Part 9
Maan was thinking about what dadi said all the way to the restaurant. He was so convinced that it's not that a big deal, that it doesn't matter. And it wouldn't be; if he had Tara by his side, after all it was their mutual decision. But now, what dadi said was true too. Omission of truth is also equivalent of lie, and he didn't want his new relation to start with a lie.
He made sure to reach well before time today as he made her wait the last time. He took a seat and contemplated calling her asking her location when he saw her entering the room. She looked pretty in light purple saree. He doesn't even remember seeing her in one ever. He was a bit lost staring her until he heard her.
"Hi
She greeted him as she sat in the seat opposite to him. It was a bright day already and her smile brightened it further. He smiled in response and stood up waiting for her to take her seat first.
"Someone's on time today.
She teased him, and he shook his head embarrassed but didn't say anything. The waiter came in soon and they placed their orders.
Maan was not sure how to start the conversation? Naturally the burden fell on him being a guy. He was amazed how he had lots of things to say to her still feel tongue tied in her presence.
"I thought you were going to tell me how you have matured with time, but you aren't saying anything.
Geet commented seeing him not saying anything. Maan looked at her shocked not able to decipher her playful mood nevertheless he was delighted. However there was only so much teasing he could take.
"Will you stop teasing me now?
She promptly shook her head in no making him smile wide.
"Did you want to talk something specific?
Geet asked again. Maan did have things in mind to say, but he didn't want the last time to repeat, he wanted to hear her side of it too.
"We talked about me last time. How about we start with you today?
Her smile as if disappeared next moment. Maan noticed the change but didn't comment just yet. While geet tried to shrug off the topic. But when he didn't let go, she decided to give a brief.
"There's not much about me, we had a small happy family with maa, papa, aditya and me. Later Anjali di aditya's sister started to live with us, after her in-laws left the world, jiju's in army, visits in holidays. But it's been monochromatic after aditya, though little karan makes it bright for me.
"Karan?
"Anjali Di has a son. He's six. He wants to be with me all the time.
"He's going to miss you after marriage.
It was a casual comment, but Geet's expression became dull like she just realized that this marriage would mean parting with karan as well, that little boy doesn't even eat without her how will Anjali di manage him all alone? What will he do when di will be in college?
"Geet... geet...?
"Huh!!!
"Don't worry, you can visit him when you want and he can visit us, stay over, whatever you want.
Geet smiled at his concern giving rest to her thoughts for now she turned her full attention back to the conversation.
"And...? What else about you?
She thought for a while but couldn't find anything worth sharing.
"I can't think of anything, you ask me I'll answer honestly.
Maan thought for a while, he wanted to bring her here since the last meeting. It's important for him to know what her expectations were.
"I want to know your expectations from a remarriage. Like I told you my priority is my child.
She was left speechless with his words. Since the advent of the idea of her remarriage, she has only expected people to command her and load her with responsibilities and expectations. Never did she once think that her choice or expectations or dreams would matter to anyone anymore. But first papaji and now maan, they both proved her wrong. She indeed was very lucky.
"I... I don't have any... expectations.
She said slowly and it was true. Things were moving fast that she hardly had any time to process the happenings around her; she was just going with flow and it being with maan, only made things easy on her. But maan thought she was hesitating.
"Maybe you want to work, have a career?
He suggested slowly. Honestly that was his only fear now; his father's words have had their effect on him it seemed. He didn't want geet to compromise on her dreams for him or anyone for that matter. He didn't know if she worked already or not. When she still didn't reply, he decided to push her a bit, it was important.
"Geet you can share anything with me without fear. Even if this doesn't work out... you know us getting married, but we will always be friends right? And I will make sure you get a right partner that you deserve.
She looked at him shocked at the mention of things not working out. She didn't want that. Not now. She didn't have in her to hunt for prince charming for herself on the basis of some ill-conceived expectations that she didn't even have. She knew and lived in the real world.
"No. I don't have any expectations.
"I was just saying...
"Kaha na maine I don't want to work or anything. Why are you being so persistent?
"Alright... alright.
He stopped her and the waiter just came in time to serve their orders. For a moment he was scared of her outburst. They ate in silence occasionally commenting about the food, it was actually maan trying to bring back normalcy in the conversation while she just replied in monosyllabic.
After finishing the food geet waited for him to say something. It was actually kind of awkward after the whole expectations thing. First she was overwhelmed at his concern but later she was scared. She has opened up to him as he's taking so much pain to make this relation work and if it doesn't than it will be her fault. She didn't want to disappoint anyone, neither papa earlier and nor maan now.
"So shall we leave now?
She asked softly, she also remembered his swift change in mood when their first meeting came to an end.
"Are you in a hurry? I wanted to share something.
When she nodded in no, he continued.
"I wanted to tell you something about antara.
She smiled encouragingly at him.
"Antara is 4 now, me and Tara my wife we adopted her when she was just 3 months.
Geet looked at him confused, however he continued not waiting for her reaction.
"It didn't matter to us, she wanted a child and soon, we couldn't through... through natural means. I couldn't have refused her anything. So we started the procedures immediately. No one ever mentions that in house ever, but you should know that now when you are going to be a part of my family.
Geet was touched by the way he made her feel belonged. It didn't matter to her if the baby was adopted, she wasn't a blind believer of blood relations nor did she have parentage bias. She believed that all children deserved love and care and respected maan and his wife's decision to adopt.
"So antara is named after her parents. She has an' from maan followed by Tara.
Maan smiled at her statement. She didn't need to say any more words of acceptance. He just nodded in confirmation. He was glad that he listened to dadi and shared this with her. It made him feel light also it felt like a new dimension is added to their relation.
