New FF: New York times with Maan and Geet - Page 110

waiting for the update... lol

Originally posted by: punjabi.princes

waiting for the update... lol

plz post soon tongiht or tomorrow night!

congrats on 150 pages

Congrats on completing 150 pages!!!

congrates u hav compleated 150 pages!!!!!!!!!

hey hasini

what does it mean by

"so that it can get over"

i saw this in 1 of ur replys
and congratulations guess ur next part will be in the next thread

< nisha's monologue>
jab thum next thread a gayea ho tho please dont talk about finishing it

awaiting update
luv u
nisha

Dont expect too much of hosiarpur drama. I'm underplaying that drama. Atleast trying to according to me. Unless you guys read it and let me know I will not know how it has turned out.

Originally posted by: Hasini67

Dont expect too much of hosiarpur drama. I'm underplaying that drama. Atleast trying to according to me. Unless you guys read it and let me know I will not know how it has turned out.

Dont expect drama like the soap, where Maan is almost getting shot and Geet shouts "Maan..."😉

I hated it by the way. I dont know if people still roam around with talwars in India.

Handling the tiff between Maan and Geet? I dont know. My brain is seriously hurting now. I hope i dont mess it up.

Its is going to take a couple of hours. I'm not done writing it. After that I need two hours to edit. SO around 3.00 AM PST time it should be there.

But cant believe that this FF has so many readers. Its still not sinking into me.

Its raining here and has been a gloomy day. So my creativity is also running dry.

Hasini,

hi Hansini

Part 48 To lanka...

<Maan's monologue>

She didn't speak the whole time nor did she look at me. Whatever we shared couldn't withstand this test that life threw at us. Is that all? I wondered why I needed her so much in my life. I had a strange sense of belonging to her right from the first time she walked into my office cabin. Perhaps the strangeness of our meeting had me view her differently from all the other women in my life. Not that I had not met other women after Sameera, but the fact that Daadima had it arranged and all that was needed was a yes from me, got me to view her as my bride, even the first time she walked in. Her simplicity, her eyes, her smile...bowled me over that very instant, but my protective self didn't want me to come out with my affections for her. I can perhaps never forget the agony in me those days. I regained my senses, when I knew about her marriage and brushed off the feeling I had for her, but things didn't end there. The universe was secretly conspiring to bring me closer to her. One after the other the big hurdles started removing itself from my road where she was the destination and to my surprise she was pursing me, though not with the same intentions, I couldn't help take it as a sign.

Dev left and she came to me for her solace. The fact that she found comfort in me, made me feel wanted. She healed me in turn and made me open up to her. I had never felt this for anyone in my life and as time passed I was confident about that. No matter how many times she dismissed me I bounced back, for I needed her more than she did. Anyone else would have been thrown out of my life in split seconds, but for her I was ready to endure anything. I came from a family that only knew to give orders and get what we wanted at any cost and I didn't know how to go behind her, I struggled. I understood that she was going through a lot and needed attention, but then it became all about her. She had to get what she wanted too. Ziddi, bilkul mere tarah.

Why would she understand how difficult it was for me to keep doing what I was doing, given all her protests? I backed off, but once she was here, I wanted to treat her the way she would be treated in the family. She was not going to go through airport security and heck no to have someone slap her. I gave up on that fight to get back at Brij with her unforeseen accident and then she made it all better for me when she told me that I was her life breath that she would hold on to at the darkest hours. The next day I was again banished to hell by her for she left to Hoshiarpur and I didn't know what she wanted me to do to get her to stay. Plead her? It was her first birthday with me in her life and she didn't want to spend it with me. I don't think I could ever get that. I was in such pain that I questioned my importance in her life. I jumped into the pool to find out what she meant. It felt good when she was by my side at the same instant I also felt what she had felt. If it was the breath of air that brought back her desire to live, for me it was the breath that wanted me to pursue her more, for I already knew what it was to breathe without her.

I determined to follow her and I was glad when she responded to my kisses and my need for her. Not that she kissed me back or conveyed her need verbally, but she didn't remove herself from my presence and that was proof enough for me that she needed to me. At the diamond shop, I was one step away from asking her to marry me. Would she have accepted? I had decided only a month ago that it was too soon to ask her of that kind of commitment, but the fact that she was acknowledging my love made me impulsive. I was crazy to make her mine, all mine. The roller coaster ride with her hurts my head now. Times have changed once again. Now she blamed me for the new trouble in her life. Was she still insecure to trust me? For she didn't believe me when I told her how the media would have twisted every word of hers even if she were truthful. I have taken her whiplashes, her mood swings, and her stubbornness and then today was the last straw.

