Love Unrehearsed Completed M

Distances

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-Distances-

The day has comerather quick then I had anticipated. We all have gathered at Maan's farm houseexcept for Danish, since he has the responsibility to bring Maan here. Wehaving waiting patiently but I'm growing nervous now. Oh god, please help yourchild. I prayed mentally. Soon we heard the car honk and we turned off all thelights. As decided Danish gave us a hint by whistling loudly so we will knowthat Maan is entering inside. As soon as he entered we blew the colorful partycrackers with all the lights turning on. Maan looked astound and surprised witheverything and it took him time to digest that we all planned for his birthday.He smiled widely at us while we all jumped upon him wishing and hugging him andof course giving him the traditional birthday bums!
We all moved towardsthe living room where I had put the black forest cake which I had prepared forhim since he loved it. He looked at the cake and then looked at me smiling andraising his brow as if asking if I had made it. I nodded in agreement smilingand blushing at the same time. He closed his eyes making a wish and then cutthe cake. We all started singing the birthday song while Maan smiled shakinghis head at us as he fed me the cake and then the rest of our friends. As wemoved to the hall, Danish played music and urged all of us to dance. Everyonegladly obliged. Adi asked Pinky and so on leaving only Maan and me, so Maanbeing a gentleman asked me for dance.

"I know it's you whohas planned this all. Thanks a lot Geet" Maan spoke softly as we started towaltz around on the music. I looked up at him stunned, wondering how come heknew, "how did you know" I asked out of curiosity. Maan smiled as he twirled mearound, "well the arrangement, decorations and most importantly the cake, it wasenough to guess who did this." I stared at him still in confusion, "but Maananyone would have done the same, what difference it makes?" Maan shook his headas he drew me away then bring me back to his arms, "well, you see Geet you havegot a taste and style of things. And by now I know you this much that I can sayyou did this." This time I smiled at him he twirled me and my back was againsthis chest, "I'm impressed by your observation, Mr. Khurrana" I said looking athim over my shoulder while he chuckled out.

We danced for alittle while and when the song changed to a soft romantic one, I moved away alittle from Maan. He looked at me puzzled and grew even more confused when Ikneeled down in front of him. "Geet..." Maan started but shushed him. "sshush...Maan. Let me say. Well, I never thought I'd be doing something like this but Iguess love make people do craziest things." As I spoke can hear gasps fromeveryone and found Maan staring me intently. "I don't know how and when ithappened but all I know is I'm in love with you Maan. I don't know when thisfriendship turned into love, earlier I had thought it to my fondness for youbut soon I realized that I'm head over heels in love with you Maan. I know youmust be thinking I have gone crazy, heck yeah, I'm crazy for you. All the timeI keep thinking about you." I said without even a break. I then looked at himto read him, however, his face was blank and his eyes had darkened. He is bestin masking his emotions and right now no one can read him.

"Say something Maan"I spoke as I started to grow nervous due to his silence. He closed his eyessighing deeply and then spoke, "Can everyone leave Geet and me alone for sometime." His voice has this seriousness which makes me shudder. I don't know whybut a fear was gripping me. Every one moved outside giving us the much neededprivacy. Maan made me stand and then turned around facing his back to me, "Idon't love you Geet. There can be nothing between us more than this friendship.I'm sorry if I had ever made you feel that I have feelings for you but Idon't..." I didn't let him complete as I jerked him towards me. "Look at me andthen say Maan. I know you are lying. Until now I wasn't sure but now I'm sureyou do love me Maan." Maan looked shocked with my declaration and determination;I smirked at him as I can see he was trying to lie. "Why are lying for Maan?Why are you doing this to us? Why are you denying us the happiness of ourtogetherness? Tell me Maan, tell me the truth." I said grabbing him by collarand shaking him. Maan held onto my hands that were on his collar and softlysaid," I love you Geet, not from now but from the time I first saw you." Hewords stunned me to the silence.

I can't believe whathe just said. A moment ago he was denying and now confessing! "I first saw you2 years ago at wedding ceremony. I couldn't take eyes off of you that day. Istalked you the whole evening while you didn't notice me at all. You lookedethereal that day Geet in your orange and pink lehnga. I knew I had fallen forthen and so I gathered information about you. I got to know you the onlydaughter of diplomat Mr. Randhir Handa. I had then asked my uncle and dadima tosend proposal for you." I was shocked would be an understatement with Maan'srevelation. He loved me throughout this time and I didn't know. He even saidproposal but when. Confusion marred my face and probably Maan read that, "Youhad just graduated then. Your father had said they are not thinking to marryyou off yet but will consider since they kind of knew me and my family. But yourejected me saying I was under qualified." He smiled painfully and I closed myas I recalled the one proposal my dad was insisting but I rejected saying theguy being not a graduate. Tears gathered in my eyes now realizing how Maan musthave felt then.

