Shackles of Love#20#MG Chapter 55 - Page 104

CHAPTER 55:

Rajji and Tito were in their room, unable to sleep after seeing their Di in such pain. They wanted to go and apply the salve on her injuries to soothe her, they wanted to help their Di but they were powerless to do so.

They had been warned strictly against moving out of their room.

Rajji was pacifying a crying Tito, when they both heard some strange noise below the window. Confused over who could be creeping around so late, Rajji went over to investigate.

The sight that met her eyes chilled her blood.

A furious Brij was dragging a bound, gagged protesting Geet towards the back door of the haveli.

Rajji gestured Tito and they looked at each other in trepidation, knowing what Brij was capable of. Not caring about the warnings received, they both silently mutually decided that they were going to help their Di.

Looking around, they stealthily left the haveli, following the path Brij had taken, but were unable to find any trace of him.

He and Geet had just disappeared.

They clutched each other in fear, holding on tightly but refused to give up. Their Di needed them and now wasn't the time to fall prey to cowardliness.

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Maan had almost reached HP and was driving full speed to reach the haveli as soon as possible. After coming to his decision, impatience ran in his veins to see Geet, hold her in his arms, bear all her anger and take her back home, even if it meant to beg or force her to come along.

He smiled thinking of her pert little nose which becomes red when she gets angry. He was on the outskirts of HP when he saw two figures disappearing into the dark night. They both looked like kids to him and he got worried, glancing at the watch it showed past midnight.

He wanted to ignore them and move ahead, his Geet was waiting for him, but his inner conscience rebuked him and he stopped the jeep. He wanted to shout at them to gain attention, but not wanting to scare them and most importantly wanting to find out what they were doing out so late, he quickly ran towards the direction they had gone.

His quick strides decreased the distance between them and he was now within hearing distance. They both had torches in their hands and they were searching for something or someone in the woods. He could hear the sobs of both quite clearly because of the deathly silence of the night.

Nothing except the creaking of insects and their footsteps could be heard.

"Didi, Di kyu nahi mil rahi hai, Veerji use kaha le gaye honge? Unhe kuch hoga to nahi na? Mujhe bahoot darr lag raha hai." Cried the smaller of the duo who was a boy.

A voice who he assumed to be his sister answered back. He heard the fear underlying her tone as she tried pacifying her brother, "Aisa mat bol. Hum hai na. Hum dhoond lenge Didi ko. Kuch nahi hoga unhe."

Maan was concerned over what he was hearing, all he could make out was their sister was in some trouble. He couldn't in all conscience allow two kids to roam out alone in the night, he assumed the kids were playing hooky and had got lost.

He immediately went forward and touched their shoulders, making both of them scream in fear.

But the moment they turned to face him, their fear transferred to his soul. His blood chilled as he recognized the duo. They were Geet's cousins.

"Who are you guys talking about? Geet? Geet ko kuch hua hai kya? Tum dono itne raat ko yaha kya kar rahe ho?" He spoke rapidly, trying to calm his racing heart which kept reminding him about his unease earlier.

Tito shuddered in relief on seeing that it was Maan. He went to Maan and hugged him by the waist, crying "Geet Didi, wo Geet Didi ko'.Wo Veerji ne'.." However, his hiccups made it difficult for him to formulate a comprehensible sentence and Maan's hands automatically went around the small boy, patting him awkwardly to soothe him, willing him to continue. "Please Didi ko bacha lo'." He beseeched, looking up tearfully at Maan.

"Kya hua Geet ko?" His heart screamed, but he controlled himself looking at their scared and weeping faces.

No matter how brave Tito was pretending to be, he was but still a child and afraid of what was happening. His innocent heart and mind was glad on seeing a savior in the form of his Jijaji. However same was not the case with Rajji. Tito was about to answer when Rajji shut him up.

She shot Maan an angry glare and pulled Tito away from him, "Chal yaha se Tito, hume Didi ko dhoondna hai. Time nahi hai humare pass."

She tried dragging him away, however Maan blocked them off, by now fully panicked over what was happening and why were they saying 'save Geet' again and again. What the hell was happening here?