Was any relationship worth this much compromise? In order to stay close to her I was losing my own identity and now I didn't know who I was. Maan Singh Khurana or just Maan? Am I even right in the I'm reasoning? Only time could answer. I still needed her the same way, but my want for her alone was not going to come full circle. She had to complete it with hers too. I turned to look if she still had the ring on, she did. Was this another sign from nature? I saw her wear it at the store. I wanted to slip it onto her finger, but fearing she would reject me, I instead handed it to her and it dropped into her finger with one swift push. She was mad before we left and wanted to make sure I got the ring back, but It just wouldn't come off now. Not that she felt it was a proposal, but she didn't want to carry around something that expensive.

We weren't even half way through. My head was already hurting and I was still sneezing and probably had a temperature too.

My train of thoughts was interrupted for she called out to me now.

Geet:"Hum kitne door hain?"

Maan:"Not even half way. Aur 4 gante lagega"

Geet:"Driver ko tho leke aa sakte te?"

Maan:"Kyon, main kafi nahin hoon?"

<Geet's monologue>

I wondered when this was going to end. We were not being nice to each other and I hated both our tones. His tone didn't let me soften mine, for I couldn't bear with the fact that he still felt that his reaction to the media and his anger was justified.

He was ill and I could see it. We still had not eaten anything for the day and it was already 2.00 PM. I didn't expect to spend my birthday with him this way, running from each other. First of all I didn't expect to be around him for I would have been in hoshiarpur. I didn't want to tell him about my birthday and have him make a big deal out of it. I still wasn't ready to accept that I was 24, once married and divorced, still waiting to discover myself again.

I did not respond to his question.

Geet:"Hame kuch ka lena chaiye"

I announced with the same tone.

Maan:"Nahin...mujhe kuch nahin chaiye"

But he was ill. I didn't want to have him go on like this for long. I thought tea was not a bad idea.

Geet:"Mujhe chai chaiye"

He looked at me and then continued to drive. Yeh tho had hai. He can't ignore me like this. When I was about to get back at his coldness, he stopped the car by a nearby dhaba.

He got out and got a tea for me. Just one? What about him?

I didn't want tea. I thought perhaps if I had tea, he would have some too. I didn't know how to make him drink it. I tasted the tea and at the same time was trying to think of a way to make him eat something. Then I wanted to try my luck to see if he bought it.

Geet:"Aah! this tea tastes real bad...I make better chai than this."

His look complained. He took the tea from my hand and tasted it.

Maan:"Bikul nahin. I think this is perfect. Agar tumhe nahin chaiye toh I can drink this. You can get it from the next one."

I was glad he was having something. Once he started drinking, I called out to the kid who was serving and asked for another tea. He didn't get it.

Maan:"I thought you didn't like it'tumhe pata bhi hain ki tumhe kya chaiye?"

Haan Maan. I know what I want.

Geet:"Agar main haan kahongi toh kya aap maan lenge? Nahin na? Toh kya faida baat karke?"

I didn't want to get into another long conversation with him. I finished my tea and we got back into the car.

He switched on the radio. It was a love song and the lyrics were mushy, he tried to change it. The next station was playing an English song. He didn't change it and I couldn't take the blaring noise; I changed it. It was another hindi song, but both of us didn't like it. He changed again and the song "Marjawaan" from fashion had just started.

He turned to look at me at that very instant. I turned away. I opened the window as I needed air badly. Our closeness that morning played back in mind. I was sure he was tormented too.

Babaji, yeh kya kar rahe hain? Ek pal main sab kuch badal gaya tha.

I again started crying. It didn't matter to him for I had been doing that often since the media fiasco. He still seemed to be affected though for he gave me his kerchief, but maintained a stern look on his face.

Maan:"Rone se kuch faida nahin hain, jab aankhon main aasoo aane shuroo hote hain, toh dimaag ka chalna bandh ho jata hain. Ab tumhe tumhare family waalon ko kuch kehne liye aasovon se zyaada dimag ki zaroorat hain"

He was right, but he didn't have to put it that way. I didn't know how to get back to him.

Geet:"Haan mujhe bhi sochna aata hain."

Maan:"Accha toh kya jawaab dogi agar poochenge ki tum mere ghar main kya kar rahi thi? Aur mere saath mall kyon gayi?"

Geet:"Maan, main aapke sawaalon ke liye tab jawaab doongi, jab aap mere sawaalon ke jawab denge"

I couldn't take it any longer. He had to give me some answers first.

Maan:"Kya poochna hain tumhe?"

Geet:"Until yesterday you didn't want me to go to Hoshiarpur and today you are driving me? Mujhe samaj nahin aa raha hain, why you are doing this? You could have just let me go back yesterday. Itna gussa kar rahe te kal, aur aaj khud jaa ke chod rahen hain?"

Maan:"Ab tak nahi samaj payi tum?"

He snickered.

Maan:"Main tumhe khud leke toh jaa raha hoon, magar maine kab kaha ki main tumhe wahan pe chod ke aa raha hoon?"

Geet:"Kya?"

He stopped the car and got out. I followed him.

Maan:"Iss trip main tumhara hoshiarpur meain rehana is out of question forget it "

Geet:"Yeh aap kya keha raha hain?"

