Falling for You Thread 2|| - Page 31

Chapter 39

"Dadima you called us back early" Amelia pouted plopping down on the sofa sadly. She stretched herself comfortably eyeing her love interest sat in the corner of the opposite sofa completely ignoring her immersed in his damn newspaper.

Vikrant shoved her legs off sitting down, Meera settled beside dadima on the two seat sofa.

"Bete I called you all back because we need to start preparing faster" She responded putting the magazine down. "You've got dance classes, relatives will start coming as well soon. I know we've got 7 weeks left but I don't want Maan or Geet to know. I want it to be a surprise" she added. "Not only that I need the decorations chosen properly, I want the colour theme red and gold for the mansion"

"Black and cream for the anniversary" Amelia added.

"Also puja ki thayyari bhi" Meera included. "There's also the mehndi things we need to get done, find really good women who can put mehndi on"

"Now do you see why I called you back a day early" Dadima continued and looked at both her grandsons. "You've got the cars sorted right?"

"Yes dadima" Karan placed the newspaper down. "Vikrant & I will go and pick the guests up ourselves. I've got Ranbir also coming to help. There's also drivers from yours and our place" he informed.

"Teek hai. I want you to plan something for Maan to do during the mehndi"

"And he's going to agree?" Karan questioned in amusement.

"We'll see how he doesn't" she replied proudly.

"Dadima knows her ways with her grandsons hitler" Amelia commented winking at him.

"You..." he stopped seeing dadima glare his way.

"Now I need you both to go check out cakes" Dadima looked between Amelia and Meera then turned to Karan and Vikrant. "You lot catering! And I'll be going and checking on clothes and decorations for the mansion" She told them standing up waving them to the door, they got to their feet and were heading out.

Geet was settled on her side in the morning thinking of last night, they'd returned back to their room after the sun had gone down, their walk on the beach was pretty good. Like the night before, they'd shared the bed together and this morning when she'd woken up Maan was already gone but he had left a note explaining his conference meeting and that he'd be meeting her for lunch. After today's meeting, the next 2 days she'll be spending time with him completely without any disturbance of his work.

She blushed at the thought of spending the next 2 days with him alone, the last 2 days were wonderful, she'd come to know more of her husband and enjoyed his company.

She reached for phone as it started ringing and was surprised to see Dr Nikita calling, it'd always been her calling Dr Nikita.

"Hello" she answered sitting up leaning against the headboard.

"Hi Geet" Dr Nikita responded. "Actually your dadima came to invite me to your anniversary"

"Really?" she responded surprised.

"Yeah, she told me about you being Maan Singh Khurana's wife" Dr Nikita informed gently.

Geet thought back to the night Maan disliked that she was revealing their issues to a doctor, how would he take this?

"I don't mind if you don't want me to come" Dr Nikita told her. "I understand why you didn't tell me" she continued. "So... I'm kind of unsure"

"Dr Nikita I'd love for you to come" Geet replied. She couldn't exactly not involve the woman who had helped her come a long way, she had to explain to Maan what'd happened and hope he'd understand and with her husband being quite educated he had to know Dr Nikita can't be talking of her patients to anyone, not even her husband unless he was treating the same patient as well.

"You sure? I don't want to be..."

"Dr Nikita dadima invited you because she knows how much you have helped" Geet replied.

"How is your trip?" She questioned.

"It's great" Geet muttered instantly blushing, "He's... different and so caring"

"Glad you went to this trip than on the ice skating one?" She asked feeling pleased with Geet's improvement.

"Yeah" Geet smiled. "Um... we're talking properly now" she added. "And you know, he's... slowly telling me more, sharing things with me"

"You're both doing quite well. Just keep going as you are, I'm always a phone call away"

"Thank you Dr Nikita. I really do appreciate it" Geet responded rather emotionally. "I would love it if you come to my wedding anniversary. It's going to be a small one and only family so it'd be good to see familiar faces. I haven't met everyone in our family yet" she chuckled.

Dr Nikita realized Geet hadn't known about the grand party her dadima was setting up. "Alright I'll see you when you return, just drop in whenever. I'd like to catch up"

"Okay. I will do, thanks" Geet cut the call placing her phone onto the nightstand.

