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Chapter 26 - With You
Darjee stormed over to Maan, grabbing his arm.
"Get up, & get out," he said angrily.
"No," Maan replied in defiance. "Let go of my arm."
"She's getting married tomorrow."
Geet's heart sank.
"D-Darjee, I-" Geet began to speak, but Darjee shook a finger at her, the fury blazing in his eyes.
"Shut up! Because of you this has all happened! I should have killed you along with your parents, we would never have to put up with you! You're nothing but a burden!"
"Don't you dare talk to her like that," warned Maan. "How could you have treated her so badly for all these years, she's your granddaughter!"
"She's nothing to me. She's equivalent to the dirt off my shoe. Which is why the sooner we get rid of her, the better."
Maan & Darjee glared at each other. If he wasn't at Geet's bedside, Maan would have beaten the living daylights out of the old man.
Geet whimpered. Maan & Darjee turned to look at her, then Maan quickly rushed to her side, holding her hand tightly.
Geet had turned the palest shade of white, her eyes were beginning to close, her lips became dry.
"Maa. Papa. Maa."
"Geet?!" Maan exclaimed worriedly, rubbing her hand.
"Maa. I can see Maa," she whispered.
Even Darjee looked worried. Tayyi-ji & Rajji appeared. Rajji saw Geet's deteriorating state & ran over to her immediately.
"Geet di!" she cried, holding her shoulder.
Geet's eyes began to repeatedly open & close. Tayyi-ji stood at the foot of the bed, her dupatta over her mouth.
"No, no, this can't be happening!" Rajji was on the verge of tears.
"It's-it's ok, nothing will happen to her," Maan said quickly, trying to reassure everyone. "Call an ambulance!"
Tayyi-ji ran out frantically & appeared a few minutes later with an extremely concerned Uncle-ji & a phone.
"Geet, please, stay with me," Maan whispered, making small circles into the back of her hand with his thumb. Rajji was using the end of her dupatta to fan Geet, who had visible sweat beads on her forehead.
"Hello, yes, an ambulance please, quickly," Uncle said, then proceeded to give the address.
Maan stared at Geet's weak face helplessly, the thick tears brimming to his eyes.
"You can't leave me," he said. "You just can't."
"What?!" Uncle exclaimed, causing everyone to look at him in surprise. He moved the phone away from his ear, looking at Maan. "They said they can't get an ambulance down here for another half an hour."
"What do they mean, they can't..." Maan trailed off, unsure what to do.
"May-maybe you should take her down there yourself," Tayyi-ji suggested, sneaking fearful glances at Darjee who remained expressionless & still as everyone else panicked.
"Yes, please, do something, anything to save my di!" Rajji pleaded.
Without even thinking twice, Maan pulled his phone out of his pocket & gave it to Uncle. "Call Nakul," he ordered. "He'll be sat outside the house. Inform him that we're taking Geet down to the hospital."
Maan wrapped the blankets securely around Geet, who was still mumbling incoherent words quietly & lifted her into his arms, holding her tightly.
"It's ok, I'm here, nothing will happen to you," Maan said softly. Geet clung onto his shirt. Maan could feel the high temperature of her body radiating off her.
"Move out of my way!" he ordered as he led Geet out of the room. Everyone else rushed behind him, with only Darjee walking casually behind, speculating the situation before him.
Maan reached the bottom of the stairs & walked straight past Brij, out of the house.
"Oi, what he's doing?!" Brij bellowed.
Rajji stopped, turned around & gave her brother a disgusted glare.
"I will never, ever forgive you for this," she spat through gritted teeth, then ran out of the house.
Maan bundled Geet into the back, lying her down across the back seats. Geet's grip on Maan's shirt was tight, she wouldn't let go. Gently, he prised her fingers off him & jumped into the front.
"We'll follow with our own car," Uncle said, & got into the Handa car with Tayyi-ji & Rajji. Darjee & Brij stood in the doorway, looking like they couldn't care less.
"How can they be so heartless?" Rajji wondered aloud. Her parents couldn't even give her an answer as they knew she was right.
"Get up, & get out," he said angrily.
"No," Maan replied in defiance. "Let go of my arm."
"She's getting married tomorrow."
Geet's heart sank.
"D-Darjee, I-" Geet began to speak, but Darjee shook a finger at her, the fury blazing in his eyes.
"Shut up! Because of you this has all happened! I should have killed you along with your parents, we would never have to put up with you! You're nothing but a burden!"
"Don't you dare talk to her like that," warned Maan. "How could you have treated her so badly for all these years, she's your granddaughter!"
