CHAPTER
55 (A). AAKASH NARRATES GEET'S STORY!
Place - The City Hospital
It was a gloomy atmosphere in the hospital where four people were in
Operation Theatre fighting for their lives while their families prayed to each
and every God they believed with hope that one of the Gods would save the
injured. Maan sat by his Daadi holding her hand while Daadima was weeping
softly with her head on Maan's shoulder. Annie, Dev, Arjun and NT were standing
nearby talking softly amongst each other, NT with tears in her eyes and Dev
comforting her while Annie and Arjun were infusing hope in each other with
their words. Geet was inside in the OT in the next floor as her head was being
operated due to too much bleeding. Shyam stood in shock in one corner with
tears falling from his eyes as his wife struggled in the operation theatre
nearby with her premature delivery. Aakash sat on a bench near Shyam with
horror written on his face as he realized that inside the OT four members of
his family were fighting for their lives. He was still in shock over what had
happened. It had only sunk in his head that he was the most to suffer if
something happened to anyone inside the OT. On one side of Aakash sat his
mother, Manorama aka Maamiji crying softly and on his other side sat Paayal
giving him comfort by small gesture of holding his hands. Maamaji was pacing
around worried for his mother, niece, nephew and almost daughter. Naaniji was
in OT across the hall due to the heart surgery being done on her. Right beside
Paayal sat Khushi with tears flowing from her eyes, her lips silently chanting
prayer for all four people in OT, who had created places for themselves in her
heart only in two months, especially her Arnavji. Inside the OT in the above
floor, Arnav was being operated as the knife had damaged some of his vital
organs and the surgeons were racing against time to repair the damages. Beside
Khushi sat Lavanya, Amma, Bauji and Buaji all worried for the Raizadas.
Paayal tugged Aakash's hand and he turned to look at her. "Sab theek ho
jaayega, Aakash. Bas aap honsla rakhiye." Aakash felt his shock give away to
tears and he leaned on Paayal's shoulder as tears fell from his eyes. He
whispered in between tears, "Meri Naani... Meri Di... Mera Bhai ...Meri
Geetto!" Paayal frowned, "Geetto?"
Aakash looked up, his eyes red due to tears, "Haan! Mmmeri...G g g geetto!", he
mumbled with stammers. He looked around with wild eyes as his mind showed him the
picture of Geet lying on a stretcher taken to the OT. He looked at Paayal, "Meri
Geetto! Meri nanhi si pyaari si Geetto jo mere aage peeche Veere Veere kehkar
dauda karti thi. Meri Geetto!" He hid his face in his hands as tears flew
through his eyes again. His muffled voice came from behind his fingers, "Abhi
toh mile hain aur mile bhi toh mile kaise? Is haalat mein? Aur kis haalaat
mein? Agar meri Geetto ko kuch hua na Paayal toh mera kya hoga mujhe nahi
pata!" Paayal felt tears well up in her eyes at his words. She did not know
what Geetto was to Aakash but she knew that loosing Geet meant loosing Aakash
too. She smiled softly as she remembered how Geet had teased her in the
afternoon. Was it this afternoon? She frowned. The afternoon seemed to be ages
away.
Suddenly a nurse arrived, "Excuse me! Yeh Forms incomplete hai!" All the
people in the room snapped their heads towards the nurse. Maan frowned. The
nurse spoke, "Ji Miss. Geet ka poora naam yahaan nahi likha hai!" Maan was
about to reply when Aakash stood up, "Geet Handa!" The Khurana clan snapped
their heads towards Aakash in unison. Before anyone could speak, the nurse
spoke, "Aur aap mein se unke relative kaun hai? Unka sign chaahiye tha!" Aakash
replied, "Main hoon! Uska Cousin Bhai Aakash Singh Raizada! Main form sign
karoonga!" Maan straightened up as he looked at Aakash in shock. He was sure
that his whole family was looking at Aakash in shock too.
As soon as the nurse went away, Arjun spoke up, "Geet tumhaari Cousin?
