Maaneet Confession || OS Competition || Like and let the best win..

Ever Ours

"Ever thine, ever mine. Ever ours."

They stood on the Brooklyn Bridge, she demurely beautiful under the twinkling lights that made every night a festivity on the suspension bridge in this part of the world; he, brooding about something that evaded her.

They had been together for a short while; a very short while of eighteen months. For others, the time might have been long enough to get married, have babies and make a lifetime before breaking up and probably moving on to other interesting prospects. For them, eighteen months were short enough to know each other and yet not know all of each other.

"Geet"

He whispered close to her ear while she stood leaning on the railing, gazing into the long stretch of twilight over the darkening waters. The hour of dusk was nearing, traffic thinning on the pedestrian stretch even as cars zoomed past on four lanes. It was a cold evening, snow whitened the bridge at edges and the path lay thinly layered in ice. The afternoon had drizzled snowflakes but the sky had clear lately.

"Geet"

He touched her upper arm softly, encasing her shoulder in his big hand covered in leather glove. This time he turned her to look at him. Her big brown eyes bore up into his and there were bigger, glassier tears swirling there. Her lips were moist and tender, cheeks cold, hard and pink under winter's fangs. Or was it something else?

He cupped her face in both his hands and made up his mind.

"You know I love you"

She smiled

"Yes I do"

"You've always known it, haven't you?"

"Yes"

"Then say it back today"

He urged her, pulled her up to his chest but her eyes cried more looking away.

"Listen to me Geet, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my days with you. Walk by me please"

She slowly met his dark eyes

"You never said it before today sir"

He smiled at her calling him Sir.'

They had met at a caf all those months ago, when she had been waitressing at nights at a Books & Cuppa joint where customers had access to a plethora of books and coffee. While Geet had, for the first time seen him sitting on a table reading a thick book on world wars and approached for his order; he in turn had observed her for days before that day. And then finally when she had been assigned to wait his table, he had grabbed the opportunity.

The handsome man he was, rugged but beautiful, it hadn't taken his charms long to work her virgin heart over. She, a classical romantic at soul had started falling for her customer whom she would see every night at her caf and approach with a smile and "What can I get you Sir?" even before she knew it. Her mornings were spent at medical school and evenings in the caf until late night when he would walk her to her apartment and meet her in the afternoons thrice a week. And so they had progressed, their friendship had progressed.

Though their relationship had changed since, the Sir' still remained.

"Then I say it now"

Maan emphasized holding her close

"This is all I want. You are all I want. Will you marry me Geet?"

Her expressions changed suddenly and a look of disbelief crossed her. The tears coursing down stopped and she looked incredulous.

"Are you serious?"

"You doubt me?"

"Off course"

He gave a hoarse laugh

"I love you. Now. Say it please, accept me"

"Sir, I..."

"No"

He interrupted

"Call me by my name. Call me Maan"

Her lips curled up and eyes started watering again, cold shivering her more than ever in his warm arms.

"Then yes, I will marry you Maan"

He pressed his lips to hers and nothing in the world remained the way it was until the previous moment. Life changed, skies changed, they changed. In that second they became one. He kissed her so soft and sweet, she lost every inch of her sense, her nerve ends tingled as his mouth captured hers.

"Ab zindagi ki har subah tumse shuru hogi; aur har raat tum par khatam"

He said breaking apart.

"Ab zindagi ki har subah aapse shuru hogi; aur har raat aap par khatam"

She repeated.

Her forehead rested against his stubbled chin as they held on to each other in a rush of love and ecstasy. The smile that lit up his face that moment was reverential, almost on the verge of sacred to the heavens above. They rested in that moment for long before he produced a little silver lock from his pocket and removed one glove from his hand. She looked on dumbfounded as he patted his pockets again and came up with a key.

"We lock our love here"

He showed her the lock and key so she grinned.

And like so many other lovers who had locked their love on Brooklyn Bridge and thrown the key away into the water, they went on to lock their life together on the railing of that bridge. She held the key in her hand after locking it and eyed it with deference.

"Now we throw it away"

He murmured holding her fist that had the key.

"Ever thine, ever mine, ever ours"

He promised

"What does that mean?"

"It was Beethoven's love letter to his beloved"

Maan brushed his warm palm over her cheek, taking her face in his hands.

"That I am ever yours, you are ever mine. That we are meant together"

He kissed her fist which contained the key and guided her to abandon it into the waters, not for a moment leaving her gaze.

"Will that be your wedding vow to me?"

She asked.

"Off course. What about you?"

She pretended to make a face and shrug and his face fell.

"Morn and night, in your sight"

Her silken oath caressed the shell of his ear as she stood on tip toe. He turned suddenly and caught her in a kiss.

-----------------------------

Later, as dusk overtook the paltry skies and gloom enveloped the long stretch where they still stood; he proposed to marry her in four months.

"Isn't that too early?"

She argued

"Four months, four short months. That's it. That's all I am giving you"

He said enveloping her from behind, his arm curling around her shoulder blades and head dipping to peck her on the cheek as they saw the skies transform on the horizon. And she smiled. The dusky twilight hours were times of brooding and cynical thoughts for the world. For them, that time of the day never remained the same. Because dusk became equivalent to locking-love-proposals and twilight, the time for confessions and promises. The cold wintry air swirled around them and nothing remained the same.

Nothing ever remained the same.

Because the week after that, Maan was beckoned by duty.

The air force captain had been called to the ever volatile region of Middle East to fly his fighter planes. The Israelis had been at loggerheads with Palestinians since forever. But now the Jewish and Islamic ideologies had come to rest on arms and bullets and bombs over a small stretch of land called Gaza. The world and the USA had been silent observers for as long as they could, while the two countries fought over a minor piece of land. But now the fires were rousing to inextinguishable amounts. US citizens stuck in the terrorized nations needed evacuation; the innocents in Gaza needed protection.

And Maan Singh Khurana, an American born Indian was called upon for his services.

She didn't see him then. His letters had come however, at regular intervals. His emails had been Geet's constant companions for more than two months as he wrote to her about how humanity was breathing its last in that part of the world and how life was no more important than a crumpled sheet of paper. He would tell her how much he missed her and how badly he wanted to come home. And in the next letter he would again talk about cruelty of people to people and how he wanted to save each and every one. How every last life there mattered more than his.

-----------------------------

Geet,

I write to you from an alien land. I wish I could come home to you. In staying away from you after almost two years of constant togetherness is when I realize how badly I miss you. The love in my heart swells double to what it was yesterday. And then double of what it is today will it be tomorrow. And when I start marveling at the amount of love multiplying within me for you in this terrorizing excuse of a world, I realize it grows every minute, every hour.

When I am not on rescue missions or flying over burning strips of land, when I am not brooding over rising death tolls or strategizing my next move, all I think of is you. Think of me and pray these wars end. And I shall come back to you.

Yours ever,

Maan.

-----------------------------

She would love reading his letters, for he would express himself like he had never before in person. She would reply in earnest and wait for his next letter. Sorry as she was for the state of the Middle East as she saw it through his words; her heart swelled with every word of love he wrote; waiting with baited breath for him to return. His constant letters made her believe in him, in his courage and strength. She knew it was only a matter of time before the words in his Emails would flow from his mouth and he would be in front of her to hold and kiss.

-----------------------------

Dearest Geet,

This is a terrible excuse of a country. I mean, which nation shakes hands on cease fire and then attack in the dark of the night like a coward savage? That is what the Israelis are doing here at Gaza. They fired and blew up three refugee camps in UN protected areas, opening fires on schools that sheltered children. Children and women! Yesterday they delivered a healthy crying baby from a dead woman's womb. How can humanity be so cruel? A child born motherless

Here are childless mothers stone faced and half dead, and orphans who cry wherever you look around, men crippled and wounded; soldiers still firm. I almost come to the verge of boiling point and my tears are shackled only by the dams of my uniform and the ego of being a man. This is a savage world Geet.

I thank the supreme powers everyday that neither you nor I were born here.

Now I need to leave for another air strike.

Morn and night, you are in my sight.

Maan.

-----------------------------

It was now precisely seven months and twenty three days since they had stood on the Brooklyn Bridge together, looking forward to a new life. And it was five months since his letters had stopped coming. Morn and night, you are in my sight'; his last words. She had been confused and panic stricken in the first few weeks when his jet went missing. The authorities had declared him missing but not dead. She had clung to hope, even when numerous Emails to him had gone unanswered. She wrote to him every day and every night in hope of at least once in a day his phone beeping and alerting him; wherever he was.

It was getting intolerable, hopeless even. Hope was dying with every passing day and despair coming to life with every new night.

Every dawn came with a new promise to hear from him, to hear from the authorities. And every consequent dusk set with a day lost, a day wasted without news about sir.

There were invisible walls separating them, but the fight for him was all she had ever known. She had fought for him with herself. All Geet had ever wanted was to become a doctor and achieve the self respect and self satisfaction she had been always denied as an orphan in India. She had worked doubly hard to get where she was on scholarships. And when her life's goal was bright and clear in front of her eyes, within the bounds of her arms reach, her paths had crossed with a man who left her smitten. The romantic in her had come alive. She had fought with herself to be with him and in their traverses together come to lose herself in order to win him.

And now, when she had started living in the possibilities of living with him, her reason to love, and her reason to fight had been brutally snatched away from her.

The cheery mood of spring was dampened, almost eclipsed in the darkness of his absence. His letters stopped but she never stopped writing.

Dear Sir,

Every day I am lost. Every night I am alone. I know not where you are and I feel I might as well be dead. But then I think what if you were alive? What if I kill myself today and you come home tomorrow searching for me? I despair in that death which will kill the prospect of a life with you. I am going mad here. Life makes no sense, neither does death. Wherever you are, please be alive. Please come back.

Yours breathing,

Geet.

She cried and cried. And then slept and slept...

-----------------------------

Dear Sir,

Another day passed and you are not here. It's soon going to be summer. Spring is ending. No news of you still, and that means no bad news. I am running out of patience here. Studies don't interest me anymore. Please live for me and pray I can live for you.

Until you come back,

Geet.

-----------------------------

Summers approached and she was a little more cheery. The Middle East was still at war, fighting and killing and the land of Gaza, now barren and lifeless lay bloodied, waiting to go to the victor. She kept writing to him, on and on. Sometimes so weary and sad she would be that she would type a single sentence, ask him to come home and sleep. On others she would write pages and pages of their memories together, of her plans for their future, of her wait for him.

And then one day an Email came.

It wasn't from his ID but it was from him.

Sender: Jack Cooperman

Receiver: Geet Handa

Subject: No Subject

Time: 00:19 a.m.

Live dr. geet

M

She was ecstatic, almost on the verge of tears at his sign. It was him, it indeed was him. But then her tears cleared, fell away from her eye lashes and her heaves silenced into calm cries giving way to sense. She read and re read his one and only line, three words; Live dr. geet. What he meant by them she knew not, but it compressed her heart in weak moments. What if it meant that he was never coming back and asking her to live on?

No, he couldn't. He couldn't be so cruel.

But he wasn't dead. And that was something, wasn't it? She told herself whenever her heart cried at his urge to live.

Dear Sir,

You ask me to live. I can't. Without you, I can't.

Yesterday was a brighter day. Somehow I was happier and kinder to myself. Because I felt you would come. Felt you would be alright and safe out there in that torn world, helping people and saving lives. All your Emails re read, I felt better and more alive. You asked me to live, but I can't. I met your friend Adi as I do every night nowadays, as he sits by in the caf and talks to me of any news about you; which is no news.' He said I looked more like a human today because I was talking to him. I know not what he meant by that but only that I might have been an alien these past days without realizing myself.

Adi said that three airplanes had been missing and none of their pilots had been declared dead until now. One of them is you. And now I know you are out there somewhere.

I've been waiting for you Sir,

G.

-----------------------------

As summer waned into autumn, her spirits started waning further. She would meet Adi every day in the caf, as he would come down to read and sip coffee. He was a colleague of Maan, an Engineer in the Air forces who had his work cut out to monitor radars from his homeland unlike Maan, who flew to the unknown. Adi would offer to walk her down to her apartment every time and she would decline every time. For that was sir's right. Only his.

And yet, Adi was beginning to break through her alien exteriors without her realizing. She would read with him sometimes, study even as her semester exams and practicals approached. They would sit together in the caf and read long after midnight.

-----------------------------

Dear Sir,

Please don't do this to me. I am depressed and broken and shattered and lifeless. I spend days stone faced in college not knowing what I learn. I spend nights half breathing at the caf serving my customers and exchanging a word or two with Adi who still has no news on you. He is good company but I don't know why he wouldn't leave me alone. I am no good to him. But then I know I need him; he is my only link to your whereabouts.

Afternoons are the most empty because without you I know nothing.

I might have been brave enough to be able to write a little happily in the last few letters but I am honest to you sir, I am breaking apart.

Come home,

Geet.

-----------------------------

She lost herself in a trail of memories as she always had whenever her mind had any free time in the world. Standing by the small window of her isolated little apartment in Manhattan, Geet closed her eyes as the last picture in front of her vision which was of a busy autumn evening, gay and lively set into her eyes. The lovely birch and pines had fiery orange boughs, thrusting down over swirling winds while the roads lay welcoming the onslaught of those crisp fall leaves. Everything about nature was just as it should be; only he wasn't there.

"Are you cold?"

Adi asked from behind and she shook her head lightly.

"Geet, Geet?"

He called again but she was lost in a world far away. She would still write to him every day, tell him to come back every day and love him every day. When she sat to pray at nights, she would remember to start by praying for all her friends and teachers, her benevolent caf master and patients and Adi and all those who had been her near and dear ones. At last when every prayer was said for, every loved one in her life remembered, she would pray for him.

"Geet are you listening to me?"

"Yes Adi"

She hummed

"Then there is something I wish to tell you"

Geet turned around frowning.

"It has been eight months now..."

"Seven months twenty three days"

She cut

"Yes. He was declared missing but we all know he is no mo..."

"Stop"

"He is never coming back"

"You talk nonsense now. Look it's a good autumn evening"

"Stop fooling yourself"

"Isn't it warm in the room? Perhaps I should open the windows"

"He is dead"

"What do you want?"

She shouted, tears suddenly springing to her eyes. Adi stopped and his face turned down.

"Stop breaking apart please"

He said.

She shook her head agitated, almost hysterically at the rush of thoughts of him being dead. Her body quaked violently, chilled to the bone as she was.

"Gee...Geet"

He held her to himself tightly; rubbing his hands up and down her arms to warm and soothe her.

"Shh, I'm here Geet. Shhh it's okay"

Adi hugged her tightly to his chest and she coiled her arms around him to find the anchor and strength inorder to come back to reality. Her head stopped bobbing and lips quivered no more, tears subsided and she rested on his chest for a moment longer. Such was the peace there that she heard no other sound.

After she pulled back, Adi lifted her hand and kissed it. When his lips left her fingers, she marveled at the glint of the platinum band on her ring finger where he had kissed. She smiled tentatively at him and a movement caught her peripheral vision.

Her heart stopped and breath froze because it was him.

"Sir"

She gasped, even as her head whizzed in the direction of the door, finding the culmination of all her hopes, all her prayers, all her life's worth come alive in the form of that one man. Her eyes roved him over, throat knotting tight at the weight he had lost and sunken marks that circled his eyes. His body was weak and thin, face bruised but almost healed. He was there in blood and flesh before her, not in words and stories or Emails and memories. He was alive and back in front of her, hers to hold again. What broke her heart though was the look of pain and ferocity that burnt in his dark eyes as they rested on the ring on her finger and her hand in Adi's.

"Sir I..."

He was gone.

Like a wisp of wind, he was gone as fast as he had come and she was left stricken. She blinked up at Adi who was as shocked as her but didn't waste any time and dashed behind him.

"Sir, Maan...Sir"

She shouted from the top of the stairs, running down with the help of the banister at double speed even as she heard faster, firmer footsteps descending the floors below her. She peeped down from time to time until she had reached the third floor and he had left the building. She ran faster. Her feet, cold now even in the light boots made her run like never before. She caught sight of him getting lost in the jungle of humans down town and she followed like a parched man towards the river would. Only, her river was running away from her.

"Sir wait"

She screeched over the crowd again, panting and tired as the thinning weakening form of her own body protested. Her feet crushed the leaves below them, gravel and twigs crunching too. She ran and ran, pushing through crowds and shouting over banter; eyes never leaving sight of his brown cloak.

She saw him cross a road and when she came over, the signal turned. She was forced to wait but her eyes followed him until he turned a corner that she couldn't see. And so she couldn't wait anymore. Geet ran amidst cars, inviting cussing and ire of drivers and fellow pedestrians alike. But she cared not. For those few moments when she lost sight of him, Geet felt as if the world was snatched away from her yet again. But then she saw him walk over to the Brooklyn Bridge and her spirits rejuvenated. She stood a moment and breathed deeply before breaking into a run. The traffic on foot was light and without shouting for his name she dashed; saving all her energy for running. He had slowed his gait now, probably relaxed that she had lost him in crowd.

"You can't leave me again"

He was forced to stop at the cries in her voice. Her panting and heaves, the thin watery voice that was ready to melt into a puddle any moment made him stop. That was when Maan turned and eyed her for what she had become, a half dead shadow of her former self.

"Go back Geet"

He whispered, but his voice was not his. It was hoarser and thicker, as if his throat cracked at every word uttered.

