MG FF : THE DIVINE FLOWER~~ PART 18 :pg128: sept 30th - Page 63

PRESENT:

Geet reached her home all worn out and sad. She opened a room upstairs next to her bedroom. The room was neatly decorated with a simple love seat and a single bed. A dim light came through the window and she sighed as her eyes fell on a smiling face of Maan's photo. She switched on the light unconsciously and then the sight around was overwhelming. The whole wall was adorned with photos of Maan and her both in each other's arms, hugging sideways, him kissing her on cheek and her kissing him, Geet sitting in his cabin on his seat, on a beach, bus-ride, them cooking and many more. It was all their glorious moments captured in a still. Their deep love and understanding was evident in each of the photo. She looked around as if trying to relive those moments. Then she heaved a deep sigh and opened a cupboard attached on one of the side-walls. She took out a jewel box and opened it. Her hand caressed lovingly at an old withered blue lotus. She took it and stared at it intently, "Why me God! I had always had a single wish. All my life I made only a simple wish! And then you made me feel like you have granted me what I wished. I thought after all the years my life would be complete with my simple wish fulfilled. I had so many doubts and I trusted you completely with my decision but even you seem to find fun with my pain! Why on Earth did you set me up against him' every time?"

Her memories were fresh and vivid and it felt not long ago when the party happened on Maan's return.

PAST :

Geet looked around and spotted Maan but her eyes popped out as she saw him talking to a girl. The girl was openly flirting with him wearing a micro mini and a tank tube posing in such a way that he could get a good "view" of her.

Geet : ye to wo NT ki friend he na, Sachi? Isey itni kya hasi aa rhi he Maan sir ke samne? Abhi maza chakati hu..kutti kamini...

And she marched towards them. Maan saw a red Geet walking towards him, her lips now giving a full-pout. His lips twitched as he imagined how they feel over his own. He heard his name being called and returned his attention back to the girl he was talking to. He didn't even remember her name. The next thing he saw was Geet poking at the girl's shoulder in an grumpy manner. Did they have a row or something, thought Maan.

Geet : Sachi NT is looking for you

Sachi (surprised) : but I thought she was with her parents.

Geet : yeah, but she had been looking for you .. I mean she asked for you about three times already!

Sachi : oh, let me text her

Geet : text? What if it is an emergency? What if she is jumping off a cliff? Would you still text her?

Sachi : but we are in a farmhouse. There is no cliff here.

Sachi looked perplexed and irritated.

Geet : ohoo Sachi, sachhi.. use your brains may be she is jumping from the balcony!

Sachi was just too dumb than Geet had imagined. She panicked and ran off to the balcony. Geet saw that contented and turned her face right to meet the probing eyes of Maan. She went all quiet seeing him. Her hormones started working overtime. Her cheeks turned pink and she fidgeted her dupatta.

Maan moved closer to her and she moved back hesitantly.

Maan : jumping off the balcony?

Geet gulped. How on earth would she explain this? She could not obviously use the "dadima excuse" which she was giving or herself.

She blurted, "yeah.."

Maan raised her brow, "uh..huh"

Geet : I mean she is drunk and probably had a break-up

Just then NT's shrill laughter caught their attention. She was talking to some boys and laughing. Maan gave a triumphant caught-you-now-what-will-you-do look to Geet.

By the time they had actually moved away from the main venue and reached a secluded corner which led to the backyard.

Geet : dekhiye ap.. ye kya kar rhe he?

Maan : mene kya kiya?

Geet : ap..is tarah mat dekhiye mujhe

Maan: to phir kaise dekhu..

Geet blushed and moved her eyes away from his. She could not help a small smile the way he teased her.

Maan : bolo na Geet kaise dekhu tumhe hmm?

Geet tried to run away but Maan held her wrist.

Maan : itni jaldi kya he?

Geet was breathing heavily.

Maan : tumne mere sawaal ka jawab nhi diya Geet

Geet : mujhe nhi samaj aa rha ap..ap ye kya bol rhe he?

Maan came closer to her and whispered in her ear, "phir tumhari dhadkane itni tez kyu ho rhi he? Aur us ladki ko mujse dur kyu kiya tumne?"

"Geet", they heard Mira's voice from a distance. Geet stepped away from Maan.

Geet " mujhe jana he"

Maan let go of her and she ran away throwing one last glance at him. Maan felt happy watching her. He never felt the same with any other girl he had ever been with.

And then the rest of the party was a blur. The next morning dadi praised Geet for doing her task so efficiently. Poor Geet didn't have the nerve to tell dadi that to keep Maan away from others she had diverted all his attention to herself the whole evening. She didn't do that on purpose but she knew that the whole evening his eyes were always on her despite what she did. They all met on the breakfast table. Maan was looking all dashing in his office attire. Geet felt that he was more yum than her breakfast. Maan looked at her plate and seemed amused. Annie noticed that and chimed in, "bhai some things never change and that is Geet Khurana for you. Having paranthas without a fail all these years"

Geet signalled Annie to be quiet but she gave her a "what" look. Maan smiled and only Geet could see the tease in his lips, his yummy m-shaped lips that she so wanted to taste.. STOP Geet, you didn't think that just now. She rebuked herself but thoughts have no control, do they? Thats why Geet found herself staring at his biceps as he was sipping his coffee. She quickly turned away as Maan looked at her almost sensing her gaze. She quickly looked away. Maan smirked. Later when Geet was leaving for college, Maan offered her a lift.

Maan : your college is on the way to my office. So why should we waste the fuel?

She frowned at his comment but found herself sitting with him in the back seat of his Mercedes. Maan brushed his arms slightly on her and she shivered.

Geet : kya kar rhe ho ap?

Maan : You know..you can just say it to me rather than just looking at me

Geet : what are you talkin about?

Maan : I know you like my biceps

He flaunted them proudly making her flush.

Geet ( in a feeble voice) : no

But she looked at him from the corner of her eye.

Maan : no? mene dekha ki tumne mujhe dekha

Geet : kya dekha

Maan : cmon.. you know that..

She looked away and Maan smiled.

Maan : is that a yes?

Geet : so what?

Maan : hmm?

Geet : so what if it is yes?

Maan : I said if you like it feel it.

He showed his biceps in front of her.

Geet : bas kariye ap

She whacked at his arms.

Maan : ouchh that hurts

Geet : You can't flirt with ME!

Maan : guess I just did

He moved a bit closer and she just kept looking at him wide-eyed.

Maan : didn't you like it Geet?

She felt those butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

Geet : I..I..

Maan(his heart thudding against her soft arms) : you?

Geet : I feel nervous around you

They were lost in each other innocently as any other couple of their age.

Maan : kyu?

Geet : pata nhi...

Maan : me pata karu??

Geet nodded for a no and then smiled blushing.

The driver opened the shield and they straightened themselves.

Driver: sir madam ka college

Maan nodded.

Maan (to Geet) : I will pick you in the evening

Geet : really? I thought you would be busy

Maan : I can send the driver

He flashed his breath taking smile making those butterflies spread their wings in her stomach.

Geet : have a good day!

Maan : you too..(as she moved out of sight) mishty

The day went great for Maan. He felt a new energy passing through him. His team meeting was inspiring and witty at the same time. The employees were already delighted to have such a great boss. Even then he commanded a great deal of respect among his sub-ordinates as well as the top members of the board of directors. He had already talked to five clients and signed two deals. And cherry on top the Khurana industries had the greatest share value of the decade on his very first day. It was 4:30 when he finished his meeting. He decided that he would drop Geet at home and come back to the office after visiting one of their construction sites.

Geet on the other hand had somewhat a confusing day. Her mind was pre-occupied by Maan. She missed a few key points of the lecture and the professor asked her to leave the class. She wanted to go the canteen instead she walked straight into the principal's room and was shooed away after a warning. She was careful not to brush her arm against anyone just because they had his touch. And in the evening she went to the library and instead of taking the books she kept her own notes on the library and left. Thankfully Arjun saw her and took the notes. But before he could get her she was moving towards the exit gate.

Arjun ran after her. Geet was walking briskly towards the Merc that was parked outside the college. Arjun finally caught up with her and held her arm. She quickly snapped away.

Arjun : arey yaar kya ho gaya he tumhe? Kuch drugs wugs liya he kya?

Geet : shut up! Yehi puchne ke liye roka tha kya?

Arjun : arey nhi paagal, ye dene aya tha ( he handed her the notes) library me donate kar rhi thi

Geet bit her lip.

Arjun : kya hua Geet?

Geet : wo..wo..ek confusion he!

Arjun folded his arms across hi chest, "hmm shoot!"

Geet : agar hum kisi ko jantey he bohat dino se like..bachpan se and then suddenly we feel different around them..

Arjun : interesting..well different in the sense happy?

Geet :umm.. I dunno.. nervous, some kind of fear creeps in. My stomach churns and I don't know what I'm doing and how I'm acting or saying.

Arjun smiled and patted Geet's cheeks, "Its fine Geet. That only means your feelings have started changing for them."

Geet : changing? Do feelings change?

Arjun: well yes, we can love a person more and more as time passes and wish that they would be with us always

Geet : love? Do you think its all love? What if its something else.. like a crush or something?

Arjun : may be but thats upto you. You have to figure it out for yourself.

Geet nodded and left.

Arjun : mujhe malum he Geet, one day you will realise my feelings for you..

Geet opened the door of the car and found Maan sitting on the backseat facing the other side. She noticed that his posture was defensive and his jaw tensed. He had held his plam into a ball and his brows narrowed.

Geet : hi Maan, how was your day?

Maan :

She shrugged and got inside.

As the car moved,

Maan : who is he?

Geet : ji?

Maan : the guy who was touching your cheek!

Geet's hand automatically went to her cheek.

Geet : woo.. wo to Arjun he!

Maan(still offended) : kaun Arjun?

Geet : NT ka bhai, Arjun Rathore! Mera classmate aur ab collegemate!

Maan now stared at her and asked looking straight into her eyes, "Is he your boy-friend?"

Geet was silent for a few seconds and then she burst into laughter.

Geet : apko pata he Maan sir, you are the first person who asked me this question ever. Arjun aur boy friend! Waise dekha jaye to ha!

Maan was shocked but Geet continued in her sweet tone, "matlab Arjun is a boy and he is my best-friend to ho gaya na boy-friend!"

Maan now let his guard down, " matlab he is just a friend?"

Geet : not just a friend, best-friend!

Maan smiled at the way she announced proudly.

Geet : waise ap kyu puch rhe ho?

Maan : To phir aur kaun puchega?

Geet : matlab?

Maan : Cmon Geet shouldn't I know if I am wasting my time!

Geet looked at him her jaw-dropped.

Geet : waise you don't have to waste your time! Me khud bhi ghar ja sakti hu

Maan : I know but like I said, I want to save fuel!

Geet gave him a you-are-unbelievable look.

Maan : I am a businessman Geet. I won't waste time or money!

Geet : so what am I your cost-reduction program?

Maan : my life!

Geet : sach?

Maan : I mean in my life, these are the most important things!

Geet sighed and looked away.

Maan : but now I doubt that

Geet : why?

Maan : because of you..

Geet could feel the tension building up. Her heartbeats rose alarmingly.

Geet : mene kya kiya?

Maan : You wont let me live my life my way!

Geet : mene kuch nhi kiya sachi! Kal se me chahu to khud chali jaungi

Maan : me iski baat nhi kar rha hu!

He kept his hand on hers which was on her thigh. He held her palm firmly.

Maan : tumhare mann me mere liye kya ehsas he Geet?

She winced.

Maan : kuch to he na humare beech?

He moved closer to her. Geet closed her eyes taking in his scent and feeling his fingers entangling with hers. She leaned on his chest and turned slightly. Their lips were inches apart and then after a few seconds of hesitation their lips met. What followed was a passionate mingling of their lips fulfilling their breakfast fantasy. Their first kiss on a Mercedes and by the end her foot popped up even in that car. The car stopped in a signal and they parted away panting heavily.

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PRECAP : Another plan!! 😲