“Maaaaaan….”

Did he really hear her scream or was he imagining it? He started running towards the main house, instead of waiting to resolve his confusion. Soon Beeji screaming Geet’s name and asking for help confirmed his suspicion that something was indeed wrong with Geet and she had screamed his name. Teji and Lucky were not at home, Jugnu’s presence or absence did not make a difference and even if others were around, he could not have left Geet at someone else’s mercy.

He saw Geet lying on the floor, while Beeji was shouting at Pammi and Lachchhi to quickly call someone up and get help. Maan hurried towards them.

“Kya hua?”

“Seedhiyon se gir gayi kudi. Meri kuchh samajh mein nahin aa raha hai.”

“Aap chinta mat kijiye.”

Maan lifted Geet in his arms and started walking towards the car taking long steps. Beeji could not keep pace with him and he had reached the car a little before her. Maan could lip-read Geet taking his name even in her unconscious state. He put her in the back seat, touched her cheeks and managed to assure her before Beeji came, “Geet. Tum bilkul chinta mat karo. Main hoon yahan. Tumhein kuchh nahin hoga Geet.”

When they reached the hospital, Maan again did not wait for the stretcher to come and instead carried Geet out in his arms. He did not bother taking Beeji’s permission either. Beeji was uncomfortable with the driver taking these liberties with her niece, but she kept quiet seeing Geet’s condition. If something happened to Geet while she was staying with them, it would be a bigger shame for their family than the driver helping them. Nobody was around to witness the driver’s liberties. So, she tagged along, happy to have someone take charge of the situation in the absence of Teji.

The hospital staff with the stretcher met them in the hospital corridor and carried Geet to the emergency room. A doctor came out after initial examination and informed them.

“Initial check-up se koi major injury to nahin lag rahi hai. Lekin head injury ke case mein saawdhaani baratne ki zaroorat hoti hai, khaas kar ke isliye kyonki ye behosh ho gayi hain. Isliye hum kuchh aur tests karenge, internal injuries ki possibility rule out karne ke liye. Lekin hamari advice ye hai ki aap inhein Delhi le jaiye aur wahan saare tests karwa kar ensure kar lijiye ki brain, eyes ya neck mein koi complicated injury na hui ho is fall ki wajah se.”

Beeji was frightened. She went to the counter to call Pammi up and ask her to send Teji to the hospital as soon as possible. Maan took this chance to speak to the doctor without inviting Beeji’s attention and took as many medical details as possible. Then he called Adi to make arrangements. Adi was to fly the doctors down to Amritsar at the earliest and also get them to bring whatever portable equipments they could, so that more tests could be carried out at Amritsar itself until Geet was fit to be taken to Delhi.

While the doctors were doing further tests and were trying to revive Geet with medicines and any immediate treatments possible, Beeji was getting frantic with fear. Maan pitied her and at the same time was feeling annoyed because with her constant complaints, he wasn’t able to think straight and do anything. He tried to think of a way to send her back without inviting more complications. Right now, he did not really care if his identity was revealed. But he could never be sure of their priorities. ‘Agar abhi inhein pata chal gaya ki main kaun hoon, to shayad Geet ki halat ke baare mein sab kuchh bhool jayen aur apni izzat ke chakkar mein pahle mujhse nibatna zaroori na ho jaye inke liye,’ he thought.

Then he went to Beeji and started speaking with extra politeness, “Beeji – agar aap bura na maanein to ek baat kahun?”

“Bol.”

“Beeji. Aapki bhi tabiyat kharaab ho rahi hai. Is samay aapka sambhal ke rahna bahut zaroori hai warna Geet ji ke hosh mein aane ke baad unki dekh-bhaal kaun karega. Mere khayal mein aapko abhi thode samay ke liye ghar wapas chale jaana chahiye. Jab Teji Praji aa jayen to aap unhein yahan bhej dijiyega.”

“Lekin Balwant, yahan bhi to kissi ka rahna zaroori hai.”