He had a worried look. I could see concern too, but his tone didn't come down. He didn't want to come down for me?

Maan:"So tell me Geet, what were you planning to do after leaving my place? I'm sure you wouldn't have stayed back after that incident. Mujse se toh madad bhi nahi mangegi. Toh tumhara next step kya hua hoga"

Yeh itne sawaal kyon poonch rahen hain.

Geet:"Maan aap mere sawal ka seeda seeda kyon nahi jawab dete?"

I walked back to get inside the car. He pulled me closer by my hand and after a long time I was resisting.

Geet:"Chodiye Maan"

He didn't expect that from me and I didn't know what made me say that either. He let go of my hand instantly. Clearly I had upset him more for he was more angry now.

Geet:"Maan mere liye yahan pe bahuth saare log nahin hain. Ofcourse I would have to leave your place to make sure Media doesn't get any more news, but main vapas Hoshiarpur hi toh jaati, aur kahan jaati? Daarji bhi toh hospital main hain. Agar unhe yeh news pata chala toh? Unka condition serious bhi ho sakta hain?"

Maan:"Exactly. Hume pata nahin ki tumhare ghar waale woh show deke honge ki nahin, it doesn't matter even otherwise the news will reach them, aur uske baad, tumhare ghar waalein tumhara kya haal banayenge? Socha hai uske baare main? Kya tum vaapas NY aa payegi?"

Geet:"Haan I had thought about it. I would have had gotten out of the place oneway or the other. If I had to run away I would have done that too"

He was relieved to hear that.

Maan:"Unlike you claimed..."

He turned to look at me, reliving something. His voice was sterner now.

Maan:"Maine bhi socha hai iske baare main, tumhara vahan pe rehna is not the right thing, atleast not for this trip. Agar tumhara bhai... "

He words trailed off.

Maan:" Kuch barosa nahin hai, woh toh bilkul sir phira aadmi hai. Media bhi wahan pahunch sakta hain. Look this is probably the last time you can see your Daarji and your parents in this trip. Meet them, get your stuff and get out"

Geet:"Lekin aap kud kyon aa rahen hain? Agar koi aapko mere saath dekehenge toh?"

He was mad at me that moment.

Maan:"Agar log soch te hain ke ye sab mere wajah se hua to mere farz banta hain ki main vun logon ke saath yeh face karoon aur zaroorat ho toh vunke family se maafi.... Aur main kisi aur pe barosa nahin kar sakta hoon tumhe wahan se vapas..."

I was surprised that he was still thoughtful and still upset as well about his tone.

Maan:"Aur mere bagair phir se wahan pe jaane ke liye sochna bhi mat. Not this time. I'm sorry to say even if your Darji...doesn't keep well. Aur mujhe bhi jaldi NY jaana hain. Isi liye tumhara wahan pe jaana bhi zaroori hai, aur wahan se nikhal na bhi zaroori hai"

He didn't want to find out my response. He got back and started the car. We started once again. This time, I saw him in even different light. He was definitely not normal. His eyebrows narrowed with anger, but his heart still felt for me. His anger formed a veil between us.

<Maan's monologue>

Aur vuska ziddi nature, not giving in for what she had for me came between us. Did she know that?

I didn't have time for that anymore. I had so many calls to make. We stopped at another Dhaba for her to freshen up. I finished my calls one by one, got everything done.We had quite a bit of driving ahead of us.

We were nearing Hoshiarpur and it was already 6.43 PM.

Maan:"Tumhe hospital ka rasta pata hain?"

Geet:"Haan Yahan se right le ke..."

She gave me the directions and we got there in a few minutes. He didn't get off.

Geet:"Hum kisi ke liye wait kar rahen hai kya?"

He was still looking outside.

Maan:"Haan...Comissioner"

Geet:"Kya? Aap ne police ko complaint kiye hain Brij veerji ke baare main? Maine aapko toh..."

He cut me off.

Maan:"Assume karne se pehle sunliya bhi kar Geet. Main waise bhi Brij jaise chote logon ke moo nahin lagta...I can't afford any trouble. If anything happens, I need strong witnesses and the commissioner is a family friend. It's for our own protection. They won't come near us, and they will be in plain clothes"

I wanted to make sure he understood my stand on my family here.

Geet:"Maan main jaanti hoon ke mere parivaar mere saath teek nahin kiye aur ab bhi nahi kar rahe hain, khaas karke Brij veerji, leking iska matlab ye nahin ki main unhi ke shehar main unke apmaan sahe sakoongi. I hope you have told them that they will not do anything that..."

He didn't like that and he spoke on that too.

Maan:"You are just unbelieveable, Ab bhi tum..Khair chodo...Woh log mere kahe bina kuch nahin karenge."

His word was my assurance. He had thought through everything and even mentally planned everything. The police arrived in a plain jeep. He got out of the car and greeted them. He introduced me to them and one of them seemed to be the local inspector. I didn't recognize him.