Whats going on Dude?", Arjun had given voice to the question which was
loitering in each and everyone's mind in the waiting hall. Daadima and Maan
looked at Aakash questioningly. Aakash sat down with a defeated look on his
face. He spoke in a monotone voice, "Haan! Geet meri behen jaisi hai! Jaise
Arnav Bhai ke liye Anjali Di hai waise mere liye Geet hai! Bhale hi humaare
beech koi khoon ka rishta na ho par maine use har dum apni behen ki tarah hi
socha hai aur logon ko hamesha use apni cousin kehke milvaata hoon. Ma bhi use
apni beti maanti hai! Main saath saal ka tha aur woh teen saal ki jab hum pehli
baar mile! Daadima aur Uski Naani saalo se dost the. Uski Naani toh Dilli mein
pali badi thi par unki shaadi Hoshiarpur mein hui aur Geet aur uski Mom
Hoshiarpur mein rehti thi. Uski Naana ke death ke baad uski Naani phirse Dilli
shift hui aur Geet aur uski mom unse Summer Vacation mein milne aate the." Suddenly,
Khushi piped up, "Kya Geetji ke bhai bhi the?" The family looked at Khushi in
confusion and Khushi explained, "Woh kidnapper ne jab Geetji ko pakda toh woh
unhein Brij Veerji bula rahi thi!" Aakash looked at Khushi in horror, "Brij
Geet ka bada bhai hai! Aur woh Geet ko bilkul pasand nahi karta tha. Woh kabhi
Dilli toh nahi aaya par jitna bhi uske baare mein suna har waqt bura hi suna
hai!" Maamiji piped up, "Hello Hi! Bye Bye! Aur nahi toh ka? Jab bhi uu ghar ma
phone lagaao toh kitna badtameezi se baat karta tha uu Brij! Nafrat thi use
Raizadas se! Kyunki humne Geet bitiya ko padhne ke liye uksaaya tha na!" Maami
sniffed.
Paayal nudged Aakash, "Phir kya hua, Aakash?" Aakash smiled, "Yeh tab ki
baat hai jab Daadi aur Arnav Bhai ke Papa ki banti nahi thi. Isliye Arnav Bhai
aur Anjali Di kabhi yahaan nahi aate the! Isliye main bahut akela tha us waqt!
Jab Geet aayi toh laga jaise ek behen mil gayi! Aur woh bhi mujhe Veere Veere
kehke bulaati thi aur mere peeche peeche ghoomti thi!" As soon as Aakash spoke
Maan realized that this was the Aakash which Geet had seen in her flashbacks. Geet
ka Aakash aur koi nahi, Aakash Singh Raizada hai! Aakash continued, "Phir do
saal baad bua ne Anjali Di ko yahaan bhej diya! Pata hai Paayal", he turned
towards Paayal and spoke in amused tone, "Use Anjali Di bahut bada naam lagta
tha. Toh usne Di ka naam AD rakh diya. Infact, jab usne likhna padhna seekha
toh pehli cheez Anjali Di ke har kitaab ke front page par AD likh diya!" Maami
laughed through her tears while Maama shook his head in amusement as they
remembered those days. Maan was in shock; the girl who gave Anjali her nickname
was Geet herself and he had told the same story to Geet. The irony of the
situation was not lost on Maan. Aakash continued as if he had entered his past,
"Yaad hai ma, jab Geet nau saal ki thi aur main tera ka, tab use humlog Arnav
Bhai aur Anjali Di ke saath Taj Mahal dikhaane le gaye the!" Maami wiped her
tears and nodded, "Haan! Yaad hai humka! Taj Mahal dekhke boli humko bade hoke
aisan hi imaarat banaani hai!" Aakash laughed, "Aur maine kaha ki aise imaarat
banaane ke liye use architect banna hoga! Toh woh haske boli ki phir toh main
Architect banoongi!" Daadima smiled while Maan remembered all the certificates
he had seen in Geet's bag. "Tabhai se ek hi sapna tha uska ki woh architect
banein aur uu sapne ko bhi uske ghar waalon ne raundne ki kosis ki!", Maami
mumbled with such a venom in her voice that all the Guptas and Khuranas looked
