MG FF: Quantum of Solace -Updated Pt 46- Apr 28 - Page 18

Geet and Rohan chatted the hours away reminiscing about old times. They were so lost in catching up that how time had passed was of no thought or concern to them. So had it not been for an interruption designed to disturb them they would have continued into the night recollecting.

Presently, Geet opened her mouth to defend her opinion as to why the Rolling Stones were the best band but screamed instead hearing something crash on the ground. The shattering noise caused Geet to presume it was glass and quickly turned to look in the corner were a vase formerly stood.

Rohan also got up startled by the noise and saw Vicky running straight towards him. He quickly moved out of the way almost falling on the sofa. "Hey guys...how's the happy reunion going?!" Vicky inquired breathlessly while frantically running around the living room.

Geet was ready to kill him for giving her a heart attack. Before she could question why he was acting like a chicken with his head cut off she found out soon enough when Piyu made her own entrance screaming and subsequently chasing Vicky.

"Oh dear God…you have to stop her! I swear she's gone crazy!" Vicky said trying to hide behind Geet but she was too petite for his big frame.

Unsurprisingly, being called crazy only made Piyu angrier. "Uncle Vicky you deserve to be double punished for calling me bad names!" She finally caught up with him on the sofa he had jumped on and proceeded to hit him with her bat.

Geet held her temples wondering when she went from being a doctor to a daycare babysitter. "Piyu stop hitting your Uncle Vicky!" The little one wasn't pleased to be told to cease her beating but obeyed grudgingly. Geet then turned to Vicky with a flared nose. "Really Vicky! It's a plastic bat, not to mention a pink one at that!"

He rubbed his arm and pouted with puppy eyes. "I'm sensitive. Besides she's not cute and innocent. She's like the woman hulk!"

Geet begged to understand why her peaceful day couldn't continue on that path. Rohan, on the other hand, couldn't help but laugh at Vicky.

"I can't believe you two!" Maan shouted from the doorway. He searched his whole house for the two kids before coming to Geet's place and in the process grew angrier wondering why his brother instead of helping them was making things harder.

And sadly, he wasn't in the least bit surprised to find them on the sofa but definitely upset. "Vicky…Piyu...off the sofa right now!" Turning to Rohan then Geet with chagrin he apologized. "I'm sorry I tried to stop them both."

Piyu pouted, "But Dad..." He raised his hand warning her. "Fine! But that doesn't mean I'm not telling Dadi about him." She stuck her tongue out at Vicky before running away.

Our sensitive adult male, Vicky, still frightened of his 5 year old niece only got on the ground after being positive she was a good distance away from him. "I'm telling you guys something needs to be done about that wild child before she gets out of hand."

Maan wanted to walk over there and smack some sense into him. "If you hadn't noticed she's five that's how kids her age act! But it seems you fall into the same category too."

Vicky mumbled something but otherwise ignored the statement and walked towards a very amused Rohan. "How's it going dude?"

"Better than it is for you I must say." Rohan retorted causing Vicky to roll his eyes at Geet who couldn't help but release a small chuckle.

"Tell me about it! That's why it's nice to finally have another guy around here. All these ladies are ganging up on us guys and Bro here is well, not all here these days. If you know what I mean."

"Vicky!" Simultaneously Maan and Geet screamed.

Ignoring them, Vicky put his arm around Rohan's shoulder and led him in the direction of the back exit of the house. "I completely forgot Dadima has been waiting for you. She mentioned something about you and food and starving Yogis…"

Watching Rohan and Vicky interact made Maan smile. His brother wasn't immune to life's hardships either but he kept it bottled up inside hidden almost flawlessly with a huge smile. So it was nice to see something genuine happening with someone his own age.

The connection he had with Vicky was of a role model and while still brotherly it wasn't the same as with Armaan. But he could see something similar possible between Rohan and Vicky now. It certainly wouldn't fill the void completely but it would definitely ease his loneliness.

Geet stood at the opposite end of the room also watching Vicky and Rohan leave until her sight shifted elsewhere. The slight breeze swayed the sheer white curtain near Maan drawing her attention directly on him. She noticed he was leaning against the door staring in the same direction and crossed the room to stand by him. "It's strange isn't it?"

Maan turned to focus on her instead of the two retreating figures. "What is?"

"How parallel our lives are but at the same time they are not." She softly smiled.

"I guess that's why the universe brought us together." Maan rose an eyebrow with a barely there grin. "Regretting it now?"

"Of course not, I just find it interesting that's all." She now leaned against the opposite side of the doorway a mere few inches away from him.

Scanning his eyes she saw sleep and restlessness. Raising a hand she ruffled his hair to which he closed his eyes. "You look exhausted Maan. Go get some rest." She whispered sliding her hand to his rough cheek.

He grabbed the hand guiding it to his lips to place a soft kiss while wrapping his other arm around her waist tugging her against him. "Truth be told, I think I finally can rest. I don't have to keep an eye on you 24/7!"

Geet pursued her lips seeing him wink at the end. "Are you implying I'm a pain to you?"

Maan leaned closer grinning fully this time as she moved back. "Only when you tease me mercilessly like right now." She scrunched her nose and tried to push him away. "Let me go Maan!"

This time Maan used his bodily advantage and held Geet tightly against him hindering all her movements. He peered at her with his warm eyes further stilling her thoughts too causing only her heart to rapidly beat. Dipping his head towards her ear he spoke while trailing his warm breath along to her lips. "We've been over this Geet. I'm not letting you go."

He closed the minimal distance that lay between with a searing touch of his lips. Geet's insides melted with the contact and she closed her eyes to lose herself in him. Maan obliged her desire but miserly then suddenly let go. He wanted her to feel the anguish of separation from the deepness they felt so that she realized what it felt like to him when she spoke of such things.

Geet slowly opened her eyes drowning in his eyes. The pure affection reflecting in the dark pools subdued her other senses. She felt the message not only from his lips but saw it in his eyes. It made her realize how truly blessed she was with all the love she had been showered with.

Encircling her arms tightly around his waist she smiled with tears building in her eyes. "God has given me the best men in the world to watch over me. I wonder, especially on days like today, whether I deserve you all."

Maan gently removed the hair splaying all over her face. "Of course you do sweetheart. You deserve even better I say."

"I don't know about that Maan but I'm thankful for what I got today. It made me realize a few things I conveniently neglected to acknowledge."

"Stop beating yourself up Geet. You know, I don't think I've told you how proud I am of you for reaching out to Rohan."

"Please Maan, I could have handled it much better and you know it."

"Yes, but it was a step in the right direction."

Geet nodded still weary. "I've realized today how wrong I've been about so many things. To an extent I brought on a lot of my grief but not anymore. The joy I felt today having Rohan back is indescribable Maan. I want to feel that every day. I want to be happy, just as happy, if not more every day."

Her entire life she suffered through waves of emotions but nothing as intense as those during these past few months in this place or even in these very arms. As all the moments, good and bad, rushed inside of Geet questioning inklings began to rise of exactly where her happiness lay. Did it reside in what she was fighting for or was it all right in front of her?

Drained from the roller coaster of emotions and thoughts she wrapped her arms around tighter and buried her wet face into him hoping to find clarity. "Don't worry Geet. From now on you won't be anything but happy." He caressed her back smiling all the while because he knew how close they were to getting Geet her happiness.

It was only a matter of days now until this entire mess was going to end once and for all. And along with that the headaches, worries and late nights would also disappear. But there was one thing he did expect to miss about this whole ordeal and that was no longer having Geet's presence around him all the time.

During his trip to India, not only did the the depth of his attachment to Geet dawn on Maan but so did the intense hate for any thought of letting her go far from him. By suppressing the reality that their time was limited he did himself no favors. Because through this conversation it hit him like a brick wall that the day was around the corner and all he could do was accept fate with a bittersweet smile.

Right then with no other choice in sight, Maan accepted to let her go but not completely, just enough for both their happiness. He wasn't going to be overbearing or pushy only supportive no matter what happened or where she would end up. His only concern was having enough strength to support her decision without letting his disappointment of parting with her show. Because in no way did he want to influence her decisions or happiness, those things were entirely hers to dictate.

Maan smiled sadly at the predicaments life put him in but quickly cheered his expression as Geet lifted her head towards him. She looked at him quizzically to which he responded with a slight shake to his head. He released her and clasped her hand. "Let's go and hang out with our crazy family before they send a search party."

Geet laughed lightly and walked outside alongside him. Once they reached halfway, a puzzled expression covered their faces seeing everyone standing outside on Maan's patio either smiling or grinning. Initially, confusion and embarrassment reverberated within them but relief quickly settled when their gaze lowered and saw what everyone was actually focused on.

From the opposite end came Piyu carrying a small but overstuffed Dora backpack. The weight inside was clearly too much since she was practically trudging through the grass. Maan held his head wondering what she was up to this time while Geet smiled at how adorable she looked.

"Where are you going this time Piyu?" Geet questioned with absolute seriousness once she was barely a foot's distance from them.

"I really am coming to live with you this time!" She stated matter of factly to Geet while ignoring her Dad's deep sigh.

Geet held back her laughter by biting her lip. "I won't mind one bit but what about your Dad, Uncle and Dadi? Won't you miss them?"

Piyu looked at Maan and scrunched her nose. "I think Dadi can come with me. But not Dad or Uncle Vicky! I don't like them!"

Maan kneeled down and held her hands. "Are you mad at me?"

Piyu turned her head away and nodded. "I'm sorry honey. However, you know your behavior was rude. Did you apologize to Geet and Rohan for interrupting them? And hitting Uncle Vicky also isn't very nice."

She frowned realizing in her innocent young heart she really had not been on her best behavior. Piyu turned to Geet and apologized before turning back towards Rohan with slumped shoulders and did the same.

Maan and Geet trailed behind her quite amused to join the rest. "That's my girl. Now how would you like to have a water balloon fight? You can get Uncle Vicky back for being mean to you." Maan suggested. Piyu smiled happily at the idea and ran inside the house to grab her bag of balloons.

"What! Why is it that I always get the brunt of the pain?" Vicky complained while the others laughed at his plight.

"It's because you deserve it most of the time…actually you deserve it all the time!" Meera chipped in while walking over to Geet. "By the way Dr. Handa you never told me your brother is such a cutie. If I had, I would've run to him myself and tattled you out years ago!"

Rohan shook his head smiling while Geet jokingly elbowed her. "Meera! Stop embarrassing my baby brother."

Meera held her ears laughing at the same time. "Sorry Rohan but it's my personality to tease."

"No apologies necessary Meera but I do wish you would've tattled her out. I would've gotten to enjoy both of yours company sooner." Rohan winked back showing he wasn't anything less.

There were few times Meera actually blushed and this being one caused Geet's eyes to twinkle. But before she lost herself too deep in something so premature Geet switched the topic to the state of their house.

The spilled juice was of little concern but the vase Vicky had broken was a completely different matter. She knew it was Meera's favorite and wanted to tell her before she saw it broken into a million pieces on the floor. This of course caused a fight to ensue between Vicky and Meera which Geet tried to mediate.

Maan and Rohan, on the other hand, had moved far away into the corner discussing a topic that rivaled the other conversation in unpleasantness. They tried to keep their tones hushed but seeing clear signs of distress on their individual faces drew attention from at least one person who stood inside the house.

It seemed things couldn't get worse but the sudden ring of Rohan's phone proved them wrong. It was a google alert he had created for immediate notification of anything related to Geet and her case. Reading the message Rohan's whole body slumped. The situation just went from bad to worse. Seeing the change in demeanor Maan immediately questioned him. "Rohan what is it?"

He sighed deeply and lifted the phone so Maan could read the message. Within seconds, the phone then began to flood with more google alerts relating to the same issue.

"How in the world did this happen!?" Maan gritted quietly through his teeth instead of fulfilling the strong urge to scream.

Rohan was equally clueless, frustrated and livid. "I don't know Maan! Last I checked the plan was to continue the way we discussed it!"

"Do you realize how much stress this will put on her? The medical board meeting is tomorrow and adding this will just make it worse."

"Will you stop freaking out Maan!" Rohan snapped back. Running a frustrated hand through his thick hair he tried to think of a positive side of this. "Maybe this will help her…maybe the board will take into account…"

"Or maybe it won't Rohan! What if it gets out you were involved in this? Geet will end up paying for the consequences!"

Rohan shook his head. "You're starting to think like Geet, just stop it Maan!" He expelled a deep breath of frustration and with determination assured Maan that was the last thing that'd happen. "If there is anything I can guarantee it's that no one, absolutely no one, will ever know I was involved in Edward Walters's arrest!"

Weren't expecting that were you?😉