Shackles of Love#14#MG FF Chapter 49-50 - Page 88

CHAPTER 50:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDSPQiURwXU[/YOUTUBE]

Ummm Hmm Umm Hmm

Ummm Hmm Umm Hmm

Geet was walking towards the main gate of the township, a small bag, containing her meager possessions slung on her shoulder, when she was hailed by someone.

"Geeettt'" A chirpy voice called out to her, halting her in her tracks. Turning back, she saw Sasha making her way towards her. She stiffened her back, having no courage to look back on something she wanted with every fiber of her being.

Tune Jo Na Kaha

Mein Woh Sunta Raha

Khamakha Bewajah Khwaab Bunta Raha

Tune Jo Na Kaha

Mein Woh Sunta Raha

Khamakha Bewajah Khwaab Bunta Raha

It had taken her a lot of time to come to this decision, and following through with it had been the hardest thing she had ever done. But she had to leave; there was no way she was going to live with a man who kept battering her self-respect and pride, questioning her love and morals, over and over again. Agreed he had never ever told her he loved her, but the heart knows no logic.

Jaane Kiski Humein Lag Gayi Hai Nazar

Is Shehar Mein Na Apna Tikana Raha

She could have faced Sameera, fought for her love, had that love been respected if not reciprocated.

But yesterday, Maan had made a mockery out of her love, degrading it to such an extent that she didn't have the courage to bear more.

Door Chahat Se Ab Apni Chalta Raha

Khamakha Bewajah Khwaab Bunta Raha

So she had decided to return home to Hoshiarpur. Her heart ached when she called it home. The grand haveli of her Darji was no longer home. Actually it had never been her home. It had only been her illusion. Her home had been long lost when she lost her parents.

Home was the small one bedroom apartment where she had woven dreams of happily ever after. Home was the place where she had loved and fought with Maan. Home was the place where she, Annie and Naina Di had spent hours talking, joking and laughing. Home was where her Dev Veerji had consoled her and given her the strength to follow through on her convictions.

Dard Phele Se Hai Jyaaada

Khud Se Phir Yeh Vaada

Khamosh Nazrein Rahein Bezubaan

A few tears spilled over at the thought of leaving that home forever. She had made innumerable memories in the short span of time she had been here. She had made relations, she had received love, and she had been cared about.

What she had lacked in her entire existence in that grand HP haveli, she had received more than expected here. She hadn't felt half as torn leaving her house in HP after her wedding during her bidai as she felt at this moment.

These were her people, her family. But the person who was the link to this newfound family and affection was missing from the chain. So how can she claim it as her home or her family?

Abb Na Pehli Si Baatein Hai

Bolo To Lab Thartharatein Hai

Raaz Yeh Dil Ka Na Ho Baiyan

She inconspicuously tried wiping away the tear which had somehow managed to fall down her cheek, in spite of her firm determination to not cry and turned back to greet Sasha.

"Kaha ja rahi ho?" Sasha queried, surprised to find her up so early in the morning.

Geet knew she can't reveal the truth to Sasha and fobbed her off saying that she had urgent work in office. Sasha was not quite convinced with her words and tried asking her again, but Geet diverted her by asking what she was doing up so early.

"Oh! I was just out jogging. I used to do this in hostel to stay fit. But after coming here I lost the zeal."

Geet smiled benignly, her own circumstances too demanding to allow her to make small conversation with the girl beside her.

"Waise Geet, I wanted to tell you something." Sasha said hesitantly.

"What?"

"Wo Geet, mai tumse thanks kehna chahti thi. For everything. Tumne dad ko samjhaya, aur mujhe bhi. Tumhari wajah se mujhe mere dad wapas mil gaye." And she hugged Geet tightly to convey her feelings to Geet.

A warm feeling flooded Geet; at least she had been of some use to someone. A father reunited with his lost child. The dazzling smile she saw on Sasha's face had totally been worth the ordeal she had gone through. She had spoken to both father and daughter, asking them to talk and sort out their differences. Her emotions on the subject of missing her own father had touched a chord somewhere in Sasha and both had realized what they were missing.

