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Part 2
He loved his sherni, who would talk incessantly, who would not be put down by any body or any situation. But what drove him really crazy every time was how she became helpless in his arms. He only had to go near her and all her resistance gave way. The chatterbox of a girl turned into a silent wax doll, looking so vulnerable, yet comfortable - as if she belonged there, belonged to him. She had become just that a few minutes back when in his frustration he had held her really close and had tried to physically coax her into giving in! When he had seen her like that, it had taken him all his willpower to not lose himself in her and get back to the business at hand. Now that everything was out of the way, he was going to have her to himself for the rest of the evening.
Feeling an urgent need to take her back in his arms, he took long strides towards their bedroom. But he stopped at the door when he saw Dadi and Annie in the room talking to Geet. From what he could hear, there was nothing important going on; just the usual women's chit-chat. He got irritated. He was in no mood for small talk with anyone, not even Dadi Ma or Annie. But before he could go away Dadi noticed him and asked him to join them. He could not refuse. He absent-mindedly answered a few questions they asked him about his day. He felt relieved when Dadi Ma finally said, "Chaliye Annie. Maan abhi laute hain office se; unhein aaraam karne dete hain."
Maan and Geet saw them off till the door of their room. As soon as they went out of sight, Maan turned back, locked the door and got hold of Geet surprising her.
"Mujhe pareshaan karne mein tumhein mazaa aata hai na Geet? Pahle itne dinon se poori baat na bata kar tum mujhe pareshaan kar rahi thi. Aur ab jab sab theek ho gaya to tumhare paas mujhse baat karne ki bhi fursat nahin hai. Kya zaroorat thi Dadi Ma aur Annie ko bulane ki abhi?"
"Par maine unko nahin..."
He shut her up by covering her lips with his hand, "Chup. Bilkul Chup. Bahut bolti ho Geet."
She did shut up. Her eyes showed some fear. But this fear of hers did not worry him. It only heightened his desire for her.
"Reports to padh li hongi tumne?"
He hadn't removed his hand from her lips. So, she replied by nodding.
"To tumhein ye bhi pata chal gaya hoga ki ab tumhare paas mujhse bachne ka koi bahana nahin hai."
She did not reply, just closed her eyes. Maan took the chance to plant kisses on her eyes.
Just then someone knocked on the door. Maan glared at Geet, left her and went into the washroom to freshen up.
Geet opened the door to see Dadi Ma there. She looked disturbed.
"Geet beta. Maan kamre mein hain kya?"
"Dadi Ma - woh washroom mein hain. Fresh ho rahe hain. Kya baat hai?"
She held Geet's hand and brought her out of the room, "Geet! Hamein chinta ho rahi hai. Maan ko aapne bata diya hai kya? Kya unhone Dev se koi baat ki hai?"
Geet found herself stuck, "Woh Dadi Ma..."
Just then they heard some sound from the room. Maan must have returned. Geet looked helplessly at Dadi Ma. She understood, "Hum baad mein baat karte hain."
As Geet stepped back into her room, she realized that Maan was standing very close to the door. He must have heard the conversation. She was horrified and did not know what to say.
Maan was looking intently at her with his hands folded in front of his chest. She found it difficult to look into his eyes and tried to move past him towards the bed. He stopped her by stretching his hand in front of her.
"Dadi Ma ne tumse kaha tha mujhe Dev ke baare mein na batane ke liye?"
Geet found herself stuck between the man she loved to death and the woman he respected the most; between Maan and Dadi Ma; between her ultimate love, and the woman who had accepted her like a daughter; between her instincts as a wife and a lover and her duty as a daughter-in-law.
She dropped on her knees and started crying inconsolably. Maan was immediately worried. He also kneeled down and cupped her face.
"Geet. Nahin Geet - aise nahin karte. Rona band karo please. I am sorry Geet. Maine tumhein pareshaaan kar diya. Please ro mat. Mujhse baat karo Geet. Apni pareshaani batao."
Geet leaned on to him still crying. He stroked her hair to calm her down. After she had regained her control a bit, he made her stand up and led her to the bed. He sat her on the bed and poured her a glass of water. After drinking the water she looked better.
"Pareshaan ho gayi ho Geet?" He asked very softly.
"Meri kuchh samajh mein nahin aa raha tha Maan. Aap jaante hain ki main Dev se nafrat karti hoon. Main uska saaya bhi hamari zindagi par nahin padne dena chahti. Lekin Dev ke liye nafrat mere liye aapki zindagi se badi nahin hai Maan. Isliye jab kahin aur se khoon ka intezaam nahin ho paya aur Dadi Ma ne mujhe bataya ki Dev appko khoon de sakta hai to main usse madad maangne chali gayi. Main jaanti thi ki aapko ye achchha nahin lagega, phir bhi main aapse kabhi bhi ye chhupana nahin chahti thi. Lekin Dadi Ma Dev ko le kar pareshaan thi. Dev ki chinta mujhe nahin hai Maan, lekin Dadi Ma ki baat ko bhi mana nahin kar sakti thi. Main kya karti, kuchh samajh mein nahin aa raha tha. Main kisse poochhti Maan? Main to aapse ya Dadi Ma se hi salah leti hoon. Aur yahan aap dono ke hi beech mein chunna pad raha tha."