at her in shock. Aakash spoke with anger coated voice, "Ma, Daadi, aur Paapa ko
Hoshiarpur jaakar un sabko samjhaana padha, tab jaake unhonein Geet ko dasvi
padhne di varna uske sapno ko sunke toh woh log uski padhaai rokne waale the!" The Guptas looked aghast at the thought of someone
stopping a girl from completing her studies. "Woh har saal summer vacation mein
aati thi aur aakhiri baar woh Di aur Jiju ki shaadi mein aayi thi!" Suddenly,
Maami brightened, "Tumka yaad hai Aakash bitwa jab Geet bitiya ne uu doosra
sapna dekha tha?" Aakash smiled in amusement, "Kaise bhool sakta hoon Ma! Meri
Jhalli Geet! Bahut bolti thi aur sabka dimaag khaati thi!" Maan rolled his
eyes; memory or no memory it seemed her chattyness was an incurable habit! "Ek
baar Arnav Bhai ke paas gayi aur unse boli ki woh har waqt top karegi aur India
ki best architect banegi. Phir woh India ke top architecture company mein kaam
karegi. Arnav Bhai do minute use dekhe aur woh bichaari dar dar kar boli,"
Aakash put on a mock timid voice and spoke in full speed, "Bhai mujhe yeh nahi
pata ki India ki top company kaunsi hai? Agar company nahi pata toh apply kaise
karoongi?" Maami interrupted him, "Chaudaah saal ki, dasvi bhi paas naahi ki
aur job ke application ke baare mein sochat hai!" The families assembled around
laughed softly. Aakash continued, "Jab Bhai ne bataaya ki India ki Top
Architecture company KC hai tabse uska doosra sapna start hua, KC mein job
paane ka!" Dev looked at Maan with an raised eyebrow as he remembered the job
offer given to Geet by KC and admission done in Dilli College for her last
year. Waah Bhabhi! Maan gaye aapke ambition ko! Yaadaasht chali gayi phir bhi
apne sapne ko nahi choda! Waah Bhabhi waah! Suddenly, Maami piped up, "Aapko
yaad hai Savitriji, Shyam Babua aur Anjali Bitiya ki shaadi ma ek ladki ne
Babua ke joote chura liye the?" Daadima nodded, "Haan! Humein yaad hai! Do
choti pehne piddi si ladki aur itni tez!" Maami giggled, "Uu aur kauno naahi
Geet hi thi!" NT dropped her jaw open, "Yaani woh Geet thi jisne Shyamji se hi
nahi Maan Veerji se bhi paise ainthe the!" Maami nodded and NT burst out
laughing. Maan frowned as he tried to remember the girl but he could not. There
were so many people in that marriage that he could not remember anybody's face
except family's. But Daadima remembered the girl ver well; the girl wore two
pigtails and had a sweet smile. She wished she had recognized Geet the day Maan
brought her home; maybe then they would not have to see this day!
Aakash turned sober as he mumbled, "Woh aakhri baar tha jab hum sabne
Geet ko dekha tha! Shaadi ke kuch dino baad uski Naani chal basi aur woh phir
kabhi Dilli nahi aayi! Lekin uske phone call aate rahe! Usne tenth paas ki
poore Punjab mein top karke! Phir 12th bhi paas ki! Uske Daarji ne
khud call karke yeh khabar di! Pehle toh uske ghar waale uske padhaai ke
khilaaf the par jab gaav waalon aur sheher waalon ne Geet ko sammaan diya toh
phir woh log bhi Geet ki aage ki padhaai ke liye raaji ho gaye! Use Chandigarh
ke bade College mein admission dilaaya! Kitni khush thi Geet apne zindagi se!
Haan! Brij wahaan har hafte use milne aata tha uspar nazar rakhne ke liye, par
phir bhi woh khush thi kyunki uska sapna poora ho raha tha! Last time jab baat
hui tab woh Chandigarh se Hoshiarpur aayi thi apne summer vacation ke liye!