Commissioner:"Aap dariya math madam, hum yahan pe kuch scene nahin create karenge, MK ne hame sare instructions de diya hain"

I turned to look at him, but he broke away instantly and started walking towards the hospital. I followed. I told him that Darji was in the 2^nd floor. We went straight to his room. Mom and Tayiji were sitting inside and Papa was sitting outside. Brij veerji was not there and I strangely felt calm.

Tayiji:"Tehro Geet, ab tum yahan pe kis moo leke aaye ho"

His expression changed and so did mine. They have been informed well. I wonder where they got the news from, for everyone must have been at the hospital at that time.

Papa:"Geet, yeh sab kya keha rahe the TV main?"

Ma was just crying looking at me.

Ma:"Hamara baare main ek pal ke liye bhi nahi sochi tu ne, kaisi kaam kar di, Aur humse jhoot bol ke gayi?"

I didn't answer any of them, for I felt they were all useless questions.

Tayiji:"Pati chod ke chale hua, teek se kuch mahine bhi nahi hua, aur abhi se tumhe ek aur mard chaiye"

I closed my eyes fro her words pierced me like arrows. He had been standing far along with the police, but he heard Tayiji and came close. I held his hand to stop him as he passed me.

Ma:"Ab yeh kaun hain? Inhe kyon leke aayi hain?"

Tayiji:"Kahin yeh who TV wala aadmi toh nahin jiske saath tumhara shaadi ho gaya hain?"

I couldn't take their words anymore. I screamed at their trust level and ignorance.

Geet:"Bas kijiye yeh sab. Mera shaadi nahi hua hain samje. Main yahan pe yeh umeed leke ayi thi, aap log mere saath denge. Itne saal aap ke saath rehke bhi mera man ab bhi pagaalon ki tarah vumeed karti rahi, ki aap apne ghar ki beti ko bina kuch kahe yakeen karenge...nahin. Yahan pe tho woh hone wala nahin hain. Main yahan Darji se milne aur aap sab logon se milne aayi thi. Lekin ab mujhe sirf Darji, Tito aur Rajji se milke nikhalna padega"

They kept bombarding me with piercing questions. He stayed outside the room. I was only partly glad that they didn't target him yet. He walked back to where the police were standing. Darji's health had still not improved.

With great difficulty he questioned me as to what was going on. I tried to explain but gave up after a point.

I was done here. All my hopes for the last time came crashing down. I had no idea why I kept bouncing back with hope for my family to understand my situations. Main phir se akheli ho gay thi, yeh saare bandan ek ke baat toot raha tha. Will I ever have Ma and Papa understand their duties for me? That they should have been my support system, my fallback. I bid farewell to Darji and asked him to take very good care of himself and that he shouldn't worry about me anymore. Yes, they shouldn't. I didn't know what will or will not hold me back anymore, but I was sure that my family was definitely not going to pull me down. Main ab sirf Geet hoon. Woh hi hai mera pehchaan.

We walked out of the hosipital and tears were flowing down my cheeks. He looked at me and tried to hold me as we were walking. I leaned on his shoulder. He was the only comfort left for me.

Maan:"Ro mat Geet, hum yeh sab expect karke hi toh aaye the"

I stopped and turned to look at him.

Geet:"Kaise Maan. Everytime I expect them to support me one way or the other and everytime they fail me. Jab main Dev ke baare main boli tab bhi aise hi hua tha"

He was very concerned for me now.

Maan:"Geet I can't talk to your family but hum sab hain na..."

Why didn't he say that I had him? I looked into his eyes and questioned. He turned away and we started walking. They were other things that were occupying my mind and I was not watchful around me.

When I was about to get into the car and close the door, Brij veer ji's jeep came and stopped close by.

Brij:"Aaiii, Yeh kahan chali jaa rahi hain Handa parivaar ka izzat mitti main mila ke?"

Maan got out and walked fast to come by my side. Brij was approaching us.

The police saw Brij come towards us and they ran to hold onto Brij. I was stuck to the spot where I stood. I feared that this was going to turn into another drama. The police caught both of Brij's hands in time and pulled him back.

He broke lose from them and came towards me. Brij veerji was about to drag me when he came and stood between us.

Maan:"Dekho, Geet sirf aap..."

Brij:"Oi, tu kaun hota hain jo vuski vakalat de ne aagaya hain?"

He tried to come around him and came close to pull me out. Maan placed his hand on Brij's shoulders to stop him.

Maan:"Tehro, jo bhi hain yahi se baat kar"

He looked at Maan and screamed.

Brij:"Mere upar haath dalta hain? Hamare gaon aakar, humi par.."

He couldn't finish for Maan had already noded for the police to come take him away.

Brij:"Yeh sab kya hain? Mujhe kyoon leke jaa rahe ho? Kya complaint hain muj par?"

Once of the policeman answered his question.

Police 1:"Tum par koi complaint nahin hain. Bas vunke yahan se jaane tak, tumhe hold karenge"

He kept shouting and resisting him being taken away. He was cursing me for the person I had become and for all the shame I had caused to the family. I stood there witnessing another proof that I was by myself now.

