The Burnt – Chapter 7

“Misty… Misty… this is Mr. Khurana” Geet nodded to Chetan’s words, not even knowing what he was speaking. Did it even go to her ears? 

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What an irony, this first meeting after so many years led them both to their first encounter of adulthood.

Maan had come to check the land that he had bought in Hoshiarpur for setting up the plant for Cement Manufacturing.

“Sir, the clouds are dark and it may soon rain heavily” uttered Munshi ji after gathering lots of courage.

Mujshi ji and his family have been working for Khurana’s since generation and he was his father’s age. But one glare from Maan and he would hold his breath in his throat.

“Munshi ji, you are getting old. Looks like it’s time for your retirement. This weather conditions cannot stop Maan Khurana from his work”

“Loo.. now he is challenging weather too”

“What.. what did you murmur ” 

“Nothing… nothing sir ji”

“Munshi ji, you better leave. I will take a look at the land on my own ” and he shooed off Munshiji who was uselessly diverting him.

But then, the weather was not scared of Maan Khurana’s glare. As a result, the cloud darkened and soon the heavy rainfall started with lightning and thunder and the setting down evening took the form of dark night. 

Maan saw a small  hut usually made as storage in farmland and he entered there to take shelter till the rain calmed down.

Geet, generally doesn’t come this far away, but she heard from Nandu’s Veerji, Sumendra, that someone from the city had come to buy the land around her land for industrial purposes. This has infuriated her. It was her land and all surrounding land would go to her would-be husband, Maan, for his purpose. How can anyone else even eye those lands?

But while she was in the middle of the farm, the cloud had covered the sky and soon the evening got surrounded by thunder and lightning. Darkness surrounded with heavy rain and within a minute, Geet was completely wet.

Not only the darkness that scared the hell out of her but the fear of returning home all wet and consequences of that scared her more. She thought it was better to take shelter in the storage hut. She knew every bit of it as Nandu, Rajji and she herself played hide and seek there.

Geet placed the hand on the handle to unlock it but was surprised to see it was already unlocked. She pushed open it and placed her step inside to slip on unexpected drops of water.

But before Geet could fall on ground she was supported by a strong manly hold and her hand went to the switch on the wall which dimly lit the hut which brightened their faces.

While Maan was captivated by those almond Shaped magical hazels, Geet was surprised to see her ‘Maan’ right in front of her, holding her in his arms.

Ohh yes, our young 22 years old Geet had by hearted the features and looks of her would-be since she was 20.

Nandu had been excited when she had pulled Geet to her room and showed her a whole page Ad of Khurana Enterprise, where Maan Khurana himself congratulated his company for its continued success

“Heyyy Geet, kya sohna hai tera hone wala”

“Chadd!!” ohh the blush on Geet’s face was not stopping

“And see his dole and body-shoddy.. Hayye Geet tere to ware nayare”

“Shut up” Geet’s smile and blush only increased with each compliment of Nandu about her Maan.

Geet had taken the newspaper and hid her face with it

“Ohh ho… imagine him filling you in his strong arms… hayyyee” Geet bit her lip

“Waise humaree Kuddi koi kam shonii nahi hai. Jiju will be your Deewana”

Nandu had teased her and Geet’s young heart since then started building new dreams with her would-be.

Unlike our Geet, who completely lacked in worldly ways of life, street smart Nandu, had sneaked several times to the internet cafe, bribing the owner to not leak her visit there, downloaded pics of her Jiju, printed them and handed it to Geet.

Young hearts have their own sets of dreams to weave and their desires are not limited to how and where a person is brought up.

Geet started getting lost in Maan’s pic and nights started getting desired-filled dreams of her Maan. No one in the house had any idea of Geet possessing the pictures of adult Maan.

Along with pictures, Nandu also kept filling her with news about Maan 

“Geet, why is media adding Jiju’s name with this girl Sameera”

Nandu has shown her worry but Geet was not ready to listen to anything about her perfect would-be.