“Main aapko chhod kar wapas yahan aa jaunga. Agar koi bhi zaroorat hui to main aapko phone kar doonga.”

Beeji thought for a second and decided that Balwant was trust-worthy. Teji was also fond of this guy, which was not so usual.

“Theek hai. Lekin mujhe bas ek taxi karwa de. Tu yahin ruk – main nahin chahti ki Geet ko koi zaroorat ho aur yahan koi bhi na ho.”

It couldn’t have worked better for Maan. He immediately agreed and got Beeji a taxi.

As soon as Beeji left, Maan got to work. He rid himself of his sardar avatar and met the doctor. The doctor thankfully did not seem to remember the driver who had spoken to him couple of hours back. Or at least did not compare Maan with him when he saw him without his pagdi. That saved Maan some complicated explanations. He introduced himself with his real identity and told him that he was Geet’s husband. He also informed them about the doctors coming from Delhi and asked them about the situation. The doctor complimented him for doing the best in the situation and assured him that the chances of any complications were less, but her long unconsciousness was a little worrying. So, getting everything checked up was a good idea. He also allowed him into Geet’s room and told him that Geet was repeatedly calling him in her unconsciousness. So, him being around will definitely be helpful.

—

Maan finally found himself alone with Geet. He had done whatever he could in this situation and now he suddenly felt empty. The emptiness made him aware of the gravity of the situation. Geet was still not conscious. There could be something serious. All the possibilities that the doctor had mentioned. It could even mean… He did not want to even think about the worst possibilities. He sat next to Geet’s bed and put his hand on top of hers. He whispered to her, “Geet. Mujhe pata hai tum meri baat sun sakti ho. Please wapas aa jao Geet. Tumhara dil to itna bada hai. Thodi si maafi usmein mere liye bhi hogi na. Itni badi sazaa mat do Geet. Wapas aa jao.” A tear drop came out of his eye and he quickly wiped it. He continued to look at her innocent and lovely face silently.

He wasn’t sure of how much time had passed. He came out of his trance only when he heard the door of the room opening and someone coming in. It was Teji. Teji’s face hardened as he saw Maan sitting there near Geet. He shouted, “Tu yahan kya kar raha hai. Nikal yahan se.”

“Aap please dheere boliye. Geet ko taqlif hogi.”

“Woh teri problem nahin hai. Nikal yahan se.”

Maan got up and it looked like he had resigned to Taji’s order. But when he reached near Teji, he surprised him by holding one of his arms and dragging him out of the room aggressively. Once they were outside the room, Maan pre-empted any violent action from Teji by pinning both his hands against the wall strongly.

“Main Maan Singh Khurana hoon. Geet ka pati,” Teji’s eyes widened in surprise and grew murderous. He struggled hard to be freed, but Maan’s grip was too hard even for him. Maan continued, “Aapko mujhse jo bhi baat karni hai woh hum baad mein karenge. Abhi Geet ko meri zaroorat hai aur sabke liye behtar yahi hoga ki aap mere raaste mein na aayein.”

“Hamein tujhse koi baat nahin karni hai oye. Geet ko ghar se nikaal ke tune hamari bhi beizzati ki hai aur uska badla baaton se nahin nikalta. Aur Geet hamari kudi hai. Hum use sambhaal lenge. Use teri koi zaroorat nahin hai.”

Maan also grew angry and told him in no uncertain terms, “Tum logon ke liye Geet tumhari izzat ke shatranj mein ek pyada hai. Mere liye Geet meri zindagi hai. Tumhein dekh kar lagta hai ki tum insaan ki pahchaan kar sakte ho. Isliye dhyaan se suno aur samajh lo ki main ye kah ke koi kori dhamki nahin de raha hoon. Ki apni zindagi ke liye, apni Geet ke liye main tumhare jaise hazaron khaandaanon ki izzat ke cheethde uda doonga. Mere raaste mein mat aao.”