We got into the car and he was about to start when I placed my hand on his. He was about to pull the gear but stopped to look at me.

Geet:"Soory aapko mere saath ye sab..."

He cut me off as always. He never let me finish sentences that were making me feel obligated to him.

Maan:"Chup, bilkul chup"

His gaze softened. He turned to hold my cheek and wiped my tears with his thumb. I rested my head on his palm and that calmed the ache inside me. It was reviving me and in a way giving me hope to go forward and bury the ugliness behind.

<Maan's monologue>

I could never see her in pain. I was still mad at her, but at times like this, I knew how much she needed me. We were wach other's fuel to drive us forward. She asked me if she could visit Rajji and Tito before we left. I agreed to take her home for the last time, but at the same time wanted to be cautious around her house, for now we were by ourselves. She gave me the directions to her place and we arrived there in a short time. She knocked the door and waited for someone to get the door. It was her papa.

Geet:"Papa aap yahan kaise? Aap tho hospital main the na"

Papa:"Haan, jab tum Darji ko dekhne gayi, main tabhi nikhala mujhe pata ta ki tum yahan zaroor avogi. Puttar tumhari zindagi main yeh sab kya ho raha hain"

He cried. He was truly in pain. She went in and hugged him. I was glad for her that she had a soul who truly cared for her.

She sobbed in his hold and he was holding her tight and then she finally calmed down to talk to him. She told him everything and that it was just a case of mistaken identity as our surnames matched.

She introduced me to him as well and I didn't mind greeting him as he had truly been a gentleman all this while.

He held on to my hand and cried.

Papa:"Main aapka kaise sukhriya ada karoon? Aap hamare Geet puttar ke liye itna kuch kiye hain. Iska takdeer main shayad yahi lika hain, ki isse khud iske parivar se bachke rehna hain. Aap jo bhi kar rahe hain, teek kar rahe hain. Ab isse yahan se dhoor rak na hi sahi hoga"

Maan:"Ji aap fikar mat kijiye, sab kuch teek hi hoga"

She couldn't control her tears anymore. She fell to the floor and cried.

Geet:"Papa please aap mere saath aa jaiye...mujse ab ye akhele pan nahin ho raha hain...please aap mere saath chaliye na papa"

Papa:"Puttar mujse hota tho main shayad abhi tumhare saat nikhal tha, lekin Rajji aur Tito ko bhi toh dekna hain. Mai tumhari zinadagi main kiye huhe galtiyaan vunke zindagi main ab nahi kar sakta. Shayad kabhi tum mujhe maaf kar sakogi"

Geet:"Papa please aise mat boliye..."

She asked for Rajji and Tito and they were standing right behind the pillars, unable to bear their sister's pain.

As she asked for them, they came running to her and hugged her. She hugged them back and stayed that way for a long time.

Geet:"Dekho Rajji, Mujhe ab nikhal na hain, aur apna khyal rakna. Jab tum email dena seek legi, mujhe email karna. Yeh le, mera email"

She took a paper and wrote her email address for her.

Geet:"Vusse bhi zyada khud ke pair pe khade hone ke liye seek. In logon ke saath samjauta mat kar, in logon ke saath hi nahin, zindagi se bhi samjauta mat kar. Agar ye tumhare shaadi kisi se zabar dasti karna chahte hain, tho ghar se baag ke chali ja..."

She cried for all the years that she had compromised with her life. I wanted to hold her, but stayed back to avoid attention.

Geet:"Main jaanti hoon ki mere baat tumhe ab samaj mein nahin aayegi...lekin ek din tum samjogi. Aur Tito, tum bhi khoob padna, aur apni deedi ko hamesha yaad rakna. Mujhe email zaroor karna teek hain..."

She went to her room to pick up her suitcases and perhaps that was the last time she was going to be there. I waited downstairs. She came back after 15 mts.

Maan:"Geet, hum chalen? Der ho raha hain, aur hamara yahan pe itne der rukna bhi teek nahin hain"

She hugged them for a long time and bid them farewell.

We came out to got her stuff in the trunk and I moved to the front of the car. The bonnet was keyed. I knew something was waiting for us. I threw her in the car in a hurry and sped the car.

This was so typical of village men and their anger always blinded them. I guessed that Brij might have somebody else in to have us trapped, an ambush perhaps.

Geet:"Ab kya karenge? Yeh to Veerji ke aadmi hi lag rahe hain"

I smiled.

Maan:"Yeh tho hame dikhane ke liye ki they are waiting for us. I'm not going back to Delhi right now. I'm driving up north and we will take another route after we move north. I know it will take a while to reach Delhi, but we will just have to go through this. I don't want to face these guys unnecessarily, anyways they are not worth it"

I was not the kind to run away from any challenge, but these men were far into rudimentary ways and they wouldn't stop at anything for revenge. She was close and I couldn't risk going for it. I didn't care what she thought about me, that I was running away, but to me at that moment I wanted to act smart than just look smart.

