Geet dipped her feet in ice cold water of Ganges as she adjusted herself on the one of the round and shiny rocks at the bank.The noon sun shining above her head had negligible effect on the temperature of river as "Gangotri" is the origin of River "Ganges".River rises at the foot of "Gangotri glaciers".The numbness that her feet felt just after few minutes reminded Geet that water in the river was actually "melted snow".She brought out her almost numb feet from the water and kept them on the other small rock near her legs.Rock's surface was warm enough to provide some relief to her.Ten days had passed but still She was unable to heal her pain.She could not find any "cure" for herself as she had promised to him.His
" physical absence" and
"continuous presence in her thoughts" was increasing her anxieties more.She was missing him like she had never missed anyone in her life.Even she had not missed her parents this much after the marriage.There was not a single minute when she had not thought about him.Her mornings started with seeing his and aarvi's smiling faces set as wall paper on her cell phone and Her nights ended with the longing of being in his arms.She wanted to be in his arms but she was not successful in subduing her pain caused by his lack of trust.
Coldness of this "pain" would never let her feel the
warmth of his hug.She threw a small pebble in the river as tears of helplessness brimmed in her hazels.Pebble soon lost in the water as geet looked at the river with teary eyes.
Ganges was roaring fiercely like a lioness unlike its calm demeanor in "Haridwar".Only if river could answer her,Geet would have asked "Ganges",where did it leave its "anxieties" and "anger" during its path towards Haridwar so she could also go to that place to get rid of her troubles..
"Whats wrong beta???"
Geet's was brought out from her musings by her mother's voice.She turned around to see her mother now covering the distance between them with "careful" and small strides on the uneven surface.Geet helped her mother to settle on other rock as she wiped her eyes.
"Nothing mumma"..Geet lied blatantly.
"You can't lie to me beta.." Rano stated with much confidence.
"Why are you so sure mumma???" Geet asked in an attempt to reduce her confidence as she expected the cliched answer stating "nothing is hidden from mother's heart"..
"Because of three reasons".Rano answered raising three fingers as she looked in her daughter's eyes. Dampness was still prominent in those eyes.
"What reasons maa???"
"Number one- My daughter is spending most of her time sitting here instead of collecting "pine cones",Number two-At night,she keeps on looking at moon lit skies instead of bugging the guest house owner to tell her stories of white leopards who used to roam freely in the forests nearby, Number three-In last ten days she had visited her favorite market only once that too for posting a letter"..Rano brought down her raised fingers one by one as she told Geet her reasons.
Reasons which was told to geet were simple and realistic versions of the "cliched statement" expected by her. Geet gave a sad smile to Rano as she put her head on her shoulder.
"What happened baby???" Rano asked as she caressed geet's cheek.
"Maan slapped me mumma.."Geet answered controlling the trembling of her lips.
"Really??? We would file a case of "domestic violence" against him then.."Rano answered in a dramatic voice only to get a "pout"from her daughter.
"Stop behaving like "me" mumma!!!" She complained as well as ordered watching that smirk on her mother's lips.
"Fine..I won't..!!!" Rano exclaimed as she took geet's hand in hers before speaking further,"But I want to listen whole story..You just told me the "climax"..."
"Hmm.." Geet answered with a loud sigh.It took a lot of effort from her side to give words to "worst moments" of her life as she shared the entire incident with her mother.."You tell me mumma..If I love aarav,Can't i slap him if he is wrong???"She exclaimed in a disappointed voice at the end.
"Ofcourse you can beta but do you think aarav was actually "wrong"???" Rano asked.
"well. Poor kid was not "wrong" actually..If his insecurities were entertained at right time,he would not have done so,mumma.."
"Do you regret slapping him Geet???"
"Ofcourse mumma..!!! I was repenting my action since the moment I came to know about aarav's actual reason behind that act..I even apologized to him.."
"and He forgave you.." Rano stated in an asking manner.
"Yes he did mumma..He had forgotten the slap long ago when i apologized.."
"but you did not forgive maan...Maan was not as lucky as you...Your apology was easily accepted by aarav..."
"What do you mean mumma???"
"I would tell you my "meaning" later..First you tell me, Does Maan love you???"
"Yes..he does..He loves me alot.." Geet accepted immediately.
Rano had never expected her daughter to "blush" at this question but She was glad with the "quickness" geet answered her question.There was no reluctance or doubt in her answer..
"If Maan loves you..can't he slap you if you are wrong.." Rano stated geet's earlier statement with a smile lingering on her lips.
"But I was not wrong mumma.."
"You were "wrong" in maan's eyes at that moment just like Aarav was "wrong" in your eyes at the moment you slapped him..You regretted slapping him later when you came to know that aarav's insecurities were the actual cause for his behaviour..In the same way,Maan must be repenting after knowing the reason behind your "behaviour".. Both of you committed same mistake in the moment of impulsiveness and anger..But one of you were forgiven easily and other one is still suffering..."
"You were supposed to take my "Side" mumma.."
"I am with both of you geet.." Rano claimed as she removed a hair strand from geet's forehead.
"I agree,Maan slapped me in an impulsive and angry state but he got angry after seeing me slapping aarav..He still considers me as an "outsider" who has no rights on aarav and aaravi.."
"Did he tell you so???"
"No mumma but his slap told me so. He slapped me as if I was some outsider."
"If he had considered you an "outsider",he would have never slapped you beta.."
"I am not getting you mumma.." Geet said with slight irritation..
"Just suppose if someone else,suppose aarav's friend or a kid from our neighbourhood had pressed that cusion on aaravi's face,would you have slapped him too???
It took sometime for geet to answer that question as she thought about the situation her mother proposed."May be I had not mumaa...But I would have called his mother immediately and expected his mother to do same for sure.."
"You wouldn't have slapped that kid because he is an "outsider" Even if you had slapped him,you heart might have felt some "Reluctance" somewhere..But you were not reluctant in raising your hand at aarav because you considered him "yours" just like a mother who can smack her kid because she loves him...Maan raised his hand at you because he considered you "his",beta..This special right can be claimed on your "close ones" only..."
Geet felt a heavy weight being lifted from her shoulders as her mother's word sank in her brain and heart.May be this was "all" she needed to hear..She just wanted to be claimed as "his"..Her pain vanished as soon her mother belonged her to him.She hugged her mother tight as she cried with happiness..She looked at the river once again.Ganges was still roaring but its roars seemed "excited" to her now rather than "troubled"..
Rano was startled as she saw her daughter breaking in to run next moment..
"Where are you going geet???" She yelled from behind.
"I am going home mumma..." Geet answered without turning back as she stumbled on the uneven path..
"Easy geet.." Rano exclaimed in worry mixed with happiness..Her daughter's steps were "excited" and "carefree" once again...!!!
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