Chapter 39: A Void Overcome
~Past~
Geet woke up as the sunrays made their way into the room, highlighting it. She rubbed her eyes of sleep and sat up, leaning on the bed backstand. She stretched and looked around only to be surprised at the sight. Maan had dozed off on the chair with his head dangling to the left because of lack of headrest on the chair. She chuckled shaking her head at the sight in front of her. She got up to straighten his head for it would certainly hurt when he woke up. She was about to adjust his neck posture when she saw him peacefully sleeping with a serene expression on his face. She admired his perfectly sculpted face, his light stubble, chiseled contours of his jaw, the perfectly M-shaped li—her thought process froze at that point. She couldn't believe her thoughts were running out of control. He had just extended his hand in friendship and she couldn't sin that relationship by letting such thoughts. Letting your thoughts array. Not trusting her own actions she decided to wake him up.
"Maan uthiye," she said tapping his shoulder.
Maan woke up groggily and straightened his neck only to cringe in the process due to his nightlong sore position. He stretched his neck and turned it side to side hoping to rectify it when she asked with concern if he was alright. He assured her he was absolutely fine but was worried about her. At the mention of his concern, events from last night came rushing back to her, tuning her pale.
"Tum fikar mat karo Jaanu. We'll leave as soon as possible," he said squeezing her hand in assurance. She smiled weakly and looked away. He wanted to cheer her up and decided he would take her out today so that she could forget her worries. "Jaanu why don't we go out today. You anyway have never been around this city na?" he said hoping to divert her attention. "Suna hai ki there is one of the biggest temples here. We'll go there teekhai?"
"Voh Maan, nahi it's okay."
"Arre aise kaise hum tumhe chod denge. Hum jaa rahein hai. It's Maan Singh Khurana's order!" he said haughtily.
"Accha?" she bemused folding her arms on her chest.
"Please?" he said knowing she would never listen to him and even more when he ordered her around.
"Fine," she said reluctantly.
"Yeh hui na baat," he winked before taking her into a bone crushing hug. Geet who had still been in some other thoughts was taken aback by his sudden hug. Not that he had never hugged her but something seemed new to her today. A sort of electric current passed through her at his sudden touch, alarming her yet calming her at the same time. Her hands slowly made its way to hug him back, unaware of the feelings brewing inside her when he came out of the hug and looked intently at her. "Jaanu don't ever forget that mein humesha tumhare saath hoon. And I promise to make sure nobody shall even think of hurting you. Teekhai?" he said cupping her face to which she merely nodded, her eyes getting teary.
"Uff yaar, kuch toh khair karo tumhare aankhein ke baare mein. It must be really tired producing so much of tears round the clock!" he said shaking his head causing Geet to gape at him.
"Hmph!" she snubbed at his comment and jerked her head away in mock anger. He came forward to look at her and chuckled at her cute antics.
"Thank you Muruga, let her be angry, atleast her waterworks won't begin," he said looking up but keeping an eye on her reaction. As expected, she turned around with her hands on her hips.
"Oi hello Mr. Jellyfish, main crybaby nahi hoon!" she defended herself.
"I never called you crybaby, but tum abhi kaho toh," he paused earning a loud gasp from Geet.
"Don't you dare," she warned him pointing her finger at him.
"Nahi, I am just saying," he said trying to suppress a smile.
"Chup, bilkul chup," she imitated him looking sternly causing Maan to instantly shut his mouth. "Very good boy, now go and get me my coffee," she ordered giving him a victory smile.
"Kya?" he asked looking incredulously.
"Coffee, filter coffee aapko pata nahi?" she asked innocently.
"Ji madam, aur kuch laoon?" he asked sarcastically.
"Nahi abhi voh hi kaafi hai. Agar aur kuch chahiye toh bol dungi."
"Ji madam zaroor mujhe hi boliyega," he said gritting his teeth and heading to get her filter coffee.
Maan brought her coffee along with breakfast on a tray, as Geet had not properly eaten last night. She tried to trick him into eating only half but he sternly overlooked and threatened he would feed her if she didn't eat by herself. She cursed him away under her breath but had no choice but to eat else he would really make her eat. Once he was satisfied she had her breakfast he excused himself to make an important call and told her to freshen up and shower.
Returning from the call he found Geet ready in a simple yet elegant maroon saree with golden yellow zari beautifully contrasting her milky skin tone. Her hair was neatly combed into a loose plait reaching to her hips. She was about to apply a bit of khol when Maan interrupted her.
"Geet, voh kuch important call aaya I need to go, tum kuch der intezaar karo, I'll be back and then we can go out," he said looking at her reflection on the mirror.
"Office se call kya, I'll also come with you," she began to say when he cut her.
"Nahi!" he said a bit loud. Seeing her look at him with a questioning look at his sudden outburst he lowered his voice, "Nahi Geet, tum taqleef mat uthao. I'll go just for a few hours and be back phir I'll pick you up," he said giving her a cheeky smile.
"Maan is everything alright? Site mein kuch problem hai kya?" she asked with concern.
"Nahi toh Jaanu, it's just I need to wrap some things up before we leave today and I want you to take rest, teekhai?" he said genuinely.
"Fine magar aap two hours mein nahi aaye toh I'll come behind you," she warned.
