Category: Characters

Back from the Guilt Trip

Posted Mish2 CommentsPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

He tried everything to dissuade her. Tried to distract her with jokes, with romance and even pretended to shout at her for being unnecessarily stubborn.

But nothing worked. As if he didn’t know that she could see through his heart and mind. He had to tell her. How should he do it?

“Geet. Main bahut swarthi ho gaya tha – pata nahin tum mujhe maaf kar paogi ya nahin?”

“Aapka swarth main nahin jaanti kya? Geet, Geet aur sirf Geet ki khusiyan. Phir aap aisa kyon kah rahe hain?”

“Geet – mere saamne bahut mushkil sawaal tha. Mujhe tummein aur tumhari khushiyon mein se ek ko chunna tha. Aur maine tumhein chuna. Tumhari khushiyon se oopar apni zindagi ko chuna.”

“Aap paheliyan kyon bujha rahe hain Maan. Iska kya matlab hai? Aur agar kuchh aisa hua bhi hai to mujhe vishwas hai ki aapke faisle ki koi wajah hogi. Mujhe saaf-saaf bataiye ki aap kis cheez ke baare mein baat kar rahe hain. Please Maan – main aapko aise ghutte hue nahin dekh sakti.”

“Geet. Agar sab jaanne ke baad tum mujhe maaf nahin kar payin to main tumhein dosh nahin doonga. Lekain ho sake to maaf karne ki koshish karna…”

“Maan!” Geet was herself on the verge of breaking down seeing him suffer like this. But she controlled herself. He needed her right now. She held his hands tight in hers.

“Geet – jab tum hospital mein thi, to tumhari halat bahut kharaab ho chuki thi. Aur doctor ne kaha ki ye bhi naubat aa sakti hai ki mujhe tummhare…. aur…. hamare bachche… ke… beech mein kissi ek ko chunna padega…” He was choking on his words.

Geet looked terrified. She had been feeling too safe in his arms all this while. She hadn’t known what was the true extent of the danger she… and their child was in.

“Geet! Bhagwan ko mujhpar zaroor daya aa gai hogi ki chamatkar ki tarah tum dono hi bach gaye. Lekin jab mujhse chunne ko kaha gaya tha to maine…” He paused and closed his eyes before saying the final words, “tumhein chuna tha.”

Geet’s face showed a mixture of emotions – shock, fear, concern… Maan opened his eyes and looked at her. After waiting for few seconds, he assumed that she was too angry with him to talk to him. He started moving away. But she suddenly tightened her grip on his hands.

“Maan. Ye sach hai ki mujhe bahut gussa aa raha hai. Pata nahin aap par ya apni kismat par jisne aapke saamne aisa sawaal khada kar diya tha. Agar aap meri marzi poochhte to aap bhi jaante hain ki main kissi bhi keemat par hamare bachche ko bachati…”

“Main jaanta hoon Geet… Maine tumhara bharosa toda hai aur tum mujhe maaf nahin kar paogi…” He was not looking into her eyes.

“Meri baat abhi poori nahin hui hai. Main gussa hoon, lekin iska matlab ye nahin ki main aap par vishwas karna band kar doongi.”

This surprised Maan and he looked her. He was still guilty and also confused.

“Haan Maan. Iska matlab ye nahin ki main hamare bachche ke liye aapke pyaar ko chhota samajh rahi hoon. Agar main iski maa hoon to aap iske pita hai. Aur mujhe pata hai ki aap bhi isse utna hi pyaar karte hain jitna main karti hoon. Itna to main aapko jaanti hoon na Maan?”

Once again she had overwhelmed him with her devotion to him, her faith in him. All the tears he had contrlled in the hospital, found their way out. He saw no reasons to stop them. It did not matter. He was with her. No one can take advantage of his moment of weakness.

Geet left his hand and initiated a hug.

They were still in each others’ arms when she spoke.

Sadness was clear in her voice, “Mujhe bahut bura lag raha hai Maan ki aapko akele aisi mushkil ghadi ka saamna karna pada. Main aapke saath aapki madad karne ke liye nahin thi. Lekin aapko pata hai na ki agar phir kabhi aisi baat hui, to aapko kya faisla…”

Maan broke the hug and silenced her by putting his hands on her lips. Determination and aggression were oozing out of him when he replied, “Nahin Geet. Ab nahin. Dubara aisa kuchh nahin hoga. Maine bhagwaan ko maanna shuru kar diya hai Geet. Lekin sach kah raha hoon, iske baad main tum dono ke liye bhagwan tak se lad jaunga. Dubara aisa kuchh nahin hoga.”

His aggression was scary. Geet touched and caressed his cheeks and that had a calming effect on him. Then she hugged him again.

Ununderstood Feelings

Posted Mish2 CommentsPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

 

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.

 

Completing the Show

Posted Mish2 CommentsPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

Note on the OS

This is supposed to happen immediately after Maan and Geet’s consummation.

—

Maan was happy and peaceful. Geet was lying in his arms. She belonged to him in every sense of the word now. Emotionally and physically. For the world, for herself, for him. They were both staring at the ceiling, but they could feel the love, desire and peace each of them was radiating. There was no place for words or conversation in their world right now.

Maan turned towards her, wanting to kiss her once again. He could not have enough of her. How much had he desired her all these days! How much had he waited for this day to come! But he stopped when he noticed the look on her face. She wasn’t sad, but she was lost. She was not here, not with him.

“Geet,” he called her name softly.

She came out of her thoughts, smiled at him, bold and shy at the same time. She snuggled up closer to him. He reciprocated by tightening his grip around her.

“Kya soch rahi thi Geet?”

“Kuchh nahin.”

“Kuchh to tha.”

“Arre. App kyon bekaar mein zidd kar rahe hain? Sach mein kuchh nahin. Aur agar kuchh soch bhi rahi thi to aapke munh se apna naam sun kar bhool gayi.”

He thought of giving up. It couldn’t be anything significant. But suddenly a stubbornness took over him. Not any longer, she could not keep anything from him any longer. He had to know everything about her, even every single thought that crossed her mind. She was his. Was he obsessing over her? Like hell he was. But it didn’t matter. He was with Geet, his Geet and if he felt like obsessing over her, so it will be.

He turned a bit towards Geet, while still keeping his arms around her. He had a stern look in his eye, “Geet. Tum ise meri zidd bhi samajh sakti ho aur mera pagalpan bhi. In fact main hoon pagal tumhare liye. Hamare beech kissi bhi parde, kissi bhi diwar ko to main pahle bhi nahin maanta tha. Lekin ab to tum bhi hamare beech koi parda nahin rakh sakti. Main rakhne nahin doonga Geet. Samjhi tum? Ab tum kissi bhi bahane se mujhe khud se door nahin rakh sakti. Roshni mein main tumhara saya ban kar, aur andhere mein tumhare liye diya ban kar tumhare saath har pal rahunga. Tumhari har baat mujhe maaloon honi chahiye Geet. Jo bhi tum karti ho, jo bhi tum sochti ho…”

Maan’s eyes had an intensity that would have scared anyone else. But she was his Geet. She could not only tolerate his extreme passion and possessiveness, but also enjoy it. What would have threatened to destroy somebody else’s individuality, helped her define hers.

“Maan. Aap aisi baatein kyon kar rahe hain? Aapko aisa kyon lagta hai ki main hamare beech koi parda rakhna chahti hoon?”

“To phir tum mujhe bata kyon nahin rahi Geet ki tum abhi kya soch rahi thi?”

She looked worried for a second before she started smiling again. But that one second could not escape Maan’s notice.

“Koi khaas baat thi hi nahin Maan. Main bas shaadi ki sab baatein yaad kar rahi thi. Rasm-riwaz, sab log, parties…”

“Tumhein ab bhi lagta hai ki tum mujhse jhooth bol sakti ho Geet?”

Of course, she did not think so. She knew better. Why did she even try?

“Maan!” She was perplexed.

“Batao Geet. Jo bhi baat thi mujhe bata do. Jhijhakne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai.”

“Aap mujh par gussa to nahin karenge.”

“Agar gussa karne waali baat hogi to shayad gussa to aa hi jayega. Lekin tum mere gusse se kab se darne lagi?”

“Aap se door hone se dar lagta hai.”

“To phir darne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Tumse door hona mere wash ki baat nahin hai, chahe kuchh bhi ho jaye.”

“Maan, agar aap pahle bhi, mera matlab hai shaadi ke pahle bhi, mere kareeb aana chahte to main aapko nahin rokti.”

“Mujhe pata hai.”

“Haan, lekin aapne kabhi aisa kiya nahin. Mujhe kabhi kabhi dar lagta tha.”

“Dar?” Maan was genuinely surprised.

From here on, she uttered each and every word with lots of hesitation. Someone other than Maan might not even have been able to make out what she was saying. “Woh… Mujhe… Mujhe pata hai ye meri bewkoofi thi, lekin mujhe dar lagta tha… ki kahin… aap… mere kareeb nahin aana chahte mere… ateet ki wajah se.”

She spoke the last four words in one breath, sat up on the bed and started looking down as she was finding it hard to meet his eyes.

“Kya?” Maan was hurt and it showed on his face. But Geet was no longer looking at him. He, too, sat up.

Then he collected himself. Getting hurt would not be the correct response. He knew very well that she never distrusted him. In fact she trusted him more than one trusts even the laws of nature.

“Geet, Meri taraf dekho,” he lifted her chin.

“Maan, mujhe pata hai meri bewkoofi thi. Aapne zidd ki, is liye maine ye baat aapko bata di. Ab to in sabka koi matlab bhi nahin hai. Please aap bura mat maaniyega. Mujhse naraaz mat…”

“Chup. Bilkul chup,” he put his hands on her lips. He was pained to see tears in her eyes. Before talking anything further, he went ahead and hugged her. The hug had its desired effect on her, and she calmed down.

He broke the hug and cupped her face with his hands.

He teased her with a smile, “Geet. To tum itni bechain thi mere paas aane ki liye?”

“Nahin… Woh… Mera matlab…” Geet grew embarrassed and stuttered her meaningless response, “Main abhi aati hoon.”

She started getting down from the bed. Maan pulled her back and she fell on top of him as he fell back on the bed. He immediately trapped her in his arms and did not let her move away. She buried her head in his chest, as she was still too embarrassed to look at him and this was the bes she could do in his tight grip.

“Geet. Ab to ye explain karna zaroori hai ki main tumhare kareeb kyon nahin aaya pahle,” Maan said.

“Nahin. Aapko kuchh bhi explain karne ki zaroorat nahin hai. Ye meri bewkoofi thi. Mujhe aap par poora bharosa hai,” Geet replied, still lying on his chest.

