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15: Restless Hearts
“Papaji?”
Geet looked surprised to see her father at her door this early in the morning.
Jai hesitated briefly before stepping in. It felt odd to him that even though they shared the same house, he hadn’t paid a visit to his daughter’s room in several months. And now finally when he had made the time, she was getting ready to leave.
Moisture blurred his vision as he slowly scanned the cheerful space. It was painted in bright pastels and was abound with knick-knacks that his younger daughter had managed to accumulate over the years. Over there, along the far wall, on a short-raised platform, lay the beautiful sitar the two of them had spent an entire week shopping for in Calcutta. It had been a trip that he had been coerced into taking. Yet in the end it had turned out to be one of the best journeys of his life for it had reintroduced him to the joys of fatherhood.
He turned away abruptly.
“Are you alright, papaji?” He heard concern brim in Geet’s sweet voice.
Leaning his hands on the ample window sill, he looked out at the uninterrupted expanse of beauty that fanned out as far as the eye could see--- the shiny dark green carpet of tea shrubs that draped over the gentle slopes contrasted brilliantly with the clear blue of the sky. It was the best view in the entire house.
“I remember how not so long ago you fought with your sister tooth and nail for this room and now...” Jai choked over the rest of the words. Instead he turned around and spread his arms wide.
Geet rushed into his embrace, “Please, don’t say you are here to lecture me like mother because I’m in no mood to listen!”
“No my daughter, I’m not as strong as she is. I’d rather you and Maan stay with us here, but I know he will refuse. He won’t be able to leave his mother.” He gazed into Geet’s upturned face and discerned hundreds of questions in her beautiful dark eyes, most of them he had no answers for.
He sighed, “Well, at least there is one advantage to Maan’s absence, I can ask my daughter out for an exclusive date without risking her refusal. Am I right?”
He was rewarded by a dazzling smile, “Of course you can, Papaji, anytime!”
***
But the distraction was temporary.
Time passed with an agonizing slowness. The clock became Geet’s worst enemy.
She tried to reconcile herself to her situation. Getting married was routine, almost every girl had to do it sometime or other in her life. It just happened to be her turn now. Big deal!
She attempted to take matters in her stride by assuming as indifferent a demeanor as she possibly could and immersed herself into routine and mundane activities. Jai was surprised to see her showing more than a casual interest in the business of running the estate. But he discovered he could tolerate her interference for only a short period before deciding to dismiss her with a good-natured shove.
But Geet didn’t stop trying. She chose to widen her social circle by accompanying her astonished mother on several of her tiresome but obligatory visitations. But while she was there she made her best attempt to disappear into the background and act inconspicuous. It was easier said than done for the conversation would inevitably redirect to her upcoming nuptials.
Maan’s name would surface invariably in every discussion; his absence providing him with a singularly attractive and mysterious aura. Geet didn’t appreciate being needled about his whereabouts and would become increasingly annoyed when apprised of rumors that she and him had been inseparable as children. She would have rushed to correct the glaring misconception hadn’t it been for the glowering looks from her mother.
Ultimately Geet was forced to admit that despite all her so-called efforts it couldn’t be denied that her heart was filled with a longing she thought she’d never feel; especially for someone she thought she hated. No, hate was too strong a word—intensely disliked fit better.
How could her feelings change in such a short time? It was incomprehensible.
Perhaps, like Maan had deduced so wisely a few days ago, she had behaved badly toward him not because she disliked him but because she wanted to engage with him in some way or the other. And the reason for her rebellion was that she had felt more than she cared to accept. The realization left her so stunned that she was embarrassed to face even her own reflection in the mirror.
***
Everything appeared perfect on the surface. Her parents were in high spirits and so was everyone else. Their once quiet and peaceful house was filling up quickly. So much that Geet kept running into people at every corner, most of them strangers. It wasn’t a pleasant experience as all they seemed interested in was interrogating her about her fiancé and the marriage preparations---
Who was designing her trousseau? How many sets of jewelry was she going to wear? Did they include one made of platinum and diamonds? Gold was so not in style.
Geet tried to ignore them the best she could. But as the week of the wedding ceremonies approached closer, she became aware of surreptitious exchanges in the hallways that were rapidly hushed up as soon as she appeared in the vicinity. And it wasn’t difficult to guess the topic of the conversations.
But she didn’t want to allow her mind to become encumbered in the same chaos. She began to isolate herself and shrink away from company. She began to slip out of the house and take long solitary walks.
Her feet retraced the paths she and Maan had rambled on together. She even braved the dark treacherous forest and the steep cliff he had introduced her to and made it to the top on her own. There, standing in front of the grand vista of the valley, she hollered out his name:
“Maan!”
As the sound echoed and re-echoed off the tall rocky cliffs, it brought some reprieve to her aching heart.
"You’d have been proud of me today Maan. I cannot wait to join you on all your adventures just as you wish me to. When will you be back? It’s been too long. I don’t think I can wait anymore.”
She then collapsed weeping on the same boulder they had occupied together not so long ago.
***
Kiran had had enough. Geet had moped for two whole days in her room refusing to make an appearance even during meal time. Nor would she meet with any of the relatives who had arrived from far and wide just for the grand event, under the pretext of suffering from the worst migraine of her life. As far as Kiran knew, her daughter did not suffer from headaches. Indeed, she was among the rare few who were blessed with a robust constitution.
Finally, Kiran succeeded in her mission and dragged Geet out. Mrs. Sharma had expressed a desire to see her future daughter-in-law.
***
“I wanted to show you some of my purchases and see if you approve.” Mrs Sharma said with what seemed a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
Approve? Geet caught her mother’s warning look. Usually it indicated that she should keep her opinions to herself, instead, smile and nod like a dumb doll.
