The Burnt – Chapter 17

Geet walked beside Maan , leaving Advay with Meera and Dev

“Geet, I will be fine. See I will take medicine and doze off. And then doctors and nurses are there. It’s a festival day, you should be with Advay.”

Geet walked alongside him in silence, lost in her thoughts. She couldn’t help but reflect on the drastic change in him—he seemed like a completely different person. The once commanding man, who only knew how to issue orders that were to be obeyed without question, had now softened to the point where every word he spoke to her came as a request. Since the moment she had seen him today, all he had done was ask, never demand, as though he had forgotten how to give commands altogether.

She had always been intimidated by his arrogance and rudeness. She followed his orders diligently, but the constant fear of being reprimanded lingered. However, this changed version of Maan frightened her even more—not for herself, but for him. It seemed as though his life was trapped in a web of guilt, and he had no desire to free himself from it. The sight of him like this pained her deeply, and she knew exactly why—it was because her heart was tied to his. The physical distance she had tried to maintain between them had failed to sever the bond that her heart has with him.

 Maan had no idea what thoughts were consuming Geet. But he knew that his health had brought worry into her life, and he despised the fact that, once again, he had become the source of her worry and pain. No, he told himself firmly, he didn’t deserve to occupy her thoughts—whether out of concern or lo… No. Maan immediately shut down his mind, refusing to let it wander in that direction.

When she did not answer “See, you should not indulge in all this. Focus on your life, Advay, your friends, your job and family. Your life is sorted, don’t mess it up. Anyone can get a fever, it’s not a big deal. It’s a festival day, you should be with Advay”

By now they reached the outhouse. Geet looked at Maan “You are repeating yourself. Maan Khurana never repeats himself. Unki baat toh ek baar me samajh ni hoti hai, hain na”

“Tumne jawab nahi diya, I thought you didn’t listen” Geet did not say anything. She had not many words, his health condition and the way he seems off, has taken all her thoughts.

“I will go get some rest. In the meanwhile you can spend some time with Advay” He said again.

He was clearly not approving of her getting involved in his mess. He was hating himself for once again bringing melancholy in her new life which she had built all on her own. He has no right to take her happiness away from her. But she is not listening to him and now it’s not in him to order her authoritatively. 

Geet fixed the bed for Maan. She asked him to relax on the pulse sofa, check the wardrobe for a fresh bed sheet , and change the duvet, pillow cover etc.  She has gone mute with the way he has been treating himself. Maan Khurana, the business tycoon, who has innumerable employees in his empire and home, had his room completely not maintained. Ohh.. she knows how stubborn he is and he does not want attendants to enter his space.

Now that Dadima was away, he had distanced himself from everyone. The man who once demanded exclusivity in everything and ensured that every detail was perfectly in place had now completely disregarded himself. She wanted to yell at him, to scold him for this drastic change, but instead, she found herself silent, unable to utter a word.

Geet carefully made his bed, opened the window to let in some fresh air, adding a touch of liveliness to the room.

“You can rest now” 

“Woo…” he opened his mouth to say something but then decided instead “ never mind, it’s okay.” He moved to press the bell for nurse but before he could, Geet held his hand

“I am here, what do you need”

“Wooo… sleeping pill. I want sleep to take over before the headache starts” She touched his head and face to check his temperature. Thankfully, fever has not reappeared yet.

“You rest, I will get it,” she said. Her voice sore due to her inner turmoil

“Nahi woo..” He said looking up at her, their eyes met and silence talked. 

He quietly went to bed. Geet got all his medicine and placed it nicely on the table, gave him the one that he needed. She then sat on the bed beside him, her hands giving a massage on his forehead. Maan hesitated but he did not have the guts nor energy to argue with her. 

But undeniably, her hands on his forehead were physically and soulfully so soothing that he drifted to sleep in no time.

As he went into deep slumber, Geet ran outside. She was feeling suffocated, she wanted to shout out her frustration but all she did was slummed herself on the bench, letting the tears roll down her eyes. No one to blame but herself, that’s what Geet’s could think of. It was not just his fever and pain that he has been enduring from so many years that was haunting her but the guilt in which he has drowned so deep, burying all his authoritative personality was hurting. No one could  bend Maan Khurana and here he had become a soft dough. Did she mean so much to him, that he has left everything about his personality that had hurt her?

