Enchanted – Chapter 59

“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 a distance, life kept bringing him closer.

********

A week passed, and Maan was asked to choose the chores he wanted to take care of in addition to taking care of Geet.

Geet, like everyone else here, was an independent individual. If she was comfortable with Maanveer taking care of her, and if Malini ji had agreed to it, there was no reason for anyone to question it. The people here had come together to find their own meaning in life, to see it from a different perspective. They were all sufferers in their own ways, seeking only to do what brought comfort and happiness to others. Here, no one judged anyone

Maan told his preference to Malini Ji and other committee members, which also included Geet.

“So, all the groundworks. Any reason?” asked one committee member after keenly looking at his request list

“All works are important and needed, but I want to be handy, right there on the ground.”

“But paper and office work are equally important,” Geet argued, not at all happy with his choices.

“I know, and I already said that. However, I wish to start with the fieldwork, directly with the people, among them, and get to know them.” Then he looked at Geet

“Paperwork has been a significant part of my life for as long as I can remember. In this new chapter, I aim to embrace experiences that were previously unavailable to me. However, that is just my personal preference. I am willing to accept whatever decisions are made for me.” Geet’s heart ached at the sight of him—someone who was always in control and made decisions for others—now standing, allowing others to decide his fate.

“Then why not start with something you are comfortable with?” Geet pushed

“I will do whatever is given to me. But I will be prefer not doing things in I did earlier that took away my focus from the problems my wife was facing.”

The pain and the guilt in his voice cut through her.

“Let’s not force on him, Geet. Maanveer, how about doing the cleaning work? I think we need one more person there.”

“I am fine with all of that,” he said, and he looked at Geet. She was clearly not happy. But, just like her, it is his individual journey till she takes him back into her life.

“So, from tomorrow, Maanveer will look after Geet’s care because he is someone she somehow listens to, and cleaning responsibilities for this main building, with Sujit and Raman.” Announced one committee member

“Fine”

“And, you will now move from your temporary stay here and shift to cottage No. 4 in pocket 12.”

*****

The next day, Maan was on duty on time. While Geet, on the other hand, was restless. He, her king, will be doing the cleaning. It’s all her doing; what she has pushed him into.

Geet was called by Mrs Malini to her office.

“Good Morning, Geet. Come take a seat.”

“Good morning, ” Geet took her seat

Mrs. Malini got tea for them from the office kitchen. “You are far away from your family, left that world. In this condition, people can become overly emotional, even when around their family. But you have left them all. You must be missing them. Your mother – do you miss her?”

Geet had tears in her eyes, and the moment she closed them, the stream of tears made their way to her cheeks

“I’m sorry.”

“No, need to be.” She forwarded her the tissue box, “Wipe your face. I am sorry if I am crossing the boundry. But we need to know little of your background to help you. I feel, we am not able to help you need, emotionally”

“No, Malini Ji. If it weren’t for all of you, where would I have been safe? You can ask me anything, and I will answer to the best of my ability.” She paused, looked down at her hands resting on her lap, took a deep breath, and then looked up.

“I do miss my mother, my family, and everyone. These days more. And I feel guilty for all the pain they are going through because of me. ”

“They love you a lot?” “I am not in a position to measure their love.”

“Then allow me to be your mother for these two months. I don’t want you to miss your mother’s comfort. You can talk your heart out with me; it will stay with me, and it will be with me, only for you.”

“You are already a mother like me.”

“You left your family when you were pregnant. Probably hurt by your in-laws or husband? But for that, why did you hurt your family?”

“No, no. My husband can never hurt me. Not in my dreams, not in his dreams.”

“He loved you?” It hit Geet so hard. What has she done? People are doubting his love. Epitome of love for her! They are doubting his love.

“His love for me is so vast that it breaks my heart. How can anyone love someone so much? His love for me is like a sea or a sky – wide, deep, high, limitless.”

“Geet, what made you want to leave that world? I have seen you so lost and in so much pain. With such a loving family and a caring husband, what led you to consider leaving that life? I remember that you didn’t want to live until you received the news that you were expecting a child.”

“They all love me, but what if I am not good enough for someone who loves me more than anything in this world. What if I am a dark shadow of his life?”

“What? Are you talking about your husband? I can see how much you love him, how can you be a dark shadow of his life? And you left the loving world with people who loved you for this thought?”

