Enchanted – Chapter 55

“Yes, the seed was perfectly sowed in both Dadima and Geet’s mind that Geet was not the correct choice for me, that she was a misfit”

“Bhai – you need a break. We will catch up on further uneventful incidents after a small break” Suggested Vicky

********

Maan was pacing in the vast hall of Khurana Mansion when the security head Mr. Shekhawat appeared with Vicky.

“Sir, the man has blurted everything.”

“What did he say? Did we get any information?”

“Yes, sir. He recognized Mrs. Khurana. He’s a local from the area. As we know, Mrs. Khurana’s car had been badly hit. She was found in an unconscious state. People gathered around and thought she was dead. Fortunately, someone called the hospital, where she was recovered after two days of treatment. They tried hard to learn more about her, where she belonged, but even after several trials, she didn’t say a word about her identity or where she came from..”

“Then, Mr. Shekhawat, please don’t pause. Which hospital did they admit her to? And why, when we arrived at the scene after finding the damaged car, was there no trace of her? No one spoke a word. We had been there for a week, frantically searching for her..”

“Sir, by the time we arrived, she had already been taken away. They assured us that they would not disclose her information. This man claims that she did not complain, but considering the way she had requested not to speak about her to anyone, they suspected her life was in danger. Therefore, they refrained from providing any information. We have this man’s family in our custody. Scared for his family he has confessed everything.”

“Her life was indeed in danger from people here, even though she hid herself for my sake. Does he have any idea where she went?

“Sir, not exactly but there is a strong lead.” Mr. Shekhawat calmed down Maan.

“What?”

Nervousness and impatience clearly pertinent on his face.

“Sir, she was ready to leave everything, not take any medication. She had lost all interest in life. But then”

“What?”

“Doctors came with the report and then something was there in report that held her”

“Wha—attt?” came out from Maan’s lips, followed by Vicky

“What”

“He is just a local. He has information based on what he heard. Doctors somehow convinced her to live. She still didn’t give any information about her but she wanted to live, she was co-operating. They then called a private non-profit organization booth. Those people took her with them. At least that is what he knows. It was all kept private within the hospital that even locals don’t have clear information as where exactly she had been taken”

“Which private organization? Let me connect with that hospital. No-no, wait. We have to be very careful. If we call the hospital, they will send an alert and we will never be able to locate her”

“Exactly, sir. That’s precisely the reason we’re being extremely cautious about making even a single call. He mentioned the name of the private organization as ‘Humara Ghar’. There’s hardly any public information about it—no social media presence, no news articles, no publications. They maintain an exceptionally private stance. The privacy of the individuals residing there is of utmost importance to them. Even reaching them is not straightforward. One calls the booth just to leave a voice message, and then a team arrives only for those in need. They won’t meet any organization to disclose any information. If we attempt to do so, we’ll be breaching their integrity and alerting them that someone is inquiring.”

“So, they come only for one who really need them and then disappear in thin air”

“Yes sir, a real needy. But we can try to locate them with our intelligence, if you order”

“No. The ones who gave shelter to my wife and is her home for last few months, I can only be thankful to them and worship them. Those are not the places to show money and power. They are taking care of my wife. The place which has given her shelter when her owns have abandoned her or tricked her to leave her own house” Maan was getting emotional thinking of Geet.

“Bhai, then what will we do”

“Not us, but I. I need to do. Geet has made her life away from me. She has been deeply hurt by all that she has endured in this royal family. She has been afraid of my life. She needs to understand that I am lifeless without her. My life means nothing without her. I am extremely needy, struggling to breathe here. And I am not exaggerating, this is my truth. I will go there alone.” And he got up

“I need to leave now. We cannot afford any delay. Vicky, get the chopper. Drop me somewhere down south. I will make my path to her from there.”

Vicky landed the chopper in the helipad in the suburb of Indore.

There was no reason to stop him because this was the only way to truly get his Bhabhi back. No, Raja Saheb or Maan Singh Khurana could convince her. Only Maan can convince his Geet.

“Vicky – all I need from you is – punish the culprit in a way where it hurts most and forever. Meera is family, make sure that the punishment just hearts the culprit. I do not want you to take any step that will hurt Meera”

“Bhai, rest ensured.”  

“Also, release the man with all due respect and provide him with a luxurious life for himself and his family. Ensure that he does not disclose this inquiry to anyone.”

“Sure”

Vicky left Maan with a heavy heart. without phone and penniless – that’s how he wanted it to be.

He needed to be just Maan with no strings attached to find his Geet. Only him was enough.

It took Maan two days of relentless effort just to figure out how to send a message to Humara Ghar. First, he boarded a local bus to reach the spot where the damaged car had been found. In the bustling streets of Indore, he bought a cheap bag from a local cobbler. Into that bag, he carefully packed all his valuable belongings—his suit, the exclusive custom-made watch he was wearing, a heavy gold chain around his neck, a platinum bracelet, and more. These would serve as his currency in the mission to find Geet.

His anxiety was through the roof. What had happened to Geet? What exactly did that doctor’s report reveal? He found himself constantly praying for her health and safety. The last known trace of Geet was Humara Ghar, but even that wasn’t certain anymore. Was she still there? Everything felt uncertain, but he had to begin somewhere. His heart ached with every thought of her—imagining how she might be living, all alone, cut off from the world.

He sold his expensive suit to afford two nights of lodging in a basti, a modest settlement in a lower-income neighborhood, where identity checks were minimal. He also got away with his royal shoes, trading them for a pair of locally made Kolhapuri-style sandals. Every rupee counted now. He needed whatever money he could gather for communication and basic travel to reach Geet.

Maan had at last figured out the starting dot.

He was standing in front of the local photocopy shop – Such services still exist. Still, big population of people cannot afford basic things like printer at home, he noted.

“Yes – what do you need?” asked the shopkeeper

“I feel helpless… my life has lost all meaning. I’ve been the cause of my wife’s pain, and now she’s left me—abandoned me. I want to do penance, but I don’t know how to live with this guilt. I heard you might know someone who could guide me. My life feels empty… please, help me. Please.” Maan begged—without a shred of ego. In that moment, he wasn’t the king he once was, but a beggar with no pride. He was willing to kneel before anyone, do whatever it took—anything they asked—if it would bring him closer to his Geet.

“Hmm… I’ll show you the way. But be warned, the life that awaits you isn’t for those who are pretending. Only if your pain is real will you be able to survive it. It demands unwavering devotion… and complete selflessness.”

“I see darkness all around. I need some ray of light. Please help”

“Hmm…. call this number. Leave your voice message. You should be back at 6 in the evening. If they think your need is genuine, someone will be here to meet you”

Maan was smart and knew what type of message will get them to come to him. But not for his smartness but because of his real pain, he felt his words will touch them to contact him.

Exactly at 6 pm, Maan reached the photocopy shop. The thin ray of hope passed through him.

“Hi, I am Maanveer” Maan introduced himself. He knew they will run a background check with his name and it won’t be difficult to trace him back in this technology world.

“Take a seat Mr. Maanveer and tell your story.” The lady said. Even though Maan was not in his best state, must say a more ruined state but elderly lady has experience to know he was a wealthy man in distraught state.

“Can I trust you with my identity?”

“You can share, but you don’t have to. We don’t judge—because once you’re with us, you leave behind the identity you came with. When you feel ready to return to the outside world, you’re free to go. Just as we don’t ask who you were, you won’t be treated any differently from anyone else while you’re here. But we do need to understand your concern… and what kind of help you’re seeking from us.”

“I will stay as Maanveer. I am going through guilt and pain of separation from my wife. She is my world. I am looking or ways of penance and find some peace. And if that may lead me to my wife. “

“We don’t insist anyone share their story—we don’t need to know. Anyone seeking peace is welcome to join us. But know this: we live by strict rules and follow an old-school way of life. As long as you’re with us, you must abide by those rules. You’re free to leave anytime. However, if you choose to return to a family life while staying here, you’ll have to leave our way of life behind.”

“I will abide by all rules, anywhere you want me to sign”

“We run on trust, not on signed documents—because we are people who’ve already been wounded by that world which runs on paperwork, legalities, and rigid social norms. You’ll understand, if you choose to join us.”

“I am ready to join and abide by all your rules”

“So, here is the first rule – you will start empty handed in our new world. So, all you have will be deposit all your belonging with us.” Maan handed his bag

“This is all I have. “

*****

They were driving through the plains and then the hills of beautiful landscape of Kerala.

Image Source – Internet

It was a twelve-hour drive, and they took a few hours off at night. Maan was trying to stay calm and composed. He couldn’t just order them to hurry. He was at their mercy. Besides, he had a purpose to go there. These people were just driving and working for hours to get him to his destination. They weren’t getting anything out of it. He could be a fraud, but they didn’t care. He needed to get there and they were doing all the hard work to take him.

The normal world, people could have questions in mind – did they have any agenda behind it? But then, they never encouraged him to come with them. They just let it be on his wish and when he was ready, they were taking all this effort for him.

Maan was scared, what if Geet will not be there? He will leave the place. All their effort will go in vain. Won’t they feel cheated?

“You are taking such effort to take me to you place”

“It’s not just our place; you are now part of it and from now onwards, it’s your place as well. It’s ‘Humara Ghar’”

Answered the elderly lady

“What if, in a day, I feel I have to leave the place? All your hard work will go in vain.”

“We’re not here to gain anything—we’re here to help you find your peace. If you don’t find it with us, that’s okay. We’ll still be glad you’ve at least discovered what you’re searching for. The only thing we ask is that, if you choose to leave, you go through our formal exit process.”

The jeep took a turn into the area, and everything seemed to shift. It felt as though life moved slower here, more grounded. A quiet, calming beauty settled around him, and the peace of the place touched his heart. He couldn’t tell if he was on the path to finding Geet… or something even greater. It felt like he was standing at the threshold of a new beginning—a rebirth.

“Humara Ghar starts from here.” Informed the man who was driving them

It struck Maan that he hadn’t asked their names—nor had they introduced themselves. But none of that mattered to him. His heart and mind were consumed by a single prayer: that Geet would be at the place he was heading to. Everything else faded into the background.

“Well, Maanveer, as now you are part of our family, let us introduce you with our identity” said the elderly lady. How composed and calm she was, Maan wondered.

“I am Chitra and he is Sanjan” Maan nodded taking in the information

“As you can see, the place is made up of small cottages arranged in groups of 10 to 12. Each cottage has one room, a bathroom, a small sitting area, and a balcony. These groups are called ‘pockets.’ Every pocket has a central kitchen, and residents gather in a shared dining area for meals—unless someone has special needs due to health or other reasons.”

Maan was silently getting all the information in. This free of cost society was so well organized. ‘Humara Ghar ‘– it was his home as well from now on. He just prayed Geet is here.

“We have 25 such pockets, each with a diverse mix of people, including old men, young men, young women, middle-aged men, and women. We don’t have anyone below the age of 21. Additionally, there’s a head house that houses 30 such dwellings, along with all the head office-related work. This is a place where people with very specific needs stay.”

“So, this whole beautifully stretching town is Humara Ghar?”

“yes” Maan wondered, amidst this vast expanse of land and numerous pockets, which one was Geet residing in—if she was indeed living here? There wasn’t a single signboard with the title ‘Humara Ghar.’ That’s why it was so difficult to locate her.

The Jeep stopped near a big circular building. The huge, not fancy grill gate resembled the main gate of the big round circular building.

Maan stood silently as Sanjan used a keypad to unlock the gate. His heart pounded with anticipation. He was too overwhelmed to notice the wide, open circular ground in front of the building, with its own sweet little garden and sitting space. He was then led to the head office where Sanjan and Chitra submitted their talking device, which were actually basic mobile phones and then placed his bag in one of the cabinets. Two people seated there introduced them self –

The elderly lady “Hi – I am Malini Meenakshi and he is my co-founder Dr. Abhinenrda Goswami.”

“You can call me Maanveer. Once I am confident, I will let you know my full identity”

“No worries. You have come from a very long journey, so you can take rest for today. We will have a general assembly early tomorrow morning where you will get chance to meet other members of our family and you will get know more about life here and how it all works” she said with a gentle smile

Maan felt an overwhelming urge to ask about Geet, but he held back. This place moved at its own quiet, slow pace; it was built for peace, not impatience. He didn’t want to risk everything by giving in to his anxiety. So, he simply nodded in silence.

“Come with me, I’ll show you your room for your stay,” said Sanjan. Maan turned to follow him

“Maanveer” called our Dr. Abhinendra. Maan turned back

“I can see you have some questions in your mind. You will get chance to speak your heart. We are here to help people. Different people have different problems and we are here to help and not to judge. You can peacefully rest tonight. We will make things better for you here” he said with a smile, assuring Maan. Maan smiled and nodded and turned to follow Sanjan

Sanjan led Maan to his room, and along the way, Maan couldn’t help but reflect on how the tables had turned. He had always been the man people looked to for solutions—the one they trusted, the one who carried others’ burdens with quiet strength. But now, he found himself in their shoes. Here he was, vulnerable and broken, seeking help from people who, at first glance, looked like the everyday folk of Kalsia. Yet today, he was the one placing his trust in them… hoping they could ease his pain.

Sanjan handed room keys to Maan

“You can rest tonight. You will get your permanent room tomorrow. Someone from kitchen department will bring your dinner. “ Sanjan left after giving the instructions.

Maan took the keys and opened the gate, as if opening an entirely new chapter of his life. The cottage was exactly how Chitra ji has explained. Maan kept the keys on the small round table having two simple wooden chairs around it. It seemed to solve both purposes – of center table and dinning table.  The table had two glasses and a jar filled with water. There was small bench at another wall.

Maan knew he had to be patient—at least for this night. He couldn’t go around sneaking in search of Geet. He had no clue which cottage, or even which pocket, she might be in. And he couldn’t possibly knock on every door in a place with so many homes.

He decided to get some rest and give in to sleep or he will go insane before morning. Maan went to the room, which had single wooden cot, a thin mattress and fresh cotton sky blue sheet and a single thin pillow. Maan, not for a second thought of the vast difference in the amenities. He was thankful that he was getting this chance.

He went to the shower; well, it was not a shower but the bucket to be filled with tap water. Well, it was not possible to give free dwelling to so many people with more than basic facilities. Maan didn’t mind it at all. He didn’t use the heating rod, to warm the water. Poured cold water on his body and let all the tiredness and the dirt flow down.

In the corner, a few sets of plain and striped kurta-pajamas were neatly folded. He picked one, slipped into it, and lay down on the simple cot. As thoughts of Geet drifted through his mind, of maybe seeing her the next morning, he closed his eyes. And slowly, sleep consumed him.