Geet held Vicky's hand as they walked toward the entrance gate. Geet wore a simple green and blue salwaar kameez while Vicky wore khaki color shorts with blue shirt and white cap. Both were smiling and laughing as they walked. Geet was prepared to spend the whole day in the park, anything would be better then being stuck inside the mansion with that monster. She runs after Vicky when he lets go of Geet's hand to run toward the gate. Past these months, she has grown so close to Vicky, she wondered how two brothers can be totally opposite. One is cruel, mean, cold hearted while the other brother is full of life.
Geet: Vicky stop...(he stops immediately after hearing Geet's voice..he turns around with a puppy dog face...she pats him on his face) What did we say? What were the rules that we established?
Vicky (looks down) No running or walking without you especially when we cross the road, ask your permission before doing anything
Geet: And...(she pushed him to say one last important thing)
Vicky: And stay in front of your eyes the whole time...
Geet: Good..now lets go...don't do that again..remember you are my responsibility..Dadima would be so worried if something happens to you
Vicky: would Maan bhai be worried too if I get into a car accident? (He looks at her with big eyes looking for his answer)
Geet: More then anything...remember what I said about your brother?
Vicky: Yes, he is like a coconut...hard from the outside and soft from the inside
Geet: Good...always remember that..no matter how strict he is..deep inside he loves you...
She holds her hand...she didn't know why she was defending him but she didn't want Vicky to hate him...she felt bad for Maan...she pitied him for not realizing what he has...who he has in his life. His childhood may have been bad but that does not give him any excuse to take his anger and frustration out on everyone around him.
She looks up at the sky paying to her Babaji asking for strength to help her escape. She realized that she cannot do this alone, she needed someone's support and help for the first time. She needed her mom to be with her to help her and guide her...she quickly wipes the tears from her eyes before Vicky noticed.
The guards opened the door for them, the drivers were warned not to go with Geet and Vicky due to Dadima. Geet wanted to spend a normal day with Vicky just like how it used to be when she was in Hoshiyarpur..she hated these rules that she was made to follow by Maan. She missed being her own person where she made her own decisions with no worry or consequences. For once she wanted to feel like the old Geet and not like this so called queen that Maan forced her to become.
Geet: Okay Vicky now we are going to have fun. Are you ready?
Vicky: Yes..lets go...(he jumps up and down with excitement...both cross the roads to catch a taxi to the theme park..)
Meanwhile, Maan was at work not being able to concentrate, he was having some king of bad feeling for the first time as if something was going to happen. He looks at his watch realizing it was lunch time, his servant the one that usually brings him lunch comes into his cabin. Maan waited while he set his lunch perfectly out on the table. He motions for him to leave after he was done..Maan tastes the food and immediately spits it out...he grabs his phone ordering the security guards to send back the servant to his office.
"May I come in sir?"
Maan: yes come in...(the servant enters the room..Maan raises his hand to stop him from coming in any further...) Tell me who made this disgusting food?
"sir Nakul"
Maan (looks at him shocked) What do you mean Nakul..how come Geet didn't make it?
"Woh sir...she is not home"
Maan: why not? (he yells..the servant shivers in fear...) GET OUT! (the servant quickly leaves before wanting to make him mad...Maan sits in his chair..he eyes fall on the calender, his thoughts wander back to the conversation between Vicky and Geet about theme park...) Did they both go there? If so, they didn't bother asking me? (he leaves the office in anger...)
Geet waved at Vicky as he rode the merry go around..she took his pictures as fast as she could as the ride went around..Geet laughed out loud seeing Vicky making funny faces at her...she never laughed this much in her life before...she motions Vicky to come near her when the ride stopped. Vicky came running toward Geet holding her hand...
Vicky: okay I want to go on that roller coaster ride
Geet: Okay wherever you want..there is no restrictions today..enjoy and eat all day today! (she pulls his cheek...) come lets go
Maan came home with anger...he saw his Dadima sitting on the couch reading a book..he goes up to her and takes the book from her hands throwing it on the floor
Dadima; What is this Maan?
Maan: First you tell me who said that Geet and Vicky can go out today and that too without asking me?
