FF-Obsession,chapter29 and next thread-pg150,7oct. - Page 71

Door bell was ringing incessantly causing maan to open his drowsy eyes and leave his dreamless sleep.He was trying hard to bring his life back to normal as pari had asked him to do.He could never hate pari for any reason,let alone her suicide and loss of their child..Irony of his life was that he could not hate himself too. Everytime his conscience made him hate himself,pari's words from letter"and if you don't hate me despite what i am going to do with in few minutes then you will live your life after me.." stopped him from punishing himself.It had been three weeks since he came across last letter from pari. That day in flood of tears,all which was bottled up inside him,was drained out.He felt light in Geet's embrace,however lightness was also accompanied with certain emptiness because pari was no more with him.

Continuous ringing had made sleep leave his system,as he jolted up in his bed.He took his cell phone and checked the time. It was 8 am in morning.He made his way towards the door,wondering about this early morning visitor.He was rubbing his eyes with his left hand,when he opened the gate and was shocked beyond limits,when he saw pari's mother at his doorstep.Before he could greet her,She handed him a envelope and left without a word.Trying his best to make whether it was a dream or reality,he went back to dining table after closing the door.After gulping one glass of water,he looked carefully at the envelope.It was for Miss Pari Gupta.He concluded that it was sent by someone who did not know about their marriage,yet.He turned the envelope to know the sender.Confusion appeared in his eyes as he read the address of sender..

" Mrs Aparana singh

Manager

Care orphanage

New Delhi "

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Geet once again pressed the door bell.She was standing at the door for almost five minutes and maan was not opening the door.Her anticipation of something "bad"happening with him, was getting more strong with each minute passed.She looked at her wrist watch.It was showing 11.45 pm.First he called her for an urgent meeting at this hour of night,secondly he was not opening the door.She felt like pulling her hair.Instead of pressing the door bell,she started knocking the door frantically.She was almost banging the door.

"coming..."His voice came from inside,causing her to stop the banging.As the door opened,she screamed..."what the hell was that???who takes this much time to open the door,especially when you were aware of my arriv..."She stopped her rant in between when her ears heard wailing of an infant from the another room.."Is there a kid inside???"She asked in shock..

"Yes,i will tell you everything...but first help me to make her sleep.."He answered dragging her inside the room..

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"ohh..its a girl..."She said,taking the wailing baby in her lap.

"hmmm..."

"how old is she???"

"5 weeks..."frequency of baby's cries was reaching at highest peak..."Why is she crying,geet???"

"She is hungry maan,go get some milk.."

"I have already fed her..look..."he replied showing her empty feeding bottle.

Geet touched at baby's derriere."She has got her nappies wet,it need to be changed maan..."

"ohh..that did not come to my mind...let me bring fresh nappies.."maan exclaimed.

After sometime he appeared with six different packets.."I did not know,which size i should take,so i picked one pack of each size..."He replied twisting his lower lip.

Geet fished through the packets and got one with the weight range "2 to 6 kgs.".As she removed the wet nappy,First shock and then immense pain appeared in her eyes.."what is this maan???"She asked,caressing the small bums of the kid.They were all red,with very tiny wounds all over the surface from which drops of blood were seeping.

"Oh god!!!.she must be in so much pain..what we should do???he asked with pain in his voice.She wanted to ask many questions but first she had to take care of baby.

"Bring some lukewarm water and antiseptic lotion.."She ordered.He sprinted to collect all the things.."And also bring a piece of soft,cotton cloth..we can't use these diapers now...it will be more painful.."She screamed from the room.

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Geet cleaned the baby and squeezed some antiseptic cream on her index finger to apply. Baby was lying on her stomach in her lap and maan was knelt down beside them.With extra soft touching,she applied the cream.During the whole act,maan was blowing air from his mouth,on the wounds.Geet looked at him with questioning eyes.."It must be burning.."he tried to justify his act.

Geet smiled in response.."no..its not.."

"how do you know???"he asked,stopping his blowing for a while.

"she is not crying anymore,maan.."Geet replied now tying a piece of cotton cloth around baby's bums.

With in fifteen minutes,baby was sleeping peacefully on her shoulder.She made the baby lay on the bed,adjusting two pillows on each side of hers.Maan caressed baby's fore head lovingly."you are great,geet"He said with a smirk.

"I know that"Geet replied,coming down from the bed.."will you please tell me everything now???"

"Hmm..come with me.."he steered her towards the drawing room.

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She looked at envelope that maan handed her."Its for pari...should i open it???"She asked.

"Yes..open it and read it.."She opened the envelope and started reading the letter...

Dear Ms. Pari..

I am pleased to inform you,that as per your wish three years ago,we have a girl child available in our orphanage for the adoption.You have requested to adopt a baby girl with in age of 0-6 months previously,which we were not able to make at that time.But now,it is possible to complete your wish.If you are still interested in adoption process,kindly let me know with in time span of two weeks.I am eagerly waiting for your positive response.

Thank you.

Regards..

Aparana singh

Care orphange

She folded back the letter and inserted it inside the envelope."Who gave you this???"

"Her mother came today morning to give this.."He answered.

"You have completed the adoption process,right???"

"Yes.."He replied with glint of happiness in his eyes.

"Why did pari want to adopt a girl child,two years ago..She was not even married that time.."Geet asked.

He smiled slightly in response as he picked up pink diary from the shelf.

Geet looked at page that he had opened and gave her to read..One more poem was there,dated.. 6jan..2009

Soft and fragile

i have in my lap,a bundle of joy...

little pink fingers,and tiny palms

when they grasp my index finger

petal soft lips,toothless gums

big brown eyes,and small nose

when she looks at me..

I can hear her calling me, in her coy...

I don't know,what bliss is

but everytime i hold her near my heart..

In heavens,I saunter...

No thanking to God will be enough

for making me mother of my daughter...

A smile appeared on Geet's face."Kavita had no idea,what her words were doing at some other side of the globe"She said,closing the diary.

"hmmm.."He sighed."hope all is clear now.."

"No..you did not tell me about those wounds.."

"oh yes,.."Pain was back to his eyes."She was found in garbage,geet...Person who did this,had chosen a perfect place to make her "meal of the day"for ants.Luckily someone noticed the wailing baby and brought her to orphanage.She was just few hours old. Her upper portion was saved because it was well wrapped in cloth but legs were well attacked by ants.Manager of the orphanage told me about all this.She also said that her legs were well healed now but i think, she forgot to tell about that part..."

"May be,she did not care that much,maan"

"hmm???"

"orphanages are orphanages maan,no one can care like own parent..."She replied sadly.

"hmm..but for her,orphanage people were much better than her parents,,how can someone be so cold hearted??.."A tinge of hatred and disgust was visible on his face.

"you are her parent,now...maan.."

"i know..a parent who need to learn parenthood very badly..."he chuckled.She gave a slight smile in response..

"i should leave now..."As she got up from couch,he held her hand.He had planned to say "thank you" but different words left his lips.."We will take her to doctor tomorrow.." He did not request her to come,but told her to come.May be "thanks" and "requests" were now pretty superficial in their unnamed relation.She nodded in response with a sweet smile,and left the place.

He went back to his daughter,after closing the door..Pari had given him "another reason" to live...

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Hello my wonderful readers..

First of all thank you so much for giving this story so much appreciation and love.All of you might have guessed that obsession is near to its end.Since mystery and suspense portion is already over,I think a little "delay" in updates is feasible now.I want to give a proper end to maaneet story and for that i need little time as mood of story is completely gonna change now,,hence updates will come on alternate days for you..

Seeking your support and love as always

palindrome😊