"No. You are back, you are here. I am so happy sir"

"Stop please. Geet"

He stopped her advancing with a gesture of his right hand.

"But..."

"You are someone else's' now. I do not wish to disrupt your life"

He breathed.

"No, what non sense are you talking?"

She countered stepping towards him.

"Nonsense?"

He said pulling her left hand up with his right and showing her the ring.

"This isn't nonsense, is it?"

He looked away agitated, sighed after a second and met her gaze.

"Look, I know I wrote you to live and you should. I am happy you are happy. But go away now, don't make this any more difficult for me than it already is. Adi is a nice.."

She pulled him by the collar and sealed her lips to his, silencing his broken words. She kissed him hard, her lips coaxing his hard ones to open. And when he did, finally she breathed him in and dived home. She kissed him for a long moment, pushing him into the shadows by the railing while he held her loosely by the waist.

"Ever thine, ever mine, ever ours. Remember?"

She asked on his lips, kissing the angular jaw of his, layered in dark stubble. He flinched but held her loosely to himself; unable to push her off even when she didn't belong to him. He didn't turn to reciprocate either. She pulled back.

Removing the platinum band from her finger she held it up to him. In the gloom of an autumn evening and glowing overhead lights he could barely make out the tiny inscription, but his heart registered what her heart had wanted to say.

Morn and night, in your sight

It read. So he couldn't help repeat his promise to her all over again.

"Zindagi ki har subah tumse shuru hogi"

"Aur har raat aap pe khatam"

She completed and smiled then, an honest to god smile that enlightened her features and his soul.

"This was for the day we were supposed to get married. I was married to you on that very day we set for our togetherness"

She held up the ring in her hand and he covered her hand with his. Their fingers intertwined and the ring rested inside the cocoon of their joined hands.

"I'm sorry"

He said

"For what?"

"For everything. For going, for almost never coming back, for the doom that it brought on you"

Geet started crying then, wailing like a child; sobbing like the world was ending. Like a dam busted, she let go and threw herself into his arms like an abandoned stream into the vast seas. He caught her tightly, wrapping one arm around her back, holding her close as she cried and mourned and celebrated.

"So you are mine?"

He asked after a long moment when her crying had stopped and the bubble of nostalgia busted.

"Yes. Every morning and every night. How could you doubt that?"

She pushed him standing far away from him and tilting her chin up in defiance. He gave a watery laugh, shaking his head and advancing further.

"Come here"

"Wait"

She halted him, her words punctuated with sighs and cries

"I am warning you, if you come any closer then I am not letting you go away ever. On any mission, any air strike, anywhere"

His face hardened and he looked still as a statue.

"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't"

He said. She frowned.

Maan removed his left hand from the cloak pocket, supported by the right one. It was bandaged and stiff, the fingers distorted, jutting out of the plaster. And even though Geet was a doctor in making and had seen worst, her heart clenched and fear lanced through her like gripping vice of a venomous snake. His hand was almost not his.

"Does this repel you?"

"What? No"

She chided.

"This angers me, this saddens me. That you had to go through the pain pains me sir"

He looked at his hand and chuckled before sliding it back into the pocket. She caught the hand in between hers and smoothed her fingers over it like a fairy's touch, worshipping the sacrifice he made, thanking the stars that it was only a part of him and not him that was taken away from her.

"What happened?"

She asked.

He sighed, looked around at the crowded bridge and took her hand in his good one. They started walking towards a secluded spot on the precipice of the railing, the night sky falling and moon rising in the distance over them.

"My plane was brought down by some fundamentalists. They captured me and kept me prisoner for a very long time. It was gory Geet, I would spare you the hideous details"

"No, tell me everything"

She turned to him as they walked.

"Never. I wouldn't taint your innocence for the world"

"Did they do this to you?

She pointed to the crippled hand.

"Yes"

"Tell me please"

She slowed her pace but he shook his head.

"Suffice that it was bad. I didn't know how many days or months passed inside the dungeons where I was kept. Only that the stones turned warmer during the day and cooled at nights. That is how I kept track of morning and night, kept you in my memoirs and prayed I would meet you soon or send across a message to you that I would never come back"

She squeezed his hand so that he smiled.

"One day I found another fellow fighter pilot down with me"

They continued walking

"He hid a satellite phone with him and was about to destroy it for there was no one he wished to inform home. He thought it better they would believe him dead. I took hold of his device and sent you the email"

He stopped walking.

"Even then I didn't have the heart to tell you that I was never coming back. Because I wanted to, I desperately wanted to. Before I could write you more, there was danger of the phone being discovered and we had to destroy it. I knew you would be disturbed, worried but I didn't know how to contact you again..."

"Say no more of that time Sir, say that you will be here with me, please say that you shall walk by me again"

He held her hand that had the ring fisted in it and took it into his own.

"Before I give you my hand and my heart and my life to keep and cherish forever; before I beckon your heart and love to keep and cherish for myself, I need to warn you of this one thing Geet. I would never be able to hold you the way I once used to, I won't be able to clutch your hand while we walk as I once used to, I won't be whole the way I once was"

"Yes, you won't"

She said

"You would be more. More than you ever were. For today I love you more than ever and tomorrow I will love you more than today. Every day you would mean more to me"

She confessed borrowing his own analogy.

"Ever thine, ever mine, ever ours. Remember?"

As the dusky twilight hours replicated that winter night in autumn, he slipped the ring on her finger where it had always belonged. The moon, pale red behind a light damask of clouds shied away when he pulled her in for a kiss and deepened slowly, steadily, his right hand holding her waist firmly and fingers splayed over her behind goading her towards him.

"Who said your hold isn't as whole as it once was?"

She drawled in a husky tone, her hips meeting his under the pressure of his hand. She removed his other hand from the cloak pocket and guided it to her back. And then as his hand belonged to the seductive man that he was, Maan's deformed hand goaded and clutched her with light feathery touches under the support of her own.

"We should be quite a show for the pedestrians Sir"

Geet panted out of his kisses. He smirked.

"For the umpteenth time, Maan"

He chided.

"Maan"

She rolled his name over her lips

"Ahhh that kills me Geet. My name on your lips takes me to heaven"

He kissed her again and they turned in unison as her body collided into the railing behind. Numerous locks tingled in unison and they knew that once locked, their love wasn't going to be unlocked very soon.

"Morn and night, you are in my sight"

He promised

"You are my dark, you my light"

She finished.

Tere Bin..

She stood at the airport waiting for him.. She was there with her and his family.. She was waiting eagerly for him to come as they'd be meeting after one long year.. She saw him moving from the crowd to them with a trolley.. For a moment her heart skipped a beat.. he was still the same.. Those same loving eyes nd a smile to die for.. she smirked when she saw him setting his hair making them bounce back on his forehead, just like he always used to do..

She knew they'd not meet like she wanted to in front of their families so she just extended a formal hand to which he raised an eyebrow teasing her nd shaking her hand lightly.. She winked at him carefully that none of the parents noticed.. he giggled nd with in a few minutes they were all seated in the car riding back home..

At Khurana house everyone was busy praising Maan's hardwork.. he had completed his MBA nd had a good opportunity to prove himself by taking up a new project nd helping his Father in his business.. It took him around an year to do establish himself as a good decision maker nd manage the deal all by his own.. He did it as he knew he has his love waiting for him..

Maan Khurana, Son of a rich businessman Raj Khurana, wanted to ask for Geet's hand in marriage not as Khurana's heir but after proving himself worthy enough to be able to take care of her all his life.. Since all the parents were busy chatting nd making a few plans, Maan signaled Geet nd got up saying "Okk guys main kuch doston se milke ayaa thodi der mein.."

As he said this nd picked up the car keys when Geet interrupted "Maan.. tum mujhe ghar chodena please.. mujhe thodi padhayi karni hai.." he nodded while she turned nd looked at her mother if she could go or not.. she rushed out after getting an assuring nod from her parents..

Outside the house

"jhooti.. tumhe kya padhayi karni hai.. abhi last week to exams khatam hue tumhare.." Maan said while driving.. "acha.. main jhooti.. tum jaise bada apne kisi dost se milne ja rahe thhe.. khud hi to mujhe isharaa karke aane ko kaha thha.." she said frowning..

He smiled nd shook his head at her kiddish behaviour.. "acha bolo kahan chalna hai..?" he asked to which she looked at him foolishly.. "jahan pehle har baar milte thhe vahin.." he nodded nd drove to the beach..

They settled on a huge rock at a secluded place.. It was then that they hugged eachother tightly as if waiting for the pain of separation to vanish.. They never knew for how long they stayed there embracing eachother.. after awhile they let go off eachother nd started talking about their feelings nd experiences..

"Ab aage kya karna hai Maan..?" Geet asked Maan who sat behind her with his head on her shoulder nd his arm around her.. "karna kya hai.. ab I've proved myself worthy enough to main aake tumhare dad se baat kar sakta hoon.. mujhe nai lagta koi problem hogi.. bas phir meri zindagi ki har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tumse khatam.." he said cuddling her lovingly while her heart was racing with fear.. she was not able to decide whether she wants to tell him the biggest truth of her existence or not.. she knew he deserved to know nd somewhere her heart was telling her that he'll be with her even after knowing everything but still she was not sure..

"Hey kahan khoyi ho..? kab se akele hi bol raha hoon main.." he said shaking her out of her thoughts.. "vo.. main tumse.. umm I mean tumhe kuch batana thha.." she mumbled in a shaky voice.. he looked at her serious face nd nodded in acknowledgement for her to continue but before she could say something he got his mother's call asking him to get back home soon.. "Haan Geet tum kuch bol rahi thhi na.." he asked after the call while the interruption made her weak.. she took it as god's signal to not tell anything now.. nd somehow changed the topic.. with in another few minutes they got up to leave with heavy hearts..

"Papaji aap samajhte kyun nai hain.. aap aur Rano Ma hi sab kuch hain mere liye.. vo mere liye sirf Pammi Aunty hi hain usse zyada kuch nai.." Geet said clutching the pillow as she was fuming coz of the fact that her dearest parents wanted to invite Pammi while discussing her nd Maan's wedding.. not that she wanted to hide something but she surely wanted it all to be revealed not a shock to Khuranas..

She was weaker in front of her parents now.. She knew Maan's family is good nd loving but she didn't knew how would they react when they'll get to know that Geet is not Mohinder nd Rano's daughter but she is a daughter Ms Pammi, Rano's cousin sister who gave Geet away when she was very small as she was born out of wedlock.. Geet feared losing the respect nd faith Khuranas had in her.. she feared losing her Love.. She prayed with tears slipping through her eyes..

Next Morning

She quickly got ready nd went to the temple nearby where Maan used to come with his mother.. She on purpose reached at the same time as theirs.. She somehow cornered Maan near the car when Mrs.Khurana was in the temple.. "Geet.. tum yahan..? bataya kyun nai ki milna tha aaj..?"

"Nai Maan.. milne ka time nai hai.. mujhe tumhe bas yeh kehna tha ki I Love You.. tum chahe mujhe chaho ya na chaho, main humesha tumhari hi rahungi.." She said nd gave him a light hug.. while he was confused at her words.. he knew she loved him but was not understanding why was she so insecure.. before he could say anything Geet spoke "Acha Maan ab shaam ko milenge.. mujhe ghar janaa hai.. bye.. Love you.." nd she rushed before confused Maan could even reply..

The evening was most scary time for Geet.. The Khuranas nd Handas were seated discussing about their children's wedding.. Geet nd Maan were somewhere happy that they have the permission from their parents now.. even though they knew it already that no one will object yet a Yes' for their relationship was a relief to them..

Geet's heart was still racing fearing how nd when will her father disclose the truth of her existence.. just then Pammi entered with her son who was 5 years younger to Geet.. Geet was disgusted looking at them.. she clutched Maan's hand nd closed her eyes when Mohinder introduced Pammi as Geet's biological mother..

Geet could sense Maan not reacting nd a silence prevailing around her.. she opened her eyes to look at Maan who seemed hurt rather than shocked.. she was happy to still see that love in his eyes.. She turned to look at Mr. and Mrs.Khurana who were looking abit apprehensive.. she saw a sudden distant look at their faces..

"umm.. bhaisab.. I think we better postpone the roka ceremony.. Geet bohot achi ladki hai aur aapne sach bata kar yeh bhi bata diya aapke mann mein kuch galat nai thha.. par itna bada sach samajhne ke liye kuch waqt chahiye humein.." Mrs.Khurana requested politely, with which Mohinder nd Rano were fine but Geet could see through her tone or probably her fears were overpowering her mind now..

Sabhi ko sab kuch nahi milta..
nadi ki har leher ko sahil nahi milta..
yeh dil walon ki duniya hai..
kisi se dil nahi milta to koi dil se nahi milta..

"Inki vajah se aaj mera pyar mujhse dur ho raha hai papa.. aur agar aisa sach mein ho gaya to main inhe kabhi maaf nai karungi.." Geet said getting up from the chair after Khuranas left..

"Geet.. puttar yeh koi tareeka nai hai apni maa se baat karne ka.." Mohinder said.. "Yeh maa hoti to mujhe aapke paas chod ke apni nayi zindagi nai shuru karti.. koi haq nai hai inka meri zindagi par.. aur nafrat ke siva kuch nai hai mere paas inke liye.. apne matlab ke liye inhone mujhe aapke paas chod ke aur kisi aur se shaadi kar li.. to ab kyun aayi hain vapas meri zindagi mein.." Geet said in a cracking voice nd rushed to her room..

She felt her world crashing with in a moment all her happiness was taken away from her.. she knew that look on Mrs.Khurana's face before they left.. All her life she has seen her a second mother.. and being that close to her she knew that Mrs.Khurana was loving but very conservatiove lady.. She had locked herself in her room.. she only came out for meals as she knew if she is not present at the table none of her parents would touch the food.. she ate probably nothing just played with the food when she felt a hand on her head.. She looked up nd saw her mother sitting by her side.. Geet hugged Rano nd cried bitterly mumbling "Mamma Maan ke bina nai reh paungi main.. usne vada kiya tha ki har waqt mein mera saath dega.. vo apne saare vaade tod dega mamma..?"

"koi vadaa nai todunga main.." she heard Maan.. she looked up nd saw him standing with a bag on his shoulder.. "Main Geet se baat kar sakta hoon thodi der..?" he asked Mohinder, who nodded.. Geet stood up nd left for her room with Maan following her..

Maan closed the door nd took her into a rib crashing hug.. "pehle kyun nai bataya Geet.. mujhe to bataya hota, main sab sambhal leta jaan.."

"Main dar gayi thi Maan.. main darr gayi thhi ki kahin tum meri sachai jaan ke mujhe thukra na do.." she said crying in his arms.. "Itna hi yakeen tha apne pyar pe..? main tumse pyar karta hoon tum kiski beti ho ya tumhari family history kya thhi isse kuch farak nai padta mujhe.." he said soothing her sobs..

She parted from the hug nd looked at him unsure.. "tumhe sach mein ab bhi utna hi pyar hai mujhse..?" he smiled nd kissed her forehead lightly.. "haan.. mujhe ab bhi utna hi pyar hai tumse.. aur yahi kehne ayaa tha main yahan.. agar meri family nai maani to main tumhe yahan se kahin dur le jaake tumse shaadi karunga.."

"Nai Maan.. unhe dukh dekar hum khush nai rahenge.. Ma tumse bohot pyar karti hain aur tum unke khilaaf shaadi karoge to unhe bohot bura lagega.. aur agar tumhari family ne mana kiya to mere Maa aur Papaji bhi kabhi haan nai karenge humari shaadi ke liye.." She explained..

"To kya karogi..? dekh paogi mujhe kisi aur se shaadi karte aur tum khud ho jaogi kisi aur ki..? main yeh bardaash nai karunga.. tumhare jitna mahaan nai hoon main.." he said angrily.. "Maan.. aise gussa matt ho mujhse please.." she hugged him nd continued "Samjho Maan.. iss waqt koi galat kadam liya humne to unka faisla unhe sahi hi lagega.. kyunki unki nazar mein tab humara pyar galat ho jayega.. main tumhare siva aur kisi ki nai ho sakti Maan.."

After some more arguments Maan left with a broken heart as he understood Geet would never run away with him.. neither would she support any protest against their families.. While she was feeling even more miserable.. She wanted to be with her Love but she was so much indebted to her parents for the life she has, that she can't hurt them by her protest or do anything that's against their wish..

Dil se nikaal diya hai usse,
Par apni yaadon se usse kaise nikaalein..?
Jo kiye thhe usne vaade,
unn vadon ko zehen se kaise nikaalein..?
jab jaagte hain to khud ko rok lete hain,
par apne khwabon se usse kaise nikaalein..?
sabko sambhaalne ki taaqat rakhte hain,
par apne jazbaaton ko kaise sambhaalein..?
yeh kuch sawaal hain
jinka jawaab humare paas nai hai
par chahte ki inka koi kuch to hal nikale..

It was week of misery that Maaneet had faced.. They've not seen or talked to eachother for a week.. they do dial eachother's numbers yet they have nothing to say so they disconnect the call.. Both of them were not concentrating on their work.. Maan was making silly mistakes at office while Geet's health was declining too due to lack of meals she was avoiding..

At night it was raining heavily.. Geet was sitting on the terrace.. Rain was her favourite time.. she used to recollect everything good nd laugh nd dance but today she was sitting on a swing nd was crying badly.. she sat with her knees pulled to her chest nd her head buried in her lap.. she looked up when her mobile buzzed.. she picked it nd cried even more when she heard his voice..