"Rajji ye kya keh rahi ho? Kya hua Geet ko? Kaha hai wo?"

"Aapko isse kya?" she retorted. Maan was taken back at the venom in her childish tone, "Ye kaisi baatein kar rahi ho tum? Who will care if not me?" He said impatiently

"You and care for my Di? Jhooth mat boliye."

He knew after what they had overheard today, they would question his actions. But explanations never came easy to Maan Singh Khurrana, and that too to a child, but he had to try. "Rajji aaj jo kuch bhi hua'"

"Mai aaj ki baat nahi kar rahi hu."

At his confused look, she continued scornfully, "Aapko kya lagta hai? Mai apni Didi ki hasi ke peeche gam ko nahi dekh payi? Jab Geet Didi humesha phone pe mujhse kehti thi ke aap kitne acche ho, aapne unke liye ye kiya, aap unse kitna pyaar karte ho'..Tabhi mujhe unki aawaaz ka dard nahi mehsoos hua? You think I couldn't recognize the breaks in her voice?"

"Doubt to mujhe pehle se tha, lekin mujhe pata tha Geet Didi kabhi kuch nahi bolengi. Unki to aadat hai, bas apna gam chupana aur doosro ke liye jeena. Bachpan se wohi to karti aayi hai." she said sadly.

Looking at him, her eyes betraying her disappointment in him, she said, "Jab unki shaadi hui, to mujhe laga shayad Didi ko abhi thodi khushiya milengi, jo wo deserve karti hai, lekin nahi. Aapne bhi to unke saath wohi kiya jo unki takdeer humesha karti aayi hai!"

Maan closed his eyes as each word uttered by this small child woman pierced his heart. How could she read Geet so well from miles apart when he had been unable to do so when she had been right beside him!

"Lagta hai ke khushiyaan unko raas hi nahi aati"

Unable to hear more, he squatted down so that he could look them in the eye and grabbing each of their hands, he tried to instill some of his penitence in his voice, "Tum mujhse naraz ho, theek hai! I agree I have made mistakes aur tumhe naraaz hone ka haq hai. Lekin ye waqt purani baton ko pakad ke baithne ka nahi hai, please Rajji tell me what happened, tum log kyu bol rahe the jaise Geet kisi musibat me hai? Batao mujhe!" He urged.

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Her cursed fate had always been her downfall.

She had always known that finding her alone without Maan, her family would not go easy on her. But Brij was seemingly taking overt pleasure in torturing her. Her head rang with the violent curses he had showered on her all throughout the way while he had brought her here.

In the dark creepy jungle.

She had been used to his verbal abuse her whole life, but looks like a few weeks had made her change her whole perspective on life. Her life with Maan had made her realize that she too had the right to raise her head and live with pride. She was not some second class baggage which needed to be hidden away until it was of some use. She gathered these thoughts as she thought to save herself from the clutches of her evil brother, knowing that there was going to be no other savior tonight.

Brij's eyes were glazed with vengeance and the red feral look made her pray for forbearance.

"Abhi dekhta hu mai, kaise tera bal nahi tootta hai!" Brij glared down at the woman trussed up tightly in the middle of the murky forest.

Darkness surrounded them on all sides, and she could feel her blood freezing at the thought of being left alone. Geet tried to call Brij, her eyes poured down pain and fear but he was deaf to her pleadings.

With a last evil glance he walked of, taking the last bit of light source away, shrouding her in obscurity.

======

Rajji thought over what he had said and realized that for now, he was correct. Maan was the only one who could help them as Brij was unlikely to listen to them. Even if they found Geet, she doubted whether Brij would let them take her.

A sudden noise made both her and Tito jump, and instinctively grasp his hand tighter in fear. Truth be said, she was afraid of venturing out into the dark too. And poor Tito'She glanced at her sobbing brother, who was now clutching her even harder.

Maan could see the fear and wavering determination on her face and he pressed his point in as calm a voice as he could muster, "Theek hai! Consider me some stranger on the road, who you have just met. I promise you, I will help you, no questions asked. Tum bas batao mujhe ke baat kya hai."

