Note on the OS

This scene is supposed to happen during their honeymoon in Shimla.

—

As Maan entered the room, he saw Geet hastily putting down the phone’s receiver.

“Kise phone kar rahi thi Geet?”

“Phone?” she was taken aback because she had thought he didn’t see her on the phone and was not prepared with an alibi. But as usual she was quick to make up one, even if it was not so  believable, “Haan! Woh – Housekeeping waalon ka phone aaya tha ye poochhne ke liye ki hamein kissi cheez ki zaroorat to nahin hai.”

Maan wasn’t convinced, but she distracted him with her question, “Aap chaat le kar aaye? Dijiye mujhe. Main to kab se intezaar kar rahi hoon.”

“Kab se? Geet – abhi main aadhe ghante pahle hi to gaya tha. Aur tumehin resort ke restaurant ki chaat nahin chahiye thi. Us market waali shop se hi chahiye thi. To wahan se laane mein thoda time to lagega na.”

“Haan, haan. Pata hai. Lekin ab baby ka wahi khane ka man ho raha tha to main kya karoon?” she made an innocent face.

“Geet baby ke naam par mujhe pareshaan karna band karo,” Maan pretended anger, but they both knew he was joking.

“Baby! Dekha? – Papa kah rahe hain ki aap unhein pareshaan kar rahe ho.”

“Achchha Geet?! Maine ye kab kahan ki baby mujhe pareshaan kar raha hai. Pareshaan to mujhe tum karti ho! Woh bhi baby ka naam le kar.”

“Baby! Dekha? Papa Mamma ko kaise daant rahe hain.”

It was not possible for him to win against his Hoshiyarpur express! He finally succumbed to a smile and slight laughter. Geet started eating the chaat sitting on the bed. She looked like an innocent child enjoying her candy. Maan pretended to watch TV sitting beside her, but he was stealing glances at her through out.

Suddenly the phone rang. Maan got up to pick it up, but Geet sprang ahead, “Main dekhti hoon.”

“Par Geet tum apni chaat to kha lo.”

She had already picked up the phone by then, “Achchha theek hai. Hum aate hain.”

“Kya hua Geet?”

“Chaliye – hamein market jaana hai.”

“Market? Par kisliye? Abhi to main market se aaya hoon.”

“Haan, haan pata hai. Par mujhe bhi jaana hai.”

“Tum mere saath pahle kyon nahin gayi?”

“Offo Maan! Itne sawaal poochhna zaroori hai kya? Waise bhi hum yahan baith kar kya karne waale hain? Chaliye na. Mujhe abhi jaana hai.”

“Aur tumhari chaat?”

“Woh baaki main aa kar kha loongi.”

“Geet! Tum bilkul pagal ho.”

“Pata hai. Sangati ka asar to hota hi hai na. Aapke saath jo rahti hoon har waqt.”

“Kya?”

She practically dragged him out to the black jeep that was waiting for them.

“Jeep mein? Market? Main abhi car mangwata hoon.”

“Nahin Maan. Car mein ja ja kar to main bore ho gayi hoon. Isliye to Jeep mangwayi hai.”

“Car mein… Bore..” Maan wondered if she has totally lost it due to her pregnancy mood swings. But what could he do except to follow his Mishti’s wishes! He couldn’t have denied her even the craziest things in the world. Going to the market in Shimla in a Jeep was still pretty sane.

But Maan was again worried when he saw the route Jeep was taking. He addressed the driver, “Suno. Ye kis raaste par le ja rahe ho? Ye to market ki taraf nahin jaata.”

Geet replied before the driver could even turn to him, “Mujhse baat kijiye. Aap use kyon dara rahe hain apni bhari-bharkam aawaaz se? Hum doosre market ja rahe hain. Is taraf aas paas ke gaon waalon ka ek market lagta hai. Hum wahan ja rahe hain.”

“Ye tumhein kaise pata chala?”

“Main aas paas ke logon se baatein karti hoon. Aapki tarah akad kar apni duniya mein nahin rahti.”

“Achchha – jab koi mujhse baat karne aaye to tumhari to naak chadh jati hai.”

“Kya? Maine kab aapko mana kiya logon se baat karne se?”

“Kyon? Swimming pool par woh ladki mujhse baat karna chah rahi thi to kaun bhadak raha tha.”

“Maan! Woh alag baat hai.”

“Achchha. Kyon? Kaise alag hai?” Maan teased her.