“Aur mujhe tumhare bharose par poora bharosa hai Geet. Lekin mujhe lagta hai tumhein pata hona chahiye.”

He loosened his grip and they sat up on the bed once again. He held her hands, “Tumhein lagta hai ki main tumahre paas aane ke liye, tumhein apna banane ki liye bechain nahin tha? Geet. Agar maine sirf apne dil ki suni hoti to pata nahin kab ka tumhein apne saath apne ghar le aaya hota. Jo thodi si bhi dooriyan hamare beech thi, unhein sahna mere liye bahut mushkil tha Geet. Aur mujhe pata tha ki tum mujh par atoot bharosa karti ho. Lekin main ye bhi jaanta tha Geet ki tumne zindagi mein bahut dhokhe khaye hain. Isliye main tumhare bharose ka imtihaan nahin lena chahta tha. Bas itni si baat thi Geet.”

Geet was overwhelmed once again by her man, “Mujhe to ab ashcharya bhi nahin hota aapke munh se aisi baatein sun kar. Mujhe to pahle hi pata hona chahiye tha ki aap jo bhi karte hain, mere liye karte hain; jab bhi sochte hain, mere baare mein sochte hain; jo bhi chahte hain, bas mere liye chahte hain.”

“Haan Geet. Kyonki jo bhi tumhara hota hai, woh mera bhi to ho jaata hai na. Khushi, gham, hansi, aansoo, sab kuchh.”

They hugged once again.

“Lekin ab jab mujhe ye pata chal gaya hai ki tum kitna ulta-seedha soch rahi thi to mera tum par se bharosa uth gaya hai,” Maan was playful, but Geet got worried.

She broke the hug, “Bharosa uth gaya?”

“Haan. Mujhe pahle lagta tha ki tumhara shareer hi gidta-padta rahta hai. To mujhe tumhein sambhalne ke liye har samay tumhare paas rahna chahiye. Lekin ab pata chal gaya hai ki tum apne dimaag ko bhi sambhaal ke nahin rakh sakti. Woh bhi idhar udhar gidta-padta rahta hai. Isliye tumhare liye kuchh strict rules banane padenge.”

“Maan!” Geet faked anger and made a cute face.

“Haan Geet. Main serious hoon. Aaj ke baad tumhare dimaag mein kuchh bhi aaye, kuchh bhi, chahe woh kitna hi ajeeb kyon na lage tumhein, tum turat mujhe bataogi. Samjhi tum.”

Geet nodded.

“Ye baat kabhi bhoolna mat. Aur yaad rakhna ki main har waqt tumahre saath hoon ab, aur koi bhi parda ya diwaar hamare beech rahne nahin doonga.”

“Ji.” Geet made the face of a kid who had been reprimanded.

“Waise Geet. Tumne ek kaam aduhra chhoda hua hai, woh bhi tumhein aaj hi khatam karna hai.”

“Kaam? Aaj?” Geet couldn’t believe that he had suddenly changed the topic to work. Only Maan could do that. She looked up hoping to get some clarification from Babaji about her unpredictable husband and boss.

“Haan.” He took out a sheet from the drawer of the side table and handed it to her.

Geet became even more confused as she saw the sheet. She had prepared a sheet with instructions on the day she had decorated his bathroom with candles and rose petals. It was an effort to break a promise he had made in his anger that he would not touch her till their wedding. She had even worn a short, red dress to seduce him into touching her. But her plan had backfired badly. It was the same sheet he handed over to her.

She looked at him in confusion and embarrassment.

“Ek show poora dekhna hai Geet.”

“Lekin ye to… woh aapki kasam… ”

“Meri kasam todne ke liye kiya tha tumne. To?”

“Lekin aapko to ye sab achcha nahin laga tha.”

“Aisa kyon laga tumhein?”

“Aap to mera mazaak bana rahe the. Aur aapne apni kasam bhi nahin todi thi.”

Oh! His lovely, innocent wife. He could not help laughing slightly at her simplicity. Geet did not know how to react to it. Seeing him laugh was a rare sight even when he was in her company. She mostly had to be content with his smile. Others did not get even that.

Then he went back to smiling again as he asked her, “To tumhein lagta hai ki maine tumhein us din isliye nahin chhua kyonki main apni kasam nahin todna chahta tha aur tum achchhi nahin lag rahi thi?”

She didn’t say anything, just nodded innocently.

He pulled her closer to him and spoke in his heavy, seductive voice, “Geet. Phir to tumhari ek aur galatfahmi door karni hai. Us din tum itni achchhi lag rahi thi ki main pagal ho gaya tha. Agar maine tab tumhein chhua hota to main saari seemayen paar kar jaata. Par ab… Chalo, bathroom mein jao. Tumhein saari taiyaari dubara jo karni hai.”

Geet was blushing heavily as she heard him. Then got down from the bed to go to the bathroom. She had to awkwardly put a sheet around her as she realized that she was mostly naked.

The bathroom was already prepared the way she had done the last time. She only had to light the candles. Her red dress was hanging there for her to change in to. She went through the instructions on the sheet. She sprinkled some water on her face and hair and blushed again.

She was sitting on the edge of the bath-tub when Maan entered. He had changed in to the same set of clothes he was wearing then. Geet’s heartbeat increased with excitement as well as apprehension at what was to come next.

Maan slowly walked up to her, made her stand up and said, “Tum mere bathroom mein kya kar rahi ho?”

Geet looked at him not knowing what to say.

“Aaj main tumse ye nahin poochhoonga.” Maan added.

Geet shivered looking at the naughty smile on his lips.

Relations

Posted MishLeave a commentPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

 

She hadn’t dwelt on it. It was just a moment, when she said, “Abhi Maa hoti to main unse poochh leti.” She was sifting through jewelry samples Dadi Ma had ordered and had asked her to choose from. For their wedding

But it struck him as he overheard her. Did she often have these moments, which she did not share with him? Because she did not want him to worry? He didn’t have any respect for her family members given the way they had treated her. And he knew that she was strong and believed in living her life, even when her dear ones betrayed her. She had moved on and lived without the protection of her family. But at the end of the day, she was still an eighteen year old. Wouldn’t it be too harsh to expect her not to crave for the company of her family, at least her parents, her mother? Especially on such an important occasion of her life, her wedding?

But all these were merely his speculations. He wasn’t sure what he should do. He could try and contact her parents. Possibly on hearing the news of her marriage, they would feel good for her and agree to come. But would that be the right thing to do? Would it bring back good memories for her or the bad ones? It was too risky a decision. He would never want to kill her happiness, definitely not due to something that he was trying to make her smile.

There was only one option. Talk to her. But not immediately. It was a sensitive issue and he wanted to think through his words. He wasn’t good with words. He should not hurt her even by mistake.

For now, he would just pull his usual tricks and make her smile.

“Geet.”

“Aap? Aap yahan kya kar rahe hain?” She startled as if caught in an act.

“Ek client se meeting karne ke liye aaya hoon,” he mocked her.

“Client se meeting? Yahan? Lekin neeche office mein to sab shaadi ka samaan pada hai. Aap mujhe pahle nahin bata sakte the? Ab itni jaldi main office kaise theek karoongi?”

His smile broadened as he heard her blabbering. She suddenly noticed him smile.

“Aap mujhe buddhu bana rahe hain?”

“Banane ki kya zaroorat hai Geet?”

“Kya?” Her eyes widened at the insult, “Aap apne aap ko samajhte kya hain? Vikram aur Betal ke Vikram? Yahan kya karne aaye hain aap?”

“To mujhe tumhein ye batane ki zaroorat padegi ki main apni hone waali biwi ke kamre mein kya kar raha hoon. Haan Geet? Ye bewkoofi nahin to aur kya hai?”

He started moving towards her with his seductive look in his eyes and she started moving backwards, until she hit the bed and ended up sitting on it. He leaned, bringing his face close to hers and placed his hands on her sides on the bed. He picked up the necklace lying on her left, while he continued to look into her eyes. She did not notice the necklace, until he started putting it on her over her head. She became confused, while his hands moved to the back of her neck. She closed her eyes as his touch affected her. He pulled the strings and the necklace fitted on her neck. He ran his hands around her neck to bring them in front and caressed the necklace, “Ye perfect lag raha hai.”

She opened her eyes. Confusion still reigned on her face and in her voice, “Aap…”

“… apni mishti ke liye gahne select karne aaya tha. Kaisi lagi meri pasand?”

He cupped her face and she stood up when he gestured her to.

“Bahut achchhi hai.”

“Tumne to dekha bhi nahin hai ki maine kya chuna hai. Tab se mujhe hi nihar rahi ho.”

“Aapne chuna hai to phir mujhe dekhne aur sochne ki kya zaroorat hai?”

He smiled and just as he was moving to kiss her, they heard footsteps outside and separated awkwardly. Dadi Ma had come.

She noticed the necklace Geet was wearing and remarked, “Are wah Geet! Ye necklace to aap par bahut janch raha hai. Badi achchhi pasand hai aapki.”

Maan and Geet exchanged a quick, stealth smile and they proceeded to discuss the mandap designs with Dadi Ma.

—

They had sneaked out on the terrace after dinner. Geet was sitting on the swing, blabbering away about something or the other, when Maan suddenly interrupted her, “Geet mujhe tumse kuchh baat karni thi.”

“To boliye na..”

“Geet – kuchh serious baat hai, aur…”

He appeared to be struggling to choose his words and Geet got worried. The last time she had seen him hesitate so much was when he was trying to ask her about Dev, whether he should look for her culprit and bring him to justice. What was it this time?

“Aap itna hichak kyon rahe hain? Aisi kya baat hai. Please mujhe jaldi bataiye.”

“Geet tum gussa mat hona, bas mere dimaag mein baat aayi, isliye poochh raha hoon.”

“Aap please paheliyan bujha kar mujhe pareshaan mat kijiye. Aisi koi baat nahin ho sakti jo aap mujhse nahin kah sakte Maan. Please bataiye.”

“Geet, kya tum apne parents ko miss kar rahi ho? Kya tum chahti ho ki woh hamari shaadi attend karein?”

Geet was too shocked to react for few moments.

Even after she recovered, she wasn’t sure why he asked that question.

“Aap ye kyon poochh rahe hain? Kya aapko lagta hai ki log mere ghar waalon ke baare mein sawaal poochhenge?”

“Nahin, nahin Geet. Tum achchhi tarah se jaanti ho ki logon ki mujhe koi parwah nahin hai. Main to bas tumhari khushi ke liye jaanna chahta tha Geet. Agar apni shaadi par tum apne parents ka saath chahti ho, to main kuchh bhi kar ke unhein launga. Lekin agar ismein tumhari khushi hogi, tabhi.”

Geet was overwhelmed once again at her man’s concern for her happiness. She knew how much he detested her family. And how unfair they had been not only to her, but to him as well. He was still willing to go after them for her happiness.

“Maan! Rishte khoon se nahin bante, nibhane se bante hain. Aapne ek pita ki tarah meri hamesha raksha ki hai. Jab bhi main pareshaan aur udaas hui, ek maa ke tarah aapne mujhe shaant karaya hai, mujhe bharosa diya hai. Bhai-bahnon ki tarah aap mere saath hanste-khelte hain, jhagadte hain, mujhe chhedte hain, mujhe hansate hain. Aur ek sachche jeevan-saathi ki tarah har kadam par mere saath rahte hain. Mere saare rishte aap par shuru hote hain, aur aap par hi khatam hote hain Maan. Mujhe kissi aur ki zaroorat nahin hai. Mujhe apni khushiyan kissi aur ke saath nahin baantni hain.”

It was Maan’s turn to be overwhelmed.

“Geet!” He could not say anything else.

Geet nodded her head slightly, as if to confirm all that she had said just now. Then she got up from the swing and Maan pulled her into a hug.

He decided to lighten the mood, “Waise Geet. Tum itni badi badi baatein karna kaise seekh gayi. Tum meri nakal kar ke practice to nahin karti rahti?”

Geet broke the embrace slightly, pretended to be angry and hit him on his shoulder. They started smiling and hugged again.

—

 

Note on the OS

I am aware that some people may not agree to the viewpoint presented in this story. The most common argument being that ‘parents are parents and how can she not wish to see her parents on her wedding day?’ But I have a strong opinion to the contrary.

To illustrate my idea, let me present an example from the serial itself. Do we think of Dev as the father of Geet’s child? Almost everyone in love with the serial does not. Most of us accept Maan as the father. Why? Dev is the one biologically responsible for the baby. But he did not carry out his responsibilities of protecting and loving the baby. Maan did. He protected the baby and loved it as his own. So, its Maan and not Dev who is the father of the baby.

To me, Geet’s parents and Dev are similar. Both have been spineless for their child. Both of them could not protect their child. The only difference is the Geet has lived with her parents for 18 years and of course, there have been moments of love and affection. But even during those years they had not been able to do anything to protect her from the ridicilous rules and punishments decided by Daarji. Those who have seen the initial episodes would know how torturous all of that was.

Given that they have royally failed in their basic duty as the parents, I have no sympathy for any affection between them and Geet. Check out Stockholm Syndrome. Even the captives end up developing positive feelings for their captors. It may sound harsh, but I treat this affection as closer to Stockhold Syndrome. She has been with them for 18 years, but that’s it. After that they left her to die and could do nothing for her. They might as well have killed her, when she was born.

So, I never accepted Geet’s family or parents returning to share her happiness in the wedding. (Especially not Daarju, who according to me is the biggest villain in the show.) They have no rights over Geet’s happiness. Only Maan has that right. He is the only family she has.

 

Making Up

Posted Mish2 CommentsPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

Note on the OS

In one of the episodes before their wedding, Maan was troubling Geet by holding her hands under the dining table, forcing her to eat with her left hand. Dadi Ma and Annie noticed it and it created an embarrassing situation for Geet. Maan was enjoying teasing her and added more to her discomfort by asking her to serve him rice. She warned him, but when he did not let go, she exposed him in front of Dadi Ma and Annie. When they realized that Maan had been holding her hands, they teased him a lot and this made Maan angry at Geet. He scolded her for exposing their private life in front of others. He thought she did not want him to touch her and hence decided that he would not touch her until the wedding.

I felt very bad for Geet after that episode and wrote this OS. In the show they hand handled it differently by turning it in to a funny challenge. My take is more emotional.

—

What had she done? She hurt him? His pride? His prestige?

Yes – it was not intentional, but she still ended up doing it. How could this happen, when she claims to know him so well; when he himself has this faith on her that she knows him more than he knows himself?

At that moment, it did not matter to her that the whole incident was triggered because of his prank. He was the one who was embarrassing her by holding her hand under the dining table. But when she exposed him, the situation went out of her hands. He could not take all the leg pulling. And then in the office. She was hurting badly when he was telling her all that. That she needs to keep their private moments private.

But right now, it wasn’t her self-respect or hurt that mattered. How could it? He was the person who taught her how to live with self-respect. He was the one who healed all her hurt. And she had hurt him. He had put up with so much for her. He had put up with all her naivety and mistakes and still loved her to death. How far she must have gone this time that he was hurt by her behaviour?

That was the only thing that mattered. He was hurt. How could she make amends? He was so angry, that she did not have the courage to go and say ‘Sorry’. What if a ‘Sorry’ was inadequate!

—

As he sat in his cabin alone for a while, his anger started to cool off. And that’s when he realized what he had done.

Why did he talk to her like that? Couldn’t he see the hurt in her eyes, when he told her that he would not even touch her. And when he told her that he would no longer listen to her. And when he shouted at her in the office.

This was the woman who had taught him how to smile, how to let go of worries. How could he rob her of her smile! The smile that she managed to keep even when she was going through the hell in her life, through the death threats by her own family, through the social stigma of becoming a single mother, through the days of financial insecurities, through all her loneliness. And he robbed her of that smile, which had sustained her all her life. And which now sustained him too.

This was the woman who trusted him blindly. She even waited for the snow in Delhi, because he asked her to. Why did he have to be so harsh with her? What had come upon him? If he wanted her to behave differently all he had to do was ask her. Yes, she blabbered non-stop in front of him, she fought with him in a way nobody dared to, she made fun of him, but none of it came in the way of her true feelings for him. The true feelings, with which she practically worshipped him. Did she ever really say “No” to anything he asked her for? She did not. She could not! What should he do? Go to her cabin and say ‘Sorry’? What if a ‘Sorry’ was inadequate?

—

He could not decide what to do. The day was filled with meetings, because he wanted to finish off as much work as possible before they took leave for their wedding. Meetings that she scheduled because he had asked her to. Even this simple thought made his heart ache. He only had to ask her. Why did he shout at her and utter those hurtful words!

The last meeting ran till 7 pm. He came back hurriedly from the conference room. He would take her home and talk to her. Do whatever he can to heal her wounds. But she was not in the cabin. Pinki was still there, packing her things up to leave for the day. He asked her. Geet had left at 6 pm. She looked unwell, but she did not say anything when Pinki asked her.

Unwell? Maan almost cried. What happened? Why did she not tell him?

—

She was facing away from the door, leaning on the rod of the bed. He could hear muffled sounds while standing at the door. What was she doing?

He tip-toed to go and face her. She did not realize he was there. What he saw there broke his heart. Her eyes were closed, as if she was trying to control her tears. But they were uncontrollable. They were flowing through her closed eyes. She was biting her lips to not let a sound escape. But he still had been able to hear them at the door itself.

His hands naturally moved to wipe her tears. But he suddenly remembered what he had said in the morning. He will not touch her till their wedding. Not that he cared about that any longer. But he wasn’t sure what she thought of it. How will she take it if he touched her? It took him all his self-control, but he decided to hold back for the time being.

Then he slowly called her, “Geet!”

He could see surprise on her crying face. She did not open her eyes immediately. She wiped her tears with her fingers. And then opened her eyes. She was still biting her lips.

He had to read her lips as she tried to say, “Aap?” She had such a heavy throat due to her crying that the voice did not come out.

He looked around and found a jug of water on the side-table. He poured her a glass of water. She took the glass from him, but did not drink. She kept looking at him with eyes whose expressions killed him. Why was she looking so guilty? He was the one who should be guilty?

“Geet! Pinki ne kaha ki tumhari tabiyat theek nahin hai. Kya hua Geet?”

She drank the water now to find her voice back.

“Nahin. Maine to aisa kuchh nahin kaha tha use. Main bilkul theek hoon. Koi ghabrane ki baat nahin hai.”

‘Woh itna gussa hain. Phir bhi meri tabiyat kharab hone ke dar se bhagte chale aaye,’ she thought and felt even worse.

“Kya aap mujhe maaf kar sakte hain?”

“Geet…” Maan grew emotional.

“Mujhe pata hai, mujhse bahut badee galti ho gayi hai. Lekin mera yakeen maaniye, main aapki insult karne ki soch bhi nahin sakti. Ek baar maine aapko galat samajha tha Maan, aur uske liye main itna pachhtayi hoon ki galti se bhi aapki baaton ko mana nahin kar sakti. Please mujhe maaf kar dijiye. Maine anjaane mein aapka dil dukha diya.”

Maan’s guilt increased a thousand folds as he heard her repeating what he already knew. She would always do what he asked her to.

“Chup Geet. Bilkul chup,” he had said this so many times earlier. But this time he did not put his hands on her lips with authority. His own words, uttered that morning, had come back to bite him.

“Geet. Tum please apne aap ko zimmedar thahrana band karo. Galti meri thi Geet. Mujhe tumhare oopar gussa nahin karna chahiye tha. Main bhi to jaanta hoon ki tum meri har baat maanti ho, mujhe tum par chillane ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Main gusse mein apna aapa kho baitha Geet. Subah bhi meri hi galti thi. Mujhe tumhein sab ke saamne pareshaan nahin karna chahiye tha. Main sirf tumhein lekar hi possessive nahin hoon Geet. Main apni is chhoti si duniya ko lekar bhi bahut possessive hoon, jo sirf hum dono ki hai. Ye main kissi ke saath share nahin kar sakta. Lekin in sabke beech maine tumhein bahut pareshaan kiya Geet, aur woh bhi bewajah. I am sorry. Please mujhe maaf kar do.”

That was it. Everything was resolved between them. This was how it was meant to be. She moved towards him, but suddenly stopped. His words in the morning… Did he still mean them? He saw her hesitation and spread his arms inviting her. She came to him immediately. As they stood there in each other’s arms, where they really belonged, a calmness descended upon them. The calmness that was theirs, but had eluded them the entire day, thanks to a silly fight.

Bachelor Party

Posted Mish5 CommentsPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

 

“Sab logon ne itne pyaar se aapke liye party arrange ki hai to aap itne nakhre kyon dikha rahe hain?”

“Geet! Mujhe nahin jaana hai – mujhe ye sab pasand nahin hai.”

“Haan, haan – Pata hai. Aapko hansi-khushi waali koi cheez kabhi pasand kahan aati hai? Lekin doosron ki khushi ke liye bhi kuchh kar liya kijiye.”

“Geet tumhein pata bhi hai ki Bachelor party mein kya hoga?”

“Kya hoga? Aasmaan sar par to nahin gir padega na? Bataiye kya hoga?”

Maan hesitated and Geet started again, “Dekha. Koi jawaab nahin hai. Bekaar mein bahane banaye ja rahe hain. Dekhiye – Adi Sir ne mujhse request ki hai aur maine unhein promise kiya hai ki aap party mein jayenge. Ab agar aab nahin gaye to main aapse baat nahin karoongi.”

“Geet!”

“Maan!” she imitated him.

“To tum nahin maanogi?”

“Nahin.”

“Theek hai. Marzi to tumhari hi chalegi. Lekin baad mein kuchh gadbad ho to mujhe mat kahna.”

“Aap wahan ja kar logon par cheekhne-chillane nahin lagenge to koi gadbad nahin hogi.”

Maan gave her an angry stare and walked out of the room.

“Babaji. Ab bas party mein inka mood theek rahe.”

—

Annie walked in to Geet’s room, “Geet. Tumhein pata hai Bhai kahan hai?”

“Haan. Woh Arjun ne bachelor party plan ki thi. To Adi Sir aur office ke baaki logon ke saath wahi attend kar rahe hain.”

“Kya? Bhai aur bachelor party? I can’t believe it.”

“Kyon?”

“Kyon? Tumhein pata bhi hai bachelor party mein kya hota hai?”

“Tum dono bhai-bahan ek jaisi baatein karte ho. Aisa kya hota hai bachelor party mein?”

Annie saw her cluelessness and decided to take advantage of the situation by giving her a rather exaggerated description of the dancing girls who would definitely be invited to the party and what all they will do including a special private dance for the groom.

Geet was flabbergasted and Annie left with a mischievous smile on her face.

—

Maan was disinterestedly walking around in the party, mechanically replying to the wishes and jokes coming his way. The host appointed by Arjun announced the special surprise, which to nobody’s surprise was going to be a dance by some half-clad girls. Most of the attendees forgot about him as they gathered around the dance floor to make the most of the opportunity. At this stage of life, it was not possible for Maan to feel excited about this teen-age entertainment. But if Geet came to know about the dance, she would go bonkers. He smiled as he recalled the moments when even the simplest hint of the attention towards him from women had made her go green. She is as possessive as he is. Suddenly he felt a strong urge to be with her, to hold her in his arms, to kiss her. And then pushed more by this urge of his  than the wish of avoiding the party, he sneaked out.

—

“Geet kar di na tune phir wahi baat. Aa bail mujhe maar,” Geet was blabbering as she paced up and down in her room.

“Woh to mana kar rahe the jaane ko. Tujhe hi samaj seva karne ki padi thi. To ab bhugato.  Pata nahin woh ladkiyan party mein kya kar rahi hongi. Aur Maan? Nahin – mujhe un par to bharosa hai, par ladkiyon par nahin. Waise bhi ye Delhi ki ladkiya kaise chipakti rahti hain unse. Babaji – ab main kya karoon? Aap hi kuchh raasta dikhaiye na.”

“Haan – ye theek hai. Main phone kar ke unhein bol deti hoon ki woh wapas aa jayen. Koi party attend karne ki zaroorat nahin hai.”

“Nahin. Ye achchha nahin lagega. Aur phir woh mera bahut mazaak udayenge.”

She stopped pacing, held the rod of the bed and stood facing away from the door, “Babaji. Ab aap hi kuchh kijiye aur unhein party se wapas bhejiye.”

Maan walked up to her from behind and covered her eyes with his hands. Without even touching his hands, she recognized him, “Maan.”

She knew his touch so well and was so comfortable with it. She wasn’t even startled. He smiled, once again recalling the old days, when even an accidental pull on her dupatta or a touch on  her hand would push her to the edge of nervousness. They had come a long way.

He left her eyes and she turned around to face him.

“Aap yahan kaise?”

“Kyon? Abhi to tum apne Babaji se kah rahi thi ki main party se wapas aa jaun. Aur woh to tumhari har baat maante hain, hai na?” Maan teased her.

“Aap chhup-chhup kar meri baatein sun rahe the,” Geet pretended to be irritated to hide her embarrasment.

“Ye lo. Main kahan chhipa tha? Main to saamne darwaze par khada tha. Tum hi apne Babaji se baat karne mein itni busy thi ki meri or dekha tak nahin.”

“Aap meri taang mat khinchiye. Aap party se wapas kyon aa gaye?”

“Kyon? Tumhein achcha nahin laga? Theek hai main wapas chala jaata hoon,” he pretended to be offended and turned to leave.

She held his hand, “Maine ye to nahin kaha.”

“Lekin tumhari baaton se to yahi lag raha hai ki tum chahti ho ki main party mein jaun. Pahle bhi tumne hi mujhe wahan bheja tha. Main to nahin jaana chahta tha.”

“Par ye party to ladke bandhnon mein bandhne se pahle apni aazaadi ki khushi manane ke liye karte hain na? Phir aap kyon nahin karna chahte ye party?”

Maan turned around, held her at the shoulder and spoke emotionally, “Geet. Ye shaadi sirf duniya waalon ke liye aur tumhare liye hai. Taki log kabhi hamare rishte par ungli utha kar tumhein pareshaan na kar sakein. Jahan tak mera sawaal hai Geet, maine apne aap ko is bandhan mein bahut pahle baandh liya hai. Tumhari maang bharne se bhi pahle. Mujhe to pata bhi nahin chala tha Geet ki kab maine apni zindagi, apni taqdir, apni khushiyan sab tumse jod di thi. Aur jab pata chala, tab ehsaas hua ki is bandhan ke pahle meri zindagi mein khushiyan thi hi kahan, jo main unhein celebrate karne liye party karoon? Aur azaadi? Is bandhan ne mujhe jitni azaadi di hai, woh meri zindagi mein pahle kabhi nahin thi Geet? Hansne ki azaadi, khush rahne ki azaadi, zindagi jeene ki azaadi! Geet – meri zindagi mein jo kuchh bhi achchha hai, jo bhi hansi hai, jo bhi khushi hai, woh sab tumse hai Geet. Is bandhan ke alawa mere paas celebrate karne ki liye aur kuchh nahin hai. Lekin duniya meri in khushiyon ko nahin samajh sakti Geet. Unke paas tum jo nahin ho. To ye to sirf hum dono hi celebrate karenge.”

Geet was overwhelmed with emotions as she heard his monologue. Their bodies naturally moved for a hug. In the process Maan moved her hair away from her shoulder and planted a kiss there. She shivered, but made no attempt to free herself. Maan felt her shivering and smiled as he embraced her into a bone-crushing hug. His intensity was limited only by the concern for their baby.

 

Her Saviour

Posted Mish5 CommentsPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

 

Note on the OS

In the show Dadi and Annie had decided to have some fun at Maan and Geet’s expense. Dadi faked anger at how they were coming so close to each other before their wedding and made the rule that they won’t meet each other for more than half and hour a day until the wedding. This incident is supposed to happen in that context.

—

“Geet, kya hua? Tum ro kyon rahi ho?” asked Anvesha.

Anvesha and Dadi Ma had just sent Maan away from the hall in the outhouse reminding him of the “half-an-hour-a-day” rule. Anvesha had accompanied Geet to her room, while Dadi Ma was supervising the servants bringing Geet’s clothes and jewelry to the outhouse. Geet had tried her best to control herself, but she just could not help it any longer. Her tears were unstoppable. Anvesha tried to distract her for a while by joking and teasing, but Geet appeared lost. That got her worried and she called Dadi Ma in.

By the time Dadi Ma came in, Geet had made an excuse and had gone to the bathroom. She was hoping to control herself, but in the solitude her tears became even more stubborn. Anvesha told Dadi Ma about Geet crying. They waited for her to come out, but there was no sign of her. Dadi Ma called Geet and knocked at the bathroom door. But she did not reply. So, she decided to call Maan.

Maan ran to the outhouse.

“Geet kahan hai?”

“Bathroom mein, magar bahar aa hi nahin rahin Maan beta. Kuchh baat hui hai kya?”

“Aap log jaiye, main dekhta hoon.”

They were too worried to remember the half-an-hour rule and did what Maan asked them to.

“Geet,” he knocked softly at the door after they had left.

She heard him and as much as she wanted to jump into his arms, she thought others were still there and hence hesitated in coming out.

Maan tried the knob of the bathroom door. It was unlocked. He went in immediately. His worry increased a hundred times on seeing her tear stained face. He cursed himself for not having listened to his instinct when Dadi Ma was ordering him away from the outhouse. He had felt something was matter with Geet given the way she had clung to him. Before he could ask her, Dadi Ma and Anvesha had barged in and he had to leave.

But he was there now.

“Geet,” he ran to her, cupped her face in his hands and wiped her tears with his thumbs. Geet looked towards the room apprehensively. Maan understood what was on her mind, “Wahan koi nahin hai Geet. Chalo, kamre mein chal kar baat karte hain.”

He made her sit on the bed and poured her a glass of water.

“I am sorry Geet. Mujhe us samay jaana nahin chahiye tha. Tum tabhi pareshaan dikh rahi thi. Kya ho gaya Geet?”

“Nahin,” Geet was embarrassed, “Aap sorry kyon bol rahe hain. Sorry to mujhe bolna chahiye. Itna tamasha ho gaya meri wajah se…”

Maan tried to cheer her up by making light of the situaiton, “Haan. woh to hai. Ab dekho, sab ko pata chal gaya ki tum mere bina ek pal bhi nahin rah sakti. Nahin rah sakti na Geet?”

But Geet was too embarrassed to notice that he was joking, “I am sorry. Aap chale jaiye. Dadi Ma pata nahin kya soch rahi hongi.”

“Geet. Main mazak kar raha tha. Aur tum Dadi Ma ki chinta mat karo. Main unhein achchhi tarah se jaanta hoon. Wo Annie ke saath mil kar mazaak kar rahi hain. Hamari khushi se zyada kuchh important nahin hai unke liye. Woh kuchh nahin sochengi. Aur Geet, agar tum nahin rah sakti mere bina to ismein bura mahsoos kyon kar rahi ho? Main bhi to nahin rah sakta na tumhare bina. Warna us waqt choron ki tarah aata kyon tumhare paas?”

“Aapko to to jaise koi phone kar ke bata deta hai main jab bhi pareshaan hoti hoon. Kaise aa jate hain aap har samay meri madad karne.”

Maan smiled, “Taqdir ko bhi pata hai Geet ki tumhein ab kissi bhi cheez ke liye pareshaan hone ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Isliye woh mujhe tumhare paas bhej deti hai. Waise Geet, tumhein agar koi pareshaani ho to tum Dadi Ma se bhi kah sakti ho. Tumhein pata hai na ki woh tumhein bahut pasand karti hain.”

“Haan, lekin main ye baat unhein nahin bata sakti thi. Unhein meri pregnancy ke baare mein pata nahin hai na.”