Geet called Meera and asked her to keep Advay engaged. She didn’t want him to see her in this situation. She will not be able to stop her tears if she sees him at this moment.

 Maan could only sleep for an hour when his temperature started rising. Geet saw the movement inside the outhouse. She ran inside to find out that Maan’s fever had suddenly reached the peak. She again witnessed first hand how his pain reached its peak and then unbearable and then, how at last they had to put heavy massaging pads around his limb. 

The torture session lasted for almost 3 hours after which his fever started dropping again. When he gained little sense, he looked around the room to see Geet standing still, supporting herself on the wall, her eyes filled with glittering tears as their eyes met. She averted her gaze.

“Doctors, please” he said in a low voice, signalling them. Doctor nodded and left the room, leaving two in the room

“Geet” he tried sitting up. Geet immediately ran to him

“Geet, it will be all fine in a couple of days. Please don’t stress. You can’t leave Advay alone like this” He requested in a low voice 

“Your Advay is fully cared for , don’t worry. Just focus on getting better, please” She pleaded

“”Have you eaten anything since morning?” He asked, seeing her devastated state.

“You don’t need to worry about all that. I’m okay. Try not to talk too much and avoid any extra stress. Get rested and then have something to eat.”

Thus a couple of more days passed with his on and off  fever, him, requesting her to leave and not worry about him and she ignoring his request, being there by his side.

Maan recovered in a couple of days and the next morning he went for a walk and light gymming. When he returned  after his light exercise, he found Geet working with Nakul to rearrange his room

Maan entered the room and glanced at Nakul. The silent signal in his eyes was enough for Nakul to lower his head and quietly leave the room.

“Geet” He said in a calm voice, gaining her attention, making her turn to him.

Their eyes met and she gave a faint hesitant smile to him “Are you feeling Okay”

“Ohh, I am completely fine. It was just a matter of a couple of days, “he said, trying to make his sickness just a casual thing. 

He then looked at his changed room

“See, don’t get involved in all this. Thanks for being there in my time of need. You should now focus on your life” Maan’s tone was extremely formal as if he had not seen her devastated state for the last 3 days.

But Geet has seen past through Maan these days, what he had gone through and what he is trying to do to himself. She had done a stupidity to leave him a few years back and was now seeing the result. 

Geet looked straight into Maan’s eyes as she approached him “Focus on my life, right. And what is my life?” The question hit Maan and shocked by her response, he knotted his brows

“Your life, means your life. I mean Advay, your career, your company and ….”

“And?” she asked looking into his eyes

“See, you have sorted your life so impressively. You are an example of a strong woman to society. You found yourself on your own. Don’t lose it all for some random weak moment. Don’t indulge in something that messes you up. Focus on the brilliant life that you have crafted on your own will and caliber”

Geet looked down , smiled and shook her head “Crafted not for will but dire need. Dire need to give our child, the life, close to what the son of Maan Khurana deserved. I can never be close but was trying. It’s all result of that”

“Whatever be the reason, it is most impressive, admirable and applaudable. That is what you deserve, not this mess.”

“Are you going to the office today?” she asked changing the topic

“Geet, don’t get involved. Carry on with your life. You have a beautiful life ahead, and have made wonderful friends in life. Focus on people who have been with you in your time of need.” He indirectly hinted at Chetan, Geet understood but ignored.

“I will go and check on Advay. Breakfast is ready, freshen up and come for breakfast. Dadima is back, she will be waiting to meet you at breakfast”

“See, don’t get entangled and make things complex for you. Nakul must have already prepared my breakfast”

“I asked him not to. We will not have kitchen at two places in a family”

“Geet listen, try to understand…”

“Okay, I will leave. It is already time for Advay to leave. Dadima will be waiting to meet you at breakfast” 

“Geet…” “I must go” she gave him a slight smile and left, leaving him with no option.

She walked away, leaving Maan frozen in place, his gaze locked on her retreating figure until it disappeared from sight.

Geet reached the Manor and saw Dadima already settled. She bent to take her blessings 

“How was your journey, Dadima?”

“Kaisa hoga? Why did you all inform me so late?”

“Mujhpe bharosa nahi hai aapko?”

