Note on the OS

There were many a things that were not properly explored since CVs hurried through the Dev’s exposure track.

Maan had accepted Geet without knowing that her culprit was his own brother. We, as audience, knew it. But I felt that this aspect of this relationship should have been explained to at least one more character in the serial too. Probably to Dev or Daadi or some friend. Also, the entire track of Daadi’s reaction to Geet’s pregnancy had practically not been explored. This OS is an attempt to explore some of those things.

And sorry for that weird word “ununderstood”.  I wanted one word for “not understood” and “misunderstood” was not the right word. Some online dictionaries did list the word “ununderstood”. So, I went ahead with it.

—

Although Annie had been looking after all the arrangements and office staff had very enthusiastically pitched in to help in the wedding arrangements, the day had been tiring for Maan. The wedding was scheduled for the next day. And besides the wedding preparations, his worries about Geet’ safety would not let him rest. He kept running to check on her on some pretext or the other.

A while back, Annie had forcefully sent him to his room to take some rest. He should be able to enjoy his wedding, she had argued. Once he was alone, the only thought on his mind was that of Geet. He either felt worried about her, or felt extremely elated at the thought that in a day she was going to be his – completely and forever.

While he was dealing with his oscilating mood, Dadi entered the room.

“Dadi Ma! Koi kaam tha?”

“Nahin Maan beta. Kaam to sab log kar hi rahe hain. Main to bas aapse baat karne aa gayi.”

“Kuchh khaas baat hai kya?” His words were neutral, but Maan suddenly looked worried.

“Nahin beta. Aap itne nervous kyon ho rahe hain? Koi problem waali baat nahin hai. Bas humne socha ki kal aapki zindagi ka itna bada din hai, to ek baar pata kar loon. Aap khush to hain na?”

“Of course, Dadi Ma. Ye aap achanak kya poochh rahi hain? Aap achchhi tarah jaanti hain ki Geet hi meri khushi hai.”

“Hum aapko thanks bhi kahna chah rahe the.”

“Thanks? Woh kisliye Dadi Ma?”

“Aapne jo kiya hai wo aasaan nahin hai Maan. Ye jaante hue bhi ki Geet aapke bhai ke bachche ki Maa banne waali hai, aapne use apnaya. Agar aap aisa nahin karte, to pata nahin Dev ne jo Geet ke saath kiya, uski bharpai hum kaise karte. Aur hamein poora vishwas hai ki aap is bachche ko dil se apna lenge. Aakhir woh aapke bhai ka hi to…”

“Ek minute Dadi Ma,” Maan was almost disgusted at this interpretation of his relationship with Geet. But he controlled himself because of his respect for Dadi Ma, “Mujhe aise kaam ke liye thanks mat kahiye jo maine kiya hi nahin hai.”

“Kya matlab?”

“Dadi Ma. Main Geet se isliye shaadi nahin kar raha ki jo gunah Dev ne uske saath kiya uski bharpai kar sakoon. Maine Geet ko sirf aur sirf isliye apnaya hai kyonki main usse bahut pyaar karta hoon. Par aapne ye sahi kaha – maine us bachche ko sachche dil se apna liya hai. Lekin isliye nahin ki woh mere bhai bachcha hai. Balki Isliye ki woh Geet ka bachcha hai.  Aur isliye woh mera bhi hai – hamara bachcha hai. Aur Dev ka to naam bhi main uske saath nahin lena chahta. Main nahin maanta ki Dev ka us bachche se koi lena dena hai ya uske oopar koi haq hai. Ye baat kam-se-kam aapko pata honi zaroori hai Dadi Ma.”

Dadi looked surprised. Maan looked at her and realized that he needs to explain more, “Dadi Ma. Shayad aapko ye lag raha hai ki sagai waali raat se pahle mujhe pata nahin tha ki Geet pregnant hai?”

“Aapko pata tha?”

“Dadi Ma! Aapko lagta hai ki Geet itni badi baat mujhse chhupati? Geet aisi nahin hai Dadi Ma. Woh kabhi jhooth nahin bol sakti, sach nahin chhipa sakti. Mujhe pata tha ”

“Lekin unhone mujhe to kabhi nahin bataya?”

“Woh mera faisla tha.”

“Aapko nahin laga ki sagai ke pahle aapko itni badi baat mujhe batani chahiye thi?”

“Dadi Ma. Main maanta hoon, lekin main sahi mauke ki talash mein tha, jab aapko sab kuchh samjha sakoon. Main nahin chahta tha ki ye baat is tarah se aapke saamne aaye ki aap bewajah Geet ke khilaaf ho jayen.”

“To aapko pata tha Geet ke pregnant hone ki baare mein, aap ye nahin jaante the ki kasoorwar Dev hai aur phir bhi aapne Geet ko apnane ka faisla kar liya Maan? Aapko itna wishwas tha un par?”

“Sach to ye hai ki maine poori baat sune bina Geet ko galat samjha tha, bahut galat samjha tha. Apni is galti ke karan main almost use kho baitha tha Dadi Ma,” Maan’s voice reflected the sadness and fear at the mere thought of losing Geet, “Agar sach much Geet us waqt mujhse door chali jaati to pata nahin kya hota? Us par bharosa na karne ke liye main apne aap ko kabhi maaf nahin kar pata. Aur meri khushiyan? Woh to uske saath hi hamesha ke liye chali jaati.”

Suddenly Maan came to his senses. He had opened up too much in front of Dadi Ma and he would not feel comfortable about it later on.

“Khair Dadi Ma. Ab main un sab baaton ko yaad nahin karna chahta. Hum us mod se bahut aage nikal chuke hain.”

“Theek hai beta. Hum bhi buri yaadon ko nahin kuredna chahte the. Bas aapki khushi aapko mil gayi, aap muskurate rahein, isse zyada hamein kuchh nahin chahiye.”

“Thank you Dadi Ma,” Maan finally smiled to convince her of his happiness.

Dadi smiled back too, “Theek hai beta. Aap aaraam kar lijiye, hum abhi chalte hain.”

—

Geet  was finally left alone for sometime after conitnuously being busy with one ritual or the other. Maan had been checking on her since the morning, but she hadn’t seen him in last one hour or so. She grew eager to see him and decided to sneak into his room, hoping that he would be there. But she had just reached his door, when she heard Dadi Ma thanking him for accepting Geet and her child. She could not resist overhearing the rest of the conversation.

By the time Dadi left, she had tears in her eyes. Although tears were not for herself, she did not want to alarm Maan. So, she decided not to meet him then. Dadi, thankfully, had not see her while leaving.

—

As soon as Dadi left, Maan once again grew restless thinking about Geet. He decided to go to her room and see her once.

He saw Geet in tears as soon as he stepped out of his room. He assumed that she must be feeling bad because of what Dadi said. He did not ask her anything there. He brought her in the room.

“Geet tum Dadi Ma ki baaton ki wajah se pareshaan…”

Geet silienced him by putting her hand on his lips, “Main apne liye pareshaan nahin hoon Maan. Maine to jab Dadi Ma ko aapko thanks kahte suna, to mujhe aapke liye bura laga. Log aapke pyaar ko shayad samajh nahin paayenge. Mujhe bura laga ki Dadi Ma bhi aapko nahin samajh payi.”

“Geet!” Maan was genuinely surprised at how she was thinking.

“Haan. Aur aap to kabhi kissi ke saamne apni feelings batayenge bhi nahin. Mujhe bhi kabhi duniya ko nahin batane denge ki aapke dil mein kitna pyaar hai, kitni hamdardi hai.”

“Geet. Agar ye baat hai to tumhein pareshaan hone ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Duniya mere baare mein kya sochti hai, isse mujhe koi farq nahin padta aur tumhein bhi nahin padna chahiye. Duniya ko nahin pata hai ki main tumhein lekar kya mahsoos karta hoon, kyonki main kissi ko batana chahta hi nahin hoon. Tum samajhti ho na Geet. Bas itna hi chahiye mujhe. In fact, main Dadi Ma ko bhi kuchh explain nahin karta. Lekin unke liye ye samajhna zaroori tha ki main Dev aur uske gunahon ke baare mein kya sochta hoon. Bas isliye maine unhein poori baat batayi.”

Geet had nothing left to say. She just hugged him to convey her agreement and support for whatever he wanted to do.

Geet decided to leave after sometime, “Main jaati hoon. Shayad Dadi Ma, mujhe baaki rasmon ke liye dhoondhti hui aa jayen.”

Maan held her hand, “Bas ek din ki baat hai Geet jo main tumhein kissi bhi wajah se jaane de raha hoon. Kal se…”

He intentionally left his sentence incomplete and it had the desired effect on Geet. She smiled and blushed heavily, before she turned around and left.

As Maan looked on, a smile of happiness and contentment formed on his lips too.