Chapter 18
the next day, Maan took me to ma and Amit's apartment. we were standing at the door, ringing the bell but no answer, we rang it again and no answer either, i looked at Maan worried, he smiled putting his arm around me, we were about to seriously bang on the door when we heard someone running inside, it was Amit.. the moment he opened the door i shouted "AMIT" and covered my face with my hand
Maan laughed and Amit after few minutes shouted "damn it! not again"
Maan squeezed his hand on my waist "he's gone, open your eyes"
i slowly moved my hands away and sighed heavily "i cant believe this is the second time i almost saw him shirtless!"
Maan giggled and we walked inside, we sat on the sofa and waited for about 30 minutes until Amit came, smiling shyly at me "sorry again"
"its ok" i smiled "ma kahan hai?"
"she's taking a shower.." Maan looked at me raising his eyebrows i giggled and hit his shoulder "what?" Amit asked
"you guys.. obviously.. are not fighting.."
"Geet, i just took a shower too" he blinked at me
Maan and him laughed but i blushed "not even in the past days..?"
"no.. not that i know of" he giggled "why?"
i shrugged "she visited me, and was acting weird" Amit sighed "what?"
"nothing" he smiled but behind it, i knew he was hiding something "she just.. misses you baas"
"i've heard that excuse before" i looked at him "whats wrong Amit?"
"nothing is wrong" he giggled nervously "she is just worried"
"over?"
"nothing, i keep telling her.. Maan loves you and treats you well"
"thats what she asked.." i looked at the alley way, mom came, smiling, i got up and hugged her "kaise ho?" i asked
"teek ho" she smiled "Maan" she said looking at him, he smiled at her "how are you?" she asked me
"good" i said looking at her "is something wrong?"
"she says we probably are fighting" Amit said in an annoying tone of voice "because you visited her Shublee"
she sighed "no sweetheart, we're not fighting"
"then why you are acting awkwardly?" but she didnt reply "please ma.. tell me"
she looked at Amit, i looked back to see him giving her a warning look "it's about your father"
"SHUBLEE!" he shouted angrily
i stared at her "dad?"
"haan"
"Shublee, she doesnt need to know.. its useless!" Amit was angry
"she does" mom was looking at me
"Maan.. take Geet out of here"
"NO" i shouted looking back at them, then my focus was on mom "what about dad?"
"aiye mere saath" she held my hand and started walking towards my room
"SHUBLEE!" Amit shouted but i think Maan held his arm to keep him from stopping us
we were inside my room, nothing changed at all.. i stood staring at mom who folded her arms to her chest "remember the bruises Geet?" my heart started beating fast, images of mom came to my memory.. her red and blue face "remember when you used to ask me, why are you face like that and i always told you.. i fell"
"haan.."
"i never fell Geet" she said sounding sad "your father"
i lifted my hand in front of her face "no" i said firmly
"he used to hit me"
"no" i shook my head
"he was 30.. i was young, your age.. i didnt know what to do.." there were tears in her eyes "i am always worried that Maan.."
"NO" i shouted putting my hands on my ears "my father was never like that"
"he never treated you badly.." she started having tears "he loved you"
"he was a good man"
but before she could hold me, i ran to the door and opened it, i started running outside "GEET" Maan shouted but i didnt stop, i started running downs the stairs, crying "Geet wait!" Maan grabbed my arm and made me turn and face him "what happened?" but i couldnt talk, i was sobbing in his arms as he hugged me "lets go home" he said as we walked towards his car
i couldnt stop crying all the way home, not even Maans hand holding mine stopped my tears, when we arrived, i just stood in the living room.. trying to understand what happened "she always told me that she fell.. and now she says my father used to beat her" i was still crying so hard that i started gasping "how can she say this about dad?" i shook my head
"Geet" he walked towards me
"he was the most caring, loving and amazing father.. i cant understand.. how he would beat her"
"it explains her reaction to our marriage.."
i looked at Maan "you agree with her?"
"look.."
"you agree?!"
"can i explain?" i moved back not wanting him to touch me "do you honestly believe that the bruises were from falling?" he paused waiting for a reply but i wanted him to finish "did the bruises seem to be only from falling?"
"my father was not a monster" Maan looked at me "he loved me Maan!"
"no one is denying that, but he had a different relationship with your mother"
"no" i shook my head "she only fell" i repeated to myself, but Maan was only looking at me.. knowing that i started to believe. i left to the bedroom and sat down on the bed.. images of mom crying.. of mom's blue shoulder were haunting me now, i felt Maan walking in, i looked at him.. he stopped "i was young" i said "i believed what she told me.." i paused remembering her face "it had always hurt me.. that i kept telling her to watch her steps.. that for a while" i smiled sadly "i held her hand and taught her how to walk" i bit my lip "but she was walking fine" i inhaled heavily "she was walking fine.." now i believe
Maan ran towards me, put his arms around me.. i was sobbing as i started to believed "shhh" he said rubbing my back
"but he loved me" i kept repeating "i cant hate him Maan"
"no one is asking you to hate him.. you have the right to keep loving him, he was your father" he moved me back and looked at my huge eyes, my red face "Geet" he looked like he was in pain, he kissed my forehead for a minute "im sorry you have to go through this.."
i looked at him "i still dont know what to feel.."
he put his warm hands on my cheeks "love your mother, keep loving your father" i sniffed "i know, she will not ask you to hate him" he smiled as i was calming down "she just doesnt want you to get hurt"
"you wont hurt me"
he smiled "she doesnt know that.." i looked down "are you cold?" he asked
i was shaking in his arms "no.. i took this from dad.. he'd shake in these situations"
Maan put his arms around me and hugged me tightly, rubbing my back "everything will be alright"
i nodded, suddenly the energy was leaving me.. it was the crying and the thinking.. bring back memories that i buried long time ago.. and brought them back to add something more cruel to what they are.. that my father caused mom bruises and sometimes broken bones "Maan" i said looking at him "i want to have a nap.. can you sleep beside me?"
without replying, he held me up in his arms and slowly put me on the bed "do you want me to change your clothes my lady?" i giggled, no energy to reply at all.. he took it as a yes, and started to change my clothes, he put on his pjs pants then came and circled his arms around me, holding me tight "it's been an overwhelming day hai na?" he asked, i just nodded, he looked down at me and his smile faded, maybe cause of how tired i looked "you're not used to these kind of shocks"
i dont know why i felt that he was implying to something else "are you?" i whispered
he tighten his arms around me, then kissed my forehead "sleep well sweetheart" he said ignoring my question, i didnt want to argue, didnt have power to argue and just slept.
i dreamed about my father with me.. i was 8 years old, he was playing with me, laughing.. tickling me, being my father.. and then mom came, her face red.. swollen eyes.. crying "what happened mommy?" i asked her but she only pointed at my father. i opened my eyes, breathing heavily "it's only a dream" Maan arms were around me, i cringed in his arms and held his shirt tight "it's only a bad dream Geet" he said rubbing my back until i was calm
i looked at him "it was the worst dream.." i sighed, catching my breath
he put his warm hand on my cheek "just a dream" he repeated
i sighed, then looked behind Maan, there was a hanger and a red dress hanging on it "Maan..?" i said pointing behind him
"well" he got up "i need you to wear that dress.. please"
"what for?"
"you'll see" he kissed my head then looked at me for a moment, probably making sure that i am fine.. then walked outside the room, closing the door quickly behind him
i sat on the bed looking at the dress, it was beautiful, i looked back at the clock and sighed, i slept for 4 hours.. i got up, took a quick shower then put on the dress.. it was breathtaking, knee length, my whole back was showing, and i had to tie it around my neck.. it wasnt tight, and didnt have much details but really beautiful.. i put on my red lipstick and eyeliner. i opened the door and almost gasped.. there were flowers everywhere, rose petals covered the whole floor.. i walked towards the dinning table.. there was one candle and 2 luxury plates, i looked around "Maan.."
he came out from his office, wearing my favorite black suit.. without a tie and red shirt, he was smiling that contagious smile "may i?"
he reached his hand for me and i blinked then i heard music, i giggled "you know i dont dance"
"we will just move" he kept on smiling, he put his hands on my waist and i put mine on his.. i couldnt reach his neck, he giggled then lifted me up, and i put my arms around his neck, he started moving.. as if he wasnt holding me "you make the dress look beautiful" he whispered, i blushed "and your face now matches"
"ah Maan!" i rested my head on his shoulder, holding each other., moving on a slow Indian song that i started loving "what's this for?" i asked
he didnt reply for a while, i felt his hands on my back and it made me have goosebumps "i didnt know what to do when i saw you sobbing in my arms" he said so softly, then he joked "they say roses and flowers.. light candle dinner and a loving husband can cure anything" i nodded smiling "is it working?"
"yes" i kissed his neck, i moved back and looked at him "i didnt want to wake up remembering what happened.." i put my hand on his cheek "you are my only medicine against these kind of shocks"
he grinned proudly then kissed my hand "and they also say.." he slowly put me down "that.. making love with your loving husband" i laughed "will make you forget everything.."
i slowly smiled at him "will it?"
he leaned down, kissing me "i will make sure it will.." he whispered.. i blushed and stood on my toes to kiss him back "shall we skip dinner?" he teased
"no, im hungry!" i pouted
"i was joking" he laughed kissing my head "im starving too you know, chalo"
after dinner.. Maan did make me forget everything, he filled the room with love and passion that i was drowning in it.. he was gentle with me.. kissing me softly, taking the bad memories away.. holding me in his arms.. moving with me in delicate way as if we were still moving to the song..