"She's nothing to me. She's equivalent to the dirt off my shoe. Which is why the sooner we get rid of her, the better."
Maan & Darjee glared at each other. If he wasn't at Geet's bedside, Maan would have beaten the living daylights out of the old man.
Geet whimpered. Maan & Darjee turned to look at her, then Maan quickly rushed to her side, holding her hand tightly.
Geet had turned the palest shade of white, her eyes were beginning to close, her lips became dry.
"Maa. Papa. Maa."
"Geet?!" Maan exclaimed worriedly, rubbing her hand.
"Maa. I can see Maa," she whispered.
Even Darjee looked worried. Tayyi-ji & Rajji appeared. Rajji saw Geet's deteriorating state & ran over to her immediately.
"Geet di!" she cried, holding her shoulder.
Geet's eyes began to repeatedly open & close. Tayyi-ji stood at the foot of the bed, her dupatta over her mouth.
"No, no, this can't be happening!" Rajji was on the verge of tears.
"It's-it's ok, nothing will happen to her," Maan said quickly, trying to reassure everyone. "Call an ambulance!"
Tayyi-ji ran out frantically & appeared a few minutes later with an extremely concerned Uncle-ji & a phone.
"Geet, please, stay with me," Maan whispered, making small circles into the back of her hand with his thumb. Rajji was using the end of her dupatta to fan Geet, who had visible sweat beads on her forehead.
"Hello, yes, an ambulance please, quickly," Uncle said, then proceeded to give the address.
Maan stared at Geet's weak face helplessly, the thick tears brimming to his eyes.
"You can't leave me," he said. "You just can't."
"What?!" Uncle exclaimed, causing everyone to look at him in surprise. He moved the phone away from his ear, looking at Maan. "They said they can't get an ambulance down here for another half an hour."
"What do they mean, they can't..." Maan trailed off, unsure what to do.
"May-maybe you should take her down there yourself," Tayyi-ji suggested, sneaking fearful glances at Darjee who remained expressionless & still as everyone else panicked.
"Yes, please, do something, anything to save my di!" Rajji pleaded.
Without even thinking twice, Maan pulled his phone out of his pocket & gave it to Uncle. "Call Nakul," he ordered. "He'll be sat outside the house. Inform him that we're taking Geet down to the hospital."
Maan wrapped the blankets securely around Geet, who was still mumbling incoherent words quietly & lifted her into his arms, holding her tightly.
"It's ok, I'm here, nothing will happen to you," Maan said softly. Geet clung onto his shirt. Maan could feel the high temperature of her body radiating off her.
"Move out of my way!" he ordered as he led Geet out of the room. Everyone else rushed behind him, with only Darjee walking casually behind, speculating the situation before him.
Maan reached the bottom of the stairs & walked straight past Brij, out of the house.
"Oi, what he's doing?!" Brij bellowed.
Rajji stopped, turned around & gave her brother a disgusted glare.
"I will never, ever forgive you for this," she spat through gritted teeth, then ran out of the house.
Maan bundled Geet into the back, lying her down across the back seats. Geet's grip on Maan's shirt was tight, she wouldn't let go. Gently, he prised her fingers off him & jumped into the front.
"We'll follow with our own car," Uncle said, & got into the Handa car with Tayyi-ji & Rajji. Darjee & Brij stood in the doorway, looking like they couldn't care less.
"How can they be so heartless?" Rajji wondered aloud. Her parents couldn't even give her an answer as they knew she was right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Move out of my way!" Maan yelled as he carried a sick Geet through the hospital in his arms. Uncle, Tayyi-ji & Rajji were behind him, Rajji was already crying a river of tears. He bumped into a doctor, & stopped before him.
"Please, help us, she has a very high fever, she needs medical help."
The doctor looked uncertain. "Look, I-"
"I'll pay you hundreds, thousands. Please, just help us." Maan pleaded.
The doctor sighed, then nodded & called for two nurses, who arrived with a stretcher bed. They placed Geet down onto it, then took her into a room. Maan was about to go inside when the doctor stopped him.
"Sir, please wait here."
"But I-"
"I understand, but its procedure."
They had an agonising 15 minute wait, then the doctor emerged out of the room, his stethoscope in his hands.
The Handas feared the worst; Rajji clung onto her mother's hand, crying uncontrollably.
Maan looked at the doctor, a lump formed in his throat. "How-how... is she...?" he trailed off, unable to form coherent words.
"She's okay."
Maan breathed a heavy sigh of relief, running his hand through his hair, overjoyed. Tayyi-ji hugged Rajji, reassuring her that Geet was out of danger. Uncle raised his head to the ceilings, thanking Babaji.
"What about her fever?"
