Geet: Mom hurry up...or else I might be late
Rano (came running out of the kitchen carrying a food plate): Okay okay here you are. Eat right now.
Geet: I know...(Rano comes and sits next to her...Geet looks at her and stops eating) mom its okay. I am going to be okay.
Rano: do you have to go?
Geet: I have to go for an interview. I will be back in a week.
Rano: Why is the interview important?
Geet: yeah it is mandatory for them to interview all the students. If I do good then, only then, I will get selected to join.
Rano (has tears in her eyes): Did you make your arrangements of where you will stay?
Geet: Yes, I will stay in a hotel near the college. I have everything ready. Don't worry.
Mohindar (just came in with shopping bags) I got you some sweaters and jackets. I hear it would be kind of cold there. Come and take a look Geetu...
Geet looked at her father in awe. The only time he calls her Geetu is when he is sad about something. Geetu was her pet name when she was little. She still remembers when her dad used to call her Geetu for everything and to tell you the truth she loved it when her father called her by that name. As she grew older, Geetu became Geet...she never asked for him to not call her Geetu but she knew that he understood she is getting older and one day she has to leave. It was his way of letting her grow up but whenever she is going away or starting something new Geetu just flowed out of his mouth, she missed hearing Geetu. Her first day of school, she still remember his face when he was dropping her of to her school. He had bend down on his one knee and just gave her a smile. After many years, did she realize what was behind that smile. It was pain. The pain of seeing your only kid growing up so fast. The pain of knowing that one day, one day, she will be gone. The pain of not being able to hold on to your kid but only their memories. Now, today, she is watching her father as he once again gave her the same smile. She didn't want to leave them. She didn't want to but it was for her and for their best interest that she leaves.
Ever since that shetan came into her life he has forced her make decisions that she never thought of making them. He forced her to lie again and again to the very people she loves. She is forced to abandon them just because of him. How can he even think that she will agree to marry a complete stranger? Yeah, it has been almost three weeks since he entered her life and yet she doesn't know anything about him. Not once did he mention anything about himself. All I know is his name and where he works. He knows everything about me, to where I am going, to even my college and job schedule and yet he didn't know me at all. Does he even know that you can't force someone to be in a relationship? What it takes? No, of course not, if he knew then he wouldn't be doing all the things with me. What is he made of? How can he be so cruel and cold hearted? She was glad that she wouldn't see him anymore but still deep down his threat of marriage? What did he mean about I will find out soon in alley? Babaji please don't let him come in front of me again. Please. Geet made her way to her father...looking at the clothes he brought for her.
Geet: I love all of them but for now I will take two sweaters with me.
Rano: Are you sure?
Geet: Yeah mom. (she hugs her father..) Thank you papa.
Mohindair (pats her head) Your welcome. When is your flight?
Geet: In an hour.
Rano (starts panicking) what? oh my god I have a lot of things to finish. (she starts going all around the house while Geet and her father laughed at her state...)
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Maan sat in the office on his rocking chair. He hated how he felt right now. He hated how she made him feel. Why did he stop? Why didn't he go in with what he had planned? Why? He stops the rocking chair and stands up in anger. NO...NO I won't let her change me. I won't let anyone change me. I am who I am for good. I like the way I am right now. He goes to the office drawer and takes out a picture. He smashes the picture frame on the floor. Glass was scattered everywhere. He moves the glass around the picture with his bare hand. He didn't even flinch when the glass cuts his finger. He looks at the photo in his hand. He takes out a lighter and burns the picture looking at it while it burns. Geet comes into his room. She was horrified of what she saw. She looked at Maan's hand, of what he was holding, she was confused at to what he was burning. Her eyes were glued to his hand. She panicked each time the flame would get closer and closer toward his fingers. She rushed towards him as the flame almost touched his fingers, the picture was now turned to dust except from one end of the corner. She takes his hand into his. Maan snatches her hand away from her and holds her hair putting her head back looking at her with anger. She didn't understand him at all. Each day he is becoming more and more mysterious. His eyes spoke of agony and anger. She couldn't look into his eyes..she felt like her whole body would caught on fire looking into the depth of the fire in his eyes. The fire was burning with anger. She couldn't understand if the fire was for her or something else. Either way she was ready to be burnt by him. She was ready for whatever he has planned for her. She couldn't fight anymore. She couldn't. She had no other way out but to accept him and his anger. He was after all her shetan. She cries in pain as Maan held her hair tighter and tighter.
Maan: Why are you here? (he spoke in a low threatening voice. The truth is she didn't have an answer to his question. She, herself, didn't knew why she was here. What made her run after him. What made her become in a panic state when she had heard something break in here. Why did she even leave her room in the first place? Why did she had to make sure if he was safe or not? Why? Will be there ever be any answer as to why? She looks at him...he pushes her head back a little) Answer me...Why are you here?
Geet (looks away) I...I don't know (He lets go of her harshly causing her to step back due to force...She screamed in pain. Maan turns around and looks at her. She was holding her foot..it was bleeding...he comes and picks her up. She looks into his eyes which showed concern and guilt...he places her down on the bed in their room. He takes out the glass from her foot..she screams due to pain)
Maan: This pain is nothing...so stop screaming...(She looked at him...trying to read his eyes but he didn't look at her once..he just cleaned her wound and left her alone in the room letting her wander in her own thoughts..)
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Geet looked at her parents as they waved her good bye with teary eyes. She tried so hard to not cry. She knew if she starts crying now her parents won't let her go and she won't be able to get away from her shetan. She had to show them she is strong but the reality is she is breaking down..piece by piece her shetan is breaking her. She wondered when will be the last breaking point. She looked beyond her parents and was actually happy she didn't see her shetan. She hoped he didn't come her way again. She sat in her chair and waited for the plane to take off. She looked outside the window trying to remember Delhi, even though she is only going for a week for now. She will miss her town...she knew every single corner and street. It was where she grew up. She heard the announcement being made for the flight taking off soon. She puts on her seat belt and looked at the person sitting on her side. She was shocked. Her shetan smirked at her as he looked at her shocked face. He places his hand on top of hers bringing her back to reality. He leans closer to her almost whispering in her ear.
Maan: Going without me? hmmm (she was trapped...the flight had started moving and it was too late to get up.)
Geet: hh hhow did you..
Maan: find me? Come on its not hard keeping an eye on you. But I gotta say I am mad of you not telling me you are going to America. I had to find it out from stangers. (he holds her hand tighter with anger...she flinches in pain...trying to remove her hand from his) Its not that easy to escape from me. Now you will know what I will do. I told you Geet...you are mine...(She looks at him...his words and his mere presence scared her. She couldn't go to anyone for help. She was scared of what he is going to do now...her throat went dry...) For now just enjoy your ride...
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Maan did his work out in anger. He kicked and broke anything and everything that came in his way. He didn't care. His wound from yesterday opened up..blood was dripping down his arm landing on the floor as he worked out. Meanwhile, Geet walked out of the room again with great difficulty. She stopped outside of his study room again. She listened for any noises coming from inside. Slowly, she opened the door and found it empty. She looked at the burned photograph on the floor. She picked it up. Not much was left except for one corner of the picture and Geet couldn't make out anything of who was in the picture. She looked toward the door once again making sure he wasn't coming. She walked to the study table, ignoring the pain in her leg each time she puts pressure on the wound, she opened up one of the desk drawer and saw a notebook-a diary of some sort. She took the diary and opened the book as she was about to read it she heard some noise which scared her. Quickly, she puts the diary back going toward the noise.
Anupamaa
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