Uske baad kabhi usse baat hi nahi hui!" Maamiji sniffed, "Jab bhi Hosiarpur caal
kiya uu log kahat rahi ki Geet Bitiya biji hai! Humne toh uu logon ko Aakash bitwa
ki sagaai ka bhi invitasun bheja tha par uu logon ka kauno rispaans (response)
hi nahi aaya! Arre! Humka ka pata tha ki humaari Geet bitiya kisi muskil mein
hogi? Humka ka pata tha ki uu is haalat ma hogi? Hum ek bachche ki khusi ma
doosre bachche ko bhool hi gaye!" Maami slapped her forehead as she started
weeping again. Aakash got up and hugged his mother and she sobbed on his
shoulder. Suddenly, Maama piped up, "Par Maan Bitwa aap logon ko Geet bitiya kahaan
mili?" Before Maan could respond the police arrived, "Excuse me! Humne Brij aur
uske saathiyo ko giraftaar kar diya hai lekin hum logon ko aap sabse statement
chaahiye!" Everyone nodded and proceeded to give their statement. The Khurana
family explained how they came across Geet while Maan gave the details about
the first attack. Paayal explained her and NT explained Arnav's role in saving Geet two
times.
As the police proceedings were going on, a nurse entered the hall,
"Miss. Geet Handa ka operation successful tha par abhi bhi woh behosh hai, uthi
nahi! Ab woh observation mein hai." A small cheer went on in the hall as Aakash
thanked his God while Maan smiled softly. Daadima and Maami let out tears of
happiness while Dev and Arjun gave each other high-five. But the Police
Inspector spoke up, "But koi unse nahi milega jab tak unka statement nahi liya
jaata!" The family and the nurse nodded. The Nurse walked away as another Nurse
entered the hall, "Mr. Raizada ka Operation ka successful hua aur woh khatre se
baahar hai! Aap chaahein toh unse mil sakte hai!" The family again cheered as
Khushi thanked her Devi Maiyya while Raizada family heaved a sigh of relief. Police
issued the same instruction to the Nurse and Nurse walked away.
Place - Room No. 213
Arnav woke up with a jerk as he confusedly looked around. There were
machines beeping around him and the room had white walls all around. He
sluggishly looked around as his memory slowly came back. He got up with a jerk
as he remembered the last scene before he fell unconscious. Suddenly, he
winced; there was a stabbing pain in his abdomen. He touched his stomach dreading
the blood but his hand came up clean. He checked himself; he was fine. There
was bandage on where he was stabbed; so they saved him. He nodded, Good! Then
he remembered the scene and his eyes widened. Before he fainted, he noticed
that his Naani had her hand on her chest while her Di was holding her stomach
and both were collapsing. He looked around; where was his Di? Where was his
Naani? He felt his heart beat rate building as he looked around in panic. As
panic started to close in, a voice entered his head, "Arnav meri baat hamesha
yaad rakhna!" He realized that the voice was of Maan and his mind cleared as it
showed a scene of past. He had just lost his mother and had stopped eating and
sleeping. Anjali had called up Maan for his help. Maan had sat beside him and
had spoken, "Jab bhi mushkil mein rahoge, toh dil se nahi dimaag se kaam lo.
Dil jahaan emotions mein beh jaaye, dimaag wahin emotions se alag hokar koi na
koi solution nikaalega. So leave the emotions for personal life, but for
problems and difficulties, always use your brain." Arnav concentrated on
calming his heart as he thought logically. He was in hospital so his Di must be
nearby. Before he could think more, a nurse entered the room, "Arre! Mr.
Raizada! Aap uth gaye! Achcha hua! Main Doctor aur Inspector ko bulaati hoon.
Ek baar Doctor aapko check kar le aur Inspector aapki statement le lein phir
aap apni family se mil sakte hain!" Arnav sighed in relief. Soon, he will meet
with his family. He thanked Maan in his mind for his soundly advice. He smiled
softly as he remembered when Aakash was nervous for his first day of college
and he had given Aakash the same advice. Lagta hai iss advice ko frame karke
Khurana Mansion aur Shantivan ke main hall mein lagaana chahhiye! Raizadas aur
Khuranas ka family motto "Logic, not emotions, are the key to solve problems!"