After Geet left, they had talked and talked and cried with each other. Virat had apologized to his daughter and Sasha had tried to understand his POV. They had both laid their ghosts to rest and decided to start afresh.

The tears hovering in her eyes slipped through unheeded, jolting Sasha out of her reverie. "Kya hua Geet?" she asked alarmed.

"Kuch nahi Sasha! I am just glad some relationships worked out. I guess some are just not meant to be." She muttered absentmindedly, cupping Sasha's face and planting a peck on her forehead. "I am so glad ke tumhe tumhare Dad mil gaye."

"Excuse me? Ye tum kya bol rahi ho?" Sasha asked startled at Geet's despondency. Geet came out of her stupor and smiled extra brightly to put off Sasha's suspicion. She didn't want her going to Maan and waking him up. She had no energy left to have as showdown with him. This was better; at least she could spare herself some torture.

"Kuch nahi! Mai to aevhi bol rahi thi. Accha suno, mujhe late ho raha hai, mai chalti hu! Tum apni jogging karo! Waise bhi moti ho gayee ho!" She teased.

"Hawww! Ye tum kya keh rahi ha??"

"Wohi jo sach hai! Abhi jao! Time waste mat karo!" and she walked off, laughing at Sasha's angry pout.

"Mai tumhe baad me dekh lungi Geet!" Sasha yelled, but waved back to her smiling, "Have a great day!"

The cab she had ordered arrived just then thankfully and Geet got in, asking the cabbie to head to the Bus Depot while the security guard helped her with her bag, in spite of Geet's protests.

Hoga Na Ab Asar Humpe Nahin

Hum Safar Mein To Hai Humsafar Hai Nahi

Door Jaata Raha Paas Aata Raha

Khamakha Bewajah Khwaab Bunta Raha

Sitting down, she looked back one last time, at the place which had been a real HOME to her, promising herself that she won't cry or fall weak.

She had another ordeal to face in HP when she reached there, and she needed to gather her courage to face them and answer their questions.

So what if the person she loved had abandoned her midway? He had given her the courage to follow through on her convictions and the confidence in herself to make her own path.

===========

Maan searched madly all over the house, double checking everything, but there was no sign of Geet anywhere. He tried calling her, but her phone was coming switched off.

Throwing his phone in frustration, he went to Naintara's house also to check, whether she was there. But she was nowhere to be found. Naintara and Dev were equally worried to find that Geet was missing. Dev volunteered to look for her outside while Naintara went to Annie's house to check for Geet. Maan returned back, to change so that he could go out and look for her himself, when he spied a note on the dressing table which he had missed.

It was short and to the point.

Maan,

I am going back to Hoshiarpur. Don't worry about me. I will be fine. I am no longer your responsibility.

Geet.

===============

Three hours later, Sasha once again stood at the same spot, waiting for her cab. She needed to go to the city to get some forms for a local college. She had managed to convince Virat that she wanted to stay with him and not in some hostel. Virat who felt he had missed his daughter growing up phase had only been too eager to agree.

As she stood for the cab, irritated that it was late, she was talking to the security guard to wile away the time. The guard casually showed surprise over how 'Geet baby went alone to the Bus depot' which is not safe for a woman travelling alone. Sasha was shocked to hear this. "Geet ne to bola tha wo office ja rahi hai, fir bus depot kyu gayee wo?"

Her smart mind couldn't come up with any satisfactory answer, and she was scared for Geet. "I have to tell MK!" she decided. Yelling at the guard to send the cab back, she started running back towards home, wanting to tell Maan as soon as possible.

==========

Maan sat there, dumbstruck, with the letter in his hand, watching his life disintegrate once more before his eyes. The images from his past passed in front of his eyes like a kaleidoscope, superimposed by his memories of Geet and then the happenings of yesterday.

Dev had been right, in his folly of holding onto his past, he had lost his future.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2HzcXaqX3U[/YOUTUBE]

Aaya Woh Phir Nazar Aise

Baat Chidne Lagi Phir Se

Aankhon Mein Chubhta Kal Ka Dhuan

Sameera had come in like a blast from the past, and in his pain he had let her once again ruin his life. His rational mind had stopped working and in his pain he had lashed out at Geet who had become his whipping boy. He wiped his hand across his face as he remembered her words about love and marriage. She was right, she had always given her all to it, it had always been him who had been lacking.