“Woh..” she was unable to put words to her answer, “Kuchh nahin – bas alag hai. Ab aap is baare mein kuchh nahin kahenge.”

Maan smiled and put his arms around Geet’s shoulder. She looked at him and then rested her head on his shoulder as they waited for their destination to come.

They were on a dirt road going through a jungle-like  area, when the driver stopped, “Madam, bas yahan se 10-15 meter andar jaana hoga,” he indicated towards the trees on one side of the road.

“Theek hai bhaiya. Aap wapas chale jaiye. Jeep yahin chhod jaiye aur Sir ko chabhi de dijiye. Maan! Aapko raasta yaad ho gaya hai na?”

“Haan Geet. Par…”

She did not let him complete, instead asked the driver to leave.

Then she held his hands and led him into the woods.

“Geet! In jangalon mein kaun market lagwata hoga?”

Geet ignored his question.

“Geet! Main tumse baat kar raha hoon.”

“Aap thodee der in ped-patton se baat kyon nahin karte? Ye to aapka favourite shauk hai na.”

Maan sighed, nooded his head in disbelief and did not reply. He had never indulged anyone like this in his life. Even his Dadi Ma, brother or sister could not have gotten away with something like this. But it was Geet. She gave him the life as he knew it today. She ruled his life. With others, even their slightest attempt to take him for granted would have annoyed him to no end. Even now, he sometimes found it hard to believe that he enjoyed Geet’s antics. He enjoyed giving in to her wishes – however childish they may be. He enjoyed being ruled by her. He had irrevocably fallen in love with this child-woman.

It was not difficult for him to guess that Geet was planning a surprise for him. But the surprise still surprised him as he saw a tent set up near a pond. It was still sometime before it would turn dark. The logs for fire were set up, but not lighted.

Maan looked at Geet in surprise. She was smiling with just a hint of pride in having prepared a surprise to his liking.

She walked to face him, “Agar aapko surprise pasand aaya ho to kya aap mere valentine banenge?”

Suddenly Maan looked away from her, “Nahin, bilkul nahin.”

Geet was shocked, “Kya?”

“Aur kya Geet? Main aisi ladki ka Valentine nahin ban sakta jo Valentine day ki din mujhe bina dinner ke, khali pet ek tent mein sulane ki soch rahi ho. Tent to tumne lagwa liya, ab dinner kya tumahre Babaji de kar jayenge?” Maan suppressed his smile with difficulty.

“Oh! Nahin. Babaji ko itni mehnat karne ki kya zaroorat hai. Dinner mere pati banaynege.” Geet understood his trick and replied in the same tone.

“Kya?”

“Haan. Aapko pata nahin hai, unhein jangalon mein rahne ka bahut experience hai aur woh bahut achchha khana bhi banate hain.”

“Achha!” Maan’s voice suddenly become seductive, “Lekin khana banane ka koi samaan to yahan dikh nahin raha hai. Lagta hai tumse hi kaam chalana padega.” He had come very close to her.

She poked on his shoulder to push him away, “Jee nahin! Iski zaroorat nahin padegi. Shararat karne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Saara samaan andar pada hai khana banane ke liye.”

“Achcha Geet! Tumhari samajhdari to badhti hi ja rahi hai. Sach kaha tha tumne, sangati ka asar to hota hi hai.”

“Babaji! Apne munh miya mitthoo banna to koi inse seekhe,” Geet muttered under her breath.

“Kya kaha?”

“Kuchh nahin.”

“Geet!”

Geet started laughing and ran away from him. He ran behind her. She escaped him several times, but he finally caught her. By that time both of them were laughing like crazy and hardly had any strength left in them. They sat down near the logs gathered for fire and Maan started the fire.

The fire reflected in his eyes when he looked up at Geet. She was also lost in him. Both of them were reminded of the time they were stranded in Manali! There was snow outside and fire within. Then there was a hesitation, a wall between them. They had not openly confessed what they meant for each other, although they knew it. Today it was different. They not only knew about each other’s feelings, but were also married. No walls – neither personal, nor social.

Maan came to Geet, who was sitting on a low bench near the fire. He kneeled in front of her. This brought both of them to the same height. His gaze was penerating her, she started looking down. Maan took her left hand in his right and kissed her hand. He did not stop with one kiss, but planted kisses on her entire hand. Could she ever get used to his touch and kisses? He always managed to set her on fire. When he reached her upper arms, he got up and sat beside her on the bench. By that time she had completely lost herself and he had to support her with his arms. But he continued kissing her on the neck, just above her arms.

