Chapter
6
Geet, Kunal and Rano went back home and the three just fell on the sofa. They
were so exhausted that all three fell asleep as if they had nothing to do with
their time. Geet suddenly woke up with a jerk her eyes huge with confusion. Why
was she asleep in the living room? She then remembered her day with her family,
smiled, looked at the watch and screamed. Kunal and Rano quickly woke up
wondering what had happened. They looked at Geet to see if she was alright. 'Geet,
what's wrong? Why did you scream?' asked Rano her voice filled with
concern.
'It's quarter to eight! We have to be at Haveli's in fifteen minutes! Oh my
God! They will kill me. Kunal, run and get ready! Haveli is twenty minutes away
so we're already late! One last thing Kunal, do not even considering changing
your shirt more than once. I am already dead as it is and now if you make us
late, I'll kill you!' Geet said with her eyes narrowed at her son who was just
shrugging.
They quickly got ready and left to the restaurant. It was a beautiful
restaurant with a Punjabi decor. Anyone who entered the restaurant felt that
they had just reached an old Punjabi village. There were charkhas and the seats
were low too. As beautiful as it was, it was one of the most expensive Indian
restaurants around.
Geet entered Haveli looking gorgeous in her yellow sunflower Punjabi choodidar.
Kunal walked beside her wearing a yellow shirt and black jeans. They walked to
the table and saw that her friends looked really mad at her. 'Hey guys,' she
said nervously. 'I'm so sorry we're fifteen minutes late. You know we went to a
picnic and we got soaked and we were so tired and we fell asleep. We just woke
up half an hour ago and we came running here,' and she rambled on and on.
It took her a few seconds to realize that her friends were having fits of
laughter. When she had not arrived, they had already deduced her reaction and
this was exactly what they had thought of. Yash was shaking with mirth and
Kunal joined the group when he realized what was going on. Geet was still
confused as to what was going on.
'Oh God, Geet. You should just have heard and looked at yourself trying to
apologize. I thought I was listening to a politician since you were just not
thinking about stopping. It sure was a sight,' Dev said with tears in his eyes
as he was laughing so hard. Geet turned red at that and started mumbling when
she caught herself and looked at the group laughing even harder. She dropped
all pretences and joined the Laughing Company.
They were seated on a low circular table. Geet was seated beside Kunal who was
beside Nandini who sat next to Dev who was beside Yash and Meera on his left.
They had a wonderful dinner, laughed at jokes and caught up with each other.
They talked about the hospital cases of the day and Geet told them about her dance
with Kunal in the rain. They were just about to leave when they spotted Dr and
Mrs. Rathod. They all groaned. Meera said, 'Why them here tonight? Now everyone
in the hospital will know that we were here and for how long we stayed here and
if they heard any of our conversation, what we talked about.'
Nandini sighed, 'I know. That's not the end of it yet, they'll also know how we
were seated. This just has to be the most horrible thing today. I was so glad
that I had managed to avoid that miserable excuse of a man but apparently not.
Why is he in Sanjivani?'
'Aunty, don't look there and don't let him find out that we have seen him or
we'll have to go say hello which I'm sure none of you want.' Seeing the gloomy
faces of his companions, he burst into laughter.
They said their goodbyes and went to their respective houses. She tucked Kunal
in bed and kissed him goodnight. She went to her room and fell on the bed
thinking about her birthday. Her window was open and she turned towards it to
see the raindrops still pattering against her window pane. She sighed and kept
looking her eyes getting a distant look.
*********** Flashback***********
It was one of the parties on Arjun's farmhouse. They all reached there that day
and were having a formal party so to speak. It wasn't going to be the normal
rowdy party that university students engaged in, but a calm, matured party where
the theme revolved around ballroom dancing. It was in the ballroom in Arjun's
farmhouse. It was all decorated in red and black with lots of flowers. It did
not seem like a university party at all but a sophisticated one. Most of Arjun's
friends were there including Geet, Maan and Annie who was Maan's sister.
Arjun and Annie had decided to go to party as a couple although they were just
friends. Maan and Geet were dating at that time. All the girls stayed in one
room and the guys in the other. Everyone was really excited since this was one
of the first parties with such a theme. Everyone dressed up with extreme care
since they wanted to treat this as a special occasion.
Geet was dressed up in a beautiful pink sari with light silver embroidery on
it. For once, she had applied makeup on and curled her hair. She looked
extremely gorgeous. Maan was dressed in a black tuxedo and looked dashing. Arjun
and Maan had worn the same thing. Annie wore a blood red dress which touched
her curves and looked amazing.
All the couples danced the night away with beautiful romantic music in the
background. Geet's favorite song started playing 'Khoya Khoya Chand' and
without realizing it she rested her head on Maan's shoulder. They swayed to the
music. She backed a little bit and looked into his eyes. They were saying so
many things she wanted to hear. She thought she was the luckiest person in the
party and in the world. After the song, they walked outside hand-in-hand under
the millions of glorious stars and the full moon staring mischievously at that
time. Anyone that saw them that night thought they were a couple made in
heaven. It was slightly windy that night when the clouds got pushed their way.