"Aur jab tumne mujhe bataya to maine tumhari madad karne ki jagah tumse sawaal poochhne shuru kar diye. Sorry Geet."
"Nahin. Aap please sorry mat kahiye. Ismein aapki kya galti hai. Mujhe to maaloom hai ki aapke liye sach har cheez se oopar hai."
Maan pulled her in a protective hug. Wasn't this eighteen year old being put through too many responsibilities? As a wife, as a daughter-in-law, as a would-be mother. She had no one to go back to for advice. Except himself. And it looked like he had not been able to make himself approachable enough.
"Geet! Meri ek baat maanogi?" He asked breaking the hug.
She just nodded. Why wouldn't she?
"Geet. Ye sach hai ki main Dadi Ma ki bahut izzat karta hoon, unki bahut fikr hoti hai mujhe. Lekin Geet - tum meri jeevansaathi ho. Main tumse alag nahin hoon Geet. Dadi Ma bhi hamare beech nahin aa sakti. Chahe koi kuchh bhi chahe, tumhein mujhse kuchh nahin chhipana hai Geet. Maanta hoon ki main perfect nahin hoon, main gussa ho jaata hoon, jo tumhein achchha nahin lagta. Lekin tum to mujhe bardasht kar sakti ho na Geet. Phir ghabrane ki kya zaroorat hai? Tumhein jo bhi samajh mein na aaye mujhse poochho. Jo bhi pareshaani hai mujhe batao. Maine tumse pahle bhi kaha hai ki jab tak hum saath rahenge koi problem badi nahin hai. Hum har mushkil ka saamna kar sakte hain. Hain na?"
A smile finally appeared on her tear strained face as she nodded in positive. They hugged again.
Geet said when the broke the hug, "Maan! Dadi Ma pareshaan hain. Aapne Dev se kya kaha?"
"Geet. Ab tum pareshaan mat ho us baare mein. Dev ko apne khoon dene ki keemat mil gayi hai. Aur main abhi Dadi Ma se baat kar ke aata hoon. Bas main tumehin aur pareshaan nahin dekh sakta. Waada karo - is baare mein nahin sochogi."
Geet smiled and nodded. Maan left the room.
--
Maan saw Dadi Ma pacing up and down in her room. He felt bad, but right now his first concern was that she had behaved irresponsibly towards Geet.
"Dadi Ma!"
"Maan bete. Aap? Aapne Dev se kya kaha hai?"
"Main batata hoon Dadi Ma. Aapko chinta karne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Lekin aapko nahin lagta ki Dev ki chinta mein aapne Geet ke saath zyadati ki hai? Aap jaanti hain ki woh pregnant hai, aur doctor ne use stress na lene ke liye kaha hai. Aapne Dev ki baat mujhse chhupane mein use kyon involve kiya? Agar is stress mein uski tabiyat kharaab ho jaati to?"
"Maan beta. Hamein kuchh samajh mein nahin aa raha. Hum kya karte? Hum maante hain ki Dev ne jo Geet ke saath kiya woh maafi ke kaabil nahin hai. Lekin apne dil ka bhi hum kya karein. Aakhir hain to Dev bhi hamare pote hi na. Woh museebat mein the. Maut ki kagaar par khade the. Aise mein hum unse kaise munh mod lete?"
"Dadi Ma. Jo bhi baat thi aapko mujhe batani chahiye thi. Aap please mujhse waada kijiye ki aap Geet ko aise asmanjas mein nahin daalengi. Woh bahut pareshaan ho jaati hai. Please Dadi Ma." He was polite, but it was clear that he would not have it any other way.
"Theek hai beta."
"Dadi Ma. Maine Dev ko uske khoon ke keemat de di hai. Main use sadkon par besahara nahin chhod raha hoon. Agar woh poori zindagi apni ungli bhi na uthana chahe, to bhi use bhookhon nahin marna padega. Lekin isse zyada main uske liye kuchh nahin kar sakta. Aur woh hamare saath nahin rah sakta. Na sirf Geet ko, balki usse zyada mujhe uska hamare aas paas hona manzoor nahin hai."
Dadi Ma knew her grand son well. There was no way she could get any more concession from him. So, she agreed.
When the three of them met the dinner table, Maan made extra efforts to make the environment cordial and tension-free by teasing Geet. Dadi understood his intention and played along.
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