"It's still very high. We'll have to keep her in for a night. We've given her a strong dose of aspirin, that should help her temperature to cool down a bit. I have to say, you're very lucky. A few minutes later, & she wouldn't have been with us any longer."
"Thank you so much doctor, thank you," Uncle said, stepping forward. "I owe my life to you."
"There's no need for that, it's just my job," he replied, & walked back into the room.
Uncle placed a hand on Maan's shoulder. "I'll never be able to repay you for this. You saved our Geet's life."
"It was my duty to," Maan said. He looked down at the floor, not being able to adjust the fact that Geet could have died. He truly was lucky, that she had been saved.
"Please, help us, she has a very high fever, she needs medical help."
The doctor looked uncertain. "Look, I-"
"I'll pay you hundreds, thousands. Please, just help us." Maan pleaded.
The doctor sighed, then nodded & called for two nurses, who arrived with a stretcher bed. They placed Geet down onto it, then took her into a room. Maan was about to go inside when the doctor stopped him.
"Sir, please wait here."
"But I-"
"I understand, but its procedure."
They had an agonising 15 minute wait, then the doctor emerged out of the room, his stethoscope in his hands.
The Handas feared the worst; Rajji clung onto her mother's hand, crying uncontrollably.
Maan looked at the doctor, a lump formed in his throat. "How-how... is she...?" he trailed off, unable to form coherent words.
"She's okay."
Maan breathed a heavy sigh of relief, running his hand through his hair, overjoyed. Tayyi-ji hugged Rajji, reassuring her that Geet was out of danger. Uncle raised his head to the ceilings, thanking Babaji.
"What about her fever?"
"It's still very high. We'll have to keep her in for a night. We've given her a strong dose of aspirin, that should help her temperature to cool down a bit. I have to say, you're very lucky. A few minutes later, & she wouldn't have been with us any longer."
"Thank you so much doctor, thank you," Uncle said, stepping forward. "I owe my life to you."
"There's no need for that, it's just my job," he replied, & walked back into the room.
Uncle placed a hand on Maan's shoulder. "I'll never be able to repay you for this. You saved our Geet's life."
"It was my duty to," Maan said. He looked down at the floor, not being able to adjust the fact that Geet could have died. He truly was lucky, that she had been saved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, Geet opened her eyes slowly, only to be greeted with a white ceiling. She turned to her left; the walls were white, the blinds were white, the bedsheets were white.
She blinked in confusion, then realised she was in hospital. But how... & where?
That's when she realised the paralysing pain she had been suffering throughout her limbs was no longer there. Just to make sure, she moved her legs around, & breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Babaji," she whispered, & a small smile played across her lips.
"Beautiful," came a voice from her right. "Sleeping beauty finally awakes after all these hours."
Maan.
Geet sat up, then winced slightly. Although her legs felt better, her head was still hurting a little. She turned to look at Maan, who looked at her with nothing but admiration & care.
"How did I get here?" she asked, looking around.
"I brought you here. You became very ill, dangerously ill. They said a few more minutes, and..." Maan looked down briefly, then back up at Geet. "You would have been-"
Geet quickly placed a hand over Maan's mouth. "But I'm not. I'm still here." She removed her hand away, taking Maan's hand into her own instead.
Maan smiled. "Yes, you are. For a few moments I really thought this was the end of me & you."
"You can't get rid of me that easily. Look at us, still together after all the odds."
Maan stood up & placed a soothing kiss on Geet's forehead. Geet sighed at the relaxing effect; already she felt much better, the best she had felt in days.
Uncle, Tayyi-ji & Rajji came through the door.
"Geet!" Uncle said, surprised & overjoyed. Rajji rushed over to Geet, hugging her tight. Geet felt tears fall onto her clothes.
"Are you crying?" she asked. Rajji pulled away, Geet wiped her sister's tears with her hand.
"I thought we were going to lose you. You were right on the brink, di, I was... I was so scared."
"Like I said to Maan earlier, you can't get rid of me that easily. Now stop crying, you'll set me off."
Uncle appeared beside Rajji, placing a hand on Geet's head lovingly. "How are you now, dear?"
"I feel much better." Geet looked at Tayyi-ji uncertainly, surprised by the worried look she had etched across her face. She quickly looked away.
"I guess Darjee & Brij aren't here," Geet said, feeling relieved at their absence.
"Don't even mention their god damn names," Maan said angrily. "They were happy to stand back & let you die."
Geet couldn't argue with that. Tayyi-ji stepped forward, her hands folded as she looked down at the ground.
