Maaneet OS: Bombay Dreams Updt Epilogue Pg17

"Maan!" Geet yelled over the phone only to hear engaged tone from the other end. She looked at the phone wide eyed, "Babaji, phone rakh diya?" she said, her voice reflecting anger and hurt. "Agar biwi koi bol rahi hai toh sunne hai, magar nahi, yeh bandha toh Maan Singh Khurana, dusht daanav kahin ke!" she spoke loudly, cursing her husband. "Chaddo!" she exasperated. "If he doesn't want to ask then why should I?" she scoffed. "But one thing, I shall make him ask me to accompany him. Afterall main toh Mrs. Geet Maan Singh Khurana hoon!" she smirked widely.

Geet looked at the watch and back at her phone to see if he had called by any chance and that she may have missed, although the phone was in her hand. She sighed loudly and slumped on the couch, blowing a puff of hair, pushing her bangs away from her forehead. "Todi der pehle office se aajata toh aasmaan gir jayega kya?" she sighed reluctantly looking at the clock on the wall that read quarter to eleven. She leaned back on the couch and before she knew it, her eyes drooped down and she fell into a deep slumber.

 

"Geet?" she heard a voice. Geet opened her eyes groggily to be greeted by the view of her husband trying to wake her up. "Geet utho, yahaan kyun so rahi ho? Did you eat?" Maan bombarded with questions at her.

 

She got up hurriedly and adjusted her duppatta and rubbed her eyes off sleep. "Voh sorry Maan, I was waiting for you and didn't know when I slipped into slumber. Aapko khaana lagaoon?" she asked heading towards the kitchen.

 

"Nahi Geet, I ate, maine kaha na I would be late today. Did you eat?" he asked with concern.

 

"Nahi Maan I was waiting for you. Its okay aap jaayiye I'll take care," she smiled.

 

"You didn't eat?" he asked a bit irritated by her careless behavior. "Chalo mere saath," he said dragging her towards the kitchen.

 

Maan brought her forcefully to the kitchen and made her sit on the chair while he went around the counter to wash his hands and pick up a plate for her. Unfamiliar with the kitchen he was rummaging through the cabinets trying to find a plate. Geet, who was overwhelmed by his sudden care, stood rooted to her place with tears in her eyes. "Maan," she called softly. "Aap kya dhoond rahe ho?"

 

"Plate," he said still looking at the cabinet.

 

"It's on your right, by the dishwasher," she said pointing to that direction.

 

Maan turned to find it there; he took it and again looked around the kitchen trying to find something else.

 

"Ab kya hua?" she asked confused as he stood fidgeting his fingers.

 

"Khaana?" he asked meekly.

 

"Everything is here Maan. I had set up everything here so that as soon you come, you wouldn't have to wait," she said calmly.

 

He came around and sat adjacent to her and opened all the prepared dishes. He found mostly his favorites, pasta, along with some rice and few other Italian dishes. But there were a few Indian dishes, rajma, rice, roti and some dhal on the side. He looked guiltily for missing the dinner she had so lovingly prepared. He served a little of pasta and some eggplant and kept it before her. She was staring at him in awe as he filled her plate and kept it in front of her. Tears flowed uncontrollably at his kind gesture. Seeing her not eat, he picked up a fork, scooped some pasta and brought it before her mouth. She opened her mouth slightly as he fed her slowly while wiping her tears away.

 

She chewed slowly, looking at him, absorbing the love and care. Although she was never a fan of continental food, when her loving husband fed her she couldn't say no and opened her mouth, inviting him to feed her. But after two or three spoons, she wanted to taste something nice and spicy and stopped him.

 

Maan looked at her puzzled, as she held his hand, preventing him from feeding her. "Kya hua Geet, you don't want me to feed you?" he asked, his voice reflecting a tinge of sorrow.

 

"Nahi Maan, aisi koi baat nahi hai. Voh kya hai na, aapko yaad nahi magar mujhe yeh pasta vasta pasand nahi. Mujhe toh humara Punjab ka khaana, mirchi aur chaawal ke bagair, kuch digest nahi hota," she said nervously.

 

"Oh mujhe laga," he began before going to get another plate to serve her some rice and rajma but Geet caught him before he got up.

 

"Nahi Maan, aap toh itne pyaar se khila rahe ho, I cannot say no. Please aur kuch khilayiye na," she begged. Maan smiled at her simple desire and cute whining.

 

"Don't worry Geet, I shall feed you your favorite food too." He filled up another plate with some rice and rajma and as promised fed her till her fill. Geet couldn't believe her eyes; two days ago, he didn't hesitate to yell at her even for the tiniest mistake she did but today he was lovingly feeding her. She thanked her Babaji and Daadima for standing by her side for she could see clear changes in her husband. It wouldn't be long before she would finally see her old Maan back. She smiled weakly through her tears and opened her mouth as he fed her. Maan and got up to clear away the dishes when she stopped him from moving away.

