I don't know where this one came from. Just kinda did. :/ Its a two-part SS and I have decided not to read it one last time because everytime I do, I feel like changing every other sentence. :| Anyway.. I hope this is just me being my typical self and this isn't THAT bad.
Part 1
Maanvi couldn't stop staring at the ring.
"Um, Maanvi?" He finally spoke and she blinked.
Why did his voice sound like he was a mile away?
"I... I know its unexpected but.. But we've been together for 2 years now and I just... I love you and I felt that..." He was fumbling. Goddamn it. He cursed inwardly.
She finally looked up to register the face before her. He was smiling nervously now and guilt flooded her.
"I... I don't know what to say." She said, averting her gaze.
"Just think about it." He said quietly.
"No." She said softly.
"What?"
"I... I can't."
She forced herself to look at him again as the smile died from his face.
"You... you're sure?"
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
"Wh... why?" He finally asked.
"I... I don't know." She said.
"Well, what do you know?" He asked a little testily now.
"I know that I love you." She looked at him, her eyes saying what she couldn't bring herself to, and realization dawned on his face.
"Just not enough. You'll never love me like you love him will you?"
"No it's not like that.."
"And no matter what I do I can't.. I can't take his place." He cut across her, wishing for his tone to not be so completely laced with bitterness but it seeped through anyway.
"It's not fair to you." She said, as she fought back tears.
"I should go now." He said, turning away.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered, the lump in her throat becoming increasingly painful and he almost smiled.
"I know you are. But you need to tell him."
She didn't say anything and he simply reached out to cup her face.
"Goodbye Maanvi."
~*************************~
Maanvi dragged herself to the couch and collapsed. Her head felt so heavy. She rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock.
It was much too late.
Ironic really, how she wanted the one person right now she had just broken someone's heart over.
Every instinct screamed that she shouldn't call him but she was already dialing his number.
"Virat?"
~*************************~
"What happened?" Virat Vadhera rushed through the door as though she had murdered someone in the dead of the night.
She looked up to see him breathing heavily.
Even if she had killed someone, she thought wryly, she'd probably still call him to help get rid of the body.
"Maanvi?" He asked as he knelt before her now, a sense of urgency and worry clearly lining his features.
Too bad he didn't have a ring.
"Maanvi are you okay?" he asked more gently, pushing the hair away from her face.
"I'm okay." She said looking away.
"What happened?"
"Abhay... he..."
"What did he do?" he asked, standing up at once.
"Will you sit down?"
"If he hurt you I swear..."
"He didn't hurt me." She said, trying to ignore the irony of the statement.
He barely heard her.
"What exactly did he do? You know what? It doesn't matter. Because I'm going to kill him anyway." He was talking to himself now.
"Will you listen?" She said, pulling him by the hand and making him sit on the couch.
"What? What is it?"
Clearly she had interrupted a murderous scheme in his head.
"He didn't do anything. Atleast nothing you should be killing him for."
"Then?"
"He... He proposed to me."
"Oh." His eyes were suddenly empty now, his initial anger completely forgotten as he stared at her. There was something inside him that was struggling particularly hard to get out but he held on tight. Now was not the time.
"Say something." She said, when he continued to regard her in silence.
"I... yes... so...um..." he finally jerked up and cleared his throat, "What did you say?"
"What do you think I said?" She said looking up at him sharply.
Did he really not have a clue?
"Well I know you... you love him..."
"I said no, Virat."
"You did?" He asked, clearly surprised.
One of these days she'd have to murder him.
"God you're just useless aren't you?!" She said pushing him hard, some of her frustration finally breaking through.
"Okay... okay... come here." He said trying to reach out.
"Forget it. I'm going to bed." She snapped now.
She tried to get up but he pulled her back, wrapping one arm tightly around her for good measure and held her close.
"I'm sorry." He said quietly as he stroked her hair. She simply closed her eyes and breathed into the warmth and familiarity that was so typically him.
There was only one word, they'd ever use for moments like these... Home.
~*************************~
Virat smiled a little as he saw her sleep and reached out to touch her face. She mumbled something and shifted, making him smile all the more.
I love you.
He could probably whisper those words to her like an endless chant and never grow tired.
He leant forward and pressed a kiss against her cheek. She mumbled again as his breath tickled her ear now and he laughed quietly.
"Goodnight Maanvi."
~*************************~
"You're still here?"
Maanvi walked into the kitchen, her hair completely askew.
"Good afternoon to you too."
"I thought you would have left by now." She said as she let herself fall into the nearest chair and rubbed her eyes.
"I wanted to see if you were okay."
"I'm fine."
"Sure you are. Coffee?"
"You really need to ask?"
He smiled at that.
"Well I know you don't really like it..."
"Except when you make it." She finished.
"Yes. Why is that again?"
"I don't know. Must be your haathon ka swaad." She said and he chuckled at her words.
"Original piece ho." He replied, quoting a line from their favorite movie. One of them atleast.
"We should do this more often." She said now, staring off into space.
"Do what?"
"You... coming over."
"I practically live here Maanvi."
"That's not official." She pointed out.
"Only because we thought it wouldn't go down too well with your boyfriend."
"So you'd be okay with it now?" She wondered why she was playing with him. She clearly hadn't slept too well.
"What else do you want with the coffee?" He asked, ignoring her completely.
"I don't know. Whatever you're having." She shrugged.
Ofcourse he wouldn't answer.
"So... What's the one thing you've always wanted to do but never got around to it?" She asked as she watched him move around the kitchen.
"Oh that's easy." He muttered under his breath.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing... what's this about?" He asked as he cracked an egg.
"I was thinking about it last night."
"I thought you were heartbroken last night."
"Yes that too." She said absentmindedly.
He looked at her curiously now.
"What's gotten into you? Maybe you should just get back with him." Just make sure you kill me before the two of you walk off into the sunset. Even to him, that sounded pathetic. More than usual anyway.
She made no answer and he went back to beating the eggs.
"Maanvi? Your coffee." He placed the mug infront of her now.
"Thanks."
"I really am fine." She finally said as he continued to regard her, clearly starting to worry.
He simply nodded but didn't take his eyes off of her.
"So what would you do?" He asked after a while. Was the staring too apparent? He wondered.
"I'm not sure. That's why I asked you."
"I haven't really thought about it." He shrugged. Like hell you haven't.
"Maybe we should do something like that next week."
"Next week? Why next week?" He asked, earning a quirk of her eyebrow.
"Oh right. New Year's eve."
"Thank you. I think I'll just go back to sleep. Thanks for the coffee." She said as she slid off her chair.
"Hey wait your eggs!" He called out but she had already disappeared.
He shook his head as he looked at the half drank cup of coffee.
This girl was impossible.
~*************************~
"And you're still just sitting? You need to tell her!"
Virat grimaced as Rohini practically screamed through the phone.
"I will."
"I mean in this century Virat."
"Ha ha."
"Did she tell you why she said no?"
"No, she wouldn't say."
"And you were too scared to ask.
"Well... Yeah." He finally admitted sheepishly. He could practically see her shaking her head now.
"If you don't tell her, I will."
"I'll tell her."
"You said that two years ago."
"She started to date Abhay." He said defensively.
"And you dated Naina."
"She was very nice."
"That's not the point."
"I'll tell her." He said more firmly now but she merely snorted.
"I will!" He said much too loudly.
"Who are you talking to?" Maanvi's voice filtered into the room and he nearly dropped his phone in panic.
"What... oh... just a friend... I was about to hang up..." He said hurriedly and she simply raised her eyebrows at the secrecy.
"I'll do it." He muttered into the phone now.
"All the best." Rohini said and he smiled.
"Thanks Ro... I love you."
He hung up to see Maanvi still standing in the doorway.
"Who was that?" She asked suspiciously.
"Rohini. We were just talking."
"What's the deal with you two anyway?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well you dated her briefly, but that was some 3 years ago. You don't usually make friends out of your exes."
"Well we are friends. Very good friends."
"I believe that."
"Look I don't know why you don't like her but she's really cool... if you could just give her a chance..."
"Right. I don't need to hear this." She said already turning around.
"What is your problem?" He couldn't help but snap now.
"My problem is, if you're seeing her you can tell me. You don't have to lie about it."
"I'm not seeing her!" He said in exasperation but she ignored him.
"I'm sorry I interrupted. I'm going to go call Di now."
A muscle worked in his jaw as he saw her stalk off before throwing his phone away.
This would probably take ten years.
~*************************~
Maanvi glared at the TV, barely registering what she was watching. She hadn't called her Di afterall. There had been plenty of cursing instead, most of which was directed towards herself. She hated fighting with Virat and that too over such a trivial issue. She knew perfectly well that he and Rohini were just friends. Virat was right. What had gotten into her?
She saw him approach her now and tried to smile. She felt so tired for some reason and it was the only apology she could muster.
It worked ofcourse. That was one of the things she loved most about him. He loved and understood her in a way nobody else really did. He sat down and simply wrapped his arms around her, murmuring soft apologies into her ear. She smiled as she buried her face into his chest. She had been with a number of guys, had even loved two of them but there was always a strength and protectiveness in his arms that made her feel completely safe.
"Ice cream?" He said, looking down at her.
"But I don't want to get up." She said petulantly and he rolled his eyes as he stood up.
"Should I carry her Highness then?"
"Yes please!" She nodded her head vigorously, raising her arms.
He simply shook his head, trying and failing to suppress a grin.
"Up you get then!" He said, cooping her up easily. She simply smiled happily as they made their way to the kitchen.
If somebody were to see them like this, they'd probably wonder why they weren't together yet. And it was that very same question that haunted them as well.
~*************************~
Will post the 2nd part soon! đ
-Maham.
Udne Ki Aasha
Pushpa Impossible
331