"MAAAANNNNNNN!!" She had screamed his name! When she had feared for his life, all her inhibitions had been abandoned and her heart had spoken out loud and clear - letting him know so much with that one word than he could have thought possible. Her fear of him getting hurt, fear for his safety, her disregard for her own safety - had shown through but also something more than that; it had been a cry of sheer terror - terrified for the one she loved.
Her tears at his wounds, her guilt at his hurt, her self-blame – revealed to him how much she cared for him, how much he did mean to her. Her insistence on being left alone, so he would be out of harm's way; her questions as to why he had followed her here in the first place putting himself in danger - had made him want to shake her, ask her if she truly did not realize why he did what he did; ask her, if she really could not see what was right in front of her eyes. Her questions all demanded an assurance; demanded that he make her understand why he could not leave her as she asked, that he show her what she so adamantly refused to see - his love for her.
Her "MAANNNN!!!" had told him what he needed to know- her fear for him, her panic when she thought he was in danger – had bared her love for him; given him the push he needed - to let her know what it meant to have her in his life; let her know that he would always be the barrier between her and any hurt that came towards her; that his life would be incomplete, desolate without her in it; adrift at sea like a ship without anchor. He had felt a release in saying it out loud - to her and himself; had lost himself to her, willing her to read the truth that he had bared - read it in his eyes, see it for herself, and believe in it for herself.
As she had looked on in a daze at him, he had realized what he had said in the heat of the moment, realized how much he had given away; surprised at how easily he had revealed the secrets buried deep in his heart and wondered if she would run away this time again- from him, from his truth. But, this time she had not run away, not shirked it all as if it did not matter to her, not refuted him as she had done before. She had merely taken his wounded hand and bandaged it, with tears escaping her eyes.
Her tears had made him reassure her about her safety and it was then, that she had surprised him - letting him know that she had helped put Brij behind bars. He had been surprised at first and then, had admired her. Admired this 18 year old girl, who had faced so much in her young life; who emboldened by his words had stood up for herself, fought for herself against her family for justice, for truth - even if it meant going it alone. She had taken the path of truth, when it might have been easier to have given in. Realization had dawned on him of his error in judgement- in judging her strength to follow her convictions and, of her faith in him. He had felt his love for her grow stronger; pride , a new respect for her welling in him, for his Geet.
Then, her strength had seemed to leave her as she had talked about her loss of family, loss of home; of loved ones who had moved on without her, even refusing to acknowledge her existence anymore. He had empathized with her pain, her sense of loss, her desolation and realized that he was the one who could offer her the solace she needed, the sense of belonging she craved.
He had asked her then, to return home with him - offering her his heart and his home. Just the words "Lets Return Home" had let her know that it was his home that had always been, and always would be - her home; away from all the pain, anguish, and hurt caused by her past - the one she would always return to. It was there that she had always belonged - with him, by his side. He had taken her hand in his then, as if it was his right, as if it was meant to be and they had returned home - together.
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Arjun
Cricket
