Here's another update. Hope you guys like it. Comments/criticisms welcome.
Maan took Geet to a carnival Friday night. She was shocked not only at the invitation, but at the choice of outings.
"You like carnivals?" she'd exclaimed.
"Sure! I love the rides and cotton candy." He'd smiled with reminiscence. "My Dadima used to take me to carnivals when I was a kid. She'd even go to the rides with me. I get tickled even now when I hear somebody talk about grandmothers who bake cookies and knit and sit in rocking chairs. My grandmother was a true businesswoman. She was a real firecracker."
She was remembering the conversation as they walked down the sawdust-covered aisles between booths where carnies were enticing customers to pitch coins or throw baskets to win prizes.
"What are you brooding about?" Maan teased.
Geet looked up, laughing. "Sorry. I was remembering what you said about your grandmother. Did you spend a lot of time with her?"
His face closed up.
"Sorry," she said again, flushing. "I shouldn't have asked something so personal."
He stopped in the aisle and looked down at her, enjoying the glow of her skin against the pale yellow salwar she was wearing, her black hair long and soft around her shoulders.
His big, lean hand went to her hair and toyed with it, sending sweet chills down her spine when he moved a step closer. "She raised me," he said quietly. "My mother and father never got along. They separated two or three times a year, and then fought about who got to keep me. My father loved me, but my mother only wanted to spite him.
"I did wonder," she confessed, "about why you never talk about your parents." Her hands went to his shirtfront. She could feel the warm muscle under the soft cotton.
He sighed. His hand covered one of hers, smoothing over her fingernails. "Sometimes we blame people when it's just fate that bad things happen. Remember the old saying, 'man proposes, and God disposes'? It's pretty much true."
"Ah, you advocate being a leaf on the river, grasshopper," she said in a heavily accented tone.
"You lunatic," he laughed, but he bent and kissed her nose. "Yes. I do advocate being a leaf on the river. Sometimes you have to trust that things will work out the way they're meant to, not the way you want them to."
"Why do you hate women?"
His eyebrows arched.
"Everybody knows that you do. You even told me so." She flushed a little as she remembered when he'd told her so; the first time he'd kissed her.
"Remember that, do you?" he teased softly. "You don't know a lot about kissing," he added.
She moved restlessly. "I don't get in much practice."
"Oh, I think I can help you with that," he said in a deep, husky tone. "And for the record, I don't hate you."
"Thank you very much," she said demurely, and peered up at him through the lashes.
He bent slowly to her mouth. "You're very welcome," he whispered. His lips teased just above hers, coaxing her to lift her chin, so that he had better access to her mouth.
Before he could kiss her, a voice mused from behind him, "Kissing in public will get you arrested."
"Adi" Maan groaned, turning to face the man. "What are you doing here?"
Adi grinned at the discomfort in their faces as he moved closer and lowered his voice. "Just what you are doing Sir, enjoying the carnival." "I'll see you both around" said Adi and walked away from there giving a slight knowing smile.
Maan and Geet watched him go. Maan's hand reached down and locked into hers, bringing her surprised eyes back up to meet his.
She was hesitant, because Adi was grinning in their direction.
"I don't care about public opinion," Maan pointed out, "and he wouldn't dare tease me in my own office," he added with a grin.
Geet laughed. "Okay, I won't care, either."
His strong fingers linked with hers, while he held her gaze. "I can't remember the last time I smiled so much," he said. "I like being with you, Geet."
She smiled. "I like being with you, too."
They were still smiling at each other when two running children bumped into them and broke the spell.
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Cricket
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