MG FF:Mystery of CryingCastle Epilogue 2/11 - Page 17

Chapter 20: For a second Time

Dadi looked at her guests as they sipped coffee and tea respectively. Arjun asked for milk and Geet pouted big time.

"Bhaiyya, I am not a small child anymore. I want tea." Arjun didn't pay heed to her complaint.

"For me you will always be a small child Gudiya. Now don't fuss and drink it up." Geet drank up but sulked later on.

"Geet and Rajeshwari, why don't you go with Annie and help her with her dresses? She has so many and is not sure which one to wear for all the functions." Annie gladly took Geet with her and once they were out of the main hall, Dadi came to the point of calling Arjun.

"Arjun, there is something I was wanting to ask you." Arjun nodded as if he knew.

"I know Dadi. It is about Geet, isn't is?" Dadi raised a brow and then understood.

"Oh, yes. I am still interested in knowing more about her. Now that you reminded me, do tell." Armaan and Adi sat silently and let Arjun give Dadi an explanation.

"Geet used to be in college with us all. In fact she was in our batch. During that time, she fell in love with someone and suffered a severe heartbreak, when she found out that he was just making use of her innocence and was not serious." Dadi shook her head in pity.

"During all this turmoiled, her mind was over stressed and as a result she completely lost her memory. I have to admit that I felt, to some extened, responsible for her state. She has noone apart from Rajji and I could not let her be left alone like this. I took both of them with me to Mumbai and since then, they live with me as my sister."

"That was a very good thing Arjun. And is there no way to get her memory to return?" Dadi looked at Armaan. He sat a little stiffly in his couch.

"There might be ways but the down side is that they can all have a reverse affect on her mind. We cannot predict if she will be able to handle it or not and we don't want her to suffer more problems."

"I understand, I understand." Dadi waited a few mintues to arrange the next set of questions in her mind.

"What you should not forget, beta, is that she is not a child anymore but a grown up girl. I can understand that she is suffering from amnesia but she still has to live her life properly."

"What do you mean?" Adi asked her.

"I mean, that she is getting older by every passing year. Don't you want her to get married and settle down?" Arjun had dreaded that question. He even didn't permit his own mind to pose it to him. Seeing Arjun's silence Dadi continued:

"Don't you want to see her get married?"

"I do, Dadi, I really do. I want my Gudiya to get all the happiness that she was deprived off all these years. But she needs a lot of care and attention. She needs someone who will understand her condition and be by her side in good as well as in bad times. Where will I find such a guy?" Dadi smiled.

"I know one person that has all qualities you are looking for. He will always keep Geet happy, believe me." Arjun, Armaan and Adi sat upright.

"Who?" they asked as one.

"Your own friend, Maan."

The girls had a blast in Annie's room. She had put all her dresses onto her bed and asked for Geet's and Raj's opinion.

"I think this yellow one is nice for the Haldi ceremoney and this turquois one for Sangeet. What do you say, Geet di?" Raj commented. Geet had taken the red wedding lehenga into her hands and was lost in thought. Annie giggled.

"Geet, thinking of someone special?" she asked as normally as possible.

"Hmm" Geet answered absent mindedly but realised what she had said the second later.

"I mean, no…I was just looking." Geet turned a deep shade of red as Annie laughed.

"Rajeshwari bittya, aap ko bahar bulaya hain. (Rajeshwari dear, you are called outside.)" Nakul knocked onto the door and Raj left them alone. Outside, Vicky waited for her and closed her mouth with his hand.

"Shh, come with me." He led her to the garden and they sat together, enjoying the evening breeze.

"Come on, tell me, who is your dream guy?" Geet lowered her head. She felt so embarrassed. Her mind had wandered of to Maan as she saw the red dress. Inevitably she imagined her own wedding with Maan and that was when Annie had asked her. Annie probed a bit more.

"Come on, I can clearly see that you are in love. Tell me who he is." Geet was alone with Annie but even then she couldn't bring herself to voice the name. She got up and ran out of the room, too shy to stand Annie's teasing.

"NO" Arjun jumped up so quickly, that Dadi dropped her cup of tea. Even Armaan and Adi got up and gave Arjun a look.

"Chill Arjun, calm down." Armaan put his hand on Arjun's shoulder and stood with his back to Dadi.

"Man, don't behave like this. What will she think?" he whispered in a low voice.

