Web Of Love [Chapter 14- P 111] - Page 67

Originally posted by: Susegad

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY BRATTY

🤗

Sunday mornings in our house were something like the beginning of this update. Aai would be making breakfast while Rangoli was playing on DD and I'd come sleepily and hug her from behind and savor her warmth for a few minutes and the smell of the cooking breakfast. She'd scold me to let go and not disturb her, but her hand that patted and caressed my head as she scolded was the gauze of her real feelings. This trip down nostalgia lane was what your Jhoot Bole Kavva Kate scenario gave me, so I thank you for giving me back the memory of that warm fuzzy feeling.

I love a man who can flirt with his mom, goes a long way in showing, he knows how to treat a woman. I almost wish it was Tweesha who'd witnessed that scene. 😉

"Geet felt the smile that touched her cheeks didn't diminish as she watched the sweet scene."

I coul almost feel her wistfullness in that smile. Couln't help feeling as much as she loved seeing Vicky with his mom, somewhere she'd be feeling a "If Only.

When a beautiful girl is exteing an olive branch, only an idiot would ignore it, accoring to me. What is wrong with him? But I love the person Geet turns into when he is around. he does rub her the wrong way doesn't he.(pun itended and I don't mean literally😉)😆

Originally posted by: TheBrat

Rofl Mannu you should be named question bank . Itne saare questions!!
Let me answer one by one. I will continue DOL but I need to finish WOL first. You are talking about Finishing school. Next number uska hi hoga. I had block with it now I know what I want with the story so after WOL next is Finishing school. There was A little late to love which was completed. Were you talking about that?

Originally posted by: TheBrat

Hello bacha log! Okay so I have a blog now. *embarrassed*

http://bratsthoughts.wordpress.com/

Originally posted by: TheBrat

Was re reading all the comments and couldn't help but grin stupidly. Life has been shitty busy lately so haven't been able to reply to the comments. Might reply to them in this week hopefully. Also, expect an update or two coming week :)

11. The Game Begins

"You're serious as in seriously serious?"

She couldn't miss the mirth in that voice and how it ended on a teasing note. Though it should have rung warning bells by now, which they sure did, she wasn't least bit daunted. For reasons unknown she is loving this strange uncaring and impulsive act of theirs and was looking forward to days where she might not replay and see everything through magnified glasses like she always does. She wanted to live like she did once upon a time and wanted to be that Geet she lost herself to time— Jovial, carefree and lively.

Lively.

That seemed so distant and not her.

Shaking her head wondering how often does she slip into mindless musings in broad day light, she eyed Tweesha whose gaze was unwavering and thankfully not looking at her, but towards her supposedly first challenge given by Geet, with a grin on her face.

She might have felt Geet stare at her face that explains how Tweesha turned her face to meet Geet's gaze with a smile "Are you sure this is the first challenge you ask me to take?"

"Yes" Geet replied with a smile looking back at the stage, where a person was performing at the moment.

It was a singing competition Geet selected for Tweesha and given how Tweesha was fond of music, it isn't least bit surprising to see her surprised form for being challenged at something which wasn't a challenge for her in true sense of word.

"Uh…" Tweesha shifted her gaze around and whispered at her "That's a bad move Miss Handa. I must say you missed a wonderful opportunity and trust me I won't be so kind when it's my turn."

That sounded lethal. Doesn't it? In all true sense Geet didn't expect Tweesha to go easy on giving her next challenge and she was right, she might have given an easy task to her, but Geet believed she needed it. It was not about challenges or anything that mattered. She needed familiarity of that Tweesha she had known and lost few years down the lane. She needed remembrance. If that came at the cost of looking like a fool, she didn't mind.

"I still have two more chances left to get back at you if needed, as of now I am sure and yes I am seriously serious"

Tweesha gave her a mysterious smile before taking the guitar bag off her shoulders.

"Won't wish me good luck?" she asked and before she could react, raised her fist.

Geet remembered all too well about their style of greeting and fisted her hand right back and hit hers, not caring the tiny red mark that would now be surfaced on her skin.

"Off I go, hu ha"

With that war cry, Tweesha walked towards the stage, to give a performance that she wouldn't forget for a lifetime.

* * *

The camera zoomed in towards the lone child that's sitting amidst of various toys surrounding it. The child was around a year old, with his new teeth arriving, he was obviously fascinated with keeping anything that's available in his vicinity in his mouth. The new racer car toy wasn't an exception, in fact his most favorite.

"Ah, there" said a voice from behind the camera, a masculine voice which was full of satisfied relief on successfully adjusting the video camera on a stand.

There were footsteps one could hear and after few moments the child was accompanied by a tall man who crouched behind it, and the child who was aware of the disturbance into his personal space peered curiously at the intruder and gave him a toothy grin recognizing the familiar face.

