CHAPTER 55 (C). MAAN'S OATH AND ARNAV'S PROMISE
Place - The Terrace of the Hospital
Maan was standing by the edge of the terrace when Dev reached him. He touched his brother's shoulder and Maan turned around. Dev's heart broke as he took in Maan's expression. Maan looked so lost that Dev wanted to turn back time and change everything. He had never seen his brother look so vulnerable in his whole life. Maan had faced many difficulties in life. He lost his parents in young age and had to take care of his siblings and Daadi. He had struggled in the starting years of working with KC and faced Daadima's heart attack head on. But never had he looked so defeated as he looked today. Dev put his arms around Maan and Maan hugged him. Silent tears run from Maan's eyes as he tried to take in the events happened throughout the night. It was early morning and all Maan could think that his life had stopped with last evening's sunset. Maan came out of Dev's embrace and looked away. "Bro? Aap theek toh ho na?", Dev's voice cut through his thoughts and Maan turned to look at him. As Maan looked at Dev, he did not see Dev but he saw a young child standing nearby holding a small girl's hand asking a younger Maan after their parents' death whether Maan was okay or not. Both Dev and Annie were too small to understand their parents' death. All they knew that their parents had gone far away and their brother and best friend, Maan was sad. As Maan remembered that night, he was reminded that while life has stopped for him, he still had to live for his family, for his siblings, for his Dadima and for KC. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He remembered Soni's face for a last time and then he locked all his feelings in a deep corner of his heart and made his face emotionless. When he turned to look at Dev, Dev could not read his brother. He felt like screaming, No! Don't hide yourself Bro! Let your pain out! Let it flow away! But please don't hide your emotions. But his pleas went unheard. Maan spoke but in a very stern voice, "Gharwaalon ko ikhatta karo aur unhein ghar le jaao. Main aata hoon!" "But Bro?", Dev whispered. Maan raised his hand in the universal sign of stop and growled, "I said go!" Dev hesitated but followed his elder brother's orders.
After a while, Maan trudged downstairs with heavy heart. As he turned towards the ground floor where the car was parked, he stopped for a moment. "Soni?", he whispered softly. Against his will, his feet turned and walked few steps and entered a room. There on the bed, lay his sweet sweet Soni! He smiled softly while his eyes turned teary. He slowly walked towards her and sat by her. She seemed to be sleeping. Must be the pain killers! Maan thought absentmindedly. Suddenly, a curl of her hair teased her face and he slowly raised his hand and pushed the errant curl away. He cupped her face and smiled sadly, "Aaj Main Geet Handa ko, nahi, Geet Manohar Raizada ko ek kahaani sunaaunga. Ek ladka tha jiska naam Shaitaan tha aur ek ladki jiska naam Son! Agar ladka akdu toh ladki ek dum sweet thi! Ladka neem toh ladki shakkar ki chaashni thi! Dono ek din mile. Ladka har waqt ghussa karta aur ladki har waqt chehekti rehti thi. Dono mein pyaar hua aur bahut jald dono ki sagaai hone waali thi. Lekin ek din yeh sapna toot gaya. Us kahaani se ladki baahar aagayi. Woh Soni asli zindagi mein aakar Geet ban gayi aur us shaitaan ko peeche chod gayi. Kahaani khatam!" He looked at her and controlled his tears which were begging to flow, "Main waada karta hoon Geet! Tumhaari zindagi mein yeh shaitaan kabhi bhi kadam nahi rakhega! Tum aazaad ho! Jiyo apni zindagi Geet! Khush raho! Aur kuch nahi maangoonga main! Aaj se Soni ki kahaani khatam aur Geet ki kahaani shuru! Apne nayi zindagi ki shubhkaamnaayein!" He was about to get up when he noticed something on Geet's neck. He sat back as he remembered. Soni's necklace! The one he had gifted her! He took a deep breath and reached for the locket. Very carefully he removed it from Geet's neck and dangled it from his hand. "Jaanti ho Geet yeh ek hi cheez thi jo tumhein Soni banaaye rakh rahi thi! Ab tum asli maayne mein Geet Raizada ho! Aur Maan Singh Khurana aur Geet Raizada ke raaste alag hai! Ab main tumhaari zindagi mein nahi aaunga kyunki agar aaya toh tum mujhe yaad dilaaogi ki maine kya khoya hai! Goodbye Soni! Goodbye Miss. Raizada!" He pocketed the chain and walked away. But when he reached the door, he turned around, "Par jaate jaate yeh shaitaan apni Soni se ek waada jaroor karega! Yeh Shaitaan sirf Soni ka hai aur kisika nahi! Main na phir pyaar karoonga aur na kabhi shaadi!" He turned around and mumbled to himself, "Dil ka kaam khatam ab dimaag ka waqt shuru!" He pulled out his glares and wore it to hide his red eyes and walked away. He sat in his car and drive off to his home. There he took his jeep out and drove away to find peace.
While Maan went for a long drive to the wilderness, his family took leave from Raizadas and went to their house as it was early morning. Soon, the Guptas took leave from the hospital and the Raizada clan was left alone to grieve, celebrate and heal. It was evening when Khushi, Lavanya and Paayal entered the hospital with food in their hand. Their Amma had packed food for Aakash, Maamaji, Maamiji and Shyam who were still stationed in the hospital not having the courage to part away from their loved ones. After asking around for while, Khushi, La and Paayal found the right rooms and walked towards them. Each of the remaining member of the Raizada was stationed around the person most important to them. While Shyam was with Anjali and Kanha, Maamaji was with his mother, Maamiji was with her daughter Geet while Aakash was with his brother, Arnav. It seemed that Daadima had pulled her weight and got the rooms of the injured members near to each other. Paayal went into Aakash's room where Arnav and Aakash were chatting. Lavanya went to Anjali's room and Khushi went into Geet's room. Soon, all the family members had their tiffin and were handed dinner for later which was already prepared by Amma. Arnav asked Aakash to walk Paayal to the rickshaw stand. Aakash refused but after a lot of persuasion from Arnav, Aakash agreed and walked away with Paayal, Lavanya and Khushi. As they left the hospital, Khushi remembered that she had left her purse in Geet's room. Excusing herself, she ran towards the hospital.
Arnav winced in pain as his one hand grabbed the wound area while other hand took the support of nearby bedpost to get down from the bed. He had an ulterior motive to send Aakash away. The Doctor had ordered him not to move but Arnav wanted to have just one glance of his Di and Naani. So the moment Aakash went away Arnav started trying to get down the bed. As soon as he succeeded he started to walk towards the waiting hall. It took him a while as the attack and operation had taken most of his strength away. Infact, he looked a former shell of himself. He reached the waiting hall and shuffled towards his Di's room. He peeked into the room and smiled tenderly. His Di was lying on the bed with his Jijaji and in between them was Kanha sleeping. Anjali and Shyam seemed to be discussing something important and Arnav decided to give them some privacy. He turned a bit and moved towards his Naani's room. As he looked in, he saw that his Naani was alone. It seemed Maamaji had gone out for a small break. He heaved a sigh of relief at seeing his Naani fine and turned to walk away when he heard her call him, "Chote?" in such a feeble voice that Arnav could not believe it came from his Naani. He turned around and smiled, "Ji Naani?" She waved him to come close and Arnav walked towards her. As soon as he sat near her, she raised her hands. He bent forward and Naani cupped his cheeks. "Aap theek toh hai na, bitwa?" Arnav nodded his head and Naani pulled him close and place a kiss on his forehead. He smiled and placed a kiss on her cheeks and hugged her. Naani smiled and mumbled, "Humein aapse kuch maangna hai Arnav Bitwa?" Arnav frowned and looked at his Naani.
Khushi wandered into the waiting hall and went towards Geet's room. Suddenly, something caught her eye and she stopped in her tracks. She turned to see the thing which caught her eye. It was Arnav's bed which was positioned in such a way that anyone sitting on the bed can see outside and anyone passing by can see the patient. But what caught Khushi's attention was that the bed was empty. Ab yeh Arnavji kahaan chale gaye? She felt panic grip her heart. Hey Devi Maiyya! Humaare Arnavji ko salaamat rakhna! She decided to look into Anjali, Geet and Naani's room to be sure and proceeded to do that. It was in Naani's room that she found the jackpot. She was about to enter the room when she heard Naani's words, "Hum jyaada kuch nahi maang rahe hain, bitwa! Humaari maang toh sun lo!" Khushi frowned; Lagta hai kuch private baat chal rahi hai! Humein yahaan se chalna chaahiye. She was about to walk away when Naani piped up, "Hum toh bas aapan ki shaadi dekhna chaahte hain!" Khushi gulped and stood there like a statue. She tried to move her legs but it seemed that her legs had a mind of their own and refused to move. She heard Arnav whisper "What the!" and she could imagine his expression. Arnav continued, "Naani aap yeh..." but Naani cut him off with, "Dekho bitwa manaa mat karna! Kal raat ke haadson ne humka itna toh bataa diya ki bhagwaan ka kuch bhi bharosa nahi! Pata nahi kab kahaan kya karde! Aur yeh heart attack bataawat hai ki hum kab tak zinda rahenge pata nahi! Ka bharosa! Kal Devi Maiyya humka bulaa lein apne paas!" Arnav spoke up, "Naani please aisa mat kahiye!" Naani replied, "Humaare bolne se kya hota hai bitwa sab upar waale ka khel hai! Zindagi mein bahut sukh dekhe hain aur bahut dukh! Anjali bitiya ka basta hua sansaar dekha! Aakash bitwa ki zindagi mein Paayal bitiya ko aate dekha! Geet bitiya ko apne sapne poore karte hue dekha! Ab humri sirf ek hi khwaahish hai bitwa. Apne Chote ki shaadi! Ek baar uu dekhlein humka chain padh jaayega! Dekho manaa mat karna! Aur hum kahaan aapko kisi se bhi shaadi karne ko keh rahe hain! Aap humaar pasand ki ladki dekhlo aur pasand aayi toh hi hum baat aage badhaayenge! Dekho yeh humaar aakhri sapna hai! Poora kardo bitwa!"
Khushi heard Arnav agree to Naani's request. She gulped softly feeling a dread bubble in her stomach. Why she felt that the next lines out of Naani's mouth would break her heart? She heard Naani whisper, "Waise humne, humra matlab hai humne aur aapan ki Di ne ek ladki dekh bhi li hai. Agar aapko uu pasand hai toh hum baat aage badhaawat hain! Aap toh kal raat ko hi uu se mil bhi chuke ho. Shaayad Anjali bitiya ne is baare mein aapan ko bataaya bhi tha!" Arnav cut her off with, "Mujhe manzoor hai Naani! I like her." She heard pin drop silence after Arnav's declaration. And then, "Ka kahaa bitwa? Phire se bol do!" She heard Arnav mumble, "Haan! Naani! I will marry the girl of your choice." Khushi could not hear any more. She ran away from there with tears in her eyes. Yeh kya keh diya aapne Arnavji? Humne haan kehne se manaa kya kar diya aapne toh kisi aur se apna rishta bhi jod liya? Ek baar bhi humaare baare mein socha nahi! She reached the hospital doors and stood still. She wiped her tears so that Paayal and Lavanya would not notice it. Nahi! Hum nahi royenge! Agar Arnavji ka yehi faisla hai toh yahi sahi! Hum bhi unhein bhool jaayenge. She stormed towards her sisters in anger.
Place - Khurana Mansion
There was a somber silence in the house of Khurana clan as the family waited for the heir of the family to come home. Daadima sat on the sofa with her head bowed down. Beside her sat Naintara staring at a distance with Dev standing behind her with a hand on her shoulder and worried expression on his face. Annie was seated in the nearby couch and was crying in Arjun's arms while Arjun was trying to console her. All of them were worried about Maan. As NT had aptly said once, Geet was Maan's life. Then how was Maan to live without her? All of them waited for Maan with bated breath. It was nearing seven in the evening when they heard the tell tale sign of a jeep driving in. All of them stood up with anxiety written on their faces. The doors opened and there entered Maan Singh Khurana, expression blank and posture firm. His face was stern while his hands were clenched in fists. Daadima surged forward and hugged him and yet there were no reaction by him. Daadima hugged him for a while but after realizing that he was not responding she pulled away with tearful eyes and stepped away from him. All of them waited for Maan to say something. He stared at each of their faces for a while and roared, "Aap log kaan khol kar meri baat dhyaan se suniye!" Everyone in the room froze in tension. "Aaj se Soni mar chuki hai! Woh mera pehla pyaar thi jo ab is duniya mein nahi hai!" "Par Bro, Geet to abhi...", Dev spoke but Maan cut him off, "Geet Soni nahi hai! Meri Soni mujhe kabhi nahi bhul sakti. Woh toh mujhe jaan se bhi jyaada chaahti thi. Geet Soni nahi hai! Meri Soni mar chuki hai aur yeh baat aap sab accept kar lo." Daadima tried to persuade him, "Par beta ek baar toh humaari baat..." Maan turned and gripped Daadi's shoulders, "Yaad hai Daadima aapne mujhse ek baar kahaa tha ki main Soni ko apnaaunga lekin agar woh apne yaadaasht lautne ke baad mujhe chod kar gayi toh main use mara hua sochunga!" Daadima nodded as her words echoed in her mind. Agar use sab yaad aaya aur aapko woh nahi apnaati toh woh aapki Soni nahi hai. Soni toh woh hai jo aapke bimaar hote hi raat bhar aapke paas rahi. Woh toh aapko chodne ka kabhi soch hi nahi sakti. Agar woh gayi toh yahi sochiyega ki aapki Soni mar gayi.' Maan left her and turned away, "Bas maine faisla kar liya. Meri Soni mar chuki hai! She is no more!" He marched towards the stairs when he paused and turned. He looked at his family and mumbled, "Aur yeh bhi yaad karlo ki main aur kisi se pyaar nahi kar sakta! Meri shaadi ke sapne dekhna band karo! Woh saare sapne kal raat ko hi meri Soni ke saath dafan ho gaye!" "Veerji..:," NT whispered in horror and lost her balance. Only Dev's support made her stand on her two feet. Rest of the family looked on in horror at Maan. Maan reached the top of the stairs and hollered to the servants. When they assembled, he instructed them to remove all the things of Soni from the house and keep them in her room. None of her things should be outside her room. "Aur haan", he roared at the servants and his family, "Soni ke kamre se koi saamaan baahar pheka nahi jaayega! Aur Soni ke kamre mein aaj ke baad mere ilaava koi nahi kadam rakhega!" He entered his study and slammed the door behind him. Daadima sat on the sofa in shock while Annie sobbed away. NT whispered softly, "Mere Veerji ki shaadi ka sapna..." while Dev shook his head at her.
Place - Soni's Room
It was late in the evening when Maan entered Soni's room. All her things were assembled in the room. He had already instructed NT to assemble the certificates which were to be handed over to Geet later on. He sat on the bed and looked at it imagining Geet sleeping in it. He went and opened the cupboards which were filled with her clothes. He removed his diary from his pocket and placed it on the bed stand. He slowly walked towards the window and stared outside while putting on the radio in his mobile and placed it on the window sill.
Tadap Yeh Ishq Ki Dil Se Kabhi Nahi Jaati
Maan looked at the mobile in surprise.
Ke Jaan Deke Bhi Deewaanagi Nahi Jaati
Na Jaane Kaun Si Duniya Hai Woh Mere Rabba
Jahaan Se Lautke Koi Sadaa Nahi Aati
Maan looked at the sky asking the same question through his tear filled eyes.
Ohooo
Ishq Mein Toh Har Cheez Mit Jaati Hai
Bekaraari Banke Humein Tadpaati Hai
Yaad Yaad Yaad
Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
Few tears trailed down from Maan's eyes.
Yaad Yaad Yaad
Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
Maan closed his eyes and Soni's face flashed in front of his eyes. He opened his eyes in anguish.
Ishq Mein Toh Har Cheez Mit Jaati Hai
Ishq Mein Toh Har Cheez Mit Jaati Hai
Maan felt the pain of loosing Soni grip his heart.
Bekaraari Banke Humein Tadpaati Hai
Bekaraari Banke Humein Tadpaati Hai Haaye
Man bowed his head mourning his Soni.
Yaad Yaad Yaad
Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
He looked at the moon asking silently why this happened.
Yaad Yaad Yaad
Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
He looked at the sky remembering the moments he spent with his Soni.
Oh Teri Yaad
Oh Teri Yaad
Oh Teri Yaad Yaad
Yaad Yaad Yaad
Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
Yaad Yaad Yaad
Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
As the music played around the room, Maan turned and looked at the portrait of Soni hanging in the room. She was dressed in a beautiful Pink Saree. It was the same Saree which his mother had wanted to give to her bahu and the same Saree which she had worn on the day he proposed. The picture was clicked on their proposal date and Maan had planned to place it in their living hall near Dadima and Naintara's portrait after their marriage. Till their marriage he had planned to keep it in the storage room. He had gotten it shifted in this room tonight. She sat on a throne looking like a proper Khurana Bahu. He felt like she was smiling at him through the portrait. He walked towards the portrait and placed his hand on her face. He caressed the face of the portrait and placed his head on it.
Karke Tanha Yeh Zindagani
He looked at her with accusing eyes.
Tu Gayi Chodke Kahaani
He took a few steps back to get away from her.
Ab Yeh Aasu Piya Na Jaaye
His legs hit the bed and he sat on it.
Bin Tere Ab Jiya Na Jaaye
He placed his head in his hands and sighed in anguish.
Dard Se Toot Ti Meri Saansein
Zakhm Dil Ka Siya Na Jaaye
He lied on the bed and stared at the ceiling with pain filled eyes.
Dard Se Toot Ti Meri Saansein
Zakhm Dil Ka Siya Na Jaaye
He closed his eyes.
Aaja Aaja Meri Wafaa Tujhe Bulaati Hai
He felt a weight on his chest. He looked up to see Soni in the same Pink Saree lying beside him with her hand on his chest smiling at him.
Aaja Aaja Meri Wafaa Tujhe Bulaati Hai
He moved his hand towards her but she vanished.
Yaad Yaad Yaad Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
Yaad Yaad Yaad Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
He closed his eyes in pain.
Oh Teri Yaad
Oh Teri Yaad Yaad
He looked up at the portrait again.
Yaad Yaad Yaad Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
Yaad Yaad Yaad Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
As the music flew around, Maan was reminded of their ice cream date. The way they had enjoyed the time with each other. He remembered the way he had proposed to her. Why did she leave him so soon? He noticed his diary on the table and picked it up. He smiled through his tears as he recollected the way she told him her feelings through his diary. He remembered their fights and their romantic moments together. He felt pain pierce his heart as he remembered her dancing in the rain.
Yaad Mein Dekho Bana Hai Yeh Haseen Taj Mahal
Yaad Mein Koi Likhe Shaamo Seher Shokh Ghazal
Aa...
He pulled his diary and hugged it close to his chest remembering the words he had written in them after Geet entered his house.
Yaad Mein Dekho Bana Hai Yeh Haseen Taj Mahal
Yaad Mein Koi Likhe Shaamo Seher Shokh Ghazal
He remembered the dream he had of her dressed in wedding dress and becoming his wife in every other way.
Dil Ke Dariya Mein Khilta Hai Khwaabon Ka Kamwhal
Yaad Aate Hain Hamesha Woh Guzre Hue Pal
He suddenly heard Soni's laughter from behind.
Tu Nahi Hai Teri Yaadein Mujhe Sataati Hain
He turned to look but there was no one.
Tu Nahi Hai Teri Yaadein Mujhe Sataati Hain
He closed his eyes in pain.
Yaad Yaad Yaad Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
Yaad Yaad Yaad Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
He got up from the bed and grabbed the curtains near the windows.
Ishq Mein Toh Har Cheez Mit Jaati Hai
He pulled them and ripped them away in anger and pain.
Bekaraari Banke Humein Tadpaati Hai
He grabbed the curtains near the balcony and ripped them too.
Ishq Mein Toh Har Cheez Mit Jaati Hai
He grabbed a vase and smashed it on the floor.
Bekaraari Banke Humein Tadpaati Hai Haaye
He grabbed Soni's small photo on the nearby table and threw it down.
Yaad Yaad Yaad Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
He noticed Soni's broken photo and fell down on his knees.
Yaad Yaad Yaad Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
He took the photo and hugged it close not noticing the broken shards of the frame piercing his hands.
Oh Teri Yaad
He let out an anguish filled roar.
Oh Teri Yaad Yaad
He broke into tears and cried for his broken heart and lost love.
Yaad Yaad Yaad Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
Yaad Yaad Yaad Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
Yaad Yaad Yaad Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
Yaad Yaad Yaad Bas Yaad Reh Jaati Hai
SONG DETAILS
The Song is from the movie Bewafa (2005) sung by Ghulam Ali Saab picturised on Anil Kapoor mssing his wife, Sushmita Sen!
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hi guys, First and foremost I want to inform you that I will be posting the updates every Saturday instead of Friday as that day I don't have any serials and hence, I can put up the update earlier! So from next week, expect updates on Saturdays!
Second thing is that from next updates I won't reply to each and every one of your review. Any one liner review will be pressed like that's all and if you have written any question or bigger review, I will reply. Sorry for this but recently my net is going weak! So hope you understand!
Next and most important notice is that I will be putting up two new SS tomorrow which will be updated once or twice a week depending on my free time. As I mentioned in my last update, I wrote a Raghu Antara SS recently. These SS will be Arnav Khushi and Maan Geet version of that SS. I will PM you when I put it up. If you are Arnav Khushi lover then read the first version, if you are Maan Geet lover then read the second version. If you like both the couples then read both of them, coz both have same plots but scenes, reactions and dialogues will be different.
Last but not the least important notice, I have made the index of my works! I have linked it with my signature! Please have a look and and leave a review! If you have any suggestions for improvement, you are welcome!
Thank you!
PRECAP
The still pending Payash Engagement with a shock for Arnav!
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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