A Single Breath – Part 13

Maan came back late at night. He went upstairs to see Geet if she is okay. He raised his hand to knock the door but then stopped. “She must be sleeping,” he thought and came back to his room. He couldn’t sleep the whole night thinking about the happenings. Maan wanted to do something for her but he was helpless. He couldn’t go beyond the promise he had done to someone. But he was very thoughtful for Geet from the midst of his heart. 

Without closing his eyes night fell and when it was dawn, he couldn’t stop to see Geet. He went to her room and knocked. No answer. He knocked again. Still no answer. “Geet. I am coming inside” He called and shoved the door he stepped in. Due to low light, nothing was much visible. He tried to hear any breathing or sob sound but the room felt so silent. ” Geet, are you okay?” Something inside him feared. If she was alright? He switched the light on. She was not there.

“Where is she?” He checked in the attached bathroom, rooms on every floor, everywhere. Then something clicked in his mind. He checked his guns. One was missing. There was also a letter on the table. 

“Maan, thank you so much for saving my life. I have decided that I will not be a burden to you anymore. I am going. Taking one of your things with me and some money that you had kept in the cupboard.  It will help me to reach my home. If I”ll be alive, we will meet again. And if not then you will yourself get to know my story through the newspaper. Till then goodbye” 

“Damn!” He banged on the wall. “What did you do Geet? You yourself went into the face of death? I have to stop her doing anything perilous ” Maan also left to the city. He thought he could catch her before reaching her home. 

*****”*************************

Geet was standing in front of her home. Her heart was racing fast. Her face was dusty and muddy. Her clothes were a bit torn. Her beautiful long hair was tied in a ugly bun and her health was fatigue. She covered her head with a scarf. She walked forward. She had a plan in mind. 

She hid the gun in roadside bushes. She looked at the guard who was there sitting at the gate. She went to him and started going inside when he stopped her.

” Hey where are you going? Go away” 

” Bhaiya, I am very hungry, I have not eaten anything for two days. Please give me some money”

“Go away from here,  Beggars are not allowed here” 

” Please give me any work. I will do anything. Please let me meet the owner of this house” She acted like a beggar. 

“Sahab does not meet people like you. Now go away” 

“Sahab please let me meet him. I come from a very far village, Kashipur. My father had died. I used to live with my mother but she also passed away. Now  I am totally alone in this world. I have come to this city with a lot of hope. Bhaiya, please help me. 

“Which village?” 

“Kashipur Saheb” 

“Oh, this is my village. So you’re from my village.” Guard smiled. 

Geet knew the guard was from the same village so she had said it intentionally. She herself used to take interviews of servants for the job. “Really Saheb. Then you must help me. I am like your sister. You live in such a big mansion. Give me some work too ” 

“Oh yes, yes, We are from the same village. I can try but can’t promise, okay? By the way, what’s your name?”

“Geeta” She answered and nodded. Guard went inside then after some time came back. “Let’s go, Sir is calling you. And be completely silent in front of him. He is a very angry person. But it is not his fault either. Whose young niece dies, that person will become like this.” He was blabbering while walking. 

“Who died” Geet asked, showing a fake expression but her heart was beating awkward. 

“Geet Madam, his niece. It was just two days before, she died. That’s why Sir has become mad. He fired all servants. Poor man, have longed for food.That’s why I talked about you saying you are my sworn sister. Do you know how to cook?”

“Yes,” she said. They had reached inside. Her home, looking around, brought tears in her eyes, but she wiped them quickly. 

“Come this way. Sir is in his study” 

As her feet were moving, there was a surge of emotion inside her.