 

"Maan, main kar loongi, aap please jaake aaram kariye," she said pulling away the plate from his hand.

 

"Teekhai, magar tumse kuch important baat karni hai, tum aajao, main wait kar raha hoon," he said walking towards his room.

 

All this while she had totally forgotten about the Mumbai trip and when he mentioned 'important talk' her mind wandered towards the subject. She smiled to herself, "At last Mr. Maan Singh Khurana is going to ask me to come!" she said excited and quickly cleared away the dishes before rushing towards his room.

 

Geet reached his room to find him reading a file and facing away from her. She entered with a knock while he turned to place the file on the table and walked towards her. She hesitantly stood, knotting her dupatta, not knowing where to sit. He removed her fidgeting fingers and tightly held her palm before pulling her towards the bed and made her sit next her and smiled at her.

 

Before she could question his actions he began to speak, "Geet, mujhe pata hai ki main sab kuch bhool chuka hoon aur I had shut you away from my life. Magar I have understood only now that all this while I was wrong in doing so. You have stood like a strong backbone, in spite of all the insults I hurled at you. And after yesterday's fiasco, I am sure that you are the best I can ask for. Will you forgive me?" he asked looking earnestly at her.

 

"Maan yeh kya baat hui, please don't say that. I understand you have gone through a lot. And of course you are not to be blamed. Please don't apologize," she said softly, holding his cheek.

 

Maan held her arms where she had rested them on his cheek and smiled, thanking her for her loving gesture. "I know I have ignored you all this while magar I would like you to accompany me to Mumbai. Hum vahaan akele kuch din guzaarenge. I shall make sure I spend all my time with you," he said, his eyes reflecting warmth.

 

Geet certainly couldn't thank her stars enough today. Maan had accepted her back into his life and was asking permission for taking her to Mumbai. Tears of happiness slid on her cheeks as she grinned ear to ear. She hugged him tightly, unable to contain her happiness. He willingly embraced her into his wide arms before tightly pulling her closer to him as she snuggled onto him.  They stayed in that position for a few more minutes before he spoke up again, "Vahaan sirf hum aur tum," he whispered huskily near her ear causing her to blush and hide in his chest. He chuckled at her shying away and looked down satisfied. He left her embrace and pulled her out of his hug, partly. "Are you now shying like a new bride?" he teased, sliding his slender fingers under her chin and trying to make her face him. She refused to look up fearing her already speeding heartbeat would explode any moment. "Geet, dekho na," he urged. She instantly shook her head but her insisted further. She slowly looked up and tried to reach his face only to her dismay that she couldn't touch his face that seemed to disappear into darkness.

 

"Maan?" she yelled only to find a fading image of her husband. "Maan?" she called out again in fear of losing him as her hands flayed in the air. She tried hard to catch hold of his fleeting form only to realize someone was shaking her. She jerked her eyes open to find a concern pair of eyes staring back at her.

 

"Geet!" she heard Maan call out worriedly. "Are you okay?" he asked shaking her awake. "Utho, main yahaan hi hoon," he said trying to make her sit properly on the couch. She looked around to find herself sitting on the couch but the last thing she remembered sitting with Maan in his bedroom. She quickly realized it was all a dream that had evaded her sleep as she had dozed off on the couch, waiting for her husband to return.

 

"Uff Babaji!" she exclaimed in anguish. "Ugh yeh sab sapna tha!" she yelled to the confusion of Maan.

 

"Kya?" he responded.

 

"Huh? Kkuch nahi," she stammered and straightened herself, half expecting him to ask the same things as in her dream.

 

"Yahaan kyun so rahi ho? Did you eat?" Maan asked as though reading her mind.

 

"Voh, ek minute," she said trying to remember what she had replied in her dream, "haan, voh sorry Maan, I was waiting for you and didn't know when I slipped into slumber. Aapko khaana lagaoon?" she repeated heading towards the kitchen, knowing he would now feed her, just like her dream.

 

"Nahi Geet, I ate, maine kaha na I would be late today," he said casually.

 

Geet again went into deep thought, "Maan you forgot to ask 'did you eat?'," she said remembering the next dialogue in her dream.

 

"What?" he asked puzzled at her mention of dream.

 

"Chaddo," she said quickly covering up her muttering and before she could utter anything he spoke again.

 

"Tum jaake kuch khalo. I have some important work," she gesturing to head towards the kitchen.

 

"Dust daanav kahin ke," she cursed under her breath. "The Maan in my dream dragged me to kitchen and fed me so lovingly, aur yeh hai asli Maan," she said pouting at his indifference. "Ahem Maan, aap nahi khilayenge?" she asked meekly hoping to take the current situation like her dream.

 

"Kya? Kyun tumhe haath mein kuch lagi kya?" he asked.

 

"Hey Babaji!" she said slapping her forehead. Why was he so difficult? She thought. "Kuch nahi aap jayiye, main kha loongi," she said, scrunching her nose and stomping off to kitchen.