“Chadd!! He is such a big name. People just find ways to drag his name. My Maan knows he has Geet, waiting for him” and she would again blush

Geet could not believe she was actually in the arms of her Maan. Maan’s trance broke first and he somehow was able to avert his gaze from those captivating hazels.

He straightened the girl. He looked at her while she lowered her gaze with shyness. She, not having an inch’s idea that he knew nothing about the existence of any girl named Geet . 

Maan saw she was shivering and the foolish girl was still wrapping that completely wet, water dripping piece of chunri to her body.

He removed his blazer and undid the button of his shirt, which was dry due to his thick blazer. Geet’s eyes widened as she saw him getting his shirt off. She turned her back to him

“For God’s sake, get off those wet clothes and get this shirt on”

Geet’s young heart took innumerable waves as she heard his voice for real. Ohh how deep and commanding, directly touching the core of her heart.

“Now take this and get it on.” Geet saw his shining well toned body in black inner vest as she slightly turned and saw him with the corner of her eyes. This amazing view in front of her was mixing with her stupid dreams and her throat was going dry with her innocent wild dreams.

“Ji” Geet asked all bewildered. Of course she could not deny anything he said. She had already given herself to him

Her teeth made cluttering sound with cold as she nervously took the shirt from his hand, slowly, feeling all shy

“Will you change or wait for a fever to take over” He said in his usual rude way but for Geet, it was his concern that was touching her heart

“Ji, Ji aapke samne.. Woo kaise”

“Damn, I have a line of girls in a row to throw themselves on me. This girl literally thinks…” Maan thought in mind but did not consider it necessary to explain it to her.

Without a word he moved towards her, picked her dupatta and tied it from one end to another.

“I am turning to the other side, you change on that side. I don’t want you dying out of fever in this room locked with me.”

All shy Geet turned, got off her kurti and changed into his shirt. Had he been any other man, she would have died out of fever than change in the same premise but this was Maan, her  would-be and he is so worried about her.

Geet had changed the top with his shirt on but her legs were still shivering with wet pajamas. Maan said nothing, just observed her still shaking form. Without a word, he looked around and found a match box. He made a small fire in middle on the room

“Sit near this fire, it will keep you warm”  Gullible Geet quietly obeyed as said.  But soon the warmth of the fire and the feel of being near him was so relaxing, sleep took over Geet and Maan saw her head falling every now and then.

Maan shook his head and not at all knowing the orthodox thought of the village, settled beside her and supported her wobbling head on his bare shoulder. After a while sleep took over Maan as well as the rain was not in mood to stop anytime soon. Geet got comfort from Maan’s strong arm and settled even properly on him in her sleep.

They went into deep sleep in that position and only woke up by the mob of village who were looking for Geet everywhere, pushed opened the door and found them in the position which infuriated them to no end

Geet!!!

GEET!!!

GEE-EET!!! And Maan’s eyes opened when someone was about to hold Geets arm and pull her up. Somehow he didn’t like it and held the hand of the person mid air.

With the movement, Geet’s sleep broke and she found herself on a Maan’s bare shoulder. She immediately looked around to find all the strong armed men of the village surrounding her. The fear ran through Geet and she stood up not realizing that she was in his shirt on top and her own pajamas on bottom, without her chunri. 

Maan, who had no idea how the rules of the village worked, was confused to see the frightened face of the girl and the mob of angry armed men.

Geet covered her front from her hands crossed to her chest. Maan looked at her hanged dupatta and moved to pick it up. Before he could cover the scared girl with the Dupatta, an angry young man came forward and placed a hard slap on the girl’s face.

“Veerji.. woo. … yeh…” 

“Behaya…” and he was about to place another slap on her when Maan held his hand mid air, throwing her dupatta on her, taking her heart away in mid of her fear from the mob and Veerji.

“Are you guys animals or what? Without trying to know what’s the matter, you dare to slap a girl in front of the whole mob” And that was it. Her long lived childhood love got a seal at that very moment and she completely gave herself to him once again.