"Ek aakhri mauka hai Geet.. yahan se dur chalo mere saath..? kal mom ne kisi ko ghar bulaya hai meri shaadi ki baat karne ke liye.." Maan told her.. his words were a shock to her.."Tum.. tumhari shaadi..?" she fumbled..

"Haan Geet.. bacha lo mujhe iss jhoote rishtey se.. main abhi tumhe lene aasakta hoon.. aur hum kal hi shaadi kar lenge..." he begged.. She controlled her chocking voice nd acted firm saying "Nai Maan.. apna faisla maine tumhe pehle hi bata diya tha.." she disconnected the call nd rushed to her room.. she quickly took the car keys nd drove away in that thunderous night..

Next Morning

She came back but not on her own.. Her dead body was brought home by an ambulance.. Her parents were shattered to see their daughter in that state.. Khuranas were shocked at this news but Maan was the only one who knew the whole truth.. he came to see her for the last time.. he shivered seeing her corpse.. he did not cry even a single time.. he just brushed her hair once nd left kissing her forehead after whispering "I'll always love you Geet.."

For everyone else it was a car crash.. but Maan knew that it was not just a car crash.. It was Geet who did that.. It was her weakness and helplessness that made her do that.. just a few minutes before the accident she called him saying "Maan.. yeh sach hai ki main tumhare bina nai jee sakti.. par main unn logon ko dhoka bhi nai de sakti jinhone mujhe apni zindagi ka hissa banaya.. aur na hi tumhe kisi aur ka hote dekh sakungi main.. mera tumse dur jana hi theek hoga.. itna dur ki chah ke bhi hum mil na paayen tabhi shayad yeh tadap khatam hogi.. par tum jeena matt chodna Maan.. meri zindagi ab tum jeena mere liye.." nd before he could react she disconnected mumbling "saath na hue toh kya hua Tumhari zindagi ki har subah ko suraj bankar roshni dungi main aur har raat ko chand bankar chandni.. I'll always love you Maan.."

Her death had a really bad effect on her family.. they were shattered yet they had Raji to take care of.. Their grief was the biggest yet it started fading with time.. But Maan turned into a machine.. he used to work at office for long hours nd at home he used to stay locked in his room which was full of Geet's photographs.. He was living because she has asked him to or else he too would have died like she did..

Every night he would just look at the moon searching for her face in it with so many questions in his mind.. "Tumne vada kiya than a Geet ki chand banker chandni dogi mujhe.. phir bhi har raat itni bechain kyu hoti hai mere liye..? suraj ki roshni mein har taraf tumhe dhunta hoon phir bhi saans lena ek bojh sa lagta hai tumhare bina.. Har jagah tumhara ehsaas hai phir bhi tum paas nahi ho.. yeh kaisi sazaa hai geet..? Apna har gamm mujhe dekar meri saari khushiyaan apne saath le gayi tum.. Kya yahi pyar hai..?"

Manzilein bhi uski thi, rasta bhi uska tha..
Ek main hi akela tha, kaafila bhi uska tha..
Saath chalne ka faisla uska tha,
phir raasta badalne ka faisla bhi uska tha..
aaj kyun akela hoon main..?
Dil sawaal karta hai..
Log to uske thhe.. Kya Khuda bhi uska tha..?

Maan Singh Khuarana wakes up and looks at the time...

It's already noon...What? How could this happen? MSK is late to office?

That's impossible, but today everything has changed...Maan hurriedly jumps off the bed and what?

He is still feeling dizzy, thanks to last night's hangover...This has been his routine and he feels his head heavy and looks out for the remedy...Maan finds something missing...Is he really missing something or someone?

It's strange that his usual Nimbu pani is missing...this is disappointing...His head aches more when he finds his Nimbu pani missing...

He is missing someone...and that feeling itself makes him more uncomfortable for he is trying hard not to get into this emotional trap...

Maan gets angry with himself...Maan is not looking for anyone...

Though he is not feeling good Maan gets on his feet and tries to pretend that everything is fine...

He is determined not to let someone's absence make any difference in his life, b'coz that's what he has been trying to boast all these days...

MSK is not aware about the fact that that someone has already made a huge difference in his life...

Though they barely converse she has strongly made her presence felt...

And MSK is only pretending that she is not a part of his life, she is indeed the better half of his life...yes she is his wife, Geet Handa...GMSK...

Maan ignores her thoughts and calls Nakul...

Maan: Nakul...Nakul...

Nakul is busy in his work and doesn't bother to take note that Maan sir is calling him...

He is not at fault, for Maan has stopped calling Nakul these days...

Maan gets angry and shouts...Nakul, Chandu, Monty...sab kahan mar gaye hai?

Chandu comes running...

" ji sir"

"ye kya ho raha hai? ek saath sare naukar gayab ho gaye ho kya?"

Mr.MSK, not everyone has vanished from your sight, it's only one person who is not here and no matter how hard you try to hide your anguish, it's an open truth that you miss her badly...

Even Chandu knows this and looks at Maan with pity...

Maan: kade kade yahan kya dekh rahe ho? mere liye Nimbu Pani lekhe aana

Just then Nakul comes with lemon juice...Maan ka nasha toh pehle hi uthar gaya...

Jab Maan ko patha chala ki koi yahan nahi hai toh usska pura nasha uthar gaya...Maan takes a sip reluctantly and sends it back...He then finds the water cold and Maan likes it warm for his shower...Maan curses his fate for everything and takes a quick shower as he is already late by hours...He comes out of the shower and finds his clothes missing on their regular place...

They are still inside the wardrobe...Maan opens and looks at it...He stands there confused as to what he should wear?He picks the one in front and quickly dresses up...He finishes his breakfast fast and Nakul comes with his black coffee...His favorite black coffee tastes bitter today...

Maan couldn't even drink it...Maan couldn't believe that someone's mere absence could be so bitter...

At KC...

Maan struggles to concentrate in his work and he just whiles away his time thinking about where that stupid Geet would be?

Maan gets angry for she didn't even bother to inform him...How dare she neglects that he is actually her hubby?...But from when did you recognize her as your wife Khuranaji? You never approved your wedding with Geet and never ever accepted her as your wife...Maan thinks about the past...it all seems like a dream...

The day Geet entered his life...Maan was so much disappointed with the forced marriage that he was compelled to be part of...Maan loved Smeera but lost her in a mishap...He then decided that he had no future and his life is doomed...

That night...it was their SR...

But Maan made it the worst raat for Geet...He just entered the room and totally ignored Geet, he behaved as if there is no one except himself at that place and he just went to bed...

Geet was shocked but being a timid village girl she never questioned him...

Next day when Dadi asks Geet about her first day at KM she didn't reveal anything to Dadi...

She thought that she will have to wait for the times to change, she has to give Maan time to accept her, give him time to make room for her in his life...

For it's difficult for her too to come to terms with this new life...She had already learnt about Maan's loss and knows that it's not easy for Maan to forget everything overnight and start a new life with Geet...

After a couple of days Geet tried to break the ice and she tried to make Maan speak out his mind, Maan got mad and he made it clear that he isn't happy with this marriage and hates to converse with her...

Geet understands his plight and she decides not to trouble him by asking about his past...

But later she discovers that Maan is not willing to even listen to her even for a minute, she starts her mauna vradh...she keeps her mouth tight whenever Maan is around...

She is willing to give up anything for Maan's happiness...she has pledged to be his life partner sharing his joys and sorrows equally and here is the time to be a part of his sorrows...

She knows that nothing is permanent and things will change...there will be a time when the rains stop pouring and the storm resides...She is ready to wait for her turn...She kept waiting but things turned worse from bad...

Maan anticipated Geet to fight with him for her rights and blame him for cheating her...But Geet's silence made him worry...Ye Khamoshiyan toh batein se bhi bahut katarnak hai...ye toh batein se bhi zyada masboot hai...

Aur inke takat toh Maan ko hi haladiya hai...he can't stand her silence anymore...

He felt as if he was standing in a trail waiting for the questions so that he could start justifying his deeds, but in her silence he was missing the chance to justify himself...

And then he started to realize his mistakes...

he was gripped by a sense of guilt that he had done something wrong...

The guilt started growing bigger and bigger day by day when Geet kept performing her duties as a bahu and as a wife with impeccable perfection that even Maan never had the opportunity to find any fault with her...

She was there at his service every minute and she keeps everything ready before Maan could ask for it...

Maan found it harder and harder to ignore Geet...And for the first time in his life Maan consumed liquor as a means to forget his grief...No, no, MSK took to drinks to keep his grief alive, to keep his Sam alive in his memories for the fear of someone else taking her place in his life...

He didn't want to let anyone take Sam's place in his life...And Geet proved to be a tough competitor for that place as she is so loving and caring...

She understood Maan even on that night when Maan went to the Pub to escape from his desires to revive his love interests...here is someone who is torturing him day and night with her silence but yet making a huge impact on him...

Maan couldn't get Geet out of his mind and the thought of facing her when he returns home makes him scared to get home earlier...

Maan had heard that men drink to escape from their troubles and forget their worries and so he too decided to try it...

Maan just went to have a drink and gulped a whole bottle in his desperation...

He fainted immediately and had to be taken to the car with the others help...Driver took Maan home at the late hours of the night and told Geet that dadi didn't know anything about Maan's drinking and never had Maan touched them in his life...Geet immediately knew that she is the cause for Maan's worries and she tried to help him by giving him time to accept her...

But she took the responsibilities of a wife from the minute they took the oath to be husband and wife...

Next morning when Maan woke up with a hangover Geet gave him lime juice and helped him recover...she never asked him any question as Maan feared and she quietly kept performing her duties as a wife...

She also kept this a secret and never let dadi know about it for so many days...

In these few months that Geet had spent with Maan she has known him so well that it has become unnecessary for Maan to think about anything, for Geet never gives him the opportunity to think about anything...she makes sure that his needs are taken care of on time, Maan's day starts off with the previous night's hangover and Geet wakes him up with his recovery dose of Nimbu Pani and gets him ready for work on time...

Maan has literally seized to think about anything...

He wakes up and his daily routine takes place automatically as if it's programmed earlier...

Geet takes care of all his needs...from the warm water for bathing, suit for office, his continental breakfast followed by black coffee, his newspaper to be read on the way, his day's plans and everything till he finishes his work at office...

Then Maan's ego reminds him that he has to forget someone in order to keep someone else's memories afresh...he heads to the pub and gets drunk till he forgets himself...

And Geet knows exactly when he would start losing control and immediately calls the driver to get Maan back to the car and makes sure Maan doesn't end up making a fool of himself ...

The driver takes Maan home and then it's up to Geet to put him to sleep, just like a child...Many a time Geet had to change his dress for Maan would be almost unconscious...All thru the day Geet keeps mum and never utters a word for Maan hates to speak with her...

Maan comes out of his thoughts and Adi comes with some files...

Maan returns the files without looking into them and asks Adi not to disturb him further...Adi leaves and Maan returns to his thought...How many days he wanted his to end his life after Sam's death, but he couldn't end his life with his own hands as he is neither a coward nor a fool...But he had lost interest in his life and just survived for name sake...

Sam had been his life and soul and after she left Maan became a mere piece of flesh and blood with no more willingness to live...He had shun all human passions and literally lost all his senses...The food netiher tasted gud nor bad...Nature no longer amused him... He could not admire a baby's smile...what's more beautiful than a baby's smile...Maan had become a stone...a statue with no human aspects...no emotions...The only thing he knew was that he shouldn't be living without Sam...

For six months he kept mourning her loss within himself shutting himself totally from the world...He was confined to his room and hardly went out of KM...and after seeing him like dadi decided to do something drastic or she may lose her potha permanently...

Then came Geet...she entered Maan's life as his wife...Maan married Geet and Dadi blackmailed Maan into this marriage...He is reminded of Geet's every act...

There she was standing out with his towel when he had forgotten to take them along...

He had to just put his hands out and reach the towel...There was no need for any request at all...Then she would pull out the suit for him along with his wallet and other things...

She will then leave him alone and rush to get his breakfast ready...Before he could finish his last bite Geet would come with his black coffee...Coffee never tasted so good earlier...

Then Maan would start his day afresh and get involved in his work...

When the work burden lightens and he is at leisure Maan's mind would be occupied by Geet and her ever so innocent eyes always wanting to speak with him and always eager to grab his attention even if it's for a second when their eyes meet...

Maan is cautious to avoid eye contacts for they are addictive and he couldn't stop looking at them...he often falls prey to them and gets lost in them for a few seconds before he could realize that he is not supposed to be doing that and he withdraws immediately...

Then he finds it difficult to think about anything but Geet ...this according to his stupid ego is a weakness and believes that it's not for MSK to concede a defeat to a stupid girl and he couldn't think of her taking Sam's place either...

Then in his determination to get rid of Geet from his mind he puts his mind to sleep with the help of alcohol...he tries to get some sleep at last with an alcohol over dose...

It's 6 pm and everyone has left KC...Adi is waiting to sign off after briefing the days progress at the site...Adi goes to meet Maan and gives him the details but Maan is still not in a mood to listen...

He asks Adi to leave in the middle of their conversation as he thought it's just a waste of time...

Adi leaves and Maan too leaves KC and thinks that he would get some peace of mind at least at the Pub...he asks the driver to leave and drives himself to the Pub but he couldn't get off the car for something stops him and he turns back and returns to KM in the hope that Geet might have come back...

He rushes in and looks for Geet...there is no sign of her...

Maan shouts..." Nakulll"

Nakul comes out from the kitchen with Maan's black coffee...

" Geet m'am kahan hai?"

Nakul blinks...ye mujhse kyun poochthe hai? How would he know? Maan should be know?

" m'am kahin bahar gaye hai"

" bahar kahan?"

Nakul doesn't know...

"abhi tak wapas nahi aaye?"

" nahi sir"

Maan panics...where the hell is she? And it's already evening and she has not come back...Maan starts worrying more...this is very bad...He runs and starts the car...how could he stay at home where there is no Geet? he starts driving from there without any direction...He keeps riding for hours till he is exhausted and all the while he keeps worrying about Geet...

Where is Geet? and why has she left without any word...Geet usually tells everything to dadi and even if dadi tried to convey the news to Maan, Maan would stop dadi and just leave as if it's none of his business...But the fact that Dadi knows where her bahu is, itself is enough for Maan to know that everything is good...

But now dadi has gone to Vaishnodevi to pray for MSK after she came to know about his new habits...dadi is also feeling guilty for she had made a big mistake by forcing this marriage upon Maan and thereby putting Geet's life at stake...

She has gone on a pilgrimage to seek her babaji's blessings for her bahu...In the absence of Dadi Geet had no one to vent off her frustrations after Maan yelled at her and blamed her for his miseries that night...so she might have left home...

Maan is afraid that Geet might do something stupid and what if he loses her too? The thought itself is so scary and Maan is desperate to find Geet...He roams the streets in a hope to come across Geet somewhere...

It's 1 am...

Maan is going mad searching for this stupid Geet...Where the hell could she go? It's been six months since Maan had known Geet...Never had Maan worried so much in his life...

Even the loss of Sameera, his love, in an accident a year back didn't give him this much pain...

That time he knew for sure Sam is gone forever and nothing would bring her back...

But this time Maan is feeling the pain more as he knows Geet had left b'coz of him, he had hurt her so badly, haina babaji?

Maan is overwhelmed with a sense of guilt this time for the last words he had spoken to Geet were truly cruel...how could you be so mean MSK?

Losing someone is not new for hm, he had seen his beloved Sam breath her last in his lap...

The last thing she heard was "I LOVE YOU SAM, Mujhe chodke mat jaana"...

Sam left Maan and this world very happyily with a smile after hearing those last words from Maan...

But the last time Maan saw Geet she was completely dejected...the only thing Maan could remember is Geet's tears...she never retoted or replied, she just kept listening as tears kept running along her cheeks...she then left not able to face Maan's wrath anymore...his words hurt her more than a thousand slaps...she could have survived any kind of physical pain but this she couldn't bear...she also didn't want to argue with him for she thought after all she has no rights...and her silence kills him more than his words could hurt her...

Maan thinks about what happened last night...

All this is just the consequences of that...As usual Maan went home drunk and Geet was waiting for him...Maan hasn't fainted that night and he was in his senses...He got to his room and Geet followed...

She has been witnessing this drama for more than two months and she has been left with no choice but to demand some answers from MSK himself...she is fed up with his drinking and it's only getting worse and there is no sign of any regret on Maan's part...

He is neither going to stop this nor is he ready to share his grief...

Geet wants him to vent off his long standing pains and assure him that he is not alone anymore, here is someone to share his grief...Maan came out of the wash room and he was in a position to listen, he was steady...

" aap aaise roz roz pikhe apne aapko kyun saza dethe ho?"

Atlast Geet breaks her silence and speaks out...Maan gets angry and is provoked by her questioning...And in an act to defend himself he starts the blame game...

" saza? Tum jaanthe ho ki mere liye sabse bada saza kya hai?"

Geet looks into his eyes...Maan looks at her and continues...

"ye shadhi"

Geet is shocked..." hummari shadhi?"

" shadhi? Tummare liye ye shadhi hogi, mere liye ye saza hai saza"

" aap kyun apne aap ko takleef dethe ho? aaise kya pareshaani hai? mujhe batha nahi sakthe?"

Maan yells..." kya pareshaani? Tum ho mere sare pareshaani, tum ho Geet"

" mein?"