Teji could indeed see the madness in Maan’s eyes and despite his boiling blood, he decided not to react immediately. Maan shot him an angry glance and got back into the room. As soon as he resumed his seat beside Geet’s bed, Geet’s body showed some movement. She slowly opened her eyes and saw him.

“Maan,” her voice was weak and barely audible. But Maan could have heard her even if she was silent.

“Geet. Tumhein hosh aa gaya. Main abhi doctor ko bulata hoon.”

But Geet touched his hand with hers. She did not have the strength to hold him. Still he understood that she wanted him to stay. He stopped and looked back at her.

“Mujhe pata tha aap zaroor aayenge.”

“Main kaise nahin aata Geet. Apni zindagi se door kaise rahta? Lekin abhi ek shabd nahin. Mujhe doctor ko bulane do please.”

—

When Maan came out of the room, he saw that Pammi and Beeji had also joined Teji. But they were sitting slightly away from the door and the doctor’s room was on the opposite side. So, he avoided them and went straight to meet the doctor. The doctors from Delhi had also arrived by then and they were studying the reports. When Maan informed them that Geet had gained consciousness, they decided to see her immediately.

Beeji, Teji and Pammi also noticed when the group of doctors entered the room with Maan and they followed them to the room. Geet was conscious, but had one of her hands on her forehead and appeared to be in pain.

Maan panicked, “Kya hua Geet? Tumhein dard ho raha hai kya? Kahan? Doctor!”

“Mr. Khurana, please calm down,” interfered one of the doctors, “Head injury ke baad dard ho sakta hai. Hum uski wajah investigate karenge. Aap please aise panic kar ke patient ko nervous mat kijiye.”

Maan was embarrassed at his outburst; he nodded to the doctor and stood beside Geet silently, while one of the doctors asked her questions about how she was feeling and where was pain was.

Then he said, “Mr. Khurana aap please hamare saath bahar aaiye. Aur aap log bhi,” he looked at Beeji and her family. “Aap mein se koi ek chahe to patient ke saath ruk sakta hai.” Pammi came forward without waiting for the permission from Beeji or Teji, but no one objected. Maan looked at Geet and gave her an assuring nod, before coming out.

“Kaisi hai Geet?” Pammi asked once everyone had left the room.

“Theek hoon Bhabhi.”

“Maan ji ke aane se tujhe achchha lag raha hai na?”

Geet couldn’t have nodded as she was unable to move her head or neck under the bandages. She just blinked with her smiling eyes to convey that Pammi was right. Pammi smiled and pressed her hand.

“Phir bhool ja sab kuchh aur apne ghar chali ja. Tu bahut khushkismat hai Geet jo tujhe Maan ji jaise pati mile hain.”

Geet’s face again showed that she was in agreement with Pammi.

—

“Mr. Khurana. Neck injury ke chances lag rahe hai. Most likely kuchh zyada complicated nahin hai, lekin unhein kuchh hafton ke liye complete bed-rest ki zaroorat hogi. Aur unhein Delhi shift karna hoga, taki expert doctors uhein monitor kar sakein. Head injury ke case mein kabhi bhi complications ho sakte hain.”

“Jee bilkul. Aap jab kahein hum chal denge.”

“Lekin road se le jaana sahi nahin hoga. Unki injury travel se badh sakti hai. Kya hum unhein airlift karwa sakte hain. Ye costly option hai lekin…”

“Doctors – aap log uski chinta na karein. Hum aap logon ko yahan laye hain. Geet ko bhi le jayenge. Main abhi intezaam karwata hoon, jaldi se jaldi nikalne ka.”

“Mr. Khurana. Hum early morning niklenge. Let’s say 5 ‘o clock. Agle 7-8 ghante hum inhein yahin monitor karenge, hamare saath laaye hue portable equipments se. Aur koshish karenge ki medicines se inka pain thoda kam ho jaye, taki jaane mein pareshaani na ho.”

