Chapter 31"Dadima, Dadima, why did Naintara do this to me? She loves me, or I thought she did. I thought she loved me like I loved her. I thought we would be together forever. I still can't believe that she actually did what Bro accused her of. I mean, why would she? I think she's just not answering her phone to punish me. She was so angry about the situation before she left, that must be why she's not taking my calls."
Savitri Devi sighed, wondering what she could say to make her grandson understand the truth. "Dev, you know that Maan is never wrong. He wouldn't accuse Naintara of fraud unless he had proof. Yes, I know you want to say that he doesn't like her, but that has nothing to do with it. You know how important the truth is for Maan. He wouldn't make something like this up. And you know very well that you intended to do the same thing. I still haven't forgiven you for that."
"But Dadi, that was only because those goons were threatening to kill me if they didn't get their money back. Now that Bro has paid all the debts, there was no reason to...Anyway, I'm sorry."
"You're sorry that you tried to ruin an innocent girl's life, or just sorry that you got caught?" questioned Savitri, not convinced by her grandson's words.
When he didn't respond, she walked up to him, putting her hand on his shoulder. "Dev, I think you need to take a good hard look at the situation and understand a few things. If Naintara was innocent, she would have called you by now. As disappointed as I am in everything that you have done, I'm even more disappointed at how you've let yourself become so influenced by this woman, that you can't seem to see the difference between right and wrong any more. Beta, when a person loves you, they don't encourage you to do wrong, but encourage you to do right, to be a better person. That's what your brother and I have tried to do for years, and what your wife should have done. I don't know what else to tell you, except that I really think you need to take a hard look at where your life has been heading, and if that's the direction that you really want it to go."
Having said what she wanted to say on the subject, Savitri sent her grandson to bed, hoping that her words might make their way into his mind. Then she sat down on one of the several comfortable couches and tried to read a magazine. The time was getting late, but she wanted to stay up and make sure that Maan and Geet arrived home safely.
About an hour later, she got up smiling when Nakul informed her that they both had returned. That smile disappeared when she saw Geet's condition as the young girl entered from the outhouse's connecting passage. The cuts and bruises were bad enough, but when she saw Geet totally break down into a fit of crying, that was more than she could take. Rushing over to her, Savitri took Geet into her arms and demanded to know what had happened.
When they had arrived back at the mansion, Maan took out the bags from the jeep, leaving Geet alone. The entire ride back from Hoshiarpur, all Geet had been able to do was think about what had happened those last two days. Her mind continued to dwell on her family's actions and how she had filled out the police complaint against Brij veerji. Though she had told her family that she was breaking all relations and would live her life alone, she still felt the need of familiar comfort. That was why she had made her way to the one person left in the world who she felt would understand.
Huddle in Savitri's arms, Geet told everything between bouts of crying. She explained all about her friend and how she had wanted a private investigator to search for Channi. She told the horrific story of Brij veerji's pursuit, as well as her family's lack of support. Savitri urged her to pour all her feelings out, while sympathizing with everything she had endured. When the emotional storm was over, Savitri saw to it that Geet was given a cup of calming tea to drink, while she went into action.
"Nakul, have Mohan get the car out at once!" she ordered, even as she saw Maan come hurrying into the mansion.
"Dadima," he called, "Dadima, I need to talk to..."
"Maan," she interrupted, looking at him with disappointment, "what do you think you were doing? Why didn't you take Geet to the hospital? Those wounds of hers need more than those crude bandages, and do you realize that she's never had a tetanus shot in her life? Who knows what potential infections she has been exposed to. I never expected this from you, Maan, never."
While Maan tried to figure out how to respond, Nakul came in to let Savitri know that the car was ready. Savitri then informed Maan that as he had failed in his duty, she was taking Geet to the hospital herself. Turning her critical eye to his injuries, she declared that it looked like he needed to come with them.
"The hospital? Dadima, there is nothing so wrong with me that I need to go to the hospital. And I think that you are exaggerating the seriousness of Geet's injuries."
"Maan Singh Khurana, you may do as you please when it involves yourself, but Geet is our responsibility. I won't let harm come to her just because of your careless attitude. Oh, and since you are probably going to the office tomorrow, even though it is Saturday, I expect you to give Geet the day off. I won't have her running around there, tiring herself out after the ordeal she's been through!" Before Maan could protest, Savitri whisked Geet away, leaving him dumbfounded.
"What jadoo has this girl done on Dadima?" he questioned angrily, unable to believe that his dadi had not even let him give one word of explanation.
Maan figured she must have told what happened in Hoshiarpur, but conveniently left out that the whole thing started because she had a lover. It was obvious to Maan that Geet wanted to continue staying in Khurana mansion, though he couldn't figure out why. She had her 2 crore, so she could easily find her own place to live. There must be some other motive here, and Maan intended to discover that motive. Her methods might be different than Naintara's, but she was just as much of a manipulator as his sister-in-law. Clearly, Maan was going to have to watch her closely, to make sure that she did not do anything to harm his family.
"Geet beti, I apologize for Maan's uncaring attitude," said Savitri quietly, while the two ladies were being driven to the hospital. "You must think that I raised a wild man, the way he behaves."
"Don't worry about it, Dadima," reassured Geet absently. Then, with a sudden gasp, she exclaimed, "Oh no! Raminder Uncle! I forgot all about him!"
When questioned by Savitri, Geet answered, "You remember, Dadima, that I told you I hired a private investigator. That was Raminder Uncle. He was supposed to start today, but I totally forgot about him. I need to let him know that the situation has changed."
Savitri asked Geet how she was going to contact him. Geet explained that she had his business card with his number on it somewhere in her bag. She rummaged around for a minute, before finding it. Savitri offered the use of her cell phone, since Geet didn't have one of her own. With a slight trepidation, since she assumed he would not be happy to hear her news, Geet punched in the phone number, ready to give a full explanation to the famous detective.
Precap"Do you know that MK yelled at me yesterday when I asked him why that behenji wasn't at work? I don't care if she is married. That girl has already caused me too much trouble. It's time for her to go, and I have the perfect idea to see that it happens."
Edited by laxmi2010 - 13 years ago
Cricket
Financial markets and global economy
Ishaani
338