" haan tum, tum samajthe kya apne aapko? Tum kitna bhi koshish karo toh bhi tum mere zindagi ke hissa nahi ban sakthi, samjhi tum"

" kyun nahi ban sakthi?"

" tum kya chahthi ho? tum kisske jagah ko cheena chahthe ho? ek bar mere baat ko dhyaan se suno, tum kabhi bhi Sameera nahi ban sakthi, aur mere zindagi mein usske jagah ko koi nahi le saktha, samjhi tum?"

Geet had never wanted Sam's place...she is only fighting for a small place of her own in his huge heart...she doesn't want someone's place, she wants a special place exclusively for herself...

Geet bahut dukhi hothi...Maan ne usko kitna galat samjha hai?

" mein aaise nahi hoon"

Maan stops her...

" chup bilkul chup"

Geet stops arguing...But her tears convey her messages to Maan...she is broken and this is the first time Maan has seen her crying...she had been so strong and never lets a drop of tear escape from her eyes...But now she is hurt so badly...and her heart his broken immediately...all her determinations and perseverance vanish in a second and she is scared about her life for the first time...

Maan had never seen her worried...she was always hopeful and believed that she can set things right...but now her hopes are shaken and she doubts if she can bring any change? Maan still remembers her teary eyes and she just went to sleep with a heavy heart...Maan knew for sure that she was very much awake and was weeping till he fell asleep...An unknown fear grips Maan and he starts thinking about losing Geet...maybe forver...maybe she will also leave him never to return like Sam did...But that was an accident but this is sheer punishment...who is he to punish such an innocent soul? Maan has done all the sins and Geet is getting punished...this is very bad MSK...Maan is worried why Geet hasn't even called him or left any message for him?

Maybe she left a letter for him and he didn't notice it? Maan thinks about all the possibilities and is turning crazy...He turns back and returns to KM to see if she had left any note for him...He rushes to their room and searches for any clue...All he could find is her love for him in every little detail that she had followed to please him...Maan had never noticed it before...She had kept every memory of Sam alive and not tried to clear them off...Not even the photos where Sam is with Maan and dadi...Geet had not thought of replacing it with their wedding photo...And she had kept her love within herself and within her cup board...

Maan finds the roses that Geet got him on their first meeting which he had discarded ...Then he finds the rumal that he gave her to wipe off her lipstick at the reception...He was annoyed with her make-up and he liked her without make up...Geet had shunned her cosmetics after that...Maan also finds a few cards that she wanted to give him and never had the chance to give him...on a number of occasions...their first valentine's day...his b'day...All this makes him realize what this marriage meant for her? She had come with so much expectations and what she got?

Maan failed to understand the fact that though it's a forced marriage for him it's not for Geet...She was very happy to be getting married to MSK...She was just another innocent teenager with a lots of dreams about her married life and her dreamy prince...Maan is just the dreamy prince of every girl and Geet is not an exception...She instantly fell in love with him when they met for the first time at someone's engagement...

Dadi fixed their wedding on that day itself and Geet started dreaming form that very moment...She had also got a lot of presents and gifts for Maan even before their engagement and didn't have the opportunity or the guts to give them...Maan realizes his mistakes...OMG...what has he done? This girl kept everything hidden in her heart and never revealed it to Maan...How could she share her feelings for Maan never wanted to share his feelings with her?

She seldom spoke with him and their conversations were restricted to Dadi's health and that too was thru Dadi, and now she doesn't even want to see Maan's face, she had left KM...What tortures Maan is the fact that Geet's absence makes him weaker and he is totally lost...Maan fears that Geet might be in some danger or she might be thinking of doing anything drastic...He calls dadi and asks dadi if she knows anything about Geet's where abouts...

Dadi is happy that her prayers have been answered so soon and she is also surprised that Maan is so much concerned and worried about Geet...Dadi tells him that Geet has gone to Hoshiarpur to attend her cousin's wedding and will be back only after 10 days...10 days? Maan can't wait that long...

"dus din?" Maan is shocked...

"maan bete, hum kal subha hi Delhi pohunch jayenge", says dadi

But Maan wants to see his Geet...He immediately starts off his journey to Hoshiarpur...He can't wait to see his Geet...he wants to see the love in her eyes for him that had been ignoring all these days...he wants to hear her voice...hear her confessions, hear her blabbers that he had been secretly admiring when she played with the neighbor's kids...

After a few hours of journey Maan reaches Hoshiarpur in the noon...Maan is new to this place and he is embarrassed to enter...He peeps in thru the window and looks for Geet...After searching for a while Maan finds Geet...He is so happy to see her...All his hesitations vanish and he is on his way to see Geet...

Geet is talking to her mausi...

"puhtar, tummara pati nahi aaye?"

"nahi mausi"

"kyun puthar? Sab teek toh haina?"

Geet puts up a brave face and smiles...

"mausi, Maan mere saath aane hi wale the, par achanak koi zaroori kaam aagaya unko"

"aaisa bhi kya zaroori kaam hai?"

Maan just intervenes...

"aaisa koi bhi zaroori kaam nahi hai, aapke beti se badkar humme aur kya zaroori kaam ho saktha?"

Geet is surprised...she turns back and finds Maan...She is confused...what's he doing here? Everyone greet him with so much love as they all love Geet so much...Geet's cousins tease Geet...

"Jiju ko dekho, ek din bhi Didi ke bina nahi reh sakthe, aagaye na peeche peeche..."

"haan haan, Maanji hummare Geet ko bahut pyaar karthe..."

Someone sings..."Dekha hai pehle bar, sajan ke aankhon mein pyaar"

"hayeee Geet, mujhe bhi aaisa hi deewana chahiye"

"MSK apne Geet se dhoor kaise reh sakthe?"

"kyun Geet? tum bhi toh jiju ko bahut miss karthi hogi?"

"Maanji ne tumme bahut hi miss kiya hoga?"

Geet wonders whether to laugh or cry hearing everyone's opinion...Only she knows the truth...the bitter truth...Geet is happy that at least Maan is here for her cousin's wedding...

Her family was very skeptic about Maan's absence and Geet's home coming without her hubby...Now they are happy and they think that MSK is an ideal husband...

Geet's family members love her a lot...she is the youngest and her cousin is also a little elder but Geet got married very young...that was also a cause for her family's worries...they were scared that she can't manage her married life as she is still young and nave...

She is being pampered and everyone is after her...Maan realizes how much Geet would have suffered, after all ,she is like a princess at her place and Maan feels guilty for treating her so badly...

Even then she never complained...why Geet? Now Maan knows how much she loves him and how much she respects his feelings...

Maan had never thought about her feelings...Geet is surprised to see Maan and she is puzzled by his unannounced visit...She tries to hide her anxiety and keeps herself busy in the wedding party...

Geet's cousins give Maan good company but Maan only wants to be with his Mishty...Geet has not spoken with him yet...ye Khamoshiyan Maan se bardasht nahi ho pathe...

Maan keeps stalking Geet...he is after her and follows her like her shadow...Geet is hiding from him...she doesn't want her family to now about them...

In the evening...

Geet is getting ready for the sangeet...She forgets to tie her dori...Maan has seen it and he runs after her and stops her...He pulls her to a corner and pins her against the wall...Geet looks at him puzzled...Maan holds her shoulders and turns her around...He then ties her choli...

"koi meri biwi ko aaise nahi dkeh sakthe, samjhi tum"

Geet is shocked..."biwi" and from when did Maan become so possessive?

Maan turns her towards him and keeps staring her...She looks like an angel...asmaan se uthri pari lag rahi thi Geet...

Maan is lost in her beauty...Maneet eyelock...mahi...Geet's little niece comes and takes Geet away...Maan is disappoimted...

And the dance party starts...Everyone wants Geet to dance...Geet sets the floor on fire with her dance...

Maan is mersmerised...he had never got the opportunity to see her dance...Maan was so blind that he missed everything...And after Geet's solo performance everyone start dancing in pairs...Geet is embarrassed...she knows that Maan would never want to dance with her...

She feels ashamed in front of her family for her husband is not willing to be her partner...As Geet stands there thinking about what to do someone pulls her into his embrace and starts dancing.

It's Maan...Kurban Hua...tere ashiqui mein yu...

Maan turns into a passionate lover and Geet could hardly believe it...After the music stops Geet tries to get away from Maan's hold but Maan is completely lost in the passions and he is not ready to let her go...

Geet struggles to relieve herself...Maan suddenly comes back to reality and lets her go...Geet runs and Maan follows her...Geet enters a room and Maan too gets in and locks the door...He doesn't want any disturbance...He wants to talk to his mishty...

Geet keeps staring him as he locks the door...

" Geet"

Geet bows down and doesn't reply...

" mujhse baat nahi karogi?"

Geet isn't responding...Maan gets closer and lifts her chin...Geet is crying...

" Geet, mein jaantha hoon ki mein inn aasoovon ka wajha ban gaya hoon, aur tum mujhse kitna naraaz ho? issiliye tum baat nahi karthi? Haina?"

" haan, mein babut naraaz hoon, mujhe aapse koi baat nahi karni"

Geet breaks down...Maan pulls her into a hug...he holds het tight...Geet breaks her silence...

" aap yahan kyun aaye ho? "

Maan gets angry...

" Geet, tumme ho kya gaya hai? na koi note aur na koi information, tum achanak aaise kaise jaa sakthi? Mein kitna gabra gaya tha? Tumme maloom bhi hai ki mein kitna tadap raha tha? mein tumme kahan doondhoon? Mein toh soch soch ke pagal hi ho gaya tha..."

" ek din mein aapke saath nahi thi toh aap kitna pareshaan ho gaye ho? aap toh har raat aaise hi mujhe pareshaan karthe the, aapne kabhi bhi socha ki koi aapka interzaar kar raha hoga, roz roz aap ke lapatha hone se mein kitne pareshaan thi, aur kaise tadap rahi thi, aap nahi jaanthe ki aap bahut din se kissi ke dil ki dhadkan ban gaye ho aur aap ke bina kissi ka dil ki dhakkan bhi band ho jayega"

Maan looks into her eyes...he wipes off her tears...

" ab bolo Geet, mujhe sunna hai, tummare mann ki awaaz ko, ab mujhse teri khamoshiyaan bardasht nahi hotha, mujhe sunna hai, bolo Geet"

" kya bolo Geet? aap kya jaanthe? Kuch bhi nahi, aap ke liye ye shadhi saza hoga, par aap ne kabhi bhi socha ki mere liye ye shadhi aur ye rishtha kitne maine rakthe? Jab se meinne aapko dekha meinne apne dil kho diya, haan, mujhe aapse pyaar ho gaya, pehle nazar mein hi pyar ho gaya.Aap mere pehle pyaar ho, pehle pyaar ke barein mein aap se badkar kaun jaantha? Haina?"

Geet looks into his eyes...

Maan doesn't remember Sameera anymore...he is only worried about Geet...

For him Sameera is dead now...he wants to live for Geet now...

" mujhe chodo, mein tummare pyaar ko jaanna chahatha hoon Geet, mera pyaar toh nahi raha, par tera pyaar abhi bhi hai, mein ussko khona nahi chahatha, bathao Geet, aur bathao"

" jab se hummare shadhi hui aap mere zindagi bangaye ho, mere liye toh har subha aap se shuru hotha aur har raat aap pe katam...ab aap hi mere sab kuch ho, ek baat ko dhyaan se sunlo, Maan nahi ho toh Geet bhi nahi, samjhe aap?"

Geet warns Maan to be careful...he can't take his life for granted anymore...

" ab mujhe sab samaj aayagya Geet"

" kya samaj aaya?"

Maan: aaj tak inn aankhon mein aasoo mere liye barsathe the, aaj se inn aankhon se ek bhi aasoo nahi nikhlega, mein wada kartha hoon Geet ki tummare eke k ansoon ka prayachit mein karoonga, ab tummare chehre ke muskurahat ko mein wapas loonga Geet, mujhe maaf kardho Geet

Maan kisses her forehead...I love you Geet, aaj se meri zindagi sirf tummari hai Geet, aur ye Maan sirf tummara hai Geet, Geet ka Maan

Geet looks into his eyes...for the first time she can see their love for her...

Maneet eyelock...Maan pulls her into a hug...

Someone knocks...

Geet tries to get off his hold...Maan tightens his hold...

" Maan, chodo mujhe"

"nahi chod saktha"

" Maan, koi bhula raha hai, mujhe jaana hai"

" tum nahi jaa sakthi"

" Maaan?"

" Geet, shadhi ke itne din baat meri biwi mere bahoon mein hai, mein usse kaise jaane detha?"

" Maaan? Ye kya mazak hai?"

" Geet, I'm serious, ab tum meri ho, tum mere saath aarahi ho, samjhi tum?"

" kahan?"

" kahin bhi, jahan mein , tum aur koi nahi"

Maan winks...Geet blushes...

Maan looks at the bed..." ye bhi chalega"

" aap pagal ho gaye ho, chodo mujhe"...Someone knocks again...

" Maan, jaane do mujhe"...Geet pleads...

Maan opens the door...

Auntyji blushes seeing them together...

" maaf kijiye damadji, woh dulhe ka jootha andar hai"

" Geet, aao hum kahin aur jaathe hai"

Geet is embarrassed...

"damadji ye shadhi ka ghar hai, jahan bhi jao apko koi na koi disturb karega"

" achcha? Geet, chalo mere saath"

Geet comes near and Maan lifts Geet and takes her to the car...

Everyone is shocked...

" mein apne Dulhan ko lekhe jaa raha hoon, kissi ko koi problem hai kya?"...the lion roars...

There is complete silence...

Geet is embarsassed...she closes her face with her hands...

Chorus: all the best Didi, best of luck jiju

Maan takes her out for a long drive...

" Maan, hum kahan jaa rahe hai?"

" hummara ghar"

Maan takes her to the jungle wood house...

" ye mera jungle hide out hai, aaj se ye hummara pyara ghar hai, jab bhi mujhe akhela rehna tha mein yahan aatha tha, ab jab bhi mujhe apne biwi se pyaar karna hai hum yahan aajaathe, yahan humme koi disrturbance nahi hoga"

Maan looks at Geet and winks...Geet blushes...

" par humme shadhi pe jaana haina?"

"Geet, hummare shadhi ke 6 mahine pure ho gaye aur hummra kuch nahi hua, lekhin tumme toh apni behen ki shadhi ki padhi hai"

" Maaan?"

Maan closes her mouth with his fingers...chup...bilkul chup...

Maan lifts her and takes her into the bedroom...

There is a photo of Sameera...

Maan takes it and puts it away in the drawer...

Maan has decided that he will not give a part of his heart to Geet but the whole of it just as Geet has given him the whole of her heart...he knows that Geet deserves more than this...

Maan looks at Geet...Geet is surrised...

" Geet, zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam "

The finished hour

It was 3 a.m. and I was sleeping in my bed cozily when all of a sudden I heard screams and shouts from the roadside. A stone came hurtling, crashing through the window and I knew the shattered glass splinters were doom.

As I ascended the steps to the Kaal Bhairav temple, he twirled me and pushed us into the shadow of a languid tree. The dusk befallen shaded us any ways and the crowd for evening aarti hurried to tolling bells. At this hour in Ujjaini, every chore stopped, every pair of hands joined to worship the angry god, every being with faith in the Lord of Time' turned this way to pray and offer liquor to mellow Kaal Bhairav's anguish.

"Going to pray for me?"

He asked. I nodded.

"Why?"

"Just as you pray for me five times a day"

I whispered and moved on, musing to myself of his adoring stunned reaction.

The glass lay splattered around my room and the sky outside my window lighted up in a strange orange light; what terrified me though was the horrible howling. I rolled over in bed, lonely and scared as I was, to cover myself with the blanket and let the noises pass. They didn't.

The cries become stronger, harsher. Someone from below shouted that we were seized. How that was possible, I knew not. Until the sounds of Allah' Bismillah' and Khuda ke liye kaafiron ko maaro' reverberated into my room through the creaked glass of the window.

Phone, I searched frantically for my phone.

"Haan ji"

I chuckled at his tone and the way he said those two words. They held so much promise, so much welcoming in them even when we were a long phone call apart.

"I am going to the town fair"

"You know I wouldn't be able to come. Market mein aaj badi bheed lagegi"

"Work, work. Tum toh bilkul boodhi aatma ho"

He chuckled. I smiled, knowing he couldn't see.

"Kya karen, ab aapko bhi saari zindagi isi boodhi aatma ke saath rehna padega"

Before I could reach the phone, another object was hurled in. I shielded my face with both hands but the stone like object fell onto the other side of my bed. A suffocating feeling engulfed me even before I knew; the stone I thought ticked and disseminated curling smoke. I doubled over in cough and ran to the windows; the soles of my feet cutting on shattered glass. Vaguely I was terrified of the injection I would have to take later when the pieces of glass were removed.

"Wahan! Woh rahi ek hindu"

A sharp accusation echoed from the street even before I could take notice of the fire and the men, of fighting and swords, of crying and bodies dead or alive I wouldn't know until I went down. Instinctively I turned behind the curtains and my back hit the wall. I cupped a hand to my mouth in terror as I thought it was the end. What do you do when your family is away and the town that you live in, that has lived in harmony for centuries suddenly erupts in communist flames? What do you do when in the dead of night there is no escape?

I stole myself from the late lectures on hearing the sound of Azaan and ran to surprise him. As he emerged from the mosque unknotting the white cloth from over his head, his dark eyes rested on me and crinkled in mirth. I was ecstatic, shy too.

