25. Back with her
Maan sat down beside her to look at the sleeping Geet...no not asleep sedated. Because it became necessary to control her panic as her blood pressure escalated. He sighed as he brushed her hair back from her face. She flinched making him wish to take a swipe at the pathetic excuse for human on two legs called Brij. "Geet", he called as he cupped her cheek, trying to make her recognize his touch, to make her feel the support and protection of his presence. He left his hand on her cheek until the breath that had hitched up slowed down.
No amount of reassurance seemed to calm her, Daadi had said, the only thing that registered for her was that Brij was back. Daadi herself was on the verge of collapse. She had broken down on his arrival. He hadn't been able to make head or tail of her explanation at first. Then after she calmed down he understood that Geet's uncle had come for her and Geet got frightened of him. When he had tried to forcefully take her away Daadi refused to send her with him and had claimed that Geet was her bahu. She told it was only when Rudr came back that she came to know what a horrible person Geet's uncle was. He had sold his niece to one of his friends. After comforting her he had sent her bed making sure she took a tranquilizer.
The next doze of shock came from Rudr. His anger at Brij convinced Maan that he really cared about Geet. For once, he was grateful for Rudr's presence because he was the one who had helped Daadi to hold on. What he learned from Rudr about Geet's past was even more dreadful. From what Nt told him Rudr was sure Geet was raped as a teenager with Brij's approval, something like providing some fun to his drinking buddy before she was handed over to the person who bought her. Rudr seemed to have kept that information from Daadi, for which Maan was thankful.
Though it was morning the curtains were drawn, yet he could see how pale she was. He leaned down to touch his lips to her forehead before moving away to pull a chair closer to the bed. Holding her hand in his he continued to gaze at her. It had to happen when he was away. Daadi was sorry that she had taken his choice away from him by claiming that Geet was his wife. He had comforted her saying he had already made a similar decision. Yes he had decided to marry Geet, but he had counted on having a bit more time to woo her into acceptance. Now it was Geet who was left with no choice. But that too was not truly correct, because he would have convinced her they were the perfect match. So now he will have to convince her so after marriage, now that monster has come back for her there was no way he would let her back off from marriage.
She stirred, becoming restless and her breath became faster again as if she was being pulled into a nightmare. Even as he stood up to comfort her she sat up in the bed quickly, panting, the panic darkening her eyes as she took bearing of her surroundings.
"Geet," he called as he moved closer, not wanting to touch her in case it frightened her.
The eyes that lifted to his held myriad of emotions, Surprise, happiness, relief, longing, a need for comfort. With a gasp she raised herself on her knees to hug him tightly. His arms went around her. " Maan..." she sobbed, the depth of desperation and pain in her voice made his throat ache. So he just let her cry, absorbing the tremors of her shaking body and lending her his strength. His hands on her hair gently stroked.
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"shh..shh... ..I'm here...I won't let anything happen to you." He repeated over and over until she calmed down a bit. He moved to sit on the bed with her on his lap.
"He came back..." her hold on him tightened, "but how ...? ...they let him out" her voice trembled, "...how could they do that Maan?" she raised her head from his shoulder to look at him, puzzle preceding panic now.
"Where was he?"
"In jail."
"Jail? Who is he Geet? Daadi said he was your uncle." He wanted her to tell him, to open up.
"No, she denied vehemently. "Will any man sell his brother's daughter? Will any uncle enjoy seeing his niece being raped?" She closed her eyes and continued in a breath, "Will you call him your uncle if he becomes so excited by the tortured screams of his niece that he would push himself into..." she broke off as the pain, the terror, the shock and the degradation chocked her. The things that she endured that night was so painful and degrading that she was never able to talk about them to anybody. She had never been able to shake off the feeling that the incident left her tainted. She opened her eyes again, to distract herself from those horrible memories that became so much a part of her that they engulfed her with the slightest provocation and saw his face. The absolute disbelief and shock that made him immobile reflected on his face. It made her conscious, making her realize that she was still sitting on his lap. It made her realize that she had no right smearing his life with her soiled past.
"I'm sorry" she said as she tried to get away from him. but he pulled her back refusing to let her slide away.
"Oh! Sweet heart what you have endured!"
"I don't want to talk about it." It hurts too much. "Let me go!"
"No! I wont." He stated brooking no argument. "No one will hurt you now. Not ever. You are mine and no one will dare touch what is mine!"
"But..."
"No arguments Geet. We will get married as soon as possible."
"But you can't marry..."
"I can and I will."
"What about Sam?"
"What about her?"
"You were to marry Sameera," silent tears started to flow. "I'm sorry...I never intended to ..."
"Who told you about Sam?"
"Does it matter?" the tears now turned to sobs.
"It was just a proposal. Sameera will understand."
"How can you do this Maan? I won't let you give up your happiness because you have to protect me. I'm sorry...who ever touches my life has to suffer because of my misfortunes."
"Look at me Geet" he caught her face by her chin and made her look at him. "Trust me when I say this. Marriage to Sameera was just an option for me, just a proposal. It was not definite. Daadi wanted me to settle down and when Dev's death took a toll on her health I accepted I would marry. Since Sam was my friend, someone I knew from childhood, someone who knew me, I thought of choosing her. You are not breaking any relationship. Do you believe me?"
It was difficult not to accept the truth that shined in his eyes. She nodded her head. He wiped the tears off her cheeks and commanded, "Stop crying now." He waited for her to obey and held her silently for sometime, weighing his next words as he did not want to alarm her.
"I care about you Geet...taking care of you has become a pleasurable habit. You have become such an important part of my life that protecting you from all danger has become my necessity. Besides Daadi has already claimed you as her bhahu." He smiled.
This was something that she so desperately wanted...to belong to Maan, to love him without feeling guilty, to be his in every sense. No, how can she...when she can never be the wife he deserves? When she couldn't be his wife in a real sense, maimed as she was! Despair lent her the energy to break free.
PART 26ok sorry for the delay...posting without editing as usual...will do that 2morrow morn...goodnight i'm off to bed...make my morning good with lots of comments😊
Book Talk
Cricket
36