'Mujhe tumhari koi baat nahin sunni Geet. Nikaalo mujhe yahaan se."
"Mat suniye. Lekin aaj mein aapko sach bata ke hi rahoongi," Geet said determinedly.
"Mein kabhi ek aam ladki thi. Lekin kismat mein mere liye woh sadharan sapne nahin likhe the. Jise maine pyaar kiya, apna pati maana, woh kabhi mera tha hi nahin. Uski shaadi ho chuki thi. Mere saath ek raat bitaakar usne mujhe dhoka dekar airport mein chod diya! Mein uske saath Canada jaane waali thi-lekin main to narg mein chali gayi.'
Maan was shocked. Geet was married? Not another jolt. His heart felt like someone had twisted it-it was still intact, still beating, for the beautiful girl in front of him, and yet it hurt so much. He had discovered early on in life that love brought pain, but he never knew that the pain would reverberate in his entire body. She was carrying another's child-and the worst part-it was her husband's.
Her fake husband's.
He stood there speechless, as if in a trance, and yet she could see the anger and disbelief in his eyes. It weakened her resolve, but did not break it.
'Isme meri kya galti hain?" she burst out, unable to bear the silence anymore. She shook his collar, as he continued to be in an unresponsive state. "Maine kya bhagwan se yahi maanga tha? Ki itne bade dhoke ke baad bhi main saccha pyaar karoon? Ha maanga tha! Mere dil ne maanga tha! Lekin yeh nahin ki wahi pyaar mere atheet ke vajah se mujhe chod de!'
She sunk to her knees, sobbing helplessly. He composed himself and said, 'Jhoot. Kitna jhoot bologi? Meri jaidaad chaahiye na? To le lo. Meri saari dault le lo. Lekin meri zindagi se chali jaaon."
She stood up, fury pulsing in her veins. 'Jaaoongi. Zaroor jaaongi. Lekin jaane se pehle yeh mat bhoolna, ke aapne jis zameen par apna factory banaya tha, woh meri zameen thi. Isiliye jaidaad maine aapki nahin le hi-aapne meri li hain.'
Maan spun around, her words echoing in his ears. So she had been telling the truth! The land had been hers-there was no doubt about it. And then that lodge...he had seen her in a wedding dress...
Brij's attempt of honour killing..he put together those broken pieces of her past-to reveal a haunting, painful picture of what she had suffered.
Why Maan? a voice in his head taunted him, Phir bhi itna bharosa? Tumhaare mutaabik yeh to pyaar ka pratik hai na?'
'Geet!" he called out, "Ruk jaao."
'Ab kya faayda," she taunted. "Aapke zindagi mein sirf wahi cheezein maaine rakhti hai jo aapka faayda karti hain. Mere zindagi mein bhi wahi usool hain. Kya kare, ek pal ke liye socha, main aap jaisi nahin hoon. Lekin aapne mujhe aap jaisa hi bana diya hai-mazboot, par kathor,-Maan-Sir."
She walked away, her head held high with pride. Her very soul had begged her to fall at his feet and plead for his understanding, but she would not at all succumb in front of him.
"Geet mujhe maaf kardo! Maine tumhe galat samjha! Maaf kardo Geet!" But she had disappeared by then.
He felt his heartbeat rising as he remembered all the torture, the humiliation she had suffered-some of it at his hands.
"I will get you for this," he said his fists clenched, his teeth gritted. Dev had sold the land to him. His own brother had betrayed the woman he loved. "Tumne meri Geet ko jo taklif di hai, woh main tumhe bhi doonga."
But now his only concern was Geet. Where was she?
"Geet, vapas aa jaao," he thought to himself feverishly.
And just like that she appeared in front of him. But in her hand was something he had not expected.
She was holding her luggage-for she had packed up and was ready to go.
Note: If moved to FF forum, will be replaced by the link.
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Thanks to Devil's Den as usual, for inspiring me with your phaasst and phamous ideas. š
Note: will be continued if it gets enough likes. š
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