We then sneaked behind the holy tomb of an old Sufi saint; sitting in the streaming light of filigree carved tall walls as he gazed at me in awe and what I knew was love.

"Aksar main socha karta hoon ki tum mujhe kisi neki ke badle mil gayi ho"

He said

"Par phir khayal aata hai ki tum hi toh meri neki ho"

I blushed.

The door of my house was pounded outside; I ran and locked the room door. I heard the door broken and wild noises, words exchanged that meant they had seen me and searched for me now. Save me, someone save me. I prayed to that lord of time who sat as the guardian to the threshold of life and death.

"Main chahti hoon ki ab se zindagi ki har subah tume shuru ho aur har rat tum pe khatam"

I told him one afternoon in our little hiding behind college. He smiled and took my hand in his.

"I promise they will"

Then when he went away, he didn't come back the way he was. His cousin in UP was burnt alive, the Babri Masjid demolished.

Now they were at my door, the hinges shook on their frame, their pounding grew insistent, the abuses and their animalistic cries tore every nerve ending in me that was surviving to live. I curled behind the curtain but when the door started coming apart at the seams. I had no option left but to go and try a last chance at life. I plastered myself against the door in dire desperation, the shouts became louder; the howling down in the street all the more dangerous. It was like the Tandav of an angry lord.

Muslims all over turned against Hindus and he turned with his group. He called once, to tell me he was never coming back.

The door vibrated once and froze. And just when I thought that it would not break, it turned on me and I was flung back into the room, falling on my hands and knees over shattered glass. I cried in terror, those perpetrators howled in excitement. A hand fisted in my hair and I came face to face with those dark eyes that had prayed for me five times a day to his god and for whom I had prayed to mine. They were blood shot, doused in a fire of their own. He slapped me hard. I fell back again.

"Jao. Ise main khatam karoonga"

I shivered at the command and threat in his voice.

The moment footsteps retreated out of my room he pulled me up harshly to my feet, his hands digging into the bare cold skin of my arm.

"Maan"

I cried, trying to reach out to that man I once knew in the eye of a fundamentalist.

He pushed me away and raised his weapon of choice, a long bloodied dagger. I closed my eyes and shielded myself with shaking hands in sheer agony. Finally; the blow came.

"But you had promised that my every morning will begin with you and every night will end with you. Main tumhari neki thi, ab kya ho gaya Maan?"

I wept on the phone.

"Main tumhara nahi raha"

His steeled voice chilled me to the bone and it was over. No mornings would begin with him; no nights would end with him.

I lay wallowing in pain, half alive, half dead. My wounds bled and eyes cried, my body broke and spirit shied. For I knew not if I was dead because there was no dagger, no gaping hole in my body left to bleed black. The blow had been but of his hand, of his promise well kept. He didn't kill me, went away to kill others. He had successfully fulfilled all his promises.

Main ise khatam karoonga'

He had finished me in every sense except one. I was alive. My mornings though hadn't started with him, but this night, this doomed night was ending with him.

...zindagi ki har raat tum pe khatam'

As I crawled crying and sobbing in pain, the procession of killers down the street had passed, leaving a gaping silence. Pushing the now extinguished smoke bomb I lay in my bed painfully. It was 4 a.m.

"You want him suitably distracted so that your romance is not caught by his eagle eyes, right? Consider it done."

So the game began for the sake of friendship...

Maan walked towards the farmhouse where the party was being held with determined steps. If his sister thought an excuse of car breakdown would make it acceptable for her to stay back late in the party and then roam the night with her friends she was absolutely wrong. Okay, so she had assured that her friend Geet was with her who was coming home with her. It was a fact that as much as he didn't trust his sister's impulsive nature, the opposite was true for Geet. She came across as someone who was dependable and so timid that her meekness instilled in you the faith that she would steer clear of all troubles especially the ones that spelt guys'. She had stayed with the family more than a couple of times but the way she blushed and stammered in his company, made him wonder how she coped in college. She was so different from his sister ...maybe it was this diversity that worked for the friendship... one so vivacious and mischievous and the other so shy and grounded. It was a sense of protectiveness along with her academic merits that made him accept Geet's application to work with his company even if it was temporary.

Stepping into the party Maan found that some sort of game like passing the parcel' was going on. But here, only the girls were involved in passing the red heart-shaped cushion, and that too dressed in costumes. When the music stopped, the one who was left holding the heart stepped away to ask one of the guys (lined up as in swayamwar!) for a dance. After one spell of dance the game continued.

At first Maan watched the game proceed, careful to keep himself at a safe distance, scanning the ladies to see if he could spot Annie. Thinking that he had succeeded in finding her, he stepped forward so that she too would notice him.

The music stopped and the girl in the golden dress stepped away. Someone tripped over Maan pushing him forward to join the group of guys who were participating in the game. The girl in golden gown walked up and now stood before him. Realising the mistake, Maan tried to back away...

"Sorry, I am not ..."

She held out her hand, "You are not allowed to say no.."her voice was low and husky, the hazel eyes behind the mask twinkled mischievously. "Part of the game's rule, right peeps?"

The crowd hooted in assent and encouragement. With a shrug, he led her to the dias set up for the dances.

Music...

Lights dimmed and the spot light came on them.

Aa ... (humming)

He drew her closer with his hand on the small of her back and the other holding hers, swaying together...

Her eyes linked with his and held, through the twirls and the dips ... luring him with the shine in them... making him forget the game and rest of the world...it felt like the soulful rendition of the lyrics were meant for them... making the dance something deeper , a powerful expression of romance.

As the music stopped to the resounding applause he was brought back to the awareness of the where and the why. She withdrew her hand from his warm clasp and stepped away.

"Bhai, aap?"

Dev's surprised voice made Maan turn.

"Dev, what are you doing here?"

"Annie asked me to pick her up. Geet is not keeping well and she didn't want to disrupt her friends' enjoyment. But she didn't tell me you were going to be here.."

"Haan... woh.. I thought..."

"And you were dancing." Dev cudn't contain his shock, "...with Annie's friend!"

"It was just..."Maan turned to see that his dancing partner had moved away, "...accidental. I came for Annie and someone stumbled and..."

Even as he explained his eyes scanned the room trying to trace the golden girl who had disappeared without a word.

Maan was curious to know the identity of the girl whom he had danced with. But Annie was so angry with him for what she declared as his high-handedness and spying that he decided to wait a day for her to calm down, before mentioning about the party. The next day he walked into her room with a tub of chocolate ice cream as a part of making up gesture, only to find that she had already pardoned him because his unwanted meddling' in her affairs had led to a hike in her popularity. Her friends didn't think her uncool for having a meddling brother but were rather in awe of his dancing skill. Moreover they thought his willingness to participate in their game cool'.

"They were all so flattened by the pics.. just look at them... it is the ult!"

He looked at the snapshots of the dance.

"Ermm... Annie do you know her?"

Annie gaped, "You mean you don't know?" she hit her forehead with her palm. "Shucks! And here I was making bet with Geet about who she is. I think it is Naina Rathod, Arjun's sister, the who hosted the party... but Geet says this one is shorter than Naina... "

"I thought you would know," he tried not to feel disappointed. "It was your friend's party after all."

"I do know most of them... but it was a large affair..."

So after much deliberation Maan decided not to pursue the matter. He was Maan Singh Khurana , the MD of Khurana Constructions who had more important things to spent his time on than resolving the identity of his dance partner! So he wrote it off as an intrigue that touched a person's life, a memorable incident which he was glad to have experienced, but which should have no more impact on his life.

But then the memory refused to stay put ...It teased his dreams. And as if that was not enough he got another reminder of the dance... a CD that had the recording of his dance with the mysterious lady,was delivered with her message which flashed at the end of the dance, "THE END COULD ALSO BE ONLY THE BEGINNING.."

And beginning it was...the beginning of weekly messages delivered any day, anytime, anywhere and thru any one.. sometimes just quotes,

"Well look who I ran into," crowed coincidence.

"Please..." flirted fate, "this was meant to be"

At times personal ,

"You look so dashing in this white shirt... you take my breath away!"

And always accompanied with a red rose. Someone was flirting with him...he realised and someone who knew his whereabouts was helping her... but who? He decided to keep a look out.

More than a month passed, Maan was still clueless even though he was watchful when he went out. He kept receiving snaps of him along with the messages... Snaps so magnificent that he would have hired the person to work for him. Then came the request...

Maan, am I pestering you? Though I am enjoying this game of hide and seek (where you are still to find me), may be you don't wish to continue. So, if you wear my favourite white shirt with blue jeans tomorrow, I will know you don't mind. But if you wear black with black this will be my last message.'

The next morning Maan stood before his open wardrobe and took out the blue jeans to pair it up with blue shirt.

"Neither white and blue nor black and black?" Dev asked.

"Mysty claims she is enjoying the game...so let us see what she makes of this!" He smirked.

"Misty?"

"Myst-y as in mysterious lady... portmanteau."

"And what does this get up mean?"

"I haven't an idea!" Maan laughed. " I just want to confuse her as she is doing with me."

Maan spent the day in a good mood, thrilled with the knowledge that he was paying back Mysty in the same coin... let her rack her brain to resolve this as he did trying to find her identity.

But the sense of victory, however, was short lived because he didn't get any note the next week or the next.

He tried his best not to notice...crushed down the unsettling feeling of misgivings and the impulse to wear white. May be he shouldn't have teased. But then how was it right that she had all the fun and he couldn't even have his payback? And at the slightest challenge she withdrew... just what did she want? Whatever it was, he was not going to disrupt his perfectly ordered life ... let her make a mess of his concentration in work because of her silly game. He was not going to expect anything...he was not going to wait for her reaction, he decided.

So when the Singapore clients wanted a meeting with the representative of the company, he decided to go . Just for the petty pleasure of it he wore the white shirt to the airport, while going away ... just in case she was watching!

Through the lens of her camera she watched him walk towards the terminal and clicked in rapid succession. What are you trying to convey, Maan? As if sensing her he turned towards her direction and she quickly hid herself, though it was unnecessary because he would not have been able to see her. Aiming her camera at him again, she smiled sadly. So close yet so far...just like how they were. She knew he was alert these days, his eyes scanning his surroundings so casually... yet he didn't see her because as she claimed people only saw what they expected to see' and a chashmish bookworm was not what Maan expected to see. She sighed , walking away towards Nandini's scooty. There was no reason to feel this way, not when her plan was working so perfectly... not when her desire to have him interested in her was being fruitful... if she was truthful to herself the plan to distract Maan from getting suspicious about Annie's romance was just an imperative... a reason she could cite to act out her fantasy!

I didn't count on feeling like this.. this feeling of betrayal.

The rush I feel whenever Maan is near has intensified many fold. Now my heart goes bang bang not just to be in his company, of seeing him everyday... but also at the fear of being recognised. But then I feel disappointed that he didn't. When the illusion wins every time, as I expect it to, why do I feel hurt? Yes, it hurts every time it is proven that the real me' merits no attention. How can you be so unaware of the way my pulse raise whenever you are near, the way my hand trembles? Don't you realize that it is you who turn me into a clumsy fool who drops things and walk into doors whenever you are around? How could you be so blind Maan??? And now you are gone and I miss you already.

She wiped the moisture off her eyes.

PS: Why did you wear white? Shall I take it that you care? '

She closed her diary

Back from to office after his trip Maan had just walked into his cabin when the harassed security called in that someone had tampered with his car to cause alarm. Acknowledging Geet's good morning' with a crisp nod, he hurried to the parking. There, stuck behind the wiper was the answer to the question that had nagged him for days, if Mysty would contact him again...

The envelope had the snapshot of him at the airport.

Your clue was too cryptic to decipher. So I took the liberty to read it the way I want .. moreover I want to welcome you back. I missed you these days ... so I say :

Abhi main na dekhoon khwaab woh
Jin mein na tu mile
Le khole honth maine
Ab tak the jo sile

Mujhko na jitna mujh pe
Utna iss dil ko tujh pe
Hone laga aitbaar
Tanha lamhon mein apne
Bunti hoon tere sapne
Tujhse hua mujhko pyaar o o..
Poochungi tujhko kabhi naa
Chaahun main ya naa
Tere khaabon mein ab jeena
Chaahun main kyun naa!

And it was signed I am your girl ... are you my Maan ?'

Maan pressed his fist to his lips trying to hide his smile.

Next week he got a challenge

Catch me if you can:

Monday 7 - 7:30 AM, Radhakishen Temple... I will be wearing your favourite colour.'

As if fate was plotting against him, Geet had chosen to be born on the same day and Annie wanted to surprise Geet with a bouquet. So he had to take her to the florist and wait until she chose the flowers before dropping her off at Geet's place, who they learned had gone to the temple. So by the time he reached the temple the arti was over. Not just that, many of the women had chosen to wear white... even Geet, was wearing white.

I wanted you to win even if it meant the end of the game. My defeat would have made me feel so victorious...my most precious birthday gift!

You are such a fool Maan and I more so for feeling betrayed by my own illusion!!'

The next gift Maan received was a five mukhi Rudraksha , "Better luck next time!"

PS: Five Mukhi rudraksha is believed to bring good luck.

Maan was so riled up that he refused the invite to Geet's party. He considered approaching a detective yet didn't want to give up the thrill of doing it by himself.

Still it was hard to feel annoyed with his naughty Mysty for long, especially when she was so innovative about her gifts. He got a toy frog with a sloppy smile next week. It had a lipstick mark on it and the note attached to it read,

"I tried kissing the frog, to turn it into my prince. Alas it didn't turn into my Ma(a)n!"

The visual the note created on his mind was so intense that it kept intruding with his concentration.

Adi was explaining the projections with the slides and his mind slipped back to the note and the image of Mysty kissing the frog

"Why don't you come over then, kiss me and see if I am your prince?"

"Sir!" Geet's gasp from the seat next to him made him realize he had voiced his thoughts.

"Sorry.. please continue" Maan told Adi who had paused.

Yeh ladki muhje pagal kar degi!" he thought to himself.

The next week Maan got a new challenge.

I'm feeling generous... impatient too. SO the CD has the places I frequent. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!

PS: Valentine Eve is just about a month ahead. If you find me by then perchance we can share another dance, this time without the mask.

The CD opened to a woman dressed in a red dress was dancing with her back towards the camera.

On the walls in the background hung snaps of him taken, from what he assumed over a long period of time.

She turned and the camera switched to a long shot even though it was impossible to see her face clearly with the hat frivolous hat angled to cover most of her face.

O mil jaaye is tarah, do lehre jis tarah - 2

Her hands imitated the movement of the waves.

Yeh vada yeh vada yeh vada...

She held her hands together in the gesture of vada towards each of his photo.

She took the framed picture of him from the table and hugged it close to her heart.

The screen showed the snapshots of him in various places.. giving him the proof that she followed him.

The video ended with her holding out her hand towards the camera, as if asking him to place his on hers in promise.

He watched the video many times over to find the clue that would lead him to her but found himself distracted by her cute gestures. Each time he watched it, she looked familiar... He didn't want to share the video with a third person, not even Dev because it felt as if she was dancing just for him. He knew he was being fanciful because someone must have shot the video, still it felt too personal.

He was spell bound, not just by the grace of her dance but to know that someone was so crazy about him.

"I will find you sweetheart ... that is my promise to you." He murmured touching her image on the screen.

The next day the accident happened. It revealed to his eyes a new side of his sister who shed the image of a careless party girl to become the support and strength of Geet who had an accident and was hospitalized with serious injuries.

It was so odd to see that the absence of someone could rob the vitality of the whole office. He hadn't even realised that he had become so used to seeing Geet dashing in between the cabins, dropping things and bumping on to things, that he would miss the same things that he had thought irritated him. Not when he knew that her working with Khurana Constructions was just temporary, until she joined M.Arch. Neither could he account for the protectiveness her felt when he saw the way she cowered in the company of her stepbrother who had visited her.

It was that feeling of unease that he had felt in Brij's company that had him go to the hospital a little early that made him overhear the argument between the friends.

"... may be this is babaji's way of saying that I can't escape my fate. He can now put the pressure on Darji to call me back... I can no longer stay alone not when I have to depend on someone even to take a step ... going back to hoshiarpur is the only option."

"Don't say that, what about M.Arch?"

"M. Arch? Do you think I will be well enough? Not possible."

"You can stay with us, Geetu. No, hear me out first." She took Geet's hand when she shook her head. "I can't let you go...not knowing how cruel Brij is. If you are worried about Bhai..."

The tap at the door made her turn, "Maan Bha! You are early.."

Maan couldn't help but notice the sudden tension on Geet's face and the flush on Annie's face.

"Something wrong?" Maan asked.

"No bhai, I was telling Geet that she should come with us when she is discharged. She thinks it is no longer proper as she is your employee."

"Then I will have to make it an order that you will stay with us."

"I will render in my resignation then Sir. Anyways what is a handicap going to do.."

"Geet," Annie admonished sternly. "The tests haven't been done yet... you are being too pessimistic."

"I'm sorry," Geet was contrite "you are being so kind and I ... I'm sorry."

"It's not kindness Geetu," Annie cupped Geet's cheek, "if the situation was reversed wouldn't you do the same for me?"

Geet nodded her head, sniffling.

"It's settled then, Geet will stay with us." Maan declared wanting to avoid the weeping contest between the friends.

The second adversity came thru' Mishti or the lack of Mishti. She didn't contact him the next week. He tried not to feel worried, but the memory of Geet's accident was too fresh in his mind. He tried to calm the uneasiness he felt by thinking that she must have been busy or just being naughty and troubling him. It was not as if she promised to contact him every week. But by the end of the second week, he couldn't find a reason to avoid the horrible thoughts that entered his mind unbidden, ruining his concentration on everything else. He sought the help of a private eye.

Then he got her message:

"Some things are never meant to be... thank you for the most wonderful days in my life. I will cherish it forever. Good Bye."

And Maan was furious. Here he was frantic with worry and it was still a game to her. He was angry with her for playing with him, awakening emotions in him with her silly game and more so with himself for falling for her tricks. He doubled the detective's fee to find the identity of the person who dared to make a fool of him.

At the office and home those closest to him had to bear the brunt of his anger. It was after one such tongue lashing that Dev got to know about the identity of Maan's Mysty from Annie.

"But I can't tell Maan bhai. I promised Geet. She had a crush on bhai for a long time. Now bhai is attracted to her too. But Geet claims he is only attracted to an illusion and not to her. I want to help them find each other but what if Geet is true? I don't want to hurt Geet further. But I can't see Maan bhai like this. What a mess!"

Learning all the details from her, Dev helped her to plot the plan that would reveal Mysty's identity to Maan. What should follow was for Maan to decide.

Maan unlocked the door to Geet's apartment. He had to take over the duty of transporting a few of Geet's possessions to Khurana Mansions because Dev was late for the flight. Annie wanted everything set properly in the room she had prepared for Geet before she was discharged from hospital. It was true Geet couldn't see her belongings, still Annie wanted her to feel the comfort of having the things familiar to her around her. As it was a tendency these days, thoughts of Geet soothed his agitated mind. The doctors said the chances of her recovering her sight was at 60 - 40 odds.The courage with which she had suffered the pain to get back the semblance of normalcy back in her life was remarkable.

Maan opened the door to the master bedroom door and the sense of familiarity hit him. The walls were blank but he could see his portraits hanging on them. The top of the chest of drawers was empty but he could imagine the photo frame with his picture on it.

"Geet!, " he murmured dazed, "it was you..."Pulled by an invisible magnetic thread he walked towards the window and pulled the string that closed the blind. Sure enough he gazed into his image, "... you are mysty!" he shouted aloud truimphantly.

His mind flashed back to the times he had come across Geet while he searched for Mysty . "I have been such a fool..."He shook his head in self-reproach, "... such a blind fool. Forgive me!'

He spend the next hour in Geet's flat trying to acquaint himself with his Mishti and struck gold when he came across her diary. He hesitated just for a moment knowing that he was invading her privacy then shrugged away the uneasiness muttering "everything is fair in love and war."

Geet had shifted to Khurana Mansions earlier in the week. Annie said Maan had a bell installed to make sure that she would not have to go without assistance when she needed it and yet giving her the freedom to choose for herself when she needed help. She was familiarising herself to live in the darkness that surrounded her, the one that might never fade. ...

Every effort was taken to see that she was safe and comfortable... yet...

Each time Maan visited her (that was no less than thrice a day), which it seemed he had put in his routine of playing the perfect host, she was filled with a sense of loss. He had surprised her by insisting on carrying her to her room that first time.. never had he taken such personal interest in his sister's friend. It had puzzled her and then it hit her, he didn't need to be so attentive because she was not an invalid then.

Pity! It had finally come to that... he pitied the blind invalid who was dependant on his family.

As a fresh wave of bitterness rose to consume her and she counted the steps that would take her to the French window that opened to the garden. She had to get away.. had to convince Annie to let her leave. She had to convince Annie how difficult this has become for her.

But at least a part of the game worked, she thought... Maan had let Annie go for the Valentine Eve party had even relaxed the curfew time provided Dev brought her home.

Valentine Eve... she remembered her last challenge to him. What if he had found her and then the accident had happened... it would have put an end to any relation that blossomed... she smiled sadly at her fancy thought .. he wouldn't have found her.

A sound made her turn, "Who is there?"

"It's me."

"You don't have to feel obliged to keep me company because Annie has gone to the party." She turned away slightly, wishing that he would go away yet hoping he would stay.

"Maan singh Khurana does not do anything on obligation. You know me well enough to know that, Geet." His soft trends brought him closer to her and he saw the tension in her stance. He reached down to take her fisted hand by her side, "I am here to claim my dance."

She jerked away almost colliding with the window frame if not for his quick move to put his hand between her head and the frame. "Some things never change ...you keep bumping into things in your attempt to run away from me."

Disoriented and hearing his voice close to her, she turned her head only to bring it closer to his.

He raised his hand and caressed it down her cheek to lift her face, " But now I have caught you... so what do we do about it, haan Geet?"

"I... I don't under..underst..."

"Shhh..." he silenced her feeble whisper with his thumb against her lips. "No more lies ... no more games. Agreed?"

She gave a quick nod ready to accept anything that will release her from the spell cast by his touch, which made her brain turn woozy and her knees weak. He dropped his hand and stepped back.

Wanting to put as much distance between them as possible... to get back her coherent thoughts, she limped and stumbled to, know not where.

Her sense of relief was so palpable, that he could barely contain his amusement. Chuckling, Maan scoped her up in his arms and carried her. Ignoring her struggles easily he placed her on the cot. His chuckle was the limit. She stood up immediately to push him away.

"You find this amusing do you... my stumbling around in the darkness?" she shouted enraged.

" You misunderstood Geet..." but she just brushed it aside and tried to move away.

He pulled her back and she swung her hand trying to slap him.

He pushed her down, "Sit," he commanded. "If you want to fight let us at least make sure you will not fall down and hurt yourself."

"Go away! Leave me alone." She turned her face away from the direction of his voice.

"Never!" He went on knees beside the cot. "Never again Geet." He turned her face back to him, "You made a promise to me and now I want to make one in return." He took her hand in his, opened it and placed his hand palm down to cover it, " zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam "

Geet drew her hand back and smiled sadly, "The one whom you want to make the promise to do not exist anymore. You were attracted to an illusion and I am not her...not anymore... may be never again!"

"True, I was attracted to an illusion and I am sorry for being a fool ... a blind fool who couldn't see the one who was right in front of his eyes." He cupped her face with his palm, "Please forgive me Geet for causing you pain, for ruining your birthday."

She gasped. "You read my diary," she accused.

"Yes and I won't apologize for that because I don't repent my curiosity to know more about my mysterious lady."

"Don't you get the point Maan, I am not her... the one who could make you take notice. I am just... just your sister's friend, who doesn't even merit a second glance from you." She shook her head, "I am not the illusion you want."

"Then tell me this Geet, since you seem to be an expert about what I want... If I am in love with this illusion, why am I drawn to you? Why am I here with my sister's friend?"

"You are confusing pity with love."

"Really?" Maan asked rising to his feet to sit down beside her. Smiling he saw her shift immediately to put space between them. You are not immune to me as you want to let me believe.. may be only that will convince you... "May be you are right, but I have never felt this kind of pity for someone before and I doubt if I will ever feel it again... it makes me feel both wonderful and frustrated.." he raised his hand to lift her chin with his fingers, "it makes me a silly one who feels jealous of a frog..." he moved his thumb to run it gently over her bottom lip.

She knew she should move away break the contact but felt frozen in the moment. He leaned closer and she felt the warmth of his breath on her lips. There was a gentle pause as if he wanted to give her time to stop what was to happen if she willed it. But she wasn't capable of thinking anything save the anticipation of his kiss. His lips brushed against hers in a slow drugging caress that stirred up unknown sensations in her. At the touch of his tongue on the corner of her mouth a shiver ran through her...anticipatory, all-consuming. His fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of her neck and he tipped her head back to deepen his kiss.

Breaking off the kiss that had turned more passionate than he had planned on, he held her close to him with her head tucked under his chin. After taking a moment to calm his ragged breath, he started to recite, "The first time I saw you, you were wearing a white salwar, simple and elegant just like the person you are."

His hand caressed her hair in an absent manner.

"When you came to Khurana Mansions to stay over you the first time, you wore a pale blue salwar with a duppatta that looked like it had trapped a part of the starry sky.The day that you dashed right into me drenched in rain you were wearing white again..."

Her indrawn breath made him shift away to look at her and saw the surprise that reflected on it. He tucked back a soft tendril behind her ear and tugged her unadorned earlobe playfully.

" You love to wear jumkas and they sway in rhythm to your steps... Last Diwali your glowing face put the diyas to shame... on Holi you looked a pataka' as Dev loves to dub enticing females."

He watched her expression turn from surprise to opened mouthed shock. He gently tapped her mouth shut and asked, " Does that answer your remark about not meriting a second glance or should I go on?"

"But.. I never..."

" Shh... You claim that I should move on because you are not mysty anymore ...But I knew I could never let you go the moment I found out that you are mysty... enticing yet an innocent, graceful yet clumsy, naughty yet serene, sexy yet nave, daring yet loyal ... with a sense of humour that promise that life with you will never be dull... what more could this Maan want. In you I found my woman."

These were the words she had wished for yet never expected to hear. Still there was the greatest fear she had to face...

"Meri zindagi mein ab agar subah hi nahi hogi toh?" she asked, her voice hoarse with unshed tears.

"60-40 is not a bad odd Geet . We will cross that bridge when we come to it but I promise you this Mishti, I will never give up on you neither will I let you do it.

She hugged him hard, the fear that she valiantly held back breaking thru in sobs within the comfort of his arms. He held her, soothing her with the stroke of his hand.

Later he insisted on dancing with her despite her protests. He gathered her close to sway to the romantic notes with her standing on his feet to avoid exertion.

"ummm?" Held so close to him with the strength of his arms protecting her, she decided she never wanted to be disturbed.

"Could you quarrel with me often when we are married?"

The request surprised her enough to lift her head from it's resting place on his shoulder, "Why?"

"Because I like the way I can win an argument with you ... the way I can make all thoughts fly out of your mind with just a ..." he touched his lips to hers in the softest caress.

VAADA

A tear rolled down her cheek as Geet read the promise tat Maan had made to her"Zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam". But no she could not cry nor could she feel those promises tat he made coz he only knows to break them, break her into pieces tat not even god can join.

Geet she heard her Maa call and she instantly closed her diary hiding it under the secret drawer tat her table had and no one was aware about it. Geet she heard again and plastered a sweet smile not wanting to hurt her parents. She was The Handa daughter, one of the richest families in New Delhi and she knew how to mask her pain.

Ha Maa she replied walking out of the door and soon met her mother who looked at her suspiciously. Stop staring at me like tat and tell why did you call.. kahi phir se Papa ne kuch kiya tho nahi na. Rano though not in a mood to joke but she nodded at her daughter saying woh kabhi band ho saktha hain kya.. anyways I called you to let you know tat Vicky's is here and is hell bent on saying tat he wants to kill you.

Kill me Geet rolled her eyes and ran downstairs. Vicky Singh Khuranna was her best friend and her Maan's brother and even though after the betrayal from Maan she did not leave Vicky or his family coz they were family friends and the moment she was downstairs Vicky slapped Geet so hard tat she would have fallen down if he had not grabbed her by his other hand.

You know Geet asked with tears in her eyes but not coz he slapped but seeing the pain and hurt in his eyes. Yeah I do and I hate you for it. She gulped down the painful lump not knowing wat she should say but she did. I could not do anything Vicky.. she..

Don't you dare take tat b***** name do you get. She nodded her head and he wiped his tears feeling sorry to slap her. He kissed her cheeks and hugged her tight. He does not deserve you doll... he does not. She nodded tightening her arms around him. So stop them affecting you..you are Geet Handa and you have to answer tat shit Sameera, Doll.. do you get you have to get back to her.

I know but then she suddenly played all tat happened Vicky.. she had recorded everything tat happened during engagement and I was numb.. all the pain resurfaced again and Geet got lost.. her love made her weak Vicky.. I could not she cried as she recalled how Sameera played the dreadful day of her life during one of their class on the screen and she was the mocked for her love.

Wasn't it truth Geet.. Maan Singh Khuranna ditched you saying tat you were not worth his love and was a mere bet tat he wanted to win.. for 5 crores Geet.. His friends had challenged him to get you on his bed for winning the bet n when you did not he broke your heart tat he played with. Did not he insult your love.. not just tat he kissed his so called girlfriend Mona in front of everyone tat day. So how come you are wrong. Why are you getting hurt, it's him it's my bloody f****** brother who has to hide himself and not you, do you get its him and not my doll. Vicky cupped her cheeks after wiping her tears again and tat Sameera sure she will be paid for it or say she is done paying.

Wat do you mean. He smirked evilly and Geet knew tat he did some wicked things. Nothing just gave some proofs to principal about her drugs involvement and the rest is done. Geet's eyes wide enough to show how shocked she was. She knew tat Sameera was an evil but drugs tat was shocking while Rano and Mohinder just smiled with tears seeing how Vicky was standing with their only daughter who was just broken 10 days back, the day tat was the happiest moment of her life.

******

Jaan Geet smiled as he kissed the tip of her nose and then brushed it with his. You know I love you na. She blushed nodding her head. It enveloped her with a sense of power tat she never ever felt. She always loved Maan but he was too different from her but when he proposed her saying tat she was his love she could not stop crying. Tomorrow is our engagement Jaan and I need to say something.

Kya she asked with curiosity and he smiled seeing her but inwardly smirking evilly. I don't know wats exact love Jaan but you are the light of my life. I know m not the perfect one for you but you are the perfect one for me. She could not hold herself and pecked his lips but when he tried to deepen she pulled them away making him angry and frustrated. He wanted to finish this off and today was the last day and he had to win it. Geet Handa, you are an angel and this demon wants to spend his whole life with you.. get old and tell stories to our grandchildren's.. in short Maan singh Khuranna ki life tumari haatho mein hogi. She smiled with tears and hugged him tight as he continued bickering his fake love for her using the sacred words of a true confession "Zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam".

Maan opened his eyes with sweat covering his face. It had been 1 1/2 year but these words tat he had said to her without knowing the meaning haunted him every single moment. The day just before the so called engagement he had said this words to her thinking tat this meaningless words would get him into her bed and he would f*** her out. He sighed wiping his face and searching for his mobile. He blinked his eyes as he realized it was already 5.30 am and time for his gym. He climbed out of the bed and after getting ready, walked out of the room only to hear some giggling voice. He had just been back yesterday after his long business trip to London and no one was aware about it.

Vicky stop it.. just stop it Vicky. Geet ran down the stairs trying to catch Vicky up. Her parents were out of Delhi to attend a marriage and due to some reasons she could not go with them and after lots of coaxing and surety tat Maan would not be back for another one month her parents let her stay with Khuranna's for 3 days and here Vicky was harassing her by not letting her sleep.

You are grown fat and need to burn it. Vicky yelled running with his hand tightly gripping her bunny tat her Papa had gifted her. Vicky I swear give it back or else I will kick your bump.. give it back. She yelled throwing whatever she got towards him but Vicky just dodged her all over screaming and yelling waking everyone in the mansion.

Yeh kya ho raha hain. Nain asked as she saw the two fighting like kids and the whole living area had turned into a battle field. Aunty he's stolen my bunny.. I want it. I want it. She cribbed like a girl sitting on the floor making Vicky to roll his eyes while his father Yash shook his head in disbelief seeing them. Vicky he sternly called him give it back right now.He could not see Geet crying. He loved her like a daughter and ever since the incident everyone loved her more.

Don't you have better work then ordering me Dad.. she is grown fat and I don't want my doll to be fat.. isliye tho Yash glared at him and Vicky quietly gave her bunny back murmuring a sorry. She grinned and teased Vicky showing her tongue and then jumped near Yash and hugged him saying sweet words but then suddenly she froze hearing Naina.

Maan everyone's eyes turned towards Naina and then Maan was in their view. When did you return? Weren't you supposed be back next month? Maan smirked at his mother and replied with arrogance and attitude showing no respect for them. This is my house to Mom and I don't need anyone's permission to come and go. He eyed Geet and then back at Vicky saying but strangely KM has become a morning zoo now.

Maan Yash gritted his teeth knowing wat he was saying. Don't forget who is standing in front of you. Maan did not even look at his Dad and walked towards the gym area not wanting to be a part of the so called family drama. I don't think Geet should stay here.. Naina could you and Vicky shift to HH along with Geet. Naina nodded understanding tat it was the best thing tat they could do to keep Geet away from any pain but Geet had moved on. She was stronger now and she had to face Maan one day or the other. Tats not necessary Uncle... He does not affect me anymore and this house belongs to you and as far as I know m your favorite so I know I can stay here as long as I want. Though Yash was reluctant he did not say anything. He smiled kissing Geet on her forehead and only prayed for her happiness as she truly deserves it but Vicky just stared at her and seeing him like tat she smiled assuring tat she was fine and happy with her life.

******

Its not fair doll not ever. Geet smiled seeing Vicky crib like a kid. You are supposed to stay with me and enjoy but yaha tho tum.. how could you. Geet did not say anything and continued to have her breakfast enjoying wat Naina had made for her. I will sue Prem Khanna for sure doll and I swear tat he will cry.