“Its not just a thought. There have been incidents. His life has been in danger, and he had a narrow escape not once but multiple times. And each time I have been with him.”

“And that made you think you are just a dark shadow in his life? And you left him-your love, and his love, abandoned? I bet no one can say that two people who love each other so deeply could ever be bad for each other.”

“My family loves me, and they will never see from that vision. Two people who really care for him, worry for him, they got worried and made me realize what I was denying to see. And then slowly, incidents kept happening, and I realized, I am not good for him. I can bear any pain that life gives me, but even a small chance of danger to him, I cannot take.”

“Geet, so much love!! I can see, how can any good man not love an innocent soul like you. I can now understand why my heart has a special corner for you. But darling, being in the place of your mother, I can confidently tell you one thing – With the innocent heart that you carry in this materialistic world, and the pure love that you carry in your heart for your husband, you can never ever be a dark shadow of his life. I am sure he must believe that you are the light of his life.”

“True he thinks that way. But I cannot risk any danger to him. I would better find a different world far away from him. That is what I thought. With all those back-to-back incidents.”

“Think it the other way, your presence has only saved him from bigger danger. I will never ask you to leave this place without your wish. But darling, don’t think you are bad for him. Because you are not.”

Geet smiled and nodded

“Okay, I also wanted to ask you one more thing.” Said Malini ji

“Are you okay with Maanveer looking after you. He won’t interfere beyond the limit, that I can tell.”

“I do not have even a penny’s doubt on him. But why trouble him? He will be late going to pocket 12 late at night.”

“We need to pull him in because he has ways to make you listen to him. For some reason, his frustration works on you, and you do not deny him. You have respect for him.”

“I do. Very much,” Geet added.

“So, in these days of yours and the stubborn that you are, he needs to be with you, to take care of you. But, I only wanted to check if you are not uncomfortable. And don’t worry about him commuting at night. Humara ghar is safe, and he is smart and agile. Don’t doubt his capabilities.”

“How can I?” Geet said, almost to herself, but Malini ji heard it.

And there was the click at the door, and Maan appeared. Geet’s heart skipped a beat. He looked so raw. Their eyes met for a brief moment, but he was quick to look away. She could sense that he had been physically engaged with his duty.

“I am here to get some cleaning done. I can come later.”

It was inevitable for anger to not wrap up on her head. Equality of work, she can preach to the whole world. She could follow it herself, but not him. He was her king, and this was a sin. He was not designed to do such work. He was there to rule, let people know what and how to do.

“What are you doing?” She lost all her cool and demanded an answer. It did not even take a fraction of a second for Maan to understand her

“My job! I will come later. I had no idea a meeting was going on here.”

“We won’t be disturbed. Please carry on,” Malini ji said, closely observing their expressions—especially Geet’s. Her face and body had visibly tensed at the sight of the cleaning supplies he carried. It was a reaction Malini ji had never seen in her before. Geet had always respected every kind of work and had even offered to do all sorts of chores herself, though she was not allowed to in her current condition.

“Malini ji, may I leave? I’m not feeling well.” Sid Geet, her way to show her frustration to him.

“Alright. Come, I’ll drop you,” Malini ji replied.

“Maan… veer can help me. After all, he has taken responsibility for my care.”

Malini ji did not miss the satire and anger woven into her tone. Nor did she miss the slight, very slight curve that appeared at the corner of Maanveer’s lips. A curve that told a story. A story of familiarity.

There was no amusement on his face, unlike any stranger, who would have it, with the way Geet was behaving

“I will drop you,” He plainly offered. Geet responded bylooking away.

“Malini ji, I will be back after settling Geet and continuing my job.” Maanveer seemed like some superman. He was unwavering; he clearly stated to Geet that he would get her rested and get back to his work.

Such a balance headed – Did he really need this ‘Humara Ghar’ to get out of his guilt? She wondered.

As he walked Geet back to her cottage, Malini ji kept watching them. Though they walked separately, without any physical contact, she could still sense the quiet ease of familiarity they shared.

Whatever it was—even if it were her own overthinking, which she ninety-nine percent dismissed as overthinking — at this moment, Maanveer felt god-sent for Geet.

They reached the cottage without exchanging a word.
“Go lie down. I’ll get some water for you.”

“Hmmm… and then you can lecture me,” she said.

