[MG FF] The Sunshine- Update pg 134 - Page 69

She had a ridiculous smile when she came out of her room to the balcony. A weird contentment had successfully made its place in her small heart, all thanks to the slow overtures made by Maan towards her. It was exhilarating to see him make a sincere attempt to ward off his fears and embrace a new life. A small pat on his back for his success and energy in learning meager alphabets had boosted his confidence to a great level. His eyes now twinkled whenever he saw a book and pencil in Geets hands when she came to his room. It was a week since their lessons started and he had catapulted to a level that nobody would have imagined. Geet still remembered the enthusiasm he showed when she taught him alphabets.

Such eagerness he had shown in learning and gaining knowledge and wisdom that he was already on the level of forming small words like cat, rat, bat and stuff like that. He was like a moth attracted to flame. He showed a tremendous level of porosity and hunger, thirst to desperately prove himself worthy to the only person who showed him the light of the day and brought him out of the hell. Unconsciously, his mind and heart had resolved to never disappoint his little friend who saw remarkable potential in him. Somewhere in his heart, he already knew that something great and magnificent was in the making and he wouldnt let himself and his fears to hinder it.

Though his world was temporarily confined to the room, he never felt that helpless again. He was in a safe bubble. He felt it and that assurance had done more good than Geet had imagined. He never complained. He just accepted. May thats what let his father show his arrogance till now. But now that Geet had come, she was going to teach him what attitude meant. He was going to be a man who exuded arrogance, who wielded power and played with attitude more than her father could ever imagine because it was always good to be bad to those who utilize our goodness to their benefits even worse, their pleasure like Mohan had done for the past 8 years on this boy. But now enough was enough. Everything had its limit. Everything in this world had to denature and it was the time for her fathers forced power and cruelty to take a back seat, disintegrate and vanish into nothing as something more potent was already in the process of taking shape.

She was leaning on the railing, staring out at the city of Fatehpur Sikri as it expanded around her beautifully. A discreet cough made her turn around to face Anne who was grinning from ear to ear, looking extremely pleased. Geet cocked her brows, "whats the matter, Drooly? You look really happy?"

"That useless man had just called to inform that he is not going to come home for another month," Anne announced importantly, "apparently he has some really important things to wrap up. He said he wanted to talk to you but was currently not in the state of mind to make a civil conversation with his daughter as he was extremely pissed with someone who was responsible for some great losses his company had to bear and some other nonsense. In brief, we are going to enjoy another month of Mohinder free environment. Isnt that awesome?"

Geet smiled triumphantly, "I knew he would do this. He wouldnt get anything if he stays here babysitting his daughter. He was just putting up with it because the court had ordered. Now that you are here to take care of me, what would his presence do? I bet he was looking for the first chance to escape. Anyway, good riddance! I dont have to see his filthy face for another month and it will give Maan some ample time to be himself and get used to me."

"He is already going great in that matter," Anne said proudly, ruffling Geets hair, "you have worked magic on that boy. I didnt know he would become normal so soon. Seriously Geet! I am extremely proud of you!"

"Gee, thanks, Drooly!" Geet hugged her god mother around her mid riff, looking up at her with twinkling eyes, "without you I wouldnt have done anything. Thanks for being there with me."

"No need to thank me, Geet" Anne smiled as she squatted down on the floor, "its your strength and confidence that made this possible. Anyway, you have already started tutoring him, what is the next thing you are going to teach him?"

"Starting with the basics of math, I think" Geet said, "He needs to be brought to such a stage where no one could even think of defeating him. He is still in the first step; he needs to reach the highest point. So I think I will simultaneously teach him English and math for some days now and then we can move on to other things."

"Cool," Anne smiled. Geet suddenly said, "Drooly, can you buy me some stuff?"

"Sure," Anne nodded, "what do you need?"

"Okay, I will buy them today itself," Anne smiled and hugged her, "should I go now?"

"Yes, please," Geet kissed her cheeks, "by then I will start teaching him numbers. Oh, and some drawing books for kids would be good too. Let us check his artistic side, shall we?" she winked.

"Yup," Anne smiled as she got up, "will be back before you know it and Geet, you need to make a list of what you need for your school. It is going to reopen soon."

Geet's smile faltered. She had completely forgotten about her school. She was supposed to be going to a new school this year. Shit! How was she going to leave Maan alone? Oh crap!

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While she was busy moping, looking miserable, Anne smiled and exclaimed, "Maan!"

Her head shot up and what she saw made her smile in sheer joy. Maan was wearing a t shirt and a pair of shorts that Anne had bought him last week and he was looking extremely good in it. How he had managed to put it on was a million dollar question but Geet didnt care. Her whole attention was on this boy, who was leaning behind the wall, poking his head out from there and looking around with his wide eyes, a small smile adoring his cute m shaped lips. He wasnt nervous. He was looking in anticipation to see what their reaction was. Geet just bounded up to him and embraced her little friend, ruffling his hair and patting him on the back, "waah! Kitna achcha dikhte ho tum! Ek dum hero ke jaise!"

A red tinge appeared on the face of Maan as he blushed and looked away, much to the amusement of Geet who said, "Role reverses"

Anne started guffawing and even, to Anne and Geets extreme surprise, Maan laughed a little and ran away to his room. "How cute!" Geet yelled, "Did you see him blush?"

"Looks like someones making a sincere attempt to impress their teacher!" Anne giggled and went away to get all the supplies Geet had asked for, shaking her head in delight. Geet just stood there, looking extremely pleased with herself. This reaction of Maan was completely opposite to what she was planning to make him yet it was oddly comforting and joyous. At least, he had laughed. At least he had smiled all the way. At least he did something to impress her. Well, what more could she have asked. But it wasnt enough. He had to be tough not all soft and blushing. He had to rugged and masculine. Yes, she knew exactly what she wanted him to do.

Maan was sitting on his bed, his duvet spread around him like a tent and he was playing around with a flash light when Geet came into the room. As soon as he saw her, he dived inside the blanket and hid his face. Geet suppressed a giggle as she approached his bed and immediately ripped the cover off him. Maan gulped and looked everywhere but her. Geet sat next to him, trying very hard not to laugh and said, "ladke aise hote hai?"

Maan looked up in confusion. He surely didnt understand the concept of rugged masculinity and soft feminism. He had a long way to go she sighed and smiled at him, earning a small smile from his side as well. "Chaloaaj kuch naya sikhati hoon tumhe."

Maan immediately perked as he Geet opening their work book and jumped off the bed to join on the floor, waiting eagerly to see what she was going to teach him today.

"I am going to teach you numbers," she said and wrote 1 on the paper, "one."

He copied the same on his workbook and repeated "one."

Geet looked at him, her heart swelling with pride, "amazing!" she muttered fondly and proceeded to write the next number, "two.."

He copied and repeated, "two.."

"Excellent!" she gave him a huge pat, one that nearly knocked him over, smiled and continued with teaching him all the numbers. Maan was well enough to understand that no matter how hard Geet hit him, she never did anything to hurt him on purpose. She strongly reminded him of his mother, poignant and kind.