Chapter 29: Talks

Annie turned and ran upstairs to her room. She was about to close her door when Maan stopped it from his leg.

“Bhai I am fine” she left the door and he moved in the room. Maan held Annie by her shoulder and made her sit on the sofa in her room.

“How can you be fine when you own brother has hurt you? I know I am your culprit, Dadima’s culprit. I know. I am everyone’s culprit”

But Annie could not see her Bhai in this guilty. “My Bhai is my pride. My Bhai is pride of Dadima. Your head can never bow down. Not to me, not to Dadima not to anyone. You are Maan Singh Khurana, a self-made man”

Maan kept looking at his little sister who was now talking like his elder one. ‘’I am wrong Annie and that is true. I have hurt my family. Per batata bhi toh kya. I got clarity and see at what cost?”

He sat down on his knees an held Annie’s hand in his  “Sorry bacha.. very very sorry. I will do whatever you wish”

Annie sat down on her knees near her brother “Then promise, you will not bow down in front of anyone this way. Not to anyone in any case. I can take anything but not my Bhai bowing down to anyone. You can love anyone, but do not bow down your head in guilt or for any reason to anyone.”

He sat on sofa and picked her up as well “Okay listen.. woo don’t be upset with her. It’s all my fault.”

“No Bhai. She is my friend, I will talk to her in my way.” Helplessness in Maan’s face could be seen

“You want to know everything”

“Yes Bhai, but from Geet. You lost your chance. Abb nahi sunna aapse kuch” she turned her face.

Maan for sure did not want Annie to listen Geet’s version, but she was true he has lost his chance

“Annie, she was a child then” Annie looked at her brother with suspect “Aisee bhi kya baat hai bahi? She was child then not now.”

“Okay fine. Let me check on her first. Woo abhi abhi hosh aaya hai na usse” Annie could see how her elder brother was a complete different Maan in terms of Geet. He was protective towards her too but this was different. She was surprised how these two were so indifferent for these many months

“Bhai, I am going to her. She is my friend whom I have loved even against your wish. You have to trust your sister, I will never hurt her or place her in stress. Please Bhai, itna haq toh hai mera”

Maan held her by her shoulder “You have all rights” Annie left. Maan could just pray, Geet does not take all blame on herself and tell Annie their childhood tale. How will Annie, who is so proud of her Bhai react knowing his childhood stories.

Annie was about to enter Geet’s room when Pari tried to stop her. But she was at fault too and Annie’s complaining eyes asked her to step back. Annie was wondering, what is this whole story, why are these two stopping her from meeting Geet.

Annie went inside and Geet tried to sit up “Stay laying” and she settled beside Geet

“How are you feeling now? We all were so worried.” “Fine. I am sorry Annie” “I won’t lie, I am very hurt with both of you Geet. I feel cheated with my friend and my brother. But not now. You have to get better soon.”

“It’s all my fault. I have been wrong all our life. Today too, he is sacrificing because of me.” Annie kept looking at Geet. What was this, what blame are both of these taking on their own head.

“What sacrifice?” “His engagement is broken due to my accident.” Now Annie was so confused. Here her Bhai seems madly lost in this girl and she is feeling guilty for his engagement.

“You guys are confusing me” she shook her head. “Anyways, I am simply hurt, you never showed me you even knew Bhai. And he did same.”

“Annie”

“We will talk later. Rest now, that’s most important. I will get something for you.” As Annie came out she saw her Bhai pacing in the hall. What was this matter after all?

Annie did not want to stress Geet after such big accident but she felt there was something that her brother is hiding from her.  First time in life she was getting compelled to know how was Bhai’s childhood. She didn’t want to pock nose in their heart thing, it was for them to solve. These were the people with whom her Bhai grew up. He seemed very open and free with Meera and Brij. He was so indifferent with Geet and suddenly she knows that Geet is his world.

Ranoo, Meera and Brij were in Geet’s room, pampering her. Geet resisted “I am fine Di”

Meera teased her “Your pamper master need rest too. Bears with our pampering for now” But Ranno looked lost

“Mumma, I am fine.”

“You will be fine. Maan is here with you” she held her chin “But I have to ask forgiveness from Savitri Devi. Jo kiya humne uske saath”

Meera held Ranno “Mumma do you think Maan will even let you ask forgiveness. He respects you and Dad a lot.”

“Kyun? I just want him to show his anger on us, for once. Maafi mangne bhi nahi deta yeh ladka” Bri Turned to Geet

“Geet you take rest.” Geet drowsed as her head was weak and hurting.

Maan was in his room, lost in his own thought. What will happen if truth of his childhood comes in front of Annie in a different way. He felt his act different way and was still struggling to be proved it, all he did was as a family members and not like a servant. But anyone who would listen to it in whole would take it otherwise. And if Annie takes it that way, she will do nothing but hate Geet. For Annie her brother’s high held head was of priority above anything else in this world.

But from childhood, though Maan has sportingly took people’s criticism as being Geet’s care taker but he himself always wanted to feel it as part of family work. He loved taking care of her. Okay she had rudely insulted him many times but he would always try to shrug of saying to himself.

“She is a child Maan. Aur tumhe hee toh sambhalna hai usse. This is family responsibility Uncle Aunty has given you. What’s the insult between family. This is your family”

He had thus been struggling to be accepted as own from Ranoo and Mohinder. Trying all while to be their favorite. Helping Ranoo in kitchen or reporting to Mohinder always and ready to complete assigned task with perfection. That urge was still inside Maan.

