He stepped ahead, reached to bed, bend down and picked packet. His flowers were lightly torn. He was confounded, why this gift is hare and most of all, where is Geet. Why this mansion is quiet. He knew nothing. He wanted to know everything…. is she ok ? .. omg !! why dint I think before. Kahi usse kuch … NO !!. .. I should ask someone.. nakul…!! yes nakul.. he must know where is she .. what happened her .. I should … ”
“Maan Sir ” …. a call from behind, broke his thought . Nakul came with a cup of coffee. he could see, Maan was holding same packet.. but could not see.. how he was bearing burden of his heavy heart… “ Maansir.. your coffee” he called
“nakul.. ye packet … ” Maan asked, without turning, not able to show his vulnerable state..
“ Geet kept it here ” nakul said innocently..
“ where is Geet??”’ Maan asked, fearing inside not to get any undesired answer,
“ji she is gone to Orphanage for some days ” nankul replied…
“ who gave her permission ” … his voice had a threaten. Nakul shivered .. “ mai..maine .. Maan..sir.. ” started stammering
“why dint you ask me” he was straight,,
“wo.. wo.. you yourself had give me responsibility.. so..so.. I ..” nakul was finding next set of words to bring out but could not..
“ you can go ” Maan ordered. He had not knowing anything ahead. His questions were finished. His answers were delivered. Now he needed nothing.. not a single wish he would do pray for.. not a single giggle, his lip would wear… not a single person, he would desire for… not .. never.. never ahead. Nakul turned back, hearing a loud thud sound. Found Maan door was locked… from inside….like it had been before ….
##
Geet awoke abruptly. Something was wrong she was feeling. Her heart was not in peace. She did not guess what but it was making her restless. Her mind traveled to mansion.
“ Maanji thik honge na ” she prayed babaji for him. She calmed her heart down and lay down. Covered thin sheet on her body, closed her eyes, thought about him. Since she had come here, did not forget him, for a second. With each passing time her heart was calling his name, without her permission. She tried to sleep. She was half dazed. Mansion was roaming in her mind. Her room, kitchen, garden every corner were linking with her thought. She remembered him.
She remembered their first meet. how scared she was. she remembered Maan scold her but let her feel secure as well around him. he asked her for dress and gave money. how she accused him for those money and though, he made her calm . there small interaction became so open . how he took her in office and for a minute, did not let her feel embarrass. Their small coffee and tea chat.. their late night copy making.. his teaching her.. his helping her in sums.. his laugh…his fond..his care..his friendship .. his love….
Her eyes jittered. She could not blink. She was astound. “His Love ” rung in her mind. She sat up hurriedly. Was it love ? .. no !!… then why it came in my mind? …I dont know !! may be its just attraction !! …
then why it dint come when I was there.. with him ??…. may be you dint feel because he was with you, around you always !! ..
is it !! then why I m feeling him.. missing him like anything now ??… due to … hmm.. because it had became your habit being around him.. always, so you missing not him but your routine only !! …
really ?? .. then why I dint miss my Orphanage routine there.. where I had been more than 2 months but never missed it ?? … “ thats because you dint love to live here.. so you dint miss here !! …
ohh.. it means I love living there ?? it means I love being around there.. around him… around Maan ??? .. ……
she had no answer. She could not argue further. It was confusing. she was a girl with no materialistic emotions. whatever emotions she had was true and transparent. she dint know to part her feeling. she knew only to give a name of her every emotion and she named it Love .. yet she was not sure but yes.. she knew it had truthfulness.. a honesty that her feeling was not fake.. she did not judge she loved him but yes, she knew.. it was starting of a blooming love…
She gasped.. her heart started beating fastest.. her eyes became bigger.. her body kept on fire. she stood from bed. her breath was making sound she feared all may hear her condition. she quietly walked out and stood near a pillar. she hided herself behind it. she was frightened scared.. ” babaji .. please asa mat kijiyega.. pls dont do this to me ” she begged.
She was naive but could understand her need. it was love. she needed love . she did not realized it before because she never got this. but when she found care, securities and fondness she started carving for it. she own, dint know when she started needing him. she started liking him .. started loving him. she closed her eyes. some drops fell. she smiled. some more drops came to shed themselves down. they were killing themselves, knowing they have no life ahead. owner of those drops fell on ground accompanying her tears. Their life was same, equal. She knew she had no life with Maan. They were not meant to be one. She could never have him… never she could live further… for whole life..