"Arjun, what happened to you? What is wrong in Maan and Geet marrying?" Arjun tried to calm himself and find an answer that would satisfy Dadi. He knew the old lady in front of him too well to be able to fool her.

"Dadi, Maan is not the right person for Geet, believe me. He is a total workaholic, he has serious temper issues and Geet will not be able to handle him, forget about the other way round." He walked a little away from her as he talked.

"I know Maan just as well as you do Arjun, that is why I don't understand you refusing. Maan is only so serious about work and he will cut it down afterall, Dev is also helping in office now. About his anger, he gets angry at times I agree but he never got angry without a reasonand I am sure, Geet will not give him one as well." Dadi got up and walked to Arjun.

"Tell me, is it because you and Maan had a fight that you don't want them to get married?" Dadi asked straight.

"Is he now such a stranger to you that you don't trust him anymore."

"I don't Dadi. And he have me a good reason for not trusting him anymore." His face contorted in anger.

"No matter what will happen in future, even if Geet remains unmarried the rest of her life, I will never allow Maan to marry her. I will take care of her, I will be there but I will never, let me repeat NEVER, let Maan anywhere near her again." Adi and Armaan looked at each other. They saw the shocked expression on Dadi's face as she heard Maan's best friend utter such words about him.

"Nahin jeene doge Geet ko khushi se? Geet ko bad karke rakho ge humesha? (You will not let Geet live happily? You will always lock her up?)" Every head turned to the hollow and scratchy voice. Geet stood at the stairs, her face again contorted into the hatred, the manical twinkle in her eyes. Her mouth formed a grin, a mean and dangerous grin. She advanced the group and Armaan, who was the only one not stunned to his roots, hid Dadi protectively behind his back. Geet's movements were strange. She dragged her feet, as if an invisible weight was conneted to her feet, preventing her from walking. She grabbed her hair and pulled them, screaming now.

"BAND KARO GE GEET KO? NAHIN JAANE DOGE USSE? KAUN HOTE HO TUM ROKNE WALE? KAISE ROKO GE TUM GEET KO? (You will lock Geet up? You will not let her go? Who are you to stop her? How will you stop Geet?)" Geet stopped in front of Arjun who couldn't move. His eyes were widened in horror as she was very close to him now. She took her fists and started to beat Arjun. Her blows were hard for someone as weak and fragile as she was. She screamed in anger pushed Arjun, who fell. She bend down and held his troat, chocking him.

"GEET, GEET choro usse. (Geet, Geet, let him go.)" Armaan and Adi tried to release the grip but Geet's hand flew out and she scratched Adi's face with her nails.

"Ahh" Adi jumped back and felt the blood flowing out of his face. Armaan had to do something quickly. He took off his belt and threw it to Adi. Then he grabbed Geet's hands from behind her and with as much energy as he could collect, he held her hand behind her back.

"Adi, tie her hands, quickly." Adi hesitated but seeing Armaan slowly losing control he quickly put the belt around her wrists and tied it. The belt cut through Geet's wrists but she fought the hold. Her breathing got erratic and her hollow voice groaned louder and louder.

"GEET DI, GEET DI" Rajeshwari screamed loudly from the distance. Vicky held her back and prevented her from going any closer to Geet. Geet's body stood still for a second and gave way. Geet slipped onto the floor, unconcious.

For a few moments, there was complete silence. Dadi held her heart in horror of what she had just witnessed. Yuvraj and Sheilja, who had come running as they heard Geet's scream stood rooted at the fireplace and so did Dev, Veer, Annie, Raj and Vicky. Maan was at the door. He had seen every thing from the moment Dadi had asked Arjun if Maan was a stranger to him now. Noone wanted to go closer to her. She lay on the floor, hands tied and the hair all over her face. Arjun coughed hard and tried to breath in enough air to come back to normal. Geet's hands had left a dark imprint on his throat. Armaan got closer to Geet and stopped as she moved. He observed her closely. His brain was like shut down. All his medical training seemed to be of no use to him at this stage. Geet's body shivered badly. Armaan tried to touch had and felt the temperature.

"Adi, get the car out. She is burning up." He took her into his arms, not bothernig to take off the belt. Geet was unpredictalbe now. She had for the second time lost control over herself and he couldn't risk her doing that again. Armaan saw Maan at the door and gave him a hard and serious look. Maan moved out of the way unsure if to follow or not.

"Adi, you go as well. Your face looks bad." Veer came forward and inspected Adi's face.

