Chapter 25
A Day to forget, A Memory to erase
(April 6, 1982...)
(Army Cantonment, Roorkee...)
"Anything else Yash? Alright, I will send you the money. But this is my last warning to you. No more gambling on silly bets. Hmm...Sat Sri Akal."
Maan leaned back in his chair keeping the phone down with a heavy heart. A heart filled with dejection.
No one had wished him on his birthday this year too.
Why do I even bother when I know the reality?
Only two people bothered.
Early in the morning, Ajaipal would offer prayers and karah-prasad in Maan's name at the Gurudwara Sahib and then immediately call to wish him. And soon after, Nayantara would call to wish her brother.
Rest...well it depended on their mood and memory. Though Savitri would send him a money order for Rs 500 every year without fail.
But it was not money he sought.
He often wondered why people who did not have someone of their own complained of their misfortune. Unfortunate is he who is alone even though he has many to claim as his own. Would I ever have someone to call my own?
He glanced at his diary which lay open on page dated April 6 and picked up his pen,
Eh mera geet kise na gaana.
Eh mera geet,
Main aape ga ke bhalke hi mar jaana.
- Shiv Kumar Batalvi
[This song of mine, no one would sing along
This song of mine
I must sing it, and die, alone]
Eh mera geet...
Maan read the words again as they took an altogether different formthan intended by the poet.
Geet...
He turned the pages of his diary till he came across the picture Savitri had given him on his request. She was smiling brightly at the camera, her two plaits framing her face, her chin resting on the back of her hands. A ring shone on her fingers, it was a gift from his mother to Geet on her last birthday, when he was away. It was a family heirloom. How odd that it fit exactly on her ring-finger, where he would have placed it himself had they undergone such a ceremony.
Would she have wished me had she known?
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(April 10, 1982...)
(Khalsa College, Amritsar...)
"How about we go for lunch somewhere?"
"I am sorry Ruby," Geet looked at her apologetically, "I can't come."
"But Geet, its our last day in college! Shouldn't we celebrate it?"
"Papaji doesn't like us roaming around the city unchaperoned. I have told you this many times."
"Oh if that is the issue, then don't worry at all," Ruby eagerly spoke up, "my cousin brother, he can accompany us. That would be fine, right?"
As if that would make things acceptable. Geet looked at Ruby awkwardly. Why can't she take the hint? I don't want to go with her. Lately, Ruby had been very insistent on going out together. Lunches, shopping, movies, etc. Something Geet was not very keen on. And even if she would ever agree to Ruby's suggestions, she knew her father would not agree to it. And Geet had no inclination to displease her Papaji.
Plus ever since that Holi incidence, Geet had started to avoid being in strange company totally. That day was the most horrible day of her life.
A life that she had lived sheltered in love and care of her family. This one incident that really shaken Geet up.
"Look," Geet replied, "why don't you come to my home instead?"
"At home?" Ruby grimaced, but quickly put on a smile, "will you be having a party?"
"Umm...no. It will just us and Pari di."
"Oh, well let it be then."
"As you wish," Geet smiled politely and hurried off to meet up with Meera and Pari.
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(April 17, 1982...)
(Army Cantonment, Roorkee...)
Anupama entered her home and kicked off her sandals, "Wonderful party, wasn't it?"
Tejbir snaked his hands around her waist and whispered suggestively, "The party is yet to start darling."
"Dushto!"
Tejbir just grinned as he reached out to help her remove her necklace as her hands were at her ear-rings.
"But only one thing was amiss. Maan bhai shouldn't have left Rasika on the dance floor abruptly like that. That was rude. Poor thing must have felt so bad."
"Pammi," Tejbir sighed and faced Anupama towards him, "you very well know Maan hates to be forced into situations he dislikes. He doesn't dance. Period. You and Mrs. Rathore coerced him into dancing with Rasika. He was extremely uncomfortable. Particularly when Rasika started almost clinging to him."
"Yes," Anupama made a sour face, "that was quiet embarrassing even for us to watch. What was the girl thinking? Gadhi! Ki bokami [Stupid girl! What sillyness?!] Off-late I have started finding her very irritating. Especially after that trip to Rishikesh. Remember how she cribbed and whined the whole way to and back? Arggh!! All I could think was that our baby should not get disturbed by her screeching."
"And yet you wish to set her up with Maan..."
"I just wanted Maan bhai to open up a little. Consider getting married. And she did seem such a sweet, cultured..."