"Ji madam hum turant aapki seva ke liye aajayenge," he mocked making her giggle. He smiled seeing her happy and hoped her happiness last forever.
Maan left telling the Desikan couple that he would be out on some urgent work and that Geet would be home. He had particularly asked Mrs. Desikan to look after to Geet's needs and promised to be back within a few hours. Mrs. Desikan had assured him she would look after Geet and told him not to worry a bit. Thanking her for her grace and kindness, he left to take care of a few things he had left incomplete yesterday.
Meanwhile, Geet decided to kill time talking to Mrs. Desikan and helping her make lunch. Having finished making lunch, Mrs. Desikan suggested they go out to the market as she had to puchase some groceries and since Geet would be bored alone she should accompany her. Geet readily agreed to go along since Maan had not returned yet. In the middle of their shopping session Maan called her asking where she was. She replied that she was out shopping with Mrs. Desikan in the market near Thanjavur old bus stand. He then asked her to be ready as he was coming to pick her up for some important work.
"Magar Maan I cannot just rudely leave her to do the shopping," she said uneasily.
"Geet, main use samjhadoongi, you just be ready alright?" he stressed in a serious tone.
"Jellyfish!" she muttered under her breath. "Jab dekho all he thinks about is himself," she admonished.
"Geet mujhe sab sun raha hai, now if you are done with your cribbing, let Mrs. Desikan know and I shall be there," he ordered and cut the call before she could protest. Hearing the call disconnect she looked at her phone indredulously. 'Did he cut MY call!' she thought angrily before stomping away to find Mrs. Desikan.
Before long Maan arrived to pick Geet up at the market and apologized to Mrs. Desikan for whisking Geet away but her presence was needed so he had to take her with him. The old lady fondly smiled and said that she had no problem and had just brought her along since she would feel lonely at home. Bidding adieu, Maan and Geet exited out of the market while Maan requested the driver to take them to an address he had scribbled on some scrap paper.
"Maan hum kahaan ja rahein hain?" Geet asked curiously.
"You'll soon know," he said looking ahead while sitting next to her.
"Batayiye na please," she pleaded.
"Geet don't give me that puppy dog look, chup chap baitho," he ordered, looking at her with a stern look.
"Je—" she began to curse when he cut her.
"Haan main jellyfish hi hoon, happy?"
She sighed while her shoulders slumped in defeat. She looked up complaining, "Muruga! Why? Why me?"
Maan smiled looking at her antics from the corner of his eye but refrained to comment whilst she began her string of cursing in Tamil or worse began to cry. Seeing him stay mum to her complains she grunted angrily and sat back before looking out of the window. They reached their destination and Maan began to get out of the car while Geet peered through the window. The place seemed too familiar but it didn't quite strike her so she got out of the car slowly, engrossed in her own thoughts. She walked around the car to stand beside Maan only to be shocked. She instantly gripped Maan's hand and wrapped her hands around his biceps tightly while tears clouded her eyes. She tried to speak only to have gasps of air come out due to her shock. She stood rooted to the place while Maan tried to calm her emotions by caressing her back gently.
The man before them walked slowly with his wife beside him and came to stand in front of Maan and Geet. A sense of taut tension seemed to persist in the air for a few seconds before the older man began to fold his arms and bow before Geet.
"Enai manichidu Geet (Please forgive me). I am really sorry for last night," he said regretfully.
"Seshu mama!" (Seshu uncle) Geet gasped in horror seeing the elderly man seek forgiveness from her and leaped towards him, hugging him tightly and sobbing loudly. "It's my fault, I shouldn't have brought back those old wounds," she managed to say in between her sobs. Her uncle simply caressed her hair trying to hold back his own tears.
"I'm sorry, I did hurt you with my caustic words. These years of separation has taght me nothing but bitterness and anger. While I should have been happy, I simply scoffed away in the name of false pride," he said feeling ashamed at his own actions. "Anger clouded my mind and I was not thinking properly and pata nahi main kya kya bol diya," he said remorsefully.
"Mama please," (Uncle please) she begged not wanting him to apologize. She stepped back from him embrace while he turned to see Maan standing by the car. He immediately folded his hands seeking his apology but Maan leaped forward to hold his hand and hug him tightly.
"Aap yeh kya kar rahe ho?" he asked alarmed at her uncle's gesture. "Aap mujhse umr mein bade hain. Please don't seek forgiveness from me. I shouldn't have spoken like that," he apologized.
"Nahi beta without even thinking I went to blame you and your character too. Ho sake toh mujhe maaf kar de beta," her uncle whispered.
"Please sir, I immediately forgot what you told yesterday. And moreover you have all the rights to scold me," he added sincerely.
The scene in front of her awed Geet. It had not taken Maan to think twice before embracing her uncle who had debased his character last night. She was her uncle and had all the rights to blame her and get angry on her but she wouldn't mind his words. On the other hand, Maan being an outsider did not need to contact him or forgive him for that matter. She wondered at his generosity and humbleness thanking the lord for having such a person as part of her life. She felt blessed and her respect for him had increased immensely seeing his selfless act. Her eyes teared up, not in sorrow but in happiness for the man in front of her.
Finally after the initial tears, her uncle invited them in requesting them to have a proper meal because they had left in a hurry last night.
"So Geet how is my little sister Anu?" Seshagopalan asked taking his seat opposite to her.
CONTD BELOW...