I hated that we didn't have GPS, and even of I had one, I was sure these areas would still not have been mapped. We were driving in the dark and I was hoping we were going north as they lacked signs to tell me which way I was going.

We had luckily avoided Brij and his rouge gang for they would have expected us back on the Ludhiana route, as it was the closest to get to Delhi. My change of plans, caught them unexpected. We were nearing Chandigarh and it was 12.34 AM. I couldn't drive any longer for my eyes were tired from the exhausation of being on the road for the last 3 hours.

Geet:"Hame thodi der ke liye rukna chaiye, aap kitne der se gaadi chala rahe hain"

Maan:"Haan..."

He was too tired. We stopped by the side of the road and rested for some time. He was already sick. I wish I could drive, but I had never driven a stick shift. He was asleep. I thought I should perhaps get him something to drink. I stepped out for I saw a light and it seemed like a roadside shop. There were no lights and I was apprensive about going to the shop, for I wasn't even sure if they served food. I had to try for him.

I reached the shop and thanks to my luck it was a roadside teashop. I got two teas for us and as I was about to turn back I heard him call out my name and his voice was getting closer.

He had run all the way and sighed when he saw me.

Maan:"Bol ke nahi aa sakti?...main toh..."

He couldn't talk for he was recovering from the run. I wondered if there was going to be another tiff between us.

He calmed down and took the tea from me. We had been living on tea since last morning. I just wanted to get back home. Home? Where was home? I was always on the run and that made me wallow in self-pity. It was too much for me to handle that moment. I had to take care of him first. We got inside the car. I placed the tea in the cup holder and turned to check on him.

Geet:"Maan, ab kaise ho aap"

Maan:"Haan teek hoon"

I took out the kerchief he had given me and wet the same. I tried to wipe his forhead with the wet cloth. He instantly got up and eyed me.

Maan:"I'm ok...Geet Zyaada fikar karne ke liye zaroorat nahin"

I didn't unerdstand what emotions he was portraying. Where was all this coldness coming from? Why was he brushing me aside? Our communication channel was broken since yesterday. I didn't know how long it was going to take to repair the burnt bridges. Yes the damage was already done. "Hum ek doosre se dhoor rehna hi behtar hain...".

He drove without stopping and we reached Delhi in the early hours. We were not at Khurana mansion. This seemed to be a different one.

Maan:"Tum yahin pe rahogi Geet. Yahan pe tumhe fikar kar ne ke liye koi zaroorat nahin hain."

He took out my bags and we strolled in. Will he be staying too?

Maan:"Maine Inspector se bhi baat kar liya hain, tumhare mail check karne ke liye. Tumhare passport aate hi, yahan pe delivery kar denge. Haan commissioner saab dek lenge, we can trust them. No one will know you are staying here"

He had indeed planned out everything. In all this confusion I had forgotten that the passport will be delivered there. How was I ever going to make up for all that he had done? He was tired but he was still swift around the house. He opened the curtains and let the sunlight in. The house was private and had high walls shielding the structure from the road. No one would even know that someone was occupying this house. He kept on...

Maan:"Yahan se mansion bahuth door nahi hain. Maine Meera ko phone kar ke bula liya hain. She should be in this night. Tab tak manage kar logi na? Daadima ne yahan pe tumhare help ke liye do log intezaam kiye hain."

Meera? When did he even call her? What was I doing when he was getting all his plans executed? Manage? Mujhe aise kyon lag raha hain ki main aaj ke baad inhe mil nahin pavoongi?

He took the sheets off the furniture and switched on the basic appliances.

Maan:"Daadima tumhe milne ke liye ayenge. Aur agar kuch chaiye toh vunhe call kar le na. Haan tumhara visa issue solve hone tak tum yahi per eh sakti ho."

He hesitated...

Maan:"Mujhe laga ki tum Mansion mein rahogi toh...I didn't want to feed anyone more news."

He opened the French doors and walked out to the swimming pool. It was a private space surrounded by trees and the pool was lined with two cabanas on either side. It was cold outside and I was shivering. He saw me and instantly walked in and closed the doors behind me. He was always picking up clues from my body language. That showed he still cared, but I didn't know how to explain the coldness.

All this while I was standing by the couch and watched him or rather stared at him. He came closer and seemed to be hesitant once again.

Maan:"Aur, main kal Malaysia jaa raha hoon company ke maamle main. Sirf mail mein available hoon and I'm going back to the US in 10 days. Main yahan pe tumhe visit nahin kar sakta hoon, pata nahin, agar koi follow...I don't know I just don't want to risk anything. Tumhari zindagi main mere vajah se, takleef ho, yeh main dek nahin sakta, isiliye..."

His words trailed off. It ached in him for sure.

Maan:"I hope you are ok with this arrangement..."

Did he want me to say anything? I was surprised by his indifference, but his eyes spoke something else.