Is this some kind of trap? Am I being coached for my new life? Is this what is expected of a good daughter-in-law? What if I forget how to talk? She thought anxiously as Mrs. Sharma started laying out the goodies.
Geet stared riveted.
“Mrs Sharma. You shouldn’t have!” Kiran exclaimed, also awestruck at the stunningly beautiful array of silks.
Maan’s mother smiled. Her eyes were trained on Geet, “It is hard to believe these are my selections. Am I right?”
“Uh...” Geet’s guilt was evident by the color on her cheeks.
“Yes...I do understand your dilemma. You would expect me to choose cool and serene pastels and I would have if it hadn't been for Maan.”
“Maan?” Geet’s pulse started to race.
“Yes, my son Maan, who usually does not interfere with his mother’s decisions except when it comes to you!” She laughed while draping a burgundy red sari over her daughter-in-law’s shoulder, “He is of the opinion that his Geet is vibrant and alive like the earth, therefore only bright colors would complement her. He also emphasizes that her beauty is her ornament. She needs few if any embellishments. Hmm…” Mrs. Sharma took a step back and pretended to subject Geet to a critical perusal, “I couldn’t agree more. But I must say that when it comes to his bride my usually sedate Maan can be very forceful.”
Geet colored fiery red sensing a desperate need to hide her face and conceal the smile of delight that creased her cheeks. How could he be so sure?
“Mrs Sharma?” She said after finding a semblance of composure.
“Call me mummyji, beta.”
“Mummyji... any news from him...from Maan I mean?” Geet was finally able to blurt out the question she had wanted to ask ever since she had stepped into the house.
Mrs Sharma caressed her face gently with her fingers and sighed, “I know how you feel my child. But don’t you worry. He will be back and in good time. I can tell because I’ve had plenty of experience.”
But Geet feared that she wasn’t revealing all and her suspicions turned true when she overheard her tell her mother--- “I do hope everything is fine with my son. It is most unusual for him to be gone this long without any intimation of his situation or whereabouts.”
***
On the way back home Kiran’s honorable efforts at maintaining a constant chatter failed to cheer her daughter up. Geet found that the only way she could keep the tears at bay was by maintaining a stoic silence.
But the dam ruptured once she reached her room and she wept unhindered till she could no more.
Her red-rimmed eyes fell on a stack of gaily decorated wedding invitations that lay unopened on her bedside table. She extracted one from its envelope and fingered his name rendered in gold lettering.
Just three more days left to the most important week in her life and her quota of optimism was reading near empty. A dreaded nagging fear was taking over.
Had he forgotten about her? She didn’t think so. Was he lying injured and alone in a hostile foreign land with not a kindred soul in sight to attend to him? Or worse...
“No!” She declared aloud to halt the inevitable progress of the thought. "He will come back. He promised.”
***
A ear splitting sharp clap of thunder shook the sleeping town.
Geet shot up in bed with her heart pounding in her throat. She opened her mouth to scream when suddenly she found it clamped tight shut.
She struggled, her angst compounding as the pressure in her lungs increased.
“Hush Geet, it’s me!”
She fought harder.
The bedside light came on. Her eyes opened wide.
Yes it was him indeed. His hair was longer and unkempt. His cheeks had grown gaunt and his shirt hung loose over his broad shoulders. But he was as handsome as ever, perhaps even more so now than before.
And the affection in his voice as he said her name again could never be replicated.
“Oh Maan!”
She flung her arms around his neck and let him hold her unabashedly tight. Yet, instead of feeling smothered she felt her body relax as his warmth seeped through her entire frame.
“You came back.”
“Yes, my darling.” His warm breath caressed her ear, “I’m so sorry to come unannounced but I had to see you. I rushed here directly from the airport. I missed you so much!”
A thrill rushed through her, “I missed you even more! From the time you left till now. And I miss you still!”
“You do?” He sounded amused.
“It’s not funny! Do you know how much I suffered? Besides all those weird dreams and thoughts! What if something had happened to you?!” She almost choked.
“Oh my sweetness!” He said pulling her close again. “Nothing could keep me away from you. I promised, remember?”
“Yes you did.” She had to agree. “But...”
"Hmm...?” He seemed distracted.
“Swear now that you’ll never leave me again. That you’ll take me with you wherever you go!”
And when she didn't hear a response; “Say it Maan!”
"I swear Geet. Now will you stop talking please?” He urged while staring long and hard at her face. Then without warning he bent forward and she felt a sharp nip on her jaw. It made her flinch.
"Maan!"
He muttered in a gruff undertone, “I think I’d better go now.”
“No you can’t. It’s going to rain heavily.”
“How would you know?”
“I just do. I can predict a storm a mile away.”
He looked at her silently for several moments. His expression was difficult to decipher. “I’ll be fine!” He said before drawing away.
But she couldn’t let him go. Not after having waited so long. She had to find an excuse. “I can't let you get a bad cold and have you sneeze constantly on our wedding day, can I?”
He laughed, “So, you are bossing over me already?”
She pulled a face, “You can think whatever you want but if you don’t listen to me, the deal is off!”
“Now that is something I cannot risk for sure.” He said.
A few minutes later they lay side by side, their fingers entwined, at peace yet not, listening to the rain as it drummed on the window pane. Its steady rhythm numbing their minds but unable to soothe their nervous hearts, that beat in tandem, abound with expectations for the future. A journey unknown that they were about to embark on together. The wait was nearly over.
tbc
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Cricket
Kumkum Bhagya
Tum Se Tum Tak
Sampoorna
Jhanak
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