"Geet, I feel so ashamed. The way I treated you over the years was despicable. It was appalling. I feel awful for doing that. You needed a mother figure beside you, not someone who ordered & controlled you. It was only when we were about to lose you that I realised that what I did was completely wrong. I hope, that somewhere in your golden heart, you can somehow forgive me."
She looked at Geet hopefully, who had tears streaming down her face. Geet looked at Tayyi-ji, then spread her arms out for a hug. Tayyi-ji rushed ahead & hugged Geet tightly, both of them crying.
"I forgive you," Geet said in between sobs. "I always saw you as my mother, & you can never fall out with your mother."
"I am so sorry dear, I cannot apologise enough for my shameful actions," Tayyi-ji said sincerely, wiping her tears away as she pulled back. She wiped Geet's tears away softly, smiling at her.
"You're just like your mother. Sometimes when I look at you, I see Rano staring right back at me," Tayyi-ji became slightly emotional, blinking to prevent her tears from spilling over.
The doctor walked into the room, papers in his hand.
"I apologise, I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"No, go ahead," Maan urged.
"We've looked at the papers, Miss Handa can be discharged today."
Geet smiled, feeling elated. She was beginning to taste the first drops of freedom, & they felt amazing.
"Thank you doctor," Maan said, holding Geet's hand.
"My pleasure."
Before anyone could say anything, Maan spoke.
"Geet's coming home with me."
Geet looked at Maan surprised. "What? But I-"
"Dear, I know that our house holds nothing but bad memories for you," Uncle said. "It would be futile to go back there."
Geet turned to Rajji. "I can't leave you behind."
"Yes, you can," Rajji replied. "I wanted you to leave the house all along, to find freedom & happiness. You'll get that with Maan, I'm certain of it."
"I-I haven't got any of my things-"
"You'll get everything new in Delhi, I promise. So what do you say, Geet Handa? How about you & me start a new life, together?"
She blinked in confusion, then realised she was in hospital. But how... & where?
That's when she realised the paralysing pain she had been suffering throughout her limbs was no longer there. Just to make sure, she moved her legs around, & breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Babaji," she whispered, & a small smile played across her lips.
"Beautiful," came a voice from her right. "Sleeping beauty finally awakes after all these hours."
Maan.
Geet sat up, then winced slightly. Although her legs felt better, her head was still hurting a little. She turned to look at Maan, who looked at her with nothing but admiration & care.
"How did I get here?" she asked, looking around.
"I brought you here. You became very ill, dangerously ill. They said a few more minutes, and..." Maan looked down briefly, then back up at Geet. "You would have been-"
Geet quickly placed a hand over Maan's mouth. "But I'm not. I'm still here." She removed her hand away, taking Maan's hand into her own instead.
Maan smiled. "Yes, you are. For a few moments I really thought this was the end of me & you."
"You can't get rid of me that easily. Look at us, still together after all the odds."
Maan stood up & placed a soothing kiss on Geet's forehead. Geet sighed at the relaxing effect; already she felt much better, the best she had felt in days.
Uncle, Tayyi-ji & Rajji came through the door.
"Geet!" Uncle said, surprised & overjoyed. Rajji rushed over to Geet, hugging her tight. Geet felt tears fall onto her clothes.
"Are you crying?" she asked. Rajji pulled away, Geet wiped her sister's tears with her hand.
"I thought we were going to lose you. You were right on the brink, di, I was... I was so scared."
"Like I said to Maan earlier, you can't get rid of me that easily. Now stop crying, you'll set me off."
Uncle appeared beside Rajji, placing a hand on Geet's head lovingly. "How are you now, dear?"
"I feel much better." Geet looked at Tayyi-ji uncertainly, surprised by the worried look she had etched across her face. She quickly looked away.
"I guess Darjee & Brij aren't here," Geet said, feeling relieved at their absence.
"Don't even mention their god damn names," Maan said angrily. "They were happy to stand back & let you die."
Geet couldn't argue with that. Tayyi-ji stepped forward, her hands folded as she looked down at the ground.
"Geet, I feel so ashamed. The way I treated you over the years was despicable. It was appalling. I feel awful for doing that. You needed a mother figure beside you, not someone who ordered & controlled you. It was only when we were about to lose you that I realised that what I did was completely wrong. I hope, that somewhere in your golden heart, you can somehow forgive me."
She looked at Geet hopefully, who had tears streaming down her face. Geet looked at Tayyi-ji, then spread her arms out for a hug. Tayyi-ji rushed ahead & hugged Geet tightly, both of them crying.
"I forgive you," Geet said in between sobs. "I always saw you as my mother, & you can never fall out with your mother."
