Part 8:
Geet rushed into her room and fell on the bed. She was terrified with what had happened. How could she do such a thing? Didnt she have any shame? Girls in her town were not even allowed to study forget working. But her family, depite being the narrow minded people they were, allowed her to work after her education. Was this how she was repaying them? She remembered her darjee's warning before leaving for her education.
His words to stay away from any sort of boy were still fresh in her mind. The more she thought about her family, the more fear crept into her. It was true that she loved Maan, but not at the cost of her family. She could not think about him in such sinful way without having any relation with him. Women in her family did not even dare to talk in front of thier husbands forget expecting them to fulfill thier secret desires and she had already crossed the line in that regard.
She decided that avoiding Maan would be the best solution for both of them. She did not even know if Maan felt anything for her and she could not make her family understand. She would love him till her last breath but she would maintain her distance.
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The next week passed by with Geet trying to avoid Maan as much as possible. Maan tried talking to her but Geet came him the silent treatment. She replied to only questions relating work and kept quiet otherwise.
Maan had had enough. He kept on punching the punching bag in his gym, trying to vent out his frustration. All the hard work he had done to gain her trust seemed to be going down the drain with her totally avoiding him. That non existing god knew how much he swallowed his pride and tried to get her talk to him. Just what the hell did she think of herself? If it werent for his ulterior motive she would have been swatted like a fly long back. But for now he had to take things slowly and somehow convince her.
He moved on towards his tai-chi regime, his mind still working on how to get Geet. Suddenly an idea stiked his mind. Slow was not a word in Maan Singh Khurana's dictionary. Waiting was so not him. He knew a quick solution to his problem named Geet.
Smiling to himself he wiped himself with a towel. Oh Geet! Your ignoring me has only increased my thirst for you, and just thinking of you makes me get brilliant ideas. After this, you will not be able to refuse me Geet. Just wait and watch out for your fate when the clock strikes twelve.
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Geet missed talking to Maan. His one smile would make her day but she was unable to look at him. She needed to keep her feelings in check and stealing glances at him would not help her cause. So another week went by with her avoiding him. Her heart was breaking everyday and she was miserable. She just wanted to be near him. The distance was killing her.
Whenever she stole glances at him she could see that Maan was hiding his sadness behind that hard chiselled face. She could feel him looking at her many times, but she did not dare look back at him in fear that the tears she had tried to control would come tumbling over.
It was a thursday night. Geet was so absorbed in work that she did not realize that it was quite late. When the clock struck nine, she looked at it in panic. Hey Babaji! Now how was she to go home in the dark? Delhi was not at all a safe place for young women in the night. She hurriedly packed her stuff and got out of the building.
As soon as she came near the gate, she looked around for a taxi when she felt herself being pulled by a strong force. She was about to scream when he closed her mouth and pulled her behind one of the trees surrounding the Khurana campus.
"Why Geet! Why are you doing this to me? Your ignoring me is killing me bit by bit. Is this what you want? Answer me Geet! Is this what you want?" He asked shaking her, while pain was evident in his voice.
Geet just cried silently. She could not bear to see him in pain.
He gently lifted her chin and made her look at him.
"Dont you think i dont know how you feel Geet? I know you are humiliated because of what happened between us. You may think that it is common in my world, but trust me Geet, I have never felt anything like this before. You make my day Geet. Just looking at you makes my day. You have captured me mind and soul. Whatever transpired between us is something i will always cherish in my heart. It is something very sacred. But i know that you strictly follow traditions and i am not against it. If this is what makes you happy, i will wait until you are ready. I will personally go and ask your family for your hand. Yes Geet, i want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to marry you. Will you end my torture by doing me the honour of accepting me in your life?" Maan bent on his knees, taking his hand in hers while looking into her eyes with full conviction.
All Geet could do was nod her head while tears continued to flow. Maan immediately stood up and crushed her into his embrace. They stood like that for a little time and Geet at last felt peace.
The drive back to her hostel was dreamy. Geet's mind couldnt process anything other than the man sitting next to her. He was in love with her. Her Maan was in love with her! What more could she want? Her very life had come back into her. Her heart was jumping with joy.
It was all Maan could do to control his laughter. Gosh! He could seriously try his luck in acting. He did not know that he could conjure up such a good proposal speech. He never had the problem of conversing with the other women because there was no need to. He would use them and then they would be out of his life whether they liked it or not. It was no different with Geet but he had to achieve his ends and so the speech was necessary with a little bit of voice modulation. He glanced sideways at her beautiful face looking outside the window. It made him burn with need and the burn only increased knowing that he was not faraway from claiming her. In fact he was very very close. She couldnt even imagine how close.
And now for the surprise which was waiting for her at the hostel! he mentally gave an evil laugh! Gosh, he was laughing a lot nowadays, but did it matter? Laughing was good for health and there was more laugh to come in the future.
As they neared the hostel Geet could see the smoke rising. She was brought out of her dream land when see saw the fire fighters bringing trying to bring down the flames which were now consuming the building. The inmates of the hostel stood outside crying while some other fire fighters brought two girls out who were badly burnt.
Geet watched in horror at the buliding which now stood as a burning wreck. All her things were in there. She could not let them get destroyed. Her photos with friends, her gifts, her clothes, her memories, everything was in there. Without thinking she started running towards the hostel when Maan caught her from behind.
"Let it go Geet! Thank God that this incident happened when you were outside. Nobody is hurt and that is what matters." Maan said, consoling her as he turned her towards the car.