"So when do I get to meet antara?
"Whenever you want.
Maan replied promptly, he was confident enough now to make them meet.
"You decide and tell me.
Maan nodded and thought for a while.
"How about Sunday? I have to take her for outing, I'll text you details.
"Sounds good.
They fell silent again and geet wondered if it was time to leave but maan spoke again.
"Do you have any more questions for me? You told me about your first marriage but I... I didn't t...
His hesitation gave geet an idea that he wasn't very comfortable sharing this part of his life. Maybe he loved his wife a lot and not able to cope up with her los yet. Like he said, he couldn't refuse her anything. But that day he said that he had no emotional baggage of previous partner. It was a bit confusing; she decided not to think much just now.
"Maan... I am sure you have said what's worth mentioning already. What hasn't been said has no relevance for the future.
He smiled at her understanding and she smiled back in response.
"Shall we leave now?
Maan nodded and they walked out together after clearing the bill.
"Sorry I can't drop you today; have to rush for a meeting.
"It is okay I came with driver.
"Okay, text me when you reach.
He said as he hurried to his care after making sure she was well inside hers.
When geet reached home she instantly ran to Karan's room. He was sleeping after returning from school, she didn't know who to share her feeling with. She'll really miss him after marriage. She sat by him caressing his head for long. Her trance was broken when Anjali came to room.
"Geet...?
She asked noticing sadness on her face. Geet tried to shrug off knowing di would worry and left for her room. She didn't want to talk to anyone, face anyone. All these change in thoughts and emotions were rough on her but she was unable to express herself to anyone. She's never been an expressive person from the start, quite an introvert; and the incidents in her life last couple of years only made her less expressive.
Maan reached home in the evening and was stopped at the living room by dadi.
"What now? I told you everything in the morning.
He rolled his eyes at her inquisitive behavior. Honestly she was like a child looking for candy.
"You couldn't have told me what happened at lunch today in the morning.
She looked at him with a challenging smile.
"Even antara is better than you dadi.
Maan laughed at her.
"Don't worry bte, I'll teach antara how to get information out of her dad.
"Dadi...
"Aur geet ko bhi.
"Dadi please.
"Tell me now.
"We had lunch.
"And...
"Umm...
"Maan! Zyada bhav mat khao.
He laughed silently enjoying teasing dadi. She was happy and excited; he liked to see her that way.
"OK OK. I told her about antara like you said. And I'll make them meet on Sunday.
"Did she say yes to marry you already?
Dadi said thoughtfully and maan couldn't comprehend the change in her tone suddenly. More than that her question caught him off-guard, he rubbed his temple not sure how to take this.
"Not yet dadi.
"Did you ask her?
"WHATT! "
He was shocked.
"It's a simple question maan; did you ask her to marry you?
"Why do I need to ask her? She knows what all these meetings are for.
"That's not how it works bte, and now that you are involving antara in this, you better know what you are doing.
She patted his cheeks and left him confused and lost in thoughts. How could he ask geet for an answer just yet? Wouldn't it be like pressuring her? Just a few days that she's started to open up. But dadi's also right; they can't keep the elders waiting and now that antara will be involved things are bound to move on faster. He just hoped that geet doesn't feel crushed in all this; this was something he wanted to save her from. But being in a family, a society, we have to walk by its rules.
It was night time and geet was really exhausted by her thoughts which were filled with maan today. She was really curious to know about his first marriage when he asked her but not at the expense of making him uncomfortable, they already touched one sensitive topic today. She glanced at her phone as her screen lit up.
*Meet me on Sunday, 1 pm at gaming zone, Gurgaon mall.*
She replied with an okay and lied on her bed to sleep. Her phone rang after few minutes. She sat up on the bed seeing the number.
"Maan...?
He didn't say anything she could only hear his breaths.
"MAAN...?
She said a bit louder this time trying to gain his attention.
"Yes... I am here. I... I wanted to ask how you found the lunch.
Geet frowned at the irrelevant question.
"Thik hi tha.
She said casually, while on the other side maan hit his head. He messaged her hoping to have a little conversation but when she replied with just an okay he called her out of reflex, didn't even plan what he's going to say when she actually picks up.
"Wo... I didn't find it that good so I was just checking.
He replied consciously hoping she wouldn't find this weird and catches up on his trick of trying to make a conversation.
"Achha... but I saw you relishing kadhai paneer.
She replied chuckling. Maan also smiled a bit knowing it was no use hiding; she knew he was just bluffing. He leaned on the bed rest now.
"I wasn't talking about food. I was asking if you liked my company.
"Does that mean you didn't like my company?
Arree yaar yeh plan toh backfire ho gaya, he thought.
"No, I didn't say that.
He said immediately, his stance defensive.
"But you meant that.
"Sorry meri maa maaf kardo. Waise bhi I can't win in an argument with you, I have years of experience of losing.
"And I thought you have matured over time.
He laughed at her comments and she joined him. There was a silence for a while before he continued.
"You just replied in one word toh I was just checking.
"Hmm I didn't know what else to say.
"You've not had someone to talk to for a long while it seems.
"hm...
She hummed in response it was true.
"Aren't you in touch with others from our college group?
"No one...
"uh...?
"I was in touch with neha after marriage, not sure when that stopped.
"I think you should contact her again.
"After so long...?
She sounded unsure.
"We also met after so long, do you think it matters?
"I'll try.
They chatted for a while on random discussing about their friends, maan seem to know whereabouts of some while geet was clueless. They didn't realize when they slept off without hanging up the phone.
Precap: finally meeting with antara, and a sweet surprise if you can guess (i have given the hint already 😉)Edited by Sundari. - 7 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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