Normal people can question it has having no self-respect. But Maan’s situation was anything but normal. Becoming orphan, he got a family to live with, who would take care of his education. Slowly a deep urge to make this happy family, his own, grew.

Though later on Geet and his relation went on to different tangent all together. And what happened behind the closed door only he and Geet knows. He was hoping Geet to keep them to herself.

There were many things like these that were complex and playing on with Maan, his mind and his action, a man who seemed like a perfect and world winning type person from outside. For now, he can park those analyses. At present, handling Annie’s reaction, Geet’s confusion and explain Dadima was topping his list of priorities. Out of all these, Dadima seemed easies, then Geet and last was Annie, the toughest.

But as he reached down the hall, there was another list waiting to be added. He saw worried line on Aunty’s face. And that obviously became his priority

“Aunty” Maan uttered with as much softness as he can. Rano placed her hand on his one cheek

“Puttar, what have I done to get you in our life” He held her hand in his “Something is troubling you. I failed you with Geet.”

Ranoo looked at this boy who is now a man, still same with her “bas ker puttar. I do not deserve this much. We don’t deserve this much”

“Aunty come, let’s go to kitchen, our favorite talking space.” She shook her head “Chal”

Savitri Devi was on first floor, simply watching Maan interaction with Ranoo. They may be stranger or guest to her but for Maan they were family as much as she was.  He had his long years of struggle spent with them, so it was obvious for him to be more connected to them than her. Though she was his biological Dadi, he had come to her after he was grown up and capable of giving them good life.

She somehow had the idea that Maan did not have very easy life there, but if he considered them his own and family, she has no right to show she has more authority on him.

“Puttar, won’t your Dadi mind if I talk to her”

“Why will she mind Aunty. Kya baat kerni hai?”

“Nothing, just like that” Maan came forward and placed her hand on his head “Promise, you will not talk about past to her.”

“Son, I need to face what I have acted”

“And what have you done. Danta thodra bahut, kaun Maa nahi dantee. Am I not your own”

“What all Geet did with you”

“it was between her and me. She was and is my princess, can do anything with me.” Ranoo felt so helpless with Maan stopping her from speaking her conscious out.

“Aunty, I will talk to Dadima, but in my way. hmmm”

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

Maan was taking the soup to Geet. It had been so long he has checked on her. He needed some time to understand how things are going around. The world didn’t exist of just Geet and him. He has two families around to handle, both in different way.

Annie saw Maan taking soup in trolley to Geet’s room. Their eyes met, Maan gave faint smile to Annie, she gave back smile to her Bhai.

Maan could read the confusion on Annie’s face but for now he needed to check Geet.   

Maan opened the door and entered. Geet’s heart changed the speed of its beating seeing the person entering. It had just been from morning to evening that he was not with her and she felt that it was ages. Every time people came to visit her, her heart wished it was him. But then would be normal knowing it was her mother, siblings, Annie. She loved everyone, that was from childhood, but it was always true that she only yearned to be him in her proximity.

So as he entered and settled in be beside her placing the soup on the side table. Only his coming and sitting beside her, she had turned red, her hand mercilessly fighting with each other and her heartbeat, just don’t ask.

He took his hand on her face and cleaned it by pushing the curls behind, Ohhh these small touches of him filled with care was enough to sweep her feet in air, making her heart fly.

“How are you feeling now” he smiled and raised his eyebrows. She simply nodded to convey, she was fine. He fixed the tray in her bed and placed Soup bowl there for her. She had so many things going on in her heart and mind. She wanted to finish the soup fast so that it can be removed and he settles properly near her. As she started having her soup, he got up, her heart as if stopped

“You are” she was about to ask “I am here Geet. Have your soup and then we will talk” she felt relieved and finished the soup. But as she started sipping the soup, she had Déjà Vu of the days. How he had pampered her and how rude she had been, taken him for granted. What a heavy price to pay for her stupidity – 8 years of separation and currently not knowing her status in his heart.

Maan settled beside her and took her hands in his one and lifted her chin with other. She closed her eyes to absorb the feel. The thought and it slipped her lips “I am being selfish”

“Selfish? For what?” he knew her dilemma and here he was to clear them

“You” she accepted but soon realized what she was doing.

“I am sorry” “Abb yeh sorry kisliye”

“Your engagement broke because of my stupidity” Maan kept looking at her and then moved closer and placing a soft kiss on her cheeks, holding his lips there for little longer than needed. Geet was gone, completely gone. Her heart completely took U-turn from her and moved to him. He separated

“You still think that engagement was truly going to happen in any case” Tears dropped down Geet’s eyes

“But you had been proposing Pari Ma’am” he knew this has hit her but he wanted her to lighten rather than taking any further stress

“Now someone who has spent childhood with crazy like Geet Handa, effect of accompaniment is bound to happen” She laughed on his tease but stilled wondered, if he was telling truth or keeping her heart.

Then he pulled her hand closer to him, placing both his and her hand on his heart

“Truly sorry for all my stupidity. And don’t forgive me as I am not forgiving myself either” Geet kept looking at him, why is he sorry when all mistakes are hers, every single time from start to finish. No she will have to change her role once she is better. Taking pampering is beautiful, so why is she the one to always take it with him. Should she not step in his shoe and make him feel pampered and cared. She didn’t know if she has that big heart as him to give one sided pampering as he has been doing, she really doubted her capability knowing how selfish she has been all life with him. And first step of being not selfish was to find out reality between Pari and him.