So the story is gonna end .. hope you enjoyed it .. after this chapter I will give the continuation of prologue .. but before that read n comment 😊
n sorry it is Part 20 .. I have written 21 in pm sorry
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Part 20: Forever
"Maanendra we will sail towards Bengal tomorrow. And I want you to come with me."
Maan looked at the source of the voice silently.
"Yes you get it.. I want means I order you to come."
Again there was no answer from Maanendra's side. All quite only the continuous whistling of sea wind could be heard. The ship slightly shacked in the wave.
"Maanendra you know we tried our best to find her.."
"but we couldn't. I can't leave her. I know she is somewhere here." Maan finally broke his silence.
On the day, after Devdutt's exit his men was about to attack him. It was almost impossible for him and his guard to be safe from those dacoit's hands. His only companion was wounded and Maan was surrounded by all of them. He knew these men are told for leave him injured not to be killed. They will leave them here to die. Still he had no other option but fight. He raised the showered when some soldiers in royal army's dress encircled them. Maanendra recognized them as the soldier of Bengal's Sultan Hussein Shah. Maan was brought to a barge, almost of a size of ship. Maan knew it belongs to the fleet of ships, may be the centre of the voyage.
"So you are Maanendra .. the last blood of royal dynasty from south Bengal" Asked a man wearing golden sherwani, with an aristocratic attitude and husky voice.
"You know me?"
"I know this symbol on your sword."
"so I am under arrest?"
"aahan. We saved you seeing you alone were fighting against so many. Now I know how you could." He indicated towards his sword what clearly gave Maan the answer because he is a Kshatriya.
"But now that you know who am I what will be your Sultan's command?"
"Very intelligent." A man came down from the roof of this luxurious royal ship. Middle aged, his hair and beard has spots of grey but not a single mussel carries any impression of weakness or age. And his voice speaks why he is the pole star of Bengal. "You understood he is not the Sultan."
"look at your age and his age your highness."
The king laughed out loud. "He is my commander Ismail Gazi. I am impressed, intelligent, witty and fearless. I need a man like you in my council, as my minister."
"What if I say no. I guess I will be imprisoned like Roop and Narayan were right?"
"They were my ministers who tried to withdraw from my ministry because they wanted to be a follower of Chaitanya dev. Without them my ministry was frail. I tried to stop them in my way. But they succeeded to flee away. I don't blame them, it was their choice. But you know about them? I thought you choose to be a sculptor instead of politician."
"I did. But that doesn't mean I will be completely detached from my mother land."
" Brilliant. I want you Join my ministry; I need you and also the sculptor in you. Your entity as an artist will be also honored there."
"Sorry your majesty I am afraid I can't "
"May I know the reason?"
"I have to find my wife. She is lost."
"You know the result of rejecting me." Sultan's voice became harsh.
"I don't care."
"I can bury you right now." Sultan looked straight at Maan with an eye to burn. But Maan's determination remains same. He didn't reply but his eyes did.
"You really love your wife more than your life? Exceptional.. If I help you to find her?"
The direction of voyage changed. Some of their ship went towards Bengal and some took an u-turn. They reached Madanmohan temple but the only thing Maan's guard and royal spies could get was Geet has dived into water. Sultan's men tried but didn't get any information. It was almost fifteen days from that day. Voyagers wanted to return their country badly. In these days Sultan has developed an affection and respect on this head strong young man but he is a king. He has duties to his workers and subjects. He needed to talk to Maanendra. His decision and Maanendra's destiny both were going to be determined.
"Maanendra you are much younger to me. Still want to ask something. In this society you know if she is even alive, she may not be safe. You know what I mean. Your people may not accept her. Your family.."
"She is my only family. I don't need anyone's acceptance but her." Maan said in desperation. The next moment he rescued his composer, "You don't know our story that's why you said so."
"It's strange someone said something like this to me some days ago." Maan turned to see Ismail Gazi is standing nearby him.
"The girl we rescued some days ago from the mouth of Bramhani river, Sultan you have not seen her. She was sick still her beauty was unblemished. I approached her for marrying me. She rejected telling she is married. I was amused doesn't she know her family or husband won't acknowledge her anymore. I told her the same. She replied, "You don't know my husband. That's why you said so." Maan frowned. Didn't know why he was feeling a sudden restiveness inside him. Ismail continued, "I was amazed to see her confidence. The woman is an exceptional persona. I have seen a many women. I have hundreds of them in my harem, my wives, kepts, and slaves. Some of them once belonged to such Hindu families. But this woman was different; she has something more than beauty. She earned my respect with her simple gesture, may be the second woman after my mother. Really hope her trust isn't broken."
"Who is she? Do you know her name?" Maan asked. His restlessness could be seen clearly.
"No .. it won't be good to become friendly with someone's wife, well at least in this case." Ismail smiled with an attitude.
"Could you tell me something more about her? Anything.." Maan requested holding.
"Patience my friend" Ismail said with a smirk. "This behavior doesn't suit your unidirectional theory of love." Ismail used to carry an attitude that apparently would show him as an indifferent emotionless man. No matter how serious the topic on discuss is he never missed his wit, even before the king. But Maan found him friendly. And there was one thing Maan knew, he can be womaniser, arrogant, self centred man but when he has said he won't lay his hands on that woman that means he won't. He can speak dirty but he won't speak lie. Maan used to be all smiling against his sharp wit every time but today he was losing his patience. He wasn't irritated with Ismail but he was eager to know about the woman.