“Maan…” she whispered.

Maan stopped, looked at her and then picked her in his arms. He took her inside the tent. Geet gained some of her senses back and she remembered that one wall that still stood between them. Medical wall. Doctor had warned about baby’s health.

When he put her down inside the tent and continued to explore her, her face this time, with kisses, she stopped him, “Maan. Ruk Jaiye.”

Maan stopped and looked at her questioningly. Geet hesitated and was clearly embarrassed as she said, “Woh… Doctor ne mana kiya hai… Kahin hum…”

Maan understood what she was saying. He seemed to think for a moment before he withdrew, “Chalo Geet. Dinner banate hain. Thodee der mein bhookh lag jayegi zoron se.”

Geet was surprised at his calm voice. Was he upset and was trying to hide it? His voice betrayed none of the feelings he had given in to just a few moments ago. Confused to the core, Geet just followed him and they took the vegetables and other cooking material out to the fire.

Maan used the fire to barbecue the vegetables. They had some spices and salt to marinate them. Maan fed the barbecued vegetables to Geet. He kept asking her if she liked  them and she nodded everytime without saying a word. When she noticed he wasn’t eating anything himself, she fed him too.

After they were done eating, they started walking near the tent, hand in hand. Geet was still wondering if he had upset Maan by stopping him earlier in the evening. She finally gathered courage to ask him, “Maan aap gussa hain kya?”

Maan was surprised, “Kyon? Aisa kyon kah rahi ho. Maine aisa kya kiya?”

“Nahin aapne nahin, maine kiya. Woh khane se pahle…”

Maan did not realize what she was referring to; so he waited for her to continue and looked at her with questioning eyes.

“Maine… maine… aapko rok diya tha. Aap gussa to nahin hain?”

“Kya!” Maan was genuinely surprised

“I am sorry Maan. Meri wajah se shaadi ki baad bhi aapko khud ko rokna pad raha hai. I am really sorry…” Geet was crying by now.

“Geet!” Maan was almost angry as he held her at her shoulders and pulled her close, “Geet. Khabardaar jo tumne dubara aisi baat bhi ki to. Main kya tumhein itna bewkoof lagta hoon ki mujhe ye bhi pata nahin hai ki hum kya aur kyon kar rahe hain…”

“Nahin Maan… Woh…”

“Meri baat suno Geet. Agar dubara tumne aisi baat ki to main sach much gussa ho jaunga aur kabhi tumse baat nahin karoonga. Geet. Humne jo bhi kiya hai, hamare baby ke liye kiya hai. Aur ismein humme se kissi ko bhi bura lagne ki ya dukhi hone ki baat kahan se aa gayi. Geet hamara saath sirf abhi ka to nahin hai na. Hamein to poori zindagi saath rahna hai. Phir kuchh dinon ki dooriyon ko lekar kyon dukhi hona hai. Aur is thodi si parehsaani ke badle hamein itni badi khushi bhi to milne waali hai. Phir?”

While her original guilt was blown away by Maan, a new guilt took over her. She had offended him by her question, “Sorry Maan. Main aapka dil nahin dukhana chahti thi.”

Maan smiled, “Geet ab agar tum apni sorry ki dukaan band karo to main kuchh kahun.”

Geet looked at him without saying anything.

“Mere paas bhi tumhare liye ek surprise hai.”

“Kya?”

“Lekin main woh tumhein tabhi doonga, jab tum ye promise karogi ki kabhi hamare khushiyon ya pareshaaniyon ke beech mein mera-tumhara nahin laogi.”

“Main waada karti hoon Maan. Yakin maaniye mera aisa koi matlab nahin tha. I am really Sorry,” she bit her lips as she realized that she had said sorry again, while he had asked her just a while back to not do that.

But Maan seemed too happy to notice, “To suno. Jab main market mein tha to ek phone aaya tha. Hospital se. Tumhar jo tests hum aane ke pahle karwa kar aaye the, unke results aa gaye hain.”

Geet’s eyes showed antcipation as well as the fear, not knowing what the results were, “Aur?”

“Aur complications ab bilkul theek hain. Hamare baby ko koi khatra nahin hai. Bas tumhein apne khane-peene par dhyaan dena hai aur dawaiyan time se leni hai.”