After a pregnantpause he started to speak again.
"I know I was acollege dropout but I dropped because I had to handle business. My uncle wasfinding it difficult to handle such a huge empire all alone after my parentspassed away. So, I decided to help him in the business which my dad hadnurtured. When you rejected me I was devastated. I was broken and my uncledecided to marry to someone else. But I denied and told him I'm never going toget married ever! He tried to talk me into this but I was unperturbed, mydecision was firm. I loved you and I can't give myself to anyone but you. Myuncle was very much disturbed with this. He considered me his son and lovedeven more than my dad and seeing broken he couldn't take and six months laterhe died due to cardiac arrest."

I gasped at hisrevelation. Maan's uncle had died to being in constant stress and tension whichhe had for Maan and his life. I knew where Maan was going from here and beforeI can say anything Maan spoke again, "I killed him Geet. I'm responsible thathe's no longer alive. That day I decided not to marry even if it's you!" As hesaid that I was shattered, I knew he has been suffering all this while justbecause of me, "No, Maan you are not responsible for uncle's death but I am. Itwas my stupid decision which had caused so much mess in your life. If anyone isresponsible then it's me. And I should get the punishment for my sin. You knewall this while it's me then why didn't you tell me, huh? Tell me Maan why wereyou so nice to me despite I being responsible for everything that had gonewrong in your life. Why?" I asked as I fell on my knees crying, I couldn'tbelieve my pointless decision could have caused so much miss happenings in hislife. Why god, why us!
Maan kneeled downbefore me as he held me by my shoulders, "No Geet, it's not your fault. It wasmy stubbornness which costed me his life. Had I been not that stubborn, hewould have been here." Maan cupped my face as he wiped off the tears. I shookmy head not agreeing with him and lunged for him hugging him wrapping my armsaround his neck," I'm so sorry Maan." I kept on mumbling sorry to him while hetried to calm me down. After a long moment I parted from him and stared at himand all I can is immense love for me. Howcan he still love me? I wondered.

"Forget this everhappened, Maan. Forget that I ever confessed to you. I don't deserve you, youdeserve someone better who can balance between relations and materialisticthings. I was a fool to not find out the reason behind you being a dropout. I..."Maan didn't let me speak as he put his finger on my lips silencing my rant,"Geet stop blaming yourself for something you are not responsible for. I knowan educated girl would like to be with someone equally educated, but yeah youcould have at least tried to know me and the reason why I left studies. But Idon't want you to lament for whatever had happened in the past. Those arebygones and let the bygones be bygones."

I closed my eyes asmore tears welled up seeing his love and care for me. He's still thinking aboutme! He doesn't want me to live in guilt but is that possible, I mused. "Geet,we can't have anything between us but that doesn't mean you are no more myfriend. You were, are and will always be my friend. This one day is not goingto change the equation between us." Maan tried to make me understand but I knewbetter. Though I nodded at him but I knew Things have already changed!

Few Days Later. . . .

After that fatefulday though we both tried to act normal but we both knew what we were feelingwithin. We haven't told anything to our friends instead made up that we bothneed time. Our attempts to act indifferent to the past events were all goingfutile. So, today I decided settle this for once and all. I barge into Maan'scabin as I need to talk to him. "Maan" I called as I entered his cabin. Helooked up from the file and frowned seeing my disheveled self. In heartbeat hewas beside me, "Geet, what happened to you? Why are you looking so pale andworn out for?" His concern again sent me to my guilt trip. Sighing deeply, "Maan,we need to talk." I said in a serious tone and he nodded leading me to thesofa.

As we both settled, Istarted," Maan, I know it's not working. We both suck at pretending to be okay.I know you too feel the same. It is not easy to go on like this. We are soclose yet so far. I think we both need time and space." Maan who was listeningto me carefully looked at me confused, "What do you mean Geet?" I inhaleddeeply before dropping the bomb, "Maan, we have a requirement for Sr. Managerin our London branch and I want to go there." I hear him gasp at my words andhis face looked shocked. "Geet, you want to go away!" It wasn't a question buta statement. "Why?" I don't know what to say, "Maan, maybe this distance fromeach other will give us a chance to come to terms with our realities and fate.It will be easier for us to accept that our love has no chance to bloom. Andsince I'm yet to accept this, I do not want to lose you as a friend as well.So, please Maan, I will come back once everything is settled there and I findsomeone who can take up role there."

I had my fingerscrossed as Maan went into deep thoughts. He paced the room and I knew it ishurting him but that's the best for us. Seeing each other and being with otheras friends, it was all becoming difficult now. Maan came and sat beside me ashe took my hands in his own, "Geet, I know and understand why you are doingthis but trust me we can get through this. There's no need for you go anywhere."I nodded in disagreement, "No Maan you are not, you may have managed to becomeneutral to my presence but I am not. And so I need this time and space to makemyself able to do this. Please Maan, don't deny." Maan smiled a painful smile,"I have never denied you Geet; I think I don't have it in me." As I took in theintensity and depth of his words I couldn't stop myself from hugging him. Ihugged him around his neck and cried, Maan held me and let me cry knowing itcan be the last time we are this close.