Haal Tera Na Humsa Hai

Is Khushi Mein Kyon Gumsa Hai

Basne Laga Kyon Phir Woh Jahan

Woh Jahan Dur Jis Se Gaye The Nikal

Phir Se Aankhon Mein Karti Hai Jaise Pehal

And when he had decided to let go and move ahead, his past had reentered to destroy his present. The day that should have been the happiest day, the day that should have been the beginning of forever had turned out to be the opposite.

He had wished to leave his lonely life, his loveless existence and start on a new journey. But it seemed like love wasn't meant for him after all. He had once more been pushed into the depths of a lonely hell but this time it was his own doing.

Lambha Beeta Hua ,Dil Dukhata Raha

Khamakha Bewajah Khwaab Bunta Raha

Geet had left him. He must have hurt her too deeply for her to take such a step. He was still reeling under this shock when Sasha came running to him, shouting "MK! MK!"

Maan was in no state to indulge Sasha, nor was Naintara, who was silently witnessing the flashing emotions on her brother's face. She had read the letter that had slipped through his fingers and was waiting for him to tell her something.

She said irritably, "Kya hua Sasha? We are busy!"

Sasha ignored her and gasped, fighting for air, "MK wo Geet'"

Geet's name made both look up and Maan was brought out of his self chastisement stupor. Geet's name along with Sasha's tone and expressions were giving him bad vibes. He grabbed Sasha, "What happened to Geet? Kya keh rahi ho tum?"

"MK Geet na bus depot gaye hai, wo bhi akele! Security wale kaka ne use taxi driver ko bolte hue suna. Mujhe subah mili thi to bola ke office ja rahi hu, fir wo waha kyu gayee?" She blabbered.

"Subah kab?" Maan's brain started working as he tried to think where she would go, "Nearly 3 hours ago!"

Maan left her immediately and rushed to the bedroom to change, ignoring the questions clearly visible on Naintara's face. He only said, "Not now Naintara! First I need to find her! Use kuch ho gaya to? Wo kabhi akele kahi nahi gayee hai! Use to raaste bhi pata nahi hai!"

=================

Maan rushed to the depot trying to find her, but he couldn't. He didn't even have her photo to show around. Too late to regret it now, he tried asking people, describing her as Sasha had told him what Geet was wearing.

Dev joined him as soon as Naintara called him to let her know about Geet's whereabouts. And luckily, Dev had a few pics of Geet, Annie and Naintara. They showed it around and finally one old lady recognized Geet, saying she had seen her get into the bus for HP.

Maan thanked her profusely and decided to head to HP immediately. He was about to leave when Dev stopped him, "Wait Maan! Where are you going now?"

"Ye kaisa sawaal hai, Dev? Of course I am going to HP to get Geet back."

"Why?" Dev asked coolly.

"What why? I just have to ensure that she is safe. Agar use kuch ho gaya to?" He shuddered as horrific thoughts lingered in his mind. He shook his head to clear them before continuing, "How can she just go away alone without telling me. She is my'.."

"Don't Maan! Don't! Calling her 'your wife' would be an insult to that word. Aaj tak tumne use dukh ke ilawa diya hi kya hai? Kisi aur ki galti ki sazaa kisi aur ko! Ek baar nahi, baar baar tumne uska dil aur ummeede todi hai! Abhi use bakhsh do!" Dev spat in anger.

Maan stood there, silently with his head bowed in shame, as he had no answer to Dev's allegations, each and every one of them being true.

"You don't deserve someone like Geet, Maan! She is an angel to be cherished and loved, lekin tumne jo uske saath kiya na'" he broke off, trying to control his words, lest he say something which would really push Maan over the edge.