He smirked at his thought then frowned. Lagta hai in logo ne mujhe pain killers
de diye hain jo main itna idiotically soch raha hoon! He shook his head and
lied down.
Place - Waiting Hall
As the Inspector took Arnav's statement, the family was waiting outside
to talk to them. NT, Dev, Arjun and Annie stood in corner discussing the recent
happenings. Actually, Arjun, Annie, and Dev were discussing while NT looked
around worriedly. Dev frowned at his wife, "Kya hua NT? Bahut Pareshaan ho? Ab
toh Arnav aur Geet Bhabhi dono theek hai. And I think Anjali and Naaniji will
also be alright. Why are you so worried?" NT looked at Dev for a moment and
burst into tears. Arjun looked at his sister in alarm while Dev gathered her in
his arms. Dev worriedly mumbled, "Kuch toh bolo NT! Baat kya hai?" NT looked up
and he cupped her face with both hands. NT sniffed, "Humein darr lag raha hai
ki kahin Panditji ki kahi hui baat yeh toh nahi?" "Panditji?", Arjun mumbled in
confusion while Annie whispered, "Bhabhi aap kya bol rahi ho?" NT looked at
them and narrated the Pandit's forewarning to Daadima. Annie looked aghast
while Dev and Arjun looked at Maan and Daadima in shock. NT spoke, "Kahin jis
musibat ki baat Panditji ne kahi thi woh yeh toh nahi!" While Annie and Dev
looked worried, Arjun rolled his eyes, "What sissy! Kya faltu mein tension le
rahi ho! I don't believe in these superstitious talks! These are nothing but
mumbo-jumbo! Sab takiyanoosi baatein hai! And agar yeh sach bhi hai that this
is the obstacle that the Panditji spoke about then you should be happy!" NT,
Dev and Annie looked at Arjun incredulously. Arjun shrugged, "I mean problem
aayi aur Bhabhi ko chot lagi but now she in fine and operation was successful.
That means balaa aayi aur tal gayi. We should be relaxed. Everything will be
fine!" Annie and Dev smiled but NT frowned, "Aap bhool rahe hain Veerji ki Geet
Bhabhi ko abhi bhi hosh nahi aaya. Agar unhein kuch hogaya toh..." NT stopped
herself from speaking the words as all four of them turned to look at Maan
standing beside Daadima. NT continued, "Vadde Veerji ki jaan hai Geet Bhabhi
aur agar uhein kuch hua toh hum ek nahi dono ko kho denge!" Dev hugged her as
she started weeping. Annie hugged Arjun in fear while Arjun looked concerned.
Suddenly, a Nurse came into the hall, "Aap sabko
badhaai ho. Mrs. Jha ko ladka hua aur ma aur bachcha dono theek hai!" Shyam and
Maan perked up at the news and Shyam walked swiftly to Nurse, "Hum un dono ko
dekh sakte hai?" The Nurse nodded, "Lekin sirf bachche ke papa mil sakte hain!"
Shyam grinned happily while rest of the families thumped his back and gave him
a hug. Maan hugged him and spoke with pride in his voice, "Anjali se kehna ki
humlog family ke naye member ko milne ke liye bekaraar hain. Aur yeh bhi kehna
ki Arnav aur Geet dono theek hain." Shyam nodded and walked off. Daadima got up
from her seat, "Hum hospital staff se milne jaa rahe hain. Hum unse baat
karenge ki saare Raizadas ko ek area mein shift karein. Unke rooms aas paas hi
ho." Dev spoke, "Main bhi aata hoon Daadima!" And both wandered away. Soon, the
Police came out of Arnav's room and signaled them to enter. Arnav was put in an
ICU room. Maan and Aakash rushed to sit beside Arnav and Aakash held Arnav's
hand. The rest of the gang followed with Khushi being the last. She stopped by
the door as she looked at Arnav with tear filled eyes. Aakash spoke, "Bhai! Aap
theek hain! Main toh darr gaya tha ki...", he broke off as his emotions clogged
his throat. Arnav rolled his eyes, "Stop being Drama Queen, Aakash! I am fine!
