BEAUTIFULLY FLAWED, PART 55

BEAUTIFULLY FLAWED

PART 55

Air in the room shifted, when Geet raised her head from Nikita’s shoulder she found Maan standing in the doorway. Nikita stepped back, leaving Geet on her own. A fresh wave of emotion hit her as she looked into the eyes she had thought she wouldn’t see again.

It was nothing short of a miracle.

Maan didn’t move; he stayed rooted at the door taking her in. Then like a tornado he came at her, pulling her against him so fast n tight that all breath whooshed out of Geet’s lungs. Her arms wrapped around his neck as Maan swept her off the floor.

When he put her down, his voice was quivery at her ear. And it’s proved again, wherever you go, however far you run… I am going to get you. We are meant to be together. Tears streamed down both their faces, uninhibited. But this is the last time Geet. I don’t think I’ll live through another of your failed run off. Maan flattened his hand over her face removing the hairs that obstructed her eyes from him while Geet stood overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events. She tried to form some words… an apology? A thanks? The news of her pregnancy? Something… anything.

Maan, I-

Don’t... First of all, we get out of this shithole. Nikita take Geet to our hotel in your car. I will get her bag and follow you in mine. Before Nikita took her out, Geet hugged Maan fiercely; in return he wiped her tears n kissed her lips. We have a lot to talk about, love.

Nikita walked Geet to her car that rested on the other side of the road, across the Inn. They slid inside. I have to tell my friend that his lead was right n I have found you, but my phone hasn’t got signal. I’ll go see if Maan’s cell has any.

Maan came out of the Inn with Geet’s duffle bag n threw it in the back seat of his car that stood beside the Inn’s disfigured entrance. Nikita crossed the road n jogged to Maan while Geet saw them from inside the car. They argued for few seconds over something before Maan gave her his phone n sat inside the vehicle. Geet smiled through tears at the always disagreeing pair of siblings. A man with a suitcase walked past Maan n Nikita. Although, as he moved ahead he left the suitcase inches away from where Nikita was standing beside Maan’s car and talking on the phone.

To Geet’s eyes it felt odd. Maan n Nikita, however, didn’t seem to notice the suitcase sitting idly on the road. Geet’s eyes looked for the owner of the suitcase. He looked back to see the suitcase n hurried down the road. He hadn’t left it back by mistake, which was so weird. Something was wrong, Geet’s thought as she got out of the car n started to cross the road. Maan looked at her with raised brows through the windshield. She pointed towards the suitcase. Before Maan could turn his head to see what she was indicating, there was a blast... a massive pulse of energy and heat that hurled Geet back at the car. She smacked against metal n glass sliding down to the ground.

The deafening noise made her ears ring followed by fire n gravel flying everywhere. Geet sat sprawled feeling no pain, nothing. Something wet was running down the back of her head and her ears still rang. There was black smoke all around n no movements. She searched for Maan, mouth trying to form his name but could only cough in the smoke, inhaling too much of it. Her eyes started to drop n body went slack, dropping sideways giving in to the oblivion as Nikita’s words flowed through her brain.

"Until you have that phone, you are traceable."

Geet woke up to hospital sounds- machines beeping, general hustle-bustle of people moving outside her door. The subtle noises were oddly low, humming at a distance. With great effort she opened her heavy eyes and sat up, practically feeling the blood rush in her veins at her movement. Her back instantly throbbed with pain as all the IVs attached to her body tried to pull her back. A nurse rushed inside saying something. With narrowed eyes, Geet looked at the nurse to discern her words but even her voice seemed distant. Geet patted her left ear with palm figuring out that it wasn’t quite working.

Maan… Nikita, where are they? She yanked the tubes off her arms n neck, wincing at the sting, n shambled towards the door. The nurse protested but couldn’t stop her. Outside the door, Geet struggled at the sudden burst of light. She made her way to the enquiry desk where the woman was shocked at her sight.

Can you tell me… where Maan Singh Khurana n Nikita Khurana is? Her voice was uncharacteristically rough like she had swallowed a fistful of course rocks.

Room no. 36 n 37, fourth floor. Ma’am, are you sure you should be here?

Without answering, Geet took the elevator n got off on fourth floor. She looked left n right, asked a stranger where Room 36 n 37 were, then proceeded towards them with the support of wall. There were people huddled outside the two rooms, faces somber. Opening the door Geet looked inside the first room. A couple of doctors were standing; nurses were switching off the machines n in middle of activity lay a body covered in white sheet till the head, immobile. The stench of death hung thick in the air. Geet just somehow knew; she was too familiar with it. No. She sobbed, running to the other room.

Geet felt Maan before she even opened the door. Nobody was there in this room. Maan was lying on the bed, absolutely pale, so pale, he looked… dead. Geet was harshly turned around as few doctors went inside Maan’s room. You killed them. It was Dadimaa spitting the words at Geet. She was hysteric. You killed my children. I told him to leave you. I told him- Somebody pulled Dadimaa away n Geet’s legs shook. She collapsed, in shock, disbelief. Several people came to her aid, but not a second later she rose n ran. Her wobbly legs supporting her gingerly; her heart throbbed, struggling to pump enough blood.

People stared frighteningly as an injured girl ran through the corridors in hospital gown, nobody quite feeling her loss.

She took the flight of stairs, going down n down as her mind did, spiraling down in abyss so crippled with pain. Through the hallway she came out in the open, n still didn’t stop running-now huffing n stumbling in middle of the road. Several beings gasped, few thought she was deranged. Vehicles had to change course at last moment so they wouldn’t run into her. Geet jumped aside at the road- clueless, weeping. A lost soul in crowd. 

You said… you would never leave me. You promised to always be there to love me n protect me. Yet here I live n you’re gone. I don’t want to live. I… refuse to live. She whispered n sobbed, like Maan could hear any of it. A heavy truck was making its way on the busy road; she eyed its approach hungrily, smiling at sweet sensation that coursed at the idea of eluding all pain n going to her Maan.

The truck was coming nearer n she took a step out of the darkness. Its roar was musical to her ears- her way to Maan. I’m coming. She told just as the truck reached the desired spot, she stepped in front of it, caught in its blinding headlights. But, there was some life inside her left. It wasn’t hers. Her hand as if controlled by some outwardly power moved to her belly. She heard the thump, time stopping as she felt what she had failed to notice till now. Maan’s part in her. At last second, she stepped back. The driver of the truck flew profanities at her as Geet again fell unconscious on the road.

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