Really Geet grinned hearing Vicky say it while on the other side Maan's ear got alert hearing tat name. He knew who Prem Khanna was his competitor since school but why was his name being taken here. Yeah coz he has stolen my doll and Vicky is all alone. Geet flashed a sweet smile; she loved when Vicky cried like tat. Abhi tho sirf engagement hui hain tum dono ki but he behaves as if you are his wife aur shadi ke baad tho woh tumhe mujhse milne bhi nahi dega. Dad ask Prem to bhi ghar jamai of Handa's.

Stop cribbing like a kid Vicky. Naina glared seeing her over dramatic son abhi shaadi ke liye 2 months baki hain so you can enjoy with you doll. Vicky pouted hearing wat his mother said yeah 2 months but tat chipku Prem does not even let my doll to stay with me.

Oh my poor boy, main Prem se keh dungi main 2 mahine tak ushe milungi nahi. Vicky jumped hearing Geet say it. It did not matter he was on the dining table but just jumped and hugged her slipping the juice all over her and unknown to all Maan was burning like hell hearing their talks. He did not why and nor did he ever eavesdropped to anyone but this had stopped him dead and then his whole body was on fire. He stared hiding in one corner seeing Geet walking upstairs to change her soiled dress but Vicky's words were ringing in his mind. His fist clenched tight with his nails drawing blood and then her smile her sweet talks had him throwing out of control but then soon he was distracted by the ring of his phone and in anger he broke the Italian Vase tat his Mother had specially ordered scaring everyone who stared at him but did not say a word.

His whole day was worst and being out of control he did not only fire few of his staff members but did hurt himself quite a lot too. He was exhausted and by the time he reached back home tat too way to early he was completely drunk and then his eyes turned redder if impossible seeing Prem Khanna sitting with her and smiling.

Prem Khanna his dangerous voice was enough to bring fear in his parents but Prem smirked seeing him. He knew wat Maan was a playboy who used girls as tissue papers. Hello Maan and nice to meet you after long. Prem walked forwarding his hand but then Maan stared at him and his hand for few seconds and then said enemy Khanna..enemy and MSK do not let his enemy to even stand in front of him.

Maan Yash glared sternly but he was Maan and he did not fear anyone. Come on Maan tat was past and right now m here as Geet's fianc so why don't you just chill out with us.

Fianc Maan pinned Prem with his drunken eyes as if mocking him for his right. Seriously Khanna you haven't stopped being the second. You know wat you still like wat I throw after using and she he slightly tilted his head to see Geet was a used piece of tissue by me. You know a dirty waste piece of tissue.

Maan Prem gritted his teeth all ready to answer Maan but stopped feeling a hand on his shoulder. He turned and saw Geet staring at Maan with something tat he could not understand. Right Maan she spoke with not anger neither love in her toneI m the used tissue paper but m glad tat I got to learn much better after wat you did. Maan smirked evilly as she continued there's no regret in me Maan tat I loved you in past but not now and you know why he continued smiling as if he was not interested coz you don't deserve me.. you know dirty waste piece of tissue, how can tat get closer to MSK.. right Maan. He was numb as she indirectly hit him right back at him without even using her hand. She smiled seeing him staring at her and then she placed her hand in Prem's and said and Prem is someone who would even love the dirty piece of tissue paper and m lucky to have him in my life. She looked at Prem with respect and turned to leave but stopped and said titling her head don't forget to attend our wedding Maan. Geet would personally invite you and then she was gone with Prem holding his hand and his family staring at him with disgust and shame in their eyes.

******

"Zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam".

It haunted him again. He woke up with sweat covering his face and something invading his body ever since he had learned about the so called marriage of Geet. It had been 30 days she had first time answered him back and walking over him with Prem's hand in hers and ever since tat along with those meaningless words it started to haunt him daily keeping on his toes and not letting him even blink his eyes. He would hear her talk and laughter whenever he was in the mansion as even after her parents were back she would frequently visit KM to spend time and whenever he was in front of her she would just pass a smile tat strangers get when they see someone.

Damn it Maan.. not again.. get a grip on yourself. He chided himself as always and threw the covers and climbed out of the bed just in his boxers and stared at his reflection in the mirror and was shocked to see his face covered with so much of sweat and his eyes mocking at him. He just stood watching his own image as if he did not recognize who the person was making him to get angrier and next moment the whole mirror was smashed badly by his hand and the glass cutting into his hand and instead of focusing on his bleeding hand he was focusing on the laughter tat he could hear from behind.

Geettt he shrieked in horror the moment he saw her standing behind me. Yeah me Geet, Maan but why you are so scared... and why is this blood dripping. He looked confused at her words oh did you break the mirror..come on Maan its nothing new for you. Did you forget you are expert in it.. chalo Maan stop thinking about me and bet for some new girls... you know to get them in bed. I must say you must be enjoying bedding new girls every night... Chalo I need to go kya hain na Prem will be waiting for me.. we need to shop for our wedding na.

Prem he murmured the name and moment he did there was no Geet in front of her. Yes Prem, Maan my would be husband. He turned instantly hearing her from behind and there she was all smiling and winking at him. Isn't it great? Loving your dirty piece of tissue.. wasn't this wat you said..but m happy Maan m so happy tat I got Prem as my life partner and thanks to you all.. chalo bye now ok and once again she was vanished leaving him all alone with his hand bleeding.

His days and nights were traumatized with his restless and dreams. He feared to even close his eyes as those meaningless words started to haunt him so much tat he hated to even sleep now and then one day he found himself in the hospital bed with severe injuries covering his own body from severe car accident and his mother crying and "Zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam" ringing in his ears haunting him like hell. He tried to close his ears but his hands could not even move a bit.

Stop it please stop it. He tried to yell wanting to shut the voice but it just kept coming back again and again. Aahhh shuttt uppp he yelled even though he was in pain but he did not care. He did not care for his pain as his whole body was heating up with something tat brought pain and hurt in his heart. Stoppp...

Maan.. Maannn Naina cupped his face but he just kept wriggling and struggling wanting to stop those words. Maan.. kya hua.. are you in pain Maan... Maan. Naina cried seeing her son in so much distraught. She had never seen him like tat and now it was tearing her apart. She screamed calling for doctor and with the doctor and Nurse, Vicky and Yash stormed inside to see something they never ever had seen.

Noo don't.. I can't sleep... it haunts me..dont he struggled more seeing the doctor trying to inject him. No.. Mom don't ask them not to do tat. It will kill me Mom...Dad stop him stop him Dad. He tried crawling in his bed seeing the doctor getting closer. No..please.. don't.. please..Vicky help me..it will kill me Vicky.. it..will..willl and his eyes closed but his lips still moved trying to say something. Naina cried hugging Yash tight not understanding anything while Yash he was numb to see his son getting wild and Vicky he was speechless.

"Zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam".

Geet stared at him wriggling form when doctors had informed tat he was in deep sleep. Though the Handa's hated Maan but being the family friends they did come to see him and here Geet was seeing something tat she never ever had even dreamt off. M scared Rano.. Maan ko khona nahi chahti.. pata nahi yeh sab kya ho gaya..yeh aisa..no one not even doctor's can tell wats wrong. He screams shouts struggles like this Rano. Naina cried as Rano hugged her. She too was shocked and unknown to her she too was crying seeing Maan struggling and screaming in his sleep. Yash was broken and Mohinder just stood trying hard to give the much needed support to his friend. It had been days Maan was still hospitalized with no signs of improvement. Naina could not take it anymore and she ran out followed by Rano and Vicky who feared for his Mom even though if he too was shattered.

I can't bear it Mohinder.. Maan.. I can't Yash could not speak his heart closing from inside and not knowing wat to do Mohinder helped him out of the room leaving Geet all alone with Maan. She was numb to even blink her eyes tat were just staring at the figure who once destroyed her to a level where she did not wanted to live and today he was struggling someone unknown force who was trying to kill him.

Maan her heart shattered as her lips trembled calling for him and her legs reached over his bed wanting to be closer to him.Maan her fingers shook yet they reached his face and touched him slightly and then the unknown happened. Maan stopped all his wriggling and struggles, his body relaxed under her slight touch and his lips stopped moving from whatever they were saying.

Geettt she turned hearing her name. Bro..he stopped..you. She looked at Vicky and then at Maan in confusion and once again back at Vicky with her hand now completely caressing Maan's face. I.. don't.. Vicky.. he.. woh Maan. She started to stammer not knowing wat just happened as a moment ago he was struggling screaming for help but next moment he was calm and relaxed as if nothing was wrong with him. I... did... not.. woh... Maan..he.. just..how.. I she had tears in her eyes unable to say wat happened and next second she stormed out of the room covering her mouth trying to muffle her cries and Vicky he just kept staring at his brother who was sleeping calm and looked much in peace. His brain and heart did not argue with him but realizing just want happened right in front of him. He had been back to get Geet when he saw her going closer and the moment her finger's touched Maan's face he stopped struggling and screaming. How could this happen..how could her one touch.. nahi this cant.. it can never.. Bro can never.. no it can never ever happen. Vicky kept struggling with words instead if running behind Geet and see if she was alright.

Geettt Maan jerked up from the bed with the same words ringing in his mind and screaming Geet's name scaring Vicky who was still standing fighting to get the right set of words. Geet Maan called again desperately searching for her presence all over. He struggled harder but was stopped when he felt his body heavy and covered with all set of tubes and wires but he tried harder. He wanted to reach her he knew she could save him his mind and heart had relaxed under tat soft touch and he could even feel in deep when he was struggling. Geet..

Bro.. Brooo Vicky heard Maan talk to himself and he was shocked to see him pulling out the wires and tubes tat were attached to him. He ran wanting to stop him but Maan though weak was still stronger for his struggles. Bro.. you cant... you.. Bro.. please stop.. Bro..

No Geet.. I need her Vicky.. I need her.. she was here.. she can save me Vicky.. it will kill me Vicky..those words will kill me... I need to stop her Vicky... stop her. Maan kept rattling trying to get rid of all those wires and tubes tat were attached to him and Vicky was finding it hard to stop Maan. Bro she isn't here... Geet isn't here Bro.. she isn't..

No she's there.. I know I felt her.. she touched me I could feel it Vicky.. I could please let me stop her or I will die.. they will kill me Vicky.. they will..

Maan Vicky turned and saw his parents and Handa's staring at them. Vicky.. when did.. Naina could not even complete his voice when she saw Maan pushing Vicky and limping to walk towards them. I need to stop her..They will kill me Vicky.. they will.. I know she was here.. she was here.. Geet was here..Geet Geet wait.. I need you Geet I..

Maan Naina hugged him but Maan pushed her and stormed out of the door not even listening to anyone. Geet.. Geet wait... wait I need you Geet... Geet listen to me Geet... Geet and then he stopped dead in his track seeing her staring at him standing few meters away from him. Geettt he yelled and with it she took a step backward scaring him. No Geet..dont go..they will kill me Geet.. don't go.. I need you Geet...Geet..I.. need you.. please they will kill me.. save me Geet..save me from them. He cried as she walked with pain shooting through his body but he did not care. He did not care as he wanted her to save him.

Brooo... Geettt Vicky yelled seeing Maan and then his eyes landing on Geet who was taking steps backward with her eyes on Maan. Brooo stoppp.. stop Bro he yelled as he saw blood drops all over. He was scared but Maan did not stop and just kept walking faster as much as possible but with his each step he could see Geet moving away. Geet don't go.. save me they will kill me Geet.. geet.

Maaannn her voice echoed throughout the corridor but her legs refused to move as they were numbed seeing Maan swaying and hitting his head on the bench and blood oozing out of his head. Bro Vicky ran shouting for help and gathering crowd all around.

They sat watching Maan once again wriggling and struggling with closed eyes. It had been a day and his conditions only worsen after Geet had given a visit. Doctor's had suggested to admit him in mental asylum but Vicky refused to do so. He fought with his parents ultimately telling them wat had happened when Geet was here with Maan all alone. They were shocked and numbed at the revelations and being the parents they were about to run to beg for their son when Vicky warned them saying tat Maan did not deserve Geet nor her help after he destroyed her life. Naina begged in front of Vicky but he was firm on his decision tat no one will call neither Geet nor the Handa's and tell them wat he said and they now just sat watching their son getting destroyed for the sins wat he did.

Vicky the soft voice forced the Khuranna's to turn only to see Geet standing at the doorstep watching them. I...I mean..woh.. she struggled to speak seeing them staring at her. Why are you here Geet? You are not.. tumari shaadi hain 5 din mein Geet.. go away.

I.. woh Maan.. I mean she was still finding it difficult. I just needed to see him Vicky. Geet said as she made herself stronger. She had lied to her parents not wanting them to hurt them but she needed to see him. Can I she asked with hope in her eyes and even though Vicky was not willing he did nod his head giving the permission. She slowly tip toed inside not wanting to make any noise and unwontedly she went closer to his bed and like the last time her fingers just reached his face and he stopped his struggled and screaming shocking and surprising his parents. Geet Naina almost screamed in happiness but then one look from Vicky made her to shut her mouth and tat was not unnoticed by Geet. She just stared at Maan and could feel the change in him as she let her fingers caress his face. She was trying hard not to break but she knew she was breaking bit by bit from the day she had known tat Maan met with accident and was serious and now seeing him like this was only killing her with him. I..Maan...main she fought her tears but unable to control she just ran once again seeing Vicky staring at her with pain and for her.

******

She was the most beautiful bride and her parents could see the admiration in everyone's eyes. They felt proud to have such a beautiful daughter who was just like an angel and today she would be leaving them forever for someone else but unknown to them the Khuranna's who were present at the wedding were grieving for their loss. They could not stop their tears yet they smiled for Geet who was just like their daughter.

The panditji called the bride and Rano along with the ladies brought her near the mandap where Prem was waiting for the jailmala. He could not take his eyes off and a smile adored his face seeing his bride standing next to him and without a wait he put the jaimala around her neck not wanting to waste the time and so did Geet who was lost in her own world. Their friends had their teasing session and troubled them but nothing affected Geet as she was only going to lose everything today she had hidden deep in her heart. Time fled and the panditji called for the phera's and the other rituals. Geet and Prem sat next to each other with the panditji chanting the holy words binding them into the most sacred bond where everything of theirs belonged to the other person.

"Zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam".

Her whole body numbed hearing those words. How she can forget those words, words tat had made her fall for him so deeply tat she could die to hear them again and again but she closed her eyes thinking she was dreaming. She closed her eyes so tight but then she heard it again and her eyes snapped to see him standing there all weak and worn out with Vicky standing behind to support him.

Maan her lips quivering and her eyes stilled at him. Heart refused to beat seeing the MSK she knew looking at her with a look tat was near to death. Geet Prem touched Geet seeing her turn pale and numb but there was no reaction in her.

"Zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam".They haunted me from the day one I destroyed you. Maan took a sharp breadth, he could not stand his eyes heavy yet he stood wanting to pour out his vulnerable side. They destroyed me Geet, they are killing me asking me to die but they hold me so tight tat they like seeing me struggling and dying each moment. Geet just stared at him. But then you come and touch me and they leave me for few moments. They stop haunting giving me peace but once you are gone they engulfed me inside again.. so much tat its unbearable now. Maan took a step but being weak he could not even take a step when Vicky tried to support but Maan pushed him away. Geet tried to move but then she did not. She was too numb to do anything.

Then you come again and my heart stops beating coz it knew it would not be able to beat anymore. Its dying slowing down its pace as it's engulfed tightly in those words which refuse to free it. It refuses to free me Geet; it refuses to let me live without you and your touch now. He once again inhaled as much as air he could and then they was the most defeated look in his eyes as he laid his vulnerability in front of her. MSK lost for the first time Geet Handa. You forced him to lose to you, to lose to the girl whom I said those meaningless words but today right now MSK says, promises you tat "Zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam"sirf tumse Geet sirf tumse.

Maaannn she screamed but with tat she vomited blood tat drenched her lehanga. Everyone screamed with horror but nothing could stop her from running towards Maan with her mouth spitting blood as the poison was all at its final stage of destruction. Geet she lunged on him wrapping her hands tight still spitting blood and confessing her love for him. I could not be his Maan, never ever anyone's but only Maan's and m sorry, it's too late Maan. Aapki Geet jaa rahi hain Maan jaa rahi hain but is vaade ke saath ki woh wapas aayegi.. aayegi and she will only be yours"Zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam". He felt her limp in his arms but there was a smile on his face. His Geet his first ever love so close to his heart. He slowly sat down being careful of his love in his arms. He smiled seeing the serene face. Maannn..I love you.

And I love you too Geet.. I too love you. She smiled as she got the long awaited confession of his love and then her droopy tired eyes widen a bit feeling him filling her maang with her blood marking her as his. "Zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam". Har ek janam yeh waada raha tumse Geet.. Geet and Maan sirf ek dujhe ke liye bane honge sirf ek dujhe ke liye. She smiled weakly as he touched her hand to his lips closing his eyes and letting their heart speak to each other as they once again promised with those meaningful words to each other "Zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam" and let the death engulf them together being so close tat their hearts finally rested in peace.

Maannn

Geettt

There were screams yelling and crying but Vicky did not let anyone touch them. He stood as a guard to see his doll and brother engulf each other in love for the very first time and slowly moving into the heavens of love. I will wait for you Bro.. I will wait for you doll even if it's years from now I know you two will be back to keep the promise tat you just made to each other.. don't forget tat you promised to start your day and end your nights with each other. "Zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam". Vicky zinda rahega aap dono ke liye Bro zinda rahega Geet just for you two and see your love and he fell down finally on his knees crying for their incomplete love but with a promise to wait for their complete love story in their next birth.

"Zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam".