She then walked to the washroom with a change of clothes which happened to be another saree since dadima barely gave dresses, she showered and changed into the green and rich red saree dadima had packed for her. She dug through her bag to match a necklace to wear, she'd found a small diamond pendant deciding to wear that, however paused staring at her empty neck. Being married it shouldn't be empty right?

She hadn't worn it since their first karwa chaut even then she had only wore it for that night, in the year she'd worn her mangl sutr only 2 times, on her wedding day, on her first karwa chaut. At the time she'd told herself there was no point in wearing a symbol of being married when her own husband didn't accept her as if his wife but now...

The only thing she'd worn since their wedding was the family wedding ring, dadima had given it to her since her husband refused to slip it on her finger.

She pushed away those thoughts sliding on the diamond pendant and finished getting dressed, she hadn't realized the time that'd flew by and was surprised seeing Maan standing by the door. She turned around glancing at the clock and realized it was nearly time for lunch. Had she woken up early then she would've been ready by now but she'd woken up at 10 today having slept late.

"Aap aa gaye?" she mumbled tidying away her things quickly.

"It's kind of obvious I am here" Maan smirked. Geet looked away biting her lip as she put the things away and placed her things in the cupboard.

She realized she hadn't even done her hair yet, she quickly twisted it into a messy bun and pinned it in place showing off her slender neck, Maan had tried hard not to notice her but something about her drew his attention. He also noticed what she'd noticed before, she wasn't wearing a manglsutr. He didn't recall ever seeing one on her, was it that she didn't like wearing it or hadn't come to accept it? He couldn't bring himself to ask her about this because it'd obviously bring up questions and most probably the issues on their marriage.

They'd have to address them soon enough but he wasn't ready for it not yet at least especially now that they're learning about one another slowly. He'd just have to wait for some time, once they're comfortable with each other and be able to express without the fear of being judged or misread he'd reveal his past and hope she does the same even if he already knew. Geet wasn't going to ever come to know he knew nor will she come to know of the past her mother had kept hidden. She'd been hurt enough and she didn't need any more pain. Geet announced she was ready and Maan led her down to the restaurant he'd seen to have lunch then informed her of the plans he'd made. Geet also added she wanted to visit the Shanta Durga temple as it was quite popular here.

"I think we should have the mehndi outside" Amelia suggested walking around with dadima looking around. "You know like a big marque, Geet settled there" she pointed already creating a vision. "We'll get chairs and tables set out here, and instead of like curries, we do a big barbeque. It'd be really different and it's going to be nice to eat comfortable food rather than all that fancy curries" She added. "Right?" she looked at Meera who nodded thoughtfully.

"I guess. Dadima it'd be kind of better as well. Since it hot days now, it'd be nice to have yellow bright colours for the mehndi. We could keep the colour theme yellow for mehndi"

"Hmm..." Dadima nodded.

"It's going to more enjoyable" Meera looked around. "We can set a bouncy castle for the kids to keep them occupied" she pointed to the back corner. "Plus have a couple of nannies hired to watch them"

"Teek hai" Dadima greed. "Sangeet will be in the hall, then the next morning puja with the party in the evening"

"Yup!" Amelia nodded. "I can't wait, I'm so excited. I've already picked out my clothes for the occasions. I saw this really nice saree and can't wait to wear it"

Dadima chuckled patting her cheek and gestured them back inside. "For the mehndi to take place in the garden we have to get it cleared up"

"If we set marque then Maan jeej will come to know" Meera informed. "Then what?"

"Until it comes to setting it up we keep quiet" Amelia responded. "Then when he asks, dadima can tell him about surprising Geet but not explain like the grand party an all..."

Dadima nodded happily. "Yes!"

Chapter 40

Geet was in total awe as she looked at the temple, it was beautifully constructed and well kept. She just had to capture this view wanting to remember this moment, she opened her bag searching for her phone.

"What are you looking for?" Maan asked stopping in his place noticing she'd stopped and started searching for something.

"My phone" she frowned. "I was sure I'd put it in my bag"

"Do you want to call someone?" he asked confused.

"No, no I wanted to take a picture of the temple" she pointed. "It's so beautiful"

Maan smiled pulling his phone out offering it to her.

"You don't mind do you?" she questioned.

"No of course not Geet. You take the pictures, I'll send them to you" he replied, she took the phone gladly taking snaps of the temple. Maan smiled in amusement when she took a selfie of herself pointing to the temple with a grin, almost forgetting her husband was present.

She shied dipping her head down as she noticed Maan staring, she cleared her throat biting her cheeks trying to seem collected but her red cheeks were clearly indicating she was embarrassed. "Would you like to take one?" she questioned him. "Um I could take it for you"

"I'm not..." he paused when a woman interrupted them.

She offered to take a picture of the both of them, being a tourist herself she understood the love of wanting to cherish these moments.

Both were taken by surprise, but Geet nodded eagerly wanting to capture one which wasn't a selfie. She shuddered when Maan stood beside her, blushing when he slipped his arm around her waist on the suggestion of the woman.

They slowly parted as the woman passed the phone back after taking a couple of snaps of them together, Geet scrolled shying when she stared at their pictures. It was a first picture of the both of them together having their wedding ones, in their wedding ones Maan hadn't even bother to plaster a smile or anything. Here he had a small smirk even if it wasn't a smile, it was still something which pleased her.

"Do you want me to send them now?" he questioned as she handed back his phone.

"Please" she nodded and rattled off her number, unknowingly both had gotten each other's number and were going to be in contact and a phone call away.

They walked around the temple, taking in the beauty and the peaceful atmosphere, Geet slowed down stopping at the stairs as she noticed there was a gathering inside and watched as the pandit performed the puja with the families behind reciting something with their hands folded. She sat down on the steps and watched, enjoying the beautiful view, the families looked joined and happy, even on the days they had kept puja in their haveli Geet wasn't allowed in it being considered a bad omen for the family.

She'd always watched from a distance, seeing everyone getting dressed in fancy new clothes and jewelleries as they prayed together.

She thought of the puja that dadima mentioned, and she was looking forward to it. It'd been some time since she had attended.

She glanced over her shoulder and found Maan leaning against the pillar causally looking around, it's quite a wonderful peaceful moment. And it seemed perfect to inform him of Dr Nikita attending.

"Maan..." she called softly, his ears perked at the sound of his name rolling off her tongue, she'd barely called him and when she did, something in him was overwhelming.

He stared at her questioningly passing a gentle smile.

"Woh... Dadima is keeping an anniversary party na?" she muttered hesitantly.

"What about it?" he moved closed coming and sitting on the steps besides her.

"She invited Dr Nikita" she revealed.

"Wh... What?" Maan stared at her taken aback. "Um..." he breathed in deeply realizing he sounded a little harsh because Geet tensed staring at him scared. "Um... I'm sorry" he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why would dadima do that?" he asked her once he'd collected himself.

"Dr Nikita has helped me" she replied, swallowing hard just as she slowly admitted to him. "I was... well... I couldn't talk to anyone, I didn't have the confidence too. I was always scared and she was the one who listened and helped me. I'm just a patient for her but she... she convinced me to give... our marriage a chance" she whispered softly, her eyes were on the ground tentative of watching his reaction.

"Geet I understand but..." Maan sighed heavily. "I don't know. She... She comes to know you're married to me... do you know how much newspapers will offer her if she reveals a valid story about us?"

"Dadima told her" Geet replied looking up. "She called me, asking me if there was any problem, that's why I'm telling you. I... I want her there" she stammered out. "I understand that you're not comfortable but... she's... she's helped me and I can't thank her enough"

Maan rubbed his temple as he took into account of her explanation, he wanted to refuse so badly but Geet was requesting him for something for the first time. He didn't have the heart to refuse especially when she's come and admitted to him willingly.

"Alright..." he responded softly. "But I need to be assured nothing about us will be revealed. I don't want the media having an impact on our married life. The amount of gossip that'd spread if they come to learn I'm already married... I don't want any of that for us" he reached over taking her hand into his. "The people who matter to us know we're married and that is enough for me... but..." he paused. "Is it enough for you?" he questioned her.