Rajji looked at him trying to gauge his feelings when he added "Please!" in a whisper.

She might not have much knowledge of the world, but she knew that the man before her was the only person who could help her save her Di. While she had her doubts about him, she could see the restlessness in his eyes. The fact that he was back in HP only a few hours after leaving made her question herself. If indeed he was here to resolve their issues and start fresh with her Di should she ignore the voice inside her head that was telling her to trust him? If on the one side her family had caused Geet infinite pain, something about him made her realize that he would not be that way with Geet. Could she let her prejudices stand in the way of the last chance for her Di to have happiness in her life?

Rajji could not take that chance away from her Di.

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The creaking of the insects and the faraway cries of wild beasts were the only sounds audible as Geet tried to free herself. Shadows surrounded her on all sides, the eeriness of the atmosphere adding to her woes.

She closed her eyes tight, not wanting to see anything as she felt something crawl on her foot.

Shuddering in fear and revulsion, she tried moving away, sobbing pitiably.

"Maaannn'.." she cried like a talisman, unwittingly, taking courage form the one name which had always given her courage and strength to go on, gaining strength from his name to endure this nightmare, once again. She tried freeing herself, with all her might, but to no avail. The knots were tight and refused to budge.

Last time Darji had realized that she was missing and come to free her, but this time she knew she would not be discovered missing till morning.

Her chest heaved as sobs escaped her, her breathing slowing as she gasped to inhale air.

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Maan pushed his hair back in frustration. It had been over an hour and they had still not found any sign of Geet. Rajji and Tito had taken him to all the possible places where Brij could take her, but to no avail.

The kids were by now crying inconsolably and even he was feeling fear creep into his soul.

Praying to Geet's Babaji for help, he turned around to console the kids, when he spied a moving blob of light emerging from the forest area. It looked suspicious to him and he immediately pointed it out to Rajji. Both looked closely and they could make out it was a man walking, holding a burning torch.

As he came nearer, the man's features became clearer, and Rajji whispered horrified, "Brij Veerji! Wo jungle se kyu aa rahe hai? Aur Geet Didi kaha hai?"

Her eyes widened in horror as realization struck of what Brij could have done to Geet.

She turned to Maan and related the long ago incident of Brij leaving Geet in the middle of the forest when she was small as she had disobeyed him, and her resultant fear of darkness.

Maan's eyes burned as a memory came to him of Geet saying that she was afraid of darkness and him renouncing her claims and mocking her.

Will the list of his sins never stop increasing? He wondered painfully. However now was not the time to lament. He had his whole life to make it up to her. For now, he had to get his Geet.

He clenched his fists, controlling the burning rage in him which demanded that he beat the man before him black and blue. "Control Maan! You need to find Geet first. Isko baad me dekh lena." He advised himself.

Turning towards the kids, he told them to go back home, as it was not safe for them to be tagging along at this time of the night. He also knew that they would get into trouble if Brij found them with him. But they steadfastly refused to go back without their Di. He finally convinced them to hide while he spoke to Brij, to which they reluctantly agreed.

He moved towards Brij, aggression visible in every taut line of his body. He looked like a beautiful wild beast, being held on a tight leash. However it wouldn't take much to snap him.

Brij was taken back when he saw Maan standing in front of him all of a sudden. A slight pang of panic arose, but he doused it beneath his ego and belligerence.

"Oye tu? Wapas aa gaya? Aur beizzati karwani hai tujhe apni? Wo bhi ek aurat se?" he mocked.

Maan ignored his taunts and asked menacingly, "Geet kaha hai?"

Brij looked at him in shock, wondering how did he know about Geet. He blustered, "Ye tu kya bak raha hai?" Maan didn't move his stance, "Aakhri baar pooch raha hu, Geet kaha hai?"

The menace evident in his low tone sent a frission of fear down Brij, but he suppressed it. He tried turning away, unable to bear the fierce glare of Maan's eyes drilling into him but Maan put his hand on his collar, stopping him with an iron fist.