Yaar Maan samjha isse!" He looked at Maan for support but Maan shook his head.
Maami piped up, "Arnav Bitwa, tumhein theek dekh ke hum...", Maami covered her
mouth with her hands as tears started coming again. She shook her head and ran
away from the room, "Inhein kya hua?", Arnav asked in shock. Maama piped up,
"Uu kaa haina Make up ko touch up karne gayi hongi!" The family laughed but
Aakash soon sobered, "Kya karein Bhai? Aaj din hi aisa hai! Pehle Geetto phir
Di aur Naani..." Arnav cut him off, "Wait! Wait! Wait! Where did Geet come from?
And Di aur Naani ko kya hua?" He was about to get up from his bed when Maan
stopped him by saying, "All of them are fine!" Arnav frowned, "Phir Di kahaan
hai?" Aakash spoke, "Bhai woh aapko chaaku lagte dekh Di got a shock and she
went into labor!" "WHAT?", Arnav roared as he got up with a jerk. "Di labor
mein hai aur tumlog yahaan ho! What am I doing here? I should be with her too."
Arnav tried to get down the bed when Maan rolled his eyes and growled, "Arnav
meri baat suno! Lie down, Dammit!" But Arnav was Arnav! He struggled against
Maan and Maan finally gave up and roared, "ENOUGH! Arnav Singh Raizada!
Enough!" Arnav stilled but along with him the rest of the family stilled too. Maan
hissed, "Your sister is fine. She gave birth to a baby boy. Shyam is with
them!" Arnav sighed and lied back down while Maan shook his head. Stubborn
fellow! Rest of the family relaxed too. Arnav frowned, "Aakash what about
Naani?" Aakash sighed and readied himself to receive another explosion from his
brother. "She had a heart attack, Bhai! Her heart is being operated!" Arnav
looked aghast, "WHAT?" But before he could say anything, Maami burst into the
room, "Hello Hi! Bye Bye! Sasuma ki khabar hai. Unka operation suksesphool
(successful) tha! Uu theek hain. Bahut jald hum unse mil paayenge." Aakash
sighed in relief and thanked his mother for entering the room in right time. Arnav
sighed again and closed his eyes. Suddenly, his eyes opened and he whispered,
"Aakash, what were you blabbering about Geet?" Aakash smiled, "Geet yahaan hai,
Bhai!" Arnav raised an eyebrow, "What the! Woh motor mouth yahaan hai? Aakash
please, please do me a favor! Make sure she never enters my room. Whatever
happens she is not supposed to enter this room, alright!" Arjun piped up,
"Motor mouth?" Arnav rolled his eyes while an amused Aakash spoke, "Haan! Bhai
ko baatein karna pasand nahi aur Geetto ka mooh toh kabhi band nahi hota! Itna
Bhai se baat karti thi ki Bhai toh use aate hue dekhte hi apne aapko kamre mein
lock karte the!" The family laughed but Arnav piped, "But she is fine, right?"
Aakash shook his head and explained about Geet. "Agar us raat Maan ne uski jaan
nahi bachaayi hoti toh shaayad hum Geetto ko kho dete!" Arnav frowned and
looked at Maan and Maan mouthed Soni' and Arnav nodded. He could connect the
dots and realized the whole story. So Soni was Geet! No wonder, whenever he
heard Soni's antics, he was reminded of Geet. He shook his head and wondered
how Maan will handle the Motor Mouth! But then he shrugged. But that is not my
tension! Ab Motor Mouth ki bak-bak Maan ka tension hai! Mere liye toh Khushi
naam ka tension hi kaafi hai! He glanced at a smiling Khushi and closed his
eyes.
AUTHOR NOTES
This is a
filler chapter. The main twist will be in next part! Enjoy!
Hand is still
not ok! So next update after 10 days i.e. 8th September!
PRECAP
"Mera gunaah
kya tha? Bas yahi na ki maine sach ka saath diya! Bas itni si wajah ke liye
mere apne parivar ne mujhe tyaag diya!"
Edited by Analeez11 - 10 years ago
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