Gehraiyan [2] - (Resuming) Author's Note pg. 58 - Page 35

^^ Thank you! A very happy new year to you all!

Stitch by Stitch

"You're still here?"

She looked up from her sketch, her smile blissfully vacant as she nodded. "Hmm."

Maan wiped his hands on a small, blue towel matted down with age and strode over to the sofa. Geet, who had been lying on her stomach by the fireplace, wiggled aside to let him pass.

"You look terrible."

She laughed in surprise. "The latest in haute couture, Monsieur."

Looking down at the sari draped haphazardly around her form, she laughed again. It was a simple black and red number - handwoven, silk, a little old but a beauty, really. She had found it in a bedroom upstairs, tucked away in a heavy wooden chest she had been half scared to open since... well, the likeness of their current circumstances to camp side horror stories was not lost on her.

"What are you doing?" Maan squinted down at her sketch book.

"Making a sketch of the theatre. If I can't work on site, I can at least work in my head." She leaned back and assessed the page. "You know, I really love the open air stage."

He nodded in agreement. "The piece de resistance, no doubt. Performing under a sky full of stars, surrounded by living, moving trees and not just cardboard cut outs..."

Catching her expression, he hastily added, "Cutouts are great too. What you do with stages and sets in the city is just... great." He flashed his teeth in a lame attempt at a smile.

She laughed. "I would take umbrage if not for the fact that I completely agree. Nothing beats the real thing."

"Oh good," he smirked, "because cardboard cutouts suck."

"Hey!" She whacked him on the shoulder, chuckling despite herself. A feeling of peace seemed to wash over the house and she looked down serenely at her sketch.

"This is exactly the sort of project I've always wanted to do, exactly the sort of stage I wanted to create. Imagine the permanence of it. I mean, you and I will be gone. In a few months, when the construction is well under way and they don't need our physical supervision anymore, Heer and I will pack up our things and you and your team will pack up yours. But this place will remain. It'll be here... forever, maybe. I've never done that before. Nothing I've created so far has lasted forever."

She could physically feel the beat of silence pulsing through him. She hadn't meant to go there and she didn't want to go there so she was relieved when he did not pick up what she had unintentionally dropped.

"If we have any hope of actually working on the site, we better pray for this rain to stop." He made an attempt to see through the dusty windows. "Never mind."

He sprung to his feet. "I'm going to bed."

"Now?"

"You got a better idea?"

She glanced around the dark, silent house. "Goodnight."

"I thought so." He took a candle from the wooden coffee table.

As he climbed the stairs, she spoke.

"Hey, when I said... I didn't mean -"

"I know. Goodnight."

"Oh. Yeah... goodnight."

His footsteps faded into the house's fabric and she picked up her pencil once again, trying not to process the vague feeling that she had just been snubbed.

As far as surprises go this is one of the best ones ever.

This story is different. Between my illness and the complexity of the story, I had almost lost the track of it. The Maan and Geet of this one are far more complex than any other I have read. he is subtle and she is passionate about feelings and emotion. They both have their difference yet something binds them together. The more I read the more I look forward to unravel the mystery surrounding them.
Please continue soon. Its really difficult to connect if updates are too long spaced. I understand that you might be busy but please do update. And a very Happy New Year to you.

nice update..
waiting for next update..

Just came across this story and read the whole story so far in one go till late at night.

Fantastic Update

Originally posted by: ChandlerBing

As far as surprises go this is one of the best ones ever.

A very happy new year Z. I hope this year will bring you all the happiness you well deserve and let you meet Hritik Roshan instead. Pun intended.

Wow, she has some guts. Taking clothes off an abandoned cottage and wearing it. If this were RGV film I would have expected some murders by the end alas, it is you and not Ram Gopal Varma with his crazy obsession of bloodshed and ghosts.

The scene is so beautiful (which I always feel their scenes are) but there is a freshness to this particular one. Him being careful not to annoy her, yet saying they suck when she gives a small affirmative, it is so natural. They seem like any other people in a relationship. Not necessarily wife and husband. They could as well be friends or anything.

But there's something in what she had said, not being able to create anything lasting, does it indicate their relationship or a baby? Can't wait to read more.

Don't tempt me with the murders, lady. Horror is one of my favourite genres and if you start talking about ghosts and RGV, I'm going to feel suddenly inspired for the next chapter 😆

Your analysis of their current relationship makes me very happy indeed. But you know I can't say anything about your question, nor do you want me to ;)

Love you, S. It's fun being back here.

Originally posted by: aditi_2010

This story is different. Between my illness and the complexity of the story, I had almost lost the track of it. The Maan and Geet of this one are far more complex than any other I have read. he is subtle and she is passionate about feelings and emotion. They both have their difference yet something binds them together. The more I read the more I look forward to unravel the mystery surrounding them.
Please continue soon. Its really difficult to connect if updates are too long spaced. I understand that you might be busy but please do update. And a very Happy New Year to you.

I had no idea you were ill - I hope you're doing okay now! Thank you for coming back to the story. I love how concisely but perfectly you described Maan and Geet.
I know the updates have been few and far between and it was almost deliberate, honestly. Being constantly busy was the deciding factor but I was also so disconnected from the story that, had I continued earlier, I would have been tempted to project my own life on poor Geet and Maan and you all. Believe me, if you knew what was cooking in my head for these two, you'd want no part of it 😆

I'm glad I'm back to writing now, when the story can be organically theirs and not mine. I hope to be more faithful to it this time and I hope you'll stay for the ride :)

Originally posted by: Alamelu

Just came across this story and read the whole story so far in one go till late at night.

Wow interesting. They are married but kind of separated because they cannot stand each other! But they love each other too.

What made this suffocation. Taking things for granted??? Too young to live then ???

Looks like Darjeeling is working for them. Waiting to see what happens.

Here very interesting character. Strong on the outside but very disturbed inside.

Naintara another very different shade

Dev same but different. Does he know nt is he separated from her too???

Waiting for updates now

Welcome and thank you for reading the story - that too by sacrificing sleep! I'm humbled. IF is so full of brilliant writers; I can't count the number of nights I've chosen their stories over sleep.

I love your speculations - you'll fit right in here with our small, chatty bunch. I'm glad you're interested in all of the characters as the focus will be shifting back and forth quite a bit. You'll be getting a little more of your answers sooner rather than later :)