Maan:"Ab tum so javo...Main meera ke aane tak yahin pe rahoonga"

He looked at me for a moment longer. Maan aap mujse door kyon rehna chahte hain? Kya mujse itni badi bhool ho gayi hai? Is it so wrong to hold on to my point of view? I was mad too and felt that we could have averted the situation and I still felt that way and I'm not going to be sorry for that.

He went back to the couch and laid down for a nap. I couldn't speak to him. I had nothing to tell him. He had done everything that was needed to keep me away from him and he was packing himself off too. I didn't know how to handle such situations? I can only talk and convince if someone wanted to get convinced, but he was a man who has his own plans. My mind couldn't process anymore. I went to the bedroom and had a wash. I went staright to bed for I wanted to see if this was all a dream. I wanted it to be for I hoped that when I wake up, I would still be in his arms at the window sitting.

<Maan's monologue>

I had to go and pick up Meera from the airport. It was time and she will be there in another hour. I wanted to leave immediately, but I wanted to see her; I wasn't sure when I would see her next. She was still sleeping. I sat by her side. Her hair was playing by the corner of her forehead. Tear marks had dried by the corner of her eyes. She must have cried herself to sleep. How long do you have to do this Geet? I hope it all ends soon for you. I wanted to kiss her before I left, but I didn't want to wake her up. She jerked in her sleep. It must have been a bad dream; she normally did that. In the little time of four months I had madly fallen in love with her. Where would I be this exact moment had I not met her? I wondered. My life had changed and she was he change that moved me.

<Meera's monologue>

Yash will be alone, but Geet needed me. MK called me the middle of last night and got me on the first flight to India. He paid for it too. I and Geet were going to work remotely until Geet's visa issue was going to be reolved. He told me about the media mishap and I worried for Geet. Why does she have to face such giant tidal waves? But I was sure that there was something big in store for her, else her babaji would never test her perseverance. I had not known that MK was a media wanted person here. He was so different in NY, yahan tak ke he was my dance partner. Oh! my I hope that doesn't become news. Yahan pe tho sab flash news hain vusse kuch kam nahin.

MK didn't come to the airport. Somebody else was holding my placard. He took my bags and gave me a phone and asked me to dial MK.

Maan:"Haan Meera. Sorry. I didn't want to come to the airport. I'm sort of trying to be low profile. It was a last minute thing."

Meera:" No problem MK. Thanks for the ticket by the way"

Maan:"No issues, I have to be thankful for what you are doing"

Meera:"So when are you coming to meet me?"

Maan:"No Meera, I don't think so...I think its better if I don't come there..."

Meera:"MK, sab teek tho hain na?"

Maan:"Hmmm...I'm leaving some place. I will come back and call you. Is that ok?"

He didn't want to talk to me. He was ignoring. I sensed something big had happened.

Maan:"I need a favor. Can I call you to keep tabs on her? But I will appreciate it if you don't tell her"

Meera:"Please MK, aap log yeh kyon kar rahe ho? I don't know what happened, but..."

Maan:"Meera please. I guess somethings need time to heal...lets leave it at that."

Meera:"Ok MK, you take care. I will talk to you soon. Bye"

Maan:"Bye"

<Maan's monologue>

I didn't know what was happening but every inch of my brain hurt for it was filled with her. Her face, her smile...I couldn't stay in my room any longer. I could see her everywhere. I had to get away from this place, but was it the right thing to do? What if she needed me at any instant? She had slowly started to settle in at the new place. Meera was my source of information. Now that they worked remotely, they slept in for most part of the day. I did too and I worked from the Mansion. I was done with my work in Malaysia and came back in 2 days. She was hardly 10 mts away from the mansion and often I was tempted to go by her place. I almost went to see her one day, but stayed away once I entered her street. Yeh mera zid hain ki uski zid? The media had quietned. Phone calls stopped and we were no longer people's interest. This didn't change things between us. She stayed away from me too. She didn't call me either; not once. There were no emails or pings from her. Didn't she miss me? I repented not being by her side after the time we came back from Hosiarpur. Meera told me that she didn't cry much. That was indeed comforting. She had taken to dancing apparently. She spent hours at the atrium, practicing is what I heard. What drove you for so long Geet? I wanted to see her. Daadima was behind me trying to get Geet back to the mansion. I wondered what hopes she had for us. Should I come down now? But she didn't take back her words either.

<Geet's monologue>

All through the night, I would stare at the office messenger. The little green light next to his name, changed to yellow and sometimes to red telling me what his status was. That was only proof that he existed. He had disappeared. I would refresh my emails obsessively 10 times a minute to see if he had emailed me. I would check the phone to see if it had a dial tone. Maannn...

He was the only thing in my mind. The fact that I was completely cut off from my family was off my mind in a few days. Perhaps my mind had a net built even before I left to Hosiarpur. It caught me on time when I fell from the ties to my family, but he was another thing I had still not learnt to handle.