Geet’s eyes had popped out in surprise, “Sach? Iska matlab…” She did not continue as she realized what she was about to say.

Maan’s voice grew naughty as he spoke in a low, heavy voice, “Iska matlab tumehin mujhe rokne ki koi zaroorat nahin thi.”

Geet’s embrrassment took the form of anger, “To. Aap mujhe bata nahin sakte the pahle. Mujhe pareshaan karne mein aapko mazaa aata hai na. Jaiye main aapse koi baat nahin karoongi…”

There goes his bomb-shell of a wife. Geet started moving away, but Maan pulled her back by hands, “Meri Hoshiyarpur Express, meri baat to sun lo. Kab batata main tumhein. Jaise hi wapas aaya tum chaat khane mein lag gayi aur phir mujhe zabardasti yahan le aayi.”

“Haan, haan. Galti to hamesha meri hi hoti hai,” Geet made faces, but did not move away.

“Waise maine aisa socha to nahin tha, lekin achchha hi hua ki maine tumehin pahle nahin bataya.”

“Kya matlab?”

“Jab tum gussa hoti ho to tumhein zabardasti apni baahon mein lene ka mazaa hi kuchh aur hai.”

Before Geet realized what he meant, she found her in his arms for the second time in the evening.

“Maan! Mujhe neeche utairye,” she was still furious.

Maan just kept looking at her smiling, as if he did not hear her. How long could she remain angry in his arms, especially when he was looking at her like that? By the time they were inside the tent, she had melted completely.

—

The tent was dimly lit, the only source of light being the fire outside the tent. There was a make-shift bed there, a bed sheet over a layer of hay. He made her sit on it with her back supported on one of the polls in the tent. Without realizing it she folded her knees and put her hands around them. Just as she had waited for him on their wedding night.

Maan saw this and his eyes became even more intense with desire. And he could see that she was more than ready for him. But he had something on his mind.

“Geet! Aaj tumahre liye sazaa ka din hai.”

Geet looked at him with surprise in her eyes. She was already so affected with anticipation and nervousness that the words hardly came out of her mouth as she asked, “Sazaa?”

Maan tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, “Haan Geet.” He opened her ponytail, “Jab se mila hoon tumse, pahli baar se hi, bahut sataya hai tumne.” He took off the ear-ring from her left ear, “Apni in aankhon se, jo kabhi ankahe sawaal poochhti hain, to kabhi apni sharaaraton se saansein rok deti hain.”

Geet blushed. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It was a surreal feeling.

Maan continued while taking off her other ear-ring, “Apne is maasoon aur khoobsoorat chehre se, jo pariyon ki kahaniyon par bharosa karne ko majboor kar deta hai.”

He took off her white stone bindi and carefully pasted it on the poll she was leaning on, so that it could be retrieved in the morning. He kissed her on the forehead as he spoke, “Apni is saadgi se Geet, jisko dekh kar tum par aankhein band kar ke vishwaas karne ka man karta hai.”

He almost crushed her ear-lobes as he continued, “Apne saaf dil se, jiski pyaar ki garmi se patthar bhi pighal sakte hain.”

There was an inconsistency. His words were poetic, deep and on a spritual plane. His touch, his voice and his eyes had a animalistic lust in them. She felt the inconsistency, although she would not have been able to describe it in so many words. But somehow even the inconsistency felt all right. As if the two could actually come together and make her life, their life complete.

He was taking off her bangles now, “Aur in sab ke baad, jab main laakh koshishon ke baad bhi apne aap ko haar gaya, tab bhi tumne mujhe bahut sataya. Kabhi apne man ki baat batane ko taiyaar nahin hoti thi. Yaad hai na Geet?”

He didn’t really expect her to be able to answer that, did he? Her eyes were either downcast or closed through out. She was not able to look at him.

“Aur Geet. Aaj tumhein in sabki sazaa milegi.”

Her mind registered the word “sazaa”. What was he talking about?  He must be joking. But it did not seem like the right time to crack jokes. Not when he was pressing her now bare hands so sensually making her feel dizzy.

Suddenly he left her hands and cupped her face. He lifted her face and commanded her to look at him, “Meri taraf dekho Geet.” His eyes were still demanding, intense and lustful. She had great difficulty in meeting them, but there was something in his voice that made her obey him.

“Aaj main tumse sawaal poochhoonga. Tumehin har sawaal ka jawaab dena hai. Aur mere sawaalon ke jawaab ke alawa main ek shabd nahin sunna chahta. Samjhi tum?”