It started pouring.
They ran towards the servants' quarter since that was the closest from where
they were. They were completely drenched by the time they got there. They made
love for the first and last time that night with the rain being the witness of
their love. The windows were open that night and it seemed like the heavens
were congratulating them on their love. After the rain stopped, the stars
twinkled in delight and the moon smiled at them. Geet always wondered what
happened to both of them and their restraint that night that they crossed all
boundaries and showed each other their love. All she knew that night was no
matter what happened she would never regret this.
***********End of Flashback***********
Geet sighed and came back to reality and thought, 'I have never regretted that
night. I did it out of love and at that time I had thought he loved me too but
apparently not. Thanks Maan for that night because if it was not for you, I
would never have our Aditya in my life. I loved you Maan and I always will but
that does not mean that I will ever forgive you.' With that, Geet started
sobbing. It just started with a few silent tears down her face, and then she
started crying in earnest.
Why did he do that to her? She had
loved him so much and he went around and cheated on her. She had believed in
him and their love. She remembered all the moments she had spent with him and
continued sobbing for a long time. 'You don't even know about your son. You
don't even know about our son. What was Kunal's fault in this? Why is he being
punished for that? I know that he does not ask me any questions about you but
his eyes are always questioning. What am I supposed to tell him? I don't want
him to hate his father. I'd rather not have him know about his father than hate
him.' She continued sobbing for the better part of the night and rocked herself
to sleep with dried tear stains on her cheeks.
She woke up in the morning with a terrible headache and she wondered what had
happened. She remembered but she did not want to think about it and got ready
in a state of mindlessness. She kissed Kunal on his forehead, had a quick
breakfast and went to Sanjivani. They just had a few hours of rounds and were
then free to go unless an emergency showed up.
She walked to Meera's cabin and witnessed two very agitated and angry women.
She encountered Meera and Nandini who were pacing around the cabin and
muttering under their breaths. Geet got worried since she had hardly seen her
friends this worried. She walked up to them and asked them what was
wrong.
Nandini erupted, 'Dr Rathod needs to mind his own freaking business. We walk to
the hospital today only to witness gossip. One thing I can not stand is gossip.
I am so pissed right now that all I want to do is shoot that pig! How could he
even do that?'
Geet was really confused, 'But what did he do?'
Meera continued, 'He is spreading rumors here that Yash and I are dating and
that Nandini and Dev are dating and that he saw us in the restaurant last night
and we looked really cozy.'
Nisha
Chapter 7
Geet looked at both of them with a smiling face.
'So what's the big deal about that? Let them think what they want to as long as
you know the truth. It really shouldn't make a difference; you know how he is
so just ignore him. He even knows that it is a false statement so why give him
the pleasure of wasting your breath over him?'
'Geet, I really care about my reputation. We're
doctors right so our image should make a difference. It may be easy for some
people to accept that but I absolutely cannot. I can't stand that evil man!' Nandini
sighed in frustration.
Meera clapped her hands with her eyes gleaming.
'He's telling the staff that there's something going on between us right? Let's
prove him right for once. That will teach him not to interfere in anyone's
life. This will hit him and he won't even figure how this happened. Guys, let's
put my plan in action.'
Geet smiled with pleasure, 'You do know how
perfectly right you are. This is awesome, do that and he'll shut his mouth up.'
Dev entered and enquired, 'Whose mouth do you want
to shut up apart from Dr. Rathod's? I am so sorry about this Nandini, I can
imagine how pissed off you might be. Please relax OK.'
'No need to worry anymore Dev. From now, you and Nandini
are dating as are I and Yash,' said Meera.
'Are we dating? Since when?' asked Yash sounding
really confused and looking at Meera in disbelief.
'Sweety, we're dating from now this moment. Not
for real you idiot, only in front of Dr. Rathod. To prove him right for once.
You know, keep on dropping hints till he can't take it anymore and decides to
confront us in front of everyone. Then we drop the bombshell, we're just
friends Dr. Rathod. The Board this time will give him a warning since they will
not stand the doctors' reputations being spoiled.' Meera supplied.
Thus began a confusing day for Dr. Rathod when he
really saw the doctors engaged in private conversations. He saw Nandini and Dev
huddled close at the end of the corridor. All the doctors knew of the plan and
had decided to help this group. They whispered among themselves about the
'couples' when he was around. Everyone at the hospital had a lot of fun when
they had free time confusing the evil man.