"I am so sorry dear, I cannot apologise enough for my shameful actions," Tayyi-ji said sincerely, wiping her tears away as she pulled back. She wiped Geet's tears away softly, smiling at her.
"You're just like your mother. Sometimes when I look at you, I see Rano staring right back at me," Tayyi-ji became slightly emotional, blinking to prevent her tears from spilling over.
The doctor walked into the room, papers in his hand.
"I apologise, I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"No, go ahead," Maan urged.
"We've looked at the papers, Miss Handa can be discharged today."
Geet smiled, feeling elated. She was beginning to taste the first drops of freedom, & they felt amazing.
"Thank you doctor," Maan said, holding Geet's hand.
"My pleasure."
Before anyone could say anything, Maan spoke.
"Geet's coming home with me."
Geet looked at Maan surprised. "What? But I-"
"Dear, I know that our house holds nothing but bad memories for you," Uncle said. "It would be futile to go back there."
Geet turned to Rajji. "I can't leave you behind."
"Yes, you can," Rajji replied. "I wanted you to leave the house all along, to find freedom & happiness. You'll get that with Maan, I'm certain of it."
"I-I haven't got any of my things-"
"You'll get everything new in Delhi, I promise. So what do you say, Geet Handa? How about you & me start a new life, together?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They were sat in the back of the Khurana car, holding hands.
"Here's to you & me," Maan said, kissing Geet's hand. "Leaving the past behind, & looking forward to the future. Look at how everything tried to tear us apart, & somehow we still ended up together."
Geet looked up at Maan. "Because it was meant to be. Destiny. It's strange, I never believed in it before. I always thought if destiny existed, I'd always gain something good out of it. I waited 13 long years for that, & I finally found it. I love you, Maan Singh Khurana."
"I love you too, Geet Handa. I would say I waited for you, but the truth is, I didn't. I hadn't. You burst into my life, like an unexpected meteor shower, illuminating my life. From that day, I never looked back. And I never will. That's my promise to you, Geet."
Geet looked down at hers & Maan's hand entwined together, blushing. Maan smiled at her then faced forward.
"Nakul, if you could do the honours?"
The car began to drive away from the hospital. Geet turned back to see Uncle, Tayyi-ji & Rajji waving at them from afar. She gave them a small wave goodbye, before resting her head on Maan's shoulder.
Where it belonged.
"Here's to you & me," Maan said, kissing Geet's hand. "Leaving the past behind, & looking forward to the future. Look at how everything tried to tear us apart, & somehow we still ended up together."
Geet looked up at Maan. "Because it was meant to be. Destiny. It's strange, I never believed in it before. I always thought if destiny existed, I'd always gain something good out of it. I waited 13 long years for that, & I finally found it. I love you, Maan Singh Khurana."
"I love you too, Geet Handa. I would say I waited for you, but the truth is, I didn't. I hadn't. You burst into my life, like an unexpected meteor shower, illuminating my life. From that day, I never looked back. And I never will. That's my promise to you, Geet."
Geet looked down at hers & Maan's hand entwined together, blushing. Maan smiled at her then faced forward.
"Nakul, if you could do the honours?"
The car began to drive away from the hospital. Geet turned back to see Uncle, Tayyi-ji & Rajji waving at them from afar. She gave them a small wave goodbye, before resting her head on Maan's shoulder.
Where it belonged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well well well.
There you go guys, Maan & Geet got their happy ending.
An epilogue will be up soon to tie up any loose ends, so don't fear.
And along with that, a special post, or posts from me to all of you readers will be up after the epilogue so keep your eyes peeled out for that.
I'll be honest, I was stuck between a rock & a hard place with this ending.
I didn't know whether to kill Geet off or give them a happy ending, so I literally did heads or tails & went with latter.
I hope I did it justice for you guys.
You all HAVE to comment on the ending! I will be very annoyed if I don't receive a billion comments! 😆 (Ok, maybe not that much)
Epilogue - Red Thread
Well well well.
There you go guys, Maan & Geet got their happy ending.
An epilogue will be up soon to tie up any loose ends, so don't fear.
And along with that, a special post, or posts from me to all of you readers will be up after the epilogue so keep your eyes peeled out for that.
I'll be honest, I was stuck between a rock & a hard place with this ending.
I didn't know whether to kill Geet off or give them a happy ending, so I literally did heads or tails & went with latter.
I hope I did it justice for you guys.
You all HAVE to comment on the ending! I will be very annoyed if I don't receive a billion comments! 😆 (Ok, maybe not that much)
Epilogue - Red Thread
Cricket
Jhanak
Hindi TV Shows
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Writers Corner: Books, Stories & Poems
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