“Theek hai,” Maan said and made a call to Adi immediately explaining him the requirements. They would also need a helicopter to carry Geet to the chartered plane.

Beeji and Teji were awed by how the things were proceeding and they did not say a word during the entire conversation. When Maan went back to Geet’s room, they also followed him. Maan went straight to Geet and Pammi withdrew to make space for him.

“Maan. Mujhe ghar le chaliye.”

Maan’s joy knew no bounds when he heard those words from her. His voice almost choked as he said, “Haan Geet. Bas kuchh ghanton mein hum Delhi chalenge. Lekin abhi tum zyada bolo mat. Tumhein aaraam karne ki zaroorat hai.”

“Geet. Ye kya kah rahi hai puttar,” it was Beeji’s voice, “Tu kya bhool gayi ki is insaan ki wajah se tujhe ghar chhodna pada tha. Apni beizzati bhool gayi? Tujhe jis cheez ki bhi zaroorat hai, hum woh poora kar sakte hain. Hum le jayenge tujhe Delhi ya jahan bhi le jaana hoga. Iske liye tujhe iske saamne jhukne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai.”

“Maasi ji,” Geet addressed Beeji, but continued looking at Maan with immense love in her eyes, “Main maut ke bahut kareeb pahunch chuki thi. Aur mere saamne sirf ek chehra ghoom raha tha – Maan ka. Mere man mein sirf ek naam tha – Maan ka. Aur mujhe sirf ek aawaaz sunai de rahi thi – Maan ki. Woh mujhe wapas bula rahe the. Kahte hain na ki maut ke darwaze par insaan ki saari zindagi uski aankhon ke saamne ghoomti hai. Mere saamne sirf Maan the. To iska matlab to yahi hua na ki meri poori zindagi Maan hain. Koi bhi gussa, koi bhi galti zindagi se badi to nahin ho sakti hai. Jab Babaji ne mujhe maut ke darwaaze se  wapas bheja hai, to main apni zindagi se door ho kar kaise rah sakti hoon?”

This time Maan could not stop his tears, and to his own surprise, he was not embarrassed of it. If Geet wasn’t wounded this badly, he would have drawn her into one tight hug and never let her go.

“Besharam Ladki. Begairat ho gayi hai. Chal Pammi.”

But Geet and Maan were too lost in each other to hear the accusations. Even if they had heard it, it wouldn’t have mattered to them. When had the rest of the world mattered to them when they were together?

—

Pammi and Teji followed Beeji out of the room.

Teji finally broke his silence, “Geet chahe kuchh bhi kahe Biji, hum apni aise beizzati nahin karwa sakte. Hum use Geet ko le kar nahin jaane denge.”

“Aisa mat kijiye,” Pammi surprised both of them by speaking up.

“Tujhse kisne poochha?” Teji scolded her.

“Bura mat maaniye, lekin sach to ye hai ki Geet ki abhi ki halat mein uska Maan ke saath hi rahna behtar hai. Hum use yahan rakh kar, ya Delhi le ja kar bhi itna achchha ilaaj nahin karwa sakte. Unhone ek phone kar ke Delhi se doctor bulwa liye. Wahan bhi unki achchi jaan pahchaan hogi doctors ke saath. Aur kuchh nahin to Geet ki sehat ke liye hamein use nahin rokna chahiye.”

“Koi zaroorat nahin hai…”

“Pammi theek kah rahi hai Teji,” Beeji interrupted, “Agar apne yahan rakh kar kudi ka sahi ilaaj na karwa paye, ya use umra bhar ke liye koi pareshaani ho gayi to hamesha ke liye baat rah jayegi ki is ghar mein Geet ka khayal nahin rakha gaya. Ye badnaami na hi jhelni pade to behtar hai. Apne pati ke ghar mein jo hoga, uske liye koi munh nahin kholega.”

Pammi heaved a sigh of relief and felt good for Geet. Teji could not refute Beeji’s logic.

– The End –