"Aap maante hai..." she whispered. "Woh mere liye kaafi hai"

Maan inhaled sharply, her words held more meaning. Could dadima be correct? Did Geet like him for who he was?

"Geet..." he stared at her for a moment. His eyes questioning, filled with warmth and... something more intense.

"Main... main aapko pasand karne lagi hoon Maan..." she confessed in the softest tone barely audible but he heard her, her eyes dipped down. She released her hand feeling shy, blushing furiously she skipped down the steps. Maan stared at her skipping away still in a motion of surprise and shock, a faint smile appearing on his face...

Geet didn't know what made her confess, was it the fact he was accepting their marriage? Or simply the care towards her, the loving way he always explained his views always assuring her in a way. Her heart was pounding against her chest, she whipped her head around when she felt his fingers around her wrist, his eyes meeting hers, they were dark, intense...

"Geet... I..." Maan was lost for words, he simply pulled her close embracing her.

She was overwhelmed with his sudden embrace, her arms tightened around his middle, tears burning her eyes...

Dr Nikita once asked her if she could fall in love with her husband?

She couldn't answer then but today... She could definitely say she was heading down that road, she admired her husband, was growing closer to him and liked him for the person who he was.

They pulled away looking up as rain start pouring down heavily, he clasped her hand lacing their fingers together as they quickly made it back to the car.

They sat watching the rain for a while hoping it'd stop but it didn't seem like it was going to happen so Maan asked the driver to head back to the hotel.

Both Geet and Maan were drenched, droplets of water slid down their faces, dewdrops trickled from Geet's wet hair which hadn't gone unnoticed by Maan.

He noticed the small pebbled bead slid down her cheek to her neck and disappearing, he looked away cursing inwardly for watching her so intimately.

Attraction bete... It's attraction. Dadima's voice echoed in his head, the woman was always there in the back of his mind edging him further.

They were back to their room, silence had descended leaving them feeling awkward and shy, Geet pulled out towels from the cupboard holding one for him, her eyes briefly meeting his as he took the towel from her.

She turned away drying her own hair, rubbing the towel against her wet strands unaware of her husband's intense eyes taking in her beauty.

Maan wasn't one to stare, he'd barely spared women a second look but with his wife it was different. She was different.

He wiped his face smiling as he recalled her confessing, he was completely overwhelmed. She hadn't expected in return, she'd said those simple words that'd seeped deep into his heart and mind and etched themselves there.

They'd been careful around each other for the next couple of minutes, silence continued to drag between them. They couldn't form the words they'd wanted to say so instead they took turns in the washroom changing their clothes and settled in different places of the room.

Geet was sat by the window watching the rain pouring down, and Maan had settled on the sofa going through some emails. Seeing the time Maan broke the silence.

"Geet would you like to go downstairs to eat or should I order up here?"

Geet was startled by his voice as it was quiet for some time.

She recovered and composed keeping her eyes low, since all her thoughts surrounded what had happened in the temple courtyard. "Um... upstairs, if that's alright..." she responded.

Maan nodded asking her what she'd like to eat, once he'd ordered he was about to put his phone away when he remembered she'd taken pictures.

"Have the pictures come?" he asked her.

"Oh..." she stepped down from the window sill grabbing her phone from the nightstand and scrolled through the pictures she'd received. "They have" she informed looking up.

He smiled nodding in response and returned back to his pending emails.

They had their dinner silently and retreated to their respective sides of the bed. Both climbed in facing their backs to each other, both still recalling of the confession that'd been made by her words and his confession that'd been made by his embrace.

The next 2 days were spent together, visiting places they wanted to see and Geet had made sure to take her phone capturing the beautiful views. Both had been tentative around each other but noticed each other's small gestures, movements, admired each other when the other wasn't looking.

It was their final night and they were packing their respective bags for they left early tomorrow morning. Maan had come to the 3 velvet boxes which held Geet's payals that he'd bought. He looked over his shoulder and found her folding away her sarees and placing them neatly. He picked the boxes and walked slowly, feeling quite unsure. He had seen her looking at them but wondered if she'd like that he'd bought it especially since she had brought up the money thing between them. If she did bring it up, he'd just have to assure her and make her see he wasn't thinking such things of her.