"Hey Champ" the tall man greeted the baby boy in his rich voice leaning over and pulling him up, making him stand on his tiny feet.

"Today we are going to walk. Alright? Ready to have a video shoot of our first walk with Daddy?"

"For God's sake Rajat stop bugging him" he heard a whispered curse from behind and there was Sarani standing with a spatula in her hand, her lose curls tied up into a bun, with some locks falling on her face, her face devoid of any makeup, emanating a glow in the early morning sun, but a scowl etched on her face, she stood with a hand on her hip.

She looked like a goddess, like Goddess Durga with that angry expression. That baby bump which is pretty visible now only made her look all the more reverent.

"What" the ever in control Rajat Khurana suddenly looked caught and embarrassed. "I am not bugging him" he replied a moment later, haughtily, making Sarani snort.

"Yeah right" she snorted again "I don't know what your problem is Rajat. Until few weeks back you're obsessed with his teething and now that he does, you're obsessed with him walking. Can't you give him some time to breathe god damn it?"

She wasn't one with volatile temper however he was sure pregnancy hormones had their effect on every woman with no exception towards Sarani Iyyer.

"I was only trying to…"

"…meddle in his play time and eat his head off. What? Don't give me that look. If you won't stop bugging him, I swear to Lord Murugan I would kick you and Daman out of my home"

With that said, she stormed off into the kitchen, making him look at his son, who resumed playing with his toys, not minding the brawl between his father and his aunt.

"Is the coast clear? Can I enter?" Rajat heard an amused voice and found Daman collapsing on the floor, beside him, his back resting against the sofa set. He grinned at the child and pulled the toy off his hands making him wail his lungs out.

Upon the swear words he heard from kitchen, he handed the toy hastily to the kid making him stop his wailing abruptly.

"Huh, your son is such a drama queen Rajat, I swear he would become one of the finest actors in his time. One moment before he screams bloody murder and now he stops as if nothing happened" Daman said narrowing his eyes at the child.

Rajat, rolled his eyes at Daman who for some reason always loved to mess with his son and ended up landing himself in trouble. The ladies loved the child and tolerated no one to even touch his little finger, not even the baby's god father Daman.

"Why are you troubling my son every time?"

"Me and troubling him?" Daman replied astonished. "It is the other way around buddy. Ever since he came into our lives, he's hell bent on attracting the ladies attention. I feel as if the spotlight is snatched from me"

He heard a bark of laughter from Rajat and raised his eyebrows at him. "What? I am not joking"

"You're jealous of Maan? He's a kid!" Rajat asked incredulous.

"Yeah yeah laugh away. You would have understood if you would have known the pains of watching your wife spend more time with him than you"

"Daman Vaiya muudu" they heard Sarani's voice from the kitchen.

"She says she is missing me" Daman translated sagely. "Women, I tell you. Twisted creatures" he said sighing and shaking his head.

Though Rajat knew that Daman's translation was far from reality, he let it pass, biting a smile.

"Anyway I heard I would be kicked out along with you if you troubled that little Mr. Khurana. What did you do now?"

"I just wanted to capture his first walk" Rajat said now looking straight ahead and into the camera lens that was still running.

"But to do that you need to have him around." Daman said with a grin and after a beat's silence both of them stiffened on hearing the ladies cries of excitement from the kitchen.

"Daman, fetch the camera now" Rajat shouted making a mad dash towards his right.

After a moment, in which all that the camera faced was shaking grounds and hurried steps, it was concentrated on the child who had his hands stretched towards his mother, who had picked him up instantly and kissed on both his cheeks.

"My baby walked his first step towards his mother" she said tickling him, making him giggle.

"Laasya, why did you pick him up, I wanted to shoot his first walk, and Daman damn it why are you focusing your camera at me, turn it towards him"

"I could only record the most entertaining ones" came a mumbled reply.

Ignoring Rajat's outburst, she caressed her baby's cheeks, wiping a stray mark of chocolate on his cheeks with her cotton sari. "Does baby wants to go with Papa and Uncle?" After a moment of silence she asked again "No?"

"When did he say no? Laasya give him back to me, now or else"

"Or else what…" Sarani said banging her spatula on a plate and turning towards them with the edge of her Sari tucked in, she looked like a woman ready to wage a war.

"I swear to God if you aren't out of my kitchen in what two seconds, you are going to receive a whack from me, both of you. Just. Get. Out"

The camera moved towards the mother son duo that were oblivious to the fracas and were giggling with each other while the mom tickled her son and her son threw his head back and giggled, emanating a smile on her face, and the screen froze there.

She passed a hand at the frozen moment and her eyes filled up. She clicked on the replay button and let the screen freeze at Rajat who was talking to their son, with a smile that reached his eyes. She touched the screen wondering what would she not give to have that smile back? Have him and the family she once had back? As she watched the video over and over again, she wondered what pinched her more? Losing them who are no longer with her or losing her son who was with her but didn't wish to be with her?

Watching the discarded Pasta that she made for him, she pushed the plate back, losing her own appetite and walked towards her study to welcome another day of her life, which she wished could pass soon, but which in turn wouldn't help but prick her and refresh her scars…

* * *

The strings of the guitar echoed in the auditorium as the audience were stunned into silence for a moment but broke into applause a moment later.

The applause was again stopped when they heard a velvety voice sing, like a deep rumble… the voice wasn't sweet per se, it was in fact husky and haunting.

The brilliant work of her hands echoed through the music that filled every ones' senses while the voice only added its charm to the song.

As she stopped singing, there was a deafening applause, which Geet herself joined in.

"Not bad" she heard someone say from behind her and turned only to find Vicky smiling down at her.

"What are you doing here?" hers was a shocked whisper finding him at the fest only students from different colleges were allowed to attend to.

He grinned at her "Now that's a welcome greeting"

She flushed "I am sorry I didn't mean—"

"—to offend me I know. As for your question, I believe I am here for holidays that lasts a month and I have to go back to California to complete my last sem. That means I still am a student and very much eligible to take part"

"Take part in what, pray tell me" he heard a clipped tone and sure, he was granted the permission to watch an annoyed face, which belonged to Tweesha.

"I believe cheap flirting isn't taken as a competition to reward you with prizes" he heard Tweesha's voice sneer, her head titled to a side.

"Tweesha" Geet whispered, placing a hand on her shoulder, which Tweesha ignored.

Her blood boiled at the sight of that idiot Khurana leaning in whispering at Geet. That reminded her of their earlier phone conversation where she and he had a stupid conversation where she threw him a challenge to win over Geet. So yes, she had a sharp tongue and hadn't thought before speaking but that doesn't mean she would allow him anywhere near Geet. He bloody well should keep a decent distance from her friend if he wanted to live for a longer time, she thought before stomping towards them.

Geet saw them standing toe-to-toe unblinking and could see the fire that emitted from Tweesha's stare which was met with his calm and composed stare.

"Tweesha" Geet tried again, knowing that this was not going to end on a good note.

She was cut off this time, not by Tweesha but by Vicky.

"Let it be LE," he grinned at Geet before turning to face Tweesha's icy stare "You're right wouldn't I brag prizes if my cheap flirting would be seen as a competition worth competing? Too bad for me"

Tweesha might as well have struck that bloody smile off his face hadn't she felt a tug on her arm by Geet. Watching Geet, who shook her head slightly, she gave a reluctant sigh before catching Geet's hand and walking away, not giving a second glance to that annoying asshole.

As they neared the exit door, they were stopped dead by the announcement on mike.

"Our next performance is by Vivan Khurana from Stanford University and oh he says he's going to sing something different for us. Let's welcome him then"

The crowd broke into applause and Tweesha pressed her temples as she prayed for patience.

"Let's go Geet" she said tugging her hand but stopped at the guitar chords, that started.

The music though unheard stopped her tracks with the sheer beauty in them. She remained in her position as the lead guitarist played his portion with an expertise ease, and when she turned around, had she heard his voice, and she froze…

It wasn't a language she recognized. It was some south Indian language, she concurred. The music was alien to her but the voice, his voice and the every letter he uttered screamed magic, touching her soul.

The crowd was cheering now, though they didn't understand the meaning of the song like her. As they say unheard music is sweeter.

She saw him catch the mike with one hand and look straight at her, with a smile never leaving his lips.

His hands gestured towards her many a time, and though she hardly understood what the lyrics meant, she was drowned in the beautiful music that was soul stirring and his very voice that had made her heart beat rise.

She saw him lower his voice as he tapped his feet to the beats. The entire crowd was humming the tune now, and everyone was clapping. She saw him smile at the end as he kept a hand on his heart and gave one of his heart stopping smiles.

She remembered that smile which was exclusively given to hers and which always made her heart skip a beat.

As the crowd broke into loud applause, she was roughly bought back to the present and that was when she rushed out of the auditorium, trying to ignore a deep pain, for what she knew not.

Geet looked at the trailing figure of Tweesha and her eyes flew back to Vicky, whose face held an unreadable expression but the concern in his eyes were unmistakable.

Geet joined her hands to clap like every other one in the hall as she felt a smile bloom on her face. May be it's time to let the game begin…

* * *

For song lyrics and translation and also for those who do not have access to Youtube,