Bandhan – Part 30

Mumbai – Geet at last finished her train journey and landed in Mumbai. Whole path she had been haunted by thought of her Chote Thakur, but she knew even if she has done sin of hurting him but in any case she cannot let down his dream for her career.

Maan had been all silence, restless. He had been hurt by her words but they have not yet sink in within him. Sometimes words or acts sink within slowly but then, when they do, they set in deeply. At present all he knew was her childish act and he was more worried for her than his pain.

“ohh Geet’s Babaji, please help her land there safe and sound.“

He prayed with all his heart. He could have followed her or sent his men, but she has given him promise and she had wanted him to trust on her how could he break all and above all if she comes to know he had followed her she will drop her medical and he did not want to take risk. He could not bind her with his fear when this care was suffocating her.  She wanted to take on this world without him.

Geet’s counseling went well and she was selected. But then it was whole 1 month for her to get the hostel when college will start.

Where will she go? How will she manage all the things? Where to start? So badly she was missing her Chote Thakur. She was realizing how much pampered he have kept her, safe in his presence from all harshness and hardship of world. How badly she wished that he appear from somewhere and embrace her.

But then “Geet Jhalli, you are far from him for his good, how can you even think about yourself, how can you think to be selfish to him. His happiness is way above mine Babaji, I know“

She kept sitting at veranda of the college “per unse alag sab kuch kitna muskil lagta hai, zindagi kitni khali hai” she felt so helpless. “But one day I have to...” she shied

“hey” this broke her trance and she looked up to see a happy to go face smiling at her and his hand forwarded. Geet was not comfortable with such things. Actually all this was fine till her Chote Thakur was with her or behind her but now alone, she hesitated.

“Sorry, I don’t recognize you” “even I don’t. But I can say by your face that just like me, you too have got admission today.”

“Yeah” “I am samrat, your classmate from now on” he forwarded his hand. Geet hesitated for a while but the forwarded her hand “Geet“

But Samrat kept on talking as Geet spoke very less but by the end of an hour she felt comfortable with him.

“So, what have you planned to stay all day long on this college varanda?”

“You? ” “I will be going back home and will be back just before the week of college start“

 Geet gave him faint smile. How she never have to think anything about her stay till now but then she scolded herself – Stop thinking Geet.

“Geet where will you stay” asked Samrat to lost Geet. Geet closed her eyes and tears flowed down in straight thru her cheek

“Unhe bout bura laga hoga na. He will be Okey na” she blabbred as her mind was not getting off Maan however hard she was trying.

“Looks like some too personal issue” Samrat thought and decided not to interfere.

“Come, we can talk in college and senior and hope they will give you temporary room to share till you get your own room“

Geet looked at Samrat “Why are you doing all this for me?“

Samrat took a dramatic pose “Because, if you have not met one yet, I am a gentleman and I can’t see a beautiful girl like you struggling for place to live.“

With help of Samrat, Geet got a room to share with a senior.

In KM

********

“will she have counseling today or tomorrow?“

“where will she stay after her admission, will she come back after counselling?” so on and on worrying questions were going on in Maan’s mind.

“She has asked me not to go behind her so I can’t, I can’t break her trust“

“hope she manages everything well.”

*************

Weeks passed and Maan waited for Geet’s call but the call never came. First he was worried for her and then as days passed by his frustration of no contact made him irritated.

One month passed, he kept on calling her but the number was now disabled. No call from her side, no information. He was becoming a mad man, so restless. He was just deciding to break all promises to her. He had to, her safety was above all to him.

He came to office with determination to get ticket to Mumbai booked when his voicemail of office phone was flashing.

He pressed the button “I have settled well in collage. You should be free of all my worries from now on. I hope you will consider my request of not following me.” he had the biggest relief in this whole 1 month, uff she was safe but then the chillness in her voice, the no emotion just killed him.

He got his experts check the number and it was from the Phone booth and not from cell phone. Out of greed Maan tried to figure out the area in Mumbai from where the call was made and it was found that there was no medical college nearby.

It was clear, she in no case wanted him figure out where she was. Maan was working with all this process for two days and frustration just took him. It was unbearable to realize she has opted to finally go out of his life.

She has warned him she will destroy herself and her career if he follows her, his hands was tied. He cannot let her do that. It was simple his life was empty.

Everyone KM, servants or residents heard a loud roar from Maan’s room “NAHI-ii-iii-ii” and then breaking of the things.

Days, months, years passed by and slowly Maan started becoming a silent and silent person. The pain of her departure kept going inside him deep and deep, slowly and slowly.

Family members tried to make situation light for him, trying to divert him but as a year passed by this way and Maan becoming complete mechanical, for Kamini

It was hard, seeing her son become like a machine. He never complained. He has just immersing himself in the pool of work. Breakfast too was not sure he would do at home, in office or would skip. Kamini would cry and this was slowly breaking Rajendra too. He was loosing his son each day.

Maan slowly became man of very very few words. But his name was glowing as he worked worked and worked. The more the pain the more he would immersed. He had thought, one day she will be weak by heart and call him, he knew she loved him so much.

But the realization that this society and its rule overpowered her love pained him. He by now knew it was his family who instigated her but he never complained to them. He just took everything inside him with silence. What to complain and whom to complain, his parent’s wish, society and status were all above his love for her.

His complain was with himself or his love- was it not strong enough to break her against the society rule. Was her love not as strong to make her realize he needed her more than this society rules. She went with society rules and left his love. This was the pain eating him.

In his office, the change in Maan, his discipline, non forgiving mistake, working , anger everything made his employee work on their toes. No gossip was allowed nor dares anyone. His anger rises and he figure out ways to fire anyone.

At breakfast table one day, table was being set and Kamini saw Maan descending from the stairs in his formal business suit.

Kamini ran towards him, placed kala tika behing his ears “nazar na lage mere bete ko, hera hai mera beta.”

Maan closed his eyes in frustration of this act, these things meant nothing to him anymore but did not say a word. He dialed a number and was about to go in call when Kamini snatched the phone

“Mom, its my vendor. I need to“

“No, your work keeps on going. You have to have breakfast with all of us today.”

Not arguing he quietly sat down. He had just started his breakfast when Mohini, his chichi

“Maan puttar, at least you should meet daughter of my sister. You will like her I am sure. Beta she is beautiful, smart and knows how to adjust in family like ours.”

Maan stayed quiet for a while, then pushed his plate forward, got up and quietly left.

Kamini was so angry on Mohini. She somehow manages few moments with her son and someone or the other spoils it.

“Kyun pura parivar mere bete ke piche pada hai. I wanted few family moments for him, but No, everyone is ready with suggestions for him.”

Kamini got up from the breakfast table. Rajendra could see how much pain kamini was in. She had become silent like Maan and just like him, made sure she did all family duties.

Savitri Devi went to sooth Kamini. Rajendra and Savitri devi slowly slowly were realizing their fault.

On the other hand, other Family members did not like Maan’s attitude. He was becoming full of pride. And what was this anger about, sending that maid away.

Vicky, Maan’s brother just wanted to bring Geet from anywhere but Maan’s promise had stopped him while Mehak was angry on Geet for putting her brother in such condition.

Annie and Nadini felt Maan bahi was crazy to go mad after Geet. That girl who was made to run at their orders, how could Maan bahi think of making her their Bhabhi.

Dev was just busy his high status and his ultra modern model Girlfriend Naintara.

Bandhan – Part 31