Dadima: I don't think I have to answer any of your questions. As an elder person I have most of the rights to decide who does what
Maan (smirks) you are wrong Dadima...as the king I decide what should happen around here...you retired long time ago...anyway I won't waste my time by asking you further questions..I will bring them back home...Nakul..(he immediately comes outside) Find the driver that went with Geet NOW
Dadima: Actually you won't...I sent both of them without any driver with Geet insistence...(Maan leaves the house..Dadima prays for Geet and Vicky's well being...)
Geet sat opposite of Vicky watching him eat his full ice cream...she wanted the time to stop right at that moment with just her and Vicky..both actually being happy and free after a long time...she looks at the time..it was almost 5pm now..it was getting late...she couldn't even call home for one of the driver to come pick them up...
Geet: Vicky are you ready to go home?
Vicky: Do we have to go?
Geet: Yes but we will come here again and this time with Dadima..she will enjoy it too
Vicky: yeah..that would be so much fun
Geet: But for now I am tired...my feet are begining to hurt now...
Vicky: Okay...lets go...
As they were walking out of the park, Geet felt as if someone was following them..she turns around to see who it was but found no one..she picks up Vicky holding him tight as she walked fast..."Babaji please let us go home safely..i don't know why but I feel like something is going to happen...please don't let this be true..please..." She stops short when two guys step in front of her...she turns around to walk away but there were also two guys standing there looking at her with great intent.
"She is king's wife.."
"How do you know?"
" I saw her coming out of the mansion and plus look at her gold jewels...no peasant can afford them..."
"you are right...lets kidnap them and demand some money from the king itself...am sure he will do whatever it takes to get his precious wife back..." (All of them laugh)
Geet (looks at them with fear..Vicky holds her tight almost crying...) Listen if you guys lay any hand on me than Maan won't leave you guys
"Maan...wah...no one dares call the king by his first name..you must be really special to him...hold them guys.." (two of the guys grab Vicky from Geet's hand while she struggled to hold on to Vicky...the other guy came from behind holding Geet...he looks at her with lustful eyes..she looks away disgustingly)
Geet: let go of me or else
"or else what?!" (he laughs)
"Or else you all will die..." (All look over to see Maan standing there with anger...Geet was relived to see him for the first time..Maan looks at Geet and then at the hands of the guy that was on her shoulders..he closes his fist in anger...anger ran through his vein with the very thought of someone else touching what belonged to him...) LET...GO...OF...HER...
The guy that was holding Vicky ran with him..Geet looks at this in horror and then at Maan who made no movement to run after Vicky..
Geet: Maan Vicky...save him...
Maan (ignores her and kept looking at the hands on her shoulder) Let go of her NOW!
Next thing Geet knew, the guy that was holding her was on the floor with bloody nose...she looks behind Maan someone else was coming with a knife toward him...before he could attack...Maan holds the guy hand while looking at Geet with anger...Maan breaks the hand without any effort..Geet walks back a little in fear..she had seen him angry but not like this...she knew that she won't escape from this now...no one else can help her escape from his anger...she looks around for Vicky while Maan beats the guys one by one out cold. She was about to run toward Vicky's direction when Maan stops her..
"STAY where you are!"
Geet (looks at him pointing to her right...) woh...Vicky..(she says in fear)
Maan (punches the last guy right on his face knocking him out...he takes out his handkerchief wiping away the blood from his hands...) he is safe in the car (she sighs in relief) but who will save you both from me? (She looks at him scared...he picks her up carrying her in his arms...she didn't protest nor wanted to make him more angry...)
Geet sat on the bed hugging her knees while thinking about the moment when he took Vicky from her and for what? What was that kid's fault? All he wanted to do was go to the park but how would he know that everything would change after that. No one can predict the future but one sure can work on their present..changing that so the future ahead of us can be better..if only Maan understood that..if only he had worked on being a good brother and a good human being.
She comes out of her thoughts when she heard the door bell ring. She looks at the clock..it was almost 7pm...she fixes her dupatta as she walked toward the door. She opens the door...
"Hello..." (Geet moves back a little)
Book Talk
Cricket
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