"Yeah, but keep Rajeshwari here. I don't want her to get harmed." Adi looked up and Veer nodded. Raj sobbed badly into Vicky's cheast. Vicky looked around, his mind not registering anything. He could feel the terror in his bones and also the fear Raj felt.

Dev made Dadi sit and Yuvraj made Sheilja sit next to her. Dev arranged for coffee and tea and indicated Vicky to calm Raj down. Maan still stood at the door, not being able to move.

"What on earth did just happen?" Dev asked as he, too, took a seat.

"Did Geet just get…possesed?" Annie asked weakly. They looked at her.

"I hear it happens. You know, by spirits." Raj looked up to see who had said that.

"Nonesense. This is all because of Maan." She spoke in anger and freed herself form Vicky.

"Maan? What has Maan to do with it?" Rajeshwari was too angry to answer. Her mind was filled with hatred and fear. Vicky held her back, made her sit and spoke to answer the question.

"You don't know but Maan and Geet were together in college. They loved each other, at least Geet did." He slowly told them everything that he had heard from Raj, Arjun, Armaan and Adi that day in the hospital. At times he felt Raj wanting to speak up but he didn't let her. When Vicky finished, the atmosphere had changed in the room. Maan hung his head in shame while Yuvraj, Sheilja, Dadi, Veer and Dev were giving him a very much disappointed and disgusted look. Never would they have thought that their pride, their son and brother Maan would stoop so low, would go to such an extent to hurt someone just for his own benefit. Before anyone could say something to him, he rushed off to Sanjeevani.

Chapter 21: Ghosts

"Armaan, tell me what is going on? What are they doing to her?" Maan was in agnoy. A handful of doctors were handling Geet and blocking the view for the others.

"Maan, let us do. We have to get her back to conciousness again. The last time she came back herself, this time I hope she does, too."

"What if not?" Maan whispered.

"Maan, keep out of this. Don't you see what you have done to her? Isn't this much torture enough?" Arjun pulled Maan away from Geet's room.

"Arjun believe me, I didn't do anything purposely. I had no idea that all this will happen. I feel sorry and I am ready to do anything to rectify my mistake."

"Then go away. Stay away from her Maan." Arjun gritted his teeth.

"No, I let her go away once, I am not letting her go again. Do you want me to do the same mistake twice?"

"What difference will it make to you? You didn't love her then, you don't love her now."

"I do Arjun, I really love…" Arjun hit Maan across his face, causing him to hit the wall.

"Arjun, Maan, stop it." Armaan, who already had all hands full to do with Geet was irritated to have to deal with these two as well. Adi was being taken care of by nurse Lovely and couldn't help.

"Maan, go form here. Just leave for now. I will call you if we get somewhere, I promise." Armaan made Maan leave and Arjun cooled down after a while.

Armaan had, purely as a precousion tied Geet's hands down. The ropes still allowed free movements and so Geet was provided full comfort in case she woke up.

"I wonder…" Armaan observed Geet from behind the glass door. Dr Kirti, another senior doctor on duty stood next to him. She had heard about the case with much interest. Her first instinct had told her that Geet must be a mental patient, but the more she learned, the more she felt that this was not the case.

"What are you wondering about?"

"I was trying to find out the reason for Geet's sudden change in behaviour. Both times when Geet attacked Arjun in her…manical state, it was when Arjun had spoken about keeping Maan away from her." He paused.

"Why does he want to keep her away from Maan? If his presence can cure her, then he should encourage her to spend more time with her."

"You don't understand doctor. Maan is responsible for her state." He briefly explained about them both, keeping to the facts as much as possible. After he was done, she said:

"This might be my misconception but I think she deep down in her subconcioun still loves him very much. She reacts like this because she feels that she is again being taken away from her love like so many years ago and the fear and panick make her lose control." Armaan spun around. Yes, this must it be. As a psychiatrist, Armaan knew well that no patient could be understood fully. Every human brain worked differently and no matter how much knowledge he would collect over the time, he would never be able to be a perfect psychiatrist. Geet's case was the first of a kind he has come across and this might be the root of her problem.

Dadi asked Raj to stay over for the night while Yuvraj inquired with Adi about Geet. When Maan came home, he was received by his motehr in a very unpleasant way. Sheilja walked up to him and hit right across his face. Not once, not twice but as often as she felt right.

