CHAPTER 56
It was four days since Maan had got Yash and Annie married. Now Maan, Ram, Priya and Annie with Sharda had arrived in US. On reaching Kapoor’s penthouse as expected Geet wasn’t there only Sahil was present. Maan was uncomfortable staying in Kapoor’s penthouse but Priya by her affection and compassion asked Maan at least to stay one night with them. But Maan was politely refusing saying that he already has an apartment in New York. Finally Priya logically said to Maan, “Beta, aaj ki raat humare saath reh lo. Kyunki tum abhi bahut thakke ho itna lamba safar Bharat se karne ke baad aur abhi tumhara apartment bhi ganda hoga kyunki Nakul Delhi mein hai. Iss liye sirf aaj raat humare saath reh lo, kal apne apartment mein shift ho jaana.” (Maan, please stay with us for tonight. Because you are very tired just now as you’ve just arrived from India. Also your apartment must be extremely dirty as Nakul is also in India. Therefore only for tonight sleep here, tomorrow you can shift back into your apartment.)
“Haan Maan, please beta." (Maan please)
"James, please direct Dr. Khurana to Miss Geet’s room.”
“Yes Sir.” The in house butler came and picked up Maan’s luggage.
Maan entered Geet’s room and he was at peace. The room was very spic and span and organized just like she was herself. There were thick medical books everywhere. The only thing which showed her personality was a big box of glass bangles or ‘chooris’
and few jhootis.
When he opened her cupboard it was full of jeans, trousers, T.shirts, skirts, kurtis, tank tops, denim jackets (just like Annie had said). There were few anarkalis but there was only one saree in lace with emberiodery, pearls and sequins attached on its border and a beautiful matching white blouse. This was the saree given by Maan when he celebrated Geet’s one and only birthday since they knew one another. How he wished, that he could see her wearing this saree. He had bought the saree from his first salary while working as an in house doctor in one of the reputed hospitals of Delhi. While seeing her cupboard, Maan saw few photographs of middle aged couple which he guessed were of Geet and Annie’s parents.
There were few photographs of Geet and Annie’s parents, Ram and Priya during younger days;
Sahil, Geet and Annie as children. Two couple looked dressed in old fashioned way.
Maan assumed them to be Geet and Annie’s grandparents and great grand parents. Finally two hours later, Maan lay on Geet’s bed, the bed on which Geet use to sleep. The bed had Geet’s fragrance all over it, making Maan relax. Maan opened the bedside drawer to place his wallet, watch and mobile. The drawer was absolutely empty except for two thick bound folders - one was medium and one was large. Curiosity got better of Maan and he opened both the folders. The big folder had list and timings of lectures, assignment due date, any other important and urgent things etc.
The medium size folder had some girly pictures and few lines of poetry here and there.
Maan understood that its Geet’personal diary but he too curious about her life and refused to put it down. He opened the first few pages and it was full teenage frustration regards life, teachers, school etc. Then there were few sweet memories of Annie and Geet. While flipping the diary’s pages, Maan came across first few poetic/ song lines.
“Tumko dekha toh yeh khayaal aaya,
Zindagi doop tum ghanna saya.....”
“How true! In my life full of pain (loosing Mom and Dad), fear (Chachaji, chachiji and Kulbhushan) and uncertainity (Annie and my future), Maan your coming has been like a cool shadow to protect me from the scorching heat i.e. life problems!”
There were not many enteries after that except one last one saying,
“Afsaan likh rahi hoon dil-e-bekaraar ka......
Haazil yun toh mujhko zamaane ki daulatein..........
Aaja ki abb toh aankh mein aasoon bhi aa gaye, aason bhi aa gaye.
Sagar chalak utta mere sabr aur karrar ka.
Afsaan likh rahi hoon dil-e-bekaraar ka......”
“I’m writing about my pain and anxiety to you, Maan......
Although I have all comforts that can be brought by wealth but without you.......
Please come to me as now I’m slowly loosing hope in form of my tears that are flowing from my eyes.
The sea of my patience and composture is over flowing now.
Please come back to me Maan.”
Maan always knew that Geet loved him but was either shy or scared of her family to show him her feelings but today Maan realized just how deep and pure Geet’s love for Maan was. Maan made a promise to himself that he will see that no one even that middle aged good for nothing Kulbhushan can harm Maan’s wife and child. Maan had already consulted a reputed lawyer regarding Mr. and Mrs. Mishra’s will in India and in US. As Maan and Ranjit had expected Kulbhushan had used illegal means along with that the actual document was forged. Kulbhushan had thought that both girls are young and immature and cannot see the deception as well as the lawyer in US was also doing illegal work on Kulbhushan’s behalf thereby pulling wool over Geet, Ram and Munim Sadanand’s eyes. But both the corrupt lawyers in India and in US as well as Kulbhushan does not know that they are no longer dealing with two helpless girls and two simple men. They are now dealing with MAAN SINGH KHURANA. Although he is a life saving doctor but he can be a terror when he wants to!
Maan was in deep thoughts but managed to fall asleep among his wife’s things
and fragrance lying on Geet’s bed. Finally Maan got a peaceful sleep after nearly two months of his separation from Geet!
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