This scared Maan, “Kya hua Geet? Tumhari tabiyat kharaab hai? Aur tum itni der se baith kar ro rahi thi? Mujhe usi waqt batana chahiye tha na. Chalo hum abhi doctor ke paas chalte hain.”

“Aap please shaant ho jaiye. Aise ghabrane se kaise kaam chalega. Kuchh badee problem nahin hai. Bas mujhe thodee kamzori lag rahi thi aur chakkar aa rahe the. Aur Dadi Ma mujhe kapde aur gahne chunne ke liye bula rahi thi. Ye sab mujhe waise bhi samajh mein nahin aata hai to main thoda ghabra gai thi,” she paused and then felt that she was getting worried for trivial reasons, “I am sorry. Main ekdum chhoti-chhoti baaton par ghabra jati hoon. Pata nahin, aap saamne nahin hote hain to mere saath aisa kyon ho jaata hai?”

“Nahin Geet. Ye chhoti baat nahin hai. Is halat mein tumhein itna stress nahin lena chahiye. Meri hi galti hai, mujhe Dadi Ma ko bata dena chahiye tha.”

Geet looked at Maan with fear in her eyes. She was scared of Dadi Ma’s reaction towards her pregnancy. While she knew about Dev’s fraud, she was still not aware of the baby. Would there be another obstacle for their wedding now?

Maan quickly assured her, “Ghabrao mat Geet. Main jaanta hoon ye sahi samay nahin hai unhein batane ka. Aur tareeke hain hamari problem ko solve karne ke. Taki tum stressed na ho. Main abhi dadi ma se baat karta hoon.”

Maan started leaving, but Geet clutched on to his hands, “Kya bolenge aap Dadi Ma ko?” She was still scared.

Maan smiled, “Main unhein yahin bula leta hoon. Tumhare saamne hi baat ho jayegi.”

Maan called Dadi Ma up. She was worried about Geet and he assured her that Geet was all right and if she was free, she could come to meet Geet right away.

Dadi Ma reached there in five minutes, “Geet beta, aap theek to hain na? Maan, kya hua tha inhein?”

Geet was not sure what to tell her; Maan replied instead, “Dadi Ma. Geet shaadi ki taiyariyon se thoda pareshaan ho gai thi aur ghabra gai thi. Aap to jaanti hain na ki Geet ek seedhi-saadi ladki hai. In gahnon-kapdon mein na to iski bahut dilchaspi hai aur na hi inki samajh. Isliye pareshaan ho gai thi. Aap aisa kyon nahin karti, aap aur Annie mil kar Geet ke liye kapde select kar dijiye. Mujhe yakeen hai Geet ko woh bahut pasand aayenge. Hai na Geet?”

Geet smiled with relief and nodded affirmatively.

“Bas itni si baat. Geet beta, hum to aapse select karne ko isliye kah rahe the ki hamein laga aap apni shaadi ke decisions khud lena chahengi. Lekin ismein itna pareshaan hone ki kya zaroorat hai. Chaliye, koi baat nahin. Aap ye sab hum par chhod dijiye. Hum ek achchhe stylist ko bulwa kar aapke liye sab kuchh select karwa lenge. Theek hai?”

“Jee Dadi Ma,” Geet replied.

“Aur Dadi Ma, mujhe lagta hai ki Geet shopping wagerah se thak bhi ja rahi hai. To jahan uski zaroorat na ho, wahan use shopping par mat le jaiye. Aap chahein to main aapke saath aa jaunga.”

Dadi Ma found his request odd and it showed on her face for a moment, but she decided not to make an issue out of it, “Theek hai baba. Aisa hi karenge. Jismein aap logon ki khushi ho. Ab sab theek hai?”

“Thank you Dadi Ma,” Maan and Geet said together and all of them laughed at this.

“Achchha, abhi hamein thoda kaam hai, hum aapse thodi der baad milte hain Geet. Tab tak aap aaraam kar lijiye,” Dadi left the room with this.

Maan sat beside Geet on the bed, “Ab to koi parehsaani nahin hai na Geet?”

“Jab aap aa jayen to mere paas koi pareshaani kaise rah sakti hai?”

“Ab samjhi Tum Maan Singh Khurana ke jaadu ko,” Maan teased her.

“Haan, haan. Bade aaye jadugar. Abhi thodee der mein Dadi Ma aur Anvesha ko aadhe ghante waala farmaan yaad aa jayega. Phir dekhti hoon kaun sa jaadu chalate hain aap unke oopar?”

“Badi dikaat ho rahi hai tumhein mere saath na rah kar?” Maan continued in her playful mood.

“Aapko nahin ho rahi hai?” Geet became emotional.

Maan reciprocated her feelings, “Bahut ho rahi hai Geet. Isliye to ye laaya tha,” he took out a cell phone from his pocket and kept it in her hand.

“Ye kyon?” Geet blurted without thinking.

“Geet! Ab mujhe tumhein ye bhi batana padega ki mobile phone kis liye rakhte hain?”

“Nahin. Woh…” she realized that her question had been stupid.

Maan smiled again looking lovingly at his goofy, confused sweetheart, “Geet. Jab bhi meri yaad sataye aur mauka mile, mujhe phone kar lena. Kam se kam tumhari aawaaz to sun sakoonga. Aur agar mauka na mile to ek message hi bhej dena. To pata chal jayega ki tum theek ho.”

Geet smiled and kept the phone on the side-table.

“Ab aap jaiye. Kahin Dadi Ma ya Anvesha ko bura na lag jaye.”

“Geet. Jab unhein bura lagega woh mujhe jaane ko khud hi kah dengi. Tab tak main kahin nahin ja raha, samjhi tum?”

Geet looked at him with adoration. He had been her saviour yet again! She came forward and hugged him to express her love, gratitude and respect. He hugged her back feeling content and happy to have her.

 

Sazaa

Posted Mish10 CommentsPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

 

Note on the OS

This was written after Indian Paints incident, when Geet realizes that Maan was never at fault and he had never bailed Dev or Naintara out. In the show she tells him that she knows how he never supported Dev and Naintara, accepts her mistake and tells him that it was so huge that she can not be forgiven. He should punish her for her mistake. This scene happens after that.

—

She waited for everyone to leave his cabin after the meeting. She was aware of Shasha’s envious and taunting eyes on her. She knew the reason. Maan had declared the meeting to be over, but Geet wasn’t moving. Everyone else had to. But she had long back learned to give a damn to Shasha.

She turned to him once they were alone. He was still sitting on his chair, pretending to be looking in to some file.

“Aapne mujhe bataya nahin.”

He turned to look at her, “Maine tumhein kya nahin bataya, Geet?”

“Ki aapne mujhe maaf kiya ya nahin?”

He did not reply; instead kept staring at her until she could take it no more and turned away. She waited for a few seconds; but disappointment clouded her eyes and she began to leave.

Only to feel the now so familiar pull on her arms. He had come behind her while she was waiting with her face away from him.

“Kahan ja rahi ho Geet. Tumne hi to kaha tha na ki tumhein maafi nahin mil sakti hai,”

She was on the verge of crying, “Pata hai. Aapka jawaab mil gaya – isliye to ja rahi hoon.”

“Apni sazaa liye bina maidaan chood kar bhaag rahi ho,” he had come right behind her and was holding her at her shoulders while speaking in his heavy, seductive voice.

“Kya sazaa dena chahte hain aap?”

He turned her around so that they were facing each other. He now had a mischievous smile on his face, which she did not notice because her eyes were downcast.

“Himmat hai sazaa lene ki, Geet?”

“Main kissie bhi saza ke liye taiyaar …” her voice drowned as she looked up at him and noticed his mischievous mood.

She realized which direction this conversation was going in and lowered her eyes again.

He ran his finger along the loose strand of her hair and tucked it behind her ear.

“Mujhse kissi aasaan sazaa ki ummed mat rakhna Geet. Tumhein pata hai na ki main kitna strict hoon.”

He started untying her hair and with the loosening of each strand he gave her some details of her punishement.

“Poori zindagi bhugatni padegi ye sazaa. Maut bhi chhutkara nahin dila sakegi is sazaa se.”

“Roz ek dusht danav ke tewar sahne padenge.”

“Dus sar waale Ravan ki zyadatiyan sahni padengi.”

“Mere dil mein umra-quaid milegi Geet.”

“Tumhari himmat ka test bhi dena padega.”

“Meri dulhan ban kar mere ghar aana padega.”

He had finished untying her hair. He went behind her and moved her hair to one side. He kissed her neck. She gasped and closed her eyes.

“Mujhse shaadi karni padegi. Manzoor hai sazaa?”

He turned her around as she opened her eyes and looked at him.

“Bolo Geet. Dar to nahin gayi?”

She lowered her eyes again as a shy smile formed on her lips. She hid her face in his chest and whispered, “Is sazaa ke liye to main baar-baar jaan boojh kar galtiyan karoongi.”

“Achchha – tumhein to bilkul bhi dar nahin lag raha hai Geet. Lagta hai tumhein sazaa ki jhalak dikhani padegi.”

She felt his hands roam up on her back and she realized that he was untying the dori of her kurti. Both of them seemed to have forgotten that they were in the office.

But they came out of their trance when they heard a knock. They quickly disengaged themselves as Maan asked the ‘intruder’ to come-in, putting up as straight a face as possible.

Shasha walked in and got disoriented with jealousy for a moment as Geet’s open hair gave away a hint of the intimate moment she had just shared with Maan.

She recovered and addressed Maan, “MK. Ms. Pindi Queen ke project ke baare mein discuss karna tha. Hum apna final proposal unhein bhejne waale hain, to agar aap ek baar sab check kar lete. Ye hai file…”

“Shasha – fifteen minutes mein hum conference room mein milte hain. Jin bhi logon ne proposal par kaam kiya hai, un sab ko bula lo. Main sabke saath hi dekh loonga.”

“Lekin MK, maine sab ke inputs le liye hain, sabki zaroorat nahin hai. Main abhi aapko…”

“Shasha! Jaisa maine kaha hai waisa karo. Mujhe sab log fifteen minutes mein conference room mein chaaahiye.”

Shasha reluctantly had to leave them alone again.

Geet had somehow managed to keep her composure till then. Now, she got all shy and nervous and said, “Main jati hoon,” only to be stopped again by the pull on her arms.

Maan came close to her, planted a kiss on her bare back, forcing her to close her eyes again as she struggled to keep her reaction to his kiss in check.

Then he retied her dori and covered her back with her hair, “Geet, tum sirf meri ho. Ye tumhari sazaa ka hi hissa hai. Bhoolna mat.”

Geet ran out to go to her cabin to catch her breath. She also had to be in the conference room in fifteen minutes as she was looking after the arrangements of the launch party for Pindi Queen.

—

Maan did not bother her for the rest of the day. Both of them were busy at work and it was 8 pm when Maan realized how late it was. He instinctively looked at Geet’s cabin and got surprised to see her working this late.

He barged in, “Geet, ab kaam karna band karo aur chalo mere saath. Main tumhein ghar drop kar doonga.”

“Aap chale jaiye Sir. Main bas 15-20 minutes mein nikal jaungi.”

“Geet. Tumhein khud ko over-exert nahin karna chahiye. Baaki ka kaam kal ho jayega. Abhi chalo yahan se.”

“Nahin, main abhi saari details finalize kar ke bhej doongi, warna event management waale kahenge ki unhein sufficient notice nahin mili taiyaariyon ke liye.”

“Theek hai. Main tumhari madad karta hoon.”

“Nahin. Main kar loongi.”

Her reply saddened Maan. He assumed that she refused his help because of their challenge.

“Geet. Kya hum us bekaar ke challenge ko bhool nahin sakte? Mujhe pata hai Geet ki tum sab kuchh khud kar sakti ho. Lekin tumhara apni sehat ka khayal rakhna bhi to zaroori hai. Agar tumhein challenge karne ki meri ek bachkani harqat ki wajah se tumhein koi bhi parehsaani hui to main apne aap ko maaf nahin kar sakoonga.”

Geet’s refusal to take his help had come from her habit of last few days of saying “no” to every offer of help from him. She was no longer really thinking about the challenge. So, she felt bad as she realized that she had ended up hurting him with her careless response.

“Aap please shaant ho jaiye. Main kissi challenge ke baare mein nahin soch rahi thi. Maine bas yun hi kah diya kyonki mujhe laga ki aap apna kaam kar ke thak gaye honge. Abhi bas decor aur khane ka menu final karna bacha hai. Aap decor ka proposal dekh lijiye. Agar kuchh change karna ho to kar dijiye. Main tab tak menu dekh leti hoon.”

Maan could not help but feel amused and smile at the deft way in which she was ordering him around. Was she the same clumsy girl, who used to falter at every step just couple of months back? He wondered.

Together they finished the work in ten minutes and sent the details by e-mail to their contact person at the event management firm.

—

Maan desperately tried to think of a way to spend more time with her, when Geet was getting out of the car at Meera’s place. Suddenly he said, “Ruko Geet. Main bhi tumhare saath aata hoon. Meera se mil loonga.”

Geet was suprised – since when did Maan become so sociable! His face gave away that meeting Meera is only an alibi, but Geet decided not to embarrass him. She wanted it as much as he did.

Upstairs, they found the apartment door locked. Meera wasn’t home. Geet opened the door with her keys and invited Maan in. She found a note on the table that said that Meera had to go out of the city for a couple of days. She had tried calling Geet up at the office number, but nobody picked it up. Geet figured that it must have been while she was in the meeting for Pindi Queen’s project.

Maan was smiling mischievously as Geet was telling him all this. She was facing away from him. As soon as she turned back he put up a serious face, “Geet! Mujhe coffee peene ka man ho raha hai.”

Geet smiled innocently and went to the kitchen, “Main abhi bana kar laati hoon.”

She felt Maan standing behind her while she was stirring the coffee with sugar. She froze, as Maan touched her at shoulders.

“Geet – tumhein pata hai coffee thode sugar ke saath achchhi kyon lagti hai. Woh thodi kadwi hoti hai aur thodi meethi. Bilkul tumhari tarah.”

Geet suddenly broke free from his hold, turned back to face him and made a cutely irritated face, “Main kadwi hoon?”

“Mujhe to lagta hai. Ruko taste kar ke confirm karta hoon,” Maan moved towards her with a slight mischievous smile on his lips.

Geet fumbled, “Aapki coffee ban gai hai, le lijiye,” and she tried to go away from there, but Maan stopped her and pulled her close to him. He enveloped her in one arm while with the other tucked her hair behind her ear, “Geet. Tum mujhse door nahin ja sakti – chaho tab bhi nahin. Ye bhi tumhari sazaa ka hisaa hai. Yaad rakhna.”

He took out her ear-ring with his free hand and then moved behind her, not letting his other hand off her. As he moved behind, his hand moved to her front, caressing her body between the shoulders.

He moved her hair to one side. He first licked her earlobe and then bit it lightly. If there was even a shred of resistance left in Geet, it went away at that instant. His hand caressed her soft hair and then wandered through it to find her other ear. He took off her other ear ring as well, putting both of them on the kitchen top.

He untied the dori of her kurti and unzipped the kurti slightly. It was enough to allow him to slide the kurti off her shoulder and he planted a kiss on her bare shoulder. He stole a quick glance at her face to see her reaction. Her eyes were closed and what he saw on her face encouraged him to continue. He started kissing her shoulder, moving up towards her neck as she tilted her head on the other side to give him access. His hands moved about on her bare neck, nape, shoulder and front, while his kisses became more passionate and urgent.

Geet’s breathing became shallow and heavy. She kept her eyes closed throughout as if she was afraid that it was a dream that would break if she opened her eyes. She, then, felt him lifting her. There was no question of resisting; instead she held him tight around his neck and hid her face in his shoulder.

He took her to her room and placed her gently on her bed. He lied down beside her and caressed her face, as her hand moved towards him to loosen his tie.

—

She managed to loosen his tie, but her hands were a bit too unsteady for his shirt buttons. Maan stopped her by taking her hands in his. He caressed her fingers hard with his hand, kissed them and then started nibbling at her index finger. He gave attention to her other fingers as well practically chewing on them. As soon as he left her hand, she turned away from him, lying on her side – all shy, embarrassed and at the same time excited.

As he looked at her half naked, vulnerable form, he realized that he been desiring her for so long and he lost the last iota of control he had. He quickly helped himself out of his clothes and pounced on her. Practically tearing her clothes off her body, he started exploring her entire body with his hands and mouth. He did not realize how rough he was being. While on the one hand Geet’s body was enjoying his attention, his intensity was also bewildering her. She was confused about how to react; so she decided to trust him with her well-being.

However, when he entered her, despite being aroused, she could not deal with his roughness and let out a slight cry. She immediately bit her lips and hoped that he had not noticed, but he had. It suddenly brought him back to his senses.

“Geet – tumhein dard ho raha hai?”

She became too embarrassed, “Nahin. Main theek hoon.”

“Geet – tum…,” he started saying and then stopped. He wanted to tell her that she should be vocal about her discomfort. However, he realized that his lady love might be a lioness outside, but she was inexperienced. It wouldn’t be easy for her to speak her mind out in bed. He mentally rebuked himself for being so insensitive. She was too young at 18 and her body would be especially tender with her pregnancy.

He withdrew and planted a passionate kiss on her lips to help her forget her embarrassment and confusion, before he proceeded with a tender and caring love-making session to mark their union.

Regaining Trust (Part 34)

Posted Mish31 CommentsPosted in Ashni (KTLK), Fan Fiction, Hinglish

“Dr. Nidhi. Aapne ye mangwaya tha,” Radhika came to hand over a report to Nidhi.

“Haan. Thanks Radhika.”

“Dr. Nidhi…”

“Yes?”

“Aapko dhanyawaad dena tha. Hamein pata chala ki aapki wajah se hi hamein ye naukri mili hai… Aapne hi Dr. Ashutosh…”

“Iski koi zaroorat nahin hai Radhika. Unhein kissi na kissi ko to kaam par rakhna hi tha. Tumhein rakh liya. Ismein kaun si badee baat hai…”

“Aapke liye nahin hai. Lekin mere liye…”

Suddenly Radhika covered her mouth and looked like she was about to puke. She ran away from there. Worried, Nidhi also went after her.

“Tum theek ho?” Nidhi asked after she had relieved herself.

“Ji.”

“Tabiyat kharaab ho to chhutti le lo.”

“Nahin. Nahin. Ye to bas aise hi…”

“Radhika. Tum jab se aayi ho, tabhi se mujhe lag raha hai ki tumhari tabiyat theek nahin hai. Mujhe check up karne do. Tum yahan kaam karti ho. Paison ki chinta karne ki zaroorat nahin hai.”

“Nahin Dr. Nidhi. Hamein pata hai na…”

“Tum check up kyon nahin karwana chahti?”

“Hum bilkul theek hain,” Radhika tried to evade her and made to go.

“Ek minute,” Nidhi stopped her and held her wrist without waiting for her permission. She looked at her watch and made a rough estimate of her pulse rate. “Tum pregnant ho kya?” The wide-eyed, expressionless stare from Radhika made Nidhi think that she did not understand her question. “Tum pet se ho?” she repeated in Hindi.

“Hum jaante hain aap kya kah rahi hain? Lekin Dr. Nidhi. Bhagwaan ke liye aap kissi ko batayen nahin. Hamare liye bahut mushkil ho jayegi…”

“Ye kya bewkoofi hai?” Nidhi didn’t have patience to put up with her careless behaviour now, “Kissi ko bataogi nahin to… Apne bachche ko maarne ka iraada hai kya? Tum x-ray unit mein kaam kar rahi ho. Ye khatarnaak hai…”

“Nahin. Nahin. Dr. Nidhi. Aisa kaise ho sakta hai? X-Ray to karte hain na bachchon ka. Hamare gaon mein woh pata laga lete the ki ladka hai ya ladki.”

“Oh God! Woh ultrasound hota hai Radhika. Illegal hai, lekin x-ray nahin. Tumne hamein bataya kyon nahin pahle? Aur tumhare ghar waale? Woh tumhein is haalat mein at all kaam karne hi kyon de rahe hain? Kissi ko is bachche ki parwaah nahin hai kya?” Nidhi’s bitterness about irresponsible parents was at the fore again.

Radhika got tears in her eyes, “Aisa mat kahiye Dr. Nidhi. Apne bachche ke liye hi to hum zinda hain… ye sab kar rahe hain… Lekin kissi ko pata lag gaya to…”

“Tum logon ko batane mein itna kyon ghabra rahi ho? Ismein sharm mahsoos karne ki kya baat hai?” Nidhi calmed down a bit seeing her tears. But Radhika did not reply and started cyring openly.

“Kya hua Radhika? Bataogi nahin to koi solution kaise milega? Tumhein ghar mein koi support nahin kar sakta tumhein?”

“Ghar waalon se hi bacha kar to ise yahan laaye hain hum.”

“Kya matlab?”

“Unki izzat jaati hai is bachche ko duniya mein laane mein.”

“Lekin kyon? Aur tum bhi aise behave kar rahi ho jaise… Radhika… Kya kissi ne tumhare saath zabardasti ki thi? Rape hua tha kya tumhara.”

She shook her head.

“Phir is bachche ka baap kaun hai?”

“Mar gaya woh ise aur hamein bachane ke liye,” Radhika sobbed.

Nidhi supported her and found a place to make her sit.

“Shaant ho jao. Tum is bachche ke liye sab kar rahi ho na. Agar aise pareshaan rahogi to bachche par bura asar padega.”

That immediately had the desired effect on Radhika. She wiped her tears.

Nidhi prodded her to get more information out of her. Radhika had fallen in love with a boy in her village. He was college-educated and had a good job in the nearby town. But he belonged to a lower caste and her family could never accept it. As soon as she turned eighteen, they tried to get her married to someone from their caste. She was left with no option, but to run away with her lover. They escaped to the town he worked in, where his family had also migrated to, got married and had started settling into their new lives, when Radhika’s family contacted them. The told her that they had accepted their marriage and begged her to come back once. They were dying to meet her and their son-in-law. She was missing her childhood home and family and agreed readily. Neither she, nor her husband realized that it was a trap. The family was planning to kill them even before they reached the village. And they succeeded in killing her husband. But before dying, he managed to keep them at bay for long enough to allow her to escape. He made her promise that she would save their unborn child. She had known some of their attackers and had tried to plead with them for her unborn baby’s life hoping to save them all. But that did not arouse any sympathy in them. In fact, they became even more blood-thirsty for the “dogla”, she was carrying. So, she had to leave her dead husband behind and escape. She came to Lucknow. She remembered Dr. Ashutosh and Kotnis and came there for help.

“Tum apne sasural wapas kyon nahin gayi?”

“Unke bete ko hamare ghar waalon ne maar daala tha. Kya munh lekar jaate hum wahan? Aur hum wapas jaate to shayad unki jaan par bhi aafat ban aati.”

“Phir tumne Dr. Ashutosh ko apni pregnancy ke baare mein kyon nahin bataya? Kam-se-kam hum tumhare liye koi safe job dhoondhte.”

“Woh hamare baare mein kya sochte Dr. Nidhi? Ek akeli, garbhvati ladki ke charitra par kaun vishwaas karta hai? Hum ye khatra nahin utha sakte the. Unki madad hi hamara ek-matra raasta tha. Agar unhone hamein…”

“Dr. Ashutosh aise nahin hai Radhika. Lekin khair… Abhi mujhe nahin lagta ki tum kaam karne ki halat mein ho… Hum Gyneacology mein chalte hain. Tumhara checkup karwate hain. Kabhi check-up karwyaa hai tumne? Koi dawai wagerah le rahi ho?”

She shook her head. Nidhi sighed. She was doing all this for her child. And she was too naive and young to know how to protect her child.

“Mujhe bas das-pandrah minute lagenege wapas aane mein. Main ward ka kaam khatm kar loon. Aur x-ray mein bhi inform kar doon ki tum baaki ke din kaam nahin kar sakti. Phir tumhare saath chalti hoon. Tab tak yahin rahna. Theek hai?”

“Ji.”

—

Nidhi came back home late that day. There was a lot of work followed by an interns get-together. Ashutosh had come back earlier. When Nidhi entered the house, she saw him sitting with Siddhi and Rahul. He was teaching them some chess moves. The scene before her made her smile and she felt better despite her exhaustion. Ashutosh felt her gaze on him after a few moments. He looked up from the chess board and raised his eyebrows in a silent question asking what happened. Nidhi shook her head smiling and sat down beside him on the sofa. Siddhi and Rahul were engrossed in understanding the chess position and did not say anything.

“Khane mein kya bana hai?” Nidhi asked after Ashutosh had finished explaining the position to Siddhi and Rahul and asked them to play a game on their own.

“Tum kha kar nahin aayi?”

“Nahin. Maine socha ghar par hi kha loon.”

“Hiraman Kaka ki tabiyat kharaab thi. To maine unhein cook karne se mana kar diya. Khaana order kar diya hai. Aata hoga thodee der mein.”

“Hmm…”

“Bahut thak gayi ho?”

“Haan.”

“Haath-munh dho lo.”

“Ji,” Nidhi said and got up.

When she came back, Siddhi and Rahul were still engrossed with chess. She saw Ashutosh bringing two cups of tea and putting them on the dining table. The dining table was slightly far from where Rahul and Siddhi were sitting. Ashutosh indicated to her to come there.

“Aapne banayi chai?” she asked sounding a little surprised.

“Aata hai mujhe,” Ashutosh replied with fake coldness.

“I know. Aapko sab kuchh aata hai. Thanks for the tea.”

“You are welcome,” he smiled.

“Dr. Ashutosh!” Nidhi said while sipping the tea.

“Hmm?”

“I think Hiraman Kaka ki ab umar ho gayi hai. Hamein kitchen ke kaam ke liye kissi aur ko rakh lena chahiye.”

“Nidhi. Ab main unhein aise nikaal to nahin sakta? Itne saalon se…”

“Nikaalne ki baat kaun kar raha hai. Hum unke saath kissi aur ko rakh sakte hain. Unhein bhi thoda aaraam mil jayega.”

“Ah! Okay. Good idea! Dhoondhna padega koi…”

“Mujhe pata hai kise rakhna hai…”

“Okay. Baat kar lo phir tum…”

“Dr. Ashutosh…” Nidhi suddenly interrupted.

“Yes?”

“I think… I want a baby…” she spoke hesitatingly.

Ashutosh looked around sheepishly as if he was likely to be caught doing something inappropriate. “Now?” he asked looking genuinely embarrassed.

“Dr. Ashutosh,” she hit him in mock anger and he chuckled.

“Hansna band kijiye,” she whined.

“Okay. Okay Baba. Lekin ye nek khayaal suddenly tumhein kaise aaya?”

“Aap mera mazaak udaana band karenge, to main kuchh bataungi.”

“Nidhi,” he pressed her hand, “Tum achchhi tarah se jaanti ho ki agar tum serious ho to mujhse zyada khush aur koi nahin hoga. Lekin mere liye ye ensure karna zaroori hai ki tum itna bada faisla kissi frivolous reason se nahin badal rahi ho.”

“Dr. Ashutosh. Mujhe mahsoos hua ki main irresponsible aur incompetent parents ko kuchh zyada hi ahmiyat de rahi thi apni life ke faislon mein. Aur un parents ki or nahin dekh rahi thi jo ki apne bachchon ko bahut pyaar se paalte hain, unke liye kissi bhi had tak ja sakte hain.”

“Jaise?”

“Aap.”

“Nidhi!”

“Rahul itna chhota tha, jab aapne akele uski responsibility uthayi. Itne chhote bachche ko bina Ma ke paalna aasaan to nahin ho sakta. Lekin… Look at him…” she looked at Rahul fondly, “Uske saath paanch minute baith kar hi kissi ko bhi pata chal jaayega ki uski parvarish kitne achchhe se hui hai. Preeti ki Mom bhi kah rahi thi…”

“Nidhi. Apni taareef sunna mujhe bahut achchha lag raha hai. Lekin tum mujhse aur Rahul se aaj hi pahli baar to nahin mili ho? Kuchh aur hua hai, right? Batao mujhe.”

She sighed, “Aaj Radhika aayi thi ward mein.”

“Okay?”

“Dr. Ashutosh. Uske parivaar waale gaon se bhaag kar nahin aaye hain. Woh unse bhaag kar aayi hai. Akeli. Apne bachche ko bachane ke liye.”

“Bachcha?” Ashutosh was surprised.

“She is pregnant.” Then she went on to tell Ashutosh her entire story.

“Oh my God!” Ashutosh exclaimed when she finished, “Nidhi. Use x-ray unit mein kaam nahin karna chahiye. Oh! I see… Tum use hi ghar par rakhna chahti ho, right? Kitchen ke kaam ke liye.”

Nidhi grinned foolishly.

“Nidhi. Mujhe bahut khushi hogi tumhare is faisle se. Lekin main abhi ise final nahin maan raha. Ek to main chahta hoon ki tum thandhe dimaag se soch-samajh lo. Doosra this is too early for you. Abhi tumhari internship khatam hogi. Tumhein PG karna hai. Specialize karna hai…”

“Lekin woh sab karne mein to bahut der ho jayegi…” Nidhi looked agitated.

“Are. Abhi kal tak to tumhein bachche chahiye hi nahin the. Aur ab itni jaldbaazi…”

“Jaldbaazi mujhe nahin hai…” she retorted, but stopped and bit her lips.

“To mujhe hai?”

“Nahin hai?” she asked innocently.

Ashutosh laughed out so loud that it drew the attention of Rahul and Siddhi too. “Kya hua?” they asked in chorus.

“Kuchh nahin. Tum log continue karo.”

Rahul was still distracted and wanted to know more, but Siddhi shrugged and pulled him back to the game.

“Dr. Nidhi Verma,” Ashutosh addressed her a low, amused voice, “And I am emphasizing on the ‘doctor’ here. Biologically men have a little more leeway in terms of time. So, don’t worry. We have a few years to do this. Agle five year plan mein bhi chalega.”

Nidhi rolled her eyes faking anger at his joke, but finally smiled.

—

6 years later…

Dr. Nidhi Verma, now a pediatric surgeon, opened her eyes on the hospital bed to see her husband, Dr. Ashutosh Mathur, gently swiinging a baby’s crib near her bed.

“Dr. Ashutosh…” she called him in a weak voice. His eyes shone as he looked at her. He sat down beside her, the crib still within the reach of his other hand, and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Congratulations Nidhi,” he smiled.

“Baby?”

“Baby ko tumhein doonga to mujhe kya milega?” he said with a playful smile on his lips.

“Ab aap abhi bhi mujhe chidhayenge?”

“Hamare ek darzan bachche bhi ho jayen, to bhi main tumhein chidhaunga.”

“Please!”

“Chalo. Is baar tum sasti chhoti. Kyonki my little girl was really, really waiting for her Mommy to wake up.” Ashutosh picked the baby up from the crib and handed it carefully to Nidhi. Nidhi held the baby apprehensively. It was sleeping peacefully.

Nidhi smiled nervously, “Mujhe bahut dar lag raha hai.”

“Pagal ladki. Darne ka time to chala gaya. Ab to sirf maze karne ka time hai,” he patted her head assuringly, and sat down beside her. “You will be a great mother Nidhi. Trust me.”

Nidhi rested her head on Ashutosh shoulder, while pulling the baby close to her heart.

“Di!” Siddhi barged into the room just then, Rahul following her closely, “Tumhein hosh aa gaya. Tum theek ho?”

“Itna parehsaan kyon ho rahi hai? Operation hona tha ye to pahle se hi pata hi tha.”

“Haan. Lekin…”

“Siddhi bahut dari hui thi,” Ashutosh told Nidhi.

“Pagal. Main bilkul theek hoon.”

“Can I hold her, Di?” Siddhi asked about the baby.

“Pahle main,” Rahul interrupted.

“Bilkul nahin. Tum chhote ho,” Siddhi wasn’t letting him have his way that easily.

“Agar tum ise pahle logi to iska naam main rakhoonga,” Rahul was ready with the bargain.

“Are. Naam kab soch liye aapne Rahul?” Ashutosh asked, “Nidhi se to poochh lo ki pasand hai ya nahin.”

“Rahul ki aur meri baat ho chuki hai Dr. Ashutosh. Iska naam Rahul hi rakhega,” Nidhi interrupted, then handed the baby to Siddhi, “Le Siddhi. Aur sambhaal kar.”

“Thank you, Nidhi Auntie,” Rahul pretended to pull up his collar in pride, while Siddhi picked up the baby carefully.

“Di. Kitni khoobsoorat hai. Ye bhi actress banegi.”

“‘Ye bhi’ ka kya matlab hai? Tu kab ban gayi actress? Pahle padhai khatam kar apni.”

“Tum bahut boring ho Di. Tumhara wash chale to ise bhi apni hi tarah night-duties mein laga do har roz.”

“Nidhi Auntie boring nahin hai,” fourteen year old Rahul was still childishly protective towards Nidhi.

“Nahin Rahul. Tumhari Nidhi Auntie mein kuchh bhi gadbad kaise ho sakta hai?” Siddhi teased him. While Rahul glared at her, everyone laughed.

“Are Di. Main bhool gayi. Radhika ne tumhare liye ye kuchh ghee ka halwa bheja hai. Aur koi totka bhi hai. Supposedly buri nazar se bachane ke liye.”

“Radhika aur uske totke!” Nidhi shook her head with a smile, “Lekin chal. Baby ko chhua de, warna use bura lag jayega. Ab Rahul naam to bata do iska. Kab tak baby kah ke bulate rahenge?”

“Anushree!” Rahul said excitedly, “Ismein A, N, S aur R sab aate hain. Ashutosh, Nidhi, Siddhi aur Rahul.”

“Wow!” Siddhi exclaimed.

“Anushree,” Nidhi and Ashutosh repeated with a smile.

– The End –

P. S. Everyone who has read the story, even if you have not commented till now, please do so on this update and let me know that you have been reading 🙂 I know from the traffic numbers that far more people are reading than are commenting. That is fine! But would be nice to know once in a while 🙂 And what better time than the conclusion of a long story?

Regaining Trust (Part 33)

Posted Mish2 CommentsPosted in Ashni (KTLK), Fan Fiction, Hinglish

“Ab batao,” he said after they settled down with their juice glasses. While he had gone to fetch the juice, Nidhi had been thinking hard about what to tell him. But she could not make up her mind.

“Aap to mujhe interrogate karne lage,” she said.

“Aur main bahut achchha interrogator hoon. You can’t distract me!”

“Baat kuchh bhi nahin hai Dr. Ashutosh… well… aap challenge jeet gaye… Lekin main aapko aapke naam se nahin bula sakti…”

“Koi baat nahin. Main dubara challenge le sakta hoon. Aur zindagi bhar leta rah sakta hoon. I loved winning the challenge the way I did it,” he smiled meaninfully.

“You did?”

“Ummhmm. You didn’t?”

Nidhi gulped.

“We are talking like friends Nidhi. Please talk to me.”

“I… I just am not sure of how I behaved.”

“How did you behave?”

He only got a harder gulp and downcast eyes in reply. A small frown appeared on his forehead as he tried to think what was bothering her. And then it dawned upon him.

“Hmm… So, you are worried that you lost the challenge…”

“Nooo…”

“That you could not resist me and were tempted to the point of desperation…”

“Desperation…” she repeated the word in a small voice.

Ashutosh grinned, “You surprise me Dr. Nidhi Verma. You are a doctor and such a competent one. And you really think there is something wrong about being sexual?”

Nidhi gulped hard again. When he put it that way and spoke so rationally, her worries did seem ridiculous. Till now she was worried, even ashamed, about having behaved rather ungracefully and desperately under the influence of her hormones.

“You just know how to put things the right way.”

“Nidhi. You better start seeing things the right way. Because you have no idea how desperate I am to push all the boundaries with you.”

She blushed hard. Ashutosh took her juice glass from her and kept both their glasses on the side table. Then he turned back towards her, put his arms around and pulled her close to him. “Pagal ladki,” he mumbled, “But I love even your madness.”

She rested her head on his chest. “I love you.” There was some moisture in her eyes. But she blinked them back. They were the tears of happiness, but she did not want to worry him any further.

“Nidhi,” he spoke after a while.

“Hmm?”

“Shaadi kar lete hain?”

“Abhi?” That was sudden and Nidhi was surprised.

“Nahin,” he laughed, “Ek-aadh hafte mein.”

“Aise achanak?”

“Hospital mein sabko pata hi hai. Main to uski wajah se hi tumhari internship khatam hone tak rukna chahta tha. Lekin ab koi wajah nahin hai. Agar tumhein aitraaz na ho to…”

“Mujhe kyon aitraaz hoga? Aapko lagta hai ki main English movies waali dating kar rahi hoon itne dinon se?” she quipped drawing a laughter from him.

—

2 months later (Nidhi and Ashutosh are happily married)

“Suniye,” Nidhi was interrupted just after she had signed in the register at the reception and was making her way into the ward. Ashutosh had come to the hospital early in the morning to attend a complicated surgery.

“Yes?” she turned around to see a young girl, barely eighteen or nineteen, standing there. She looked pale, tired and almost sick.

“Dr. Ashutosh Mathur yahan kaam karte hain?” the girl asked in a strong Avadhi accent.

“Ji. Aap kaun?”

“Hamein unse milna hai. Bahut zaroori hai.”

“Woh to abhi surgery mein honge. Aapka naam?”

“Radhika.”

“Radhika Ji. Aap… Are… Kya hua?” Nidhi held her as she stumbled. She did not faint, but it was clear that she was unwell, “Aapki tabiyat kharaab hai? Main…”

“Nahin. Hum theek hain. Hamein bas Dr. Ashutosh se milna hai.”

“Dekhiye. Unhein der ho jayegi aane mein. Tab tak koi aur aapka check-up kar dega…”

“Madam. Hum bilkul theek hain. Bas thoda paani mil sakta hai kya?”

“Ek minute. Aap baithiye yahan,” Nidhi escorted her to a nearby bench and made her sit down. Then she asked a wardboy to get a glass of glucose water. She offered it to Radhika and it made her look visibly better.

“Bahut bahut dhanyawaad.”

“Aap kahan se aayi hai?”

“Hamara gaon yahan se thoda door hai…”

“Dr. Ashutosh ko kaise jaanti hain aap?”

“Ji. Ek chikitsa-shivir laga tha hamare gaon mein, koi teen saal pahle. Logon ka muft mein ilaaj ho raha tha.”

It took Nidhi a moment to realize that she was using the Hindi word for medical camp.

“Radhika Ji. Yahan par kai achchhe doctors hain. Aapko Dr. Ashutosh ka intezaar karne ki zaroorat nahin, apna check up karwane ke liye. Agar paison ki chinta hai to…”

“Nahin. Nahin. Hum apna ilaaj karwane nahin aaye hain. Hamein kuchh aur kaam hai.”

Nidhi was getting impatient and thought of letting the girl know that she was his wife and she could tell her whatever she wanted to tell Ashuotsh. But she controlled her impatience. That was one thing she had been trying to do these days to keep Ashutosh happy. Not that he ever said anything to her, but it definitely bothered him if she didn’t treat people with some patience.

“Theek hai. Main Dr. Ashutosh ke liye message chhod deti hoon. Woh jaise hi free honge, aapse mil lenge. Tab tak agar aapko koi problem ho to reception par kissi se bhi kahiyega ki Dr. Nidhi Verma ko bula dein. Ye mera naam hai. Theek hai?”

“Ji. Bahut-bahut dhanyawaad. Hum yahan intezaar karenge.”

—

Nidhi walked into Ashutosh’ cabin during a break and saw Radhika there. He had a frown on his face, as if trying to think very hard.

“Main baad mein aaun?” Nidhi asked.

“No. Come in Nidhi. Ye Radhika hain…”

“Main mil chuki hoon. Aapke alaawa kissi se checkup karwane ke liye taiyyar hi nahin ho rahi thi,” Nidhi gave a teasing smile to Ashutosh. But he remained serious.

“Radhika. Aap kahan ruki hain?” Ashutosh asked the girl.

“Ji. Ek dharmshaala hai…”

“Wahan koi phone hoga?”

“Phone to nahin hai Doctor sahab. Lekin aap hamein bata dijiye kab aana hai. Hum wapas aa kar aapse baat kar lenge.”

“Radhika. Main yahan ek doctor ki haisiyat se kaam karta hoon. Yahan aur logon ko kaam par rakhna mere haath mein nahin hai. Main aapko koi waada nahin kar sakta.”

Radhika looked disappointed, but didn’t give up.

“Hum ek-do din mein phir aayenge Doctor sahab,” she said and greeted him with folded hands before leaving.

“Kya hua?” she asked.

“Main iske gaon gaya tha kuchh saalon pahle. Hamare hospital ne free medical camps lagaye the kuchh gaon mein. Iske father mukhiya the gaon ke. Unke ghar par hi ruke the hum log. I remember her as a very lively and healthy child. Abhi bata rahi thi ki gaon mein kuchh problem hui hai aur iski family ko bhaagna pada. Yahan aa kar kuchh kaam dhoondh rahi hai. Strange turn of fate. Her family was very rich and strong in the village.”

“X-Ray unit mein kuchh vaccancies hain, I think. Abhi-abhi main wahan se aayi hoon. Woh log baat kar rahe the.”

“Par woh trained thode hi na hai?”

“Nahin. As far as I know technicians nahin chahiye unhein. More like helpers – bhaag-daud ka kaam karne waale log. Utna to kar legi.”

“Haan. Bata rahi thi ki Inter tak ki padhai bhi ki hai usne. Lekin… aise kissi ki sifarish…”

“It’s not a big deal Dr. Ashutosh. Koi aisi badee post thode hi na dilwa rahe hain usko, jo woh deserve nahin karti ho. Inter tak padhi hui hai, shayad over-qualified hi ho.”

“Hmm… Achchha. Suno. Dekho agar woh chali na gayi ho to rok lo. Abhi hi baat kar lete hain.”

“Main dekhti hoon.”

Nidhi found her on the bench, where she had made her sit earlier. Radhika hadn’t left and looked extremely dejected. As if this was her last hope. She brought her back. Ashutosh spoke to the hiring manager and she got the job.

—

To be continued

(P. S. Next part is really going to be the last part :D)