"How could you Maan? Is this what I had taught you? Aisi seekh di thi main tujhe?" Maan didn't stop his mother. He knew he desereved this and maybe much more for the pain he had inclined on everyone, not only Geet. Sheilja cried bitterly and Yuvraj took her away. Maan's heart constricted when for the first time his father's eyes lacked the pride he had felt for him. Maan was always the ideal child but today he had proven them wrong.

Veer and Dev didn't speak to Maan, nor did anyone else. Annie made sure Raj is ok and stayed with her for the night. Vicky couldn't close an eye, his mind wandered to Geet. Out of everyone, he was the only one who could truly feel what Geet must have felt and he was feeling sorry for her. In his case, Raj loved him and she came back but Maan never loved Geet. She must have been shattered and heartbroken.

"I wish we could do something." He said a loud. Dev and Veer, who were also on the terrace simply nodded. Dev was thinking about words spoken by someone.

"Guys, I know this sounds impossible but what if Annie is right?"

"What did Annie say?" Veer asked and even Vicky frowned.

"She suggested that Geet might be…possessed."

"I hardly think this is what has happened, Dev. Even if, then by whose ghost?" This made all three think.

"The castle…Geet was found laying in front of the castle so she might…" Vicky got up, all excited about the new idea.

"Come on Vicky, you don't want to say that the spirit of the castle left its domain and got into Geet. Remember about every person who got close to the place was found dead. Let me repeat, DEAD. Why would Geet be spared?" The excitement left Vicky as quick as she had gabbed him.

"Do you believe in ghosts?" Dev asked absent mindedly.

"No, I don't" Veer answered.

"I didn't ask, this is what Ferri asked me the day I met her in her office. She asked if I believed in ghosts and I replied that I couldn't tell. I …" and then, he knew what to do next.

Ferri looked up to the figure who had just burst into her cabin. She wasn't used to such behaviour as she demanded respect from all her clients. Dev's face, though, showed the desperation.

"I need your help" Dev said and sat.

"I had guessed as much." He got as a reply.

"Do you remember when we met the last time in here? You asked me if I believed in ghost. Why did you ask me that?" Ferri leaded back and rested her head onto the leather cussion hanging from her chair.

"I have heard many tales about this castle, Mr Khurana. My work is such that I hear a lot most of which I never think about twice."

"Then why now?" Dev asked again. Ferri looked at him, her eyes concentrating on Dev.

"Many years ago, three college students got killed in the castle, I am sure you have at least heard of this." Dev nodded.

"My colleague was asked to investigate the deaths closer and he came across interesting facts. Many details were unrelevant and so never got out into public but I am sure he still had the file somewhere in his office." She got up and walked into another cabin, switching on the light and searching for a folder. Dev waited as patiently as he could.

"Here it is." She opened it up and a hugh stack of paper presented itself.

"This castle has a name, do you know what it is?"

"I don't know but I remember Pinky's mom talking about it."

"This castle is called Roti Hui Haveli. In English it means as much as Crying Castle. The question I asked myself at that point was why crying? As it turned out, many villagers have reported to have heard the castle cry at night. Well it was either the castle or something or someone inside that cried." Dev didn't know what do say.

"There is always the possibility that the sound resulted from the wind. Many people easily misunderstand a howling for a crying."

"And you think it is a ghost?" Dev asked. He wouldn't have thought that a woman as sensible as her believed in somethnig like this.

"It is not my believe that counts. A howl of the wind or the cry of a spirit, it makes no difference to me. But tell me, why are you asking?" Dev rubbed his temple and narrated about the evening's happenings.

"I don't know if what Annie has suggested has even a grain a truth in it or not but if, then…" He himself didn't know further.

"Well, if this helps you, I can LEND you this folder for tonight. Go trough it and see if you find anything you need. I cannot let you take this out, I hope you understand." Dev thanked Ferri and sat on the sofa of her office and looked throught the folder.

"Maa, yeh log kaun hain? (Maa, who are these people?)" a little girl asked her mother from above the railing.

"Yeh log aap ki didi ko dekhne aae hain. Uski shadi ke liye. (They have come to meet your sister. It is to get her marriage fixed.)" The girl smiled brightly. A wedding was approaching again. Her oldest didi's wedding, she recalled, had been grand and she was sure that her mother wouldn't spare any efforts in making this event just as memorable. The girl ran into her room and opened her closet. She had very pretty dresses, all made by the family tailor. She picked one dress for each function and also the matching jewelleries. She frowned when she didn't find a matching on for the pink lehenga.

