood at the opposite ends of the window, each a polar contrast to their thoughts.

'Geet it was me who ruined your life, I shouldn't have come back and even worse shouldn't have forced Maan to marry you in the first place' Sam added now looking at Geet and then immediately tuned to the door where Dadi stood looking accusingly at her. Dadi had always hated Sam, but that wasn't a thing that bothered her. Most people hated her in her lifetime, so bearing Dadi's indifference before was a norm but now when she was experiencing changes in hormones, each look shifted a magnanimous want to run away; away from her past and her present, so she can just focus on her future with her and the baby. Being with Maan for the last few days, made her realise that he has moved on and somewhere she has too.

'I thought you came between me and Maan, but now I realise I came between you two, I'm sorry Geet. I should have been the last person to make you suffer like this, so silently and alone' she apologised looking at the floor and then quickly walked away

'Sameera' Geet called as she walked out the room, Dadi had entered and held Geet rather protectively throwing a dirty look towards the moving Sam.

'Can I be a part of your family?' she asked broken and Dadi immediately shushed her up saying how 'this is her family', but all Geet could remember was 'silently and alone', if she had a family then why was she alone even among her 'OWN' people. Why was she so lost in a home that was supposed to be hers? Why could she not face herself in the mirror, unsure of herself, or scared of her broken reflection. While Sam left with a mix of guilt and confusion heading towards the guest bedroom and dialled the only person she called dear, Adeel Rana.

It was 7 in the evening, Vicky and Meera went to the movies and Dadima sat in front of the TV watching the rerun of last night's news; apparently Khurrana Construction were in talks with a multinational company. Pictures of a composed Maan flashed on the screen, him nodding towards the press, him shaking hands with many dignitaries and him walking into his car looking every bit in control, so unlike her grandson. It wasn't that she had never seen him like that, of course she has. But there was a certain determination, a burning passion ever since the Hosyarpur visit which she has never witnessed. He had always been the guy to run with the flow, there was never a business related dream yet for the last 3 days all she witnessed was a highly engrossed Maan, who spelt at the wee hours in the morning, who skipped breakfast speedily walking into awaiting car, with Adi connected to one ear. All this did please Dadima, finally a serious Maan had emerged. One that shoulders the responsibility of their family business with Vicky, allowing her younger grandson to spend some highly in need time with his new wife. But then it also scared Dadima, Maan changing was a good start but this was a little too drastic, maybe way too fast for someone like Maan. Was everything ok?' She couldn't help but think.

'Tum agayi Maan, freshen up and I'll ask Nakul to heat up the food' Dadima switched off the telly seeing her tired grandson briefly nod before walking up the stairs. She stilled watching him slouch up the stairs and disappear into the darkness, was this another phase before she lost him forever?

Maan sat numbly on the bed, the last few days had been hard yet he seemed to attach himself so blatantly to work, trying to forget his wife who hadn't called or messaged yet. 3 days and now going onto 3 nights, but no contact. Not from her or her family, did they know their reality? As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he immediately got up and rushed the process of changing, running into a cold shower before heading downstairs tiring his mind, so the silent questions could be muted, the disturbing screams that emerged from within can be silenced.

'Beta did Geet call?' Dadima asked the minute he placed a spoon of rice and lentil into his mouth.

'I called but she wasn't at home, but it seems like she might stay a few more days' Dadima briefed when Maan nodded for a NO'. She then continued speaking while he hardly ate a few more spoons of food, each bite felt heavy draining most of his energy. With each word, his throat constricted making an easy task like swallowing much more different.

'You've finished?' she asked in shock looking at the nearly untouched plate in surprise and then at him, who looked away in guilt feeling emotionally weak to say anything, a worry of being left by Geet ran deep and seeded into his already abandoned system

'Maan I'm sorry for that' Dadima cried once again apologising for hurting Maan, he had hugged her briefly saying how she was not at fault yet his voice wasn't persuasive enough. He had walked her to her bedroom, kissed her forehead and then silently walked out the bedroom, stopping at the dressing table where the report still slept, the report which finally cleared his image in front of Dadima and his family, they had smiled and asked for Geet then when he had explained himself as not being the father of Sameera's baby. At that time he informed them of her decision of staying in Hosyapur with a wary smile, a smile that was wiping off with each day without her.

'Please call him Geet' he heard Dadi's silent wish while closing her door, wishing for the same himself, Please don't leave me' he had prayed in agony walking into her bedroom where he slept ever since she left. When the mute phone made no move, he had once again left for the study focusing on her demand. She had wished to see him different, business and family was what she asked for. Geet had straightly said of his incompetence as a grandson and brother, two of which he was now trying to correct.

'WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY YOU CAN'T?' Sameer screeched smashing the alcohol bottle against the paled wall.

'Sir she's with the husband, the place is overcrowded. We can't take the risk' the man answered obediently

'f**k' he crashed the phone to the floor and fisted his hands into wrecked balls of anger, the white knuckles said of his attempt to seize the anger that floated. 3 futile days, 6 attempts yet no Meera, and definitely no signature on the Power of Attorney.

'Meera I will catch you soon' he laughed menacingly remembering of lucky she has been for the last 3 days, always with Maan or Vicky and then there was the public she was in.

'I have to do this fast before Adeel returns' he mumbled rushing to his room, tomorrow he promised like any other day but today was a little different, as he pulled out a revolver from the drawer and rummaged a few clean clothes in a holdall.

'Tomorrow' he repeated in determination walking out the door

Note: I know I haven't shown Geet in KC after Maan declared their status in chap40, however in 47 I did briefly mention that Bella was still present when they returned from the office, so please assume Geet still attended office during which time the above (freak) mentioned incident occurred. I however do remember Geet's stating her dislike for Sasha in the same part (47). Also I know Sameera's end is a little confusing so I tried making it a bit clearer. So if it is still confusing, I'm sorry. But do say and I'll try my best.