“Oyyee… shehri… how dare you put your hand on our village girl”

And that was it for Maan. Villagers didn’t have idea the man in front of them was ten times madder

“Haan… dala toh… go .. go to police”

“Police…. We do not go to the police. Our village has our own rules. You touched the girl of our village, you will have to pay… Na tu zinda bachega na yeh Geet”

And someone held the girl’s hand and started dragging her

“Half the people grab this Shehri and I am taking her… tu abb jinda nahi bachegi Geet”

Maan made a sudden swift move and all armed men around him fell. He then grabbed her waist by his one arm, swiftly picking one of the swords on ground and made a quick leg movement to unbalance Brij. He placed the sword on Brij’s throat. 

Geet’s whole life’s wait ended at that moment. How she had wished her husband would be the one to answer the mad behavior of her family and how he will save her from them. She gave her heart again and again and again that day to her Maan.

But someone came from behind and pulled the lost Geet from Maan’s arm.

“Abhi panchayat me aajao… or else you will be responsible for her death.”  They knew they had no power over Maan, but he somehow backed with Geet being in their complete capture.

Maan was not the one to run away. He could handle these people at the snap of his fingers but he somehow could not let them kill the girl just because she was found on his shoulder.

No one there knew his power.By the time Maan reached the panchayat, his team was already on their way to Hoshiyarpur. 

He reached there with his head held high. Geet was held roughly by men, who claimed to slap her because she was sleeping on his shoulder.

The whole village gathered there and then entered Geet’s Papaji, uncle and Daarji.

“You will have to marry her.. You spent night with her”

“Haan-Haan” all other men said in unison

“SHUP UP!!!… Are you guys insane or what? You are ready to marry your girl to any man, just because she had to spend her night in the same room with that man.”

“You spent night with her so now you have to marry her”

“You people really don’t care if I am a bad man or a good man. You can just marry your girl to anyone? And she is an adult, she can decide for herself”

“Shadi to kerni hogi Shehri”

“Gurwinder chup ker..” interrupted Daarji

“Her alliance is fixed from childhood. We will need to inform the family as well… they will decide”

“What??? Now the third family will decide her future. Are you guys at all educated?”

“Oyyye shehri chup ker… this education is spoiling young brains”

“You will do what you are asked to do. Either her would-be forgives her and agrees to marry her or else you marry her. If neither happens, you will get the news of her death”

“Daarji…Papaji”

“Tu chup ker Geet. You lowered our head completely today. You be ready for your punishment” warned Daarji who was full of shame due to this girl

“But Daarji… Daarji… he is Maan” Geet said, which was not heard by Maan as he was busy handling the mad villagers

“He is Maan? Tera hone wala?” “Ji.. Ji”

Maan and Misty were lost in the past, their eyes locked trying to read the shocking situation and truth of life.

“Misty” her trance broke when Chetan shook her

“Yes.. yes.. Wooh Chetan”

Chetan pulled her aside while Maan was still numb

“Misty, it is not good to always be lost in your family matters. Advay will be fine. This is such an important day and you are standing like a statue when Mr. Khurana is being introduced.” 

Chetan scolded her

“Chetan, I am not feeling well… can i”

“No Misty, not now. Mr. Khurana is at the party, this is not a joke. You are coming with me and welcoming him.” He whispered puling her bit far

“Mrs. Khurana” Misty’s eyes  popped out hearing his voice. Her whole body shivered hearing his voice, addressing her as Mrs. Khurana

Maan could not believe his luck. It was a blessing that his Geet was leading the Ad for his project and today he was standing beside her. Has God melted on his penance? Why she was here, how she was here, the change in her, nothing went into his head at this moment. She was in front of him, it was all that mattered.

“Let’s now get a glimpse of a brilliant Ad designed by ‘Ad with Us’ for Khurana group, came the voice over of Merul. Misty, in vain tried controlling herself when the lights went off and Ad started.

Everyone was lost in Screening of Ad when Misty felt a burning feel of slender fingers in her waist, sending ten  thousand voltage current through her.

“Great work” his husky voice overtook her whole identity. She was not in condition to even say “Thank you”.

Maan himself was not in his sense.. she, near him after ages, after losing all hope. His sense was not working, only that he could not let her go, no way this time