Maan went and sat in the car while Geet went and spoke to the hostel warden. Apparantly the fire had started in the hostel kitchen, the reason still being unknown. As soon as the workers saw the fire, they rushed to all the rooms and informed the inmates, so the hostel was evacuated before the fire spread. Now since the entire hostel was destroyed the inmates would need to find a temperory accomodation before the officials could arrange for a place.
Just as Geet was about to leave,she met her room mate who gave her some of her things which she grabbed while hurrying out. Geet was happy to get her laptop, her photo frame with Meera and Pinky and some other things which were dear to her.
She went and sat in the car thoughtfully. Now what was she to do? Her clothes were destroyed. She didnt have a place to stay. Calling her family was not an option. She would be on the next train home to hoshiarpur. She did not even know anybody in this town. What was she to do? Where was she to go? Tears glistened her eyes. Babaji! What was happening? Whenever she was happy, something disastrous would happen which made her ten times more sad.
She looked out of the window while wiping her tears when she felt a hand on hers.
"Do you trust me?" he asked her softly and she nodded her head.
"Then just wait in the car while i make some important calls." Maan stopped the car at the side of the road and got out to make some calls. Within few minutes a package was delivered to him. He kept the package in the backseat of the car and started driving. Geet was wondering where they were going when Maan stopped the car in front of a temple.
Geet was confused when Maan made her get out of the car and took the package with them. He took her hand in his and they walked the steps, leading to the temple.
When they reached the main venue, Maan turned towards her. "Geet, i want to marry you right now. I dont want you searching for a place when i am there for you. I can ask you to stay with me but i know you will refuse, for you will not cross the line of your self respect. By marrying you i want to make you mine, legally and in front of God. I know the decision should be taken fast, but i wont pressurize you. I did what i felt was right in the situation. But never think that i want to marry you out of pity. Marrying you is my privilege. Dont even think otherwise.
If you think i'm worthy of you, please accept this wedding lehenga. Do not bother about me. I will be happy with any decision you take. The choice is yours. Dont forget. I will always be with you, whatever you decide i will be happy for you. "
He stretched out his hand with the package, hoping that Geet would accept it. Geet was too skocked to even move. She could not for the life of her understand what was happening. She just stood there looking at him.
Seeing that Geet was not reacting, Maan slowly turned away from her hoping that she would stop him.
It was only when Geet realized that Maan was walking away from her that she realized her life was walking away from her. She could not let him walk away from her. She would not let her life leave her. She ran and hugged him from behind, burrying her face into his back.He turned around, kissed her forehead and handed her the package.
The priests wife came forward and assisted her to a room near the temple where some other ladies bathed her in rose water and dressed her up. As they adorned her with ornaments, she looked at herself in the mirror and saw a beautiful blushing bride looking back at her.
When the ladies brought her to the mantap, Maan was sitting in front of the fire and the priest had begun the rituals while two people from the court were present to witness the marriage.
Geet was nervous as she came to sit beside him but when Maan lifted his head and smiled at her,it was as if she was under his spell. All she could see was his handsome face smiling at her, giving her confidence. She sat beside him and the priest recited the mantras which would bind them forever.
Then they got up for the rounds and each promise was inscribed on her heart. Maan caught her hand and led her around the fire while looking into her eyes. Finally Maan took the sindoor and put it on her forehead proclaiming her as his to the world.
He put his hand inside his pocket and took out the final symbol of thier unity, the mangalsutra. Maan gently put it around her neck, carrassing her skin and making her shiver. Once the marriage was completed with rituals, Maan led her to the registrar where they signed the marriage register.
Geet couldnt believe she was married. She was now Geet Maan Singh Khurana. The very thought made her go giddy with joy. Maan led her to the car and asked her to sit inside while he would go and give some charity to the temple.
On the way back to the temple, Maan patted himself on the back. Wasnt that easy? All he had to do was instruct his men to set the hostel on fire and make sure that the fire would spread slowly so that everybody would be out of the building. With Geet having no place to go, he dealt the final blow. He married her. She was now his WIFE! he laughed evilly as he gave a cheque to the marriage registrars and the priest. The registrars in turn handed him the marriage papers.
"This day will be erased from your memory. And in case your memory decides to come back, i will have it erased forever. I hope you got what i am trying to say."
They hurriedly nodded, took thier cheques and got away from them as soon as possible.
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Maan was driving while Geet couldnt help getting nervous. She was married now. Where were they going? What would happen tonight? The very thought got her jittery.
They soon reached a huge building. Maan gave his card to the security gaurd in the lobby and they went towards the lift. When they reached the top and the lift was about to open, Maan lifted Geet in his arms and brought her out. They stood on top of the building facing a magnificent pent house. Geet just stared while Maan carried her through the door.
Geet had not seen anything like this before. Of course she had seen such settings in movies but to actually see it in front of her eyes, was like a dream.
"Welcome to our home Mrs.Khurana." Maan whispered in her ears. Geet was overcome with shyness. She just hugged him as soon as he put her down. Only in him could she find her satisfaction.
Gently disentangled her and kissed her forehead. He gave her directions to the bedroom and asked her to go and rest. She just nodded her head and went in shyly.
Maan thought the time was just right for a glass of champagne. That was so easy. He expected her to show some resistance. But she was like a lamb, ready to be slain, and he was definitely a butcher. She was a lamb, so beautiful and so pure. When he saw her in her bridal attire he just wanted to keep on staring at her.
But alas, he was Maan Singh Khurana and emotions were not a word in his dictionary. She was to bear the brunt of what her family did.
Today, he would quench his thirst. Today he would satisfy his maddeningly crazy desire for her. Tonight he would brand her forever. Tonight would be the beginning of the end for the Handas, he promised himself as he proceeded towards the bedroom, towards his so called wife.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Debate Mansion
Parineeti
Chakravarti Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan
