MG FF THE DIVINE FLOWER : thread 2: PART 39 : page 141 17th may - Page 25

PRESENT :

They didn't go too far as they had to beback for Ami. It was a quiet restaurant at the end of the street. There were only a few people present. The decor was glass which gave mostly an open atmosphere and the dim blue lights went well with the moonlight. The light October breeze added more warmth to the atmosphere. They had been sitting there for about 10 minutes none talking or even looking at each other. A uniformed man at last came to them and informed politely, "This is a self-service restaurant, so if you could just look for something.."

Maan replied in a polite voice, "we are just trying to figure out what we want..umm to eat.

The man left and Maan found Geet staring at him.

Maan : Geet, I think we really need to talk. I mean this is not the way I expected things to turn out..in the park or before. Look nothing was deliberate and you know that. All I want is just 5 minutes to talk things out and find what...

Geet : You had 5 bloody years to figure out that I am a s**t..and you want to clear it in 5 minutes!!

Maan : please Geet..just once..

Geet : Maan, don't live under the impression that I am letting you around so you have a chance. Its all for Ami..You are here just for her. And if you can't do that then you are free to go! I don't think there is anything left for us to talk. You have already made your point. Just because you know that I was a virgin doesn't seem enough to change anything between us!

Maan watched her quiet and perhaps stunned for a few seconds. It was only a glimpse of the pain that she had been hiding deep under. But only a few seconds and then the moment was gone and suddenly it was like she shut her heart again. They ate their dinner quietly and left.

Next morning,

All of Ami's reports seemed normal and she was fine except for the fact that she needed a wheel chair to move. But that was temporary -for 3 months-during which she would have physio sessions and then the wheels would be replaced by a stick and hopefully in a year she would be able to walk perfectly normal again. As a final round, the team of specialists examined her once and it was decided that she could leave for home. Ami was really happy with all the things. She took the wheel chair scenario with an amazing ease much to the astonishment of everyone. She was thrilled as she got a sort of new car to move everywhere. Maan and Geet decided to keep up her spirits and arranged for a cute baby pink wheel chair with white wheels. It had a bell attached in case she needed any help and Maan placed a camera so that he could always keep a track on her. That sounds so much like Maan!!

However Geet had much difficulty in seeing her princess in a wheelchair but atleast the worst was over. She is all safe and sound and obviously not bed ridden. She can sit and lie by herself. The wheel chair was prescribed only because the kid would not have restrained movement otherwise.

So now they were all set to leave for home. Lisa was packing Ami's things. Geet was doing Ami's hair and Maan sat next to Ami reading a magazine or should I say looking at Geet through the magazines.

That was when suddenly Ami as always dropped the next bomb.

Ami : mumma wapas jayenge to me papa ke saath unke room me soungi...

Geet and Maan looked dumb founded. They knew this was about to come. Maan was planning to take them to his penthouse and Geet was trying to think of ways to convince Ami to let go of her dad. But after all its not their decision. Ami should choose where to live. Maan was happy that either way he was going to live with them but hold on, what was that papa's room???

Geet : nhi! Bilkul nhi!

Ami's face fell, "papa's not staying with us??"

Geet didn't know how to reply. She thought she could handle this but she could not think of anything.

It was Lisa who replied, "ofcourse papa is going to stay with you! Who said he won't?"

Ami was still looking at Geet her eyes full of hope. How could she deny those innocent eyes!

Geet : ofcourse, papa will be with you..I..I just meant he would stay in the guest room. Wo room clean nhi hoga. You will get infection and all na..

Ami : cmmon mumma you clean that room every week..

Geet : to? Aur waise bhi its upstairs. I can't let you go there...

Ami : to kya hua? Papa uthake le jayenge mujhe he na papa?

Maan : ofcourse princess...papa to apki gaadi me bethne hi nhi denge apko. I will take you anywhere in my arms..

For a brief moment their eyes met and they both obviously remembered the number of times Maan carried her on his shoulder. Now she can't argue with that..

PAST :

Maan woke up early next morning with a smile on his face. He clutched the soft pillow that he hugged last night and wait...why was the pillow hugging him back. He looked down to check and almost screamed in shock. GEET!!! Geet, the girl of his dreams in his arms. They literally slept together for a night. Maan slowly took his hand around her wait and tried to wake her up. He called her in hush voice, "Geet.. utho koi a jayega..Geet.."

Geet was still asleep but she smiled and replied, "Maan..."

She hugged him even tightly and slept again.

Maan : God!!! Ye ladki bhi na... if she comes this closer how am I supposed to do nothing and wake her up..but Maan keep your thoughts on hold. If anyone sees us like this and dadi gets to know then that's it. Geet..jaan utho na.."

Geet was no where near waking up. It turned out that Maan took her in his arms and sneaked out of his room to her room and made her lie on her bed. He came back making sure no one had seen him. .

He ran his hand through his hair and smiles a cocky smile thinking how much of a hopeless romantic he had become in less than a day or night of his love life. But busy as he was he had to get on with his day. Meanwhile Geet woke up an hour later and freaked out initially finding herself back in her room. For a moment she felt that she had been dreaming the whole episode. But then a text from Maan convinced her that it was all real. "Good morning sleeping beauty. Trust me i didn't want to leave if it wasn't for dadi . yours M"

That made her day. She didn't care that she was late for college and already missed the first class. Arjun had texted and called her god knows how many times and she didn't bother to look at the phone if it wasn't Maan for whom she had got that special ringtone "pehla nasha bgm" !! And at present she was least affected by the fact that Arjun was shooting daggers at her all throughout the second lecture. As the bell rang for the 10 minute break Arjun grabbed Geet by her elbow and brought her to the corner of the corridor.

Arjun : Geet, whats wrong with you? are you suddenly into some drugs or accidentally hung over? I called you since morning and you are not picking up!! and then you show up and be all weird. wats up??

Geet : umm..nothing Arjun.. I am ok..

Arjun : see there you go.. you are giving that creepy look and smile as if you are an alien!!

Geet sighed. There was no way she could keep anything from her best friend, can she??

So she just closed her eyes and uttered the words loudly as if to confirm it herself, "I am in love with Maan!!"

Arjun looked ..well puzzled to be precised.

Arjun : Maan.. you mean Maan aka Maan Singh Khurana!!

Geet beamed back, "yes!!"

Arjun : you have a crush on him?

Geet : no silly, didn't you hear me?? Maan and I are in a relationship. I mean we confessed , finally!!!

Now Arjun really took flabgustered.

Arjun : you mean Maan also..but how could.. I mean I thought you and..you never told me and he..I mean..

Geet : God!! Arjun wat are trying to say??

Arjun : isn't he old for you??

Geet : what old? he is 23 and i'm 19!! old enough for him!!! and you should be happy for me

Arjun : I dunno..he is rigid angry young man.. not at all right for a free spirit like you!!

" haven't you heard opposites attract", comes Mira's voice from behind. She joins them and hugs Geet.

Mira : finally you are getting somewhere!! So it was him who kissed you??

Geet blushed all pink and her looked away. Mira giggled and they got into the girly chat and never noticed when a devastated Arjun left.

In the evening Geet's heart thudded as they sat for dinner but Maan didn't even behaved as if he knew Geet. Hmm she frowned and decided to give him a piece of mind later at night! Oh God, what was she thinking? Was she going to meet him again? But he didn't even ask her to come back again.. Again Geet was struggling by midnight torn between the urge to go and compelled to stop. Finally she sneaked into his room and lo, he was not even in his room. Geet was disappointed. He didn't even care and here she was all standing in his room like a fool. Suddenly something vibrated in the pocket of her PJ and she jumped in shock. That was her phone ringing. As the screen showed "Maan"... her eyes flashed and she answered immediately, "Maan!"

Maan :Geet

Both of them spoke at the same time.

Maan/Geet : Where r u?

Both pause in surprise and again continue together, "in your room"

A moment of silence as they realize what both of them had been doing and then they laugh out loud.

Maan : ok Geet, tum wahi rukho. I'm coming.

On their second night Geet again got into the album and started questioning him particularly about the sexy girls who were in his photos and any of the details that he had missed the previous night. And then she said that he would better not ignore her completely outside this room which she regretted from the naughty expression in Maan's eyes. It felt real and natural when she snuggled closer to his chest and fell asleep once again with Maan carrying her back to her room in the morning .

PRESENT :

Ami was excited to be back home with mumma and papa. Maan kept his promise and she still had to try her "car" once Maan put her on the ground. Geet wanted Ami to rest and to be honest sleep sp that she could give the guest room to Maan. But Ami was Ami.. she wanted to see the mystery papa room now that her papa was with her. In the end Geet had to give up. She gave the key to Maan and silently went to her room and shut the door. Maan still had no idea why Geet was so reluctant in letting him inside the room even though he was intrigued by the idea of his own room in Geet's house. The moment he opened the door everything was clear to him. It was filled with all their memories. Ami curiously watched all those pictures of her mum and dad hanging on the wall but to Maan, they were memories. Each one of them had a tale of its own. Most of the pics were clicked by him or collected by him if they were accidentally clicked in a party. Almost all of them were his favourites. It was arranged in the same that he liked to keep them except that they were framed and not in album. Maan didn't write diaries. He preferred to keep photographs as a living proof of the memories than words. Geet did exactly what he wished. Not just the photograph, the room itself was decorated according to Maan's taste. The bedspreads, the colour of the wall and the curtains were all light and elegant just the way he liked. The wardrobe had a few set of his formals, casuals and nightwears, all neatly folded or in the hangers. The bathroom had his brand of shower gel, after shave as if he really lived there. There was a small cupboard holding some of his favourite books and a writing table that had a latest laptop, a few management books, A4 sheets and a writing pad. Every single thing the room was taken care of. With a jolt Maan realized that it was not just his name that Geet carried with her. She actually lived with him as if he did exist in her life always. All that time when he blamed her of betrayal she could not be anymore loyal. No wonder Ami found out that he was her dad. How could anyone live in this house and not feel his presence!

The guilt and remorse that Maan felt was beyond any words. He was just beginning to realize the depth of his big mistake. He turned down a girl who was devoted to him all her life and he had to pay for it. He wished Geet hated him more and hurt him again and again that his heart would bleed and he would be relieved of the pain. He couldn't believe how her love scared him and her hatred comforted him. But then he had done enough wrong. Now he had to face the truth and get wounded. So he stood there right in the middle of the room hugging his daughter in his arms and taking in every inch of the place-every tiny detail of her love for him without a single word.

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PRECAP : love and love only 😉

waiting for your longgg comments :)