"Maa, mujhe shaadi mein pehen ne ke liye rani rang ke zewar chahiye (Maa, I want jewellery with pink stones for the wedding)." Her mother sighed and nodded.

"Mein lake dungi, ab jao apne kamre mein.(I will get them for you, now go to your room.)"

The girl left happily. Everyone was busy, the entire place was brimming with people, guests and servants. The bride to be was the centre of attention and very happy indeed. She looked at her mehendi and blushed when she saw how dark it had become. A loving husband that was all that was left to make her life perfect. Crash. The hall was filled with silence. The little girl looked fearful at her mother who was angry now.

"Maine nahin kaha tha, apne kamre mein jao?(Hadn't I told you to go to your room?)" She stood up but a servant already pulled the little girl away. The guests looked at the silver plate on the floor and the contents spread on the floor. The flower, the dia and the red power which should have adored the bride's forehead in a few days time. And then they heard someone say what everyone feared: A bad omen.

Geet's eyes opened. All that she could see was the white ceiling. A steady beep came from the machine to her right. She didn't try to get up because she felt that she would have no power to do so. She tried to think how she came to this place. Did she faint again? The last thing she remembered was Dadi asking Arjun for her hand in marriage for Maan. The joy she had felt, the happiness that had spread through her had been undescribable. Then her world came craching down when Arjun had said no. She cried. She cried out loudly because of the pain in her heart. Why was she in pain? Why was she feeling so bad about not being able to marry Maan?

"Geet?" Geet didn't react. Doctor Anjali and Armaan came in after hearing the noise from Geet's room.

"Ammy, mujhe darn horaha hain. (Ammy, I am hurting.)" Geet whimpered. Armaan came closer and tried to wipe away her tears.

"Kaha, Geet? (Where, Geet?)" he asked her. Geet saw Anjali next to him. She took her hand and slowly put it onto her heart.

"Yaha. (Here.)" she whispered. Anjali looked at Armaan and then at her hand which was just above Geet's heart.

"Arjun bhaiyya ne kyun na bola? Mujhe Maan se shaadi kyun nahin karne dete? (Why did Arjun bro say no? Why is he not letting me marry Maan?)" Geet asked. Armaan felt so helpless, torn between his two friends and seeing the third one suffer like this.

He sat on his knees and took Geet's hand into his.

"Do you love Maan?" Armaan asked Geet. Geet nodded even before the actual question registered in her mind.

"Mujhe Maan se shaadi karni hain. (I want to marry Maan)" her voice was a little scratchy. Anjali took a glass of water and held it to Geet's mouth. Armaan lifted Geet's head and made her drink.

"If this makes my desi girl happy." He smiled and so did Geet. She remembered this name. She remembered Armaan calling her this many times before. The doctors left and she closed her eyes again.

Originally posted by: adorableyosh

Mina

In Family Chart there are no names under the name of third sister 'Sharmila' why? is Geet related to that third sister Sharmila?

How did Geet get injured that day?

Originally posted by: sonnal_17

hey...wow i read your story in one go...how could i miss such a story...and now waiting for the next part...it was really amazing...god all the time i wished to kill Maan...poor Geet...but loved all the characters...and the best is Arjun...but hope Geet gets well soon...

Originally posted by: Simran_14

Hey dear I just came across ur FF. Read it in one ago

Loved it

Loved the concept.

You have done a great job

loved the way u have carried the stroy

and maintained the suspenses

Plz add me to ur pm list

Sending u a buddy request

Regards simran 😊😊

Originally posted by: sweet scorpio

superb parts!

can't believe that maan did this to geet!...but like maan,arjun and all are at fault...then why are they blaming maan???..i mean ok maan did very wrong by leaving her alone that night but he didn't have a slightest idea that shell go near the castle!...and top of that arjun was the one who encouraged geet after knwoing that maan is not at all interested in her...if arjun have made geet understand in the starting only then geet must have left maan alone!...I think arjun and maan have both done the mistake!...Now arjun is doing a bigger mistake by not letting maan meet geet!...If arjun knew his best friend then he shuld have known how maan is feeling right now and how mush he loves geet!...Atleast he should give maan a second chance!...then if geet gets her memory back then it's upto her that she'll 4give him or not!...

I happy for vicky-raj and veer-annie!...they got their love!:)

is geet really possessed???...the way she talks is really scary...I really felt goosebumps while I was reading that part!

why do I have this feeling that the family tree is incomplete and many mysteries is yet to be revealed???

continue soon!