The telephone rang interrupting Anupama.
"Ke phone koresi ei shomay" [Whose phone it can be at this hour?]
Tejbir shrugged and picked the receiver off the hook, "Hello...kya?...okay...no we are on our way."
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(Maan's Quarters...)
"I will freeze to death out here."
"It is middle of April. I have my doubts."
"Maan..."
"It's Captain Khurana for you Miss Rathore," he leaned against his door, "You have already broken all rules of propriety by coming over to a bachelor's pad unattended at this late hour atleast maintain an iota of manners. Do not attempt to familiarize with me."
Rasika fumed at his words, "Is this what propriety dictates then? Being rude to a lady?"
He scoffed at her question, "Lady? I don't see a lady before me but a spoilt conniving brat!"
Maan was sure his head would explode any minute now.
It was a shock to find Rasika at his door in the middle of the night. The girl is crazy! Coming to a bachelor's house like this, at this time. She has no care for her reputation and will ruin mine too. After the cold shoulder he had given her at the party before he was sure she would get a hint to stay away from him. But I guess I had underestimated her foolishness.
Even now he had at first tried to send her away. But her obstinate stupidity combined with three mugs of beer had turned her into a stubborn mule. There was no way he would let her inside and give fodder to rumor mill. He respected Col Rathore a lot and his own father's name was too precious for him to be soiled such. So he did the only thing that seemed possible and appropriate.
"Maan," Tejbir rushed over to him, "Rasika? What are you doing here?"
"Ooh ma! Eta ki?" [What is this?] Anupama looked at Rasika and then at Maan.
"Come in," Maan heaved a sigh of relief at the sight of his friends, "all of you," he glared at Rasika.
No sooner had they entered Rasika lashed out at Maan, "What is your problem Khurana? Why this entire attitude? Just because I am pursuing you instead of the other way round. Does this give your ego a boost?"
"Attitude? Pursuing me? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Why don't you tell him Pammi?"
"Mind your tone girl," Tejbir growled.
Anupama kept a calming hand on Tejbir's arm and looked at Maan, "She likes you Maan. And I am afraid I have encouraged her in her feelings," she admitted regretfully.
"Oh it is not about the liking anymore. It's about all the times you have slighted me."
"You were behaving out of line with me. You were getting clingy. I was only maintaining my distance."
"A girl shows her interest in you and you are calling her clingy! What are you," Rasika screamed, "gay?"
"I am engaged."
"What!" Three voices echoed in the room.
"Fabulous," Rasika huffed, "so you got yourself a village fool! Soon you will know what you have missed."
"Let me amend my statement Miss Rathore," Maan smirked, "I am happily engaged," he stepped towards the main door, "to a girl of my choice," he held it open, "and not interested in the likes of you," and gestured her to get out.
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(April, 1982...)
(Amritsar...)
"I am so glad you came," Ruby grinned at Geet.
A little emotional blackmailing goes such a long way. I wish I had used this tool earlier. Atleast I wouldn't have had to tolerate Rahul's mental torture this long. She invited Geet inside her home. All the guy wants is to meet her once. One meeting has taken almost two years to come about. God knows how much long will it take for him to finally get her. I am already tired of all this.
It had taken an hour long phone call to Geet crying and faking misery of being all alone on her birthday. She had cajoled, pleaded and eventually begged for Geet to come spend time with her. Thank God it paid off!
Geet was feeling odd and slightly restless at being in Ruby's home.
She had never been to anyone of her classmate's home before. And definitely never alone. But hearing Ruby so low and dejected on the phone tugged at her heart. She hesitated but let Mohinder know of Ruby's request.
For some reason he had agreed.
Though Geet had not told him that Ruby is alone at her home. That would have been unacceptable to Mohinder and he would never have allowed Geet to go.
And now sitting in Ruby's house she wasn't sure if she made a right decision to come here. Something felt wrong. Or maybe she was just nervous because of the novelty of this experience. Visiting a friend all alone.
She looked around Ruby's house observing the interiors. And found a table decorated with rose petals and candles.
"Ruby..."
"Yeah?"
"Why is that table decorated so elaborately?"
"Oh that is for cutting the cake."
"Cake? Where is the cake?" Geet politely smiled.
"My cousin brother has gone to get it," Ruby nonchalantly replied not noticing the alarm on Geet's face.
"Brother? You said you were alone at home. How can I be here when he will be here? My father won't like this."
