Maneet FF: You are always on my mind. AN on P 150 - Page 65

The heat was still strong, she wondered why she hadn't been bothered with it for the last few days, maybe it was the constant excitement of finding the mystery man or getting the internship, but today finally she had been brought back to earth thanks to Delhi's heat.

She questioned herself on what had made her leave the nice air conditioned apartment. She knew the answer right away; she was sitting right next to her. How did she always fall for Radha's suggestions? Well because she had never met anyone who was able to be so convincing without trying. Today the crazy woman had convinced Geeta to go shopping; she had insisted that they needed to get supplies for school since the semester was to start in a week.

Geeta never lost a chance to shop but for some reason she wasn't in the mood since today was her mother's birthday and she wasn't sure how her mother was going to handle being alone on her birthday.

Thinking of her mother she looked at her watch it was 10:28am which meant that it was two minutes to 12am in NYC; it was time to call her mother to wish her a great birthday. She smiled remembering her own birthday and how her mother had made it special even though Geeta was away at college. Geeta cursed herself for not planning something special for her mother's birthday. 'How could she have been so inconsiderate?' she wondered. She looked at Radha, she was certain that Radha would be able to help her out, it was last moment but it was always better to be late than never. However before doing anything she had to call her mother. She dialled the number and waited.

Geet, "Hello!"

Geeta noticed right away from her mother's voice that she had woken Geet up.

Geeta, "Hello! My pyaari mamma, Happy Birthday! Sorry I woke you up."

Geet, "Meera pyaara pyaara baccha, thank you. Nice to know that my baccha hasn't forgotten her mamma."

Geeta heard the smile all the way in India. People were right you could definitely hear frowns and smiles over the phone.

Geeta, "How could I forget, I only have my mamma. Well I should let you sleep, go back to sleep mamma."

Geet, "Well now that you have woken me up, you might as well talk to me for a while." As she said this to her daughter she looked to her right and saw Maan sleeping. He slept so deeply that it seemed that nothing could disturb him. She didn't know that ever since she had left Maan hadn't been able to sleep well. He felt safe here in her bed with her near him; it was only here close to her that sleep came without any problems.

Geeta, "So what do you have planned for your birthday? Anything special?"

Geet, "No baccha, old people don't plan special things for their birthdays" she giggled.

Geeta, "That is crazy talk, one - you are not old and two ' birthdays should always be special. I don't want to hear anything, you are only 38 and you might as well enjoy being so young. Plus now you don't even have to worry about me. So go out, let your hair down, find a man and start living your life."

Geet couldn't believe what her daughter was telling her, 'go find a man she said' what her daughter didn't know is that the most special man in her life was right there in bed with her. For the first time she felt a little sad not telling Geeta about Maan. What was she supposed to tell her daughter now?

Geeta hearing silence on the other end wondered if she had said something wrong, she definitely didn't want to make her mother sad on her birthday. She decided to break the silence.

Geeta, "Mamma, you there. Sorry if I said something inappropriate, but seriously you are so young, go do something crazy today. Maybe Kate Masi and Devi Masi can join you."

Geet, "Thank you for thinking of your old mother as young. Makes me feel a lot better now. As for doing something crazy, I am not sure. There is a lot of work that needs to be completed and I can't take the day off."

Geeta, "I don't want to hear anything. Today you are going to have fun and if I find out you were working, I will personally make sure you regret working."

Geet, "Great, now my own daughter is threatening me, what has this world come to." She said in shock while still laughing.

Geeta, "Just remember Geet Khurana doesn't make empty threats." She added mischievously.

Geet lost in the moment mumbled under her breath as she looked at Maan, 'just like her father.'

Geeta hearing what her mother had said asked, "What? Did you say something mamma?"

Geet being brought back to reality bit her tongue and replied, "Yes, I said, what a bother."

Geeta, "I haven't been gone for a month and now I am a bother." She was enjoying teasing her mother, plus she didn't want her mother to realize that she had heard what she had really said

Geet, "Yes, you are. You are 7300 miles away from here and are still making demands. "

Geeta, "Mamma, someone has to make sure that you are having fun and taken care of, what to do? If you had more kids they could have taken care of you, but unfortunately you are stuck with me." She said jokingly.

Geet, "Yes, Yes, meeri ma. I will have fun and will submit proof of my merriment. Now get off my back."

Just then Maan still in his sleep said, "Stop blaming me, I am sleeping on my side."