“Geet, don’t ever say that beta. I am his granny, and have seen him suffering those days…”

“I understand Dadima, your pain, your restlessness. You are his Dadima and seeing your grandson in such a state must have been heart wrenching. Mera kya hai, who am I? A wife who disappeared from his life? What rights do I have to be involved?” her voice choked but she kept a smile on her face.

“No beta, please don’t think that way. Maan, just didn’t want you to..”

“No problem Dadima, I will get Advay ready and then get the breakfast set up.”

“Theek hai. I will go and meet Maan by then”

“You had a long journey. You can relax, Maan will be here for breakfast. He will be here to meet you”

“Maan will be here for breakfast” Dadima’s eyes widened “here??”

“Hmm.. I will go get Advay ready.” and she left from there, leaving a surprised Dadima to sink into the news.

“Mumma, why didn’t you take me along? I haven’t seen Daddy in three days!”

”Okay, you can go to Daddy today”

“Mumma, you went to Daddy. Now Daddy will stay with us?”

“Hmmm… if you promise to not disturb him too much. Daddy is a busy person, you know, right?”

“Mumma, I will be a good boy. Dad says, I am the best boy ever”

“Okay..” Geet promised Advay. She doesn’t know how she will convince Maan, or say force him. All she knows is that she has to do it, not for Advay but for Maan. How awkward will it be to do all this? But she has to do it, that’s all she knows.

Geet had been busy mentally and physically, like a machine for the last 3 days, after she had witnessed his condition. She had moments of deep shock, pain and guilt but still did not have bandwidth to sink in all. She needed some time alone to divulge into the depth of past and future actions.

Maan got ready to leave for office. But he has to meet Dadima and Geet has asked him to have breakfast in Manor. How can he deny her? It is not in him to say ‘No’ to her. But, he was not liking the way it was going. Geet has a beautiful life ahead, why was she again indulging in something that was so toxic. 

But as of now, he has no option but  to go.

Maan reached the Manor and saw Dadima waiting for him. She got up seeing him. He bent to take her blessings but she held him midway and pulled him in a tight hug

“Bohut naraz hain hum aapse”

“It is a regular repetitive thing. See, I am all good now”

She shook her head in disapproval. Maan hugged her “I am all good.”

They then headed for breakfast where Geet was making arrangements with the help of attendants.

“Advay left?” asked Dadima, gaining her attention.

“Yes, half an hour ago” she said and her eyes involuntarily went on Maan. He returned her look with a slight smile.

They settled for breakfast. It was going on as a pin drop silence breakfast, with Dadima looking at the duo in turns. Now, nothing more can be expected from the two. But then she would prefer to be a spectator and see how these two take it forward on their own.  She will not act as a cupid of the relationship which was once so toxic for Geet. Geet has suffered a lot and she will not push Geet into something she had left willingly. 

For Maan, Geet will always be a beautiful addition but that is not why she has brought Geet in the Manor. It was for Geet and Geet will always be her priority above Maan. Her family has disowned her as she left her husband. They never thought of their own daughter’s pain. So, now this is only her family. The pain of one’s own family disowning can be so deep and that is why, She has to always keep Geet’s interest and  love for her, above Maan. And that is what Maan wishes too.

“Geet, you are leaving for office too”

“Yes, Dadima. After such a successful campaign of Geetanjali dreams we are flooded with projects and everyone wants me to lead all of them. I can’t do that but Chetan also does not want to lose any business so he is panicking with my absence.”

She then looked at Maan “Thanks for such big opportunity”

“I wasn’t even involved. You earned it” he ended with a closed lip smile

****

Chetan was getting ready for office

“Chetan, why don’t you ask her once” Chetan turned to his Mom

“Mom, no, never. You know I will not. That was her condition for this friendship and this partnership.”

“Then say yes to the girl I found for you or find a girl and settle. What are you waiting for? Now she is staying in her husband’s house, who is none other than Maan Khurana. They have a son together and now you say that she was on leave because her husband was sick. She is not coming out of that relationship. Do you see any future?”

“Mom, I see no future. For me her friendship is above anything. I cannot lose her friendship”

“Then prove it to me and her by settling in your life. You are 30, how long should I wait. ”

“Okay Mom, we will talk. I won’t upset you anymore”

Chetan ended the talk with his Mom, dissolving the topic of settling . But he knew now his mother would not back out. It was all so clear in front of everyone’s eyes.