Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Geet paused on her way downstairs when Sasha appeared and stopped with a frown.

“Geet? What are you doing going upstairs?” she questioned climbing up another step and closing the distance between them, so they didn’t attract attention.

“I could ask you the same thing” she countered. “We’re away from the office, Sasha” she reminded. “Whatever I do, you’ve got no right to question me”.

Sasha pinched her lips closed tightly and exhaled in frustration. She bit back from lashing out and stated through gritted teeth. “I don’t care if we are not in the office, Geet. This is still your boss’s house and there’s a limit before crossing boundaries”.

Geet looked at her amused. “Seems a little hypocritical, doesn’t it? You’re wanting to cross boundaries and marry your boss?”

“Geet!”

“Bhabhi…”

Geet’s eyes widened, and she snapped her head up.

Sasha’s eyes widened and she looked over her shoulder at the same time.

“Aa rahi hoon, Bharti” Naintara called out descending the stairs. “Tum jao, main aa rahi hoon” she gestured with her eyes.

Bharti frowned in confusion but shrugged and headed back out.

The tension released from Geet and she composed herself when Sasha looked befuddled and stared at Geet.

“Geet, aren’t you joining everyone outside?”

“Yeah, I was on my way. Sasha stopped me to chit chat” she smiled widely. “She’s on her way upstairs, I think I got in her way, right?”

Naintara hid her smile and looked at Sasha. “Upstairs? Sasha, please go back downstairs. It’s our bedrooms on this floor and everyone should be outside”.

Sasha clenched her jaw and couldn’t even retort as this was Naintara and this is her home. “Actually, I… I was looking for the bathroom” she lied.

“You’ve been coming to the Diwali parties whenever dadima has held them, and you’ve been around here other times to remember there is guest bathrooms around the back”.

“Oh, yeah, sorry” she mumbled.

“Well…” Naintara looked at her expectantly gesturing her downstairs.

Sasha offered an uncomfortable smile and turned around descending the stairs. She cursed Naintara and Geet mentally, she had hoped to see MK and maybe strike up a personal conversation with him.

Geet and Naintara shared an amused glance and followed.

“Thanks for saving me” Geet whispered to Naintara.

“No need to say thanks, Geet” she assured. “Be careful with that one”.

She hummed in response and smiled seeing her friend’s chit chatting and playing with the sparklers whilst some of them drank hot drinks.

Maan brushed his fingers through his hair once Geet had walked out. He paced the bedroom thinking about their stolen moment and his possessiveness.

He’d been trying to run away from her, but now… Seeing her with Armaan pierced him and he was all over the place. What was wrong with him? He thought.

His phone rang once again, and he answered this time.

“Sameera…” he breathed out. “What is it?”

“Um… I was just wondering whether you’d be able to come tonight? Just for maybe half an hour?” she inquired tentatively. “It’s… our first Diwali after so many years”.

Maan closed his eyes inhaling and said, “I… I’ll be there shortly”. He cut the call pocketing his phone and walked out of the bedroom.

Maan grabbed his keys and started walking out when loud laughter caught his attention and he glanced across the garden. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Geet trying to jump and grab something from Armaan. He seemed to be teasing her and she’d laughed and bounce on her toes trying to reach for whatever it was.

She looked carefree and happy. Something he had snatched away from her.

He blinked and tensed seeing Armaan suddenly throw Geet over his shoulder playfully causing her to mockingly throw punches on his back whilst their friends laughed and cheered on. He wanted to snatch Geet away from Armaan’s arms.

She was still his wife. They were not divorced yet. He turned making a move to stalk in their direction when a hand landed on his shoulder.

He glanced over his shoulder and frowned. “Sasha…” he turned around facing her making her hand fall off his shoulder.

“MK… Are you going somewhere?” she inquired.

“Why?”

“Actually… My car is in the garage today and I’ve come by taxi. I don’t want to travel so late alone in a taxi, you know…” she explained offering a coy smile.

“Oh… Right…”

She smiled. “Would you be okay to drop me off on your way to wherever you’re going?”

“Veerji…” Naintara called walking towards them. She’d noted Sasha walking away from the garden area where everyone was gathered and moving towards where Maan was and wondered what the woman was up to now.

“Yeah?” he answered turning to look at her.

“Dadima is looking for you” she lied. “Are you going somewhere?”

“Tell dadima, I’ll be back in about 20-30 minutes. Also, can you arrange a car for Sasha?” he asked. “Sasha, one of our drivers will drop you off. I’ve got to go”.

Naintara hummed and stood beside Sasha as she attempted to come up with an excuse and her face scrunched in frustration when Maan climbed into his car speeding down the driveway and disappearing.