"Koi zaroorat nahi hai tumhe kahi bhi jane ki! Mai apni behan ka khayal rakh sakta hu. I will ensure that she reaches her home safely. Tum aur takleef mat lo. Go back to that world of loneliness which you call your life, it is waiting for you with open arms." And without sparing him a glance, Dev turned around and left. Revving up his car, he headed towards the highway towards HP, leaving a thoughtful and broken Maan behind.

=======

The car ate up the distance rapidly, as he headed back. His thoughts were as turbulent and dark as the night which had shattered his mirage of himself. All he could see was a man who was too drowned in self obsession to acknowledge the pure love from an angel. But it was too late for hindsight now. She had left him.

Forever.

Maan sifted through the events of the preceding days. Geet's decision of returning to HP had left him in a vacuum of sorts. He had never imagined that Geet would leave him. Maybe he had been too complacent and taken her for granted.

Tune Jo Na Kaha

Mein Woh Sunta Raha

Khamakha Bewajah Khwaab Bunta Raha

Maybe Dev was right and this was really the best for her. His life was a curse to him and all around him. Before he took her rose colored view of the world and painted it black with his ill luck he should be glad that she had gone away from him. Already he had seen the results of their short alliance. Gone was the cheerful chirpy girl who demanded things from him. Gone was the beautiful bride who drove him nuts on the trip from HP

He remembered her as he had seen her last night, her face lined with sorrow; her eyes which always used to shine at him in joy were bleak with pain and hurt, followed by another vision of her cuddled into herself, tears streaking down her face, utterly miserable. And it had all been because of him. He had caused that to happen.

He did not today, nor will he ever deserve her. His fingers loosened on the steering and the car wobbled, before he brought it back under control. He stopped the car at one side, wanting to get a grip on himself.

Maybe she would be better off in HP away from him. If he could not bring her happiness he had no right to bring her pain. With a heavy heart he thought bleakly about returning alone to his four walls which Geet had made a home for the small time she had been there.

Jaane Kiski Humein Lag Gayi Hai Nazar

Is Shehar Mein Na Apna Tikana Raha

A deep stab of hurt made him rub his hand over his heart. He never told her but seeing her face in the morning, her running back and forth as she got ready brought a smile to his face. Hiding behind a newspaper every morning he would smirk silently at all the appeals to Babaji. Coming home from work when he was tired, the sweetness of her face, all the attempts she made to care for him, how would he ever be able to live without it? The deep longing in his heart which had taken root to make a life with her would just have to be crushed. He could not afford such feelings in his life. Every hint of happiness was just followed by dark clouds.

Living with her was its own challenge on a daily basis. He had to fight hard to not succumb to his feelings. Sometimes the way she just looked at him had melted his resolve. She was beautiful undoubtedly but the love that added to her beauty was in her eyes and that was almost his undoing. The last few weeks he had done more tai chi than ever in his life, he smiled to himself, a tear escaping his eye without his permission. Geet was a dangerous package to be around. Except for the couple of occasions when he had lost it completely, he was proud of his control around her. True it was very bitter for her now but in the long run she will be grateful that he had not shattered her innocence. Someday when she met the true person meant for her.

Inexplicably, he started rubbing near his heart again. The thought of Geet with someone else was tearing him apart.

This was for her betterment he again reiterated to himself, trying to convince his heart of the fact, even though it refused to listen to him. If he could hear his heart complaining, he did not dwell on it too much. He was Maan Singh Khurrana after all, and emotions and feelings weren't his cup of tea. In his greed to change his path, he had nearly destroyed an innocent, but no more.

Koi Chahat Se Abb Apni Chalta Raha

Bhuj Gai Aag Thi Daag Jalta Raha.

Letting her leave was the best option. Someday her life would be full of happiness and joy, things he could not give her, as they were alien to him. Whenever he felt he had obtained it all, he opened his palm to see it all disappearing like mist leaving him behind with the clarity that his life just wasn't meant for happiness or love.

Still rubbing over his heart and suppressing the yearnings he had suppressed for weeks now, he made his way back.

Loneliness was nothing new to him. He would get used to it again. The small flurries of color that NT and Annie brought into his life would have to be enough. Geet and the rainbow of colors that she carried with her wherever she went would never paint his life beautifully again.

Precap: