Enchanted – Chapter 58

Maan stood outside and saw the ultrasound screen from the glass window. Their baby had grown and was moving inside her womb. He was so lost in the screen, absorbing his baby that he had no idea that tears were streaming down his cheeks.

Geet was oscillating her face from the screen to Maan. Thank God she had been able to show him their baby.

Malini ji could not help but observe the three visuals in front of her. Baby, yes, of course. But then seeing Maanveer so absorbed in the baby, tears falling down, and he cared less; and Geet, she was continuously looking at the baby but equally at Maanveer.

Why? How can her experienced eyes overlook all this?

The next morning, after everyone finished their routines and left for work, Geet woke up from the soundest sleep she had since arriving here. She wanted to credit her exhaustion for it but her heart knew better.
Just knowing he was around, somewhere in the same air, had been enough.

Her heart was getting greedy now, secretly wishing he would be the first person she saw when she opened her eyes. But he wasn’t there.

Of course not. He was Maan, respecting the distance she had asked for.

Uff…, she could not stop falling for him a little more every day.
She looked up and whispered a heartfelt prayer.

“Why, Babaji… why am I a bad omen for him? I love him so much, then why does my presence is called unlucky for him?”

Her hand rested gently on her belly.

“Your Mumma wants to be near your Dad… right beside him. But somehow, being close to him becomes harmful for him. Do you understand, baby?”

Sandwiched between the comforting warmth of his nearness and the fear of unknowingly bringing harm to him, Geet slowly got ready for the day.

The committee members were in the meeting and Geet being one, was present as well. And, it was then it came to Geet’s knowledge that there was some serious and urgent drainage and plumbing issues in two housing pockets. And  ten to twelve men from community have volunteered to get on the ground to resolve the issue. And the shock came to Geet when she heard ‘Manveer’ in the list of men working there.

“Maan… veer, working on the ground for plumbing and Drainage?” came out from her lips as she could not hold her shock

“What happened, Geet?”

“It is our community issue and member from community are the ones who volunteer.” Asked on community member, while Malini ji’s thoughtful eyes lingered on Geet, reading the anxiety she was struggling to hide.

“Yes of course. I was in shock because Maanveer has just joined our family. I was thinking it would be warm to make him start from lighter jobs”

“We are not here to assign jobs to people. Everyone is free to contribute however they choose,” one of the committee members explained. “Maanveer, the moment he heard about the issue, not only volunteered but took charge of gathering the men. He went door-to-door, pulled people together, and headed straight to the site. No doubt, he has a rare leadership instinct, no matter how low-profile he pretends to be. On-site, he’s taken the lead, ensuring everyone else stays safe while placing the most critical tasks on his own shoulders.”

“I know… that’s exactly what worries me,” Geet whispered under her breath.

“Geet, did you say something?” Malini ji asked, eyes narrowing with careful curiosity.

Geet straightened immediately. “No, I was just thinking… maybe we could visit the site? Check if they need any additional help—or at least see how the families there are coping. Fixing drainage and plumbing isn’t easy work.”

“We have professionals guiding them, and the control room is receiving constant updates,” another member noted. “Cameras are also monitoring everything. But yes, visiting could be useful.”

“I’ll go,” Geet blurted, quickly and urgently, before anyone else could volunteer.

“NO,” they all said in unison.

“In your condition? Absolutely not,” one member insisted.

“It’s your eighth month, Geet. There’s no way we can allow you anywhere near that site,” another added firmly. “Your safety and the baby’s, is our responsibility. We cannot risk that for anything.”

“I’ll be fine,” Geet tried again, her voice carrying desperation. “I just… I really want to see how things are going.”

“That is not possible,” the senior member concluded. “I suggest Chandra and Sohini visit the site.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.

Malini ji noticed the way Geet’s face went pale with worry.

“Geet,” Malini ji said gently, “you and I will monitor everything from the control room. If there’s any emergency, we’ll be the first to know. You can be of real help there.”

Geet had no choice but to nod. Though her mind was already with the man working on the site.

In the control room, Geet knew she was being selfish. Yes, she was worried for everyone, but her eyes ached every time she saw her Raja Saheb—her Maan—handling such heavy-duty work. What had she done?

She had thought he would finally move on. But instead, he had spent all this time looking for her, thinking about her, hurting for her… and now he was here. He wouldn’t leave her; he’d stay, doing everything no one ever imagined he would.

“I should have gone to the site,” she murmured.

“Geet,” Malini Ji said gently, “we are your family here. Back home, if you had someone who cared for you, who immensely loved you, do you think they would be happy seeing you on-site in this condition? Or would it only add to their worry for you?”

Geet stayed quiet. She knew that if Maan sees her there, he he will lose all his calm and patience. But what about her own restless heart?

The work went on for nearly three hours before they finally managed to fix the issue. During all this time, Geet had no sense of her hunger or thirst. Malini ji practically had to emotionally blackmail her, reminding her how hurt her loved ones would be if they discovered she was neglecting herself and her baby. And every reminder led straight to Maan. If he found out she wasn’t taking care of herself, he would forget everything else, either glue himself to her doorstep or punish himself even more for her pain.

Malini ji, somewhere knew exactly where the reminders led to. So, Geet would quietly take her supplements and food.

“Now go rest. Rajnath is staying in this main building complex, and even Maanveer will be here for at least this week. You can check with them in the evening.”

Geet nodded and turned to leave.

“Geet,” Malini ji called after her.

Geet stopped and looked back.

“I want to talk to you tomorrow. Whenever you have time, come to my office.”

“Sure,” Geet replied softly.

Maan returned in the evening after checking every single house in the pocket. Everyone else had grown tired, and though he requested them to leave, he himself stayed back longer, making sure everything was in order.

After freshening up and changing into a clean shirt and trousers, he headed to the kitchen. He opened the food containers, seeing what was available for dinner. Just as he reached out to pick up a plate, another hand touched the same one. Her hand. He didn’t need to look up to know it was her.

“I’ll get your plate ready,” she said.

“I can do it, Geet. You should rest.”

“Today is my dinner duty. I’m doing it for everyone.”

He gave her the plate without arguing further.

He stood there quietly, watching her as she prepared his meal.

“You can sit,” she said, her tone edged with frustration. “A little rest won’t undo the torture you’re putting yourself through.”

He could feel her anger and he knew exactly where it came from.

A part of him wanted to pull her into his arms, hold her close, and tell her he was perfectly fine. But the distance she had created, born out of the confidence he had failed to give her, was something he had to respect.

She stayed in the kitchen, tidying up as he ate. And honestly, what more could he ask for? Her presence alone made every struggle feel worth it.

Rajini came to check on the kitchen and found Geet working alone while Maanveer sat quietly, finishing his dinner.

“Geet, you are doing all this alone, dear?” she asked, her sudden presence drawing both their attention.

Geet smiled. “Actually, Sanjeev already handled the hard part. I am just finishing the cleanup.”

“You go rest, I’ll take care of the rest,” Rajini offered.

“It’s fine, I am almost done. I am also waiting for him to finish. I will walk back with him and hear how his first ground-work experience went.”

That made Rajini turn to Maan and Maan look at Geet. He clearly hadn’t known she intended that.

“Great work today, Maanveer,” Rajini said warmly. “You took charge and handled everything so smoothly.”

Maan gave a polite smile. “Everything is sorted now and that’s what matters.”

“Hmmm. Still, you deserve appreciation for how you participated and managed it all.”

He smiled again, and Rajini left.

By the time Maan finished eating, Geet had wrapped up her tasks. As he took his plate to the sink, she stepped forward.

“Give it to me, I’ll wash it.”

“No,” he said firmly. “This is my personal work. Everyone here does and should handle their own personal chores.”

“If anyone back there finds out the kind of work you’re doing here, do you know how hurt they’ll be?” she asked quietly.

“Why are you thinking of that world?” he shot back, his voice cracking. “When you left that world, were you not aware about the people who would be hurt?”

The pain in his words sliced straight through her.

If Maan had found her and left everything behind to live here just to be close to her then she could feel how relentlessly he must have searched. He hadn’t moved on at all, and that meant he had been hurting for months. His speech to his wife had already told her enough.

Had she made him suffer that much, more than she could ever have imagined?

It was a summer night, and the gentle breeze brushing against their skin made the walk soothing. They walked side by side, and truly—what more could life offer in that moment?

Maan brought out two chairs from his cottage and placed them in the small extension at the front—something that could be called a porch.

“There are so many tasks around here,” Geet began, her voice tight. “What was the need to go to such a dangerous site? Those drainage and plumbing pipes weren’t light, Maan. You were carrying them on your shoulders, walking around with them—thoda sa slip ho jata toh…?”

Maan stayed silent, listening. He could feel how disturbed she had been and wanted her to let it all out.

“And going inside those drainage lines… that’s not work for you,” she continued. “All your life, there were people around you to even take a plate from your hand. Why are you doing all this? To hurt me?”

“You think I would ever do anything to hurt you?”

“But watching you lead this life… doing these tasks… it hurts me,” she whispered.

“You know what actually hurts me?” he finally said. “I’m a well-built man, Geet. Good physical strength. I can handle difficult work; none of that pains me. What hurts is the distance from you. The fact that I’m not allowed to take care of you… not allowed to pull you into my arms… not allowed to be there for your every need. That… that pain pierces my heart.”

Geet felt the weight of his words. Why was she punishing him like this? Why was she making him feel as though he had failed? He was her hero and yet he was the one bearing the hurt of separation. But she felt utterly helpless.

“Kya karoon?” she asked softly, defeated by her own circumstances. She wanted nothing more than to melt into his arms, to give him every right… but she couldn’t.

“Here, you’re an independent individual, Geet,” he said gently. “You’ve left all your relationships behind. So I have no right to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. And about your concern regarding my work here, I will be clear: I’ll step forward for any task that needs me.

“First, I owe this place everything. They protected and loved my most precious treasure with complete selflessness. I can go to any extent for the people here.

“Second… when I decided to build my life here, it was with my whole heart. If I call them my own, I believe it fully. And you know me, I will always keep my people above my pain.”

“You realize what I’ll go through if you get hurt… or if something happens to you?” Geet asked, her voice strained with worry.

“I’ll be fine,” he said quietly. “Because with you around—your prayers, your love—they’re my blessings. They’ll always protect me. As long as you’re there, I know I’m safe.”

“You’re confusing me,” she whispered.

“You shouldn’t be,” he replied gently. “Even though our deepest reason for being here is our love… you came here by your own choice, and so did I. So we should live here as two independent individuals and that’s what ‘Humara Ghar’ expects from everyone. All I can tell you is what I believe.”

“What do you believe?” she asked, looking at him.

“I believe your decision to give birth to your baby in this beautiful place, among these wonderful people, is absolutely right. There’s no better place for you in your condition… and no better place for you to bring your baby into the world.”

“Our baby,” she corrected softly.

“Ours,” he agreed. “But I won’t claim any right over the baby… not until I get back my rights over you.”

He stood up, went inside, and returned with two cups of coffee.

“Drink this and relax,” he said.

Then, with complete sincerity, he added, “If there’s one thing you can do for me, just one – don’t take any stress. Don’t worry about me, Geet. Being around you… that’s my happiest space. Aur kuch chahiye hi nahi zindagi se mujhe. You are my world, and you always will be.”

He walked with her to her room and peeked inside. Her bed wasn’t made, and the room was a bit messy.

“Why is it so messy?” he blurted, the perfectionist in him instantly reacting.

“I just… don’t feel like doing things these days,” she admitted.

“You sit outside. I’ll be back in a moment.”

“Maan, no. I’ll fix it myself.”

“Have you decided you won’t listen to a single thing I say?” he asked, frustration flashing across his face.

Quietly, Geet took a seat on the porch chair while Maan went inside to straighten her room.

Just then, Malini ji was walking around with one of the senior companions, Mrs. Sujata Shukla—known here simply as Mrs. Shukla. They spotted Geet sitting outside.

“Geet, are you alright?” Mrs. Shukla asked with concern.

“I’m fine. I was with Maanveer, checking on him. He walked me back and then saw my room… he insisted on fixing it.”

“He’s inside?” Malini ji asked.

“Yes.”

Malini ji stepped toward the door and paused when she saw Maanveer inside. He was fixing the room with complete sincerity, arranging everything thoughtfully, making sure even the smallest detail added to Geet’s comfort.

Maan turned and saw her.

“Malini ji?” He looked surprised.

She laughed lightly. “Don’t think I’m stalking you. We usually do a round, especially on this side, to check on Geet.”

“I have a habit of taking long walks in the evening… sometimes even late at night,” he said casually, an indirect offer, letting the choice be hers.

Malini ji paused, considering the situation. Then she looked at Geet.

“Geet, are you comfortable with Maanveer checking on you at night? If you are, that would allow me to skip this side of the walk.”

“No one needs to worry about me. I’ll be fine,” Geet tried to deflect.

“In your condition, we definitely need someone to check on you. If you feel uncomfortable with Maanveer, I will continue myself.”

“Why would I be uncomfortable with Maanveer?” Geet replied immediately. “Saying something like that would be disrespectful to a gentleman.” She couldn’t hide the admiration in her voice.

“So, I’m assigning this duty to Maanveer. Is that okay?” Malini ji asked.

How could Geet say no? Refusing would be like denying him his place, disrespecting his care. And beyond that… her heart simply wouldn’t allow her to refuse him. Even though she was trying to keep distance, life kept bringing him closer.