Naintara watched as he faded into the darkness then turned her head looking at Sasha.

“Move on Sasha” she remarked. “Veerji isn’t interested in you, nor will he ever be interested like that. You need to stop pining after him”.

“You don’t know anything” she snapped. “How do you know he’s not interested, huh?” Sasha continued ranting in a harsh whispered tone. “Our work life could be the reason why he’s not pursuing a relationship with me? because he’s professional and doesn’t want to mix business with personal lives? You don’t know him, Naintara”.

Naintara smirked and clasped Sasha’s upper arm pulling her down the driveway, once she was a good distance away from others overhearing, she said, “I do know him, Sasha. I live here. That’s why I can tell you that he is not interested, nor will he ever be interested because he’s already seeing someone else and they’re pretty serious”.

Sasha felt her heart drop to her stomach. “You’re lying” she murmured and recalled the night she’d seen the side profile of a woman in his car. Tears stung her eyes and she blinked trying to soothe her teary eyes.

Naintara’s eyes softened seeing the pain reflecting in Sasha’s eyes. “I’m not. I have no reason to lie. He’s involved with someone and he’s serious about her. He’s… in love with her” she informed.

Sasha bit down on her lower lip shaking her head in disbelief. She swiped away the tear that slipped down her check and sniffed. “Just shut up… Like I said you don’t know anything” she muttered walking down the driveway.

Geet was changed and in bed when Maan arrived almost an hour later. He entered and noticed her curled up comfortably. Geet shifted hearing the door closing and saw him.

They’d stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, their eyes speaking, but it was only a moment before they’d looked away.

Geet watched from the corner of her eyes as he grabbed his clothes and disappeared into the bathroom. She stared at the empty space beside her and wondered whether he would join her in the bed or take the sofa as he had done for the last couple of nights?

She’d gotten her answer when he’d walked out and stretched on the sofa.

Tensed silence encapsulated their room and only the sounds of their soft breaths hovered in the air.

“Have you seen dadima? She was asking after you” Geet said breaking the silence.

“Yeah” he replied.

“Where did you go so late?” she inquired curiously.

Maan stiffened and considered her question.

Geet waited and lifted her head wondering if he had gone to sleep. She peered but couldn’t see anything due to the darkness. “Are you asleep?” she whispered.

Maan heard but didn’t answer. Instead, he closed his eyes and breathed heavily. He didn’t want to lie, but he couldn’t tell her the truth either.

Both answers would have hurt her immensely.

The following morning, Maan and Geet were surprised seeing her parents sat in the hall with dadima along with a couple of Maan’s aunts who’d woken up early as well.

“Mumma! Papa!” Geet called out excitedly and hurried towards them. She threw her arms around her mother and felt her father embrace her from the side as well.

Unwittingly, Geet couldn’t hold back the tears that threatened her eyes and they slipped down. She missed being at home with her parents, she’d been free and didn’t have the heartache she received from Maan. She wanted to drift back to those days when her concern was her studies and eating food.

“Bete… Kya hua?” Her mother looked concerned tightening her arms around Geet. “Maan bete, Geet aise kyun ro rahi hain?” she questioned.

Maan looked uncomfortable and didn’t know what to say.

“Geet…” Gautam touched his daughter’s head. “Kya hua bete?”

She sniffed trying to gather herself together and lifted her head swiping her tears. “Kuch nahi… Main bas aap dono ko bohut miss ki hai” she mumbled burrowing her face into her mother’s shoulder and hugged her tightly.

“Mera bacha…” her mother chuckled and rubbed her back.

Dadima called them over to sit rather than continue standing. Geet snuggled up close to her mother and with her father. Maan sent a text to Adi to handle the meeting this morning as he’d be in late. It would certainly be rude of him to disappear and dadima will surely be disappointed in him as well as Geet. So he took a seat beside dadima making small talk and answering questions his father in law posed to him.

Nakul called them for breakfast shortly afterwards and they’d all stood and headed to eat together in the dining area.

After breakfast, Geet showed her parents to a spare guest bedroom to rest then went searching for Maan. She found him on their bedroom and on his phone.

“Yes, Sasha. I’m aware, Geet hasn’t arrived to work yet” he said over the phone. “She’d called me and explained there was a sudden personal thing and I’ve approved the morning off” he added. “Anyway, like I said before, can you handle the Punj project meeting or not?”

After she’d answered, he’d muttered that he’ll see her later and cut the call.

Geet straightened and smiled faintly when he turned around and noticed her.

“Geet…” he whispered. “Are you feeling ok, now?”

“Yeah, I was… I just missed them so much” she answered.

