Chapter 28: Clarity and Confusion

Maan has not yet got a single chance to spend time with Geet since she has come to sense.  Savitri Devi took Handa’s to KM. She had to talk to Maan but not now. But she was old lady, experienced enough to know where her grandson’s heart was. She was though bit hurt, he never talked about someone who means so much to him.

All have to leave as only one person can stay and all knew Maan is not going to move out. Savitri Devi first hesitated if they will let a young man stay with their daughter. Ranoo understood her concern

“No one can protect Geet above Maan. To say truth, I trust Geet most with Maan, more than me.” They left.

Maan turned to Geet, his heart beating fast. He was relishing the feel that she was saved and in sense in front of him. It was such narrow escape but she was here. How, his hanging life has come back to him.

Geet was simply looking at him. All she could remember was she got Annie’s call about his engagement and then everything was blank.

He sat and held her hand in his and pressed it. Moved forward and placed soft kiss on her forehead. Geet closed her eyes as thousands of sensation ran down her whole self. Actually his first kiss to her. Life’s moment for her. She had been always kissing him here and there; he had always maintained distance considering her age that time and his responsibility towards her.

“I know you are running with questions but for now just focus on resting. You have very narrow escape with life. Meri jaan nikal gayee thi” and he kept looking at her face, still absorbing she was alive, in front of him. Nightmare has actually gone.

It was then her dinner arrived. He took from nurse “I will take care; you may leave”. Geet was simply looking at him. He adjusted her bed and placed her food on bed table

“I don’t want to eat” she declared

“Whyyy?” he asked ever so softly, as if slightest of loud sound will trouble her

Geet looked at him, observing his care. Was it part of his responsibility or actually something she was dying to see.

“Veerji said you had nothing since 24 hours? Why?”

He held her hand in his “I will after you have something. Please. You had huge blood lose. Samjho na” The depth of care in his eyes, it was so contrasting with man who had declared he had proposed Pari so many times. She turned her face, not able to understand the change. He held her chin with his finger and softly turned her to him “Please” the request in his eyes was of her old Maan, who could go any length to please her for her own good.

“Why you did not have anything?” he shied “Kitni ziddi ho. OK” he called the hospital canteen and ordered a sandwich and coffee for himself

Till his food arrived, she kept turning the other side, not giving him any chance to feed her. Also her eyes were filled and seeing him it could fall any moment. He was very cautious with his acts, not wanting to force any thing. Request is all he will do now.

All while she had been unconscious he had been scolding himself. He had always followed her wish, went against her wish only and only for her own good. What have he turned into now, asking her to follow his orders, ignoring her, hurting her, showing his anger and stubbornness on her. Why and why have he done all this. Has money and power went so up in his head. No, it can never be, never can anything be above her, then why, why did he keep his pain and anger above her.

His food arrived “my food has arrived, now please have something. You also need to rest after that” he again held her chin and turned to him “don’t take stress for now, please. All blame on me, I will answer everything”

“you eat your food; I will eat” is all she could say. He did not argue much and took a bite “Khush.. ab kha lo”

They quietly had their dinner. Both having their heart and mind filled with various thoughts. Maan was cherishing her life and Geet was just busy observing her old Maan in front of her, who only lived for her wish. Facing new him for so many months now, this one looked too good to be true.

“I have been proposing to Pari” has gone deep inside her heart.

Not only her but Maan himself was cursing himself for that whole event. And thus he wanted to take it slowly. After dinner he quietly made her rest, switched off the lights and settled himself in sofa bed. Maan was laying quietly but his happiness had no bound.

‘Myself completely for you my princess’ he thought and closed his eyes

Geet closed her eyes and drifted to sleep due to the effect of heavy medication.

Next day seeing her stable condition, doctors allowed for discharge with instruction that they have all proper arrangements in house. She needed to be in care 24 by 7.

Brij had suggested that they take her to her apartment but seeing Maan’s complete non acceptance expression on that

“No Way!!!” he declared.  “But Maan” tried Meera

“No, not until she is perfectly fine we are taking any chance. Main gair hoon?” he directly asked Ranoo. Ranoo smiled within, first Geet’s madness for him and now his madness

“Whatever you feel correct. And none can take care of her above you, tou kerle jo tujhe theek lagta hai.”

Brij and Meera were just smiling within. They had always been confirmed that Geet’s world was Maan but Maan keeping his feelings to himself, they had small doubt. But today they knew, he was maybe even worst case. It’s no use to say between these two. Let them handle their things their way.

When they are on verge of giving life for each other, where does any one of them stand between them?

While discharging from hospital, the hospital had their own format and it was not in Maan’s control. Geet had to be taken in wheelchair till the car. Maan hated that part. But once she was in his car, he had control. Geet was settled in back seat of one car with Meera and Ranoo. While Maan and Brij took another.

He knew she was getting confused with his behavior and he did not want to increase it. Lots of patience is what was needed. Also, he knew she may want to pour out her confusion and for that she needed someone other than him. He would have been the one and how badly he wished but it was all his doing he thought, that has created this distance between them.

After the vehicle left the city and moved a bit ahead

“Mumma why are we going out of city? My apartment is in city itself”

“This is your Maan’s decision. If you are not comfortable we will talk. He will not go against your wish” said Meera

“Your Maan” rang in Geet’s head, wish it was true. She didn’t know.

“No, it’s OK. As he wishes” though she was confused, she was greedy for him. At this moment of vulnerability, her heart needed him more. She did not have strength at this moment to ponder on if this care of his was on loan or if this was all hers and only hers. She simply needed him and his care and concern. Is she being selfish? She was about to ponder on it when the sleep took over and she drifted to sleep.