She heard him, even understood what he said, but all of it made no sense. What “sazaa”? What “sawaal”?

“Par Maan,” she barely had started registering her protest in a weak voice, when one of his hands moved behind her on her nape to support her and to bring her closer to him and the second one landed on her mouth, shutting her up.

“Sirf mere sawaalon ke jawaab. Ek aur shabd nahin Geet. Maine poochha ki tumhein meri baat samajh mein aayi ya nahin? Aur iska jawaab ‘haan’ ya ‘naa’ hota hai Geet. Ab batao.”

“Haan,” she managed to utter when he removed her hand. She started looking down again.

He removed her dupatta and caressed and kissed her neck and nape as he asked, “Jab tum pahli baar outhouse mein rahne aayi thi, agle din hamara jhagda hua tha. Phir bhi tum mere peechhe dargah tak chali aayi thi, kyon Geet?”

What on earth was he doing? In her situation the only thing she could think of was getting crushed in his arms. Instead he was asking her questions. Why did he need any answers now? Did he not know?

Sazaa! Right – that’s what it was. His sazaa for her. He couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate time to mete out the punishment.

“Maan please…” she had hardly begun her protest, when she found his hand on her mouth again.

“Sirf jawaab Geet. Ek aur shabd nahin. Warna tumhari sazaa badh jayegi. Kyon aayi thi mere peechhe?” His hands were roaming over her neck, nape, ear-lobes, face and parts of her back and arms. But he would not hug her. He wasn’t even kissing her any longer. He knew the hold he had on her. Even his touches were enough to make her his captive; she was at his mercy.

Not that he was not desperate, but he was enjoying his little game. It was reassuring him that she was as mad for him as he was for her.

Geet had to succumb. She replied in broken voice, “Mujhe… aapki… fikr… ho… rahi…” She swallowed hard. Could he stop touching her and not torture her if he wanted his answers?

“Phir uske baad mujhe chhod kar jana kyon chahti thi? Kyon doosri job dhoondh rahi thi?”

Geet did not answer.

“Bolo Geet, warna…”

No, she could not bear any extension of her punishement. She had to speak, “Aapke paas hone se… mujhe… farq padta tha… main ye aapko… batana nahin…”

She stole a glance at him and was surprised to see that he had taken off his shirt. She did not realize when he managed to do that. His hands had never been off her. Or was she imagining his touch even when it wasn’t there?

She could not help her hands reaching out to touch him, but he held her hand firmly, “Jab main Pari ke saath Disco mein gaya tha, to tum kyon wahan aayi thi?”

“Jalan… ho rahi thi…”

“Kyon meri mangetar banna nahin chahti thi Geet?”

She was compliant now and did not need multiple urgings to answer. She knew she had no choice.

“Aapke saath rah kar… man ki baat… nahin chhupti…”

She realized that he had slid her kurti over her shoulders and she was almost undressed. He was exploring her body with his touches as well as kisses.

“Mere liye kyon apni jaan khatre mein daal kar hoshiyarpur chali gayi thi?”

“Aapko… kissi museebat… mein nahin dekh…” Her voice drowned as he pushed her on the bed and made her lie down. He kissed the various parts of her face repeatedly, but avoided her lips, making her even more desperate with desire.

“Agle din kyon bina kuchh soche samjhe subah, subah mere peechhe office chali aayi thi?”

She could not beat around the bush any longer, “Pyaar… karne lagi thi… Aapko kuchh ho jaata to… main bhi zinda nahin”

He did not let her complete that as he furiously attacked her lips with his own. The long kiss left her breathless.

“Tumhari sazaa abhi poori nahin hui hai Geet, lekin hamare beech jo dooriyan rah gayi hain, woh mere liye sazaa hai abhi, jo main nahin chahta. Isliye tumhein chhod raha hoon.”

He kissed her lips again, but more gently this time. Both of them were too eager to have each other. They weren’t aware of their surroundings, but the moon outside witnessed their sweet union. They belonged to each other in every sense of the word now.

Maan saw Geet sleeping in his arms. Looking sweet and innocent like a child. And yet desirable like a fairy. He almost gave in to the temptation of waking her up, to make love to her once again. But he stopped himself. The baby was out of danger, but she stil needed her rest and sleep. Their life together had just begun. There was a lifetime of happiness waiting for him. What was the hurry?!