MG FF-Winter Sonata-Thread 2 - Page 5

waiting

Thanks Shruthe and Ash for the banner

This chapter is super long but I did not want to break it into two to keep the essence. There is no Maan here but it is very important for me to pen down this chapter. A) It gives the current state of Geet's mind and details out Meera's character and also lays foundation of a future track B) This chapter is one of the reason I started writing this FF. Sorry if it comes out as a documentary but social issues will be the crux of this FF and this is only the first of many I am going to weave into this story.

Also, thanks for your candid feedback. In general most of you were happy with the pace. So I am taking on board two specific feedbacks

Anu – I will try to bring in more interactions, thoughts and emotions out

Shruthe – I will try to give two updates in a week where update is quite close to original GHSP and otherwise just one update….like this one which is super long and will need time to get absorbed. Hope that will balance the feeling of dj-vu.

9n9i9s9h9u9 – I am really touched by your poem dear….thank you thank you so much

Lakshmi – Thanks dear. Your post was really motivating

VERY IMPORTANT: Please add ritzypm as buddy to gets PMs for this FF

Chapter 8 –Itni Shakti Humein Dena Daata

Sunday

Geet was lost in her thoughts of how Maan sir helped her at every step. Her first day, the way he shouted at her to give her more confidence and then praising her in front of Mr. Chopra. She smiled a little as she remembered him taking out her dupatta from the thorns.

"Dhyan se chala karo"

His words brought a slight blush to her cheeks.

"Kitni parwah hai na Maan sir ko sabki…he is such a good human being. He shows himself as such a strict boss par andar se he is so soft and caring. Har cheez pe nazar rehti hai unki par apne fayde le kiye nahi par dusron ka dhyan rakhne ke liye."

(How much Maan sir takes cares of every one…he is such a good human being. He shows himself as such a strict boss but from inside he is so soft and caring. He has his eyes on everything but not for his own benefit but to just look after others.)

Mrs. Dixit, warden of the hostel along with the owner whom everyone called Daadima, were pleasantly surprised seeing her smile for the first time.

"Kya baat hai Geet…you seem very happy. Kahin koi boyfriend wagarah toh nahi mil gaya aapko?"

(What's the matter Geet…you seem very happy. Have you got a new boyfriend?)

Hearing Daadima's words wiped off her smile immediately. "Nahi Daadima, I can not think like this about anyone."

Daadima was a little surprised at her choice of words but let it go. She did not know her entire past but she knew how troubled she was. Mrs. Dixit changed the topic

"Stay happy like this only Geet…you look nice because your smile is very pretty. So what actually brought such a sweet smile on your face…hmmm?"

"I was toh just thinking of my boss…He is a very different person. Just like a cactus. Very prickly from outside but when it blooms, it can be the most beautiful thing in the world. Cactus consumes the least amount of resources from nature but every part of it is useful. My boss is also like that. Ek dum khadoos and dusht daanav but if he smiles, it can do wonder to his face. He works so hard providing for so many employees but I have hardly seen him using that luxury for himself…"

Daadima genuinely laughed aloud but in her heart she was pleasantly surprised. She knew where Geet worked and was in awe that she could summarize Mr. Maan Singh Khurana so well.

"So Geet, you are well settled now at your new place."

Geet hesitated before answering but then thought this was the ideal opportunity to talk her heart out and ask for Daadima's permission. She had wanted to talk to her since the day she had shifted out of the hostel.

"Ji Daadima…yes but I wanted to ask you for something."

Daadima sensed her nervousness and encouraged her to speak.

"You know, that night when you saved me, I wondered why I was alive. What purpose my life had any more?

I even wondered if dying was better option then living this aimless life. It just seemed like that I was a burden on this earth. I asked Babaji why he has kept me alive…why?"

A gentle sob racked her body as she spoke of her trauma as Daadima caressed her head.

"But my Babaji is very kind. He showed me the right path. Kabhi kabhi jab har umeed khatam ho jaati hai to unki adbhut jyoti hi humein raasta dikhati hai. I had lost everyone and I was so alone. But my Babaji's meher, that he sent Meera in my life."

(But my Babaji is very kind. He showed me the right path. When there is no hope then His divine lightshows us the path. I had lost everyone and I was so alone. But my Babaji's meher, that he sent Meera in my life.)