"All right. I can understand. There is no harm in showing interest in a beautiful woman. Well I don't know much about her but I have noticed one thing. Whenever sound of anklet or 'bol' of dancing girls' in the boat could be heard, she tries to come out in the deck of ship even in her weakness."
"Where is she now?"
Sultan frowned seeing his reaction. In these days he has hardly seen Maanendra to lose his compose.
"She is in the second boat of this voyage, with other girls."
Maan knew every royal voyage women form their harem used to be with kings or their men to entertain them. He just wanted to meet her at that moment. His heart was saying he has found his Geet. Though there was no conformation still somewhere he knew his search is over now.
"I want to meet her now." Maan spoke with determination. Both men of royalty went silent for a while. Next moment a boat came down on the sea from the ship. It was time of tide. Sailors prohibited him but Maan was adamant to reach Geet at that moment. At the moment when there remains one's hope only to sustain his faith, a faint light of positivity makes him fanatical and here Maan got a globe of light. Ismail came with him. There was no one who could risk life in sea to help a stranger.
Reaching the very ship Maan ran towards her room. Ismail has already started his flirting class with harem women. He wished Maan luck in his own style but it didn't reach to Maan. He didn't pay any attention to other and like a storm was about to enter her room an old hakim(doctor) stopped him by blocking his way.
"The girl is very weak. You shouldn't enter now."
"Only I can enter this room. I have the right."
"I am her husband." Maan uttered and entered the room pushing Hakim aside.
"then take care of her she is pregnant."
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Last line entered inside Maan's ear like angel's words. Motion of his feet comes to a halt naturally. In front of his eyes Geet was sleeping on a large bed. Her long hair was covering a part of the blue bed like a cloud. In light red Salwar-kameez she was reminding him the sight of their first night. Hakim's words were ringing in his mind. She is going to be a mother, his Geet is carrying his child. He never felt such peace, such rejoice before. It was like suddenly everything that is bad, that is dark has been erased from this world. He slowly leaned on her face, touched her cheek. He took her name, "Geet." She was in deep sleep but his one call brings her sense back. She opened her eyes.
Time passed. An absolute silence sustained in the room. None of them uttered anything but their eyes expressed a thousand emotion. Geet stared at him without blinking once. Tears was blurring her vision but the sparkle in her eyes was beaming like a star. Maan didn't ask anything only gave her back the small deity of Sri Krishna, what she gave him for his safety in journey. Geet hold it firmly on her bosom. Her lips curved in a smile and she cried her heart out. She touched Maan's face with little shaking hands. She was weak but she was happy. Maan stretched his hand and touched her belly. A pink blush made her pale skin glow like before. Maan kissed her nave this time. A giggle came along with it.. In this dress there was a transparent netted covering on her stomach, still she is feeling ticklish. Maan smirked. He wanted to touch her skin where underneath their child is sleeping. But he didn't go himself ahead thinking about Geet's health. He again came near to her face. Wiping her stains of tears he kissed her forehead, her eyes.
"I love you." Maan broke his silence only with three words. There was nothing much to say after this. He kissed her lips gently and sat up. But Geet hold him back. She raised her head and kissed him. Holding his hair she went breathless in his mouth. They broke the kiss but Geet didn't let him go. She kissed his face, hugged him so tight. She was trying to sense his presence near her with her whole existence. When he was not with her she was confident that he will find her but now that he is in front of her it was difficult to believe. Distance of an inch was scaring her, she may lose him again.
"Geet, I will always be here with you. Your God has written our destiny with same pen. I am alive so that I can live this life with you, and die with you."
Geet lifted her head from Maan's chest and looked at him. Her eyes were asking for his assurance. Maan stood up and scooped Geet on his hands went towards the veranda of the cabin. He moved the curtain and the sting sun welcomed them with its orangey golden hue, crawling down to the river from the lap of sky. Maan put her down and hold her waist protectively.
"look at the sun Geet. See how it is leaving the world to live in darkness but tomorrow it will come with a new day. Dark night of our life is over. This sun may rise and set for million times in this universe, but the little span we have got in our life will be a world of no sun set. Our love will be there like a never setting sun. The way you believed in our love in the time of separation, trust it in the time of union. If there is only one thing that is forever is our love."
"I love you Maan." Geet said looking deep into Maan's eyes.
Maan sealed her lips with his, his tongue adored her. Their eyes closed with the sensation of drinking elixir. Their hold on each other tightens, their passion deepens. The Bay of Bengal silently contained the shadow of their private moment in her body. The king of light was submerging inside her but that universal incident falls short in glory in front of their love. The sea delicately donned the image of a kissing couple, loving souls of two human beings in love, until she has to close her eyes giving them their due privacy. She went absolute dark with the nightfall immersing a love story into it to carry it forever.

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* [Ismail Gazi: He was Chief commander of Hussain Shah. I took only the name and portrayed the character from my imagination]
*[Bay of Bengal: Sea around eastern side of India]
Okk so here MAANEET's story comes to an end .. only one part is left .. U may call that an epilogue .. it will be the continuation of the prologue part .. the story will return to the point it has been started. Some of readers thought previous part was the continuation of prologue but it was the incident of burning the temple .. sorry that I couldn't explain it properly
As the story has come to an end I really want to know my reader's views .. so plzz give a long comment this time telling your views .. tell me which was your favourite update till date and among supporting characters except Maaneet whom you found most interesting ? So,
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Sayanee😊
Edited by sayaneegupta - 12 years ago
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