"Oyee.." Brij snarled, "Teri itni himmat ke tune mere girebaan pe haath dala? Khairiyat chahta hai to chod mujhe!"

Maan's fist tightened, his eyes boring fear into Brij's heart, "Geet kaha hai?"

Anger overtaking common sense, Brij lifted his hand and tried to punch Maan. However, Maan saw it coming and he easily blocked the punch, twisting Brij's hand behind his back, while he ground out between clenched teeth, "Mai tujhpe haath nahi uthana chahta, lekin tu mujhe majboor kar raha hai! Apne se kamzor pe haath uthana Maan Singh Khurrana ke usoolo ke khilaf hai. Aur jo ek aurat pe haath uthaye wo mard kehlane ke layak hi nahi hai!"

"Us Geet jaisi'." Before he could use any degrading term for Geet, Maan's fist made direct contact with his face, making him fumble behind.

Brij glared back at Maan, livid with rage. Shouting like a madman he came and knocked Maan to the ground by butting his head into Maan's stomach. Maan fell down with a whoosh, hurting himself and before he could regain his equilibrium, Brij planted a solid kick on Maan's abs, making him crouch in pain.

Maan had not expected this, he was least interested in wasting time over this pathetic excuse in the name of a human, but as Brij marched ahead and lifted up his feet to kick him in his stomach again, Maan caught hold of his leg and swiftly twisted it making Brij cry in pain whilst all could hear the cracking sound of his bones.

Maan pulled him roughly downwards and Brij fell down, smashing his face into the ground. Maan got up, wiping the blood seeping along his temple, and kicked Brij hard in the stomach, making Brij cough up blood.

He squatted down beside Brij, keeping one leg on his nape holding him down in position. He punched his face numerous times while Brij lay trapped. The thin leash he had kept on his control had snapped now and Maan was blindly beating Brij up. Punches and kicks were rained on him, making him cry out in pain.

His cries gave Maan a sense of satisfaction, "Khel aur ladai hamesha barabari mein hi honi chahiye, dekh le yehi hai teri aukaad Brij! Zameen ki dhool'" He lifted his hand and banged it to the ground harshly then getting up he held him tight and stamped his hand hard

"Yehi haath uthaya tha na meri Geet pe? Maine tujhe warn kiya tha, meri Geet se door rehna, lekin tune meri nahi suni."

Each atrocity that Rajji had described rang in his ears, making him want to kill the man lying almost dead before him with his own bare hands. The only thing stopping him was the fact that he needed Brij's co-operation to find Geet.

He pulled Brij's head up, which was by now drenched in sweat, while his face a kaleidoscope of mud and blood, "Aakri baar pooch raha hu, Geet kaha hai?" he threatened in a cold voice.

He pulled his hair harshly when Brij refused to answer making him squeal in pain.

Rajji and Tito watched slyly, hiding behind a tree on Maan's strict instructions.

They watched in awe, a grudging respect rising as they looked at their brother in law who looked like a fierce creature now. Enough to face any adversity that life threw his way.

"Babata hu'Batata hu'." Brij's painful voice diverted their attention, and they thanked Babaji that finally their Geet didi would be rescued.

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A terrified Geet by now was losing to delirium.

The fear of the unknown is the worst kind they say. You can fight a known enemy, but how can you fight what you can't see. Geet had always been achluophobic, but when combined with eerie sounds from the nightlife, it gets magnified hundredfold to make even the sanest person go insane.

And in this delirium, she thought she heard someone calling her name. She tried to call back, she really did, but her mouth gag and her tiredness made it difficult to do so.

She fought back as darkness threatened to engulf her, she couldn't give up now, but try as she might, she couldn't make any noise.

Even as fast as the tears came, darkness threatened to swallow her but she kept her eyes open to see a faint shadow approaching her.

Perhaps she was hallucinating, because it looked decidedly like Maan to her, but why would he be here? He would be in Delhi.

Too tired to hold on, she was about to collapse on the ground when a strong pair of arms caught her and hauled her against the rock hard chest that she dreamt of and the gag was pulled out from her mouth.

"Maan'..."

It was a slow whisper as she fell into unconsciousness.

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Precap: