CHAPTER-23(B) (A BLEEDING HEART)
"It's so easy, To think about Love, To Talk about Love, To wish for Love, But it's not always easy, To recognize Love, Even when we hold it... In our hands."
Jaka
Moments, small moments, a single second, it was single points of time like those, that had the power to change someone's life.
"I didn't know then what u will come to mean to me---- but now I know, u're my life Mr. Khurana and I just can't live without u."
Geet giggled thinking what he would say if he would have heard this declaration of hers. Her glad mood dimmed as she remembered how he had tried to talk her out of thinking that she loved him. Will he ever change his thinking? What had happened to make such a wonderful person like him to be so skeptical of Love even freely offered? What if he could never reciprocate her feelings? What if he would tire of her and then expect her to walk out of his life?
"Geet," she berated herself, "You knew the risks while walking into this______ you knew what he thought about love and relationships, so now accept the fact that he might never change."
Her happy mood of a few minutes back had evaporated and she felt empty. Very cautiously she slid out of his arms, turned her face to the other side and scooted towards the far side of the bed . Dawn had yet to spread her glory over the black sky. The stars had just faded to their sleep. Her heart felt heavy. She had just closed her eyes again when her cell gave a faint beep to tell her she had just received a msg. Geet quickly took out the mobile from the bag which was lying on the floor and then saw that it wasn't a msg but a reminder that she had added. She looked at the note and then looked at the time on the cell and gave a low curse.
"How could I forget? How could I forget?"
Geet got down from the bed and wished she had a penlight. And a toothbrush. Fumbling around in the dark------- she got down on her knees to search with her hands. Then remembering that she didn't have a stitch of cloth covering her, she slowly took the sheet at the foot of the bed and then wrapped it Chinese style and then resumed her search. Her hands closed around her shoe______ one shoe, then she found her bra. Geet let out a grunt of satisfaction when her seeking fingers hooked on to the elastic of her panties.
Now her dress and her other shoe to go. Her purse probably had some mints in them and she will have the cab fare there. She would have killed for coffee now. On her hands and knees she continued to search the floor, then awarded herself a mental "aha" when she located her dress almost halfway from the door to the bed.
"Geet what are you doing down there?"
Geet screwed up her eyes----
Maan was once again fascinated to see the colour race across her face to the tips of her hair.
Geet wasn't meeting his eyes. She slipped off his lap and bundled in the sheet she picked up her dress and slipped into the bathroom. Maan frowned, did he imagine it or was she just being distant.
"No way Maan, she can't be pulling herself away from you. Remember how she had responded to you only last night and a girl like her can't respond so if her feelings are not involved. So, then why doesn't she say she loves me any more?"
He desperately wanted to hear Geet say she loved him but had no idea how to go about making her say it or finding out the truth.
Geet got out of the bathroom and very self-consciously started to put on her shoes__________
Why was Maan sir looking at her like that?
"Wait up, I will drive you to ur home."
"No its_______"
By the time she had uttered those words, he had already disappeared inside the bathroom and then coming out he dressed very fast and then held out his hand for hers. They descended the staircase together holding hands and walked towards his car, all the time stealing glances towards each other, quiet, and subdued.
"I could have gone by myself."
Geet found herself compelled to say this. She hated this feeling of sadness that had crept into her mind and heart----- and no amount of self talk was dispelling this gloomy feeling. She yearned for him to feel like she did towards him, she wanted him to at least say that he she mattered to him.
Maan was equally lost in his thoughts when she said that and for some reason he got angry hearing her say that she could have gone home by herself. He wanted to take her himself and loved the idea of her leaning towards him for some personal work.
"Its no problem for me."
Both understood that the other was having some dark, deep thoughts and so they kept quiet.
When MSk stopped his car outside the gates of her Uncle's house, Geet took a deep breadth and turned to look at him, trying to gauge his mood and why he was so quiet. Maan too turned towards her. He wanted to tell her what he had decided the previous night, but second thoughts stopped him along with Geet's quietness which felt strange to him. His Geet was always talking ten to a dozen, then why was she so quiet?
They both looked at each other------ both reached for each other at the same time and held hands. Maan felt an inexplicable feeling raise in his heart. He just didn't want to see her get off his car, go away from him---- the moment felt significant, as if some strange force was urging him to keep her close to him.
Geet leaned forward and for the first time kissed him on her own, taking the initiative herself_________ the moment her lips closed around him, Maan felt at peace, she was his personal oasis, he was sure of it and as he deepened the kiss and held her to himself, his resolve strengthened that she was the one_____ she was what he was searching for so long. Geet broke the kiss as suddenly as she had started it. If she believed in intutions she would have told herself that the deep heavy feeling that she was feeling weighting down her heart seemed to be warning her of times to come.
She wanted to tell Maan she loved him, but couldn't do so for fear that he will not take it in its spirit and ________
Maan looked at her eyes looking back at him----- such soulful eyes, as if she wanted to tell him something but yet she held back whatever was troubling her.
He cupped her face in his palms____
"Geet?"
"I have to go, I will be coming in late----- is that ok?"
"Take your time, I'll be waiting for you."
And he pulled her for a last hard kiss and then he set her free. Geet got out of the car and then as she crossed the lawn and then opened the door, she looked back once. He was still sitting there watching her go in. she raised her hand in a gesture, but by then he had gone.
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9.30am
Geet was sitting stuck in traffic when Neha called her.
Neha worked in the records deptt. And for the past one month Geet had been working closely with her on something that she had discovered quite by chance and since then both girls had developed a healthy respect for each other. Neha was a no nonsense girl, who loved her work and excelled in it. She had taken to Geet when Geet pointed out to her the easy way through which the files and data stored in their records can be accessed by almost all employees. As Neha was a software engineer, she knew the soft spots where a file could be hacked at and yet she herself hadn't been able to pinpoint the source. Geet loved dabbling in that and so both girls were working together on something which Geet had requested Neha not to divulge to anybody before it was completed.
"What do u mean Neha? Why would someone do that? Look again---- oh ho, Neha, it might mean that the system is not functioning properly, chalo let me come then I will see for myself."
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10.15am
Adi was feeling very sad and scared as he bore the news to MSK. He knew his boss will be very angry and disappointed.
Adi knocked, but no answer came from MSK's cabin. He knocked once again, but again no answer. He then creaked open the door, MSK wasn't there inside the cabin.
He went looking for Pinky as Geet hadn't yet arrived. Maybe Pinky will be able to tell him where MSk had gone.
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Maan stood outside the store. He had been standing there for the last 10 minutes without taking any further step to go in. he then took a deep breath and opened the door and stepped in. A store manager hurried forward. His was a prominent face and the manager knew him by sight.
"Mr.Rawat, I want to see the piece which you had told me about over the phone."
"Right Sir, this way." And so saying the store manager led him towards the middle showcases.
The girl managing that particular counter took out a red velvet cloth and spread it over the glass display case of the counter and the started to take out some selected pieces from the collection. One particular one caught Maan's eye and he reached for it.
"It is the same one which I had told you about Mr. Khurana, I must say you have a very good eye for the best that I have here at this store."
Maan held the ring in his hand and watched it catch the sunbeams and shoot off spectacular rainbows from its many facets. The ring was a simple one with a round diamond off set by a ring of small emerald stones. The contrast of white and green stones were a eye catcher.
Maan closed his eyes and saw Geet's face in his mind's eye. The sparkle of the ring seemed to be in her eyes whenever she smiled or fought with him. He had told her he was incapable of giving her romance, but he knew she was a die-hard romantic in her heart and he wanted to give her some semblance of romanticism when he told her he wanted to marry her.
It never entered his mind that he was supposed to ask her to marry him.
He knew he was right in thinking she still cared for him, even if her initial love or infatuation had faded away. He wanted to dazzle her so much that she will see that he too cared for her. He wouldn't let her say no. He smiled to himself imagining her surprise when he informed her that she was going to be Mrs. Geet Maan Singh Khurana. The very name lifted his spirits and he gave a very dazzling smile to the girl manning the counter and she was taken aback seeing his face transformed thus.
"I want this one, but I want a small change in it." And Maan detailed what he wanted and was assured by the manager that it will be done.
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So heres part B, hope u all like it.PMs later, as i want to upload the next part too.
Love
Khushi
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Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
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