Geet laughed her head off during the day and was
still laughing when she got home that day. Kunal came running outside to give
his mother a huge bear hug. He spoke breathlessly, 'Mama, Annie Aunty is
inside. She came sometime ago and said she'll wait for you. She's such a sweet
woman. She gave me so many chocolates and she was telling me your school
stories and everything. She told me that you were best friends during school
time. Why didn't you ever tell me about her?'
Geet felt dazed. Annie was here. Her son's aunt
was here. Her once-upon-a-best friend was here. She did not know what to think
but she knew she was going to kill Arjun for this. He surely would be dead this
time. She hadn't actually given permission to him for Annie to come over. Geet
walked inside thinking about all the good times they had together. She stepped
inside and saw her watching a picture of Geet and Kunal together and another
one of the two 'couples' and the mother and son.
Annie turned. They stared into each others' eyes.
They just saw each other and all was forgotten. Geet's anger towards her best
friend faded and all she felt at that moment was love. She was the girl, or
woman as of now, that had introduced her to the city of Mumbai. She was the one
she had her first girlish moments with. Although Geet had lived in Nainital all
her life, she had felt the first hints of friendship with Annie and that was
during the first year of university. Annie was a year older and they were poles
apart but were the best of friends anyone could wish for.
They walked wordlessly into each others' arms and
hugged one another tight. They had tears rolling down their cheeks and Kunal
watched them stunned. Why was his mother crying? Why was his mother's friend
crying? He walked up to them and hugged them sideways. The women stopped crying
and saw him all cuddled up against them. Annie looked at Geet and Geet
understood what Annie was saying. He looks completely like his father. And he
is the most caring person.
The three sat on the sofa and Geet made official introductions of both
of them. They talked for a while about small things when finally Geet turned to
Kunal and motioned him to do his homework. He nodded, kissed on both the
women's cheeks and went upstairs.
Geet turned to Annie. 'Why did you come now Annie?
You never even told me why you broke our friendship and now you come back in my
life wordlessly?'
'I'm really sorry Geet. I wouldn't tell you
because I couldn't tell you. I always thought you broke Maan's heart. How could
I forgive you? You know how important my brother is to me and I couldn't see
him like that. I really don't know why I thought that you broke his heart but
at that time, all I knew is that you did. It was not important for me to find
out what happened. All that mattered to me was that you hurt him.'
'I hurt him Annie? He cheated on me! Your brother
actually had the audacity to cheat on me. How could he do that? He cheated on
me with that Naintara. You know the day I walked up on both of them was the day
I had found out that I was pregnant. I was ecstatic. All I could think of was
how I would tell Maan. All I could do was feel grateful that I had his life in
me now and he ruthlessly broke my heart! He cheated on me!'
Annie was shocked. What was going on? Both of them
thought the same thing. She wouldn't say anything until she got to the bottom
of this problem. It wasn't just two lives at stake; it was three. Kunal was
involved in this too. His future had to be taken care of too. Although Geet had
done a wonderful job with her son, he still needed his father's love. They
brushed these things aside and talked about other things.
Geet forced Annie to stay for dinner and they had
a wonderful meal. They cooked like they had in the olden days. They laughed and
they sang and had a wonderful time. But Annie did not tell her that Maan was in
town too. She didn't want her friend to tense up at that. They sat down
watching television after dinner.
'When did you come to Nainital, Annie?' Geet
asked.
'Oh, I came two or three days ago. I was getting
bored of Mumbai and thought that it would be nice to come down here and enjoy
nature for a change. You know how Mumbai is without any beauty or anything,'
said Annie stifling a yawn.
'So how did you know I was here? Did Arjun tell
you that?' Geet enquired.
'Yes, it just slipped off his tongue. At first I
was furious that he had been in touch with you. Then he told me everything and
I just could not be sorry enough. I really am sorry Geet.'
Geet and Annie went and tucked Kunal into bed and
kissed him goodnight. They knew these were really private talks and they could
not afford Kunal to be hearing them. They slipped downstairs quietly.
'So you came with Arjun? Where is that idiot? He
didn't even come and meet me! How could he do that to his own sister?' Geet
complained cheekily. 'You must have stopped him from doing so.' Geet stuck her
tongue out and Annie laughed.
'He's just busy. He had to come and see the
construction site here and has to deal with many people here so he couldn't
make it. He didn't forget to say sorry though. He said he'll come tomorrow or
the day after.' Annie fell into silence and thought about how she wanted to
phrase her next statement. She decided to be blunt about it. 'Geet, Arjun just
proposed to me.'
Geet's face flushed with pleasure. 'Oh my God!
When? How did this happen? He even didn't tell me was going to do this! This is
amazing!'
'Geet, don't be too excited. I don't think this
will work out.' She lowered her eyes. 'If Maan finds out, he'll probably kill
me.'
'Why will Maan kill you? They're best friends
right? What problem will he have with that?'
Annie looked at her friend quietly and became
really sad. 'Don't you know, Geet? The day you left, they stopped talking.' Annie
announced.
Nisha