Itni Shakti Humein Dena Daata
Man ka Vishvaas Kamzor Ho Naa
Hum Chalein Nek Raste Pe Humse
Bhulkar Bhi Koi Bhul Ho Naa

"Meera!!!"

"Haan Daadima…meri roommate Meera. Pata hai mujhe lagta tha ki mein bahut dukhi hoon. But then when I met her, I realized that it does not matter what our pain is, what matters is how we handle it. Woh 15 saal ki choti se masoom ladki ne mujhe zindagi ka sabse important lesson sikhaya hai.

In these past few months not only have we became close like sisters, but she taught me to laugh and try to live life as it comes. Isiliye, I have decided that I will never leave her alone. She too has a family and that is me."

Geet wiped her tears as she remembered her time with Meera

Few days after her stay in hostel, she had become good friends with her room mate Meera. She looked very young to her, just the age of Rajji…her own sister.

She seemed to be quite sick though. She had seen her retching in the bathroom and one such night, when her vomiting seemed so horrible, she had told her that she was going to ask Dixit madam to send for a doctor.

"Nahi Di, iski koi zaroorat nahi hai….mein thik hoon."

"Kya thik hai….kya haalat bana rakhi hai tune apni….nahi I will not listen to you. I will get a doctor…"

"It's fine di…it is normal in my condition. Dixit madam only told me and explained it to me."

Geet was very surprised that how can somebody tell that vomiting like this could be normal. She had still not started trusting her fully and wondered if there was an ulterior motive behind this carelessness.

"Tu na kuch nahi samajhti….mein khud hi doctor ko leke aati hoon"

"Uff O di….daadima also told me it is normal in pregnancy and I have read it in the book also…aap ruko"

Meera had managed to reach her bed now and she took out a book and gave it to Geet from under her pillow – "What to expect when you are expecting".

Geet's eyes widened in surprise – "tum…tum pregnant ho"

Meera nodded with a slight smile as she caressed her stomach lovingly "yes Di…my life is inside me"

"Lekin…tum…I thought you were very young…mera matlab…you look just like my sister who is just fifteen."

"I am also fifteen only Di"

Geet felt as ground had slipped from underneath her feet. She looked at the fragile girl who was pale because of her sickness and now had a film of wetness in her eyes. She looked in utter disbelief at the young girl.

"You are just…lekin phir…yeh sab…what happened to you. Did your parents do child marriage?"

Meera wiped her tears and sat down on her bed.

"Nahi…they are quite well educated city people."

She looked up to see Geet's questioning eyes who averted her gaze immediately on getting caught.

Geet sat down close to her soothing her by lovingly patting her head. She settled her in her lap. Silence settled as she did not ask any further questions. Who was she to judge what happened to this young girl and why should she question her about her past.

But after few moments, Meera spoke again.

"I didn't even know anything much about all this but mummy explained to me last year when I started having my periods.

….

One day while coming back from school, few guys started eve teasing me. I didn't know them. They were not from my school also. They….

They took me forcefully and….

There were three of them. I didn't know anything about them and I never saw them again.

When I reached home, I told my mom what happened. I was hurt and bruised. I asked them for a doctor but my daadi refused to let my mom even call one. My father and grandfather came back from office but decided that the best course was for me to forget that this ever happened. My grandfather even went ahead to suggest that this is what happens when girls wear skirts and shirts to school….

I wonder what my life had been if they had just let me go the doctor. I did not know then but now I know I could have taken an after morning pill and maybe I could have managed to let my life be what it was. But then I also wonder what it was…what life it was.

They were ashamed of what happened to me and then they went berserk when after a month they found out that I was pregnant. They didn't let me go to the police but finally took me to a doctor…for an abortion. But their bad luck, doctor refused to touch me. I was very weak and abortion could not be done without endangering my life.

They even tried taking me to a local hospital and bribe their way. But finally when it was clear that I will loose my life, they wondered why should they waste their money and chance their dignity for a worthless cause lie me.

They took an easy route. They tied my hands/legs and gagged me before abandoning me on the train tracks. My own mother stood at the door when my own father bundled me in the car in the dead of the night to take me away."

Geet eyes which were full of tears widened in horror as she heard her tale but Meera just smirked with bitterness.

"I would not have been alive or my baby, if a security guard had not found me before a train and left me here with Mrs Dixit.

