Geet's eyes flew open.
"Mera woh matlab nahin tha…" she started.
"Koi baath nahin hai Geet…saach mein…tumse badhkar mere liyeh kuch nahin hai…main intezaar…" he said as he began to get up off the bed.
"Mera woh matlab nahin tha…" Geet repeated.
Maan felt her hand wrap around his as she pulled him back. He wasn't sure what was going on so he simply looked at her.
"Saath saal se iss paal ka intezaar kiya hai maine," Geet said.
"Magar Geet…" Maan began but was silenced by a finger that Geet pressed against his lips.
"Itni asaani iss paal ko nahin jaana dungi main," she said.
She knew he needed more reassurance that she as ready to take this step in their relationship so she let her hands find their way up to his face. She cradled his face in her hands for just a second before she pulled him down until their lips touched. She started the kiss out soft and tender before wrapping her arms around his neck and pushing harder. The pulled apart eventually because they needed to breathe.
Maan rested his head against her forehead as he said, "I love you Geet."
"I love you too Maan," Geet said back.
Maan pulled back and took a good look at his beautiful wife who glowed under the light from the candles. First he took off the head piece that she wore, as he did so he placed a kiss on her mang where he had only a short while ago filled with sindoor. He then nuzzled the back of her ears as he took off the heavy earrings, before tenderly biting her earlobes. Then he used his lips to tease her shoulders and neck. He placed kisses on every inch of her neck as she tilted her head allowing him better access. Soon her elaborate necklace joined the pile of jewelry on the bedside table. He turned his attention the undoing the clasp of the chain that still rested around her neck.
"Nahin Maan…" she whispered as she stopped his hands, "Isse rehne doh. Saath saal se taras gayi thi isse pehene ke liyeh…aab toh maarte dam tak isse aalag nahin hoongi."
It was only then that Maan realized that it was her mangalsutra. Immense pride and joy filled him as he kissed the back of her neck before beginning to undo the strings that held her blouse in place. He gently slid the fabric off of her shoulders and kissing them as he went. He turned her to face him as he drew the blouse completely off.
She gasped as the cool air hit her bare body causing her to seek refuge in the dupatta that lay discarded on the bed. Maan smiled at her shyness and let it go for the time being. Maan began teasing her more by placing kisses across her bare shoulder, neck and ears. He reached behind her head and undid the pins that held her hair in a bun. Within seconds her raven dark hair cascaded down her back and her bare shoulders. He was so entranced in her that he didn't even realize when her hands had found their way to the buttons of his kurta. He felt the garment loosen as she undid the buttons one by one. Soon his kurta lay discarded with her blouse in a heap on the floor.
Maan groaned slightly and closed his eyes as he felt her shaky hands run across his abdomen caressing every inch of skin as she went.
"Geet…" he said harshly as her hands ventured lower than he was ready for.
Opening his eyes he saw the blush on her cheeks as she looked down at her hands.
"Geet…" he whispered as he used his finger to tilt her face up towards him.
As soon as their eyes met, she threw her arms around his neck holding him tight. Maan felt the most amazing sensation as the dupatta that covered her slipped away allowing her bare chest to touch his bare chest. Maan knew that he wouldn't be able to control himself much longer. Using his hands he braced them on her shoulders before gently pushing her down so that she was lying on the bed. He kissed the base of her neck where the pendant from her mangalsutra lay declaring that she was his and only his. Slowly he made his way lower and lower as he teased her and touched her. Every moan she uttered was wreaking havoc on his body. Knowing that only he could touch her and make her moan in such a way gave him immense joy.
Making his way down to her waist, he slipped a finger under the chain that she wore around it. Using that finger he traced her waist gently until he found the clasp that released it. Undoing the clasp, Maan gently pulled the chain off and tossed it aside. Next, he carefully undid the hooks that held her ghagra securely on her hips. He felt her grip onto his shoulders as he nails gently dug in. This time, he used both his hands to slide off the garment and everything else leaving her bare under him. He heard her gasp as she used her hands in an attempt to cover himself.
Maan moved away for just a second causing Geet to look back at him questioningly. He took only a few seconds to discard the last stitches of clothing he wore before he found his way back to her.
He used his hands to trail the entire length of her body, starting at her legs, up her thighs, around her hips, across her flat stomach. He lowered his head as he kissed her bellybutton causing her to shudder under him. Using his lips he made his way up higher and higher until they found her lips once again.
He settled himself above her as she opened up for him. He locked his eyes onto hers as he braces his weight on his arms so that he didn't crush her. She stroked his arms with her hands making their way up to his broad shoulders.
Ever so gently Maan pushed himself in as she moaned quietly. He stopped when he met with resistance, a part of him afraid to hurt her in even the slightest way, but when he looked into her eyes he knew she was ready.
With one swift thrust, Maan broke the barrier that separated them from becoming one.
"Maan," she rasped as she arched her back up off the bed and dug her nails deep into his shoulders and back.
Her eyes were closed and Maan saw a tear glisten in the light around them.
"Geet…" he called softly.
A few seconds later, she slowly opened her eyes and smiled at him. She wrapped her hand around the taveez he wore around his neck before pulling him down to capture his lips with hers.
Maan withdrew and thrust again eliciting a moan from Geet. He began to set the pace, slowly at first, getting more vigorous as the seconds passed on. He felt her claw at his back and bite his shoulders as he buried his head in the crevice of her neck. He slammed his lips furiously onto hers as she cried out when she reached her climax along with him.
Later that night they finally lay in each others arms. It had taken them seven years of pain, seven years of tears and seven years of loneliness but they finally got to the place they'd only dreamt of.
Finally after seven years Maan and Geet were together. Finally after seven years Maan and Geet were one.
*~* Back to Present *~*
Geet had showered and dressed in a red saree as quickly as she could. Nothing having the time to do her hair, she let it air dry into its natural waves while she did her makeup. She kept it simple with jut a touch of eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, a hit of rouge and a sweep of lip-gloss. She slipped on her shoes before going through her dressing table drawers looking for her jewelry. Find the set she was looking for, Geet quickly slipped on the kangans and necklace. She was just putting on the earrings when someone called.
"Didi!" Pinky yelled, "Aur kitna waqt lagega?"
"Baas hogaya," Geet answered as she put one earring on, "Aabhi aayi."
Geet was struggling to get the last earring through her hole when her mother-in-law walked in.
"Geet beta aagar tumhe aur waqt chahiyeh toh leh ho…jaldbazi kya hai," Mrs. Singh said as she placed a shawl over her shoulder.
"Nahin nahin Maaji, hogaya," Geet said finally pushing the earring through and securing it in place. "Aur jaldbazi kaise nahin hai? Hum ladkiwale hai…hum dehr nahin kaar sakte."
Mrs. Singh laughed at Geet's comment.
Geet straightened out her pallu and walked over to the door where Mrs. Singh stood. Mrs. Singh put a loving hand on her cheek before she spoke.
"Bohot khubsurat lag rahi ho," she said.
Geet simply smiled.
"Lekin lagta hai ke hume dehr hojayegi…kyun ke tum kuch bhool rahi ho," Mrs. Singh said.
"Kya?" Geet asked confused.
Mrs. Singh smiled at her, "Tumhari bindi…"
Geet reached up to find that she did have a small bindi already on. She frowned but before she could speak, Mrs. Singh did.
"Aagar Maan ne dekh liyeh ke tumne khud bindi lagali, toh halla macha dega," she reminded.
Geet sighed and smiled because her mother-in-law was right. Ever since they'd been married, Maan had insisted that he be the one to put the bindi on for her every morning. With the exception of the occasional business trip, he did so every morning without fail for the past seven years.
"Bhabi jaldi!" they heard Anne yell.
"Aayi!" Geet yelled just as Mrs. Singh went off.
Geet rushed inside her room and took off the bindi, placing it back on the sheet she had gotten it from. Grabbing her purse, she put the sheet inside as she exited her room.
She rushed down the stairs to see everyone in the family waiting – everyone except her husband and their two devils.
"Bhabi…Veerji kahaan hai?" Lucky asked.
"Pata nahin…magar tum log chalo…hum aate hai," Geet said as made her way towards them.
"Saath mein chalte hai naa," Pinky said as she shifted from one leg to another.
"Nahin tum log jaao…aagar ladkewale pohoch gaye toh? Vaise hi doh gadiyan toh lag hi jayenge," Geet said.
"Haan haan…chalo chalo," Anne said as she began walking out.
"Kuch toh sharam kar!" Pinky teased, "Aapni sagaai ke liyeh koi itna utavla hota hai kya?"
Everyone laughed.
"Chutki…main bataoon ke teri shaadi ke din tu kya kya kaar rahi thi?" Geet asked.
"Khabardar Didi," Pinky warned as she waved a finger in the air.
Geet laughed as she led the family outside to the waiting cars. They were taking the SUV so that it was easier for them all to sit. Mr. and Mrs. Singh climbed into the back with ease, while Anne sat in the middle row with her heavy ghagra spread out. Lucky sat in the driver seat while Geet helped Pinky into the passenger seat carefully.
"Sambhalke chalana," Geet called as she closed the door.
"Of course Bhabi, mere paas precious cargo joh hai," he said as he laid a protective hand over Pinky's swollen belly.
"Jaldi aana beta," Mr. Singh called.
"Haan Papa…baas abhi nikalte hai," she said.
She waved them goodbye from the entrance as they left. Once they were out of sight she went into the house.
"Aab yeh Maan kahaan gaye?" she asked herself.
She began to search for him starting with his study but didn't find him there.
"Maan……………Maan," she called as she walked the now quiet halls of the Singh house.
She waited for him to call back to her but he didn't.
"Pata nahin kahaan gayab hogaya," she said to herself.
Then, she heard laughter and instantly she knew where he was. She made her way to the playroom and despite the fact that she was angry at being late, she couldn't help but smile at the sight that greeted her.
Her full grown husband was sitting at the small table in a tiny chair that brought his knees up to his chest. He had on a pink feather boa around his neck and a purple glittered hat on his head. In his hand he held a tiny pink and white tea cup and saucer, from which pretended to drink.
In front of him, giggling to their hearts content, were their two daughters – five year old Arya and two and a half year old Nisha. They were her two little devils and his two little angles.
Geet marveled at the fact that at one time in her life, she would have never thought about having such an amazing family. She's given up on those dreams when she had thought that her Maan was dead. She'd never dreamt of every being happily married with two beautiful children. Yet here she was, smiling and enjoying the fact her husband was having tea party with their daughters.
As Geet watched Maan charm his angels, she was reminded about how much he'd loved them from the beginning.
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