Not all stories have the perfect ending but Wada did have its perfect ending coz their love story is about to start in some corner of the world unknown to all of us.

Tu Hi Tu

Sifarish hai ye dil ki

Tujh ko chahun har janam

Tera chehra zindagi bhar

Mein Banaon har janam

Maan Singh Khurrana was sitting in the conference room with few of his business associates, he was currently in a deal with. The updated files were placed infront of them but anyone hardly take a look at it. All eyes were fixed on the girl delivering presentation through the projector in the most efficient manner, keeping everyone involved in her words.

Her blue dress, as always was a plain churidar with a duppata hanging in her delicate neck. Her hairs were tied in a clear braid which was placed on her one shoulder, giving a sweet view to her neck. Small tops were struck to her earlobes and one of her wrists, was adored with a simple bracelet. Her beautiful almond eyes were looking big due to the kohl.

There was hardly anything seemed professional through her attire but when she spoke, she made sure nothing was out of order. The usual stutter of her tone was amiss.

Maan was in a trance. His eyes were more focused to notice her features rather than the numbers, shown on the board.

Piyaar ki boondain teri

Mere daman pe giri

Hai khiyalon mein chupi

Tu hi tu..

The loud voice of claps made him get out as he looked around, a little bewildered. He shook his head in silent curse and looked at his fellows, trying to judge if they had noticed his RATHER INTERESTED STATE but all fellows gave him a wide smile in response.

"That's a great presentation...We surly loved the plans you all have about this project. And we hope, like our earlier ventures together, this one is going to be an awesome one too"

And that made Maan take a sigh of relief and smiled.

"I am glad that you liked our ideas...And I am sure...My team will make these ideas a reality for you all"

All got up and shook Maan's hand. Few went to the DISTRACTION GIRL and applauded her, making her smile but something was amiss. He caught her eyes, which were falling upon him from time to time, as if looking for his praise but he ignored her for the moment.

"Papers will be ready by the morning...Let's sign the deal at 10am"

Maan nodded and left the room following others while Geet took a sigh and pouted while cleaning up the things with the help of Adi.

"Geet..You...You were fab...fabulous" Adi praised while stuttering in his natural tone and correcting his specs.

Geet gave a small smile and left.

All praised her hardwork but from whom she expected to hear, just a mere word of encouragement, kept quiet.

So typical of him.

"Why Geet? Why do you expect so much from your fate?" She mumbled to herself as she got out from the Conference Room and moved towards her cabin but then her heart stopped for a moment, as she heard him calling her.

"Geet..."

Her ears seemed to have filled with honey and her eyes shined up with hope as she turned to look at him.

"Come to my cabin now" He said with a straight face, keeping his hands crossed on his chest.

His expressions hardly gave her any expectations as he ordered and went back to his room, leaving her to raise her lips up in sadness.

Why you love him so much? She questioned herself before going back to her office to put away the bundle of files.

*********************

After 10 Mins,

Geet was standing in his office, holding her hands in the front. Her eyes were focused on the paper stone placed on his table.

It was just so hard to look at him, EYE TO EYE.

"As you know our clients are happy with your presentation, I want you to be present here at 8 in the morning tomorrow. I want you to go through the details once again before we sign the final deal"

Maan ordered and that left Geet fuming. She looked up at him with narrow eyes.

"Sorry Sir...But I can't come tomorrow..."

She retorted that took him with surprise. Few lines appeared on his forehead as he raised up his brow and questioned.

"May I know the reason?"

Geet tried to keep her anger away from her tone but nonetheless, it was quiet evident.

"Sir, If you remember well, a week before I have given you an application for leave which you rejected at instance, promising that I can only get leave if I am done with this presentation. I believe I did well today so it means, I am done with my part of bargain. And as promised and agreed, My leave starts from tomorrow."

Maan was stunned with her tone. She hardly reply back to him, leave retorting. But then, this girl could always take him with surprise.

He cleared his throat and replied.

"Ok...Sorry I forgot...But can't you work three hours in the morning. You can leave as soon as we are done with the signing...I will pay you extra for the day"

This time, his tone was requesting.

Geet heart melted seeing his desperate eyes, pleading her to say YES but darn, she can't.

"Sorry sir...But I already have plans with someone that I can't change for anything"

Her reply irked Maan to no extend.

SHE HAD PLANS WITH SOMEONE SPECIAL.

His mind shouted as he got up next instance with with frown.

"May I inquire who that someone special is?"

He seemed interested in her personal life for the first time. She was taken a back with his words and the name was almost on her lips, when she stopped herself.

Isn''t he the one who is messing with her from a long time? Isn't he the one who show interest in her one time and ignored her many other times?

This was a perfect chance to get back at him for all his crudity.

Geet bit her lower lip in amusement as she thought all this while Maan's frown deepened.

Is she lost in someone's thought? Who this Specially Special person is?

"Geet" He called, not able to handle her expressions anymore.

"Sorry Sir...But I can't tell you the name...It's my personal life" And Maan couldn't force her beyond that. It surly was her Personal Life and he was a man of rules.

"Ok then...I guess I have to handle all that myself...Take care and have a HAPPY VACATION" He said the last two words while clenching his jaw.

Geet gave a big happy smile in reply before saying "Thank You" and leaving the premises of his cabin.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Maan felt like punching someone's face. His blood was boiling on just thinking that their is someone too SPECIAL in Geet's life. But when that happened.

She was working in his construction company from the last two years and her schedule hardly allow her to make relationships. She has to report in the office at 9am and then leaving time has to depend on the burden on work, Maan profusely put on her to keep her infront of his eyes. Beside, office grapevine was so strong that if she would have been seeing someone, he would have known from someone or the other. He always keep his eyes and ears open in his office.

"But then from where the hell this someone SPECIAL entered her life?" He wondered, feeling his body burning with JEALOUSY FIRE and threw that paper holder away in anger, making it banging to the stiff wall and leaving a prominent dent.

Tujh ko dhoondo tujh ko soochon

Jee na paon tere bin

Tujh ko dhoondo tujh ko soochon

Jee na paon tere bin

Getting back to his home, he opened up the four buttons of his vest in hurry. His jaw was clenching and his eyes were burning with fire.

The next moment the vest was thrown carelessly on the neatly made bed while he loosened up his tie and unbuttoned his cuffs.

His fingers ran into his thick hairs as he started to pace in the big space of his room and wondered.

"Who that someone special is?" His heart seems to beat fast with a fear.

"What if she is in love with someone else? What will I do than?"

Suddenly, feeling too weak, he sat down on his bed.

The moments that he had spent with Geet started to flow infront of his eyes.

The first day, she came into his office for an interview as her PA. He was already briefed about her qualifications but when she entered his cabin, in a baby pink churidar kurta. Her hairs were made into the same loose ponytail he hated at that moment but later started to adore cause it gave him chance to have a good look of her neck. Especially that 2 small moles out there. Her duppata hanging on a shoulder and a file in her delicate hands.

She was not at all looking professional at that time too but their was something in her big eyes, determination may be and the confidence in her voice that made him hired her.

He was attracted right from the start but tried to ignore it. The office ethics totally forbid him to get involve with his employees.

One of his own made rules.

He used to shout at her, ignore her, curse her for taking over his mind but was unaware to the strength and power of that attraction till she took off for two days as she was ill.

And then a thought strike him.

"What if she is not well this time too and just lied to push him off?" He frowned at the thought.

When last week, she asked for a 3 days leave, he rejected it making a excuse of the project. He couldn't dare to stay away from her.

But this time, he had to give in.

"Who will take care of her? she lives alone in the apartment provided by his company? Who will see to her medicines?"

As worry took over his anger and the next moment, holding the car keys, he rushed out from his small but elegant house to check on the girl, who now seems to be the center of gravity of his life.

Door mujh se tu na jaye

Hai tamanna raat din

Teri chahat jo mile

Meri aahat hai bani

Meri soochon mein basi

Tu hi tu...

"Here is the cake" Geet squealed happily, holding a tray as she came out from the small kitchen of her one bedroom apartment.

The old punjabi man who was sitting on the sofa, looked up at her excited face with soft eyes.

Carefully, she put the tray on the small table and hunched down on her knees with a sweet smile on her lips.

The tray contained a small one pound almond cake, a plate filled with biscuits, a bowl having nimko and chips along with two hot cup of tea.

"Now come on Dada g, hurry up and cut the cake...God knows, we are already too late with the celebrations."

Kartar Handa chuckled while Geet lit up a candle on the cake and made him blow it as she sang "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" song with claps.

"Puttar G...How many time I told you...It's not my age to celebrate birthdays" Ignoring his all to well repeated line, Geet made rhe pieces of the cake and served him.

"Dada g...How many times should I repeat the same words back that when you had the age, I wasn't even born then and later had not much resources to celebrate...But now, when I am earning on my own ...I want us yo make up for all those past moments..."

Kartar looked at her with love and ran an affectionate hand over her head.

"This time though we got late due to my Saru Boss..." And her nose flared with anger.

"No problem beta g...Even If you wanted, I couldn't have come here last week...or if you had visitied me back in the village, I wouldn't have been able to give you any time...With harvest season, I have to keep strict eyes on my workers"

Kartar tried to lessen up her guilt.

"Hmmm...Ok...But now as I am off for next three days, I will make sure you have all the time for me aa I am planning to make you see the whole of Delhi"

"Baba G...Save me from this chuhiya" Kartar prayed loudly, making Geet mouth opened in a O and then laughed out loud.

Geet settled beside him on the sofa as they both started to watch the TV.

Geet was the only Grand-daughter of Mr. Kartar Handa who was a Zimmedar of Hushyarpur. After the sad demise of Geet's Mother Amrit when Geet was only 6, Mr Handa and his son, Geet's father Raghuvir Handa left no stone unturned to bring her up superbly. She was a good natured and well mannered girl but wanted to pursue her career in the city as she grew up and was finished with her Studies.

Both father an son were against sending the apple of their eyes away from themselves, but after her emotional blackmailing and Bhook hartal that even couldn't enter in the second day, both bow down indront of her dteams.

And now, they do visit her from time to time.

And that's why Geet loved them immensely and vowed to never hurt them ever.

******************

Maan has took the rounds of her building road about 4 times in his car but each time, he couldn't muster up the courage to approach her.

It seems like they have got a role reversal.

Where Geet is always hesitated in facing him alone in his cabin and now he was afraid to approach her in her house.

Finally he stopped the car on the other side of the road, opposite her building.

His eyes tose up to look at her's apartment window and found a shadow of a man and a woman.

Frowning, he go out from the car.

"Geet" He could clearly make out from the shadow that the woman was Geet but who was that MAN?? He wondered.

And as if the scene has to take place right then, Maan watched the shadow of the man bending and kissing Geet on her forehead.

Something Burned inside him.

His body was literally on fire.

"Who the hell is he? And how dare he kissed his Geet?"

All rational thinking went out from his mind as taking quick angry steps, he went into the building.

******************

"Good night Dada G" Geet wished while yawning as his Dada moved towards the bedroom after giving her a good night kiss.

She took out the spare pillows, bed spread and quilt from the cupboard and was about to be settled down in the sofa cum bed in the living room when the door knocked. The bell was broken.

Surprised, she looked at the clock which was striking 11pm and then ruffled her open hairs.

"Who is it at this time?" And before she could put down her feet to wear her slippers, the door was knocked again and this time a bit loudly that made her hurry up, cursing the intruder.

Opening the door made her shocked.

Maan Singh Khurrana was looking at her with furiously heated eyes.

"Sir...Youu...Here...At this time?" She questioned after some initial moments.

"If you had clearly told me why you needed the leave...I wouldn't have been standing here and you wouldn't have to ask Why I am here, at this time?"

He said clattering his teeth.

Her brows frowned at his tone as she looked at him with narrow eyes and replied in a taunting tone taunting tone.

"Is it a crime that I asked for a leave?"

"No...I am not bothered about your leave...till I know with whom you are going to spend the leave your leave period?"

He couldn't stop from shocking her again and again.

"And how may that consent you?"

"Geet...Don't push me beyond limits" He groaned in a low volume.

"Who is that man?" He held her arms and asked her straight away. Anger was passing from his fingers to her skin.

"Which man?" Confusion written all over her face. Man pushed her aside and walked into her apartment, looking around.

"The one who dared kiss you just few minutes ago" He replied a bit loudly as he went near the same window from which their shadow was visible.

In between, Geet took a sigh of relief. Though she wanted to irritate him a bit when she mentioned "Someone Special" in the office but that one statement will pull him to her apartment was just so unthinkable for her.

"Can you please keep you voice low as That's my Dada...and he just went off to sleep" She replied and her words made Maan stop in his tracks.

As her words sink in, he looked back at her with astonishment.

"Your Dada?"

"Yes...and if you don't believe me...you can just check on him in my room" Folding her hands on her chest, she replied irritatingly this time.

And indeed, peeping in from the door when Maan checked, it was a grey haired old man sleeping in her bed.

Relived, Maan closed the door of the room, saying silent thank you to the above Lord.

"Can I please be excused now Sir? I am really tired after the whole day" Geet asked curtly. He kept on blowing hot and cold on her all through that really pushed her beyond limits.

"Yes...I...I am sorry" Maan pursed his lips and scratching him temple went towards the exit door.

Geet followed him quietly before asking.

"Between Sir, why were you so bothered about me...Whomever I am with or stay with is my personal decision" She knew she was challenging him but first time, meeting him gaze to gaze, in HER apartment's territory, outside HIS office premises was too good of a chance to miss.

He stopped to only turn and that sudden turn made her push behind. She was unstable on her toes and his hands move forward to grab her by the waist in concern.

The touch, the contact sent fires in their bodies.

As Geet tried to withdraw back, he kept her at the place as his thumb caressed the back of her slowly, invoking wires of passion to burn up.

While her eyes were widened with his step forwardness, his was taking in the beauty of her face for the few moments before he spoke up.

"I am always bothered when something is about you Geet...I am always concerned about your personal decisions...And no one...Simply No one is going to come into your life except..." Her heart pumped the blood with the double speed than usual...Just to hear that name...Just to hear him confess but he stopped and moved up his other hand to push her thick hairs behind, letting his fingers feel the softness of the plush cover.

"I like you hairs this way Geet" This time, his tone was husky, that seem to melt her but the question of the earlier statement was still so evident in her eyes and when it didn't seem that he will get back to his earlier statement and will complete it, she put words to her thought in a rasped voice.

"Except whom?..."

And he tried to put all the love, he has always felt for this beautiful, sweet, caring yet childlike woman on his face before uttering.

"Me"

One simple world that seem to turn her life upside down.

He cupped her face in his hands seeing the uncertainty on her face.

"I love you Geet...I have always loved you Geet" He murmured, caressing her face with his hot breath.

"You..Youuu...lo..love..." She stuttered as he nodded his head.

"Yes...I love you Geet...Right from the first day, my eyes caught your face, they would look for you where ever I go...Right from the first time, my hand brushed against yours while passing a file, my fingers were itching to touch you and feel the softness on your skin...Right from the first day, my heart heard this name...Geet...it has been beating for you"

Maan opened up his heart. His voice, his eyes, his looks, his caresses, all were screaming the love he holds for her. Geet was still struck to those 3 words, he uttered, the words, she was just so dying to hear that the next moment she took him by surprise by hugging him.

Her hands were pressed at his back while her fingers clutched his shirt. She breathed in the intoxicating smell of his body along with the now died-down mild smell of his ever so same perfume.

Maan was happily surprised by her response but nonetheless, hugged her back, keeping her firmly in the place as his face crooned in her neck.

"Won't you say it...Won't you reply" He whispered against her skin, making it tingle as she took a deep breath.

"I longed to hear that from you" Her voice teared up as she uttered the words.

Worried, he backed off and raised up her chin to make her look at himself.

"I am sorry...But won't you say that you love me too now when I have said it" He requested and straightly looking into his eyes, she replied in a sincere tone.

"I love you"

Maan smiled and brought her once again near his heart in a bone crushing hug as she repeated "I love you".

Teri chahat jo mile

Meri aahat hai bani

Meri soochon mein hai basi

Tu hi tu...

One year and three months later.

Maan was laying on his bed with a relaxed and blissful smile. He turned his face to the left only to see the most beautiful view.

His hands were holding the most precious possession of his being, his life...His woman, His wife...His Geet sleeping peacefully as the after effects of the shared intimacy.

He sighed and turned his body only to pull her more close to his being.

After that confession night, Geet and he dated secretly for the next 8 months. They kept their emotions in check infront of their colleagues but the few captured moments, few dinners, the eye-locks and teasing built up their love more stronger.

Maan confessed about his love to his dadi, who was his only family and right the next day, she was on the mission to make Geet her official Daughter-in-law by going Hoshyarpur and asking her hand for Maan from Geet's father and Grand-father who after initial hesitation and after getting Geet's consent, give in and accepted and right after 4 months, they got married under the blessings if their loved one.

It still seems unbelievable as how quickly life take turns in their life.

Maan caressed her soft rash red cheek with the back of his fingers remembering how his beard must have scratched it. But his moments on her cheek, only brought a smile on her sleepy pink lips that quickly raised up the curtains of guilt that were just drooping on his face and made him smile in response.

"Geet...meri zindagi ke har subah tum se shuru hogi aur har raat tum se khatam" He promsied her sleeping figure before he pulled her over himself and covered them up with a quilt as he let his eyes droop only to create beautiful dreams of their coming future. With Only Him and His Geet.