“You are your own person here—I won’t lecture you. You’ve carried yourself with such grace, and I’m proud of you, Geet. Don’t act against your nature. Since when did work become something to be judged? These are simply the roles we play in life. There, I had to lead an empire—my business and my people. Here, my role is different.”

“It’s not about the job. You are, and will always be, my king. It just hurts to see you like this.”

“And you, my queen. I am not angry with you for leaving the luxury of the palace, especially given the current situation. I am very proud of you. You have carried yourself with grace in this new world. I have been searching for pride in your eyes—pride that shows I am a real king, one who can take care of his people in any situation, not just when he has money and power. If you only see this all with a different glass.”

Geet did not say anything. He would not listen and bring out all his philosophy to explain to her. She was a normal human who was hurting seeing him in hardship. She was always proud of him; she didn’t need to change any glasses. This was simply hurting her.

Maan left after a while. She knew – for his job. Left lonely, Geet reflected on how she was feeling.

If she was hurting seeing him like this, what would he gone through when she had disappeared from his life? How he must have felt seeing her pregnant and in this hardship. She took a deep breath. It was all so complex, their situations and emotions. How long can she carry on with it without breaking?

Two months passed with Maan doing various jobs there, building close connections with people, becoming one of them, along with, all while taking care of Geet.

While taking care of Geet, he maintained the decorum of Humara Ghar, carefully keeping that distance. He made sure she ate properly, took all her medicines, and accompanied her on short walks. When she went to bed, he would sit outside the cottage door, talking to her about the stars and the moon, about love, journeys, and people.

Maan never spoke of their life. That path led to memories, expectations, and reality—and even their most beautiful memories would only bring her pain. Instead, he chose an entirely different journey. Geet would slowly lose herself in his words, in his voice, in the quiet reassurance of his presence nearby. He spoke of the wonders of the world and things like that until sleep gently claimed her.

There were times when silence covered the space between them. Tears would gather in her eyes, and she would begin to blame herself—for his pain, for the distance between them. Maan did not want her to walk that path of thoughts, especially in this condition.

He did not comfort her physically—no embrace, not even a soft peck on her forehead. That would disturb the dignity of the place and the delicacy of their situation. Instead, he created warmth and an unspoken embrace by weaving a beautiful world through endless conversations in the night.

Sometimes, they sipped coffee outside her cottage. Those moments were quiet—no words, just the comfort of each other’s presence.

In addition to taking care of Geet, Maan held several jobs over the past two months. He started with cleaning, then moved on to being a driver, providing elderly care, and working on a farm. Recently, he has been employed at a herbs and spice center run by Humara Ghar. This center attracts tourists who visit both the spice center and the spice garden. Maan often worked as a guide, sharing information about various spices and herbs one day, and the next day, he would take on the role of a salesman. The job responsibilities were rotated among the six people working at the center. Spice Center was one of the key sources of income for Humara Ghar.

But Maan had been restless these days. He was posted far from the main building where Geet stayed, and her delivery date was dangerously close. Their baby could arrive any day, any moment now. When would he get to hold the child? How would it feel?

He prayed to God for the strength to keep his emotions in control.

Maan was lost in thought as he arranged the boxes on the shelf when the landline on the counter rang. He picked it up.

“Maanveer,” Mr. Goswami’s voice came from the other end, edged with urgency. Maan’s alert heart began to race.

“Yes, Goswami ji. Is everything all right?”

“Maanveer, Geet has been hospitalized. She’s in labor.”

“How is she? Is she okay?” Maan had countless questions, but only a few escaped him in one breath.

“She’s in pain and keeps asking for just one thing. Malini ji strongly believes that only you can bring her what she’s asking for.”

“What is it? I’ll do anything—anything she wants. Just tell her to take care of herself. What is she asking for?”

“I don’t know who he is or why Malini ji thinks you can bring him to her,” Mr. Goswami said softly, “but Geet is repeatedly asking for her Maan to be by her side. She’s losing patience. Malini ji believes you can bring her Maan to her.”

Maan slowly looked up at the sky.
“Geet ke Babaji… thank you.”

Then, he said to Goswami Ji, “Tell her I am bringing her Maan to her—sooner than she expects. Ask her to take care of herself until I bring her Maan to her. Once her Maan is there, he will take care of everything.”