'Didn't this man ever know when to shut up, he always seems to open his mouth when I am on the phone with Geeta, and even at night he won't spare me.' Geet thought.

This time Geeta pretended to not have heard anything, she waited for Geet to speak. Geet not hearing anything thing from Geeta's side cursed her luck, this time around she decided to break the silence.

Geet, "Baccha, you there?"

Geeta, "Sorry mamma, was distracted for a minute, Radha was saying something. Sorry could you repeat what you said because I didn't hear it."

Geet thanked her Babaji for saving her from further questioning by Geet. Babaji had made Radha distract her baby at the perfect moment. She put her hand on her racing heart and said, "I said that I promise to have fun today and now you can quit threatening me."

Geeta, "Good. Well mamma, I think I should let you go to bed now. I also have to go. Talk to you soon. Love you and once again Happy Birthday."

Geet, "Okay my baccha, thank you for your wishes. May god always keep you nice and sweet like this and may all your dreams come true."

Geeta, "Mamma, should I be saying those things to you, after all it is your birthday not mine."

Geet, "What bigger gift can a mother get other than the gift of her child always being happy? For me that is my greatest birthday present."

Geeta, "Okay Mamma, bye."

Geet, "Bye, baccha."

After ending the call with her mother, Geeta is actually in a great mood, the Delhi heat is no longer an issue and she decides to lower her window and enjoy the warm breeze.

Radha looks at her annoyed and says, "Hello! It is mad hot and we have the AC on in the car, are you crazy to open the window. Come on close it."

Geeta looks at her friend and smiles, she was not going to listen to Radha right now, she was enjoying the cool of the car and the heat of Delhi at the same time. It was oddly comforting.

Geet, "I am not closing the window, in fact I think you should open yours. "

Radha, "Are you insane?"

Geet, "No really, you will actually enjoy the heat of Delhi with the cool of the AC. It is really comforting, the best way I can describe it is that it feels like sleeping in your mother's lap with a warm blanket over you on a cold winter's day."

'She has lost it, Geeta is suffering from heat stroke, and maybe I should take her to the doctor' Radha thought. She puts her hand on Geeta's forehead, truth be told she didn't know exactly what she was supposed to feel for, but she had seen older people do that when they thought someone was sick.

Geeta, "What are you doing?"

Radha, "I don't know, but I think you are sick, I should take you to the doctor."

Geeta, "I am not sick, I am just happy. Now listen to me, I need your help and I have something for you to add to your 'Things we know about Geeta' list."

Radha, "You found something out? I am all ears."

Geeta, "No not yet, first you need to help me."

Radha, "What do you need help with?"

Geeta, "Well today is my mother's birthday, I didn't think of it before but I want to make it special, it is last moment but I am sure you will help me make it special, start using that awesome brain of yours."

Radha, "Okay, I am thinking, but we should go back home so that we can use the computer to get stuff arranged, plus it is cooler and more comfortable at home."

Geeta, "What about your shopping plans?"

Radha, "That can be done tomorrow; today's priority is making sure aunty has the most awesome birthday ever."

Geeta, "I love you; you are the best friend anyone can have."

Radha, "Right back at you, am glad we met each other."

Sitting in their living room, Radha took out her note book and looked at Geet with anticipation. Looking at her questioningly she asked, "Come on tell me, what you found out?"

Geeta, "I think mystery man was there with my mother today and maybe he is my father."

Radha, "What? How? Who?"

Geeta seeing Radha's confused face laughed and said, "Yeah, when I was talking to my mother, she made a comment saying that I was just like my father. Of course she changed the subject and I pretended to buy her excuse."

Radha, "So, that doesn't mean anything."

Geeta, "Wait there is more, there was someone sleeping there, the person I am sure was a man and he in his sleep said that my mother should stop blaming him as he hadn't done anything and was sleeping on his side."

Radha, "It could be anyone, how are you sure that it was mystery man and how can you think that it is your father."

Geeta, "My mother has never been in a relationship ever since I can remember. So the only conclusion is that the person in bed with her was none other than mystery man, the same man that I heard her talk about fondly on Thanksgiving to Kate Masi and Devi Masi. My mother is not one to let anyone easily into her life. Plus I have never ever heard her talk about my father. And today all of a sudden she says something about him. Something to ponder over; can't just be coincidence. What do you think?"

Radha, "Oh! This is getting exciting, you may be right, but then again you may be wrong. The mystery deepens. Who are you mystery man? And how can we find out who is Geeta's father?"

Geeta, "Well we can try to solve the mystery later, for now let's plan something that will make today special for my mom."

Radha, "Sure thing. Tell me what your mother likes and I'll see if we can do something about it."

Geeta thinks about her mamma and comes up with a few things that she knows for a fact always brings a smile to her mother's face. "My mother loves good food, she loves the feeling of floating, she loves flowers, she loves the rain, she loves trying out new things, she loves being with her friends and she loves me."

Radha, "That is a good list; let's see what we can do. How about we order her a special breakfast, have it delivered at 8:30 am, then we can book a flower delivery for 10am, along with the flowers we can send her a gift card for a balloon ride in New Jersey, let's make it a romantic for two balloon ride, I don't know if I can make it rain but I think I have killed two birds with one stone with the balloon ride- her love for floating and her love to try new things. Last but not least let's make a reservation at a nice quite quaint restaurant so that she can have a great time with her friends. " Radha looked at Geeta waiting to see if Geeta liked the plans.

Geeta, "Don't you think it is a little too much, she will get tired and I don't want her running around between states on her birthday. How about yes to the flowers, dinner and instead of a balloon ride, I know that in the summer they have trapeze classes on the west side, how about we send her there, so that she can try something new and maybe have a great time. "

Radha, "Sounds like a plan, I need you to call the breakfast place at 7am NYC time also you need to find a nice restaurant and make reservations; in the mean time I am going to order the flowers and check how exactly to get her into the trapeze class today."

Geeta tried to think of the perfect restaurant, she settled on Marinella. The food there was phenomenal and just thinking about it was making her drool. She decided to call them, who knew maybe she would get lucky and someone would pick up, it was only 1am. New Yorkers never slept. She dialled the number and waited, lucky for her someone picked up. She found out that it was the restaurant owner and after a short chat he agreed on letting Geeta reserve the whole place for a price although that wasn't in the plan, but why not. Geeta although a little concerned agreed knowing that when her mother found out, she wouldn't be able to stay mad at her for long. Since she agreed to pay the price she haggled with the owner to have the place decorated with flowers and candles. Well the restaurant was taken care off, now she just had to remember to call the breakfast place to order the food.

She also made a mental note to call her mother and let her know that she had planned a few things for her birthday. She didn't want Geet to feel uncomfortable or lost when the breakfast and other things started to arrive.

In NYC Geet slipped back under the covers and pondered over what Maan had said, 'Don't blame me' me had muttered, was he just talking about the bed or was there more to his words. 'Stop thinking too much Geet, he didn't mean anything more than what was apparent.' She mentally yelled at herself. She turned to her right and stared at him in the dark, he looked at peace, and he had a slight smile on his face. She had missed all this for 19 years and told as he slept next to her all she wanted was to freeze this moment. Each time the spoke or he visited it was harder for her to control herself and stand by the rules that she had created.

She didn't want to let him go, she feared that every time they were apart it would all end and she would be forced back to reality. But what was wrong with reality she asked herself. Wasn't this moment real? Why couldn't she bring herself to grab it, grab the opportunity to be with him forever, why she wanted to know, she wanted herself to answer her own questions. She wanted to figure out what was holding her back; she couldn't use Geeta as a reason anymore for the separation.

Their daughter was a grown up and was mature enough to understand their history, she realized it was fear. Fear that once she started living a happy life with him, it would all once again be snatched away. Life had been cruel to her a few times before, but she was young and had responsibilities that stopped her from giving up, what would happen if cruelty came once again knocking on her door once again. She was sure she wouldn't be able to handle it.

Just then she felt Maan come closer and engulf her in his embrace. He pulled her as close as possible and once again she was at peace. She decided to chaise away the fears and enjoy every moment she had with him. How could she give up now? She had fought before and now she had to fight again, only this time she had to fight herself. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, let his essence seep into her and feel asleep.

The loud ringing on the phone woke her up, while having her eyes closed she felt for the phone on the night stand. It was her birthday and who in their right mind was calling her at this time, didn't they know she needed her beauty rest. She found the phone and answered grumpily.

Geet, "Hello!"

Geeta, "Good Morning Mamma, once again Happy Birthday! Am not going to keep you on the phone long because your breakfast should be arriving shortly at your door. Enjoy it. Also wanted to let you know that an entire day of birthday fun has been planned for you. You will get all the information as the day goes by. Have a fabulous birthday. Bye"

Before Geet could protest, Geeta hung up the phone on her. 'How rude' Geet thought her daughter sure didn't get this rudeness from her.

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