My Baby…my…now I live just for my baby but I pray every day to God that make him a boy. It is not that I don't want a girl but what will be my baby's future di…haan….what will be my baby's future. Agar ladka hua toh shayad phir bhi mujhse nafrat karega par jee lega lekin ladki hui toh…woh kaise jiyegi…meri jaise maa ke saath….my baby"

Meera broke down completely in Geet's arms while Geet just wondered about the responsibility on such young shoulders. There was only one line she could utter in front of him

"Your baby is lucky to have a mom like you Meera….when you survived without yours she or he will be lucky to have someone who truly loves her child. Aur tu akeli nahi hai…hum sab hai na…mein hoon tere saath Meera…mein hoon"

"When I looked at her, I realized madam…daadima that I am not the only one with pain but probably I am one of the lucky few who have escaped the brutal responsibilities of this society. I can never have a life partner and a family. There will be no one in my life who will have blood ties with me. But it doesn't mean that I can not have relationships also. We will be each other's family.

Dur Agyaan Ke Ho Andhere
Tu Humein Gyaan Ki Roshani De
Har Buraai Se Bachake Rahein Hum
Jitani Bhi De, Bhali Zindagi De
Bair Ho Naa Kisika Kisise
Bhaavna Man Men Badale Ki Ho Na

Hum Chalein Nek Raste Pe Humse
Bhulkar Bhi Koi Bhul Ho Naa

I have seen her on days when fear takes over her smile and why will she not be scared? She is just fifteen madam. Just fifteen…She became mature last year. What was her fault Daadima? Some random guy fulfilled their lust by forcibly raping her. And now she is pregnant and her own parents instead of helping her left her at train tracks. What family is this which ties hand of their own daughter and leaves her to die."

Tears rolled down her eyes as she whimpered.

"I thought I was in pain. I thought my family betrayed me. But now I know that there is no meaning of word family, if they are not with you when you need them the most. Just like my so called family, hers was ashamed of her too. It was Babaji's grace that the security guard found her else…

The day I shifted out, she cried in my arms asking me to not leave her alone, and I knew what I have to do. I want to come to the hostel every weekend and spend time with my sisters, supporting them and teaching them with whatever I know. I don't have lot of money but I will do whatever I can.

And yes, I will be there for Meera. Her life will not get over. She will live for her child and we will make home for our family. Aaj I don't earn enough but one day, when I am settled in my job I will take her and the baby with me. Till then and only till then she is staying here. I also live now for my family and want to take care of them one day.

I know that all of us can never repay your kindness and forget this place which has so given many of us a new reason to live. Meera ke liye bhale hi main kuch karne ki koshish karoon toh bhi aaj mein majboor hoon.

Aur baaki ladkiyon ka kya? Har ek ladki ki ek kahani hai…har ek ka ek dard. Ab yeh ghar mere liye mandir se kam nahi aur yaha par rehne wale log hi mere parivaar hain.

Ham Na Sochen Hamen Kyaa Milaa Hai
Ham Ye Sochen Kiyaa Kyaa Hai Arpan
Phul Khushiyon Ke Baatein Sabhi Ko
Sabaka Jivan Hi Ban Jaaye Madhuban
Apani Karuna Ko Jab Tu Baha De
Karde Paavan Har Ik Man Ka Kona

Hum Chalein Nek Raste Pe Humse
Bhulkar Bhi Koi Bhul Ho Naa

Please madam…please Daadima…let me come at least on weekends and be part of this hostel. Please. This hostel has given me a new life and there is nothing more precious than this place which is worth living. I want to bring smile back in their life and help in whatever way I can. I can take additional classes or just spend time talking to them. But please, let me be with my family. Don't take me away from them."

Daadima lovingly caressed hair of this barely nineteen year old girl. Like many in this hostel, she had been forced to leave her fun filled youth behind to face harsh realities of life. Over the years, she had helped many women to settle back into this society but rarely someone looked back to face the dark days of their lives.

"You are most welcome beta. This is your home and you can come here whenever you want. Off course you need to take permission from Mrs. Dixit before planning anything new but I am sure she will be more than happy to have you here. Also, never think that your contribution is less. More than money it is your time and emotions which you are investing."

Geet smiled as she thanked Daadima profusely and started thinking about different things which can be done to help the girls of the hostel.

Precap - Ik Teekhi Teekhi Si, Uff Karari Si Ladki

awesome update di.👏

poor meera😭

simply brilliant
loved it
meera's past is so painful😭
keep writing

hey dear me back

nice update

its beautifully written

from meera's past to geet to dadima

Nice part thanks 4 pm dear