A short one....
Part 3
The day had been hectic at Khurana Constructions as always. Maan had never been so busy ever plus people making mistakes didnot give him any time to relax. It was always one mistake after the another...plus the endless meetings with clients. He was shaken away from his reveire by the shrill of his cellphone.
"Maan, Aap abhi tak office mei hi hain?" Daadima enquired. She knew he would not come home for the muh dikhaai rasam but she expected him to be home atleast for dinner on time.
"ji Daadima..bas kaam kar raha hoon" he replied absent mindedly while answering one of his emails.
"Maan, hum jaante hain ki aap kaam kar rahe hain.. aap dinner par to time se aa sakte the. Hume to aadat ho gayi hai akele dinner karne ki but now you are not alone. There is another person waiting for you at home" She chided him
"Ji?"
"Beta, Geet aapki raah dekh rahi hai....here talk to her" saying she handed the phone to Geet who took it with trembling hands but before she could say anything she heard his voice over the receiver.
"Daadima..mujhe bahut kaam hai..aap Geet se keh deejiye ki woh dinner kar ke so jaaye..mujhe thoda late ho jaayega." saying he cut the call.
Geet looked at the phone making the beeping sound.
"Kya kahan janaab ne?" Daadima enquired
"Daadima, he said that you shouldn't worry, he will be home soon." Geet made Daadima have her dinner and medicines and later asked her to rest assuring that she will too have dinner and sleep. Daadima was too tired to argue so she went off to her room.
~~~~~~~~~~
Maan finished up his pending work and looked at the clock. It struck fifteen minutes past 11. He was late..very late. He just hoped everyone at home had gone to sleep and he really wished EVERYONE... so when he entered the dark house, thats what he thought that everyone was sleeping. Sure everyone was sleeping in their beds expect for his wife. There she lay with her one arm extended on the dining table, her cheek pressed to the table. Maan walked slowly over to her. He looked or rather stared at the lady in front of his eyes. He didn't know what came over him when he ever so slightly bend over her and pushed the lock of hair that came in between his view of the gorgeous face that shone in the dim light. His action woke up Geet as she stood abruptly and moved a little back .
"Aap...aap kab aaye?" she fumbled.
"Hmmm..tum yahan kya kar rahi ho? "
"Aap fresh ho jaayegi..main kahan garam kar deti hoon" she replied instead of answering his question and walked swiflty to the kitchen leaving Maan behind to ponder on what happened just a few moments ago. His fingers still tingled from when he had touched her soft forehead. He looked at her retreating back and walked off to change his clothes.
When he came back , she was setting the table with his plate wait she was setting two plates on the table. Confused he asked her " Tum ne abhi tak khana nahi khaya? Maine Daadima ko kaha tha ki tum log meri wait mat karna phir?"
"Ji, mujhe pata hai lekin maine socha ki din ka ek time ka khana to hum ek saath kha sakte hain..aur vaise bhi aaj lunch bahut late kiya tha so bhook nahi thi " she replied while putting rice in his plate.
"Hmmm...bas bas" he stopped her from putting more rice and asked for raita.
"So aaj ka din kaisa gaya tumhara? Meri meeting thi isliye nahi aa saka" he put a spoon in his mouth.
"Theek tha...aas pados ki ladies aayi thi..kuch khaas nahi" she took a seat opposite from him..." aur aapka?" she asked while looking at him.
"Bas..busy as usual" He answered not looking at her.
They had the rest of their food in silence. Geet couldn't think of anything to say. She had already asked about his day. What else could she ask, she wondered... plus it looked like he was not interested in any conversation with her. He didn't look up once while eating...maybe he was too hungry to talk , she thought.
Maan, on the other hand kept his eyes glued to his plate. He didn't know why he felt so guilty for making her stay hungry for so long but didn't she say she had a late lunch and wasn't hungry. He tried to put the thought away but he couldn't. He also knew that he was afraid to look up to her face..he didn't know what he might see in those big brown eyes. He had shouted at her this morning twice, first for bringing him tea and then again for coffee and yet she had waited for him now.
"Aap aur kuch lenge?" she asked again a little loudly this time..she had already asked him twice and he hadn't bothered to reply.
"huh?" he looked up confused wondering what was she saying.
"Aap ko kuch aur chahiye?" she asked looking at his empty plate. Maan realised he had finished his dinner and was still holding his fork. He stood up "Nahin..bas" saying he left for his room..."their" room he corrected himself. He turned around to see her cleaning up the table.
"Rehne do..Nakul subah kar lega.. aaram kar lo..raat bahut ho gayi hai" he told her
Together they walked up the stairs leading to their bedroom. Maan walked in swiftly to grab the pillow when Geet stopped him.
"Yeh bed mere liye bahut badaa hai. You can sleep on it, I will take the couch." she said while trying to take the pillow away from his hand. He was shocked but had no intentions of making her sleep on the couch. He knew how uncomfortable he had been the previous night and there was no way he would let her sleep there. He held the pillow tightly and when she looked at him strangely, he answered with a no. She again tried to pry the pillow away and argue but he still didn't budge.."to theek hai hum dono so jaate hain bed par" she blurted out. She quickly covered her mouth with her hands.
"Main kehna chahti thi...main...mera matlab tha ki bed bahut bada hai...haan..aur hum dono fit ho sakte hain to woh chote se couch ka kya kaam?" Maan still looked shocked.
"Haai...yeh to abhi bhi badi badi aankhon se mujhe ghoor rahein hai...ab kya karoon?" she thought. She walked to her side of the bed and lied down.
"See..there is so much space..aap yahan so sakte hain" she said for the last time and turned around quickly closing her eyes.
Maan stood there contemplating what to do. The bed sure looked appealing in front of the small couch. He looked at her lying in the far left side of the bed, facing away from him and sighed. Making a decision, he made himself comfortable on the bed. When had sleeping in his own bed made him so gittery all of a sudden?
Geet smiled when she felt him coming to the bed but didn't dare to turn around. Saying a silent Goodnight she dozed off.
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