This was the longest time I had stayed away from him even though he was only 10 mts away. I wondered if I could take a walk to his place during night fall. With every passing car my heart would leap and make me break into a run to the door. Kya mujhe vunse sorry kehna chaiye? But I was not entirely wrong either.

From time to time, I would listen to "Marjawan" to live through our last moments of closeness. Today I wanted to dance to it. I twirled...

He was standing behind and holding me. He turned me and held me by my waist. I bent backwards to have him kiss my neck...

I fell on the ground. For a moment I had imagined him right here. Wasn't he here? I broke into a cry.

Meera was on a call and came running to me.

Meera:"Geet tum teek tho ho? Why are you crying?"

Geet:"I...I thought someone was holding me..."

I couldn't say anything else to her. My sobs were stinging me this time.

<Maan's monologue>

I took the receiver off my ears for her words pierced like an ice pick. I knew what she meant. Meera had gone to check on Geet for she had fallen on the ground. I could hear her sob badly and she spoke to my surprise. It had been a long time since I heard her voice. "I...I thought someone was holding me...".

That's it; it was the last straw. I had to ask her...I was going to try for the last time.

<Geet's monologue>

The song kept me going. I must have twirled and twirled a hundred times, for my head was hurting bad. I removed my dupatta and threw it updwards in a dance jump. It came down and fell close by. I closed my eyes and tried to relive those moments...He was holding me from behind. He turned me and held me by my waist once again. My hand moved up to tug his collar. Tears were flowing down my eyes. He rested his forehead on my mine. He hushed me to quiet down...He was really there.

Maan:"Hush...Hush...Tum is bar nahin giregi..."

I leaned back and his lips followed to kiss me down my chin, all the way down to my neck. He lifted my head back for I was still crying.

Maan:"Itna dard ho tha hain tho door kyon rahti ho geet"

His eyes were longing for me too. His forehead continued to rest on mine, but he closed the distance between us and held me tight. I was mad at him for a moment and wanted to push him away, for he kept me at bay all this while, but I feared if this was a dream and I would wake up if I moved.

"Tere ishq pe marjaawan...Gheeli gheeli sapnon ka jaisa kat hain..."

Geet:"Aap bhi toh mujse door rehte..."

Maan:"Main ek kadam aage aatha hoon tho thum do kadam peeche chali jaati ho...Main kya karoon...bolo na"

I didn't answer anything. I just wanted to stay in his arms. He took my hand and looked at the ring. He looked back at me...deep into me.

Maan:"Kya mujse shaadi karogi Geet? I want you..."

I didn't expect that from him, not in any way. He placed a kiss on my cheek.

Maan:"I can't stay away from you anymore...Main paagal ho javoonga Geet...Zindagi adhoori dikti hain tumhare bagair..."

I still couldn't believe he was asking me to marry him. Why was he doing this to me now? Abhi abhi toh mere paas aaye? I had no answers for him. I just wanted to stay this way for now. I didn't want anything to disturb this beautiful dream of mine, but he already had asked me and it was too late now.

Geet:"Maan please...mujse ab kuch mat poochiye"

I took my hands from his chest and held him around his waist and continued to rest my forehead on his.

He let go of me.

Maan:"Geet...I have tried too many times to bring us togther...I can't do this anymore. Main aakri baar tumse poochne aaya ta yahan pe...iske baad mujhe jaana hi hoga..."

He was disappointed. He ached and I did too. I sensed that I had delivered the ultimate rejection. Will he be able to recover? But I had not recovered myself. Will he understand with time? I had too many questions. I was still a dead person. His love brought some new buds in me, but I didn't know if I could bloom to his love.

He left the same way he had come mysteriously. The song played on.

"Tujhko ek nazar meri talash ho,?Jaise khwab hai ankhon mein basse meri"

I realized that moment that there was no one out there to destroy what we shared, for we were playing raavan in each other lives. I was the deer that lured him out to want me and he did the same for me. I knew both of us needed rescuing. I didn't know what his world was now...

But I was in lanka...

Hello people. Back with the longest ever. Don't worry the next two are in the same category too. My eyes are hurting bad. I cant believe that I slept around 1.45 and kept alarm to get up around 2.15 AM. Such is the commitment that is driving me and I for the first time I have been following through something. It is all because of you. I'm counting down to 50 to close this thread and then we will start the new one. Thanks for all those who have kept this thread going to make it reach 150. Bow...Bow...Bow... You probably would feel that I could have cut off after they came back from Hoshiarpur, but unfortunately, I want 50 to start in a particular way and so I had to split 48 and add it to this one and 49 a bit. Remember we introduced 46 for Geet's birthday. There are so many monologues in this, I was only able to do a few edits, so the critiques please keep an eye out and let me know.

Thanks all for your patience and post and comment. Most important let me know if it was to your expectations

I'm totally speechless..half way through I forgot that I was just reading a FF,the whole thing seemed so real that I became very emotional...Only you can create such magic!! Brilliantly written!!! Hats off to you..👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