"Who will tell your father anything?" Ruby winked at Geet.
Geet frowned at Ruby's words and her lack of respect towards her father's wishes.
"Look Geet," Ruby shrugged, "it is no big deal."
I hope she doesn't create any issue now. I knew Rahul's plan was crap. Wooing her with cake and flowers. Nonesense! Looks like she will run off before he even comes.
"Geet, I think you should know something..."
"What?"
"My cousin brother," Ruby began explaining, "he likes you. I mean really like you. I think you should meet him once."
"What are you talking about? How can you say such things to me?"
"Oh come on Geet, don't be like this. What is wrong in my cousin having a liking for you?"
"It is wrong for you to lie to me," Geet stressed, "and moreover I am simply not interested in meeting your cousin, whosoever he maybe!"
"But why?"
Geet turned towards the voice that had raised the question. And she couldn't believe her eyes when she Rahul, the same fellow from the Holi incident, standing in front of her holding a cake.
She let out a gasp, "You!"
"You guys have met?" Ruby looked on incredulously.
"He is the same guy who had troubled me on Holi Ruby," Geet complained panicking at the sight of him standing infront of her.
"Bhai was that you? And you never told me. Oh well," Ruby waved off, "good that you have already met."
"Is he your cousin? I am leaving right now," Geet spoke with determination.
"No you are not!" Ruby snapped. "I have not wasted two years of my life befriending you so that you simply walk away from this."
And then in an unexpected move she grabbed Geet by her arm and dragged her towards a bedroom.
"You are not going anywhere till you hear him out."
Rahul followed Ruby into the room and leaned against the wall next to the door.
"Wait...Ruby...what are you..."
The sound of the door slamming and the lock latching filled Geet with a sense of dread. Her eyes darted towards Rahul who was leaning casually against the wall.
She ran upto the door conscious of Rahul's presence next to her. Keeping down the bile that rose in her she banged the door. "Ruby! Ruby! Let me out! Why are you doing this?"
"No use banging the door Geet," Rahul cocked his head to his left, "she won't let you out."
Geet jerked away at the sound of his voice. All that was going in her head was that she has to get out of here. She felt suffocated. Her palms were getting sweaty. Beads of sweat started to form on her brows. She banged the door again and couldn't help repeating again and again, "Why are you doing this? Let me out."
"Why do you want to leave Geet? All I want to do is talk to you. You don't how much I like..."
"But I don't like you," she screamed at him, "I don't like you...I don't like you...I don't like you..."
Enraged at her outright rejection he grabbed both her arms, "Why don't you like me? WHY?! Do you know since how long I have been thinking about you? Admiring you...loving you..."
He jerked till she shook. Too numb to speak tears sprang from her eyes as her body spasmed with silent sobs.
"Why can't you understand my feelings? What is so unacceptable about me that you can't even stand my presence?" He shook her again, "Speak up!!"
"Let me go," she barely managed a whisper, "please."
"WHY?!" He let out a string of curses and spoke in a softer tone, "What is the point of leaving when you will be mine anyways."
Geet shook her head in denial hearing his claim. "No...no...no..."
"Yes! Have no doubts about it!"
"I am engaged...engaged to get married to someone else...I am..."
He released her abruptly from his grasp on hearing this. "SHUT UP! This is not true...you are lying...LIAR!" He screamed and lunged at her arms again.
Terror-filled her heart and gave momentum to her words. "No...I swear...I am engaged to someone else...let me go...let me go..." Not knowing what else to do she started screaming at the top of her voice, "LET ME GO! LET ME GO! LET ME GO! LEAVE ME! LEAVE ME! LET ME GO..."
The door suddenly flew open and Ruby came barging in, "What the hell! Let her go bhai. The neighbors are already complaining," she freed Geet from his grasp and dismissed her, "Leave."
Rahul tried to get past Ruby as he saw Geet fleeing from the room, "Let her go bhai. Not worth the effort anyways."
Geet ran out of the house without stopping even a second. She looked around sobbing uncontrollably and found herself in the middle of the road with traffic rushing forth from both sides.
She did not even dare look back.
She wiped her eyes clean and tried to clear her head.
Looking ahead she found few rickshaws standing. She hailed one and asked him if he would take her towards her home giving him the name of her locality.
"Das rupaiye..."
"Koi farak nahi painda. Just go," she stressed and climbed upon it. Just take me home, she cried inside, I have to get back to my home. I want to go to my home.
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