"Geet..." he called, she turned around with a smile slowly a frown marring her forehead as she noticed the boxes he held.

"Yeh... kiske liye?" she questioned.

He didn't answer but handed them to her, she opened them gaping down in surprise then stared at him inquisitively.

"Meera aur Amelia ke liye?" she asked as he did mention that day of buying them for her friends. "You didn't have to buy it for them"

Maan wanted to smack himself for not telling her straightaway.

"I've already got them gif..." she paused when he'd cut her off.

"They're not for Meera and Amelia Geet" Maan told her. "I... I got them for you"

Geet blinked processing his answer. He'd gotten her another present... She looked down then back at him. "Um... I... They're really nice. You... you didn't have to"

"I wanted to" he responded gently. "Are they okay? You can change them if you want"

"No no, they're beautiful" she smiled admiring the payals, they were the ones she'd loved instantly but hearing the price it'd set her back. She didn't have enough in her bank, she had her mother to take care of and she also had her basic necessities.

"Thank you"

"You're welcome..." he responded and moved back to the bed continuing to pack his things.

Geet stared at the payals for some time, sliding her fingers on the delicate jewellery, she placed the other 2 boxes into her bag settling down on the sofa and slipped on a pair which went really well with her royal coloured saree. Maan was pleasantly surprised hearing the tinkle of the payals, his eyes drew down to her feet and he smiled inwardly seeing the happiness etched on her face. Geet blushed as she caught Maan looking her way, she turned around facing her back to him quickly finishing up.

Maan suggested they head downstairs to the restaurant for their last dinner to which she agreed to. Dinner had been a slightly quiet affair with minimal exchanges of words and more of them watching each other. They were exiting and making their way back upstairs when someone had bumped into Geet, Maan in a quick reflex slipped his arm around her waist pulling her closer as she apologized.

"Watch where you're going lady" The male scowled at her in response shooting a glare at Maan as well. Maan stiffened tensing in anger.

"You should watch your mouth" He replied tightly. "My wife apologized, it's going to be good if you learn some manners"

"Whatever loser. Keep your wife hidden if she can't walk properly" the guy responded back, the whiff of alcohol wafted through the air as they both realized the guy was drunk and senseless.

Maan released Geet stepping in front of her so she was safely behind him, he glared down at the young guy, his jaw tightening. "Apologize to my wife now!"

Geet grew tense and was afraid of things escalating, she quickly grabbed onto Maan's arm pleading him silently to let it go.

"Apologize!" Maan grit out angrily.

"Sorry" The guy stammered out as Maan stepped closer glaring at him with a deathly stare. He quickly scrambled away, Maan turned around facing her.

"You okay?"

"Ji..." she nodded uncomfortably, she was a little scared of this encountered, she hadn't countered a completely angry Maan before and he was terrifying.

"C'mon Geet let's go back" he told her placing his hand at the small of her back leading her to the elevators and pressed the button for their floor.

When they returned they changed and settled on their respective sides of the bed but both deep in thought.

"Aap... aapko aisa nahi karna chahiye ta..." Geet mumbled turning to face him.

Maan turned his head staring thoughtfully, slightly displeased with her statement. "You're my wife and I won't have anyone disrespect you" he replied firmly.

She instantly felt guilty as his intention was in the right place. "Woh... I'm sorry" she muttered. "It's... just what if he did something... and it'd escalated..."

"I understand but there was security there plus cctv cameras were situated around the lobby" he responded.

She hummed thinking how easily things had always escalated back home, her cousins and uncles had gone to the extent of drawing their swords out and threatening the opposition. She was afraid of the threats that could've possibly spewed out from the guy today.

"I... I was scared" she admitted.

"I know" he nodded gently.

"In... hoshiarpur things escalated and people were hurt" She looked at her hand resting on her pillow beside her cheek. "I... I didn't want anyone getting hurt because of me..."

"Nothing happened so don't dwell on it" he turned on his left facing her, their faces on their respective pillows. They were so near yet so far.

Slowly tiredness took over their eyes and they both drifted away...