Maneet FF...NOT A FAIRY TALE pt39-pg86(Mar 31) - Page 21

Maan immediately regretted speaking out those words, especially after at the way she turned pale, instantaneously at the revelation. He had never intended to tell Geet this, not at least till they were still in the proximity of danger and in the jungle. But Geet's sudden outburst, made him loose his composure. He was never good at controlling his anger. He looked at her, contemplating what to say to relax her, she shell shocked.

Geet couldn't believe that they were after her. She thought that that chapter was closed forever. "Nahi, Maan sir ko zaroor kuch galat fehmi hui hogi. Yeh woh log nhi ho sakte, unhone to mujhe assure kiya tha na ki aab mere peeche koi nhi aayega. Par agar who nhi honge, to aur kaun hoga.." Geet was getting more and more scared, by each passing second.

Maan tried to calm her down, but her didn't know how. He got up and sat near her, sitting on his knees. She was so lost in her thoughts, that she did not notice him. He hesitated a bit but then extended his hand to touch her shoulder

"Geet"

She got startled and jerked, trying to get up. He stopped her and made her sit again, keeping his hand on her shoulder. He kept a calm and assuring expression on his face "Geet, main tumhe abhi yeh nhi batana chah rha tha, par.. khair jo bhi hua, woh papas nhi liya ja sakta.. tumhe chinta karne ki ya darne ki koi zaroorat nhi hai. Tumhe yahan main leke aaya tha, tum meri responsibility ho, aur main tumhe kuch nhi hone dunga. Tumhe mafoose rakhna meri jimmadari hai. Un logo to tum tak punchne se phale mera saamna karna padega" His other hand had, on its own, had moved up over her cheek. The sincerity reflecting in his eyes instilled confidence in and her fear subsided.

Seeing her calm down, Maan left her and again moved towards the fireplace and started stirring the fire. He tried to divert the topic "Geet, mujhe nahi lagta ki inn lakdio se jada deer hamara kaam chal payega. Aur yeh barish bhi hai ki rukane ka naam nahi le rhi. Aate waqt mujhe bahar ekk lakdi rakhne ka box dikha to tha bahar. Agar yeh toofaan thoda bhi thama to main check karke aa jaunga" He turned around, on not getting any response from her, to find her looking down, tension clearly evident on her face. Her hands were clenched in a tight fist and she was repeatedly casting worried looks towards the door and the windows, as if expecting anyone to barge in at anytime. Maan closed his eyes and scolded himself internally. He went near her, placed his hands at her tight fist and pried her fingers to unclench her hands. She immediately looked up in his eyes. He them held both of her hands in both of his, stood up, pulling her also and brought her near to the fireplace, where he was sitting. His he winked his eyes once to assure her. He turned and sat, just next to her. After a few moments of silence, Maan could still sense her restlessness. He thought that there was more to the whole situation and probably Geet knew something which is why she was getting so scared. "Geet, mujhe nahi pata mujhe yeh tumse abhi puchna chayia ya nhi, par kya tum janti ho ki yeh kaun log ho sakte hain, aur tumahare peeche kyun hain?"

Geet didn't say anything and kept looking down. She didn't know what to tell him. She herself was not sure if her attackers were those men only. But who else could it be. She was not a person who had any enemies.

Maan knew, she knew something and wanted her to share it, so that he could assure her. He tried again. "Geet, yaad karne ki koshish karo, kahi tumahari kisi se kuch jhada hua ho, yaar kabhi kisi ne tumahe dhamkaya ho, ya aur kuch bhi aisa hua ho, to mujhe batao"

She looked up in his eyes with a little apologetic expression. She was sorry that Maan got dragged in it with her. Maan looked at her with questioning eyes. "Sir, shayad mujhe pata hai ki woh log kaun ho sakte hain. Yeh kareeb 1-1 saal phale ki baat hai. Aapko yaad hoga na woh orphanage, jahan uss din hum gaye the. Phale woh ekk trust ke under tha auryeh bacche mere ghar ke pass hi ek children home me rehate the. Jab bhi kuch accha hota tha mere sath, main hamesha aapne mumma papa ke sath un baccho se milne, aur unhe sweets dene jati thi, par mera baccho se jada interaction nahi hua tha"

"Jaab mera college over hua, aur meri joining aane me kuch time tha, to maine vahan, orphanage me jada time bitana shru kar diyia. Main har shayam, baccho ke sath khelne jati thi. Tab hi maine vahan kuch ajeeb sa feel kiya. Vahan achanak kuch dino me, 1-2 bacche gayab ho jate the. Unke care taker se pucho to who batate the ki woh adopt ho gaye hain, par mujhe phir bhi kuch theek nhi lag rha tha. Agar koi adoption ke liyia aaya hota to bacche mujhe zaroor batate. Aise achanak gayab nahi hote"

"Jab meri job start ho gayi, to mera vahan jana kam ho gaya tha, par ekk din, mujhe office se half day mila tha, to main bina warden ko inform kiyia baccho se milne punch gayi. Main wardon ke office ke pass se nikal rhi thi, maine warden ko kisi aadmi se baat karte suna. Unki baato se saaf pata chal rha tha ki yeh loog children trafficking me involved hain, aur woh iss orphanage ke baccho ko use karte hain unki deals ke liyia. I was disgusted, aur main ussi waqt vahan se nikal gayi, isse phale ki woh mujhe notice karte"

"Main seedhe aapne papa ke office punch gayi aur unko sab bata diyia. Hum ussi waqt police station punch gaye. Police vaise to humpe yakeen nhi karti, unhe proof chayia tha, par maine wardon ko uss din hi ekk dean hone ki baat karte suna tha. Police ne ek undercover operation plan kiya, aur unhe range haatho pakad liyia, sabooto ke sath, aur woh bacche jinhe who trade karne wale the, unhe baha liyia. Child trafficking ka ekk bada ring pakada gaya tha. Maine phir, aapni company aur, Amritsar ki 1-2 aur acchi companies ko pursue kiyia ki woh un orphanage ke baccho ko support karein. Baas tabhi se maine uss orphanage ke baccho ki responsibility le li thi. Paar, aab to vahan humne itna accha management instill kar diyia hai, ki woh autonomously function karta hai, aur aapne khudke fund raisers bhi organize karte hai"

"Mujhe state government ne iss ke liyia award bhi diyia tha. Mujhe laga tha ki iss racket ke saare guhegar punish ho chuke hain, main kabhi nhi socha tha ki koi mujhe maarne ki koshish.."

"Sorry, aap bhi iss sab me meri vajah se involve ho gaye.."

And she looked down, tears daring to fall from her eyes anytime.

Maan took a few seconds to process it all. He was amazed at this girl sitting in front of him. She looked so vulnerable and petite, shedding tears here, but was actually so tough and brave. Even now she was crying because she felt sorry because he got involved, rather than just fearing for her safety. He still remembered, how those children had welcomed her and played with her that day. The love and care she had shown towards them. He simply kept on looking at her in amazement.

Next Part : Part 23