and even after 10 years of our marriage.. he still holds me up to him, still makes me drop tears, and i still whisper his name.. and he still tells me "i am complete now"
after that day, me and my mother weren't talking like we used to, we weren't best friends anymore.. there was something that she ruined that day with her words.. maybe our friendship, but i know it will never come back. whenever we try to talk normally to each other, something she does or i do that would set it us both off and that would be it. i stopped trying after a while and it didnt really bother me, i am treating her now like a mother.
i work now in a high school, teaching students Math, its not something i enjoy doing but it was only making my father's wish come true. Maan still is the owned of Mumbai branch of Khurana Telecom company. we both have a 4 years old girl who Maan insisted on naming Geet
"Geet!" Maan came inside the apartment shouting one day
"which Geet?" i replied checking students notebooks
"you Geet" i looked up and he leaned to kiss me, passionatly that he leaned me down on the bed
"woha!" i giggled looking up at him "kya hua ji?"
he looked at me confused "you dont know?"
"about?"
"arre" he sat down and looked me "you're not joking?"
i giggled "Maan kya hua?" i held his hand
"oh" he giggled nervously "damn.. well, ehm.. i think you will.. get a phone call soon"
he was about to get up when i held his hand and pulled him down "kya.. hua?" i said it looking at him firmly
"Shublee aunty.."
"haan?"
"is pregnant.."
i blinked at him "excuse me?"
he was hiding his giggles "ye.. pregnant.."
"she cant be"
"she is though"
"they are old!" i complained "i mean..."
"you said the O word" Maan shouted "GEET"
"God no please" i covered my face
Geet came running, she has Maan's thick hair, it was wavy though like me, her eyes big and light brown just like Maan's but her other feature are like me "pappa" she shouted jumping on him
he hugged her tight "your mother.. said the O word"
Geet gasped and i laughed "you know i think this is getting really absurd"
"well, Mrs. Geet.. you're the one who gets upset whenever i say the O word" i shook my head giggling "what's her punishment?" he asked Geet
"DANCE!!" she shouted
"not again" i sighed and got up "what dance?"
"HINDI!" they both shouted
"great" i rolled my eyes and started dancing like an idiot, they both looking at me and laughing their heads off, i had to giggle too, i did look funny "now" i stopped "what is this talking about ma being pregnant?" i said putting my hands on my waist
"Amit called.. he wanted me to break the news for you" Maan smiled "Geet is going to have an uncle or aunty" he giggled
"she is going to be older than them" i sighed "now this IS absurd" i picked up the phone "ma.. is it true?"
"haan" she sounded happy "can you believe it? when the doctor told me i was shocked!"
i nodded "congratulations.."
"you dont seem happy"
"ma.. you're 45 years old.. how can.." but before i could finish she started shouting "im sorry.. what i meant was.. the baby will get lost ok?"
"God Geet" she hang up on my face
i put the phone down and looked at Maan, he was looking at me concerend "Geet.. let me talk to mama alone ok?" he kissed her head, Geet ran outside and he stood up and put his arms around my waist "why are you annoyed?"
"she wont take care of it Maan.. i dont know why they didnt try when they first got married" i looked away
"they did try.. Amit wants a baby"
"ye, he has a right to have a son or a girl.. but not when he is 43" i sighed looking away
"is that it?" i looked down "cause 45 isnt that old.."
i slowly looked at him "she couldve told me first" i whispered with teary eyes
he kissed my eye "please no tears.." i wiped a tear away "i think.. there is still something between you two that has to be fixed"
"until she stops saying names about dad, nothing will be fixed"
he looked away "then, me and Amit will have to do something about it.." i groaned "she is still your mother.. she wants you to be there for her na? you will have a younger brother or sister" he smiled at me "whatever names she calls your dad with, she will soon let it go.. and get busy with the baby"
i sniffed "i am happy for her Maan.. but still.. i dont know what's missing"
"we will fix this.." he kissed my head, and i stood in his arms, soon feeling calm again.. i guess i should let it go too, i always wanted to have a younger brother or sister and now i will have one.. i should be happy "i thought you were jealous and wanted to get pregnant again"
i looked at Maan then started laughing "what an amazing thought"
"you want to try?" he blinked innocently at me
"now?"
he started laughing then kissed my head "im too O for this kind of seduction"
i slowly pushed him on the bed and he sat, then i sat cross him on his lap "too kya?" i said kissing his neck
"Geet" but i kept on kissing him, opening his shirt "Geet yahan hai" he whispered, i stopped, frozen in my place, and jumped off him, i looked around but there was no one, he smiled at me but i squeezed my eyes on him "she was.. somewhere" he laughed and started running as i ran after him.
PRECAP
"Geet.. hello" she reached her hand for me but Maan moved me back looking at her angilry "im his step-mother by the way.." she said smiling at Maan "im sure he told you his father is dead.. hai na?" she said that in a very British-Hindi way
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Aami Daakini
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