When they reached KM, Geet’s eye could not believe, this is place Maan owned and live. He had always been thinking of getting so high and how silly she has been ordering him around for her silly demand. As the car stopped, Ranoo and Meera came out, Maan went inside and took Geet in his arms. Everyone including Geet were surprised. Geet looked around to see Annie, an old lady, her family and Pari and two elders, maybe Pari’s parent’s. She felt conscious and guilt towards Pari.

Savitri Devi came forward “Maan we have arranged for wheelchair; you don’t need to carry her that far”

Maan looked at dadima “She is not sitting on wheelchair Dadima.” And he moved forward. Pari smiled within, madness has taken over this man and now no one can stop him. Dadima smiled as well, seeing this avatar of her grandson for first time. He had always been in this deep love and hiding it all time? How had he done it?

After knowing Geet’s heart, he was not worrying of anyone around. Though the knowledge of her heart’s wish has come to him in very bad way, he hated himself for it. But now that he knew, he was there to give his all time to her.

As he moved forward “What was problem in wheel chair?” she asked softly

He nodded for No “mere hute hue.. Nope” he smiled at her. She wanted to feel his love and care but her confused mind was overtaking her. She feared if this was not permanent. He took her to the room he had got arranged for her, it was all done for his old Geet’s taste, shiny, bright and chirpy. He has to bring his old Geet back to him. He had left her and she has been lost somewhere.

And the story for Maan was back to square one – Live for Geet. Her accident has jolted him, to think nothing but her and only her. Off course he was Maan, expert in multitasking with handling all relation beautifully, be it friends and family. But Geet will be his priority of life without ignoring any other relation.

Geet looked at the room around and it reminded her of their time together in olden days, only they together away from whole world. He closed the door slightly as everyone left them.

He laid her in bed and sat beside her. He was sitting so close, she just wated to be melted in the closeness. He took her hand into his, looked at her who was already looking at him. Storm of emotions flowing. All his looks and deeds clearly said it was love but then what was that proposing Pari so many times. It confused her.

Maan has realized, he had taken too long already and made her confused by his acts and words. now dragging things between them is last that he wanted.

He softly pressed her hand, brought his face very close to hers, smiled at her “Princess”.

“Princess?” She murmured as her heart simply came out of herself. Ohh she wanted to go back in those olden days, they were golden days with only him around but her mistakes towards him. But what she did not know he was dying to get his Geet back, who would order him left and right.

“Always. At your service Ma’am” Geet smiled faintly and blushed. What could she do, her heart was weak at his gesture. Not knowing if it was out of guilt he was bowing down. Has her accident brought him in guilt? But the love in his eyes, said clearly it was what she wanted to feel; he loved her. Ohh God, only if it was true.

“Mujhme hee kami hai that today you cannot believe me” Geet felt bad, she cannot let him go in guilt. It has been her fault all life and now all she has done is landed him in guilt.

“Nahi… aap aisa kyun.” She smiled but winced her eyes as she felt some pain in her head. He immediately got up and made her rest

“aap?” he repeated. Formality that he has brought in their relation pained him. But he smiled

“Okay no talking now. You take rest, I will make your favorite soup once you wake up” he moved forward and placed soft kiss on her forehead. Did he have any idea what these soft casual kisses of his were doing to her? His lips bringing contact to her skin? Even in this condition, he had power to raise her desire. She closed her eyes to capture the moment and drifted to sleep.

When he came out, Meera was on call with Yash, who wanted to see Geet. But Brij and Meera at this moment did not try to disturb Maan and Geet.

Maan saw them on video call with Yash. He asked Meera for the phone

“Hi Yash”

“Hi Mr. Maan” “Only Maan yaar for family” Yash jolted with the familiarity with which he talked. It was still taking him time to absorb Maan Singh Khurana was family and so close. He was though slowly accepting, esp. after hearing Maan bringing Geet in his Mansion. Relation was actually deep.

“Hi Maan.. heard you went on hunger strike. Am I missing something” Yash gave a friendly try, deep within fearing how will MSK mind his casual way. Was even he part of family for Maan. But he was surprised by the way Maan eased him casually

“Nothing like that. These guys just exaggerate things. But actually I was very scared. Thanks to your profession, I just want to bow to you all” Yash now was actually getting somewhere. He would not say Meera and Brij where any less worried for Geet or have been less jolted but Maan in any case looked plus with the emotion of her accident

“Yash you should have come here. We would have been so confident of family doctor here”

“I definitely wanted to be there but someone was needed for Dad here”

“She would have stayed” and Maan pulled Meera. “and you should be here” Maan was actually relieved and Brij and Meera could see that. All of them where relived. They wanted to make it more light for Maan. He has taken too much on himself

“Oyyee” she pushed Maan “She is my sister” Yash laughed at the way they were behaving childish. He was actually getting vibe of Maan the family member now “Let me tell you Yash, these two are not worth siblings.” He teased them, reminding them of how they left Maan alone with Geet, even after his calling them.

“I agree on that” Yash immediately said. Maan then became serious “Ok Yash, will be sending you all Geet’s report and we can discuss on that” Brij and Meera shook their head, knowing very well when Maan has taken Geet’s charge no one has any say in that.

“Sure do it as soon as you can” and the call disconnected.  

Maan then turned and saw Annie looking at him. He gave her smile and moved towards her and she turned other side. Maan knew he has brought tears in eyes of his darling sister.

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Hope it came out well. Please do tell.

-Anu