“Yeah, that’s understandable” he agreed and placed his phone on the nightstand placing it on charge. “You’ve not seen them for a while and with everything going on…”

“It seemed so easy with them; you know” Geet muttered staring at him contemplatively. “My life… with them. They thought they had chosen someone who’s going to take care of their daughter. They are so happy. What do I tell them when… when we get divorced? How do I face them?” she questioned. It had hit home seeing her parents that her divorce wouldn’t be just affecting her, it would be affecting her parents as well. “Kya bataungi main, Maan? Kya batana chahiye?”

Maan averted his eyes. His past searing in his mind. Recollecting the broken hearts that surrounded his divorce from Sameera. It hadn’t just been his heart, her heart, her family’s hearts had been ripped that day.

“Should I tell them not to worry? After I divorce you, I’ve got Armaan lined up to take your place?” she inquired.

His head snapped up and he narrowed his eyes.

“We’ve not even started the proceedings… or even spoken to a lawyer, and you’re already saying this?” he countered.

“You suggested this, right?” she walked towards him. “You told me to find someone else. You put this in motion” she pointed her finger at him.

Maan clenched his jaw staring down at her.

Geet dropped her hand to the side and nodded slowly. “That’s what we’ll do. We’ll… We’ll get divorced and let my parents mourn for a couple of days before I tell them about Armaan and fix our marriage”.

“You barely know him more than a couple of months, and you’re thinking of settling down?” he questioned angrily.

“I didn’t know you for a day, yet I… almost gave my heart away” she whispered. “Khair…” she brushed the tear that escaped the corner of her eye. “What I didn’t get to do in our wedding, I’m going to fulfil in my second marriage” she mustered the courage to give him a smile. He knew it was fake. “You know that new duplicate song… Sabki baraatein aayi… I’m going to definitely dance to that”.

“Enough!” he whipped out sharply. “Enough. I don’t want to hear about a second marriage or you… with Armaan. I don’t…” he squeezed his eyes closed and grabbed her cheeks in his palm. “You’re hurting saying all this so just… stop”.

“Kyun, Maan? You brought us here so why?”

He exhaled a deep breath and pressed his forehead to hers. “I… I’m not going to give you a divorce, Geet. I won’t” he stated locking his eyes with her surprised ones.

“Why?” she whispered.

He didn’t answer. He tried to form the words or search for the reasons, but neither response came to his lips.

“I’m someone else’s, Maan” Geet informed curling her hand on his wrist and pulling them down from her cheeks.

“Yeah, you are” he agreed slowly, and she inhaled sharply as he seemed to accept it. Her heart cracked and she willed herself to remain strong.

“You’re mine” he stated before cupping her nape and pulled her to him. He pressed his lips to hers kissing her with a possessiveness he hadn’t realised he felt.

Geet pressed her hands to his shoulder kissing him back for a second before she pushed him back forcefully shaking her head. “No… No, you don’t get to do that” she whispered. Her lips trembled. “You don’t get to do that, Maan. No more… Do you know how my parents’ hearts will break? You’re making me do that to them. I am not yours anymore”.

“You are!” he growled stepping forward.

“No, I’m not” Geet answered. “Why? Why would I be yours? This is only a marriage of convenience for you. This is just a fake marriage, one you played along to for the sake of dadima…”

“I know! I know, dammit. I… What do you want from me, Geet? What do you want me to say? I told you I don’t want a divorce!”

“Why?”

He hesitated.

She smiled and chuckled softly. Pain lanced in the soft chuckle. “You don’t have an answer, right? It’s okay, Maan. I’ve come to accept that I’ll never find answers” she informed and moved to walk past him.

“I… I want you, Geet” he grabbed her wrist stopping her and pulled her to face him. “I… I like you, f*ck! I more than like you. I want you, I want everything. Your smile. Your laugh. Your cheekiness. Everything…”

She blinked. In shock. He was speaking. He was telling her what he wants, what he feels for her.

“I’m… One day you might realise that I’m no good for you. One day you might realise you’d have been better off, and you should’ve got away. And… I might be the one to give you that reason…” he exhaled deeply and closed his eyes. He leaned down pressing his forehead to hers. “I… I want you. I don’t want a divorce. I don’t” he shook his head subtly. “I don’t…” he finished with a whisper.

Geet’s shoulders sagged down, and she choked on a sob. She threw her arms around his neck hugging him tightly unable to form a response. Maan sighed in relief wrapping his arms around her waist and lifted her off her feet. He inhaled deeply and burrowed his face into the crook of her neck.

Thank you all for your patience and wonderful comments. I really hope you have enjoyed this update. I apologise for the delay.