 

As she was about to go in she head him call out to her, "Suno, mujhe tumse kuch zaroori baat karni hai. Come to my room after your dinner."

 

Geet stopped at the mention of important talk and turned to face him slowly, smiling widely. At last her dream was indeed repeating itself. He would apologize for his behavior, accept her back into his life, and accompany him to Mumbai so they could spend some time together. She smiled gleefully at him and skipped to the kitchen, hurrying to finish her dinner to rush to his room for the sweet surprise he would give her. Of course it would be a surprise for her according to him for he didn't know she had actually dreamt of it just a few moments ago. And she would make sure she didn't give away anything and act as surprised as possible at his invitation.

She neared his room and was about to enter when she suddenly realized something. "Uff Babaji, what if he doesn't remember about the shaadi and Bombay trip?" she wondered aloud. "Main ek kaam karti hoon, I'll give him hints," she said satisfied at her own decision. She swung her dupatta back and placed it carefully over her head and wrapped it around her face, making her look like a bride. She bent her head low and swayed to the room slowly like a shy bride and upon reaching the door, slightly knocked on it. She expected him to suddenly look at her, stare at her for a while, as she blushed like a new bride and confess his feelings like in her dream. But seeing no response she looked up only to see Maan fully engrossed in his file. She slapped her forehead and looked up, "Kya karoon Babaji main inka?" she complained, pouting like a child. "Chaddo, I think real life mein, I have take the initiative. Magar haan isko toh main badla loongi, chun chun ke," she threatened before entering with her head low. "Ahem, ji suniye," she said softly.

Maan looked up from his file. "Oh you are here, sorry didn't realize it," he said placing the file on the table before turning to face her. "Aao bhaito," he said pointing to the bed. Geet who was fidgeting with her dupatta shot her head up in shock. Wasn't he supposed to take her arms in his and make her sit beside him? Men! She cursed under her breath before sitting on the edge of the bed delicately.

 

Maan pulled up a chair in front of her and called out to her tenderly, "Geet," causing her to look up excitedly.

 

"Thank you Babaji! Finally mere sapne sach hone wala hai," she thought gleefully.  

He continued to her delight, "mujhe pata hai ki main sab kuch bhool chuka hoon aur I had shut you away from my life. Magar I have understood only now that all this while I was wrong in doing so. You'"

 

"Voh sab mujhe pata hai Maan, jaldi come to the point," she said impatiently coming closer towards him.

 

"Tumhe yeh sab kaise pata hai?" he asked scrunching his eyebrows. "Tumhe pata ho ya nahi, I need to complete what I began," he said seriously before continuing where he left of, "You have stood like a strong backbone, in spite of all the insults I hurled at you. And after yesterday's fiasco, I am sure that you are the best I can ask for. So I have decided to give our relationship a chance."

 

Geet who was looking at Maan disinterestedly at his confession for she knew it would be the same, was alerted by the last few words. "Sapne mein toh his last sentence was will you forgive me. Magar now he is just stating he would give us a chance. Agar voh savaal poochenge toh hi main meri dialogues bol sakti hoon na," she thought dejectedly. "Khair chaddo Geet, isme tumhari nayi dialogues bol do, haina?" she thought her eyes lit up in excitement. "Of course Maan," she said quickly giving him a silly smile and pulling his hand into hers. "Aur kuch?" she probed.

 

"Aur, haan Daadima ne call ki. She said she reached the place safely and hum sab ke liye prarthna kar rahi hai," he replied.

 

"Accha?" she faked delight. "Aur kuch important?" she asked stressing on important.

 

"Hmm?" he said thoughtfully. "Aur, aur haan," he began.

 

"Haan kahiye kahiye," she initiated.

 

 

"Kya?" she asked shocked.

 

"Haan Geet, an important task came up. I have to personally go to Bangalore," he said casually.

 

"Toh us shaadi ka kya hoga?" she asked sadly.

 

 

"Arre Maan, siddhu saab ki. Aap bhool gaye he gave the card today morning," she offered.

 

 

"Babaji!" she sighed loudly. "If this is the kind of husband I have to deal with please mujhe yahaan se bacha deejiye!"

 

"Geet is everything okay?" he asked with concern seeing her talk incoherently.

 

"You silly boy, how many times can I give you hints? Chaddo main tak gayi hoon. Just, just do whatever you want," she scoffed before stomping out of the door.

 

 

"Kya hai?" she spat.

 

"Umm' voh," he hesitated. "Won't you stay back in our room?" he asked softly.

 

Here she was waiting for him to ask her to come to Bombay with him but here he was asking to stay back. Argh!! Could he get any worse she thought angrily glaring at him. "Couldn't you ask if I'll come to Bombay?" she thought, "Nahi, I want my room, I want my bed," she growled and turned to leave when he caught her arms.

 

"Then atleast good night toh kehne do," he said pulling her closer to him and lightly pecked her forehead. Anger had clouded her thoughts causing her to not react to his kiss. She mumbled back a good night and headed towards her room, cursing her fate and her buddhu husband.

 

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